Costa Blanca North 27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 Issue 1434

ISSUE NO. 1434

27 DECEMBER 2012 - 2 JANUARY 2013

EWN WISHES

WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.ES

advertisers Aa andADVERTISERS readersAND READERS

Happy New Year

Time to remember

CHRISTMAS - and the rapidly approaching New Year - are bringing some added cheer to the estimated 30,000 people living rough on the streets of Spain.

Some local shelters over the Christmas period scheduled in special arrangements, providing in some cases hot festive meals, with frequent queues continuing to form throughout the month at the soup kitchens where often a little added seasonal cheer was on offer from the volunteer helpers.

And this will be ongoing over the New Year and start to 2013.

But given the ongoing economic challenges facing the whole of Spain, 2013 will hardly be rung in with much enthusiasm as a joyous time of hope for those within the local community who have few if any - close friends, and no home or family to go to each night.

In November, Global Aid Network España launched a campaign to collect warm clothes and blankets and other items, including sleeping-bags, and these

BY RUTH JONES

Homeless in Spain have little to cheer!

Briton ‘JR’ Fraser has been homeless for the last two years following a career as a chef in the UK which he was forced to give up through sickness. After travelling widely he settled in Spain. He survives through occasional money from his mother, food hand-outs and odd coins from passers-by.

But for ‘JR’, who chooses not to beg, his closest friend is Patch.

have in recent days been distributed among the homeless in the major cities.

The reality of modern life in every community now all too often includes homeless - the vast

majority expatriates and men - frequently forlornlooking, and forced to beg to eek out survival at street level.

For them, the roof over their head is all too-often Turn to Page 4

H me ~

ESPANA

Villas and Apartments required for our

965 743 186 www.homeespanamoraira.co.uk

2 EWN

NEWS

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

www.euroweeklynews.com

Costa Blanca North

NEWS EXTRA

Distillery honoured

Flooding plan is ‘unworkable’ JUCAR Water Board’s flood-prevention project has been condemned as unworkable.

The Plataforma Ciutadana Riu Girona civic association is not convinced by the preliminary draft from Confederacion Hidrografica del Jucar (CHJ).

The CHJ intends to build seven dams in the Marina Baja to prevent flooding by the Girona and Recasens rivers, as well as watercourses that remain dry except during heavy rainfall. The scheme will cost more than €226 million, an ‘unrealistic’ amount, given the present economic climate, the association said.

The association is lodging objections to the CHJ’s plans. This is not because the collective is opposed to the project itself, sources revealed, but because it will involve ‘unnecessary’ engineering work.

The seven dams alone will cost around €84 million and the entire project is ‘oversized’, a spokesman said. The Girona dam would retain too much sediment, a spokesman claimed, which will have an adverse affect on the L’Almadrava beach.

Instead, the CHJ should be producing more and better emergency plans. Floods were a permanent risk, he said, although floods like 2007’s were ‘unusual’.

GIN EVER, produced by Licores Sinc in the inland town of Alcoy, won a gold medal at the International Wines and Spirits Competition held in Valladolid.

Oxfam in Elche INTERMON Oxfam has opened a new shop in Elche at 35 Calle Vicente Blasco Ibañez.

The locale will also host talks, forums and exhibitions, said coordinator Vanesa Martinez-Santos.

Fewer debts RETAIL goods valued at €56.7 million were repossessed for non-payment in the Valencian Community last October. This was 30.3 per cent lower than in the same period in 2011.

NEWS

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 www.euroweeklynews.com

Helping hand COURIER transport service SEUR has donated €14,620 to two children affected by rare diseases. One is suffering from Pelizaeus–Merzbacher disease and the other from Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Back pay AN Alicante court ordered Campello council to pay €60,000 to 50 employees whose pay was docked by 5 per cent last summer, instead of 1 per cent.

EWN

An airport rail link at last!

EL ALTET airport will be connected to the Mediterranean Corridor, courtesy of the EU. An airport rail link has long been discussed and hoped-for.

However, both native- and foreign-born Alicantinos assumed that if and when this arrived, it would be an extension of the FGV Trenet and Tram line.

Instead, the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Commission wants to

include Alicante airport in the Mediterranean Corridor, linking Spain to France and the rest of Europe.

The cost will be met by the ministry of Public Works with help from EU funds.

The news from Brussels was welcomed by El Altet, which has lost one million passengers over the last year. The reasons are many – starting with the economic crisis and finishing with

the demise of Spanair, plus the air bridge squabble with Ryanair resulting in cancelled destinations.

Many passengers bound for Costa Blanca resorts are transferred directly to hotels, but others travelling independently are perplexed by the absence of a rail link.

Now, thanks to the Mediterranean Corridor and the EU, it is going to have one.

Damp forecast

THE facade of a listed early 19th century building in Alicante city’s Calle Altamira due for demolition must be protected. It is owned by the provinces Professional Association of Draughtsmen.

Tit for tat DENIA plans to compensate each metre of land appropriated from the Montgo national park, with 10 from adjoining land. It is hoped the move will end 30 years of conflict.

CAPITAL CELEBRATION: Puerta del Sol in Madrid, the focus of Spain’s national New Year celebrations.

Ringing in New Year with grapes and red underwear

I

N the UK the chimes of Big Ben in London ring in the New Year.

At the same time millions of British expatriates dotted around the world, including in Spain, tune into UK television and radio - whatever the time difference - for a ‘back home’ touch to the celebrations.

Here in Spain the main focus is on the capital Madrid where the chimes of the clock in Puerta del Sol annually see the New Year in, with the event broadcast on television.

Nationally it is traditional to eat 12

Quote of the week

‘

Escobar sentence ONE of the men accused of breaking into the Benidorm home of veteran singer Manolo Escobar received a fouryear prison sentence.

His alleged accomplice was acquitted for lack of evidence.

Sad case

Fireworks display

DESPITE losing €5 million in IBI rates, Javea council spent €589,264 less than earned.

The town hall does not plan to cut down on staff or overheads.

Nwatch ews

A MOTORIST drove off after colliding with a gas main outside a San Juan school causing a leak. Neighbours called the emergency services who cut off the supply.

Respecting past

Books balanced

Costa Blanca North

Quick action

WINTER will be colder in the Valencian Community, weathermen predict. After a warm, wet autumn the coming months will see ‘normal’ or slightly above average rainfall, they said.

THE centre of Elche will be closed to traffic and pedestrians for two hours on the night of December 29 during a fireworks display on the roof of the Basilica.

3

What happened with airports and trains also happened to Health Care in Spain. Too many centres were open with no planning, not meeting the real needs.

Jose Maria Valderas, Spanish-born Senior Research Fellow at the London School of Economics and co-ordinator at the Health Services and Policy Research group, University of Oxford.

grapes for good luck to welcome in the New Year, with each one swallowed to the chime of the midnight clock and washed down with a champagne toast.

This is believed to have originated in Elche, Alicante, 103 years ago after an excessive grape harvest, and has remained since, although documentation also refers to the event dating back slightly earlier to 1897.

Many Spanish men and women - and some longer-term expatriates - also don new red underwear on New Year’s Eve which they later burn for good luck.

Number of the week

76

days is the average delay time for surgical treatment in Spanish public health centres, the Ministry of Health reported. Latest data corresponds to June 30.

THE Guardia Civil dealt with 129 cases of gender violence in San Vicente del Raspeig over the past year. One victim was killed by her partner, who later committed suicide.

Pigs stolen FIVE Romanians were arrested in Quatretonda (Valencia) as they tried to steal pigs. They planned to slaughter the animals before loading them into their two vans, police said.

Fast work The AVE high speed train will reach Alicante city before next June’s Hogueras fiestas, promised minister of Public Works, Ana Pastor.

and finally...

SPANISH anchorwoman and actress Pilar Rubio has been fired from Telecinco television channel. When hired in 2010, she was presented as a star, but since then all programmes she was involved in had poor viewing rates or were cancelled.

4

EWN

NEWS

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

www.euroweeklynews.com

Costa Blanca North

BRITISH

PRESS

Stories making headlines from the United Kingdom

Royal land

RECOGNITION: Irene Zaccardo, centre, with Mayor Bernabe Cano and pupils.

La Nucia honours Irene LA NUCIA resident Irene Zaccardo is a volunteer at La Nucia’s School for Adults (EPA).

Irene Amgarten Zaccardo, originally from Switzerland, is 79 years of age and has lived in La Nucia for 25 years. For the past

eight years Irene has passed on her expertise free of charge at the EPA, giving classes in handicrafts.

Mayor Bernabe Cano, accompanied by many of Irene’s pupils, presented her with a plaque for her contribution to the town.

Easy way to sign on the ‘padron’ CAMPELLO Town Hall is making it easier than ever to register on the ‘padron’.

Anyone with a computer who wants to register on the municipal roll can now do so without having to leave the house.

This is another of the services offered on the ‘Carpeta Ciudana’ section on the www.elcampello.es website. What is more, the service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Once on the internet page, and after identifying

themselves via an electronic signature, applicants need only fill in a form with the required information.

Once the information has been verified, the applicant receives an emailed copy of the same padron certificate that he or she would receive at the town hall.

The only difference? No queuing, no waiting. And the service is free, too.

Homeless person dies in Spain every five days From Front Page an open sky, as they grab sleep on park benches, in sheltered doorways, in rubbish containers, and others in cardboard boxes in alleyways.

None offer much protection, especially during the colder winter months, though accompanying stray dogs that have fondly become their closest friends, often huddle nearby, providing a little extra warmth and company.

Many of Spain’s homeless have serious mental health problems and infectious diseases. As a result, their death rate is four times higher than for the general population.

It is estimated one homeless person dies every five days in Spain, 27 per cent of them from attacks, 14 per cent from burns from fires lit to keep them warm, and 8 per cent from hypothermia. Other frequent causes of death are poisoning, drowning, heatstroke, falls, road accidents and being crushed after sleeping in rubbish containers.

Only a quarter of the homeless die from natural causes.

The average age of the victims is 47 and one in 10 is a woman.

A SLICE of Antarctica has been named Queen Elizabeth Land. The 169,000-square mile area is twice the size of the UK and is populated by penguins, seals and various bird species.

Famous face THE BECKHAMS’ middle son Romeo is the new face of Burberry. The 10-yearold son of football star David and ex-Spice Girl Victoria has filmed the campaign with Mario Testino, who also shot William and Kate’s official engagement pictures.

Night owls HALF of British workers are classed as night owls, only seeing daylight on their lunch break during the winter months. As the sun rises at 8.02am and sets at 3.52pm, many only catch a glimpse of daylight between October and April.

Bank refund NATWEST and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) are set to pay out £10 million (€12.3 million) to 300,000 customers who forgot to take their money from a cash machine.

Other banks automatically credit people’s accounts when leaving money behind, but RBS, until recently, diverted the money into its own reserve accounts.

Cereal slang A SCOTTISH slang term for male genitalia has been used on cereal boxes. Weetos packets feature a range of cartoon moustaches with a variety of labels, one of which is Big Baws.

NEWS

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 www.euroweeklynews.com

NEWS EXTRA

Sweet charity in Madrid JIJONA-BASED turron manufacturer, El Lobo, donated more than 200 kilos of turron for disadvantaged families. The 700 tablets of the Christmas sweet-meat will be distributed amongst 600 families in Madrid.

Valencian designs on Michelle Obama VALENCIANO Adrian Salvador, has helped to design clothes worn by Michelle Obama.

Adrian is only 23years-old but in the wife of the US president, plus American Vogue editor Ana Wintour, he has

already had two iconic clients.

After working for leading Spanish designer Adolfo Dominguez, he finally decided to move to New York where he was engaged by J Mendel.

Work to rule LOCAL POLICE in San Vicente del Raspeig will not work overtime for The Three Kings procession on January 5. They are protesting at cuts and “being undervalued,” a spokesman said.

Internet gain ELCHE council is providing free WiFi internet connections at the Glorieta, the Francesc Canto Plaza in Carrus and the Conference Centre.

Further hot-spots will be added throughout the coming year.

Email shock THE regional RTVV television channel announced redundancies to workers in Alicante, Valencia and Castellon by email. A total of 101 employees will be laid off between now and next August.

Old houses ALTEA town hall has catalogued houses in the old quarter which need to have repairs carried out. Sixty owners will be required to paint and renovate dilapidated properties “to improve the town’s image.”

Rhythmic gymnastics: Teulada’s budding gymnasts.

Princesses for a day TWENTY-EIGHT gymnasts from 12 regional clubs took part in Teulada’s ‘Mini Princesses Trophy.’

The event for budding gymnasts aged between six and seven was organised by the Llebeig Teudalada-Moraira Rhythmic Gymnastics Club.

This was the first edition of the competition, said the club’s president, Sandra Romero, and was well-participated, she said.

Of the club’s five competing gymnasts, three won awards. Julia Tent, whose first competition this was, took a gold medal, while Luna Mañas took second place with Paula Ivars coming third.

The clubs other ‘miniprincesses’ who took part – Sofia Campilongo and Luna Llobell – both came fourth in different categories.

The successful results were a satisfying reflection of the work put in by these young

gymnasts, Romero said, and the audience also enjoyed the occasion.

Events like the Mini Princesses Trophy are vital because they are exciting for the gymnasts and encourage them to carry on with the sport, she added.

“Their style suits me,” he told an interviewer in the regional Spanish press. “And you can’t say ‘no’ to an offer like that.”

Working in New York is “awesome” he said.

“Almost anything is possible there.”

One day, his chief put him to work on an order for a client called Michelle. It was only later that he discovered her surname: “I was beside myself when I realised,” he said.

Salvador did not meet Obama’s wife in person, but he has met Ana Wintour, when she came to collect a jacket he had helped design. The ‘Arctic Wintour’ label is undeserved, he said.

“She is not nearly so frightening without her dark glasses,” he confided.

EWN

5

Costa Blanca North

Lions donation: A ton-and-a-half of food.

Lions’ share for Caritas BENIDORM’S welfare councillor Cristina Escoda visited the local Lions Club recently. Here she saw the 1,500 kilos of food supplies collected for needy families in the area. The donation was then taken by club president, Juan Jose Galiana Gregori and other Lions members to the Caritas charity for distribution.

NEWS

6 EWN

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

www.euroweeklynews.com

NEWS EXTRA

Unfair bills hit families NEW electricity tariffs will adversely affect them, complained the Alicante Province Large Families Association. Charges penalise the amount of electricity used regardless of a household’s size, they said.

Whistle-blower fired

by Spanish TV channel AN RTVV (Spanish TV channel) employee who accused its exsecretary general of sexual

harassment, has been made redundant.

As a result of complaints in 2010

Civil rights PEDREGUER Local Police should not intervene in evictions likely to cause hardship, said Mayor Sergi Ferrus.

Officers’ first duty is always to defend citizens’ rights and freedoms, he said.

Danger man POLICE have charged a ‘kamikaze driver’ who caused an accident on the A-7 with dangerous driver. He is a 29-yearold man from Elche .

Merger row THE Bank of Spain forced through the Bankia merger, claimed Jose Luis Olivas.

Former head of the regional government’s Finance department, he was also Bankia vice-president.

Honours lost MIGUEL HERNANDEZ UNIVERSITY has revoked the honorary doctorate bestowed on Gerardo Diaz Ferran.

Former head of the CEOE – equivalent to the UK’s CBI – he is now remanded on fraud charges.

Evil weevils RED weevils are continuing to demolish Villajoyosa’s palm trees, claim the Young Socialists movement.

Costa Blanca North

TEAM: Wild Wolf getting ready for Dakar Rally.

from the presenter, the former head of the regional television and radio station, Vicente Sanz, will now stand trial.

Three employees, including the laid-off worker, were all subjected to sexual abuse, threats and bullying, they claimed.

Valencia High Court rejected an appeal by Sanz’s defence counsel and the date of the trial is expected shortly. The unnamed employee was one of many recently informed of redundancy by email. Her dismissal was ‘inhuman in the extreme’, complained Salut Alcover, President of the RTVV employees’ committee.

Wild Wolf bound for Dakar ALFASINO PACO CORTIJO will be the Wild Wolf team manager for the 2013 Dakar Rally.

Cortijo is a former Wild Wolf super-

motard rider with 12 years of experience in competition riding.

Cortijo has spent the last six months preparing for the rally, together with

the Wild Wolf team pilot, Gerard Farres and mechanic Paco Ivars.

“We want to be ready for anything,” he said.

Councillors’ good turn THIRTEEN Benidorm councillors have decided to forego their Christmas bonus.

The councillors - seven PSOE Socialists, four PP conservatives and two from the centre-right CDL party - all work full-time as councillors.

They wanted to show support for municipal workers originally promised 25 per cent of the extra month’s money they would ordinarily have received at this time of the year.

The bonus was cancelled months ago by the central government which recently warned defiant councils that officials authorising the move would be held legally responsible.

THREE people have been arrested in Dolores, accused of attempted insurance fraud.

One of them, a woman who owns a shop in Albatera (Murcia), reported that two masked men armed with large knives had broken into

Differences over the money - around €32,000 - at first arose after the councillors failed to agree over how it should be used.

The PP councillors suggested donating the amount to the Doble Amor centre for the disabled, which currently has financial problems.

The PSOE and CDL councillors, on the other hand, wanted first to consult with the town hall auditor. Having confirmed that the savings could be used to this end, it was agreed that the money should be donated to the Doble Amor centre as well as local branches of Caritas and the Red Cross.

No day of doom JAVEA hosted the premiere of the Spanish film, ‘Los dias no vividos’ on December 21.

The title - roughly translated it means ‘Days not lived’ - was chosen to mark the 20th anniversary of Javea’s Club Sete Segell cinema club.

Produced by Alfonso Cortes Cavanillas and produced by the Caña Brothers, the film - an end of the world movie tells the story of a Mayan prophesy foretelling the end of the world on December 21 2012, following unusual solar activity.

The date could not have been more apt, organisers pointed out.

Robbery that never was her home and taken €1,000 in cash and a TV. They later fled in a top-of-the-range car driven by a woman, she claimed.

Believing the

Air rescue back

woman’s story, the Guardia Civil opened an investigation and set out to identify and locate the alleged housebreakers.

IN a few days’ time, Alicante will once again have an air ambulance.

Following last November’s decision by the provincial government not to renew the existing contract for the service, the regional government has stepped in.

Since mid-November, Alicante Province had had no means of airlifting patients to hospital.

In several recent cases where patients needed to be moved urgently, the authorities had to request the assistance of Valencia’s own helicopter.

It will foot the bill for the ambulance, the regional government has now pledged. The news was first leaked by its representative on the Provincial Fire Service.

The regional government has since confirmed the move and the helicopter will return to its Muchamiel base.

The air ambulance service, which cost €500,000 to maintain, had to be cancelled when the provincial government - similar to a county council - ran out of cash.

Criticism of the cancellation was not slow to arrive, especially when medical staff were obliged to use helicopters used for extinguishing fires.

This option was an operational fiasco, both they and the fire services said.

The regional government’s original solution of using Valencia’s air ambulance was no better, as it took more than an hour to arrive, they complained.

Their enquiries soon made it clear that the robbery could never have taken place.

Instead they established that the woman and her partner had planned the fake robbery in order to claim on their insurance.

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 www.euroweeklynews.com

NEWS EXTRA

A more open university UNED in Denia wants to bring the open university closer to the public, said Raquel Marti Signes. The former UNED graduate is the new director of the centre in Denia.

Grant boost MUCHAMIEL’S 2013 budget will practically double the number of free school meals. The present €15,000 allocation has been raised to €27,500.

Grants for textbooks will also be increased.

Made in Javea JAVEA intends to create its own version of the Denomination of Origin. It will apply to the area’s traditional gourmet and gastronomic products.

Gas scam TWO men were arrested in Alicante City for preying on six elderly women. Posing as gasmen they overcharged for fake revisions and stole items from their homes.

Murder attempt A SAN VICENTE man was arrested after allegedly trying to kill his former partner’s boyfriend.

He was recently released from prison after serving a fouryear sentence for domestic violence.

Family facts THE parents of almost half of the children now born in Gandia are not married. The percentage rose from 18.4 per cent in 2001 to 44.5 in 2011.

NEWS

EWN

Slanging match at the council

MAYOR of San Juan, Manuel Aracil, has threatened to sue Cesar Vilar, an EU councillor.

Vilar earlier reproached the ‘fascist behaviour’ of his PP colleagues on the council whom, he claimed, laughed as he spoke during a council meeting.

The mayor was visibly angered, according to witnesses, and asked Vilar to retract his statement.

The EU councillor refused, insisting as he left the council chamber that he was always civil towards other people.

And he had never laughed at his colleagues, he added.

Vilar later described Aracil as ‘a little Hitler’ in LANDMARK: Calpe’s Peñon de Ifach. an interview with Spanish newspaper Informaciones.

A CALPE skipper was although a third, Manuel This was slander, injured when his boat Ferrer Morris, suffered claimed the mayor, who crashed into the Peñon de minor leg injuries. told the same newspaper The boat returned that he had contacted his Ifach.

The trawler Iaio Pacurri immediately to harbour lawyer and would start had left Calpe harbour at and the emergency ser- legal proceedings against around 5.30am and was vices were called.

Vilar.

At the time of writing travelling slowly when the accident occurred shortly Cabrera Perez remains in Valencia Hospital where he afterwards.

The crew appeared to was taken for treatment.

As he was in have lost control of the boat after experiencing considerable pain from a mechanical problems, said fractured jaw and unable Santos Pastor of the Calpe to talk, he could not give BUSINESSES in the further details of the centre of Alicante City fishing guild.

The skipper, 48-year-old mishap, Santos Pastor want the area to be Antonio Cabrera Perez, hit explained. declared a tourist his face as the vessel ran The trawler was lucky to spot. This will enable into the imposing Calpe have hit the Peñon wall them to apply for landmark. Two other crew and not submerged rocks, restrictions to be lifted members were uninjured sources said. on opening hours.

Trawler hits Peñon

Open all hours

Give us money not guns, demands pacifist group THE pacifist Grupo Antimilitarista Tortuga has urged the central government to cut all military spending.

Demonstrating outside the central government’s delegation building in Alicante City, they called on President Mariano Rajoy to reduce the defence budget to zero.

“This will be cut by 6 per cent in 2013,” said a spokesman for the collective. “But at the same time, health and education

spending are going to be slashed by around 30 per cent. That’s a considerable difference,” he pointed out.

The group also called on the population to make what it termed ‘a fiscal protest’. When making tax returns, the Spanish should ask the government to pay their share of the Defence allocation to a NGO (non-government organisation) or use it for social purposes.

7

Costa Blanca North

Judge defies Justice Minister A BENIDORM judge who refuses to apply the new legal charges could face disciplinary action.

As previously reported in Euro Weekly News, Judge Carlos Vega does not agree with fees that must now be paid before initiating some court cases or appealing against earlier rulings.

The charges breach European Union law, the judge said. They are also ‘disproportionate and abusive’ for citizens, he added.

Other judges as well as public prosecutors are dissatisfied with the measures recently introduced by Justice Minister Alberto RuizGallardon.

Most agree that the new tariffs are too high, as do consumer associations. Only Vega has gone so far as to state categorically that he has no intention of adhering to the new regulations.

NEWS

8 EWN

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

www.euroweeklynews.com

THE La Cala de Finestrat watercourse is to be channelled to prevent future floods.

The zone is always flooded after heavy rain and now constitutes a danger area. Two Britons visiting an open-air market lost their lives there in October 2011 when they drowned after being swept away in a flash flood.

The ‘mercadillo’ has

been moved to another site, but the problem remains. After only moderately heavy rain the area where the Avenida Marina Baixa meets the beach is strewn with washeddown mud and gravel.

Last September the zone was badly flooded yet again, causing damage which Finestrat town hall put at €80,000.

The upper section of the Avenida Marina Baixa where the ‘mercadillo’ was held is now closed to traffic, although the most serious problems arise lower down.

Construction in this much-developed area means that more water

FLOOD RISK: La Cala de Finestrat. accumulates in what was always a watercourse, and descends more quickly to the beach.

The Jucar Water Board (CHJ) now plans to channel the Finestrat ‘barranco,’ working from a preliminary draft

prepared by town hall officials, said Finestrat mayor, Honorato Algado.

The project is expected to need an investment of up to €2 million, but finance has not yet been made available.

Health card dilemma if Spanish work abroad ALICANTINA Ana Navarro was astounded when she found her health card was blocked.

Like thousands of other young people Ana, who is 27 and has two university

degrees, could not find work. She decided she would have better prospects in France and is now employed in Paris.

Returning to her Callosa de Segura family for Christmas, Ana decided to make an appointment at the local health centre.

Here she was told her health card had been cancelled and she was no Zamora imposes a fine longer covered by the of just €30. health service.

Melilla, Leon, Soria “I worked in superand Avila all charge less markets, shops and as a than €50, found a conference hostess while survey by the OCU studying. I paid social consumers’ group. security for five years. Now Although Spain’s I’m not even entitled to see average ‘grua’ charge a doctor in my own country,” worked out at said a seething Ana. approximately €91, “I’m glad I left. I miss a there was a whopping lot of things, but I no longer 587 per cent difference want to return when I see between the cheapest the things that are and most expensive happening here.” rates, OCU said.

Spanish citizens like Ana Cheap, reasonable or who work abroad are expensive, all ‘grua’ regarded as foreigners by charges in every the Administration, Social Spanish provincial Security sources later capital were 5 per cent revealed. She would still dearer in 2012 than in be entitled to emergency the previous year. care, they added.

A fine prospect ANYONE who visits Valencia for a shopping trip should be careful not to double-park.

The city’s €145 charge for the municipal ‘grua’ – the tow truck that removes offending vehicles – is one of the highest in Spain.

This is still a bargain compared with Valladolid where it costs €176 to reclaim a towed-away vehicle, more than any other provincial capital in the country.

Both Barcelona and Madrid inflict the same €145 charge as Valencia City but

GERMAN

PRESS

Stories making headlines from Germany

Late post AYUNTAMIENTO LA CALA DE FINESTRAT

Channelling plans to prevent flooding

Costa Blanca North

LETTERS posted by German soldiers occupying British island Jersey 71 years ago are finally being delivered.

More buyers PROPERTY firms Accentro, IVG and Engel & Volkers reported a rise in Spanish, Greek and Italian buyers in Berlin, which they linked to putting their money somewhere safe.

Out of prison MORE than 1,000 prison inmates across Germany who have proven good behaviour will get the traditional seasonal amnesty, to spend Christmas with their families.

Pony travels PASSENGERS on a Berlin S-Bahn train were surprised to be travelling alongside a pony named Seppi. The 16-year-old owner said she had taken it on a day-long excursion.

Tax fraud THE German owner of top-visited porn websites YouPorn, Pornhub, Fabian Thylmann, was held for alleged tax fraud after a Cologne court issued a warrant.

Higher fines CAR parking fines for exceeding the time limit could be doubled in Germany, according to Tranport Ministry plans, Saarbrücker says Zeitung newspaper.

Firms invest AROUND 70 per cent of those surveyed by the Bertelsmann Foundation said the immigrant community in Germany encourages international firms to invest in the country.

NEWS

10 EWN

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

www.euroweeklynews.com

Costa Blanca North

SCANDINAVIAN PRESS Stories making headlines in Denmark, Norway and Sweden

Mayor abuse NORWAY - The now ex-mayor of Vågå, Rune Øygard, aged 53, resigned after being jailed for four years for repeatedly abusing a 13-year-old girl.

WASTEFUL?: The Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias in Valencia city.

Valencia’s reputation comes crashing down BIG events and ambitious building projects have allegedly bankrupted the Valencian Community.

In a recent edition of the BBC2 programme, The Great Spanish Crash, journalist Paul Mason visited the Valencian Community.

He saw the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias and empty moorings built for

the America’s Cup regatta. He was also taken to Castellon’s airport which cost €150 million to build and where no plane or passenger has ever landed.

“How could Valencia have been allowed to do something like this?” he asked in the programme which homed in on the Generalitat’s

spending cuts and its difficulties in paying its own bills, including the region’s pharmacists.

No details were spared of corruption cases staining the reputations of politicians high and low.

The savings banks were also slated for their influence on regional, provincial and local politicians.

Sex sentence SWEDEN - A 37year-old woman was sentenced by a Gothenburg court to probation and psychiatric treatment for using human bones for sexual purposes

Sloppy job DENMARK Copenhagen police admitted that they improperly used Google’s online tranlation service when

accusing a Kurdish resident of financing terrorism.

Angry mob SWEDEN - 27 youths were held in a series of riots in Gothenburg.

They were protesting about a student who allegedly labelled local teens as ‘sluts’ and ‘whores’ in hundreds of internet pictures.

Danish wolf DENMARK - The National Nature Agency confirmed that a dead animal found in a Jutland national park was a wolf, the first in nearly two centuries to be spotted in Denmark.

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

NEWS

www.euroweeklynews.com

Mistaken identity ADRIAN ROIG lives in Anna (Valencia) but his ID number belongs to someone in Merida.

Roig, aged 23, was unaware of the duplication until recently, when he tried to transfer a car into his own name.

When the application was processed at the Jefatura de Trafico, it turned out that the ID number he provided belonged to someone with an entirely different name living in Merida (Badajoz).

Roig then had to go to the police and Hacienda in nearby Xativa where he was obliged to explain the situation - which he described as Kafkian – again.

He had to fill in more forms and left with a promise of DISTINCTIVE: Olive oil from the Alicante province. “we’ll sort it out.”

This was the first time he has ever had problems with his identity card, Roig OLIVE Oil is traditionally associated with Andalucia, All the olives used for the virgin extra oil comes said, which he used but Alicante province produces some of the best. from trees growing in the Campo de Mirra in inland at university and This was also the unanimous verdict from Alicante. It is processed on site before distribution for a passport thousands of intrigued visitors at a recent trade fair in throughout Spain. The thousands who visited the fair application. His main Santander. were keen to sample the distinctive oil and all worry now, he Although the fair centred on products from the pronounced it excellent. The oil is available in versions added, is that he is a Cantabria region, Alicante products were also featuring local fruit and herbs native to Sierra de victim of identity featured, including organic olive oil created by a Mariola, including rosemary, thyme, pebrella theft. provincial producer. (savoury) and peppers, as well as garlic and chilli.

Promoting the best of Alicante oil

EWN

11

Costa Blanca North

A date with Three Kings THE Three Kings will be visiting every town and village in Spain on the evening of January 5.

Beforehand, though, they often send an ‘ambassador’ to pick up the notes that children have written to the Three Wise Men. In these they describe the presents they would like to find on their balcony or window ledge on the morning of January 6. They also explain that they have been good all year to avoid being given an unwanted lump of coal.

This year, the Kings’ ambassador will be visiting Benissa’s Plaza Jaume 1, at 8pm on January 3 to pick up the letters, the town hall announced.

On the big night itself Gaspar, Melchor and Baltasar are due to arrive at around 7pm in the Plaza del Portal.

The town hall has also asked residents to co-operate with delivering the presents brought by the Three Kings to Benissa homes.

All those who would like to help should put their names down at the Casa Jove before January 4, said Fiestas councillor Raquel Soliveres.

NEWS

12 EWN

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

www.euroweeklynews.com

Tourist board faces austerity THE Costa Blanca tourist board will have to juggle a €4.3 million budget next year.

