Euro Weekly News - Costa de Almeria 11 - 17 June 2015 Issue 1562

ISSUENN . 1555 //11 23 29 APRIL ISSUE O.O1562 - 17- June 20152015

COSTA DE ALMERÍA

YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION

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Not so silent night good for business Huercal-Overa businesses offered tempting discounts IT was a sleepless night in Huercal-Overa, but people weren’t grumbling. Fun events were lined up for its ‘Noche en Blanco’ evening.

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D-Day for town halls Electoral deals being struck in 16 municipalities Saturday is the day mayors will be named on hung councils. Those who topped the

polls, even if they did not have an overall majority, will take the posts.

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Power station jobs Employment created in €200-million upgrade

Expiry dates could sink demolitions

A plan to clean up emissions from the Carboneras power station in order to comply with EU directives on industrial emissions should lead to up to the creation of 800 new jobs.

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Second home surprise Owner finds drugs plantation inside his house

‘NOT in the interests of town halls to tear down people’s homes’

By Linda Hall ONLY one demolition order from the Contentious-Administrative Division of Almeria’s courts has been carried out.

The property involved belonged to an English couple, Helen and Len Prior from Vera, and the ensuing scandal

made world headlines.

The shameful case damaged the Spanish brand, said Judge Tomas Cobo during a joint conference of the General Judiciary Council and the National Colleges of Architects held in Almeria.

The time limit for many other demolition orders issued by Contentious-Ad-

ministrative courts will soon expire, he pointed out. Possibly allowing some threatened property-owners to sleep more easily at night, Cobo also maintained that town halls have little appetite for carrying out demolitions.

“These are not in the interests of Turn to Page 2

The owner of a property which is usually unoccupied got a shock when he returned

to the building to find an indoor marihuana plantation inside it.

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LOCAL NEWS

Hope for homes From Front Page

town halls,” Cobo said. “If homes are torn down, a mayor will not only have to face protests from residents but the town hall must pay compensation.”

Jose Pascual Pozo, Presi-

dent of Almeria’s College of Lawyers echoed proposals from the AUAN group for reforms to existing laws. He called for streamlined, simple planning regulations so that if a property can be made legal, this may be done.

Adios, Hidalgo CUSTODIO HIDALGO, National Police Commissioner in Almeria, is retiring after 44 years in the force.

Fellow-officers described him as “approachable, sociable, relaxed and transmit-

ting stability” as well as “meticulous and committed to public safety.” The crime rate dropped steadily during his eight years as commissioner and he will be a hard act to follow, they said.

Vital water celebrated IT is now five years since the first desalinated water reached the Nijar area.

The CUCN growers’ association, whose 2,100 members use this water, recently celebrated the an-

niversary of this acknowledged milestone for the area’s agriculture. Another 95 growers have now joined the CUCN, adding a further 440 hectares to the area covered by the association.

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NEWS

Huercal-Overa glad to be awake all night BUSINESS-OWNERS were very satisfied with the results

By Linda Hall HUERCAL-OVERA residents and visitors who did not sleep during the Noche en Blanco weren’t grumbling.

The town recently organised its fourth Awake all Night event, when businesses opened until late and offered tempting discounts.

It wasn’t all shopping or eating, however, as there were concerts, an equestrian display, flamenco and a Zumba marathon, plus bouncy castles and games for the children.

“Business-owners are very satisfied with the results,” said Huerca-Overa’s Commerce Councillor Monica Navarro.

“Turnover was boosted and they made themselves known to visitors who came for the Noche en Blanco.”

NOCHE EN BLANCO: Equestrian event was a crowd-pleaser.

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Minimal wages

FEATURED NEWS

Bonfires of San Juan

Woman arrested

Cordon Press

ALICANTE celebrates the coming of summer with a fiery fiesta

A 28-YEAR-OLD woman was arrested for not paying employees at a Zurgena greenhouse. After a first worker reported her to the police, the authorities located four others and found three were working without contracts.

New sand Work ongoing SAND is being replenished at the Balerma and Guardias Viejas beaches, affected by last winter’s storms. Work should be finished by June 19 in time for summer.

Listed water Historic canal THE 18-kilometre San Indalecio canal, which once carried water from the Sierra de Gador to the Alcazaba, has been included by the Junta de Andalucia in its General Catalogue of Historic Heritage.

Summer work

In public

Princess attends funeral

LAS FALLAS: Giant wooden and cardboard figures are consumed by the bonfires.

By Steve Walsh THE coming of summer is celebrated in Alicante with the bonfires of San Juan (Las fallas).

With a spectacular display of fireworks, music and colour, thousands of people flood the city streets where they and fascinated tourists experience this age-old fiery fiesta.

Traditionally, the people of Alicante would flock to the countryside in order to celebrate the arrival of summer.

They would gather for a festive dinner and wait for nightfall before taking a

55,000 Euros is the amount of cash footballer Cristiano Ronaldo’s mother Dolores Aveiro was caught carrying as she tried to board a flight from Madrid to Lisbon. She was allowed to continue on her way, but had to leave all but the €10,000 legally permitted behind.

midnight swim in the sea.

Nowadays, midnight is when the fun begins. The town bursts into life with thousands of thunderous firecrackers being let off in the streets as bonfires are lit to dance around and fireworks’ displays fill the night sky.

Since 1928, and for several days each June, Alicante resounds to the spectacle of huge bonfires burning on the beaches through the night. The fire devours enormous cardboard and wooden figures which go up in flames as revellers party the night away and teenagers and children jump over the fires.

THE Infanta Cristina has appeared in public with her brother King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia for the first time in more than a year to attend a funeral service for Prince Kardam of Bulgaria at the San Jeronimo el Real church in Madrid.

Quote of the Week Once again the government has announced something big that will cost and mean little” said Comisiones Obreras trades union referring to a measure to increase pensions for women with two or more children as of January 1, 2016. It will only affect new pensions and not those already being paid.

Ten-year-olds set an example to their elders FIFTH-YEAR pupils at the Torremar school spent a morning at Retamar beach recently.

They were there to enjoy themselves but also spent a solid hour cleaning the beach in an activity organised by the Agata

Verde and Clear Ocean Project Cabo de Gata.

The exercise was meant to set a shaming example to the children’s elders, the organisers explained, “This was not about cleaning the beach or raising

the children’s awareness, because they know all about that,” said Gonzalo Cardenas of Clean Ocean Project.

“We should look after the environment because rubbish is harmful to living creatures,”

said 10-year-old Alba. “A plastic bottle can take 100 years to decompose and a cigarette end can take 20; paper needs a year and tins around 50.”

The children found plenty of these that morning, as well as

the ever-present wet wipes which can eventually find their way from the drains to the sea.

Activities were orientated towards showing the children that although plastic is necessary its use should be reduced.

Jobs offered PULPI Town Hall has around 20 seasonal jobs to offer. They include positions for handicrafts, sports and culture instructors, a post at the Tourist Information Point, beach-cleaning and other services.

All set Two-day fiesta THE latest Local Safety Board meeting centred on Mojacar’s two-day Moors and Christians fiestas that start tomorrow, Friday.

All emergency services branches will coordinate to cope with the influx of visitors.

Less fraud Goods impounded TEN people were arrested in Almeria last year for selling bogus designer-label goods. Impounded items fell 93 per cent from 34,000 in 2014 to 2,200 in 2014, the Interior Ministry announced.

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INDEX News 1 - 35 Featured News 3 News Desk 34 European Press 36 Russian Press 37 Finance 39 - 44

ALL CHANGE: Many town halls must make pacts to ensure governability.

Stocks 40 Leapy Lee 45 Ric Polansky 52 Street Talk 52 Daily TV 54 Nora Johnson 55 Our View 56

Electoral differences must be settled by Saturday JUNE 13 could be an inauspicious date for some politicians

By Linda Hall THIS Saturday will be D-Day for many local town halls.

The date, June 13, could turn out to be inauspicious not only for the superstitious but also for local politicians because some

will have to leave the town halls they have governed for the last four years.

Others will have to swallow their pride and, occasionally, their principles in order to retain power or achieve it.

Some town halls like Mo-

jacar, Huercal-Overa and Albox emerged from the municipal elections on May 24 with their overall majorities intact but other town halls changed colour.

At the time of going to press, there were 16 municipalities Almeria City, Adra, Carbon-

eras, Chirivel, Cuevas, Dalias, Enix, Gergal, Huercal de Almería, Lijar, La Mojonera, Nijar, Vélez Rubio, Roquetas de Mar, Vera and Turre - where pacts must be made to ensure minimum, and possibly temporary, governability.

Colin Bird 56 Mike Walsh 56 Cassandra Nash 57 Letters 58 Time Out 59 - 62 Health & Beauty 64 - 65 Food 67 - 72 Albox 73 - 79 Homes & Gardens 80 - 81 Pets 82 - 83 Property 84 - 86 Classifieds 88 - 90 Motoring 92 - 94 Sport 95 - 96

September showdown for Algarrobico THE Supreme Court plans a definitive ruling on the Algarrobico issue in September.

Acting head of the Junta’s Environment Department Maria Jesus Serrano welcomed the prospect of a solution to what the Supreme Court termed “legal chaos.”

The hotel, built too near the water’s edge in the Cabo de Gato National Park, infringes planning and coastal regulation and is due to be demolished on the Junta’s orders.

The Supreme Court will rule on con-

flicting verdicts from Andalucia’s Upper Court of Justice (TSJA) regarding Azata del Sol’s planning permission, the legality of the company’s building permit and the Junta’s right to step in and acquire the property.

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ALCAZABA: Not built to withstand traffic.

Other site excavations have affected Alcazaba CRUMBLING masonry has now been repaired

By Linda Hall WORK on stabilising the south wall of Almeria City’s Alcazaba is now complete.

The Moorish fortress closed temporarily as a precautionary measure more than a month ago after rendering began to fall from one section of the wall. This was repaired and

the monument reopened although restoration work continued.

Most of the scaffolding has now been removed except at the point where the regional government began an ongoing €60,000 restoration project in April.

Facings on the affected section of wall almost certainly

began to crumble owing to city hall’s excavations at the Meson Gitano site below the Alcazaba, the regional government said.

Although there is no conclusive proof, Junta sources revealed that large scale earth movements and constant vibration from traffic were responsible for the damage.

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Photo by Sascha Kohlmann.

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CYCLING: An increasingly popular means of transport.

You can stay on yer bike (that’s official) NO plans for licences, insurance or number plates

By Linda Hall THE General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) had to issue a nationwide announcement following rumours of new rules for cyclists.

Almeria Province, like all others, is promoting cycling as an alternative means of travel as well as a leisure option, as the growing networks of cycle lanes demonstrate.

There was consternation amongst the province’s growing number of cyclists on hearing that they might have to take out a licence and insurance cover as well as attaching registration plates to their bikes.

“The General Directorate of Traffic denies and laments the deliberate misrepresentation made in relation to a forum held in Salamanca,” the DGT declared.

The forum was attended by social workers, associations and institutions linked to cycling, the statement continued. Its only objective was to promote cycling and improve conditions for its use as a safe and sustainable means of transport.

“The DGT has NO intention of implementing licences, number plates or insurance for bicycles,” the traffic authority insisted.

Lorca mansion to be saved REPAIRS to the Cortijo del Fraile will begin “imminently.”

The semi-ruined mansion, listed as an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC), is believed to have inspired the poet Federico Garcia Lorca to write Blood Wedding.

The property located inside the Cabo de GataNijar National Park belongs to Agricola Mar

Menor, based in Los Alcazares (Murcia).

Obligatory plans to halt deterioration have now been approved by the regional government, announced the company’s legal representative.

Work need no longer be delayed and a start can be made on shoring up the mansion’s chapel and south-facing walls, said Agricola Mar Menor’s owner Jose Antonio Canovas.

NEWS

NEWS EXTRA

Stone work ALMERIA’S important marble sector began to emerge from the crisis last year with 200 new jobs. The improvement continues this year with 97 more jobs created between January and April.

Big margin FRUIT and vegetable prices fell at source last month, but not for the consumer.

Almeria courgettes increased by 956 per cent between the greenhouse and the shops, the COAG cooperative complained.

Double take BILINGUAL high school tuition in English will be of f ered i n 81 Al meri a Province state schools during the next school year. Five schools will be bilingual in French and one in German, the regional government announced.

Fire station THE provincial government is providing €60,000 of the €71,000 cost of Geral’s new fire station, which will serve the Bajo Andarax and Nacimiento areas.

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City sites available for El Corte Ingles MUCH of the groundwork towards bringing Spain’s leading department store to Almeria has now been completed

By Linda Hall SUCCESSIVE city councils have hoped to bring El Corte Ingles to Almeria City since the 90s.

Power plant brings jobs ENDESA will install denitrification systems for both the Carboneras power station’s units.

800 new jobs in Carboneras.

The national government in Madrid also gave the goahead to improve desulphurisation systems in the coal-burning plant’s second unit.

Endesa, now part of Italy’s Enel group, is investing €200 million to extend the power station’s working life by 20 years.

The project should provide 800 jobs while enabling the installations to comply with European Union directives on industrial emissions, said the government’s delegate to Almeria, Andres Garcia Lorca.

“This guarantees future viability and employment for an important number of workers in Carboneras,” Garcia Lorca added.

Problem of water solved WHEN summer arrives, water often stops flowing from Valle del Almanzora taps.

Cuts sometimes last hours and even days, but in Tijola, where residents in some neighbourhoods complain they are routinely affected every summer, the problem can be solved.

The town hall and Galasa, responsible for the domestic water supply in the Valle del Almanzora area, intend to prevent a repetition this year and plan to sink a well in ‘La Cerri.’

Pablo Venzal, city hall’s acting Town Planning councillor, believes when he leaves the corporation this coming Saturday, June 13, the long-

held ambition is closer to realisation.

Much of the groundwork towards bringing Spain’s leading department store to the city has now been complet-

ed, Venzal said, with several options for the centre’s future location.

He mentioned La Salle, which already figures in the city’s General Ur-

ban Development Plan (PGOU). However, El Corte Ingles needs to be able to choose an Almeria City site without encountering political undercurrents.

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NEWS

Green, green grass of empty homes NOTHING links growers to their illicit plantations

MARIHUANA PLANTATIONS: Sophisticated heating and ventilation is used.

By Linda Hall REPORTS of Guardia Civil or police raids on illicit marihuana plantations now appear on a

weekly basis.

Almeria, the Costa Sol and the Costa Blanca are ideal for small scale cultivation that is nevertheless too large for authorities to believe “personal consumption” excuses. The economic crisis has prompted the grow-your-own trend but so, too, has greater vigilance along the coast, police said.

In Almeria the police and Guardia Civil increasingly find unoccupied properties are being used by squatter-growers. The provincial press recently cited the case of an owner of a usually unoccupied house in a small town who returned to find a marihuana plantation inside it.

The grower, who did not live there, had hot-wired the house to a street lamp in order to bypass the electricity meter. Not only did this sidestep paying for a round-

the-clock supply for force-growing the crop but it ensured the owner would not pay close attention to higher than usual bills.

The squatters use sophisticated heating and ventilation and are knowledgeable about drip-irrigation and biological pest control, police said.

They are choosing empty properties, generally second homes, confident that unless they are caught red-handed or are kept under surveillance, nothing links them to the plantations.

Occasionally they unwittingly give themselves away, as happened when emergency services were called to put out a fire in a Roquetas house. They discovered a marihuana plantation and found the fire was caused by an electricity overload in the equipment used to force-grow it.

Broadband not available for all MORE than 50,000 people do not have an internet connection in Andalucia.

This applies equally to 4G, 3G, ADSL or fibre optic connections from conventional providers, found a survey by a leading satellite broadband services operator.

In Almeria, the municipalities with the most internet

blind spots are Oria and Sorbas which between them have 1,800 residents unable to access the internet, the report said.

Albox, Arboleas, Nijar, Cantoria and Lubrin also have their fair share of residents and businesses cut off from a service that is no longer a luxury but has become indispensable.

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NEWS EXTRA

Going it alone

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An Almeriense in Can Roca REALISING cooking was his vocation, Gonzalo Landin set about learning his craft photo – by Robert Young

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NURIA RODRIGUEZ MARTIN will be the first mayor of newly-independent Balanegra. “But I hope I will be remembered for what I do, not just the separation from Berja,” Martin stressed.

Con-agent AN El Ejido travel agent received a six-month prison term for selling plane tickets without reimbursing 25 airlines.

The 50-year-old must also repay €36,000 to the companies involved.

Round trip SERON is increasing its tourist offer with a 10-kilometre walking route, which will include the Las Menas miners’ houses, the Centre de Interpretacion museum, chapel and woods.

LOLLIPOPS: Unusual nibbles served at El Celler de Can Roca.

By Linda Hall ALMERIA-BORN Gonzalo Landin is now in Gerona, at El Celler de Can Roca, voted the world’s best restaurant.

This is the second time that the Roca brothers - Joan, Josep and Jordi – have scooped up the distinction awarded each year in a ceremony at London’s Guildhall. And Landin was amongst

the members of staff celebrating the honour. His interest in food began when as a small child he accompanied his mother to the central market in Almeria City where he was fascinated by the colour and texture of the fish and vegetables.

Landin soon realised that cooking was his vocation and enrolled at the Cordon Bleu school in London. Once qualified he worked in London for celebrity chef Marcus Wareing before moving on to other leading restaurants, including Heston Blumenthal’s Dinner.

“I decided to try my luck in

Spain,” Gonzalo told a Spanish interviewer. “It seemed a pity that I’d never worked in my own country and knew more names for ingredients, utensils and kitchen slang in English than my own language.”

On the off-chance, he contacted Can Roca, asking to work with them. They emailed back, asking for his CV and eventually offered him a job if he could start there and then.

Landin left for Gerona taking only his knives, his kitchen whites, a change of clothes and his first cookery book written by - who else? - Joan Roca.

NEWS

Justice system fears THREE MPs representing Almeria in the regional parliament have called for justice system improvements.

Carmen Crespo, Rosalia Espinosa and Aranzazu Martin, all from the Partido Popular (PP), warned that the system is collapsing.

Even though the regional president’s investiture has been delayed, it should be possible to alleviate the situation because the budget has been approved, they pointed out.

The courts have shortfalls and are precarious, according to Crespo.

Spain has an average of 185 pending cases for every 1,000 inhabitants but Andalucia has 218.2 per 1,000 inhabitants.

The situation was still worse in this province with an accumulation of 227 cases for every 1,000 people, she claimed.

It was essential to come up with an emergency plan that can reduce the number of pending cases and speed up the system, the MP said.

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EURO WOMEN PAGE

A prolific entrepreneur Our Euro Women series is featuring women who have made a success of their lives in Spain. These outstanding ladies have been shattering glass ceilings whether in business, charity work or sports. Karla Darocas, as well as running a successful business, has helped countless children with her charity work.

KARLA DAROCAS creates a first impression of boundless energy and enthusiasm for everything and everyone she meets.

She is a prolific entrepreneur with a broad range of business ventures under her belt that include web-based businesses, teaching art history, galleries, networking projects and her current focus, CBWomen.com, which aspires to encourage and support women in business ventures in Spain.

“Women are about so much more than just getting married and having some kids,” said Karla.

“Women need to have this revolution going on that will enable them to start their own businesses.

And there’s nothing wrong with wanting to have a family but it shouldn’t be all there is to life.

Women need to be learning how to make a business work, generating a new economy of free-thinking entrepreneurs with independent ambitions,” she added.

Karla came to Spain to spend some weeks completing her Art History degree by visiting the Museo del Prado in Madrid. She took a vacation in Javea, met her husband José and has been there ever since.

She reflected: “I guess fate stepped in somewhere. What made me choose to study Spanish Art History? I don’t know. I never thought I would actually be teaching Art History in Spain, which is something else I am involved in. It brought me here and this is where I always want to be.”

Karla believes her strengths are

Karla has tackled a broad range of ventures with boundless energy and enthusiasm

KARLA DAROCAS: An entrepreneur whose main focus is on women.

Encouraging women in business

By Jan Gamm in being an entrepreneur and being able to educate other women.

Does she have any weaknesses?

“Chocolate – with everything!”

The Euro Weekly News asked what Karla sees as her greatest success: “Mar-

Women need to have this revolution going on that will enable them to start their own businesses.” rying my one true love,” she answered: “All my girlfriends are divorced! But I got it right, by marrying my best friend.”

And her greatest failure? “Being too quick to trust people.”

Karla’s biggest irritant? “People who drink too much. You just can’t talk to them, they don’t make any sense. You

Fact file Name: Karla Darocas Age: Mid-fifties Family : Married to José Hometown: Toronto, Canada Where now: Benitachell Pets: Venus the puppy, who ate my sandals and also my bikini this week Languages: English, Spanish, some Valenciano and a little French Book or TV: Book Favourite title: I’m reading the Traveller’s Talks Guide to Life on the Road in Spain

certainly can’t talk business with them,” she remarked.

The best time of her life, Karla said, was her honeymoon when she and José took off together in a 4x4 and spent six months exploring Spain.

One of her worst experiences was when she became ill with MS (multiple sclerosis) and spent years trying to recover from some terrible attacks, one of which left her unable to speak for four days.

“I am on sulphur now,” she explained, as casually as if she had been given aspirin. “It’s tough but hey, you get through the days. I’m too busy to be sick anyway,” Karla added.

A big picture person or a detail addict?

“Actually I am a big picture person in that I dream on a large scale and then throw myself into details to get it right and make my dreams happen.”

Karla’s heroes are the artists she believes have had the biggest influence on her as an artist and photographer: Salvador Dali and Antoni Gaudi.

And why does Karla love Spain? “Life is so free in Spain,” she said: “Freedom of movement, expression and so much love and energy, with great food, fantastic weather and with so many things to be grateful for.”

In five years’ time Karla wants to be in Spain, still loving it and working at the things she loves best as an educator, an artist, a Blues aficionado and business entrepreneur.

Do you know a Euro Woman? If you do please drop us a line at eurowomen@euroweeklynews.com giving full contact details and why you feel they deserve to be honoured.

As well as being featured in the EWN a book is being produced for Christmas with all profits going to charitable organisations.

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Man arrested as wanted to kill ex GUARDIA CIVIL and Local Police in Berja, have arrested a man suspected of a crime of illegal possession of firearms and for breach of sentence.

The 45-year-old resident of El Ejido confessed to the agents he had stolen a gun with which he tried to kill his former partner.

A court order was in place preventing the man from going near his ex-partner.

Local Police had been

warned of his presence hiding in a crumbling farmhouse in Berja village.

They had seen him with the gun at the abandoned property.

It was later discovered the weapon had been stolen from a farmhouse in Nijar in September 2010 as the man told officers he intended to shoot his former partner. Officers also discovered a restraining order had been issued which prevented him from entering Berja.

CATHEDRAL: Byzantine icon exhibition is on until June 19.

Romanian religious art unites Fugitive found PAINTINGS by graduates in cultural heritage theology

By Linda Hall ART and religion have merged at Almeria cathedral with an exhibition of Byzantine icons.

The itinerant exhibition of 30 religious pictures from Romania can be seen until June 19. They were painted by graduates in Cultural Heritage Theology at universities

in Cluj-Napoca (Transilvania) and Bucarest.

The exhibition, which has been arranged by Father Dorin Sas, aims to provide a meeting point between the

Catholic and Orthodox churches. “More things unite us than separate us,” said the Bishop of Almeria, Adolfo Gonzalez Montes, during the inauguration.

A FUGITIVE wanted by the Polish authorities has been located and arrested by the National Police in Aguadulce, Roquetas de Mar. The woman, aged 42, was wanted in respect of charges of swindling and fraud and a European warrant had been issued for her arrest.

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Giving thanks for ultimate gift FLOWERS for donors TWENTY transplants were carried out this year thanks to seven Almeria donors.

The families who gave the go-ahead for their loved ones’ organs to be used as well as those who opted beforehand to become donors were remembered on the recently-celebrated National Day of the Donor.

