May newsletter

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Around the valle

may 2017 Issue no. 5

Chairmans report by sue jones Hello all and thank you for your vote of confidence in electing me as your Chairperson for the next twelve months.

I would like to thank Carol for all her hard work over the last two years, she did an excellent job ensuring we had plenty of activities, events and trips. Thank you Carol.

Also I must thank all the committee members for their hard work on your behalf, it isn’t always easy putting new ideas forward and getting events and trips up and running!

I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome our two new committee members, Yvonne and Susan, I’m sure you will be an asset to the committee.

With my other hat on - that of newsletter editor - I would like to thank all those who contribute to the newsletter, it makes my job so much easier when all I have to do is edit them into the newsletter, please keep those contributions coming!

Now, the bad news, we have had to cancel the proposed trip to Mijas for the Johnny G concert due to lack of interest, for those of you who have booked - please accept our sincere apologies, you can obtain your refund at the May meeting or from the committee members on duty at Meson Sara on Friday morning.

PLEASE REMEMBER, THE MAY MEETING IS ON THE 8TH, I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE

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contents CHAIRMANS REPORT APRIL MEETING

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BOOGIE NIGHT FORTHCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS & WALK SCHEDULE

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INFORMATION

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APRIL WALK & UPDATE FROM SAT.CO THINGS YOU MUST CARRY IN YOUR CAR

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COMMITTEEE

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april meeting by alan impey

Monday 3rd April and time for the Annual General Meeting of the El-Valle and once again, as has become to be expected, a poor turnout of members to the meeting. This is a shame really as the business side of things only accounts for a very small amount of the meeting time and there is always something else happening to provide entertainment.

Carol opened the meeting at 7.40pm and first on the agenda was the treasurer’s report, given by the treasurer, Chris.

We were told that funds were healthy and as always, when considered appropriate, subsidies would be applied to El-Valle functions so as to benefit the members and reduce the cash excess to acceptable levels.

After Chris's report Carol, outgoing chair, gave an overview of the past years trips and also had to announce that due to members ringing to ask for places on the various trips but then failing to attend there could not be any more reservations this way and that all events had to be booked and paid for at

the meetings or contact point.

As mentioned Carol was stepping down as chair but Sue had agreed to stand for election to this post along with her role as editor of the newsletter.

All of the candidates standing for election to the committee were voted in and once again we should all express our thanks and gratitude that people are willing to put themselves forward to ensure that the El-Valle continues its long and successful existence.

Many thanks to Carol for her time as chair and we look forward to another successful year.

A rundown of forthcoming events was then given prior to a short break before the evening’s entertainment.

This took the shape of "then and now"!!!! Members had been asked to submit photographs of themselves as youngsters and another as adults.

These were put onto sheets and the teams had to pair up the photographs. Some were actually quite obvious but a lot were not and much amusement was had trying to "marry" the photographs together.

As always there was a winning team and photographs were taken by Margaret.

Only the "box" remained with a prize of €353.00 but no one found the elusive key nd the prize rolls over to next month’s meeting which incidentally will be held on the second Monday of the month, the 8th.

At 9.20pm the meeting was closed and we look forward to a good turnout on the 8th.

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Boogie night by alan impey Sixty one members and guests of the El-Valle turned out on a cold wet night for the Boogie Night at Venta la Viña in Viñuela Pueblo.

The restaurant was set up in tables of between eight and twelve enabling groups of friends to sit together for this latest El-Valle venture.

Sue welcomed us all and said that service was about to begin and so it did with the restaurant staff bringing out the pre-chosen starters of either Cesar salad or onion soup.

On our table both starters were in evidence and everyone agreed that they were very good.

In no time at all the main courses were served and for those having lamb, and this was some 40 odd of the diners, appreciative comments were being made from the very first mouthful of the lamb. I was one of the lamb diners and it was indeed very, very good.

Sue informed us that the chef had actually checked on line how the British would cook lamb to ensure that we were not disappointed!!!! Dedication or what!!!!

After a relatively slow start they soon got the measure of their audience and provided the correct music to ensure that the dance area remained full for most of the night.

One on our table had chosen salmon and again it was pronounced as very good.

Desert was either ice cream or coffee and with the meal a drink was included. As the tables were cleared it was time for the evening’s entertainment which was provided by Reality International a male and female duo, Lynette with vocals and Paul with guitar.

The whole evening/night was a great success and thanks must be given to Sue and Barbara, the main committee organisers of the event although I am sure others assisted where necessary. Thanks also to the staff of Venta La Viña for the quality of food and service.

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FORTHCOMING MEETINGS May 8th

Table Top Treasure Hunt

June 5th

Music night with Eliza Handley

July 3rd

Quiz Night

AUGUST

NO MEETING

PETANC TOURNAMENT TUESDAY 16TH MAY 10:30 FOR PLAYERS FOLLOWED BY MENU DEL DIA AT TANIT AT APPROX. 2 PM PRICE €12 MEMBERS €15 NON MEMBERS PLAYERS LIMITED TO FIRST 32 June 6 to 8 2017 th

th

3 day, 2 night trip to carmona staying at the ho tel alcazar de la reina, a beautiful mudejar building We will leave mis tapitas at 07:30, there will be a stop on the way for coffee.

