Issuu

ISSUE NO. 1607

21 - 27 April 2016

Stop Press

MALLORCA

YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION

DON’T MISS OUR BOATS SPECIAL INSIDE! PAGES 50 - 53

Trojan horse By Matthew Elliott Mallorca unwittingly added its name to an ever growing list of places touched by the spectre of terrorism, but took the news with characteristic resilience. Local residents shouted defiantly at a 26-year-old Moroccan man, demanding that he show his face as he was led away from his Palma home by balaclava wearing police officers. Described by the Spanish interior ministry as a ‘clear threat to national security,’ the man is suspected of being a recruiter for Daesh, the Syria based terrorist organisation responsible for the murderous attacks in Paris and Brussels. The April 19 police raid on the man’s flat in the city’s Son Gotleu district saw 15 armed officers quickly and professionally escort the man from the premises, and remove several cardboard boxes containing computer

equipment for further examination. The as yet unnamed suspect is scheduled to appear before a court via a video link to his police cell later today April 21, and more details are sure to emerge in the near future. If the intelligence community’s suspicions that the man is in communication with Daesh militants in Syria are confirmed, it will pose a se-

vere challenge to security services, who are already working on the assumption that attacks are planned in Spain this summer. The chief threat posed by Daesh lies in its ability to both conduct and inspire terrorist attacks by sending militants across borders, while training future fighters and vulnerable outcasts online.

Following last year ’s bleak slaughter of primarily British tourists at a Tunisian beach resort, the horrors inflicted on Paris and Brussels, and mounting reports of Daesh plots to target holidaymakers in Spain, the people of Mallorca can expect summer and security to go hand in hand.

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LOCAL NEWS

New Lluc road to bypass Inca THE Council of Mallorca has proposed the project to build a road to the Lluc Sanctuary without having to pass through the town of Inca.

The plan is to create a single carriageway with a service road along some sections similar to one already operating in Port de Pollensa.

Balearic energy MORE than 85,000 families in the Balearics were unable to adequately heat their homes during the winter. The data from 2014 of this study on energy poverty by the Association of Environmental Sciences showed the reason for the inadequate heating to be because they couldnâ€™t afford the payments for electricity or gas.

Rental cars limit THE PI political party has proposed that the regional government set a maximum quota on the number of rental cars allowed. In a statement, the PI re-

ferred to the saturation each summer that causes damage to the road network on the island, and urged the government to study the feasibility of its proposal.

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Three die in traffic accident By Sandra Galo THREE people died on Saturday April 16 in a traffic accident on the Andratx motorway. The accident, which also left two others critically injured, occurred at 5pm when a convertible carrying four young people collided with a motorcycle. According to emergency sources, both vehicles were travelling in the direction of Andratx when the accident occurred around exit 10. Ambulances and Local Police from Calvia arrived at the scene to find the motorcyclist and two of the passengers in the car dead, and the driver of the convertible, a 20-year-old Bulgarian woman, and another passenger seriously injured. Preliminary reports indicate the driver had exceeded the speed limit at the time of the accident. She is currently in very critical condition in the ICU of Son Espases Hospital. The other surviving passenger is also in critical condition at the Policlinica Miramar.

flickr by Colin Srednuas

ANDRATX MOTORWAY: The tragic accident happened near exit 10.

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Your papers, your views

Featured News 3

Finance 23 - 28

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Worries over water shortage By Sandra Galo

Stocks 24

Leapy Lee 29

Our View 30

Colin Bird 30

Daily TV 32

Letters 34

Vicki McLeod 36

Time Out 38 - 39

Health & Beauty 40

Social Scene 41 - 43

Property 44 - 45

Homes & Gardens 47

Pets 47

Classifieds 48 - 49

Boats 50 - 53

Motoring 54

Sport 56

THE Balearic government cannot guarantee that the desalination plant in Palma will be able to work at full capacity this summer. Repair work began this month at the plant which has four of its nine lines damaged due to years of lack of use. The government has no guarantees that the plant which converts seawater into freshwater will be able to offset the effects of the drought that the Balearics has been experiencing. Three of the lines need serious repairs and there are fears that they will not be operational in May when the demand for water will increase substantially due to

REPAIR WORKS: Three of the lines need serious repairs carried out. the expected massive influx of tourists. Director General of Water Resources Joana Maria Garau said that they are working to have the maximum number of lines functioning by

May 4, which is when water consumption in the Bay of Palma is expected to increase. She warned that in three of the lines the situation is critical since they are the most damaged and need all

of the electrical wiring replaced which is a complex task. Garau did say that the government can guarantee that six of the lines will be working at full capacity on May 4.

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National Security Congress By Sandra Galo AROUND 120 people participated in the Second National Security, Emergency and First Aid Congress which took place this year in Manacor’s port town of Porto Cristo.

THE towns of Porreres and Manacor paid homage to republican victims of the Spanish Civil War on Sunday April 17. For the eighth consecutive year, Porreres honoured republicans assassinated by fascists during the Civil War in 1936. The ceremony was held at the back of the Santa Creu Oratorio where executions by firing squads took place and the marks made by the bullets can still be seen. Around 500 people attended the annual event at the Son Coletes cemetery of Manacor remembering those assassinated during the Spanish Civil War with poems, music and a speech. Representatives from various government offices attended the events.

The congress entitled ‘Quality from the first intervention’ took place from Friday April 15 to Sunday April 17. According to Manacor mayor Pedro Rossello, more than 20 researchers and experts as well as

dozens of professional organisations involved in security issues took part in the event, which gave them a welcome opportunity to share knowledge and experience. Jose Palacios, academic director of the congress, explained that the

Patient waiting time flickr by Vic

Paying homage to victims

researchers and experts as well as other organisations took part

WAITING TIME: For patients has gone down. THE waiting time for patients of the Balearic public health service is now on average 95.6 days for surgery, representing a reduction of 11 per cent in the last 12 months. At the end of March, more than 13,800 people in the Balearics were on the waiting list for an operation. The data made public by Director General of Ib-Salut

Juli Fuster shows that of the 13,845 people waiting for surgery (an increase of 1 per cent), 22 per cent less have been waiting for more than six months. At the end of March, the number of people who had an appointment with the specialist was 3.7 per cent more than March 2015, but waiting time was 17.4 per cent less.

Of the total number of patients on the waiting list for specialist consultations, 37 per cent have been on the list for more than two months, representing 10 per cent less than the end of the first quarter of 2015. Patients needing X-rays waited an average of 48.8 days representing 34.6 per cent less than 2015.

congress offers theoretical and practical guidelines for professionals involved in rescue and security to be more effective. Apart from these presentations, participant s wer e al so abl e t o at t end workshops.

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THE Balearic Council has approved the spending of €1

million for the purchase of 22,000 doses of the pneumo-

coccal vaccine. The vaccine is to be administered this year to children born from January 1, 2016. According to Government Council spokeswoman Pilar Costa, vaccinations against pneumococcus are expected to start before the summer and will be given in three doses: at two months, four months and 12 months. Costa said that this decision has been long-awaited by parents who have had to buy the vaccine which costs between €70 and €80. The Inter-territorial Council of the National Health System decided in January, 2015 to include the pneumococcal vaccine to the childhood immunisation schedule effective in all regions before December 2016. According to Costa, the administration of the vaccine will save families about €400 a year per child.

Flickr by John Steedman.

Council to spend money on vaccine

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POTATOES: The supermarket has bought more than 4,900 tonnes from Sa Pobla.

Mercadona buys local products By Sandra Galo MERCADONA has spent €140 million on purchases from Balearic providers. The supermarket has made collaborative agreements with the primary sector providers. The chain is continuing to work closely with providers to advance its commitment to the development of a sustainable agro-food chain and generate growth in Spanish horticulture, fisheries and livestock. The chain has bought more than 4,900 tonnes of potatoes and more than 2,000 tonnes of

onions from Sa Pobla. More than 1,800 tonnes of meat products were bought from PROCAM, a meat provider in the town of Manacor. Mercadona has also made agreements with different fresh fish suppliers in Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza, from which the supermarket has bought 680 tonnes of fresh fish from Balearic waters. The company has made substantial donations of basic necessity products to food banks and soup kitchens. Mercadona closed 2015 with 47 supermarkets operating in Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza with more than 2,100 employees.

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New concerns over anti-tourist attitudes VICE PRESIDENT of the Balearics and Councillor for Innovation, Research and Tourism Biel Barcelo called the recent anti-tourist graffiti “acts of vandalism.” The Vice President said that the government regretted these acts saying that they adversely affect the image of Mallorca and have an unpleasant impact on the tourists themselves, who visit the streets of Palma. The government announced that it will take steps to eradicate these uncivil attitudes and praised Emaya for its willingness to clean the painted areas as soon as possible, pointing out that some of the graffiti is painted on buildings considered historical heritage and its removal is more complicated since special products will have to be used. Biel explained that the graffiti is not part of a group campaign, but rather, one or two people because the handwriting is the same in all of the graffiti. In response to a question about whether the expected tourism saturation

Flickr by Corien van Delft.

By Sandra Galo

TOURISTS: The government will take steps against anti-tourist attitudes. is causing a change in society’s attitude toward tourism, Barcelo added: “The saturation is not good for residents or for tourists.” He added that it is what’s there and will grow during the peak

summer months especially in the centre of Palma and on beaches. He also added that the government hopes that it will not cause a rejection of the population against tourists.

