Euro Weekly News - Mallorca 4 - 10 December 2014 Issue 1535

ISSUE NO. 1535

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DON’T MISS OUR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL INSIDE, PAGES 27-38

QUEEN LETIZIA of Spain was given a royal welcome when she visited Mallorca on a solo tour.

She was making an official visit, as opposed to one of her regular family holidays to the island, for the State Volunteering Congress in Palma where she presented a series of awards.

The visit was intended to highlight the need for volunteers and raise awareness for the charity. The Queen, pictured second from left with Balearic President Juan Ramon Bauza, left, President of the Balearic Parliament Margarita Duran and Mayor of Palma

Cordon Press.

The Queen of Good Causes

Mateu Isern, is well known for her work with charities, and this

was just one aspect of that.

It was the second visit for

Rafa made ‘Son of the Island’ MALLORCA-born tennis player Rafa Nadal has been awarded the title Son of the Island in a ceremony at the Plenery Hall in Palma.

He was presented with the prestigious award by the Balearic President Juan Ramon Bauza, in front of a packed audience of family, friends and fans.

During the ceremony last Monday, December 1, Nadal said:

“Throughout my life I have greatly appreciated the good fortune that I have had to be Mallorcan.”

He went on to extol the virtues of the good climate of the island, although he did joke about the rainy day that occurred during the ceremony.

He added: “The first thing that I do when I’m playing in other countries, whether I win or lose

in the tournament, is to look for the fastest way to get back to Mallorca.”

He went on to praise Mallorca Island Council President Maria Salom saying she was the best ambassador that the island of Mallorca had ever had.

President Bauza in turn praised Nadal, saying he was “one of the best ambassadors that Mallorca has ever had in its history.”

Queen Letizia to the congress aimed at encouraging more people to volunteer their help for good causes across Spain.

It is a busy time for the monarch; she met Pope Francis last week and this was one of only a few solo engagements she has undertaken since her husband, Felipe was made King earlier this year.

During the conference, Queen Letizia, who is taking English lessons, made a short speech in German and then spoke briefly to the audience in English.

She was joined on stage by President of the Balearics, Juan Ramon Bauza, Parliamentary President Margarita Duran and the mayor of Palma, Mateu Isern.

Charitable causes are close to Queen Letizia’s heart; she has spoken on behalf of various charities since her marriage to Felipe in 2004, and has done voluntary work, mainly with children particularly for causes relating to poverty and disability.

The royal couple are regular visitors to Mallorca where they spend their summer holidays with their two daughters Leonor and Sofia, staying at the royal residence, the Marivent Palace.

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INDEX News 1 - 20 Finance 21 - 26 Letters 39 Leapy Lee 40 Daily TV 46 Time Out 48 - 49 Health & Beauty 50 - 51 Food 53 Homes & Gardens 56 Property 57 Classifieds 58 - 59 Boating 60 - 61 Motoring 62 Sport 64

DAMAGED VEHICLE: The car smashed into a forecourt pump.

Car crashes into petrol station

A YOUNG driver had a lucky escape after careering into a petrol pump and sending fuel gushing over a garage forecourt.

The 20-year-old female driver escaped with only minor injuries when she hit the pumps at a Calvia station in the early hours of Sunday morning (November 30).

It appears she lost control of the vehicle as she was approaching the petrol pump, causing severe damage to both the vehicle and the forecourt pump.

Emergency services responded swiftly and thanks to them what could have been a major disaster was quickly averted.

The fire brigade used their

expertise and resources to deal with the flow of petrol that flooded onto the forecourt and soon had the situation under control. The driver was taken to hospital, where she received treatment.

It is alleged that she failed a breath test and was returning home after an evening out with friends.

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NEWS Tourist hopes PALMA Tourist Board has declared that there should be more than 50,000 travellers to the island this winter. Many tour operators and airlines are offering discounts of up to 30 per cent.

Food donation EL CORTE INGLES has donated more than 10 tons of produce to the Balearic Food Bank. The store itself is donating more than one ton of food, with the other nine tons being collected from the general public.

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More air routes studied THE government is looking into providing new air links between the islands and the peninsula.

The body in charge of this, M.E.S., has revealed that one of the amendments presented to adhere to the available community budgets for next year, includes a study to give the Balearics their own airline.

This will be introduced with the direct intention of providing routes that are of particular interest to the islands.

A study is currently being carried out to test the actual feasibility of the situation.

A spokesman for the body carrying out the study, Biel Barcelo, explained that there is more demand than coverage,

and that inter-island routes would be paramount. This would benefit all residents of Mallorca, especially during the winter months when interisland travel is limited.

It is hoped that this will draw attention to the need for more international routes to the island during the winter months also.

Rainy days MALLORCA has registered more than 70 litres of rain in the last few days alone, and there may be a possibility of winds of up to 100 kilometres in the coming days.

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N

ews watch

Miro on show

AN exhibition of the work of revered artist and Mallorcan born Joan Miro is on at Soller Tram station in Palma. Some of the works have never been on display before. The exhibition runs until March 31.

AS Palma airport winds down for the winter, all traffic that would normally pass through Terminal A has now been redirected to Terminal D, to enable repair work to proceed.

Ferry delayed THE Tenacia ferry bound from Barcelona to Mallorca was delayed by more than 20 hours after it crashed into a cement block, which resulted in a hole in the hull. It eventually arrived without further problems.

Scary theatre SPECTACLE: Fair is dedicated to Andalucian horses and their versatility.

Equine beauty and discipline on show

No bullfights THE latest town to make a stand against bullfighting in Mallorca is San Joan. It now joins the other 15 towns on the island against the sport.

Pumpkin parade MURO’s Autumn Fair was once again the site of their annual pumpkin competition. The winning pumpkin weighed in at a huge 266 kilos. The winners were awarded a prize of one euro per kilo, for their showstopping produce.

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Airport changes

Oil prospecting THE Ministry for Agriculture is carrying out a study to discover the effect that oil and gas harvesting would have on the local environment. It is thought that drilling would have a detrimental effect on the the marine environment.

Christmas on ice THE Christmas Ice Rink is now open at Parc de SesEstacions near the Plaza Espana, until January 25. An entrance fee is charged, and gloves are required for both adults and children. Open 10am until 10pm. Information: info@ohpalma.es

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P

URE-BRED Spanish horses take centre stage in the southern city renowned for its equestrian heritage in early December each year, wowing visitors with spectacular performances and equine beauty.

The International PRE Horse Fair (SICAB) is currently taking place in Sevilla until December 7, a trade fair which attracts more than 240,000 visitors and one of the most important on the equestrian calendar. Andalucian horses - known as Pura Raza Español (PRE) or Spanish pure-breeds - are celebrated during the week-long festivities with displays of their beauty and discipline.

SICAB has become the most important singlethemed horse trade fair in the world, dedicated

Quote of the Week In Europe, people go to the Mediterranean coast. I visited Spain, it is very hot and humid in summer. I think Uganda would be a better destination than some of those destinations,’ said Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni, who claims his country is promoted as having “only some chimpanzees and so on.”

exclusively to PREs. Dressage, show-jumping, carriage-driving, bareback riding, prancing and dancing are all part of this unique fair focused entirely on the Andalucian ‘horse of kings’.

Strongly built, with long, thick manes and tails, the Andalucian is a horse of such beauty that it regularly features in major Hollywood movies, usually historical and fantasy epics. All living Andalucians trace their heritage to just a small number of horses bred by religious orders in the 18th and 19th centuries, thus making them particularly special and much sought-after in the world of horse trading.

For more information on the SICAB event in Sevilla, visit www.sicab.org.

CREDITlev radin / Shutterstock.com

Number of the week

€120

MILLION is the amount pledged by Spain to the UN-backed Green Climate Fund to help developing countries respond to climate change and promote low carbon development. So far, the fund has raised nearly €8 billion.

CLASSIC theatre is taking place in English, with a production of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein at the Auditorium in Palma until December 14.

For reservations please call : 971 734 735.

Christmas fair THERE is a Christmas market in the town of Valldemosa from 10am to 6pm until Monday, December 8.

Chilly circus CIRCUS ON ICE, ‘CircoAlegria On Ice’, is a musical ice show, with comedians, acrobats and creatures of the Arctic. Tickets on sale at the box office. Son Fusteret (Camivell de Bunyola) in Palma. From December 5 until January 11. Info and reservations: 662 612 826

And finally...

Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale has revealed that he is fluent in Spanish swear words. The Welshman has been having weekly Spanish lessons since moving to Spain, and when asked if fluent, he replied: “In swear words I am. I certainly understand the team talk as long as the manager doesn’t talk too quickly.”

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NEWS

Gomila plans cleanup

GOMILA: Complaints of rubbish and noise.

THE city council is planning a cleanup operation for Gomila, in the El Terreno district of Palma.

The operation has come into force after several complaints from both business owners and residents that border on the square.

Complaints range from rubbish and bottles

Fallen trees block roads FIREFIGHTERS had to clear away several trees which had fallen onto the road between Andraxt and Estellenc, in the South West of Mallorca.

The area was damaged due to a huge forest fire during the summer last year and during the recent storms, trees were uprooted by the high winds and heavy rainfall.

The road was sealed off by the fire brigade in the early hours of Monday (December 1) morning, as they cleared the debris which had created hazardous

conditions due to the fallen trees.

Motorists were forced to take long detours with the resulting delays on the roads, however firefighters worked quickly and the road was soon reopened.

The fire during the summer of 2013 raged for several days, destroying around 2400 acres of forestry and bush land.

Hundreds of people in the area had to be evacuated from their homes.

Barriers were built in the aftermath, but with the recent torrential rains and winds, they failed to hold the trees in place.

Our View

Black Friday: is apt after violent scenes

W

E saw the usual chaotic scenes on Black Friday in the United States last week, with frenzied shoppers coming to blows as they viciously fought each other over bargains the day after giving thanks for all that they already have.

These unfortunate scenes are now - sadly - a regular occurrence in the UK too, and several shops in Britain witnessed full-scale mayhem, where in some instances the police had to be called to restore peace. To see the carry-on of some of these bargain hunters verbally and physically abusing other shoppers and staff makes the stomach turn. Sure, we all love a good bargain, but to feel the need to become a screaming thug willing to hurt somebody else over a reduced-price television set is really quite distressing.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are gradually gaining traction in other parts of the world since their birth in America. In Spain - a relative newcomer to the party some stores put on Black Friday deals this year in order to attract extra business, but there was nothing like the distasteful scenes we have become accustomed to in the US, and now in the UK. But who’s to say that this will last? As Black Friday becomes more of a tradition and gains in popularity, a future visit to - for example - El Corte Ingles or Zara could become a violent free-for-all as Spaniards feel the need to emulate their American and British counterparts. But let’s hope that common sense and decency prevail, and that we don’t start witnessing the kind of anarchy associated with Black Friday in other countries.

being left on the street, with broken glass being especially dangerous.

Nightime noise has also been highlighted as an issue, and there will be measures put into place to restore the once dignified square to its original glory. It is also hoped that the operation will bring a much needed boost to the area.

NEWS EXTRA

Christmas singalong THERE will be a Christmas singalong at the Vecino Rooms in Puerto Pollensa at 7.30pm, Thursday December 11. Tickets will be available on the door. Price €5 including mulled wine and mince pies.

Proceeds will go to charity.

Everyone welcome.

Trotting Races MANACOR Hippodrome is hosting an afternoon of trotting races starting at 3.30pm on Saturday December 6. The trotting track is located on the Palma - Arta road at kilometer 48.

It’s free entrance for everyone.

Puerto Portals FESTIVE spirit will be in evidence at the annual Christmas Market in Puerto Portals, with live music and entertainment for children.

Running from Friday December 12 until Tuesday January 6 it is open from 12pm to 9pm.

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TV pirates rumbled A TOTAL of 25 residents in the same apartment building in Palma were summoned to appear in court for the distribution of illegal satellite television via the community antennae.

They had been pirating the Spanish channel Canal Plus throughout the building.

The TV channel reported the incident and called for a conviction with fines amounting to €7,600 for each of the residents involved. A total payment of €250,000 was also demanded for damages over the eight-year period that it is thought it was going on.

The defence got the fines lowered to €45,000, and in the event only two inhabitants were actually charged.

They were sentenced to three months imprisonment, and a fine of €3 per day.

DEMOLITION: Palma’s Lluis Sitjar football stadium.

End of an era WEDNESDAY November 26 heralded the beginning of the end for Palma’s Lluis Sitjar football stadium, as demolition of the beloved stadium began.

Opened in 1945, it has been home to Real Mallorca football club, with a capacity of 18,000 fans, and it was the host stadium for all home matches for RCD Mallorca.

Mallorca football club moved stadiums in 1999 when the new stadium at Son Moix opened; however, the reserve team continued to use the stadium until 2007 before moving to the

club’s training complex north of Palma.

The stadium which is situated in the heart of Palma, had fallen into disrepair over recent years. Palma Council declared it to be unsafe and demolition was ordered. The operation is said to have cost well over €1 million.

Although this is a welcome decision for the surrounding neighbourhood, it’s an emotional time for the fans who followed RCD Mallorca over the years.

The football club had expressed a wish to return to the stadium, dependent on refurbishment, but funds were not in place at the time.

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NEWS

Primark is coming to town WORK is under way for the opening of Mallorca’s first Primark store.

The shop will be situated in the new shopping centre being built alongside the old Carrefour, at Coll D’en

Rebassa, strategically placed, just five kilometres from the centre of Palma S’Estada Mallorca Shopping centre is expected to be the largest project being built by

Hunt for driver PALMA Police have launched a search for the driver of a stolen vehicle which smashed into three parked cars.

The incident took place in the centre of Palma, in the Son Gotleu district.

According to an eye witness, the driver of the vehicle, lost control of the car and collided into three other vehicles.

The suspect then leapt from the car and fled the scene on foot.

A few minutes later the police arrived and it was then that it was established that the vehicle had been stolen.

A detailed description of the suspect was given by an eyewitness, and hopefully this will assist in his arrest.

Carrefour Property in Europe and it is the scheduled opening date is Spring 2016. It is hoped that the shopping destination will attract both residents and tourists.

At around 66,000m2 the complex will be home to 120 stores, covering two floors. There will also be an entertainment section, and 2,500 parking places.

Some of the big fashion names are expected to have shops in the complex alongside homeware, beauty and health outlets.

The entertainment complex will contain state of the art cinemas, and outdoor areas, for both eating and relaxing.

Primark will occupy an area of over 7,000m2 and is being hailed as the flagship store to represent the brand in Mallorca.

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NEWS

Samaritans: You talk, we listen It’s that time of year when the usual routine starts to change.

The nights draw in quickly, but the streets are festooned with bright decorations. The weather turns colder, but the restaurants and bars are packed with revellers. Yes, it’s that time – Christmas.

We notice those around us, just the

Trilingual system COUNCILLOR for Education, Nuria Riera, has announced that the government is to propose an Education Pact as a result of public demand.

Reira said the trilingual system, now in operation in many Mallorcan schools, is fundamental to the education system of the islands. The system works with the two official languages, Castellano and Catalan, with English introduced alongside. Each municipality is being discussed individually, and parental opinion will be paramount.

normal people we see every day, but more so now. The old lady two doors down you haven’t seen for several days; a colleague who seems to be behaving differently; the old man sitting in the park staring at nothing; the lady sitting drinking endless cups of tea in the cafe.

Why not just approach them with a smile and ask how they are? They may appreciate this small gesture.

But Christmas isn’t just about others, it is also about you. This time of year can be very lonely for many people. The same advice holds good for you. Seek out that listening ear, smile, be open to others just as much as you are to yourself.

Samaritans in Spain offers a free, totally confidential listening service by phone, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, on 902 883 535, or on email at pat@samaritansinspain.com The current cost of calling the Samaritans 902 number is nine cents for the connection, plus four to eight cents per minute depending on the time of day.

Mobile prices differ and can cost between 40 to 80 cents per minute.

Visit www.euroweeklynews.com and click on the Spanish news section.

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NEWS

Chinese Golfers tour the island A DELEGATION of Chinese tour operators and golfing enthusiasts has visited Mallorca to explore the possibilities of opening up golfing trips from China.

The 27-strong group of representatives from golfing companies

and Chinese tour operators was taken on a tour to play various courses, including Santa Ponsa, Alcanda and Son Muntaner.

The trip included an introduction to the cuisine of the island, and took in some of its well known vineyards. The

group stayed at the Hotel Valparaiso, now under Chinese ownership.

