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ISSUE NO. 1485
EWN FRONT EXTRA
Class acts in Adra TWO schools in Adra are to receive improvements with the Education Department spending more than €225,000, benefiting a total of 574 pupils.
New tourist office PLANS for a new tourist office and redevelopment of the surrounding area have been announced by the town hall of Roquetas de Mar. The project will cost an estimated €354,000.
Walk challenge A TOTAL of 59 walkers and three guides took part in the 33-kilometre Filabres Challenge, passing through Cantoria, Lijar and Albanchez.
Long stroll A NEW 21-kilometre walking route, El Cerecillo, has opened in Laujar.
Charity’s AGM THE San Animal Santuario will be holding its AGM at the Acuario Restaurant, San Juan de los Terreros, on January 2, at 7.30pm for 8pm. www.sananimal.org
19 - 25 DECEMBER 2013
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READERS AND ADVERTISERS A MERRY XMAS
Food for poor stolen from church charity By Stephen Lear HEARTLESS thieves have taken the food from the mouths of the poor this Christmas. They targeted the Church of Santa Maria de Belen in the La Chanca neighbourhood of Almeria, and stole more than five tonnes of food collected by Catholic charity Caritas to bring some Christmas cheer to the poor. When members of the charity arrived at the church they discovered that thieves had stolen the food which they had been collecting for months to distribute among needy families in the area ahead of Christmas. According to accounts from the church, the thieves jumped off the roof into the yard. There they managed to force a window, get into the centre and take anything
Under Attack: Rural Chapels and Churches. they wanted. open and alerted members of It was not until nine in the Caritas. “We are very sad. They evening that some local residents stole the food Turn to Page 17 realised that the back door was
Plans for green route on track PLANS for a ‘Green Route’ along the old Guadix-Almendricos rail tracks in Huercal-Overa have been given the go-ahead. A contract to create the route for cycling and walking in the area where the train tracks, closed in September 1984, used to be, was signed by the
Assets and Urban Development Manager for the South of railway administrators, Adif, Fernando Gomez, and the mayor, Domingo Fernandez. Adif will now lease to the town an area of 292,597 square metres, which does not include existing buildings and parts of the old track
which are on urban land. The land cannot be built upon and must be used only for the purpose of the route. The town hall will now invest funds into turning the area into a route which can be used by nature lovers for hiking, cycling and riding.
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THIS WEEK IN
EWN News 1 - 20
Finance 21 - 26
Letters 27 FIRST EDITION: More than 1,000 people visited.
Christmas fair a Fines success... THE first edition of the Christmas fair ‘Almeria tiene Norte’ took place in Fines. The event for the whole family proved to be a great success with more than 1,000 visitors each day. The market highlighted the work and products of more than 40 companies from the Almanzora Valley. The official opening was attended by Javier Aureliano Garcia, the Vice President of the Provincial Government; President of the
Mancomunidad of Almanzora, Antonio Salas and the mayor of Fines, Rodrigo Sanchez. The three administrations have worked to make this first edition a reality with the aim of promoting and showcasing businesses, products and tourism in the North of Almeria. There were plenty of deals to be had ahead of Christmas and numerous tastings from stalls offering wine, cheeses and hams and speciality meats from the region.
Daily TV 28 - 29
Leapy Lee 33
Time out 39 - 42
Classifieds 62 - 64
Sport 71 - 72
NEWS Police tribute LOCAL POLICE in Adra paid tribute to fellow officer Miguel Galdeano Sanchez who is retiring after 34 years service. Airport increase ALMERIA airport closed November with 32,524 passengers an increase of 9.5 per cent on the same month of 2012.
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19 - 25 December 2013 / Costa de Almería
A trip down Memory Lane AROUND 100 people from different parts of Spain attended a guided tour of historic homes in Berja. The tour was organised by the Centre for Historical Studies, in collaboration with the Department of Tourism of Berja Town Hall. The director of the Centre,
Antonio Campos was in charge of guiding the tourists , starting with the town hall of Berja. There he talked about the geographical and historical situation of the town and highlighted a date, August 25, 1804 when there was an earthquake in the Alpujarra region and especially in Berja, which almost entirely destroyed the town.
From this date forward the current town planning of the locality is known, beginning with the building of stately homes, supported by the economic prosperity which came from the mines of Sierra Gador . After the town hall of Berja, the group visited six of the 60 mansions in the municipality.
Mini disco MOJACAR Multiple use centre is holding a Christmas Mini disco today (Thursday) with games, workshops etc. Free entry starting at 6pm. Toy campaign ALBOX Town Hall has launched a campaign to collect Christmas toys for Children. Donations can be left at the collection point in the town hall between 9am and 3pm until January 2. Say it with flowers ALMERIA City Hall continued the tradition of giving away 2,000 of the Christmas plants 'Pascueros'. Hundreds of people turned up in the city centre with the plants being snapped up within half an hour. In the swim ALMERIA swimmer Carlos Tejada has won four gold medals at the 18th Paralympics Swimming Open held in Cadiz. On the beat LOCAL POLICE in Cuevas del Almanzora are to increase their presence on the streets during the festive period up until January 6. Legion test THE Brigade of the Spanish Legion has presented the 101 kilometre test which takes place in Ronda with the participation of members from the Viator base.
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DIFFERING TRADITIONS: Far left, El Tio de Nadal. Left, sweet treats.
A Spanish Christmas No gifts, but plenty of food...
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lamb, bream, seafood and LTHOUGH nowadays traditional Spanish Christmas many customs have sweets and cakes, accompanied changed to fit in with by cava or cider, depending on other parts of the the region. world, in Spain the tradition is to It is traditional to have a celebrate Christmas Eve rather nativity scene in the home, a than Christmas Day. custom which was introduced by As well as celebrating the birth Saint Francis of Assisi in the of Christ, Christmas Eve has 13th century, when he put a always been an occasion to manger scene in a cave to gather with the family and celebrate mass on Christmas have a special meal. Eve. It was brought to Spain This originates from the times in the 18th century by King when in the run-up to Christmas, Charles III. many Catholics fasted, and Although very rare nowadays, following Midnight Mass on it was customary for children to Christmas Eve, finally broke their ANCIENT CUSTOM: Putting a go from door to door, singing fast. However, other experts nativity scene in the home. and playing instruments in suggest that it dates back to exchange for money and Saturnalia, an ancient Roman sweets. festival in honour of the deity Saturn, held on In Spain, gifts are usually given on January 6, but in December 17, and later extended until December 23. The holiday was celebrated with a sacrifice at the Cataluña, the Tio de Nadal - a large log - is put in the Temple of Saturn in the Roman Forum and a public house and ‘fed’ from December 8 onwards, and on Christmas Eve, children are allowed to beat the log, banquet, followed by private gift-giving and partying. In Spain, on Christmas Eve, favourite dishes include which then ‘poops’ gifts and sweets.
Quote of the Week Princess Cristina was a shield against the Tax Office’
Carlos Masia, the notary who signed the creation of Aizoon, the company set up by the Duke and Duchess of Palma, who said in court that he told them not to use her name.
Number of the week
28,500
people are living on the streets in Spain, where there are 3.5 million houses standing empty, and every week, at least one homeless person dies. There are only 16,000 places available in shelters throughout Spain.
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It’s a bullseye for Benahadux BENAHADUX has been chosen as one of the 22 venues to host the European Archery Championships next year on March 15 and 16.
Christmas musical A CHILDREN'S musical, La Navidad de Papa Noel, takes place on Monday, December 23 at the Mojacar Multiple use centre at 6pm with free entry.
Skate away ALMERIA CITY has opened its ice rink located in the Mirador of the Rambla. It will be open until January 7 and includes a separate children’s rink.
Record deal ALMERIA rock band Cables Cruzados have signed a record contract with prestigious Madrid record label Avispa.
Christmas eve MOJACAR’S Misa del Gallo takes place on Christmas Eve in the Iglesia Parroquial at 11.30 pm.
Queen of hearts THE Almeria Museum currently has on display paintings by award winning artist Almeriane until January 31 2014.The exhibition is named after one of the paintings ‘La Reina de Corazones’.
And finally... How many EWN logos the same as this one can you find in this week’s paper? Visit www.euroweeklynews.com to enter your answer, for a chance to win €100! All correct answers will also go into a Christmas draw for a gift voucher to spend in local businesses.
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Garrucha counts the cost of 200 waste paper bins THE town hall of Garrucha will have to pay a total of €158,000 plus interest for 200 waste paper bins supplied at a cost of €900 each. This was the ruling by the Administrative Court No. 1 of Almeria after upholding the appeal filed by the company Metalworks Costas. The case goes back to the era of the socialist government in the town with a purchase, authorised in 2006 by the then mayor
Nicholas Piñero. The Town Hall records do not show any contract or any document to prove that the
administrative process was conducted according to the law. The present government team has
so far refused to make any payment because of these reasons, also given the fact that there was no accounted
‘Fridge’ to tell couple’s story FROM superproductions to more modest films, Almeria province continues to make movies. Almeria-born Pepe Botias has made a short film entitled 'Fridge' starring Alejo Sauras (who was in Spanish soap ‘Los Serrano’) and Alba Garcia (who was in Spanish film ‘Verbo’.) Filming took place over three days in a warehouse on the industrial estate of Almeria City and also included some exterior shots. The set recreated a kitchen and the film tells the story of a couple from the point of view of their refrigerator which witnesses the deterioration of their relationship. Maria Vazquez, Head of Culture, visited the set on the first morning of filming. The short has a grant of €4,000 from the Call for Aid to Audiovisual Production (CAPA). The total budget for 'Fridge' was €14,500.
ALMERIA CITY: Location for new film.
budget and the high cost of the bins which are stainless steel and engraved with 'Town Hall of Garrucha 2006', bins which may be acquired for €120 each elsewhere. These deficiencies according to the court statement are reason to demand accountability where it belongs, but not to refuse to pay the contract price. The contract has been effectively fulfilled by the contractor, installing the 200 bins which are 'doing their job'. The mayor of Garrucha, Juan Francisco Fernandez, has stated that the town hall will not appeal the ruling, but has criticised the "gross irresponsibility" committed by the previous government, which will have consequences on the budget balance of the municipal coffers. "It was not only irregular but an absurd purchase, because these bins can be purchased for €120, including VAT," he said.
NEWS NEWS EXTRA
Badminton champ JOAQUIN REINA from Almeria took part in the sub-15 masters Badminton tournament in Guadalajara, and came away as champion in the doubles and third in the singles.
Christmas Mass CHRISTMAS Mass in Mojacar will take place on Christmas Day at 11.30am in the local Parish Church with songs from the Escalamo Choir.
Monthly prize UD ALMERIA manager Francisco Javier Rodriguez collected the manager of the month prize for November following three successive victories in the Primera Liga.
Vera music THE Convento de La Victoria in Vera is hosting music from the Rondalla group of musicians 'Sol y Luna' tomorrow (Friday) at 8.30pm.
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Movie sets used as attraction THE shooting of the blockbuster film Exodus, the new film by Sir Ridley Scott, in Almeria, has been used as a tourist attraction in the German market within the film series Spain: a country of film. The sets and outdoor cinema landmarks from
films such as Doctor Zhivago and A Fistful of dollars have also been exhibited during the event in Germany. The Spanish Tourist Office in Frankfurt offered the audiences tourist information about the corresponding locations in Almeria.
Cosentino Group open new training centres THE Cosentino Group based in Cantoria has opened a total of 19 training centres all within a week. The classrooms, dedicated to their new product Dekton, have opened in each of the Cosentino Centres located in Spain and Portugal. This initiative has been carried out by the kitchen and bathroom shops owned by
Elite. The loyalty programme that the Cosentino Group possesses recognises the effort and dedication that these outlets make to promote their products. During three days, staff from more than 800 Elite stores of the Cosentino Group in the Iberian market received comprehensive training focused exclusively on Dekton, the new product
from the Almeria multinational created for the world of architecture and design. Participating stores have been able to learn about the new material, its properties and characteristics, the attractive range of colours, dimensions and thicknesses, various tips on housekeeping, the different marketing tools, the
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Oria parade ORIA will be holding their 23rd Meeting of Cuadrillas group of musicians on Sunday with a parade through the streets of the town at 11am.
New quarters THE mayor of El Ejido visited the new headquarters of the Red Cross in the town. Last year the Red Cross in El Ejido attended to more than 6000 people through their different programmes.
Deco class YOUNGSTERS from Pulpi attended a workshop to learn how to decorate their homes and streets using used materials.
SEIZED: Gaurdia Civil drugs bust.
Drugs seized in Huercal-Overa THE Guardia Civil has dismantled a drug sales point in Huercal-Overa and have arrested a 36-year-old man in an operation that has resulted in the seizure of 160 grammes of marihuana. The investigation began in November when agents became aware of an address from where the inhabitants could be supplying marihuana. Following surveillance, agents observed a resident in the house, who on leaving took great care in order to avoid being seen. With the information obtained, the Guardia conducted a search of his home, where officers located 160 grammes of marihuana, 15 bags for packaging, a precision scale and seven marihuana cutters.
remarkable possibilities of application of the material and the 10 year warranty. All Elite outlets, for being part of this loyalty programme, possess a number of advantages, among which is having exclusive new products on display during the first months of its commercial launch. Dekton is exclusive to the Elite stores until next April 2014.
The office has been promoting the scenery and Spanish cities, the environment and its people during the cycle of movies that were offered at the Cervantes Institute in Frankfurt during the months of November and December.
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NEWS EXTRA
Christmas Music MOJACAR Municipal Band will perform a Christmas Concert at the local Parish Church on Saturday at 7.30pm. Free entry.
Help needed THE Mayor of Olula del Rio, Antonio Martinez ,has visted the Ministry of Culture to ask for support for a future Museum of Culture.
Festive plant HUERCAL-ALMERIA town hall has planted 1700 poinsettias in gardens, parks and public spaces.
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Britain has acquired a taste for Almeria wines BETWEEN January and September, Almeria Province exported almost 270,000 litres.of wine. This is an increase of 38 per cent on the same period last year with this volume of sales reaching €641,000, a further increase of 35
per cent, according to data prepared by the Delegation of Agriculture, Fisheries and Environment with figures from Icex. The biggest buyer of the wines of Almeria is Britain, which in the first nine months of the year purchased products valued at €200,000.
TEMPERATURES have dropped in the province, and while most people can take out an extra blanket there are those who
really suffer with the arrival of the cold weather. While Almeria is warmer than other cities, between December and
A CROWD of 9,128 spectators watched the goalless draw between UD Almeria and Espanyol on Sunday.
Barrio boost
Almeria art THOUSANDS of people in Almeria City enjoyed an Andalucian Market 'Almeria with Art and taste' in the Plaza Vieja at the weekend.
Second was Japan, with Andorra third, followed by the US, China, Equatorial Guinea and Hong Kong. Most of the production of wine grapes were red with about 1,680 tonnes, with the harvest of white wine grapes around 900 tonnes.
Helping hand for the homeless in Almeria
Bore draw
ALMERIA City Hall has spent more than €21,000 on improvements in the Barrio Alto area of the city following requests from residents.
NEWS
TEMPORARY MOVE: La Mujer de Coslada.
Museum moves model for the Winter THE model of 'La Mujer de Coslada' that Antonio Lopez donated to the Museo Casa Ibañez in Olula del Rio in the spring has been moved for the winter. The giant model has been transferred to the Headquarters of Cosentino in Cantoria where it has been put in storage to protect it from the worst of the winter weather. The model will be returned to the museum in the spring.
February alarm bells ring for the homeless seeking shelter. Despite not having a plan in Almeria, the City Council reinforces its efforts at the Municipal Welcome Centre which often is overwhelmed. Councillor of Social Affairs, Aranzazu Martin explained: "We are allowing as many people as possible to sleep in the centre, even allowing them in when there are no beds to sleep in a chair with blankets." There are eight volunteers who work three nights a week from the Red Cross Mobile Units
helping those who sleep rough. The Red Cross explained each night members go out and serve an average of 80 people, of which 66 are men and 14 are women, the most striking fact is that four of them are minors. In terms of nationalities it is half and half between Spanish and foreigners . From the Emergency Units the homeless are offered blankets, hygiene kits, food, coffee, milk, chicken broth and water. If they are lacking clothes they provide them with sleeping bags.
Town Hall debt free for the first time in 30 years A MEETING held in Tijola Town Hall addressed paying off of a loan for €1million. The debt was taken on in 2008 by the previous socialist corporation. According to the mayor, Mario Padilla Maldonado: "This debt was costing townspeople €250 per person annually. This year,
the surplus cash from the last two financial years has allowed us to pay off the debt. "Taxpayers today owe nothing, since the debt has been reduced to €0, a circumstance that has not happened for over 30 years." The decision was voted against by the Socialist Party, a fact that didn't escape the attention of the mayor" as it was they who generated the debt and now oppose its cancellation." The mayor commented: "Our government team, in just two years in office, has managed to pay the remaining €800,000 that we inherited," saving €102,000 a year in interest on a loan that was due to expire in 2018.
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WATCH OUT: There’s a Dinosaur about in Roquetas.
Roquetas de Mar Theatre celebrates THE Roquetas de Mar Auditorium Theatre celebrates its 10th Anniversary on January 10. To commemorate the day, the theatre is opening the doors to the public allowing people to go behind the scenes with a prebooked guided tour available at 11am and 6pm. The theatre has announced its winter programme and the New Year gets off to a great start with a New Year's Day
concert from the Philharmonic Orchestra directed by Pascual Osa. One of the most anticipated concerts is that of Spanish group of the moment Auryn with few tickets remaining for their concert on Saturday, January 18. Tickets for all the shows and concerts went on sale via the internet yesterday (Wednesday) and are also available at the theatre. For more information visit www.teatroauditorioroquetas.org.
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NEWS EXTRA
Christmas concert THE youth music band, Guitar Group and the dance school of Martina and Nicky will be performing at the Mojacar Multiple use centre tomorrow (Friday) at 8pm. Free entry.
Busy weekend THE 112 Emergency services attended to 346 incidents over the long holiday week.
Works now completed WORKS in the Avenida de El Puerto one of the principal areas in Roquetas de Mar have now been completed.
Party with a difference for health workers WORKERS from the Health Centre of Cuevas del Almanzora decided this year to celebrate their Christmas Party in a different way. Making use of the town’s resources and installations, the workers and their families spent a fun day together. After a visit to the Argaric site in Fuente Alamo the group made use of the outdoor tent and corral of the Haro family. Nurses, doctors, admin staff, wardens and their families enjoyed a good plate of paella followed by desserts, chupitos (shots) and a dance, sharing a day with companions with whom they spend many hours working together. The bravest amongst them then enjoyed themselves in the mini bull ring, daring to take on the young bulls with a cape in hand. Amongst jokes, laughter and
Last orders at the old Fondon Cemetery THE old Cemetery in Fondon is due to close its gates on January 31 with 90 per cent of ’inhabitants’ moved to their new resting places. The mayor of Fondon Francisco Alvarez has made a final call to families for the remaining 10 per cent before the remains are placed in a common grave. The mayor commented,”the last few remains are from people who either have no family or family who no longer live in town, so we are trying to reach those who do not have family will be buried in a common grave. We have done much work with a lot of patience with people and family, because this is a very
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sensitive procedure”. The mayor added “It has been a long process, which has not been done overnight to avoid hurting feelings in such a sensitive topic. Fondon town hall has taken several years of proceedings to close the old cemetery, which remained small and obsolete more than 10 years ago. A columbarium for people to take out the remains of their relatives from the old to the new was fitted. When the process is complete, the intention of the City of Fondón is that the old cemetery becomes a public space and a recreational area for the residents of our town.
MAN VS BEAST: Fun day out for health workers. much cheering from the bar, the spectators enjoyed the sight of fellow workers jumping into the ring.
There was no lack of good humour as the workers left their day to day problems behind them with a poster announcing
the brave bullfighters, El Whatsapp, George El Cluny and the Gaucho of Albox amongst others.
‘Death walkway’ set to open for visitors in 2015 RESTORATION work on Malaga’s notorious ‘Caminito del Rey’, known as the ‘death walkway’, is due to be completed by 2015. The President of Malaga Provincial Government, Elias Bendodo, has said that it will open for use within two years, when people will be able to walk across it as King Alfonso XIII did in 1921 when he inaugurated it. He said it should cease to be a dangerous and banned place to become
CAMINITO DEL REY: Set to be a place for all to enjoy. somewhere that everyone can enjoy.
