The Almeria Focus - April 2019 by The Almeria Focus

Introduction & Contents

elcome to the Almería Focus Magazine and really useful A-Z Directory for the Levante area, with more than 2000 entries and contact numbers! View it online at www.almeriafocus.com. The Focus is free every month and distributed from Mojácar to San Juan de los Terroros on the coast and inland as far as Albox and Huércal Overa.

Contents Easter & Elections ...............................................................…...10 In the News ........…................…………................................…….12 Samana Santa ........................................................................50 So Now You Know ............................................................................52 The General Elections on April 28th ...........................54 The Run-Up to May 26th ...................................................56 Gibraltar: Tightening the Screw .....................................60 DGT Traffic Laws and Penalties ........................................62 Useful Numbers ................................................................63 A-Z Directory ……………….......……................................................66 Community News ............................................................................109 What’s On ..................................................................................113 Activities, Clubs and Associations ........................................119 Your Stars …..........…………......……........................................…123 Jokes of the Month ………………............................................124 Coffee Break …………………….............................................…126 For general enquiries, call Clare on 670 84 92 65 or email almeriafocus@gmail.com For advertising enquiries, call Lee on 634 32 22 76

The copy deadline for the May issue is April 18th

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Easter & Elections

emana Santa (Holy week) runs from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, the most important period for Christians. This year the dates are April 14th-April 21st and we explain in an article how the amazing Easter processions with enormous religious statues are organised.

In our “What’s On” section we list cultural activities that may be of interest to our readers and many famous names are scheduled to appear for the remainder of spring and the summer months.

April and May are both key months this year for elections, and on April 28th Spaniards go to the polls to elect MPs for a new parliament. Some religious organisations are not at all impressed that full scale electioneering will take place throughout Semana Santa until midnight on Friday, April 26th. Until fairly recent years, two main political parties, the PP and the PSOE (roughly conservative and labour parties), slogged it out at General Elections and one or other won an outright majority. These days are over as new political parties have sprung up, and none of them will obtain enough votes to form a majority. Coalitions will be hammered out Most beach bars are now open, and as Easter is late as to which parties join forces. this year there will be less of a gap between that and the influx of more tourists. The big problem This process will take place in May, but on May 26th for beach bars is heavy wind as going to the beach there are elections for Euro MPs and municipal in this situation is not a pleasant experience. Even elections to determine who runs our town halls for when there are cloudy days, beach bars are still the next four years. We explain in an article how popular. the municipal elections are run, and ex-pat Brits who have signed up to vote can have a major In Andalucía, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, so influence. In most of the autonomous communities April 18th and 19th this year, are both “red” fiestas Spaniards will also go to the polls on the same day days when official offices and some businesses with similar results expected. Autonomous elections shut down. Wednesday, May 1st is a national fiesta took place in Andalucía last December, and a coalition to celebrate “Day of the worker” and the first of three parties took over the running of the Junta Sunday in May, May 5th, is Spanish Mother’s Day, de Andalucía. “Día de la Madre”. During May, children of about 9 years old go to church on a Sunday for their “first A record number of tourists came to Spain during communion” with the girls wearing pretty dresses January, and UK tourists show no sign of not and boys often sporting sailor suits. Before the choosing Spain as their destination. In our “In the construction and financial problems, lavish meals News” section we explain the reasons why tourism followed for relatives and friends with a considerable in Almería province has not seen such a boom as in expenditure, and expensive presents were given to other places in Andalucía. The arrival of the ‘AVE’ the children. If your favourite restaurant is hosting (High speed train) will help to bring tourists here one of these events it will be quite clear! Wednesday, from other parts of Spain but the anticipated date May 15th is a major fiesta in Madrid which celebrates may be 2023. As we move into the summer months the saint’s day of San Isidro. Locally, he is one of there will be many more flights into Almería from the patron saints in Mojácar, Los Gallardos, Turre, the UK and other countries. Sorbas, Tíjola and Tabernas.

In the News IKEA and Almería City IKEA have announced that they are cancelling the opening of large stores in various places in Spain including Tarragona, Alicante, Girona and Vigo. It is stated that instead of major new stores they will be expanding collection centres for online purchases that include the one at present in Almería province at Vicar. They are also expanding the installation of ‘IKEA Design Centres’ in commercial centres. These already exist in Burgos, Badejoz, Vigo and Benidorm. IKEA plan to open a smaller store than normal on the outskirts of Almería city in 2020, and preparatory groundwork and access roads are being made by the company Almería XXI. IKEA has not at present however, asked for a building licence! Consequently, it is not 100% guaranteed that the store will be built.

of the Spanish National Health Service Planning Department, points out that people become ill with no prospect of predicting this in advance, and with no possibility of health staff being able to quickly respond to the completely varied demand. He compares this to the “triage” system in war zones where people with serious injuries are dealt with quickly, and those with minor injuries join a queue. Accident and emergency departments respond to the demands of patients quickly, and people seriously ill such as cancer patients will receive prompt treatment. People needing intermediate treatment have to wait longer. He says that in car factories they plan in advance how many vehicles they are going to produce each day, week, or month, but healthcare professionals can’t do this.

Hospital Waiting Times The relatively new delegate for Almería from the Junta de Andalucía, Maribel Sánchez, and a health delegate recently visited La Inmaculada hospital in Huércal-Overa. This was the first visit since the government of the Junta de Andalucía changed hands with new political parties taking over the parliament. An initiative costing 25.5 million Euros for Andalucía has been announced for 2019 designed to tackle waiting times, intended to cater for 30,000 patients with 9,000 patients being seen in private hospitals to ease the waiting times. Figures from the end of 2018 are that there were 11,700 patients waiting for a surgical appointment and 60,000 waiting for out-patient appointments in various hospitals in Andalucía. As regards Almería province, the figures are given as 5,000 people waiting for a surgical appointment and 17,000 waiting to see a specialist. One claim is that at La Inmaculada hospital a man has to wait 315 days for a vasectomy and waiting times for eye operations are 277 days. The financial investment is designed to reduce waiting times by staff working extra hours and more small operations taking place in out-patient areas. The new government from the Junta de Andalucía are claiming that the previous government had mis-stated the number of people waiting by 50%. José Ramón Repullo, who is in charge

Spanish White Van Men The expression “White van man” was coined in the UK to describe van drivers of medium sized vehicles who are inconsiderate or aggressive. Obviously, this doesn’t apply to all van drivers! With the rise in ecommerce, more and more people are delivery drivers for the various companies (the majority self-employed) and there is an estimated 2.4 million small, medium and large vans on the roads in Spain. There are concerns over the age of the vehicles, delivery schedules and road safety. The DGT (Spanish traffic authority) state that the working conditions of these drivers may be very stressful and this can lead to more accidents from distractions. Accidents involving vans have gone up by 55% from 20122017 and 100% on motorways. People with slight injuries from accidents involving a van are put at 6,000 in 2018 up 32% on 2012, although the number of fatalities is about the same. Emilio Cardero, the Secretary General of the UGT union, considers that the delivery of items ordered online often involves something as simple as a CD, and drivers need to work hard for long hours to earn a living. Other figures are that 44% of the van fleet in Spain are more than 15 yrs old, and 63% are more than 10 yrs old, and these percentages are much greater than for normal cars. The average age of van drivers in Spain is 35-45yrs, and the perception of other

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In the News motorists is that van drivers talk on their mobile phones more than normal drivers, park badly, and exceed speed limits more than other drivers. There are an enormous number of van drivers who are self-employed and have to pay for van insurance, vehicle repairs and ITV (MOT) tests and this may contribute to excessive hours at the wheel. Emilio Cardero states that there has to be a registration system for van drivers and a way of limiting their hours, the same as is in place for lorry drivers.

The Boat People Persons from Morocco and African sub-Saharan countries who set off from various ports and try to get to Spain are 99% persons seeking a better life, and not ones claiming political asylum. Coastguards and customs are often alerted to the presence of boats on the high sea by passing ships, or a person on one of the boats may ring the maritime rescue services that co-ordinates rescues from Italy. Off the coast of Almería and other coastal areas there is a system of sensors that indicate the presence of small craft. In early March a boat was detected 43 nautical miles off the Punta Entinas Sabinar in Almería province and a nine metre long semi-rigid boat was intercepted with 42 men, 11 women and three children. Passengers on these boats are always closely questioned to determine who has organised the journey, and two men aged 21 and 26 who were on the boat were arrested. Each passenger had paid the equivalent of 4,000 Euros and they had been threatened with death if they revealed who the organisers were. On March 14th a terrible tragedy took place when only 22 people out of 67 who set off were rescued and the other 45 people drowned. A woman who comes from El Ejido and is based in Morocco is an activist for the boat people and is often advised that a craft is in difficulties. She was told in a phone message that a boat was sinking and passed on the desperate call for help. The Spanish rescue coordination centre sent out a helicopter and a fixedwing aircraft to find it, but marine craft from Morocco found it first. In February an agreement was signed between Spain and Morocco that any boat people rescued near Moroccan ports would

be taken there, and not Spanish ports. Before then, the vast majority of persons rescued were taken to ports such as Motril, Almería and sometimes Garrucha. Spain has asked the EU for a grant to improve the Moroccan maritime rescue services. In this case the 22 persons rescued that included 7 women were taken back to Morocco. The Spanish Ministry of the Interior has stated that during January, 4,000 boat people arrived in Spain from about 100 boats. In February with the new agreement in force this number fell to just 1,000 people.

Juan Roig

Good Mercadona Results Juan Roig, the president of Mercadona that is owned by the Roig family, shuns publicity but delivers a summary of their trading every year. In a press conference in Valencia he has revealed that in 2018, sales went up by 6% to 24.3 billion Euros with a profit of 593 million, which is 84% more than in 2017. These figures are extremely good as during 2018 the company spent 1.5 billion Euros in improvements and modernizing their chain of supermarkets. Juan Roig stated that in his 1,600 stores they had experienced an average of 50 additional till receipts every day. Mercadona’s share of the market has now gone up to 27% which is three times that of any of their rivals. Two years ago Juan Roig decided that their internet trading was extremely poor and one of his very experienced daughters, in charge of a different department, was given the job of completely reorganising it. Their web pages have been made much easier to

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In the News navigate and there are photos of all the products. The improved system is now operational in Valencia city and another 96 locations nearby, and they are achieving sales of 2.2 million Euros every month from very efficient distribution centres. This July, they will expend this to Barcelona and the surrounding areas there. It is intended that by 2020 they will have more centres which will include ones in Murcia, Alicante, Seville and Málaga. Their new product line “Listo para comer” (Ready to eat) will be extended to another 250 supermarkets with a range of 35 meals. These have been introduced to compete with Carrefour and El Corte Inglés. Juan Roig stated that there were no plans to open any significant numbers of new stores, and their main endeavour was to increase customer services. 400 supermarkets were modernized in 2018 to comply with the policy of more efficient stores with improved customer satisfaction, and 400 more will be added in 2019. Their target is that every supermarket will have been upgraded by 2023. Juan Roig has dipped his toe in the water in Portugal where they are opening 10 supermarkets this year to assess the market.

A Buoyant Spanish Economy Spain is bucking the trend in the Eurozone with a much higher growth and forecasted growth for 2019. The Bank of Spain has published excellent figures from January to March but warns that this could reduce slightly in coming months. In 2018 the Gross National Product in Spain (the balance of trade) went up by 2.5%, but in the Eurozone as a whole the increase was only 1.8%. The Central European Bank has forecast an increase in the Eurozone for 2019 of only 1.1%, but the Spanish organization ‘Funcas’ that is made up of 18 major institutions has put the 2019 increase in Spain to be 2.2%, so double the predicted Eurozone rate. There are various reasons put forward for these optimistic figures. A decrease in unemployment and the rise in the minimum wage have had an effect, and fiscal expansion measures put through parliament since Pedro Sánchez became Prime Minister in June last year. Banks are now more prepared to lend money, so this means more

spending and interest rates are at a minimum. There is also a distinct improvement in the construction industry and this is liable to improve even more. A decrease in the price of petroleum has also had an effect. The US and China trade wars, Brexit, and problems in Turkey have had a negative effect on growth in the Eurozone in general. In Germany their automobile manufacturers have had to adapt to the new EU emission requirements, and there is a lull in the purchase of diesel fuelled vehicles throughout the Eurozone. In Spain these problems for the industry are far less damaging and new car sales are still satisfactory. Pablo Hernández de Cos, the Governor of the Bank of Spain, is stating that the good predictions in Spain have to be treated with some degree of caution. Financial analysts are worried that there might be a deceleration of growth in the Eurozone leading to another recession and all the growth projections may be wrong.

Good Wine Exports Producers of Spanish wine had a bumper year in 2018 and final figures show that their exports amounted to 3.3 billion Euros. Good prices put this amount of money up 3% on 2017, and the average price per litre was 1 Euro 29 céntimos. The total amount of wine was 25.4 million hectolitres, slightly down on 2017. The volume of sales of sparkling wine went up 1.5% and totalled 185 million litres. The principle markets for exports were France, Germany, Italy, Portugal and the UK. Spanish wine producers have been stockpiling wine in the UK as a result of fears regarding Brexit and have taken major warehouse space. A spokesperson for the Association of Spanish Wine Producers has stated that their expected sales in the UK in 2019 were already in place in storage. A World Record Football Match Last month we commented on the second largest number of spectators when two female Spanish league football teams from Atletic-Bilbao and Atlético Madrid played the quarter finals of the Copa de Reina (Queen’s Cup) in Bilbao. 48,000 people turned up on a cold and rainy evening, and the

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In the News previous largest attendance for a male football match at the Bilbao ground was 36,000. On March 17th in the semi-final, Atlético Madrid played against Barcelona at the Wanda Metropolitan stadium in Madrid. The total capacity of the stadium is 67,829 spectators and 60,739 people turned up. This is the European world record for a woman’s football match. The previous record was in 1920 on Boxing Day in the UK at Goodison Park in Liverpool. 53,000 spectators watched the match between Dick Kerr’s Ladies and St. Helen’s Ladies. On March 17th the Barcelona team won 2-Nil and will play the Real Sociedad team from San Sebastián in the final on May 11th. In 1999 at the Rose Bowl stadium at Pasadena in California 90,185 people watched the Woman’s World Cup final between the US and China, so this number is the highest record world-wide.

Flushing Away Urine from Pets In Almería city. new regulations have been approved relating to urine in public areas from pets, particularly dogs. Dog owners will have to carry a bottle that contains water ideally mixed with common vinegar, and this will have to be used where dogs have urinated. Options for additives to the water include bleach, bicarbonate of soda and lemon juice. Dog owners who do not pick up and dispose of excrement can be fined from 120-750 Euros, and the same fines will apply to not flushing away urine. A spokesman from Almería city has stated that apart from the smell and health problems from urine it also damages street lights, traffic lights and building surfaces. It is stated that the regulations in Almería city are already in place in Málaga, Palma de Mallorca and Cádiz. Projects in Mojácar, Bédar and Antas The President of the Almería Diputación (County Council) visited Mojácar, Bédar and Antas at the end of February to see the progress in work that is being carried out to a total cost of 1 million Euros. The majority of this money is being spent on domestic water improvements and rural roads. 320,000 Euros is being spent in Antas, and 500 metres of old pipework is being replaced in Bédar. The President, Javier Aureliano García, inspected

the extension in Mojácar of the road width in Avenida Paris in the village in front of where the new town hall will be built, and the replacement of 3.3km of water pipes and 200 new meters. On the beach area, a 58m2 area for roller skating and skateboarding will be built, and the grants for Mojácar total 600,000 Euros.

Euro MP Elections On May 26th, the same day that the municipal elections take place, voting will also take place for 59 Spanish Euro MPs for the EU Parliament. The last such elections took place in 2014 as Euros MPs are in power for five years, not four. Current surveys indicate that the PSOE party will go from 14 to 16 MPs, the PP party will go down from 16 to 15, and the Ciudadanos party will achieve a substantial increase to 12 MP’s from two in 2014. The Unidos Podemos party are stated to go from 5 to 9 MPs and the ultra-right Vox party who had no MPs in 2014 will gain 6. Prior to Brexit, the UK had 73 Euro MPs but will have none afterwards. Some of these 73 seats have been re-assigned, but the number of Euros MPs will go down from 751 to 705. Non Spanish residents can vote in the Euro MP elections but there is no agreement that ex-pat Brits will be able to vote this year even if they have applied to vote. The reciprocal agreement between the UK and Spain that allows ex-pats to vote in Spain in the municipal elections on May 26th, and Spaniards in future UK elections has not been extended to Euro MPs. This is because after Brexit, Spaniards in the UK can’t vote for Euro MPs as there won’t be any! Zurgena High Court Appeal A corruption scandal in Zurgena from 2003-2007 was given the title “Costurero” when police started their investigations. The court case was concluded in Almería in 2016, but there are various appeals that started to be heard in the Spanish Supreme Court on March 5th. All the offences were related to planning permission with allegations of corruption, and the ex-mayor Cándido Trabalón was given a prison term of six and a half years, a ban on holding public office for 18 years, and fines. The ex-

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In the News councillor for urbanization, Manuel Tijeras, was given a prison term of 30 months, a 14yr ban on holding office, and fines. The court in Almería ruled that from 2003-2007 they granted illegal licences for 1,500 dwellings in the full knowledge that these were illegal. Three councillors were given a prison term of 8 months (so a suspended sentence) and a ban on holding office for 8 years, and the directors of three construction companies received suspended sentences and fines. The court ruled that five dwellings were intended to be occupied by Cándido and his family and were a present from one of the constructors. Various technicians from Zurgena town hall who were proved to have contributed to the offences were also given bans and fines. This is a complicated court case that took a very long time to be held in the court in Almería, and the appeals to be considered by the Supreme Court will not be quick either.

Municipal Elections and April 8th-15th Municipal elections take place on May 26th, and everybody who is on the electoral roll, known as “censo electoral”, can vote. Spaniards on or over the age of 18 on May 26th should automatically be on the electoral roll as will EU residents who voted in the last elections in May 2015, persons from nonEU countries where there are reciprocal agreements, and persons aged 18 who have gone onto the electoral roll for the first time and did this on or before last January 30th. In mid-March, the delegation in Almería city dealing with elections sent out a brief letter (in Spanish of course) to people in Almería province who had registered to vote in the municipal elections for the first time prior to January 30th. This letter confirms that the application has been received and registered, so the recipient can go and vote. If a person who applied to vote has not received this letter there is an 8 day period when mistakes can be rectified, and this year it is from Monday, April 8th to Monday, April 15th inclusive. (Town halls will not be open on the Saturday and Sunday of course). You need to go to the town hall with your stamped copy of the application to vote to see if there is a problem. If there is a genuine mistake for some reason this will

be rectified. This also applies to Spaniards who have only recently been old enough to vote and should have automatically been included. Once a person has registered to vote, their name stays on the voting register for follow-on elections, providing the person is still on the ‘padrón’ (the official list of residents in every municipality). In this case no letter has been sent out. We explain in an article how the municipal elections work.

Fernando Alonso The 2019 F1 season kicked off in Australia in midMarch and for the first time in many years Fernando Alonso was not competing. He pulled out at the end of the 2018 season having experience major problems with the McLaren cars. Despite a change of engine in 2018 the reliability was terrible. He has not given up racing and took part in the US 1,000 mile Sebring endurance race in Florida on March 15th. Driving a Toyota from the Toyota Gazoo marquee, he and his two co-drivers from Switzerland and Japan came in first place having led from start to finish. This race is one of a series, and his team are now 15 points in front. When Fernando was driving he steadily increased the lead and the next races are the 6hr race at Spa-Francorchamps on May 4th, and the Le Mans 24hr race on June 15th & 16th. Fernando and the other two drivers won this race last year in a Toyota. In contrast to his F1 McLaren cars Fernando considers that the Toyota cars are superb. He is still a test driver for McLaren, but in the Australian F1 race on March 17th, Carlos Saenz driving one of the McLaren cars for the first

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In the News time this year retired on lap 11 when his Renault engine caught fire. He had gone from number 18 to number 14 in this short period of time. Unfortunately, a familiar F1 story for McLaren!

Rogelio Mena, Ex-Mayor of Albox In the run up to the municipal elections on May 26th, Rogelio Mena, the ex-mayor of Albox, has found himself to be in exactly the same situation as he was prior to the 2015 municipal elections. In April 2015, his lawyer tried to have a forthcoming court case quashed on the grounds that it “gravely prejudiced his political aspirations in the forthcoming municipal elections” that took place in 2015 on May 24th. Rogelio Mena was standing as a mayoral candidate and councillor for the PSOE political party that had been approved locally, but needed ratification from the party bosses in Almería. In 2014 the national leaders of the PSOE party had ruled that any candidate for any election had to comply with transparency and ethical requirements. The President of the PSOE in the Andalucía Parliament also stipulated that any person involved in a court case that might result in a criminal conviction could not stand for political office. The alleged offences on this occasion related to a refusal to provide details of expenditure from 2013-2014. Rogelio Mena refused to stand down, and the PSOE party in Almería threatened to suspend him from the party. He overcame this by leaving the party with all the other potential PSOE councillors who formed their own independent party. He was subsequently elected mayor but then had to resign after an appeal against a ban on holding public office for 30 months was denied. Rogelio Mena threatened to take his ban to the European Court of Human Rights, but the court in Almería confirmed that he did not have the option of further appeals to any other court. At the end of February this year, he was in court again charged with putting 2,000 Euros worth of expenses through the town hall when the allegation is that they were private and personal expenses. He made trips to Madrid and Burgos and put through bills for meals in Almería city that were all on Saturdays. The ‘Fiscalía’ (Spanish Crown Prosecution Service) was asking for a

suspended prison term of 18 months, a ban on holding public office for 8yrs, and fines. Rogelio Mena claimed in court that the expenses for which he was reimbursed were justified. The judge decided that the explanations Rogelio Mena gave were plausible, and when justified journeys and expenses were followed on by other non-official activities this didn’t matter, but if they think the judge is wrong the Fiscalía can mount an appeal. They are investigating another complaint that the mayor of Albox, Francisco Torrecillas, and a senior council employee refused to supply information that opposition councillors were entitled to request, on six occasions in 2018. The refusals particularly related to the cost of the modernisation of the Colegio la Milagrosa. If charged and convicted, Francisco Torrecillas will almost certainly be given a ban on holding public office for a set period of time, as was Rogelio Mena for the same reasons.

A UK Alleged Criminal Caught in Albox 13 years ago the NCA (National Crime Agency) in the UK launched an initiative entitled “Operation Captura” to locate criminals who had fled justice or escaped from prison and come to Spain. Many criminals thought that they were perfectly safe in Spain and being close to Gibraltar was attractive for those who had plenty of money to hide. The drive to capture criminals has been a major success, and joint UK & Spanish police operations have drastically reduced the number of persons on the “Most wanted lists”. People who think they know where the criminals are living can contact Crimestoppers anonymously and this has been very successful. Over 80 of the 90 people initially targeted have been arrested. Both countries hope that post Brexit the same cooperation will continue. The NCA website currently has photographs and personal details of fifteen persons they want to be arrested and who they believe are living in Spain. In March, agents from the Spanish National Police arrested a 74yr old man living in Albox. He is accused of committing over 50 cases of sexual aggression and abuse from an early age over a period of 44 years from 1956-2000 involving children aged 5-16yrs old who were almost exclusively members of his immediate family. In March in Benidorm, Spanish police arrested a 37yr

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In the News old Brit who is stated to have fled the UK when he found he was being investigated for alleged sex attacks on two teenagers. In both cases the men appeared in court locally, and were then transferred to Madrid where extradition proceedings will take place.

Expenditure in Mojácar The mayoress of Mojácar, Rosa María Cano, is quite convinced that her PP conservative party will gain a majority in the municipal elections that take place on May 26th. To do this her party need a majority of 7 councillors out of the total of 13. In early March the mayoress announced plans to spend 1.4 million Euros on various projects. This includes road improvements and street lighting, the purchase of a road sweeper and two vehicles for the Policía Local, air-conditioning at the art centre and library, 8 beach modules and 50,000 Euros for expropriations of land for the paseo (promenade). Opposition councillors voted against the total package as they considered that not all the items of expenditure were justified.

A Spat Over Gibraltar We explain the latest steps between Spain and discussions regarding Gibraltar in an article, but a silly spat recently became a diplomatic incident. During December, Spanish Fishermen near to Gibraltar complained that the UK National Anthem was being played over an emergency radio channel that had to be kept open at all times. In response the Spanish Naval vessel Infanta Elena sailed close to Gibraltar and played the Spanish National Anthem over the ship’s loudspeakers. This was clearly heard in Gibraltar! The British Ambassador to Spain, Simon Manley, lodged an official complaint but then stated that the primary cause of the complaint was that the Spanish ship went into the territorial waters off Gibraltar. The Spanish Defence Chief of Staff stated that the naval vessel was in the Strait of Gibraltar during a normal maritime surveillance mission and was in Spanish waters at all times. He didn’t comment on the fact that the Spanish National Anthem had been broadcast! As we explain in the article, Spain does not recognise that Gibraltar has any territorial waters, and there have been many occasions when

Gibraltar claims that Spanish vessels have made incursions into their waters and some confrontations have been extremely intense.

January Tourism Figures for February have not yet been released, but the numbers of tourists coming to Spain in January was up on 2018 and there has been a consistent increase for the last six years. A record 4.2 million came to Spain which is 87,000 more than January last year. 807,000 UK tourists came to Spain followed by 500,000 from Germany, although French tourist numbers at 446,000 were down by 9%. 149,000 US tourists came here which is a 26% rise on 2018, and the 141,000 tourists from Portugal was a 21% rise. As may be expected, the favourite locations were the Spanish Islands, always popular this time of the year with 1.6 million choosing the Canary Islands, but 500,000 came to Andalucía which includes Almería province. Total spending was put at 4.7 million Euros, but this amount includes estimated airfares. Daily expenditure was calculated to be 138 Euros per person which is up 5% on 2018, and the average stay was eight days.

‘Deliveroo’ in Almería City The London based Deliveroo food delivery company now operate in Almería city which brings the total number of Spanish cities in which they work up to 18. So far, 30 companies have signed up including Udon, Goiko Grill, Taco Bell and TGB. Deliveroo have 2,500 staff at offices worldwide with 60,000 cyclists that deliver from 80,000 restaurants in 500 cities. In Spain, Deliveroo have been targeted by the Spanish Social Security Department for treating all their delivery staff as being self-employed and Deliveroo do not pay the Social Security Department the amount of money that employers pay for any employee. The Spanish authorities define their delivery operatives as being “false self-employed” persons who have to work a defined number of hours, make a total number of deliveries, and provide their own bicycles. As employees they are entailed to holidays, paid time off if they have accidents, and a basic work contract. Faced with threats of large fines, Deliveroo have agreed that their delivery staff in Spain are employees.

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In the News The Murcia-Corvera Airport Officially, the airport at Corvera has the name Juan de la Cierva Codornío, a famous Spanish aeronautical engineer who is considered the most important inventor from Murcia. Born in Murcia in 1895 he died in Croydon in 1936. His claim to fame is that he invented the autogiro that led to the invention of helicopters, perfecting his design between 1920 and 1923. In 1998 all his documents, patent applications and technical designs went missing although they had been catalogued by Navarro University in 1985. They were known to have been in possession of Juan’s father who was a government minister, but when a comprehensive catalogue of documents relating to his father was made in 1998 they were not there. At the beginning of March a judge authorised police in Murcia to carry out a search at a house in Mar Menor following an investigation that started in Madrid, and 145 photos were located together with complete technical blueprints and specifications and patent documents. The owner of the house had links to a member of the De la Cierva family and it had been thought for a long time that a family member or associate had the complete documentation. Post Hard-Brexit Airline Passengers The UK consumer organization ‘Which’ has published a very pessimistic report as regards UK passengers flying into EU airports if a “Hard-Brexit” takes place. They have listed 15 main airports and nine of them are Spanish. Faro airport in Portugal has the most incoming UK passengers followed by the airports at Alicante, Tenerife Sur, Lanzarote, Málaga, Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca. Alicante has 43% UK persons of all incoming passengers and Tenerife handles 42%. ‘Which’ states that after a hard-Brexit, UK passengers flying into the EU will be treated the same way as any passengers from “third category” countries. They claim that at passport control each UK passport will have to be scrutinised, the expiry date noted, the duration of the visit established, and questions could be asked as to whether they have sufficient money for their stay. They claim that a minimum of 90 seconds could be taken up as opposed to a maximum of 25 seconds before

Brexit. They state that it will be “first come first served” and only early flights will pass through quickly, and every following flight will greatly delay the process. They claim that on a flight with 189 UK passengers (a typical Ryanair flight) and only one passport officer it will take up to five hours for all the passengers to be dealt with. At Alicante with 8,000 UK incoming passengers on peak days they calculate that a total time of 201 hours of processing will be needed. They recommend that incoming passengers in the queues have food and drink handy and essentials such as nappies for children readily available. The Spanish Minister of the Interior has stated that it is fully accepted that many more passport officers and desks will be needed in any case at major airports after Brexit.

Dreams Tent headliner, Loco Dice

More Dreambeach News The organizers of the Villaricos Dreambeach festival from August 7th-11th have announced who will be coming to Villaricos as part of their new “Urban dream” events. These will take place at the campsite area from 5pm-9pm. Performers include Bad Gyal, Dellafuente, Fernando Cos-ta, Foyone, Maka and Fusa Nocta. Apart from this there will be “street art” activities such as graffiti exhibitions, skateboarding and others. Their main line-up of performers now includes “Big room / EDM” style Nervo, W&W, Fed-de Le Grand y Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano, “Trance style” performer Infected Mushroom, and “Techno” performers Agoria, Boris

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In the News Brejcha, Claude Vonstroke, Fisher, Nina Kraviz, Seth Troxler and Stephan Bodzin. “Drum and Bass” performers include Delta Heavy, Dimension, Ghastly, Matrix & Futurebound. At present, the organizers expect the number of visitors to go up from 155,000 last year to 160,000. Ticket details are in our “What’s On” section

More Spanish Psychiatrists The ‘Defensor del Pueblo’ is an official organization that deals with complaints by citizens and institutions. They can make recommendations that are legally binding and operate at local and national level. The head of the organisation in Madrid has asked the Spanish Minister of Health to quantify the number of psychiatrists at present and the necessities of the general population. Health professionals are complaining that the number of psychiatrists is completely insufficient and claim that there are only four professionals for every 100,000 head of population in Spain, although the EU average is 18. They state that the present number of 2,000 needs to be increased to 7,200. Because of the shortage of numbers, psychiatrists consider that too many people who go to their doctor are being given inappropriate medication because the time before they can be referred to an expert is too long. They also claim that incorrect diagnosis leads to time off work and family problems that can be reduced with the appropriate care by qualified mental health professionals. Untrue Flight Destinations The German airline Lufthansa is involved in a David and Goliath court case that may have a profound impact on airline passengers. A man booked a flight at a special promotional price of 657 Euros from Seattle to Oslo that he knew had a stop in Frankfurt. As he really wanted to travel only to Frankfurt he did not re-join the flight and travelled back to Seattle in due course with a different airline and a budget price ticket. Lufthansa are claiming 2,139 Euros in compensation because the price of the flight from Seattle to Frankfurt on the day he travelled was 2,796 Euros. This method of obtaining cheap flights is becoming quite common and is

known as “Interrupted flights”. For a passenger getting off at an intermediate location they have the inconvenience that they can only have cabin baggage and none in the hold. There is also the possibility if there is bad weather or other problems such as strikes by air traffic controllers that the aeroplane does not make the intermediate stop that has been scheduled. A considerable saving in ticket cost can be made particularly with transatlantic flights where a long journey is much cheaper than a shorter journey. Websites such as ‘Skiplagged’ that was set up in 2014 by a man in New York helps passengers to take advantage of special offers for flights with an intermediate destination. 200,000 potential passengers follow the price of flights, and the website claims that a saving of 65% on a normal ticket price is possible. United Airlines in the US asked for a restraining order in 2015 to stop the website being available, claiming that it was causing “Intentional harm to the industry”. This particular action was thrown out in court as the court case had been filed in Chicago, whereas the company operate from New York. A Spanish lawyer who works for the company www.reclamador.es which helps airline customers claim expenses for delays, considers that airlines can’t try to get compensation if a passenger leaves the flight at any intermediate destination. He states that an airline passenger is fully entitled to leave a flight for whatever reason and this is not at all illegal. He points out that these passengers have paid the correct price being asked for the total journey and therefore there is no fraud. He considers that this is a problem that the transatlantic airlines have made for themselves!