The first groups are expected to arrive this winter, and will be combining their golfing holiday in Mallorca with a short trip to Barcelona. It is hoped that the proposal will gain the support of the

Ministry of Tourism.

Pedro Irondo, president of one of the most prestigious Asian travel groups, said that it will be a trial-and-error operation to begin with, but added that the region has huge potential for this type of tourism.

RUNNERS: From left, Caitlin Berger-Black, Alfonso Crespi Tortella, Maya

Get your running shoes on KIDS from all over Mallorca got together to take part in a running event.

Sporting organisation Meclatsport arranged the event, called Marraxti-Circuito Cros, between several training clubs from all over the island.

Distances were between 500 metres for the little ones up to 9,000 metres for the experienced adults.

Training sessions at the Poli Deportivo in Calvia are run by Alfonso Crespi Tortella who can be contacted on 653099226.

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We hope the information provided in this article is of interest.

To contact Linea Directa please call 902 123 309. More information online at www.lineadirecta.es.

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Donate a toy to a child in need THE Cruz Roja (Red Cross) is launching its annual Christmas campaign to collect toys for families in need.

The aims of the Cruz Roja campaign are to improve the quality of life for youngsters in families experiencing hardship, improve personal development and skills through play and ensure that no child is without a toy this Christmas.

Their aim is to collect more than 2,000 toys in the Balearics to beat

last year’s successful campaign.

Toys must be new, non-violent, educational and suitable for both boys and girls from three-12 years old. If you wish to donate a toy, you can do so until December 19 at Specsavers Opticas in Avda Rei Jaume 1, 117,Santa Ponça, your local Cruz Roja office and your local post office.

More information: 0034 871 964 331 or visit www.specsavers.es.

Time to party!

THE Bray Marine International and Friends Christmas Ball is being held at Mood Beach in Costa D'en Blanes on Saturday (December 6) at 7.30pm It’s in aid of cancer charities and tickets are €49 and including welcome cava, a three-course dinner, and house wines and beers..

If you can’t make it to the dinner then go to the after party for €20 from 11pm.

More information: info@moodbeach.com or call 971 676 456.

Charity lunch THE Cala Nova Cancer Charity Shop is inviting everyone to its Christmas lunch and market.

It is on Friday December 12 at Hotel OD Port Portals.

Doors will open at 12.30pm. There will be a buffet lunch with wine, a glass of cava on arrival and live entertainment. Price is €30. More information on: 971 708 664.

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Have a luxury Lifestyle...

FOR those extra special touches to your home or boat, then you must visit the Lifestyle Properties brand new showroom in Portals Nous.

Lifestyle can provide all you need to make your ideas and visions come to life, bringing all the necessary

elements together under one roof and saving you having to use various suppliers to get the effect you want.

The team at Lifestyle Properties are Tina Jarret Walker, Tracey Furness and Carl Flay, and they have come together to give a unique service like

no other in Mallorca.

Tina has been on the island for the last 22 years running a successful interior furnishings business, Transformations, and she is bringing her superior knowledge and skills to the business.

Tracey has been in Mallorca for 18 years, and has always been involved in the yachting business. She is an expert in the field of yacht charters, which are also catered for under the same Lifestyle brand.

Tracey's partner, Carl Flay, of Lifestyle Reforms, has been in the building trade in Mallorca for around 25 years, and is experienced in all the challenges that construction on the island can bring. His team of experienced tradesmen can transform any ideas you may have into a stunning reality.

Bespoke kitchens are also available, made to measure by Jake Regan, who brings an extra dimension to the team.

Whatever you are thinking of, why not visit the shop in Portals village, where you will find fabulous displays and a host of ideas, including an amazing range of fabric samples for both interior and exterior.

Lifestyle Properties. Carretera Andratx 31, Local 4, Portal Nous, Calvia, Mallorca, 07180 Opening hours 9am - 6pm Telephone: 971 675 035 or 609 700 538

NEWS NEWS EXTRA

Medieval market A GASTRONOMIC fair and market will be held this Saturday, December 6, on the Passeig de Sagrera, starting at 10am. The market will feature stalls selling crafts and produce from the Balearics.

Car squatter POLICE arrested a 39-year-old Latvian who was apparently living in various cars parked at the airport. At the time of the arrest he was living inside a Mercedes.

He was caught on CCTV.

Drugs arrests FIVE people from Columbia and Ecuador appeared in court in Palma on Monday accused of smuggling cocaine into Mallorca. The five were sentenced to a total of 25 years in prison.

The two leaders accepted a fine of â‚Ź1 million.

LUXURIOUS: Make your dreams come true.

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Malen Ortiz: still missed a year on SUNDAY marked the sad anniversary of the disappearance of teenager Malen Ortiz.

Around 100 people, including friends and relatives gathered to commemorate the missing girl at the roundabout of Sa Pinada, close to Santa Ponsa.

There are not too many residents on Mallorca who do not occasionally think about the young girl’s disappearance, and the truth of the unsolved mystery.

The teenager, who would now be 16 years old, was last seen on December 2, 2013, waiting at a bus stop in Magaluf in the South West of Mallorca.

She was thought to have been taking the bus to visit a friend in Son Ferrer, where she was expected for dinner.

Tragically, Malen LOCAL residents can now obtain a discount for a never arrived at her trip on the historic Soller tram. The tram runs destination.

The surrounding area from the centre of Palma, to the picturesque town of Soller, with a connecting tram that takes has been repeatedly scoured by police and passengers down into the port.

In the future, residents will pay only â‚Ź7 for a forensic units, but as yet not revealed one-way trip in place of the usual â‚Ź9. This has discount will be available to residents only on tangible evidence.

Locals still hope that proof of relevant paperwork.

The Tren de Soller will be closing this winter the youngster left home after a for its annual break from December 9, until voluntarily, family feud.

January 31 2015.

Locals to get tram discount

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SOS ANIMAL: Volunteers manned the stalls.

WELCOME FIGURE: Santa Claus in his grotto.

Christmas cheer in Santa Ponsa IT may have been wet and windy outside, but inside the Santa Ponsa Country Club it was anything but, where a fun Christmas market was held.

The Country Club known for its superb sporting facilities and boasting a top class spa, gym and dining options, was host to the charity affair. This year’s proceeds went to SOS Animal Mallorca.

There was a raffle with many great prizes including Christmas hampers packed with all types of festive goodies. Stalls displaying a variety of things to buy, were decked out in festive fashion. Art, fashion, crafts, jewellery, beauty products, it was all there.

No Christmas market would be complete without the edible goodies, from a variety of countries, all washed down with piping hot and spicy mulled wine.

There was plenty of entertainment for the little ones, and the day would not have been complete without a trip to visit Santa in his magical grotto.

NEWS

Entertainer Mike Jones provided live entertainment, and kept the Christmas cheer going.

SOS Animal Mallorca carries out many good works on the island. One of its main duties is the saving of abandoned animals. The association was created in 1995 by both foreign and Mallorcan people with a desire to better the plight of animals.

Since 1998 there has been a co-operation agreement between the association and the municipality of Calvia, which governs the housing and care of the dogs and cats sent to the municipal pound. The charity takes them if they are not found homes.

Since the beginning of this system, no animal has had to be put down.The charity also helps other pounds on the island relocate some of the animals and place them in foster homes.

You can contact them on: info@sos-animalmallorca.org

NEWS EXTRA

Motorist imprisoned A DRIVER who hit and killed a cyclist on the road between Arta and Can Picafort in November 2011, has been jailed for four years and five months.

Stones thrown A WOMAN was injured by the Inca motorway when a stone hit the windscreen of her car. Several stones were thrown from a bridge above the motorway breaking the car’s glass and cutting the woman’s face.

Regatta time THE Palma Trophy will be contested at the Muelle San Pedro in Palma. This will be taking place on Saturday December 6 and Sunday December 7, from 11am until 6pm. Please call for more information on 971 726848.

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Air-raid A POLICE helicopter located more than 2,500 cannabis plants in a Granada village.

Guardia Civil officers confiscated them together with a gun and three kilos of marihuana. Two people were arrested.

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News from our editions With six editions and read by more than half a million people, EWN is Spain’s largest free local English-language newspaper

Financial aid TOWNS in the Axarquia will benefit from financial aid provided by Malaga Provincial Government. In total, €8.8 million will be spent in 30 towns around the region, including Nerja, Benamargosa, Moclinejo and Periana.

COSTA DEL SOL

Malaga marathon

Hazardous training

TABERNAS library, Modesto Garcia, has received the national Maria Moliner award for encouraging reading. This is the second year in a row that Tabernas has gained the prestigious award.

Smell alert

A WOMAN died last Wednesday after being involved in a head-on collision with a truck on the A-356 at Velez Malaga. She was taken by helicopter to the Virgen de la Victoria hospital, where she died as a result of her injuries.

COSTA DE ALMERÍA

Library award

NATIONAL Police in Velez-Malaga have recovered equipment stolen from Velez Football Club. It included footballs, sports equipment and electronic devices, amongst other items.

Fatal collision

residents’ most frequent complaints, councillors said.

MORE than 30 firefighters from across Almeria headed to Turre and participated in a course about how to handle incidents involving hazardous materials.

Kit retrieved

A 65-YEAR-OLD man has been found dead at his home in Motril. National Police officers were alerted by a neighbour who had noticed a strong smell coming from the apartment.

NEWS DESK

HONOURED: Pamela (third from left) is congratulated by Alfaz del Pi Mayor Vicente Arques and Councillors Genoveva Tent and Vicenta Baldo.

British Empire Medal for expat

PAMELA DAWSON TASKER, who has lived on the Costa Blanca for more than 30 years, has received the British Empire Medal (BEM) for her charitable work.

Receiving the medal from the Ambassador’s Residence in Madrid, Pamela told EWN that she had been ‘stunned’ to receive the call from the ambassador to say she had been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

“I couldn’t believe it and had to keep it quiet until it was officially announced,” said Pamela.

On accepting the medal, Pamela said it was not just for her, but in recognition of all the volunteers.

Pamela started her work in 1982 distributing poppy boxes for the Royal British Legion (RBL). She went on to found the RBL Benidorm District Branch and remains its secretary as well as being President of the local branch of cancer charity AECC in Alfaz del Pi. She thanked the town hall for supporting her over the years.

Mayor Vicente Arques and Councillors Genoveva Tent and Vicenta Baldo praised her strength and tenacity.

Fake crime A MAN has been arrested for falsely reporting a crime. He said a street vendor had mugged him outside a bank and stolen €665. He had even cut his own head, which needed six stitches.

Tummy bug SEVENTY children and four adults have now been reported as being affected by a gastroenteritis outbreak at a private school in Huercal de Almeria. An investigation by the Department of Health remains open.

Python star ALMERIA’S boulevard will have a new star when Terry Gilliam gets his. The Monty Python star and acclaimed director of such films as Twelve Monkeys will have his star installed this week.

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

Hit-and-run

THE fifth edition of the Cabberty Malaga Marathon will be held on Sunday, December 7. The starting and the finishing lines are located in Paseo del Parque and as many as 3,000 people have reportedly registered to participate in the event.

visiting Estepona in October registered a 36.18 per cent increase compared to 2013 and that overnight stays in local hotels grew by 29.79 per cent.

regional government’s concession to reorganise moorings and build shops and offices at Javea’s Fontana canal. Its €6 million bid was the only one received.

Hiring now

Cat killer jailed

Tight squeeze

A MAN has been sentenced to two months behind bars for killing two cats. The 81year-old Estepona resident was reportedly seen by a woman throwing the animals onto the pavement and then putting their dead bodies in a bin.

ALCOY Council has spent €11,300 on adapting a Proteccion Civil off-roader into a snow-plough and salt-spreader. Normal vehicles are too wide for some of the town’s narrow streets, sources explained.

A FIRE broke out in the engine of a small boat at Torrevieja's Marina Internacional, causing a minor fuel spillage.

COSTA BLANCA NORTH

Fishy business

Illegal supply

GANDIA’S fishing guild has been ordered to return 40 kilos of gilt-head bream confiscated from amateur fishermen last March. They were wrongly accused of stealing the fish, now frozen, from the guild’s nets.

THIRTY-SIX illegal electricity hook-ups have been discovered and disconnected in Elda. Owners face prison sentences in convicted.

Dog-watch

MORE than 6,500 people defied the rain on Sunday to take part in Elche's solidarity run against cancer, organised by the Association of Women Affected by Breast Cancer.

EMIRATES is holding an open and assessment day in Malaga on Thursday December 18 for cabin crew. Applicants must be older than 21, speak English, and present an updated CV in English.

Council website

Oil slick fears

MALAGA Council has launched a new website - www.gobiernoabierto.malaga.eu - where citizens can ask questions, talk to councillors, have access to information regarding budgets and accounts, and make proposals.

WRECKAGE from a fishing boat which sank off Campello was spotted near the shore following the recent bad weather. The remainder will be salvaged to prevent spillage from the boat’s 800 litres of fuel.

Visitors increase

Canal decision

DATA shows that the influx of tourists

NOU FONTANA has been awarded the

ALTEA Town Hall will fine dog-owners who do not clear up after their pets. Dogs fouling streets and pavements is one of

TWO defendants are facing 20 years in prison for allegedly killing a man in La Mata. The two are accused of waiting for the man to leave a restaurant before intentionally running him over in January 2003.

Boat fire

Cancer run

20

E W N 4 - 10 December 2014 / Mallorca

S CANDINAVIAN P RESS

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Stories making headlines in Europe

DENMARK - Twenty more acts have been added to the line-up for the 2015 Roskilde Festival, bringing the total number of acts to 169 for the week long music festival.

Danish Grand Prix?

DENMARK - A working group is set to meet Formula 1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone to discuss the possibility of Denmark hosting a Grand Prix for the 2018 Formula 1 calendar.

It’s a dog’s life A JACK RUSSELL called Meg has been named as Britain’s oldest dog at the age of 25. Meg’s owner has put her longevity down to a diet of fish fingers, pasta and roast dinners. Meg is 113 years old in dog years.

Brothers jailed TWO brothers in the UK have been jailed for conspiring to attend a terrorist training camp in Syria. The brothers from east London are the first in Britain to be convicted for joining jihad, receiving sentences of four-and-a-half years and three years.

Poor cancer survival A STUDY has found that UK cancer survival rates are lower than some Third

World countries. Patients in Puerto Rico, Indonesia and Malaysia are more likely to survive some cancers than British patients.

Plus-size fashion THE UK’s first ever fashion magazine for plussize women has gone international. SLiNK magazine was set up because ‘beauty and style doesn’t stop at size 8,’ and is available in 15 countries.

Pricey skeleton A RARE woolly mammoth skeleton has been purchased at an auction in the UK for £189,000.

The skeleton of the Ice Age mammal was purchased by an anonymous buyer at Summer Place Auctions.

F1: Danish GP could be on the way.

UN posting DENMARK - Danish MP Mogens Lyketoft will become the first Dane to serve as president of the UN General Assembly when he takes over the post next year.

No snow

SWEDEN - A contestant on Sweden’s hit television show Idol has been found dead at his home in Gotland. The cause of death of Tristan Bjorling, aged 19, has not been made public.

Caring chocs A RUSSIAN chocolate maker has released a series of chocolate bars bearing the image of President Vladimir Putin crying, hugging a puppy and nursing a young deer, in order to show the president’s more ‘caring’ side.

OAP charged NORWAY - A 69-yearold pensioner has been charged with attempted murder in Lillehammer after he shot and nearly killed a policeman with a shotgun.

SNOWY STOCKHOLM: Maybe not this year.

Chilled-out cops MOSCOW police are to get ‘chill-out’ rooms featuring massage chairs, massage helmets and music, in an effort to help them relax from the everyday stresses they endure as part of the job.

Passenger push AUTHORITIES in Siberia are investigating an

A sensitive injury POLICE in Leipzig are searching for a man who bit another man’s testicles during a drunken street fight.

The victim was taken to a clinic with sensitive injuries but allowed home the same day.

High employment

Blatter must go incident in which passengers on a flight from Krasnodar to Igarka were supposedly asked to disembark and push the plane down the frozen runway in preparation for takeoff.

Pop idol

IMMIGRANTS in Germany contribute around €22 billion to government coffers, a new study has found. This figure has risen by 50 per cent in the last 10 years.

UNEMPLOYMENT in Germany fell to a record low during November of this year. The country’s unemployment figure now stands at just 6.6 per cent.

RUSSIAN PRESS

SWEDEN - Sweden is unlikely to get a white Christmas this year after a global weather agency has predicted that temperatures will not drop too much in December. It is likely to rain rather than snow.

