ISSUE 620• 19th - 25th January 2018
EST 2005
THIS week marks the 52nd anniversary of the Palomares H-bomb incident that shocked both Spain and the World. On January 17, 1966, a national catastrophe occurred as an American B52 Bomber, carrying four hydrogen bombs, collided with a KC-135 refuelling tanker over Almeria, sparking a tragic turn of events. The incident, which killed the entire crew of the KC135 as well as three out of the seven B-52 crew, saw three out of the four Hbombs, on board plummet to the ground while the other fell into the sea. While one suffered damage but did not explode, there were ‘significant explosions’ in the other two, causing devastation to the tiny community of Palomares as radioactive material spread over the town. Despite not exploding to their maximum potential, with each individual bomb allegedly 70 times more powerful than the one that
CREATIVE COMMONS
52 years later: Almeria remembers
RETREIVED: American Soldiers with the hydrogen bomb recovered from the sea. destroyed Hiroshima, some 650 acres of land was contaminated with the radioactive material and an estimated 1,400 tonnes of toxic topsoil and vegetation had to be hauled away. In the aftermath of the event, residents of the 2,000 strong community were left at risk of being exposed to carcinogenic plutonium dust. The United States and Spain have continuously funded annual health checkups for locals since the event, but officials maintain that there were no dangerous levels of the toxin, despite 5 per cent of
those screened showing traces of plutonium in their bodies at the time. In spite of the reportedly relatively clean bill of health, there is still evidence that the nuclear accident continues to affect the area. In 2006, The Spanish Centre for Energy Research (CIEMAT) discovered radioactive snails in the region, while stories of
radioactive poisoning remain prominent as debris from the accident remains in the area. After decades of discussions, a statement was signed in October 2015 by the United States’ government with the intent of assisting Spain with thecleanup process of some 50,000 cubic metres of ‘contaminated soil.’ The deal calls for the removal of the town’s nuclear-contaminated soil, with any waste to be disposed of at a site in the United States. However, that has yet to materialise and it still remains unclear how the Trump administration will view the agreement, signed by Obama, which was not legally binding. The saga continues.
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On the job AN off-duty Guardia Civil officer rescued an 80-year-old man after he had suffered a fall in his home. The elderly man injured his back during the fall at his home in Zurgena, and was unable to move.
Smoked out POLICE in Almeria have seized more than 200 packs of tobacco from a shop in El Ejido. The total seizure of 227 packs of tobacco comes after police stepped up efforts to stop the illegal sales of contraband products.
Bar drama POLICE in Almeria have arrested two people after they allegedly refused to pay for their drinks at a bar before threatening people with a knife. They have reportedly been charged with violent robbery and causing injuries.
News
19th - 25th January 2018
Flying high Almeria Airport records best passenger numbers since 2008 ALMERIA Airport finished 2017 with more than a million passengers using the airport, giving it its best figures since 2008. A total of 1,007,446 passengers used the airport last year, a growth of 9.5 per cent compared to 2016. The majority of travellers, 995,246, flew on commercial flights, with 624,817 travelling abroad and 370,429 travelling to other parts of Spain. The United Kingdom and Belgium had the most passengers visit the airpor t in 2017, followed by Sweden, the Netherlands, The Czech Republic, Denmark and Ireland.
More migrants rescued THE Salvamento Maritimo has rescued more than 140 people from small boats located off the coast of Spain. In total, 144 people were rescued from three boats located in and close to the Alboran Sea, off the coasts off Almeria, Granada and Malaga. Sixteen women and four children are believed to be among those on board the boats, all of whom are reportedly of subSaharan origin. Tweets posted by the Salvamento Maritimo’s official Twit-
ter page stated that the occupants rescued from the first two boats, carr ying 58 and 35 people, have been moved to the Port of Motril in Granada while those on the third boat were transported to Almeria. Spain has seen a dramatic increase in people trying to access Europe from Africa over the past year, with the Provincial Police Station of Almeria reportedly managing the procedures of a record 5,500 migrants who arrived on an estimated 252 boats in 2017.
Several injured in traffic incident RECORD: Almeria Airport posted the best figures since 2008 last year. A total of 12,218 flights w e r e r e g i s t e r e d l a s t y e a r, which was also a 4.1 per cent increase on the previous year.
FOUR people, including a baby, have been injured after a traffic accident on the A-334 in Purchena. Two 19-year-old women, a 20-year-old man, as well as a one-year old were reportedly injured after a vehicle overturned at a roundabout on an industrial estate. They have all since been transferred to the Hospital de la Inmaculada in Huercal-Overa for treatment.
News
19th - 25th January 2018
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Residents’ rage A MEETING has taken place in Albanchez this week to ask for an urgent solution to the ‘illegal’ housing issue in the Valley of Almanzora. Organised by the Abusos Urbanisticos Almanzora NO (AUAN) organistion alongside the Albanchez Residents association (ARA) people turned out in their droves to attend the meeting held at Aklbanchez’s Cultural Centre. The meeting gave residents of the valley affected by the issues the opportunity to present their ideas to solve the problems to a panel made up of Estanislao Beltran, President of Albanchez Residents Association, Maura Hillen, President of AUAN; Marta Bosquet, Member of the Andalucian Parliament
and the national executive of Ciudadanos; Francisco Ramos, provincial coordinator of Ciudadanos; Eduardo Amor, planning lawyer; Benedicto Bonil, technical architect and Ronnie Howley, a town planner. Those who have been affected suggested that houses on asentamientos (houses waiting to be legalised via a town plan) should be allowed to obtain a form of permission known as an AFO. This would then allow them to register ownership of their property and have peace of mind while the legalisation process, which can take up to 10 years, is ongoing. Lawyer and spokes-person for AUAN, Gerardo Vazquez, explained during
the meeting that there was talk of an amendment to give provisional services to houses on asentamientos for a period of two years but thought that “these sort of provisional licences for such short periods of time are of little use, and are certainly of little use to the houses in the Valley of Almanzora.” He added: “To solve this problem an AFO is required. And we are not just saying this now. We said this before during the last reform of the planning laws, when we explained that there was a gap in the last reform because it did not provide a solution for asentamientos. “This is what we are asking for now, simply and plainly, an AFO for houses on asentamientos.”
AUAN
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BUSY: Many attended the meeting.
News
GUARDIA CIVIL
19th - 25th January 2018
A ZEST FOR THEFT: The driver of the vehicle reportedly had 800 kilos of oranges.
Peeling lucky? THE Guardia Civil are investigating a person in Almeria for an alleged theft after finding 800kg of oranges in his vehicle. Officers reportedly stopped the driver on the A-7 motorway after their vehicle was driving abnormally slow and covering both lanes of the road. When officers stopped the vehicle, they reportedly found both rear seats down with the entire back of the car full
of oranges. After initial enquiries, officers allegedly found that the driver of the vehicle had previous records and arrests for similar crimes of theft. Once questioned, the driver allegedly confessed to the theft of the oranges. An investigation is currently ongoing to locate the farm that the oranges came from and their legitimate owner.
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News
19th - 25th January 2018
Reckless driving
NEWS BITES
Equality walk THE third ‘Walk Towards Equality’ organised by the El Valle Women’s Association will take place on Sunday January 21. The walk will begin from the Cantoria Town Hall Square at 9am with breakfast available to purchase. FAMOUS: The tour is one of the most watched cycling events in the world.
Pet parade GARRUCHA’S second pet contest will return to the Plaza de Pedro Gea this Sunday at 11am. There will be a variety of different categories in the competition and pets must be registered at the City Hall by the end of today (Friday).