Kevin and Jose Luis, two children who are undergoing dialysis at Torrecardenas hospital laid flowers

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All the fun of the fiestas now over VERA festivities are now finished for another year

20 transplants this year at the foot of an olive tree planted at the entrance in honour of all organ donors in 2009.

The two boys, who are both awaiting kidney transplants, also freed balloons in thanks to all the people “who didn’t take their organs to heaven” and gave new life to dozens of people.

According to Junta statistics, Andalucia donors increased by 21 per cent since the beginning of the year, overtaking the national average and doubling Europe’s. Last year there were seven Almeria donors, compared with nine in 2013 and 11 in 2012.

FIESTAS: Re-enacting the past.

By Linda Hall VERA’S town fiestas are over for another year.

In addition to the traditional religious ceremonies and celebrations, there were daytime gath-

erings and dances at night in the Plaza Mayor as well as Moors and Christians parades when Vera re-enacted its past by recreating the town’s surrender to the Catholic Monarchs in 1488.

NEWS

Motoring fines need chased up IF motorists pay up, Almeria City Hall should earn €4.23 million from 2014 traffic fines.

The council had anticipated a maximum of €2.5 million from fines, according to last year ’s budget which was signed off recently. This was normal practice explained city hall’s Finance department as prior estimates are deliberately lower than expectations.

This also sidesteps citizens’ accusations that traffic fines are regarded as a source of income, sources revealed.

Whether or not city hall sees every last cent of these fines remains to be seen. Approximately €70,000 was written off in cancelled fines but by December 31 last year, city hall had only received €1.5 million of the remainder, leaving €2.72 - 65 per cent of the total unpaid.

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NEWS

Unique chance to Motorbike riding see 70’s Union Gap techniques: Heavy traffic

Advertising feature

DONATION from proceeds will be made to local schools

By Linda Hall

Motorbike riding in heavy traffic RIDING a motorbike safely requires both skill and judgement. But when riding in heavy traffic or in traffic jams, you need to be extra vigilant at all times especially when vehicles are slowing down or there appears to be overtaking space available on the right.

Its never safe to overtake on the right, with passengers exiting taxis, vehicles turning right, or vehicles in front slowing down to let an oncoming vehicles turn left. In these cases the time required to brake safely is drastically reduced, even if you see the danger before it’s too late. In heavy traffic always drive slow enough to allow safe breaking to avoid collisions.

Tourist areas of town On entering these areas be extra aware of tourists and other pedestrians who are mo r e c o n c e r n e d w ith th e s ig h ts a n d sounds than following road safety regulations. Expect tourists to step out onto the street without looking. And be especially alert when riding through these areas at night, when pedestrians under the affects of alcohol are an even greater potential hazard to road users.

Eyes in the back of your helmet Tune your ability to anticipate what’s going to happen around you, be cautious, pay attention to oncoming cars and expect the vehicle in front to brake at any time without warning. Slow down at zebra crossings, intersections, and put your feelers

out to help maintain that sixth sense.

Traffic lights Never stop in the middle of the lane at a set of lights, even if the road is free.

Always come to a stop either to the left or right to let other vehicles, that may be braking suddenly to avoid the lights, pull up beside. This helps avoid collisions.

A skill for life Motorcycling is a skill for life and like any skill needs to be practised and constantly improved. If you’re returning to motorcycling after a lapse, ease yourself back into riding slowly and consider taking out a refresher-training course.

Every ride needs to be good and safe, think about when you have had near misses, been tired, distracted or angry at other road users, even stressed; all these day to day problems can affect your ability to ride and enjoy motorcycling.

Yo u n e e d to de ve lop your s kills a nd abilities to deal with any situation.

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

If you would like to contact Línea Directa please call 902 123 309 More information on Línea Directa online at www.lineadirecta.com

ICONIC 70s’s group Union Gap of ‘Young Girl’ fame recently announced that they are reforming.

Called reUnion Gap, the fivepiece band has two members of the original group and starts touring later this year.

Before that they will be appearing with a full line-up of supporting acts at the Renfe site in La Alfoquia, Zurgena on August 14.

Tickets for the event that commences at 8pm and ends at 12 midnight cost €10 and go on sale on June 15. There will be a coach transfer from Mojacar at an extra cost of €6.

A donation will be made to local schools after all the overheads of putting the show together, including artists’ fees, advertising and printing costs, have been paid.

It is hoped that the concert can be held outdoors but due to the

uncertainty of the weather only 200 tickets will go on sale so that people who have purchased tickets can see the show inside the Renfe building if the weather does not hold.

Should the concert be held outside, additional tickets will be available on the day of the event.

For further information, see the advertisement in this week’s edition of the Euro Weekly News.

2 local girls are abacus whizzes in competition

ABACUS: Still in use in 500 Spanish schools.

TWO Almeria Province girls have come second and third in a national arithmetic competition.

This was a competition with a difference, because the only calculators Andrea Fernandez (aged 10) and Maria Alvarez (aged 12) were al-

lowed to use were abacus counting frames. Andrea, from Colegio Laimun in El Ejido, and Maria, who attends Academia Garrucha, were amongst 500 children from 122 schools in Spain who competed in the challenge.

Mojacar Branch Royal British Legion dates to note in your diary MEETINGS are held on the first and third Thursday of the month at the Artisan Centre in Mojacar at 11.15am.

There is no need to have served in the Armed Forces and all are welcome. There will be a summer recess during July and August and the next meeting is on Thursday September 3, for registration (and Buck’s Fizz!).

The president Mick, will be in Maskos coffee shop in Mojacar Parque between 11am and 12am on Thursday, June 18, if anyone would like to know more about the Royal British Legion and, in particular, the Mojacar Branch.

Forthcoming social events: June 13: Black and White Jazz night. Poppy Appeal fundraiser at Laguna Restau-

rant with four different entertainers.

June 18: Coach trip to Viator Army Base or shopping in Almeria, €11 per person July 6. Hawaiian themed lunch for the Poppy Appeal at La Parata restaurant at 1.30pm.

For more details please email Eileen Huard on social events.rblmoj.3485@gmail.co m or telephone 619 372 474.

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Home grown fish RED TILAPIA, the world’s second-most farmed fish, could be raised in Almeria greenhouses.

The regional government’s Agriculture and Fisheries department and Institute of Agricultural and Fisheries’ Investigation (Ifapa) are promoting the option of farming tilapia.

Experts explained the project at La Mojonera’s Ifapa centre during a meeting that focused on new business opportunities for Almeria greenhouses.

Detailed information on the process of raising and marketing freshwater tilapia was provided by research from students at the Campomar vocational school. The project would have every chance of success thanks to Almeria’s excellent climate and existing infrastructure, the students said.

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Rain could not dampen HAA fundraising spirits DESPITE the inclement weather, more than €3,300 was raised

NEWS

NEWS EXTRA

New use THE conversion of Almeria City’s old Virgen del Mar sanatorium into municipal offices is now complete. Tax authority Hacienda will be first to make the move in July.

It’s a gas REDEXIS Gas will supply natural gas to Biobelmonte and Consabor greenhouses in Retamar.

The contract, signed recently in Nijar, should bring energy savings of between 35 and 50 per cent.

Signing up FULL HOUSE: Two hundred and fifty buffet tickets were sold.

By Community reporter HELPING ANIMALS ALMANZORA (HAA) recently held their Spring Gala event at Hostal Meson in Arboleas.

Despite an initial downpour and thunder and lightning that did their best to hinder proceedings, an amazing €3,308 was raised.

Two hundred and fifty buffet

tickets were sold and even more people came along and joined in the raffle and auction.

Entertainment was provided

by Doggy, Nic Spatoni, Two of Us and Danny Ogden who had

to set up twice due to the weather.

The HAA team would like to thank all the businesses and individuals who contributed to the event’s success.

THE Defence Ministry is recruiting for 1,500 vacancies in the army, navy and air force. The 1,150 army positions include 55 two-year posts in the Almeria-based legion.

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NEWS

Council change may save local palace PALACIO DEL ALMANZORA in imminent danger of ruin

By Linda Hall THE Friends of the Palacio del Almanzora association are hoping for a timely rescue for the decaying building.

The neo-classic palace, built in 1872 on a 16th century site, is on the point of ruin but could be saved by Cantoria’s new PSOE town council.

No mention was made of the palace during last month’s elec-

tion campaign because local candidates were reluctant to make promises that could be difficult to keep, sources said.

“Without guaranteeing anything, we shall do everything possible to maintain the palace and halt its collapse before restoring it entirely,” the same sources added. Neither the times nor the economic situation are the same as they once were but different bodies in-

cluding Unesco have already been contacted for assistance.

The Amigos del Palacion del Almanzora, which has called for complete restoration, received the news with caution.

The association is prepared to collaborate with the town hall, but not unconditionally, said member Miguel Angel Alonso: “We need the kind of plan that should have been in place years ago.”

Seal of local approval ALHAMA DE ALMERIA intends to apply for Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) for locally-produced breadsticks.

Rather than sticks, local Alhama rosquillas resemble elongated loops and the PGI designation would guarantee their characteristics and reputation are inseparable from their place of origin.

Twenty Alhama business-owners attended a meeting to discuss PGI with the regional government’s acting Economy, Innovation, Science and Employment delegate, Adriana Valverde.

Several Andalucia food products now have PGI, said Valverde, who encouraged other Alhama businesses to apply for PGI.

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FEATURE FLICKR BY ANIMANATURALIS

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Anything capable of arousing passion in its favour will surely raise as much passion against it.

Hemingway

DRAMATIC PROTESTS: Many in Spain now brand the practice as barbaric.

Bullfighting: art or ritual torture?

ONE of the most emblematic ‘rituals’ of Spain – and probably its most controversial – is bullfighting. For many it is an art form, for others a bloodthirsty form of torture. Steve Walsh takes a closer look at the subject.

ALTHOUGH there are millions of bullfighting aficionados (fans) around the world who glory in the pomp and ceremony of an age-old Spanish tradition, there are equally as many - if not more - who are repulsed by it.

Ernest Hemingway’s writings in the 1920s turned Pamplona’s annual fiesta of San Fermin from a local event into an internationally recognised spectacle that now attracts a growing million plus visitors each year.

Sue Griggs from the Animal charity SOS Animals in Andalucía, told Euro Weekly News (EWN): “It makes me sick; bullfighting is simply wrong. It’s a cruel, antiquated and barbaric sport that has no place in a so-called civilised European country. It’s a tragedy.”

Spanish animal rights groups such as the Mallorca Sense Sang - who oppose the ‘bloodthirsty sport’ - stage dramatic public protests in order to seek an end to it.

Ric Polansky, an EWN columnist, sees things differently. After living in Spain for over 40 years, and being somewhat of an expert aficionado, he despairs at people’s unwillingness to see the real picture.

“Bullfighting is an art form,” he said. “The hypocrisy of people who line up at the supermarket to buy their beef - not giving a second thought as to how the thousands of cows are killed daily to put meat on their table - are the

‘The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.’ Gandhi

same people that complain about (as they see it) one bull being killed.”

For the multitude of devout bullfighting fans, and for hundreds of years, the bull (and combat with him) has been revered in Spain’s unique culture as the ultimate battle between man and beast. The Spanish never refer to it as ‘entertainment’, rather ‘a ritual sacrifice’.

For the many that pay thousands of euros for front row seats, banning bullfighting would be deemed akin to banning football in the UK, and fail to see the difference between a bull being killed in the ring to one being slaughtered in an abattoir.

The anti-bullfighting camp on the other hand would argue that slaughtering an animal and animal cruelty are two different issues. No matter the reason, an animal should not be purposely made to suffer before its death. So maybe this is where the bone of contention lies.

Juan Moran, a bull breeder from Torre de Ri-

ANGEL SIMON / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

CONTROVERSIAL: Supporters call bullfighting an art, opponents a bloodthirsty sport. co in Murcia said: “The bulls are bred just for this reason. If there were no bullfights, they would be extinct. They are very well looked after throughout their life, and die honourably and quickly doing what they naturally want to do, fight!

Mallorca Sense Sang disagree. They say that cruelty is evident. The bulls are tortured for days before the actual event, not to mention the poor horses that get injured into the bargain.

There is of course the money aspect to the spectacle that should also be factored in. The sport is largely funded with public money, and critics claim the government has paid sums in excess of €500 million every year in subsidies to bull breeders.

The argument on that front however seems more than valid. With the huge revenues bull-

They are very well looked after throughout their life, and die honourably and quickly doing what they naturally want to do, fight! fighting brings to the Spanish tourist industry apparently some 12 per cent of the yearly total the question isn’t so much, ‘can we afford it?’ but can we afford not to have it?

Sue Griggs quoted Gandhi: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” She said: “I live in this country, and I don’t want to be labelled an animal abuser, it has to stop now.”

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Charities benefit from illegal catch ROQUETAS DE MAR fisherman seven times over legal quota

By Gemma Quinn A FISHERMAN from Roquetas de Mar was caught by police for exceeding the legal limit of catching bluefin tuna.

The skipper was caught in San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia, with eight gutted tuna on boa r d h i s b o a t , se v en times t h e l e g a l q u o t a fo r bluefin. The catch was confiscated and he now faces fines o f b e t we e n € 2 0 0 3,000 for each fish.

The catch was inspected

by Guardia Civil officers and fo u n d i t d i d n o t c o n form to the strict regulations of catching bluefin tuna under the law of Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Region of Murcia.

This states that the maximum bluefin tuna allowed

ILLEGAL CATCH: Fisherman caught exceeding legal limit for catching bluefin tuna.

to be caught on one boat is just one fish.

T h e ma n w a s c a u g h t a s part of a police operation against illegal catches as they surveyed the coast of San Pedro del Pinatar.

Police confiscated all of

the tuna, which weighed 1.5 tonnes, and sent it to the association of fishermen in the port of San Pedro where it was found to be fit for human consumption.

It was then passed on to local charities.

NEWS

Moors and Christians, a brilliant show of history MOJACAR’s Moors and Christians celebrations are becoming an increasingly popula r e ve nt, w hic h the e ntire popula tion fe e ls a part of.

The origins of the festivities date back to the 17th century, when Mojacar became a part of the Catholic M ona rc hs ’ kingdom in a strangely peaceful takeover.

The popula r ve rs ion of the conquest of Mojacar is behind these annual celebrations, which have been he ld s inc e 1988 on the weekend closest to June 10.

This was the date the Mooris h le a de r a nd C hris tia n captain held talks at one of Spain’s most beautiful settings , a pe rfe c t s c e ne for recreations.

The Moors and

Christians festivities in Mojacar offer an interesting and enjoyable programme which includes historical reenact m ent s, m usi c and dance, m edi eval t our naments and a beach landing.

The entire town dresses up in its best finery for the event , especi al l y f or t he grand Moors and Christians parade held on the Sunday afternoon. This sees thousands of locals in period costume parade before thousands of spectators that fill the area’s hotels.

Since the festivities began, 27 years have passed and they have certainly become a real tourist attraction. The celebrations’ popularity crosses borders, and t he m uni ci pal t our i st

office receives requests for information all year round from people in other parts of Spain, the UK, US, Ireland, France, Germany, Holland and many other countries.

Details most often requested include the dates the festivities are held on each year as many visitors wi t h t o book f l i ght s and holidays around them.

The programme, transport timetables and lists of accommodation are also frequent requests.

Information is often requested in January as people interested in the event wi sh t o book i n advance, proving the amount of interest it sparks.

All of Mojacar ’s hotels registered increased bookings and people staying further afield also flock to join the party.

The Tourist Office advertises the celebrations i n m any pl aces. Each year t he num ber of emails, programmes, posters and other inform at i on sent out on t he subject increases.

Plus social media networks are helping to spread the information even more as people share magnificent colourful photos they have taken at the event, meaning they are seen all over the world.

IN COSTUME: Ready to recreate history in the colourful celebrations.

Out with the old...

AT the age of 26, Almudena Morales Asensio may well become the youngest mayor in Almeria, or even in Andalucia.

The candidate’s party AVL (Agrupacion Vecinal por Laujar) won the recent local elections in Laujar de Andarax with an absolute majority, gaining five of the nine available seats. AVL is a group of local people who decided to step forward and run in the elections by popular demand, and have pledged to meet the challenge to make

Laujar a better place.

Morales said citizen participation is at the base of her party’s projects, which aim to ensure that villagers have a part in running the town. “We aim to be as transparent as possible and allow the people to take part in the decisions, both large and small, that are made,” the future mayor explained.

Measures the party intends to introduce include making as many services as possible municipal to create jobs and reduce

NEWS

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Discounts available for beach parking THERE will also be a daily bus service

By Gemma Quinn DISCOUNTS have been introduced this year for parking at the beaches of the Poniente area of the Natural Park Cabo de Gata.

The parking management service has this week been awarded to the company Torres and Gonzalez Diaz and will incorporate discounts to large families and pensioners

of between 20 and 50 per cent on tickets for access by motor vehicles.

Entry is available through an access barrier and a parking fee is in place from June 20 until September 20. During this busy summer period, access to the natural park area by car will be limited to a daily 400 spaces on the beaches of Monsul, Genoveses and Barronal, costing €5 per vehi-

cle per day. Access by bus is €2.

The parking will be accessible from 8am to 7pm and several places will be reserved for disabled parking.

The bus service will have two buses daily with the service increasing during weekends and busy periods.

Two portable toilets have also been installed for the first time this season, on site.

Ambitious project for port TALKS are under way for an ambitious project to give new life and use to Almeria City’s port.

Following a meeting with the port authority, acting Town Planning councillor Pablo Venzal said the results had been satisfactory and a draft agreement will be drawn up to take the project one step further.

The project, which would require approval from the city council, the port authorities and the Junta de Andalucia Regional Government, aims to remove the fence separating the port from the city and create new leisure areas, a marina and docks for cruise ships to the east while moving port activity to new docks to the west.

EWN

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NEWS

€5.9m to repair damaged beaches ALMERIA to receive more from government for storm repairs ALMERIA is to receive the lion’s share of investment for beaches and infrastructure.

It comes as part of the central government’s Coastal Plan, aimed at repairing damaged infrastructures on boardwalks, access to beaches, sand replenishment and other work to protect and secure the coast.

The works will be implemented in Galicia, Asturias,

the Basque Country, Catalonia, Valencia , Murcia, Andalucia, the Balearics and the Canaries, with a total investment of €21.5 million.

Almeria, with €5.9 million, is the province that is receiving the largest amount of money for investment, followed by Cadiz with €4.4 million.

Damage on the seafront of Lance de la Virgen will be re-

paired, and access to the promenade to the west of the Port of Adra will be improved.

Construction of five breakwaters will be carried out at Balanegra beach, El Ejido, and improvements and repairs made in Almerimar, Roquetas, Almeria, Garrucha, Mojacar, Vera, Carboneras, and Cuevas del Almanzora.

The works, part of the 2015 Coastal Plan, have been classed as urgent, to repair damage to the coast by storms earlier in the year.

The Royal Decree responds to the need to deal with emergencies or damage caused by storms. It has earmarked around €21.5 million for repair work, which was assessed in co-ordination with regional and local administrations.

RUBBISH: Environmentalists complain of build-up of rubbish.

Rubbish gathers at Cala del Plomo ENVIRONMENTALISTS denounce state of natural environment

By Community Reporter THE Association of Friends of Cabo de Gata Natural Park have denounced the “deplorable state of dirt and conservation” in the Cala del Plomo, near the town of Níjar Aguarmarga.

The association said there was a “worrying proliferation of urban waste accumulation” resulting from the “lack of a permanent and continuous waste collection” which is creating a bad image for tourism and represents a degradation of the natural environment.

The conservation group said the state of the area violates the provisions on management of urban waste of Cabo de Gata-Nijar and is calling on the authorities to install the proper management of the natural area.

It is not the first time the association has denounced the accumulation of rubbish, saying this further shows and example of “administrative negligence” adding that it is urgent and imperative that the situation is sorted out and waste collection is dealt with within the natural park area.

Almeria relies on its exports FOREIGN consumers are the backbone of Almeria’s entrepreneurial firms who are relying on exports.

The Consentino group is the largest employer in the province with 2,838 workers and relies on export of their Silestone quartz products with more than 70 per cent of its sales coming from exports.

Exports in Almeria account for over 30 per cent of the provincial GDP and 18 per cent in Andalucia.

Horticultural products remain one of

the largest exports of the region. Almeria has 1,853 companies exporting products with the greenhouse agribusiness generating thousands of direct and indirect jobs, driving the economic activity in the province. The main markets are Germany, France, the UK and Italy, although the main increases in foreign trade is strongest for new markets such as Brazil, Nigeria and Lithuania.

The pending issue is the internationalisation, not so much to sell, but to open subsidiaries within these countries.

FINANCE

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One of the most financially damaging taxes facing wealthier British families is UK inheritance tax. Living in Spain does not automatically protect you from inheritance tax since liability does not rest on residence or even nationality, but on domicile.

Domicile is a complex UK common law concept. If claiming a change of domicile the onus is on you (or your family when inheriting your assets) to prove you were non-UK domicile at the date of death should HM Revenue & Customs challenge your status.

Anyone who is UK domiciled or deemed UK domiciled is liable to inheritance tax on their worldwide assets. The current threshold for inheritance tax is £325,000 per individual, with tax then charged at 40%. Transfers between spouses are generally exempt.

Before the election the Conservative Party pledged to increase the threshold up to £1 million for a couple, where family home is inherited by direct descendants. This was not included in the Queen’s Speech on 27th May, so we await the July budget for any news.

Assets situated in another country may also be liable to inheritance tax there, although in most cases the UK gives credit for the tax paid overseas.

EWN

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Your Domicile Status And Liability To UK Inheritance Tax

By Gary Cardwell, Partner, Blevins Franks This would be the case for British expatriates living here in Spain.

If you are a non UK domicile you are only liable to tax on assets situated in the UK. Under UK law your place of domicile does not have to be the country where you have your closest personal association. You can live

in Spain for many years and remain a UK domicile. The basic rule is that you are domiciled in the country where your life is centred, and which you regard as your homeland.

There are three types of domicile under English law: Domicile of origin - a child takes their father’s domicile of origin at birth, not necessarily the country where you are born. A child of a single mother takes her domicile.

Domicile of dependence - applies to women married before 1974, children and mentally incapable persons.

Domicile of choice - can be acquired by moving permanently to another country.

To acquire a domicile of choice you must be physically present and a tax resident in your new country;

have formed the intention of living there permanently and not foresee any reason to return to the UK. You need to sever as many ties as possible with the UK. Even stipulating in your Will that you wish to be buried in the UK will count against your case. HMRC will look for any indication that you regard the UK as your homeland and may return for good one day.

It takes at least three years to shed UK domicile for inheritance tax purposes. You will be deemed domiciled in the UK if you were UK domiciled any time in the previous three years, or were resident in the UK for any part of at least 17 of the last 20 years.

Inheritance tax is often described as a ‘voluntary tax’ since tax planning devices are available to

mitigate or avoid it. This applies whether or not you have a UK domicile, but for expatriates domicile is a key factor in inheritance tax planning. There are a number of ways in which your domicile status can be satisfactorily tested, but professional guidance is required. If you get it wrong your heirs could receive an unexpected tax bill.

Tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual is advised to seek personalised advice.

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

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NEWS EXTRA

Official opening ALMERIA’S Doña Pakyta Museum has been officially inaugurated. The mayor visited when it first opened, but it was not an official inauguration as it was during the election campaign.

Sales fraud A MAN from Albox has been arrested on suspicion of a continuing offence of fraud relating to the sale of two vehicles, a computer and a TV when no goods were provided.

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NEWS

Almeria is still Spanish province that has more houses for sale OTHER Andalucian provinces have reduced housing stock gradually since 2009

By Gemma Quinn ALMERIA has more unsold housing than any other Spanish province.

