ISSUE NO. 1435
3 - 9 JANUARY 2013
WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.ES
Expat discovers tax rebate a fraud
A New Year scam alert
A NEW YEAR alert has gone out over an ongoing online UK tax scam! For while email seasonal greetings and cards were being exchanged by thousands of expat families in Spain, fraudsters were once more circulating messages purporting to be from the UK tax authorities to trick expatriates into revealing their bank details. What Costa del Sol resident Rita Arnold thought might be a tax rebate bonus has since been confirmed as a huge scam. She received an email that looked totally authentic from what she thought were the tax authorities stating that she was owed £300 (€372). They requested she fill in a form with her account number, how much money was in her credit card account, and also passwords. Clearly had she provided the details as requested, instead of receiving a £300
(€372) payment to her account, she would have found it rifled by the scam originators. Mrs Arnold decided to check the email with her lawyer son and he immediately identified it as a fraud. She is not the only British expatriate to have received such scam attempts. Six months ago Siobhan Hutton* of Benalmadena received an email seemingly carrying an HM Revenue and Customs letterhead with the subject ‘Unclaimed Tax Refund Notification’. But something did not seem quite right with the email, even though at first glance it appeared authentic. So Mrs Hutton phoned the British tax authorities with regard to the possible £239.41 (€300) rebate. And she was immediately warned it was a scam. “They asked me to forward the email Turn to Page 5
FLASHBACK: Shoppers out seeking bargains at last year’s winter sales.
All geared-up for the winter sales
TRADERS are now gearing up hoping for a business bonanza when the annual winter sales open on Monday. Shoppers able to splash the
Baby dolphin beach rescue A DISORIENTED one-year-old baby dolphin which ended up stranded on a Palma beach was rescued close to death. It was taken to the Portals aquarium to recover.
FRONT EXTRA *** A DOG was rescued unharmed from a sixth-floor flat in Calle
Vall d’Argent in Palma when it was gutted by fire. *** A MEMORIAL gravestone dedicated to the 22 local victims – 18 from Montuiri and four from Campos – of Francisco Franco’s regime has been knocked down. *** MAO COUNCIL’S phone bills have gone down 38 per cent under a ‘rationalisation plan’.
cash - or with plans to hit their credit cards will find many bargains, with discounts of up to 70 per cent. Shops hope - Page 3
Sales worry A DECREE allowing businesses to hold sales all year round could sound the death knell for many small and medium-sized shops. That is the worry of Bartolomeu Servera, President of the Federation of Balearic Trading Entrepreneurs (AFEDECO). He said: “I do not understand why they have to touch the things that work.” He believes liberalisation “will only benefit the four or five big businesses and will bring down even more small and medium-sized ones.” The Balearic Government passed the decree to comply with national regulations.
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NEWS EXTRA
Radio, TV jobs saved AFTER 15 hours of negotiations between CBM and IB3 Radio and Television, the planned lay-off affecting 34 IB3 workers was reduced to 16 staff. MORTGAGES: The average value is also still falling.
Home loans are still decreasing THE NUMBER of new mortgages signed in the Baleares fell by a third in October. Just 586 home loans were agreed in October 2012, a 33.7 per cent drop compared to the same period in 2011. And that was also a 20.7 per cent drop compared to the previous month. According to figures by the National Statistics Institute (INE), only La Rioja (66.4 per cent), Navarra (40.7 per cent) and Galicia (34 per cent) suffered bigger falls in mortgage approvals between
October 2011 and 2012, That compares to an average fall in Spain for the same period of 14.4 per cent to 19,105, the 30th consecutive month approvals had fallen. Nationally September was worse with a 32.2 per cent drop. The average mortgage value in October 2012 was €100,665, a 4.9 per cent drop compared to October 2011 and a 1.7 per cent drop compared to the previous month.
Lucky town ES MERCADAL residents are €90,000 richer from the Christmas lottery. Locals had bought 900 winning tickets each worth €100, in the El Gordo (the Fat One) draw.
Poor grades JUST 1 per cent of holiday companies on Ibiza, 5 per cent in Mallorca and 8 per cent in Menorca have the SICTED certificate for tourism quality.
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Shops hope for sales cash-in
SHOPS throughout Spain are hoping to cash in when the winter sales start on Monday. But many traders predict a similar pattern to buying as last January’s sales when shoppers generally sought bargains at leading High Street brands - including Zara and Mango - while many smaller local traders found it difficult to attract extra business. Discounts ranging from 20 per cent in some stores up to half-price buys, and even 70 per cent off some items, can be found, and some shops even put up the sales stickers immediately after Christmas.
A PALMA City Council cleaner got a surprise when he was cleaning the streets with a water jet. As he blasted the ground banknotes totalling €6,970 were washed out of an envelope. The cash has since been returned to its owner.
No more beer PALMANOVA Guardia Civil arrested a 40-year-old German man for allegedly hitting a Santa Ponça bar owner after being told the bar was closing.
Tribute ride BIKING buddies of a married couple who died after their motorbike collided with a campervan in Palma’s s’Aranjassa area rode their bikes to the accident spot to pay homage to the deceased.
Rape remand A PALMA judge has remanded in custody a 35-year-old Santanyi man accused of raping and robbing a woman at knifepoint at a Palma bus stop in the early hours of December 24.
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Jaime Lissavetzky, Socialist opposition spokesman in Madrid City Hall referring to the mayor, Ana Botella (pictured), and the Madrid Arena tragedy.
predict the sales to boom as they did last year.” Meanwhile, Zara shop assistant Maria Gonzales said she and colleagues expect next Monday’s two-month-long sales to be similar to those a year ago. “We should be very busy, especially with most of our customers in the 16-35 age bracket.” But Pepe Torres from a nationwide electrical store was not too optimistic. “Family budgets continue to be hard hit. While some will have saved to make one-off buys, in general we do not expect business levels to be the same as the good old days five or six years ago,” he said.
ALL 135,000 copies of the Euro Weekly News are from this week onwards being printed on recycled newsprint. In keeping with many major publishing houses, EWN has now switched to the use of recycled paper, adding to increasing global efforts to further safeguard the environment by reducing the amount of trees felled to produce paper of all forms. Changing to recycled paper has in no way affected the quality of printing, or picture reproduction, with many readers not noticing recent trials carried out prior to the now complete full switch. Maddocks’ View on Life - Page 29
Three Kings...bearing gifts and ‘naughty’ black sweets
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OUNG and old throughout Spain will flock to see the Three Kings on Saturday evening. This is the highlight of the local non-expatriate festive celebrations as the Three Kings - the Three Wise Men in UK Christian tradition - their pages and cartoon characters, accompanied by floats and music, parade through villages, towns and cities. And annually, wide-eyed children look on as symbolically the Kings distribute thousands of sweets to onlookers, with some youngsters even holding opened umbrellas to catch the goodies as the floats pass. Traditionally Spanish children believe that the Kings - Melchior, Gaspar and Balthasar - deliver presents on January 5 night, leaving their shoes on window sills to be filled with gifts which they have asked for. Those who have not behaved might expect to find a sack of ‘coal’, represented by black, sugary sweets, which can be found in many shops. On January 6 morning, when the children receive
Quote of the week SHE should say sorry more often and accept responsibility’
EWN is helping to save planet
NATURSPORTS / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
Clean money
One Costa del Sol commercial centre trader said she had started her sales offers early “to catch business before the Christmas visitors and tourists returned home.” And Dunnes Stores, an Irish brand with outlets on the Costa del Sol and Axarquia, began small reductions before Christmas “to encourage customers to part with their last bit of cash,” explained Beatriz Garcia. “And on Monday, our main sales of up to 50 per cent will take effect. The past week has been a little quiet. It seems as though people are waiting for the sales before spending any more. We
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Pension woes THE average €872.46 pension that retired Balearic citizens received last month is €83 (8.7 per cent) less than the €955.41 national average.
Happy ending SMILING KING: Letters to ponder from children. Rosco de Reyes (left). their presents, many families enjoy the traditional ‘Roscon de Reyes’, a large, ringshaped cake, filled with cream and covered with candied fruit, representing the Kings’ crowns.
Number of the week
the maximum price of a €16.1 isbutane gas bottle, which will
remain the same in 2013, while electricity bills will increase by 3 per cent, the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism has announced.
A SEVENTY-TWOYEAR-OLD woman suffering from Alzheimer’s who disappeared from Felanitx was found by Guardia Civil on the outskirts of the town.
and finally... A MAN, 61, was arrested at Sevilla Airport upon arrival on a flight from Brazil, after police detected 11 kilos of cocaine in his luggage. It was hidden in a sound system which officers noticed was unusually heavy.
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Women are happier than men! News watch
WOMEN in Spain derive more happiness from family and friends than their male counterparts. In addition, teenagers are generally happier than their parents, with 71 per cent satisfied with life opposed to 66 per cent aged 40 or older. Retail therapy is confirmed as a female phenomenon with 25 per cent surveyed shopping when they need cheering up. Only 10 per cent of men made the same admission.
Protest against ‘cruelty’ ABOUT 20 AnimaNatural activists participated in the protest march in Palma de Mallorca to raise awareness of the ‘cruelty’ of bullfighting.
Dog stolen
These findings are part of a Happiness Index designed by Complutense University of Madrid for the Coca Cola Happiness Institute in Spain. The barometer surveyed 12,500 consumers in 16 countries: Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, France, Italy, Mexico, Philippines, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, the UK and United States. The three happiest are Mexico,
Do British men leave dirty habits behind in
Philippines and Argentina. Nationally in Spain, the happiest people live in Asturias, La Rioja and Navarra and the unhappiest in Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla-Leon and the Basque Country. The people who have provided the Spanish with the most happiness include footballer Lionel Messi, tennis star Rafael Nadal, Colombian singer Shakira, the Duchess of Alba, Formula One driver Fernando Alonso and actress Penelope Cruz.
Driving drunk CLEAN UNDIES: More important to ladies it seems.
Animals blessed HUNDREDS of animals all over the island were blessed this week as part of the traditional Saint Anthony festivities. He is the patron saint of animals. Students of Madre Alberta infant and primary school celebrated the Sant Antoni festival.
THREE people were arrested for drunk driving in Mallorca and 26 were fined out of 819 who were breathalysed during controls over the weekend.
THE blue parking zones in Calvia will once again be chargeable as of April, according to the town hall.
Breaching order
Business centre
Paying parking
January 19 Issue 1385 CRUISE SHIP DISASTER: Costa Concordia ran aground off the coast of Italy on Friday.
Cruise tragedy
By Linda Hall GUILLERMO GUAL, a 68-year-old man from Mallorca, died in the Costa Concordia disaster, the Spanish embassy has confirmed. He was found wearing his lifejacket, trapped in a cabin in the
submerged part of the ship, which ran aground off the Italian island of Giglio last Friday. Gual was travelling with his niece and nephew Ana and Juan - who own a Can Pastilla bar - accompanied by their four children and two friends.
His wife, youngest son and daughter, together with a friend, managed to leave the ship in a lifeboat, Juan told reporters last Sunday as the family awaited news of Tio Guillermo. Nevertheless, when Ana saw that the rest of the Mallorquin party were still aboard the sinking Costa Concordia she had to be restrained from leaving the lifeboat. Even though the remaining males should have been able to look after themselves, Ana knew Tio Guillermo, who had learning difficulties, was not. Hours later, when she rang Juan to tell him she and the children were safe, he and the others decided amidst the confusion and bad organisation, their only option was to jump from the heavily listing ship. Once in the water they realised that Tio Guillermo THE BIG CHILL: Temperatures are expected to was not with them, but had reach as low as -8C in some places in Mallorca. no way of knowing whether he was elsewhere in the which are vulnerable. water or had changed his Y mind at the last moment. AR Elderly at risk Throughout Sunday they U R B Michelle Mitchell, charity hoped for news but by 9pm FE director general at Age UK they knew the worst and said: “Low temperatures learnt that their uncle’s raise blood pressure body had been found by Airline’s closure was a surprise News which puts people at a rescue teams. greater risk of heart The captain Francesco A double celebration attacks and strokes as Schettino, who left the f Pi é d Sh ki well as increasing the Costa Concordia soon after February 2 Issue 1387 likelihood and severity of it ran aground, was temperatures above zero flu and other respiratory arrested with the first and maximum up to 8C problems.” officer, accused of and by Monday minimum People are advised to manslaughter and temperatures will be check local weather abandoning ship. around 3C and maximum forecasts on the radio or Schettino had made an 10C and the rain should via the internet, these can unauthorised manoeuvre have stopped. be seen in English on prior to the tragedy, said There are hundreds, Spain’s met office website the cruise company. possibly thousands, of www.aemet.es (click on The Costa Concordia was elderly expatriates living the word ‘welcome’ on the only 150 metres from shore inland in the Balearics top right). when it ran aground.
Wrap up!
Mallorca set for the big freeze this weekend THE big freeze is due to reach Mallorca tomorrow (Friday). This weekend will be ‘one of the coldest in recent years’ on the island, according to the State Metrological Agency (AEMET). Snowfall could reach as far down as sea level from tomorrow . Friday is expected to be the coldest day with a wind chill factor of -8C in some places, including Palma de Mallorca. Charity ‘Age UK’ has warned people - especially the elderly - to wrap up warm, as every winter cold spells lead to death. Between Friday and Saturday maximum temperatures are not expected to exceed 6C. On Saturday and Sunday temperatures could plummet to below zero in parts of the island, including Palma de Mallorca, and as much as -4C in Lluc. Wind chill factor could reach -5C on Saturday and -3C on Sunday. By Sunday, temperatures should start rising gradually with minimum
2 - 8 February 2012
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watch
SPANAIR’S closure on Friday may have come as much as a surprise to them as to their passengers. In the weeks leading up to the closure, their business continued as usual. Last week employees had attended a course in Palma de Mallorca. Various pilots had also recently gone for training in the USA. Two days before closure the airline
2011 sales drop by €46 million
TURNOVER fell by €46
announced two new routes from Barcelona to Moscow and Beirut this summer. Customers were also able to book flights right up until 6pm on Friday. “I went online to book a flight around 4.30pm and there was no indication that the airline would be closing in a few hours,” Michelle Burgos from Palma de Mallorca told EWN.
“I have now been told we must buy flights with a different airline and claim the money back we paid to Spanair.” “I think it is disgraceful that they do this,” she said. “Now of course they have all the money from people who bought tickets sitting in their bank account until it is claimed back, which could take a while.” • Grounded Page 15
Giving training
DURING 2011, 183 people were given work orientation training in
Traffickers convicted
TEN members of a drug group were given a combined 46-year prison sentence for trafficking cocaine and hashish in Mallorca between 2008 and 2009. The majority of them are Nigerian and Moroccan. The drugs were brought onto the island via postal packages or by using drug mules. They were
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Expat tax scam alert From Front Page to phishing@hmrc. gsi.gov.uk so that the matter could be investigated further. “They told me they never make contact by email, which immediately alerted me that it was clearly a total fraud and scam.” A pensioner, Mrs Hutton has been in Spain for the last nine years, and lives in semiretirement. Sadly, her husband Reginald recently died, but this has not put a stop to the scam attempts to trick her. “Since last August I have received four or five more emails,
advising that I still have time to claim the rebate due to me,” she said days after Christmas. “The original, and all subsequent correspondence, at first glance looks authentic, and is in generally good English, though there were minor errors in them, including ‘receiving’ incorrectly spelt twice. “No doubt the scam attempts will continue throughout 2013. “All expatriates should be very cautious and not be tricked,” Mrs Hutton added. *Name changed upon request to retain privacy.
Free concert at Palma’s marina MALLORCA band Cap pela held a free concert at the Christmas market in Palma’s Puerto Portals marina. The market, which ends on Monday, offers a wide selection of products sold at Swedish and Austrianstyle wooden stalls. Participating restaurants are Tristan, Wellies, Ritzi, Duke, Can Punta and Thai l’Elephant, as well as La Madeleine’s French bakery products and Alarcon & Scholz’ crepes. Ornament
MARKET: Offers a wide selection of products.
products are available from Veri 5 Aromas and Interior House Mallorca. The market also has a charity stand including the
Baleares Multiple Sclerosis Association (ABDEM), the Bamba Project, the Vicente Ferrer Foundation and SOS Animal.