Scooter patrol LOCAL POLICE in Almeria will be given Segways in order to patrol Almerian beaches. The decision comes as part of this year’s budget among a number of projects throughout the region.
Wheelie exciting ALMERIA is set to host two stages of this year’s Tour of Spain. This year’s Vuelta a España will officially begin in Malaga on August 25 before making its way to Almeria in the fifth stage of the tour, which will finish in Roquetas de Mar on August 29. Riders will enter the Almeria Province through Alpujarra before visiting Alcolea, Laujar, Fondón, Almócita, Padules, Canjáyar , Rágol, Instinción, Íllar, Huécija, Al-
icún, Alhama, Enix, Felix, Vícar and finally ending in Roquetas de Mar. The sixth stage of the 2018 tour will then set off from Huercal-Overa on August 30,crossing through Pulpi before finishing in Mar Menor. Eighteen municipalities in the province will play host to the yearly tour, which is now viewed in an estimated 190 countries and five continents every year worldwide.
YOUNG drivers from Almeria Province are among some of the worst in the country, according to a new report. A new report entitled the ‘Report on Youth at the wheel’ prepared by the Insurance Business Association (UNESPA) with data provided by the Automobile Insurance statistics (ESA) has analysed young people’s driving in Spain. The report uses a one to 10 system to evaluate and measure the probability of accidents among young people of different provinces by incorporating the number of accidents that occurred based on the number of vehicles registered. It found that the worst young drivers mainly came from southern Spain, with the worst results coming from Las Palmas, Cadiz, Sevilla, Pontevedra and Almeria. Some of the safest drivers between the ages of 18 and 25 came from areas such as Soria, Segovia, Cuenca, Ciudad Real, Huesca and Avila. Across Andalucia, women were found to be the better drivers and they were also found to be better drivers in Asturias, Aragon and a large part of Castilla y Leon. The report showed a number of alarming statistics, including a young man who has only had his licence for a year is 3.7 times more likely to have a serious accident than a more experienced driver. This figure drops dramatically to 1.6 times when a man has been driving for 10 years.
News
19th - 25th January 2018
Big spenders
NEWS BITES
Volunteer days
A 46-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested in Almeria after he was allegedly found with more than 140 wraps of hashish inside him. The total estimated weight of the narcotics discovered was 1.019 kilos.
Engine failure TWO men face up to four years in prison after one hid under the bonnet of the other’s van as they attempted to enter the Port of Almeria undetected. A Moroccan man was found lying on the engine when attempting to cross over to Spain.
FREE volunteer training courses for the Association of Families, Parents and Friends of people with intellectual disabilities in the northern area of Almeria (APAFA) are being given by Chirivel’s town hall. The days will take place on January 29, 30 and 31 and February 1.
Clogged up
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IMPRESSIVE: The site was formerly home to the building widely known as the ‘toblerone.’
Toblerone moves on OWNERS of the plot which once housed the famous ‘Toblerone building’ are expected to be given a permit to be able to start work on the site later this month. The company, Suncrest, have applied for a licence to urbanise the space and have plans to build several buildings on the site. A licence request is believed to be in the final stages of the administrative procedure after the owners attended a request made by the plan-
ning department, and the process could be completed within a few days. According to reports, property firm Suncrest plan to create two new streets on the plot, while also creating two, 15-floor buildings as well. Flats in the buildings are reportedly already on sale, with prices ranging from €186,000 for a two-bedroom first floor flat to a staggering €815,000 for a 15th floor, four bedroom apartment.
PEOPLE in Almeria will spend an average of €111 in this year’s winter sales. According to a report prepared by the Consumers Union of Andalucia (UCA-UCE), people in Almeria Province will spend the most in Andalucia on the winter sales. The report was based on a poll-survey which asked the Andalucian population how much they expect to spend on the 2018 winter sales, and what products they expect to buy. On average, Andalucians are expected to spend an estimated 93.87 each on the winter sales with Almeria expected to spend the most at €111, closely followed by Malaga at €104. In comparison, Huelva and Jaen, 82 and 83, are expected to spend the least in Andalucia.
Rooting for Almeria! ALMERIA City has officially presented its candidacy for the Spanish Gastronomical capital in 2019. The bid was officially presented at the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) in Madrid on Wednesday. Mayor, Ramon Fernandez-Pacheco was accompanied by a number of well-known names from the restaurant industry, including two Michelin star Chef Yolanda Garcia of Restaurante Alejandro, La Costa’s Jose Alvarez and Ashal President Diego Garcia, among many others.
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News
19th -25th January 2018
Running to the bank
NEWS BITES
Winter cycle THE Almeria Cineclub has returned with its ‘Cultural Winter’ programme. The next showing is on Friday, January 26 of Spanish film The Bookstore.
Paddle back ALL SMILES: The winners of the women’s race. THE Almanzora Half Marathon raised a staggering €2,200 for the Spanish Cancer Association (AECC). People turned out in their droves to take part and spectate in the event, before it officially began in Huercal-Overa. More than 200 runners followed a 20km circuit around the region before the race eventually finished in the El Recreo Park in Cuevas del Almanzora. There was also a walking race which set off two hours before the race officially started, while a race f o r c h i l d r e n w a s a l s o h e l d o n t h e Av e n i d a d e Barcelona. The men’s category was won by Pedro GonzalezMartinez, then in the women’s race, Maria Del Carmen Ortega Ruiz took first prize, followed by Esther Galvez Jiménez and Alberto Fernandez Martinez respectively. Of the local participants, it was Jose Francisco Gonzalez Cervellera who took first place, closely followed by Elias Manchon Lopez in second and Antonio Jimenez Perez in third. The money raised will now be donated to the town’s AECC branch.
THE Municipal Sports Games (JDM) of paddle will return to Almeria in February. More than 140 players are expected to compete in their different categories in February and March.
Works begin REMODELLING works on Calle Cataluña and La Zanja have begun. As a result of the works, Vera’s Provincial Council has announced that both roads will be closed for the foreseeable future.
Play time THE ‘Revenge of Petra’ play will officially show at the Cuevas de Almanzora theatre tomorrow (Saturday). The play, created by Carlos Arniches, will begin at 9:30pm.
Tapas route THE dates for Garrucha’s third Ruta de la Tapa have been announced. The popular tapas route event will take place between April 13 and 22, with venues to be announced at a later date. Paseo del Mediterraneo 30, Mojacar Playa, Almeria
T: 950 473 104
E: info@mojacarhomeimprovements.com www.mojacarhomeimprovements.com
Athletes race SEVEN athletes from Huercal-Overa’s Athletics EDM have been selected by the Murcia Athletics Federation to participate in the International cross of Italica race. The event, held in Sevilla, is on Sunday, January 21.
News NEWS BITES
Deadline soon ENTRIES to take part in this year’s Garrucha carnival are still open. The deadline to register is February 18 and can be done either at the town hall or by calling 625 296 690.
Sports test THE first Albox Duatlon which will include running and cycling across the town has been announced. Entries are still open to the event that will take place on Sunday, January 28.
Star gazing ALBOX will host a stargazing event at the Federico Garcia Lorca later today (Friday). There will be four sessions, each limited to 25 people, with the first one beginning at 5pm.
