Euro Weekly News - Costa de Almeria 11 - 17 December 2014 Issue 1536

ISSUE NO. 1536

EWN FRONT EXTRA

Search halted THE search for 23 immigrants lost off the coast of Cabo de Gata has been halted. Marine Rescue saved 28 people but those rescued said there had been 51 people on the boat.

Movie tapas TWENTY-EIGHT bars and restaurants in Almeria City took part in the Tapas de Pelicula which ended at the weekend. The tapas all had a movie theme in the title.

Cleaning up A group of eight hikers have been cleaning the countryside around Cuevas del Almanzora because they were sick of seeing rubbish piling up in the area.

Python praise FILMMAKER Terry Gilliam, former member of Monty Python, has received a lifetime achievement award at the Almeria short film festival.

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Bale says ‘gracias’ HOLLYWOOD superstar Christian Bale (pictured) has extended his thanks to the people of Almerimar.

The A-list movie actor met with the mayor of El Ejido, Francisco Gongora, and expressed his gratitude to the town for the kindness and hospitality he experienced during his stay in the coastal village of Almerimar while filming the blockbuster movie, Exodus.

The town has released video footage showing Bale meeting with the mayor and Councillor for Tourism, Luisa Barranco, at the Hotel Golf Almerimar, just before he left the town at the end of filming. Bale and his family enjoyed a number of cultural, sporting and leisure activities during their stay.

When speaking about Almerimar, Bale said: “It is an amazing and wonderful place.” The video is available on www.turismo.elejido.es.

Big win for ONCE seller A LOTTERY ticket salesman has hit the jackpot himself, scooping more than €4 million using his daughters’ birthday dates as numbers.

Jose Rodriguez Lorente, a 48-year-old ONCE salesman, won a total of €4,043,533.61.

Lorente, who has worked selling ONCE tickets since 2012,

described his nerves as he continued to work the following day, selling tickets for the Cuponazo and the Eurojackpot. He said he was continuing to sell on that day out of loyalty and respect for ONCE customers. “But tomorrow,” said Lorente, “I do not know what will become of my life.”

The prize in the San

Isidro neighbourhood of Nijar is the second largest in Spain. In June this year, the largest prize fund of €10.5 million was won in Velez-Malaga.

ONCE has 726 members of the 1,011 blind and partially-sighted people registered in Almeria Province. Its headquarters are in Nijar, where Lorente’s prize was won.

ONCE was established in 1988 to provide training and employment while promoting solidarity for people with disabilities. It is a founding partner of the European Network for Accessible Tourism (ENAT) an international organisation set up make tourism more accessible to those with disabilities.

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INDEX News 1 - 28 Finance 31 - 36 Letters 37 Leapy Lee 38 Daily TV 44 Time Out 54 - 55 Health & Beauty 57 - 59 Food 60 - 64 Homes & Gardens 66 Albox 67 - 72 Property 73 Classifieds 74 - 76 Motoring 77 - 78 Sport 79 - 80

CHRISTMAS TREE: Is now lit up in the town centre and kicks off a range of activities.

Lights on for Berja CHRISTMAS has arrived in Berja with the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree in the town centre.

The lights went on during a fun filled concert, with music and dance, aimed at the younger residents of Berja.

The concert followed an afternoon of workshops and party games. Children loved the presents and games and the volume rose as the evening went on, before the lights were eventually switched on for December.

The following day, in collaboration with

the association of Mayordomos from San Roque, the town held the seventh edition of the matanza, a traditional festival of slaughter, using traditional methods to kill the pig.

The event included a big feast of pork products such as ribs, loin and fillet.

The illumination kicks off a range of Christmas activities including the Belen opening on December 18, a sports gala on December 19, an extravanganza of singing and flamenco on December 20 and a three day circus.

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Increased surveillance THE Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning has increased surveillance in Cabo de Gata with the installation of video cameras as part of their drive to prevent environmental violations.

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Motorist saved from floods OFFICERS from the Guardia Civil rescued a man trapped in his vehicle during the recent floods in Berja.

The 60-year-old man was taken by surprise when the flow of water suddenly increased to more than 50 centimetres, leaving his car trapped in the centre of the channel. The Guardia Civil

vehicle could only access the car from one direction, meaning they had to manoeuvre through 200 metres of flooded road to access the stranded vehicle.

The driver of the car was extremely anxious when officers reached him at the bridge of Cinco Ojos. He had suddenly become stuck and

was watching the water rising around his vehicle while help arrived. However, the man was soon persuaded to climb out of his vehicle and was rescued by the Guardia Civil.

The officers then had to reverse 200 metres back to drier land. The man, although shaken, was unhurt and was left in the care of a friend.

PHOTO: NATHAN RUPERT

Christmas cheer GLADRAGS, Albox, is holding a day of Christmas cheer on December 19 from 10am until 3pm. There will be a special appearance by Jill Farmiloe and a raffle, all proceeds going to Walk for Life Arboleas.

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No excuse A MAN has been jailed for three years for the attempted rape of a woman in El Ejido in 2012.

His defence that he was under the influence of alcohol was rejected by the court.

Resin potential MARIA in Los Velez is the site of a pilot test to see if it is profitable to extract and use tree resin. The test explores traditional methods of extracting resin, a forgotten skill in the area.

Craft fair VELEZ STORES in Velez Rubio is hosting a craft fair on December 13, 10am until 2pm. In addition to the stalls there is a raffle and Father Christmas. Proceeds go to MACS charity.

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Festive library

MARIA’S Guadalinfo library is holding a range of activities for children on December 22, 23, 24, 26, 29, 30 and 31 from 10am until 1.30pm.

Registration is at the town hall until December 15.

Race for Peru THE sixth edition of the San Silvestre race in Velez Rubio has been set for December 28.

The race begins at 10am with various categories. Money raised goes to charity in Peru.

Orphanage gifts ESSENTIALS in Arboleas are supporting Vera orphanage.

Pop into the store and pick a child’s name before buying them a gift worth €10-12.

There are some names left.

Pulpi extras PLAYA MAR SERENA at San Juan de Los Terreros was invaded by 130 extras filming for a commercial. It was part of a campaign by Qatar to promote their bid for the 2022 World Cup. December flower LOS VELEZ botanical gardens have named their flower for December. The Seseli Montanum, a very small perennial flower with purple or white petals, is found on limestone mountains across Andalucia.

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PSOE plea SPECTACULAR VIEW: Granada’s Alhambra Palace at dusk.

Google ‘Street View’ of historic sites

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VER wanted to see the outstanding Moorish architecture of Granada’s Alhambra Palace, the Gaudi-designed La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Galicia’s ancient Roman Tower of Hercules lighthouse or the famous Las Medulas in Leon?

Now – thanks to Google’s ‘Street View’ service – you can visit 50 of Spain’s most iconic, important, historical and architectural wonders, all from the comfort of your own home. Normally reserved for, literally, viewing streets on your computer, Google’s Street View has taken to some of Spain’s most beautiful sites – several of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites – in order to give armchair travellers a taste of the real thing and the chance

Quote of the Week I wouldn’t want you to think I am lazy,’ said Spanish artist Antonio Lopez ahead of the official unveiling of his portrait of King Juan Carlos I and his family, 20 years after he accepted the commission for the painting from Spain’s National Heritage agency.

to forward-plan any site visits they might like to make when in Spain.

According to Spanish daily 20 Minutos, the images were captured using a 360-degree camera on top of a backpack, meaning the camera operator could capture images inside buildings which are only accessible on foot. The traditional Street View method records images from a camera affixed to a car rooftop.

UNESCO product manager for special collections, Magdalena Flak, said the sites were chosen due to their importance to Spain. “We wanted to work in these areas because they are searched for not only

by Spaniards, but also on an international level,” she said.

CREDITlev radin / Shutterstock.com

Number of the week

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is the amount of times that Vladimir Putin allegedly snuck into Spain illegally during the 1990s in order to visit Russian oligarchs living in the south of the country, according to a new book about the Russian Prime Minister.

ALMERIA’s Socialist party (PSOE) has submitted motions in the 102 municipalities to prevent utility companies from cutting off services to vulnerable families during the winter months.

Noche en Blanco VERA’s Noche en Blanco was deemed a success by the town hall. In addition to the shopping bargains to be had, crowds were entertained by Disney floats and street performers.

Getting through THE Paws Patas shelter telephone (678 490 217) is back in service again although the signal in the area is still intermittent. They ask that people email to ensure contact: shelter@pawspatas.org

And finally...

A WOMEN’S theatre group in Madrid is selling pornographic magazines as a way of getting around a sales tax hike. Instead of theatre tickets, which have a sales tax of 21 per cent, they are selling old porn magazines for €16 that come with a free theatre ticket. Magazines only have a sales tax of 4 per cent.

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Our View

King’s gift ban a sign of his intent

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HE decision by King Felipe VI to forbid members of the royal family from accepting expensive gifts and favours has to be applauded.

In an effort to clean up the royal household’s image, the king has decided it would not be fitting that the family be seen to receive the kind of gifts that “could jeopardise the dignity of their institutional tasks.” In other words, the king has quite rightly decided that his household should not be presented with free bling while almost a quarter of the country is out of work and a multitude of politicians and top officials are either in prison or under investigation for corruption.

This magnanimous gesture paints the royal family in a more down-toearth light and makes the ordinary Spanish citizen feel more like a

contemporary and less like a ‘subject’.

During his inaugural speech, King Felipe VI said that “the crown must constantly earn citizens’ appreciation, respect and trust.

Today, more than ever, citizens are rightly demanding that public officials lead by example.”

His gift ban is a perfect way of showing that he is in tune with public sentiment. After all, most people balk at the idea that the very people who can afford to pay for these expensive gifts are the ones who get them for free.

Much like the way Prince William and Prince Harry have helped give the British royal family a more ‘normal’ veneer, King Felipe VI is already showing that after just a few months in charge, he is anxious to close the gap between royal and citizen.

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Helping out in the great food drive CARBONERAS, in common with the rest of Spain, held the great food bank collection and 295 boxes of products are now at charity Caritas waiting to be distributed.

Forty-nine volunteers covered shifts to help collect goods for families who are experiencing hard times.

With organisation and co-ordination, the volunteers took turns at the entrances of participating establishments to hand out carrier bags to customers.

The customers were invited to place nonperishable items in the bags and pay for them before donating them to the waiting volunteers.

Products including rice, lentils, baby food, nappies and tinned food were especially appreciated.

Stores Coviran and Mercadona helped support the volunteers, with staff doing a lot of the lifting and carrying of donated goods.

Workers at the Central Termica de Carboneras clubbed together and bought a van full of products, which was delivered to Caritas.

Some of the workers also volunteered over the two days in the collection and transport of goods to Caritas, as well as donating additional goods when doing their shopping at Mercadona and Coviran.

The organisers of the collection would like to thank everyone involved in the operation.

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No AVE till 2024 THE planned highspeed train link between Almeria and Murcia has been put on hold for another 10 years.

According to the latest Junta de Andalucia regional government predictions, cuts in energy funding announced this week mean that the planned AVE completion date will now be 2024.

Energy investment in the province for 20152020 has been decreased by half from an anticipated €68 million to €34 million, causing numerous projects to be put on the back burner.

One plan was for a new electricity line to support the rail line.

Christmas folk party THE Almeria Strings Christmas folk club party will take place at 8pm on December 18, at Romerijo in Turre.

As always, people are welcome to perform a few songs. If you would like to do so, then Almeria Strings ask that you let them know in advance, or try to arrive as early as possible so that they can adequately schedule everyone in and avoid disappointment.

Almeria Strings is a non-profit, informal association of acoustic musicians dedicated to folk music.

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Four arrested in Berja for distributing drugs OFFICERS from the Guardia Civil in Berja have arrested AUN, aged 32, RCS, 23, MEA, 20, and a 17-yearold minor, suspected of a crime against public health.

The arrests are the result of preventive measures, established by the Guardia Civil in the Dalias

area, to combat the retail distribution of narcotics. Officers carried out the arrests after searching a car which had just refuelled at a petrol station near the town of Berja.

The officers searched the car and found two blocks that were suspected of being hashish, so all

the passengers were transferred to the Guardia Civil station.

After checking the nature of the substance and verifying that it was hashish, weighing 191 grams, officers arrested AUN, RCS, MEA and the minor on suspicion of a crime against public health.

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In mourning PECHINA Town Hall has announced three days of mourning as a mark of respect for Jose Manuel Moreno Diaz, the former mayor of the town for 11 years, who died recently.

3rd Triathlon THE third edition of Pechina’s triathlon will be held on December 21. It will pay tribute to Manuel Trujillo, a local athlete who died last summer.

Police raid cocaine lab SPAIN’S first cocaine laboratory has been raided in Nijar, Almeria, and 12 people have been arrested.

A joint effort by Guardia Civil and National Police forces ended with the arrest of five Colombians, five Spaniards, one Nigerian and one Peruvian in Madrid, Almeria, Toledo and Cadiz, and the confiscation of 229 kilos of cocaine.

The laboratory used techniques usually seen in labs in Colombia to extract the drug from a flour base used to make animal feed.

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Better paths GADOR is working to improve the pavements in the town centre.

Plaza de la Ermita and the corner of Avenida Andalucia and Calle La Paz will benefit first.

HAUL: 229 kilos of cocaine seized from laboratory.

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Briton sought in tax theft case HOMEOWNERS in Murcia have been left out of pocket to the tune of thousands and having to pay back taxes that they assumed had already been paid.

The homeowners thought their payments were up to date but have recently been told by the tax authorities that the money never arrived in the Hacienda’s bank account.

The

homeowners now face surcharges in addition to having to pay the property taxes again.

Legal firm Martinez-Echeverria, Perez and Ferrero is acting on behalf of a group who they think may be victims of a fraud involving property owners on the Camposol urbanisation in Mazarron. So far, 15 homes are involved, with the missing funds thought to be about €255,000, although the solicitors think there may be more affected property owners.

LA ESTACION restaurant in Purchena has They are seeking an English woman, Raquel CE expanded to include a cookery workshop.

Ramon Saez and Horst Markus, who run La (also known as Kelly) in with the Estacion, initially considered the project in 2013 connection but the company Cosentino has brought it to allegations. Her wherefruition with sponsorship. The cookery workshop abouts are unknown.

If you purchased a is aimed at groups of five to 15 people and will take place in the large air-conditioned kitchen. property on Camposol The two chefs will teach various skills including during 2009 to 2012, or have information pastry, baking and molecular cookery.

The inauguration is scheduled for December regarding Raquel CE, 17, when the two chefs will be joined by contact the legal firm businesspeople involved in the hospitality and via website www.martinez eche varria.com. tourism sectors in the province.

Learn cooking skills

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Seventeen years for fatal shooting PROSECUTORS are seeking 17 years in prison for a Canjayar man who allegedly shot another man at point blank range

during a heated argument.

The prosecution are also seeking eight years for a second defendant for incitement and for hiding the weapon afterwards.

The date has been set for a court hearing on March 9, 2015 for the two men, JJGH FRANCISCO CAMPOY is an elderly resident of Cuevas and BHG. del Almanzora who has dedicated his life to agriculture, The incident, which growing a little of everything. occurred on Now, however, he has excelled himself by growing a November 13, 2014, giant sweet potato. The enormous vegetable weighs a culminated in the little more than 10 and a half kilograms and Campoy alleged shooter, JJGH, claims: “Nobody in the area has seen anything like it.” firing a sawn-off “I once heard someone on Andalucian television shotgun into the talking about their sweet potato that was eight abdomen of a man kilograms and this one is two kilograms more,” from just one metre continued Campoy. “I have not done anything special, away, after BHG it was just the earth. Yes there are some others, prompted him to do weighing two or three kilograms but nothing like this.” so.

The sweet potato is on display for now in the local When the victim fell bar. “With one of these you could feed a whole family,” to the ground a commented one of the bar’s patrons. Sweet potatoes second shot was fired, are common at this time of year, yet nothing quite like ensuring a fatal Campoy’s. outcome.

Monster sweet potatoes in Cuevas del Almanzora

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Only one exhibit, a toy octopus RESIDENTS of Adra have spoken of their disappointment with a circus, complaining that the mobile show only exhibited one animal, a toy octopus.

The Italian owner of the travelling marine circus has apologised to the town after only displaying a small section of his exhibits, and attributed the decision to the town of Adra. The restricted display came after the show’s owner was accused by Promar, an association for the protection of marine flora and fauna, of abusing exhibits. Promar demanded in writing that Seprona carry out the relevant checks.

Seprona began carrying out the checks.

However, this caused uproar when families who came to enjoy the show were upset by the lack of animals on display.

“Only an octopus appeared and it was a toy,” said one disappointed customer.

Perla Calvaruso, a spokesman for the circus, defended the care of the exhibits and said: “The birds have about a thousand square metres of structure to fly in and the fish live in one of the largest touring aquariums in Europe, eight metres long, 35,000 litres of water and with lighting and temperature perma-

nently controlled. They eat mostly fresh fish and don’t notice the movement.” He asserts that no violation has occurred because the animals were born and bred in captivity.

He said they were purchased in Italy and they have bred three generations.

The circus has been touring Spain for two years and say that the show has undergone checks from Seprona in various cities and never had any problems.

Head of Promar, Francisco Toledano, said: “No wild animal should be in a circus because it violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1978.”

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Driving theory exams go digital ALMERIA Provincial Traffic Department has introduced a new computerised driving licence theory exam format at examination centres in the city.

A database has been created with more than 15,000 questions which will

allow exams to be done on computers and personalised for each student.

Questions continue to concentrate on road safety, rules, signs, efficient driving techniques and the dangers of alcohol and drugs.

