Costa Blanca South 13 - 19 December 2012 Issue 1432

ISSUE NO. 1432

13 - 19 DECEMBER 2012

WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

FRONT EXTRA

Armed raid probed INVESTIGATIONS are continuing into an armed knife attack and theft of €200 in cash from a grocer’s shop in Alicante.

Nabbed!

TOP FOR SALES: Torrevieja leads the Spanish property market.

Sold! Torrevieja hot spot of Spain TORREVIEJA is Spain’s property hot spot.

More than 3,000 properties have been sold this year, making it the leading national sales area.

A huge 83 per cent of properties bought have been re-sales, with only 17

per cent new-builds.

According to the National Statistics Institute, the municipality of Torrevieja locally has the most home sales this year anywhere in Spain. Prices have never been so attractive, with windows of local real-estate agents indicating twobedroom properties available from €40,000.

Councillor for Urbanism Paco Moreno (PP), welcoming the sales

figures, said they were favourable mainly due to the low prices.

Planning applications for the construction of new housing are still low compared to the last decade when a record 6,000 licences were requested, but Moreno said the situation was positive, adding: “There is a moderate increase in productive sectors in these very difficult times.”

New park opens A NEW recreational park built by mainly unemployed people has opened in Los Balcones.

It includes boules, two basketball courts, a multi-sport area, two mini football pitches and a table tennis area.

It also has more than 500 square metres of colourful cobblestone walkway.

THREE pickpockets have been arrested for stealing wallets and purses from shoppers near Mercadona in La Marina urbanisation.

Jobless fall ELCHE’S unemployment ranks fell by 0.19 per cent to 37,117 last month, according to the latest figures.

Sweet treat TWELVE women aged 18 to 40 years, with various disabilities, took part in a workshop making chocolates as part of the Disability Day celebrations.

Not so cool!

THE Palacio del Agua, Orihuela, has re-opened after being closed when diesel supplies needed to heat the building and the adult and children’s pools ran out.

H me ~

ESPANA

Villas and Apartments required for our

966 761 545 www.homeespana.co.uk

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Costa Blanca South

NEWS EXTRA

Boys win in birth stakes MORE boys than girls were born in Elche between 1978 and 2011, a book highlighting the evolution and typology of births has revealed.

LONG WAITS: Staff shortages blamed.

600 protest over health go-slow

HEALTH CENTRE patients on the Costa Blanca are having to wait up to three hours to get a prescription.

Others seeking an appointment with a doctor face similar delays.

As a result, in the last two weeks more than 600 patients using Almoradí Health Centre have complained about poor service.

They believe that lack of staff is the cause and have filed official complaints.

But Mayor Antonio Angel Hurtado (PP) insists the problems were only temporary and have now been resolved.

He claims long waits during November were due to the departure of an administrator and a delay

in finding a replacement; the flu-jab campaign which would have increased the number of users and the need to issue prescriptions on a monthly basis for those on continued medication.

Previously these were done quarterly.

The mayor said a new full-time administrator is now in place.

Shoddy work fear for motorists MOTORISTS on the Costa Blanca are being warned about shoddy work by unauthorised mechanics.

The Metal Business Association of Elche (SMSA) claims there has been an

increase of unofficial and illegal activity, especially in car repair workshops.

SMSA Chairman José Fructuoso says the work of auto repair shops in Elche and the Baix Vinalopó is not

only being affected by the economic crisis itself but also by the increasing use of illegal shops and unemployed workers who need to strengthen their income doing repair or maintenance

on cars. He has warned motorists about using such ‘mechanics’, questioning the quality of their work.

At present, SMSA estimates the sector employs around 2,000 people in the region.

Shops shut SHOPS in Elche may be closed on December 29 next year to mark the Feast of Our Lady festivities.

More veg TWENTY per cent more artichokes are being grown in Vega Baja compared to the 2011 season, according to the Alicante Young Farmers Association

Bell toll JACARILLA Church was cordoned off after the bell came off its fixings but caused no damage.

Paper weight!

CREVILLENTE’S Historical Archive will be finished in two months and house 6,000 boxes of documents

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All change for 40 workers AROUND 40 Alicante City Council workers will be relocated next month following the dissolution of the Planning Department and a return of the former Department of Planning.

Training boost THE regional government is to receive €2.01 million to improve vocational training and procedures for skill recognition through work experience or other training.

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Alicante energy first ALICANTE UNIVERSITY is at the forefront of a project to develop clean energy from waste water treatment.

A team of Spanish and foreign researchers headed the research, co-ordinated by the Director of the Institute of Electrochemistry at the University of Alicante (UA), Juan Miguel Feliu.

He led them to design a prototype for industrial use that generates energy during the water purification process with

the help of a bacterium.

Funded with €3 million from the European Union, the project is applicable primarily in companies engaged in water treatment.

The water cleaning treatment will lead to huge energy cost savings.

The micro-organism used in the prototype has the ability to grow on an electrode, allowing electricity to be harnessed while eliminating polluting waste.

In the first phase of the

research, the scientists studied, at a very basic level, the physiology of this bacterium and its ability to “communicate electrically with different metals to optimise conditions for electricity generation,” said researcher Víctor José Climent.

Although the project has ended, the researchers believe that they can further enhance the results of the prototype designed and therefore increase the electrical power.

A GALA benefit at Elche Grand Theatre yesterday (Wednesday) was in aid of the Spanish Association Against Cancer.

ELCHE Mayor Mercedes Alonso has joined Enriqueta Sellers and Begoña Hernández as a candidate to head the local Partido Popular (PP).

Smile please SEVERAL members of the Disabled Sports Club in Elche have posed for a fundraising 2013 calendar.

MORE than 70 merchants and artisans filled Santa Pola’s castle fortress for the annual Christmas market.

Saintly parade

Shani sings

PRETTY AS A PICTURE: Colourful patios attract thousands to Cordoba every year.

Blooming delight! Cordoba patios get UNESCO boost

T

HE patios of Cordoba are in the news... five months earlier than usual.

Normally the focus turns on them in early May when local families celebrate the arrival of spring by opening their homes to exhibit their flowered-filled patios.

But now UNESCO has included the annual Cordoba Patio Festival, which each year attracts thousands of international and national visitors, on its list of Intangible and Cultural Heritage of Humanity events. This follows a rejection last year.

Cordoba’s Patio Festival loosely dates back to Roman times and was ongoing under Arab rule.

Quote of the week

‘

Festive fortress

ORIHUELA COSTA has two Christmas trees, one at Le Zenia Church and the other at Playa Flamenca Town Hall.

IT took technicians almost a week to find the fault that caused a blackout in Calle del Teatro, Alicante, with traders angry throughout over lost trade.

Three hopefuls

Nwatch ews

Double treat

In the dark

THE unemployed, the disabled, pensioners and groups of schoolchildren will be offered reduced rates for Exponadal at the IFA exhibition centre from December 26 to January 4.

Costa Blanca South

A MOORS and Christians parade started in Luceros Square in honour of St Nicholas in Alicante.

Gala benefit

Special deals

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‘We don’t want the Spaniards to leave. It will be very dangerous for us when they have left.

We may get killed by the Taliban. There are lots in here.’

Mohammad Bayan, an interpreter for Spanish troops in Afghanistan.

Then almost 80 years ago, a contest to encourage local residents to embellish the city was introduced, and since 1933 the event has been an increasingly popular attraction.

Prizes are awarded to the best patios, with some containing more than 150 potted plants.

There are now more than 10 intangible and cultural heritage items listed in Spain. These include Castell, a Catalan tradition in which teams compete to make human towers; the Elche Mystery Play, a drama dating from the Middle Ages enacted and celebrated annually in mid-August, and also flamenco.

Number of the week

were killed in 12 accidents over 14 people last week’s December 6-9 long holiday

weekend, the Spanish traffic agency has revealed. Six other people were also seriously injured.

SINGER Shani Ormiston is to present her new Once Upon a Time album at a Torrevieja concert on Saturday in aid of AFA, the Alzheimer’s Association.

Stars dimmed THE nativity scene in Pilar de la Horadada has less lighting than in previous years, with the cutbacks saving around €20,000 compared to 2010.

Theatre fest THE Amateur Theatre Festival in Callosa del Segura was held in recognition of local theatre and drama groups.

and finally...

ONLY the ruling Bildu political party paid homage in San Sebastian to the victims of terrorism in the Basque Region called by the city hall. But all other political parties attended an alternative tribute held the following day.

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Costa Blanca South

Action plea on ‘death-trap’ school

BRITISH

PARENTS are calling for action after a 20kilogramme lump of concrete fell onto a school playground.

They want the regional government to finally fulfil its promise to build a new school in Rojales after branding the present building a ‘death-trap’.

The Colegio Público Príncipe de Espaùa has been in a state of disrepair for more than a decade. Renewed protests by AMPA, the parents’ association,

PRESS

Stories making headlines from the United Kingdom

Fiery food

KNOCK IT DOWN: Protests on gates of the school.

DILAPIDATED: One of the classrooms.

come after the piece of concrete fell off the crumbling school and

to be hurt before action is taken?� asked parent Tracy Burns-Ahmet.

landed on the patio play area. “Does someone have

Buoys to help protect seabed A MARINE reserve is under threat from anchors damaging the seabed.

The water surrounding Tabarca Island, just off the coast at Santa Pola, was protected in 1986.

But despite coming under the protection of the regional government and the Ministry of

Environment, the underwater paradise needs help against the destruction caused by boating enthusiasts.

More than 6,000 ships annually drop and lift their anchors on the seabed causing the destruction of a posidonia meadow, which is crucial to the delicate eco-system.

The posidonia plant grows on

average just two or + 3 3. % 3 31*3 3 1 3 3* , three inches a year, 3 *"'1. 3 * -'3 %1 31.3 * ,3-*,3 *3 3 * 3 1 3 so when damaged it * 3.- .3 3- 3 3 *' 3 -'1 1 ,3 *"'1. 3 * -'3 1

3 1*"3 takes a long time to 1*3 32 . -32-'1,-3!32 . -3 '-* -3( "1 *. 30 3 -* 3 %1, .3-3 ' 3 recover. / 3 *"'1. 3 * -'3. %1 3 3 3 & - 1- 3 *1 3 3- 3 1 . 3-*,3 . 3 -3 ..1 *-'3 -'1 1 ,3 * -'3 ,1

3 1 3 % 3 3 - .3 & 1 * 3 3 -'. 33 Now the engineer

3 -* 3,1 * 3 - .3 3 - 1*"3 3 3 * -'3# -*1. 3 * -'3 *.

-* 3 of the Port Authority #. 3 ' 3 ', *3 -% . 3( "1.

3 1 3 3 *"'1. 3 * -'3 1

3 3.1 ' 3 of Alicante, Ignacio - 3- 3 3 1 3 3 33 * -' 3 Campos, is working 33-'. 3 3 1 3 - 1'1 .3 3-' -, 3 -% 3-*3 &1. 1*"31*.

-* 3 3 * -'33 '-* 3 * 3 * - , 333 on methods to /3 .3-3,- 3 3 1''3 -''3 3 3 3 3 3 . 1 -'3 3 % 3 3' % ,3 * 3 - 3 3 3 - '3 3 prevent its further

. 3 3 1 3 3 1''3331* 3

3- 1 1 .3#1 3, . 3 '1 3 *.1 .3 3-*,3 1''3" 1, 3 destruction.

3 " 3 3-

-*" * .3. 3 3. 3 3 1''3 3* 3 ..

3 3 - 31 -* 3, 1.1 *.3 - 3 Campos has made 3 - 3 * 3 -, 3 3 - 3 -.3 3 * -'3 -*3 3 , '- ,3 -.3 ' *"3 -.3 3 * , 3 0 3 . %1 .3 1* ' , 333 a detailed proposal -

-*"1*"3-3 1*1.

3, *,1*"3 *3 3 1 3 3. %1 3 3 -* 3 3-32- '1 3( 1 30-..3 3-33 for the installation of ' - 1 *3-*,3 1 3 3. * .3'1 3 3 1''3 "-*1. 3-''3 33 .1 3 *. 3 .3-*,3 . *-'1. ,3 . %1 3. .3 3 3 * -' 30 3. %1 .3-'. 31* ' , 3 "-*1.1*"3 ' . 3, *- 1 *. 3 * -'3 -. 3 -,) ecological moorings . * .3-*,31 3* , ,3 % *3 -% * 3 *. ''1*" 3 3 1''3. -*,31*3- *,-* 3- 3 3 * -' 3-*,3 1''3 for pleasure boats in 3 1 3 3 % 3. 3 3 3 - 3$ - ,. 3 3 1''3-

-*" 3-*,3 1 3 3-''3 -

3 1 1 - .3-*,3 Tabarca Island’s -. . 3$*,3 3 1''31* ' , 3-*3 1 - 3* 1 3, ,1 - ,3 3 3' % ,3 * 3-*,3 3 1 . 3 3- 3 *' 3 marine reserve.

-3 * 3 -''3- - 3-*,3- 3 *' 3 3 - 3 3-*.

3-* 3 . 1 *.3 3 - 3 -% 3 1 3* 3 '1"- 1 * 3 Floating buoys would * 3 ..

3 3 3 ',3'1 3 31* - 1 *3 31*3 3 % * 3 3-3 -% * 3 -''3 be used to tie up to, helping to stop the # # ( ( ' (# (' ( %( ( harmful effects of ! $(! " & ( ( " ( ( & & ( ( (!" $( (" ( &$ ($ & anchors, minimising

pollution and

improving safety for

ships and their users.

The system would operate from March

to October when

there can be up to 150 boats visiting %# & ! % the island each day. & & $ & & & $

& & Similar systems are & & "& " & &"

& & && already in operation

&

in the USA and France.

“The AMPA has been fighting for years but it is just getting worse.

Door frames are nonexistent, there is lead in the pipes in the drinking fountains and when it rains the pupils huddle in corners as the roof leaks.�

Leidy Auburn agrees: “It is horrendous. It is unsafe even for animals and has been condemned by architects and the fire brigade. My eldest is due to go there in September and I am panicking about it.�

Rachel King provided photos to the Euro Weekly News showing serious cracks in the gymnasium walls, classrooms with cracked tiles and rusty, broken pipework and ‘temporary’ buildings placed on top of the septic tanks, causing damp to rise.

Rachel said: “To say it is dilapidated is too kind. It is a dangerous death-trap and a serious accident just waiting to happen.�

The local council is behind the parents and their calls for a new school but funding needs to come from Valencia.

Photographs of the state of the school are currently on display in the Rojales theatre and AMPA has organised a protest march through the town on Saturday from 11am.

A BRISTOL restaurant has produced a burger so spicy it makes diners sign a disclaimer and wear protective gloves.

The Atomic Fallout Pizza burger is covered in a sauce that’s made from two of the fieriest chillies in the world, the Scotch Bonnet and the Ghost Chilli.

Coldest gig AN ENGLISH musician has entered the Guinness Book of World Records by performing the coldest gig. Former Busted and Fightstar frontman, Charlie Simpson, played a 15-minute set in the Siberian village of Oymyakon.

Digital Dandy SIR PAUL McCARTNEY has appeared in the final print edition of Britain’s longest-running children’s comic, The Dandy. It has now gone digital-only, 75 years after it was first published.

Rhino charge A LONDONER has been jailed for 18 months following his attempt to steal a rhinoceros head from Castle Museum in Norwich. Patrick Kiely, aged 29, admitted trying to steal the stuffed specimen worth ÂŁ500,000 (â‚Ź615,000).

Rhino horns are now worth more than gold.

Adult drama BBC ONE and BBC Drama have commissioned the adaptation of JK Rowling’s first adult novel The Casual Vacancy. The series is expected to be shown in 2014.

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WALKING FOR A CAUSE: Friends Carole and Ruth take along Lucy on the 5km walk.

Santas in cancer mercy dash!

She added: “Everything we raise goes to the charity and so without these people we could not do it.”

Food items were also accepted and placed in a sleigh donated by Lo Rufete and pulled by members of the Torrevieja Tigers rugby team. “Last year we collected toys for the children’s home and this year the food will be donated to Reach Out Torrevieja,” explained Maria.

For many it was a chance to dress up and take part in a fun event, for others it was all about the cause.

“I have lost someone to cancer,” said Ruth Roper

from Cabo Roig, “and it gives you a chance to think about that. It is important for people to come together and work together to fight this disease.”

Carole Weaver took part with her rescue dog Lucy.

She said: “It is a great cause.”

Members of the Campoverde Theatre Group took time out from rehearsals for their new show to get in the festive spirit and support the charity.

The full €5 registration entry fee for each participant went to the AECC.

Crime gang disbanded POLICE have arrested a group of criminals believed to have carried out more than 40 burglaries in homes throughout Murcia, Albacete and Alicante.

The group, which included a jeweller, used physical violence and often targeted houses where the tenants were elderly.

Women of the organisation called at the homes on the pretext of selling cosmetics and, once they had checked that no one was inside the house, or it was occupied by elderly residents, they robbed the property, removing small items including cash and jewellery.

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Costa Blanca South

ON YOUR MARKS : Santas took over Torrevieja promenade for the annual event.

TORREVIEJA promenade was awash with Santas young and old as the annual AECC Santa Fun Run took place.

More than 180 men, women and children, plus a few dogs, took part to help raise funds for the AECC cancer charity.

President of the AECC Torrevieja Branch and founder of The Pink Ladies fundraisers, Maria Wilson, said she was delighted with the turnout and thanked a host of people for making the event possible including Fit-4-All for their Zumba workout and Mattgrafix.com for the printing.

EWN

The police investigation revealed that the group selected locations depending on the time of year and entered up to a dozen homes in a day.

Police were able to define the structure of the group where each of its members, all of them Spanish, had a very specific function, such as transportation to the site, access to housing, surveillance, the sale of stolen products and hiding members.

Fourteen people have been detained but police have not ruled out further arrests.

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Costa Blanca South

GERMAN

PRESS

Stories making headlines from Germany

€5 strip search

TURN OFF: Channels blocked to viewers in Spain.

Satellite TV under threat?

Forget it, say TV doctors REPORTS continue to put a question mark over free English-language satellite television channels in Spain.

But the vast majority of television technicians, from the Costa Blanca in the north down to the Costa del Sol in the south, as well as in inland areas, say that if British channels are blocked to viewers in Spain, they will quickly be able to find ways around the move.

“When the channels do go, which is pretty much a certainty, we will have a system in place that will have been tested to get your missing channels back,” said one television technician on the Costa del Sol, who requested not to be named.

Over the last week, reports – including in some newspapers – have indicated that the BBC and ITV are planning to block channels seen by tens of thousands daily in Spain.

The vast majority of viewers pay no monthly satellite fee, using either cards which they operate illegally here in Spain, or through satellite boxes for which they pay no fixed monthly fee; thereafter viewing BBC, ITV, Sky News, and numerous other channels without cost.

Confusion initially set in, especially after Channel 5 went off the airwaves a few days ago.

Reports circulated that on December 16, all BBC and ITV channels would be blocked, but it has been

impossible to get any television station officials in the UK to confirm – or deny – such claims.

However, online Sky advisor Santhosh told EWN: “We confirm that there is no issue with the Sky signal and no changes to the Sky satellite. There will be no issue with any channels.”

Many British expatriates – especially followers of some of the regular soap series including Coronation Street and EastEnders – initially reacted to the reports that programmes would be blocked with horror.

“If I can’t watch Coronation Street then I might as well go home,” pensioner Flora Relf, of Los Boliches on the Costa del Sol, said.

Her friend, Elizabeth Holmes of nearby Fuengirola said that television – especially during the winter – is the mainstay of her life. “If they block the channels I won’t be able to afford a monthly subscription, so life here will definitely not be so attractive,” she said.

Another TV technician in Spain confirmed he had received hundreds of calls from worried expatriates concerned over ‘the big satellite switch-off’, but commented: “There is no specific date when this might happen as the operators of the satellites give little or no warning when testing new frequencies.”

FOUR police officers in Munich are under investigation for allegedly forcing 27 students aged 13 and 14 to strip in the search for a missing €5 note.

Failed show LIVE German show Supertalent suffered a series of disasters as one singer choked on confetti during her performance and then a fire broke out on stage.

Tall light THE tallest lighthouse in Europe, standing at 100 metres, is planned for the Port of Hamburg.

Top carol AROUND 24 per cent of Germans named Stille Nacht (Silent Night) as their favourite Christmas carol, a survey showed.

Big cake A GIANT three ton, 3.64 metres long, 1.75 metres wide fruitcake locally known as Stollen, was baked by a team of 20 bakers in Dresden.

Cow effort A RECORD average of 8,000 litres of milk were produced by German dairy cows during the 2011/2012 season, the DLQ animal control agency said.

No consent THE NPD neo-Nazi party has been ordered to pay €12,000 in compensation to 12 minors after they were used in an election campaign video without parental consent.

13 - 19 December 2012

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Languages and care ALMORADI Town Hall has organised a training workshop entitled ‘Languages and Care’ aimed at immigrant women with disabled children in their care.

The aim is to provide basic knowledge to help improve care for children, raise awareness of healthcare resources and improve the use of Spanish among the immigrant community. The classes are taught by a multidisciplinary team consisting of a social worker, lawyer, graduate in political science and nurse.

Costa Blanca South

Wet and wetter

Combined cultures ASSOCIATIONS’ DAY, part of Torrevieja’s patronal fiestas, celebrated the town’s international flavour.

The event attracted around 50 associations, representing different nationalities resident in the town, to participate in the exhibition of ‘culture, gastronomy and co-existence.’

Whilst the main activities took place inside the fiestas marquee in the harbour area, the Torrevieja Classic Car Club display attracted a large crowd along the seafront, with many taking the chance to view some classic and specialised cars.

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CLASSIC CARS: On display as part of Associations’ Day. CULTURAL DELIGHT: Visitors were able to sample cuisine from across the globe.

ALICANTE province suffered its wettest November since 1989.

An average 109 litres per square metre of rain inundated the province.

That compares to the normal average of just 42 litres of rainfall per square meter.

And in the mountains north of the province, towns like Lorcha, Vall de Gallinera, Vall de Alcala and Vall de Ebro averaged 450 litres.

Much of the rain fell during the heavy storms that lasted from November 11-14.

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13 - 19 December 2012

Special needs help promise COUNCILLORS for Education and Welfare, Rosa Martinez and Emilio Zaplana, have met parents of children with special educational needs on Orihuela Costa.

The meeting follows public anger at the lack of nursery care services available for children with special needs, as previously reported in the Euro Weekly News Despite election manifestos promising action and the opening of a new nursery in September at Las Picinas, special needs help is still not being provided, claim council opponents.

Zaplana and Martinez pledged to inform the paediatrician who works at the health centre on the coast about how a child is to be treated at the centre in Orihuela.

They asked parents to get a report from their doctor stating their child needs specialised care so they can assess demand.

Light festival THE Jewish Festival of Lights, Hannukah, is being celebrated on the Paseo at Playa Flamenca on Saturday at 7.30pm.

ENTRENARANJOS and Laguna Green Fiesta Committee are holding their Christmas celebration on Sunday from 1-5pm. Visitors are asked to take their own chair and blanket.

Barter market A SOLIDARITY Barter Market in Alicante is being held to promote reuse of waste and recycling in addition to helping social entities.

Store help

REGISTER NOW: Parents of disabled children are urged to register at Playa Flamenca Town Hall so demand can be assessed.

THE secret of the Tarta de Santa Clara has been preserved for centuries.

But guests can try to guess the mystery ingredient when they try the sweet dish as part of a guided tour.

Orihuela’s Tourism Department organised the Sweet Steps tour including a visit to the Convent of San Juan de Orihuela, offering a look

THE Mayor of Torrevieja, Eduardo Dolon and the Councillor for Youth, Rosario Martinez Chazarra, have approved municipal aid to 32 couples who married in 2011.

A total of â‚Ź85,500 was handed out. Dolon said there were 38 applications for aid, of which six were rejected.

NEWS EXTRA

Xmas fiesta

Guess the mystery ingredient

Newly-wed support

Costa Blanca South

at the convent pastries and local cuisine.

Also included was a visit to the Convent of the Dominican Sisters of Trinidad and the Convent of San Sebastian, where each religious order prepares its own sweet delicacies.

The tour is planned to be repeated throughout 2013.

A tasty day out TORREVIEJA marked Constitution Day celebrations with a paella competition.

Solemn ceremonies marking the 34th anniversary of the Spanish Constitution went hand in hand with the fun and festivities of the culinary competition.

Dozens of clubs, associations, organisations and groups of friends began preparing their paella from midday, with the jury giving first prize to the group El Trampete.

Vega Baja Giant Paella Mediterranean cooked a huge paella, distributing around 600 free portions to visitors.

HOGUERES MUSEUM in Alicante has opened its first store selling souvenirs made by members of the Alicante Association of Mentally Handicapped (APSA).

School drugs SIX children were found allegedly consuming drugs inside a study room at a school in Elche.

Food aid ELCHE COUNCIL is hosting a campaign to collect food which will be delivered to the Caritas and Red Cross organisations.

The project Kilo Solidarity will run until Thursday, December 20.

Telecare cash SANTA POLA has announced that the home telecare service is guaranteed for another year after the council approved maintenance funding.

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Senior care centre gets cash boost ONE MILLION EUROS is to be invested in a pensioners’ care centre.

Mayor of Elche, Mercedes Alonso, announced that the council will help improve facilities at the Specialised Centre for Senior Care (CEAM), formerly known as Home of the Pensioner.

The project will focus on refurbishing the 40-yearold building, and includes rearranging the rooms and the installation of a lift.

The work is planned in two phases, starting next year.

Costa Blanca South

Give food to help poor this winter CARITAS and the Red Cross of Santa Pola have been overwhelmed with applications for help during 2012.

Now the two largest associations in the coastal town have increased their support in the fight against poverty and are calling for more help.

According to the president of Caritas, Laura Camacho, in just nine months, the charity has provided care to more than 1,600 families or more than 2,600 people.

And Vanessa Agullo, of the Red Cross, said the organisation has so far this year helped 1000 families.

The Red Cross has already made more

than 2,000 food parcels and has been forced to triple its aid in the past two years. As a result, the two charities within Santa Pola are asking local residents to “bring light to families during this time,” said the councillor of Social Services, Ana Blasco. Camacho added: “Winter is very hard in Santa Pola.” The town choir of Santa Pola held a concert last night (Wednesday) with donations of food being made. The town’s paddle club is also collecting food, and the Neighbourhood Association of Gran Alacant Residents collected food for Caritas in front of Mercadona.

Friends Unlimited end of year event FRIENDS UNLIMITED, the social arm of HELP Vega Baja, is to hold its final event before the Christmas break on

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Thursday, December 20.

More than 90 people will be at Portico Mar for a meal and Christmas Raffle.

Meetings re-start on Thursday, January 10 at The Club, Quesada, where Sammy Fitzsimmons is speaking

about My Medium Life.

For details of the forthcoming programme visit the website: www.helpvegabaja.com

MUSIC PARK: Second phase of the outdoor leisure and recreational area is now open.

Music park has opened its gates THE second phase of the Parque Cañada Marsa has been officially opened in Benijofar by the town’s mayor. The Parque de la Musica occupies 6,650 square metres of the park, and includes an auditorium where outdoor theatre performances can take place.

The work has cost just under €300,000.

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Costa Blanca South

Local weather for next 7 days COSTA BLANCA TODAY AND TOMORROW DENIA DENIA

JAVEA

JAVEA CALPE ALTEA

CALPE ALTEA BENIDORM BENIDORM ALICANTE ALICANTE

TORREVIEJA TORREVIEJA

ORIHUELA

S Sun,

ORIHUELA

Cl Clear,

Sh Showers,

Alicante TODAY: CLEAR Fri - 18 9 C Sat - 22 13 Cl Sun - 22 11 Cl

Th Thunder

Madrid

MAX 18C, MIN 12C Mon - 18 12 Cl Tues - 17 12 Cl Wed - 17 11 C

TODAY: SUNNY, Fri - 18 10 C Sat - 18 13 Cl Sun - 20 11 Cl

MAX 10C, MIN 1C Mon - 11 -3 Cl Tues - 11 -3 C Wed - 9 3 C

MAX 15C, MIN 7C Mon - 16 9 Cl Tues - 15 8 Cl Wed - 13 8 Cl

TODAY: SHOWERS, MAX 17C, MIN 9C Fri - 17 12 C Mon - 17 9 S Sat - 19 12 Cl Tues - 17 8 Cl Sun -19 9 S Wed - 17 8 Cl

MAX 20C, MIN 7C Mon - 19 10 Cl Tues - 19 9 Cl Wed - 18 8 Cl

TODAY: CLEAR, Fri - 18 8 C Sat - 21 12 Cl Sun - 21 9 Cl

Malaga MAX 18C, MIN 9C Mon - 16 10 Cl Tues - 16 9 Cl Wed - 14 8 C

Mallorca

Murcia

Benidorm TODAY: CLEAR, Fri - 20 9 C Sat - 23 14 Cl Sun - 23 11 Cl

Sn Snow,

C Cloud,

TODAY: CLEAR Fri - 12 7 Sh Sat - 14 10 Sh Sun - 13 -5 Sh

Barcelona TODAY: SHOWERS Fri - 16 8 C Sat - 18 12 Cl Sun - 19 10 Cl

Fog,

MAX 18C, MIN 7C Mon - 18 9 Cl Tues - 18 8 Cl Wed - 17 8 Cl

Almeria TODAY: CLEAR Fri - 18 12 C Sat - 21 13 Cl Sun - 19 12 S

13 - 19 December 2012

MAX 18C, MIN 5C Mon - 18 8 Cl Tues - 17 7 Cl Wed - 17 6 Cl

Final credits roll as studio put up for sale THE Ciudad de la Luz film studio in Alicante is for sale.

Councillor for Tourism, Culture and Sport Lola Johnson announced that the department will ‘immediately begin the process of selling’ the complex.

She added that the regional government is making sure that the sale complies with European Commission rules.

Councillor Johnson said they were announcing the sale so that the public know the current situation rather than resorting to the ‘half-truths’ and ‘outright lies’ spread by the opposition.

The complex has come under fire in recent years and the councillor admitted that the status of the Ciudad de la Luz was ‘complicated’.

LOOKING FOR A BUYER: Alicante’s Cuidad de la Luz complex.

The European Commission opened an in-depth investigation in 2008 following complaints to determine whether the Valencian Government’s funding of the studio broke European rules on state aid.

They said the €265 million given for the

construction should be repaid. They doubted that the decision to create a new film centre when facilities already existed in Madrid and Barcelona responded to ‘commercial reasons’.

European Commissioner for Competition Joaquin Almunia said the Spanish

film industry is vibrant and competitive, and there is no need to spend public money to finance a new operator.

Johnson claimed the government had acted legally, within the rules of national and European law in all respects to the Ciudad de la Luz.

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SCANDINAVIAN PRESS Stories making headlines in Denmark, Norway and Sweden

Xmas goat SWEDEN – This year’s 13-metre tall straw Christmas goat in Gävle is being watched day and night by private security guards.

Thirty-three goats have been burnt and another seven vandalised, since 1966.

Child abuse NORWAY – An Indian couple living in Oslo were sentenced to 18 and 15 months in jail (father and mother, respectively) for physical abuse of their six-year-old son.

Party over DENMARK – Organisers of the 30year-old Copenhagen Carnival announced it will not be held next year, as public funding was cut from €67,000 to €27,000.

Fast job SWEDEN – Two managers at a McDonald’s restaurant in Stockholm were suspended from their jobs after allegedly selling work permits to illegal foreign workers.

Sex affair NORWAY – State Secretary Roger Ingebrigtsens resigned after reportedly having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old member of the Labour Party.

Poker shot DENMARK – Danish poker champion Theo Jørgensen was robbed in his home in Copenhagen after being shot three times in one leg by three assailants.

Costa Blanca South

A time to remember those less fortunate PLAYA FLAMENCA Town Hall is asking local residents to help charity Caritas support the less fortunate.

The ‘one litre/one kilo/one euro campaign’ is now under way until Monday, December 31. Donations of dried, non-perishable food

can be made to the International Foreign Residents office in the town hall at Playa Flamenca. Donations of toys are also asked for, so that less fortunate children can get a present from Santa Claus or the Three Kings. Toys can be left in the special ‘casita’ in the foyer of the town hall.

Heirloom gives boost to horse sanctuary A FAMILY heirloom has been donated to the Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre.

The porcelain statue of a rearing stallion by German sculptor Gustav Gossenburger from Von Schierholz and Sons, will hopefully raise much-needed funds at a charity auction next year.

The piece was given to Looking Good Boutique in La Zenia by regular customer Clare le Duc. It has been in her family since 1948. Clare has always loved the statue but felt it would be better used to raise funds and awareness for horses right here on her doorstep.

Looking Good Boutique hosts regular fundraising events for the rescue centre and presented cofounder Susan Weeding with the statue at their charity fashion show.

Owner Louise Brandley said: “We used our Looking Good Curvy Lady Fashion

Show event to officially present Susan Weeding with the statue. Clare made the presentation with Taffeta looking on, a miniature horse who was in desperate need when she arrived at Easy Horse Care.

“She perfectly demonstrated how important their work is and what a difference their intervention can make. Taffeta was so thin when she arrived that her hip bones pierced her skin, now she is round enough to qualify for an appearance at a ‘curvy’ lady fashion show!”

Susan added, “We are very grateful to Clare le Duc for making this special donation, and on behalf of Looking Good Boutique and Easy Horse Care rescue Centre we would like to say a huge thank you, her generosity is very much appreciated.”

Details of the charity auction will follow in the New Year.

HORSING AROUND: Louise Brandley and Clare le Duc donate a horse sculpture to Easy Horse Care.

Ladies Club celebrates QUESADA Ladies Club celebrated their 20th anniversary luncheon.

The club was formed in 1992 and meets at The Coopers Arms in Quesada on Tuesdays from 2.30pm.

They work to support local charities including the Children’s Orphanage in Elche, Age Concern, the Lions Torrevieja branch and Help at Home.

New members are always welcome.

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Costa Blanca South

Former drug trafficker attacked GUARDIA CIVIL in Pontevedra, Galicia, are investigating an attack in which intruders set fire to a drugtrafficker’s testicles.

The intruders broke in to the home of the victim, aged 67, in the early hours of the morning when he was sleeping. He currently owns a winery, but in the 80s he was a wellknown smuggler and drug-trafficker who was sentenced to more than 13 years in prison.

The events are believed to have been a settling of scores related to his past involvement with drugs gangs, although it could also have been a violent burglary.

The victim reports three intruders tied him up and beat him, then covered parts of his body with petrol and set fire to him. His arms and testicles were the worst affected areas.

He was able to get to a window and call to his neighbours for help.