According to a study by the Spanish Confederation of Manufacturers Association of Construction Products (Cepco) one of the most comprehensive in the industry, Almeria had at the end of 2014, the highest per capita ratio of unsold homes in Spain at 2,250

new homes per 100,000 inhabitants. This relates currently to 15,850 homes for sale from Adra to Pulpi.

The report states that while the seven other Andalucian provinces have reduced housing stock gradually since 2009, thanks mainly to a sharp reduction in prices, “Almeria has not been able to experience a decline in the number of properties for sale.”

Almeria is, along with other areas such as Castellon, Guadalajara, Ciudad Real and Toledo, one of the provinces where it is likely, according to the report “that the inherited property boom will not come to absorb the properties in remote areas without health or educational facilities and transport infrastructure.”

As stocks are depleted, which is not the case in

UNSOLD: Properties stand empty as Almeria has more unsold new homes.

Almería, prices tend to stabilise or begin a gentle climb, because the demand begins to rise.

Cepco computed that by the end of 2014 there were a total of 25 provinces where the figures fell below 1,000

dwellings per 100,000 population, a threshold whereby it is not unreasonable to start the activity of new developments.

Dam construction to aid reduce flood risk WHEN completed, there will be up to 20 mini dams and reservoirs NEW dams are being built in Almeria to held reduce Murcia’s risk of flooding.

The Confederacion Hidro-

grafica del Segura (CHS) is building six new dams in the municipality of Velez Rubio as part of efforts to prevent

any further disastrous floods in Puerto Lumbreras and Lorca similar to what occurred three years ago.

When the Rambla de Nogalte, the natural flood channel which runs through the centre of Puerto Lumbreras burst its banks following excessive rainfall, nine people lost their lives. The planned work in the Velez Rubio, near the head of the Rambla, is intended to reduce the flow of

water downstream.

The work is expected to cost €1.8m and will be financed out of the EU’s Regional Development Fund.

The new dams will be between 7.5 and 9m high in the areas known as Los Gazquez, El Cerro del Caballero, Huezno, Los Carrascos and Barranco del Puerto. When completed there will be up to 20 mini dams and reservoirs in Velez Rubio.

Work begins on 32 homes in El Puche WORK has begun on the rehabilitation of 32 homes in El Puche.

Families within these homes were resettled in prefabricated houses in 2010 after the poor conditions were found and now, it is

hoped they will be back in the building within seven months after the project of work was awarded with a total budget of €758,849.

Work is being carried out in blocks two and six in Calle Manolo Caracol.

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Climbing challenge on Sierra de Filabres PARTICIPANTS had to climb four summits of the Sierra

By Gemma Quinn THE first edition of ‘The 8,000 of Filabres’ has been completed with Encarna Martinez from Tíjola and Luis Sanchez from Olula del Rio, named the winners.

The event was an original idea that combined tourism, health and sport and involved climbing the four summits of

8,225m had to be climbed across four summits the Sierra de Filabres (Calar Alto, Calar del Gallinero, Tetica de Bacares and Layon) amounting to an ascent of 8,225m.

The participants had several months to complete the chal-

lenge and had to take a photo at the top with the date to prove they had completed the climb.

Dozens successfully completed the challenge from Almeria and neighbouring Murcia, including professional athletes.

Those who completed ‘The 8,000 of Filabres’ event were entered into a prize draw with Martinez.

Boxers come together to help knock out hunger THE Almeria Boxing Club hosted a gala event ‘KO Hunger’ to help families in need.

This initiative was supported by the Municipal Sports and the Institute of Almeria Bay, which spectators offered free entry as long as they made a donation to the Red Cross of Almeria.

Items of baby food and baby hygiene products such as nappies were particularly welcome for the charity.

In return for the donations, the boxers gave a demonstration of their talents in the ring and welcomed clubs from Malaga and Granada.

EWN

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NEWS

MACS walk in moonlight WEAR purple and take part in July’s moonwalk for cancer charity

By Eleanor Hawkins THE only thing more beautiful than walking along the promenade at Mojácar Playa under the light of a full moon, is doing so while raising money to support MACS and on July 3 you will have the opportunity to do both.

The Mojácar Area Cancer Support charity (MACS) is a volunteer run organisation that provides physical and emotional support for cancer patients and their loved ones. MACS is sponsoring both a 5km and 10km walk to raise money to support its activities. The 10k starts at Titos Chiringuito at 9pm. The 5k starts at Big Fat Momas at 9.45pm with both walks finishing at Titos where there will be live music and craft stalls.

The colour for MACS is purple so dress up and there will be a prize for the walker dressed in the silliest outfit. Each walker is asked to obtain sponsors for his

or her walk. Sponsorship and registration forms can be obtained at any of the MACS shops or on-line at www.macscancersupport. com. For further information contact Maggi Lake on 610 994 435 or email maggielite@gmail.com.

MACS offers a confidential atmosphere where cancer patients or cancer survivors can discuss the challenges that accompany the illness with others who may have experienced the same challenges, offering practical and emotional support for those who need it. It receives no government funding and relies solely on fundraising, the support of the local community and volunteers.

There are charity shops in Turre, Albox, Mojacar and Huercal Overa.

For cancer support the MACS helpline is 634 656 555. For general enquiries call 634 328 334 from 11am to 4pm weekdays.

SHOPS: Are grateful to receive donations.

Local company in London for culinary awards SILESTONE, quartz worktop providers who have their headquarters in BazaHuercal Overa, have been in London for the ‘50 Best Restaurants in the World 2015’ awards.

Silestone sponsored ‘Restaurant with More Potential’ award, which went to

the Sepia Restaurant in Sydney, Australia and chef Martin Benn. The award ceremony took place in London’s Guildhall where Santiago Alfonso, Director of Communications and Marketing for the Cosentino Group, presented the award.

This is the fifth consecutive year in which Cosentino Group and its products were part of one of the most important events worldwide within the sector of international cuisine and was attended by the some of the most influential chefs in the world.

NEWS

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KON-TIKI: All participants must be able swimmers.

Great raft race back ALL proceeds will go to local charity, San Animal

By Community Reporter THE Great Kon-Tiki Raft Race is back for a second year in Pulpi.

The event takes place on June 21 and is organised with the collaboration of Pulpi Town Hall. There is a €10 entry fee and all proceeds go to local charity San Animal, which saves and rehomes abandoned dogs and cats.

Rafts may have a crew of two, three or four members and only recyclable, non-maritime materials may be used in constructing the raft which cannot be larger than 2x4m in size. All

participants must be able swimmers, no physical contact between participants is allowed.

There will be prizes for winning teams and also for the most original construction.

There will be a junior event for ages 12 -16 years and a senior event for 17 years and over.

Competitors meet at 12 noon on June 21 at Playa de la Mar Serena in San Juan de los Terreros.

Sponsorship forms are available. For further details, entry forms and more information call Pete Burt on 630 528 464, or email pete@sananimal.org.

Farmer arrested for employment crime as workers not legal A 28-YEAR-OLD from Zurgena, has been arrested by police in Huercal-Overa, on suspicion of a crime against the rights of workers.

A police investigation was launched late last month, following a complaint filed in Huercal-Overa, in which the victim indicated that during six weeks, he had been collecting lettuces in a farm in a district of the munici-

pality without receiving his agreed salary of €2,000. The same day, another worker from the same farm, also denounced the owner for a similar reason saying no wages had been paid. Three others were found by police, also to be working without pay.

Checks fund that not all the workers were listed on the Social Security employment register and documentation was not in place.

Preliminary agreement made between IU and PSOE in Nijar LEFT-WING Izquierda Unida (IU) party and socialist party PSOE in Nijar have come to a preliminary agreement which would place head of the socialists Esperanza Perez as the new mayor.

The pact is still waiting for the approval of all the IU affiliates, as was agreed before the elections of May 24.

According to this agreement, the only representative of IU in the council, Alexis Pineda, will enter the government and be

part of the decision-making.

With this pact, the conservative party Partido Popular (PP) would be left out of the government, even though it was the most voted force during the elections, and would not allow acting mayor Antonio Jesus Rodriguez, who has lead the council for the past eight years, to take control of the town hall during next term.

“Everything indicates that a change is going to take place in the town,” said Pineda.

11 - 17 June 2015/ Costa de Almería

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NEWS EXTRA

Evening procession ALMERIA’S streets were laced with lavender and rosemary as hundreds of children, dressed in their communion attire, accompanied the procession of Corpus Christi, in one of the few evening processions in Spain.

Traffic safety TRAFFIC safety is to be improved on the AL-3114 provincial road linking the N-344 in El Toyo and the Havana neighbourhood of Cuevas de Los Medinas. The work has a budget of €150,000.

Invasive algae A DEVICE to remove invasive algae has been installed on two square metres of seabed of Cabo de Gata to help check and eradicate the algae.

www.euroweeklynews.com

NEWS

Quarter of Spanish residents have found medicine too expensive TOTAL of 37 per cent of consumers claimed they had to wait more than 24 hours for medicine

By Maria José Fernandez NEARY a quarter, 22 per cent, of residents in Spain have had to stop taking a medication because it was too expensive, says a report.

The data was released in a study carried out by the consumers’ organisation OCU, on customer satisfaction with chemist services.

The OCU study was conducted through interviews with 1,080 users between 25 and 75 years old, with the goal of learning how many times and for what users visit a chemist’s, if they had encountered problems and what other kinds of services they wished chemists would offer.

A total of 37 per cent of consumers claimed that they had had to wait more than 24 hours to purchase a medicine because of lack of stock.

As much as 29 per cent of users were able to buy products that needed prescription without it, although most, 63 per cent, had never tried to buy a medi-

Flickr by Adrien Leguay

32

CHEMIST SERVICES: Data indicates that chemists are highly regarded.

22% find medicine costs too expensive

cine without having a prescription and 8 per cent had tried but weren’t able.

Out of those who were able to obtain the medicines without a necessary prescription, the majority promised to bring the document later, were known by the chemist or had a very obvious health problem.

Data indicates that chemists are highly regarded by consumers: 70 per cent always go to the same shop, 28 per cent go to two or three different ones and only two per cent change chemists frequently.

The most valued aspect by users was proper treatment and friendliness (92 per cent).

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NEWS FROM OUR FIVE OTHER REGIONS

COSTA DEL SOL

Thousands are due to ‘Czech’ into Mar Menor (Photo by Topsynette, Flickr)

TWO flights a week from the Czech Republic will land at San Javier

MUDDY TIME: Central European tourists experience the baths.

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

MALLORCA

EIGHT THOUSAND tourists from the Czech Republic will be visiting the Mar Menor over the next six months.

The first 300 have already arrived as part of the holiday programme ‘Destiny Between The Two Seas’ staying at hotels in La Manga and San Pedro del Pinatar, with many already experiencing the health benefits of bathing in the mud baths of Lo Pagan. Their visit is in contrast to that of a group of Austrian tourists whose main aim during their visit was to enjoy the cultural and culinary wealth of the region.

The emergence of Czech pensioners is the result of a collaboration between the Institute of Tourism and two of the major tour operators from the Central European country: Quality Tours and DelfinTravel.

They are arriving at San Javier airport with an average of two flights a week from the Czech Republic over the coming months.

AXARQUÍA

Deadly swim

Graffiti contest

THE eighth edition of the National Body Building and Fitness competition took place in Torrevieja with 630 entrants.

AN AUSTRIAN man, aged 83, drowned at Peguera’s Playa Palmira beach. Medical staff performed artificial respiration but were unable to save his life.

ARTIST Fernando Irigoyen ‘Nando Mambo’ has won Velez-Malaga’s graffiti contest ‘Light up your city,’ taking a prize of €1,000. A total of 14 local artists participated in the initiative, painting pieces around the town.

POLICE have arrested two men in Cartagena, accused of setting up and running a marihuana smokers club.

The club was, until recently, being used as a children’s indoor play area.

Secondary exams MORE than 1,000 students have sat the ESO secondary school examinations in Murcia. Passing these tests opens doors to study at university and vocational training.

Cyclist hurt A CYCLIST was seriously injured after colliding with a vehicle in Totana.

The accident happened on the climb to La Santa de Totana, Murcia.

No Bedouins VOTERS in the Moors and Christians parades on the Vega Baja rejected a bid to expand the parades to integrate the Bedouins, with 76 per cent voting against.

Unemployment falls FROM January to May this year, unemployment fell by almost 900 people in Torrevieja and last month 331 came off the unemployment register.

Stubble fire A STUBBLE fire started on Saturday next to the Andratx motorway and reached the first barrier of Palma’s Prison. Authorities believe the cause could have been a cigarette end thrown by a driver.

Almost done MAYOR of Salobreña, Gonzalo Fernandez Pulido announced that improvement works in the area of Calle Cristo will be completed in a week.

Deciding their future New agreement A TOTAL of 3,884 students have taken or will take the university access exams ‘Selectividad’ in the Balearic Islands, which started last Tuesday and will take place until today (Thursday, June 11).

Expensive holidays HOTEL room prices in the Balearic Islands have been named the most expensive in the country, costing an average €157 per night, while the Spanish average sits at €112, according to online site trivago.com.

AFAVIDA, the Association of Alzheimer Patients and their Relatives of Almuñecar and Spanish Bank La Caxia have signed an agreement through which the institution will provide financial aid for different projects.

Martial teachings ALMUÑECAR kenpo coaches Miguel and Rogelio Rivas, participated in a macro-course of martial arts which took place in Aruda dos Vinhos (Portugal).

Items steamrollered

Clean up day

ALL false brand items seized by Local Police of Muro during 2013 and 2014 were destroyed with a steamroller last week at the recycling point located in the area of Lago de Playa de Muro.

CULTURAL Association Julio Verne celebrated World Environment Day with a clean up in Motril’s Cerro de Toro. The initiative was designed to raise awareness on nature preservation and encourage teamwork.

For more local news from our five other regions see www.euroweeklynews.com

Bilingual hiking MALAGA Provincial Council is placing bilingual information points for hikers on the Gran Senda (Great Path) route which runs on a circular route all the way round the province.

Good results

By Gemma Quinn

Body building Cannabis club

NEWS

COSTA BLANCA NORTH

LINES one and two of Malaga’s metro registered 390,000 passengers in May, and by July, when the service will have been running for one year, 4.9 million are expected to have used it.

Safer officers ESTEPONA Council has bought 30 new bulletproof vests for Local Police officers to wear on duty at busy events and in dangerous situations.

Tourist information Robotics TAVERNES City Council has introchamps duced fully updated tourist information on unique red panels in three different languages at the beach area.

Garzon speaks out AT a forum on universal jurisdiction at the Frax Foundation in l’Alfas del Pi, Judge Baltasar Garzon has stated: “Spain is one of those countries with corruption laws that it does not respect.”

THREE pupils from MIT School in Malaga will be taking part in the Spanish finals of the World Robot Olympiad in Barcelona in October after winning the local round and hope to qualify for the international finals in Qatar.

Safe and New Benidorm star sound TWO 14-year-olds who BENIDORM Mayor Agustin Navarro is to appear in the ‘Benidorm’ series as himself in a cameo appearance. The 8th series of Benidorm will complete filming in early July.

50th anniversary THE Moors and Christians organisers of Crevillent are to celebrate their 50th anniversary with a gala dinner at 10pm on June 13 at Parc Nou.

Tractor accident A FARMER from Pego has sustained serious leg injuries after he became trapped beneath a tractor.

Firefighters from Denia cut him free and administered first aid treatment before he was transferred to hospital.

had gone missing from Alhaurin de la Torre and were believed to have run away from home together were found a bit grubby, but safe and sound in La Cala del Moral after four days.

Star-studded fair MARBELLA’S annual San Bernabe fair is running this week. Launched

by Michelin chef Dani Garcia, other highlights were free concerts by David Bustamante yesterday (June 10) and Antonio Orozco tomorrow (June 12).

EWN top for all the news from Spain.

NEWS

11 - 17 June 2015 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

Deadliest roads in and around Spain MOST dangerous stretch is located on the Turia motorway

By Maria José Fernandez MORE than 600 accident black spots have been identified on Spanish roads by the DGT General Traffic Department.

Andalucia is the autonomous community with the most black spots(66), followed by Madrid (43) and Galicia (22).

600 accident black spots identified on Spanish roads But the most dangerous stretch of road in Spain this year, according to the report, is located on the Turia motorway, Valencia’s CV-35 road.

On one stretch at kilometre

3.2, a total of 21 accidents were registered with another 32 accidents occurring along the rest of the road. The second most dangerous road is the TF-65 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which registered 21 accidents at kilometre eight.

The third deadliest black spot was found in Madrid, specifically the road A-2, kilometre 15, with 19 accidents.

Home repossessions down REPOSSESSION of properties to be sold after owners failed to pay mortgages in Spain saw a reduction of 5.2 per cent during the first three months of 2015, compared to the year before.

A total of 30,952 were carried out during this period, of which 29,591 were urban properties and 1,361 rural, according to the data provided by the National Statistics Institute (INE).

Out of the total repossessions, 8,802 properties

were the permanent residents of owners, 6.9 per cent fewer than the same period of 2014.

Data indicates that 21.1 per cent of all properties repossessed had mortgages issued in 2007, 15.2 per cent in 2006 and 11.8 per cent in 2008.

Andalucia was the region with the highest number of repossessions (8,948) followed by Catalonia (5,168) and the Valencian Community (4,852).

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GERMAN

EUROPEAN PRESS SCANDINAVIAN PRESS

ATP’s Ryanair DENMARK: Following news that Denmark Fund Manager ATP may sell its Ryanair shares over the airlines’ labour practices, CEO of Ryanair Michael O’Leary has commented there would be plenty of buyers to “snap them up.”

Computer loss FINLAND : Espoo has lost 9,600 laptops, desktops, printers, screens and other related accessories. The items were leased for use in the public sector and were lost over several years.

Coldest May SWEDEN: The month of May has been the coldest on Swedish record. It has been more than eight degrees cooler than average with heavy snowfalls in the north.

Exile honoured NORWAY : Edward Snowden, who leaked US government documents, was awarded the Freedom of Expression award in Oslo. He won the Bjornson Prize but was unable to collect it as he is in exile in Russia.

PRESS

Health economy resources WORKING to achieve a £22 billion saving by end of the decade CHIEF executive of the NHS Simon Stevens has said the health service is too reliant on agency workers and refuses to share resources, in a bid to achieve a £22 billion saving by the end of the decade.

woman will make British legal history if she wins her court case. She is accusing a former partner of distributing revenge pornography on the internet.

BRITISH PRESS

Youngest granny

BBC blunder

A YORKSHIRE woman who had a child at 16 has become the UK’s youngest grandmother at 33.

A BBC journalist Ahmen Khawaja is facing disciplinary action for announcing the Queen’s death on Twitter. She allegedly mistook a rehearsal of such an announcement for real.

Cropping up ONE of the first crop circles of the year has been discovered in Dorset. The geometric design was found by a farmer in his field.

QUEEN: Still very much alive.

Land mark case AN American

Road rage tirade A WEALTHY businessman from London has apologised for his verbal assault on a cyclist that has become a You Tube sensation. Police are investigating the incident.

Cardiff pestaurant A POP-UP restaurant in Queens Street, Cardiff has been serving locusts and meal worms. They are high in protein and low in fat and could solve world hunger.

No care worker A SCOTTISH care worker has been struck off for verbal and physical abuse at a Glasgow care home.

Social services said her behaviour had placed clients in serious harm.

UK Atlaspix / Shutterstock.com

Dutch windmills under threat GENERATING revenue from the mills is the main issue

Free degrees GERMANY has abandoned university tuition fees for German and international students alike.

A number of Americans are taking the opportunity to save thousands of dollars to get their degrees.

Group violence FOUR men attacked a 36year-old passenger on the Berlin S Bahn. The victim was kicked and punched until he was able to escape at Alexanderplatz station.

Baby ducks FIVE baby ducks led to police shutting down Autobahn A215 after they strayed onto the carriageway.

The mother duck was found dead at the scene.

Soldier ban

Fair play

FINLAND: The country has slipped in the world rankings for cost competitive economies published by the IMD. It has dropped from 18th to 20th, mainly due to lack of foreign investment.

SEVERINO SEEGER, who won €500,000 on Germany's Quest for a Star has been accused of tricking elderly victims out of thousands of Euros through a bank card scam.

A MAN in Potsdam was arrested after verbally abusing people and threatening them with an axe. No one was injured and police said he was very intoxicated.

DENMARK: Citizens celebrated 100 years of gender equality on Friday June 5. The festivities included a speech from the country’s first female Prime Minister Helle ThorningSchmidt.

Slipping down

Star swindles

Axe attack

Danish equality

SWEDEN: The country has come third in a poll by the World Justice Product as the world’s least corrupt country.

Venezuela was judged the most corrupt.

NEWS

WINDMILLS: Face deficit.

DUTCH windmill owners face a deficit of €5 million to maintain their structures. A survey of 195 owners concluded that generating revenue from the mills was the main issue.

DUTCH PRESS

KLM desirable

Hedgehog sobers up

AIRLINE KLM has overtaken Google as the most desirable employer in a survey of Dutch economic and business students. Heineken was in third place.

A DRUNK hedgehog from Arnhem was found unconscious after drinking the Dutch drink Advocaat. The animal shelter that took him in has confirmed that he has made a total recovery.

Pension age rises THE Senate has voted to increase the age when Dutch people can claim their pension to 67. The change is due to longer life expectancy.

Graves proposal A DIRECTOR of a cemetery in Amsterdam has proposed putting graves into a roadside barrier on the A10. The 700m wall could hold dozens of graves.

AMERICAN soldiers stationed in Germany have been forbidden from visiting Munich and GarmischPatenkirchen for fear they would be attacked by anti-G7 protestors who have gathered to demonstrate there.

Boss sacked TILL HEDRICH, head of AB Inbev which makes Beck’s beer, has been sacked after causing an accident whilst under the influence. He was in the job for only five months.

NEWS

11 - 17 June 2015 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

RUSSIAN P RESS

Cossacks return Cordon Press

RIDING from Moscow to Berlin in commemoration of WWII

COSSACKS: In full ceremonial dress.

Student terror A MOSCOW student has travelled to Turkey to join the Islamic State, her father confirmed. Varvara Karaulova, 19, left Moscow with a one way ticket to Istanbul.

ACTION film star Steven Seagal it to take the lead role in a new movie by Russian director Nikita Mikhalkov. The American is said to have approached Mikhalkov with the idea for a joint US- Russia venture.

Activist wakes OPPOSITION activist Vladimir KaraMurza Jr has woken from a coma. The renal failure that caused the coma is suspected to have been caused by poisoning.

Ambassador RUSSIAN Ambassador Vladimir Chizhov has had his access to the European Parliament restricted. He will have to request a pass for each visit he makes.

White rabbit excels MOSCOW restaurant White Rabbit has been named as one of the world’s finest. It ranked 23rd in the rankings and was also the highest new entry on the list.

France made an emergency landing in Khabarovsk due to engine failure. It landed safely and no injuries were reported.

Action time

Espionage trial

Gage Skidmore Flickr

22 COSSACKS are riding from Moscow to Berlin to commemorate the end of WWII. They will cover 1,500 miles on horseback in full ceremonial dress.

PSKOV regional court is considering more charges for Estonian citizen Eston Kohver.

Eston is accused of smuggling, espionage, illegal border crossing and arms bearing. The charges carry an additional three year sentence.

President out THE president of Russia’s Football Union has been removed from his position. The signing of Fabio Capello as team coach under his guidance was not popular.

Internet troll sues STEVEN SEAGAL: Lead role in new movie.

Gay activist jailed NIKOLAY ALEXEYEV has been jailed for 10 days for disobeying police orders. He was detained at a gay pride event that was banned by Moscow City Hall.

Emergency landing A BOEING 777 of Air

A RUSSIAN internet troll who was hired to promote opinions online is suing her exemployer. Lyudmila Savchuk’s case will be heard at a hearing in St Petersburg.

Pensioner kills A SIBERIAN pensioner has admitted shooting dead world karate champion Anton Krivosheev. Anton was shot five times in the back and his body dumped in a field in Novosibirsk.