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RETROSPECTIVE Look back on
3 - 9 January 2013
2012
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Local beach voted in world best list
RCH A M 8 -14 March 2012
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LIFE’S A BEACH: Puerto Alcudia is Spain’s best, Europe’s third best and the world’s 25th best beach for 2012.
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Healthcare privatisation protest News watch MORE than 50 people took to Palma de Mallorca’s streets to protest against the privatisation of the healthcare system and the budget cuts. The march ended in Plaza España in front of the Ministry of Health, Family and Social Welfare, where a manifesto was read out. Among those attending were politicians including Fina Santiago from
Protests fail to silence singer Joaquin, 63 CRIBEN / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
Shopping night
PICTURE FROM:
A 28-YEAR-OLD German woman was arrested after allegedly driving the wrong way down a road in Can Valero Industrial Park in Palma de Mallorca, causing a traffic accident in which a 54-year-old man and his son, 16, were injured. She refused to take a breath test, but officers say she showed signs of being under the influence of alcohol.
continue to be supported through taxpayers’ money, believes another RAAS member, Rafael Berlanga. Other measures criticised include the new requirement to pay €10 for a health card, and it ‘isn’t even an intelligent card’, said Berlanga. “If we do not do something now, then health, education and social services will fall into the hands of the capitalist market,” he added.
SABINA
Wrong way driver
the socialist PSM-IV-ExM coalition, David Abril, leader of the Green party IniciativeVerds and co-ordinator of the EU party, Manel Carmona. The protest was called by the network against the privatisation of healthcare (RAAS). “We are fighting for our rights,” Maria Jose Espases from RAAS told Europa Press. It is necessary for healthcare to
MORE than 30 Mango clothing stores across Spain are holding a special ‘Shopping Night’ tonight (Thursday), offering 20 per cent discounts. The store in Palma de Mallorca is among those participating. As of 7pm shoppers can enjoy Malibu, have their make-up done by MAC professionals and dance to the sounds of Los 40 Principales.
Red Cross VP dies THE vice-president of the Balearic Red Cross died last week at Son Llatzer Hospital in Palma de Mallorca. Josep Bonnin Fortesa was born in 1953, and was a Red Cross volunteer for 38 years. He had been the vice president since 2010.
Self-defence THE 36-year-old Colombian who allegedly murdered her ex-boyfriend in Ibiza, claims she was defending herself from sexual assault.
5-island swim
April 19 Issue 1398
A BRITISH man died after falling from the stairwell at a Magalluf hotel. Adam Atkinson from Castleford in West Yorkshire was staying at the three-star Hotel Martinique on Calle es Tirso de Molina and is believed to have celebrated his 20th birthday last Wednesday.
On his Facebook page the following day he wrote: “I’m never drinking again … until Monday when we’re en route to Magalluf,” the Yorkshire Evening Post reported. The tragedy happened shortly after 3am on Tuesday while he was reportedly climbing up the
stairwell, reaching the third floor, before falling and injuring his head. He was taken to San Espases Hospital in Palma de Mallorca where he died from head injuries three hours later. Friend Becky Leonard wrote on her Facebook: “RIP Adam Atkinson. Love
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ews Nwatc h Soller train anniversary CELEBRATIONS to mark the 100th anniversa ry Sóller train of the Palma de begin in Mallorca tomorrow (Friday). Prunera museum Can will open an exhibition dedicated to the train and its hist
side fishing village or swim or snorkel in the electric-blue sea. “Parts of the beach are a bit breezier, attracting windsurfers and paragliders galore. Interesting shops and ancient Roman ruins add to Alcudia’s allure.” Benidorm in Alicante came fifth and three Canary Islands beaches claimed the three final slots. Playa del Ingles in Gran Canaria came you and you’re always eighth, followed by gonna be in our hearts.” Corralejo in FuerteBeth Wilford ventura and Puerto del commented on Facebook: Carmen in Lanzarote in ninth and 10th position. “He was one of the TripAdvisor’s annual funniest people I’ve ever awards are determined met, It’s true that they according to ratings really do take the best. given by millions of Thinking of his family and global travellers in their friends at such an awful reviews on the time.” website.
British man in Magalluf death fall
RIL P A 19 - 25 April 2012
Meanwhile, in the ‘Top 10 Beach Destinations in Europe’, Puerto Alcudia was the first of five Spanish beaches that made the list. It came third behind two Turkish beaches, Oludeniz and Icmeler. “Velvety white sand stretches along five miles of gentle waters,” it states on the website where it recommends going “for a quiet stroll around the
NEWS
al Women’s
March 8 Is sue 1392 quaint beachTHE 11,089 water birds 52 of different species registered in the protected s’Albufera Nature Park this year is less than the 14 8
MALLORCA has proved it has one of the best beaches in the world. Puerto Alcudia made it into TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice ‘Top 25 Beach Destinations in the World’, in 25th spot. The top three beach destinations are Providenciales, a little Caribbean island, Palm/Eagle Beach in Aruba and Tulum in Mexico.
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Internation
WOMEN from around gathering the today (Thursd island will be celebrate including the 101st ay March 8) to internationally Women’s evolutionary International acclaimed Day. biologist Sahtouris; The event who will Elisabet will take Marga be Lindner (picture speakin Prohens place at Hotel in Rigo creativitg about The memberd) who is one Bendina which will of the younges s of the start at 10am t. The event t element y. Other Balearic celebrated She features Parliame public speaker some the will be talking nt. opportu s of the day present entrepreneuria about promoti s who will will include on a wide nities to ng new range of network l people, contacts, subjects, and Jamie spirit in young and make a buffet member Catto, a varied program lunch of the supergr founder me of events and a include oup Faithles which s sessions live performances, , and more. free yoga
RETROSPECTIVE Look back on
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Balcony death fall is third in 3 weeks CHARLOTTE FARIS was the third UK tourist to be killed in a fall from a hotel balcony in Mallorca in the past three weeks. The 23-year-old fell from a balcony at the three-star Teix Hotel in Magalluf in the early hours of Saturday morning, just hours after checking-in. She was not ‘balconing’ said people working at the hotel. Her death followed those of Benjamin Harper, 28, who died on April 20 after falling from the fifth floor of the four-star Hotel Antillas in Magaluf, and of Adam Atkinson, 20, who fell from the third floor of the Hotel Martinique on April 17. Another British holidaymaker was injured in a fall
Y MA NEWS
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A musical evening in Mallorca News watch
DEVA PREMAL and Miten are performing at Trui Teatre, in Palma de Mallorca tomorrow (Friday) at 8.30pm. Their sound is a blend of song, mantra and meditation, transcending musical boundaries bringing together traditional Indian music and modern song writing. Deva Premal and Miten have released a string of albums with international sales of more than one
CONCERT: Deva Premal and Miten. million, and their concerts receive rave reviews. Fans include rock icon Cher
Police cars damaged A ‘DRUNK’ driver was arrested after he crashed into two National Police cars parked on the Paseo de Mallorca in front of the headquarters in Palma after having
and His Holiness, The Dalai Lama who, after hearing them perform, exclaimed: “Beautiful music, beautiful...!” This concert is part of their 2012 world tour and is their first visit to Mallorca. They’re accompanied by the Nepalese Bansuri master Manose and special guest Maneesh de Moor. An evening in Mallorca certainly not to be missed.
Dogs caught TWO dogs that allegedly killed 35 sheep and lambs in Son Servera were captured by officials after an eightday search. Neither of them were chipped.
Reducing fines A PROGRAMME that allows people to attend various courses to help them avoid getting fined in the future, in exchange for cancelling or reducing fines incurred for not fulfilling municipal
May 10 Issue 1401 in Palma in the early hours of Saturday and a fifth was seriously injured in a balcony fall in Lloret de Mar in early April. The death toll in the last month is the same as the whole of last year’s when at least a dozen UK tourists fell from hotel balconies and three died. In response to this, the
head of the UK Consulate for the Balearic Islands said British tourists need to ‘improve their behaviour overseas’. “There are lots of drink and drug related issues that wouldn’t happen if people were sober and perhaps a bit more relaxed,” said British Consul Paul Abrey, whose job it is to tell parents their child has been hurt or killed. Meanwhile, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is now looking into their latest advice on balcony safety. There is a European standard height that balconies must meet and the FCO warns that falls are not always covered by holiday insurance.
Prison sentence for former president Munar THE former president of the Mallorca Council, Maria Antonia Munar, has been sentenced to five and a half years in prison by Palma Provincial Court. Munar was found guilty of embezzlement and breach of trust, governmental fraud, documents falsification and negotiations forbidden to government employees. The ex-president was charged along with another six individuals for granting two illegal subsidies of €120,000 each to the television production company Video U between 2004 and 2005. Her then right-hand man, ex-vicepresident, Miquel Nadal, received a lesser sentence of two years and seven months after admitting to using public funds to pay Video U along with Munar. The court believed his statement that LY Munar gave him U J €300,000 the day before they bought half of N etres the production m 30 urist falls Swiss to company. Munar refused to admit to our am such crimes gl 1 n 1 h Issue 14 July 19 EWN
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SENTENCED: Maria Antonia Munar to five and a half years in prison. and even argued there was ‘not one piece of evidence’ to convict her. She said: “Not only was there lack of proof of my involvement in the crimes for which I’ve been convicted, but I was forced to prove my innocence by discrediting the accusatory testimonies against me.” She announced her intention to appeal to the High Court due to what she considers an injustice. “For many years we’ve fought for a just society and a democracy that respects the constitutional rights of all citizens. To convict someone without evidence, or without considering evidence, is unfit for a modern country.”
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SUMMER FUN: Children learning about the marine world.
Aquarium school
A SUMMER School programme has been organised by Palma Aquarium for the first time. It starts Monday and will take place weekdays between 9am and 3pm for children aged three to 12.
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NEWS
Six arrested for alleg ed theft from cars
SIX people were arrested on larceny charges. They are de Andratx and allegedly part of Deia. Two of them an women, aged organised gang that stole items 52 and 32; the third are if there were any police nearby. from year-old vehicles in tourist a 32- the men One of man. areas in Mallorca. was in charge of logistics and The main areas The other three hiding the stolen targeted were – two men and items. Estellencs, Deia, a Another Benyalbufar, Alcudia, woman aged between 32 and 45 - were allegedly man from Senegal would Puerto Pollença, Escorca and Valldemosa. arrested later the same day. receive the stolen Two of the them items and sell Investigations into on the internet. the gang’s activities women are believed to have been began more than in Two laptops, seven three months ago. charge of where to carry out the robberies. iPhones, five other Three of the detainees The third woman smart phones, three were found in Port would hard discs, a Reflex and let other members keep a look out Sony camera, as well as tools of the gang know used to open vehicles were seized.
Receiving mobile A 24-YEAR-OLD man arrested in Pollença was for allegedly receiving a stolen smart phone that was reported stolen in a burglary last month.
Shop lifting A MAN and woman in 40’s were arrestedtheir in Santa Marga it
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N ews watch Family busted A FAMILY of five Moroccans was arrested in Inca for allegedly selling drugs from their home. Four of them were men, of which one was a minor. Nineteen bags of marijuana ready for sale, €1,631 in cash and a mobile phone were seized.
17 detained ONE of the 17 people arrested as part of a group that allegedly arranged ‘illegal’ marriages between Spaniards
The programme includes classes on the marine world, activities with animals, beach games, recycling workshops and various other activities and sports.
Plans for Mallorca’s biggest shopping mall now received approval MALLORCA’S ‘biggest’ commercial centre could open in 2014. Carrefour Property has reportedly received approval from the Balearic Government for a licence to construct the €120 million centre in Coll d’en Rabassa near Palma de Mallorca’s Son San Joan airport. The next step is to present the request for the construction licence to the town hall, which will be done after the summer holidays. The more than 65,000m2 complex will house various
ST U G AU 9 - 15 August 2012
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By Amanda Surber FEWER travellers have passed through Baleares airports and seaports this year, but July showed a possible positive change for the better. Son Sant Joan airport registered a total of 23,811 flights in July, 0.8 per cent less than in July 2011; however, the hub still served 1 per cent more passengers, or
Employee salaries unpaid SALARIES have gone unpaid for months to some employees in the Mallorca hospitality sector despite it being high tourist season.
21 burglaries FOUR men were arrested in Sa Pobla in connection with burglaries of 21 private
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Fewer travellers by air and by sea 3,435,936 according to Aena. In fact, the three Balearic airports in Palma, Mahon, and Ibiza had the most travellers than any other month of July in their history. However, broadening the spectrum and considering data between January and July, the airports operated 6.5 per cent fewer flights and the overall number of travellers dropped by 2.5 per cent. Tourists who travel by sea to the
Balearic Islands also fell by 10.93 per cent during the first half of 2012 compared to January through June of last year. Cruise lines also delivered 31.61 per cent fewer passengers during the same period, but in June alone, 648,451 passengers passed through the ports, a 6.78 per cent drop since June 2011, according to the Ministry of Public Works.
watch N ews Supermarket hold-up A MAN and a woman were arrested after allegedly holding up a supermarket in Ibiza with a gun. They made off with €400.
Cliff fall A 17-YEAR-OLD woman was saved by Maritime Rescue after she reportedly fell into the sea from a cliff in Cala Varques in Manacor.
No turtles THE Marineland Foundation and the Balearic Government has reportedly decided to suspend the traditional summer releasing of turtles on the Island of Cabrera to save money
August 9 Issue 1414 fashion brands, highend restaurants and recreation, among others and offer 2,600 parking spots. The new centre will create 5,000 jobs, according to the company. Of these, 1,500 will
be during the construction period and then once it is open, it will offer 1,500 direct jobs and 2,000 indirect. This commercial complex is set to become the largest in Mallorca and receive more than 12million visitors a year. The project has been designed by architects Broadway Malyan and is said to be ‘ultra modern’, the design of which will be released in the autumn after the request for the construction licence has been presented at Palma’s Town Hall.
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The end of the world as we know it S Family Matters O, the world didn’t end then.
We didn’t have some enormous explosion, earthquakes or tsunamis. Aliens (as far we know anyway) didn’t show up to take us away. It wasn’t the end. But perhaps it was the beginning of another chapter. Life in Mallorca has been getting increasingly difficult for a lot of people that I know, my own family included. We are all feeling the effects of the financial crisis and the downturn has a marked effect, not just on our bank balances, but on how we interact with each other, and how we treat our nearest and dearest. We’ve seen people moving back to the UK, some with public goodbyes, and some doing the proverbial ‘runner’. I am sure for a lot of people it was the sensible thing to do,
I just don’t think that I could do it. I know how the feeling of not being in control of your life can lead to depression; it can lead to marriages breaking down, families falling apart, and worse.
I didn’t think much more of it, but I watched to see if things would start to change in my life. The very next day I had a windfall, I got a new client and I got paid in advance for something else. Sssh, I’m not saying what was on my piece of paper. But it’s working. Slowly. I know, it might be superstition but by setting an intention you cannot deny, you do focus on clearing your obstacles and getting to where you want to be.
Mallorca
Vicki Mcleod
My good friend, my yoga teacher, Kevin and I, and the rest of our class did a little ritual last week as part of our ‘end of term’. Firstly we wrote down on a piece of paper what we would like to get rid of in our lives. (On another piece of paper I wrote down what I would like to keep or get in my life and I put it away somewhere safe). And then we said a prayer to whoever or whatever we believed in. As it was a yoga class we did a chant to one of the Hindu gods, but I don’t think it matters what you do.
YOGA LESSON: Set your goals and don’t give up. Then we lit a candle and burnt the pieces of paper with the things that we wanted to get rid of until they were just dust. (I had to make sure I
didn’t accidentally burn the one I wanted to keep!) We didn’t tell each other what was on the paper just kept it to ourselves.
So there is my suggestion for the new cycle, the New Year. Set your goals, make your wishes, and then keep heading for them, step by step every day. Do the ritual if you like, write your lists, make your vision boards, whatever works for you. Just don’t give up. Don’t stop trying! Here’s to 2013, and to renewal. I hope your wishes are realised.
www.familymattersmallorca.com
RETROSPECTIVE Look back on
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Last orders! Time is called on noisy bars ER B M TE P SE NEWS
27 September - 3 October 2012
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The not so charitable debt of €70m CHARITIES and non-government organisations (NGOs) are feeling the pinch to the tune of more than €70 million. And this is all the fault of some regional governments and at least 46 town halls that have failed so far to hand out payments, as promised, for various aid projects. While Andalucia owes a whopping €33 million in promised help, Cataluña has €13.5 million outstanding.
