Euro Weekly News - Axarquia 12 - 18 February 2015 Issue 1545

ISSUE NO. 1545

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12 - 18 FEBRUARY 2015

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Dedicated to the memory of respected colleague Angus Russell Watson President visits SUSANA DIAZ, the president of Andalucia’s regional government and head of the regional PSOE socialist party, will visit Velez-Malaga on Sunday (February 15).

She is to participate in an electoral event to present municipal candidate Antonio Moreno Ferrer.

Tourism jobs A TOTAL of 34 people have registered on an employment database to work as tourist information providers at the tourism office in Almuñecar.

Football camp MALAGA FC will hold a football camp for children aged between six and 12 years old from February 23 to 27. Applications can be made via the website www.campus malagacf.com.

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Expats urged to renew their padron registration 1

EXPATS in Nerja are being warned that if they don’t renew their registration on the town’s ‘padron’ (municipal roll) they will be removed from the list and could lose out on benefits including tax discounts.

Nerja Foreigners’ Department has confirmed that foreign residents who are not registered or need to re-register need to do so before March 31 or they will be removed from the padron. Every two years all foreigners must confirm that they are still listed on the padron, otherwise they are considered as not living in the town any more.

The town hall receives around €150 per person registered on the padron every year from central and local government. Consequently, they would not figure on the population list for the town to receive grants. Also, residents who are not registered on the padron cannot benefit from certain rights, such as tax discounts.

Nerja could statistically lose up to 2,200 inhabitants if the expat community doesn’t register. This

Photo: S.Borisov/Shutterstock

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would mean a reduction of public money earmarked to provide services to the town. Foreigners can renew their padron by sending an email to the Foreigners’ Department at extranjeros@ nerja.es stating their name and NIE number, or visit the Foreigners’ Department on the ground floor.

The procedure can also be carried out in the town hall’s main reception.

Residents are requested to bring a photocopy of any kind of identification, preferably their NIE certificate, but passports, identity cards, driving licences or medical cards are also accepted.

Staff will check whether the person has to renew their padron or not and if so, the resident will simply have to sign a form.

Nerja Foreigner’s Department is open from Monday to Thursday between 10am and 1pm. The main reception is open from Monday to Friday between 8am and 2pm.

E W N 12 - 18 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

INDEX News 1 - 22 Finance 23 - 28 Letters 29 Leapy Lee 30 Daily TV 32 Time Out 34 - 35 Health & Beauty 36 - 37 Pets 40 Services 41 - 43 Classifieds 44 - 45 Motoring 47 Sport 48

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Child drowns in local reservoir A POST-MORTEM examination on the body of a three-year-old boy found in a Montes de Malaga reservoir this week has confirmed that the cause of death was drowning.

Malaga’s Legal Medicine Institute (IML) said there were no signs of violence to the body of the boy – named as Alejandro.

The Guardia Civil has confirmed that Alejandro’s stepfather, Antonio AA, is due to appear before a judge this week and has a previous criminal record for pyromania.

A vehicle belonging to Antonio has been confiscated as it was reportedly used to transport the boy from his nursery school to the reservoir where he was found, 15 kilometres away from Malaga City in the Montes de Malaga area.

Photo: Junta de Andalucia.

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SCENE OF TRAGEDY: Reservoir in Montes de Malaga.

The stepfather gave police various versions of what happened on February 9, the day Alejandro went missing. He has not confessed to any crime but told police that he had thrown Alejandro into the sea before later saying that the child had fallen into the water. He initially told police

he had lost Alejandro in a shopping centre in La Cala but later said he lost sight of the child around the area of La Cala beach.

More than 50 people, including Guardia Civil and Local Police officers, firefighters and volunteers, took part in the search for the missing boy.

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Hiking route ALMUÑECAR’S Council has organised a hiking route of medium difficulty to Guajar Fondon (Costa Tropical) on February 22. Registration can be made at the municipal sports offices (958 883 142).

Improved access ALMUÑECAR’S Council has eliminated all architectural barriers in Calle Garcia Lorca, where two public schools are located. Two ramps have been installed to help access for disabled people.

PROFESSIONALS working in the tourism field in Motril now have the chance to improve their English with new language courses launched by the town council.

These training courses are earmarked for commerce workers, hotel staff and taxi drivers, amongst other professionals, so that they can

improve the service they provide to tourists.

“The courses have been designed to eliminate the language barriers between tourist and service provider,” said mayor of the town, Luisa Garcia Chamorro.

Two teachers with degrees in English and translation have been hired by the council and will teach

in the Centro Joven, located on the bottom floor of the Tourism Office.

Each class has been tailored to the different fields the professionals work in, focusing on vocabulary that they would use in real life situations. Motril is one of the most visited regions in the Axarquia area and is highly popular with tourists.

CARTOON CREATIONS: The impressive floats at Las Fallas.

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English is to be improved

holbox/Shutterstock

Indoor pool RINCON DE LA VICTORIA has awarded the indoor pool project to public company Tragsa. With a budget of €3.8 million, the new sports facilities will cover a surface of 18,350 square metres.

WE DO! 12 - 18 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

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Theatre play

A PLAY titled Siete Lunas will take place on Sunday (February 15) at 7pm at Almuñecar’s Casa de la Cultura.

Performers are members of cultural association Ciudad Atarfe.

Romantic concert A VALENTINE’S Day concert will take place in Frigiliana’s Salon de Usos Multiples on February 14 at 8pm, featuring Duo Harpevoix with their performance titled ‘Les Chansons a’ l’amour.’

New councillor

Building renovation THE façade of the Maquinilla de Nerja building will be renovated with a budget of €45,788. The Project seeks to stop the damage produced by rain on the historic building.

NERJA’S Council has welcomed Lourdes Centurion Salas as the new councillor for Parks and Gardens, following Antonio Garcia’s resignation.

Theatre success ALMOST 18,000 spectators attended a play at Motril’s Teatro Calderon in 2014.

Culture councillor Elena Vallejo stressed the theatre’s great success, which held 106 events last year, out of which 25 were related to charity.

A CLASSIC Concert featuring J.C. Chornet and Dario Moreno will take place on Monday (February 16) at 8pm in Almuñecar’s Casa de la Cultura. Bach pieces will be performed.

Wall collapse A WALL collapsed near the Rambla de las Brujas in Motril due to strong winds on February 5. Traffic was interrupted while maintenance workers removed the wall’s broken pieces. No casualties were reported.

Half-marathon plans MAYOR of Velez-Malaga Francisco Delgado Bonilla, together with athlete Ruben Ruzafa, have announced that the town’s half marathon will take place on April 19.

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Classic Bach

A noisy month ahead for Valencia’s famous fiesta

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ALENCIA’S famous Fallas fiesta is fast approaching and given the popularity of the event with both Spaniards and foreign visitors alike, those wishing to attend this year’s festivities would be advised to start organising their trip before it’s too late.

Characterised by gigantic cartoon-ish creations and spectacular pyrotechnic displays, ‘Las Fallas’ is undoubtedly one of Spain’s noisiest and craziest fiestas, which goes some way to explaining its popularity. Visitors expecting to pop along to check out a few of the impressive ‘ninots’ (cartoon-like characters made out of plaster, papier mache, Styrofoam, etc) floats before retiring to their hotel for a relaxing evening will have to perhaps rethink their plans. Each day of Las Fallas begins with the ‘La Desperta’ (the wake-up call) that sees brass

Quote of the Week ‘If I look back I feel old, if I look forward I feel young. The second half of my life starts now,’ said actor Antonio Banderas during his acceptance speech at the Goya Awards, where he was honoured with a lifetime achievement award.

bands marching down the streets at 8am every morning, followed by revellers throwing firecrackers.

Fireworks, firecrackers and explosions are the order of the day with huge crowds keeping the entire city buzzing throughout the festival. The stars of Las Fallas are definitely the ‘ninots.’ Each neighbourhood designs and constructs their own, usually set around a theme to lampoon well-known Spanish celebrities or political figures. The most impressive part of the display is on the final night when the huge ninots are burnt to the ground.

Be warned. It may be difficult to find a place to stay during Las Fallas given its massive popularity, and visitors should start checking hotels now. The festivities take place from March 15 to 19, but there are lots of activities in the weeks running up to the main event.

CREDITlev radin / Shutterstock.com

Number of the week

27.7%

is the amount of people who will vote for new political party Podemos in the general election, according to an El Pais poll. The ruling Partido Popular got 20.9 per cent in the poll and the Socialists (PSOE) got 18.3 per cent.

Dinner for two THE Valentine’s Day message contest of Algarrobo is accepting submissions until tomorrow (February 13) at 5.30pm. Those interested can send a romantic private message to https://es-es. facebook.com/casajuventud.al garrobo to win dinner for two.

Driver dead A 38-YEAR-OLD motorcycle driver died in Motril after being involved in a collision with a car. The accident took place on the GR-16 road and the man died instantly.

And finally...

TWO regional leaders of New Generations, the youth wing of the ruling Partido Popular (PP), have resigned after being caught on camera holding a Francoist Spanish flag and giving Nazi salutes. The men claim the photo was a “joke” and taken before they took up their positions, but the photo was clearly taken in a PP office.

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OBITUARY

Angus Russell Watson 6.6.1960 – 8.2.2015 RESPECTED colleague Angus Russell Watson has been tragically taken from us.

Angus, who worked in the Euro Weekly News advertising department, died in a cycling accident on Sunday (February 8) aged 54.

In the time he spent with us he rapidly became one of the EWN family, not just respected for his integrity, but loved and appreciated for the fun and humanity he brought not only to the office, but also to the lives of those he worked with.

Typical of his sense of fun was when he turned up at the company Christmas party dressed as an Arab sheikh – the only person in fancy dress. “Well, I thought there might be a girl around, looking for a rich man,” he joked.

Angus was born in Worcester, England, on June 6, 1960. From there the family moved to Cheshire, then Woodford, and then back down to Breedon in the Midlands. On leaving home he went to Harlow College where he took a course in business studies, followed by a career in The City as a recruitment consultant.

He moved to Spain in 1999, first to the Andalucian village of Comares, where he ran an estate agency for several years. He carried on living in the Axarquia region up until his death. He is survived by his former wife Erica and their two children, Isabella, 11, and Oliver, 13, as well as sister Linzi, brother James, mother Elizabeth and father Ian Findlater Russell Watson.

The funeral will be held today (Thursday) at 4pm at Tanatorio La Esperanza, Camino de Cementerio, Velez-Malaga.

Lived life to the full Angus Watson was tragically killed whilst cycling in Benajarafe, just a few moments away from where he lived. He was fit, healthy and still very young at just 54 years old, so the news has been a devastating shock to his family, friends and the local community, who will all miss him very dearly.

Angus always lived life to the full and gave it his all in everything he did. He was well loved by a great many people and he had a sharp sense of humour that seemed to resonate with both the English and Spanish alike, so a smile or a laugh was never far away. His last night alive had been a happy one, spent with his loving children Oli and Izzie, before he set off for his morning bike ride when the terrible accident occurred. He had also been with his family back in the UK in the weeks just prior to this, a time which had made both him and them very happy, so before he passed away he had been with the ones he loved the most.

Angus’s brother James Russell Watson on behalf of all the family.

SENSE OF FUN: Angus as a sheikh at the EWN Christmas party.

A deeply respected friend When Angus walked into our lives he came as a colleague, but by the time he was tragically taken away from us, he was a deeply respected friend.

He not only proved to be a total professional at all times but also a friend who really cared about the EWN and taught everyone here a huge amount.

He brought his great experience and talent to the office, but to us personally, the Euesdens, he taught humility.

The biggest lesson of all was that there is no argument that is worth pursuing to the ends of the Earth.

He became a friend and mentor. His sad passing has

left a gaping hole in our lives, not just professionally, but personally; one that we feel will be impossible to fill.

We know that the great loves of his life were his two children and he had the greatest admiration and affection for his estranged wife, Erica.

Angus, although you are no longer with us, you will never be forgotten.

We all thank you for the invaluable lessons that you taught us in the short time you were with us. We were truly blessed to have met such a remarkable man.

Michel and Steven Euesden

A fond farewell from colleagues A great man. Angus was a great man with a fantastic sense of humour and will be greatly missed by us all. We both started working at EWN around the same time and I have worked alongside Angus from the beginning. He was one of the most intelligent men I’ve known. He was always there to offer support and now he has gone, a big hole has been left in our team and our hearts.

He always had a cracking story to tell on a Friday afternoon over a beer. He won’t be there with us any more but certainly will not be forgotten; we’ll be having a drink or two for him this Friday.

Reece Benson

Loved you like a father.

Goodbye, my friend, I loved you like a father!

You will be very missed in my heart but I know you will be looking in on me from time to time. I will make you proud and I will remember all of the wise things you told me. I will pass them onto my boys. I will not see Oliver go wrong, don’t worry, and your children can count on me for anything.

Love you, Angus, within all of our hearts you will remain loved.

It’s not goodbye but as Del Boy would say, it’s Bonjour!

Benjamin Wickham and family

When Angus first walked into the office I wasn’t quite sure what to make of him. He was the consummate professional - first in and last out, and focused on his task.

With his great sense of humour he soon won over the team, and also made him extremely popular with all our advertising clients.

Every day was brightened simply by having a chat with Angus. He always had a story to tell that raised a laugh. He has been taken away from us shockingly suddenly, and my thoughts are with his children and all his family. Farewell, Angus, you will always be remembered.

Dilip Kuner I met Angus when he started with the EWN family and he himself was a family man who always had a story to tell. His passion and knowledge on cars and motorbikes was amazing as was his humour.

He was always talking about his family and was so proud of his children.

I still cannot believe the loss.

It was an honour to work together with Angus as a team and he will never be forgotten as a Brother in the Craft and a friend in life…

Rest In Peace.

Esteban Molina Walsh

In loving memory of Angus Russell Watson from all the Euro Weekly News team. You will never be forgotten.

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Advertising feature

Properties outside the management plan ‘viviendas fuera de ordenación’

By Velasco Lawyers WHEN you buy a property you have to be aware of a situation that affects hundreds of thousands of houses in Spain.

These are properties that are considered ‘outside the property management plan’ (in Spanish ‘viviendas fuera de ordenación’).

Properties are in this situation for two possible reasons: 1) The property was originally built with a legal construction licence, but later on, because of new urban or rural planning changes the conditions for occupation, construction or other parameters make the building non-compliant with the new regulations. For example, a single house built in an area that later on is declared a Natural Park (new constructions are not allowed in Natural Parks).

2) The property was built

BE AWARE: The situation affects thousands of houses in Spain. without a legal licence, but the local administration did not initiate urban disciplinary proceedings within the legal

time-frame preventing any subsequent penalty.

For example, a house built illegally without a licence on rural land

and more than six years have passed since the house was finished. Within the six-year period, local administrations could potentially issue disciplinary proceedings and probably a demolition order as well.

Within these two circumstances properties can be partially or completely outside the property management plan. Partially means that only a subsection of the property breaks the regulations. For example, if the urban plan allows only two storey buildings, in the case of a three-storey house, only the ‘last’ floor would be outside planning and therefore the property is partially outside the management plan.

‘Fuera de ordenación’: What does it mean practically?

Local administrations in

practice want the elimination of these constructions. Therefore, there are a large number of restrictions that can vary according to the region where the building is located.

In general: 1) Property owners can only make conservation, hygiene or decoration alterations. It is strictly forbidden to modernise, improve or extend the building.

2) In cases where the building is destroyed by fire or collapses, any reparation work will have to comply with the new regulation. Sometimes this will imply that the house cannot be used any more.

It is possible to buy or sell a property outside the management plan, but this condition will dramatically affect its market value.

Additionally, probably no financial institution will ever provide a mortgage.

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Neighbours can’t bear noise of padel courts RESIDENTS of the Añoreta neighbourhood in Rincon de la Victoria have raised complaints about the noise caused by the padel courts near their homes.

Around 200 neighbours have been suffering the high level of noise produced by padel players in the five courts, which were opened in 2012.

“The noise is unbearable, and it goes on between 12 and 14 hours per day, seven days a week,” said Jose Maria Ramirez, head

of the Association for Health and Environment in Paraiso del Sol, the affected neighbourhood. “The lights are also very powerful, as if we were living inside a football pitch.”

