October 2012

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IN THIS ISSUE

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1. FROM THE CHAIR SEPTEMBER MEETING NOTES 2. MEETINGS & EVENTS. 3. LAKE VIÑUELA PHOTO CLUB 4. WALKING GROUP & VINUELA SEW & SEWS 5. QUAD DIARY & SPEED CAMERA 6. HOG ROAST 7. BYLAW 8. BOGUS GAS MEN & A POEM 9. COMMITTEE

EDITORIAL by Sue Jones This month I have received a couple of items from Mario Blanke at Alcaucin Ayuntamiento, one about the bogus gas men who turn up on our doorstep, and the second one about a new bylaw regarding noisy dogs. I do hope you find them useful.

I know it seems a long time to go, but I would like to remind all members that the membership year comes to a close on December 31st, so you need to renew your membership on or before 1st January 2013. As the 4 year membership form comes to an end this year ALL members will need to complete a full membership form next year so please bring your NIE or passport numbers with you.

“The Diabetes Support Group” Contact Ann Bowles:952.464.184 / 607.879.450 abowles@terra.es / www.lacaladiabetics.com

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FROM THE CHAIR a message from Lyndsey Padley Who ever thought we would say “gosh isn’t it nice to enjoy the cooler weather”! At the time of writing we have experienced 124 days without rain! The hottest summer Spain has endured for a long time, which happens to co-inside with the wettest summer experienced in England for a similar period!!

Thanks to all those who attended the hog roast for contributing to a most successful occasion. Special thanks to the committee who all played a vital role, along with some of their partners, to ensure an enjoyable evening was had by all.

The subject of Winter Fuel Payments was briefly touched on at our Club Meeting in September. There is much media coverage, at the moment, regarding this subject and this newsletter is only a forum for bringing matters such as this to your attention. If you have never claimed winter fuel allowance previously, and you think you may be eligible you can find out if you are entitled by one of two methods. Firstly, via the internet at www.government.co.uk - “Winter fuel allowance”, where you can download a form for completion and return, or secondly by telephone, 0845 9 15 15 15 requesting a form to be posted to you.

Finally, may we remind everyone (especially our new members) that we have a book exchange at our monthly meetings. The books are to be found at the rear of the room, behind the “ticket booking” table. We do urge you to use this facility, in fact you do not have to exchange books, just take what you fancy – this will help us enormously.

May I repeat that we do rely on your input and suggestions to make the association enjoyable, fun and successful.

SEPTEMBER MEETING NOTES Monday 3rd September 2012 was the date of the latest el-Valle monthly meeting and a creditable 60 members attended for the get together which featured a presentation/talk by a local veterinary, Carolina. Her talk was centred on Pets in Spain.

The meeting was opened at 7.30 by Lyndsey who then handed over to Jane for an overview of past and forthcoming social events which as usual can all be found in the newsletter, on the website and at the Friday market el-Valle stand 11am to 12.30pm.

Our guest speaker, Carolina, was then introduced and she proceeded to give an informative talk on "pets in Spain" covering disease, travel, inoculations and all manner of precautions that responsible pet owners should be aware of. A lot of the information imparted by Carolina is very important and I would not like to summarise too much, suffice to say you should contact your own veterinary for any advice/concerns you may have in particular with regards to travel outside of Spain.

Following the talk there was a 15 minute question and answer session followed by Lyndsey thanking Carolina for her presentation.

The infamous cash box was next but there were no winners so the prize rolls over to next month.

At 8.30pm the meeting was closed and Lyndsey thanked everyone for attending.

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FORTHCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS ALL MEETINGS START PROMPTLY AT 7.30pm   

Monday 1st October: MEETING FOLLOWED BY A “FUN NIGHT” an evening of Fun & Games Monday 5th November: MEETING – FOLLOWED BY SOHA UPDATE by Gary Miles Monday 3rd December: MEETING FOLLOWED BY CAROLS & MINCE PIES

DATE; FRIDAY 19TH OCTOBER 19:00 FOR 19:30 Food followed by film AT CHIRINGUITO ANTONIO FILM: EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL MEMBERS €7 NON MEMBERS €8

DATE: FRIDAY 9TH NOVEMBER 14:30 PLAY 19:00 FOOD AT BAR ATILA MEMBERS €8 NON MEMBERS €10

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DATE: MONDAY 10 DECEMBER BUS LEAVES HOTEL ROMERO 9:00 am INCLUDING VISIT TO RUTE ANISETTE MUSEUM, MUSEUM OF HAM, TURRON MUSEUM & THE CHOCOLATE BELEN MEMBERS €18 NON MEMBERS €20 LUNCH INCLUDED

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LAKE VIÑUELA PHOTOGRAPHIC CLUB Our challenge in August was “Local life”, twenty nine entries were submitted one of which is this photo of the recent summer fires that were too close for comfort.