The CONGD, which co-ordinates donations, has now complained about the non-payment to the national ombudswoman, Soledad Becerril. Both autonomous governments recognise the delay, which they blame on lack of funds. Castilla-La Mancha and the Valencian Community owe a further €8.6 million and €6 million. The organisation is being ‘totally strangled’, according to the CONGD’s Pilar Molina. Payments are five
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years late in some cases, putting 80 NGOs and more than 100 development plans at risk. Groups which have already advanced €33 million for projects do not know when the money will arrive. “We paid punctually until 2011,” protested Enrique Pablo Centella, director general of Andalucia’s overseas aid programme. “If the Junta has delayed payments, this is due to cash problems affecting all areas and not only development aid,” he said
Help for hikers A SAFETY monitoring programme for hikers has been launched by 112 Balearic emergency services on http://t.co/YzlfmmIb
Drug roundup by Civil Guard
Extra advice TECHNICAL entrepreneurs aged 18-30 can seek professional advice through Palma City Hall’s YUZZ project.
A DRUG distribution network involving 12 people in the Balearics, Valencia, Murcia, and Italy, has been dismantled by the Civil Guard
Quite a find ARCHAEOLOGICAL sites dating back centuries to the Muslim period have
3 - 9 January 2013
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Mallorca
Expats boosted by flight costs EXPATRIATES and other EU- expensive flight tickets of up to €550 nationals residing in the Balearics are paid by the Government. “This benefit from a 50 per cent discount means we are not doing things well. for inland Spanish flights. Now the Airlines work in a free market, so they may put the prices Government has said they think fit, but the this aid will be limited, State needs to know starting in 2013. R E what to subsidy with According to the new OB the citizens’ money.” General Budget Law T OC According to Libero’s (Ley General de figures, the average Presupuestos Generticket price for ales), the discount German woman’s body found N ews Balearics-inland Spain share for eligible tickets flights is €70. Although will be kept on the this was not reported as current 50 per cent. But, the definitive figure, it contrary to the current situation (the discount can be a guidance of the is applied to all tickets, October 11 Issue 1423 Government’s plans. regardless of the price), Should this be the news is an average ticket price confirmed, €35 would be the will be set, so the discount will be discount applied to all tickets. applied upon this amount, on any The average price limit will differ flight. The figure is still pending for from the Balearics to the Canary Ministerial ruling. Islands, as well as Ceuta and Melilla. Secretary General for TransportFlights between island destinaation, Carmen Libero said that, tions will keep the current 25 per having the current economic cent discount, but also applying the climate, “it is not normal” that new rules. NEWS
11 - 17 October 2012
Mallorca
Pool party!
A COVERED swimming pool has opened in Port de Pollensa, featuring activities for the elderly, the children and pregnant women. Call 971 865 212.
Cruise drop
PALMA is stepping up its fight against noisy pubs, bars and restaurants. Those in the Sa Guerreria neighbourhood could be forced to close at midnight in winter, and 12.30am in summer, as opposed to 2.30am and 3am at present. The earlier closing would see a local law being applied with a ruling that the zone is ‘acoustically polluted’. If this law is enforced, no more opening licences will be
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September 27 Issue 1419 LAST CALL: Drinking at Sa Guerreria set to be limited.
THERE were 537,000 cruise visitors in the Balearics last July, 31.2 per cent less than the same period in 2011, latest figures by National Ports Authority said.
THE body of a German woman missing since August 14 has been found buried in her garden. Gisele Von Stein, aged 66, was reported missing by her daughter on September 28. Gisele lived in Canyamel, in the municipality of Capdepera and her partner, Axel Albert, aged 62 and also German, had reportedly left for Singapore. He returned to the island a few days ago and
declared that Gisele had gone on a trip with some friends and had not come back. However, a neighbour reported to the Guardia Civil that Axel had found the woman’s body and buried her in the garden. The body was finally found yesterday (Wednesday) and it is reported that Axel told the Guardia Civil he buried her because he was afraid they would charge him with murder.
pub owners in the area had been repeatedly notified about noise levels. Reports on the situation will be available for one month for public consultation, and following that, it will take two months to resolve any public concerns and comments. If everything goes to plan, the new closing hours would start in February.
Floral aid
SOLLER’S botanical garden will keep receiving governmental aid for preservation, President of Mallorca Council Maria Salom said.
Lot to see
THE 17th Theatre Festival in Manacor will host more than 15 performances from this Saturday until December 17.
Baby revived
A ONE-MONTH baby choking to death was saved by two police officers in Palma, using the Heimlich manoeuvre.
granted by the city hall to bars in the area. Under local law, the level of decibels allowed should not be surpassed on more than 11 days a year. This has been reported in an area comprising Galera, Corderia, Quartera and Pes de la Farina streets. City hall representative for Palma City Centre, Joan Pau Reus, said that bar and
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Car tragedy
Minor theft
A MAN aged 40 died after he accidentally drove his car off a kerb and against a
SIX Romanians were held in a Civil Guard raid accused
Island is a reality show hit
PALMA BULLRING: Children were filmed at bullfights.
Bullfight organisers fined over children By Frank Anderson THE organisers of two bullfights in Mallorca this summer have been fined €6,001 each for allowing children to attend the events. An animal rights party filmed the R E events and B M produced videos VE showing children O N of all ages, including some that appeared to N ews be toddlers. Under legislation EWN
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Fashion police Balearics
in the LOCAL police with new will be provided will have up uniforms. Councils introduce the to four years to which will be all-navy outfits, forces across the same for all the island.
Country life
are VISITORS to Mallorca in greater heading inland those choosing numbers, with accommodation to stay in rural per cent in growing by 29 suffered September. Campsites while decline, a 13 per cent were down resort apartments by 1.5 per cent.
Mum jailedhas been
MÓNICA Juanatey 20 the maximum sentenced to of her years for the murder sar. son, Cé nine-year-old the boy in Juanatey drowned his body in th bathtub placed
Chilly reception
Artur ce-seeking president visit to his recent CATALUÑA’S independen disappointed by no Mas was apparently received but offered He was courteously
Moscow. What high-level meetings. Mas’s did he expect? credo is independence him new unlikely to win which never has friends in Russia, And Moscow now s independence. own autonomou did back Kosovan with some of its else’s. too many problems with someone to start messing regions to want
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NEWS
er 2012 8 - 14 Novemb
Tit for tat
the appointment to Yves Mersch’s claiming this SPAIN blocked Bank (ECB), European Central presence on the board until prevents a woman’s The sentiment is admirably 2016. but Finance Minister gender-aware gave the game Luis de Guindos g that Mersch is away by commentin is, to Spain at so he ‘unsuitable’. And the ECB on anyone longer has “So least, who no way of saying more than one board. There is there!”
EWN Comment
watch
Scans wait
at Son RADIOLOGISTS have Espases hospital claimed that patients to a have to wait up scan. year for a CT that They also claimed the four years ago, wait was no more than three months.
PP warning
the ANTONI Pastor, of maverick mayor was Manacor, who the PP expelled from said he in August, has the won’t return to it will party and that suffer electoral because consequences of Balearic president’s José Ramón Bauzà ng policies marginalisi the Catalan language.
sue 1427 November 8 Is
introduced six years ago, those under the age of 16 are not allowed to attend bullfights in the Balearics, which makes it one of the few Spanish regions to impose such a restriction. Following a complaint made by the Partido Animalista (Pacma) and three other animal rights organisations, the Balearic tourism and territory ministry has fined the organisers of both bullfights because they did not apply the ban on children at a bullfight in Alcudia on July 22 and one in Palma on August 9. The fines are at the lowest end of the scale as the maximum would have been €60,000 and a six-month suspension.
MILLIONS of North American TV viewers were stunned by the beauty of Mallorca when a top reality show featured the island. The Amazing Race follows teams around the world who have challenges to surmount. Sunday night’s episode, which was watched by about 10 million viewers in the US and a further two million in Canada, was advertising gold for the island. It featured the city walls around Palma Cathedral, Bellver Castle, Palma Bullring, the Campanet Caves, the windmills at Sa Pobla and the tennis centre of Manacor. Some viewers tweeted their impressions of Mallorca, with all wowed by the island’s ‘beauty’, ‘coolness’ and ‘fun’. One viewer, Courtney Ní Duinnín, tweeted: “They are in Mallorca on Amazing Race. No fair; what a freakin awesome place!!!”
REALITY TV: Chippendale friends Jaymes, left, and James must find The Devil at D’Alt Murda.
ER B M CE E D NEWS
6 - 12 December 2012
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Firemen fined for jeering TWO firemen who jeered Balearic President José Ramón Bauzà during his visit to the town for the Dijous Bo fiesta are to be fined by the central government’s delegation to the islands.
Penny dropped A PHONE booth mechanic has been arrested on suspicion of manipulating a booth in Artà so that he could siphon off up to €900 for himself. The phone company became suspicious and used marked coins to catch him out.
Mountain danger THE Serra de Tramuntana ranks as Spain’s second most dangerous mountain range, with more than 100 accidents so far this year Only the
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Dole queue gets longer in highest increase yet MORE than 9,000 people joined the dole queue in the Balearics last month, an increase of 10.6 per cent. The figures released by the Spanish Ministry of Employment and Social Security show that there are 96,337 unemployed in the Balearics, which is 1 per cent
lower than in November of last year. However, jobless figures in Spain show dramatic divergences depending on which public body publishes them. For example, the figures for October from the ministry showed 87,151 jobless in the islands but the national
statistics institute said that there were 122,600 signing on. The 10.6 per cent monthly increase is the highest of any Spanish region. The second region, La Rioja, had a rise of just 4 per cent. Only one region saw unemployment fall, Valencia, by half a per cent.
watch News Wine prize A MALLORCAN wine has been awarded a gold medal at the 12th MundusVini Grand Prix in Germany. The Es Pujol de Marí a red was singled out from 6,019 wines tried by judges from 44 countries.
Fine sands A MAN who built an 18sqm sandcastle on Albertcutx beach in Pollenç a has been fined €2,163.64 for building it without a permit.
Green light
December 6 Issue 1431 Megan Schneider said: “Seeing the beautiful island of Mallorca on Amazing Race last night was pretty cool... makes me miss it SO much!”
Cherie Michaux said: “Devils, strange but looks like fun Mallorca.” Filming of the show took place in June, with Mallorca glistening in the early summer sun. This is the 21st season of The Amazing Race, which has a cult following in the US and Canada. Tourist chiefs will be hoping it raises the profile of the island in both countries.
3 - 9 January 2013 www.euroweeklynews.com
Stat of week
14.4 per cent fewer mortgages were granted in Spain in October this year than the same month last year, amounting to 19,105, according to the National Institute of Statistics.
Finance,
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Vineyards need to box clever FORGET the Christmas cheer that festive sales annually bring to Spanish wine producers globally. National producers exporting to the UK may have to reassess their long-term marketing strategies following a report that shows just how price sensitive
British consumers are becoming. The traditional stigma against wine in a box or with a screw-top cap is lessening as UK tipplers decide that price is more important than a cork. As many as four in 10 wine users agreed that wine in a box or a pouch is equally as good quality as bottled wine. Just a quarter of wine users thought of boxed wine as inferior. Meanwhile, screw tops are even less of an issue for wine lovers, with just 17 per cent less-than-favourable re- claiming not to trust possession stock and screw cap quality wine. developers who have Chris Wisson, of glocal properties that literally media analysts Mintel, nobody wishes to buy,” said said: “Recent years Nick Stuart, a Marbella- have seen many wine based real estate company drinkers reappraising director. their perceptions and Stuart, of Spanish Hot use of wine in differing Properties, was also quoted formats and packaging as adding: “The Belgians, styles. Dutch, Russians and “Boxed wine has the Scandinavians are hot on added advantage of the Marbella as they realise wine keeping longer, that prices are at their allowing more flexible lowest and represent usage and encouraging incredible value for money.” moderate drinking.”
2013 hope for property firms WHILE real estate will remain a difficult business throughout 2013, some hopeful signs are being reported. Some firms on the Costa Blanca have in recent weeks reported encouraging sales, and now a firm has revealed it feels 2012 could be the last year for price falls in Marbella. “The only people reducing house prices on the Costa del Sol right now are the banks with their
Guilty secrets of office parties
PARTY TIME: But just beware of colleagues.
SIX out of 10 Spanish women say they have been unfaithful to their partners following a Christmas work or New Year party. In a recent study - not just reflecting on parties this festive season - but also in previous years, 57 per cent of men admitted seasonal infidelity, with 42 per cent blaming alcohol. When it came to the women, 84 per cent said their actions were due to alcohol. Also, 94 per cent of men and 98 per cent of women claimed to have fantasies about colleagues. While the figures will surprise many, it should be noted they were gathered from a website specialising in extra-marital relationships with more than 800,000 users in Spain and 16 million throughout the world.
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CHEERS: Spanish vineyards need to closely monitor their export markets.
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Ignore taxman’s cash demands at your peril Q. I HAVE seen several alarming adverts from Spanish tax consultants and others which state that the Spanish Tax Agency can now take money directly from the bank accounts of people who have not paid their taxes. I think this refers mainly to non-resident property owners and they refer to December 31 as a deadline. In my own small building I know several non-resident owners who say they have owned their property for years and have never paid any taxes at all. Can you clear this up? M O (Costa del Sol) A. YES, we can. First, You and the Hacienda, which is properly known as the Tax Agency, Law in Spain By David Searl can indeed take money from bank accounts. They have always been able to do this, but only after various notifications to pay, leading finally to the seizure and embargo of assets. There is no deadline of December 31, except that another year has passed. Nevertheless, we have a real situation here. These adverts refer to a series of letters which the Tax Agency is now sending out. There are three in the series. The first letter simply states that the recipient is a non-resident property owner and that there is no record of his paying the non-resident property owner’s tax. The second letter describes in detail the total tax owed, and the third letter offers a payment plan. If a non-resident property owner who has never filed a form 210, formerly 214, declaring for Non-Resident Property Owner’s Imputed Income Tax, receives the first letter, then they have been found out. They will receive the second letter, and the third letter. If all the letters are ignored, the Tax Agency will proceed to seize their assets. At the law office I work with, several owners have come in after receiving the first letter. Our advice is always to talk with the Tax Agency and pay what you owe, the sooner the better. 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
3 - 9 January 2013 Mallorca
A truly festive fling for John Lewis! DEPARTMENT store John Lewis shrugged off the economic crisis with a record festive period, taking £157.8 million (€192 million) in the week up to Christmas, 26.5 per cent up on a year ago.
£££ BRITONS suffered the biggest fall in their finances in seven months in December with a third of respondents to a survey by Markit Household Finance saying their
B
ritish usiness riefs
economic situation had worsened.
£££ BRITAIN moved up to sixth in the global economic league table during 2012, overtaking Brazil. The
value of the UK’s national output overtook that of Latin America’s biggest economy following a fall in the value of the Brazilian currency, the real, a study by the Centre for Economic and Business Research found.
£££ BIG companies paid £21 billion (€25.6 billion) in corporation tax in 2011/2012, down 21 per cent in 10 years.