The Caminito del Rey passes across the Gaitanes Gorge between Alora, Ardales and Antequera. It is 100 metres above the river and will be four kilometres long. The new walkway will cost €3.12 million and will Almeria performing two be made of wooden panels. The Caminito del Rey has concerts at the Roquetas de Mar become known throughout Auditorium. On the stage the world for its extreme alongside the band were 150 danger, and although it has youngsters directed by Juan been closed to the public Rafael Muñoz who interacted for years, many climbers with the boys and girls in the continue to risk their lives audience, singing popular songs as well as Christmas songs. to traverse it.
Solidarity through music in Roquetas de Mar COLLEGES from Roquetas de Mar have donated €3,500 to the ONG organisation's campaign ‘Lets help a Child.’ Around 1,800 school children contributed to the cause with collections in their classrooms, with The Music Band and the Chorus of the University of
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NEWS
Two men arrested for extortion racket THE National Police have arrested two men aged 42 and 43 in Almeria City. They are suspected of an alleged crime of extortion against an Almeria businessman after trying to claim up to €72,000 after initially agreeing a loan of €12,000 with €5,000 interest. According to a police statement, one of the men arrested paid €12,000 to the victim with the agreement that after a few months he would have to repay the amount borrowed plus €5,000.
Extortion and threats began after the agreement was broken by the lender, leading to demands of payment of a much higher amount. The incident occurred in early July when the businessman accepted the loan from the two men but within a few days of taking the money, the two men contacted him demanding the return of double the amount of money agreed. The businessman met with both men in the home of one of the detainees with the intention of
reaching an agreement but without success. He was then held against his will, beaten and threatened, according to the police investigation. From that moment on, the two men began threatening their victim and his entire family, increasing the amount of money they had to pay back to them, reaching up to €72,000 and even demanding they hand over their home to pay off the debt. After several months of research and as a result of the investigation, agents were able to identify the perpetrators although they were not present in the city. They were finally located and arrested on December 10. The research was conducted by agents of the Judicial Police of the Province of Almeria. The two men have been handed over to the courts and are awaiting trial.
PARKED UP: Classic cars in the Plaza Mayor.
Classic car club visits HuercalOvera MEMBERS from the Baria Classic Car Club visited Huercal - Overa on Sunday. A total of 35 cars arrived in the town where the tour started with a visit to the Castle. The entourage then drove through the streets of the town before parking in the Plaza Mayor, much to the delight of the citizens who were able to see the classic vehicles close up. This was not the only visit on Sunday afternoon as a group of 90 people from Elche also visited the town. Head of Culture , Monica Navarro,said “we have been receiving busloads of visitors from different towns and they have all left happy.”
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Two arrested for trafficking Algerians
Belen opened in Patio de Luces THE President of the Government of Almeria, Gabriel Amat, and the Vicar General of Almeria have opened the Belen Nativity scene in the Patio de Luces in Almeria City. The authorities have made a tour of the facilities after several additions and developments have increased the area to about 80 square metres this year. The Belen has about 300 figures including 50 moving figures depicting carpenters, potters and forgers. It will remain open until January 5.
EWN
ACTION WANTED: Affected home owners at a recent demonstration.
Demolitions continue to make headlines THE recent demolition of two of the four houses in Las Terreras, Cantoria, continues to have repercussions in the world’s media. This week Spanish magazine Interviu has published an article entitled ‘El infierno estaba en el paraíso’ (Hell was in paradise) and
a story has appeared on the BBC news. The BBC cameras were in the area filming and visited the town hall of Cantoria where a reporter managed to catch up with the exmayor Pedro Llamas, suspended from office for supplying licences for electricity and water to the four
properties in question. Upon questioning Llamas about the demolished properties the exmayor denied having any knowledge of the building work until the police paid him a visit. When asked if he was sorry for what had happened he replied “totalmente” (totally sorry).
THE Supreme Court has sentenced two people to 14 years imprisonment for a crime against the rights of foreign nationals. The two men acted as the owners of a boat in which 29 people of Algerian origin travelled from the coast of Algeria to Spain in order to illegally enter Europe. On May 17 last year at around 10.20pm a patrol of the maritime rescue service located in waters at Punta Entinas in El Ejido a rubber dinghy with about 30 people on board. The dinghy, which lacked any safety measures, was skippered, according to witnesses by the defendants, who took turns in the management of the compass and control of the dinghy giving orders to the occupants of the boat. According to the facts revealed in the courtroom, the convicted colluded with unidentified people who were responsible for organising the trip from Algeria charging the occupants €600 for illegally transferring them to the Iberian peninsula.
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Ray of hope as answers expected for storm hit farmers in El Ejido A RAY of light for the farmers of El Ejido. The head of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development for the Government of Andalucia, Elena Viboras, said she expected
“this week” she may be able to "give an answer" to farmers in El Ejido, whose greenhouses were damaged by the rain and hail almost a month ago.
After being questioned by journalists on the committed aid for those affected, she announced she will travel to Almeria this week for talks and
put in order the problems on which they are working. In this regard, Viboras added that “there is an attempt to respond quickly” to farmers
Big time beckons for Huercal-Overa TWO youngsters from Huercal-Overa football club, Adrian Ponce Carrillo Fuentes and Ruben Martinez, have been signed by top flight UD Almeria. An agreement has been reached through which the two players will be transferred to Atletico Cañada and will take part in the weekly training of UD Almeria. They will also play in various tournaments and they will start preseason next year with the junior team of UD Almeria. These signings are a result of the
agreement signed between the town hallof HuercalOvera and UDAlmeria for the promotion of junior football. Councillor for Sports, Alonso Mena, explained that “an agreement has been made between the two clubs, this year they will play in La SIGNED UP: Youngsters set to join UD Almeria. Cañada and next season they will play with UD Almeria. They want with the outcome of the negotiations and them in the ranks to start the adaptation reminded the Premier League club “that they continue to be vigilent of the process.” The sports department are “satisfied” development of our kids.”
who had their greenhouses destroyed in an area of approximately 80 hectares. Viboras added: “It has not been easy because there are many regulations that prevent the approval of this claim for help, but we are on the way. We believe that this week we can give an answer and hope we can get what they want, but at the same time I would like to reflect about the need for farmers to ensure they have adequate insurance,” she said. In this regard, she added that all farmers, not just in Almeria, should “think very seriously about insuring” crops as “fundamental and key due to uncontrollable events, such as hail and heavy rain.” She said “I sincerely believe that, regardless of aid provided by the Junta de Andalucia, the farmers need to protect their seasonal harvests.”
MOJACAR: Scene of an unsavoury incident.
Three arrested after Mojacar nightclub burglary and incident THE Guardia Civil have arrested three people accused of burglary at a club in Mojacar during the early hours of December 8 at the place where a doorman was intentionally run over. The arrests took place after the doorman lodged a complaint about the incidents to the Guardia Civil. The man, who was
discharged from hospital a few hours after the accident, also reported the theft of an undisclosed amount of money from the club. According to the complaint, after being run over by one of the clients following an argument, other people took advantage of the situation to take the keys of the premises and steal
the money from the till. With the documentation provided by the doorman and identifying the suspects, agents have managed to arrest three people. The police are still working on the identification and arrest of a fourth person, who was the perpetrator of the accident involving the 33-year-old doorman.
NEWS NEWS EXTRA
Fundraiser HUERCAL-OVERA is holding a two day market on Saturday and Sunday in the Plaza de la Constitucion celebrating ‘el Día de la Empanada’. All funds raised will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association.
Drugs bust THE Guardia Civil in Carboneras intercepted 21 bundles of hashish being unloaded from a boat in the Cala de Sorbas with an estimated street value of €1 million.
Photo exhibit THE photo exhibition 'The Melancholic Forest', has arrived in the Sala Alfareros in Almeria City, until January 10, 2014.
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19 - 25 December 2013 / Costa de Almería
Legend of cinema leaves his legacy A LEGEND of Almeria cinema history, Peter O’Toole, who portrayed Lawrence of Arabia has passed away at the age of 81 in a London Hospital. It was a legend that was born in Almeria in the sand dunes of Cabo de Gata and Carboneras during several months of filming in 1962. Just a year ago Omar Sharif expressed concern for the health of his dear friend. Speaking during his visit to the Almeria en Corto Festival to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the filming of Lawrence of Arabia, the great masterpiece of David Lean, he said: “I cry because my friend is dying.” “I was eternally grateful to the actor because I was welcomed as a pupil and he guided me until I flew solo in 'Doctor Zhivago’. Peter O'Toole stayed in Villa Maria,
TRIBUTE: Statue of Lawrence of Arabia in Carboneras. a rambling house in Almeria and often met in what is now the Casa del Cine museo along with Alec Guinness to read the paper or talk. They were famous for
their drunkenness and destruction but also their chivalry. On leaving the house, without question they paid a large sum of money as compensation.”
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Brutal attack on shop worker A MIDDLE-AGED male mental health patient assaulted a female worker in a Chinese shop located in the Almeria's district of El Zapillo. Witnesses said the attack occurred in the Avenida de Madrid and left the victim with serious injuries after she was hit in the face repeatedly. The man entered the shop with a bottle and attacked the worker with out saying a word. The woman tried to escape her attacker by running into the street to avoid the blows, but the individual chased her and pulled her to the ground, where he continued kicking and punching the victim. The violence of the encounter left neighbours shocked and only the intervention of several of them managed to stop the attack. A National Police patrol, alerted by the neighbours, arrived at the scene who identified the man and was taken to the police station along with his legal guardian where he was accused of an alleged crime of grevious bodily harm. The woman was taken to the Hospital Torrecardenas with bruises and major damage to the mouth and she suffered the loss of at least one tooth, according to medical sources.
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E W N 19 - 25 December 2013 / Costa de Almería
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NEWS
Madrid tests drones for city surveillance MADRID City Hall is testing a drone with plans to watching the city from the air. The aim is for them to be used by the emergency services, and a municipal spokesperson has said they have tested them several times, including in September, during an event organised to celebrate if Madrid was chosen to hold the 2020 Olympic Games. They explained that they wouldn’t purchase the drone, because it is a constantly evolving technology, but would hire the service and if they are happy with it, make it available 24 hours from 2015. Using the services from September to December this year has cost €6,000. For the next year, the contract has been signed with Imagenes Aereas for €18,000. There are four drones which can obtain real time images during a flight of up to 20 minutes. They would be used to analyse gases, temperature and other variables, vital for decision taking in emergencies.
ENTICEMENT: A drawer full of bait to lure victims
Police swoop on child pornography network EIGHTEEN people in 17 provinces were arrested for distributing and possessing child pornography.
Amongst them was a 62-year-old German living in Benidorm who was connected to local youth organisations. Police found DVDs and encryption programmes in his apartment, enabling him to exchange Peer to Peer (P2P) computer files without detection. One of the rooms in his apartment contained a camera and had blanked-out windows, the National Police
revealed. A drawer contained dolls, new clothes and sweets which he used to tempt victims enticed into his home. Now remanded, he will be charged with child abuse as well as distributing pornography, police said. He has already been prosecuted in Germany for abusing a former partner’s daughter from the time she was 10 until she reached 17.
Photos and a video of the girl at different ages were amongst those found in the apartment. A restraining order was issued against him in his own country, which prohibited him from contact with minors. Police were able to track down the group who exchanged material via P2P internet sites thanks to GnuWatch, an ultra-new computer programme.
19 years for decapitating daughter A MAN has been sentenced to 19 years in prison for decapitating his 18month-old daughter in Girona in November 2011. Girona Provincial Court has found him guilty of murder and although the sentence was increased because the victim was his daughter, it was also taken into consideration that he
confessed to the crime, as he rung the emergency services just minutes later. The prosecutor and the jury believe that the killer had no mental illness which could lead him to kill his daughter. He will have to pay the girl’s mother €149,663 in compensation, and a further €27,211 to the child’s sister.
The judge said his actions were “brutal, ruthless and one of the worst ways to kill his daughter”. He said in court that the devil had told him to do it. His lawyer intends to appeal as he was asking for 10 years in a psychiatric centre, considering the killer had a psychotic episode and was not responsible for his actions.
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E W N 19 - 25 December 2013 / Costa de Almería
NEWS
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NEWS
Thieves target church From Front Page that was intended for the poor and other activities we do in the parish,” explained Salvador Ayala, Director of the Caritas for La Chanca, who estimated the losses to be more than €2,500. The thieves also got away with guitars, a couple of computers and even an organ. “Those things we can replace little by little, but what hurts most is the food,” said Salvador Ayala. The branch attends to 386 families without resources in a district of humble gypsies. The people of the area are convinced that no-one from the parish is responsible. The nearby Caritas branches and locals have rallied round and are now sending food to replenish the shelves of the church. Thieves are more and more targeting rural churches with incidents in numerous towns throughout the province where criminals have taken advantage of the lack of security. As they are open most of the day to worshippers, churches are easy prey for wouldbe thieves.
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19 - 25 December 2013 / Costa de Almería
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Dames in Spain in good voice for Christmas THE Dames in Spain held their Annual Carol Concert which was well supported and saw many people joining in the singing.
Thanks go to Val Carrington for her Christmas stories and to Wendy Walldock who accompanied the singers on
the keyboard. The Grand Christmas Draw raised more than €1,000 and the main prize of a three-day
break to Benidorm plus an evening at the Benidorm Palace, was won by Diane and Alan Sinden.
Freemasons help nuns’ food drive
SLIMATHON: Urcal Fat Boys ‘n’ Birds braved public humiliation.
Urcal Fat Boys ‘n’ Birds slim down for charity
THIRTY-FOUR people from the Urcal Fat Boys ‘n’ Birds braved public humiliation for seven weeks for the annual ‘slimathon’. This entailed a public weigh-in every Friday at The Palms restaurant, Urcal. It was decided that the beneficiary of this year’s event would be the children of Vera Orphanage.
The original intention was to collect Christmas gifts and clothes for the children by way of ‘fines’ from the members unable to achieve any weight loss. However, after a visit to the orphanage, they also offered assistance to build some shoe cupboards. A couple of weeks of selling raffle tickets and monetary donations
enabled them to purchase materials to build three cupboards. The slimathon was a great success with a total weight loss of 125.9 kilos (the single best effort being 13 kilos). They collected five large sacks of children’s gifts and toys and many other bags of clothes for the children. The final weigh-in was
followed by a raffle with more than 43 prizes and a Christmas disco with music provided by DJ Steve King. Enough was raised to pay for another three cupboards. A total of €1,080 was raised from fines, donations and raffle prizes. Everything will be presented to the orphanage tomorrow (Friday).
Caring ladies’ festive fayre
IT’S good news for Euro Weekly News Head Translator Jennifer Leighfield and her partner Hakim – the couple are expecting their first child in June.
DAMES IN TURRE held their Annual Christmas Fayre in Turre Square. The sun was shining and the whole place was buzzing with stalls and Santa’s Grotto. Thanks for their generous donations for the main raffle and help on the day go to the following: Greg’s Restaurant, Chilli, Gillie’s Bar, Etticut, Enya, Styles, Home Sweet Home, Nico’s Bar, Connections, Juan the Butchers Mojacar, Alison’s Gym, Francesco’s Hair and Beauty, PC Player Mojacar, Chiropody Doreen Woolton, Turre Fundraiser for the Grotto and Music, and the general public who supported the event. The total raised was €2,952.65, which will be distributed between local charities in the New Year.
FOR the last four years the Freemason Lodges in Mojacar and Albox have been helping the nuns of the Franciscan Sisters in Vera to distribute more than 1,500 food parcels. They have presented them with foodstuffs to the value of €1,400, which are distributed at Christmas and the New Year to the poor and needy in the area. Children also help the nuns by taking bags of food to school to go with all the produce supplied by numerous organisations. The monies were presented to Vera Sur Cash and Carry for the nuns’ use when Mother Superior Loz Elena and Sor Rita, and also Mario Vazquez, the president of the food bank were present.
Record Poppy Appeal ALAN DRUMMOND, the treasurer of the Mojacar branch of the Royal British Legion, has announced that this year’s poppy appeal was a record €16,667. Rita Sneddon, Branch Chairman, thanked all the members who took the poppy boxes out to the various bars, restaurants and shops as well as the public who helped make this result so memorable. The Christmas Lunch was at Restaurant Laguna with music by one of the branch’s favourite musicians, Dave Sharpe. Meetings will recommence on January 16. Further info on 634 368 349 or http://branches. britishlegion.org.uk/branc hes/mojacar
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S CANDINAVIAN P RESS
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Stories making headlines in Europe
GERMAN PRESS Token women?
BRITISH PRESS Online library
Quality life
Starting up
NORWAY - The National Library is digitising all the books on its shelves, and putting them online. Anyone with a Norwegian IP address will be able to access the information free.
FIGURES released by the Office for National Statistics give weight to Chancellor George Osborne’s claim that his economy plan is working. The UK is now tied with Denmark and France in the living standards league table.
MORE than 500,000 new businesses have been started this year in the UK, according to new research.
Signing off SWEDEN - One of the best Swedish football players, Anders Svensson, is quitting the national team. After scoring 21 goals in 148 matches the player, aged 37, has decided that it’s time to step aside and leave room for younger players.
Selfie video DENMARK - After the massive media reaction and criticism about the popular ‘selfie’ taken by Helle Thorning, Denmark’s Prime Minister, with Barrack Obama at Nelson Mandela’s memorial in South Africa, she has posted a new ‘selfie video’ on Youtube to calm the waters.
Spice warning NORWAY - The Food Standards Authority has issued a warning to ‘heavy users’ of cinnamon to watch their intake during the Christmas and festive season. Coumarin, a substance found in cinnamon, could potentially cause liver damage when taken to excess.
School change SWEDEN - The Education Ministry has proposed barring the prestigious national boarding schools of Sweden from charging parents additional fees for their children’s education, turning them into government-funded free schools.
Schoolgirl suicide IZZY DIX, aged 14, hanged herself after years of bullying, an inquest heard. Her mother has now launched an anti-bullying campaign.
Firefighters strike FIREFIGHTERS across England and Wales have staged strikes over pension payments. Fire chiefs have warned people to take extra care during the strikes, even urging people to get a takeaway rather than cook at home when ‘under the influence’.
Baby death
Doughnut time
TWO women have been arrested after police were called to a property in West Yorkshire, after concerns were raised about a baby who later died in hospital. The investigation is in its early stages and the women have been released on bail.
DUNKIN’ DONUTS has opened its first UK store in Harrow, London. It is one of 50 planned for Greater London and another 100 around the country over the next five years.
Learn English A TOUGHER test is to be introduced for migrants looking to claim benefits. Migrants who cannot speak English well enough to get a job face being denied benefits.
SPREADING: 150 Dunkin’ Donuts stores planned for UK.
Russian military
Nuke threat
PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin has sent a warning that the country will not allow any nation to prevail over Russia in military terms. He added that ‘some’ countries are developing new kinds of weapons, but Russia knows how to counter them.
A SENIOR Russian official said Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response to a conventional military strike and sees them as a great equaliser, reducing the likelihood of aggression.
RUSSIA is ‘defending traditional family values’ against ‘genderless and infertile Western tolerance’, according to President Putin. He said he is a defender of conservative values.
Can’t go GREENPEACE activists facing trial for a protest against oil drilling in the Arctic have been barred from leaving the country despite an international court ruling.
Winter Olympics SOCHI Winter Olympics Games will have enough snow in February, said Russia’s chief weather forecaster. There were concerns about a snowless Olympics.
COMPANIES could be forced to put more women in their boardrooms. Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union has suggested 30 per cent of board seats should go to women by 2016.
Looking up GERMANY and Ireland will take centre roles in the Eurozone recovery. The two countries are likely to see a significant pick-up in growth next year, according to the Bank of America.
New record F1 CHAMPION Sebastian Vettel has another record. The helmet he wore at the 2013 German Grand Prix sold for $118,000 (€86,000) at a charity auction in the UK. The previous record was $114,000 (€82,900) for a helmet used by the late Ayrton Senna.
Wrong men
RUSSIAN PRESS
Traditional values
EUROPEAN PRESS
Polemic toy A TOY store chain is under investigation for stocking a game that allegedly promotes homosexual behaviour. The game allows players to seduce members of the same sex. The toy store, Katyusha, will be closed during the investigation.
Warhead storage RUSSIA has started building storage facilities for more than 100 Bulava missiles near the border with Norway. The missile can carry up to 10 nuclear warheads each 10 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb. POWERFUL: Bulava missiles.
TWO Polish men who say they were beaten up by German police are to seek damages. The two men were pounced on and beaten by men wearing ski masks before being taken to a police station near Berlin. It is thought to be a case of mistaken identity.
Top job LEADER of the German Social Democrats Sigmar Gabriel will lead a new Economics and Energy Ministry after the SDP entered a coalition with the conservative CDU/CSU parties.