The New Mortgage Regulations Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish Prime Minister, dissolved parliament on March 5th but put legislation into law right up to the last minute. At the end of February his revision of mortgage regulations was passed with a 90 day period before it is force, so during May. This includes regulations that stop mortgage lenders trying to evict people when they have only just gone into arrears. The infamous and expensive “AJD” stamp duty tax paid in Spain by the mortgage client at present will have to be borne by the lender.

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In the News The only expense for a client who wants a mortgage is the valuation fee. A major change is that instead of just one visit to a notary to sign the escritura (title deed) and the mortgage documentation a client will have had to make a prior visit to the notary. On this first visit the notary has to be satisfied that the client fully understands the mortgage terms and any special clauses, and has been given all the required documentation. There is no cost to the client, and a person from the bank does not have to go to this first appointment.

difference in pay for the same job, and employees will be able to see this. The starting point is that one sex should not be paid more than 25% less than the other sex, unless there are special reasons. At present, companies with more than 250 employees have to have an equal pay initiative in force, but this has now been reduced to a company with more than 50 workers. The Spanish Ministry of the Economy calculates that 2.3 million workers will benefit. Employers who are now included with 50-249 workers have 12 months to introduce equal pay practices as regards selection, training and promotion to a better paid position. Regulations regarding an increase in paternity allowances from this year to 2021 were not able to be made law as the cost this year is calculated to be 300 million Euros and the budget for 2019 was not passed in the Spanish Parliament. Because it couldn’t be passed parliament was dissolved. Proposals for more paid paternity leave are that it goes up to 8 weeks this year, 12 weeks in 2020, and 16 weeks in 2021. Present maternity leave is 16 weeks, so four months, and maternity and paternity leave is paid for by the Spanish Social Security department with the amount of money equal to the normal weekly pay.

Very Old Vehicles The Spanish Conserjería de Medio Ambiente organisation is concerned with preserving the environment, the control of hunting and fishing licences, air and water quality, fire prevention, and regulations relating to natural parks and other protected areas. The department in Andalucía is being reorganised following the new parliament being formed. A reduction in vehicle emissions is a major part of reducing contamination, but it has emerged that vehicles from the department in Almería are very old! A report has stated that 21 of the vehicles that are predominantly 4 x 4’s from Land Rover, Suzuki and Nissan were bought before 2000, and the oldest one was bought in 1994. 23 of them have done more than 300,000km, six more than 400,000km, and a Suzuki Vitara bought in 2000 has clocked up 518,000km. Out of the total of 66 assorted vehicles, there are only nine modern SUV’s that were bought in 2017 and 2018. There have been protests that the fleet has to be modernised, and one serious accident took place recently when the driver of a Land Rover was injured in a vehicle crash when it finished up four metres down a steep slope in a forest at Nacimiento. The Junta de Andalucía has replied that all their vehicles comply with the regulations, and they have all The SEAT Minimó passed the relevant ITV (MOT) tests. The Spanish car manufacturer SEAT has unveiled a new, very small car that is being called (El) Minimó. Similar Pay for Men and Women It is similar to the Smart Fortwo and the Renault The Spanish government passed a proposal at the Twizy and has two seats, one behind the other. It end of February to reduce the discrepancy between is only 2.5m long, 1.24m wide, and 1.5m high, with pay for men and women doing the same job. a total area of only 3.1m2 that is half that of normal Employers will have to keep a register showing the cars. It is totally electric but with four

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In the News interchangeable batteries that can be replaced in seconds, and the ones taken out put on charge. The normal range without changing batteries is given as 100km with a motor that delivers 20hp. It is intended for individual owners, car sharing schemes, and a small compact vehicle for fleets, with the attraction that it does not have to be out of service whilst the batteries are being charged up. It features climate control and an ESP stability system, and the back panel can be removed for a small amount of luggage. This is a sector of the vehicle market that Seat has never entered before, and they are bringing out a conventional four-seater urban car that is 100% electric in 2020, which will be their first all-electric vehicle. As yet there is no price given for the Minimó model, or its entry into the market.

Tourist Numbers in Almería Province The number of tourists coming to Spain fell slightly last year but the January figures this year were very good. Looked at in relation to the number of tourists who came to Spain 20 years ago in January 1999, Almería province does not come out at all well. In Andalucía, which includes Almería province, Granada has the best figures with 216,000 tourists this January compared to 92,000 in 1999. This is a rise in numbers of 130%, and figures for Málaga show an increase of 109%, in Cádiz 89%, in Córdoba 69%, in Seville 110%, and 89% in Huelva. This January, compared to January 1999 the increase in tourists coming to Almería province only went up by 20%, the worst increase in Andalucía apart from Jaén, and only 39,000 people chose Almería as their destination. One of the reasons given for the low percentage increase in Almería province is that many tourists come here for the sun and beach, so they don’t come here in January. Another reason put forward is that some January tourists (particularly Spaniards) want to have a weekend holiday. This is far more difficult as rail transport to Almería until we have the ‘AVE’ (high speed train) is extremely poor. Huelva and Cádiz are much further south than Almería, but a train journey from Madrid to Huelva only takes 3hrs 40min, and to Cádiz 4hrs 4min. The “best” time for a rail journey from Madrid

to Almería is 6hrs 30min from the Madrid Atocha station, not from the one at Chamartín. The only good travel time is since the A-7 motorway all the way from Almería to Málaga has been operational. By road this journey is just over 2hrs, for tourists who want to drive.

Licences for New Houses A sign that the Spanish economy has turned the corner and is affecting new construction projects for houses is the increase in the number of building licences. 100,000 were approved in 2018 which is almost the same number as 2009 when 111,000 licences were approved. Compared to 2017, the number of licences has gone up 50%. In the heady days of 2006 a total of 866,000 new houses were approved, and the annual average from 1992 to 2008 was 200,000. 80% of the licences given in 2018 were for apartment complexes with an average of 117m2 per apartment. Construction companies are fully aware that banks are trying to unload the large numbers of properties they have repossessed so this has to be taken into account, but the average square metres are much less. Alternative Therapy Three months ago Spanish authorities started waging war with persons or companies who were offering “alternative” medication for major illnesses. A headline case was a woman who died of breast cancer after she had stopped treatment in hospital and tried alternative therapy. The hospital in question considered that they could have saved her life. The Spanish Health Department has dismissed the majority of these alternative treatments as being “pseudo-scientific” with no guarantee that they work, not based on medical norms, and state that some of them are completely fake. Companies marketing alternative medication now have to submit them for testing along with the basis for the assertion that they actually work. The Spanish Health Authority is now looking at treatments that include acupuncture, Gestalt therapy, homeopathy, “natural medicine”, music therapy, anti-cancer massage, reiki, shiatsu, bach flowers and yoga. María Luísa Carcedo, who has been the Minister for Health until parliament

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In the News was dissolved, has stated that there may well need to be a prohibition of some of these treatments where medical science does not indicate that they achieve any positive result. Some of the treatments that will be evaluated will be allowed to continue, but with legal guidelines. Claims that are not based on fact will be prohibited, and centres offering various alternative treatments that call themselves “health centres” will be banned from using this description where it is considered that there is no basis for this claim. One proposal is that alternative medicine centres will have to be registered.

Driver Ages in Almería Province The ‘DGT’ Spanish Road Traffic Authority state that there are more than 500,000 vehicles registered in the province, and 361,000 people out of the total population of 709,000 have driving licences. The average age of the licence holders is 43 and 25,000 are aged 18-25. At the other end of the age spectrum, 26,000 drivers are over the age of 70. (The total population of Almería province between the ages of 70-100 is 72,000). An analysis of traffic accidents where police go to the scene is that 10% involve an elderly driver, 55% of these accidents are in urban areas and 34% on secondary roads. The number of accidents from this age group on motorways is very low. This is considered to be partly because some elderly drivers avoid motorways. Drivers over the age of 65 have very few traffic infractions for driving following taking drugs, and fines for exceeding speed limits are much lower than the average. Drivers over the age of 65 driving cars and motorbikes have to renew their licences every 5 years, and bus, coach and lorry drivers have to do this every 3 years. 80% of drivers over the age of 65 who renew their licences pass the various tests first time, and the most frequent cause of a failure is incorrect glasses. A New Road for the Hospital Huércal-Overa town hall have approved the expenditure of 625,000 Euros for the new road from near to the A-7 motorway junction to La Inmaculada hospital. This will take traffic off the existing roads that go past schools and the sports

centre where there are often bottlenecks. The procedure for acquiring the necessary land has been almost completed. The mayor, Domingo Fernández, states that this is a very important project and as regards emergency ambulances, the new direct road will almost certainly save some lives.

Ryanair Equipment Move Ryanair has announced that because of Brexit they are moving the vast majority of spare parts for their aircraft from warehouses at Stansted to premises in Europe. The company think that there might be problems at customs if spare parts are needed for their aircraft in Europe, particularly if an aircraft breaks down on a runway and spares are urgently needed. Karsten Muehlenfield, in charge of repairs and maintenance, thinks that this is a sensible move for the time being. Pension Rises The Socialist Spanish PSOE Government led by Pedro Sánchez passed laws before the end of last year that put pensions up considerably by 7%. Retirement pensions used to be increased by a fixed amount every year, and then an additional amount related to the cost of living. In 2012 the PP Conservative government limited the rise in pensions to be only 0.25% every year without any cost of living increase, so pensioners started losing out. The Spanish Ministry of Work announced during March that in February retirement pensions went up by 5.7%, and the average monthly pension throughout Spain had gone up to 937 Euros (In the case of pensioners they receive 14 payments per year with an extra

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In the News payment of one month in June and November). Breaking this down, in 12 provinces in Spain the average retirement pension was over 1,000 Euros, but in three provinces including Almería the average was less than 800 Euros with the least monthly amount of only 788 Euros paid out in Ourense in Galicia. The monthly amount in Almería is 915 Euros. The amount paid out is calculated partly from the money paid in by workers, and also the amount paid to widows and orphans and unemployment benefit. In provinces where wages and salaries are high and there are less unemployed, pension amounts are highest. There will be a cost of living increase in 2019 that will affect pensions in 2020.

A police spokesperson revealed that similar investigations would be carried out in Málaga, Alicante and the Spanish Islands where the woman had been operating. The woman was arrested and appeared in a court in Vera charged with offences against public health. The Commander of the Guardia Civil police in Garrucha, José Artero, has asked women who are or have been receiving cut-price beauty treatments of this kind to come forward as they may well be a danger to health.

The Unsuccessful Rescue Attempt of Julen Last month we detailed the rescue attempts that eventually involved 300 people when the toddler Julen fell down a very small borehole near Málaga. Unfortunately, after 13 days, his body was recovered after a 73m deep 1.5m in diameter parallel shaft had been drilled. A representative from the Junta de Andalucía has announced that 700,000 Euros will be paid out to various companies who mounted the rescue attempt. Elías Bendedo stated that all the companies had rushed to the scene without any proposals that they had to be paid, but their costs needed to be met from public funds. Earthmoving costs with special lighting and an extremely large number of machines have been quantified as being 260,000 Euros, and the amount of soil removed before the shaft was drilled amounted to the same m3 as 34 Olympic swimming pools and the same area as 400m of a motorway. The time spent drilling the shaft was quantified as being a normal cost of 180,000 Euros and other work made up the total amount including initial exploration using remote camera equipment that would normally have cost 32,000 Euros. The time spent by medical services that went and stayed at the scene for the 13 days was quantified as costing 10,000 Euros. On February 28th at a special ceremony in Seville that marked ‘Día de Andalucía’, the heads of various organizations who took part in the rescue received a gold medal award, given for their extreme and unselfish help and dedication.

Illegal Beauty Treatment Last month we reported that Guardia Civil police in Garrucha had mounted an investigation relating to two women who were offering cut-price treatment such as botox and lip enhancement. Various women suffered pain and bleeding afterwards, and health professionals they went to became very concerned. Following a visit to the premises that the women were using, one woman was arrested but the other woman had apparently fled back to Russia where she claimed she was a qualified doctor. Following on from this police raid that was made public in January, they were alerted to beauty treatment being given by a British woman who was staying in a hotel in Mojácar. The 57yr old woman with the initials H.B. was found to have been coming to various parts of Spain since 2008. After collecting deposits of money from women who wanted beauty treatment she travelled to beauty centres, hairdressers, or hotels where the treatment, mostly botox or lip enhancement, was carried out. When police went to the Mojácar hotel where she was staying they found large quantities of medical items including pre-loaded syringes and paperwork that the women customers had to sign. The medical items had labelling in English and Russian and the woman claimed that she was a licenced doctor in the UK. The police stated that she had no medical licences in Spain, was not registered as a doctor The New York Times & Vox here, and various medical items seized needed a In the elections for MPs in the Andalucían Parliament prescription in Spain before they could be obtained. the ultra-right wing Vox party gained 11% of the

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In the News vote. They have never had anything like this success before, and to some extent it has been greeted with dismay. They are opposed to women’s rights, gay marriages, help and expenditure for women who have suffered domestic violence, and consider that autonomous communities in Spain should be scrapped and all of Spain ruled solely by central government. They are also opposed to immigration and against the Spanish Coastguards rescuing the boat people who are trying to find a new life in Spain. They say that any immigrants allowed into Spain should be judged on their ability to help the economy, not on humanitarian grounds. In the autonomous elections in Almería province Vox had a major success in El Ejido, Roquetas and Vicar where there are large numbers of immigrants. In El Ejido they won 29% of the votes and The New York Times recently published an article relating to Vox and El Ejido. They had interviewed many people in El Ejido and pointed out that a swing to ultra-right politics in Spain had never taken place since the end of the dictatorship of General Franco in 1975. The article pointed out that in Spain there has been no major shift against immigration before now. After the autonomous elections in Andalucía where the PSOE party lost the dominance they had enjoyed for 32 years, the Ciudadanos party and the PP party had to form an alliance with Vox to gain an absolute majority. Many political pundits are very concerned that Vox is attracting so much interest and votes.

Disposing of Mobile Phones and Electronic Items A report entitled “Global Waste Management 2017” from the United Nations calculates that in 2017 there were 45 million tonnes of small electronic items such as mobile phones that were thrown away or kept but not used. In Spain the number of redundant electronic items that are not used is stated to be 20kg per inhabitant including things such as laptop computers and printers. The report states that only 20% of these unwanted items are correctly processed and recycled, and the total money that could be obtained amounts to 48 billion Euros. Recycling mobile phones with their batteries can result in a large amount of valuable materials with various amounts of metals including gold,

cobalt, and titanium, various different plastics, and mobile phone display screens. In Spain there are many municipalities that have places where electronic items can be disposed of and then recycled, but large shops and stores selling electronic items with a floor area of over 400m2 are obliged to accept small broken or redundant items free of charge without any obligation to purchase anything else. Figures for Spain are that only 44% of broken or unwanted electronic items are recycled, and this is about the same percentage as in Germany and France, but more than in Belgium and Italy. The report concludes that there has to be many more items that are recycled. In Spain 30,000 tonnes of old televisions are scrapped every year, and the cathode ray tubes of the older models can result in considerable useful material.

No Shortage of Blood and Plasma Donations Organ donation in Spain is the envy of other countries, and numbers of people who donate or receive organs is the highest in the world. In articles in the foreign press it is often stated that in Spain, organ donation is compulsory unless a person opts out, but this is entirely untrue. Giving blood and plasma is a feature of the Spanish system with very high numbers. In 2018 in Almería province, 2,700 people donated plasma which is 27% more than in 2017, and 19,000 gave blood. More than 50% of all the plasma needed for various reasons in Almería province now comes from donors. Mobile blood donation units often have a queue, and in 2018 a total of 7,800 men and 6,000 women were donors. Persons aged between 41 and 50 made up 28% of donors, and others aged from 31-40 amounted to 22%. 37% of donated blood was ‘O positive’ and 37% was ‘A positive’. Persons willing to give bone marrow are tested and put on a Spanish National register, but this is also put on many international registers. 357 signed up in Almería province in 2018 and finding a match for a person needing bone marrow treatment is absolutely dependent on the number of donors. British ex-pats cannot give blood if they were in the UK around the time of the “Mad cow disease” as there is a slight possibility that this can be passed on to humans and is believed to result in the variant ‘Creutzfeld-Jacob disease (vCJD).

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In the News “Dekton Slim” Unveiled The extremely large multi-national company Cosentino, based in Cantoria, have introduced a new modified surface cladding that was unveiled at an international design centre in Milan. Cosentino spent millions of Euros developing their synthetic ‘Dekton’ product that can be used for floors or wall cladding, and is the material on the face of the monument / water feature at the Parque Comercial roundabout in Mojácar. The new product, ‘Dekton Slim’, is very much thinner and measures just 4mm. It is consequently very light in weight and is ideal for drawer fronts, door cladding, or large panels. Initially there are nine different surface colours but the range will be extended. Cosentino introduced their synthetic surface material ‘Silestone’ many years ago and have large display and warehouse facilities in a host of countries. Cars in the Future A study and survey has been carried out by the Spanish Europcar Mobility Group as to the possible changes in use of private cars in the future, particularly in cities. The conclusion is that easy accessibility to a car that could be hired for a few days may be an alternative to private ownership. 50% of the existing cars in Spain are over ten years old, and owners appreciate that there are going to be more and more obstacles such as a prohibition in access to cities because of contamination issues, and a possible higher road tax for old vehicles. Car owners know that they have to pay for repairs and maintenance, (more money in the case of older cars) insurance, fuel costs, and they often need garage space. Only 7% of people in the survey had hired a car for a very short period of time, but 71% thought that easy access to short-term hire was an attractive idea. Other people consider that although there is a great deal of controversy regarding the private VTC cars such as those from Uber or Cabify, which come with a driver, this is a valid and easy way of getting from point A to point B. 56% of the people surveyed agreed that all electric vehicles were very important ecologically, but only 10% of those questioned had hired a hybrid or electric car. 86% of people said they were not

generally available, 45% thought that they cost more to hire, and 46% were worried that the cars needed charging and they were not therefore suitable for long journeys. 75% of the survey group thought that ease of hiring a car for just a few days would be made easier with more digital access such as apps or a web page, and the process of booking a vehicle and collecting it needed to be made much simpler. The idea that these cars would be available at a large number of points fully charged, the same as with electric bike hire, is considered to be a very good idea. Pere Navarro is the head of the Spanish DGT Traffic Authority, and he does not own a car! He gets lifts with friends, uses public transport, and on rare occasions uses the official car at his disposal for long journeys.

The Patio de Honor Reproduction Cost At Vélez Blanco castle there was a large, highly decorated, covered patio that separated the military and living quarters. Built by Italian craftsmen about 1510, it was made of white marble from Macael. The castle owners sold the complete patio to a French merchant in 1904 who sold it to the US millionaire George Blumenthal. In his will he donated it to the Metropolitan Museum in New York where it is a prized exhibit. The Junta de Andalucía bought the castle in 2005, plans to reproduce the patio were proposed and Spanish technicians took a complete 3D image of the patio in 2012. The price

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In the News for the reproduction has now been quantified as 3 million Euros and the marble will be donated by the Macael Association of Marble Companies. Work will now start soon and Macael technicians expect the reproduction work to take two years. When completed it will be installed at the castle and is expected to be a big tourist attraction. Macael technicians gave maintenance advice to the museum in New York when they made the 3D images.

at Huércal-Overa, Torrecárdenas (Almería city) and the Poniente hospital (El Ejido). Various groups of young patients are taught including those suffering from cancer, needing dialysis, or having other reasons for their stay in hospital. Teachers endeavour to ensure that their young patients do not fall behind with school learning, and liaise with teachers at the schools the children would normally attend. Apart from school lessons the youngsters experience leisure activities that help their stay in hospital to be less traumatic. These include theatre, magic and storytelling from persons who come to the hospitals, and visits from members of organisations such as police forces and firemen. Members of the Cruz Roja (Red Cross) come to the hospital on fiesta days, and Santa is an obligatory visitor at Christmas, along with the Three Kings. School lessons take place on Mondays to Fridays from 9am to 2pm whenever possible for the various levels of illness, during the normal school year. A new idea is being introduced at various Spanish hospitals including La Inmaculada hospital in Huércal-Overa and Torrecárdenas in Almería city. Pioneered in Bilbao, very young children who have to go to the operating theatres go there on electric toy cars that are controlled remotely by porters or other staff. This has proved highly successful, and apart from the children being very keen to sit in them and “drive” the cars, almost 100% of them arrive at the operating theatre without crying and being stressed out. They are intended to be used by children between the ages of 2-8, and there is room for two children so that a young friend or a relative can share the ride that has also been successful in reducing stress. The cars have been provided by the Almería Association of Parents of Children with Cancer.

Music Whilst Driving Various studies have concluded that the music we listen to whilst driving can have a direct effect as to whether driving becomes more aggressive or more sympathetic to other road users. The Spanish version of the RAC, known as RACE, cites a study made at the University of Newfoundland in Canada. This study has found that heart rate and brain activity can be directly affected by music. They consider that listening to loud pop-rock music results in 20% more accidents and breaking speed limits. For drivers on motorways where the journey can become monotonous, music that is stimulating is recommended without being too loud, and in traffic jams classical music, soft pop, ballads, or reggae. In cities the advice is that there are a great many decisions that drivers have to make that require their complete attention, and any music can become a distraction. Missouri University who conducted their own survey concluded that the way a person reacted up to two hours after a long journey was directly related to the type of music they chose. This could make the drivers more aggressive and argumentative or more peaceful and receptive to others. In 2017 the composer John Goddard was asked to compose an ideal piece of music to be listened to whilst driving by the car Renting From IKEA manufacturer Ford. His composition is entitled IKEA have announced that as an alternative to “Momentum” and is available on Spotify. purchase, certain items can be rented and then School Lessons in Hospitals The Delegate for Education from the Junta de Andalucía recently visited La Inmaculada hospital in Huéracl-Overa to discuss the facilities available for young patients in the hospital. Last year 800 children were taught or took part in activities in the hospitals

returned. This was published recently in ‘The Financial Times’ and will first take place in Switzerland as a pilot trial. IKEA state that if a customer returns an item to them it will be assessed as to whether it needs any repairs before it is rented out again. Renting out office furniture such as desks and chairs is given as an example, and the possibility of renting

In the News kitchen units and then changing cupboard doors after a period of time. A spokesperson from IKEA has stated that this is an interesting “circular” idea that can extend the life of items of furniture that might otherwise be discarded, so this is helping in recycling. IKEA is also to offer items in their stores that are being withdrawn from their catalogue at discount prices. The company is considering opening collection points in cities where there are no stores for items ordered from their website.

amount of goods damaged in transit and whether they ask for them to be returned depends on their company policy. Returns for requested refunds from internet companies when a client decides that the items are not what they wanted amount to about 15-25% of all their business. It is impossible to put a figure on the type of fraud that was carried out in this case, but it has been put as being a probable 100 million Euros every year.

The Dangers of ‘Whatsapp’ The UK & Spain ‘Erasmus’ Exchanges Many students from the UK come to Spanish universities as part of the Erasmus exchange system, and Spanish students go to the UK. Since 2013 a total of 62 students from the UK have been on courses at Almería University and at present there are eight UK students. It has been agreed between the two countries that there will be no change up to December 31st 2020 as a result of Brexit, and further talks will take place regarding the long term. In the UK there have been 64,000 Erasmus students coming from France, Germany, and Spain, and 27,000 students have come from the UK to the three European countries.

An Amazon Scam Three Americans have been given prison terms in the US for defrauding Amazon to the tune of 1.2 million dollars over two years. They discovered that if Amazon were told that an item had been damaged in transit they only infrequently asked for the damaged item to be sent back. This was part of a policy to keep buyers faithful and not feel bad about the “Amazon Experience”. A husband and wife team set up a large number of accounts and bought high value small electronic items and consistently claimed that they had been damaged. They worked on the assumption that a repair to a damaged item of this type was unlikely, and so they would be able to keep them, without being asked to send them back. A third person acted as a fence and bought the items off them, and he then advertised them for sale at competitive prices. Until the fraud was discovered the amount of goods ordered and then claimed to be defective was stated to be 1.2 million dollars. Ecommerce companies expect to have a certain

Pere Navarro, the head of the Spanish Traffic Department (DGT), is convinced that more penalties have to be put in place to stop people using mobile phones for calls and messages, or using Whatsapp which didn’t exist in 2006 when the Spanish Driver Points system was introduced. We explain his proposal in an article. The Optical Department at Granada University have published a study that proves the danger in various age groups. People who used Whatsapp regularly were sat in front of a simulator with three monitor screens and responsive foot pedals like a normal car. Optical scanners determined where the “driver” was looking. There were four groups aged 18-24, 25-39, 40-54, and 55 plus. The effect of using Whatsapp whilst on the simulator was exaggerated to give a better result in relation to steering wheel movements. There was a significant deviation in driving in a straight line, and on the simulator this resulted in a crash. 8% of the youngest group went off the road or invaded the other lane, 25% of the second group, 81% from group three, and from the age group 55 plus there were 134% deviations, so multiple crashes. The survey showed that the youngest group of drivers were able to drive whilst reading and sending Whatsapp messages better than the other groups, but the 8% who crashed showed that injury and death is still a significant consequence of inattention. It was thought logical that young drivers were the ones who have grown up using smartphones and had more experience of Whatsapp. However, driving whilst under the effects of drugs and alcohol is more prevalent in this age group so there would statistically be more crashes. The results of the experiments have been published in the journal “Accident Analysis and Prevention”.

Semana Santa

pain is nominally a Roman Catholic country made centuries ago from designs by famous even if going to church is no longer an activity artists, and the cofradias are tasked with keeping that all Spaniards observe. The most significant them in good order. religious celebrations that are the focal point of the Christian year take place in the week before Easter Sunday known as ‘Semana Santa’ (Holy week) that starts on Palm Sunday. This year Palm Sunday, often called Passion Sunday, is on April 14th and Easter Sunday is on April 21st. A solemn period in the religious calendar starts on Ash Wednesday which is the start of Lent. During this time churches have drab cloths over the altars, less candles, only a few flowers if any, many statues are covered up, and it is rare that church marriages take place. People who are devout Roman Catholics may choose to avoid joyful celebrations during Lent and even adopt a sparser diet. The 40 days of Lent finish on the Thursday before Easter Sunday known as Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday. Starting on Palm Sunday there are amazing solemn processions through Spanish streets when enormous highly decorated wooden statues are carried on large platforms called ‘Pasos’. The complete pasos and statues are called ‘Tronos’ (Thrones). In cities such as Almería, there is a carefully worked out timetable as to when each procession leaves the church and the route it takes. A group of people in each church form an association known as a ‘Cofradia’ and being part of this is considered a high honour. There are two parts of this group which are the ‘Costaleros’, who carry the platforms, and the ‘Penitentes’ who walk in front. As some of the large pasos with the statues are extremely heavy the Costaleros are normally men with 30 or 40 men needed sometimes because of the weight. On the platform there are flowers, candles and religious symbols. The size of the statues and pasos usually mean that the large doors of each church have to be open to enable them to pass through. The statues that depict the religious events in Holy Week and the sorrows of the Virgin Mary may have been

The penitentes wear costumes that look exactly like the Ku Klux Klan! There are holes for the eyes and the pointed tops, ‘Capriotes’, point up to heaven. The penitentes on their walk reflect on the fact that on Good Friday during Holy Week Jesus was crucified. The covered costumes are intended to show that they are anonymous and not recognizable as particular people which would detract from their solemn appearance, and they can mourn for Jesus in private on the walk. Before the processions take place, because of the size of the pasos, street signs or other street furniture may have to be taken down to enable them to negotiate corners. Members of the public stand in the streets or look on from their balconies. Processions take place even in small villages. Christians believe that on Easter Sunday Jesus rose from the dead and this forms the basis for the belief in Christianity. On Easter Sunday all the drab decorations from Lent are replaced with vivid colours, large floral displays, church music is joyful, the organ booms out, and in some places in Spain special traditional sweets and pastries are brought out. Roman Catholics who only pay lip service to Catholicism may well endeavour to go to church and confession at Easter, even if this is the only time they go. Everybody prays for good weather!

So Now You Know... Hovercraft The hovercraft was originally invented in England by Sir Christopher Cockerillin the mid-1950s. The hovercraft is an air cushion vehicle (ACV) which means that it rides on a cushion of air produced by one or more fans, depending upon the size of the hovercraft. What makes the hovercraft so special is the ability to glide safely over any flat surface, enabling it to negotiate land, mud, grass, sand, snow, ice, swamps, shallow and deep water and sandbanks, at speed. The first hovercraft was unveiled to the public on 11th June, 1959, when it was officially launched on the Solent and it subsequently crossed from Calais to Dover. Bingo The history of the game of Bingo dates back to the mid-1500s. "Lo Giuoco del Lotto D’Italia", an Italian lottery that was all the rage and extremely popular. Players had cards with numbered squares on them, and the winning numbers were drawn out of a sack. By the 1770s it made its way to France and then Europe. In the early 1900s in America, “Beano” was a very frequent game played at local carnivals. Similar to the French game, but with fewer numbers, players covered their squares with beans, and the winner shouted “beano!” Toymaker Edwin S. Lowe created his version in 1929 and an excited winner called out “Bingo” by mistake! Concrete A basic type of concrete was used by the Romans, but it died out after the Roman Empire collapsed. The modern type of concrete was invented in 1756 by British engineer John Smeaton. He added pebbles and mixed powdered bricks as a composite into cement, and the mixture became known as hydraulic cement. The third Eddystone lighthouse was built this way to his design of materials. The important ingredient Portland cementwas developed in England and patented by Joseph Aspdinin 1824. This binds the mixture together with added strength. Reinforced concrete was invented in 1849 and first used in a house in 1853.