For the new theory exam, which 22 people took the day it was introduced, students sit before a computer screen showing 30 general questions which they have half an hour to POLICEMEN caught two thieves red-handed inside a answer. A clock on the parked car by Almeria’s Generalife Park. screen shows the time A resident in the area called the police after spotting two remaining. A maximum of men breaking into cars in the public car park. three wrong answers are A patrol rushed to the scene and found the pair inside a allowed, and results will car with the front door forced open. Two more cars be given the day after appeared to also have been broken into. sitting the exam.

The policemen arrested the two men, aged 31 and 35, The DGT Traffic and confiscated a mobile phone and charger, a music Authority website system, a calculator, a garage remote control, an electric includes sample questions engine, headphones, a bag, petrol station cards, five to allow students to knives, three monkey wrenches, pruning scissors and a familiarise themselves screw-driver. with the new format.

Thieves caught red-handed

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Prison drug smuggler arrested OFFICERS from the Guardia Civil have detained a person for trying to enter Acebuche Prison with 90 grams of hashish.

The officers arrested 29year-old LHH, a resident of nearby El Ejido, who was visiting an inmate. They located two cylindrical containers on the person, and quickly established that they contained hashish.

The incident followed soon after officers arrested a woman for attempting to smuggle in marihuana and pills by concealing the drugs inside her body.

This brings the number of arrests to seven for crimes of this type at Acebuche Prison, involving 54 grams of marihuana, 123 grams of hashish and 146 pills. The prison team has a range of equipment to prevent prohibited goods from being smuggled in.

SEIZED: Narcotics bound for inmates.

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Christmas market in Arboleas raises four figures for FACE HUNDREDS of people turned up for the first FACE (Fundraising in Arboleas, Caring for Everybody) Christmas Market ever to be held under canvas.

Although it was a little cramped due to a smaller marquee being supplied than was expected, and despite problems with lighting and electricity, the FACE Christmas Market was a success.

The stoic support of market traders and the throngs of happy visitors ensured that the event had a positive outcome.

With the marquee being somewhat smaller than expected, some traders were asked to trade in the open air on what turned out to be a very chilly and windy evening. This they cheerfully did, as did all the entertainers.

The Voices of Almanzora opened the night by singing a

The aim of the evening, to raise selection of Christmas melodies. was undoubtedly Singing out in the open, without money, microphones and in very poor successful. At the preliminary count €1,511.50 was lighting, they still managed raised with a further to raise smiles and €42 donated by the spirits.

Carrie’s Albox Scout Dusty Boots Group 106 of provided a The stoic support of Saliente. completely market traders and FACE would different type the throngs of happy like to thank of all its donors, entertainment visitors ensured that suppliers, to their usual the event had a supporters and fare, and positive outcome volunteers and produced a line the Euro Weekly dancing pantomime based on News for making the Snow White and the raising of this huge Seven Dwarfs. The Children amount of money possible. of Arboleas dance school had Finally, FACE would like to wish participants of all ages from five everyone a Merry Christmas and to 16, entertaining the crowds a Happy, Healthy New Year, and with Flamenco and various look forward to 2015 being a traditional dances. great fundraising year.

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AUAN wants EU to ask questions AUAN (Abusos Urbanisticos Almanzora NO) has asked the European Parliament to investigate demolitions, citing evidence of indirect discrimination and a marked vulnerability of foreign buyers to

having their homes demolished compared to the rest of the population.

The letter urges Brussels to settle the causes of a “marked vulnerability” of people who purchased in good faith. It states that of the 13 homes demolished, five belonged to British people; in other words, 35 per cent. British THIRTEEN Almeria politicians have received prison people living in the sentences from the criminal courts in just one week for province represent just 3.27 per cent of the planning irregularities.

They are the mayor of Fines, Rodrigo Sanchez, former population.

The document details mayor of Antas, Ana Joaquina Garcia, and in Zurgena the former mayor, Candido Trabalon. Joining them were seven that the buyers were former councillors from Zurgena including Manuel Tijeras, suffering from “a form of discrimination Jose Antonio Ramos, Aniceto Lopez, Emilia Jimenez, Juan indirect Morales and Josefa Garcia. In addition, three former because although the councillors from Antas, Roque Soler, Juana Maria Saez and courts established that Melchor Castaño are involved. The common theme is illegal the buyers had acted in urbanism. The offences range from licences granted to good faith and should be construct 202 homes in La Alfoquia, to one for building 18 compensated, the five homes in Antas, none of which should have been approved properties were floored without payment to the by the town councils at the time.

Along with the proposed prison sentences, Almeria injured parties, leaving penniless and Criminal Courts Three and Five have imposed them homeless.” disqualification from holding positions within government.

Politicians jailed

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Christmas in Huercal Overa HUERCAL OVERA Council has more than 40 recreational and cultural activities planned over the Christmas period with two objectives, enjoyment and trade boost.

Councillor for Culture, Antonio Lazaro, and the councillor for Commerce, Monica Navarro, presented the agenda under the banner: “This Christmas gives Huercal Overa trade culture and tradition.”

Lazaro said that the purpose of the activities are to encourage people to visit Huercal Overa and visit the shops and businesses.

Events kick off with an exhibition by Eva Quesada which runs at the Teatro Villa until December 24.

Other activities include the International Migrants’ Day on December 13, and

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Firefighter shortage ACCORDING to data from the Spanish office of national statistics (INE), the ratio of firefighters to residents in Almeria is just 0.25 firefighters for every 1,000 inhabitants.

Guadalinfo expansion Councillor for Culture, Antonio Lazaro, and Councillor for Commerce, Monica Navarro present the agenda for the 2014 / 2015 Christmas events. the traditional Dia de Empanada (Day of the Pie) which will be held in the town square, an event very popular with the Huercalenses. That night, as the sun goes down, the town lights up for the Noche de la Luz which

includes Christmas carols, a sleigh with Disney characters, the lighting of 6,000 candles and massive discounts at approximately 80 participating shops.

Sunday December 14 sees various street based activities and processions as well as a concert at the Teatro Villa. A Christmas carol competition is held on December 16 and 17 at the Teatro Villa, and a Christmas concert by the Martin Alonso choir is on December 21. The Moscow Ballet returns to Huercal Overa on December 23, this time to perform Sleeping Beauty.

In addition there are a number of workshops for the younger children and a special day where grandparents and grandchildren come together to make Christmas ornaments. On December 21 are Zumba competitions, cycling, pastry classes, singing, games, a gymkhana and face painting.

Once again the town is running a selfie competition for the town’s residents which is presented on the town’s social networks.

The Christmas programme concludes with the departure of the Three Kings from the fairground to the church where the Kings worship the baby Jesus before heading to the Teatro Villa to collect letters from the town’s children.

GUADALINFO is to open two more centres in 2015.

Balanegra and Fuente Victoria are to benefit at a total cost of €34,895.

Guadalinfo already has 100 centres across the province.

Book release JOSE LUIS FERNANDEZ has released his latest book: ‘The political transition to democracy in Almeria Vol II.’ Fernandez held a book signing in the capital for political and history buffs.

Lights on HUERCAL OVERA’S Christmas lights are now on. Once again the town is using low energy LEDs which save money without compromising the artistic composition of the town’s displays.

Fines hiking SATURDAY, December 10 at 9am is the time for a hike around Fines organised by the town hall. It costs €10 and departs from the Pabellon de Deportes. More information on facebook.com/alm eria.tienenorte.

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Civil War trenches are being restored HUERCAL OVERA’S eight trenches are being restored as part of an initiative to educate people about the Spanish Civil War. All eight of the trenches were used during the war just before Malaga fell.

One of the trenches is located close to the town’s picnic area and the others are located in and around the castle. The trenches will be restored with the replacement of stones, removal of all grass and debris, and repair of the doors.

Once restored and made safe for the public, information displays will be installed to educate visitors about the trenches as well as Huercal Overa’s place in the history books.

HISTORICAL: Domingo Fernandez and Monica Navarro inside one the trenches to be restored.

There will be additional information signs placed inside the castle illustrating the area’s past.

The town has called upon the expertise of Pedro Gomez Ballesta, a professor of history.

Mayor of Huercal Overa,

Domingo Fernandez, visited the trenches with councillor for Commerce, Monica Navarro, and said: “This action is set to value part of the history of our people and is dated from 1937.

“This was established through testimonies from residents who suggest the trenches were used just before the fall of Malaga on February 7 1937 to stop the possible advance. Now residents and visitors will have the opportunity to visit and explore this part of our history, adding another tourist attraction to our town.”

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La Mojaquera is on the move LA MOJAQUERA, the female figure that welcomes drivers to Almeria City, is to get a new home.

After 60 years in her current location, connecting the old Almeria road with Granada, this lady will be moving to a new location on the A-92.

Although the distance is small, about 80 metres, it is still a significant move for the lady as more drivers will now see her as she settles in close to the sign announcing that Almeria Province has begun at Fiñana.

Mayor of Fiñana, Rafael Montes, said: “I have long had enthusiasm for this

project. She is a symbol of the province and many residents had asked why she was neglected. Now at last we fulfil that dream.”

The moving of La Mojaquera has cost €11,000 and involved a laborious process to restore her piece by piece, renovating her in her entirety, especially the tiles which showed obvious signs of deterioration. Workers even had to repair the occasional bullet hole.

The sculpture was originally constructed

by Francisco Cañadas.

Along with the matching sculpture at Huercal Overa, it is the only Mojaquera sculpture of its type

still in existence, although there are similar sculptures in other areas of the province.

La Mojaquera is representative of the women of Mojacar and is usually portrayed carrying a large water jug on her head or a basket of goods on her side, balanced with one hand while the other rests jauntily on her hip.

In her new location on the A-92, the La Mojaquera sculpture will be keeping an eye out for drivers as they enter Almeria, providing a reminder of a landmark that had, until recently, been forgotten.

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Balerma drug gang in court THREE people have gone on trial this week for transporting drugs.

The three alleged offenders were arrested on November 21, 2012, for their alleged involvement in transporting 375 kilograms of hashish from a beach at Balerma in El Ejido. Officers from the Guardia Civil arrived, catching the men in

the act. The men tried to flee the scene but one of them crashed into a police vehicle.

The prosecution is seeking a sentence of five years and three months in prison for each of the accused and fines totalling €1,766,517. If they can’t pay the fines, the prosecution is seeking an additional year’s imprisonment.

USA learns from Almeria THE American University of Berkeley has been studying the effects of plastic coverings in Almeria’s agricultural areas.

It has examined how Almeria is able to generate a cooling effect as a result of solar reflection off the white plastic. The model showed that an average reduction of 0.4 degrees Celsius occurs in summer, with 1.3 degrees being achieved on very hot days. The study also showed that over the last 25 years the average temperature in Almeria has dropped by 0.75 degrees due to the same effect that causes polar ice.

A grave matter THE Junta de Andalucia regional government has accused Almeria City of destroying evidence of crimes ordered by Franco.

The accusation comes just days after graves were opened, yielding skeletons not supposed to be there.

The former gravedigger admitted that the bodies had been disturbed several times back in the sixties.

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NEWS

Los Cantores de Hispalis booked for Berja concert SEVILLANA musical group Los Cantores de Hispalis have confirmed their concert in Berja for Sunday March 22, 2015.

The concert, called La pasion segun Andalucia (the passion of Andalucia) will serve as a prelude to Holy Week which starts a week

later. It is a poetic and musical journey through the historical moments of the most popular cofradias (brotherhoods) in Andalucia, all supported with emotive images and more than 150 musicians on stage.

The concert has already been enjoyed by more than 30,000 people in more than 30 cities across the whole of Spain.

The controversial Sevillana group was formed in 1976 with the name, Los Macarenos, and sang about solidarity, justice and HUERCAL OVERA: Has prepared a schedule of fun events for the occasion. oppression.

In 1978 they recorded their first album.

However, because of the content (protest songs), they had to record it outside of Spain so headed to Switzerland where they worked with the sound engineer for the Rolling DECEMBER 13 is Inter- details of the celebration, same town and we want Stones. national Migrants Day and councillor for Culture and to show our roots during The group has Huercal Overa has Traditions, Antonio Lazaro, the day of celebration. changed members a prepared a schedule of fun and councillor for Youth, So we will have music, number of times and is events for the occasion.

Lucia Parra, met with dancing and gastronomy now comprised of Juani, According to municipal representatives of the from all the countries.

Pascual, Mario and records, Huercal Overa has nationalities from Huercal “I am convinced this Carlos.

57 nationalities living within Overa. Antonio Lazaro said: will further strengthen Juani is the only the town. To finalise the “We are all part of the our ties.” original member.

International Migrants’ Day

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E W N 11 - 17 December 2014 / Costa de Almería

NEWS EXTRA

Sign language EIGHTEEN young people have passed the course Communication in Spanish Sign Language at A1.1 level.

It is part of the Young Creative Experiences programme.

More workers THE Emple@30+ job scheme has so far benefited 180 people in Huercal Overa.

Staff deal THE Independent Trade Union of Employees (CSIF) has signed an agreement on working conditions for staff at Antas Town Hall. It will affect a total of 12 workers in the municipality

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Cocaine lab broken up in a first for Spain THE Guardia Civil, National Police and the Tax Agency joined forces to dismantle a cocaine laboratory in Spain, which has resulted in 12 arrests.

Of the 12 arrests made, half of them were

in Almeria while the rest were in Madrid, Toledo and Cadiz.

In addition to the seizure of 229 kilograms of cocaine, 10 house searches were carried out yielding laboratory products and equipment

as well as firearms. This is the first time Spain has dismantled a laboratory using practices similar to those in Colombia where alkaloids are extracted from coca

APSA boys seek forever homes TWO abandoned dogs need urgent homes. They are currently in foster homes but this is only a temporary solution.

Both the dogs are male and friendly. They mix very well with children and with other pets and they simply need permanent homes. Marron is a lovely, friendly Podenco and

Milo is an Alsation type dog.

Both dogs would benefit from structure and a loving environment where they can live safely and with love.

APSA raises funds to help abandoned animals in the Almanzora area. If you can help pop into the Albox shop on Avenida Lepanto or telephone 663 762 642.

paste and then processed.

Investigations began in December 2013, following information received from Homeland Security which indicated that a number of Colombian nationals linked to drug trafficking activities were attempting to bring a major shipment of cocaine into Spain.

The enquiry led to the discovery of a rural farm in Nijar, the presumed location of the laboratory.

IN NEED: Can you give a dog a good home?

NEWS

Almeria fills up for Christmas ALMERIA’S shopping night event as a prelude to Christmas has been hailed a massive success.

At just 9pm on December 7, as the commercial event kicked off, Avenida Federico Garcia Lorca was filled with thousands of shoppers, keen to pick up cut-price bargains and gifts in time for Christmas.

However, this was not the only street to benefit.

The same was true of El Paseo, Obispo Orbera and the smaller commercial areas.

As well as snapping up pre-Christmas bargains, the shoppers were keen to enjoy food in the city’s many eateries including those participating in the Tapas de Cine promotion.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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

11 - 17 December 2014 / Costa de Almería

business & legal

Discount chain does well out of Carrefour deal DIA supermarkets will make a €265 million net gain from the sale of its French subsidiary to Carrefour.

The deal, which was originally announced last July, was closed at the end of

November following approval from France’s competition authority.

The Spanish discount chain received €282.2 million for the entire share capital of loss-making DIA France and €361.5 million to

Spain not such an attraction AS the unemployment rate in Spain stays stubbornly high, the country is seeing a reduction in the number of permanent immigrants.

In a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on member countries’ migration statistics, Spain has shown a ‘marked reduction’ in the inflow of migrants, despite there being a general 1.1 per cent rise across OECD countries.

The 2014 Migration Outlook shows that Spain and Italy, which had the second or third largest percentages of permanent immigration compared to population between 2007 and 2011 are now in

seventh and eighth positions. In hard figures, permanent immigration into Spain has fallen from 691,000 in 2007 to 209,800 in 2012.

Many immigrants from South American countries came to Spain for the prospect of work – the construction sector being one of the main employers.

But with the Spanish unemployment rate being 23.67 per cent, and the jobless figures for foreigners standing at 36.5 per cent, the country is a less attractive proposition for migrants.

The report went on to say the skills of immigrants were being wasted across the OECD countries.

repay inter-group debt.

DIA has been involved in several deals during 2014, acquiring its Spanish rival El Arbol for a symbolic €1 in return for taking on its debt of approximately €150.8 million.

B

usiness extra

Motoring on CAR sales increased by 17 per cent to 65,122 units in November, the 15th month of consecutive rises. A total of 781,868 vehicles were sold this year, 18 per cent more than in 2013.

Job creation ALMOST half of Spanish employers believed they would create employment this year and in 2015. Fifty-one per cent expected this to happen in 2016 and 2017, according to a survey by KPMG.

International corruption ratings SPAIN has been ranked 37th out of 175 countries in the 2014 Corruption Perceptions Index.

Written by Transparency International, the index is based on experts’ opinions on public sector corruption. Spain is three places higher than last year (the higher up the list the less corrupt it is).

But Transparency International notes that it does not include

political party corruption – the very thing that has had many Spaniards up in arms after a series of scandals.

Least corrupt nations were Denmark, New Zealand and Finland, with Somalia and North Korea being the most corrupt.

In Europe, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Romania all did badly in the index.

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STAT OF WEEK A SPANISH senator earns a basic salary of €2,813.87 a month.

Those from outside Madrid are paid a €1,823.86 ‘indemnity’ while senators who represent the capital receive an extra €870.56.

DEAL: Carrefour buys DIA French subsidiary.