The remaining entries can be seen via this album link: - http://tinyurl.com/coajdlm The September challenge is “Red or a palette of Colour” followed by “Abstract” in October and “Architecture” in November. Feel free to join in by becoming a member, for details visit our website:- www.lvphotoclub.com th

On the 20 September we met mid afternoon for a photo shoot in the town of Almuñécar. Although the town has many historical sites we concentrated on the Majuelo Botanical Garden with its stone statues, palms, artisan workshops and the ruins of a Phoenician / Roman fish factory.

Some of us later ventured to the beach and the climb to El Peñon del Santo for a view over the town and its coastline.

Unfortunately most of the photos taken are unavailable at this time; a link to an album will appear in our website news page www.lvphotoclub.com in due course.

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EL VALLE MONTHLY WALK

by Alan Impey

The monthly el-Valle walk on Thursday 13th September was scheduled to be routed and led by Terry and Jane Frost but due to unforeseen family commitments they had to return at short notice to England. Hope all sorts itself out for them.

Yours truly and Maureen volunteered to route and lead a walk starting at 6pm from Vinuela village.

Eighteen walkers turned up and the walk started by passing up through the village to emerge on the old Vinuela/Velez road which was crossed to a track heading north again climbing fairly steeply. We eventually turned east (right) onto another track still climbing until at last the track levelled out, continued east and then turned round to the north to meet the old mountain track to Alcaucin.

It was back to a steady climb towards Alcaucin but eventually this levelled off prior to turning onto a track west and a sharp descent to a point above Puente don Manuel and a final turn south to head back towards Vinuela which was reached at 8.30pm.

Everyone on the walk, plus one non walker, then went to Venta la Vina restaurant for dinner and a chat with the evening breaking up around 11pm.

Terry and Jane's walk in the Guaro area will I am sure take place on their return. The next walk, Thursday 11th October, is routed and led by Martyn Higgins and the start time returns to 11am.

FORTHCOMING WALKS: th

NOVEMBER 8 Led by Alan Clay. Start at 11:00, location at the top car park as you enter Torrox Pueblo. Leave the roundabout at the top of the village and the entrance to the car park is immediately on the right. Alan will be waiting. th

DECEMBER 13 Led by Alan Impey. Start 11:00, location in the Zaffaraya Pass car park on the left.

Vinuela Sew & Sews Originally known as Periana Stitchers, the group was started in 2007 by a few ladies getting together.Now they have a membership of over 50 and has been renamed Vinuela Sew & Sews, they meet on Tuesday in La Vinuela. Members enjoy various types of needlework, also knitting & crochet, they hold regular workshops on Fridays where members share skills in quilting, patchwork and machine embroidery. Some members are currently attending Block of the Month workshops held by Christine Speller, the completed blocks will then be assembled into individual quilts, some of which will be displayed at the forthcoming exhibition.

Through raffles at the exhibitions the group raises funds for a local children’s charity Anne Axarquia. There are two beautiful quilts to be raffles at this year’s exhibition together with many other prizes.

For further information about Vinuela Sew & Sews take a look at the website www.vinuelasewandsews.eu or contact Rachel on 951067713.

Vinuela Sew & Sews – October 12th, 13th, 14th 2012 Exhibition of Patchwork & quilting, embroidery & other crafts at Garden La Palma, Camino Remenentes SN 29700, Velez Malaga, Malaga. Open Fri/Sat – 9 am to 7 pm, Sun 10 am to 1 pm. Disabled access. Free parking. Two quilts being raffled. Sales table and refreshments. Unable to make it to the exhibition, then raffle tickets for the beautiful quilts and other items are available from Vinuela Sew & Sews at the meeting room to the right of Vinuela Post Office, most Tuesdays 10 am – 2:30 pm, or contact Cath on 699164806 or Jan on 653919314.