They extended a ladder to him via which he escaped, and an ambulance was called. He has since been released from hospital.

EWN

Pessimistic outlook for Spain in 2013

AIRPORT ARREST: The pair tried to smuggle cocaine through Heathrow.

Spanish brothers jailed by UK court TWO Spanish brothers who attempted to smuggle cocaine worth almost £300,000 through Heathrow Airport have been sent to prison.

Roberto and Jesus Maria Moreno Ramirez, aged 44 and 40 and originally from La Rioja, were arrested

by UK Border Force officers after flying in from the Dominican Republic, via Frankfurt.

Checks were carried out on their luggage and when two suitcases were

emptied they were found to be unusually heavy. X-rays revealed both had false bottoms.

Packages of cocaine, were found concealed within the hidden compartments. Just under three kilos of the drug were seized.

The brothers pleaded guilty to importing a Class A drug and were sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison each by a judge at Isleworth Crown Court.

ALMOST half of the Spanish think that 2013 will be worse financially than 2012 has been.

Although the government claims the contrary, 47.3 per cent of Spanish think next year will be worse, and 31.7 per cent think it will be the same, according to a survey carried out by the Sociological Research Centre.

Almost 55 per cent of those questioned said the financial situation in Spain is ‘very bad’ and more than 80 per cent say their main worry is unemployment, followed by 42.7 per cent who are concerned about the country’s financial problems.

They are also worried about politics (30.2 per cent), health (11.4 per cent), corruption (9.5 per cent), banks (8.4 per cent), education (6.7 per cent), evictions (6.3 per cent), cutbacks (5.5 per cent) and immigration (4.1 per cent).

Almost one in four workers think they may lose their jobs in the coming year, although a higher proportion (27.2 per cent) do not believe such a thing could happen.

More than 67 per cent of Spaniards are unsatisfied with democracy in Spain.

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Britons held in child porn enquiry TWO British residents of Alicante are amongst the 28 people arrested throughout Spain for their involvement with a network which recorded child abuse.

At the time of their arrest, two boys were arriving at the apartment where the abuse was due to take place.

A further 10 have been charged in the international operation codenamed ‘Espada’ which focused on a network based in Canada selling videos of child abuse.

Nineteen underaged boys have been rescued in Madrid and Alicante, although most of the abused minors, aged between 11 and 16, who appeared in the videos were from the Ukraine, Romania and Germany.

They were abused before and after the recordings, for which they were paid.

Four of the detainees, including the two Britons, are accused of abusing the children. One of them had spent a year in prison in the UK for child abuse. A third person is an elderly ‘sexual tourist’ also arrested in Alicante, and the fourth, in Madrid, manages a cycling club and is accused of abusing 14 children. A fifth person, arrested in Malaga, is also suspected of abusing minors.

Thirty-one properties were searched, and police seized 20 computers, 81 hard drives, 1,881 CDs and DVDs, 27 pen drives, seven memory cards, a modem, mobile phones, cameras, video cameras and printed photos of naked children.

The company, selling videos of child abuse, had existed since 2004, and some clients had spent up to €1,000 for the images, purchased from three websites. The company made an average of $1.6 million per year.

Costa Blanca South

Father jailed for ritually mutilating baby daughter

By Gabrielle Devon THE Supreme Court has confirmed a six-year prison sentence for a Gambian man who carried out a ritual genital mutilation procedure on his daughter.

The man, who had lived in Spain for 10 years, performed the mutilation when the girl was less than one year old, and was sentenced by Teruel Provincial Court. Her mother was sentenced to two years in prison after it was confirmed she was not aware that the procedure was illegal in Spain. The case was discovered during a routine check-up with the paediatrician.

The father, said to be wellintegrated in Spanish society, appealed the sentence in the Supreme Court on the grounds that it was a 3,000-year-old practice which, he said, in his country, ‘seeks to help the child fit in’. However, Judge Joaquin Gimenez said: “It is not culture, it

coloursinmylife / Shutterstock.com

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13 - 19 December 2012

OUTLAWED TRADITION: Young girls at risk of 3,000-year-old practice. is mutilation and discrimination of women.”

Female genital mutilation is a practice carried out mainly in African and Asian countries.

Social Services in Spain attempt to contact families of girls whom they consider may be at risk of undergoing this procedure. They explain the dangers it involves, and attempt to dissuade them from returning to their country of

origin for the ritual to be performed or from having it carried out by clandestine witchdoctors residing in Spain.

Many of the families living in Spain apparently do not want to carry out the ritual, but upon returning to their countries of origin feel pressured into accepting it by their communities. Many believe that it is good for a woman’s health,

maintaining cleanliness as there are no sexual secretions. Others believe that if a child touches its mother’s clitoris while being born, it will die.

However, it is mainly used to prevent young girls from having sexual urges in order to maintain their virginity until marriage, something which assures they will be accepted by their future husbands. Many women allow the procedure as they believe it will pleasure their partners and guarantee a successful marriage. The origin of female genital mutilation is unknown and although it is carried out in many Muslim countries, it is not related to Islam or any other known religion.

There are several types of genital mutilation, but all involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia.

MONEY LAUNDERING: €14m allegedly passed through Spanish company.

Spanish connection

THE tax evasion network run by Chinese businessman Gao Ping allegedly laundered €14 million through the company of Spanish porn actor Nacho Vidal.

The money was allegedly sent from the US to companies belonging to the network in China.

‘Vidal Production’

allegedly issued false invoices created by Nacho Vidal’s sister’s partner, according to the anti-corruption prosecutor, based on notations in a book found in the possession of Gao Ping’s wife. Vidal allegedly obtained commission amounting to more than €180,000 which was paid into accounts in

Andorra and not declared to the Spanish tax office.

Gao Ping was remanded to prison following his arrest in the ‘Emperor’ operation, but has since been released due to a legal technicality.

Another 11 people, arrested for their involvement in the network, were also

released. They have to appear in court every day and have had their passports confiscated.

The incarcerations were declared illegal because the suspects were kept in custody for more than 72 hours before the judge informed them that they were to be remanded in prison.

Narrow escape FOUR-YEAR-OLDS at a school in Valencia were forced to move to the library after their classroom ceiling collapsed. The president of the Cervantes Primary School reported that a part of the plaster from the ceiling fell on one of the desks, although at the time the children were hanging up their coats and no-one was injured.

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PRESS

Stories making headlines from Russia

Epic jam AUTHORITIES passed the buck for the 70-km traffic jam on the Moscow to St Petersburg M-10 carriageway that trapped 9,000 drivers over a weekend.

VIP island THE Kamenny Ostrov island has been proposed by St Petersburg authorities as a nature reserve. But some ecologists see it as an excuse to create a VIPzone for millionaires.

Outside city NEW buildings in Moscow will be constructed in the suburbs not the city centre, Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said after refusing hundreds of contracts with developers.

Husband let off after wife reports rape 3 weeks later A MAN from Sevilla has been acquitted of raping his wife because she didn’t report the attack until 22 days later.

The prosecutor was asking for eight years in prison for the man, 32, accused of sexually abusing

his wife, with whom he lived in an apartment with their daughter, 13, and nephew, 20.

The provincial court has acquitted him due to what was referred to as the ‘lack of interest’ shown by his wife, who

failed to report ‘such a serious’ crime. She reportedly went to work following the attack in May 2010.

The woman later said this was because she had so many things to do, including prepare for a

trip to Ecuador.

The couple had separated in the previous September but were still living together. On the day of the attack, they had a violent row, and the woman claimed to have been sexually abused but refused an examination in hospital.

In March 2011, she appeared in court and requested to withdraw the complaint against her been given an ultimatum to husband, because she either get a divorce or give up claimed to be fed up with her privileges as Infanta. constant calls from the Lecturas claims that the Royal police and courts, but Family do not accept many of ‘thought better of it’ when the things which Iñaki does, she was told that if she including having a royal escort. did so, the restraining Renouncing her privileges order against him would would mean also renouncing be annulled. those of her four children, Her nephew, who was whom she reportedly plans to in another room, claims send to boarding school in he did not hear any Switzerland. screaming or crying at It is said she wants to the time of the alleged distance them from negative attack. comments about their father.

Princess refuses to get divorce THE daughter of the King of Spain, Infanta Cristina of Spain could be thinking of giving up the privileges of her title for love.

According to Spanish magazine, Lecturas , Princess Cristina is convinced of the innocence of her husband, Iñaki Urdangarin, with regards to the Noos corruption scandal, and is ready to put her marriage before Royal title.

She has reportedly been advised to get a divorce in order to distance herself from the charges against her husband, but refuses to do so.

© Casa de Su Majestad el Rey / Dalda

RUSSIAN

Costa Blanca South

STANDING BY HER MAN: Infanta However, the Royal Household has denied reports that she has

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DENIA Partida Madrigueres Sud 12 Tel: 965065589 OPENING HOURS: Monday-Friday: 10am-6pm Saturday: 10am-2pm www.hacomuebles.es

TORREVIEJA Calle Apolo 90 (Street with the needle) Tel: 965060733 OPENING HOURS: Monday-Friday: 10am-8pm Saturday: 10am-2pm www.hacomuebles.es

13 - 19 December 2012

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Costa Blanca South

Advertising Feature

It’s still not too late to cancel: Get advice from Jennifer Cunningham F

OR some months now I have been writing to inform you of the closure of a private health company and advising you on an excellent alternative to the product which is being offered by the company taking over all the clients.

As I have mentioned, it is a very large Spanish company with little or no knowledge of the needs of expats, and also very lacking in English speakers.

Many of the doctors will not be working with them, and you could be very disappointed to find that your doctor of preference is no longer with this company. This, of course, would be unacceptable and could turn out to be a disaster for you. Combine this with not being able to speak to someone in your own language, especially when you are feeling a little stressed; well, it doesn’t bear thinking about I understand very little information from the new company has been issued, at this moment in time; they even seem unsure of the new policy terms and have advised Mandy that they will be contacting clients during next year to advise them of the policy details and for them to accept the new conditions.

Also, please be careful. There are payments already being taken out of bank accounts, even though it is for next year’s premium; however, you have 60 days for the bank to return the payment on your behalf. This is despite in some cases the policy having been cancelled. If you have

HEALTH INSURANCE: Looking after the needs of expats requires understanding. (Inset) Jennifer Cunningham. changed insurances, then I would advise you to cancel the direct debit with your bank, as this type of action does not bode well for the future, I feel.

If you haven’t already had a meeting with Mandy or spoken to her on the phone regarding what we are able to offer, it isn’t too late. Although the cut- off date for cancellations is October 31, legally if your doctor of choice is no longer going to be with the new company you can cancel at any time.

Also as the company has changed hands, you have the legal right not to accept the new company’s conditions at

any time.

The process of transfer via my offices is very straightforward and as all the information is in English it makes it easier for you to understand all the implications.

And Mandy will give you as much time as you need, to ensure you are absolutely clear of the Asssa policy conditions.

Health insurance is vital to all families and therefore much easier if you get it right first time.

The claims of some companies are just not viable; looking after expats requires a great understanding of us and our needs.

I can assure you my company always

goes that extra mile for you all.

Don’t just leave it to chance, call Mandy now on 966 461 690 or email on mandy@jennifercunningham.net If you do nothing to obtain information regarding your existing policy and the changeover company, then you will be automatically transferred to them and the payment taken out of your bank.

In addition, if at a later date you find the policy and conditions are not the same, and the doctors’ list is completely different, then you will be trapped.

Don’t just leave it to chance. You are far too important.

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13 - 19 December 2012

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Costa Blanca South

ALMERIA

AXARQUIA

Duty free

Man killed on A-7207

COSTA BLANCA NORTH

THE World Duty Free Group España SA company will take over the duty-free at Almeria Airport, along with shops at another 10 Spanish airports, bringing the total number of stores it will run up to 26.

New clients

A MAN aged 54 died after being knocked down by a car on the A-7207 road in Torrox, near La Mula bar. The 22-year-old driver was slightly injured.

News from our editions

Heritage site restored

MEXICO and Venezuela buy more than 35 per cent of the meat products exported from Almeria, mainly legs of ham and sausages.

The biggest client for Almeria meat exports is Andorra.

Food help

UNDER THREAT: Seabed off Tabarca Island.

MORE than 60,000 people throughout Almeria Province receive food from charities. This means that throughout 2012, the number of people needing help has risen to 10 per cent of the population.

Parking blues THE maximum amount of time which drivers are permitted to remain in the blue-metered parking areas in Almeria City has been increased to three hours.

This follows demands from people who work in the area.

Well prepared ALMERIA Province is prepared for icy weather, with seven snow tractors and 657 tonnes of salt ready to use. A further 47 vehicles are also available to help with any possible problems.

COSTA BLANCA NORTH

Money worries MORE THAN 100 arrests linked to gender violence have been made

by Local Police in Alicante so far this year, with money worries the most common base for arguments.

Sweet move

Buoys to protect seabed A MARINE reserve is under threat from anchors damaging the seabed.

But despite coming under the protection of the regional government and the Ministry of Environment, the under-water paradise needs help against the destruction caused by boating enthusiasts.

Now the engineer of the Port Authority of Alicante, Ignacio Campos, is working on methods to prevent its further destruction.

incident took place last year when the man visited her house and allegedly attempted to rape her.

Poor show NO mayors from the different Axarquia towns attended the presentation of the newly-opened Mayor Information Office at Velez Town Hall.

have been held in the Valencian region this year, 80 per cent more than in 2011.

which were restored after a €1.8 million investment, will be used for offices and shops.

New cheer

Rally brothers

Responsible owners

WINE from the Alcoy area, ravaged by disease in the 19th century, has found new markets with exports now made to Europe, the US, China, South Korea and Japan.

TWO brothers from Antequera, aged 25 and 20, will drive their Renault 5 in a five-stage rally challenge to be held in Morocco from February 23 to March 3.

PALMA’S Municipal Transport Company has joined a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of being prepared to look after an animal and not give animals as gifts on a whim.

THE first petrol station in Torrox’s old town will open “as soon as possible,” the town hall announced.

Residents will save a six-kilometre trip to the nearest station in El Morche.

Stolen statue

Property sale

THE cockerel which adorns the fountain located in the centre of the Plaça de l’Almoina in Pollença has been stolen for the fifth time.

AN estimated €600,000 could be earned by Rincon de la Victoria Town Hall if the parking and shopping area at the La Cala del Moral health centre is sold, they said.

Crime pays BOATS and luxury cars confiscated during drug busts have been ceded to the police by Alicante courts.

COSTA DEL SOL

Meds alert

ORANGE growers in Alicante and Valencia have applauded EU moves to introduce customs duty on tinned mandarin oranges imported from China.

THE inland town of Atajate has become the first one in the province with no pharmacies, “and it won’t be the last one,” the Pharmacy Association chairman said.

Protests soar

Useful towers

A TOTAL of meetings and

THE two buildings in front of Malaga railway station’s entrance,

4,500 protest demonstrations

Campos has made a detailed proposal for the installation of ecological moorings for pleasure boats in Tabarca Island’s marine reserve. Floating buoys would be used to tie up to, helping to stop the harmful effects of anchors, minimising pollution and improving safety for ships and their users.

The system would operate from March to October when there can be up to 150 boats visiting the island each day.

A SEVENTEENTH century monument in Velez, known as the ‘Camarin de los Desamparados’, has been restored. It was the spot those executed by Napoleonic squads would look at before being shot.

Crop drop OLIVE OIL production dropped by more than 40 per cent, compared to the previous crop year, to an overall 44 million kilograms, Asaja farmers association said.

Sea sports WINDSURF, kite-surf and similar sea and beach sports have been approved by Estepona Town Hall.

Users will be required to produce a liability insurance certificate.

MALLORCA

Trial for stabbing A WOMAN is on trial in Mallorca for allegedly stabbing her former partner in the shoulder. The

Write-off THE owner of a brand new Ferrari 458 Spider which cost €300,000 took it out for a spin and crashed it on the road between Murterar and Alcudia. It was a total writeoff but the occupants were uninjured.

Young offenders GUARDIA CIVIL in Pollença arrested four women aged 19 for

Much closer

SMS alert A MOBILE phone message alert has been installed at the Axarquia Regional Hospital in Velez, providing automatic information on equipment breakdowns.

13 - 19 December 2012 www.euroweeklynews.com

Stat of week SALARIES in Spain dropped between 3 and 4 per cent in 2010 and 2011, the International Work Organisation has revealed.

Finance,

business

&

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Costa Blanca South

legal

A EURO WEEKLY NEWS 8 PAGE SPECIAL SECTION

www.ewnbusiness.com

Paradors facing worst year yet PARADOR hotels group is having its worst year ever.

Occupancy levels for 2012 are predicted to be 52 per cent, and the company now has debts of more than €110 million.

And against this backdrop, the company is facing more strikes on New Year’s Eve

and New Year’s Day in ongoing protests over company redundancy plans which could see 644 staff lose their jobs.

There are plans to close seven Parador hotels and at other properties staff will have working hours and salaries reduced in cost-cutting moves.

Throughout Spain, Parador hotels employ 4,400 people.

In a recent stoppage, unions report that 80 per cent of staff backed the strike throughout Spain, with all staff striking in Ayamonte, Puerto Lumbreras, Albacete, ONLY 13.7 per cent of contracts in Spain are for Teruel, Manzanares and part-time jobs.

Ferrol, and around 90 per While throughout the European Union (EU) an cent in Nerja, Toledo, average of almost 19 per cent of contracts are for Caceres and Zafra. part-time jobs, in Spain, this option is not popular, The person in charge of according to a Eurostat study. the section for ‘Paradores de Despite high unemployment and the Spanish Tourism’ of union Comisiones government praising part-time jobs as an option to Obreras (CCOO), Enrique allow people to spend more time with their families, Sanchez, has announced it just hasn’t taken off. that the redundancy plan But in other EU countries part-time work has been affects almost a third of the seen as a solution. staff.

One of the main reasons against in Spain is the CCOO blames the drastic high cost to the employer, with taking on two people fall in the number of clients part-time rather than one full-time is a lot more and income on poor expensive. management.

In Holland, 48 per cent of the population is The Paradors due to be employed in a part-time job, followed by Germany closed are two in Galicia, two and the UK at around 25 per cent. in Castilla-La Mancha, one in However, part-time employment in countries Andalucia, one in Murcia and including the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Bulgaria one in Aragon. is even lower than in Spain, with 4.7, 3.9 and 2.2 per There are also plans to cent respectively. close a further 27 Paradors for five months of the year.

PRIZE LOCATION: Many Paradors - including in Malaga - are in prime positions.

Motor Insurance

Part-time work is so unpopular

Underwritten at Lloyd’s of London

Fashionable Mango still growing SPAIN’S own Mango has now opened shops in Pakistan and Burma.

Some 5,000 designs per year are created and distributed from the Barcelona headquarters of the Catalan fashion retailer.

Though much smaller than Inditex’s Zara, Mango has 2,500 shops worldwide and employs more than 26,000 people.

Last year the company made €1.4 billion, up 35 per cent on the previous year, and this is expected to rise again.

This is mainly thanks to the company’s strategy of lowering prices by 20 per cent and not increasing VAT in Spain this year, with its homeland remaining its best market with 18 per cent of its sales.

Tailored to suit your needs and your pocket Easy payment options Special rates for the over 40’s Fast claims service

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Steering a safe course when renewing licence

Q

I am a British resident in Spain and I have changed my British driving licence for a Spanish one. I have two questions: 1. I have renewed the part that permits me to drive a car but the category that covers small commercial vehicles expired at an earlier date and I failed to renew it.

I now intend to buy a large motor-home. Can I still renew the expired part of my licence that covers this size of vehicle? It would be up to 7.5 You and the tons in the UK. 2. A friend is visiting Spain Law in Spain

By David Searl in his transit van. The vehicle is UK registered, insured for any driver and is taxed in the UK. One of our friends is adamant that I cannot drive a UK-matriculated vehicle on a Spanish driving licence. This is not the first time that I have heard this. Is there any truth in it?

R C (by email)

A

In principle, yes, drivers can renew the expired portion of their licences which allows them to operate vehicles up to 7.5 tons.

Until a few years ago a Spanish driver who failed to renew his permit within three months of its expiry was forced to begin again from zero. Now renewals can be made at any time after it runs out. And, yes, some of the more advanced permits have shorter times between renewals than normal ones. Check at an official medical testing centre to be sure.

Your second question has been answered here in an earlier edition of EWN but we will jog your memory. Of course the holder of a Spanish driving licence can legally operate a UK registered vehicle in Spain. Your friend may be confusing driving with owning.

What you cannot do is own a UK vehicle and drive it in Spain on your Spanish licence.

David will respond to queries but reserves the right to select letters which will be of interest to the greatest number of readers.

You can also consult David through lawyers Ubeda-Retana and Associates in Fuengirola. ask@lawtaxspain.com or call 952 667 090.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

13 - 19 December 2012 Costa Blanca South

Tasty deal gives Germans a crisp future A DEAL worth £397 million (€489 million) has seen favourite snacks like KP Nuts, McCoy’s crisps and Hula Hoops sold to a German firm. Intersnack has bought the brands from United Biscuits.

£££ THOMSON and First Choice owner TUI has posted a 32 per cent rise in earnings to £197 million (€242.5 million) after a surge in

B

ritish usiness riefs

late sales. Now next summer’s bookings are also up 12 per cent.

£££ TWO of the UK’s oldest nuclear power stations will have their

operating lives extended by seven years until 2023. French company Edf said Hinkley Point B and Hunterston B could safely be used.

£££ BRITISH AIRWAYS is looking to voluntary redundancies in a bid to shed 400 senior cabin crew. It has entered a 90-day consultation period with union Unite.

Ominous for Greece as funds held back until burden reduced IT is over a month since a so-called ‘troika’ agreed rules for clearing €44 billion from the second tranche of bail-out funds available to Athens.

The funds were supposed to be available in mid-December, a date almost a month later than the original deadline.

The original agreement cobbled together by the troika - the European Union (EU), the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) involved a buy-back scheme intended to reduce Greece’s debt burden by 10 per cent of GDP, apparently with the aim of restoring the country’s long-term financial viability.

But now, following delays in its implementation, the IMF has said it will not disburse funds until a eurozone buy-back scheme to reduce the debt burden is firmly in place.

Even more ominous for Greece is that both Holland and Finland have intimated that should this delay linger on, they too will pull out.

A fresh scheme has now been suggested and proposed, that Greece’s Central Bank should buy back €10 billion worth of

Jim Collins Costa Blanca

its outstanding bonds at today’s depressed market values, thus ‘retiring’ some €30 billion of the national debt.

A bright idea to be sure, but many of the present bond-holders are reluctant to accept a further haircut on their stake following the 52.5 per cent loss already suffered earlier this year. They would prefer to hang on to their holdings in the hope of a better offer, even hanging on to collect the full face value upon maturity.

The entire convoluted weave of proposals, plans, deadlines and agreements leading to an apparently uncertain financial future, does not attract favourable comment from bond fund managers. One gave his opinion that this Greek

COBBLED TOGETHER: Debt deal.

Central Bank buy-back proposal “is just another milestone on Greece’s road to Hell, paved of course, with good intentions.”

Bad as things are for Greece, the French also may be looking into the abyss.

Figures just released show the Purchasing Managers Index for French manufacturing is now at 44.2, and with anything under 50 denoting contraction, the eurozone’s weakest, after Greece.

“The figures are shocking,” said a sovereign debt strategist.

“France has for some time been sailing dangerously close to the wind, but is now tipping into outright contraction following a year-and-a-half of nearzero growth.”

It seems the French car industry is the heaviest loser, usually employing 400,000 people but since the autumn shedding 40,000 jobs a month.

Vehicle production has almost halved despite a scramble to expand abroad, but Renault and Peugeot have found themselves unable to compete with Volkswagen and even Seat.

Of course, French bankers, always eager to look across the Channel for a culprit, have been quick to blame ‘Perfidious Albion’, telling anyone who will listen that Britain’s non-membership of the eurozone, (thus retaining its position as a world banking centre) is at the core of France’s economic woes.

Ah, well, there’s no pleasing everybody.

13 - 19 December 2012

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

EWN

23

Costa Blanca South

New Asset Reporting Law For Spanish Residents Are you resident in Spain? Do you own any assets outside Spain worth over €50,000? If so you will need to declare them next year under a new reporting requirement. Failure to do so would have very costly consequences.

You also need to consider whether your assets are in the most tax-efficient vehicles or you could be paying more tax than you need to.

The Spanish government introduced its new anti-fraud law, Ley 7/2012, on 29th October. Its aims are to: • Increase penalties on those who commit tax fraud • Increase tax collection • Set out new measures to collect tax debts • Eliminate the effective application of the statute of limitations regarding undeclared assets.

The most important measure for most expatriates is the new obligation for Spanish taxpayers to report assets located outside Spain. More details were included in the Royal Decree on 15th November 2012.

This is a new, additional requirement for Spanish taxpayers.

You remain obliged, as always, to also fully declare your annual worldwide income for income tax purposes, and your taxable worldwide assets for wealth tax purposes.

by Bill Blevins, Financia l Correspondent, Blevins Franks

The authorities will be very strict with anyone who incorrectly declares their offshore assets, so speak to a specialist tax planning firm like Blevins Franks for clarification on what you need to do now, and for advice on the most effective ways to hold your assets going forward.

Reporting procedure From now on, anyone who is tax resident in Spain must declare all the assets they own outside Spain.

You need to make the declaration on a new official form, to be released shortly.

Reporting must be done by the end of the first trimester each year, so your first deadline is 31st March 2013.

Assets to be declared If you own any of the following assets outside Spain, valued at €50,000 or more, you need to declare them.

• Accounts held with financial institutions • All types of immovable property (real estate) and rights over such property • Shares and securities • Life insurance policies • Temporary or lifetime income generated from the lending of money, rights or other assets (including immovables) to foreign entities.

You need to declare these assets if you are the owner, the beneficiary, or an authorised signatory. This includes assets held by a trust or fiduciary.

If the value of your total assets in each class is less than €50,000, you are not obliged to report.

Once you have reported the assets the first time, you do not need to report them again each year if the value of all your reportable assets increased by less than €20,000.

Where their value has risen by €20,000 or more, you will need to report them again by the next annual deadline.

Information to be reported The value to be reported for accounts with financial institutions, shares, securities, life insurance policies and other assets is that at 31st December.

In the case of accounts with financial institutions, you also need to report the average balance over the last

three months of the year. This category includes all types of bank accounts and deposits, including credit accounts, in all currencies, regardless of whether you have the right to withdraw the funds or not.

For immovable property, the value is the cost of acquisition.

You also need to provide information on the type of property, its location, and date of acquisition.

Consequences of not reporting If you fail to report any assets as required by the new law, the costs will be very high once discovered.

The undeclared income arising from the asset will be deemed to arise in the last tax year which is not statute barred – four years in most cases. This effectively abolishes the statute of limitations.

You would have to pay all of the following: • Income tax at the income tax scale rates where the top rate is over 50% (even if the income would normally be taxed under the savings income regime) • Late payment interest for the last four years • Penalties, which can be as high as 150% of the total tax due on the asset • A fine of €5,000 per each piece of unreported data, with a minimum of €10,000.

If the tax defrauded exceeds €120,000, it would be considered a criminal offence.

When you submit your declaration form by 31st March, you need to be sure you have filled it in correctly and included all the overseas assets that you should have, with the right values. Any mistakes or omissions, even accidental, could prove very costly.

For peace of mind, you should speak to a tax planning and wealth management firm like Blevins Franks who are Spanish tax experts.

With its in-depth understanding of Spanish taxation and law, its local Partners will advise you on what you need to include in the form. At the same time they will guide you through the opportunities to legitimately lower your tax liabilities in Spain on your offshore assets.

The tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual should take personalised advice.

To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevinsfranks.com

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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EWN www.euroweeklynews.com

13 - 19 December 2012 Costa Blanca South

LONDON - FTSE 100 C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. -0.10 -0.03 -15.00 -1.33 -26.00 -1.16 -4.85 -0.46 -7.50 -0.41 1.00 0.07 -5.00 -0.66 15.00 1.01 2.00 0.07 -8.12 -2.22 -6.50 -0.65 -0.31 -0.09 -2.13 -0.85 1.50 0.14 -19.50 -0.97 -0.60 -0.14 0.00 0.00 -0.30 -0.05

NET VOLUME 236.24 50.30 44.29 24.59 300.42 150.83 158.96 197.70 223.48 1,778.09 34.71 616.45 4,554.46 647.43 674.94 1,433.58 283.94 74.25

CU RR EN CI ES

C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 10

PRICE(P) C O M PA N Y Aberdeen Asset Mngmnt 340.90 Admiral Group PLC 1114.00 Aggreko PLC 2218.00 AMEC PLC 1058.00 Anglo American PLC 1804.25 Antofagasta PLC 1348.00 ARM Holdings PLC 749.25 Associated Brit Fds PLC 1500.50 AstraZeneca PLC 3002.50 Aviva PLC 358.20 Babcock Int Group...

995.50 BAE Systems PLC 338.10 Barclays PLC 249.40 BG Group PLC 1069.25 BHP Billiton PLC 1999.00 BP PLC 425.40 British Amn Tobacco PLC 3263.50 British Land Co PLC 554.50

0.80496

Units per €

United States $......................................................1.29094 Japan Yen ¥ ...........................................................106.230 Switzerland Francs................................................1.20676 Denmark Kroner ....................................................7.45939 Norway Kroner.......................................................7.33691

C O M PA N Y

PRICE(P)

British Sky Brdcstng Gr...

BT Group PLC Bunzl PLC Burberry Group PLC Capita PLC Capital Shopping Cntrs Carnival PLC Centrica PLC Compass Group PLC CRH PLC

758.50 234.85 1035.00 1306.50 757.25 347.50 2448.00 335.65 728.50 1155.00

C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G.

DOW JONES

NASDAQ

C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 10

C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 10

C O M PA N Y

PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME

MMM 3M Co 91.51 AA Alcoa Inc 8.50 AXP American Express Co 56.61 T AT&T Inc 33.74 BAC Bank of America Corp 10.64 BA Boeing Co 74.64 CAT Caterpillar Inc 86.99 CVX Chevron Corp 106.99 CSCO Cisco Systems Inc 19.34 DD E. I. du Pont de Nemours and C... 43.18 XOM Exxon Mobil Corp 88.60 GE General Electric Co 21.46 HPQ Hewlett-Packard Co 13.81 HD Home Depot Inc 64.45 INTC Intel Corp 20.16 IBM International Business Machine... 191.95 JNJ Johnson & Johnson 70.45 JPM JPMorgan Chase and Co 42.56 MCD McDonald's Corp 88.48 MRK Merck & Co Inc 44.63 MSFT Microsoft Corp 26.46

+0.56 -0.07 +0.49 +0.085 +0.18 +0.66 +1.04 +0.54 -0.145 +0.31 +0.60 +0.09 +0.11 +0.11 -0.005 +2.25 +0.40 +1.09 +0.39 +0.12 -0.27

+0.62% -0.82% +0.87% +0.25% +1.72% +0.89% +1.21% +0.51% -0.74% +0.72% +0.68% +0.42% +0.80% +0.17% -0.02% +1.19% +0.57% +2.63% +0.44% +0.27% -1.01%

2.5M 12.2M 3.7M 22.3M 192.1M 3.7M 7.3M 4.9M 50.6M 4.1M 10.6M 33.6M 25.3M 6.1M 41.7M 4.1M 10.0M 34.6M 8.1M 7.9M 46.2M

1.24229

-2.83 -0.30 -5.00 2.00 -2.50 -3.10 -9.00 -1.26 -1.00 -8.00

C O M PA N Y

Most Advanced Groupon, Inc. P.A.M. Transportation Services, Inc. Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. Hydrogenics Corporation GT Advanced Technologies, Inc. CSP Inc. Charm Communications Inc. Virco Manufacturing Corporation Forbes Energy Services Ltd

-0.37 -0.13 -0.48 0.15 -0.33 -0.88 -0.37 -0.37 -0.14 -0.69

NET VOLUME 202.64 1,475.13 36.57 97.74 82.65 87.83 26.91 424.61 277.96 204.63

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

$ 4.685 $ 10.22 $ 5.93 $ 8.75 $ 3.50 $ 6.23 $ 3.80 $ 2.60 $ 2.68

0.875 / +22.97% 1.11 / +12.18% 0.52 / +9.61% 0.71 / +8.83% 0.2785 / +8.65% 0.48 / +8.35% 0.29 / +8.26% 0.19 / +7.88% 0.18 / +7.20%

$ 9.69 $ 2.35 $4 $ 9.92 $ 15.95 $ 25.32 $ 4.76 $ 6.20 $ 4.44

2.26 / -18.91% 0.24 / -9.27% 0.40 / -9.09% 0.93 / -8.57% 1.42 / -8.18% 2.16 / -7.86% 0.39 / -7.57% 0.50 / -7.46% 0.33 / -6.92%

Most Declined Amarin Corporation PLC TranS1 Inc. Integrated Electrical Services, Inc. Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation Spreadtrum Communications, Inc. Sarepta Therapeutics, Inc. Asset Acceptance Capital Corp.

Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. EMCORE Corporation

C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) CHANGE Croda International PLC 2352.50 4.75 Diageo PLC 1882.00 3.18 Eurasian Natural Resources ...276.25 -6.70 EVRAZ PLC 239.75 -2.50 Experian PLC 1041.00 -10.00 Fresnillo PLC 1954.00 -14.00 G4S PLC 248.20 -1.00 GKN PLC 222.00 -1.30 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1355.50 6.50 Glencore Intl PLC 345.50 0.25 Hammerson PLC 481.10 -0.20 Hargreaves Lansdown 727.00 -8.29 HSBC Holdings PLC 639.90 -3.80 IMI PLC 1081.50 -9.00 Imperial Tobacco Gr PLC 2484.50 -13.00 InterContinental Hotels 1650.00 0.00 International Conslidatd 170.00 -1.20 Intertek Group PLC 3115.50 -15.00 ITV PLC 100.70 -1.10 Johnson Matthey PLC 2440.00 -3.00 Kazakhmys PLC 747.00 1.50 Kingfisher PLC 269.50 -1.80 Land Securities Grp PLC 811.50 -1.65 Legal & General Grp PLC 146.05 -0.90 Lloyds Banking Grp PLC 46.62 -0.11 Marks & Spencer Grp PLC 392.85 -0.86 Meggitt PLC 385.45 -0.40 Melrose Industries PLC 221.45 -2.50 National Grid PLC 706.25 -1.00 Next PLC 3699.50 -4.00 Old Mutual PLC 173.05 -1.30 Pearson PLC 1177.50 0.00 Pennon Group PLC 605.50 2.00 Petrofac Ltd 1700.50 14.00 Polymetal Intl PLC 1087.00 -0.68 Prudential PLC 900.00 -8.00 Randgold Resources Ltd 6407.50 20.00 Reckitt Benckiser Gr PLC 3979.50 17.00 Reed Elsevier PLC 644.75 -2.00 Resolution Ltd 247.80 2.46 REXAM PLC 448.70 -1.10 Rio Tinto PLC 3262.50 6.70 Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC 885.50 -11.50 Royal Bank of Scot Gr 295.85 -3.05 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 2168.75 5.00 RSA Insurance Grp PLC 121.80 0.03 SABMiller PLC 2779.50 -21.00 Sage Group (The) PLC 293.90 -1.20 Sainsbury (J) PLC 342.85 -0.20 Schroders PLC 1638.00 -3.00 Serco Group PLC 544.50 -0.50 Severn Trent PLC 1552.50 3.70 Shire PLC 1893.00 -8.00 Smith & Nephew PLC 668.25 2.50 Smiths Group PLC 1126.00 -5.85 SSE PLC 1426.50 -5.00 Standard Chartered PLC 1475.50 -10.50 Standard Life PLC 328.10 -1.95 Tate & Lyle PLC 763.50 4.50 Tesco PLC 334.95 -1.85 Tullow Oil PLC 1238.50 -6.60 Unilever PLC 2412.00 -4.35 United Utilities Grp PLC 689.25 0.00 Vedanta Resources PLC 1103.50 -7.00 Vodafone Group PLC 160.92 -0.95 Weir Group PLC 1825.00 -10.00 Whitbread PLC 2437.50 9.15 Wm Morrison Sprmrkts 268.10 -0.97 Wolseley PLC 2827.00 -18.00 Wood Group (John) PLC 771.00 -3.00 WPP PLC 856.25 -13.50 Xstrata PLC 1036.00 1.00

% C H G. 0.20 0.17 -2.37 -1.03 -0.95 -0.71 -0.40 -0.58 0.48 0.07 -0.04 -1.13 -0.59 -0.83 -0.52 0.00 -0.70 -0.48 -1.08 -0.12 0.20 -0.66 -0.20 -0.61 -0.24 -0.22 -0.10 -1.12 -0.14 -0.11 -0.74 0.00 0.33 0.83 -0.06 -0.88 0.31 0.43 -0.31 1.00 -0.24 0.21 -1.28 -1.02 0.23 0.02 -0.75 -0.41 -0.06 -0.18 -0.09 0.24 -0.42 0.38 -0.52 -0.35 -0.71 -0.59 0.59 -0.55 -0.53 -0.18 0.00 -0.63 -0.59 -0.54 0.38 -0.36 -0.63 -0.39 -1.55 0.10

VOLUME 13.05 406.48 712.31 212.62 104.04 42.74 237.79 232.41 694.91 1,196.51 75.43 49.12 2,293.42 31.08 137.43 44.97 521.24 10.28 1,169.81 21.60 135.40 334.80 61.70 656.11 20,392.37 267.94 82.14 159.56 869.50 12.96 471.75 184.56 147.08 158.14 13.20 215.63 13.46 65.21 292.64 229.34 140.52 955.82 923.93 1,320.06 474.02 1,460.09 371.25 229.44 283.94 13.33 173.68 47.47 247.02 148.84 20.84 140.08 399.52 542.21 134.68 1,623.35 277.63 90.31 169.65 76.87 5,954.59 35.34 39.17 741.77 51.90 61.46 592.09 464.20

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

13 - 19 December 2012

EWN

Costa Blanca South

www.euroweeklynews.com

The jobless who are just not learning MORE than 21 per cent of people in Spain between 15 and 29 neither work nor study.

Spain is also one of the European

Union (EU) countries where more unemployed people not currently studying are not actively looking for work either.

The nation now has the highest number of people neither studying nor working in the whole EU zone. Seventy per cent have a

Open early for Xmas SPANISH retailer El Corte Ingles has decided to open at 9am over Christmas.

The shops normally open at 10am, like most in Spain, and will continue to do so in Cataluña, the Basque Country and Andalucia, where laws do not permit them to open earlier.

The Christmas campaign will last until January 5, but it is not known whether the stores will maintain the new opening hours beyond that period, especially while the sales are on.

25

low education level.

The EU proposes that by law member states should guarantee that under 25s should receive an offer of work or an internship during the four months after they complete their studies or register as being unemployed.

If neither option is possible, the EU wants to make sure that member states will give them further education.

‘Virus’ steals €36 million RE-FUEL: Diesel prices are lower on a Monday.

It’s cheaper on Mondays THE National Energy Committee (CNE) in Spain has revealed that fuel prices are lower on Mondays. The CNE has seen that prices drop by at least 1 per cent on

Mondays, the day on which the EU is informed of fuel prices, and then rise again on Tuesday. This mainly affects grade A diesel.

A report also shows that in October, 95 octane petrol

was more expensive in Spain before taxes were applied than the EU average, meaning margins are higher. But prices paid

by Spanish drivers are lower than the EU

A TROJAN virus allowed €5.8 million to be stolen from more than 11,000 bank accounts in Spain.

The Trojan, named Eurograbber, which can be transferred from a PC to a mobile phone, affected seven banks in Spain and many more throughout Europe, making the total amount stolen close to €36 million.

GB

LOBAL IZ

Water relief GOOGLE is giving a $5 million (€3.86 million) grant to help provide clean and sustainable water supplies in impoverished parts of the world.

Plain talking SOUTH AFRICA is moving in to the multimillion-euro call centre industry.

Amazon, Aegis and British company Coracall have opened centres in the country because of the more ‘neutral’ accent of workers compared to India.

Girly digger BARBIE is picking up a shovel. The iconic doll’s first line of construction sets has become a best seller in the US.

THREE WAYS TO MAKE MORE OF YOUR MONEY. Fixed Rate 11 Month Deposit

Fixed Rate 200 Day Deposit

Premier Current Account

3.50%

3.25%

3.00%

T.A.E.*

available in Euros until 31st December 2012

T.A.E.**

available in Euros until 31st December 2012

T.A.E.***

during the first three months ***

You choose… whether… you’re looking for a current account with a world of benefits, or a fixed term deposit to see your savings grow. For other options about our Pounds Sterling and Dollars(1) fixed term deposits, please visit your local branch in:

Valencia, Denia, Calpe, Guardamar, Torrevieja, La Zenia, Los Alcázares or Mazarrón.

902 024 365 or +34 91 484 81 81 lloydsbankinternational.es (1) There is a potential risk arising from fluctuations in foreign exchange rates between the acquisition date and the subsequent sale or maturity date of the deposit or investment. * T.A.E. (Tasa Anual Equivalente) corresponds to Annual Interest Rate. Effective Interest Rate: 3.494%. From €6,000 to €200,000. Interest paid at maturity. Available until the 31st December 2012. For funds coming from other financial entities, credited to the account from 1st October 2012 onwards and that represent a balance increase from the aforementioned date. ** T.A.E. (Tasa Anual Equivalente) corresponds to Annual Interest Rate. Effective Interest Rate: 3.226%. From €6,000 to €200,000. Interest paid at maturity. Available until the 31st December 2012. For funds coming from other financial entities, credited to the account from 1st October 2012 onwards and that represent a balance increase from the aforementioned date. *** T.A.E. (Tasa Anual Equivalente) corresponds to Annual Interest Rate. Effective Interest Rate 2.9596% for the first three months, on balances up to a maximum of €500,000, with all amounts above said limit accruing no interest. From the fourth month remuneration will be based on tired rates depending on the balance you hold. As of today these rates are from 0% to 1.50% T.A.E. (1.4898% Effective Interest Rate). The applicable rates for each tier are available on www.lloydsbankinternational.es. Interest paid monthly.

Lloyds Bank International, S.A.U., with registered offices at Serrano 90, 5ª planta, 28006, Madrid, Spain, Trade Registry of Madrid, T. 6799, Book 0, Folio. 108, Sec. 8, Page M-110714, 1st Entry, N.I.F. (Tax Identification Number) A-80481765.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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EWN www.euroweeklynews.com

13 - 19 December 2012 Costa Blanca South

When pricey gifts mean Xmas cheer, watch the festive spend IN America the average set of parents is reported to spend approximately $270 (€209) on presents for each child.

One in 10 parents said the plan was to spend A look more than $500 at finance (€387). for females Spending figures for British mums and dads are a Jane Plunkett little more jane.plunkett@euroweeklynews. com reserved, with parents predicted to spend an average £104 EXPENSIVE: Watch your spending on gifts. (€129) on each of their children this Christmas, but Spanish parents are Christmas morning.

20 per cent of UK parents quoted as spending more In 2008, the general surveyed admitted to than €100 on presents for public across Europe and forking out more than £200 each child, while domestic America held back a little (€248) on each child. pets in many countries are on overspending during That would make a total also getting in on the the holiday season, as spend of almost £1.4 billion action, with about €10 advice was continually (€1.73 billion) on children’s being spent on a treat for being doled out to save presents across the UK. the dog or cat come and be sensible.

Loose change

Such advice seems to have fallen on deaf ears recently, with reports revealing that Christmas spending has increased dramatically in the past couple of years and shows no sign of slowing down.

It appears that despite

B

USINESS IZ

Cash shot

continuing pressures on household budgets, consumers still enjoy moments of indulgence and like to treat their friends and family at Christmas.

Obviously there is nothing wrong with wanting to spoil loved ones, but if overspending spoils finances, too, then it’s just not worth it.

One way to approach Christmas presents is to treat children like adults.

Explain that times are a little tough and that Santa will be cutting back on expensive gifts. Most children love the thrill of opening a present and won’t be bothered if the item inside cost €50 or €100.

As for pets, sit them down for the same chat, or just scratch their gift right off the list!

GIANT insurance company AXA is set to follow MAPFRE and Mutua Madrilena in investing in Spain’s ‘bad bank’.

TV woes PUBLIC television station Telemadrid has set in motion plans to dismiss 925 workers, or 80 per cent of its staff.

A rump workforce would fill air-time with bought-in programmes.

Big customer ANDALUCIA is Cataluña’s largest ‘export’ market after France.

Next come Aragon and Valencia, in a report that shows the region’s reliance on Spain for trade.

Listen to staff to boost output and lift morale B OTH positive and negative employee morale has a significant effect on an organisation’s bottom line.

Employees with high morale show up to work on time, work harder, show improved communication and creativity and are less likely to leave.

The opposite is true when employees have low morale.

The number of sick days goes up, more time is spent gossiping during work hours, only the basic job requirements are met, and there is an increased staff turnover rate.

Listen to staff grievances and their suggestions and act to improve employee morale.

As an organisation management holds the key.

Employees are more motivated when they feel needed, appreciated and valued.

There are countless ways to positively motivate employees.

Below are 12 simple ways

Nigel Fitzpatrick

organisations can improve morale: 1. Give employees more control. When they feel more in charge they don’t get tied up with the small stuff and feel less helpless during times of uncertainty. Remember, control is earned through trust and should not be taken advantage of or abused.

2. Communication. When employees feel they are being kept in the loop they are more likely to trust that management has everyone’s best interests in mind. The sharing of ideas should be encouraged.

3. Express gratitude and reward staff. When

employees feel appreciated, they are more likely to help others and improve teamwork. Rewarding a job well done will foster the desire to continue producing positive results.

4.

Flexitime.

When employees are offered flexitime (telecommuting, summer hours, four-day work week), they are more productive even when financial rewards are not available.

Flexitime offers a cost-effective approach to encouraging a proper life-work balance.

5.

Celebrate special events. When employees have a social gathering to look forward to they are likelier to work harder and faster to ensure time lost is at a minimum.

6. Design a welcoming workspace. In addition to comfortable chairs and ergonomic desks, allow staff to bring in desk lamps, open

curtains and blinds. Provide free drinks and an enjoyable break room.

7. Clarify expectations.

When employees clearly understand their role and the impact it has on the company they will feel more connected to the organisation’s performance and compelled to give 100 per cent.

8. Lead by example. When employees see management rolling up their sleeves to dive into a project they are more apt to follow in the same footsteps. Setting a good example is a language everyone understands and it gains maximum respect.

9. Provide a suggestion box. When employees can voice concerns in an anonymous fashion they are more likely to bring up issues that may be hard to mention in a face-to-face conversation.

The suggestion box is also a unique forum for employees to express innovative ideas.

10. Volunteer as a group.

When employees and organisations struggle during hard times, it’s inspiring to help others even less fortunate. Working as a group also allows staff who don’t normally have much interaction with each other to work side by side, further promoting teamwork and camaraderie.

11. Challenge employees.

When employees feel pushed intellectually with new projects they will feel more enthused, competent and productive.

Pairing a challenging project with the proper employee will help expand their particular skill set and the business will be rewarded.

12. Respect employees.

When workers feel respected, not only as individuals but professionals, regardless of positions, they are likely to exhibit more professional mannerisms in the workplace.

13 - 19 December 2012

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29

Costa Blanca South

ROUND - UP OF REGULAR AND OCCASIONAL TOPICS

E XPAT EXTRA

LETTERS LEAPY HEALTH & BEAUTY

FOOD TIME OUT HOMES & GARDENS

PETS TV

Oh Crispin! How I hunger for you

WHAT a week! My feet have hardly touched the ground.

It’s simply unbelievable that it is only seven days since I bumped into Mr Gorgeous in Hipercor.

A case of instant chemistry, just like how I imagine Denise Van Outen felt when paired with dance partner James Jordan on Strictly Come

As I see it...

Ana Jefferson-Smith takes an irreverent look at life as a singleton expat in Spain Dancing. But Crispin has definitely worn more masculine outfits than the jumpsuits and mesh T-shirts James has appeared in.

And unfortunately I do not

COMMENT No time for politics

look like Denise. But you know where I’m coming from.

Back to last week. It has truly been just like a fairy-tale.

Before I had even reached my car after literally bumping

into Crispin at the supermarket, he had sent a message: ‘Can’t wait to see you again. x’ Only one kiss, but that’s a lot for a guy you’ve only known for five minutes.

The following morning he sent me another text, saying: ‘Tonight. 9pm. Marbella old town. Wear something sexy. x’ He had a chilled bottle of

MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE A real touch of winter sweeps Southern Spain

WOUND-LICKING, backslapping and nostalgia were prominent during a homage to former president Felipe Gonzalez, 30 years after he won the 1982 elections.

The PSOE needs to shift towards the centre, he declared, preferring not to remember that these are times for weathering the storm, not plotting a course in any direction.

It is the country that the PSOE and every other party should be worrying about, not tweaking ideology.

No time for sabre-rattling A GENERAL was sacked as editor of the General Staff magazine Ejercito for criticising Artur Mas. The Catalan president’s separatism ‘diminishes Spain’s credibility’, wrote the general - who is in the reserve - in an unsigned editorial. This is an opinion that many share but using an official publication to air it confuses personal convictions and national politics.

Spain had more than enough of that in the past.

Flush of popularity in the loo ALMOST one third of all Americans aged 18 to 24 use social networking sites in the bathroom, research has revealed. *** SEVERAL doctors reassured Aundrea Aragon from Arizona, USA, that the clear liquid running from her nose was simply caused by

JUST FANCY THAT... allergies.

She was horrified to find out it was actually fluid leaking from her brain. *** CHINESE astronauts could grow fresh vegetables on Mars and

the moon after researchers successfully completed a preliminary test in Beijing, China. *** ROBOTS will replace some of the 80 dolphins currently used by the US

Navy to track down mines. Mammals are being used by the military at present as part of a programme dating back to the 1950s. *** A GIRL, 8, was bitten by a dolphin at Orlando’s Sea World. The theme park said they are ‘committed to guest safety’.

Champagne waiting for me at our table, tucked away in the corner of the restaurant; so secluded, so intimate, so perfect.

On our second date, we strolled through Malaga, handin-hand, gazing at the sights, and he later sent me a huge bunch of flowers at work: Lily of the Valley, my favourite.

Even when we took my dog Stella (McCartney) to the hairdressers it was romance all the way , with him opening doors for me, and carrying her to the car to ensure her newly-manicured toenails stayed smudge-free.

I know it’s only been seven days and I shouldn’t get ahead of myself, but the butterflies in my tummy are in overdrive, and I am getting hotter by the day!.

I struggle to eat around him because I’m so nervous. And I lie in bed at night wondering what tomorrow will bring.

Each time my phone beeps, a feeling of desire shoots through me as I scramble to find it, and hang on every word Crispin utters in his deep and so masculine tones.

What a turnaround from three weeks ago when I was happy being single, glad to be in control of the TV remote.

Now I can’t concentrate on watching television without my mind wandering, dreaming of him.

Next week he’s taking me on a surprise date, and I’ve been told to bring a bikini.

Could he be whisking me away on a romantic holiday?

I’ll let you know how it goes.

30

THURSDAY

EWN

TV

13 - 19 December 2012 Costa Blanca South

www.euroweeklynews.com

BBC1

BBC2

5:15am BBC News 7:00am Breakfast The latest news, sport, business and weather from the BBC's Breakfast team. 10:15am Heir Hunters 11:00am Homes Under the Hammer 12:00pm You've Been Scammed 12:30pm Cash in the Attic Amanda Dickson wants to organise a treat for her husband's 50th birthday.

1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News at One The latest national and international news stories from the BBC News team, followed by weather. 2:30pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London. 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm Escape to the Country

4.00pm - midnight 4:00pm BBC News The latest national and international news stories from the BBC News team, followed by weather.

4:05pm School for Stars 2 4:35pm Dennis and Gnasher Animation. Dennis and his friends want to go to the Ratbucket gig, but they don't have tickets.

4:45pm The League of Super Evil 5:00pm Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 5:30pm Pet School Series which sees nine pet-crazy kids and 51 loveable animals brought together for two weeks.

6:00pm Newsround 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Young Apprentice 10:00pm Britain's Hidden Housing Crisis 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm Question Time

12:35am This Week A political review of the week presented by Andrew Neil, with Michael Portillo and guests. 1:20am Skiing Weatherview Detailed weather forecast.

1:25am Panorama 1:55am Countryfile 2:55am Planet Earth Live 3:55am Antiques Roadshow 4:55am Paul Martin's Handmade Revolution 5:40am BBC News

BBC3 8:00pm Snog, Marry, Avoid?

9:00pm Don't Tell the Bride 10:00pm Russell Howard's Good News 10:30pm Impractical Jokers 11:00pm World's Craziest Fools 11:30pm EastEnders Lola and Phil brace themselves for their day in court as Lexi's fate hangs in the balance.

12:00am Family Guy Subversive animated comedy about the trials and tribulations of American family life.

12:25am Family Guy 12:45am American Dad! 1:10am American Dad! Animated series about family man Stan Smith, who works for the CIA. 1:30am Russell Howard's Good News 2:00am Impractical Jokers 2:30am World's Craziest Fools 3:00am Some Girls 3:30am Him and Her 4:00am Don't Tell the Bride

ITV

Channel 4

Channel 5

7:50am Charlie and Lola 8:05am Cloudbabies 8:15am Everything's Rosie 8:25am Bob the Builder: Project Build It 8:35am Chuggington 8:45am Octonauts 9:00am Tilly and Friends 9:10am Woolly and Tig 9:15am Mike the Knight 9:30am Timmy Time 9:40am Tweenies 10:00am Numtums 10:05am Abadas 10:15am Alphablocks 10:20am The Rhyme Rocket 10:35am The Lingo Show 10:45am Something Special: We're All Friends 11:05am Show Me Show Me 11:35am Let's Play 11:55am I Can Cook on the Go 12:10pm Mister Maker Comes to Town 12:30pm BBC World News 1:00pm The Daily Politics 2:00pm Royal Upstairs Downstairs 2:30pm To Buy or Not to Buy 3:15pm The Weakest Link

5:40am ITV Nightscreen Text-based information service. 6:30am ITV Morning News The latest national and international news. 7:00am Daybreak 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning Presented by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby. Sue Hill needs your help solving more crimes. 12:25pm ITV News The latest headlines from around the world. Followed by a local weather forecast. 12:30pm This Morning Presented by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby. Sue Hill needs your help solving more crimes. 1:30pm Let's Do Christmas with Gino and Mel Louie Spence joins Gino and Mel in the kitchen today. 2:30pm ITV News and Weather 3:00pm Storage Hoarders

5:10am Deal or No Deal 6:05am Countdown 6:50am Quick Bakes with Eric Lanlard 7:10am The Hoobs Talullah the tiger is sick and the Hoobs are determined to help. 7:35am The Hoobs Iver and Tula are determined to find a way to make Groove keep his promises. 8:00am Freshly Squeezed 8:30am According to Jim 8:55am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:25am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:55am Frasier 10:25am Frasier 10:55am Come Dine with Me 11:25am Come Dine with Me 12:00pm Come Dine with Me 12:30pm Come Dine with Me 1:00pm Come Dine with Me 1:30pm Channel 4 News Includes news headlines and weather. 1:35pm Superscrimpers: Waste Not, Want Not 2:05pm The Bounty Hunter 3:40pm Countdown

5:45am Great Scientists 6:10am Wildlife SOS 6:35am Michaela's Wild Challenge 7:00am Thomas and Friends 7:10am Igam Ogam 7:20am Fireman Sam 7:30am Jelly Jamm 7:45am Peppa Pig 7:50am Olive the Ostrich 7:55am Little Princess 8:20am The Mr. Men Show 8:35am Thomas and Friends 8:45am Noddy in Toyland 9:00am Fifi and the Flowertots 9:15am Peppa Pig 9:25am Peppa Pig 9:30am Roary the Racing Car 9:40am Milkshake Monkey 9:45am Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00am Tickety Toc 10:15am The Wright Stuff 12:10pm Build a New Life in the Country 1:10pm 5 News Lunchtime 1:15pm Build a New Life in the Country 2:15pm Home and Away 2:45pm Neighbours 3:15pm Shark

4:00pm Real Rescues 4:45pm Flog It! Antiques series.

5:30pm Breakaway Hosted by Nick Hancock, Breakaway is a race to the finish line with up to 10,000 pounds to be won.

6:15pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 7:00pm Celebrity Eggheads 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 8:00pm Raymond Blanc's Christmas Feast From his Oxfordshire kitchen, Raymond Blanc prepares his recipes for the biggest meal of the year.

9:00pm MasterChef: The Professionals 10:00pm The Hour Newsroom drama set in the 1950s. Bel, Freddie and Hector verge on breaking the biggest corruption expose ever - a house of cards stretching across London's most influential men but things get complicated when one of them becomes the centre of a tabloid sex scandal.

11:00pm Rhod Gilbert's Work Experience Stand-up comedian Rhod Gilbert tries his hand at some proper jobs.

11:30pm Newsnight In-depth investigation and analysis of the stories behind the day's headlines with Kirsty Wark.

4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Britain's Best Bakery Judges Mich Turner and Peter Sidwell are north of the border to check out three Scottish bakers.

6:00pm The Chase Quiz show hosted by Bradley Walsh.

7:00pm London Tonight 7:30pm ITV News and Weather Alastair Stewart and Natasha Kaplinsky with the latest headlines from around the world.

8:00pm Emmerdale Jai is unable to cover his panic when Rachel is rushed to hospital.

8:30pm Tonight Last year 5,419 people were killed or seriously injured in road accidents involving young drivers.

9:00pm Emmerdale As his son fights for survival, Jai's anguish turns to anger as he rounds on his family.

9:30pm Coronation Street Simon is left devastated by Peter's decision. Is romance finally on the cards for Stella?

10:00pm Pensioners Behind Bars 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather Alastair Stewart and Natasha Kaplinsky with the latest headlines from around the world.

11:35pm The River Wild

4:30pm 1001 Things You Should Know 5:00pm Deal or No Deal 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:30pm Jamie's 15 Minute Meals 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News Includes sport and weather.

8:55pm 4thought.tv 9:00pm Kirstie's Vintage Home 10:00pm Jamie and Jimmy's Food Fight Club 11:00pm The 15-Stone Babies

4:15pm Annie Claus is Coming to Town 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News 8:00pm Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railways 9:00pm World's Strongest Man 2012 10:00pm Cowboy Builders 11:00pm Constantine

12:20am The Boss is Back 12:50am Rolling Stones: Crossfire Hurricane 1:50am The Culture Show Mark Kermode looks back over the best of the year in film. 2:20am An Island Parish Series following the community on the tiny crown dependency of Sark in the Channel Islands.

2:50am BBC News 5:00am How it Works

1:35am Jackpot247 Join the presenters live and play roulette on your telly. 4:00am Tonight Last year 5,419 people were killed or seriously injured in road accidents involving young drivers.

4:25am ITV Nightscreen Text-based information service. 5:35am The Jeremy Kyle Show

BBC4 8:00pm World News Today The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.

8:30pm Top of the Pops: 1977 9:00pm David Attenborough's First Life 10:00pm When Wrestling Was Golden: Grapples, Grunts and Grannies 11:00pm The Dark Ages: An Age of Light 12:00am Balmoral Documentary telling the story of Balmoral, the Royal Family's most private residence.

1:00am Madness on Wheels: Rallying's Craziest Years In the 1980s, rallying was more popular than Formula 1.

2:00am Top of the Pops: 1977 2:30am David Attenborough's First Life 3:30am When Wrestling Was Golden: Grapples, Grunts and Grannies

Tilda Swinton.

CH5

11:00pm - Constantine

12:05am 8 Out of 10 Cats 12:55am Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA 1:50am The Aristocrats The Aristocrats explores modern day high society through historically prominent families. 2:45am How the Bismarck Sank HMS Hood 3:40am Time Team 4:35am Unreported World 5:00am Dispatches 5:30am Deal or No Deal

1:30am Super Casino Live interactive gaming featuring roulette, blackjack and autowheel.

4:55am Nick's Quest 5:20am HouseBusters Janet Ellis invites three experts to 'heal' a house that is making its inhabitants unhappy. 5:40am Great Scientists Historian Allan Chapman profiles famous and influential scientists.

Satellite channels SKY1 6:05am Stargate SG-1 7:00am Airline USA 7:30am Airline USA 8:00am The Middle 8:30am The Middle 9:00am Dog the Bounty Hunter 10:00am Hawaii Five-0 11:00am Hawaii Five-0 12:00pm Lie to Me 1:00pm Lie to Me 2:00pm Hawaii Five-0 3:00pm Hawaii Five-0 4:00pm Stargate SG-1 5:00pm Stargate SG-1 6:00pm Futurama 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Raising Hope 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm The Middle 9:30pm Modern Family 10:00pm Little Crackers 10:30pm Little Crackers 11:00pm Spy 11:30pm An Idiot Abroad 12:30am A League of Their Own

1:30am Cop Squad 2:30am Cop Squad 3:25am Road Wars 4:20am Road Wars 5:10am Stargate SG-1

SKY MOVIES DRAMA

1:20pm Collateral Damage 3:15pm Spy Kids

SKY MOVIES COMEDY

5:20am A Valentine's Date 7:00am The 5th Quarter 8:40am A Little Bit of Heaven 10:30am The Age of Innocence 12:50pm Mother and Child 3:05pm Shakespeare in Love

4:45pm Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams 6:30pm Kingdom of Heaven 9:00pm X-Men: First Class 11:15pm Collateral Damage

5:10pm Sweet Home Alabama 7:05pm Black Swan 9:00pm A Little Bit of Heaven 11:00pm Shakespeare in Love

1:10am Rambo III 2:55am Machete 4:45am The Warrior's Way

6:30am Kung Fu Panda 2 Family Show Special 7:00am Head of State 8:40am Dark Knight Rises 9:10am How Do You Know 11:10am The Hangover Part II 12:55pm The Descendants Special 1:15pm Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story 2:55pm Shanghai Noon 4:55pm Shanghai Knights 6:55pm How Do You Know 9:00pm The Hangover Part II 10:45pm Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story 12:20am Shanghai Noon 2:15am Shanghai Knights 4:10am Cyrus 5:45am Win a Date with Tad Hamilton

1:10am The Adjustment Bureau 3:00am Boys Don't Cry 5:00am Stepping Out

SKY MOVIES ACTION 6:00am Transformers: Dark of the Moon Special 6:30am The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Special 7:00am Skyline 8:40am Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World 11:05am X-Men: First Class

TCM 8:15am Gunsmoke 9:15am Gunsmoke 10:20am Branded 12:05pm Son of a Gunfighter 1:50pm The High Chaparra 2:55pm The High Chaparra 4:00pm Return of the Gunfighter 5:55pm Cattle King 7:35pm Taras Bulba 10:00pm The Specialist 12:05am Body Heat 2:10am Death Rides a Horse 4:05am Body Heat

32

FRIDAY

EWN

TV

13 - 19 December 2012 Costa Blanca South

www.euroweeklynews.com

5:40am BBC News 7:00am Breakfast The latest news, sport, business and weather from the BBC's Breakfast team. 10:15am Heir Hunters 11:00am Homes Under the Hammer 12:00pm You've Been Scammed 12:30pm Cash in the Attic David and Barbara Owen are looking to raise 1,000 pounds to create a special family reunion. 1:15pm Bargain Hunt Bargain Hunt comes from Newark, where two wives and their husbands do battle. 2:00pm BBC News at One The latest national and international news stories from the BBC News team, followed by weather. 2:30pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London. 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm Escape to the Country

4.00pm - midnight 4:00pm BBC News The latest national and international news stories from the BBC News team, followed by weather.

4:05pm School for Stars 2 4:35pm Dennis and Gnasher 4:45pm The League of Super Evil 5:00pm Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 5:30pm Pet School 5:55pm Ooglies 6:00pm Newsround 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six The latest national and international news stories from the BBC News team, followed by weather.

7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm Nigel Slater's 12 Tastes of Christmas 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Outnumbered 10:00pm Have I Got News for You 10:30pm Live at the Apollo 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm The Graham Norton Show 12:20am The National Lottery Friday Night Draws 12:30am Would I Lie to You? 1:00am EastEnders Omnibus 2:55am Weatherview 3:00am Fake or Fortune? 4:00am Question Time 5:00am BBC News

BBC3 8:00pm Merlin 8:45pm Doctor Who 9:30pm The Premier League's Most Amazing Moments 10:30pm Russell Howard's Good News 11:00pm Impractical Jokers 11:30pm EastEnders 12:00am Some Girls 12:30am Family Guy Subversive animated comedy about the trials and tribulations of American family life.

12:55am Family Guy Subversive animated comedy about the trials and tribulations of American family life.

1:15am American Dad! 1:40am American Dad! 2:00am Impractical Jokers 2:30am Russell Howard's Good News 3:00am Him and Her 3:30am Some Girls 4:00am Snog, Marry, Avoid?

ITV

Channel 4

7:50am Charlie and Lola 8:05am Cloudbabies 8:15am Everything's Rosie 8:25am Bob the Builder: Project Build It 8:35am Chuggington 8:45am Octonauts 9:00am Tilly and Friends 9:10am Woolly and Tig 9:15am Mike the Knight 9:30am Timmy Time 9:40am Tweenies 10:00am Numtums 10:05am Abadas 10:15am Alphablocks 10:20am The Rhyme Rocket 10:35am The Lingo Show 10:45am Something Special: We're All Friends 11:05am Show Me Show Me 11:35am Let's Play 11:55am I Can Cook on the Go 12:10pm Mister Maker Comes to Town 12:30pm BBC World News 1:00pm The Daily Politics 2:00pm Royal Upstairs Downstairs 2:30pm To Buy or Not to Buy 3:15pm The Weakest Link

5:35am The Jeremy Kyle Show 6:30am ITV Morning News The latest national and international news. 7:00am Daybreak 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning Presented by Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford. 12:25pm ITV News The latest headlines from around the world.

Followed by a local weather forecast. 12:30pm This Morning Presented by Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford. 1:30pm Let's Do Christmas with Gino and Mel Loose lady Sherrie Hewson joins Mel and Gino today. 2:30pm ITV News and Weather Nina Hossain with the latest headlines from around the world. 3:00pm Storage Hoarders Aggie Mackenzie tries to persuade Paul to part with his hoard of precious percussion.

4:00pm Real Rescues 4:45pm Flog It! Antiques series.

5:30pm Breakaway Hosted by Nick Hancock, Breakaway is a race to the finish line with up to 10,000 pounds to be won.

6:15pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 7:00pm Celebrity Eggheads 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 8:00pm Nigella Express Forget the big day - the entire month of December is laden with fine food at Nigella's place.

8:30pm Coast The team's journey continues around the stunning shores of Devon and Cornwall.

9:00pm Mastermind John Humphrys invites four more contenders to answer questions in the black chair.

9:30pm An Island Parish Series following the community on the tiny crown dependency of Sark in the Channel Islands.

10:00pm Westminster Abbey 11:00pm QI 11:30pm Newsnight In-depth investigation and analysis of the stories behind the day's headlines with Jeremy Paxman.

4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Britain's Best Bakery 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm London Tonight 7:30pm ITV News and Weather Alastair Stewart and Natasha Kaplinsky with the latest headlines from around the world.

8:00pm Emmerdale Jude visits the hospital to perform an emergency christening for baby Archie.

8:30pm Coronation Street Peter is stung when Nick has the last word.

Stella and Jason are caught in the act.

9:00pm You've Been Framed!

9:30pm Coronation Street Peter is forced to choose between Carla and Simon. Stella makes an announcement in the Rovers.

10:00pm A Night of Heroes: The Sun Military Awards 2012 11:30pm ITV News and Weather Alastair Stewart and Natasha Kaplinsky with the latest headlines from around the world.

12:00am The Review Show 12:50am Rolling Stones: Crossfire Hurricane 1:50am Muddy Waters and the Rolling Stones: Live at the Checkerboard Lounge 2:50am BBC News

12:10am Hard Target 1:50am The Store 3:55am Disclosure Big-budget thriller about sexual harassment and dirty dealings in the corporate world.

BBC4 8:00pm World News Today The latest national and international news, exploring the day's events from a global perspective.

8:30pm Sacred Music at Christmas 9:00pm Sounds of the Seventies Glamour with a seventies subversive quality in this selection from the BBC's back pages.

9:10pm John Barry: Licence to Thrill - Omnibus Documentary about John Barry, the most successful film score composer of the 20th century.

10:00pm James Bond 50th Anniversary Gala Concert 11:30pm ... Sings James Bond 12:30am John Barry: Licence to Thrill - Omnibus Documentary about John Barry, the most successful film score composer of the 20th century.