EWN

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FINANCE

Costa de Almería

11 - 17 June 2015

LONDON - FTSE 100

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Spain returns to working mode

By Jason Bailey NEW figures released by the Labour Ministry show that the Spanish economy is continuing to recover. In May 2015, 213,015 workers signed up to the Social Security system.

This is an increase of 1.25 per cent on the previous month. This makes the increase the strongest since 2005 with the total number of people within the system now totalling 17,221,310.

Quote of the Week

3.57 the percentage increase over same period last year.

In comparison to the same period last year this represents a 3.57 per cent increase. The Secretary of State

for Social Security Tomas Burgos said: “The figures are very encouraging but the underlying important issue is that more people are finding work and this is essential, not only for the contributions into the system, but for local economies where wages will be spent.”

There was also a significant drop in people registered as unemployed.

There were 4,215,031 officially un-

There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.

Colin Powell, Former United States Secretary of State

BUSINESS EXTRA

Strike action THE Development Ministry has established a 70 per cent minimum service throughout air workers’ strikes scheduled to take place over four days on June 8, 10, 12 and 14.

Pilots wanted PRADO MUSEUM: Addressing the issue of taxation.

Spain taxes culture THREE of the biggest and most respected museums in Spain have joined together to address the issue of taxation on cultural goods.

Miguel Zugaza of the Prado, Manuel Borja-Villel of the Reina Sofia and Guillermo Solana of the Thyssen-Bornemisza held a discussion panel in Madrid and the levy of 21 per cent IVA on culture was at the heart of the meeting.

They stated that to tax the culture and art sector was inequitable as the sector

does not seek or obtain benefits from the government and the benefit to the treasury was doubtful.

The tax which covers museums, art galleries, cultural products and art purchases is seen as having a negative effect as it discourages people from visiting and enjoying the rich cultural heritage that Spain offers.

It could also affect students who wish to learn, viewing museum visits as essential to their understanding.

IBERIA is hiring pilots for the first time since 2004, confirmed President Luis Gallego. He said new pilots will be hired at €35,000 €40,000 per year.

Food waste SPANISH supermarkets are objecting to being regulated for food waste like France.

At a meeting AECOC bosses said Spain was “light years ahead” in such matters.

That’s rich INDITEX boss Amancio Ortega is now the second richest man in the world with an estimated fortune of more than €63.7 billion.

Vodafone asset swap VODAFONE, the world’s second largest mobile telephone operator, confirmed on Friday June 5 that it was considering negotiating an exchange of selected assets with Europe’s leading international cable company Liberty Global.

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HOME foreclosures in Spain were down 5.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2015. Of the total, 30,952 properties foreclosed, 8,802 were the residence of owners, 6.9 per cent less than the same quarter in 2014.

STAT OF WEEK

business & legal

EWN

This leading company operates in 14 countries.

Discussions are in the preliminary stages at present with no guarantees of an agreement and both companies have declined to specify which assets are involved.

employed in May which is a drop of 34,160 on the previous month.

These figures underline 16 months of positive growth. The hotel sector led the growth with 65,563 new jobs.

Administration provided 23,096 new jobs with commerce generating 19,726 and construction 14, 172.

Although some of these positions are seasonal the overall trend continues to be positive.

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Lowest alcohol tax in Europe SPAIN has the lowest tax in Europe in relation to alcohol, the Organisation for Economic Development has revealed. Spain pays six cents per pint of beer in comparison to Britain where consumers pay the euro equivalent of 70 cents on a pint of beer.

Spirits in Spain attract a levy of 17 cents per shot where in Britain the equivalent is 75 cents. Spain does not tax wine at all whereas a bottle in Britain is taxed at €2.65 before any other charges are applied.

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PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) COMPANY 3i Group 551.50 -3.00 Aberdeen Asset Managmnt 422.00 0.60 Admiral Group 1,460.00 -6.00 Aggreko 1,521.50 -7.50 Anglo American 1,009.75 -5.75 Antofagasta 734.00 -3.00 ARM Holdings 1,128.00 0.00 Ashtead Group 1,143.50 -5.50 Associated British Foods 2,945.50 10.50 AstraZeneca 4,346.00 -21.50 Aviva 512.75 -2.25 Babcock International Group 1,135.00 -4.00 BAE Systems 498.10 -0.20 Barclays 264.13 -1.32 Barratt Developments 594.75 2.75 BG Group 1,109.25 3.25 BHP Billiton 1,320.50 -6.50 BP 442.68 -0.67 British American Tobacco 3,424.25 -15.75 British Land Co 819.75 -1.75 BT Group 443.53 4.13 Bunzl 1,848.50 -12.50 Burberry Group 1,666.00 4.00 Capita Group (The) 1,213.50 -10.50 Carnival 3,203.00 -2.00 Centrica 264.70 -0.90 Coca-Cola HBC 1,399.50 0.50 Compass Group 1,117.50 2.50 CRH 1,810.00 1.00 Diageo 1,882.75 122.25 Direct Line Insurance Group 343.60 -0.40 Dixons Carphone 468.40 -0.10 easyJet 1,581.50 -7.50 Experian 1,208.00 1.00 Fresnillo 718.00 -1.00 G4S 288.00 0.40 GKN 361.70 -5.20 GlaxoSmithKline 1,390.75 -7.75 Glencore 277.85 0.45 Hammerson 638.50 -1.50 Hargreaves Lansdown 1,228.00 -10.00 Hikma Pharmaceuticals 2,002.00 4.00 HSBC Holdings 620.10 1.20 Imperial Tobacco Group 3,184.00 -1.00 InterContinental Hotels Grp 2,684.50 -4.50 International Consolidated Air 527.25 -2.75 Intertek Group 2,526.50 -18.50 Intu Properties 314.75 -1.55 ITV 263.00 -1.90 Johnson Matthey 3,275.00 -34.00

% CHG. NET VOL -0.54 5,479.82 0.14 5,753.91 -0.41 4,136.38 -0.49 3,931.42 -0.57 14,088.42 -0.41 7,305.20 0.00 16,112.93 -0.48 5,748.19 0.36 23,354.39 -0.49 54,801.41 -0.44 21,056.70 -0.35 5,740.11 -0.04 15,994.65 -0.50 44,613.71 0.46 5,996.73 0.29 37,615.90 -0.49 27,953.27 -0.15 80,376.35 -0.46 65,617.54 -0.21 8,531.66 0.94 37,047.70 -0.67 6,314.76 0.24 7,471.88 -0.86 8,194.94 -0.06 6,923.39 -0.34 13,396.42 0.04 5,156.16 0.22 18,812.74 0.06 14,914.81 6.94 44,808.25 -0.12 5,181.00 -0.02 5,493.62 -0.47 6,323.55 0.08 12,098.34 -0.14 5,335.11 0.14 4,558.58 -1.42 6,073.08 -0.55 68,686.52 0.16 36,801.34 -0.23 5,101.94 -0.81 5,981.16 0.20 4,088.97 0.19 120,747.77 -0.03 31,287.30 -0.17 6,398.78 -0.52 10,726.90 -0.73 4,130.86 -0.49 4,267.06 -0.72 10,804.20 -1.03 6,825.81

COMPANY PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) Kingfisher 380.20 3.00 Land Securities Group 1,251.00 2.00 Legal & General Group 263.90 -0.10 Lloyds Banking Group ORD 86.67 -0.42 London Stock Exchange Gr 2,396.00 5.00 Marks & Spencer Group 562.25 2.25 Meggitt 495.90 0.40 Merlin Entertainments 440.15 -0.25 Mondi 1,376.50 -4.50 Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets 172.80 -0.80 National Grid 861.85 4.85 Next 7,265.00 -5.00 Old Mutual 209.70 -0.40 Pearson 1,301.50 5.50 Persimmon 1,917.50 7.50 Prudential 1,585.25 -2.75 Randgold Resources 4,563.50 -11.50 Reckitt Benckiser Group 5,698.50 1.50 Reed Elsevier 1,059.50 0.50 Rio Tinto 2,835.50 -17.00 Rolls-Royce Group 969.75 -1.75 Royal Bank of Scotland Group 357.00 0.10 Royal Dutch Shell 1,910.50 8.00 Royal Dutch Shell 1,925.00 5.50 Royal Mail 498.05 5.35 RSA Insurance Group 433.90 -1.10 SABMiller 3,343.25 -22.25 Sage Group (The) 545.50 -2.00 Sainsbury (J) 246.70 -0.50 Schroders 3,248.50 -13.50 Severn Trent 2,123.00 -7.00 Shire 5,342.50 -112.50 Sky 1,029.50 -0.50 Smith & Nephew 1,120.50 -2.50 Smiths Group 1,182.00 2.00 Sports Direct International 662.00 -4.00 SSE 1,592.50 -0.50 St James's Place 896.75 -4.75 Standard Chartered 1,032.00 -3.00 Standard Life 471.35 -0.85 Taylor Wimpey 186.10 1.50 Tesco 204.80 -1.00 Travis Perkins 2,151.50 -1.50 TUI AG 1,178.00 8.00 Unilever 2,808.50 -10.50 United Utilities Group 959.00 1.00 Vodafone Group 244.85 2.80 Weir Group 1,922.00 -13.00 Whitbread 5,002.50 25.50 Wolseley 4,009.00 5.00 WPP Group 1,480.50 -5.50

% CHG. 0.80 0.16 -0.04 -0.48 0.21 0.40 0.08 -0.06 -0.33 -0.46 0.57 -0.07 -0.19 0.42 0.39 -0.17 -0.25 0.03 0.05 -0.60 -0.18 0.03 0.42 0.29 1.09 -0.25 -0.66 -0.37 -0.20 -0.41 -0.33 -2.06 -0.05 -0.22 0.17 -0.60 -0.03 -0.53 -0.29 -0.18 0.81 -0.49 -0.07 0.68 -0.37 0.10 1.16 -0.67 0.51 0.12 -0.37

NET VOL 8,809.94 10,063.62 15,837.00 62,452.02 8,501.43 9,535.20 3,953.79 4,530.43 6,792.90 4,163.47 32,511.16 11,282.07 10,438.53 10,557.11 5,962.24 41,367.16 4,275.59 41,241.18 12,080.17 40,091.73 17,880.33 22,642.04 74,055.53 46,807.08 5,000.00 4,388.33 55,013.53 6,001.11 4,808.07 7,551.41 5,121.11 32,333.77 17,877.78 10,169.23 4,780.76 4,051.61 15,988.36 4,781.78 26,592.52 9,420.59 6,132.78 16,976.81 5,459.37 6,945.38 36,860.95 6,621.14 65,778.01 4,094.78 9,168.74 10,553.11 19,643.78

0.72987

1.37009 Units per €

US dollar .....................................................................1.11548 Japan yen ................................................................139.699 Switzerland franc ................................................1.04703 Denmark kroner...................................................7.45935 Norway kroner.....................................................8.84796

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

DOW JONES C LOSING P RICES J UNE 8

COMPANY MMM 3M AXP American Express AAPL Apple BA Boeing CAT Caterpillar CVX Chevron CSCO Cisco KO Coca-Cola DIS Disney DD E I du Pont de Nemours and Co XOM Exxon Mobil GE General Electric GS Goldman Sachs HD Home Depot IBM IBM INTC Intel JNJ Johnson & Johnson JPM JPMorgan Chase MCD McDonald's MRK Merck MSFT Microsoft NKE Nike PFE Pfizer PG Procter & Gamble TRV Travelers Companies Inc UTX United Technologies UNH UnitedHealth VZ Verizon V Visa WMT Wal-Mart

PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 2.3M -0.80% -1.27 157.08 4.8M +0.04% 79.39 +0.03 -0.55% 35.6M -0.71 128.65 3.2M -0.33% -0.46 140.73 3.9M +0.68% 86.05 +0.58 6.1M +0.20% 101.59 +0.20 -0.10% 25.4M -0.03 28.58 -1.21% 16.0M -0.49 40.10 4.3M 0.00% 0.00 110.30 4.6M -0.89% -0.62 69.07 +0.07% 11.4M 84.28 +0.06 +0.11% 30.6M 27.29 +0.03 3.2M +0.76% 210.45 +1.58 4.5M -0.98% -1.09 110.37 3.1M -0.58% -0.98 167.40 -1.45% 27.8M -0.47 31.84 7.6M -0.64% -0.64 98.59 +1.64% 20.8M 67.42 +1.09 4.0M -0.80% -0.77 95.54 -0.81% 10.9M -0.48 58.99 -0.47% 25.4M -0.22 46.14 1.9M +0.08% 102.03 +0.08 -0.44% 23.1M -0.15 34.09 9.4M -0.92% -0.72 77.43 1.8M -0.90% -0.90 99.31 2.7M -0.12% -0.14 117.00 2.7M -0.10% -0.12 116.53 -1.81% 23.6M -0.87 47.23 4.4M +0.23% 68.37 +0.16 -1.47% 10.6M -1.09 73.06

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES J UNE 8

COMPANY

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

Most Advanced RealNetworks, Inc. Innocoll AG China Information Technology, Inc. Loxo Oncology, Inc. Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Kite Pharma, Inc. Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. JA Solar Holdings, Co., Ltd. Pixelworks, Inc. The KEYW Holding Corporation Exa Corporation

$ 7.07 $ 14.80 $ 3.59 $ 14.02 $ 7.13 $ 62.19 $ 28.88 $ 9.07 $ 7.12 $ 8.36 $ 11.58

1.14 ▲ 19.22% 2.30 ▲ 18.40% 0.49 ▲ 15.81% 1.83 ▲ 15.01% 0.89 ▲ 14.26% 7.74 ▲ 14.21% 3.22 ▲ 12.55% 0.99 ▲ 12.25% 0.77 ▲ 12.13% 0.80 ▲ 10.58% 1.05 ▲ 9.97%

$ 24 $ 4.97 $ 6.41 $ 10.99 $ 2.52 $ 15.12 $ 5.58 $ 40.74 $ 12.91 $ 13.35 $ 52.07

5.74 ▼ 19.30% 0.63 ▼ 11.25% 0.75 ▼ 10.47% 1 ▼ 8.34% 0.19 ▼ 7.01% 1.13 ▼ 6.95% 0.39 ▼ 6.53% 2.78 ▼ 6.39% 0.86 ▼ 6.25% 0.88 ▼ 6.18% 3.26 ▼ 5.89%

Most Declined Zumiez Inc. Lombard Medical, Inc. Caesars Entertainment Corporation Wowo Limited Roka Bioscience, Inc. Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc. VimpelCom Ltd. Sears Holdings Corporation Cohu, Inc. Vimicro International Corporation Galapagos NV

E W N 11 - 17 June 2015 / Costa de Almería

BUSINESS EXTRA

Mortgage burden MORE than 33 per cent of each householder’s income is spent on the mortgage payment, according to a report from the Economic and Social Council of Spain (CES).

Inditex success INDITEX has revealed that part of its success is rapid stock turnover, injecting new merchandise into its Zara stores twice a week whilst other clothing firms introduce new designs only four to six times a year.

Garcia award THE president of CAF, which manufactures railway systems worldwide, Enrique Garcia, has been awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabel la Católica for his work within the international community for the benefit of Spain.

Netflix coming NETFLIX is set to arrive in Spain in October. The company will offer on-demand videos, original TV series and movies for a monthly fee at a price yet to be disclosed.

Realia stake BANKIA is selling 24.9 per cent of Realia real estate company to Carlos Slim for €44.5 million, providing the bank with a net gain of €9.6 million.

Bank tweets SPAIN’S major banks have Twitter accounts but with varying results. Bankinter, tweeting since May 2010, has 37,308 followers, whereas GrupoBPopular, which did not sign up to Twitter until 2012, now has only 3,798 followers.

Toy story A GROUP of enterprising entrepreneurs in Murcia are manufacturing a successful range of toys made entirely from recycled cardboard.

Royal Mail sale THE UK is to sell off its remaining 30 per cent share of the Royal Mail, valued at approximately €2 billion.

www.euroweeklynews.com

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

Spain backs Greece AN agreement with Greece included is ‘imminent’

By Jason Bailey SPAIN has publicly declared that it sees a European Union, with Greece remaining, as the future for the euro-zone.

Luis de Guindos, the Spanish Economy Minister, has stated that he feels an agreement which will be positive for the continuation of the EU, with Greece included, is imminent. He said: “The euro-zone is a club where you can check in but you cannot check out.”

The question of a Greek exit has hung over EU ministers for years, the main concern is that if Greece leaves there would be pressure on Spain and others to follow.

The fear with regard to Spain is that if Greece leaves and prospers then

Spain may decide it would be advantageous to return to the peseta.

After a huge property explosion followed by its unfortunate collapse, partly attributed to inappropriate interest rates applied as a result of being in the eurozone, the country has repaired, revitalised and rebuilt its infrastructure.

The harsh reality of a Spanish exit has far-reaching ramifications. A return to the peseta would mean a minimum 40 per cent devaluation

against the euro forcing a massive rise in import charges. Tourism and exports would thrive but the main issue would be a potential run on the banks as customers would rush to empty their accounts at the prospect of losing 40 per cent.

Flickr: Partido Popular

42

GREECE MUST STAY: Minister Luis de Guindos

Online gaming on rise INTERNET gaming is providing a welcome financial benefit for the Spanish Treasury. It is the one finance area that is booming and showing no signs of slowing up.

The industry had a turnover of around €2 billion last year and that figure is up 24.5 per cent on 2013. Within the first quarter of 2015 the increase has already reached 13.4 per cent.

Within the next year, 12 new companies will apply for gaming licences in Spain. The wide variety of games available encourages people to join gambling websites and the rapid rise in sales of tablets and smart phones has also been a contributing factor.

No decision is a bad decision 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.

More opportunities are lost by procrastination than by any other business failing

www.michaelwalsh.es • 966 786 932

CAPTAINS of industry are often a source of sound business advice.

Many such observations are inspirational and some humorous. I like Henry Ford’s: “If you think the price of a professional is too high wait until you try an amateur.”

A business advisor and trade association introducer for 20 years, I knew more than most the challenges of decision-making.

A constant source of surprise was the number of business proprietors incapable of making a decision.

A simple low investment with guaranteed dividends would still elicit the tedious ‘I would like to think about it’ response.

In exasperation I would say to my wife: “I wonder if they discuss the purchase of a couple of books of stamps with their wife.”

This was the sum the investment

required.

It is all very well to say ‘think about it before you sign on the dotted line’. I have seen more

The only business weakness is inability to make a decision

opportunities lost by procrastination than by any other business failing. Business rivals, quicker to spot a bargain, benefited instead.

The sales director of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars was once interviewed on behalf of a business magazine.

The topic was decision-making.

Here was a man whose job meant making decisions 1,000 times more demanding than those we consider life-changing.

“The only business weakness is inability to make a decision. If you get it right, you and your company are rewarded. If you get it wrong, you learn from it.

“If you cannot make a decision, the world moves on and you then have to also catch up,” he declared.

A friend had been a sales director for Rockwell Inc in the US and Phillips, the Dutch conglomerate.

He explained to me: “The American attitude is quite different from the British.

“If in the US a salesman calls with a suggestion, you look at it and you make a decision one way or another.

“The British boss, when he receives such a call, often won’t even look at it. Progress is based on the ability to make a decision.”

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

11 - 17 June 2015 / Costa de Almería

EWN

43

BUSINESS EXTRA

ECONOMY Minister Luis de Guindos is to visit Cuba in July with the aim of boosting economic relations between the two countries.

Keep cool without using air con Kevin Millican Flickr

Cuba visit in July

Loose change Jane Plunkett A look at finance for females jane.plunkett@euroweeklynews.com

Petrol prices THE price of a litre of petrol is now costing on average €1.318 in Spain after a small increase over last week of 0.003 setting the price at the highest of the year so far.

Optimistic poll ACCORDING to a Pew Research Centre poll, 42 per cent of Spanish and 38 per cent of Brits were optimistic regarding their country’s economic future.

Job creation A PMI (Purchasing Managers Index) survey has shown that job creation in France, Germany, Spain and Italy is at a four-month high in both the manufacturing and service sector.

LET’S face it - it’s hot outside and it’s just going to get worse over the next few months! You might think to turn on the air conditioning, but this is an expensive solution to staying cool. So why not try and employ some cost-effective measures to help beat the heat?

Shut Up Shop: Did you know that up to 30 per cent of unwanted heat comes from your windows, so by using your window shades, shutters or curtains you can lower indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees. Keeping the summer light out basically prevents your home from becoming a miniature greenhouse, which is especially the case for southand west-facing windows. Insulated window films are a wise choice too as they work similarly to blinds. Another cooling idea is to put awnings, or trees in front of light-facing windows to protect your home from the sun’s rays.

Cool Off Before Bed: There is nothing like a cool shower in summertime,

BARBECUE TIME: Take advantage of the summer evenings and keep your house inside cool. but a rinse before bedtime also brings down your core body temperature and washes off sweat so you can hit the hay feeling cool and clean. Also, it’s a good idea to have cotton sheets on the bed.

Bed linens made of lightweight cotton are breathable and good at promoting ventilation and airflow in the bedroom.

Get Ceiling Fans: A ceiling fan is a cheap cooling investment that uses a fraction of the electricity of an air conditioning unit, but it is very effective.

Switch Off the Lights: This may seem pretty obvious, but many people tend to forget about the heat generating power of light bulbs - even environ-

mentally friendly CFLs give off heat.

Try to keep rooms cool by using lights minimally or not at all.

Cook Outdoors: Using your oven in the summer is going to make your house hotter. Take advantage of summer evenings to barbecue outside, and keep your house nice and cool.

OPINION & COMMENT

11 - 17 June 2015 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

EWN

45

Shuffling through Arrivals ordeal IT’S now hard work reaching England’s green and pleasant land LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT OH to be in England now that ‘summer’s’ there!

Getting there is, of course, is a different matter entirely. Out of a 10-hour trip from Spain to the glorious Norfolk countryside, only two hours 40 minutes were actually spent in the air.

A significant chunk of the trip is now taken up at Arrivals.

Talk about from the sublime to the ridiculous! The new border controls really do take the whole tin. It had been previously mentioned to me that I could expect some extra delays on arrival, but nothing prepared me for the sight that met my gaze when I entered the Arrivals Hall at Stansted Airport.

There before me materialised at least 200 travellers, all shuffling miserably along those awful zig-zag ribboned corridors. A meandering, brain-numbing journey that seems to take forever. A trip that leads you to keep passing the same faces over and over again until you fi-

DELAYS ON ARRIVAL: New border controls are a lengthy process. nally arrive at the reason for this, the latest ‘catch ’em at the border’ project.

Not only do they want your passport details, they now also require a mug-shot. When you do finally reach the front of the line, uniformed individuals curtly order you to “proceed

through the low saloon doors when the green arrow shows.” You are then instructed to stand on the designated ‘footprints’, place your passport in the slot and look directly at the screen in front of you. Judging by the blaring alarms that kept screeching out, they were detecting about

one illegal alien a minute! Not that I saw any arrests, of course. Most of the alarms seemed to be triggered by little old dears, bewildered by the whole new border airlock technology.

Even my machine instructed me to try again.

Frankly it is now easier, and quicker, to enter Britain clinging to the underside of a truck.

One thing that did get my interest, was the reaction of a fellow traveller behind me. He grunted his disapproval of it all and when I replied by stating that this was what the immigrants had done for us, went quite pale and with furtive, almost panicky glances around, made a point of ignoring me for the rest of the whole shuffling journey.

Obviously still can’t state the obvious, Leapy, may offend someone.

Keep the faith, Love Leapy, Leapylee2002@gmail.com www.leapylee.co.uk Editor's note: In last week’s column Leapy wrote that the US would have to make war on Islamic State. This was changed in the production process to the Islamic World, which was not his meaning.

52

E W N 11 - 17 June 2015 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

calafellvalo Flickr

Serving up a shocking revenge!

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

THOSE sales trips to England started reaping benefits. I was on a sacred mission!