This amount, allocated by the Alicante Provincial Government, is the same as last year’s.

In what promises to be a complicated situation, the board, which is dependent on the provincial government, has decided to set aside €65 out of every €100 in promoting Alicante holiday destinations.

Almost €1 million will be spent on promoting the province on the national and international markets. The board also plans to publicise the province’s inland towns and countryside.

There will also be four different types of help available for town halls wanting to promote tourism, sources said.

Costa Blanca North

Clearing a path for Ikea ALICANTE COUNCIL has cleared yet another hurdle in smoothing the way for Ikea.

The Rabasa district, where the megastore will be located, does not need an environmental impact re-evaluation, said the regional government’s Environment Department.

Despite the undeniable changes that Ikea will bring to the area, a new report will not be necessary, it confirmed. “Carrying out the project will not affect the environ-

ment,” the department said.

The chosen site includes a shopping mall and a hypermarket covering an area of 287,206 square metres but principal modifications will focus on reclassifying land originally earmarked for homes for commercial use.

Although very much delayed, the entire Rabasa development on the outskirts of the city is still a priority for the city council. At one point the project was halted by the Valencia courts although this ruling was

later reversed on appeal.

Having disposed of possible objections to Ikea on environmental grounds, it only remains to receive approval from the central government’s Ministry of Public Works.

The Environment Department decision does not imply that the project has avoided a ban, city hall sources admitted. But the council has avoided a delay of several months thanks to the regional government’s decision.

Scoring goals against poverty GOAL: Football match for charity.

AGOST’S parish priest and mayor headed teams in a benefit football match for Caritas.

Neither could be compared to Messi or Cristiano, as they were the first to admit.

But the aim of the two teams – Friends of the Priest and Friends of the Mayor – was to encourage donations to the charity.

Whatever the quality of the football, the match succeeded in attracting 500 spectators who donated 1.2 tons of food.

It was not without incident, as the goalkeeper for the Friends of the Priest broke his collarbone.

The match ended with a victory on penalties for the priest’s team following a 3-3 score at full-time.

Sandy Hook heroine has Spanish roots THE grandfather of Kaitlin Roig, heroine of the Newtown shootings in the USA, came from Paterna in Valencia.

The teacher managed to save her 15 pupils in the massacre at the Sandy Hook school.

“When we saw the footage on the television and heard the name of the school, we immediately thought of her,” said her cousin Teresa.

Kaitlin’s grandfather, Pascual, sailed from

Cherbourg in France with $30 in his pocket in 1920. “My uncle was a clever man, and he went to America to make money,” said Paco, another of Kaitlin’s cousins. He separated from his first wife, Dolores, later remarrying Kaitlin’s maternal grandmother.

The two families have not seen each other for around 20 years, but still keep in touch by post and email.

“We are very proud of her,” the cousins said.

RUSSIAN

PRESS

Stories making headlines from Russia

Social aid CHARITY funds are being raised nationwide for the medical treatment of 17-year-old Moscow girl Rita Alkayeva, diagnosed with bone cancer.

Black snow BLACK snow fell in Omsk twice in a week.

Local prosecutors are running tests on nearby coal plants to check if they were to blame.

Metro death A MAN aged 28 was stabbed to death while travelling on the Lyublinsko-Dmitrovskaya Moscow metro line. No suspects have been held.

French VIP ACTOR Gerard Depardieu said he is considering moving to Russia and renouncing being French in protest at France’s new tax on high earners. “Putin sent me a passport,” he said.

Police raid THE chairman of the Solidarity movement and the director of Transparency International in Voronezh had their homes raided by police, who accused them of ‘activism’.

TV funds RUSSIAN public television will get €110 million in subsidies over the next three years to finance production and marketing costs, Prime Minister Medvedev announced.

Air route BRITISH low-cost airline easyJet started selling tickets for a Moscow to Manchester route to start in March 2013. Base price for one-way trips starts at €55.

NEWS

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

Too many empty apartments OCCUPANCY rates for Benidorm tourist apartments last November was the lowest for five years.

Although tourism is weathering the crisis better than other sectors, the recession still continues to claim victims.

Apartment occupancy last month fell to 48.8 per cent, a dip of 5.7 per cent compared with November 2011.

December is not expected to show much of an improvement, as occupancy by midmonth stood at only 37.2 per cent.

13

Costa Blanca North

242 weapons seized from fake antiques dealer A MAN who had 242 weapons hidden in his home in El Vendrell, Tarragona was arrested.

The detainee claimed to be an antiquarian and had been selling weapons at antiques fairs all over Spain

for more than a decade. He was arrested when he planned to travel to Bilbao.

He didn’t have licences

Health care reduced in state prisons SPAIN’S Penitentiary Institution will reduce the presence of health care staff in state prisons.

From January 1, doctors at six prisons, (Daroca-Zaragoza, El Dueso-Santander, Jaen, Madrid I-Meco, Murcia and Valladolid), will not be present from 3pm until 8am.

However, they will be on call, a method which is already used in 30 prisons which are near to large cities and hospitals.

For the Civil Servants Union, CSIF, what the Penitentiary Institution calls “optimisation” is “nothing more than a simple cutback.” They complain the work of doctors and the health of inmates is

being endangered, because doctors have to determine by phone whether the situation is an emergency.

There are 378 doctors and 512 nurses for 58,927 inmates in Spain, which is approximately one for every 66.

Meanwhile, the amount spent on feeding inmates will not be increased in 2013, and will remain at €80 million, the same it has been since 2010. This is between €3.65 and €4.15 per day per inmate. Each inmate gets three daily meals.

They get double rations on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and September 24, the Day of Mercy.

for any of the weapons, for which he charged up to €4,000.

Police seized 23 pistols, 16 revolvers, six hand grenades from the Spanish Civil War and World War II, 20 rifles, five shotguns, 15 swords, 73 bayonets, 14 dress swords, seven sabres, 43 knives and 19 machetes, as well as €19,000 in cash, a Guardia Civil badge and ammunition.

Two of the grenades were still loaded and because they were old and damaged they were extremely dangerous and could have exploded at any moment.

When he travelled to fairs he put the weapons in hidden compartments in his vehicle, the rest of the time

16 revolvers amongst weapon stash. they were hidden above a false ceiling in his home, where he took no safety measures to prevent accidents or robbery.

The police fear that some of the weapons may have been purchased by criminals. Many had been adapted for use.

His current partner and ex-wife, who both helped him to purchase and sell the weapons, were also arrested. The detainees also sold militaria, insignias and other items.

NEWS

14 EWN

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

www.euroweeklynews.com

Costa Blanca North

Juan Carlos I on YouTube THE King of Spain has made his debut on YouTube with a video recompilation of his Christmas messages

over the years.

The Spanish Royal Household now has its own YouTube channel, at www.youtube.com/

casarealtv where users can access the Christmas messages which are classified by date and theme.

Artistic photography to help the disabled A PHOTO Association in Navarra, Itxusi, has created a charity calendar to raise funds for the disabled, seriously affected by government cutbacks.

In December, a protest march was organised by the Association for People with Intellectual Disabilities (ANFAS) which is

how Itxusi members learned of the problems they are facing.

The public administrations in Spain owe €300 million to organisations for the disabled, and 60,000 people in 2,000 centres for the handicapped are in danger.

When the members of the photo association looked out of their window they saw the local fire station and came up with the idea with getting the firemen to pose for a calendar.

All of them agreed on an artistic calendar where firemen are seen with disabled children.

Local town halls were asked to help with the cost of printing the calendar, and 100 per cent of the money raised will go to ANFAS. There are 6,000 calendars which will be sold at €5 each.

PHOTO IDEA: An artistic calendar.

More information http://itxusi.com/index.php/ es/calendario-solidario-anfas

The first one was on Christmas Eve 1975, in black and white.

There are also videos with the most representative moments of each of the four decades Juan Carlos I has been on the throne.

In the 1978 video, the Queen, Prince and Princesses, still children, can also be seen.

It was also be possible to watch this year’s Christmas message from the King on the YouTube channel which aims to improve the Royal Family’s relationship with the people.

It will allow users to see the official activities carried out by the King and Queen, Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia.

Tow costs vary by 587 per cent THE cost of a car being towed by a municipal tow truck can vary 587 per cent depending on the city.

Zaragoza is the city where the service costs the most, at €176, and Zamora the cheapest at €30, according to the User and Consumer Organization (OCU).

Also amongst the most expensive are Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid, where the service costs around €145, and at the opposite extreme, are Melilla, Leon, Soria and Avila, where it costs less than €50. The average for Spain is €91.

The average price has risen 5 per cent from 2011, although 33 per cent of the cities have frozen their fees.

OCU also warns people if their car is towed, they will also have to pay a fine and a fee for the number of days their vehicle remains in the impound, which can vary from €2.05 in Las Palmas to €29.65 per day in San Sebastian.

In some cities, if the vehicle is collected by the owner before it is taken to the impound, the bill will be less, but in others, the whole fee must be paid.

Brothel owner sues over breach of contract after director of film calls him a ‘pimp’ THE owner of a brothel where one of Spain’s most famous cinema sagas, Torrente, was filmed, has sued the director for calling him a ‘pimp’.

Torrente 4, released in March 2011, is the latest of the saga starring and directed by Santiago Segura, and was partly filmed in

D’Angelo, a well-known brothel in Alicante.

This comes a week after a Madrid court ordered that the Segura’s film producer, Amiguetes Entertainment, be embargoed for failing to pay €6,000 compensation for breach of contract.

Segura wrote on Twitter “it is sad that a pimp

can sue you and the judge takes his side.” The agreement was to film there for three days paying €2,000 per day, but when filming started, the brothel owner was allegedly told there wasn’t enough money but that the façade of the brothel and logo would appear in the film and it would be named twice.

NEWS EXTRA

Places to visit BRITISH AIRWAYS named Alicante as one its recommended destinations for 2013.

Other BA favourites included Las Vegas, Rio de Janeiro, Seoul, Dubai, and Cape Town.

It all helps VALENCIA based Mercadona is to pay dairy farmers one cent per litre more for its own label milk. The hike will benefit more than 2,000 farmers throughout Spain.

Unpaid pool THE company building Campello’s covered swimming pool has halted for the second time.

They cannot continue, the contractor said, as the regional govern-ment has paid nothing since last June.

Pay-back A former CAM bank manager in Campos de Rio was accused of defrauding clients of €253,000. The public prosecutor recommended a six-year sentence and the return of the money.

Train death AN elderly man was killed when the Xativa-Alcoy train hit his car. He was on a level crossing without barriers.

NEWS

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

15

Costa Blanca North

Spanish men open to talk about sex EIGHTY per cent of Spanish say they are not ashamed to talk about sexual problems.

They say that if they had to, they would take the initiative themselves and talk about it directly, according to the

‘Sexual Health and the Doctor’ survey.

The study has been carried out by ‘Lilly’ and backed by the Spanish Sexual Health Association and the Spanish Association for Andrology, Sexual and

Reproductive Medicine amongst 1,514 men aged 35 to 74.

Although 70 per cent believe that doctors are used to patients asking them about their sexual problems, the same percentage admits they

HIGH-SPEED: Many people have not used the service as it is too expensive.

AVE train prices to reduce THE Ministry of Public Works has announced that the price of AVE highspeed train tickets will be reduced in January.

The Minister of Public Works, Ana Pastor, said high-speed train tickets are currently “very expensive” and that the government will try to make them “more competitive” “The AVE is quick and efficient” she said, “but there are many people who have never used it because it is still too expensive.”

Pastor also defended the fact that millions of euros have been invested to create the AVE railway route, as it is the train sector which offers the

best results, and promised that eventually, high-speed trains would be available from all Spain’s cities.

The Ministry of Public works will pay more attention to the routes which it considers to be of public interest because it has observed there are more than 175 stations which are used by only one passenger or fewer every day, more than 100 which are used by five people at the most every day, and even some that are only used by one person throughout the year.

Pastor said that other options will be offered to the passengers affected by the closure or changes to such stations.

do not understand the terminology used by their doctor.

One in eight claims they have never been asked by their doctor about the quality of

their sex life in general, and if they have, in 6 per cent of cases it has only been to ask about the frequency and whether they have erectile dysfunction.

This problem affects 40 per cent of men over 40, but 80 per cent of men say their doctor has never asked them about it directly.

NEWS

16 EWN

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

www.euroweeklynews.com

Costa Blanca North

FAMILY LINE-UP: Michel and Steven with family members.

MALE DOMAIN: Michel with male members of the EWN team.

A grand party night A

S parties go, it was something very special. Hosted by Euro Weekly News Publishers Michel and Steven Euesden, it was held to mark the staff annual Christmas dinner, as well as to celebrate Michel’s 50th birthday, and her parents George and Irene Mole’s earlier Golden Wedding anniversary.

And part of the underlying theme to the black-tie event at the Valparaiso Restaurant in Mijas - closed to the public for the night was the local community.

The more than 160 people attending the party, which began with a Champagne and canapé reception, included diplomats, top corporate

PRIZE LINE-UP: Michel and Steven with EWN award winners.

EWN Awards 2012 • Exceptional Services Award – Clive Jacques • Most Promising – Gemma Quinn • Best Newcomer – Laura Bruce • Best Design Manager – Beatriz Barroso • Best Department Manager – Amalia Calle • Most Progressive Manager – Marcos Poyastro • Best Media Buyer – Esteban Molina

• Most Competent Accountant – Silvia Gutierrez • Most Loyal (1999-2012) – Jose Valentin • Colleague of the Year – Kim Hermansen • Extraordinary Employee – Fiona Rooney • Employee of the Year – Mary Garden • Best Salesperson – Benjamin Wickham • Platinum Award – Nicki Burgess

clients, family and close friends of Michel and Steven, as well as EWN staff from the various offices including Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Mallorca and Almeria, plus freelance columnists. English soul band The Real Thing topped the entertainment bill during and following the seven-course dinner.

Other performers included tenor Stephen Lloyd-Morgan, 2004 X-Factor finalist Rowetta, Pablo the Saxophonist, Magician Al and Dan the Compere.

There was also a grand firework display at midnight that lit up the Mijas skyline.

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

NEWS

www.euroweeklynews.com

EWN

17

Costa Blanca North

Awards for leaders in community

FEMALE DOMAIN: Steven, with female members of the EWN team.

to remember

DURING an impressive presentation ceremony, several key community figures received EWN recognition for their untiring support and effort on behalf of the local expatriate population.

The awards were: • Most Informative Association; British Consul and staff.

• Best Foreigners Department; Mijas Town Hall.

• Expatriate Agency of the Year; PLC Advertising and Marketing.

• Best Fundraiser Recognition; Patti Senker.

• Spain’s Expatriate Entertainer of the Year; Rowetta.

All winners received an engraved plaque and flowers presented by Michel and Steven.

British Consul Steve Jones said he and his team were delighted by the award.

“They are dedicated professionals working hard at one of the world’s three busiest British consulates,” he said.

The Best Foreigners Department Award was received by Mario Bravo and Anette Skou.

“I am pleased that the hard work of all the Mijas staff is publicly recognised through this award,” said Mario, the department’s councillor.

Philip Langley, Managing Director of PLC, after receiving, along with staff members, the Expatriate Agency of the Year Award for providing dedicated service to the Costa del Sol for more than 20 years, said: “We were amazed to win considering such strong competition.

We work very hard to meet our clients’ objectives, so to be nominated and win this award is the cherry on the cake to our exceptional year.”

Patti Senker, who has dedicated more than 20 years to fundraising for charities – many of which need help more now than ever before – said the award was “totally unexpected but gratefully received.”

Hours after receiving Spain’s Expatriate Entertainer of the Year Award, Rowetta flew to the UK to support British alternative rock band The Happy Mondays.

Presentations to key EWN staff were then made by Michel and Steven, who said their personal thanks went to “not just the award winners, but to all the totally dedicated and hard-working EWN family.”

And they ended by adding: "And 2013 will be even more special.”

NEWS

18 EWN

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

www.euroweeklynews.com

Costa Blanca North

Six ‘Paradores’ may be saved THE Spanish ‘Paradores’ network has suggested reducing the number of dismissals planned by half and closing just one hotel.

Staff at ‘Paradores’ throughout Spain went on strike to protest the company’s redundancy plan which proposed 644 dismissals.

At a recent meeting with union representatives, Paradores ruled out closing most of the establishments, reducing the

‘Restoration’ woman is hired AN advertising agency has hired Cecilia Gimenez, who hit the international press this year for her ‘restoration’ of a painting of Christ, as their artistic director.

Cecilia, 85, has reportedly been hired by Milvueltas, who say she was the author of the best marketing campaign of 2012. Her claim to fame was her unsuccessful attempt to restore the ‘Ecce Homo’ painting at her local church in Borja, Zaragoza. However, this caused Borja to become an important tourist destination and even US TV show Saturday Night Live heard of her attempt to restore the painting.

The company says Cecilia will discuss her daily activities on the Twitter account

ECCE HOMO: Before and after Cecilia’s ‘restoration’. @EcceCecilia. She will continue to reside in Borja, where Milvueltas has opened an office.

Cecilia will not be designing advertising campaigns, but the

company hopes that her presence will go viral on social networks, as well as teaching the staff to work in a more relaxed manner.

average yearly closing period to three months at 27 hotels and dismissing 350 people.

However, the closure of the Puerto Lumbreras Parador in Murcia still stands.

They also proposed improving compensation to 25 days per year worked, more than the legal minimum, for up to 18 months.

However, the meeting ended with very distant postures, and unions say the conditions are not enough.

Throughout Spain, the Paradores employ some 4,400 people.

The national ‘Paradores’ have seen the worst year in their history, with occupation levels falling to just 52 per cent this year and now have debts of more than €110 million.

The Paradors which were due to be closed are two in Galicia, two in Castilla-La Mancha, one in Andalucia, one in Murcia and one in Aragon.

More strikes were planned on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Tourist class not fitting THE President of General Council for Judicial Power (CGPJ), Gonzalo Moliner, has complained he has to travel in tourist class.

Following the resignation of his predecessor Carlos Divar for the scandal of his weekend trips to Marbella, an expense regime was approved which Moliner complains is ‘restrictive’.

He now has to request permission to travel and does so in tourist class, which “isn’t the best image for the person presiding over Judicial Power and the Supreme Court in Spain”, he complained.

However, he said he has a good relationship with the Minister of Justice, Alberto RuizGallardon and Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy.

NEWS

20 EWN

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

www.euroweeklynews.com

Costa Blanca North

ALMERIA

AXARQUIA

Street named

Fatal accidents

A NEW Almeria city street has been named after former mayor Santiago Martinez Cabrejas for being the city’s first mayor in the democratic era.

Bonus rejected

A TOTAL of 34 fatal accidents were recorded during 2012 on Malaga province’s roads, the national traffic institute DGT reported.

News from our editions

THE Huercal-Overa Council Popular Party members will be giving up their Christmas salary bonus as a solidarity gesture with public sector workers, who also had their Christmas bonus removed by the central government.

Illegal pool FINES Mayor Rodrigo Sanchez and his brother face 27 months jail.

Almeria court heard they had illegally built a building and swimming pool at their Los Llanos estate in 2005.

Waste system A NEW vegetable waste management system allowing an efficient treatment of 65,000 annual tons of vegetable residue is being promoted in El Ejido.

More grapes Grape production income in Almeria province increased by 9 per cent this year, to almost €884,000 thanks to a 2.14 per cent increase in the yield compared to 2011.

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

€200m budget ALICANTE Provincial Council will next year have a budget of €200 million and increased investment for social policies, support for municipalities and austerity and cost containment.

Murder case THE court case continues on Tuesday, January 8, of a Lithuanian man charged with murder and attempted murder following a fight in a Torrevieja park in 2009. He denies both charges.

Market loyalty MEMBERS of Orihuela’s Provincial Association of Street Vendors have been handing out sweets and drinks to customers as a thank you for their loyalty in 2012.

Food festival in Torrox

BERBER TENTS: Visit them in either Fuengirola or Malaga city centre.

Letters to Three Kings BERBER tents have been set up in Malaga and Fuengirola where children can take their letter to the Three Wise Men. The tents, which have been installed by Fuengirola Bioparc, in Plaza de la Constitucion in Malaga city centre and the square of the same name in Fuengirola, are handmade in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco.

They will remain there until January 4 so

children can leave their letters to the Three Wise Men with the Royal Emissary from 11am to 3pm and from 5pm to 9pm every day, except on Monday, when they will only be there in the morning and Tuesday, when they will only be there in the afternoon.

The children who visit the Royal Emissary will receive a yearly pass to the Bioparc Fuengirola.

Host chosen

Eviction pledge

Council loan

CREVILLENT has been chosen to host the XIII National Brotherhoods of the Holy Supper to be held in winter 2014. The event is expected to attract more than 200 people from across Spain.

CASARES has approved measures to ban Local Police from intervening in family evictions when the home is their permanent and only home.

PALMA Council’s water company Emaya as well as its funeral company will give the council a loan totalling €3.6 million to cover unpaid wages and other concepts before 2013.

Vets calendar VETERINARY students from Murcia have produced a 2013 calendar to help pay for their school trip to the Greek Islands.

A percentage of the proceeds from sales will go to an animal protection charity.

COSTA DEL SOL

Oh baby! Airport drugs found A PASSENGER was arrested at Malaga Airport after being found with four kilos of cocaine hidden in plastic baby food and cosmetic containers while transitting on a flight from South America to the Portuguese capital of Lisbon .

Woman,70, hurt A WOMAN pedestrian, aged 70, was seriously injured after being hit by a lorry on a pedestrian crossing in Churriana. .

Free mayor THE Mayor of Ardales, Juan Calderon, who has retired from teaching, will save the council €24,000 a year by not taking his mayoral salary.

Different debt RONDA Town Hall has approved plans to seek a €3.2m loan to pay off another for the same amount.

MALLORCA

Fuel theft NATIONAL POLICE in Manacor have arrested a man for stealing 8,000 litres of fuel, most of which has been recovered.

Cattle slaughter TWO dogs were taken to the Calvia kennels last week after they killed six sheep and a goat, with a further three sheep critically-wounded, at the town’s Can Barraca farm.

Unusual A TWENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD man has been sentenced at Palma Provincial Courts to three years in prison for having a greenhouse dedicated to growing marihuana at his home, which Guardia Civil dismantled in July 2011.

Unwanted works GUARDIA CIVIL have arrested a 34-year-old Moroccan man in Ses Salines’ Colonia de Sant jordi district for trying to stab two construction workers, who were at his neighbour’s house.

MORE than 35,000 people from all over Malaga province visited Torrox for the 31st Fiesta de las Migas.

Crumbled bread fried with sausage, and other local recipes were served.

No Three Kings parade GIPMTM party spokesman Jesus Perez criticised Velez town hall for “the absence of a Christmas campaign in Torre del Mar,” as the Three Kings parade will not go through suburban areas.

Business data A TOTAL of 255 small and medium-sized companies have opened and 139 business licences were granted throughout 2012 in Velez-Malaga, the Urban Works Council said.

Civic toys for students STUDENTS in Torrox schools have been taught by members of the Equal Rights Council about buying toys that do not promote sexist or violent behaviour.

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 www.euroweeklynews.com

Stat of week Electricity bills could increase 5 per cent from January 1 following a request by power companies to the Spanish government.

Finance,

business

&

EWN

21

Costa Blanca North

legal www.ewnbusiness.com

A EURO WEEKLY NEWS 8 PAGE SPECIAL SECTION

Ringing up most moans Mobile operators head the complaints league MOBILE PHONE operators are the most complained about businesses in Spain.

And complaints regarding charges for services which clients have not asked for are on the rise.

Forty-seven per cent of mobile phone users claim their company has charged them for a service they have not

Internet links lagging behind THERE are fewer houses in Spain with internet access than the European average.

Although internet connections have improved in the past six years, the official EU statistics service, Eurostat, reports that 68 per cent of Spanish homes have internet access, against a European average of 76 per cent.

However, while in Holland, 94 per cent of homes are on the internet, in Greece and

Romania, the number is 54 per cent.

When it comes to broadband connections, Spain is also below the EU average with 67 per cent compared to 72 for the EU as a whole.

In Spain, 74 per cent of internet users mainly read the news, 61 per cent post on social networking sites and 58 per cent book trips and services.

Forty-five per cent use online banking and only 12 per cent create blogs or websites.

requested at least once, and 32 per cent claim to have been charged for calls they haven’t made, according to consumer group Facua-Consumidores en Accion.

More than 50 per cent of people who have complained to their mobile company have said their problem was not solved.

FUMING: Mobile phone companies get most complaints.

B

Motor Insurance

usiness extra

Job keyword THE most searched-for keyword on Yahoo! search engine in 2012 was Infojobs, one of Spain’s major job search sites, established in 1998.

Work worry FORTY per cent of Spaniards admit that the problem which worries them most is lack of work, according to a survey by the Sociological Research Centre (CIS).

Real Christmas surprise GERMAN supermarket chain Lidl will have to pay €200,000 in Christmas dinners after a generous offer got out of hand.

The company offered to hand out tomato soup, chicken vol-auvents with potatoes, ice cream cake and chocolates as a Christmas dinner at soup kitchens in Belgium.

It launched the offer on its Twitter page, saying it would give out four servings for each ‘tweet’ mentioning the hashtag

#luxevooriedereen (luxury for all).

Lidl had estimated 1,000 servings at €20 each, but the local press got hold of the offer and within 24 hours, 1,500 people had ‘tweeted.’

Lidl had to hand out 7,500 Christmas dinners. However, far from complaining, The company rounded the total up to 10,000 and said the campaign had been a success, although it added it was not sure whether it would repeat the promotion in 2013.

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

22

EWN www.euroweeklynews.com

When it is just too late to put new item on agenda Q. IN an earlier column you explained that the Horizontal Law gives property owners the right to request that items be placed on the official agenda of the forthcoming AGM of the Community of Property Owners.

This I did by email and confirmed by letter the following day. The request was made more than four weeks before the meeting. My items did not appear on the agenda and I was told that the agenda had already been compiled and my items arrived too late. The agenda was published and distributed three weeks before the meeting so they had a week to fit my items You and the in. I can find no reference in the Horizontal Law to a time Law in Spain

By David Searl limit. Perhaps you could comment. R P, Costa del Sol A. YES, Article 16 of the Law of Horizontal Property says that any owner may request that items be placed on the agenda for the Annual General Meeting (AGM). It states clearly that the president shall place such items on the agenda when requested. There is no time limit specified. The only time limit mentioned is that the AGM must be convoked at least six days in advance.

So it seems that we have here a borderline case.

Perhaps the agenda had been carefully prepared and sent to the printer just before your letter arrived and perhaps it already contained a number of complex items, so the president decided to leave yours out for this time.

This is a defensible position. Or perhaps the president preferred not to bring up the points you mention at this time, so he rushed the agenda into final form in order not to include them. This would be an abuse of his powers.

In either case you have the right to go to court to claim that you have been deprived of your right to place an item on the agenda. Your letter was in proper form and seemed to be well in time. However, the president can surely claim that it really was too late for changes.

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

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 Costa Blanca North

Nissan steers towards bigger future NISSAN is investing £250 million in its Sunderland factory, directly creating 280 jobs. This year the Japanese company has built 500,000 cars at the plant.

£££

BOARDROOMS at science and engineering companies have the lowest proportions of women, a study by the Royal Society of Edinburgh found. Some academic societies have as few female members as one for every 75 men.

B

ritish usiness riefs £££

TELECOMS regulator Ofcom has said that seven companies have qualified to bid for superfast 4G mobile broadband airwaves. BT, firm MLL Telecom and Hong Kong’s PCCW Limited can enter bids, as

well as EE, Vodafone, O2 owner Telefonica and Hutchison, which owns Three.

£££ THE new boss of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, is to be paid £874,000 (€1 million) a year. A generous £250,000 (€307,000) housing allowance comes on top of £480,000 (€590,000) salary and £144,000 (€177,000) worth of pension contributions.

The killer smog that made politicians clean up city air THERE’S been a lot of reporting lately in the British media concerning the Great Smog of December 1952 which, as a 22-year-old electrician, I experienced first-hand.

Dense fogs had long been London’s particular badge of infamy, but the Jim ‘Great’ version Collins was literally, a POLLUTION: Exploiting resources too much is dangerous. killer. Figures vary, Costa Blanca depending upon the source, but all agree smog finally cleared, Unfortunately, this ancient deposits of that the directly taking down those new isn’t quite the case. The petroleum whilst at the attributable deaths were curtains, now with a dense particles of the same time uncovering numbered in thousands. dirty black stain along Great Smog have been huge areas of longIt lasted throughout the tops, to wash them. replaced by invisible, buried and frozen the weekend, bringing But they fell to pieces in but just as deadly, vegetation. traffic to a standstill as her hands, rotted away nitrogen dioxide, As it defrosts, it buses were stuck in their by the chemicals we’d all emitted by the countless decays and releases depots and the drivers been forced to breath. motor vehicles now massive quantities of of London’s black cabs London’s dense fogs clogging the capital’s methane, a greenhouse stayed at home. I’m not had for a century or thoroughfares. gas far worse than CO2. exaggerating when I tell more been a cause for It has been said that, Undersea exploration you that it was concern, but it took if one wishes to breathe is also taking place in impossible to see past thousands of deaths to truly clean air, it can be the Antarctic, destroying one’s knees. It was like force politicians’ hands, found in the frozen fish stocks and the wading through a dense, resulting, in 1956, with wastes of the Arctic and natural habitat of yellow-brown, foul- the passing of the Clean Antarctic, or in the penguins and other tasting vapour-bath that Air Act. depths of the dense birds, whilst Argentina stung one’s eyes and Recognising that the Amazon jungle. again beats its warthroat. killer smog was caused by Would that this were drums.

My mother had only smoke from millions of true today, but in these We are not the that week hung new domestic coal fires being modern times, with owners of this planet, curtains in the living- trapped beneath a the Earth’s population merely its custodians. room, the sash window thermal inversion, soft increasing exponentially, We have no right to of which was stuck with coal was prohibited and, latest figures show this exploit its resources as a three-inch gap at the lo! this did the trick. Smog to be only a dream. we do. It’s dangerous top, and a memory that has never returned, and The Arctic permafrost and makes no sense. has remained in my to the eye, London’s air is is being destroyed by oil But who is going to stop mind is of her, when the pure and clean. companies searching for it?

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com The UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, delivered his Autumn Statement (‘mini budget’) on 5th December.

The draft Finance Bill for 2013 was then published on 11th December.

Our article this week summarises some of the key tax and pension announcements which could affect British expatriates and those returning to live in the UK. Tax rates and allowances UK personal allowances are increasing to a higher level than expected (£9,440 instead of £9,205).

However, the top of the basic rate band is being reduced to £32,010 from £34,370, which will offset the increase for higher rate taxpayers.

The higher rate band threshold will only increase by 1% in 2014/2015 and 2015/2016, instead of by inflation.

Since inflation is expected to exceed 1% (the official target is 2%, though it is often higher), this means that more people will fall into the higher rate band and have higher tax bills.

While the capital gains tax rates will remain at 18% for gains falling within the basic rate band and 28% for higher rate bands, the actual annual tax free exemption will only increase by 1% for 2014/2015 and 2015/2016.