How High is Mount Everest? Thousands of people have climbed Mount Everest since the first ascent in 1953, but its exact height has been a source of dispute since 1856. The broadly accepted height of 29,029 feet (8,848 metres) was first determined by an Indian survey in 1955 but it was nearly 13 feet more than the measurement used by China. In 2010 China accepted Nepal's claim that the snow height of Mount Everest is 8,848 metres, while the Nepal side recognised the Chinese claim that the rock height of the mountain is 8,844.43 metres. Geologists say Everest is slowly growing taller as India is being pushed beneath China by continental plate movements. Visiting Cards In the 17thcentury “visite belletes” were in use in Europe, and the footmen of the aristocracy or royalty presented a card to the servants at a home where a visit was being made, to come to the attention of the house owners. This indicated the impending arrival of an important person. They became quite ornate and were about the size of a playing card. By the 19th century a visiting card, by this time “a calling card”, was essential in the life of any upper or middle class lady or gentlemen. Cards then became used in business called “trade cards”. They had an address and a map to locate the premises and were widely handed out as advertising. Easter Eggs In pagan times an egg was considered to be the start of life. Christianity adopted the egg as symbolising the resurrection and the rebirth of Jesus, so it became synonymous with Easter. Colouring eggs as gifts goes back centuries, and boiling them in water with added food colouring was started in the 16th century. Making eggs out of chocolate meant that small items or sweets could be put inside them. In various parts of the world eggs are hung on trees or hidden for children to find on Easter Sunday. Starting in the UK, rolling coloured eggs down a slope became an interesting game. This is done on flat ground at the White House every year.

The General Elections on April 28th

he Prime Minister Pedro Sรกnchez, who leads the Socialist PSOE party, became Prime Minister in June last year when a motion of no confidence in the PP party was successful. Pedro Sรกnchez is entitled to be Prime Minister until 2020 but he called premature General Elections this February 15th.

young voters who are aged 18 on April 28th.

Before parliament was dissolved, Pedro Sรกnchez fixed the yearly rise in rent to be a maximum of the cost of living index, and increased the rights of renters to have a contract for five years if they wished to do so, rather than just two years. The Unidos Podemos party wanted a revision and This was mostly because he was unable to a cap on rental amounts in different areas, but persuade enough MPs to vote with him for his this is going to be very difficult to put into law. 2019 budget on February 13th. He chose April 28th as the date for new elections, although he could have chosen any Sunday. April 14th was considered to be too early and April 21st is Easter Sunday. Having chosen April 28th, there has to be a period of 54 days in Spain after a parliament is officially dissolved and General Elections take place, so this meant that he had to dissolve parliament on March 5th. Right up to the last minute he was endeavouring to pass legislation. Various proposals that were not passed then became part of his election manifesto. He is calling for paternity leave to be 16 weeks in 2021, the same period of time as maternity leave, and other proposals to reduce Pedro Sanchez the discrepancy between wages for men and women. He is also proposing the creation of 30,000 Likely intentions to vote towards the end of March indicated that the PSOE might gain 33% of MPs new jobs in the public sector. and the other three main parties no more than The PSOE party has not had a majority in the 16% each. If this does happen on April 28th the Spanish parliament since 2008, but surveys of PSOE will have a much increased number of MPs. the likely intention to vote by women and young Pedro Sรกnchez is gambling that a good result in persons have been encouraging. 36% of women the General Elections will help his party when the see him and the PSOE party as being the ones autonomous community elections in most parts who are doing more for them than other parties. of Spain take place on May 26th, the same day as The perception is that the left wing Unidos the municipal elections. As there are 350 Spanish Podemos party is the second party that is helping MPs, 33% of the vote only amounts to 115 MPs women the most with 26% approval, but only and if another party gains 15% this is still only a 10% for the two conservative parties, the PP total of 168. If Pedro Sรกnchez joins forces with and Ciudadanos. As regards young people aged another party that has this number of MPs he is 18-24, some 17% thought he was doing the best still short of 7 to have a majority of one. There job and from age 25-34 some 19% of this age are other political parties who will gain a small group agreed. This preference is seen as number of seats and he will need the help of one important as there will be a large number of new of them.

The Run-Up to May 26th

e have explained previously that in Spain, elections for Central Government MPs, MPs in the Autonomous Community’s Parliament (in our case Andalucía), and municipal elections take place every four years.

padrón. With less than 250 inhabitants there are 5 councillors, up to 1,000 inhabitants 7 councillors, and so on. In Almería city with 197,000 inhabitants there are 27 councillors and 25 in El Ejido and Roquetas de Mar. Albox and Huércal-Overa have 17 councillors, Mojácar and Garrucha 13, and Turre, In the case of central government and autonomous Los Gallardos, Arboleas and Zurgena have 11. communities the Prime Minister or President can call for premature elections. This is now taking place as regards central government as premature General Elections take place on April 28th. The former President of the Junta de Andalucía parliament, Susana Díaz, also held premature elections last December. There can’t be any though as regards municipal elections and the four year term from the municipal elections in May 2015 means that new ones take place this May 26th. Apart from Spaniards, persons from other countries who have applied for a vote can do so, and residents from other EU states form the largest majority. There are special reciprocal arrangements with residents from many non-EU countries and last January Spain and the UK agreed that in the event of Brexit taking place, ex-pat Brits can still vote this May 26th, along with Spaniards in the UK when council elections take place there. The exception to the other agreements with non-EU countries is that ex-pat Brits can also stand as councillors, as has happened previously. Non-Spanish persons entitled to apply for a vote have to be aged 18 on or before May 26th, on the ‘padrón’ (the official list of residents in any municipality), and in this case applied to go on the electoral roll on or before last January 30th. (Persons who have previously voted in municipal elections do not have to re-apply). We explain in our “In the News” section that from April 8th15thmistakes on the electoral roll can be rectified, but this period is not for going on the voting list for the first time. The number of councillors in each municipality is determined by the number of inhabitants on the

The way municipal elections work is that each political party trying to win council seats publishes a list of persons they hope you will vote for. The number of names on the list is the same as the number of councillors (except that some extra names are put at the bottom of the list as reserves). Voters choose to vote for the complete list of one of the political parties, not individual persons. The lists are therefore very important, and the person with their name at the top would normally become the mayor or mayoress if the party wins enough seats. If there is a coalition of political parties following the elections some horse trading takes place. The person who is number two on the list may well be British if the political party is hoping to attract votes from ex-pat Brits, and there may be one or more potential councillors who are British lower down the list. People who are as low down as number 9, 10, or 11 on a list of 13 councillors have nil chance of becoming a councillor, along with people higher up the list if there is an elected council that is a coalition of different political parties. We will explain how voting takes place next month.

Gibraltar: Tightening the Screw

ecause of Brexit, Spain in absolutely delighted that negotiations regarding Gibraltar have been handed to them on a plate. Following large sea battles Gibraltar was ceded to England in 1713 under the Treaty of Utrecht. This treaty stated “The town, castle and fortifications were to be held and enjoyed for ever without any exception or impediment whatsoever.” This has been a thorn in the side of Spain ever since!

trading in Gibraltar but live in Spain for more than 183 days they have to pay Spanish taxes. The same applies to persons married to a Spaniard and those businesses with 66% of their assets in Spain.

Last November when the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez threatened to veto the Brexit withdrawal document because of problems with Gibraltar he immediately won some concessions. He had stated that the “big issues” could wait until after Brexit had taken place, but there were other “The bigger issues” are much more controversial. important issues. Spain has managed to get Gibraltar defined in the A “Memorandum of agreement” was signed EU /Brexit negotiation as being a British colony, between Spain and the UK, and one of the largest merely an offshoot of the UK. The UK insists that bones of contention is blatant cigarette smuggling. Gibraltar is a distinct Overseas Sovereign Territory Cigarettes sold in Gibraltar are 25-48% cheaper and not a colony, so is not part of the UK, but Spain than in Spain and in 2017, 600,000 packets were has persuaded the EU that it can veto any EU /UK detected and seized by the Spanish customs officers decisions on Gibraltar if they don’t like them. at the border. Spain has continually complained that if all the cigarettes imported into Gibraltar were Under the terms of the Treaty of Utrecht, Spain for consumption there, every one of the 30,000 considers that Gibraltar has no right to claim that residents is chain smoking. The agreement is that they have territorial waters, and there have been by June 2020, the maximum difference in price will many confrontations between Spanish fishermen be reduced to 32% with regular meetings to discuss and Gibraltarian marine police. In severe cases this anti-smuggling operations. Reciprocal citizen rights has involved tense situations between the of the 9,000 Spaniards who cross the border to fishermen, Spanish Guardia Civil maritime police work in Gibraltar every day and those of Gibraltarian launches, and Royal Navy vessels. people working in Spain will be maintained. The Spaniards come from the Campo de Gibraltar area In the November memorandum, an agreement was that land reclamation would be put on the table, where unemployment is 35%. as Gibraltar is currently planning to reclaim land Pedro Sánchez dissolved parliament on March 5th from the sea to build apartments, which Spain is for new General Elections to take place on April vigorously opposing, and this is not the first time 28th, but on March 4th another agreement was this has happened. Spain is quite insistent that the signed. There are 55,000 registered businesses in “isthmus” (the strip of land between Spain and Gibraltar which has become a tax haven because Gibraltar) does not belong to Gibraltar and they business tax is only 10%. This number includes dispute that the airport owned by the UK Ministry Spanish businesses, and Gibraltar will notify Spain of Defence is on Gibraltarian soil. Spain is offering of all individuals or businesses that are Spanish in to expand the airport providing it is with a “joint origin. Spain will insist that if Spaniards are officially ownership” agreement.

DGT Traffic Laws and Penalties

he ‘DGT’ is the Spanish Traffic Authority, and Pere Navarro, who introduced the driver points system in 2006, is in charge of the department once again. Fines and penalties for infractions are laid down in law, and any changes, including some he is currently proposing, are normally “rubber stamped” when introduced in the Spanish Parliament. Because General Elections take place in Spain on April 28th the intended changes will be delayed. At present a driver can lose from 3-6 points for various transgressions and the current legislation is as follows: A driver can lose 6 points for being over the limit for alcohol at over 0.5mg/litre of air, and over 0.3mg/l for professional drivers and new drivers who have not had a licence for more than 2 yrs. Driving with drugs in the system loses 6 points, and refusing to take an alcohol or drug test. Dangerous driving and putting other drivers at risk, going down roads in the wrong direction, or taking part in a race on public roads loses 6 points. Drivers who are using devices that jam radar cameras or interfere with their correct working lose 6 points, and for professional drivers who exceed the permitted hours by more than 50%, or reduce the rest periods by more than 50%. Altering the working of a taco-graph or speed limiter by these drivers will also result in a loss of 6 points. A driver will lose 4 points if they are over the alcohol limit between 0.25mg/l and 0.5mg/l, or 0.15mg/l to 0.3mg/l for professional and new drivers. Driving without a licence or when disqualified, or driving a vehicle with the wrong licence, and using vehicles on a motorway that are prohibited loses 4 points. The same penalty occurs if a driver reverses down a motorway, or has more than 50% of passengers over the normal allowable number. Driving negligently that may put other road users at risk and throwing objects out of a vehicle that can cause fire, accidents or injury, or obstacles loses 4 points. Ignoring giveway or stop signs or a red traffic light also results

in a loss of 4 points, as does driving too close to the vehicle in front. Speeding up when another vehicle is overtaking you, being on the wrong side of the road when another vehicle is coming towards you, or driving too fast in reduced visibility loses 4 points, as does putting cyclists in danger. Ignoring instructions or signals by authorized traffic personnel loses 4 points.

3 points are lost for going over road or traffic markings where it is prohibited, and using a mobile phone whilst driving, programming a sat-nav, using head or ear phones, or anything else that results in a loss of attention. Not using seat belts, helmets, or child safety seats / restraints also loses 3 points, as well as using devices that detect radar cameras or speed cameras. Exceeding speed limits results in fines from 100600 Euros and a loss of points from 2-6 for various speed bands over the limits, with more points lost for excessive speeds. Pere Navarro intends to ask parliament to increase the loss of points for using mobile phones from 3 points to 6 points, and the fine from 200 Euros to 500 Euros. He also intends to increase the loss of 3 points for not wearing seatbelts, helmets, or child restraints up to 4 points. Apart from losing points, many serious offences will result in heavy fines, a loss of a licence, or a prison term.

Useful Telephone Numbers Emergencies (Multi-lingual)...................112 Health Emergencies: Life Threatening .........................................061 Other Health Emergencies...........902505061

HACIENDA (TAX OFFICE) Huércal Overa .......................950 470209 / 950 471013

FUNERAL DIRECTOR Albox (Funerarias Teruel) .......................................950 430122 Guardia Civil ..................................................062 Huércal Overa (Colly Fer) ...............................950 616161 Local Police ....................................................092 Garrucha (Funerarias Funerga) ..............................950 460295 Coast Guard .................................900 202 202 Mojácar (Funeraria Pérez) ...................................950 478102 Vera (Funeraria Ntra. Sra. de las Angustias) ..950 390884 AIRPORTS Almeria airport .....…..............…902 404 704 / 950 213 700 HOSPITALS Huércal-Overa, Alicante airport ….............………913 211 000 / 966 919 000 Hospital La Inmaculada..................................................950 029000 San Javier airport ……...……….902 404 704 / 968 172 000 Almería Torrecárdenas............................................950 016000 Almería,Virgen del Mar (Private).....................950 217100 BRITISH EMBASSY Virgen del Mar Emergencies:............................950 217240 Madrid ......................................................................917 146300 LOCAL POLICE BRITISH CONSULATE Albox ...............................................................................950 121080 Málaga (for this area) ................................................952 352300 Carboneras .................................................................950 136136 Cuevas del Almanzora ................................................950 548700 UK PASSPORT INFORMATION Garrucha ............................................................................950 460002 www.gov.uk/browse/abroad/passports Huércal-Overa ..............................................................950 470585 Mojácar ...........................................................................950 472000 EMERGENCY UK PASSPORTS Pulpi ……………......................................................................950 465049 www.gov.uk/emergency-travel-document Vera .................................................................................950 390010 CREDIT CARDS 24hr EMERGENCIES 4B(Visa/Mastercard) …..902 114400 / 913 626200 American Express …...................................................900 814500 Diners Club …..........................................................902 401112 Mastercard …..........................................................900 971231 Servired (Visa/Mastercard) …............................902 192100 Visa …..........................................................................900 991124

TOWN HALLS Albox ....................................................................................950 120908 Antas ............................................................................950 619015 Arboleas .............................................................................950 449430 Cuevas del Almanzora .................................................950 456488 Los Gallardos ....................................................................950 469000 Garrucha ...............................................................................950 460058 Huércal-Overa ...............................................................950 134900 Mojácar ...........................................................................950 615009 ELECTRICITY Sevillana Endesa Enquiries: ..................(free).800 760333 Turre ..................................................................................950 479011 Breakdowns:.........................(free).900 850840 Vera .....................................................................................950 393016 WATER Galasa Enquiries: ..................................................950 391200 TELEPHONE (Telefonica) Breakdowns: ...........................................902 355575 Normal Operator ..................................................................1004 Gestagua (Albox) ....................................................950 120649 Faults Operator ....................................................................1002 International Operator ......................................................11825 GAS Speaking Clock .........................................................................093 Cepsa (Silver bottles) Leaks ….......................902 100224 Cepsa, information …......................................902 416416 TAXIS See Directory pages Repsol (Red bottles) Leaks .......................901 121212 Repsol, information .........................................901 100100 MOBILES LOST OR STOLEN (From any 'phone) ITV (Spanish M.O.T. Centres) Orange …........................................................................656 001470 Vera, Albox, Veléz Rubio Telefónica Movistar …............................................095 702611 Central number ……………........................................959 999999 Vodafone …....................................................................607 123000 Yoigo …..................................................................................622 622622 TRAINS Renfe www.horarios.renfe.es ……..........…….902 240202

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The Focus A-Z Directory

2000 entries!

This A-Z directory is the only comprehensive listing of all the businesses and services you routinely need, and can never find!

For a free directory entry, call 670 84 92 65 or e-mail almeriafocus@gmail.com Keep this magazine in your office, by your 'phone, in the car or beside your bed! It's unique and updated every month. Red line entries signify that there is a display advert for that advertiser. Cervantes Alarcon Consulting (Garrucha) 950 106490 / 647 863787 ACCOUNTING AFIRA (Mojácar) .........................................................622 549019 Concepción Rivas Gil (Arboleas) ….....950 438092 / 647 577716 Flores Montoya Asesoria S.L. (Garrucha) ..................950 132577 Gecko Legal Services S.L. (Mojácar) 950 475949 / 638 264621 Gestoría Salvador (Mojácar Playa) ................................950 473 192 Mayor Consulting S.L.(Mojácar) .................................950 615185 Mojácar Playa Asesores ……................…….…………950 472710 Sintra Consultores (Vera) …......................................950 393815 Vera Advisors (Vera) ………………..................………950 390621 Villalba Asesores (Albox) ..........................................950 431720

ACUPUNCTURE Acupuncture Antonio Herrero ......................................670 099725 Asesoría Forte (Vera) ..........................950 395778 / 682 372196

AIR CONDITIONING ABC (A Better Climate) (See p.58)...647 247494 / 950 092604 Cool Solutions ...........................................................600 621436 DCM Digitek Comms (Mojácar) (See p.19) .950 472947 / 670 084438 Digital Vision (See p.33) ...................950 472081 / 645 294064 Electrotorres ........................................950 472898 / 610 750771 MD Air Conditioning & Refrigeration S.L. 607 364917 / 950 432110

Asesoría López (Vera) ……...................................….950 393071 Asesoría Torres (Mojácar) .........................................950 472748 Asesoría Sánchez Moral (Mojácar) ...........................670 099726

Barbara Caparros Ridao (Vera) …..........................950 390427 CG Legal & Financial (Mojácar Playa) ..950 472504 / 670 215926 Cabrera Cervantes (Turre) ................950 099400 / 627 464545 Richard Hayes ...........................................................603 567676 Cazorla Martinez (Turre) .........................................950 479137 Solo Satellite & Air-Con. (See p.55)...950 398146 / 699 909737

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Williams Electrical (Andy)........................................…..677 741366

ANTIQUES

AIRPORT PARKING

Buy Buy Auctions ...................................................681 095096 Delfos (Mojácar) ......................................................647 163681

AA Parking (Almería, Murcia, Alicante) ......................639 081067 Aqua-Car (Alicante) ……………........................................966 790 011 Coastline Alicante Airport Parking .............................661 517890 Plane Parking S.L. …………............................................966 840 289 ...............(24hrs Alicante) 656 532725, (24hrs Murcia) 656 532724 Seguro Parking (San Jávier – Murcia) ……............622 062115 Victoria Parking (Alicante).................................................965 830 254

AIRPORT TRANSFERS (LEGAL)

ARCHITECTS Angel Pardo (Técnico) .......................950 121960 / 687 939315 Antonio Martinez de la Casa .....................................950 092094 Blas Haro Morales (Mojácar).......................................639 317429 Daniel González Aranda (Vera) ......................................686 846 624 Elena Acebo Architects (Huércal-Overa) .669 680098 / 950 134976 Paula Puente (Mojácar) .............................................610 433001

Exclusive Airport Shuttles (See p.59)..........................950 092602

ART & ARTISTS Adolfo Prado ...............................................................950 472668 Alison .......................................................................630 833873 Buy Buy Auctions ...................................................681 095096 Caz (art classes) ………................................……….607 444034 Dee Butler (Albox) ................................................….663 341904 Delfos Gallery (Mojácar) …........................................647 163681 Evie Fox ................................................................ 603 493163 Isabel Raths (Bedar) ................................................677 034957 Jeremy Fox-Rayner ...................................................653 714767 Jill Bennett (Mojácar) .........................950 478383 / 600 070188 Living Design (Albox) ...............................................678 308073 MarianMay Simpson …...........................………..……629 113436 ALARMS & SECURITY Melanie .....................................................................638 495784 AC Security ........................................950 387822 / 657 397218 Miki ...........................................................................628 458491 AXA ...........................................................................950 478763 Roberto Lombardi ................................950 930757 / 671 800317 B-Safe Digital Security Solutions ..............................634 349859 The Gallery (La Concepción) ..................................607 146352 CD Electrical Services ......................662 414043 / 617 410534 AUCTIONS Prosegur Alarms .........................................................608 825509 Safes & Security (Dean)...........................................666 949213 A & A Auctions (Albox) ………..............950 064576 / 661 759882 SE Telecoms ..............................................................697 780499 Securitas Direct (Phil Lennon) .................................696 116803

Auction Subasta SL (Zurgena) ...........622 288750 / 681 095096 Location Warehousing S.L. (Antas El Real) ..............950 528565

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AUTOMATIC DOORS & GATES

Las Buganvillas

The Metal Works (Albox).......................950 930520 / 638 900949 Gnomo Feliz II ..........................................................950 132350 La Colonial ……………….........................................….636 140307

AWNINGS & BLINDS

Curtains with Style (Interior blinds) ...950 069032 / 678 811125 Costasol S.L. (Lloyd Dean) (See cover)...........................667 652 888 Coverbox (Albox) …................................................…615 992007 Cristalería Omega (Mojácar) …..........950 478137 / 670 500711 Lifestyle Enclosures Europe S.L. (See p. 9) 950 459060 / 638 063196 PersiVera 2005 S.L. ..................................................627 978635 Sol Shaders S.L. (See p.45).....................................627 907207 Speedyfit ...................................................................600 006032 Toldos Farrago (Vera) ...............................................667 567564

Los Carasoles Harley’s ..................................................................642 637371

Los Gallardos Apolo ……………................................................……600 495182 Meson Verfran ………...................................................637 810143

Mojácar Bar Alizee ...............................................................950 091810 Bar Esencial ........................................630 26626 / 618 826092 Bar Luz ....................................................................654 866110

BABY See Children & Baby BAKERIES Cornish Pride (Albox) …................................………666 618933

BARS & CAFES See also Restaurants Albox Bar Lepanto .........................................................................642 391433 Cafe-Bar Oasis ………......................................…....669 242166 Chapman’s ...............................................................950 091188 Cornish Pride ...................................................………666 618933 Beachcomber ..............................................................634 339216 La Palmera ….............................................................950 430993 Cafeteria Bellagio .......................................…………950 472323 The Travellers Inn, Los Marcelinos ...........................642 011900 Cafetería Pizzería Alcazaba ………...........................645 414793 Café Latino ...............................................................626 717323 Alfaix La Venta de Alfaix .....................................................671 272464 Captain's Tapas Bar & Restaurant...............................617 477797 Cave Bar ...............................................................…..950 478799 Antas Delfos .......................................................................647 163681 Bar Gloria ...................................…….950 453150 / 625 668613 Dolce Vita .................................................................950 478476 Arboleas El Ángel (Mojácar Pueblo) ..................950 478343 / 607 537101 Hotel Rural Azabache ...............................................690 258813 El Antler ………...........................................................600 540661 Humbugs Cafe …......................................643 123253 / 643 075387 El Barrio Libre .............................................................950 475739 Bédar El Deseo ....................................................................670 018035 El Paso ...................................................................678 868963 El Toro .....................................................................622 456560 Enrico ...................................................950 472995 / 642 514738 Cerro Gordo Bistro Bonita .......................................650 599739 / 950 930169 Fany …………...........................................………….634 312820 Fusion Beach (See p.47) ..........................................950 615224 Cucador La Vida .....................................................................950 634562 Jazz Life Café (Mojácar Pueblo) ........................…….647 724367 Koi ….........................................................................950 615452 El Campico (Bédar-Lubrin) Kukis ........................................................................686 038259 La Montaña .............................................................670 589788 La Cantina (Mexican) ................................................950 478941

Garrucha

Tierra y Mar .............................................................850 992808

Huércal-Overa El Capricho …..........................................................697 297235 New Why Not? ............................................................950 135614

La Alfoquía Bar La Unión ...........................................................642 Bar Los Mellizos ……….........................................…667 Cielos …...................................................................634 El Local ……......................................950 634449 / 633

008003 919025 393235 684855

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Free directory entries.

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La Parata (See p.7).....................................................950 La Piká .....................................................................950 La Taberna (Mojácar Pueblo) ....................................647 Los Amigos .......................................…………………950 Levante (See p.47) ...................................................950 Lucero ………..................................................……….673 Marcelo’s .................................................................950 Martinis ....................................................................950 Mesón Felipe San Bernabé ................950 475966 / 631 Mesón Mémé ……………...........……….674 141159 / 647 Mimi’s Bar ..................................................................651

478186 Pueblo Laguna 930744 Bar Restaurant Laguna ……….........................……..950 132566 724367 Grace’s Bar ................................................................950 532339 478489 615224 544617 031812 285330 301368 954405 872604

Pub Millionaire ....................................950 617467 / 637 255978

Moca Cafe Bar …......................................................950 452885 Peaky Blinders ........................................................602 890151 Playa Blanca ........................................950 473001 / 639 507520 Rincon de Zahorí ................................630 314400 / 625 103672 Rose & Crown (See p.15)........................................634 796884 Rusty Nail (See p.31)...............................................662 153813 San Pedro Belgian Bar .............................................722 485340 Scotty's …...................................................................687 382540 The Emerald Isle .....................................................950 475391 The Irish Rover (See p.43).........................................950 473135 The Lemon Lounge .............................................….950 472659 The Roof Garden .................................................674 113218 Trufibar ....................................................................664 103611 Twister (Mojácar Playa) ........................………………950 472357 Valery Music ..............................................................950 615537

San Juan de los Terreros Mi Cortijo ………......................................................…950 466323

Turre Alice’s Bar ……….......................................................677 Chili ...................................................950 468425 / 608 La Pará ……………............................................……637 Rosie Lees .............................................................643

161705 802227 545590 198600

Palomares 102 Tapas Bar …………...........................……………..615 157905. Asagía Asador ........................................................640 210185 Centro Plaza ................................................................950 618614 La Dulce Casa ….................................................…….950 467768 The Oasis Bar ....................................950 467381 / 676 365010

Piedra Amarilla, Partaloa Lorena’s ...................................................................634 397621

Valle del Este Hole in One Karen’s Bar ......................950 461068 / 677 655790

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Vera Casa de la Vega ......................................................950 391208 La Amistad …………….…......................................…666 622085

Vera Playa Bar La Reva .................................634 398465 / 618 El Balconcito .............................................................635 Frankie’s Bar .....................................950 467541 / 622 La Buena Mesa ……............................950 467222 / 610

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541115 589909 649469 356387

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La Peperina .............................................................677 420243 BED & BREAKFAST Restaurante Tibu .....................................................950 133747 Casa Barranca (Huercal Overa) ..............................648 250699 The Blue Parrot ......................................................950 467682 Casa Montes Guesthouse (Arboleas) ..................... 686 400331 Castellón (Bédar) .......................................................642 435909 Villaricos Bar La Plaza Villaricos .........................................…950 467590 Hostal La Parata (Mojácar) ........................................950 472670 El Galeon ……...................................................……600 559379 BEDS & BEDDING La Casa del Siret ....................................................950 467777 Buy Buy Auctions ...................................................681 095096 Los Conteros .....................................950 618629 / 699 010705 Colchón San Gines (Huércal-Overa) ........................950 809519 Lucky Bar Pizzeria ...........................................…….647 073598 Furniture Plus (Puerto de Mazarron)...968 153907 / 678 083491 Me & Mrs Jones (Los Llanos market) ......................0044 7850 840288 BARS (BEACH BARS) Aku Aku (Mojácar) .(See previous page).950 478981 / 607 347612 Sleepcentre (Albox) (See p.6) ..........868 931872 / 671 715294 Alma (Mojácar) …......................................................950 805928 Ankara Beach Terrace (Mojácar) ………........………..950 473042 Armony Beach Club (Vera Playa) …......……………..617 745021 Chiringuito Manacá (Mojácar) .....................................600 045599 Costa Tranquila (San Juan de los Terreros)..664701457 El Cid (Mojácar) ...................................950 472063 / 696 056128 El Patio (Mojácar) ........................................................629 287265 Hola Ola (Mojácar) ..................................................664 097279 Lola Bbme (Palomares) ……………….634 062350 / 657 303043 Los Tarahis (Agua Amarga) .......................................950 138235 Lua Beach Club (Mojácar) …......................………… 950 472643 Mandala Beach Club (Mojácar) ................................902 442420 BICYCLE HIRE Maraú (Vera Playa) ………...........................…………671 580340 Maui (Mojácar) ……...................................................950 478722 Aguila Bike (Las Buganvillas) ........................................950 133063 Neptuno (Mojácar) (See p.41) ...............................…616 005387 BiciStar (Vera) ……............................................……667 024001 Sol y Arena (Mojácar) ..............................................950 478308 BikeRun Sport (Albox) …………………950 930190 / 678 166252 Tito’s (Mojácar) ..........................................................950 615030 Bikespin (Huércal-Overa) ................. 950 927678 / 662 543056 Trufibar ....................................................................664 103611 Dazzlem (Vera Playa) ...........................627 818719 / 673 589874 Doltcini (Mojácar) ................................950 092600 / 658 028646 BATHROOMS & SHOWERS Lufran Bike Sport …………....................................….607 074753 ABS Advanced Building Services ..............................687 846016 Mountain Biking Spain …...............……637 831509 / 661 178656 Ana Rodríguez (Huércal-Overa) ..........950 939154 / 606 784598 Rock & Road (Garrucha) .............................850 992805 / 628 2633389 Cerrajería Jara (Las Buganvillas) ……………………..950 109986 Rodeca Bike Zone ..................................................950 132525 Complete Renovations (See p.17) .....644 389255 / 672 379960 Weekend Sport (Las Buganvillas) .........................950 460738 Cristalería Omega (Mojácar) …..........950 478137 / 670 500711 BICYCLE SALES, Dorothy Baños (Albox)...................................................661 463842 Enrique Aguirre S.L. (Garrucha) .................................950 460028 MAINTENANCE & CLOTHING Homes & Beyond (Garrucha) ....................................950 132458 Aguila Bike (Las Buganvillas) ........................................950 133063 BikeRun Sport (Albox) …………………950 930190 / 678 166252 Bikespin (Huércal-Overa) ................. 950 927678 / 662 543056 Doltcini (Clothing) (Mojácar) ..............950 092600 / 658 028646 Lufran Bike Sport …………....................................….607 074753 Rock & Road (Garrucha) .............................850 992805 / 628 2633389 Rodeca Bike Zone ..................................................950 132525 Weekend Sport (Las Buganvillas) ............................950 460738

BLINDS see Awnings & Blinds BOATS & NAUTICAL Veramotor S.A. ............................................................950 392552 Mojácar Home Improvements ...................................950 473104 SpeedyFit (Screens) ..................................................600 006032 BOAT TRIPS Toldos Farrago (Screens)(Vera) ................................667 567564 Glass Bottom Boat (Villaricos port) ….......................662 604456 Steve (Mojacar, Garrucha) ..............................634 352873 BEAUTY See Hair, Health & Beauty Orca Partylevante (Puerto Deportivo Garrucha) ...............680 942141

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Sunshine Charters (Garrucha) ....................................634 398074

BOOKS Librería Nobel (Vera) ................................................950 392642 The Book Box (Albox) ……................................…….662 585098 The Book People Almería …........……686 817945 / 626 578164

BOOK PUBLISHING Costa Books ............................................................634 304344

BOWLING CENTRES (10 pin) Almería Ten Pin Bowling (Arboleas) …...................….950 439013 Indalo Bowling Mojácar ............................................950 473073

BUILDING MATERIALS (& Sanitary Ware, Tiles etc) Aridos Mojácar S.L. ……..........................................650 914257 Brico Depôt (Huércal de Almería) …........…………….950 625652 Casa Conchillo (Albox) …..........................................950 430740 Contrucciones Angel Oller (Albox) ...........................950 431453 Comercial Vera (Vera) ........................902 112236 / 950 393329 Enrique Aguirre S.L. (Garrucha) .................................950 460028 Leroy Merlin, Gran Plaza (Roquetas) ….................……950 339800 VeraSur SL (Vera) ....................................................950 393028

BUILDING SERVICES ABS Advanced Building Services ..............................687 846016 Adam's Building Services .............................………..600 041820 Alan Barker ........................................950 099913 / 600 268176 AlmeriaBuilders.com ……......................659 685133 / 950 9305202 Arboleas Building ………........………........................634 306690 Ben Foster Building Services (See p.61)..................642 471236 CES Builders (Paul) ................................................685 017178 Charlie Fyre ..............................................................686 833444 Christopher Knell Building Contractors .....................634 344450

Complete Renovations (See p.17) .....644 389255 / 672 379960 Cutler’s Carpentry .................................................697 907708 David Croft (Urcal) ………....................................……661 148067 David Pritchard Construcciones ................................617 698418 Elegant Homes S.L. ..............................950 092603 / 687 629777 Elite Constructions .......................................................636 092632 Genco Construction ...................................................607 271869 J B General Builder ................................................. 687 024884 Mario the Handyman ................................................642 245017 M13 (See p.11) ......................................................657 105084

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BUTCHERS Juan’s Carniceria (Mojácar Playa) ........................950 478409

Mat Murray ...............................................................647 MD Building Services ..........................628 414861 / 628 Nash Groundworks ..................................................722 PR Building Services ................................................662

841750 414862 546192 422170

CAKES TO ORDER Alison’s Homemade British Cakes .............................639 028517 Moca Cafe Bar (Mojácar).........................................950 452885 Occasion Cupcakes (Velez Rubio) ............................634 329403 The Cake Boutique (Arboleas) ............................+44 7800 892244

CAMPSITES Camping el Cantal (Mojacar) ................................... 950 478204 Camping Los Gallardos .............................................679 970399 Campsite Marion (Vera) .............................................607 316553

CAR HIRE Al Andalus Car Hire ...................................................664 269440 Auto Corner (Limousines) .....................950 069198 / 667 439671 Caracola (Mojácar) .............................950 473157 / 637 545814

Paul Acreman (General Builder) ..............……………607 196779 Saxon’s Complete Building Services ....618 920126 / 968 485729 Costa Coches (Mojácar) ........................950 459208 / 950 069272 Sierra Construcción .................................................611 028716 Europcar ............................................950 615101 / 654 297681 Valoser Obras .............................................................642 016954 Mo-Car (Mojácar) ................................950 478307 / 626 976973 Vision Design and Build ............................................600 985583 Solvi Car (Mojácar) …………....................................950 478151 SRS Vehicle Services ................................................950 449095

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CARD SHOPS C.A.T. Services (La Alfoquía) (See p.31).950 634388 / 627 635514 Colin the Card (Albox) .........................................…..650 600032 Forget Me Not (Las Buganvillas) ............................663 302740

CAR WASH & VALETING Denis’s Car Wash (Mojácar Playa) ...............................643 198320 Total Entertainment (Albox) ......................................950 121318 Total Entertainment (Arboleas) .................................678 009051 Total Entertainment (Mojácar) ……….................……950 615596 Total Entertainment (Turre) .........................................950 468295

CARPENTRY Bédar Madera (Bédar) ................................................687 503181 Cutler’s Carpentry .................................................697 907708

Go2 Joinery & Services ...........................................674 963957 Jones’s Mobile Valeting ............................................661 571939

You Can Always Find it in the Focus!