Raising funds for the children’s charity Anne Axarquia & sponsored by Garden La Palma. further details from www.vinuelasewandsews.eu or Rachel on 951067713.

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QUAD DIARY BY Chris Pegman After the heat of the summer and over 120 days without rain, the tracks are understandably fairly dusty at the moment! Now that the main holiday season is over, the number of quads meeting up has risen. Nine quads and Ken on his trail bike met up to tackle the route above Los Romanes to Salto del Negro and Comares, stopping at Bar Ortega then heading on to Periana for tapas. At times the group was very spread out as we allowed large gaps for the dust to settle!

Other outings included trips to Colmenar, Salares and Alfarnatejo where the group again enjoyed an excellent menu Del dia.

We continue to avoid the Parque Natural- it has taken seven months and three recorded delivery letters to two of us (including an appeal that was ignored) to conclude by us being fined 60.10â‚Ź each. The other two quaddies have not been contacted for some unexplained reason. The fact that there are no signs saying that quads are not allowed on the main track, while large 4x4s are, has been ignored, as has the fact that the new law is hidden in a document of over a hundred pages. Even people in the Town Hall at Alcaucin did not know about the ruling. If the money were to be used to buy signs so other people know about it, that would make sense but one has a feeling that it will pay a fraction of the cost of a bureaucracy that seems to deal in waffling jargon and delays. Hey-ho!!

WARNING – NEW SPEED CAMERAS 8 new type speed cameras have been fitted to the overhead gantries on the motorway at Km 243.5. This is an 80 KPH zone and the motorway is four lanes wide in each direction (east & west). The approximate zone is Malaga side of the Tunnel Cerrano del Calderon.

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HOG ROAST by Alan Impey The latest, now acclaimed, el-Valle Hog Roast took place on Saturday 8th September 2012.

The venue was again Chiringuito Antonio and 105 members and guests gathered at 7pm to share in an evening of good food, good entertainment and good company.

It is usual to thank the el-Valle committee at the end but for a change the thanks come first.

Everyone was greeted on arrival and the evenings timetable explained. During the evening committee members circulated and checked everyone was enjoying themselves so the thanks come now, as to keep 105 people happy is no mean feat.

Around 7.50 pm Lyndsey announced that the food was ready and the first two tables could collect their meals and this consisted of the Roast Hog, several salad types, new potatoes and fresh crusty bread and butter. The Hog was roasted to perfection, as we have come to expect from Dave and Angie and having experienced this meal on four occasions now, three at events and once at a private function it can be well recommended. The service of the food for all the tables was seamless and there were even "seconds" for the gannets amongst us.

The evening’s entertainment was provided by Alan Miles, we last enjoyed his performance when he gave us The Neil Diamond Tribute Night but on this occasion he was himself and I do not think anyone could say they did not enjoy his singing and choice of music which had everyone literally dancing in the aisles. Part way through his performance was an appearance from the female trio of Lyndsey, Christine and Carol, who Alan referred to as his "Outer Circle" El-Valle members paid 6₏ for the whole evening which included a bottle of wine per couple and an added bonus was a jug of beer per table and whilst I know the members price was subsidised even the guests price of 14₏ was very good value.

The evening also celebrated a birthday, Mike, as in Auto Cool, chose to share his birthday with us including a cake and even more wine courtesy of Mike.

I left just after midnight but there were still folk dancing/drinking and generally having a good time and I would imagine the evening went on for a good while longer.

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NEW BYLAW From Mario Blanke at Alcaucin Since prehistoric times, man has felt the need to surround himself with animals, therefore we call them domesticated animals or pets. The most popular of all domesticated animals is beyond any doubt the dog. A few months ago, the Town Hall Council approved a Municipal Bylaw that governs the relation between dogs, dog owners and neighbours. I pressed for this Ordinance for 2 main reasons: To speed up the application of the “Ley Andaluza de Protección de los Animales”. ( Ley 11/2003 de 24 de Noviembre de Protección de los Animales) Because of the increasing complaints from neighbours about dogs barking, especially during the night.

We have many serious problems in our village, many of them extremely difficult to resolve. However, problems related to dogs barking during the night have a very simple solution. It only depends on the goodwill of the owner to respect the legitimate right of a decent night’s rest for the neighbourhood. KEEP YOUR DOG INSIDE DURING THE NIGHT! (If you think that a dog doesn’t deserve to be inside your house, maybe you should ask yourself if you deserve to have dog?)