19th - 25th January 2018
Cleaning up MAYOR of Mojacar, Rosmari Cano, and the Minister for the Environment and Regional Planning, José Fiscal, have recently visited the works that are being carried out along a 1.5km section of the Río Aguas, in the Laguna de Mojacar. The works, which will come to an end in February, include clearing, forestry treatment and replacing the river bank’s waterway sediments being carried out. The area has been protected for the last 30 years by Almeria’s Provincial Plan for the Protection of the Physical Environment and an estimated €295,625 has been spent since the four phases of work got underway at the beginning of October last year. The naturalisation of the affected area is being done through planting the banks with indigenous species, namely white poplar, tarays and oleander, which are in a group of great CO2-fixers. On this particular subject, the Environmental Minister has stressed that the protection of these ecosystems reinforces the function of those spaces which protect the banks against
VISITING WORKS: Along a section of the Rio Aguas. floods, further establishing the benefits of these ongoing activities in the fight against climate change. Rosmarí Cano also expressed her pleasure at the work, which had been requested by the whole town for a long time due to the danger posed by the bad state of the estuary. The drainage has reportedly been substantially improved in this phase already, with more than 80 per cent treated, so that the longstanding problems that have concerned the Hydraulic Public Domain have been resolved.
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Mojacar RBL Dates for the diary THE Mojacar branch of the Royal British Legion is always putting on different types of social events for its members. You do not need to have served in the Armed Forces to be a member of the Royal British Legion, everyone is welcome. For anyone that would like more information, please contact the Chairman, Andrew Richardson on 682 405 858. February Diary Thursday 1st 11.15am Branch Meeting At Artisan Centre (Centro De Multi Usos). Guest Speaker, Kevin Boorman Friday 2nd 7.30pm Fish ‘N Chips Quiz. Oasis Bar, Palomares, Quiz at 8.30pm. €2 per person Thursday 15th 11.30am Branch Coffee Morning in Mojacar, Tbc. Wednesday 28th 1pm/1.30pm Andalucian Day Lunch at San Bernabe Restaurant, Mojacar. Fur ther details for all of the above from rblmojacar.socialevents@gmail.com. The Royal British Legion’s Mojacar branch are currently on the hunt for a Poppy Appeal Co-ordinator. For anyone interested, please contact Andrew Richardson as above.
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News
19th - 25th January 2018
NEWS BITES
Laugh out loud ARBOLEAS’ Municipal library is hosting laughter therapy and music therapy workshops for women. The final workshops will take place later today (Friday) at 4.30 and 6.30pm.
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APOCALYPSE: The event will see zombies invade Adra.
Zombies invade A ZOMBIE apocalypse will invade Adra on February 9. The IES Gaviota, in the collaboration of the Youth depar tment of the City Council, and the Blacky pub, has organised the event which has already been well received in the past. The event will see participants attempt to survive all night to get prizes. For the zombie apocalypse, the stu-
dents of the IES Gaviota training cycles will be responsible for setting the town up as if it were a zombie invasion. Ti c k e t s f o r t h e e v e n t c o s t €5 p e r person and registrations can be made from 10am to 1pm in the Youth Area at IES Gaviota of Adras and from 5pm to 7pm in Adra’s Cultural Centre.
Shoestring’s new show
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POPULAR theatre group Shoestring Productions will perform their brand new show ‘Hotel La Resistance’ in Mojacar later this month. Back by popular demand, the play will have three showings at the MontMartre restaurant in Mojacar Playa. It will play at 8pm on both Januar y 26 and 27, with a final showing at 3.30pm on Sunday January 28. Limited tickets are still available from the PAW S s h o p s i n M o jacar and Buganvillas and Connexions in Tu r r e , p r i c e d a t €8 each. Proceeds raised by the show will go towards supporting PAWS -PATAS charity.
Theatre show LOCAL Pulpi theatre group ‘Pulpileñ@s.com’ will per form their new show ‘surprise after surprise’ at the town’s Cultural Society Centre. The per formance will take place this Sunday and will begin at 7pm.
Road works PULPI Town Hall has announced that several roads will be repaved as part of a €200,000 project. Calle Las Palmeras, Calle Rambla Nogalte, Calle San Miguel, streets parallel to Coastal Gate Avenue and the exit to Huércal-Overa will all be renovated.
Gym show THE New Year’s exhibition of rhythmic gymnastics, held by Pulpi club Diamonds, has taken place at the town’s Municipal Sports Centre. Children of local schools from Pulpi and neighbouring Zurgena took part in the event.
Judo champ LOCAL Huercal-Overa fighter Francisco Javier Parra Moreno has been crowned the Junior Judo champion of Andalucia in the under 73 weight category. The youngster won the competition earlier this week.
Weekender
19th -25th Jan 2018
Pages 16 -17
& DIY
Get hygge Page 15
Winter warmer Page 23
Feature
Smart devices Page 18
Fitness goals Page 21
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Weekender
Feature
19th - 25th January 2018
Assistance from Assistants THERE are certain things that animals, with their superior senses, know for definite; Mr Tommy Fluffipants knows for definite that I can get dressed in the mornings much more easily and quickly if he helps. At crack of dawn (about 8 o’clock) I emerge from the bedroom clutching an armful of clothes to put on before giving Mr Fluffipants his breakfast. Having been eight hours without food obviously the poor creature is suffering from advanced malnutrition, or so he tells me. He greets me with a lengthy account of his plight, delivered in pathetic squeaks. He winds himself around my legs and rears up to grasp my thighs in his soft little paws as I stagger to the sofa to sit down and dress. He jumps on the sofa and wraps his arms round my shoulders as I
By Jos Biggs
attempt to get my t-shirt over my head and not his. Having super vised that task he grabs my trousers and escorts my legs as far down the leg of the trouser as possible. Now the trainers - he assists me with tying the laces by pouncing on them and killing them - it’s a hard job for a cat, but he knows that I w o n ’t b e a b l e t o t i e t h e m o n m y own. Now, at last, it’s breakfast time, and I follow his fluffy little bottom into the kitchen, where he jumps on ‘his’ table and commences his uniquely squeaked version of ‘Grace Before Meals’ as I put his plate before him. He tucks in, and I am immediately forgotten!
josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk
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Weekender
Feature
19th - 25th January 2018
Chit-chat not cheat-chat by Sandy Shore BANTER is a charming yet misunderstood term. The reason for the confusion is because it appears to be a peculiarly Irish trait. It is the Blarney of those lucky enough to have kissed the Blarney stone. Like most others, the English included, the Irish have their quirks and to banter is one of them. It is often confused with flirting but in fact there is more than a subtle difference between the two terms. Flirting is a harmless preoccupation that knows no national barriers. The French and Italians are notorious skirt-chasers. Why not? Flirting lightens the loads we carry each day. Bantering is chit-chat not cheat-chat. I often explain to the non-Irish the difference between bantering and flirting. Flirting is the kissing cousin of flattery. It is to harmlessly weave one’s words when there is an ulterior motive or suggestion of romance. There is also a difference between flattery and a compliment; the former comes with a
BANTER: A charming yet misunderstood term. price tag attached. Bantering bridges the age gap. The jovial bus driver when pulling the leg of a schoolgirl might say: ‘My, you’re a pretty girl. I bet
you have lots of boyfriends.’ This will of course cause her to blush but this is half the fun of bantering. It is to gently tease without malice. His next target might
be an elderly lady struggling to climb on board: ‘Where’s your mum, young lady, doesn’t she usually help you?’ Banter aims to lift the spirits; it is a friendly verbal handshake. ‘What’s a bad girl like you doing in a nice place like this?’ It is never intended to cause offence though a little blushing is occasionally experienced by the uninitiated. It can be taken as flirting, but so can a wink or doffed cap. When introducing himself to a couple of elegant ladies the banterer might say: ‘my, two loose women on the town.’ This is followed by, ‘I mean two women on the loose.’ Novices need to learn that bantering is just another way of recognising that a stranger is just a friend you have yet to meet. It bridges the stuffiness of a formal introduction. I can’t wait to meet the Queen. The Irish are splendid at banter. For this reason the most popular radio and television presenters were drawn from the Emerald Isle; Gay Byrne, Eamonn Andrews, Dave Allan, Patrick Kelly, Terry Wogan and others of silken tongue.