1:25am ... Sings Musicals 2:25am James Bond 50th Anniversary Gala Concert 3:55am ... Sings James Bond

5:30am Deal or No Deal 6:25am Countdown 7:10am The Hoobs 7:35am The Hoobs 8:00am Freshly Squeezed 8:30am According to Jim 8:55am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:25am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:55am Frasier 10:25am Frasier 10:55am Come Dine with Me 11:25am Come Dine with Me 12:00pm Come Dine with Me 12:30pm Come Dine with Me 1:00pm Come Dine with Me 1:30pm Channel 4 News 1:35pm Superscrimpers: Waste Not, Want Not 2:05pm Channel 4 Racing

Channel 5 6:35am Michaela's Wild Challenge 7:00am Thomas and Friends 7:10am Igam Ogam 7:20am Fireman Sam 7:30am Jelly Jamm 7:45am Peppa Pig 7:50am Olive the Ostrich 7:55am Little Princess 8:10am Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 8:20am The Mr. Men Show 8:35am Thomas and Friends 8:45am Noddy in Toyland 9:00am Fifi and the Flowertots 9:15am Peppa Pig 9:25am Peppa Pig 9:30am Roary the Racing Car 9:45am Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00am Tickety Toc 10:15am The Wright Stuff 12:10pm Build a New Life in the Country 1:10pm 5 News Lunchtime 1:15pm Build a New Life in the Country 2:15pm Home and Away 2:45pm Neighbours 3:15pm The Mentalist

CH4

BBC2

4:30pm 1001 Things You Should Know 5:00pm Deal or No Deal 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:30pm Jamie's 15 Minute Meals 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:30pm Unreported World 8:55pm 4thought.tv 9:00pm Come Dine with Me 10:00pm Peter Kay Live at the Top of the Tower 11:20pm Alan Carr: Chatty Man 12:25am 4funnies: Uncle 12:55am Full English 1:30am The Ricky Gervais Show 2:00am British Comedy Awards 2012 3:45am My Name is Earl 4:05am Glory Daze 4:50am 90210 5:30am Deal or No Deal

8:55am - Everybody Loves Raymond

4:15pm The Good Witch's Gift Drama 6:00pm 5 News at 5 National and international news.

6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away Bianca heads on a downward self-destructive spiral.

7:30pm 5 News National and international news.

8:00pm Cowboy Builders 9:00pm North Pole Ice Airport 10:00pm The Mentalist 11:00pm Castle 11:55pm Law and Order: Criminal Intent

12:55am Inside Hollywood 1:00am Super Casino 4:50am Motorsport Mundial 5:20am HouseBusters 5:45am Great Scientists

Satellite channels SKY1 9:00am Dog the Bounty Hunter 9:30am Dog the Bounty Hunter 10:00am Hawaii Five-0 11:00am Hawaii Five-0 12:00pm Lie to Me 1:00pm Lie to Me 2:00pm Hawaii Five-0 3:00pm Hawaii Five-0 4:00pm Stargate SG-1 5:00pm Stargate SG-1 6:00pm Futurama 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Modern Family 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Middle

9:00pm Modern Family 9:30pm Spy 10:00pm An Idiot Abroad 11:00pm A League of Their Own 12:00am Road Wars 1:00am Cop Squad 2:00am Cop Squad 3:00am Road Wars 3:55am Road Wars 4:45am Crash Test Dummies

SKY MOVIES COMEDY

7:25am Blackball 9:15am Taxi 11:00am Road Trip 12:40pm The Big Year 2:20pm Johnny English Reborn 4:05pm Little Nicky 5:40pm Taxi 7:20pm The Big Year 9:00pm Johnny English Reborn 10:45pm Road Trip 12:20am Little Nicky 1:55am Blackball 3:35am Stan Helsing 5:10am The Fighting Temptations

Katherine Heigl.

SKY MOVIES DRAMA

SMD

BBC1

5:00am Stepping Out 7:00am The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie 9:00am You May Not Kiss the Bride 10:45am Something Borrowed 12:45pm Water for Elephants 2:50pm Something Borrowed 4:50pm The Conspirator 7:00pm Life as We Know it 9:00pm Water for Elephants 11:00pm Coach Carter

1:20am Going the Distance 3:05am The Butcher's Wife

SKY MOVIES ACTION 4:45am The Warrior's Way 6:30am Super 8 35mm Special 7:00am Anaconda 2: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid 8:40am The Eagle 10:35am Braveheart 1:30pm Spider-Man 2 3:45pm Killer Elite

7:00pm - Life as We Know it

5:45pm Batman 7:50pm Batman Returns 10:00pm Spider-Man 2 12:15am Killer Elite 2:15am Your Highness 4:00am Rush Hour

TCM 12:00pm Return of the Gunfighter 1:50pm The High Chaparral 2:55pm The High Chaparral 4:00pm Gunfighters of Casa Grande 5:50pm The Story of Will Rogers 7:50pm Scrooge 10:00pm Phone Booth 11:35pm Cobra 1:20am Two Days in the Valley

13 - 19 December 2012

EWN

F

OR June Emsley news of a royal pregnancy is encouraging.

“Now after months of her sister Pippa Middleton’s bum taking up the headlines, we can look forward to seven months of Kate’s bump instead,” said the expat from Alhaurin el Grande on the Costa del Sol. “Having said that, best wishes for a happy, healthy baby.”

But Lesley McIntyre from Rojales on the Costa Blanca thinks it is pathetic the way the pregnancy has taken over the news, and nor is she concerned whether father-to-be William will make a better king than heir apparent Charles.

“People have a lot more important things to worry about; there are children in my kids’ school who can’t afford their lunch,” she said.

Friends Marlene Houghton and Christine Moores from the Costa del Sol were not surprised by the pregnancy news, but fear that when it comes to choosing a name Kate and William may be restricted. “We think they will choose a modern name, but still in keeping with royal tradition.”

Costa Blanca bar-owner Jose Pico agreed, recommending

Costa Blanca South FEATUREFLASH / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

www.euroweeklynews.com

33

STREET TALK

Oh baby! From bums to right royal bump!

All eyes are on the Duchess of Cambridge, Britain’s future Queen and now a mother-to-be. The royal

ROYAL BUMP: Great Expectations for Kate.

announcement of a baby made headline news globally, but what do EWN readers think?

Jackie Coenam.

Christine and Marlene.

Mari Lloret.

Charles if the couple have a son.

“I can’t suggest an alternative name, though,” he said, admitting that he didn’t even know the names of the daughters of Spain’s Prince Felipe.

Marie Ruiz from Benijofar in Costa Blanca has been a fan of the royal family since Princess Diana and believes Prince Charles

should be the next ruler and not stand aside, as some suggest, to allow William to become monarch. “But I think the Queen should stay as long as possible.

She is doing a good job.”

But Jackie Coenam, originally from Belgium and a fan of the British monarchy, disagrees. “I think Charles should step aside

and let William be the next king,” he said.

Mari Lloret, a bookshop and newsagent owner in Altea on the Costa Blanca,was unaware of the pregnancy. “Girl or boy is irrelevant as long as the baby is healthy,” she said. “Especially as first-born girls now have the same hereditary rights.”

THE BUM: Pippa and her famous rear.

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34

SATURDAY

EWN

TV

13 - 19 December 2012 Costa Blanca South

www.euroweeklynews.com

BBC1

BBC2

5:00am BBC News 7:00am Breakfast 11:00am Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30pm Baking Made Easy If you want to impress with baking, Lorraine Pascale has got it covered.

1:00pm BBC News The latest national and international news from the BBC. 1:10pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London. 1:15pm Football Focus Dan Walker and guests debate the biggest talking points in football. 2:00pm Bargain Hunt Antiques challenge. Tim Wonnacott and the team visit Alexandra Palace in London. 2:30pm Gymnastics

4.00pm - midnight 5:00pm Final Score 6:25pm BBC News The latest national and international news from the BBC. 6:35pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London.

6:45pm A Question of Sport 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing Sir Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly present the Strictly Come Dancing semi-final.

9:15pm Merlin Fantasy drama series.

10:00pm The National Lottery Saturday Night Draws 10:15pm Casualty 11:05pm BBC News The latest national and international news from the BBC. 11:25pm Match of the Day Gary Lineker introduces highlights from the Premier League, with fixtures including the clash between Newcastle United and Manchester City.

12:45am The Football League Show Manish Bhasin presents all the action from the Football League. 2:00am Weatherview Detailed weather forecast. 2:05am BBC News

BBC3 8:00pm Doctor Who Festive edition of the time-travelling drama.

Amy and Rory are trapped on a crashing space liner, and the only way The Doctor can rescue them is to save the soul of a lonely old miser. But is Kazran Sardick, the richest man in Sardicktown, beyond redemption? And what is lurking in the fogs of Christmas Eve? 9:05pm Top Gear 10:15pm Russell Howard's Good News 11:00pm Kill Bill: Vol. 1 12:45am Family Guy 1:05am Family Guy Subversive animated comedy about the trials and tribulations of American family life.

1:25am American Dad! Animated adventures of a hapless CIA agent and his family.

1:50am American Dad! 2:10am Impractical Jokers 2:40am Him and Her 3:10am Russell Howard's Good News 3:55am Pramface 4:25am Pramface

ITV

Channel 4

7:00am Tikkabilla 7:30am Balamory 7:50am Charlie and Lola 8:05am Cloudbabies 8:15am Everything's Rosie 8:25am Bob the Builder: Project Build It 8:35am Chuggington 8:45am Octonauts 9:00am Tilly and Friends 9:10am Woolly and Tig 9:15am Mike the Knight 9:30am Timmy Time 9:40am Tweenies 10:00am Baby Jake 10:10am ZingZillas 10:25am Mr Bloom's Nursery 10:45am Something Special 11:05am Let's Play 11:30am Get Well Soon 11:45am Nina and the Neurons: In the Lab 12:00pm Justin's House 12:25pm I Can Cook on the Go 12:40pm Mister Maker Comes to Town 1:00pm Animal Park 2:00pm Coast 2:20pm Holiday Affair 3:45pm The War Lover

6:00am ITV Nightscreen 6:30am ITV Morning News 7:00am Babar and the Adventures of Badou 7:10am Babar and the Adventures of Badou 7:25am The Hive 7:35am The Hive 7:45am The Hive 7:50am Canimals 8:00am Canimals 8:05am Fleabag Monkeyface 8:20am Fleabag Monkeyface 8:25am Almost Naked Animals 8:40am Almost Naked Animals 8:50am Horrid Henry 9:05am Horrid Henry 9:15am Horrid Henry 9:30am Fort Boyard10:25am ITV News 10:30am The Jeremy Kyle Show US 11:20am The Jeremy Kyle Show US 12:15pm Murder, She Wrote 1:20pm ITV News and Weather 1:30pm Holiday Home Sweet Home 2:30pm Holiday Home Sweet Home 3:30pm Midsomer Murders

5:30pm Escape to the Country Series in which prospective buyers are helped to find their dream home in the country.

6:30pm Flog It! Paul Martin and the Flog It team are on the hunt for antiques, this time in the historic Derby.

7:30pm The Hairy Bikers: Mums Know Best at Christmas 8:30pm Don't Panic! The Dad's Army Story Victoria Wood presents the true story behind Britain's timeless comedy.

9:20pm Dad's Army 10:20pm Clive Dunn: A Tribute 11:00pm Jools Holland: My Life in Music

5:25pm All Star Family Fortunes 6:15pm London Tonight Regional news update for the capital and the South East, plus local weather.

6:30pm ITV News and Weather Andrea Byrne with the latest headlines from around the world.

6:45pm Back to the Future Part II Time travel adventure sequel.

8:45pm Take Me Out 10:00pm 10 Years of Girls Aloud 11:20pm ITV News and Weather Andrea Byrne with the latest headlines from around the world.

11:35pm Michael Buble: Home for Christmas

Julianne Moore.

BBC2

1:00am - Savage Grace. Drama

12:00am Later... with Jools Holland and Friends 1:00am Savage Grace Drama. 2:30am Priceless

BBC4 8:00pm Around the World in 60 Minutes A unique journey around the weird and wonderful planet that we call home.

9:00pm David Attenborough's First Life 10:00pm The Killing The third and last season of the Danish thriller sees Inspector Sarah Lund back for one last case.

11:00pm The Killing 12:00am Elvis in Las Vegas Documentary telling how Elvis Presley transformed Las Vegas and how Vegas helped to destroy him.

1:00am ... Sings James Bond 2:00am When Wrestling Was Golden: Grapples, Grunts and Grannies 3:00am Top of the Pops: 1977 3:35am Elvis in Las Vegas Documentary telling how Elvis Presley transformed Las Vegas and how Vegas helped to destroy him.

12:50am Captivity 2:15am The Store 4:00am In Plain Sight 4:40am ITV Nightscreen Text-based information service.

Channel 5 8:55am Little Princess 9:10am The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 9:30am Angelina Ballerina 9:45am Rupert Bear 10:00am Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:15am Toby's Travelling Circus 10:30am Roary the Racing Car 10:45am Jelly Jamm 11:00am Power Rangers: Super Samurai 11:35am ThunderCats 12:10pm Chinese Food in Minutes 12:20pm Highland Emergency 12:55pm The All New Gadget Show 1:55pm Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railways 2:55pm A Grandpa for Christmas

5:30am Deal or No Deal 6:25am Countdown 7:10am The Hoobs 7:35am Mobil 1 The Grid 8:00am Teenage Superhumans 8:55am The Morning Line Turf tips and news from the Channel 4 Racing team. 9:55am Rockcorps 2012 10:10am T4 Movie Special 10:45am Will and Grace 11:15am Everybody Loves Raymond 11:45am Everybody Loves Raymond 12:15pm Frasier 12:40pm Frasier 1:10pm The Big Bang Theory 1:40pm The Big Bang Theory 2:10pm The Simpsons 2:45pm Channel 4 Racing

Robert Pattinson.

Kristen Stewart.

CH4

10:00pm - Eclipse.

4:55pm The Simpsons 5:25pm Come Dine with Me 5:55pm Come Dine with Me The second host in Kerry is cheeky cocktail barman and self-confessed ladies' man Stephen Leane.

6:25pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm Come Dine with Me 7:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:55pm Channel 4 News Includes sport and weather.

8:25pm 4thought.tv 8:30pm Heston's Fantastical Food 9:30pm Stephen Fry: Gadget Man Stephen looks at how gadgets entertain us.

10:00pm Eclipse

12:30am Remember Me Robert Pattinson, taking a break from playing vampire heart-throbs, stars as the romantic lead alongside Emilie de Ravin in Allen Coulter's moody tale of love in New York one fateful September. Following a family tragedy, Tyler Hawkins slips into a life of heavy drinking and arguments with his wealthy father. 2:30am The Escapist 4:10am Hollyoaks Omnibus

4:35pm Meet the Santas Comedy sequel to 'Single Santa Seeks Mrs Claus'.

6:20pm 5 News Weekend National and international news.

6:25pm Mrs. Miracle Drama. A widowed father of six-year-old twins struggles to cope with his family responsibilities.

His life is then transformed by the arrival of a kindly housekeeper, who demonstrates miraculous skills around the house and dispenses sound advice on affairs of the heart.

Based on the bestselling book by Debbie Macomber.

8:20pm An Old Fashioned Christmas Festive drama. Two women take a trip to Ireland.

10:00pm Greatest Christmas TV Moments A three-hour countdown of some of Christmas TV's greatest moments.

12:55am Inside Hollywood 1:15am Super Casino Live interactive gaming featuring roulette, blackjack and autowheel. 5:00am Michaela's Wild Challenge Michaela Strachan and colleagues undertake a range of wildliferelated dares in exotic locations. 5:25am The Great Artists 5:50am Rough Guide to Beaches

Satellite channels SKY1 5:10am Stargate SG-1 6:05am Stargate SG-1 7:00am Lion Man 7:30am Lion Man 8:00am UK Border Force 9:00am UK Border Force 10:00am World Wrestling Entertainment Superstars 11:00am Soccer A.M. 1:00pm WWE TLC Preview 1:30pm Premiere Special 2:00pm Modern Family 2:30pm Modern Family 3:00pm Modern Family 3:30pm Modern Family 4:00pm Modern Family 4:30pm The Middle 5:00pm The Middle 5:30pm The Middle 6:00pm The Middle 6:30pm The Middle 7:00pm Little Crackers 7:30pm Little Crackers 8:00pm Hawaii Five-0 9:00pm Hawaii Five-0 10:00pm Hide and Seek 11:55pm Road Wars

12:55am Caribbean Cops 1:55am Caribbean Cops 2:55am Big Trouble in Thailand 3:55am Inside Gatwick 4:55am Futurama 5:10am Don't Forget the Lyrics

SKY MOVIES DRAMA

SKY MOVIES COMEDY

4:55am The Lake Effect 6:30am Premiere Special 7:00am Listen to Your Heart 8:45am Deck the Halls 10:30am Albatross 12:05pm Romeo and Juliet 2:10pm What's Your Number?

5:10am The Fighting Temptations 7:15am The Cat in the Hat 8:45am Dunston Checks In 10:20am School of Rock 12:15pm Jack and Jill 1:55pm The 40 Year Old Virgin 3:55pm The Cat in the Hat

4:00pm Hardball 5:50pm Albatross 7:25pm Like Crazy 9:00pm Romeo and Juliet 11:00pm What's Your Number?

5:20pm National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 7:00pm School of Rock 9:00pm Jack and Jill 10:40pm The 40 Year Old Virgin

12:50am Burlesque 2:55am Just Go with it

12:40am National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2:20am Swingers 4:00am Take Me Home Tonight 5:40am Dunston Checks In

5:45am Thunderbirds 7:25am Movie Special 7:45am Small Soldiers 9:40am Flight of the Phoenix 11:40am Sahara 1:50pm Immortals

SKY MOVIES ACTION

3:50pm Batman and Robin 6:00pm The Tourist 7:50pm Sahara 10:00pm Immortals 12:00am The Recruit 2:00am Broken Arrow 3:55am Ironclad

TCM 6:00am Dragonwyck 7:50am The High Chaparral 8:50am The High Chaparral 9:50am The Story of Will Rogers 11:55am Gunfighters of Casa Grande 1:45pm Scrooge 4:00pm Union Station 5:35pm The Thomas Crown Affair 7:30pm Trail of Robin Hood 8:45pm Twilight in The Sierras 10:00pm The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen 12:15am The Newton Boys 2:25am The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen 4:20am Los Amigos

13 - 19 December 2012

yoursay@ euroweeklynews.com

www.euroweeklynews.com

Letters for Your Say should be emailed to yoursay@ euroweekly news.com, posted to Euro Weekly News, C/Moscatel 10, P-62, Polígono Industrial, Arroyo de la Miel, 29630 Benalmadena, Málaga, Spain or faxed to 0034 952 440 887

Tight parking spaces really drive me mad WHY is it that car parks in Spain have such small parking spaces?

While my wife drives a VW Golf, I drive a larger 4x4, and neither is easy to park in the spots in car parks.

All too frequently I have to pull in the wing mirrors to park because space near posts in underground car parks is so tight.

It is not a case of just odd car parks. From my own observations over seven years living here, it is the vast majority.

Lidl has just opened a new supermarket in La Cala, and sure enough, on the first visit, I found marked parking areas for individual vehicles to be once more small.

And this is not to be critical of Lidl, for the local Mercado car park is just as bad, as is the municipal car park outside SuperSol. No wonder so many vehicles have bumps at the back, front, and sides.

Fed-up driver Name and address supplied

Car park alert

L etters OPINION & COMMENT

Snapped!

Ernie Barnes of Arroyo de la Miel, Malaga

P pub hotog r l em icati aphs pho ail w on sh for p o ton ews ith a f uld b ossibl e es @e ull e c uro wee aptio nt by klyn n to ews : .com

EWN

35

Costa Blanca South

Annoying bite I WAS very annoyed that Suzanne Manners did not report the dog bite (Issue 1431) to the police.

It is clear that the dog’s owner was not bothered. How long before it bites a child and causes serious harm? A call to the police at this stage would perhaps convince the owner to have the animal trained.

If you are not prepared to do the right thing when something wrong happens, then don’t complain.

Andrew Coates, Fuengirola (Malaga)

Market thanks

Flying the flag! A girl carrying a huge Spanish flag during this year’s Constitution Day celebrations.

WHEN YOU WRITE All letters, whether by email or post, should carry the writer’s postal address, NIE and contact number though only the name and town will be published.

Letters may also be edited.

Readers who have missed earlier correspondence can see all letters posted on:

AFTER a two-month stay in our home country we picked up our car from one of the many airport car parks in Malaga.

Before we left we had written down the kilometres on the trip meter. On our return we saw the meter had an extra 2,500 kilometres showing.

We complained and were told they had charged the battery and it had probably changed the reading.

Then we found things in our car that didn’t belong to us, and a parking ticket from Benamaldena Costa dated while we were away.

The next day we made an official complaint to the police.

People should be careful when using some of the airport car parks.

Tineke van Melick Sayalonga (Malaga)

because it was warmer than the UK all year round. I chose to leave, so why now should I expect and demand the UK government to give me more than I am entitled to from my State Pension contributions?

Yes, it is very hot in Spain in the summer, but surely that is the reason one came to the country. I might be poor, but that unfortunately is not a sufficient reason for the UK to continue to support me while I decide to live abroad.

David Petrie, Alhaurin el Grande (Malaga)

Not entitled

Tax dilemma

THE Winter Fuel Allowance was introduced as a freebie to pensioners living in England. It had nothing to do with how much any person had paid.

As a pensioner I decided to leave the UK and come to Spain partly

HOW many people realise their next Spanish tax return will have to declare assets held abroad that total more than €50,000?

Although this new legislation would appear virtually impossible to implement, people will still face a

www.euroweeklynews.com

dilemma. That is whether or not to give the authorities full disclosure of overseas assets even when thinking they will not qualify for additional taxation. Failure to complete an accurate tax return constitutes a punishable offence in its own right.

This is food for thought as the Spanish authorities have stated they intend to seek co-operation with EU governments to enforce the legislation.

Ken Bethell, Puerto de Mazarron (Murcia)

No peace PLEASE advise Ms Jane Plunkett to research facts about Greenpeace before gratuitously extolling the merits of that particular outfit.

If she should try to follow their home line to the controlling ‘powers that be’ she will soon learn that all is not lilywhite within that so-called charity. There are no ways to verify their accounts or who is the leader of the organisation.

I agree there must be some members of Greenpeace that are totally committed to their idea of saving the planet, but these are in the main part the foot soldiers and not the hierarchy who hide their existence behind the Rainbow Banner.

FJT (by email)

HELP VEGA BAJA’S Christmas Market was held at The Asturias restaurant on the N-332 in Punta Prima. We wish to thank all the volunteers and everyone who attended for their support which was crucial in raising €5,081.

The proceeds of this event will go to the Reach Out project which helps the homeless and destitute.

Pat Perrin (Alicante)

Challenging taboo CLEARLY there are some who can’t abide critical opinion of Spain.

Accept us, warts and all or go (Letters Issue 1429). I made my reasons for being here clear as do Spaniards abroad. Some critics, who can’t even get my nationality right, were otherwise presumptuous. I am paid, not for being controversial, but for questioning, challenging orthodoxy and taboo.

Michael Walsh (by email) EWN columnist

Big success THANKS to everybody who helped and donated to the Reach Out Christmas-themed family fun day at the Marina Bar, Torrevieja. The event was an outstanding success, raising €1,217.

David and Lorraine Whitney, Torrevieja (Alicante)

Still booted The Javea Computer has not closed despite what some people believe.

We are a thriving club and hope to continue to be well into the future.

Mick Scarles, Javea (Alicante)

The views expressed and opinions given in Letters are not necessarily those of the EWN publishers. They accept no responsibility for accuracy of information, errors, omissions or statements, and reject claims arising out of any action that a company or individual may take on the basis of information contained therein.

36

SUNDAY

EWN

TV

13 - 19 December 2012 Costa Blanca South

www.euroweeklynews.com

BBC1

BBC2

7:00am Breakfast The latest news, sport, business and weather from the BBC's Breakfast team. 8:40am Match of the Day 10:00am The Andrew Marr Show 11:00am Fern Britton Meets... 12:00pm Sunday Politics Andrew Neil and Tim Donovan with the latest political news, interviews and debate. 1:25pm Countryfile Countryfile is deep in Gloucestershire exploring some woodland treasures. 2:20pm Bargain Hunt Tim Wonnacott and the teams hunt for bargains at the Royal Cornwall Showground in Wadebridge. 3:05pm Escape to the Country Series in which prospective buyers are helped to find their dream home in the country.

4.00pm - midnight 4:05pm Call the Midwife 5:05pm Lifeline 5:15pm Songs of Praise 5:55pm Nigel Slater's 12 Tastes of Christmas Nigel Slater shares the flavours that for him make Christmas a truly delicious season.

6:25pm BBC News The latest national and international news stories from the BBC News team.

6:40pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London.

6:50pm Countryfile Countryfile visits the Norfolk coast for a seasonal spectacle.

7:50pm Strictly Come Dancing 8:30pm Sports Personality of the Year 2012 11:05pm BBC News The latest national and international news, with reports from BBC correspondents worldwide.

11:20pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London.

11:30pm Match of the Day 2

ITV

Channel 4

7:00am Tikkabilla Fun and games for children, with songs, rhymes, guests, animals and things to make. 7:30am Balamory 7:50am Charlie and Lola Children's animation about a pair of siblings.

8:05am Cloudbabies 8:15am Everything's Rosie 8:25am Bob the Builder: Project Build It 8:35am Chuggington 8:45am Octonauts 9:00am Tilly and Friends Animation. 9:10am Woolly and Tig 9:15am Mike the Knight 9:30am Timmy Time 9:40am Tweenies 10:00am Baby Jake 10:10am ZingZillas 10:25am Mr Bloom's Nursery 10:45am Something Special - Out and About 11:00am Saturday Kitchen Best Bites 12:30pm Nigella's Christmas Kitchen 1:00pm Follow the Fleet 2:50pm Shall We Dance?

6:30am ITV Morning News 7:00am Engie Benjy 7:10am Babar and the Adventures of Badou 7:25am Babar and the Adventures of Badou 7:35am Signed Stories 7:45am Monk 7:50am Canimals 8:00am Canimals 8:05am Fleabag Monkeyface 8:15am Fleabag Monkeyface 8:30am Almost Naked Animals 8:40am Almost Naked Animals 8:50am Almost Naked Animals 9:00am Big Time Rush 9:30am Fort Boyard 10:25am ITV News 10:30am There's No Taste Like Home 11:30am Dinner Date 12:30pm Dickinson's Real Deal 1:30pm ITV News and Weather 1:35pm Carry on Don't Lose Your Head 3:20pm The X Factor Results Show

4:35pm Animal Park Ben Fogle and Kate Humble explore life behind the scenes at Longleat Estate and Safari Park.

5:05pm Coast Coast takes a journey around the British Isles and visits the shores of their European neighbours.

6:00pm Flog It! 7:00pm Cuba with Simon Reeve 8:00pm The Great Spanish Crash Investigative documentary series.

9:00pm Fawlty Towers 9:30pm Calendar Girls Comedy drama based on the true story of 12 ladies from Yorkshire baring all for charity. When one of the women's husbands dies from leukaemia, they decide that their prim and proper fundraising efforts need a bit of a shake-up. They find a more compelling way to raise money: starring in a nude calendar. Their modest hopes of selling a few hundred copies around the village are outstripped when it becomes a worldwide sensation.

11:15pm QI XL Quiz show.

5:20pm London Tonight Regional news update for the capital and the South East, plus local weather.

5:40pm ITV News and Weather James Mates with the latest headlines from around the world.

5:50pm E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial 8:00pm Happy Birthday E.T 9:00pm The Making of a Lady 10:45pm ITV News and Weather 11:00pm I Am Legend

Channel 5

4:10am Hollyoaks Omnibus 6:20am Countdown 7:05am Sali Mali Sali Mali, Jackdaw and Jacqui Soch get very confused when a cheeky parrot plays a trick on them. 7:10am The Hoobs Iver's keeping fit, sprinting around the Hoobmobile. 7:35am The Hoobs 8:00am Mobil 1 The Grid 8:30am Men's Health Survival of the Fittest 9:00am Will and Grace 9:25am Frasier 9:55am Frasier 10:30am Sunday Brunch 12:50pm The Big Bang Theory 1:20pm The Big Bang Theory 1:45pm The Simpsons 2:15pm The Simpsons 2:45pm Deal or No Deal 3:45pm Hocus Pocus

7:45am Olive the Ostrich 7:50am Abby's Flying Fairy School 8:00am Roobarb and Custard Too 8:10am Bananas in Pyjamas 8:25am Animal Antics 8:30am Make Way for Noddy 8:40am City of Friends 8:50am Little Princess 9:05am The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 9:25am Angelina Ballerina 9:40am Rupert Bear 9:55am Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:10am Toby's Travelling Circus 10:25am Roary the Racing Car 10:40am Jelly Jamm 11:00am Power Rangers: Super Samurai 11:35am ThunderCats 12:10pm Chinese Food in Minutes 12:15pm Highland Emergency 12:45pm Mr. St. Nick 2:30pm Battle of the Bulbs

5:40pm Deck the Halls Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito star in John in Whitesell's festive comedy.

7:20pm Channel 4 News Includes sport and weather.

7:50pm The Political Slot 7:55pm 4thought.tv 8:00pm Come Dine with Me 9:00pm River Cottage 10:00pm Homeland 11:00pm Peep Show Jeremy finally agrees to leave the flat and move in with Superhans.

11:35pm I Love You Phillip Morris

4:15pm All I Want for Christmas Sentimental drama.

6:00pm The Da Vinci Code The curator of the Louvre is murdered, leaving behind a chain of obscure clues to a worldchanging secret. Cryptologist Sophie and Harvard professor Robert embark on a race against time to uncover the precious truth before it falls into the wrong hands.

8:55pm 5 News Weekend National and international news.

9:00pm Click Comedy about a workaholic father who finds that there are not enough hours in the day to balance his job and home life, until he discovers a remote control that can pause and rewind time. However, when it malfunctions, chaos ensues, and the man realises that he has lost control of his life.

11:00pm Zack and Miri Make a Porno Bawdy romcom. After discovering that a former classmate of theirs has become a successful adult film star, two lifelong platonic friends hit upon a novel way of paying off their mounting debts. With the help of friends, they write, film and star in their own amateur adult movie, but complications arise which almost ruin their friendship for good.

Will Smith.

BBC3 8:00pm Merlin Fantasy drama series.

8:50pm The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe 11:00pm Him and Her 11:30pm Family Guy Subversive animated comedy about the trials and tribulations of American family life.

11:55pm Family Guy 12:15am American Dad! 12:40am American Dad! 1:00am Some Girls 1:30am Him and Her 2:00am Russell Howard's Good News 2:30am Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents 3:30am Snog, Marry, Avoid?

4:25am Some Girls Comedy series about the lives and loves of a group of quirky 16-year-old girls who play on the same school football team and live on the same inner city estate. Saz is determined to lose her virginity and sets about finding the ideal boy and the ideal location with the help of her friends.

12:00am Never Mind the Buzzcocks Liza Tarbuck hosts this edition. 12:30am Surviving Christmas Yuletide family comedy. 1:55am Body Heat 3:45am BBC News 5:25am The Super League Show Tanya Arnold and guests reflect on the 2012 Stobart Super League season.

BBC4 8:00pm The Roasts of Christmas Past 9:00pm A Very English Winter: The Unthanks 10:00pm Chas and Dave: Last Orders 11:00pm Storyville 12:00am The Hunter

BBC4

12:00am The Hunter

Rafi Pitts.

12:50am Pensioners Behind Bars 1:40am The Store 3:25am Motorsport UK 4:15am ITV Nightscreen Text-based information service.

ITV

12:30am The Graham Norton Show The award-winning host continues his unique chat show. 1:15am Three Fugitives Action comedy adventure. 2:50am Weatherview Detailed weather forecast. 2:55am Film 2012 3:25am Holby City The atmosphere is strained between Ric and Lilah because of their kiss.

4:25am Great British Food Revival 5:25am BBC News

11:00pm - I Am Legend

1:25am 8 Out of 10 Cats 1:55am American Football Live 5:45am Grudge Match Humorous tales of longstanding rivalry in the world of sport and competition. 5:55am Deal or No Deal

12:55am World's Craziest Police Pursuits 1:55am Super Casino Live interactive gaming featuring roulette, blackjack and autowheel.

5:00am House Doctor Ann Maurice provides home improvement advice for properties that are proving difficult to sell. 5:25am House Doctor 5:50am Rough Guide to Cities

Satellite channels SKY1 6:00am Best of Oops TV 7:00am The Hour of Power 8:00am UK Border Force 9:00am UK Border Force 10:00am The Glee Project 11:00am World Wrestling Entertainment Superstars 12:00pm WWE Experience 1:00pm WWE Presents: Best of WCW 2:00pm Best of Oops TV 3:00pm Best of Oops TV 4:00pm The Middle 4:30pm The Middle 5:00pm The Middle 5:30pm The Middle 6:00pm The Middle 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Our Diamond Queen 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Arrow 10:00pm An Idiot Abroad 11:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 12:00am NCIS: Los Angeles 1:00am Road Wars 2:00am Road Wars

2:30am Caribbean Cops 3:25am Caribbean Cops 4:20am Lion Man 4:45am Lion Man 5:10am Don't Forget the Lyrics

SKY MOVIES COMEDY 5:40am Dunston Checks In 7:10am Serious Moonlight 8:50am No Strings Attached 10:50am Ice Age 12:25pm American Pie 2:10pm Orange County 3:45pm Tower Heist 5:40pm Ice Age 7:15pm American Pie 9:00pm American Pie 2 10:45pm Tower Heist 12:35am No Strings Attached 2:25am Orange County 4:00am Dark Knight Rises 4:30am American Pie 2

SKY MOVIES DRAMA 5:00am An Affair to Remember

7:00am Lucky Christmas 8:40am The Magic of Belle Isle 10:40am Premiere Special 11:10am One Day 1:05pm The Decoy Bride 2:45pm Movie Special 3:05pm Captain Corelli's Mandolin 5:20pm Honey 2 7:20pm Rabbit Hole 9:00pm One Day 11:00pm The Decoy Bride 12:40am The Company Men 2:35am Stolen Lives 4:20am Losing Control

SKY MOVIES ACTION 6:00am Premiere Special 6:30am Small Soldiers 8:30am Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol Special 9:00am Spy Kids 10:40am Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams 12:30pm Batman Forever 2:40pm Haywire 4:20pm First Blood

6:00pm Daylight 8:00pm Twister 10:00pm Haywire 11:40pm First Blood 1:20am I, Robot 3:20am Street Kings 2: Motor City 5:00am The Perfect Weapon

TCM 6:00am TCM Shorts 6:15am Twilight in The Sierras 7:30am Trail of Robin Hood 8:45am Union Station 10:15am The Thomas Crown Affair 12:10pm A Christmas Story 1:55pm Monte Walsh 4:00pm The Magnificent Seven 6:30pm The Charge at Feather River 8:20pm Comanche 10:00pm Hell on Wheels 10:55pm Hell on Wheels 11:50pm Absolute Power 2:10am Night Falls on Manhattan 4:00am Absolute Power

OPINION & COMMENT

13 - 19 December 2012

EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

H

Costa Blanca South

PC holiday pudding is just taking the biscuit LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT attempting to damage the tree would be left in a small, charred smoking heap on the pavement.