Everyone that lived in that grey, rainy climate needed a place in the sun… one just had to be presentable enough to let them accept you as a partially-educated Englishman.

Trips went well but a lot of my clients couldn’t afford a new home built from scratch nor could they wait. Another product was needed and apartments or just land parcels were the logical route.

Back home times were poor and everyone amongst the Spaniards had something to sell. By and large negotiating was always catastrophically difficult. You were asking them to sell revered cortijos where they were born, or land that their grandfather and family had worked for more than 400 years.

Spain being a country of passion, sentiments were worth much more than ordinary money; all negotia-

MOJACAR RULE: Polite peasants always honoured their word. tions were frequent, constant and interminably long. Once you set your sights on buying something, a year of meetings on each weekend wasn’t out of order. Contracts no one had, but I soon learned to use them. One of my early purchases

STREET TALK

was from a powerful man living in the village. He “escaped Mojacar” because of his overt participation in the Civil War and waited a further 20 years more to return.

I agreed to buy some old warehouses he had. A large deposit and

a firm percentage each month.

“Miss a payment and you’ve lost it all,” was his admonition monthly.

But I made every payment on time and took him for tapas and beer each month ending Saturday.

That was OK until I paid him in

full, what we had agreed. Then he insisted I make two more full payments as I had been doing well and he felt he sold too cheaply. I had no other recourse but to kiss his backside, buy him more beer and tapas and wet my lips for another smacker.

Finally, I got him to the notary to sign it all over to me which he did but not without a further half instalment as a “revolutionary tax”. I got it done and signed, and learned an unforgettable lesson—contracts of any kind were a must.

It became known as the ‘Mojacar Rule’. Those special few who wore hats daily and considered themselves the backbone of the community, frequently broke their verbal contracts or written agreements without whim or concern, whereas the polite peasants always honoured their word.

Well, I converted the warehouses into eight apartments and eventually sold them via my English trips.

But what pleased me most was hooking up all the new apartments to his electricity meter, which he paid by direct debit and didn’t discover for three years. My revolutionary tax to him.

YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE - YOUR OPINION

Dressing down for the supermarket AT the start of the summer season supermarkets have been asking scantily dressed customers to leave. Do you think there should be a bare minimum of clothing required to shop or are you happy to see people flashing the flesh at the meat SUE ENNIS of Forget Me Not Gift and Cards says that even the minimum of clothing does not exist in Vera as there is a naturist beach nearby. “We see quite a lot in this area as Vera Natura is one of the biggest nudist beaches around. Even if it is just something to slip on while you shop, it is just polite.”

This was very much echoed by Maxine Morgan who has her own business (Maxine Morgan Insurance) in the same area.

“Some of it is just disgusting, who likes to see and smell perspiring bodies leaning over the ham counter.”

Simon Allen of Talleres Simon was not upset by the fact that people shopped showing more than they should in supermarkets he said, “To be honest, you don’t see much of that around this area, but if I do see people shopping with

little on, it doesn’t bother me.

You don’t see the Spanish out in stores like that, it is usually the holidaymakers anyway, they wouldn’t do it back home as it is too cold.

Jack Garrood

Jack Garrood of Costa Less Golf had an interesting and amusing answer as he told the EWN, “Actually I don’t mind at all, it doesn’t bother me why should it.

If there were girls in bikinis in the supermarket

then I would probably go shopping more!”

Graham Irving from Wood 2 Go Almeria says he has not seen many people walking around in the state of undress, however he did say “I think people should look tidy when they

shop after all it costs nothing to put on a t-shirt does it? I don’t like to see it personally.”

The Sky Doctor, Mark Wood is quite matter of fact with his answer “If the supermarkets want business then it should not really matter how shoppers dress, I can understand if there is sand being walked into the stores it is a pain, but cleaners are usually on hand.

To me it should be business that matters not what people are wearing.”

Centre: Sue Ennis & Maxine Morgan Below left: Mark Wood

54

E W N 11 - 17 June 2015 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

TV LISTING

THURSDAY 11 JUNE

FRIDAY 12 JUNE

SATURDAY 13 JUNE

SUNDAY 14 JUNE

MONDAY 15 JUNE

6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:25pm 11:35pm

Pointless BBC News at Six BBC London News The One Show EastEnders Watchdog The Truth About Your Teeth BBC News at Ten BBC London News Question Time

6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:20am

6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:25pm 11:35pm

Pointless BBC News at Six BBC London News The One Show A Question of Sport EastEnders The Vicar of Dibley New Tricks BBC News at Ten BBC London News The Graham Norton Show

6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm

6:20pm 6:50pm 7:40pm 7:50pm 7:55pm 8:00pm 9:05pm

Celebrity Mastermind Pointless BBC News Regional News Weather Prized Apart The National Lottery: Who Dares Wins Casualty The John Bishop Show BBC News

3:05pm 3:40pm 5:45pm 6:30pm 7:00pm

9:55pm 10:45pm 11:30pm 6:35pm 7:35pm 7:50pm 7:55pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:20pm 11:25pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:25pm 11:30pm 11:35pm 12:05am

TUESDAY 16 JUNE

WEDNESDAY 17 JUNE

Animals Unexpected BBC News Regional News Weather Countryfile Antiques Roadshow Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell BBC News Regional News Weather EastEnders Panorama The Met: Policing London BBC News Regional News Weather Have I Got Old News for You Have I Got Old News for You

11:00pm 11:30pm 12:00am

9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 2:45pm 4:45pm 5:45pm 6:15pm 7:15pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:00am 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:15am 2:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm

12:25am

Regional News The One Show EastEnders Holby City The Syndicate BBC News Regional News Weather Dara O'Briain Meets Stephen Hawking Creation

3:15pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 5:30pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:25pm

Perfection Escape to the Continent The Box Flog It! Pointless BBC News Regional News The One Show DIY SOS The Big Build The Interceptor BBC News Regional News

12:00pm 12:30pm 2:00pm 2:10pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:25pm 11:30pm 11:35pm

9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:15am

10:00pm 11:00pm

Antiques Roadshow Eggheads Beat the Brain The Wonder of Dogs Springwatch Stonemouth Mock the Week Newsnight Kate Humble: Living with Nomads

6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

Antiques Roadshow Eggheads Beat the Brain Japan: Earth's Mary Berry's Gardeners' World Kate Humble: Living with Nomads The Clare Balding Show Newsnight In Our Name

6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

Talking Pictures Rebecca Flog It! Gardeners World Trooping the Colour Highlights Dad's Army The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition Mock the Week Julie and Julia

3:35pm 4:40pm

They Came to Cordura Flog It! Beat the Brain Hotel India Shanghai Knights Dara and Ed's Great Big Adventure BBC at War with Jonathan Dimbleby Protecting Our Foster Kids Secretariat Eggheads Beat the Brain Big Dreams Small Spaces £100k House Revisits Japan: Earth's Enchanted Island Episodes Newsnight Weather Tennis Eggheads Beat the Brain Alex Polizzi: Chefs on Trial Natural World An Hour to Save Your Life Rev Newsnight Weather BBC News The Daily Politics Lifeline Tennis Eggheads Beat the Brain Newsnight Alex Polizzi: Chefs on Trial Napoleon The Bin Laden Conspiracy?

11:40pm

7:10pm 7:20pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 11:15pm 11:30pm 1:40am 5:00pm 5:15pm 5:30pm 8:15pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:15pm 11:50pm

7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 10:30pm 11:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:40pm 12:10am 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:40pm

The Chase ITV News London ITV News and Weather Emmerdale Tonight Emmerdale Big Box Little Box Britain's Busiest Airport - Heathrow ITV News at Ten and Weather The Chase ITV News London ITV News and Weather Emmerdale Coronation Street Gino's Italian Escape Coronation Street Doc Martin ITV News at Ten and Weather Vicious 1000 Heartbeats Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Local News and Weather ITV News and Weather You've Been Framed!

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey ITV News and Weather 300 Jackpot 247 Local News and Weather ITV News and Weather Euro 16 Qualifier: Slovenia v England Catchphrase All Star Family Fortunes Home Fires ITV News and Weather The Unforgettable...

Euro 16 Qualifier Highlights Local News and Weather ITV News and Weather Emmerdale Coronation Street Johnny Kingdom's Wild Exmoor Coronation Street Vicious It's a Funny Old Week ITV News at Ten and Weather

6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:05am 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:35pm 12:40am 2:25pm 5:15pm 7:40pm 8:00pm

9:00pm 10:00pm 11:35pm 1:10am 5:35pm 6:35pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 1:15am 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

Couples Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Domino's Pizza: A Slice of Life The Tribe 999: What's Your Emergency?

Dementiaville

6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:00am

Benchmark Couples Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. TFI Friday Alan Carr: Chatty Man Man Down

3:15pm 4:15pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:30pm

NCIS: Los Angeles Jesse Stone: Sea Change 5 News at 5 Neighbours Home and Away 5 News Tonight World War II in Colour Conspiracy Big Brother: Live Eviction Big Brother's Bit on the Side

Channel 4 Racing Come Dine with Me Channel 4 News The Trainer and the Racehorse: The Legend of Frankel The Restoration Man The 90s: Ten Years That Changed the World TFI Friday In Bruges

6:15pm

Inside Manchester's Midland Hotel The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away!

5 News She's 78, He's 39: Age Gap Love Big Brother Live: World

7:00am 7:15am 7:25am 9:30am 11:30am 2:00pm 5:00pm 8:30pm 12:30am 12:45am

Football Gold Football Gold Rugby Union Rugby Union Rugby Union World Cup of Darts UEFA European Championship Qualifier World Cup of Darts Darts Gold Darts Gold

The Man in the Iron Mask Disney's Snow Dogs Benefits Britain: Life on the Dole Cricket on 5 5 News Animals Make You Laugh Out Loud Big Brother The ABBA Years ABBA: Live in Concert

2:00pm 6:00pm 6:15pm 6:30pm 6:45pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 11:00pm 11:15pm 11:30pm 12:00am

World Cup of Darts Darts Gold Darts Gold Darts Gold Darts Gold Sky Sports Originals World Cup of Darts Darts Gold Darts Gold Premier League 100 Club Sky Sports Originals

Neighbours Home and Away 5 News World's Busiest Border Crossing Caught on Camera Inside Manchester's Midland Hotel Big Brother Big Brother's Bigger Bit on the Side

10:00am 11:00am 1:00pm 2:00pm

Soccer A.M. The Premier League Years Soccer A.M. The Fantasy Football Club Premier League 100 Club The Premier League Years Cricket Cricket Classic

Location, Location, Location A Place in the Sun: Home or Away Channel 4 News Kevin Mccloud's Escape to the Wild The Secret World of Lego Humans Magic Mike Six Million Dollar Conman

1:00am

7:15pm 8:00pm 8:55pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 2:50pm 5:15pm 7:05pm 8:00pm 8:55pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:30pm 12:30am

A Place in the Sun: Home or Away Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Dispatches Gadget Man Kevin Mccloud's Escape to the Wild Man Down

6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm

7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm Interceptors 9:00pm

ITV News and Weather Emmerdale A Great Welsh Me and My Guide Dog Enforcers ITV News at Ten and Weather Benidorm The Big Fish Off

1:35pm 2:10pm 2:40pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:35am

Come Dine with Me Come Dine with Me Royal Ascot The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Running the Shop No Offence Gogglebox Secrets of the Living Dolls

Dickinson's Real Deal Tipping Point The Chase Local News and Weather ITV News and Weather Emmerdale Coronation Street The Cube Long Lost Family ITV News at Ten and Weather The Enforcers

1:00pm 1:05pm 1:35pm 2:10pm 2:40pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:00am

Channel 4 News Summary Come Dine with Me Come Dine with Me Come Dine with Me Royal Ascot The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News The Auction House 24 Hours in A and E Bums, Boobs and Botox Domino's Pizza

9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:00am

10:00pm 11:00pm 12:00am

4:15pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:00am

5 News at 5 Neighbours Home and Away 5 News Tonight World War II in Colour Conspiracy Big Brother Hens Behaving Badly Big Brother's Bit on the Side Super Casino

Home and Away 5 News Ultimate Police The Dog Rescuers with Alan Davies Viva Espana! OAPs Behaving Badly Big Brother Big Brother's Bit on the Side Dangerous Attraction 5 News Neighbours Home and Away 5 News GPs: Behind Closed Doors Pets Make You Laugh Out Loud 2 Caught in The Act Big Brother Big Brother's Bit on the Side

3:00pm 4:00pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 12:00am 12:15am 7:30am 8:30am 9:30am 10:00am 2:00pm 3:00pm 5:00pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 12:00am

2:30pm 3:00pm 4:55pm 12:25am 6:30pm

World Cup of Darts Preview The Premier League Years Premier League Barclays Premier League World Ringside World Cup of Darts Darts Gold Darts Gold WWE Main Event Ringside Barclays Premier League World World Cup of Darts Sky Sports Years The Premier League Years WWE Raw Tight Lines World Cup of Darts Darts Gold

11:00pm 11:15pm 11:30pm 12:00am

Premier League 100 Club Premier League Premier League William Hill Derby The Fantasy Football Club One2eleven One2eleven Premier League Time of Our Lives

6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 10:00pm 10:15pm 10:30pm 11:00pm 11:15pm 11:30pm 12:00am

Premier League Premier League 100 Club Premier League Premier League Live Horse Racing Football Gold Football Gold The Fantasy Football Club One2eleven One2eleven Premier League Time of Our Lives

7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 10:30pm

OPINION & COMMENT

www.euroweeklynews.com

11 - 17 June 2015 / Costa de Almería

EWN

55

Blattergate: it’s the flaky fiefdom of FIFA Nora Johnson

Breaking Views Nora is the author of popular psychological suspense and crime thrillers and a freelance journalist.

To comment on any of the issues raised in her column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/3.0.15/nora-johnson

ARE you a 79-year-old who, re-elected president for a fifth term despite worldwide calls for your resignation, initially refused to go?

Do you believe the ‘English media’ and US authorities were targeting you because of their failed bids to host the World Cup? Were you compared to the scandal-besieged President Richard Nixon of 'Watergate’ fame?

If the answer’s no to all the above, that’s because you’re not famous and your name’s not Sepp Blatter. But with headlines like ‘Game Over,’ ‘Own Goal’ and ‘Blatter’s Blather Exposed,’ the only question all along was: how long could you survive? (You’ll recall Nixon got off with a pardon and spent the rest of his life with his fortune. Let’s hope you don’t get off so lightly.)

Now, if FIFA was a proper business, Blatter would have been forced out long ago. He was

effectively its CEO, and some of those accused reported directly to him. His denial of knowledge of wrongdoing regarding bribes etc. in the FIFA fiefdom simply didn’t wash for someone at his level. If he didn’t know, he certainly should have, and that’s more than enough reason for him to have gone long ago.

But, finally Blatter resigned, although still not admitting any wrongdoing or responsibility.

A bit like Lehman Brothers’ former CEO, Dick Fuld, who’s blamed regulators, borrowers and the US government for the 158-year-old investment bank’s implosion - the largest corporate collapse in modern times - under debts of $619 billion. Nothing to do with Dick Fuld at all! So, no buck stopping on his desk.

Corrupt practices are, officially at least, illegal in all countries. What’s needed are more investigative journalists and more police investigators to uncover these complex webs of deceit that undermine civilised societies. And more jail terms for powerful offenders. Nowadays it increasingly seems, if you’re rich and powerful enough, you’ll never see the inside of a jail.

All this at a time when there are more than 1,400 suspects, including 76 politicians, 43 music stars and 135 celebrities, under police inves-

If FIFA was a proper business, Blatter would have been forced out long ago. tigation in the UK for alleged historic abuse stretching back decades.

Yes, FIFA’s corruption undoubtedly needs a wholesale clean-up. But so, too, does all the other abuse.

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

SEPP BLATTER: Denies any wrongdoing.

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E W N 11 - 17 June 2015 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

The hidden perils of strimming Colin Bird A weekly look Each week, Colin brings his slightly off-the-wall view of the world to the pages of EWN in his own irreverent style.

THE Princess and I are dog sitting for our vacationing neighbours at the moment.

Although we are presently owned by two cats that we rescued as tiny street ragamuffins a few years ago, we also love dogs and it makes a pleasant change to take the first walk of the day through the quiet neighbourhood at a relatively early hour.

Armed with doodoo bags just in case, and a pocket full of biscuit treats (for being a good girl and pooping on waste ground and not the road, the dog not the Princess), it’s a pleasant experience.

But it amazes me to see the amount of dog excrement left on the pavements and walkways of the urbanisation.

The dog owners concerned believe that if nobody is watching, then leave it, because although during daylight hours doggy walkers can be seen assiduously attending to their pet’s bowel movements, it is obviously a different matter after dark.

These thoughts link up conveniently with a message I saw on Facebook

VILLAGE LIFE: Some green areas could only be strimmed.

from an erstwhile friend in the village where we once lived. It was castigating dog owners who are allowing their animals to make regular deposits on the village recreation ground, and leaving them to be discovered by young kids and footballers.

The message was in the form of a cartoon fairy flying off with a bag of something unsavoury, and captioned: ‘There’s No Such Thing as the Dog Poo Fairy!’

It reminded me of a time when, as a member of the Parish Council, I had made it my responsibility to keep the three village greens mown during the summer and in addition the cemetery and churchyard.

There was something strangely relaxing about thrumming around on my shiny Kubota ride-on, pondering life’s mysteries.

At the entrance to the cemetery was a narrow strip of grass that, because of its slope, could only be strimmed. This was fine unless the grass became overly long, which happened during our holidays away.

Let me tell you, in spite of the mirth it created in the village at the time, it is no fun to suddenly encounter a wet Richard the Third with a high speed rotating nylon cord.

To this day, there are those who still refer to me as ‘Freckles’!

Henry Ford’s Irish connection Steve Lagreca / Shutterstock.com

FIRST Ford cars were seen in Ireland in 1907 at the Irish Motor Show Mike Walsh Mike, based in Mediterranean Spain, is an international journalist, author and professional writer.

ALTHOUGH a veteran of many car brands, I had not realised my favourite marque was built by an innovative company inspired by a fellow Irishman. I tried every car brand including the Seven Series BMW; what a mistake that was.

The first car I ever owned was a Ford Prefect, bought for 50 sobs in the 60s. At the other end of life I am very happy with my third Ford Mondeo.

Okay, I know that Henry Ford was American born and bred.

However, his father, William Ford was a 21-yearold Irish farmer when he left West Cork in 1847. Under Irish law this makes the venerable Henry Ford an Irish national. In 1912, the pull of sentiment lured Henry Ford and

ANTIQUE CARS: Including a 1928 Ford Model A at Greenfield Village Old Car Festival. his son Edsel back to his father’s humble cottage and its 30 acres of land in Lisselane.

Alas, three brothers were still resident. On the advice of a priest they refused to sell up.

Henry, renowned for his pragmatism, withdrew his offer. He did take away the cottage hearth but rarely returned.

His family, and indeed his

The first car I ever owned was a Ford Prefect, but now I am happy with my third Ford Mondeo.

place of birth, still pay tribute to their esteemed son.

As with many Irish, English and Scottish family histories of the time, the Henry Ford odyssey is a fascinating saga of emigration and hardship.

His father, William, had settled into a farming community in Dearborn, Michigan.

His son, Henry, born in

OUR VIEW

SPAIN: A cultural life.

Different aspects of Spain PEOPLE have different reasons why they chose to live in Spain. For some it’s the food, wine and weather, for others it’s the culture, fiestas, bullfighting or the nightlife. But for most of us it’s a culmination of the entire package.

Although no country is perfect, we have chosen to live here because, all things given, we prefer it. The reason for that is the multifaceted lifestyle that has shaped Spain and its values over hundreds of years and is one that contains many aspects.

It’s possible we might not agree with all of the ingredients that make up Spain’s big picture, but if one or two aspects of Spanish life didn’t exist, it wouldn’t be the country we know.

In the same respect, if you were to remove potatoes from a stew, it would just be soup, Spain is what it is because of all the ingredients, good or bad, perfect or not so perfect.

It would be a boring world if we all thought the same, fortunately we don’t. With all the wonderful attractions and experiences Spain has to offer, maybe we should concentrate a little more on the things we feel make us happy, and leave others to enjoy what they like to do.

Somerset Maugham said: “Perfection has one grave defect: it is apt to be dull.” And if life in Spain ever became dull, it doesn’t bear thinking about.

1863, seemed destined for life as a farmer. It was in the farm’s outdoor sheds that he worked on the principle of the Now we petrol driven motor car. Havwant to ing built his first car he foundhear your news. ed the Ford Motor Company in 1903.

YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE The first Ford Cars - YOUR OPINION were seen in Ireland in 1907 www.euroweeklynews.com at the Irish Motor Show.

OPINION & COMMENT

www.euroweeklynews.com

11 - 17 June 2015 / Costa de Almería

EWN

57

Uncivil disobedience is not viable Cassandra Nash A weekly look - and not entirely impartial reaction to the Spanish political scene

ADA COLAU, Barcelona’s mayor elect, took 11 seats in last month’s election. She announced a few days back that the Barcelona en Comu party would disobey laws that it felt were unjust, which is a prizewinning cop out.

While living in a state where unjust laws can be passed by a democraticallyelected parliament - especially one with a whopping great overall majority like Rajoy’s - little can be done apart from revoking them at the first opportunity.

Spain has had enough problems with politicians who disobey the laws that affect them personally. It doesn’t also need politicians who see institutional lawbreaking as a viable alternative to lawmaking.

He who laughs IT is not necessary to be a royalist or rabidly anti-nationalist to admire how Felipe

Two little dicky birds REMEMBER ‘Two little dicky birds, sitting on a wall, one named Peter, one named Paul?’

Pedro Sanchez and Pablo Iglesias are about as liable to fly away in opposite directions as the birds in the rhyme although Iglesias needs Sanchez as much as Sanchez needs him. Podemos is the victim of its half-success, failing to get very far under its own steam, and a frustrated Iglesias is playing hard to get. On reflection he is more of a dog-in-themanger than a dicky bird.

Spain has had enough problems with politicians who disobey the laws.

VI withstood the public’s reaction to Spain’s national anthem in Camp Nou. It was a foregone conclusion that whistles and jeers from the supporters of both teams would deafen any cheers at the BarcelonaAthletico de Bilbao cup final. The king

stood solidly to attention, ignoring the half-smile on the face of Cataluña’s regional president Artur Mas. Mas, whose CiU party loses more seats in every ballot, called early regional elections for this September. Unlike Felipe who has a 71 per cent approval rating, he has nothing to smile about.

All the same THERE weren’t many outright regional or municipal victories for the PP, PSOE, Ciudadanos or Podemos last month. But it was the electorate’s jaded “they’re all the same” verdict that split the vote, not the parties involved.

ADA COLAU: As Barcelona’s mayor elect, she took 11 seats in last month’s election.

Ricardo Patiño Flickr

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E W N 11 - 17 June 2015 / Costa de Almería

LETTERS

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE - YOUR OPINION

Letters for Your Say should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com or make your comments straight on our website: www.euroweeklynews.com

Building more homes just destroys the tranquillity we know and love WITH the announcement of the development of 1,800 new homes, on agricultural land, Nerja Town Hall has all but rung the death knell for the town's tourism industry.

At present it is likely that there are more than 1,800 homes either not in use (including abandoned developments), in partial use or on sale in the town. So why this need for more houses?

Family and friends, who over the years have holidayed with us, have without exception noted that Nerja has become brash, noisy, dirty, grid-locked with traffic and generally unpleasant. So much so that almost all of our friends holiday in Almuñecar, La Herradura and Salobreña. Nerja’s loss is another town’s gain.

We purchased our home based on Nerja’s natural and tranquil charm.

That has all but gone.

Like our neighbours before us, we too will be moving further inland, to regain a tranquillity that Nerja Town Hall seems hell-bent on destroying.

Nerja will lose out on much needed, year-round income.