Therefore, more gains will fall into the higher rate band in future years.

The inheritance tax threshold has been frozen at £325,000 since 2009. It is now scheduled to increase in 2015/16, but again only by 1% (rounded up to £329,000) instead of

EWN

23

Costa Blanca North

UK Pensions And Tax Changes. Will They Affect You?

by Bill Blevins, Financia l Correspondent, Blevins Franks

by the rate of inflation as in the past.

There is therefore little relief for your heirs.

Statutory Residence Test The government confirmed that the new Statutory Residence Test, which will determine whether you are liable for income and capital gains tax in the UK or not, will come into effect on 6th April 2013.

This is welcome news for expatriates as it provides more certainty, but you still need to take advice to ensure you have your tax position right.

Annual Residential Property Tax The Finance Bill included draft legislation on this new tax. It affects residential properties valued at over £2 million and owned by non-natural persons (so, for example, properties owned through companies). The proposed annual charges start at £15,000, increasing to £140,000 for properties over £20 million.

Pensions If you have UK pension funds you will be affected by many of the changes announced in the Autumn Statement.

From April 2014, the lifetime allowance will drop from £1.5 million to £1.25 million.

Transitional protection - ‘Fixed Protection 2014’ - will be introduced for those already in excess of this amount or who believe they will be when they choose to take benefits, subject to certain conditions.

Another consultation is proposed regarding a personalised protection to enable investors to continue to contribute as well as protect themselves to a certain degree.

If you think you may be affected by this lower allowance speak to a wealth management firm like Blevins Franks which specialises in providing pension, investment and tax planning advice to British expatriates.

The capped drawdown limit will increase from 100% to 120% of the value of an equivalent annuity. Draft legislation will be published in January 2013. This includes funds held in a

Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS).

While this will bring some measure of relief to retirees in need of a higher income, you need to be aware that taking a higher income stream will increase pressure on the underlying investments and in turn increasing the risk of reducing the underlying funds along with future income levels. You should seek advice on your situation before increasing your income.

The annual £50,000 allowance is set to drop to £40,000 from April 2014.

This includes both personal and employer contributions. Careful planning is required so as not to incur charges.

QROPS UK pension transfers made to a QROPS will be reportable indefinitely (as opposed to 10 years), although still not subject to unauthorised payment charges once the member is outside of the five-year non UK residency period.

We will not know the effective date until next year, but it could be either 6th April 2013 or backdated to 11th December 2012.

QROPS providers will have to recertify to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) every five years that they still satisfy the QROPS regulations.

Tax evasion and avoidance Mr Osborne promised to continue to crack down on tax evasion and unacceptable tax avoidance.

Just before the Autumn Statement, HMRC issued a document called ‘Closing in on Tax Evasion’ outlining its approach to tackling tax fraud over the coming years. This is a common theme throughout Europe.

We are unlikely to have seen the end of tax rises, and this applies to many European countries, not just to the UK. For peace of mind that you are protecting your wealth from tax as much as possible, wherever you live, speak to an established tax planning and wealth management firm like Blevins Franks which specialises in providing expert tax advice to British expatriates.

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 must 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

24

EWN www.euroweeklynews.com

27 December 2012- 2 January 2013 Costa Blanca North

LONDON - FTSE 100 C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. -4.30 -1.18 -8.00 -0.67 -26.00 -1.49 -14.88 -1.46 -34.50 -1.83 -11.05 -0.82 -11.50 -1.47 -13.00 -0.83 -3.00 -0.10 -1.86 -0.48 -14.00 -1.42 -6.80 -1.95 -5.35 -2.01 -5.10 -0.51 -20.50 -0.95 -5.00 -1.16 1.50 0.05 -3.50 -0.61

NET VOLUME 426.26 17.98 92.73 99.08 233.81 29.28 163.22 46.04 149.87 751.42 35.08 872.08 6,286.36 614.32 523.07 1,345.57 237.47 106.78

CU RR EN CI ES

C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 21

PRICE(P) C O M PA N Y Aberdeen Asset Mngmnt 360.85 Admiral Group PLC 1184.50 Aggreko PLC 1716.00 AMEC PLC 1001.50 Anglo American PLC 1852.50 Antofagasta PLC 1337.50 ARM Holdings PLC 771.75 Associated Brit Foods 1552.00 AstraZeneca PLC 2923.75 Aviva PLC 382.00 Babcock Intnl Group 973.50 BAE Systems PLC 341.10 Barclays PLC 261.45 BG Group PLC 1003.00 BHP Billiton PLC 2129.25 BP PLC 425.12 British Am Tobacco PLC 3111.25 British Land Co PLC 566.75

0.81347

Units per €

United States $......................................................1.32220 Japan Yen ¥ ...........................................................111.290 Switzerland Francs................................................1.20752 Denmark Kroner ....................................................7.46102 Norway Kroner.......................................................7.35710

C O M PA N Y

PRICE(P)

British Sky Broad Gr...

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

774.00 240.10 1011.50 1225.00 770.50 361.60 2393.00 338.60 735.75 1237.50

C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. -6.00 -2.30 -3.00 -22.00 -8.39 -0.10 1.00 -1.48 -7.00 -11.00

DOW JONES

NASDAQ

C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 21

C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 21

C O M PA N Y

PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME

MMM 3M Co 94.13 AA Alcoa Inc 8.70 AXP American Express Co 57.40 T AT&T Inc 34.17 BAC Bank of America Corp 11.52 BA Boeing Co 76.20 CAT Caterpillar Inc 89.50 CVX Chevron Corp 110.38 CSCO Cisco Systems Inc 20.24 DD E. I. du Pont de Nemours and C... 45.33 XOM Exxon Mobil Corp 88.89 GE General Electric Co 21.05 HPQ Hewlett-Packard Co 14.43 HD Home Depot Inc 61.97 INTC Intel Corp 21.03 IBM International Business Machine... 194.77 JNJ Johnson & Johnson 70.75 JPM JPMorgan Chase and Co 44.53 MCD McDonald's Corp 90.04 MRK Merck & Co Inc 42.16 MSFT Microsoft Corp 27.68

+1.11 +0.06 +0.61 +0.26 +0.33 +0.69 -1.29 +0.47 -0.0297 +0.48 +0.4536 +0.04 +0.05 +0.20 -0.0707 -0.31 +0.12 +1.00 +0.33 -1.50 +0.37

+1.19% +0.69% +1.07% +0.77% +2.95% +0.91% -1.42% +0.43% -0.15% +1.07% +0.51% +0.19% +0.35% +0.32% -0.34% -0.16% +0.17% +2.30% +0.37% -3.44% +1.35%

3.3M 14.9M 5.6M 25.4M 184.5M 4.6M 6.9M 5.9M 29.9M 4.6M 15.8M 50.8M 17.4M 8.4M 34.0M 4.2M 11.8M 25.0M 4.3M 33.6M 52.6M

1.22929

C O M PA N Y

Most Advanced Roma Financial Corporation Eloqua, Inc. Atlantic Coast Federal Corporation ReachLocal, Inc. Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Gaiam, Inc. The Hackett Group, Inc. SORL Auto Parts, Inc. PC Mall, Inc.

-0.77 -0.95 -0.30 -1.76 -1.08 -0.03 0.04 -0.44 -0.94 -0.88

PRICE

NET VOLUME 42.86 1,117.66 25.32 53.26 33.55 83.09 231.37 375.60 179.87 150.82

CHANGE NET / %

$ 15.15 5.89 / +63.61% $ 23.66 5.74 / +32.03% $ 2.52 0.5621 / +28.71% $ 12.74 1.55 / +13.85% $ 6.2204 0.7304 / +13.30% $ 3.03 0.30 / +10.99% $ 4.46 0.44 / +10.95% $ 2.51 0.23 / +10.09% $ 6.32 0.52 / +8.97%

Most Declined Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. Optical Cable Corporation Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc. MISONIX, Inc. Bona Film Group Limited Arctic Cat Inc. Durata Therapeutics, Inc. American Railcar Industries, Inc. Mellanox Technologies, Ltd.

$ 3.06 $ 3.68 $ 9.14 $ 7.62 $ 4.28 $ 33.36 $ 8.46 $ 33.11 $ 58.6103

2.71 / -46.97% 0.70 / -15.98% 1.54 / -14.42% 1.22 / -13.80% 0.62 / -12.65% 4.82 / -12.62% 0.90 / -9.62% 2.89 / -8.03% 4.7897 / -7.55%

C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) CHANGE Croda International PLC 2368.50 -27.00 Diageo PLC 1809.50 -38.50 Eurasian Nat Resources ... 273.35 -7.10 EVRAZ PLC 259.70 -7.40 Experian PLC 990.50 -8.50 Fresnillo PLC 1847.50 -31.00 G4S PLC 258.80 -1.50 GKN PLC 228.20 -1.10 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1346.00 -6.50 Glencore Intnal PLC 348.02 -1.69 Hammerson PLC 494.55 -0.30 Hargreaves Lansdown PLC 687.75 -5.04 HSBC Holdings PLC 644.30 -6.00 IMI PLC 1088.00 -12.00 Imperial Tobacco Gr PLC 2376.00 -20.25 InterContinental Hotels 1701.50 -9.00 International Consldtd 184.85 -1.17 Intertek Group PLC 3130.00 -6.00 ITV PLC 106.35 -0.70 Johnson Matthey PLC 2374.00 -33.00 Kazakhmys PLC 757.00 -9.50 Kingfisher PLC 282.55 -0.50 Land Securities Gr PLC 822.00 -1.50 Legal & General Gr PLC 147.10 -0.80 Lloyds Banking Gr PLC 48.89 -0.39 Marks & Spencer Gr PLC 392.75 -3.66 Meggitt PLC 387.60 -6.00 Melrose Industries PLC 228.55 -2.90 National Grid PLC 703.00 1.00 Next PLC 3711.50 -19.00 Old Mutual PLC 177.75 -1.80 Pearson PLC 1195.00 -5.00 Pennon Group PLC 650.00 13.62 Petrofac Ltd 1652.50 -12.00 Polymetal Intnl PLC 1153.50 -6.00 Prudential PLC 886.25 -9.00 Randgold Resources Ltd 6017.50 54.22 Reckitt Benckiser Gr PLC 3897.00 -12.00 Reed Elsevier PLC 639.75 -4.00 Resolution Ltd 254.15 -2.70 REXAM PLC 438.65 -3.60 Rio Tinto PLC 3460.50 -34.00 Rolls-Royce Holdings 882.00 -1.00 Royal Bank of Scotland 314.40 -3.14 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 2184.50 -15.00 RSA Insurance Grp PLC 126.60 -0.82 SABMiller PLC 2843.00 -2.50 Sage Group (The) PLC 293.20 -2.90 Sainsbury (J) PLC 351.45 -1.32 Schroders PLC 1696.50 -15.00 Serco Group PLC 539.50 -5.00 Severn Trent PLC 1587.50 17.90 Shire PLC 1914.00 -11.00 Smith & Nephew PLC 682.50 -1.38 Smiths Group PLC 1179.50 -1.00 SSE PLC 1449.50 -3.00 Standard Chartered PLC 1572.50 -11.00 Standard Life PLC 336.10 -2.02 Tate & Lyle PLC 770.50 -6.50 Tesco PLC 339.18 0.52 Tullow Oil PLC 1233.50 -12.75 Unilever PLC 2410.00 -11.00 United Utilities Grp PLC 686.25 12.00 Vedanta Resources PLC 1132.50 -22.00 Vodafone Grp PLC 155.38 -0.45 Weir Group PLC 1861.50 -1.00 Whitbread PLC 2481.50 -40.00 Wm Morrison Suprmrkts 264.65 0.00 Wolseley PLC 2891.50 -12.00 Wood Group (John) PLC 733.75 -13.00 WPP PLC 887.25 -4.50 Xstrata PLC 1037.50 -5.50

% C H G. -1.13 -2.08 -2.53 -2.77 -0.85 -1.65 -0.58 -0.48 -0.48 -0.48 -0.06 -0.73 -0.92 -1.09 -0.84 -0.53 -0.63 -0.19 -0.65 -1.37 -1.24 -0.18 -0.18 -0.54 -0.79 -0.92 -1.52 -1.25 0.14 -0.51 -1.00 -0.42 2.14 -0.72 -0.52 -1.01 0.91 -0.31 -0.62 -1.05 -0.81 -0.97 -0.11 -0.99 -0.68 -0.64 -0.09 -0.98 -0.37 -0.88 -0.92 1.14 -0.57 -0.20 -0.08 -0.21 -0.69 -0.60 -0.84 0.15 -1.02 -0.45 1.78 -1.90 -0.29 -0.05 -1.59 0.00 -0.41 -1.74 -0.50 -0.53

VOLUME 18.91 1,063.32 317.30 357.55 64.32 119.89 107.33 135.68 631.29 656.53 42.80 18.15 1,947.08 26.49 152.69 109.91 433.63 12.27 957.05 16.44 31.76 257.48 77.72 453.82 14,202.44 169.81 70.37 111.56 564.51 13.14 386.86 57.36 386.70 61.79 18.13 274.04 26.11 40.83 170.26 107.47 75.16 406.27 140.69 1,613.87 276.94 1,478.20 283.45 58.25 164.56 13.36 35.96 64.63 52.96 48.94 33.15 75.19 296.78 237.20 38.51 666.64 173.96 88.61 579.28 42.08 5,685.92 45.66 63.49 247.69 55.64 83.92 351.74 253.15

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

EWN

Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

‘Spain for us’ - Mercadona

FRUIT AND VEG: Mercadona spends €15 bn a year on Spanish produce.

Gun move US GUN retailer Dick’s Sporting Goods, one of the biggest in America, has suspended the sale of militarystyle semiautomatic rifles similar to the one used in the Newtown school massacre.

25

SPANISH supermarket chain Mercadona has come forward to dispel rumours that it was selling produce marked as Spanish but which had been sourced abroad.

The group Boicotmercadona published an extensive report claiming that Mercadona imported oranges from Argentina all year, but claimed they were from Valencia.

It also complained that

Instagram worries mount CONCERNS have been mounting on social networks since Facebook announced changes to the terms of the photosharing service known as Instagram.

Facebook provided few details about the changes, but users of Instagram, which was introduced in 2010 and bought by Facebook last

year, are concerned that their photos could end up being used as advertisements.

Kevin Systrom, cofounder of Instagram, wrote a blog post saying the company would change the new terms of service to make it clearer what would happen to users’ pictures.

Instagram offers a free

online service, but Facebook wants to make a profit from it, and has said it will introduce the changes from January 16.

They added that this would not affect any photographs previously uploaded.

However, users are threatening to take their photos elsewhere, including to Yahoo’s Flickr.

Mercadona’s Hacendado brand olive oil is of poor quality and comes from Portugal, the same, it claimed, as their milk.

Mercadona published a press release denying each of the accusations. The company says it only imports oranges from the end of July to November, and pointed out that it bought 110 million kilos of Spanish oranges in 2011. It also claimed that the milk is sourced from 1,400 national farms.

Against accusations that it doesn’t spend enough money in Spain, Mercadona said that in 2011 it spent €15 billion on Spanish produce, making it the company which spent the most.

The company, owned

by Juan Roig, has become Spain’s most profitable retailer, beating El Corte Ingles this year.

GB

LOBAL IZ

Game of brews TV SHOW Game of Thrones, shown on Sky, has had a beer named after it. The Ommegang Brewery, New York, USA, has come up with the Belgian style brew as part of a series inspired by the Home Box Office channel.

Poles to join DESPITE the Euro crisis Poland could adopt the currency in January 2016, says Roman Kuznar. The governmental advisor stressed President Bronislaw Komorowski was a “strong supporter of Poland’s accession to the economic and monetary union.”

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

26

EWN www.euroweeklynews.com

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 Costa Blanca North

Cardboard cut-out groom shows ways in which money is wasted HAVE you ever wondered where your money goes?

Well for some girls in the US, part of their savings have gone on helping to raise money for a woman to marry a cardboard cutout of Twilight movie star Robert Pattinson.

The lucky bride-to-be of a cardboard Pattinson raised over $1,000 (€756) from the public.

The money will be spent on the ceremony, dress, invitations, a cake and all the other frills needed for the wedding on January 23, 2013 in Las Vegas.

Those who donated more than $35 (€26.50) to the bride and groom will even receive a custommade postcard from their honeymoon.

Sounds crazy? That’s because it is. But it does highlight just how stupid

Loose change A look at finance for females Jane Plunkett jane.plunkett@euroweeklynews. com

REAL THING: Would you pay towards cost of marrying cut-out figure? we can be with our money.

On a slightly less insane basis, let’s talk about other unnecessary things we spend money on.

My guilt lies with lip balm. I am addicted. From lip balms to lip-gloss, lipstick, lip shine, lip matt,

lip repair or lip rescue. I have bundles of these little containers or tubes lurking around the bottom of my handbags. I buy them, love them, use them a few times and then move onto the next on the market.

A senseless waste of money I know. So I have decided to reform my ways. Pick one and stick to it.

Another crazy waste of cash is a gossip magazine.

They may only cost €1.50 and it takes all of two minutes to flick through them, but the consequences of reading these glossy pages can be fatal for our finances, not to mention our intellect.

We see a snap of Sara Carbonero in new ankle boots or an expensive top, and even though we don’t earn her salary we suddenly need these items.

Better for our wallets and for the sake of forests to leave these magazines on the shelf.

So in the run up to New Year, over a glass of mulled wine or a stroll in the chilly sunshine, maybe it’s time to reflect on the stupidity of our spending and make a New Year’s Resolution to change our ways in 2013.

Crisis adds up to meat off the menu THE eating habits of the Spanish have changed due to the financial crisis.

People are now buying cheaper products, which is affecting their diet, doctors say.

Money is tighter than ever in many households with 25 per cent of the population unemployed, and many families buying only the necessary products to survive.

More chicken is being bought, with sales rising 3 per cent a year, while many can’t afford beef or pork, which have seen sales drop as much as 15 per cent from 2008.

More dairy products, fruit and vegetables are consumed, while sales of fish are dropping.

The Spanish Consumer Union reveals that

B

USINESS IZ

Fees rise DRIVERS will have to pay 2.4 per cent more to use Spain’s toll roads from January 1. This will not apply to the Soller tunnel in Palma de Mallorca.

Roca closure SPANISH bathroom fittings manufacturer Roca has announced the closure of its factory in Alcala de Guadaira, in Sevilla, which will see 228 people lose their jobs.

Talks halted CYPRUS has halted talks for offshore natural gas drilling rights with a FrenchRussian consortium.

Government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou claimed progress had been unsatisfactory.

Share buy AMERICAN car giants General Motors, will spend $5.5 billion (€4.15 billion) to buy back 200 million shares from the US treasury.

More help

RAW DEAL: Meat consumption falling as Spain faces tough economic times. meats are one of the first products to be cut out of the diet in times of hardship.

The total spend on food throughout Spain amounted to €67.5 million between October 2011 and September 2012.

Five years ago, an average family spent €4,300 per year on food.

However figures now show that they are spending €100 less than in 2007 and mainly on own brand products, which account for 40 per cent of sales.

CATHOLIC charity Caritas has handed out €1 million in aid this year in the region of Aragon alone. This is 35 per cent more than was donated during last year.

Blackberry missing Whatsapp FREE messaging service Whatsapp has confirmed it will not be available on the new RIM Blackberry 10 phone.

The Blackberry 10 is due to be launched in January 2013 and is aimed at regaining users who had, in recent years, opted for iPhones and other

Android phones.

However, the fact that Whatsapp will be unavailable on the new phone may put many people off, and buyers will have to find an alternative way of sending messages, photos, videos and calls for free.

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

W EEKLY

29

Costa Blanca North

ROUND - UP OF REGULAR AND OCCASIONAL TOPICS

E XPAT EXTRA

LETTERS LEAPY HEALTH & BEAUTY

FOOD TIME OUT HOMES & GARDENS

PETS TV

Cristal and walnut whips for Xmas

SO, Christmas Day didn’t exactly turn out as planned, with Crispin turning down my request for a truly romantic time of festive togetherness.

Turns out his mother and father were over for the holidays and so he spent it with them.

COMMENT

As I see it...

Ana Jefferson-Smith takes an irreverent look at life as a singleton expat in Spain Having not struck me as coming from a particularly close family, wanting to spend

MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

Christmas with his parents did come as a bit of a shock.

But wishing to enjoy their

company was actually a really sweet thought, even though I just wanted him for myself! Selfish, but that’s truly how I feel.

I had earlier visions... in fact in truth lusting fantasies... of us enjoying a Champagne breakfast in bed, opening presents

TV satellite changes planned in 2013 set to hit some UK channels received free by thousands of British expats.

No miracleworker “THE Spanish did not vote for us for everything to continue as it was,” said Mariano Rajoy.

“They wanted a profound change.”

Spanish voters wanted a miracle and a reversal of the crisis but instead got austerity, rising unemployment, evictions and millions threatened by poverty. In fact, the story would be the same whoever was in government, but that is little consolation to voters or to Rajoy himself.

Taxpayers who don’t pay FINANCE MINISTER Cristobal Montoro is threatening to name and shame tax evaders, avoiders and late payers.

“It’s a matter of making people pay,” he announced.

The list will make no allowance for social prominence, he promised, although this is something of a joke. Hacienda regularly does just that, and the only taxpayers who pay up, grin and bear it are those on modest incomes who can least afford to.

Police hunt after driveway stolen US police have appealed for witnesses after a 300square-foot driveway was stolen from outside a house in Florida one morning, with the brick slabs dug up while the householder was at work. *** A JAPANESE waste disposal worker found $120,000 (€91,000) in unscathed notes in a stream of pulverised rubbish. There were also 2,300 fragments of destroyed banknotes. ***

JUST FANCY THAT...

TWO US bank robbers have escaped from a Chicago prison after scaling a 200-foot wall with makeshift ropes and stuffing their beds with sheets to resemble bodies. *** A GOLDEN EAGLE swooped down on a small child it mistook for prey and carried him a few feet before releasing him only slightly injured.

***

A MISS USA contestant has been ordered to pay $5 million (€3.8 million) for defamation after falsely and maliciously claiming the event headed by billionaire Donald Trump’s pageant was rigged. *** A DANISH church now allows couples to marry dressed however they wish with any music of their choice.

*** BRAZIL football great Ronaldo has lost 38 pounds in three months as part of a television reality show, with the former striker facing gruelling exercises and dietary re-education on the Ideal Measurements show. *** FIVE Japanese highschool girls have been wrestled to the ground and had their left sock ripped off over the last three months by a mystery attacker.

together, struggling to cook a decent turkey lunch as we fumbled around the kitchen – tipsy of course after our morning tipple – watching Christmas films, kissing underneath mistletoe and falling asleep on the sofa in each other’s arms.

My Christmas fantasy was, however, sadly all too premature.

So how was Christmas Day for me? Well I spent the entire day in my pyjamas, watching the Queen’s Speech and later the Downton Abbey special. But the day was not without a highlight, consuming the bottle of Cristal I had bought for our boozy breakfast, as I devoured walnut whips.

My thoughts have now turned to asking Crispin to spend New Year’s Eve with me, but what if he thinks I am getting too keen... especially after once being pushed aside for his parents?

I actually found myself sitting there on Christmas night wondering if perhaps ‘spending the day with my family’ was even all a ruse.

Is there really an ‘us’ or am I seeing Ana and Crispin as more than we really are?

I need to take it one step at a time, and not push it even though things were so dreamy, especially after our romantic previous weekend twosome in the snowy Sierra Nevada.

I don’t normally rush into things, but these last few weeks have been romantically perfect.

Anyway, I really just need to be brave and ask him to share New Year’s Eve with me... to see in 2013, one of the biggest nights of the year.

Let’s just hope he says yes... and we can even make our New Year resolutions together!

How romantic...

30

THURSDAY

EWN

TV

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

BBC2

2:30am BBC News 7:00am Breakfast The latest news, sport, business and weather from the BBC's Breakfast team. 9:00am Match of the Day 10:30am The Thief Lord 12:00pm 101 Dalmatians 1:40pm BBC News at One The latest national and international news stories from the BBC News team, followed by weather.

1:50pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London. 2:00pm My Family Seasonal fun as Christmas in the Harper household means something special to everyone. 2:50pm Shrek: Donkey's Carolling Christmas-Tacular 3:00pm Bolt Animated adventure.

4.00pm - midnight 4:25pm Monsters vs Aliens 5:50pm Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury Festive animated short featuring characters from How to Train Your Dragon.

6:15pm Wallace and Gromit: A Grand Day Out 6:40pm Pointless 7:30pm BBC News at Six 7:45pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London.

8:00pm Celebrity Mastermind 8:30pm Have I Got News for You A compilation of the popular news quiz, looking back at the big news of 2012.

9:00pm EastEnders 10:00pm Restless 11:30pm BBC News at Ten The latest national and international news, with reports from BBC correspondents worldwide.

11:45pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London.

11:55pm Coldplay

12:55am Point Break 2:55am Skiing Weatherview Detailed weather forecast.

3:00am Snow Babies 4:00am Wartime Farm 5:00am See Hear 5:30am BBC News

BBC3 8:00pm Don't Tell the Bride 9:00pm Don't Tell the Bride 10:00pm Bad Education School-based sitcom.

10:30pm Bad Education 11:00pm Bad Education 11:30pm EastEnders 12:30am Family Guy 12:55am Family Guy Animated comedy series about family life.

1:15am Family Guy 1:35am Family Guy 2:00am American Dad! Animated series about CIA agent Stan Smith.

2:20am American Dad! 2:40am The Revolution Will be Televised 3:10am The Revolution Will be Televised 3:40am Bad Education 4:10am Him and Her

SMA

7:00am Pingu 7:05am Timmy Time 7:20am Rastamouse 7:30am The Large Family 7:40am Andy's Wild Adventures Andy Day and Kip the cat go all around the world in search of weird and wonderful animals. 8:00am Naomi's Nightmares of Nature 8:30am Four O'Clock Club Comedy about two brothers at the same school - one as a pupil, the other as a new teacher.

9:00am M.I. High 9:30am Hero Squad 10:00am The Bear Family and Me 11:00am Attenborough: 60 Years in the Wild 12:00pm Viva Knievel! 1:45pm Racing From Chepstow

4:05pm Secretariat Drama based on the true story of a throroughbred racehorse. A housewife is forced to take ownership of a stables when her father becomes too sick to run the business. With little knowledge of the racing world, she relies on a veteran horse trainer to help her make the stables a success.

5:55pm Nature's Weirdest Events 6:55pm The Cockleshell Heroes Wartime drama. A small group of Royal Marines carry out a covert canoe raid on the docks of Bordeaux during World War II in a mission to destroy the blockade-busting Nazi ships.

8:30pm Dad's Army Classic wartime sitcom.

9:00pm Racing Legends: Stirling Moss High-profile motoring enthusiasts retrace the steps of Great British racing legends.

10:00pm World's Most Dangerous Roads Angus Deayton and Mariella Frostrup drive up Madagascar's eastern coast during the tail end of the rainy season.

11:00pm Mock the Week

8:00pm The Man Who Discovered Egypt 9:00pm Royal Institution Christmas Lectures 2012: The Modern Alchemist 10:00pm Len Goodman's Dancing Feet: The British Ballroom Story 11:00pm Strictly Ballroom 12:30am Doris Day: Virgin Territory 1:30am Originals 2:30am Arena 3:30am Sounds of the 70s 4:00am Royal Institution Christmas Lectures 2012: The Modern Alchemist

Channel 4

5:15am ITV Nightscreen 7:00am Babar and the Adventures of Badou 7:10am Babar and the Adventures of Badou 7:25am The Hive 7:30am The Hive 7:40am The Hive 7:50am Canimals 8:00am Fleabag Monkeyface 8:15am Fleabag Monkeyface 8:30am Almost Naked Animals 8:45am Almost Naked Animals 9:00am Horrid Henry 9:15am Horrid Henry 9:30am Fort Boyard 10:25am Dickinson's Real Deal 11:25am Columbo 12:55pm Dinner Date 1:50pm ITV News and Weather 2:10pm Free Willy 3: The Rescue 3:50pm Babe

7:00am Pingu

5:30pm Downton Abbey 7:30pm London Tonight 7:45pm ITV News and Weather Alastair Stewart with the latest headlines from around the world.

8:00pm Emmerdale The police question Debbie when Cameron's van is reported stolen.

8:30pm All Star Family Fortunes 9:30pm Emmerdale 10:00pm Panto!

Comedy drama set behind the scenes of a Lancashire pantomime production on its opening night.

11:30pm ITV News and Weather Alastair Stewart with the latest headlines from around the world.

11:45pm The Holiday

12:00am Dragons' Den Christmas is big business. 1:00am QI 1:30am Hebburn 2:00am Twenty Twelve 2:30am This Land Is Mine World War II drama. 4:10am BBC News

BBC4

5:10pm - Rush Hour

ITV

BBC2

BBC1

2:20am Jackpot247 Join the presenters live and play roulette on your telly. 4:00am ITV Nightscreen Text-based information service.

Channel 5

5:55am 90210 6:35am Deal or No Deal 7:30am The Hoobs 7:55am The Hoobs 8:20am Wilde Stories 8:45am According to Jim 9:15am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:45am Frasier 10:15am Frasier 10:50am The Big Bang Theory 11:20am The Big Bang Theory 11:50am The Simpsons 12:20pm The Simpsons 12:50pm Astro Boy 2:35pm City of Ember

6:10am 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 9:30am Roary the Racing Car 9:40am Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00am Tickety Toc 10:10am Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 10:25am Mist: Sheepdog Tales 10:45am The Family Recipe 10:55am Dallas 11:50am Eddie Stobart: Trucks, Trailers and Tinsel 12:50pm Once Upon a Time 1:50pm Fiddler on the Roof

4:25pm Deal or No Deal's Big Christmas Dinner 5:25pm Celebrity Come Dine with Me Christmas Special 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm Hollyoaks Darren and Nancy are struggling with parenthood, but could there be an under-lying issue?

7:30pm Channel 4 News Includes sport and weather.

7:55pm 4thought.tv Christmas is traditionally a time for giving.

8:00pm Mary's Bottom Line 9:00pm The Hoarder Next Door A festive special of the hit documentary series.

10:00pm The Restoration Man 11:00pm Dorian Gray

5:20pm It's Christmas, Carol!

7:10pm World's Biggest Pets 8:05pm Eddie Stobart: Christmas Delivery 9:00pm World's Strongest Man 2012 10:00pm Dirty Dancing

1:10am The Girl Who Played with Fire 3:25am The Good Wife 4:10am The Good Wife 4:50am Sunset Boulevard

12:05am You Don't Mess with the Zohan 2:05am Super Casino Live interactive gaming featuring roulette, blackjack and autowheel. 4:55am House Doctor 5:20am HouseBusters 5:45am The Great Artists

Patrick Swayze & Jennifer Grey CH5

10:00pm Dirty Dancing Coming-of-age drama about a sheltered 17-year-old girl who learns a lot about life from the hotel dance instructor during a family summer vacation in the Catskills in 1963.

