RTN Newspaper – Costa del Sol 15 - 21 December 2017 Issue 033

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Issue 33

15th-21st December 2017

Reporting The News

Skate Plaza to be named after Spanish terror attack hero A DECISION has been made by the Fuengirola council to re-name the Skate Plaza after Spanish terror hero Ignacio Echeverría.

Ana Mula, mayor of the town explained that this was an easy choice to make considering that the young man had sacrificed his life to protect others during the London Bridge terror attack in June of this year.

The idea is to give a very special meaning to the plaza and to recognise the unselfish bravery of the young Spaniard who was killed by terrorists.

The 39-Year-old bank worker was walking with friends, carrying his skateboard when the terror attack took place on June 3 and he stopped to try to help a victim who was being attacked in the streets.

It is believed that he may have used his skateboard as a weapon to try to fight of the assailant but it was he who was stabbed and died on the street.

“I’m convinced that Ignacio, who had been practicing skateboarding since childhood, would have liked this gesture. He was a hero and was always, always appreciated for his generosity “, said the mayor.

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Fuengirola

HERO: Fuengirola Skate Plaza to be renamed after Ignacio Echeverría

Inside this week...

Officer remanded over killer crash

P7 flights cancelled

P14

A BROTHERHOOD not a cult

P33

2

Such mugs

FROM BEHIND: The men sneaked up on the victim

by Rose Holmes THE NATIONAL POLICE arrested five people in Marbella for mugging a man at knifepoint.

Three men and two women, all aged between 35 and 55 years old, are reported to have approached a 19-year-old man and held a knife to his throat whilst they stole his mobile phone and wallet.

The investigation began when the victim

reported the incident to the police.

He told of how, one night at the end of November at around midnight, a woman approached him and asked him a question as the men approached him from behind.

The police were able to identify the alleged perpetrators – all of Spanish nationality save for one of the women who is Moroccan.

Two of the five have been detained until their trial.

3

Merry Christmas, from Hidralia HIDRALIA responded to an appeal from Marbella City Council to donate sweets and toys to the less fortunate this Christmas and came up trumps.

The water company proudly presented Councillor Isabel Cintado with 80 kilograms of sweets and 240 toys, to be donated to local associations: Asociacion de Vecinos La Azucarera El Angel Virgen del Cisne de Ecuador Despertar sin Violencia Asociacion Gitana Undebel Villela Cintado expressed her greatest thanks and said: “Hidralia responded immediately to our appeal with great effort and social sensitivity.”

Manager of Hidralia Marbella Carlos Corral said: “Given our commitment to Marbella, we want to show our support and help local associations to celebrate Christmas in the best way possible.”

Local rapper faces jail MARBELLA RAPPER Ivan Leszno has been found guilty of ‘glorfying terrorism’ and faces time behind bars.

25-year-old Leszno and fellow members of the La Insurgencia rap group are appealing the ruling, which comes with a two-year jail sentence and a €4,500 fine.

The court in Madrid heard how police summoned the group to court last year after seeing them performing on the street.

Their lyrics are alleged to praise the antifascist group Grupos de Resistencia Antifascistas Primero de Octubre (GRAPO).

But the group disagreed.

“Our music is written by young people who use hip-hop to express the rage of a generation who has been robbed of their future,” Leszno said.

“They just want us to stop singing or start self-censorship.”

La Insurgencia referenced the recent imprisonments of Catalan leaders which they said shows a worrying trend in Spain of putting people in jail up for their ideas.

“It does nothing but increase the list of prisoners who have been put behind bars for their ideas in Spain.”

4

Shoplifting gang bust

by Rose Holmes The National Police have arrested a group of shoplifters in Marbella who had been targeting clothes shops.

The five-member gang – three Romanian men and two Spanish women aged between 15 and 36 and– were arrested as alleged perpetrators of nine counts of theft.

The investigation began when the police noticed the group acting suspiciously at a local commercial centre.

They tracked the gang, working out that each member played a different role in the operation – one was a driver and another was an expert at deactivating security tags.

On one occasion, the group even used a child to commit theft without raising suspicion.

DISGUISE: The group would use gift bags to shield the stolen goods

The police seized a vehicle, two gifts bags the group would use to shield the stolen goods, magnets, a

frequency inhibitor and numerous items of clothing which were returned.

Playtime MARBELLA COUNCIL recently invested €42,000 in children’s leisure spaces throughout the city.

At the playground in Arcos de San Enrique, €20,000 worth of improvement works have been undertaken.

There was previously only a playground for children under 3 years of age, but a new one has been built for children up to 12 years of age.

15 other playgrounds across the city have benefitted from improvement works.

Signs have been erected indicating the appropriate age of play, emergency services numbers in case of an accident and details of the nearest health centre.

But that’s not all – Councillor Javier Garcia said works will continue throughout the course of next year: “Our ongoing commitment to leisure spaces for children will be reflected in the budgets for 2018, with more than€300,000 allocated for maintenance and improvement works.”

6

Drought measures ‘must wait until 2027’

What a catastrotree

by Pippa Harris MAJOR WORKS designed to relieve Malaga’s drought problems will wait another 10 years, it has been claimed.

The Drought Decree due in January 2018 is expected to see current irrigation bans extended, with around 60 per cent of La Viñuela reservoir having been used to water crops.

Current low rainfall levels has meant Malaga is in its second drought in 10 years, with its last affecting Guadalhorce and the rest of the Costa del Sol between 2005 and 2009. Planned works to ease the situation by transferring five cubic hectometres of water from Iznajar to other reservoirs have been in the pipeline for two years, with progress still not made.

Meanwhile, the Junta de Andalucia says it is now “better prepared and robust” to face the new drought.

Last month, it was revealed the Junta

60% of water in Viñuela reservoir used to water crops de Andalucia will provide subsidies for irrigators who use recycled water. The initiative is designed to compensate farmers after they are being hit with a new round of water restrictions from tomorrow.

Irrigators will be given financial incentives for using recycled water from sewage plants at Algarrobo and Velez Malaga after the La Viñuela is left at only 22.7 per cent of its capacity. Water shortages have already begun to affect crop yield and the Junta has shown it is keen to avoid further losses to the €300 million industry.

Meanwhile, in October it was revealed the Department for Environment and

Planning is working on a policy to help reservoirs in Axarquia and Guadalhorce.

Jose Fiscal, Minister for the Environment, explained the move was going ahead because “it does not seem the weather is going to change in the short term.” He added some of the proposals included “using certain wells that are not currently being used and water efficiency measures,” explaining,” all measures will be carried out in coordination with users.”

Fiscal added, “in all Andalusian regions where there is a major problem of supply, a plan is pending,” explaining drought was “not a threat, it’s a reality.”

THOUSANDS OF Malaga residents have been trapped in traffic for hours after branches fell on one of the city’s main roads.

High winds and heavy rainfall have felled several trees and branches between El Palo and the centre of Malaga. Road-users spoke to one publication, sharing their experiences.

Javier Sanchez explained his wife had been forced to miss a hospital appointment after traffic accrued.

He said, “I left the balneario area at 10.10am and at 11.15am I was still stuck on paseo de los Curas. There were thousands of cars and all the lanes were occupied. If an ambulance had to pass it would have been impossible.”

Another driver, Jose Rodriguez, explained, “I left Pedregalejo with the children to go to the nursery. After 40 minutes without moving, I turned around,” describing the eastern part of Malaga as “absolute chaos.”

7

Officer remanded over killer crash

by Jemima Roberts A GUARDIA CIVIL officer will be kept in prison until his trial for reckless homicide.

A Torremolinos court has decreed the accused should remain behind bars until his trial for killing three people after it was agreed he constituted a flight risk.

The man is said to have killed three people and injured three others while driving high on alcohol and drugs on June 28. An expert report claimed he shows “rational signs of criminality,” and drove with “excess speed.”

The court also took into account the fact the man allegedly tried to flee the scene, as well as the “nature and seriousness of the alleged crimes,” and the “seriousness of the penalties that could be imposed on him.” It came to the conclusion he therefore posed “a real and serious risk of evasion” if freed.

Lawyers also argued the officer posed a risk

of “committing a crime again, given the serious narcotic addictions revealed, with the consequent risk to the roads and especially to other drivers and pedestrians.”

In August it was revealed 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 survivors were left 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.

School fines issue to be resolved MALAGA’S MAYOR has said an agreement will be reached after two schools were fined for excessive noise.

Mayor Francisco de la Torre said he hoped a resolution was imminent after the teachers’ board refused to agree its training schedule after two Malaga schools were handed €12,000 fines over noise made mainly while its students played basketball.

The politicians explained the council is speaking to the Junta de Andlaucia to “look for a solution to the sanctions,” and find a “fast” outcome.

He believes the fines could be withdrawn before tomorrow, although he maintains they were right to be given. He added he wanted to work with the teachers’ board to balance the rights of children to carry out sport in schools with residents not to be disrupted by noise pollution.

Last week it was reported the Board of Education had refused to extend its training schedule

after receiving a fine from Malaga Council.

The body was due to sign an agreement over training until it was handed a €12,000 fine over noise levels at two schools. Patricia Alba, Delegate for Education, said, “in the current circumstances I cannot put my signature on the agreement.”

The furore began when the Lex Flavia Malacitana and Felix Revello de Toro schools were fined for exceeding legal noise levels as children played sport. The Education board said the penalties represented “shameful and disgraceful disloyalty” on the part of the council.

Last month a union claimed lack of education personnel in Malaga is leaving gaps in schools. The Comisiones Obreras union said 76 vacancies in administrative positions are affecting leave cover as well as schools’ abilities to hire effectively.

The union said cleaners and kitchen staff are in short supply,

leading to high competition for staff. While the most urgent positions began to be filled at the beginning of the school year in September, other positions remain unfilled.

The news comes following complaints of a lack of teachers across Malaga province, leading to arguments over hiring decisions.

In September, teachers in Torremolinos complained potential jobs were being filled before interviews had even taken place.

Political parties, Partido Popular (PP) and Costa del Sol- Podemos criticised the PSOE-led council after it was claimed the name of one candidate had been listed as a teacher on a school’s class schedule while the hiring process was still ongoing. The politicians demanded the hiring system be suspended, claiming selection committees were made up of friends of certain applicants.

The town hall, however, claimed the irregularity was down to “human error.”

8

Market opening pushed back

HERE’S ONE I MADE EARLIER: How the market is expected to look

by Fabio Delucci ESTEPONA’S new gourmet market was planned to open before Christmas, but now, unforeseen archaeological work has pushed the grand opening into next year.

The works began in March and only recently has it been discovered that a new excavation will be required on Calle Villa.

Due to the proximity of the clock tower - declared of Cultural Interest (BIC) – to the excavation, it has been necessary to write a new archaeological plan.

Together with these delays, changes have

also been made to the original plans – the developer has decided the entire market will be covered.

The building will be covered with glass to allow shoppers to enjoy the views of the castle.

The market will also benefit from airconditioning.

These changes bring the budget for the works from €600,000 to just under €1 million.

The new gourmet market will be located in the old town, with a total of 28 stalls distributed across two floors – offering local, regional and national produce.

Four injured in collision

FOUR people have been injured after becoming trapped in their overturned car.

The accident, which took place on Avenida Lope de Vega in Malaga City, apparently involved a second vehicle, according to witnesses.

Members of Malaga’s fire services and Local Police, as well as workers from the

Public Health Emergencies Company, attended the scene, taking the injured to a health centre in the city.

More help for stroke victims

MALAGA’S Carlos Haya Hospital is doubling its capacity to deal with stroke victims.

The move will mean fewer patients will be sent to Cordoba to be treated after the hospital’s stroke section increased from four to eight beds.

Patients requiring a thrombectomy to remove a clot will now be able to be treated in Malaga in the evenings and weekends. So far the procedure- which can only take place within six hours of a stroke- has only been carried out from Monday to Friday in the morning. Last year, 14 patients instead had to be treated in Cordoba owing to Carlos Haya’s limited treatment times. Two new doctors have now been hired at the hospital to add to the existing two specialists at the unit.

The expanded section will open in the second half of January, benefiting around between 450 and 500 patients a year. The €60,000 project will see the unit fitted with the latest technology to monitor patients.

10

Outlet shopping

by Jemima Roberts THE OWNERS of Plaza Mayor have been told to build two more motorway lanes before opening their planned luxury outlet.

The Highway Development Unit has demanded the MA-20 be double in capacity in the direction of Torremolinos to avoid excessive queues reaching the new McArthurGlen Designer Outlet. Work on the almost €3 million road project could begin as soon as April and have been given a five month deadline.

Sonae Sierra and McArthurGlen, Plaza Mayor’s promoters, have also been told to build a new access road and roundabout to reduce congestion. Currently, queues are commonplace nearly every weekend,

with drivers often taking to the hard shoulder to access the Plaza Mayor site, which also houses Ikea, Bricomart and McDonalds.

Two further lanes will now be added for 1.8 kilometres between the Guadamar roundabout and Torremolinos. One lane will go directly to the outlet and another onto the roundabout, meaning drivers trying to reach Plaza Mayor do not have to give way.

It is anticipated the works will begin April and end in mid-October, when the new outlet is also due to open. Malaga Council has made it clear the outlet will not be allowed to open until the works are complete.

New species for Malaga A SCIENTIST has found a new species of parrot in Parque de Malaga.

Professor Antonio Roman discovered the choclero bird, which has never previously bred in the wild outside of its native South America, on the Costa del Sol.

Caravan fire leaves two injured

The scientist from the University of Malaga explained he had observed examples of the birds in couples and with their young, showing the bird can breed outside its normal habitat of Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru and Brazil.

He added, “we were able to observe adults feeding a chick on a tour with a group of students,” explaining the bird probably arrived in Spain legally as they can be bought in shops. He added, “Malaga is one of the most climatologically

A MAN and a woman have been hurt after a fire broke out in their caravan.

The 23-year-old man and 17year-old woman were left with cuts and fractures after their vehicle caught light while parked on a farm in Alora.

Members of the Provincial Fire Brigade, Local Police, Civil Protection team, and Public Health Emergency Company were dispatched to the blaze, which had already been extinguished.

appropriate places for birds that escape to find the conditions to survive and reproduce.”

The choclero joins three other species of parrot inhabiting Malaga’s trees. The most prolific is the Argentine parrot with more than

4,000 birds living in the city, followed by Kramer’s parrot, with around 130 to 140 examples. Finally, around five Senegalese parrots, which are easily identified by their striking yellow belly, have been found in Malaga.

11

Jail for Jihadi

Boy arrested for knifing family

by Jemima Roberts

PROSECUTORS are demanding eight years in prison for a man accused of working with Jihadists.

Malaga-based Elmedjeri is currently on trial for allegedly falsifying documents to help members of a terrorist cell travel to Mali, Syria and Lybia. He faces charges of collaborating with Jihadists alongside five others, who were arrested when their alleged terrorist cell was brought down by police in the Spanish enclave of Melilla.

The defendant, who is a resident of Malaga’s Las Delicias neighbourhood, is said to have kept precision instruments for falsifying documents at his home, including a stylus, ultraviolet lamp and sealants. Police claim the cell he was helping carried out “incessant work of facilitation” of jihadists between 2012 and March 2014.

