Issue: 11 Friday 31 October 2008 www.themenorcasun.com
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WHO CAN WREST THE TITLE FROM SAN MAMES?
THE ISLAND’S DARTS LEAGUE STARTS THIS WEEK - See Page 15
WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND HALLOWEEN? - See Page 8
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Friday 31 October 2008
GREY POWER MOVEMENT You really do not want to upset these old folks you know!! 200 Spanish pensioners on a holiday from the mainland managed to wreak havoc and chaos in the Hotel Hamilton at the weekend. On holiday from Madrid and on the second to last day of their holiday, they mounted a protest in the hotel reception complaining about their treatment. Apparently, the hotel had changed menus at the last
Hotel Hamilton in Es Castell
minute and, in the tourists’ opinion, replaced them with food of an inferior quality. They were also angry about a 20 euro surcharge for rooms with a sea view They then went to reception to get complaints forms where naturally there were not enough. End result was that the Guardia Civil were called to calm the situation. A meeting was held the following morning and a denuncia was filed.
MENORCA SUN
EDUCATION PROTEST The association of fathers and mothers in Menorca (APIMAS) have called for a gathering in Mahón this Saturday evening to bring attention to current conditions in education centres on the island. Their main points will be to bring subjects such as overcrowding and the use of so many temporary classrooms across Menorca to general attention. APIMAS are reminding residents that standards and quality have been falling over the past few years. This they attribute to the increase in population. This puts a strain on facilities such as music rooms and libraries. They hope that by bring these matters into the public eye they can push the authorities into an urgent overhaul of the educational system in Menorca. The meeting will start at 5pm at the Esplanada in Mahón
Increase in number of boat moorings in Addaia Plans are in motion to increase the number of boat moorings at Addaia. There will be two separate projects proposed by the Residents Association. The first project propose expanding the present facilities which will then be able to offer mooring for 309 vessels. The
second involves a little more building but will not affect the surrounding scenery. With these plans the Association hope to do away with illegal moorings. Studies will now begin before the council in Es Mercadal decide the best way forward.
Friday 31 October 2008
MENORCA SUN
BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO EMPLOYMENT SECTOR Come Christmas, there could be tens of thousands more people out of work in the Balearics than the local government has predicted, according to the UGT General Workers Union yesterday. The latest unemployment figures have set alarm bells ringing across the country and UGT Secretary Manuel Pelarda, warned that the total number of people out of work in the Balearics by the end of this year could reach as high as 110,000, some 30,000 higher than the Balearic government’s estimates. At yesterday’s Balearic cabinet meeting, it was agreed that four million euros should be immediately pumped into breathing some new life into the employment sector and creating new jobs in an attempt to slow the rate of unemployment down. However, the Balearic Minister for Employment, Joana Barcelo, while admitting that the latest figures are serious, attributed the sharp rise in the number of unemployed to the continual increase in the size of the region’s active population as opposed to a massive wave of job cuts and redundancies.
ALL CHANGE AT PALMA From Monday of this week passengers arriving at Palma airport from Menorca will no longer be dropped at the transit lounge in modulo B but at modulo A, where they can make their connections to the mainland. The management at Palma Airport have closed the normal transit lounge to make it bigger and also to allow the planes to park by the building allowing passenger to embark and disembark by foot. Over 250.000 people used this route in the first seven months of the year and it was felt that in order to upgrade facilities the work should be started now. It is scheduled for completion in April of next year. The demand for seats on flights to Palma have increased since the route was declared a public service. Air Nostrum also announced that, from this week, there will be an extra daily flight taking the total to eleven.
TV Reception Son Telm, the hilltop to the south of Ferreries has been selected as the best point on the island to install the repeaters needed to give television cover to the town’s residents. Ferreries has always had a problem collecting a good television signal. Son Telm will be ideal as it already has a communications tower there which at the moment is used by the emergency services This is about to change with
the introduction to Menorca of TDT when the analogue signal is switched off on 30 June next year. From then the government should be able to guarantee television reception to the areas of the island that have had problems in the past. Specifically, the south side of the island, Ciutadella, Ferrerias, and San Lluis They all had problems receiving the signal from Monte Toro.
THE CONTINUING PROBLEMS WITH ES CASTELL’S WATER According to the President of the Residents Association of Es Castell the instalation of the new water treatment plant will not be the end of the high nitrate problem in the area. Goncal Segui thinks that there are other deeper problems. He pointed out that the main supply line from Mahon to Es Castell was built in 1979 using materials that are now way out of date and would no longer be used. He is putting pressure on the council, the government and
the water company Sorea to come up with some solutions. It is now over a year since the water in Es Castell was drinkable. There seems to be a lot of hand sitting going on though. The council in Es Castell say that they are still waiting for the plant which was supposed to be working by the end of the summer. The mayor, Juan Cabrera, commented that he didn’t feel that the government had kept to their part of the agreement.
Son Telm
MENORCA BOWLS CLUB NEWS The Menorca Bowls Club celebrated the end of the summer season with a barbecue provided by S’Algar Catering at the Sporting Bar in S’Algar. As an added attraction the Captain (John Smith) put on a music quiz from the 40’s 50’s & 60’s, reminding everyone of their (misspent) youth! Another thoroughly enjoyable evening in our social calendar and one which is certain to be repeated throughout 2009. This years competition winners for the Spring Cup were Heather Stansfield and Ron Boulton and Sandy Boulton and John Smith were winners of the Summer Cup. Winter competitions start next month. The Club plays all year round, Mons., Weds. & Sats. 10.00 for 10.30a.m. and welcomes all newcomers. Further information can be obtained from the Captain, John Smith - Tel: 971 939 045 - or visit our website www.menorcabowls.com
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RED CROSS The Craft Group has been established to help raise funds for local Red Cross - items made by the Craft Group will be on sale at the Spring Sale in May. The group is being run by Janet Brown who is hosting the next meeting at her home in Binibeca on Tuesday 4th November, from 10.00am until 1.00pm. Please call Janet on 971188 856 for further information on the group and if you are able to help with a donation - they are still in need of the following: Beads, fabric, ribbon, braid, raffia, plain and printed paper, fur and fleece fabric, wool and vintage dresses that may be decorated with lace trimmings etc.that can be re-used. The group are seeking people with a variety of craft skills - and men are most welcome to come too!
THE MENORCA SUN THANKS ALL OUR ADVERTISERS AND STOCKISTS
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Friday 31 October 2008
WHERE TO PICK UP YOUR COPY OF THE MENORCA SUN ES CASTELL Brogans, Torre de Sol, Bonnin Sanso, Spar, La Caixa, Banca March, Bar Espana, Bar La Isla, San Mames, Hotel Agamenon, Hotel Rey Carlos, Chiringuito Peters, BB Tres, Camachos, Hotel Hamilton, Margarita Cafe, Club Nautica, Groucho, Chespir, 3Bs, El Chivito, Sa Cala, Port Antico, Dinkums, Nikkis, Teapot, Delfin, Internet Shop, Age Concern, Property Menorca, Scandals
CALA’N PORTER Fun House, Village Inn, Bombay Star, Salamandra, Champs, Galleon, Poolside Bar, Hostel Sancho Panza, 007 PUNTA PRIMA Blue Anchor, El Faro, Spar SON BOU Kit Kat, Bowling, Club San Jaime, Arena, Las Dunas, Josephs, Daltons, Bow Hai SAN CLIMENT Casino, Can Dulce, Newsagent, Coach & Horses, Nelsons, Spar CIUTADELLA Delaneys, Burger King
SON VILAR Defenses Animales, Proximo, Collingwood House AIRPORT Thomsons, Thomas Cook, Europcar, Tourist Info, Hertz, Café, Consell Insular MAHÓN HOSPITAL Newsagents, Café, Malbuger
Gym
LOS DELFINES Foxys, Bar 61, Mulligans, Burger King, Bar Yuca, Super 1, Coctails & Dreams, Agua Centre, Molly Kavanaghs CALA BLANCA Laurel & Hardy, C’an Vicent, Internet.com, Danny’s, Nautilis, Blarney Stone CALA N BOSCH McCarthys, 2 Rocks, Big Apple, Don Carlos, Tom’s, Chaplins, Brittania, Legends
MAHÓN Palliser, Hiper Centro, Hotel Capri, Sa Plaza, Menocars, Joanne Beauty, Estetica Lynda, Fish n Chip shop, American Bar, Market, Market Café, Jimmy’s Bar, Café Ars, Caixa Central, Library, Restaurante San Jose, Taj, Sa Taverna, Burger King, Bar Andaluz, Bar Mirador, Adult Language School: Cap de Llevant
SON PARC Golf Club, Hallissy’s, M & S, BJ’s, Rex’s, Half Moon, Mamma Mia
PORT DE MAHÓN Breeze, Fairline, Jagaro, Gregal, El Chivito, Thai Country House, Pierro’s, Marivent, El Bosforo, No Lo Se!, Akelarre, Wepi, Latitude 40, Cycle Club, Club Maritim, Roma, Gran Murala, Elefant Bar, Minerva, Hotel Port Mahón, 222
ES MERCADAL Savoy, Las Vegas
TREBALUGER Trebaluger Spar, Menorca Clearance Centre SAN LLUIS Monet Tu, Avenida Paper Shop, Casino, Eroski, Menorca Storage, Menorca Home Care, Aerodrome, Hippodrome, El Picadero, Tennis Club,
ADDAIA & ARENAL El Castillo, Bar 51, Supermarket, Bar Pins, Wendy Hodgkinson, Corner Bar, Sa Gavina, Bar 51, Romani, Good Bridge, Japi, Outback, Smithys, Isla Paraiso, El Faro, Super Sa Morera
CALA GALDANA Black & White, Bar Mississipi, Phone Box, Bar Toboggan SANTA TOMAS Bar Halley, Hamilton Court Apartments, Beach Bar, Hotel Victoria ES MIGJORN GRAN Perry’s ________________________
If you’d like to stock the Menorca Sun then please let us know!