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E W N 11 - 17 December 2014 / Costa de Almería

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LONDON - FTSE 100

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY WITH US

C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 9

C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) 3i Group PLC 457.05 Aberdeen Asset Mngmnt 463.25 Admiral Group PLC 1274.00 Aggreko PLC 1557.00 Anglo American PLC 1257.25 Antofagasta PLC 732.25 ARM Holdings PLC 948.50 Ashtead Group PLC 1097.50 Associated Brit Foods 3261.00 AstraZeneca PLC 4747.50 Aviva PLC 507.00 Babcock International 1143.50 BAE Systems PLC 481.35 Barclays PLC 248.75 BG Group PLC 910.25 BHP Billiton PLC 1455.75 BP PLC 422.90 British Amrcn Tobacco 3739.50

C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. -0.50 -0.11 -4.30 -0.92 -4.00 -0.31 -2.00 -0.13 -11.00 -0.87 0.00 0.00 2.00 0.21 -3.00 -0.27 -23.00 -0.70 7.70 0.16 1.00 0.20 -1.00 -0.09 -0.30 -0.06 -0.70 -0.28 2.90 0.32 -18.50 -1.26 -1.70 -0.40 -6.50 -0.17

NET VOLUME 48.88 147.92 10.71 14.82 322.64 95.46 283.30 36.73 36.42 75.46 279.45 26.83 205.71 1,258.00 289.64 661.04 1,430.70 103.85

See our advert on page 35

Units per €

US dollar.................................................................1.22563 Japan yen..............................................................148.679 Switzerland franc ..............................................1.20265 Denmark kroner.................................................7.43923 Norway kroner ...................................................8.78257

currenciesdirect.com/mojacar • Tel: +34 950 478 914 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

771.00 419.25 1821.00 1675.50 1052.50 2817.00 285.15

DOW JONES

NASDAQ

C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 9

C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 9

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 162.27 92.65 33.94 132.21 98.78 110.87 27.50 43.53 93.76 73.07 93.82 26.01 195.45 99.64 163.27 37.67 108.51 62.70 96.31 61.49 48.42 99.33 31.99 90.38 105.20 111.29 100.33 48.61 263.35 84.12

+0.01 +0.82 +0.03 +0.89 -0.89 -1.41 -0.27 +0.03 +0.53 +0.70 -0.55 -0.08 +3.50 +0.69 -0.78 +0.21 +0.95 +1.32 +0.65 +0.57 -0.42 +0.28 +0.32 -0.20 +0.10 +0.08 +0.66 -0.17 +2.21 -0.64

+0.01% +0.89% +0.09% +0.68% -0.89% -1.26% -0.97% +0.07% +0.57% +0.97% -0.58% -0.31% +1.82% +0.70% -0.48% +0.56% +0.88% +2.15% +0.68% +0.94% -0.86% +0.28% +1.01% -0.22% +0.10% +0.07% +0.66% -0.35% +0.85% -0.76%

1.7M 2.9M 18.9M 2.6M 3.6M 7.7M 26.7M 12.5M 5.2M 3.4M 11.8M 22.4M 3.6M 4.6M 3.0M 20.5M 6.4M 20.1M 6.2M 11.2M 27.3M 1.7M 24.9M 6.4M 1.7M 3.0M 3.1M 15.5M 2.0M 6.6M

1.26865

0.78823

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

C O M PA N Y

-4.67 -0.67 8.00 -1.32 -3.00 14.00 -0.80

-0.60 -0.16 0.44 -0.08 -0.28 0.50 -0.28

NET VOLUME 58.84 570.96 36.80 42.75 9.47 61.41 240.09

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

$ 6.555 $ 15.09 $ 6.60 $ 42.19 $ 6.89 $ 5.73 $ 18.33 $ 5.94 $ 20.09 $ 14.11 $ 4.40

3.055 ▲ 87.29% 3.53 ▲ 30.54% 1.20 ▲ 22.22% 6.07 ▲ 16.81% 0.90 ▲ 15.03% 0.73 ▲ 14.60% 2.26 ▲ 14.06% 0.69 ▲ 13.14% 2.21 ▲ 12.36% 1.47 ▲ 11.63% 0.45 ▲ 11.39%

$ 37.60 $ 2.30 $ 5.74 $ 6.40 $ 6.15 $ 8.55 $ 20.15 $ 2.81 $ 2.19 $ 4.75 $ 2.85

5.25 ▼ 12.25% 0.32 ▼ 12.21% 0.67 ▼ 10.45% 0.73 ▼ 10.24% 0.605 ▼ 8.96% 0.84 ▼ 8.95% 1.7533 ▼ 8.00% 0.2329 ▼ 7.65% 0.18 ▼ 7.59% 0.39 ▼ 7.59% 0.23 ▼ 7.47%

Most Advanced Actuate Corporation Francesca's Holdings Corporation Foamix Pharmaceuticals Ltd. FRP Holdings, Inc. Silicon Image, Inc. Arrowhead Research Corporation ProQR Therapeutics N.V. Egalet Corporation Alder BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. uniQure N.V. Zions Bancorporation

Most Declined Five Below, Inc. Atlanticus Holdings Corporation Vimicro International Corporation Sphere 3D Corp Rex Energy Corporation Mid-Con Energy Partners, LP Vanguard Natural Resources LLC Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. Supertel Hospitality, Inc. CTC Media, Inc. Quotient Limited

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

C O M PA N Y Coca-Cola HBC AG Compass Group PLC CRH PLC Diageo PLC Direct Line Insurance ...

Dixons Carphone PLC easyJet PLC Experian PLC Fresnillo PLC Friends Life Group Ltd G4S PLC GKN PLC GlaxoSmithKline PLC Glencore PLC Hammerson PLC Hargreaves Lansdown HSBC Holdings PLC IMI PLC Imperial Tobacco Group InterContinental Hotels International Consldtd Intertek Group PLC Intu Properties PLC ITV PLC Johnson Matthey PLC Kingfisher PLC Land Securities Group Legal & General Group Lloyds Banking Group London Stock Exchange Marks & Spencer Grp Meggitt PLC Mondi PLC Morrison (Wm) Sprmrkts National Grid PLC Next PLC Old Mutual PLC Pearson PLC Persimmon PLC Petrofac Ltd Prudential PLC Randgold Resources Ltd Reckitt Benckiser Grp Reed Elsevier PLC Rio Tinto PLC Rolls-Royce Holdings Royal Bank of Scotland Royal Dutch Shell PLC Royal Mail PLC RSA Insurance Group SABMiller PLC Sage Group (The) PLC Sainsbury (J) PLC Schroders PLC Severn Trent PLC Shire PLC Sky PLC Smith & Nephew PLC Smiths Group PLC Sports Direct Interntnl SSE PLC Standard Chartered PLC Standard Life PLC St James's Place PLC Tesco PLC Travis Perkins PLC TUI Travel PLC Tullow Oil PLC Unilever PLC United Utilities Group Vodafone Group PLC Weir Group PLC Whitbread PLC Wolseley PLC WPP PLC

PRICE(P) 1425.00 1100.00 1571.00 1960.00 291.55 443.20 1733.50 1057.50 723.50 380.15 274.95 355.90 1473.00 313.65 620.50 977.75 637.85 1213.00 2865.50 2627.00 483.95 2332.50 348.10 212.70 3391.50 326.25 1182.50 246.20 80.47 2239.50 489.20 514.50 1086.00 185.65 927.00 6687.50 196.10 1221.50 1612.00 778.25 1538.75 4256.00 5227.50 1111.00 2878.00 896.50 402.10 2225.25 399.45 449.45 3381.00 451.20 242.55 2760.50 1991.50 4595.50 942.50 1110.00 1138.00 694.50 1674.50 969.35 423.65 819.75 188.62 1833.00 451.80 401.10 2714.00 901.00 229.30 1816.50 4654.50 3682.50 1358.50

CHANGE -5.00 -4.00 -9.00 -11.50 -0.30 -0.80 -28.85 2.00 3.50 -0.28 -1.30 -0.70 2.50 -2.95 -3.50 -13.00 -5.40 -7.00 -13.00 -10.00 -2.60 14.00 -2.60 -0.60 -18.00 -2.00 -4.00 -0.80 -0.41 -13.00 -7.70 -4.00 -16.00 0.75 -3.00 35.00 -1.60 1.00 0.00 1.50 -11.50 66.00 -30.00 2.00 -20.00 -3.50 -1.50 -4.50 -5.00 -2.94 -41.00 3.30 4.30 -9.00 -1.00 -6.00 -6.00 -4.00 -7.00 -5.40 -4.00 -3.90 -2.50 -1.50 -1.00 -6.14 1.70 5.00 -15.00 1.00 -1.35 -22.06 -19.00 -9.00 -8.25

% C H G. -0.35 -0.36 -0.57 -0.58 -0.10 -0.18 -1.64 0.19 0.49 -0.07 -0.47 -0.20 0.17 -0.93 -0.56 -1.31 -0.84 -0.57 -0.45 -0.38 -0.53 0.60 -0.74 -0.28 -0.53 -0.61 -0.34 -0.32 -0.51 -0.58 -1.55 -0.77 -1.45 0.41 -0.32 0.53 -0.81 0.08 0.00 0.19 -0.74 1.58 -0.57 0.18 -0.69 -0.39 -0.37 -0.20 -1.24 -0.65 -1.20 0.74 1.80 -0.33 -0.05 -0.13 -0.63 -0.36 -0.61 -0.77 -0.24 -0.40 -0.59 -0.18 -0.53 -0.33 0.38 1.26 -0.55 0.11 -0.59 -1.20 -0.41 -0.24 -0.60

VOLUME 2.77 105.17 12.14 126.97 44.25 213.71 72.63 34.78 48.08 113.93 79.69 63.78 476.43 1,189.42 22.34 50.67 837.90 9.35 60.92 13.74 416.92 18.52 34.00 1,093.94 12.15 182.01 26.97 544.47 3,187.01 12.50 325.97 25.37 68.35 441.41 170.46 18.32 380.00 68.88 34.67 77.26 99.66 33.33 29.19 97.96 239.27 170.75 418.92 183.87 232.19 54.50 112.05 166.96 1,425.34 5.84 16.70 33.13 135.97 100.35 23.68 571.47 66.76 113.70 81.83 36.01 1,090.82 3.49 97.80 292.95 85.68 288.27 2,897.27 29.09 15.42 27.26 160.68

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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11 - 17 December 2014 / Costa de Almería

EWN

33

Don’t let festive frenzy-buying drag your finances into the red!

Loose change A look at finance for females

Jane Plunkett

SOLD OUT: The ‘musthave’ Frozen child’s bicycle.

jane.plunkett@euroweeklynews.com

HAVE we all forgotten that when it comes to Christmas presents, it’s the thought that counts, not the cost of the present?

With Christmas having become so commercial, it seems the average shopper believes that unless a present is shiny, sparkly and expensive it’s not a good present.

Obviously, retailers have not helped the situation, as they are guilty of pushing overpriced presents down our

throats by bombarding us with fancy adverts and emotive commercials. A practice that definitely doesn’t help us to feel happy about buying a small, but thoughtful, gift.

My mother-in-law came

back from the shops in a state of panic the other day. The expensive ‘Frozen’ bicycle that she HAD to get her granddaughter had sold out.

Her granddaughter is four. It seems crazy to me that she is

Should glass wall come down?

Q. In our community of 100 apartments, one apartment with a large terrace has placed a You and the glass wall to protect against the strong winds.

Law in Spain This wall was installed in 2006 without the

By David Searl permission of the meeting. No reactions were made at the time. In 2012, the wall was removed and the wooden floor was prepared to remount the wall. In 2014, a new owner put up the glass wall on the new floor. At the AGM of October, 2014, one owner complained on the official agenda about the glass wall and demanded that it be removed. The issue was voted and a majority favoured removal.

Is the board obliged to execute the decision of the AGM or is this case extinguished under statutes of limitation?

P S (Costa Blanca) A. In this case no statute of limitations applies. The community members have expressed their decision by voting at the AGM and it must be enforced. The ‘Statute of Limitations’ means that some legal actions lapse after a certain time period has passed. Here, however, the community has just voted for the first time on this issue.

But if one member feels he has been seriously prejudiced by a legal decision

of the community, he can go to court and explain the reasons why he thinks the decision should be reversed.

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

nearly giving herself a heart attack over this Christmas present. The child will be delighted with any pretty little girl’s bike. Put a few ‘Frozen’ stickers on an economically priced bike. Will a four-yearold really know the difference?

According to a recent survey, it’s British people who will spend more money on Christmas presents this year than any other nation in Europe. But they are also more likely to get themselves into debt while doing so.

The average Brit plans to spend €450 on festive gifts, which averages out at 17 per cent of their wages - a figure €140 higher than those in the next nearest countries, France and Luxembourg.

In Spain, the Christmas spend is nearly as high as in Britain, with Spaniards

BUSINESS EXTRA

Coal-black FORTY-TWO of the 68 delegates newlyelected by coal miners employed by stateowned Hunosa belong to SOMA-UGT. Union members later said they were undeterred by the discovery that during the 2012 fiscal amnesty their historic leader Jose Angel Fernandez Villa legalised €1.2 million held in a Swiss account.

Fast work RAIL operator Renfe earned €1 billion from the AVE highspeed rail network in the first 10 months of this year, 6 per cent more than in 2013. The number of passengers, attracted by Renfe’s low prices and special offers, rose 20 per cent to 14.6 million during the same period.

spending 15 per cent of their wages just on presents.

Often in conversation, we turn to places like the Netherlands as an example of a place, where things are done properly.

Where education works.

Where corruption is almost unheard of. Guess how much the average Dutch person spends on Christmas presents? €25.

That’s 1 per cent of their salary.

You can bet they aren’t getting themselves into debt over ‘Frozen’ bicycles, overpriced designer perfume or unnecessary fancy gadgets.

Enjoy Christmas, spend time with people you love, eat well, but remember if you can’t afford to buy the world and its granny a present, that’s OK. It’s the thought that counts.

34

E W N 11 - 17 December 2014 / Costa de Almería

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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

The business of body language LEARNING body language is likely as important as speaking a second language. Victor Hugo, the great French novelist, advised: “When a woman is talking to you, listen to what she says with her eyes.”

I have yet to meet a woman who disagrees. Men lie and are often evasive but their true feelings can also be read from their body language.

As a salesman, my territory included Liverpool and Manchester, rural towns like Wrexham, and back o’beyond Welsh farming communities. In the cities, a close, grasp handshake, shoulder touches and ‘invasion of body space’ were perfectly the norm. In smaller towns, you kept your distance

Bottling it

Plum deal INDRA will provide radar systems to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The contract will bring the Spanish company more than €34 million.

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

and it was a straight-arm handshake.

In the farming communities, there was no touching at all. A wave was greeting enough.

The Japanese invade body space, Americans don’t. There was some amusement when a Japanese–

American business meeting was filmed. As Japanese businessmen entered their counterparts’ body space their American guests backed away.

When speeded up the video footage gave the appearance that the two cultures were waltzing around the room.

If a man enters a room fiddling with his cuffs or tie he is unsure of himself.

Prince Charles was notorious for doing so. Hands at ease behind the back suggest a relaxed frame of mind.

Gripping the wrist higher up suggests tension; higher up, high tension.

If a client covers their mouth with the hand when talking, chances are they are telling porkies; likewise, if

they scratch their noses. If a client’s feet are pointing away, they desperately wish to end the conversation. Eye evasion suggests deceit; eye pupil enlargement - the client is excited.

The perfect place for studying body language is said to be an airport; I prefer a restaurant. Having said that, I recall a couple of behavioural psychiatrists being employed at New York John Kennedy Airport. Neither was aware of the other’s presence.

Each was briefed to identify passengers who appeared to be uncomfortable, shifty-eyed and agitated. They arrested each other. I rest my case.

New exit tax on shares aimed at the wealthy

BUSINESS EXTRA

COCA-COLA Iberian Partners will not reopen any of the bottling plants closed earlier this year but has offered to relocate 350 laid-off workers at other Spanish plants. Last April the High Court invalidated the company’s redundancy plans and it now awaits a decision on this latest proposal.

Talking shop

A NEW exit tax on shares owned by people departing Spanish shores has been brought in.

It will only target the wealthy, mainly people moving to tax havens, but will see shareholders taxed on ‘gains’ on shares’ value whether they sell them or not.

Mariano Rajoy, President of the Spanish Government, is forging ahead with next year’s promised fiscal reforms which come into effect on January 1. The new exit tax applies to those who were tax residents for 10 of the last 15 years and possess stocks and shares worth more than €4 million or €1 million, should this represent a

PM Rajoy, left, greets Finance Minister Cristobal Montoro. holding of more than 25 per cent.

They will now pay the difference between purchase price and current value even though the holdings are not sold.

This new regulation applies only to stocks and shares and is aimed at the large fortunes that invest in Spain before moving on to seek more favourable fiscal conditions elsewhere. Spain’s Finance

Less spending this Christmas A SURVEY has revealed that one in three Spaniards expects to spend less money this Christmas than last year and half expect to spend the same.

The survey by the Consumers and Users Confederation reported that just 16 per cent of people questioned foresaw spending more than last year.

The main reason given by people who want to spend less was financial difficulties due to reduced income or unemployment, although it was only given by 38 per cent of people questioned compared to 51 per cent in 2013.

Therefore, although a third intend spending less this year, the

survey shows signs of a slight improvement in families’ financial situations.

Regarding amounts, the majority expected to spend less than €500, yet 30 per cent foresaw spending between €500 and €1,000 and 15 per cent said they would spend more than €1,500.

Ministry pointed out that it is similar to others in Holland, France, Germany, Denmark and the US. To divest the exit law of punitive overtones, the tax will be waived when the move is made to another EU country. If, 10 years later, the taxed stocks and shares have not been sold, Spain’s tax authorities will also repay the amount paid. Nor will the new law affect taxpayers who relocate for employment reasons on condition that the move is not to a tax paradise.

Taxpayers of more modest means will receive an average reduction of 12.5 per cent on what they now pay, although Hacienda will feel the pinch and collect 8.6 per cent less in 2015 and 4.7 per cent in 2016. This will reduce its IRPF income to below 2010 levels.

The principal corporation tax will fall from the current 30 per cent to 28 per cent and capital gains tax, and tax on savings will be reduced to between 19 and 23 per cent. Tax bands have been modified and even higher investments should feel some benefit.