During the stay there will be two guided tours and lunch will be included on the second day. On the day of departure we will travel to osuna for a guided tour and again lunch will be included before we leave for home.

Price €175 members €185 non members

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FRIDAY, 23 RD JUNE BBQ IN THE BBQ CENTRE NEAR THE VIÑUELA FOOTBALL GROUND 7:30 FOR 8 PM COME AND ENJOY A BBQ AND MUSIC

MEMBERS €10 NON MEMBERS €12.50 BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT SEPTEMBER 22ND TRIP TO CASARES A Guided visit of the historical center of Casares, for approximately 1 hour and a half, we will stroll through the most emblematic streets and alleys of the town as well as the ascent to the Castle, a walled fortress of Arab origin. From the Castle, we can see the views that cover much of our coast, Strait of Gibraltar and if the day is clear, we can see the coasts of Morocco.

After lunch, we will continue with the guided visit of the Baths of the Hedionda, a sulfurous spring with a building dating from Roman times WHICH WERE later finished by the Arabs, in the style of thermal baths.

MEMBERS €17 NON MEMBERS €20

WALKS SCHEDULE MAY 11TH

Led by Matyn & Reecca Higgins. Start 11:00 at the second picnic site in the Alcaucin Parque Nacional

JUNE 8TH

Led by Alan Clay in the Torrox area. Start at the main car park as you enter torrox Pueblo. Start 11:00

July 13th

Led by Stewart & Elaine on the coast somewhere. Start 19:00 TBA

AUGUST 10th

Led by Chris and Jeaneette Mogg in the Velez Malaga area Start TBA at 19:00

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INHERITANCE TAX CHANGES IN ANDALUCIA Last year the Andalucian Parliament stated they would reduce inheritance tax by increasing exemption in Andalucia. They informed they would only do this if the budget for 2017 allowed this to happen.

Good news, the increased exemptions are in force. They have increased the exempt amount for spouse and descendants from €175000 to €250000.

Unlike the old system, where if you received €1 more than the €175000 you would only be entitled to €16000 exemption ( basically no exemption). With the new system after €250000 you don’t lose the exemption completely as you are allowed to make use of it on the first €200000 as long as what you receive does not go above €350000.

permit most people inheriting from their spouse or parent to not pay inheritance tax in Andalucia They have also increased reduction in the taxable base for spouses or children inheriting their main home.

If you think you may be affected by these changes, it would be prudent to discuss them with a solicitor,

In most cases simple tax planning with the wording of the will, will

Holiday rental properties Last week there were two incidents of holiday rental owners finding themselves is trouble due to their UK clients renting their property their UK registered cars had been taken by the Policia Grua. There is currently a big crackdown on NON SPANISH PLATED CARS. In one case because it was illegally parked.

The second was because the car was speeding and when the police stopped it, the driver didn’t have MOT papers.

What is interesting is that, when both drivers were asked to provide details of where they were staying they were asked to produce the VFT. (Registration number of Holiday Rental Properties)

If your rental clients have a situation that involves the police, A robbery, a hire car problem, reporting something for an insurance claim, they will be asked for the VFT number.

Now these owners who rented their property UNREGISTERED are in trouble. Without it, the Property is Rented Illegally and leaves the owner of the property up for a fine, as a result of the person renting the property getting into trouble with the police.

If you have not registered your property … Their actions will cause you a serious problem and you could face a fine from a minimum of €3000.

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april walk by alan impey Thursday 13th April and time for the El-Valle monthly walk!!!

This week it was routed and led by Jane and Rubi, assisted as and when required by Terry.

This walk, from Guaro, has become their signature walk although they do in fact make adjustments as required to take into account the weather and such.

Nineteen walkers gathered at 11am and all elected to dine as well at the restaurant in Guaro.

We set off from the village, heading back through it before eventually leaving the road, left, to begin an ascent up a track heading in the general direction of Periana.

The weather was very good but it did start to become very hot which did not bode well for the return sec-

Update from sat.co

tion of the walk which would be a steady uphill climb!!!!!

We reached the outskirts of Periana, by the secondary school, and then went left again before yet another left turn which took us in the direction of our outward route.

The weather was becoming increasingly hot and it was decided that it may be wise for a vehicle to be made available before the climbing started in case any walkers felt the need of an easier return.

With this in mind I hurried ahead to where the cars were parked and returned to pick up four of our group and dropped them at the restaurant before returning to oblige a further four.

Everyone however enjoyed the walk and the meal after in Guaro and we look forward to the next one.

Thanks Jane, Terry and Rubi.

Distance Time Taken 54mins.

Moving time 42mins Max. Height mtrs.

7.5kms 1hr 1hr 727

by dick atterbury

Can I just take a little time to talk about Sound. Many people feel when they become Hard of Hearing that buying a Sound bar and increasing the sound this will help.