Home & Garden
19th - 25th January 2018
Weekender
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Get hygge All you need to know about the new obsession with the Danish lifestyle trend THE secret to happiness may have its roots in Danish culture, which is not surprising given the countr y is consistently ranked among the world’s happiest countries every year. ‘Hygge’ is a Danish term which means living with a certain quality of comfort that makes you happy, and has gained global recognition in recent years. The concept is slowly creeping its way into homes all over the world, and encourages surrounding oneself with soothing things like a fresh cup of tea or soft, woolly socks. I t ’s e a s y t o i n c o r p o rate this lifestyle into the home, by putting a few extra candles, blankets and sheep-
skin rugs lying around the house. The key is to surround yourself with things that make you happy - be that a warm fireplace, a dinner par ty with friends or a roll of freshly baked bread. The key to hygge, u n s u r p r i s i n g l y, is ever ything in moderation. While one cup of coffee might bring you that feeling of contentment, another three will likely just leave you feeling feel anxious or agitated. There is also a special emphasis put on artisan and homemade products, as who can argue against the happiness found in a batch of cookies straight from the oven? Or the significance of a hand knitted scarf from a friend or loved
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one? The lifestyle can have a significant impact on your emotional and physical health. The Danes put special emphasis on getting out into the f r e s h a i r, s c h e d u l i n g some ‘me time’ into the diar y and regularly checking out of social media. Taking a walk several times a week will undoubtedly boost fitness levels and ‘me time’ and social media detoxes are known to improve general happiness and well-being. So the next time you feel like life is getting you down, just ask yourself what a Dane would do.
ME TIME: Get hygge when you go home by filling your house with things that make you happy.
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Weekender
19th - 25th January 2018
Spruce up your swim! POOLS in Spain have a tendency to look very similar to one another, but there are a few items that can be added to make your pool stand out from the crowd. There are all sorts of features that can be added to pools to make them look, simple, elegant, clean or just packed with the latest additions. Here are a few that can add that extra little bit of sparkle to your pool. • Built in Spas What more could you want than having a nice swimming pool to cool off from the heat of the Spanish sun, but also having an underwater spa to enjoy while relaxing under the stars? A built-in spa can give you the best of both worlds while you relax and chill out after a cooling swim. • Water features Water features can add elegance to any pool. The sight of cas-
cading water into and around a swimming pool can turn a great pool into a stunning pool. To make your water feature unique, try adding different items to the design such as tiles, stones, or even mosaics. • Added seating Pools at Spanish villas and houses are usually used as a social spot in the summer when hosting WATERFALL: Water friends and family. features can add elegance Added seating such as to a swimming pool. large benches and wrap-around seating can make sure that there is plenty of space for everyone in the pool to relax. • Swim Jets Pools can also be a great way to exercise during the heat as running and cycling can get too hot during the Spanish summer. UNDERWATER SEATING: If you have a small pool, Can make sure there is adding swim jets to your plenty of room for guests. pool can make for a fantastic exercise challenge. By swimming against the swim jets, you can get a really rewarding workout, while they can also act as a deserving massaging option after the hard swim.
HOME & DIY Feature
Playing with light for a new look FINDING the right lighting for every room can make a home look as good as new as light plays a very important part of creating a good atmosphere. There are many different ways to use light to make the most of a home’s potential but it is important to know how to do so, Casaktua property website reports. Here are a few suggestions: Mix lights: using different types of lamp softens lighting and helps give a
sense of warmth and space. Mixing various types of light to create different effects is a good way to illuminate a room. Practical wall lamps : lamps fixed to walls help emphasise the contrast between a room’s centres and the corners and are a cheap way to light spaces where recessed lighting is not an option. Soft, uniform light: lighting should never dazzle and it’s best to avoid shadows. Using soft, uniform lighting is the best way to
Weekender 17 How to make a small bedroom feel bigger
HOME & DIY Feature
LIGHTING: Can help make the most of a home’s potential. make sure it is comfortable to the eye. Candles are another way to help create a unique atmosphere. They give any room a romantic touch and can help create a warm, relaxing feel. Play with mirrors: any already hanging on walls can be used to play with lighting as they reflect everything in front of them, including light. By using them to reflect light, either natural or artificial, smaller rooms can be made to feel bigger.
WITH the majority of expats living in apartments in Spain, bedrooms in particular have seen their sizes reduced in modernday flats. To avoid a cramped feel, ways must be sought to make the best use pos-
19th - 25th January 2018
sible of the limited space available and give an impression of space. Colour is ver y important in this case as it can affect the visual impression of size and space. Ceilings, decorating experts say, should always
be painted white and smaller rooms should have light coloured walls. Dark paint should be avoided at all cost and if a warmer colour is used it should be limited to just one of the walls. Although ideally
WHITE WALLS and linen can avoid visual overload making a room appear cramped.
wardrobes should be built-in to avoid losing more space, if this isn’t an option the sides of the wardrobe should be painted in a light tone and mirrored or glass doors used to give more sense of space. Natural light is another important key to making a bedroom feel spacious. Beds should be placed to face incoming light. When choosing furniture, the colour can make all the difference. White is
usually used to give a sense of space but other colours can work too if combined with other items in the room. For example, dark or wooden furniture can be combined with white or light-coloured materials to avoid overloading the room. As in any small space, mirrors are useful decorative items which are also practical. Yet care must be taken not to use too many and a balance found.
18
Weekender
Property
19th - 25th January 2018
Watch out for the Yeti! A POPULAR new smartphone app that lets you control the smart devices in your home is looking to expand to Spain. Yeti, by a company called Netbeast, connects all your smart devices to simplify the control of your home and lets homeowners control, automate and monitor all their smart devices from anywhere, anytime.
It supports a wide range of smart home devices from lights and wireless speakers to heating and security solutions, offering homeowners comfort, security and convenience. The company claim that with the app, homeowners will allow the home to be simpler as it lets you control all your smart devices with one app instead of many, better as it gives you a variety of features to empower your house, smarter as it helps your devices to adapt to you and your habits and perfectly-tailored as you can choose between local and cloud control. Last year, the app’s owner company Netbeast were selected by Shuttle, a leading Spanish brand for startup accelerators, to participate in its fourth edition of acceleration. Netbeast launched in January last year and has continued to grow 30 per cent monthly while an estimated 15,000 homes now use the brand. The company has now linked up with Crowdcube Spain and is looking to raise €190,000 in funding. They have already received more than two thirds of that target, already securing more than €120,000 from 21 separate investors. Speaking to website Crowdfund Insider, CEO Jon Senra Deark said: ““Our two target goals for 2018 are to expand support to up to 25+ smart home brands which will allow us to target more smart home users and will set up the perfect ground to launch a premium version of Yeti. “The second goal is to secure a partnership with a top real estate promoter within Spain which will allow us to push smart home technology within this market.”
Advertising Feature
Help finding a property in Almeria BUSINESS is booming at Almeria Proper ty Finder which is receiving a record numbers of enquiries and signed two reservation contracts in their first week back to work following the well needed Christmas break. Cathie Saunders, the owner of this busy estate agency said “The diary is filling rapidly with viewing appointments for eager buyers who are ready to move to Almeria this year, keen to settle here prior to Brexit. “We are currently planning our atten-
dance at this year’s proper ty exhibitions where we look forward to enticing many new potential buyers to this beautiful area of Almeria. “If you have a legal property for sale and would like to take advantage of their January offer of a reduced fee with no exclusivity contract and no upfront advertising fees, the team at Almeria Property Finder in Albox would love to hear from you.” Call 950 431 624 or email info@almeri apropertyfinder.com.