Mojacar Carpentry & Home Improvements ...............603 Simon the Woodworker .............................................667 Unicraft …..............................................................…692 Vision Design and Build .........................................600 Wildwood Bespoke Joinery ......................................634

688622 989270 176069 985583 328574

CARPET CLEANING Jones’s Mobile Valeting ............................................661 571939

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Free directory entries.

Call 670 84 92 65 or email almeriafocus@gmail.com Limpiezas Cristina ….............................................…660 306695. Limpiezas Maxlim (Palomares) ……...678 567783 / 629 680161 Upholstery & Leather Cleaning ...................................636 193256

CATERING / EVENTS See also Wedding & Party Planning Elite Cuisine ..........................................................610 Hog Roasts .............................................................671 The Whole Hog / Hog Roast parties ..968 485729 / 618 Soft Ice Cream and Frozen Yoghurt Machines............600

CATTERY see Kennels CHILDREN & BABY Baby Basics (Equipment Hire, Albox) ........................950 Mobility Almería (Mojácar Playa) ..............................634 Meditania, Children’s Activity Centre (Turre) ...........661 Funky Monkeys, Pre-school Group (Mojácar) .....……697 Smartie Pants the Clown ............................................617 The Baby Hire Centre ..............................................615

994435 851135 COMPUTERS 920126 Advance Digital ........................................................616 506569 006032 Beep (Garrucha) ……………..................................….950 133059 Compleo Personal I.T. Centre .................................….950 393689

104345 322475 751244 264179 815221 806126

CHIMNEY SWEEPING & REPAIRS Paul the Chimney Sweep …………..617 150300 / 850 993057 Sammy Sweep ..........…............................…………..619 070839

CHINESE & ASIAN RESTAURANTS Chino Peking (Garrucha) .............................................950 Dragon Chino (Las Buganvillas) ..................................950 Gran Muralla (Albox) ................................................950 Gran Muralla (Turre) ……............................................950 Palacio Imperial Marina (Mojácar Playa) ….................950 Restaurante Asia - Maribo Kitchen ...........................950

132948 133226 120166 618880 472208 110420

CHIROPODIST & PODIATRISTS Clinica Podológica (Garrucha) ..................................950 132768 Kim White (Vera Playa) ………...................................637 149659

Connexions (Turre) (See front cover).......................950 479502 C.Y.G. Vera ...........................................................950 393350 Don Robinson .........................................................646 587746 Dynos Informatica (Albox) …………...................……..950 430806 George’s Sales & Repair (Vera Playa) ..950 042338 / 661 375489 IKamale-on ……………...............................................950 616521 Infordatox (Albox) .....................................................950 633223 Mark Adamou (Mojácar) .....................634 324918 / 634 306799 Mr. Micro (Turre) ....................................................950 479502 PC Playa (Mojácar) .................................................634 356498

CHIROPRACTOR Maximilian Bolté (Garrucha)

.............950 133515 / 650 700783

CIVIL ENGINEERS Isabel Morales ........................................................617 749105

CLAIRVOYANCY / PSYCHIC READINGS Anna (Tarot) ……….........................................………670 897832 Chrissie Cremore ....................................................634 349638 Psychic Karen (Turre) …..........................................678 118108 PC-Solutions (Mojácar) ..............................................637 459293 PhonePC (Garrucha) .................................................950 133502 CLOTHING (Personalised) PRYS Informatica (Antas) ........................................617 382511 AdverTees (Mojácar Playa) ..........................634 336789 Rascals Designs ............................... 950 064665 / 686 582140 CONSERVATORIES Tikka Uniforms (Mojácar) ….......................................667 479903 AA Window Doctor ......................…............................630 231644 Screenmasters (See p.45)......….…..........................677 152911 CLEANING SERVICES SpeedyFit ........................................950 472357 / 600 006032 Amba Cleaners ........................................................697 516955 Chris .......................................................................627 565049 COUNSELLING / HEALING Clean Team …………..............………850 993202 / 694 440184 Ashlí (Naturopath & yoga therapies) .......................643 102335 Cherie's Ironing & Cleaning (Mojácar) ............………634 301389 Acupuncture & Massage ...........................................637 120429 Crystal Clear ............................................................637 229464 Barbara Clarke ...........................................................637 469937 Daisy Proaño Alcivar (Contract & private) ……...….663 538596 Chrissie Cremore (Reiki)............................................634 349638 Idea (Mojácar) .. ......................................................605 162709 Donald Mackinnon (Hypnotherapist) ........................628 651022 Jone’s Upholstery & Rug cleaning ….........…………661 571939 Emotional Freedom Technique/Healer …....................645 290728

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Eve Morgan .............................................................647 203652 Fred Smithers (Acupuncture) ...............950 930456 / 618 107351 Gill Ballard (Healer/Counsellor) ...............................663 336655 Heaven Scent Holistics ...........................................663 923733 Hypnotherapy (Karen) ............................................678 118108 Dr. Jane Thompson (Psychotherapy)...968 485729 / 618 920126

CYBERCAFES Can Connect (Albox) …........................................…..950 121149 Total Entertainment (Albox) ......................................950 121318 Total Entertainment (Arboleas) .................................678 009051 Total Entertainment (Turre) ........................................950 468295 Karen Green (Holistic Therapist) .........615 163416 / 850 993150 Total Entertainment (Mojácar) …….............................950 615596 Kate Roberts ...........................................................950 469540 Lucy Lovejoy (CraneoSacral Therapist) .....................647 045919 DAMP PROOFING Malcolm Forrest-Hazell (Counsellor/Psychotherapist) ...693 489725 Southern Spain Damp Proofing .................................652 358672 Norman & Carole Monro ..........................................950 439205 Sara Vigar (Aromatherapy) .......................................665 334895 DENTISTS / DENTAL TREATMENT Shiatsu (Wendy) ....................................................671 851135 Centro Dental Dr. Cremades (Vera) ........................950 390655 Sue Osman (Healer) ………...............950 473021 / 600 847964 Clinica Dental (Albox) ..............................................950 120732 Clinica Dental, Multicentro (Mojácar) ........................950 478989 COURIER DELIVERIES Clinica Dental Palomares .....................950 109710 / 670 878427 Nacex (Mojácar) ………..................................……….950 472940 Clinica Dental, Parque Comercial (Mojácar) .............950 478534 Offex Spain ................................…….......................966 765950 Clinica Dental Saludent (Huércal-Overa) ……………..950 135672 Spanish Property Choice (Easypost) ..950 615388 / 635 722290 Dentalbox (Albox) .........................................................950 121284 Nadal Pérez, M A (Turre) .........................................950 479444 CRAFTS Elaine's Wools (Arboleas) ........................................667 273889 Odonto Stetic (Los Gallardos) ...........722 706732 / 950 398993 Simply Art (Albox) …...................................................662 443095 Puerta de Vera (Vera) ........................................950395319 Valero Martinez (Garrucha) ………............................950 132047

CURRENCY

DIET PLANS & WEIGHT LOSS Currencies Direct (Mojácar) ...............950 478914 / 626 916443 Ashlí (Naturopath & yoga therapies) ..........................643 102335 Global Currency Exchange (Mojácar Playa) ..............950 615319 Image (Helen) ........................950 930192 / 665178326 CURTAINS & SOFT FURNISHINGS Issysweigh (Albox) ...................................................600 334318 Cortinas Gredécor (Vera / Huércal-Overa) ..................950 391361 Pam (Turre) ..............................................................639 465631 Curtains with Style (See p.21)...........950 069032 / 678 811125 Vicki (Turre) .............................................................650 764623 Curtainsandthings.................................................……678 684564 DIGGER HIRE See Excavation Solo Style ………...............................950 528334 / 626 319907 Unicraft Upholstery ...................................................692 176069 DIVING See Scuba Diving To place a box advert or ask for prices, call Lee on 634 32 22 76

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DOCTORS & CLINICS (Private)

ELECTRICAL GOODS

Analysis Clinic (Mojácar Playa) .................................950 475282 Centro Médico Mojácar ...............................................950 475105 Clinica Medica Garrucha ……...........950 133157 / 617 404500 Dr. Maria Rose (Garrucha) ..........................................950 132803 Euroclinicas (Vera) ........................................................950 391300

Buy Buy Auctions ...................................................681 095096 Centro Comercial Almanzora (Olula del Rio) .............950 442012 Centro Ferretería Lopez Mojácar ...........................950 473111 De Pablo S.L. (Vera) ..............................................950 390129 Electro Ahorro (Albox) .............................................950 121069 Electro Hogar Rodriguez S.L. (Garrucha)..................950 460832 DOG GROOMING Anita (5 Bone Kennels) …………......................……662 344734 Euronics .............. (Albox) 950 430702 (Garrucha) 950 460832 Brigbe’s Dog Grooming ...........................................630 557123 ELECTRICIANS Centro Garras (Huércal-Overa) ............950 616820 / 617 456548 A1 Services ………....................................................679 631458 Elite Dog Grooming (Albox) …….…...........................617 313587 Luis (Clinica Veterinaria Garrucha) ....950 132200 / 628 663616 Abbott Electrical ….............................638 010691 / 950 137208 Lulu’s (Albox) ...................................950 952940 / 600 046557 Andy …..............................…................950 438237 / 679 656450 Pampered Pooches (All areas)..................................662 344734 Baltasar .....................................................................655 691107 Paws & Claws (Palomares ...........+44 7828251913 / 686 501593 Charlie Fyre ................................................................686 833444 Pelitos (Los Gallardos) ..............................................637 286176 Connexions (Turre) ……..............................………….950 479502 Shampooch professional pet grooming ........................642 276442 DJT Electrical Services (Vera) .............686 817945 / 626 578164 SoloPerros (Turre) ..................................................674 509382 ElectroTorres .....................................677 530410 / 610 750771 Ulti-Mutt .....................................+44 7894747657 / 634 332578

EMI Electrical Installations .......................................673 Fernando (Huércal Overa)...........................................677 Francisco Montoya (Mojácar) .........................……….687 N.E.Electrics (Arboleas).............................................634 Peace of Mind 24/7 ............................................... 637 Williams Electrical (Andy)......................................…..677

502867 549247 466352 358777 974662 741366

ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES CDB Natural (Huércal-Overa) ...................................950 882237 Jules Outlet (Mojácar Playa) .....................................633 640918 Voluta's Place (Mojácar Playa) …...............................699 975552

ENTERTAINERS DOG TRAINING Didi Arias (Mojácar) ……............................................639 724521

DOORS See Windows & Doors DRY CLEANERS City Sec (Vera) .........................................................950 390255

DVD & VIDEO Total Entertainment (Albox) ......................................950 Total Entertainment (Arboleas) .................................678 Total Entertainment (Turre) ...950 468295 ...(Mojácar) 950 VHS to DVD conversion .. ........................................647

121318 009051 615596 202599

Abbie Lou (Female vocalist) .......................................687 340544 Amy Amy Amy Tribute Band ....................................645 886919 Ashley Cathcart .......................................................693 486788 Blues Brothers ........................................................680 355376 Bob Management .......................................................666 310251 Brendan O'Dee (Singer/Guitarist) ..............................610 855964 Brian Dee ………........................................................647 897533 Carol George (Female Vocalist) ............................634 285009 Catchlove Music (Varied styles duo)…...................678 397536 DJ Digit-Al ...............................................................634 338014 Dominic Doolittle ..........................................................681 339778 Driftwood …….............................................................687 672028 Dynamite International Rock Band ............................666 310251 Emma Wild ..............................................................642 276385

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Flamenco Dancer (English speaking) ...............687480694 Francisco J. ‘Pasus’ ..........................950 397401 / 699 510966 Funky Nomad ..........................................................643 256459 Georges Femenias (vocalist/guitar) ……...…………….634 300356 Good stand in drummer ...........................................648 699733 GuitarMac ( Guitar/Vocals ) .....................................634 340476 Harmony Duo .........................................................687 340544 Jill Farmiloe (Female vocalist) .................................607 443908 Jim Mackie (Piano Man) ..........................................651 751629 JuJu Entertainment ............................950 950797 / 697 462746 Kay Frances (Vocalist) ........................950 069288 / 689 404244 Kayleigh Easton (vocals) ...................................... 642 581198 Kev Moore .............................................................600 762856 Kris Kelly (Female Vocalist) .................................. 634 374525 Lady Ellen Sings .............................673 459331 / 677 475268 Loose Change ..............................................................671 754851 M & M's Rock & Roll Revue ...................................699 462859 M Soul & Motown (all music styles) ........................634 340409 Maurice Casanove ....................................................671 386947 Maximum Output Karaoke /Disco ............................697 317557 Mel J (Female Vocalist) ........................................664 111990 Melodee (Duo) ................................610 855964 / 664 111990 Melodeemusic (Backing Tracks & Recording Studio).....610 855 964 Menta & Canela Duo ..............................................645 886919 Northern Lights Karaoke …...............................……..697 500673 Phil and The Invisibles ..................... 950 475752 / 651 045120 Richard Hill ..............................................................670 243461 Roadrunner (duo) ......................... 628 122363 / 684 330431 Robin Lamble ..........................................................602 469425 Rocio Starry (Vocalist) .............................................645 886919 Sabrina Lloyd .............................................................661 055440 Shirin (bellydancer) .................................................607 805367 Short-Fuse Blues Band...............................................651 610189 Smartie Pants the Clown ............................................617 815221 Solo Simon ...............................................................667 989270 Spotlight Entertainment (Karaole, disco etc.) .............634 311652 Starry Jazz trio/quintet .............................................645 886919 Sue Moretta .............................................................672 148730 The Fat Lizard Band .....(English) 651 045120 (Esp) 617 464728 The Opium Buddhas ………………….687 033106 / 667 989270 Tom Lee ……............................................................671 754851 Tony Matthews (Quiz organiser) ..............................634 391414 Tony Justice ……….............................950 950797 / 637 159249 Trio Chaos ................................................................687 361440 Triple Trouble Blues Band ........................................671 754851

ESTATE AGENTS Alhambra Holdings (Mojácar)...............950 475199 / 629 673450 AlmeríaCasas ...........................................................950 387852 Almería Homes ................................0044 1273 929286 / 950 930 259 Almería Property Agency (Arboleas) ..670 596085 / 628 872334 Almeria Property Finder (Albox) ................................950 431624 Almería Prop. Investments (Las Buganvillas).950 460874 / 666 260792 Angel Property (Palomares) .....................................950 618054 Antonio Martinez de la Casa (Energy certs)..............950 092094 Arboleas Property Shop .................…....................…958 003391

BMS Huerta Nueva ............................950 615035 / 669 355914 Calida Homes (Arboleas)......................950 430763 / 634 302801 Casa y Campo (Lubrin) .............................................678 587007 Casas Almería (Huércal Overa) ..........950 134434 / 649 777218 Citrus Homes ...........................................................638 849254 Cole's of Andalucia ...............................950 469592 / 697 640681 Complete Holiday Care .......................950 478612 / 610 808631

Cortijos Almería …………............……........................676 916088 D & D Property Care, Sales & Rentals .....643 335386 / 643 337063 Destination Spain Property Services .........................672 668803 Españarural (Albox) ............................950 102505 / 654 359607 Euroxan (Vera) .........................................................699 067922 Fincas Vera Playa ..............................950 460670 / 639 314767 Find Me A Home .................................951 914195 / 636 266641 FW Properties ................................634 325152 / 634 352285 Grupo Platinum Estates (San Juan) .950 466122 / 666 687251 Homes of Spain (Huércal Overa).........950 616516 / 616 562447 Indal-futur S.L. (Mojácar) ……............950 615156 / 609 026526 Indalo Real Estate ...........................950 091137 / 616 760409 Indasol Mojácar S.L. .................................................950 472200 Inmobiliaria Almanzora ..................... 9501 20406 / 637 251238 InmoTerreros (San Juan) ...............950 096180 / 666 255765 K7 Mojácar ...............................................................950 478555

Linnitt Properties (Turre).............................................950 479054 Mojácar Estates (See p.48)......................................950 478935 Mojacarmar ......................................950 475891 / 636 903184 Multicasa Aguilas .................................................... 968 493009 Neinor Homes (Mojácar) (See p.28/29)....................900 110022 New Horizon Villas (Zurgena) ..................................950 438221 New One Stop (Mojácar) (See p.13)..........................950 473040 New Wave Villas (Mojácar) (See p.25)..950 475800 / 607 146352 Next Stop Almería (See p.3)..............950 617518 / 678 034651 Nicla Property Consultancy S.L. ............950 133508 / 628 585538

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Free directory entries.

Call 670 84 92 65 or email almeriafocus@gmail.com Sol y Mar (Albox) ...............................950 064584 / 635 979829 Sonia Cantalejo Bueno (Energy Certs.)......................608 147640 Spanish Estate Agents (Albox) ………950 431855 / 661 143871 Spanish Hideaways (Oria) ....................634 366672 / 676 604008 Spain Assured (See front cover)............950 469622 / 634 300020 Spain Property Finder …..............……........................686 878789 Spanish Property Choice (Mojácar Playa)...................950 615388 Sun Med Properties (Vera Playa) ............................…..950 618209 Vaitier SL (Cabrera) .....................................................609 626140 Veritas Homes (Mojácar) ............................950 472430 / 610 053563 VIP Almería (Mojácar Playa) (See back)..950 472524 / 617 587903 Voss Homes (Huercal-Overa) ...................667 891 741 / 950 616 827

WPMS Inmobiliario (Villaricos) ..........678 321111 / 950 618697

EVENT MANAGEMENT See also Wedding and Party Planning JuJu Entertainment .............................950 950797 / 697 462746

EXCAVATION Aridos Mojácar S.L. (Vera) .....................................650 Bob (Mini digger) (Albox) ..........................................642 Diego Ramos S.L. (Los Gallardos) ……..............…..647 El Cano SL )Mojácar) ................................................950

914257 392922 841750 479185

Okisur (Mojácar) .........................................................950 478386 Olive Property Sales (Bédar)(See cover) .950 469624 / 687 938466 Polansky and Associates ..........................................950 478086 Price Brown Partnership (Mojácar) (See p.64/65)....950 478915 Property Floor Plans ................................................619 672431 Real Almería Property (Mojácar) ...........................647 868119 Realtors MB Spain .................................................678 347125

Elite Plant Hire (JCB) ………….................................636 092632 MD Digger Hire & Construction.................................634 375428 Nash Groundworks ...................................................722 546192

EXCURSIONS Andinas Buggy Treks ..............................................645 984122 C.A.T. Services (La Alfoquía) (See p.31).950 634388 / 627 635514 Costa Almería Tours ..................................................646 760389 Day Tours Almería ............................651 592836 / 645 253155 Indalo Quads (Mojácar) ...........................................634 315074 Rural Almería (Mojácar Playa) ................................…950 472200 Mojácar Jeep Tours .................................................611 028716 Santiburi Properties (Cabrera & Mojácar) 694 404971 / 647 901478

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Rancho Luz del Sol (Partaloa) …..........……...……………..642 1185467

FABRICS Curtains with Style (See p.21)...........950 069032 / 678 811125

FASHION Dandara (Garrucha) ................................................950 617013 Etcetera (Mojácar Playa) ...........................................950 532810 Garabatis (Children's) Mojácar Playa …..........………670 035630 Glad Rags (Albox) ……….........................................634 313071 H & R Men's Fashion (Albox) …................................692 682164 Jules Outlet (Mojácar) ...............................................633 640918 Liz Fashion Accessories (Garrucha) .627 970819 / 607 511179 FITNESS & DANCE Manumaga (Mojacar Playa) …………..........................659 884479 See also Activities-Clubs-Associations Modern Times (Mojácar Playa) …..........…………….950 475207 Oasis Fashions (Mojácar Playa) (See p.5)...............950 473222 Alison .....................................................................666 273168 Palme (Mojácar Playa) ............................................950 472813 Prins Vitali (Mojacar) ….............................................950 478690 Saga Boutique (Mojácar) .........................................950 475258

FENCING Chain Link Almanzora ………...................................697 801875

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS Aero Extinción S.L. (Almería) …............………………..950 263565 Extin-Torres S.L. (Mojácar) ............................................950 475067

FINANCIAL SERVICES AMASS ……......................................................……..678 035992 Blacktower (See p.127) .........................................657 684094 CG Legal & Financial (Mojácar Playa) ..950 472504 / 670 215926 Currencies Direct (Mojácar) …....…...…950 478914 / 626 916443 Indalo Partners ........................................................950 472242 Kennedy Financial Services .........................................678 035992 Offshore Money Management .............952 830916 / 950 398078

Aqua Aerobics - Marianne (Arboleas) .......................637 435864 Club Deportivo Puerto Rey ......................................950 460545 Debbie James (Personal training) (Mojácar) ...........687 619239 Dorothy Rowntree, personal trainer (Mojácar)..........666 815838 Fitness For All (Bédar) ………..........…………………..647 593323 Gimnasio Formas (Turre) .............................................950 468065 Gympower (Personal trainer) (Albox) ......................609 591606 GymXtreme Yoga (Vera) ..........................................643 102335 FIREPLACES Javi Orta, personal trainer (Mojácar) .........................651 693681 Chimeneas Mojácar S.L. (Mojácar Playa) ..............950 472135 Jova Sport Center (Mojácar Playa) (See next page).950 473137 Lotus Integral Yoga Centre (Mojácar) ........................617 719913 FIREWOOD See Logs for Sale Platino Gym (Mojácar Playa) .....................................950 284845 Sano Centre (Albox) ...................................................610 544306 Find the Almeria Focus online Sano Centre (Huércal-Overa) ..................................666 021259 Sierra Club Desert Springs .......................................687 599115 via www.almeriafocus.com Sol Yoga Centre (Arboleas) .....................................686 400331 - Great for when you haven’t got Sophia Wellness Centre (Arboleas) .........................950 449451 your copy to hand! Valle Del Este Spa & Health Centre ..........................950 548600 Vicki’s Fitness & Slimming ....................--.................650 764623

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Call 670 84 92 65 or email almeriafocus@gmail.com Yoga therapies & slimming (Turre & Vera) ....................643 102335

FISHING Orca Steve Sea Fishing (Mojacar/Garrucha) ……… 634 352873 Pete Fishing Trips (Mojácar/Garrucha) …..................634 379173 Rio 600 Boat Fishing (Sid & Graham). 647 020929 / 647 803030

FISH & CHIPS Kingfisher (Pueblo Laguna) ......................................663 553001

The Chippy (La Alfoquía) ........................................634 324484

FLORISTS

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Hortiflor (Mojácar) ....................................................950 478985 FUNCTION VENUES Isamy Florist (Los Gallardos) ...................................670 215902 Miraflores Restaurant (Camping Los Gallardos) .........650 418954 LIS Florist (Garrucha) ................................................950 460901 FUNERAL PLANS Penny’s Florist (Mojacar) ..........................................645 351767 Avalon Europe S.L. ............................950 069012 / 634 321296 Persa Floristas (Albox) …….......................................950 120211 Golden Leaves Funeral Plans (Benitachell)............. 966 493082 Iberian Funeral Plans (See p.35)...........951 203994 / 965 993498 FLY SCREENS AA Window Doctor ..............……….........................…630 231644 Armadillo …..............................................................663 303350 Bugs ...........................................................................600 049515 Coastal Mosquitoes ...........................606 040462 / 610 000700

FUNERAL COMPANIES CollyFer (Huércal Overa) …….............617 456259 / 617 456335 Curtains with Style (See p.21).........950 069032 / 678 811125 Dave ........................................................................634 351275 Lifestyle Enclosures Europe S.L. (See p. 9) 950 459060 / 638 063196 SpeedyFit ..............................................950 472357 / 600 006032 Toldos Farrago (Vera) ...............................................667 567564 Tony Justice ...................................…..950 950797 / 637 159249 Ventanas y Puertas Mojacar S.L. ......................…….950 473104

FOOD SHOPS Catch of the Day UK Fishmonger ........ 634 301490 / 634 304288 Eurowise (Albox) ……………….............................…..950 439801 Funeral Homes Robles (Cuevas) ..............................657 921383 Gastronomía (Delicatessen) (Las Buganvillas) .......950 132048 Funeraria Ntra. Sra. de las Angustias (Vera) 950 390884 / 607 705672 Home Sweet Home (Turre) ...............................……..950 479487 La Maruja (Mojácar) ..................................................664 647171 La Venta de Alfaix Minimarket (Alfaix) ..........................950 469660 Las Buganvillas Minimarket ………........................…..635 036408 Manoli (Arboleas) …...................................................627 941654 Price Busters (Albox) .................................................950 951494 Sol Supermercado (Albox) ….......................................950 430043 Spar Supermarket (Huércal-Overa) ...........…………..950 135222 Spices n' Herbs in Spain (Albox)...............................689 482694 Super Corner (Turre)..........................950 468303 / 637 016107 The Corner Shop (Albox) ………………950 930539 / 680 776791

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Funeraria Pérez (Mojácar) ........................................950 478102 Indalocio Garden Furniture & BBQs ...........................850 993090 Inspired (Furniture & BBQs) (El Real, Antas) (See p.4) 950 147763 Koala Furniture (Antas).................................….........950 392307 La Lonja (Lorca) (See p.27) ........................................968 443322 Linea Nueva (Arboleas) ……………….620 237529 / 950 120630 Me & Mrs Jones (Los Llanos market) .....................0044 7850 840288 Muebles Rodríguez (Los Llanos, Arboleas) …...........950 430778 Muebles La Simona (Garrucha) ...............................950 132443 Sofa & Sofa (Las Buganvillas) ..........654 596247 / 654 596220 Unicraft (Upholstery) ..................................................692 176069

GARDENS FURNITURE PACKAGES Furniture Plus (Puerto de Mazarron)...968 153907 / 678 083491 Homes & Beyond (Garrucha) ....................................950 132458

FURNITURE, RUSTIC/HANDMADE La Buena Artesania (Mojácar) ....................................950 475508 The Furniture Doctor .............................................667 989270

FURNITURE & FURNISHINGS Abodes (Mojácar Playa) ...............................................647 901478 Buy Buy Auctions ...................................................681 095096 Casa Carma (Turre) ...................................................645 080310 Continental Descanso (Antas) 950 459011 (Albox) ...950 633288 El Rincón de Mueble.(See p.33) (Vera)950 460867 (Antas) 950 459071 Elleann’s Homestyle .................................................674 514999 Embargos Bestiales (Antas El Real) ......................950 105711 Fig Furnishings (Mojácar Playa) ...............................643 065179 Furniture Plus (Puerto de Mazarrón)....968 153907 / 678 083491

24hr Casaserve ..................................950 466438 / 676 306269 Agave …….................................................................617 826334 Antas Garden Centre (El Real) .............................610 243838 Cedar Landscapes …….............……....................…620 112193 Chris (Gardening) .................................................643 082899 Clean Team …………..............………850 993202 / 694 440184 Complete Pool & Property Maintenance 634 343541 / 634 891709 Indalocio Garden Furniture & BBQs ..........................850 993090 Inspired (Furniture & BBQs) (El Real, Antas) (See p.4) 950 147763 Jardin Natural ............................................................685 478187 L & M Landscapes .................................................670 409538 La French Touch ......................................................607 226269 Lady Muck Gardening .............................................697 317557 Madera Mania (Garden Supplies) ….........................667 562872 Mel Wood Landscapes ...................................0044 7973843706 Mobile Shredder & Mulch Garden Service .............687 024884 Nash Groundworks ..................................................722 546192