GERMAN PRESS Economy benefiting

BRITISH PRESS Festival lineup for 2015

EUROPEAN PRESS

Putin’s tiger A SIBERIAN tiger released into the wild near the Chinese border under Putin’s animal protection programme is being blamed for the slaughter of 18 goats on a farm in China.

Cat sparks fire A CAT in the Crimean capital of Simferopol left 27,000 people without electricity when an electrical discharge from her body caused a fire at a power substation. The female cat died in the incident.

REINHARD RAUBULL, the head of the German football league, has called on FIFA president Sepp Blatter to resign over controversies surrounding the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

Beach murder AN elderly German couple have been found hacked to death on a beach on the Caribbean island of Tobago.

The couple owned a home on the island and were well known locally.

ISIS deaths GERMAN intelligence sources say that around 60 Germans have so far died fighting for the jihadist group ISIS in Syria and Iraq. They warned that others have returned to Germany and could pose a threat at home.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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inance F A EURO WEEKLY NEWS 6 PAGE SPECIAL SECTION // WWW.EWNBUSINESS.COM

4 - 10 December 2014 / Mallorca

business & legal

September with a reserve price of €40 million. El Corte Ingles put in the winning €136 million bid.

The Castellana store was built in 1969, originally covering an area of under 50,000 square metres.

This grew by another 130,000 square metres in 2011, following an extension

Slim in, Soros out for FCC NEGOTIATIONS between Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC) and George Soros foundered after 10 days.

Soros was on the point of acquiring 25 per cent of Esther Koplowitz’s 50.1 per cent holding in the construction and services company.

Now he is likely to be replaced by the Mexican telecoms magnate Carlos Slim, the second-richest man on the Forbes Rich List.

If negotiations prosper Slim would hand over €660 million for the same 25 per cent stake.

Assuming the deal goes ahead, €500 million would be assigned to acquiring the rights to

shares in the capital increase recently approved by the FCC board, giving Slim a stake equal to Koplowitz’s. The remaining €160 million would cover Koplowitz’s own subscription rights.

Koplowitz needs funds to pay the interest on the €1 billion loan extended

by BBVA and Bankia to the holding company B1998 through which her family controls FCC. If Slim buys into FCC he will be one of many other investors like Warren Buffett and Microsoft’s Bill Gates - he owns a 6 per cent stake - who are buying relatively cheaply now, while waiting for Spain’s future turnaround.

constructed on the €480 million site of the old Windsor tower that was destroyed by fire in 2005.

The new 13,000 square metre site opposite the present store will add a built area of approximately 35,000 square metres, making the new complex Spain’s biggest El Corte Ingles store.

B

usiness extra

Cheaper rates MOTORWAY tolls could be reduced during offpeak periods next year.

Lowering charges when traffic is at its lightest should encourage more use of the roads, ministry of Public Works sources said.

More cars, more work FORD in Almussafes (Valencia) will take on 700 more workers next year. The first 200 should start in January and will produce an additional 100 cars a day.

Spanish and French suitors for BT TELEFONICA is negotiating the sale of its UK mobile subsidiary O2 to BT. Talks between the two parties are at a very early stage, but the deal would include a 20 per cent stake in BT in a strategic alliance designed to strengthen both groups.

Another mobile company EE, which is owned by the French

operator Orange, is also sounding out BT the British company confirmed.

Although O2 is not quoted on the stock exchange, Telefonica paid €26 billion for the company in 2005.

The transaction included Irish and German assets, although BT would be interested only in the UK operation, sources said.

21

STAT OF WEEK A TOTAL of 116,826 people were laid off work through redundancy during the first nine months of 2014. This was 60 per cent fewer than during the same period last year.

Flagship store expands THE flagship El Corte Ingles store in Madrid’s Paseo de la Castellana is to be enlarged.

The group headed by Dimas Gimeno has acquired land owned by Spain’s track operator Adif that was used until now as a car park.

Located in the Azca district in Madrid’s business and finance centre it was auctioned last

EWN

MADRID: El Corte Ingles is to be expanded.

22

E W N 4 - 10 December 2014 / Mallorca

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LONDON - FTSE 100

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY WITH US

C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 2

C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) 3i Group PLC 445.25 Aberdeen Asset Mngmnt 453.65 Admiral Group PLC 1242.00 Aggreko PLC 1519.00 Anglo American PLC 1265.50 Antofagasta PLC 716.00 ARM Holdings PLC 912.75 Ashtead Group PLC 1047.00 Associated Britsh Foods 3216.00 AstraZeneca PLC 4769.00 Aviva PLC 504.75 Babcock International 1136.50 BAE Systems PLC 482.35 Barclays PLC 244.88 BG Group PLC 866.90 BHP Billiton PLC 1443.50 BP PLC 411.52 British Amrcan Tobacco 3776.00

C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. 1.40 0.32 3.30 0.73 2.00 0.16 -15.00 -0.98 -56.50 -4.28 -21.00 -2.85 -1.50 -0.16 -7.00 -0.66 11.20 0.35 -11.50 -0.24 -3.50 -0.69 0.00 0.00 0.90 0.19 -0.25 -0.10 -33.60 -3.73 -73.50 -4.85 -8.70 -2.07 -19.50 -0.51

NET VOLUME 142.06 386.04 15.33 21.83 848.92 393.15 268.75 145.09 22.50 137.09 580.70 49.64 289.48 1,759.35 1,247.82 1,409.74 2,894.29 258.93

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Units per €

US dollar ................................................................1.24346 Japan yen...............................................................147.652 Switzerland franc................................................1.20315 Denmark kroner ..................................................7.44101 Norway kroner ..................................................8.74904

currenciesdirect.com/mallorca • Tel: +34 687 906 226 C O M PA N Y

PRICE(P)

British Land Co PLC BT Group PLC Bunzl PLC Burberry Group PLC Capita PLC Carnival PLC Centrica PLC

772.00 415.70 1802.00 1642.00 1073.50 2837.00 284.75

DOW JONES

NASDAQ

C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 2

C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 2

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 KO The Coca-Cola Co DIS Walt Disney Co DD E I du Pont de Nemours and Co XOM Exxon Mobil Corp GE General Electric Co GS Goldman Sachs Group Inc HD Home Depot Inc IBM International Business Machine...

INTC Intel Corp 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 TRV Travelers Companies Inc UTX United Technologies Corp UNH UnitedHealth Group Inc VZ Verizon Communications Inc V Visa Inc WMT Wal-Mart Stores Inc

PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 160.09 92.42 35.38 134.36 100.60 108.87 27.64 44.83 92.51 71.40 90.54 26.49 188.41 99.40 162.17 37.25 108.25 60.16 96.81 60.40 47.81 99.29 31.15 90.43 104.45 110.08 98.63 50.59 258.19 87.54

+1.78 +0.97 +0.25 -0.42 -5.19 -6.24 +0.215 +0.54 +0.59 -0.07 -3.94 -0.38 -0.11 +1.70 +0.22 +0.35 +1.04 -0.18 +0.59 +0.65 +0.06 +1.49 +0.05 +1.55 +0.08 -0.08 +0.52 +0.55 +0.93 +2.56

+1.12% +1.06% +0.71% -0.31% -4.91% -5.42% +0.78% +1.22% +0.64% -0.10% -4.17% -1.41% -0.06% +1.74% +0.14% +0.95% +0.97% -0.30% +0.61% +1.09% +0.13% +1.52% +0.16% +1.74% +0.08% -0.07% +0.53% +1.10% +0.36% +3.01%

1.6M 3.1M 12.7M 2.1M 5.8M 11.9M 18.1M 10.5M 3.9M 2.1M 19.6M 31.2M 1.2M 3.3M 2.4M 19.1M 5.9M 6.8M 3.4M 6.2M 21.5M 1.8M 20.3M 7.7M 834.6K 2.1M 2.2M 9.5M 1.3M 7.8M

1.25732

0.79533

C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. 4.00 5.50 15.00 -8.00 4.00 19.00 0.10

C O M PA N Y

0.52 1.34 0.84 -0.48 0.37 0.67 0.04

NET VOLUME 116.31 1,426.40 36.90 84.15 83.40 35.42 366.55

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

$ 84.85 $ 25.58 $ 6.90 $ 11.20 $ 7.65 $ 24.70 $ 21.24 $ 7.50 $ 20.35 $ 83.09 $ 48.53

14.38 ▲ 20.41% 3.75 ▲ 17.18% 0.95 ▲ 15.97% 1.30 ▲ 13.13% 0.64 ▲ 9.13% 1.99 ▲ 8.76% 1.69 ▲ 8.64% 0.59 ▲ 8.54% 1.59 ▲ 8.48% 6.42 ▲ 8.37% 3.56 ▲ 7.92%

$ 4.01 $ 29.51 $ 39.46 $ 19.1098 $ 2.05 $ 16.41 $ 7.02 $ 11.74 $ 29.42 $ 18.25 $ 41.52

2.32 ▼ 36.65% 9.02 ▼ 23.41% 10.08 ▼ 20.35% 4.6902 ▼ 19.71% 0.46 ▼ 18.33% 3.66 ▼ 18.24% 1.53 ▼ 17.89% 2.46 ▼ 17.32% 6.13 ▼ 17.24% 3.70 ▼ 16.86% 7.93 ▼ 16.04%

Most Advanced VelocityShares 3x Inverse Silver ETN China Mobile Games and Entertainment Bio Blast Pharma Ltd. SCYNEXIS, Inc. Affimed N.V. Radius Health, Inc. iDreamSky Technology Limited Lombard Medical, Inc. Vitae Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 3X Inverse Gold ETN Velocityshares American Airlines Group, Inc.

Most Declined Energy XXI Ltd. PDC Energy, Inc. Carrizo Oil & Gas, Inc. VelocityShares 3x Long Silver ETN Warren Resources, Inc. Linn Co, LLC Rex Energy Corporation Mid-Con Energy Partners, LP Rosetta Resources Inc. Linn Energy, LLC Golar LNG Limited

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) Coca-Cola HBC AG 1451.00 Compass Group PLC 1098.00 CRH PLC 1500.00 Diageo PLC 1997.50 Direct Line Insurance 295.70 Dixons Carphone PLC 426.35 easyJet PLC 1685.00 Experian PLC 1009.00 Fresnillo PLC 690.25 Friends Life Group Ltd 369.65 G4S PLC 276.55 GKN PLC 344.95 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1492.50 Glencore PLC 307.90 Hammerson PLC 625.25 Hargreaves Lansdown 969.50 HSBC Holdings PLC 631.80 IMI PLC 1167.50 Imperial Tobacco Group 2958.00 InterContinental Hotels 2680.50 International Consldtd ... 465.20 Intertek Group PLC 2319.00 Intu Properties PLC 353.65 ITV PLC 213.45 Johnson Matthey PLC 3357.50 Kingfisher PLC 312.90 Land Securities Group 1193.00 Legal & General Group 246.50 Lloyds Banking Group 80.43 London Stock Exchange 2256.00 Marks & Spencer Group 488.95 Meggitt PLC 502.00 Mondi PLC 1064.50 Morrison (Wm) Sprmrkts 176.60 National Grid PLC 932.75 Next PLC 6795.00 Old Mutual PLC 197.30 Pearson PLC 1231.00 Persimmon PLC 1533.00 Petrofac Ltd 798.00 Prudential PLC 1547.50 Randgold Resources Ltd 4062.50 Reckitt Benckiser Group 5300.00 Reed Elsevier PLC 1122.00 Rio Tinto PLC 2901.50 Rolls-Royce Holdings 839.25 Royal Bank of Scotland 394.45 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 2162.00 Royal Mail PLC 416.70 RSA Insurance Group 470.00 SABMiller PLC 3510.25 Sage Group (The) PLC 405.90 Sainsbury (J) PLC 230.50 Schroders PLC 2691.00 Severn Trent PLC 2044.50 Shire PLC 4568.50 Sky PLC 929.75 Smith & Nephew PLC 1112.00 Smiths Group PLC 1140.00 Sports Direct Interntnl... 661.00 SSE PLC 1661.50 Standard Chartered PLC 924.20 Standard Life PLC 424.35 St James's Place PLC 791.00 Tesco PLC 184.88 Travis Perkins PLC 1800.50 TUI Travel PLC 443.75 Tullow Oil PLC 393.05 Unilever PLC 2711.00 United Utilities Group 906.00 Vodafone Group PLC 229.07 Weir Group PLC 1793.50 Whitbread PLC 4631.00 Wolseley PLC 3581.50 WPP PLC 1339.50

CHANGE -1.00 7.11 -11.00 16.00 1.30 3.20 35.04 -4.00 -21.06 0.50 0.30 -0.80 7.50 -12.45 1.50 -6.00 -5.40 -13.64 -2.00 -29.00 7.70 -16.00 -3.10 -0.80 34.00 0.90 4.00 -0.10 0.11 3.00 0.60 -1.50 -31.00 -1.90 3.00 20.00 -3.10 0.00 0.00 -27.50 -0.50 -188.87 45.00 9.00 -90.50 -3.00 -0.60 -60.00 -1.30 1.10 -55.00 -1.40 -2.90 -8.00 1.00 12.00 -2.00 2.00 -17.00 1.00 21.36 -12.70 0.20 -3.00 -1.55 -6.00 -0.89 -32.85 5.00 0.50 -4.95 -81.00 44.00 -9.00 -1.00

% C H G. -0.07 0.65 -0.73 0.81 0.44 0.76 2.12 -0.39 -2.96 0.14 0.11 -0.23 0.51 -3.89 0.24 -0.62 -0.85 -1.15 -0.07 -1.07 1.68 -0.69 -0.87 -0.37 1.02 0.29 0.34 -0.04 0.14 0.13 0.12 -0.30 -2.83 -1.06 0.32 0.30 -1.55 0.00 0.00 -3.33 -0.03 -4.44 0.86 0.81 -3.02 -0.36 -0.15 -2.70 -0.31 0.23 -1.54 -0.34 -1.24 -0.30 0.05 0.26 -0.21 0.18 -1.47 0.15 1.30 -1.36 0.05 -0.38 -0.83 -0.33 -0.20 -7.71 0.18 0.06 -2.12 -4.32 0.96 -0.25 -0.07

VOLUME 16.95 166.21 38.07 325.74 100.38 198.59 108.73 48.12 165.10 224.15 93.92 86.66 370.01 5,983.83 37.76 26.39 2,147.54 63.67 82.15 60.03 489.77 17.21 400.47 2,727.24 21.37 286.67 51.95 998.04 7,230.31 21.22 228.62 61.79 135.50 123.16 834.86 9.23 1,131.29 41.82 34.82 187.12 242.06 41.02 70.27 161.45 531.02 245.39 505.05 330.95 93.95 38.45 280.22 74.89 338.90 4.62 34.80 64.05 318.17 116.48 48.27 36.83 205.20 701.17 136.71 128.94 1,095.77 14.09 77.40 826.01 103.80 193.69 12,360.28 68.08 42.80 39.41 155.11

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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4 - 10 December 2014 / Mallorca

EWN

23

It’s a business give-away IT was my first experience of a business culture radically different from our own.

Having ordered drinks at the New York bar I asked if I could have a box of matches. A plate, filled with printed cover book matches, was pushed in my direction. “Help yourself,” the bartender smiled.

Thanking him, I took some change and held it out towards him. He looked at me strangely: “There’s no charge,” he smiled.

I soon caught on. Before too long I realised that Americans, streets ahead on business acumen, were good at giving things away.

As it so happened, one of my first

Talking shop Mike Walsh Mike Walsh was for 20 years Regional Assessment Manager for the Guild of Master Craftsmen, Britain’s biggest quality assurance body for businesses.

www.michaelwalsh.es • 966 786 932

jobs on leaving my seagoing career, was that of a salesman engaged by Starline Business Gifts Company of Blackpool.

The directors, one of whom was American, set about introducing the business gifts way of doing things in

Britain. At the time it was a novel approach to generating business and goodwill.

There was little competition, only a Midland-based company selling printed car tax disc holders for windscreens. If you could print on it, Starline sold it.

Quickly cottoning on I set out to call on businesses. There was some head scratching as I introduced the concept of building business by giving away free stuff. The best sellers were printed pens, desk calendars, key fobs, and tax discs.

In my arsenal of sales aids, a catalogue filled with every imaginable printed gift from wall calendars to paper weights, desk clocks to

plastic carrier bags.

Taking the printed car key fob as an example, the concept was as simple as it was ingenious. “Thanks for the business. Here is a small thank you,” the garage proprietor would smile. “If you ever need me here’s the number on the key fob.”