November turnaround for jobless SPAIN bucked its usual November employment trend by reducing the number of jobless.

A total of 4,512,116 people were registered for unemployment benefits last month while those out of work fell by 14,688, the Ministry of Labour announced.

The number of people paying into the Social Security system grew by 5,232 to 16,695,752 contributors, the first time this has happened in November since 2007.

As the summer season with its work opportunities came to an end, the steadily improving employment figures began to falter but have picked up once again.

It is important not to forget that the labour market tends to behave erratically as it emerges from economic crisis and this always affects statistics, experts warned.

Tomas Burgos, Junior Social Security Minister, nevertheless called last month’s figures “a dramatically positive change.”

OPINION & COMMENT

Goodbye to a beloved friend, Sacha I WOULD like to thank David the Dogman for all the help he gave us with our gorgeous German Shepherd/Rottweiler/Black Lab cross from March 2003.

He may not remember Sacha but last Tuesday we had to say goodbye to the most wonderful dog in the world. Gentle and polite, he never damaged anything, never stole food, respected babies and was always happy to be with us. All our family, friends and neighbours have said what a special dog he was.

We are devastated that at almost 12 years old we had to let him go.

We have David’s book which has been our ‘bible’ during Sacha’s years with us and would like to thank him for coming to our house in the first 24 hours when we had done all the wrong things.

He helped us have almost 12 wonderful years with our gorgeous boy.

Anita Simcox (by email)

Cause of concern BRIAN WARMAN wrote about a lady sleeping in the doorway of the BBVA bank in Los Boliches.

He stated that he told Age Concern about her and nothing had been done.

Age Concern has not received any referral from him by phone or email; possibly he contacted Age Care?

Perhaps he could contact me and tell me who he spoke to.

Eileen Dry, president Estepona and Manilva Age Concern.

Not-so-fast work WE have just found out why it costs so much to renew our passports from Spain.

My wife and I put our old passports (with consecutive numbers) into a single envelope with the forms completed and paid for online. They were sent recorded delivery and arrived in three days at the Belfast office.

I then checked on the tracker

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Letters YOURSAY@EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

11 - 17 December 2014 / Costa de Almería

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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

Photographs for possible publication should be sent by email with a full caption to: photonews@euroweeklynews.com

I TOOK this photo of a camel during the Christmas celebrations in Jativa (Valencia) last year. If he could talk, would he be saying “Bah! Humbug!”?

Cora Mason, Onteniente (Valencia)

EWN

37

40 years now and seen the good times and now the bad. If you like to play golf or bowls this is the place for you but if you want to enjoy life to the full, forget it!

The Costa de Sol is controlled by old people (mostly rich) who for the most part are just passing their last years and don’t want anyone else to enjoy themselves as they did when young.

You have the perfect place to bring your dog as dog parks and beaches are provided (that’s if the dog can wait that long, if you know what I mean).

The oldies are quick to the phone if they hear any music played in the local bar as it is bed time for all at 10pm unless they are having a little drinks party.

Yes, the oldies are happy but the young at heart have to suffer for these people. I love Spain but when it is controlled by smallminded people who don’t even make the effort to speak Spanish or permit other people to live, it’s time to move on.

D Thompson, Marbella (Malaga)

No-win situation as to what was happening. They were both being worked on after five days and the next we knew was a phone call from the courier saying he was at our house and where were we?

We met up later that day and signed for my wife’s passport only. I checked the tracker and mine was still being worked on, 15 days after sending them.

Next day the courier delivered my wife’s old passport with the corner cut off. After three weeks my passport has arrived but not the old one. So it will have taken four visits from the courier and my new one runs out four weeks before my wife’s although it was worked on last. Guess we were lucky they turned up before we needed them at Christmas!

Dick Prowse (by email)

Seesaw prices WHEN the price of oil goes down, the price at the pump goes down but not the price of butane gas.

The prices in the supermarkets never go down, either.

When the price of oil goes up we are told that the price of most

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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things will rise, so why does it not follow that most things should go down when the price of oil decreases?

I think it is unfair of the oil companies and supermarkets to make more money out of the general public when things are already very difficult for most people. Also I think it would help if the government put some kind of control on prices until things improve.

Ron Chivers, Busot (Alicante)

Take care A SHORT letter to inform your

readers about a spate of attacks which focus on the elderly and disabled.

Last week I was attacked by two females aged between 18 and 25 years while sitting on my disability scooter in the central square of La Cala de Mijas. I was grabbed and pulled in front of the La Cala grill.

One woman kept pulling on my left wrist until my watch was pulled off and the other held my right arm. I suffered severe shock and bruises on both lower arms.

They ran off across the square before driving away in a Volvo V40 according to a witness. The car was blue with a licence plate starting with a D and had broken tail lights.

Apparently attacks are initiated after asking for the time of day (in my case) or trying to sell flowers.

Name and address supplied

Have a heart!

HAVING lived on the Costa de Sol for 18 months I think it is time to note it’s not a place for the young at heart!

I’ve lived in Spain for more than

POSSIBLY three months ago I related how a friend had returned to England (now 16 months ago) having taken necessary action re cancelling her telephone.

Movistar decided that she owed the sum of €23.19 and although there was no entry on her bank statement they also stated that money had been credited to her bank account in error which they had tried to reclaim.

Two different members of staff were contacted by telephone and various explanations were offered. A detailed letter was sent to Movistar by an interpreter and statements ceased but a letter has now arrived from Movistar solicitors demanding payment of the €23.19 within a week.

My friend’s first reaction was to contact her own solicitor but having slept on the problem she decided to give in rather than incur a much higher bill than €23.19. One wonders how many false debts Movistar claims and wins. Clients beware.

P H, Malaga

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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E W N 11 - 17 December 2014 / Costa de Almería

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OPINION & COMMENT

There’s a time and a place LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT

S

ORRY, ladies, as broad-minded as I consider myself to be, in this instance I really feel I must agree with Mr Farage.

I really don’t want to be in a restaurant, contentedly enjoying a little intimate company and sipping a glass of wine, only to have a Mother Earth sitting at the next table suddenly whip out a breast and commence squeezing its contents through the pursed lips of her hungry tot.

As wonderful as this act of nature can be, to my mind there is a time and a place for everything. Although maybe this was the time, I certainly do not consider it the place. In fact, in my opinion it is downright rude. Out of sheer respect for her fellow diners, the mum in question could at least have withdrawn to a more discreet area. No, I’m afraid this lady’s action has a distinctive ring of ‘women’s lib’ about it. To not consider

NATURAL ACT: But please don’t breast-feed at the dining table! the feelings of her fellow diners, some possibly not so broad-minded or liberalthinking, who could easily be embarrassed by the sight of a bared breast at the adjoining table, is I feel selfpropagating in the extreme. However, before the next mum I meet on the street leaves me writhing on the ground with a slightly higher-pitched voice, I’m only talking about public dining areas. I

have no problem on public transport or in parks, etc. For me it just isn’t right in a restaurant. All right, gals?

Yet another ‘big name’ under the sexual abuse periscope again this week.

Bill Cosby must now endure Lord knows how long in an agony of indecision, suspicion and possible ruination. I really don’t know if the man is guilty or not, but the one thing that does strike me is the

evidence that the young lady he is actually accused of abusing was 15 years old and attending a party at the Playboy mansion. Assuming she wasn’t abducted and taken there against her will, what on earth was she doing at this undoubtedly notorious location in the first place? I dunno, irrespective of the outcome of these high-profile abuse cases, there always seems to be a whiff of jealousy and antagonism toward people who have achieved celebrity status. Still, let’s hope that the truth and subsequent justice will finally prevail in all these cases.

I also advise the celebrity youngsters idolised by their young fans in this present day and age to request ID before making any moves in that direction - or they themselves could be seen fighting for their reputation and freedom in about 50 years’ time Just a few places left for this Saturday’s Flying Curry Circus Christmas party. All info on 689485956.

Have a good week, dust off the baubles. Here it is again!

Keep the faith Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com

OPINION & COMMENT

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WE DO!

11 - 17 December 2014 / Costa de Almería

EWN

43

Clooney drops in on Downton Abbey, and Banderas leads BBC’s Christmas Puss in Boots, with the voice of Antonio Banderas, will begin proceedings at 3.10pm, with Michael McIntyre’s Very Christmassy Christmas Show concluding the line-up from 10.40pm.

The schedule is as follows in UK times: Puss in Boots (3.10pm), Strictly Come Dancing (5pm), Doctor Who (6.15pm), Miranda (7.15pm), Call the Midwife (7.50pm), EastEnders (9pm), Mrs Brown’s Boys (10.05pm) and Michael McIntyre’s Very Christmassy Christmas Show (10.40pm).

Last week, the BBC announced some of the highlights from its film and television line-ups for the Christmas period. Special editions of Would I Lie to You and Never Mind the Buzzcocks have been confirmed, while Avengers Assemble leads the movie listings.

Richard Shanley

DISHING THE DIRT OF EUROPA DIGITAL

T

HE first preview of George Clooney in Downton Abbey has been released. The Hollywood actor will feature in a comedy skit of the ITV drama as part of the channel’s Text Santa telethon event on December 19.

Meanwhile, pictures of Clooney holding a clapperboard with his co-star Hugh Bonneville have also been released. The pair starred alongside each other in World War Two drama The Monuments Men. Actress Laura Carmichael recently teased Clooney’s cameo appearance, saying: “It’s amazing and we didn’t even know if it would actually happen until he turned up! We were filming away and then heard, ‘He’s here, he’s here, he’s arrived’.

“But he was wonderful and so brilliant

DOWNTON CLOONEY: George joins the drama in Text Santa special. and I’m very excited for everyone to see it.”

Downton Abbey will return to ITV with

a two-hour special on Christmas Day. BBC One’s Christmas Day schedule has been announced. Shrek spin-off film

If you would like me to answer any questions you may have on satellite TV or to expand on anything I have written about please call me on 678 332 815 or email richard@europadigital.com. I look forward to your comments and questions.

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E W N 11 - 17 December 2014 / Costa de AlmerĂ­a

Thursday BBC ONE 5:30pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm BBC Music Awards 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm Question Time 12:35am This Week Andrew Neil looks at the political week with Michael Portillo and Diane Abbott.

1:20am Skiing Weatherview Detailed weather forecast. 1:25am BBC News

BBC TWO 5:25pm Andrew Marr's The Making of Modern Britain 6:25pm Antiques Roadshow 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 8:00pm James May's Cars of the People 9:00pm MasterChef: The Professionals 10:00pm The Fall 11:00pm Russell Howard's Good News 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am The Fruit and Veg Market: Inside New Spitalfields

ITV 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Tonight 9:00pm Emmerdale 9:30pm Paul O'Grady: For The Love of Dogs 10:00pm The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies 11:30pm ITV News and Weather 12:10am River Monsters

CH4 5:00pm Deal or No Deal 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:30pm Coach Trip 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm George Clarke's Amazing Spaces 10:00pm 24 Hours in A and E 11:00pm Babylon 12:05am Skint

CH5 6:30pm 5 News 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm The Gadget Show 9:00pm The Railway: First Great Western 10:00pm Britain's Bloodiest Dynasty 11:00pm The True Story 12:00am Who Killed Tutankhamun?

SKY1 5:00pm Sun, Sea and A&E 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Arrow 10:00pm Forever 11:00pm Alien 3 1:15am NCIS: Los Angeles

Friday BBC ONE 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm The Two Ronnies Sketchbook 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Citizen Khan 10:00pm Have I Got News for You 10:30pm Not Going Out 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm The Graham Norton Show 12:20am Cuckoo

BBC TWO 6:25pm Antiques Roadshow 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 8:00pm The Home That 2 Built 9:00pm Mastermind 9:30pm Mary Berry's Absolute Christmas Favourites 10:00pm Canterbury Cathedral 11:00pm QI 11:30pm Newsnight 12:05am Never Mind the Buzzcocks

ITV 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm The Martin Lewis Money Show 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm A Night in with Olly Murs 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm Casino Royale 2:15am Jackpot247

CH4 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:30pm Coach Trip 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 10:00pm Gogglebox 11:00pm Alan Carr: Chatty Man 12:05am Toast of London

CH5 6:30pm 5 News 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm World Strongman Championship 9:00pm Ice Road Truckers 10:00pm Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild 11:00pm Body of Proof 11:55pm NCIS: Los Angeles 12:50am Access 1:00am Super Casino

SKY1 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm The Simpsons 9:30pm The Simpsons 10:00pm A League of Their Own 11:00pm An Idiot Abroad 12:00am Britcam: Emergency on Our Streets

Saturday BBC ONE 4:00pm Cycling 5:30pm Final Score 6:10pm Celebrity Mastermind 6:40pm BBC News 6:50pm BBC London News 7:00pm Pointless 7:50pm Strictly Come Dancing 9:25pm Atlantis 10:10pm Casualty 11:00pm The National Lottery Live 11:10pm BBC News 11:30pm Match of the Day 12:55am The Football League Show

BBC TWO 5:30pm Andrew Marr's The Making of Modern Britain 6:30pm Restoring England's Heritage 7:00pm Secrets of the Castle with Ruth, Peter and Tom 8:00pm Flog It! 9:00pm Perry and Croft: Made in Britain 9:30pm Dad's Army 10:00pm QI XL 10:45pm Tomorrow's Worlds: The Unearthly History of Science Fiction 11:45pm Let Me in 1:35am Forbidden Planet

ITV 4:50pm Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 7:30pm ITV News London 7:40pm ITV News and Weather 7:55pm You've Been Framed!

8:25pm The Chase: Christmas Special 9:30pm The X Factor 11:35pm The Jonathan Ross Show 12:40am ITV News and Weather

CH4 4:55pm Come Dine with Me 5:25pm Come Dine with Me 5:55pm Come Dine with Me 6:25pm Come Dine with Me 6:55pm Channel 4 News 7:00pm 100 Greatest Toys with Jonathan Ross 10:00pm Hope Springs 12:00am An Officer and a Gentleman

CH5 5:30pm Mrs Miracle 2: Miracle in Manhattan 7:30pm Mistletoe Over Manhattan Seasonal fantasy yarn.

9:15pm My Crazy Christmas Obsession 10:05pm 5 News Weekend 10:10pm TV's 50 Greatest Magic Tricks 1:05am Super Casino 4:10am Gotham 5:00am House Doctor 5:25am Make it Big 5:50am Make it Big

SKY1 4:00pm All Aboard: East Coast Trains 5:00pm Penguins of Madagascar Special 5:30pm Get on Up Special 6:00pm Portrait Artist of the Year 2014 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 9:00pm Hawaii Five-0 10:00pm Alien: Resurrection 12:10am A League of Their Own

TV LISTING

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Sunday BBC ONE 3:15pm Homes Under the Hammer 4:15pm Escape to the Country 5:15pm Lifeline 5:25pm Songs of Praise 6:00pm Pointless 6:35pm BBC London News 6:45pm Pointless 6:50pm BBC & Regional News and Weather 7:20pm Countryfile 8:20pm Strictly Come Dancing 9:00pm Sports Personality of the Year 2014 11:20pm BBC News 11:35pm BBC London News 11:45pm Match of the Day 2 12:45am The Apprentice

BBC TWO 5:05pm Emma 7:00pm Sports Personality of the Year at 60 8:00pm James May's Toy Stories 9:00pm What Women Want 11:00pm Russell Howard's Good News 11:30pm Mrs. Henderson Presents 1:10am A Walk to Remember

ITV 3:05pm You've Been Framed!

3:35pm The X Factor 5:40pm Death Becomes Her 7:35pm ITV News London 7:45pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Catchphrase 9:00pm The X Factor Results Show 11:05pm The Holiday 12:05am ITV News and Weather

CH4 3:00pm The Simpsons 3:30pm The Simpsons 4:00pm 10 Things I Hate About You 6:00pm Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian 8:05pm Channel 4 News 8:30pm Britain's Wildest Weather 2014 10:00pm Homeland 11:00pm Insidious 1:00am Alan Carr: Chatty Man 2:00am NFL 5:45am NFL

CH5 3:30pm Deck the Halls 5:20pm Paper Angels 7:15pm A Christmas Kiss 9:00pm The ABBA Years 10:00pm Michael Buble's Christmas Special 10:55pm 5 News 11:00pm Britain's Favourite Christmas Songs 2:00am ABBA: Live in Concert

SKY1 3:00pm Harrow: A Very British School 4:00pm Harrow: A Very British School 5:00pm Futurama 5:30pm The Simpsons 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Futurama 8:00pm The Flash 9:00pm Modern Family 9:30pm Trollied 10:00pm Hawaii Five-0 11:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 12:00am Road Wars 1:00am NCIS: Los Angeles 2:00am Hawaii Five-0 3:00am Spy 3:30am Road Wars 4:00am Night Cops

Monday BBC ONE 5:30pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm Fake Britain 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Panorama 10:00pm Wild Weather with Richard Hammond 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm Have I Got a Bit More News for You 12:20am Citizen Khan

BBC TWO 6:25pm Antiques Roadshow 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 8:00pm Tom Kerridge's Best Ever Dishes 8:30pm The Perfect Morecambe and Wise Christmas Special 9:00pm University Challenge 9:30pm Only Connect 10:00pm Canterbury Cathedral 11:00pm Never Mind the Buzzcocks 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am Great Continental Railway Journeys

ITV 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Tonight 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Bette Midler: One Night Only 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm The Jonathan Ross Show 12:45am All Star Family Fortunes

CH4 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:30pm Coach Trip 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Dogs: Their Secret Lives 10:00pm Skint 11:00pm Steph and Dom Meet Nigel Farage 11:30pm 8 Out of 10 Cats 12:35am NFL

CH5 6:30pm 5 News at 5 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm The Gadget Show 9:00pm Big Foot: The Missing Evidence 10:00pm Gotham 11:00pm Greatest Christmas TV Moments 1:55am Super Casino

SKY1 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Modern Family 9:30pm Trollied 10:00pm An Idiot Abroad 11:00pm Arrow 12:00am NCIS: Los Angeles

Tuesday BBC ONE 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Holby City 10:00pm The Missing 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm The Apprentice 12:35am Film 2014

BBC TWO 6:25pm Antiques Roadshow 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 8:00pm Alex Polizzi's Christmas Fix 9:00pm The Great British Bake Off - Masterclass: Christmas Masterclass 10:00pm The Choir: New Military Wives 11:00pm Brian Pern: A Life in Rock 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am Posh People: Inside Tatler

ITV 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm Waterworld 2:05am Jackpot247

CH4 3:10pm A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 4:10pm Countdown 5:00pm Deal or No Deal 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:30pm Coach Trip 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm The Supervet 10:00pm Black Mirror 11:30pm Gogglebox 12:30am Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA

CH5 4:45pm Lucky Christmas 6:30pm 5 News at 5 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm World's Ultimate Strongest Team 9:00pm Gibraltar: Britain in the Sun 10:00pm Kids' Hospital at Christmas 11:00pm Benefits Britain: Life on the Dole 12:00am NCIS

SKY1 3:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 4:00pm Road Wars 5:00pm Sun, Sea and A&E 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm The Flash 10:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 11:00pm Britcam: Emergency on Our Streets 12:00am NCIS: Los Angeles

Wednesday BBC ONE 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 9:00pm Waterloo Road 10:00pm The Apprentice 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm Live at the Apollo 12:05am The League Cup Show

BBC TWO 5:25pm Andrew Marr's History of Modern Britain 6:25pm Antiques Roadshow 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 8:00pm The 12 Drinks of Christmas 9:00pm MasterChef: The Professionals 10:00pm Secrets of the Castle with Ruth, Peter and Tom 11:00pm The Apprentice: You're Fired!