Hot star HIGHLY-RATED Hoffenheim football club winger Kevin Volland, 21, is being targeted by Liverpool and Arsenal, according to press reports. They are said to be ready to pay €14 million to sign him.
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MALLORCA
Unidentified horses ONLY 1 per cent of horses which are found abandoned in Mallorca have identification. Most abandoned horses are found on the Palma-Inca motorway and Carretera de la Serra.
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THE Fair Trade Shop in Orihuela is launching a campaign to promote the purchase of Fair Trade gifts at Christmas.
A MAN, 40, was arrested in Manacor for allegedly exposing himself to small girls at the entrance to local schools.
Entrepreneurship
Smoke inhalation
Church repairs THE bells of the Mare de Deu dels Angels parish church in Pollença have been taken down in order to carry out repair work.
Unfair exam A REPORT by Palma Local Police shows that an exam within the force which was meant to be confidential to guarantee fair marking by the tribunal, was not.
Self defence A BAR in Palma, Sa Taverna, has been offering free personal defence classes for women for the past three months, with an expert in martial arts.
AXARQUIA
Conman sentenced A GRANADA resident has been sentenced to 22 months in prison after staying at a Motril hotel for more than a month and leaving without paying.
SANTA POLA has been recognised, for the second year running, for its Local Development Agency in promoting entrepreneurship in the town.
SAN MIGUEL Bowls Club has donated more than €400 worth of food to help local people in need this Christmas.
Caritas collection
ALICANTE Provincial Government has provided new oilskins for fishermen on the province’s 1,000 boats. Alejando Morant, head of the province’s Public Works and Development department, visited Costa Blanca fishing ports to present the new safety wear. The fishermen’s guilds had requested help in acquiring the high-visibility hooded jackets and bibbed trousers, Morant explained. Thanks to the €40,000 investment the men can now work in safer conditions, he said. These difficult times are also hard for the fishing industry and they will not have to meet the cost themselves, Morant pointed out in Campello where he handed over 34 sets of the oilskins. The lion’s share of the new work clothes went to the fishing fleets in Santa Pola and Villajoyosa which received 319 and 168 sets respectively.
Station co-funding NERJA council and the Malaga provincial government will co-fund the fire station planned for the town seven years ago until the regional government provides funds.
COSTA DEL SOL
Body found
THREE THOUSAND people demonstrated on Sunday morning in Rincon de la Victoria asking for a new high school in the town.
THE body of a man was found outside the fire station in Avenida Moliere in Malaga City. It was found in an area destined for training.
Bad stepson
Hospital full
A MAN has been arrested in Salobreña after he reportedly beat his stepfather up in order to steal his car.
THERE have been complaints that the Emergency Department at Malaga Regional Hospital is overwhelmed by the number of people and the lack of beds.
TUESDAY was an official day of mourning in Almuñecar after a civil servant, aged 43, died in a motorbike accident in the avenida Costa del Sol of the town.
Bowlers’ generosity
Fishermen’s friends
High school protest
Mourning day
parade on Sunday, January 5 will depart from calle Nicolás de Bussy at 5pm and parade to Zenia Boulevard Shopping Centre where the reception of the Magi will take place.
Fair trade
‘Pervert’ detained
A MAN, 22, had to be treated for smoke inhalation after a fire brokeout in his apartment in Palma. Other residents of the three-storey block were evacuated for safety.
NEWS DESK
Fatal accident A MAN, 45, died in an accident on the A-7 motorway in Las Lagunas when his motorbike was hit by a car which
failed to pause at a give way sign and then fled the scene.
Man found A MAN, 85, who was reported missing, was found the following day in the Churriana area of Malaga. He was disorientated and had slight hypothermia but was otherwise well.
Train tickets RENFE has launched train tickets to travel between Malaga and Madrid until January 6, priced from just €23.85.
Dangerous driver A DRIVER caused an accident on the A-357 in Malaga when he hit a car after travelling seven kilometres in the wrong direction. Both men were injured.
COSTA BLANCA SOUTH
Three kings ORIHUELA
COSTA’S
Three
Kings
A CONCERT for Caritas has collected milk for the charity. It is the fifth time this event has been organised by the Musical Union Torrevieja (UMT) and the Youth Band.
COSTA BLANCA NORTH
Murder trial A 49-YEAR-OLD French national faces a 43year sentence for murdering his partner in Denia in 2011. After attacking her with a knife, he shot her with an UZI submachine gun.
Dark deeds THIEVES stole 4,000 metres of copper cable from streetlights on the Oliva-Nova urbanisation. It will cost the town hall €9,000 to replace.
En garde! ELDA Casino plans to put on fencing displays and mock duels will be held at Elda’s Casino in conjunction with a local fencing club. Private classes will also be available.
Lean times ALFAZ DEL PI council approved the town’s 2014 budget featuring “austerity, efficiency and solidarity” in just 45 minutes. Local taxes will be frozen and debts reduced, the town hall said.
Drain gain SEAFRONT homes adjoining Denia’s Almadraba beach have finally solved an old problem. After years of having to use septic tanks, they have now been connected to the town’s sewer system.
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
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19 - 25 December 2013 / Costa de Almeria
business & legal
EWN
STAT OF WEEK SALES over the Constitution holiday weekend were 8 per cent up on last year. Sunday opening helped to boost turnover, said retailers’ chain, Anged.
Inditex milestone Foreign foray that turned to gold ZARA opened its first shop outside Spain 25 years ago. The chain is at the heart of the Inditex empire that made Amancio Ortega the richest man in Spain and the third-richest in the world. The Leon-born businessman was then and still is - based in Galicia and did not go far for his first venture abroad in December
1988, choosing Portugal. After expanding throughout Galicia and taking on Portugal, Zara arrived in New York in 1989 and Paris in 1990. Next came Europe, Latin America, the Near East and Asia. If Inditex, now present in 86 countries and with 20 online outlets, has weathered the storm it is thanks to the international market.
Fishing boats are steaming back THE European Parliament has approved a new fisheries deal between the EU and Morocco. This comes two years after it blocked a previous agreement with Spain. There was concern over its terms and the legal position of the Western Sahara, formerly Spanish and now controlled by Morocco. Rabat retaliated by banning all EU fishing boats from Moroccan waters. A total of 126 licences will now allow boats from 11 EU member states to fish off the 1,000kilometres of the Morocco coast for the next four years. One hundred licences are to go to
Spanish boats. Brussels will make a €30 million annual payment, of which €14 million is destined for developing Morocco’s own fishing industry. The EU will also require Morocco to provide periodic proof that the Saharawi population in the Western Sahara benefits from this help and the employment it generates. “This is an excellent deal for both sides. It fulfils all the conditions requested by the European Parliament in 2011, ensuring both environmental sustainability and a decent return for the EU budget contribution,” said Spanish MEP Carmen Fraga Estevez.
B
usiness extra
Bottling out COCA-COLA Iberian Partners plans to close four of its seven Spanish bottling plants. Relocations and other ‘voluntary’ measures will affect 1,200 employees, representing 20 per cent of its staff.
Job lot WITH a €30bn budget and 20,000 staff, government labour exchange INEM places only 2.6 per cent of the unemployed. Between April and July it mediated in 98,775 jobs, mostly on temporary contracts.
Mind the gap! DESPITE equality laws, Spain’s women executives earn unequal pay. On average they receive 10 per cent less, even when carrying out the same jobs. A survey by market consultants Randstad found that a female manager or director earns an average yearly salary of €33,851 compared with a male’s €37,793. Equality only exists on entering the labour market, found Randstad’s
managing director Maria Angeles Tejada Barrio. As she advances, however, a female’s salary does not keep pace with a male’s. The sector also makes a difference. The biggest wage gap exists in transport and logistics where there can be a 28 per cent disparity in salaries. Banking is little better, with women earning 26 per cent less even though 56 per cent of managerial positions go to women and 44 per cent to men.
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SYDNEY: From small star t, Zar a spread round the world.
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LONDON - FTSE 100
currencies direct
C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 16
C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) Aberdeen Asset Mngmnt 451.25 Admiral Group PLC 1240.00 Aggreko PLC 1602.50 AMEC PLC 1050.00 Anglo American PLC 1252.75 Antofagasta PLC 754.00 ARM Holdings PLC 995.25 Associated Brit Foods 2254.50 AstraZeneca PLC 3514.25 Aviva PLC 417.40 Babcock Intrntnl Group... 1268.00 BAE Systems PLC 433.40 Barclays PLC 253.03 BG Group PLC 1226.00 BHP Billiton PLC 1741.50 BP PLC 467.60 British Am Tobacco 3131.00 British Land Co PLC 596.75 British Sky Broadcasting 804.00
C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. -5.00 -1.10 7.52 0.61 86.84 5.73 0.00 0.00 -16.50 -1.30 -7.00 -0.92 -6.00 -0.60 10.00 0.45 -4.00 -0.11 0.10 0.02 10.00 0.79 -0.50 -0.12 1.55 0.62 9.00 0.74 -16.00 -0.91 1.90 0.41 6.65 0.21 -2.00 -0.33 0.29 0.04
NET VOLUME 179.78 13.99 335.00 46.49 275.85 203.93 454.66 19.25 115.45 838.87 34.76 261.78 3,527.15 343.63 809.54 1,465.44 86.15 149.15 131.72
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0.84259
1.18680 Units per €
United States $......................................................1.37540 Japan Yen ¥ ...........................................................141.767 Switzerland Francs................................................1.22140 Denmark Kroner ....................................................7.46128 Norway Kroner.......................................................8.44958
currenciesdirect.com/mojacar • Tel: +34 950 478 914 C O M PA N Y
PRICE(P)
BT Group PLC Bunzl PLC Burberry Group PLC Capita PLC Carnival PLC Centrica PLC Coca-Cola HBC AG
368.95 1349.50 1449.00 994.25 2173.00 323.85 1611.00
C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G.
DOW JONES
NASDAQ
C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 16
C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 16
C O M PA N Y MMM 3M Co AXP American Express Co T AT&T Inc BA Boeing Co CAT Caterpillar Inc CVX Chevron Corp CSCO Cisco Systems Inc DD Dupont E I De Nemours & Co XOM Exxon Mobil Corp GE General Electric Co GS Goldman Sachs Group Inc HD Home Depot Inc INTC Intel Corp IBM International Business Machine... JNJ Johnson & Johnson JPM JPMorgan Chase and Co MCD McDonald's Corp MRK Merck & Co Inc MSFT Microsoft Corp NKE Nike Inc PFE Pfizer Inc PG Procter & Gamble Co KO The Coca-Cola Co TRV Travelers Companies Inc UTX United Technologies Corp UNH UnitedHealth Group Inc VZ Verizon Communications Inc V Visa Inc
PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 126.43 83.68 33.85 133.83 86.05 119.90 20.24 60.24 95.31 26.84 168.39 79.01 24.29 172.80 91.35 56.17 94.44 48.38 36.69 76.40 30.25 82.37 39.23 86.49 107.35 70.48 47.84 207.36
-0.15 +0.38 -0.04 +0.87 +0.48 -1.09 -0.27 +0.29 -0.05 +0.30 +0.06 +0.48 -0.18 -0.57 +0.19 -0.14 +0.34 +0.06 -0.53 +0.17 0.00 +0.07 +0.02 -0.14 -0.74 -0.53 -0.29 +3.92
-0.12% +0.46% -0.12% +0.65% +0.56% -0.90% -1.32% +0.48% -0.05% +1.13% +0.04% +0.61% -0.74% -0.33% +0.21% -0.25% +0.36% +0.12% -1.42% +0.22% 0.00% +0.09% +0.05% -0.16% -0.68% -0.75% -0.60% +1.93%
1.7M 3.6M 24.9M 3.1M 4.2M 5.3M 51.9M 2.7M 10.6M 39.8M 2.5M 6.0M 20.6M 4.2M 7.9M 11.5M 3.3M 8.4M 40.1M 3.8M 26.1M 7.4M 14.0M 1.6M 4.5M 4.7M 11.9M 4.4M
1.90 -2.00 3.00 -0.50 9.00 0.50 0.00
C O M PA N Y
0.52 -0.15 0.21 -0.05 0.42 0.15 0.00
NET VOLUME 484.45 13.52 68.91 36.04 33.10 931.82 5.97
PRICE
CHANGE NET / %
$ 12.49 $ 3.72 $ 8.88 $ 5.70 $ 4.19 $ 5.75 $ 9.66 $ 17.11 $ 60.89 $ 10.45 $ 12.79
2.49 / +24.90% 0.74 / +24.83% 1.36 / +18.09% 0.81 / +16.56% 0.56 / +15.43% 0.75 / +15% 1.21 / +14.32% 2.04 / +13.54% 6.90 / +12.78% 1.18 / +12.73% 1.39 / +12.19%
$ 38.06 $ 2.36 $ 2.84 $ 4.86 $ 6.67 $ 5.27 $ 9.20 $ 13.59 $ 11.72 $ 12.11 $ 15.52
7.05 / -15.63% 0.28 / -10.61% 0.31 / -9.84% 0.44 / -8.30% 0.5099 / -7.10% 0.39 / -6.89% 0.66 / -6.69% 0.91 / -6.28% 0.78 / -6.24% 0.72 / -5.61% 0.92 / -5.60%
Most Advanced YRC Worldwide, Inc. Performance Technologies, Incorporated ChinaCache International Holdings Ltd. Enphase Energy, Inc. Hudson Global, Inc. Supertel Hospitality, Inc. Ambit Biosciences Corporation Sungy Mobile Limited Adobe Systems Incorporated Star Bulk Carriers Corp. VisionChina Media, Inc.
Most Declined Insys Therapeutics, Inc. MediciNova, Inc. Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Lakeland Industries, Inc. Global-Tech Advanced Innovations Inc. XOMA Corporation National Security Group, Inc. Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp. American Independence Corp. Ambac Financial Group, Inc. TASER International, Inc.
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) Compass Group PLC 914.25 CRH PLC 1434.50 Croda International PLC 2307.00 Diageo PLC 1889.75 easyJet PLC 1469.50 Experian PLC 1071.50 Fresnillo PLC 721.75 G4S PLC 255.35 GKN PLC 355.45 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1577.50 Glencore Xstrata PLC 299.95 Hammerson PLC 491.45 Hargreaves Lansdown 1279.50 HSBC Holdings PLC 647.25 IMI PLC 1445.50 Imperial Tobacco Gr PLC 2246.50 InterContinental Hotels 1892.50 International Consldtd ... 376.10 Intertek Group PLC 2936.00 ITV PLC 182.45 Johnson Matthey PLC 3171.00 Kingfisher PLC 368.50 Land Securities Grp PLC 927.00 Legal & General Grp PLC 207.95 Lloyds Banking Grp PLC 75.18 London Stock Exchange 1585.00 Marks & Spencer Group 459.35 Meggitt PLC 495.30 Melrose Industries PLC 283.25 Mondi PLC 922.50 National Grid PLC 763.25 Next PLC 5447.50 Old Mutual PLC 183.10 Pearson PLC 1286.00 Persimmon PLC 1126.50 Petrofac Ltd 1149.50 Prudential PLC 1274.00 Randgold Resources Ltd 3929.50 Reckitt Benckiser Grp 4612.00 Reed Elsevier PLC 858.50 Resolution Ltd 327.85 REXAM PLC 487.60 Rio Tinto PLC 3165.75 Rolls-Royce Holdings 1213.50 Royal Bank of Scotland 316.75 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 2154.25 RSA Insurance Group PLC 89.88 SABMiller PLC 2982.75 Sage Group (The) PLC 374.35 Sainsbury (J) PLC 390.50 Schroders PLC 2417.00 Severn Trent PLC 1679.00 Shire PLC 2733.50 Smith & Nephew PLC 839.50 Smiths Group PLC 1377.00 Sports Direct Intrntnl 702.50 SSE PLC 1332.50 Standard Chartered PLC 1286.25 Standard Life PLC 338.05 Tate & Lyle PLC 772.75 Tesco PLC 325.25 Travis Perkins PLC 1695.00 TUI Travel PLC 386.35 Tullow Oil PLC 835.00 Unilever PLC 2377.50 United Utilities Group 658.50 Vedanta Resources PLC 775.00 Vodafone Group PLC 226.25 Weir Group PLC 2071.00 Whitbread PLC 3513.50 William Hill PLC 371.15 Wm Morrison Sprmrkts 260.65 Wolseley PLC 3154.00 WPP PLC 1304.00
CHANGE 3.00 16.00 31.30 4.50 -4.00 -1.00 5.50 -0.50 0.20 7.00 -1.00 2.10 -4.00 0.84 5.00 10.00 -4.00 1.30 -12.00 -0.10 12.58 4.50 -1.50 0.80 -0.21 5.00 1.50 1.20 0.60 15.00 7.00 -15.00 0.80 5.00 -8.00 2.00 6.00 -34.00 36.00 0.32 6.10 8.70 -12.00 10.00 0.80 -1.00 -2.55 -0.50 -1.19 1.40 5.00 9.00 19.00 3.00 7.00 0.00 1.00 -11.50 1.60 0.50 1.01 -4.00 2.50 -4.00 -8.50 2.00 1.00 -0.40 16.00 14.00 1.20 -0.40 28.00 4.00
% C H G. 0.33 1.13 1.38 0.24 -0.27 -0.09 0.77 -0.20 0.06 0.45 -0.33 0.43 -0.31 0.13 0.35 0.45 -0.21 0.35 -0.41 -0.05 0.40 1.24 -0.16 0.39 -0.28 0.32 0.33 0.24 0.21 1.65 0.93 -0.27 0.44 0.39 -0.70 0.17 0.47 -0.86 0.79 0.04 1.89 1.82 -0.38 0.83 0.25 -0.05 -2.76 -0.02 -0.32 0.36 0.21 0.54 0.70 0.36 0.51 0.00 0.08 -0.89 0.48 0.06 0.31 -0.24 0.65 -0.48 -0.36 0.30 0.13 -0.18 0.78 0.40 0.32 -0.15 0.90 0.31
VOLUME 198.17 81.96 18.63 132.64 44.57 111.62 49.28 84.76 201.01 448.67 1,002.51 36.56 20.67 1,558.30 19.22 72.06 17.12 651.94 11.89 192.54 9.05 822.79 46.69 303.26 8,196.64 5.78 117.50 76.46 79.08 64.39 363.87 21.10 365.40 49.40 77.74 40.81 139.66 26.32 46.94 75.25 241.46 136.87 176.26 193.64 715.14 246.03 17,850.82 54.07 59.08 267.42 3.89 19.16 143.59 74.15 17.37 124.78 148.01 476.12 167.13 8.91 2,421.68 34.97 165.23 68.88 118.97 98.29 62.65 12,923.62 11.58 22.49 305.46 329.79 18.09 229.37
FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
www.euroweeklynews.com
19 - 25 December 2013 / Costa de Almería
EWN
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Austerity is not the way forward – CEPR AN EWN SPECIAL REPORT A NEW paper from the American Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR, no connection to the British CEPR) proposes alternatives to austerity that could restore full employment to Spain by 2018 or even sooner. The paper: ‘Policy Alternatives for a Return to Full Employment in Spain’ by economists David Rosnick and Mark Weisbrot describes how, contrary to claims by Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy that ‘there is no other alternative’ to austerity, there are feasible policy changes that would allow Spain to increase growth and put people back to work, without increasing debt levels. “This paper shows that Spain’s 26 per cent unemployment is an unnecessary human tragedy,” said Mark Weisbrot, Co-Director of the CEPR. “It can be reduced dramatically with or without the co-operation of the European Central Bank (ECB). “The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has called for the ECB to engage in quantitative easing. As our paper shows, this would make Spain’s return to full employment much easier.” Quantitative
PRINT MONEY: Advice to Frankfurtbased ECB.
easing is the process of printing more money. The paper models alternative options that would bring the economy to its potential GDP by 2018, with generally less debt as a share of the economy. One of these options shows what would result if the ECB were to buy some of the debt with the intent of rebating (or forgoing) interest payments, which the paper finds would lower Spain’s debt levels. As it is a money-creating central
bank, there would be no true cost to the ECB. “The European Central Bank should act as other central banks such as the US and Japan have done, and help put the unemployed back to work,” said David Rosnick, the lead author of the paper. The paper argues that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has ‘misdiagnosed’ the nature of Spain’s loss of output as structural rather than cyclical, leading to analysis and growth
projections that suggest that Spain’s economy is not far from its potential. In comparison to the IMF’s estimate that Spain’s economy is running 3.6 per cent short of potential, the OECD estimates the 2014 output gap to be minus 9.4 per cent. The paper notes that if output is well below potential, this means that the economy is full of qualified workers left unemployed because business does not foresee sufficient sales to make the hiring of these workers profitable. Only increasing demand for goods and services will return the unemployed to work, and this usually means that the government itself must step up by purchasing domestic goods and hire the unemployed. Normally a recession-hit country can boost growth by lowering the value of its currency, but since Spain shares a common currency with its main trading partners, a nominal devaluation is not possible, making government spending even more important. “The IMF appears to have given up on the idea of many of Spain’s unemployed ever returning to work, and apparently so has the government,” said Rosnick. “But this is a costly mistake.”