Introspective Europe should look to rest of the world THE EU summit a few weeks ago focused mainly upon the structure and management of a banking financial regulator to control, in the first instance, the eurozone’s national banks. The aim is to form them into a single entity that would, in theory, mean that every eurozone bank Jim would, at least in Collins part, be responMONEY MARKET: UK Government looking to safeguard sible for the fiscal Costa Blanca City of London’s status as European financial hub. integrity of all. If, Would China have say, the Bank of France As a respected financial more demanding, requirefound itself moving into a correspondent puts it: “Mr ments of overseas achieved the supereconomy status it now danger zone, the Noyer appears to be more customers. if it had regulator would ensure concerned with underIn an article published enjoys that the entire eurozone mining the City of London in the Daily Telegraph on concentrated its efforts December 17, Professor towards developing only would act to protect it. than anything else.” A good idea perhaps, Clearly, urgent Klaus Schwab, Executive its home market? Of course not; and yet but one riddled with measures are required if Chairman of the World economists pitfalls. Germany, sus- the eurozone is to be Economic Forum, lauded European the ‘success’ of the euro, seem to be, even now, picious of anything that stabilised. the EU’s smells even faintly of There is growing stating that “it has promoting ‘debt mutualisation’ has evidence of economic provided major economic internal market, almost to exclusion of already expressed doubts, recovery in the USA, rewards, and increased the and this plan, raising China and even in Britain, trade within the eurozone everything else. The European problem Berlin’s hackles as it does, where car production and and the more tightly European lies of course in the drear appears to reek quite sales worldwide are up 15 integrated fact that the euro was, strongly. per cent on those of a financial markets.” It makes one wonder if and still is, a political Britain is already year ago, in contrast to threatening to veto the France, where both these experts ever bother project. It is said that entire project unless it Renault and Citroén have to see how other ‘nothing is so bad that political tinkering can’t economies are doing. includes inviolate clauses crashed 19 per cent. Would the USA have make it worse’, and yet, that will protect the City Both companies have of London’s status as made efforts to turn these become one of the richest unfortunately for the most powerful ordinary people of the EU, an independent European figures around, but having and financial hub, thus concentrated for so long nations in the world if it politicians continue to raising the blood-pressure on the European internal had closed its frontiers, fumble and ‘tweak’, of Christian Noyer, markets, they have failed leaving the separate attempting, more in hope Governor of the Banque to recognise the states to trade only with than expectation, to save the euro. de France. changing, and perhaps one another?
3 - 9 January 2013
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
www.euroweeklynews.com If you are a British expatriate planning to return to the UK, in order to lower your UK tax liabilities it is important to seek advice and start planning before you leave Spain. Last week I discussed income and capital gains tax, this week I look at UK inheritance tax, life assurance policies and when your UK residence starts. UK Inheritance tax UK inheritance tax is based on domicile, not residence and so many expatriates remain liable because of their UK domicile. If you establish a domicile of choice outside the UK you should escape UK inheritance tax, but this only applies if you have the intention to live in that country for the rest of your life. Domicile is all about intention. To establish a domicile of choice in Spain you must intend to live here permanently or indefinitely - i.e. have no intention of ever returning to the UK. If you do return, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) can argue that you never lost your UK domicile of origin as you could not have had an intention of never returning to the UK (even if you genuinely didn’t at the time). If you have any structures set up on the basis that you had a domicile of choice outside the UK, and want to be sure your estate will not unexpectedly be liable for UK
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Returning To Blighty? Make Sure You Plan Ahead. Part 2 by Bill Blevins, Financia l Correspondent, Blevins Franks
inheritance tax, you need to seek advice to establish the best way forward. Whether or not you are a UK domicile, it may be possible to lower your inheritance tax liability with careful planning and professional advice. Life assurance policies Approved single premium life assurance policies, in which you can hold your choice of investment assets, provide tax advantages in many European countries. Taxation in the UK is also favourable. If you are non-UK resident and later return to the UK, you might be able to take advantage of ‘time apportionment relief ’. This is a unique tax break which only applies to life assurance policies. With this
relief, you will only be liable to tax on the portion of the gain that relates to UK residence. The portion of the gain relating to non-UK residence is entirely tax free in the UK. This can be more advantageous than capital gains tax where you will be assessed on the whole gain if you are UK resident when you dispose of the asset even though you may have been non-UK resident for a large portion of the time you held the asset. Dependent on individual circumstance, there are also other ways to structure life assurance policies so that they are not only tax efficient in the country in which you are currently living but also once you have returned to the UK. When will your UK residence start? Your UK residence will not necessarily start the day you arrive back in the UK to live. UK tax law does not have split tax years, so the strict legal treatment is that you are
resident for the entire UK tax year of arrival. There is, however, an Extra Statutory Concession which can permit split year treatment for certain types of income and capital gains, and under the new Statutory Residence Test, due to apply from 6th April 2013, the split year treatment will become statutory. So if you arrive, let us say, on 31st March in a given tax year, you are likely to be considered tax resident from that date. It is possible to be UK resident at the same time as being resident in another country. If you buy or rent property for your use in the UK before you leave Spain, to use as a base while visiting the UK while planning your return, HMRC could decide that your residence started earlier than you believe it did. Unfortunately you cannot ask HMRC for a ruling. It will not normally engage in such correspondence, and the most it
may do is confirm you will be tested. HMRC can investigate your tax returns several years after you start filing them and disagree with your start date at that point. This system does not provide any certainty, so you need to take professional tax advice before you go and after you arrive to avoid any surprises down the line. Since carrying out the necessary arrangements may take time it is never too early to start planning for a return to the UK, even if you do not have any immediate plans. Contact an international tax and wealth management advisory firm like Blevins Franks to find out what options would be available to you. Blevins Franks has decades of experience advising British people moving from the UK to Spain and vice versa on their tax planning and wealth management. The tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual should take personalised advice. To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevinsfranks.com
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
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3 - 9 January 2013 Mallorca
LONDON - FTSE 100 C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. 3.00 0.82 -20.85 -1.74 -12.50 -0.71 -0.34 -0.03 -3.50 -0.18 6.00 0.44 4.65 0.61 5.00 0.32 5.00 0.17 -2.40 -0.63 6.00 0.62 -2.39 -0.70 -1.70 -0.64 1.00 0.10 2.88 0.13 -0.45 -0.11 4.50 0.14 -2.00 -0.35
NET VOLUME 346.89 78.20 91.64 103.18 247.30 109.82 167.69 76.97 115.34 1,173.81 61.53 576.49 6,601.01 595.20 641.17 2,077.41 291.71 108.66
CU RR EN CI ES
C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 28
PRICE(P) C O M PA N Y Aberdeen Asset Mngmnt 368.70 Admiral Group PLC 1178.50 Aggreko PLC 1738.00 AMEC PLC 1019.00 Anglo American PLC 1917.75 Antofagasta PLC 1357.00 ARM Holdings PLC 773.50 Associated Brit Foods 1577.00 AstraZeneca PLC 2931.25 Aviva PLC 378.35 Babcock Intrntnl Grp 979.50 BAE Systems PLC 340.95 Barclays PLC 263.55 BG Group PLC 1008.50 BHP Billiton PLC 2159.75 BP PLC 428.07 British Amn Tobacco PLC 3127.50 British Land Co PLC 569.50
0.81586
Units per €
United States $......................................................1.31734 Japan Yen ¥ ...........................................................113.626 Switzerland Francs................................................1.20851 Denmark Kroner ....................................................7.46039 Norway Kroner.......................................................7.37050
C O M PA N Y
PRICE(P)
British Sky Broad Gr BT Group PLC Bunzl PLC Burberry Group PLC Capita PLC Capital Shppng Cntrs Gr Carnival PLC Centrica PLC Compass Group PLC CRH PLC
773.00 235.65 1009.00 1236.00 761.50 361.05 2391.00 337.95 728.25 1250.00
C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G.
DOW JONES
NASDAQ
C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 28
C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 28
C O M PA N Y
PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME
MMM 3M Co 92.64 AA Alcoa Inc 8.62 AXP American Express Co 56.69 T AT&T Inc 33.66 BAC Bank of America Corp 11.47 BA Boeing Co 75.83 CAT Caterpillar Inc 87.66 CVX Chevron Corp 108.52 CSCO Cisco Systems Inc 19.65 DD E. I. du Pont de Nemours and C... 45.07 XOM Exxon Mobil Corp 86.86 GE General Electric Co 20.69 HPQ Hewlett-Packard Co 14.04 HD Home Depot Inc 61.07 INTC Intel Corp 20.51 IBM International Business Machine... 192.71 JNJ Johnson & Johnson 70.09 JPM JPMorgan Chase and Co 43.63 MCD McDonald's Corp 88.72 MRK Merck & Co Inc 41.20 MSFT Microsoft Corp 26.96
-0.43 -0.11 -0.44 -0.12 -0.07 -0.19 -0.01 +0.06 -0.27 -0.02 -0.21 -0.08 -0.08 -0.07 -0.14 +0.76 -0.08 -0.33 -0.02 -0.14 +0.10
-0.46% -1.26% -0.77% -0.36% -0.61% -0.25% -0.01% +0.06% -1.36% -0.04% -0.24% -0.39% -0.57% -0.11% -0.68% +0.40% -0.11% -0.75% -0.02% -0.34% +0.37%
2.4M 16.4M 5.3M 24.2M 210.4M 4.0M 4.0M 5.5M 35.3M 6.4M 14.3M 38.4M 16.1M 7.2M 31.7M 4.0M 10.7M 19.6M 4.6M 11.4M 39.4M
1.22161
-7.50 -1.94 -7.00 3.00 -7.50 -1.80 -3.00 -1.14 -1.50 3.00
C O M PA N Y
-0.96 -0.82 -0.69 0.24 -0.98 -0.50 -0.13 -0.34 -0.21 0.24
NET VOLUME 272.56 1,340.39 28.91 83.44 501.12 106.45 37.94 493.13 136.33 270.43
PRICE
CHANGE NET / %
BCD Semiconductor Manufacturing Limited $ 7.41 Enphase Energy, Inc. $ 3.51 Regulus Therapeutics Inc. $ 5.72 Southcoast Financial Corporation $ 4.76 Deckers Outdoor Corporation $ 38.11 Misonix, INC $ 7.26 First Security Group, Inc. $ 2.26 ATA Inc. $ 6.24 The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. $ 11.47
3.43 / +86.18% 0.48 / +15.84% 0.54 / +10.42% 0.4246 / +9.79% 3.23 / +9.26% 0.58 / +8.68% 0.18 / +8.65% 0.38 / +6.48% 0.66 / +6.11%
Most Advanced
Most Declined Edwards Group Limited Lakes Entertainment, Inc. Mannatech, Incorporated Morgans Hotel Group Co. Caesars Entertainment Corporation Jefferson Bancshares, Inc. GenMark Diagnostics, Inc. Questcor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. MGP Ingredients, Inc.
$ 5.82 $ 2.84 $ 5.52 $ 5.31 $ 6.72 $ 2.48 $ 8.77 $ 27.78 $ 3.41
0.72 / -11.01% 0.30 / -9.55% 0.57 / -9.36% 0.54 / -9.23% 0.6207 / -8.46% 0.21 / -7.81% 0.68 / -7.20% 2.12 / -7.09% 0.26 / -7.08%
C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) CHANGE Croda International PLC 2373.00 8.00 Diageo PLC 1816.00 6.50 Eurasian Natl Resources 286.80 -2.80 EVRAZ PLC 256.35 -3.20 Experian PLC 991.75 -0.50 Fresnillo PLC 1888.50 5.00 G4S PLC 257.90 -1.71 GKN PLC 231.35 -0.80 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1353.50 5.00 Glencore Intrntnl PLC 357.10 -1.00 Hammerson PLC 496.30 -2.00 Hargreaves Lansdown 680.50 -4.00 HSBC Holdings PLC 650.90 -1.20 IMI PLC 1099.00 3.86 Imperial Tobacco Gr PLC 2374.50 -7.00 InterContinental Hotels 1701.00 -0.50 International Consldtd ... 184.60 -3.50 Intertek Group PLC 3143.00 -7.00 ITV PLC 106.35 -0.50 Johnson Matthey PLC 2375.00 2.27 Kazakhmys PLC 777.50 0.50 Kingfisher PLC 283.60 -1.10 Land Securities Grp PLC 825.00 0.00 Legal & General Grp PLC 146.55 -0.80 Lloyds Banking Grp PLC 49.29 0.18 Marks & Spencer Grp PLC 388.70 0.20 Meggitt PLC 386.05 -3.08 Melrose Industries PLC 230.15 -0.50 National Grid PLC 701.75 -3.00 Next PLC 3724.00 -10.00 Old Mutual PLC 178.70 0.06 Pearson PLC 1197.00 0.41 Petrofac Ltd 1645.50 -8.00 Polymetal Intrntnl PLC 1179.50 -10.00 Prudential PLC 869.00 -8.00 Randgold Resources Ltd 6075.00 -15.00 Reckitt Benckiser PLC 3904.00 9.00 Reed Elsevier PLC 640.25 -2.00 Resolution Ltd 248.35 -3.55 REXAM PLC 438.50 -1.80 Rio Tinto PLC 3544.00 1.65 Rolls-Royce Holdings 883.75 -3.00 Royal Bank of Scot Gr 325.00 0.95 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 2217.00 10.00 RSA Insurance Grp PLC 126.60 -0.96 SABMiller PLC 2864.00 24.50 Sage Group (The) PLC 296.60 -0.30 Sainsbury (J) PLC 347.20 0.25 Schroders PLC 1712.50 1.05 Serco Group PLC 538.25 -4.00 Severn Trent PLC 1585.50 -10.88 Shire PLC 1906.00 9.58 Smith & Nephew PLC 688.25 0.70 Smiths Group PLC 1193.50 -5.00 SSE PLC 1438.00 -5.55 Standard Chartered PLC 1581.50 -0.60 Standard Life PLC 336.70 -1.08 Tate & Lyle PLC 773.50 2.10 Tesco PLC 337.68 1.65 TUI Travel PLC 284.40 -1.90 Tullow Oil PLC 1268.00 -2.46 Unilever PLC 2390.00 -4.88 United Utilities Grp PLC 672.50 -4.50 Vedanta Resources PLC 1162.00 -9.00 Vodafone Group PLC 156.42 0.35 Weir Group PLC 1886.00 -6.00 Whitbread PLC 2467.50 -3.18 Wm Morrison Sprmrkts 262.85 1.68 Wolseley PLC 2894.00 -28.00 Wood Group (John) PLC 740.75 -5.00 WPP PLC 893.25 1.00 Xstrata PLC 1071.25 -1.00
% C H G. 0.34 0.36 -0.97 -1.23 -0.05 0.27 -0.66 -0.34 0.37 -0.28 -0.40 -0.58 -0.18 0.35 -0.29 -0.03 -1.86 -0.22 -0.47 0.10 0.06 -0.39 0.00 -0.54 0.37 0.05 -0.79 -0.22 -0.43 -0.27 0.03 0.03 -0.48 -0.84 -0.91 -0.25 0.23 -0.31 -1.41 -0.41 0.05 -0.34 0.29 0.45 -0.75 0.86 -0.10 0.07 0.06 -0.74 -0.68 0.51 0.10 -0.42 -0.38 -0.04 -0.32 0.27 0.49 -0.66 -0.19 -0.20 -0.66 -0.77 0.22 -0.32 -0.13 0.64 -0.96 -0.67 0.11 -0.09
VOLUME 21.29 290.60 492.87 749.60 188.55 35.88 107.81 278.58 569.24 1,990.66 112.30 105.14 1,426.75 68.24 161.81 82.63 560.18 21.03 971.89 12.78 119.00 376.39 203.59 890.84 16,870.84 444.42 78.71 210.78 455.28 22.00 908.17 173.73 68.88 22.81 426.50 45.10 90.59 266.14 142.47 70.42 599.45 190.19 1,489.24 221.83 929.66 224.54 185.46 240.17 20.88 37.17 70.11 189.97 87.69 34.52 120.17 254.53 345.09 52.98 1,430.57 335.92 176.49 202.47 269.56 62.39 9,816.32 56.01 13.54 1,012.77 72.67 70.75 156.93 472.20
3 - 9 January 2013
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
EWN
Mallorca
www.euroweeklynews.com
New plans for postal service CORREOS plans to sell newspapers from its 2,300 offices throughout Spain. The Spanish post office network will sell papers, office equipment, stationery goods and computer equipment. The company has presented a plan which is to be completed within 1,500 days, and aims to increase the commercial capacity of its offices and make them the ‘best provider of physical and electronic communication services on the Spanish market’. The measures it plans include providing postal services at ‘competitive’ prices and promoting courier and online services. The president, Javier Cuesta, presented the project before the Ministry of Public Works and the Tax Ministry.
17
Luxury sector on the rise THE Spanish luxury sector has ended 2012 with €4.79 billion in sales.
This is 15 per cent more than in 2011, when the sector sold 20 per cent more than the previous year
thanks to many products being sold internationally. The upward trend is expected to continue in 2013, with a further 15 per cent improvement. Forty per cent of the money made by Spanish luxury product companies is thanks to international sales. However, 55 per cent of tourists visiting Spain purchase international brands which can be acquired here at lower prices and many can also get them tax-free. Meanwhile, according to consultants Bain and Company, Spanish clients buy fewer products but of better quality. The favourite products are those related to food and beauty. Most luxury products are WINNING SMILES: Philip sold in Barcelona (32 per and Vanessa. cent) and Madrid (27 per cent), followed by Marbella, the cake to our exceptional Ibiza and Mallorca, year!” according to Luxury Spain.
