RTN Newspaper – Costa del Sol 4 - 10 August 2017 Issue 014

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Issue 014

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Gypsy Kings to play two Spanish gigs

The Gipsy Kings performed at Starlite Marbella yesterday and will be at Puerto Sherry in the Bay of Cadiz on August 14 p24 MICHAEL BOLTON will be performing at the Puente Romano Tennis Club in Marbella on August 10th p22

Volunteers learning about and enjoying the dunes Photo Credit: Asociación Pro Dunas Marbella

Don’t park on protected dunes!

by John Smith QUITE understandably, with the long hot summer days, many residents and visitors to Marbella want to take advantage of the local beaches.

Unfortunately, people don’t always take notice of restricted areas and try to take their vehicles as close to the beach as possible - despite potential fines of up to €3,000 - often causing environmental damage to the surrounding dunes which are protected.

The Marbella Council is active in enforcement of the protection of the Dunas de Marbella Ecological Reserve and has now installed two barriers to prevent motor vehicle access to the Royal Saragossa Dune.

The Councillor for Sustainability, Miguel Diaz, explained on behalf of the Marbella Council that this had been a long term problem with numerous

cars parking on the dunes in what is a pedestrian area only and action had to be taken to stop this irresponsible behaviour.

Angered at what he considered to be deliberate acts of vandalism to this protected area, he made it clear that the council would no longer tolerate these incursions saying, "We will redouble our efforts to increase the control and surveillance of area".

Not only is the Marbella Council, anxious to ensure the ongoing protection of this important reserve which encompasses a number of dunes along the Marbella coast, but a pressure group and environmental organisation the Asociación Pro Dunas Marbella (ProDunas) is heavily involved in promoting and protecting the area.

This group actively encourages residents to value their heritage and supports scientific study of

the biodiversity in dune areas which have been in existence for thousands of years. In addition, apart from regular monthly open forums to discuss matters affecting the dunes, ProDunas also arranges beach clean ups.

Working with the same aim in mind, Councillor Diaz wants to see a change in the mentality of those holidaymakers visiting the beaches and rather than park as close as they can, he wants them to take some time to walk across the dunes and enjoy the sights and sounds of this valuable local site.

He also laments the fact that vandalism has caused damage to signs, picnic tables and benches and even barriers and reminds all who park illegally, blocking pedestrian and emergency vehicle access that laws are in place allowing fines of between €60 and €3,000 to be imposed.

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WEATHER IN BRIEF

FRI Aug 4th

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€220,000 market upgrade

by Jemima Roberts MARBELLA’S Council is investing hundreds of thousands of Euros in upgrading the town’s central market.

The repair works will help to solve the site’s “historical problems”, including issues with paving and waterproofing. The town’s mayor, Jose Bernal, and councillors for Works and Commerce, Blanca Fernandez and Manuel Morales, have visited the facilities to announce the project.

Mayor Bernal explained, "we are hoping the works will modernise a market that has been abandoned by previous governing parties and who invested many thousands of Euros but did not solve the problems.”

The mayor has assured the works, which are expected to begin after the summer so as not to affect the shops during peak season, "will leave the market in the best possible condition and more attractive.” He added the works are in addi-

SEVEN CITY car parks are offering discounts of 50 per cent on Saturday during Fuengirola’s Live Night.

Parking in the Avenida, Alfil, Las Rampas, Plaza de la Constitución, Plaza de España and at the port will be reduced by half for the event. In addition, the Mercacentro carpark will be open from 6pm to 4am and the Miramar Shopping Center will extend its schedule until 3am.

In recent years the town’s Noche Viva

The councillors inspect the damage

tion to waterproofing which has already seen an investment of €120,000, saying, “in short, this is a market abandoned by previous councils and rescued by this one.”

The works will have a lead time of 16 weeks, according to Blanca Fernandez, who said the paths serving the market stalls are in poor condition and have bad paving. She added, "these paths, along with some stalls, mainly selling fish, present serious sealant problems affecting the ground underneath.”

The project includes the repair of the paving of the fruit areas, fish areas, and weighing and washing room, as well as

waterproofing 11 stalls.

Individual water meters will also be installed at each stall, the access barrier to the carpark will be installed, an air conditioning test will be carried out, and a wifi network and public address system will be installed, while all upper windows will also be sealed.

Manuel Morales said works would begin in January or February 2018 and has announced another €60,000 will be invested in the Divina Pastora market, where cameras and an air conditioning system will be installed.

Shop ‘til you drop!

has become a famous attraction, filling the streets with revellers enjoying a wide programme of council and privately organised activities, mostly outdoors.

The event will see a total of 287 businesses- 80 more than last year- open their doors across the town from 8pm to 3am, offering discounts and promotions.

All businesses signed up to the scheme must offer a minimum 10 per cent discount on top of any normal promotions, while ho-

tel will offer special dishes and promotions.

The scheme is the result of months of work and meetings and the council has payed thanks to Cepyme, Fuenmi and the Association of Beach Businesses, as well as the councillors involved and all municipal workers who have played their part.

More than 30 points around the town will be filled with activities, of which nine will be municipal spaces. More than 300 different activities will take place on the strip be-

tween Santa Amalia to Los Boliches, passing through the Boquetillo.

Among the novelties this year, 77 stalls from the Sunday market will be positioned in thirteen different areas around the town according to a lottery.

In addition, the Plaza de la Constitucion will host a traditional parade, one of the biggest activities, in which 22 floats will participate. This year there will also be a dog show and body paint.

4

€200m luxury complex to hit the coast

Air show causes traffic Chaos on the A-7 in VelezMalaga

Traffic hell continues

by Sally Underwood MOTORISTS spent hours in traffic last weekend after the total amount of jams accumulated to 24 kilometres on the A-7.

The majority of the traffic took place between Velez-Malaga and Estepona, particularly near Rincon de la Victoria, where the exodus of beach-users and attendees of the Torre del Mar Air Show caused a 13-kilometre pileup to build.

The new traffic misery comes after the Traffic Directorate (DGT) ruled out a series of measures to ease traffic congestion on Malaga’s roads this summer.

Drivers had complained after tailbacks reached 30 kilometres on the A-7 the weekend before, calling on the

authorities to allow the hard shoulder to be used. However the DGT says it would not be safe do so and instead has suggested motorway-users stay off the roads in peak hours.

It is anticipated use of the province’s roads will increase by 5 per cent by the end of the summer, leaving drivers stuck in heavy traffic. The DGT has now recommended avoiding main roads between 8pm and 10pm, while traffic is at its heaviest, and making use of toll roads, which it claims save money on fuel consumption.

The Association of Drivers has demanded the body lowers the cost of toll roads, however, to compensate for the extra traffic, while, Mario Arnaldo, president of European Automobile

Association (AEA), has suggested the DGT improve its communication programme to allow drivers to be aware of possible traffic jams.

He said, “the road capacity cannot be increased but information could be improved so drivers can plan their trips better.” He added multiple car collisions also fuelled the problem, saying, “motorists must maintain safety distances.

The motorway’s capacity is 4,000 vehicles per lane per hour but this decreases in the case of an accident.”

Arnaldo also recommended the DGT find ways to reduce toll costs, claiming, “Malaga could become the victim of its own success. Tourist companies must find ways to reduce the cost of toll roads for their customers.”

MARBELLA’S Golden Mile is set to host a new luxury estate offering 15 semi-detached houses following a multi-million Euro investment.

Work has already begun to the project, with excavating machines preparing foundations and advertising campaigns selling off properties before they are finished, with work expected to be finished in 20 months.

The project, organised by Sierra Blanca States, a Spanish real estate and consultancy company based in Marbella for more than 26 years, is named Epic Marbella, and has already received the relevant building licences for the first of its four stages.

The project’s first stage will see 15 houses built on a plot measuring more than 8,000 square metres, with villas on sale for around €2 million, coming to a total of €200 million when all 98 homes are built after the completion of the fourth stage.

The 15 houses will be divided into five blocks, each featuring three independent villas with a private garden. In the 6,000 square metre community area there will be a large swimming pool, a solarium and landscaped garden.

Works were initially delayed after the first phase licence took 11 months to receive. The developer argued "we are waiting for the licence to start building the rest of the 98 homes that are part of the project. We currently have a continuous demand for sales, so the pace of construction must be higher.”

According to organisers, investors from Scandinavian, Russian and Arab countries are among the main buyers of the new properties, claiming, "the international client is showing an increasing interest in buying luxury homes in Marbella.”

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60 detained in drug crackdown OFFICERS from the National Police have completed their Dobladillo drugs operation, arresting more than 60 suspects.

Agents concluded the operation after catching a drug trafficking family gang of six, one of whom was a minor.

The investigation began in June, following a tipoff of cocaine and heroin dealing by a family in the La Limones area, according to the Provincial Police Station. On investigating further, officers were able to confirm the narcotics were being sold out of a home and a woman and her children were being helped by relatives to prepare and sell the drugs.

On searching the home, National Police officers found and seized 25 grams of pure cocaine, 11.10 grams of cocaine ready for sale and €695 in various currencies. The six involved have been arrested for their alleged involvement in criminal gang membership and drug trafficking.

The tower of La Cala de Mijas located in a square in the old town Credit: Wikimedia

€125m housing boost

by Richard Johnson WORK to some houses on a 600-property development in La Cala de Mijas are expected to be completed within months, according to organisers.

The project, which is backed by British developer, Taylor Wimpey Plc, and La Cala Golf, will see the existing golf course turned into the biggest housing development in Andalucia over the next 10 years.

According to the company, the hotel chain and Taylor Wimpey began working together on the project in 2014, delivering the first set of 60 residential properties last summer. The Horizon Golf project, consisting of 48 apartments and 55 townhouses, are currently being advertised for sale, with some due for completion this year and the rest next year. According to media reports,

many of the properties are in their final stages of construction already.

La Cala Resort aims to become “unique in Spain” as a golf and relaxation location, featuring three 18-hole golf courses a four-star hotel of 107 rooms and a 1,300-meter spa, tennis courts, paddle tennis, squash and football pitch. The company says their offering will put property owners “at the forefront of international residential tourism, with one of the best and most varied offer of housing in low density complex with views Panoramic views of the golf, sea and mountains, and only 30 minutes from Malaga airport.”

David Kelly, president of FBD Hotels and Resorts, David Kelly, said the development "demonstrates not only a growing demand for properties in the south of Spain, but also the strength and attractiveness of our real estate portfolio,”

Sunbathers killed

Two sunbathers were killed after a plane made an emergency landing on a packed Portuguese beach.

The victims, a man and a girl, are said to be aged 56 and 8, according to Portugese media. People on the beach at

while the company says the huge project shows "renewed confidence" in the real estate market, offering "modern and state-of-the-art" homes for a growing second-home community.

Javier Ballester, director general of Taylor Wimpey Spain, says they are "delighted" to present the project in response to demand from European buyers, explaining, "we have made significant progress in the Spanish market last year with 304 new homes built.

Sales during the first half of 2017 have been very positive and we expect it to continue the same throughout the summer of 2017. " Andres Ruiz, a Mijas Councillor said there had been “high growth" in urban investments in the municipality which have reached €84 million this year, reflected in the number of work permits granted so far in 2017.

Caparica - about 20 miles south of Lisbon - scattered in panic as the plane flew low over the sand, some running into the sea. The two occupants of the plane are said to have survived the crash and were led away by police.

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Municipal gardeners strike indefinitely

by Sally Underwood MORE THAN sixty Benalmadena gardeners and maintenance workers are on strike in protest over proposals to split the workforce across different areas.

The employees, who set down tools on Tuesday, work for the Public Parks and Gardens Department of Benalmadena Council.

The workers are protesting the proposed transfer of part of the workforce to other municipalities, including Malaga and Cadiz. Angered, they have accused Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC), the third-party company in charge of providing and employing the workers, of “continued abuse and injustices.” They added Benalmadena Council “is silent and indifferent” to their plight and has not been sufficiently helpful in helping resolve their issue with FCC. Employees are now demanding any contracts or agreements signed with the FCC be cancelled, saying “we have renounced our rights in order to avoid being dismissed,” in signing the documents. The workers have apologised to residents and visitors for “any inconvenience we may cause” by striking.

Meanwhile, the FCC reportedly blames Benalmadena Council for making budget cuts to its Public Parks and Gardens Department and has said it is considering terminating its contract with the public body.

The news comes following recent strike action by other

A previously well maintained public garden in Benalmadena Photo Credit: Wikimedia

municipal workers, Malaga firefighters. In May a group of firemen took to city’s streets demanding improvements to their working conditions.

Members of the Rel Cuerpo de Bomberos de Malaga gathered in full uniform at Parque Martiricos at 11am, waving banners, before heading to the town hall where the council was in session.

€300k for freedom

Spanish Football Federation President Angel Maria Villar, currently suspended, gave his thanks ‘to all the people’ who have backed him ‘privately and publicly’ after he was arrested and then bailed for €300,000.

A similar demonstration at the beginning of May attracted around 3,000 members of various workers´ unions, who campaigned for stable employment, fair wages, better working conditions and increased social security.

Members of Malaga council´s opposition parties are now putting increasing pressure on the governing party, Partido Popular, to negotiate improvements for the city´s fire workers.

Villar and his son were arrested in July as part of an anti-corruption investigation.

Villar did not accept questions from the media, and he also thanked those who defended him and his son Gorka

Villar, as well as Juan Padron, the economic vice-president of the RFEF. Villar and his son left the Soto del Real prison in Madrid earlier this week after paying €300,000 and €150,000 respectively.

8

Council defends €1m marina bill

Military incursions

by Jemima Roberts

BENALMADENA’S Council has written to the Public Prosecutor’s Office submitting the results gained so far from an audit into an alleged €1 million overspend on the town’s Puerto Marina.

The Mayor, Victor Navas, explained an internal audit into the alleged activity between 2011 and 2015 which is investigating the figure "is nearing its end" after two years and has announced a series of measures designed to tighten financial responsibility.

Five businessmen and two advisers caught up in the allegations, as well as Francisco Salido, the former Councillor for the Port, and the site’s former manager, Jose Manuel Lopez Merino, remain under investigation.

According to the extracts released so far from the audit and sent to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, “excess” payments were made in 14 works contracts awarded to a group of businessmen connected to the Union Centro Benalmadena (UCB), a body which helped to manage the port under the previous council government team.

After the previous team left power in 2015, the new Mayor, Victor Navas, ordered the audit, alongside the Councillor for the Port, Encarnacion Cortes. The mayor criticised his predecessor for not beginning the investigation sooner and justified the length of time the audit has taken,

Benalmadena’s Puerto Marina

claiming the time has been used to “collect evidence and reconstruct the case,” adding, “we only had indications and some documents and the deals done initially seemed to be legal.”

The alleged group of five businessmen responsible for the overspend are said to have created numerous companies immediately before or after the 2011 municipal elections, between them earning 66.19 per cent of Puerto Marina’s turnover, a figure reaching almost €3 million.

According to the results published so far, auditors believe the “minimum amount” of overspend over the period is €1 million, owing to the “alleged excesses of previous managers.”

One of those under investigation, known only as MSIP, is said to have presided over at least four companies which claimed more than €1.4 million from the port, according to media reports. A father and son also appear as administrators of two companies which received €624,368, while two other businessmen, known as MIA and MJGG, received €836,710.

The report’s initial findings have shown the group may be guilty of breaking contracts, creating false competition, awarding tenders without creating budgets, signing documents without technical supervision, breaking Tax Agency rules and money laundering.

SPANISH military aircraft have incurred into foreign airspace.

It has been reported that two Spanish F-18 combat planes entered Finland airspace for ‘at least a minute’. The Scandinavian country’s defence ministry spotted the aircraft about 45 minutes west of the capital of Helsinki, close to the south of the Uppiniemi peninsula.

The planes are part of the Baltic Air Police mission, which has its base in the Estonian town of Amari, about 40 kilometres from Tallinn, the capital, where Spanish president Mariano Rajoy recently visited the country’s Armed Forces.

Kirsti Haimila, a spokeswoman for the Finnish defence ministry told YLE - the national TV station - that the incursion was noticed during a random check by the country's air surveillance.

10

Beach workers intervene in 14,427 incidents

by Jemima Roberts FUENGIROLA’S Special Emergency Plan for Beach safety (SEPLA) has helped thousands of people so far already this summer.

The project, which was launched in June 2016, brings together workers from the rescue services, Local Police, beach cleaning team and surveillance services.

Since its inception, the service has seen workers intervene in more than 14,000 incidents, mostly involving cleaning and enforcing beach regulations, although 2,063 of those involved health incidents.

Jose Sanchez, Fuengirola’s Councillor for Beaches, explained the objective of SEPLA is to have a single service along the Fuengirolan coastline, providing security and emergency services under a single command, in this case under the coordination of the Inspector of the Local Police, Antonio Hernandez.