Other defendants in the trial include the “promoter, director and coordinator” of the organisation.

AN 18-YEAR-OLD boy has been detained after stabbing his mother, sister and grandmother whilst on hallucinogens.

The man has been arrested for ill-treatment of his family and could face charges for attempted murder after consuming a hallucinogenic plant in Churriana and attacking them and police.

Officers were called to the scene where they found his 36-year-old mother bleeding from the neck, as well as his 64-yearold grandmother who had lacerations on her right arm and face. The boy’s 14-yearold sister had also received a head wound.

Local Police officers entered the property to scenes of blood and disarray, identifying the boy and attempting to arrest him. According to police he was “greatly agitated and responded very aggressively to police action.” He allegedly elbowed one officer before pouncing on a second. Police finally overpowered the boy before arresting him.

In interview the boy allegedly admitted taking a powder hallucinogenic named “San Pedro cactus” before beginning to behave in a “very strange” way. The boy is also said to have been examined by medical services who agreed he was in psychosis and sedated him.

Police allegedly found the knife used to carry out the attack in a bin around 30 metres away from the scene of the crime.

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Boy believed to have taken the San Pedro cactus hallucinogen Meanwhile, it was last week revealed a 17-year-old boy is facing eight years in prison for stabbing a man in a nightclub.

Prosecutors are asking a judge to place the boy in a reform centre for killing 44year-old Rafael RD in September at the Tropical Disco-karaoke in Arroyo de los Angeles.

Paramedics found the victim at 4am lying on a pavement. Initially believing he was drunk they soon realised he was lying in a pool of blood and had no pulse. The man was later found to have five stabs wounds, one in his chest and four in his back.

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The National Police began investigating and soon identified the man as a resident of La Palmilla who held several criminal records.

After initially struggling to find witnesses as they had fled when the stabbing occurred, police eventually gathered enough evidence to carry out a reconstruction of the event.

They found three people had tried to enter the club earlier that night but were refused as two of them were underage.

The victim, who happened to be near the argument, supposedly made a comment agreeing with the bouncer.

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12

Two arrested over €30,000 theft

Woman injured in crash

A 35-YEAR-OLD woman has been hurt after her car overturned near Limonar.

The victim was travelling across a roundabout off the A-7 at around 10am when the accident occurred in front of a petrol station. Members of the Guardia Civil and health services attended the scene.

The woman was taken to the Carlos Haya Hospital to be treated for bruises and is not believed to be in a serious condition.

by Jemima Roberts A CZECH man and a Kosovan man have been arrested for stealing thousands of Euros and Rubles at Malaga Airport.

A 58-year-old Czech man and a 39-yearold Kosovan have been charged with nine thefts including taking €30,000, 30,000 Rubles and £450 from tourists waiting at the airport.

Police caught the pair as they allegedly prepared to strike again, distracting their victims while robbing them. They are said to have used a car parked outside the airport to make their getaways.

Officers located their car with its keys hidden in the chassis and also seized five computers, three watches, two high-end mobile phones, two designer bags, jewellery and several electrical goods.

Last month, officers from the Guardia Civil seized more than 5,550 boxes of illegal tobacco at Malaga Airport.

The agents intercepted the tobacco, which was made by two different brands, across two raids on October 12 and 30, finding the haul amongst the luggage of three people preparing to fly to London.

As the luggage was being loaded onto the plane, a suitcase opened and large amounts of tobacco were found inside.

Officers tracked down the suitcase’s owner, ascertaining he had checked in two other pieces of luggage and finding two other people had checked in with him. In total, they found nine bags belonging to the passengers who were all headed to Stanstead Airport in the UK. Around €10,000 of tobacco was found,

weighing around 148 kilos in total across 2,960 packages.

The British nationals were all charged with smuggling and were forced to hand over the tobacco to customs at Malaga Airport.

Two further passengers were intercepted on October 30 carrying 5,560 boxes of tobacco headed for Rome. Officers investigated them for smuggling and seized the tobacco.

Kiev Ballet presents Swan Lake

TICKETS are still available to see Kiev Ballet perform Swan Lake at The Estepona Auditorium on Wednesday January 3.

A romantic setting, magnificent choreography and an unforgettable fairytale story of doomed love combine to make Swan

Lake the ultimate classical ballet, acclaimed by audiences worldwide.

At a secluded lake near the royal palace, Prince Siegfried discovers Odette, a beautiful girl transformed into a swan by the evil sorcerer Von Rothbart. The spell can only be broken

when a man pledges his eternal love and Siegfried, instantly enraptured vows to release Odette from her captivity.

However, at the prince’s birthday ball, Von Rothbart tricks Siegfried into swearing his love for the sorcerer’s daughter Odile, disguised as the mirrorimage of Odette. Too late, the prince sees a vision of his real beloved; he knows that only the lovers’ death can lift the curse and unite them for all time.

The virtuous double role of Odette/Odile, Tchaikovsky’s powerful score and one of the greatest pas de deux in the whole ballet repertoire all unite to make Swan Lake an unmissable experience.

Kiev Ballet is one of the most famous Ukrainian ballets. The ballet has performed in some of the most renowned venues such as The Theatre du Leman and the National Theatre in Switzerland.

Tickets available via http://www. auditorioestepona.com/.

14

Have your Say!

Flights cancelled A popular post this week is “How to cook the

perfect turkey on Christmas Day” which has reached over 1,800 people.

Rita Taylor Young “I once cooked a turkey and kept looking for a funny smell then I found out I had left the plastic bag with the giblets inside it”

@RTNNewspaper

Our most liked posts from this week New York Police Department responds to reports of an explosion.

How to cook the perfect turkey on Christmas Day Fake worker scams €35,000 from elderly woman Banco Santander cuts incentives The Rooster Bar - By John Grisham

by Richard Johnson SIX FLIGHTS at Malaga Airport were affected by this week’s storms.

Three flights to Amsterdam and London were cancelled, while another to Santiago de Compostela was forced to return to Malaga after takeoff due to bad weather.

Two Ryanair flights from Frankfurt to Malaga were also cancelled, while a flight from Valencia to Seville was diverted to Malaga due to fog.

Last month, staff at Malaga Airport demanded more air traffic controllers due to an increase in flights. The union asked for around 20 more employees after an increase in air traf-

fic has caused a “complicated situation.”

The request was made at a Union of Air Traffic Controllers (USCA) event in the Melia hotel, Torremolinos, where representatives claimed its existing work force was ageing and also having to deal with more flights, leading to their service falling below “the expected quality.”

Raul Delgado, their representative, said “at least a 25 per cent” increase in staff was necessary, bringing the number of controllers to 95 to meet the new demand. He added, “with the current number of staff at the Malaga control tower we cannot meet the airport’s plans to open a second runway up to 16 hours a day

Train crash investigation begins

A COURT has started looking into the MalagaSeville train derailment.

The Seville court has now received a police report and has asked Renfe and the Train Infrastructure Administration (Adif) to hand over the black box after 37 people were injured in the crash.

Sources say the court will ask Renfe and Adif for several reports about the train’s state before it derailed shortly after the line was reopened after flooding. The judge is also expected to ask Renfe for information on, “the influence of the weather situation as well as the content of the black box that will indicate, among other data, the speed” at which the train was travelling.

Last week it was revealed a group of people injured when a train derailed between Malaga

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next summer.”

In August, air traffic control staff were forced to step in after a British father and his son allegedly dazzled pilots with laser pointers. If found guilty, the men, aged 41 and 15, could be handed fines of between €30,000 and €600,000 for breaching the Citizen Security Law, according to the Provincial Commissary.

The accused were identified by an off-duty National Police officer who was staying at the same hotel, the Don Pablo de Torremolinos. The policeman allegedly saw two people on a sixth-floor terrace pointing lasers “indiscriminately” in the air and at three planes, as well as vehicles driving in the area at around 11pm.

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and Seville are planning to sue the department responsible.

A firm of lawyers are now hoping other victims will join the suit after four of the 37 people harmed in the accident are taking action against Adif.

Firm Osuna Abogados claims there was a “malfunction,” and, “bad performance” of the train because of heavy rainfall and that Adif has “administrative responsibilities” for the accident. The lawyers say the train should have either stopped or be going very slowly due to the weather.

One lawyer claimed, “it seems that it should never have been agreed that the train would go down the track in the terrible conditions it was in or, if it did, it would have to be very slow. None of the measures was adopted. “

In response to the legal action, Adif told one publication the Renfe tickets bought for the journey include passenger insurance.

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The National Police officer called 091, telling his colleagues about the incident. A patrol car was sent to the hotel, where staff helped the police locate the room of the accused, which officers then searched, finding small, green laser pointers.

Police confiscated the pens and took statements from the two, who apparently accepted their guilt, according to media reports.

At the same time as the incident, several pilots alerted Malaga Airport’s air traffic control tower they had been dazzled by lasers, saying they believed they came from the Bajondillo area, where the hotel is. It is not believed anyone was injured in the incident.

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16

Lack of accessible taxis

by Jemima Roberts MALAGA PROVINCE does not have enough adapted taxis to meet legal requirements.

By law, at least 5 per cent of taxis should be accessible for people with disabilities, but it seems the majorty of the province’s large coastal areas still do not have enough.

The regulation, which came into at in December 2007, gave municipalities 10 years to enact the change. The deadline is now up and it seems only Malaga City, Estepona and Marbella have reached targets, with all other large municipalities falling short of the required number, including Velez Malaga, Mijas, Torremolinos, Fuengirola and Benalmadena.

In the last two years, in a bid to increase numbers, Malaga Council began granting licences for vehicles holding between seven and nine people, providing they were adapted for those with mobility problems.

The increase in larger capacity cabs caused controversy, however. In September, following a city-wide taxi strike the month before, Malaga Council was forced to agree a compromise with cabbies over multi-passenger taxis.

The council agreed not to give licences to taxis with more than seven seats after it was claimed an increasing number of cabs were taking larger groups. A study will now be commissioned into the impact of larger vehicles on Malaga’s 1,432 licenced taxi drivers and their users.

Currently 83 cars have a licence to offer taxi services to between seven and nine people, a

figure which will now remain the same during a two-year moratorium on offering further licences for larger vehicles.

Last month, taxi drivers staged another strike over the proliferation of private hire vehicles. The strike, which took place between 6am on Wednesday and 6pm yesterday, also saw cabbies take to Madrid’s streets in protest over private hire firms.

Unions agreed a minimum of 25 per cent of drivers would continue to work, although Malaga’s taxis decided to raise the amount to 50 per cent.

Jose Royon, president of the Costa del Sol Confederation of Taxis and the Malaga Unified Autonomous Association of Taxis, explained, “we cannot leave the city abandoned so we have decided that half the fleet will be operations, which we think is enough to cover demand without any problems.”

In August, a five-day strike, also over private hire vehicles, caused travel chaos in the city at one of the busiest times of the year. Taxi drivers refused to work at Malaga Airport, instead sitting in their vehicles to protest the success of private taxi firm Cabify.

Vandals hit ambulance

A MALAGA ambulance has had its windscreen smashed after vandals threw a rock at the driver.

The Guardia Civil are now investigating after Jorge, an emergency technician, told them a rock was thrown at him as he made an emergency transfer from Torremolinos to Malaga’s Clinico Hospital alongside a nurse and a doctor.

He explained, “I noticed an explosion in my head, like a shot and felt like something brushed my head, hit the headrest and fell to the ground.” The act of vandalism left the ambulance full of shattered glass, although, “miraculously, no one was hurt.”

Jorge pulled the vehicle over and searched the area, trying to find who threw the rock but was unable to find anyone. Members of the National and Local Police, as well as the Guardia Civil, attended the scene.

17

New cocaine route uncovered

by Pippa Harris THE GUARDIA CIVIL have smashed a criminal ring using a new route to smuggle cocaine from Brazil to Spain.

Officers have arrested four people in Malaga and seized around 11 kilos of the narcotic under operation Banca Latvia, which discovered the organisation was smuggling cocaine through Morocco, a route not previously used.

Working with police in Madrid, officers found the group were flying smugglers from Brazil to Morocco and then on to Spain using suitcases with false bottoms.

The Guardia Civil found the organisation had recruited mules from various different countries, flying some people from Madrid to Buenos Aires and then on to Brazil where they would be given a ticket for Morocco and then Malaga.

Last month, a Spanish man was detained

1,000 kilos of avocados saved

POLICE in Velez Malaga have foiled two attempts to steal around 1,000 kilos of avocados.

Three people have now been arrested after a farmer complained two men had been caught taking the fruit. When confronted by a neighbour they allegedly tried to run him over. The men, two brothers,

in France for smuggling one ton of cannabis from Malaga. The 35-year-old is being held after his truck was searched by officers in Montmarault near Lyon. Police say he was stopped due to collaboration between the Spanish and French authorities.

Also in November, a man was arrested in Malaga for importing 65 kilos of cocaine.

The accused has been handed over to a court in Alegciras and police have not ruled out further arrests after they discovered the drugs at Algeciras port.

Officers from the Tax Agency and Guardia Civil seized the narcotics after becoming suspicious of a shipment. Using a non-intrusive scanner, officers discovered the cocaine had been hidden in eight small metal cylinders covered in lead.

The scanner showed officers the shipment’s contents did not match their description and they began to examine the objects.

Looking into the cylinders, they found pills which, when tested, where found to be co-

were eventually located by police and arrested.

Police also received a call alerting them to the theft of avocados at a plot in Velez Malaga. On arriving at the scene, they were told two people had fled on foot when caught stealing. Officers found they had left bags of avocados weighting 700 kilos.

caine.

Police tracked the shipment back to a company on an industrial estate in Malaga and discovered the property did not seem to be used for commercial operations.

Meanwhile in October, police began investigating another company in Malaga after finding 1,109 kilos of cocaine hidden in cargo containers.

The drugs, which have now been seized, were discovered concealed among an order of plasterboard panels being shipped from Colombia to the Malaga-based construction company. The tax office, National Police, German customs office and Spanish branch of the American Drug Enforcement Administration began working together in August thanks to a tip off about an international crime organisation.

Their investigations led them to the construction company, whose headquarters are in Seville, and the discovery of the shipment.

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More judges needed

by Jemima Roberts A MALAGA judge has said at least 30 more judges are needed in the city.

Jose Maria Paez, Dean Judge of Malaga, has been re-elected for the third time and has lost no time in setting out what the city’s justice system needs.

In an interview with a Spanish newspaper, Paez explained, “the priority project is to increase the number of judges, since we are still very few. Spain has a number of magistrates well below the European average and thus it is impossible to give an answer with a minimum quality in a reasonable time.”

The judge added Malaga’s judicial system also needed more funds, as well as improvements to some courts.

In May, the Malaga Bar Association warned

more courts would need to be opened to deal with the influx of floor clause mortgage cases.

Jose Maria Paez,”unless more resources are allocated, it will be very difficult to process this number of demands without incurring big delays.” A second specialist court to deal with these claims is planned for Malaga but no date has yet been announced. Jose Maria Paez believes at least another four may be necessary to deal with the weight of cases.