20
Weekender
Health & beauty
19th -25th January 2018
AVOCADOH! Why some healthy foods might not be helping you lose fat WHEN on a diet, there is always much more to losing weight than just calorie counting. Ver y few nutritionists and dieticians would recommend solely counting calories; it can lead to a loss in focus on the bigger picture, whereas counting nutrients seems to be the way forward. At the start of the diet, the first thing we seem to get rid of is notoriously fatty foods such as crisps and
chocolate and in come the healthy bunch, nuts, bananas, houmous and avocados and so on. But it must be remembered that just because something is h e a l t h y d o e s n ’t m e a n that it is necessarily always good for you. Avocados are readily available in Spain and undoubtedly have their health benefits, bringing essential fats and proteins to the diet, but can become unhealthy if eaten in excess.
AVOCADOS: Great in moderation.
Specialist dietician Nichola Ludlam-Raine o f N i c ’s N u t r i t i o n e x plained to The Inde-
pendent: “Ever ything can be ‘unhealthy’ if consumed to excess; even water!”
“Foods that are high in fat and low in nutrients, such as fries, doughnuts, crisps, chocolate and cake should definitely be kept to an ‘occasional’ food, but when it comes to foods that are high in fat and high in nutrients we can indeed have them more frequently.” Nutritionists recommend that getting the portion sizes right of these healthy foods, such as avocados and houmous, is essential when losing weight. Portion wise, we should reportedly eat only eat half a large avocado or a small one at a time, whereas houmous should be eaten two to three tablespoons at a time. It is worth remembering that avocados, nut butters and houmous are of course all extremely good for you - but just in moderation.
Health & beauty
19th -25th January 2018
Weekender 21
3 ways to stick to your New Year fitness goals STATISTICALLY, Friday January 12 was the day that most people are likely to give up o n t h e i r N e w Ye a r ’s resolution. According to research conducted by Strava, the social network for athletes, last Friday was officially t h e d a y t h a t p e o p l e ’s motivation begins to fade away. F o r m a n y, f i t n e s s plans are at the forefront of any New Year’s resolution so to avoid being one of many who will undoubtedly lose sight of their New Year goals, here are a few tips to help you not be a quitter. Create a plan, keep a schedule Time management is important when attempting to achieve any goal, whether that be fitness orientated or otherwise. Yo u n e e d t o m a k e time to exercise in your day that still remains convenient for your daily schedule. Determine early on what kind of exercise you plan on doing on what day and also what you enjoy. It can be daunting to train regularly if you have never done it before so make the plan realistic and adjustable as well. Train with a friend
When working out with a friend, many people tend to commit to working out. If you do not attend the session, you are not only letting your goals down, but may also be letting them down too. Enlist the help of a friend who wants to work on the same things as you, so that you can help train e a c h o t h e r, m o t i v a t e each other and continue to see the progress in each other as well.
Set a goal Once you’ve decided on your fitness regime whatever it may be to lose weight, gain musc l e o r j u s t g e t f i t t e r, setting a personal, short term goal is vital. Short term goals are not only easier to achieve but help motivate you for the bigger picture. For example, instead of saying you’re going to lose 10 kilos by April, focus on losing a certain amount every week.
DON’T GIVE UP: Stick to your fitness plans.
Food & Drink
19th -25th January 2018
Eggcellent times ahead ONE of the first things we were successful with here at Olive Tree Farm, was chickens and eggs. Having bought a couple of hens at point of lay some five years ago, it wasn’t long before we started to collect eggs on a daily basis. As the family grew, we needed more eggs, hence more chickens, and from there it went slightly mad! On occasions collecting our bounty, is like taking your life in your own hands. A broody hen, particularly a Bantam (small hen) can be quite ferocious, so you have to be extremely quick. Often distracting mother hen with a tasty morsel was the only way to get to that egg without being hen pecked! We even have one pen, where we have to go in armed with a stick for protection from the feisty cockerel, who is a monster and overly protective of his girls. Oh and following the excitement of collecting your eggs, try to remember not to pop it in your pocket; that can be disastrous, as we have experienced on many a day! As for types of eggs, we now have duck,
guinea fowl, quail, pigeon and even turkey. All are edible, all are different sizes and all are delicious. You can fry, scramble, use in an omelette, poach, bake in the oven or boil. Each works equally well. But if you have a favourite cake recipe, the size difference does not always work. A simple dish of bacon and eggs is simple; it doesn’t really matter, but think about baking and modern recipes and suddenly your different sized eggs, can make or break a cake. A traditional sponge cake recipe going back a few hundred years or so, which always works however, is basically, equal measures of fat, sugar, eggs and self-raising flour. Called a ‘Pound Cake,’ as it was measured using pounds and ounces, you can still recreate it using grams, which tends to be the favoured weights used these days. Next issue I will share the Pound Cake recipe, so you can use free range eggs confidently and be able create a fabulous sponge cake every time.
Winter warmers INGREDIENTS • 1 onion medium chopped • 3 tbs olive oil • 3 carrot large peeled diced • 2 celery stick diced • 1 potato large peeled diced • 1 fresh red chilli deseeded • 500 g passata • 700 ml chicken stock (liquid) • 400 g canned chickpeas drained rinsed • 200 g chorizo sausage diced • 2 tbs fresh flat-leaf parsley chopped METHOD Step 1 – Add the Olive Oil to a large soup pot and heat over a low to medium heat,
LEITHSCOOKING/TWITTER
Chickpea and Chorizo Soup
WARMING: A healthy meal for cold evenings. Once hot, saute the onion, carrot, celery, potato and chorizo in the oil for approximately 10-15 minutes until the vegetables start to be-
come the same colour as the paprika from the chorizo and they begin to soften. Step 3 – Add the passata, stock, chickpeas, salt and pepper, followed by the chili and then cover and simmer for 30 minutes until all the vegetables are soft but still have a crunch. Step 4 – Season again if necessary, add the parsley and then serve. add fresh, crusty bread for an added crunch.
OLIVE TREE FARM was set up about four years ago with the intention of achieving a level of self sufficiency. We have poultry for meat and eggs, goats for milk, rabbits and small pigs for meat and har vest our 70 olive trees each year for oil. We a l s o g r o w a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Weekender 23
24
Weekender
Puzzles
19th - 25th January 2018
Wordsearch Star Wars
Boggled How many English words can you find in the Boggled grid, according to the following rules? The letters must be adjoining in a ‘chain’. They can be adjacent horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Words must contain at least four letters and may include singular and plural or other derived forms. No letter may be used more than once within a single word, unless it appears twice. No vulgarities or proper nouns are permitted.