The debate continues over business opening year-round BALEARIC businesses are once again involved in the debate regarding opening yearround. The controversy has begun because of parliament’s request that the regional law governing businesses’ opening days be revised. The problem is not the number of holidays that establishments are permitted to be open, but rather the regulation of areas with high numbers of tourists, which are allowed to open every day of the year like those in the centre of Palma. The differences that exist are evidenced in the positions held by the Balearic Employers Trade Federation (Afedeco) and Pimeco, the Association for Small and Medium Businesses in Mallorca. Pimeco’s Bernat Coll argues that the freedom to remain open should only be given for six months of the year (from

Flickr by stk86.

BUSINESSES: Are involved in the debate regarding opening year-round. May to October). Afedeco’s Rafael Ballester, however, believes that because of the fight against the strong economic seasonality, it’s necessary to maintain the possibility of businesses remaining open all year long and not only

in the centre of Palma. Ballester believes it should be extended to Inca and Manacor as well as coastal areas saying that if the industry is committed to remaining open in tourist areas during the low season, hoteliers may be per-

suaded to remain open longer and airlines may then continue their flights to the island. Both Afedeco and Pimeco are in agreement that the number of holidays business can open should be reduced from 16 to around 10.

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NEWS Flickr by Lyubov.Morozova.

BALEARIC GOVERNMENT: Wants to expand the park.

Cabrera National Park expansion By Sandra Galo THE Balearic government has decided to expand the Cabrera Archipelago Maritime-Terrestrial National Park. Director General of Natural Areas and Biodiversity C a te rina A me ngua l me t with Basilio Rada, director

of OAPN (National Parks Autonomous Organisation), to draw up a plan for the expansion of the park. OAPN falls under the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment and since the expansion is in external waters, involvement of the ministry is required. The area to expand is al-

most 10 times greater than the current park. To accomplish the expansion, a law will be written. The council has already initiated talks with fishermanâ€™s associations and others affected to achieve the widest possible consensus on enl argem ent of t he park.

YouTuber Awards in Palma THE Play Awards, the first Ibero-American awards recognising the work of the creators of online video cont ent , wi l l be hel d on April 21 in the Palma Auditorium. The awards ceremony wi l l host som e of t he biggest names in the Spani sh- speaki ng bl oggi ng world. The famous Spanish YouTuber El Rubi us wi l l co- host t he event , wher e nine statuettes will be given out in recognition of recipientsâ€™ efforts to communicate and transmit their ideas to an online audience. El Rubius is the most-followed YouTuber in Spain, the second most-followed in Spanish-speaking areas and ranks fourth globally. Three well-known local YouTubers will also be attending the event from the villages of Binissalem and Manacor.

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Protest as the last bullfight is held By Sandra Galo DOZENS of people protested in front of the bullring in Muro against what they anticipate to be the last bullfight held in the Balearic Islands. The demonstration was held on Sunday April 17, and anticipated proceedings the following week for parliament to start the process of modifying the animal protection law banning these types of events Protestors gathered at 4.30pm at the gates of the bullring before the start of the bullfight that had been postponed the week before due to rain. Mallorca Sense Sang (Mallorca Without Blood) spokesman Guillermo Amengual lamented the fact that the bullfight

Flickr by johnbauerphoto.

BULLFIGHTS: In Mallorca they are expected to be outlawed this month. was carried out despite the various complaints that had been filed. Amengual,

however, expressed satisfaction it was the last one to be held in Mallorca.

Super gardener to the rescue A GARDENER saved the life of his employer upon finding

her near death in her country house in Andratx.

The gardener alerted authorities after arriving early in the

morning and discovering that the owner was in her room unconscious and apparently suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. Upon arriving, emergency services detected a strong burning smell and a large accumulation of carbon monoxide. They treated the woman who showed signs of prolonged carbon monoxide poisoning. She was taken to Son Espases Hospital for treatment.

Building threatened THE Association for the Recovery of Historic Centres (Arca) has issued a warning that Palma may lose a historic building if the town hall approves the demolition of Can Baro. The building situated at number 6 Andrea Doria Street is not categorised by Palma as a heritage site. Arca noted that it has for years stressed the need to revise the catalogue and take provisional measures to prevent the loss of the unique sites that still remain. The association has submitted a written request to try and prevent the destruction of this building.

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Forest protection THE Palma City Council wants to limit the presence of joggers, cyclists and dogs in Bellver forest, in order to stop the deterioration of plant life occurring in the area. A prognosis of the state of the forest in 30 years’ time has shown the need for gradual restrictions to be made, including reducing access in some places and closing the perimeter road, as well as intensifying general maintenance efforts.

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Balearic shearwater at risk of extinction flickr by Johnny Jonsson

By Sandra Galo

A MOTION to prevent the extinction of the Balearic shearwater or ‘virot petit,’ has been made by the Balearic socialist senator, Francesc Antich. The proposal to be debated in the Committee of Environment and Climate Change, aims to strengthen measures to prevent the extinction of the bird. The Balearic Shearwater is a seabird that only breeds in the Balearics. A recent study led by IMEDEA (Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies), with the participation of SEO/Birdlife, confirmed the serious decline of the species and described the situation as critical. According to the study, the Balearic Shearwater remains

BALEARIC SHEARWATER: The bird is the most endangered in Europe. the most endangered bird in Europe and could become extinct in around 60 years. The study also revealed the necessity to increase efforts to combat

colonies of predators including rats and cats. The main cause of death for adult Balearic Shearwaters is that many are accidentally

caught by fishermen. Antich advocates that collaboration be made with the fishing industry to find solutions to prevent their accidental capture.

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Allergy advice BECAUSE of the mild spring Mallorca is experiencing with a concentration of pollen being released into the air, residents on the island may suffer from eye allergies. According to a statement from Clinica Baviera, the first step when suffering these types of allergies is to identify the causes of the allergy and avoid contact with them. The Clinic advises residents to take preventative measures including minimising contact with possible allergens, keeping windows closed, using large sunglasses, washing hands frequently, reducing outdoor activities and using eye drops. Other recommendations to avoid allergic reactions are to shower in the afternoon and use hypoallergenic cosmetics.

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Fan palms planted flickr by Anson Mackay

FAN PALMS: Families planted fan palms in Sa Dragonera Natural Park. By Sandra Galo STUDENTS from Palmaâ€™s Aina Moll public school planted 1,200 fan palm trees in Sa Dragonera Natural Park. Around 50 students along with their parents participated in the initiative to repopulate the natural park where fan palms have almost reached the point of extinction. The initiative which took place on Saturday April 16 also in-

troduced volunteers to animal and plant life in the park. The numbers of the palmetto had dramatically decreased with only a few dozen remaining in the most inaccessible areas. Centuries of rat colonies on the island prevented the natural recovery of the palm. Since the rodent control campaign which was launched in 2011, the fan palm has shown a slow but steady natural recovery.

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Something off in the water By Sandra Galo

THE Council of the Environment is working to resolve a problem in the water treatment plant of Consell which is releasing wastewater into the Solleric torrent. The torrent flows from Consell to Biniali. Residents say that the water emitted is murky and grey and, as it travels down the torrent, it mixes with water that is bright and creates pools of foam.

Landowners affected say that the smelly grey water is mixing with industrial waste water released from a launderette in the area. Residents in the village of Biniali have been complaining about the problem for years. Biniali mayor Miquel Fiol explained that he has spent nine years fighting to remedy the problem. The government is working to resolve the problem with the treatment plant and recognised that the launderette is releasing waste water when it is only authorised to discharge residual water.

Historical memory bike tour THE Republican Route of Palma offered a Historical Memory bicycle tour on Sunday April 17. The two-hour cycling tour organised by the group ‘Biciutat de Mallorca’ departed from the Plaza de España at 10.30am passing by local landmarks including Can

Mir prison, the Sala Augusta cinema and Can Sales public library. The aim of the tour was to share Palma’s history and at the same time enjoy a bike ride. According to Joan Mas from Biciutat, one of the organisers for the event, “many people, including

residents of Palma, know only a small portion of its history.” He added that many don’t know that Bellver Castle was used as a prison for republicans. The seven-kilometre route had three stops where explanations were given by a guide specialising in the subject.

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IEB are to tour music trade fairs By Sandra Galo THE Institute of Balearic Studies (IEB) will attend the ‘jazzahead!’ trade fair in Bremen, Germany. The Balearic delegation will hold meetings with producers and record labels, as well as representatives of fairs, festivals and concert halls, as part of a series of initiatives to promote Balearic musicians, and aims to boost the hiring of local artists by national and international producers. The ‘jazzahead!’ fair, which takes place April 21-24, will have around 1,000 exhibitors and

3,000 accredited professionals, with more than 15,000 visitors from over 55 countries. The IEB will also participate in other music fairs throughout the year, including: Babel Med (Marseille), Classical Next (Rotterdam), Mercat de Musica Viva de Vic (this year in Santiago de Compostela), Monkey Week (Sevilla) and BIME (Bilbao). The IEB also has grants which support musicians in moving when they are hired outside of their island of residence. International producers also have the possibility to apply for grants for lodging and production of promotional materials.

Polo fields urban violation THE Campos City Council has decided to withdraw proceedings to impose a penalty for the urban violation of the polo fields of Sa Barralina. The Council of Mallorca’s Town Planning Agency (ADU), upon discovering

that permission to build a second polo field was requested when it already had been built, solicited an inspection report of the two playing fields already completed. They sent a request to the city council of Campos to

initiate the process. The town hall recently submitted a document, saying that the dossier was too complex for them to deal with due to lack of resources, and that the ADU should take over the case.

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Half a million euros for conservation THE Sierra de Tramuntana Consortium of the Council of Mallorca will allocate €500,000 to municipalities in the area. The investment is for restoring protected heritage and preserving the forest landscape and agriculture. The con-

sortium reported that the grants had increased by €100,000 compared to 2015, and 20 municipalities would benefit from them. Vice President and Councillor of Culture, Heritage and Sports, Francisco

Miralles, and Councillor for Territory and Infrastructures Mercedes Garrido explained the grants to representatives from the municipalities, with each municipality allowed to submit up to three conservation projects.