The group says the use of just one specially-appointed court to deal with these claims as led to significant delays, hindering justice and leaving claimants with years to wait before their case will be heard. The Malaga Bar Assocation says the plant, which was put in place to expedite these claims, has failed and site the 2,100 cases lodged since June 1 as evidence the court is overburdened. It also

Age Concern spreads the cheer at Christmas

On Friday 8th and Saturday 9th December Age Concern were present at Overseas Supermarkets in San Fulgencio selling raffle tickets for some truly fantastic prizes. Customers of the supermarket were so very generous in not only buying raffle tickets but giving monetary donations.

A staggering amount of €662.62 was raised which will go to the upkeep of all the many services and mobility aids Age Concern offer to the over 50’s on the Southern Costa Blanca.

warns having one central court in Malaga limits justice to those living in remote areas of the province.

Belen Rincon, a lawyer specialising in bank claims, also explained more claimants than expected were forced to take their cases to court after banks have been reluctant to pay out. He claimed as a result, “it is estimated that the limit of cases that can be treated by a standard court a year is 1,700 or 1,800; after that it collapses.”

Floor clause claims have featured heavily in the news in recent months after several court rulings have allowed anyone who paid unexpectedly high amounts of interest on their mortgage to claim the money back.

After a European Court of Justice ruling last December, people who believe they were sold a floor clause mortgage have been able to claim the money back

SITUATIONS VACANT: Malaga needs to recruit more judges

Council furore over missing €800,000 OPPOSITION politicians have accused Fuengirola Council of neglecting to collect almost €1 million from companies.

Ciudadanos have said the council gave away land to several companies without collecting the €800,000 it was worth, instead allowing the sums to be paid off through public works. The party further claims there is no paperwork to show how much

work was carried out by these companies and it is therefore impossible to know whether the full value was repaid.

In turn, the council says it was “compensated” for the plots of land it gave away “by the realisation of public works of value equal or greater than the agreed compensation, which in those years was a valid form of compliance.”

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Jail for cat poisoners

by Richard Johnson PROSECUTORS are asking for prison for a man and a woman accused of poisoning cats in Malaga.

The pair are on trial for killing five of their neighbour’s eight cats, allegedly putting poison in balls of meat.

Prosecutors allege the couple “threw balls of raw poisoned meat” over the dividing wall of their neighbour’s home in March 2011 with the “intent to end”” the lives of his cats. His animals quickly ate the meat, with five dying. The other three were saved after their owner intervened.

Last month it was revealed around 50 residents had gathered in San Pedro to demand the council puts an end to the spate of pet poisonings.

Opposition politicians and several animal organisations also joined the protest after locals from Marbella and San Pedro became outraged after dogs and cats were killed by poison.

The problem has grown over the year with more than 10 dogs dying in Marbella in one a week in September. One dog was killed after eating poison in a playground in La Campana, forcing police to close the park. The play area on Avenida Miguel de Cervantes is used by residents with and without pets, as well as children.

A resident, Francisco Montijano, told a publication, “in addition to animals, it could affect some of the children who play there

Lorry horror crash shocks costa A 58-YEAR-OLD man has died after his truck overturned in Mijas.

The vehicle, which was full of tomatoes, broke through a barrier on the A-7 in La Cala de Mijas, falling several metres down an embankment onto a beach. The driver, who was trapped inside the cabin, was found dead by firemen.

Around two kilometres of traffic jams in the direction of Malaga followed the incident, leaving drivers stranded for several hours as workers recovered the man’s body and the truck.

Couple accused of poisoning 8 cats every day.” Other neighbours told media outlets the poison comes in a “barely perceptible” liquid form, and have speculated the poison may have been left in three locations.

Police have collected samples of the liquid but residents remain concerned, telling one publication, “we are afraid to take our dogs out and have to walk them with our eyes peeled to stop them from going into the undergrowth and eating something which could kill them.” Mr Montijano added, “we are checking the area on a daily basis to make our walks safe we but are frightened

someone will start spreading the poison further afield.”

In July it was revealed The Guardia Civil’s Nature Protection Service (Seprona) was investigating the appearance of pesticides disguised as dog treats around Torremolinos.

The officers warned the crime, which was reported by residents, carries a fine of up to €300,000 and up to two years in prison.

Police also warned dog and cat owners the poison, which has been strategically placed in areas frequented by animals, could be lethal and also poses a threat to children.

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News from around Europe NETHERLANDS Teen moms THE NETHERLANDS has the lowest rate of teenage motherhood in the entire EU, the national statistics office CBS said on Monday. In total, 1,492 girls below the age of 21 gave birth in the Netherlands last year – a record low.

Breaking the rules ABOUT ONE THIRD of the packaging used in the Netherlands is difficult to recycle and is often contaminated with PVC, even though this has been banned because of the environmental risk, ac-

cording to researchers at Wageningen University.

25 years on POLICE have arrested a man in connection with the rape and murder of a young woman 25 years ago after taking DNA samples from more than 100 men. The breakthrough in the case of 19-year-old Milica van Doorn was announced on Monday morning.

Hands up THE LEADER of motorbike gang No Surrender has been arrested on charges of assault, blackmail, rob-

bery with violence and forgery, the police said on Tuesday morning. Henk Kuiper, 53, was arrested at his home in Emmen in Drenthe, the police statement said.

Something suspicious INTERPOL has been asked to investigate the death of a Dutch teenager who fell from the 20th floor of an apartment block in Kuala Lumpur last week.

18-year-old Ivana Smit was naked when she fell 42 metres and onto a sixth-floor balcony of the building in the Malaysian capital.

FRANCE Mobile phone ban FRANCE’S EDUCATION MINISTER recently announced that mobile phones will be banned from primary, junior, and middle schools, calling it a matter of “public health.” While phones are already prohibited in classrooms in France, starting in September 2018 students won’t be allowed to use them on breaks, at lunch, or between lessons either.

Coming together POLICE arrested a man in connection with the jihadist murder of a police couple after his DNA was matched to traces found in their home near Paris.

The 24-year-old has been linked to a Daesh extremist Larossi Aballa who claimed the June 2016 attack before being killed by police in a shootout.

Desperate measures A FRENCH COUPLE have gone on trial

Games on Iceland GAME of Thrones‘ 8th season will partially be shot in Iceland next February. It is expected that the crew and cast will spend at least a few days in Iceland and will depend on where there is enough snow for them to shoot their scenes.

Good Samaritan murdered KLEVIS Sula, a 20-yearold man who died of his injuries following a stabbing at Austurvöllur square a week ago had been attempting to help the attacker whom he found sobbing alone in the square. Police have arrested the

You’ve got it wrong THREE MORE Russian athletes - biathlete Olga Zaytseva and cross-country skiers Yulia Chekaleva and Anastasia Dotsenko - are appealing lifetime bans from the Olympics that were imposed in connection with doping practices uncovered at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has said.

Anti-government activities RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES have blocked access to the website of Open Russia, a democracy and civil-society group founded by former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky. The move was the latest against Open Russia, with prosecutors accusing the group of conducting “anti-government activities.”

Going home RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN has ordered the withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria. He announced the move during his first visit to the country, as he arrived

accused of causing the death of their 13-month baby by allegedly putting antidepressants and tranquillisers in her bottle to stop her crying.

Bla bla pervert A 52-YEAR-OLD FRENCHMAN is on trial accused of eight sexual assaults on young women he drugged with chocolate mixed with tranquilisers after they signed up to travel with him in his car via ride-sharing app Bla Bla Car. RIP Johnny HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of people lined the streets of Paris last Saturday to bid farewell to the French rock star Johnny Hallyday, who died last week at the age of 74 after a battle with lung cancer. His coffin was driven in a cortege down the Champs-Elysees followed by hundreds of leather-clad bikers.

ICELAND suspect, an Icelander, and are using security camera footage as evidence.

It’s Oh So possible...

A PROPOSAL was made at the City of Reykjavik’s last cultural and tourism board meeting to raise a statue of Icelandic artist Björk at Harpa Conference Centre and Concert Hall. Björk, famous for It’s Oh so Quiet put Iceland on the world music map.

Eruption concerns remain THE ICE cauldron in the Öræfajökull caldera continues to deepen and become larger

as geothermal heat increases. This is shown by new measurements in the ice cauldron and these findings were presented at a meeting of the science unit of the Icelandic Civil Protection.

A Sonic decision for Bernie BERNIE the African hedgehog is the first hedgehog ever to have been imported to Iceland. His owner is Eszter Tekla Fekete who moved to Iceland with her family from Hungary. She has owned Bernie since 2015 and her family have waited over a year for permission.

RUSSIA with no advance notice at Khmeimim Airbase in Syria’s Latakia province on Monday morning.

Disruptive behaviour MEMBERS of a Russian nationalist group disrupted the screening in Moscow of a film about the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine. The movie Bullet’s Flight was due to be screened in the Oktyabr movie theatre last weekend, but reports said several individuals sprayed an acrid liquid in the hall, prompting an evacuation.

Flights resume RUSSIA’S TRANSPORT MINISTER has announced Moscow is ready to resume direct flights to Egypt, more than two years after a Russian passenger plane crashed as it left Sharm el-Sheikh airport. Maxim Sokolov said the paperwork could be signed as early as this week, with flights between Cairo and Moscow beginning in February.

SCANDINAVIA Plastic to fabric RATHER than plastic, all shoppers on the Danish island of Samsø will from next year be asked to use shopping bags made of fabric. “We are avoiding plastic carrier bags in the entire trade sector,” project leader Gunnar Mikkelsen of Samsø Municipality.

Yes to beavers HOLSTEBRO City Court has ruled against local land owner Find AndersenFruedahl in a civil law suit against the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (Miljøstyrelsen).

Andersen-Fruedahl had sued the agency for between 200,000 and

300,000 over damage caused to his property by a number of gnawing beavers.

Dogs for life...for ever RESEARCHERS at Uppsala University in Sweden conducted a huge study revealing that dog owners have a lower risk of dying compared to non-pet owners. The study followed 3.4 million Swedes, some of whom owned dogs and some of whom didn’t.

It’s true...honestly!

THE LANGUAGE Council of Norway has pronounced ‘fake news’ (falske nyheter) as the new Norwegian word of the year. The expression made famous during the 2016 US election

beat other neologisms including ‘Swedish conditions’ (svenske tilstander), ‘October child’ (oktoberbarn) and ‘purple voter’ (lillavelger) to the award.

Migrant study IMMIGRANTS, their descendants and ethnic minorities continue to face widespread discrimination across the European Union, finds a survey conducted by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) based in Finland. A total of 25,500 randomly selected firstand second-generation immigrants and members of ethnic minorities were interviewed.

GERMANY USA for Europe THE LEADER of Germany’s Social Democratic party has put down his red lines for talks to form another coalition government with Angela Merkel. In a speech at the SPD’s party conference in Berlin, Martin Schulz called for the creation of a “United States of Europe” by 2025.

Major train collision POLICE said that several people have been injured – some local media reporting as many as 50 - after a passenger train and a freight train collided near Düsseldorf.

The incident occurred near a train station in the town of Meerbusch and emergency crews helped people from the wreckage.

Berlin flag protest INTERIOR Minister Thomas de Maizière has sharply condemned the burning of Israeli flags during anti-Israel protests in Berlin. Israeli flags were burned at the Brandenburg Gate

during a pro-Palestinian demonstration against US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Terrorist false alarm POLICE were alerted on Sunday afternoon after the tenant of a building in the Charlottenburg neighbourhood reported having found ammunition hidden behind some tires in the underground car park. According to a police spokesman, it is probably coincidental that the 7.65 calibre bullets were discovered close to a Christmas market.

New village owner THE ONLY bidder at an unusual auction put down €140,000 and walked away the new owner of a small slice of German history: the village of Alwine, population 20. Its empty homes and ageing residents mirror the wider fate of the excommunist east German hinterlands since the country’s reunification 27 years ago.

24

Happy British killmas by

Michael Walsh

keyboardcosmetics@ gmail.com The opinions published in Mike´s weekly column are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or newspaper sponsors.

As Britain transforms into a multiracial nation tens of thousands of Britons face unnecessary death through deprivation of basic necessities. Cold weather related deaths in the UK have hit a 15-year high, shocking official figures show.

Last winter saw the highest number of hypothermia related casualties since the turn of the millennium.

Those worst affected are the elderly who now face a heat or eat dilemma.

Whichever they choose they lose but for government and the Grim Reaper it is a win-win situation.

British workers, directly or indirectly, are taxed 48% on every penny they earn through their working lives. For fifty of their productive year’s government is a burden to them. They go without so government doesn’t go short. These wage slaves are worn out and unproductive by the time men and women reach retirement at 66 years of age (from 2018).

Having nothing else to give the retired become a burden on government. At this point the government has no further interest in them or their life expectancy.

The colder gets the weather the greater the relief of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. But, there will be no cold-related health problems for MPs as 78 per cent of them are millionaires, some many times over.

There were almost 44,000 unneces-

sary British deaths between December and March last year, the largest annual rise in such figures for almost five decades. In 2012/13 there were 31,000 extra coffins filled by early culled pensioners.

Experts said the failure of the flu vaccine last year, which was only effective in 3 per cent cases, was one of the key factors behind the deaths. But, Big Pharma’s profits are healthy as are the elite’s shares in that industry. Charities raise concern that the death toll could rise this year. Britain’s 300 plus crematoria will struggle to cope.

The report from the Office of National Statistics show the number of premature deaths in 2014/15 the highest since 1999/00, with 27 per cent more people dying unnecessarily of hypothermia in the winter months compared with the non-winter months.

There were more than twice as many excess winter deaths than the previous year, when there were 17,460 deaths caused by lack of heating. The 151% rise is the biggest annual increase since 1967.

The number of cold-related deaths began to climb in December 2014 and peaked on 1 January 2015 with New Year’s Day seeing the number of excess deaths a third higher than average. Their years of pasture cruelly cut short the retired prematurely meet early death as a consequence of government indifference or government having ‘higher priorities’.

Life expectancy is getting longer but can we afford it

Ok Santa, you win by

Colin Bird The opinions published in Colin’s weekly column are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or newspaper sponsors.

Many years ago, when work was scarce and times were hard - a time when the Princess and I had barely established ourselves in our dream cottage in the heart of the countryside, and desperately wanted to avoid re-locating back to town where employment was a more realistic prospect - I was offered the part time position of village postman.

It wasn’t much, but it would provide a lifeline.

I saw it as a temporary measure and much to my eternal shame, regarded it as a tad demeaning having been made redundant from a well paid job that carried with it perks including a company car and expense account.

But I quickly learned a hard lesson in humility and came to realise that as important as money is, job satisfaction and happiness are priceless commodities.

Not only did I come to enjoy the task, it also provided an environment where there was no work related stress – a new experience for me – and having been given a dedicated village round, it meant that I was never more than a mile from home.

The job soon became much busier and a full time position, and since I no longer had the inclination to move on, I remained the village postie until retirement twenty one years later.

I knew every house and its occupants, made many new friends and at times provided a grocery and pension service to several of the local ageing residents who found it difficult to get out.

I even had the temerity to put myself forward for the Parish Council, and having polled the most votes, it shook many of the old established councillors rigid, especially our sherry loving vicar who I transplanted. But it was simply all down to a familiar and friendly face seen every morning, six days a week, at people’s front doors.