Not a big deal today, but the novelty and business sense behind the idea of giving small tokens of appreciation, that coincidentally keeps your business card on your client’s desk, quickly caught on.

Each one of us appreciates an unexpected gift.

Unlike the business card, business gifts last much longer.

Extra income for Madrid underground based on images projected onto underground train windows.

This is the latest advertising initiative due to be put in place during the first few months of

2015 between Nuevos Ministerios and Colombio stations on the Number Eight line by Canadian company Digital Underground. The system, which has not yet been

Can he enclose his terrace?

Q. Another owner and I are in a protracted legal battle with our community president regarding the enclosure of our terraces. Three years ago we obtained permission from our

By David Searl previous president to erect an awning-type structure that enclosed our rear terraces. This decision was reversed by the new president, after we had each spent almost €3,000 for the structures. I believe a recent change in the Horizontal Property Law allows for the enclosing of terraces. Is this correct?

A O (Murcia)

You and the Law in Spain

A. The short answer is: yes. However, let us take this by parts. First, you are not in ‘a legal battle’ with your president. The president on his own has no power to authorise or to deny the enclosure of a terrace. Only the owners in their collective wisdom at the AGM can do so.

Revised Article 10 of the Horizontal Property Law as amended in 2013 requires a favourable vote of three-fifths of the community members to authorise changes such as enclosure of terraces.

These formerly required a unanimous vote.

So you two owners wish to place on the agenda for the next AGM a request to authorise the enclosure of your

used in Spain, is already running in cities including Hong Kong, London and Santiago de Chile.

LED lights are installed in the walls of the underground tunnels and activated by the movement of the trains, projecting silent moving images onto the windows.

A Madrid Metro spokesman stressed that safety would not be affected in any way as the systems do not interfere with the trains.

All is forgiven

Madrid Metro will be paid €200,000 per year by Digital Underground for at least two years with the possibility to renew the contract for another two.

It will consider placing the new advertising system on other lines depending on the results from Line Eight.

The project is part of Madrid Metro’s new policy to increase income following reductions in passenger numbers over the last few years.

DESPITE Spanish consortium Sacyr’s three-month halt earlier this year on the canalwidening project owing to overspends, Spanish companies do not have a bad image, said Panama City’s mayor.

There was tension at the time and Panamanians will not forget the conflict, but Spanish companies continue to be welcome, he added.

JORG HACKEMANN / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

MADRID METRO will gain €200,000 from a new advertising system to be implemented on Line Eight of the city’s underground network.

The system will be

BUSINESS EXTRA

IMAGES: Metro windows could soon carry advertising.

Better than the boss SIXTY-FOUR per cent of Spanish employees believe they could do a better job than their bosses. Another 54 per cent would prefer a different superior, they told recruitment consultants Robert Walters.

Car subsidy success terraces. If three-fifths of the votes favour this proposal, the matter is settled.

Send your questions for David Searl through lawyers Ubeda-Retana & Associates in Fuengirola at Ask@lawtaxspain.com, or call 952 667 090.

SPAIN’S subsidy programme for the purchase of new cars is proving to be a continuing success, with figures released this week showing new cars sales were up 17.7 per cent in

November, year-on-year. The November growth marks the 15th consecutive month of increased new car sales and the current subsidy programme is due to last until the end of the year.

24

J

E W N 4 - 10 December 2014 / Mallorca

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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

Eurozone recovery long way to go

UST when one central bank threatens to take away the punch bowl driving financial markets over the last five years, another steps in to keep the party going. The European central bank is finally following the Federal Reserve in the USA, (albeit five years late), in large scale asset purchases to try and bring euro zone inflation back towards the two per cent target.

Inflation has been falling across the eurozone in 2014 as banks reduce net lending to consumers and businesses and the ECB are rightly worried about outright deflation.

The original catalyst of the eurozone crisis was over indebted governments which many countries’ leaders are still working hard to reduce and make sustainable in the longer term. Allowing deflation is counterproductive as it increases debt in real terms.

The ECB plan is to focus on buying private sector debt via

Ask the expert Peter Loveday Contact me at euroweekly@currenciesdirect.com

INFLATION: Has been falling across the Eurozone as banks reduce net lending to consumers and businesses. covered bonds (usually mortgages) and asset backed securities like car loans, but not, controversially, government debt of member countries.

Part of the issue dragging down inflation was an overvalued currency against its main trading partners.

The ECB indicated that a lower exchange rate was overdue and the markets duly delivered the ECB wish, driving the euro lower. But that alone

has not been enough to push inflation back to target.

Part of the problem the eurozone system is suffering from is large trade imbalances between member states, with the north running large surpluses with the south. The preferred method of shrinking trade imbalances between surplus and deficit countries so far has been via internal adjustments in wages, causing

mass unemployment in countries such as Greece and here in Spain. This is a painful journey for those countries adjusting, but it is the preferred route of the creditor countries, notably Germany.

And so it falls on the central bank to try and aid the adjustment process via the one thing they can always produce, inflation. What the ECB hopes is that by easing credit

Visit us at our Spanish offices in Costa del Sol, Costa Almeria, North Costa Blanca and South Costa Blanca.

Telephone: UK +44 (0) 207 847 9400 SPAIN +34 950 478 914 Email: euroweekly@currenciesdirect.com • www.currenciesdirect.com

conditions across the eurozone, businesses and consumers will increase borrowing and push the inflation rate upwards towards target. The ECB is also hoping higher inflation will aid in balance of payment adjustments via higher inflation in the creditor countries, which unlike the current method of forced adjustment puts some of the onus on creditor countries rather than heap the pain solely on debtors.

The eurozone still has a long journey ahead to repair the huge imbalances built up the years after the introduction of the Euro. Mario Draghi, head of the ECB, promised to do ‘whatever it takes’ to preserve the euro and the ECB really is doing everything in its power.

The problem for Europe is with monetary policy now at its limits, ‘whatever it takes’ is now a political problem and politicians do not seem willing or able to honour that promise.

Plan ahead and avoid a Christmas debt hangover DECEMBER is here and Christmas is drawing near.

It may be ‘ho ho ho’ for Santa Claus and his reindeers, but with household budgets being severely squeezed at this time of year, you can bet that not everyone is feeling so jolly.

That’s why is it so important not to let spending on decorations, presents, food and booze get out of control. Instead try to really plan ahead.

This is the only way to have a happy holiday season and not wake up to a debt hangover come the New Year.

Tackle the present situation first. Decide who is getting presents and who isn’t. Will you keep it to children only this year? Or will your family decide to do Secret Santa, where you draw names out of a hat so that everyone has to buy only one gift. If a maximum

Loose change A look at finance for females

Jane Plunkett jane.plunkett@euroweeklynews.com

price is set in advance, this can be an effective way of keeping costs down. The sooner you begin thinking about getting presents out the of the way, the cheaper it will be and you can also then see how much of your budget is left for other things.

Buy some presents after Christmas. Do you have some family members you won’t see until after Christmas? Be cheeky and buy gifts in the January sales and you can save some money.

Kid-free shopping. Do leave the children at home when you go shopping.

The bright lights, Christmas music, chocolates and mountains of toys will only make them hyperactive with excitement and you can be sure their pester power will wear you down into buying something you don’t need.

Bring your own. If the tradition is that everyone calls over to your house during Christmas, then maybe shake things up a bit this year by making it a BYO Party. Ask each guest to bring a little something crackers and cheese, a bottle of wine or some nice jamon. A food bill shared out among all the visiting family and friends will be a lot easier to stomach.

Avoid credit cards. Never use a credit card for shopping, use cash. If you don’t have the cash then you should not be spending money. Nobody wants to receive a present that leaves a person in the red.

BUSINESS EXTRA

Costly ticket AFTER analysing prices in London, Madrid, Milan, Paris and Amsterdam online travel agency Rumbo found that a monthly season ticket for the London underground was the most expensive.

At €152 it was almost five times dearer than Milan’s €35, while commuters paid €79 in Amsterdam, €65 in Paris and €54 in Madrid.

No increase THE market price for pork has remained stable, despite fears that the fire at the Campofrio plant would affect supply and demand in the sector.

Although the Burgos processing and packing plant was destroyed, the abattoir is working at the same rhythm and distributing the meat to other Campofrio plants.

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

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A magical time of year for everyone streets, public buildings and homes all around the country.

Typical Christmas carols are

sung, often with a touch of flamenco, and instruments such as tambourines and bottles of

CLAUDIO CURIA

THE Christmas season in Spain is a particularly magical affair.

Anyone who has yet to get into the spirit will be swept away with the National Lottery emotional advert, the Christmas lights put up by the end of November and the festive atmosphere of the streets.

On December 22 the National Lottery draw is held. It marks the beginning of the holidays for schoolchildren and millions of Spaniards tune in to watch it, in the hope of winning ‘El gordo’ (The Fat One), the biggest national lottery in the world.

Religion plays a crucial part in a Spanish Christmas, with nativity scenes - often life-sized - found in

Get into the Xmas spirit.

anis, used to tap a beat on, are a must if you want to celebrate the Spanish way.

The main meal takes place on Christmas Eve, the Nochebuena, and it usually consists of a main dish of meat or seafood. Preferred dessert is turron, the typical Christmas sweet made with honey, sugar and often nuts or almonds.

Many Spaniards attend the Misa del Gallo (literally, the Rooster’s Mass), a church service held at midnight on Christmas Eve. The King traditionally gives a speech on Christmas Eve, an especially significant date this year as it will be the first time for the new King, Felipe VI.

Christmas Day is spent at home, when Spanish families gather around to continue eating, often the leftovers from the previous day.

The big day for celebrating is New Year’s Eve, or Fin de Año, when thousands of young people wear their best suits and gowns (or, in some places, dress up in costumes) and hit the streets, but not before eating each and every ‘lucky grape’ that mark the 12 last seconds of the year.

The Three Wise Men are in charge of bringing the gifts to Spanish children on January 6.

They are reminded throughout the year to behave properly, or else they will receive coal.

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CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Advertising feature

Alpha pools and spas for health

j

e offer sales and service of HotSpring Spas, the market leader in hot tub design and manufacture and we also service all other makes of spa and offer pool maintenance and repair.

Our goal is 100 per cent customer satisfaction.

As the sole authorised HotSpring spa dealer in the Balearics we purchase direct from the manufacturer in the USA and we are able to offer very competitive pricing.

Our team has many years of experience working in the pool and spa industry and all our engineers are trained by the manufacturer themselves.

We always have special offers so all you have to do is visit our showroom and talk to us and we will let you know what the

HEALTH BENEFITS: Arthritis symptoms respond well.

MARKET LEADER: Aiming for 100 per cent satisfaction.

deal is at any given time.

Our showroom hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, 9am till 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays by appointment.

If you are making a special trip it’s a good idea to call us first as we are often busy installing spas and we would prefer to have time to spend with you to best advise you.

Health Benefits of Hot tubs New England Journal of medicine report 08.16.1999: “Patients with type 2 Diabetes were studied using a hot tub for just 30 minutes per day, six days per week. After only 10 days patients required reduced doses of insulin, lost weight, showed distinct decreases in plasma glucose and benefited from improved sleep, they also reported an increased general sense of well-being.”

Arthritis Foundation, spas and warm water exercise report: “People whose arthritis symptoms respond well to heat have discovered the many benefits of hot water therapy.”

British Journal of Rheumatology 1994 report: “This controlled clinical trial shows a positive short term and moderate long term overall effectiveness of spa therapy in chronic lower back pain. Participants in the study

who utilized spa treatment experienced increased back flexibility, reduced pain duration and lessened use of analgesics and antiinflammatory drugs than the study group that did not receive hot tub treatments.”

We are based in Alcudia, C/Pollentia 75 and can be contacted by e mail or phone on info@hotspringmallorca. net Showroom 971 545 377 Mobile 622 831 713

CHOCOLATE JAEN: Last year’s nativity scene.

The chocolate Rute THROUGHOUT Spain a Christmas Nativity scene (Belen) is set up in shops, supermarkets, council offices and most homes. But there is one that sets the small town of Rute, in the province of Cordoba apart.

The town is famous for making traditional Spanish cakes and sweets and the anise liqueur which is often given to visitors at Christmas along with the cakes.

But for chocaholics what it is even more famous for is its nativity scene,

which is made entirely of chocolate.

While other towns also do chocolate nativities, none are as big as Rute’s.

Lovingly crafted by the Galleros cake and chocolate factory it is built over a surface of 52 square metres and uses 1,400 kilos of white and dark chocolate.

In recent years it has featured the Andalucian provincial capitals including Sevilla, Malaga and Jaen, but this year smaller towns are featured. The scene takes a team of seven master craftsmen four months to make. Call: 957 538 072.

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b

ur experienced management team has one aim – to satisfy all of our customers by delivering a range of high quality and reasonably priced care-at-home services.

Established in 2003, Angels Nursing and Babysitting Agency is the leading provider of care and nursing services to clients in their own homes.

Our Home Care services are second to none and we have many satisfied clients who can vouch for us. There really is no place like home so keep your loved ones comfortable with the help from our friendly and experienced staff.

What makes us different from other nursing and care agencies?

Professionally run, we focus on high quality, cost effective nursing care with compassion and integrity.

At Angels, we offer initial care evaluations to determine the appropriate level of care for you, and, throughout your home care experience, we work with you to ensure that you receive the highest quality of care.

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CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Advertising feature

Angelic care in your home

QUALIFIED: And caring.

Our caregivers are available from one hour to 24 hours per day, live-in, or sleepover care, for short-term or long-term. We offer weekend cover at the same rate as week days.

Our services include: • Assistance in bathing and dressing.

• Meal preparation.

• Errands and shopping, picking up prescriptions.

• Respite for family caregivers.

• Assistance with walking, exercises and transportation.

• Conversation and joyful companionship.

• Medication and appointment

reminders.

• Escorting clients to various activities, including clubs, hairdressers, events, etc.

• Getting clients ready for bed.

• Laundry and household chores.

• Advice on disabled living aids.

• Escorting clients to the doctor’s office. (We can send a bilingual Angel carer to accompany you, to translate not just what is said, but the meaning and consequences of what the doctor says, helping you ask the questions that you want answers to.)

• Assistance with pet care.

• Changing of incontinence pads, catheters and stoma bags Some of the qualified nurse services provided include: • Injections and vaccinations.

• Enemas.

• Wound dressings, advice on ulcers/bed sores.

• Infusions.

• Physiotherapy.

• Vital sign monitoring and advice.

• Blood extraction.

Angels staff members are available round-the-clock, 24/7, 365 days a year and islandwide.

If you are considering booking a Nurse, Carer, Midwife, Babysitter or Nanny, please contact us on a no-obligation, confidential basis to discuss your requirements on (0034) 971 691 187 or 619 070 100 info@angelsnursingagency. com and we shall be happy to assist you.

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CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Advertising feature

The ski season has now begun

g

HE ski season for Sierra Nevada has now begun.

Positive signs on the mid-term forecasts indicate some good top-ups to follow leading up to Christmas. As one of Europe’s highest resorts, offering one of the longest ski seasons around, given its surprising snow-surety considering its geography, Sierra Nevada also reigns as Europe’s sunniest ski resort!

At Sierra Essence and the British Ski Center we are eagerly looking forward to another long season, currently set to run until May 3, 2015.

So when should you visit Sierra Nevada?

The Christmas and New Year festive periods are one of the busiest times, but don’t be too fooled… the slopes are usually pretty calm right up until December 27, thereby greatly favouring a Christmas break! In fact Christmas Day is often quiet on the slopes by comparison!

Sierra Nevada is one of the most accessible ski resorts around and therefore weekends can get quite busy.

SIERRA NEVADA: Europe’s sunniest ski resort.

Getting to the resort by 8.30am will ensure you find a parking space in the resort’s huge underground car park.

Save yourself time and hassle by prebooking your lift passes with Sierra Essence. Sierra Nevada’s modern lift system will then effectively transport you swiftly around the mountain and minimise queue times even during the most hectic of periods.

Mid-week breaks are recommended and late season skiing is nothing short of incredible with the best spring skiing conditions found anywhere and long ski days still possible right up to the last day in May! NOTE: UK school holidays don’t usually coincide with Spanish holidays!

We cater for the English speaking

Contact information is on our websites: www.sierranevada.co.uk & www.britishskicenter.co.uk.

tourist.

Being English ourselves, with almost 25 years experience in Sierra Nevada, we are well established in the resort to source everything from your ideal accommodation to tailor-made ski and snowboard instruction.