Satellite channels SKY1 6:00am Brainiac Test Tube Baby:Christmas.. 7:00am The Middle 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Got to Dance

1:00am Brit Cops - Zero Tolerance 2:00am Brit Cops - Zero Tolerance 2:55am Road Wars 3:50am Road Wars 4:45am Street Crime 5:10am Don't Forget the Lyrics

SKY MOVIES COMEDY

10:00pm A League of Their Own Christmas Special 11:00pm Spy 11:30pm Spy 12:30am Spy

Jackie Chan & Chris Tucker

5:15am Clue 7:00am Shanghai Noon 8:55am National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 10:35am Shanghai Knights 12:30pm Crazy, Stupid, Love 2:30pm The 40 Year Old Virgin 4:30pm National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 6:10pm Shanghai Noon 8:05pm Shanghai Knights 10:00pm Crazy, Stupid, Love 12:00am The 40 Year Old Virgin 2:00am Bad Teacher 3:40am No Strings Attached 5:30am Win a Date with Tad Hamilton

SKY MOVIES DRAMA 5:10am Prom 7:00am Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows Special 7:30am War Horse 10:00am Forrest Gump 12:30pm Moneyball 2:50pm The Decoy Bride 4:30pm City of Angels 6:30pm War Horse 9:00pm Forrest Gump 11:25pm Moneyball 1:45am Coach Carter 4:05am 33 Postcards 5:45am A Valentine's Date

SKY MOVIES ACTION 4:40am Batman 6:30am The Hobbit 7:00am Tomorrow, When the War Began 8:50am Killer Elite 10:50am Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader 12:50pm Thor 2:50pm X-Men: First Class

5:10pm Rush Hour 7:00pm Daylight 9:00pm Thor 11:00pm X-Men: First Class 1:15am Killer Elite 3:15am Battle: Los Angeles 5:15am Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

TCM 6:00am Houseboat 8:05am Our Man Flint 10:10am The Longest Day 1:50pm The High Chaparral 2:55pm The High Chaparral 4:00pm The Magnificent Seven 6:35pm The Vikings 8:45pm Bells of Coronado 10:00pm Moulin Rouge!

12:25am Before Sunset 2:00am Moulin Rouge! 4:05am Before Sunset 5:30am Michael Caine Off Set

32

FRIDAY

EWN

TV

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

BBC2

5:30am BBC News 7:00am Breakfast The latest news, sport, business and weather from the BBC's Breakfast team. 10:00am The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement Romantic comedy sequel. 11:45am 102 Dalmatians After a spot of therapy Cruella De Vil is released from prison a changed woman.

1:20pm BBC News The latest national and international news stories from the BBC News team, followed by weather. 1:35pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London. 1:45pm My Family Robert Lindsay and Zoe Wanamaker star in a festive edition of the hugely popular sitcom.

2:35pm Race to Witch Mountain Family fantasy adventure.

4.00pm - midnight 4:10pm Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon Animated short.

4:30pm The Sorcerer's Apprentice Action comedy.

6:10pm Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers Oscar-winning animation from Nick Park.

6:40pm Pointless Celebrities test the depths of their general knowledge in this special edition of the quiz.

7:30pm BBC News The latest national and international news stories from the BBC News team, followed by weather.

7:45pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London.

8:00pm Celebrity Mastermind Celebrity edition of the quiz, hosted by John Humphrys.

8:30pm The One Show 9:00pm Holby City 10:00pm Restless 11:30pm BBC News 11:45pm BBC London News 11:55pm The National Lottery Friday Night Draws 12:00am Take That 1:20am Weatherview Detailed weather forecast. 1:25am Tamara Drewe Comedy drama based on a graphic novel by Posy Simmonds. 3:05am James May's Toy Stories 4:05am Countryfile 5:05am BBC News

BBC3 8:00pm Legend of the Boneknapper Dragon 8:20pm Ratatouille 10:00pm Cuckoo 10:30pm Cuckoo 11:00pm Cuckoo Comedy series in which a daughter returns from her gap year with an American husband in tow.

11:30pm Kill Bill: Vol. 2 1:40am Family Guy Animated comedy series about family life.

2:05am Family Guy 2:25am Pramface 2:55am Pramface 3:25am Cuckoo Six-part comedy series.

3:55am Cuckoo Comedy series in which a daughter returns from her gap year with an American husband in tow.

4:25am Cuckoo Comedy series in which a daughter returns from her gap year with an American husband in tow.

ITV

Channel 4

7:00am Pingu The adventures of Pingu, the clumsy young penguin who is often misunderstood. 7:05am Timmy Time 7:15am Rastamouse 7:30am The Large Family 7:40am Andy's Wild Adventures 8:00am Naomi's Nightmares of Nature 8:30am Four O'Clock Club 9:00am M.I. High 9:30am Hero Squad 9:55am Deadly 60 Bites 10:05am The Bear Family and Me 11:05am Attenborough: 60 Years in the Wild 12:05pm The Lady Vanishes 1:40pm The 39 Steps 3:05pm Notorious

4:00am ITV Nightscreen Text-based information service. 6:05am The Jeremy Kyle Show 7:00am Babar and the Adventures of Badou 3D animated series following the escapades of King Babar and his eight-year-old grandson Badou.

7:10am Babar and the Adventures of Badou 3D animated series following the escapades of King Babar and his eight-year-old grandson Badou. 7:25am The Hive 7:30am The Hive 7:40am The Hive 7:50am Canimals 8:00am Fleabag Monkeyface 8:15am Fleabag Monkeyface 8:35am The Perfect Man 10:25am Tipping Point 11:25am May the Best House Win 12:20pm Dinner Date 1:25pm ITV News and Weather 1:45pm Doc Hollywood 3:45pm Babe 2: Pig in the City

4:50am Sunset Boulevard 6:45am 90210 7:25am Sali Mali Sali Mali and Jackdaw find a little lost lamb who won't stop crying. 7:30am The Treacle People 7:40am The Hoobs 8:05am Wilde Stories 8:35am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:00am Frasier 9:35am Frasier 10:05am The Big Bang Theory 10:35am The Big Bang Theory 11:05am The Simpsons 11:35am The Simpsons 12:05pm Planet 51 1:45pm Zulu

4:45pm Flog It! The Isle of Wight's nautical town of Cowes plays host to presenter Paul Martin and the Flog It! 5:30pm The Four Feathers 7:30pm Nature's Weirdest Events 8:30pm Blackadder the Third 9:00pm Racing Legends: Jackie Stewart 10:00pm World's Most Dangerous Roads 11:00pm QI Quiz show. A compilation of some of the best bits from the series, with Stephen Fry and Alan Davies.

11:30pm Andy Parsons Gruntled Live

5:30pm Peter Pan Classic children's tale of the boy who never grew up.

7:35pm London Tonight 7:45pm ITV News and Weather Alastair Stewart with the latest headlines from around the world.

8:00pm Emmerdale Declan fears that Katie's news could mean the end of their marriage.

8:30pm Coronation Street An emotional Kylie plans a fresh start away from David. Jenna's declaration disappoints Sophie.

9:00pm You've Been Framed!

9:30pm The Corrie Years

4:30pm Deal or No Deal's Big Christmas Dinner 5:30pm The Simpsons 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:25pm Hollyoaks 7:00pm Hollyoaks As Esther sticks up for Ruby, could their friendship finally be on the mend?

7:30pm Channel 4 News Includes sport and weather.

7:55pm 4thought.tv Christmas is traditionally a time for giving.

8:00pm My Big Fat Gypsy Christmas 9:00pm Jamie and Jimmy's Food Fight Club 10:00pm The 50 Funniest Moments of 2012

12:30am Never Mind the Buzzcocks Bob Mortimer hosts this Christmassy edition.

1:00am Hebburn 1:30am Twenty Twelve Second series of the acclaimed comedy which follows the team delivering the 2012 Olympics.

2:00am Twenty Twelve Second series of the acclaimed comedy which follows the team delivering the 2012 Olympics.

2:30am Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd Slapstick comedy.

3:40am BBC News

12:30am Never Mind the Buzzcocks 1:00am Hebburn 1:30am Twenty Twelve Second series of the acclaimed comedy which follows the team delivering the 2012 Olympics. 2:00am Twenty Twelve Second series of the acclaimed comedy which follows the team delivering the 2012 Olympics. 2:30am Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd Slapstick comedy. 3:40am BBC News

BBC4 8:00pm Horizon 9:00pm Royal Institution Christmas Lectures 2012: The Modern Alchemist For centuries alchemists have tried to turn base metals into gold.

10:00pm The Richest Songs in the World 11:30pm Mr Blue Sky 12:30am ELO Live at Wembley 1978 1:30am The Richest Songs in the World 3:00am Mr Blue Sky 4:00am Royal Institution Christmas Lectures 2012: The Modern Alchemist For centuries alchemists have tried to turn base metals into gold.

10:00pm All New It'll be Alright on the Night 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather Alastair Stewart with the latest headlines from around the world.

11:15pm Gremlins

ITV

BBC1

11:15pm Gremlins

1:15am Jackpot247 Join the presenters live and play roulette on your telly. 4:00am Dave 5:50am ITV Nightscreen

12:05am Friday Night Dinner It's Christmas Day. 12:40am 2012: Mashed 1:45am The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest 4:10am Niagara 5:35am 90210

Channel 5 9:40am Bananas in Pyjamas 10:00am Tickety Toc 10:10am Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 10:25am Mist: Sheepdog Tales 10:40am Chinese Food in Minutes 10:55am Dallas 11:55am Eddie Stobart: Trucks, Trailers and Tinsel 12:55pm World's Biggest Pets 1:55pm Once Upon a Time 2:50pm Mrs Miracle 2: Miracle in Manhattan

CH5

4:40pm A Carol Christmas

Tori Spelling 4:40pm A Carol Christmas Spirited take on the classic Christmas novel by Charles Dickens. Carol Cartman is an egomaniacal TV talk show host who is determined to destroy the festive fun in the studio. But she is given a chance for redemption when she is haunted by the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.

6:20pm Santa, Junior.

Fantasy comedy.

8:05pm Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers Observational documentary series focusing on the iconic transport and distribution company.

9:00pm World's Strongest Man 2012 10:00pm The Mentalist American crime drama.

11:00pm Castle 12:00am Castle 12:55am Inside Hollywood Get your daily fix of the latest film and TV news from the USA. Presented by Mark Morris.

1:00am Super Casino Live interactive gaming featuring roulette, blackjack and autowheel.

4:50am Motorsport Mundial The latest motor racing action from around the world. 5:20am Divine Designs 5:45am The Great Artists

Satellite channels SKY1 7:30am The Middle 8:00am The Middle 8:30am The Middle 9:00am The Middle 9:30am The Middle 10:00am The Middle 10:30am The Middle 11:00am The Middle 11:30am The Middle 12:00pm The Middle 12:30pm The Middle 1:00pm Modern Family 1:30pm Modern Family 2:00pm Modern Family 2:30pm Modern Family 3:00pm Modern Family 3:30pm Modern Family 4:00pm Modern Family 4:30pm Modern Family 5:00pm Modern Family 5:30pm Modern Family 6:00pm Modern Family 6:30pm Modern Family 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Spy 10:00pm Trollied

11:00pm A League of Their Own 12:00am A League of Their Own Christmas Special 1:00am Brit Cops - Zero Tolerance 2:00am Brit Cops Zero Tolerance 2:55am Road Wars

SKY MOVIES COMEDY 5:30am Win a Date with Tad Hamilton 7:10am Swinging with the Finkels 8:35am Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story 10:10am Bridesmaids 12:15pm Horrible Bosses 1:55pm Analyze This 3:40pm Analyze That 5:20pm Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story 6:55pm Bridesmaids 9:00pm Horrible Bosses 10:45pm Analyze This 12:35am Analyze That 2:15am Swinging with the Finkels 3:55am The Descendants Special

SKY MOVIES DRAMA 5:45am A Valentine's Date 7:15am Love and Other Impossible Pursuits 9:00am Honey 2 11:00am A Little Bit of Heaven 12:50pm Sweet Home Alabama 2:50pm Anonymous 5:05pm Honey 2 7:05pm A Little Bit of Heaven 9:00pm Sweet Home Alabama 11:00pm Anonymous 1:15am Losing Control 2:50am Casino Jack 4:45am Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol Special

SKY MOVIES ACTION 5:15am Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader 7:10am Priest 8:40am Spy Kids 10:10am Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams 11:55am Spider-Man 2:00pm Spider-Man 2

4:10pm Haywire 5:45pm Spider-Man 7:50pm Spider-Man 2 10:00pm Green Lantern 12:00am Haywire 1:40am Black Hawk Down 4:10am The One 5:45am The Hobbit

TCM 6:00am Bells of Coronado 7:15am The High Chaparral 8:10am The High Chaparral 9:10am The Vikings 11:20am The Magnificent Seven 1:50pm The High Chaparral 2:55pm The High Chaparral 4:00pm Fort Utah 5:35pm Murder Most Foul 7:20pm Murder She Said 9:00pm The Star Packer 10:00pm Ocean's Eleven 12:15am Dead Calm 2:05am The Sins of Rachel Cade 4:05am Ocean's Eleven

34

SATURDAY

EWN

TV

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

BBC1

BBC2

5:05am BBC News 7:00am Breakfast The latest news, sport, business and weather from the BBC's Breakfast team. 11:00am Saturday Kitchen 12:30pm Nigel Slater's New Year Suppers 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 2:00pm F1 2012 - What a Year 3:00pm Olympics 2012

ITV

7:00am Pingu 7:05am Timmy Time 7:15am Rastamouse 7:30am The Large Family 7:40am Andy's Wild Adventures 8:00am Naomi's Nightmares of Nature 8:30am Four O'Clock Club 9:00am M.I. High 9:30am Hero Squad 10:00am Deadly Art 10:15am Copycats 10:40am 12 Again 11:10am The Ministry of Curious Stuff 11:40am Sorry, I've Got No Head 12:10pm Diddy Movies 12:35pm Horrible Histories 1:05pm Shaun the Sheep 1:15pm Flight of the Navigator 2:40pm Flubber

Channel 4

5:50am ITV Nightscreen 7:00am Babar and the Adventures of Badou 7:10am Babar and the Adventures of Badou 7:25am The Hive 7:35am The Hive 7:50am Canimals 8:00am Canimals 8:05am Fleabag Monkeyface 8:15am Fleabag Monkeyface 8:25am Almost Naked Animals 8:40am Almost Naked Animals 8:50am Horrid Henry 9:05am Horrid Henry 9:30am Fort Boyard 10:25am ITV News 10:30am Dinner Date 11:30am Dickinson's Real Deal 12:30pm The Unforgettable... 1:00pm ITV News and Weather 1:10pm Holiday Home Sweet Home 2:10pm Holiday Home Sweet Home 3:10pm Carry on Screaming

4.00pm - midnight

1:00am The Football League Show 2:15am Weatherview Detailed weather forecast.

2:20am BBC News

BBC3 8:00pm Doctor Who 9:00pm A Christmas Carol Animation. The bitter and greedy Scrooge is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve. 10:30pm Live at the Apollo 11:15pm Russell Howard's Good News Extra 12:00am Family Guy 12:45am American Dad! 1:10am American Dad! 1:30am American Dad! Animated series from the creator of Family Guy. 1:50am Russell Howard's Good News 2:20am The Revolution Will be Televised 2:50am The Revolution Will be Televised 3:20am Impractical Jokers 3:50am Impractical Jokers 4:20am Impractical Jokers

4:05pm Escape to the Country Series in which prospective buyers are helped to find their dream home in the country.

5:05pm Flog It! 6:05pm John Le Mesurier: It's All Been Rather Lovely 7:05pm Clive Dunn: A Tribute 7:45pm Dad's Army Feature-length version of the classic sitcom about the Home Guard unit of a small seaside town.

9:15pm Climbed Every Mountain - The Story Behind The Sound of Music 10:15pm The Duchess

5:00pm Midsomer Murders 7:00pm London Tonight Regional news update for the capital and the South East, plus local weather.

7:15pm ITV News and Weather James Mates with the latest headlines from around the world.

7:30pm 30 Years of CITV 8:30pm I Love You've Been Framed 9:30pm Dale's Great Getaway 10:30pm Love Actually 11:30pm ITV News and Weather James Mates with the latest headlines from around the world.

11:45pm Love Actually

5:35am 90210 6:15am 90210 7:00am Sali Mali 7:05am The Treacle People 7:15am The 3 Worlds of Gulliver 8:55am The Morning Line Turf tips and news from the Channel 4 Racing team. 9:45am Space Chimps 11:35am Garfield 2: A Tail of Two Kitties Visiting London, Garfield is mistaken for a posh puss. 1:20pm The Simpsons 1:55pm The Simpsons 2:30pm Channel 4 Racing It's time to see out the year in style, courtesy of Newbury, Doncaster and Leopardstown.

7:20am The Mr. Men Show 7:35am Olive the Ostrich 7:40am Abby's Flying Fairy School 7:50am Roobarb and Custard Too 7:55am Bananas in Pyjamas 8:10am Animal Antics 8:15am Make Way for Noddy 8:30am City of Friends 8:45am Little Princess 8:55am The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 9:10am Angelina Ballerina 9:30am Rupert Bear 9:45am Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:00am Toby's Travelling Circus 10:10am Roary the Racing Car 10:25am Jelly Jamm 10:40am Chinese Food in Minutes 11:00am Meerkat Manor 11:30am Dallas 12:25pm Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers 1:25pm Once Upon a Time 2:25pm It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas

4:30pm Deal or No Deal's Big Christmas Dinner 5:25pm Celebrity Come Dine with Me 6:00pm Celebrity Come Dine with Me 6:30pm Celebrity Come Dine with Me 7:05pm Celebrity Come Dine with Me 7:35pm Channel 4 News 7:45pm 4thought.tv 7:50pm Stephen Fry: Gadget Man 8:20pm The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

4:10pm Grounded 5:55pm Richie Rich's Christmas Wish Seasonal sequel to the family comedy Richie Rich.

7:30pm Snow White 9:10pm 5 News Weekend National and international news.

9:15pm World's Strongest Man 2012 10:15pm Stephen King's Bag of Bones Horror based on Stephen King's 1998 awardwinning novel.

CH5

Robin Williams 2:40pm - Flubber

12:00am QI XL 12:45am God Bless Ozzy Osbourne 2:20am Carry on England

BBC4

Kristin Kreuk 7:30pm - Snow White

The eponymous heroine and her seven diminutive sidekicks are all present and correct but Caroline Thompson's creation presents a twist on the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale as Snow White and her father John embark on a fantastic roller-coaster adventure through a magical kingdom.

BBC2

4:00pm Olympics 2012 4:30pm Sport Relief 2012 5:30pm 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 Celebrity Mastermind Celebrity edition of the quiz, hosted by John Humphrys.

7:15pm A Question of Sport 7:45pm Superstars 2012 7:15pm The National Lottery: Secret Fortune 10:10pm BBC News The latest national and international news from the BBC. 10:30pm Mrs. Brown's Boys 11:00pm Mrs. Brown's Boys 11:30pm Match of the Day

Channel 5

1:20am Parenthood 3:25am Jackpot247 Join the presenters live and play roulette on your telly.

4:00am In Plain Sight 4:40am ITV Nightscreen Text-based information service.

12:10am Wuthering Heights 2:35am Chocolat 4:40am 90210 5:20am 90210

1:20am Super Casino Live interactive gaming featuring roulette, blackjack and autowheel.

5:00am Michaela's Wild Challenge Michaela Strachan and colleagues undertake a range of wildlife-related dares in exotic locations. 5:25am The Great Artists 5:50am Rough Guide to Islands

Satellite channels

8:00pm Alice's Adventures in Wonderland 10:00pm Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender - Director's Cut 11:30pm Queen Live in Budapest 1:00am Queen: The Legendary 1975 Concert 1:50am Arena 2:50am Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender Director's Cut 4:15am Sacred Music at Christmas

SMA

4:30pm - I, Robot

SKY1 6:00am Airline 7:00am Modern Family 10:00am World Wrestling Entertainment Superstars 11:00am Soccer A.M. 7:00pm A League of Their Own Christmas Special 8:00pm Hawaii Five-0 9:00pm Hawaii Five-0 10:00pm Final Destination 11:50pm Caribbean Cops 12:50am Road Wars 1:20am Big Trouble in Thailand 4:10am Inside Gatwick 5:10am Don't Forget the Lyrics

SKY MOVIES COMEDY 6:00am Sky Movies Preview 7:00am Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason 8:55am The Big Year 10:40am 30 Minutes or Less 12:05pm Johnny English Reborn 1:50pm The Hangover Part II 3:35pm Friends with Benefits

Footloose 11:10am Morning Glory 1:00pm One Day 2:55pm The Descendants Special 3:15pm How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days 5:15pm Morning Glory 7:10pm One Day 9:00pm Footloose 11:00pm How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days

5:30pm The Big Year 7:15pm Johnny English Reborn 9:00pm The Hangover Part II 10:45pm Friends with Benefits

1:00am The Company Men 2:50am Stolen Lives 4:30am The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Special 5:00am Stepping Out

12:35am Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason 2:25am 30 Minutes or Less 3:50am Swingers 5:30am Snow Dogs

SKY MOVIES ACTION

SKY MOVIES DRAMA 5:15am Listen to Your Heart 7:00am Prom 8:50am Movie Special 9:10am

5:45am The Hobbit 6:15am Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams 8:05am Flight of the Phoenix 10:05am The Tourist 11:55am Transformers: Dark of the Moon 2:30pm Safe House

4:30pm I, Robot 6:30pm Independence Day 9:00pm Transformers: Dark of the Moon 11:35pm Safe House 1:35am Collateral Damage 3:30am Braveheart

TCM 6:00am The Star Packer 7:05am The High Chaparral 9:05am The Haunting 11:20am Murder Most Foul 1:05pm Murder She Said 2:45pm The Mark of Zorro 4:30pm The Road to Hong Kong 6:15pm Our Man Flint 8:20pm Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol 10:00pm Dude, Where's My Car? 11:35pm Police Academy 1:25am The Wicked Lady 3:05am Dude, Where's My Car? 4:25am Police Academy

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

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

Electricity bill adjustments are a total mystery WE have all probably suffered price adjustments from electricity suppliers, but has anyone been able to fathom how these adjustments have been calculated?

I asked customer services at Iberdrola and sent them figures relating to what I thought the calculation should be.

At various offices I was repeatedly referred to the reverse of my invoice.

I can find no relation to the rates I paid and pay nor to any formula by which they calculate the price adjustments.

With my simplistic but logical calculations I believe that at present levels I will have been charged almost three times what I think I should be.

Do any of your readers know how the calculations were made and do any think that they are being overcharged?

Richard Oats (by email)

Cycle menace I WELCOME the decision to grant restaurants and bars in Javea a four-month breathing space before having to comply with new terrace laws.

But I disagree that tables and chairs on the Paseo de la Marina Espanola are making life difficult for pedestrians.

To make it a more pleasant area for pedestrians, the town hall should take action against the cyclists who

L etters OPINION & COMMENT

Snapped!

By John Weatherer of Alicante

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

AT this time of year many of the sunrises and sunsets are particularly colourful. Reader John Weatherer of Cabo Roig sent this in, with the admission that when he took this sunset photograph, just one word sprang to mind... ‘inferno’.

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:

www.euroweeklynews.com

consistently ride at speed and ring their bells loudly in order to intimidate you and order pedestrians out of their way.

Nancy Elliott, Pedreguer (Alicante)

Money matter FOLLOWING queries over where monies raised in Spain go to for the Poppy Appeal, I received the following confirmation from Chris Wyatt, Chairman, The Royal British Legion in Spain, District North.

Dear Ian, All the monies raised in Spain are used here for our beneficiaries.

At the end of each year, whatever surplus is left in our Welfare Fund is returned to the UK as it earns much higher interest there. This is the same for all Overseas Branches around the world, however, that money is always available for us should we need it. Obviously, it

EWN

35

Costa Blanca North

would not make sense to keep building up a huge surplus here.

For instance, last year we raised over €134,000.00 and to date have given out around €80,000.00 so when this year’s collection is added in, the surplus from last year is returned to the UK. Although the majority of beneficiaries here are elderly, there have been a sprinkling of younger claimants.

Please thank your members for all their hard work and efforts in collecting for the Poppy Appeal this year.

I will be announcing the Poppy total in January but it already looks like another record-breaker.

Chris Wyatt Thank you in anticipation.

Ian C Wilson, President, Ex Servicemen’s Association of Mazarrón District (ESAMD).

Power alert A MAN who said he was from Eiffage Energia claimed he needed to update and replace the electricity meter outside with a digital meter.

He said the ICP was no longer needed, removed it, and took it away.

The man did not leave any receipt or information.

Our Spanish advisors think we have been conned and will have to have the ICP replaced.

We are in the process of switching to Iberswitch and they do not know anything either. Should I go to the police?

Dorothy, Moraira (Alicante) Editor’s note: It is important to always seek proof of identification from visiting tradesmen and officials from companies.

David Petrie’s letter (Issue1432) about winter fuel payments to British pensioners drew a chilly response from our readers…

Justice ruling

Fair share

IF David Petrie rather admirably refuses to claim his winter fuel allowance (Issue 1432), then he is refuting the recent European Courts of Justice ruling that we are all entitled to claim what is and always has been rightfully ours as British pensioners.

Furthermore, some pensioners in Spain already receive the allowance and some do not, which is ridiculous!

Brian Johnston (by email)

THE winter fuel allowance is a payment to help pensioners with the ever-rising fuel costs and not taken from the pension contributions but from the chancellor’s tax collections.

I have certainly paid in my fair share of taxes in my working life.

If Mr Petrie feels that his finances are so adequate that he doesn’t need the payment, he can always give it to one of the organisations in the UK that collects such payments to redistribute to very

poor pensioners.

If I was still living in the UK I would be claiming tax credits, which we don’t get here.

John Dale, Torrevieja (Alicante)

Not guilty MY husband has claimed his allowance this year for the first time and I am very glad he did so. I will certainly be claiming mine next year.

There are people in the UK that have never contributed a penny to the system and claim whatever is

going. I will not feel guilty about claiming the allowance.

Maggie, Orihuela Costa (Alicante)

Send it back IF David Petrie is not happy receiving the fuel allowance, then reject it, send it back.

I have a friend in France who is of a similar mind and some years ago, under the cover of a polite letter to the relevant department, they returned their allowance and they haven’t been bothered

since. Simple!

Dave Pollard, Torrevieja (Alicante)

First payment I THOUGHT you might like to know that I have just received my first winter fuel payment from the UK. This letter is just to give other expatriates hope. Next stop is to try to and get back-payments from my entitlement age of 60.

I am just about to order some logs!

Phil Walker (by email)

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

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

BBC1

BBC2

2:20am BBC News BBC One joins the BBC's rolling news channel for a night of news, with bulletins on the hour and the headlines every 15 minutes. 7:00am Breakfast The latest news, sport, business and weather from the BBC's Breakfast team. 9:05am Match of the Day Gary Lineker presents highlights of the day's eight Premier League games. 10:40am Eight Below 12:30pm Snow Babies1:30pm BBC News The latest national and international news from the BBC. 1:40pm Countryfile 2:40pm Bedknobs and Broomsticks Classic Disney fantasy set in World War II England.

4.00pm - midnight 4:30pm Call the Midwife Festive instalment of the period drama.

5:50pm Songs of Praise 6:30pm Wild Weather in 2012: London 7:00pm BBC News The latest national and international news stories from the BBC News team.

7:20pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London.

7:30pm Celebrity Mastermind Celebrity edition of the quiz, hosted by John Humphrys.

8:00pm Countryfile 9:00pm Antiques Roadshow 10:00pm Ripper Street Crime drama set in Victorian London.

11:00pm BBC News The latest national and international news, with reports from BBC correspondents worldwide.

11:15pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London.

11:25pm Match of the Day 2

12:25am Sport Relief 2012 1:25am Open Range Western. 3:40am Weatherview Detailed weather forecast. 3:45am Climbed Every Mountain - The Story Behind The Sound of Music 4:45am Holby City Can Ric really leave Holby City behind? With Imelda on his case, is it too late anyway? 5:45am BBC News

ITV

7:00am Pingu Animated adventures of a clumsy young penguin who feels he's misunderstood.

7:05am Timmy Time Stop-frame animation series about the adventures of a lamb at nursery school. 7:15am Rastamouse 7:30am The Large Family Preschool animation about the warmhearted Larges, an all-too-human elephant family.

7:40am Andy's Wild Adventures 8:00am Naomi's Nightmares of Nature 8:30am Four O'Clock Club 9:00am M.I. High 9:30am Hero Squad 10:00am Copycats 10:30am 12 Again 11:00am Saturday Kitchen Best Bites 12:30pm The Great British Bake Off Masterclass 1:30pm EastEnders Omnibus

Channel 4

4:40am ITV Nightscreen Text-based information service. 7:00am Engie Benjy The adventures of an engine doctor and his friends. 7:10am Babar and the Adventures of Badou 7:20am 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 There's No Taste Like Home 11:25am Dinner Date 12:25pm Dickinson's Real Deal 1:25pm All Star Family Fortunes 2:10pm ITV News and Weather 2:15pm Carry on Girls

4:00pm Tea with Mussolini 6:15pm Joanna Lumley: The Search for Noah's Ark 7:35pm London Tonight Regional news update for the capital and the South East, plus local weather.

7:45pm ITV News and Weather Nina Hossain with the latest headlines from around the world.

Followed by a local weather forecast.

8:00pm Super Famous Animals 9:00pm Wild at Heart Last ever episode.

11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:15pm A Night with Beyonce

BBC2

11:00pm Moon

4:30pm Space Dive 6:00pm Force 10 from Navarone 8:00pm James May's Toy Stories 9:00pm Dara O Briain's Science Club 10:00pm Neil Armstrong - First Man on the Moon 11:00pm Moon 12:30am Blade Runner 2:20am Dangerous Days: On the Edge of Blade Runner 4:05am BBC News

12:30am Rugby Highlights 1:25am Jackpot247 Join the presenters live and play roulette on your telly. 4:00am River Monsters 4:50am ITV Nightscreen Text-based information service.

Channel 5

6:00am Deal or No Deal 6:55am The Hoobs 7:20am Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts 8:45am Doctor Dolittle 3 10:30am Sunday Brunch 12:40pm The Big Bang Theory 1:10pm The Simpsons 1:40pm Clash of the Titans 3:55pm Edward Scissorhands

CH4

8:45am Dr. Dolittle 3

7:45am Abby's Flying Fairy School 7:55am Roobarb and Custard Too 8:05am Bananas in Pyjamas 8:15am Animal Antics 8:20am Make Way for Noddy 8:35am City of Friends 8:45am Little Princess 9:00am The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill and His Best Friend Corky 9:10am Angelina Ballerina 9:25am Rupert Bear 9:40am Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 9:55am Toby's Travelling Circus 10:05am Roary the Racing Car 10:25am Jelly Jamm 10:40am Chinese Food in Minutes 10:50am Meerkat Manor 11:20am Dallas 12:15pm Eddie Stobart's Christmas Cracker 1:20pm Once Upon a Time 2:15pm Lost Holiday: The Jim and Suzanne Shemwell Story

4:05pm Ivanhoe 6:00pm Channel 4 News 6:05pm Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Includes sport and weather.