So far, three legal complaints and a lawsuit have been pursued, but the facilities are still operating.

“We have collected signatures, requested noise analysis and other studies on light contamination, and the council continues to do absolutely nothing,” Mr

Ramirez explained.

The last response received from the town’s government was in August 2014 when they assured residents the noise levels had been analysed and did not surpass the authorised limits.

However, the floodlights used were too powerful for the facilities, and it was ordered they should be reduced by half.

“The owners appealed the decision and the lamps went back to their full wattage,” said Mr Ramirez.

Mayor of the town, Francisco Salado, said he was aware of complaints, but has added that other residents in the area have “congratulated” the council on opening the courts.

“We cannot make everyone happy. We have urged owners to take appropriate measures and, if they don’t, we will have to act accordingly.”

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Expats: bystanders to national issues

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T’S interesting to watch the growth of Spanish political party Podemos and listen to the arguments from both sides as to how effective the party would be if elected to power in this election year.

A poll this week shows they are out in front in terms of popularity, and they are the only ones to have smashed the two-party system that Spain has had for decades. Podemos are riding on the back of a bad 2014 for the ruling Partido Popular (PP), who have been hit by financial scandal after financial scandal. People are sick of corrupt politicians and want change.

But are the Socialists (PSOE) the answer with their suave new leader Pedro Sanchez? Or are Podemos - the new kids on the block - going to take the reins? Detractors say that Podemos are spouting all the right rhetoric that the average Spaniard wants to hear,

but lack the experience to run a country, especially one with as many complicated issues as Spain has - high unemployment, economic uncertainty, the Catalan issue, animal rights, etc.

So will the people stick with PP, the tried and tested stalwarts with plenty of political nous? Or will they go for change? It remains to be seen and it’s unfortunate that expats don’t get a chance to vote in Spanish national elections (unless, of course, they have given up their British citizenship in favour of Spanish).

Whichever party wins this year’s general election is going to have an impact on the hundreds of thousands of expats who live in Spain, but unfortunately, most of us are simply bystanders in this particular drama.

Let’s hope that whoever wins will have the best interests of Spain - our home - at heart.

Have your say and leave your comments at www.euroweeklynews.com

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Boko Haram threat halts NGO work THE Centre for Peace Documentation (Ahimsa), based in Velez-Malaga, has been forced to interrupt its projects in Cameroon due to a high risk of kidnapping.

Head of Ahimsa, Antonio Ruiz, announced on February 9 that the terrorist group Boko Haram represented a threat to the association, which had been banned from the area, and explained that the group would be relocated.

Mr Ruiz also stressed that Ahimsa had enough funds

Safety to improve at port SAFETY measures are to be improved at Motril Port following a devastating fire last week.

More than 6,000 tonnes of biomass which were stacked at the inner harbour caught fire and caused damage totalling €500,000.

Head of Motril Port Authorities, Francisco Alvarez de la Chica, explained the new safety measurements would include the placement of new thermal cameras which can observe and control the temperature of stockpiled biomass.

Other safety measures would include limiting how long this sort of material stays in the inner harbour and establish protocols to improve the response of safety workers in case of fire.

The investigation, which is still being conducted, showed that the blaze was caused due to auto combustion of a pile of biomass, which then affected another pile nearby.

The flames were fanned by strong winds of up to 100 kilometres per hour.

The fire was controlled but took around six days to be totally extinguished.

to be able to finish the ongoing projects, but explained that the money would not be used until they had found a place to keep investing with safety

guarantees.

Finally, the NGO has decided to stop collecting members’ monthly donations and has called for anonymous supporters

to stop transferring money to the NGO’s accounts until they are able to resume projects.

Ahimsa has been carrying out charity and

cooperation projects in small towns in Cameroon, such as Ouzal and Zheleved, where a farm, a secondary school and several wells have been

constructed. In addition, it launched scholarship programmes for students and teachers and projects to provide the area with electricity.

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A Valentine celebration in Nerja YOU don’t need to be young to celebrate St Valentine’s Day in Nerja.

Senior Citizens in the town will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a special party tomorrow (Friday February 13).

Nerja’s Council has organised an afternoon snack with dance and live music by band Pacoyo.

Tickets can be collected from 8am today (February 12) at the office located on the bottom floor of the town hall.

Head of the Senior Citizens’ Department, Inocencia Quintero, explained that the party will be held a day before so that the whole community can watch and even participate in the Carnival’s parade scheduled for February 14.

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Road sweeper sinks into the pavement A SMALL stretch of Salobreña’s promenade has caved in under the weight of a road sweeper.

The incident occurred on February 9, approximately 100 metres from the mouth of the Guadalfeo river, when a sweeper machine belonging to cleaning company Cespa sank into the pavement after a section collapsed.

It is believed that the damage caused by last week’s heavy rains and sea erosion had left the pavement unsupported, becoming unstable and thus collapsing.

Fortunately, the machine’s driver did not suffer any injuries.

Mayor of Salobreña, Gonzalo Fernandez Pulido, has once again pleaded for help from the central government to repair the severe damage to the town’s promenade, the cost of which is estimated at €250,000.

NEWS EXTRA

Encouraging tourism MALAGA City was present at Salon des Vacances in Brussels, the main tourism fair in Belgium, where Andalucia held a stand to promote the area. A total of 19,986 Belgian tourists stayed in Malaga hotels in 2014.

Jazz ensemble THE Ytres Suloens Jass Ensemble brings their world tour to Nerja on February 19.

The famous Norwegian band will play at the Cultural Centre in Nerja at 8pm.

CAVED IN: The promenade collapsed under the weight of the road sweeper.

Photography exhibition AN EXHIBITION of photography

by Jesus Dominguez titled ‘The Illustrated Tribe, The World of Malaga’ opens tomorrow, Friday February 13, at 8pm at the Contemporary Art Centre in Malaga.

Two new funeral parlours TORROX Council has begun the paperwork for the construction of two new funeral parlours.

The new facilities will be close to the cemetery in Torrox-Pueblo and the former water treatment plant in El Morche.

All companies are welcome to participate in the public tender to carry out one or both projects.

“It is obvious there is a necessity for these services in our municipalities,” said Mayor Francisco Muñoz.

“Currently, every time a resident dies, their families are forced to organise the funeral at the facilities of neighbouring towns.

“Residents have been demanding the construction of a new funeral parlour for a long time and we have been working towards its achievement since 2011.”

TOWN HALL: Now has funding for future projects.

A surplus for Rincon council

RINCON DE LA VICTORIA Council has announced it finished 2014 with a surplus of €5.7 million.

The news was shared by mayor of the town, Francisco Salado, who said: “We have worked hard to reorganise the municipal accounts to channel them towards economic recovery and sustainability.”

This surplus left from

2014 will mean the Council won’t have to turn to banks to fund future projects, and thus preventing a generation of new debt.

“It is the third year that our accounts have finished with a surplus,” said the mayor, who added that the benefit would be used on social programmes, street renovations, and other improvement work.

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Man arrested for reporting fake theft A 33-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested in Velez-Malaga for allegedly defrauding an insurance company.

National Police officers started the investigation after the man reported someone had broken into his home in December 2014.

The alleged victim gave a thorough list of items that he claimed had been stolen from his property.

However, a few days later he attended the police station again because he said he had noticed more items missing.

The investigation confirmed that a part of

the objects claimed missing were still inside his home and had not been stolen.

He explained that €20,000 in cash had been stolen from him and his insurance company would not refund the money, and so tried to recover it by claiming missing objects for which he would be refunded.

Youths take to microphones in Nerja for radio workshop NERJA’S Youth Department has launched a radio workshop for

residents aged between 14 and 35 years old.

Head of the depart-

ment, Sandra Jimena, explained that the group would be formed with a maximum of 10 participants who are interested in improving their communication skills. According to Ms Jimena, the workshop has been conceived to make the radio a more approachable media for young people, so that they can express themselves and their ideas through it.

The workshop’s theory sessions will take place on Mondays between 7.30pm and 9.30pm and will be conducted by CAUCE (Communication Services with Social Vision) at the Youth Information Centre.

The practical lessons will be held at Radio Juventud, which has

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Attacker identified THE Guardia Civil in Salobreña have indentified the man who allegedly attacked another with a machete on February 3.

According to information released by the police, the officers are waiting for the victim to issue a lawsuit against his attacker to be able to pursue legal action.

The victim and his attacker were both homeless men who got involved in a fight for unknown reasons in front of a supermarket in Avenida del Mediterraneo.

The victim sustained a head injury from the knife, and taken to Motril Hospital.

NEWS EXTRA

Musical theatre play RADIO SKILLS: To help youths express themselves. offered its premises for the course.

Those interested in participating can sign up at the Youth Information Centre, located at Calle

Cristo, 12, first floor, or at 952 526 916, or juventud@nerja.es.

Minors will have to have permission from their parents or guardians.

Spanish airport strikes called off as deal reached TRADES unions have called off 27 days of strikes which had been announced for airport workers, as an agreement has been reached.

Comisiones Obreras union representatives declared that the strikes had been cancelled as the Aena airport management company had given guarantees that working conditions and jobs would not be affected by plans to partially privatise a

number of airports.

Yet protests were still planned for yesterday (Wednesday) against the partial privatisation of Aena airports, in Madrid and at airports across the country.

The two main unions for airport workers had announced 27 days of strikes between February and August as they feared that working conditions and safety would be affected by the entry of private capital into the company.

THE Auditorium Villa de Salobreña will host on Saturday (February 14) a musical theatre play titled ‘Un Milagro Para Teodora,’ featuring company Garnata.

The event will take place at 7pm and tickets are €5.

Bike day NERJA will celebrate ‘El dia del pedal’ (Bicycle Day) on February 28, a parade where residents will be showing off their bikes and prizes will be given in different categories. Inscriptions open February 20.

Fatal accident A 17-YEAR-OLD motorcyclist died in Malaga City’s Calle Pacifico after crashing into a lorry at 7.45am.

Witnesses said that the lorry belonged to Limasa municipal cleaning company.

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Break out the spades STUDENTS at Manuel Laza Palacio Primary School in Rincon de la Victoria took part in a reforestation programme at Parque Las Viñas.

More than 50 students from Year Four planted 200 native trees including carob trees, pines, holm oaks and cork oaks, donated by Malaga’s provincial garden centre.

“It is necessary to invest in the student’s environmental awareness, as well as teach them the importance of recycling and water saving,” said the mayor, Francisco Salado, who also attended the event.

Other local schools will also follow the programme.

Switching on to savings AN ENERGY plan for Velez-Malaga is expected to reduce the public bill by €100,000 per year.

The plan has also been designed to contribute to the optimisation of environmental resources and could be paid off in a period of just seven years, according to Concepcion Labao, Head of the Urbanism and New Technologies Department.

A total of €700,000 will have to be spent by the council to launch the programme, which would affect different public buildings including the town hall, the Fernando Ruiz Hierro sports centre, the indoor pool, the Teatro del Carmen, Torre del Mar’s indoor pool, and the Local Police station, among others.

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Job search support in Salobreña SALOBREÑA Town Hall now has a specific section to assist and guide unemployed people in their quest to find a job.

Two employment

counsellors will offer coaching from Mondays to Fridays between 8am and 3pm at the office located on the second floor of Salobreña Town Hall.

The service has already been implemented in Almuñecar and Albuñol and in the past year a career development professional would visit Salobreña once

a week to advise residents.

Due to the great response the service received, the council was encouraged to create a permanent office, which

will not only provide services to Salobreña residents but also to people from Molvizar, Itrabo, Los Guajares and Velez de Benaudalla.

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NEWS

Join Frigiliana’s photography day PHOTOGRAPHY enthusiasts in Axarquia are being asked to participate in the second photography day, ‘Villa de Frigiliana’, on Saturday, February 28.

Both amateur and professional photographers are invited to take part in a walk around the town to capture its most

attractive points of interest.

Registration is not necessary and those interested can attend the Casa de la Cultura at 10am, where an introductory event conducted by Tourism Councillor, Maria Jose Caravaca, will take place.

At 10.30am, there will be a group breakfast and after that, a guided tour around the town, where all participants will be given tricks and tips from expert photographers.

The group will hop on to 6pm, except on the tourist train at around February 20 and 26 and 1.30pm, which will take March 13, when them around the historic inspections will only be centre.

Participants have the undertaken during the chance to submit their morning session.

Motorbikes must pictures in a contest on undergo their first ITV Facebook, where users will inspection three years after vote for their favourite registration, and every two pictures on the page years after that, according ‘Frigiliana Ayer y Hoy’.

The winner will receive a to current legislation.

More information can be €50 coupon to spend at participating stores. requested at 902 702 727.

Mobile motorbike test unit in Nerja A MOBILE unit for vehicle technical inspection (ITV) will visit Nerja to provide the service to motorbike owners who require it.

On February 18, 19, 20, 25 and 26, and again on March 11 and 13, the unit will be placed at the area of the flea market, near the Avenida de la Constitucion.

The service will be available between 8.50am and 2.30pm and from 4pm

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NEWS EXTRA

BMX test ALMUÑECAR will host the first Test Series BMX bike competition on Sunday (February 15) at 12pm in El Pozuelo. The event is being organised by Club Show Time BMX and Andalucian Cycling Federation.

Tango night TOMORROW (Friday February 13) a Tango Night will be held in Auditorium Villa de Salobreña at 9pm.

First aid NERJA’S Youth Department has launched first aid, drugs and alcohol awareness courses for volunteers from the Local Service for Nightlife Attention in Nerja (SLAM).

Science talk A LECTURE on Electromagnetic and Radioactive contamination will be given tomorrow (Friday February 13) at 7.30pm in the Casa de la Cultura in Almuñecar.

NEWS

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‘Seed bomb’ workshops at new organic market AXARQUIA has its first permanent organic market at the El Algarrobo Garden Centre in La Viñuela.

The market will be open to the public every Saturday, between 10am and 1pm, inside the garden centre’s facilities. It will include organic and local products such as bread, oil, jams, vegetables, fruit,

cakes, chocolate and even tapas.

In addition, it will offer natural cosmetics, handicrafts, live music and workshops for all ages.

“The idea of organising a permanent market in the area was born due to the great acceptance that other markets held in our centre have experienced; for instance, the

Provincial Gathering of Seed Exchange, Biodiversity and Sustainable Agriculture,” said one of the garden centre’s representatives, and creator of the market, Maria Lavao.

Children will have the chance to take part in activities like vegetable garden workshops and - extremely popular among

New balustrade to improve seafront safety ALMUÑECAR’S Paseo Prieto Moreno (La Caletilla) now has a brand new balustrade as renovation works in the area have been completed.

The council’s maintenance services have resolved a problem which concerned the area’s residents and visitors regarding the tourist attraction, as the structure was in a very bad condition and represented a hazard.

Plans covered the

replacement of rusty bolts which held the balustrade in place and the addition of new granite pilasters, along a stretch of 20 metres.

youngsters - the creation of ‘seed bombs’, small sacks filled with clay, soil and seeds, which explode when thrown on the ground.

“The idea is for families to spend an enjoyable morning in which, apart from buying and tasting products, they are able to attend workshops, talks and conferences, as well as enjoy live music in a natural landscape,” said Lavao.

El Algarrobo Garden Centre is in front of the crossroads at Canillas de Aceituno, by the A-356.

RENOVATION: The balustrade under repair

Advertising feature

Steps to buying a property

By Lex Iuris I WOULD like to write about the usual process when purchasing a property in Spain: 1. Reservation - This is a payment usually made to the real estate agent in order to take the property off the market until the legal investigation of the property comes back clear to ensure the property has no charge or any other issue with the legality of it. The investigation will be through the Land Registry, Town Hall and Rates Department via your solicitor.

2. Private Contract In the reservation

contract it will state that the Private Contract needs to be signed within a set period of time, after the investigation has been completed.

This is a very important stage as it is when vendor and purchaser will have no way out of the agreement without incurring any damages.

3. Completion - This is the final stage where you pay the rest of the money and get the keys for the property. This needs to be signed before a notary and it will be done on the date previously agreed to in the Private Contract. (It will be very important to

apply for the NIE number prior to completion as it will need to be in place by this time.)