A sizeable tome could be written about my observations and the funny and sometimes strange experi-

ences over those years, but my most memorable times always revolved around the Christmas period.

Although by far the busiest and most hectic time of the year, often starting and finishing in darkness, December was my favourite month by far, and I always looked forward to it with great anticipation.

With almost every house given over to the spirit of the season by way of fairy lights, outsize baubles and at times, complex displays of life size Father Christmases, reindeer and sleighs, the atmosphere was wonderful.

One particular house owned a three foot high Santa Clause that they hung on the front door every year, and was obviously of American manufacture. He was no ordinary Santa, but was fitted with a sensor that could detect movement.

Whenever I approached the house, the magic eye would pick me up and he would break into song with a heavy New York accent.

He had a full repertoire from Tah Foist Noel to We Tree Kinks which were always preceded with a ‘Ho Ho Ho, Meeeerry Christmas’ greeting.

This got a bit much over several weeks and became somewhat of an obsession as I tried to devise ways to outwit the damn thing and manage to arrive at the letter box without triggering another song. But whatever wheeze I came up with, it never worked.

Then on my final Christmas Eve, I decided to give it a last concerted effort to defeat my red and white clad adversary from the Bronx.

I cautiously entered the drive and like Secret squirrel, flattened myself against the garden wall and worked my way slowly in a circuitous route via the front wall of the building, to the door I was about to triumphantly shove the bundle of cards through the letter box, when the door flew open and the owners of the property appeared brandishing my annual Christmas bottle and card, verbally show-

25

ering me with seasonal wishes.

Of course the flurry of movement triggered the plastic New Yorker and off he went with a rendition of: ‘Hack tah Heralt Anchels Sing’.

The owners laughed themselves silly because it transpired that not only had they been aware of my antics over the weeks, but had also witnessed my SAS style manoeuvre from an upstairs window minutes earlier.

So having come so close to victory after several years of trying, I had to finally admit defeat.

But you know what?

I actually miss that old devil.

CAUGHT: Will get you this time as well postie!

26

The way I see it… by

Harvey Mann The opinions published in Harvey’s weekly column are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or newspaper sponsors.

T’is the season to be jolly, Fa, la, la, la, la, etc, etc.

Yes! This is season of good will, you may call me Ebenezer Scrooge, but let me fill you in on a few facts, that you could say has come straight from the pantomime horse’s mouth.

Finally, the great British government has woken up to the cost of overseas spending, after £12 million of tax payer’s money to fund an aid project in Syria is halted, after fears it may end up in the hands of terrorists.

This after many other aid projects had already been given to governments and countries that use the money in illegal or illicit ways to keep their inhabitants in extremely appalling conditions.

An almost secret government office called the CSSF, known by the few as the Conflict, Stability, and Security Fund, this department receives money from the Overseas Development Fund, this the ministerial part of government that spends our hard-earned money, by giving it away more often than not to countries supposedly helping them in their hour of need. However, it often ends up helping karaoke groups, samba dancing and buying poles for limbo dancing?

An eye watering amount of money has been given away by the British (tax payers) who are still trying to rule the world as we did during our Commonwealth days, during that time we took from most of Africa, India and some of the far East, we marched around in uniforms covered in gold braid and white plumes in our hats, looking rather grand.

Gone are those days, as we still try to look like the upper echelons of world domination, but to do this we have to

dig deep, very deep, throwing money to the left and then to the right.

I have seen the ends of some of this money that has been given to countries such as The Sudan, Rwanda and Tanzania, yes! you could say that this is just a handful of examples, but believe me I know it happens in many other places.

OK let me give you my first insight into The Sudan. As an unpaid escort, I was responsible to take 25 lorries carrying 600 hundred tons of grain from Kampala into Uganda to a place called Ayod where we unloaded the trucks at a UN staging post, Ayod does not exist on any map.

There had been a war raging almost since the days General Gordon fell to the Mahdi Khartoum in 1885, now for many years skirmishes between the Islamic north and the mainly Christian (thanks to the British rule) south with many thousands of people killed maimed, women raped, villages burned to the ground, men and boys kidnapped and press ganged into fighting, often for the notorious? Peoples Sudanese Liberation army, these are a ragtag band of men once led by a Sudanese educated in America, and then a splinter group led by a man with an impeccable British accent, guess where he was educated.

Much of the money that has been donated to the Sudan, for so called help to the poor and needy have ended up on both sides, in many cases to further the fighting in this ravaged country.

I travelled around 12 hundred miles with the lorries, we took salt and kegs of soap to give to people in the villages, as they have no shops, this made money worthless in almost all of the areas, not surprisingly,

men and boys were armed, wore uniforms, some even had boots, others wore trainers.

In Rwanda, I lived in the Virunga mountains with the huge silverback gorillas, as part of a programme to raise the worlds awareness in saving the almost extinct mountain gorillas.

In April 1994, I was woken by gunfire and screaming coming from the streets outside, I looked out to see bodies covered in blood, men running some firing guns other swinging machetes above their heads.

This was the outbreak of one of the worst ethnic cleansing civil war outrages in modern times, in three months almost one million people were killed many by their own relatives, The cause? Some funds given to the Democratic of the Congo the neighbouring country to Rwanda, was passed onto Hutu militia, to kill members of the opposing Tutsi tribe, relatives from inter-married families were killing each other in the streets, even babies were being hacked to death.

I managed to get out of the country, after a few weeks, as I had UN papers. The money

given to the D.R.C come from the British overseas budget to be used on farming projects.

Next, I had been working with the Tanzanian army to catch the King of the Elephant poachers in the Selous. £50,000 pounds given out from the overseas development to a well-known charity to buy a high-speed boat to chase poachers on the Rufiji river disappeared after it was discovered that the part of the river that the boat was going to be used had been dry for at least 3 years.

That is just a small example that I have seen with my own eyes. The waste by the British overseas development Fund has been astronomical, they mainly rely on the words of NGOs, who often or

not in some cases are getting backhanders or some kind of reward for not always giving the right information. Yes, we were Great Britain once, but it is about time we pulled in our horns and stop giving away tax payers money, including the huge sum that the E.U are asking for, we are much better than almost all of the European countries put together, we will survive as the E.U. are going to face a major crisis a few years ahead. We are still great but no longer with a capital G, and we can become bigger and better and more financially stable, if we stop giving to, karaoke training, samba dancing training, and let the limbo dancers find other sticks to dance under.

28

Irregular gerunds Basic Spanish for everyday needs by

Jane Cronin

Last week I promised, or possibly threatened, that we would look at irregular gerunds. That sounds a lot worse than it is, honestly!

First as a quick recap, a gerund, or present participle, is the equivalent in Spanish of the English “– ing” word. “Running”, “jumping”, “playing” are all gerunds in English. To make one of these things in Spanish we must change verbs that end in “-ar” in the infinitive to an “-ando” ending. We do this by changing only the “ar” part of the verb. The other part is the root of the verb which remains unchanged, irrespective of whether it consists of just one letter or many letters. Verbs that end in “-er” or “-ir” in the infinitive make a similar change with those two letters becoming “-iendo”.

We have also seen how these gerunds combine with the verb “estar” to produce a verb tense that refers to actions in the present moment. Thus we can make statements like: “Estoy escribiendo” (I am writing), “estamos estudiando” (we are studying”, “están hablando” (they are speaking) and so on.

Now I have to tell you that there are just a few verbs which produce very minor changes in the gerund.

The changes are really quite negligible, to the point where, if we missed them completely when speaking, it would hardly be noticed.

irregular gerunds

vas leyendo

Firstly, the verb “dormir” (to sleep). When we change this to a gerund, we make the usual –ir to –iendo change, but we make a one-letter change to the root, giving us the word “durmiendo” (sleeping).

Another verb which does exactly the same thing is “morir” to die. “Dying” is therefore “muriendo”.

Secondly, there are a few other verbs ending in –ir when make a root change from “e” to “i” in the gerund. Here they – “pedir” (to order, to ask for) becomes “pidiendo”; “decir” (to say, to tell) becomes “diciendo”; “venir” (to come) becomes “viniendo”; “seguir” (to follow, to continue) becomes “siguiendo”; “repetir” (to repeat) becomes “repitiendo” and “medir” (to measure) becomes “midiendo”.

Well, that’s about as scary as gerunds get. As I’ve already said, a principle use of the gerund is with the verb “estar” to talk about present actions. However, we do find the gerund used in other ways. One interesting use is in conjunction with the verb “ir” (to go).

For example we can say “voy aprendiendo”. The literal translation of this would be “I go learning”, but what it actually means is that “I am gradually learning”. The use of the verb “ir” here gives the meaning of something occurring as a gradual process. “Va descrubriendo” (“he or she is gradually discovering”),

“vas leyendo” (you are reading gradually). To any of these we might add a phrase such as “poco a poco” (little by little) – “voy entendiendo poco a poco” (I am gradually understanding, little by little).

We can also add the gerund to the verb “venir” (to come). In this case it expresses the idea of having been doing something for a period of time. For example: “Vengo diciendo que …” (literally “I come saying that …) but what it actually means is “I have been saying that ….”. “Vengo pensando”, “I have been thinking”. These two forms, with “ir” and “venir” illustrate the fact that the gerund does have other uses, but our principle one for now is with “estar”.

Time for a little homework, I think. Translate into Spanish: What are you doing?

I am measuring the wall.

You are telling the truth.

My husband is washing the dishes.

We are spending a lot of money.

My children are cleaning the house.

As ever, I will start off with the answers next week.

See you then.

seguir Voy aprendiendo

muriendo

Voy entendiendo poco a poco

Vengo diciendo que...

29

Advertorial

Bing Fuengirola for Xmas and the New Year

BING the Asian Fusion Bar & Restaurant in Fuengirola offers a delectable range of oriental cuisine which samples the best of Thailand and China.

At this restaurant and bar, the food is not only outstanding, but top quality, a feature that has allowed it to gain considerable popularity in Fuengirola and it regularly appears as one of the top twenty restaurants in the area by Trip Advisor out of the 800+ listed.

Much of this success has to be down to owners Sara and her husband, Bing, after whom the restaurant is named, as they chose to move to this town after 14 years running a well-known restaurant in Marbella.

Attention to detail, quality of food, choice, value for money and position all work together to create a very special atmosphere where guests can enjoy lunch from an extensive menu or dinner from an even larger one which includes a choice of reasonably priced set meals for two or four.

Situated at Paseo Maritimo Rey de España 40, in Fuengirola Port with a fantastic view overlooking the sea and free WiFi, Bing is open from 12.30pm to 4pm daily for lunch and 6.30pm to midnight every day.

With a covered terrace and a restau-

rant in the back, the weather doesn’t cause any problems and as the staff able to speak English, Dutch and Spanish they are able to take guests through the wide range of special dishes if anything is not clear.

Getting ready for the holiday season, Bings is offering a superb four course set Christmas menu which is available on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at just €24.90 per person although it is also possible to order a la carte.

For New Year’s Eve the set menu includes mixed starters, pancake duck and a choice of one of four main course all of which come with special rice, followed by the house dessert costs €40 but as well as the meal, there will be live music, a party bag, lucky grapes and champagne at midnight with the evening continuing until 1.30am Bing’s doesn’t forget the children and if aged between 3 and 12 years, they can enjoy their own special menu costing €19.

Reservations for these special menus are necessary by calling 952 470 218 and you can find out more about Bing’s Asian Fusion Bar and Restaurant by visiting their detailed website at http://www.asianfusionbingrestaurant.com or by visiting their Facebook page.

Bing, a special restaurant in Fuengirola

Friday 15th December - Thursday 21st December

Pick of the Day

FRIDAY 7:00am 10:15am 11:00am 12:00pm 12:45pm 1:15pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 2:45pm 3:15pm 4:00pm 4:45pm

5:30pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 10:30pm 11:00pm 11:25pm 11:35pm 12:25am

Breakfast Island Medics Homes Under the Hammer Street Auction Fake Britain Bargain Hunt BBC News BBC London News Doctors Armchair Detectives Escape to the Country The Hairy Bikers Home for Christmas Money for Nothing Pointless BBC News BBC London News The One Show A Question of Sport EastEnders Still Open All Hours Have I Got News for You Mrs. Brown’s Boys BBC News BBC London News The Graham Norton Show Would I Lie to You?

7:00am 7:30am 8:15am

9:00am

10:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm

3:30pm 4:15pm 5:00pm

6:05pm 7:00pm 8:00pm

9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm

11:00pm 11:30pm 12:05am

Flog it! Trade Secrets Island Medics The Hairy Bikers Home for Christmas MasterChef: The Professionals Victoria Derbyshire BBC Newsroom Live The Daily Politics Coast Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip Home Away From Home 32 Brinkburn Street The Fifteen Billion Pound Railway The Blue Planet Strictly - It Takes Two Celebrity Antiques Road Trip Mastermind Only Connect The Sweet Makers at Christmas QI Newsnight Expedition Volcano

7:00am 9:30am 10:25am 11:30am 1:30pm 2:30pm 2:55pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

9:30pm 10:00pm

11:00pm 11:30pm 11:45pm 12:45am

Good Morning Britain Lorraine The Jeremy Kyle Show This Morning Loose Women ITV Lunchtime News ITV News London Judge Rinder Dickinson’s Real Deal Tipping Point The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Judge Rinder’s Crown Court Coronation Street I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!