In the event of that scenario it would be the last act of vandalism against this particular symbol of the Christian faith ever. Dream on, Leapy!

In the light of all this I also got to wondering what would happen should they decide to shoot a version of I’m a Celebrity in the UK? The mind boggles. ‘I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Epping Forest’ not only doesn’t have quite the

TRADITIONAL: What happened to the ‘Christmas’ pud? same ring, it would also be a nightmare for the organisers and positively orgasmic for the ‘ealth ‘n’ safety brigade.

Cockroaches would have to be cleansed. Rats would need de-clawing, snakes de-fanged. As for burials, suspended bridges, fireworks, ablutions in a bucket and negotiating

rapids whilst being bombarded by rubber balls...

The committees for clamping down would be burning the (perfectly controlled) midnight oil for months! In the end it would, of course, be impossible to stage.

Sad, ennit? I’m just waiting for them to ban the

army. After all you could get injured or even killed.

Don’t laugh. If you can now face prosecution for killing the enemy, I would say just about anything is possible!

Thanks for all the mail.

Also your comments on the Euro Weekly News website (well worth a visit if you haven’t already). I do read them all, even if I don’t get the time to reply.

I was surprised at the reaction to my IsraelPalestine piece and will definitely return to that subject at a later date.

Meantime, try not to go skint in this year’s Yuletide run-up. Keep warm.

Keep a spring in yer step.

And, whatever ya do, Always keep the faith Love Leapy

Leapylee2002@gmail.com

Gaza debate ISRAEL did withdraw from Gaza five years ago, leaving 1.4 million people in an area about six miles wide and 24 miles long (Issue 1429).

During Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine they have bulldozed 22,000 Palestinian homes and occupied an area of Palestine almost five times the size of the 1967 agreed border.

Gary Richardson Orihuela Costa (Alicante)

END COLUMN

ERE we go again.

Just taking this opportunity to wish you a happy PC and ‘ealth and safety Christmas.

Yesterday I espied a ‘Holiday’ pudding in a local supermarket.

‘Happy holiday’ cards are also well in evidence. Whatever happened to Christmas pud and cards?

What I found laughable, if it wasn’t so serious, was a report pointed out to me by a colleague. It appears that the traditional Christmas tree erected in Britain’s northern town of Stanley had been ordered to be taken down by local authorities.

The reason? Wait for it.

Apparently it was deemed ‘dangerous to vandals’.

Local loonie Health and Safety individuals had decide that the 220 volts required to power up the Christmas bulbs could be a threat to potential vandals!

You couldn’t make it up, could you?

Personally, I’d like to see the power pumped up so high that anyone

37

Wrong again WHAT would you do if I were to build a wall around your home? As you and your children slowly starved to death you might even chuck a few bricks over the wall in desperation.

Brian Hickey (Malaga)

38

MONDAY

EWN

TV

13 - 19 December 2012 Costa Blanca South

www.euroweeklynews.com

BBC2

4.00pm - midnight 4:00pm BBC News The latest national and international news stories from the BBC News team, followed by weather.

4:05pm Show Me What You're Made of 4:35pm Chucklevision 5:00pm Help! My Supply Teacher is Magic 5:30pm 12 Again 6:00pm Newsround Topical news magazine for children.

6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six The latest national and international news stories from the BBC News team, followed by weather.

7:30pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London.

8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm Inside Out 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm My Family 10:00pm Britain's Secret Terror Squad 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm Have I Got a Bit More News for You

12:20am The Matador Comic crime caper.

1:50am Weatherview Detailed weather forecast. 1:55am Richard Hammond's Miracles of Nature 2:55am Dara O Briain's Science Club 3:55am Great British Food Revival Cookery series where chefs and foodies champion British produce. 4:55am MasterChef: The Professionals 5:25am BBC News

BBC3 8:00pm World's Craziest Fools 8:30pm Winter Wipeout 9:30pm Olympics 2012 11:30pm EastEnders 12:00am Family Guy Subversive animated comedy about the trials and tribulations of American family life.

12:25am Family Guy Subversive animated comedy about the trials and tribulations of American family life.

12:45am American Dad! 1:10am American Dad! 1:30am Olympics 2012 3:30am Some Girls 4:00am Impractical Jokers 4:30am Him and Her Comedy series revealing what sometimes goes on behind the bedroom doors of today's 20-somethings in the guise of Steve and Becky - young, unemployed and lazy. It's Steve and Becky's first anniversary and Steve has planned to ask her to marry him. But he reckoned without the arrival of Laura.

Channel 4

Channel 5

7:50am Charlie and Lola 8:05am Cloudbabies 8:15am Everything's Rosie 8:25am Bob the Builder: Project Build It 8:35am Chuggington 8:45am Octonauts 9:00am Tilly and Friends 9:10am Woolly and Tig 9:15am Mike the Knight 9:30am Timmy Time 9:40am Tweenies 10:00am Numtums 10:05am Abadas 10:15am Alphablocks 10:20am The Rhyme Rocket 10:35am The Lingo Show 10:45am Something Special - Out and About 11:05am Show Me Show Me 11:35am Mr Bloom's Nursery 11:55am I Can Cook on the Go 12:10pm Mister Maker Comes to Town 12:30pm BBC World News 1:00pm The Daily Politics 2:00pm Royal Upstairs Downstairs 2:30pm To Buy or Not to Buy 3:15pm The Weakest Link

4:15am ITV Nightscreen 6:30am ITV Morning News The latest national and international news.

7:00am Daybreak 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning Presented by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby. 12:25pm ITV News The latest headlines from around the world. Followed by a local weather forecast. 12:30pm This Morning Presented by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby. 1:30pm Let's Do Christmas with Gino and Mel Anton du Beke helps out in the kitchen today as Gino serves up the ultimate Christmas turkey. 2:30pm ITV News and Weather Steve Scott with the latest headlines from around the world. 3:00pm Storage Hoarders

5:55am Deal or No Deal 6:50am Quick Bakes with Eric Lanlard 7:10am The Hoobs 7:35am The Hoobs 8:00am Freshly Squeezed 8:30am According to Jim 8:55am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:30am Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00am Frasier 10:30am Frasier 11:00am The Big Bang Theory 11:30am The Big Bang Theory 12:00pm Kirstie's Homemade Christmas 1:00pm Channel 4 News 1:05pm Kirstie's Handmade Treasures 1:20pm Great Expectations 3:40pm Countdown

7:20am Fireman Sam 7:30am Jelly Jamm 7:45am Peppa Pig 7:50am Olive the Ostrich 7:55am Little Princess 8:10am Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 8:20am The Mr Men Show 8:35am Thomas and Friends 8:45am Noddy in Toyland 9:00am Fifi and the Flowertots 9:15am Peppa Pig 9:25am Peppa Pig 9:35am Roary the Racing Car 9:50am Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00am Tickety Toc 10:15am Angelina Ballerina 10:30am Hana's Helpline 10:40am Mist: Sheepdog Tales 10:55am Mexican Food Made Simple 11:25am Emergency Bikers 12:25pm Build a New Life in the Country 1:20pm 5 News Lunchtime 1:25pm Build a New Life in the Country 2:30pm Christmas Card

4:00pm Real Rescues 4:45pm Wanted Down Under Revisited 5:30pm Flog It! Antiques series.

6:15pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 7:00pm Celebrity Eggheads 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 8:00pm Masterchef: The Professionals Michel's Classics 8:30pm University Challenge A series of matches featuring teams of distinguished people from 14 UK universities.

9:00pm Nigellissima Nigella Lawson loves Christmas and for her a party is the perfect way to celebrate.

10:00pm Inside Claridge's Documentary series following a year behind the scenes at five star luxury hotel Claridge's, following both the staff and their guests. It is a busy mid-summer at Claridge's, and 30 delegations from around the world are arriving for the Olympics, the red carpet is rolled out five times a day for heads of state and Noma, ranked the World's No 1 restaurant, is setting up as a pop-up in the Ballroom.

11:00pm Never Mind the Buzzcocks 11:30pm Newsnight In-depth investigation and analysis of the stories behind the day's headlines with Jeremy Paxman.

4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal David and his dealers are at Alton Towers where Karen Dalmeny has a flutter on an insect brooch.

5:00pm Britain's Best Bakery The baking competition reaches its final week with just six competitors left.

6:00pm The Chase Quiz show hosted by Bradley Walsh.

7:00pm London Tonight 7:30pm ITV News and Weather Geraint Vincent and Natasha Kaplinsky with the latest headlines from around the world.

8:00pm Emmerdale The night before Chas's trial, Charity is concerned about Debbie's obsession.

8:30pm Coronation Street Tyrone is in for a shock on his birthday. Michelle and Rob have grand ambitions.

9:00pm Little England 9:30pm Coronation Street Will Kirsty find out the truth? Leanne has a crisis of conscience.

10:00pm The Poison Tree Conclusion of the two-part psychological thriller based on the novel by Erin Kelly.

11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry

4:30pm 1001 Things You Should Know Sandi Toksvig hosts Channel 4's brand new general knowledge quiz show.

5:00pm Deal or No Deal 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks As Doug and Ste bid farewell to the village, Cheryl is left questioning Ste's intentions.

8:00pm Channel 4 News Includes sport and weather.

8:55pm 4thought.tv 9:00pm Dispatches 9:30pm Stephen Fry: Gadget Man Stephen has a look at how new technology can help keep us fit and healthy.

10:00pm Bad Santas Everyone deserves a chance to turn their life around, especially at Christmas.

11:00pm 8 Out of 10 Cats The concluding part of the compilation show of the best bits from the current series.

11:45pm Full English

4:10pm Crazy for Christmas Festive drama.

6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Emergency Bikers 7:30pm 5 News National and international news.

8:00pm North Pole Ice Airport 9:00pm The All New Gadget Show 10:00pm Deep Blue Sea 11:30pm Law and Order: Special Victims Unit

12:20am Westminster Abbey A look behind the scenes of one of Britain's most iconic landmarks, following the lives of the people who work, worship and live in this unique community over the course of a year. The choir of Westminster Abbey prepares for a historic visit to Rome to sing with the Sistine Chapel Choir in the Papal Mass in St Peter's Basilica. 1:20am BBC News 5:00am True Stories

1:40am Jackpot247 Join the presenters live and play roulette on your telly. 4:00am Pushing Daisies Quirky US drama about a man who can bring the dead back to life. 4:45am ITV Nightscreen Text-based information service.

5:35am The Jeremy Kyle Show

12:15am Alan Carr: Chatty Man 1:20am The Good Wife 2:05am The Good Wife 2:45am St. Elsewhere 3:30am The Spy in Black 4:55am Supernanny US 5:35am Supernanny US

BBC4 8:00pm Ten Things You Didn't Know About Earthquakes 9:00pm Britain by Bike 9:30pm Only Connect 10:00pm The Golden Age of Steam Railways 11:00pm The Golden Age of the British Sports Car Timeshift sets its rear view mirror to look back at the golden age of the British sports car.

12:00am The Killing The third and last season of the Danish thriller sees Inspector Sarah Lund back for one last case.

1:00am Britain by Bike 1:30am Only Connect 2:00am Ten Things You Didn't Know About Earthquakes 3:00am Punk Britannia 4:00am The Golden Age of Steam Railways

10:00pm Deep Blue Sea 12:15am When Killer Whales Attack Wildlife documentary about killer whales.

1:10am Cowboy Builders 2:10am Super Casino 4:55am House Doctor 5:20am HouseBusters 5:45am The Great Artists Art historian Tim Marlow looks at some of the western world's most famous artists.

Satellite channels SKY1 6:00am Best of Oops TV 7:00am Airline USA 7:30am Airline USA 8:00am Spy 8:30am Spy 9:00am Dog the Bounty Hunter 10:00am Hawaii Five-0 11:00am Hawaii Five-0 12:00pm Lie to Me 1:00pm Lie to Me 2:00pm Hawaii Five-0 3:00pm Hawaii Five-0 4:00pm Stargate SG-1 5:00pm Stargate SG-1 6:00pm Futurama 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Modern Family 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Arrow 10:00pm Little Crackers 10:30pm Little Crackers 11:00pm A League of Their Own 12:00am An Idiot Abroad 1:00am Fringe 2:00am Road Wars 2:55am Cop Squad 3:50am Road Wars

4:45am Crash Test Dummies 5:10am Stargate SG-1

SKY MOVIES COMEDY 4:30am American Pie 2 6:30am Rio Special 7:00am Wayne's World 2 8:50am How Do You Know 11:05am What Women Want 1:25pm Crazy, Stupid, Love 3:30pm Bad Teacher 5:15pm Wayne's World 2 7:00pm Shanghai Knights 9:00pm Crazy, Stupid, Love 11:00pm Bad Teacher 12:40am What Women Want 2:50am The Pool Boys

SKY MOVIES DRAMA 6:00am Cupid, Inc 7:30am Deck the Halls 9:15am Sweet Home Alabama 11:10am Mean Girls 12:50pm Mean Girls 2 2:35pm Just Go with it

4:35pm Sweet Home Alabama 6:30pm The Help 9:00pm Mean Girls 10:40pm Just Go with it 12:40am Baby, It's You 2:30am Casino Jack 4:25am 33 Postcards

SKY MOVIES ACTION 5:00am The Perfect Weapon 6:30am X-Men: First Class Special 7:00am Bunraku 9:10am Sanctum 11:05am Real Steel 1:15pm Rambo: First Blood Part II 3:00pm Braveheart 6:00pm Alexander 9:00pm Real Steel 11:10pm Rambo: First Blood Part II

TCM

5:25am BBC News 7:00am Breakfast The latest news, sport, business and weather from the BBC's Breakfast team. 10:15am Heir Hunters 11:00am Homes Under the Hammer 12:00pm You've Been Scammed 12:30pm Cash in the Attic Series looking at whether unwanted items could be worth a small fortune.

1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News at One The latest national and international news stories from the BBC News team, followed by weather. 2:30pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London. 2:45pm Doctors Heston helps a bride-to-be who is desperate to read her late father's speech at her wedding. 3:15pm Escape to the Country Series in which prospective buyers are helped to find their dream home in the country.

ITV

CH5

BBC1

10:00pm Navy Seals

12:50am Rambo Paycheck

III

2:35am

TCM 11:20am The Magnificent Seven 1:50pm The High Chaparral 2:55pm The High Chaparral 4:00pm Seven Men from Now 5:30pm Thunder Over the Plains 7:10pm A Christmas Story 9:00pm Roll on Texas Moon 10:00pm Navy Seals 12:10am My Cousin Vinny 2:20am Navy Seals 4:15am Marlowe

13 - 19 December 2012

EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

39

Costa Blanca South

Your weekly music news with Melissa Jayne Official UK Top 10 1. Gabrielle Aplin – The Power Of Love 2. Bruno Mars – Locked Out Of Heaven 3. Olly Murs – Troublemaker 4. Labrinth – Beneath You’re Beautiful 5. Rihanna – Diamonds 6. One Direction – Little Things 7. Kesha – Die Young 8. Pink – Try 9. Psy – Gangnam Style 10. Alicia Keys – Girl On Fire

Official Spanish Top 10 1. Rihanna – Diamonds 2. Adele – Set Fire To The Rain 3. Pablo Alborán – Tanto 4. Will.I.Am – This Is Love 5. Alicia Keys – Girl On Fire 6. Taylor Swift – We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together 7. Katy Perry – Wide Awake 8. Bruno Mars – Locked Out Of Heaven 9. Psy – Gangnam Style

X FACTOR winner James Arthur reportedly doesn’t want to hang around to release his material like previous winners – and has an album of material ready to go.

James won the UK singing competition last weekend and wants to release his debut album “as quickly as possible.”

James, from Saltburn beat Jahmene Douglas in last Sunday’s final, and has pledged to ignore the winner’s curse that has seen previous champions like Steve Brookstein, Joe McElderry and Leon Jackson fail to

Hot Gossip make it big.

Instead, runners-up and finalists such as One Direction, Olly Murs and JLS have had the hits, and it seems James plans to avoid dropping into oblivion by releasing his tunes straight away. Speaking to UK programme Daybreak, James said: “The statistics about people

winning the competition... I’m not gonna take much notice of that. I’m gonna get my album out as quickly as possible. And it will be all me.”

James shot to No1 on the iTunes download chart with his debut single Impossible just hours after he won the ninth series of the show.

James also went on to say that he reckons runner up Jahmene will also have a great career: “Jahmene is world class. I felt like we both won, being there together. That guy is gonna do phenomenally well on the back of this competition. He’s had a chance to showcase how amazing he is.”

Ed Sheeran “overwhelmed”

by Grammy nod

Official UK Top 10 Downloads

Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

10. Juan Magán – Te Voy A Esperar 1. James Arthur - Impossible 2. Will.I.Am - Scream & Shout (Feat. Britney Spears) 3. Bruno Mars - Locked Out Of Heaven 4. Gabrielle Aplin - The Power Of Love 5. Olly Murs - Troublemaker 6. Rihanna - Diamonds 7. Rihanna - Stay (Feat. Mikky Ekko) 8. Labrinth - Beneath Your Beautiful (Feat. Emeli Sande) 9. One Direction - Little Things 10. One Direction - Kiss You FACE OF PEPSI: Beyonce has signed a lucrative deal with the soft drink brand.

No waiting for winner

Singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran has admitted that he was “in a state” and “overwhelemed” when he found out that he had been nominated for a Grammy award. Ed, whose track The A Team has been nominated for Song of the Year at the ceremony next year, revealed that he celebrated in style after the news. Ed told MTV: “The lads from The Wanted

MUSIC

Beyonce signs $50 million deal

Former Destiny’s Child singer Beyoncé has signed a lucrative deal with Pepsi, thought to be worth an estimated $50million. The Love On Top singer, who has previously kidnapped me. They bundled me starred in advertisements for the onto their tour bus and I only found soft drinks brand since 2002, will out after a few beers. I was in a collaborate with Pepsi once again to state anyway and, yeah, I just had coincide with her performance at the loads of giggle fits.” Ed also said Super Bowl 2013 Halftime show next that if he wins, he will carry the February. She will act as brand Grammy around with him for the ambassador in the multi-year deal, rest of his life. with the former Destiny’s Child star also set to star in a new commercial - which will air for the first time during the Super Bowl sporting event on 3rd Will.I.Am ft. Britney Spears – Scream and Shout: is the latest February. Speaking to single to be released front Black Eyed Peas frontman the New York Times, Will.I.Am featuring vocals from Britney Spears, and is the Beyonce said: “Pepsi lead single to be taken from Will’s upcoming fourth solo embraces creativity and album #willpower. The track is an upbeat dance track understands that artists with elements of electropop, with lyrics about having a great evolve.

As a night out. The single has been compared to the works of businesswoman, this Azealia Banks, Madonna and Nicki Minaj, but has also been allows me to work with a criticised due to the heavy use of autotune. Scream and Shout lifestyle brand with no is currently available for digital download, is officially released this week. compromise and without sacrificing my creativity.”

NEWS

Vibe’s Top Tip

40

TUESDAY

EWN

TV

13 - 19 December 2012 Costa Blanca South

www.euroweeklynews.com

BBC2

5:25am BBC News 7:00am Breakfast The latest news, sport, business and weather from the BBC's Breakfast team. 10:15am Heir Hunters 11:00am Homes Under the Hammer 12:00pm You've Been Scammed 12:30pm Cash in the Attic Series looking at whether unwanted items could be worth a small fortune.

1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News at One The latest national and international news stories from the BBC News team, followed by weather. 2:30pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London. 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm Escape to the Country

4.00pm - midnight 4:00pm BBC News The latest national and international news stories from the BBC News team, followed by weather.

4:05pm Show Me What You're Made of 4:30pm Bear Behaving Badly 4:55pm Shaun the Sheep 5:00pm Help! My Supply Teacher is Magic 5:30pm Rocket's Island 6:00pm Newsround Topical news magazine for children.

6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Holby City 10:00pm Last Tango in Halifax 11:00pm BBC News at Ten The latest national and international news, with reports from BBC correspondents worldwide.

11:25pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London.

11:35pm Imagine...

Matthew Bourne is Britain's most commercially successful choreographer.

12:35am The Unbearable Lightness of Being Romantic drama. Tomas, a womanising Czech doctor, meets the waif-like Tereza and falls in love. 3:20am Weatherview Detailed weather forecast. 3:25am Supersized Earth Documentary tracing the story of how humans have transformed our world in a generation.

4:25am Supersized Earth 5:25am BBC News

BBC3 8:00pm Snog, Marry, Avoid?

9:00pm Don't Tell the Bride 10:00pm Don't Tell the Bride 11:00pm Russell Howard's Good News 11:30pm EastEnders 12:00am Family Guy Subversive animated comedy about the trials and tribulations of American family life.

12:25am Family Guy Subversive animated comedy about the trials and tribulations of American family life.

12:45am American Dad! Animated series about family man Stan Smith, who works for the CIA. 1:10am American Dad! 1:30am Don't Tell the Bride 2:30am Him and Her 3:00am Impractical Jokers 3:30am Pramface 4:00am Pramface 4:30am Russell Howard's Good News

ITV

Channel 4

Channel 5

7:50am Charlie and Lola 8:05am Cloudbabies 8:15am Everything's Rosie 8:25am Bob the Builder: Project Build It 8:35am Chuggington 8:45am Octonauts 9:00am Tilly and Friends 9:10am Woolly and Tig 9:15am Mike the Knight 9:30am Timmy Time 9:40am Tweenies 10:00am Numtums 10:05am Abadas 10:15am Alphablocks 10:20am The Rhyme Rocket 10:35am The Lingo Show 10:45am Something Special - Out and About 11:05am Show Me Show Me 11:30am Mr Bloom's Nursery 11:55am I Can Cook on the Go 12:10pm Mister Maker Comes to Town 12:30pm BBC World News 1:00pm The Daily Politics 2:00pm Royal Upstairs Downstairs 2:30pm To Buy or Not to Buy 3:15pm The Weakest Link

6:30am ITV Morning News 7:00am Daybreak 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 12:25pm ITV News 12:30pm This Morning 1:30pm Let's Do Christmas with Gino and Mel 2:30pm ITV News and Weather 3:00pm Storage Hoarders

4:00pm Real Rescues 4:45pm Wanted Down Under Revisited 5:30pm Flog It! Antiques series.

6:15pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 7:00pm Celebrity Eggheads 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 8:00pm Masterchef: The Professionals Michel's Classics 8:30pm University Challenge 9:00pm The Great British Bake Off Christmas Masterclass 10:00pm Wartime Farm 11:00pm Rev Sitcom about a vicar running an inner-city church. Christmas; the busiest time of year for a vicar, and Adam is full of ideas for his first Advent in London. However, he soon discovers that Christmas at St Saviour's is quite different to his sleepy Suffolk parish. He is under pressure from the archdeacon to maximise seasonal profits, the diary is packed with unusual events, and he is up at the crack of dawn every morning to cook breakfast at the homeless shelter.

11:30pm Newsnight In-depth investigation and analysis of the stories behind the day's headlines with Emily Maitlis.

4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal David and the team are in Mansfield where Jo Brayshaw fall in love with a tea strainer.

5:00pm Britain's Best Bakery 6:00pm The Chase Quiz show hosted by Bradley Walsh.

7:00pm London Tonight 7:30pm ITV News and Weather Geraint Vincent and Natasha Kaplinsky with the latest headlines from around the world.

8:00pm Emmerdale In court, Chas pales at the hostility from the Dingles as the trial begins.

8:30pm The Unforgettable...

The story of the life and career of Larry Grayson, one of Britain's best-loved entertainers.

9:00pm Inside Guinness World Records 10:00pm Ruth Rendell's Thirteen Steps Down Part one of a two-part psychological thriller.

11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather Mark Austin and Julie Etchingham with the latest headlines from around the world.

11:35pm Ruth Rendell's Thirteen Steps Down Conclusion of a two-part psychological thriller.

4:30pm 1001 Things You Should Know Sandi Toksvig hosts Channel 4's brand new general knowledge quiz show.

5:00pm Deal or No Deal 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks Cheryl makes a revelation that leaves Doug in utter turmoil.

8:00pm Channel 4 News Includes sport and weather.

8:55pm 4thought.tv 9:00pm Embarrassing Bodies 10:00pm Bad Santas Everyone deserves a chance to turn their life around, especially at Christmas.

11:00pm Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA Gordon Ramsay continues his travels across the United States in a bid to save failing restaurants from disaster. This week, he travels to Philadelphia to visit a Mexican restaurant called Zocalo. At one point, this restaurant played Cupid to a young couple who met, fell in love and married while working here together. Greg and Mary Russell loved the place so much that they pooled their resources and bought it.

4:10pm Mrs Santa Claus Seasonal musical about a neglected housewife who decides it is time the world knew of her existence as Mrs Santa Claus. A week before her husband needs his sleigh for his deliveries, she makes an emergency landing in New York City and winds up befriending a group of children working in a toy factory.

6:00pm 5 News at 5 National and international news.

6:30pm Emergency Bikers Action-packed documentary series following the work of emergency bike crews.

7:30pm 5 News National and international news.

8:00pm Highland Emergency 8:30pm Highland Emergency 9:00pm Murder Files Documentary series about murderers and their crimes.

10:00pm Body of Proof Crime drama series.

11:00pm CSI: NY New York-based spin-off of the crime drama series.

11:55pm CSI: NY New York-based spin-off of the crime drama series.

12:20am Inside Claridge's 1:20am BBC News 5:00am Bringing Books to Life A wonderful adventure into the worlds of some of the best children's books written for seven- to ten-yearolds. The real and animated worlds collide to reveal the wonder that is contained within the pages of each book and the larger-than-life imaginations of the celebrity presenters as they explore the stories that they hold dear.

12:35am Grimefighters Series following the work of Britain's clean-up crews. 1:05am Jackpot247 Join the presenters live and play roulette on your telly. 4:00am Pushing Daisies 4:45am ITV Nightscreen Text-based information service.

12:05am Homeland 1:10am Pokerstars.Co.UK and Monte-Carlo Casino Ept Grand Final 2:05am KOTV Boxing Weekly 2:35am Sailing This show explores the route to becoming a professional America's Cup athlete. 3:00am Beach Volleyball 3:55am Best of British 4:50am Freesports on 4 5:20am Men's Health Survival of the Fittest 5:45am Mobil 1 The Grid

12:55am Slaves in the Cellar Documentary.

1:55am Super Casino Live interactive gaming featuring roulette, blackjack and autowheel.

4:55am House Doctor The recently divorced Renshaws own a large house in Chester and are looking to sell. 5:20am HouseBusters 5:45am The Great Artists

BBC4 8:00pm 10 Things You Didn't Know About Avalanches 9:00pm Jet! When Britain Ruled the Skies 10:00pm The Dark Ages: An Age of Light 11:00pm Rome: A History of the Eternal City 12:00am The Killing The third and last season of the Danish thriller sees Inspector Sarah Lund back for one last case.

1:00am Jet! When Britain Ruled the Skies 2:00am 10 Things You Didn't Know About Avalanches 3:00am Punk Britannia Three-part series about the history of punk.

4:00am The Dark Ages: An Age of Light

5:35am Supernanny US 6:15am Deal or No Deal 7:10am The Hoobs 7:35am The Hoobs 8:00am Freshly Squeezed 8:30am According to Jim 9:00am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:30am Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00am Frasier 10:30am Frasier 11:00am The Big Bang Theory 11:30am The Big Bang Theory The guys slowly warm to Zack and find a way to bond with him when they enter a fancy dress contest. 12:00pm Kirstie's Homemade Christmas 1:00pm Channel 4 News Includes news headlines and weather. 1:05pm Kirstie's Handmade Treasures 1:25pm Oliver Twist 3:40pm Countdown

ITV

BBC1

7:00am - Daybreak

7:20am Fireman Sam 7:30am Jelly Jamm 7:45am Peppa Pig 7:50am Olive the Ostrich 7:55am Little Princess 8:10am Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 8:20am The Mr Men Show 8:35am Thomas and Friends 8:45am Noddy in Toyland 9:00am Fifi and the Flowertots 9:15am Peppa Pig 9:25am Peppa Pig 9:35am Roary the Racing Car 9:50am Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00am Tickety Toc 10:15am Angelina Ballerina 10:30am Hana's Helpline 10:40am Mist: Sheepdog Tales 10:55am Mexican Food Made Simple 11:25am Emergency Bikers 12:25pm Superior Interiors with Kelly Hoppen 1:20pm 5 News Lunchtime 1:25pm Build a New Life in the Country 2:30pm Hitched for the Holidays

Satellite channels SKY1 5:10am Stargate SG-1 6:05am Stargate SG-1 7:00am Airline USA 7:30am Airline USA 8:00am Spy 8:30am Spy 9:00am Dog the Bounty Hunter 10:00am Hawaii Five-0 11:00am Hawaii Five-0 12:00pm Lie to Me 1:00pm Lie to Me 2:00pm Hawaii Five-0 3:00pm Hawaii Five-0 4:00pm Stargate SG-1 5:00pm Stargate SG-1 6:00pm Futurama 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Modern Family 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Last Resort 10:00pm Little Crackers 10:30pm Little Crackers 11:00pm Hide and Seek 12:55am Brit Cops - Zero Tolerance 1:55am Brit Cops - Zero Tolerance 2:55am Road Wars 3:50am Road

Wars 4:45am Crash Test Dummies 5:10am Stargate SG-1

SKY MOVIES COMEDY 4:20am How Do You Know 6:20am Win a Date with Tad Hamilton 8:00am The Truth About Cats and Dogs 9:45am Pretty in Pink 11:30am Ramona and Beezus 1:15pm Bridesmaids 3:20pm The Top Ten Show 2012 3:35pm Hall Pass 5:25pm Eurotrip 7:00pm Shanghai Noon 9:00pm Bridesmaids 11:05pm Hall Pass 12:55am Eurotrip 2:30am Pretty in Pink 4:10am The Truth About Cats and Dogs

SKY MOVIES DRAMA 4:25am 33 Postcards 6:05am Deck

the Halls 7:50am Lucky Christmas 9:20am War Horse 11:50am Life as We Know it 1:50pm Love and Other Impossible Pursuits 3:30pm Alfie 5:20pm The Stepford Wives 7:00pm Jane Eyre 9:00pm War Horse 11:30pm Life as We Know it 1:30am The Tourist 3:25am Conviction 5:20am A Valentine's Date

SKY MOVIES ACTION 4:40am Braddock: Missing in Action 3 6:30am Super 8 35mm Special 7:00am Colombiana 9:00am Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World 11:30am Hanna 1:30pm Spider-Man 3:35pm Spider-Man 2 5:50pm Batman and Robin 8:00pm Colombiana 10:00pm Spider-Man

12:05am Spider-Man 2 2:20am Rush Hour 4:10am Circle of Pain 5:50am Volcano: Fire on the Mountain

TCM 6:00am Roll on Texas Moon 7:05am The High Chaparral 8:05am The High Chaparral 9:05am Seven Men from Now 10:35am A Christmas Story 12:20pm Thunder Over the Plains 1:55pm The High Chaparral 2:55pm The High Chaparral 4:00pm Day of the Evil Gun 5:50pm The Redhead and The Cowboy 7:25pm The King and I 10:00pm The Glimmer Man 11:45pm Behind Enemy Lines 1:25am Night Moves 3:00am The Glimmer Man 4:30am Behind Enemy Lines

13 - 19 December 2012

EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

41

Costa Blanca South

The pitfalls of looking for love online are just part of the fun

A THIRD of us now find relationships online with nine million people in the UK using internet sites to find partners.

This trend is increasing rapidly, with Britons Europe’s most prolific internet daters.

When I first learned of a friend of mine going online, I was a bit shocked (and amused) because of the usual preconceptions about internet dating.

That is the idea of people searching for partners based on certain criteria like age, weight, height, hobbies, and politics.

Then finding out the truth.

Men lie about their height, women about their weight and everyone adds pictures to their profiles that are well out-ofdate, even men substituting pictures of their sons!

But, as my friend pointed out, sometimes life’s just too busy for the usual dating game. The

Breaking Views NORA JOHNSON Nora, who has lived on the Costa del Sol for a number of years, is the author of psychological suspense and crime thrillers. To comment on any of the issues raised in Nora’s column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/columnists/ nora-johnson

INTERNET DATING: Just like real life, really. important thing about the online version, she reckons, is not to take it too seriously.

If she comes across someone a bit weird-sounding, she simply puts it down to an anecdote-making opportunity.

Just as she does with the

inevitable scammers, invariably based in Nigeria.

These are easy to identify as there are often major

inconsistencies within their profiles, and they all claim to have great jobs and live in big houses.

The messages tend to be in stilted Pidgin English, and almost always begin “Hello My Dear” or “Hello Beautiful Lady.”

Strangely, they all seem to be widowed with young children and have lost their parents early on in a tragic accident. They also want your email address immediately so they can still contact you when they’re kicked off the website and con you into parting with money in order to meet them.

One who claimed to be from ‘Wombledon’ and saw ‘Andee Moray’ win the tennis

championship this summer raved about how ‘luvley Wombledon Common’ was, and that there was nothing as romantic as the setting sun reflected off London’s Centre Point. His children’s ages kept changing with each message.

He also firmly believed my friend’s assertion she had a sister called Hyacinth Bucket and a brother named Victor Meldrew.

Basically, internet dating is just another way to meet people in an increasingly fragmented society. But it’s also a case of beware of the smooth-talking rogues... just like real life, really.

Nora Johnson’s thrillers ‘Soul Stealer’ & ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.nora-johnson.com) available from Amazon in paperback/eBook (€0.89; £0.77) and iBookstore.Profits to Cudeca

42

WEDNESDAY

EWN

TV

13 - 19 December 2012 Costa Blanca South

www.euroweeklynews.com

BBC1

BBC2

5:25am BBC News 7:00am Breakfast The latest news, sport, business and weather from the BBC's Breakfast team. 10:15am Heir Hunters 11:00am Homes Under the Hammer 12:00pm You've Been Scammed 12:30pm Cash in the Attic Series looking at whether unwanted items could be worth a small fortune.

1:15pm Bargain Hunt Tim Wonnacott and the Bargain Hunt team head to Derby to uncover a variety of antique bargains. 2:00pm BBC News at One The latest national and international news stories from the BBC News team, followed by weather. 2:30pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London.

2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm Escape to the Country

4.00pm - midnight 4:00pm BBC News The latest national and international news stories from the BBC News team, followed by weather.