MENORCA SUN
BEAR NECCESSITIES Authorities in northeastern Spain Friday launched an operation to capture a bear that injured an elderly hunter in the first such attack since the animals were reintroduced to the Pyrenees in 1996. The 73-year-old man was attacked as he was hunting wild boar with his dog in the Aran region of the Pyrenees mountains on Thursday morning, Spanish media said. The animal passed within two metres (six feet) of him. He tried to scare it off, but was attacked instead, and finally escaped by firing his rifle into the air, the newspaper El Pais said. He needed stitches in his leg and arm, and was discharged from hospital. Cattle and sheep farmers in the Pyrenees, which straddle the Spanish-French border, resent the presence of the bears. In 2004, hunters on the French side of the border shot dead a 15-year-old female bear, sparking outrage from environmentalists. Local authorities Friday launched a search for the animal involved in the attack, which they believe is a bear known as Hvala and which was brought from Slovenia in 2006. There are believed to be around 20 brown bears surviving in the Pyrenees mountains, eight of which are in the Aran region. One regional official, Francesc Boya, demanded that the bears be captured and withdrawn. “Aran and the Pyrenees are not the African savanna, they are populated regions where contact between people and the environment is very direct,” he told the regional parliament in Aran.
BASQUE’S DEMO FOR INDEPENDENCE Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets in the Basque region of Spain, demanding the right to a referendum on independence. The regional government had originally planned to hold a vote on Saturday, but the proposal was declared illegal by Spain’s Supreme Court. Organisers say 20,000 people joined rallies in six Basque towns. In another sign of protest against the court’s ruling, there were explosions at two Basque railway stations. The governing Basque Nationalist Party had hoped to consult the electorate on Saturday on negotiations towards a full referendum on independence within two years. But last month, Spain’s Supreme Court declared the plan unconstitutional. During Saturday’s march, police had to separate Basque nationalist demonstrators from a rival rally by a far-right party - which proclaimed that Spain would never be divided. Overnight, there was a very
different protest in the form of explosions at two Basque railway stations. Shortly after midnight, a small bomb brought down the ceiling of a ticket hall in the town of Berriz. Two hours later, petrol bombs were hurled at ticket machines in the nearby town of Amorebieta. There were no injuries. Speaking at the EU-Asia summit in Beijing, the Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, condemned the attacks and said terrorists would be punished. Police are investigating whether the bombings were the work of the armed separatist group ETA or young nationalist sympathisers. Mr Zapatero has portrayed the proposed referendum as political manoeuvring ahead of regional elections next March. But in a newspaper interview, the head of the regional government - Juan Jose Ibarretxe - said Madrid had shown an arrogant disregard for the rights of the Basque people.
ANOTHER AIRLINE BITES THE DUST Hundreds more UK tourists, due to be flown out on Friday by Majorca-based LTE International Spain, were able to take up their holidays as planned after replacement flights were found for them. The low-cost service, based in Las Palmas, flies to destinations including Majorca, Tenerife, Barcelona, Malaga and Alicante from UK airports. Holiday company Cosmos said around 350 of its passengers due to travel to Tenerife with LTE would instead fly out with UK holiday airline Monarch. Cosmos added that about
350 Britons due to return from Tenerife to the UK with LTE would now fly back to Manchester airport with Monarch. LTE’s demise follows a number of airline collapses in recent weeks. Last month, UK company XL Airways ceased flights and in the weeks before that another British carrier, Zoom, stopped operations. Luxury transatlantic carriers MAXjet, Eos and Silverjet have all stopped operations in recent months and aviation experts have warned that many more carriers could bite the financial dust over the coming weeks.
SPAIN WANTS PLACE AT TOP TABLE Spain wants to be invited to next month’s summit to reform the world’s financial system, due to its economic size and relatively strong banks, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said on Tuesday. “The world’s eighth-largest economy has to have a voice,” Zapatero told a news conference, adding that Spanish bank regulation has been widely praised for avoiding some of the excesses seen in the United States and elsewhere. “We have a contribution to
make,” Zapatero said, adding that he thought an Arab nation should also be invited. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said he wants to include India and China in the summit, together with the world’s richest nations. But Spain was not on the list, despite being home to the biggest bank in the euro zone. Spanish officials were already fuming over the failure of Sarkozy to invite them to an impromptu European summit earlier this month on the financial crisis.
Zapatero does Mr Bean
Friday 31 October 2008
MENORCA SUN
NUMBER OF JOBLESS INCREASES The Spanish Government has admitted that unemployment is set to continue to increase given the financial and real estate crisis. The Ministry of the Economy is now forecasting that it will reach 12.5% next year, following the release of latest numbers today which show it up to 11.3%, the highest rate seen since the start of 2004. Total employment has been destroyed for the first time in 14 years. The new numbers come from the survey of the active population, and are controlled by the National Statistics Institute, and show 217,200 people joined the dole queues in Spain in the third quarter of the year. Most of the job losses came in the construction sector. The Partido Popular economy spokesman, Cristóbal Montoro, said that the numbers were ‘terrible and tragic’ and called on Prime Minister Zapatero to apologise for the ‘social drama’ he was causing.
...meanwhile, more workers needed! Despite a slowing economy, Spain needs 100,000 qualified foreign workers per year until 2012 due to a shortage of IT, health and other professionals, a consultant’s report published yesterday said. In total the country will need between 250,000 and 300,000 immigrants per year - half the amount which has arrived annually in recent years - if low-skilled workers are included, according to the study by Etnia Comunicacion. “The shortage of highly qualified professionals in the technology sector, especially in the Internet area, as well as health professionals, engineers and consultants is starting to become urgent,” it said. Spain’s low birth rate and ageing population were cited by the report, which was based on data provided by the European Central Bank, the United Nations and the OECD, as reasons for the continued need for immigration. There is currently a shortage of 25,000 engineers alone, mostly in the telecommunica-
tions sector, according to industry groups. “Spain needs to change its economic model and is losing opportunities to grow because it is very hard to recruit talented immigrants,” the president of telecommunication business association AETIC, Jesus Banegas, told a news conference called to present the report. “We need a future based on high work qualifications and not on temporary work contracts of low qualifications,” he added. Earlier this month the Span-
ish government said it planned to slash the number of jobs on offer to foreigners recruited in their countries of origin, mostly in low-skilled areas like construction and the services sector. It reduced the total number of professions requiring foreign workers by 35 percent. Speaking at the press conference, Secretary of State for Immigration, Consuelo Rumi, said there remained a “considerable need (for immigrants) in the health, engineering and IT sectors”.
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IN BRIEF Power companies in Spain will have to pay back 1.3 billion € to the Government because of the amount of CO2 they emit, according to sources at the Ministry for Industry. The power companies will meet with the Minister, Miguel Sebastián to discuss the matter this week. Spain lags behind other countries in the amount it spends on research and development, with only 21 Spanish companies among the top 1000 spenders and only Telefónica in the top 100. According to the new numbers released in Brussels today, any of the first nine German companies more than triples the research spending on the top 21 Spanish companies all together. In an interview with the paper El Mundo the President of the Chambers of Commerce in Spain, Gómez Navarro, also an ex Socialist minister, warns that absenteeism in the workplace has doubled in the past three years. He says that unions have to be convinced to stop protecting the lazy.
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Friday 31 October 2008
LETTERS To the Menorcan Sun, I just spent a few lovely days in Es Castell, and really enoyed reading the Menorca Sun. It was witty, funny and original, and was the topic of discussion at the airport between me and some stranded holiday makers - our flight was delayed. The only criticism I heard was about the title of the paper.... The Menorca Sun! But seeing as it’s in Menorca - a sunny place - it kind of makes sense, doesn’t it? Thanks again Menorca Sun! Gilly, by email
Sirs I have had the pleasure of a brief walking holiday on your island, my first visit to Menorca, and I loved every minute of the experience. I have a question that I hope your readers know the answer to. In Mahón, next to the fish market and at the top of the steps leading to the port there are two absolutely magnificent trees with huge trunks and roots. Does anyone know what they are? Dinny, Gloucester
Send your letters to: The Menorca Sun, Carrer Santa Barbara 3/11, Es Castell, Menorca, 07720 or email them to us at hello@themenorcasun.com. Only letters sent with the writer`s full name and address will be considered for publication. The publishers reserve the right to edit letters as appropriate. The deadline for the receipt of letters is noon on Monday.
MENORCA SUN
THIS DAY IN HISTORY 31st October
1517: Protestant Reformation: Martin Luther posts his 95 theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. 1863: The Maori Wars resumed as British forces in New Zealand led by General Duncan Cameron began their Invasion of the Waikato. 1892: Arthur Conan Doyle publishes The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. 1917: World War I: Battle of Beersheba – “last successful cavalry charge in history” 1923: 160 consecutive days of 100 degrees at Marble Bar, Australia begins. 1926: Magician Harry Houdini dies of gangrene and peritonitis that developed after his appendix ruptured. 1940: World War II: Battle of Britain ends – The United Kingdom prevents Germany from invading Great Britain. 1941: After 14 years of work,
drilling is completed on Mount Rushmore. 1951: American soldiers are exposed to an atomic explosion for training purposes in Desert Rock, Nevada. Participation was not voluntary. 1954: Algerian War of Independence: The Algerian National Liberation Front begins a revolt against French rule. 1956: Suez Crisis: The United Kingdom and France begin bombing Egypt to force the reopening of the Suez Canal. 1959: Lee Harvey Oswald attempted to renounce his American citizenship at the US Embassy in Moscow, USSR. 1961: In the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin’s body is removed from Lenin’s Tomb. 1973: Mountjoy Prison helicopter escape. Three Provisional Irish Republican Army members escape from Mountjoy Prison, Dublin, Republic of Ireland after
a hijacked helicopter landed in the exercise yard. 1984: Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is assassinated by two Sikh security guards (riots soon broke out in New Delhi and nearly 2,000 innocent Sikhs were killed). 1993: The Maastricht Treaty takes effect, formally establishing the European Union. 1998: The European Court of Human Rights is instituted. 1998: Iraq disarmament crisis begins: Iraq announces it would no longer cooperate with United Nations weapons inspectors. 2002: A federal grand jury in Houston, Texas formally indicted former Enron Corp. chief financial officer Andrew Fastow on 78 counts of wire fraud, money laundering, conspiracy and obstruction of justice related to the collapse of his exemployer.