Coming Out ITV News and Weather ITV News London Through the Keyhole Play to the Whistle - Extra Time

7:20am 8:35am 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am 10:35am 11:05am

12:00pm 1:00pm 1:05pm

1:15pm

1:25pm 3:10pm 4:00pm 5:00pm

6:00pm

7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

10:00pm 11:00pm 12:05am

3rd Rock from the Sun Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Frasier Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA Jamie’s Festive Feast Channel 4 News Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas Christmas Magic Countdown Lost and Found A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast Gogglebox The Last Leg First Dates

7:00am 10:15am 12:45pm 12:50pm 2:35pm 4:15pm 6:00pm 6:35pm

7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm

11:00pm

12:35am

Childrens TV The Wright Stuff 5 News Lunchtime Married by Christmas Once Upon a Holiday Mr Christmas 5 News The Yorkshire Vet at Christmas 5 News Tonight The Gadget Show Brunel Strictly Come Dancing: Before They Were Famous The Strictly Story: Fake Tan, Tangos and a Ten From Len Strictly Special: Lip Sync Battle

7:00am 7:30am 8:00am 8:30am 9:00am 10:00am 10:30am 11:00am 11:30am 12:00pm 12:30pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:00am

Monkey Life Monkey Life Monkey Life Monkey Life It’s Me or the Dog Meerkat Manor Meerkat Manor Meerkat Manor Meerkat Manor Modern Family Modern Family NCIS: Los Angeles Hawaii Five-0 Hawaii Five-0 NCIS: Los Angeles Stargate SG-1 The Simpsons Futurama Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Modern Family Karl Pilkington A League of Their Own The Simpsons

Saturday 7:00am 11:00am 12:30pm

1:00pm 2:00pm 2:15pm

3:15pm 4:15pm 5:00pm 6:25pm 6:35pm 6:40pm 7:30pm 10:00pm

11:00pm 11:20pm 12:45am

Breakfast Saturday Kitchen Live Nigel Slater’s 12 Tastes of Christmas Football Focus BBC News Sports Personality of the Year 2017 - The Contenders Bargain Hunt Escape to the Country Final Score BBC News BBC London News Pointless Strictly Come Dancing Michael Mcintyre’s Big Show BBC News Match of the Day The NFL Show

7:15am

8:00am 8:30am

9:00am 9:30am

10:00am 12:00pm

1:00pm

1:30pm

2:00pm 2:45pm 3:20pm 3:50pm 4:20pm 6:05pm

7:05pm 9:00pm

10:00pm 10:55pm 11:45pm

Holiday of My Lifetime with Len Goodman Nature’s Weirdest Events Naomi’s Nightmares of Nature Deadly 60 Show Me What You’re Made of: UK Saturday Mash-Up! Penguins on a Plane: Great Animal Moves Raymond Blanc: How to Cook Well Tom Kerridge’s Best Ever Dishes Homes Under the Hammer Coast Garden Rescue Mastermind Possessed Roger Moore: My Word is My Bond Escape to Athena Attenborough’s Life That Glows Feud: Bette and Joan Feud: Bette and Joan QI XL

7:00am 10:25am 10:30am

12:20pm

12:50pm 1:20pm 1:45pm 1:55pm 3:55pm

5:35pm 6:35pm

7:05pm 7:15pm 7:30pm

10:45pm 11:00pm 12:55am

Childrens TV ITV News Saturday Morning with James Martin at Christmas Gino’s Italian Coastal Escape Countrywise Thunderbirds are Go ITV News Endeavour The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas The Chase Paul O’Grady: For The Love of Dogs ITV News London ITV News The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey ITV News The Hangover Tonight at the London Palladium

7:05am 7:30am 7:55am 8:20am 8:45am 9:15am 9:40am 10:05am 10:35am 11:05am 11:35am 12:05pm 1:50pm 2:20pm 2:55pm 3:25pm 3:55pm 4:30pm 5:30pm 6:35pm 7:00pm 8:00pm

9:00pm

10:00pm 12:10am

Adventure Racing Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Frasier The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Holiday in Handcuffs Come Dine with Me Come Dine with Me Come Dine with Me Come Dine with Me Come Dine with Me Grand Designs Best Laid Plans Channel 4 News Word of the Guy Martin v the Robot Car The World’s Most Expensive Presents Pitch Perfect The Inbetweeners Movie

7:00am 10:50am 11:45am

1:55pm 3:40pm 5:25pm

6:25pm 6:30pm

7:05pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 9:55pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:20am

Childrens TV The Gadget Show Nativity 3: Dude, Where’s My Donkey?!

One Christmas Eve Love Always, Santa Mariah Carey’s a Christmas Melody 5 News Mariah Carey’s a Christmas Melody Sinkholes Sinkholes Sinkholes 5 News Weekend Football on 5 Football on 5 NCIS: New Orleans NCIS: New Orleans

7:00am 8:00am 8:30am 9:00am 10:00am 11:00am 12:30pm 1:00pm 1:30pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 4:15pm 6:15pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:00am

Ashley Banjo The Simpsons The Simpsons Supergirl The Flash Soccer A.M. Futurama Futurama Futurama Futurama Futurama NCIS: Los Angeles Gillette Soccer Saturday Gillette Soccer Saturday Gillette Soccer Saturday Gillette Soccer Saturday Modern Family Modern Family The Simpsons The Simpsons A League of Their Own A League of Their Own The Russell Howard Hour Karl Pilkington

7:05am 8:05am 8:35am

9:35am 10:30am

12:00pm

12:30pm 1:15pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 5:35pm 6:20pm 8:00pm

9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

11:30pm 12:30am

Coast Gardeners’ World Monty Don’s Secret History of the British Garden Countryfile Saturday Kitchen Best Bites Nigel Slater’s 12 Tastes of Christmas My Life on a Plate MOTD2 Extra Talking Pictures Equestrian Ski Sunday Nativity!

Life in Polar Bear Town with Gordon Buchanan James May’s Toy Stories The Alternativity Detectorists Christmas Special Match of the Day 2 Insert Name Here

7:00am 10:25am 10:30am

10:55am

11:40am

12:10pm

12:40pm

1:40pm 1:45pm 3:50pm 5:45pm 6:45pm

7:45pm

8:40pm 8:50pm 9:00pm

12:05am 12:25am

Childrens TV ITV News Best Walks with a View with Julia Bradbury Countrywise Winter Wonderland The Martin Lewis Money Show Save Money: Good Food How to Spend it Well at Christmas with Phillip Schofield ITV News Step Up Midsomer Murders Tipping Point The Chase: Celebrity Special The Chase: The Bloopers ITV News London ITV News The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug ITV News Through the Keyhole

7:10am 7:35am 8:05am 8:30am 8:55am 9:25am 9:55am 10:30am 1:30pm 2:00pm

3:05pm 3:35pm 4:05pm 5:50pm 6:20pm 6:50pm 9:00pm

10:00pm

11:00pm 1:35am

3rd Rock from the Sun 3rd Rock from the Sun Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Frasier Sunday Brunch Paul Hollywood Jamie’s Ultimate Christmas The Simpsons The Simpsons Jingle All the Way Born Silly Channel 4 News Miracle on 34th Street Coastal Railways with Julie Walters Inside Bentley: A Great British Motor Car Die Hard Mercury Rising

7:00am

Childrens TV

11:35am

Football on 5

12:30pm

Football on 5

1:00pm

Season’s Greetings

2:50pm

Twelve Trees

of Christmas

4:30pm

Mrs Miracle 2:

Miracle in Manhattan

5:30pm

5 News

5:35pm

Mrs Miracle 2:

Miracle in Manhattan

6:20pm

5 News Weekend

6:25pm

A Heavenly Christmas

8:10pm

Legally Blonde

10:00pm

Agatha Christie’s

Crooked House

12:00am

Sleepy Hollow

7:00am 8:00am 8:30am 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am 10:30am 11:00am 11:30am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 4:30pm 5:00pm 5:30pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:30pm 12:00am

The Hour of Power Futurama Futurama Futurama Futurama Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons WWE Raw NCIS: Los Angeles NCIS: Los Angeles NCIS: Los Angeles Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Inhumans Stella Trollied A League of Their Own

Brunel, 9pm, Channel 5

Strictly Come Dancing, 7.30pm BBC1

Sunday 7:00am 8:35am 10:00am 11:00am 12:00pm 1:15pm 2:00pm 2:15pm

3:15pm 3:50pm 5:20pm 6:20pm 6:35pm 6:45pm 7:45pm

10:00pm 11:00pm

12:00am 12:20am 12:30am

Breakfast Match of the Day The Andrew Marr Show Fern Britton Meets...

Sunday Politics Bargain Hunt BBC News Mary Berry’s Country House Secrets Songs of Praise Toy Story 2 Blue Planet II BBC News BBC London News Countryfile Sports Personality of the Year 2017 The Apprentice The Apprentice: You’re Hired BBC News BBC London News Ronny Chieng: International Student

Sports Personality of the Year 2017, 7.45pm, BBC1

31

Pick of the Day

monday 7:00am 10:15am

11:00am 12:00pm 12:45pm 1:15pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 2:45pm 3:30pm 4:30pm 5:15pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm

10:30pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:45pm

12:30am

Breakfast Let’s Get a Good Thing Going Homes Under the Hammer Street Auction Fake Britain Bargain Hunt BBC News BBC London News Father Brown Escape to the Country The Instant Gardener Money for Nothing Pointless BBC News BBC London News The One Show Panorama EastEnders Mary Berry’s Christmas Party Would I Lie to You? BBC News BBC London News Have I Got a Bit More News for You Michael Mcintyre’s Big Show

7:00am 7:30am 8:15am

9:00am

10:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 2:45pm

3:15pm 4:00pm 5:00pm

6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm

8:30pm

9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

11:30pm 12:15am

Flog it! Trade Secrets Island Medics The Hairy Bikers Home for Christmas Mary Berry’s Country House Secrets Victoria Derbyshire BBC Newsroom Live The Daily Politics The Link Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip Home Away From Home Inside Claridge’s Alaska: Earth’s Frozen Kingdom The Blue Planet Celebrity Eggheads Celebrity Antiques Road Trip Inside the Christmas Factory University Challenge Employable Me The League of Gentlemen Newsnight Blitz

7:00am 9:30am 10:25am 11:30am 1:30pm 2:30pm 2:55pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:45pm

12:45am

Good Morning Britain Lorraine The Jeremy Kyle Show This Morning Loose Women ITV Lunchtime News ITV News London Judge Rinder Dickinson’s Real Deal Tipping Point The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Save Money: Good Food Coronation Street Birds of a Feather ITV Newsand Weather ITV News London Killer Women with Piers Morgan Fraud: How They Steal Your ID

7:20am 7:45am 8:10am 8:35am 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am 10:35am 11:05am 11:35am 12:05pm

1:00pm 1:05pm 1:20pm 3:10pm 4:00pm 5:00pm

6:00pm

7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm

11:00pm 12:05am

3rd Rock from the Sun 3rd Rock from the Sun 3rd Rock from the Sun Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Frasier The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA Channel 4 News Jamie’s Comfort Food Carry on Cleo Countdown Lost and Found A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Paul Hollywood Supershoppers Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds at Christmas First Dates Sarah Millican Home Bird Live

7:00am

Childrens TV

10:15am

Puppies Make You

Laugh Out Loud

11:05am

The Gadget Show

12:05pm

The Gadget Show

1:10pm

Jim Henson’s

Turkey Hollow

2:50pm

Back to Christmas

4:35pm

A Cinderella Christmas

6:20pm

Christmas Bucket List

8:00pm

World’s Strongest Man

2017

9:00pm

Brick by Brick:

The Lego Story

10:00pm

Abba: When All is Said

and Done

12:05am

ABBA: Live in Concert

7:00am 7:30am

8:15am 9:00am

10:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 2:45pm 4:00pm 5:00pm

6:00pm 7:00pm

8:00pm

9:00pm 10:00pm

11:00pm

11:30pm 12:15am

Flog it! Trade Secrets Let’s Get a Good Thing Going Street Auction Celebrity Antiques Road Trip Victoria Derbyshire BBC Newsroom Live The Daily Politics The Link Equestrian Inside Claridge’s Alaska: Earth’s Frozen Kingdom The Blue Planet Sacred Rivers with Simon Reeve The Repair Shop at Christmas MasterChef Rick Stein’s Road to Mexico The League of Gentlemen Newsnight NFL

7:00am

Good Morning Britain

10:25am

The Jeremy Kyle Show

10:15am

Access

11:30am

This Morning

10:25am

Nutcracker Sweet

1:30pm

Loose Women

11:45am

Free Birds

2:30pm

ITV Lunchtime News

1:30pm

Five Children and It

2:55pm

ITV News London

3:00pm

Judge Rinder

3:10pm

A Royal Family Holiday

4:00pm

Dickinson’s Real Deal

3rd Rock from the Sun 3rd Rock from the Sun 3rd Rock from the Sun Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Frasier The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA Channel 4 News Jamie’s Cracking Christmas Carry on Cabby Countdown Lost and Found A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Jamie’s Italian Christmas Shamed Extraordinary Teens Micky Flanagan’s Out Out Tour

Childrens TV

Lorraine

7:20am 7:45am 8:10am 8:35am 9:05am 9:35am 10:00am 10:35am 11:05am 11:35am 12:00pm

1:00pm 1:05pm

1:20pm 3:10pm 4:00pm 5:00pm

6:00pm

7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

10:00pm 11:00pm 12:05am

7:00am

9:30am

4:50pm

Hearts of Christmas

6:25pm

A Prince for Christmas

8:00pm

World’s Strongest Man

2017

9:00pm

Jo Brand’s

Cats and Kittens

10:00pm

Britain’s Favourite

Biscuit

11:30pm

Greatest Ever

Christmas Movies

7:00am 7:30am 8:00am 8:30am 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am 10:30am 11:00am 11:30am 12:00pm

1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 5:30pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

10:00pm 12:55am

Futurama Futurama Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Attenborough: Wild City Hawaii Five-0 Hawaii Five-0 NCIS: Los Angeles NCIS: Los Angeles Modern Family Modern Family The Simpsons The Simpsons Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons A League of Their Own Christmas Special 2012 The Russell Howard Hour

7:00am 7:30am 8:00am 8:30am 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am 10:30am 11:00am 11:30am 12:00pm

1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 5:30pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

11:00pm 11:30pm 12:30am

Futurama Futurama Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Attenborough: Wild City Hawaii Five-0 Hawaii Five-0 NCIS: Los Angeles NCIS: Los Angeles Modern Family Modern Family The Simpsons The Simpsons Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Sky Sports Funniest Moments: Best Bits Trollied A League of Their Own The Russell Howard Hour

The League of Gentlemen, 11pm, BBC2

tuesday 7:00am 10:15am

11:00am 12:00pm 12:45pm 1:15pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 2:45pm 3:40pm 4:25pm 5:15pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:45pm 12:45am

Breakfast Let’s Get a Good Thing Going Homes Under the Hammer Street Auction Fake Britain Bargain Hunt BBC News BBC London News Father Brown Escape to the Country The Instant Gardener Money for Nothing Pointless BBC News BBC London News The One Show EastEnders Holby City U2 at the BBC BBC News BBC London News Drugsland KKK: The Fight for White Supremacy

5:00pm

Tipping Point

6:00pm

The Chase

7:00pm

ITV News London

7:30pm

ITV Evening News

8:00pm

Emmerdale

8:30pm

The Royal Variety

Performance 2017

11:05pm

ITV News and Weather

11:40pm

ITV News London

11:50pm

Lethal Weapon

12:50am

Lethal Weapon

The Royal Variety Performance 2017, 8.30pm, ITV1

32

Pick of the Day

WEDNESDAY 7:00am 10:15am

11:00am 12:00pm 12:45pm 1:15pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 2:45pm 4:35pm 5:55pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:45pm

12:25am

Breakfast Let’s Get a Good Thing Going Homes Under the Hammer Street Auction Fake Britain Bargain Hunt BBC News BBC London News Raiders of the Lost Ark Chicken Run Book of Dragons Pointless BBC News BBC London News The One Show Judi Dench: My Passion for Trees The Real Marigold on Tour BBC News BBC London News Male Rape: Breaking the Silence Junior Doctors

7:30am 8:00am 9:00am

10:00am 12:00pm 12:30pm 2:00pm 2:45pm

3:15pm 4:00pm 5:05pm

6:05pm 7:00pm

8:00pm

9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:00am

Football on 5

8:00am 8:30am 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am 10:30am 11:00am 11:30am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 5:30pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

10:00pm 12:40am

Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Attenborough: Wild City Hawaii Five-0 Hawaii Five-0 NCIS: Los Angeles Golf’s Funniest Moments Modern Family Modern Family The Simpsons The Simpsons Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Michael Bublé’s Christmas in Hollywood The Rock The Russell Howard Hour

Childrens TV Snow Queen Open Season 3 Loch Ness Christmas with the Andersons Mrs Miracle 2: Miracle in Manhattan A Royal Christmas World’s Strongest Man 2017 Britain’s Craziest Christmas Lights Donny Osmond’s Easy Listening Christmas An Audience with Donny and Marie Lip Sync Battle UK Xmas Special