Article 1 of the bylaw explains the aim of the Ordinance as the obligation of the Town Hall to act in compliance with the current legislation on Animal Protection in Andalucía. (Ley 11/2003 de 24 de Noviembre de Protección de los Animales) and to regulate the coexistence between the owner of domestic animals and their neighbours.

Article 7.c and article 13 establishes the obligation of the owner of a domestic animal to adopt all measures to avoid disturbing tranquility and sleep, or any other annoyance to the neighbours.

Article 35.c refers to the possible economic sanction if the owner persists in not complying with the Ordinance. Fines will vary from 75€ to 500€.

Personally, I feel that this is an Ordinance that could have been avoided if only everybody would use their common sense. It is in your hands to avoid not only the fines, but more importantly the never-ending disagreements between neighbours

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BEWARE OF COMPANIES OFFERING TO CHECK YOU GAS INSTALLATION! Every year, we are subjected to the campaigns of some fraudulent companies that try to make money by “checking our gas installation”. Their target groups are mainly elderly people and foreigners. They usually present themselves as agents authorized by the Junta of Andalucía to inspect your installation, threatening large fines if you don’t accede to their demands. They don’t give you any possibility to consult with anybody else as they threaten to leave immediately, leaving you without their service and exposing yourself to an inspection of the Junta with large fines. They make you pay immediately with cash or credit card. They prepare a quote that they submit to you and that you have to sign. Their quotes can be 5 to 6 times higher than another company. Once you have signed, you are trapped. They “verify” your installation, perhaps changing the gas pipes, and will charge you between 300 and 400€.

Having signed the quote, you have very few possibilities of winning a case against them in a court of law.

All this is a fraud. The only obligation you have is that the original installation should have been done by an authorized agent. Afterwards, you have no obligation to maintain the installation except for your personal safety. (Companies and public establishments have the legal obligation of annual maintenance). Your house is private property; nobody enters without your consent. If you are a victim of such a fraud, contact your Town Hall. Some of the Town Halls do subscribe to Consumers Defence Groups and can assist you in making a complaint. If you need your installation verified, only trust people you know!

MY SATNAV I have a little Satnav It sits there in my car A Satnav is a driver’s friend It tells you where you are.

It tells me when the light is red And when it goes to green It seems to know instinctively Just when to intervene

I have a little Satnav I’ve had it all my life It’s better than the normal ones My Satnav is my wife

I’m sure no other driver Has so helpful a device For when we leave and lock the car It still gives its advice

It gives me full instructions Especially how to drive “It’s thirty miles an hour”, it says “You’re doing thirty five”

It fills me up with counselling Each journey’s pretty fraught So why don’t I exchange it And get a quieter sort?

It tells me when to stop and start And when to use the brake And it tells me that it’s never ever Safe to overtake

Ah well, you see, it cleans the house, Makes sure I’m properly fed, It washes all my shirts and things And – keeps me warm in bed!

Despite all these advantages And my tendency to scoff, I do wish once in a while

I could turn the damned thing off!!

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ASOCIACIÓN EL VALLE DEL EMBALSE COMMITTEE 2012-13 Chair: Lyndsey Padley - 628655801 Vice Chair: Jane Harris - 633615154 Treasurer: Terry Frost - 697569141 Secretary: Stewart Common - 647076177 MEMBERS  Linda Kemp: - 951167088  Elaine Edwards: - 647076177  Anne Dibden: - 605826358  Carol Jackson: - 635291532  Kim Rogerson: - 696126204 Editor: Susan Jones - 680407894 Almoner: Christine Goreham – 635361233

INFORMATION.  WEBMASTER – MIKE HICKMAN 

webmaster@el-valle.org WEBSITE - www.el-valle.org

A representative of the committee is usually on duty between 11am – 12.30pm at Mis Tapas (“BILLY’S BAR”) during Friday Market - Chiringuito Antonio Asociación El Valle del Embalse normally meet at 7pm on the first MONDAY of each month with the exception of August, at the “Camping Bar Restaurante” by Lake Viñuela (km 31/32 A356).

ASOCIACIÓN MOBILE ‘PHONE. 676.641.577 NB: THE ASOCIACIÓN MOBILE IS ONLY IN USE DURING TRIPS OR EVENTS, PLEASE USE THE NUMBERS AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE TO CONTACT A COMMITTEE MEMBER AT OTHER TIMES.