Potty Finca Services ..................……..950 163930 / 616 855294 Homecentre (Albox) (See p.6)...........868 931872 / 671 715294 Riegos y Conducciones (Antas, El Real) .................950 459146 Homes & Beyond (Garrucha) ..................................950 132458 GAS INSTALLATION & REPAIRS Ideas del Mueble (Antas) ...........................................950 452816 Smith Plumbing (Spanish Authorised).........................950 468041

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Desert Springs ........................................................637 GAS TANK SUPPLIERS Gas Alboran ..........................................656 662000 / 950 259382 Macenas Beach Golf ...................…....................…..950 Marina Golf ..............................................................950 GIFT SHOPS Valle del Este ...........................................................950 Isabella (Vera Playa) ......................................................637 188901

GOLF TUITION

GLASS CURTAINS

Gareth Edwards (Cortijo Grande) …...........................950 Lifestyle Enclosures Europe S.L. (See p. 9) 950 459060 / 638 063196 Marcus (Mojácar) .....................................................610 SpeedyFit .......................................950 472357 / 600 006032 Neil Evans (Desert Springs Golf Resort) ............... 638 Toldos Farrago (Vera) ...............................................667 567564 Valle del Este (Vera) ...............................................676

GLAZING (Supply & Repair) AA Window Doctor ......................…............................630 Cristalería Mojácar …............................................…..950 Cristalería Omega (Mojácar) …..........950 478137 / 670 Cristalería Rubi (Vera) ………......................................950 SpeedyFit ............................................950 472357 / 600

861591 548240 133230 398743

231644 475376 500711 390546 006032

GOLD & JEWELLERY BUYING

479176 526671 531821 256923

GRASS, ARTIFICIAL Grass 4 U .................................................................638 574145 Greenfingers Arboleas S.L. ..........……......……………629 947633 Inspired (El Real, Antas) (See p.4) .................... 950 147763 Nash Groundworks .....................................................722 546192 Tiger Turf ............................................950 431624 / 635 652745

GUTTERING Lifestyle Enclosures Europe S.L. (See p. 9) 950 459060 / 638 063196

HAIR, HEALTH & BEAUTY Affinity Beauty Treatments (Turre) ............................678 992093 Anavi Estillistas (Palomares) .....................................670 094722 Ashlí (Naturopath & yoga therapies) ..........................643 102335 Avon Co-ordinator (Jane) ……...................................670 722705 Avon Cosmetics (Arboleas) ………........................….691 987454 Avon Cosmetics (Bedar) ...........................................950 398980 Avon Cosmetics (Húercal Overa) …....647 092010 / 950 137208 Avon Cosmetics (Los Gallardos) .............................687 960362 Gold & Jewellery Buying ...........................................616 453813 Avon Cosmetics (Los Gallardos camping ) ..............950 469684 Avon Cosmetics (Turre & Vera) .................................643 102335 GOLF COURSES Avon (Total Entertainment, Albox) .............................950 121318 Aguilon Golf (Pulpi) ......................................………..672 655600 Avon (Total Entertainment, Arboleas) ........................678 009051 Cortijo Grande ..........................................................950 479176 Beaches (Hair & Beauty) (Mojácar) ..............................950 473110

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Beauty by Marilyn ....................................................950 Beauty Center (Mojácar) (See p.37)..........................687 Bonita Hair & Beauty Salon (Mojácar) ......................950 CDB Natural (Skin care) (Huércal-Overa) ................950 Centro Estética (Mojácar Playa) …..................………950 Claire & Inma (Mojácar Playa) ................................950

398852 480694 473159 882237 472680 147630

Cloud 9 (Mojácar) .......................................................662 226086 Cutting Edge (Hair & Beauty) (Albox) .........................950 633086 Dave Eccles (Mobile Hairdresser) ......950 525790 / 687 033106 Donna's (Albox)..................................950 930167 / 628 669456 El Rincon de Mary (Mojácar) ................................... 663 561521 El Rincon de Mary (Mojácar) Yasmin .....................656 646257 Elaine Mobile Hairdresser (Coast & Inland).................634 379424 Elegance (Turre) ......................................................634 308877 Etticut (Turre) .............................................................667 971960 Farrow's Hair Design (Arboleas) .................................950 634346 Favola (Las Buganvillas) (See p.7).........................675 622216 Heaven Scent (Huércal-Overa) ……....................…..663 923733 IIsabel Castaño (Hairdresser, Bédar) ..666 045552 / 950 469462 Jean & Co.(Mojácar Playa) ……..............................…950 615094 Jenny’s Hair Design (Albox) .....................................620 447858 Kyra Beauty Salon (Arboleas) ...........950 106294 / 643 357906 Jing Nails .................................................................622 251432 Julian Hair Design ....................................................634 354507 Julie Rodriguez .......................................................634 338017 Kim White (Beauty)(Vera & Mobile) ………...……….637 149659 Lavender and Lemons (See p.61) .......................643 790511 LU & NA (Valle del Este) …….............................…950 461113 Marcela Torres (Manicure & Pedicure) .....................697 421672 Naturalmente Mediterraneo (Skin care) (Garrucha) …655 299494 Oceanic Massage Therapies (Mojácar)...666 710964 / 687 619239 Opulence (La Alfoquía) …...........................................619 467295 Pascal Chevallier Emporium (Mojácar) ........................950 472790 Pampered Beauty Centre (Palomares) (See p.39).......950 618129 Phoebe (at Pampered) .............................................662 573939 Pure Natural Deodorant ...........................................950 066163 R retreat (Cucador) ……...........…...............................626 144680 Room 97 (La Alfoquia) .............................................683 479261 Salon de Peluqueria y Estetica (Garrucha) ...............950 133162 Sarah Noble (mobile hairdresser) ...........................692 195500 Shiatsu Centro de Terapia (Huércal Overa) .............671 851135 Sophia Wellness Centre (Arboleas) ...........................950 449451 Stella’s Hair & Beauty (Las Buganvillas) ..................950 699973 Sunlight Spain (Herbal Products) ...............................684 212474

Wacky Barber & Hairdresser (Mojácar) ....................667 961645 Wavelengths (Albox) .............................................…950 120309

HARDWARE OUTLETS Enrique Aguirre S.L. (Garrucha) .................................950 460028 Ferretería Gonzalez (Mojácar) ……….........................666 471384 Ferretería López (Mojácar) ……..................................950 615026 Ferretería Longo (Albox) ……....................................950 430064 Ferretería Soler (Garrucha) ……..................................950 460073

HEALING See Counselling/Healing HEALTH FOODS Girasol (Albox) ….......................................................639 Home Sweet Home (Turre) ..............................……..950 La Maruja (Mojácar) ...............................................664 Las Hierbas de Maria (Mojácar) ..............…………….657

089170 479487 647171 513990

HEATING ABC (A Better Climate) (See p.58).......647 247494 / 950 092604 Graham (oil heating) ……….....................................620 112193 Neater Heater ………...................................………….634 312171

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Hotel & Spa Don Juan (Aguilas) ................................968 493493 HIRE Baby Basics (Equipment Hire) ...................................950 104345 Hotel Tikar (Garrucha) ..............................................950 617131 Mobility Almería (Mojácar Playa) .............................634 322475 Hotel Valhalla (Carboneras) ......................................950 130444 Hotel Valle del Este ...................................................950 398743 Hotel Virgen del Mar (Mojácar) ..................................902 472222 Las Colinas Suitotel (San Juan de Los Terreros) .........950 466353 Parador de Mojácar ...................................................950 478250

HOUSE & PET SITTING David .............................................................................. 950 099905 Linda Pettit .............................................................642 016954 Sharon Presley ..........................................................648 069200

HOUSE CLEARANCE Almeria Castaño House Clearance .........................611 028716 Items For Sale Mojácar .......................694 439275 / 950 478753 The Attic (Cucador) ..…….…................672 184354 / 648 250699

HOUSEHOLD GOODS Home Store ........………..............………850 993202 / 694 440184 Home Sweet Home (Turre) ................................……..950 479487

HYGIENE & FOOD HANDLING Grupo Sedesa (Vera) ...............................................950 390990

INSURANCE Expecting a Baby (Almanzora Valley) ....950 436581 / 666 375688 Sound Systems ..........................…............................630 231644

Adeslas ............................................950 472701 / 633 431900 Albox Insurance .......................................................950 121943

HOME CARERS see also Nursing Angels Nursing Group ...............................................902 Committed2ucommunitycare ......................................684 Helping Hands Mojacar (Kirsty Ratcliffe) .................678 Michaela Talbot .........................................................622

026468 333442 590988 015765

HORSE RIDING Centro Hipico Valle del Almanzora .........................691 Didi Arias (Mojácar) ...............................................639 Media Legua Equestrian Centre (Vera) ..............……667 Rancho Luz del Sol (Partaloa) .................................642 Sanctuary Limaria .....................................................628

241878 724521 243561 118546 Alhambra Holdings (Mojácar)...............950 475199 / 629 673450 239696

HOTELS & HOSTALS Casona Granado (Nr Lubrin) ...................................950 069077 Hostal El Olivar (Mojácar Pueblo) .........950 472022 / 672 019767 Hotel Al Sur (Calabardina) .........................................968 419466 Hotel Carlos 111 (Aguilas) ......................................968 411650 Hotel Carmona (Vera) ..............................................950 390760 Hotel - Casa Rural, Cortijo de la Media Luna (Mojácar) 950 478813 Hotel El Paso (Aguilas) ….........................................968 447125 Hotel Family (Agua Amarga) ......................................950 138014 Hotel Madrid (Aguilas) ................................................968 411109 Hotel Mamabel's (Mojacar Pueblo) .....950 472448 / 663 700542 Hotel Mayari (Calabardina) .................620 629508 / 968 409338 Hotel Puntazo (Mojácar) ...........................950 478265 / 950 478 229 Hotel Rural Azabache (Arboleas)..................................690 258813 Hotel Mexico (Puerto Rey) ......................................950 132061 Hotel Salinas (Cabo de Gata) .....................................950 370103

ASSSA Seguros (Vera) .............................……………950 392487 Asisa (Vera) ................................................................950 391950 Axa .....................................................950 478763 / 609 667333 BWI Bryan White Insurance (Mojácar) ......................950 472098 Catalana Occidente (Palomares) ..............................950 618054 Catalana Occidente (Mojácar Playa) .........................950 478307

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Call 670 84 92 65 or email almeriafocus@gmail.com Edward William (Marine Insurance) ……………….….952 476090 García & Trinidad (Albox) …….............950 120340 / 620 240563 Gestoría Salvador (Mojácar Playa) ..........................950 473192 Grupo Catalana Occidente (Mojácar Pueblo) 950 478061 / 653 806 908 Ibex Insurance Services Ltd (Mojácar & Albox) ........950 120070 Liberty Seguros (Turre) ….................950 479568 / 620 179206 Liberty Seguros (See p.23).....................................913 422549 Linea Directa ………....................................................902 123248 Mapfre (Mojácar) ...950 478151 (Garrucha)................950 617376 Maxine Morgan Liberty Seguros (Las Buganvillas) ........669 074 996 Mojácar Insurance ...................................................634 323399 Sol y Mar (Albox) ……….....................950 064584 / 654 590258 Sol Insure ………..........................................………..950 472098

INTERIOR DESIGN Evie Fox-Rayner ................................603 493163 / 653 714767 Curtains with Style (See p.21) ..........950 069032 / 678 811125 Deco-house (Ann) .....................................................666 260792 Essential Solutions …….............................................627 245658 Light & Luz (Vera) ...................................................686 457714 Lola Barranco ………..........................950 086116 / 691 261818

INTERNET CAFES see Cybercafes INTERNET TV Connexions (Turre) (See front cover).......................950 479502 DCM Digitek Comms (Mojácar) (See p.19) .950 472947 / 670 084438 Europa Digital .......................................950 133233 / 678 332815 Ezetv .......................................................................950 091112 GSF Communications ................................................950 473102 IPTV UK ....................................................................603 613918 IPTV Spain UKTV ...............................654 617496 / 699 386277 Mobility Almería (Mojácar Playa) .............................634 322475 PC Playa (Mojácar) ......................................................634 356498 S E Telecoms ............................................................697 780499

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Free directory entries.

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UKTV Almería ....................................850 993202 / 694 440184 Simply Solved ………...............................................663 327091 Susi ..................................................................................617 920 190 INTERNET PROVIDERS Traducciones Levante ...............................................606 953775 Albox Online ...........................................................950 091111 Wendy Interpreter/Translator ................................. 661 194278 Yamile (Written Translations) ....................................626 207575

IRONING Cherie's Ironing & Cleaning (Mojácar) ............………634 301389 Clean Team …………..............………850 993202 / 694 440184

JEWELLERY Castellón (Bédar) .................. ....................................642 Jewellery Paula (Albox) ...........................................960 Joyería Pérez (Garrucha) ........................................950 La Luna (Garrucha) .................................................950 Serendipity (Albox) .................................................617

435909 430871 460636 132543 699624

Connexions (Turre) ……..............................…………..950 479502 Next .............................................................................950 479369 GSF Communications ...............................................950 473102 Satcomms ..............................................951 406556 / 622 524335

JOINERY - see Carpentry KENNELS, CATTERIES & PET SITTING

INTERPRETING/TRANSLATIONS

Animal Hotel (Águilas) ..............................................639 722197 Boarding Kennels Los Llanos de Rosa (cats & dogs) ..629 448073 Country Kennel (Turre) .........................950 473011 / 627 564640 Dog & Cat Sitter Service …………………..................676 389592 Gail .....................................................693 769079 / 697 500673 Five Bone Hotel (Turre) ............................................630 234556

1-2-1 Translations (Spanish, English, Norwegian)......662 390453 Alpha Interpreting and Translation .......950 133508 / 677 530690 Andrés (Mojácar) ........................................................679 932632 Antonio García Russell (Mojácar) ..............................606 198958 C.A.T. Services (La Alfoquía) (See p.31).950 634388 / 627 635514 Carolina Pérez Gallardo (Sworn Translator) ..............647 863745

Carolyn (Mojácar area) ........................950 132905 / 608 692545 Cristina …….......................................................…..626 741386 Clara Mata ..............................................................629 132529 Starena (Vera Playa) ..............................................672 668803 Donna González-Linnitt ...........................................699 067922 Elizabeth ..................................................................662 504734 Espanglish Translation & Interpreters . 950 390037 / 950 392876 Hind (Mojácar - French, Arabic, English) .................616 605341 Joanne Tissington ……………...................................637 267150 Kathryn Jones .........................................................629 931125 Laberinto (Spanish, English, French, Dutch) .............609 781438 Marcela Chávez Riveros (Mojácar) .......................... 676 951352 Marguerite ……....................................................…..687 814157 Marisa .......................................................................636 179128 Michaela Talbot .........................................................622 015765 Milena (Albox) ………....................……654 359607 / 711 794366 Pedro ......................................................................655 510420 Robert Boucher .........................................................693 618705

Kareclif Cattery (Albox) ...........................................677 791165 Kit Cat Luxury Cat Suites (Los Gallardos) ..............674 113217 Palomino Kennels & Cattery ……....…671 916426 / 950 093087 Paws*A*While (Nr Albox) …....................................…696 562662 Pet Sitting in Your Home ………….......................…….637 061482 Sharon Presley ..........................................................648 069200 Sleepy Hollow (Huércal-Overa) ….............................617 313587 The Hilton Cattery ............................950 163489 / 664565479 Woodhouse Boarding Kennels/Cattery (Arboleas)….950 930585

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KEY CUTTING

LAUNDRIES City Sec (Vera) .........................................................950 Clean Team Laundry Service ...................................634 Costa-Azul (Aguilas) ……..........................................968 Ivi's Lavanderia (Las Buganvillas) ............................950

390255 332502 414327 132657

LEGAL SERVICES See also Solicitors ALO Services (Zurgena) ......................950 449179 / 667 994682 Asesoría Sánchez Moral (Mojácar) ...........................670 099726 Barbara Caparros Ridao (Vera) …..........................950 390427 CG Legal & Financial (Mojácar Playa) ..950 472504 / 670 215926

KITCHENS 24hr Casaserve .................................950 466438 / 676 Artizan (Vera) (See p.2) ..................…950 390635 / 661 Charlie Fyre ..............................................................686 Cocinas El Real (Los Gallardos) .........639 036051 / 622 Cocinas Puntocom (Huércal-Overa) ...950 921975 / 722 Complete Renovations (See p.17) .....644 389255 / 672 Ergo Küchen (Huércal-Overa) ...................................636 Harlequin Kitchens (Albox) ……........………………….619 Homes & Beyond (Garrucha) ....................................950

306269 985310 833444 232186 136950 379960 447730 584405 132458

J.B. Kitchen Fitters (Turre) .......................................687 024884 Cam Concepts S.L. (Huércal-Overa) …......…………. 950 471357 KDI Kitchens .............................................................605 163613 Cervantes Alarcon Consulting (Garrucha) 950 106490 / 647 863787 La Lonja (Lorca) (See p.27) ........................................968 443322 Gecko Legal Services S.L. (Mojácar) 950 475949 / 638 264621 Mojácar Home Improvements ....................................950 473104

LANDSCAPING D & C Landscaping ..................................................634 359082 La French Touch .................. ..................................607 226269 Mel Wood Landscapes ...................................0044 7973843706 Nash Groundworks .....................................................722 546192

LAUNDERETTES Bish’s (Mojácar Playa) .............................................639 161725 The Laundry Room (Vera Playa) ...............................666 007824

Find the Almeria Focus online via www.almeriafocus.com - Great for when you haven’t got your copy to hand!

Gestoría Salvador (Mojácar Playa) ........................950 473192 Gestoría Soria Bonilla (Mojácar) ................................950 478420 Kim Clark UK Benefit advice ……..….950 169729 / 663 297568 Mayor Consulting (Garrucha) .......................................950 615185 Mojácar Playa Asesores ……........………...……………950 472710 Pilar Pérez Gestión S.L. (Mojácar) ............................950 478863 Vera Advisors (Vera) .................................................950 390621

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MS Legal ..............................................950 479613 / 634 322827 Locksmith (Dean) .....................................................666 949213 Villalba Asesores (Albox) ..............................................950 431720 Phil the Pick 24hr (Arboleas) …................................697 243181

LEISURE ACTIVITIES

LOGS FOR SALE

see also EXCURSIONS and TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Antonio Diaz .............................................................689 Colin & Carlos ....................................660 903158 / 630 Almería Ten Pin Bowling (Arboleas) …...................….950 439013 Firewood Arboleas .................................................647 Extreme Adventure Mojácar ......................................687 919840 Las Norias Carden Centre (Los Gallardos) ..............670 Indalo Bowling Mojácar ............................................950 473073 Karting (Garrucha) ….........................................……950 460207 Lunar Cable Park (Cuevas del Almanzora) .................665 512873 Nautarium Sea Museum (Garrucha) ………........…..950 139554 Paintball Almanzor (nr. Arboleas) ..................………..619 559261 Paragliding ………................................635 243539 / 680 358549 Sol-Aero (Vera) ..................................609 685132 / 661 985358 Water Park (Vera Playa) …...................................…..902 361294

127535 455328 932078 215902

LIGHTING Light & Luz (Vera) ...............................950 391804 / 697 643653

LOCKSMITHS

Leña Ramos (Arboleas) …....................630 356095 / 616 044719 24hr Locksmith .....................................950 472982 / 658 828560 Lee (Arboleas) ...........................................................636 092632 Guzman Seguridad (Albox) ..................950 431497 / 617 272885 Leñas Almanzora .......................................................950 120309 Leñas Cazorla (Turre) ...............................................607 827783 Levante Logs ............................................................670 243724 Log-On-Tommy …....................................619 070839 Logs for Sale ..............................................................687 314775 Mr. Leña & Logs .........................................................622 883072 Palm Deliveries (Albox) .....................950 122416 / 686 966008 Phil (Arboleas) …........................................................634 328779 Potty Finca Services ............................950 163930 / 616 855294

MARKETING Edela Media (Social Media) (Mojácar) ....................607 146352 Mojácar Business (Social Media) ............................950 680110

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MOBILE PHONES

MASSAGE Acupuncture & Massage ..........................................637 Alternativa (Jessica Rippin) ......................................676 Authentic Thai Massage (Jom) ..................................616 Holistic Massage, Lorraine ................950 064484 / 687 Lymphatic Drainage & Cranio Sacral-Therapy (Gabi) 950

120429 See Telecommunications 284170 922612 MOTORCYCLES & QUADS 569113 D Perez Motor (Antas) ...............................................950 069022 472263 Harley Dees …………................................................600 685550 Indalo Quads (Guided treks) ..................................634 315074 Montoya Motos (Garrucha) …...............................…..950 133033 Nafta Custom (Antas) ………...............950 619293 / 615 938352

NURSING see also Home Carers Angels Nursing Group ...............................................902 026468

Mike Sheehan (Neuromuscular Therapy) ......................657 050394 Oceanic Therapies (Mojácar) ......................................687 619239 Ray Daniel (Sports massage)………...........................617 741564

MEALS ON WHEELS Committed2ucommunitycare ......................................684 333442

METAL WORK Committed2ucommunitycare ......................................684 AA Window Doctor ....................…............................630 231644 Michaela Talbot .........................................................622 Carpentería Metalica Chacón (Albox) …................950 431738 NEWSAGENTS Cerrajería Jara (Las Buganvillas) …............………….950 109986 Coastal Rejas ...........................................................610 000700 Total Entertainment (Albox) ......................................950 FS Fabrications …..............…………..627 167167 / 671 424558 Total Entertainment (Arboleas) .................................678 Ideal Metal Designs ...................................................656 834064 Metalbox (Albox) .......................................................950 633090 Mojácar Home Improvements ...................................950 473104 P & D Metals ............................................................638 707406 Speedy Fit Security Grilles ....................................600 006032 The Metal Works ..............................950 930520 / 638 900949

333442 015765

121318 009051

MOBILE HOMES & CARAVANS Camping Los Gallardos .............................................679 970399 Caravan Storage (Antas) …….............................….661 508776 Casa Móviles .....................................637 418906 / 951 161348 Cherribar Park Homes ............…………950 396908 / 629 688153 Flor de Vida (Aguilas) ..........................968 438535 / 660 329907 Total Entertainment (Turre) .........................................950 468295 Hispavan .....................................................................687 845730 NUTRITION Veramotor S.A. ...........................................................950 392552 Alternativa (Anne-Marie Pichon) ...............................666 966573 Ashlí (Naturopathic & nutritional therapies) ................643 102335

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Antonio Perez (Mojácar) ………........................…….691 240495 ONLINE MARKETING Donna González Linnitt .............................................699 067922 Borders Painting ………..........................................…687 661807 Cabrera Painting and Decoration Works ...................637 524709 OPTICIANS Casanove Interiors ......................................................680 836166 Federopticos (Aguilas) ……........................................968 414468 C.I.S Services (Arboleas) ........................................634 621747 Federopticas Diaz (Albox) ..........................................950 121122 Curtis Helm Multiservices .........................................610 394815 Multiopticas Indalo (Garrucha) ...................................950 460665 Daniel ……………..................................................….642 236810 Multiopticas Indalo (Mojacar) .....................................950 472285 Darpa S.L. ..................................................................691 055726 Multiopticas Indalo (Campohermoso de Nijar) ............950 385082 Darren Hargreaves ...................................................626 855483 Natural Optics (Garrucha) .........................................950 133921 Grupo Brideca (shop) (Huércal-Overa) 950 471045 / 950 135881 Opticas Indalo (Garrucha) ..........................................950 133865 IPB Painting ........................................661 184848 / 622 524335 Opticas Indalo (Carboneras) .......................................950 130707 JPM ...........................................................................627 090422 Opticas Indalo (San Isidro de Nijar) ...........................950 366200 Metalwork Painting ………………………699 246932 / 659 185039 Painting & Decorating ............................................643 397903

Paul ...........................................................................649 Phil the Painter ……..............................................…671 The Fast Brush .........................................................950 True Colours .............................................................636

186107 227259 472668 638670

PATIO & POOL ENCLOSURES See Screened Patio & Pool Enclosures

PERFUMES & COSMETICS Son d’Aromas (Mojácar Playa) ..................................666 348253 Óptica Albox …………….......................................…..950 121991 Optica Mahis (Vera) ………...................................…..950 390777 Optica Orbera (Huércal Overa) ....................................950 135596 Optica Orbera (Albox) .....................................950430101 Opticalia M&G (Albox) ................................................950 121084 Primera Opticos (Aguilas) .........................................968 493482 Salas (Huércal Overa) ................................................950 135081 + Visión (Aguilas) …....................................................968 414279 Villazar (Mojácar Playa) …....................................….950 472783

PET SHOPS & TRANSPORT InterZoo (Vera) .......................................................950 390075 La Tienda de Basilio Rubio (Albox) ...........................950 431592 Madera Mania (Los Gallardos) …..................……….667 562872 Mojácar Mascotas ......................................................679 411203

OSTEOPATHS Alice Bellot (Mojacar & Arboleas) ….................………633 352259 Centro Physis (Olula del Rio) .................................695 355381 Enrique Arias (Mojácar) .........................950 472974 / 629 289385 Hector Gutiérrez (Vera Playa) ............607 479379 / 950 132765 Osteo Maestra (Arboleas) ......................................950 449451 Sanatura (Albox) .................................610 269162 / 642 809453 Shift My Pets Transport (Spain/UK) …….........………634 368430 PAINTING & DECORATING ABS Advanced Building Services ..............................687 846016 Tucano Mascotas (Vera) ....................950 392617 / 650 292670 A.J. Painting & Decorating .......................................687 024884 Union Jack (Pet Transportation) ...........………………….902 109560 Alan Barker ......................................950 099913 / 600 268176

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Remedio clinic (Mojacar) ....................950 472980 / 617 741564 PEST CONTROL Jason …….........................................950 064015 / 680 903609 Vitea Fisioterapia (Vera) ...................950 390655 / 663 024255 Sedesa (Vera) …………............................................950 390990 PIANO TUNER Terry …...................................................................…697 229753

PICTURE FRAMING Buy Buy Auctions ...................................................681 095096 Casa de Cabra (Albox) ........................................ 633 364329

PIZZERIAS

PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICES 20seven photography ................................................634 301635 Almería-Fotografía .....................................................663 627942 Bluwater Photography ….........…………………………616 189002 Chincheto (Mojácar) ....................................................687 489182 Fotomicar (Lyle Mallen) .............................................620 786914 Fotos Fabrega (Albox) ………...........……………………950 430223 Indigo Photography & Video ...................................637 974793 Omar De La Cruz ………..........………950 460213 / 609 284852 Professional Video & Photographic Services inc. Aerial...647 202599 Rod Westwood ………........................950 472321 / 609 611207 The Image Suite …….............................…........................647 918 848 Toros Bravos ............................................................607 117174

PHOTOCOPIES & SCANS C.A.T. Services (La Alfoquía) (See p.31).950 634388 / 627 635514 neö-cöpy (Vera) …...................………..950 390424 / 622 262100 Pronto Printing (La Buganvillas) (See cover).............950 133492 Servidea 2020 (Mojácar Playa) .................................950 399726 Total Entertainment (Albox) ......................................950 121318 Total Entertainment (Arboleas) .................................678 009051

PHYSIOTHERAPY

Antonella (Mojácar Playa) ................................……..950 450215 BiancoRossi (Mojácar Playa) ...................................950 472682 Bocapizza (Albox) ......................................................950 120506 Cafetería Levante (Mojácar) .....................................950 615224 Cafetería Pizzería Alcazaba (Mojácar Playa) ............645 414793 Centro Plaza (Palomares) …...............................…..950 618614 Chili (Turre) ................................................................950 468425 El Ángel (Mojácar Pueblo) ...................950 478343 / 607 537101 El Gaucho (Mojácar Playa) ....................................950 478846 Enrico (Mojácar Playa) ......................950 472995 / 642 514738 Meson Felipe San Bernabé (Mojácar Playa) ..…….950 475966 Imperial (Mojácar Playa) ......................................….950 478098 Indalo Burger (Mojácar Playa) ...............................950 099119 La Góndola (Garrucha) ..............................................950 133928 La Muralla (Mojácar Pueblo) .......................................950 472928 Little Italy II (Garrucha) …………...........………………950 133802 Osteria (Mojácar) ......................................................950 615151 Ottocento (Mojácar Playa) .........................................950 615100 Pizzeria Gallo (Aguilas) …...........................................968 447862 Pizzeria D'Angelo (Mojácar Playa) .................................950 478517 Pizzeria El Desvío (Turre) ............................................607 804488 Pizzeria Portofino (Mojácar) .......................................950 472809 Pizzeria-Restaurante Mari Cruz (Turre) …...........…….950 479646 Pizzería Quick (Garrucha) .............................................950 132305 Provenzal (Mojácar Playa) ..........................................950 478308 Pulcinella (Mojácar Pueblo) .......................................950 478401 Samz (Los Gallardos) ..................................................950 398981 Sottocasa (Mojácar Playa) ........................................950 093075

Centro Physis (Olula del Rio) ......................................695 355381 PLASTERERS Clínica Fisioalbox (Albox) ..........................................629 402852 David Pritchard Construcciones ................................617 698418 Clinica MOS Fisioterapia (Mojácar Playa) .................644 394335 Diamond Plastering and Building Services ...............665 706880

PLUMBERS 24hr Casaserve ..............................................950 466438 / 676 3062699 Andy (Mojácar) ........................................................697 302039

Fisiomar Physiotherapy Centre (Albox) ....................667 425197 Fisioterapia Vera-Salud (Vera Playa) ...607 479379 / 950 132765 Ignacio López de la Fuente (Mojácar) ......................627 244730 Physiotherapy Centre (Albox) ...........950 431463 / 657 516247

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Blocked DrainsRUs ............................950 091109 / 648 768587 Charlie Fyre ..............................................................686 833444 Chris ........................................................................643 082899 Carlos (Saliente) Plumbing & Heating ..950 930900 / 620 742954 Curtis Helm Multiservices .........................................610 394815 Graham ....................................................................620 112193 Knowles ….........................................950 137197 / 606 807797 Fernando (Huércal Overa)...........................................677 549247 Francisco Montoya (Mojacar) …............………………..687 466352 Smith Plumbing S.L. ..................................................950 468041

PODIATRISTS See Chiropodists & Podiatrists POOL COVERS 1 Stop Pool Shop ...............................950 104345 / 637 582696 Coverbox (Albox) …….................................................615 992007 Enclose My Pool ..................................606 040462 / 670 510097 Hispavan pool covers ........................950 047033 / 687 845730 Real Covers (Mojácar) ........................950 478763 / 609 667333 WS Cover ...................................................................667 480363

Reflections Pool Services ........................................642 341603 Salvador (Pool Maintenance) ......................................696 426523 Sundance Spas - Pool Maintenance S.L. ....................950 472845 Tanby Piscinas ............……….............950 468230 / 609 888549 Triton Pool Cleaning ...............................................634 326322 Tropicana Swimming Pool Construction 650 906114 / 689 404244 True Blue Pools & Spas ..............................................661 148998