Spanish Christmas Lottery The Spanish Christmas Lottery (Sorteo de Navidad or Lotería de Navidad) is a national lottery game organized every year since 1812 by a branch of the Spanish Public Administration, now called Loterías y Apuestas del Estado. The name Sorteo de Navidad was used for the first time in 1892. As measured by the total prize payout, the Christmas Lottery is considered the biggest lottery worldwide. In 2006, if all of the tickets were sold, the total amount payout of prizes would be worth more than €2.142 billion (70% of ticket sales). The total amount of all prizes of the first category called El Gordo (“the big one”) was €540,000,000 which was distributed among 180 winning tickets (billetes) that won €3,000,000 each. The Christmas Lottery is based on tickets which have 5-digit numbers, just like the regular drawing of the Spanish national lottery. Due to the enormous popularity of the game, each set of numbers on each of the tickets is sold multiple times, in several so-called “series”. Moreover, since an entire ticket (called billete) is quite expensive, the tickets are usually sold as tenths (called décimos). On a private basis, or through associations and other organizations, it is also possible to buy or be given
even smaller participations of one ticket. Usually, the price of those participations is incremented by a supplement that is paid as a donation to the intermediary organization. The exact quantity of tickets and series, as well as their price and the exact distribution of prizes, may be different each year. For example, in 2004, there were exactly 66,000 different numbers in 195 series. In 2005, there were 85,000 numbers in 170 series, whereas in 2006 the number of series was increased to 180. The price of an entire ticket (billete) was 200 euro, a tenth (décimo) was 20 euro. According to reports in the press, about 98% of all Spanish people hold at least a small participation of a lottery ticket in the Christmas Lottery each year, even if they do not gamble during the rest of the year (this includes tickets purchased or received as a gift or exchanged with family and acquaintances). Recently, tickets may be available each year as early as August. Lotería Nacional thus expects to pick on the superstition of holidaymakers who may feel they are in a “lucky place”. Since December 18, 1812, the Christmas Lottery drawings are held according to exactly the same procedure each year.
Two big spherical vessels are used. One of them contains several tens of thousands of small wooden balls, representing all ticket numbers. The other one contains fewer wooden balls, representing the prizes to be drawn. In the Lotería Nacional hall of Madrid, pupils of the San Ildefonso school (formerly reserved for orphans of public servants) draw the numbers and corresponding prizes, singing the results aloud in front of the public, while Televisión Española and Radio Nacional de España broadcast. Due to the sheer number of numbers and prizes, this procedure takes about 3 hours. In recent years, more than 4,800 individual numbers won at least €1,000 per billete (€100 per décimo). The probability of winning some prize is roughly 15%. Those who lost will make the commonplace comment that “it’s health what really matters”. Players who just get their money back will often re-invest the prize in a ticket for El Niño, the second most important draw, held before the feast of Epiphany of Jesus (January 6). The two vessels system was the traditional one in Spanish lottery, but now is only used in the Christmas extraordinary. The rest of weekly and extraordinary draws along
the year use five vessels with ten balls each, from where the five figures of the winning number are extracted. The climax of the drawing is the moment in which the Gordo is drawn (in 2006, 3 million euros for each of the 180 billetes (or €300,000 for each of the 1800 décimos) sold with the winning number). Lottery outlets usually only sell tickets for one or two numbers, so the winners of the largest prizes often live in the same town or area or work for the same company. In 2005, the winning number was sold in the town of Vic in Catalonia (population 37,825), whose inhabitants shared about 500 million euro (€300,000 per winning décimo). In 2006, the winning number was sold in eight different lottery outlets across Spain, while the second prize
number (€100,000 per décimo) was only ever sold from a kiosk on the Puerta del Sol in central Madrid. As a misconception in many non-Spanish speaking countries, it is often assumed that the term El Gordo is specific for the Christmas Lottery; some even think that El Gordo is in fact the name of the lottery. However, the real meaning of El Gordo is simply “the first prize” (literally “the fat one” or more accurately “the big one”); other lotteries have their Gordo as well. To add to the confusion, there is a relatively new weekly Spanish lottery game called El Gordo de la Primitiva, which has nothing in common with the Christmas lottery, except the fact that it is organized by the Spanish public lottery entity Loterías y Apuestas del Estado.
Friday 31 October 2008
MENORCA SUN
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MENORCA’S CIVIL DON’T LOSE YOUR VOTE! PROTECTION “No matter how far from the UK you go, your right WORKING FOR THE COMMUNITY to vote goes with you” There are not that many of them here in Menorca but they are always there. Assisting with the aftermath of road accidents, forest fires, heavy rains. They are the Civil Protection units on the island and they are celebrating 5 years of existence in Menorca. There are currently seven groups. One for each of the council areas except Es Migjorn Gran. Co-ordinator of the Mahón group, Fransisco Ferrer Quiruga, commented that the Civil Protection is well recognised on the streets now and, in some cases, is the first service that people ring. The first group was formed in 2003 in Ferrerias. In charge is Pepe Sanchez. He explains, “We are a group of people, about 150 spread throughout the island who are prepared to turn up to assist in the security where there are large gatherings, like fiestas, sporting occasions etc,
to make sure people enjoy themselves in a safe environment.” The Civil Protection units are totally voluntary and often find themselves in positions of risk assisting the police or the fire service. If they are needed. In 2007 the various groups put in 10,000 hours in support of the community. They are available 365 days of the year, 24 hours a day in case they receive a call for assistance. Over the first 5 years, after initially being treated with a little suspicion, a superb relationship has been built between the professionals and the volunteers. Members have a legal requirement to give a minimum of 30 hours a year although the truth of the matter is that every member gives up many more than that. Good people working selflessly for the community at large seeking no form of compensation.
Yorkshire puddings, pubs, and having a good debate over a decent cup of tea with an old friend are just a few things you may miss while you’re overseas. But living abroad doesn’t stop you having your say back home… “No matter how far from the UK you go, your right to vote goes with you” This is the message from the Electoral Commission in a new campaign designed to encourage British citizens living abroad to register to vote in UK elections. The campaign has been launched today (15 September), the United Nations international day of democracy. Approximately 761,000 British expatriates live in Spain but very few are registered to vote in the UK, according to Head of Campaigns and Public Information at the Electoral Commission, Clinton Proud: “There are fewer than 13,500 British expatriates on the electoral register, a tiny fraction of the estimated six
million Britons living abroad. “Many British expats simply don’t realise that they are still eligible to vote in UK elections once they have moved abroad. But even if you are living abroad, as long as you have been registered to vote in the UK at some point within the past 15 years, you can still be on the register as an “overseas voter”. Registered overseas voters are eligible to vote in elections to the UK Parliament and European Parliamentary election. The European Parliamentary elections take place on 4 June 2009, and a UK Parliamentary election can be called at any time between now and 2010. To mark UN international day of democracy and to make sure you have your say as to who represents you, here are three steps to registering: Download an overseas registration form from www. aboutmyvote.co.uk/overseas Sign the declaration and
ask another British citizen living overseas (but not a close relative) to sign the witness declaration Return the completed form as soon as possible to the electoral registration office where you used to live (contact details are available at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk) Once registered, you can vote by post, by using a proxy in the UK or, if you are in the UK on polling day, voting in person. To encourage UK citizens not to lose their right to vote, the Electoral Commission is running a campaign with posters, leaflets and online advertising. Mr Proud added: “Our campaign last year was very successful and we want to build on that this year. We want to reach people wherever they are on the globe and remind them that however far away from the UK they are, they still have their chance to vote back home.”
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Friday 31 October 2008
MENORCA SUN
HALLOWEEN Halloween has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain. The festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture, and is sometimes regarded as the “Celtic New Year”. Traditionally, the festival was a time used by the ancient pagans to take stock of supplies and slaughter livestock for winter stores. The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, now known as Halloween, the boundary between the alive and the deceased dissolved, and the dead become dangerous for the living by causing problems such as sickness or damaged crops. The festivals would frequently involve bonfires, into which bones of slaughtered livestock were thrown. Costumes and masks were also worn at the festivals in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or placate them. In England they continued to practice their deep-rooted, ancient pagan rites well after the arrival of Christianity in the middle of the sixth century. The Church fathers had become concerned that the popularity of non-Christian festivals was growing at the expense of Christian holy days. Pope Gregory I, in 601 issued a decree to his missionaries about the faith and customs of the people whom he wanted to convert to Christianity. Gregory knew that it would be impossible to eradicate the beliefs of the natives totally and so suggested to his priests that they “convert” them whenever possible. If the native people worshipped at a well, or sacred grove, Gregory informed his missionaries to enshrine them to Christ and let the worship
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continue. Gregory’s successor Pope Boniface IV in 609, declared May 13 All Saints’ Day. Unfortunately, while pagans were happy to add All Saints’ Day to their calendar, they were unwilling to give up their existing festival of the dead and continued to celebrate Samhain. Intent on eliminating the ongoing power of the pagan beliefs, Pope Gregory III followed in the footsteps of the earlier Christian leaders and intentionally united the Christian All Saints’ Day to the festival of Samhain. He then moved All Saints’ Day to November 1, which became more commonly known as All Hallows. Because Samhain had traditionally fallen the night before All
Hallows, it eventually became known as All Hallows’ Even’ or Hallowe’en. Previous church leaders to Gregory III discouraged the Samhain tradition of wearing frightening costumes, but Gregory decided instead to allow people to dress up in honor of the saints. Other traditions, such as begging for food and kindling, were made legal by the Church, providing that any food that was given to the beggars would be given to the poor, rather than to appease the spirits. The Church also added a second day to the festival, this fell on November 2 and was called All Souls’ Day and was dedicated to the souls of those who are still left in purgatory.
These souls had to endure the punishment of purgatory for their sins. It was believed that the lighting of candles and the saying of prayers for the dead would shorten the time they were to suffer in purgatory before they would rise to heaven. The Tradition of begging for food soon was replaced with souling or Soul Caking. The idea was for children to go from door to door asking for money to give to the poor and a soul cake to have for themselves. Every cake they would receive, the children would say a prayer for the souls of the dead. Soul cakes were called many different names throughout England such as Saumas or soul mass cakes which were
Friday 31 October 2008
MENORCA SUN
dark fruitcakes, another cake was covered in caraway seeds and made into a bun. The main symbol of Halloween is the latern. Originating in Europe, these lanterns were first carved from a turnip or rutabaga. Believing that the head was the most powerful part of the body containing the spirit and the knowledge, the Celts used the “head” of the vegetable to frighten off any supersti-
tions. The name jack-o’-lantern can be traced back to the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, a greedy, gambling, hard-drinking old farmer. He tricked the devil into climbing a tree and trapped him by carving a cross into the tree trunk. In revenge, the devil placed a curse on Jack, condemning him to forever wander the earth at night with the only light he had: a candle inside of a hollowed turnip.