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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL
Don’t get sucked into bad debt this Christmas WARNING! There is a new cream on the market. It claims to miraculously slim you down to the size of a salad-dependent supermodel as you sleep. That’s right – no exercise, no gym membership, no balanced diet, simply apply the weight-loss cream before bedtime and you’ll wake up inches slimmer. When something sounds too good to be true, it often is. And in the case of this type of cream, I imagine the only thing it will slim down is your wallet. Scientists have labelled the product, which costs about €90, a complete con and accused manufacturers of ‘preying on vulnerable people’. And at Christmas-time vulnerable people seem
Loose change A look at finance for females
Jane Plunkett
BUSINESS EXTRA
Borrowing down IN November Spanish banks borrowed €223.8 billion from the European Central Bank. That was down from €237.4 billion in October, the 15th consecutive month of falls, according to Bank of Spain figures.
jane.plunkett@euroweeklynews.com
to be everywhere! Right now, advertisers, manufacturers, shop owners and sellers of things everywhere are dreaming up every trick in the book to encourage us to buy, buy, buy! Hence, a magic cream that makes you lose weight as you sleep has suddenly appeared on the market. The all-too-common lackadaisical ‘sure it’s Christmas’ mentality is fatal to our finances and it’s something that we need to put in check before smart advertising
Debt level MAKE A LIST: Do as Santa does.
and two-for-one offers empty out our piggy banks. Just because it is Christmas doesn’t mean we have to lose all control over our spending. It should be quite the opposite. At this time of year we need to be much more aware of our budget and really analyse what we buy. Do as Santa Claus does -
make a list. Check it twice. And then stick to it. For those budgeting this Christmas, find out what family members really want and buy presents accordingly. If Mum wants a nice scarf, then that’s the job done. There really is no need to also grab the new celebrity perfume pack that’s on offer at the pay
point. It’s an extra afterthought that isn’t necessary and will probably end up collecting dust in the gift box anyway. You won’t see Santa’s name on the black list at the local bank. He doesn’t get into debt. He makes do with what resources he has – and so should we all.
Luxury tourism is the way forward LUXURY tourism is the way forward for the Balearic Islands as the region has seen a big rise in the numbers of British visitors. With up-market hotels recently opened and more on the drawing boards there is optimism about big-spending visitors. Now the regional government’s Councillor for Tourism and Sports, Carlos Delgado, has expressed his optimism towards British tourism. He said the UK market is on an ‘upward trend’ and ‘good’ forecasts are in place for the Balearic Islands for next year. Luxury tourism is largely to thank for this. Daniel Chavarria Waschke, Managing Director of Balearics Sotheby’s International Realty, agreed. “Whilst other markets such as Greece, Egypt, Turkey, may have lowered their prices to attract more tourists, the Balearics have taken the bold decision to target the high end. “Levels of quality, the calibre of hotel stock and prices have all gone in an upward direction
GOING UP-MARKET: Balearic tourism offer. and the plan has worked. Comprising 26.16 per cent of the total Balearic tourist market, Brits have spent 8.5 per cent more in the Balearics in the first nine months of 2013 over last year and flight arrivals from the UK are also up 7.9 per cent to 3,046,681 for the same period.” Serious hotel operators are now in action on the Balearics. Jumeirah chose Mallorca for its
first foray into Spain, opening the five-star Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel & Spa in 2012. Sheraton Mallorca Arabella Golf Hotel has just reopened after a nine-month, €13-million refurbishment, and the golffront Park Hyatt Mallorca is set to open in 2015. They join existing five-star establishments including the St Regis Mardavall and La Residencia by OrientExpress.
Across in Ibiza the upmarket Ushuaia Ibiza Beach Hotel opened in 2011 and the Ushuaia Tower this summer, joining such establishments as the five-star boutique hotel Hacienda Na Xamena and Ibiza Gran Hotel and Casino in Ibiza Town. Melia Hotels International, founded in Mallorca in 1956 and now with 350 hotels in more than 39 countries, has also announced grand plans for the Balearics. Speaking this month at an event at ME London, a hotel within the ME by Melia premium range, Chief Executive Gabriel Escarrer said it would open ME Mallorca (formerly the Beach House on Calvia Beach Resort) and ME Ibiza (formerly Sol S’Argamassa in beachfront Santa Eulalia) for 2014. Escarrer said: “We are reaffirming our commitment to the Balearic Islands, investing in the transformation of two products that will be drivers of change to enhance our position as a holiday destination of quality.”
BY the end of September Spanish debt stood at 93.4 per cent of gross domestic product. The government’s target for the end of the year is 94.2 per cent.
Not happy TWO major investment funds are taking the Spanish government to the World Bank’s arbitration service over cuts to renewable energy subsidies. RREEF Infrastructure and Antin say the cuts are an unfair retroactive change that will cost them millions of euros.
Bleak outlook RATINGS agency Standard & Poor’s has said that the Spanish unemployment rate will not improve significantly for at least two years. The agency predicted the jobless figures would stand at 26.7 per cent at the end of 2013, fall to 26.4 per cent in 2014, before dipping to 25.5 per cent in 2015.
Full steam IBERDROLA Ingenieria signed a €66-million contract with Mexican oil company Pemex. It will construct a pipeline to channel steam between the Salamanca co-generation plant and the Riama refinery.
No prospects EMIGRANTS from Spain outnumbered immigrants by just over 160,000 in 20012, according to the National Institute of Statistics. Poor job prospects were to blame.
OPINION & COMMENT
Stayed in for delivery then took cash hit HOW about this for price manipulation? I ordered five large gas bottles from my regular supplier, Cepsa in Javea, on Tuesday, December 3, for delivery on Wednesday. I stayed in all day but alas no delivery. So I rang Cepsa to be told that they had a problem and a delivery would take place on Thursday. Again I stayed in all day but again no-one turned up. As Friday was a bank holiday I had to wait until Monday to speak with Cepsa who said the gas would be delivered today (Tuesday). Initially I had been quoted €312.50 and my wife made out a cheque for the driver. But on arrival he said that the price was now €335 and that the gas had gone up on Friday, a rise of €22.50, and my delivery was classed as a re-order. Cepsa are not interested. Way to go, Cepsa! Ken Ward, Sagra (Alicante) Bob Mitchell’s letter calling for a ‘democratic Marxist State’ (Letters, Issue 1483) drew this response from readers...
Utter unreality HOW unknowing, unread and untravelled Bob Mitchell must be to write such an utter unreality as Marxism giving up power! I was born and grew up in China with the communist regime. Once Marxists are in place nothing and no-one will ever be allowed to replace them. It just goes to show what nonsense someone can believe in. I would prefer having nothing in a Capitalist state than having it all with the Marxists. I wish Mr Mitchell all the best for his journey to a Marxist state knowing that once he is there we will never hear from him again; he will be in some labour camp to be taught how to be a good Marxist. V Nedelec, Neuva Andalucia (Malaga)
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outside of marriage as adultery and fornication, and only rent rooms to legitimate couples, as there is no variation of wrong within the Ten Commandments. Furthermore, unless they refuse to rent rooms to any two people of the same sex, how can they be sure which ones are gay, unless they are told? They are well within their rights to advertise their establishment as a Christian B&B, the same as gay-friendly businesses do. I suspect they don’t as it would not only put off nonChristians but also those of us who abhor bigotry in any form and try to live by Christ’s words: ‘Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers is what you do unto me’. Herrison Sharpe (by email)
Look out!
I WAS fortunate enough to be at the old Estepona (Malaga) bus station and managed to photograph this graceful Griffon Vulture which had lost its direction.
By Robert Hayward Courteney
Good point BOB MITCHELL certainly has a point. Capitalism and democracy are failing the vast majority of people and it should not be like this. But there does not seem to be any legal means to change things. Blair and his ilk of selfserving toffs destroyed any semblance of a socialist alternative as the gap between the poor and mega-rich became a chasm. The French are attempting to restore fairness by taxing the super-rich, so Cameron completely undermines their efforts by saying ‘come to Britain’. Switzerland recently tried to enact a law which limited top earners’ pay to no more than 12 times that of the lowest paid. What a wonderful ideal! Unfortunately, it failed. Senior judges, police officers and politicians lie (e.g. Hillsborough), bankers are still filling their pockets. Why should anyone have any respect for authority? I certainly haven’t. Why can’t we have a government with integrity that
WHEN YOU WRITE All letters, whether by email or post, should carry the writer’s postal address, NIE and contact number though only the name and town will be published. Letters may also be edited. Readers who have missed earlier correspondence can see all letters posted on:
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acts in the best interests of the majority? Isn’t that what democracy should be all about? Why can’t we have the kind of government we deserve? Paul Whitfield, Murla (Alicante)
Pointless holiday WHAT is the point of bank holidays if staff are then forced to work on a Sunday to make up for it? I am referring to the recent holidays for Constitution Day where, around where I live, most of the supermarkets were open on the Sunday following,
before having the Monday off as well. I do hope the staff on duty were paid a decent bonus, otherwise they have simply lost their day off. While convenient for the public, it would not have taken people much planning to make sure there was enough food in to last until the Tuesday. Then staff could have had a long weekend off with their families like the rest of us. Jeanie Macmillan, Fuengirola (Malaga)
Truly devout? IF Leapy Lee had chosen the argument that registrars should have the right to opt out of presiding over gay marriages on moral grounds, in the same way doctors may decline to perform abortions, I might have agreed with him. I do not agree, however, that people should be discriminated against by a commercial business. If this couple were truly devout Christians then they are obliged to consider ALL sex
A WARNING to everyone who lives in Dona Pilar (Mijas, Malaga). I have spotted the gypsy ladies around the area again. Last time they were around it coincided with a string of robberies and attempted robberies from properties. With Christmas around the corner and many homes filled with expensive presents I would suggest people are extra careful with security and keep their doors and windows securely locked. Name and address withheld
Religious freedom TO celebrate the festival of Chanukah, the Southern Costa Blanca Jewish Community recently held its third annual public lighting of an eightbranch candelabra (Menorah) at Playa Flamenca Beach. Through your pages I should like to thank Martina Scheurer and the council of Orihuela Costa for their help and support in this annual event. During the course of the evening, which was attended by more than 100 people, Councillor Scheurer spoke of her pleasure in being able to participate, and also said how important it is that people of all religions are free to practise their religion here in Spain. Alan Harris (by email)
The views expressed and opinions given in Letters are not necessarily those of the EWN publishers. They accept no responsibility for accuracy of information, errors, omissions or statements, and reject claims arising out of any action that a company or individual may take on the basis of information contained therein.
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Thursday
Friday BBC1/
3:30pm Escape to the Country 4:30pm Christmas Kitchen with James Martin 5:15pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm The Great Train Robbery 10:30pm Mrs. Brown's Boys 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm The Royle Family 12:35am This Week
BBC2/ 3:45pm The Truth About Lions 4:45pm Cagney and Lacey 5:30pm Are You Being Served? 6:00pm 'Allo, 'Allo! 6:30pm Priceless Antiques Roadshow 7:00pm Celebrity Eggheads 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 8:00pm The Hairy Bikers' Christmas Party 9:00pm Alex Polizzi's Christmas Fix 10:00pm The 12 Drinks of Christmas 11:00pm Mock the Week 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am Tudor Monastery Farm
ITV/ 3:00pm Peter Andre's 60 Minute Makeover 4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Show Me the Telly 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Tonight 9:00pm Emmerdale 9:30pm You've Been Framed! 10:00pm Celebrity Who Wants to be a Millionaire? 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm Utopia 1:35am Jackpot247
CH4/ 1:00pm Come Dine with Me 1:30pm Come Dine with Me 2:05pm Come Dine with Me 2:35pm Come Dine with Me 3:10pm Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 4:10pm Countdown 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 George Clarke's Amazing Spaces 10:00pm Educating Yorkshire 11:00pm What Happens in Kavos... 12:00am Gogglebox
ITV2/ 2:00pm Emmerdale 2:30pm Coronation Street 3:00pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 4:05pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:10pm The Xtra Factor 6:15pm The ITV2 Panto 7:45pm You've Been Framed! Kids Special 8:30pm You've Been Framed! Christmas Special 9:00pm The Xtra Factor 10:00pm MC Hammer's Big Shot Academy 11:00pm Celebrity Juice 12:00am American Pie Presents Band Camp
TV LISTING
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Saturday BBC1/
2:45pm Perfection 3:30pm Escape to the Country 4:30pm Christmas Kitchen with James Martin 5:15pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm A Question of Sport 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Citizen Khan 10:00pm Have I Got News for You 10:30pm Live at the Apollo 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm The Graham Norton Show 12:25am The Matt Lucas Christmas Awards
BBC2/ 2:30pm Fred Dibnah's Age of Steam 3:00pm Cash in the Attic 3:45pm The Truth About Lions 4:45pm Cagney and Lacey 5:30pm Are You Being Served? 6:05pm 'Allo, 'Allo! 6:30pm Priceless Antiques Roadshow 7:00pm Celebrity Eggheads 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 8:30pm University Challenge 9:00pm Mastermind 9:30pm Kangaroo Dundee 10:00pm 2013: Moments in Time 11:00pm QI 11:30pm Newsnight 12:05am Tamara Drewe
ITV/ 1:30pm Let's Do Christmas with Gino and Mel 2:30pm ITV News and Weather 3:00pm Peter Andre's 60 Minute Makeover 4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Show Me the Telly 6:00pm The Chase: Celebrity Special 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Text Santa 12:00am ITV News and Weather
CH4/ 1:30pm Come Dine with Me 2:05pm Come Dine with Me 2:35pm Come Dine with Me 3:10pm Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 4:10pm Countdown 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 Gordon Ramsay's Festive Home Cooking 10:00pm Big Fat Gypsy Christmas 11:00pm Alan Carr: Chatty Man 12:05am Stand Up for the Week
ITV2/ 2:00pm Emmerdale 2:30pm Emmerdale 3:00pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 4:05pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:10pm The Xtra Factor 6:10pm The Iron Giant 8:00pm You've Been Framed! 8:30pm You've Been Framed! 9:00pm The Xtra Factor 10:00pm The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift 12:10am American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile
BBC1/ 2:00pm BBC News 2:10pm BBC London News 2:15pm The Olympic Journey: Inspire 2:45pm Equestrian: Olympia 2013 5:30pm Final Score 6:20pm BBC News 6:30pm BBC London News 6:40pm Pointless 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing 8:55pm Atlantis 9:40pm Strictly Come Dancing 10:50pm The National Lottery Live 11:00pm BBC News 11:20pm Match of the Day 12:45am The Football League Show
BBC2/ 11:15am Restoration Home 12:15pm Alex Polizzi's Christmas Fix 1:15pm The A to Z of TV Cooking 2:00pm 12 Dates of Christmas 3:25pm Confessions of a Shopaholic 5:00pm Are You Being Served? Christmas Crackers 5:30pm Flog It! 6:25pm The Young Victoria 8:05pm University Challenge 8:35pm 'Allo, 'Allo! 9:20pm Dad's Army 10:00pm The World's Most Expensive Stolen Paintings 11:00pm The Many Faces of... 12:00am The Two Ronnies 12:30am The Wrong Mans
ITV/ 11:25am Murder, She Wrote 12:25pm ITV News and Weather 12:30pm Surprise Surprise 1:30pm Let's Do Christmas with Gino and Mel 2:30pm The Unforgettable... 3:00pm The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor 5:05pm Harry Potter: Behind the Magic 6:05pm ITV News London 6:15pm ITV News and Weather 6:30pm The Chase: Celebrity Special 7:30pm Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 10:10pm The Illusionists 11:15pm ITV News and Weather 11:30pm You, Me and Dupree 1:30am Jackpot247
CH4/ 12:00pm The Big Bang Theory 12:30pm The Simpsons 1:00pm The Simpsons 1:25pm Jamie's Best Ever Christmas 2:30pm Channel 4 Racing 5:00pm Gadget Man 5:30pm Come Dine with Me 6:05pm Come Dine with Me 6:35pm Come Dine with Me 7:05pm Come Dine with Me 7:35pm Come Dine with Me 8:05pm Channel 4 News 8:15pm Deck the Halls 10:00pm Four Christmases 11:40pm Sanctum 1:50am Stand Up for the Week
ITV2/ 1:50pm The X Factor USA 3:50pm The Xtra Factor 4:50pm The Only Way is Essexmas 5:50pm Peter Andre: My Life 6:55pm You've Been Framed! 7:25pm You've Been Framed! 8:00pm You've Been Framed! 9:00pm The Xtra Factor: The Winner's Story 10:00pm The Shawshank Redemption 12:55am Celebrity Juice
SUNDAY-
SATELLITE CHANN
Sky1/ 11:00am World Wrestling Entertainment Superstars 12:00pm WWE Experience 1:00pm Road Wars 2:00pm Ashley Banjo's Secret Street Crew 3:00pm Ashley Banjo's Secret Street Crew 4:00pm Anchorman: The Legend Continues... 4:30pm Cirque du Soleil 6:30pm The Smurfs Christmas Carol 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Yonderland 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm The Simpsons 9:30pm The Simpsons
SkyMoviesComedy/ 12:15pm The Mask 2:00pm How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days 3:55pm My Big Fat Greek Wedding 5:35pm National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 7:15pm The Mask 9:00pm Jingle All the Way
SkyMoviesChristmas/ 8:45am Chilly Christmas 10:15am The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol 10:45am Ernest Saves Christmas 12:30pm Frozen Special 1:00pm Miracle on 34th Street 2:45pm Sleepless in Seattle 4:45pm The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol 5:15pm The Search for Santa Paws
22 December BBC1/ 7:00am Breakfast 8:30am Match of the Day 10:00am The Andrew Marr Show 11:00am Fern Britton Meets... 12:00pm George of the Jungle 1:25pm MOTD2 Extra 2:00pm BBC News 2:15pm Christmas Kitchen with James Martin 3:00pm When Miranda Met Bruce 4:05pm Wallace and Gromit: A Matter of Loaf and Death 4:35pm Snow Babies 5:35pm Big Sing: The UK's Top 10 Carols 6:15pm Alice in Wonderland 7:30pm BBC News 7:50pm BBC London News 9:00pm Antiques Roadshow 10:00pm The Whale 11:30pm BBC News 11:45pm BBC London News 11:55pm Sting: When the Last Ship Sails 1:15am The Magdalene Sisters 3:05am Weatherview 3:10am BBC News
BBC2/ 7:00am This is BBC Two 8:00am Natural World 9:00am Antiques Road Trip 10:00am Antiques Road Trip 11:00am Saturday Kitchen Best Bites
12:30pm Tom Kerridge Cooks Christmas 1:00pm Food and Drink 2:00pm EastEnders Omnibus 3:55pm Flog It! 4:25pm Nativity! 6:05pm Ski Sunday 6:50pm The 12 Drinks of Christmas 7:50pm Porridge 8:30pm TOTP2 10:00pm The Choir: Sing While You Work 11:00pm The Sarah Millican Television Programme 11:30pm Hebburn 12:00am A Bunch of Amateurs 1:35am Tai-Pan 3:35am Countryfile 4:30am Holby City 5:30am This is BBC Two
ITV/ 7:25am The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That 7:35am Dino Dan 7:50am Dino Dan 8:00am Canimals 8:10am Canimals 8:15am Canimals 8:25am Bookaboo 8:35am Horrid Henry 8:50am Victorious 9:15am Bottom Knocker Street 9:30am Fort Boyard 10:25am ITV News
TV LISTING
www.euroweeklynews.com
19 - 25 December 2013 / Costa de Almería
Monday SkyMoviesComedy/
3:55pm
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (Film, 2002)
•Nia Vardalos •Michael Constantine •John Corbett •Christina Eleusiniotis •Kaylee Vieira •John Kalangis
NELS/
Joel Zwick's Oscar-nominated comedy, based on Nia Vardalos' stage play, stars Vardalos herself as Toula Portokalos, a Greek woman who's 'approaching a certain age', as her family are more than happy to remind her. But when she falls for Ian Miller, who's definitely not Greek, her family are in uproar. But Toula is determined to find happiness. Ian agrees to be 'baptised' in the family's Greek traditions in order to marry Toula, but the path of true love does not run smooth thanks to the interference of Toula's over-protective family.