He commented, "the SEPLA plan has been operating for three seasons and brings together around a hundred people from maritime rescue services, surveillance services

and maintenance and cleaning and administrative services,” noting, "from June 1 to July 30, workers helped 2,063 people with health issues… most of which were the result of jellyfish stings, burns, dizziness or losing something.” He added, “we should thank the rescue services for all their work.”

He advised beach-goers, "it is important to keep in mind that when the sea is rough and the red flag is up we should take precautions when swimming, especially in beaches where there is a lot of wind,” adding, “pay attention to lifeguards and the instructions they give us. If it is forbidden t swim please make sure you do not go in the water because it not only risks your life but that of the rescue worker too.”

Fourteen people man the beach surveillance service, from 11.30am to 7pm every day. In addition to health incidents, workers helped out with information enquiries, preventing illegal street vending, misuse of showers, preventing illegal massages or helping to find missing people.

Councillor Sanchez explained the beach

Jose Sanchez sets out SEPLA’s work

maintenance team works from 6am to 1pm every day, “giving their all so people who come to enjoy the beach find it in perfect condition.”

He concluded, "we are very aware of the importance of our coast and the importance of

beaches for Fuengirola, as I believe that 90 per cent of the people who come to our city in summer do so for the beaches that are available for tourists and residents. It has always been important to the mayor and his council team to keep our beaches in perfect condition.”

11

Noise pollution reduced

by Richard Johnson RAFAEL FONTALBA, chief of the Los Alamos Local Police, has revealed complaints about noise pollution have fallen over the last two years.

Fontalba said the number of complaints filed by residents had fallen to 15 so far this year, 12 of which were aimed at bar Kokun.

Fontalba said the local police’s Green Patrol, in which 16 officers work in three teams, patrolling the streets, have helped decrease noise complaints. He said those who complained were “mostly families,” prompting the council to change closing times of establishments playing music. A source said, "under previous council teams, chiringuitos (beach bars) closed at 5am on normal days and 6am on festival days,” adding, “since the beginning of our government we have worked to raise awareness of owners of the importance of not exceeding permitted levels.”

The news come after Eastern Costa del Sol town, Rincon de la Victoria, is considering imposing a series of measures to control noise pollution.

The legislation proposes creating almost one hundred “sensitive acoustic zones” where noise and

thermal vibrations would be monitored and regulated.

The scheme, which has the support of hotels and businesses, aims to protect the health and rights of residents, as well as improving the town. The bill establishes a detailed classification of public spaces according to their use. The areas will then be divided into protected zones, acoustically saturated zones, quiet zones and zones of acoustic conflict.

Amplifiers, TVs, videos and radios will not be allowed on terraces or shop façades except with special authorisation. However public musical performances will not be subject to authorisation as long as they do not harm the public.

Under the new law food and drink will no longer be served after 2am and firecrackers and fireworks will be prohibited outside of authorised zones. Pet owners will also be required to take “necessary measures” to prevent their animal causing disruption to the community. If they are unable to do so and complaints are received from other residents, a series of sanctions will be in place.

Fines for infringing on the new rules range from €1000 for minor offences, to €30,000 for very serious infractions.

A little richer

RECENT figures published by the Bank of Spain covering the first quarter of 2017 show household wealth is on the rise.

During the first three months of the year, it increased by 1.74 per cent – by €1.32 trillion - and 8.5 per cent compared to the same point last year.

Net personal wealth is measured as the difference between someone’s assets – cash, shares, savings, income and fixtures such as homes, land and vehicles – and liabilities, or debts.

By the end of March this year, assets over liabilities showed a positive balance in Spain of €2.111 trillion – 4.8% more than a year previously.

70 migrants injured trying to rush Spanish border Around 70 sub-Saharan African migrants were injured when they tried to cross through the razorwire-topped fence separating northern Morocco from the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Tuesday.

Local police said 200 people rushed the border in a bid to reach Europe. Around 60 managed to enter the territory.

Migrants frequently jump or cut through the fences of Spain’s two enclaves in northern Africa, Ceuta and Melilla, or attempt to reach them by swimming along the Moroccan coastlines.

Spain’s Interior Ministry reported the number of migrants entering Spain via Ceuta and Melilla to have more than doubled in the first six months of the year from the same period last year to 3,200 people.

Once within the enclaves, migrants are either returned to their country of origin or moved to the Spanish mainland, which many use as a jumping-off point for the rest of Europe.

The migrants used wire cutters

LISTEN HERE: Police surround a group whilst they are treated by the Red Cross Photo credit: Reuters

to breach a gate on Tuesday, according to a spokesman from the Ceuta government.

Between 1,000 and 1,500 people are camping out in the scrub and woods around the enclave waiting for the opportunity to rush the border, he said.

The Red Cross said 14 people had to be hospitalized.

The last major push in to one of the enclaves was in May when some 300 migrants attempted to jump the fence in Melilla.

Around 100 successfully managed to enter the territory.

The Bank of Spain says the increase in wealth is linked to net acquisition of financial assets to the tune of €39 billion over the first quarter of 2017 and between April and December 2016 inclusive, and these having risen in value by around €58bn, largely due to more extensive buying of share capital.

Woman steals ‘priceless’ painting from private collector Spanish police arrested a 67-year-old woman accused of stealing a Jean-Michel Basquiat painting in Mallorca.

The woman allegedly stole the artwork from a private collector and entrepreneur based in Alcudia, with the intention of demanding a ransom for its safe return.

According to the Spanish press, both the woman and the collector are British and the woman had been working for him for some time. The woman claimed she took the painting to push the collector to pay her €30,000 she was owed.

The collector alerted the police last week that the painting had gone missing. In a matter of hours, the woman was detained and the painting was located in a house in nearby Pollenca.

The police brought the painting back to the station, where the owner collected it.

He was accompanied by a team of experts, who certified that the painting had suffered no damage.

Jean-Michel Basquiat was an American artist whose art focused on ‘suggestive dichotomies’ such as wealth versus poverty, integration versus segregation, and inner versus outer experience.

He died of a heroin overdose at his art studio at age 27.

Police have not disclosed the estimated worth of the painting, although it was described as ‘priceless’ given that it was acquired directly from Basquiat’s father and hasn’t been on the market since.

Photo credit: Guardia Civil

12

Pest control

ESTEPONA’S Council has implemented a “pioneering” new system to control the rise of bugs damaging the town’s trees.

The natural method, used to exterminate aphids and other parasites, involves releasing “enemy” insects.

Serio Rodriguez, Councillor for Parks and Gardens, explained the treatment, known as “biological wrestling”, consists of introducing species of wasps, beetles and ladybirds which kill aphids.

Councillor Rodriguez said the system is more environmentally sustainable then using chemicals, which the council has found become less effective over time and increase environmental contamination.

The plan will target aphids found in jacarandas and psylas found in ficus plants. Councillor Rodriguez explained aphids are insects with a long, articulated

stinger which penetrates plants and absorbs its juices. The insects later secrete a sugary, sticky liquid which impregnates the surface of the plant, preventing its normal development.

Wasps will be released which will track the scent of aphids, depositing eggs amongst them which kill them. Ladybirds are also a natural predator to aphids, hunting and eating them, while beetles also attack and kill the pests.

Councillor Rodriguez explained this natural system has several advantages over using pesticides, namely by leaving green spaces safer and healthier and tackling pollution. He added the decreasing number of legal chemicals allowed to be used to kill pests has forced the council to come up with more natural ways of controlling insects.

Relatives of accident victims sue officer

by Sally Underwood

A worker releases predatory bugs

THE RELATIVES of those killed in a fatal accident on the A-7 have appeared in court at the trial of the Guardia Civil officer believed to be responsible.

The families are now expected to file a suit against the man for reckless homicide, reckless injuries, and crimes against traffic safety, according to Manuel Temboury, one of the families’ four lawyers.

The Guardia Civil officer, known only as Sergeant Miguel, faces four and a half years in prison for killing three and injuring seven in a car accident.

Three people remain in a serious condition in hospital after the policeman, who is accused of driving at high speed and swerving between lanes on the A7 outside Torremonlinos, hit two cars. The officer, who was previously the subject of six internal police investigations, and who was fined €650 in 2015 for threatening his neighbour, claims he was

driving at a normal speed.

Sergeant Miguel is also accused of trying to flee the scene of the accident, hurdling the central reservation and escaping into a pine forest.

Two passing members of the National Police chased and caught up with him. He allegedly told the officers “I wasn’t driving, I was with another member of the Guardia Civil. The accident had nothing to do with me.” When asked in court why he fled, Sergeant Miguel said at that moment he “just wanted to die.”

He then allegedly tried to resist arrest after being breathalysed and found to have 0.47 and 0.50 milligrams of alcohol per litre of air in the two tests carried out. Once at the police station, Sergeant Miguel also tested positive for cocaine in a drugs test.

The accused, who protests his innocence, says he had drunk one beer at a bar before driving and swears on the loves of his three children he did not take cocaine, blaming the false positive on several coca colas and red bull drinks he had consumed before the test.

14

Animal abuse case continues

by Sally Underwood

A TORREMOLINOS court has granted the town council’s request to take part in the trial of Carmen Marin, the former president of charity, Parque Animal.

Marin, who was previously sentenced to four years in prison for animal abuse and document forgery, faces a new trial accused of using charity funds to pay for a luxury lifestyle.

Parque Animal was run from 1998 to 2010 by the accused, until she was jailed after Guardia Civil officers found the bodies of dozens of animals in rubbish bins and freezers. At her trial, the judge found Marin had made a “lucrative” business out of the charity, which benefitted from zero tax, and carried out “culling session” on a “massive and unjustified” scale. Marin currently faces further charges of using the charity’s money to fund luxury travel, restaurant trips and cars.

At her latest trial, the judge said he believes Parque Animal paid out €104,382 to department stores, using the funds to reform and decorate her daughter’s beauty centre. Marin is also accused of using public funds to pay for a lift in one of her buildings, supermarket purchases and car rental, after receiving tens of thousands of Euros from the council.

The Animal Park account, registered as a non-profit association, also served, according to the order, for Marín and his family to pay twenty practical classes in a driving school, fees in a gym, trips and meals in restaurants.

Last month the RTN reported the troubled charity’s future was unclear after a recent tender to find new managers for the sanctuary failed to attract any offers.

The council will now reopen the application process, with the building’s current managers, Animal Home, continuing to take in animals in the meantime.

Torremolinos’ Environment Department had offered up to €67,000 to the successful applicant for taking over the shelter. Three companies were invited to take part in the tender, which would see the successful firm collect, transport and shelter the town’s lost and abandoned animals, but not one chose to submit an application. The Council is now said to be considering upping its offer to attract more companies.

Animal Home have managed the site since the investigation concluded in 2012, although the property continues to be owned

by Parque Animal after it was given a 50year lease in 1998. The fate of the site is now unclear, although a source at the council has reportedly said it is “not unusual” for these types of tenders to receive no applications.

Defenceless animals at centre of abuse scandal

Credit : Public Domain Pictures

€722,000 bank hacker to be extradited A Spanish court has agreed to extradite Russian computer programmer Stanislav Vitaliyevich Lisov to the United States, where he is wanted for allegedly creating and using software to steal bank account details.

Lisov, who is also known as ‘Black’ and ‘Blackf’ according to a court statement, was arrested at Barcelona–El Prat Airport in January. He is wanted by the United States on suspicion of computer abuse and fraud and on another count of electronic fraud, which

between them carry sentences of up to 35 years in prison under U.S. law, the Spanish court said on Tuesday.

Lisov was accused of defrauding several banks of $855,000 (€722,000) between June 2012 and January 2015.

He has been under investigation by the United States for two years, suspected of developing and using ‘NeverQuest’, a computer virus that spreads itself via social media, email and file transfers.

15

Burning bridges

by Jemima Roberts FUENGIROLA Council’s dispute with Mijas Council over a fire station has ended before eviction proceedings began.

Ana Mula, Fuengirola’s Mayor, has written to her Mijas counterpart, Juan Carlos Maldonado, saying her council would vacate the building, which is located in Mijas, after being threatened with eviction.

Fuengirola’s firefighters had been using the building for several years but have since built one within their own municipality, prompting Mijas Council to ask for the site back, even resorting to legal threats. According to media reports, Mijas’ request “was denied by former mayor and now Partido Popular member, Esperanza Oña, and by the current mayor, Ana Mula.”

Fuengirola Council took the issue to court, requesting the

building be gifted as payment for €4.5 million worth of services its says have been provided by its firemen. The court sided with Mijas Council, stating nothing was owed to Fuengirola Council and it did not make sense for Fuengirola’s firefighters to remain in a building not belonging to the council.

Mijas Council says it made numerous written and verbal requests to Ana Mula, asking her to vacate the building, sending a formal request on September 14, 2016, saying it wanted the building back within a month. A source says the letter went “ignored and unanswered,” prompting Mijas Council to begin eviction proceedings.

Four months later, Ana Mula

wrote back saying she would return the building but claiming she and Mayor Maldonado have “different interpretations” of the ruling, since it “does not contain any order imposing the

building’s return and does not determine the legal status of

the property,” adding the ruling only dealt with a “cost claim” between the two councils. She says she will hand back the property on the proviso a document is signed clarifying the agreement.

Photo Credit:BOMBEROS DE MIJAS (@bomberosdemijas) Twitter

18

Find your luck at Casino Marbella CASINO MARBELLA is the place to be this summer!

The games hall at Casino Marbella

Restaurant Casino Marbella

by Staff Reporter Its new image promises a new and exciting experience. The hippest people have already booked their rooms, and three months of refurbishment have most certainly paid off. Lighting and structural updates have made Casino Marbella a must-visit destination on the Costa del Sol. With this new branding, Casino Marbella invites all visitors to enjoy this new experience. Even from the outside staircase, its new image can be seen right through to the most private

VIP rooms. Everything is perfectly set up to create an exciting, fun and relaxed atmosphere. It is without doubt the perfect place to enjoy this summer.

Jackpot Paradise, otherwise known as the hall where most pay-outs are made will increase the luck factor thanks to the latest model of Azar machines. At the centre of all this, ‘The One Only’ boasts one of its most attractive features – “Multidenomination” – giving players the power to change their bet at any moment.

The Restaurant is another of the outstanding features of

Night music FUENGIROLA’S Parque de Espana was the scene of a free night time performance by the town’s municipal band.

From 9.30pm, the event, which is part of Fuengirola Council’s cycle of summer cultural performances, saw the band play a selection of songs from famous musicals.

Launching at the beginning of 2006, the municipal band is said to have made “spectacular” progress, both on an “artistic and critical level,” according to Fuengirola Council.

The council has paid tribute to those helping to increase the band’s success,

including directors Patrick van den Eynde, Cathy Kotoun, Hans de Doelder, Antonio Ariza, Maria del Mar Muñoz, as well as individual musicians Antonio Manzano, Jane Monton, Alejandro Maroto, Jose Puyana, Gerardo Lopez, Maria Angeles Castro and Francisco Doblas.

Fuengirola Council also paid tribute to collectives the Alcazaba Quartet of Saxophones and the Wissenkerke Apollo Music Band from Holland, as well as arrangers and composers David Medrano, Juan Carlos Campello and Jose Maria Machuca.

this new chapter. Its chef, Agustin Roman, offers guests an elaborate menu savouring all the flavours of carefully selected and seasonal ingredients.

With three menus to choose from per year, it is a unique space in which to tantalise even the most exquisite taste buds, not forgetting the extensive wine and cava cellar. Casino Marbella’s maitre and sommelier, Gerard Vall-Laura will recommend the best combination of wines and dishes.

Its taster menus and group options make the restaurant the ideal place for any celebration.

Grand gala

Fundraisers gather to support the charity

Fuengirola’s Parque de Espana

MARBELLA’S Mayor, Jose Bernal, has praised the work of the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) ahead of the town’s Grand Gala tomorrow.

Mayor Bernal spoke about tomorrow’s event at a conference held at the Beach Club at the Royal Golf Club Guadalmina, which was attended by Marbella’s AECC president, Maika Perez de Cobras, as well as vice-presidents, Princess Beatriz de Orleans and Ignacio del Cuvillo.

The mayor set out all money raised at the gala would be given back to Marbella’s residents through the programmes and services the AECC offers. These include information campaigns aimed at primary and secondary school children, psychological care for patients and their relatives, as well as laryngectomy, smoking or palliative care units.

Mayor Bernal also took the opportunity to speak about the charity’s 2016 financial performance.

20

A new flower blooms on the Golden Mile

by Michael Cano What do you do when you have one of the most popular restaurants in La Cala de Mijas that has gained so much support in only a year?

The answer was easy for Steven and Michele Saunders, owners of The Little Geranium and that was to open another restaurant with the same style, ethos and high quality cuisine but this time on the Golden Mile in Marbella.