TARGET:
KENOBI YODA DROID OBI-WAN STAR WARS ANAKIN
EMPIRE TATOOINE HAN SOLO CHE WALKER LUCAS
LEIA DEATH STAR FORCE JEDI WOOKIEE LUKE
Quick
Across 1 Western European kingdom (7) 5 Permit (5) 8 Got away (7) 9 Respond to (5) 10 Dance club (5) 11 Unwilling to share (7) 12 More industrious (6) 14 Giggles (6) 17 Becomes restricted (7) 19 Sugary (5) 22 Tailless, web-footed amphibians (5) 23 Previously (7) 24 Chores (5) 25 Commends (7)
Down 1 Merge (5) 2 Fastening devices (5) 3 Make better (7) 4 Unpretentious (6) 5 Fourth month (5) 6 Bounding (7) 7 Small portable timepieces (7) 12 Financial assistance in time of need (7) 13 Of great consequence (7) 15 Mountainous republic in central Europe (7) 16 Dormant (6) 18 Fertile desert tract (5) 20 Departs (5) 21 Revolves (5)
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
• Average: 19
• Very good: 38
• Good: 26
• Excellent: 49
insofar isomer elemi ewer sort eosin iron ironer anomie anele anew arise arisen ariose arose afire artier foes foemen fora fort femora fern fair fane fanes faro fine fines finer fire firemen frat frier frit inert info infer infra
SCORING: • 4 letters: 1 point • 5 letters: 2 points • 6 letters: 3 points • 7 letters: 4 points • 8 or more letters: 11 points
Cryptic
Across 1 Well, well, they could be seasons (7) 4 Marks spies (5) 7 Studies rushes, on the radio (5) 9 Eric is upset after girl’s greediness (7) 10 Attacks a fool but suffers afterwards (7) 11 Note overdue lift (5) 12 Belts out songs as he signs letters (6) 14 A heap of snow lost at sea (6) 18 Pub credit is rubbish (5) 20 Memory loss is initially a mind numbing experience, so is academia (7) 22 Stuart Goddard’s alter ego is determined (7) 23 Rebukes some driver's lap signals (5) 24 Military blockade includes an Aussie general (5) 25 In the black acetone (7)
Down 1 Burns master's pie (7) 2 Harvests pears, maybe (5) 3 Scattered boxes over Spain (6) 4 Tapes funny series (5) 5 Every other hour ring barmaid for Japanese art (7) 6 Screen showing some Aussie vegans (5) 8 Beam is a part of athleticism I lean towards (5) 13 A new gas made in Dorset town (7) 15 Send a variety for Scandinavians (5) 16 Transfer trains somehow on time (7) 17 Convictions if hats are damaged (6) 18 Catches horse in centre of Brussels (5) 19 Dodge back inside Alfred Avenue (5) 21 Cracked slate is musty (5)
Puzzles
19th - 25th January 2018
IRREGULAR SUDOKU
SOLTIMES STAR QUIZ : ALL ABOUT SHERRY 1. What is the name of the city/municipality in Andalucía that gives its name to the fortified wine, sherry? 2. ‘Sherry’ was the first UK Top 10 hit single for which US vocal group in 1962? 3. The heroine of which 1875 Bizet opera drank sherry at the inn of her friend, ‘Lillas Pastia’? 4. What breed of dogs were ‘Whisky’ and ‘Sherry’, who were surprise Christmas gifts from the Queen to her children Charles and Anne in 1955? 5. What name is given in Britain to a large sherry glass, but in Australia, it is a name for a particular glass size, used for any type of beer? 6. What name is given to the yeast that is allowed to develop in a whitish film on the surface of dry (fino) sherries and similar wines during fermentation? 7. Which famous American actor was the voice behind the long-running
Carlsberg ‘Probably the best lager in the world’ campaign and also promoted Domecq sherry on British television in the 1970s? 8. Which two-act comic opera by Gilbert and Sullivan, which premiered in 1879, features the song ‘Pour, oh pour, the pirate sherry’? 9. Which variety of sherry gets its name from the Spanish word for ‘chamomile tea’, because the wine's flavour is said to be reminiscent of such tea? 10. Which variety of white grape especially used to make sherry and fortified wines shares it name with a horse of light tan or golden colour with creamcoloured or white mane and tail? Not a lot of people know that… according to Guinness World Records (as of December 10, 2013) the most varieties of sherry commercially available is 293, achieved by Bar de Ollaria Ginza (Japan) in Chuo, Tokyo, Japan
Kakuro
Answers 1. JEREZ, full name JEREZ DE LA FRONTERA (although some argue that it originated in Shiraz, Persia), 2. FOUR SEASONS (FRANKIE VALLI AND THE FOUR SEASONS), 3. CARMEN, 4. CORGI, 5. SCHOONER, 6. FLOR, 7. ORSON WELLES, 8. THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE (or, The Slave of Duty), 9. MANZANILLA, 10. PALOMINO
SUDOKU
Weekender 25
Fill all the empty squares using the numbers 1 to 9, so that the sum of each horizontal block equals the ‘clue’ on its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the clue on its top. No number may be used in the same block more than once.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
CrosswordSolutions from last week Quick
Cryptic
Sudoku
Irregular Sudoku
26
Weekender
Leisure
19th - 25th January 2018
YOUR WEEKLY HOROSCOPES ARIES (March 21 - April 20) A conversation with a colleague brings insights into how others live and it is quite an eyeopener. Friendships are particularly important this week. You have been dashing around and maybe not enough thought has gone into how you spend your leisure time.
TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) There is something in you that needs a creative outlet. Perhaps you would like to write a book: memoirs, for instance, take up a craft or paint. Learning a new language would also be satisfying. Certainly, food for the brain and soul are what you should be seeking now.
GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Being very much in demand for your talents this week means less time to spend socially, so it's important to make time for loved ones at the weekend. Someone seeking your advice may simply be seeking your approval for an action they are going to take, anyway.
CANCER (June 22 - July 23) There may be some opposition to your ideas as Pluto turns this week. Perhaps your natural charm just doesn't seem to be working. As you have helped others in the past, make it clear that you expect a bit of co-operation. It is not through lack of will that some people do not offer help.
LEO (July 24 - August 23) This is a week when progress is fast and plans run ahead. Try new ideas and seek information to hone your knowledge. An organisation that is new to you offers insight and social involvement. An offer that thrusts you into the limelight might be avoided at first but would be to your advantage.
VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Although you have perhaps been looking to money-making ideas to progress finances, think also of alternatives. Perhaps there are areas of your lifestyle where money could be saved. Items that are not used could be sold for a profit and rid you of clutter.
LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Having suffered a bit of a setback last week, you may be feeling less confident. Revving up your social life will certainly help to bring spirits up again. Be with people who liven or inspire you in some way and avoid boring or moaning folk.
SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Thoughts come to you, perhaps in dreams, that are creative and energy boosting. Someone who recently moved out of your sphere is sadly missed but is in some ways still a part of you. A person at work who has been causing you concern needs investigation, but the facts may be less alarming than you suspect.
SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) A strong and exciting romantic feeling flows through the week, which is fitting as Valentine's Day comes round again next month. Someone returning from a trip makes you smile and boosts your spirit. People who have been a little bossy of late finally realise that you will not rise to the bait.
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) It's a better week for travel with less likelihood of delays. Should you be feeling a little lethargic and sorry about recent events, just count your blessings. Consider raising some money and having fun at the same time by indulging in a garage or car boot sale. Doing something entirely different can boost your mind and activity levels, which can't be bad. Working with others is a giggle and spills over into your social life.
AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) Spirituality seeps right through the week. As you are feeling particularly sensuous, invite someone special to dinner or on a trip. Visit garden centres and plan ahead. The colours and perfumes will be particularly pleasing.
PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Satisfaction with your love life is paramount this week, and the opinion of others seems important to you. Perhaps you are looking for an excuse to make a change. It is possible, however, that a change is not required so much as a different approach. It is not essential to put all your eggs in one basket.