G Kenmore, Nerja (Malaga)

Remarkable lady THANK you for the article on Jacqui Phillips (Costa Blanca North Issue 1558). She is a remarkable lady who can achieve laughter and hope in one’s darkest hours.

I met Jacqui 14 years ago, having had a mastectomy in the Perdrera Hospital. I was driven to Javea to meet a small group of ladies in a local restaurant. My left arm in plaster, I was asked why I was there.

Having assured them that I had cancer, I was made to feel very welcome.

The weekly meetings meant experiences were exchanged and worries talked over.

The atmosphere was very positive that we would recover and there was much laughter; in fact, so lighthearted were we that one day we were approached by a delightful lady who asked how might she join our club. Could it be a theatre group?

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

This photo was taken recently at the entrance to one of the parking areas on Fuengirola Port. After pondering the maths for two minutes we drove off and decided to find a proper parking meter regardless of cost.

The sign is as clear as beach sand.

Pete Woodall (By email)

It was gently explained to her that she did not qualify and indeed we hoped she never would. She walked away shaking her head in disbelief.

Jacqui was an enormous help whenever it was most needed, and I’m sure a great help to our recovery and self-esteem.

Jacqui remembers everyone’s name and is still working tirelessly, both in visiting the MABS charity shops and raising awareness, and giving inspiration to so many. A truly lovely lady.

Thank you for your truly informative publication.

PV French, La Jara (Alicante)

Cycle lane crazy CAN anyone tell me what idiot would get rid of 30 plus parking spaces, in preference for a cycle lane?

This is at the medical centre in

Cabo Roig (Alicante) and there is now no parking near the clinic. Police are there every morning booking cars and towing away.

I don’t think I have ever seen a cyclist there! The parking places they have taken are in a road that could be cycled down safely as it is a dead-end road, and there is no through traffic. All this along with the humps that damage our cars, what will they think of next?

I wonder would anyone own up to this?

Nathan Hall (By email)

Thanks EWN! THANK you for the article you have just published highlighting the problems of abandoned dogs in Javea (Costa Blanca North Issue 1561).

We appreciate your help.

Mandy Conway, President APASA animal sanctuary

Phone woes IT seems that the letter regarding Telefonica is the norm for this company! My own tale of woe started in August 2011, when cancelling a contract I had had for 30 months.

This in itself was a Herculean task, but by persisting I got them to give me a cancellation number, name of the assistant and agreed date and time the event took place.

The assistant, Carmen, informed me there would be a final invoice for €31.74 and that this would be taken in September.

Well it was taken and a day later a further amount for €74.38, without my knowledge, was also taken.

This unauthorised payment was refunded by the bank.

Then the problems started. First of all Telefonica wrote demanding payment, still without itemising why.

Soon they started bullying tactics utilising a different debt

agency every month.

After six months of agency letters they finally ceased and I mistakenly thought they had corrected their error.

Sadly not, roll forward to the present day and when I enquired through Movistar about the fibreoptics installed last month on our urbanisation they immediately requested the €74 and at the same time denied the knowledge that their very own company had installed the cables at the end of April!

I’ve yet to hear a good word about Telefonica and wonder if they are just inefficient or blatantly corrupt.

Derek Etherton, Pinos de Alhaurin (Malaga)

Fitting tribute Ric Polansky’s article (Almeria Issue 1561) about war hero and D-Day veteran Colonel Herbert ‘Bertie’ Finch nearing his 100th birthday struck a chord with one reader…

CONGRATULATIONS to the hero of the article, and a happy birthday to boot.

I was there on Sword Beach, but I’m only in my 99th year. It was not a lot of fun.

The Big Bang got me on the first day, so phoning is not a goer now, as the ears took it badly. I was in Liverpool Broad Green Hospital for seven months.

I won’t be able to get to go to my mates’ resting places by the beaches again, it’s a bit too much.

But they WILL always be in my thoughts.

Harry Fletcher, Sgt RE Comb Ops, Camping Los Gallardos (Almeria)

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

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.

TIME OUT

www.euroweeklynews.com

11 - 17 June 2015 / Costa de Almería

Famous quote

This week

MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

‘

What’s money? A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do.

Bob Dylan

in history 1509: English King Henry VIII marries Catherine of Aragon, the first of his six wives.

1645: Cromwell’s Parliamentarian army defeats the Royalists at the Battle of Naseby.

1915: The British Women’s Institute is officially founded, encouraging women to become more involved in producing food as part of the war effort.

1917: The deadliest bombing raid on London of the First World War kills 162 people, including 46 children.

1955: Seventy-seven people die after a disastrous collision during the 24-hour motor race at Le Mans in France, when a car spins onto an embankment near the crowd then explodes.

1959: The hovercraft is hailed as the transport of the future when Christopher Cockerell’s invention is launched in Southampton.

1961: The celebrated Russian ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev slips away from his security guards at a Paris airport and asks for political asylum in France.

1963: Cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova becomes the first woman in space.

1964: Nelson Mandela is jailed for life alongside seven other co-accused for plotting to destroy the South African state by sabotage.

1982: Britain and Argentina agree a ceasefire in the Falklands, the Argentinian forces making their surrender a few days later.

1987: Margaret Thatcher is elected for a third term, the first Prime Minister in 160 years to win three successive victories.

1991: Boris Yeltsin wins Russia’s first open election for president.

1996: A huge bomb planted by the IRA devastates parts of Manchester city centre on a busy Saturday afternoon. Around 200 people are injured, but there are no fatalities.

Women’s wit

‘

Being a sex symbol has to do with an attitude, not looks. Most men think it’s looks, most women know otherwise.

Kathleen Turner

World of English

‘

People say nothing is impossible, but I do nothing every day.

Almeria

‘IT’S IN GREEK AND IN STONE WITH A VERY FAMILIAR MESSAGE DEAR CHANCELLOR, THERE IS NO MONEY, GOODBYE AND GOOD LUCK!’

weather

Kakuro

for next 7 days

Fill all the empty squares using the numbers 1 to 9, so that the sum of each horizontal block equals the ‘clue’ on its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the clue on its top. No number may be used in the same block more than once.

TODAY VELEZ RUBIO

TOMORROW HUERCAL OVERA

ALBOX

VELEZ RUBIO GARRUCHA ALBOX MOJACAR

ALMERIA

HUERCAL OVERA

RETAMAR GARRUCHA ROQUETAS

MOJACAR

RETAMAR

ALMERIA

ROQUETAS

ADRA

Alicante TODAY:

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Benidorm

CLOUDY MAX 26C, MIN 20C 26 19 S 27 19 S 26 19 C

MAX MIN

Mon - 26 19 S Tues - 26 19 Cl Wed - 26 19 Cl

SHOWERS MAX 23C, MIN 20C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

27 20 S 27 20 S 26 20 S

Mon - 27 20 S Tues - 27 21 S Wed - 28 20 S

Fri Sat Sun -

25 21 Th 26 20 S 26 19 Th S Sun,

21 15 Sh 23 16 Sh 22 14 Sh

MAX MIN

Mon - 22 15 Sh Tues - 22 15 Sh Wed - 24 15 C

Madrid

CLOUDY MAX 27C, MIN 22C MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Mon - 26 20 C Tues - 26 20 Th Wed - 26 20 Sh Cl Clear,

TODAY:

Fog,

26 15 Cl 26 14 Cl 27 15 S C Cloudy,

TODAY:

CLOUDY MAX 29C, MIN 19C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

29 18 Th 29 18 Sh 28 17 Th

TODAY:

MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Mon - 28 17 S Tues - 28 17 Th Wed - 28 18 S

Mon - 27 15 C Tues - 27 16 C Wed - 30 17 Cl Sh Showers,

CLOUDY MAX 29C, MIN 20C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

32 20 Cl 31 20 Cl 31 20 S

Sn Snow,

UK THUNDERBALL

IRISH LOTTO

Saturday June 6

Saturday June 6

EURO MILLIONS

LA PRIMITIVA

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA

MAX MIN

Mon - 27 18 S Tues - 27 19 S Wed - 28 19 S

Murcia

SHOWERS MAX 26C, MIN 16C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

27 18 S 26 18 S 26 18 S

Mallorca

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

CLEAR MAX 26C, MIN 19C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 27 20 S Tues - 28 20 S Wed - 29 21 S

SHOWERS MAX 24C, MIN 15C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Barcelona TODAY:

27 21 Cl 28 21 S 27 20 Cl

Bilbao

Almeria TODAY:

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Malaga

CLOUDY MAX 27C, MIN 21C

TODAY:

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

MAX MIN

Mon - 31 19 S Tues - 31 19 Cl Wed - 32 19 S Th Thunder

LOTTERY

ADRA

59

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

SPONSORED BY

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

EWN

Saturday June 6

10

14

4

7

27

Friday June 5

2

13 19

24

17

28

33

38

Saturday June 6

Sunday June 7

3

28

8

30

31

34

36

41

50

7 35

39

8

43

44

48

28

16

45

BONUS BALL

THUNDERBALL

BONUS BALL

6

1

15

LUCKY STARS

1

9

40

REINTEGRO

49

7

REINTEGRO

8

60

E W N 11 - 17 June 2015 / Costa de Almería

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

Kingsman: The Secret Service Director: Matthew Vaughn Starring: Colin Firth, Samuel L Jackson, Michael Caine, Mark Strong, Mark Hamill, Taron Egerton Bond goes street, as an uber-secret and stuffy spy organisation facing a modern threat from a high-tech evil genius brings in an edgy young lad from a council estate for their training programme. Great and occasionally gory comic book fun from the team that made KickAss.

Funagram

Just Joking

Unscramble the name of a popular television cartoon character: ARMPIT SNOBS

A guy goes in for a job interview and sits down with the boss.

The boss asks him: “What do you think is your worst quality?”

The man says : “I’m probably too honest.”

The boss says: “That’s not a bad thing, I think being honest is a good quality.”

The man replies: “I don’t give a toss what you think!”

Unscramble the name of a famous London street and area (two words): THAT GRAND ONE

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

CHARTS

ROARED

CHILLS

ROBOTS

CRUISE (10)

SALUTE

JUMPED

SHARED

MEAGRE

SPEARS

METRES

STRIKE

PITTED

TACKLE

PLATES

TRAMPS

PRANKS

WRISTS

REACTS

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 1 Bitter 2 Coarse 3 Direst 4 Racket 5 Horses 6 Reason 7 Banker 8 Thence 9 Scenes 10 Bother 11 Deacon 12 Hearts 13 Header 14 Sharks 15 Potter 16 Blades 17 Castle 18 Spears 19 Closer 13 June Infanta Cristina of Spain, Royalty.

50

11 June, Hugh Laurie, Actor, 56.

Best known for his comedy work with Stephen Fry and Blackadder, he claimed notoriety in the US playing the title role of Dr. Gregory House on the hit TV series, House, M.D. A true master of his craft, he managed to turn his talents from a British comedy actor, to a serious American role without detection.

12 June, George Bush, US President, 91.

Son of Prescott Bush a US senator, and the 41st President of the United States, George Bush once served as vice president, congressman, ambassador, director of the CIA, and as a soldier in World War II. His son, George W. Bush became 43rd President.

14 June, Steffi Graf, Tennis Player, 46.

The 22 grand slam titles winner and wife of Andre Agassi became the first tennis player to earn the ‘Calendar Year Golden Slam,’ by winning each Grand Slam tournament as well as the Olympic gold in 1988. She and Andre have two children, Jaden and Jaz. 15 June, Courteney Cox, Actress, 51.

The borderline OCD Monica Geller character on Friends helped Courteney rise to stardom. Later receiving a Golden Globe nomination for her role on Cougar Town, she starred in the horror movie series Scream and married co-star David Arquette.

16 June, Phil Mickelson, Golfer, 45.

World Golf Hall of Fame placed US golfer who won his first Masters tournament in 2004, then took the title again in 2006 and 2010. Becoming the first lefthanded player to win the US open as an amateur, he has won more than 40 PGA Tour events.

17 June, Barry Manilow, Singer, 72.

The singer-songwriter and producer who recorded ‘I Write the Songs’ and ‘Mandy’ and known for his charity shows, once used to play the piano for Bette Midler for her performances. His most famous song is arguably ‘Copacabana.’

YOUR STARS CANCER (June 22 - July 23) A recent holiday has set your mind racing. This being a romantic time means that you can get a little overexcited. Your romance may not be set to last but you should fully enjoy it nonetheless. Relatives issue words of warning but they have only your best interests at heart.

LEO (July 24 - August 23) Opposing opinions on a matter close to your heart see you hesitating.

There is nothing wrong with asking for advice. The chances are that you know someone who has already been through your situation. Don’t let pride make you miss out on a solution.

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Not everything in the garden is rosy but you are made of strong stuff.

Your conviction that something is right helps you in discussions.

Support given to a loved one may be misguided, especially if it is a huge financial gamble.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) This is a time to enjoy the present and look forward to the future. Don’t forget, along the way, to congratulate yourself for all that you have achieved in the last year. Sometimes you do not blow your own trumpet and people appreciate you in a quiet way.

GEMINI

10-Star Quiz HARRY POTTER QUIZ All the question or answers contain the names Harry or Potter: 1. American singer-songwriter and actress Debbie Harry is best known as the lead singer of which new wave and punk rock band?

2. Banana Boat Song, Island in the Sun and Mary’s Boy Child were all UK Top 10 hit singles for which American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist?

3. Erik Weisz was the real name of which Hungarian-American illusionist and stunt performer, noted for his sensational escape acts?

4. In which long-running British children's comic did Pansy Potter The Strongman's Daughter first appear in December 1938?

5. In which LWT situation comedy, which ran from 1968 to 1972, did actor Derek Guyler did play the part of the pompous school caretaker Mr Norman Potter?

6. Skin, Heat, Lovely Days, Clues, Pitter Patter and Who Done It were the titles of the six episodes of which BBC television serial drama by Dennis Potter, first broadcast in 1986?

7. What is the real first name of the younger son of Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, normally referred to as Prince Harry?

8. What is the surname of the character played by Clint Eastwood in the Dirty Harry series of films?

9. Which (English) Premier League football team are nicknamed the Potters?

10. Which English author, illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist is best known for her imaginative children's books, featuring animals such as those in The Tale of Peter Rabbit?

1. BLONDIE, 2. HARRY BELAFONTE, 3. HARRY HOUDINI, 4. THE BEANO, 5. PLEASE SIR!, 6. THE SINGING DETECTIVE, 7. HENRY (Charles Albert David), 8. Harry CALLAHAN, 9. STOKE CITY, 10.

Beatrix POTTER.

Infanta Cristina of Spain, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca, is the younger daughter of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía of Spain. She is seventh in the line of succession to the Spanish throne, after her siblings, Felipe and Elena and their children.

TIME

EURO WEEKLY’S SPACE FOR YOU TO TAKE A BREA

FUNAGRAM SOLUTION: BART SIMPSON, HATTON GARDEN

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(May 22 - June 21)

Improvising within a new business situation may not give you the perfect answer to a problem. What it will do, however, is give you an insight into the way others live. Until now, your approach to life may have been a little one-sided

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) An appetite for something new means that you tread unknown ground. It’s an exciting time when you may find it easier to do things alone. This does not mean you have to feel alone as others can be told of your progress.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) Part of being ‘you’ is your independent mind. Some may try to change that this week. Why would someone want to make you more dependent on them? Could it be that they feel insecure?

Giving reassurance may be all that is needed.

We all feel the need for appreciation.

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Trying to be everything to all people is tiring. No one knows this more than you. Give yourself a little time and space this week because it will make a great difference to your spirits.

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) Primarily, you are wanting to see

some appreciation. That is understandable given the efforts that you have made. Do not be annoyed, however, if it is a while coming yet. Others are not always as well tuned in as you. If necessary, use a go-between discreetly to make sure of progress.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Increased activity in your love life means less time to really concentrate on business. Make sure that priority financial matters are dealt with. Not doing so will see you kicking yourself later on. A close relationship is going well. There’s no reason to wonder why, the charm offensive is obviously working.

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Keeping an eye on your health is particularly important at the moment.

Because you have been active, it could be that you need to give yourself a bit of time. Pampering and just plain relaxing are all going to stand you in good stead during the coming week.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) Opening your mind to a new idea has convinced you that it is time for a change in direction. This is such a time, but not all changes will be permanent. Give yourself a way out of any situation this week. Using your tact and charm, it will require only a little application to please everyone.

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

TARGET: Average: 8 Good: 10 Very good: 15 Excellent: 18

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION calm clad clam clan clap claw clod clop coal cola cold cowl lamp land lawn load loam loan mold opal palm pawl plan plod plow wold clamp clomp clown copal modal nodal nopal almond dolman plowman CLAMPDOWN

SOUND OF THE WEEK How big, how blue, how beautiful Artist: Florence + the Machine Released June 1 on Island Records The third album from Florence Welch and her band was hotly anticipated and warmly received. Sounds shift from strings and soft vocals, to the more familiar full Florence holler on the louder, guitar driven tracks.

Recent single St Jude is one of the standout tracks.

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page

AK, BE INFORMED AND ENJOY A CHALLENGE

Enjoy filling in the following puzzles and check the answers in next week’s edition

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

CRYPTIC

Quick

Cryptic

Across: 1 Series, 4 Garlic, 9 Agree, 10 Tenor, 11 Essen, 12 Targets, 13 Sparse, 15 Faiths, 19 Tornado, 21 Sepia, 23 Scars, 24 Evade, 25 Eating, 26 Defect.

Across 1 In the morning wild boar is heavenly food (8) 6 Mock low quality newspaper (3) 9 The best selection from Japanese literature (5) 10 Turn sea into land (7) 11 Ask about tree ant (7) 13 Haven for rock band (5) 14 Light material can turn red (6) 15 Challenging but heartless sweetheart (6) 19 Model enquires about jobs (5) 21 In German them strange hymns (7) 22 Novice Peg has a shower inside (7) 23 Nation, say (5) 24 The day before a girl is found (3) 25 Simplicity is a crime, note, in choppy seas (8) Down 2 Time son was changed, he’s wet! (7) 3 Whisky or old port? (3) 4 Former PM on head of state’s case (6) 5 Spaceman: a prelude to Saturn, strangely (9) 6 Steps taken to go up in the world (5) 7 Common drug (5)

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Crossword

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Down: 1 Sachets, 2 Reads, 3 Errands, 5 After, 6 Longest, 7 Cards, 8 Petty, 14 Abreast, 16 Assuage, 17 Shallot, 18 Cover, 19 Taste, 20 Arson, 22 Piece.

QUICK Across:

8 He’s entering wager by request (6) 12 Screen I’ve adapted from that day to this (4,5) 16 What the Poles wear that give them head colds? (3,4) 17 Crushed grapes for cheap smoke (6)

Code Breaker

18 Data about key parts of a gemstone (6) 19 Heading for the championship (5) 20 Small fish tremble (5) 23 Do wrong at home on Sunday (3)

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 10 represents M and 14 represents X, so fill in M every time the figure 10 appears and X every time the figure 14 appears. Now, using your knowledge of the English language, work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you discover the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.

Across

Down

7 Boxed in (7)

1 Alien (8)

9 Opposing military force (5)

2 Naked (4)

10 Chopper (3)

3 Breaks into pieces (6)

11 Promise of reimbursement in the

4 Gains knowledge or skills (6)

case of loss (9)

5 Large creature with antlers (8)

12 Seizes suddenly (5)

6 Mark or stamp (4)

14 Look over carefully (7)

8 See or hear differences (11)

16 Stealing from (7)

13 Strong drive for success (8)

18 Powerful effect or influence (5)

15 Wealth stored up (8)

19 Contented (9)

17 Demand (6)

20 Public transportation (3)

18 Defraud, cheat or falsify (6)

21 Chefs (5)

19 Unwell (4)

22 Handgun holder (7)

20 Wagers (4)

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

1 Cardigan, 4 Adds, 7 Roads, 9 Means, 11 Terms, 12 Adapt, 13 Supper, 15 Effect, 19 Boots, 21 Least, 23 Spare, 24 Shake, 25 Take, 26 Decadent.

Down: 1 Curious, 2 React, 3 Almost, 5 Saint, 6 Saga, 8 Serve, 10 Share, 14 Pious, 16 Flats, 17 Torment, 18 Fleece, 19 Beast, 20 Stay, 22 Tease.

ENGLISHSPANISH Across: 1 Encontrar, 8 Igual, 9 Autor, 11 Sums, 12 Peso, 14 Ears, 16 Left, 19 Ayuda, 21 Acebo, 22 Martillos.

Down: 2 Nouns, 3 Owls, 4 Team, 5 Ant, 6 Limpiar, 7 Presion, 10 Use, 13 Old, 15 Abeto, 17 East, 18 Tall, 20 Uva.

CODE BREAKER

Across 1 Cangrejo (4) 3 Beds (5) 8 Por lo tanto (9) 9 The (pl, f) (3) 10 Such (of that kind) (3) 11 Taco (billar) (3) 12 Computer (9) 14 Cuevas (5) 15 Elbow (4)

Down 1 Horses (animals) (8) 2 Before (5) 4 Surname (8) 5 Garlic (3) 6 Frase (oración) (8) 7 Lazy (idle) (8) 11 Circus (entertainment) (5) 13 Day (3)

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TOP 10

BOOKS A tale following three generations

Judy Blume is an author that millions of women have grown up with, her young adult novels addressing the stresses and crises of being a teenage girl, such as Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret, having become classics.

Her newly released novel is aimed at adults and follows three generations of characters, as they search for ways to cope with events that change their lives utterly. Miri Ammerman goes back to her hometown in New Jersey for a memorial event to mark a series of aircraft disasters that occurred when she was a 15year-old in the 1950s, when technology was exciting and terrifying at the same time, and young love played out against a backdrop of the threat of nuclear war. books@euroweeklynews.com

best restaurants in the world

These are the best places to go to eat based on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2015 where lists are compiled using the votes of more than 900 international leaders in the restaurant industry.

1. El Celler de Can Roca - Girona, Spain Taking the top spot is El Celler de Can Roca of Girona. Also the holder of three Michelin stars, the World’s best restaurant in northeast Spain which suffered the terrible shame of falling to the number two spot last year has regained its place. The cuisine is described by the Roca brothers as, traditional Catalan but with a twist.

2. Osteria Francescana - Modena, Italy Owned and run by Chef Massimo Bottura, and the holder of three stars by the Michelin Red Guide, he travels the globe in search of inspiration. However his menu remains deeply Italian, and always echoes the flavour of northern Italy. The author of the book, Never Trust a Skinny Italian Chef, tells us he is always looking at how to evolve his country’s food.

3. Noma - Copenhagen, Denmark The double Michelin star eatery run by Chef René Redzepi has prided itself on the reinvention and interpretation of Nordic Cuisine. It received Restaurant magazine’s award for Best Restaurant three years in a row, and was last year’s number one with The World’s Best 50.

4. Central - Lima, Peru Virgilio Martínez Véliz, is a master of innovation, from his flagship restaurant in the Andes he focuses on traditional Peruvian dishes predating Hispanic influence.

More of a workshop than a restaurant, he concentrates on the surrounding 100 kilometres for all ingredients,

Sudoku

as would have his ancestors.

5. Eleven Madison Park - New York, United States Originally opened in 1998, Chef Humm and Guidara began working at Eleven in 2006 and became owners in 2011. Devotion to their one multi-course tasting menu which is stimulated by the agricultural plenty of New York, has ensured this well-disciplined award winner set in art deco grandeur remains one of the best restaurants in the world.

6. Mugaritz - San Sebastien, Spain A hilltop in Spain’s Basque Country is the location from where Andoni Luis Aduriz and his eatery crafts its experience. A revolutionary restaurant offering contemporary cuisine takes a step outside the box. Referred to by some as the most adventurous restaurant in the world, you should prepare to be mystified.

7. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal London, UK Since January 2011, Chef Ashley PalmerWatts, has been at the helm of the former

Foliage situated at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Famed for its experiential food with a modern twist on traditional British recipes, his creative eye for detail coupled with a great enthusiasm for research has earned his place within Blumenthal’s, and on this list.