I must stress that the process detailed above is NOT the law, it is just the usual process here in this area when purchasing a property but it can be modified by skipping any of the steps. For example, you can always go straight to completion but the process is there to protect you and incur consequences to those who go back on any agreement with you.

For more information, and contact details, see advert alongside.

Big store returns to VelezMalaga MORE than 5,000 square metres of Velez-Malaga’s business park have been transferred by the council to Spanish supermarket chain Coviran.

The agreement, signed with Coviran by Mayor Francisco Delgado, is the culmination of a series of meetings working towards the return of the chain, which left the Axarquia capital in May of 2011 to transfer its main headquarters to Casabermeja.

The reason behind the departure was the impossibility of creating bigger facilities in a different area of VelezMalaga, and the delay in urban planning paperwork.

The council is hoping to recover a portion of the chain’s former land in exchange for the newly transferred area.

The council has said it will construct subsidised housing if the project is approved by the chain’s owners.

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NEWS

NERJA HOTELS: Requesting live outdoor music in the summer months.

Let the music play HOTELS should be allowed to host outside music events in Nerja.

That is the call from the town’s Municipal Government Group which has put forward a motion asking for permission to be given.

The motion is to be discussed in the next plenary session and is set to ask the Junta de Andalucia regional government to modify the laws that rule outdoor activities for hotels around Andalucian tourist destinations.

The current regulations only allow live music indoors at hotels and not on their private terrace, at any time of the day.

Hotel representatives say clients do not want to stay inside during the summer and

they have proposed establishing seasonal permission for music between 8pm and midnight.

“Considering the great importance that the hotel industry represents for the town producing the most jobs - the regulation of these outdoor activities is necessary, always, but we must try to combine tourist leisure with the area’s residents’ rest needs,” said Commerce councillor, Nieves Atencia.

The proposals may be welcomed by the hotels but could run into problems with residents. A similar proposal was made four years ago, but the council did not receive an answer from the Junta de Andalucia.

- 18 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical WE12DO!

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NEWS

Police run anti-fraud courses in Axarquia NATIONAL POLICE will offer courses to senior citizens and vulnerable people in Motril to help them avoid becoming victims of theft and fraud.

“Users of senior day centres, and leisure and free time centres for disabled people will have the chance to attend these talks,” said head of the Social Services Department, Angeles Lopez Cano.

“Senior citizens are the most vulnerable community when it comes to frauds and scams, as they do not perceive the risk and trust people more, and thus we need to promote these sorts of talks to protect them from possible crimes,” added Ms Lopez.

Head of Citizens’ Safety at Motril police station, Jose Antonio Romacho, explained the main advice

given was to pay more attention to suspicious people around banks, especially during the time of the month when pensions are given, and to try to take someone with them when withdrawing money from banks.

National Police officer, Francisco Cazalilla, said fake gas operator frauds are still quite prevalent, and reminded residents that the sort of reviews they often claim to be carrying out usually take place every five years, and the company only attends the home when it is called by the client, not the other way around.

He also alerted citizens of the risks of returning missed phone calls from numbers starting with digits 803, 805, 806, 807.

Talks will begin on Monday, February 16 in the Centro de Las Angustias (10am), Andalucia-Calle Ancha (Tuesday, February 17, 10am), La ZafraAlamos (Wednesday, February 18, 10.30am), Altamar (Thursday, February 19, 10.15am), Rompeolas (Tuesday, February 24, 11am) and Puntalon (Thursday, 26 February, 6.15am).

The talk at the centre for disabled people will take place in March.

RENOVATION: A visit to see the improvements.

Upgrade begins on Motril fire station MOTRIL fire station is undergoing renovation work to deal with, among other problems, a damp and dripping roof.

Mayor of the town, Luisa Garcia Chamorro, visited the station to see the improvements in person, together with the councillor for Safety, Manuel Ballesteros.

“The new station will answer the requests submitted by the staff themselves, requests regarding the safety that we want to grant our firefighters,” said Ms Garcia.

With a budget of €75,000, the project was awarded to company Coronel JEHMA and CEBRIAN and plans include the extension and renovation of the station’s kitchen and the repair work on the leaking roof.

In addition, the electricity system will undergo comprehensive renovations and the warehouse will be waterproofed.

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NEWS

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Fines for speeding to apply EU-wide BRITISH holidaymakers caught speeding on Spanish roads could soon be tracked down and fined under new EU rules expected to come into force this year.

The new measures could result in motorists caught by speed cameras while in their own car abroad receiving fines sent to their UK address or being pursued through UK courts if they don’t pay up.

According to MailOnline, drivers caught by speed cameras while in their own cars abroad currently cannot be traced as there is no system for foreign police to track them down. Foreign motorists can be traced if they are driving a hire car while abroad, but not if they are using their own car.

But the proposed changes could be made EU law by a bill that will apply to all member states from May this year.

It would see motorists pursued for speeding, running a red light, using a mobile phone or drink or

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Motorists can now be traced. drug driving. Drivers will receive a letter for payment in their own language from the police authorities in the country the offence was committed.

Spanish MEP and the EU Parliament negotiator on the issue, Ines Ayala Sender, said that the new legislation could cut road deaths by 50 per cent. “Citizens are, of course, never thrilled to receive a letter telling them they

have been caught committing a traffic offence, but they do welcome the fact that everyone in the EU will be treated equally, no matter where their vehicle is registered,” she said.

The bill will also apply to European drivers caught speeding while in the UK. If approved, the bill will apply from May, but the UK will have two years to enforce the new law.

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E W N 12 - 18 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical COSTA BLANCA NORTH

Wedding do A BRAWL involving 50 people broke out in Aspe after police told three inebriated wedding guests not to drive. Two officers were later fined for ‘excessive use’ of truncheons to end the fight.

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

No profit ALICANTE City’s town plan (PGOU) is to be redrawn. Landowners affected by the original, which was never officially approved, will not be compensated as they had not acquired indemnifiable rights.

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

Stolen drains MORE than 800 drain covers were stolen from Alicante City streets in the last year, costing the city thousands to replace and endangering motorists and pedestrians.

Foiled robbery TWO people have been arrested for trying to steal 45 rolls of irrigation hoses from Pilar de la Horadada. Police foiled the theft of agricultural equipment valued at €3,375.

Broke businesses FOUR bankruptcies were processed in January in the Murcia Region, down from 14 in January 2014. The month saw 237 new companies created.

Exchange visit TWENTY students from Devon in the UK were on an exchange visit to Cartagena’s Los Molinos school to practise their Spanish.

THE body of a 55-year-old man has been found inside a pipe in Calle Josep Roig (Palma). National Police believe the man may have committed suicide.

Explanations needed

No takers

IBERDROLA is pursuing the council at Tavernes, near Gandia, for irregularities in the new police station’s electricity supply.

There is neither a meter nor a contract, the energy company said.

Body found

THE Popular Culture Advisor of Mallorca Provincial Council has given the green light to the project seeking to name the Ball Dels Cossiers festivities in Manacor a ‘Festivity of Cultural Interest’.

THE underground economy creates one in every 10 new jobs in Alicante Province.

Cross-referencing official figures revealed that of 27,000 new employees last year, only 24,000 were registered with Social Security.

Nick nicked

MALLORCA

Cultural interest

Black mark

NO bids were submitted for the contract to run Villena’s bus service which includes free journeys for pensioners. The contract will be revised and advertised again, the town hall said.

NEWS DESK

LIGHTING UP: People are being penalised for breach of the smoking ban.

Smoking fines generate funds INSPECTORS of the three health districts in Almeria have opened 234 penalty cases during 2014 for breach of the smoking ban.

The smoking fines vary from individual fines for people smoking in prohibited areas such as schools and health centres, to business owners who have not imposed the ban on their premises. Inspections are carried out in response to direct complaints and at random by inspectors who not only check for smoking ban breaches but

also for any other issues related to public health. Of the 234 cases, 80 were resolved positively and the Department of Health has raised €34,373 via fines.

Experts and scientific societies estimate that it costs the Spanish public and private health systems €15 million per year in treating smoking-related diseases. The prevalence of smoking in Almeria remains high with 42.9 per cent of men and 30.5 per cent of women smoking despite the anti-smoking legislation.

SOCIALIST party PSOE in Muro has requested the town’s mayor, Marti Fornes, to explain the reasons behind the discharge of chlorine into the town’s water supply system registered last week.

Religious trip ONE HUNDRED Mallorca residents have gone on a pilgrimage to Rome to commemorate the 700th anniversary of Mallorca-born martyr Ramon Llull’s death.

COSTA DEL SOL

Raising awareness ESTEPONA driving schools are collaborating with the council to raise awareness amongst future drivers of the dangers of drinking alcohol and getting behind the wheel and to hammer home the fact that it is the main cause of traffic accidents.

Concert announced

Hunters fined

Generous donation

EIGHT men have been prosecuted in Elche for hunting threatened birds in El Hondo natural park. They have been fined €1,440 and banned from hunting for two years.

OLULA DEL RIO’S Soluciones Go On donated 10 per cent of a month’s takings from its design and print business to the local food bank. The company is comprised of local youths.

PABLO ALBORAN will be giving a concert in Torremolinos at El Pozuelo football stadium on August 1 as part of his Terral Tour 2015. Tickets priced at €30 are available from the town hall’s cultural department or online.

COSTA DE ALMERÍA

Fighting back

Encouraging tourism

MEMBERS of the security forces have been helping women in Albox with self-defence tips and techniques. The free two-day course was paid for by the town hall and the province.

MALAGA City was present at Salon des Vacances in Brussels, the main tourism fair in Belgium, where Andalucia had a stand to promote the area. A total of 19,986 Belgian tourists stayed in Malaga hotels in 2014.

Four fined TWO brothers of matador Manuel Ruiz and two more individuals have been fined €180 each for brawling during a bullfight on August 30, 2014.

Disability gains MINISTER for Equality, Health and Social Policy, Maria Jose Sanchez Rubio, said the future law, Rights and Care for People with Disabilities, will ensure the 537 jobs in centres across Almeria are safe.

Culture for the young MORE than 5,000 primary and secondary students are participating in the new ‘Educabanda’ programme in Almeria City.

The programme is designed to promote culture amongst younger residents through music.

Fatal accident A SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD motorcyclist died in Malaga City’s Calle Pacifico after crashing into a lorry. Witnesses said that the lorry belonged to the Limasa municipal cleaning company.

For more local news from our regions see www.euroweeklynews.com … EWN top for all the news from Spain.

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S CANDINAVIAN P RESS

EUROPEAN PRESS

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Stories making headlines in Europe

GERMAN PRESS Economic growth

BRITISH PRESS Combating piracy DENMARK: The Danish Foreign Ministry has announced a new threeyear strategy for fighting piracy, moving to the coast of Nigeria for the first time.

EU jobs DENMARK: The number of EU citizens taking jobs in Denmark increased by 15 per cent between 2013 and 2014.

Rubbish plans DENMARK: The government has introduced a 72-initiative strategy to combat the amount of rubbish produced by companies and citizens in Denmark.

Popular again NORWAY: Nora and Lucas were the most popular baby names in Norway in 2014. They were also the favourites in 2012.

Sunbed ban NORWAY: A health institute has called for a ban on sunbeds, arguing that their popularity in the often overcast country has led to a large increase in skin cancer incidence.

Snow record SWEDEN: A 50-yearold snowfall record has been broken in Lulea. The city airport measured 113 centimetres of snow, two centimetres more than the 1966 record.

Bad area SWEDEN: The Tensta district of Stockholm has been deemed the most unsafe residential area in Sweden.

Churchill movie A NEW movie based on Winston Churchill is set to be filmed. ‘Darkest Hour’ will be undertaken by the team behind the Stephen Hawking biopic ‘The Theory of Everything.’ It will be focused on the Dunkirk evacuation.

Escape fund ONE in 10 Britons have an ‘escape fund’ in case they decide to leave a partner. The average amount stashed is £7,500 (€10,000) and men (11 per cent) are more likely to have a fund than women (8 per cent).

but has only recently been classified as a new species.

Bovril birthday ICONIC British drink Bovril has released special limited edition vintage-style jars to celebrate its 125th anniversary this year. The ‘fluid beef’ drink jars will feature retro Bovril adverts from the 1920’s to the 1960’s.

Eric Kilby/flickr

Car sales up

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING: German wins 38th run up skyscraper.

RUSSIAN PRESS POLICE in Moscow claim there are only around eight mob bosses currently residing in the city, with most of the 44 registered bosses having left the city or been imprisoned. Nine bosses were brought to justice last year.

Formula E THE new Formula E electric car racing championship will hold a Moscow race in June on city streets near the Kremlin. The race will be the ninth and penultimate round of this year’s championship.

Man bites cop A 19-YEAR-OLD man in southern Russia is facing up to five years in prison

Photo: Michael Norgate/flickr

GERMAN historians have claimed in a new book that more than 400,000 children were fathered by soldiers of the four Allied powers that occupied Germany after the Second World War.

THE 38th annual run up the Empire State Building has been won by a German.

Christian Reidl ran up the Manhattan skyscraper in a time of 10 minutes and 16 seconds.

Attenborough’s hawkweed

Mob crackdown

War babies

Building run

NEW vehicle registrations recorded the highest January sales figures this year since 2007. A total of 164,856 new cars were sold throughout the UK during January. The Ford Fiesta was the most popular, followed by the Vauxhall Corsa and Ford Focus.

A WILDFLOWER discovered in Wales has been named after TV presenter Sir David Attenborough.

Attenborough’s hawkweed was found a decade ago

THE European Commission has predicted that the German economy is set to grow by 1.5 per cent in 2015.

for drunkenly trying to set a German Shepherd dog on police officers and then biting police himself. Officers had to seek medical treatment for their injuries.

Tiger attack A HUNTER in the Khabarovsk region has survived a tiger attack, escaping with only a broken collar bone and bruising. He had been checking hunting traps when the tiger attacked, but made it to the safety of a winter hut.

Aspiring poet RUSSIA’S Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has released a series of poems exploring the themes of emigrating and the impossibility of ever truly leaving Russia behind. He previously published a series of poems in 2012.

FORMULA E: Moscow-bound for June road race.

Measles woe AN outbreak of measles mainly in Berlin - has scuppered the health authorities’ hopes of eradicating the disease by 2015.

Jobs cut SIEMENS are to cut 7,800 jobs worldwide, including 3,300 in Germany, the engineering giant announced this week.

Drone problem REPRESENTATIVES from every German state are to meet in May to discuss the problem of drones being used to ferry contraband including mobile phones and drugs into prisons.

Protection kits SHEPHERDS in North Rhine-Westphalia can now avail themselves of ‘herd protection kits’ which include electric fencing and cameras to help protect flocks of sheep from the encroaching wolf population.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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

Renfe AVE S-100 at Sevilla Santa Justa

effectiveness of its investment and discourages other companies from installing their own systems.

By the end of 2014, more than nine million Telefonica users had switched to fibre optic broadband and the company was intending to extend this to another 5.5 million homes during 2015.

Instead it will now cut down expansion to 3.6 million households.

The slowdown will affect Telefonica clients in Madrid and Barcelona, plus their dormitory towns, as well as provincial capitals Sevilla, Malaga and Zaragoza.

Installation companies are also unhappy as Telefonica’s reaction to the CNMC’s plans could affect up to 17,000 jobs.

B

usiness extra

Wings clipped IBERIA is reducing its points programme for clients flying economy class with cuts of up to 75 per cent on national flights. Business class clients paying the highest tariffs will benefit most.

Be prepared COMPENSATING small investors who acquired Bankia shares in its flawed 2011 flotation will cost approximately €500m. State-owned parent company BFA and Bankia will split the payments to avoid a capital increase.

Spanish on the move again SPANISH tourism began to recover during the last quarter of 2014.

Overnight hotel stays by Spanish tourists increased by 6.2 per cent last December, compared with a 0.6 per cent rise in international tourists. Madrid did best with 17 per cent, followed by Andalucia (6.6 per cent), Cataluña (6.7 per cent) and the Valencian Community (3.3 per cent).

EWN

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STAT OF WEEK PESCANOVA, which exited bankruptcy last May and is controlled by creditor banks, posted net profits of €1.649 billion between January and November. It still has negative equity of €616.6 million.