Mallorca is the sixth best island in the world MALLORCA is the best island in Spain, the second-best in Europe and sixth-best in the

world according to TripAdvisor’s 2016 Traveller’s Choice awards. Ibiza, Menorca and

Formentera are also among Spain’s top 10 islands. The winners were determined using an algorithm which took into account the quantity and quality of user comments, and ratings of hotels, restaurants and attractions on the islands around the world during a period of 12 months, as well as taking into account the interest of travel bookings to these islands at the website. The number one island in the world according to TripAdvisor was Maui, Hawaii, with the Greek island of Santorini listed as the second-best island globally and the best in Europe. Spain was represented with 10 islands winning awards, four of which are part of the Balearic Islands and recognised among the best in the world and in Europe. Ibiza was voted as the sixth best in Spain, Menorca came in as seventh best nationally with Formentera ranking as eighth best.

Organist is required THE Cathedral of Mallorca has announced a competition to fill the position of church organist. The candidate must have a recognised music degree and be able to demonstrate liturgical skills and knowledge. The winner will replace Gabriel Veny who has held the position for 23 years. The registration period will be open from May 1 to 20 with the contest held on June 1. The organist will be expected to start on October 1 of this year.

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Tourist influx raises new water concerns By Sandra Galo THE Balearic government is taking measures to prevent a water shortage this summer in response to growing concerns about the great number of tourists expected on the island. Tourists visiting Palma use more than twice the daily average of water used by Palma residents, up to 278 litres per day compared to approximately 119 litres. In response to concerns of a summer water shortage, spokesperson Neus Truyal explained the government has approved a drought emergency plan draft and will ask for collaboration from the tourist sector to implement measures. The plan still has to be presented to the opposition and be approved in the next plenary

MEASURES: To prevent a water shortage in summer. session. After its approval, the regional government will need to approve its own drought plan to be able to give the green light to the Palma plan. Palma Town Hall announced that corrective measures will be implemented to combat the

lack of water because there are reports affirming that the city has already entered the predrought alert phase. Included in the measures to be implemented are plans for communication initiatives and campaigns to encourage the ra-

Tiger mosquito campaign THE Department of Health and Consumption and the Palma City Council have joined forces with Lokimika to launch a campaign to control the tiger mosquito. The campaign will last for seven months beginning in April and ending in November which is the period of activity for the insect with the highest numbers in April and May, and again between August and September. The presence of the tiger mosquito has already been observed in the five districts of Palma. Councillor Antonia Martin has highlighted that this year the government would work in conjunction with Emaya, which is responsible for cleaning sewers since these are places where water accumulates and are breeding grounds for the mosquito. Emaya will also remove or empty containers that contain standing water that are

found within the municipality. In drainage areas with accumulated water, Inesfly technology will be used which involves painting 20 centimetres of the drain with the insecticide to prevent larvae from escaping and at the same time, a larvicide will be added to the water as a preventative measure. Areas around health centres, nurseries and schools will be given special attention since they are considered vulnerable points. An electric car especially for use in the control of the tiger mosquito will be allocated to the campaign. Councillor Martin also pointed out that information would be shared with the public about the mosquito, since 80 per cent of incidences of tiger mosquitoes are a result of an accumulation of water in small recipients in gardens and private homes.

tioning of water and to raise awareness for responsible water consumption. Authorities are also studying the possibility of requiring large consumers of water (like shopping centres, pools and the airport) to implement their own usage plans. For the pre-alert phase, the plan also includes that the watering of gardens be avoided between 8am and 8pm. A water management ordinance will also be approved and recycled water, rather than drinking water, will be used to irrigate parks and gardens and carry out cleaning work in the streets. The city council will also put special attention on the water distribution network where pressure will be reduced during the night and monitoring will be intensified to detect and repair leaks.

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Entering into Lingering dispute traffic circulation THIS applies for all vehicles whether from a parked position, stationary, exiting a building, joining from a service road or any other access. All drivers need to check that they are free to enter traffic circulation in a safe and secure way without hindering other road traffic users. Then by indicating to all road users, using indicators or arm signals, your intention to join, and then carry out the manoeuvre. • ANTICIPATING TRAFFIC Before entering traffic circulation, drivers should pull up to where they want to enter, and check carefully all traffic, relying on relayed information from other people if necessary, to ensure that you are safe and free to continue. On entering a dual carriageway, drivers should anticipate the speeds of oncoming vehicles and enter the right hand lane as safely as possible. • SIGNALLING MANOEUVRES TO OTHER ROAD USERS The second requirement for entering into circulating traffic is to signal clearly and correctly your intentions to the rest of the road users. Drivers must signal all manoeuvres that require their vehicle to move laterally or in reverse direction. Signals must be via indicator lights or arm movements if the vehicle is not equipped with indicators. Indicators must be kept on until the manoeuvre has been completed. Lateral manoeuvres, moving left into the left lane to overtake, require the left hand side indicator to be used, and moving right into the right lane, after overtaking, requires the right hand side indicator to be used until the manoeuvre is completed. When reversing, your vehicle should display a clear reverse light, if not equipped, then the arm should be extended horizontally out of the left hand side window, with the palm facing backwards to indicate the direction you wish to take. All signalling manoeuvres must be made with sufficient time to inform other road users safely and securely. • OVERTAKING SAFELY Overtaking is a dangerous, delicate and complex manoeuvre. It may require entering oncoming traffic lanes, calculating distances and speeds, observing all the traffic signs and road markings, anticipating other road user manoeuvres, watching out for hidden vehicles, having sufficient time and space to return to the right hand lane without

infringing any rules. For all these reasons, road traffic regulations are very strict as to how this procedure should be carried out. Preparing the manoeuvre, before you overtake: • The position and speed of the vehicle you wish to overtake is vital. Check you have sufficient time and space to overtake and that the lane for overtaking is free. • Check you have sufficient space to re-enter the right hand lane after overtaking. • Check you may overtake and that no road markings or signs say otherwise. • During overtaking, your vehicle must travel noticeably faster than the vehicle being overtaken. • Do not pull up too close to the vehicle you wish to overtake as this will reduce all round vision, especially if the vehicle is larger like a truck or bus. Remember you should always leave sufficient breaking space between the vehicle in front, even if you intend to overtake. Overtaking is prohibited: • On bends or in reduced visibility conditions where it’s not possible to see beyond the vehicle in front to check if there is sufficient space to reenter the right hand lane. • In tunnels, one-lane roads with continued white lines. • On pedestrian crossings • At crossroads or intersections, except for overtaking two-wheeled vehicles. Performing the manoeuvre: • Check your mirrors that your overtaking will not jeopardise other road users. • Signal using your indicators to clearly, visibly show all other road users your intentional manoeuvre. You must give other vehicles sufficient time to see and comprehend your manoeuvre. • Carry out the manoeuvre by overtaking on the left hand side, leaving sufficient space between your vehicle and the vehicle you are overtaking. The amount of space should be proportional to overtaking speed, road conditions and amount of road space available. • Once past the vehicle, drivers should again adopt the mirror-signal-manoeuvre drill before re-entering the right hand lane. We hope the information provided in this article is of interest. If you would like to contact Línea Directa please call 900 123 026 More information on Línea Directa online at www.lineadirecta.com

KURIL ISLANDS: Tension has increased between Russia and Japan. MOSCOW has re-emphasised its commitment to protecting the Kuril Islands, the easternmost territories of the federation. The declaration came as tensions increased between Russia and Japan over the islands, which are claimed by Japan, making it the only country to question the results of World War Two.

Lenin stayin’ alive

Close call THE Doomsday clock shivered slightly when a Russian fighter jet flew just feet away from a US navy destroyer in the Baltic Sea. The prospect of an accidental catastrophe has become reminiscent of the Cold War, with increased American activity in eastern Europe following the diplomatic fallout over Crimea.

Hall of mirrors PATRIOTIC Russians have a new Putin-themed cafe to flock to in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk. The interiors are draped with the Russian president’s portraits, there’s a life size cut out of him, a sign reading ‘What have you done for Russia?,’ while the toilet paper is emblazoned with Barack Obama’s face.

Southern strife A SUICIDE bombing took

Calls for a proper burial.

place in Stavropol in the north Caucasus amid explosions and gunfire as four men attacked a local police station. Islamic extremists are hell bent on carving out a caliphate in the mountainous region which is a tinderbox of competing tribes and religions.

Common as muck WHILE the western media has been quick to portray Vladimir Putin as the archdevil of the Panama Papers, the revelations have had little impact on the world weary Russian population who ac-

PRESERVING the body of Vladimir Lenin in its embalmed, lifelike state will cost the government approximately €177,000 this year. The body of the revolutionary leader was displayed in public in Moscow’s Red Square in 1924 and there are growing calls to give him a proper burial.

cept corruption as part and parcel of politics, while noting that the problem is evidently universal.

Children needed POTENTIAL economic growth has taken a serious hit with the revelation that the working-age population has shrunk by five million people since a high of 90 million in 2006. The rate of decline looks set to only escalate in the near future, a fate Russia shares with close neighbours Bulgaria and Ukraine.

FINANCE

Mallorca

21 - 27 April 2016

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One ‘Fat Cat’ may have to go on diet By John Smith ALTHOUGH not binding in 2016, corporate shareholders in oil company BP opposed a proposed 20 per cent pay rise for chief executive Bob Dudley on the basis that under his management there have been numerous job cuts and a significant drop in profits. Under somewhat archaic rules, the BP salary policy can only be changed

Quote of the Week

€17.3 million is the proposed new annual salary for BP CEO Bob Dudley.

every three years which means that the proposed rise could be forced through in 2016, but in 2017 disenchanted investors could make things financially difficult for the CEO and the boards. During times of relative austerity and job losses, even the Institute of Directors has commented that massive pay rises of this sort can send the wrong message to other companies and to the work force.