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Friday 31 October 2008
BUS SERVICES The bus services on Menorca are brilliant! They are clean, punctual and cheap, and they pretty much cover the entire island. To give you an idea of the cost of travel, the most expensive journey is Mahon (Maó) to Ciutadella at 4.25e. Most tickets are under 1.50€. A few words of caution though… some of the services are fairly infrequent, so plan your journey carefully! As mentioned above, the buses are usually spotlessly clean, and they discourage the consumption of food and drink whilst travelling. Also, if you want to show off your tanned beerbelly, you can’t! Shirts must be worn. Only coins and 5€, 10€ and 20€ notes are accepted, so you’ll have to find somewhere else to exchange your hooky fifties! There’s access for the disabled only on Lines 01, 02 and 03. Finally, whilst every effort is made to ensure that these timetables are accurate and up to date, it’s always worth double-checking with the transport companies before travelling.
10 - MAHON-AIRPORT Monday to Sunday Mahon: 5.45, 6.15, 6.45, 7.15, 7.45, 8.15, 8.45, 9.15, 9.45, 10.15, 10.45, 11.15, 11.45, 12.15, 12.45, 13.15, 13.45, 14.15, 14.45, 15.15, 15.45, 16.15, 16.45, 17.15, 17.45, 18.15, 18.45, 19.15, 19.45, 20.15, 20.45, 21.15, 21.45, 22.15, 23.15, 00.15 Airport: 5.55, 6.25, 6.55, 7.25, 7.55, 8.25, 8.55, 9.25, 9.55, 10.25, 10.55, 11.25, 11.55, 12.25, 12.55, 13.25, 13.55, 14.25, 14.55, 15.25, 15.55, 16.25, 16.55, 17.25, 17.55, 18.25, 18.55, 19.25, 19.55, 20.25, 20.55, 21.25, 21.55, 22.25, 23.25, 00.25
01 MAHON-ALAIOR-ES MERCADAL-FERRERIES-CIUTADELLA Approximate journey time between stops: Mahon (10 mins) Alaior (15 mins) Mercadal (15 mins) Ferreries (15 mins) Ciutadella Monday to Friday Mahon: 6.45, 8.15, 9.15, 10.15, 11.15, 12.15, 13.15, 14.15, 15.15, 16.15, 17.15, 18.15, 19.15, 20.15, 21.15, 22.15 23.15, 00.15 Ciutadella: 6.40, 7.40, 8.40, 9.40, 10.40, 11.40, 12.40, 13.40, 14.40, 15.15, 15.40, 16.40, 17.40, 18.40, 19.40, 20.40, 21.40, 22.40, 23.40 Saturday Mahon: 8.00, 10.00, 11.30, 13.00, 16.00, 18.00, 20.00, 21.30 Ciutadella: 8.00, 10.00, 11.30, 14.30, 16.00, 18.00, 20.00, 21.30 Sunday and Public Holidays Mahon: 8.00, 10.00, 11.30, 13.00, 16.30, 19.00 Ciutadella: 8.00, 10.00, 11.30, 14.30, 16.30, 19.00 02 MAHON-ES CASTELL Monday to Sunday (* not Sunday and Public Holidays) Mahon: 7.20*, 7.45*, 8.15*, 8.45*, 9.15, 9.45, 10.15, 10.45, 11.15, 11.45, 12.15, 12.45, 13.15, 13.45, 14.15*, 14.45*, 15.15*, 15.45, 16.15, 16.45, 17.45, 18.15, 18.45, 19.15, 19.45, 20.15, 20.45 Es Castell: 7.30*, 8.00*, 8.30*, 9.00*, 9.30, 10.00, 10.30, 11.00, 11.30, 12.00, 12.30, 13.00, 13.30, 14.00, 14.30*, 15.00*, 15.30*, 16.00, 16.30, 17.00, 18.00, 18.30, 19.00, 19.30, 20.00, 20.30, 21.00 03 MAHON-SANT LLUIS Monday to Sunday (* not Sunday and Public Holidays) Mahon: 7.00*, 8.00*, 8.10*,
8.30, 9.00, 9.30, 10.00, 10.30, 11.00, 12.00, 12.30, 13.00, 13.30, 14.15*, 15.30, 16.00, 17.00, 17.30, 18.00, 18.30, 19.00, 19.30, 20.00*, 20.15, 21.00*, 22.00*, 23.00* Sant Lluis: 7.30*, 7.40*, 8.20, 8.40*, 9.10, 9.40, 10.10, 10.40, 11.10, 11.40, 12.40, 13.10, 13.40, 14.10, 14.20, 14.40*, 15.10 (Sun only), 15.40, 16.10, 16.40, 17.40, 18.10, 18.40, 19.10, 19.40, 20.00, 20.40*, 21.40*, 22.40*, 23.40 14 MAHON-CIUTADELLA EXPRESS BUS – direct Monday to Friday Mahon: 7.00, 8.00, 9.45, 12.45, 14.15, 15.15, 16.45, 17.45, 19.45, 22.15 Ciutadella: 7.00, 8.00, 9.00, 10.00, 11.15, 12.10, 14.15, 15.15, 16.15, 18.10, 19.10, 21.15 21 MAHON-SANT CLIMENT Monday to Saturday Mahon: 7.45, 8.45, 9.30, 10.30, 11.45, 12.45, 13.30, 16.00, 17.00, 18.00, 19.00, 19.40 Sant Climent: 8.00, 9.05, 10.10, 11.10, 12.25, 13.05, 14.05, 16.40, 17.20, 18.40, 19.20, 20.10 Sunday and Public Holidays Mahon: 9.15, 12.15, 15.15, 18.15 Sant Climent: 9.25, 12.25, 15.25, 18.25 21 MAHON-SANT CLIMENTCANUTELLS Monday to Saturday Mahon: 8.45, 12.45, 17.00, 19.00 Canutells: 9.00, 13.00, 17.15, 19.15 No service on Sunday or Public Holidays 31 MAHON-SANT CLIMENTCALA EN PORTER Monday to Saturday Mahon: 9.30, 10.30, 11.45, 13.30, 16.00, 18.00, 19.40 Cala en Porter: 10.00, 11.00, 12.15, 13.45 16.30, 18.30, 20.00 No service Sunday or Public Holidays 31 MAHON-ALAIOR-SON BOU (TORRESOLI & CLUB SAN JAIME) Monday to Saturday Mahon: 7.15, 8.30, 10.00, 11.00, 11.30, 12.30, 14.00, 15.30, 16.30, 17.00, 18.00, 19.00, 20.30, 22.00 Alaior: 7.25, 8.40, 10.10, 11.10, 11.40, 12.40, 14.10, 15.40, 16.40, 17.10, 18.10, 19.10, 20.40, 22.10 Torresoli: 7.40, 8.55, 10.25, 11.25, 11.55, 12.55, 14.25, 15.55, 16.55, 17.25, 18.25, 19.25, 20.55, 22.25 Club Sant Jaime: 7.45, 9.00, 10.30, 11.30, 12.00, 13.00, 14.30, 16.00, 17.00, 17.30, 18.30, 19.30, 21.00, 22.30 Son Bou: 8.00, 9.15, 10.45, 11.45, 12.15, 13.15, 14.45, 16.15, 17.15, 17.45, 18.45, 19.45, 21.15, 22.45 Alaior: 8.15, 9.30, 11.00, 12.00, 12.30, 13.30, 15.00, 16.30, 17.30, 18.00, 19.00, 20.00, 21.30, 23.00 Sunday and Public Holidays Mahon: 8.30, 10.00, 11.30, 13.00, 17.00, 18.30, 20.00 Alaior: 8.40, 10.10, 11.40, 13.10, 17.10, 18.40, 20.10 Torresoli: 8.55, 10.25, 11.55, 13.25, 17.25, 18.55, 20.25 Club Sant Jaime: 9.00, 10.30, 12.00, 13.30, 17.30, 19.00, 20.30 Son Bou: 9.15, 10.45, 12.15, 13.45, 17.45, 19.15, 20.45 Alaior: 9.30, 11.00, 12.30, 14.00, 18.00, 19.30, 21.00 51 MAHON-ALAIOR-ES MERCADAL-FERRERIES-CALA GALDANA Approximate journey time between stops: Mahon (10 mins) Alaior (15 mins) Mercadal (15 mins) Ferreries (15 mins) Cala Galdana Monday to Saturday Mahon: 9.30, 16.45
MENORCA SUN
Cala Galdana: 10.20, 17.05 Sunday and Public Holidays Mahon: 10.30, 17.30 Cala Galdana: 9.20, 16.20 52 CIUTADELLA-CALA GALDANA Monday to Saturday Ciutadella: 10.40, 13.50, 16.50 Cala Galdana: 10.00, 13.20, 16.20 Sunday and Public Holidays Ciutadella: 9.50, 13.50, 16.45 Cala Galdana: 10.20, 13.20, 17.20 53 FERRERIES-CALA GALDANA Monday to Sunday (* not Sunday and Public Holidays) Ferreries: 7.05*, 8.05*, 9.05, 9.40*, 10.05, 11.05, 12.05, 13.05, 15.05*, 16.05, 16.50*, 17.05, 18.05, 19.05, 20.05, 21.05*, 22.05* Cala Galdana: 7.20*, 8.20*, 9.20, 10.20, 11.20, 12.20, 13.20, 14.20, 15.20*, 16.20, 17.05*, 17.20, 18.20, 19.20, 20.20, 21.20*, 22.20* 71 MAHON-ALAIOR-ES MIGJORN GRAN-CALA TOMAS Approximate journey time between stops: Mahon (10 mins) Alaior (15 mins) Es Migjorn Gran (10 mins) Cala Tomas Monday to Saturday Mahon: 8.00, 10.15, 12.30, 15.15, 17.30, 19.45 Cala Tomas: 9.00, 11.15, 13.15, 16.15, 18.30, 20.30 Sunday and Public Holidays Mahon: 8.15, 11.15, 14.15, 18.30 Cala Tomas: 9.00, 12.00, 15.00, 19.15 71/72 ES MIGJORN GRAN-ES MERCADAL Monday to Saturday Es Migjorn Gran: 8.55, 11.10, 13.40, 16.10, 18.25, 20.55 Es Mercadal: 8.25, 10.40, 12.55, 15.40, 17.55, 20.10 Sunday and Public Holidays Es Migjorn Gran: 9.05, 12.35, 15.35, 19.25 Es Mercadal: 8.30, 12.00, 15.00, 18.50 71/72 ES MIGJORN GRANCALA TOMAS Monday to Saturday Es Migjorn Gran: 8.25, 8.45, 10.40, 11.00, 12.55, 13.15, 15.40, 16.00, 17.55, 18.15, 20.10, 20.30 Cala Tomas: 8.45, 9.00, 11.00, 11.15, 13.15, 13.30, 16.00, 16.15, 18.15, 18.30, 20.30, 20.45 Sunday and Public Holidays Es Migjorn Gran: 8.40, 11.40, 12.10, 14.40, 15.10, 19.00 Cala Tomas: 8.55, 9.00, 12.00, 12.25, 15.00, 15.25, 19.15 72 CIUTADELLA-FERRERIES-ES MERCADAL-ES MIGJORN GRANCALA TOMAS Monday to Saturday Ciutadella: 8.00, 10.15, 12.30, 15.15, 17.30, 19.45 Ferreries: 8.15, 10.30, 12.45, 15.30, 17.45, 20.00 Es Mercadal: 8.25, 10.40, 12.55, 15.40, 17.55, 20.10 Es Migjorn Gran: 8.45, 11.00, 13.15, 16.00, 18.15, 20.30 Cala Tomas: 8.45, 11.00, 13.30, 16.00, 18.15, 20.45 Sunday and Public Holidays Ciutadella: 8.10, 11.40, 14.40, 18.30 Ferreries: 8.25, 11.55, 14.55, 18.45 Es Mercadal: 8.30, 12.00, 15.00, 18.50 Es Migjorn Gran: 8.40, 12.10, 15.10, 19.00 Cala Tomas: 8.55, 12.25, 15.25, 19.15