8:05pm Eddie Stobart: Trucks and 6:25pm 4thought.tv Trailers Christmas is traditionally a time for giving.

8:55pm 5 News Weekend 6:30pm The Art of the Snowman and the 9:00pm World's Strongest Snowdog Man 2012 6:35pm The Snowman and the Snowdog 10:00pm An A brand new, charming animated sequel to Audience with Ken Raymond Briggs's classic The Snowman.

Dodd 7:05pm How the Snowman Came Back to Life The Snowman is one of the most watched and loved British animation films of all time.

8:00pm Come Dine with Me Derby is the location for this CH5 brand new 6:05pm episode.

9:00pm The Seven Brides for Hotel Seven Brothers 10:00pm Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2012

Julie Newmar 12:05am The Last Leg of the Year 1:10am Alan Carr: Chatty Man 2:10am American Football Live 5:45am Brief Encounters of the Sporting Mind 5:50am Brief Encounters of the Sporting Mind There are more competitors in harness racing worldwide than in thoroughbred horse racing.

12:00am The Man Who Sued God 2:00am Super Casino Live interactive gaming featuring roulette, blackjack and autowheel. 5:00am House Doctor Home improvement series with Californian interior designer Ann Maurice.

5:25am House Doctor 5:45am Rough Guide to Adventures Highlights of the travel series presented by Julia Bradbury and Toby Amies.

Sam Rockwell

BBC3

BBC4

8:00pm Mr Stink A magical, heart-warming story for Christmas, based on David Walliams's best-selling book.

9:00pm Pixar: 25 Magic Moments 10:00pm The Incredibles 11:50pm Russell Howard's Good News 12:20am Family Guy 1:05am American Dad! Animated series about CIA agent Stan Smith.

1:25am American Dad! 1:45am Some Girls 2:15am Some Girls 2:45am Some Girls 3:15am Live at the Electric 3:45am Him and Her 4:15am Him and Her

BBC4 8:00pm BBC Proms 10:00pm Hollywood's Lost Screen Goddess: Clara Bow 11:00pm Julie Andrews Hour with Sammy Davis Jr 11:55pm Victor/Victoria 2:00am BBC Proms 4:00am Concerto at the BBC Proms 4:30am Concerto at the BBC Proms

10:00pm Hollywood's Lost Screen Goddess: Clara Bow

Satellite channels SKY1 6:00am The People's Rainforest 7:00am The Hour of Power 8:00am Modern Family 8:30am Modern Family 9:00am Modern Family 9:30am Modern Family 10:00am Modern Family 10:30am Modern Family 11:00am World Wrestling Entertainment Superstars 12:00pm WWE Experience 1:00pm Glee 2:00pm Glee 3:00pm Glee 4:00pm Glee 5:00pm Glee 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm Got to Dance 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm A League of Their Own 10:00pm A League of Their Own 11:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 12:00am NCIS: Los Angeles 1:00am Road Wars 1:30am Big Trouble in Thailand 2:30am Big Trouble in

Thailand 3:20am A League of Their Own 4:15am A League of Their Own 5:10am Don't Forget the Lyrics

SKY MOVIES DRAMA

SKY MOVIES COMEDY

5:00am Stepping Out 7:00am You May Not Kiss the Bride 8:45am The Stepford Wives 10:25am Jane Eyre 12:30pm Shakespeare in Love 2:40pm The Descendants

5:30am Snow Dogs 7:10am The Change-Up 9:05am National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 10:45am Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules 12:25pm American Pie 2:05pm Tower Heist 3:50pm National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 5:30pm Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules 7:15pm A Thousand Words 9:00pm Tower Heist 10:50pm The Change-Up 12:45am American Pie 2:25am American Pie 2 4:15am The Muppets Sky Movies Special 4:45am The Fighting Temptations

4:40pm The Terminal 6:55pm Jane Eyre 9:00pm The Descendants 11:00pm Shakespeare in Love 1:10am Something 3:10am Conviction

Borrowed

SKY MOVIES ACTION 3:30am Braveheart 6:30am War Horse Sky Movies Special 7:00am Movie Special 7:20am Sahara 9:25am Colombiana 11:15am Captain America: The First Avenger 1:25pm Kingdom of Heaven 3:50pm Alexander

6:50pm Sahara 9:00pm Captain America: The First Avenger 11:10pm Colombiana 1:00am Kingdom of Heaven 3:30am Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

TCM 8:40am The Mark of Zorro 10:25am Our Man Flint 12:25pm Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol 2:05pm Seven Brides for Seven Brothers 4:00pm Sugarfoot 5:35pm Westbound 6:50pm Thunder Pass 8:25pm The Ride Back 10:00pm Hell on Wheels 10:55pm Hell on Wheels 11:50pm Training Day 2:10am Children of a Lesser God 4:10am Breakheart Pass

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

OPINION & COMMENT

EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

Costa Blanca North

Poll results are light at end of the tunnel L L UKIP is an intelligent, utterly lawful, competentlyled party, which is not afraid to voice its opinions on a whole spectrum of policies that worry the British people.

It is in fact the voice of reason. Stricter border control and a freeze on all immigration. It’s not rocket science to see that this ‘all welcome’ policy is destroying the NHS and bankrupting our Social Services. It’s not the colour of skin, it’s the colour of money doing the damage.

Slithering surprise A BOX of deadly snakes has been found in a child’s wardrobe in Australia. Three-year old Kyle Cummins found eggs in his garden and left them in the warm confines of his cupboard.

Psy oh Psy?

EAPY EE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT Out of Europe We never needed Europe. We had a Commonwealth market remember that mouthwatering NZ lamb and Australian fruit we enjoyed so much?

How jealous was the EU as it saw us gathering the harvest of our considerable endeavours. Our Commonwealth cousins were bewildered when we

POLL RESULTS: Gains for UKIP.

betrayed them and moved all our purchasing power to the Europeans, many of whom were only interested in the late fruition of Adolf Hitler’s ambitions.

We should put our caps in our hands, admit we made a mistake and beg forgiveness of all our war and peace allies. Although I know this sounds a bit like a party political broadcast, I can assure you it is not.

I only know something has to change, before our children are left holding a baby that is so controlled by a ‘big brother’ that sheer bewilderment will either put them in early graves or in lines of robots akin to the brain-dead citizens of North Korea.

A very happy New Year to you all.

Keep the faith Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com

GANGNAM STYLE has been chosen as one of Collins Dictionary words of the year. It is the title of Korean singer Psy’s signature song.

END COLUMN

WONDERFUL, wonderful UKIP! At last a party which echoes the thoughts and aspirations of the majority of the British public is finally getting some of the recognition it deserves.

This week’s great party poll results were, to my mind, the first pinpoint of light at the end of an extremely long tunnel. A tunnel crammed with denials, dithering, downright subversives and politicians petrified to speak out in case they lose their positions of pontificating privilege. Prior to UKIP there was only the BNP. The problem with the BNP is that despite echoing the thoughts of many Brits, its past record was always against it. Although many of its policies are in complete accord with the majority of the British public, there has always been the - often to my mind unjustified - stigma of thuggery and racism in their political representations.

Well, UKIP doesn’t wear this mantle of menace.

37

Sister act AN Argentine woman has married the convicted killer of her twin sister.

Victor Cingolani is serving a 13year sentence for murdering girlfriend Johana Casas in 2010.

38

MONDAY

EWN

TV

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

BBC2

5:45am BBC News 7:00am Breakfast The latest news, sport, business and weather from the BBC's Breakfast team. 10:00am Muppet Treasure Island 11:30am G-Force Animated action adventure. 12:50pm Kung Fu Panda Holiday Animated family film. Po is asked to host the annual winter holiday feast for the kung fu masters. 1:15pm BBC News The latest national and international news stories from the BBC News team, followed by weather. 1:30pm BBC London News 1:40pm Total Wipeout 2:40pm Bedtime Stories Children's adventure.

4.00pm - midnight 4:10pm The Sound of Music 7:00pm BBC News at Six The latest national and international news stories from the BBC News team, followed by weather.

7:15pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London.

7:30pm Celebrity Mastermind 8:00pm Top Of The Pops New Year's Eve 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Fantasy adventure.

11:15pm BBC News at Ten The latest national and international news, with reports from BBC correspondents worldwide.

11:30pm The Graham Norton Show New Year's Eve. The awardwinning host continues his unique chat show.

12:40am New Year Live 1:15am John Bishop: The Sunshine Tour 2:25am Scary Movie 4 Spoof. 3:40am Weatherview Detailed weather forecast. 3:45am BBC News

BBC3 8:00pm Superstars 2012 9:30pm Olympics 2012 11:30pm EastEnders 12:00am Russell Howard's Good News 12:30am Russell Howard's Good News 1:00am Family Guy Animated comedy series about family life.

1:25am Family Guy Animated comedy series about family life.

1:45am Family Guy Animated comedy series about family life.

2:05am Family Guy Animated comedy series about family life.

2:25am Family Guy Animated comedy series about family life.

2:50am American Dad! Animated comedy series about CIA agent Stan Smith.

3:10am American Dad! 3:30am American Dad! Animated series about CIA agent Stan Smith.

3:55am Him and Her 4:25am Him and Her

ITV

Channel 4

Channel 5

7:00am Pingu 7:05am Timmy Time Stop-frame animation about the adventures of a lamb at nursery school. 7:15am Rastamouse 7:30am The Large Family Preschool animation about the warm-hearted Larges, an all-too-human elephant family. 7:40am Andy's Wild Adventures Andy Day and Kip the cat go all around the world in search of weird and wonderful animals. 8:00am Naomi's Nightmares of Nature 8:30am Four O'Clock Club 9:00am M.I. High 9:30am Hero Squad 10:00am Operation Iceberg 11:00am Operation Iceberg 12:00pm The Great British Bake Off 1:00pm The Great British Bake Off 2:00pm Escape to the Country 2:45pm Flog It! 3:50pm The Red Baron

4:50am ITV Nightscreen Text-based information service. 7:00am Babar and the Adventures of Badou 7:10am Babar and the Adventures of Badou 7:25am The Hive 7:30am The Hive 7:40am The Hive 7:50am Fleabag Monkeyface 8:05am Fleabag Monkeyface The Smugleys are strutting around in the latest fashion craze - pink cravats. 8:20am Almost Naked Animals High energy, fast paced animated comedy for 6-11 year olds. 8:35am From Time to Time 10:25am Dinner Date Dating series with a twist. 11:25am WarGames 1:30pm ITV News and Weather The latest headlines from around the world. Followed by a national weather forecast. 1:40pm Midsomer Murders 3:35pm The Unforgettable...

6:00am Freesports on 4 6:25am The Enduroman Arch to Arc Triathlon 6:50am Extreme Sailing Series 7:20am The Treacle People 7:35am Happily Never After 8:55am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:25am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:55am Frasier 10:30am Frasier 11:00am The Big Bang Theory 11:30am The Big Bang Theory 12:00pm The Simpsons 12:30pm The Simpsons 1:00pm Son of the Mask 2:45pm Entrapment

6:50am Roary the Racing Car 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 Mist: Sheepdog Tales 10:35am Dallas 11:30am Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers 12:35pm Eddie Stobart: Christmas Delivery 1:35pm Once Upon a Time 2:30pm The Man From the Alamo

5:30pm Great Continental Railway Journeys Michael Portillo retraces the journeys featured in George Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide.

6:30pm University Challenge 7:00pm Climbed Every Mountain - The Story Behind The Sound of Music 8:00pm Catch Me If You Can 10:10pm Julie and Julia

4:35pm Just Henry Drama set in post-World War II Britain and based on the award-winning novel by Michelle Magorian.

6:35pm London Tonight 6:45pm ITV News and Weather Mary Nightingale with the latest headlines from around the world.

7:00pm Wild at Heart Filming with Animals 8:00pm Emmerdale Cain goes to extreme lengths to win Moira back.

8:30pm Coronation Street Tyrone struggles to get away as Fiz's life hangs in the balance.

9:00pm You've Been Framed!

9:30pm Coronation Street Tyrone struggles to absorb the news from the hospital.

10:00pm 2012: A Funny Old Year 11:00pm Bridget Jones's Diary

5:00pm Deal or No Deal 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:25pm Hollyoaks Mitzeee and Maxine try to keep a manic Chez Chez under control.

7:00pm Hollyoaks As New Year strikes, friendships are lost in a cocktail of betrayal, deceit and judgement.

7:30pm Channel 4 News Includes sport and weather.

7:55pm 4thought.tv 8:00pm Come Dine with Me 10:00pm Alan Carr's New Year Specstacular

4:10pm Cheyenne Autumn 7:00pm The All New Gadget Show Entertainment show. Jason Bradbury and Pollyanna Woodward are in London.

8:05pm Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers Observational documentary series.

9:00pm World's Strongest Man 2012 10:00pm Britain's Funniest Comedy Characters

12:45am ITV News and Weather Mary Nightingale with the latest headlines from around the world. 1:05am Fletch 2:40am Pushing Daisies Quirky US drama about a pie-maker who can bring the dead back to life. 3:25am ITV Nightscreen Text-based information service.

12:05am 8 Out of 10 Cats 12:50am House Party

BBC1

BBC1

8:00pm The Bridges That Built 9:00pm ... Sings Disney Songs 10:00pm The Best of Kenny Everett's Television Shows 10:30pm Numb 11:30pm The Best of Kenny Everett's Television Shows 12:00am More Old Jews Telling Jokes More old Jews tell their favourite jokes.

12:30am More Old Jews Telling Jokes Yet another slice of senior citizen silliness.

1:00am The Art of Tommy Cooper 1:30am How the Brits Rocked America: Go West 2:30am How the Brits Rocked America: Go West 3:30am How the Brits Rocked America: Go West The final part of a series celebrating the success of British rock in America.

4:30am Sounds of the 70s Musical documentary series.

In this comedic dual biopic, Julia Child's story as a 1950s cookbook author is intertwined with blogger Julia Powell's 2002 attempt to cook all 524 recipes from Child's debut book in one year.

Meryl Streep

12:40am New Year Live

12:05am Jools' Annual Hootenanny 2:40am Best Bits @ Hackney 2012 3:40am Reading Festival 2012 - Highlights

BBC4

BBC2

10: 10pm Julie and Julia

12:55am NCIS Drama series following the US Navy's dedicated federal agency. 1:55am Super Casino Live interactive gaming featuring roulette, blackjack and autowheel. 5:20am Divine Designs 5:45am The Great Artists

Satellite channels SKY1 6:00am The People's Rainforest 7:00am Modern Family 7:30am Modern Family 8:00am Modern Family 8:30am Modern Family 9:00am Modern Family 9:30am Modern Family 10:00am Modern Family 10:30am Modern Family 11:00am Modern Family 11:30am Modern Family 12:00pm Modern Family 12:30pm Modern Family 1:00pm Glee 2:00pm Glee 3:00pm Ashley Banjo's Secret Street Crew 4:00pm Neverland 5:40pm The Hobbit 6:00pm Treasure Island 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm The Simpsons 9:30pm The Simpsons 10:00pm When Robbie Met James 11:00pm Robbie Williams: Take the Crown 1:00am A Very JLS Christmas

2:30am All Star Don't Forget the Lyrics 3:20am Got to Dance 4:15am Don't Forget the Lyrics 5:10am All Star Don't Forget the Lyrics

SKY MOVIES COMEDY 4:45am The Fighting Temptations 7:00am Galaxy Quest 8:45am Due Date 10:25am Bad Teacher 12:05pm Bridesmaids 2:15pm The Cat in the Hat 3:40pm Hall Pass

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2: Special 7:15am That Thing You Do! 9:10am A Little Bit of Heaven 11:00am The Decoy Bride 12:35pm I Don't Know How She Does it 2:10pm What's Your Number?

4:00pm Like Crazy 5:35pm Sweet Home Alabama 7:25pm The Decoy Bride 9:00pm I Don't Know How She Does it 10:35pm What's Your Number?

5:30pm Galaxy Quest 7:15pm Due Date 9:00pm Bridesmaids 11:10pm Bad Teacher

12:25am Like Crazy 2:00am Just Go with it 4:00am Take Me Home 5:40am 'Til There Was You

12:50am Project X 2:25am Hall Pass 4:15am Project X 5:50am The Cat in the Hat

SKY MOVIES ACTION

SKY MOVIES DRAMA

6:00am The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Special 6:30am X-Men: First Class Special 7:00am The Warrior's Way 8:45am Real Steel 10:55am Batman Begins 1:20pm Immortals

5:00am The 5th Quarter 6:45am

3:20pm Daylight 5:20pm Real Steel 7:30pm Batman Begins 10:00pm Immortals 12:00am Broken Arrow 1:55am Species 3:45am Species II 5:30am Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol Special

TCM 6:00am Seven Brides for Seven Brothers 8:00am 3 Godfathers 10:00am The Horse Soldiers 12:10pm The Longest Day 3:55pm Rio Lobo 6:00pm The Searchers 8:15pm Big Jim Mclain 10:00pm On Deadly Ground 11:55pm The Glimmer Man 1:40am Disclosure 3:50am On Deadly Ground 5:30am Off Set 5:50am Off Set

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

39

Costa Blanca North

Pantomimes falling victim to politically correct obsession LOOKING back over the past few years, you really couldn’t credit the number of examples of extreme political correctness in Britain.

Like the teachers at one Scottish school who banned children from cheering their team on sports day in case those who came last felt humiliated. Or the Birmingham primary school, where parents weren’t allowed to attend sports day at all, to spare their children from embarrassment if they lost.

And what about the Christmas concert when children were ordered to change the traditional lyrics of the Christmas song about the little donkey said to have carried the pregnant Mary to Bethlehem because they were deemed “too religious.”

Instead of “Little donkey, carry Mary safely on her way”, 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

youngsters were instructed to sing “carry Lucy” for fear of offending non-Christians.

And the good old British pantomime – the traditional panto season is now in full swing in the UK - hasn’t been spared either. Old favourites like Robinson Crusoe and Sinbad are being cast aside for fear their representation of cannibals and natives is racist Likewise the age-old tradition of the Principal Boy performed by a girl is

TOO RELIGIOUS?: Traditional nativity scene. disappearing for fear her relationship with the female lead is construed as a lesbian one.

Shows that have survived tend to be updated with loaded messages. Cinderella and Jack and the Beanstalk, for instance, deal with gay rights,

waste recycling and school bullying.

Pantos such as Hansel and Gretel and Babes in the Wood, which traditionally included scenes of child abduction, have had to be massively tinkered with to avoid brickbats in this post-Savile era.

Tommy Cannon, one half of the Cannon and Ball comedy duo and a popular panto performer, says: “You’re getting to the stage where you’re frightened to do anything as a joke. We used to do Babes in the Wood a lot and we’d play the robbers who kidnap the children and whisk them away in a pram.

“But people actually believed something was happening to the kids on stage and we’d get complaints. People forget this is panto and that sort of censorship is so wrong. These pantos are disappearing and they aren’t coming back.”

I couldn’t have put it better myself. And, you may have noticed, I didn’t!

Nora Johnson’s thrillers Soul Stealer & The De Clerambault Code (www.nora-johnson. com) from Amazon in paperback/eBook (€0.89;£0.77) and iBookstore.

Profits to Cudeca.

40

TUESDAY

EWN

TV

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

BBC2

3:45am BBC News 7:00am Breakfast The latest news, sport, business and weather from the BBC's Breakfast team. 10:00am Hotel for Dogs 11:35am 3 Men and a Little Lady 1:15pm The Archbishop of Canterbury's New Year Message 1:20pm BBC News The latest national and international news stories from the BBC News team, followed by weather. 1:35pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London. 1:45pm Frozen Planet 2:45pm Mary Poppins

ITV

7:00am Pingu 7:05am Timmy Time 7:15am Rastamouse 7:30am The Large Family 7:40am Andy's Wild Adventures 8:00am Naomi's Nightmares of Nature 8:30am Four O'Clock Club 9:00am M.I. High 9:30am Hero Squad 9:55am Deadly Art 10:15am The Great British Bake Off Cookery series in which some of the country's best amateur bakers test their skills.

11:15am The Great British Bake Off Cookery series in which some of the country's best amateur bakers test their skills.

12:15pm New Year's Day Concert 2013 1:45pm Dances with Wolves

5:00pm The Princess and the Frog Animated adventure presenting an alternative telling of the classic story.

6:35pm BBC News 6:50pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London.

7:00pm Celebrity Mastermind 7:30pm Up 9:00pm EastEnders It is Lexi's christening, and the Mitchells congregate to celebrate her special day.

10:00pm Miranda Sitcom starring and written by Miranda Hart.

10:30pm Mrs. Brown's Boys Comedy series about a meddling market stall holder.

11:00pm BBC News at Ten The latest national and international news, with reports from BBC correspondents worldwide.

11:15pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London.

11:25pm Match of the Day

12:45am The Graham Norton Show New Year's Eve. The award-winning host continues his unique chat show. 1:50am Weatherview Detailed weather forecast. 1:55am BBC News

BBC3

BBC1

4.00pm - midnight 2:45pm Mary Poppins

Julie Andrews 4:35pm Great Continental Railway Journeys 5:30pm Final Score 6:25pm The Archbishop of Canterbury's New Year Message 6:30pm Goodbye to Canterbury 7:30pm University Challenge 8:00pm Hairy Dieters: How to Love Food and Lose Weight 9:00pm Nature's Weirdest Events Documentary series exploring bizarre and extraordinary natural events on the planet.

10:00pm Queen Victoria's Children 11:00pm Charlie Brooker's 2012 Wipe Out

12:00am QI Quiz show. A compilation of some of the best bits from the series, with Stephen Fry and Alan Davies. 12:30am I'm in a Boy Band 1:30am Hebburn 2:00am Twenty Twelve Second series of the acclaimed comedy which follows the team delivering the 2012 Olympics. 2:30am Count the Hours

BBC4

8:00pm Top of the Pops Christmas Special 9:00pm Top Of The Pops New Year's Eve 10:00pm Alice in Wonderland 11:40pm EastEnders 12:40am Family Guy 1:05am Family Guy Animated comedy series about family life.

1:25am American Dad! 1:50am American Dad! 2:10am Pramface 2:40am Pramface 3:10am Impractical Jokers 3:40am Impractical Jokers 4:10am Impractical Jokers

8:00pm New Year's Day Concert 2013 10:00pm Days of Glory 11:00pm The Wooden Horse Dramatisation of one of the most ingenious escape bids of World War II. 12:40am The Treasures of Ancient Rome 1:40am Sex and Sensibility: The Allure of Art Nouveau 2:40am New Year's Day Concert 2013

Keanu Reeves TCM

12:20am - The Matrix

Channel 4

Channel 5

3:25am ITV Nightscreen 7:00am Babar and the Adventures of Badou 7:10am Babar and the Adventures of Badou 7:25am The Hive 7:30am The Hive 7:40am The Hive 7:50am Canimals 8:00am Fleabag Monkeyface 8:15am Fleabag Monkeyface 8:30am Almost Naked Animals 8:45am Almost Naked Animals 9:00am Horrid Henry 9:15am Horrid Henry 9:30am Victorious 10:00am Share a Story 10:25am Dragonheart 12:15pm Dancing on Ice Goes Gold 2:10pm ITV News and Weather 2:25pm Pride and Prejudice

12:50am House Party 7:00am The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter 8:20am Everybody Loves Raymond Ray feels guilty when he meets a girl he dated 25 years before. 8:50am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:25am Frasier 9:55am Frasier 10:25am The Big Bang Theory Howard finally tells his mother that he's engaged to Bernadette.

10:55am The Big Bang Theory 11:30am Oliver Twis 2:00pm Channel 4 Racing

5:45am The Great Artists 6:10am Michaela's Wild Challenge 6:35am Nick's Quest 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 9:10am Peppa Pig 9:15am Peppa Pig 9:20am Roary the Racing Car 9:35am Bananas in Pyjamas 9:55am Tickety Toc 10:10am Thomas and Friends 11:30am Dallas 12:25pm Seven Brides for Seven Brothers 2:30pm Ben-Hur

4:45pm Elizabeth: Queen, Wife, Mother Alan Titchmarsh presents a truly intimate portrait of the Queen by those closest to her.

5:50pm Les Miserables Movie Special 6:45pm ITV News and Weather The latest headlines from around the world.

Followed by a national weather forecast.

7:00pm River Monsters 7:30pm Emmerdale Katie is left hurt when Megan reveals Declan's true feelings.

8:00pm Royal Babies 9:00pm Celebrity Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

Celebrity contestants attempt to win that magical million in this New Year special.

10:00pm Gary Barlow and Friends 11:15pm ITV News and Weather The latest headlines from around the world.

Followed by a national weather forecast.

11:30pm King Kong

4:30pm Deal or No Deal 5:30pm The Wizard of Oz 7:25pm Channel 4 News Includes sport and weather.

7:30pm Deal or No Deal 8:30pm Frankie Howerd 10:00pm Robin Hood

6:40pm The Dam Busters 9:00pm World's Strongest Man 2012 10:00pm 50 Shocking Facts About Diet and Exercise

Keira Knightley & Matthew Macfadyen ITV

BBC1

2:25pm - Pride and Prejudice

2:40am Jackpot247 Join the presenters live and play roulette on your telly. 4:00am Pushing Daisies 4:45am ITV Nightscreen Text-based information service.

12:45am Rude Tube 1:50am The Last Leg of the Year 2:45am Bug 4:30am St. Elsewhere A dream comes true for Dr Craig, while Rosenthal may regret striking a rival nurse. 5:15am Smallville Drama series following the teenage years of the future Superman, Clark Kent.

12:05am The Craft 2:05am Super Casino Live interactive gaming featuring roulette, blackjack and autowheel. 4:55am House Doctor 5:20am Divine Designs 5:45am The Great Artists

Satellite channels SKY1 6:00am Don't Forget the Lyrics 7:00am Brainiac Test Tube Baby:Christmas.. 8:00am The Middle 10:00am Terra Nova 1:00pm Glee 2:00pm Glee 3:00pm Making Attenborough's Galapagos 4:00pm Neverland 5:40pm Life of PI Special 6:00pm Treasure Island 8:00pm Galapagos with David

Attenborough New 9:00pm Diversity in Dublin 10:00pm Final Destination 11:50pm A League of Their Own

Year-Old Virgin Who Knocked Sarah Marshall and Felt Superbad About it 3:45am 50 First Dates 5:30am Snow Dogs

12:50am Road Wars 1:20am Brit Cops - Frontline Crime 2:20am Glee 3:20am Road Wars 4:20am Road Wars 5:20am Futurama 5:30am Crash Test Dummies

SKY MOVIES DRAMA

SKY MOVIES COMEDY 5:50am The Cat in the Hat 7:15am Ice Age 8:50am Jack and Jill 10:30am Johnny English Reborn 12:20pm The 40 Year Old Virgin 2:20pm The Hangover Part II 4:05pm Ice Age 5:30pm Johnny English Reborn 7:15pm 50 First Dates 9:00pm The 40 Year Old Virgin 11:00pm The Hangover Part II 12:45am Jack and Jill 2:20am 41

5:40am 'Til There Was You 7:35am 4 Wedding Planners 9:00am Legends of the Fall 11:15am My Week with Marilyn 1:00pm Honey 2 3:00pm Chicago 5:05pm Burlesque 7:10pm My Week with Marilyn 9:00pm Chicago 11:00pm Burlesque 1:10am Beginners 3:00am Hardball 4:55am The Hobbit 5:25am A Valentine's Date

SKY MOVIES ACTION 6:00am Batman 7:55am Spider-Man

10:00am Spider-Man 2 12:10pm XMen: First Class 2:25pm Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol 4:45pm Spider-Man 6:50pm Spider-Man 2 9:00pm Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol 11:15pm X-Men: First Class 1:30am The Recruit 3:30am Your Highness 5:20am Volcano: Fire on the Mountain

TCM 6:00am Blue Steel 6:55am The Wings of Eagles 9:00am The Big Trail 11:15am Rio Lobo 1:25pm The Searchers 3:40pm Legend of the Lost 5:45pm The Train Robbers 7:30pm Red River 10:00pm 300 12:20am The Matrix

42

WEDNESDAY

EWN

TV

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

BBC2

1:55am BBC News 7:00am Breakfast The latest news, sport, business and weather from the BBC's Breakfast team. 10:15am Wanted Down Under 11:00am Homes Under the Hammer 12:00pm Saints and Scroungers 12:45pm Cowboy Trap Clive Holland has help and advice for homeowners who have fallen victim to cowboy builders. 1:15pm Bargain Hunt Tim Wonnacott and the two teams hunt for antiques in the pretty Lincolnshire town of Horncastle. 2:00pm BBC News at One 2:30pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London. 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm The Two Ronnies Sketchbook 3:45pm Escape to the Country Series in which prospective buyers are helped to find their dream home in the country.

ITV

7:00am Pingu 7:05am Timmy Time 7:15am Rastamouse 7:30am The Large Family 7:40am Andy's Wild Adventures 8:00am Naomi's Nightmares of Nature 8:30am Four O'Clock Club 9:00am M.I. High 9:30am Hero Squad 10:00am Underdog 11:15am Coast 11:45am The Great British Bake Off 12:45pm The Great British Bake Off Amateur bakers have their skills tested to the limit. 1:45pm Great British Food Revival 2:15pm The Weakest Link Sporting Heroes Special. 3:15pm Inside Claridge's

4.00pm - midnight 4:45pm Perfection Nick Knowles hosts the general knowledge quiz show.

5:30pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News The latest news, sport and weather from London.

8:00pm Celebrity Mastermind 8:30pm Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death 9:00pm Holby City 10:00pm Africa 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 A Question of Sport Sue Barker hosts the light-hearted sports quiz, with team captains Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell.

12:05am Match of the Day 1:10am Disturbia 2:45am Weatherview 2:50am Rome's Lost Empire 4:10am Inside Claridge's 5:10am BBC News

BBC3 8:00pm Don't Tell the Bride 9:00pm Top Gear 10:00pm The Prestige 12:05am Family Guy 12:30am Family Guy 12:50am American Dad! 1:15am American Dad! 1:35am Russell Howard's Good News 2:00am Some Girls 2:30am Some Girls 3:00am Some Girls 3:30am Don't Tell the Bride 4:30am Him and Her

SMD

9:00pm The Adjustment Bureau

Matt Damon & Emily Blunt

BBC2

10:00am - Underdog

4:15pm The Cheyenne Social Club 6:00pm Great Continental Railway Journeys 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm University Challenge 8:00pm Hairy Dieters: How to Love Food and Lose Weight 9:00pm Nature's Weirdest Events 10:00pm Queen Victoria's Children 11:00pm Mock the Week

12:00am Never Mind the Buzzcocks 12:30am I'm in a Girl Group! Documentary exploring girl groups from the inside out. 1:30am Hebburn 2:00am Twenty Twelve 2:30am The Big Steal 3:40am BBC News

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

8:30pm Britain on Film 9:00pm Operation Crossbow 10:00pm Carve Her Name with Pride 11:55pm The Real Great Escape 1:20am The Treasures of Ancient Rome 2:20am Sex and Sensibility: The Allure of Art Nouveau 3:20am Delius: Composer, Lover, Enigma

Channel 4

4:45am ITV Nightscreen Text-based information service. 7:00am Daybreak 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show Jeremy looks back over the most memorable moments of his popular talk show from 2012. 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 Loose Women Join the loose ladies for more fiery nonstop lunchtime chat and fun. 2:30pm ITV News and Weather The latest headlines from around the world. 3:00pm Dinner Date

4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Tipping Point Ben Shephard hosts a new series of the quiz show in which four players take on an extraordinary machine in the hope of winning its 10,000-pound jackpot.