4:05pm Show Me What You're Made of 4:35pm What's New Scooby-Doo? Children's animated series about a group of teenage sleuths and their cowardly dog.

4:55pm Shaun the Sheep 5:00pm Help! My Supply Teacher is Magic 5:30pm Rocket's Island 6:00pm Newsround Topical news magazine for children.

6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show Matt Baker and Alex Jones present the stories that matter from across the country.

9:00pm Snow Babies 10:00pm Last Tango in Halifax 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm The National Lottery Wednesday Night Draws 11:45pm Film 2012

ITV

Channel 4

7:50am Charlie and Lola 8:05am Cloudbabies 8:15am Everything's Rosie 8:25am Bob the Builder: Project Build It 8:35am Chuggington 8:45am Octonauts 9:00am Tilly and Friends 9:10am Woolly and Tig 9:15am Mike the Knight 9:30am Timmy Time 9:40am Tweenies 10:00am Numtums 10:05am Abadas 10:15am Alphablocks 10:20am The Rhyme Rocket 10:35am The Lingo Show 10:45am Something Special - Out and About 11:05am Show Me Show Me 11:35am Mr Bloom's Nursery 11:55am I Can Cook on the Go 12:10pm Mister Maker Comes to Town 12:30pm The Daily Politics 2:00pm See Hear 2:30pm Lifeline2:40pm Coast 2:45pm To Buy or Not to Buy 3:15pm The Weakest Link

6:30am ITV Morning News The latest national and international news. 7:00am Daybreak 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning Presented by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby. 12:25pm ITV News The latest headlines from around the world. Followed by a local weather forecast. 12:30pm This Morning Presented by Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby. 1:30pm Let's Do Christmas with Gino and Mel 2:30pm ITV News and Weather 3:00pm Storage Hoarders

4:00pm Real Rescues Going behind the scenes at one of Britain's biggest ambulance control centres, Louise Minchin and Chris Hollins present dramatic events from the day-to-day work of the emergency services. In this episode, mountain rescuers fight bad weather to save a badlyinjured walker, and a stag struggles to survive being trapped in an electric fence.

4:45pm Wanted Down Under Revisited 5:30pm Flog It! Antiques series. Paul Martin and the team hold a valuation day in Hereford Cathedral.

6:15pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 7:00pm Celebrity Eggheads 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 8:00pm Masterchef: The Professionals Michel's Classics 8:30pm University Challenge 9:00pm All About the Good Life 10:00pm The Christmas No.1 Story 11:00pm Rhod Gilbert's Work Experience Stand-up comedian Rhod Gilbert tries his hand at some proper jobs.

11:30pm Newsnight In-depth investigation and analysis of the stories behind the day's headlines with Jeremy Paxman.

4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Britain's Best Bakery 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm London Tonight 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Weight Loss Ward Second of two programmes.

10:00pm The Town 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm Miami Vice

Channel 5

5:45am Mobil 1 The Grid 6:15am Deal or No Deal 7:10am The Hoobs 7:35am The Hoobs 8:00am Freshly Squeezed 8:30am According to Jim 9:00am Everybody Loves Raymond Ray and Debra plan to get more time to themselves by getting Marie and Frank to make new friends. 9:30am Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00am Frasier 10:30am Frasier 11:00am The Big Bang Theory 11:30am The Big Bang Theory 12:00pm Kirstie's Homemade Christmas 1:00pm Channel 4 News Includes news headlines and weather. 1:05pm The Robe 3:40pm Countdown

7:20am Fireman Sam 7:30am Jelly Jamm 7:45am Peppa Pig 7:50am Olive the Ostrich 7:55am Little Princess 8:10am Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 8:20am The Mr Men Show 8:35am Thomas and Friends 8:45am Noddy in Toyland 9:00am Fifi and the Flowertots 9:15am Peppa Pig 9:25am Peppa Pig 9:35am Roary the Racing Car 9:50am Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00am Tickety Toc 10:15am Angelina Ballerina 10:30am Hana's Helpline 10:40am Mist: Sheepdog Tales 10:55am Mexican Food Made Simple 11:25am Emergency Bikers 12:25pm Superior Interiors with Kelly Hoppen 1:20pm 5 News Lunchtime 1:25pm Build a New Life in the Country 2:30pm Battle of the Bulbs

4:30pm 1001 Things You Should Know 5:00pm Deal or No Deal 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News Includes sport and weather.

8:55pm 4thought.tv 9:00pm Kirstie's Vintage Christmas 10:00pm Heston's Fantastical Food 11:00pm The Twins Who Share a Body 11:50pm 8 Out of 10 Cats

4:15pm The Santa Suit Festive comedy.

6:00pm 5 News at 5 National and international news.

6:30pm Emergency Bikers Action-packed documentary series following the work of emergency bike crews. Paramedic Steve Harris has his hands full in Birmingham as he races to a suspected case of meningitis, before speeding off to assist a homeless man who claims to have been beaten up.

7:30pm 5 News National and international news.

8:00pm World's Strongest Man 2012 9:00pm Building the Panama Canal 10:00pm Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railways 11:00pm Blade II Half-human, half-vampire Wesley Snipes returns in this sequel to the blockbuster, this time teaming up with arch-enemy Thomas Kretschmann who needs his help. A mutated race of vampires, the Reapers, are killing both humans and vampires and must be stopped before they gain too much power.

CH5

11:00pm - Blade II

Wesley Snipes.

12:15am The League Cup Show 12:45am Texas Rangers Western adventure. Following the Civil War, bandits are terrorising much of Texas. 2:05am Weatherview 2:10am See Hear 2:40am Supersized Earth Documentary tracing the story of how humans have transformed our world in a generation. 3:40am Inside Claridge's 4:40am MasterChef: The Professionals 5:40am BBC News

BBC3 8:00pm Young Apprentice 9:00pm Don't Tell the Bride 10:00pm Great Movie Mistakes 2012 12:00am Family Guy Subversive animated comedy about the trials and tribulations of American family life.

12:25am Family Guy Animated comedy series about family life.

12:45am American Dad! 1:10am American Dad! 1:30am Great Movie Mistakes 2012 3:30am Don't Tell the Bride In this Christmas special, Rosie can stamp her feet all she wants... because she has handed over control of her big day to her man with a festive plan.

Rosie's fiance Nick has just three weeks and ÂŁ12,000 to give her the perfect Christmas present - a wintry wonderland wedding she will never forget.

4:25am Him and Her

12:20am Stuffed: The Great British Christmas Dinner 1:20am A Culture Show Special 2:20am BBC News 5:00am Orbit: Earth's Extraordinary Journey Right now you're hurtling around the sun at 64,000 miles an hour.

BBC4 8:00pm 10 Things You Didn't Know About...

9:00pm Jet! When Britain Ruled the Skies Two-part series which celebrates an unlikely story of outstanding British aviation achievement.

10:00pm Rome: A History of the Eternal City 11:00pm The Golden Age of Steam Railways 12:00am Old Jews Telling Jokes 12:30am Jet! When Britain Ruled the Skies Two-part series which celebrates an unlikely story of outstanding British aviation achievement.

1:30am 10 Things You Didn't Know About...

2:30am Punk Britannia 3:30am Rome: A History of the Eternal City

1:55am Jackpot247 Join the presenters live and play roulette on your telly. 3:20am Scarface Graphically violent drama remake telling the story of a Miami-based mob boss.

12:40am Rude Tube 1:40am Abbey Road Studios: In Session with VW Beetle 2:05am Mumford and Sons: Gentlemen of the Road 2:20am Mencap Little Noise Sessions 2:45am Spotlight 3:00am Made in Chelsea 3:55am Made in Chelsea There's trouble in paradise as Louise struggles with the idea of Spencer moving in with the boys. 4:50am Deal or No Deal 5:45am Countdown

1:20am True Horror 2:15am Super Casino Live interactive gaming featuring roulette, blackjack and autowheel. 4:55am House Doctor Home improvement series. 5:20am HouseBusters 5:45am The Great Artists

Satellite channels SKY1 5:10am Stargate SG-1 6:05am Stargate SG-1 7:00am Airline USA 7:30am Airline USA 8:00am Spy 8:30am Spy 9:00am Dog the Bounty Hunter 10:00am Hawaii Five-0 11:00am Hawaii Five-0 12:00pm Lie to Me 1:00pm Lie to Me 2:00pm Hawaii Five-0 3:00pm Hawaii Five-0 4:00pm Stargate SG-1 5:00pm Stargate SG-1 6:00pm Futurama 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Modern Family 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm The Glee Project 10:00pm Little Crackers 10:30pm Little Crackers 11:00pm Fringe 12:00am Last Resort 1:00am Brit Cops - Zero Tolerance 2:00am Brit Cops - Zero Tolerance 3:00am Road

Wars 3:55am Road Wars 4:45am Crash Test Dummies 5:10am Stargate SG-1

SKY MOVIES COMEDY 5:50am Ramona and Beezus 7:35am It's Kind of a Funny Story 9:20am Cyrus 10:55am Little Nicky 12:30pm Dunston Checks In 2:00pm Friends with Benefits 3:50pm Without a Paddle 5:30pm Little Nicky 7:10pm 50 First Dates 9:00pm Friends with Benefits 10:50pm Arthur 12:40am Without a Paddle 2:20am Cyrus 3:55am It's Kind of a Funny Story 5:40am Dunston Checks In

SKY MOVIES DRAMA 5:20am A Valentine's Date 7:00am

Our Family Wedding 8:50am The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie 10:50am Going the Distance 12:40pm The Conspirator 2:45pm Anonymous 5:00pm Shakespeare in Love 7:10pm A Little Bit of Heaven 9:00pm Anonymous 11:15pm Shakespeare in Love 1:25am Just Married 3:05am Boys Don't Cry

SKY MOVIES ACTION 5:50am Volcano: Fire on the Mountain 7:30am Spy Kids 9:05am Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams 10:55am Collateral Damage 12:55pm Killer Elite 2:55pm Transformers: Dark of the Moon 5:30pm Kingdom of Heaven 8:00pm Collateral Damage 10:00pm Transformers: Dark of the Moon

12:35am Killer Elite 2:35am Kingdom of Heaven 5:00am Skyline

TCM 6:00am The King and I 8:25am The High Chaparral 9:30am The High Chaparral 10:30am The Redhead and The Cowboy 12:05pm Day of the Evil Gun 1:50pm The High Chaparral 2:55pm The High Chaparral 4:00pm River of No Return 5:40pm Young Billy Young 7:20pm Rocky Mountain 8:55pm West of the Divide 10:00pm Dirty Harry 11:55pm Hell on Wheels 12:50am Hell on Wheels 1:45am The Yakuza 3:35am Dirty Harry 5:15am The High Chaparral

13 - 19 December 2012

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www.euroweeklynews.com

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43

Costa Blanca South

Winter’s icy grip keeps us shivering under the blanket

FTEN the hardest thing about living in Spain (aside from the brainnumbing Kafkaesque bureaucracy) is the cold, damp winters.

In the UK one expects to be cold for at least 90 per cent of the year and wet for the other 10. But when in sunny Spain, the land of Don Quixote, of windmills that shimmer in the heat, dust clouds swirling in the glare of a sun-baked bullring, the cold slaps you in the face like an irate housewife annoyed at the constant pile of dirty socks escaping from the laundry basket.

The cold here is an affront, an unwelcome aged aunt who insists on sorting through your CDs and ironing your underwear, or a party guest too dense to realise that when the host ambles down the stairs in pyjamas it really is time to leave.

The cold in Spain is felt in the very depths of your bones; it

Suzanne Manners Suzanne has a degree in Fine Art from Goldsmiths and an MA in Writing from Lancaster University. She is currently teaching in Alicante and writing a book for teenagers (which doesn’t have a vampire as its central character). To comment on any of the issues raised in Suzanne Manners’s column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/columnists/suzanne-manners.

AFFRONT: The cold in Spain pokes its finger in your tea as it grins frostily in your face. seeps into your lungs and nestles happily, emitting occasional icy shrieks of malevolent delight.

It settles in every corner of your poorly-constructed home and crawls up the walls leaving black mould prints in its path. It throws a blanket of damp on the surface of clothes, bedding and shoes. The cold sits beside you and pokes its finger in your tea, squeezes moisture through its

teeth as it grins frostily in your face.

Try to banish it with radiator or fan heater, or, Heaven forbid, central heating and it will find its way into your bank account and suck it dry.

In Spain there is no cure for cold; one must endure and huddle around useless oil-filled radiators counting the euros as the meter spins uncontrollably.

Hard-won wages are flung into the coffers of an electricity giant insatiable in its hunger and ruthless in its ability to siphon funds from shivering families.

In Spain cold is king and we mortals can but lay beneath flimsy blankets like Napoleon’s army on the outskirts of St Petersburg and wait for spring.

Fingerless gloved hands clutch steaming bowls of fishhead soup, thin and insubstantial, doing little to abate the growling emptiness of stomachs concave and...

Too much? A little too Ivan Denisovich, perhaps?

I admit to a tendency for exaggeration and a literary turn of phrase when the mood strikes, but in truth I am cold.

Electricity here is so expensive that I am afraid to keep my house warm.

Visions of Dickensian London and pre-revolutionary Russia frequently fill my imaginings and I would feel outraged if I could feel anything at all under all these layers of clothing.

At least I have a job. For many here in Spain the winter is an awful time in no small part due to the utility companies who have the power to take money from one’s bank account before even sending a bill.

Still, even though cold, the sun shines, the sea is glorious and the mountains stunning. I wouldn’t swap my life here for any amount of centrally-heated domesticity; well, maybe a little storage heater or two.

“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?”

(John Steinbeck) Fish soup, anyone?

44 EWN

13 - 19 December 2012

www.euroweeklynews.com

Costa Blanca

A good time the traditional Spanish way S

PAIN is bursting with Christmas spirit. There are still assortment of seafood, cheese and ham as a starter, meat 12 days left to the big day, but it all started earlier this for a main dish, lots of sweets and a bottle or two of Champagne - but also to visit every relative in town. month.

Do not be surprised if a group of children knock on the The signs are there. By now towns have already lit up their festive decorations. TV viewers have been bombarded door and start singing carols, armed with tambourines and some sort of drum with a stick called a with classic Christmas ads for toys, perfume, ‘zambomba’. On Christmas Eve it is traditional sweets, clothes, and everything else. for children to go from home to home asking People are chatting in the streets and for a small prize, ‘el aguinaldo’. They are offices about the lottery and the usual joker usually given some spare change, sweets or will say ‘I’m going to buy you all an Iberian biscuits. But tell them to sing a couple of ham if I win El Gordo this year!’

A weekly focus aimed songs - ‘villancicos’ - if they want to earn it!

El Gordo (The Fat One) is the nickname for at keeping expatriate readers On Christmas Day people usually spend the the main prize in the Christmas lottery, drawn informed on various aspects of day eating with family and friends. It is a every December 22.

Life in Spain national holiday, so check the town’s Yes, this is all part of Christmas in Spain. programme of events because there will But a real Christmas means family. So it all

By Raul Candela really begins with the Christmas Eve dinner, probably be something going on in the which Spaniards call ‘Nochebuena’. It is a streets. night to share with the family, not only to eat After New Year’s Eve’s booze-filled party the specialties mum or grandma cooks - usually an and New Year’s hangover day, comes the moment all Spanish children dream of.

Three Kings Day, on January 6, is the when they get their presents. The night before, parades are held in towns and cities. The Three Kings are there to grant the children’s wishes.

In my home town of Ibi (Alicante) - which is known as ‘Toy Town’ for its traditional toy industry - the servants of King Balthasar even use ladders to Foreign padron statistics in get through the windows and Mijas since August 2012: leave boxes of toys in every 3,074 residents newly child’s home. registered Isn’t it magical?

1,925 confirmations by those

Life in Spain

CHILD’S TIME: The Three Kings monument in Ibi, Alicante, is the only one of its kind in Europe.

Town hall padron drive helps fill official coffers

Q AND A

MUNICIPALITIES with a large foreign community are beginning to reap the rewards for their efforts to promote the padron (municipal register).

One of the best examples is the Andalucian town of Mijas (Malaga). The town hall had reported that more than 14,000 foreign inhabitants were going to be removed from the residents list as they had not renewed their registration every five years as required.

So the council launched a “The Euro ‘Don’t lose your rights’ Weekly News has always campaign in August, been really helpful for foreign mailing more than 3,000 residents in our town, especially people the following the British, but also the Germans. alert: ‘Those who are not They usually come here with the on the padron are not newspaper in their hands. They say: considered inhabitants ‘I read this in the EWN and thought it important of Mijas and as such, will information’.”Luisa Machen, not be able to receive any Mijas Foreign Residents of the benefits offered, Department social help, etc. This will also harm the town hall, as central government will give less campaign, in money, fewer policemen, less 2013 Mijas will get €4.7 million public transport and fewer more than last year in state doctors to the town.’ grants for a total of €19.2 Thanks to the success of the million, the council said.

already registered 730 removed from the register (they do not live there any more) 1,744 proposed to be removed Total population: 79,262 (2011); 82,124 (2012) = +3.6 per cent Total foreign population: 32,743 (2011; 43 per cent British); 35,817 (2012) = +9.3 per cent Registered population in the last 10 years: + 57.3 per cent HERE TO HELP: Foreign Residents Departments provide all the necessary information about the padron.

“I think we can call it a success,” Marta Rey from the Mijas Foreign Residents Department told Euro Weekly News.

We are not residents in Spain but have a holiday home in the community and visit about four or five times each year. We have noticed the council is requesting people to register with the local town hall. Does this apply to

“We are satisfied with the results,” Marta said.

A final push is needed for towns all over Spain. Residents should keep in mind that their town hall will get €150 for every registered person. Everybody counts!

Do not miss them: Christmas events in EWN areas.

- Costa del Sol: ‘Verdiales’ folk festival, December 28 (noon). La Concepcion Park, Malaga.

- Axarquia: Live Nativity scene, December 29 (6pm) and December 30 (noon), Almayate.

- Almeria: Eating the traditional Christmas almond sweet pie in Huercal-Overa.

- Costa Blanca North: ‘Els Enfarinats’, December 28, 10am, Ibi. - Costa Blanca South: Choir Concert, December 22, 9.30pm. Basilica de Santa Maria, Elche.

- Mallorca: ‘El Canto de la Sibila’, December 24, 11pm.

Santuario de Lluc, Palma.

non-residents? The padron does not imply you are a resident. It is a way the town hall knows how many people live in the area. So, yes, it is recommended even for nonresidents to register as it offers advantages to the community.

Send your questions to: raul@euroweeklynews.com

HEALTH & BEAUTY

46 EWN www.euroweeklynews.com

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13 - 19 December 2012 Costa Blanca South

Binge-drinking linked to mutant gene L

AGER LOUTS may not be totally to blame for their bad behaviour. Scientists have discovered a bingedrinking gene that makes people want to drink more.

They found that the mutant version of the RASGRF2 gene makes the brain more sensitive to habit-forming addictions, including alcohol. In a

study of both mice and young teenage boys it was closely linked to alcohol-seeking behaviour. The research confirmed that those young men with the RASGRF2 variant consumed alcohol the most often.

Professor Gunter Schumann, from the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College in London, said: “People seek out situations which fulfil their sense of reward and make them happy, so if your brain is wired to find alcohol rewarding, you will seek it out.”

Around six in 10 young people aged 11 to 15 in the UK consume alcohol and the rates of teenage binge-drinking have soared in recent years.

ENJOYING A DRINK: Might be linked to a gene.

13 - 19 December 2012

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47

Costa Blanca South

Sleep your worries away GOING to bed just an hour earlier each night can help lower blood pressure.

Researchers found people who were showing early signs of high blood pressure were able to reduce it to healthy levels in just six weeks if they had an extra hour in bed.

Lack of sleep and a stressful lifestyle have long been associated with an increased risk of the condition, but this latest study by Harvard Medical School in Boston (USA) is one of the first to prove that blood pressure can be brought under control by simply increasing sleep.

BENEFITS: More sleep can lower blood pressure.

Fight the flab WANT to fight the pounds off throughout Christmas?

Drink cold water. 500ml of H2O (a little more than a pint) may spike metabolism by 30 per cent for as long as an hour. Water triggers the sympathetic nervous system, which in turn stimulates your metabolism.

On top of that, cold water may force your body to use

energy to warm it. Also eat a protein-packed breakfast.

Digesting protein takes up to seven times more energy than digesting carbohydrates or fat. Try eating one of two hardboiled eggs each day. And skipping breakfast is the worst thing to do, so start your day off right.

At some point during your day, go for a brisk 15minute walk. A trip around the block can triple your metabolic rate, and gives you a welcome break from the chaos of the festive period.

This boost continues after you stop moving because the body consumes more oxygen, a crucial player in metabolism, when it's recovering from exertion.

Fears over fertility as sperm counts are on sharp decline A MAJOR French study has revealed that male sperm counts have fallen sharply since the start of the 1990s.

Whilst the decline is being linked to diet, lifestyle and even tight underwear, a British expert said action was needed to investigate the causes.

Professor Richard Sharpe, of the University of Edinburgh, said: “In the UK this issue has never been viewed as any sort of health priority. Doing nothing will ensure that couple fertility and average family size will decline below its present low level and place ever greater strains on society.�

The researchers used data from 126 fertility treatment centres. They found that from 1989 to 2005, there was a 32.2 per cent decrease in concentration of sperm, a rate of nearly 2 per cent a year.

CONCERN: Fertility issues.

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A guide to surviving Christmas T

WELVE days is how long Christmas lasts, one popular carol would lead us to believe.

But I bet by now you have already written a bundle of cards, faced long queues at the Correos to send off gifts, and if you went to every Christmas market on offer it would be a full-time job. Not to mention fretting about family gatherings or the lack of them.

The season brings out not our true selves, but a slightly more frazzled and neurotic version. Sadly, we’re not all able to whisk up a feast in the kitchen regardless of Nigella’s reassurances that we are Domestic Goddesses.

Fear not, though, as I am here to help you with my top tips for surviving Christmas in one piece.

1. Still haven’t written those cards? Time to play the eco-card. In 2012 you resolved to save trees and reduce your carbon foot-

print. An email or Facebook greeting to this effect will do nicely.

2. Puzzled by presents?

Make a donation to your favourite charity instead. If this would go down like a lead balloon with your nearest and dearest, at least claim you are now fully ‘Spanified’ and ‘do’ presents on Three Kings Day, giving you more time and a chance to buy at a discount.

3. Baffled by baking?

There is no shame in resorting to store-bought offerings. Personalise by roughing them up a bit, adding a touch of icing sugar and cake decorations.

Wrap them up in pretty packaging, add a bow and a tag and you also have a perfectly acceptable present. The same can be applied to re-packaged jams and even wine. Just add your own label to impress.

4. Hosting Christmas?

Divide and conquer. Ask guests to bring a

contribution starter or dessert, or outsource to the friendly supermarket again. Even without Marks and Sparks the local ones here have a small offering of ready-made dishes that can be served up with some added herbs and garnish to make it your own. And if you really can’t bear making the main dish, a couple of rotisserie chicken takeaways would be fine if you claim they are special Bonsai turkeys, the latest trend, didn’t they know?

5.

Family feuds threatening the harmony of Christmas Day? One friend recommends this cardinal rule: anaesthetise the day with one drink (standard glass of wine or cava, not quadruple G&T) per hour throughout the gathering.

Expat Strife Swedish-born Ulrica is a freelance journalist living in Mallorca with her family. Her debut novel $Expat Wives is available on Amazon and iBooks.

To comment on any of the issues raised in Ulrica’s column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/columnists/ ulrica-marshall

ULRICA MARSHALL ulrica @euroweeklynews.com

Any more and you may be sloshed and any less the effect will wear off.

6.

Not formally invited? Or too far to travel? Join celebrations at your local restaurant.

Or why not hop on a cruise.

If all else fails, just throw yourself into the mayhem with the fervour of a celebrity on a Bushtucker trial.

Scream in excitement at the socks from Aunt Ethel, cry and laugh your way through It’s a Wonderful Life. As with everything in life, it is all about your frame of mind. You just have to believe…

SURVIVAL: Kit to get through Christmas Day.

13 - 19 December 2012

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White-knuckle thrills

F white-knuckle rides are to your taste, you will find your thrills in Bilbao from December 14-23.

The Fourth Mendi Film Festival is the ultimate accolade to extreme sports. As you grip the edge of your seats, or your nails dig into your partner’s sweating hand, you can watch the most hairBy Mike Walsh raising examples of www.michaelwalsh.es cinematic To comment on any of the issues raised in Mike’s column, go to mountaineering www.euroweeklynews.com and rock/columnists/mike-walsh climbing; in fact, 25 mindblowing, death-defying experiences THRILLS AND SPILLS: Bilbao film festival only for those with strong stomachs. submitted by 12 nations.

For those with strong stomachs up. For many that can only be down-at-heel survive. A modest there will also be sky-diving, tightback to the UK, but could we lunch in an unpretentious pub rope walking across buildings and financially survive if we did so? restaurant was £32.50. A pint gorges. There will be slack-lining After a few days in Bristol I and a half was £6.30. A meal for similar to tight-rope walking but the discount the UK, or wish I could, three at a swanky restaurant was line is slack. I will stick to café DURING times of uncertainty it is as there is little available at a £160. Typically, table wine was at society alfresco. In Spain, not the not surprising that many think of discount. Of course you can shop twenty-Sovs a bottle. Spain does UK. Option B in case things go belly- round and discover how the have its saving graces.

Images of Spain

Plan B is too expensive

Germany not option GERMANY needs about 100,000 engineers over the coming decade but Deutschland will not be Option B for Spaniards. Only 2 per cent speak German, not good when set against the European average of 11 per cent.

A further snag is that many German multi-nationals or health based occupations require job applicants to speak English, which further narrows the options. There is another imbalance: it is estimated one million Germans live in Spain; only 46,000 Spaniards work in Germany. There are 1,000 German companies in Spain employing 300,000 staff.

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For solutions: http://www.euroweeklynews.com/puzzle-answers.html

Time Out

Sometimes, you find it hard to do things just for the pure enjoyment of it. Realise that not everything has to have a purpose or a profit. Look round this week and seek out something that will please your senses and bring a smile to your lips.

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20)

IF ITʼS YOUR BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK: This will be a super month for romance in all its guises. Physical relationships can be important to you and this month is all about getting a balance.

action on the Eastern Front, presumed dead, the war ended, he and his mother befriend a British soldier.

This Welshman who worked in the British Army kitchens was able to ‘supply’ the necessary food to keep the family

Y our S tars

Contact with a less than ideal situation makes you realise just how lucky you are. It has been clear that the weeks are changeable and your situation at the moment far from settled. Pity those whose day-to-day life is completely predictable.

for older members of the family or vice versa.

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19)

PISCES (February 20 - March 20)

This being a family oriented month, much of it may be spent getting together with relatives and going over old times. Perhaps you are compiling a photo album

books@euroweeklynews.com

Written by Costa Blanca resident Dieter Rudolph, this is a refreshing and new perspective on war-torn Germany as experienced and told autobiographically by a young German boy from Hamburg.

Relive his experiences of life during the Hamburg Firestorm destruction in 1943.

With his father missing in

Alejandro Sanz, born December 18, 1968. He is a Spanish singer and musician. He has won a total of 15 Latin Grammy Awards. Known by his flamencoinfluenced pop ballads, he has released duet singles with Shakira, Alicia Keys and Destinyʼs Child.

44

this week is that you are of considerable value to others. The mere thought of you not being around sends ripples through your social circle.

An exciting invitation may set tongues wagging and make a loved one jealous. You, meanwhile, are quite bemused by the whole thing. What comes out of

ARIES (March 21 - April 20)

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) An urge to get moving must mean that the new year is round the corner.

Certainly, you are questioning where you want to be in the months ahead. A house move or work placement may be on your mind.

SU DOKU

CANCER (June 22 - July 23)

HOW TO PLAY Fill the grid so that every row, every column and every 3X3 box contains the digits 1-9. There’s no maths involved. You solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic.

Be aware that not everyone is willing to work as hard as you. When approached by someone wanting you to trust them, be sure of their motives. Do what you feel is right but remain firmly in control, especially financially. It may not be the time to make a particular move, although others think that it is.

There's no problem with discussing things and talking them through..

LEO (July 24 - August 23) Social demands are made, but try to shuffle them to the weekend. Be diplomatic or someone close could become irritated. Keep an eye on the small print because something fundamental may have changed in a long-standing arrangement.

Suddenly, at the weekend, you are thrust into the limelight.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

What are/were the real first names of the following famous people?

1. Comedian Bob Hope 2. Cricketer Freddie Flintoff 3. Comedy actor Buster Keaton 4. Jazz pianist/band leader Count Basie 5. Former Beatle Paul McCartney 6. Rock singer Ozzie Osbourne 7. Golfer Tiger Woods 8. Composer/pianist/big-band leader Duke Ellington 9. Actress Jodie Foster 10. Singer Bing Crosby

see you wishing that you had been less visible.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) An interest in technology is not something new to you. What is great, though, is that the penny has suddenly dropped. This week sees you understanding more and wanting to know more.

Being asked to take on a new and demanding task this week may

REAL FIRST NAMES

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Be aware that leopards do not change their spots, they merely hide them. Those who demand your trust need a cool checking out and don't be afraid to say 'no' as and when necessary.

Nonagram

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21)

BOOKS

from going hungry, often via difficult and extraordinary means to ensure his own position was not damaged.

Dieter tells all of this in a heartwrenching tale covering the destruction of Hamburg to peace-time on the Welsh coast.

TARGET: Average: 9 Good: 12

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

fail, fain, fiat, filo, flan, flat, flit, foal, foil, font, info, lift, loaf, loft, naif, aloft, faint, final, flint, float, folia, finial, fontal, infant, nonfat, tinfoil, INFLATION

What do you call a man who claps at Christmas?

Santapplause!

What is Santa’s favourite pizza?

One that’s deep pan, crisp and even!

LOTTERY

What did the snowman order at Burger King?

Ice-burgers with chilli sauce!

UK NATIONAL UK LOTTERY THUNDERBALL

IRISH LOTTO

EURO MILLIONS

Saturday December 8

Saturday December 8

Friday December 7

33

29

Saturday December 8

10

11

8

10 16

13

35

36

19

45

48

34

20 29

BONUS BALL

THUNDERBALL

27

2

34

18

42

42

LA PRIMITIVA Saturday December 8

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA Sunday December 9

7

8

10

17

21

37

35 31

36

BONUS BALL

7

33

LUCKY STARS

2

41

SHIP

5

37

REINTEGRO

39

9

49 REINTEGRO

0

Career and home are in disharmony but a bit of compromise soon sorts things out. You don't like playing the 'bad guy', but honesty is also important to you. Speaking your mind can be liberating although, initially, you may see it as a nuisance and embarrassing.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22)

Someone with a larger-than-life imagination makes you smile but that was not their intention. Try to be diplomatic and steer them in a different direction. Some feelings of loneliness will not be assuaged by working more. Perhaps it is time to consider taking on a pet or giving a current pet more attention.

How many English words of four letters or more can you make from the nine letters in our Nonagram puzzle? Each letter may be used only once (unless the letter appears twice). Each word MUST CONTAIN THE CENTRE LETTER (in this case T) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed.

Word ladder

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23)

Just joking

Very good: 17 Excellent: 23

AWAY

Move from the start word (SHIP) to the end word (AWAY) in the same number of steps as there are rungs on the Word Ladder.

You must only change one letter at a time.

SHIP SHOP SWOP SWAP SWAY AWAY

Kay (Meryl Streep) and Arnold (Tommy Lee Jones) are a devoted couple, but decades of marriage have left Kay wanting to spice things up and reconnect with her husband. When she hears of a renowned couples specialist (Steve Carell) in the small town of Great Hope Springs, she attempts to persuade her sceptical husband, a steadfast man of routine, to get on a plane for a week of marriage therapy.

1h39 Director: David Frankel Starring: Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones, Steve Carell, Ben Rappaport

10-star quiz

SHIP SNIP SNAP SWAP SWAY AWAY

A tale from the heart

Hope Springs

1. LESLIE Townes Hope, 2. ANDREW Flintoff, 3. JOSEPH Frank Keaton, 4. WILLIAM Basie, 5. JAMES Paul McCartney, 6. JOHN Michael Osbourne, 7. ELDRICK Tont Woods, 8. EDWARD Kennedy Ellington, 9. ALICIA Christian Foster, 10. HARRY Lillis Crosby

NEW ON DVD

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For more information about the sponsor go to www.lineadirecta.com

Sponsored by

Crosswords CRYPTIC Across 1 Beggar the French step on (7) 5 Trick us after the swamp (5) 8 Name first class country (5) 9 Camera I developed in the States (7) 10 Greek character directed 70s pop group (3) 11 Ireland rejected by English? Itʼs weird (5) 12 Work-shy, in fact an unbridled success (4) 13 A vetʼs engineered a match (5) 15 Tango danced in Friendly Islands (5) 17 A woman will supply the ammunition (5) 19 Hangs around foals (5) 21 Itʼs bad news to get stitched up (4) 22 Fruit begins another pleasant picnic, letʼs eat (5) 25 Feeding nunʼs secret animal (3) 26 Escape from can? (7) 27 I long, stupidly, for buzzwords (5) 28 Directed about the shipʼs attire (5) 29 Keep us confined in a bad spot (7) Down 1 Its diet is unusual but most neat (7) 2 A king receiving honour gives cautionary signal (5) 3 Little vampire revealed as original (8) 4 Notice in Eveʼs hedges (6)

ENGLISH - SPANISH The clues are mixed, some clues are in Spanish and some are in English.

Across Down 1 Desván (5) 1 Celery (4) 4 Corto (longitud, 2 Robo (de dinero, distancia) (5) objetos) (5) 3 Gallos (9) 7 Hielo (3) 8 Dummy (for baby) (7) 4 Cacerolas (9) 9 To dare (9) 5 Un (3) 13 Company (firm) (7) 6 Train (railway) (4) 15 Todo (3) 10 Pala (para cavar) (5) 11 Cinturón (4) 16 Lágrimas (5) 17 Floor (5) 12 Something (4) 14 Guisante (3)

Co d e B r e a ke r 5 Even a bee has a right to an alcoholic drink (4) 6 Good puzzle for a cooking utensil (7) 7 Musty endless yarn (5) 14 Attacks USAʼs last organisation (8) 16 A fresh way to get into jail? (7)

Down 2 Sternum (10) 3 Free (8) 4 Footwear item (4) 5 Reality (4) 6 Naked (4) 9 Pilfer (5) 10 Colony (10) 12 Salaries (5) 13 Unwinding (8) 18 A long way off (4) 19 Wicked (4) 20 Information (4)

CRYPTIC - Across: 7 Fairer, 8 Atomic, 9 Here, 10 Cream tea, 11 Speeded, 13 Plain, 15 Cabby, 17 Hatchet, 20 Arrogant, 21 Saga, 23 Gemini, 24 Rental. .Down: 1 Base, 2 Breeze, 3 Cricket, 4 Paper, 5 Normal, 6 Live wire, 12 Prairies, 14 Rafters, 16 Biopic, 18 Casino, 19 Habit, 22 Gram.