Call us for any current information you may need before travelling up.

Our in-resort representation are ‘real’ people to talk to (not just a telephone number) who can help you truly make the most out of Sierra Nevada’s fantastic ski area and resort.

CHOCOLATE JAEN: Last year’s nativity scene.

The chocolate Rute THROUGHOUT Spain a Christmas Nativity scene (Belen) is set up in shops, supermarkets, council offices and most homes. But there is one that sets the small town of Rute, in the province of Cordoba apart.

The town is famous for making traditional Spanish cakes and sweets and the anise liqueur which is often given to visitors at Christmas along with the cakes.

But for chocaholics what it is even more famous for is its nativity scene,

which is made entirely of chocolate.

While other towns also do chocolate nativities, none are as big as Rute’s.

Lovingly crafted by the Galleros cake and chocolate factory it is built over a surface of 52m2 and uses 1,400 kilos of white and dark chocolate. In recent years it has featured the Andalucian provincial capitals including Sevilla, Malaga and Jaen, but this year smaller towns are featured. The scene takes a team of seven master craftsmen four months to make. Call: 957 538 072.

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

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4 - 10 December 2014 / Mallorca

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CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

A time for feasting THE traditional Christmas meal in the UK is roast turkey with all the trimmings, and very good it is too. But around Europe there are many more traditional feasts at Yuletide. Here are just a few of them…

Austria Christmas Eve in Austria marks the end of the pre-Christmas fast.

Fried carp, Sacher torte and Christmas cookies are eaten and chocolate delicacies including edible Christmas ornaments.

Christmas dinner often includes goose, ham served with Gluhwein, Rumpunsch, and chocolate mousse.

Czech Republic A traditional Christmas meal in the Czech Republic is fried carp and potato salad which are eaten during Christmas dinner on the evening of December 24. Many households also prepare Christmas cookies to offer to visitors.

Denmark The traditional Christmas meal is again served on December 24 consisting of roast pork with crackling.

Alternatives are goose or duck. The meat is served with potatoes (some caramelized, some roasted), red cabbage, and plenty of gravy.

It is followed with a dessert of Risalamande, rice pudding with cherry or strawberry sauce.

Finland Joulupöytä (Christmas table) is the name of the traditional food board served at Christmas.

The main dish is usually a large ham, eaten with mustard or bread. Fish is also served and there are

casseroles with potatoes, rutabaga or carrots.

France Head to France and again Christmas Eve is the time for the meal.

The food is usually luxurious; think lobster, oysters or foie gras.

Dessert may consist of a bûche de Noël.

Germany The Germans like to tuck into roast goose and roast carp, although suckling pig or duck are also served.

Typical side dishes include roast potatoes and various forms of cabbage.

In some regions the Christmas dinner is served on Christmas Day rather than Christmas Eve.

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CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

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OP EN

toys of Christmas past

RUBIK’S CUBE: 1980s’ craze.

Ph oto by hu ang jiah ui.

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CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

WITH dolls from the hit Disney movie Frozen currently causing fights among parents in toy stores and being sold at inflated prices on eBay in the run up to Christmas, we take a look back at 10 of the ‘must-have’ presents of Christmas past.

1. Cabbage Patch Kids These dimpled, freckled dolls absolutely had to be under the tree on Christmas morning in the 1980s. The

popularity of the dolls led to punch-ups in shops and dolls being sold for up to 10 times their retail price on the black market.

2. Star Wars action figures - The amount of middle-aged men today who wish they had kept their 1970s and 1980s Star Wars figurines - now collectors’ items - in their original packaging instead of playing with them could probably populate a small planet.

3. Rubik’s Cube - Still the world’s best selling toy, in 1980 they caused a worldwide craze.

4. Furby - Forty million of these owl-like dolls were sold between 1999 and 2001.

Furby was programmed to come out of the box speaking a strange unidentifiable language, but gradually began speaking English as time went by.

5. Shirley Temple doll

- The toy that started the craze for ‘must-have’ gifts.

Released in 1934, The Ideal Toy and Novelty Company netted around $45 million over seven years.

6. Tamogatchi - Surreal Japanese digital pets that users had to feed, discipline and entertain or they would die. Tamogatchis were in every Christmas stocking in the late 1990s.

7. Tickle Me Elmo This Sesame Street doll caused stampedes at toy stores in 1996 as parents fought to grab one, and were often sold at markups of up to 600 per cent.

8. Trivial Pursuit There was a time when board games were the most exciting things to receive on Christmas morning, and Trivial Pursuit was the daddy of FURBY DOLL: ‘Learned’ to speak English.

them all in the 1980s.

9. Nintendo Game Boy - Pre-internet, PlayStation or mobile phones, techsavvy kids would spend hours glued to this handheld video game device playing Tetris while their parents pleaded to have the sound turned off.

10. Transformers - No schoolboy in 1984 could be without an autobot or decepticon transforming robot toy. Hasbro sold an estimated $80 million worth of Transformers in 1984 alone.

Photo by Vox Efx.

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OPINION & COMMENT

Time to go, the UK should leave the EU ANOTHER pro-EU rant from Bill Campbell! Is he on a retainer from Jean-Claude Juncker?

There are a number of reasons for the UK to leave the EU: it is undemocratic, corrupt, bureaucratic and staffed by overpaid jobsworths. It means we have uncontrolled immigration with all the attendant pressure on schools, hospitals, transport systems and, above all, housing.

We are full up!

It is also a condition of membership we are subservient to the European Court of Human Rights, which seems always to come down on the side of criminals and terrorists.

Incidentally, Spain should leave the EU and the euro as well and revert to the peseta. This would immediately lose value with great benefits to tourism, property sales and the scandalously high unemployment rate.

Roger Page, Mojacar Playa (Almeria)

Colour me red THE time has come for the men in their white coats to come for Leapy Lee if he thinks Ed Miliband is a communist. He is not even a socialist and would be at home in the Tory party.

Bob Mitchell (by email)

Off the record SO Hacienda has launched a campaign to uncover unregistered properties, at great expense no doubt. But it’s a joke, right?

Here is an owner who went to Hacienda in May 2011 to tell them I wanted to rectify my property.

Six months later they told me they couldn’t do it and I would have to go to Land Registry. Here I paid for a complete history of the property and for a topographer to come and measure the plot. I even tracked down the original owner who declared to Hacienda, way back in 1991, that his plot was 224 square metres to avoid paying the necessary taxes on a plot that is in fact 2,244 square metres.

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4 - 10 December 2014 / Mallorca

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our aRUST dvert isers

WE D

O!

Letters for Your Say should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com, posted to Euro Weekly News, C/Moscatel 10, P-62, Polígono Industrial, Arroyo de la Miel, 29631 Benalmadena, Málaga, Spain or faxed to 0034 952 440 887

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If Mr Nosworthy has photographic evidence of campers disposing of their sewage illegally, he should note their registration numbers and inform the police, as this is a criminal offence.

The reason I park at El Pinet is because it is quiet at night. All European nationalities are there, apart from Spanish who are very noisy. I love living in their country but don’t want to park next to them. On the only occasion I stayed at the campsite, I was put between two Spanish families who came back at midnight and talked very loudly outside for another two hours. At El Pinet everyone is quiet after 10pm.

Peter Realey (by email)

Sham permits

MY daughter and grandson doing as they’re told. Well it does say “No standing at any time”!

Linda Gonzalez, Altea (Alicante)

He has since been to the notary with me and signed a declaration that it was an error, and I have taken the whole sorry mess to court where even a judge has refused to rectify the ‘error.’

So far it has cost me €6,000 and three very stressful years. I would willingly pay €60 to ‘correct the information registered’ and wonder what Hacienda would say to the above?

Maybe I should start again.

Maggie Hetherington, Mijas Costa (Malaga)

Back to nature MY husband and I are ‘wild’ campers who have also spent a lot of money on our home, much the same amount as an apartment in Spain. Ours just happens to have wheels.

This is our choice because in our retirement we would like to visit various places in various countries rather than remain in one spot. We park up sensibly, considerately, as unobtrusively as possible and very rarely in residential areas. We and many of

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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our motor home compatriots bring much-needed winter revenue into local businesses that would struggle through the lean, non-tourist, winter months.

We regularly aim for official camping ‘Aires’ that have facilities to fill up with water and empty toilet cassettes.

Yes, we could be considered tight by avoiding campsite fees, but is that any worse than expats not registering their UK vehicles here, avoiding paying Spanish taxes or fraudulently claiming UK benefits? No, they don’t all do it but then, by the same token, not all motor homers engage in poor practice either. Please do not tar

us all with the same brush!

In our 15 months of travel, we have been welcomed by communities in France, Spain and Portugal but have only heard complaints from expat British folk.

Sour grapes, I wonder?

Makes you proud to be British!

Hilary Cox, no fixed abode (hehe)

Good night’s rest REGARDING campervans at El Pinet, Elche Council is not interested in A Nosworthy’s complaints because it is not illegal to park there.

It only becomes an offence if one passes the two large signs at the end of the parking area.

I have witnessed the Local Police moving on campers who pass these signs on several occasions. If it is illegal to park in the parking area then the signs would be before it, not after.

I live about 30 kilometres inland and stay regularly at El Pinet at weekends. I have never seen anyone empty sewage in green areas or down the drains.

I READ in the Euro Weekly News that the province of Malaga is introducing new parking permits for the disabled. Years ago I noticed that although a lot of illegal permits are used by the non-disabled, police officers do not react properly. I am curious to learn how quickly the new system will be copied again.

WK de Klerk (by email)

A woman’s touch I JUST wanted to tell you, the paper looks really good.

The amount of local news and forthcoming events, especially last week, was impressive.

I know getting what’s-on information and blood from stones are often synonymous, don’t even mention a photo.

I have to say I actually read most of the paper.

Sex and drugs and sausage rolls are all well and good, but local positive news is for me and I know for our customers at Satori’s shop is really important and probably one of, if not the key, to a good paper.

Plus it gives a more positive picture to all those visitors and tourists from outside the Costa, who might well think sometimes this must be a coke and hash smugglers supermarket, specialising in corruption and kidnapping.

Keep up the good work, remember to smell the flowers now and then and tell our readers how lovely they are.

(The flowers and the readers) Pete - Woody’s Los Boliches

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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OPINION & COMMENT

Religion responsible for chaos LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT

S

TORY of the month for me was the Pakistani suicide bomber who was captured before managing to set off his explosives. Subsequently searched by the authorities, he was discovered to have placed some type of amour around his ‘nether’ regions.

When asked the reason for this unusual piece of equipment, he explained that he wanted to make sure his penis was still intact when he was presented with his 72 virgins in the afterlife! Sums it all up really doesn’t it? No wonder these people are so easily radicalised. Most of them are complete morons. It actually makes it all even more disturbing and once again raises my issues with the Imams and religious leaders of the Islamic hierarchy.

They really have to stop convincing these youngsters of all these wonders that await so called ‘martyrs’ in the next life - if of course they agree to throw

I’M A CELEBRITY: Should I be shouting ‘get me out of here?’ away their existence in this one. If it’s all so wonderful, why do you never see any of them strapping up and blowing themselves to smithereens? (Chance would be a fine thing) because they know it’s pure, never to be proven, balderdash, that’s why. I know I know, I can hear you all saying that other religions also preach of heaven and hell, more teachings never to be proven, but at least these mythical

destinations don’t require you to kill as many human beings as possible to achieve your nirvana. Until we all move on from what are all basically primitive superstitions, we will never secure peace and harmony for the human race.

I hasten to add that I am not an atheist; I truly do believe there has to be some incredible force, way beyond our understanding, which is responsible for it

all. I also believe the Tao is the only path to enlightenment. Perhaps we will all find ourselves in some sort of paradise after our earthly demise, but I’m in no hurry to find out and certainly have no intention of taking bunches of victims with me.

It is the religious leaders that are responsible for all the chaos in the world and if hell does indeed exist, then a great many of them are on a one-way ticket, and in my opinion the sooner they embark on the journey better.

Girding our loins for the rapidly approaching Flying Curry Circus Christmas party. Delighted to say we now have the highly talented Bobby Alexander in cabaret and have also been promised a visit from Mother Christmas! 689 485 956 is the number to ring. If you can’t make it you can catch it all on Channel Five early in the spring. Have a wonderfull week, don’t get too wet! (Where is all that water coming from?)

Oh, by the way, are this year’s Jungle ‘celebrities’ an utterly boring bunch or is it me?

Keep the faith.

Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com.

What sort of thing is difficult now, that was easy when you were a child?

H

AVING no concerns as a child is easier than as an adult for Tony Cooper at ABC Air Conditioning and Satellite Specialists, Turre in Almeria. Tony says: “I think it is worrying that is more difficult now. You have no stresses and worries to speak of as a child, but as an adult it can feel like you have all the worries in the world upon your shoulders.”

Taking time to enjoy the simpler things in life and remembering to enjoy each moment is harder as an adult for David Campling, owner of Hot Springs Mallorca.

David says: “Enjoying life as a child was easy, but the older you get the Tony Cooper. more you

STREET TALK have to work at it and take a step back from the day to day stuff and just think about how good life is if only you take a few moments each day to enjoy it.”

Being able to eat what you want as a child and having the energy to burn it off is harder now as an adult for Giselle from Marbella Beauty Academy. Giselle says: “I would say the most difficult thing for me now is not being able to eat a single naughty treat without putting on weight, which when I was a child was no issue!!!”

Having the time and energy for fitness is difficult now for Jill Marples, owner of Jacaranda Restaurant in Moraira, which was easier when she was younger.

“Fitness is definitely harder now, but I think it is in part just old age as well” she joked, adding: “I think life in general is a bit easier when you are younger, you don’t worry about

anything, children have no worries.”

Gary Russell, owner of Carpet Heaven in Los Montesinos, agrees that things do get harder the older you get: “Physically getting up in the morning is a lot more difficult now. I used to play a lot of football and worked in a heavy trade in the air force doing a lot of lifting, so there are a lot of old injuries and aches and pains and in the morning I have a lot of stiffness, but once I’m up it’s fine.”

Gary Russell: Aches and pains.

Jill Marples.

Giselle.

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E W N 4 - 10 December 2014 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

FEATURE

Jake LaMotta

By Tony Matthews

A

T the age of 93, Jake LaMotta is the oldest former world boxing champion alive today.

Born in the Bronx, New York City, in 1921, he boxed at both middleweight and light heavyweight and had 106 senior fights, winning 83 - 30 by a knock-out - losing 19 and drawing four.

Jake was forced by his father into fighting other children to entertain neighborhood adults, who threw change into the ring. This was used to help pay the rent.

In 1941, aged 19, Jake turned professional but during the Second World War he was rejected for military service because of an operation on one of his ears. He carried on boxing and went from strength to strength.

He won 14 of his first 15 bouts as a middleweight before losing a highly contentious split decision to Cleveland-based Jimmy Reeves; chaos erupted after the decision was announced.

Later, Jake met Reeves again and this time Reeves won, before a third match between the two took place in March 1943 in Detroit, Michigan. After an even contest, Jake struck with a vicious left hook, sending Reeves crashing to the canvas.

Now one of the best at this level, Jake’s next fight was against the former welterweight champion Sugar Ray Robinson - Robinson’s first bout at middleweight. Spectators at Madison Square Garden saw Jake knock Robinson down in the first round but he took control of the fight, winning comfortably on points.

Jake was forced by his The re-match took place a few months father into fighting later in Detroit when other children to those present witnessed entertain adults an historic eighth round.

Jake landed a right to Robinson’s head and a left to his body, sending him straight through the ropes. The bell saved dazzling Robinson at the count of nine. Jake left jabs and was already well in front with the jarring uppercuts. judges. Robinson never recovered and A fourth fight, staged nearly two suffered the first defeat of his career, years later, resulted in another win for beaten on points.

Robinson, who also won the fifth in The two met again three weeks later Chicago in September 1945, on a split when Robinson, although floored, won decision which was booed by the a close fight after producing some 14,755-strong audience.

The ‘Bronx Bull’ of the boxing ring Jake returned to boxing in November 1947, but was knocked out in the fourth round by Billy Fox. Suspecting the fight was fixed, the New York State Athletic Commission withheld purses for the fight and suspended Jake. This fight with Fox would come back to haunt him later in life, during a case with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

In his testimony Jake admitted to throwing the fight in order to gain favour with the Mafia. All involved agreed the fix was obvious and its staging inept.

In Jake’s words: “The first round, a couple of belts to his head, and I see a glassy look coming over his eyes.