7:00pm Sleepless in Seattle 9:00pm Home Alone: The Holiday Heist 10:45pm The Top Ten Show 2013 11:00pm Money Train 1:00am A Christmas Princess
SkyMoviesAction/ 11:35am The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers 2:40pm The Karate Kid 4:50pm Jurassic Park 7:00pm The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers 10:00pm Battleship 12:15am Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
TCM/ 10:25am Sherlock Holmes in Washington
11:45am Scrooge 2:00pm Ed Sullivan's Rock N' Roll Classics 2:30pm Ed Sullivan's Rock N' Roll Classics 3:00pm The Very Best of the Ed Sullivan Show 3:30pm The Very Best of the Ed Sullivan Show 4:00pm Johnny Reno 5:35pm Apache Chief 6:50pm Red River Range 8:00pm Ed Sullivan's Rock N' Roll Classics 8:30pm Ed Sullivan's Rock N' Roll Classics 9:00pm The Very Best of the Ed Sullivan Show 9:30pm The Very Best of the Ed Sullivan Show 10:00pm Pale Rider 12:15am Raising Arizona
2013 Sunday 10:30am Storage Hoarders 11:30am Sunday Side Up 12:30pm Sunday Scoop 1:30pm ITV News and Weather 1:35pm Inside the National Trust 2:35pm Let's Do Christmas with Gino and Mel 3:35pm Show Me the Telly 4:35pm Midsomer Murders 6:35pm Harry Potter: Behind the Magic 7:35pm ITV News London 7:45pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Coronation Street 8:30pm Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince 11:30pm Sex, Lies and a Very British Scapegoat 12:35am ITV News and Weather
CH4/ 6:15am Suburgatory 6:40am The American Football Show 7:40am Garfield Gets Real 8:55am Jamie's Money Saving Meals 9:25am Jamie's Money Saving Meals 10:00am Jamie's Money Saving Meals 10:30am Sunday Brunch 1:30pm The Big Bang Theory 1:55pm The Big Bang Theory 2:25pm The Simpsons 2:55pm The Simpsons 3:20pm Kirstie's Crafty Christmas 4:25pm A Great British Christmas with
Sarah Beeny 5:25pm Channel 4 News 5:30pm Scrooged 7:25pm The Snowman 7:55pm Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian 10:00pm Homeland 11:25pm Never Let Me Go 1:20am Alan Carr: Chatty Man 2:15am American Football Live 5:45am KOTV Boxing Weekly
ITV2/ 7:00am The Hot Desk 7:10am Emmerdale Omnibus 9:55am Coronation Street Omnibus 11:55am You've Been Framed! 12:25pm The Iron Giant 2:15pm Garfield 2: A Tail of Two Kitties 3:55pm The Lost World 6:25pm Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium 8:15pm You've Been Framed! Christmas Special 8:45pm Miss Congeniality 11:00pm Utterly Outrageous Reality TV Moments 2013 12:00am American Pie Presents: The Naked Mile 2:10am Utterly Outrageous Reality TV Moments 2013 3:05am The Vampire Diaries 3:50am The Magaluf Weekender
Tuesday BBC1/
12:35pm Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers 1:10pm Only Fools and Horses 2:00pm BBC News at One 2:30pm BBC London News 2:40pm The Santa Clause 4:15pm Toy Story 5:30pm A Christmas Carol 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm Celebrity Mastermind 8:30pm A Question of Sport 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Would I Lie to You? 10:00pm John Bishop's Christmas Show 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm Match of the Day 2 12:35am Citizen Khan
BBC2/ 12:05pm Westminster Abbey 1:05pm Operation Iceberg 2:05pm Operation Iceberg 3:05pm Equestrian 4:05pm Secretariat 6:00pm Flog It! 7:00pm Celebrity Eggheads 7:30pm The Great British Bake Off 8:30pm The Good Life 9:00pm University Challenge 9:30pm Jane Eyre 11:20pm QI XL 12:05am Never Mind the Buzzcocks
ITV/
Wednesday BBC1/
12:45pm Only Fools and Horses 2:10pm BBC News 2:20pm BBC London News 2:30pm The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe 4:40pm Toy Story 2 6:10pm Shrek the Halls 6:35pm BBC News 6:50pm BBC London News 6:55pm Finding Nemo 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Holby City 10:00pm Last Tango in Halifax 11:00pm Not Going Out 11:45pm Outnumbered 12:30am BBC News
BBC2/ 1:05pm Splash 2:50pm Guys and Dolls 5:15pm Fantasia 7:15pm Carols from King's 8:30pm The Perfect Morecambe and Wise Christmas Special 9:00pm Victoria Wood's Mid-Life Christmas 10:00pm QI XL 10:45pm Mel Smith: I've Sort Of Done Things 11:45pm Comedy Connections 12:25am The Awakening
ITV/
1:25pm Let's Do Christmas with Gino and Mel 2:25pm ITV News and Weather 2:45pm Rod Stewart's Christmas 3:55pm Hulk 6:30pm You've Been Framed! 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Tales From Northumberland with Robson Green 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Gary Barlow: Journey to Afghanistan 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:20pm Panto! 12:45am All Star Family Fortunes
12:30pm Catchphrase 1:15pm ITV News and Weather 1:30pm Let's Do Christmas with Gino and Mel 2:30pm Steppin' Out with Katherine Jenkins 3:45pm Gary Barlow: Journey to Afghanistan 4:45pm Fast Freddie, the Widow and Me 6:15pm The Nation's Favourite Christmas Song 7:45pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm You've Been Framed! 9:00pm Midsomer Murders 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:15pm Christmas Carols on ITV 12:15am Couples Retreat
CH4/
CH4/
1:30pm 100 Greatest Toys with Jonathan Ross 4:40pm Deal or No Deal 5:40pm Celebrity Come Dine with Me Christmas Special 6:45pm Channel 4 News 7:00pm 4thought.tv 7:05pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Nigella Bites Christmas Special 9:00pm Food Unwrapped's Christmas Dinner 10:00pm Heston's Great British Food 11:00pm Fresh Meat 11:50pm Raised by Wolves 12:25am Peep Show 12:55am Peep Show
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12:40pm The Simpsons 1:10pm Deal or No Deal 2:10pm It's a Wonderful Life 4:50pm How the Grinch Stole Christmas 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:25pm Hollyoaks 7:55pm Channel 4 News 8:00pm 4thought.tv 8:05pm Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas 8:30pm The Snowman and the Snowdog 9:05pm Big Fat Gypsy Christmas 10:00pm The IT Crowd 11:00pm The IT Crowd Manual 12:05am The IT Crowd 12:35am The IT Crowd
ITV2/
ITV2/
12:30pm Boyzone at 20: No Matter What 1:30pm Emmerdale 2:00pm Coronation Street 3:00pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:15pm The Xtra Factor 7:15pm You've Been Framed! 8:45pm Ant and Dec's Christmas Show 10:00pm Peter Andre: My Life at Christmas 11:00pm Celebrity Juice 12:00am Pitch Black
12:15pm You've Been Framed! 1:15pm Emmerdale 1:45pm Coronation Street 2:15pm Coronation Street 2:45pm Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium 4:45pm The Lost World 7:15pm Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace 10:00pm The Bourne Supremacy 12:10am Celebrity Juice
BBC1/ 12:00pm Chicken Run 1:20pm BBC News 1:30pm The Princess and the Frog 3:00pm Top of the Pops 4:00pm The Queen 4:10pm BBC News 4:20pm Toy Story 3 6:00pm Strictly Come Dancing 7:15pm Call the Midwife 8:30pm Doctor Who 9:30pm EastEnders 10:30pm Mrs. Brown's Boys 11:05pm Michael Mcintyre's Showtime 12:05am BBC News
BBC2/ 12:00pm Carols from King's 1:15pm Music of the Monarchy with David Starkey 2:20pm Swingin' Christmas 3:30pm The Perfect Morecambe and Wise Christmas Special 4:00pm Doctor Who at the Proms 5:15pm An Adventure in Space and Time 6:45pm The Queen 6:55pm Matthew Bourne's Sleeping Beauty 8:40pm Christmas Night with the Two Ronnies 9:30pm Morecambe and Wise in Pieces 10:30pm The Tractate Middoth 11:05pm MR James: Ghost Writer 12:05am QI XL
ITV/ 12:25pm The Chase: Celebrity Special 1:30pm The Big Christmas Reunion 2:30pm You've Been Framed! 3:00pm River Deep, Mountain High: James Nesbitt 4:00pm HM the Queen 4:10pm ITV News and Weather 4:20pm Tangled 6:15pm Paul O'Grady: For The Love of Dogs 7:15pm Emmerdale 8:15pm ITV News and Weather 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:30pm Downton Abbey 11:30pm ITV News and Weather 11:45pm Love Actually 2:10am Christmas Carols on ITV
CH4/ 3:10pm The Snowman and the Snowdog 3:45pm The Simpsons 4:15pm Deal or No Deal 5:15pm The Alternative Christmas Message 5:20pm Channel 4 News 5:30pm 4thought.tv 5:35pm The Muppet Christmas Carol 7:15pm Home Alone 2: Lost in New York 9:30pm Bear's Wild Weekend with Stephen Fry 10:30pm Alan Carr: Chatty Man 11:35pm Man Down 12:05am Father Ted
ITV2/ 11:20am Ant and Dec's Christmas Show 12:40pm Peter Pan 2:50pm Emmerdale 3:20pm The Xtra Factor 4:20pm The Xtra Factor 5:20pm The Xtra Factor 6:20pm You've Been Framed! 6:50pm New You've Been Framed 7:20pm The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor 9:30pm Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones 12:15am Shaun of the Dead
30
E W N 19 - 25 December 2013 / Costa de Almería
Cassandra Nash
A weekly look and not entirely impartial reaction - to the Spanish political scene
R
EGARDING the Hacienda squabble it is tempting but trite to quote ‘when thieves fall out...’ Trouble has brewed for some time with 29 resignations and sackings since last June when Tax Administration Agency (AEAT) chief Beatriz Viana was sacked. Blunders over the Infanta Cristina’s tax history and allowing ex-PP treasurer Luis Barcenas to legalise ill-gotten gains through the government’s fiscal amnesty were too calamitous to overlook. Heads would roll anywhere for less. Matters worsened a few weeks ago when a ‘big payers’ inspector was sacked after rejecting an appeal by multinational cement company Cemex against a €450-million fine. Her superiors “wanted to study it more closely,” sources revealed. Tax inspection chief Luis Jones has recently resigned, followed by nine more euphemistic ‘reassignments’ since then. Hacienda comes under the Finance Ministry, whose head, Cristobal Montoro, blithely shrugged off the unrest. Most in AEAT’s upper reaches were socialists anyway, he remarked. So that makes it all right, does it, Señor Montoro? All’s fair in love and war and politics too if they aren’t your own.
www.euroweeklynews.com
Tax office unrest leads to purge
OPINION & COMMENT for the PSOE, but they’ve a dud lot to choose from too.
It all adds up SPAIN’s President Mariano Rajoy is comfortable making speeches but not giving interviews. Especially when he knows that corruption claims will crop up. So he had to bite the bullet after agreeing to a marathon interview with journalists from the New Europe editorial project that includes El Pais and the Guardian. Inevitably he had to answer questions about Spain’s endemic political and financial corruption. “In my party there is no double accounting,” Rajoy declared in a triumph of blind faith over evidence. But as far as the president is concerned, this could well be true. It’s not uncommon for a general not to know what his sergeants get up to.
Shape of things to come BLITHE: Cristobal Montoro
Major mayor problem WHO will be Madrid’s next mayor? Municipal elections aren’t so far off (only May 2015) and the PP will have to choose a candidate. Incumbent Ana Botella – wife of ex-president Jose Maria Aznar – has seen her popularity ratings plummet but would
POPULAR: Esperanza Aguirre like to repeat. She is no Rajoy fan and many in the PP hierarchy would allegedly like to see her gone. How about Esperanza Aguirre? She was an extremely popular regional president, but like Botella is not ‘new’ PP and repeatedly reveals that she is underwhelmed by Mariano Rajoy. This could be a toe-in-the-door moment
THE Spanish government received two warnings from Brussels. One was for the razor wire currently cutting illegal immigrants to shreds at the Melilla border. Another for Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz’s law that erodes civil rights. Rajoy rightly pointed out in the New Europe interview that Spain has no eurosceptic party. True enough. Possibly because when not fussing over the shape of bananas, Brussels occasionally spares a thought for the shape of society.
OPINION & COMMENT
www.euroweeklynews.com
19 - 25 December 2013 / Costa de Almería
The fight-back has started! LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT
W
E’RE fighting back! At long last, after all the complacency, which has been basically a simple yearning for a quiet life, the British public is finally on the offensive. And doesn’t it feel great? For years, proper-thinking Brits have meekly accepted all the bull**** presented by the predominately left-wing hypocrites, with their PC, environmental jobsworth opinions, directives on ‘global warming’, ‘green’ eco products, gigantic bloody propellers that blight our countryside and couldn’t light my pencil torch. Holes in the ozone layer and Labour’s army of welfare and equal rights scroungers. It also came as no surprise that it didn’t take long for the jobsworth mob to come out and blame the
BLOT ON THE LANDSCAPE: Wind turbines. recent storms, apparently the worst for 60 years, on ‘global warming’. What were we doing to the environment 60 years ago? Allowing too much horse dung on the streets? Almost every day there now seem to be common-sense announcements from more and more politicians. Basically because they have at last come to their senses and, fearful of being slung on the scrapheap next year, are finally listening to the people who will ultimately decide their fate. What does worry me, however, is the lack of commitment as to when all these new initiatives will
be administered. It’s all very well to keep announcing popular moves, i.e. benefit capping, deporting foreign criminals, restricting welfare payments for more than two children, only allowing offshore wind turbines, making squatting illegal, restricting access to free NHS and benefits to immigrants, and so forth, but when are we going to see all these goodies put into practice? Many are already being promised ‘after the next election’. My question is when ‘after’? Six months? A year? Or will they start to promise them again in time for ‘after’ the 2020 ballot?
We need to see some positive action now, not Miliband’s Santastyle promises, which will mysteriously fail to materialise once their vote-catching usefulness has served its purpose. Just a quick ‘told ya so’ this week. Those who peruse this blurb on a regular basis will know I’m no big fan of the ‘X Fracture’. But you may remember, some weeks ago, I predicted the final would be between the young Scots lad and the housewife. Dah da! All requests for me to appear on the judging panel next year on the back of a postage stamp, please. Finally, after yet another disgraceful exhibition at this year’s comedy awards, may I suggest that it’s not ‘Comic Relief’ we need, it’s a bit of relief from these so-called comics. Come back, Max Miller, all is forgiven. Have a good week, and whatever ya do - always keep the faith! Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com
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33
LEAPY LETTERS
Pat on back THE comments that you make each week are always spot on. It’s a pity that the hierarchy in the UK do not think as you do. As you say others only think it, you say it, and I must admit that you say it with heart and passion. Your column is the first item that I read every week. Keep it going, mate! Dave Marks (by email)
Wrist slap YOUR piece about the B&B owners was not particularly logical. But then I would not expect any logic from you. Your thinking seems somehow strained at times. But I do enjoy reading your column! J Brigs (by email)
The gypsy dance of death! Ric Polansky moved to Mojacar in 1969 as a pioneer developer. He reads extensively and has travelled in South America panning gold and looking for El Dorado.
LOOKING BACK IN MOJACAR
Shu tter stoc k.co m
Ric Polansky
rubi pho to /
NOW, it just had to happen that sooner or later more 'coches' (cars) would invade our area. And lo and behold, the country peasants got used to riding in them. In fact, they took their presence as a bit of an affront with a cautioned respect. The existence of cars filtered down to the most notorious of characters, Dancing Diego, a proud gypsy whose joyous celebration of life was a constant, inside or outside of the bars. His modus of vivir was to boldly jump in front of an oncoming car and dance a jig and then bound out of the way. Now 999 times out of a thousand, the driver would stop instantly, get out of the car, and curse in his loudest voice at the roadside shenanigans. Diego would laugh uproariously as did his entourage of followers. And if the driver got more irate,
SEAT 600: Ric used to drive a car like this.
Diego had his friends to back him. Dancing Diego became an institution unto himself. Now this charade happened at all hours of Diego's waking day, and he
became famed for it. Never mind kids chasing a bouncing ball into the street or a skittery cat darting into traffic, Gypsy Diego was the guy you had to avoid.
Well, it finally happened. It was a dark and dangerous night. The supporting gang of the death dancer were swaggering from one bar to
the next. Possibly no one in the band thought well enough in advance that at four in the morning the oncoming driver could also well be inebriated. The man handling the coche was well oiled and in the middle of a vicious marital spat, Diego made his leap onto Garrucha's main street. The chauffeur turned his attention back to the road after he felt the impact, and the famed bailador (dancer) went ass over tea kettle into the parked cars. His mates were more furious than a bag of snakes. They had never witnessed such a wanton act of disregard for the
celebrated Diego. Hell, he had been doing his party stunt for almost three years straight without a bruise or scratch. But, this night he was well banged up and covered in a lot of gypsy blood and full of revengeful cries and deathly moans. When the occupants leapt from their vehicle to offer assistance, they were attacked and ferociously beaten. Matters became further complicated when it was discovered that none of the gang could drive. A hospital was needed but that hour of the morning presented no traffic and the telephone exchange wouldn’t open for another five hours. So, there they all squatted next to the road crying together and bleeding on each other. Diego has recovered his special sense of humour but not his leaping lizard death defying legs. Oh, and some respect for night time coches too.
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E W N 19 - 25 December 2013 / Costa de Almería
www.euroweeklynews.com
OPINION & COMMENT
Successful after-dinner speeches E
VER been asked to give an after-dinner speech? It could happen to you at any time; not just this Christmas or New Year but at weddings, anniversaries, or business events. But it’s all quite straightforward, nothing to worry about. Basically, just a few rules to bear in mind and you’ll be fine. Use whatever reason you’ve come together for the dinner as fodder for your speech. If it’s a company dinner, you can use anecdotes about the office and colleagues. But best avoid reminding everyone of that occasion in the stationery cupboard when the lights failed and you stumbled over Sally from Accounts... If it’s a family reunion, discuss some shared past events that everyone can recall fondly and with humour. Again, you may have been dining out on the story for years but probably best not to draw attention now to Auntie Hilda.
Nora Johnson
Breaking Views A Costa del Sol resident for a number of years, Nora is the author of psychological suspense and crime thrillers. To comment on any of the issues raised in her column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/columnists/ norajohnson
PUBLIC SPEAKING: Just a few rules to bear in mind and you’ll be fine. You know, the one who’s just a little too fond, shall we say, of the hard stuff. After all, you may not be her favourite, but you can only assume drink had been consumed when she wrapped your Christmas present - a used hairbrush. Another rule is to stay sober and wide-awake. There’s nothing worse than your audience seeing you slide off the edge of your seat before they do. The best speeches are like the best theatre. There’s laughter and there’s pathos (though hopefully not because
you’ve been struck by stage fright). People often think speeches have to be a barrel of laughs, but if there’s one golden rule, it’s this: if you're speaking, for instance, to politicians, don’t make jokes about expenses they’ve heard ’em all before (some in jail). And don’t outstay your welcome. The Gettsyburg Address was two minutes. Some of the best speeches are
just 10. If you’re planning on 40, you’ll be nodding off long before they do. Ditto aim to speak before 11pm. You’re there to entertain the guests and help them digest their food, not regurgitate it. Which reminds me. A pompous speaker with an inflated opinion of himself gave a long after-dinner speech. He then made the mistake of turning to his neighbour who happened to be Oscar Wilde,
and asked: “How would you have delivered that speech?” “Under an assumed name,” was the reply. Happy Christmas!
Nora Johnson’s thrillers Retribution, Soul Stealer, The De Clerambault Code (www.nora-johnson.com) are available from Amazon in paperback/eBook (€0.89; £0.77) and iBookstore. Profits to Cudeca.
www.euroweeklynews.com
CROSSWORDS
19 - 25 December 2013 / Cosa de Almería
Time Out
EWN
39
SPONSORED BY
EURO WEEKLY’S SPACE FOR YOU TO TAKE A BREAK, BE INFORMED AND ENJOY A CHALLENGE
MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE
Famous quote
This week
‘
Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.’