BOOK REVIEW
The Perfect Nanny
By Leila Slimani
NAMED one of 2018’s Most Anticipated Books by NPR’s Weekend Edition, Real Simple, The Millions, The Guardian, Bustle, and Book R i o t , S l i m a n i ’s T h e P e r f e c t Nanny has been described as one of the most important books of the year. The stor y leads us to Myriam, a French-Moroccan l a w y e r, w h o d e c i d e s t o r e turn to work after having children, she and her hus-
band search for a nanny to look after their two young children. In their wildest dreams they could never have imagined meeting Louise; a quiet, polite woman who sings to the children, is willing to clean the f a m i l y ’s upmarket Parisian apartment and stays late without exception. I f t h a t w a s n ’t e n o u g h , s h e even hosts incredible children’s parties.
Myriam and husband Paul are delighted and can’t quite believe how lucky they are, but as both the family and couple begin to become more dependent o n e a c h o t h e r, s o m e t h i n g about Louise bothers the parents. Louise seems to resent the same family that she is so desperate to be a par t of and jealousy, resentment and suspicions begin to mount. The nanny has a past and the family soon find out. An exhilarating read from start to finish, Leila Slimani has provided a book that has explored current social issues of power, class, race and motherhood.
THE PERFECT NANNY: Explores social issues.
Leisure
19th - 25th January 2018
Weekender 27
SCOTT COOPER’S brand new western Hostiles has been described as grave, sombre and one of the most brutal westerns ever made. Starring Christian Bale, Rosamund Pike and Wes Studi, the film opens in 1892, when legendary Army Captain Joseph Blocker (Christian Bale) is given the task
Film & TV Guide OUR PICK OF THIS WEEK’S MUST-SEE
FILM OF THE WEEK
FINAL CHAPTER: Frodo and Sam embark on the final part of their quest.
GRAPHIC: The western has been described as ‘one of the most brutal ever made.’ terrain that is full of potential danger everywhere they turn. Rosamund Pike, who plays widow Rosalie Quaid, puts in an exquisite perfor-
mance that is truly riveting throughout, while Bale’s performance is his best since he starred as Christopher Nolan’s Batman.
ONE TO WATCH
Shipwrecks: Britain’s Sunken History Saturday, 7pm - 8pm, BBC Four IN the final episode of the three-part series, Maritime historian Dr Sam Willis INVESTIGATIVE: Dr Sam Willis travels to travels to Africa to trace the origins of the Africa to discover more about Britain’s ‘women and children first’ protocol when maritime history. abandoning ship. The famous code of conduct was developed in the Victorian era, while Dr Willis also reveals how the period oversaw trials of several other proposed solutions to high mortality rates at sea, such as life jackets, lifeboats, and rescue line firing rockets.
OUR CHOICE
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The Wonderful World of Puppies: Puppy Talk
Starring: Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian Mckellen, Sean Astin Sunday, 5:05pm - 9pm, ITV2 THE final part of Peter Jackson’s Oscar winning epic, Hobbits Frodo and Sam near the end of their journey into the dark lands of Mordor on their quest to destroy the One Ring. They are confronted by the evil Sauron, who unleashes the full might of his armies on to Middle Earth. Elsewhere, Aragorn must fulfil his destiny of becoming the true king by leading his people into battle against the forces of evil.
Saturday, 6:05pm-7pm, Channel 5 IN episode three of six of the second series, the docu- PUPPY: A five-week-old corgi puppy, Ace, mentary explores how dogs learn to communicate with is introduced in episode 3. not only one another, but their owners as well. While barking may seemingly be the most obvious form of communication, they can actually ‘speak’ far more frequently with their ears, eyes, tails and noses in accordance with a strict code of behaviour. In this episode, we meet a future show-dog Ace, a five-week-old corgi, who demonstrates an impressive array of yelps, growls, leaps and squeaks, while Molly, a pointer, begins elementary training with her owner but struggles to differentiate between human gestures and commands to her.
Hostiles
that he would never imagine receiving. He is given the task of escorting a dying Cheyenne war chief, Yellow Hawk, and his family back to their own tribal land, which he very reluctantly agrees to. After embarking on a harrowing and dangerous journey from Fort Berringer, N M, to the grasslands of Montana, they stumble upon Rosalie Quaid (Rosamund Pike), a young widow whose family was killed while travelling the plains. In a fight for their lives, all the travellers must band together to survive the terrifying
@HOSTILESMOVIE/TWITTER
FILM REVIEW
28
BUILDERS ALMERIA BUILDERS: Fully Legal, Fully Insured, All Work Guaranteed. 659 685 133 www.almeriabuilders.c om (253556)
CARS WANTED CARS WANTED For Cash. Classic Cars & Land Rovers, Range Rovers, Defenders & Discoveries. Please call: 659 685 133 (253556)
CHARITIES/CHURCHES GIRASOL COMMUNITY CENTRE. Mosaic Classes, Art Classes, Karate, Yoga, Thai Chi, Pilates, Health Screening every 6 weeks. For Hire 5.00€ per hour. Tel 639 089 170
Classifieds
19th - 25th January 2018
DRAINAGE THE SPIRITUALIST CENTRE, Benijofar meets at Hamilton´s Bake House, 62 Calle Vicente, Blasco Ibañez, Benijofar 03178. We hold a Sunday Service at 11.30 a.m., a Tuesday Evening of Mediumship at 7 p.m. Open/Development Circles will be held on Thursdays, where you can develop your skills commencing at 6.30 p.m. Spiritual healing is available every Sunday and Tuesday after the service. The Divine Service, with Mediumship, on Sunday 21st January will be taken by Matt and Kirsty Grogan (UK Mediums). The Evening of Mediumship on Tuesday 23rd January, will also be taken by Matt and Kirsty Grogan (UK Mediums). The Divine Service on Sunday, 23rd January will be taken by The Divine Service on Sunday, 28th January will be taken by David Darnbrough. Contact Wendy on 965323028. www.spiritualistcentrebenijofar.com New email is phoenixchurch23@gm ail.com or info@spiritualistcentre -benijofar.com Identificacion Fiscal G54713789.
HEALTH & BEAUTY GIRASOL HEALTH FOOD SHOP, Calle Malaga, Albox. For all your dietary needs, health foods, organic foods, supplements, super food powders, organic eggs and veggie box scheme. Est 2006. Tel 639 089 170
INSURANCE ALBOX/MOJACAR INSURANCE, Award winning Agent for ALL your insurance needs. ALBOX OFFICE: 950 121 943. Mojacar office: 634 323 399
MOTOR INSURANCE
REMOVALS & STORAGE
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INTERNET GET YOUR business noticed online! Make sure that expats in Spain can find your product, service, restaurant, bar or shop. Contact Spain’s newest and brightest online directory TODAY. Call 951 386 161 or email mark.w@euroweeklyne ws.com for more details.
MOTORING WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 902 123 309.
SITUATIONS VACANT WE ARE looking for a full time local reporter for the Almeria edition of our newspaper. Candidates must have relevant experience and Spanish is a bonus. Please contact me for further details jackie@euroweeklyne ws.com
ARE YOU self motivated and hard working? We are looking for administration/telesale s candidates. Experience not essential as full training is given. Applications by email with full CV should be sent to recruitment@eurowee klynews.com.
SOLAR ENERGY SOLAR WIND POWER SOLUTIONS. Over 20 years installation experience. Established 17 years in Spain. Call Phil for competitive prices on 636 261 240 or email info@sunergyalmeria. com (256950)
Services BUILDERS
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See Your Advert Here!!
Next Week
19th - 25th January 2018
CAR VALETING
GARDENING
29
30
Sport
19th - 25th January 2018
SPORTS
A former player, Tony is now the world’s most prolific author of football books with 150 published since 1975. He has also been a PE teacher and a policeman, and is now a quiz-organiser, fundraiser, for various charities, and sports correspondent for Spectrum Radio.