91 MAHON-SANT LLUIS-ALCAUFAR-S’ALGAR (LAS PALMERAS) Monday to Sunday Mahon: 8.30, 9.30, 12.30, 13.30, 15.30, 18.30 Alcaufar: 8.45, 9.45, 12.45, 13.45, 15.45, 18.45 Las Palmeras: 8.55, 9.55, 12.55, 13.55, 15.55, 18.55 S’Algar: 9.00, 10.00, 13.00, 14.00, 16.00, 19.00 92 MAHON-PUNTA PRIMA (SUR MENORCA-INSOTEL-XALOC) Monday to Sunday (* not Sunday and Public Holidays) Mahon: 7.00*, 8.00*, 9.00, 10.00, 11.00, 12.00, 13.00, 14.00*, 15.00*, 16.00, 17.00, 18.00, 19.00, 20.00*, 21.00*, 22.00*, 23.00* Sur Menorca: 7.15*, 8.15*, 9.15, 10.15, 11.15, 12.15, 13.15, 14.15*, 15.15*, 16.15, 17.15, 18.15, 19.15, 20.15*, 21.15*, 22.15*, 23.15* Insotel: 7.20*, 8.20*, 9.20, 10.20, 11.20, 12.20, 13.20, 14.20*, 15.20*, 16.20, 17.20, 18.20, 19.20, 20.20*, 21.20*, 22.20*, 23.20* Xaloc: 7.25*, 8.25*, 9.25, 10.25, 11.25, 12.25, 13.25, 14.25*, 15.25*, 16.25, 17.25, 18.25, 19.25, 20.25*, 21.25*, 22.25*, 23.25* Punta Prima: 7.30*, 8.30*, 9.30, 10.30, 11.30, 12.30, 13.30, 14.30*, 15.30*, 16.30, 17.30, 18.30, 19.30, 20.30*, 21.30*, 22.30*, 23.30* IMPORTANT! All the times given are DEPARTURE TIMES 93 MAHON-BINIBECA Monday to Sunday Mahon: 10.30, 14.00, 17.30 Binibeca 1: 10.15, 14.15, 17.50 Binibeca 2: 11.00, 14.15, 18.00 94 SANT LLUIS-BINIDALI Monday to Sunday (* not Sunday and Public Holidays) Sant Lluis: 8.45, 11.15, 13.15, 18.15, 20.45*, 23.15 Binidali: 9.30, 12.00, 14.00, 19.00, 21.30*, 00.00* BUS FORNELLS Monday to Saturday Fornells to: Arenal d’en Castell: 8.40, 12.15, 16.00 Cala Tirant: 8.40, 12.05, 16.00 Es Mercadal: 9.20, 13.35 (not Sat), 18.00 Mahon: 8.40, 12.05, 16.00 Son Parc: 8.40, 12.05, 16.00 Arenal d’en Castell to: Es Mercadal: 8.50, 19.20 Fornells: 8.50, 13.35, 19.20 Mahon: 9.00, 10.00, 12.00, 16.20, 17.20 Cala Tirant to: Es Mercadal: 9.10, 13.30 (not Sat), 17.45 Fornells: 9.10, 11.20, 13.30 (not Sat), 17.45 Mahon: 8.50, 12.15, 16.05 Son Parc: 8.50, 12.15, 16.05 Es Mercadal to: Arenal d’en Castell: 8.15, 11.45, 14.15 (not Sat) Cala Tirant: 8.15, 11.45 Fornells: 8.15, 11.45 Mahon to: Arenal d’en Castell: 9.30, 11.40, 13.00, 15.00, 17.00 Cala Tirant: 10.30, 12.45, 17.00, 19.00 Fornells: 10.30, 12.45, 17.00, 19.00 Son Parc: 10.30, 12.45, 17.00, 19.00 Son Parc to: Cala Tirant: 11.00, 17.25 Fornells: 11.00, 13.15, 17.25 Mahon: 9.10, 12.35, 16.20 Sunday Fornells to: Arenal d’en Castell: 8.45, 16.45 Mahon: 8.45, 16.45 Son Parc: 8.45, 16.45 Arenal d’en Castell to:
Fornells: 11.20 Mahon: 9.20, 17.20 Mahon to: Arenal d’en Castell: 11.00, 18.00 Fornells: 11.00, 18.00 Son Parc: 11.00, 18.00 Son Parc to: Fornells 11.50 Mahon 9.00, 17.00
NIGHT BUSES CIUTADELLA-SANT LLUIS Friday Ciutadella: 00.00, 03.00 Ferreries: 00.20, 03.20 Es Mercadal: 00.35, 03.35 Alaior: 00.45, 03.45 Mahon Port: 01.00, 04.00 Mahon Bus station: 01.10, 04.10 Es Castell: 01.20, 04.20 Sant Lluis: 01.30, 04.30 SANT LLUIS-CIUTADELLA Friday Sant Lluis: 00.00, 03.00 Es Castell: 00.10, 03.10 Mahon Bus Station: 00.20, 03.20 Mahon Port: 00.30, 03.30 Alaior: 00.45, 03.45, Es Mercadal: 00.55, 03.55, Ferreries: 01.10, 04.10, Ciutadella: 01.30, 04.30, CIUTADELLA-SANT LLUIS Saturday Ciutadella: 23.00, 01.00, 03.00, 05.00 Ferreries: 23.15, 01.15, 03.15, 05.20 Es Mercadal: 23.30, 01.30, 03.30, 05.35 Alaior: 23.45, 01.45, 03.45, 05.45 Mahón Port: 00.00, 02.00, 04.00, 06.00 Mahón Bus Station: 00.10, 02.10, 04.10, 06.10 Sant Climent: 04.20 Es Castell: 00.20, 02.20, 04.20, 06.20 Sant Lluis: 00.30, 02.30, 04.50, 06.50 SANT LLUIS-CIUTADELLA Saturday Sant Lluis: 23.00, 01.00, 03.00, 05.00 Es Castell: 23.10, 01.10, 03.10, 05.10 Mahon Bus Station: 23.20, 01.20, 03.20, 05.20 Mahon Port: 23.30, 01.30, 03.30, 05.30 Alaior: 23.45, 01.45, 03.45, 05.45 Es Mercadal: 00.00, 02.00, 04.00, 06.00 Ferreries: 00.15, 02.15, 04.15, 06.15 Ciutadella: 00.30, 02.30, 04.30, 06.30
IMPORTANT NUMBERS Don’t forget that if you’re using your English phone always add the international dialling code for Spain, 0034, before calling the numbers below. Emergencies - 112 Ambulances - 061 National Police - 091 (urgent) Guardia Civil -062 Local Police - 092 Fire Brigade - 092 Sea Rescue - 971 728 322 Airport - 971 157 000 British Consulate - 971 367 818 Councils Alaior - 971 371 002 Ciutadella - 971 381 050 Ferreries - 971 373 003 Es Castell - 971 365 193 Es Mercadal - 971 375 002 Es Migjorn - 971 370 111 Mahon - 971 369 800 Sant Lluis - 971 150 950 Taxis Alaior - 971 367 111 Ferreries - 971 480 685 & 660 411 965 Ciutadella - 971 367 111 Es Castell - 971 362 779 Es Mercadal - 971 367 111 Es Migjorn - 971 367 111 Mahon - 971 367 111 Sant Lluis - 971 150 641 & 971 367 111 Tourist Information Ciutadella - 971 481 515 Mahon - 971 363 790 The International Dialling Code for the UK is 0044
Friday 31 October 2008
MENORCA SUN
MUSEUMS & HISTORY Bastió de sa Font Plaça de sa Font, Ciutadella Tue to Sat: 10.00-14.00 and 18.0021.00 The Municipal Museum is based in the bastió, one of the few remaining structures from the town’s 17th century fortifications. The permanent archaeological exhibition is worth a visit. Diocesan Museum Seminari 7, Ciutadella Mon to Sat: 10.30-14.00 & 19.3022.30 A small museum housing a diverse mix of archaeological finds, art and ecclesiastical objects. Fort Marlborough Cala Sant Esteve, Es Castell Tue to Sat: 9.30-13.00 & 15.0019.00 Sun: 9.30-13.30 A major fortification built by the British in the 18th century to guard the entrance to the port of Mahón. The visit starts through the underground galleries before emerging into the (now dry!) moat and then up into the battlements. Intelligent use of modern technology helps create a real feel for the age. Fortalesa la Mola La Mola, Mahon Daily: 10.00-20.00 An imposing fortress that dominates the entrance to the Port of Mahon. Built in the mid-19th century to repel the British it later served as a high security prison. Guided tours daily at 10.30, 12.30 and 17.30. Military Museum Plaça de l’Esplanada, Es Castell Mon to Fri and first Sun of the month: 10.00-13.00 Housed in an old barracks on the Esplanada A fascinating little museum that takes you through the island’s rich military history. Museum of Menorca Avda. Dr. Guardia, Mahon Tue to Sat: 10:00-14:00 & 17:0020:00. Sun: 10:00 to 14:00 A fascinating museum situated in a former cloister of a Franciscan monastery. Offers a great insight into the history of the island. Nature Museum C/ Mallorca 2, Ferreries Tue to Sat: 10:00-13:00 & 18:0021:00. Sun: 10:00-13:00 The Museu de la Natura de Menorca is a captivating museum, exhibiting a wide range of the many natural wonders from the island and surrounding areas. Sant Felip Castle Carrer Sant Felip, Es Castell Thur and Sun at 10.00 Twice weekly guided tours around one of 18th century Europe’s key defences.
WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK
SPORT ON TV
Friday 31 October Market: Ciutadella 9.00 to 13.30 Plaça des Born Market: Ferreries 9.00 to 13.30 Halloween Party: Es Castell 21.00 @ Placa des Mercat One for the kids! Halloween Party: Cala en Porter Start 8.00 til late Castillo Sancho Panza Fancy dress disco in aid of charity. Enter if you dare! Halloween Party: Cala en Porter Start 8.00 til late The Fun House Have a hauntingly good night! Jazz: Ciutadella Casino 17 @ 22.00 With Raynald Colom Quartet. Pop/Psycho: Mahón Akelarre @ 23.30 Naughty Noise providing the sounds.
All times given are local
Saturday 1 November Market: Mahón 9.00 to 13.30 Plaça de l’Esplanada Market: Ciutadella 9.00 to 13.30 Plaça des Born Trotting Races: Mahón Hipodromo, Av. J.A.Clavé, 400 @ 17.00. Great entertainment and you can have a beer and a flutter at the same time! Bowls: S’Algar Sant Lluis Hotel @ 10.00 The Menorca Bowls Club meets at the bowls green opposite the San Luis Hotel , S’Algar. Newcomers always welcome. Bowls are available to hire. For further information, please contact the Captain, John Smith – Tel: 971 939 045 Sunday 2 November Flea Market: Mahón Parque des Freginal 9.00 to 13.30 Discover a few hidden treasures! A great place to potter around on a Sunday morning. Trotting Races: Ciutadella Hipodromo, Torre del Ram, Cala’n Blanes @ 11.30. More horsey fun! Bingo: Es Castell The Delfin @ 20.00 Prize bingo at the Deli on C/ Gran.
Monday 3 November Market: Es Castell 9.00 to 13.30 Plaça de l’Esplanada Market: Sant Lluis 9.00 to 13.30 Plaça de Sa Creu Bowls: S’Algar See Saturday for details. Tuesday 4 November Market: Mahón 9.00 to 13.30 Plaça de l’Esplanada Market: Ferreries 9.00 to 13.30 Jazz: Sant Climent Casino, Sant Jaume 2 @ 21.30 Menorca’s longest established jazz club. The Dancing Horses: Ferreries Son Martorellet, C/ Cala Galdana @ 20.30 A magical display of many different riding styles. One for the kids. Tickets from 6€ to 18€. Wednesday 5 November Market: Es Migjorn Gran 9.00 to 13.30 Market: Es Castell 9.00 to 13.30 Plaça de l’Esplanada Bowls: S’Algar See Saturday for details. Thursday 6 November Market: Alaior 9.00 to 13.30 C/ Reverendo Huguet Market: Fornells 9.00 to 14.00 C/ de ses Roques Market: Cala’n Porter 19.00 to 23.00 Plaça de Mevis The Dancing Horses: Ferreries See Tuesday for details. Live Jazz/Blues: Mahon Akelarre Jazz Bar, Moll de Ponent 42 Regular Thursday night jazz and blues jam session with the Lou Deach Quintet. Quiz: Es Castell The Delfin @ 20.00 Get the old brain cells working at the Delfin’s weekly pub quiz. Teams of up to four.
RUGBY LEAGUE Friday 31 October Samoa vs Tonga World Cup 8.55 Sky Sports 2 Sunday 2 November Fiji vs France World Cup 07.25 Sky Sports 2 New Zealand vs PNG World Cup 9.30 Sky Sports 2 Sunday 2 November England vs Australia World Cup 9.30 Sky Sports 1 Wednesday 5 November Ireland vs Samoa World Cup 8.00 Sky Sports 1 Scotland vs Fiji World Cup 10.10 Sky Sports 1 FOOTBALL Saturday 1 November Everton vs Fulham Barclays’ Premiership 14.45 Sky Sports 1 Cardiff vs Wolves Championship 19.20 Sky Sports 1 Spurs vs Liverpool Barclays’ Premiership 19.30 Setanta Sports 1 Sunday 2 November Derby vs Nottm Forest Championship 15.15 Sky Sports 1 Hearts vs Celtic SPL 16.00 Setanta Sports 1 Bolton vs Man City Barclays’ Premiership 18.00 Sky Sports 1 Monday 3 November Birmingham vs Coventry Championship 21.45 Sky Sports 1 Newcastle vs Aston VIlla Barclays’ Premiership 22.00 Setanta Sports 1 Tuesday 4 November Roma vs Chelsea Champions League 21.45 ITV4
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Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid Champions League 21.45 ITV1 Wednesday 5 November Celtic vs Man United Champions League 21.45 Sky Sports 2 Arsenal vs Fenerbahce Champions League 21.45 Sky Sports Xtra Thursday 6 November Slavia Prague vs Aston Villa UEFA Cup 21.45 Channel 5 F1 Sunday 2 November Brazilian Grand Prix 19.00 ITV1 RUGBY UNION Saturday 1 November Northampton vs Llanelli Anglo Welsh Cup 16.30 BBC1
Watch Sky and/or Setanta Sports in the following bars (please note that not all of these bar have Setanta Sports, always check first!); Es Castell Scandals Delfin Teapot Punta Prima The Blue Anchor Sebastian Place El Foro Cala en Porter Galleon Champs (has Showtime) Irish Bar Village Pub Poolside Bar Salamandra Binibeca Bar Palomino Cala Galdana Black & White Bar Pub Mississippi Son Bou Kit Kat Bar Sant Tomas Bar Halley Sant Tomas Cala’n Bosch McCarthy’s Karaoke
ARE YOU ORGANISING AN EVENT? THEN LET US KNOW AND WE’LL INCLUDE IT IN THE LISTINGS. hello@themenorcasun.com
CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS If you want your social or sporting organisation to be included in our listing then simply drop us a line at hello@themenorcasun.com. Menorca Cricket Club Founded in 1985 the M.C.C. are based at the delightful Biniparrell ground which is to be found on the road between S’Ullestrà and Llucmaçanes in the Sant Lluis area. Games are played most weekends and spectators are very welcome. www.menorcacricketclub.com Age Concern The island’s Age Concern have
a shop on C/ Padera 39 in Es Castell. Membership Secretary is Sheila Cox 659 185 407. Menorca Bridge Club The club meets every Wednesday evening at 7.15 at the Hotel Port Mahón. Call Janet Brown 971 188 856. Menorca Bowls Club The Menorca Bowls Club meets at the bowls green opposite the San Luis Hotel, S’Algar on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Meet 10.00 for a 10.30 start. Newcomers always welcome. Bowls are
available to hire. For further information, please contact the Captain, John Smith – Tel: 971 939 045
production of ‘Allo ‘Allo. The company are always on the look out from new talent. Chris Coleman 696 434 787.
Red Cross Call 648 168 034
MenHoCa Futbol 7 Doing the Brit community proud in Menorca’s 7s league. They train in Malbuger. Lee 659 987 362.
Es Castell Brass Band A new venture supported by the local council. If you play a brass instrument and would like to get involved then call Dave on 663 459 245.
The Picadero Art Group They meet at the El Picadero restaurant every Tuesday at 10am. Call Liz Quayle on 647 237 210.
Menorca Charity Players Currently in rehearsals for their
Rotary Club of Menorca Meets on Tuesdays at La Minerva
on the port in Mahón. Masonic Lodge Call Jeremy McHale on 971 361 606. Royal British Legion Call Geraldine Dogget on 971 188 210.
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Friday 31 October 2008
SUDOKU
MENORCA SUN
Welcome back from Mars if you don’t know how to do Sudoku! Do we really need to explain it? Good, we didn’t think so! Solutions on page 15.
EASY-PEASY
SCRIBBLE PAD
BALLBREAKER
Rugs, sofas, hard floors, marble, wood, terraces PROFESSIONALLY CLEANED Tel: 692 826 385
LAUGH? I NEARLY WET MY KNICKERS! TRIVIA
PUB QUIZ
This bloke sees a sign in front of a house “Talking Dog for Sale.” He rings the bell and the owner tells him the dog is in the back garden. The guy goes into the garden and sees a dog sitting there. “You talk?” he asks. “Yep,” the mutt replies. “So, what’s your story?” The mutt looks up and says “Well, I discovered this gift pretty young and I wanted to help the government, so I told the MI6 about my gift, and in no time they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leader, because no one guessed a dog would be eavesdropping. I was one of their most valuable spies eight years running. The jet-
1. Who played Ororo Munroe, a.k.a. Storm, in the 2000 film X-Men? 2. Which sport would you associate Toby Flood with? 3. For which 1908 novel is author Kenneth Grahame best known? 4. Which long-running children’s TV show originally featured puppets called Sunshine and Moony? 5. Named after a character he played in a 1969 film, what is the name of the ski resort in Utah that Robert Redford bought in 1968? 6. With which snooker player would you associate the nickname the Hurricane? 7. Which group teamed up with Baddiel and Skinner for the 1996 number one hit “3 Lions”?
ting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn’t getting any younger and I wanted to settle down. So I signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security work, mostly wandering near suspicious characters and listening in. I uncovered some incredible dealings there and was awarded a batch of medals. Had a wife, a mess of puppies, and now I’m just retired. The guy is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog. The owner says “Ten quid.” The guy says he’ll buy him but asks the owner, “This dog is amazing. Why on earth are you selling him?” The owner replies, “He’s such a liar.”
Celery has negative calories. It takes more calories to eat a piece of celery than the celery has in it to begin with. Pineapples are classified as berries. Italians eat a 1,500,00 tons of spaghetti every year. Chopsticks are called “ohashi” in Japan and “kwai-tse” in China. The cashew nut in its natural state contains a poisonous oil. Roasting removes the oil and makes the nuts safe to eat. In the Middle Ages, chicken soup was believed to be an aphrodisiac. Cabbage is 91% water. The average person ingests about a ton of food and drink each year. Cheese is the oldest of all man-made foods.