Carl Sagan (1934 – 1996), American astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist, author and science communicator.
in history
Women’s wit
‘
1803: The French hand over New Orleans and Lower Louisiana after the US bought it for 50 million francs. 1952: Queen Elizabeth delivers her first Christmas speech. 1955: Yugoslavia wins a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council. 1958: General Charles de Gaulle is elected President of France. 1972: The survivors from a plane that crashed in the Argentine Andes are rescued 10 weeks after the accident. They had resorted to cannibalism to survive. 1973: The Spanish President under General Franco’s dictatorship, Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco, is killed by Basque separatist group ETA in a car bomb attack. 1977: Silent film actor Charles Chaplin dies aged 88 at his home in Switzerland. 1979: Ariane 1, the first rocket built in Europe, is successfully launched into space. 1984: Margaret Thatcher signs a declaration to return the British colony of Hong Kong to China in 1997. 1989: The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin opens for the first time in three decades. 1991: Mikhail Gorbachev resigns as leader of the Soviet Union after seven years in office. 1992: Queen Elizabeth’s Christmas speech is leaked and published in a British national newspaper. 1998: American President Bill Clinton is impeached of lying after he denied having sexual relationships with Monica Lewinsky. 2003: British-built Mars probe Beagle 2 disappears for unknown reasons.
I stand for freedom of expression, doing what you believe in, and going after your dreams.’ Madonna Ciccone (1958 - ) American singer-songwriter, actress, and philanthropist.
World of English In a cocktail lounge, Norway:
K a k u ro
COSTA DE ALMERÍA weather for next 7 days TOMORROW
VELEZ RUBIO
VELEZ RUBIO
ALBOX HUERCAL OVERA
ALBOX
HUERCAL OVERA
GARRUCHA GARRUCHA
MOJACAR MOJACAR ALMERIA
ALMERIA
RETAMAR
RETAMAR ADRA
Alicante TODAY:
Benidorm
SHOWER MAX 17C, MIN 8C Mon - 16 7 S Tues - 16 7 Cl Wed - 17 9 S
16 6 S 16 6 S 18 7 Cl
SUNNY
MAX 19C, MIN 9C
MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun -
17 8 S 17 8 S 18 9 Cl
Mon - 18 9 Cl Tues - 18 11 Cl Wed - 19 11 Cl
Mon - 16 9 Cl Tues - 16 11 Cl Wed - 16 11 Cl
14 6 Sh 14 7 Cl 14 7 Cl S Sun,
Fri Sat Sun -
MAX MIN
Mon - 14 6 S Tues - 14 8 Cl Wed - 14 8 S Cl Clear,
TODAY:
9 -1 S 9 1 S 13 0 Cl
Fog,
Fri Sat Sun -
MAX 18C, MIN 8C MAX MIN
Mon - 16 8 S Tues - 17 9 S Wed - 17 10 S
16 7 S 16 7 S 17 9 S
TODAY:
SHOWER MAX 16C, MIN 11C
Fri Sat Sun -
13 11 Sh 15 9 Sh 15 9 Cl
MAX MIN
Mon - 12 1 Cl Tues - 11 3 Cl Wed - 12 5 Cl
MAX MIN
MAX MIN
Mon - 14 8 Cl Tues - 14 9 Cl Wed - 15 12 Cl
Murcia
SHOWER MAX 16C, MIN -1C MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun -
SHOWER MAX MIN
Mallorca SUNNY MAX 10C, MIN 1C
MAX MIN
Madrid
SHOWER MAX 13C, MIN 7C MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun -
14 8 S 15 8 Cl 16 9 Cl
TODAY:
MAX MIN
Barcelona TODAY:
Fri Sat Sun -
TODAY:
MAX MIN
Bilbao
Almeria TODAY:
MAX MIN
ROQUETAS
Malaga
SHOWER MAX 16C, MIN 9C
TODAY:
MAX MIN
MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun -
ADRA
ROQUETAS
14 0 Cl 13 -1 Cl 9 0 Cl C Cloudy,
TODAY:
MAX MIN
Mon - 10 0 Cl Tues - 12 1 Cl Wed - 11 2 C Sh Showers,
SUNNY
MAX 17C, MIN 8C
MAX MIN
Fri Sat Sun -
16 4 S 16 3 Cl 17 5 Cl
Sn Snow,
MAX MIN
Mon - 17 6 Cl Tues - 17 8 Cl Wed - 17 8 Cl Th Thunder
LOTTERY
TODAY
Fill all the empty squares using the numbers 1 to 9, so that the sum of each horizontal block equals the ‘clue’ on its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the clue on its top. No number may be used in the same block more than once.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
‘
Ladies are requested not to have children in the bar.
UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
UK THUNDERBALL
IRISH LOTTO
EURO MILLIONS
LA PRIMITIVA
EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA
Saturday December 14
Saturday December 14
Saturday December 14
Friday December 13
Saturday December 14
Sunday December 15
13
21
2
2
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1
12 24
29
13
35
41
24
12
16
3
23
27
24
28
41
46
22 19
26
23
27
31
31
19
20
24
BONUS BALL
THUNDERBALL
BONUS BALL
8
11
30
LUCKY STARS
6
11
40
REINTEGRO
31
7
REINTEGRO
9
40
E W N 19 - 25 December 2013 / Cosa de Almería
CROSSWORDS
www.euroweeklynews.com
Time Out EURO WEEKLY’S SPACE FOR YOU TO TAKE A BREAK, BE INFORMED AND ENJOY A CHALLENGE
SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) There is still a strong accent on family matters and getting things sorted out. The way ahead is clear. If you are able to persuade someone that an idea was theirs and not yours, so much the better. Being in a practical mood serves you well because it is possible to get a lot done in the next few days. The weekend, however, is another matter. It seems you are much in demand and jobs you thought would be done and dusted just aren't. CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Your mind is still sharp this week and there are many questions that you would like answered. Doing a bit of research proves fruitful and also quite amusing. A recent contact may not come up with the proposition hoped for, but realise that it is still early days. Sometimes, you feel that being far from perfect spoils your chances. We can all do with improvement. Ask your long-term friends what they like most about you and strengthen that area.
H ex a g r a m
Though Percy, the half-human son of Greek god Poseidon, once saved the world, lately he's been feeling less than heroic. However, he doesn't have much time to brood: a horde of mythical beasts threatens the demigods' sanctuary Camp Half-Blood. In order to save Camp Half-Blood, Percy and his friends embark on a journey to the Sea of Monsters, also known as the Bermuda Triangle, to find the magical Golden Fleece.
PISCES (February 20 - March 20) There is so much that has come to light in the past few weeks. It is no wonder that your mind is reeling. All will become clear in the weeks ahead and this cannot be rushed. However, there is a need to look after your health and get out in the fresh air. Any thought of joining a walking club or health group should be pursued. It will also serve as light relief and take your mind from less happy notions
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CANCER (June 22 - July 23) Being considerably more relaxed about those things which cannot be changed has taken a weight from your shoulders. It is also easier to understand why others have taken this approach in the past. There is, however, a balance to
NEARER
DESIRE
SEATED
ELDERS
SMILES
ERASED
TINSEL (10)
FARMER
TWEEDS
GIANTS
WHEELS
December 22: Ralph Fiennes, 50. British actor and Shakespeare interpreter.
December 20: Elena de Borbon. Born December 20, 1963. She is the elder daughter of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain. She owns the titles of Her Royal Highness Infanta and Duchess of Lugo. She is fourth in the line of succession to the throne.
TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) Although last week was not run at the pace anticipated, now the pace certainly picks up. Finances are still firmly on the agenda, but this time you will be able to deal on a more relaxed basis. A contact made recently gives you the
DESERT
Your Stars
December 21: Samuel L Jackson, 65. American actor, producer and civil rights activist.
GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Make a point of putting on a happy face and your mood will stay high. There is still some more to be done to improve your social life and a recent offer of charity work may be just the thing. Avoid restricting the sort of folk who you are willing to mix with. Cultural differences apart, it is quite an eye-opener to find out how others live and think. Never assume that you know everything, there is so much out there to explore.
MILDER
1 Mouldy, 2 Ballot, 3 Resort, 4 Tested, 5 Luster, 6 Rumour, 7 Meteor, 8 Enters, 9 Muster, 10 Mender, 11 Uppers, 12 Cheers, 13 Render, 14 Holder, 15 Resent, 16 Barely, 17 Oceans, 18 Steady, 19 Spears
December 19: Karim Benzema, 26. French international footballer.
ARIES (March 21 - April 20) A pleasant surprise makes you a little more optimistic midweek. It is possible for you to take on negativity too quickly. The next time something does not go according to plan, hold fire. It is amazing what a little time and distance will solve. Because you are in a practical frame of mind, use this to make a check on everyday routines. More could be achieved with forward planning.
METRES
CHARTS
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
Taking the goat by the horns can prove tricky because you are not going to put up with being restricted. Anyone who tackles you head on may be either brave or stupid. You, however, are brimming with confidence and raring to go.
opportunity not only to make some money but also to enlarge your circle of friends. When taking up an educational course, throw yourself wholeheartedly into it to get the best results.
MANGER
CENTRE
GIRDLE
IF ITʼS YOUR BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK:
AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) A meeting midweek could mean a change to your finances for the better. In the short term, it may be necessary for you to rearrange money and appointments but try not to be too put out. Change is perhaps something that we become less tolerant of after a situation has gone on for a time. In this case, however, the basic problem is still there. Instead of worrying, do your best and then get on with something else
ASTERS
be found. Don't be put off by people who have become sloppy in their approach because this is not going to affect you. LEO (July 24 - August 23) Are you still patting yourself on the back for that recent achievement? Socially, this is a lovely week when old friendships are strengthened and new acquaintances prove to be relaxing. It is another mellow week but one in which you seriously consider making a major change. VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Be your charming self this week without pushing too much. A natural approach when you are seeking a response is the best course of action. Simply being in the right place and under someone's gaze is all that is required. Are you getting itchy because an offer is not forthcoming? Well, if you absolutely must, then get a little bird to whisper in their ear.
December 23: Carla Bruni, 46. ItalianFrench singer, songwriter and actress.
10-Star Quiz YULETIDE POSERS
1. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, which is the best-selling single of all time, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide? 2. First broadcast on Christmas Day 2003, Sleepless in Peckham was the title of the 18th and final Christmas ‘special’ of which famous television sitcom? 3. If you arranged the (traditional) names of Santa Claus’s eight ‘flying reindeer’ into alphabetical order, which would come first and which would come last? 4. The start of which novel, first published in 1868, is set at Christmastime, where Jo, the second eldest of the March sisters, grumbles: “Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents”? 5. Normally eaten during the Christmas season, what is the name of the traditional German cake containing chopped candied fruit and/or dried fruit, nuts and spices and often marzipan and covered with sugar, powdered sugar or icing sugar? 6. What did Ian Hamilton, Gavin Vernon, Kay Matheson and Alan Stuart take from Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day 1950? 7. Which novel, first published in 1843, features the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come? 8. Which song by Queen was the UK Christmas number one hit single in 1975 and again in 1991? 9. Which three-year-old British-bred, Irish-trained thoroughbred racehorse won the 1964 Irish 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Derby and Irish Derby? 10. Who was crowned King of England, at Westminster Abbey, on Christmas Day 1066?
Nonagram How many English words of four letters or more can you make from the nine letters in our Nonagram puzzle? Each letter may be used only once (unless the letter appears twice). Each word MUST CONTAIN THE CENTRE LETTER (in this case B) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed.
TARGET: 29 Average: 10 Good: 13 Very good: 19 Excellent: 23
December 24: Ricky Martin, 42. Puerto Rican singer and actor. December 25: Annie Lennox, 59. Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) It is clear that you really love your hearth and home but, every now and again, there is a small voice calling. The good things in life appeal and, to have these, an effort is involved. Do not underestimate the amount of pleasure that you will enjoy when putting in that extra effort. It does, after all, involve other people. Some of those people prove to be quite fascinating. SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Having put in extra effort to bring a zing to this year it is important that you keep the impetus going. This is not only good for your health and wealth, but also your mind. Although trying something new brings a few odd remarks your way, try not to be sidetracked. Bringing together various friends and family proves fun and really bolsters your mood.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION atop, capo, carp, corp, crop, pact, pair, para, part, pica, pita, port, rapt, tapa, tarp, topi, trap, trip, apart, aport, atrip, carpi, copra, optic, patio, picot, tapir, topic, atopic, capita, captor, picaro, tropic, apricot, tapioca, CAPACITOR
Word Ladder SOFT
TOYS
Move from the start word (SOFT) to the end word (TOYS) in the same number of steps as there are rungs on the Word Ladder. You must only change one letter at a time.
SOFT SOOT BOOT BOOS BOYS TOYS
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters
The purpose of the Hexagram puzzle is to place the 19 six-letter 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 (TINSEL) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues.
t1. WHITE CHRISTMAS by BING CROSBY, 2. ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES, 3. BLITZEN (originally called BLIXEM) and VIXEN, 4. LITTLE WOMEN, 5. STOLLEN, WEIHNACHTSSTOLLEN or CHRISTSTOLLEN, 6. STONE OF SCONE, also known as the STONE OF DESTINY and the CORONATION STONE, 7. A CHRISTMAS CAROL, 8. BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, 9. SANTA CLAUS, 10. WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR (Duke of Normandy)
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Crosswords
19 - 25 December 2013 / Cosa de Almería
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Cryptic
Quick
Unscramble the name of a famous Christmas carol (four words): WEAN AGAIN MARY
Across 1 Saul IV broke optic (6) 4 Romeo gets colleague to perk up (5) 9 A term in school clothes (7) 10 Celebration not completely unknown (5) 11 Iʼd heard and observed (4) 12 Thor, a man changed by battle (8) 14 Gala rips, bringing back the Twist (6) 16 The Parisian tour? Go wild! (3,3) 19 A card game daughter cut short (8) 20 Itʼs wrong to raise the pace (4) 23 One of the family finding sweetheart in Riviera resort (5) 24 In creche, loneliest place (7) 25 Fly a Greek character with a large amount (5) 26 Suffering queasiness in Barcelona, use a toilet (6)
Unscramble the name of a famous Christmas carol (five words): HID HEALTHY NOVELTY FUNAGRAM SOLUTION: AWAY IN A MANGER, THE HOLLY AND THE IVY
Play on Words
YYYMEN
18 Characters in a magazine were
21 Exercises authority over regulations (5) 22 How odd a call to stop (4)
Code Breaker
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 5 represents V and 6 represents Y, so fill in V every time the figure 5 appears and Y every time the figure 6 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.
Across 1 Edible soft fruit (9) 4 Acquire (3) 6 Wish the best for (5) 8 Beer mug (5) 9 Move to music (5) 10 Very young person (5) 11 Hidden (6) 13 Photographer's device (6) 16 Food flavouring (5) 17 Studies literature (5) 19 Vapour (5) 20 Happening (5) 21 Writing implement (3) 22 Christmas decoration (9)
Down 1 Long strips of fabric (7) 2 Pay out money (5) 3 Thin slice of bacon (6) 4 Bona fide (7) 5 Weary (5) 7 Genuine (7) 10 Farce (7) 12 Deep red (7) 14 Disciple (7) 15 Small particles of bread (6) 16 Slumber (5) 18 Sugary (5)
English - Spanish The clues are mixed, some clues are in Spanish and some are in English.
NIGMASSHT
Men,
more up-to-date (5) 19 Woman of American nationality (4)
Wise
8 How you might need to start a song? (4) 13 Sea-dog in abandoned American naval base (3,5) 15 Salieri composition for Jerusalem resident (7) 17 Tie up an awkward flower (7)
Answers: Three Midnight mass
Down 1 More than one knave travels another way (7) 2 This set of rooms sounds charming (5) 3 Case confusing experts (4) 5 Type of soup bath, leap out (8) 6 Unusual curl for her dog (7) 7 Keats cooked some meat (5)
Funagram
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS CRYPTIC Across: 1 Sated, 4 Cheroot, 7 Mandela, 8 Chafe, 10 Rigid, 11 Granite, 12 Stoat, 14 Enact, 19 Needles, 21 Yearn, 22 Throw, 23 Adhered, 24 Resided, 25 Order. Down: 2 Tonight, 3 Dread, 4 Change, 5 Enchain, 6 Okapi, 7 Mark, 9 Ewes, 13 Allowed, 15 Charred, 16 Unit, 17 Island, 18 Enid, 20 Earls, 21 Yahoo. QUICK Across: 1 Scribe, 4 Sweets, 9 Bromine, 10 Reign, 11 Upset, 12 Restore, 13 Screwdriver, 18 Ravioli, 20 Stale, 22 Heron, 23 Agitate, 24 Dodges, 25 Heated. Down: 1 Subdue, 2 Roots, 3 Brittle, 5 Works, 6 Episode, 7 Sonnet, 8 Rear admiral, 14 Covered, 15 Inspire, 16 Orchid, 17 Depend, 19 Ounce, 21 Apart.
Across 1 Presents (gifts) (7) 5 Compra (3) 6 Kiss (4) 7 Trinchar (carne) (5) 9 Jamón (3) 11 Relleno (para carnes) (8) 14 Nuevo (no usado) (3) 15 Chica (4)
Down 1 Cintas (de tela) (7) 2 Goose (domestic) (5) 3 Leño (3) 4 Media (8) 5 Nacimiento (5) 8 Duende (3) 10 To roast (4) 12 Juguete (3) 13 Diversión (entretenimiento) (3)
ENGLISH-SPANISH Across: 1 Suerte, 4 Wait, 8 Claro, 9 Lambs, 10 Uva, 11 Stars, 12 Tisis, 15 Asi, 16 Again, 18 Llave, 19 Tren, 20 Collar. Down: 1 Socks, 2 Etapa, 3 Thousand, 5 Arm, 6 Tos, 7 Platillo, 13 Snail, 14 Swear, 16 Ant, 17 Ave.
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THE TOP TEN BEST TV SHOWS 2013 THERE are some voices out there saying that TV shows are the new movies. With an incredible variety of series covering all sorts of genres, quality TV shows are getting a lot of media recognition with fans waiting eagerly every week for a new episode. This week, the TOP 10 takes a look at the best TV shows 2013.
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A ‘lemon’ of an orange grove in Mallorca
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1. Downton Abbey Set in the early 20th century, this successful drama/soap opera provides a quality TV experience with several heart-stopping moments that many shows can only dream of. Dame Maggie Smith steals 1 the show with every scene she’s in. 2. The Hour BBC Two’s most underrated show. Starring 007 Skyfall’s Ben Wishaw alongside The Wire’s Dominic West, it’s a seamless mix of drama, espionage and suspense, set in the late 50s in Britain following a group of journalists. 3. Doctor Who Is it really necessary to explain Doctor Who? Britain’s most well-known and loved allaudience sci-fi show tells the story of The Doctor, a humanoid Time Lord who fights monsters and travels through time and space in the Tardis. 4. Game of Thrones George R.R. Martin’s novel’s jump to the small screen has become a worldwide phenomenon. Every year, the fantasy and politics of Westeros gathers more viewers and fans that are heavily emotionally invested in the many characters in the show. On its third season, the show delivered one of the most shocking episodes ever seen on television, known as The Red Wedding.
Essentially humorous, at times hilarious, yet occasionally poignant, Snowball Oranges is the story of a ‘normal’ Scottish family who gave up the relative security of life in their native land to go and grow oranges for a living in a secluded valley in the mountains of the Mediterranean island of Mallorca. And the freak snowstorm which heralded their arrival on the finca of Ca’s Mayoral was only the first and
Crimes Unit. The character has been affected by personal tragedies that have made him into someone who has a very distinct idea of good and evil. A refreshing BBC thriller with well-constructed storylines. 6. The Good Wife An Emmy award-winning show about politics, law and current media affairs
Vine Create short, beautiful, looping videos in a simple and fun way for your friends and family to see with Vine. Available for iOS, Android and Windows Phone devices.
Mallorcan neighbours - including an eccentric goatherd who ate worm-ridden oranges to improve his sex life - restored the family’s faith in human nature and helped them adapt to their new and, at times, unexpectedly testing life in the apparently simple idyll of rural Spain.
all together in one of the best drama series on television. 7. Orange Is The New Black As the mind behind Weeds, Kenji Kohan has brought to Netflix its biggest success yet. Based on a true story, it’s a drama narrating the experience of Piper Chapman (Taylor Schilling) during a one-year sentence at a women’s prison. The series had a huge impact on social media and received marvellous reviews. 8. Breaking Bad Vince Gilligan’s meth cooking drama said goodbye in September after five seasons of intense and thrilling unforgettable episodes. The misadventures of antiheroes Walter White and Jesse Pinkman brought a whole new level
5. Luther Idris Elba (The Wire, HBO) stars as a Detective Chief Inspector in London’s Serious
App of the Week
perhaps the least of many surprises to be faced and coped with before they could truly regard their new abode as home... if ever they could! No matter how rose-tinted their trusting aspirations, it wasn’t long before they realised that they’d been sold a ‘lemon’ of an orange farm by the wily previous owners. However, an oddball local chef with cats in his kitchen, and a few prickly-though-kindly old
Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey and Taylor Schilling in Orange Is The New Black.