6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm London Tonight 7:30pm ITV News and Weather The latest headlines from around the world.

Followed by a national weather forecast.

8:00pm Emmerdale Katie wonders if she should leave Declan. Zak and Lisa are worried by Belle's behaviour.

8:30pm Coronation Street Tommy makes a sacrifice to protect Tyrone.

9:00pm Midsomer Murders 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather The latest headlines from around the world.

11:35pm 2012: A Funny Old Year Jason Manford is joined by an all-star cast of stand up comics to discuss the events of past the year. Subjects range from the Olympics, the Diamond Jubilee and the constant rain, to Gangnam Style and the Mobot.

12:35am Safari Vet School 1:05am Jackpot247 Join the presenters live and play roulette on your telly. 4:00am Bonnie and Clyde 5:55am ITV Nightscreen Text-based information service.

6:00am Deal or No Deal 6:55am Sali Mali 7:00am The Treacle People 7:10am The Hoobs 7:35am The Hoobs 8:05am Will and Grace 8:30am According to Jim 8:55am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:25am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:55am Frasier 10:30am Frasier Frasier is in a moral and ethical quandary. 11:00am The Big Bang Theory 11:25am The Big Bang Theory Amy gets caught in the middle of a battle of wills between Sheldon and Penny. 11:55am The Simpsons 12:25pm The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad 2:10pm Doctor Dolittle

Channel 5 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 9:10am Peppa Pig 9:20am Roary the Racing Car 9:35am Mio Mao 9:40am Bananas in Pyjamas 9:55am Tickety Toc 10:10am Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures 10:15am Castle Farm 10:25am Mist: Sheepdog Tales 10:45am Chinese Food in Minutes 10:50am Meerkat Manor 11:20am Emergency Bikers 12:25pm CSI: Miami 1:25pm 5 News Lunchtime 1:30pm The Mentalist 2:25pm Chinese Food in Minutes 2:35pm Reversible Errors

CH5

BBC1

10:00pm Elektra

Jennifer Garner 5:00pm Deal or No Deal 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:55pm 4thought.tv 9:00pm Gok's Style Secrets 10:00pm One Born Every Minute 11:00pm Secrets of a Good Marriage with Sharon Horgan

12:05am The 50 Funniest Moments of 2012 2:05am Rosemary's Baby 4:25am Destination Moon

6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Emergency Bikers 7:30pm 5 News National and international news.

8:00pm Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers Observational documentary series following the famous haulage company.

9:00pm World's Craziest Police Pursuits 10:00pm Elektra Martial arts action drama.

12:00am Wind Chill Chilling horror. 1:45am Forensic Files Documentary series examining the application of modern technological advances in police work. 2:15am Super Casino Live interactive gaming featuring roulette, blackjack and autowheel. 4:55am House Doctor 5:20am Divine Designs 5:45am The Great Artists

Satellite channels SKY1 6:00am Don't Forget the Lyrics 7:00am A League of Their Own 7:30am A League of Their Own 8:00am The Middle 10:00am Terra Nova 1:00pm Glee 2:00pm Glee 3:00pm Ashley Banjo's Secret Street Crew 4:00pm The Middle 6:00pm Futurama 7:00pm Modern Family 7:30pm Bond's Greatest Moments 9:00pm The Simpsons 10:00pm An Idiot Abroad 11:00pm A League of Their Own 12:00am Cop Squad 1:00am Brit Cops Frontline Crime 2:00am Glee 2:55am Road Wars 3:45am

Road Wars 4:45am Crash Test Dummies 5:10am Don't Forget the Lyrics

SKY MOVIES COMEDY 5:30am Snow Dogs 7:10am Arthur 9:00am Dunston Checks In 10:30am Team America: World Police 12:10pm Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story 1:45pm Junior 3:40pm No Strings Attached 5:30pm National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 7:10pm Arthur 9:00pm Junior 11:00pm Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story 12:35am Team America: World Police 2:15am No Strings Attached 4:05am Women in Trouble 5:45am Dunston Checks In

SKY MOVIES DRAMA

Island of Lost Dreams 1:45pm Green Lantern 3:40pm Killer Elite

5:25am A Valentine's Date 7:00am Love and Other Impossible Pursuits 8:50am City of Angels 10:50am The Adjustment Bureau 12:45pm Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol Special 1:15pm Life as We Know it 3:15pm Beautiful Wave

5:40pm First Blood 7:20pm Rambo: First Blood Part II 9:00pm Green Lantern 11:00pm Killer Elite

5:00pm City of Angels 7:00pm Country Strong 9:00pm The Adjustment Bureau 11:00pm Life as We Know it 1:00am The Company Men 2:50am The Lake Effect 4:30am Casino Jack

SKY MOVIES ACTION 5:20am Volcano: Fire on the Mountain 7:00am Flight of the Intruder 9:00am Priest 10:30am Spy Kids 12:00pm Spy Kids 2: The

1:00am First Blood 2:40am Rambo: First Blood Part II 4:20am Ironclad

TCM 6:00am Between Heaven and Hell 7:35am The Train Robbers 9:20am Red River 11:50am Legend of the Lost 1:50pm The High Chaparral 2:55pm The High Chaparral 4:00pm The Magic Sword 5:35pm The Man From Snowy River 7:25pm Twelve O'clock High 10:00pm Wild Geese Ii 12:30am Hell on Wheels 1:25am Hell on Wheels 2:20am Valdez is Coming

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

I

Costa Blanca North

We all want some figgy pudding

AM sitting on top of the duvet, cat purring contentedly beside me, looking out of the window at a smattering of stars twinkling in the clear night sky and I’m thinking of goose.

Not geese, just a single plump roasted goose. And small orphan boys doffing their caps at rich gents on a snowy street in London. I am coming over all Dickensian again, which is never good for the soul, all that angst and poverty and “Gor blimey guv give us a farthing, won’t yer.”

Why is it that Christmas in this guise is so familiar to us?

I certainly wasn’t born during the reign of Queen Victoria and yet images from the 1800s seem as real to me as those from my own childhood in the 70s. I’ve never eaten goose or figgy pudding and yet I will feel intense nostalgia at their mention.

Obviously countless films and television programmes are to blame but so too is the wonderfully evocative writing of Charles Dickens, who was not only one of Britain’s finest authors

45

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.

NOSTALGIA: Thinking of goose for Christmas. but also utterly bonkers.

His favourite character was the revolting Daniel Quilp from ‘The Old Curiosity Shop’ and Dickens would revel in a dribbling, mean eyed portrayal, happily scaring maiden aunts and scandalising society.

Or the wonderfully scary morality tale ‘A Christmas Carol’, conjuring up miserly men and haunted spirits clanking chains

and howling in the darkness. Scrooge is such a miserable human being yet Dickens’ gift was the ability to write of redemption through charity, something he was passionate about.

Of my own childhood memories the most vivid are of waking at dawn to find a

pillowcase stuffed with toys at the end of my bed. My brothers, sister and I would creep downstairs to sit under the Christmas tree and play, more often than not with the box the toys came in.

After an agonising wait for my parents to emerge bleary eyed from bed, we would have

breakfast then open our main presents. Christmas dinner was always a lively fun filled, belly busting affair and then we would settle on the settee taking turns to rummage inside a tin of Quality Street to watch The Morecambe and Wise Christmas Special and Top of The Pops.

We were lucky, even though we were not a wealthy family, my mother always made Christmas magical for us. My one regret is that my own son has not experienced the joy of sibling friendship, but I try, and this year I will cook the full monty, pigs in blankets, cranberry sauce and stuffing, followed by flaming Christmas pudding.

In keeping with family tradition I will get riotously drunk, argue with my wife (!) storm out into the snowstorm and never be seen again.

Anyway, by the time you read this Christmas will be gone and the New Year will beckon with its promise of good things to come.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

46 EWN www.euroweeklynews.com

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

Visit www.ewnlifestyle.com for more reading

Costa Blanca North

Advertising Feature

Cambridge 800 consultants in Spain rewarded for their excellent work THE staff and a number of Cambridge 800 consultants from Spain were flown over to attend the annual Cambridge Weight Plan, UK Conference, in November, which was held to celebrate the successes of dieters and consultants alike.

The theme this year was ‘your time to shine’ in the spirit of the Olympic torch. As ever Cambridge rewarded slimmers who had lost significant amounts of weight in the face of adversity and consultants who had gone above and beyond the call of duty to support their customers.

Not only did Cambridge throw a great party, but there were many interviews with

slimmers with both before and after photos and it was difficult to hold back the tears when they told their stories about the monumental challenges they had managed to overcome, and how their life had changed for the better after they had lost their weight and had managed to maintain it.

Every customer and consultant is a winner in the eyes of Cambridge and the party after the conference was a well deserved reward to all those who had made life changes to themselves or someone else.

The consistent comments from all the customers of Cambridge, was that without the vital support of their Cambridge consultants

From left to right: Some of the members of the Spanish team Gilly Speleers Spain Consultant, Torrevieja, Alicante; Lynda Gibson Spain Consultant, Orihuela Costa, Alicante; Sarah Hawes, Director Cambridge 800 Spain; Ann Bridges Spain Consultant, Mojacar, Almeria; Lauren Shakespeare Spain joint Consultant with mum Lynda Gibson.

At the front: Vicky Anderson, Support Administrator for Cambridge 800 Spain. this would not have been possible.

If you would like to get in contact with your

local Cambridge 800 consultant in Spain and find out how you can get your life and health

back on track, take the first step and call now: 952 586 324 or 952 475 954. Email:

admin@cambridge800.es www.cambridge800.es www.facebook/cambridge 800

HEALTH & BEAUTY

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 www.euroweeklynews.com

Visit www.ewnlifestyle.com for more reading

Monday morning blues WANT a last-minute doctor’s appointment? Well try the start of

the week. A study has found this is when patients are most likely to miss their consultations due

to Monday morning blues, so there may be a few last-minute spaces.

The study speculated that people find it harder to drag themselves out to an appointment straight after the weekend and would be less able to cope with the prospect of REDHEAD: being given bad news Forty per or having an cent of unpleasant treatment.

British

By Friday, the MILLIONS of Britons could be secret people psychological boost of redheads carrying ‘silent’ genes.

A study carry the it being the end of the of more than 5,000 British people’s DNA red-hair week increased their indicates that around four in 10 of us gene. resilience and so carry the gene that makes hair red, but improved attendance. the recessive gene is not switched on to The team from affect hair colour.

Glasgow University However, the gene means that you analysed the attencould have the increased health risks dance records for that afflict redheads, including increased more than four-andsensitivity to pain, skin cancer, a-half million outParkinson’s disease and even Tourette’s patient hospital syndrome. People with Scottish or appointments across Northern England anScotland between cestry are more likely January 1, 2008 and to be ‘secret’ redheads.

December 3, 2010 The project was led and found that

by Dr James Wilson, a benefit from a new type end to taking pills. missed appointments geneticist who studies of surgery, meaning an The simple 30-minute steadily decrease as the genetic roots of procedure uses radio the week progresses. disease. waves to destroy overactive nerves around the kidneys, and it was found to help patients whose condition could not be maintained using medication.

The patients in the study, carried out by Australian scientists, all had blood pressure readings of 160 or higher, and had taken three or more types of medication to normalise their blood pressure. The findings showed that six months after treatment blood pressure was reduced and almost 79 per cent of the same group were able to maintain their lower rates for a year.

Are you really a secret redhead?

Radio blood pressure treatment MILLIONS of people with high blood pressure could

Space cream THE latest beauty treatment on offer is literally out of this world.

New anti-ageing cream, Celestial Secret, was developed in Spain and contains powdered meteorite. The dust is said to be full of calcium, iron and magnesium, all of which are supposed to help benefit skin.

EWN

47

Costa Blanca North

48 EWN

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

Advertising feature

Línea Directa reports: HOW TO COMPLETE AN ACCIDENT REPORT FORM

• This document is essential for determining who is responsible for a traffic accident, which has a direct effect on the price that customers pay when renewing their insurance.

What is an accident report form?

An accident report form is a document which outlines the circumstances which have occurred in a car accident. In addition to the personal details of the drivers and their vehicles, the document includes a jointly agreed description of the manoeuvres carried out by the drivers when the accident took place, which plays a key role in determining who is responsible for a traffic accident.

How should it be completed?

Línea Directa offers the following advice to complete the form: 1. Columns A and B (blue and

yellow) are for the personal details of the drivers and their vehicles.

2. In Section 12 (Circumstances) the numbered column on the left describes the manoeuvres of Car A and the one on the right those of Car B. If you are unsure which box to mark, leave it blank. Make a drawing of the accident in Section 13 indicating the manoeuvre of each car.

3. If anybody has been injured or if you think they might have been injured, complete Section 24.

4. If there is more than one car involved in the accident, also complete Section 23, on the reverse side of the form, and include it in the sketch.

5. Sign the form and keep a copy.

Call now for more information on

902 123 104

RECEIVING THE CHEQUE: From left: Juan Bertomeu, Siro Gómez, Fellowship Treasurer Bob Spokes, President of Caritas Interparroquial Father Miguel Gavilá, Liz Spokes and Julio Lopez.

Rotary Club helps families in need A CHRISTMAS LUNCH held at Mapamundi in Denia has raised €1,000.

Through a meal and a

raffle, the funds have been donated to Caritas Interparroquial, helping families in need.

The Rotary meets on the first and third Tuesday of the month. More information: 965 584 260.

Adina’s gift to Emaus PARENTS of a 14-year-old girl who suddenly lost her life will donate her savings of €1,000 to Emaus.

Adina Harper collected her funds earned through babysitting during

school summer holidays. Emaus, the chosen charity desperately needs food, clothing and toys for the children’s homes they run.

More information: 965 836 814.

Advertising feature

Costa Blanca cuts costs with HydroFlow

Eliminate limescale – ‘la cal’ with radio waves Limescale is a big problem in the Costa Blanca. You know you have it when your shower heads clog up and the water pressure drops; when you have to use lots of soap and conditioner in your washing machine; when your skin feels itchy after a shower and your hair is dry and frizzy.

Limescale absorbs heat and can increase the cost of heating water by 20 per cent and increase water consumption.

In hard water areas, if you do not stop the limescale, a water heater lasts on average three years, and water pipes have to be renewed eventually, a very expensive business.

How to stop limescale?

Magnets and electro-magnets can help eliminate scale; but to work, they need a flow of water.

In a typical home, there is a water flow only 5 per cent of the time, which means they do next to nothing most of the time.

HydroFlow works every time.

It’s a patented British invention which uses radio waves in an electric field to eliminate existing limescale and prevent the formation of new scale. The signals go in all directions and do not need a flow of water.

HydroFlow works all the time.

It also reduces chloramines and can make tap water taste better.

It is easy to install and consumes just 1.2 watts, making it truly eco-friendly.

To find out how HydroFlow does it, contact your local distributor or visit www.hydroflow.es or call 96 158 9627 or 651 378 241

HydroFlow guarantees to eliminate limescale in homes big and small.

HydroFlow is the best way to protect your appliances.

50 EWN

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

www.euroweeklynews.com

Costa Blanca North

For solutions: http://www.euroweeklynews.com/puzzle-answers.html

Time Out

It's a better week for travel with less likelihood of delays. Should you be feeling a little lethargic and sorry about recent events, just count your blessings. Consider raising some money and having fun by indulging in a garage or car boot sale.

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) Spirituality seeps right through the week. As you are feeling particularly sensuous, invite someone special to dinner or on a trip. Visit garden centres and plan ahead.

The colours and perfumes will be particularly pleasing.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20)

Satisfaction with your love life is paramount this week, and the opinion of others seems important to you.

Perhaps you are looking for an excuse to

Expat writer Michael Walsh’s poetry is unique; people actually like, understand and draw inspiration from it; a sentiment that crosses continents and social status.

Diamonds Last Forever is the third in a trilogy of his poetry and is typical of his work. The collection includes verse that will appeal to all ages and social groups. In fact, it is two collections in one; the second is

IF ITʼS YOUR BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK Possibly you did not imagine how active the New Year would be. You are already needing to pull in the reins. Be careful what you wish for because this year it could come true.

Y our S tars

colleague brings insights into how others live and it is quite an eye-opener.

Friendships are particularly important this week.

ARIES (March 21 - April 20)

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21)

A conversation with a

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.

There is something in you that

69

Joan Manuel Serrat, born December 27, 1943. He is a Spanish singer and songwriter, considered by society and musicians as one of the most influential figures in popular Spanish and Catalonian music, with a discography of more than 30 albums. He is currently on tour with another popular singer, Joaquin Sabina.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Being very much in demand for your talents this week means less time to spend socially, so it's important to make time for loved ones at the weekend. Someone seeking your advice may simply be seeking your approval for an action they are going to take anyway. .

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) There may be some opposition to your ideas as Pluto turns this week.

Perhaps your natural charm just doesn't seem to be working. As you have helped others in the past, make it clear that you expect a bit of co-operation.

LEO (July 24 - August 23)

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Although you have perhaps been looking to money-making ideas to progress finances, think also of alternatives. Perhaps there are areas of your lifestyle where money could be saved. Items that are not used could be sold for a profit and rid you of clutter.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Having suffered a bit of a setback last week, you may be feeling less confident.

Revving up your social life will certainly help to bring spirits up again. Be with people who liven or inspire you in some way.

AND THE WINNER IS THE winning number of this year’s El Gordo lottery was drawn at 10.07am and the majority of winning ‘decimos’ (tenths) had been sold in Alcala de Henares, Madrid, although there were winners throughout Spain.

Identify the original ‘sources’ of the following famous/infamous ‘political’ quotations. The year that they were first used has been given in brackets as a clue.

1. ‘A week is a long time in politics’ (1964) 2. ‘I did not have sexual relations with that woman’ (1998) 3. ‘I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed’ (1963) 4. ‘I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a King of England too’ (1588) 5. ‘Indeed, let us be frank about it. Most of our people have never had it so good’ (1957) 6. ‘Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. but it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning’ (1942) 7. ‘Read my lips: no new taxes’ (1998) 8. ‘There can be no whitewash at the White House’ (1973) 9. ‘To those waiting with bated breath for that favourite media catchphrase, the U-turn, I have only one thing to say: You turn if you want to. The lady's not for turning!’ (1980) 10. ‘Today, in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is Ich bin ein Berliner!’ (1963)

needs a creative outlet. Perhaps you would like to write a book: memoirs, for instance, take up a craft or paint.

This is a week when progress is fast and plans run ahead. Try new ideas and seek information to hone your knowledge. An organisation that is new to you offers insight and social involvement. An offer that thrusts you into the limelight might be avoided at first but would be to your advantage.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Just joking

beautifully illustrated.

Expect intense romantic feelings, along with verse that lovers of nature will find enchanting. Don’t be surprised to find his personal favourites, ‘The Cattle in the Lea’ and ‘Where Skylarks Sing’ sharing company with ‘Homage to the

make a change. It is possible that a change is not required so much as a different approach. It is not essential to put all your eggs in one basket.

SU DOKU

A man asks his friend for a cigarette.

His friend says ‘I thought you made a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking?’

The man says ‘I’m in the process of quitting. Right now I’m in the middle of phase one.’

‘What's phase one?’ asked his friend.

‘I've quit buying,’ he replied.

books@euroweeklynews.com

POLITICALLY CORRECT

Nonagram

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20)

BOOKS

Female Tummy.’

Another favourite was his thought provoking; ‘I Gave my Son Away Today’ and perhaps drawing on his own experiences, ‘I Saw a Tall Ship Sailing By.’ Those who love Spain will like ‘It Was Christmas Day in the Casa.’

Available on Amazon Kindle £2.59.

TARGET: Average: 10 Good: 13

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

ante, anti, cant, cent, cite, emit, etna (gas burner), item, mate, meat, meet, mete, mint, mite, neat, tame, team, teem, teen, time, tine, actin, ament, antic, eaten, emmet, enact, enate, matin, meant, tinea, cement, emetic, enatic, entice, inmate,mantic, centime, matinee, MINCEMEAT

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 B) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed.

Word ladder COAL

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Thoughts come to you, perhaps in dreams, that are creative and energy boosting. Someone who recently moved out of your sphere is sadly missed but is in some ways still a part of you. A person at work who has been causing you concern needs investigation.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) A strong and exciting romantic feeling flows through the week, which is fitting as Valentine's Day comes round again next month. Someone returning from a trip makes you smile and boosts your spirit.

People who have been a little bossy finally

Very good: 19 Excellent: 23

SEAM

Move from the start word (COAL) to the end word (SEAM) in the same number of steps as there are rungs on the Word Ladder.

You must only change one letter at a time.

COAL COAT CHAT CHAM SHAM SEAM

It has been eight years since Batman vanished into the night, turning, in that instant, from hero to fugitive.

Assuming the blame for the death of D.A. Harvey Dent, the Dark Knight sacrificed everything for what he and Commissioner Gordon both hoped was the greater good. For a time the lie worked, as criminal activity in Gotham City was crushed under the weight of the anti-crime Dent Act. But everything will change with the arrival of a cunning cat burglar with a mysterious agenda.

2h45 Director: Christopher Nolan Starring: Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt

10-star quiz

COAL FOAL FOAM ROAM REAM SEAM

Harmonising heart, mind and

The Dark Knight Rises

1. Harold WILSON, 2. Bill CLINTON, 3. Martin Luther KING, 4. ELIZABETH I, 5. Harold MACMILLAN, 6. Winston CHURCHILL, 7. George H W BUSH, 8. Richard NIXON, 9. Margaret THATCHER, 10. John F KENNEDY

NEW ON DVD

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 www.euroweeklynews.com

EWN

51

Costa Blanca North

For more information about the sponsor go to www.lineadirecta.com

Sponsored by

Crosswords CRYPTIC Across 1 Look, draw different job (8) 7 Loud stringed instrument or wind instrument (5) 8 Latin sago mixture induces yearning for things past (9) 9 Pig or plant (3) 10 Rosemary, perhaps enthralled by Christopher Biggins (4) 11 Moderate Conservative nonsense thatʼs bad in the House (3,3) 13 Cocktail you might need before a screwdriver (6) 14 Just a bit of fun about a new Scottish town (6) 17 In which women are secluded, hard up, distressed (6) 18 Insect that used to be quiet (4) 20 Sign seen in middle of the road (3) 22 Spaceman: a prelude to Saturn, strangely (9) 23 Quick, itʼs cold (5) 24 Cutlery item a pet soon destroyed (8) Down 1 Young girl hid in Halesowen churchyard (5) 2 Mrs Rout damaged platform (7) 3 Conduct heavy metal (4) 4 Fishes in corners (6) 5 Search for some cheque stubs (5) 6 Group of people in employment at computer? (7)

ENGLISH - SPANISH The clues are mixed, some clues are in Spanish and some are in English.

Across 13 Plum (7) 1 Libro (4) 14 Ganso (ave) (5) 3 Ciego (5) 15 Soup (thick) (4) 8 Inglaterra (7) Down 9 Té (3) 10 Regla (para trazar 1 Remolacha (8) líneas) (5) 2 Proud (person) (9) 11 Joke (practical joke, 4 Mariquita (8) hoax) (5) 5 Nitrogen (9) 12 Gold (metal, comm- 6 Factories (8) odity, currency) (3) 7 Pumpkin (8)

Co d e B r e a ke r 7 Striking distance from tee to green?

(7) 12 Listeners hidden in the hay only to get rumours (7) 13 Good to everyone, little creature being brave (7) 15 A singing style, a laugh, an

Down 1 Forbidden (5) 2 Annoy (3) 3 Cleaning up (7) 4 Dreary (6) 5 Courageous (5) 6 Incorporate (9) 7 Spire (7) 11 Easily nauseated (9) 13 Seedless raisin (7) 15 Jumper (7) 16 Put in (6) 18 Temperate (5) 19 Exhausted (5) 22 Anthropoid (3)

CRYPTIC - Across: 1 Statistics, 8 Earlier, 9 Again, 10 Pens, 11 Beds, 12 Sir, 14 Clever, 15 Mended, 18 Arc, 20 Team, 21 Dime, 23 Learn, 24 Trumpet, 25 Celebrated.

Down: 1 Strange, 2 Asia, 3 Israel, 4 Transfer, 5 Class, 6 Respectable, 7 Ingredients, 13 Sentence, 16 Dripped, 17 Batter, 19 Crane, 22 Hurt.

QUICK - Across: 1 Stairs, 5 Eggnog, 8 Hall, 9 Eyeliner, 10 Rheostat, 11 Tray, 12 Broken, 14 Thrill, 16 Barn, 18 Fidelity, 20 Toboggan, 21 View, 22 Weekly, 23 Stress.

Down: 2 Teacher, 3 Igloo, 4 Sweeten, 5 Event, 6 Glitter, 7 Opera, 13 Kinfolk, 14 Tidings, 15 Letters, 17 Adore, 18 Foggy, 19 Lover.

ENGLISH - SPANISH Across: 1 Desfilas, 5 Joy, 7 Pastor, 8 Rojo, 9 Bed, 10 Navidad, 11 Elf, 12 Angels.

Down: 1 Diciembre, 2 Ivy, 3 Seasoning, 4 Snowball, 6 Oro, 7 Posada, 8 Red.

1.Unscramble the name of a famous London landmark (two words): DEPLORES LATE ACNE 2. Unscramble the name of a 1961 Walt Disney film (three words): TENTH ART PAPER

Play on Words ALLWORLD

WHERE FRILLY

Answers: It’s a small world after all, Frilly underwear

Funagram

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet.

In this week’s puzzle, 8 represents J and 12 represents V, so fill in J every time the figure 8 appears and V every time the figure 12 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 Distorted (7) 5 Euphoria (5) 8 Cooked in an oven (5) 9 Surprise suddenly (7) 10 Stubborn (9) 12 Opening (3) 13 Dark mark (6) 14 Get away (6) 17 Grassy field (3) 18 Foolish (9) 20 Affable (7) 21 Deal (5) 23 Loathe (5) 24 Anguish (7)

Indian (7) 16 Keep chess piece (6) 17 Puppy without you, we hear, but with love, will give you a flower (5) 19 Climbing aid with special point (5) 21 Oneʼs ill for considerable periods (4)

Quote

‘

‘All of us every single year, we're a different person. I don't think we're the same person all our lives.’

Steven Spielberg (1946 - ) American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio 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 (MELLOW) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues.

BAREST

LUSTED

SPARKS

BOOTHS

MELLOW(10)

TALLER

BORROW

METRES

WHEELS

DINNER

MORTAR

WILDER

EITHER

NOISES

WRITHE

HASTEN

PATROL

LONGER

SHRUNK

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 1 Reward, 2 Sherry, 3 Uncork, 4 Church, 5 Donkey, 6 Orient, 7 Amuses, 8 Prince, 9 Barmen, 10 Skiers, 11 Spices, 12 Season, 13 Misers, 14 Adorns, 15 Actors, 16 Alarms, 17 Banter, 18 Chairs, 19 Creche

FUNAGRAM SOLUTION 1. CLEOPATRA’S NEEDLE 2.THE PARENT TRAP

Best connections Best value Best all round

LVQ·W LW WLPH \RX switched and started saving?

SUPERFAST MOBILE LANDLINE UKTV INTERNET CALLS RENTAL with REWIND BETTER CONNECTIONS, BETTER VALUE from from from from 24,99€ 5cents ALL-ROUND! 12.99€ 19,99€ BETTER per month per min per month per month TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY TO ALL OFFERS.

for more information, call us

902 88 90 70 / 965 743 473

www.telitec.com

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 www.euroweeklynews.com

EWN

53

Costa Blanca North

Is blood thicker than water?

T

HIS is the time of the year when, despite the goodwill hype there is much family division and many derisory remarks made about in-laws, rebellious teenagers and family tantrums.

There is a Nordic saying: “Guests are like fish; after three days they stink.” After the Mike Walsh Christmas festivities the nerves and marriages of many will be at vwww.michaelwalsh.es breaking point, so are International Journalism Europe Broadcaster Commentator International Radio our bank balances and Awarded ‘Writer of the Year’ Mobile 0034 662 067 490 we welcome normality.

To comment on any of the issues raised in We embrace routine Mike’s column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/columnists/ with a fondness far mike-walsh more genuine than was the welcome given earlier to visitors now departed, but not HAPPY NEW YEAR: Spend the time with those you choose. necessarily sadly departed.

From our own experience, and those you can pick yourself up, dust yourself would be your family members? of friends and acquaintances, we need off and get on with life. You are stuck Would any of them be family? Or no reminding that the best friends are with family for that is what they remain. would they instead be friends mutually the ones we choose, not the family we They are the shadows that dog your life; chosen and agreed upon.

Why? are blessed or burdened with. not even death removes them.

Because there is a chemistry, a bond Yes, we go through the ritual of saying When navel gazing, a thought that between you that is often absent in blood’s thicker than water. I wonder if would keep most of us occupied would families. these are just empty words without any be, given the choice of 10 people to Given tickets to a show, a holiday or wisdom behind them. If friendships end share an island or ship with, how many weekend away with whom would you

wish to spend the windfall with? Most of course would be obliged to spend it with the spouse. This is conformity and thank God for it; imagine the social anarchy if it were otherwise.

But picture instead you are footloose and fancy free; would you telephone a friend to go with you? Or would you excitedly call a son, daughter, brother, sister or other relative. I know who I would call, but I keep that to myself; I suggest you make your decision and keep it to yourself. There is enough misfortune about and this is after all the season of goodwill.

It amuses me to think that after doors close behind cheery departing visitors how many of us will mutter ‘thank God for that.’ It cheers me because I have that t-shirt too. Of course it works both ways so another navel gazing self indulgence would be to consider this: How many will mutter those same words when you depart?

I am reminded of the truism: “Some people bring happiness wherever they go.

Other people bring happiness whenever they go.”

As the bard would say; it’s all part of life’s rich tapestry. Happy New Year everyone!

54 EWN

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

www.euroweeklynews.com

Costa Blanca North

Predictions for the New Year PHEW! We’re nearly there. 2013 is just days away and since we have survived the gastronomic onslaught of Christmas as well as the Mayans’ forecast of apocalyptic doom last Friday (December 21), there appears to be a good chance that we will actually make it.

So what can we expect from next year?

Will it be a lucky 13th year of the second millennium and slither smoothly in line with the Chinese zodiac of the Snake?

It so happens that a friend recently showed me how to ‘read’ coffee residue and I have become fiendishly good at predicting the future; so armed with a packet of Segafredo’s finest and a rather large cup, I am delighted to share the lay of the land in 2013: Royal baby joy fills the world, with great-grandma pictured knitting baby socks for the newborn through a paparazzi zoom lens.

In a bid to save the bedraggled euro, the EU decide to rename

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

RESOLUTION: Hop on the treadmill.

the currency ‘neuro’ and to welcome newcomer Croatia in July. All countries agree to assume their fiscal and monetary policies, since, frankly, the current

ones didn’t really work anyway.