Winning ways for PLC COSTA DEL SOL based PLC Advertising and Marketing Agency Managing Director Philip Langley proudly holds the Expatriate Agency of the Year Award he received at the Euro Weekly News (EWN) Annual Party held in Mijas. Also pictured is Senior Account Director Vanessa Alvarez. After being presented with the award by EWN Publishers Michel and Steven Euesden, Philip commented: “We work hard year round to meet clients’ objectives, which means much planning, a high level of creativity and true dedication, so to win this against such strong competition is the cherry on
GB
LOBAL IZ
Amazon tops AMAZON has been voted the best US website for online shopping for the eighth year running.
Sales soar DAIMLER, the world’s biggest truck maker, saw global sales of its six brands - MercedesBenz, Fuso, Freightliner, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses, and BharatBenz - rise to 424,000 vehicles from January-November.
Ford invests FORD plans to invest more than $773 million (€583 million) on new equipment and updated facilities in six factories in the United States as part of a plan to invest $6.2 billion (€4.67 billion) in US plants by 2015.
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
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3 - 9 January 2013 Mallorca
Hard work trying to buy local in a Chinese dominated world IN our house over the last month we set ourselves a challenge to try and buy Spanish, or European, if possible. Boy, has it been hard! First off we needed to buy a fan heater for the bathroom. Every model in our price range came from China. And in the end we couldn’t stand shivering in the shower any longer and settled on a Chinese heater. Next was a form of heating for the sittingroom. We wanted a gas heater and once again nearly every one was made in the People’s Republic of China. Only by chance on the way to the cashier did we spot a heater made in Italy. It was a little more expensive, but the delight of finding something made
Loose change A look at finance for females Jane Plunkett jane.plunkett@euroweeklynews. com
TOO EXPENSIVE: Locally made wooden toys to die for. in Europe was enough to make us buy it. Next were Christmas presents. My husband needed a leather messenger bag for his iPad and bits and bobs because he cycles. Lots of nice and reasonably priced bags are
available online, but what about in Spain? Not a chance! Numerous shops I entered could supply a bag, but at triple the cost of those online. Also, while the leather
was nice, for some reason the bags couldn’t be made with the same secure zipup inside pockets and quality lining. Not wanting to make it any easier for pickpockets, I was forced
to buy online, rather than locally. Then came the task of buying Christmas toys for all the kids in the family. The biggest problem is that anything made locally is much more expensive than what’s available online. A lovely toyshop near us sells beautiful, oldfashioned toys including quality picnic baskets for little girls and lovely, handmade wooden toys. They are to die for, but so are the prices. And while I would love to support this shop, I just can’t afford to. So once again the toys came from Amazon and after opening all the packages, guess what? Made in China! At least the food we ate over Christmas was locally sourced.
Seafood prices soared as Christmas neared THE price of seafood products rose sharply over the Christmas period. Products including eels, sea bream and oysters rose as much as 30 per cent, according to the User and Consumer Organisation, OCU. The report was based on prices at Alcampo, Carrefour, Eroski, Mercadona, municipal markets and other stores
in Madrid and Barcelona in November, early December and on December 21. It showed that to avoid high prices, products should ideally be purchased 15 days before the start of the Christmas period. Baby eels cost €1,660 per kilo in November, whereas by the end of December they had risen to €1,775, while sea
bream rose from €30.12 per kilo to €38.81 and oysters from €24.53 for a dozen to €31.48. Other fish, including bass and hake also rose considerably, as did suckling lamb, barnacles, langoustines, purple cabbage and pullets. The price of clams, beef, pineapple and Iberian ham fell over Christmas.
B
USINESS IZ
Pay more MERCADONA will pay €0.01 per litre more to the 2,000 plus Spanish farmers who supply their stores with milk.
Bank deal BANCO SANTANDER has sold the Canalejas Complex where its headquarters were located in Madrid to the Villar Mir construction group for €215 million.
Salary rise THE Spanish Ministry of Employment has proposed increasing the minimum salary by 0.6 per cent in 2013 to €645.3.
Share surge STOCKS of Spain’s major cosmetic surgery companies, Corporacion Dermoestetica, surged by 16 per cent after announcing it was leaving the stock exchange.
Tourism up SPAIN received more than 55 million foreign tourists between January and November 2012, which was 2.9 per cent more than for the same period in 2011.
Financial crisis puts golf in a bunker... THE financial crisis is hitting Spanish golf hard, with the number of PGA professional tournaments plummeting to just the Spanish Open. In 2011, Spain hosted seven European Tour tournaments. SEAFOOD DISHES: Prices of fresh fish shot up.
But now in deep recession, putting up enough prize money to attract golf’s big names is an unaffordable luxury, said Javier Gervas, CEO of MatchGolf, which promoted the former Iberdrola and Castello European Tour events.
Tourist boards that once bankrolled tournaments and companies that provided sponsorship either no longer have the money to do so or do not want to be seen spending it on golf when Spaniards are so hard up, he added.
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3 - 9 January 2013
EWN
www.euroweeklynews.com
Mallorca
W EEKLY
ROUND - UP OF REGULAR AND OCCASIONAL TOPICS
E XPAT EXTRA
LETTERS LEAPY HEALTH & BEAUTY
FOOD TIME OUT HOMES & GARDENS
PETS TV
Driving to an unsure conclusion...
YET again I have been rejected. After my fantasy of a romantic Christmas Day liaison had been firmly dashed by Crispin, I excitedly asked him to put aside New Year’s Eve for just him and me. But he turned me down. While I accepted him spending Christmas with his parents,
COMMENT Splendid isolation
As I see it... Ana Jefferson-Smith takes an irreverent look at life as a singleton expat in Spain sharing the entire festive period with family seemed far-fetched seeing as from what I had
gathered recently he is a social butterfly throughout more normal times. If he was as committed to
‘us’ as I am, surely he would have made more effort to see me and spend time with me. Christmas and New Year have always been a time for loved ones... and in my book I wanted to be among his loved ones on New Year’s Eve, and not once more left on the touchline with
MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE EWN now printed on recycled newsprint
CATALUÑA President Artur Mas is obsessed with going ahead with his independence plans. If every Catalan shared this obsession he would have won the November regional elections with an overall majority. Instead he and the CiU party lost seats. There is a message here, but Mas either does not hear it or prefers to ignore it. Instead of heeding the electorate he is listening to a delirious inner voice.
A healthy attitude THE Constitutional Tribunal (TC) validated the Basque Region’s refusal to cancel illegal immigrants’ health cards. Humanitarian motives apart, assuring them of healthcare will help check the spread of the contagious and infectious diseases that immigrants often bring with them, said the TC. Health Minister Ana Mato does not see it this way and intends to appeal, demonstrating yet again that politicians only accept verdicts that they dictate themselves.
Island vanishes into thin air A SOUTH PACIFIC island, shown on marine charts and world maps as well as on Google Earth and Google Maps for at least a decade does not exist. Australian scientists went to inspect the supposedly sizeable strip of land midway between Australia and New Caledonia but found only ocean. *** CHINA’s rich are paying up to £200,000 (€245,000) for rare
JUST FANCY THAT... bottles of whisky at The Johnnie Walker House that has opened in Tiananmen Square in Beijing. *** AN American dental assistant - fired for threatening her boss’s marriage after his wife complained about his infatuation for her - has lost her discrimination lawsuit.
*** US
PLANE engineers have been using sacks of potatoes as stand-ins for passengers while working to eliminate in-flight wireless signal weak spots as their water content and chemistry absorb and reflect radio wave signals much the same way as the human body does. TWO
*** South Africans
have been arrested for ‘borrowing’ a corpse and creating a fake woman in order to complete a $11,000 (€8,300) life insurance scam payout. *** RANDI ZUCKERBERG, the sister of Facebook co-founder Mark, has tripped up on the social network’s privacy settings, displaying a family photo showing Mark in a kitchen with family members to the public, and not as intended just for friends.
room only for his parents. Anyway, having sat alone at home on Christmas Day, to cheer myself up, I decided to go out with the girls on New Year’s Eve, many of them returning to the coast for the Christmas period, and many of whom I had partly neglected after Crispin first bounced into my life. I wanted to take my wandering mind off him and enjoy myself. That’s what New Year’s Eve is all about. So in true Marbella style, five of us donned our sparkliest frocks, skyscraper Louboutins, longest lashes, and drank Champagne. Some of my favourite moments have been spent with my girlfriends. There was the night we all watched British rap-star Tinie Tempah in a Puerto Banus club and then tried to sneak into his VIP area. And the countless hours gossiping about our latest male encounters, giggling about our conquests. Plus, of course, the hopping from Louis Vuitton to Dior, and from Hermes to D&G, overladen with shopping bags filled with the latest styles and planning when next to show them off. Meeting Crispin was another highlight, although New Year’s Eve wasn’t the time to reflect on that. Instead as the celebrations wore on, we all drunkenly stumbled the night away, until the final destination brought a sense of familiarity over me. For there, in the car park, was Crispin’s Porsche. If he was supposedly spending the evening with his family, why was his car in Puerto Banus? My heart raced as I sheepishly entered the discotheque, unsure of what I would encounter. Limited space means... more anon.
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3 - 9 January 2013
www.euroweeklynews.com
Mallorca
Expat associations share their padron experience THE EURO WEEKLY NEWS has contacted some of the many expatriates’ associations in Spain, in order to know first-hand their opinions and experiences about the municipal register (padron). Since most of those who replied are established residents in Spain, we expect their thoughts will be of great help for newcomers. 1) What is your personal experience with the padron? It is very easy to register with the padron in Coin. There was some confusion as to whether you had to re-register every now and then. We have since found out that it is done every two years; or if you move or if you need to make some major purchase such as a house or car. It is a matter of taking your passport, house deeds if you have them and residence certificate and all is completed in the town hall’s front office, generally in a matter of minutes.
Life in Spain
- Jo Taylor, Chairman, The Royal British Legion, Coin (Malaga). 2) Why did you register? A weekly focus aimed We had made every effort to at keeping expatriate readers become as ‘legal’ as possible once informed on various aspects of we had decided to live here in Life in Spain Spain. Registration was a simple process. By Raul Candela - Michael Rushbrook, The Royal British Legion, El Campello (Alicante). Civic duty. It enables the town hall to qualify for more money for local services. - Richard Rogers, Public Relations Officer, The Royal British Legion, Marbella (Malaga).
Last minute presents? JUST because Santa has been it doesn’t mean there are no toys left to buy. The Spanish traditionally give gifts on Three Kings Day (Epiphany), so most Spanish families will be gathering together on Sunday. Although the first rule for any good present-buyer is to sort it out in advance, some of us still have a nephew or a cousin for whom we still have to buy a last minute present. So, what to buy? In Alicante, there is the Toy Technological Institute (AIJU), a non-governmental foundation that has given expert guidance on toys since 1985. It runs tests on toys before they are marketed by their manufacturers to make sure they meet all safety measures required by EU laws. AIJU’s staff includes experts on child education and psychology.
Source: shutterstock.
A rough guide for toy buyers:
PLAYTIME: Enjoy the look on his face. During the year more than 15,000 children visit its headquarters to have a day-long play. Also, more than 7,000 volunteer families co-operate with the institute. The AIJU publishes a free annual guide reporting on a wide selection of toys, 140 this year. All of them have passed their quality and safety tests, many manufactured by Spanish companies.
Q AND A
QUESTION: MY wife and I obtained a padron certificate each for residence purposes in November 2010. We had registered with the padron when we purchased our property in October 2005 using our NIE. Do we require to
THE following 10 tips are based on suggestions by the Spanish toy store chain Imaginarium. 1. Buy the toy as soon as possible. Otherwise, the toy you thought of may be sold out. 2. Make a list. It helps with planning expenses and making sure everyone is remembered. 3. Buy quality and safety. Look for quality seals and recommended ages on the box. 4. Go with the child, if possible. It is the best way to get what they want. 5. Look for Special Discount days. Ask the store staff if any sales are coming up. 6. Tell the rest of the family which toy you bought. It avoids repetition. 7. Buy online. It can save a lot of time. But check delivery is not too slow. 8. Buy educational toys. 9. Keep the receipt and check the store is able to replace the toy or refund the money. 10. Ask for advice. Staff at the toy stores can help you decide.
The AIJU also carries out extensive market research to find out the main trends. Children like toys they can play with anywhere; they also like unexpected features to surprise them. Toys based on technology gadgets are popular. Handicrafts and toys like doctor kits, sewing, cooking, and DIY are also in fashion.
Read AIJU 2013 guide at: www.guiadeljuguete.com.
re-register and if so at what period of time? Answer: You may indeed need to confirm your registration. Our advice is that you get in touch with your town hall’s padron office or foreign residents department to confirm that. As for the period of time, confirmation is
GOOD ADVICE: The Royal British Legion is one of the expat associations encouraging foreigners to sign on the padron. 3) How has it helped you being in the ‘padron’? By being able to vote. - Frederick Wallis, Vice president of the International Theatre Studio, San Pedro de Alcantara (Malaga). Provides eligibility for: healthcare, car purchase, transfer of English to Spanish driving licences, establishing ‘domestic’ and ‘fiscal’ residency, registering for town hall Spanish language lessons, membership of our association, Imserso (Spanish Government subsidised holidays). - Michael and Penelope Elliott, Pensioners Association, Los Montesinos (Alicante). I can cast my vote at certain elections, I have access to a doctor when I need to and if we have wildfires, there are firemen to help us. I am also ensuring my future – as should my health deteriorate and I need help – being on the padron ensures that I can at least apply. - Margery Taylor, Chairman, The Royal British Legion, Mijas (Malaga). 4) Where did you get the information about the ‘padron’ from? The original information came from the town hall but we are glad to see that the Euro Weekly is promoting the padron. - Mary Le Corney, District Secretary The Royal British Legion, Torremolinos (Malaga). Our information comes in the main from the media, such as the Euro Weekly. - Ken Davis, Chairman, The Royal British Legion, Zurgena (Almeria). 5) Does your association co-operate in any way to promote the ‘padron’ among foreign residents? How? We give frequent reminders to our members to ensure they and their neighbours are registered on the padron, as this enables the local council to obtain maximum benefits from central and regional government as well as to make purchases or register for a SIP card. - Helen Tudor, Secretary Neighbourhood Watch, Vecinos Cooperando, Rojales (Alicante). We at the RBL strongly recommend that all should register themselves on their local padron and have given the reasons why. I would like to say there are still many expats who have been here for many years and still not registered. - Bill Raford, The Royal British Legion, Algarrobo Costa (Malaga). done every five years if you are EU residents and registered with your Certificate of Residence. But if you are non-EU residents, then it is every two years. For EU non-residents who used their passport, it is also two years.
Send your questions to: raul@euroweeklynews.com
ARE YOU FED UP
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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
L etters OPINION & COMMENT
24 EWN
Airport helper far from being a lady MY wife and I recently had to meet elderly neighbours returning to Spain from the UK. Due to the husband’s difficulty in walking distances, he requested airport wheelchair assistance when booking his flight. The couple were last off the plane, by which time an airport employee was waiting impatiently with a wheelchair. Once the man sat in the wheelchair he was quickly whisked away, with his wife, also in her 70s, left with both her husband’s and her own hand luggage to manage. She soon lost sight of them and was left to guess where they had gone. By the time she caught up, the wheelchair helper was hassling my wife and I to find out where we were parked, saying: “My shift finished three minutes ago. I want to get home.” She seemed determined to make us feel guilty, and while en route to our vehicle continued to make rude and snide comments. N J, Mijas Costa (Malaga)
Ungodly change! EACH year I make an effort to go to church with my wife at Easter and Christmas. After checking on the Christmas Day service at La Cala Church and noting in advance outside on a board on December 22nd that the service was scheduled for 1pm, we arrived at around 12.45pm for the service, but discovered the church was locked. On re-checking the notice board, it was evident the original timing of 1pm had been crossed out and changed to noon. Instead, the 1pm service was indicated as being at Calahonda, and while we had a car and managed to re-route, not all churchgoers would have been in the same position. Also, from the number of people arriving at the Calahonda service midway through, I suspect many others found themselves scrabbling around. Xmas Worshipper, El Faro (Malaga)
Snapped! By John Seymour of Marbella (Malaga)
P pub hotog r l em icati aphs pho ail w on sh for p o ton ews ith a f uld b ossibl e es @e ull e c uro wee aptio nt by klyn n to ews : .com
3 - 9 January 2013 Mallorca I was operated on at the Hospital Costa del Sol (Marbella) where I was the recipient of a new knee. I can only say the treatment I received and am still receiving by way of follow-up has been fantastic. Maybe it is a language problem as a large number of English people have no Spanish. I am by no means fluent but every single person I have seen has been helpful and efficient. Elizabeth Church, Estepona (Malaga)
Pension right
“Christmas morning I went for a walk at the Refugio de Juanar above Marbella. I took this snap. Shame I didn’t wait longer as the sun came out just as I got back home!”