8. Narisawa - Tokyo, Japan A decidedly international restaurant with a more than cosmopolitan outlook, it stands out amongst its Tokyo contemporaries.

Despite a heavy bias toward its French bedrock, unique Japanese products are still the focal point. Yoshihiro Narisawa cooking places a strong emphasis on nature and a keen commitment to the environment.

9. D.O.M. - Sao Paulo, Brazil Run by Brazilian chef Alex Atala, and known for the use of native Brazilian ingredients, Restaurant magazine has considered it the best restaurant in South America since 2006, and in 2012 it peaked at number four on this list. The former punk rocker, DJ and self-confessed party animal has spread his philosophy of using native Brazilian ingredients in haute cuisine and mesmerised a continent.

10. Gaggan - Bangkok, Thailand Indian born Gaggan Anand dropped onto the shores of Bangkok for a short visit in 2007, he never left. The selfconfessed Anti Academic childhood saw him fill his world with music and cooking. Apparently the number 10 best restaurant in the world was result of a drunken night with friends.

EL CELLER DE CAN ROCA: The top spot to eat.

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

App of the Week Bink App rewards snappers A new app from Bink aims to get consumers intermingling with brands in a fresh way, by taking photos of company logos in exchange for rewards.

Bink wishes to tempt consumers with discounts or promotional merchandise after they take a smartphone snap of a logo placed, for example, on a billboard, in a shop window or on TV. Reports from Bink said it has already got firms including Coca Cola, Starbucks and The North Face.

Play on Words ADNST

VIT MIN

Boggled How many English words can you find in the Boggled grid, according to the following rules?

The letters must be adjoining in a ‘chain’. They can be adjacent horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

Words must contain at least four letters and may include singular and plural or other derived forms.

No letter may be used more than once within a single word, unless it appears twice.

No vulgarities or proper nouns are permitted.

TARGET: Average: 18 Good: 23 Very good: 33 Excellent: 40

SCORING: 4 letters: 1 point • 5 letters: 2 points • 6 letters: 3 points • 7 letters: 4 points • 8 or more letters: 11 points

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION nerd mend lend lent nuts trend rend rent rhea echo blend bend bent berm berth unto tout thou thief cent chef count cots cost cops chop chops chief chit helm herd heft sung stun stung stunt stout stop sound south spout spot outre outs oust ocher hound hots host hoist hops fuel faith pound pout pouts pots post pious tots

Word Ladder TRUE

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

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.

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TIME OUT

BLUE BACK

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

TRUE TREE FREE FLEE FLUE BLUE

E W N 11 - 17 June 2015 / Costa de Almería

Answers: Stand in alphabetical order ,Vitamin A deficiency

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HEALTH BEAUTY

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A positive step on the way to recovery 4th June

AT LAST the wheels are in motion with my radiotherapy Erica Russell Watson: My journey – and I’m driving AT last I have started radiotherapy w hic h i s a v e r y p o s itiv e s tep . It seems as though I have been talking about it forever and now at least the wheels are in motion.

I h a v e b e e n sm e a rin g S ativ a cream on the area to be radiated like it’s going out of fashion. I was told that with skin like mine I’d have to apply it at least three to four times a day to moisturise myself sufficiently to handle the side-effects of radiotherapy.

I started the treatment on June 2 at the Carlos Haya Hospital in Malaga. My appointment with the nurse was in the evening. I went along and down to the basement of the hospital and waited to be called.

On the dot of my appointment my name was called out. I spent half an hour with the specialist nurse who explained the possible side-effects

w h ich w ere m a inly s ore a nd dry skin and fatigue.

He also went through a series of health questions and asked me how I felt emotionally after my mastectomy and chemotherapy.

Then I was called in for my first session. I was asked to strip to

It was great to see the smiles on people’s faces and the hair on their heads! A sense of optimism pervaded as we could all start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

th e w a is t and put on the typic a l green gown. This I was told to keep and bring with me for every session.

Then into the radiotherapy room I went. I was asked to lie down and then raise my arms above my head and hold a bar. I had to incline my

head to the opposite side of the area to be treated and stay absolutely still.

It took them a while to move me into the correct position as they had to align everything with the markings on my body to ensure they radiated the correct area. Once this was done we started.

The ma c hine , a gia nt robot, move d a round me ma king funny noises. It didn’t hurt but I was relieved when I got the instruction to re la x my a rms be c a us e I ha d the itchiest nose ever!

By the weekend I will have had four sessions of radiotherapy and so far so good. I will have 15 in total and we shall see how I feel at the end of it all. For the moment it is the weekend so I get to rest and start the next sessions from Monday to Friday.

On a positive note it was lovely to bump into lots of people that I had met during my chemotherapy. It was great to see the smiles on people’s faces and the hair on their heads!

A sense of optimism pervaded as we could all start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Health Food Shop & Community Centre Are you looking for inspiration?

You’ll be surprised at the range of natural & organic products available to inspire you.

In the Community Centre Kids Karate, kids Gymnastics Art classes, Pilates, Yoga, Tai-Chi, Salsa-size Spanish lessons and health screening

C/Malaga s/n, Albox, Almeria, Tel: 639 089 170 Mon-Fri 10am-6pm Sat 10am-2pm email: alboxgirasol@hotmail.com

LESS SLEEP: Can lead to a tendency to eat more, resulting in proble

Tiredness to comfor FOOD intake is implicated in many chronic health issues

HEALTH & BEAUTY

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11 - 17 June 2015/ Costa de Almería

ems like obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

s can lead rt eating

By Gemma Quinn A PERSON’S sleeping habits could explain their eating habits as scientists believe the two are linked.

Lack of sleep and tiredness affects the hormones that control appetite, so people feel more hungry.

Researchers said the less you sleep the more you are likely to eat, which can lead to problems like obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease in the long run.

The researchers, from the University of Nebraska, said that the lack of sleep and tiredness affects the hormones controlling appetite so people feel more hungry. The study’s authors, Alyssa Lundahl and Timothy D

Nelson said: “It is well recognised that food intake is implicated in many chronic health issues including obesity, diabetes and heart disease, and diet is often a target of treatment to prevent the onset of these conditions.

“Understanding the mechanisms linking disrupted sleep patterns to increased food intake is important for informing both prevention and treatment interventions for chronic health conditions.”

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Years of wearing heels can cause harmful imbalance

Pesticide exposure can raise risk of ADHD A PESTICIDE commonly found in household products could triple a boy’s risk of being diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Scientists have warned that symptoms of the condition, notably hyperactivity, were found to be associated with exposure to pyrethroid pesticides, an ingredient found in many common insecticides and some insect repellents.

Expert at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Centre in the US noted the link was stronger in boys than in girls after studying data from 687 children between the ages of eight and 15. Pesticide exposure was tested in urine samples and boys with a detectable amount were three times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. In the US, the use of the two most commonly used organophosphate pesticides, containing organic compounds with phosphorus, was banned from residential use in 2000, after concerns were raised over adverse health consequences.

This led to an increased use of pyrethroid pesticides, which are considered less toxic but concerns are now being raised about it leading to ADHD symptoms.

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HIGH HEELS: Worn too often, can cause back pain and deformed feet.

THREE years of regularly wearing high heels could harm the balance of feet.

Research shows that continual use can cause a potentially harmful imbalance in the feet of women despite initially strengthening important muscles around the ankle.

After three years, the shoes led to some muscles becoming dominant and increased the risk of sprains.

A team from Hanseo University in South Korea studied 40 professional women who wear heels of 10cm or higher at least three times a week.

They regularly

measured the women’s ankle strength, and found that two

40 the number of women who took part in the study of the four main muscles started becoming dominant after between one and three years of regular wear, but after that they eventually caused a muscular imbalance.

Deformed feet, back pain and unhealthy walking patterns can all result from wearing heels too often.

FOOD D R I N K

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pilgrimages when she travelled and that is how they caught on. However the stories go they have sustained their popularity since then. So good news travels fast and so does taste, as after n o t to o lo n g the s e little c up c a ke s were being baked all over Spain, and a fte r c e n-

MAGDALENA: Light and fluffy and melt in the mouth.

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Magdalena’s a sweet treat ideal for breakfast time THE Magdalena is what the English would describe as a sweet cup cake eaten with afternoon tea or at parties, but in Sp a i n t h e se a r e w id ely c o n sumed for breakfast with coffee.

The Spanish people love these, but they actually originate from France where t h e y a r e k n o w n as Madele i n e s a n d t h e y w e re named after their baker, a little lady called Madeleine Paulmier. She is said to hav e p r e p a r e d these delicious sweet little cu p c a k e s f o r the Kin g o f Po l a n d , Stanislas Leszczynski back in 1751!

It is noted that Magdalena s b e c a m e m ore popula r t h r o u g h b e i n g mentio n e d i n a n o v e l called Marcel Proust, where the author described the smell and taste of the then named Madeleines.

Others say that she gave the cakes to

EWN

turies you still enjoy the sweetest taste of the Spanish Magdalena.

They are a must to try, lots of the local folk enjoy dunking them in their coffee, a similarity to the chocolate and churros ritual you find here. The perfect and traditional Magdalena is made up of eggs, sugar, butter, flour and baking powder, and the zest of a lemon which gives them that little kick.

The y s hould be light and fluffy and melt in the mouth, which is w hy the y a re ide a l for bre a kfa s t. With the ingredients they contain, you have nutrition inc luding prote in, vita mins and carbohydrates for energy. So bring out the Magdalenas for bre a kfa s t a nd s e e how s w e e t your da y w ill be!

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FOOD & DRINK

Tortilla - the hearty food fit for an army TOTILLA is probably the most consumed tapas dish in and around Spain, it is found in most bars and restaurants you will visit, where recipes vary with their ingredients and thickness.

The first reference to tortilla was found in northern Spain in a Navarrese document where farmers noted that food was sparse among the highlanders.

It is also said women in the 18th century had to concoct a

Eaten hot or cold, it is a delicious Spanish traditional food. hearty meal that would go further by adding potatoes into the eggs in order to make a dish that would satisfy the army during the Carlist war.

However it came to be, tortilla is still readily available in bars and supermarkets and eaten by all walks of life, as it is still a tasty and satisfying snack.

The best tortillas are prepared with potatoes that are starched and seasoned, the better the potato, the higher the quality tortilla. Onions are optional, but a good olive oil and eggs also play a key part

TORTILLAS: Prepared with potatoes and sometimes onions. in the final result.

Eaten hot or cold it is a delicious Spanish traditional food. Most are rich in protein, carbohydrates, sodium, and fibre

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FOOD & DRINK

Limoncello is perfect over ice LIMONCELLO is a tangy and refreshing liqueur that mainly comes from the Gulf of Naples in Italy and is perfect to sip in a cocktail form or to follow a meal.

It is traditionally made from the zest of lemons which makes the flavour so crisp.

There are two types of lemons that are used, Sorrento or Sfusato and the method used

to extract the oil from the fruit is to steep it until it produces a syrup.

The quality of the lemons play a large part in the flavour of the end result, and they must also be free from chemicals.

Water is added that dictates the thickness, and the clarity of the Limoncello can be altered with the temperature in which it is stored. If the Limoncello is a little opaque in clarity, that is due to the emulsification of the sugar syrup and extracted lemon oils.

There are variable recipes, some contain pistachio nuts

TANGY: Is made from the zest of lemons.

and an alcoholic addition of vodka. The alcoholic content of Limoncello can be in the region of 28 to 32 per cent so be careful on the amount you drink as it can be very Moorish! However, it is usually served in a small shot glass after diner as it is good to help the digestive system.

To appreciate Limoncello to its fullest, it should be served at a very cold temperature which makes it a perfect summer drink, and so refreshing poured over ice with a slice of lemon.

Lemoncello is found in many bars and restaurants in Spain, and can be found incorporated into summer desserts too.

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FOOD & DRINK

Eat yourself healthy and reach for the garlic NO Spanish kitchen is complete without the presence of garlic. It has been hailed as a great health benefit and can help to cure many ailments.

Garlic is part of the onion family and when chopped it forms a sulphur compound that is said to aid certain health conditions. It is highly nutritious and has hardly any calories but is very rich in vitamin C, vitamin B6 and manganese.

Many people have eaten garlic in order to combat the common cold, as studies show that it can reduce the amount of colds a person may suffer by 63 per cent. So garlic is good to eat as a defence system and it also contains antioxidants that protect cell damage and aging.

Studies have also shown that garlic supplements can drastically reduce blood pressure, guard against heart disease and improve cholesterol levels. Whether you take your garlic powdered, salted, or minced or in supplement form, you

can reap the surprising benefits of this multipurpose herb for optimal health.

The minimum eff ect i ve dose of garlic is one clove, two or three times a day, so it is a good idea to include it

Garlic is a good all round tasty herb to include in your diet for the summer months.

GARLIC BREAD: A good old favourite for a quick snack.

when cooking or eating out. If cooking with garlic, it is best to add it to the dishes towards the end to achieve the maximum amount of flavour and nutrients. Sports fanatics take garlic to improve their performance as many swear by the effects being that of a clearer mind and suppleness in the body.

Garlic is a good all round tasty and beneficial herb to include into your diet for the summer months, and here in Spain there is no shortage of dishes to choose from. Many bars serve eggs with garlic for breakfast which is great fuel to set you up for the day or if you like to snack there is always the good old favourite, garlic bread.

Now is the time to eat yourself healthy, go for the garlic!

ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

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An ex-Bond girl for expats in distress VALERIE regularly spends time in the Almeria Province

By Eleanor Hawkins FORMER Bond girl Valerie Leon has given her support to expatriate owners of illegal homes, AUAN president and Albox councillor Maureen Hillen has announced.

A popular face on the UK screens in the 70s, Leon has been visiting Almeria for more than 20 years and considers it her second home.

After meeting through mutual friends, Leon VALERIE LEON: Has promised to give her support.

promised to speak at an AUAN fundraising event in September to help the group continue to fight for the future of the hundreds of ‘Almeribritish’ residents affected.

Hillen said that apart from helping to raise funds, Leon’s support would serve to keep up interest in the subject.

“She’s a very well-known person and the press is always interested in people like her,” she said.

Born in 1945, Leon is wellknown for roles in the Carry On television series and as a Hammer girl and a Bond girl.

She regularly spends time in the province, between Los Gallardos and Bejar, and some time back expressed her horror at the fate of friends the Priors who lost their home in 2008 and said she wished to help.

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

Villages join forces to Mayor of Albox is honour patron Lourdes banned from office HUNDREDS of Almanzora residents gathered for the eighth year running for a pilgrimage to honour the Virgen de Lourdes.

The gathering took place in the Layon countryside and residents of Tijola, Bayarque, Bacares and Seron all joined with celebrations.

Over the last few years the pilgrimage has gathered followers and become a focal

point of the local calendar, with people from the four villages joining together for annual celebrations including a mass, songs and dances dedicated to the saint.

Pilgrims say that the Virgen de Lourdes was left in the hills of the Sierra de Filabres by a group of scouts from Melilla 30 years ago.

Hunters later found the image hidden in the hills and it

was restored and adopted as the patron and protector of the area.

After the image of the saint was found in 1978, collections started and funds were raised to build a shrine where it was found. This was completed and opened eight years ago, and the four municipalities have been holding their pilgrimage ever since.

Swindler arrested as items sold fail to exist AN ALBOX resident has been arrested by the Guardia Civil for a swindle after making sales of cars and other items he failed to produce.

Two men lodged official reports at the Olula del Rio barracks after handing over €1,805 between them for two cars, a tele-

vision set and a laptop computer the man had offered to sell them, yet the purchases never turned up.

After tracking down and identifying the 33-year-old suspect, officers arrested him for the suspected swindle and he confessed that the items had never existed.

FOUND guilty of an offence against civil rights

By Maria José Fernandez ALBOX Mayor Rogelio Mena has been banned from public office for two and a half years for denying opposition parties access to documents and public contracts.

During the trial, Mr Mena assured before the judge that he never denied information to the opposing parties nor did he put any obstacles to their regulating activities, yet magistrate Luis Miguel Columna decided he was guilty of an offence against civil rights.

The prosecutor’s office had requested the two and a half year ban claiming that councillor Juan Pedro Perez requested several contracts and bills issued by companies Planta de Reciclaje Albox SL, Demoliciones y Asfaltos La Calzada and Alcaina Estudio de Ingenieria, but the mayor failed to provide them.

“My intent was never obstructing the work of any councillor, I have always provided all councillors with access to all information,” Mena stated.

Mr Mena explained that Mr Perez Quiles was requesting information from 2007, when the mayor was not yet in office.

On his part, Mr Perez Quiles said that he request-

Rogelio Mena.

ed the above mentioned contracts several times and that the council did not answer any of his requests.

“To this day, they have not yet provided the contracts,” he said, and stressed that he felt his work obstructed by the government.

ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

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Actors eat cardboard REHEARSALS for Luvvies Theatre Group’s production of Dinner Ladies are revving up towards performance day.

The play requires a considerable number of props, including sandwiches, toast and tea, so the cast were faced with a problem: how, with two rehearsals a week, could they manage without eating piles of bread and lakes of tea?

The answer was cardboard sandwiches, toast and water.

Performances are Friday June 26 and Saturday 27 at 7.30pm and Sunday 28 at 3pm. For tickets 634 346 309 or info@theluvvies.com.

www.euroweeklynews.com

Woman steals her neighbour’s chairs STOLEN furniture is still missing

By Eleanor Hawkins A WOMAN from Olula del Rio has been arrested by the Guardia Civil for allegedly stealing €700 worth of garden furniture from her neighbour.

IAG, aged 42, was first on the list of suspects after the theft of a sofa, two chairs and a table was reported by the neighbour as she had been arrested in October 2013 for climbing into three neighbours’ properties and also stealing garden furniture.

Although the woman has been arrested

€700

worth of garden furniture disappeared from the victim’s terrace overnight. and placed at the disposal of Purchena court, there is still no sign of the furniture meaning investigations continue and further arrests have not yet been ruled out.

ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

Motorway connections to open soon THE Albox stretch of the Almanzora motorway currently under construction is almost complete and should be open by the end of June, the Public Works department has announced.

Three links have been built to connect to the motorway, one from the industrial estate, one from the La Molata district and Endesa substation and another from Ar-

boleas, and a total of 16 structures built to cross streams, valleys and paths.

Work on the motorway, which will eventually connect the A92 Norte near Baza to the Mediterraneo A7 and is expected to give the area a boost, had been suspended due to lack of funds but was restarted after being designated as an important project by the European Union.

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Psychoeducation comes to Albox CENTRE will deal with behavioural problems and learning difficulties

By Eleanor Hawkins LOCAL entrepreneurs Vanesa Aguila and Gustavo Rodriguez are going to open a psychoeducational centre in Albox.

The project, christened Orienta-T, will be offering services to help youngsters get the best out of their school and personal lives with a strong focus on psychological and sensorial stimulation.

Aguila and Rodriguez, who both have extensive training and experience in the field, said that the centre aims to develop and improve children and teenagers’ capacity to cope with and assimilate everything thrown at them during their formative years.

Behavioural problems, learning difficulties, emotional problems, hyperactivity and lack of attention will all be dealt with by the psychological side of the centre, while the educational side will provide extra tuition, help with studies and homework, reading techniques, educational guidance and assessment and orientation for parents and teachers.

Local mayor Rogelio Mena and Education councillor Sonia Cerdan expressed their pleasure that Albox had been chosen for the centre, which will help beat the lack of services in this aspect in the whole Almanzora area.

The council has promised to study ways to reach agreements to allow as many children as possible to use the centre’s services.

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

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HOMES

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The leading installer of fly free areas for a perfect Lifestyle GLASS CURTAIN systems are so versatile, making spaces that are usable all year round

By Staff Reporter LIFESTYLE Enclosures have been offering fly free areas since 2005.

From a pool to a patio or a terrace to a balcony, they are the leaders in fly screening.

Without the loss of your views, outdoor areas can be

screened against flies, wasps, mosquitoes and other flying insects. With a choice of frame colours and many options of screening available they can transform a terrace into a relaxing bug free dining area. If it’s a door or window that you need screening, give them a call as they offer many

different options including roller, plisse and sliding screens. Lifestyle Enclosures are the area’s leading installers of Glass Curtain systems which are so versatile and keep your terrace free of dust, wind and rain, making a space that is usable all year round.

In the very hot summer days the system can be folded away leaving an open terrace but easily closed up again when needed. No frames to spoil your view and if your urbanisation will not allow standard glazing on external terraces, ask Lifestyle to give you a quotation for a frame-

SUMMER DAYS: System can be folded away. less system. Other glazing systems of windows, doors and enclosures are also available. With many options, why not call into the showroom to discuss your requirements.

Now distributors for Dumaplast it is an ideal time to visit the showroom and view the full range of products.

Dumalock can revamp your bathroom without retiling.

Dumawall and Dumapan are wall panels offering sleek designs, useful for covering

damp areas so common in Spanish properties.

Not forgetting that Lifestyle are Spain’s only approved distributor of Flo Plast rainwater systems offering different styles and colours of guttering for installation or DIY. They supply a wide range of toldos, awnings and blinds, see what is available.

Call 950 459 129 or email info@lifestyle-enclosures.com Opening hours Monday to Friday 09:00 - 17:30

HOMES & GARDENS

11 - 17 June 2015 / Costa de Almería

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Ensure you grow some vitamins to eat as human nature intended SLOW FOOD movement recommends we should try and eat local produce to sustain the local economy Dick Handscombe

Gardening Corner

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

DAILY we read advertisements and articles attempting to persuade us to buy manufactured vitamin tablets to supplement vitamin deficient diets.

How much better to eat the vitamins as nature intended them by growing and eating fruit and vegetables that are known to contain the main vitamins and minerals that we apparently need for continuous good health or for recovery of illnesses.

Interestingly the labels on some bottles of vitamin pills include the note ‘Not intended as a substitute for a balanced diet.’

Further, health authorities worldwide now recommend that we eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day for their vitamin and mineral contents, while others emphasise that these are best if fresh and grown ecologically/organically without the use of chemical fertilisers, insecticides and fungicides.

In addition the Slow Food movement recommends we should try and eat local produce to sustain the local economy and reduce distribution and warehousing costs.

So let’s do it by growing our own in containers on apartment terraces, in raised beds in small gardens, in the open garden or if convenient an allotment/huerto. The great advantages are that you can focus on growing those fruits and vegetables with the greatest beneficial vitamin and mineral contents and harvest each day just what is required for each meal or day to prevent storage degradations.

To help you understand which vitamins, minerals etc are of benefit to your wellness and which vegetables and fruits are beneficial, descriptive tables are included in my book ‘Living well from our garden Mediterranean style.’ Incidentally I am interested in talking about this topic as well as general gardening topics to social and gardening clubs.

Whatever you select to grow consider including anti-oxidant

FRUIT & VEG: Eat at last five portions a day. and anti-inflammatory vitamin/mineral rich foods. Include plenty of dark green acelga (chard) and spinach leaves, sprouting broccoli, tomatoes, nasturtium flowers and leaves, rocket, garlic, onions, tomatoes, radishes, beetroots and carrots.

As for fruit, aim to be able to harvest something on every day of the year to give seasonal diversity ranging from vitamin C packed mandarins and oranges from October to May, red raspberries from May to November

and by planting a perpetually flowering and fruiting Lunar lemon tree, healthy lemons can be harvested 365 days a year.

Remember working in the garden stimulates production of natural vitamin D, especially during the shorter winter days.

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PETS PAGE www.euroweeklynews.com

Keeping your dog cool in the summer ENSURE there is plenty of shade

David THE Dogman Listen to David on TRE every Saturday 10am to 11am Costa del Sol (Gibraltar/Sotogrande) 98.7fm (San Roque to Calahonda) 91.9fm (Calahonda to Motril) 88.9, Costa Calida 92.7fm Costa Blanca (Torrevieja to Elche) 105.1fm (Elche to Calpe) 88.2fm, (Calpe to Gandia & Ibiza) 104.6fm, (Denia to Valencia) 95.3fm Mallorca 103.9fm

TAKE special care of your dog in hot summer months as dogs have inefficient cooling systems compared to humans.