Saudi AVE behind schedule

Telefonica pulls fibre optic plug AS threatened, Telefonica is putting the brakes on its fibre optic plans.

The CNMC, Spain’s Markets and Competition regulator, wants Telefonica to share the ultra-rapid network it is currently extending throughout Spain by renting out infrastructure to its rivals.

This would be charged at a set price throughout the country, apart from towns and cities where competitors have already installed their own fibre optic networks in open competition with Telefonica. The exceptions include Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Sevilla and Valencia.

Telefonica opposes the CNMC’s plans, claiming that this affects the cost-

business & legal SAVH –WIKIPEDIA

THE €6.7 billion contract for the high speed line to Mecca went to a 12company Spanish consortium.

Work is behind schedule and last December the Saudi Transport Minister, himself an engineer, criticised lack of progress on several sections of the 450kilometre project.

Nevertheless, the challenge will not end even though the consortium completes on time, sources said, as it must run the line for 12 years, transporting an annual 60 million passengers.

Last year Spain’s own thousands of kilometres of AVE links had a record year

12 - 18 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

“The Spanish are travelling more, inside and outside the country,” said Industry and Tourism Minister Jose Manuel Soria.

In 2008 when the crisis first reared its head, the Spanish made 168.8 million national and international journeys, a record that fell by 9 per cent over the next five years.

with 29.4 million passengers, half that number.

“A train every four minutes! Like Japan!

And with separate carriages for men and women!” the sources exclaimed.

Profits are more or less assured for the private companies involved in construction, but running a line like this for 12 years could be an enormous risk for public companies like Renfe and Adif, the same insiders said.

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PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 166.07 85.01 34.87 148.00 83.21 109.61 27.24 41.45 102.02 76.10 91.50 24.52 183.43 109.04 156.72 33.30 101.10 57.89 93.99 58.79 42.41 91.79 33.17 85.61 107.20 119.81 107.60 49.33 267.42 87.33

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-28.75 -9.50 -4.80 -25.00 -27.50 -17.50 -31.50

-0.79 -1.13 -1.08 -1.33 -1.53 -1.51 -1.08

NET VOLUME 68,770.30 8,672.64 35,946.32 6,382.86 7,926.59 7,554.58 6,268.80

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

$ 6.38 $ 28.66 $ 82.43 $ 3.02 $ 29.99 $ 6.53 $ 5.78 $ 3.8884 $ 30.83 $ 13.71 $ 7.60

1.13 ▲ 21.52% 4.27 ▲ 17.51% 10.98 ▲ 15.37% 0.38 ▲ 14.39% 3.76 ▲ 14.33% 0.79 ▲ 13.76% 0.69 ▲ 13.56% 0.4483 ▲ 13.03% 3.33 ▲ 12.11% 1.48 ▲ 12.10% 0.79 ▲ 11.60%

$ 56.62 $ 12.98 $ 7.04 $ 47.12 $ 32.88 $ 15.73 $ 30.67 $ 77.87 $ 3.65 $ 22 $ 17.03

23.90 ▼ 29.68% 2.81 ▼ 17.80% 1.21 ▼ 14.67% 7.25 ▼ 13.33% 4.51 ▼ 12.06% 2.07 ▼ 11.63% 4.02 ▼ 11.59% 10.13 ▼ 11.51% 0.42 ▼ 10.32% 2.49 ▼ 10.17% 1.87 ▼ 9.89%

Most Advanced Auris Medical Holding AG Coherus BioSciences, Inc. ePlus inc.

Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. Ubiquiti Networks, Inc. MFRI, Inc. Pixelworks, Inc. SAExploration Holdings, Inc. Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Vascular Biogenics Ltd. STAAR Surgical Company

Most Declined Rentrak Corporation Control4 Corporation Maxwell Technologies, Inc. GoPro, Inc. Sierra Wireless, Inc. NIC Inc. NETGEAR, Inc. Expedia, Inc. Vestin Realty Mortgage II, Inc. VelocityShares 3x Long Silver ETN eLong, Inc.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) CHANGE Centrica 294.80 -1.60 Coca-Cola HBC 1,090.00 -12.00 Compass Group 1,116.50 -13.50 CRH 1,706.50 -17.50 Diageo 1,893.75 -15.25 Direct Line Insurance Group312.00 -3.50 Dixons Carphone 414.90 -4.80 easyJet 1,670.00 -30.00 Experian 1,175.00 -15.00 Fresnillo 868.75 8.75 Friends Life Group Limtd 403.60 -2.00 G4S 279.65 -3.05 GKN 373.60 -6.10 GlaxoSmithKline 1,511.25 -6.25 Glencore Xstrata 267.48 2.08 Hammerson 689.50 -11.00 Hargreaves Lansdown 984.50 -5.50 HSBC Holdings 612.25 -8.55 Imperial Tobacco Group 3,015.00 -29.00 InterContinental Hotels 2,591.00 -23.00 International Airlines 538.50 -2.50 Intertek Group 2,451.00 -5.00 Intu Properties 365.60 -6.80 ITV 224.80 -2.90 Johnson Matthey 3,246.00 -44.00 Kingfisher 335.40 -2.60 Land Securities Group 1,281.50 -20.50 Legal & General Group 265.50 -3.40 Lloyds Banking Group 74.81 -1.00 London Stock Exchange 2,344.50 -11.50 Marks & Spencer Group 478.05 -3.25 Meggitt 542.00 -3.50 Mondi 1,199.00 -18.00 Morrison (Wm) Suprmrkts 177.40 -1.60 National Grid 890.85 -18.45 Next 7,067.50 -97.50 Old Mutual 212.70 -1.60 Pearson 1,355.00 -20.00 Persimmon 1,592.50 -21.50 Prudential 1,608.25 -11.75 Randgold Resources 5,357.50 47.50 Reckitt Benckiser Group 5,532.50 -42.50 Reed Elsevier 1,150.50 -17.50 Rio Tinto 3,035.00 6.50 Rolls-Royce Group 902.50 -9.50 Royal Bank of Scotland 381.45 -2.55 Royal Dutch Shell 2,161.50 -3.50 Royal Dutch Shell 2,245.75 -4.25 Royal Mail 451.30 -4.50 RSA Insurance Group 442.40 -11.90 SABMiller 3,466.00 -33.50 Sage Group (The) 478.65 -6.25 Sainsbury (J) 266.95 -2.85 Schroders 2,921.50 -45.50 Severn Trent 2,042.00 -54.00 Shire 4,813.50 -98.50 Sky 952.50 -13.00 Smith & Nephew 1,187.50 -9.50 Smiths Group 1,161.50 -25.50 Sports Direct Internatnl 706.50 -8.50 SSE 1,603.50 -24.50 St James's Place 856.75 -10.75 Standard Chartered 920.40 -17.80 Standard Life 399.35 -6.05 Taylor Wimpey 134.80 -2.30 Tesco 227.53 -1.17 Travis Perkins 1,941.00 -23.00 Tui Ag New Ord Reg Shs 1,111.50 -13.50 Tui Ag Ord Reg Shs Npv 1,137.00 -16.00 Tullow Oil 406.70 -3.40 Unilever 2,777.50 -24.50 United Utilities Group 962.50 -31.00 Vodafone Group 229.98 -1.42 Weir Group 1,836.00 -7.00 Whitbread 4,834.50 -70.50 Wolseley 3,790.00 -34.00 WPP Group 1,434.00 -15.00

% C H G. -0.54 -1.09 -1.19 -1.02 -0.80 -1.11 -1.14 -1.76 -1.26 1.02 -0.49 -1.08 -1.61 -0.41 0.78 -1.57 -0.56 -1.38 -0.95 -0.88 -0.46 -0.20 -1.83 -1.27 -1.34 -0.77 -1.57 -1.26 -1.32 -0.49 -0.68 -0.64 -1.48 -0.89 -2.03 -1.36 -0.75 -1.45 -1.33 -0.73 0.89 -0.76 -1.50 0.21 -1.04 -0.66 -0.16 -0.19 -0.99 -2.62 -0.96 -1.29 -1.06 -1.53 -2.58 -2.01 -1.35 -0.79 -2.15 -1.19 -1.50 -1.24 -1.90 -1.49 -1.68 -0.51 -1.17 -1.20 -1.39 -0.83 -0.87 -3.12 -0.61 -0.38 -1.44 -0.89 -1.04

VOLUME 14,699.99 3,988.08 19,111.49 12,918.96 48,145.70 4,744.50 4,887.07 6,851.84 11,797.51 6,597.04 5,620.71 4,381.70 6,354.02 73,019.95 35,175.54 5,525.36 4,736.07 117,815.18 28,861.08 6,160.30 11,055.92 3,951.75 4,908.51 9,100.02 6,640.36 7,849.25 10,304.58 15,918.81 53,937.13 8,182.97 7,858.21 4,379.69 4,460.14 4,224.16 34,413.74 10,911.35 10,500.06 11,109.41 4,949.34 41,451.67 5,140.41 40,009.24 13,217.38 43,510.46 17,150.98 24,008.98 84,614.74 55,368.04 4,511.00 4,557.51 56,858.61 5,217.57 5,150.19 6,581.77 5,083.81 29,162.61 16,481.08 10,696.28 4,640.34 4,276.03 16,108.14 4,547.76 23,125.85 9,625.38 4,444.23 18,884.33 4,854.68 13,758.02 N/A 3,800.65 36,341.15 6,793.31 61,011.66 3,947.55 8,971.28 9,941.68 19,141.13

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

12 - 18 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

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Visible signs of the times MEDITERRANEAN Spain has much to learn from the sophisticated business signs market in the UK. There is much more to customer enticement than a shop front and a vehicle covered with self adhesive information.

Avoid garish ‘quick an’ slick’ signage. If it looks like something you would see on Blackpool’s prom you may turn customers away.

The visible exterior of your business is a direct reflection of your professionalism or lack of it.

Remember, your signage is your company’s business suit.

Vinyl self adhesive signs were

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

www.michaelwalsh.es • 966 786 932

never intended to be permanent.

Reasonably priced, easily applied and removed, they are perfect for special offers. They are also ideal for public holidays such as Christmas, Easter, and Valentine’s Day good wishes or

offers. If you want to remove vinyl signs on vehicles, borrow the hairdryer from the bathroom. A few minutes of hot air and they can be more easily peeled off.

‘A’ boards placed outside business premises are a good idea. When I bought one for my specialist business, situated on a busy main road, the turnover increased by onethird. Although I had been trading for over two years, I was constantly asked by road users how long had I been there. I later figured out why.

Motorists do not look left and right; they look ahead.

Ideal for tradesmen, the ‘A’ board

is light, mobile, and can be left outside wherever work is being carried out. Likewise, signage fastened to clients’ walls or gates.

Family car magnetic signs are worth their weight in gold. Unlike self adhesive signs these can be placed on car doors and peeled off as required. The downside is they can be stolen. The magnet attracts the light fingered too.

Enterprising business types can sign their family car up and leave the vehicle parked near the entrance to a supermarket or mall all day. Imagine how many people will see it and there are no fees to pay.

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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

You’re so vain and paying for it too Loose change A look at finance for females

Jane Plunkett jane.plunkett@euroweeklynews.com

OF late there has been much talk about the rise of ‘manscaping’ and beauty products for men.

Where once upon a time shelves were mostly laden with female cosmetics, nowadays men too have their fair share of space in the bathroom cupboard for their beauty creams and serums.

However, it appears that women still use a lot more products than men. One recent study reveals that 35 per cent of women use one or two products daily, while 17 per cent use three or four products a day.

Meanwhile, 33 per cent of men admit to using one to two

MANSCAPING: Men too are using beauty creams and serums. products each day, but the majority of men (54 per cent) don’t use a single product when getting ready in the morning so it turns out guys really aren’t so high-maintenance.

OK. We’ll put our hands up in the air and admit that women

are big spenders when it comes to beauty products, but does that mean that we should face sexual prejudice in the market, with companies charging an unjustified markup for products marketed towards females?

A study by an American

Women pay more for their beauty products than men

Who must fix their subsiding terrace?

Q. I have an apartment on the Costa del Sol in a complex run by a community. My balcony/terrace is sinking and so is the one next door. The committee of our community advised us that it was our problem. They said we, the owners, were responsible for repairs, even though the terrace is outside the exterior wall of the structure. You have said in your EWN column that anything outside the exterior wall belongs to the

You and the Law in Spain

By David Searl

A. Yes, your first call should be to your home insurance company. That is why you pay them. And, yes, I noted that anything outside the exterior walls of a building, such as terraces and gardens, is the property of the community.

I also said that ‘exclusive use’ of these elements is assigned to the individual owners. The Spanish courts have consistently ruled that ‘exclusive use’ means that each owner is responsible for his own terrace or balcony or garden, so repairs are on you, even if the basic ownership is the community.

community. The flats were built in 2000 and I think this subsidence should not happen to such a new build.

We are ground floor but below the structure is a communal garage area so our back terrace is actually eight metres above street level. We don’t know what infill was used below it.

I have home insurance and perhaps we should put in a claim.

A.C. (Costa del Sol) There is a clause in building contracts requiring the builder to have insurance to repair defects, but this insurance runs out after 10 years. So the only option left against the builder is a normal lawsuit for the defect. I agree subsidence after 15 years seems like an actionable defect, but this is tricky, possibly involving the architect or the geological study of the land, and the judge will have to decide.

Of course your first choice should be your insurance company. Put in a claim.

If you are lucky and your policy covers the problem, they will pay up and then try to recover the amount from the original builder.

Be aware that insurance companies are always alert to find something in their small print to escape paying.

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

fashion magazine shows that annually women pay millions to cosmetic companies in extra fees and markups - fees that men just don’t have to pay.

The magazine research looked at a variety of products.

For example, deodorants on average are 10 per cent more expensive if aimed at women rather than men. Pretty pinkcoloured razors are much more pricey than the male versions of the blades.

Perhaps they are crafted by tiny elves, whereas boring old machines make the male razors!

Anti-aging creams are where women really get stung. For instance, a very well known brand charges €60 for a 50ml moisturiser, whereas the same brand charges only €40 for a 100ml male version of the same moisturiser. That’s €20 cheaper and double the size!

So the obvious money saving tip is check whether there’s a cheaper version of what you’re buying in the ‘Men’s’ aisle.

BUSINESS EXTRA

Good figures SANTANDER reported pre-tax profits of €9.72 billion last year, a 32 per cent increase. The bank, the eurozone’s largest, confirmed its intention of continuing to focus on retail banking during 2015 and announced that its 10 principal markets presented increased gross profits for the first time since the economic crisis commenced.

Different face NEW €1 and €2 coins depicting Felipe VI are now in circulation, eight months after he was proclaimed king. Spain’s Treasury authorised the changeover last October and the coins were struck in January, the first of four million in each denomination that will be produced in the next few years.

Persuasion IAG, the group composed of BA, Iberia and Vueling which hopes to acquire Aer Lingus, pledged that neither the company nor its routes will disappear.

IAG’s offer includes a promise that the Irish airline’s 23 pairs of Heathrow slots will not be used by the group’s other airlines or sold.

OPINION & COMMENT

Thanks from Samaritans for generosity ON Saturday January 31, Nigel Hopkins and all of his singers and musicians put on a truly wonderful evening’s performance of ‘Music of the Night.’

Afterwards Samaritans in Spain undertook a bucket-shake to raise funds.

The audience was extremely generous on the night, raising an amazing €565, then Nigel himself donated enough to take the amount to an incredible €650.

I would like to offer my thanks and the thanks of all our volunteers and, indeed, our callers for this generosity.

I would also like to offer my sincere gratitude to all of Nigel’s singers, musicians and other helpers for a wonderful evening’s entertainment. And I mustn’t forget the staff and management of the Orihuela Costa Resort for their time, making us comfortable and refreshed.

Thank you to you all.

Chris Sumpter, President, Samaritans in Spain

Pick it up!

SEVEN dogs have died due to poisoning on the beach of Puerto Alcudia, Mallorca.

The mayor has now made it obligatory for the animals to wear muzzles for fear that other fatal casualties will occur.

It is really horrible that someone deliberately spread poison for this purpose, but I suppose many people are angry at the mess and smell left literally everywhere by many dogowners.