POSTAL SERVICES Can Connect (Albox) …….........................................950 121149 C.A.T. Services (La Alfoquía) (See p.31).950 634388 / 627 635514 Connexions (Turre) ..................................................950 479502 Forget-me-not (Las Buganvillas) ....................………..663 302740 Frankie’s Bar (Vera Playa) .........................................662 474861 Mail Boxes Etc (Vera) ................................................950 393835 Offex Spain ................................……..966 765950 / 661 386942 Spanish Property Choice (Easypost) ..950 615388 / 635 722290 The Post Shop (Albox) ………..............950 064584 / 635 979829 Total Entertainment (Albox) ......................................950 121318 Total Entertainment (Arboleas) .................................678 009051 Total Entertainment (Turre) .........................................950 468295

POOLS & POOL MAINTENANCE

PRE-PAYMENT METERS

1 Stop Pool Shop ...............................950 104345 / 637 582696 24hr Casaserve .................................950 466438 / 676 306269 Aguafer Piscinas S.L. ................................................950 617064 Aguagéstion Cantoria (Maintenance) ……….............653 078040 Alloa Pool Care (Albox) ………….................…………..650 244018 Aquazul Piscinas ….....................................................647 841750 Blue Diamond Pool Care ..............................697238933 Clean Pool Service (Arboleas) ...................................606 654389 Complete Pool & Property Maintenance 634 343541 / 634 891709

Sol Digimeters ..........................................................634 348703

PRINTING & GRAPHIC DESIGN AdverGraf (Mojácar Playa) .......................................634 336789 Idea (Huércal Overa) ...............................................605 162709 Mail Boxes Etc (Vera) ............................................950 393835 Mobility Almería (Mojácar Playa) .............................634 322475 Mojácar Business ....................................................950 680110 neö-cöpy (Vera) …...................………..950 390424 / 622 262100 Pronto Printing (La Buganvillas) (See cover).............950 133492 GSF Communications (Mojácar) ..................................950 473102

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

D & J Pritchard Construcciones ................................617 698418 Daniel ……………..................................................….642 236810 Guardian Angels (Pool Cleaning) …...950 466396 / 600 470778 Heat My Pool ....................................950 528128 / 663 303350 Hidro-Sport S.L. (Pebbletec) .................................…950 581407 IndalPool (Albox) …………...............................……..950 431859 Mat Murray ...............................................................647 841750 Oasis Pool Cleaning Services ............634 332170 / 634 332178 Piscinas Miguel (Maintenance) .............950 478652 / 607 480865 Pools & Piscinas (Cleaning - Bedar) ..........................637 915898 Pool Medics ……………...................................……….634 353525 Procare Pools (Arboleas) ..........................................642 370681 Proyectados Pool Sureste ............................................630 810299

24hr Casaserve .....................................950 466438 / 676 306269 ABS Advanced Building Services ..............................687 846016 Arboleas Builders ………...............……950 930536 / 634 306690 Can I Help You (Vera) ………..................................691 662267 Complete Pool & Property Maintenance 634 343541 / 634 891709 Curtis Helm Multiservices .........................................610 394815 D & D Property Care & Rentals (See cover).643 335386 / 643 337063 Destination Spain Property Services .........................672 668803 Exclusive Holiday Villas ............................................950 092602 Hire a Hubby …………........................950 436679 / 619 066022 IDP Services …………................................................608 238775 Indalfutur S.L. (Mojácar) ……........….950 615156 / 609 026526 J & J Property Care ....…….................950 452106 / 617 657414 Jasmine Construction C.B ..........................................659 185189 La Casa es Tuya .......................................................663 931471 Mode Services ...................................950 525790 / 687 033106 Mojacar Estates ..........................................................950 478935 Procare Property Service (Arboleas) .......................642 370681 Triton Property Maintenance ...................................634 326322

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PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & RENTALS Alhambra Holdings (Mojácar)...................950 475199 / 629 673450 Almería Holiday Rentals ............................................638 701670 Almería Property Agency (Arboleas) …..850 993099 / 606 281865 Almeria Rentals ................................. 650 764623 / 648 523073 Apartamentos Torrelaguna (Las Buganvillas) .............950 132580 APT Lets (Valle del Este) ….................950 619227 / 626 578164 Blaumar (Huercal Overa) .....................950 135512 / 670 869533 Blue Sea Villas (Mojácar) (See front cover).............….950 478643 Casa Benedict Rentals (Turre) …...………....…………616 189002 C.A.T. Services (La Alfoquía) (See p.31).950 634388 / 627 635514 Citrus Homes ...............................……......................638 849254 Clean Team Property Care & Rentals 850 993202/ 642 911850 Coastal Properties (Mojácar) ........................................950 475235 Complete Holiday Care ....………...........950 478612 / 610 808631

Holiday Letting Service ........................950 472903 / 627 565049 Homes of Spain (Huércal Overa).........950 616516 / 616 562447 Indalfutur S.L. (Mojácar) ……........….950 615156 / 609 026526 Indalo Real Estate .............................950 091137 / 616 760409 Indasol Mojácar S.L. ..................……....................….950 472200 Inmoterreros ...................................................................666 255 765 KJ Property Maintenance (Albox /Arboleas) ............608 625675 KW Resorts Holiday Rentals ......................0044 (0)1293 863320

D & D Property Care & Rentals (See cover).643 335386 / 643 337063

La Casa es Tuya .......................................................663 931471 Loufa S.L.(Mojácar Pueblo) …..........................……..950 472773 Mojácar Estates ........................................................950 478935

Destination Spain Property Services .........................678 E-Property Almería ...................................................677 Exclusive Holiday Villas ..........................................950 Findmeahome ....................................951 914195 / 636 Holiday Home Europe .........................950 120210 / 654

203143 146592 092602 266641 590258

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Mojácar Holiday Services .......................950 699947 / 634 972377 Spanish Property Choice (Mojacar) ..... 950 475823 / 634 351562 Sunshine Villas............................………850 993202 / 694 440184 The Property Shop (Mojácar) ..................................950 475241 Triton Property Services ..........................................634 326322 Vera Holiday Rentals .............................................634 347109 Voss Homes (Huercal-Overa) ...................667 891 741 / 950 616 827 Year Round Holiday Rentals .............950 619178 / 627 763052

PROPERTY PROMOTERS

Mojácar Long Term Rentals …................................………950 475 891 Mojácar Property Maintenance & Decorators ………..649 304441 New Wave Villas (Mojácar) ................950 475800 / 607 146352 Noble Services ....................................................... 692 188200 Next Stop Almería ................................950 617518 / 678 034651 Price Brown Partnership (Mojácar) ............................950 478915

Almanzora S.L. (Desert Springs) ...............................950 467104 BMS Huerta Nueva ............................950 615035 / 669 355914 Elegant Homes S.L. ............................950 092603 / 687 629777 Elide Group S.L. …............….............950 390009 / 950 615076 El Pinar de Bédar ......................................................950 469496 GM Associates (Mojácar) ……….........……..............…950 475225 Miramar (Marina Golf) ................................................950 397060 New Villas (Albox) ………………........………..............…950 121036 Nicla Property Consultancy S.L. .................................950 133508 Polansky and Associates ..........................................950 478086 Promobys …………….................................................950 618889

PROPERTY VALUATIONS Philip Chesler (Chartered Valuer) …................………687 814369

PSYCHOLOGIST Dr. Jane Thompson ............................968 485729 / 618 920126

QUAD BIKES see Motorcycles RADIO STATIONS Cadena Ser Levante (Spanish, local and national) ....950 Onda Aguilas (100.1) ….............................................968 Plusfm ……….................................….609 818283 / 617 Rent Mojácar ............................................................950 615042 Smooth FM online (89.8) ........................................634 Sandy Goldfinch ........................+44 7767 301159 / 670 575897 Spectrum FM (96.1) ............................950 615142 / 678 Santiburi Properties (Cabrera & Mojácar) 694 404971 / 647 901478 Sierra property Rentals (Bédar) ...............................678 587007

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615006 447864 528121 332666 332815

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REFRIGERATION MD Air Conditioning & Refrigeration SL .607 364917 / 607 366040 Thermotech …………….....................…950 069637 / 699 856372

REMOVALS & STORAGE See also Van & Man Hire Buy Buy Auctions ...................................................681 095096 Amanda’s (Lubrin) ............................950 069682 / 634 310512 Andy (Trailer hire/drive) (Mojácar) ……...........…………..600 225 929 Brian’s Furniture & Removals (Mojácar Playa) .........674 280268 Countdown Removals (UK/Spain/UK) ..................…678 855994 Dave’s Transport (International / Local)....................620 049524 De Lima’s International Removals ........................+44 7467341106 English Move (Tony) ….............................................699 819213

Moves2Spain (Antas) ..........................950 452869 / 661 969393 Orange Box ...........................................................610 887757 Reliable Removals (Albox) .UK 0044 1942 418951 Spain 664 857920 Speedlink Logistics (Garrucha) ...................................637 011686 Sprinter Services (Vera Playa) .............605 376873 / 950 609121 St. George’s European …UK 0044 207 193 5984 / 952 485984 Storage Solutions (Arboleas) ................950 930316 / 671 220105 UK Direct ..................UK 0044 7719.118.879 / Spain 642 099479 Union Jack Removals (International) ….......………….902 109560 Swift Transport (Arboleas) ........................................618 511234

RESTAURANTS See also Chinese Restaurants & Pizzerias Agua Amarga Eurozone Removals UK(0044) 7452888063 Spain (0034) 662 569138 Indalo Transport .......................................................634 336468 Items For Sale Mojácar .......................694 439275 / 950 478753 J & B Removals (Albox) …......…………...................616 888058 Light Removals .........................................................643 608587 Location Warehousing S.L. (Antas) .............................950 391412 Moovit Transport & Storage ...............950 930316 / 642 586701

La Chumbera ............................................................950 168321 Restaurant Family ......................................................950 138014

Aguilas Carlos III ..................................................................968 411650 El Faro .....................................................................968 412883 El Guacamole (Mexican) ...........................................968 413491 Hotel El Paso ...........................................................968 447125 La Calica (Hotel Cala Real) .....................................968 414562 La Vía ........................................................................646 430496 Piccolo Mondo ............................................................968 411946

Albox Bar Lepanto ............................................................642 Chapman’s ..............................................................950 Club de Tenis …….....................................…………..667 El Gallego ...........................................950 120590 / 615 La Cena ……........................................……………..950 La Parrilla ................................................................950 Little India .............….................................................632 Maloan’s Bar ….........................................................634

To place a box advert or ask for prices, call Lee on 634 32 22 76

391433 091188 671578 717978 430930 430024 454505 300752

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Mesón de Irene ………........................647 730103 / 950 430145 Huércal-Overa Paché ….....................................................................950 431659 Crisbe .............................................950 134100 / 607 338460 The New Delhi (Indian) ……...........….950 431705 / 639 231507 El Paladar .......................................673 695939 / 631 494536 El Capricho …........................................................697 297235 Alfaix La Venta de Alfaix .....................................................671 272464 La Alfoquía

Antas

Asador Gloria …..............................…...950 453150 / 625 Cortijo Carlotta ......................................950 619226 / 638 El Fogon, Asador Argentino ........................................950 Mi Casa .................................................950 453007 / 950

668613 549646 459081 453048

Arboleas

Bar La Unión ...........................................................642 Cielos …..................................................................634 El Local ……......................................950 634449 / 633 Indian Tandoori .......................................................632 Los Mellízos …………................................……………667

008003 393235 684855 110888 919025

Lijar

El Mirador …………….............................................…678 160806 Mesón La Hoya ........................................................638 298507 Happy Garden .........................................................950 120851 Limaria Hostal Meson ………..........................950 430137 / 635 612738 Welcome Stranger …........................………...........….950 432719 Hotel Rural Azabache ............................................690 258813 Nueva Trinidad ....................................850 993250 / 634 369833 Los Carasoles Restaurante Kalevala ...............................................607 484414

Bédar

El Paso ...................................................................678 868963 Los Castaños Miramar .....................................................................950 469308 Cortijo Las Piezas ........................……..950 951498 / 634 780943

Los Gallardos

Cabrera

Los Pastores .............................................................950 468002 Apolo ……...................................................…………..600 495182 Riad Cabrera ………………….....................................950 092042 Bistro @ the Colosseum .............................................615 387947 La Ambrosia ..............................................................950 093086 Cerro Gordo Bistro Bonita .......................................650 599739 / 950 930169 Meson Verfran ....................................................………637 810143 Miraflores ...........................................679 970399 / 609 506869

Cortijo Grande

Finca Listonero .........................................................950 982045

Mojácar See also Mojácar Pueblo

Agra Taj (Indian) ......................................................602 Alcazaba ………......................................................645 La Vida ……….................................….........……….950 634562 Al Punto (Brazilian) .................................................950 Desert Springs Resort Antonella (Italian) .............................................……..950 El Torrente Restaurant …....................................……637 861590 Badgers ...................................................................950 The Crocodile Club ...................................................678 746706

Cucador

197417 414793 475899 450215 478525

El Campico (Bédar-Lubrin) La Montaña ...............................................................950 398856

El Marchal El Paniajo ................................................................950 477202

El Pilar de Lubrin Restaurante Albar ....................................................950 069077

El Pinar Bar El Pinar ...........................................................634 302673

Garrucha Angus & Hereford .....................................................950 Casa Adriana ...........................................................950 GBG ……………...................................950 132625 / 639 Góndola ....................................................................950 La Gurulla ………................................................….657 La Plazoleta ……….........................................…….666 Maui Gastro ….................................................………950 Nautico …................................................................622 Restaurante Andalucia ..............................................950 Restaurante Azul, Hotel Tikar ...................................950 Rincón del Puerto …….......................950 133042 / 950 Tierra y Mar .............................................................850

460588 Bar Alizee ...............................................................950 091810 133154 Beachcomber ...........................................................634 339216 915993 133928 058929 711997 460882 451935 460604 617131 133043 992808

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Bellavista ..................................................................950 478800 Botaniq ...................................................................696 809035 Bowen Resto Bar .............................. 666 406203 / 634 357654 Cachimba (Moroccan) .............................................950 099179 Captain’s Tapas Bar & Restaurant ...........................617 477797 Casa Egea .................................................................950 472190 Casa Juan …………................................................….950 450305 Cortijo de la Media Luna .............................950 478813 / 676 547555 d’Angelo .....................................................................950 478517

Delfín Dorado......................................950 475212 / 645 220095 Dolce Vita ................................................................950 478476 Don Pancho (Mexican) .................................................950 472543 Marcelo’s .................................................................950 Martín Morales ..........................................................950 Mediterráneo (See p.47) .......................................950 Meson de Loic y Cathy (French)..............................692 Mesón Felipe San Bernabé ...................…………….950 Meson Mémé …........…………………..674 141159 / 647 Mandala Beach Club ................................................902 Meson de Perico ....................................................950 Mountains of the Moon (Indian) ........950 472002 / 637 Mont Martre (French) ..............................................634 Neptuno (See p.41) ................................................…616 El Deseo .................................................................670 018035 El Gaucho ................................................................950 478846 El Sitio ....................................................................950 615411 Enrico (Italian) ...................................950 472995 / 642 514738 Imperial (Italian) .......................................................950 478098 Imperial Playa (Italian) ..............................................950 475360 Indian Curry House ...........................632 416554 / 632 711667 Kukis ..........................................................................686 038259 La Cabaña ................................................................950 615179 La Cantina (Mexican) ................................................950 478941 La Caracola .............................................................622 520925 La Cometa ...............................................................950 615209 La Estancia …….............................................………654 562396 La Gaviota ……………...............................................950 472117 La Parata (See p.7)..............................................…950 478186 La Piká ....................................................................950 930744 La Posada …............................................................661 595845 Le Magnifique …………….......................................…634 310816 Los Amigos ......................................…………………950 478489 Levante (See p.47) ...................................................950 615224 Marama ....................................................................686 820950

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031812 478812 309869 025058 475966 954405 442420 615582 914632 388867 005387

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Omega ...................................................950 475317 / 648 675919 Ostería Ristorante Italiano ..........................................950 615151 Ottocento (Italian).......................................................950 615100 Palacio Imperial Marina (Thai, Japanese, Chinese) ...950 472208 Parador de Mojácar ...................................................950 478250 Playa Blanca .......................................950 473001 / 639 507520 Robert (Marina de la Torre) …………..............………950 110412 Sal Marina ...................................................................950 472405 Sensations ................................................................950 472057 Sottocasa (Italian) ...................................................950 093075 The Irish Rover (See p.43).........................................950 473135 The Lemon ....................……...............................…….950 472659 The Roof Garden .....................................................674 113218 Torre Bahía ...............................................................950 478651 Trufibar ....................................................................664 103611 Twister ...................................................………………950 472357 Zaika Fusion ..........................................................632 727851

Turre

Mojácar Pueblo

Armony Beach Club .................................................617 745021 b2 Mohana (Argentinean) ........................................678 642856 El Balconcito .............................................................635 589909 Gateway to India (Indian) ...........................................950 923994 La Buena Mesa …………..…................950 467222 / 610 356387 La Pampa (Argentinean Grill) ……….950 397702 / 671 653116 Maraú (Vera Playa) ……………...........................……671 580340 Restaurante Tibu ......................................................950 133747 Taj Mahal (Indian) …............…………950 618691 / 671 231465 The Blue Parrot ......................................................950 467682

Arlequíno ..........................................950 478037 / 649 337781 Casa Minguito ………...............................................950 478614 El Ángel ..........................................950 478343 / 607 537101 El Antler ……....................................................……600 540661 El Reclamo …….......................................................950 472881 La Candela …...........................................................647 724367 Pulcinella (Italian) (See p.39)...................................950 478401 Restaurante Aires del Sur ..................606 061811 / 950 478014 Restaurante Calima ………………........................….663 286962 Restaurante Mamabel's ....................... 663 700542 / 950 472448 Rincón de Embrujo …....................…………………….600 531270 Rincon de Zahorí ................................630 314400 / 625 103672

Casa Adelina ...............................................................950 479153 Chili .................................................608 802227 / 950 468425 Hostal Rural .............................................................950 478806 La Pará ……………………..................................…….637 545590 La Sorpresa ...............................................................950 099901 Orsoca ………………............................................…..602 554609 Pizzeria-Restaurante Mari Cruz ……....................…..950 479646

Valle del Este Golf Sawadee Thai .........................................................634 393235

Vera Casa de la Vega ......................................................950 391208 El Paseo de Oscar ...................................................950 392496 Gran Muralla (Wok Buffet) ..........................................950 391691 La Mariposa de Fran ………........……..950 166774 / 683 641957 Terraza Carmona ...................................................950 390760

Vera Playa

Villaricos

Don Tadeo ..................................................................670 860386 Goah ........................................................................950 467030 Palomares La Esperanza ............................................................625 737025 Asagía Asador .........................................................640 210185 Los Conteros ....................................950 618629 / 699 010705 The Oasis Bar ...................................950 467381 / 676 365010

Zurgena

Partaloa Mis Amigos ..............................................…………….671 608498

Tiger Bar (Indian) …..................................................950 449000

RETRACTABLE ROOF SYSTEMS

Pueblo Laguna

Bistro .......................................................................950 132022 Lifestyle Enclosures Europe S.L. (See p. 9) 950 459060 / 638 063196

ROOFING Ark Roofing ...............................................................634 379173

RUGS & CARPETS Buy Buy Auctions ...................................................681 095096 Homecentre (Albox) (See p.6)..........868 931872 / 671 715294 P & R Rugs (Los Llanos de Aroleas) .......................665 258680

RURAL TOURISM 2 Poplars (Velez Blanco) ……...............................….670 Cortijo Pocio de la Nava (Mojácar) ............................670 Finca Arboleda (Vera) ..............................................678 Restaurant Laguna …………….........................……..950 132566 Mi Abuela Maria (Mojácar) ……..........................……659

San Juan de Los Terreros

243856 777752 027656 198424

SATELLITE TV La Geoda ..................................................................637 020159 Mi Cortijo …………......................................................950 466323 ABC (A Better Climate) (See p.58).....647 247494 / 950 092604 Mondy Playa ........................................600 254314 / 622 807809 Cuevasat ...........................................950 523740 / 628 153340 DCM Digitek Comms (Mojácar) (See p.19) .950 472947 / 670 084438 To place a box advert or ask for prices, call Lee on 634 32 22 76

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Digital Vision (See p.33......................950 472081 / 645 294064 Europa Digital ....................................950 133233 / 678 332815 GBTV (Albox and Mojácar) .......................................616 888058 GSF Communications (Mojácar) ...............................950 473102 Solo Satellite & Air-Con. (See p.55) ......950 398146 / 699 909737

SKIP HIRE Aridos Mojácar S.L. ..................................................650 Casa Conchillo (Albox) ......................950 430740 / 695 El Cano SL )Mojácar) ................................................950 Servacon .....................................................................950

SCREENED PATIO & POOL ENCLOSURES

914257 844425 479185 475853

SNOOKER HALLS

CD Snooker Mojácar ............................634 364311 / 609 026526 Enclose My Pool ...............................606 040462 / 670 510097 Snooker Ambigu (Los Gallardos) .................................661 973205 Inside Out In Europe S.L. .................677 114576 / 695 118960 SOLAR ENERGY Lifestyle Enclosures Europe S.L. (See p. 9) 950 459060 / 638 063196 DCM Digitek Comms (Mojácar) (See page 19)...........950 472947 Screenmasters (See p.45)......….…...........................677 152911 Ecocorp ....................................................................671 716597 Sol Shaders S.L. (See p.45)........................................627 907207

SCUBA DIVING Buceo (Aguilas) ……………......................................968 Buceo Mojácar ..................................950 472760 / 629 Molasub (Villaricos) ............................950 467572 / 675 SES (Aguilas) ………..................................................669

493215 049229 321404 040963

SECOND HAND Buy Buy Auctions (Los Carasoles)..................................681 095096 Amanda’s (Lubrin) ............................950 069682 / 634 310512 Designer Thrift (Albox) ...........................................950 064576 Merka Recycla (Huércal Overa) .........950 616683 / 666 577006 Second Time Around (Albox) .......................................950 431871 The Attic (Cucador) ..…….…................672 184354 / 648 250699 The Treasure Trove (Turre) ……….................………..666 281316

SECURITY & SAFES See Alarms SEWING Alice .........................................................................620 876485 Coser y Planchar (Vera) .........................................689 303765 Alexis Shillinglaw .....................................................634 361874 J.F.M. Modas Sedal (Turre) ..............950 468031 / 606 945502 Lola Alterations & Repairs (Mojácar Playa) .950 475994 / 637 963835 Nicky (Mojacar) ..................................................... 667 479903 Solo Style ...............................................................626 319907 Sew n Sew Susie (Albox area) ..........950 930643 / 633 683872 The Sewing Room ....................................................607 375697

SEPTIC TANK SERVICE Drainage Solutions …...........………….616 531283 / 670 Blocked DrainsRUs ............................950 091109 / 648 Ginés Millán (All areas) ……….............(after 4pm) 607 Lymasur (Vera) ……..........................950 390732 / 609 Sepserve (All areas) …..............................................675 Septic Tanks Cleaned ……….....................…………..675

088966 768587 366355 442695 838808 838808

SHOE REPAIRS Keys Copy Centre (Mojácar Playa) ..........................950 472982

SIGNS (Shop & Vehicle) Idea (Huércal Overa) ...............................................605 162709 Pronto Printing (La Buganvillas) (See cover).............950 133492

SKIN TREATMENTS

Francesca Herman (See p.37)....….......................….687 480694

Hi-Tec Solar (Turre) ............................609 888549 / 950 Hispavan Solar ..................................950 047033 / 687 Solartech (Las Buganvillas) …..............................….950 Sunergy Almeria ........................................................636

468230 845730 139568 261240

SOLICITORS Alonso & Garrido (Albox) ...........................................950 121040 Alonso & Haro (Vera) ..............................................950 392208 AM & RG (Mojácar) ………….............950 478984 / 649 286437 AVSA Lawyers (Aguilas) ..........................................968 446576 Babelia (Mojácar) ……..........…........635 577562 / 950 397114 C & P Solicitors (Mojácar) ….....…………950 460731 / 675 383 160 Cabrera Cervantes (Turre) ................950 099400 / 627 464545 Casas Almería (Huércal Overa) .................................950 134434 Davies Solicitors (Mojácar) ........................................950 472775 EuroAbogados (Vera) .................................................950 617017 Javier Loustau (Mojácar) .........................................950 475086 José Francisco López Molina .............950 133607 / 635 189986 Leticia Moreno-Torres Camy (Vera) ......950 391249 / 607 840182 Lopez & León Solicitors (Garrucha) ..950 888314 / 666 513917 Mar Abogados & Consultores (Mojácar) .................950 478911 Mario Redondo (Albox) ….................950 430222 / 626 389322 Miguel Angel Rojas Benitez .......................................950 615404

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Call 670 84 92 65 or email almeriafocus@gmail.com Pablo Suarez (Purchena) ..........................................610 014680 Mundi Abogados (Las Buganvillas) ........................950 460999

Ramírez Abogados (Vera) .......................................950 Ross Legal Services (Aguilas) .................................968 Ruiz Orozco (Vera) ..................................................950 Saugar Abogados (Mojácar) ......................................950

391171 412321 390282 615038

SPAS IndalOcio (Arboleas) ................................................850 993090 Sundance Spas (Mojácar) .......................................950 472845

SPA SERVICING & CLEANING True Blue Pools & Spas ..........................................661 148998

STAINED GLASS Janet Broady ….............................…........................950 130627

SURVEYORS Philip Chesler (Chartered Surveyor).............................687 814369 Survey Andalucía (Architect Daniel González) ............686 846624

Sapphire Surveyors ………...................950 064725 / 671 208782

SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS La Maruja (Mojácar) ................... ................................664 647171

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104

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Call 670 84 92 65 or email almeriafocus@gmail.com Vision Design & Build ...............................................672 153298

SWEET SHOPS Forget Me Not (Las Buganvillas)..............................663 302740

TIMBER SUPPLIERS

TATTOO ARTISTS

Wood2Go ..............................................950 614050 / 606 156151

Body-Zone Tattoo (Mojácar) ……………......................634 Classic Tattoo (Mojácar Playa) .................................605 Lisa V Tattoos (Cantoria) ....................634 362737 / 642 Oscar (Mojácar Pueblo) …................................…….629

336789 TOURIST ATTRACTIONS 611782 Almería Castle ………............................................…950 271617 024810 Almería Solar Centre ( Nr.Tabernas) ....950 387990 / 670 866122 944374 Aquarium (Roquetas de Mar) ...................................950 160036 Camelus (Mojácar Camel Rides) ………663 930272 / 950 100076 TAXIS (Legal) Levante Radio Taxis (all areas)................................950 888111 Fort Bravo – Western theme park (Tabernas) .....….950 165405 Exclusive Shuttles pre-booked airport taxis (office hours).950 092602 Nautarium (Sea Museum) (Garrucha) ………………….950 139554 Taxi Emilia (Arboleas) ..............................................618 968497 Nijar Butterfly Farm .................................................617 692778 Oasys Western Park & Zoo (Tabernas) ….............….950 365236 TELECOMMUNICATIONS Western Leone Theme park (Tabernas) …............…950 165405 Albox-Online ………..............................…………….950 091111 TRANSLATING - see Interpreters AlmeriNet-Cheap Calls .........................950 479517 / 627 027758 Euphony Mojacar .........................................................677 146592 TRANSPORT - see Removals Connexions (Turre) (See front cover)..........................950 479502 George’s Sales & Repair (Vera Playa) 950 042338 / 661 375489 TRAVEL Indalphone .............................(Mojácar) 950 475784 / 622 455 608 Autocares Rodriguez (Coaches) ...............................950 469061 Indalphone ...........................................(Huércal-Overa) 950 471470 Halcón Viajes (Vera) ................................................950 393472 Exclusive Airport Shuttles (See p.11).......................950 092602 Inda Travel (Mojácar) ..............................................950 472431 Levante Travel (Garrucha) ...................950 132258 / 628 604752 Mojácar Tour (Mojácar Playa) (See cover)..........…..950 475757 Viajes Yedra Tours (Aguilas) ...................................968 412498 Viajes Zafiro Tours (Aguilas) ....................................968 410197 Zafiro Tours (Albox) ………..................................……950 121021 Zafiro Tours (Mojácar) .................................................950 615343

TUITION GSF Communications (Mojácar) ..................................950 473102 Maso Telefonia (Albox) ……..............................………….950 121279 MaxiMovil – Plus S.L. Orange ....................................950 393538 Next .............................................................................950 479369 Phone@ Mojacar …….............……....950 882222 / 607 885522 Servcom (Turre) ........................................................902 023268 Telitec Connections S.L. ..............……902 889070 / 965 743473 The Phone House (Albox) …………….950 121045 / 670 359698 WiFi Internet .............................................................950 615156

TILING & PATIO WORK 1 Stop Paving (Albox) ………................................…634 313939 ABS Advanced Building Services ..............................687 846016 A.J.B. Tiling Services ...............................................687 024884 Andalucian Con Co Print .........................................628 408197 Arboleas Paving ……………...............................…….636 092632 Borders .....................................................................647 803030 C.I.S Services (Arboleas) ........................................619 693118 Curtis Helm Multiservices .........................................610 394815 Elegant Homes S.L. ..............................950 092603 / 687 629777 Mode Services ...................................950 525790 / 687 033106 Saxon’s Complete Building Services ......618 920126 / 686 377172 Steve Holman .......................................................... 697 678708 United Tile ................................................................667 702817

Computer Training & Tuition Call Out (Dani) ...........678 490639 Dave Eccles (Drum lessons) ..............950 525790 / 687 033106 ELC Education & Language Centre .........................950 615489 Espanglish .........................................950 390037 / 950 392876 Girasol, Albox (Spanish) ..........................................639 089170 Guillermo (Spanish conversation, Antas)...................647 525639 Guitar Lessons ………….....................................…..667 989270 Guitar Lessons (Chris Pottle) ................................950 437606 Hind (French & Arabic, Mojácar) ...............................616 605341 Jane Catchlove (Piano/keyboards/violin A.R.C.M) ...950 634402 Jose (Spanish Lessons) ..........................................667 303376 Jewellery making ......................................................642 435909 Kinder Garrucha (Bilingual Education Centre)..950 047026 / 671 608519 La Galeria Art Classes (Albox) …..............................663 341904 Laberinto (Spanish, English, French, Dutch) .............609 781438 Leticia (Spanish Conversation) ……......................…950 615566 Marcela Chávez (Spanish-English school support)....676 951352 Native Spanish Teacher (All levels) ………………….670 619017 Native Spanish Tuition ..............................................661 654812 Pedro (Spanish language tutoring) ..........................655 510420 Pencils English Academy (Garrucha)..........................634 314110 Penny Baltrus (Piano) ...............................................662 517106 Piano (Mojácar) …………............……950 069803 / 667 408941 Piano tuition. Terry Peace (Limaria/Albox.) ...............868 931815 Professional Writing Services …..........………………..662 067490 Sam Catchlove (Professional drum/latin percussion) ..950 634402

To place a box advert or ask for prices, call Lee on 634 32 22 76

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Free directory entries.