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Religious woe I MAKE a point of lighting a candle in church over Christmas. Imagine my disappointment when, on a visit to Malaga two days beforehand, I was barred from entering the cathedral unless I paid the full tour entrance fee. Having toured the cathedral in the summer - a very impressive building - I had only a desire to enter, light a candle, and briefly pray, but an official said this was not possible. Entrance was only for visitors who paid the full price of a ticket. M Haddon,Torremolinos (Malaga)
Help yourself WE all have a duty to look after ourselves and it is naive to put blame on the medical profession when things go wrong, (Letters Issue 1433). If a person spends years over-
indulging with the wrong food and drink, and sits for hours every day, the body is bound to start breaking down somewhere. Knee joints, vertebrae, shoulders, they all need to be kept moving and, apart from housework, walking is one of the best exercises a person can do. S P Kelly, Los Gallardos (Almeria)
Rubbish issue I FEEL that as a boat owner I must comment on your article (Rubbish washed up at Javea, Issue 1433 EWN Costa Blanca North). I have always found that boaters are amongst the most environmentally-conscious people as we get troubled enough by fouled propellers and blocked water intakes without adding to the problem. Tidal streams and winds bring ashore rubbish that is discarded worldwide by the general public. Plastic is the world’s biggest offender; an island of rubbish known as the ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch’ more than three miles deep and six times the size of England is already established in the Pacific Ocean. Ted Milsom (by email)
Hospital thanks IN reply to the letter (Issue 1433) about healthcare problems. In June
RE UK winter fuel payments (Issue 1432), not every pensioner lives in Malaga. I personally have lived several places in Spain and love it all, but believe me it is very, very cold in winter North of Granada. I worked from the age of 14 to 62 and paid for my pension, such as it is. If the powers-that-be paid a decent pension then they wouldn’t have to give a winter allowance. No matter where I choose to live, I am entitled to the pension I paid for. Jean Ray, Turre (Almeria)
Cash raised AS we start a new year I would like to update readers as to what ‘HELP’ achieved in 2012. We have bought 1,800 litres of milk which is being distributed to 60 needy families in Almoradi (Vega Baja, Alicante). And 35 San Miguel families are being given a box of fruit and vegetables, a box of toiletries and washing products, a box of dry goods and meat or fish vouchers. We have also contributed half the cost of school books to Almoradi and San Miguel underprivileged children and made a donation of equipment to ‘Reach Out’ charity in Torrevieja. On top of that more than €500 was raised from a raffle and donations at a recent event at Portico Mar with thanks to many for their donations to the raffle and all the participants and volunteers. Ron (President) HELP Vega Baja (Alicante)
Editor’s note: HELP is a charity that gives assistance on a wide range of subjects from paperwork to hospital visits in the Costa Blanca area around Torrevieja.
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.
OPINION & COMMENT
26 EWN
3 - 9 January 2013
www.euroweeklynews.com
A
Sad cults get it wrong again and again demise of the planet (and I’ve bought a ticket for El Gordo. There’s optimism for you!). Hundreds of thousands across the world will have woken up in the morning, firmly convinced it would be their last day on earth. Is that depressing or what? Actually I don’t find it all that funny. These cults often have truly disastrous ends. Among others, Wacko, Hale Bopp and the Jones cults resulted in mass murder and suicides. How do vast numbers of the human race allow themselves to become brainwashed by these people, who seem to pluck
Resolutions go digital
LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT some strange idea out of thin air and turn it into a belief that makes people often hand over all their worldly possessions and blindly follow them, often literally to the death? I wish I knew. I’d love to be able to spin a story that made people delighted to give me all their readies. Don’t worry, I’m working on it. I’ve actually had some strange premonitions about
LOONY: Doomsday merchants.
the next leap year. Who better to save you all from disaster than yours truly in my namesake year? All donations and worldly goods gratefully received. Get ready for the deluge, chaps! Dream on, Leapy. Hopefully, you’re all perusing this in the relative safety of a planet still in one piece. Let’s hope this year is a better one for all. Somehow I’m afraid I doubt it. Never mind.
Positive thinking is what we need. Feel secure in the knowledge that a whole new bunch of X Factor contestants are out there just waiting to entertain you. Makes it all seem worthwhile. Amazin’, ennit?
Happy New Year to all Keep the Faith Love Leapy Leapylee2002@gmail.com
NEARLY half of New Year’s resolutions are about setting healthrelated goals, and there are plenty of apps to help people achieve them. iPhone applications ‘5K Runner’ helps people to run five kilometres comfortably in eight weeks, and ‘Fooducate’ helps shoppers make healthier purchases by scanning barcodes and getting an insight into how healthy the product is.
END COLUMN
T the time of writing, thousands of people will be wondering why I’m even bothering! I know, I know, so what’s new about that? Cheeky! I’m actually talking about the people who believe the world will come to an end tomorrow. Due to the yuletide holidays all column scribblers need to present their copy at an earlier date. This means tomorrow will be December 21, the day literally hundreds of thousands of supposedly sane human beings will tuck their heads between their legs and kiss the world goodbye. If you’re reading this, of course, then yet another loony load of sad idiots will all be wondering what actually didn’t hit them? (If you’re not…!) Seriously, what is wrong with these people? This latest bunch are the believers of the Mayan calendar, which has been in existence for thousands of years and goes out of print permanently tomorrow, presumably along with the
Mallorca
Dating flop A MASS dating event South Korea’s ‘Battle of the Singles’ - organised on Facebook fizzled out with thousands of lovelorn men turning up, but very few women. More than 36,000 people signed up.
TV
3 - 9 January 2013
LISTINGS
EWN
www.euroweeklynews.com
THURSDAY JANUARY 03
BBC1 8:00pm Celebrity Mastermind 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Waterloo Road 10:00pm DIY SOS The Big Build 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm Summer in Blackpool 12:35am Have I Got a Bit More News for You 1:20am Skiing Weatherview 1:25am Natural World 2:25am Countryfile
BBC2
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 Mrs Brown 12:40am I'm a Pop Star! 1:40am Hebburn 2:10am Twenty Twelve 2:40am BBC News
ITV
6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm London Tonight 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Tonight 9:00pm Emmerdale 9:30pm Nursing the Nation 10:00pm Trouble Abroad 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm Gary Barlow and Friends 12:50am The Golden Rules of TV 1:10am Jackpot247 4:00am Tonight
Channel 4
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 Location, Location, Location 10:00pm The Restoration Man 11:00pm Millionaire Boy Racers 12:05am The 15-Stone Babies 1:05am Catfish 2:45am Frankenstein: A Modern Myth 3:40am When Hell Freezes 5:00am Time Team 5:55am Deal or No Deal
Channel 5
4:15pm Out of the Woods 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Emergency Bikers 7:30pm 5 News at 5 8:00pm Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers 9:00pm Great Northern Cookbook 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 12:00am Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side 1:00am Super Casino 4:55am House Doctor 5:20am Divine Designs 5:45am Michaela's Wild Challenge
FRIDAY JANUARY 04
BBC1 8:00pm Celebrity Mastermind 8:30pm A Question of Sport 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Room 101 10:00pm EastEnders 10:30pm Live at the Apollo 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm The Graham Norton Show 12:20am I Love You, Man 2:00am Weatherview 2:05am Room on the Broom 2:35am Who Do You Think You Are? 3:35am Great British Food Revival 4:35am BBC News
BBC2
8:00pm Hairy Dieters: How to Love Food and Lose Weight 9:00pm Timewatch 9:50pm The Young Victoria 11:30pm QI 12:00am The Review Show 12:45am Jools Holland: My Life in Music 1:45am Hebburn 2:15am Twenty Twelve 2:50am The Emerald Forest
ITV
8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Wild Britain with Ray Mears 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Benidorm 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm The Island 2:00am Jackpot247 4:00am Must Love Dogs 5:40am ITV Nightscreen
Channel 4
8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:25pm 4thought.tv 8:30pm The Channel 4 Mash Up 8:35pm The Million Pound Chatty Man Drop 8:55pm Come Dine with Me Comedy Mash Up 9:30pm Made in Chelsea 9:55pm The Million Pound Chatty Man Drop 10:15pm Chatty Man Mash Up 10:35pm 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Deal or No Deal 11:40pm The Million Pound Chatty Man Drop 12:05am Come Dine with Me Comedy Mash Up 12:35am Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2:35am The Fly 4:15am The Silent City 4:25am St. Elsewhere 5:15am Smallville
Channel 5
6:30pm Emergency Bikers 7:30pm 5 News 8:00pm Eddie Stobart: Trucks and Trailers 9:00pm Ice Road Truckers 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:30pm Celebrity Wedding Planner: Eastenders Special 12:30am Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side 1:00am Super Casino 4:50am Motorsport Mundial 5:20am Divine Designs 5:45am Michaela's Wild Challenge
27
Mallorca
SATURDAY JANUARY 05
BBC1 5:30pm Final Score 6:10pm BBC News 6:20pm BBC London News 6:30pm Celebrity Mastermind 7:00pm Animal Antics 7:30pm Richard Hammond's Secret Service 8:10pm Britain's Brightest 9:25pm The National Lottery: In It to Win It 10:15pm Casualty 11:05pm Mrs. Brown's Boys 11:35pm BBC News 11:55pm Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End 2:30am Weatherview 2:35am BBC News
BBC2
5:00pm Great British Food Revival 5:30pm Darts 6:30pm The Choir: A Year with the Military Wives 7:30pm Flog It! 8:30pm Dad's Army 9:00pm Stanley Baxter: The Many Faces of 10:00pm QI XL 10:45pm Cemetery Junction 12:15am Darts 1:05am Darts
ITV
4:00pm Dancing on Ice Live Tour 2012 5:00pm London Tonight 5:15pm ITV News and Weather 5:30pm Fa Cup 3rd round 8:15pm Splash! 9:45pm Take Me Out 10:45pm The Jonathan Ross Show 11:45pm ITV News and Weather 12:00am FA Cup Highlights 1:30am The Store 3:30am Pushing Daisies Quirky US drama series about a man who can bring the dead back to life. 4:15am ITV Nightscreen
Channel 4
5:00pm Come Dine with Me 5:35pm Come Dine with Me 6:05pm Come Dine with Me 6:40pm Come Dine with Me 7:10pm Channel 4 News 7:40pm 4thought.tv 7:45pm Is Our Weather Getting Worse? 8:40pm The Day After Tomorrow 11:00pm Inglourious Basterds 2:00am Hard Eight 3:40am Hollyoaks Omnibus Sienna concocts a plan to help the Osbornes. 5:45am Smallville
Channel 5
4:00pm The Dam Busters 6:30pm Random Hearts 8:50pm 5 News 8:55pm NCIS 9:50pm NCIS 10:45pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:45pm 50 Shocking Facts About Diet and Exercise 12:45am Forensic Files 1:15am Super Casino 5:00am Michaela's Wild Challenge 5:25am The Great Artists 5:50am Rough Guide to Activity Holidays
SUNDAY JANUARY 06
MONDAY JANUARY 07
BBC1
BBC1 7:35pm BBC News 7:50pm BBC London News 8:00pm Countryfile 9:00pm Antiques Roadshow 10:00pm Ripper Street 11:00pm BBC News 11:15pm BBC London News 11:25pm Bruce Almighty 1:00am The Sky at Night 1:20am The Celebrity Apprentice USA 2:40am Weatherview 2:45am Miniature Britain 3:45am Holby City
9:30pm Rip Off Britain 10:00pm Miranda 10:30pm Mrs. Brown's Boys 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm Have I Got Old News for You 12:05am Room 101 12:45am The Graham Norton Show 1:35am The Celebrity Apprentice USA 3:00am Weatherview 3:05am Barenboim on Beethoven
BBC2
7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Great British Railway Journeys 8:00pm Heir Hunters 9:00pm University Challenge 9:30pm The Battle for Malta 10:30pm The Polar Bear Family and Me 11:30pm Newsnight CH4 12:20am Darts 1:10am American Football 10:00pm - SUNDAY 2:10am Darts 4:10am The Iron Lady BBC News 5:00am Director Phyllida Lloyd's biopic reThe Science of Space counting the life, rise and fall of former Dive 5:30am The Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Code
Meryl Streep BBC2 6:30pm Flog It! 7:30pm Blackpool: Big Night Out 8:30pm Fawlty Towers 9:00pm Neil Armstrong - First Man on the Moon 10:00pm Tankies: Tank Heroes of World War II 11:00pm Speed Dreams: The Fastest Place on Earth 12:00am Darts 12:50am Darts 2:50am BBC News
ITV
6:45pm London Tonight 7:00pm ITV News and Weather 7:15pm Dancing on Ice 8:45pm All Star Family Fortunes 9:30pm Dancing on Ice 10:00pm Mr Selfridge 11:30pm ITV News and Weather 11:45pm FA Cup Highlights 12:45am Royal Babies 1:40am Rugby Highlights 2:35am The Store
Channel 4
5:25pm Deal or No Deal 6:25pm Time Team 7:25pm Channel 4 News 7:55pm 4thought.tv 8:00pm Come Dine with Me 9:00pm The Hotel 10:00pm The Iron Lady 12:05am The Wedding Date 1:40am Venus 3:15am Jennifer Saunders: Laughing at the 90s
Channel 5
5:50pm Stand by Me 7:20pm 5 News Weekend 7:25pm X2 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:00pm Most Shocking Celebrity Moments 2012 1:50am Super Casino
ITV
7:00pm London Tonight 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Cornwall with Caroline Quentin 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Lewis 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm The World in Action Years 1:05am Monk 2:00am Jackpot247 4:00am River Monsters 4:50am The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:45am ITV Nightscreen
Channel 4
8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:55pm 4thought.tv 9:00pm Dispatches 9:30pm The Horse Hoarder 10:00pm Embarrassing Fat Bodies 11:00pm What Happens in Kavos... 12:05am One Born Every Minute 1:10am Random Acts 1:15am Secrets of a Good Marriage with Sharon Horgan 2:10am How to be a Good Mother with Sharon Horgan 3:05am The Promise
Channel 5
7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News 8:00pm World's Craziest Police Pursuits 9:00pm The All New Gadget Show 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:00pm Shane Lynch: Dyslexia (My Secret Past) 12:00am Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side 1:00am Celebrity Wedding Planner: Eastenders Special
TUESDAY JANUARY 08
BBC1 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Holby City 10:00pm Death in Paradise 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm Parking Mad 12:25am The Rebound 1:55am Weatherview 2:00am Dara O Briain's Science Club 3:00am MasterChef: The Professionals 4:00am You've Been Scammed 4:30am You've Been Scammed 5:00am BBC News
BBC2
6:15pm Antiques Roadshow 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Great British Railway Journeys 8:00pm Heir Hunters 9:00pm Stargazing Live 10:00pm Stargazing Live 10:30pm The Polar Bear Family and Me 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am Darts 1:10am Darts 3:10am BBC News 5:00am Seeking Refuge 5:20am L8r Youngers 2
ITV
6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm London Tonight 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm River Monsters 9:00pm Celebrity Who Wants to be a Millionaire? 10:00pm All You Can Eat 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm Mickey Blue Eyes 1:30am Jackpot247 4:00am Loose Women 4:50am ITV Nightscreen
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 09
BBC1 5:30pm Antiques Road Trip 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 9:00pm Food Inspectors 10:00pm Africa 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm A Question of Sport 12:05am The League Cup Show 12:50am Film 2013 1:20am Borderline Murder
BBC2
5:15pm Rivers with Griff Rhys Jones 6:15pm Antiques Roadshow 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Great British Railway Journeys 8:00pm Heir Hunters 9:00pm Stargazing Live 10:00pm Stargazing Live 10:30pm World's Most Dangerous Roads 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am Darts 1:10am Darts 3:10am BBC News 5:00am Welcome to the World 5:30am William Whiskerson
ITV
5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm London Tonight 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Midsomer Murders 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm Weight Loss Ward 12:35am Safari Vet School 1:05am Jackpot247 4:00am King Kong
Channel 4
6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:55pm 4thought.tv 9:00pm Supersize v Superskinny 10:00pm The Undateables 11:00pm Don't Blame Facebook 12:05am Random Acts 12:10am What Happens in Kavos... 1:15am Pokerstars.co.uk and MonteCarlo Casino EPT Grand Final 2:15am KOTV Boxing Weekly
5:00pm Deal or No Deal 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm 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 On the Verge of a Midlife Crisis with Sharon Horgan 12:05am Embarrassing Fat Bodies 1:10am Random Acts 1:15am Abbey Road Studios: In Session with VW Beetle 1:45am Spotlight 2:00am Revenge
6:30pm Andy Bates' Street Feasts 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News 8:00pm Great Northern Cookbook 9:00pm Benidorm ER 10:00pm Body of Proof 11:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 12:00am Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side 1:00am Shane Lynch: Dyslexia (My Secret Past) 2:00am Super Casino 4:55am House Doctor 5:20am Divine Designs 5:45am Michaela's Wild Challenge
6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Andy Bates' Street Feasts 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News 8:00pm Ice Road Truckers 9:00pm Charley Boorman's South African Adventure 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:30pm Celebrity Big Brother's Bit on the Side 12:30am When a Stranger Calls 2:00am Super Casino 4:55am House Doctor 5:20am Divine Designs 5:45am Michaela's Wild Challenge
Channel 4
Channel 5
Channel 5
28 EWN
3 - 9 January 2013
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Mallorca
For solutions: http://www.euroweeklynews.com/puzzle-answers.html
Time Out Natural way to stop smoking
Mystery and suspense, comedy When 22-year-old drug dealer Chris (Hirsch) has his stash of drugs stolen from him by his mother, he has to come up with $6,000 quick, or he’s dead. Desperate, he goes to see his father, Ansel (Hayden Church), and lays out the plan. Chris’s mother has a life insurance policy. Enter Detective ‘Killer’ Joe Cooper, a hired hit man, who will get rid of her - for an upfront fee - that Chris and Ansel can’t pay. Just as Joe is about to leave, he spots Dottie (Temple), Chris’s innocent younger sister. Joe makes Chris an offer, he’ll keep Dottie as sexual collateral until the money is collected and his fee can be paid. 1h43 Director: William Friedkin Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Emile Hirsch, Juno Temple, Thomas Haden Church
CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) A loss of patience with a situation shows this week but is not to your advantage. Whatever you feel, be subtle in your approach. Try to see your position clearly and the result will be that you realise you have more control than you thought.
AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) A feeling that you should totally commit yourself to something or someone this week should be avoided. You will come up against a brick wall if a situation is forced. Time is all that is required to see things change for the better.
BOOKS books@euroweeklynews.com
AN English international author who recently became a resident of Benalmadena on the Costa del Sol has released her first book. Shirley Amy’s The Winning Way to Quit Smoking uses a revolutionary protocol derived from a natural and holistic foundation.
IF ITʼS YOUR BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK: The desire to find an ideal mate brings an edge to the months ahead. It is almost as though you are daring fate to tempt you.
Y our S tars
learn the magic word: no. Know your limits and stick to them.
PISCES (February 20 - March 20)
ARIES (March 21 - April 20)
There may not be enough time to do everything you want, so why can't you just reorganise your life so there is? Not as easy as it sounds, Pisces, unless you
It incorporates health science, and embraces complementary and nutritional therapy with an accent on biological regulation and the intrinsic healing of the mind, body and soul. It is designed to slowly and
Nacho Duato, born January 8, 1957. He is a Spanish modern ballet dancer and choreographer. He was the artistic director of the National Spanish Dance Company from 1990 to 2010. He is currently the artistic director of the ballet at Moscowʼs Mikhailovsky Theatre.
56
with the physical activities. Set out to become more active, socially, and maximise on relaxation. you?
TAURUS (April 21 - May 21)
Extra pressures at work leave you feeling less than energetic. Check on your health and don't go overboard
systematically change smokers into nonsmokers in around six months without the need for nicotine replacement products and anti-smoking drugs, which is perfect for all those New Year resolutions.
Although health should be good, energy may be a little low. A bit of a mystery surrounds a close friend and your opinion may be sought. Hold fire until all the facts are known and you are sure a person has been honest with you because someone may try to keep you in the dark to get the right answer. .
SU DOKU
CANCER (June 22 - July 23) The temptation to run round like a headless chicken is strong this week. There seem to be so many demands on your time that things become confusing. Be sure you are getting enough rest because this time of the year can be fraught for you.
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.
LEO (July 24 - August 23)
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
A situation could become complicated if you do not plan ahead. With a little thought and planning, matters can be kept simple which is always desirable. Be choosy about the company you keep because a bad character could taint by association.
VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) A lost cause tries to demand your attention, but you must try to see the situation for what it is. Sentimentality should not come into business or be allowed to upset your home life.
1. Which Norwegian explorer was the first to traverse the Northwest Passage and, in 1911, the first to reach the South Pole? 2. Who, in February 1979, became the first soccer player to be transferred within the UK for a fee of over £1,000,000? 3. According to the Guinness Book of Hit Singles, what was the title of the Rolling Stones’ first British number one hit single? 4. The Norwegian diplomat Trygve Lie was the first person to hold which position? 5. Which sporting first occurred at the Iffley Road Track, Oxford, on May 6, 1954? 6. According to the Bible (John 20 and Mark 16:9), who was the first to see Jesus after his Resurrection? 7. Which famous horse race, first (officially) run in 1839, was won by Lottery ridden by Jem Mason? 8. What was the name of the world’s first orbiting satellite, which was launched by the USSR in October 1957? 9. What was the name of the first First Minister of Scotland at the head of the Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition in 1999? 10. In which south coast resort was Britain’s first nudist beach established in August 1979?
TARGET: Average: 20 Good: 26
Very good: 37 Excellent: 46
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
ambo, bake, bare, bark, barm, beak, beam, bear, bema, berk, berm, boar, book, boom, boor, bore, brae, kerb, oboe, robe, amber, baker, brake, break, bream, broke, brook, broom, embar, ombre, booker, boomer, embark, bookmark, BOOKMAKER
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 G) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed.
Word ladder
LIBRA (September 24 - October 23)
LOTTERY
UK NATIONAL UK LOTTERY THUNDERBALL Saturday December 29
8
6
Saturday December 29
12
IRISH LOTTO
EURO MILLIONS
Saturday December 29
Friday December 28
8
1
17 24
30
31
37
48
40
25
15
35 36
38
BONUS BALL
THUNDERBALL
36
12
LA PRIMITIVA
EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA
Saturday December 29
Sunday December 30
2
3
1
7
10
11
21
38
47
2
26
27 29
44
BONUS BALL
32
49 LUCKY STARS
3
5
19 REINTEGRO
12
8
REINTEGRO
7
COAT
SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Are you suffering from winter blues? Although it is a common feeling at this time of the year, keep optimistic. There is so much to look forward to, in fact, that you are spoilt for choice.
SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) Recent events have perhaps left a gap in your social life that is hard to fill. Patience is needed because it would be foolish to rush into something new if your heart is involved. Concentrating on work and other people will alleviate any loneliness. This may seem a short-term solution but it is all that is needed for now.
RACK
Move from the start word (COAT) to the end word (RACK) in the same number of steps as there are rungs on the Word Ladder. You must only change one letter at a time.
COAT COOT ROOT ROOK ROCK RACK
Ruts are awful things to get into but even more difficult to get out of. Being cosy is one thing, but getting bogged down, mentally and physically, is another. All you need is to keep your optimism alive and use your imagination.
Just joking • What do you call a bear with no teeth? A gummy bear. • Why did the man with one hand cross the road? To get to the second-hand shop. • I’ve always wanted to be a doctor but I’ve never had the patience.
FIRST QUIZ OF 2013
not as high as normal, use this week for planning. With holidays in mind, the summer seems far away but maybe a weekend trip will fill the gap.
GEMINI (May 22 - June 21)
Social activities are likely to change at the last minute. If energy levels are
10-star quiz
Nonagram
Killer Joe
1. ROALD AMUNDSEN, 2. TREVOR FRANCIS, 3. IT’S ALL OVER NOW, 4. SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS, 5. SUB-FOUR MINUTE MILE by Roger Bannister, 6. MARY MAGDALENE, 7. GRAND NATIONAL, 8. SPUTNIK I, 9. DONALD DEWAR, 10. BRIGHTON
NEW ON DVD
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Crosswords CRYPTIC
ENGLISH - SPANISH
Across 7 Cooking instructions: pierce bananas (6) 8 Plundered devastated Toledo (6) 9 Being in April, if everything is OK (4) 10 Sounds like this princess is timid when it comes to facing a tribe of Indians (8) 11 Wren set off for action movie (7) 13 Guide one through the story line (5) 15 Fast, first class railway sprite (5) 17 Twelve inch high chaps used as servants (7) 20 Iʼm done, so change the game (8) 21 To incite a dog is naughty (4) 22 Partly taking the reins in this place (6) 23 Actorʼs remarks not for B teams (6) Down 1 Catty remarks from your lifeline (6) 2 Excavation belongs to me (4) 3 Piggy comes from gym class and gets a couple of hundred a year back (7) 4 Football team in the dumps (5) 5 Nationalist opposition leader against
The clues are mixed, some clues are in Spanish and some are in English. Across 1 Soup (thick) (4) 3 Hierbas (5) 6 Cebolla (5) 8 Pears (5) 10 Nail (on finger, toe) (3) 11 Serious (problem, danger, illness, mistake) (5) 12 Baile (pieza, arte) (5) 13 Mar (3) 14 Hoja (de papel) (5)
the Spanish is Middle Eastern author (8) 6 Shelter is on late broadcast (4-2) 12 Insects are, perhaps, emitters (8) 14 Lassie from Sirius? (3,4) 16 Shore bird at cove flying
around (6) 18 Paint two women (6) 19 Illegal stash of meat cut for roasting (5) 21 The way I walk gets an immense titter at first (4)
23 Horse barn (6) Down 2 Accomplish (7) 3 Goddess of love (5) 4 Department (7) 5 From that time (5) 6 Desert (7) 7 Irritable (5) 13 Hearten (7) 14 Own (7) 15 Particular (7) 17 On oneʼs own (5) 18 Backhander (5) 19 Shinbone (5)
CRYPTIC Across: 1 Workload, 7 Flute, 8 Nostalgia, 9 Sow, 10 Herb, 11 Wet rot, 13 Gimlet, 14 Lanark, 17 Purdah, 18 Wasp, 20 Leo, 22 Astronaut, 23 Nippy, 24 Teaspoon. Down: 1 Wench, 2 Rostrum, 3 Lead, 4 Angles, 5 Quest, 6 Network, 7 Fairway, 12 Hearsay, 13 Gallant, 15 Arapaho, 16 Castle, 17 Poppy, 19 Piton, 21 Eons.
ENGLISH - SPANISH Across: 1 Book, 3 Blind, 8 England, 9 Tea, 10 Ruler, 11 Broma, 12 Oro, 13 Ciruela, 14 Goose, 15 Sopa. Down: 1 Beetroot, 2 Orgulloso, 4 Ladybird, 5 Nitrogeno, 6 Fabricas, 7 Calabaza.
Play on Words
TUC Answers: Four poster, Cut back
1.Unscramble the name of a famous children’s television programme, first broadcast in 1969 (two words): SEES TEAMSTER 2. Unscramble the name of a retired English rugby union player: TWO MAD ANTS
Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 20 represents J and 21 represents W, so fill in J every time the figure 20 appears and W every time the figure 21 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 Twisted, 5 Bliss, 8 Baked, 9 Startle, 10 Obstinate, 12 Gap, 13 Smudge, 14 Escape, 17 Lea, 18 Senseless, 20 Amiable, 21 Trade, 23 Abhor, 24 Torment. Down: 1 Taboo, 2 Irk, 3 Tidying, 4 Dismal, 5 Brave, 6 Integrate, 7 Steeple, 11 Squeamish, 13 Sultana, 15 Sweater, 16 Insert, 18 Sober, 19 Spent, 22 Ape.
Funagram
Down 1 Esponjas (7) 2 Spring (season) (9) 4 Swords (7) 5 Aubergine (9) 7 Our (7) 9 Más dulce (7)
Co d e B r e a ke r
QUICK Across 1 Fabric used for clothing, chairs, sails or tents (6) 5 Look for (6) 8 Slim (4) 9 Aromatic bark used as a spice (8) 10 Sweat (8) 11 Rush (4) 12 Area (6) 14 Penalise (6) 16 Overtake (4) 18 Infatuated (8) 20 Convinced (8) 21 Simmer (4) 22 Calm (6)
15 Sudor (transpiración) (5) 16 Heat (warmth) (5) 17 To fall (4)
Quote
‘
Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.’ Jim Rohn (1930-2009) American entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker.
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 (BELLOW) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues.
AGREES
EVENTS
SPIRES
ANGERS
GAITER
STATUE
BEARDS
GREASE
TWEEDS
BELLOW (10)
LETTER
WELLED
BREAST
MILLET
WRITER
CHARMS
PATROL
CHOSEN
PLEDGE
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 1 Longer, 2 Dinner, 3 Wilder, 4 Borrow, 5 Noises, 6 Shrunk, 7 Metres, 8 Wheels, 9 Booths, 10 Mellow, 11 Barest, 12 Writhe, 13 Taller, 14 Lusted, 15 Patrol, 16 Mortar, 17 Either, 18 Sparks, 19 Hasten.
FUNAGRAM SOLUTION 1. SESAME STREET 2. MATT DAWSON
30 EWN
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Mystery of soulless hotels that leaves me feeling cold IT always mystifies me how I can pay a small fortune for a minuscule room in a trendy hotel in London and feel less at home than in my own home! I dislike the faux environmental concern of: ‘Washing towels wastes water and is bad for the environment.’ It also costs hotels megabucks which I’m sure is their main concern. Just come out and be straight with us about it! Also hotels which are wholly inflexible regarding check-in, check-out times. Surely in this computer age they could manage/match the short stayer with the longer stayer? How about paying by the hour? And no, not what you’re thinking! But most basic of all, please, a comfortable bed! Who wants to end up ram-rod stiff after a couple of nights? And if there is a pillow menu, a pillow from it
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
shouldn’t be something I should have to beg reception for, is it? Trust me, it’s invariably mission impossible. Then there are the curtains. A reasonable night’s sleep means not being woken up in the morning by light streaming in at 6am. So, please, provide curtains that do their job first, and are snazzy second. Cushions are another bugbear. I counted 15 in one hotel room. Hoteliers who put cushions on
HOTEL ROOMS: Can be lacking in character. beds should be smothered with them. As should those who describe their place as ‘Boutique’ simply because they’ve put pebble-filled jam-jars in bathrooms, towels twisted into ‘swans’ on beds and original, ahem, ‘artwork’ on walls.
Then there are the satellite/ TV remote controls which require a PhD in technology to operate. Shower mixers which are so clever they’re a nightmare to switch on. First, there’s some massive shower head in the ceiling you can’t adjust and as
Mallorca
soon as you do manage to switch the thing on, it’s either freezing cold, or scalding hot, but never warm! Not to mention tea-making facilities which are tucked away in a low-lying drawer, need to be plugged in somewhere else, filled under a mixer-tap in the bathroom and come with tinyportioned coffee, sugar and curdled milk. These are just a few practical issues I’d be really grateful if any hoteliers amongst you out there could consider in 2013. Think about it from the client’s perspective! Okay, rant over!
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.
EWN 2013 NATIONAL HOLIDAY GUIDE Spain
January 1: New Year January 6: Three Kings March 29: Good Friday May 1: Labour Day August 15: Assumption Day October 12: National Day November 1: All Saints Day December 6: Constitution Day December 25: Christmas Day
January 1: New Year January 6: Epiphany March 29: Good Friday March 31: Easter Sunday April 1: Easter Monday May 1: Labour Day May 9: Ascension Day May 19: Pentecost June 6: National Day June 22: Midsummer Day November 2: All Saints Day December 25: Christmas Day December 26: Boxing Day
#
CUT OUT
Sweden
A potted guide to the main national holidays in Spain and the European nations from where many of our readers originate.