Not always. As we all get older it is usually Frequency of sounds that we lose first. What can we do? Well the first thing to do is check out the menu of the TV with the TV remote control. In some cases TVs are fitted with Graphic equalizers. Look through at the various frequencies that are on this list and adjust the sliders up and down and see if this helps. Just like adjusting the colour or the brightness. Some LG TVs are

fitted with True Voice in the Menu.

Switch this on and see if this makes any difference. If you end up with a sound bar connect it with an optical cable this quite new to the TV world and is often called TOSS Link Some of the new satellite boxes are also fitted with a sound menu and this is often a good idea to make adjustments to the sound menu.

If sound is a major problem for you try one of the new satellite boxes with Sub titles.

There is a new range of HDMI connectors available on the market which allows you to connect more

than one device to your TV with limited HDMI sockets. They are small in design and come with their own remote control. Not another one did somebody say.

By the way talking of remote controls, if you find that yours is not performing that well or not working, please let us have a look at it before you throw it away. We may be able to repair it and save you some money on a new one.

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Things you must carry in your car by law when driving in spain As an ex-pat living in Spain, you may have found that there is a great deal of misleading and contradictory information about the things you should carry in your car!

Required documentation ITV - this must be kept in the car at all times.

PERMISO DE CIRCULACION Also legally required, this is like a log book INSURANCE POLICY DOCUMENT You should also carry your insurance policy with you. While the insurance policy document is not strictly compulsory for all journeys, the fact is that if you have any sort of traffic accident, then you will need to know your policy number in order to complete the Accident Agreement Form.

EUROPEAN ACCIDENT AGREEMENT

must be renewed two years after becoming resident.

DON’T DRIVE WHILE WEARING FLIP- FLOPS

OTHER COMPULSORY ITEMS

While it is not illegal to drive in flipflops, if it is thought that an accident was caused as a result of you wearing them, you may get fined. It is dangerous to drive wearing flipflops as they may slip off and distract you.

Warning triangles x 2 Florescent jackets for each person travelling in the car. These must be kept in the car and not in the boot.

You can be fined for walking on the road or hard shoulder without one.

Child seats. Children under 1.35 meters in height or under 12 years of age are not permitted to sit in the front seats of any vehicle.

There is a fine of €200 for such an offence. Children up to the age of 12 and measuring less than 135 cm travelling on the front seat of a car must be seated in a child restraint system adapted to their size and weight.

A spare tyre.

The fine for not having any of the above in your vehicle is €80.

RADAR DETECTORS ARE PROHIBITED Radar detectors are to be banned under new laws in Spain and anyone caught using them will face a €300 fine and 3 points on their licence. The ownership, transport or use of a jammer is strictly prohibited.

For further information on traffic laws in Spain, follow the Torrevieja Traffic Department on Facebook who provide a wealth of information and the rules and regulations of driving in Spain.

European Accident Agreement (in Spanish “parte de declaracion amistosa de accidentes” or sometimes “Declaracion Amistosa de Accidente de Automovil”.) Some drivers claim to have been told not to fill in this form, but this is incorrect advice.

This form is vital in the case of an accident. Completing this form can greatly reduce the time that the compesation process takes. The form can be completed in English.

RECOMMENDED ITEMS

https:/www.facebook.com/DrivingS pain

Road tax receipt (IVTM) - You do not have to carry the annual road tax receipt you pay every year to your Town Hall, but it may be worth carrying it anyway. You should never be asked for this by a police officer.

The above article has been taken from

A VALID DRIVING LICENSE

Spare pair of spectacles if you need them to drive.

Remember that if you have been a resident in Spain for more than two years you must renew your driving licence to a Spanish one. From 19th January 2013 EU citizens who have been officially resident in Spain for two or more years had to renew their existing driving licences. For those who became became resident after this date the driving licence

ID - For example your passport or NIE document

Spare bulbs and tools to change them. While this is no longer a legal requirement it certainly makes sense to still carry them Fire extinguisher Blankets First Aid Kit

https:/www.healthplanspain.com/b log/spain-news The full article and much more information can be found on the above website.

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Asociacion el valle del embalse Committee 2017/2018

Chair & Newsletter Editor Sue Jones Tel: 680407894

Treasurer: Chris Wishart Tel: 609952926

Almoner: Christine Goreham Tel: 635361233

Secretary: Stewart Common Tel: 647076177

Joint Vice Chair

Barbara Jenkinson Tel: 616264067

Joint Vice Chair Dorothy Girvan Tel: 676320615

MEMBERS

Elaine Edwards Tel: 647076177

Peter Girvan Tel: 676320615

Yvonne James Tel: 666619145

Carol Caldwell Tel: 635291532

Bethune McCarroll Tel: 634404169

Sue Meredith Tel: 635656347

INFORMATION NEWSLETTER EDITOR newslettereditor2012@gmail.com WEBSITE - www.el-valle-asociacion.com A REPRESENTTIVE OF THE COMMITTEE WILL BE ON DUTY EVERY FRIDAY BETWEEN 11:30 AND 12:30 AT MESON SARA