We look forward to working closely and productively with all those who want to see the UK set free to determine its own destiny.” Grassroots Out founder, Tory MP Peter Bone

Credit Bradley P Johnson flickr

BUSINESS EXTRA

JOSE MARIA AZNAR: Used a tax loophole.

Former Prime Minister fined AS if there hasn’t been enough controversy with regards to the personal financial dealings of a raft of politicians in different ranks of the Partido Popular (PP), it has now emerged that former Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar is to be fined by the Treasury of the interim government for using a loophole to reduce his income tax obligation.

A former tax inspector himself who often spoke out against tax fraud whilst in power has reportedly been fined €70,400 for using a vehicle to save 21 per cent of his tax liability over a period of a few years. In the same week, the PP mayor of Granada was arrested for alleged financial fraud.

Oil prices rally AFTER months of being in the doldrums and at its lowest price for years, crude oil has seen something of a recovery thanks to a slight increase in industrial need and an agreement between Russia and Saudi Arabia to restrict production. A great deal now depends upon any decision by Iran concerning the volume of oil it extracts and wishes to export whilst it is trying to rebuild its foreign reserves, but generally, although oil price increases may not be welcomed by the average consumer, they are welcomed by economists and those producing the crude oil itself.

Coal trouble PEABODY ENERGY, the world’s largest privately-owned coal miner, has requested bankruptcy protection in the US after a sharp fall in coal prices left it unable to repay its debts especially after it had spent several billion euros on purchasing an Australian group.

IMF delays Spain review WHILST the Spanish budget has been under attack from Brussels, even though the interim government has now undertaken to reduce the amount of money it intends to borrow, another body, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was due to present its opinion on the Spanish economy during the

€133 million is the amount that the former president of Scottish based Rockstar North, developer of video game Grand Theft Auto is suing the company for over alleged unpaid royalties.

STAT OF WEEK

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first quarter of 2016. Recognising however that any report would be immediately outdated in the event of a new government of any type except the PP being put in charge of the economy, it has decided to postpone the report until the future of the government is known.

Other views suggest that Mr Dudley has actually done a good job and deserves to receive what is considered to be his market worth. Much as anticipated, the vote rejecting his proposed pay rise won a majority, but at 59 per cent and with some shareholders said to be abstaining, the actual figure was quite unexpected and is seen to be a major criticism of the CEO.

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BBVA to sell properties AS part of an ongoing strategy, the BBVA bank has announced that it will dispose of a number of commercial properties and land which it has accumulated over the years in almost every province of Spain and has appointed BMP Paribas Real Estate to undertake this work on its behalf. Although the portfolio does cover most of Spain, it is reported that the bulk of the properties and land are based in Andalucia and Catalonia.

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PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) COMPANY 3i Group PLC 478.60 -1.40 Admiral Group PLC 1930.00 -1.00 Anglo American PLC 659.70 -18.50 Antofagasta PLC 455.45 -16.00 ARM Holdings PLC 966.00 -24.50 Ashtead Group PLC 814.00 -0.50 Associated British Foods PLC 3352.00 -5.00 AstraZeneca PLC 4150.75 2.50 Aviva PLC 435.00 -6.20 Babcock International Group... 979.75 -3.50 BAE Systems PLC 509.75 -2.96 Barclays PLC 165.60 -1.30 Barratt Developments PLC 514.25 4.50 Berkeley Group Holdings 2906.50 44.00 BHP Billiton PLC 882.55 -17.10 BP PLC 348.12 -7.80 British American Tobacco PLC 4236.50 4.00 British Land Co PLC 702.50 -4.50 BT Group PLC 451.73 7.70 Bunzl PLC 2065.00 0.00 Burberry Group PLC 1272.50 -1.00 Capita PLC 1041.50 -3.00 Carnival PLC 3788.50 51.00 Centrica PLC 232.65 -5.70 Coca-Cola HBC AG 1453.00 -6.00 Compass Group PLC 1286.00 7.00 CRH PLC 2032.00 -3.00 DCC PLC 6197.50 5.00 Diageo PLC 1937.25 4.50 Direct Line Insurance Group... 360.90 -2.20 Dixons Carphone PLC 412.95 -0.30 easyJet PLC 1472.00 25.00 Experian PLC 1251.50 -2.00 Fresnillo PLC 1006.00 -13.00 GKN PLC 284.70 -0.20 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1510.50 4.50 Glencore PLC 151.90 -3.67 Hammerson PLC 583.75 -2.00 Hargreaves Lansdown PLC 1354.00 -10.00 HSBC Holdings PLC 444.38 -6.05 Imperial Brands PLC 3758.00 15.00 Informa PLC 694.50 0.00 Inmarsat PLC 1013.00 2.00 InterContinental Hotels Gr 2888.00 27.00 International Consolidated 540.75 6.63 Intertek Group PLC 3164.50 -3.00 Intu Properties PLC 295.75 -0.90 ITV PLC 240.50 1.00 Johnson Matthey PLC 2854.50 -10.00 Kingfisher PLC 357.70 0.30

% CHG. -0.29 -0.05 -2.73 -3.40 -2.47 -0.06 -0.15 0.06 -1.41 -0.36 -0.58 -0.78 0.88 1.54 -1.90 -2.19 0.09 -0.64 1.73 0.00 -0.08 -0.29 1.36 -2.39 -0.41 0.55 -0.15 0.08 0.23 -0.61 -0.07 1.73 -0.16 -1.28 -0.07 0.30 -2.36 -0.34 -0.73 -1.34 0.40 0.00 0.20 0.94 1.24 -0.09 -0.30 0.42 -0.35 0.08

NET VOL 44.42 26.88 971.38 257.34 597.88 99.06 64.28 147.36 563.32 14.70 280.25 4,088.83 436.60 65.34 1,402.93 3,585.74 174.88 235.03 3,379.47 16.91 161.28 80.01 27.01 1,469.18 7.53 159.05 26.53 6.37 209.74 76.32 47.62 99.28 79.54 80.64 561.91 561.52 8,742.55 60.00 30.59 1,734.10 168.81 76.50 41.87 40.74 615.42 19.21 101.68 1,025.62 18.24 358.69

COMPANY PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) Land Securities Group PLC 1100.50 -10.00 Legal & General Group PLC 237.10 -1.73 Lloyds Banking Group PLC 68.07 -0.10 London Stock Exchange Grp 2795.00 0.00 Marks & Spencer Group PLC 441.85 -0.90 Mediclinic International PLC 937.75 -4.50 Merlin Entertainments PLC 461.50 3.00 Mondi PLC 1320.50 -10.00 Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets 192.95 -1.80 National Grid PLC 997.00 -3.60 Next PLC 5475.00 25.00 Old Mutual PLC 190.35 -2.40 Paddy Power Betfair PLC 9655.00 35.83 Pearson PLC 829.25 -7.50 Persimmon PLC 1891.50 19.97 Provident Financial PLC 3071.00 -14.00 Prudential PLC 1380.75 -14.50 Randgold Resources Ltd 6605.00 0.13 Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC 6767.50 33.00 RELX PLC 1307.50 4.00 REXAM PLC 622.25 -0.75 Rio Tinto PLC 2204.00 -26.50 Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC 661.50 -4.00 Royal Bank of Scotland Gr 232.50 -2.50 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 1764.00 -55.00 Royal Mail PLC 488.20 -1.10 RSA Insurance Group PLC 468.10 -2.10 SABMiller PLC 4278.50 -8.00 Sage Group (The) PLC 625.25 2.50 Sainsbury (J) PLC 283.70 -1.20 Schroders PLC 2568.50 -20.00 Severn Trent PLC 2244.00 -12.00 Shire PLC 4246.00 -5.00 Sky PLC 1001.50 2.50 Smith & Nephew PLC 1203.50 2.00 SSE PLC 1507.50 -19.00 Standard Chartered PLC 503.40 -17.40 Standard Life PLC 336.00 -3.70 St James's Place PLC 912.75 -4.50 Taylor Wimpey PLC 175.15 2.50 Tesco PLC 177.88 -1.65 Travis Perkins PLC 1782.50 8.00 TUI AG 1058.00 17.00 Unilever PLC 3285.50 6.50 United Utilities Group PLC 952.00 -9.18 Vodafone Group PLC 228.55 -1.25 Whitbread PLC 3758.00 18.00 Wolseley PLC 3847.50 -4.00 Worldpay Group PLC 268.95 0.00 WPP PLC 1657.00 -2.00

% CHG. -0.90 -0.72 -0.15 0.00 -0.20 -0.48 0.65 -0.75 -0.92 -0.36 0.46 -1.25 0.37 -0.90 1.07 -0.45 -1.04 0.00 0.49 0.31 -0.12 -1.19 -0.60 -1.06 -3.02 -0.22 -0.45 -0.19 0.40 -0.42 -0.77 -0.53 -0.12 0.25 0.17 -1.25 -3.34 -1.09 -0.49 1.45 -0.92 0.45 1.63 0.20 -0.96 -0.54 0.48 -0.10 0.00 -0.12

NET VOL 155.09 546.30 8,144.62 12.78 145.19 37.07 51.26 137.54 750.01 306.61 55.49 332.47 3.50 80.61 75.63 6.50 177.11 33.91 90.60 131.57 76.92 430.11 175.28 698.51 884.20 68.43 84.55 99.40 111.19 1,989.93 9.97 11.08 34.09 223.49 172.41 117.48 1,446.34 259.40 50.72 843.77 1,856.02 96.23 59.11 199.04 55.21 2,303.60 21.54 36.02 1,185.29 157.69