Policemen look even younger and launch their first miracle antiaging cream called ‘The Force’.

Fashion models turn invisible after

losing even more weight. Budget airlines introduce the new standing ticket and charge for oxygen masks. Russian Oligarchs jointly solve the world’s economic woes by donating loose change from their pockets.

Closer to home, like me, you will fully realise your New Year’s resolutions: 1. In 2013 I shall drink less, maybe even taking a whole month off the sauce. Starting after that New Year’s party, oh, and after King’s Day, of course…

Then there is Uncle John’s birthday party… Oh, well.

2. My body will be a temple; I shall eat more vegetables and fruit than a herd of rabbits. None of these nasty E additives, hydrogenated fats or genetically modified nonsense for me. I may not live longer, but it will certainly feel like it.

3. I shall enrich my life with a new exciting hobby, just need to work out which one… That dancing lark looks like a breeze on TV, or maybe this is the year to perfect my back-hand or golf stroke.

4. I will dust off that gym membership and trainers and pound the treadmill, which will help me squeeze into those clothes I bought a size too small with good intentions…

5. Next year, for sure, I will be bantering with the locals in perfect castellano or catalan.

Failing that, I will resort to a bit of Spanglish. It’s all about getting the ball over the net when it comes to communication.

6. I will get to grips with all those horrid bills, tax declarations and other evil paperwork and not let it build up like the leaning tower of Pisa on my desk, or hidden in a drawer in the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ principle.

So that’s it. Next year in a nutshell for you. Just one more forecast; in 2013, news reports of an Unidentified Flying Object are later confirmed to be the world’s first flying pig.

I am all out of coffee residue now and must rush off to open a bottle of wine. It is still 2012 after all and in the spirit of ‘no time like the present’… I wish you all a very Happy New Year. Cheers!

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

55

Costa Blanca North

Bankers on his mind Images T of Spain

HE wonderful thing about democracy is it’s being self perpetuating. Citing the failures of the opposition you campaign to be elected. Upon success you blame your lack of progress due to your being obliged to clear up the mess caused by the outgoing government. It gets better; you then campaign to resolve the problems you created and so it goes on.

Spanish Premier Mariano Rajoy says: “All those Spaniards who don’t have jobs and are going through rough times are always

By Mike Walsh www.michaelwalsh.es To comment on any of the issues raised in Mike’s column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com /columnists/mike-walsh

on my mind.” He might easily have added that uppermost on his mind are the demands of the

More truth in Bambi ANOTHER universal hero shot down in flames; why?

Composer Philip Glass is to turn Peter Jungk's portrayal of Walt Disney into an opera. The greatest of the 20th Century’s movie legends will be ‘exposed’ as a misogynist, a racist, an adulterer, megalomaniac and, to cap it all, a fascist. I would far prefer to watch again Bambi.

There’s probably a great deal more truth in that delightful fable than this leftist fantasy being hurled from the theatre’s stage into sadomasochistic faces.

Advertising Feature

banksters now pulling the strings of government’s puppets.

Mariano can survive the disappointment of the people; he will never survive if he disappoints the banks. Do have a wonderful New Year, Mr Prime Minister; you will be better fed than most of us.

Healthy role model IT is hardly news that Spain’s provinces face a healthcare funding crisis. When looking into the abyss the government of Valencia acted on its gut-instinct.

It put out the welcome mat for Adeslas, a major private health insurance company.

The thinking behind it was that private concerns are far better at running things than are governments. I can believe that.

A brand new hospital was built at Alzira in La Ribera at a cost of €61 million. Although a private concern it is managed as a publicprivate investment partnership (PPIP). The public role is that of

PUPPETS: Bankers are pulling politicians’ strings. overseer and its commitment to pay a fixed sum each year for secondary healthcare for each local inhabitant. Apparently it has

been so successful that it now offers free of charge primary care too; the idea is being adopted throughout Europe.

56 EWN

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

www.euroweeklynews.com

Costa Blanca North

Health care confusion as cover lost CANCELLATION of health cards to Residents department in the Alicante foreigners is growing around Spain since Provincial Government told EWN they new regulations came into force. are not entitled to provide information on Last week the Euro new health regulations to Weekly News reported foreign residents.

14,000 cases in She said the Valencia Torrevieja, Alicante. On Health Department (Conselltop of that, 52,229 cards eria de Salud) is in charge of have been cancelled in that. Unfortunately for A weekly focus aimed the Canary Islands, and expatriates who do not at keeping expatriate readers 4,810 in Cantabria. speak Spanish, information informed on various aspects of The health authorities in English is not provided.

Life in Spain say if you are a taxpayer EU citizens who have lost resident, there is no their right to a regional

By Raul Candela reason to worry, everyhealth card will still be thing stays the same. covered, according to EU Most of those losing laws. Residents who are cover are non-EU residents for whom receiving a state pension (or long-term being listed on the municipal register incapacity benefit) from their EU home (padron) is no longer enough. country need to apply for an S1 form.

However, there is some confusion For British expatriates, this is done at surrounding it, not only for users but also the UK’s International Pension Centre.

Once they have received it, they need in the administration. For example, Esther Ponzola from the Foreign to show it at a Spanish Social Security

office, along with the Certificate of Residence and the ‘padron’ certificate.

They should be given a document that proves their right to a Health Card, which they need to take to their local health centre to register.

Temporary residents, or holidaymakers, can use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). It is free of charge and can be applied for online at the NHS website (for British nationals).

Although terms of cover may vary depending on the region, some treatments are not covered by the EHIC. The E112, E121, E106 and E109 forms give access to more complete medical assistance, depending on the case.

Who can receive a Health Card?

According to the Royal Decree 1192/2012, of August 3, 2012, the following EU citizens have the status of an insured person and beneficiary, and COVERED: A pregnant woman in the have the right to apply for a Health Card: Hospital of Torrevieja, Alicante. a) Enrolled in the Social Security: employed or self-employed people paying contributions; Social Security system pensioners; others receiving any other SS benefit (unemployment benefit and allowance); persons WATCH out tomorrow, Friday, a mocking way: who have exhausted their December 28, as it is Spain’s ‘Inocente, inoc- unemployment benefit or Why in December? equivalent to April Fools’ Day. ente!’ (Innocent allowance or other similar Pranks, practical jokes and one, innocent benefits and are unemployed INNOCENTS’ DAY takes place in hoaxes will be carried out one!). and are not able to establish December rather than the Northern between friends, workmates, Another unoffic- their status as insured persons European style April Fool because its schoolmates and relatives. ial tradition is the in any other way. origins are different.

‘Innocents’ Day’ or ‘Holy media hoax.

In b) If not enrolled, nationals of The first references to April Fools’ Innocents’ Day’ – as it is called newspapers and the European Union who are Day are found in literary documents here – is held nationwide television news registered with the Central such as The Canterbury Tales, says Wikipedia. within the Christmas programmes there Register of Foreign Nationals Innocents’ Day, however, has its festivities. So, just like during is often a hidden (Certificado de Residencia). roots in a not-so-funny Christian the night of December 24 prank in the shape Only if their annual income is episode, the Massacre of the Innocents. (‘Nochebuena’), children in of a funny, not more than €100,000 and do In this biblical story, King Herod ordered Spain traditionally knock on sarcastic or not have compulsory health care all young male children in Bethlehem to the door, singing Christmas improbable fake coverage by some other means. be executed, so as to prevent Jesus carols and asking for sweets, news item. c) Minors under the care of the Christ from being born. This happened, cookies or a small ‘fee’.

For example, authorities will always have the the Catholic Church decided, on But, unlike Christmas Eve, back when David status of insured persons.

December 28.

Initially a way of honouring the ‘holy they will be carrying bangers, Beckham played d) Beneficiaries: The spouse of innocent’ martyrs, it eventually became eggs, flour and similar for Real Madrid, an insured person, or cohabiting corrupted into a funnier tradition in ‘weapons.’

Unfortunate magazines repor- partner in a registered partnerSpanish-speaking countries. householders who do not give ted he was ship; a divorced or legally anything may end up with participating on a separated spouse who is a their front door being dancing talent- dependant of an insured person; bombarded. show for Spanish television. children, sisters and brothers of A soft and very traditional INNOCENT!: Watch your back or you may find ‘something’ planted.

Last year a newspaper said the an insured person or their prank consists of sticking a Spanish Royal Family was spouse (or dependent exwhite man-like paper cut-out longer the victim does not laughs. When he/she finally afraid of being evicted from spouse), even if they are legally on a person’s back.

The notice it, the louder the realises, do not forget to say in the Royal Palace. separated.

Life in Spain

December Fools’ Day

Q AND A

AS I understand it, to sign on the municipal register, or ‘padron,’ you need a Certificate of Residence. To have it you must spend more than 182 days a year in Spain. If you spend longer in Spain you are a tax resident and must declare your worldwide income to the Spanish

tax authorities. How can you be on the padron and not be a tax resident?

The Certificate of Residence is not actually needed to sign on to the ‘padron’, and the ‘padron’ does not indicate legal residence.

In general, town halls advise the ‘padron’ is for

habitual residents, or those owning a property in Spain who regularly visit. But there is no deadline. The December 31 date alluded to is to ensure bigger grants for 2013. Even if that date is missed, individuals will benefit from town hall services as soon as they register.

Send your questions to: raul@euroweeklynews.com

FOOD

58 EWN

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

www.euroweeklynews.com

Costa Blanca North

Advertising Feature

Namaste: Greetings from this Nepali and Indian restaurant NAMASTE means ‘greetings’ throughout south eastern Asia, including Nepal. And that is precisely what you’ll get when you enter this friendly restaurant on the coast road to Moraira near Pepe La Sal. It should be in India or Nepal, but amazingly, and luckily for us, it is right here.

It’s owners are the Jaisee (pronounced JC) brothers, who come from a town about 250km from Kathmandu called Lumbini, home of the world famous Golden Buddah statue.

They left Nepal after working in restaurants there and together went to New Delhi where they worked in a five star hotel restaurant, and now with

The spacious, comfortable interior.

15 years experience behind them, they are in Moraira.

Why is Namaste so special? The small kitchen gleams, Dinnath the younger brother and chef invited me in with pride as

he mixed the dough for fresh naan bread, before slapping it into the real clay tandoori oven.

All the spices are bought whole and ground down fresh in the kitchen making their flavour amazing.

Outside dining at Namaste, Moraira.

A tandoor in Urdu means a clay oven, and that’s where we get the word tandoori from. It makes the flavour of the chicken really special.

As well as the hospitality and fresh spices and

herbs, Namaste serves all your favourite curries and its own unique Nepalese specialties, for instance, Golden Prawn Curry, made with fresh mango, saffron, cumin and freshly ground aromatic spices, or Lamb

Solukhumbu, lamb tikka served with fresh mushrooms, aromatic herbs and served in a Nepalese style curry sauce, it’s mouth watering.

There are nine more Nepali speciality main dishes to choose from as well!

Open seven days a week, midday – 3.30pm, 6.00pm – 11.30pm.

Five course menus starting from €10.95 and plenty of special meal deals. Plus a 10 per cent discount for a la carte takeaway.

As an added bonus, there is private parking and terracing.

Carretera Calpe-Moraira 251, Opp Pepe La Sal. 965 748 649/677 833 668

60 EWN

FOOD

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

www.euroweeklynews.com

Costa Blanca North

Counting the calories at Christmas THE average woman gains five pounds over Christmas. But rather than denying yourself all those festive treats, there are some ways to cut the calories and ensure you can still fit in your jeans come January. Here are five tips: 1. If at a party try and ensure you eat before you go so you don’t arrive at the buffet table hungry and fill up with high-fat foods.

2. Christmas lunch is, in theory, very healthy, with lean protein from the turkey and vegetables.

It’s the additional extras you need to be careful with. Mini sausages add 60 calories, more if wrapped in bacon, Yorkshire puddings add around 100 calories and stuffing 231 calories.

3. Grazing is often the biggest downfall; a mince pie alone can contain 240 calories. But you can

save calories with a few clever swaps.

A couple of handfuls of Twiglets contain 192 calories, compared to a handful of Pringles that contain 279.

Say no to cream on your pudding and you’ll save hundreds of calories.

4. When it comes to leftovers, leave the roast potatoes alone and pick at Top tips for keeping weight gain at bay. the turkey as it is full of lean protein and fills you up more helps reduce your hangover and quickly than carbs. weight gain.

5. With New Year upon us it is Steer clear of creamy liquors, easy to rack up the calories such as Baileys which has 180 consuming alcoholic beverages. calories and eight grammes of fat Drinking a glass of tap water per glass, and stick to champagne; between every alcoholic drink 111 calories and zero fat per glass.

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 www.euroweeklynews.com

FOOD

EWN

61

Costa Blanca North

62 EWN

FOOD

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

www.euroweeklynews.com

Costa Blanca North

HEALTHIER: Diners prefer to know how many miles they have to walk rather than carolie intake.

Walk to burn off calories RESTAURANTS that state how far you will have to walk to burn off the calories consumed in the meal could help in the battle of the bulge.

Researchers from the University of North Carolina in

the US found diners are more likely to choose a healthier fast food snack if the menu states how many miles they have to walk to get rid of it than if it just has details on calorie intake.

They recruited 800

Blue cheese protects against heart disease.

Blue cheese good for the heart OVER-INDULGED this Christmas? Try not to feel too bad, particularly if it’s cheese that has taken your fancy, as some cheeses could be good for your heart.

Scientists have found that Roquefort has antiinflammatory properties

which could help protect against heart disease.

As it ripens, a process occurs that is good for a healthy gut, helps slow arthritis and can slow the signs of aging, according to a Cambridge-based biotech company.

volunteers and split them into four groups testing their meal choices giving no nutritional information at all, details of calorie content, the number of minutes walking needed

to burn those calories off or number of miles needed to walk to achieve the same outcome. Eighty two per cent said they preferred physical activity-based menu labels.

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

63

Costa Blanca North

Primary students sing for Christmas

What to do if you were among El Gordo lottery winners

FOUNDATION STAGE children in Xabia International College (XIC) performed ‘The First Christmas’ to a full house.

The students sang festive songs and favourite nursery rhymes, whilst Key Stage 1 wriggled their way to Christmas with their performance of a ‘Wriggly Nativity’.

Parents were invited to join in the festivities enjoying mulled wine and mince pies.

WERE you a winner in the Spanish Christmas Lottery, El Gordo?

If so, in the unlikely case that you don’t know what to do with the prize money, here are a few ideas.

The most important thing is to manage or invest the money carefully.

After the initial celebration, your first plan may be to pay off pending debts.

One of the things most people pay off, or at least partially, is their mortgage.

However, if the conditions of your mortgage mean you have to pay a large fine for doing so, it may be better to continue with the monthly payment and instead invest in property.

In 2013, property prices are expected to fall again, so it is an ideal moment. Others may decide to buy shares or put money into investment funds, but it is very important to take advice from professionals.

Or, you could open your own business, but again, this is a decision that needs a lot of mulling over at a time when businesses are having to close.

Many people would like to be able to give up work altogether, but how much would you need to win to make this possible?

This year’s main prize was €400,000 for

STALLHOLDERS, the local community and visitors to the English charity market in Simat de la Valldigna helped raise €900 for the Proteccion y Educacion Para los Animales (P.E.P.A).

Bric-a-brac sales, mince pies and entertainment pushed the final total up, which will be used to help abandoned animals in the area.

Restaurant raises €400 for charity THE Alta Mira restaurant in Calpe raised €400 in their Christmas raffle.

A local couple Judy and Carl Gullis won the coveted prize of a festive hamper.

All the funds raised are being donated to MABS cancer charity and the PlutoTierschutz Animal Welfare Group.

anyone just holding a 10th of the ticket, with an average interest of 4 per cent, which would obtain €16,000. An average family might have a debt of around €150,000, so almost 40 per cent would be used to pay off debts. If they also spend an average of €30,000 per year, and the average life expectancy in Spain is 81, this

amounts to €915,000, taking into account that the ‘average family’s’ two children may not leave home until 20.

So, to be able to live a comfortable but modest lifestyle, our average family would need to have won more than €1 million, and that is not taking inflation into account.

Families are forever

THEY say we all have a book inside us and for Lena Brand from San Luis, this is certainly the case as Your book, Families are Forever, has just been published and is available on Amazon, Kindle and from book stores.

What is it about?

The story is based around the lives of two children who are left in the care of the workhouse by their mother who can no longer cope after the death of her husband. It follows them as they fight their separate battles through the First World War. What inspired you to write the book?

I was inspired to write this story while researching my family history. With such a mixed background - Huguenot silk weavers, Jewish and Roman Gypsy - I thought there must be a way to bring these factions together so I set to work on my trusty laptop and this is the result.

she has just had her first novel published. Gemma Quinn went along to meet the first time author...

Vital Statistics 60-SECOND FOCUS

Simat charity market

BIG DECISION: Invest your lottery winnings or spend?

• Name: Lena Brand • Age: 64 • Originally from: born in Hertfordshire, UK • Lives: San Luis • Job: retired • Hobbies: reading, sewing, socialising • Favourite book: Wind in the Willows • Most famous person you have met: Ronnie Wood • Ambitions: to do more travelling • Favourite food: Sunday roast

LENA BRAND: New author.

Is it closely linked to your family history?

I used the internet for some

research but much of the tale is completely made up, though my cousin is in it with his permission and he is still doing more family research.

It took me four years to write as it was just a hobby and I kept picking it up and putting it down again. But after I showed

it to some friends they suggested I should try and get it published.

Do you plan on writing more novels?

I am doing some children’s stories based on the antics of my grandson who lives in Australia.

64 EWN

27 December - 2 January 2013

www.euroweeklynews.com

H

Costa Blanca North

& Gardens

Sponsored by

OMES

For more information about the sponsor go to www.lineadirecta.com

Challenging time Gardening for gardeners Corner L

OOKING back on the year’s gardening it has been a challenge in a number of ways.

Perhaps, after the disastrous frost of 2005 when many gardens and garden centres lost many plants, it was the most challenging since starting to experience Spanish gardening in the 1970’s and having our own property since the 1980’s.

Climatic challenges The three climatic challenges have been the very long dry spell from winter to autumn, the sharp but not long night frosts of February/March and the heavy autumn rains experienced not only in Spain but in other European Mediterranean countries.

These have highlighted the common sense of

ensuring that your main plantings are both drought and frost resistant, something we went out of our way to assess and indicate in the plant lists/descriptions included in both ‘Your Garden in Spain’ and ‘Apartment Gardening Mediterranean Style.’

Also make sure all steps are taken to reduce the amount of water required to sustain an attractive and productive garden, and that rainfall is collected and efficiently distributed.

Since such issues are often insufficiently recognised and acted upon, we wrote the idea packed booklet ‘Making Waterless Gardens A Practical Reality Worldwide’ to supplement our major books. This is published as an Amazon Kindle E-book and as a limited hard copy edition

made available at talks such as the Costa Blanca Gardeners Circle on February 6, Homes Gardens and Lifestyle Show in Algorfa on May 29/30 and the Axarquia Garden Club on June 11.

Coaching plants to dig deep The long dry conditions have been ideal for coaching plants to put down deep roots into the soil. Often in Spain that is down through layers of rocky soil, to search for and extract residual moisture and natural nutrients, rather than being trained to expect and be spoilt by daily shallow watering and sometimes daily or weekly feeds from drip irrigation systems.

Many areas of our established garden were not watered all summer and others only when plants showed signs of stress.

But to do the latter you need to walk the garden every third day, which is not possible if you depart for cooler climes during the hot months or all your gardening is done by a paid gardener.

We could have watered even less than we did if it

By Clodagh and Dick Handscombe

Spain’s best known gardening authors who have lived and gardened in Spain for 25 years. www.gardeninginspain.com

was not for conserving an area of autumn flowering sages which this year have been exceptional after the autumn rains.

They have been enjoyed whenever we wander around the garden or look out from the kitchen window as illustrated in the photo taken on Christmas day.

Let nature take its course THE year has been marked by the need to do what gardening is essential and let the rest follow nature. In the second half of one’s 70s, you realise it is time to accept the garden as it is, not plan major changes or replanting.

Adapt the garden to accept and integrate the free and unexpected plants created by the unplanned germination of bird dropped and wind-blown seeds.

Interestingly most can be incorporated into the garden and not looked upon as weeds. A splendid variety of plums came that way, as did a clump of acanthus and two metre high blue flowered echiums.

As emphasised several times in our writings, good mulching is essential reducing the time spent watering and weeding. A

SAGE ADVICE: Spectacular display after Autumn rains. good mulch should be five to 10 centimetres thick whether home-made compost, stone chippings or bark chippings.

A light covering of bark over woven plastic sheeting will do little as it is washed into heaps by rain leaving patches of bare plastic which look unsightly as well as being ineffective.

There are more than 29 forms of effective mulching described in ‘Making Waterless Gardening a Practical Reality Worldwide.’

The Zeniscaping experience As well as concentrating on maximising Xeriscaping practices in our garden, I have undergone a long six month series of visits to the Zen Dental Clinic in Denia to rebuild my teeth via what I termed Zeniscaping.

It was either that to look respectable for talks, or end up in the olive grove like a village yokel with many gaps and a couple of artificial gold crowns.

I mention this experience as it was not unlike designing a new garden but planting deep rooted artificial teeth rather than deep rooted plants.

The painstaking preparation for new teeth was not unlike the need to prepare soils if you want new plants to be a success. And the choice of teeth, like plants, is vital to create pleasing individual and integrated effects.

If you take short cuts in both cases, the plantings may need remedial care or replacement within a few years.

Thanks Caroline for the new look for the New Year.

Happy New Year and Los Reyes. We will discuss possible New Year gardening resolutions next week and the one after, the winter cutback.

(c) Clodagh and Dick Handscombe www.gardenspain.com December 2012

66 EWN

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

www.euroweeklynews.com

Dog depression ANIMALS are prone to feelings like humans. The latest discovery is depressed dogs.

Although all hounds are susceptible, small, affectionate breeds that tend to be close to their owners are more prone to anxiety and sadness when they’re separated for long periods of time.

Depression in dogs can be triggered by several factors: environmental change, seasonal change, and hormonal imbalance.

Symptoms include refusing to eat or play, isolating itself or scratching without apparent reason, even hair and weight loss, just like humans.

UNHAPPY PUP: Dogs can suffer from depression, just like humans.

Motion sickness IT MAY come as a surprise, but goldfish can get sea sick. Even though they cannot survive a couple of minutes out of water, their ears are located in their heads like humans, so they get motion sickness when the water is rough.

That’s why they’re best raised in a goldfish aquarium or pond rather than in moving water like a river.

A lone goldfish needs at least a 10 gallon aquarium to move around in and stay healthy.

Costa Blanca North

A favourite place for your cat to hide A

CAT will hide for all sorts of reasons, whether it’s the sudden appearance of the cat carrier (indicating an upcoming car trip), or the frightening noise of the vacuum cleaner.

Some cats do not feel sociable if you have company visiting (human or animal).

Unless you are in a hurry to make that veterinarian appointment or to catch a flight, leave your cat alone for a little while.

She will probably come out later when she’s feeling more sociable.

However, seek out your cat if she misses the next meal or will not come out of her hiding place for a longer period of time. It could be an indication of illness.

The best way to find a hiding cat is to ask yourself this question: “If I were a cat, where would I hide?"

NOW THEN: Where shall I hide?

“Start with these favourite spots: - Under the skirt flap of an upholstered chair - In the fireplace - Behind books - Behind the bathtub - Behind the ironing

board - In a drawer - In a laundry basket - Under the bed - In a torn mattress lining - Behind the drapes - Behind an open door - On top of the kitchen cupboards - In the folds of a lumpy comforter The amazing thing about a cat's hiding place is

often how small it will be.

It's amazing how even the largest of felines can squeeze into the tiniest of spaces when they feel there's "danger" about.

So, be creative when searching out a cat's hiding space, they certainly were!

For your local radio frequency log onto www.talkradioeurope.com.

Cici

Hair of the dog For her post-Christmas trim, Cici my Pomeranian had a bit too much cut off. She now resembles that of a lion rather than a pooch.

Johra Alami, Puerto Banus CHRISTMAS CHOP: More lion than dog.

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.

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

EWN

Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

Charity hardship UNDERFUNDED: Emaus President Montserrat Fiter with Brian Reynolds.

THE Calpe Rotary Fellowship have donated €800 to Emaus, who help those in need. It was recently revealed many children’s homes are seriously underfunded, with Brian Reynolds, President of the

67

fellowship remarking “the Valencian Government are €3.5m in arrears with payments to Emaus, which is causing severe hardship to the homes.” The club made this donation in the hope it would make a difference.

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

EWN

69

Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

Ser vices

FOR RESULTS EVERY WEEK

AIRPORT PARKING | BUILDERS | LOCKSMITHS | PLUMBERS | REMOVALS/STORAGE | TV / SATELLITE AIRPORT PARKING

AWNINGS

CURTAINS

BUILDERS

DRAINS

construction

If you want a job doing properly...

Villas, Apartments, Fincas Pools, Walls, Terraces Reforms, Extensions, Underbuilds Terraces and Drive ways.

Architects plans & permissions.

www.100percentplumbing.com

AIR CONDITIONING

CLEANING

Costa Blanca North, 96 583 5939 info@100percentplumbing.com GARDENING

News direct to your inbox sign up for free newsletters

LEGAL

@dvertise online

it’s cheaper than you think

www.euroweeklynews.es

70

SERVICES

EWN

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

www.euroweeklynews.com

Costa Blanca North

MOBILE PHONES

PLUMBERS

News direct to your inbox sign up for free newsletters plumbing

If you want a job doing properly...

MOTORING

General plumbing G C Central Heating & Air conditioning SSwimming Pools S Solar Power W Water Treatment G Gas Tanks and Bottles www.100percentplumbing.com EMERGENCY CALL OUTS

607 415 520

Costa Blanca North, 96 583 5939 Co info@100percentplumbing.com info

SWIMMING POOL

REMOVALS & STORAGE

www.euroweeklynews.com

News direct to your inbox sign up for free newsletters www.euroweeklynews.es

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

SERVICES

EWN

Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com REMOVALS & STORAGE

@dvertise online

71

We don’t say we are number 1, our customers do it’s cheaper than you think

965 842 777 www.euroweeklynews.es

72 EWN

SERVICES

www.euroweeklynews.com

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 Costa Blanca North

TV / SATELLITE

UPHOLSTERY

@dvertise online

it’s cheaper than you think

www.euroweeklynews.es

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 www.euroweeklynews.com TV / SATELLITE

SERVICES

EWN

73

Costa Blanca North

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

74 EWN www.euroweeklynews.com

W

Costa Blanca North

hat’s

on

THURSDAY

• A E C C B O U T I Q U E in San Isidro: 966 723 401.

•AL-ANON FAMILY GROUP Benidorm – don’t suffer alone through another person drinking – 634 758 539.

•DENIA RUGBY CLUB: 8pm on beach outside Oasis Hotel.

•HELP INTERNATIONAL Benidorm meetings. www.help-benidorm.com.

•PIETER SWINNEN Painting Club in Calpe: 965 835 212.

•RBL Benidorm and district branch covers from Polop to Villajoyosa at different locations for social meetings, day trips, excursions or meals. 695 605 129 •XABIA RUGBY CLUB: Juniors meet at 7pm Seniors at 8pm. 688 640 092.

•ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION meets for lunch on the second Thursday of the month at various restaurants between Altea and Oliva and the Jalon Valley. 966 474 532.

•THE Valleys International Bridge and Social Club meet 2pm at El Cid at Benidoleig.

966 408 296.

•CREATIVE TEXTILES GROUP – crosstitch, embroidery, crochet, quilting, knitting – in Javea, 10am 1pm.

966 472 049 or artcentrejavea@yahoo.com.

FRIDAY

•AUCTIONS FOR AECC. Items for donation wanted.

965 319 929 / 688 238 879.

• U F O and World Mysteries Discussion Group in Javea meet first Friday of the month at The Social Club and Bar in Javea Old Town at 10am. 966 459 976.

•ROTARY INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP Costa Blanca North weekly lunch meeting at Los Leones restaurant 1.15pm.

Call 965 795 421 the Wednesday before. www.rotarycostablanca.wiki.do t.com.

• T E N N I S G R O U P meets Tuesday and Friday mornings at Toscamar, Javea. 966 473 301.

•JAVEA BRIDGE CLUB Duplicate Pairs. 965 795 458.

•JALON VALLEY HELP Christmas carols in Jalon Square, 7.30pm.

Costa Blanca North’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.

•ANGLICAN CHAPLAINCY Sunday Services-Holy Communion. Eight locations. www.costablancaanglicanchaplaincy.org •BENITACHELL CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP, Benitachell: 966 494 036 or 966 470 303.

•CALPE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CHURCH Perlamar, Sundays 11am. 965 835 502 or www.calpechristianfellowship.org.

•CHRIST IN YOU THE HOPE OF GLORY CHURCH. Sundays 10.30am at the Europa Building, Avda del Pino.

•ERMITA CHURCH, Javea – Warden Colin D Welch – 965 771 792.

•HOLY EUCHARIST at Nuestra Senora de la Merced Church, Calpe. Sundays 10.30am. 678 787 509

Church services or bill.ingram@angliac3.demon.co.uk.

•JAVEA EVANGELICAL CHURCH. Pastor Clive Read 669 386 702.

•JAVEA INTERNATIONAL BAPTIST CHURCH, Pastor John Hansford, Sundays 10.30am at Calle Favara 8, Javea Pueblo (near Plaza de la Constitucion Espanola, where the Thursday open market is held) 965 794 624. www.javeabaptist .com •MOSIAC COMMUNITY CHURCH Sunday 12pm Multicultural Service; Wednesday 8pm Intercessory Prayer; Last Thursday of month 1.30pm community lunch. 678 066 222.

SATURDAY •COMPUTER CLUB in Alfaz del Pi. 965 889 187.

• E L V E R G E R M A R K E T at The Polygon 9am - 1.30pm.

•GUARDIAN ANGELS Dropin/Coffee and Chat at Help Centre, La Jara 10.30am12.30pm. 616 977 639.

• A U C T I O N 1.30pm at the Jacaranda Restaurant Bar Moraira with auctioneer Mr Bob Gingell. First and third Saturday of each month. Phone to book your items 965 743 292.

TUESDAY Useful numbers C O N S U L AT E S British 96 521 6022 Emergency consular assistance 902 109 356

ALICANTE Airport 96 691 9000 Guardia Civil 96 592 1100 Municipal Police 96 510 7200 Red Cross 96 525 2525

A L FA Z D E L P I Municipal Police 96 588 7100

SUNDAY • A E C C B O U T I Q U E in San Isidro: 966 723 401.

MONDAY

ALTEA Guardia Civil 96 584 0525 Municipal Police 96 584 5511

BENIDORM Guardia Civil 96 585 0330 Municipal Police 96 680 7766 Red Cross 96 680 8934 Bus Station 96 683 0014

BENISSA

•COSTA BLANCA SAMARITANS: www.costablancasamaritans.co m.

Guardia Civil 96 573 0722 Municipal Police 96 573 0733

•DENIA INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE CLUB Duplicate Pairs start 4pm. 965 785 387.