I am a dog-owner. He’s a big fellow of 38 kilos and I walk him every day and am delighted that in winter we can walk, play and run our dogs on the beach here in Santa Ponsa.

I am 80 plus - no big deal - but I always collect his ‘necessities’ and, many times, those of other dogs. We also pick up all sorts of other refuse that could be taken by the wind or tide into the sea and cause trouble for other creatures.

You irresponsible dog owners:

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12 - 18 February 2015/ Axarquía - Costa Tropical

Letters YOURSAY@EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

T

our aRUST dvert isers

WE D

O!

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

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29

old EHIC card and also asked if you are in receipt of a UK pension. I was informed that my new EHIC card should arrive within 15 days.

One last point, it is best to renew your card without waiting for the old one to run out.

June Baker-Howard (by email)

Not needed

WHEN YOU WRITE All letters, whether by email or post, should carry the writer’s postal address, NIE and contact number though only the name and town will be published.

Letters may also be edited.

Readers who have missed earlier correspondence can see all letters posted on:

www.euroweeklynews.com

use your brains! Again, it’s no big deal to bend down (great exercise) and collect your dog’s mess. All you achieve with your negligence, apart from the disgusting mess, is to create enemies for our beloved best friends.

Olivia Amengual, Nova Sta Ponsa (Mallorca)

EWN

LOOKS as though someone got too near the edge and it gives ‘See you on the beach’ another meaning.

John Davies, Mojacar

Free-for-all

Greedy sea

WE visited the Motor Show in Malaga and it was a very enjoyable afternoon with plenty to see.

I would just like to warn anyone visiting an exhibition at the Palacio de Congresos about the parking. When we arrived a high-viz-jacketed man directed us to a space, then demanded €5 for parking.

We questioned this, asking for a ticket first and refused to pay so he eventually gave up with us and moved on to his next victims. I took a photo of him on my phone as I was now worried about the safety of the car.

When purchasing our entry tickets I told the staff who were horrified and assured me they would notify security and that parking is free.

If the man had asked for €1 we probably wouldn’t have questioned it.

Luckily the car was OK and on leaving we then saw the signs stating ‘free parking,’ so check before you pay!

Diana Clark (by email)

OUR urbanisation, Costa Natura, is really close to the beach and as far as our frontage is concerned, big rocks protect the beach.

However at the ‘wild beach’ which still belongs to the naturist zone, erosion is considerable or even horrible.

The sea takes whatever it can get in the winter and there is nobody who cares.

I tried to bring the subject to the attention of the Estepona Tourist Office and they correctly answered that they are unable to intervene because it is the responsibility of the Coastal Authority.

Obviously this authority has its own targets, which are different from those of the town hall, and doesn’t care what happens to the beach although naturist tourism contributes considerably to coastal tourism.

It is the wrong approach to celebrate the high occupation rates in some luxury hotels and, at the same time, to neglect another branch of tourism.

Moreover, sooner or later the eroded beach will collapse what happens then? About two years ago there was a promise to replenish the sand on our beach which never happened.

Instead more and more sand is washed away.

Christian Horig, Estepona (Malaga)

No hiccups I HAVE just renewed my EHIC card and the entire process is far easier than the procedure described by Mr Woodhall.

There is no form to fill in when you renew by telephone but do not ring the number that Mr Woodhall gives! The correct number is (0044) 1912 790575 and is a direct line to the department that deals with EHIC cards. I rang late in the afternoon and got straight through.

All you need in front of you is your old EHIC Card and your national insurance number. You will be asked for your name, NI number and the UK reference number that appears on your

I RANG Newcastle on January 30 and spoke to a lady called Jennifer to renew our EHIC cards. She advised that they had received many calls regarding renewals that were no longer necessary.

She told me that as British nationals living in Spain we no longer need the cards. If medical treatment is required at a hospital or doctor’s surgery all you need is to prove that you receive a UK pension.

British nationals only need to renew EHIC cards if they are visiting an EU country other than Britain.

Isobel Brown (by email)

Spitting image CONGRATULATIONS to Antonio Martinez for his letter in El Pais on professional footballers, entitled ‘Why do they spit so much?’

Professional handball and basketball players don’t spit.

Nor do cyclists, swimmers, hockey players or boxers. Why are professional footballers so obsessed with this disgusting, repulsive and unnecessary bad habit, he asked?

“In more gruelling sports that require much more physical exertion and endurance athletes don’t find it necessary to spit. The appropriate sports directors and authorities should finally put a stop to this obnoxious behaviour,” he wrote.

I tip my hat to Antonio Martinez! Although I don’t watch football much (I’d rather watch the grass grow) it seems like every five or 10 minutes one player or another is ‘watering’ the field. Where do they get so much saliva?

Richard M McBride, Benidorm (Alicante)

The views expressed and opinions given in Letters are not necessarily those of the EWN publishers. They accept no responsibility for accuracy of information, errors, omissions or statements, and reject claims arising out of any action that a company or individual may take on the basis of information contained therein.

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OPINION & COMMENT

Sick of discussing pros and cons LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT

I

AM utterly sick and tired of discussing the pros and cons of Islam. To me the problem is very simple.

Thirty years ago the UK didn’t have Asian gangs grooming, raping and degrading the children of the ‘infidels’.

Thirty years ago they didn’t have ‘Trojan horses’ infiltrating schools, separating the sexes, teaching bigotry or refusing to conduct lessons in English. Thirty years ago (with the exception of the IRA, who actually had a point) they didn’t have citizens murdered and terrorised in the streets.

Thirty years ago they didn’t have nogo areas where integration was out of the question and law officers were afraid to tread in case they ‘offended’ someone, or caused a riot.

Thirty years ago there were no youngsters leaving home to join distant armies who decapitate, pillage and

burn their enemies alive.

Thirty years ago they didn’t have the Christian religion undermined and discriminated against. Thirty years ago they didn’t have people on the streets insulting the troops and threatening their future annihilation.

Thirty years ago, unless they were pulling a bank job, you could observe the facial expressions of every female in the land. Thirty years ago they had no cause to discuss bigotry, ethnic inequality or the genital mutilation of young women.

Thirty years ago the British were a happy, albeit a touch naive, proud bunch, whose only real problems were the price of beer, the next to reside in Number 10 or the winners of the FA Cup. Need I go on?

The thing that actually annoys me the most, having lived in a Muslim country for eight years, is the fact that in Islamic controlled countries, anyone who doesn’t follow the teachings of Islam has a very hard time indeed. In Saudi Arabia, no one can build a church, owning a bible is illegal, and any Christian worship banned altogether.

An example of this was in 1979, when

a small number of people, some of whom were personal colleagues of mine, decided to hold a short Sunday morning prayer meeting in a classroom of the American school in Jeddah. Someone got wind of it, informed the authorities and the result was a spell in prison and deportation for all of them!

Compare that with the freedom the followers of Islam enjoy in the UK. Free to speak publically about any aspect of their religion they choose. Mosques springing up everywhere, plus the British people bending over backwards to accept and try to understand their points of view.

Simply bearing even these two facts in mind, I think you get some idea of how one-sided this whole, almost unbelievable intelligence-insulting charade actually is. Will it all change?

Too late, I’m afraid - but then I told you that over 15 years ago.

Keep the faith Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com What do you think? Have your say at www.euroweeklynews.com

Will you use your vote?

VICTORIA WESTHEAD of the British Lawyers Spain commented: “Expats should still have the right to vote even though they are living outside the UK, as there may be repercussions in the future.

“What happens if you want to return to the UK? There are also many expats that still have interests in the UK such as property, family and other kinds of ties. Maybe it would be an idea to introduce a condition within this restriction, so that people are clear on what their options are.”

Darren of Darrmar Rubbish Clearance in Mallorca simply replied: “I am only interested in what happens to the pound and also the interest rates, as I have property in the UK. I have been living in Spain for the last seven years and have no plans to vote in the UK now. I had no respect for any particular party when I lived in the UK, and I still don’t think much of any of them now.”

Vicky Cartledge, a budding actress from Los Montesinos, working with

With both the UK and Spanish General Elections coming up, we decided to ask if you intend to vote in the UK elections and whether expats should be able to. We also wanted to know if you think expatriates should be able to vote in the Spanish General Election?

STREET TALK STEPHEN: Would like to be able to vote in Spain.

VICKY: Should be able to choose where to vote.

Siesta Productions said: “I don’t generally vote as there are never any parties where I agree with all of

their policies so I can never choose, but I think if people pay into the system here and they want to vote here, they should be able to have the right to vote in Spain and give up their UK vote.”

Psychotherapist Stephen Ashley, who has clinics across the Costa Blanca in Alicante, L’Alfaz del Pi and Benijofar agrees that you should be able to choose where you vote: “I have lost my right to vote in the UK as I have been in Spain for more than 15 years, but there were always problems with voting in the UK as the postal voting forms always arrived too late.

“I think you should be able to choose where you vote, your country of origin, or country of residence, like with paying your taxes. I would like to be able to vote in Spain as it impacts on me directly.”

VICTORIA: People need to be clear on what their options are.

COMMUNITY

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BRIDGE CLUB: Held their annual tournament at the Al-Andalus hotel in Maro.

Coming up trumps A TRULY international group turned up for the Trumps Bridge Group in Nerja (Malaga) annual Bridge tournament on Saturday, February 7 at the Al-Andalus Hotel in Maro, near Nerja.

Trumps Bridge Group has grown in popularity in recent years and there were 18 full tables with 72 people playing Duplicate Bridge in two sections. The event was well attended with players from the UK, Canada, Ireland, Germany, Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Poland and others.

The bridge play in the afternoon was

followed by an evening dinner.

Following the dinner the results were announced and winners were awarded their prizes by Marion Talbot, the tournament organiser, with the outright winning partnership, Pat Tammik and Arne Hafstad, being awarded the David Leake Trophy for 2015.

Regular duplicate Bridge sessions take place on Monday and Thursday afternoons starting at 3.00pm at the AlAndalus Hotel.

For information see website www.bridgewebs.com/trumpsnerja.

A day trip to Gibraltar TORRE DEL MAR’S Lux Mundi group are organising a coach excursion to Gibraltar on Thursday, February 26.

It’s the ideal opportunity to visit the famous British overseas territory and take a cable car to the top of the Rock, see the unique Barbary apes, visit the upper rock nature reserve and all of

Gibraltar’s famous sites. Tickets for the day trip are only €12 each and are available at the Lux Mundi centre in Torre del Mar. Passports are required and more information can be found at www.luxmundi.org or email luxmundi@luxmundi.org.

One Billion Rising THIS Valentine’s Day will see international women’s groups and supporters take to the streets of Almuñecar in support of the ‘One Billion Rising’ event.

Under the theme of ‘Love, not Violence,’ the supporters will be dancing, drumming and singing their way through the plazas of the old town between 12pm and 2pm on Saturday.

The One Billion Rising international event is a campaign to say ‘no’ to violence against women and girls. There will also be a reading of Eve Ensler’s groundbreaking piece ‘The Vagina Monologues’ on February 25 in aid of local women’s organisations. For more information contact the Almuñecar international women’s group at atalmunecarwomens group@gmail.com.

Hindu caste talk THE March meeting of the Nerja Philosophical Group will take place on Monday, February 16 at 11.30am at the social centre in Capistrano Village, Nerja. The subject ‘The Hindu Caste System’ will be introduced by Amit Chaudhuri. All are welcome to attend.

For more information contact Tom Bryson on 620 109 087.

editorial@euroweeklynews.com

12 - 18 February 2015/ Axarquía - Costa Tropical

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Thursday 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 Eat Well for Less?

10:00pm Death in Paradise 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:45pm Question Time 12:45am This Week

BBC TWO 5:15pm To the Manor Born 5:45pm Hi-De-Hi! 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm The Great Antiques Map of Britain 8:00pm Antiques Road Trip 9:00pm The Great British Sewing Bee 10:00pm Modern Times 11:00pm Charlie Brooker's Weekly Wipe 11:30pm Newsnight 12:20am A Cook Abroad

ITV 5:00pm Mel and Sue 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm The Kyle Files 9:00pm Emmerdale 9:30pm Birds of a Feather 10:00pm Car Crash Britain 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm The Late Debate 12:10am The Lying Game: Crimes That Fooled Britain

CH4 5:00pm Shipping Wars 5:45pm Couples Come Dine with Me 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Location, Location, Location 10:00pm Cucumber 11:00pm My Tattoo Addiction 12:00am 24 Hours in Police Custody

CH5 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm The Classic Car Show 9:00pm Benefits Britain: Life on the Dole 10:00pm Britain's Biggest Primary School 11:00pm The Mentalist 11:55pm Castle 12:50am True Crimes: The First 72 Hours

SKY1 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Arrow 10:00pm Ross Kemp: Extreme World 11:00pm Quiz Nights 12:00am A League of Their Own

Friday BBC ONE 5:30pm Antiques Road Trip 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm A Question of Sport 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Room 101 10:00pm The Musketeers 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm The Graham Norton Show 12:25am Bluestone 42

BBC TWO 5:15pm To the Manor Born 5:45pm Hi-De-Hi! 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm The Great Antiques Map of Britain 8:00pm Antiques Road Trip 9:00pm Mastermind 9:30pm Food and Drink 10:00pm Italy Unpacked 11:00pm QI 11:30pm Newsnight 12:05am Tron Legacy

ITV 5:00pm Mel and Sue 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Barging Round Britain with John Sergeant 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Benidorm 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm Gosford Park 2:10am Jackpot247

CH4 5:00pm Shipping Wars 5:45pm Couples Come Dine with Me 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast 10:00pm 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 11:00pm The Last Leg 12:05am Catastrophe

CH5 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm The Billion Dollar Wreck Hunt 9:00pm Ice Road Truckers 10:00pm NCIS: New Orleans 11:40pm Law and Order: Special Victims Unit 12:35am True Crimes: The First 72 Hours

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 Flintoff: Lord of the Fries 10:00pm Stella 11:00pm Quiz Nights 12:00am Underworld: Evolution

Saturday BBC ONE 5:30pm Six Nations Rugby Union 7:55pm BBC News 8:05pm Regional News 8:10pm Weather 8:15pm The Voice UK 9:35pm The National Lottery 10:25pm Casualty 11:15pm BBC News 11:28pm Weather 11:30pm Match of the Day: FA Cup Highlights 12:35am The Football League Show

BBC TWO 5:30pm Final Score 6:20pm The Wonder of Animals 6:50pm The Great British Sewing Bee 7:50pm Flog It! 8:35pm How We Got to Now with Steve Johnson 9:35pm Dad's Army 10:05pm Simon Rattle: The Making of a Maestro 11:05pm Glad All Over: The Dave Clark Five and Beyond 1:00am TOTP2

ITV 4:05pm Doc Martin 5:05pm Big Star's Little Star 6:00pm Local News and Weather 6:10pm ITV News and Weather 6:25pm You've Been Framed!