Situated directly opposite the Marbella Club Hotel and next to the latest in the Danni Garcia chain, The Little Geranium Marbella has some impressive neighbours but will fit in well as it is going to attract aficionados of the La Cala Geranium and create a whole now base of those who enjoy the gastronomic best in the affluent Marbella catchment area.

Michele who has been in charge of interior design will be running the 35 seat restaurant and welcoming guests to enjoy a fine dining experience based on a menu designed by husband Steven.

Chefs Aaron, Matthew, Steven and James Photo Credit: EWN Media Group

A panorama of the Little Geranium restaurant with Michele extreme left Photo Credit: EWN Media Group

Whilst all of the food is prepared from fresh ingredients daily and the menu will including a la carte and a tasting selection, one ingredient will be a permanent fixture which is a delicious aromatic duck dish which was a favourite of former client in the UK Diana, Princess of Wales.

Two chefs from Dunnes Michelin star restaurant in Belfast have been recruited to produce the superb cuisine and once they are firmly established, they will work with Steven to present a number of new dishes, worthy of international recognition.

With a well thought out wine list and immaculate service from waiters Tate and Manuel Angel, this will fast become a major new name in Marbella but prices are not sky high,

especially when you consider the top quality ingredients and the level of expertise that goes into making the dishes.

This is unquestionably fine dining in delightful surroundings in an easy to find location with free parking in the rear.

Evening service only is offered from Tuesday to Saturday in order to allow all (including Steven and Michele) to have some time to themselves so that they are always fresh for their customers.

Visit the new website www.thelittlegeraniummarbella.com or call 951 249 720 for reservations at The Little Geranium Marbella, Bulevar de Principe Alfonso Hohenlohe 178.5 km, CN340, 29601 Marbella.

Still the holidaymakers come DURING the first six months of this year, over 36 million holidaymakers travelled to Spain; a rise of one in 10 on the same period in 2016, which in itself was considered a record year for tourism.

The survey, undertaken by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), shows tourist numbers were up by 11.6% for the period January to June inclusive compared to the same six months last year, and despite the low exchange rates its the British that continue to be the number one nationality opting for Spain.

Of the overall total of 36,366,010 foreign visitors, those from the UK made up 8.6 million, or 23 per cent, having jumped by 9.1% from last year.

22

Still enough time to see Michael Bolton

Michael and band on stage Photo Credit: Michael Bolton punto-rosso

by Michael Cano MICHAEL BOLTON will be performing at the Puente Romano Tennis Club in Marbella on August 10 and spared some time to speak to RTN. The 64-year-old discovered a whole new and far larger audience when he switched from heavier rock to song writing and singing rock ballads in the 1980s.

Apart from penning hits for such diverse artists as Cher and Laura Branigan, he went on to re-interpret many classic soul numbers and has performed the Sinatra songbook.

With 27 albums (plus one as Michael Bolotin, his real name) this very popular singer will have plenty choice when he arrives in Marbella prior to a performance a few days later in Mallorca before returning to the USA. Tickets which will cost from €35 to €275 for Gold VIP are available from the company website together with details of the other gigs so visit: www.crazymusicproductions.koobin.com.

more than 75 million records, recording eight top 10 albums and two numberone singles Photo Credit: Wikimedia

In your early career you opened for Black Sabbath and And what will be the biggest crowd pleaser on August 10 auditioned for them as lead singer – are you pleased you in your opinion?

I don’t want to give it away, but there is a surprise we do didn’t get it now? for the audience to “When a Man Loves a Woman” and there’s That’s actually an urban myth as we call it, or a rumour.

I never auditioned for Black Sabbath or opened for them. I also a beloved aria I perform which always gets a standing did meet with Ted Nugent once. But my focus after my early ovation.

You have performed alongside some legends like Luciaband BlackJack became on my own solo career. no Pavarotti and Ray Charles – who has inspired you the What made you decide to turn from a hard rock singer most? into a soft rock/ballad singer?

There really are no words to adequately convey the musiIt was actually a pivotal moment in my life when the presical value of these two legends. All I can say is they were and dent at Columbia Records at the time, Al Teller, called me into remain heroes of mine and had a tremendous influence on his office and shared with me a fascinating story. He had dismyself as well as so many others. Ray Charles is probably the covered that all the female secretaries around the company single most influential artist on me as an artist. were listening to the demo tapes that I was singing on for the What made you decide to chop off your trademark locks? songs I was writing for other artists, like the Pointer Sisters, It was just time! Enough wasted water, haha.

Joe Cocker, Kenny Rogers, Patti Labelle, and Peabo Bryson.

These were mostly ballads that I’d written and the ladies apparently really liked hearing my voice when it wasn’t covered up by a wall of sound like in the rock productions. So Teller told me the next album we were going to make together, was going to be made up of songs I was writing but now keeping for myself. Sure enough, that next album became my first score and changed my life.

What is the favourite song you have ever written and why?

Bolton began That’s like asking me who my favourite child is! Impossible recording in 1975. This to answer but I can say that one of the most important songs first album I have ever written was “How Am I Supposed to Live Without was selfYou”. When that single went to #1 for Laura Branigan, it truly titled using solidified me as a coveted songwriter in the industry and then his original when I later recorded it myself and it not only went to #1 but family name of Bolotin also earned me my first Grammy for Best Pop Male Vocalist, Photo Credit: my whole career as an artist took off.

Wikimedia

24

Gipsy Kings to play two Spanish gigs

By Michael Cano FAMILY bands make for strong links but can also see almost catastrophic meltdowns such as that seen with the Gallagher brothers in Oasis.

The original Gipsy Kings were formed in France by brothers Nicolas and Andre Reyes who were the sons of flamenco artist Jose Reyes who gained popularity for what is known as Rumba Flamenco when he was partnered with Manitas de Plata.

The two brothers teamed up with three cousins and toured as Los Reyes until changing their name to the Gipsy Kings and gaining worldwide popularity with their mix of Flamenco and sing-along pop.

Whilst their parents had fled Catalonia during the Civil War, the brothers and the band considered themselves to be neither French nor Spanish but in the words of Andre “a Gitano, a Catalan Gypsy!”

Over the years, different members of the family and other musicians have come and gone from the band but there has always been a Reyes brother leading the Gipsy Kings who performed at Starlite Marbella yesterday and Puerto Sherry, a marina in the Bay of Cadiz on August 14.

The current 10 piece band is led by original founder Andre

Reyes and they are breaking off a US tour to appear in just these two Spanish gigs whilst brother Mario Reyes as well as much respected musician former member Chico Castillo will be appearing with the band.

In conversation, Andre told the RTN that the Marbella gig would be technically structured in order to present the band as a slick and professional operation offering a high quality performance for an appreciative audience.

The second gig however which is set in one of the heartlands of Flamenco will see a looser and more laid back version of the band so that this performance will hopefully end up a riotous party whilst the first performance will be more akin to a concert.

Both performances will see a whole range of material not excluding the hugely successful Bamboleo which catapulted them into world-wide prominence and may even include their special take on the Eagles’ hit Hotel California Andre lives to play and to tour but hopes to be able to take some time out of the band’s busy schedule later this year to think about a new recording.

In the meantime, the Gipsy Kings promise two evenings to excite their fans which he says they are very much looking forward to.

Gipsy Kings on tour (Andre wearing white cap) Photo Credit: Andre Reyes

The ten piece Gipsy Kings on stage

26

Do you look like Donald Trump?

by Rose Holmes Bosses of a corporate hospitality company in England say they are struggling to recruit a Donald Trump lookalike to get involved in their ‘Apprentice’-themed teambuilding events.

London-based Team Tactics is willing to pay the right candidate - who will have to undergo weekly spray tans and daily hair appointments and agree to remain ‘in character’ throughout eight-hour training sessions - a pro rata salary of £50,000 (€56,000).

‘Finding someone suitable’ is ‘proving more difficult’ than first anticipated, according to the company’s press release.

It cites Trump’s current unpopularity in the United Kingdom and the rigorous demands of the job as being possible contributing factors.

The company shared the advertisement for the job to its website on Monday.

Tina Benson, managing director at Team Tactics, said: ‘The Apprentice treasure hunt has been very popular since its launch, but now we want to give visitors an even more immersive experience.’

‘Donald Trump was an iconic part of the Apprentice in America and we’re sure his character will be an excellent addition to the event.’

‘Whether it’s a lack of people willing to work as a lookalike or that there are a lack of people that do indeed look like him, YOU’RE HIRED: The right candidate will have to undergo weekly spray tans and daily hair appointments we don’t know, but we’re willing to pay a great rate to finally Photo credit: Wikimedia be able to tell a lookalike 'you're hired'.’

‘What bothers people is my brilliance’

‘What bothers people is my brilliance, insects only attack lamps that shine’ said Cristiano Ronaldo, accused of tax evasion by Spanish authorities. Ronaldo made these comments on Instagram on Tuesday, a day after he appeared in a Madrid court in connection with a tax evasion case. The Real Madrid star has been accused by the Spanish prosecutors of defrauding the authorities of almost €15 million. Ronaldo spent over 90 minutes on Monday answering the questions of investigating judge Monica

Gomez at a closed door hearing in Pozuelo de Alarcon, the wealthy suburb of Madrid where he lives.

Ronaldo told the judge that he had ‘never tried to avoid taxes’. According to a statement in Spanish released by his public relations firm, the 32-year-old Ronaldo told the judge: ‘I have never hidden anything, and never tried to avoid taxes.’

Ronaldo is accused of defrauding Spanish authorities of €14.7m between 2011 and 2014.

Never mind the length, feel the quality by

Barry Duke

Recent reports that the retirement age of Brits is to raised once again suggests to me that the cash-strapped, Brexit-bemired British government is secretly hoping that crumblies such as I would just hurry up and snuff it instead of tottering on into extreme old age.

But there’s a better solution to the Treasury’s problem, one that will not only produce bucket-loads of dosh to pay the final multi-billion pound Brexit divorce bill but will also finance a world-class health service.

Make me Chancellor of the Exchequer and I’ll immediately begin implementing a five-point plan designed to put the economy back on an even keel – and ensure that people die happy well before old age puts them back in nappies and renders them completely gaga.

ously, but haven’t the cash to pay for things like skydiving, running with bulls in Pamplona, tight-rope walking between tower blocks without a safety net, being shot from cannons, wingwalking on vintage aircraft, wrestling alligators in Florida or swimming in piranha-infested waters.

5. I’ll give a massive grant to support the work of the Society for Rational Old Age Suicide. Oh yes, SOARS really does exist.

Taken together, I estimate that that will cut the cost of state pensions and geriatric care by a whopping 80 percent.

Of course, the government has only

itself to blame for the fact that we are carrying on well beyond our “sell-by” dates. For decades, politicians and other assorted do-gooders have been giving us incessant ear-ache about the dangers of “unhealthy lifestyles”, and millions unthinkingly fell for their sanctimonious blather.

Not content with simply bombarding us with propaganda, the UK “health police” gave themselves draconian powers to ban smoking in bars, then extended the ban to vast swathes of the great outdoors.

They put gruesome images of diseased lungs and throats on fag packages, and then forced retail outlets to conceal their cigarette stocks behind

1: I’ll introduce a state subsidised scheme that will compel everyone over the age of 60 to buy a high-powered motorcycle. Anyone riding on an open road at less than 80 mph will face heavy fines. Crash helmets will be outlawed.

2: I’ll provide free tobacco and alcohol to everyone over the age of 65.

3: I’ll decriminalise cannabis use, and encourage everyone over the age of 60 to turn their gardens and allotments over to weed cultivation. Fifty percent of the profit made from dope sales will go to the Treasury.

4: I’ll provide generous grants to the over-60s who’d love to live dangerPhoto Credit: freakingnews.com

shutters. For pity’s sake, there are now even health warnings on booze bottles and beer cans, but curiously, not on cars which belch out terrifying levels of carcinogenic fumes and, in crashes, seriously injure around 27,000 people a year in the UK. Back in 2004, outraged by a report that the then Health Secretary Alan Milburn had urged people to significantly extend their lives by taking 30 minutes of exercise each day, I blasted off a letter to the Brighton Argus, saying that, in common with most politicians, Milburn hadn’t bothered to take a reality check before trumpeting his “get-healthy-live-live- longer” appeal.

The reality, then, as it is now, is that Britain is entirely incapable of taking care of its existing elderly population, and the NHS will ultimately collapse under the weight of people who packed in the fags and the booze and are now desperately regretting having deprived themselves of pleasures that an assortment of pious prodnoses deemed “life threatening”.

What’s important about life is its quality, not its length. The horrors that accrue from living with debilitating age-related conditions are well known, and I, for one, would far rather drop dead outside a bar sucking on an e-cigarette and necking Famous Grouse than faffing around waiting for the arrival of a scythebearing hoodie.

27

Another fine mess by

Michael Walsh

keyboardcosmetics@ gmail.com

If the world was a bar, America would be the angry drunk waving around a loaded gun. Yeah, the other people in the bar might be afraid of him, but they sure as hell don’t respect him.

Expressed by an American this view is constantly in my thoughts as I watch our world slide towards all-out war. Ousted from Syria, Iraq and Turkey, humiliated by the Afghanistan debacle, Washington DC neocons seek ever new ways to challenge their Russian and Chinese rivals in trade and natural resources.

The U.S cannot win a hot war as the onset of nuclear weaponry ensures there being no victors. However, Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD) is the last resort of neocons backed into a corner.

Unlike the British Empire which capitulated over several decades the USSR converted itself over months. Destiny is about to put the last nails in the U.S coffin but will the nation dubbed ‘the great Satan’ go without a fight.

There are several ignition switches. The most immediate one is that much provoked North Korea will pre-emptively strike U.S targets. Response would finish Pyongyang but does the U.S win if Seoul, Seattle and Tokyo are reduced to radioactive dust. Furthermore, as China borders Korea would the Chinese accept collateral damage?

Another flashpoint is Ukraine which disappeared from media’s radar following America’s successful toppling of the elected Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014.

The separation of Europe’s largest country from its Russian mentor resulted in civil war and the plunder of Ukraine’s natural and public resources by EU and U.S corporations. Ukraine, once the brains, science and engineering redeemer of the USSR, is now one of the world’s most impoverished countries.

Could the U.S installed Kiev junta trigger WWIII? A U.S bill may soon be passed that permits the supply of lethal weapons to Kiev. Ukraine could be Syria Mk. 2 in Europe itself.

Another tinderbox is the Baltic States. NATO com-

manders concede that they simply don’t have the military means to defend northern Europe. Why then the arms build-up, the constant provocative ‘exercises’ and endless prodding of the Russian bear.

CIA Director Mike Pompeo whined that Russia was constantly looking for ways to ‘stick it to America’. This is a bit rich coming from a country whose 1,050 bases surround Russia, China and Iran? Reality is that Washington and NATO constantly pursue an agenda that has as its aim ‘sticking it to Russia’ and provoking China.

Alarmingly, the West is being run like a school playground. It seems we are all on the handcart to hell; a handcart being dragged by a clutch of unelected bullies who in total number wouldn’t fill a single decker bus.

One for the road by

Colin Bird

‘Work is the curse of the drinking classes’, at least according to Oscar Wilde.

Alcohol is one of those things that used sensibly can enhance a conversation, inspire great deeds, and even have medicinal benefits. Well that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

But of course, in the wrong hands it can cause extreme unpleasantness.

There is a fine line between being hilariously tipsy, and embarrassingly plastered.

We laugh along with the giggler trying to carefully enunciate each word, but rightfully shy away from the aggressive loudmouth drunk throwing up outside Mercadona.

But it’s a fact that numerous amusing stories and fond memories are unashamedly based on silliness brought about with the aid of a sherbet or three.

Many years ago, four of us were in our regular harbour-side watering hole, aptly named The Rum Runners, when two young Royal Navy ratings staggered in. They were no more than lads and had obviously been painting the town red in the time honoured way.

We were ordering drinks and they overheard us ask for four specials.

“Wos that then?” one of them asked, as he saw the bartender extract a bottle from be-

neath the bar.

“Black Seal rum”.

“Wos speshul ‘bout that?” he demanded.

“It’s 151 proof”.

“We’ll have two large ones”, the bar tender was informed as he finished topping up our own glasses with ginger ale.

“Straight” the matelot added.

We looked at each other before gently explaining to young Hornblower that it would be advisable to dilute the rum with something, even water. But they were having none of it and raised their glasses for a toast.

“The Queen!” they bawled and downed the drinks in one.

There was a pause. We knew something was about to happen because vocal sailor number one, tried to focus on sailor number two,

mouthed something inaudible and began to keel over backwards in slow motion.