8:00am 8:30am 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am 10:30am 11:00am 11:30am 12:00pm

1:00pm 3:00pm 5:00pm 5:30pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

12:00am

Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Modern Family Modern Family Egg Drop Big Cats: An Amazing Animal Family Terry Pratchett Terry Pratchett Modern Family Modern Family The Simpsons Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Gwen Steffani A League of Their Own Russell Howard Christmas Special A League of Their Own Christmas Special

Flog it! Trade Secrets Nigella’s Christmas Table David Suchet: In the Footsteps of St Peter Victoria Derbyshire BBC Newsroom Live The Daily Politics The Link Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip Home Away From Home Inside Claridge’s Alaska: Earth’s Frozen Kingdom The Blue Planet Sacred Rivers with Simon Reeve The Sweet Makers at Christmas MasterChef Peaky Blinders The League of Gentlemen Mock the Week Alternativity: The Performance

7:00am 9:30am 10:25am 11:30am 1:30pm 2:30pm 2:55pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

9:30pm 10:00pm

11:00pm 11:30pm 11:45pm

12:45am

Good Morning Britain Lorraine The Jeremy Kyle Show This Morning Loose Women ITV Lunchtime News ITV News London Judge Rinder Dickinson’s Real Deal Tipping Point The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Gino’s Italian Coastal Escape Coronation Street A Night for the Emergency Services ITV News and Weather ITV News London Car Crash Britain Caught on Camera Play to the Whistle

7:20am 8:40am 10:00am 11:05am 11:35am 12:00pm

1:00pm 1:05pm 1:25pm 3:10pm 4:00pm 5:00pm

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3rd Rock from the Sun Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA Channel 4 News Jamie’s Cracking Christmas Carry on Nurse Countdown Lost and Found A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News The Secret Life of the Zoo at Christmas The Channel Gogglebox Micky Flanagan: Back in the Game

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Childrens TV

10:15am

Snow Queen

11:35am

Jack and the Beanstalk

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James and the

Giant Peach

2:55pm

My Angel

4:40pm

Christmas Carol

6:20pm

A Fairytale Christmas

8:00pm

World’s Strongest Man

2017

9:00pm

GPs:

Behind Closed Doors

10:00pm

Harry Potter:

20 Years of Magic

12:00am

MasterChef: The Professionals David Suchet: In the Footsteps of St Peter Victoria Derbyshire BBC Newsroom Live The Daily Politics Snow Babies Natural World Victorian Bakers at Christmas Back in Time for Christmas The Lake District: A Wild Year Sacred Rivers with Simon Reeve Inside the Christmas Factory MasterChef Joanna and Jennifer: Absolutely Champers Absolutely Fabulous Insert Name Here QI Dara and Ed’s Road to Mandalay

7:00am 9:30am 10:25am 11:30am 1:30pm 2:30pm 2:55pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm

11:15pm 11:45pm 11:55pm

Good Morning Britain Lorraine The Jeremy Kyle Show This Morning Loose Women ITV Lunchtime News ITV News London Judge Rinder Dickinson’s Real Deal Tipping Point The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Tonight Emmerdale Coronation Street Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Great Christmas Roast ITV News and Weather ITV News London The Royal Variety Performance 2017

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3rd Rock from the Sun Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier The Big Bang Theory Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA Channel 4 News Jamie’s Cracking Christmas Jamie’s Comfort Food Bites Carry on Constable Countdown Lost and Found A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News The Supervet at Christmas The Undateables at Christmas The World’s Most Expensive Toys Father Ted

7:00am 10:15am 11:50am 1:15pm 3:15pm

4:55pm

6:40pm 8:00pm

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Michael Buble's Christmas in Hollywood, 9pm, Sky1

thursday 7:00am 10:15am

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4:35pm

5:50pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:45pm

Breakfast Let’s Get a Good Thing Going Homes Under the Hammer Street Auction Fake Britain Bargain Hunt BBC News BBC London News Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Wallace and Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit Merry Madagascar Pointless BBC News BBC London News The One Show EastEnders DIY SOS The Big Build Love, Lies and Records BBC News BBC London News Darcey Bussell

8:00am

9:00am

10:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 4:00pm

5:00pm 6:00pm

7:00pm

8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm

11:00pm 11:35pm 12:05am 12:35am

History comes alive

The World's Most Expensive Toy, 11pm, Channel 4

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Letters to the Editor

RTN welcomes Readers views for publication in its Letters to the Editor section. All letters by email or post should carry the writer´s address, NIE and contact number, though only the name and town will be published.

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FOOLS AND MORTALS follows the young Richard Shakespeare, an actor struggling to make his way in a company dominated by his estranged older brother, William.

As the growth of theatre blooms, their rivalry - and that of the playhouses, playwrights and actors vying for acclaim and glory - propels a high-stakes story of conflict and betrayal.

Showcasing his renowned storyteller's skill, Bernard Cornwell has created an Elizabethan world incredibly rich in its portrayal: you walk the London streets, stand in the palaces and are on stage in the playhouses, as he weaves a remark-

able story in which performances, rivalries and ambition combine to form a tangled web of intrigue.

From the strife and division of the Dark Ages to the blood and bravery of the Napoleonic Wars, Bernard Cornwell has been bringing history to life since the early Eighties when he created the unlikely hero renegade-turned-officer Richard Sharpe.

Whether turning his hand to the hunt for the Grail quest, Arthurian legend or feuding Saxons in his Last Kingdom series, his novels are consistently popular, making him one of Britain’s best-loved and bestselling novelists.

Sponsored by Bookworld Puerto Banus info@bookworldpuertobanus.com

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this week’s weather FRI Dec 15

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33

Life

A brotherhood not a cult

By Michael Cano DURING the Civil War, Spaniards who were discovered to be Freemasons were executed and Freemasonry was officially illegal here from 1939 until 1979.

British visitors and settlers in Andalucia in particular who had been masons in the UK hankered after the fellowship and brotherhood and therefore started to set up their own lodges and welcomed new members.

Giles David Crawford, who owns a specialist equestrian centre for experienced and intermediate riders in Coin, arrived on the Costa del Sol in the late 1990s not for a moment expecting there to be an appropriate masonic lodge for him to join and returned to the UK every three months to attend his mother lodge in Wandsworth.

Having been given details of a small number of English speaking lodges on the Costa, he visited the Gemini Lodge in Calahonda and after both sides had made satisfactory

enquires about each other, he was invited to join the lodge in the most junior position, although he eventually became its Worshipful Master.

Due to certain decisions made prior to and after the Second World War, Freemasonry had something of the air of a secret society in the UK and because it had been illegal for so long it Spain, membership was not openly admitted.

In fact, Freemasonry is a fraternal society of men which takes good men and tries to make them better members of society.

It is not a charity, although good works are a natural progression and members are committed to helping and looking after fellow members and their families.

When asked whether there was any truth in the suggestion that masons in the police turned a blind eye to crimes by fellow masons, Giles, who for the past three years has been Provincial Grand Master of Andalucia simply laughed and said that some people who didn’t act properly wished it were true.

There are now a growing number of Spanish lodges and the English speaking lodges are also quite strong and all act to raise money for brothers (or their widows) who have fallen on hard times as well general charities around the sites of the lodges.

For the last three years, the Debra Butterfly Charity has been the chosen charity of the combined lodges of Andalucia and in January of next year, Giles is looking forward to handing over a cheque in the sum of €60,000 to their founder Nieves Montero. Much is being done to encourage the growth of masonry within the Spanish community and English speaking members are always welcome especially as you don’t have to be introduced by a serving mason.

What is important that both sides get to know each other and are satisfied that they are a natural fit.

To discover more information visit www.gle.org which is in Spanish but can be translated online.

Masons in full regalia Credit: Facebook

Giles David Crawford Provincial Grand Master of Andalucia in ‘civvies’ Credit: RTN

Car club Christmas bash a roaring success THE CLASSIC CAR CLUB OF ANDALUCIA celebrated its Christmas party at La Sala in Marbella.

A wonderful night was had by all as 90 people donned black ties or posh frocks for the event.

The revellers enjoyed some superb traditional food and were entertained by singer Tony Capo, before partying until 2am, with many opting to stay the night and breakfast together the following morning.

35

food & drink

Steven Saunders FMCGB The Little Geranium La Cala De Mijas www.thelittlegeranium.com

What do I do with all these left overs?

LAST week I covered the Top 10 best tips for cooking turkey.

I made a point of asking you to buy a bigger bird than you need because one of the most amazing things about Christmas is Boxing Day lunch using up the left overs.

Having pickles, cold turkey and trimmings

buffet style is just a delight and something that I look forwards to all year! But I also look forwards to my homemade turkey and ham pie.

I always cook a ham on the bone and then use up the leftovers in a pie.

My whole family feel excited about Boxing

Day too and they say it’s the best meal that I make all year!

I’m not sure that this is a compliment as I cook all year but I am always pleased with Boxing Day and it’s because I follow these basic set of rules that makes it so special and something that we always look forward to.

Ten Top Tips from a Master Chef on Christmas leftovers

1. Remove all the bits of cooked turkey from the carcass that can’t really be carvedoff and reserve, leaving some good breast meat still on the bone to carve cold turkey which is always delicious .Make a pie with the rest using up some of the left over ham cut into chunks put into a white sauce (flavoured with chicken stock) add some chestnuts, garlic and onions and top with pastry.

2. Get out all the pickles and chutneys that you’ve been buying all year and get them on the table!

Include cranberry sauce (Homemade is easy and much nicer - see recipe below) and you should include various mustards, mayonnaise etc …look in your fridge you have loads!

3. Make a soup from the leftover veg especially the parsnips. Friends come around and the first thing they get is a bowl of warm soup and some warm bread and they are in heaven. (see recipe for Parsnip soup below) 4. Make or buy some paté, nothing nicer than paté on Boxing Day coupled with homemade leftover cranberry sauce! (see recipe for cranberry sauce below) 5. Don’t go to too much trouble to make new things that you have to buy in. There’s enough here!

Mary Berry (who I know and love) suggests making chocolate caramel on Boxing Day. Forget it Mary, Boxing Day is about using up and saving cost and we have no time.

6. Get some salad in the fridge to lighten all this lot up a bit. Keep it simple, green leaves and herbs simple French dressing.

7. Don’t forget the bubble and squeak! The original recipes for this uses up the left over roasties and fries them with brussel sprouts but you will need the potato to act as a glue to hold the left over vegetables together so I find it easier to make fresh mashed potato which takes minutes and tastes amazing with the brussel sprouts shredded and some fried bacon and any other left over veggies. Make them into small fish cake size pieces and bind the potato mix with a couple of egg yolks and then once they are in patty form toss them in seasoned flour

and fry in olive oil with a bit of butter, delicious!

8. Make some mulled wine. Not only delicious but very festive, warming and cheap! Loads of good recipes on line.

9. Buy some great cheeses and serve with tostados and warm bread, put all this on one buffet style table and let everyone help themselves. Do not pander over everyone, this is Boxing Day! It is relaxed, informal and fun and so you should let everyone just get on with it. Set the table up with all the food on it and then say …Help yourselves!

10. Use the leftover Xmas pudding up in trifle.

Simply layer up the trifle with a generous sprinkling of Christmas pudding in between each layer of trifle, alternatively I serve it warm again but with vanilla ice cream.

Christmas spiced Parsnip Soup (serves about 6) 6 parsnips peeled and chopped into small pieces A little olive oil 125g butter 500ml of veg stock (Carton Caldo is OK) For spiced stock 3 sticks celery chopped 1 whole leek chopped 3 cloves garlic sliced 1 onion sliced 1 flat tablespoon of mild Curry powder 1 teaspoon of pimienta roja (paprika) ½ teaspoon nutmeg 1 stick of cinnamon 2 pieces of star anise 1 litre of vegetable stock (Carton Caldo) 500 ml of cream (Nata Cocinar) to finish 1. Heat olive oil and the butter in a large saucepan.

Add the onion, garlic, celery, leek, curry powder, cinnamon etc. Gently fry for around five minutes, until the onions are soft and then add the litre of veg stock.This is the spiced stock and it needs about 2030 mins cooking.

At The Little Geranium in La Cala we close on Christmas day and Boxing Day so that I can entertain at home.

We are open all the other times but I couldn’t miss out on cooking at home on these two important days. Enjoy your Christmas and I hope some of these tips will help!

2. Gently roast the parsnips in a pre heated oven in a tray at 180c pour in the 500ml of stock over the parsnips and add the butter, season well and cook until tender.

3. After half an hour, check that the parsnips are cooked by sticking a knife in. If you’re happy, remove them from the heat and carefully whiz up using a hand blender or liquidizer using some of the residual stock that they were cooked in.

4. Now pass the spiced stock through a fine sieve and blend this with the whizzed parsnips in the processor one ladle at a time until you have the taste and the thickness of soup that you like.

5. Pass the finished product again through a sieve and add some chopped roasted chestnuts to finish.

6. (Use coconut milk instead of regular cream to keep the calories down.)

Fresh Cranberry Sauce 1 bag of frozen cranberries or approx. 250g of dried cranberries 1 red onion 1 clove garlic peeled and sliced 2 tablespoons of white sugar Zest (from the peel of 1 orange) cut into very thin strips ½ glass of red wine 1. In a heavy saucepan heat the onion, garlic and then add the frozen cranberries 2. Cook in a sizzling saucepan and now add the sugar 3. Add a small glass of red wine and then the orange zest, cover.

4. Cook until the cranberries are soft for approx.10 mins and when the cranberry sauce tastes sweet and a bit sour it is ready 5. Take off the heat and season and serve warm

Steven Saunders FMCGB, The Little Geranium www.thelittlegeranium.com steven@thelittlegeranium.com

36

Puzzles Code Breaker

Mars takes on Uranus just before the Holiday festivities kick off. You are well prepared to celebrate this year, and have greatly simplified entertaining and hospitality down to a fine art. All that is left is to enjoy the vigours of this time of year and all that they may bring you.

Word Pyramid

9

Mighty Uranus steers your planetary leader, Mercury into calmer waters just in time to enable you to celebrate the holiday season with no pressures or fears. Everything and anything can and will happen if you just let it, and especially now that you can focus on what positive energies bring!

Venus takes on lucky Jupiter and you could not have a better aspect to look forward to. Considering that you have been in a dark place it would seem that all is coming to you in the form of fortune and good luck, heralding happier times and all the very best is coming your way!

Your planetary leaders are kept busy of late. Pluto conjuncts with Mercury, and Mars sextiles with Uranus. This presents a truly mixed bag, but the endless possibilities are something worth focussing on now that you are less pressured and have the time to realise now just how far you’ve come.

Saturn enters into your second house and brings back the ghost of Christmases past somewhat. There is much to celebrate this year and yet you are taken back, maybe to see just how far you have moved on? Wily, sage Saturn has a habit of helping to eliminate the past, bringing clearance.

Time for change as the Sun enters in splendour. It illuminates your pathway for the events ahead in the festive season. This time of year really does belong to you and the clarity of your reactions will set you in good stead for not just the celebrations ahead, but the many changes due.