7:30pm Harry Hill's Stars in Their Eyes 8:30pm Planet's Got Talent 9:05pm Take Me Out 10:20pm The Jonathan Ross Show 11:20pm ITV News and Weather 11:35pm ICC Cricket World Cup Highlights 12:30am Balls of Fury

CH4 5:15pm Come Dine with Me 6:15pm The Big Bang Theory 6:45pm The Simpsons 7:10pm The Simpsons 7:40pm Channel 4 News 8:00pm Our Guy in India 9:00pm The World's Weirdest Weather 10:00pm The Bourne Legacy 12:40am Sanctum

CH5 4:00pm Columbo: Double Shock 5:30pm Columbo 7:20pm 5 News 7:25pm NCIS 8:10pm NCIS 9:05pm NCIS 10:00pm CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 11:00pm Law and Order 11:55pm Law and Order: Special Victims Unit 12:45am True Crimes: The First 72 Hours

SKY1 4:00pm Last Man Standing 4:30pm Last Man Standing 5:00pm The Simpsons 5:30pm Modern Family 6:00pm Modern Family 6:30pm Modern Family 7:00pm Modern Family 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 9:00pm Hawaii Five-0 10:00pm Underworld: Evolution 12:05am Inherent Vice: Sky Movies Special

TV LISTING

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Sunday BBC ONE 3:30pm Six Nations Rugby Union 6:00pm Songs of Praise 6:35pm BBC News 6:50pm Regional News 6:55pm Weather 7:00pm Super Cute Animals 8:00pm Countryfile 9:00pm Call the Midwife 10:00pm The Casual Vacancy 11:00pm BBC News 11:20pm Regional News 11:25pm Weather 11:30pm Match of the Day: FA Cup Highlights 12:20am The Apprentice USA

BBC TWO 3:25pm Escape to the Country 4:10pm Open All Hours 4:40pm To the Manor Born 5:10pm Hi-De-Hi! 5:45pm Flog It! 6:15pm Alaska: Earth's Frozen Kingdom 7:15pm Ski Sunday 8:00pm The Motorway: Life in the Fast Lane 9:00pm Top Gear 10:00pm Dragons' Den 11:00pm Modern Times 12:00am The Quiet American

ITV 3:10pm Mel and Sue's Best Bits 4:10pm Tipping Point 5:15pm For Your Eyes Only 7:35pm Local News and Weather 7:45pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Get Your Act Together 9:15pm All Star Family Fortunes 10:00pm Mr Selfridge 11:00pm ITV News and Weather 11:20pm Perspectives 12:15am Aviva Highlights 1:10am The Store

CH4 3:00pm The Big Bang Theory 3:25pm The Simpsons 3:55pm City of Ember 5:40pm Channel 4 News 6:05pm Location, Location, Location 7:05pm A Place in the Sun 8:00pm The Hotel 9:00pm The Auction House 10:00pm Indian Summers 11:40pm Gogglebox 1:15am No Country for Old Men

CH5 4:35pm Loch Ness 6:30pm The Lady and The Tramp 8:05pm 5 News 8:10pm Memphis Belle 10:00pm War of the Worlds 12:20am Drag Me to Hell 2:15am Super Casino 4:10am 10,000 BC

SKY1 3:00pm Emergency Animal Rescue 3:30pm Emergency Animal Rescue 4:00pm Modern Family 4:30pm Modern Family 5:00pm Modern Family 5:30pm Modern Family 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Holidaymakers 9:00pm The Flash 10:00pm Hawaii Five-0 11:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 12:00am NCIS: Los Angeles

Monday BBC ONE 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm Match of the Day Live 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:40pm Weather 11:45pm The Graham Norton Show EastEnders Special 12:45am Waterloo Road

BBC TWO 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Two Tribes 7:30pm Eggheads 8:00pm Top Gear 9:00pm University Challenge 9:30pm Only Connect 10:00pm A Cook Abroad 11:00pm House of Fools 11:30pm Newsnight 12:15am Weather

ITV 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm More Tales From Northumberland with Robson Green 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Broadchurch 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm The Jonathan Ross Show 12:45am The Kyle Files

CH4 5:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:55pm The Political Slot 9:00pm Dispatches 9:30pm Food Unwrapped 10:00pm UKIP: The First 100 Days 11:05pm Catastrophe 11:40pm Bodyshockers 12:45am 24 Hours in A and E

CH5 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News 8:00pm Criminals: Caught on Camera 8:30pm Car Crash TV 9:00pm My Daughter Stole My Husband 10:00pm Benefits Britain: Life on the Dole 11:00pm 10,000 BC 12:00am Act of Valour

SKY1 4:00pm The Simpsons 4:30pm The Simpsons 5:00pm Futurama 5:30pm Futurama 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 Holidaymakers 10:00pm Arrow 11:00pm 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy 12:00am Air Ambulance ER

Tuesday BBC ONE 5:30pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Holby City 10:00pm The Gift 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:40pm Weather 11:45pm Count Arthur Strong 12:15am Have I Got Old News for You

BBC TWO 5:15pm To the Manor Born 5:45pm Hi-De-Hi! 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Two Tribes 7:30pm Eggheads 8:00pm Antiques Road Trip 9:00pm Alex Polizzi: The Fixer 10:00pm Inside the Commons 11:00pm Rhod Gilbert's Work Experience 11:30pm Newsnight 12:15am Weather

ITV 5:00pm Mel and Sue 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm UEFA Champions League 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm UEFA Champions League Highlights 12:40am Carry on Girls

CH4 5:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:55pm The Political Slot 9:00pm Can Property Pay Your Wages?

10:00pm The Romanians are Coming 11:00pm Kid Criminals 12:00am Kicked Out Kids

CH5 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Police Interceptors 9:00pm Costa Del Casualty 10:00pm Killer Psychopaths 11:00pm 10,000 BC 12:00am The Ten Faces of Michael Jackson

SKY1 5:00pm Futurama 5:30pm Futurama 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 Modern Family 10:30pm Modern Family 11:00pm Ross Kemp: Extreme World 12:00am NCIS: Los Angeles

Wednesday BBC ONE 5:30pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm The Great Comic Relief Bake Off 10:30pm Room 101 11:00pm BBC News 11:25pm Regional News 11:40pm Weather 11:45pm A Question of Sport 12:15am Film 2015

BBC TWO 5:15pm To the Manor Born 5:45pm Hi-De-Hi! 6:15pm Flog It! 6:55pm Party Political Broadcast

by Conservative 7:00pm Two Tribes 7:30pm Eggheads 8:00pm Antiques Road Trip 9:00pm Alaska: Earth's Frozen Kingdom 10:00pm Wolf Hall 11:00pm Up the Women 11:30pm Newsnight 12:15am Weather

ITV 5:00pm Mel and Sue 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Midsomer Murders 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:40pm Exposure 12:40am I Never Knew That About Britain

CH4 5:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:55pm The Political Slot 9:00pm The Restoration Man 10:00pm 24 Hours in A and E 11:00pm Junk Food Kids: Who's to Blame?

12:00am Kid Criminals

CH5 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Cowboy Builders 9:00pm GPs: Behind Closed Doors 10:00pm World's Biggest Hips 11:00pm Erin Brockovich 1:45am True Crimes: The First 72 Hours

SKY1 5:00pm Futurama 5:30pm Futurama 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Futurama 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm Modern Family 8:30pm Modern Family 9:00pm The Fanatics 10:00pm Stella 11:00pm Flintoff: Lord of the Fries 12:00am NCIS: Los Angeles

OPINION & COMMENT

www.euroweeklynews.com

12 - 18 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

EWN

33

Surviving St Valentine’s Day with flowers, chocolates and diamonds?

Nora Johnson

Breaking Views A Costa del Sol resident for a number of years, Nora is the author of psychological suspense and crime thrillers. To comment on any of the issues raised in her column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/columnists/norajohnson

F

LOWERS, chocolates, red hearts and romance. That’s what Valentine’s Day’s all about, right? Far from it! St Valentine’s Day didn’t start off linked with romance.

It began as a celebration of one or more (the exact number’s uncertain) early Christian saints called Valentinus.

According to one of the most popular accounts, Saint Valentine was imprisoned and tortured for performing marriage

ceremonies for Christians persecuted under the Roman Empire. (An edict prohibited the marriage of young people, based on the hypothesis that unmarried soldiers fought better than married ones, because the latter would be more concerned about getting killed and the consequences for their families.)

During his imprisonment, Saint Valentine’s said to have healed the daughter of his jailer Asterius and, legend has it, before his execution wrote “from your Valentine” as a farewell to her.

It wasn’t until the Middle Ages that the day first became linked with romance. And by the 15th century, it’d developed into a full-on event with

flowers, confectionery and the exchange of greetings cards (known as ‘Valentines’).

Nowadays it’s the second most celebrated event around the world after New Year’s Eve - and

the most popular time to propose/get married.

Which reminds me of an old family yarn about a naval friend of the family and his marriage plans.

During World War Two, he’d planned a romantic Valentine’s

Day wedding. Suddenly, he received orders to prepare to ship out, and all leave was cancelled. But as a young man in love, he went AWOL. He and his fiancée were married three days earlier than originally planned and he returned to base to an angry petty officer. After hearing the explanation, the latter grudgingly replied, “OK. OK!” Then, as an afterthought: “But don’t let it ever happen again!”

Another friend met her future fiancé online. After dating for over a year, she introduced Chris to her technophobe uncle.

Intrigued by the fact they’d met over the internet, he

VALENTINE’S DAY: Not originally linked to romance.

asked Chris what kind of line he’d used to pick her up. Ever the geek, Chris replied, “Just used a regular broadband connection.”

Which reminds me of that old De Beers campaign slogan for diamond eternity rings aimed at husbands: “She married you for richer or poorer. Let her know how it’s going…” Romantic, eh?

Have a nice day!

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.

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

D

RAGGING my feet I reluctantly followed my lady wife into the shopping mall. In my imagination a portal overhead with a curved sign: ‘All Men who Enter Here Ye are Doomed.’ Outside a La Zenia department store, like rows of birds on garden parapets, were perched dispirited men.

Eventually, their nearest and dearest, blinking in the sunlight, would emerge from the darkest bowels of the clothes shed. I know how these men felt as I sat there for the same reason.

An hour or so later I dejectedly traced the footsteps of my empty-handed, but otherwise never-say-die wife, to the C & A store, aka ‘coats and ‘ats.’ Once

SHOPPING MALLS: Are for women, what football or at least sports bars, are to men. inside I chanced upon a single forlorn gentleman. He might well have wished he was single. To his credit he had at least bagged the store’s only seat. “Keep your husband moving, ma’am. We are stocktaking.”

It is not for me to rain on young men’s parades. However, it did occur to me that the newly betrothed might be under the

illusion that their wife’s indecisiveness when shopping suggests they pulled the short straw. Those of us on wife two or three, regret to inform you that they are all the same; live with it.

If you find one that says she doesn’t like shopping you can wipe the stupid grin off your face. You haven’t landed on your feet, you have married a liar.

Most of us men consider shopping as depressing as a burning orphanage. Yet, our loved ones persist in trying to change us.

The hapless bunch of planners and architects, who spend millions in their search for the Holy Grail of customer appeal, come up with seductive lures.

Stores and shopping malls are

for women what football, or at least sports bars are, to men.

When will these planners have the wit to come up with something to bait the menfolk?

Is it a challenge too far?

To attract and keep the men interested, even enthusiastic, might I suggest shopping malls with a scattering of sleazy bars, each with pool tables, staffed with well-proportioned barmaids, and patronised by dodgy blokes doing deals. This would have the effect of transforming wives into husbands.

Rapier-like, skirts would sweep through the clothing stores. Making a beeline to the apparel closest to their needs, the ladies would grab the first thing that comes to hand.

Jumping the checkout queue, purses at the ready, they would be out of the store doors as quick as a pit-stop team changes a Ferrari wheel. It is the way we men do it.

34

E W N 12 - 18 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

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

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TODAY

TODAY

ARCHIDONA

CASABERMEJA NERJA

VELEZ-MALAGA MALAGA R DE LA VICTORIA

ARCHIDONA

CASABERMEJA NERJA

VELEZ-MALAGA

TOMORROW MALAGA

R DE LA VICTORIA

Visit the stars, for details on our expanded range of services

Fri Sat Sun -

17 8 Cl 18 10 Cl 17 9 S

7-Star Quiz

tars

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) A trip to the cinema or theatre makes you take notice and may even shock. There are many things in life that normally do not touch us but, once we are aware, there seems to be a need for action.

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) This is a week of deep thinking and meaningful conversations.

Someone's opinion of you reaches your ears and pleases you greatly.

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) Expecting others to automatically know what you want is unrealistic.

Even dropping heavy hints can go well astray of the mark. Although it is unpalatable to your sensitivity, plain talking is needed.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Take extra care where finances concern your home. A legal matter should be considered carefully.

Sudoku

SCORPIO (October 24 November 22) Being protective of those close does not mean worrying all the time. With their co-operation, the burden, can be lightened.

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.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 December 21) Be determined to make a budget and stick to it. Even if you are arranging a holiday, resist the urge to splash out.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

CAPRICORN (December 22 January 20) With a big event coming up, you need someone to give plenty of love and support.

Starting a new interest could lead you into their path.

Mon - 17 9 S Tues - 15 8 C Wed - 15 9 Sh

UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

UK THUNDERBALL

IRISH LOTTO

EURO MILLIONS

Saturday February 7

Saturday February 7

Saturday February 7

Friday February 6

6

15

17

18

35

19

24 26

25 35

6

8

10

24

30

43

BONUS BALL

THUNDERBALL

BONUS BALL

22

12

11

10

26 39

50

8

LA PRIMITIVA

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 15 9 Cl Tues - 16 8 C Wed - 15 8 Cl

18 9 Cl 17 11 C 18 11 C

Fri Sat Sun -

S Sun,

12 4 C 12 5 C 13 3 Cl

MAX MIN

Mon - 13 5 C Tues - 13 2 Sh Wed - 14 3 Cl

Murcia

CLOUDY MAX 16C, MIN 7C 16 8 Cl 14 7 Sh 14 7 Sh

SHOWERS MAX 12C, MIN 2C MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Mon - 17 11 C Tues - 16 8 Sh Wed - 17 8 C

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

Mon - 17 9 Cl Tues - 16 9 C Wed - 16 9 Sh

Madrid

Mallorca TODAY:

18 9 Cl 18 10 Cl 18 10 Cl

TODAY:

MAX 17C, MIN 8C

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

CLOUDY MAX 16C, MIN 9C MAX MIN

MAX MIN

14 8 C 14 9 Sh 14 8 Sh

CLEAR

MAX MIN

Mon - 17 10 Cl Tues - 16 10 Sh Wed - 16 9 C

Benidorm

Malaga TODAY:

17 10 S 18 11 C 19 11 C

TODAY:

SHOWERS MAX 14C, MIN 8C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 15 7 Sh Tues - 15 7 C Wed - 14 7 C Cl Clear,

CLEAR MAX 18C, MIN 6C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun Fog,

Sn Snow,

MAX MIN

19 8 Cl 19 9 C 19 8 Cl

Mon - 19 8 S Tues - 18 8 Sh Wed - 18 8 Sh

C Cloud,

Sh Showers,

Th Thunder

Nonagram How many English words of four letters or more can you make from the nine letters in our Nonagram puzzle? Each letter may be used only once (unless the letter appears twice). Each word MUST CONTAIN THE CENTRE LETTER (in this case P) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed.

TARGET:

Average: 15

Very good: 27

Good: 19

Excellent: 34

acne, aeon, anal, anew, anoa, cane, clan, cone, elan, enol, lane, lawn, lean, loan, lone, noll, once, wane, wean, alone, anole, canal, canoe, clean, clone, clown, lance, llano, ocean, canola, clonal, ALLOWANCE

12

21

28

30

38

42

REINTEGRO 47

3

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA

SOFT

Sunday February 8

Saturday February 7

30

LUCKY STARS 7

Fri Sat Sun -

Word Ladder

LOTTERY 3

Fri Sat Sun -

CLOUDY MAX 16C, MIN 9C MAX MIN

Barcelona TODAY:

LEO (July 24 - August 23) Oh, gosh, this is a really sensitive time for Leos. Although it is easy to upset you, it is equally easy to fire your enthusiasm.

Y S our

TODAY:

MAX MIN

MAX MIN

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) Family members bring a sparkle to your eyes and a spring to your step.

When there is so much going on it is easy to forget how much we are part of a whole.

LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED

MAX MIN

www.fiduciarywealth.eu

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Surprising and happy news about the 28th really puts some bounce into you. Having been so busy recently, you may not have noticed that someone has a special interest in you.

1. How many James Bond films have the word ‘love’ in their title?

2. In which 1930 film did Marlene Dietrich first sing her famous ‘anthem’ Falling In Love Again (Ich bin von Kopf bis Fuß auf Liebe eingestellt)?

3. The original line-up of which American group, formed in California in 1961, consisted of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine?

4. Wet Wet Wet’s hugely successful cover of The Troggs’s Love Is All Around, was used for the soundtrack to which 1994 romantic comedy film?

5. What is the name of the Greek goddess of love and beauty?

6. What was the title of first UK number one hit single by the Beatles to contain the word ‘love’?

7. What was the title of the 1983 novel by British feminist author Fay Weldon about a highly unattractive woman (Ruth) who goes to great lengths to take revenge on her husband (Bobbo) and his attractive lover (Mary Fisher)?