Call 670 84 92 65 or email almeriafocus@gmail.com

Sarah Dyson (Computer tuition) …....................……687 632435 Simon Farmiloe (Spanish & English)(Albox/Mojacar) 647 677097 Tennis Coach (Diego Rodriguez) ........950 393851 / 607 021280 The I.T.Teacher (Computer Tuition)...............................695 280699

Jone’s Mobile (Upholstery cleaning) …....……………661 571939 Unicraft (Upholstery) .................................................692 176069 Upholstery & Leather Cleaning ......................................636 193256 Upholstery Larios (Cuevas del Almanzora) 950 465 364 / 651 998738

TV & AUDIO REPAIRS

UNIFORMS

Ponce S.L. (Garrucha) ..............................................950 617181 Tikka Uniforms & Shoes (Mojácar) …..........................667 479903 Seth Pittham (Zurgena).......................950 634477 / 666 826886 Uniformes de Levante (Los Gallardos & Vera) ..........902 110218

VAN & MAN HIRE See also Removals & Storage Amanda’s (Lubrin) ............................950 069682 / 634 310512 Andy (Trailer hire/drive) (Mojácar) ……...........…………..600 225 929 IDP Services ……........................................................608 238775 Indalo Transport .......................................................634 336468 Storage Solutions (Arboleas) ................950 930316 / 671 220105 Way 2 Go (UK/Spain) ……UK 0044 208 0904292 / 965 794682

VEHICLE IMPORTATION Car Check Spain (Andy) ............................................618 043186 Hispavan vehicle importation ..............950 047033 / 687 845730 UPHOLSTERY Albox Rugs (upholstery cleaning) .............................950 633149 Talleres Daydo (Antas Real) ….……….950 459116 / 607 373298 Curtains with Style (Fabrics) ............ 950 069032 / 678 811125 VEHICLE REPAIRS Auto Corner (Turre/Los Gallardos) ….950 069198 / 667 Auto Shine Body Repairs ………........607 324623 / 607 CostaCoches ...........................................................950 Fran’s Garage ....................................664 571060 / 950 Gómez Motor (Huércal-Overa) ............662 502895 / 950 Mojácar Motor (Mojácar Playa) ……..950 478335 / 646 Reparbox (DIY) (Antas El Real) .........687 879744 / 628 SRS Vehicle Services ................................................950 Taller Daydo (El Real) .........................950 459116 / 607 Talleres Azor ..(Mojácar) 950 478519 ..............(Vera) 950 Talleres Fad (Aguilas) …...........................................968

To place a box advert or ask for prices, call Lee on 634 32 22 76

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439671 324624 459209 164912 471250 971580 648131 449095 373298 391400 447565

Free directory entries.

Call 670 84 92 65 or email almeriafocus@gmail.com

VEHICLE SALES AA Car Sales (Mojácar) ...........................................950 459208 Buy Buy Auctions ...................................................681 095096 Auto Corner (Turre/Los Gallardos) ….950 069198 / 667 439671 AutoFex (Albox & Antas El Real) ............................950 431861 Automobiles Bajuma S.L. (Antas) .............................662 167758 Automobiles Playcar SLU ...................950 459302 / 672 737663 CostaCoches (Antas, El Real).....................................950 459209 Mojácar Motors ...950 472056 ................(Workshop) 950 478335 Nissan (Albox) ………..................................................950 430856 Pit Stop (Oria) ……………....................................…..950 124828 Talleres Vizcaino (Mojácar) ........................................950 472104 SRS Vehicle Services ................................................950 449095 Talleres Azor ...............(Mojácar) 950 478519 (Vera) 950 391400 The Car Surgery ...................................................666 272792 The Garage (Llanos de Arboleas) .......950 930922 / 616 453813 VEHICLE SHIPPING Tyre King (El Real) ................................................950 459253 Car Shipping ……………............................…UK 0044 1704 575983

VETS Animal Care (La Alfoqúia) …....................................950 449064 Astrid (Mojácar) ..............950 472252 Emergencies: 629 099920

Centro Garras (Huércal-Overa) ........950 616820 / 617 456548 Clinica (Albox) ...............950 430814 Emergencies: 617 305784 Clinica Huellas (Aguilas) ...968 447877 Emergencies 629 445327 CliniVet (Turre) …..........................…..950 069780 / 626 171999 Costa Indalo (Mojácar) ....950 475213 Emergencies: 659 957942 Egesta Centro Vetinario (Vélez Rubio) ..950 411208 / 608 438683 Europa (Mojácar) .................950472262 Emergencies: 629 099921 Javier .............(Garrucha) 950 132200 Emergencies: 619 236059 VEHICLE REPAIRS (MOBILE) NEXO (Albox) …...............950 430814 Emergencies: 617 305784 Albox Service Centre S.L. …......................................662 093051 Veravet (Vera Town) …............…............................….667 304876 Auto Frio .............................................950 104488 / 600 827517 Veterinary Centre (Huércal-Overa) …........................950 616781 Cool Air (Air Conditioning) ........................................673 195872 WATER (Tanker Delivery) JFK Karz ................................................................643 790511 Sierra Cabrera Water ...................…………………….693 866558

The Almería Focus 5,000 copies delivered monthly to 250 places. Advertise and get your business seen. Call Lee on 634 32 22 76 or Clare on 670 84 92 65. Veloc Tuning ECU Remapping Services ..................600 827517

To place a box advert or ask for prices, call Lee on 634 32 22 76

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Free directory entries.

Call 670 84 92 65 or email almeriafocus@gmail.com David A. Pritchard Construcciones ............................617 698418

WATER PARK Aquavera (Vera Playa) ....................................................950 467337

WATER TREATMENTS Healthy H2O ..............................................968 437270 / 666 302 987

WEB SERVICES MODS ........................................................................600 284975 Mojácar Business ....................................................950 680110

WINDOW CLEANING Clean Team …………..............………850 993202 / 694 440184 Don (Mojacar) .........................................................666 814913 Idea (Mojácar) ...................................................……..605 162709 J&A Window Cleaning Services ..........950 122452 / 689 548824 James .......................................................................678 988812 Lady Jane Window Cleaning (Arboleas) ...................634 255373 Mick ...........................................................................634 327075 Window Panes ..........................................................617 208231 Woody the Window Cleaner (Almanzora Valley) .......634 349665

Enrique Aguirre S.L. (Garrucha) .................................950 460028 Interglaze ……..............................…...................... 680 743311 Lifestyle Enclosures Europe S.L. (See p. 9) 950 459060 / 638 063196 Mojácar Home Improvements ....................................950 473104 Ortega Windows & Doors .......................................950 393305 Plas-Tech Windows ...................................................600 320761 Screenmasters (See p.45)......….….........................677 152911 Speedyfit ...........................................950 439228 / 600 006032

WINES Bodega Gran Baco (Aguilas) .............................…..968 925655 Enoteca Tikar (Garrucha) ……..............................….950 617131 Isalva (Palomares) ………..........................................615 265092

WOOD & PELLET STOVES Chimeneas Acar (Albox) ...........................................950 120077 Chimeneas Mojácar S.L. (Mojácar Playa) ..............950 472135 Enrique Aguirre S.L. (Garrucha) .................................950 460028

WINDOWS & DOORS AA Window Doctor ...................................................630 231644 Complete Renovations (See p.17) .....644 389255 / 672 379960

ZOO & PARK

Oasys (Tabernas) ....................................................950 365236

To place a box advert or ask for prices, call Lee on 634 32 22 76

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Community News Homeowners Welcome the Possibility of Water, Electricity, and Paperwork for their Homes The association Abusos Urbanísticos Andalucía-NO" (AUAN), made up of numerous owners of irregular houses, welcomes the announcement that the Junta de Andalusia proposes to allow houses on “asentamientos urbanisticos”, those awaiting legalisation via the execution of a town plan, to meanwhile have access to water and electricity and be able to register their homes at the Land Registry, by obtaining an AFO certificate. They consider that this proposed change will offer tranquillity to many thousands of families in Andalusia, who will at last be able to enjoy their homes in humanly acceptable conditions, subject to compliance with certain legal requirements and measures to correct any environmental impact. The proposed legal change was announced on Wednesday during the appearance of the Minister for Development, Infrastructure and Territorial Planning, Marifrán Carazo, before a plenary session of the Parliament of Andalusia. According to the president of AUAN, Maura Hillen, “The truth is that those affected were a little anxious to see if the PP would maintain commitments made to them, and we praise them for doing so. It can be seen that they are people of their word, as one would expect. The interventions during the plenary session also made it clear that Ciudadanos is also sticking to its commitments and we are equally grateful to them. We believe that Vox is also disposed to solve the problem. This is like a breath of fresh air for those affected. We hope that the PSOE and Adelante Andalucia will also see the necessity for this change, for social and environmental reasons”. Maura Hillen added, “There is work to be done, if we are allowed to do so, to help to make this measure as effective as possible and to bring it about as quickly as possible. We offer our collaboration in this, as well as the collaboration of various groups in Andalusia whom we have worked with for a long time. We hope to meet with the political parties and the Minister shortly. Meanwhile, the statement of the Minister has given us reassurance”.

Mojácar Bowls Club Win Their 5th Anniversary Tournament Mojácar Bowls Club recently celebrated its anniversary with a day-long tournament which saw them, as hosts of the event, competing with teams from Zurgena, Cabrera, Los Gallardos and Almería.In front of a crowd of spectators, the 75 players competed in what turned out to be a very close competition, ending up with Mojácar and Cabrera (the 2018 champion) going head to head for first place. It all ended with an exciting tiebreaker, with Mojácar being declared event winners, gaining one of the highest positions achieved in the last eleven leagues. Ana García and Emmanuel Agüero, Mojácar’s Councillors for Sports and Tourism respectively, were there to join in the anniversary celebrations, along with the Directors of the Servigroup Marina Mar and Marina Playa Hotels. The Mojácar Bowls Club facilities were inaugurated in 2014 by Mojácar’s Mayoress, Rosmari Cano and belong to the Hotel Servigroup Marina Playa. There is an outdoor artificial turf pitch of 25 square metres with six rinks for up to 48 players, complimented by a clubhouse, terrace bar, ball carts and markers, offices, toilets, and refreshment machines. Verna Bimpson is the president of Mojácar Bowls Club, which carries on the sport’s great tradition in the town, seeing its current membership grow to around 70 bowlers.The sport of bowls is extremely popular in the United Kingdom, as well as Australia and New Zealand

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Community News A Proud Moment for Dames in Turre

Wacky Races Villaricos 2019 - April 27th

At the January meeting, the Chairman Carol Pazdzierski presented a cheque to the value of 1493.14 Euros on behalf of Turre Dames to the Mayor of Turre for the purchase of a defibrillator for the village which includes training for the Civil Protection, Police, Teachers and the associations in the village from the young to the elderly. The Mayor thanked us for our generosity and said this would be a valuable piece of equipment for everyone.

The Wacky Races Villaricos team are well under way in their preparations for the 2019 event which takes place on April 27th from 11.30am to 4pm. It is expected to be another great day for the village and for our beneficiaries. We have made some changes to focus more on the young people's enjoyment we are encouraging fancy dress for participants and decorating of vehicles, bouncy castles, and dance groups Flamenco and Fantasia as well as the school's own group. Stalls and Grand Raffle with TWO prizes of a week's holiday and a dozen other prizes.

Vera & District Lions Party in the Park The important date of April 7th 2019! Put it in your diary now as this will be the day of the 'Lionaid ' Party in the Park round two! Following on from last year’s amazing fund raising bonanza, The Vera & District Lions have a bigger, better day planned to raise money for local people in need of help. The gates open at 12 noon with multinational artists donating their time on our two stages from 12.30. Food and drink with all profits to the Lions will be served all day at The Lions bar, The Irish bar, and new for this year The Spirit bar. Artists and Artisans including local potters and lace makers will be displaying and selling their work throughout the day, and children’s entertainers will keep the little ones occupied allowing you to relax and enjoy the amazing entertainment. This not to be missed event will take place in Parque El Palmeral, Vera (behind the bull ring). Entry 5 euros per person (children under 12 free) including a glass of wine or small beer and free entry into our prize draw for 2 nights stay in the Boutique Hotel Casona Granado, Lubrin. Giant tombola with fantastic prizes donated by local businesses. Free parking available and late buses between Vera and Mojácar. For general information contact Kay Frances 689 404 244. For stall hire Zoe Rylett 639 036 051. All proceeds of the day will go to The Vera & District Lions. Thank you to our sponsors: Ibex Insurance, The Bistro, Etticut Hair Turre, Cocinas El Real and First Choice Almerí'eda. The Vera & District Lions raises funds to help members of our community in times of need.

We want to thank everyone who supported the 2018 event. We raised another record amount of 1,450 Euros, of which we distributed some to various local beneficiaries including the Villaricos Carnival Dance group - Fantasia, the Flamenco school and 'Paul'. Wacky Races Villaricos again provided equipment for Villaricos school -this time we made a major contribution to the purchase of a large electronic whiteboard in time for the new intake in midSeptember. In November we were honoured to be recognised for our work with the local school and the Parents’s Association (AMPA). The team were nominated for - and won - an award for collaboration with the education service of the whole of northern Almeria. This was an amazing achievement which thrilled all of us in the team. All the distributions we make are possible because of the involvement of the businesses and people of the area. If you want to sponsor, contribute, enter a team or provide entertainment on the day you can contact us in these ways: FB: wackyracesvillaricos. Email: wackyraces@gmail.com. Secretary: 950 467 590. Organiser: 634 368 243. Team members are Mark, Carol, Cristina, Jerry, Roy and Ian

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Community News Mojácar Hosts 2nd Schools’ “Intercentre” Chess Tournament

Secretary of State for Tourism Awards for five beaches in Mojácar Mojácar Tourism Councillor, Emmanuel Agüero, was recently given the pleasant task of receiving the Spanish Tourism Quality (‘SICTED’) award, created by the Secretary of State for Tourism, for five of the town’s beaches. The beaches of Venta del Bancal, Ventanicas, Piedra Villazar, Descargador and Marina de la Torre were selected for this ‘Tourist Quality Commitment’ honour, which recognizes and accredits the work done in order to meet their rigorous set of requirements. This prestigious acknowledgement, from the Secretary of State for Tourism, is in addition to the ‘Blue Flag’ awards that are granted annually by the European Foundation for Environmental Education, which fly on Mojácar beaches every summer. This stamp confirms the efforts made over the years by the Tourism Department to present one of the town’s most important attractions at its optimum.It also gives credit to the economic and human investment put into Mojácar’s beaches, which have resulted in increased services, personnel and quality facilities. These efforts are not, however, confined to the beach, but extend to all the services on offer in Mojácar, so this is not the first SICTED distinction received. The town´s Tourism Office has had the SICTED quality award every year since 2105 and was the first Tourism Office in Andalucía to have the Seal of Family Tourism, granted by the Spanish Federation for Families, along with the ‘Q’ certificate for Quality Tourism.

Mojácar’s Rey Alabez Secondary School hosted, once again, the second ‘Intercentre’ Chess Tournament that brought schoolchildren from the region together for an intensive day of chess. 32 pupils from schools in Mojácar, Garrucha and Turre had gained places in the final, although next year there will also be their counterparts from Vera and La Mojonera joining in to compete. This year, a team of Garrucha players were victorious, after an exciting final with some players from the same town. The tournament was organized by the ATAL School of Language Adaptation, in collaboration with the schools involved and, just as last year, the popularity of the event left many players in reserve. According to the organisers, Mojácar stands out from the others, with almost half of its pupils using their leisure time to advance their chess skills. The high level of play shown by these youngsters was impressive, along with their enthusiasm and determined approach. The players from the different centres were matched in a draw for the competition, which saw an increased number of schools as well as players taking part. The real success of the day, however, was the integration of Spanish children with those from a range of different countries and, more than 25 nationalities had been keen to have a place in the final. Ana Jiménez, an ATAL teacher in Mojácar, has dedicated her career to the integration and wellbeing of young people and is the promoter of this initiative which forges together her love of chess and children. It has proved to be a very valuable tool in combining skills with intellectual and emotional development, which are particularly important to children arriving from other countries who may arrive without friends or language abilities. Ana Jimenez is fully aware that for these youngsters "to make friends", having left behind their culture and some family, can be so difficult. Yet it is an essential part of fully integrating into school and social day to day life.

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Community News “The Ramblings of someone who has spent too long in the electronics business!” This is the title of a book written by Seth Pittham. Seth is well known in our area for reviving audio equipment, TVs and other assorted items at his workshop in Zurgena which is an Aladdin’s cave. In 28 concise chapters he deals with the development of sound and vision equipment, radio, radar, the internet, notable inventors, and many other related topics,with a very dry sense of humour. He also gives details of his very varied career. Inexpensively priced at £7.66, Seth’s book can be purchased directly from him or through Amazon.

Mojácar’s Dames In Spain Celebrate International Woman’s Day Cowboy Ceilidh in Albox

Mojácar’s Dames in Spain Association recently celebrated International Women's Day with a lunch at the town’s Hotel Continental. President, Myra Holmes, began by thanking the Mayor, Rosmari Cano and Councillor María Luisa Pérez for joining the members on this special day, as well as speaking briefly about the role of women in society. Dames in Spain was formed over thirty years ago and is made up of more than sixty women, mainly British, who live in and around Mojácar. Throughout the year, they organise a whole host of activities to raise funds for charities in the region such as the Red Cross, associations fighting Cancer and Alzheimer's and, other non-governmental organisations including those protecting animals and nature.

Age Support Almanzora hosted a Cowboy Ceilidh at La Parrilla in Albox. Everyone enjoyed the evening - a cross between a barn dance and St Patrick's Day ceilidh with some line dancing in the mix too. Guests were welcomed by Lana Highaoffer with her tomahawk and Les Desperado Stuart. Calamity Lynn Murrell was a superb caller giving directions to a number of dances. The Outlaw Posse, who provided the music, included two wonderful fiddlers, Sammie 'Oakley' and Jesse's sister Jeannie 'James'. They were aided and abetted by Howard 'Kelly', Shaun - the man with no name - Faulkner, Jim 'Fingers' Mackie, all led by Geoff 'the kid' Murrell.

Mojácar Council collaborates with Dames in Spain on their fund raising activities whenever possible and, they also have the support of local business people and individuals who help with their initiatives by donating goods that are later raffled or auctioned at events, just as the one that took place at the end of the meal on the day. Last year, Dames in Spain made donations to MACS (the Association that assists cancer patients), the carer support group Stepping Stones, and Equinac, another nonprofit organization that protects and rescues marine fauna such as turtlesand aquatic mammals.

Games involving balloons and hobby horses were played at the interval, and there were plenty of laughs all evening. Cowboy tucker was provided by Hannah and Louiza and the staff at La Parrilla were good hosts. The Psychic guidance offered by Jaqui was a popular addition to the evening. Organiser Ellen Green (with Stan) worked hard to make the room cowboy-themed with hay bales and bunting. She was delighted to have raised over 500 Euros at the evening which will help ASA volunteers in their work in the community.

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What’s On ticket prices with 20% reduction from the Almería ticket office and website range from 20-38 Euros, or from www.lafamiliaaddams.com. The Rock to be Wild Festival II, a rock music tribute performance takes place on April 6th at 10pm, Teatro Cervantes, Almería city. Tribute groups are Apache from Jaén, The Cops from Málaga, and FM Rock from Almería. Tickets are 15 Euros in advance or 18 Euros on the door and the performance lasts 4hrs.

Spain Bob Dylan, who will be 77yrs old on May 24th, is coming to Spain with his band for 8 concerts entitled “Neverending Tour” from April 25th until May 7th when his closing concert is in Valencia. Other venues near to us are on May 3rd when he is in Seville and on May 5th he is in Murcia at the bullring. Bob Dylan last came to Spain in 2011. Tickets are available from www.riffmusic.es and www.tickesmaster.es starting at 60 Euros going up to 132 Euros.

“Revolver” #Básico4Tour comes to Teatro Cervantes, Almería city, on May10th at 9.30pm, to perform their latest album. All tour dates in 2018 were sold out. Tickets are 25, 28 & 32 Euros in advance from the box office. T h e A l m e r í a Ta t to o Convention is a bike and live music show at Teatro Cervantes, Almería, on June 8th & 9th. Tickets (online) are 6 Euros for 1 day, or 10 Euros for both days, or 8 Euros & 12 Euros at the ticket office.

Almería The Broadway comedy musical ‘La Familia Addams’ (The Addams family) comes to Maestro Padilla Auditorio in Almería city on April 25th-28th following on from rave reviews in Madrid. A team of 28 singers, actors, dancers, and acrobats depict the characters created by the illustrator Charles Addams. Performances take place on April 25th at 8.30pm, at 6pm and 9.30pm on April 26th& 27th, and 4.30pm on April 28th. Discount

Sonia Priego is a well-known singer and dancer originating from Seville, known as ‘La Húngara’, and she comes to Maestro Padilla Auditorio in Almería city on May 5th at 8pm. She will be performing the tracks from her 17th album. Tickets are 15 & 20 Euros. Vanesa Martín and Miriam Rodríguez, two famous Spanish singers, come to Almería city in June. Vanesa Martín performs at the bullring on June 1st at 10pm and Miriam Rodríguez on June 14th at 9pm at the Maestro Padilla Auditorio. Vanesa Martín has released six albums that have been highly acclaimed and Miriam Rodríguez’s 2018 album ‘Cicratices’ quickly achieved gold disc sales. Ticket prices for Vanesa Martín are from 20-50 Euros, and for Miriam Rodríguez 30, 35, or 70 Euros for VIP seats. Flamencos Por La Guajira is a flamenco concert on April 13th at 9pm at Maestro Padilla Auditorio in Almería city. It features Antonio Fernández Montoya "El Farru" and Manuel Fernández Montoya "El Carpeta", considered two of the most important performers in the flamenco genre. Tickets are 18 Euros. Raphael, one of Spain’s most legendary singers from Jaén with a career spanning nearly 60 years, p e r f o r m s h i s l a te s t a l b u m “ResSimphónico” on May 17th at the Almería bullring along with the City of Almería Orchestra, as part of his 2019 Spanish tour. ITickets are 20 & 30 Euros for non-numbered seats, and from 45 to 65 Euros in other areas with numbered seats.

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What’s On before performances, or from w w w. t o d a s l a s e n t r a d a s . c o m

Aguilas Auditorio

The Cooltural Fest 2019 live music event in Almería city takes place from August 15th-18th. The 2018 event has received many glowing reports and awards. The opening event on August 15th that is free features Elefantes, Nixon, Mucho, Wi Bouz, and Twise. Main headline performers include Vetusta Moria, Second, Depedro, Kitai, Nunatak, Embusteros and Los Invaders. The Acoustic Playa events include Baby, Joana Serrat, Perro and Tu. Tickets are available from www.coolturalfest.com at 35 Euros 90 céntimos & 55 Euros 90 céntimos. Accommodation for the weekend is available at Almería University. The Lopretti Jazz trio come to Teatro Cervantes, Almería city on April 12th at 9pm, performing a selection of the best Latin jazz music. José Lopretti their pianist has performed alongside many

famous artistes worldwide. Tickets are 12 Euros in advance or 15 Euros at the door. Tickets for concerts in Almería (except Teatro Cervantes) available from the ticket office in the Teatro Apolo, 25 Rambla Obispo Orberá, Almería , tel: 950 230 922. Mon- Fri, 10.30am-1.30pm & 6-8pm, or Sat, 11am-1pm. Tickets can be purchased from 2hrs before performances at the venue or from www.ticket master.es or call Ticketmaster: 902 1500 25. Main branches of ‘CaixaBank’ have machines which issue tickets; including Vera near the church square. Tickets for Teatro Cervantes, Almería city, from box office at Calle del Poeta Villaspesa1. Open Mon-Fri, 11am-1pm & 4pm-7pm, Saturday from 11am-2pm, or 1hr

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Promusica 2018/2019 season classical music concerts with the Region of Murcia Symphony Orchestra, Águilas Auditorio. April 26th: The orchestra perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto no.5 opus 73, and Tchaikovski’s 5th Symphony in E minor, opus 64. The orchestra is conducted by Michael Thomas (Resident conductor of the City of Almería orchestra) and the piano soloist is Gabriel Escudero Braquehais. May 10th: The orchestra, violin soloist Laura Rodríguez Moreno and viola soloist Isabel Villanueva, perform Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito overture K.621, Mozart’s symphony concerto KV 364 for violin and viola, and Haydn’s London symphony in D major. The conductor is Virginia Martínez. June 28th: The orchestra perform a grand gala concert of comic opera excerpts. The conductor is Virginia Martínez. All concerts start at 8.30pm this season and tickets are 10 Euros from Oficina Promúsica, C/ Castelar, 2 2º. Tel.: 626 476 389 or Victoria Travel, C/ Isabel La Católica, 1 Tel.: 968 414 752 or from 2 hours before performance at box office. The XIV “Ciudad de Águilas” band festival takes place on Sunday, April 7th. Various bands will march along the paseo (promenade) from the fishing port to the auditorium from 11.30am, with a concert in the auditorium at 12 noon. There is no charge to see the event.

What’s On The 7th Dreambeach Villaricos Music Festival takes place from August 7th-11th. We highlight some of the performers who will be there in our “In the News” section. Tickets cost 66 Euros & 93 Euros including the campsite. Various VIP tickets start at 121 Euros. Ticket outlets include www.dreambeach.es, post offices, El Corte Inglés stores, and internet booking agents such as Entradas a Tu Alcance and Ticketea.

Roquetas de Mar Estrella Morente is a very famous flamenco fusion performer whose father was also extremely famous. She comes to Roquetas de Mar Auditorio on May 4th at 9.30pm to perform her latest disc “Copla”. Ticket prices were not available at time of going to press. Queen Symphonic Rhapsody comes to the auditorio on April 6th at 9.30pm. It features international singers, a rock band, orchestra, and visual aids. The performance lasts for 160 minutes. Tickets are 30 & 35 Euros Los Vivancas is a very respected dance group that specialise in dance and sophisticated audio-visual techniques and they perform their show “Chromático” at the auditorio on June 15th at 9.30pm. The event is part of their world tour. Tickets are 20 & 30 Euros.

Trips by Carlos

Huércal-Overa The Russian Ballet Company performs the romantic ballet Giselle at the Teatro Villa on May 10th at 9pm directed by Timur Fayziev. Tickets are 20 & 25 Euros. T h e b a l l et c o m p a ny a r e celebrating their 30th anniversary. Tickets from the box office Mondays to Thursdays 10am1.30pm & 5pm-8pm, and Fridays from 10am-1.30pm, or from one hour before the performance, or f r o m w w w. e n t r a d a s h o . e s

Vera

Roquetas de Mar Auditorio tickets are on sale at www.teatro auditorioroquetas.org or the ticket office open Tuesdays to Fridays from 11am-1pm & 6pm-8pm

Músicas medievales para el buen vivir is a concert of medieval music on traditional instruments performed by the Musica Antigua Artefactum group. It comes to the City of Vera Auditorio on May 4th at 9pm. Tickets are 5 Euros in advance from el Convento de la Victoría centre box office or 7 Euros at the door.

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April 26th Day trip to Granada province to explore the very scenic ‘Ruta del Alpujarras with visit to a bodega (wine producer) with a free bottle of wine and lunch. All inclusive price 60 Euros. For info & bookings call Carlos on 610 681 068 or 950 525 761

Exhibitions Gustavo Gillman was a Victorian engineer and keen photographer who recorded events and people on the construction of the railways in our area. An exhibition relating to the Águilas railway from 18891912 can be seen in the foyer of the Águilas Auditorio until May 12th. It is open from 6pm-9pm Tuesdays to Sundays. Paisajes y marinas is an exhibition of paintings by various artists that can be seen until June at the Galería Añil in Mojácar Pueblo, C/Puntico 1. Opening hours are Tuesdays to Saturdays, 11am2pm & 5pm-7pm.

Miscellaneous Shoestring Productions - next production of “TWO” by Jim Cartwright - 11/12/13/14 April,

What’s On 8pm, MontMartre Bar/Restaurant, Mojácar. Tickets are 8 Euros from PAWS-PATAS outlets in Mojácar and Las Buganvillas plus Connexions in Turre. All proceeds towards the PAWS-PATAS Quarantine Unit Fund. Simplemente Flamenco Sunday, 28th April, 8pm at the Municipal Theatre of Zurgena. This event follows on from the Christmas Gala in Mojácar and features young gypsy dancers who are already set to be stars. The event is a lively gypsy fiesta to welcome in the Spring. Features leading singer Cristo Heredia, guitarist Antonio de Quero, dancers José Tomás Martínez, his pupils including the tiny Estela Santiago who wowed the public in Mojácar, and Francesca Girone. Tickets 15 Euros available by email info@lagitanainglesa.com or by ringing Councillor Jim Simpson Zurgena Town Hall on 610194260 or from the newspaper kiosk, Parque Comercial Mojácar.

The International Gran Fondo Costa de Almería bicycle race takes place in Mojá'e1car on Saturday, May 5th, from 8am. There are two distances of 125km with a height of 2,100m & 185km with a height of 3,700m, starting from Hotel Marina Playa. There are age & male / female classifications. For more info & inscription see www.gfca./es/en

PAWS / PATAS. The next Beachcomber Book Sale will be on Tuesday, 9th April, 10.30am -1pm. Any donation of books or DVDs on the morning of the sale would be appreciated. All proceeds to cat neutering

The APSA charity AGM will take place at Chapmans in Albox on Tuesday 9th April at 2.30pm. Everyone is welcome, but only The 2019 Mojácar Moors & members can vote. Please come Christians event is on June 14th- along to find out about the Animal 16th. Protection Society in Albox; the

CALAWIM The Fiction Book Club will meet at 2 pm on Sat, 6th April at the BarRestaurante Solare, Turre. We will be discussing The Spellman File Series by Lisa Lutz. The Wine Appreciation Club will meet at 5 pm on 16th April at Hotel Tikar, Garrucha. We will taste four different wines from the Andalucía region. The CALAWIM Nonfiction Book Club will meet at 4 pm, April 24th at the Rose and Crown, Mojácar. We will be discussing “Turre, a History” by David Jackson. For more info: www.comeandlook atwhatimade.club or email: welcome@comeandlookkatwhatim de.club

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What’s On animal shelter, shop, fostering, dog walking, fundraising etc. You can join the charity or renew your annual membership of 5 Euros. Nominations to join the committee will be accepted at the meeting. To help with the organisation, if possible, please tell us if you are going to attend via Facebook. The Arboleas Walk for Life2019 will be on Saturday, May 4th. Last year over 200 people walked or ran and raised 5,613 Euros in sponsorship. Many more people came to watch the entertainment and stayed for the following party in the Plaza. May 4th is the UK Bank Holiday weekend so we should have lots of visitors. You can request a nomination form at walk4lifearboleas.com or walkforlife arboleas on Facebook.