11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am Posh People: Inside Tatler

ITV 3:00pm Peter Andre's 60 Minute Makeover 4:00pm Secret Dealers 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Surprise Surprise 10:00pm Hit and Run 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm Cliffhanger 1:45am Jackpot247

CH4 6:30pm Coach Trip 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Posh Pawn at Christmas 10:00pm The British Comedy Awards 2014 12:05am Rhod Gilbert: The Man with the Flaming Battenberg Tattoo

CH5 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Living on the Edge: Blood in the Snow 9:00pm Gibraltar: Britain in the Sun 10:00pm Benefits Britain: Life on the Dole 11:00pm Crazy Christmas Compulsives 12:00am Kids' Hospital at Christmas

SKY1 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm All Aboard: East Coast Trains 10:00pm Tsunami: 10 Years After the Wave 11:00pm Forever 12:00am NCIS: Los Angeles

46

E W N 11 - 17 December 2014 / Costa de Almería

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OPINION & COMMENT

A decade of lows in the high Sierra Nevadas!

Ric Polansky Ric Polansky moved to Mojacar in 1969 as a pioneer developer. He reads extensively and has travelled in South America panning gold and looking for El Dorado.

T

HIS week it is once again the toast of Europe and especially for all Spanish skiers.

The Sierra Nevada has reopened earlier than ever; apartments are full and bookings are better than ever. Yet, it wasn’t always that way. In fact, the entire winter tourism idea was lost almost two generations ago and really important investors swore off Spain, forever. Today, it is really just getting back to where it should have been.

Yes, it was sheer genius to have the foresight to envision such a risky investment project, in Spain, with Franco still empowered.

Now, down on the beach I didn’t catch word of the gigantic happening up there but on the

LOOKIN G BACK IN MOJAC AR black runs of the moneyed world of skiing the talk was of nothing else but the chance to ski in Granada. The very idea was brazen and cavalier, yet it just wasn’t thought through.

My stateside cousin led the charge and quickly became my wise Uncle Tom, having seen the potential of linking his USA ski resort with romantic Spain and possibly selling units down on the beach of Mojacar. I jumped at the

TOAST OF EUROPE: The Sierra Nevada reopened earlier than usual. chance to get involved too although I had never been up there. Initially, I balked at paying $65,000 cash for a tiny two bedroom apartment (bought offplan) as in Mojacar we were selling larger units for $12,000.

But, a consortium was formed, the deal done, and we began looking for a rental agent to reap the magnificent promised returns.

Naturally, we chose the biggest show front, largest and most glittering agent, who also made the most outlandish promises and gave him the keys to Shalom I1A, the very first unit sold.

But, when I returned in the spring for our treasure chest of loot, the rental company had vanished. Worst yet, they sent a postcard received five months later announcing they were luxuriating in Brazil. The slopes were slippery and icy indeed. So, we started the process again searching for a less ostentatious company and listened to fewer promises. End of the next season, they too vanished and never bothered to send a postcard.

Well that damn scenario played itself out for TEN STRAIGHT YEARS. In fact, matters got

worse, as the new echelon of rental companies started also to sublet flats in the summer, wherein the resident low-lifes relished living without having to pay water or electricity (which legally couldn’t be cut off) and owners had to subsidise that too, along with estate fees, rubbish collections, taxes on presumed income - all at exorbitant rates.

Plenty of court cases ensued to recoup your own dwelling.

Of the 40,000 students at the university more than half changed their degree field to become lawyers and reap the benefits that fell like snowflakes from the befuddled investors in Norway, Austria, Germany, England and the States.

In short, the only solution around the dilemma to get your property back for the coming winter ski season was to pay the tenants to leave, help them pack and provide transport to another area while continuously praising their trickery and cleverness; otherwise, they threatened to move back in. And, nothing could be done.

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E W N 11 - 17 December 2014 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

“What is the funniest thing that has happened to you this year?”

S

ERVING holidaymakers all year round but actually not having a holiday himself is a funny observation that Scott Grey, from the Scottish Butcher in Fuengirola, made about this year.

Scott says with a smile, “There hasn’t been a particularly funny thing that has happened to me this year but I have

Scott Grey Jeet Singh

STREET TALK only managed to make it back to Scotland for four days and that has been the extent of my holiday time. I was too busy over the summer, happily I might add, with serving my local residents whilst they had holiday time and holidaymakers here for their vacations.

Perhaps next year I may actually have a holiday too!”

Jeet Singh, waiter at Haweli Indian Restaurant in Albir, said this

year he had a couple who walked out of the restaurant without paying.

He said it wasn’t funny at the time as he had to cover the bill, but he can find it amusing now: “They were sat on the terrace outside and what was strange was that they actually asked for the bill so I went in to get it and they quickly left!

“It’s the second time it’s happened to me in three years. Another couple did it in a restaurant I worked at in Camposol.”

Kirsty Holliday, who

works at PN TV Services, Pinar de Campoverde, said there is not one funny thing she can point out but her ninemonth-old son Adrian continually makes her laugh: “He already knows what he wants, and when he doesn’t want something he shakes his head but he does it in such a determined and forceful way, it is really funny.”

Steve Holgate from Storage Solutions in the Albox /Arboleas area said that one Steve Holgate of the funniest things that happened to him this year was that, “the alarm kept going off in the warehouse, every night without fail but we couldn’t work out why.

Then one day we spotted some bird poo.

“We looked up and there in the rafters was a tiny owl, blinking at us. He’d been the culprit all along. Such a Kirsty Holliday small creature, yet it could cause so much disruption.”

50

E W N 11 - 17 December 2014 / Costa de Almería

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OPINION & COMMENT

WILL the Americaninspired economic war against Russia drag the European Union into the abyss of isolation and deepening austerity?

This week, Russia, fed up with procrastination from Brussels, abandoned its South Stream gas project.

Cheap gas destined for Western Europe is to be diverted to Turkey and elsewhere.

Russia responded to earlier EU sanctions by turning east and closing the biggest deal ever recorded across a boardroom table. There will always be markets for energy supplies.

Not surprisingly, EU states, deprived of their

S BUKLEY

Mike Walsh Mike, based in Mediterranean Spain, is an international journalist, author and professional writer.

eagerly awaited windfall, are horrified.

Hugo Kyselka, head of the Czech gas company, came straight to the point.

“Cancellation of the South Stream gas pipeline spells disaster for the Baltic States, as well as Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary and Austria. The latter are the four nations through which this vital artery would have traversed.

Bulgaria is set to lose thousands of jobs and €400 million each year from lost royalties.”

The Czech CEO added: “They have made a huge blunder and caused real damage to European energy security.”

Similar concerns have been expressed by others affected, primarily Hungary and Serbia. Is it a blunder or treachery by the EU/American placemen?

Never mentioned is that

SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Putting politics before people

JOHN KERRY: In Brussels to discuss sanctions. lost trade is unlikely to be easily replaced after issues relating to Ukraine are settled. The stupid half of Europe, you call it

the European Union if you will, increases its isolation.

Exuberant America is now set to supply the EU with more expensive energy

alternatives.

Hugo Kyselka quite rightly said: “Brussels has proved it is not interested in the needs of ordinary European people, but only its political aims. It has begun a very risky game with the voters’ trust.”

This is where I part company with the gentleman. The Ukraine is Europe’s biggest country.

A significant part of Ukraine elected to separate itself from the Western-backed, baseball bat regime in Kiev. What did Brussels do? It ratcheted up a war against the five million opt-out population of Ukraine.

If unelected grey suits of Brussels will do that to dissenting peoples in Ukraine they will think nothing of doing so in Spain, France and elsewhere. Protest: think Prague, Budapest 1956,

Leipzig, Gdansk shipyards.

This week, US Secretary of State John Kerry will arrive in Brussels to set out the agenda for more EU sanctions against the Russian Federation. The EU does far more trade with Russia than does America.

It will be the people of the EU member states who suffer as Brussels rubberstamps Washington DC demands.

Meanwhile, NATO, America’s military fist, increases its presence on the borders of Russia.

Whilst the US and EU pour arms into Ukraine to use against Ukrainians in Eastern Ukraine, Russian aid truck convoys, the ninth as I write, pour in thousands of tons of food, blankets, medical supplies and clothing to the distressed dissenters of Donbas.

This says it all for me.

Advertising Feature

Clinica Veterinaria Mojacar: Care and expertise for your pets SINCE 1987, Clinicia Veterinaria Mojacar has been providing care and medical help for animals in the Mojacar area.

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The services offered are vast, and the clinic has all the latest equipment to ensure thorough testing of your pet and the highest levels of treatment.

In 2013 the clinic added a new service, digitised x-rays, which enables a faster diagnosis as now the x-rays can be emailed anywhere in the world. The images can also be blown up to enable a more accurate view and therefore diagnosis.

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To avoid waiting, the clinic recommends you arrange an appointment, although of course emergencies are different! Home visits are possible in some cases; just give the clinic a call.

Both Astrid and Silke are fluent in English, so you can rest assured that nothing will be lost

in translation.

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At weekends the emergency number is shared between clinics so you can be assured that someone is always available to care for your pet.

Visit the website and enjoy a tour of the facilities on offer.

Clinica Veterinaria Mojacar Paseo del Mediterraneo, 313 Mojacar 04638 Tel office: 950 472 252 24-hour emergency: 629 099 920 Email: clivetmo@gmail.com Web: www.clinicaveterinaria mojacar.com/en/

August 2014 / Costa del Sol www.euroweeklynews.com OPINION21&- 27 COMMENT

www.euroweeklynews.com 11 - 17 December 2014 / Costa de Almería

EWN

51

Cabgate and our smug governing elite 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

M

RTA INM ENT

ENTE

Nora Johnson’s thrillers ‘Landscape of Lies’, ‘Retribution’, ‘Soul Stealer’, ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.nora-johnson.com) available from Amazon in paperback/eBook (€0.89;£0.79) and iBookstore. Profits to Cudeca.

PRES

S

ELLOR and Mitchell. Well, what a couple of s**ts.

But this is a family newspaper, after all, so I suppose I’d better tone it down a bit and refer to them as a couple of M&Ms (US-style Smarties!). I’m talking, of course, about David Mellor and Andrew Mitchell.

Caught on tape telling his cab driver to “f*** off” in a row over the route, and slagging him off as a “sweaty, stupid little s**t,” the ex-Tory minister David Mellor subsequently apologised

swears by them. And as for Mellor, it won’t be long before the Portillo-style media rehabilitation programme kicks in and the BBC finds him a nice cab journey series around the world.

Meanwhile, bet he still won’t get a London cab...

driver who and what he thought he was. Kids on council estates get Asbos and worse for less offensive behaviour.

But really, it’s way too late for apologies. Much like Plebgate’s Andrew Mitchell and Labour’s “White Van Man” Emily Thornberry, he’s amply demonstrated what he really thinks of the man in the street.

I imagine that in Mr Mellor, Mr Mitchell and Ms Thornberry is encapsulated the view of the political class towards the UK electorate in general. Just “plebs” to be pandered to come election time and then ignored.

Hardly surprising that some 40 per cent never vote, and that new parties like UKIP can trade on the dissatisfaction felt by so many with the LibLabCons.

A final thought. If Mitchell’s now given up that bike of his, he can always take a cab – Mellor

TER STO CK. COM

Breaking Views

on his LBC show for his foulmouthed tirade, claiming he didn’t know what “possessed” him. Well, I know what “possessed” him: his own sense of self-importance... and believing that nobody would ever find out! And booze. Lots of it.

Boasting about his career in a way that made me flinch and rock to and fro with my eyes closed while calling for Nursie, he added: “You think that your experiences are anything compared to mine?” And there was I thinking that, as we got older, we were meant to become more ‘mellor’!

Like many of his kind, Mellor doesn’t understand that it’s not necessarily the swearing at the cabbie that’s the most damaging, but the arrogance, snobbery, demeaning attitude and pomposity in telling the

SHUT

Nora Johnson

DAVID MELLOR: Who does he think he is?

52

E W N 11 - 17 December 2014 / Costa de Almería

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OPINION & COMMENT

Eyeing up an old flame from the 60s 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

THOUGHT I saw Wendy Templeton-Price in the supermarket on Wednesday.

Wendy Templeton-Price was a girlfriend from way back, at a time when we were experiencing the final days of the Swinging 60s and beginning to emerge into what would later be known as the glitzy glam rock days of the 70s. And despite her poncy sounding title and obvious pedigree, like her name, Wendy was also a raver of double-barrelled proportions.

That was a very long time ago and let’s face it, after four decades people tend to change out of all recognition physically.

Something I can attest to, having observed the increasingly unfamiliar stranger

who greets me from the bathroom mirror every morning.

Nevertheless, there was a certain something about this lady that rang bells and had my socks rippling with resurrected memories.

The clincher though, was an unfortunate affliction Wendy was cursed with, because although she was a striking girl, there was a noticeable cast in one of her eyes, sometimes giving the impression that she was looking in two directions at once. Very handy for speed reading and the ability to cover two pages simultaneously, but a flaw nonetheless in her otherwise perfect features.

Anyway, there she was, or so I thought, across the pizza section of the frozen foods aisle. She had obviously seen me, because there was a half smile on her face as if she too felt that she had known me in a past life. Then after a few seconds, her face broke into a broad grin of recognition and

PAST LOVE: It’s all in the eyes. she hurried to the end of the freezer section, swerved into my aisle leaving a smouldering

skid mark on the polished floor, and headed straight for me.

On reflection it was a darn

good thing I did not open my arms to greet her, or indeed pucker up in anticipation, because ignoring me, she hurried past and grabbed two large bags of muesli from the shelf close by.

As she did, she called across to an ageing hippie wearing a Black Sabbath tee shirt and sporting a fine display of grey nose hair. “Found it!” she informed him loudly, and proudly held up a bag in each hand.

Her look of happy recognition was obviously aimed at an elusive breakfast cereal and not at yours truly.

I still have suspicions that it could have been the real Wendy, despite the remote possibility that she too has relocated to this part of Spain.

But recalling the manner of our separation which involved a Mini Cooper on the banks of the Thames late one night; a dodgy hand brake and lots of flashing blue lights, I decided to let sleeping dogs lie.

FINANCE

EUROPEAN PRESS11 - 17 December 2014 / Costa de Almería

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EWN

53

Will the UK inheritance tax threshold increase?

UK inheritance tax continues to impact British expatriates living in Spain and their families, since it is based on domicile rather than residence. It is chargeable on worldwide assets, with a ‘nil rate band’ of £325,000.

UK Prime Minister David Cameron has indicated that he would like to increase this threshold to £1 million next year.

The current threshold has been frozen at £325,000 (potentially £650,000 for a married couple or civil partners, if the transferrable nil rate band is available in full) since 2009.

Under previous budgets it is scheduled to remain unchanged until 2017/18.

If it were to increase, it would be welcome news for British domiciles, wherever they live. It would also benefit non-UK domiciles with UK assets worth over £325,000. Assets valued at less than £1 million would escape this unpopular tax entirely.

With a fixed rate of 40 per cent, inheritance tax provides a useful income

By Bill Blevins, Financial Correspondent, Blevins Franks for the Treasury. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) figures from July show that earnings had increased to £3.4 billion, a six-year high.

The Office for Budget Responsibility has also predicted that the number of estates paying inheritance tax will double by 201819. The Treasury is expecting to earn £5.8 billion by then.

If the exchequer loses billions in inheritance tax receipts, we have to wonder how this will be paid for.

The revenue is used to fund government expenditure, and it is not in a position to lose such vital income.

Mr Cameron raised the prospect of increasing the threshold while speaking at Age UK’s London office.

He thought inheritance tax should only be paid by the very wealthy and that you should be able to pass the family home to children rather than the taxman.

He said he would try to “shoehorn” the measure into George Osborne’s next budget.

His comments have been widely reported, but there is no guarantee it will happen.

The Conservative Party proposed the same measure before the last general election. It won them support, but was dropped when they formed a coalition with the Liberal Democrats.

If it does get included in the March budget, a new government

could announce a second budget where measures are reversed or amended.