Almeria

CLOUDY MAX 15C, MIN 7C

14

15 49

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

22 52

REINTEGRO 8

FLAG

SLAG (FLAT) FLAG

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) What will really be appreciated this week is if you will give your time to others. I realise that your life is busy but the emotional rewards from helping someone will be more than worth it.

Alicante TODAY:

SOFT SOOT SLOT SLAT

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) An area in which you have experience means that you are able to help someone close this week. Keep the advice free from personal opinions wherever possible.

1. TWO - From Russia with Love (1963) and The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), 2. THE BLUE ANGEL (DER BLAUE ENGEL), 3. BEACH BOYS, 4. FOUR WEDDINGS AND A FUNERAL, 5. APHRODITE, 6. SHE LOVES YOU, 7. THE LIFE AND LOVES OF A SHE-DEVIL

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Crosswords

12 - 18 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

EWN

35

SPONSORED BY

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

Cryptic

Quick

Across 1 American engulfed by smears keeps going (8) 4 Weapons discovered in farmstead (4) 7 Scruffy togas for Capricorns (5) 9 Cares about farmland (5) 11 The spot to find fish, one hears (5) 12 Loses one’s temper when shown photographs (5) 13 Back for only a very short period of time (6) 15 Claim supporter is in drink (6) 19 Academic divisions’ contract details (5) 21 Stop a container loading sulphur (5) 23 Paces around room (5) 24 Went for a dip in front of Indian teacher (5) 25 Weaken, having no pudding (4) 26 Steed Pam trained to take flight (8) Down 1 Small seals or baby birds, by the sound of it (7) 2 Out of tune harps are incisive (5) 3 Want to take a run, and got close

Across 1/23 Exhaust through overuse (4,4) 3 Unpredictable changes (8) 9 Defeat decisively (7) 10 Nimble (5) 11 Male duck (5) 12 Playground device (6) 14 Be of service to (6) 16 Go back (6) 19 Make attractive or lovable (6) 21 Quarrel (5) 24 Open to view (5) 25 Daunt (7) 26 Great in number (8) 27 Legal document (4)

(6) 5 Belts made from hose (5) 6 The girl in the Fair Isle sweater (4) 8 Rural lover was in trouble (5) 10 Built gates for theatre (5) 14 Moans about fishes (5) 16 Movements one might expect

from bounders (5) 17 Learned about rude tie (7) 18 Complain heartless left has last word (6) 19 Checks damaged stick (5) 20 Petty quarrel in health spa today (4) 22 Time to comfort badger (5)

Code Breaker Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 3 represents Z and 23 represents B, so fill in Z every time the figure 3 appears and B every time the figure 23 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 Beds, 4 Enters, 8 Servant, 9 Alter, 10 Aunt, 11 Gruesome, 13 Sarcastic, 17 Exciting, 19 Mane, 21 Amass, 22 Edifice, 23 Bedsit, 24 Seem.

Down: 2 Errands, 3 Swag, 4 Entertainment, 5 Travesty, 6 Ratio, 7 Greed, 8 Stay, 12 Protests, 14 Cyanide, 15 Began, 16 Peke, 18 Chase, 20 Bias.

QUICK Across: 1 Rip-offs, 5 Crass, 8 Drama, 9 Crimson, 10 War, 11 Toil, 12 Loss, 14 Extra, 16 Oasis, 18 Nudge, 19 Salsa, 21 Char, 22 Last, 25 Cry, 27 Antenna, 28 Soggy, 29 Serve, 30 Ensnare.

Down: 1 Rude, 2 Piano, 3 Flawless, 4 Secret, 5 Coin, 6 Abscond, 7 Sinister, 13 Conceals, 15 Analysis, 17 Scatter, 20 Locate, 23 Sigma, 24 Once, 26 Type.

ENGLISH-SPANISH Across: 1 Ashes, 4 Siglo, 7 Traveller, 10 Col, 15 Aguanieve, 17 Yolks, 18 Argue.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Down: 1 Abad, 2/8 Hot air, 3 Soap, 4 Seed, 5 Golfo, 6 Obra, 9 Igual, 11 Baby, 12 Ants, 13 Ceja, 14 Glue, 16 Egg.

20 Go into (5)

17 Exultantly proud and

22 Angry stare (5)

joyful (6)

23 See 1 Across

18 Gold-like brass (6)

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

Across 1 Beicon (5) 3 Heather (5) 7 Prescription (6) 9 Dinner (4) 10 Embalse (9) 13 Years (4) 14 Mother-in-law (6) 16 Spider (5) 17 Dressing gowns (5) Down 1 Pájaro (4) 2 Deber (3) 4 Tarde (últimas horas) (7) 5 To pray (say prayers) (4) 6 Tasty (7) 8 Creamy (f) (7) 11 Berry (4) 12 Coches (automóviles) (4) 15 That (f) (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 (BASICS) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues.

BASICS (10)

RESUME

BEARER

SLAYER

BLEARY

STARRY

CHARMS

STRAIN

FEARED

SUCKLE

NAILED

THEIRS

PLATES

TRAMPS

PRINCE

TREATS

RAGING

TREATY

RAKING

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Funagram Unscramble the name of a current English Premier League manager: MY RASCAL DEAL FUNAGRAM SOLUTION: THE ITALIAN JOB, SAM ALLARDYCE

Unscramble the name of a famous 1969 British caper film (three words): IN THE BOAT JAIL

Down 1 Take back or away (8) 2 Distinctive fragrance (5) 4 Reluctant (6) 5 Not in a state of sleep (5) 6 Mimic (7) 7 Beef and vegetable dish (4) 8 If not (6) 13 Clerical title (8) 15 Bright ray (7)

1 Lashes, 2 Shells, 3 Affect, 4 Patrol, 5 Estate, 6 Bucket, 7 Simple, 8 Tracks, 9 Hamper, 10 Struck, 11 Rescue, 12 Spikes, 13 Astute, 14 Sickle, 15 Insect, 16 Larder, 17 Hissed, 18 Island, 19 Endure

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The upside of being at home is I get to see my children more Erica Russell Watson: My journey – and I’m driving

4th February I SEEM to have escaped the ravages of the chemo aftermath and yet again feel fine. Well, I say fine, my veins are extremely painful. Chemo is hard on veins so I will just have to grin and bear it.

There are only four more sessions to go.

Apart from that my appetite is excellent, a bit too good!

My taste buds are still in full action which is such a relief, but I know that this could change at any minute.

I do notice a strange sensation in my mouth, a little like trying to say a tongue twister and have noticed that on occasions I have to make a real effort to pronounce certain words well. I am also a little forgetful and find my mind wandering, which is unusual for me but nothing that concerns me. Keep eating well and exercising and all should be fine.

Today was World Cancer Day and there have been

some fabulous programmes on Spanish TV. There seem to be lots of shops springing up offering wigs, scarves, mastectomy bras, swimwear, cosmetics and basically anything that will help people recovering from cancer to feel and look as good as they can.

One shop even had stylish plastic cutlery because some people cannot stand the metallic taste of metal cutlery.

There is also an interesting online group called Change.

Org and I have been following a Spanish lawyer who has petitioned the government for a change in the law with regards to benefit.

She has worked all her life and paid into the system, but the benefit system has let her down and she has received little or no financial support.

Another woman recovering from breast cancer gets up at 6am and goes out to fish to earn a living when she is in no condition to work. Pulling in the nets has aggravated her arm and made it swell.

Now I am no bleeding heart and I definitely believe in selfhelp and just getting on with things, but I was touched by their stories. Having received so many votes via social media they were on national television talking about their stories today. The world is upside down.

TO TREASURE: An embroidered towel featuring my favourite things.

It seems to me that lazy people are given everything and working people who hit hard times through illness are sidelined. I will get off my soapbox for now, but finance is an important aspect and without the support of friends and family, having cancer and being unable to work could be more stressful than the actual side-effects of cancer treatment.

Aiming to keep stress to a minimum, I have been taking long walks by the beach and really getting into cooking.

The upside of being at home for me is that I get to see my children much more.

It is so good to greet them from school, make them a meal, take them to their extra curricula activities, revise with them and just be with them.

I like knowing that they are having a hot, healthy meal… they are being super-charged

with veggies and fruit which is great all round. I still make their favourite pear and chocolate cake or cheesecake, always room for goodies too!

Time to plan some fun things for the weekend. The children really deserve it.

Lately they have astounded me with their shift in attitude.

They have always been very level-headed about their Mum having cancer but they have matured so much in such a short time. Total collaboration in the house now!

At last there isn’t a punchup over who is going to wash up! Dirty clothes are put in the wash basket, beds are made and homework is done without a reminder from me.

I am really proud of them.

They have finally understood that I can do most things, but the one thing I can’t handle at the moment is conflict or stress. I will seek out some

meditation CDs, I think, and as a very funny yoga teacher up in the hills of Comares used to say “water my inner garden!”

I end on a high note and want to thank a very special lady called Melissa Jagger.

We were at school together 30 years ago and she has a fabulous company called Fabrickids making bespoke towels and all sorts. I haven’t seen her since we left school, but via social media she heard that I had cancer and did a wonderfully kind thing.

Can you imagine my surprise at receiving a towel embroidered with my name made by her just for me? It gave me such a lift and a wave of emotion engulfed me.

It turns out that my sister was in cahoots with her for ideas of my favourite things. Thank you, Melissa, I will treasure it.

Good people do exist!

Coping with hot flushes and night sweats without HRT HOT flushes and night sweats strike around threequarters of all women at the menopause.

They can cause poor sleep, tiredness and a lack of concentration. Not all women can, or want to, try HRT as a way to ease their symptoms. Fortunately,

there are other management options available.

“Flushes and sweats are a common, and often distressing, part of the menopause,” says Norma Goldman, founder and director of The Menopause Exchange in the UK. “Some women find they can

control their symptoms by making simple changes to their lifestyle, such as wearing light clothes and avoiding common dietary triggers (e.g. spicy food).

Others turn to complementary therapies, such as acupuncture, or ask their GP to prescribe an

alternative to HRT, such as gabapentin. It’s simply a case of finding what works for you.”

Another common problem is middle-age spread as women approach the menopause.

But weight gain at this time of life isn’t inevitable.

There is plenty you can do to stop it from occurring in the first place.

“Research shows that the menopause itself doesn’t lead to weight gain,” said Norma. “But many women do find that their body changes shape and they pile on the pounds at this

time of life. To keep their weight stable and improve their overall health, women may need to reassess some aspects of their daily lifestyle – for example, boosting the amount of exercise they do or cutting down on some of their favourite snacks.”

HEALTH & BEAUTY

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Go easy on the jogging for a longer life LIGHT jogging is safer and healthier than heavy, strenuous running.

Scientists have found that jogging three times a week for around 20-48 minutes each time is best for us, with heavy jogging being almost as bad as doing nothing.

A study found that people who jogged three times a week at a slow or moderate pace had the lowest rates of death with heavy joggers as likely to die as those leading a sedentary life.

Previous studies have

suggested that activities such as marathons, triathlons and very long distance bicycle races may cause structural changes to the heart and large arteries, leading to lasting injury.

In the latest study, researchers in Denmark tracked 1,098 healthy joggers and 413 healthy but sedentary nonjoggers for 12 years.

They found that light jogging from one to 2.4 hours per week was associated with the lowest mortality rates.

Calm down, relax and do some yoga DEPRESSION is the most common psychological disorder in the Western world, with around 10 times more people being diagnosed with depression now than 70 years ago.

It can require years of therapy and often medication to control it, but yoga is now being prescribed for people with mild depression and low level anxiety as a way to help control the pressures of juggling busy lives.

One recent study compared levels of the amino acid GABA, vital for a well-functioning brain and promoting feelings of calmness, in those who practise yoga regularly compared to those who do an equivalent amount of walking and found they were significantly higher in those who did yoga.

A study by Massachusetts General

Hospital, USA, also found that the deep physiological state of rest induced through yoga resulted in a positive change in immune function, energy metabolism and insulin secretion, which is also known for triggering the production of serotonin which makes us feel good.

Trials have also shown that yoga is helpful for patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a study on the impact of yoga and breathing on soldiers who had served in Iraq or Afghanistan and who had been diagnosed with PTSD. Their symptoms were assessed one week before the beginning of the yoga programme and then a week, a month and

YOGA: Helpful for patients with post-traumatic stress.

a year after its completion and found that those who did yoga exercises and

breathing showed fewer or less intense PTSD symptoms.

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Craze for selfies not helpful THE craze for skinny selfies is fuelling eating disorders.

That’s the warning from a consultant psychiatrist at the Priory hospital group who said more and more young women suffering from eating disorders are taking pictures of themselves and sharing them on social media.

The fear is that this is encouraging others to copy and the trend is creating damaging psychological pressures that can exacerbate anorexia.

‘Thinspiration’ websites, which display images of concave stomachs and protruding ribs are being blamed for encouraging others with eating disorders to lose more weight.

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Bridge articles by

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JAVEA BRIDGE CLUB

FEATURE/OPINION ♠♥ ♦♣

Avenida de Paris, 2, Javea, Alicante. www.javeabridgeclub.com or Tel: 96 646 3671

Hesitations and unauthorised information Step 3. Having decided there was UI, THERE are often misunderstandings concerning a player’s right to redress the director asks himself whether the UI suggested a course or type of action. If following a hesitation by an opponent.

Say the director is called to a table at not, no adjustment. This is a subtle the end of a hand, and a claim is made point and best illustrated with an that an opponent had obtained example: unauthorised information (UI) from his partner’s hesitation. The claimant states S W N E that his side was damaged. There is a 3♦ X 5♦ 5♥ four-step process that the director must 6♦ 6♥ all pass go through before he awards an adjusted score: Step 1. He must be satisfied that The 5♥ bid was made after a long there was indeed a hesitation. If one or both of the ‘offending’ side argue that thought. East might have been thinking there was no hesitation, there is nothing of passing, or doubling or even the director can do. something stronger, before he settled No agreed hesitation, therefore no UI on 5♥. Yes, there was a hesitation by and no adjustment.

East but West had received no Step 2. Having established to his information that would help him in his satisfaction that there was a hesitation, decision over 6♦. No UI, no adjustment. the director must decide whether or not Step 4. Finally, having accepted UI the hesitation conveyed UI. If not, no was conveyed by the hesitation, the adjustment. A player is entitled to stop director must judge (Law 16.B.1(a)) and think when he has alternative whether the recipient had chosen “from continuations to consider – it is not among logical alternatives one that could demonstrably have been automatic that this results in passing UI. www.euroweeklynews.com

suggested over another by the extraneous information”. Modifying the previous example:

S 3♦ No No

W X 6♦ 7♥

N E 5♦ 5♥ No 6♥ all pass

7♥ makes. 5♥ was bid in tempo but 6♥ was preceded by long thought. The director is summoned and, on examining West’s hand, allows the result to stand. Passing 6♥ was not a logical alternative as West was clearly strong enough to drive past 6♥.

So why bid 6♦ rather than 7♥ directly? West is legally entitled to bid 6♦ and his motivation is irrelevant (he might have hoped to double a 7♦ sacrifice).

The director was happy that East’s hesitation played no part in West’s 7♥ bid, therefore no adjustment.

We play duplicate four days a week, starting at 3pm (arrive by 2.45pm please).

Monday – no fear, Tuesday & Friday – open, Wednesday – host system, so you will be assured of a partner. On Thursday – lessons.

We’d like our articles to be interactive so if you have bridgerelated comments, problems, etc, send them to: questions@javea bridgeclub.com and we’ll do our best to answer.

‘For life’ would be punishment indeed Cassandra Nash

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

T

HE PSOE, the principal opposition party in the national parliament, opposed a ‘life means life’ clause in the government’s new Penal Code. It is an unSpanish concept, they and many legal experts maintain.

On the other hand the party wanted to pact anti-terrorist measures with Mariano Rajoy’s government which include indefinite life sentence for some offences.

PSOE leader Pedro Sanchez signed the cross-party pact which avoided mentioning this sentence but repeated the party’s ‘life means life’ misgivings.

If the socialists return to power they would remove this from the Penal Code, they say, but the PSOE should ask around.

They might discover that few voters want these sentences as a matter of course, but few oppose them for exceptional cases. These include terrorists who seek martyrdom: incarcerating them for life would be punishment indeed.