Night, Oasis Bar, Palomares Thursday 18th, 11:30, Branch Social Meeting. Tito’s Bar, Mojácar Playa Tuesday 23rd, 13:00, St. George’s Day Lunch, Bellavista, Mojácar Playa. Sunday 28th, 11:00, Rose and Crown, Mojácar Playa. Sponsored Walk in aid of Poppy Appeal. Entry 5 Euros, walk as far or as little, or not at all, just come. To book any event contact Barbara on 622 207 774 rblmojacar.socialevents @gmail.com

The Mojácar Paseo del Arte exhibition event takes place on Saturday, April 13th,11am-2pm on the paseo (promenade) in front of Pueblo Indalo, Mojácar Playa. On Sunday, April 14th from11am-2pm it is in the Hotel Puntazo, 500m from the Pueblo Indalo and there will also be an artisan fair. Part of the proceeds raised from sales will go to PAWS / PATAS charity. Mojacar Royal British Legion You do not need to have served in the Armed Forces to be a member of the Royal British Legion. Everyone is welcome. If you would like more information please contact the Secretary, Christine White, on 697887362. April 2019 Diary: Thurs 4th, 11:15, Branch Meeting at Artisan Centre, Mojácar Pueblo, Speaker, Rev. Vincent Oram, Mojacar RBL Padre Friday 5th, 19:30, Quiz and Pie

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PAWS-PATAS need your help. We need a voluntary veterinary nurse (active or retired) to work at the shelter one morning per week in order to collect blood samples for the weekly vet visit. Smart phones - no older than 2 years - no longer used - please hand them into one of our shops desperately needed for our shelter volunteers. SQL Eperience - help needed to develop reports. Can work from home. For the above mentioned or any other questions please email info@paws-patas.org.

What’s On Market Days Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Sunday:

Huércal-Overa, Antas, Berja Albox, Los Gallardos, Cuevas del Almanzora Mojácar, Bédar, Lubrin, Vélez Blanco, Palomares, Tabernas Cuevas del Almanzora, Olula del Río, Carboneras, Sorbas Garrucha, Turre, Zurgena Aguilas, Vera, Arboleas, Vélez Rubio Villaricos, Purias, San Juan de los Terreros

Rastros, Car Boot Sales, etc. Saturday: Craft Market, Sopalmo, 11am - 6pm Saturday: Los Llanos, between Arboleas & Albox Sunday morning: Los Gallardos Campsite Sunday morning: Multiple Use Centre (Artisan Centre), Mojácar Village 2nd Sunday of the month: Bédar, from 9am Last Sunday of the month: Velez Rubio on Industrial estate

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Activities - Clubs - Associations Clubs, Societies & Activities Almanzora Group of Friends Library and Information Centre Mon - Fri and first Saturday of month 10am-1pm, Plaza San Antonia, Barrio Alto, Albox. Extensive English Library, DVDs and talking books, monthly magazine, monthly quiz, trips. www.almanzoragof.org or Facebook: Almanzora Group of Friends.

The Royal British Legion, Mojácar Branch, The Artisan Centre, 1st and 3rd Thurs. of each month, 11:15am. All welcome inc. non-services personnel. For enquiries & Welfare call 950 066053 http://branches.britishlegion.org.uk/ branches/mojacar/news-events/

The Royal British Legion - Albox Everyone welcome. Monthly meeting 3rd Thursday of every month, La Parrilla, Albox, 11am. Coffee morning 1st Thursday of every month, Oasis Cafe Bar, 11.30am. For info contact chairman Almería Link Friendship Group Meetings Thursdays, 4pm, at the Trufi Filip Ostrowski , email Albox.chairman Bar, Mojácar. For information contact @rbl.community. .For support contact Bob (Chairman) on 950472551 or Mrs Pamela Twissell Cross on 676 451 Cynthia (Secretary) on 950472699. 780 Mon-Fri, 9am to 5pm or email: Don't be lonely, come and join us. SpainNorth.CommunitySupport@RBL. Community Living Alone in Spain? We are a 60+ group of friends who The Royal British Legion - Zurgena meet for lunch every Wednesday in the & District Branch Mojácar area. Tel: 674 823 697 Heather’s Bar, La Alfoquia, every first Thursday of the month at 11a.m. Email WOW Women on Wednesday zurgenaRBLsecretary@yahoo.co.uk. See Kukis, Mojácar Playa, from 2pm. Get www.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/z together, buy, sell, swap, meet new urgena people. Psychic Development Circle Dames in Huércal Overa Various classes at different times. 3rd Wed. of the month, 10.30am, Hostal Everyone welcome. Tel: Barbara 637 Rural Los Sabores de Miguel. All welcome. 469 937 barbaramoonlight@gmail.com Tel. Carolyn 637 798 494 AUAN - Abusos Urbanisticos Dames in Spain (Mojácar) Almanzora No. Talks, trips, support for local charities. Association campaigning for the 3rd Mon. of the month, 11.00am legalisation of homes in the Almanzora Sensations Restaurant, Mojácar Playa. Valley built without proper authority. Chairperson Carol Threlfall. Secretary Meeings on 3rd Sat. of every other Jenny Trask . See fb Dames in Spain. month, 11am, La Parrilla, Albox. Tel: 617 Guests welcome. Tel: 674 477 679 118 209 www.almanzora-au.org Dames in Turre The Divine Life Society, Almeria 11am, last Mon in the month, Hostal Branch Rural, Turre. Talks, trips, support for Lotus Yoga Centre, Mojácar. Evening local charities. Guests welcome. of Meditation and a talk, 1st Fri of the Chairman, Carol Pazdzierski Tel: 950 099 month, 7.30pm. Spiritual Cinema, 3rd 932, Membership Secretary, Eileen Fri of the month, 7.30pm. Meditation McGill Tel: 652 298 072 and Yoga classes. Tel Sharon 950 469122 or 672 061 048 or omsharon50 Mojácar Community Library Multi-Use centre. Mon, Wed and Fri, @gmail.com 11am - 1pm . Vera & District Lions Club. 5.00pm on the first Wednesday of the Mojácar Walking Group Walks of different levels. Tues & Thurs. month at El Gnomo Feliz restaurant, w w w. m o j a c a r wa l k i n g g ro u p . c o m Vera. Telephone Sandie Tinkham on 950 439324 or Pam Mattioli on 950069249 for more information. Mojácar Bridge Club Mon and Thurs, 7pm. Marina Playa Hotel. Flamenco Forum for English Contact Les 950 437 100 / 634 219 Speakers 174 Facebook: Mojácar Bridge Club on Facebook. Information and events. Tel: 687 480 694

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Vera Photo Club First Sunday of month, Bar La Pará, Turre (opposite the Vet), 10am 12.30pm. Presentations by invited speakers, field trips, instruction, studio photography, monthly assignments and exhibitions. All levels welcome. Phone Sarah 670003717 or Claus 628585538. Mojacar Photo Group meet 2nd Sunday each month at Grace's bar, Pueblo Laguna with monthly presentations, themes and challenges. Open to all levels, training available for beginners. Contact Andy: 650406167 or mpg@funnell.eu Ancestry Club for Beginners & Intermediate Piedra Amarilla. Wednesdays, 2pm-4pm. 5 euros per week. Tel. 634 309 590 Betty's Garden Club 11.30 for 12 noon, 2nd Monday of the month at Miraflores Restaurant, Camping Los Gallardos except in July & August. All welcome. Tel: 603 587 805 Mojacar Computer & Electronics Club Saturdays, Beachcomber, Mojácar. 10 – 12 noon, Laptops. 12 noon – 1pm, smart phones, tablets, cameras, etc Freemasons in the Province of Almeria Craft & Chapter. 661 026 912 or 670 27 27 37 Freemasons – The Side Degrees Mark, RAM, RSM, OSM & Allied. 694 44 43 61 Cabrera Music Club For info call Richard: 666 274 861 cabreramusicclub@albox-online.net Albox Computer Club Hotel La Parrilla, Albox. Fri, 10am. All levels of experience are welcomed. www.alboxcc.com Indalo Hash House Harriers Meet 2nd and 4th Sunday, 11am, various l o c a t i o n s . w w w. i n d a l o h 3 . c o m Mojácar Angling Club Tel. John (Beachcomber): 950 473 099 Traditional Japanese Reiki and Gendai Reiki Ho Classes, workshops, and Reiki shares in Mojacar. Tel: 634 347 930, website: www.gendaireikispain.com

Activities - Clubs - Associations Clubs, Societies & Activities continued

Religious Groups & Churches

Support Groups & Charities

Amigos de los Coches Clasicos Local multi-national group of classic car enthusiasts. Meetings the first Thursday of the month, 3pm, Hotel Rural Miguel Rosi, junction 559 E15/A7. www.a-c-c.es, email: info@a-c-c.es, tel. David 950 412 165

The Evangelical Church, Turre Avda de Almeria on the corner of C/Alberquillica . Sunday 10.30am. Tuesday 3pm Bible Studying. Midweek prayer meeting. Tel. 950 617549 or 950 47 2 3 4 9 . w w w . t u r r e c h u r c h . c o m

Parkinson's Disease Support Contact Joyce Boxall (Santa Maria de Nieva, Huércal-Overa), tel 677 688037

Cabrera Slot Car Club Thursdays, 4.30-6pm. Richard 950 970 869. Call to check if on first. Model Aero Flying Club, Cortijo Grande Sun. & Wed., 10.30am. Contact Jeff on 950 469304 or Colin on 666 982186 Aeroclub ULM Günter (Vera) Tel: 607 316 553 Costa Levante Bird Group Meets first Thursday of each month. For more information phone Rod 634362353 Pita Escuela Agave School of Río Aguas. A multicultural, environmental and musical project, specialized on the integral usage of the agave plant and the processing of its wood.Tel 630 66 18 65 (Timbe) pitaescuela@hotmail.com Sunseed A hands-on practical centre for lowimpact living and environmental education in Los Molinos del Rio Aguas near Sorbas. Free tours at 4pm. www.sunseed.org.uk Tel: 950 525 770 CALAWIM We have a Fiction and nonfiction Book Club, a Wine Tasting Club, a Quilting Club, a Snooker Club, and that is just for s ta r te r s ! We a l s o o rga n i s e demonstrations, day trips and workshops. CAL AWIM Fiction Book Club First Saturday of the month, 2pm, BarRestaurante Solare, Turre. CALAWIM Wine Appreciation Club Third Tuesday of the month, 5pm, Hotel Tikar, Garrucha . CALAWIM Nonfiction Book Club Fourth Wednesday of the month, 4pm, Rose and Crown Mojacar. www.comeandlookatwhatimade.club welcome@comeandlookatwhatimade.c lub

MACS Cancer Support Group General Enquiries call 634 328 334 10am to 4pm. 24/7 Careline: 634 656 555. Fully Spanish registered charity. Shops in Mojácar, Turre, Albox and Church of England Costa Calida and Costa Almeria Huercal-Overa open Mon-Fri, 10-2pm Mojacar: Eucharist, Sunday, 11am, at the www.macscancersupport.com Email: church of San Pascual, Agua de Enmedio. m a c s c a n c e r s u p p o r t @ l i v e . c o . u k Albox: Eucharist, 2nd & last Thurs in Stepping Stones Carers Support month, 11am. Evensong, second Sun in Group month, 6pm. Comunity Hall Aljambra. Turre Evangelical Hall, Thurs, 11am-2pm. Llanos del Peral, nr El Cucador: Eucharist Tel 950 472822 or 677 683385 or morning worship, Sundays, 11am.at www.steppingstonescarerssupport.com Village Church and Community Hall. Roquetas: No services because no venue. Ostomist Support For Expats Details: Church Wardens, Pam Carter, Call Dee 950 064 322 in confidence. 667947573 & Janet Smith, 671451838 www.mojacarchurch.org A.A. Alcoholics Anonymous Kingdom Hall, Jehovah's Witnesses Mojacar Area Meetings:- Monday 6pm, Tues 7:30pm & Sun 10.00am. Poligono Turre Evangelical Church (Avenida de Aljoroque - C/El Cajete 6, Antas. Contact: Almeria, Turre). WedS & Fri, 6pm, Living Water Church, Mojacar Playa (opposite 652 293 269 Red Cross building). Tel: 634 349 535 or Living Water Church Mojacar Playa email aaspain@gmail.com Opposite Red Cross Centre and Salas Farmacia. Sunday Service 11am. Bible Age Support Almanzora study Tuesday 11am. Cafe Church Shop and welfare office near Peugeot Thursday 11am to 1pm. For further info garage, Albox. Helpline 634 316 573 contact Pastors Dave 697 522 521 or John 634 254 781. See FaceBook or visit Universal Wonderful Street www.livingwaterchurchmojacar.com Academy NGO that supports street children in Aguaviva Evangelical Church Near the health Centre, opposite Bici- Accra (Ghana). Registered charity. Box, Albox. Tel: Rod Southwood, 687 www.universalwonderfulstreetacadem y.org. Beatriz: 617 182 154 560 544 FACE New Life Church, Huercal-Overa We are a Jesus centred church family (Fundraising in Arboleas, Caring for learning to love one another. Sunday E ve r yo n e ) . Re g i s te r e d c h a r i t y. service at 11 am, www.newlifechurch.eu face.charity@hotmail.com www.face -charity.com tel. 685 628 184 The Helping Hands Support for Animals and People alike. Registered charity. Tel: 968 48 29 48

Send details of your group to almeriafocus@gmail.com Tel: 670 849 265

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Harmony Community Support Providing assistance to those in need. Tel. 634 339 192 Mon - Fri, 11:00 - 14:00 help@harmonycharity.com

Activities - Clubs - Associations Dance

Arts & Crafts

Music & Drama Groups

Line Dancing Salon de Actos, Centro de Usos Multiples , Mojacar. Fridays, 4.–7pm. Beginners welcome. Contact: Glynis 648217503 o r M a r y B e t h 6 616715 2 6 o r strictlylinedancingmojacar@gmail.com

Sewing Group, Mojacar Meet at Dolce Vita for sewing, knitting etc. Weds 10.30 - 12.30. Tel: Brenda 634 34 34 92 or Sylvia 628 006 197.

Indalo Players Well established drama group always looking for new members to act or help back stage. Tel. Bill White on 671 81 08 19 or email williamwhite9552@aol.com

Eleanor & Gilly's Line Dance Class Chapman’s Bar, Albox, 2-30pm- 4-30pm, Mondays. All levels welcome. 950439003. Step2It - Line Dancing Arboleas. Weds: 6.45 p.m - 7.30 p.m, First Steps/Intro. 7.30 p.m -10.30, Beginners / Improvers /Intermediate. : Carrie Ann 627279584 www.carrieanngreen.com Almeria Line Dancers Julie - 634304625 / 950110433 Pro Danza Nicky Mainstone Royal Academy Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Dance fit fusion. Children & Adults. Mojacar & Los Gallardos. T. 667479903 Ceroc Dancing Artisan Centre, Mojacar, Tues 8.15pm Beginners/Improvers/Advanced. All welcome. Contact Tracey 687251799 Belly Dancing Mojácar, Garrucha & Huércal-Overa. Contact Fatima: 610 472 596 Bellydance Classes Mojácar, Turre, Palomares. Call 639 724 521 Oriental and Middle Eastern Folklore dancing classes Tues at Vera, Wed at Turre. Shirin, 607805367, gytanshark@yahoo.es Dance Classes with Hollie Newell Ballet, tap, contemporary, modern, jazz, lyrical, zumba and more. Based in Turre. Tel: 634 317 391

Ladies Sewing Circle Evangelical Church, Turre, Wednesday 10.30 – 12.30 Tel: 667 702 774 Glass Bead Making La Cueva del Pájaro, Carboneras. Call 950 130 627 Ladies Pottery Painting Parties Albox - every 2nd Thursday, 6 - 9pm. SimplyArt 662 443 095 Art Classes All levels. Thurs, 11-1pm, Miraflores Campsite. Tel: 653 714 767 Girasol, Albox Art & painting. Tues, 10-1pm. Mosaic classes. Thurs 3-5.Tel 639 089 170 Sophia Wellness Centre, Arboleas Art classes. Tel. 950 449 451. Picante Quilting Club Scotty’s El Tropico, Mojacar. First Thurs of the month, 10am-12.30pm. Beginners welcome. For more details or to book your place, please email Jo a t j o g i b s o n 787 @ ya h o o . c o . u k The Happy Hookers Crochet Club Alternate Mondays, 2pm, Kuki’s Bar Restaurant, Mojacar. Beginners and all levels welcome. For details, or to book your place, please email Kim at kimlette7@hotmail.com

Yoga Lotus Yoga Centre, Mojácar Mondays. Contact Sharon - 672 061 048 or omsharon50@gmail.com

Performing Arts Centre DanZaVera 54 Verasol, Vera. Royal Academy Ballet, Imperial Society Modern, Tap and Jazz. Also Hip-Hop, Oriental Dance, Spanish Classical. Tel Anita: 670 715 787

L.O.T.U.S Integral Yoga Centre Mojácar. Yoga all levels/gentle yoga. Weds, Fri, Sun. Tel. Parvathi: 636063560

Complete Beginners Flamenco classes, Fridays, 5pm, The Roof Garden, Parque Comercial, Mojácar. No specialist shoes or equipment required, friendly hour long class. Email info@lagitanainglesa.com

Girasol, Albox Call 639 089 170

Sol Yoga Centre, Arboleas Tel: 686 400331

Yoga with Ashlí Turre, Vera & private. 643102335 Yoga Therapy with Portia Oliver. Tel: 681301474 www.portiaoliver.es

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Independent Theatre Group Always looking for new people, novices & full blown Thesbians. Call Ian Jones on 950 436 581 or 666 375 688 or email independenttheatre@hotmail.com The Luvvies New members always welcome for acting or work behind the scenes etc. Te l . 6 34 34 6 3 0 9 o r e - m a i l theluvvies@hotmail.com Jacqueline Welby Productions New members always needed to act or work back stage or with any other activities. Tel. Jacqueline Morris Welby 634 313 531 The Incognito Singers A mixed voice group performing a varied repertoire of songs to a high standard. Rehearsals Wednesday evening, Arboleas. See Facebook, w w w. t h e i n c o g n i t o s i n g e r s . c o m , theincognitosing er s@gmail.com Sing Sing Sing A mixed informal singing group, singing all types of music, for the fun of it, and to be able to perform a few charity events. Everyone welcome, Rehearsal Tuesday 6pm Villaricos Social Centre. For info. ring Janet on 617856680. Cariatiz Community Orchestra All welcome, any age, any level, only requirement is to read music. Rehearsals Sundays 6-7pm, Cariatiz (between Los Gallardos and Sorbas). Contact Emma, emma.v.randle@gmail.com 654 164 293

Activities - Clubs - Associations Sports Almería Lawn Bowling Club Contact Shirley: 679 970 399 Bowling Club de Zurgena Friendly, social and competitive bowling, all levels and standards. Contact Keith: 634 335 988 or zurgenabc@gmail.com. www.zurgenabc.com Cabrera Lawn Bowling Club Contact Ian Jackson: 634 340 361 or iandjjackson2@gmail.com. Website www.cabreralbc.com

Club de Tenis y Padel Indalo Vera. Tel: 608 250 607 - 950 59 28 77 www.tenisypadelindalo.com Tennis & Padel Tennis Sierra Club Desert Springs. Tel: 687599115 Tennis Coach Diego Rodriguez Tel: 689 688 226 Padel tennis lessons At home. Tel: Ulises Gutiérrez, 606 902 691

PartyLevante Sailing Club Initiation for children from 7 yrs in small groups. Email info@partylevante.com Indalo Lawn Bowling Club or call 680942141 www.partylevante Contact Toni: 950 468 165 or 647 703 .com 393 wattsmyt@gmail.com Mojacar Bowls Club Behind Marina Mar Hotel. Everybody welcome - Tues, Thurs and Sat starting with coffee at 9:30. Contact Verna 610 838 644.

Santa Irene Sailing Club Meets Sundays at 10:30 at the boat park of the New Marina, Garrucha, with a presail coffee at café La Oficina virtually opposite at 11:00. Contact Ian via info@ santaireneclubdevela.com or call 671 Badgers Golf Society Mojacar, play Wednesday and Saturday. 474 385. See www.santaireneclub Everyone always welcome. Contact Dave devela.com Ryder on 663 327 182 or badgers Garrucha Table Tennis Club mojacar@gmail.com Tel Barry on 677 174 430 Boxers Golf Society Albox Cazadores de Turre Cricket Club. All welcome to join us as members or Welcome new members of all ages and guests. Call in at the Why Not bar in experience. Contact Sam Lewis on 663 Albox on Saturday mornings or email 132 487 or Derek Larkins 634 361 941 peterstooks@avired.com Adelante Gimnasia Artìstica Forum Golf Society Plays friendly events at local courses twice a month. Richard Price. Telephone 850993073 or rfp53@yahoo.co.uk. www.forumgolfsociety.webs.com

H u e r c a l - O ve r a . C l a s s e s f o r f u n gymnastics , competitive levels, pre school and adults. Fully qualified coach. From 2 years. Tel 622 129 702 or info@adelanteartisitca.es www.adelanteartistica.es Facebook Adelante Gimnasia artistica.

Marina Phoenix Golf Society Visitors welcome Mondays and Thursdays. Tel Don Atkins 605 051 238. Walking Football Club Email marinaphoenixgolfsociety Campo de Football, Los Gallardos, 9am @gmail.com Monday for training, exercise & playing. www.fclosamigos.com Valle del Este Golf Society. Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays. Contact El Bandido Runners Alan Townsend Tel. 690 090 982 Run, jog , walk a 5km route along the Paseo. Free to all. See Facebook. Almería Golf League Contact Kevin on ironmankev08 Contact Les on 950 619 273 @gmail.com Albox Club de Tenis Sun & Thurs mornings, Tues afternoons. Fitness & Martial Arts Tel Sue: 950 064 369 Girasol, Albox Cabrera Tennis Club Pilates, children’s karate & gymastics, Email: cabreratennis@gmail.com advanced gymnastics, Tai-chi. Tel 639 www.facebook.com/cabrera.tennis 089 170 Body Control Pilates

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Classes or private. Sharon 638 487 314 Aerobics or Pilates Campo de Futbol, Turre. Contact Vicki 650 764 623 or vicki.lynch@live.co.uk Slimming Groups Casa Pepa, Turre, Weds 10 am, Sophia Wellness Centre Arboleas, Thurs 12.30pm, Contact Vicki 650 764 623 or vicki.lynch@live.co.uk Martial Arts Academy Seidokan Scientific Karate & Taiji-Qigong, Vera. Call John Watson 950 453 681 Performing Arts Centre DanZaVera Almeria. 54 Verasol, Vera. Martial Arts, Karate, Tai ji qigong, ancient weapons including Sword, Self Defence, Tactical Gymnastics, Yoga and ageless mobility. Tel Anita: 670 715 787 Mojácar Taekwondo 5 years to adults. Various classes & times. Contact Serge 646844708. Facebook GTF Spain Sophia Wellness Centre, Arboleas Gym, Toning tables, Kickboxing, Cross fit, Boot camp, Boxing, Salsacise, Zumba, Step Aerobics, Body Pump. Tel. 950 449 451. Fitness with Alison, Mojácar Full Body Workout, Pilates, AquaZumba, Zumba, Step Aerobics, Total Toning, AeroFit. Tel 666 273 168. Sansonora, Mojácar Qi Gong, Pilates, Dance. Contact Elena, 630 688 615 or elenasansonora @gmail.com Hollie Newell Zumba Almeria Turre, Los Gallardos, Arboleas and San Juan. Contact: 634 317 391 Zumba, La Vida Cucador Fridays 10am.

Your Stars You will need to work diligently in order to accomplish even the smallest amount. Get busy making those changes to your home. You will tend to overeat this month. A little volleyball or other outdoor sports should be on your agenda. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday. (Mar. 21- April 20)

Be sure to take care of any minor ailments. Depression may be likely if you're away from home. Don't be too confident that coworkers are on your side. You must be sure not to be frivolous, because as the saying goes, easy come, easy go. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Tuesday. (Sept. 24 - Oct. 23)

You could be quite erratic regarding your personal relationship. A passionate encounter with your mate should help alleviate that pent-up energy. Think twice before you pursue an unrealistic endeavour. You need to mingle with people who can spark enthusiasm and confidence in you. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a (Apr. 21- May 21) Monday.

(Oct. 24 - Nov. 22)

Enjoy taking courses or lecturing others. You may experience financial loss if you don't use good judgment. Emotional matters may not be easy for you to handle. Consider a conservative investment that will stay solid when everything else goes sour. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Tuesday.

Changes in your domestic scene are evident. Spend a quiet day with the one you love. Be cautious while traveling to foreign countries. Added knowledge will give you the edge when dealing with peers. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

You will be able to work with fine detail this month. You can evade the issue as usual by being affectionate, fun loving, and far too active for your lover to catch on. You'll find travel or involvement in large groups gratifying. Don't let others know about your private affairs. Your luckiest events (Nov. 23 - Dec. 21) this month will occur on a Saturday.

You can enjoy short trips. You will be too quick to point your finger at your mate. Keep an open mind when dealing with youngsters. You should be getting into self-improvement projects. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Monday.

You need to keep everyone on your domestic scene too busy to complain. You will get upset over trivial matters. You will have the ability to capture the interest of others. You have a real need to be vocal. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Monday.

(May 22 - June 21)

(June 22 - July 22)

(Dec. 22 - Jan. 20) Real estate and joint financial ventures will be profitable. Be prepared to make compensations and adjustments. You will be able to get along well with colleagues. Get proper medical attention and confront your situation decisively. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

You have to let go of your past if you wish to get out of any sentimental mood that might be hanging over your head. Be prudent and don't be led down the garden path. Don't prejudge. You may get drawn into a personal situation that will not be to your liking. You can help them more than they can help you. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Saturday.

(July 23 - Aug. 22)

(Jan. 21- Feb. 19)

Refuse to get involved in idle chatter; it will only make you look bad. Social activities or travel should be in your plans. You might find that delays will cause setbacks and upset. You've been in a rut and you need to do something that will help you break the pattern you've fallen into. Your (Aug. 23 - Sept. 23) luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday

You can expect changes in your living arrangements. Take a look at the possibilities of starting a small part time business with friends or relatives. Try to be reasonable. Accept the inevitable, and opportunities for advancement will follow. Your luckiest events this month will occur (Feb. 20 - Mar. 20) on a Friday.

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Jokes of the Month The Eternal Optimist

The Golfer

Frank always looked on the bright side and would constantly irritate his friends with his eternal optimism. No matter how horrible the circumstance, he would always reply "It could have been worse." To cure him of his annoying habit, his friends decided to invent a situation so completely bad, so terrible, that even Frank could find nothing to say that was good about it. On the golf course the next day one of them said, "Frank, did you hear about Tom?" "He came home last night, found his wife in bed with another man, shot them both and then turned the gun on himself!" "That's awful," said Frank, "But it could have been worse." "How in the hell," asked his bewildered friend, "Could it have been worse?" "Well," replied Frank, "If it had happened the night before, I'd be dead now!"

Negotiations between union members and their employer were at an impasse. The union denied that their workers were flagrantly abusing their sick-leave allowances and talks were abandoned until the next day. When they met up again, the company's chief negotiator held aloft the morning edition of the local newspaper. "This man," he announced, "Called in sick yesterday!" There on the sports page, was a photo of the supposedly ill employee, who had won a local golf tournament with an excellent score. The silence in the room was broken by a union negotiator. "Wow," he said. "Think of the score he could have had if he hadn't been sick!"

Fierce Winters Winters are fierce in northern Scotland, so the owner of the estate felt he was doing a good deed when he bought a pair of earmuffs for his head gardener. One cold, blustery day, he noticed that he wasn't wearing them. In fact, he couldn't recall a time he'd ever seen him wear the earmuffs. Walking up to him he asked, "Didn't you like the earmuffs I gave you?" The head gardener replied, "Oh, they were a wonderful idea and they kept my ears really nice and warm!" "Then why aren't you wearing them?" "Well, I did wear them that first cold day, but then one of the other gardeners offered to buy me a drink. As I couldn’t hear what he was saying, he went off to the pub without me!”

Knowing Your Wife A little boy says, “Dad, I’ve heard that in some parts of Africa a man doesn’t know his wife until the day he marries her.” “Son,”says the dad. “That happens everywhere, not just in Africa.”

Relatives A couple drove down a country road for several miles, not saying a word. An earlier discussion had led to an argument and neither of them wanted to concede that they might have said the wrong thing. As they passed a barnyard of mules, goats and pigs, the husband asked sarcastically, "Relatives of yours?" "Yup" the wife replied, "My in-laws."

The Mourners Three police officers die in a wild shoot out with narcotics dealers and go to heaven. God greets them and asks, "When you were laid out in your casket, and your fellow officers and family were mourning you, what would you like to have heard them say about you? The first cop says, "I would have liked to hear them say that I was the bravest cop on the force." The second police officer says, "I would have liked to hear that I was a terrific cop who died in the line of duty." The last cop replies, "I would have liked to hear them say ... My God! Look! he's moving!"

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...and next... The Parrot

The Medical An 85-year-old man was asked by his doctor to provide a semen sample for a sperm count as part of his physical examination. The doctor gave the man a jar and said, "Take this jar home and bring me back a semen sample tomorrow." The next day the 85-year-old man reappeared at the doctor's office and gave him the jar, which was as clean and empty as on the previous day. The doctor asked what had happened and the man explained. "Well, doc, it's like this. First I tried with my right hand, but nothing. Then I tried with my left hand, but still nothing. Then I asked my wife for help. She tried with her right hand, then with her left, but still nothing. The she tried with her mouth, first with her teeth in, then with her teeth out, still nothing. So we called up Arleen, the lady next door. She tried too with both hands and she even tried squeezing it between her knees, but still nothing." The doctor was shocked! "You asked your neighbour to help you provide a semen sample?" The old man replied, "Yep, none of us could get the jar open!"

John was given a parrot but everything it spoke was extremely rude or profane. John tried to cure this by speaking calmly, playing soft music, and generally treating the parrot with great kindness, but this made no difference. Finally, John was so fed up that he yelled at the parrot who yelled back with terrible language. John shook the parrot and in desperation he put him in the freezer. For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed. Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over five minutes. John opened the door to the freezer in case something bad had happened but the parrot calmly stepped out and said, "I believe I may have offended you with my terrible language and actions. Iâ€™m sincerely remorseful and fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behaviour." John was stunned and he was about to ask the parrot what had made this big change, when the parrot said, "May I ask what the turkey in there did?"

The Argument A wife got so mad at her husband she packed his bags and told him to get out. As he walked to the door she yelled, "I hope you die a long, slow, painful death." He turned around and said, "So, you want me to stay then?"

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In Court The following is a courtroom exchange between a defence attorney and a farmer with a bodily injury claim. It came from a Houston, Texas insurance agent. Attorney: "At the scene of the accident, did you tell the constable you had never felt better in your life?" Farmer: "That's right." Attorney: "Well, then, how is it that you are now claiming you were seriously injured when my client's auto hit your wagon?" Farmer: "When the constable arrived, he went over to my horse, who had a broken leg, and shot him. Then he went over to Rover, my dog, who was all banged up, and shot him. When he asked me how I felt, I just thought under the circumstances, it was a wise thing to say."

Coffee Break

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