Sudoku 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.
Breaking Bad characters Walter White and Jesse Pinkman. of western action to a modern setting. Drugs, betrayals and a dying man’s ambition left a brilliant legacy hard to forget. 9. American Horror Story This independent pulp-horror TV show focuses on different terror and supernatural legends from American history. Every season showcases the same actors (with a few cuts and additions) playing totally different roles in different settings. Coven, its third season, follows the story of the witches and the voodoo legacy in New Orleans throughout two centuries. 10. Hannibal Hugh Dancy and Madds Mikkelsen are the stars of this new interpretation of the classic thriller novel Hannibal. The show follows the early events from The Red Dragon and will cover the story of Hannibal throughout the seasons. Gripping and gruesome, this is one of the best new shows of the year.
Boggled How many English words can you find in the Boggled grid, according to the following rules? The letters must be adjoining in a ‘chain’. They can be adjacent horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Words must contain at least four letters and may include singular and plural or other derived forms. No letter may be used more than once within a single word, unless it appears twice. No vulgarities or proper nouns are permitted.
TARGET:
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
Average: 16
Just Joking Why don’t you ever see hippopotamus hiding in trees? Because they’re really good at it. Did you hear about the new corduroy pillows? They’re making headlines everywhere! What’s the best part about living in Switzerland? Not sure, but the flag is a big plus.
Good: 20 Very good: 29 Excellent: 36
SCORING: 4 letters: 1 point • 5 letters: 2 points 6 letters: 3 points • 7 letters: 4 points 8 or more letters: 11 points
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION gram, groin, groat, groan, gnat, anion, tram, tramp, tramps, trap, traps, tromp, tromps, tarn, tart, taro, taros, tang, tamp, tampon, tamps, taps, rang, rani, ramp, ramps, raps, roan, roam, roman, romp, romps, naps, atom, among, amps, aorta, apart, matron, matt, mart, manna, mania, manias, manor, maps, morn, morning, moat, moan, moaning, mops, patron, part, pang, porn, port, pain, sort, song, sonar, soar, soap, sang, spat, spar, span, sport
OPINION & COMMENT
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Christmas would just not be the same without... It’s that special time of year again. We asked people what makes Christmas special for them. ELENA MAS, aged 44, from Parcent on the Costa Blanca, said: “For me it would not be Christmas without my daughter and my family, because I lost my mum only a few months ago and I realised that the most important things are not the food or the presents, but the people that you really love.” Thomas Frietz, 22, is a German who has been living is Spain since he was a child. He said: “For me it would not be Christmas without a great party with my girlfriend and my friends, to have lots of fun. My mum’s Christmas food is also a must.” For five-year-old Leyton, from La Marina, Costa Blanca, it wouldn’t be Christmas without: “Santa! I am hoping for a bike this year.” He added: “I want Santa to stay here so I can get presents every day.” FAMILY: Most important for Elena Mas.
STREET TALK Shirley-Ann Barton, 61, from Guardamar, Costa Blanca, said: “It wouldn’t be Christmas without my family. I have been in Spain five years now but always go back home for Christmas to spend it with my family. My two granddaughters have been born since I came to Spain and have birthdays in December, so
BACK TO BASICS: Brian Reade.
SANTA: Fiveyear-old Leyton.
Christmas is extra special for that reason also.” For Ann and Tom Noble, retired, from Cucador in Almeria, it would not be Christmas without Jesus. “We are Christians and Jesus is the reason for the season.” Family time is the most important thing about Christmas for Brian Reade, retired, who lives in Zurgena, Almeria. He said: “We only have a small family so we work to get the family over and enjoy Christmas together, back to basics.”
JESUS: Ann and Tom Noble remember the religious message.
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HEALTH & BEAUTY
ealth & beauty H TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.EWNLIFESTYLE.COM
Avoid stiffness in the muscles MUSCLE pain provoked by stiffness after hard exercise can be severe. Here are some steps you could follow to alleviate the pain: A hot bath activates the blood flow to the muscles. A cold bath, however, has an effect so it soothes the pain and makes moving and stretching easier. Heavy massage hurts the damaged tissues and may cause injury, so always get more gentle massages. Light exercise might be beneficial. Human bodies generate stress-relieving hormones that temporally reduce the pain. This can
improve movement and help muscle recovery. Analgesics are also a good choice to give temporary relief and improve movement. This way, muscles get more blood flow and recover faster. Magnesium helps relax the muscles. Sports balm can also increase blood flow and accelerates muscle recovery. Even not doing anything at all is useful. Stiffness usually disappears after three days of inactivity with no tissue damage. If your muscles hurt just by touching them or
STIFFNESS: A problem that affects sportsmen. BLAST FROM PAST: Patients were able to recall memories.
Memorable pop music
moving slightly, you should stop training at least for a day. That way, the muscles
will rest and recover so the blood flow can heal the muscle tissue eventually.
POP MUSIC can help patients with brain injuries to recall memories. A study by the University of Newcastle in Australia and the University of Lille in France found that when patients listened to music released within their lifetime it helped them to recall memories. They say patients with brain injury recalled a similar number of memories as those without.
HEALTH & BEAUTY
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19 - 25 December 2013 / Costa de Almería
Get your best face with a homemade remedy IF you haven’t slept properly for days and the stress is highlighting the bags under your eyes, 100 per cent natural home-made facemasks are one remedy to eliminate that tired look and freshen up your face. You only need a table-spoon of coffee beans, three tablespoons of honey, three tablespoons of yoghurt and two tablespoons of salt. The first step is to grind the coffee with the help of a grinder or a mortar. Then mix the ingredients until they form a dough and let it get cold in the fridge for an hour until it thickens. Now you need to wet your face with warm water, get the paste, apply it to your face in circles and let it rest for five minutes. Once the time has elapsed, rinse your face with warm water and dry it softly. This remedy keeps the swelling down, thanks to the natural chemical product the honey contains, inhibin, which prevents swelling and eliminates the traces of a lack of sleep. The lactose acid from the yoghurt
NATURAL FACEMASKS: You can create a perfect remedy in a few seconds with things from your kitchen. wipes the dead cells and brings to the surface a new fresh layer underneath your face. It also augments the skin’s capacity to stay hydrated and reduces wrinkles in the eyes and forehead. Caffeine from the coffee will polish
your skin. Furthermore, when you apply the mask, its texture exfoliates the skin and increases blood flow, as well as bringing the benefits from the natural oils that will fill the eye contour area.
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Mozzies like smelly feet SCIENTISTS have discovered that mosquitoes detect even the faintest of human body odours
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46
when searching for potential victims to bite, Mozzies target by which could explain why smell. some people get bitten more than others. Female mosquitoes use specific sensors to detect carbon dioxide being exhaled from humans and animals and now researchers from the University of California Riverside in the USA say they also use these same sensors to detect body odours, especially the smell of feet.
HEALTH & BEAUTY
Relief for an itchy scalp SUFFERING from an itchy scalp? There are many reasons why your head may be itching. Dandruff, excess oil or hair pathology all may be causing it, but the truth is, having a sensitive scalp is the most common reason for it. If you feel the immediate need to scratch your hair and a painful tightness in your scalp on a regular basis, you might have this condition and need to know how to treat it. The scalp has nearly 600 nerve endings per square centimetre. These endings can be activated for many reasons (cold, heat, mechanical pressure, stress, wrong shampoo, harmful water‌) and these neuro-transmitters - chemical substances activate the receptors in
the brain, causing the sensation of itching and consequently, the need for scratching your head. How to prevent it? You should use products specially designed and formulated for frequent use on sensitive scalps. However, if you have other described symptoms including chronic flaking or excessive hair loss, you should consult a dermatologist first. Physioprotector shampoos are the best solution for a sensitive scalp, because the formula contains polidocanol, an antipruritic, which limits the transmission of the nerve endings and relieves the symptoms. These have a very gentle effect, do not contain additives and are hypoallergenic.
FOOD & DRINK
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Food F
Costa de Almeria’s best guide to local sport
Almería’s best guide to local restaurants
19 - 25 December 2013 / Costa de Almería
$5.25 billion (€3.8billion) was spent up to September despite a decrease in the quantity sold. Canada follows a similar tendency, with sales led by sparkling and bottled wine and a total of 2.05 billion Canadian dollars (€1.45 billion) spent on Spanish wine. Meanwhile, the money spent on Spanish wine in the UK increased by 1.3 per cent during the first nine months of the year due to a general price increase. Spain is the fourth largest wine provider in the UK market, which is led by France.
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The sweet life in Mojacar To read more turn to Page 48 TO READ MORE VISIT: WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM/FEATURES/RESTAURANTS
Spanish wine gains ground
SPANISH wine is drawing an increasing interest in English-speaking markets. The money spent on Spanish tipple in the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland increased during the first nine months of the year, a report by the Spanish Wine Market Observatory (OEMV) found. However, while the US and Canadian markets seem to have a taste for sparkling and bottled wine, the UK and the Irish markets prefer to buy wine sold in bulk. The price of Spanish wine in the US has been above average this year, which explains why more than
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FOOD & DRINK
Advertising Feature
Dolce Vita for the sweet life in Mojacar DOLCE VITA in Mojacar is a fantastic venue for live entertainment in a unique setting. Sevdalina and her attentive staff pay great attention to detail to provide a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere in a superb classy venue with different rooms providing different atmospheres. The bar has a large outdoor terrace and indoor area with stunning sea views. Dolce Vita is certainly well known as a vibrant lunch and night time venue but opens early at 9am to serve full English guaranteed to get you breakfasts, tostadas and up off your seats and even has a pasteleria dancing. providing delicious The very popular french pastries and Obsession Duo made up cakes, all made on the of former Mungo Jerry premises and served bassist and female with a wide variety of vocalist and Saxophonist teas and coffees. Chrissie have a regular The live entertainment date at Dolce Vita and provided by Dolce Vita is will be performing on top quality with an array Christmas Day. of international acts. Another highly popular Every week on performance for a Thursdays at 9pm there Saturday night boogie is a Flamenco and are Father and Dinner night Daughter act with the Errol Ross and Dolce Vita is fabulous Carlene Anabel well known as a ‘QueenBrit’ Veloso Graham vibrant lunch and who will be Alberto playing and night time Ruiz. New Year’s venue. Friday Eve. Both nights at acts are 8.30pm passionate there is Jazz and about music and Guitar Music featuring provide a good mix from the Jazz Trio Compass the 60’s to funk, soul and Guitar duo and Motown right up to consisting of twin the modern day. brothers Pedro and Fran A few places are still Clemente. Saturday available for Christmas nights Dinner and Dance and New Year features various artists and Boxing Day Lunch
Photos supplied by Dolce Vita.
Dolce Vita: A vibrant venue at any time of day.
Lounge area with stunning sea views.
with the Dee Sharp Duo and New Year’s day brunch. Dolce Vita does not stand still and Sev has appointed a new head chef - John Robinson who is renowned in the area and has prepared new menus available in the new year. Other plans for the new year include a wine club with wine tasting and theme nights related to wine and food. Plans are also in place to provide top quality music and entertainment on Sunday afternoons.
For more information Tel 950 478 476 or 639 715 120 and Facebook page Dolce Vita Mojacar. Dolce Vita is situated on the roundabout by Mojacar Commercial Centre.
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FOOD & DRINK
Advertising Feature
Lenka and Chris welcome you to Los Conteros,Villaricos LENKA and Chris who are well known throughout the area are back in business. Their new restaurant and bar is set in a beautiful location at Los Conteros, Villaricos and they are looking forward to meeting friends old and new. Lenka and Chris work alongside Sebita, who is Spanish, and Ina, who is Dutch and together they make a great team that pride themselves on their service with a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. The restaurant opens at 10.30am and is a peaceful spot for a drink or an early morning coffee and tostada on their large sunny terrace. The kitchen opens at 12.30pm and from Tuesday The restaurant: Light, to Saturday spacious. offers guests a quality three course Menu del Dia for €11.50 which includes a drink or a half bottle of wine which is getting rave reviews. The Menu del Dia is changed every week and has a great choice with something for everyone, including vegetarian options. There is a good choice of starters and main courses, one course that is already proving popular is the Beef in red wine casserole. Lenka's delicious homemade desserts include sticky
Los Conteros: A warm welcome awaits you from Lenka and Chris. toffee pudding and cheesecakes and are a great way to comfortable and end your meal. The restaurant area is light and spacious and has an open fire which heats the room nicely during the winter months. There is also a Grill Menu for €16 which is always available and includes the option of a fillet steak. Meat eaters are in for a treat as specialities include the honey and rosemary glazed shoulder of lamb, Argentinian steak and a new dish of young goat cutlets grilled with rosemary. Of course Sunday lunch has not
been forgotten. The three course Sunday lunch offers traditional roasts and other choices and is available for €12.50, booking is advisable as the restaurant is already very busy at peak times. There are still a few places available for New Year’s Eve. Call Lenka or Chris for more details and bookings 950 618 629 or 699 010 705 Los Conteros is just 200 metres off the Garrucha to Villaricos road on the road for La Herrerias ALP 828 and there is ample space for parking. Kitchen hours 12.30-3.30 pm and 7pm till close. Open Tuesday to Sunday. Facebook page Los Conteros Restaurant and Bar.
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OPINION & COMMENT
Fifteen to One to return for full series and celebrity specials Richard Shanley
DISHING THE DIRT OF EUROPA DIGITAL
C
HANNEL 4 has confirmed that Fifteen to One will return for a full series next year. Adam Hills will host four celebrity editions of the classic TV quiz, while Sandi Toksvig will front a normal series of 20 episodes in the daytime. A one-off celebrity special was hosted by Hills for Channel 4’s 1980s’ night in September. William G Stewart presented the original series, which ran from January 1988 to December 2003. Hills said: “I am thrilled to be part of the ongoing institution that is Fifteen to One. The celebrity specials combine two of my favourite things – general knowledge questions, and the chance to watch well-known
Greig, LeBlanc and Mangan. Inset: Sandi Toksvig. people try not to make d**ks of themselves in public.” Toksvig added: “I’m thrilled to be taking up the mantle of hosting Fifteen To One. It is a legendary quiz show with tough questions. I’m glad I’ll be asking, not answering.” Filming is expected to begin in early 2014, to air later in the year. Prospective contestants can apply to audition by emailing 15to1apps@remedyproductions.
tv. The closing date is January 17, 2014, and early application is encouraged. • BBC TWO has commissioned a follow-up to its comedy Twenty Twelve. W1A will follow Hugh Bonneville’s Ian Fletcher as he takes on his next big job as Head of Values at the BBC. In his new role, Ian’s task is to reshape and redefine the BBC “in particular for Licence Fee Renegotiation and Charter Renewal in 2016
and 2017.” The new four-part series will also see Jessica Hynes reprising her role of Siobhan Sharpe, but will otherwise feature new situations and characters. • EPISODES has been renewed for a fourth season. The Showtime and BBC comedy starring Matt LeBlanc, Stephen Mangan and Tamsin Greig - has been ordered for nine more episodes. The third season of the show has not yet aired in the US or UK, and will premiere on January 12 as part of Showtime’s winter schedule. Season three will pick up with Sean (Mangan) and Beverly (Greig) back together, as LeBlanc, who plays a fictionalised version of himself, continues to see his career and
ego pummelled. Confirmed guest stars for the series include 24’s Chris Diamantopoulos, Revenge’s Roger Bart, who will play LeBlanc’s agent, and Revolution’s Tracy Spiridakos as a family member of actress Morning Randolph (Mircea Monroe). The fourth season will begin production in 2014.
If you would like me to answer any questions you may have on satellite TV or to expand on anything I have written about please call me on 678 332 815 or email richard@europa-digital.com. I look forward to your comments and questions. Don’t forget to listen to my radio show every weekday from 10am on Spectrum Radio (90.8FM Coastal & 96.1FM Inland), now covering over 2000 sq kms of Costa Almeria or listen online at costaalmeria.spectrumfm.net for the latest news and views from the world of satellite TV.
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FEATURE
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E W N 19 - 25 December 2013 / Costa de Almería
FEATURE
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omes&gardens
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Christmas almost here but still jobs for the gardener J
UST had a week off from gardening and writing, so now have to catch up. I was in the snowy Gredos Mountains west of Avila working as one of 25 English-speaking volunteers helping 25 Spaniards improve their spoken English on a Vaughan House intensive week immersion programme. Volunteers and course attendees had to speak English to each other for 84 hours, speaking Spanish being totally banned by Spaniards and Britons alike. We all had to pick different topics of conversation so often I was comparing attitudes to gardening in the North with those on
Dick Handscombe
Gardening Corner
LIQUEURS: Part of the home-made collection.
By Spain’s best known expatriate gardening author living in Spain for 25 years.
the costas and what was eaten for Christmas and the New Year. As my Christmas lunch had started to sing loudly, it was prepared for the oven early to prevent it from being hijacked. At 18 kilos it would not fit into the oven so it’s in the deepfreeze, cut into two for two festive dinners. While making bread this evening, I coated it with chopped rosemary from the garden. It’s
DINNER: Ecologically fed on vegetable waste, edible weeds and grains. now frozen, ready to thaw out and warm up over Christmas. While the bread was cooking I checked out the home-
made liqueurs prepared a few months ago with herbs, blackberries, sloes, Pacharan, cacti fruit and ground carobs.
I did a final weeding of the vegetable terraces and containers this afternoon and there will be plenty to harvest for salads and cooked vegetables. I also tried out a new idea. Although the fruits are smaller than normal the tangerine tree is well-laden. I therefore harvested a kilo and then chopped them for 10 minutes, skin and all, and added a large packet of lemonflavoured jelly powder dissolved in half a mug of hot water. Three hours later, a very refreshing full fruit jelly was ready to test. It tasted good and I intend to test it again once this column is finished! As many readers know we are almost fully selfsufficient from the garden as were many Spaniards before they abandoned agriculture to become construction
workers during the boom period. Our own drive towards selfsufficiency started as a result of three things: 1. The decline of agriculture in our valley. 2. A realisation of how much Spanish agriculture depended on chemicals and how difficult it was in most areas to purchase ecologically-grown fruit, vegetables and poultry. 3. The wonderful vegetable gardens we saw in the semiabandoned villages we passed through during our 52-day, 950kilometre walk across Spain along the Pyrenees that separate Spain from France. By chance my book ‘Adventure along the Spanish Pyrenees’ describing the walk was published yesterday in print and Kindle formats by Amazon Books. It would make a good Christmas fireside read or present.
Well, the next edition of EWN will be published on Boxing Day so at this stage do have a great Christmas Day! ©Dick Handscombe www.gardeninginspain. com December 2013
FEATURE & PETS
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19 - 25 December 2013 / Costa de Almería
EWN
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The importance of being a traditionalist Ulrica Marshall
FESTIVE CUSTOMS: Ingrained during childhood.