In any case, Mr Cameron admitted that he had his “work cut out on this one,” though the Chancellor George Osborne was keen on it too. They would have to think carefully before proceeding, since Mr Osborne is meant to be working to eliminate the structural budget deficit, and may have to explain how it would be funded.

Inheritance tax planning should be a key part of your tax and wealth management planning here in Spain, if you wish to pass wealth down to the next generations.

Expatriates need to be clear on their domicile position, and plan accordingly. Expert advice is vital here since this is a complex area and easy to get wrong.

You need to consider Spanish succession tax (where your spouse may also be liable) and how the two

regimes interact, to establish the best solutions for your family and heirs.

You also need to consider the arrangements you use for holding your wealth, to establish what would work best for your aims. Some are more easily transferrable to beneficiaries than others; for example you may be able to avoid probate on your investment capital.

Estate planning is a complex area, more so for expatriates. Specialist, detailed advice is essential.

Tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change.

Tax information has been summarised; an individual is advised to seek personalised advice.

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

E W N 11 - 17 December 2014 / Costa de Almería

CROSSWORDS

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Time Out

TRUS

our a

T

dvert

WE D

isers

O!

EURO WEEKLY’S SPACE FOR YOU TO TAKE A BREAK, BE INFORMED AND ENJOY A CHALLENGE

Almería weather

NEW ON DVD MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

for next 7 days

Reclaim A young couple, Steven and Shannon, decide to adopt an orphan from Haiti when they discover they are unable to conceive their own child. They contact International Rescue Adoption and are introduced to Nina, who lost her family in an earthquake. But when Nina goes missing and they are unable to contact the agency, Steven and Shannon will stop at nothing to uncover the truth behind her disappearance and the dangerous secret behind the adoption agency they trusted.

Starring John Cusack, Ryan Phillipe and Rachelle Lefevre. Runs 96 mins. Rated R.

TODAY

VELEZ RUBIO

TOMORROW HUERCAL OVERA

ALBOX

VELEZ RUBIO GARRUCHA ALBOX MOJACAR

ALMERIA

HUERCAL OVERA

RETAMAR GARRUCHA

ADRA

ROQUETAS

MOJACAR

RETAMAR

ALMERIA

ROQUETAS

ADRA

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) This month, there is much to be celebrated. So much has happened in the latter part of the year. Certainly, congratulations are in order. When you have made such an effort and are rewarded for it,

FAMOUS FELINES

We are all guilty of trying to get over this truth, but it never works. Have patience when looking to improve your possessions.

LEO (July 24 - August 23) Going over old ground is counterproductive. There is nothing to be gained from repeating methods that did not work in the past. If it is not possible to find a fresh approach then seek the opinions of others.

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Getting together with others to entertain is sure to be successful after the 26th. Before that there may be some irritations, particularly with people who refuse to be positive and make decisions. Those moving house or going on a journey need a lot of patience, and forward planning is essential.

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) With the best will in the world it is only possible to spend money once.

Sudoku Fill the grid so that every row, every column and every 3X3 box contains the digits 1-9. There’s no maths involved. You solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic.

LIBRA (September 24 October 23) This is an important week for both your physical health and your mental wellbeing. Because of things beyond your control, you may have let your diet or exercise slip. Having sorted out any problems that side-tracked you, there is a need to be particularly strong.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

SCORPIO (October 24 November 22) This is a week to let yourself be heard. Be it writing letters, sending emails, making phone calls or making conversation, you must express yourself.

Being honest and outspoken need not mean upsetting people.

LOTTERY UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

UK THUNDERBALL

IRISH LOTTO

EURO MILLIONS

Saturday December 6

Saturday December 6

Saturday December 6

Friday December 5

19

23

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43

45

49

6

10 15

11 36

7

10

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BONUS BALL

THUNDERBALL

BONUS BALL

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LA PRIMITIVA

Almeria

CLEAR MAX 19C, MIN 8C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

3

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EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA 10

22 41

SUNNY

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 15 7 Cl Tues - 16 9 S Wed - 19 10 C

Fri Sat Sun -

16 11 S 16 11 C 12 7 Sh

CLOUDY

Fri Sat Sun -

18 12 Cl 14 8 Sh 13 7 S

Fri Sat Sun -

19 11 S 18 8 Sh 15 7 Cl

MAX MIN

Mon - 16 8 S Tues - 17 9 S Wed - 19 11 C

Madrid SUNNY

TODAY:

MAX 17C, MIN 9C

MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 14 8 S Tues - 16 9 S Wed - 17 11 C

Mallorca

11 5 C 8 2 Sh 7 1 Cl

MAX 13C, MIN 3C MAX MIN

Mon - 8 3 Cl Tues - 9 4 C Wed - 12 5 Sh

Murcia

CLOUDY MAX 16C, MIN 11C MAX MIN

17 13 Cl 17 10 Cl 13 8 Sh

SUNNY MAX 19C, MIN 11C MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Mon - 12 7 Cl Tues - 14 9 S Wed - 16 11 C

MAX MIN

S Sun,

MAX MIN

Mon - 17 9 Cl Tues - 18 10 S Wed - 19 11 Cl

Benidorm

Malaga

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX 18C, MIN 12C

18 13 Cl 17 9 Sh 16 7 S

TODAY:

MAX 15C, MIN 9C

TODAY:

TODAY:

CLEAR MAX MIN

Barcelona TODAY:

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 13 10 Cl Tues - 16 11 Cl Wed - 17 12 C Cl Clear,

CLEAR MAX 19C, MIN 7C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun Fog,

Sn Snow,

18 8 S 18 7 Sh 15 6 Cl C Cloud,

MAX MIN

Mon - 15 6 Cl Tues - 16 7 S Wed - 18 8 Cl 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: 7

Very good: 13

Good: 9

Excellent: 16

aged, dang, doge, drag, dreg, egad, ergo, gape, gate, gean, gear, gent, gnat, goad, goat, goer, gone, gore, grad, gran, grot, ogre, page, pang, pong, rage, rang, tang, toga, tong, agent, agone, anger, argon, argot, ergot, gaped, gaper, gated, gator, gonad, goner, gored, grade, grand, grant, grape, grate, great, groan, groat, grope, orang, organ, paged, pager, podge, prang, prong, raged, range, tango, argent, danger, dotage, dragon, gander, garden, garnet, grande, grated, groped, onager, orange, parget, ponged, potage, ranged, toerag, dragnet, granted, groaned, negator, portage, pranged, pronged, tangoed, trepang, dragonet, GODPARENT

Word Ladder SENT

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

38 53

REINTEGRO 7

TODAY:

MAX MIN

18 9 S 18 8 Sh 13 6 C

Sunday December 7

Saturday December 6

37

LUCKY STARS 2

Alicante TODAY:

MAX MIN

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) The prospect of travel sets you thinking. Have you been spending too much time considering others? Should you take steps now to get time alone then these plans cannot be changed. This will save any discussions as to how or when.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) Although you have the feeling that younger members of the family are

8-Star Quiz

30

not interested in your point of view, this is far off the mark. They, in their inexperience, may not know how best to approach you in this regard.

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) The importance of making the right choices is clear to you. Where to begin seems to be a sticking point. Starting by taking away the things you really do not want is essential. Be practical and logical.

This is not a time for sentiment or muddled thinking.

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) When it comes to throwing wobblers, please don't. It is so important this week to stay cool and unruffled. Change nothing that you can avoid changing.

1. Voiced by actress Kate Harbour, what is the name of Bob the Builder’s pet cat?

2. What is the name of the cat in the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons who is often seen chasing Tweety Bird, Speedy Gonzales or Hippety Hopper?

3. What is the name of the local NYPD cop in the television cartoon series Top Cat? 4. What was the name of the 18th century English writer and lexicographer who owned a ‘very fine cat’ called Hodge?

5. Runaway Boys (1980) and Rock This Town (1981) were both UK Top 10 hit singles for which American rockabilly band?

6. Which US-born, British poet wrote the book of light verse Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, on which the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats was based?

7. Which famous actress played the title role in the 1965 comedy Western film Cat Ballou?

8. Which pasta dish is the favourite food of Garfield the cat?

the satisfaction level is high. Be aware, though, that someone close also needs to feel that there is progress.

December 13, Santi Cazorla, football player After four seasons with Villareal and one season with Malaga, Cazorla joined Arsenal in 2012 and has been instrumental in the team’s midfield. He was named the 10th best player in the world by Bloomberg in 2013. He is only the third Spanish player to score a hat-trick in the Premier League, along with Fernando Torres and Jordi Gomez.

BACK

(BUNT) BAND (BUNK) BANK BACK

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) You are in for a bit of a bumpy ride this week. Some things will go well but other outcomes can be quirky. People change their minds, technology doesn't work, phone calls don't come.

Your Stars

IF IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK: Trust your instincts when making judgements in the months ahead, particularly when meeting new people.

Should you feel concern, then sidestep and look ahead.

BACK or SENT BENT BEND

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) Having problems with that new computer? Fallen foul of the new mobile phone? That wouldn't be surprising this week.

As you are prone to mistakes and misunderstandings, try not to tackle anything vital. Be sure to get plenty of sleep and fresh air.

SENT SEND SAND SANK SACK

54

1. PILCHARD, 2. SYLVESTER J PUSSYCAT, SYLVESTER THE CAT or simply SYLVESTER or PUDDY TAT, 3. OFFICER (Charles) DIBBLE, 4. DR SAMUEL JOHNSON, 5. STRAY CATS, 6. T S (Thomas Stearns) ELIOT, 7. JANE FONDA, 8. LASAGNA

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CROSSWORDS

Crosswords

11 - 17 December 2014 / Costa de Almería

EWN

55

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

Cryptic

Quick

Across 1 Dawdle, as ducks do (6) 5 Lack of density associated with our planet (6) 8 Glossy magazine uncovers a beating (4) 9 Exchange rate certain to provide wealth (8) 10 In with Rose, not exactly the junior of the two (6) 11 Make case without England’s leader (6) 12 Note of French flag (4) 14 Bingo from the Bahamas (3) 15 A lair in an Arabian seaport (4) 16 Swiss community against admitting worker (6) 18 Study after the unfinished yarn (6) 19 Portrait of Ken’s isle at sea (8) 21 Brew ales for purchase (4) 22 Cuss the French pound (6) 23 Departmental head one sues can be neglect (6) Down 2 Sounds like a way in to worship (5) 3 Detest scruffy kid’s lie (7)

4 Distract ant in tree, somehow (9) 5 Party eye opener is a deer (3) 6 Long narrow passage in Shanghai’s Left Bank (5) 7 Rubs the talent up the wrong way in order to regain the advantage (4,3,6) 11 Punished, the way one is in

being pursued (9) 13 A car I’ve designed for selfishness (7) 15 A Russian leader takes it easy, then stops all together (7) 17 Take care of delicacy (5) 20 Find a farm animal in the World Wide Web (3)

Code Breaker Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 10 represents P and 16 represents Z, so fill in P every time the figure 10 appears and Z every time the figure 16 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 Agrarian, 4 Bite, 7 Rents, 9 Avail, 11 Scant, 12 Enact, 13 Ticker, 15 Causes, 19 Beams, 21 Rooks, 23 Shame, 24 Elate, 25 Same, 26 Kestrels.

Down: 1 Abreast, 2 Ranks, 3 Adapts, 5 Edict, 6 Made, 8 Scale, 10 Loafs, 14 Crass, 16 Abode, 17 Softens, 18 Breeze, 19 Bails, 20 Scat, 22 Snare.

QUICK Across: 7 Recent, 8 Voyage, 10 College, 11 Sweet, 12 Seek, 13 Fewer, 17 Reach, 18 Hour, 22 Apart, 23 Protect, 24 Leaves, 25 Stress.

Down: 1 Precise, 2 Scolded, 3 Anger, 4 Monster, 5 Camel, 6 Debts, 9 Telescope, 14 Beetles, 15 Forever, 16 Protest, 19 Early, 20 Japan, 21 Boots.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

ENGLISH-SPANISH Across: 1 Casco, 3 Beers, 7 Amargo, 9 Open, 10 September, 13 Raro, 14 España, 16 Scarf, 17 Batas.

Down: 1 Coal, 2 Car, 4 Empresa, 5 Sano, 6 Cohetes, 8 Alegria, 11 Gris, 12 Mats, 15 Pea.

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

Across 1 Basket (5) 4 Stamp (postage stamp) (5) 7 That (3) 8 Aviator (7) 9 Jabón (para lavar) (4) 10 Eighth (6) 14 Cuellos (de prenda) (7) 16 Bacalao (3) 17 Lakes (5) 18 Asientos (muebles) (5) Down 1 Ajedrez (5) 2 Swedish (f) (5) 3 To pray (say prayers) (4) 4 Maletas (para equipaje) (9) 5 Tapa (de caja) (3) 6 Nuestro (3) 11 Anchor (5) 12 Waves (in sea, lake) (5) 13 Sierras (herramientas) (4) 14 Cabbage (3) 15 Pierna (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 (ASTERN) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues.

ABASES

NEARER

ASTERN (10)

NEATLY

CATERS

OTHERS

CEASES

PRIEST

CENTRE

RESTED

CHASTE

SCREAM

DECREE

STARRY

DIVIDE

TREATY

MASSED

WHILED

METERS

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Funagram Unscramble the name of a famous region of Germany (two words): CRABS FELT OK FUNAGRAM SOLUTION: LEONARDO DA VINCI, BLACK FOREST

Unscramble the name of a famous Italian artist: VINDALOO AND RICE

Across 1 Selects (7) 4 Fabulous (5) 7 Inspire wrath (5) 9 Shrieks (7) 10 Problem (7) 11 Requires (5) 12 Reserve (5) 14 Banquet (5) 19 Does damage to (5) 21 Put back (7) 23 Offensive remarks (7) 24 Inexpensive (5) 25 Catalogues (5) 26 Leave dangling (7) Down 1 Maps (6) 2 Clean with effort (5) 3 Method (6) 4 Odd (7) 5 Serene state (5) 6 Oppose (6) 8 Band (5) 13 Outcomes (7) 15 Have in common (5) 16 Excitement (6) 17 Emergency (6) 18 Bounded (6) 20 Reclines (5) 22 Chooses (5)

1 Prints, 2 Traced, 3 Barest, 4 Meteor, 5 Reaped, 6 Health, 7 Oceans, 8 Rested, 9 Cursed, 10 Arenas, 11 Hazels, 12 Sensed, 13 Learnt, 14 Seated, 15 Wearer, 16 Reeled, 17 Weeded, 18 Seared, 19 Owners

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PETS

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A stress-free Christmas for your cat

CHRISTMAS is a stressful time for most cats, except for the very laid-back ones.

Strangers coming into the home, small children, loud noises from guests and TVs, unusual smells from Christmas trees and holly and mistletoe, unusual food, etc, can all have an effect.

If you have a nervous cat, give it a room it can retreat to, with litter tray, food and water. If it wants to come down and join the fun, let it. If not, leave it be.

Give your cat the choice. If it is very nervous install a Feliway diffuser in the room, starting a week before Christmas.

Most cats are afraid of

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

visiting dogs, even if they live with a familiar dog. In this case make sure the cat is shut away from the dog so that they never have to come face to face.

After all this is your cat’s home, and it deserves to feel safe.

Chocolate is poisonous both to cats and dogs.

Grapes and raisins are poisonous to dogs and probably to cats, too.

Turkey and chicken

FESTIVE FEAR: Visitors and noise can scare cats. bones can get stuck in the throat or wound the stomach. Alcohol will lead to accidents like falling off shelves, or, if

a lot is taken, it can kill. It is not funny to give a cat alcohol: it is cruel.

Therefore, shut away all food. Or shut away the cat.

After all, you don’t want to go into the kitchen and find cat nibble marks on the turkey.

String that ties up a turkey may be half swallowed.

NEVER pull it out.

Ring the emergency vet service and take their advice. This also applies to tapes, strings or anything that may end up half in and half out at either end. Just yanking can cause serious injury.

Long-term sitters found for cats

By Lamia Walker of HousesitMatch SAM and Pete, a professional couple from Cambridgeshire, decided to give up their jobs to volunteer abroad for six months. But what to do with their cats?

www.euroweeklynews.com

When Sam suggested volunteering in Uganda at an educational charity, Pete was reluctant at first. “It was not about giving up work necessarily as I am self-employed. It was mainly about our 10-year-old cats, Windsor and Wentworth. We’ve had them as long as we’ve been married and we

wanted them cared for safely at home. We knew there must be a solution and one Friday we Googled home care for pets and came across HouseSitMatch.com.

Download your Free Easy Guide to Housesitting from here www.bit.ly/eurown001

HEALTH & BEAUTY

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I take a wait and see approach Erica Russell Watson: My journey – and I’m driving

27th November THE morning after the day before! I had had my first chemo treatment on 26th November and awoke having slept well.

Apart from feeling a little peaky I felt surprisingly good. A hearty breakfast along with the medication I had been given set me straight. Everything seemed a little dream-like, if I’m honest. Nobody ever imagines that they will be having chemotherapy but I had started and that was the important thing… the sooner I began the sooner I finished. I spent the morning resting and then had to go to the hospital again for the last set of tests, a bone scan.

I arrived at the hospital at 3pm and had yet another lot of dye injected into my arm; my veins had taken a pounding that week. Then I was instructed to go away for two hours and drink lots of water. On my return I was ‘scanned’. A process that took about 20 minutes and completely painless of course.

This was to rule out bone cancer. The staff were friendly and told me that they would send the results on to my oncologist. I imagined that for my next chemo session they would be inside my file ready for my appointment.

As I have mentioned, I was given a lot of information about chemotherapy and I have to say that I am not a great one for reading instructions and buying lots of medication. I prefer to have the general

Readers’ response Dear Erica, I have been reading your ‘column’ with mixed feelings, having experienced most of what you have related so far plus chemo followed by radiotherapy.