WEATHER 8. What was the name of Tintin’s dog? 9. Who had a number one hit in 1962 with the song “Telstar”? 10. In which film does Nicole Kidman play a brain surgeon called Claire Lewicki? Answers Page 15
Tarot Readings-15Euros. Treat your friends or Family to a Birthday Chart for Xmas from 20 Euros Call Jackie today 971389041 9598251
DO YOU NEED A... GENERAL HANDYMAN DECORATOR BUILDER Anything Considered Very Experienced Tel: 616 528 104
Friday 31 October 2008
MENORCA SUN
PROPERTY WANTED
Plot of 900m2 in Punta Grossa/Arenal - 35,000€ Son Ilar - Garage of 50m2 - 65,000€ Apartments 2 bed Es Castell - 129,000€ 2 bed Es Castell - 150,000€ Cala Corb front line sea views - 175,000€ Sea view Es Castell - 175,000€ 1 bed with pool and parking - 179,000€ 3 bed Es Castell - 185,000€ 2 bed, pool, parking and gardens - 188,000€ 1 bed ‘El Pino’ with pool and parking - 190,000€ 2 bed ‘Castellmar’ pool, parking sea views - 195,000€ Mahón 4 bed, 2 bath - 250,000€ Cala Torret sea view - 259,000€ Houses 2 bed Es Castell - 220,000€ 2 bed Es Castell - 227,000€ 2 bed Sol del Este - 250,000€ 3 bed house with 90m2 garage - 260,000€ 3/4 bed with sea views in Son Vilar - 250,000€ Small farmhouse Son Vilar - 275,000€ Villas Santa Ana 3 bed with plot and space for pool - 400,000€ A selection of rental properties for short term or long term from 500€ per month. Also available are villas, shops, businesses and plots. www.propertymenorca.com Andy Tysoe (API Registered) Colegiado No. 599 Mobile: 617 812 024 Next door to Banco Santander (Es Castell) Free parking opposite. _____________________________ PROPERTY TO LET _____________________________ TO LET apartment in Cala en Porter. 6/12 month. Renewable rental. €500 p/m winter, €600 p/m summer. 2 bedrooms, ground floor, fully equipped, communial gardens, large pool. Tel: 971 377 184 mob: 686 887 237 (mornings) Villa to rent. Cala n Porter. All year round. 800€. Tel: 619 866 162 Villa to rent. November 2008 May 2009. 550€. Tel: 619 866 162 TO RENT. All year. Beautiful country villa. 4 bed 2 bath. Stable & Paddock. Pool & Hot tub. 850 monthly. 629 605 159 _____________________________ PROPERTY FOR SALE _____________________________ Apartment for Sale. Es Castell. 3 bed (2 double), large lounge/ diner, separate fitted kitchen, full bathroom, woodburner, very light and airy. 185,000€. Tel: Dave 658 183 549 Penthouse in Ibiza. Stunning Atico overlooking Ibiza Old Town. 3 beds, 2 baths, fully equipped kitchen, Lounge Diner, balcony, Lift, Double Glazing, Central Heating, Fitted Wardrobes, Air Con, Parking, Alarm, Safe, Security Video Phones, Private roof Terrace of 100sq mtrs with Jacuzzi. Fantastic 360 degree views. 420,000€. Tel:
629 666 453 Georgian Apartment above Cales Fonts, Es Castell. Large d/bedroom, full bathroom, modern fitted kitchen and lounge, large, 15m2 balcony overlooking walled garden with pool.. feature, arched glazed doors to balcony from bedroom and lounge. Deal direct with owners on 0034 618 786 770. _____________________________ COMMERCIAL PROPERTY _____________________________ Traspaso. Pub in Es Castell. Completely legal and Fully equipped. Tel: 629 666 453
Need to sell quickly? Anything considered up to 500,000€ Discretion guaranteed Quick decision Cash Buyer Tel: 971 363 693 _____________________________ SERVICES _____________________________ PROPERTY OWNERS. If you have a property you are thinking of renting for holiday let, well known agent is looking for properties for 2009. All areas of the island, based on weekly seasonal rents, please call Jo for an informal chat about how we could help you or email us on info@finishingtouch.co.uk 0044 (0) 1243 787333 0034 606 055 594 www.finishingtouch.co.uk REMOVALS Local and international. Packing included if required. Hourly ‘Man & Van’ rates. Tel: 971 150 483 FURNITURE FOR SALE Antiques & Modern, Office, Commercial and Household. Objets D’Art. Tel: 971 150 483 FURNITURE RESTORATION Stripping, waxing & polishing, caning, re-upholstery. Rates on Request. Tel: 618 786 770 STORAGE From 1 box to 1 workshop. Versitile, secure storage in our ventilated warehouse. Tel: 971 150 483 HOUSE CLEARANCES Disposal of unwanted household and other items. Professional Service. Tel: 971 150 483 PROFESSIONAL STEAM CLEANING Furniture, carpets and cars. Hard floor cleaning, marble polishing & industrial power washing. Call today! Tel: 692 826 385 EARN MONEY HAVING FUN! All year round. Party plan agents wanted. Good rates of commission. Tel: 618 276 803 SAVE WATER WITH A WARMER
POOL Top quality pool covers fitted to save you money. Tel: 618 276 802 SOFT FURNISHINGS MADE TO MEASURE Curtains, cushions, blinds, bedding etc. Tel: 659 580 028 Interior & Exterior Painting Service. No job too small. Call: 696 735 070 Painting, Tiling, General maintenance. No job too small. Call Warwick 699 006 571 _____________________________ FOR SALE _____________________________ 800 watt generator. Black & Decker Circular Saw 190mm. 14” TV. 696859397 Industrial Gas Plancha. 60 cm x 40 cm. 190€. Tel: 629 666 453 Giant Screen for Sale. 2m x 2m. As New. 150€. Tel: 629 666 453. _____________________________ WANTED _____________________________ Wanted: exercise cycle and small chest freezer. Tel: 618 579 186 _____________________________ LANGUAGE SERVICES _____________________________ Translating Services. Having Trouble with Paperwork? Let us help you at Trafico, Hacienda, etc. Tel: 629 666 453 English Lessons. Tesol qualified. Ring 617 266 384 or mail hodgkinson.mw@gmail.com Professional and bilingual person offers their services for translation. English to Spanish and Spanish to English. Tel: 617 361 714 SPANISH LESSONS. To suit all needs and levels. Experienced tutor. Tel: 971 368 849 or 639 635 136 _____________________________ CARS/BIKES _____________________________ RIEJU MRX pro freestyle motorbike. 74cc, hardly used. Cost over 3,000€ selling for 1,500 0128. Call 610 877 723 FOR SALE. Toyota Rav4 2004.
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Leather seats. Full equip. Sat Nav. Excellent Condition. 629605159 _____________________________
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Friday 31 October 2008
MENORCA SUN
BULLSEYE The Menorca Winter Darts League’s 2008/09 season starts this coming Tuesday and teams are queueing up to overturn reigning champions San Mames from Es Castell. The opening week’s fixtures has thrown together some interesting ties with the pick of the bunch probably Bar Windsor against newly promoted Delfin B. San Mames host the Casino in a match in which the visitors will be keen to surprise the title holders. When asked about his team’s chances of retaining the title, Diego Orfila, owner and player for San Mames threw down the gauntlet and said, “Of course we
will win it again!” Division A Skippys vs Castillo A Castillo B vs Fun House A Anchor vs Hallissys Windsor vs Delfin B San Mames vs Casino Division B Coach vs Sa Grava Delfin A vs Bar Pons Fun House B vs Aloha Smithys vs Fun House C Bar Pins vs Champs The Menorca Sun would like all home teams to text through the result immediately after the game on 628 747 030.
San Mames... confident!
RAÚL MADRID
Footballing legend and regular visitor to Menorca; we take a look at Raúl’s glittering career
Raúl is Real Madrid. As a legend he’s right up there with the likes of Di Stéfano, Puskás, Zidane, Ronaldo and Steve McManaman (okay, maybe not the last named!). Madrid born, the darling of the aficionados and with 650 appearances and 290 goals behind him you’d be forgiven for thinking that he was always destined to wear the famous white shirt. Think so? Then
think again! Raúl Gonzalez Blanco was born in the Madrid suburb of Villaverde Alto on June 27, 1977. After winning his spurs playing for local team San Cristóbal de Los Angeles, for whom he scored goals for fun, his father, a lifelong Atlético fan, signed
him to the Atlético Madrid youth team at the age of 13. That’s right – Atlético, not Real. Raúl, as he was already generally known, even captained the Under 15 Atlético team to the national championship and all the fervent Rojiblanco supporters were longing to see the boy wonder break through into the first team. They reckoned without their infamous president Jesús Gil, former mayor of Marbella and notorious throughout the country. Gil decided that he needed to cut costs at the club and so disbanded the youth policy, releasing all the players. Before anyone had the chance to warn him about losing Raúl, Real Madrid had jumped in and signed him on professional forms and, for Atlético fans, the worst thing possible had happened. Throughout the years, Raúl has haunted his old club, always seeming to score against them. It’s difficult to know which one between Gil and Raúl the fans hate more now! Raúl has spent his entire club career with Real Madrid. He began the 1994-95 season in Madrid’s C-team, scoring thirteen goals in seven games. He became the youngest player (seventeen years and four months) ever to suit up for the senior side, scoring nine times in 28 appearances and winning the 1994-95 league
championship in his first season. In the subsequent fourteen years Raúl has helped Real to another five La Liga titles and three Champions’ league victories – scoring in the 2000 and 2002 games. Indeed, Raúl has played more Champions’ league matches than any other player and is the competition’s all-time leading scorer with 63 goals. He also holds the distinction of having never received a red card at the professional level. Since he was 19, Raúl has worn Real’s number 7 shirt – even David Beckham had to change his number when he signed for Madrid so that Raúl could continue to wear the same shirt. Raúl’s legendary status also extends to his appearnaces in the Spanish team for whom he has a record 44 goals in 102 caps for Spain. He earned his first cap against the Czech Republic in October 1996, and took over the team captaincy following the retirement of Fernando Hierro in 2002. He participated in three World Cups from 1998 to 2006, along with Euro 2000 and Euro 2004, scoring at least one goal in each competition. On March 27, 1999, Raúl scored the 800th goal in national team history during Spain’s 9-0 rout of Austria. He then scored the 900th goal
three and a half years later in a Euro 2004 qualifier against Greece, which Spain won 20. Raúl became the eighteenth player ever to score in three different World Cup finals after netting in a 3-1 group stage win over Tunisia on June 19, 2006. He was not called up for Spain’s victorious Euro 2008 campaign. With nearly 300 goals to his name Raúl’s goal celebrations are commonplace, but what has been very noticeable recently, though, has been that the Real Madrid legend has slightly altered his famous celebration. Raúl has always, since his wedding (which was declared a holiday in Madrid, incidentally) kissed his wedding ring in acknowledgement of Mamen, his wife. Now, in addition, he turns his back to the crowd and, with both thumbs, pointedly shows them the name on his shirt - Raúl – there’s no need to call him Raúl González; there is only one Raúl: sportsman, icon and ambassador for Real Madrid on and off the football field. Oh, and just to finish.