Stiff as a tailor’s collar, he hit the floor, bounced a couple of times and lay there inspecting the ceiling with a puzzled half smile on his boyish face. His friend fell into a chair, then slid like melting snow onto the floor muttering, “The Queen, the Queen”.

Luckily their ship was moored opposite and between us we managed to haul them across the street into the waiting arms of their colleagues on evening watch.

Forty years ago now, but a story always recounted when we get together.

28

The way I see it…

Harvey Mann

agreed and as I was formerly trained as a photo journalist, and my Professorship in natural history and sciences, helping to save the mountain gorillas was to me the ultimate challenge.

The next thing I had to do was to go off to Rwanda. climb the Virunga mountains and confront the mighty gorillas and the threats enforced on them.

After meeting the governments head of national parks, I was taken to meet the then President. He offered me twelve soldiers from his palace guard to escort me into the mountains owing to the unrest along the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo who had been fighting each other for a number of years.

I spent the first night at the research centre in the cabin once lived in by Fossey, there were occasional blood spatters on the wall, this was where Fossey had been hacked to death by poachers using machetes.

The Virunga rain forest really means what it says on the can, torrential rain hammered down most times, this night it drummed excessively on the corrugated roof keeping me awake most of the night, next morning one of the boys employed at the research centre brought me a bowl of hot water heated over an open fire, breakfast was taken in another hut reserved for dinning. With my escort of soldier’s and a tracker, we made our way up towards where the last group of gorillas were sighted the evening before. The climb was steep and the rain from the night before made the already sodden ground

Titus backed off even further, satisfied that I was not going to do him or his family any harm, as if I could with an animal that size. He opened his mouth, he had large incisor teeth and his head was enormous with a Mohican style crest from the front that ended at the back of his head, eventually eyeing me up and down he turned his back and shambled off on all fours to his family group. I followed and sat at a reasonable distance watching him and his family feed and play with each other. It had been an extraordinary experience to encounter then being able to watch these almost human animals, our cousins socialise and interact with each other, 4 babies rolled on the ground going head over heels, running up to Titus as he dozed, slapping him on the head, then bounding off in case he chased them.

slapping him on the head, “then bounding off in case he chased them

“

by

What is wrong with the people in this world, either they are killing each other or their heritage. I was so saddened to read about the 6-year-old lion Zanda who was shot by a big game hunter in Zimbabwe, after his father 13-year-old Cecil was also killed by a game hunter two years ago. Why I am so livid is because I am a Professor of natural history and wildlife sciences, and travelled the world for 22 years lecturing on the wonderful attributes of all types of wildlife particularly African, and I have worked in Central and East Africa with lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants and much more.

When I talk about heritage, it is the wildlife and the understanding of animals that has been handed down for millions of years through family to family. What people have got to understand is that all animals bleed, feel pain, reproduce and then bring up their off spring, teaching them how to have respect within a family environment.

I’ve seen with my own eyes at the famous panda reserve at Ghandzu how the Chinese have introduced IVF to increase the number of pandas from a level where they were on the brink of extinction with great success, and I am pleased to hear that IVF is going to be used on the only two white female rhino still alive in captivity in Britain, using the sperm from the only white male rhino left in Africa.

So, I would have hoped that my respect for wildlife during my lectures to thousands of people over the 22 years, would have rubbed off on many. If only the big

That night we spent under canvas knowing that our soldiers would protect us? Hopefully.

Then the next day we visited other groups, now using the vocalisation that I had been taught by tracker Vitari making myself smaller than the gorillas to make sure I was not a threat to them, I was able to get very close, on one occasion a baby gorilla Titus reafirming his authority

A huge silverback in Rwanda

game hunters would have been in some of my audiences, I would have throttled them with my bare hands.

Now let me take you to another country that at one time had a bad reputation in its behaviour to wildlife, this is Rwanda.

was where Fossey had “this been hacked to death by

One of the Pandas on the Ghandzu reserve

“

poachers using machetes

American Dian Fosse a former child minder travelled to Rwanda after a famous British Professor Louis Leakey had employed her to conduct a census on the number of mountain gorillas still alive and living wild in the Virunga mountains in Rwanda, the numbers she returned were pitifully low, in fact Leakey could not believe the small amount recorded and believed Fosse had failed in her work.

Four years after Dian Fosse was murdered on December 26th, 1985, in her cabin at the research centre she called Karisoke that she had established at 10 thousand feet in the saddle of two mountains Karisimbi and Bisoke the chain of mountains that straddle the borders of Rwanda and the Democratic of the Congo, I received a request from Denver, Colorado from the US by the Dian Fossey charity asking if I could help them establish the organisation in Great Britain.

At the time of the request I was the Associate Editor of the Mail on Sunday magazine called YOU. I readily

like a quagmire, on one occasion one of my wellingtons got sucked off my foot, sometimes the distance of a thousand feet would take one hour.

Finally, we reached about 11 thousand feet and some 300 yards away I could hear grunts and chest thumping sounds, I knew from the sounds we were very close now to my first encounter with the great apes.

Suddenly a huge figure of a silverback come crashing through the thick undergrowth, the next second I was pushed to the ground by my tracker, I looked up realising I was in the shadow of a fully grown male silverback that blocked out the light, he poked me with a huge finger to see if I was alive, as my breathing had stopped, next with a balled fist the size of a football he struck me on my back, luckily I was wearing a back pack stuffed with a roll up mattress, all my organs shook inside my body and my brain rattled.

my organs shook “ allinside my body

“

Me with one of my soldier bodyguards on the Virunga mountains in Rwanda

and my brain rattled

Titus was my assailant, he stepped back about a yard, allowing me to rise to my knees.

He must have stood at least 6 feet tall and probably weighed at least 50 stone, he grunted several times, his breath was rank, then he put his huge hand on my head as if he was going to crush it, then I made grunting sounds that I had been taught to do by the tracker.

He said the grunting at the right level of sound would hopefully appease any angry gorillas.

come bounding up to me and pulled at my camera strap, trying to relieve me of my camera in a playful way.

My visits became regular about 4 times a year over the next three years, until the terrible civil war broke out between the Tutsis and the Hutus backed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the militia, with almost 1 million people dying in the first 3 months of fighting, the blood lust continued as members of their families were killing each other off, even babies were slaughtered in the streets. The President of Rwanda and all his family were also murdered.

So, I suppose this is where I started this report. Humans killing each other and the wildlife that many of us enjoy wiped of the face of the earth, people like the big game hunters and their supporters believe they are dispensable. Over the years the gorilla population has doubled, many because of the success of the charity funding their protection, but the killers of wildlife must be taught a lesson you are not only killing for the sake of it, but it interferes with the animal’s procreation.

I have pleaded with the country’s Governments of Kenya, Zimbabwe, Uganda and Tanzania to stop big game hunters operating within in their borders, but back handers by these sordid killers to Government employees continues allowing the killers to have body parts of wildlife as trophies hanging from the walls in their palatial homes.

29

30

television

4th-10th August

friday 4th August

BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

E4

Sky1

7:00am Breakfast 10:15am Animal Park Summer Special 11:00am Homes Under the Hammer 12:00pm Going Back Giving Back 12:45pm Rip Off Britain 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News 2:30pm BBC London News 2:45pm Red Rock 3:30pm The Code 4:15pm Escape to the Country 5:15pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm World Athletics

Championships 2017 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm Not Going Out 12:05am Old School

with the Hairy Bikers

7:00am The TV That Made Me 7:30am Animal Park Summer Special 8:15am Bargain Hunt 9:00am Gardeners’ World 10:00am Victoria Derbyshire 12:00pm BBC Newsroom Live 1:00pm Britain’s Great War 2:00pm Two Tribes 2:30pm A Taste of Britain 3:15pm The Best Dishes Ever 3:45pm Natural World 4:30pm This Wild Life 5:00pm The Life of Mammals 6:00pm Golf 7:00pm World Athletics

Championships 2017 8:00pm Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 9:00pm Mastermind 9:30pm Only Connect 10:00pm Gardeners’ World 11:00pm World Athletics

Championships 2017 11:30pm Newsnight 12:05am The Help

7:00am Good Morning Britain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:00pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:20pm ITV News London 2:30pm ITV Racing Live 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm Cash Trapped 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm The Secret World

of Posh Pets 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Benidorm 11:00pm ITV News and Weather 11:30pm ITV News London 11:40pm Inside London Fire Brigade 12:40am Tipping Point

7:00am Countdown 7:45am Will and Grace 8:10am Will and Grace 8:35am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:00am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:30am Frasier 10:00am Frasier 10:35am Frasier 11:05am Undercover Boss USA 12:00pm The Simpsons 12:30pm The Simpsons 1:00pm Channel 4 News 1:05pm Couples Come Dine with Me 2:05pm Posh Pawn 3:10pm Countdown 4:00pm The Question Jury 5:00pm A Place in the Sun 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm The Secret Life

of the Holiday Resort 10:00pm The Last Leg 11:00pm Naked Attraction 12:05am Rude Tube 1:05am The Cold Light of Day

7:00am Childrens TV

7:00am Hollyoaks 7:30am Coach Trip 8:00am Made in Chelsea 9:00am Melissa and Joey 9:30am Melissa and Joey 10:00am Black-Ish 10:30am Black-Ish 11:00am Baby Daddy 11:30am Baby Daddy 12:00pm How I Met Your Mother 12:30pm How I Met Your Mother 1:00pm The Goldbergs 1:30pm The Goldbergs 2:00pm The Big Bang Theory 2:30pm The Big Bang Theory 3:00pm Melissa and Joey 3:30pm Melissa and Joey 4:00pm Baby Daddy 4:30pm Baby Daddy 5:00pm Black-Ish 5:30pm Black-Ish 6:00pm The Goldbergs 6:30pm The Goldbergs 7:00pm The Big Bang Theory 7:30pm The Big Bang Theory 8:00pm Hollyoaks 8:30pm Coach Trip 9:00pm The Big Bang Theory 9:30pm The Big Bang Theory 10:00pm This is 40 12:40am The Big Bang Theory

7:00am The Flash 8:00am The Flash 9:00am NCIS: Los Angeles 10:00am NCIS: Los Angeles 11:00am Hawaii Five-0 12:00pm MacGyver 1:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 2:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 3:00pm Hawaii Five-0 4:00pm MacGyver 5:00pm The Flash 6:00pm The Flash 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Modern Family 9:30pm Modern Family 10:00pm Zoo 11:00pm The Force: North East 12:00am Modern Family 12:30am Modern Family 1:00am A League of Their Own

10:15am The Wright Stuff 12:15pm The Yorkshire Vet 1:10pm 5 News Lunchtime 1:15pm Celebrity Big Brother 2:15pm Home and Away 2:45pm Neighbours 3:15pm NCIS 4:15pm Jesse Stone: Stone Cold 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Cricket on 5 9:00pm Funniest Ever Puppy Party 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:05pm Autopsy: Kurt Cobain 12:05am Celebrity Big Brother’s

Bit on the Side

SATURDAY 5th August CHANNEL 5

E4

Sky1

7:00am Grizzly Tales

for Gruesome Kids 7:10am Grizzly Tales

for Gruesome Kids 7:20am Sooty 7:30am Share a Story 7:35am Dino Dan: Trek’s Adventures 7:45am Dino Dan: Trek’s Adventures 8:00am The Oddbods Show 8:05am The Oddbods Show 8:15am Super 4 8:25am Mr. Bean 8:40am Mr. Bean 9:00am Thunderbirds are Go 9:25am ITV News 9:30am Weekend 10:25am ITV Racing Live 11:20am Gok’s Lunchbox 12:15pm 1000 Heartbeats 1:15pm ITV News 1:25pm Tipping Point 2:30pm ITV Racing Live 5:00pm The Chase 6:00pm Little Big Shots USA 7:00pm ITV News London 7:05pm ITV News 7:15pm You’ve Been Framed!

8:15pm Catchphrase 9:00pm The Hobbit:

The Battle of the Five Armies 11:35pm ITV News 11:50pm GoldenEye

7:10am Tenerife Blue Trail 7:40am Motorsport 8:35am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:00am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:30am Frasier 10:00am Frasier 10:30am Frasier 11:00am The Big Bang Theory 11:25am The Big Bang Theory 11:55am The Simpsons 12:25pm The Simpsons 12:55pm Ramsay’s Kitchen

Nightmares USA 1:50pm Four in a Bed 2:20pm Four in a Bed 2:55pm Four in a Bed 3:25pm Four in a Bed 4:00pm Four in a Bed 4:30pm A Place in the Sun 5:35pm Big House, Little House 6:35pm Kirstie and Phil’s

Love it or List it 7:30pm Channel 4 News 8:00pm Britain at Low Tide 9:00pm Paul O’grady’s Hollywood 10:00pm Red 12:10am American Pie: Reunion

7:00am Childrens TV 11:40am Chinese Food in Minutes 11:55am Dogs Make You Laugh

Out Loud 12:20pm Police Interceptors 1:15pm Police Interceptors 2:15pm Bargain Loving Brits

in the Sun 3:10pm Bargain Loving Brits

in the Sun 4:10pm The Nightmare Neighbour

Next Door 5:05pm The Nightmare Neighbour

Next Door 6:00pm Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away!

7:00pm Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away!

8:00pm Cricket on 5 9:00pm Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away!

10:00pm Football on Five 10:50pm Football on 5 11:20pm Celebrity Big Brother 12:20am Queens of Pop

7:00am The Goldbergs 7:30am The Goldbergs 7:55am The Goldbergs 8:25am The Goldbergs 8:55am The Goldbergs 9:30am Made in Chelsea 10:30am Binky and Jp’s Baby:

Born in Chelsea 11:30am Coach Trip 12:00pm Coach Trip 12:35pm Coach Trip 1:05pm Coach Trip 1:35pm Coach Trip 2:05pm The Goldbergs 2:35pm The Goldbergs 3:05pm The Goldbergs 3:35pm The Goldbergs 4:00pm The Goldbergs 4:35pm The Big Bang Theory 5:00pm The Big Bang Theory 5:35pm The Big Bang Theory 6:00pm The Big Bang Theory 6:30pm The Big Bang Theory 7:00pm The Big Bang Theory 7:30pm The Big Bang Theory 8:00pm The Big Bang Theory 8:30pm The Big Bang Theory 9:00pm Don’t Tell the Bride 10:00pm Bridesmaids 12:30am Gogglebox

7:00am Ashley Banjo’s

Secret Street Crew 8:00am Road Wars 9:00am Attenborough 10:00am Hawaii Five-0 11:00am Hawaii Five-0 12:00pm Hawaii Five-0 1:00pm Hawaii Five-0 2:00pm The Dog Whisperer 3:00pm The Dog Whisperer 4:00pm It’s Me or the Dog 4:30pm It’s Me or the Dog 5:00pm Modern Family 5:30pm Modern Family 6:00pm Modern Family 6:30pm Modern Family 7:00pm Modern Family 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Duck Quacks Don’t Echo 10:00pm Crocodile Dundee II 12:00am James Corden’s

Late Late Show UK

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

E4

Sky1

7:20am The Instant Gardener

7:00am Grizzly Tales

for Gruesome Kids 7:10am Grizzly Tales

for Gruesome Kids 7:20am Sooty 7:30am Share a Story 7:35am Dino Dan: Trek’s Adventures 8:00am Oddbods 8:05am The Oddbods Show 8:15am Super 4 8:30am Ninjago 9:00am Thunderbirds are Go 9:25am ITV News 9:30am Weekend 10:25am Judge Rinder 11:20am Long Lost Family 12:20pm Love Your Garden 1:25pm James Martin’s

French Adventure 1:55pm Rebound 2:55pm Tipping Point 3:55pm Bear Grylls Survival School 4:25pm The Living Daylights 7:00pm ITV News London 7:15pm ITV News 7:30pm The Chase Celebrity Special 8:30pm Harry Potter and the

Half-Blood Prince 11:25pm ITV News 11:40pm Judge Rinder’s Crime Stories 12:40am Take Me Out

7:00am Kirstie’s Vintage Gems 7:10am Last Man Standing 7:35am Cycling 8:00am Motorsport 8:30am Motorsport 9:30am Frasier 10:00am Frasier 10:30am Sunday Brunch 1:30pm George Clarke’s

Amazing Spaces 2:30pm The Simpsons 3:00pm The Simpsons 3:30pm The Simpsons 4:00pm UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 7:30pm Channel 4 News 8:00pm The Mystery of the

Crossrail Skulls 9:00pm Diana 10:50pm The King’s Speech 1:00am The Anomaly

7:00am Childrens TV

7:00am Rude(Ish) Tube 7:25am Couples Come Dine with Me 8:20am Couples Come Dine with Me 9:30am Hollyoaks Omnibus 12:00pm Made in Chelsea 1:05pm Binky and Jp’s Baby:

Born in Chelsea 2:05pm Kevin Can Wait 2:35pm New Girl 3:05pm New Girl 3:35pm The Goldbergs 4:00pm The Goldbergs 4:35pm The Goldbergs 5:00pm The Big Bang Theory 5:30pm The Big Bang Theory 6:00pm The Big Bang Theory 6:30pm The Big Bang Theor 7:00pm The Big Bang Theory 7:30pm The Big Bang Theory 8:00pm The Big Bang Theory 8:30pm The Big Bang Theory 9:00pm Night at the Museum 11:10pm Don’t Tell the Bride 12:15am Tattoo Fixers on Holiday

7:00am The Hour of Power 8:00am Futurama 8:30am Futurama 9:00am Futurama 9:30am Futurama 10:00am Futurama 10:30am Duck Quacks Don’t Echo 11:00am WWE Raw 12:00pm MacGyver 1:00pm MacGyver 2:00pm MacGyver 3:00pm MacGyver 4:00pm MacGyver 5:00pm Modern Family 5:30pm Modern Family 6:00pm Modern Family 6:30pm Modern Family 7:00pm Modern Family 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm David Attenborough’s

Natural History History

Museum Alive 10:00pm Ross Kemp: Extreme World 11:00pm The Force: North East 12:00am James Corden’s

Late Late Show UK

BBC1

BBC2

7:00am Breakfast

7:10am The Spanish Main 8:45am The Magic Box 10:30am World Athletics

Championships 2017 3:00pm Food and Drink 3:30pm Flog It! 4:20pm Mastermind 4:50pm University Challenge 5:20pm Only Connect 5:50pm Gardeners’ World 6:50pm The Sweet Makers:

A Victorian Treat 7:50pm Proms Extra 2017 8:30pm Royal Cousins at War 9:30pm Dad’s Army 10:00pm Billy Connolly:

Portrait of a Lifetime 11:00pm World Athletics

Championships 2017 11:30pm What We Did on Our Holiday 12:55am Golf

11:00am Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30pm Nadiya’s British

Food Adventure

1:00pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News 2:15pm Homes Under the Hammer 3:00pm I Am Bolt 4:30pm The Heroes of Super

Saturday: Jess, Mo and Greg

5:25pm Escape to the Continent 6:25pm Pointless 7:10pm BBC News 7:20pm BBC London News 7:30pm World Athletics

Championships 2017

11:00pm BBC News 11:20pm Mrs. Brown’s Boys D’Movie

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

SUNDAY 6th August BBC1 7:00am Breakfast 10:00am BBC News 11:00am Sunday Morning Live 12:00pm Homes Under the Hammer 1:00pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News 2:15pm Wallace and Gromit:

A Grand Day Out 2:40pm Frozen 4:10pm Escape to the Country 4:40pm Songs of Praise 5:15pm Pointless 6:00pm BBC News.

6:20pm BBC London News 6:30pm Countryfile 7:30pm World Athletics

Championships 2017 10:00pm Poldark 11:00pm BBC News 11:20pm BBC London News 11:30pm Match of the Day 12:15am The Recruit

8:05am Gardeners’ World 9:05am The Beechgrove Garden 9:35am Countryfile 10:30am World Athletics

Championships 2017

6:00pm Britain’s Ancient Capital:

Secrets of Orkney

7:00pm Steve Backshall’s Extreme

Mountain Challenge

8:00pm Inside the Factory 9:00pm Secrets of Silicon Valley 10:00pm World Athletics

Championships 2017

11:30pm Gareth Thomas:

Hate in the Beautiful Game

12:30am Golf

11:20am Football on Five 12:05pm Football on 5 12:30pm Cheaper by the Dozen 2 2:20pm The Royals 3:15pm Inside Buckingham Palace 4:15pm Inside Buckingham Palace 5:15pm Inside Buckingham Palace 6:10pm Dirty Dancing 8:00pm Cricket on 5 8:55pm 5 News Weekend 9:00pm Dads Make You

Laugh Out Loud

10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:00pm The Last Days

of Patrick Swayze

12:05am Point Break

31

television

4th-10th August

MONDAY 7th August BBC1

7:00am Breakfast 10:15am Animal Park Summer Special 11:00am Homes Under the Hammer 12:00pm Medicine and Me:

70 Years of the NHS 12:45pm Rip Off Britain 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News 2:30pm BBC London News 2:45pm Red Rock 3:30pm The Code 4:15pm Escape to the Country 5:15pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm The Bug Grub Couple 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm World Athletics

Championships 2017 11:00pm BBC News 11:30pm BBC London News 11:45pm Have I Got Old News for You 12:15am Have I Got a Bit More

Old News for You

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

E4

Sky1

7:00am The TV That Made Me 7:30am Animal Park Summer Special 8:15am Bargain Hunt 9:00am The Sheriffs are Coming 10:00am Victoria Derbyshire 12:00pm BBC Newsroom Live 1:00pm Golf 2:00pm Triathlon World Series:

Montreal Highlights 3:30pm A Taste of Britain 4:15pm Patagonia:

Earth’s Secret Paradise 5:15pm The Life of Mammals 6:15pm Antiques Road Trip 7:00pm World Athletics

Championships 2017 9:30pm Nadiya’s British

Food Adventure 10:00pm Man in an Orange Shirt 11:00pm World Athletics

Championships 2017 11:30pm Newsnight 12:15am Is it Safe to be Gay in the UK?

7:00am Good Morning Britain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:55pm ITV News London 3:00pm Judge Rinder 4:00pm Tenable 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm Cash Trapped 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Countrywise 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Car Crash Britain

Caught on Camera 11:00pm ITV News and Weather 11:30pm ITV News London 11:40pm Britain’s Busiest Motorway 12:10am Sugar Free Farm

7:00am Countdown 7:45am Will and Grace 8:10am Will and Grace 8:35am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:00am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:30am Frasier 10:00am Frasier 10:35am Frasier 11:00am The Big Bang Theory 11:30am The Big Bang Theory 12:00pm The Simpsons 12:30pm The Simpsons 1:00pm Channel 4 News 1:05pm Couples Come Dine with Me 2:05pm Posh Pawn 3:10pm Countdown 4:00pm The Question Jury 5:00pm A Place in the Sun 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Animal Rescue Live:

Supervet Special 10:00pm 999: What’s Your Emergency?

11:00pm Eden 12:05am 60 Days in Jail

7:00am Childrens TV 10:15am The Wright Stuff 12:15pm The Yorkshire Vet 1:10pm 5 News Lunchtime 1:15pm Celebrity Big Brother 2:15pm Home and Away 2:45pm Neighbours 3:15pm NCIS 4:15pm The Gourmet Detective:

A Healthy Place to Die 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Cricket on 5 9:00pm All New Traffic Cops 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:00pm Make or Break 12:05am Celebrity Big Brother’s

Bit on the Side

7:00am Hollyoaks 7:30am Coach Trip 8:00am Made in Chelsea 9:00am Melissa and Joey 9:30am Melissa and Joey 10:00am Black-Ish 10:30am Black-Ish 11:00am Baby Daddy 11:30am Baby Daddy 12:00pm How I Met Your Mother 12:30pm How I Met Your Mother 1:00pm The Goldbergs 1:30pm The Goldbergs 2:00pm The Big Bang Theory 2:30pm The Big Bang Theory 3:00pm Melissa and Joey 3:30pm Melissa and Joey 4:00pm Baby Daddy 4:30pm Baby Daddy 5:00pm Black-Ish 5:30pm Black-Ish 6:00pm The Goldbergs 6:30pm The Goldbergs 7:00pm The Big Bang Theory 7:30pm The Big Bang Theory 8:00pm Hollyoaks 8:30pm Coach Trip 9:00pm The Big Bang Theory 9:30pm The Big Bang Theory 10:00pm Made in Chelsea 11:00pm How’d You Get So Rich?

11:55pm The Big Bang Theory

7:00am The Flash 8:00am The Flash 9:00am NCIS: Los Angeles 10:00am NCIS: Los Angeles 12:00pm MacGyver 1:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 2:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 3:00pm Hawaii Five-0 4:00pm MacGyver 5:00pm The Flash 6:00pm The Flash 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm The Simpsons 9:30pm The Simpsons 10:00pm A League of Their Own 11:00pm Micky Flanagan

Thinking Aloud 1:00am A League of Their Own

TUESDAY 8th August BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

E4

Sky1

7:00am Breakfast 10:15am Animal Park Summer Special 11:00am Homes Under the Hammer 12:00pm Matron, Medicine and Me:

70 Years of the NHS 12:45pm Rip Off Britain 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News 2:30pm BBC London News 2:45pm Red Rock 3:30pm The Code 4:15pm Escape to the Country 5:15pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Holby City 10:00pm Trust Me 11:00pm BBC News 11:30pm BBC London News 11:45pm New Tricks 12:45am The Bug Grub Couple

7:00am The TV That Made Me 7:30am Animal Park Summer Special 8:15am Bargain Hunt 9:00am The Farmers’

Country Showdown 9:30am Great British Menu 10:00am Victoria Derbyshire 12:00pm BBC Newsroom Live 2:00pm Coast 2:15pm Two Tribes 2:45pm The Super League Show 3:30pm A Taste of Britain 4:15pm Patagonia:

Earth’s Secret Paradise 5:15pm The Life of Mammals 6:15pm Antiques Road Trip 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm World Athletics

Championships 2017 11:30pm Newsnight 12:15am The Mash Report

7:00am Good Morning Britain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:55pm ITV News London 3:00pm Judge Rinder 4:00pm Tenable 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm Cash Trapped 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 9:00pm Midsomer Murders 11:00pm ITV News and Weather 11:30pm ITV News London 11:40pm UEFA Super Cup

Highlights 12:40am Play to the Whistle

7:00am Countdown 7:45am Will and Grace 8:10am Will and Grace 8:35am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:00am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:30am Frasier 10:00am Frasier 10:35am Frasier 11:00am The Big Bang Theory 11:30am The Big Bang Theory 12:00pm The Simpsons 12:30pm The Simpsons 1:00pm Channel 4 News 1:05pm Couples Come Dine with Me 2:05pm Posh Pawn 3:10pm Countdown 4:00pm The Question Jury 5:00pm A Place in the Sun 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Animal Rescue Live:

Supervet Special 10:00pm Get a House for Free 11:00pm Eden 12:05am Naked Attraction

7:00am Childrens TV 10:15am The Wright Stuff 12:15pm The Yorkshire Vet 1:10pm 5 News Lunchtime 1:15pm Celebrity Big Brother 2:15pm Home and Away 2:45pm Neighbours 3:15pm NCIS 4:15pm Spirit Riders 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Cricket on 5 9:00pm The Dog Rescuers

with Alan Davies 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:00pm Make or Break 12:05am Celebrity Big Brother’s

Bit on the Side 1:05am Celebrity Big Brother:

Live From the House

7:00am Hollyoaks 7:30am Coach Trip 8:00am Made in Chelsea 9:00am Melissa and Joey 10:00am Black-Ish 11:00am Baby Daddy 12:00pm How I Met Your Mother 1:00pm The Goldbergs 1:30pm The Goldbergs 2:00pm The Big Bang Theory 2:30pm The Big Bang Theory 3:00pm Melissa and Joey 3:30pm Melissa and Joey 4:00pm Baby Daddy 4:30pm Baby Daddy 5:00pm Black-Ish 5:30pm Black-Ish 6:00pm The Goldbergs 6:30pm The Goldbergs 7:00pm The Big Bang Theory 7:30pm The Big Bang Theory 8:00pm Hollyoaks 8:30pm Coach Trip 9:00pm The Big Bang Theory 9:30pm The Big Bang Theory 10:00pm Tattoo Fixers on Holiday 11:00pm 8 Out of 10 Cats 11:50pm The Big Bang Theory 12:20am The Big Bang Theory 12:50am Gogglebox

7:00am The Flash 8:00am The Flash 9:00am NCIS: Los Angeles 10:00am NCIS: Los Angeles 11:00am Hawaii Five-0 12:00pm MacGyver 1:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 2:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 3:00pm Hawaii Five-0 4:00pm MacGyver 5:00pm The Flash 6:00pm The Flash 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm A League of Their Own 10:00pm Groundhog Day 12:00am Modern Family 12:30am Modern Family

Pick of the Week The Jeremy Kyle Show 10.25am ITV1

32

television

4th-10th August

wednesday 9th August CHANNEL 5

E4

Sky1

7:45am Will and Grace 8:10am Will and Grace 8:35am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:00am Everybody Loves Raymond.

9:30am Frasier 10:00am Frasier 10:35am Frasier 11:00am The Big Bang Theory 11:30am The Big Bang Theory 12:00pm The Simpsons 12:30pm The Simpsons 1:00pm Channel 4 News 1:05pm Couples Come Dine with Me 2:05pm Posh Pawn 3:10pm Countdown 4:00pm The Question Jury 5:00pm A Place in the Sun 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Animal Rescue Live:

Supervet Special 10:00pm 24 Hours in A and E 11:00pm Eden 12:05am 999: What’s Your Emergency?

7:00am Childrens TV 10:15am The Wright Stuff 12:15pm The Yorkshire Vet 1:10pm 5 News Lunchtime 1:15pm Celebrity Big Brother 2:15pm Home and Away 2:45pm Neighbours 3:15pm NCIS 4:15pm Broken Trust 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm MotoGP 9:00pm GPs: Behind Closed Doors 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:00pm Make or Break 12:05am Football on Five

7:00am Hollyoaks 7:30am Coach Trip 8:00am Made in Chelsea 9:00am Melissa and Joey 10:00am Black-Ish 11:00am Baby Daddy 12:00pm How I Met Your Mother 1:00pm The Goldbergs 2:00pm The Big Bang Theory 3:00pm Melissa and Joey 3:30pm Melissa and Joey 4:00pm Baby Daddy 4:30pm Baby Daddy 5:00pm Black-Ish 5:30pm Black-Ish 6:00pm The Goldbergs 6:30pm The Goldbergs 7:00pm The Big Bang Theory 7:30pm The Big Bang Theory 8:00pm Hollyoaks 8:30pm Coach Trip 9:00pm The Big Bang Theory 9:30pm The Big Bang Theory 10:00pm Don’t Tell the Bride 11:00pm First Dates USA 12:00am The Big Bang Theory 12:30am The Big Bang Theory

7:00am The Flash 8:00am The Flash 9:00am Road Wars 10:00am NCIS: Los Angeles 11:00am Hawaii Five-0 12:00pm MacGyver 1:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 2:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 3:00pm Hawaii Five-0 4:00pm MacGyver 5:00pm The Flash 6:00pm The Flash 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Freddie Fries Again 10:00pm Colony 11:00pm Ross Kemp: Extreme World 12:00am Modern Family 12:30am Modern Family

CHANNEL 4

BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

7:00am Breakfast 10:15am Animal Park Summer Special 11:00am Homes Under the Hammer 12:00pm Matron, Medicine and Me:

70 Years of the NHS 12:45pm Rip Off Britain 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News 2:30pm BBC London News 2:45pm Red Rock 3:30pm The Code 4:15pm Escape to the Country 5:15pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm Fake Britain 9:00pm Super Small Animals 10:00pm My Family, Partition and Me:

India 1947 11:00pm BBC News 11:30pm BBC London News 11:45pm My Big Gay Jewish

Conversion 12:35am I’m Coming Out

7:00am The TV That Made Me 7:30am Animal Park Summer Special 8:15am Bargain Hunt 9:00am My Friend Jane 9:30am Great British Menu 10:00am Victoria Derbyshire 12:00pm BBC Newsroom Live 2:00pm Two Tribes 2:30pm A Taste of Britain 3:15pm Natural World 4:15pm Patagonia:

Earth’s Secret Paradise 5:15pm The Life of Mammals 6:15pm Antiques Road Trip 7:00pm World Athletics

Championships 2017 11:30pm Newsnight 12:15am Secrets of Silicon Valley

7:00am Good Morning Britain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:55pm ITV News London 3:00pm Judge Rinder 4:00pm Tenable 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm Cash Trapped 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Love Your Garden 10:00pm Long Lost Family 11:00pm ITV News and Weather 11:30pm ITV News London 11:40pm Car Crash Britain

Caught on Camera 12:40am British Touring Car

Championship Highlights

thursday 10th August BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

E4

7:00am Breakfast 10:15am Animal Park Summer Special 11:00am Homes Under the Hammer 12:00pm Matron, Medicine and Me:

70 Years of the NHS 12:45pm Rip Off Britain 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News 2:30pm BBC London News 2:45pm Red Rock 3:30pm The Code 4:15pm Escape to the Country 5:15pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm World Athletics

Championships 2017 11:00pm BBC News 11:30pm BBC London News 11:45pm Stacey Dooley Investigates 12:15am Queer Britain

7:00am The TV That Made Me 7:30am Animal Park Summer Special 8:15am Bargain Hunt 9:00am Nadiya’s British