I notice that you referred to hearing comments made by others whilst in the waiting room about the various side-effects of chemo. Yes, there are many and various ‘side-effects’ but I sincerely hope that you will not relay these through your page in this paper. I feel strongly that patients should decide for themselves with as little ‘previous knowledge’ as possible as, if they overhear/misunderstand or read too much, they may decide against the treatment and so make the wrong decision.

The MacMillan website is very helpful.

I would be willing to answer any relevant questions you may have if you feel it would be helpful.

I do wish you well.

Yours sincerely, Mrs P H

Dear Pamela Many thanks for your letter. I entirely agree that talking about side-effects can be negative and often irrelevant to many as we are all so different and react in different ways to treatment.

My intention is to write about my experience but to be as positive as possible.

I intend to listen to my body and respond accordingly. I feel a little tired but that’s about it at the moment, so as far as I am concerned life must go on as normal!

Thank you for your offer of advice and to answer any questions I might have. At this stage I can’t think of anything in particular but I will certainly contact you if I have any doubts.

Kind regards and best wishes for a full recovery, Erica

LIBERATING: My new short haircut

outline and then listen to my body. Naturally, the essential meds must be taken but you don’t have to go crazy buying every cream and potion suggested. I think that a ‘wait and see how you go policy’ is a good one. Why pre-empt? The one thing that I think is important is a good diet, lots of nuts and green veggies and fruit. You must drink lots of water, hydrate your skin well and there are a wonderful range of teas that are good for you and delicious at the same

time. There are lots of cookery books with great ideas for recipes that provide you with what you need to keep your immune system at full power, which is essential if you are to stay on track with your treatment schedule. Eat well, rest and avoid people with colds if you can.

Friday was ‘mission wig’!

Typically, I didn’t go to loads of shops because there is a fantastic and very well established hairdressers near Calle Larios, called Pacos.

Everyone had spoken highly about them so I thought that would be the best place to go.

I failed to realise that my little shopping trip coincided with the Malaga Christmas illuminations.

The mayor turned on the lights and what a sight they were!

Utterly dazzling and beautiful.

The atmosphere was buzzing in the centre and it really felt like Christmas had arrived. The streets were teeming with people and the smell of chestnuts roasting pervaded your every sense.

Into the hairdressers I went.

It was a veritable Aladdin’s cave. A jovial lady called Carmen asked if she could help and the moment I explained that I had started chemo she whisked me upstairs. You could tell they were at ease and used to dealing with clients going through treatment. We went to a private room and tried on lots of wigs. It was great fun actually. I managed to narrow down the choice and with the help of Jorge, I settled on a rather snazzy, short ‘Bondesque’ number. It was expensive but with Black Friday 20 per cent off, I decided it was worth it. I would save a fortune on haircuts and colours and shampoos! I think that if you

can, it is important to boost your image and your selfesteem… if you look in the mirror and a sad, drab face looks back, that is how you will feel on the inside.

A bit of lipstick and a bright jumper works for me. With the special offers on I nipped into El Corte Ingles and bought a set of knives for my boyfriend’s mother who had been cooking and looking after me as if I were her own.

I’ve seen sharper spoons than her knives so it was time for an update! She loves to cook so her little face lit up when I gave them to her. Then it was time to eat and rest.

The following day I decided to meet my dear friend Pepi for coffee, a bit of shopping and a then a few tapas. I just love being in the centre of Malaga.

It is a special place for me for so many reasons. The rest of the weekend was spent resting and watching Strictly Come Dancing and Sherlock with my children. We made a cake on Sunday. It had been a thoroughly good weekend.

Everything seemed calm. I felt pretty good but was wondering when my hair might fall out. Instead of waiting for that moment I decided to have a radical haircut. I had long hair and I went very short. It was very liberating, I have to say.

Later I would shave my head and don my wig but for now my short cut was to be enjoyed!

A friend of mine suggested I tried Reiki… didn’t know much about it but it was a good excuse to lie down and relax so I gave it a whirl. The jury is out for the moment but Carmen liked doing it so I decided that I would try it again.

A week had gone by since my first treatment and pretty much without incident. I had seven more to go in 21 day cycles, 17th December would be my next session. Fingers crossed for the same reaction.

Only time would tell.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Advertising Feature

A beautiful tim TOPPING THE LIST: University Hospital of La Paz in Madrid.

Where are the best hospitals in Spain?

THE University Hospital of La Paz in Madrid and the University Clinic of Navarra top the list of public and private hospitals with the best reputation in Spain. That’s according to an independent study which collected the opinions of 2,400 experts.

This is the first monitor of

health reputation to be held in the country and includes the rankings of top public and private hospitals, hospital services and medical professionals by speciality.

Madrid and Barcelona host the top five public hospitals, whilst the best private hospitals are in Navarra with private centres in

Madrid taking in the next six spots.

The ranking reflects the valuation of experts, including doctors, nurses, patients’ associations and journalists, who have analysed 186 quality indicators and healthcare performances.

STELLA’S salon, owned and operated by Stella Wild, opened after the terrible floods which heavily affected the area a few years ago.

The hair salon celebrated the second anniversary of its opening on Saturday, November 15, and the day turned out to be a fantastic success! A delicious array of drinks and nibbles were available for the day, catered for by a local company and the conversation and laughter flowed.

Many clients and friends showed Stella their support for the anniversary party, which speaks volumes for her popularity and regard within the local community to which she provides her expert styling skills.

Based in Las

STYLING THE COMMUNITY: Stella Buganvillas, in front of the big roundabout, Stella’s is easy to find.

Her reputation is second to none in the area and with over 30 years experience in the industry, Stella really knows what is best for her clients and is always coming up with new styles or colour ideas tailored to her clients’ individual hair type and requirements. You will really

HEALTHY PIZZA: Part of your five-a-day?

Five-a-day diet could include pizza PIZZAS and Chinese takeaways could soon form part of a person’s ‘five-a-day’ diet.

The Department of Health in the UK is considering allowing foods that have at least one portion of fruit or veg to carry the government’s official five-a-day logo, meaning pizzas with ham and pineapple, or Chinese takeaways with veg components will count towards a healthy diet. The controversial decision would also

include foods like baked beans, tinned soups, ready meals and sausages. The five-a-day logo was launched by the Department of Health in 2003 to encourage healthier eating and is currently limited to plain fruit, vegetables and products without any added sugar, fat or salt.

The new move being considered ignores the fact that thousands of products include ‘amber’ warning lights for salt or sugar.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

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me at Stella’s

at her salon in Las Buganvillas. find a stylist at Stella’s, not just another hairdresser!

There are also many beauty treatments available at the salon, including chiropody and holistic treatments, so it’s great for having a pamper for both hair and beauty, all conveniently located under the same salon roof.

Stella would like to thank all of her clients and her local bar for their fantastic service,

and looks forward to many more happy years ahead serving her community with the best styling and beauty service she can provide.

Stella’s is open from Tuesdays to Fridays 9am to 6pm and on Saturdays from 11am to 2pm.

See the advert on these pages for Christmas opening times.

Telephone the salon today on 950 699 973 to reserve your booking at the best place in town to get your hair styled and your body pampered, all with great service and individual attention!

Stella would also like to wish all of her customers, both new and existing a very warm and stylish Christmas and a fabulous New Year!

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Costa de Almeria’s best guide to local restaurants

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ONE of the things that many people miss when they move to Spain is a proper draught Guinness. The Emerald Isle on Paseo del Mediterraneo can fix that with a great pint of the black stuff.

This is a real Irish pub, and you would be forgiven for forgetting that you weren’t actually in Ireland once you are sitting inside with a drink and listening to the entertainment.

Speaking of entertainment, this friendly bouncing pub is known for having entertainment every single weekend. This is also where sports fans can enjoy a game of Gaelic football or Gaelic hurling on the televisions.

There are split screen televisions too, so you don’t have to miss a single moment of the action.

Football or Formula 1 fan? No problem, your favourites

EMERALD ISLE: For entertainment, sports fans and a great pint of the black stuff. will be on. Just ask behind the bar if you are unsure.

Looking for somewhere fun to hang out at Christmas?

Get yourselves along to The Emerald Isle and enjoy a

singalong and a dance as you are entertained

by Ashley and Dainius on both Christmas Eve and New

FOOD & DRINK

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.COM/FEATURES/RESTAURANTS

proper Irish pub

Year’s Eve. This popular duo is well known and well loved and will be performing songs from the 1960s right up until

the present day. We defy you to keep still.

The bouncing atmosphere is why so many people choose The Emerald Isle as the venue for their parties, with everything from birthday bashes to leaving do’s, there is always fun to be had.

If you don’t fancy sitting indoors and want to soak up the sun, the pub has an outdoor terrace, the perfect place to sip a frosted beer while topping up your tan or watching the sports.

This is not a bar, it is a real Irish pub.

Everything from the atmosphere to the drinks will take you back to the real Emerald Isle and satisfy those cravings without taking you away from sunny Spain. The pub is open every weekday except Monday and the staff are all waiting to give you a fun evening of memories that you will treasure forever.

The Emerald Isle Paseo del Mediterraneo, 113 Mojacar 04638 Tlf: 652 105 827 Facebook: Search for The Emerald Isle Mojacar

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FOOD & DRINK

Advertising Feature

La Esperanza for peace and harmony LA ESPERANZA is a little boutique hostel with nine cosy and tastefully decorated rooms with an adjoining restaurant that invites a feeling of peace, harmony and accord with nature with areas to read, to think, to create and recharge, and even daydream.

This unique space feels like home and also has that invigorating feeling of a change in routine, something that we often need to rebalance our perspective of everyday life in these hectic times.

Come and enjoy this charming guesthouse on the coast, with the amenities of a city hotel but that also maintains a rustic atmosphere. This is one of the most amazing places on the Costa Almeria, and you will be completely fascinated by its charm and inspiring peace, quiet and tranquillity.

The Inn is a landmark building recently restored which maintains original features such as the lounge restaurant and its large outdoor terrace.

The restaurant is characterised not only by the views but also by the excellent food including incredibly fresh fish, a variety of seafood and their

BOUTIQUE HOSTEL: A unique space that feels like home on the coast. speciality rice dishes, mainly with lobster.

Villaricos is a small fishing village with centuries of history behind it, a small town rich in culture and tradition, because, amongst other things, it is

located in the ancient city of Baria.

La Esperanza is right in the centre of town, across from one of the two small ports so watch as the boats come and go or the sea with its endless colours and beautiful beaches and coves.

The temperature in the area maintains an average of 20 degrees and over 300 days of sunshine a year, so you can enjoy a few days off without having to wait for the warmer months.

The food includes traditional Andalucian meals with tasty sauces, locally sourced vegetables, pure virgin olive oil, green salads and delicious crunchy lettuce.

The freshly caught fish and a large selection of seafood are all part of the unique experience of staying at La Esperanza.

For more information and reservations, please contact us at the following e-mail: info@laesperanzavillaricos.com or phone: 625 737 025.

We are in: Calle Esperanza, 2 04 616 Villaricos / Cuevas de Almanzora (AlmerĂ­a) Facebook "La Esperanza" Twitter @Esperanza_Rest

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FOOD & DRINK

Does your bar or restaurant advertise in the EWN? AT EWN we have our clients’ best interests at heart.

Getting your news out to the public can sometimes be a bit of a struggle, but we here at EWN want to help.

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

Perhaps you have an upcoming charity event you’d like to publicise?

Do you have a new member of staff you’d like to introduce?

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 our 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. whatson@euroweeklynews. com

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omes&gardens

HOMES & GARDENS

HHandy Christmas presents for SPONSORED BY

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

Dick Handscombe

Gardening Corner

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

DESIGNING, constructing, planting up and maintaining continues to be one of the most frequent hobbies for expatriates coming to Spain to retire or sometimes an essential, reluctant activity for those who came to Spain to work fulltime. Some do all the gardening themselves while others use outside help for the more strenuous and difficult jobs, such as pruning large trees, especially as they age, that is both the trees and the expatriates.

So, what gifts would be welcomed for Christmas, Three Kings Day or a winter birthday, based on my 27 years of gardening in Spain

and nearing 80 years of age?

1. There is a considerable amount of pruning to do in most Spanish gardens and most is concentrated into the months of January and February, the time of the annual winter cutback.

Good short and long extendable pruners with sharp blades and ergonomic design to reduce the effort required especially of the wrist and elbow joints can make life easier.

The best tools that I have experienced are the Finnish Fiskars range of products, which includes pruners, saws and axes that they started manufacturing several centuries ago. If your spouse has had some of their pruners for years and they are going a little blunt one can buy a set of new blades.

ALLAH VARIETY OF LEMON

the gardener in your life

GREEN GIFTS: A wheelbarrow or unusual plant.

2. TerraCottem is an invaluable soil improvement gel and it has saved many a plant during the recent, year-long drought.

The water absorbing and storage properties of the main gel constituent are amazing. So a five kilogramme container direct from Spain’s distributor TerraVida would

make a great present to someone preparing a new garden or revamping an old. The product is useful for trees, shrubs, and annual flowering plants, including vegetables. I suggest you explore their website to obtain more information and one can order from there.

3. In general mattocks

are more convenient tools than forks and spades for most digging, rock moving and weeding jobs on Spanish soils. Agricultural co-operatives often have good displays of small medium and large bladed mattocks to choose from.

When selecting mattocks do ensure that you check that the handles are long enough for you to use comfortably, especially if you are taller

than most Spaniards.

4. A book such as ‘Living well from our garden Mediterranean style’ to help understand which garden plants have health benefits.

For those with Spanish partners the book is now translated into Spanish as ‘Vivirbien de un jardin español al estilo Mediterráneo’.

5. Someone to help prune giant trees whether ancient oaks, pines, olive or carob trees and 20-year-old acacias.

6. A wheelbarrow with a bouncy wheel, especially if your garden is terraced and you need to cope with steps. Those barrows with spherical wheels are excellent.

7. A growing table on which to build up a collection of small plants or grow salad vegetables.

8. An unusual plant such as a Hand of Budda or Allah variety of lemon, Latin Botanical name Citrus medica var sarcodactylis, which has amazingly shaped fruits with more flavour than many normal lemons for cooking and making infusions. However they do not have much central flesh for juicing.

9. If the intended recipient is relatively new to Spanish gardening, or gardening at all, then the general handbook ‘Your Garden in Spain – From planning to planting to maintenance’ would make a good present.

Hope these presents help you with your Christmas shopping and that the recipients are happy. © Dick Handscombe www.gardenspain.com

21 - 27 August 2014 / Costawww.euroweeklynews.com del Sol ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

Albox pottery featured in Hamburg museum IT would be very difficult to speak about Albox without mentioning pottery. The craft has been a part of the town for centuries.

Such was the importance of pottery in the town that a number of pieces were transferred to the Archaeological museum of Hamburg in Germany, where they remain today.

The museum is currently running an exhibition called ‘Albox: a potters’ village,’ organised by the Somos Albojenses cultural association and the Merchants’ Circle. The exhibition includes dozens of previously unpublished recordings including a documentary featuring potteries like the one owned by Herminio Hernandez and Los Puntas.

Herminio Hernandez recalled a time when the pottery was producing 100 jars every day, which were snapped up by people from across the region. Herminio Hernandez spoke with passion of the trade

and how experience matters. “The experience of 58 or 60 years is what makes you a master,” he said, before predicting that the art of pottery will never disappear.

During the 1970s demand shot up further as people began to demand pottery utensils for decorative rather than practical use. This forced a number of workers to reinvent themselves and learn the trade.

Antonio Alfonso Fernandez from Los Puntas agreed: “We thought to ourselves, we had to reinvent or die.” Los Puntas is still a working family pottery, using Arabic ovens that are historical in their own right at more than 300-years-old, providing utensils and decorative items such as plaques and tiles.

Located on Calle San Leonardo, the pottery welcomes visitors and the family are always happy to provide a demonstration of their skills, passed down through the generations.

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

21 - 27 August 2014 / Costawww.euroweeklynews.com del Sol ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

Ruta de la tapa for food fans in Almanzora valley GASTRONOMIC fans can enjoy the Ruta de la Tapa, currently taking place in the Almanzora valley.

The Ruta de la Tapa runs until December 28 and features 31 eateries across 11 municipalities in the valley. Diners can enjoy tapa dishes designed especially for the ruta before voting for their favourites. Examples of dishes include cod lollipops smothered in a pisto and nestled on a prawn sauce (Hotel La Parrilla, Albox) or medallions of morcilla served with potatoes cooked in piquillo and romero sauces (Restaurante La Piscina de Armuña, Armuña de Almanzora).

If eating isn’t enough, there is a chance to win one of three different artisan hampers containing homemade goods from across the Almanzora valley as well as a Samsung tablet. The hampers include such goods as awardwinning Seron ham, honey from Lubrin, cheeses from Bedar, beers from Velefique and olive oil from a

Only

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LOMO LOS CONCHITOS: The €1.50 dish available from Restaurante La Virgen del Saliente, Saliente, Albox. number of places in the area. Each hamper contains a minimum of eight different items.

All the participating venues will have voting cards and participants

need them stamped by six different eateries. More information and a full list of venues are available at www.miguiadeofertas.com/tapasal manzora.

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21 - 27 August 2014 / Costa del Sol www.euroweeklynews.com PROPERTY

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e ur at fe

THIS beautiful villa (126sqm) is completely maintenance friendly and features three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a private pool with very nice views! The villa is located a short distance from the village. The plot is 795m² and in the front you have parking for several cars and an automatic gate.

The front door opens into a spacious living room (lounge and dining) and is equipped with air conditioning (hot and cold) and a fireplace for winter.

Through the living room you have a passage to the covered terrace with beautiful views of the garden and pool. Besides the living room you have a spacious kitchen with a dishwasher, oven, electric hob, fridge /

Pr o f t op Br ou gh he ert tt oy y ou W by IM ee MO k ng isi rt ve Ad

Cucador, a very nice villa with beautiful mountain views

CA

RL OS

PRICE: 165,000€

MAINTENANCE FRIENDLY: The private pool and terraces have beautiful views. freezer and adjacent you have a laundry room with a washing machine and boiler. Through the laundry room you also have access to the covered terrace overlooking the garden.