Your opposing sign of Leo thrives with the Sun entering Capricorn. You need to be earthed and to know your strengths and your weaknesses better if you are to take full advantage of an opportunity coming your way. There is nothing that you can do about anything right now so relax.

Though you have had little regard for this year’s festivities you now have something rather wonderful to focus on, and something to lead you into the New Year, with good luck and blessings following you all the way! Expect to receive an offer that you just cannot refuse, and turn things around!

O

E C

S

Word Wheel There is 1x9 letter word and 305 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!

Mercury squares Uranus, and allows for some communication that’s unexpected and rewards you in its actions.

You are forced to make changes to your Christmas plans this year but it is taking care of others that finds you trying to please everyone in the process. Take time for yourself!

Forget what you signed up for and take care of those who love you deeply but do not quite understand your current wants and needs. A time to talk freely, and to break the negative energies of the silence that has developed; which does nothing for either of you. Be true to yourself, above all!

N

Start at a letter and spell out a 10-letter word by moving to adjacent letters. Each letter will be used at least once, but no letter will be used twice in a row.

Venus beguiles Pluto in a conjunction that sees you taking a consequential trip along memory lane, and giving in to some healthy and reminiscent nostalgia. With one or two surprises in store for you, this festive season sees you putting a value on the things you generally take for granted.

Resolve is especially comforting at this time of the year, and the stubborn attitude of someone close to you has hurt you somewhat. Making up is very hard to do, but you know it is the only way too, especially with the season of goodwill on your doorstep. Play it cool and all can be merry and bright!

D

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 17 represents C and 23 represents H. 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.

Kenny’s Postbag Kenny, I have the most terrible feeling that

WORD fit

Using just logic, can you make all the words fit correctly into the grid?

something is about to go wrong. I often get these negative feelings and they really bring me down. What can I do?

Anna G. Anna, be strong. We cannot control fate but we can bring on some negative energies by the stress that we put ourselves under. If you are prewarned about something such premonition is hard to deal with, but you must be happy when nothing bad happens! Speak to Spirit and tell them to keep you in touch but eliminate fear on all levels please, especially for things that anyway are out of control.

For Birthday Celebrants Cosmic aspirations are shifting greatly, and there is a high probability you will change your mind over something which currently seems to be holding you well and truly back from the real event!

3 LETTERS ALE ALP BYE DYE GOP MAD PTA TON TTL 4 LETTERS ABUT AHOY ALIA AMOK AREA ASIA BOMB

DOLL DOOR ELLA GINN HARE HARM HEBE IOTA KNEE LAME LANE LARS LASH LASS LEON LILA MAID MART

NONE OATH OILY OLIN OMIT OVEN PECK PLOD RIME ROBE SILL STUB TALL TOSS TRAP 5 LETTERS AAHEAD ALIVE

ALOHA AROSE CABAL CADET CREAK DEMON EMILE GILES INTER IONIC LAGOS NOOSE ORATE PEARL SAMOA SINEW SPEND

6 LETTERS CLINIC DENTON HANNAH HEARST ISAIAH KIDNAP RELISH SEWAGE SPRAIN TATTLE 7 LETTERS AIRPARK HIGGINS LACTATE PROTEGE

More Puzzles

Cryptic

ACROSS 1 Unready king making girl embarrassed (8) 6 Article I’m to make objective (3) 9 Precise former spouse has to do something (5) 10 Directors and editor got on (7) 11 Oil change after journey in African port (7) 13 “Room at the Top” in Greek (5) 14 Teased for being badly dressed (6) 15 Beer? Bert is ordered to swallow it (6) 19 Aimed to reform press, TV, etc. (5) 21 Allowances made for disturbance on stair? (7) 22 Just say I may be found in a French resort (7) 23 New gown about right? No, it’s not right (5) 24 Observe the bishop’s territory (3) 25 Drink that’s bad for teenager? (5,3) DOWN 2 Dashing in great confusion (7) 3 Scoff when leader is knocked out in preliminary round (3) 4 Bunny talk? (6) 5 Mad artist turns playwright (9) 6 Check car heading for Tottenham (5) 7 Another word for doctor found in some dictionaries (5) 8 Browbeat Trojan hero (6) 12 Working with gear in top form (9) 16 Pair involved in most woe (7) 17 Quit and write one’s name again? (6) 18 Royal pop star (6) 19 Mother has second thoughts after contagious disease (5) 20 Teacher with north-eastern poet (5) 23 Be successful for first half of season (3)

Quiz 1 Flared trousers were originated in the early 1800s by: Sailors; Clergymen; Circus

ring-masters; or Rat-catchers?

2 The Hang Seng is Hong Kong’s: Metro; Daily newspaper; Stock market index; or

Dog show?

3 Annealing a metal makes it: Melt; Softer; Vaporize or Convert into diamond?

4 Shire, Arabian, Mustang, and Hackney are types of: Radish; Taxi; Religious cult;

or Horse?

5 The Soviet Union dissolution of 1991 created how many independent states:

5; 9; 15; or 35?

6 A half divided by a sixth is: A third; A Ninth; A Twelfth; or Three?

7 Where are found the Seas of Tranquility, Cleverness, Nectar, and Moisture:

Human liver; Superman comics/films; The South Pole; or The Moon?

8 Pitcairn Islands, home to several 1790 ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ mutineers, are in

Can you by changing 1 letter at a time, get from the first word to the last word in the given number of moves?

meals 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

wheel

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

ACROSS

Word Ladder

Soduku

Quick

Futoshiki

The purpose of the game is to discover the digits hidden inside the board’s cells; each cell is filled with a digit between 1 and 6. On each row and column each digit appears exactly once; therefore, when revealed, the digits of the board form a so-called Latin square. The board may also contain some inequalities between the board cells; these inequalities must be respected and can be used as clues in order to discover the remaining hidden digits. ie > is greater than and < is less than.

37

the Southern: Pacific; Mediterranean; Baltic; or Arctic?

9 Spell the Japanese rice dish: Sushi; Souchi; ; Sueshy; or Soo shee?

10 In a church a piscina is a: Choirboy’s scarf; Basin; Altar cloth; or Medieval organ?

1 Rigorous (6) 4 Sloping script (6) 8 Imitate (5) 9 Substitute (5-2) 10 Welsh city (7) 11 Indian language (5) 12 Flabbergasted (9) 17 Parrot’s name (5) 19 Recital (anag.) (7) 21 Without weapons (7) 22 Leaves out (5) 23 Make possible (6) 24 Decapitate (6)

DOWN 1 To such an extent (2,4) 2 Comments (7) 3 Spiny desert plants (5) 5 Instructor (7) 6 Weighed down (5) 7 Outspoken (6) 9 Protect (9) 13 Appalling (7) 14 Mislead (7) 15 Husband or wife (6) 16 Came to an end (6) 18 Capital of Tibet (5) 20 Type of steak (1-4)

Last Weeks Solutions on page 43

38

health

Hangover cures Splitting headaches, sickness, dizziness, dehydration: anyone who's ever drunk too much knows the consequences.

Alcohol makes you pee more, which can lead to dehydration. Dehydration is what causes many of the symptoms of a hangover. Hangover cures are generally a myth. There are no cures for a hangover, but there are things you can do to avoid one and, if you do have one, ease any discomfort.

Tips to avoid a hangover • Don't drink more than you know your body can cope with. If you're not sure how much that is, be careful.

• Don't drink on an empty stomach. Before you go out, have a meal that includes carbohydrates (such as pasta or rice) or fats. The food will help slow down the body's absorption of alcohol.

• Don't drink dark-coloured drinks if you've found you're sensitive to them. They contain natural chemicals called congeners, which irritate blood vessels and tissue in the brain and can make a hangover worse.

• Drink water or non-fizzy soft drinks in between each alcoholic drink. Carbonated (fizzy) drinks speed up the absorption of alcohol into your system.

• Drink a pint or so of water before you go to sleep.

Keep a glass of water by the bed to sip if you wake up during the night.

Hangover treatment If you wake up the next morning feeling terrible, you

probably didn't follow our advice.

Dealing with a hangover involves rehydrating the body to help it deal with the painful symptoms. The best time to rehydrate is before going to sleep after a drinking session.

Painkillers can help with headaches and muscle cramps.

Sugary foods may help you feel less trembly. In some cases, an antacid may be needed to settle your stomach first.

Bouillon soup, a thin vegetable-based broth, is a good source of vitamins and minerals, which can top up depleted resources. Its main advantage is it's easy for a fragile stomach to digest.

You can replace lost fluids by drinking bland liquids that are easy on the digestive system, such as water, soda water and isotonic drinks.

• men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis • spread your drinking over three or more days if you regularly drink as much as 14 units a week • if you want to cut down, try to have several drink-free days each week Fourteen units is equivalent to 6 pints of average-strength beer or 10 small glasses of lowstrength wine.

Things to avoid ‘Hair of the dog’ – drinking more alcohol – does not help. Drinking in the morning is a risky habit, and you may simply be delaying the appearance of symptoms until the alcohol wears off again.

If you've had a heavy drinking episode, hangover or not, doctors advise that you wait at least 48 hours before drinking any more alcohol to give your body time to recover. Sometimes, of course, a hangover makes that advice easier to follow.

Low-risk drinking advice To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level if you drink most weeks:

Vitamin D3 and Especially recommended in the prevention of osteoporosis It is more and more known that osteoporosis and the bone fractures that consequently fol¬low are not coincidental, but caused by degenerative processes which can be prevented with a suitable diet. Approximately one out of every three women suffers from osteoporosis after menopause and therefore runs an increased risk of breaking a bone. In males, one out of every six men, over the age of 50, suffers from osteoporosis.

The basic bone structure undergoes continuous change. Bone tissue is continually being bro¬ken down and renewed. Of the 1.5 to 2.5 kg of calcium stored in the whole body, about 98% forms part of the bone structure, the remaining 2% forming part of the softer tissues and the blood. Equilibrium is in fact kept and directed by various hormones and by vitamin D. Building up bone tissue is undertaken by special cells which form the basic substance of the structure. In this basic substance, minerals, such as calcium phosphate, are also stored; which is why it is important that the body has a proper functioning calcium and phosphate regula¬tory system.

The actual regulation is carried out by

a number of hormones. What is known as “D hormone” is especially important to enhanced the intake of calcium and supplementing storage levels of minerals in the bones; D hormone is made by the body using vitamin D3.

Breaking down bone tissue is carried out by special cells, which, with the help of specific en¬zymes, dissolve the basic substance of the bone; in the process they also dissolve the minerals contained in the bone structure, a process which is greatly accelerated by the acidity of the modern environment.

During childhood, puberty and early adulthood, more bone is built up than broken down; bone structure reaches its maximum size at approximately 35 years of age. From that moment, breaking down bone structure becomes more prominent than building it up. How fast the breaking down process takes place is the deciding factor in the prognosis of osteoporosis.

The hormone changes that take place during menopause lead more women to osteoporosis than men, as the bone density of woman is reduced by an average of 40% compared to only 12% in men.

The positive influence of vitamin D on

39

health Budding triathletes take note

Ask the Optician The link between smoking and sight loss Judy Borland, Store Director from Specsavers Opticas Fuengirola

MEN who compete in triathlons could be putting their hearts at risk, a new study contends.

The finding results from an examination of 55 male triathletes who averaged 44years-old, and 30 female triathletes, with an average age of 43. All participated in triathlons, which involve sequential endurance competitions of swimming, cycling and running.

The researchers found that 18 per cent of the men had evidence of scarring of the heart, known as myocardial fibrosis. None of the women had signs of the condition.

Myocardial fibrosis usually affects the

pumping chambers and can progress to heart failure.

"The clinical relevance of these scars is currently unclear [but] they might be a foundation for future heart failure and arrhythmia [irregular heartbeat]," the study's lead author, Dr. Jitka Starekova, said in a news release from the Radiological Society of North America.

Though regular exercise has been proven good for the heart, previous studies have found myocardial fibrosis in elite athletes.

"Although we cannot prove the exact mechanism for the development of myocardial fibrosis in triathletes,

increased systolic blood pressure during exercise, the amount and extent of race distances and unnoticed myocarditis could be co-factors in the genesis of the condition," Starekova said.

She's with the department for diagnostic and interventional radiology and nuclear medicine at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany.

"In other words, repetition of any extreme athletic activity may not be beneficial for everyone," she explained.

Starekova and her colleagues plan long-term follow-up of the triathletes with myocardial fibrosis.

Calcium the intake of calcium, will, in fact, be regulated by the bodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s D hormone. After its synthesis from vitamin D, the D hormone will firstly cause an increase in the calcium and phosphate content of the body and will secondly slow down the hormone responsible for breaking down bone structure. D hormone will increase the rate at which the body absorbs calcium and minerals in its bone structure. A shortage of D hormone causes a decreased intake of calcium from the intestines which lowers the calcium levels in the blood; to compensate ,calcium is taken from the bone structure By adding calcium and vitamin D3 to our daily diet , the breakdown of bone tissue (osteÂŹoporosis) is counteracted and the danger of typical bone fractures; such as a broken hip with all its accompanying discomforts and complications, are minimized.

Q. How can smoking affect my eyes?

A. When you inhale a cigarette, approximately 4,000 chemicals enter your bloodstream and travel throughout your body. Some of these substances cause blood vessels at the back of the eye to burst, damaging the macula and ultimately leading to loss of vision. This is Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of severe vision loss for people over the age of 55 in the Western world.

Smokers more than double their risk of developing AMD and the only established modifiable risk factor is smoking.

Q. Can it cause any other complications with the eyes?

A. Yes, as well as the early onset of AMD, smokers also have a higher likelihood of developing cataracts, impaired colour vision and dry eye syndrome. Smoking also increases your chance of getting diabetes, which can lead to blindness and is also linked to high blood pressure which is a risk factor for developing glaucoma.

Q. What can I do?

A. Try to quit smoking to reduce the risk of all of these health issues and many more and go to see your optician to check your eyes are healthy. If your optician spots signs of any health conditions, they will refer you to a medical professional for diagnosis and treatment.

Whiten yellow nails

That red polish may look great when itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on, but the yellow tint it leaves on your nails looks anything but.

1. Bleach nails in a solution of 1 tablespoon of 3 per cent hydrogen peroxide mixed with 2 1/2 tablespoons of baking soda in a small plastic bowl.

2. Use a cotton swab to press some of the mixture (it should achieve a paste-like consistency) firmly under the tip of each nail as well as over the top of the nail, covering all the nails on one hand.

3. Allow the mixture to remain in place for about three minutes before rinsing with warm water.

4. Repeat with other hand!

Try this treatment every six to eight weeks. Or, soak your tips in denture cleaner for about five minutes. For a super-speedy fix, use a nailwhitening pencil under your tips for a brighter look.

You can find Specsavers Opticas in Marbella and Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol, visit www.specsavers.es to find your nearest store.

40

home & garden

10 Popular Christmas Houseplants Consider adding these 10 popular Christmas houseplants to your collection.

Amaryllis

Amaryllis is a plant that has been seen in homes around Christmas time more and more each year. The bellshaped blooms are often beautiful shades of red that create a welcoming warmth in your home. Since these lovely plants are tropical, they do require relatively warm temperatures and humidity in the air. This is a plant that requires bright sunlight, but it should not be placed in direct sunlight though because this can hinder the bloom and result in a lack of colour for your Christmas gathering.