Jesus Christ, a couple of jabs and he’s going to fall down. I began to panic a little. I was supposed to be throwing a fight to this guy, and it looked like I was going to end up holding him on his feet... By the fourth round, if there was anybody in the Garden who didn’t know what was happening, he must have been dead drunk.”

The thrown fight and a payment of $20,000 to the Mafia got Jake his title bout against the world middleweight champion from France, Marcel Cerdan.

Jake won his fight against Cerdan in June 1949 in Detroit; the Frenchman retired with a damaged shoulder before the start of the 10th round. A re-match was arranged, but as he was flying back to the United States, Cerdan’s plane crashed in the Azores, killing everyone on board.

In February 1951, Jake fought Sugar Ray Robinson for the final time in their legendary six-bout rivalry. In a tough contest, Jake took a terrible beating over the last few rounds but refused to go down. In the end Robinson won by a technical knockout in the 13th.

Jake moved up to the light heavyweight class after losing to Robinson, but had a run of poor results at first, including a debut defeat against Bob Murphy.

Thankfully, he recovered well and won three fights in a row, beating Norman Hayes, Eugene Hairston and Murphy in re-matches.

On New Year’s Eve 1952, Jake had his fight with Danny Nardico stopped in the eighth round after being knocked down for the first time in his career. When he returned to the ring, he knocked out his first two opponents, Johnny Pretzie and Al McCoy, but lost on a split decision to Billy Kilgore, which convinced him to retire.

After taking off his gloves, Jake managed and also owned a number of bars. He also became a stage actor and stand-up comedian but in 1958 was arrested and charged with introducing men to an underage girl at a club he owned in Miami. He was convicted and served time on a chain gang, although he has maintained his innocence.

OPINION & COMMENT

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4 - 10 December 2014 / Mallorca

EWN

43

To heil with that work ethic Mike Walsh Mike, based in Mediterranean Spain, is an international journalist, author and professional writer.

W

HILST the German work ethic is well known and respected, no one wishes to imitate it. There is about the Germans an unnerving sense of ant-like self-discipline that leaves most of us aghast.

Taking a holiday at a Belgian camping site we were dismissive of the young Germans setting up their tent next to ours. Talk about Carry on Camping, upon awakening the difference between our two groups was hilarious.

As bleary-eyed we stumbled out of our tent, the already scrubbed and smartly dressed Fritz next door, with perfect precision, dismantled and stowed their tent and belongings. The procedure took them about five-minutes.

GERMAN WORKERS: Go to work and wouldn’t dream of using Facebook or gossiping.

An hour later we hapless Englanders were still trying to figure out how to take down and pack our gear. In the end, we just threw the lot in the back of the car and uttered words no German wishes to hear.

This goes some way to understanding how Germans manage to produce far more than we do, yet work fewer hours. How, we ask, is a nation that works only 35 hours each week, enjoys 24-days of holiday each year on full pay,

able to maintain such a high rate of quality production.

They’re so darned good at being cost effective and efficient they even bail out their fellow Europeans when their economies fail.

With many young Spaniards looking to employment in Germany, and a large British expatriate community already bedded in, what changes are newcomers likely to find in the workplace?

A working regime that might have them doing a quick right-

about-turn and returning to their home country. The laid back laissez-faire which the Spanish and others are notorious for, has to go for a start.

In Germany, when employees turn up for work this is precisely what they do; they work. To malinger is to earn the wrath and scorn of colleagues. You just don’t do Facebook, scroll Reddit, make personal calls or gossip when at work. Nor do you pretend to be busy when the boss comes

in. Sure, such behaviour is frowned upon in much of Europe, but it is tolerated. In Germany there is zero tolerance shown towards idleness. Interestingly, the ire likely to be directed at a work dodger will come not from management but from fellow workers.

A young German woman on a working exchange job in England expressed her bewilderment. She says; “I was in the office and the people are talking all the time about their private things like, ‘what’s the plans for tonight’ and constantly drinking coffee.”

The Germans retire at 65 whereas in the UK there is no longer a set retirement age.

This means you remain on the hamster wheel until you fall off it. By comparison, the UK and Spain are also-rans in the workplace. Most of us on reaching three-score years and five realise we have little choice but to keep working.

44

E W N 4 - 10 December 2014 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

A FESTIVE winter ‘wonderland’ created by Laurence LlewelynBowen, the TV presenter with the ruffles and tresses (and, as his website helpfully points out, ‘Britain’s favourite interior decorator’), was temporarily shut down after just a day following a barrage of complaints from angry parents.

Families forking out up to £22.50 a ticket to The Magical Journey attraction at the UK’s world-famous Belfry Golf Club had been promised ‘the most amazing Christmas experience that Planet Earth has ever seen.’ But children were left in tears to find hour-long queues for swearing Santas handing out cheap plastic toys not even wrapped.

Others expressed elf ‘n’

Photo Credit: Featureflash Shutterstock.com

ELFGATE: a winter blunderland of chav elves and swearing Santas 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/nora-johnson

LAURENCE LLEWELYNBOWEN: Created a ‘not so’ festive winter ‘wonderland.’ safety fears for ‘chav’ elves having to push a train up a hill while others sat around ‘smoking and moaning about working hours.’

Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without an annual Winter Wonderland fiasco! Last year it was Milton Keynes’ Winter Wonderland, while in 2008 at Lapland New Forest ‘Santa got attacked and an

elf got smacked in the face and pushed into a pram.’ All helping to put the grot into grotto!

I really don't know who’s dafter: the people who set up these ‘magical Lapland Christmas’ extravaganzas or those who really believe a few sheds full of ‘tacky’ gifts, bored students dressed up as elves and a bit of spray-on fake snow will somehow turn into some ‘amazing Christmas experience.’

Well, here’s an idea: if you want a Lapland experience, go to Lapland.

If you want a Disney Christmas go to Disneyland. Want something cheaper? Do something nice at home. Or go to your school/church’s Christmas Fair: there's sure to be one locally, and your money will

likely go to a better cause than a rich man’s pocket.

Otherwise simply put the money towards more gifts for your children since you’re never going to get a ‘winter wonderland’ in a muddy English field.

You can almost imagine Nigel Farage’s thoughts over a pint of bitter: “I’ve never heard of this Laurence chap, but there’s nothing anybody can do about Christmas as it’s all controlled by Brussels. But when I’m in charge we’ll have a referendum, and then we’ll get rid of it once and for all. Ho ho ho!”

Nora Johnson’s thrillers ‘Landscape of Lies,’ ‘Retribution,’ ‘Soul Stealer,’ ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.nora-johnson.com) available from Amazon.

Profits to Cudeca.

Photo Credit: HUANG Zheng / Shutterstock.com

Further doses of same-old same-old Cassandra Nash

A weekly look - and not entirely impartial reaction to the Spanish political scene

“

THE trouble with Podemos is that we don’t know what its project is,” said a worried Spanish businessman.

It grew from spirit of the 11-M movement that occupied the Puerta del Sol before the 2011 municipal elections. It appeared to have flickered out, but thanks to corruption and a vaunted economic improvement that trickles upwards, not down, it has revived and reinvented itself as Podemos.

But is Iñigo Errejon, prominent in the Podemos team, already displaying symptoms of the ailment that afflicts so many Spanish politicians?

As a member of a Malaga University research project he is paid €1,825 a month for a 40hour week and is supposed to remain in Malaga. With the

turn him into a martyr and the government’s heavy handedness will persuade many undecided Catalans to rethink how they feel about independence. By making Mas a victim, Rajoy risks tipping the Cataluña scales towards the very situation he believes he can avoid.

Bad luck!

MADRID: Thousands demonstrated against abortion law. permission of his supervisor Alberto Montero he has been continuing the research in Madrid although the regional government’s Public Works department has complained that overall progress on the project is too slow. Montero, incidentally, also belongs to Podemos.

How long before Podemos sympathisers intone the eternal condemnation of Spanish political parties: “They’re all the same...”

Risky point PROSECUTING the regional Catalan president Artur Mas for holding the November 9 semiindependence ballot might give the national government some satisfaction for authoritarian motives. But it will not persuade pro-independence Catalans to mend their ways and embrace Madrid.

Prosecuting Mas will instead

GURTEL begat Barcenas but neither begat the Punica corruption case.

This one that centres on illegal commissions and kickbacks resulting in 50 or so recent arrests popped up in an apparent miracle of self-generation via unrequested information from Switzerland.

The name of Francisco Granados, an ex-senator and exmember of the Madrid regional government was fed unasked into the Swiss data base when he was involved in a political espionage case. He was found to have bank accounts there, Spain was informed and the Punica case was

launched. Divine justice? Or bad luck?

Put in the balance THOUSANDS demonstrated in Madrid recently, demanding the abolition of the existing Abortion Laws. Placards, slogans and chants warned Mariano Rajoy, president of the Spanish government, they will not vote for him come next year’s elections.

Politically it will cut little ice because the decision to withdraw Ruiz-Gallardon’s Abortion harsh and unpopular reform bill can only have been made after extremely careful consideration.

Thousands of pro-life voters lost out to the pro-choice millions, which possibly saddened Rajoy who gives little way but is believed not to be pro-choice.

Nevertheless moral convictions came a poor second when pitted against political expediency. As always.

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PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Your mind is positively buzzing with ideas. There has been so much progress in your personal life during the past year that it is hard to believe.

However, you are capable of being very

ROYALTY 1. “Oh no, it wasn’t the airplanes. It was beauty killed the beast”, was the last line of which classic 1933 film?

2. A Night at the Opera (1975), A Day at the Races (1976) and News of the World (1977) were all bestselling albums by which British rock band?

3. Charlottetown is both the largest city on and the provincial capital of which Canadian province?

4. Love and Pride was the only UK Top 10 hit single for which British new wave pop band of the mid1980s?

5. What was the name of the series of large luxury cars made by British Motor Corporation under its Austin marque and its subsidiary Vanden Plas from 1947 to 1968?

6. Which American tennis player won the Wimbledon Ladies Singles title six times (1966, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1973 and 1975)?

7. Which former WBO, WBC, IBF, and Lineal featherweight champion, and European bantamweight champion was famous for his boxing antics and spectacular ring entrances that have included entering the ring via a Chevrolet Impala, a flying carpet, a lift and a palanquin?

44

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) There are moments of boundless energy which really urge you to 'get up and go'. Make use of this at work, where most progress is to be made this week. Be you a politician, pensioner or anyone in between, the opportunities are there to be had. Slow progress on the love front should not see you fretting.

seen as a possible romantic attachment.

Your talents and charm serve you well when approaching this person.

Opportunities need approaching with eyes wide open, however, because they could be time-consuming and disruptive.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) The chance to travel seems exciting but can be made even more so by including a few people who are on your wavelength. So busy have you been on the more mundane aspects of life that the 'big picture' may have faded into the background.

LEO (July 24 - August 23) Keeping up the activity level physically is really in your best interests this week. It is a pivotal point where your resolutions in this area could fail.

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) An authority figure may also be

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Does someone in the family need your attention?

Don't begrudge time spent with them, even if you are busy.

Consider what you would want others to do if you were in the same position.

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.

LIBRA (September 24 October 23) With your enthusiasm socially at a peak, now is the time to get involved with anything that takes your fancy. A project involving music or painting will give you the chance to make new friends.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

SCORPIO (October 24 November 22) This week will see more progress on a health issue. Maybe you have recently given up something or taken to the gym.

Recent weeks may have conspired to upset your best efforts. It is never too late to make a fresh start, though, especially right now.

LOTTERY UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

UK THUNDERBALL

IRISH LOTTO

EURO MILLIONS

Saturday November 29

Saturday November 29

Saturday November 29

Friday November 28

11

18

19

38

42

8

10 24

15 31

7

8

18

28

35

39

BONUS BALL

THUNDERBALL

BONUS BALL

17

14

37

6

10 23

41

10

LA PRIMITIVA Saturday November 29

15

LUCKY STARS 4

Almeria

CLOUDS MAX 17C, MIN 9C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

2

8

25

29

32

37

REINTEGRO 21

2

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA 37 49

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

MAX MIN

12 8 Sh 13 6 C 12 6 S

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 13 7 S Tues - 14 9 Cl Wed - 15 11 S

17 9 S 16 8 S 15 8 S

MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 17 11 S Tues - 17 11 S Wed - 17 11 S

Mallorca TODAY:

15 10 Sh 14 8 Sh 13 9 Sh S Sun,

11 2 S 11 0 Cl 9 1 C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 15 9 Cl Tues - 16 11 Cl Wed - 17 12 S Cl Clear,

CLEAR MAX 18C, MIN 8C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun Fog,

Sn Snow,

MAX MIN

18 7 S 16 6 S 14 4 S

Mon - 17 7 S Tues - 16 7 S Wed - 17 8 S

C Cloud,

Sh Showers,

Th Thunder

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 G) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed.

TARGET:

Average: 21

Very good: 39

Good: 27

Excellent: 48

able, bale, bane, bawl, bean, been, bene, blah, blew, blow, bola, bole, bone, bowl, ebon, lobe, beano, below, blown, bowel, elbow, noble, obeah, baleen, enable, WHALEBONE

Word Ladder SENT

Move from the start word (SENT) to the end word (WORD) in the same number of steps as there are rungs on the Word Ladder. You must only change one letter at a time.

38 51

REINTEGRO 7

MAX MIN

Mon - 11 2 S Tues - 11 3 Cl Wed - 13 3 C

Murcia

SHOWERS MAX 16C, MIN 11C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

Mon - 16 9 S Tues - 17 9 S Wed - 17 11 S

CLOUDY MAX 10C, MIN 12C

TODAY:

MAX 17C, MIN 10C

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

17 9 S 16 9 Cl 14 8 S

Madrid

Malaga CLEAR

MAX MIN

Mon - 18 9 S Tues - 17 11 S Wed - 19 12 S

SHOWERS MAX 17C, MIN 10C

TODAY:

SHOWERS MAX 13C, MIN 9C

Fri Sat Sun -

17 9 S 18 9 Cl 17 9 S

MAX 18C, MIN 11C

Benidorm

Barcelona TODAY:

CLEAR MAX MIN

Mon - 17 7 S Tues - 17 8 S Wed - 16 9 S

Sunday November 30

11

TODAY:

MAX MIN

18 7 S 16 7 S 14 6 S

TODAY:

Sudoku

6

Alicante TODAY:

MAX MIN

putting the spotlight on your health. Getting out and about lifts the spirits, while perking up the diet with new foods brightens the system.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) Bring more zip to your life by

7-Star Quiz

December 8, Enrique Ponce, bullfighter Born in Valencia, he was the first bullfighter to fight more than 2,000 corridas and made his first public appearance in 1986. In March 2014, during the Las Fallas festival in Valencia, he suffered a severe goring which resulted in a broken collarbone and ribs.

WORD

WARD WORD

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Romance will find you this week if only you are in the right frame of mind. You may be inclined to refuse festive social gatherings that hold no prospects for you, but don't close the door on anything.

Your Stars

IF IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK: The fact that you are so at home working in a group is indicative of your cooperative nature.

Capitalise on this by applying your people skills to your work. In a busy world, relaxation counts.

SENT WENT WEND WAND

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) Avoid like the plague people who would dampen your spirit. It may not be deliberate but, if you are near repressed or depressed people, it may rub off. Find positive, active people to be near.

MAGALLUF

1. KING KONG, 2. QUEEN, 3. PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, 4. KING, 5.

PRINCESS, 6. BILLIE JEAN KING, 7.

PRINCE NASEEM HAMED

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CROSSWORDS

Crosswords

4 - 10 December 2014 / Mallorca

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For more information about the sponsor go to www.lineadirecta.com

Cryptic

Quick

Across 1 Rustic Asiatic city gets rainstorm (8) 4 Be eating the thing making for a light meal (4) 7 Lets out stern characters (5) 9 Help to make a curtain, say (5) 11 Thin can found in the street (5) 12 Formally approve some women actors (5) 13 Watch your heart (6) 15 Reasons why sauces are free (6) 19 Wooden smiles (5) 21 Castles for birds (5) 23 Discredit fake Earl (5) 24 Note: dead, but cheer up! (5) 25 Closely similar but mixed up as me (4) 26 Trek less confusing for flighty hunters (8) Down 1 In a row about tea bars (7) 2 Ran Kansas degrees (5) 3 Modifies Pat’s ad by mistake (6)

Across 7 Happening lately (6) 8 Long journey (6) 10 Educational institution (7) 11 Sugary (5) 12 Look for (4) 13 Less in number (5) 17 Arrive at (5) 18 Sixty minutes (4) 22 Away from others (5) 23 Safeguard (7) 24 Departs (6) 25 Pressure (6)

5 Law and order (5) 6 Forced to be a domestic worker, one hears (4) 8 Climb up a ladder (5) 10 Hangs around foals (5) 14 Insensitive fool after credit (5) 16 A poem about baby’s first home (5)

17 Cushions frequently found in ship (7) 18 Easy job in a light wind (6) 19 Releases from custody with some cricket gear (5) 20 Stupid cats flee (4) 22 Traps laid for son born a soldier (5)

Code Breaker Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 20 represents C and 21 represents V, so fill in C every time the figure 20 appears and V every time the figure 21 appears.