United Kingdom
January 1: New Year January 2: 2nd January (Scotland) March 18: St Patrick’s Day (Northern Ireland) March 29: Good Friday April 1: Easter Monday May 6: Early May Bank Holiday May 27: Spring Bank Holiday July 12: Orangemen’s Day (Northern Ireland) August 5: Summer Bank Holiday (Scotland) August 26: Summer Bank Holiday December 2: St Andrew’s Day (Scotland) December 25: Christmas Day December 26: Boxing Day
Germany January 1: New Year March 29: Good Friday April 1: Easter Monday May 1: Labour Day May 9: Ascension Day May 20: Whit Monday October 3: German Unity Day December 25: Christmas Day December 26: Boxing Day
Norway January 1: New Year March 24: Palm Sunday March 28: Maundy Thursday March 29: Good Friday March 31: Easter Sunday April 1: Easter Monday May 1: Labour Day May 9: Ascension Day May 17: Constitution Day May 19: Whit Sunday May 20: Whit Monday December 25: Christmas Day December 26: Boxing Day
Denmark January 1: New Year March 28: Maundy Thursday March 29: Good Friday March 31: Easter Sunday April 1: Easter Monday April 26: Common Prayer Day May 9: Ascension Day May 19: Whit Sunday May 20: Whit Monday June 5: Constitution Day December 25: Christmas Day December 26: Boxing Day
In addition in many nations when a holiday falls on a Sunday the following day becomes a day off.
3 - 9 January 2013 www.euroweeklynews.com
HEALTH & BEAUTY
EWN
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Sleeping pills not effective?
Fertile brothers WANTING a large family? Well, when searching for your perfect baby-making mate, first count the number of brothers he has. Scientists say the greater the number of male siblings your partner has, the more fertile he is likely to be. The findings were published in the Asian Journal of Andrology.
RESEARCHERS in the UK and the USA are doubting the effectiveness of sleeping pills, saying insomniacs may get more help from psychological treatments. They carried out a study using sleeping pills and another dummy drug which had no medical benefits for helping sleeplessness. The research found that the placebo effect produced around 50 per cent of the benefits, with the active ingredient in the sleeping pills making up the rest. They conclude that psychological treatment would be just as beneficial for sufferers and would not have any of the side-effects related to sleeping pills such as memory loss and balance problems. EASY TEST: New eye scan helps to evaluate progression of MS.
Unhealthy snacks linked to Facebook USING Facebook could make you more likely to eat unhealthy snacks. That’s the finding by researchers from Columbia University and the University of Pittsburgh (USA) who say that regular contact with friends on the social network site left users with higher levels of self-esteem but lower levels of self-control. They found that people were more likely to snack on unhealthy food once they had logged off, particularly if they had been chatting with close friends. The team used five experiments on the behaviour of Facebook users to see how it affected them when they were offline. The studies suggested there was a link between the use of the website and poor self-control over what they ate and how much money they spent, particularly when socialising with close SELF-CONTROL: Poor after using social network site. friends.
MS eye scan test AN easy eye test can help measure how fast multiple sclerosis (MS) is progressing. Researchers performed scans on 164 MS patients which measured the thickness of the lining at the back of the eye. They found that patients with thinning of the retina had both earlier and more active forms of the disease. MS affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord, causing problems with muscle movement, balance and vision. Many sufferers have periods where symptoms are mild, followed by flare-ups, making monitoring of the disease difficult for doctors. It is hoped this new scan, called Optical Coherence Tomography
(OCT) could be helpful in evaluating the progression of the condition.
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Some possible New Year resolutions for gardeners
T
RYING to think of a common set of new year resolutions for the EWN readership is not easy as some have large and others small properties, some have long matured gardens and others are just starting to develop new gardens and of course some live in apartments with small storage balconies or elegant roof top gardens. However we hope the following makes sense: • Aim to make all spaces more usable, productive and enjoyable. • Be adventurous but cautious with your plantings. Adventurous in recognising that an enormous range of flowering and evergreen plants and trees, fruit, vegetables and herbs can be grown in all situations in Spain. • Cautious in focussing on planting mainly drought and frost resistant plants to minimise the cost of losses. • Recognise that in all gardens the predominant colours will be the multitude of green tints and hues so add to the assortment of leaf colours for interest. For ideas for new colour schemes read the chapter on ‘Painting with plants’ in our book ‘Your Garden in Spain – From planning to planting and maintenance’. • Finally go eco and avoid using potentially dangerous chemical gardening products. • Start to grow a few vegetables even if only in large size builders’ buckets or window boxes or on a growing table. The illustrations in ‘Apartment
Gardening Mediterranean Style’ and ‘Growing Healthy Vegetables in Spain’ will give you plenty of ideas. • Add some additional fruit trees bushes or plants for fresh seasonal fruits ranging from peaches to redcurrants and strawberries. • Get out and enjoy the first sunny days of the new year and progress the annual winter clean up and cutback early to create a neat garden and give plants plenty of time to bud up for spring and summer.
Gardening Corner
By Clodagh and Dick Handscombe
• If you don’t have Spain’s best known gardening room for a veggie plot authors who have lived and gardened in Spain for 25 years. take on an allotment. www.gardeninginspain.com • Encourage the next generations to take an interest in nature and and flower festivals many gardens beyond growing youngsters are experts at cannabis. From what we that and the skills are there have heard when running to grow healthier crops. question and answer stands Whatever your new year at village plans for the garden enjoy fairs them to the full this year. (c) Clodagh and Dick Handscombe www.gardenspain.com January 2013
Plan a colourful garden for 2013.
34 EWN
PROPERTY
3 - 9 January 2013 Mallorca
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The secret to buying re-saleable property THE key to buying easily re-saleable property lies in making sure that a property has as few obstacles as possible for potential future buyers. By obstacles, I mean serious things that would put people off buying and that, unlike the colour of the walls or type of furnishings, cannot be changed. Let me illustrate what I mean, by taking an example of, say: a villa. Imagine our villa is on a popular, high density foreigner-owned estate, situated on a hillside with lovely views of the sea. The pool is at the bottom of the property and the villa has been cut into the hillside. It has two bedrooms, dedicated parking at roadside level and some 10 or so steps down to the villa entrance. It is reasonably new and in good condition with the nearest village a five-10 minute drive away along a well-made road that snakes down to the bottom of the estate. The villa is being sold for a price within your budget and is, in fact, a reasonably common type of villa found in many areas along the coastline of Spain. So, what are obvious obstacles to a future buyer? Well, firstly, many steps up or down to the entrance of a villa are a minus and are likely to put off anyone old or infirm or someone with very young children or grandchildren. Secondly, a two-bedroom villa will rarely be sufficient for
RE-SALEABILITY: Choose a property that will attract the widest range of future potential buyers.
Nick Snelling Web master www.culturespain.com and author of 5 books including: ‘How to Buy Spanish Property and Move to Spain – Safely’ and ‘The Laptop Entrepreneur’
anyone considering buying the villa for full-time life in Spain, whether a Spaniard or international buyer. Thirdly, because the villa is on a high density foreigner-owned estate (quite far from a village) any prospective buyers are likely to be only foreigners not Spanish. Fourth, the snake-like road will put off some drivers, particularly older drivers unused to continental driving. What does this mean? It means the potential number of buyers for this villa is probably quite small. Indeed, you may be left looking for a buyer who is from outside of Spain and who is reasonably fit, has no small children (or grandchildren), who is a confident driver (as well as their partner) and who wants the villa only for holiday use. Clearly, that
would not be
easy! By comparison imagine, for example, buying an almost identical villa that lacks steps to the entrance. All of a sudden, the villa will be suitable for many older people, those who have some infirmity and anyone with young children. The obstacles to finding buyers who are not nervous drivers and who are Spanish have not been removed but at least you will have the chance of selling to a much wider range of buyers than before.
My point, of course, is that buying a property should always be about resaleability and that, for a wise buyer, is about assessing a property carefully (and objectively) to ensure the maximum number of future buyers will find it desirable. Of course, it is important that a property looks lovely but that is often very subjective and not the most important element. Buyers will almost certainly tend to choose safety and ease of life over everything else…
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LEARN TO DRIVE IN MALLORCA. Scottish Driving Instructor now qualified to teach in Mallorca. Classes in English or Spanish. Obtain your Spanish licence easier or have refresher lessons and get behind that wheel. Interested! Call 648 133 929 (202628)
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Property for Rent LLUCMAJOR: Small chalet with 2 bedrooms, shower room, lounge with fireplace and kitchenette. No electricity, water by tanker delivery, living area about 45m2. Plot 1,500m2. €370 / month. Inmobiliaria Llucmajor. Tel 971 662 402 (200576)
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LLUCMAJOR: 2 bedroom apartment of 65m2, 1 bathroom, lounge with American kitchen, community pool. €475 pm Inmobiliaria Llucmajor. Tel 971 662 402 (200576) TOLLERIC: Furnished apartment of 50m2 plus 8m2 terrace. 1 bedroom, bathroom, lounge with American kitchen. €550 pm Ref 2807A. Inmobiliaria Llucmajor. Tel 971 662 402 (200576)
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Safety equipment gaps found between EU markets THE bar of safety in Spanish cars has been raised during the last five years. However, there is still a notable gap between the
safety equipment of higher and lower segments. In this sense, Germany has been identified as the most advanced country in
Europe in terms of car protection systems. These are some of the main findings in a report by the Fundacion Mapfre’s
Instituto de Seguridad Vial, a traffic safety research institute dependent on insurance company Mapfre. The report
MANCHESTER United manager Sir Alex Ferguson took possession of an extended range electric vehicle, the Chevrolet Volt. Sir Bobby Charlton was given a Captiva. It was part of the club’s partnership agreement with the global car manufacturer. The Volt can travel up to 80 kilometres gas and emission free – and virtually silent – before
SOURCE: © GM COMPANY
Christmas comes early for Sir Alex Ferguson
RED DEVILS: Sir Alex Ferguson (left) and Sir Bobby Charlton with their new cars, the Chevrolet Volt and Chevrolet Captiva respectively. the on-board generator kicks in to add a further 500 kilometres of extended range. “I think the Volt is
absolutely phenomenal. A friend of mine drove one in the States and kept going on and on about it, so when I had the
€306 million investment in Sunderland production plan INFINITI, the car brand of Nissan Motor, confirmed it will manufacture vehicles in Europe from Nissan’s production base in Sunderland, UK. The announcement represents a substantial investment of around £250 million (€306 million) and is expected to create a further 1,000 jobs at Sunderland and across the country. “This milestone, our first premium product to be manufactured at Sunderland, reconfirms our commitment to UK manufacturing and the ongoing success of the plant, which is moving up the value chain,” Colin Dodge, Nissan Motor Executive Vice President, stated. “Just as important, the new Infiniti, is being developed with help from our
MILESTONE: A world first. London design centre and our European Technical Centre at Cranfield,” he added. Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “Sunderland will be the only place in the world to make this new compact.”
opportunity I said ‘yeah I’m going to try it because it’s the car of the future, really.’ “I’m very pleased with it,” Sir Alex said. The Chevrolet Volt is available in Europe’s largest automobile markets at a base price of €38,425. It won the prestigious European Car of the Year 2012, amongst others. Chevrolet will become the club’s shirt sponsor beginning with the 2014/2015 season.
analyses how vehicle safety systems have evolved between 2006 and 2011. “Car producers have made great efforts to enhance safety in the last few years to introduce as many technological innovations as possible with lower costs,” the report states. However, it also reminds buyers they should request more information about safety before buying a vehicle. The report compares three best-seller car models (Renault Clio, Volkswagen Golf, Ford Mondeo) in three different segments. It tries to prove the differences in serial safety equipment of a same car model depending on the EU market. In general terms, the conclusion is that whether in Spain, France, Germany or Britain, cars have similar features. However, significant differences have been found in equipment for lower car segments, such as the Electronic
Stabilisation Programme (ESP), Traction Control System (TCS) and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD). These features are more common in Germany than in the other three countries. For example, in a same low-segment model, the EBD is scarcely found in Spain, France and Britain, while it is present 80 per cent of the times in German models, the report found. Another finding is that lower-segment cars - which are the best-seller models have a significant safety gap compared to higher segment models. The Isofix international standard for attachment points for child safety seats in passenger cars, for instance, is more rarely found the smaller the car is. In A-segment cars - the smallest of all - Isofix can be found in 60 per cent of them. ESP and TCS do not reach 20 per cent of the cases.
SPORT
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FA Cup shocks on the way as big names enter draw T
HIS weekend 32 teams will be participating in the third round of the FA Cup and, as always, there will be a handful of surprises as many top-line clubs play banana-skin ties against inferior opponents. There are four all-Premiership encounters. Seven-time winners and holders Chelsea visit Southampton, Manchester United travel to West Ham, there’s a repeat of the Boxing Day
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.
clash between QPR and WBA at Loftus Road while Swansea play Arsenal at The Emirates. Potential giant-killing acts could be performed by Brighton (at home to Newcastle), Bournemouth (v Wigan), Crawley Town (v Reading), possibly Burton Albion at Leicester and Luton at home to Wolves. And with Aston Villa conceding goals left, right and centre, they will certainly be tested by Ipswich. Sunderland won’t find it easy at Bolton, neither will Norwich at Peterborough nor Stoke at Crystal Palace, and I must wish Hastings United, the lowest-ranked
team left in the tournament, good luck at Middlesbrough. Elsewhere, Everton (v Cheltenham), Liverpool (v Mansfield), Manchester City (v Watford), Fulham (v Blackpool) and Tottenham (v Coventry) should all go through, but you never know; anything can happen in the third round of the Cup and invariably it does! FA CUP: Upsets could happen in the third round ties.
Festive action
* Manchester United delivered another ‘Fergie Time’ Boxing Day knockout to beat Newcastle 4-3. It was the ‘12 goals of Christmas’ for Aston Villa who lost 8-0 at Chelsea and 4-0 at home to Tottenham in the space of five days (Gareth Bale scored a hat-trick for Spurs). A goal by ex-Manchester City star Adam Johnson gave Sunderland a late Christmas present-win over Roberto Mancini’s men and WBA have now attained their best halfseason points tally since 1982. * The big game in the Championship over the festive season saw leaders Cardiff beat Crystal Palace 2-1. Second-placed Hull drew 0-0 with Leicester (5th) and after losing 1-0 at second-placed Middlesbrough, Blackburn sacked their manager Henning Berg. * Sean O’Driscoll was also dismissed as manager of Nottingham Forest just two hours after the Reds had whipped Leeds 4-2. It’s a precarious job, managing a football team, unless your name is Ferguson, Wenger or Moyes! * Also last week, lowly Peterborough stunned Wolves 3-0 at Molineux in the Championship while League Two strugglers Barnet caused an upset by winning 1-0 at table-toppers Gillingham.
* Former World Cup referee Graham Poll has effectively told PL managers to ‘learn the rules’ of the game and to stop blaming match officials! This followed the remarks made by ranting and raving Sir Alex Ferguson after Newcastle were awarded a ‘fair’ own-goal at Old Trafford on Boxing Day. I know he’s 71 but that’s no excuse. He’s been in football since he was 16 and should know the rules by now. * Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara has become the 11th batsman in cricket history to score 11,000 Test runs, reaching the milestone against Australia on Boxing Day. And in the same match, Australia’s captain Michael Clarke became his country’s highest run-maker in a calendar year, scoring 1,545 in 2012, to beat Ricky Ponting’s 2005 tally of 1,544. And staying with cricket, Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar has retired from limited over matches. * Scot Colin Montgomery has emerged as favourite to captain Europe’s 2014 Ryder Cup team in his home country. * Rafael Nadal, who hasn’t played a serious game of tennis since Wimbledon last June, had hoped to take part in a tournament in Abu Dhabi last week but withdrew due to a stomach bug. However, he hasn’t ruled out playing in the Australian Open later this month.
Did you know? Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero is married to the daughter of Diego Maradona. And Aguero’s striker-partner at The Etihad Stadium, Mario Balotelli, once had a trial with Barcelona
SHAKY COMEBACK: Rafael Nadal had to withdraw from Abu Dhabi tournament due to a stomach bug.