Poinsettia

A poinsettia is a pointed red flower that is often associated with the Christmas season. It is most commonly seen in red, but this plant can also bloom in shades of pink and soft yellow. Since these tropical plants are forced to bloom during Christmas, they need a little bit of extra care to get the plants to re-bloom.

They grow best in direct sunlight and humid temperatures.

Cyclamens

Mistletoe Mistletoe is a symbol of love that we typically hang in our homes during Christmas, but this plant is actually a parasitic plant, so growing it indoors means that you will need a host for the mistletoe to grow.

Seeding can occur in soil, but once roots form, the plant will need to be placed in a host tree’s bark. It will take about four years for a mistletoe plant to mature, and male plants will not produce white berries.

Paperwhite Narcissus

This is a delightful plant that stems from the Mediterranean. It is a close relative of the daffodil, and it is also a plant that creates bell-shaped blooms that are extremely fragrant and perfect for your home during Christmas.

The stalks of this houseplant are typically about a foot to a foot and a half in height, and the blooms are star-shaped delicacies that are pure white in colour. The blooms can be yellow or orange, but these varieties are often more rare.

This plant is a lovely Christmas plant to make your home feel more festive.

It is a plant that originates from Europe and the Mediterranean area, and the blooms are often delightful shades of red that match the rest of your Christmas décor.

Winter Cherry Winter cherry is a plant that blooms small white flowers in the summer, but they are mostly known for their tomato-like berries that can be seen near the Christmas season. The longer the berries are on the stem, the redder they will become.

These plants adore bright sunlight, but nothing that is too direct. They also need relatively cool temperatures, but nothing too drafty. In addition, this plant is also toxic so be careful if pets or small children are in your home.

Holly Holly has been a part of Christmas since it became part of the classic Christmas carol ‘Deck the Halls’ nearly 150 years ago, but holly and berries have been a favourite to brighten the desolate winter since ancient times. The holly shrubs that we all know as traditional Christmas plants have pointed leaves, red berries, and small white blooms. Holly is a plant that requires full sun and well-drained soil that is a bit on the acidic side to grow properly.

Christmas Berry

The leaves of Christmas berry are dark and glossy, and star-shaped flowers that are white and beautiful are produced in the summer months. During the winter season, the plant will yield fruits that are plump and red. The plant requires several hours of direct sunlight a day, and it also prefers to grow in warm temperatures with a high level of humidity.

Christmas Azaleas

Azaleas are evergreen shrubs that produce bright red blooms that vary in hue. The plant is loved during Christmas because it blooms during the winter months and continues into early spring.

It is not a plant that likes a lot of direct sunlight; in fact, it actually likes to grow in partial shade conditions. This plant enjoys relatively cool temperatures that do not rise above 68 degrees Fahrenheit, which is why it is such a great plant to have in your home during the winter months.

Christmas Cactus Christmas cactus is a tropical plant that originates in the tropical rainforests of southern Brazil. The flat, segmented stems of the plant remain green most of the year, but around Christmas, colourful red, orange, pink, purple, and white blooms form. They grow best with moist soil and a lot of indirect sunlight. If you want to ensure that your Christmas cactus will bloom, then be sure to provide the plant with 12 hours of darkness each night for six to eight weeks before Christmas.

41

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charities ACE CHARITY “El Refugio” in La Cala de Mijas is a registered charity.

We have on average 275 dogs in our care and we receive no help from the Town Hall or the Andalucian government. We desperately need foster homes and adoptants for our many dogs, especially the small ones and puppies who do not do well in a big shelter. We are grateful for any help offered, including donations of food and blankets. Visiting times are from 13.00 to 15.00 and

you can always turn up or make an appointment by calling Denise on 669 018 736. Our website is www.ace-charity.org where you can view all the dogs in our care ADANA THE ANIMAL SHELTER IN ESTEPONA. We always need volunteers to walk and socialise with our dogs and help with cleaning. We also need good homes for our animals that you can see on www.adana. es. Kennels open every day 10-1.30, Camino de Casares, near Parque de los Pedregales, Estepona.

(5 minutes from the Poligono) For more information call 952 113 467, available from 10.00am until 14.00pm SEPE the horse and donkey charity is open to the public week-ends from 10.00 to 5.00. Volunteers are much needed in all departments and are welcome at anytime.

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obituaries

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decorators RAINBOW PINTURAS. English professional, reliable painting & decorating company. Furniture spraying. Building service available. Free quotations. Daniel 628 066 308 www.rainbowpinturas.com

dentist NHS REGISTERED DENTIST in Fuengirola.

Specializing in Zircon crowns, bridges etc. Free check up! drvisky@hotmail.com 689 887 019

electrician MARBELLA BASED ELECTRICIAN call richard on 687 352 358 or email richi@europe.com all installations & maintenance. Surge protection, garden lights, upgrades, boletins.

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New mobility scooter batteries supplied and fitted. Mobility scooters bought for cash. www.mobilityscootersdi rectspain.com email info@mobilityscooter sdirectspain.com Tel 609581139 SENIORWORLD - MOBILITY scooters, wheelchairs, stairlifts, nursing beds, rise ´n´ recline chairs and a large range of daily living aids for sale or hire. Visit our showroom in Los Boliches - or call on 952 663 131 or 670 964 181 for advice & best prices

motoring 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.

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Last week’s puzzle answers (Issue 32)

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motoring

Millions of drivers struggle with basic car care AS CARS become more technologically advanced fewer drivers are capable of maintaining and servicing their own vehicles.

But a shocking new survey has found that many drivers can’t do some of the simplest tasks, with almost 1.3 million motorists unsure of how to open the bonnet of their own car.

AA Garage Guide surveyed more than 18,000 drivers about a range of vehicle safety checks - some of which are now included in a question and answer section in the driving test.

The results show that there are many drivers out there with a car manual stays firmly in the glovebox.

Some four per cent of the motorists polled by the AA’s garage-finding service said they were unsure how to unlatch the bonnet to gain access the engine bay of their motor. With 31.7 million drivers on the road in Britain today, that equates to 1.27 million car owners.

When asked if they knew how to check if there was a legal amount of depth on their car tyres, 22 per cent - which accounts for almost 7 million drivers - said they didn’t know how to do it.

More than a quarter (26 per cent) also didn’t know how to top up their vehicle’s cooling system with antifreeze - a worrying statistic when you consider these 8.2 million drivers have been faced with the recent cold snap with snow and ice covering the ground.

With the new ‘show me, tell me’ questions regarding safety checks being added to the new driving test that began at the start of this month, the results showed that many experienced motorists simply wouldn’t know the answer to many queries prompted by a driving examiner.

Olli Astley, director at AA Garage Guide, said confidence has

UNSURE: Do you know your spark plug from your boot?

dropped among drivers to carry out their own basic checks, but also said that many “don’t want to get their hands dirty”.

for problems you could fix at home – watching a YouTube

sure you’re not constantly popping in and out of the garage

garage is a great way to start,”

“It is worth learning some simple maintenance tasks to make

video, asking a friend or swotting up next time you’re at the

45

46

motoring FALL: Manufacturers concerned at levels of consumer confidence

New car market continues to decline THE UK new car market declined for an eighth consecutive month in November, according to figures released today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). 163,541 vehicles were registered, down 11.2 per cent year-on-year, driven by a significant fall in diesel demand.

Business, fleet and private registrations all fell in the month, down 33.6 per cent, -14.4 per cent and 5.1 per cent respectively. Registrations fell across all body types except specialist sports, which grew 6.7 per cent. The biggest declines were seen in the executive and mini segments, which decreased 22.2 per cent and 19.8 per cent respectively, while demand in the supermini segment

contracted by 15.4 per cent.

The Alternatively Fuelled Vehicles (AFV) sector, however, continued to make significant gains, growing 33.1 per cent. Petrol cars also saw a gain, though of a more modest 5.0 per cent. These increases could not, however, offset the heavy -30.6 per cent drop in diesel registrations. The decline follows months of confusion and speculation about the government’s air quality plans and its policies towards diesel cars.

Overall, registrations have declined 5.0 per cent in the eleven months in 2017, with 2,388,144 cars hitting British roads so far this year.

SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said: “An eighth

month of decline in the new car market is a major concern, with falling business and consumer confidence exacerbated by ongoing anti-diesel messages from government. Diesel remains the right choice for many drivers, not least because of its fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions. The decision to tax the latest low emission diesels is a step backwards and will only discourage drivers from trading in their older, more polluting cars. Given fleet renewal is the fastest way to improve air quality, penalising the latest, cleanest diesels is counterproductive and will have detrimental environmental and economic consequences.”

Peugeot success in South Africa TEAM Peugeot Hansen collected its tenth podium finish of the 2017 FIA World Rallycross Championship at the last round in South Africa to become the year’s Teams’ vice-champions.

The last round of the 2017 World Rallycross Championship, which took teams to Africa for the very first time, saw the PEUGEOT 208 WRX deliver a competitive performance from start to finish, including a memorable lightning start in Q4. Timmy Hansen hit the ground running to win Q1, Q4 and his semifinal, but he missed out on the weekend’s victory by just tenths of a second despite losing time in the bustle through Turn 1.

The young Swede recovered to collect a tenth podium finish for the PEUGEOT 208 WRX from 12 starts this year, while Team Peugeot Hansen put the seal on second place in the year’s Teams’ standings. Timmy himself placed fifth in the 2017 Drivers’ championship.

It turned out to be a frustrating weekend for Sébastien Loeb, however. After being

pushed out of contention in Q1, he picked up a puncture on the opening lap of Q2 and was consequently unable to show his true potential in qualifying.

That said, his hopes of recovering ground in his semi-final got off to a promising start when he emerged from Turn 2 in second spot. Unfortunately, another puncture prevented him from reaching the final, but he can still look back at a season which saw him bag seven top-three finishes and fourth place in the 2017 Drivers’ points table.

Kevin Hansen produced another strong run in his PEUGEOT 208 WRX 2016, including third-place finishes in Q2 and Q4. His start from the outside lane in his last qualifying session is likely to be remembered for some time to come. A penalty for Ken Block earned him a place in the final for the second round in a row and his excellent weekend enabled him to gain a place in the Drivers’ standings to conclude the year in eighth spot, just ahead of Block!

PODIUM: Peugeot competitive but finishing in second spot

47

sport

A former player, Tony Matthews is now the world’s most prolific author of football books with 150 published since 1975. He has also been a PE teacher, policeman, radio correspondent and is now a quiz-organiser and fund–raiser, for various charities.

Football In last weekend’s derbies, Wayne Rooney’s penalty earned Everton a point at Liverpool. Manchester City (streets ahead) beat lack-lustre rivals United 2-1 at Old Trafford to set a new Premiership record of 14 successive wins at start of a season and also end the Reds’ 40-match unbeaten home run. And West Ham pipped champions Chelsea 1-0 to give David Moyes his first win as manager.

Elsewhere, Tottenham walloped Stoke 5-1, becoming the first team in top flight football to beat their opponents by four or more goals in four successive meetings: 4-0, 4-0, 4-0 and 5-1. There were also wins for Burnley, Huddersfield, Swansea and Leicester who ruined Newcastle 125th birthday party on Tyneside; Jermain Defoe’s 200th career League goal helped Bournemouth draw 2-2 at Crystal Palace for whom Christian Benteke ‘fluffed’ a late penalty and Arsenal drew 1-1 at Southampton. Olivier Giroud’s late equaliser for the Gunners, puts him level with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for most PL goals scored by a substitute.

Where he belongs: Javi Anaya with Juan Carlos Camacho earlier this week

And he’s back JAVI ANAYA has returned to UD San Pedro after just over a year with Estepona CD. Anaya first arrived at UD San Pedro in the 2014/2015 season and became a key player.

He debuted in the third division in the 2015/2016 season in the sixth match against

CD Rincon.

At the start of the 2016/2017 season, Anaya transferred to Estepona CD, for whom he has been playing before resigning with the UD San Pedro team led by Juan Carlos Camacho earlier this week.

Wolves, Cardiff and Bristol City stand 1-2-3 in the Championship; Birmingham are third from bottom, having scored only ten goals in 21 League games, the fewest of all 92 clubs. Wigan and Luton top Leagues 1 and 2 and SPL leaders Celtic are unbeaten in 68 domestic matches after drawing 2-2 at Hibernian. In La Liga, Cristiano Ronaldo’s netted twice in Real Madrid’s 5-0 romp against Sevilla and Lionel Messi scored in Barcelona’s 2-0 win over Villarreal.

Earlier this week, the 10 PL games included Huddersfield-Chelsea, Liverpool-WBA, Manchester United-Bournemouth, Swansea-Manchester City, Newcastle-Everton, Spurs-Brighton and West Ham-Arsenal, and over the weekend we have ArsenalNewcastle, Bournemouth-Liverpool, Chelsea-Southampton, Manchester City-Spurs and WBA-Manchester United. In the Championship, it’s Bristol City-Nottingham Forest, Cardiff-Hull and Derby-Aston Villa, plus Sheffield Wednesday-Wolves (tonight); Wimbledon-Wigan and Shrewsbury-Blackpool in FL1; Forest Green Rovers-Luton and Notts County-Grimsby in FL2 and Hearts-Celtic in the SPL. In Spain, Barcelona play Deportivo and Eibar meet Valencia. The Leganes-Real Madrid game has been postponed.

And in the last 16 of the Champions League, it’s Bayern Munich-Besiktas, ChelseaBarcelona, Liverpool-Porto, Manchester City-Basel, Manchester United-Sevilla, Real Madrid-PSG, Shahktar Donestk-Roma and Spurs-Juventus; in the Europa League last 32 it’s Arsenal-Ostersunds and Celtic-Zenit SP. Round Up Last Saturday, James DeGale lost his IBF World super-middleweight crown to American Caleb Truax while Lee Selby defeated Eduardo Ramirez to win IBF world featherweight title. In New York, Belfast featherweight Michael Conlon made it five straight wins by beating Luis Fernando.

In Rugby Union’s European Champions Cup, Aviva PL leaders Exeter lost 18-8 to Leinster and Saracens crashed to their heaviest-ever European defeat, losing 4614 against Clermont. And Welsh captain Sam Warburton will miss the Six Nations tournament through injury.

England’s cricketers, two-nil down in the Ashes Series, are playing the Australians right now in the third Test at the WACA in Perth. Still without Ben Stokes, another Ben, Northants batsman Duckett, has been suspended by the ECB for throwing his drink over Jimmy Anderson!

Ronnie O’Sullivan is the UK snooker champion for the sixth time (out of seven), equalling Steve Davis’s competition record. The ‘Rocket’ beat Shaun Murphy 10 frames to five in last Sunday’s final at York’s Barbican.

Ex-World number one Serena Williams, who gave birth to a daughter in September, will compete in the first tennis Grand Slam of 2018 in Australia.

Retired cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins has had his first gruelling taste at rowing!

The William Hill World Darts Championships started yesterday with the retiring Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor strongly.

And this Sunday, live on BBC TV from Liverpool, the Sports Personality of the Year will be announced. It’s Lewis Hamilton for me.