Expat Strife
Swedish-born Ulrica is a freelance journalist living in Mallorca with her family. Her debut novel $Expat Wives is available on Amazon and iBooks. To comment go to:
rapid descent into inebriation. It’s still hilarious after the umpteenth time. We are creatures of habit and nothing tends to bring this out more than religious festivals, even if the last time you went to church was your own christening. And it is the habits of the childhood years which outweigh the more recent ones in bringing out the lyrical traditionalist. Family traditions, whether cultural or religious, remind us we belong to a core group, in a world where meeting one another is increasingly difficult, not least for us expatriates, who live far from one another. So, humour Uncle Frank who invariably falls asleep and snores in front of the TV; make the turkey or julskinka the traditional
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E
VEN if you have changed your surname to Gonzales, dine on Calamares a la Plancha at 10 in the evening and listen to ‘canciones de amor’ by Malu, I bet that when it comes to Christmas you revert to the traditions you grew up with. For me (being Swedish) that means a sudden need to bulk buy in the food section of Ikea pepparkakor (ginger biscuits), lussekatter (saffron buns) and julskinka (Christmas ham) are prerequisites for a Feliz Navidad. And even though I ultimately lived in England longer than in Sweden, I don’t pine the same way for
the Queen’s Speech as I do for the obligatory compilation of cartoons that air on Swedish television year after year; we all know them by heart, yet it’s not quite Christmas without them. Then there is the 1963 short film Dinner for One that is compulsive viewing
every New Year’s Eve in much of Scandinavia as well as Germany. It is a comic take on a lady in her latter years and her ageing butler, who tries his best to imitate the absent guests at her 90th birthday dinner by toasting each course from each place setting, ensuing in a
CREDIT Flickr_LanceJohnson
Have a jolly and safe Xmas David THE Dogman Listen to David on TRE every Saturday 10am to 11am Costa del Sol (Gibraltar/Sotogrande) 98.7fm (San Roque to Calahonda) 91.9fm (Calahonda to Motril) 88.9, Costa Calida 92.7fm Costa Blanca (Torrevieja to Elche) 105.1fm (Elche to Calpe) 88.2fm, (Calpe to Gandia & Ibiza) 104.6fm, (Denia to Valencia) 95.3fm Mallorca 103.9fm
IT is the season to be jolly. Your stockings are hung by the chimney. The decorations are up and packages wait beneath the Christmas tree. Delectable treats sit elegantly on the diningroom table. Your home looks like the picture of a perfect holiday. Add two unsupervised, hungry, excited dogs, and the idyllic setting can turn into chaos. In less time than it takes to say ‘Happy Christmas’ the dogs have torn open packages, chewed ornaments, bowled over a
TEMPTING: Keep presents out of reach. guest, unplugged the lights, pulled the roasting pan from the dustbin, eaten the biscuits, sent the best china shattering to the floor and vomited on the rug. Instead of listening to carols, you’re busy looking up the phone number for the emergency vet. Holiday [pet] safety isn’t so different from other times of the year, except the dog gets forgotten in the chaos. Don’t lose sight of your
pet in the midst of celebrating. Use common sense. The best advice is to remain aware of potential problems. Be especially careful of items animals can eat or chew. These include angel hair, which is made of spun glass; artificial snow, which may be mildly toxic; electric cables, wrapping paper, rubber bands, staples, etc, which can all cause internal problems if eaten. In general, don’t place decorations within
your dog or cat’s reach. Consider keeping your pets out of the rooms you decorate. Put a baby gate across the door to keep your dog out but allow visual access to where the family will be. Don’t let young children and dogs play together unsupervised during such a hectic time. But, whatever you do, have a Happy Christmas! For your local radio frequency log onto www.talkradioeurope. com
way, because jazzing it up would be plain wrong, and let yourself get childishly excited about the gift in the cracker or the flickering lights from the Christmas candles. Celebrate life and its joys with gusto!
With this in mind, I shall myself be following tradition and taking a ‘holiday’ during the holidays. But look out for more of Expat Strife in the New Year. Merry Christmas!
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ALBOX PAGE
Christmas campaign to use town shops THE Albox business association (AEPA) has launched a campaign to encourage local people to use the shops in the town for their Christmas shopping. Activities incude a Christmas Market on the weekend of December 28 and 29. The Christmas Market will take place on Calle Cordoba and adjoining streets just down from the high street in the town centre. There will be a large number of traders crafts, food, gifts, etc. local and from around the Valley. For children there will be small carnival rides, located in Plaza San Francisco in La Loma and also the patio of the Fenoy College off the high street. Shopping in
stores in Albox will get you discounted prices on the attractions. Every week from December 23 there will be a raffle in the shops to win prizes, just ask for your ticket when purchasing items. On Saturday, December 28 and January 4 there will be a Santa’s Grotto and a playroom where children can spend a fun evening with activities such as crafts, workshops, sports activities, visits from children's characters and a visit from Santa Claus and the Three Kings and much more. Hours are from 6pm to 9pm. There will be a Christmas train passing through the streets of the town of Albox, on December 21 (Saturday), 24 (Tuesday),
ALBOX: Getting ready for Christmas. 28 (Saturday), 31 (Tuesday) and January 4, from 11am to 1pm and from 6pm to 9pm . Co-organised with Albox
Town Hall the streets of Albox will have a sense of Christmas spirit with lighting and music in the town centre.
Simulation of toxic blast in Albox MORE than a hundred professionals from the
emergency services took part in a practice drill at
the waste treatment plant Geocycle based in the industrial estate north of Albox. The 112 Emergency Services of Andalucia in conjunction with the Junta de Andalucia regional government, coordinated the plan to evaluate the actions and measures necessary to give a correct response to a potential real emergency. In the simulated accident a 'toxic cloud' was produced resulting from the breakage of a container from a waste lorry spilling its contents. A huge number of personnel were activated from the Guardia Civil,the Albox Fire Brigade, public health service company EPES -061 and Albox Health Centre, the Unit of National Police assigned to Andalucia, the 112 Emergency Services ,the Emergency Group of Andalucia (GREA ), the Local Police, Civil Protection volunteers and the staff of the company. The factory staff and workers from neighbouring factories were evacuated and
taken to a point where the workers were coordinated two years ago during a real incident when the plant was destroyed by a huge fire, pouring clouds of black smoke into the atmosphere which could be seen from miles away. From there, the workers were transferred to the municipal sports hall in Albox, and those who suffered some kind of ‘injury’ were referred to the Hospital La Inmaculada in Huercal Overa. As part of the operation the crews attended to two ‘injured’ workers who were transferred to La Inmaculada Hospital in Huercal-Over. The operation also included two ‘injured’ firefighters . Sonia Ferrer, the government delegate in Almeria commented: “The purpose of these exercises is in accordance to the External Emergency Plan, to verify the effectiveness of the existing measures of intervention for the protection of persons, property and the environment.”
STARTED: Work is well under way on Santa Maria Church.
Albox church under renovation WORK on the Church of Santa Maria in Albox is now well underway with work continuing on the exterior as well as the interior. The Albojenses are not accustomed to seeing their church surrounded by fencing and machinery, however there is no discontent because the church was in urgent need of restoration following incidents with walls crumbling and parts of the roof falling into the streets below. Recent work includes the removal of the bells from the bell tower for restoration and the baptism pedestal which has been moved for the first time in 300 years. Local builder Jose Leon explained “we had to move the pedestal by hand because we could not move it with machinery, the pedestal weighs 400 kilos and it took nine men to move it.” The total cost of reforming the Church is an estimated €450,000 with most of the funds provided by the ecclesiastical association.
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Rebecca beats thousands to become winner of the T:Factor
N October 21 Telitec launched their very first T:Factor competition. The first prize a gob-smacking recording session in a TOP LONDON RECORDING STUDIO with FLIGHTS. Sales and Promotion Manager Gemma visited as many schools as she could in the vicinity and those she was not able to see personally were emailed with the information to participate. Over the next weeks the word spread and Telitec received lots of videos. A spokesman said: “The standard was amazing but then we expected nothing less from the talented kids here in Spain.” To keep it fair the first two heats and the final were decided with an independent voting system. Only one vote per person per day was allowed and organisers witnessed FB, Twitter and the social media erupt as the kids promoted
NEW STAR: T:Factor winner Rebecca Tozia Tyszka.
Fourth and fifth were Tallulah their entries within their own circles Cousins and Ryan Dearden far and wide. Areas got behind the T:Factor with respectively. SEE ALL the winners’ FANTASTIC bars, restaurants and shops displaying posters of their local PREFORMANCES at www.telitec.com. representatives. The spokesman said: “We Thousands of votes were believe we have uncovered registered as the some of the stars of the Simon competition generated a future and Simon Cowell Cowell buzz and great support for better look out! Thank you better the contestants. so much to all who took Eight weeks later and a part and voted.” look out! winner has been chosen. Due to the resounding She is the truly astounding success of the competition Rebecca Tozia Tyszka from La they will be launching again in the Nucia, Costa Blanca. New Year... with more amazing prizes Rebecca will be receiving the first And, due to demand, this time there prize of a recording session and trip will be a category for the over 18s. to London courtesy of Telitec and the T:Factor, who are positive she is a star of the future. Keep an eye on www.telitec.com Second place went to Tamara Gray for the ALL NEW T:FACTOR Morales, third to duo Maria Africa LAUNCH McMullen & Klaus Galvez, who will Email sales@telitec.net or call both receive top quality head phones 965 743 473 for more for their fantastic entries. information.
A different perspective on death Mike Walsh Mike Walsh. Based in Mediterranean Spain, is an international journalist, author and professional writer.
I
HAVE attended my fair share of funerals, services, graveside eulogies and visits to crematoria. Sombre occasions, tears are shed and thoughts shared with relatives we haven‘t seen for years. Eastern Europeans take death and its rituals far more seriously than do Westerners. When in Latvia I was invited to a graveside memorial service. From the four corners of the nation relatives travelled to a cemetery in the almost impenetrable forests on Lithuania’s borders. An annual event, the emotional service was to commemorate family members who had passed on a long time ago. I presumed the placing of a few bouquets and brief prayers would be whispered. Duty done, we would soon be dearly departed too. Not so fast. The graveside service with its acclamations was heart-wrenchingly long. Whilst 20 or so family members circled the graves a lone violinist played laments, prayers were said and tributes made.
RITUALS: Eastern Europeans have a different view of death to Westerners.
When my Ukrainian wife’s mother, Liudmyila shrugged off her mortal coil I was quite unprepared for the raw emotions exposed. Passing on is no passing matter. For Russian Orthodox Christians there is a sequence of rituals following the death of a family member. The only cutting of corners is in the interment. This takes place within 24 hours of a natural death. A glass of water and bread is placed on the sideboard for the departed soul’s
needs. On the day of the funeral the Orthodox priest with small choir arrives at the family home. Hymns accompany the service. The curious do not peer from windows, balconies or cross in front of the cortege. Donations are made to pay the funeral bills. In the family home all glass, mirrors and glass-framed pictures are covered by white
sheets. It is believed that the soul of the departed remains in the family home for nine days after which the coverings can be removed. The spirit then departs to Hades; weeks later to be admitted to Paradise. The morning following interment the family gathers around the grave to share breakfast. Whilst doing so the deceased will be implored to join them. Enjoy a glass of wine but no toasting each other. For approximately 40 days, the period being determined by the priesthood, a monastic period of mourning will be expected. A church service of remembrance takes place on the 40th day. This will be a substantial gathering, a sad occasion unlike that of Irish tradition. Many Celts see death as rebirth, therefore balance is drawn between woe and celebration. “I am no more afraid of death than I was of being born,” said Spartacus. There is nothing mawkish about such rituals. If cynical or bemused by such traditions, I imagine our fellow Europeans are equally baffled by clinical, quick-fix funerals and our get-on-with-life approach to life after death.
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New Ford Mustang to be released in F
ORD Motor Company will launch the new Mustang in the European market in 2015. The car was introduced at a special event in Barcelona, one of the six cities across four continents where the Mustang was simultaneously revealed. This new model blends performance and refinement with Mustang’s heritage as a global icon, the manufacturer claims. “The Ford Mustang inspires passion like no other car,” said Raj Nair, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development. Both the fastback and convertible models retain key design elements of the classic Mustang recognisable to car enthusiasts. They include the long, sculpted hood and short rear deck, incorporated into a contemporary execution. Other key design elements include a low roof height and wide stance, a sleek profile enabled by steeply-sloped
NEW MUSTANG: With classic appeal. windshield and rear glass, or tri-bar taillamps. The new Ford Mustang comes with a 5.0 litre V8 engine yielding more than 426PS and 529Nm of torque, which will be joined by an all-new 2.3-litre EcoBoost engine delivering turbocharged performance with the fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions demanded by European regulations. A new perimeter subframe helps to stiffen the front structure while reducing mass, providing a strong foundation for more predictable wheel control that benefits handling, steering and ride. Innovative technologies to provide drivers with information, control and connectivity are also part of the new Mustang. The driver can quickly adjust steering effort, engine response, and transmission and electronic stability control settings using the available Selectable Drive Modes.
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Nissan gives its 370Z a facelift with the 370Z JAPANESE manufacturer Nissan has given its 370Z model a sporty flare with the new 370Z Nismo. The second member of Europe’s new Nissan Nismo (short for Nissan Motor Sports) range is in stores from €57,950. Available only as a coupe with a sixspeed manual gearbox, the 370Z Nismo features extensive engineering and styling enhancements. Design modifications have been driven by aerodynamic improve-ment. The front end features a more aggressive design improving airflow under the car, leading to improved stability at higher speeds and through corners. This additional down-force is comple-mented by a re-engineered sus-pension and chassis set-up, enhancing stability and dynamic handling on the road. Other design elements include the distinctive Nismo red pinstripe lines visible at both the front and the rear and on the door mirrors. Unique dark grey Nismo superlight 19-inch forged alloy wheels with
sports-derived red brake calipers and wider high performance tyres are also fitted. At the rear a smart new spoiler adds the finishing visual touch while also improving aero performance. Inside, the 370Z Nismo design is driver-focused. The steering wheel is finished in alcantara (artificial suede) and leather with a red race-inspired ‘top dead centre’ marker. The sports seats are fully electric with special Nismo badging and red stitching. The finishing touch is a numbered Nismo plate adding exclusivity to each 370Z Nismo car. The Z’s 3.7-litre V6 engine delivers 344PS, up from 328PS in the standard car, while torque increases from 363Nm to 371Nm. The result is improved responsiveness across the low and mid rev range, and a 0-100km/h time of only 5.2 seconds. The 370Z Nismo adopts high rigidity brake hose and high performance brake fluid from the R35 GT-R model.
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19 -25 December 2013 / Costa de Almería
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England reduced to ashes, top man Murray, goals galore Tony Matthews
International Sports 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.
Costa de Almeria
By Tony Matthews In the third Test, England’s cricketers were battered into submission by Australia, Alastair Cook, playing in his 100th Test at the WACA got a golden duck in the second innings and now his team have lost the ashes after losing by 150 runs. Former England opener Geoff Boycott said: “Our batting was diabolical, atrocious. I’m embarrassed at some of the shots that were played.” England now must dig deep to try to avoid a whitewash after losing their first three test matches. Female shooter Amber Hill was voted Young Sports Personality of the Year; the British and Irish Lions rugby stars took the Team of the Year prize; their boss Warren Gatland was named Coach of the Year and former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson received the Lifetime Achievement award from Sir Bobby Charlton. Last weekend, North London clubs Arsenal and Tottenham conceded 11 goals. The Gunners crashed 6-3 to Manchester City while 10man Spurs suffered their worst-ever home defeat, losing 5-0 to Liverpool.
Sergio Perez has joined Force India.
TATIANA POPOVA
Award win Andy Murray is the 2013 BBC Sports Personality of the Year. He received 51per cent of the vote, and was presented with his trophy by Martina Navratilova via satellite from Florida on Sunday’s televised show. Murray became the first Brit to win the men’s Wimbledon singles title for 76 years when beating Novak Djokovic last June.
LEV RADIN
Everton, only one PL defeat this season, beat Fulham 4-1... Chelsea defeated Crystal Palace 2-1... Manchester United (with two Danny Welbeck goals) clipped Aston Villa 3-0... And after losing 1-0 at Cardiff, WBA sacked manager Steve Clarke. The Baggies are now seeking their 13th manager in 20 years. ROUND-UP • This week, there have been two League Cup quarter-final ties Leicester v Manchester City and Sunderland v Chelsea - plus a batch of FA Cup 2nd round replays while the pick of the pre-Christmas PL games are Arsenal (top) v Chelsea (3rd), Fulham v Manchester City (4th), Liverpool (2nd) v Cardiff, Manchester United (8th) v West Ham and Southampton (9th) v Spurs(7th). • Championship leaders QPR play Leicester (2nd) and Burnley (3rd) visit Leeds. Leyton Orient, top of FL1, meet Crawley, Oxford, first in FL2, go to York and SPL runaway SPL leaders Celtic entertain bottom club Hearts. • Warwickshire allrounder Chris Woakes will captain the England Lions cricketers on tour to Sri Lanka next February/March. • Trainer Gerard Butler has appealed against a five-year ban for allowing racehorses under his charge, to be injected with a banned
DID YOU KNOW? • Trevor Ford, the former Aston Villa, Sunderland and Welsh international footballer was on the field as a substitute for Glamorgan when Garfield Sobers, then of Notts, struck six sixes in one over from Malcolm Nash at Cardiff in 1968. • And Liverpool is the only city to have had a club in the First Division/Premiership since League football started in 1888. substance. • GB’s Matt Crampton won the Kierin gold medal at the Track Cycling World Cup in Mexico. • England’s Olympic bronze medallist Lutalo Muhammad won the 80kg gold at the inaugural World Taekwondo Grand Prix in Manchester. Jade Jones was second in her event. • There will be a MotoGP in Argentina next year, while in Formula 1, Sauber has recruited Adrian Sutil, while Paul Di Resta has been replaced at Force India by Sergio Perez. And a final judgement has been reserved in respect of an £85m claim for damages against F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone. • A Rugby European Cup, under new management, involving English clubs may take place next season. It would replace the Heineken Cup. And currently it’s Saracens (top), Northampton (2nd) and bath (3rd) at the top of the Premiership.
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E W N 19 - 25 December 2013 / Costa de Almería
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Costa de Almeria’s best guide to local sport
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British boxer Lee Purdy lost his European welterweight title bout against Italian Leonard Bundu.
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Lucky for some?
FORUM Golf Society played an individual Double Par Medal competition at Marina on Friday December 13th. A day that proved unlucky for some certainly wasn't for Phil Harris, claiming his maiden Forum victory with a net 70. Richard Swaine shot the round of the day with a gross one under par score, but the penalising effect of the Spanish slope adjusting system that saw him playing off minus one meant that he had to settle for second with a net 71. Clive Filkins (73) was third, Ian Postles (74) fourth, George Gibson (75) fifth and Peter Tinsley (75) sixth, with Richard Swaine also claiming the longest drive prize on the seventh hole. There were also five nearest the pin prizes on offer, with these going to Brian Gyer, Mick Murphy, Kevin Bircher, John Smith & Keith Jackson For further information, contact Phil Elam on 666 847840 / philjelam@yahoo.co.uk or visit: www.forumgolfsociety. webs.com
Thursdays team winners.
Monday’s winners.
Marina Phoenix Golf Society MARINA PHOENIX played an individual competition. The ladies’ division was won by Isobel Jones with 33 points from Rosalie Fardon (31) and Carole Donoghue (27). The men's division was a close affair with
Terry Oliver (36) beating Les Armfield (36) on countback. Tony King (35) was in third. There were 2’s prizes for Jim Budd (14th) and Les Armfield (5th). Thursdays team game was best two to count played in
threeballs. The clear winners with 81 points were Brian Couper, Tony King and Mike Schorfield, second were Rod Ambrose, Isobel Jones and Hans Schutze (74). Rhoda Elwick, George Waghorn and Steve
Entwhistle (72) were third. Marina Phoenix play Mondays (individual) and Thursdays (team game). To join them for a €25 greenfee ring Jim on 950 162 727 / 600 353 670 or Rosalie 950 397 117/ 697 512 882.
Sean hands over the captain’s reins VALLE DEL ESTE GS played a medal, winner John Clements scoring 75.Second placed Sean Halligan scored 76, with Bill Gill (77) third. In last Friday's stableford competition Linda Bawden (36) led the way. Second on count back was Bill Gill (36) ahead of Graham Sisson (35). Nearest the pin on both the 5th and 14th holes was Patrick Vickery who also got a 2 on the 14th. Following the round out-going captain, Sean Halligan, was thanked for all his hard work during the year and will now have a well earned rest from all the organisation, having given over the reins to Bill Churchill. The members wished both of them well.
Cortijo Grande 2 divisons
Sean Halligan will be replaced by Bill Churchill.
Battle on the fairways of Lorca BOXERS GS arrived at Lorca Golf with blue
sky trying to break through the clouds and looking forward for the battle to commence on the fairways of Lorca. In the first division Paul Holley (32) beat Ray Dixon (27) into second place and took the overall competition.
In the second division Colin Waters (29) beat Maxine Mayhew (28). Nearest the Pins were won by Brian Mayhew, and at the 10th hole Tony Harwin. On the 14th Ray Dixon took the prize. For those wishing
to join Boxers and enjoy the delights of Spain's Sun Drenched Golf Links , enjoy the banter and partake in light refreshments after, contact Brian Mayhew bmayhew75@yahoo.c o.uk /www.boxersgs.web s.com
LAST Wednesday Cortijo Grande had a competition in two divisions. Winner of the first division with 34 points was Peter Jackson. Second was John Park (33). Second division winner with 32 was Ann Jackson and second with 31 Martin Oliver. On Sunday there were again two divisions but big scores were needed to win. First division winner with 40 points was Brian Harwood and second, with 38, Peter Jackson. Second division winner with 32 was David Hardy from wife Carol Hardy with 30. Enjoy your golf with Cortijo Grande you will be welcome to join them any Wednesday or Sunday Just phone Patricia Holt 950 475 509.
Published on Dec 18, 2013
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