QUICK - Across: 1 Apes, 4 Saddles, 8 Penguin, 9 Small, 10 Trim, 11 Sturgeon, 13 Flammable, 17 Argument, 19 Over, 21 Tough, 22 Obvious, 23 Rattles, 24 Last.

Down: 2 Pontiff, 3 Shut, 4 Sanctimonious, 5 Describe, 6 Leave, 7 Silent, 8 Pity, 12 Taj Mahal, 14 Envious, 15 Faster, 16 Arms, 18 Gaunt, 20 Evil.

ENGLISH - SPANISH Across: 1 Ancla, 4 Pulga, 7 Translate, 8 East, 10 Feet, 13 Sweetcorn, 15 Susto, 16 Rings.

Down: 1 Addresses, 2 Cat, 3 Amar, 4 Piso, 5 Llave, 6 Aceitunas, 9 Seeds, 11 Otro, 12 Door, 14 Nun.

1.Unscramble the name of a famous English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author: NOT TED’S NEPHEW 2. Unscramble the name of a famous London landmark (two words): BORING OLD DEN

Play on Words ENOTS ENOTS

ROBBERS

Answers: Turn to stone , Honour among thieves

Funagram

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet.

In this week’s puzzle, 25 represents B and 19 represents C, so fill in B every time the figure 25 appears and C every time the figure 19 appears. Now, using your knowledge of the English language, work out which letters should go in the missing squares.

As you discover the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

QUICK Across 1 Get rid of (7) 7 Deadly (5) 8 Hindrance (3-4) 9 Emphasise (6) 11 Take over (5) 13 Charge (4) 14 Tread roughly (7) 15 Drill a hole (4) 16 Even-toed ungulate (5) 17 Departs (6) 21 Cupboard (7) 22 Fundamental (5) 23 Mischievous (7)

18 Have a rest, being terribly idle now (3,4) 20 French city sees red (6) 21 Food for Salvation Army boy (5) 23 President and African leaderʼs animal (5) 24 Ruins the planet (4)

Quote

‘

“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.”

Walter ‘Walt’ Disney (1901-1966) co-founder of Walt Disney Productions; American film producer, director, animator and entrepreneur.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Hexagram The purpose of the Hexagram puzzle is to place the 19 sixletter words into the 19 cells. The letters at the edges of interlocking cells MUST BE THE SAME. The letters in the words must be written CLOCKWISE. The word in cell 10 (BECOME) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues.

BARELY

KETTLE

ROARED

BECOME(10)

KILLED

STRIKE

BESTED

MASHED

TASTED

CHEERS

ORDERS

THRILL

CRUISE

PITTED

TREATS

FLOWER

REACTS

HELPED

REFORM

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 1 Design, 2 Noises, 3 Sheets, 4 Scions, 5 Shouts, 6 Abases, 7 Thence, 8 Morose, 9 Finery, 10 Hurled, 11 Dreams, 12 Steeds, 13 Cloaks, 14 Hearts, 15 Insect, 16 Reeked, 17 Snakes, 18 Events, 19 Grains

FUNAGRAM SOLUTION 1. PETE TOWNSHEND 2. LONDON BRIDGE

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FOOD

13 -19 December 2012 Costa Blanca South

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Use your fingers but no elbows ETIQUETTE experts say it is now acceptable to eat with your fingers in a restaurant.

A 10-point guide to modern dining manners has been released which is designed

to help people navigate the potentially messy minefield of ‘finger food.’

Experts say it is now ok to use your hands as long as you do not lick your fingers afterwards.

Top tips include cutting food into manageable pieces before picking it up, using a napkin to wipe messy hands and using a fork to pick up any food that spills on to the plate.

Traditional rules such as sitting up straight, keeping elbows off the table, and waiting for food to cool instead of blowing on it, remain.

MIND YOUR MANNERS: Now acceptable to eat with your fingers.

That is just crackers HOLES in crackers are there for a reason, not just for decoration.

Without these holes the biscuits wouldn’t bake correctly.

They allow steam to escape during cooking. This keeps the crackers flat, instead of rising like a normal biscuit.

They also help to properly crisp the crackers.

The holes’ positioning and number varies depending on the size and shape of the cracker. If the holes are too close together, the cracker will end up being dry and hard, if too far apart bubbles will form.

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Loyalty wedding A COUPLE have saved up enough super-market loyalty points to feed the guests at their wedding reception.

Maggie and Mike Davies from Kidder-minster (UK) met whilst working at Sainsbury’s and spent 18 months collecting 40,000 loyalty points which paid for all the food when they got married.

TOMATOES: It is now thought that they are helpful in warding off depression.

Your food of the week TOMATOES – Eating tomatoes has long been linked to helping to protect against prostate cancer and heart attacks, but now it is thought they could ward off depression.

Researchers analysed the mental health records and eating habits of

1,000 men and women aged 70 or over. They found that those eating tomatoes two to six times a week were 46 per cent less likely to suffer from depression than those eating them less than once a week.

Tomatoes are a good source of

lycopene, an antioxidant that gives them their deep red colour. It is believed that it could be the lycopene that helps promote psychological wellbeing well as well as physical health by reducing stress or damage to healthy brain cells.

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Wine could ‘prevent cancer’ DRINKING a large glass of red wine every day could help prevent bowel cancer.

Researchers say that Resveratrol, found in the skins of red grapes and which gives the wine its colour, has long been known to have cancerfighting properties, but scientists did not know how much was needed to

be effective.

Now they say less appears to be more.

Tests on mice have shown that a dose equivalent to five milligrams in humans halved the growth of bowel tumours.

This amount was far more effective than a one gram dose. Within two years the research team

RED WINE: Less could be more.

hopes to conduct a human trial on patients at high risk of bowel cancer to test its benefits.

Meanwhile Cancer Research UK has warned that people should not

drink wine in an attempt to reap any benefits that Resveratrol can offer, saying that alcohol has been estimated to cause around 12,500 cases of cancer a year in the UK.

HOMES & GARDENS

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13 - 19 December 2012 Costa Blanca South

&

OMES Gardens

Sponsored by

For more information about the sponsor go to www.lineadirecta.com

Don’t buy new plants, propagate instead I

N January and February there will be plenty of opportunity to take cuttings for

propagating new plants to extend your plantings and fill in gaps.

Unfortunately, most plant pots kept from purchased plants and those available for sale in garden centres are shallow and do not allow deep roots to be developed.

This is a great pity as probably a new plant with 20-centimetre-deep roots will be twice as easy to establish in the garden than one with only 12centimetre-long roots.

The simple solution is to retain all 1.5 litre and 5 and 7 litre water and soft drink plastic bottles and use them as deep plant pots.

If the top is cut to leave a CUTTINGS: Make for strong, inexpensive plants for your garden.

Gardening Corner

By Clodagh and Dick Handscombe

Spain’s best known gardening authors who have lived and gardened in Spain for 25 years. www.gardeninginspain.com

hinge, rather than being totally cut off, one can use this as a cloche over your cutting which will protect it during the winter.

Plant individual cuttings in the 1.5 litre bottles and up to six in the larger bottles. If possible over winter put the planted-up cuttings in a greenhouse or cold frame.

One can cut off the base of plastic bottles and invert them over plant cuttings in a same diameter bottle. Fix with tape and you have a mini greenhouse with a constant moisture level.

These can be kept at the back of a frostless greenhouse or on a shelf in a conservatory, or in a cold frame protected with fleece.

Wine bottles full of water are also useful for raising cuttings from oleanders and bignonias.

13 - 19 December 2012

HOMES & GARDENS

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GREEN FINGERS: Plant cuttings from your own garden and that of your friends.

If you have never raised plants from cuttings do read Chapter 6.12 in the book ‘Your Garden in Spain – From planning to planting and maintenance.’ This describes, as does also Chapter 4.9 of the book ‘Apartment Gardening Mediterranean Style,’ how to propagate various types of plants from stem, side, root, air, and leaf cuttings. Once you are hooked, propagating becomes an interesting and absorbing hobby for all ages from schoolchildren to those a bit older!

Once you have proved that you have green fingers take every opportunity of planting up cuttings from your own garden and those of friends.

The result will be inexpensive, strong plants. When we stroll round our garden the majority of plants and mature trees started off as cuttings or seeds, and many of the seeds were collected from our own gardens or our travels around Spain.

If you produce too many, the excess can be passed on to friends and neighbours still developing new gardens or sold

at gardening club meetings.

To improve your success, obtain a pot of hormone powder to dip the end of cuttings in before planting.

Unfortunately, cuttings can be prone to rotting, especially during winter months, so spray the surface of the compost with a mild fungicide.

By the way, a great advantage of plastic bottles is that you can write the name of the plant being propagated on the outside of the bottle with a waterproof felt pen.

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Happy propagating next year!

The aforementioned books plus Clodagh and Dick’s other books Growing Healthy Vegetables in Spain, Growing Healthy Fruit in Spain and Living Well From Our Mediterranean Garden make excellent Christmas presents.

They can be found in high street and internet bookshops and from www.gardenspain. com.

©Clodagh and Dick Handscombe December 2012.

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Global traveller Terence Kennedy is touring America with his Dutch wife, Elise. The couple lived in Spain in the early 80s, but now reside in a South-African game reserve. Here is the second and final feature on their present trip

Surprise mouse and plenty of breakfast-time we stumbled on a horse camp where we slept among ‘real’ cowboys and whinnying horses as red-tailed deer frolicked on the plain opposite. A truly magical experience.

Thence to the infamous Wall Drug Store in Wyoming for one of its famous five-cent coffees, passing it through endlessly empty horizons interrupted by tiny, desolate settlements including our favourite Lost Springs: Population Four.

Cheyenne saw us in the noisiest truck stop on our trip, SPECTACULAR: but they provided the best cheap and safe overnighters when compared to the good money asked for a bare RV Park or a crummy motel.

But in Cheyenne our sleep was punctuated by the level-crossing wailing of endless trains, with 105 wagons our counted record, hauled by five locomotives.

By Rocky Mountains National Park I was in trouble. High as a

Ffooter/ Shutterstock

H

EADING up the Blue Ridge Parkway towards Chicago we were sermonised almost to distraction by Bible-belt radio. Virtually every second station is pumping out godspeak.

In Kentucky we declined an invitation to visit Colonel Sanders’ birthplace, given that we decline to visit his emporia as a matter of course everywhere else.

We did pass the Jack Daniels Distillery in Tennessee, where you can look but not drink, for by a supreme dash of irony it’s in a ‘dry’ county.

That’s about as wacky as me now a pensioner - buying wine in Walmart in Fort Stockton, West Texas, and the cash register reminding the cashier to check that the customer was over 40!

Only in America.

In Merrivale Indiana we hit what has to be the worst motel ever encountered, so dingy that even the Gideon Bible was grimy.

It was a pleasure to be back camping on the road after that, and an even greater pleasure to enjoy Chicago as notoriously noncity folks.

After a truly splendid day out in and around Chicago, including along its waterways which are flanked by equally amazing architecture, we headed to the 96th top floor of the Sears Tower for a drink and then to a cosy outdoor Italian restaurant.

Then back on the road again towards South Dakota with some great rock stations on the radio.

Big country, too: according to our satnav, 605 miles to the next turn on the most ridiculously long and straight road we recall for many a trundle.

Along the Iron Mountain road

59

PIT STOP: Wall Drug Store in Wyoming for a five-cent coffee.

Chicago skyline. kite literally, suffering massive altitude sickness at 3,700 metres.

America’s highest paved road, and I had to sit frustrated and wheezing while Elise clambered lonely as a cloud among the sparse vegetation high above the treeline.

Thence to the oddly-named Parachute and along a marvel of modern engineering, the

Glenwood Gap Freeway, ending up at the Colorado National Monument and its stark canyoned landscape, and its neighbouring Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.

Bit of a setback there with our fancy and super-comfortable Dodge Grand Caravan vehicle in all its electronic glory. That night in a pine forest we heard scuttling and shuffling over the car bodywork the whole night.

The next morning we lifted the hood and discovered a treasure trove of stored pine nuts and nest-building vegetation. Is that where the car’s problems first began? Ultimately the loss of cruise control, several misbehaving dashboard sensor lights and even the failure of the automatic door-closing mechanism. All that damage from one tiny mouse?

By the tiny settlement of Vaughn in New Mexico we had stumbled across our first diner, then to the famous Carlsbad Caverns to watch up to two million bats exit the cave mouth at dusk.

Along the roller-coaster, undulating desert road beside the Rio Grande and into the Big Bend National Park, a Martian landscape dotted with packs of javelinas (US equivalent of warthogs, more or less).

And finally we reached the very last day of our road trip and went out on a high, managing to find a perfect place to camp free for the night before ending up in the very Hispanic city of San Angelo in a cosy Super 8 Motel. Ah, the adventures of being on the road.

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Feline compass finds way home LIKE birds, cats have a homing ability that uses its biological clock, the angle of the sun, and the Earth’s magnetic field. A cat taken far from its home can return to it, but if a cat’s owner moves far from its home, the cat can’t find them.

Baby making WHEN dwarf hamsters are pregnant, the sex of the babies can be determined and controlled.

By managing the temperature in the room where the mother is kept, you can manipulate whether she will have more boys or girls. If kept in warmer temperatures, she will have more boys, but in cooler temperatures, more girls.

Boy or Girl?

Blind spot DUE TO the placement of their eyes, rabbits cannot see what is right in front, and slightly below, their nose. Keep this in mind when reaching into a rabbit’s cage or hutch as it can be very frightening for them.

Costa Blanca South

A healthy cat is a happy cat A CAT has a variety of nutritional needs that differ from those of a dog or other small animals. Cats have a high need for protein compared to dogs.

Animal based protein is a necessary component in a cat’s diet as it supplies essential amino acids, such as taurine. In addition to protein, your cat requires a proper balance of fats, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and water. Many nutritional experts feel that providing a variety of different diets/foods for your cat will help to provide optimal nutrition.

Why do cats like to eat grass? Domestic cats may look for grass or other greens. Some vets believe it’s to supplement their diet in order to clean their systems of furrballs or food they should not have eaten. Cats may even eat plants out of curiosity.

Owners should make sure that any plants that may be accessible to their cats are non-poisonous.

Dietary Supplements Multi vitamin supplements are available for those cat

owners who wish to add to their cat’s diet. With a balanced diet of high quality cat food, these additions may not be necessary. If you feel your cat has special nutritional needs, be sure to research

the benefits and possible harmful side effects of each supplement.

A cat that is given a well balanced diet does not necessarily need the addition of nutritional supplements unless for specific medical needs.

In these cases, the supplements should only be given with the guidance of a vet, and closely monitored. Some owners feel the need to give kittens nutritional supplements.

Ask your vet for advice.

Some owners suggest the addition of supplements to the daily diet of elderly cats. However, it’s best to ask your vet how to best care for older cats.

Mineral oil is often suggested to prevent constipation, but it may do more harm than good.

For your local radio frequency log onto www.talkradioeurope.com.

Ginger FANCY DRESS: Proud of his outfit.

In the Christmas spirit Here is my Boxer Ginger, dressed in his festive jumper and ready for December 25. I’ll have to treat him to a special Christmas lunch for making such an effort.

Ruth Jones, Benahavis Submit fun pet pictures to petoftheweek@euroweeklynews.com, in as high a resolution as possible. Please include name of the pet, your full name, where you live and if relevant a couple of lines to explain the circumstances of the photo. Due to space restrictions not all submissions will be used.

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In dark arts, ignorance is bliss T

HERE is much that governments and their agencies do that we shall never be privy to. It is ‘not in the public interest.’

Such secrecy and taboos obviously include the dark arts of government policy when rearranging the world to their liking.

Governments can do without whistleblowers Mike Walsh pulling back the curtains of deceit.

Secret service agencies vwww.michaelwalsh.es operate under clandInternational Journalism Europe Broadcaster Commentator International Radio estine cloaks. Most of us Awarded ‘Writer of the Year’ Mobile 0034 662 067 490 would shudder if we To comment on any of the issues raised in were to learn what really Mike’s column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/columnists/ goes on in our name. mike-walsh Ignorance is bliss indeed.

As long ago as the 1950s the Soviets were experimenting in thought ADVANCES IN SCIENCE: What discoveries await us in the years ahead? transference. No doubt their American counterparts were doing the same. interesting that a section of it, leading would mean that, on physical death, we We already know that matter cannot be members included, are less sceptical than each abandon our clapped out bodies just destroyed; nor can sound waves, so it is they once were about the possibility of our as we kiss goodbye to an old car. said. With advances in science is it possible souls outliving death.

When the time comes, cuckoo-like we that the voices of Oliver Cromwell or Advances in these sciences are reaching take on a surrogate mortal coil; a younger Beethoven could be heard once again by some intriguing conclusions. version of course. The concept of recapturing sound waves of their voices still The prospect of our having a incarnation bridges just about every reverberating in rooms they used? consciousness that survives mortality is religious faith and culture.

Medical science is playing catch-up. It is finding a receptive scientific audience. This Here is an intriguing thought. Your friend

hands you the latest innovation; it is a state of the art mobile phone. “Go ahead,” you’re invited. “Call your dad. See how he is doing and tell him I send my regards.”

You look at your friend; you are incredulous. He knows as well as you do that your dad passed on back in 1974. Your disbelief is unsurprising but at the same time not a day passes without advances in science and communication that leaves you scratching your head.

You timidly take the device from your friend’s hand and following his instructions wait for your call to be answered. You instinctively know this is some kind of sick joke but you’re going along with it anyway.

The call tone stops and an unmistakable voice answers: “Hello, it’s (your father’s name): who is that?” Most intriguing of all, what are you going to say in response?

Don’t smile indulgently, it could happen and much stranger things do so. Don’t be too quick to mock. Books have been written on those who once scoffed at unworldly predictions, including the phone now ringing on its table.

If we can’t explain to a primitive tribesman how a live video or email is internationally transferred as quickly as conversational table talk, what other discoveries await us?

PROPERTY

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C

ORDOBA is one of the great cities of Spain. Along with Granada and Sevilla it is one of the classical cities of Andalucía which are famous for their spectacular architecture.

The finest jewel in an exceedingly fine crown is

the Mezquita-Catedral, or Great Mosque, which is considered one of the masterpieces of Islamic art.

It was built between the eighth and 10th centAlmeria is an English writer of travel uries as a Robert books. He has lived in Roquetas de Mar (Almeria) with wife Diane since traditional 2003.

Arab http://bob.robertbovington.net/spain/home mosque, albeit on a much grander scale than the many other places of worship erected in Córdoba during that period.

In fact, it is the largest mosque in the western world.

Later, the Christians JEWEL: The Mezquita-Catedral is considered one of the masterpieces of Islamic art. erected a Gothic cathedral right in the heart of the magnificent Muslim place of worship.

The sheer grandeur of the Mezquita reflected Córdoba’s importance during the eighth to 11th centuries, when it was one of the world’s largest of Córdoba, an empire Today, Córdoba is a to its historic splendour. and most cultured cities that incorporated most of beautiful city and the old Close to the Mezquita, as well as being the the Iberian Peninsula and quarter contains many the Judería, or Jewish capital of the Caliphate North Africa. impressive monuments Quarter, consists of

Robert Bovington

Spectacular architecture on display in Cordoba narrow alley-ways, brilliantly white-washed and splendidly decorated with flowerpots.

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13 -19 December 2012

• Mezquita-Catedral, Calle Torrijos 10 • Mon-Sat 8.30am-6pm • Sundays and public holidays 8.30am-10am & 2pm-6pm • Price: Adults: €8 Children €4 • Info: 957 470 512 • Email: informacion@catedraldecordoba.es www.catedraldecordoba.es

IMPRESSIVE: Inside the Great Mosque.

GETTING

mountainous part of the Sierra Morena whilst the south is a fertile plain known as La Campiña. The Guadalquivir River divides these two areas.

The province’s chief industry is

THERE:

Other important buildings include the Episcopal Palace, various churches and museums; the Museo de Bellas Artes is the main art museum in the city.

The Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos is a fortified palace which was built by Alfonso XI in

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The province of CÓRDOBA is one of the eight provinces of Andalucía and its capital is, of course, the city of the same name.

The north of the province is a

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mining - lead, zinc, and coal are mined in the mountainous north. Agriculture predominates in the south where cereals, olives and grapes are grown and horses and bulls are bred.

• By Car: Malaga – 160km, 2 hours / Almeria 360 km, 4 hours / Alicante 550 km, 6 hours • Bus: www.estacionautobusescordoba.es • Rail: www.renfe.es • Air: www.aena.es

1328.

It was the headquarters of the Spanish Inquisition but today has a more benign role as a tranquil oasis with gardens and fountains.

The old quarter contains historic splendour.

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Gines Campillo with Director Chris Mercer.

GRAND OPENING: Mayor of Mazarron Gines Campillo cutting the ribbon.

Advertising Feature

New offices at Camposol Golf Resort MURCIA estate agent, Mercers, is currently riding the crest of a wave of success with the highlight being the opening of new larger offices at the Camposol Golf Resort.

Mayor of Mazarron, Gines Campillo, cut the ribbon and toasted the thriving local business.

Chris Mercer, Director of Mercers based in Camposol Golf since 1998, says, “Granted, not many agents are moving to bigger premises in Spain these days but we like to buck the trend. We’ve taken over a prime frontline corner position that

ironically used to belong to a Spanish bank and now have five window displays rather than just the one. Already we’re feeling the effects with a notable increase in prospective buyers and sellers – so much so that we’re taking on a new native Spanish team member to handle enquiries” Chris continues, “Prices have of course fallen significantly, back to the same levels as a decade ago, but I do believe they have finally levelled out – in our area at least. For the first time we are seeing

demand for certain property types and, as we all know, demand ultimately leads to rises in values. The market for us has been steadily increasing this year but we saw a big jump in activity in September and October with record sales in the former. There is a misconception that agents are all selling bank repossessions with 100% finance but in fact the reverse is true, 90 per cent of our sales are straightforward resale properties.”

When asked about the predicted effect of Spain’s new ‘Bad Bank’ which will spend

up to €90 billion on foreclosed properties and defaulted loans at 20 per cent to 68 per cent of their face value, Chris was confident that Murcia would be ‘different’.

“For a start only 35 per cent – 40 per cent of the bad bank assets will be finished residential property, with a large proportion of this being in major cities and other areas of high volume construction.

Murcia does not fall into this category. So, if people are waiting for a flood of cheap bargain properties to hit the market in 2013, I think they will be disappointed.”

13 - 19 December 2012

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THE Stagestruck Drama Group has donated more than €1,400 to Alzheimer’s charity AFA Torrevieja.

These generous funds will go towards supporting the ongoing effort of their Day Centre’s as they struggle to cope with the ever increasing demand for care and support of patients with dementia. This follows a three night performance at the Beluga Theatre in San Fulgencio.

Another star TICKETS for Another Star Christmas concert on Saturday are still available. Put together by the Networks Theatre team, this annual show takes place in La Lonja in Orihuela at 8pm. This will raise funds for The Orihuela Occupational Centre.

Costa Blanca South

Life full of tricks for Mykal With sleight of hand tricks and loveable persona, magician Graeme When did you get into magic?

I have loved magic from an early age. I started performing when about 18, after watching Paul Daniels every Saturday on TV. I got a buzz from the magic and from people’s reactions.

What was the first trick you learned?

Where someone chooses a card and I then borrow a pen and push it right through the card.

Which is your favourite trick?

When I get elastic bands to visibly melt through each other in mine and my assistant’s hands, and also through the thumb of an audience member.

What do you love most about magic?

Seeing the reactions

Mykal casts spells over audiences young and old. Gemma Quinn reports.

Vital Statistics 60-SECOND FOCUS

Alzheimer’s charity

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of the people I entertain. I only perform tricks that at the end still make me go ‘YES!’ For me it’s all about entertainment. I never started in magic to be famous, but have met so

• Name: Graeme Mykal • Age: 42 • Originally from: Kent, UK • Lives: Villamartin, Orihuela Costa, Costa Blanca • Day job: Looking for more magic

many different types of people and have been privileged to work in amazing venues and, of course, I now get to live and entertain in sunny Spain.

What trick would you most like to do?

A silent act to music on stage, all dressed up

• Most like to meet: Penn & Teller • Favourite things about Spain: Weather, summer season work • Worst: Winter • Favourite people: My girlfriend, son and my family

and with my girlfriend as my assistant. It will happen so watch this space.

Biggest achievement?

Being in the film The Magicians with David Mitchell and Robert Webb. It was only a small part, but a great experience.

Concert cancelled SUNDAY’s concert by the Cantabile Singers at Sacko’s Bar in El Limonar in Torrevieja has been cancelled.

FAST fayre a success MORE THAN €5,000 was raised at the First Aid Support Team (FAST) Christmas Fayre, with one outstanding donation of €500 by an individual who wishes to remain anonymous.

FAST provide a service to Camposol residents that help bridge the gap between calling 112 for medical emergencies and the arrival of professional help.

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Chosen charity receives large annual fund boost HELP AT HOME (HAH) Mar Menor will hold their next fundraising event on Wednesday December 19;

Show to debut young starlet ANIMAL AID, a Quesada based charity, will benefit from Night Out Promotions’ Christmas variety show, being held on Tuesday.

Five entertainment acts feature on the bill, including comedian Justin Sane and an Elton John tribute. Also Paul Christie will provide a Gene Pitney tribute, and 14-year-old Elise will be belting out old songs and new. The show, hosted by songstress Dee, will take place at Restaurante Los Rosales in Guardamar, and will also include a raffle. More information: 606 192 691.

with wine and ice-breaker quiz, all for €10.75.

This follows the announcement that €6,624 has been donated to the charity from Coachtrips SL. This money was raised through various trips organised by the company and by people purchasing raffle tickets throughout the year.

Lynda Christopher, HAH Clinical lead, visited the office in San Louis to receive the final donation from Coachtrips director David Malcom, and to make the final raffle draw.

The recipient of the Christmas holiday in Benidorm for two people, plus spending money was Mrs Wheeler from Quesada.

For more information on the Christmas event, TALENT: Elise promises to dazzle. . call 968 171 542.

Costa Blanca South

a Chatters Christmas Lunch at Bacchus Restaurant in Los Narejos.

This entails a three-course meal

PROTECTION: Members of NHW.

Love thy neighbour

MEMBERS of Neighbourhood Watch in Spain (NHW) participated in the annual floral fiesta in Torrevieja to spread the word of their services.

This follows the announcement that Jan Price, secretary of the Torrevieja NHW and treasurer of Los Frutales branch is leaving due to relocating back to the UK after 12 years of working with the initiative. NHW operates throughout the whole of southern Spain and divulges security information via www.nhwinspain.com.

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Best of British art at home in Madrid British art through the centuries is being showcased in Madrid.

Peter Fieldman discusses the major exhibition…

T

HIS is how the organisers of a major art exhibition in Madrid portray our artistic heritage. It is based on the view that art from the British Isles is a hidden treasure, which has for some reason been isolated and as such is not universally known or considered, or at least not in Spain.

Following the major retrospective of Wyndham Lewis in 2010, the www.pfieldman.blogspot.com Fundacion Juan March, one of Madrid’s leading cultural London-born journalist and author, Peter spends his time centres, has chosen British between Paris and Madrid. art through the centuries for His novel ‘1066 The Conquest’ available on Amazon or its current exhibition and www.1066TheConquest.com conference season.

Spanning 500 years from the 16th to 21st century, the Treasure Island from Holbein to Hockney exhibition has more than 180 paintings on display as well as sculptures, gravures, books and photos.

(c)peter fieldman

Is British art really condemned to anonymity due to our insular way of life, detached from the European continent?

Peter Fieldman

(c)peter fieldman

HOLBEIN: Portrait of Sir Thomas Wyatt circa 154 (courtesy of Fundacion March).

By naming the exhibition after Robert Louis Stevenson’s great adventure story, the organisers portray an unexplored WHISTLER: Night over Cremorne circa 1872 (courtesy of Fundacion March). island full of hidden art treasures. And even if many would not agree to their assessment of British art we should be grateful to the Fundacion March for having put together this fine exhibition.

While it is true that the great museums of the world are full of works by the renowned Italian, Flemish, French and Spanish artists from their respective (c)peter fieldman golden ages, nobody can ignore the contribution which British art has made. Artists like Turner, Constable, Bacon and GOING UNDERGROUND: Holbein to Hockney. Photo: Peter Fieldman.

Hockney need no introduction and to discover its scope chose to live and work in England. but there are In contrast to the current generation of and transition over the many foreign British artists, known more for the media centuries. artists like coverage surrounding their often Holbein and Van controversial art, the works on display Acclaimed Dyke who made cover a wide range of styles and subjects major It offers a true Treasure demonstrating the vitality which emerged contributions to Island of English without the influence of any particular landscapes, interiors, school. our artistic THOMAS RICHARDSON: Staircase portraits, abstract works The absence of a more rigid approach heritage. circa 1811 (courtesy of Fundacion and sculptures, providing a or style has given British artists the The object of March). unique opportunity to see freedom to interpret their ideas and the exhibition is to in one single space the coupled with the creativity of the foreign bring a greater knowledge and understanding of the work of many acclaimed and lesser-known artists who made England their home, has British art scene to Spanish art aficionados artists as well as the foreign artists who established a remarkable cosmopolitan

(c)peter fieldman

Treasures

mix, which typifies British art.

The exhibition has been divided into seven sections, each corresponding to a different era encompassing works from both well-known and lesser-known artists.

It begins with the Reformation in the 16th century, passes on to the Baroque period under the Stuart dynasty in the 17th century, then Society and Satire followed by Landscapes and Portraits in the 18th century.

Contemporary The 19th century is illustrated by Realism and Reaction during the PreRaphaelite period, while Modernity and Tradition depicts the early 20th century as the impressionist movement led to figurative art and finally Brave New World, which covers the range of contemporary art during the period up to 1980.

Together with the exhibition’s guest curator, Richard Humphreys, the Fundacion has managed to secure works of many of the icons of British art from both public and private collections; from Holbein to Larkin; from Van Dyck to Lely; from Hogarth to Canaletto; from Constable to Turner; from Rossetti to Whistler; from Moore to Sickert; from Freud to Hockney and from Lowry to Riley.

To their credit the organisers have also included works from many artists who are not widely known but who epitomise British art.

Visitors cannot fail to notice the large sign at the entrance depicting the London Transport symbol with the names of Holbein and Hockney across the centre. Is this what they mean by the underground movement?

The website is: www.march.es

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Commercial Accounts Sales Editorial Applications by email with full CV should be s.com sent to: recruitment@euroweekynews.com

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Costa Blanca South

hat’s

on

•ANGLICAN CHAPLAINCY of St Peter and St Paul in Torrevieja. Services in six locations. www.c-of-e-torrevieja.com.

•BAKER FOUNDATION for Spiritual Awareness, Playa Flamenca: Sunday Service 11am; Clairvoyance Tuesdays 7.15pm; Healing Thursdays 10.30am-12pm.

966 760 665.

•CHRISTIAN CHURCH (inter-denominational) English language. Alpha Centre, Los Nietos Viejos (Mar Menor) Sundays 10am: 968 133 724 or www.losnietoschurch.es.

•CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH Pilar de la Horadada: Sunday service 11am; Thursday Bible study and Prayer 5pm. 966 769 300 or communitychurch@gmail.com.

Costa Blanca South’s best guide to local non-profit clubs, charities and societies Email whatson@euroweeklynews.com Fax 952 440 887 Post Euro Weekly News, Calle Moscatel 10, P-62, Poligono Industrial Arroyo de la Miel, 29631 Benalmadena, Malaga.

Churches •HOPE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP: Sundays 11am.

Avenida de Antonio Quesada. Pastor Dave 622 919 604.

•INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY Torrevieja: Sunday service and children’s church 11am; Ladies meeting Thursdays 11am. 966 799 273 / 660 127 276.

•PILAR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH, Calle Canalejas 3, Pilar de la Horadada: Sundays 11am; Thursdays 5pm Bible study and Prayer; weekday home groups.

CommunityChurch@gmail.com or 650 509 606.

•PINOSO VINEYARD CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP, Calle Veintiocho de Marzo, Sunday 11am. www.pinosovcf.com or 667 049 647.

Useful numbers

•ROMAN CATHOLIC MASSES in Orihuela Costa.

Don Joaquin Carlos. Fridays 5.30pm-6.30pm.

•ST NICOLAS ECUMENICAL CHURCH, Calle Sobrija 2248, D20, Urb. Camposol. Sundays 10.30am; first Songs of Praise, second Holy Communion, third Morning Prayer, forth Holy Communion and fifth service by church members. 968 138 952.

•TORREVIEJA CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP, Avenida de las Cortes Valencianas 68: Services Sunday 10.30am with Communion and Sunday School plus Wednesday 6pm. 966 788 771.

CONSULATES British

96 521 6022

Emergency consular assistance 902 109 356

ALICANTE Airport

96 691 9000

THURSDAY

Guardia Civil

96 592 1100

Municipal Police

96 510 7200

•FRIENDS UNLIMITED Quesada: 966 719 862 or www.helpvegabaja.com.

Red Cross

96 525 2525

MURCIA

• L A D I E S Cardmaking and crafting group, Torrevieja, 2pm-5pm. 966 789 977.

Airport

96 817 2000

ORIHUELA

•MABS Cancer Support Group meetings: sue@mabscancersupport.org.

Guardia Civil

•SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING Torrevieja, a f t e r n o o n s a t Re s t a u ra n t e L o s Ro s a l e s , Guardamar. 966 783 508.

96 530 0139

Red Cross

96 530 5151

PEGO Municipal Police

FRIDAY

SANTA POLA

•CANTABILE SINGERS rehearse at La Siesta C h u r c h , 2 . 1 5 p m - 4. 1 5 p m . 9 6 6 7 9 6 8 6 6 . www.cantiblesingers.es.

•CHESS CLUB Daya Vieja: 660 825 390.

•TORREVIEJA STROKE SUPPORT GROUP meets 2.45pm - 5pm in The Annex Municipal Buildings on Calle Paganini. www.torreviejastrokesupport.com.

SATURDAY • MABS BOOK SALE - The Arches Restaurant, Los Alcázares 10am-1pm (weather permitting). The MABS Book Stall is at The Arches Restaurant and is popular with book-lovers. Browse the stall and have a coffee while you choose your books.