Guardia Civil 96 583 0080 Municipal Police 96 583 0812 Red Cross 96 583 1616

•JALON VALLEY MUMS & T O T S C L U B at town hall 10.15am-12noon. 676 441 758.

DENIA

•JAVEA STAMPS & POSTC A R D C L U B meets second and fourth Monday of month at L’Ancora Tennis Club at 10am.

965 795 499 / 608 765 245.

•ROYAL AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION in Pedreguer meets the second Monday of month. 966 430 215 or www.rafa-ncb.org.

• U 3 A Marina Baixa meets fourth Monday of month at 10.30am at Alfaz del Pi Casa de Cultura.

•JAVEA BRIDGE CLUB ‘No Fear’ pairs. 965 795 458.

CALPE

Guardia Civil 96 578 0036 Municipal Police 96 578 0190 Red Cross 96 578 1358

EL CAMPELLO Guardia Civil 96 563 0418 Municipal Police 96 563 7099

JAVEA Guardia Civil 062 Municipal Police 092 Red Cross 96 579 1961

MORAIRA Red Cross 96 574 0950 British Embassy: www.uk.inspain.fco.gov.uk Age Concern Spain: www.acespana.org Airport Information: www.aena.es Local News: www.euroweeklynews.com

•AUCTIONS FOR AECC (donations welcome): 965 319 929 / 688 238 879.

•NEW HOPE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Oliva on C/Constitution 6, near the town hall, Sundays 11.30am. 607 470 221.

•PILAR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH. Sunday Service 11am; Thursday 5pm Bible study and prayer; home groups during week. 966 769 300 or 650 509 606.

•SPIRITUALIST CHURCH Alfaz del Pi: Tuesdays and Thursdays 6.30pm. 966 878 469.

•THE KINGS CHURCH Benissa English Sunday service, 11am: www.thekingschurch.net.

•VALLEY FELLOWSHIP, Jalon – Pastor Barbara Chadwick. 966 481 108.

WEDNESDAY

•41 CLUB, Javea meets the first Wednesday of the month. www.costablanca41club.org

•BERNIA BABIES international group meets 10.30am12noon at Sierra Bernia School, Alfaz del Pi: 966 875 149.

•ALICANTE BUSINESS CLUB meets the third Wednesday of month in San Juan. 650 489 625 or www.alicantebusinessclub.org.

•BERNIA BABIES international group meets 10.30am12noon at Sierra Bernia School, Alfaz del Pi: 966 875 149.

•BENIDORM INTERNATIONAL SINGLES CLUB: 690 300 166.

• B S A C Marina Alta SCUBA Diving Club. 966 470 163 or www.bsacmarinaalta.co.uk.

•CANCER CARE CENTRE Javea park. 965 796 846.

•DENIA RUGBY CLUB SENIORS 8pm on beach outside the Oasis Hotel • M A L E V O I C E C H O I R (no experience required) Teulada.

965 744 577.

•MONTGO RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION JAVEA meets for coffee morning on first Tuesday of the month. www.montgoresidents.com.

• R A F Costa Blanca. Third Tuesday of month. 965 724 256 or nwhancox@ hotmail.com.

•ROTARY INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP Denia meets first and third Tuesday of month at 1.30pm. Call 965 748 909 by the Sunday prior to meeting.

• W O R D S O F L I G H T : 662 688 865.

•XABIA RUGBY CLUB (juniors and seniors): 688 640 092.

•JAVEA BRIDGE CLUB competitive Duplicate. 965 795 458.

•JAVEA ASSOCIATION OF MODEL MAKERS meet second Tuesday of month. gaw@wworkshop.net.

•DENIA INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE CLUB Duplicate Pairs start 4pm. 965 785 387.

•GARDENING CIRCLE: first Wednesday of month in Moraira. 966 498 681.

•PERKY PENSIONERS Jalon, 2.30pm-4.30pm. 652 584 272.

• R B L J A V E A : Second and fourth Tuesday of month. 965 790 123.

•SPIRITUAL FRIENDS (Moraira) meet at Los Leones Restaurant, Sol Park at 2.30pm www.spiritualfriends.com.

•QUIZ NIGHT and buffet last Wednesday of month at Restaurant Paraiso in Parcent to raise funds for Emaus children’s home in Altea. davidreeley@hotmail.com.

• F R E E informal group that shares the understanding the three principles for innate well being every first and third Wednesday 7pm-8.30pm in Alfaz del Pi. 616 762 131 or sheela@sheelamasand.com.

•SKITTLES fun matches at Restaurant/Bar GranSol Calpe at 7.30pm. 600 837 054. www.kingpins-vpweb.co.uk.

OTHERS

•CALPE ROTARY FELLOWSHIP La Fustera. www.calpe-rotary.org.uk •LA NUCIA SPARTANS American Football team welcomes new players for their

sub 16, over 16s and female teams. www.lanuciaspartans.com.

•MASK FOR MABS children’s menu at El Paraiso Restaurant in Parcent. €1 donated to charity.

•MORAIRA CHARITY SHOP on Avenida del Portet Road, opens Monday-Saturday 10am1pm and Tuesday and Thursday 4pm-7pm. 666 625 856.

• S T A M P C L U B Javea: 965 795 499.

•WALKING GROUP Castalla.

965 630 009 / 607 434 732.

•COSTA BLANCA MOUNTAIN WALKERS – Saturdays and Wednesdays – different difficulty walks. www.cbmwalkers.org •GANDIA AREA ACTIVIT I E S : Thursday social club dinners and golf, Friday and Monday petanca. 962 852 828.

Saturday walking group. 962 808 601.

•NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH: www.nhwinspain.com or 620 417 777.

•U3A VALL DEL POP. www.u3avalldelpop.com.

• A R E N A L School of Bridge and Social Club play duplicates Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 2.15pm at the Arenal Clubhouse in Javea. Tuesdays are for beginners. 965 770 509.

COMING UP

•MABS Bookstall at Iceland Javea from 10am-4pm. January 5.

• C a f é Philo (U3A) meet at 2.30pm on Tuesday January 15 to continue discussing ‘morality and the markets’. 965 845 039.

27 December 2012- 3 January 2013

EWN

75

Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

Classifieds

FOR RESULTS EVERY WEEK

BOATS | CARS | JOBS | SERVICES | PETS | BIKES | FURNITURE | PROPERTY | MOTORING | FOR SALE Air Conditioning

Boats

Cavity Wall Insulation

Firewood FIREWOOD Best quality and best prices, 1 year stored.

Carlos 607 470 223 (99540) COSTA BLANCA Firewood. See our main ad in Homes and Gardens (99707)

Free TV

I BUY RECORDS 50’s to the 90’s. Best prices for good records. Tel: 622 750 117 / 962 851 809 (99746)

Damp “RISING DAMP” can cure Rising Damp, Leaking Flat Roof or Terrace. WE can make your Underbuild Dry. Villa Re-painting Due! We can protect your villa and stop PENETRATING DAMP with a Protective coating. You can also pay in Sterling. Phone/email us for a free survey now. Tel 965 050 065 Mobile 634 322 672 www.dry zoneespana.com (202251)

POOL TABLES, Snooker Tables, Table Tennis Tables, Darts Tel: 666 933 726 www.spainpool.com (203168)

Aircon/Heating PROTECT YOUR AIR CON UNITS with a whole house surge protector. Tel 608 669 165 (202319)

AT MICHAEL’S English free standing gas cooker with high level grill. See photos: www.michaels-javea.com (101009)

Airport Transfers AIRPORT TRANSFERS Airport Taxis/Minibuses/Coaches www.CostaBlancaTransfers.com (94916)

Building Service

Antiques

www.100percentplumbing. com Call for a free quotation 965 835 939 (87006) MINI DIGGER, Dumper, Bobcat with operator for hire. Pedregeur based. Keith 639 620 448 (203132)

Business for Sale LEASEHOLD Bar/Restaurant Mar Menor. Fully fitted, ready to trade immediately. Good all year expat trade. Owner retiring. Priced reasonably for quick sale. Phone 680 334 422 for info. (202372)

Buy & Sell

AT MICHAEL’S Electric fires with log effect. Remote control. 600 photos on: www.michaels-javea .com (101009) AT MICHAEL’S High quality pre-owned furniture and New beds. Deliveries free. www.michaels-javea.com (101009)

Charities

MICHAEL’S 28 YEARS IN JAVEA - ENSURES YOUR S A T I S F A C T I O N ! www.michaels-javea.com Tel 96-579 1328 (101009)

SOCIETY for the protection of Animals in Need (S.P.A.I.N).

We buy, sell and exchange anything at CHARITY WAREHOUSE in Gata de Gorgos.

House clearances, furniture, collectables, bankrupt stock etc. Collect / deliver 965 756 215 / 665 653 998 (95962)

ELECTRICIAN WITH 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE on the Costa Blanca. Electrical upgrades, downgrades, meter boxes moved to boundaries.

Rewiring with all paperwork issued. Installation of ICP switch and box for Iberdrola requirements. Tel: Mark 608 669 165 or 965 831 082 (202311)

Caravans

Chimney Sweep

ALL electricial repairs undertaken. 626 828 674 (202321)

CHIMNEY Sweep. Clean, efficient service. 660 844 623 (97474)

Cleaning A1 SPECIALIST CLEANING. Carpets, upholstery, 15 years experience 965 058 177 / 697 511 071 marc@barnaclebills .co.uk www.britishbusinesspa gesinspain.es (100314)

Computers

For daily news visit www.euroweeklynews.com

Electricians

COMPUTER SERVICES: Internet, ADSL. Repairs, maintenance, new or second hand.

All your computer needs call David 629 672 538 or 965 584 071 (99695)

sales@euroweeklynews.com

BBC, ITV and all Freesat channels on a small dish, no monthly fees. Full range of HD receivers, Sky and non Sky. Rental Systems available. Sky cards, no UK address, no problem. Dish re-alignment, fault finding and repairs. Call 962 800 807 - 667 427 271 (204499)

Friendship FIND LOVE IN THE SUN www.iwant2meetyou.com.

Browse for free Spain’s No. 1 online dating site. Bringing expats together. (204448)

Gold Wanted ALEXANDERS Antique Jewellers pay top London prices. Est 2003, Open Mon-Sat 10am-2pm. Javea port seafront. 965 792 595 (202294) RETIRED jeweller will buy unwanted/broken gold jewellery, coins and silver items. Cash paid. 627 019 403 (99504) GOLD WANTED. English jeweller will buy broken, unwanted jewellery and coins. 664 890 990 (99704)

Handyman PURELY MAINTENANCE For all your maintenance needs - big or small, contact Carl on 965 878 866 or 669 218 928 email purelymaintenance@hot mail.com (101108)

Health & Beauty CHIROPODIST/PODIATRIST, Philip Mann, clinics in Benissa, Moraira, Javea, Calpe and Albir. 686 912 307 (202333)

sales@euroweeklynews.com

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

76

CLASSIFIEDS

EWN

27 December 2012- 3 January 2013

www.euroweeklynews.com

Costa Blanca North

Home Care

Mobile Homes

HOMECARE COSTA BLANCA. From 1hr cleaning to 24hr nursing care. 619 216 270 / 965 878 028. jainemossaic @gmail.com www.homecare costablanca.com (99548)

Insurance

GOING HOME? Want to Swap my UK Reg RHD 2008 Ford Focus Estate Titanium, TDci Diesel, for Spanish Car Tax and MOT. Cash either way.

646 600 898

Painter/Decorator W. D GILMOUR. Painter & Decorator. Established 35 years in Moraira. Estimates FREE. Call William on 609 691 776 or 966 197 170. (202296)

sales@euroweeklynews.com

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)

Mobile Phone Repairs ALL types of mobile phone repairs. Contact 609 838 890 (202369)

SIKKENS Elastomeric silicone coatings. This waterproofs / protects walls. Wooden Door Spraying. www.villapainting .es 678 179 346 (202331) www.decorlux.es painting, decorating, renovation. Est. Costa Blanca 1995. Estimates free. Tel 649 181 526 (97279)

Pest Control CHEAP, all insects and rodents. 648 057 091 (202321)

Motoring Pets SOS INSURANCE. Best prices available. Call us first for all your insurance needs. Including funeral plans. Tel: 966 787 123 / 622 275 561 (202254)

Plumbing

Property for Sale

www.100percentplumbing. com Call for a free quotation 965 835 939 (87006)

SELL your property with Schaich Estate Agents. See our main ad on front page.

(99636)

GENERAL plumbing, water filter systems, water softener, air conditioning, gas/electric water boilers. Call your local plumber Alfaz del Pi/Altea/La Nucia - Todo Agua - 965 889 923 / 628 313 212 (101020)

Pool Service TH.POOLS.sc. Maintenance, servicing and repairs. New pumps and filters, sand changes and regrouts. Pool equipment and one-off lessons available. Moraira Benidorm. CALL TRISTAN 627 008 158 (95844) www.instantpools.eu YES YOU CAN HAVE A POOL - We manufacture & install Wooden Above-Ground Pools. Pools from 8ft - 32ft. Remember, with above ground pools there is “No Planning Permission Required”. Phone or email for a FREE BROCHURE NOW. Email: info@instantpools.eu - Tel: 965 050 064 - Mobile: 634 322 672 (202251)

Professional Services

NEED YOUR PETS TAKEN CARE OF? Not kennels, just a friendly home. Large fenced area. 699 790 080 Altea (99699)

Locksmith LOCKSMITH/ELECTRICIAN/CARPENTER for emergency safe opening Altea area. Call Michael Rice 686 513 510 or Calpe area Sean Gannon 667 507 630 (202338)

For daily news visit sales@euroweeklynews.com

www.euroweeklynews.com

WANTED Cars, vans, caravans, 4 X 4’s British Spanish 600 781 873 ibuyany car@hotmail.com (200261) MOTOR INSURANCE. For the most competitive quotes in English call Linea Directa on 902 123 153, you could save a s m u c h a s 3 0 % a n d yo u can transfer your existing no claims bonus. Call Linea Dir e c t a o n 9 0 2 1 2 3 1 5 3 fo r motor insurance with a hum a n vo i c e i n E n g l i s h f r o m M o n d ay t o F r i d ay 9 a m t o 6pm and save money now!

(95302)

PAW S P E T T R A N S P O RT S PA I N U K S PA I N e ve r y month. We treat all pets as if they belonged to us. Maybe t h e b e s t ra t e s i n S p a i n .

Please call JOE on 966 074 5 7 6 o r 6 5 0 3 4 1 0 8 7 fo r a chat or email pawspettrans port@hotmail.com. Quote ewn1 (202324) MINIATURE Yorkshire Terrier Puppies, from a friendly home, for sale. 699 790 080 (202325)

Pet Insurance PROTECTAPET. Spain’s leading pet insurance. 965 756 371. www.info@protectapet.eu (95962)

OLIVA, 500 metres from beach, 2000m2 plot with 98m2 prefab house, 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, good quality kitchen, large living/dining area, pool and mobile home included in the price €75,000. 658 368 653 (201910) 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) ALFAS - Family house 4 beds, 2 baths. Central heating, open fire, fully furnished. Double garage. 300mtrs supermarket, pharmacy and bus stops. €280,000. Details www.vil lasanrafael.eu. To view 966 814 520 (202300)

Prop. Maintenance MADE IN SPAIN - Property & garden maintenance - Property management. 652 090 017 / 965 878 028 www.madein spain.co madein_s@yahoo .co.uk (99546)

Internet 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)

CALPE, La Calalga, 75 metres to the beach and local amenities. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, swimming pool, only €265,000. Tel: 629 991 543 (99211)

Prop Management TV, ENTERTAINMENT EQUIPMENT, satellite, amplifiers, mixers, keyboards, etc.

BLUESKY REPAIRS 966 875 283/626 430 671 (99672) WASHING MACHINE and all domestic repairs, Calpe / Campello BLUESKY REPAIRS 966 875 283/626 430 671

Property for Rent APARTAMENTOS PLAYA ALBIR SL. Quality rental accommodation with reception, 2 beds, 2 bath. Washing machine, air con, sea views and swimming pool. Available for short or long term let. apartments@ playaalbirsl.e.telefonica.net / Tel/fax 966 866 206 (202289) M100 - BENITACHELL, top floor apartment of a 2 storey block, 2 bedrooms, quiet location, stunning panoramic views. 420€ pcm - 965 745 969 (89468) M141 - Second floor, 2 bed, 2 bath apartment in the sought after Port Xabia complex, Javea, walking distance to beach and all amenities 600 € per month plus bills. 965 745 969 (89468)

COMPLETE HOME SERVICES Villa changeovers, laundry, pool cleaning, gardening, and general maintenance, everything you need. North Costa Blanca. denisebridger12@ gmail.com Denise 667 298 576 (99556)

Property Wanted PROPERTY wanted: Cash Buyer looking for Villa in Denia area, Quick Completion possible. Send details and price to houseinnorthcostablanca@ gmail.com (203094) NOT happy with the rentals this summer? We are looking for quality villas in Denia and J ave a a r e a . Yo u c a n ke e p renting the villa yourself and we do not have any problem working with another agency. www.cbcasas.com 6 6 6 3 2 7 7 2 9 ( Wa l t e r ) (101019)

Removal/Storage BENIDORM & SURROUNDING AREAS, 2 men removals, house clearances. Also regular trips to UK. 655 239 797 (99737)

CLASSIFIEDS

27 December 2012- 3 January 2013

EWN

Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

Sewing

Structural Surveys

Telecoms

XXX Relaxation

MADE TO MEASURE loose covers. Choose from a wide range of materials in your own home. Javea area 686 453 827 (201876)

MARK PADDON BSc Hons.

Building surveying. MCIOB, CAAT. From 245€ + IVA. Insured and legally registered in Spain. Tel: 653 733 066 / 962 807 247 www.costablancasur veyors.com (101061)

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)

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

Situations Vacant EUROPEAN removals and transport with scheduled UK routes. UK Company, fully legal, taking loads from 5kg to 24,000kg. Lowest prices and the best service. 952 816 582 or www.focus-transport.com (96826) MAN & VAN Costa Blanca North Removals / delivery, house & garden clearance.

Competitive rates. UK fixed prices. Call Graham 965 730 382 / 644 114 876 (101069) SPAIN2UK2SPAIN man and van. Trips between UK/Spain twice a month. Excellent rates. enquiries@spain2uk2spain.co m. Also local removals and deliveries. Christine 965 571 837 / 638 261 341 (202275) FURNITURE VAN FOR HIRE with driver. Careful local moves, Costa Blanca & UK. Hourly rate or fixed price. Call 676 644 014 (202312) INTERNATIONAL and European Removals. Expert removals worldwide. www.universalremovals. com. Tel: 951 247 834 (200810)

77

ENGLISH Speaking? Opportunities part / full time Tel: 660 641 913 patroyspain@ gmail.com (204208)

Swimming Pools

GENTLEMEN. A happy love life with the amazing blue pill.

Guaranteed. Amazing (from 2€). Delivery North Costa Blanca. Call Keith 687 357 529 (202339)

Skip Hire

SEX CINEMA ‘El Sofa’.

(Straight, Gay and Bi rooms), Calle de la Parra 5, Benidorm www.SexCinemaBenidorm.co m (97998)

CONTENEDORES MATA - SKIP HIRE 3-5-10M3. Tel 965 790 172 / 679 440 046 (99501)

GENERIC Viagra, Cialis, Jellies.

Trial packs. Same or next day delivery. www.costablues.com 680 878 735 Colin (202295)

JAVEA SKIP HIRE 626 670 038, Moraira, Benissa, Calpe, Denia from S & W TOOL HIRE & FERRETERIA MORAIRA (99645)

TV/Satellite TV

JAVEA, Moraira, Christina, Eastern European lady massage and more. Older gentlemen welcome, also weekends.

Tel: 667 817 407 or 661 034 261 (99619)

Tax Affairs SSSYSTEMS for all your British TV 606 139 591 / 628 029 088 / 965 878 028 Stuart _sssys tems@yahoo.co.uk / seabrightsatellites.com (99545)

Solar Power SOLAR BEST DEAL IN SPAIN www.gosolarin spain.com (204791)

For daily news visit

Wanted

www.euroweeklynews.com Situations Vacant

Roller Shutters CORDS, slats, winding mechanisms, motors. Calpe + 40 kms. Tony Bowers 659 464 992 www.toldosalchemy.com (99623)

BEAUTIFUL, Sexy, High Class German Lady, 27, Discreet Luxury Apartment Benidorm 697 648 395 (101021) ALBIR; BENIDORM, Young beautiful lady, speaks English, offers massage & escort services. 626 096 866 (99691)

BIGGEST & BEST

6 editions ...............

Costa del Sol Axarquía - Málaga East Mallorca Costa de Almería Costa Blanca South Costa Blanca North

Wig Specialists

Scrap Vehicles

WIGS-R-US EL CISNE MARKET BENIDORM. Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 9.30 till 2pm.

690 378 844 (202261)

SCRAP VEHICLES wanted for cash. Call 646 726 377 (202301)

BEAUTIFUL Wigs for Ladies experiencing hair loss. Home visits 639 054 557 (99722)

For daily news visit sales@euroweeklynews.com Removal/Storage

www.euroweeklynews.com

affordable advertising that works

sales@euroweeklynews.com Supermarkets

MOTORING

78 EWN

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

www.euroweeklynews.com

Costa Blanca North

For best rates in motor insurance call: 952 89 33 80

sponsored by LEXUS is currently launching a new version of its flagship LS in Europe. With over 730,000 units sold during its 23 year history (the majority of which are still on the road), the LS has grown and evolved with the times.

The new LS delivers numerous improvements including design, packaging and driving dynamics enhancements. Base price will be €50,500.

Brake pedal feel and operation have been improved to offer better brake response and effectiveness. And a new Drive Mode Select system features up to five switchable driving modes to optimise the driver’s preferred combination of economy, comfort, performance and handling characteristics.

All LS F Sport models offer steering wheel mounted, paddle shift manual override trans-

Internet services

ENGAGED: An Active Stabiliser system is exclusive to full hybrid F Sport models.

A sporty and agile driving experience mission control. Unique to rear-wheel drive LS 460 models, the paddle shift incorporates automatic throttle on downshifts for a highly engaging driving experience.

The electric power steering and the air suspension system incorporating enhanced Adaptive Variable Suspension have been revised to improve steering feel and response.

Lexus’ new LS F Sport extends both the equipment specification and performance of both V8 petrol and full hybrid models.

Its more aggressive and bolder

design includes a meshpattern spindle grille with a black-finish surround, larger cooling openings and simple round fog lamps. It is also equipped with 19’’ wheels.

VOLVO and communications company Ericsson will jointly develop technical innovations for automotive internet services.

Volvo Cars’ expertise in driver behaviour and traffic security requirements, along with Ericsson’s consulting and systems integration expertise, will be used to define and select services.

The driver will be able to download applications, create an online service booking and interact with partners through the Connected Vehicle Cloud built on Ericsson’s Service Enablement Platform.

Cars in the future will integrate the same level of digital services that consumers today are used to having in their homes or at work.

Spanish licence holders’ test HOLDERS of a Spanish driving licence could be forced to pass a theory exam in order to renew it.

National traffic authority (DGT) managing director Maria Segui proposed this during the 42nd International Driving School Convention in Burgos.

She argued that the current requirements for renewing the licence, which consists of a medical and eye exam, are not enough to confirm that drivers are up to date with traffic rules.

The measure, if passed, would be applied “in the medium or long term,” Segui said. “I, for example, admit both the car I drive and the environment have little to do with what I learnt when I passed my test.”

Drivers of passenger cars have to renew their Spanish licence every 10 years when younger than 65. Those older have to do it every five years.

In the meantime, the practical test will be

changed nationwide on January 19, 2013. Besides the present driving tests, those examined will also be asked to check one of the vehicle’s elements, such as the tyre pressure,

The behind-the-wheel exam will last 25 minutes and the examinee will be left for the first 10 minutes to verify they can follow traffic signs. Only then will the examiner get in the car.

SPORT

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

79

Costa Blanca North

EVERY serious football supporter knows that Lionel Messi beat Gerd Muller’s 40 year-old record of 85 goals in a calendar year.

The Barcelona superstar has now netted 90+ at first-class level (for club and country) in 2012. And I don’t think this record will ever be surpassed!

Alan Shearer, with 49 goals for Blackburn Rovers/England in 1984 is England’s top marksman, followed by Andy Cole, Thierry Henry, Robin van Persie and Michael Owen.

Top 10 players who have scored most first-class goals in a calendar year since 1945: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

90+ 85 72 70 69 68 65 61 59 58

Lionel Messi Gerd Muller Pele Zico Cristiano Ronaldo Zlatan Ibrahimovic Roger Milla Mario Kempes Romario Marco van Basten

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.

goals came in intermediate fixtures.

Horse racing: After 125 years of horse racing, the Folkestone course in Kent has staged its last meeting.

Works / Shutterstock.com

Sutil’s hope...

The final meeting

Likewise one report states that Zico scored 89 times in 1979, and once again, it’s thought that quite a few of his strikes were in friendly matches.

And the writer of Pele’s autobiography indicates that the Brazilian scored a staggering 127 goals in 1959, half of which, may have come at a noncompetition level.

On December 18 Messi agreed a new contract with Barcelona which will keep him at the Nou

THE quarter-finals of the Champions League has paired Manchester United with Real Madrid, meaning a return to Old Trafford for Cristiano Ronaldo.

Arsenal will play Bayern Munich and Celtic take on Juventus.

The five other fixtures are PortoMalaga, Barcelona-AC Milan, Valencia-PSG, Shakhtar DonestkBorussia Dortmund and Galatasaray-Schalke.

The two game ties

IN ACTION: Sutil says ‘I have paid for my error’.

Formula 1: Former Force India driver Adrian Sutil, who was found guilty of grievous bodily harm and fined €200,000 (which was donated to charity) after a nightclub brawl, still wants to feature in Formula 1. The German said: “I did something wrong which I have now paid for. I hope I can continue driving in Grand Prix.”

Barcelona/Argentina Bayern Munich/Germany Santos/Brazil Flamengo/Brazil Real Madrid/Portugal Inter Milan/Sweden Leopard de Douala/Cameroon Rosario/Valencia/Argentina Flemengo/Brazil Ajax/Holland

2012 1972 1965 1979 2011 2008 1988 1978 1995 1986

Camp until 2018. It is believed he will earn over £60m in the next five years, that’s £250,000 a week, £1million a month and £12.5million a year.

GOAL KING: Messi who has now netted 90+ times this season.

Champions/Europa League draws for the quarter finals

David Acosta Allely / Shutterstock.com

NOTE - FIFA has received statistical information appertaining to the scoring records of Godfrey Chitalu and the Brazilian duo of Zico and Pele.

One source says that Chitalu scored 107 goals in 1972 when playing for Kabwe Warriors and Zambia, but it’s believed that several of his

Natursports / Shutterstock.com

Marvellous Messi, super star on top of the world

will be played on February 12/20 and March 5/12.

The four English teams in the Europa League - Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle and Spurs - have drawn Sparta Prague, Zenit SP, Metalist Kharkiv and Lyon respectively.

These two legged ties will be played on February 14/21.

League Cup: The semi-finals of the FLC are Bradford

RETURN: Cristiano Ronaldo due back for Old Trafford clash at his former club.

City v Aston Villa and Chelsea v Swansea.

The two legged clashes will be staged on January 8/9 and 22/23.

Top man: Manchester City’s Yara Toure has been voted African ‘Player of the Year.’

Racism: The FA will soon announce plans, punishment and sanctions relating to any fans or players involved in racism, at games or otherwise.

RIP: George Showell, who took over from Billy Wright at Wolves and gained an FA Cup winners’ medal in 1960, has died at the age of 78.

Did you know?

Aston Villa have had more players capped by England than any other club: 72.

SPORT

80 EWN

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

Hot to trot golf at Villaitana BENIDORM GOLF SOCIETY took to the fairways of Villaitana for its last golf outing of the year.

A 9.30am start on the Poniente course, in perfect weather conditions for its turkey trot stableford competition and the conclusion of the eclectic trophy challenge.

The course was in perfect condition considering the recent tining works and the ongoing groundwork near the ninth and 14th fairways did not interfere with play.

On a very high scoring day of golf, nine players managed to score more than the 36 points target.

The day’s honour and the first prize turkey went to Robert Van Ham, who returned a fantastic score of 42 stableford points.

Second and third places had to be

familiar name of Paul Thacker who came out on top.

A magnificent effort by Michael Vessey to snatch it away from him in the last minute, saw him finish runner up, with Paul Moore claiming third place.

The society also competed for seven spot prizes this week; Nearest The Pin hole four Stephen May, hole seven and 10 James Gordon, hole nine Mick Vessey, hole 13 & 18 Paul Moore, hole 16 Robert Van Ham.

TURKEY TROT: Pictured, from left, are Michael Vessey, Robert Van Ham, Paul Thacker. decided via the countback system, with Michael Vesey being favoured over Paul Thacker after both players were tied on

40 points each. With all players vying to have their names etched onto the eclectic trophy, it was once again the

Our next game is at Villaitana Golf Course on Wednesday January 2, 2013, first tee off at 9.20am.

Guests are welcome to join us for a game by using the contact form on our website at www.benidormgolfsociety.com or Telephone Paul on: 652 192 182.

A Christmas cheer for Pego golfers at home THIRTY EIGHT members of Pego Golf met at their home course of Oliva Nova to play their last game of the year.

They were playing a team accumulator: two scores on the par fives, three scores on the par fours and all scores to count on the par threes.

A special prize was to be awarded to the player who wore the best Christmas hat for his or her entire round of golf.

First was the team of Colin Foster, Nigel Siddall, Peter Chapman and

TEAM GAME: Pego golfers played in their last competition of the year.

Ronnie Berry with a team score of 115 points.

In second place were Malcolm Wise, John Evans, Terry Leary and Steve Patton with a team score of 109 points.

Two’s: Barry Levett.

Balls in the water: 107 correctly guessed by Trinny Sutherland.

Best Christmas hat: Rob Westland.

Next meeting: Tuesday January, 8 at Oliva Nova, for the society’s new Captain, Mike Holloway’s ‘Drive in’. Entries via the website: www.pegogolfsociety. com

PRIZE GIVING: Montgo GS members at Oliva Nova.

And the player of the year is…

MONTGO GOLF SOCIETY played their third consecutive medal round at Oliva Nova for the St Andrew’s Medal sponsored by Bob and Rosemary Edwards.

The winner was Richard Morris (16.8) with a net 69, with Brian Baybut (17.5) one shot back in second. Third place went to Nigel Siddall (16.9) on count back from Neil Cuming (12.0) Carla Chaszcswieski (21.7), all scoring net 73’s.

Best gross score went to Ed Wallace (7.4) with 84 and nearest the pins of the par threes went to Penny Barden

(third), Celia Cronin (11th) and Simon Fox (16th) with John Lamont having best second shot on the 18th and Nigel Siddall the best third shot on the 14th.

The Society had its annual prize giving at its Christmas Dinner and Dance at the Oliva Nova Golf Restaurant.

Top prize of ‘Player of the Year’ went to Simon Fox, who also picked up the most improved player award.

Sally Burrowes was the winner of the Eclectic competition and Neil Carter the 2012 Singles Championship.