There is one slightly unsavoury Raúl story. Did you know that he is so superstitious that he still wears the same pair of under socks, for every Real game he plays, that he wore for his first ever match for them when he was 15 years old. How odd is that?
Friday 31 October 2008
MENORCA SUN
on the stroke of half time. Higuaín won it though with his second goal of the night after the break, leaving Athletic down in the relegation spots. For the second time this week the fans at the Madrigal stadium saw a feast of goals after Villarreal and Atlético Madrid drew 4-4. Strikes from Simao and Forlán put the visitors two up with only a quarter of the game gone. But Banega was sent off before the interval, and the locals took advantage to score four in the first twenty three minutes of the second half, Senna, Llorente, Gonzalo and Rossi the authors of the goals. However Simao got his second of the night later on, and then floated in a long free kick for Raúl García to head the equaliser with five minutes to go. Sevilla drop out of the Champions League spots though after losing 0-1 to neighbours Málaga, their first defeat of the season. Adrián got the only goal on the quarter hour mark, the first Palop has let in for nine games, and the home side’s challenge ended when Adriano was sent off after the break. Málaga move up to sixth after a record fourth win in a row. Getafe are up to seventh after a 1-0 victory over Valladolid, Cata Díaz heading the winner from Granero’s free kick with half an hour gone. And Mallorca are a place behind them after beating Espanyol 3-0 in a San Moix stadium where the Catalans have not won now in nine years. All the goals came after the break, Aduríz heading the first two from Jurado assists and Varela netting the third. Numancia moved off the bottom of the table after beating Racing Santander 2-1, their first victory since the opening day. Barkero put them ahead in the first half, and although the visitors equalised with a Tchité penalty in injury time, Cisma scored a minute later to tie up the three points. Sporting Gijón moved away from the danger zone though with a 0-3 win at Deportivo, a Barral penalty and goals from Carmelo and Diego Castro taking them level with their opponents in the table.
of the new season then they could have a far better record. With Pooh Jeter and captain Mario Stojic inspirational. The home team had their noses in front at the break with a five point lead but a desperate third quarter when they were outscored 19-6 left them looking down and out. It is to their huge credit that they then dug deep and led by the direction of Pooh Jeter at point guard and the scoring of 19 points Mario Stojic produced a sensational last ten minutes. Trailing 42-49 they outscored the visiors by 28-13 to send the home crowd wild with delight. Pamesa will be disappointed they let this one slide but too many players had an off day with only Albert Oliver doing himself justice with 14 points and 7 boards. It highlighted that nobody
can take anything for granted in the ACB which is why it is such a terrific league and the best in Europe. This weekend ViveMenorca travel to play Gran Canaria for what looks like being a tough game. But wins can be likes buses, you wait a long time for one and then two come along together so the island team have everything to play for. ViveMenorca will be strengthened with new signing Damir Markota Omerhodžić in the line up. Markota is a Croatian international who was an NBA second round draft pick in 2004. Markota, born in the former Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Yugoslavia and escaped from Bosnia during the war and settled in Sweden, where he began to play basketball.
New signing Damir Markota Mario Stojic
FOOTIE TEAM BREAKS DUCK! Menorca Home Care’s footballers have broken their duck!! Playing at San Luis on Sunday morning they finally got off the mark. With a change in the management structure, the same thing happened that occurs throughout the sport at whatever level you play. From playing rubbish one week the exact same players suddenly look like Brazil. 3-2 down at half time, they showed the spirit, team work and commitment to each other required to come back in the second half and take the points with a 5-3 win. This was a very impressive win against a good side. They hope that this will be the turning point if their season. The squad has some very good footballers that should now be capable of climbing the table. Training is still every Tuesday at Malbuger from 7pm.
CHILL OUT SOLUTIONS
BALLBREAKER
For the second time in four days Barcelona scored five early goals to wrap up a match. After the midweek win in Basel, this Saturday they beat Almería 5-0 to head up the table pending Sunday’s games. All the goals this time came in the first half, with Eto’o opening the scoring in the fifth minute after Carlos García could only head Touré Yayá’s pass up in to his path. Henry turned in the second from Messi’s cross, and a rapid passing move between Iniesta and Xavi set up Eto’o for the third. Eto’o completed his hat-trick with a clever back-heel after a great run by Messi, and a frustrated Negredo got himself sent off for an aggressive tackle on Márquez before Dani Alvés drilled a long free kick past his namesake to wrap things up. Earlier in the evening Betis won 0-2 at Osasuna, a result which left the Pamplona based side further down in the drop zone without a win to their name all season. Ezquerro could have given them the lead though in the first half had he not had a goal ruled out for a dubious offside, but a poor defensive wall let through a Mehmet Aurelio free kick to put the visitors ahead five minutes after the restart. And Pavone rubbed salt in the wound late on when he scrambled the ball in to the net after Ricardo had spilled Emaná’s wide free kick, ensuring a victory which takes the Andalusians safely up to mid-table. Valencia held on to top spot after drawing 1-1 at Recreativo tonight. Lucas Alcaraz’s side took the lead when Javi Guerrero set up Camuñas to beat Renan early in the second half. But David Villa scrambled the equaliser past Riesgo a few minutes later after the keeper could only push out Mata’s header to keep the Ches a point ahead of Barcelona. Real Madrid moved up to third, level with Barça on points, after a 3-2 victory over Athletic Bilbao. Goals from Sneijder and Higuaín within the first half hour appeared to have set Bernd Schuster’s team on the road to victory. But Exteberría got one back, and Iraloa levelled the scores with a hotly disputed penalty
The island’s leading basketball team led a charmed life last Sunday to record their first league win of the season at the fifth attempt. Going into the game ViveMenorca were on a 0-4 and Valencia a 3-1 record, but after a frenetic and action-packed game it was ViveMenorca who deservedly picked up their first win against an in form Pamesa Valencia, much to the relief of an ecstatic home crowd and coach Ricard Casas. If things had been different and Menorca had more luck since the start
EASYPEASY
Goals galore and Valencia hold onto top spot
VIVEMENORCA FINALLY OFF THE MARK
1. Halle Berry 2. Rugby Union 3. Wind in the Willows 4. Rainbow 5. Sundance 6. Alex Higgins 7. Lightning Seeds 8. Snowy 9. Tornados 10. Days of Thunder
LA LIGA
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Friday 31 October 2008
MENORCA SUN
Across: 3. Warship (3,2,3), 9. Refund (5), 10. Large flightless bird (3), 11. Command to a horse (3), 12. Automate by computers (11), 14. Effeminate boy (5), 16. Shelter for honeybees (4), 17. Heaps (5), 19. Ripe (6), 20. Organ of sight (3), 22. Bank executive (6), 23. Incident (5), 25. Constituent (4), 26. Thick sweet liquid (5), 28. Brave (11), 30. Filled pastry crust (3), 31. American law enforcement agency (3), 32. Reptile (5), 33. Runaway (8) Down: 1. Crocodile (4), 2. Larva of frogs (7), 4. Desire for food (8), 5. Place where business is conducted (6), 6. Person who works for a wage (4-5), 7. Staggers (5), 8. Covered with dust (5), 13. Commonplace (8), 15. Throttle (8), 18. Without sleep (9), 21. Headset (8), 24. Vagabond (7), 25. Suitable (6), 26. Smell (5), 27. Swift (5), 29. Feat (4)
SCRIBBLE PAD
Second Hand Furniture Bought and Sold Tel: 971 150 483
Congratulations to all us kids who were born before the 80s! First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us and lived in houses made of asbestos. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese, raw egg products, loads of bacon and processed meat, tuna from a can, and didn’t get tested for diabetes or cervical cancer. Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright coloured lead-based paints. We slept on our stomachs and there were no baby alarms in our rooms because they were shared with our brothers and sisters. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets or shoes, not to mention the risks we took hitchhiking. As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts, booster seats or air bags. When our parents went to the pub for a drink we were left outside with a bag of crisps and noone abducted us. We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle. Take away food was fish and chips or pie and chips. No Pizza Hut, McDonalds, KFC, Wimpy, or Subway. We ate meals all together as a family. We all ate the same thing and no-one starved because they
couldn’t eat the meal. Even though all the shops closed at 5.30pm and didn’t open on Sundays, somehow we didn’t starve to death! We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this. We could collect old drink bottles and cash them in at the corner store and buy fruit Spangles, Love Hearts, Fruit Polos, Palm Toffee, Gob Stoppers and Black Jacks and Flying Saucers. We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank soft drinks with sugar in them, but we weren’t overweight because...... WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!! We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. And we were OK. We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. We built tree houses and cubby holes and played in river beds with matchbox cars. We explored streams and ponds, woods and abandoned places, and never drowned or got lost. We did not have Playstations, Nintendos, X-boxes, no video
games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound. We either had no TV at all or else it was strictly limited to 2 channels and one hour of children’s TV a night. We had no TVs or Computers in our bedrooms. We read comics and books and learnt to make them last. There were no mobile phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms.....BUT..... WE HAD REAL FRIENDS and we went outside and found them! We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no Lawsuits from these accidents. Only girls had pierced ears! We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt and the worms did not live in us forever. You could only buy Easter Eggs and Hot Cross Buns at Easter time.......no really! And in December, there was only one festive holiday....... CHRISTMAS ...... and everyone wished each other MERRY CHRISTMAS!
and NOT.... HAPPY HOLIDAYS..... take it or leave it! We were given air rifles and Catapults for our 10th birthdays. We drank milk laced with Strontium 90 from cows that had eaten grass covered in nuclear fallout from the atomic testing at Maralinga in 1956. We rode bikes or walked to a
friend’s house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them! Mum didn’t have to go to work to help dad make ends meet! RUGBY and CRICKET had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn’t had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!! Getting into the team was based on MERIT
AND NOT DUE TO BLACKMAIL, THREATS AND GUILT FROM THE PAST..... strange but true! Our teachers used to belt us with big sticks and leather straps and bullies always ruled the playground at school. The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law! Our parents got married before they had children and didn’t invent stupid names for their kids like ‘Kylie’ and ‘Brooklyn’ and ‘ Paris ‘ and ‘FiFi Trixibelle’ This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever! The past 70 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL! And YOU are one of them! CONGRATULATIONS! You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated our lives ‘for our own good.’ And while you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave their parents were. Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn’t it?!