SUNDAY • PATIENCE LODGE No 2177(GC) RAOB Meets 10.30am-12.30pm at Algorfa Hotel near La Finca golf in Los Montesinos. 966 188 105.

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT: The car booters dressed as Santa’s little helpers HELP MURCIA MAR MENOR car boot sale. Sundays 10am-1pm, Autocine, Los Narejos.

WEDNESDAY •A1 DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB: 966 722 897.

•BADMINTON at Pilar de la Horadada 10am1pm. Call John McGilvray on 966 786 774 for info.

•COMPUTER CLUB Torrevieja: 966 700 041 or www.torreviejacomputerclub.com •MABS ART WORKSHOP Café Golf, San Javier 10am - 12pm. €2 donation. 968 192 768.

•STRICTLY SOCIAL friendship club Punta Prima: 966 730 569.

MONDAY • SAMARITANS Drop-in Café: 902 883 535.

•SEW N SO’s Sewing mabsmurciane@gmail.com.

96 577 0118

Group

(MABS):

•3A MARINA BAIXA general meetings fourth Monday of month, 10.30am at Alfaz del Pi Culture Centre. www.u3amarinabaixa.com.

TUESDAY •FREE KNITTING CLUB Mazarron: 619 493 183.

•SEEKERS LADIES CLUB Torrevieja meet every other Tuesday, 2pm at Bar Sacko’s, El Limonar: 966 784 033.

•SEWING CRAFT CLASSES : 966 708 199.

•VELVETONES CHOIR rehearses at Windsor Bar, San Luis, Torrevieja, 10am until1pm. 966 785 313.

•VELVETONES LADIES HARMONY CHORUS rehearses at El Paraiso Restaurant, Torrevieja, 10am until12.30pm. Call 965 327 446.

•ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION, Torrevieja Branch, meet at 5pm on the first Wednesday of each month at the Restaurante El Paraiso, Urb. Jardin del Mar 3, (behind Carrefour), Torrevieja. Call Mike Wright, Chairman 966 722 895 or Margaret Forshaw, Secretary 966 921 996.

•HAH MAR MENOR CHATTERS Christmas Lunch, Bacchus Restaurant in Los Narejos.

Three-course meal with wine €10.75. 968 171 542.

Others • A L - A N O N F A M I L Y G R O U P To r r e v i e j a d o n ’ t s u ffe r a l o n e t h r o u g h a n o t h e r p e r s o n drinking – 692 799 318.

•CAMPOVERDE THEATRE GROUP: Mondays and Thursdays, 2pm at Rendevous, La Zenia.

966 774 127.

•COSTA BLANCA MOUNTAIN WALKERS: d i ffe r e n t d i ff i c u l ty wa l k s . www.cbmwalkers.org.

•CRIME WATCH SPAIN: Torrevieja: 966 786 266. Catral: 965 992 838. Montesinos: 685 444 335 C o l a b o ra n d o . crimewatch@skynetlink.com.

•DROP-OFF POINT for non-perishable food items to help the needy at Benijofar Town Hall, Monday–Friday, 8.30am–3.30pm.

•FAST emergency number 968 970 626.

•LA BAMBA’S Ballroom/Latin/Sequence Dancing, Los Rosales Restaurant, Guardamar. Mond ay S e q u e n c e c l a s s 7. 3 0 p m . S o c i a l D a n c e 8.30pm. Friday Social Dance 7.30pm-10.30pm Wednesday New Beginners 2pm. Intermediate Class 3.30pm-5pm. 616 478 157 •PEPA Charity Shop Gandia: 650 304 746 or www.pepaspain.com •PRACTICE SPANISH FOR FREE: Saturday 10am-12pm. Sunday 11am at Athenea bar, Pilar d e l a H o ra d a d a . 9 6 6 7 6 2 3 0 8 o r rogeames@hotmail.com.

•SAMARITANS emotional support helpline 8pm–12am: 902 883 535.

Town Hall

96 541 1100

Guardia Civil

96 541 1290

Local Police

96 541 1103

Red Cross

96 541 6936

TORREVIEJA Guardia Civil

96 571 0113

Municipal Police

96 571 0154

Red Cross

96 571 1818

VILLAJOYOSA Guardia Civil

96 589 1143

Municipal Police

96 589 0050

Red Cross

96 589 1400

EMERGENCIES Emergencies

112

National Police

091

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS CB. North

648 169 045

CB. South

625 912 078

The Samaritans

902 883 535

British Embassy : www.uk.inspain.fco.gov.uk Age Concern Spain: www.acespana.org Airport Information: www.aena.es Local News: www.euroweeklynews.com •TOASTMASTERS INTERNATIONAL: 966 798 036 or visit www.toastmasters.org.

•NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH: 620 417 777 or www.nhwinspain.com.

COMING UP ••HELP VEGA BAJA Friends Unlimited will hold its final event before Christmas on December 20 at Portico Mar. www.helpvegabaja.com.

13 - 19 December 2012

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Classifieds

FOR RESULTS EVERY WEEK

BOATS | CARS | JOBS | SERVICES | PETS | BIKES | FURNITURE | PROPERTY | MOTORING | FOR SALE Airport Transfers

Business Opp.

AIRPORT TRANSFERS Airport Taxis/Minibuses/ Coaches www.CostaBlancaTransfers.com (94916)

WANT TO WRITE for profit? Established author available to help. At-home courses, total support.

Guaranteed formatting for Kindle. janette@readus. com 689 742 289 www. readus.com (204958)

HAVE fun going to the airport or having fun in a black London taxi. Excellent rates. 633 367 779 (201796)

Alarms ALARMS: All types, quality systems, very reasonable, guaranteed. Tel: 966 797 370 / 600 237 223 (96107)

Antiques

Boats

For daily news visit www.euroweeklynews.com

Buy & Sell POOL TABLES, Snooker Tables, Table Tennis Tables, Darts Tel: 666 933 726 www.spainpool.com (203168)

Charities ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IS ALCOHOL COSTING YOU MORE THAN MONEY? Drinking to excess not only affects your health it can spill over into every other aspect of your life – damaging everything that is important to you. English-speaking AA meetings are held throughout the Costa Blanca from Valencia City to Murcia. Anyone wishing to attend a meeting or discuss a possible drinking problem contact Costa Blanca North: *6 4 8 1 6 9 0 4 5 * or Costa Blanca South: *625 912 078*. All calls are treated in the strictest confidence.

AA in German: 645 456 075; Spanish: 96 521 9471; Flemish: 635 047 053; and Scandinavian: 659 779 222. w w w. a a - c o s t a b l a n c a . o r g (93323) ROUNDABOUT CHARITY SHOP. We are now into summer and very soon we will be feeling the heat! It is time therefore for another visit to the shop where you might find a bargain or two. Choose from the clothing selection, jewellery, household goods, books or bric a brac. There is usually something there for everyone —- but not always.

Charitable donations have recently been made to The Alzheimers Centre, Cancer Research and The Amigos Ambulance Service. We still need your help with donations etc. Please keep them coming in! During July and August the shop will only be open Wednesday to Saturday from 09.30 until 13.00 (93325)

FULL GOSPEL Business Men’s Fellowship International. We are a Christian organisation with a difference. Breakfast meetings for men each month including a testimony time, & time to ask questions for those who seek answers. Info: Stuart 968 575 417 or 664 673 863 (95452) THE SPIRITUALIST CHURCH OF QUESADA, meets at Sociedad Compas, 14 Calle de Toledo, Quesada. Sunday Service at 11.30am. A Tuesday evening of Mediumship at 7.30pm and every Thursday there is an opportunity to develop your skills at the Open Circle at 7.30pm. Spiritual Healing is available Sunday and Tuesday. Contact Wendy on 965 323 028. (95454) THE ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION, Torrevieja Branch, meet at 17.00 on the first Wednesday of each month at the Restaurante El Paraiso, Urb. Jardin del Mar 3 (behind Carrefour), Torrevieja. Contact Mike Wright, Chairman 966 722 895 or Margaret Forshaw, Secretary 966 921 996. (95455) HELP VEGA BAJA. We help anyone, any age and any nationality, 24hr helpline. Offices based in San Miguel at Calle Lope de Vega and in Torrevieja on Rambla Juan Mateo Garcia 4. You can contact us on 966 723 733 between 10am and 1:30pm or online at www.helpvegabaja.com. For emergencies 24hr helpline 965 704 282 (95456) THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Orihuela Costa - covering from Punta Prima to San Javier. The branch meets at Olympia restaurant, Mil Palmeras on 3rd Thursday of each month at 19.00 - 19.30pm. More info can be found on branch website www.orihuelacostarbl .co.uk. (95457) THE BAKER FOUNDATION for SPIRITUAL AWARENESS. 16 Nicolas De Bussi Ave, Playa Flamenca. Sunday Service every week 11am to 12 noon, everyone welcome. For further details please phone/fax 966 760 665 (95458) THE PHILIP SCOTT LODGE No 10671 of the RAOB meets every Friday in the Bar Catorce, Benijofar. Please call the secretary, Colin Bird on 653 066 919 for further information. (95459)

CHARITY BOOK STALL PEGO THURSDAY MARKET. Selection of over 500 books, all proceeds given to the elderly/disabled of Pego and local Animal Rescue. More stock always required please contact Chrissie 965 977 228/617 647 395 (95460) THE ANGLICAN CHURCH, La Fustera. For more info: contact Frank Bentley on 966 495 188 (95461) CANCER SUPPORT GROUP (MABS) MURCIA/MAR MENOR Help and support is just a phone call away, Avda Rio Nalón, Tel: 693 275 779 or 968 432 525 (95462) PILAR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH has moved to: Calle Canalejas, 3. Pilar de la Horadada. Sunday Service 11am & Thursday at 5pm for Bible Study and Prayer. All welcome from any church background or none.

Info: PilarChristian.CommunityChurch@gmail.com or Eddie on 966 769 300 / 650 509 606 (95463) TCF is a multi-national English speaking church now located on Avenida de las Cortes Valencianas 68, Torrevieja. The Sunday Service, including Communion and Creche/Sunday School, commences at 10.30am with a Bible Study/Prayer Meeting on Wednesday evenings at 6.00pm. Telephone 966 700 391 or call in to the Church any day between 9.00am until 1.00pm. Monday to Friday to find out more about Church activities. (95464) THE AIRCREW ASSOCIATION COSTA BLANCA BRANCH. Former & serving aircrews of the UK or Allied Armed Forces are welcome to join this convivial & friendly organisation, now in its 21st year. www.aca costablanca.org or call the Secretary on: 966 495 042 (95465) HELP MMM CANCER SUPPORT GROUP Appointments for cervical, breast and prostate screening in the Murcia area, please ring 680 393 257 (95466) THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION JAVEA BRANCH meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month @ Scallops Rest on the Arenal at 11.00am. Everyone is welcome to attend as a visitor and join the branch if they wish. Anyone needing any

help or advice on welfare, or any information regarding the branch can contact either Sheila on 965 791 270 or Roger on 965 790 123 (95472) TORREVIEJA STROKE SUPPORT GROUP meets each Friday 3pm to 5pm in The Annex, (behind Age Concern Centre), Calle Paganini, Urb. La Siesta. Our aim is to support stroke survivors and their carers by a range of facilities from speech therapy, rehabilitation exercise, group discussion etc. For info: Louie 96 671 8964 or Carol, Secretary: 966 765 488, e-mail: stroke supportgroup@hotmail.com Donations and further voluntary helpers are needed and guest speakers with relevant knowledge or experience are very welcome. (95473) THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Gran Alacant Branch meets 1st Tuesday of every month at The Norwegian Club on Sierra Mar Urbanisation at 7pm for 7.30pm prompt. For further info contact Barbara Turnbull, Branch Secretary on 608 994 456 or e-mail b_dmt1966@yahoo.co.uk (95474) CAMPELLO CONTRA CANCER in conjunction with AECC Association Español Contra Cancer has opened a charity shop at C/Virgen de los Desamparados No 13 (next door to Mas y mas) El Campello. The shop is open Mon-Fri 10 - 2pm and is run by unpaid volunteers and all monies raised goes to the AECC. We urgently need donations of clothes, books, large and small furniture etc, and we will arrange collection of large items. We need volunteers to help out in the shop and also clothes rails, shelves etc. for display. Please support your local Cancer charity and if you wish to obtain literature or simply talk to someone. Please stop by at the shop. Contact Mina or Trisha. Tel 650 071 278 or 610 921 413 e-mail aecc_campel lo@hot mail.com (95475)

Chimney Sweep HOME FROM HOME. Professional chimney sweep. Family run business Telephone 660 478 881 (203131)

Computers

ThePCshop - Computer Sales and Repairs. Visit www.thepc shop.es or call 966 721 699 (203147)

Electrician UK ELECTRICIAN Fully qualified all aspects of electrical work. Free estimates. 965 725 445 / 616 226 083 (202611)

Friendship FIND LOVE IN THE SUN www.iwant2meetyou.com.

Browse for free Spain´s No. 1 online dating site. Bringing expats together. (204448)

International Christian Assembly Calle Pilar de Horadada 5, Torrevieja Evangelical non-denominational Sunday services 11am Children’s church 11am House groups in Torrevieja, Los Balcones, San Javier Ladies meeting Thursdays 11am. Pastor, Rafael Restrepo All nationalities welcome 966 799 273 / 660 127 276.

(95476)

Price per word: 0,42€ + IVA minimum 15 words - Discount: Book 10 weeks, get 2 weeks free - Deadline: 4pm Mondays Contact: Phone (0034) 952 561 245 • Fax (0034) 952 440 887 • email classifieds@euroweeklynews.com • www.euroweeklynews.com

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CLASSIFIEDS

EWN

13 - 19 December 2012

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Gardening

Costa Blanca South GATAMI ORGANISATION, to help kittens and cats, looking for good homes, also spaying wild cats in the community.

Kittens require adoption, fully vaccinated, de-wormed, defleed. We also need volunteers to help Car boot sale in Polop on Sundays Tel Anna: 966 806 976 / 654 729 977 (95709)

Internet

GARDENER, 25 years working in Spain. English/Spanish spoken. Private gardens and communities. Free quotes, billthe gardner@hotmail.es. Tel 699 682 630 (96109)

Gold Wanted GOLD WANTED. English jeweller will buy broken, unwanted jewellery and coins. 664 890 990 (99704)

sales@euroweeklynews.com Insurance WANTED Cars, vans, caravans, 4 X 4’s British Spanish 600 781 873 ibuyany car@hotmail.com (200261)

Limousine Hire TUXEDO LIMOUSINE CHAUFFEURS we specialise in Limousines, Rolls Royce’s and Vintage cars for hire. Airport transfers Benidorm Palace, birthdays, theme parks, shopping trips, weddings etc.

Check our website www.tuxedolimousines.es Tel 968 969 648 / 618 315 933 info@tuxedolimousines.es (201888)

Mobile Homes

WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE. Spanish cars bought and sold.

All paperwork done. Mazarron to Torrevieja Vehicles also taken away and legally disposed of patrickhurley@hotmail.com Pat 667 711 380 (201812) MOTOR INSURANCE. For the most competitive quotes in English call Linea Directa on 902 123 153, you could save as much as 30% and you can transfer your existing no claims bonus. Call Linea Directa on 902 123 153 for motor insurance with a human voice in English from Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and save money now! (95302) CASH for cars, runners/nonrunners Call 607 848 332 (92598) GOING HOME? Want to swap my UK Reg, RHD, 07 plated, VW Crafter Sprinter (LWB, high top, diesel, tax, MOT) for Spanish car. 646 600 898 (94920) BEST price paid for your car.

Spanish/English PX welcome.

633 367 779 (201796)

SOS INSURANCE. Best prices available. Call us first for all your insurance needs. Including funeral plans. Tel: 966 787 123/622 275 561 (202254) SALT’S BAY INSURANCE BROKERS. Call now for your competitive quotes on insurance for: motor (UK & Spanish plates), household, life, private medical, travel and more.

Policies in English. Tel: 965 706 394 E-mail info@salts bay.com (202637)

WE BUY, Sell, Remove all types of Mobile Homes. We pay CASH and cover all of Spain. More details call Suzi Caley 616 250 727 / 951 063 059 or email suzicaley@gmail .com (100120)

Pergola Covers

LUXURY mobile home located near the coast on small family run site.

630 055 418 (202619)

SAILS, carports etc. Tailor made durable canvas. POLYETHYLENE SAILS. Exhibiting Procomobel Market Guardamar Saturdays/Camposol anyday. 667 879 399 krugercanopies@in.com

Motoring

Pet Insurance PROTECTAPET Spain’s leading pet insurance 965 756 371 www.info@protectapet.eu (95962)

Pets

sales@euroweeklynews.com

MOUNTAIN VIEW CAT HOTEL Professional care near Hondon de las Nieves. www.mountain viewcathotel.webs.com 966 195 816 / 654 155 473 (96101)

PET-COURIERS.COM – If you love your pet try us first – we are the best. Door to door service throughout Europe. Specialised vehicles – bespoke service. Full legal service including documentation if required. For further information call or e-mail us: Tel: (0034) 651 033 670 or (0034) 637 066 227. Email: info@pet-couriers.com or www.pet-couriers.com (95495) SMALL FRIENDLY BRITISH KENNELS individual runs, large exercise area. 25 mins Alicante airport. www.park bark.co.uk 628 244 712 (201991)

Pet Transport INTERPAWS: 20 years’ licensed pet transportation.

Competitive rates. Difficult dog? Effective behavioural training in your home. www.interpaws.com janette@interpaws.com 689 742 289 (204958)

Pet Charities EASYHORSE CARE RESCUE CENTRE We aim to rescue HORSES. If you would like to DONATE please call 965 967 033 or sales@easyhorse care.net www.easyhorse care.net or call Sue 652 021 980 (95706) SPAMA GANDIA SHELTER. Dog and cat rescue registered charity, La Safor area. 500 animals awaiting re-homing.

Shelter open 7 days a week 12noon - 2.00pm & 3.30pm 7.00pm. (Spanish speaking staff) or phone Gail 962 896 118. Visit our website for directions. www.spama.org and view our new blog at www.spama-safor.blog.com.es PLEASE HELP US TO HELP THEM (95707) P.E.P.A. VOLUNTEERS & FOSTER HOMES URGENTLY NEEDED. By fostering an abandoned dog, or spending a few hours each week on our telephone helpline, you could help save the lives of many animals. Please call: 650 304 746. For more information browse our website: www.pepaspain.com EURO WEEKLY NEWS CLASSIFAX AGENT (95708)

For daily news visit www.euroweeklynews.com

Property for Rent SM122 - San Miguel, 2 bed, 1st floor apartment, terrace, com pool & solarium, underground parking, walk to town centre amenities - 355€ pcm 965 720 766. (89468) SM61 - Las Violetas - lovely 2 bed, 2 bath spacious ground floor apartment, Sat TV, hot/cold air con, terrace & garden, com pool, close to Plaza - 425€ pcm - 965 720 766 (89468) SM118 - Villamartin - 3 bed quad, 2 bath, off-road parking, tiled garden, terrace and com pool 495€ pm 965 720 766 (89468) SM169 - Montebello, Algorfa 3 bed spacious, unfurnished quad, 2 bathrooms, air con 475€ pm 965 720 766 (89468) UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY 2 x 3 bedroom villas set together amongst fruit trees in 31,000m2, Catral / San Isidro, pool, garages, stunning mountain views, €550pcm each.

0044 7797 862 874 (203761) 2/3 BED, 2 bath apartments San Miguel. Lift, communal roof top pool and solarium, video entry system. Available short/long term from €300 pcm. 966 723 437 / 636 615 716 (200889) 3 BED, 3 bath spacious semidetached house with garage, situated in the popular area of La Zenia, walking distance to shops, beaches and the new La Zenia Boulevard. Furnished. Long term. €550 monthly + electric & water.

Perfect family home. Tel: 966 733 079 / 619 098 543 (97868) TORREVIEJA long let, 2 bedroom park home close to beach and town centre, communal pool & bath, 250€ a month + bills. 617 599 470 (202687)

Property for Sale NEW Ecological Villas under construction of 140m2 with sea views in Costa Benissa, show home available to view, prices from €349,000 fully inclusive of all taxes! Tel 695 831 044 (204952)

Property Wanted WANTED urgently, apartments, villas and townhouses close to the beach from Pilar de la Horadada to Guardamar del Segura, other areas considered. Call 965 368 379 (203078)

CLASSIFIEDS

13 - 19 December 2012

EWN

Costa Blanca South

www.euroweeklynews.com

Removal/Storage

Tax Affairs

Telecoms FED UP PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR MOBILE PHONE CALLS? THEN CONTACT TELITEC TODAY. CALLS TO SPAIN 7C PER MINUTE INCLUDING MOBILES. CALLS TO UK 5.3C PER MINUTE. NO MONTHLY FEES, NO CONTRACT. WWW.TELITEC.COM TEL: 902 889 070 (0)

UK-SPAIN-IRELAND all European Destinations. Removals with the personal touch. Pets transported 965 696 750 / 0044 (0) 7554 447 006 e-mail chrisyounge73979@aol.com (202629) UK – SPAIN - UK. Local & distance work. Call Kevin. 627 075 334 (204897)

Wanted WE are looking for tour guides, street inviters, marketing assistant and leaflet distributors to add to our existing team in and around the Torrevieja area. Busy Businesses wanted as Booking agents for all our trips. Please send CV to info@sleepwellmarketing.com WE started our business in the last recession, 13 year later we are still expanding , if you have enthusiasm , drive and ambition we can show you how to earn 2000€ a month in your spare time. Email application only CV to info@ quoteme.es (202282)

Solar SOLAR BEST DEAL IN SPAIN w w w. g o s o l a r i n s p a i n . c o m (204791)

Spas/Jacuzzis

sales@euroweeklynews.com

SPANISH lady - classic. Playa Flamenca, private house, 35 years, attractive. All erotic services, massage, sexy lingerie.

From €40. Ana 680 735 412 (203144) ENJOY special time with me. I am young, slender and caring Spanish girl. I provide special tender and erotic moments to gentlemen ONLY in your home or hotel. You can call or text me on 633 910 551 for more information.

(202716) THAI Lady in Cabo Roig. For massage and lots of pleasure.

605 292 304 (201882)

Sewing

Situations Vacant

ALICANTE MASSAGE FOR MEN. Qualified masseur in Alicante city, based 10 mins from airport, brings his services for men. Relaxing and sensitive massage, in discreet cabinet, different time sessions and rates, available from 10am to 11pm. Appointments at 649 761 607, more information at www.handsonyourskin.blogsp ot.com (203151) THE BLUE PILL - NOW EVEN BETTER. From €2, other products available.

Don’t miss out. Derek 685 207 378 (201880)

MAN AND VAN UK - Spain. 2 vans travelling twice a month, Murcia - North / South UK Tel 610 846 260 or 0044 751 918 6355 email van.man@hot mail.co.uk (201811)

QUALIFIED SEAMSTRESS 40 years experience, turn-ups to tailoring patterns taken from your favourite cloths, reasonable prices. Torrevieja, Sandra: 966 799 188 / 680 486 336 (98431)

83

JACUZZI, hot tub spas, quality American spas at factory prices, also spares, filters and repairs, used and ex-display spa available. We part ex and buy spas, best prices. Established 9 years in Spain EUROSPAS 650 722 905 www.eurospas1.com (99051)

Removals/Storage

SEXY BLONDE GIRL slim DD cup, available Campoamar Cabo Roig. Anything possible.

676 067 381 (203137) GENERIC VIAGRA Cialis, jellies, trial packs, same or next day delivery. www.costablues. com 680 878 735 Colin JACUZZI, SPA, HOT TUB WANTED. Working or not. 650 722 905 (99064) QUAD BIKE and jet ski, UK or Spanish. 650 722 905 (99064) WANTED - female companion for gentleman to share his life and villa with. Call 626 821 100 (200252)

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

ELEGANT SLIM SEXY ESCORT LADY available, home/house visits. La Manga – Torrevieja Mazaron area. 693 357 526 (201771) YOUNG Spanish lady, big breasts, beautiful body, erotic massage and much more.

Cabo Roig 637 052 300 (202642)

(202295) ENGLISH lady, 42, provides various services for mature gentlemen. Torrevieja 681 362 442 (202561) GORGEOUS ENGLISH BLONDE 45 years gives discreet massage, 1 hour or over night stay. 15 mins Alicante airport.Tel Karen: 662 049 021 (99628)

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SPORT

84 EWN

13 - 19 December 2012 Costa Blanca South

www.euroweeklynews.com

Weekend action will be topped off with Sports Personality of the Year awards

A

FTER action in the Champions and Europa Leagues, FA Cup and League Cup, it’s back to the bread and butter of domestic football this weekend.

The Premiership fixtures are Chelsea (third) v Southampton (a rehearsal for next month’s third round FA Cup-tie), Liverpool v Aston Villa, Manchester United (top) v Sunderland, Newcastle v Manchester City (second), Norwich v Wigan, winless QPR v Fulham. On Sunday Spurs v Swansea, Stoke v Everton and WBA v West Ham. Monday sees Reading take on Arsenal.

Championship leaders Cardiff play Peterborough (bottom), Crystal Palace (second) visit Birmingham, Middlesbrough (third) meet Wolves and Hull (fourth) take on Huddersfield. In FL1, Tranmere (top) oppose Sheffield United and

SPORTS SCENE

By Tony Matthews A former football player and the world’s most prolific author of football books (more than 100 published), Tony is also the sports reporter for Spectrum Radio and lives in the Cabrera mountains.

Doncaster (second) entertain Coventry; FL2, pace-setters Gillingham face Fleetwood and SPL leaders Celtic welcome St Mirren.

And don’t forget that on Sunday we will know who has been voted the BBC ‘Sports Personality of the Year.’ I’m going for Bradley Wiggins, but don’t rule out Mo Farah, even Jessica Ennis. This will be a great programme to watch, if you like sport!

FOOTBALL ROUNDUP • After the CL group matches, it left Arsenal, Celtic and Manchester United IN but Chelsea and Manchester City OUT. • Also in the last 16 are AC Milan, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Galatasary, Juventus, Malaga, PSG, Porto, Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donestk, Schalke and Valencia.

• Despite battering Nordsjaelland 6-1, Chelsea became the first holders of the trophy to be knocked out at the group stage after Juventus beat Shahktar Doneskt to finish second above the Blues. And those seven goals at Stamford Bridge eight days ago, came in just 27 minutes, a record I believe, for ‘rapid scoring’ in the European

Cup/CL since the competition started in 1955.

• Celtic who defeated Spartak Moscow 2-1 courtesy of Kris Commons’ penalty went through following Benfica’s draw in Barcelona.

Both Manchester United and Arsenal, fielding under-strength teams, lost their final group matches while Manchester City finished bottom of group D and so missed out on the consolation of a Europa League place, leaving Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle and Spurs as England’s representatives in this long-winded competition.

• Three LC quarterfinals took place earlier this week - Bradford City-Arsenal, NorwichAston Villa and SwanseaMiddlesbrough. Chelsea, involved in the World Club Cup in Japan, will play Leeds on 19 December.

• West Ham, the ‘preferred bidders’ to take over the Olympic Stadium, hope to play there in August 2015.

Why then, I wonder?

• Two American clubs want David Beckham to become an owner.

Surely there’s something better left in football for Beckham? Come to Spain, you might squeeze into the Vera team!

• United, with a dramatic 92nd minute goal by Robin van Persie, won the 165th Manchester derby 3-2 (they are six points clear of City now); Father Christmas (dressed as a referee) arrived early at the Emirates and gave

History maker Messi ON Sunday at 9.27pm in Sevilla, Lionel Messi broke the record set in 1972 by German striker Gerd Muller for most goals scored in a calendar year.

At that precise time the Argentinian netted his, and Barcelona’s second, of a 2-1 win over Real Betis to take his tally in 2012 to an incredible 86 in only 66 games.

Well played, little man! You’re a pure genius.

Arsenal two penalty presents (v WBA); Sunderland are in the bottom three after losing to Chelsea; Everton netted twice in a minute late on to beat Spurs and Norwich pipped Swansea 4-3 in a thriller.

• Chelsea’s John Mikel Obi has been fined £60,000 and banned for three matches after threatening referee Mark Clattenburg after the PL game with Manchester United on October. 28 SPORT IN GENERAL • Alastair Cook scored a record-breaking 23rd century and became the youngest-ever batsman to reach 7,000 Test runs as England beat India by

seven wickets to go 2-1 up in the four-match series. The last Test is now under way in Nagpur.

• Frankie Dettori has been banned for six months by the French Horse Racing Authority for drug abuse.

• Golfer Rory McIlroy has been voted the 2012 PGA Player of the Year.

• Mark Selby won the UK snooker championship.

• Oxford beat Cambridge 26-19 in the annual varsity rugby match.

• And the ‘new’ European Olympic Games will take place in Azerbaijan in 2015.

DID YOU KNOW? England’s top century makers in Test cricket are Alastair Cook 23, Geoff Boycott 22, Colin Cowdrey 22, Walter Hammond 22 and Kevin Pietersen 22.

Sachin Tendulkar holds the world record with 51.

MOTORING

86 EWN

13 - 19 December 2012

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RE-PLATE MATE Don’t take a chance!

Don’t break the law!

Take the hassle out of re-registering your vehicle onto Spanish plates We endeavour to better any genuine quotation 490 Euro + Road Tax + CO2 emission tax if applicable

Alan 662 249 159 www.replatematecostablanca.com

Costa Blanca South

For best rates in motor insurance call: 952 89 33 80

sponsored by

New Jaguar spotted in LA THE new Jaguar XFR-S was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Jaguar has called it “the fastest, most powerful and agile sports saloon Jaguar has ever built.”

The second model in the R-S range, the XFR-S joins its XKR-S sibling in the exclusive 300Kph club and is a vivid expression of the company’s longstanding sports saloon lineage. Prices will start at €75,600.

The XFR-S incorporates engineering features from both the XKR-S and the all-new FType two-seater

sports car to create a driver-focused, agile and responsive experience.

The XFR-S has been developed by Jaguar Land Rover’s specialist ETO division, its bespoke powertrain, chassis and body enhancements enabling it to push the performance boundaries.

Sport performance is provided by the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 petrol

engine which now boasts 550PS and 680Nm. The increases have been achieved through revisions to the engine management system and optimisation of the flow of air both into and out of the engine, the company said.

Airflow allows the engine to operate at peak efficiency and lets the car cleave the air cleanly and safely. The resulting body changes have created a distinctively assertive

appearance, beginning with the deeper front bumper with its larger lower air intakes, vertical vanes and carbon fibre front splitter.

“Sporting character is evident in all Jaguar saloons. In the XFR-S that character has been amplified, the result being a truly engaging car with a combination of technical innovation, assertive design and staggering performance,” Adrian Hallmark, Jaguar Global Brand Director said.

A MONSTER: Zero to 100Kmh in 4.6 seconds.

SPORT

88 EWN

13 - 19 December 2012 Costa Blanca South

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Heads held high after fighting performance

WINNING TEAM: Joe Dean, Sheila Dean, Alan Rixson and Arne Hanson took first place.

Good scores for Members

FORTY members and guests of The Members Golf Society (TMGS) arrived at Las Ramblas to be greeted with chilly and blustery conditions.

The format of the day was a four team Texas Scramble with each team member having to count four drives, which caused problems for a couple of teams, but not for the four-some of Joe Dean, Sheila Dean, Alan Rixson and Arne Hanson who returned home with a net score of 61.1.

In second place was the Team Kennedy

containing Vice Captain Mick Kennedy, Mike O’Reagan, Billy Starkey and George Smith with 65.2 pushing Team Holland of Theo and Debbie Boelhouwer, DougieBaldry and Jenny Morris into third place with a score of 66.6.

Following the golf, 51 Members, guests and partners sat down for a traditional Christmas dinner in the Las Ramblas restaurant. The event was organised by John and Paula Hagart.

On January 2, the society will be playing Campoamor Golf Club, Orihuela Costa.

Greenfee of €25. Drinks and nibbles on the 10th and the game will be followed by a raffle.

More information: visit www.tmgs.org or phone 966 719 604.

Yeclano Deportivo 1 Mazarron FC 1 MAZARRON came away from a trip to league leaders Yeclano Deportivo with heads held high after a fighting draw.

Yeclano’s record was played 12, won 11 and drawn one. It is a measure of how well Mazarron played that they came away disappointed with a draw.

It was a game that Mazarron could and should have won. They took the lead in the second minute when Jose Ruben ran on to a superb through ball from Poyato and outpaced the home defence before calmly sliding the ball under the Yeclano goalkeeper.

The lead lasted only eight minutes before Yeclano equalised following a foul by juvenile captain Victor, who had replaced the experienced Diego in the centre of defence.

The free kick was driven into the

GOAL: Final score was 1-1. wall but rebounded to Ortega who hit a fierce drive from 20 yards into the roof of the net.

Mazarron were in complete

control and Cecilio headed over the bar from a Ruben corner before they had a great opportunity to retake the lead five minutes before half time. Ruben again broke clear on the left and his cross found Diego who was brought down in the penalty area. Ruben’s spot kick, however, was too deliberate and allowed the Yeclano keeper to make a save, low to his left.

Yeclano came more into the game in the second half and Jose Iker in the Mazarron goal was forced to make a couple of excellent saves but, on SWIM WELL: Torrevieja’s Samira, Amy, Alexandra and Paula at event. the whole, Mazarron defended well and still looked dangerous on the break. Yecla went down to 10 men in the 79th YOUNG swimmers from in the regional event the youngest members minute when Deltell was Torrevieja took to the held at Sax, Alicante. of the team, Amy sent off following a pool in a league First to swim were the Connolly, Serger Bous, second yellow card and competition older Alevin girls and Vitalio Veres, Artem Mazarron’s Pollo, who had The seven to 12- boys. In the 100m Nikolaev all swimming only been on the field a year-olds from Club backstroke Alexandra 50 metres backstroke in few minutes as substitute, Natacion Torrevieja Amat, Zoe Connolly and the younger Benjamin received a straight red took on six other clubs Elian Rio Del Castillo all category.

All four card for a strong tackle. improved on previous swimmers improved Mazarron are at home times.

Zoe placed upon their previous to CD Cieza this Sunday second, Alexandra ninth times. kick off 4pm. Admission is For more information and Elian sixth. These €4 with juveniles free and, Torrevieja three swimmers later regarding as this is the last game had to swim a gruelling Swimming Club: Rosa before Christmas, Los 200 metres butterfly 665 454 126 or Amigos de Mazarron FC and all three did well, President Felipe on 609 will be distributing free Zoe achieving second 418 776 or by email mince pies, sausage rolls info@clubnataciontorre place. and cider to all Next it was back to vieja.com. supporters.

Swimmers make a splash