The sweat glands are in the tongue and paw pads, the primary method of sweating being the obvious one of panting. If a muzzle or a respiratory blockage interferes with this ability to pant, a dog may overheat quickly. Obese dogs suffer most.

Never exercise a dog in the heat of the day and keep his weight under control.

Make sure there is plenty of shade and water.

Temperatures of more than 40ºC can result in rapid panting, bright red gums, tongue and other mucus membranes, vomiting, watery and bloody diarrhoea and staggering. Thick saliva is also a sign of an impending heat stroke. If a dog is not treated immediately it is possible that coma, respiratory collapse and death can result.

If there are signs of heat stroke cool the

KEEPING COOL: Never exercise a dog in the heat. dog off by submerging it in tepid water before taking it to a vet. Flap a towel to fan the dog and allow gradual cooling.

Cooling a dog that is in shock too fast with cold water can cause further problems, even hypothermia. Certainly do not use ice water as this could result in a narrowing of the arteries to the skin, meaning the dog will retain the heat longer.

Do not leave dogs in cars even with the windows down. If you see a dog in an unattended car in hot weather for more than five minutes call the police. Keep water

in the boot of the car and out of the sun, dogs do not like warm or hot water.

Hot pavements, tarmac and sand on a beach can burn paws. Jogging with your dog running behind is also unwise as is making your dog run behind a car.

Remember young or small dogs take 10 steps to our one and young dogs need most of their energy for growing.

Don’t clip long-haired dogs too short otherwise there is the danger of the skin being sun burnt, their coats are for protection against cold weather and the sun.

PETS

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Advertising feature

Country Kennels: A happy holiday home for your pet CLIENTS are welcome to visit the facilities before making a decision

By Wendy Ann Cowham HAPPY DONKEYS: Helping to create firebreaks.

Donkeys help firefighting THE Happy Donkey Association is not the first organisation that springs to mind when we think about tackling forest fires.

But preventing forest fires is a top notch career for the donkeys of Doñana National Park in Andalucia.

One of the main weapons the fire brigade have against forest fires is creating fire breaks in the vegetation so the fire cannot spread. However in remote inaccessible areas this proves virtually impossible for humans.

This is where the popular, friendly and very hungry heroes step up to the mark. The small diligent donkeys are in the process of making firebreaks in Doñana, which extends across parts of Sevilla, Cadiz and Huelva.

With summer’s arrival so increases the risk of fires, but once the famous hero donkeys get started, there’s not many tufts of dry grass left standing to burn.

It is an activity that attracts a lot of attention as it really is effective, says Vice-President of The Happy Donkey Association, Wendy Clements.

According to reports from the National Park, “fireman donkeys are already in the

process of clearing the zone, where it is difficult for people to move around. These specialised donkeys have learned to eat the dry grass in a systematic way so as to create a thorough clearing that serves as quite effective firebreaks.”

“People know us, even from outside Doñana,” said Wendy proudly, “firemen from the town of Glasgow have become friends with our hardworking animals. Many people outside Spain only know the park because of our famous donkeys,” she said The Happy Donkeys have worked hard to make firebreaks in the past two years, and have become quite famous. Nearly 200,000 visits to their website mainly from abroad, prove how popular they are.

THIS professional, long-established business is owned and managed by Silke Montanus who is a well known and loved resident in the area. She has lived in Spain since the late 1980s and has been working with dogs for more than 30 years.

When you leave your dogs in kennels, you want to know that they are well cared for, secure, protected and in a happy environment that they will enjoy.

Country Kennels, outside Mojacar, is just that place.

Within moments of speaking to Silke, whose English is excellent, her passion for the care and welfare of dogs is very apparent. She oozes enthusiasm and love for the canine species and always has a great story to tell about the dogs she has cared for over the years, including the little three-legged dog that has adopted Silke as its own.

Because Silke also works with Clinica Veterinaria in Mojacar, all dogs in her care have access to 24-hour veterinary service, a unique benefit that will help

KENNELS: Offering large accommodation.

appease any worries you may have about leaving y o u r beloved pet in someone else’s temporary care. With Silke’s medical experience, you can rest assured that any medicines or care that your fluffy pal needs will be taken care of correctly and professionally.

Country Kennels are located on the road to Turre, just outside Mojacar and offer large accommodation. The dogs can run freely in the secure fenced area, giving them that all important exercise. This large area allows enough flexibility for

each dog at the kennels to get at least an hour per day’s running about. Each kennel enclosure is more than 21 square metres and has a run incorporated.

Clients and potential clients are welcome to visit and see the facilities before making a decision, but once you have seen how much fun the dogs are having, you won’t be deciding for long.

Opening hours are fairly flexible with drop-off and collection times before 9.30am and between 3pm and 7pm. Appointments can also be made outside those hours by calling and leaving a message.

Country Kennels Carreterra Turre-Mojacar, km2 Tlf: 627 564 640 Facebook: ‘Country Kennels Mojacar’

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V I S I T O U R W E B S I T E W W W . E U R O W E E K LY N E W S . C O M

TO READ MORE

Advertising feature

Apartment with sea views and peaceful surroundings

PROPERTY www.euroweeklynews.com

Property of the week Brought to you by Spanish Property Choice

PROPERTY is located in the perfect area of Mojacar and in walking distance to all local amenities A SPACIOUS two-bedroom, twobathroom apartment located on a quiet, very well maintained complex just 100 metres from the beautiful beaches of Mojacar Playa.

The secure, gated complex has several communal garden areas, terraces and large, communal swimming pool. The apartment also includes a parking space and storage room. The apartment consists of an entrance hallway which leads into a fully fitted kitchen with ample storage units and an open window through to the lounge / dining room.

The lounge has fitted air conditioning and large patio doors out to the terrace, which boasts beautiful views of the complex and out to sea.

The double guest bedroom and the master bedroom both come with fitted wardrobes and a ceiling fan.

There are two good size bathrooms with easy access from both bedrooms. This property is located in the perfect area for rental potential and is walking distance to all local amenities, bars and commercial centres.

Call 950 615 388 or 653 722 290.

REF B598 MOJACAR 110,000€ Coastal property

Open plan lounge/dining room has air conditioning.

Fully fitted kitchen with ample storage.

• Fully Furnished • 2 bedrooms • 2 bathrooms • Plot Size 71 m² • Build Size 71 m² • Mains Water • Mains Electric • Telephone Possible • Internet Possible • Air Conditioning • Communal Pool • Private Terrace • Underground parking • Disabled Friendly • Close to a Golf Course • Ground floor • 1 minute to the beach • 3 minutes to the shops

Large communal pool.

The apartment also has a master bedroom and a guest bedroom.

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PROPERTY

COMMANDING VIEWS: The town of Castellfollit de la Roca overlooks the Fluvià and Toronell rivers.

Living on the edge SOME people not only take the expression living on the edge to heart - they do it!

By Steve Walsh THE Casas Colgadas, or Hanging Houses, are a compound of houses in Cuenca, Spain. In the past, houses of this kind were commonplace along the eastern side of the ancient city, where it borders the ravine of the River Huécar.

Today, however, there are

only a few of them still standing. Of all of these structures, the most well-known is a group of three with wooden balconies.

Their origin remains uncertain, though there is proof of their existence in the 15th century.

They have been used as individual homes, council houses,

and currently the host to a restaurant, and the Spanish Abstract Art Museum.

Castellfollit de la Roca on the other hand is an entire town living on the edge. The town of approximately 1,000 people occupies an area of less than a square kilometre, making it one of the smallest towns in Catalo-

nia. This small urban area is trapped between and overlooking the SHEER DROP: Not for the dizzy!

Fluvià and in medieval times and is Toronell rivers, between which formed by squares and narrow the town’s spectacular basalt streets where the houses are cliff rises. made from volcanic rock.

The old town has its origins

Add value to your home with an extension INCREASING the square-metreage of living space will increase your property’s value John Graham The property expert

THROUGHOUT Spain, there is an increase in home-owners choosing to extend their homes and although the costs of building an extension can be significant, it is one of the best ways to gain extra living space and add considerable value to your home.

Unfortunately, I know of many cases where building extensions have gone horribly wrong and resulted in heavy fines, expensive legal costs and demolition.

When I have studied the circumstances of each case, almost 100 per cent of the problems were totally avoidable, if the owners would have had the right professional advice and service before starting or carrying out the work.

If you are thinking of building an extension to your villa or apartment I would like to share a few professional dos and don’ts with you, which should help you avoid any problems.

MORE SPACE: Extensions are becoming more popular in Spain.

Don’t overspend. Do think realistically about a comfortable budget for your extension and leave sufficient funds for furnishings and other contingency costs.

Don’t try to cut corners. Do the job professionally and hire an architect or surveyor to act on your behalf to prepare the design, drawings, documentation, licences and su-

pervision of the builders’ work. Do check that the total build square-metre volume allowed for your property is not exceeded.

Don’t rush the important job of design.

Do spend sufficient time with the architect or surveyor on discussing every detail of the design. Making changes later can be costly once work has started.

Do make sure the extension design has a sense of continuity and matches the rest of your property.

Don’t hire the builder direct.

Do ask the surveyor to arrange reputable builders to quote for the work and select the best builder for you.

Don’t overbuild. Do keep your extension within the boundary limits of your property.

Don’t start work until planning approval is confirmed in writing.

Do apply for planning permission - obra menor, obra major - ensure work meets local building regulations, owners’ association compliance and is agreed in writing.

Do register your extension in the title deeds at the notary, land registry and rates office.

Follow my brief tips and you should have a smooth experience and enjoy all the benefits of your new extension.

If you need further advice or a professional service for your extension please contact me: John Graham FGIS 020 32 900 983/+34 657 337 477 gk.ipad@me.com

OPINION & COMMENT

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LEGALLY SPEAKING

Stay safe, keep to the speed limit HERE we answer some common driving questions, kindly provided by Guardia Civil based in Torrevieja, Costa Blanca, who set up the N332 website and Facebook page to help break down barriers.

OBEY THE LIMIT: Excessive speed is a major factor in road accidents.

EXCESSIVE or inappropriate speed is one of the main contributing factors to road traffic collisions, with statistics showing speed is accountable for over 25 per cent of all road accidents in Spain.

The maximum permitted speed on a road is indicated by means of a circular sign with a red border and the numbers in black. This is a mandatory speed limit sign known as R-301.

The R-411 is a mandatory minimum speed required sign. This is a blue circle with white numbers in the centre. If your

vehicle is incapable of reaching this speed you will not be allowed to drive on it.

The third signs relating to speed are the S-7 and S-9, which is an advisory maximum speed limit sign. It is a blue square with white numbers and denotes the advised maximum speed for that stretch of road.

Some roads do not always display speed signs so it is important to know the limits.

For example, on toll roads and motorways, the speed limit for cars and motorbikes is 120 kilometres an hour and the minimum speed is 60.

For more news and articles visit www.n332.es or search N332 on Facebook

Car registration confusion I WAS stopped by the Local Police in my UK plated car. I said I had been driving for two months in Spain, which was true, and showed them all my correct documents.

They told me that I was only allowed one month before I needed to complete the registration process to import the car as a Spanish vehicle. I was sent to the I t d o e s a p p ea r that you have have missed something.

Al t h o u g h y o u d o n o t mention it, you appear to be an official resident of Spain.

In this case, the police are quite correct. A resident must operate a car with Spanish registration.

Properly, you should have applied to import your vehicle at the time your residence certifi-

Customs Office in Malaga and told I had to declare my intention to import my car and pay taxes or return it to the UK. I decided to return the car to the UK. However, according to your article I am allowed 12 months on UK plates in Spain.

Which is correct or have I missed something?

N S (Costa del Sol)

David Searl You and the Law in Spain

An official resident of Spain must operate a car with Spanish registration plates.

cate was issued.

You can do this free of Spanish tax if you do it within a month of obtaining the residence certificate.

The other information I gav e re late d only to non-residents, and the 12-month figure would only apply to the last six months of one calendar y e ar and the fir s t s ix months of the next.

I trust this clarifies the matter for you.

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MOTORING

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PLUMBING SERVICES KNOWLES PLUMBING. No 1 for plumbing! Central heating, solar hot water and water deposits. Tel: 950 137 197or 606 807 797 (230210) CARLOS SALIENTE PLUMBING & HEATING SERVICES offer machined boiler decals for gas water heaters ROM just 65€ Aguafuerte is not the answer!

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SOLAR WIND POWER SOLUTIONS. Over 15 years installation experience. Established 12 years in Spain. Call Phil for competitive prices on 636 261 240 or email info@suner gyalmeria.com (230854)

PROPERTY FOR SALE

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SUMMER WORK EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITY. Volunteer position (expenses paid) for English speaking student aged 16 or over to gain practical skills in digital marketing. Please email CEO lyndabrettle@aim. com by end of June. www.samaritansinspain.com

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FOR BEST RATES IN MOTOR INSURANCE CALL: 952 89 33 80

Motoring shorts

Crossover 7 safety award SUBARU’S new ‘Crossover 7’ has been awarded the top ASV+ rating in JNCAP Preventive Safety Performance Assessment. The Crossover 7 is the latest model to join Subaru’s line-up of the ASV+ designated vehicles, and with a score of 45.9 points is the safest model yet.

Clarkson Quote of theWeek

MOTORING www.euroweeklynews.com

Four-seater convertibles: The only person to ever look good in the back of a fourseater convertible was Adolf Hitler.

Some might say...

Any parking troubles? It’s no problem for BMW SOON cars will also be able to find that illusive parking space

Lottery winner faces prison EUROMILLIONS winner Ryan Magee could be jailed after his 13th motoring conviction in seven years. Ryan from Belfast and former lottery millionaire who splashed out £170,000 on a Ferrari a day after scooping £6.4 million, has been given 200 hours community service for driving offences, and was warned by the judge that he could face jail if he doesn’t comply.

CONNECTEDDRIVE: A solution that will be able to shorten the search for parking spaces.

By Steve Walsh NOT only have cars learned how to park themselves, soon they will be able to find that illusive parking space as well.

BMW have announced ‘ConnectedDrive’ and have developed intelligent parking search solutions. The next step in Connected Naviga-

1st car-maker to understand the importance of connectivity between cars, drivers and their surroundings

tion and on-street parking prediction.

BMW was one of the first

c a r makers to understand the importance of connectivity between cars, drivers and their surroundings, and with BMW ConnectedDrive it has gone on to become a world leader in this field.

At the same time, the company is further expanding its position as a premium mobility provider, with intelligent services and applications like ChargeNow, ParkNow or intermodal navigation.

Now, with the Dynamic Parking Prediction research project, the group is demonstrating a solution that will in future be able to shorten the search for vacant onstreet parking, particularly in cities.

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MOTORING

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11 - 17 June 2015 / Costa de Almería

White van man A quick look at the variety of commercial vans available

By Steve Walsh WITH a plethora of shapes, sizes, weights, volumes, power options, and comfort levels available to the working man when it comes to choosing his van, we can understand why the majority of them are white.

After many frustrating days, and sometimes weeks of trying to decide which of the dozens of models will serve his needs the best in the following years, and which will offer the best value for money, is it any wonder that when the salesman finally asks: “And which colour

would sir like?” the answer is typically barked: “I don’t care.

Just give me a white one!”

In order to assist in some way, and although we cannot cover all categories, we take a look quick look at what is available from the top two favourites in 2015.

The 2015 Ford Transit Body options for the new Transit range from the standard van cab with two/three seats, to Double Cabin in Van with seven seats. Variations consist of Chassis Cab or Double Chassis Cab options. All of these are available in short, medium, long, long extended, or jumbo long extended versions, with low or high top rooflines.

The largest options boast a

maximum load area of up to 15.1m3 and the flexibility to stow items up to 4.2m long. There’s also a maximum trailer plate of up to 3.5 tons.

Other features include: Ford SYNC with AppLink and Emergency Assistance lets you control your music and make and receive calls on your mobile, using voice commands. As well as Adaptive Cruise Con-

The 2015 Renault Trafic With less choice in lengths and variations you may be tempted to overlook what Renault has to offer. However, that would be a mistake. There is a reason that the Renault Trafic is the second most popular van of its class in the world.

With the options of a Panel Van, Crew Van or Passenger Van, in standard or LWB guise, you can also have any of the above in two roof heights. In addition to that, they have developed clever solutions to

make the loading area more practical.

Its additional flap under the passenger bench allows you to carry items up to 4.15 metres long (lwb) and with a clever internal roof rack.

The Trafic offers a range of engines that bring together economy, flexibility and performance.

The energy dci twin turbo engine means you can get fuel economy above 49mpg.

Prices start around €29,000 for the basic SL27 dCi 90.

trol, rear view camera, and parking distance sensors. Transit is powered by a range of three advanced 2.2 litre TDCi engines. Prices start at around €24,000 for the 2.2 TDCi 100 CV TD.

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MOTORING

Glorious Goodwood THE Festival of Speed and the Revival are basically the largest motoring garden parties in the world, and June 26-28 will see Goodwood buttering scones and cutting the crusts off the cucumber sandwiches to start off the season.

This year is to be marked with a legendary Cobra reunion. Fifty years since the debut of one of the most iconic GT cars of all time the Shelby Daytona Coupe the only cars of their kind will be together again at Goodwood, with a never-before-seen collection of the V8 racers.

Just six Daytona Coupes were ever produced

DAYTONA COUPE.

and all of them are set to appear at the Revival. Two will race in the showpiece RAC Tourist Trophy on the Sunday, while all six will take part in a special demonstration run each day.

Based originally on the British AC-Ace, the Cobra came into being after legendary American racer Carroll Shelby - one of only two men to win at Le Mans in an Aston Martin - began fitting Ford V8 engines and strengthened gearboxes to rebodied machines from the Thames Ditton-based constructor.

And the rest is legend!

SPORTS

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

Costa de Almeria

CHAMPIONS GALORE • BARCELONA are the 2015 Kings of Europe. They beat Juventus 3-1 in last Saturday’s Champions League final in Berlin to lift the trophy for the fourth time in nine years, and victory also brought them their second treble with La Liga and Copa Del Rey already won. Nine players were involved in the build-up to Barca’s first goal scored by Ivan Rakitic as the Spanish club registered its 50th win in 60 games in 201415.

Following Real Madrid’s success last year, it was the first time that a club from the same country had won the CL

trophy in successive seasons.

• Impeccable Lewis Hamilton, from his 44th pole start and driving car number 44, made up for his Monaco disappointment by winning last week’s Canadian Grand Prix in style. He won his first Grand Prix in Montreal in 2007 and this latest triumph was his fourth in Canada and his 34th F1 win overall. Nico Rosberg was second and Valtteri Bottas third. Hamilton now leads the driver’s championship by 17 points from Rosberg, 151 to 134, with Vettel third on 108. It’s the Austrian Grand Prix next.

• Frankie Dettori is back!

The Italian jockey (44) won his second Epsom Derby last Saturday on 13-8 favourite Golden Horn, trained by John Gosden, whose other horse, and my tip, Jack Hobbs, finished second. Twenty four hours earlier, 50-1 outsider Qualify, ridden by Colm O’Donoghue and trained by

DID YOU KNOW?

SPORT IN GENERAL

The longest football match ever which lasted 102 hours, took place last week in Southampton. Thirty-six players took part and it is believed that over £20,000 (€27,260) was raised for charity. Still on football and Sky Sport will show 116 ‘live’ Premiership games throughout the next season.

The Republic of Ireland and England played out a boring, useless 0-0 friendly draw in Dublin last Sunday; the first meeting for 20 years. Twenty-four hours earlier, Matt Ritchie’s goal gave Scotland a 1-0 win over Qatar.

Manchester United could pay £50m on Spurs’ striker Harry Kane and sell Robin van Persie to Juventus!

Dick Advocaat who resigned three weeks ago as Sunderland manager, has made a u-turn and will stay on for another season at the Stadium of Light.

Hosts Canada beat China 1-0 (a controversial 90th minute penalty) in the opening game of the women’s World Cup. Germany walloped the Ivory Coast 10-0.

Mo Farah is angry his name is ‘being dragged through the mud’ and ‘wants answers’ following allegations linking his coach Alberto Salazar with doping. All this was revealed in BBC’s Panorama programme but there was no suggestion that Farah had broken any rules and Salazar vehemently denies the claims. An unhappy Farah pulled out of last weekend’s Birmingham Grand Prix event.

Tiger Woods recorded his worst-ever round of golf in the recent Memorial Tournament in Ohio. He carded a horrible 13 over-par 85.

And regarding the FIFA corruption saga… the way things are going, I might need 10 pages in the EWN to sum it all up, if and when it draws to a conclusion! Blatter and Warner are now under the FBI’s thumb!

Cordon Press

HAMILTON now leads the driver’s championship by 17 points

BARCELONA: Won the Champions League cup final to lift the trophy for the fourth time in nine years.

Aidan O’Brien, won the Oaks.

• World, Olympic and Tour of France winner Bradley

Wiggins set a new world record last Sunday for the ‘hour race’ on a bike! The human pedal machine cycled

54.526 km (34.2 miles) in 60 minutes. Well done and congratulations Bradders… Top man.

DIARY OF EVENTS The European Games (athletics) start tomorrow; the Spanish MotoGP from Catalunya (Sunday); the pre-Wimbledon Aegan Tennis Tournament at Queens; the Copa America football competition in Chile; three more England-New Zealand oneday cricket internationals: tomorrow, Sunday and

next Wednesday; race-goers will be at Royal Ascot from 16-20 of June; three Euro 2016 qualifying football matches: Wales-Belgium (Friday), Republic of Ireland-Scotland (Saturday) and Slovenia-England (Sunday) and the US Open Golf tournament at Chambers Bay (June 15-19).

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In the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros, Novak Djokovic, after beating Rafael Nadal and then Andy Murray, was beaten on red clay by Swiss superstar Stan Wawrinka in the men’s singles final.

TO READ MORE

Costa de Almería’s best guide to local sport

Cabrera Lawn Bowls, Lomax Ladies Singles MATCH started evenly with each player winning three of the first six ends

By Steve Walsh CA B R E R A L a wn B o w lin g Clu b host e d t h e L o m a x L ad ies S in g le s Cup f r o m Ma y 3 1 , u n til J u n e 3 , where the final was contested betwee n Je a n Sm a l l w o o d an d J a n et Jackson who had successfully made their way through the earlier rounds.

The match started evenly with each player winning three of the first six ends.

However, over the next five ends Janet managed to pull away winning four of them to build her lead to 126. Je a n n o n e t h e l e s s , ten ac io u s ly fought back, winning the next five out o f si x e n d s a n d n arro w e d th e score to 16-13.

But Janet dug her heals in, and finally closed out the game by winning the next four ends, and the title, 2113.

LADIES SINGLES: Janet (right) won the cup in the contest with Jean (left).

SPORT www.euroweeklynews.com

MEMBERS: Played an individual stableford.

Marina Phoenix Golf THE individual Stableford last Monday, saw Tony King celebrate his birthday in style by winning with 37 points. Second was Bob Craig 36 points, closely followed by Alf Taylor on 35, taking third place.

Isobel Jones secured the win in the ladies division by scoring 36 points. Linda King on 33 points held second place, ahead of Ann Kavanagh on 30.

Last Thursday’s team game at Marina Phoenix was a four-ball ‘Waltz’ with a par score of 72. The winning team scoring 84 points was Gordon Mahon, Alf Taylor, Hylton Smith and Linda King, followed in second by Isobel Jones, Tony King, Greta Hahn and Ali Mahmud (82). The third team was Ann Kavanagh, José Urroz, José Nistal and Jim Budd. (81).

Marina Phoenix play Mondays (individual) and Thursdays (team game). To join them, ring: 950 162 727 or 950 397 117.