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US dollar ...................................................................1.13009 Japan yen.................................................................122.233 Switzerland franc .................................................1.09150 Denmark kroner ..................................................7.44098 Norway kroner.....................................................9.35584

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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 168.78 +0.62 +0.37% 1.4M 62.14 -0.37 -0.59% 4.4M 109.85 -2.25 -2.01% 46.9M 131.13 +0.28 +0.21% 5.0M 79.17 +0.12 +0.15% 5.5M 97.23 -0.75 -0.77% 6.6M 27.90 -0.35 -1.24% 23.8M 46.10 +0.27 +0.59% 13.6M 98.59 -0.04 -0.04% 6.1M 65.27 +0.09 +0.14% 2.8M 84.97 -0.46 -0.54% 11.3M 31.03 +0.01 +0.03% 24.4M 158.52 -2.39 -1.49% 3.5M 135.01 +0.64 +0.48% 3.5M 151.72 +0.56 +0.37% 3.7M 31.46 -0.34 -1.07% 28.8M 110.18 +0.34 +0.31% 10.1M 61.87 -0.72 -1.15% 19.3M 127.78 +0.27 +0.21% 3.1M 56.14 -0.31 -0.55% 8.4M 55.65 +0.29 +0.52% 28.8M 59.50 +0.01 +0.02% 7.7M 32.50 -0.15 -0.46% 35.3M 82.30 +0.29 +0.35% 7.3M 116.23 +0.87 +0.75% 1.6M 104.57 -0.11 -0.11% 3.8M 127.33 -0.65 -0.51% 2.8M 51.35 -0.01 -0.02% 11.9M 80.08 -0.25 -0.31% 7.2M 69.06 +0.26 +0.38% 7.6M

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES A PRIL 18

COMPANY

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

Most Advanced PTC Therapeutics, Inc. Vestin Realty Mortgage II, Inc. CyberOptics Corporation XBiotech Inc. Bio Blast Pharma Ltd. Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. Vascular Solutions, Inc. Duluth Holdings Inc. Ebix, Inc. Mid-Con Energy Partners, LP Cynapsus Therapeutics Inc.

$ 8.92 $ 2.90 $ 13.95 $ 13.77 $ 2.71 $ 11.834 $ 38.02 $ 24.69 $ 44.87 $ 3.10 $ 13.69

2.69 ▲ 43.18% 0.72 ▲ 33.03% 2.15 ▲ 18.22% 1.72 ▲ 14.27% 0.31 ▲ 12.92% 1.334 ▲ 12.70% 3.87 ▲ 11.33% 2.31 ▲ 10.32% 4.16 ▲ 10.22% 0.28 ▲ 9.93% 1.21 ▲ 9.70%

$ 26.79 $ 10.19 $ 18.56 $ 4.45 $ 25.48 $ 7.23 $ 17.25 $ 7.12 $ 2.76 $ 13.33 $ 10.27

6.53 ▼ 19.60% 2.01 ▼ 16.48% 3.52 ▼ 15.94% 0.79 ▼ 15.08% 3.87 ▼ 13.19% 0.90 ▼ 11.07% 2.065 ▼ 10.69% 0.76 ▼ 9.64% 0.28 ▼ 9.21% 1.23 ▼ 8.45% 0.82 ▼ 7.39%

Most Declined Super Micro Computer, Inc. Ixia Relypsa, Inc. CareDx, Inc. Stratasys, Ltd. Regulus Therapeutics Inc. BofI Holding, Inc. Mitel Networks Corporation Vanguard Natural Resources LLC The ExOne Company Calumet Specialty Products Partners, L.P.

E W N 21 - 27 April 2016 / Mallorca

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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

Artificial Intelligence creates money Photo Credit x.ai

By John Smith ORIGINALLY the stuff of science fiction writers, the past decade in particular has seen a tremendous amount of money thrown into the search for a genuine artificial intelligence, which would in theory have the ability to think for itself.

23M euros is the amount of investment that x.ai, run by Dennis Mortensen, has attracted

There have been numerous films on this subject, most of them, such as Terminator showing a dystopian future, where the Asimov laws of Human Protection are ignored and the self replicating AI figures, which are only interested in expanding their domination over the less than perfect humans are involved in nightmare scenarios of extermination, although invariably good old

DENNIS MORTENSEN: Runs the American company x.ai. Homo Sapien triumphs in the end. Google has been working with driverless cars, Apple has intro-

duced Siri, the perfect assistant for those who use the iPhone, and more and more we are becoming used to

what isn’t quite Artificial Intelligence, but equally is heading in that general direction.

Spanish cigarette machine strike DUE to what many operators consider to be crippling and unfair fines, a decision was made by the Spanish Association of Refillable Points of Sale (AEPVR) to recommend to its members that cigarette machines around the country should be switched off for at least a week. Of the estimated 150,000 machines in Spain, it appears that approximately 50,000 were switched off on April 11, although how this will really affect the government is hard to understand. There will be a temporary loss of the sale of an expected six million packets of cigarettes during the week, but this will be a tiny dent in government income whilst the greater loss will be to the vending machine owners and the bars and cafes in which they have been sited. The whole argument concerns whether information of usage supplied to the cigarette companies for which owners are recompensed should be classed as tobacco advertising and if so, then fines can be levied. Naturally both sides of the argument believe their interpretation of the law is the correct one and this disagreement looks as if it could run on for some time. According to the AEPVR, fines of more than €120,000 have already been levied which has resulted in up to 2,000 of its members going out of business.

CIGARETTE MACHINES: Operators around Spain will switch them off for at least a week.

Like all new inventions, people tend to take tiny steps initially In scenes reminiscent of the first start up hi-tech and internet companies, large amounts are being invested in companies who are on the fringe of an AI breakthrough. One of those is an American company x.ai run by Dennis Mortensen the creator of Amy Ingram (spot the AI reference), a personal assistant that can schedule meetings for you, which he has been developing for the past two years. It doesn’t sound terribly exciting, but his company has just announced that it has attracted €23 million worth of investment, which will allow him to bring ‘her’ to the market. Like all new innovations, people tend to take tiny steps initially, but this company might just turn into another Apple, although equally it could go the way of DeLorean.

British inflation increases BRITISH inflation hit its highest level since December 2014 during March, with the rise in airfares during Easter having provided a boost. Following a 0.3 per cent climb during February, consumer prices rose by 0.5 per cent compared with the same period in 2015, according to data released by the Office for National Statistics. Inflation in the UK is recovering slowly having fallen below zero per cent before the turn of the year, the lowest since comparable records began in 1950. It has remained way below the official target of 2 per cent set by the Bank of England for more than two years.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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Brussels may silence whistleblowers ma, unlike many other countries, does not have laws to protect whistleblowers and the person involved in releasing the revelations IN what is supposed to be an important panma y b e pros e c ute d, but a ll journa lis ts European law meant to protect companies should currently be safe even though the from industrial espionage and theft of sensilaw firm may well have issued threatening tive commercial information, the European emails to them on the basis that their artiParliament is considering introducing a new cles are based on the results of a theft, and law known as the Trade Secrets Protection their case could be stronger if Brussels Act, which many consider so loosely wordpasses this Act. ed that it could discourage whistleblowers According to French from revealing abusMember of the Euroes. pean Parliament, ConCritics say that in stance Le Grip, oppoits current format, nents are misunderstanthose wh o wa n t t o ding the inte ntion of alert g o v e r n m e n t s the bill, a nd s he is and the world to coris the number of documents leaked to the adamant that journalists porate wrongdoing, press by the Mossack Fonseca whistlewould be immune from and th e j o u r n a l i st s blower and is believed to be the largest prosecution: “We have who ar e n e e d e d t o leak ever, with documents being sent in made clear that this dipublish the whistlebatches over a period of one year. rective shall not affect blowers’ findings the exercise of the right could themselves be to freedom of expression and information subject to criminal proceedings, if the comset out in the European Charter of Fundapany or companies on whom they are remental Rights. porting can prove that the information being “We have also very precisely and clearly released to the public is commercially sensiset out the exemptions for both journalists tive. and whistleblowers.” So wo r r i e d a r e p e op le a b o u t th is b ill One piece of encouraging fact, and conwhich appears to be promoted with good intrary to perceived opinion, in the event that tentions but possibly bad results, that more the Act is approved by the European Parliathan 500,000 people have signed a petition ment, it will still need to be passed into law objecting to the wording of the Act. by parliaments across the 28 memA perfect example of how a woolly-wordbers of the EU, and it is ed act could protect those who have a safe bet that many acted improperly concerns the recent will reject it. Mossack Fonseca revelations, which if published in their entirety could include information which may hav e r e b o u n d e d o n th e journalists involved. It may well be that PanaBy John Smith

11.5M

CONSTANCE LE GRIP: Member of the European Parliament.