By Tony Matthews
POTENTIAL WINNERS: Can England win the World Cup? could see the first 200,000 crowd at a Rugby Union match. In the other oval ball game, Rugby League CEO Nigel Wood will stand down. There’s a younger crop of talent in tennis but there could still be more titles for Roger Federer and Serena Williams and for starlet Jelena Ostapenko. Injury however, may scupper the hopes of Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Rafael Nadal and Johanna Konta. In golf, and Team Europe, including Ireland’s Paul Dunne, will beat America to lift the Ryder Cup in Paris. The new Shot Clock Masters in Austria is aimed to speed the game up. This ground-breaking
tournament will see players have only 40 seconds per stroke or face penalties for exceeding the allotted time. It’s no gimmick as the event counts towards the Race to Dubai. Elsewhere, Rory McIlroy hopefully will avoid a fourth successive year without a major victor y and Bubba Watson, Adam Scott and Victor Dubuisson will all bounce back to form, Aussie Marc Leishman could win his first major and England’s top women golfers, Georgia Hall and Charley Hull, will qualify for the LPGA Tour in style. GB heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has to beat Joseph Parker to set up a fight CREDIT: @ANTHONYFJOSHUA/TWITTER
IN football, Manchester City - despite last weekend’s 4-3 defeat at Liverpool, their first loss in 30 games - will win an unprecedented quadruple, beating Manchester United in the Champions League on the way! Wolves, Wigan and Luton will gain promotion as champions of their respective Divisions; Alan Pardew will be hailed a hero by keeping WBA in the Premier League; Celtic will clinch their 49th SPL title; Philipe Coutinho will score goals for Barcelona, thus repaying some of his £142m (€160m) transfer fee; Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte will continue to ‘argue’ and given the breaks, who knows England might win the World Cup in Russia! New F1 owners Liberty Media will see Lewis Hamilton win a fifth title with Max Verstappen runner-up, not Sebastian Vettel and Spain’s Fernando Alonso can win the Le Mans 24-hour race in his Toyota. In cricket, and with the Ashes gone, England will hit back by thrashing Australia and New Zealand in limited-overs cricket and they’ll also record Test victories over India, Pakistan (who have more 84mph fast bowlers than any other country) and Sri Lanka, and in the Caribbean, England’s women can add the T20 World title to their World Cup triumph with Danielle Wyatt being named ‘Player of the Tournament.’ In Rugby Union, England, chasing a third successive Six Nations title, will have to overcome Ireland who could derail the chariot at Twickenham on the final day. France will limp home in fourth place. At club level, Saracens’ European dominance ends in the quarter-finals, Exeter romp away with the Aviva Premiership and Leinster complete the Champions Cup and Pro 14 double. American promoter Jason Moore will succeed in staging an England-New Zealand RU international in Denver in June 2018. The players, international federation and the governing bodies all want it to happen, and if it does, we
CREDIT: @ENGLAND/TWITTER
My thoughts and forecasts for 2018
FIGHT ON: Anthony Joshua will take on Joseph Parker in March.
with world champion and Deontay Wilder with the winner possibly taking on Tyson Fury in 2019. Chris Eubank junior (26 wins from 27 fights) and George Groves (27 from 30) will reach the semi-finals of the WBO Super Series at cruiserweight and super-middleweight levels and former world champion Amir Khan will dust off the spiders before facing Kell Brook. Record-breaking racehorse trainer Aidan O’Brien, who saddled 28 Group One winners in 2017, will add more achievements to his CV as will John Gosden, who has Frankie Dettori as his preferred jockey. Prix de l’Arc de Triomphewinning filly Enable and the brilliant Cracksman are both expected to race in this year’s French classic. The winners of all of NH’s ‘big four’ races at the 2017 Cheltenham Festival can readily defend their titles and Sizing John has the potential to be an outstanding, multiple winner. In athletics, Belgium’s World and Olympic champion Nafissatou Thiam is set to hit the headlines big-time, likewise South African Wayde van Niekerk and Mutaz Essa Barshim. The spring-heeled Zic Qatari could topple the 24-year-old high jump world record set by Cuban Javier Sotomayor while Britain’s Mo Farah can win the London Marathon. Sprinter Dina Asher-Smith, 22, is hoping for an injury-free season as she prepares to challenge Netherlands’ Dafne Schippers for the top honours and three youngsters, Jake Wightman, Charlie Grice and Josh Kerr, will also push for track glory. Finally, Team GB will collect a few medals at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang; Adam Peaty will break a few more swimming records; cyclist Chris Froome will again be a force and there could be new world champions in darts, snooker and gymnastics. And I will continue to raise money for various charities in the way of quizzes… so let me know if you are interested in staging one.
19th - 25th January 2018
Bentley plugging in to the hybrid market LUXURY and highend car company Bentley will launch a plug-in hybrid version of its Bentayga SUV at the Geneva auto show in March, the carmaker said. The Bentayga Hybrid will be the brand’s first electrified vehicle and marks the beginning of a roll-out of plug-in hybrid versions of its entire range, as promised a year ago. The hybrid drivetrain is expected to be similar to that of the Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid, which mates a 2.9-litre V-6 with a 136hp electric motor for a combined power output of 462hp. The Porsche can travel up to 48km (30 miles) on electric power alone.
the year, Bentley said, giving US customers the choice of three versions, up from the single W12 model available now. The Bentayga has become the brand’s most popular model, with sales of 5,586 in 2016. Bentley hasn’t released figures for 2017, but overall sales for the brand were slightly down at 7,498 in the nine months to the end of September, VW Group reported in its interim financial statement. Bentley’s outgoing CEO Wolfgang Duerheimer told the Automotive News Congress in January last year that all Bentleys will have a plug-in hybrid option “in the next few years.” The next model to gain the powertrain will be the new Continental GT he said, without giving a time frame.
LUXURY: The high-end car market also looking at a hybrid future. Bentley has gradually increased the engine choice for the Bentayga since the car’s launch in late 2015 with a single 12-cylinder gasoline option. A V-8 diesel model debuted at the beginning of last year and the Volkswagen Group brand will launch a turbocharged V-8 gasoline model in January. The plug-in hybrid model goes on sale the second half of
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Audi give Spanish sneak peek THE hype around the brand new Audi Q8 continues to build as it has recently been spotted in Spain. Having previously been sighted in India, Audi have again teased motorheads after the new stylish alternative to the car giants’ Q7 was captured driving in southern Spain The umasked Audi’s design is sleek, with new headlights a cascading grille and sloping D-Pillar, while the tail lights are concealed. Its sloping roofline adds a more dynamic feel to the car and is a feature that Audi claim won’t affect the headroom at all with the interior offering ‘four equally comfortable and spacious seats.’ While interior images are not yet available it is believed that the Q8 will have similar features to Audi’s flagship sedan A8. Under the bonnet, the Q8 is expected to have a 3.0 litre TFSI six cylinder engine while the motor is attached to an eight-speed automatic gearbox and the engine. There have also been rumours of a 48V mild hybrid setup as well. Despite the recent sightings, it has not been announced when or where the Q8 will officially be unveiled, but it is widely expected to be part of either the Detroit Motor Show or the Geneva Motor Show. The Q8 could be on the market later this year and could cost around €65,000 to €70,000 for entr y level models, SLEEK: The brand new Audi while the range topping SQ8 is estiQ8 is expected to go on mated to start at €100,000. sale later this year.
Motoring