Food Adventure 9:30am Great British Menu 10:00am Victoria Derbyshire 12:00pm BBC Newsroom Live 2:00pm Two Tribes 2:30pm A Taste of Britain 3:15pm Coast 3:55pm Viva Las Vegas 5:15pm The Life of Mammals 6:15pm Antiques Road Trip 7:00pm World Athletics

Championships 2017 9:00pm 10 Puppies and Us 10:00pm Top of the Lake 11:00pm World Athletics

Championships 2017 11:30pm Newsnight 12:15am Golf

7:00am Good Morning Britain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:55pm ITV News London 3:00pm Judge Rinder 4:00pm Tenable 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm Cash Trapped 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm The True Cost of Parking 9:00pm Emmerdale 9:30pm James Martin’s

French Adventure 10:00pm Inside London Fire Brigade 11:00pm ITV News and Weather 11:30pm ITV News London 11:40pm Schofield’s South African

Adventure 12:10am Lion Country: Night and Day

7:00am Countdown 7:45am Will and Grace 8:35am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:30am Frasier 10:00am Frasier 10:30am Frasier 11:00am The Big Bang Theory 11:30am The Big Bang Theory 12:00pm The Simpsons 12:30pm The Simpsons 1:00pm Channel 4 News 1:05pm Couples Come Dine with Me 2:05pm Posh Pawn 3:10pm Countdown 4:00pm The Question Jury 5:00pm A Place in the Sun 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Animal Rescue Live:

Supervet Special 10:00pm Princess Diana’s

‘Wicked’ Stepmother 11:00pm Eden 12:05am 24 Hours in A and E

7:00am Childrens TV 10:15am The Wright Stuff 12:15pm The Yorkshire Vet 1:10pm 5 News Lunchtime 1:15pm Celebrity Big Brother 2:15pm Home and Away 2:45pm Neighbours 3:15pm NCIS 4:15pm Willed to Kill 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm All New Traffic Cops 9:00pm Nightmare Tenants,

Slum Landlords 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:00pm Make or Break 12:05am Celebrity Big Brother’s

Bit on the Side

7:00am Hollyoaks 7:30am Coach Trip 8:00am Made in Chelsea 9:00am Melissa and Joey 10:00am Black-Ish 11:00am Baby Daddy 12:00pm How I Met Your Mother 1:00pm The Goldbergs 2:00pm The Big Bang Theory 3:00pm Melissa and Joey 4:00pm Baby Daddy 4:30pm Baby Daddy 5:00pm Black-Ish 5:30pm Black-Ish 6:00pm The Goldbergs 6:30pm The Goldbergs 7:00pm The Big Bang Theory 7:30pm The Big Bang Theory 8:00pm Hollyoaks 8:30pm Coach Trip 9:00pm The Big Bang Theory 9:30pm Kevin Can Wait 10:00pm Body Fixers 11:00pm The Inbetweeners 11:35pm The Inbetweeners 12:10am The Big Bang Theory 12:40am The Big Bang Theory

Last weeks puzzle answers (Issue 927) Cryptic Solution

Easy Solution

Soduku Solution

Sky1 7:00am The Flash 8:00am The Flash 9:00am NCIS: Los Angeles 10:00am NCIS: Los Angeles 11:00am Hawaii Five-0 12:00pm MacGyver 1:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 2:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 3:00pm Hawaii Five-0 4:00pm MacGyver 5:00pm The Flash 6:00pm The Flash 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Duck Quacks Don’t Echo 10:00pm A Premier League

of Their Own 11:00pm Karl Pilkington:

The Moaning of Life 12:00am Modern Family 12:30am Modern Family 1:00am A League of Their Own

Quiz solutions

Solution to 927

Codebreaker Solution

1 Snowy 2 Laika 3 Cujo 4 K-9 5 Bulls-eye 6 Buck 7 Fang 8 Cerberus

9 Sergeant Stubby 10 Nipper 11 Toto 12 Tock 13 Pickles 14 Buddy 15 Cavall

Life Battle of Passchendaele LYDIA LOBB is the great-granddaughter of John Butcher, who served Australia for the Allied forces in World War 1.

John was wounded three times in action, at the battles of Pozieres, Bullecourt and Passchendaele. The latter’s 100th year anniversary is this year (July 31st 1917 - November 10th 1917) and it is also where he was severely wounded. He was subsequently sent back to England to receive an honourable discharge and returned to Australia where he married the following year and fathered four children. His eldest daughter, Lydia Butcher was to become the mother of six children. Lydia Lobb is the eldest child of her youngest daughter, Pam.

To mark the 100 year anniversary, Lydia has shared with us some excerpts from John Butcher’s diary and says: ‘It’s an incredible privilege to have this 100-year-old, firsthand account from a brave, but ordinary Australian man, without whom, of course, I wouldn’t be alive.

Throughout my great-grandfather’s diary, I was particularly struck by his seeing beauty in his surroundings. Despite the hellish circumstances which brought him there, he is constantly remarking on the friendliness of the local people, the flora (he later became a great home gardener) and the wondrous sites of the places he was sent.

I have been able to learn about his thoughts of his family - in particular his younger brother Rob who he talks of twice in the context of wishing that he never has to be involved in war.

I also learned a little more of the timeline - or, his personal timeline - of World War 1. He was injured first in the battle of Pozieres and was sent back to the UK. After recovering and being sent back to the front, he was then injured again in the Battle of Bullecourt. Once more he came to England to recover and finally, was sent back again to fight - this time in the Battle of Passchendaele. He then suffered a severe head wound which would subsequently leave him with partial paralysis on one side for the rest of his life. Despite this injury, he refused to take a veterans pension and worked for the rest of his life at the Melbourne Board of Works.

JULY 27TH 1916 - during the battle of Pozieres, just prior to John being injured for first time: Slept in shell hole. Country ruined with shell holes. German dugouts very deep and well made. Dead bodies and pieces of same lying about. Artillery all around us, 18 pounders 4.7 and 5 inch guns galore. On ration fatigue to 22ND Battalion through shell fire. Tommies, Australians and Germans lying dead all along the road. Shall consider myself lucky if I get through.

33

A young John

AUGUST 1ST 1916 – the day John was injured during battle of Pozieres: Back from fatigue at daybreak. Had a good breakfast and also some rum. On fatigue again at night but got hit on the way up. Crawled into dressing station and waited for stretcher bearers.

MAY 3RD 1917 – the second time John was injured during Battle of Bullecourt Over the top. A great sight. Fritz’s barrage ahead of ours.

Our guns splendid also men. Enemy’s barrage solid also his M.G’s. Men dropping but we push on to barbed wire which is blown to pieces. Get a crack and make back through a hellish barrage. Notice effects of enemy bombardment etc. Fine to see the manner in which carriers, stretcher bearers and others advance. Reach Casualty Clearing Station about noon and depart for Rouen, arriving there in the morning of the 4TH.

John Butchers Diary

After he recovered, John writes: AUGUST 1ST 1917 Warned for draft to proceed overseas. Raining like the devil.

Read of another big battle on the Western Front Note - this warning above referred to Battle of Passchendaele SMILE FOR THE CAMERA: Lydia shared her greatgrandfather’s story with Victoria Derbyshire for her BBC2 show this week and BBC World Photo credit Lydia Lobb

My family have told me that they feel very lucky that he returned able to still have a laugh and remained a kind, patient man. You hear so many stories of returned soldiers who were, justifiably, never the same. My family have said that they’re sure he had his demons but yet their memories are all of his warmth.’

JULY 12TH 1916 Hope that Rob will never be in the same tonight that I was (Rob being the younger brother whose birthday fell on 12th July). Colonel Fethers tells us we will soon be in it. ”For King and Country” not so nice as it sounds. Looks well in books and on paper, honour rolls etc, but should be tried first.

SEPTEMBER 21ST 1917 Took over line from 7TH Brigade. Wounded about midnight.

Lydia highlighted the next entries as the most stirring for her – they were her great-grandfather’s final entires JANUARY 1ST 1918 Starting the new year well by going home. Last year nearly frozen, this year dodging the sun as far as possible. No late train this time.

JANUARY 9TH 1918 Noticed the Southern Cross for the first time since the last time!!!!

FEBRUARY 11TH 1918 Land sighted about 3PM. Disembark on Tuesday (12th February). Oh. Happy. Day.

A cross for Grandad at Passchendaele

34

what’s on

Platinum-selling artist hits Sohail Castle TODAY and Sunday Fuengirola’s Sohail Castle will be hosting two live music performances starting from 10pm.

After the success of the Loquillo and Revolver concerts at the castle, the historical site is set to host Diego El Cigala, accompanied by the Cali Big Band, and French pianist, Richard Clayderman.

Following the success of his last tour from 2014 and 2016 which took to him across the world to Australia, Japan, Europe and all over America, Diego el Cigala is splaying the town as part of his new 85 date European tour, launching his new music. His historic tour,

on which he is accompanied by Cuban “legend”, Omara Portuondo, serves to honour the Buena Vista Social Club.

Planning his last tour, Diego decided his next work would be a salsa project, a “unique and exciting” venture, which will be released after his current 85 date route. His latest project sees Diego accompanied by “the most relevant musicians” of the salsa genre, including vocalists, producers and instrumentalists.

Sunday night’s event, featuring Paris-born Richard Clayderman, whose real name is Phillipe LEFT: Richard Claderman (right) and Marc Minier in 2012

BELOW: Sohail Castle CREDITS: Wikimedia

Pages, will see the French pianist serenade audiences at Sohail Castle.

Clayderman, who is reportedly recognised as one of the most successful lightweight pianists on the world stage, has sold more than 70 million albums, and has received 267 gold and 70 platinum records. The pianist has performed at more than 600 concerts around the world and is especially known for his interpretation of Balada para Adelina(Ballad for Adeline).

Tickets can be purchased on Fuengirola council’s website, www. fuengirola.es, as well as through the Correos and canalticket websites, or at marenostrum castlepark.com.

35

learn spanish

Basic Spanish for everyday needs by

Jane Cronin

Tengo que Last week you had some more homework to do, so here are the answers as usual. This time you had to translate into English.

Necesito firmar esto para comprar mi casa.

I need to sign this in order to buy my house.

Voy a volver a casa para ver el fútbol.

I’m going to return home to watch the football.

Quiero aprender español para hablar con mi vecino.

I want to learn Spanish in order to speak to my neighbour.

Notice that sometimes it’s appropriate to say “to” and sometimes “in order to”, as the two have the same meaning.

This week we’re going to look at one more “first person” expression, before moving on to pastures new in the next lesson. This time the expression consists of two words: tengo que. Tengo que means “I have to”, so therefore expresses an obligation. We all have obligations; I know I have plenty, though sometimes I despair when I’m teaching students who tell me they left all their obligations behind them when they moved to Spain! I think I’ll tell you some of my obligations so you can feel sorry for me as well as learn some more Spanish.

Tengo que levantarme temprano.

Tengo que llevar a mis hijos al instituto.

Tengo que ordenar la casa.

Tengo que preparar mis clases.

Tengo que dar de comer a mi gata.

Tengo que hablar con mis estudiantes.

Tengo que conducir mucho.

Tengo que hacer las compras.

Tengo que usar el ordenador.

Tengo que escribir este artículo.

Tengo que ….. … well, I’m beginning to feel sorry for myself, anyway. Here’s what I just said: I have to get up early.

I have to take my children to school. (Instituto is secondary school).

I have to tidy up the house.

I have to prepare my classes.

I have to feed my cat (nearly forgot her).

I have to speak to my students (always helps).

I have to drive a lot.

I have to do the shopping.

I have to use the computer.

I have to write this article.

Now I’d like you to rack your brains for things you have to do. There must be something like: Tengo que usar el mando de distancia. (I have to use the remote control). Please – I’m only joking.

Some people find it strange that by adding the word “que” to “tengo” we can change the meaning

Elvis Presley: Caught in a Trap

by Spencer Leigh Published to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Elvis' death on August 15, Spencer Leigh, the renowned music historian, biographer and radio broadcaster has written another masterful account of a legend of our age, full of the insight and humour that we have come to expect from his books.

Not content to just write a biography just concentrating on the life of Elvis Presley, Spencer takes the reader on an evocative journey of time and place. He delves into the history of America’s Deep South and discusses how music became an integral part of the location that was to be Elvis' birthplace. His career was full of controversy and Elvis Presley:Caught in a Trap sorts the facts from fiction. What separated him from his contemporaries, his bizarre relationship with his manager Colonel Parker, just how old was Priscilla when they first met, how did he reinvent himself for Las Vegas, did he have to die so young, and why does his legend endure? To answer these questions Spencer Leigh spoke to band members, songwriters, friends, fans and many people who worked with the King, and he examines the evidence with the scrutiny of a forensic scientist. info@bookworldpuertobanus.com www@bookworldpuertobanus.com | 952 816 084

Sponsored by Bookworld Puerto Banus

from “have” to “have to”. This is only strange if we are still expecting to be able to translate word for word between the two languages. “Que” does not generally translate as “to”. It usually means “that” or “what”. The point is though that individual words, and especially these small linking words, have to be understood in a context as part of a whole expression.

I expect that most of you know that tengo on its own means “I have”, and I’m sure many are aware that this changes to tienes to make the familiar form “you have.” Exactly the same change occurs with tengo que, (I have to), and tienes que, which therefore means “you have to.”

This form can be useful in questions as well as in giving instructions: ¿Tienes que trabajar hoy?

Do you have to work today?

Tienes que tomar este medicamento.

You have to take this medicine.

There are many examples of how this can be used, but what I want to do is give you the general picture of how these simple forms are put together. Your homework this week is to write down all the things you have to do, beginning with tengo que. Remember that the next word is a verb in the infinitive (Tengo que estudiar español, for example). You can use a dictionary to find the words you need, but don’t get too complicated. Do what I do and keep it simple!!

36

Last Weeks Solutions on page 32

Horoscopes and Puzzles

POSTBAG

Kenny, why is my horoscope different in every newspaper I read?

Code Breaker

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 2 represents Z and 11 represents B, so fill in Z every time the figure 2 appears and B every time the figure 11 appears.

Now using your knowledge of the English language work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you discover the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.

Alma P. Good question Alma! Each and every astrologer has their own focus and interpretation as their right. Whilst the Cosmos is constantly changing, the astrologer homes in on an aspect that reaches their attention. I realise that this can mean differing information. My horoscope is cast especially for the Costa Blanca with the appropriate co-ordinates. I have such a small space to offer a casting for the entire week, but I cannot include everything. Many newspapers and magazines buy in their Horoscope, and these are very often totally computer generated!

With the support of the RTN and my loyal readers, I thank my lucky stars!

If It’s Your Birthday This Week Portents of luck and good fortune go hand in hand with some irritating delays this astrological year. Keeping your balance will be essential, and though the grass may look greener, you are best keeping your feet firmly where they now belong; and working on skills!

If you put in energy, love and commitment, as you have done; there comes a time to look back and take stock. This week sees more than a mere whiff of nostalgia, as Mercury sextiles Venus and your communicative skills are about to be rewarded. Time to take a good look back on all you have achieved with an eye now for what’s coming next!

Saturn may subdue your actions somewhat, now and in the weeks to come. The Cosmos allows for the entrance into the fifth house, where there is at least some stability right now. You have been given good advice, so take it, and listen and learn. There is something unknown to you which would change the way you are acting. Resolve is however, so close!

Backed by even your opposing sign of Gemini, nothing can really prepare you for the job in hand. The luck of Jupiter in cahoots with the Sun may make things easier, but you will still have to think on your feet. Someone has got hold of the wrong end of the stick, but you have heard all of the excuses! Haven’t they milked this for long enough now?

As the Sun takes on Neptune it is high time you got real and faced financial problems and all possible solutions. Money is often your goal, and that isn’t wrong, particularly as you have such a generous streak. However right now you have to tighten your belt and make economies all along the line, since expenditure has to cover your wants and needs.

You do not have to re-invent yourself to succeed right now, but there are some things that you have to get right before any dividends show. Start at the beginning with something new, because you have the backing of Mercury and the love and confidence of Virgo to help you on your way. Look within to make a fresh start but above all, just be you!

Your energies see you far away in your thoughts right now, the closer you come to a decision. Why should you even have to think of a compromise? The terms you offer are straight down the line, and anyone who really does love you wouldn’t want to treat you this shabby way. A time to be strong, yes, but you need to have soul searching contact too!!

Jupiter is sextiled by the Sun early this week. Such action connects you with your opposing sign of Sagittarius. It is correct to say that of all opposites across the Zodiac you have more in common with your opposite side than any other sign. Jupiter is in a benevolent mood, awakened by the Sun and so take on the new, take that risk, it will be worth it!