21 - 27 April 2016 / Mallorca

EWN

OPINION & COMMENT

21 - 27 April 2016 / Mallorca

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EWN

Vote out when the time comes LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT HOW on earth can George Osborne declare that a British exit from the EU would cost every member of the British community £4,300 a year? How can this man prophesy an exact figure around such an unkno wn e n t i t y ? No o n e tru ly knows what will happen should we leave, or how we will prosper when a whole world of new markets are open to us to negotiate, and we are able to use our own rules and regulations to deliver the best deals and business agreements. This is a figure plucked out of nowhere, specifically delivered to frighten the British public into staying in, and it’s a disgrace. To me it’s on a par with Blair’s announcement that Saddam Hus-

sein had weapons of mass destruction. It’s scaremongering at a disgusting level and sounds like a ploy, emanating from a government panicking and prepared to go to any lengths to deceive the British people. To me, apart from all the advantages I believe leaving will bring, it is the spectre of some 80 million Turks having free access to Britain should they become members in the future. I see that particular move as the knell of death to the United Kingdom and its culture, and a reversed two finger salute to the th o u s an d s , n a y millions w ho died in their endeavours to create it. Vote out when the time comes and cock a very large snook at the suffocating Brussels buffo o n s a n d th e c onniving of Cameron and his cohorts. Put the great back in Britain. Let’s show the world that the British bulldog is still very much alive

and kicking hard. Personally I think it’s all very exciting, and even though it may make life difficult for us expats, it’s a small price to pay for delive ring a n uns ha c kle d, fre e democracy to our future generations. Out is clout. Let’s bring it on. Nice to see the Pope taking a dozen refugees back to the Vatican. I did notice that none of the party included any of those that make up the majority, ie young fit M us lim me n, w ith tre ndy trainers and mobile phones. Funny that! Keep the faith Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com

GEORGE OSBORNE: How can this man prophesy an exact figure?

Ask the Optician - The effect of hypertension on your eyes and kidneys By Andrés Román Romero, Store Director, Specsavers Opticas Santa Ponsa LAST month was World Kidney Day and Specsavers Opticas supported the cause by fundraising and raising awareness across all eight stores in Spain, raising over €700. To keep the spotlight on kidney disease, we wanted to look at hypertension, something which can affect both the eyes and the kidneys. What is hypertension? Hypertension is another word for high blood pressure, a common condition which c a n c a u se a w id e range of health problems if not properly controlled. How can it damage your eyes? Tiny, delicate vessels supply blood to your eyes and thes e c a n b e d a m a g e d b y high blood pressure. This can ca u se t h r e e m a i n ey e conditions • Re t i n o p a t h y, wh ich can lead to blurred vision and loss of vision • Choroidopathy, fluid build-up under the retina

to your doctor for further tests and treatment.

causing distorted vision and scarring • O p tic n e u ro p athy, n erv e d ama g e w h ic h ca n cause vision loss How can you tell if your eye’s vessels are damaged? If you notice any changes in your vision, blurred vision or discomfort in your eyes, you should go to an optician for a thorough eye test which includes a health check. A good eye test which includes cutting edge technology such as Digital Retinal Photography will be able to take a picture of the back of

EYE TEST: Can help identify health conditions. your eye to help identify issues with your blood vessels and spot any signs of

other health conditions. If necessary your optician will refer you to a specialist or

How can it affect your kidneys? High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels leading to your kidneys and inside the kidneys causing several types of kidney disease. It can lead to kidney failure, kidney scarring and kidney artery aneurysm. To find out more about kidney disease, visit the World Kidney Day website www.worldkidneyday.org. How can hypertension be diagnosed? You can get a blood pres-

sure test at your doctors, in many chemists or even use a home blood pressure monitor if you are concerned. I f you have hi gh bl ood pr essur e i t can be easi l y controlled with medication. Specsavers Opticas is proud to support World Kidney Day and are celebrating their 10th Anniversary in Spain this month. Pop into Specsavers in Santa Ponsa and take the opportunity to get a free eye test and to see the amazing anniversary special offers. www.specsavers.es

E W N 21 - 27 April 2016 / Mallorca

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OPINION & COMMENT

Good old days or rose tinted spectacles? Colin Bird A weekly look Each week, Colin brings his slightly off-thewall view of the world to the pages of EWN in his own irreverent style.

IT’S a fact that many people of my generation are always banging on about the good old days. We tell ourselves that things were all Enid Blyton and Long John Silver when we were young and that the world was a kinder and safer place all round. The long hot summer days of our school holidays seemed to go on and on. We swam in open-air public pools, picked bluebells for our mums, rollerskated in the street and went fishing. And if we were lucky, spent a fortnight at the seaside. School stood small and distant as we lived every minute of the day to the full. Life was uncomplicated. Or was it?

OLD DAYS: I would switch back in a flash.

Most families happily lived in rented accommodation and mortgages were the exception not the rule. Cars were few if you lived on a council estate and even

televisions were a luxury that relatively few could aspire to, because then our parents only bought what they could afford to pay for in hard-earned cash. Now millions own their own homes - if the millstone of

interminable mortgage payments can be called ownership. There is a car or two in the driveway, we clamour to buy the latest in electronic wizardry and multiple foreign holidays are the norm.

But the pressure to maintain a certain lifestyle has become enormous. Medical science has made advances, but obesity has reached epidemic proportions, new diseases with weird sounding names constantly appear and the scourge of cancer marches on. It’s risky to let your children out to play and teenagers increasingly hit the town with the deliberate intention of becoming wasted, subsequently sharing their dinner with the rest of the world. Where the fear of mutual destruction kept the fingers off the nuclear button during the cold war years, today we have terrorist organisations that would destroy civilisation in the name of their God given the opportunity. ‘The good old days’ may be a slight misnomer, but given the opportunity I would switch back in a flash.

British children, overweight or underweight? Urbans Shutterstock

John Smith Random thoughts... OVER the years it seems that there is always one expert who can warn you ag a i n st o n e se t o f circ u mstances and then in the next week another e x p e r t c o m p le te ly d is proves the assumption and states the opposite. There is no question that smoking is bad for you but should you take a glass of red wine every day to make sure you are healthy or will it a c t u a l l y d a m a g e y o u r health? The latest utterings of a group of MPs really do take the biscuit (assuming that it isn’t bad for your health!). According to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hunger, there are a rising number of children starting school who are underweight and who don’t get enough to eat, having to rely on school dinners to get their nourishment. Unless I’m greatly mistaken, for years, we have heard experts and Jamie Oliver droning on about how children are unhealthy and obese

LATEST BUDGET: George Osborne introduced a sugar tax. and it was only in the latest budget that George Osborne introduced a sugar tax in order to cut the volume of sweet fizzy drinks that the youth of today favour. E v ery re p o rt s e e ms to bla me

feckless parents who have no money but can afford to purchase pizza, burgers, greasy chicken and fizzy drinks in between smoking, drinking, betting, fighting and some other past time beginning with f.

OUR VIEW Credit Featureflash

PRO: Boris Johnson.

Brexit and Spain IT was very interesting to hear first-hand about the number of people who attended the Conservative Association open debate on the Brexit on Wednesday April 13 in Mijas, and although we featured the story of the afternoon in our last Costa del Sol edition, we feel that it is something that should be shared with all of our readers. This was genuinely a nonpolitical gathering which wanted to air the views of both pro and anti Brexit speakers, and it obviously touched a number of minds as so many people, admittedly the majority elderly and in many cases unable to vote in the referendum, took the trouble to attend. In all honesty, those our reporter spoke to had already made up their minds and others who were undecided and had attended hoping to get some hard facts were really no better off. The basic argument from the anti Brexit speakers boiled down to better the devil you know than one you don’t know, meaning of course that at least one has an idea of how things will progress within the EU in the future. Opposing this view, there was a little bit of looking at the past through rose tinted glasses, but the main bone of contention centred on federal rule from Brussels and the fear of Turkey becoming a member of the Union. Naturally nothing was decided, but clearly rather than indifference to the whole matter, there was an obvious interest from the several hundred people who attended.

Are the children losing weight be c a use of t he j unk f ood or ar e they gaining weight because of it? The report itself doesn’t seem to see the irony in its basic concept that some of the money from the new sugar tax should be used to extend free school meals for poor children into the school holidays, and the fact that fat children might get thin and vice versa. A government spokesperson responded saying: “In the last Budge t, we announced £10 m i l l i on (€12.5 million) of funding per year to e x pand br eakf ast cl ubs i n schools up and down the country, and have vowed to continue free s c hoo l m eal s f or m or e t han 1.3 million children. “ We agr ee wi t h t he al l - par t y group that nobody should go hungry, especially when surplus food goes to waste. We will therefore carefully consider the recommendations made in Now we this report.” want to I just wonder what will be the hear your views. next contradiction, perhaps the moon is made of cheese after YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE all or that the tooth fairy does- YOUR OPINION n’t really exist. Every ‘truth’ www.euroweeklynews.com does eventually get disproved.

E W N 21 - 27 April 2016 / Mallorca

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TV LISTING

THURSDAY 21 APRIL

7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:10pm 11:40pm 11:55pm 12:55am

FRIDAY 22 APRIL

SATURDAY 23 APRIL

SUNDAY 24 APRIL

MONDAY 25 APRIL

8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 10:30pm 11:00pm 11:25pm 11:35pm 8:15pm 9:05pm 9:55pm 10:45pm 11:15pm 11:30pm 11:35pm 12:20am

7:50pm 7:55pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:20pm 11:25pm 11:30pm 12:40am

9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 10:30pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:40pm 11:45pm 12:30am

TUESDAY 26 APRIL

WEDNESDAY 27 APRIL

7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:40pm 11:45pm

BBC News at Six BBC London News The One Show EastEnders MasterChef Elizabeth at 90: A Family Tribute BBC News at Ten BBC London News Question Time This Week

2:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm

The One Show A Question of Sport EastEnders MasterChef Have I Got News for You Boomers BBC News at Ten BBC London News The Graham Norton Show

8:00pm

Michael Mcintyre's Big Show The National Lottery Casualty Mrs. Brown's Boys BBC News Weather Match of the Day Peter Kay's Comedy Shuffle Regional News Weather Countryfile Antiques Roadshow Undercover BBC News Regional News Weather Match of the Day 2 Match of the Day: FA Cup Highlights EastEnders MasterChef Peter Kay's Comedy Shuffle I Want My Wife Back BBC News Regional News Weather Have I Got a Bit More News for You PFA Awards