Now, using your knowledge of the English language, work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you discover the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS CRYPTIC Across: 1 Slapdash, 5 Nags,9 Respite, 10 Tress, 11 Bends, 12 Epistle, 13 Clever, 15 Carrot, 18 Aerosol, 20 Coped, 22 Cease, 23 Seaport, 24 Rest, 25 Mainstay.

Down: 1 Scrub, 2 Absence, 3 Drips, 4 See red, 6 Alert, 7 Suspect, 8 Attila, 13 Chaucer, 14 Easier, 16 Rapport, 17 Plasma, 19 Reaps, 20 Chain, 21 Ditty.

QUICK Across: 1 Dismiss, 5 Caged, 8 Adapted, 9 Ideal, 10 Stern, 11 Exactly, 12 Copied, 14 Mended, 17 Arrange, 19 Plans, 22 Lends, 23 Chasing, 24 Dirty, 25 Singers.

Down: 1 Deals, 2 Share, 3 Intense, 4 Sudden, 5 China, 6 Greeted, 7 Delayed, 12 Crawled, 13 Partner, 15 Explain, 16 Fences, 18 Nasty, 20 Alike, 21 Signs.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Down 1 Exact (7) 2 Reprimanded (7) 3 Wrath (5) 4 Behemoth (7) 5 Humped animal (5) 6 Owed amounts (5) 9 Magnifier of images of distant objects (9) 14 Scarabs (7) 15 Eternally (7) 16 Object formally (7) 19 Ahead of time (5) 20 Asian archipelago (5) 21 Footwear (5)

English - Spanish The clues are mixed, some clues are in Spanish and some are in English.

Across 1 Helmet (5) 3 Cervezas (5) 7 Bitter (drink, medicine) (6) 9 Abierto (puerta, armario, boca, herida) (4) 10 Septiembre (9) 13 Strange (person, event, behaviour, feeling) (4) 14 Spain (6) 16 Bufanda (5) 17 Dressing gowns (5) Down 1 Carbón (4) 2 Coche (automóvil) (3) 4 Company (firm) (7) 5 Healthy (person, plant, mind) (4) 6 Rockets (fireworks) (7) 8 Happiness (cheerfulness) (7) 11 Grey (in colour) (4) 12 Alfombras (pequeñas) (4) 15 Guisante (3)

Hexagram 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 (ARENAS) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues.

ARENAS (10)

REAPED

ENGLISH-SPANISH Across: 1 Shell, 3 Salon, 5 Ant, 7 Germans, 9 Snap, 10 Door, 14 Terraza, 15 Oca, 16 Perla, 17 Sacks.

BAREST

REELED

CURSED

RESTED

HAZELS

SEARED

HEALTH

SEATED

LEARNT

SENSED

Down: 1 Soaps, 2 Liga, 3 Sure, 4 Nos, 6 Traer, 8 Apodo, 11 Roads, 12 Papa, 13 Hats, 14 Tap.

METEOR

TRACED

OCEANS

WEARER

OWNERS

WEEDED

PRINTS

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Funagram Unscramble the name of a famous British athlete: AFAR IF PACE DULL

Unscramble the name of a famous British historical event (five words): LIGHTED AFTER FORENOON

1 Houses, 2 Muster, 3 Enters, 4 Mortar, 5 Winter, 6 Rattle, 7 Fasten, 8 Weasel, 9 Ceases, 10 Fillet, 11 Rivers, 12 Repeat, 13 Dealer, 14 Splash, 15 Dreams, 16 Reader, 17 Ambled, 18 Aflame, 19 Arenas

FUNAGRAM SOLUTION: PAULA RADCLIFFE, THE GREAT FIRE OF LONDON

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E W N 4 - 10 December 2014 / Mallorca

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

ealth & beauty H TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.EWNLIFESTYLE.COM

Try sleeping naked for health benefits

BETTER SLEEP: Wearing nothing to bed is good for your health.

SLEEPING naked is not just good for those nocturnal activities, but also good for your health.

Experts say that ditching the pyjamas could improve your sleep quality, boost your relationship and could even help burn calories.

Better sleep Sleep experts say you need to keep cool at night as your body’s core temperature needs to drop half a degree to aid you in drifting off to sleep.

By wearing pyjamas you could prevent your body from achieving it’s ideal temperature and

over heating will lead to a disruptive nights sleep.

Burning calories Brown fat, a type of tissue in the body that may protect against weight gain, appears to burn excess calories to generate heat. Babies have lots of brown fat to keep them warm, known as puppy fat, but studies have shown there are small amounts in the necks of adults, too.

Experts suggest that by sleeping in a cold bedroom it could activate brown fat in adults.

Lower blood pressure If you share a bed with a partner, going nude will

generate a generous boost of oxytocin, a hormone that’s been shown to have a wealth of health benefits as it is said to be triggered by skin to skin contact.

Oxytocin has a protective effect on the heart, as it lowers blood pressure and also boosts the immune system.

Love life A survey of 1,000 British adults found that those who wore nothing to bed had happier love lives with 57 per cent of nude sleepers saying they were happy in their relationship, compared with 48 per cent of pyjama wearers.

TRUS

dvert T isers

our a

WE D

O!

Wi-fi has medical delivery uses AN electronic implant that kills off bacterial infections using wireless technology has been created by US researchers.

When triggered by remote technology, the implant delivers heat to infected tissue.

In vitro studies also showed the devices could kill bacteria by releasing antibiotics.

Researchers believe it could lead to technologies that enable drugs and treatment to be delivered to patients at the press of a button.

Trials were using to treat staphylococcus, or staph, which can cause minor skin abscesses or lifethreatening infections of the blood.

In tests, 24 hours after the wireless treatment the infection had disappeared.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

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EWN

I am very pleased to have started my treatment Erica Russell Watson: My journey – and I’m driving

25th November

T

OMORROW I would be going to the Materno hospital in Malaga for a CAT scan on my brain and the rest of my body. This was as a precaution as I had been experiencing headaches and blurred vision. The mind is a powerful thing and can play tricks on you, so I was looking forward to doing to the test and hopefully being able to discount that the cancer had spread to other organs. The scan wouldn’t be painful but I would have to be absolutely still for the entirety of the scan.

I was hoping that I wouldn’t have an itchy nose like the last time I had an MRI scan!

Just pondering what the following day held for me and the school rang me to say that my daughter was feeling unwell and had blurred vision. My son who had been in A & E just the day before with a temperature of nearly 40 was sleeping off his terrible fever. Rafa, my daughter’s teacher, drove her home as

we live near the school.

The teachers were all aware of my situation so were only too happy to help. Life goes on! One in bed with a fever, the other on the sofa complaining of sore eyes and headaches and one Mummy flying slightly at half-mast! What a team we made! My daughter had had an eye test just a few days ago and the optician didn’t seem to think she needed glasses… just a very slight myopia to keep an eye on… pardon the pun.

Right, time to cheer us all up and the way to do that was through food! So I got out my cookery books and looked for something delicious and comforting to make. Pumpkin soup… the children weren’t so convinced!!

November 25, I arrived at the hospital in the morning for my CAT scan or TAC as it is called here in Spain.

You have to drink a glass of water every 15 minutes for an hour before you have the scan. Then I was called in to administer the contrast dye, just a quick prick and into the vein it goes.

Then they move you bit by bit through the scanner and you have to remain absolutely still. No drama as it only took 10 minutes.

November 26, I had to go to the hospital El Materno at 7:15 for a blood test, book my appointment with

the oncologist and then I went for breakfast. I returned to the hospital, accompanied by Jorge who has been an absolute rock for me. We had a four hour wait as they prepared the blood analysis and all the scan results. Finally my name was called and in we went to see the oncologist.

She gave me the good news that my brain and body were free of tumours, but there were some stains or lesions in my lungs. Nothing too serious but they needed watching so I would need to go back for another CAT scan within three months.

I was also told that I had to remove my coil because the hormones were counter-productive for breast cancer and my treatment. Then, to my total surprise, they told me I would be having my first session of chemotherapy the very same day. In a way it was great just to get on with it.

The nurses came and explained all the possible side effects of nausea, diarrhoea, hair loss, sore stomach, possible loss of appetite, dry skin, mouth ulcers, white gums - a sign of your immune system being down, brittle nails, vaginal dryness and a zillion other things. She then gave me lots of information about cancer support groups, wig specialists and diet advice. You have to hydrate yourself well on the

inside and outside, eat lots of nuts and take certain medication and drink lots of tea, ginger is apparently wonderful. I was told that my hair would fall out within a week to 15 days, so I was advised to cut my hair short and choose a wig or scarf and have it ready for the inevitable moment!

It was a lot of information to take in but more or less message received.

My chemo nurse Rosa told me she would ring me in a few days to check how I was and to see if I had any questions, she gave me her number. She was utterly charming and professional and definitely in the right job. I felt like I’d won the lottery as I had been so lucky with all the medical professionals that I had come into contact with.

Then time to start chemo!

I would be having eight sessions every 21 days of quite an aggressive dose.

They inserted the drip into a vein in my hand and fed through a preparatory cocktail to protect my stomach and reduce the likelihood of nausea. Then they flushed out the vein before starting the first in a two part chemo treatment.

That took another half an hour having rested for 30 minutes and then the final blast was administered.

This was a very funny orange colour and I was told not to be alarmed that my urine would be slightly

Pill could see you live to 120 A PILL that can delay aging could soon become a reality.

Scientists in Russia are testing a new formula, which they claim can delay the start of the aging process,

meaning people could live to at least the age of 120.

The tablet, containing what the researching scientists say is a “new type of antioxidant,” is currently being tested

on rats, mice, fish and dogs.

They believe the antioxidant will impact on on the mitochondria, the energy-producing part of cells, which is believed to be involved

in triggering aging.

The mitochondria is also blamed for heart attacks and linked to diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, which could also be prevented by the new formula.

toxic and orange of course.

Apparently you have to be careful near children and make sure you flush the loo well and disinfect the bathroom thoroughly. They were right. My first pee was an impressive sunset orange!

The alarm sounded and the treatment was over, the needle was taken out and I can honestly say apart from a slight headache I had not experienced any side effects.

I was advised to stay away from people with coughs and colds as my defences could be compromised. As my son had a fever and a virus I decided to stay away and his father looked after him and his sister.

So off I went to stay with my second family in Malaga! I was so well looked after, delicious food, baths were run, candles were lit, soothing music sounded, my skin rehydration treatment… you name it. What a lucky girl. In the meantime I received messages of love and support from my friends and family and colleagues.

I went to bed feeling happy and relaxed and very pleased to have started my treatment. Now I just had to wait for the bone scan results and return in 21 days for my second chemo session. Roll on December 17.

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T

HE Christmas packages have normally started to arrive by the middle of November. One from each Grandma, both for La Gidg, but both for my attention, arriving at a destination not our home address so that I can sort them and stash them until the appropriate moments.

Moment number one being December 1 when the Advent calendars are revealed. I don’t mean to sound too much like Cleese and Palin, but when I was a kid we didn’t have fancy pants Advent calendars.

We had one between the three of us, and there was no chocolate behind those doors, just photos of smiling reindeers.

And then on the ultimate day there wasn’t a photo of a present, no, there was a photo of the Baby Jesus, which is as it should be, isn’t it? You do remember what Christmas is about, don’t you?

My husband and his sister had the same thing, and therefore I know that I am not making this up or misremembering or in any way exaggerating. We also both recall being extremely happy and excited about our silly

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OPINION & COMMENT

The season to go craft daft Vicki Mcleod

Family Matters advent calendars when opening the door every morning was a major event.

Then there was the year when our opposite neighbours in the street came back from a trip to Austria with an amazing present for my brothers and I, a calendar which hid an incredible secret.

When the doors were opened there wasn’t only an image, but a small sliver of chocolate pressed into the shape of Father Christmas! What magic this was to us (mostly, it was the 70s) innocent and naïve children.

Now it’s ‘de rigeur’ that advent calendars should have chocolate in them. Okay, that’s fine. I can cope, I get it, and in fact if I can get there first, I

CHRISTMAS CHEER: In The Mood Choir are full of seasonal joy. want it. But this year’s parcels did not contain advent calendars, they contained the next incarnation of advent calendars which seem to be “craft opportunities”.

As far as I can tell the “opportunity” is mainly for me, and if you swap that word for “chore,” you’ve more or less got it.

One is a box with 24 drawers in it and the other is bunting made out of scratchy hessian which has 24 slots, and I am supposed to put surprises and prizes into both every day.

What’s happened to Christmas? Has it got all hessian-wrapped as if it’s guilty about being the commercialised

event that it is these days? “I’ve been bad; I must wear a sack and a badly drawn Father Christmas.”

Bless them but have all the grandparents forgotten how crazy the month of December gets with all of the parties, and shopping, not forgetting work and how intense that gets as we get towards the close of the year.

“We thought it would be fun.”

Yeah, I now have to remember to put something inside those slots every morning or be nagged into next week about what SHOULD be in there.

I’m not much better, though.

Realising the absence after many years of the traditional advent calendars from the grandparents, I picked up a simple chocolate calendar in the supermarket last weekend.

I had a choice between Papa Noel and the Sacred Family.

Which do you think I chose? I’ll give you a clue: ho ho ho. www.familymattersmallorca.com

I’m a Christmassy sort of person Colin Bird Each week, Colin brings his slightly off-the-wall view of the world to the pages of EWN in his own irreverent style.

I LIKE the tinsel and phoney snow and the whole roast turkey, mince pies and silly hats thing.

Whilst maintaining a macho exterior, I actually get all excited when the tree is decorated (it’s been up since November 19) which arches over precariously with enough glass balls and bells to decorate the O2.

My function, however, is to simply lug in the boxes of bling from the garage and erect our fake Norwegian Spruce, after which the Princess takes over and tells me to get lost as she adds layer upon layer of lights, glass baubles of varying sizes and miniature reindeer and snowmen.

And all this in spite of the fact that we are still finding bits of glitter on the carpets and in the fridge from last year’s celebrations.

Then you have the annual problem for us blokes of what to buy the little woman.

FAVOURITE PERFUME: Is never one smelling of ‘Roses of Battersea.’

More particularly what to buy a woman who has everything.

Perfume is always a reasonable place to start and they all have their favourites. But it’s never the two quid a gallon ‘Roses of Battersea’ stuff for

my little lady. No it has to be Coco by Chanel. I would prefer Cocoa by Nestlé, it’s a lot cheaper, but she is insistent.

It’s never regarded as the primary present either, but merely a stocking

filler. So having lashed out three thousand euros for a bottle the size of a fairy’s jock strap, you then have to start thinking about the bigger gift, and you are back to the original problem.

What to buy?

Shouldn’t criticise too much though, because I am also very particular about the smelly water that I throw on myself prior to an evening out at the Gran Chino Wok Buffet, and I favour Gentleman by Givenchy.

It often attracts complimentary remarks from the ladies and if I’m lucky, I will get sniffed-up a couple of times on a Saturday night.

It also, however, attracts comments from other men, but they are never quite so respectful. Smelling like a Turkish tart’s pillowcase is one example.

With its main ingredient patchouli, it transports me back to those heady days of the 60’s when you could asphyxiate on the scented smoke from joss sticks at parties, and where pungent patchouli incense was used to disguise other suspicious aromas when the fuzz came calling.

You know, fried onions and stuff.

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FOOD & DRINK

Mallorca’s best guide to local restaurants

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Does your place have news for EWN readers?

AT EWN we have our clients’ best interests at heart. Getting your news out to the public can sometimes be a struggle, but we here at EWN want to help.

Have you changed your menu, recently renovated or won an award?

Do you have an upcoming charity event you’d like to publicise? Do you have a new member of staff?

Maybe you’d like to take part in our ‘Restaurant’ experience?

Your establishment provides a meal for two which we will review and publish - with pictures - in your local edition.