On the other side of the living room you have the bedrooms and the guest bathroom. The bedrooms are equipped with air

conditioning (hot and cold) and fitted wardrobes. The master bedroom has its own en suite bathroom.

From the covered terrace you have artificial grass and the swimming pool is fully enclosed for safety. Also around the pool you have a paved sun terrace and the back garden has a terrace with a BBQ.

The villa is located just 10 minutes’ drive from the second largest city of Almeria (Huércal-Overa) and there are all kinds of shops and supermarkets

Here you can also enjoy the beautiful views of the village and mountains in the distance. Everything is finished low maintenance, so no more painting. The windows are double glazed, with shutters and mosquito nets. The villa is equipped with water, electricity, internet and telephone is possible to connect.

SPANISH property is unlikely to ever be as cheap as it is now, according to an industry expert.

The glut of hundreds of thousands of new or recently built homes on the books of Spanish banks has meant huge price reductions as they seek to shift them, and once this current stock of distressed properties is sold, it’s unlikely that “we’ll ever see these prices again.”

According to Mark Stucklin of the Spanish Property Insight website, for the last year “it has been possible to buy new property in Spain for less than it costs to build.”

“Such low prices are a once-in-acycle situation that will not be repeated again, at least not until the next boom and bust, which could take decades,” said Mr Stucklin.

He explained that banks are offering deep discounts as it is the only way to sell off much of the

Photo credit: Nick Stubbs.

Spanish property is as cheap as it’s going to get say the experts

NEWLY BUILT: A glut on the books has meant huge price reductions. distressed properties on their books, and after seven years of crisis, they have written off enough to be able to sell below replacement costs.

“Sooner or later most of the stock will have sold, after which we will never again see so much Spanish property for sale at these prices,” said

Mr Stucklin. “Once these properties have sold, there will be no new building to replace the supply of new homes on the market until prices more than double to cover building costs, land costs, and a developer’s margin. Nobody is going to build to sell at a loss.”

provided.

The coast is about a 20 min drive and there are also cosy villages and miles of sandy beaches.

Are you looking for a nice finished villa? Please contact us and together we can go and see this beautiful villa.

Tel: 0034 950 090 875/ 0034 648 505 938 info@immo-carlos.com Skype: karel.en.greet -

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BOATS / CARS / JOBS / SERVICES / PETS / BIKES / FURNITURE / PROPERTY / MOTORING / FOR SALE

AIR CONDITIONING

BOATS

CARPENTERS

COMPUTER SERVICES

ELECTRICAL

HEALTH & BEAUTY

FOR SALE

HEATING CARLOS SALIENTE PLUMBING & HEATING SERVICES. If it involves water we can help ! www.carlossaliente.com Tel.950 930 900 or 968 969 962 (226233)

INSURANCE

AIR CONDITIONING TRAINED A/C Engineer F/Gas. We now do Gas recharge for cars. We specialise in Plumbing & Heating with Gas Safe Certs. For all your Plumbing repairs, Heating repairs, A/C repairs & New installs on all. No call out charge in Mojacar. Call John on 634 342 520. (225351)

ALARMS

BUILDERS

CARS FOR SALE

ANDALUCIAN BUILDING COMPANY, see our advert on page 26. (228392)

Inford@Tox Computer Services, call Raquel on 950 633 223 (225350)

DAMP PROOFING

ANTAS BUILDING COMPANY, 40 yrs experience, building & painting, no job too small. Ric 661 075 802 (231884)

BUGS Home Services for all your replacement Windows & Doors. Tel: 600 049 515 (225300)

HAIRDRESSERS

BUSINESS OPP. DEALERSHIPS available for safety pool fencing. Only one dealership will be offered for every 100km radius. Including the only ‘No-Holes’ pool fencing system in the world suitable for rentals. Tel 952 810 443, info@lifeguardfence.com (226434)

GEN MAINTENANCE

COLLECTABLES DRAINS

BUYING or Selling a Business?

Contact Spain’s leading Business Broker, ‘Business Broker Spain.’ Free consultation and Assessment. Tel: 617 062 421 (229626)

BLINDS & SCREENS

For daily news visit www.euroweeklynews.com BUSINESS SERVICES

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Price per word: 0,42€ + IVA minimum 15 words - Discount: Book 10 weeks, get 2 weeks free - Deadline: 4pm Mondays Contact: Phone (0034) 950 472 109 • Fax (0034) 950 478 789 • email mojacar@euroweeklynews.com • www.euroweeklynews.es

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CLASSIFIEDS MOTORING

PARKING

11 - 17 December 2014 / Costa de Almería PLUMBING SERVICES

PROPERTY

KNOWLES PLUMBING. No 1 for plumbing! Central heating, solar hot water and water deposits. Tel: 950 137 197or 606 807 797 (228289)

MOTOR INSURANCE. For the most competitive quotes in English call Linea Directa on 902 123 309, you could save as much as 30% and you can transfer your existing no claims bonus. Call Linea Directa on 902 123 309 for motor insurance with a human voice in English from Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and save money now!

(200726)

PETS

INTERNET GET YOUR business noticed online! Make sure that expats in Spain can find your product, service, restaurant, bar or shop.

Contact Spain’s newest and brightest online directory TODAY. Call 952 561 245 or email serena@euroweeklynews.com for more details.

MOBILE HOMES WE BUY, Sell, Store, remove all types of mobile homes. We pay CASH and cover all of Spain.

More details call Suzi Caley 616 250 727 / 951 063 059 or email suzicaley@gmail.com (228718)

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WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance.

Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 902 123 309. (200726)

PET-COURIERS.COM – If you love your pet try us first – we are the best. Door to door service throughout Europe. Specialised vehicles – bespoke service. Full legal service including documentation if required for further information call or email us: Tel: (0034) 651 033 670 or (0034) 637 066 227.

Email: info@pet-couriers.com or www.pet-couriers.com (206497)

HONDA Rebel 250cc, 10,000km, very good condition, 500 euros.

950 472 551 (234342)

CARLOS SALIENTE PLUMBING & HEATING SERVICES offer machined boiler decals for gas water heaters ROM just 65€ Aguafuerte is not the answer! Call 950 930 900 or 968 969 962.

Email carlos.saliente@gmail .com (226233)

POOLS CERTIFIED Pool Cleaner/Handyman/Gardener/House Sitter, cheap rates. Phone Neil 642 764 741, email totalpools@out look.com (228569)

PROPERTY TO LET REMOVALS/STORAGE

PROPERTY FOR SALE

For daily news visit www.euroweeklynews.com

INSURANCE

PERSONAL

LAWYERS

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LOGS FOR SALE

PROPERTY

THREE bedroom semi-detached, 3,400m2 land. Rural area with good access. 25km from Baza. Reduced from €38,000 to €25,000. 678 527 602 (226416)

EWN

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REMOVALS/STORAGE

SPAIN - UK/UK - SPAIN. Deliveries. Best prices. Best service.

Indalo Transport. 634 336 468 / www.indalotransport.com. Find us on Facebook & Twitter.

(225342) CAR TRANSPORTER. Call for excellent rates, fully insured, professional service. 951 319 320, email move@freinternational .com / www.car-transportspain.com (215605) UK - SPAIN - Anywhere Europe! Masses of experience.

New clean vehicles. Insured with Royal Sun Alliance.

Genuinely CARING service.

FULL and part moves. ONLINE QUOTES!! www.bm ceuropean.com UK 08456 443 784 / ES 634 344 787 FIND US ON FACEBOOK!(220152)

2ND HAND FURNITURE

SOLAR ENERGY LOWEST PRICES IN SPAIN. www.solarmegastore.es (226345) SOLAR WIND POWER SOLUTIONS. Over 15 years installation experience. Established 12 years in Spain. Call Phil for competitive prices on 636 261 240 or email info@suner gyalmeria.com (228399)

www.euroweeklynews.com XXX RELAXATION

SWIMMING POOLS

¨Readers of a sensitive disposition may find some of the advertisements in this section offensive.¨

STORAGE STORAGE Solutions. Big or small, We store it all. Tel: 950 930 316 (228260)

TV & SATELLITE

SWIMMING POOLS GENECO Pool construction. Tel 950 478 086 for no obligation quote (93401)

TILING FLOOR AND WALL TILING SPECIALIST Not a jack of all trades, just a master of one! Call Steve Holman on 697 678 708 (226204)

For daily news visit www.euroweeklynews.com SITUATIONS VACANT

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

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

Maserati 2+2

MASERATI has announced that it has put into production its stunning Alfieri 2+2 concept car.

Named after Alfieri Maserati, it is to mark the car maker’s centenary. The Italian manufacturer was set up in December 1914.

The car “explores the stylistic heritage of the brand and anticipates future design trends,” said Maserati.

A sleek, Italian style 2+2, today’s Alfieri is still at the concept stage, but that will change soon, announced the car makers. The Alfieri production car should be driven out of showrooms sometime in 2016 or 2017, and is expected to be powered by either a V6 or V8 turbo engine.

Turn to Page 78

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MOTORING

Alfieri marks 100

From Page 77 Maserati CEO Harald Westersaid: “It is the year of the Alfieri, an amazing concept car built to mark the centenary, named after our founder.

“It is the year in which customers and fans celebrate our glorious past, enjoy a present in which the product range is

wider than ever, and look eagerly forward to the launch of the Maserati SUV, to be followed by the Alfieri, as the concept car goes into production.”

The concept interprets Maserati’s most iconic signatures: restyled triple air ducts on the wheel arches; the trident emblem in a central position on the front grille; the Saetta logo on the rear pillar, and forged wheels whose spoke design gives a nod to the trident profile.

The designers’ brief was simplicity and minimalism with a ‘kick of poetry’ to create the comfortably sized 2+2 seat passenger compartment while emphasising the racing nature of the brand.

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WE DO! 11 - 17 December 2014 / Costa de Almería E W N

Chelsea beaten at last as the ‘rocket’ takes off again!

Tony Matthews

International Sports A former football player and the world’s most prolific author of football books (more than 100 published), Tony is also the sports reporter for Spectrum Radio and lives in the Cabrera mountains.

Costa de Almeria

DIARY of Events Both Liverpool and Manchester City had to avoid defeat to stay in the Champions League. In fact, the Reds HAD to beat FC Basel at Anfield on Tuesday while City required at least a draw against Roma in Italy last night. The other big games in the CL this week were Barcelona-PSG, Chelsea-Sporting, Galatasaray-Arsenal and Real Madrid-Ludo Razgrad.

Tonight Celtic (away in Zagreb), Everton (v Krasnodar) and Tottenham (v Besiktas) all compete in the Europa League.

The nine PL games this weekend are: ArsenalNewcastle, BurnleySouthampton, ChelseaHull, Crystal Palace-Stoke, Leicester-Manchester City, Manchester UnitedLiverpool, Sunderland-West Ham, Swansea-Tottenham and WBA-Aston Villa.

Everton play QPR on Monday.

It’s Bolton-Ipswich, Bournemouth-Cardiff, Brentford-Blackburn and Middlesbrough-Derby in the Championship; Bristol City-Crawley, Notts CountySwindon and PNE-MK Dons in FL1, Morecambe-Luton and Wycombe-Southend in FL2 and SPL leaders Celtic

DID YOU KNOW? American 400m hurdler Ed Moses remained unbeaten for nine years, nine months and nine days, winning 99 consecutive races (1979-87).

play lowly St Mirren. Earlier this week, the semi-finals of the Johnstone Paints Trophy took place while it’s back to League Cup action next Tuesday and Wednesday evening.

Elsewhere, England played Sri Lanka in the 5th ODI yesterday (the 6th is on Saturday, the last next Tuesday)... the Cheltenham’s International race meeting starts tomorrow... the World Handball Champions are taking place in Croatia and Hungary... the men’s hockey champions trophy is under way in India... and the pool games in both the European Champions and British and Irish Cup Rugby Union competitions continue.

Past Soccer Action Last weekend’s Premiership matches ended Aston Villa 2 Leicester 1, Hull 0 WBA 0 (Tiger’s ‘keeper Alan McGregor saved Graham Dorrans’ penalty, his third in a row), Manchester City 1 Everton 0, Newcastle 2 Chelsea 1 (this was the Blues’ first defeat of the season in all competitions), QPR 2 Burnley 0, and West Ham 3 Swansea 1.

Southampton played Manchester United on Monday.

In the Championship, there were wins for leaders Derby (3-0 v Brighton), Middlesbrough (5-1 at Millwall), Bournemouth (21 at Wolves), Ipswich (4-1 v Leeds) and Watford (5-0 at Fulham) while minnows Blyth Spartans, Dover, Gateshead, Southport, Worcester City, Aldershot and Wrexham - were in the draw for the third round of the FA Cup which took place on Monday which as always, produced some intriguing ties.

Lionel Messi hit another treble in Barcelona’s 5-1 win over Espanyol Sports Shorts • Ronnie ‘The Rocket’ O’Sullivan (5-1 and 9-4 up)

Cristiano Ronaldo reached the milestone of 200 La Liga goals in 178 appearances with his recordbreaking 23rd hattrick in Real Madrid’s 3-0 win over Celta Vigo. Ronaldo has now scored in 17 consecutive home games. beat Judd Trump 10-9 in a terrific UK Snooker final.

Earlier in the competition, and despite fracturing an ankle, O’Sullivan scored a maximum 147 break for the 13th time in his career.

Said ‘The Rocket’: “the final was my toughest game ever.”

• GB’s Taekwondo Olympic gold medallist Jade Jones has been crowned world Grand Prix champion.

• GB’s men and women’s pursuit cycling teams won gold in their races at the UCI World Cup in London; Laura Trott also won individual gold and the men another Madison gold.

• Manchester United boss Luis van Gaal will have £150m (€190m) to spend

on ‘new players’ when the January transfer window opens.

• The capacity of Anfield will be increased to 53,500 for the 2016-17 season. An extra 8,500 seats will be added to Liverpool’s main stand.

• Three players, Gareth Barry, Lee Bowyer and Kevin Davies, share top spot in the Premiership yellow card League; all have 99 bookings to their name.

• Seven football clubs could face bans or fines for overspending in the transfer market. QPR and Leicester may have to pay £30m and £20m respectively.

• Last Saturday,

Chelsea’s Cesc Fabregas became the first players to cover 100 miles on a football field this season.

• Crystal Palace had the ‘honour’ last Saturday (at Tottenham) of being the first team to concede 200 free-kicks this season.

• England will play France, Colombia and Mexico in Group F at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada.

• Afghanistan and UAE will soon be playing serious Test Match cricket. The two countries have just completed a five-match ODI series in Dubai.

• Alia Atkinson has become the first Jamaican athlete (both genders) to win a world swimming title, claiming gold in the women’s 100m freestyle event in Doha in a record equalling time of 1.02.36 secs.

• Despite James Taylor’s 90, England (265 all out) lost the 4th cricket ODI against Sri Lanka by six wickets (266-4) to go 3-1 down in the series.

• The BBC Sports Personality of the Year will be revealed at the annual presentation evening this Sunday, live on TV.

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Tight finish at Marina BADGERS Golf Society enjoyed a calm, sunny day at Marina Golf. A close result in the Stableford competition saw Greg Knight claim the top prize on 38 points, with Tony Rowbottom second, also on 38. Dave Wright came third on 36, and also claimed a Nearest The Pin prize.

The Watts clan (Brian and Sheila) continue to accumulate prizes at an alarming rate - Sheila claimed two NTPs and a two; husband Brian had one NTP and a two.

Mike 664 876 995 or Andy 634 333 481.

A close match CORTIJO GRANDE’S Sunday stableford competition was well supported with a close competition won by Mike Picken from Captain David Hardy.

Organisers are delighted with the support they are getting from members and the course is still in good condition.

Patricia 666 648 295.

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SPORT

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Sport Costa de Almería’s best guide to local sport

Ballon d’Or Award The 2014 Ballon d’Or Award will go to either Messi, Ronaldo, or German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

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

It’s a first Forum win for Andy at Lorca AFTER six years of trying Andy Birch finally won his first individual Forum Golf Society event after scoring 38 points in the individual stableford competition at Lorca.

Andy has previously been successful in Pairs competitions and as part of a team, but is now confident he won’t have to wait long for more

individual success, as his 38 points still included five blobs!

Jim Bridge was second on countback from Phil Elam in third and Paul Douglas in fourth after all three players scored 36 points.

Nearest the pin prizes went to Phil Elam, Andy Birch and Paul Douglas, with normal service resumed for big hitting Pat Garrigan as he won the longest drive prize.

Forum’s upcoming fixture is on December 19 when members will play a Team Prize Scramble at Aguilon.

Call Phil Elam on 666 847 840.

MARINA MEMBERS: Some of the individual winners.

TEAM GAME: Members played in fourballs.

Marina Phoenix play individual stableford AN individual stableford at Marina Phoenix resulted in Steve Dimmock winning with 39 points. Jim Budd (35) was second and Alan Morris (33) third. In the ladies division Margaret Budd scored 32 points to take first place, followed by June Nicol (30) in second and Isobel Jones (28) in third.

The only two’s prize was won by Eddie Vaughan (17th).

Thursday’s Team Game was a 2/3, to count played in fourballs. The clear winners with 105 points were Bob Craig, Derick Dale, Steve Entwhistle and Margaret Budd. In second (100) were Les Armfield, Rod Ambrose, Alf

Taylor and Kathy Morris, followed by Kenny Nicol, Alan Morris, Don Atkins and Linda King (99) in third.

Marina Phoenix play Mondays (individual) and Thursdays (team game). Join for a €25 green fee. Ring Jim on 950 162 727 / 600 353 670 or Rosalie 950 397 117 / 697 512 882.