12:15am

Regional News The One Show EastEnders Holby City The A Word BBC News Regional News Weather Never Again: Fear and Faith in Paris Room 101

6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:40pm 11:45pm 12:15am 12:45am

Pointless BBC News Regional News The One Show EastEnders MasterChef BBC News Regional News Weather I Want My Wife Back Boomers Secret Britain

8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:15am

8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:05am 6:15pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 11:30pm 12:15am

7:00pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:45am

1:35am

2:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:30am 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:10am 12:15am

1:05am 1:50am 2:50am 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm

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

World Championship Snooker Eggheads The Hairy Bikers' Pubs That Built Britain Antiques Road Trip Natural World Line of Duty Mock the Week Newsnight World Championship Snooker Highlights

8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm

Canals: The Making of a Nation The Food Detectives Grand Tours of Scotland Gardeners' World Rick Stein's Long Weekends Two Doors Down Newsnight Later... with Jools Holland

9:00pm

Flog It! Bake Off Crème de la Crème Snooker Dad's Army Shakespeare Live! From the RSC QI XL Snooker World Championships 2016 Highlights London Marathon Highlights Snooker Natural Born Winners Louis Theroux Half of a Yellow Sun Snooker World Championships 2016 Highlights The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story Snooker Eggheads The Hairy Bikers' Pubs That Built Britain Snooker The Food Detectives Island Parish Shetland Horizon Mock the Week Newsnight Weather Later Live... with Jools Holland Newsnight Weather Snooker World Championships 2016 Highlights The Super League Show MasterChef This Farming Life The Hairy Bikers' Pubs That Built Britain Snooker Caravanner of the Year Mary Beard's Ultimate Rome: Empire Without Limit Normal for Norfolk Newsnight Weather

11:00pm 11:30pm 11:40pm 12:10am

9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:40pm 2:05am 7:00pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:15pm 11:00pm 11:15pm 1:10am 4:00am 7:30pm 7:40pm 7:55pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:15pm 12:15am 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:45pm 12:30am 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:40pm 12:45am 1:10am 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:40pm 12:45am

Tonight Emmerdale Bargain Shop Wars Paul O'Grady's Animal Orphans ITV News at Ten and Weather ITV News London The Late Debate Britain's Oldest Crooks

9:30am

Barging Round Britain with John Sergeant Coronation Street Flying Scotsman with Robson Green ITV News at Ten and Weather ITV News London GoldenEye Jackpot247

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

You've Been Framed! Bang on the Money Britain's Got Talent Auditions Play to the Whistle ITV News and Weather The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift Jackpot 247 Murder, She Wrote

3:00pm 5:30pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 8:00pm

Local News and Weather ITV News and Weather The Chase: Celebrity Special The Durrells Home Fires ITV News and Weather Flying Scotsman with Robson Green Murder, She Wrote

10:00am 10:30am 11:00am 11:30am 12:30pm 1:00pm 1:05pm

10:00pm 11:00pm 11:35pm 12:05am

9:00pm

10:30pm 12:20am 5:35pm 6:35pm 7:05pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:05am 2:10am

ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Wild Australia with Ray Mears Coronation Street Marcella ITV News at Ten and Weather The Agenda GoldenEye

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

ITV Evening News Emmerdale River Monsters Fierce Drive ITV News at Ten and Weather Paul O'Grady's Animal Orphans Bargain Shop Wars Jackpot 247

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

ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Tonight at the London Palladium Scott and Bailey ITV News at Ten and Weather UEFA Champions League Highlights British Touring Car Championships

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

11:00pm 12:00am

10:00pm 11:00pm 11:35pm 12:35am 1:35am

11:00pm 11:35pm 12:40am

Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Frasier Frasier Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA Four in a Bed Channel 4 News Summary Four in a Bed

9:15am 9:35am 9:50am 10:00am 10:15am 12:10pm

Too Many Cooks The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Unreported World George Clarke's Amazing Treehouses Gogglebox Lookalikes Lookalikes First Dates

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

Channel 4 Racing A Place in the Sun: Homes by the Med Channel 4 News The Secret World of Lego Arnie Schwarzenegger's 50 Greatest Ever Stunts The Transporter Contraband A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun Channel 4 News Grand Designs The Fearless Chef Mystery of the Crossrail Skulls Indian Summers Gogglebox The Lincoln Lawyer Embarrassing Bodies Too Many Cooks The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Dispatches The Food Chain The Island with Bear Grylls Flowers 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Hollyoaks Channel 4 News The Tiny Tots Talent Agency One Born Every Minute Flowers First Dates 24 Hours in A and E Pokerstars.Com European Poker Tour Four in a Bed Too Many Cooks The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News The Supervet 24 Hours in Police Custody Flowers Gogglebox The Island with Bear Grylls

1:10pm 1:15pm 2:15pm

10:00pm 11:00pm

8:05pm 9:00pm 9:55pm 10:00pm

11:00pm

11:30pm 12:25am 4:00pm 6:00pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 9:55pm 10:00pm 11:40pm 1:45am 2:10am 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm

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

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

Peppa Pig Paw Patrol Bananas in Pajamas Toot the Tiny Tugboat The Wright Stuff Beware! Cowboy Builders 5 News Lunchtime Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away! Home and Away Neighbours Home and Away 5 News Tonight The Gadget Show Henry VIII and His Six Wives Ben Fogle: The Great African Migration Eamonn and Ruth: How the Other Half Lives

11:30am 1:30pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 11:15pm 12:15am 12:45am 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 11:15pm 11:45pm 12:45am

NCIS: New Orleans NCIS 5 News The Championship Football League Tonight. Goal Rush Football League Tonight. NCIS NCIS

12:30am

5 News Miss Congeniality Now That's Funny Penn and Teller: Fool Us in Vegas 5 News 5 News Cradle 2 the Grave Criminals: Caught on Camera Super Casino

8:00pm

Neighbours Home and Away 5 News FIA World Rally Championship Highlights Police Interceptors The Tube: Going Underground Gotham Person of Interest Home and Away 5 News Ben Fogle: The Great African Migration The Yorkshire Vet Tribal Teens... Here Comes Trouble My Mum's Hotter Than Me! Moments That Rocked Talent Shows Neighbours Home and Away 5 News Police Interceptors GPs: Behind Closed Doors Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away! Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords The Tube: Going Underground

1:30am 2:30am 2:45am 3:00am 3:30am 4:30am

9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:30am 1:30am 3:40am 3:45am

5:30pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 12:00am 1:00am 1:00pm 1:30pm 4:00pm 8:30pm 8:45pm 9:00pm 1:30am 2:00am 1:30pm 2:30pm 2:45pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 8:30pm 10:30pm 12:30am

Ford Football Special Live ATP 500 Tennis: Barcelona ATP Tour Uncovered Live Ford Football Special David Beckham Special Barclays Premier League World Football Gold Game Changers Barclays Premier League World The Fantasy Football Club Football Barclays Premier League Preview The Fantasy Football Club Football Gold Indian Premier League Highlights Indian Premier League Highlights La Liga La Liga Cricket's Greatest Indian Premier League Highlights Indian Premier League Highlights Football League Goals David Beckham Special Goals on Sunday Ford Football Special Goals on Sunday Football Football Gold Ford Football Special

Fantasy Football Club Highlights Soccer A.M. - The Best Bits Football League Goals Live Ford Monday Night Football Football League Goals SPFL Round Up SPFL Round Up Ford Mnf Football Highlights Live Indian Premier League Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Indian Premier League Cricket's Greatest La Liga World 2015 Soccer A.M. - The Best Bits Football Gold Football Gold Barclays Premier League Review Live Indian Premier League Live Elite League Speedway Boxing Boxing Gold

E W N 21 - 27 April 2016 / Mallorca

LETTERS

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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

It’s a slippery slope I AM becoming increasingly hostile towards this ‘obsession’ people seem to be having with their fourlegged friends, and to organisers, like your good self, pandering to a minorit y g r o u p wh e n th ere are more important and pressing matters to attend to. In some cases their owners are elevating their dogs to equal status to themselves. I am sure we have all observed dogs being pushed around in prams, or being towed in an enclosed ‘buggy’ behind a push bike. Firstly, most restaurants seem to allow, or turn a blind eye, when clients and customers arrive with their dog, either on their knee (the lap dogs) or tucked under the table. Some restaurants even put a bowl of water on the floor for the dog, which turns the whole surrounding floor into a skating rink. In one instance my friends and I witnessed the dog urinating on the restaurant floor. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believed that it was against the law to have a dog in a restaurant, the only exception being a guide dog. Secondly, opposite Consum, a ‘dog park’ has recently opened and I personally believe that is a good idea, at least it varies the type of exercise for different sizes of dogs. Thirdly, contrary to popular belief, not all dog owners collect their dog’s excrement. They make a big (empty) statement by putting the little plastic bags in full view so as to give the impression they are responsible owners. I have witnessed on many occasions that the own e r l o o k s a r o u n d , an d if there is nobody watching, they walk away leaving the excrement on the pavement. If you think this is an exaggeration, then why are the streets and pavements in Calpe festooned with dog faeces. Taking into account these points, I am filled with dread to think what any section of beach area will become after a couple of days. I think it is ludicrous to even contemplate having a ‘designated’ area, remember the old adage, give an inch and they take a mile, and today Calpe, tomorrow the whole Costa Blanca. It would be the first in a succession of ‘designated areas’ that would then spread to the whole beach. I am convinced it would be

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

Banning the burka

Akos Nagy Shutterstock

EWN says: The problem is that you can only fit so much on a page and if we try to increase the size of the crosswords then one will have to be sacrificed. What do other readers think?