Your uncertainties are proved right this week, as you have strong intuition on the psychic side of your reckonings, and for good reason. Lately you seem to have been waiting for something bad to come along, but do not tempt fate. You always get a strong warning, and you always will if you believe in your innate abilities and put them into good use!

A wonderful time to think of yourself for a change. You seem busy making others happy, but let them make you happy too! It should be a reciprocal thing surely? Beware of what is behind a simple request. You hate to say NO but you are feeling uneasy, and you can’t quite put your finger on it. Jupiter squares Pluto, bringing luck, eventually!

Start the working week with the energies of the Full Moon and a chance, not an excuse, to make amends! Saying you are sorry and meaning it are two different things, but in the heat of the moment you lost your cool.

Now everything is centred around that which you need to achieve right now, and this, at odds, will mean that you have to eat humble pie.

The best of times is now, so strike while the iron is hot! Better than sitting and ruminating, or waiting for something to come along, go in and see what a difference you can make to the agenda. As the Sun drifts into Plutonian energies you can expect a delay in getting the green light, but right now you have clearance for the preparatory work to do.

Neptune, en route to Ceres, takes on Mars.

Face up to facts now because there is change out there on the horizon and you will have to be a strong part of it. This is a time to eliminate that which you no longer wish to be responsible for, and to enlist reasonable support for that which you do want. Be firm and decisive, your spiritual energies guide you.

Cryptic Crossword

37

Across 1 Party clobber (4) 3 Unusual play with Act I translated (8) 9 Platform that is provided with small flowers (7) 10 Fun and games for birds (5) 11 Majestic sort of lager (5) 12 Where sacrifices may be made involving one star (6) 14 In Armagh a stoic is dismayed (6) 16 A dog caught Stan’s partner (6) 19 Animals approached outskirts of Leeds (6) 21 Container, as required by brass band members (5) 24 Going on, a part of a yard (5) 25 Defence in boats at sea (7) 26 Oil installation engineers with best bib and tucker? (8) 27 The alcoholic’s partial cure (4)

Down 1 Tot swallowed by fish it’s a nightmare (3,5) 2 Rock star’s undercover operation (5) 4 Italian trade union has to read document (6) 5 One-off programme for aviator (5) 6 Warm drink (7) 7 A little animal is terribly lean (4) 8 Fliers flapping arms (6) 13 Fashion on sale as at certain periods (8) 15 Avoid result of decapitation (4,3) 17 Stupid baronet plunged in river (6) 18 A biro’s deployed to make a line on a weather map (6) 20 John the singer is left in school (5) 22 Trees , we hear, that will cover billiard table (5) 23 Just blonde (4)

Quick Crossword Across 1. Genuine (4) 3. From the New World (8) 9. Unauthorised absence from school (7) 10. Courageous (5) 11. Grossly overweight (5) 12. Solution (6) 14. Horizontally (6) 16. Game bird (6) 19. Sum of money (6) 21. Licit (5) 24. Acknowledge, concede (5) 25. Make unclear (7) 26. Breed of terrier (8) 27. Apartment (4)

Misnomer Quiz 1 From which country did French horns originate?

2 What mineral is an Alaskan diamond?

3 The Portuguese Man o’ War (a sea-dwelling jellyfish-like invertebrate) alludes to a warship design devised in which country?

4 In the story of Cinderella (the French medieval version, which gave us the modern Western version) what were Cinderella’s slippers made from?

5 What is the main ingredient of a mince pie?

6 From what type of creature is Bombay duck made?

7 What colour is orange blossom?

8 According to the Bible how many (of each) sheep, cows and goats were taken onto Noah’s Ark? 9 Where did Panama hats originate?

10 What type of animal inspired the creation of Bugs Bunny, Brer Rabbit, and the Easter Bunny?

Down 1. Reasoning (8) 2. Sharp (5) 4. Distress signal (3,3) 5. Picture puzzle (5) 6. French castle (7) 7. Necessity (4) 8. Heavenly spirits (6) 13. Recklessly determined (4-4) 15. Countryside walker (7) 17. Enjoy to the full (6) 18. Leisurely walk (6) 20. Single (5) 22. Thin porridge (5) 23. Long story (4)

Word Wheel

There is 1x10 letter word and 62 others!

Make as many 3 or more letter words as you can using any letter combination just once and you must use the central letter in every word!

Fill the grid so every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1-9

38

health

Beauty More E-smokers tips are ex-smokers

Where’s that tomato?

Chlorine can damage your hair, especially if you’re blonde or have highlights. It can also add an awful greenish tinge.

To protect your colour, coat your hair with leave-in conditioner or sesame oil before swimming. Always remember to rinse your hair after getting out the pool and wash in cold water to boost shine.

For a post-swim remedy, coat your hair and your scalp in tomato juice for 5-10 minutes before washing with shampoo and conditioner.

This will help fade the greenish hue if you have one.

Three habits that cause wrinkles

The recent rise in e-cigarette use among adult smokers is associated with a significant increase in stopping smoking, finds a study published in The British Medical Journal (BMJ).

This study, based on the largest representative sample of e-cigarette users to date, provides a strong case that e-cigarettes have helped to increase smoking cessation at the population level.

Currently, the scientific community is divided over whether e-cigarettes are an aid to quitting smoking. Some suggest that e-cigarettes will have a positive impact on smoking rates by acting as a nicotine replacement therapy, while others argue that they could reduce the urgency to quit smoking.

So a team of researchers, led by Professor Shu-Hong Zhu at the University of California, set out to examine whether the increase in use of e-cigarettes in the USA, was associated with a change in overall smoking cessation rate at the population level.

They base their findings on five population surveys dating from 2001 to 2015. E-cigarette users were identified from the most recent survey (2014-15) and smoking cessation rates were obtained from those who reported smoking cigarettes 12 months before the survey.

Rates from this survey were then compared to four

earlier surveys.

Of 161,054 respondents to the 2014-15 survey, 22,548 were current smokers and 2,136 recent quitters. Among them, 38.2 per cent of current smokers and 49.3 percent of recent quitters had tried e-cigarettes.

The results show that e-cigarette users were more likely than non-users to make a quit attempt (65 per cent v 40 per cent) and more likely to succeed in quitting for at least 3 months (8.2 per cent v 4.8 per cent).

This study has certain limitations, which is common for population surveys. For example, survey questions were limited, which prevented detailed analysis of the quitting process and lack of information on the type of e-cigarette product used.

The main strength is use of the largest

Sleeping on your stomach or side Did you know that doctors recommend sleeping on your back to prevent back and neck pain, reduce acid reflux, maintain perkier breasts… and minimise facial wrinkles?

Rubbing your eyes Dermatologists agree, the skin around your eyes is the most delicate skin on your body. Treating that area roughly will likely result in wrinkles and sagging.

Eating too much sugar The connections between sugar and weight gain or sugar and cavities are well documented, but eating excessive amounts of sugar may also make you look older. Sugar causes hormonal changes in the body which damage your collagen and elastin fibres.

representative sample of e-cigarette users among the US population.

Nevertheless, the study has two key findings. First, in 2014-15, e-cigarette users attempted to quit cigarette smoking and succeeded in quitting smoking at higher rates than nonusers. Second, the overall smoking cessation rate in 2014-15 increased significantly from that of 2010-11.

VAPING: E-cigs are the next step for many quitters.

Photo credit: Twitter

Men’s health In a recent study, researchers followed nearly 48,000 men for an average of 10 years, some with gout and others that were healthy. They discovered that men with gout were 31 per cent more likely to report erectile dysfunction (ED) than men without the condition.

What’s more, the problem can pop up before the painful joint issues even surface: those with gout were 63 per cent more likely to report

erectile dysfunction in the year preceding their diagnosis and within two years of a gout diagnosis, the risk of ED was 77 per cent higher than with healthy guys.

One of the most painful forms of arthritis, gout occurs when too much uric acid builds up in the body. That’s known as hyperuricemia. Deposits of uric acid cluster in the joints, often in the big toe, and can hurt so bad it can wake people up during the middle of the night. The affected joint can be red, swollen, and feel warm to the touch.

The link in the study persisted even after the researchers adjusted for factors that could contribute

to erectile dysfunction and gout, including smoking status, higher body mass index (BMI), and alcohol consumption. The build up of excess uric acid in the blood can affect the blood vessels, possibly by triggering vascular smooth muscle proliferation, and that has been linked to plaque build up. While more research needs to be done to confirm a cause-effect link, the researchers believe that the findings suggest that erectile problems can point to underlying gout before the painful joint issues even rise to the surface. So that’s one more reason to see your doctor when you start to notice such problems.

39

health

Ask the Optician Ask the Optician - Eye advice for the Over 70s Amrik Sappal, Store Director, Specsavers Opticas Fuengirola CHECK-UP: Time to make time for that allimportant visit Photo credit: OBGYN

Why every woman should see her doctor annually If you're like most women, you either lead a busy life in Spain - one that might not have the time to squeeze in a regular check-up with the doctor – or you’re simply so relaxed that you just forget. After all, you feel healthy, so isn't that enough?

The answer is no, it’s not, and it’s time for you to be a well-woman that has no issue with visiting their doctor once a year.

Even if you need to take a trusted translator with you, it’s worth the time

and the modest expense to have the chance to monitor your health, get needed screenings if required and just have a general check and chat about your day-to-day lifestyle.

Like any check-up or exam, you should always go prepared. Write down any questions you may have so you make sure to cover anything you are concerned about. When you make the appointment, you may want to ask if you'll be due for any tests which may include cancer screenings, blood tests, or even a check

for sexually transmitted diseases.

Even if you don’t see your doctor, the local clinics will also cover some basics: take your temperature and blood pressure, weigh and measure you The well-woman visit is one every woman should make time for in her busy schedule. The ability to stay on top of your health with annual checkups is integral to preventive care. If you haven't considered a wellwoman visit to your doctor recently, now's the time to do it.

Gout – not an uplifting experience STIFFNESS: Big toe joint is the most common gout location

Why should I have a regular eye test?

Some people wait until their vision becomes impaired before having an eye test. This can be risky because some eye conditions can have few noticeable symptoms until they reach an advanced stage. We advise everyone over the age of 70 to have an eye test at least once a year as older eyes are susceptible to certain changes which can be detected during an eye test.

What problems can affect the eyes over 60?

Cataracts - The lens becomes opaque, blurring vision and even leading to loss of sight if left untreated.

Glaucoma - A build-up of fluid within the eye can increase pressure, which in turn damages the optic nerve. The loss of visual field often occurs gradually and slowly therefore can be difficult to notice and this loss of vision can never be recovered, so prompt diagnosis is essential.

Macular degeneration - In older people, the macula – the centre of the retina which is used for detailed vision – thins and occasionally bleeds. This can lead to distortion, or even loss, of central vision.

How can an eye test identify these conditions?

Modern testing equipment can help opticians to see the back of the eye. With this information, if there looks to be any issues patients will be referred to the right medical professional for treatment.

There are Specsavers stores in Marbella and Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol, to make an appointment or find your nearest store visit www.specsavers.es.

40

food & drink

Lassi came home cool as a cucumber

The recent spell of prolonged heatwave conditions has everyone reaching for rehydration liquids throughout the day and night.

Water is good, well very good, but quite boring, well very boring actually, whilst

alcohol is good, but bad, well very bad actually and could make you even more dehydrated.

So, what are the healthy alternatives, to carbonated and mass produced sugar or sweetener loaded soft drinks,

that will quench the thirst and keep the’ lipsmackin’ taste buds happy too?

Here are a couple of delicious ways to keep refreshed and boost your vitamin count at the same time:

Mango Lassi

Lassi is the milkshake of the Indian subcontinent. Creamily nourishing, it’s also thirst-quenching. Mango, the archetypal tropical fruit, abundant at this time of year is the most favoured choice in most Indian restaurants, with it’s cool, creamy texture.

They are easy to make at home and you can use either canned mango pulp or cubed fresh or frozen mango. Depending on how ripe and sweet your mango is, or if you are using canned and already sweetened mango pulp, you will need to add more or less honey or sugar to the lassi.

If you have cardamom pods, crush the pods to remove the seeds, then grind the seeds with a mortar and pestle.

Cucumber lime mint agua fresca Cool and refreshing agua fresca made with cucumbers, lime, and mint, is a perfect way to cool down on a hot day. Agua frescas are refreshing fruit drinks popular all over Mexico, found at almost any taqueria, as they’re cooling, sweet and great alongside spicy food. This particular agua fresca is made with cucumbers, fresh limes, and mint and it’s the cucumber juice base that seems to have the effect of lowering the body temperature.

Ingredients: 1 lb of cucumbers (about 2 good sized cucumbers), ends trimmed, but peel still on, coarsely chopped 1/2 cup lime juice from fresh limes (from about 1 pound of limes, or 5 to 10 limes, depending on how juicy they are) 1 1/4 cup packed (spearmint) mint leaves (about a large handful), woody stems removed 1/2 cup sugar Approximately 1 1/4 cup of water Method: 1. Put ingredients in blender, add enough water to fill 3/4 of blender. Hold the lid on the blender and purée until smooth.

2. Strain out solids: Place a fine mesh sieve over a bowl and pour the purée through it, pressing against the sieve with a rubber spatula or the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid out as possible.

3. Add ice: Fill a large pitcher halfway with ice cubes.

Add the juice. Serve with sprigs of mint and slices of lime.

Ingredients: 1 cup plain yogurt 1/2 cup milk 1 cup chopped very ripe mango (see how to peel and chop mango), frozen chopped mango, or a cup of canned mango pulp 4 teaspoons honey or sugar, more or less to taste A dash of ground cardamom (optional) Ice (optional)

Method: Put mango, yogurt, milk, sugar and cardamom into a blender and blend for 2 minutes.

If you want a more milkshake consistency and it's a hot day, either blend in some ice as well or serve over ice cubes.

Sprinkle with a tiny pinch of ground cardamom to serve.

The lassi can be kept refrigerated for up to 24 hours.

Whiskey steak

Preparation time – 20 minutes Cooking time - 15 minutes

Ingredients: 2 pounds beef steak, 1 inch thick, salt and pepper to taste, 2 cloves garlic, crushed, 1/3 cup sweet-hot mustard, 4 slices bacon, 1 tablespoon olive oil, or as needed, 3 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary, 2/3 cups whiskey (preferably Jack Daniels), 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 tablespoon lemon juice METHOD: 1. Season the steaks on both sides with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, mix together the garlic and all but 2 teaspoons of the mustard.

Place the steaks on a plate, and spread half of the garlic mustard mixture over one side of them. Let stand for 30 minutes.

2. Heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Fry bacon until crisp, then remove from

Cherry cloud Preparation time – 10 minutes.

Ready in 1 hour 10 minutes.

the pan, leaving the grease. Crumble the bacon and set aside.

3. Heat the bacon grease in the frying pan over medium-high heat, and add olive oil if necessary to cover the bottom of the pan.

Fry steaks mustard side down for about 5 minutes, until golden brown. While the steaks are frying, spread the remaining garlic and mustard over the top. Flip the

steaks over, and fry for about 2 minutes, until browned. Remove steaks to a serving platter, and keep warm.

4. Keep the frying pan over medium-high heat, and stir in the rosemary, whiskey, remaining mustard, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, and lemon juice. Simmer for about 2 minutes. Top steaks with crumbled bacon and the sauce, and serve.

Ingredients: 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk, 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened, 6 ounces frozen whipped topping, thawed, 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained, 1 (20 ounce) can cherry pie filling, 1/2 cup pecans Method: 1. Beat sweetened condensed milk, cream cheese, and whipped topping together in a bowl. Stir pineapple, cherry pie filling, and pecans into the milk mixture.

2. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 1 hour.

41

food & drink

Record year for English wine industry The English wine industry is now worth over £130m a year according to a new study by Funding Options. Turnover for independent producers in England rose 16% from 2015 to 2016, hitting a record £132m in 2016.

The improvements aren’t just in terms of quantity of wine sold, but in the quality of the finished product. In May, a wine from Norfolk was named as the best white wine in the world at the Decanter World Wine Awards.

Winbirri Vineyards’ Bacchus 2015, beat 17,200 other entries to claim the Platinum Best in Show, and was given a score of 95 out of 100 by a panel of 200 international experts.

Though it is certainly an exciting

time for the wine industry, with more than a million vines to be planted in the next year and a record number of wineries set to open in England, domestic wine still makes up less than 2% of the total UK market. Indeed last year the fact that drinkers in the UK drank £14 billion worth of wine, means that the country is the largest per-capita importer of wine in the world.

As with all things, it remains to be seen precisely how Brexit will impact these figures in the long run, especially with so many workers, bottles and tanks essential to the industry coming from the EU. Duties are likely to rise and with a weakened pound making imports more expensive Britons may be forced to drink even more home grown grapes in the future.

Furthermore with 15% of all global wine imports going to the UK the entire market may suffer a knockon effect.