If you have any news of interest that you would like to get out to local readers, then please let us know. We cannot promise to publish everything, but we will do our best.

Please send your news and photos to whatson@euroweeklynews.com

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Loving your cats too much

CAT owners are being too loving and stressing their feline friends out with too many cuddles.

That is according to new research by a cats welfare charity which has found too many owners are letting their love for their moggies cloud their judgement when it comes to providing a stress-free home.

The UK charity Cats Protection questioned 1,300 cat owners and found when it comes to dealing with their stressed out pet, more than half (53 per cent) would give it a cuddle.

“Being held or stroked for too long can be very stressful for some cats,” said Cats Protection’s Behaviour Manager, Nicky Trevorrow. “Space and peace is often what they need - they’re not small furry humans, so what would comfort us won’t necessarily comfort them.”

The Cats Protection’s survey found cat owners in the UK find it difficult to recognise signs of stress and many are at a loss as to what to do about it. In particular: • More than half of owners (55 per cent) didn’t realise that living with another cat or dog can be stressful for their pet.

• Half the owners were unaware that other cats coming into the house could be a cause of stress.

• More than a third (35 per cent) let neighbouring cats in, either through a door or window, or their own cat’s cat flap.

• More than half (51 per cent) failed to identify wetting and soiling in the house as a sign of stress.

Cats Protection offers an online learning tool at: http://learnonline.cats.org.uk/content/ufo/

Training a Diabetes Alert dog

NORMALLY, a person can feel the warning signals of low blood sugar (sweating, shaking, nausea, and confusion); however, some are unable to feel these symptoms and are thus unaware their blood sugar is dropping or dangerously low.

This is where a Diabetes Alert dog comes in.

Australian-born Nina Bondarenko is a specialist Animal Behaviour consultant and coach. She is a TV and radio presenter, author artist and lecturer. Nina can train your dog to be a Diabetic Alert dog by guiding and training your dog to alert you in advance of low (hypoglycaemia) or high (hyperglycaemia) blood sugar events before they become dangerous, so you can take steps to

David THE Dogman

Listen to David on TRE every Saturday 10 thru 11.

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

return the levels to normal.

The dogs are trained to accompany their owners wherever they travel in the manner of guide dogs. The dog is rewarded for finding a high blood sugar (it is supposed to smell like tutty fruity gum) or low blood sugar that is supposed to smell like rusty water or nail polish remover.

Tarra Robinson, who after having Type 1 diabetes her entire life, became unaware of her low blood sugars, a

condition known as hypounawareness. She began passing out at work and crashed her car due to unexpected lows.

An insulin pump and a continuous glucose monitor didn’t improve the situation. She then began the training process with her Lab/Golden Retriever mix named Duchess.

Diabetes Alert dogs, which are trained to detect the scent of low blood sugar levels, are right 90 per cent of the time, according to Nina. Dogs are trained to lick the hand if they sense a low. When a

diabetic sleeps, the dog will stand guard and get on top of the person to try and wake them if she smells a low.

If you would like a telephone chat with Nina write to me at david@thedogman and I will introduce you to the wonderful lady. Nina will be in Barcelona in a few weeks and will be able to pop down and start by taking samples from you etc. and then the training will start in your home.

DIABETES: Dogs can help detect low sugar.

A few tips on what you should do to prepare for your pet sitter

By Lamia Walker of HousesitMatch RECENTLY I was asked by a home owner new to house sitting, what they should prepare for their first pet sitter.

From my own pet sitting experience and other stories from pet sitters, it has always been met with great appreciation that the home owner prepares a

few essentials ready for the house sit. Here are a few top tips on what to leave your pet sitter: 1. Write out a daily regimen: this can include meal, bed times and walking routines.

It’s important your pet sitter sticks to this to help keep your pet happy and anxiety-free.

2. Make sure favourite toys/treats are handy: these are

essential for a pet sitter to bond with your pets and of course have some fun.

3. Extra leads and balls: Both of these have a habit of getting chewed or going missing; make sure you leave your pet sitter prepared with a few spares.

I also recommend a phone call or Skyping your pet sitter to get to know

them, and arrange to earlier, so meet your you leave.

if possible, meet a day they get to pets before

Download your Free Easy Guide to Housesitting from here www.bit.ly/eurown001 To find a petsitter go to www.HousesitMatch. com or call Lamia on +44 (0)1865 521508.

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E W N 4 - 10 December 2014 / Mallorca

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omes&gardens

H

HOMES & GARDEN

SPONSORED BY

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR GO TO WWW.LINEADIRECTA.COM

Make colourful terraces and balconies...

Dick Handscombe

Gardening Corner

By Spain’s best known expatriate gardening author living in Spain for 25 years.

SINCE the publication of my book Apartment Gardening Mediterranean Style four years ago it has been encouraging to

see more and more apartment dwellers make their terraces and balconies greener and more colourful, especially for Christmas.

It is not too late for you to brighten up your own terraces and balconies or do so for an ageing friend as a Christmas present!

If you need inspiration and are in London over Christmas

visit the Spanish Garden on top of the Virgin Building in Kensington.

How come an Englishman constructed a 5,000 square metre Spanish garden on a rooftop with a metre or more of topsoil in the 1930s, while modern-day apartment dwellers with modest terraces or balconies worry about carrying a few pots, a bag of compost

and a few plants up in a lift?

Even window boxes on railings planted with poinsettias, heathers, pansies, cyclamens, azaleas, cotons or kalenchoas during the next week would add Christmas cheer.

The wide range of styles sizes and colours of containers, and the offer of better compost ranges by many garden centres

has simplified doing so especially if awnings and blinds are installed to protect plants from the low winter sun.

Some year-end terraces are not only colourful but also productive. The opportunities are there.

Š Dick Handscombe www.gardengreen.com December 2014

Advertising feature

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One product our customers have found

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guests is being able to securely open their gate

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Full details of this and other services as well as a considerable amount of useful background information can be seen at our website www.mallorca-tech.com We will always endeavour to meet your highest expectations in the work we do for you.

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We only use tradesmen and technicians that are experienced and qualified for the work involved. For instance, air conditioning and heat pump work is only undertaken by a Spanish and UK certified

ANSWER: whatever your needs. engineer. We do this to ensure the quality of workmanship but it is also a strict legal requirement here in Spain and the EU, where refrigeration gases are involved.

We are pleased to provide you with any advice you may require or a quotation.

This is provided without any obligation on your part, so please contact Marius at Mallorca Technical Home Services on 0034 971 514 941 or 0034 652 634 317 or use the "Contact Us" page on our website www.mallorca-tech.com and we will get back to you very soon.

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PROPERTY

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Property TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

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dvert

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UP: Civil engineering and residential projects increasing.

Construction leading the way in recovery SPAIN is leading the way in a recovery of the construction sector.

Whilst many European Union countries are still

seeing a shrinkage in levels of building work, Spain is bucking the trend having shown a 9.1 per cent year on

year rise by the end of September.

While not up to August’s 22 per cent rise, it is still the leading

Mortgage lending starts to flow once more in Spain THE numbers of mortgages being given continue to rise according to the National Statistics Institute (INE).

According to the latest figures just released for September, a total of 19,323 new mortgages were taken out, 29.8 per cent more than in the same month of 2013, and the highest figure since February of last year.

That means that Spain has seen four consecutive months of double digit rises in mortgages given - June saw a 19 per cent rise, July had an increase of 28.8 per cent and August saw a 24 per cent rise.

The average value of mortgages taken out in September reached €107,850, up 10.6 per cent compared to the same month in 2013.

The volume of capital loaned for these mortgages increased by 43.5 per cent in the preceding 12 months to €2.08 billion.

The regions which saw the biggest number of home mortgages in September were Madrid (4,092), Andalucia (3,301) and Catalonia (2,777).

The region with the largest volume of capital loaned for mortgages was Madrid, with a total of €612.3 million given to home buyers.

figure across Europe according to the European Commission’s statistical office Eurostat. After Spain on the list came the Czech Republic (8.2 per cent), Hungary (7.3 per cent) and Slovenia (6.2 per cent). The UK saw a 1.8 per cent increase in the year up to the end of September.

While those figures look healthy enough, Italy saw a 10.6 per cent fall in construction, with Portugal (-5.2 per cent), France (-3.4 per cent), the Netherlands (-3.1 per cent) and Germany (-1.5 per cent), all seeing declines.

Generally across the eurozone there was a fall of 1.7 per cent in construction and a 0.4 per cent decline across the whole EU.

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E W N 4 - 10 December 2014 / Mallorca

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BOATING

Celebrating 25 years at the Palma top of the boat charter tree even b MALLORCA’S first ever motoryacht charter service will bid farewell to their 25th year in business at the close of 2014, one of their best years in terms of sales.

And easyboats is looking forward to further success in 2015 as it plans to expand.

“When we started our charter business, we genuinely had no idea if there would be anyone out there willing to pay 30,000 pesetas (€180) for a day trip in one of our three family-owned speedboats,” said Lorenzo Vila, director of easyboats. “You have to remember that, at the time, many earned as little as 80,000 pesetas (€480) per month, so we were asking a lot. It turned out there were plenty of willing

LIVING THE DREAM: Lorenzo and Xisco of easyboats wealthy people and by the end of year one, 100 per cent of our investment had been recouped.”

After acquiring more boats, the company found that they had first-mover

advantage over rival companies that began to set up, and maintained market share. That was until demand rose to unmanageable levels.

“We were forced to

broker competitor charter boats but soon realised that not everyone shared our quality ethos,” said Lorenzo. “Faced with some unhappy customers, we took everything back in-

house and once more operated our own fleet.”

Soon riding the crest of a wave once again, easyboats began attracting a more glamorous clientele.

“We are proud to say we have chartered and sold boats to actors, supermodels, pop stars, professional sportspeople, royalty and billionaires,” said Lorenzo. “We’ve also been hired to drive boats for TV commercials, like Pandora jewellery, for music videos such as multiMTV award winner Inna, and blockbuster movies.”

Lorenzo and his brother Xisco – co-founder of easyboats – have had a wild ride over the last 25 years, and have no plans to rest on their laurels. www.easyboats.com

P

ALMA will be the place to be for boat lovers next year, as two important boating events are held concurrently. Luxurious superyachts will be the stars of the show at the third annual Palma Superyacht Show, to be held from April 30 to May 4, 2015. Running concurrently will be the 32nd Boat Show Palma.

Now a firm fixture on the yachting calendar, the Palma Superyacht Show has established its own clear identity as a show of excellence, akin to the famous shows held at Cannes and Monaco. Providing a platform for charter and brokerage boats bigger than 24 metres, the show is growing in size to cater to

BOATING

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4 - 10 December 2014 / Mallorca

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a Superyacht Show 2015 will be bigger and better than ever before PLACE TO BE: Palma will be the centre of the yachting world for the Superyacht Show and the Palma Boat Show

demand. And exhibitors are being advised to book their places soon.

“We are working hard to get more berthing space for the 2015 edition of the Palma Superyacht Show,” said Arne

Ploch, coordinator of the show’s in-water display and sales broker for Campers & Nicholsons. “There were 55 attending yachts in 2014 and we are going to try and fit in 10 more.

With the Palma

Superyacht Show now established as one of the most important brokerage and charter events before the summer, demand is high. We were sold out in 2014 and expect the same again for 2015,

but this time much earlier. With five berth reservations already signed from those who didn’t attend the previous year, we can’t impress on potential exhibitors enough to book as soon as possible – particularly for charter as Spain is now fully open to foreign-flagged yachts and the market is burgeoning.”

Held in partnership with MYBA, the Worldwide Yachting Association, the outlook for this year’s show is good. Last year,

34 exhibitors occupied shoreside stands, but this year the number will rise to 50.

“The previous Palma Superyacht Show was a great success for Astilleros de Mallorca and we had a large stand,” said Jenny Maul from Astilleros de Mallorca.

“The relaxed and positive atmosphere provided a great platform for communicating and sharing information with many other companies, while our long-term customers were impressed by the show’s fresh image and the presence of the best yachts available in the market for sale or charter.”

More information: Jane Thompson 605 223 202. Email info@palmasuperyachtshow.com.

Or you can visit the website at: www.palmasuperyachtshow.com.

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MOTORING

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otoring M TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

SPONSORED BY For best rates in motor insurance call: 952 89 33 80

THE New Opel Corsa is due to start rolling off the production lines in December.

Well established as a bestseller: through four model generations spanning 32 years, 12.4 million Corsas have been sold. Together with the Astra, it is Opel’s most popular model, accounting for over a quarter of the company’s sales every year.

Available in three and five-door body formats, the Corsa is currently number four in the small car segment in Western Europe. In Germany and the United Kingdom, it is number two.

Picture: Copyright GM Company

New Opel Corsa launches

The new fifth-generation Corsa rolls off the assembly lines in Eisenach and Zaragoza at the end of this

year, and offers a fresh look and a fresh driving experience with a new chassis and optimised

steering, combining German engineering with design, digital connectivity and, say Opel, a great

price/performance ratio.

New generation petrol and reworked diesel turbo engines ensure a new level of comfort, top performance and low fuel consumption.

The fifth-generation Corsa can already be ordered in Germany at an entry-level price of €11,980 (three door, 1.2 petrol engine.)

“The Opel Corsa has always been widely praised, particularly for its appealing looks and its

A BESTSELLER: Comes with a new level of comfort, modern driver assistance and infotainment systems.

efficient use of space within compact dimen-sions,” says Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann, CEO Opel Group.

“I am confident the new fifth generation, with its new level of comfort, its modern driver assistance and infotainment systems, will continue the model’s exemplary success. I promise that the driving experience of the new Corsa will surprise everyone.”

The new chassis does not inherit a single component from the current model.

Straight line and cornering stability is increased thanks to a centre of gravity lowered by five millimetres, a stiffer sub-frame and new suspension geometry including a new front knuckle. Roll behaviour, steering response and understeer characteristics are all improved.

The highlight under the hood of the new Corsa is the installation of Opel’s newly-developed petrol three-cylinder, 1.0 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo.

Just premiered in the Opel ADAM, this engine has been designed from a clean sheet of paper and sets a new class benchmark for exceptionally low noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) characteristics, as well as high driving comfort: the compact, allaluminum 1.0 ECOTEC Direct Injection Turbo is fitted with a counterrotating balancer shaft - a unique feature in its class.

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SPORT

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port S Sparks fly between clubmates Hat-trick hero

Man City striker Sergio Aguero scored all three goals in their win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Mallorca’s best guide to local sport

PONENT Rugby Club members might be the best of friends whilst socialising but as soon as it comes to a match between their two teams they put the friendship aside and sparks fly.

In a Balearies Senior League game marked by a muddy field following heavy rain the two teams

played equally hard. The heavy pitch made running difficult so it was mainly a kicking game with a final score of 24 points to 17.

In the evening match between Corsaris RFC and El Toro RC the home team never really woke up and the visitors proved to be far too strong and physically superior throughout the whole match. El Toro RC were constantly moving the ball looking for gaps in the Corsaris defence. Corsaris RFC failed to put any points on the board against 34 for El Toro RC. Shamrock RC applied the pressure in their match against Dimonis RC and were equal at the half time break. They tried hard to

Baleares Rugby Federation.

By Lynda Demangeat

TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

IN ACTION: Shamrock against Dimonis. keep up the momentum but during the final minutes lapses in concentration gave the hosts a penalty and then allowed a try

through to give Dimonis RC the win by 13 points to five.

Bahia RC kept up their unbeaten run by beating Ibiza RC by 22 points to 15

on Sunday.

Boris Gutierrez and Alex Villarubia of the Baleares Rugby Federation attended the presentation in Madrid of the new Get Into Rugby initiative. This is organised

by Rugby World Europe and aims to boost Rugby training for teachers in schools.

Jose Gorrotxategui, head of World Rugby, cited the Balearics as an excellent example of Rugby development and training in schools and the importance of a training programme for educators within the community.

Within the Balearics during October and November, 19,000 students have been part of the programme.

Coming up this weekend are the penultimate matches of the first half of the season, El Toro RC play at home in Son Caliu against RC Ponent B, Shamrock RC meet Bahia RC, RC Ponent A team play Dimonis RC on what could be a muddy Principes de EspaĂąa pitch. Spectators are welcome to any match, free of charge.

Dimonis RC are organising the fifth Rugby Day for the younger categories and the Michel Rodier Trophy for the U14 teams. RC Ponent are hosts to the U16 and U18 teams for the next leg of the Michel Rodier Trophy and the girls teams are due to play at the Bahia RC pitch.