Blame game

SPAIN’S tax authority Hacienda accused Switzerland of enabling the crooked Gurtel network to launder its money.

The Swiss banks helped the PP party’s ex-treasurer Luis Barcenas amongst others to avoid identification under EU laws by registering them as companies based in tax havens, Hacienda says.

That’s as maybe, but Barcenas and the rest of them piled up their dirty money for years while no-one lifted a finger to stop them. Whose fault was that? Not Switzerland’s, that’s for sure.

Selection process THE PSOE says it’s the only alternative to the Partido Popular which claims it is the only alternative to Podemos. Meanwhile, former communists IU flounder while the overshadowed UPyD liberals blend into the background.

They should save their breath: Spanish disillusionment with politicians extends to ignoring messages with little resemblance to what they would deliver in power. Next month Andalucia voters could provide clues as to who’s the current alternative but Syriza in Greece is the one to watch.

It will either blaze a trail for Podemos or demonstrate anti-austerity, anti-establishment promises lead to a blind alley blocked

by Brussels.

Old days DOLORES GONZALEZ RUIZ died recently aged 68. She was a lawyer who survived the 1977 attack by neofascists on a Madrid law firm that specialised in labour cases.

They gunned down nine people killing five of them, including Lola Gonzalez Ruiz’s husband.

She was seriously injured. Eight years earlier her then boyfriend died in an ‘accident’ when he ‘fell’ down a stairway while in police custody.

Things might be pretty bad, but compared with the past, they’ve never had it so good.

PEDRO SANCHEZ: Signed a crossparty pact which avoided mentioning life sentences.

HOMES & GARDENS

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omes&gardens

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H Creative ideas for small gardens SPONSORED BY

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for relaxation and entertainment Dick Handscombe

Gardening Corner

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

MANY expats do not have a thousand or more square metres of space in which to develop a garden, and some only have a hundred or two at the back of the house and a similar space, or nothing with a village house or townhouse at the front. But such small spaces can be converted into delightful gardens for relaxing and entertaining in, especially if the owners are working and don’t want to be rushing out to a local bar or restaurant each evening or weekend.

We therefore look at some of the possibilities for achieving the following objectives.

1. Easy to develop.

2. Easy to maintain and keep clean.

3. A space in which to relax and entertain.

4. Has privacy.

5. Can be enjoyed all the year round.

6. Is something different to the norm.

First let’s look at privacy from the road or overlooking houses.

These days there is a wide variety of fencing materials for fixing to one to two metre high wire mesh fencing if you do not have high dividing or front walls.

Against this one can grow a wide variety of climbing plants such as bougainvilleas, pandorea

jasminoides, jasmin polyanthis, dipledenias, passion flowers, climbing roses, lonicera, pyrostegia venustas, solanum or even a mix of variegated ivies. Each of these can be trimmed and tied in tight so as not to take up too much valuable floor space.

Starred varieties can add perfume to the air.

These plants can also be grown over a wooden or metal gazebo frame to provide shelter from the hottest suns and winds and additional privacy when resting or eating out, and of course up the walls of the house.

For preparing food al fresco the most convenient are a gas barbecue for quick food preparation and a paella cooker or parabolic solar cooker for lazier less rushed days.

Additional shade could be provided by one or two trees with tall bare trunks or an awning coming out of the house or off a secure high dividing wall.

To keep soil from spreading, front the climbing plants and trees with low retaining walls. A few perennial aromatic herb plants, such as lavenders and rosemary, could be planted between the trunks of the climbers and in front ground cover plants could be then grown over the walls.

I suggest that any other plants are grown in attractive containers including a couple of cordylines and sizeable succulents to give a subtropical effect.

Now what to have

DELIGHTFUL: Easy to maintain and keep clean. underfoot? Practical clean possibilities are interesting tiles, crazy paving,

impressed coloured concrete which is available these days in a

wide range of designs Place the dining table the awning, and colours and artificial under grass laid over concrete, gazebo or tree, perhaps and for part of a garden moving it according to the weather and an area of slatted time of year. If wooden crowding decking.

Additional not the space too Additional magic can much, add a magic can comfortable be added be added waterproof by water by water settee. fountains These ideas self-standing fountains can be used for or as part of a front or back small fish or terrapin pond, a Jacuzzi, gardens, and along broad a bird aviary, lights for avenues privacy can the evening and early often be more at the hours and piped music front than from a close from a couple of loud- row of townhouses at the speakers on extension rear. wires from the house to I hope that these ideas play relaxing or party will enable working music at various times of readers to use their the week. limited space and To enjoy the sun or relaxation time to the full. shade have one or two © Dick Handscombe attractive sunbeds, www.gardenspain.com preferably foldable if the February 2015. space is really small.

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Introducing a dog into a household of cats

David THE Dogman

BERNIE - Taking one for the team!

One of many special dogs at APARIV BERNIE is one of our forever dogs at the refuge, but he doesn’t have to be. When just a pup he suffered an injury in an accident that left him with a lame leg.

That said, he gets along just fine on three legs while he carries his fourth up along his side with ease and some grace. He’s an older dog with simple needs - a few cuddles, a head scratch now and again and a good meal daily.

He gives back love and devotion. He also does get along well with older, non-boisterous dogs. He deserves to experience the benefits of a caring owner. Won’t you consider meeting this exceptional guy?

If interested visit out website aparivdogrescue.com

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

cat household, as the puppy won’t be as big or as threatening as a dog, and may not think of a cat as something

PUPPIES and kittens that are raised together often will grow up as friends, not knowing that they’re not supposed to get along. Many times, however, you may want or need to add a dog to a household with cats, or vice-versa.

A general rule for the easiest integration is that the new animal should be younger and of the opposite sex, even between dogs and cats. It may be easier to bring in a puppy to a

to chase. On the other hand, an active, playful puppy may be more annoying or frightening to an adult cat than would be an adult dog that behaved calmly around cats.

Also know that certain breeds of dogs are less likely to be safe around cats. This includes terriers and sight hounds (due to a stronger

prey drive), and herding breeds (who may nip at the cats’ heels, trying to herd them).

Supervise all interactions, keeping the dog on a leash, until you are certain that he is cat-safe.

If the dog starts to chase the cat or is at all aggressive, give a quick jerk on the leash, and use the ‘sit’ or ‘leave it’ commands.

Praise the dog (or give a treat) the instant he complies and stops trying to get to the cat.

PUPPIES & KITTENS: May grow up as friends.

Pascual the cat needs a friend while Mum and Dad travel away By Lamia Walker HousesitMatch

of

SOME years ago, when his whiskers were much shorter, Pascual a ginger short haired cat was adopted by Jim and Janine.

They found him in a rescue home when he was less than a year, although they have never been exactly sure of his age.

They’ve kept him with them at their home in Fuengirola for just over 10 years. While he’s still sprightly he is less resilient to change, and seems rather

attached to them both.

One of the things that upsets his routine is when one or the other of them travels away from home.

Pascual used to sit moaning loudly at the front door for much of the night when he was younger, disturbing whomever was left behind in the house. He no longer wails but still acts rather restless, and sometimes skips a few meals in protest.

Jim and Janine returned to Scotland for a wedding last July.

Though concerned that Pascual would feel forgotten or neglected

they felt if he could stay at home it would be easier for him. So they joined an online network to find suitable sitters. The housesitters did not charge Jim and Janine, and were able to stay in Fuengirola for free! It was a great exchange. And Pascual didn’t have to go anywhere.

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

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3,995 EUROS!!! 2005 HYUNDAI ATOS… 1.1 prime, GLS, only 41,000kms (approx 25,000mls), 5 door, 5 speed, hatchback, air condition, CD player, expat lady owner leaving Spain, silver/black trim, stunning condition, a wee beauty 3,995 euros. Samantha or Gordon Robertson (The Car Couple) Tel. 952 832 173/608 658 785 see photo on www.robertsoncars-spain.com (234732) CABRIO Mercedes Benz 500SL Sport… (new shape) 2001. Only 82,000kms (approx 51,000mls), FSH, electric hard top folds into boot, stunning condition, beautiful blue colour with grey leather, usual refinements, sat nav, always garaged, 15,995 euros. Samantha or Gordon Robertson (The Car Couple) Tel. 952 832 173 or 608 658 785. www.robertson cars-spain.com (226426)

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46

E W N 12 - 18 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION / FEATURE

Whatever happened to romance?

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

DON’T recall ever having received a Valentine’s card in my life and I never send them - at least I haven’t for the last 40 odd years. And there’s a good reason for that, apart from the expense.

The gorgeous Sabrina Wicks - a girl I had had my eye on for a while - was waiting for me as I entered the lounge bar of Ye Olde Boar’s Head Inn, looking as angry as a wasp at a bee convention, and waving a card in the air. She didn’t waste any time and proceeded to tear into me.

“What the hell is this?” she stormed and she read aloud the poem inside the card.

“Roses Are Red - Violets Are Blue - When I Undressed Your Mum - I Was Thinking Of You.” It wasn’t Byron, but it was

ROMANTIC TIMES: Not all they are cracked up to be. funny, or so I had thought.

And so did the other occupants of the bar it appeared, as they spluttered and choked over their pints of Courage’s finest, trying hard not to laugh out loud.

“But how do you know it’s from me?” I countered.

“Because there are beer

stains on the envelope,” she cooed mockingly... “AND YOU SIGNED IT!” She bellowed out the last bit so hard, that my head recoiled back in the blast and my eyeballs did a full 360.

Hard to argue with that I thought. It was the darned beer stains that gave it away then.

“Look, I don’t even know your mum; it was just a joke.”

I started to say, but I didn’t get any further.

Sabrina gave me a look that could have melted granite before she downed the remainder of her Guinness in one swallow; tossed back her whisky chaser, and stubbed

out her Senior Service on a beer mat before depositing the dog-end in my newly arrived pint.

“So will you come out with me on Saturday night, then?” I hazarded. I thought it was still worth asking; after all she had not resorted to actual violence, which I reasoned, left the door slightly ajar.

She gave me another withering look. Then with a final screech of exasperation, she turned on her heel, elbowed her way past me and with her red stilettos clattering on the tiled floor exited the bar, viciously slamming the door behind her.

There was stunned silence for a second or two, before it was broken by my friend Ray who had hitherto kept his head well down.

“I don’t know about you, but I thought that went quite well,” he sniggered.

“Well, I’m telling you now, that is definitely the last time I get romantic,” I told him.

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Edward William Insurance Services are insurance brokers. Their principal interest is always the welfare of their clients; happy clients make for good business.

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Edward William Insurance policies come in both English and Spanish, the company is well established and based on traditional business values. The office staff are native English speakers, helpful and well versed in both Spanish and international insurances.

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Insurance tip: Signwriting a van is a non-

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It may not affect your insurance premium, but it could affect your claim.

www.euroweeklynews.com

MOTORING

12 - 18 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

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

Mini overall winner for holding its value IT could be that the best investment on four wheels is a Mini.

This was the result arrived at by German car magazine Auto Bild, which has published the new Value Master ranking in its latest issue. With the new Mini Cooper five-door, it was not only the Value Master 2015 in the small car category, but also the overall winner of all categories.

This means that the fivedoor and five-seater body version of the new original in the premium small car segment is the model that offers the longest-lasting value on the German automobile market.

The Value Master title is based on a forecast compiled by experts at the market research institute Schwacke that looks at the price that can be obtained in four years’ time for a car that was newly registered in 2015.

An assessment is drawn up for each model that includes not just purchase price and vehicle

properties but also numerous other factors such as running costs, time of market launch, brand image and the competitor situation within the segment as well as current trends in the automobile market and general economic developments.

This analysis is used to determine which models offer the most lasting value in 13 vehicle categories.

The new Mini Cooper five-door takes over from the Mini Cooper S Countryman as the Value Master 2015 in the small car segment, the latter

having achieved the top ranking in

2014.

In so doing it carries forward the success of the brand, which has dominated the small car category ever since 2005 with models such as the predecessor to the new Mini Cooper three-door and the Mini Convertible, as well as regularly coming first in the overall ranking.

The current forecast gives the new Mini Cooper five-door an estimated resale value of 65.6 per cent of the original price.

This is the highest

percentage residual value of all models analysed this year.

The Value Master ranking is an important decision-making aid to potential new car buyers.

It indicates which models exhibit less difference between their original price and resale value and can therefore be regarded as a sound investment.

The stability forecasts for Mini models are always especially favourable, showing that the original in the premium small car segment is highly popular in the used car market, too.

Mazda is on the model offensive MAZDA’S model offensive will go into overdrive at the 85th Geneva Motor Show in early March.

The Japanese carmaker will showcase the all-new Mazda CX-3 - its fifth model launch in six months - alongside two new model generations, the all-new Mazda MX-5 and the recently introduced Mazda2, and the 2015 Mazda CX-5 and 2015 Mazda6.

Front and centre is the Mazda

CX-3, as Mazda’s very first small SUV makes its European premiere. All five models will be available with MZD Connect and the company’s i-ACTIVSENSE active safety technology.

Offered in AWD or FWD format, the sleek KODO design and the unconventional combination of performance and fuel efficiency from its SKYACTIV Technology are set to take this rapidly growing segment by storm when

it goes on sale in Europe in early summer.

The long awaited fourthgeneration Mazda MX-5 offers something for everyone. First revealed in September, the allnew MX-5 features will set the heart racing with a new exterior design and SKYACTIV engines.

The lightweight design goes back to the roots of the original model launched 25 years ago. It will hit the market in the autumn.

EWN

47

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New GT racer takes to the track

BMW’s new figurehead for the GT racing scene has been given its first run.

The test track at the premises of the BMW factory in Dingolfing (DE) provided the stage for the roll-out of the BMW M6 GT3, with which BMW teams will compete in national and international series, as well as at iconic endurance races, from 2016 onwards.

The car left the garage for the first time with Jörg Müller at the wheel. This gave the BMW works driver the honour of creating the next milestone in the development of the BMW M6 GT3.

“This is a big moment for everyone who has worked so intensely and passionately on the development of the BMW M6 GT3 in recent months,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “This car incorporates all the experience we have gained in recent years on the endurance and GT racing circuits. We are well on schedule with the development, and are confident we will be able to take to the track in 2016 with a package that is competitive from the outset.

“We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to everyone who has been involved with this fantastic project.”

Müller was thrilled with his outing in Dingolfing. “It is a fantastic moment when you walk into the garage and see this stunningly beautiful car. I am very proud to have taken it out for its first few kilometres.

A roll-out is obviously just an initial performance test but, on the whole, everything was very good and we had no problems,” he said.

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E W N 12 - 18 February 2015 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

Sport Axarquía’s best guide to local sport

SPORT

www.euroweeklynews.com

Lizzy Yarnold GB’s Lizzy Yarnold has won World Cup and European Championship Skeleton gold medals at the same Alpine track in Austria.

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

GINS battle the wind

THE wind has played havoc at recent Golf International Nerja Society (GINS) events but the stiff breezes and cold spells haven’t deterred most of the players from enjoying some highly successful golfing.

At the fifth Glenn Cowie Memorial Day at Los Moriscos, members of Glenn’s family attended

the event despite the near hurricane level winds! However, most of the players managed to keep the ball under the wind and return some excellent scores.

The individual Stableford competition saw Daryl Paver come out as overall winner on 39 points. Bev Lagg won the Quaich Cup for nearest

NEW MEMBER: Ian Fraser joins the ‘Eagle Club’ at GINS. the pin in two shots.

The next event for GINS at Añoreta was again a windy one, but this time it was the cold that everyone particularly felt. Two new members joined the GINS cast Carlos Villen and Vinny Kearney - and the individual Stableford event was won by Derek Sibson with an overall score of 34.

At Baviera the wind again decided to plague the GINS players, resulting in some disappointing scores.

Only three players out of 38 made it into the 30’s, and then only just. Some players decided it wasn’t a good day to submit a card for the Eclectic competition, but for one in particular that turned out to be a bad decision.

New member Ian Fraser managed an eagle two on the 18th, which would have been a four pointer. He is now a member of the fairly exclusive ‘Eagle Club.’

Overall winner Derek Sibson kept his ball low throughout the afternoon and powered around in 34, winning six bottles of wine for his efforts and a handicap cut.