42

Book your advert now 952 561 245

All Major Credit Cards Accepted - 0.42€ per word + IVA 0.55€ for printed and online versions

email: sales@ewnmediagroup.com

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ACE OF SHADES - Vertical, Venetian, Roman, Roller, Wooden blinds, various colours available, also blackout blinds. Tel: 951 273 254 / 671 732 204 / info@aceofshades.design BLINDS, awnings, mosquito screens, curtains, vast choice.

All areas covered. Coast and inland. 655 825 931 (251408) beauty treatments

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PUERTO BANÚS – Moorings for rent. 8, 12 & 15 metres.

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Professional, fully guaranteed installations. Tel: 952 443 222 (248108) AIR CONDITIONING repairs and servicing. Airflow. 952 443 222 (248108) architects

storage

AWNINGS ACE OF SHADES All colours available. Urbanisations catered for, electric and manual operation, also recover service available, largest selection of colours and designs on the coast. Tel: 951 273 254 / 671 732 204 / info@aceofshades.design

PUERTO BANUS – Moorings wanted to buy. 0032 473 815 789 business opportunity

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES FOR SALE FROM 4,900 EUROS. 697 834 934 (248081) buy and sell

DECLUTTER, cash paid for small/medium furniture, antiques,decanters, brass, copper and other ornaments.

Tel: Howard 608 121 817 (253087)

CASH Today.

Furniture. UK cars, vans. Bric a Brac. Anything considered. Chris 660 366 033 (251281)

car hire

ALH RENT A CAR – SHORT & LONG TERM RENTALS FROM €9.90 A DAY. INSURANCE INCLUDED IN OUR PRICES. www.alhrentacar. com - TLF: 638 846 909 or reservasalhrentacar@gmail. com (242734) car services

AUTOMATIC gearbox specialist. Transmatic. All models including classic cars, serviced, repaired and reconditioned. Also 4x4 transfer boxes and power steering Call/fax 952 796 166 / 952 805 804 email: transmatic2005@yahoo.com. www.transmatic.es (251347) caravans & motorhomes

PARKING, STORAGE & SALES. Caravans Motorhomes - Boats - Cars and Vans etc. Short / long term - Safe & secure, drop off & collections. Excellent rates, discount for long term, 5 mins from Fuengirola.

Established 25 years. www. eurodog.es / info@eurodog. es 679 786 669 / 606 101 807 (239435) carpenters

CARPENTER cabinet maker, Irish. Available for all types of property maintenance, plumbing, painting, electrical, kitchens and bathrooms renovated etc, 30 years experience, very reliable. Tel: 952 441 955 / 677 087 575 (233419) chimney services

removals

APEX CHIMNEY SERVICES, professional chimney sweeping and smoke testing.

NACS Qualified. Clean and efficient Tel: Bob 696 320 202 (241526) church services

BENALMADENA Elim Family Fellowship. Sundays 11am.

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cleaning services

ADVANCED Cleaning Services. Professional carpet and upholstery cleaning, 27 years experience, wet/ dry clean. Honest, reliable. 678 808 837 / 952 669 701 acservs@ outlook.com (252581) RUGS fitted carpets, upholstery including leather cleaned on site 685 524 921 (252581) UPHOLSTERY and steam cleaning sofas, carpets etc…

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From 40€. 632 569 282 ovencleaningcostadelsol.com (241395) CLEANING SERVICES No Job too small or big. Adrian 640 350 479 (241379) ALL WORK undertaken. All Areas. Residential & Holiday Lets. 689 819 592 (252672) dog training

METS dog training club, Fuengirola. Glyn 605 121 831 / Jeff 692 832 250 (251205) domestic appliance repairs

DOMESTIC Appliance repairs - washing machines, fridges, cookers, ovens, water heaters, gas / electric, professionally repaired. Christian 608 337 497 (243751) drainage

BLOCKED DRAINS? Leak detection, CCTV survey, root removal, Tel 952 568 414 / 661 910 772 / drainspain.com (248852) DRAINS: Our fully equipped vehicles are ready to deal with any problem, water jetting, water leak detection, CCTV, roots removal, relining & swimming pool leaks.

Discounts for Urbanisations.

Drain care & repair. pipetek. net/ pipetekbill@gmail.com 952 897 516/ 674 632 344 (252667)

43 glass curtains

GLASS CURTAIN repairs, specialist in replacement of discoloured plastic strips tha t act as a seal between the glass panels. Call Julian 655 825 931 (253220) gOLF FOR SALE

SAN ROQUE GOLF Club Share FOR SALE. Country Membership. 2017 annual membership full paid. €8,000 ONO. Contact Val 634 390 592 / 00 353 872 553 368 (247946) house clearance

electrician

MARBELLA ELECTRICAL installation services – breakdowns, upgrades, surveys of existing installations, surge protection, optimization.

Phone or WhatsApp 687 352 358 (251272) BS ELECTRICAL, All electrical work, rewires, Boletins, Endesa helpline, professional genuine service, www. bselectrical.eu. Call Sean 952 961 108, 669 070 011 (251246)T1 fencing

CHAIN LINK FENCE erectors, general builders, all types of welding fabrication. Tel: 655 218 466 (248701) for sale

SAN ROQUE GOLF Club Share FOR SALE. Country Membership. 2017 annual membership full paid. €8,000 ONO. Contact Val 634 390 592 / 00353 872 553368 (247946)

furniture

THE WAREHOUSE – We buy a Single item to a Full House Clearance – 602 610 103 Furniture wanted, same day collection, also house clearance and removals.

602 610 103(252581) gates

ELECTRIC GATE/GARAGE DOOR automation repaired.

Free, no obligation quotation.

Call Colin - 636 394 641 (250415) gardening

PROFESSIONAL garden services from Fuengirola to Estepona. All aspects of gardening and full maintenance and landscaping, free quotes, competitive prices.

Contact Andrew 600 259 981 Andrew@gardenprofessionals.com (242556) garden and pool

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THE WAREHOUSE – We buy a Single item to a Full House Clearance – 602 610 103(252581) SPECIALISTS, FULL OR PART CLEARANCE. ALL FURNITURE WANTED, WE PAY MORE. TEL 634 324 914 OR EMAIL houseclearanceman@ hotmail.com (253015) HOUSE CLEARANCE: Quick, Friendly & Affordable house clearance. Cash for your quality furniture! 622 290 009. info@leparticulier.es (251392) SELECTION of Oriental Rugs.

Excellent condition. 686 410 758. Photos upon request.

(252519) WE BUY, SELL & PAWN jewellery and watches www. casaempeñomarbella.com 640 218 590 valuation via Whatsapp. Nº1 in Marbella & Puerto Banús (251601) 4 PIECE Patio Set with Basket Frame. 2 Glass Top Patio Tables - 100cm x 180 cm & 80cm x 80cm. Contact 952 763 045 (251103) holiday rentals

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HOT TUBS, new, used, bought, sold, hired. Also move & repairs. 691 973 131 / 952 793 398 (253091) house clearance

WANTED all Furniture & Household items.

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THE WAREHOUSE – We buy a Single item to a Full House Clearance – 602 610 103 (253107) FURNITURE wanted, same day collection, also house clearance and removals. 602 610 103 (253107) CASH paid for your unwanted house or garage items. Please call 600 041 434 (248893) WE CLEAR houses, apartments, garages, bars, storage units. Tel 656 187 140 brian.d.hughes@ hotmail.com (252599) insurance

MOTOR INSURANCE. For the most competitive quotes in English call Linea Directa on 902 123 153, you could save as much as 30% and you can transfer your existing no claims bonus. Call Linea Directa on 902 123 153 for motor insurance with a human voice in English from Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and save money now!

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GET YOUR business noticed online! Make sure that expats in Spain can find your product, service, restaurant, bar or shop. Contact Spain’s newest and brightest online directory TODAY. Call 952 561 245 or email mark.w@ euroweeklynews.com for more details 24/7 locksmith

LOCKSMITH emergency / appointment.

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MOBILE MECHANIC will come to your home or work.

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Vans and cars wanted, genuine honest and reliable service with collection available. We come to you 7 days a week. 678808837 motoring for sale

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44 Wanted UK cars / Vans.

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Vans and cars wanted, genuine honest and reliable service with collection available. We come to you 7 days a week. 678808837

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Best prices paid for top quality cars. Cash waiting for British or Spanish plated cars and vans. 685 524 921 CAR, VANS BOUGHT WITH/WITHOUT PAPERS. CASH WAITING 678 808 837 (253107)

Uk to Spanish plates, import your car, let us take the hassle out of the process, we can source headlights and have a mechanic on hand. We also transfer ownership on Spanish vehicles. We can assist with back taxes, embargoes, paperwork issues and itvs. English speaking. Please email your log book for a price to carsinspain@live. co.uk. Include your phone number and we will call you back. motor repairs

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Earn 75€ to 400€ per week, flexible hours from home. We are a reputable British home retailer, new to Spain. No selling required or experience needed as full training given. Apply now at www.the-vista-group.com (247150)

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45 solar blinds

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Readers of a sensitive disposition may find some of the advertisements in this section offensive.

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46

motoring

Tim Saunders Motoring journalist www.testdrives.biz

Road Test - Volkswagen Transporter Trendline

It is necessary to adapt your driving style when behind the wheel of a vehicle that does not have a rear view mirror.

This becomes clear when I am sat in the Volkswagen Transporter Trendline 2.0 TDi Bluemotion. It is the white van man’s dream vehicle, tough and robust, fast and efficient. And although it very much does feel like a car to drive with fairly light steering and a good driving position, the fact remains that there are no windows at the rear and no rear view mirror.

The driver must rely on the wing mirrors. Now that is all very well but it is still not possible to see behind the back of the vehicle so any reversing must be done with extreme care. On the centre console where the radio and sat nav can be found, there is also ParkPilot which automatically appears when reverse is selected on the five speed manual gearbox. But this is not a camera feed which I think would be really helpful in a

vehicle like this. However, it will bleep thanks to sensors in the rear bumper should anything get in the way.

Nevertheless as a motorist who more often than not can be found behind the wheel of a car, driving a panel van such as this does take considerable getting used to. First of all I take it for a run to the local tip, after removing two moth bitten rolls of carpet from the upstairs bedrooms. Such a van makes life so much easier; just sling the carpet in and close the double doors.

It would have taken two journeys in my little Fiesta. On arrival at the tip I am told to report to the site office. “Why?” I ask.

“Because you are driving a commercial vehicle and you need a permit.” I wasn’t expecting that. Anyway, after a chat with the site manager, I am informed that as long as I am only dumping residential rubbish that it is possible to apply for a free permit from Hampshire County Council. Explaining that I only had the vehicle for a short time, the manager kindly agreed to let me deposit my waste without further ado. My two daughters Harriett (5) and Heidi (3) sit on the double passenger seat watching all of this going on and thoroughly enjoying the entertainment. “Why did you have to go to see the first aid office?” asks Harriett. Apparently it looks similar at school and the teacher wears a fluorescent top, too.

So carpet gone and hopefully the moth problem, I have another task for the Transporter. This time we need to drive to Suffolk to collect some of Caroline’s late uncle’s belongings including his 2002 Vauxhall Corsa.

Facts at a glance

Transporter panel van T28 Trendline SWB EU6 2.0 TDI 102PS 5-speed Manual Price: Total RRP incl. VAT £25,410 Top speed: 98mph

0-60mph: 15.3secs Economy: 47.9mpg Power: 102bhp

Watch the video at www.testdrives.biz Our daughters stay with their grandparents and little Henry (7mths) accompanies Caroline and I in his car seat. It is easy to switch off the airbags in the front, one by button and the far left one by using a key on the edge of the dashboard that meets the door. There are of course no child locks to lock the doors but fortunately it is impossible for a child to grab the door handle from a rear facing car seat. More trust is required with my older daughters but there wasn’t a problem.

We leave at 6am and get to Suffolk three hours later where we load the van up with various items of furniture. It is easy to tie them down thanks to the loops that are fitted to the floor to tie straps through. The floor itself is a clever sort of rubber which also helps hold the furniture in place. The useful sliding side door is really helpful because it allows items to be lifted in from the pavement. My wife would have liked to see loops on the walls and ceiling too because she felt that that would have been even more useful.

It takes longer to travel home because traffic on the M25 is at a standstill as usual during daylight driving. I follow behind Caroline, who is driving her new Corsa with Henry in the back. It’s a bit of a challenge to drive such a distance with one following the other but during our journey we notice other vehicles doing just the same.

Despite some vigorous driving around roundabouts near home all the furniture stays upright and in the same position as I left it – nothing broken - so very impressed.

It’s been a good test and one that saw the Transporter return around 30mpg.

Tim Saunders - Car test drives and car reviews www.testdrives.biz.

Read about test drives and car reviews of all makes of cars expertly written by advanced motorist and motoring journalist Tim Saunders

SEAT in the snow In order to beat the heat in the height of summer, SEAT are going back to winter for a short spell with world rally champion Juha Kankkunen for a series of testing of the Seat Ateca on a frozen lake in the north of Finland, only 200 kilometres away from the Arctic Circle.

Winter in Finland lasts six months, making it the longest season of the year. With temperatures that reach 20 °C below zero, Kankkunen has driven the Ateca without even breaking sweat.

Lake Pikku-Nissi is one of the country’s 188,000 bodies of water. Although the summer landscape is completely different, the winter cold freezes the surface of the lake, creating a 90 cm thick layer of ice that cars can safely drive on.

Snow tyres, featuring special spikes, and the 4Drive total traction system greatly helped Kankkunen to stay on

the correct course. Aside from this spectacular show of skill at the wheel, when driving on snow or ice “it is advisable to gently work the pedals and turn the steering wheel, accelerate slowly and whenever possible, drive in high gear”, says SEAT driver Jordi Gené, who also participated in these tests carried out in Scandanavia.

SUMMER AT LAKE PIKKUNISSI: 200 kilometres away from the Arctic Circle

BELOW SNOW TRIALS: The Ateca put through its paces.

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sport

Butterfly gold for Spain SPAIN had plenty to smile about as Mireia Belmonte became a swimming gold medallist.

She is the new world 200 metres butterfly world champion after beating three-time Olympic gold medallist Katinka Hosszu from Hungary who was competing on home territory at the Budapest championships.

Belmonte, from Catalonia, took the title after languishing in sixth position after the first length of the pool. In an extraordinary second half of the race, she slowly worked her way through the field passing all in her wake, apart from Katinka, showing why she won the gold medal in Rio last year as well as the European championships.

The Spaniard was behind all the way until the final stroke that took her to the top of the podium by milliseconds. She won the gold medal with a time of 2 minutes, 5.26 seconds, in front of Hentke, from Germany, who finished

Spain’s greatest swimming star.

Photo credit: Twitter

on 2 minutes and 5.39 seconds.

Considered one of the best Spanish sportswomen of all time and top in the country in her field in recent history, the 26-year-old star of the pool was referred to by reporters in national daily newspaper 20 Minutos as ‘a fish called Mireia’ in light of her dizzying track record.

Mo and Bolt bid farewell NO MOBOT: Sir Mo Farah brings his track career to a close Photo credit: Flickr

TWO of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen will be racing for the final time over the next couple of days.

Mo Farah will, like Usain Bolt, bring the curtain down on his illustrious track career at the world championships with the ambition of double golden finish.

The 34-year-old Somalia-born Briton who will switch his focus to road running - can capture his 10th successive world or Olympic title in the 10,000 metres later on today (Friday).

He then hopes to bow out in style on the track in London where he achieved his first Olympic double in 2012 with the 5000m on Saturday week and will bring to an end a sixyear period where, like Bolt in the shorter distances, Farah has dominated the field.

He broke up the previous dominance of the Kenyans and Ethiopians, lifting his own achievements well above those of legends such as Paavo Nurmi, Lasse Viren, Emil Zatopek, Haile Gebrselassie and Kenenisa Bekele.

However as many people are asking how athletics will be able to cope without Bolt

and his engaging showmanship, perhaps unfairly the same has not been said about the vacuum that Farah will leave in his wake.

Despite his achievements - Olympic (2012/16) and world doubles (2013/15) at 5000m and 10000m - the British public have been left largely unmoved, and when the public have been given the chance to vote, only once, in 2011, has he reached the top three for the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year poll.

It’s even prompted British triathlon star Alistair Brownlee to decry the glaring omission for an athlete whose exploits were recognised by having a knighthood bestowed on him.

“It’s really sad, because for me he is the perfect British story,” Brownlee told The Guardian after Farah finished only fourth in the poll. “It’s what we should be about: a person who comes to Britain as a young man, as a refugee, and an ex-schoolteacher (Alan Watkinson) identifies something that he’s brilliant at and he represents Britain as the best in the world. I think that’s a fantastic British story.”