Voice of reason WHILE I fully sympathise with Peter and Jean over their feelings of horror in the matter of the neglected donkey, stealing is illegal in any country, indeed, in an Arab country, Peter could have had his right hand chopped off. If they are running a legal animal charity, they must be aware of Seprona, the branch of the Guardia Civil which deals with animal welfare, and El Refugio del Burrito, which has an army of vets at its disposal, and which would have dealt with the matter efficiently and diplomatically. Perhaps we should remember that there are cases of shocking animal cruelty in the UK as well. Such high-handed behaviour as shown by Peter and Jean does not endear the Brits to the Spaniards – our hosts. Diana from Fuengirola

Philip from Estepona

Missing the UK? THERE are things that I miss about the UK (not many), children, grandchildren, the Friday night meet with pals putting the world to rights, and the craic. However, a little birdie told me of a sinister happening somewhere in Quesada that stems from British boozers. It won’t affect me as I rarely touch spirits and if I do, I won’t be frequenting this bar in the near future, even if I knew the name of it, which I don’t.

Cross-eyed crossword AS someone who has a brand new pair of glasses I still need to use a magnifying glass to do your crosswords. John via email

WHILST I am delighted that Mr Lee stretched his legs a little and hopped on a plane to Copenhagen, I’m not entirely confident that the same could be said for the Danes, especially if he flaunted the kind of conceited condescension on display in his article. A few corrections if I may, since his remarks frequently go unchallenged. Mr Lee implies that the burka is banned in Denmark and that this is a reason for the harmonious relations seen in the local Muslim community. The burka is not banned in Denmark, which is in fact one of the most liberal countries on earth. It is of course banned in France, which is an emerging hotbed of extremism. There’s a glimpse of where Leapy Lee’s policies would lead. Lee also seems woefully unaware that ‘Muslims’ are not a homogenous group. When it comes to integration, whether you are Arab, Indonesian, Thai, or Turkish will dictate your level of assimilation into a foreign culture far more than your religion. It’s fine to have an opinion, albeit it uninformed, but tapping into popular, justified anger through wild stereotypes and subtle lies is disgraceful.

impossible to police. Children play freely on the beach without having to watch where they are walking, and long may that continue. Please, please, please, keep the beaches pristine and dog free, w ith o u t th e n e e d for s pe c ia l fenced areas which would detract from a most pleasing vista. We are proud of our beaches and so are the thousands of people whether locals, or most usually, holidaymakers. Please do not let, in my opinion, selfish dog owners ruin it. Sorry to be so ‘anti-dog’ but enough is enough. Ian via email

can devote some space to your comments.

My understanding is that they serve their spirits from OPTICS and not anywhere near gentlemen’s size! Let’s get a grip here. Now I can appreciate the need for tighter stock control but optics in Spain... I hope for the gin and tonic brigade’s sake this illness is not catching. Philip in San Fulgencio via email EWN says: What an interesting concept for a feature. What do you miss about the UK and indeed what are you delighted you don’t have to put up with any more? If we receive enough responses we

Happy days GLAD to see the tv programmes restored. Pete via email

WHEN YOU WRITE All letters, whether by email or post, should carry the writer’s postal address, NIE and contact number though only the name and town will be published. Letters may also be edited. Readers who have missed earlier correspondence can see all letters posted on:

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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.

E W N 21 - 27 April 2016 / Mallorca

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FEATURE

Brush your hair! Vicki McLeod

Family Matters IT’S a familiar scenario in my house. My daughter, she’s 10, has an independent streak running through her, she doesn’t like to be told what to do. In particular she doesn’t like brushing her hair (mostly I think because it hurts, because it’s tangled, because she doesn’t like brushing her hair because it hurts, amazingly she fails to see this continued circle of events). She’s always been a bit funny about her hair. When she was younger I took her to the hairdresser and got her shoulder length hair cut into a chin length bob. She looked fabulous, but she tells me now that it scarred her for life, she never ever wants her hair cut again, EVER. I’m secretly a little worried that she may go down the birds’ nest ‘Caucasian dreadlock’ look when she’s older, no offence to anyone out there in Euro Weekly readership land, but I really don’t like that look. The grungy hippy hair just doesn’t do it for me, it looks wrong. It looks as if you don’t really like yourself very much, that whatever your selfcare routine might be has ceased at the neck. I have to fight the urge to yell “Brush your hair”, internalising it in my mind. It’s unbelievably rude of me, but now and again I want to advise girls

with dreads to “Get a haircut!” The day might come when I carry around a pair of scissors on the off chance that I will come across someone who needs, in my opinion, help. Back to my daughter, this reluctance to look after her hair does not mean that she is unable to look after someone else’s hair, especially if that someone else has four legs and a tail and is a gelding called Jack. No, then I get a lecture about how to do it exactly: “I have a special brush for that mummy. Use it please.” Er, okay then. But if I point out to her that her ability to brush the horse’s hair should extend to her own hair then I am treated to a five minute multiple decibel rant about how she’s already done her hair. Black is also declared to be white, and the day to be night. It’s infuriating. It got so bad this week that a solution had to be found. Gone are the days of point charts, we’ve had to graduate to a more appealing system to GTD (Get Things Done). So with the collaboration of my one and only daughter, who once she’d cooled down a little realised that perhaps she was overreacting a tad she now has a plan to GTD in the morning. It was such a relief to be able to give her praise and congratulations on successfully taking control of her morning routine. How long will it be until I’m yelling at her for dying her hair blue or, gasp, shaving it all off and going for a number one all over? As long as she doesn’t do it to the horse as well... mallorcamatters.com.

HAIRCUT: The day might come when I carry around a pair of scissors.

E W N 21 - 27 April 2016 / Mallorca

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EURO WEEKLY’S SPACE FOR YOU TO TAKE A BREA

Word Ladder

MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

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

YOUR STARS

LLUCMAJOR MAGALLUF

TOMORROW

‘ANTONIO - DOES ANYONE IN HERE OWN THAT HYPED UP RED SPORTS CAR WITH THE HOOD DOWN PARKED ON MY YELLOW LINE OUTSIDE?’

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) Putting all of your eggs in one basket is rarely to be advised. It should particularly be avoided this week. For the sake of speed and ease it will be tempting to take short cuts and make decisions that are bland. These will, of their nature, not be of the ‘good’ or ‘great’ categories.

energy until your weary head hits the pillow. Be kind to your body. Some things that are taken for granted should not be so. This can lead to neglect. In neither home nor business is this recommended.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) How you feel about someone will change dramatically during the week. This will surprise you. Thinking about it logically, though, you have been missing the point for some time. Someone who you always thought of as a friend turns out to be much more. How you deal with this is very much an individual thing.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) It may seem that everyone wants your attention at the moment. There are times when you would like nothing more than to go away and clear your mind. This is not only possible but essential. You need some quiet moments. Even a day away can renew your spirits and energy.

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) With your engine revving and the road ahead clear, a sense of great freedom is with you. There are those for whom this week is a chance to really make headway. For some, though, it is an irksome task. The difference is that some of you are taking a negative attitude. Make sure that yours is positive and you will have a chance to make real progress.

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) So strong have been the practical considerations of late that you have been in a bad position. You need to live more for the ‘now’ and less for the ‘tomorrow’. Of course, life should be a mixture of both but sometimes it all gets a bit jumbled. Getting a few hours peace and quiet on your own may be all that you need. Getting enough sleep is

BONUS BALL

EURO MILLIONS Tuesday April 12

5 22

9 38

LUCKY STARS

CALA d’OR

PALMA ANDRATX

LLUCMAJOR

Friday April 15

14 37

32 48

LUCKY STARS

Alicante

Madrid

TODAY:

SUNNY

MAX 24C, MIN 14C

Fri Sat Sun -

21 14 C 24 15 Cl 25 15 Cl

MAX MIN

Mon - 20 14 Cl Tues - 22 15 Cl Wed - 22 14 Cl

Almeria TODAY:

MAX 20C, MIN 14C Mon - 21 14 S Tues - 21 15 Cl Wed - 21 15 Cl

21 14 C 21 15 S 21 15 Cl

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

21 13 C 24 15 C 25 15 S

Mon - 24 14 S Tues - 24 14 Cl Wed - 24 14 Cl

CLOUDY MAX 22C, MIN 11C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 18 12 C Tues - 19 13 C Wed - 20 13 Sh

20 14 C 20 14 C 19 13 Sh

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

21 12 C 22 13 Cl 20 11 Cl

Mon - 19 11 Cl Tues - 21 11 S Wed - 21 11 Cl

Murcia

SUNNY MAX 22C, MIN 15C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

SUNNY MAX 22C, MIN 15C

Mallorca

THUNDER MAX 19C, MIN 14C

Benidorm TODAY:

Mon - 19 6 S Tues - 19 7 C Wed - 20 7 Cl

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

16 8 C 17 8 Sh 18 6 C

TODAY:

Barcelona TODAY:

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Malaga

SUNNY MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

SHOWERS MAX 18C, MIN 8C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 19 14 Cl Tues - 21 15 C Wed - 20 15 Cl

21 15 C 22 15 Cl 22 15 Cl

S Sun,

CLEAR MAX 26C, MIN 14C

TODAY:

Cl Clear,

Fri Sat Sun -

F Fog,

Sh Showers,

Sn Snow,

MAX MIN

24 13 C 27 15 Cl 28 15 S

Mon - 25 13 C Tues - 26 14 C Wed - 25 14 C

C Cloudy, Th Thunder

Sudoku

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

LOTTERY Saturday April 16

CALVIA

also important in this situation.

(April 21 - May 21)

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Although you are only too aware that you are capable of great good when you put your mind to it, it would be wise to bide your time this week. You may not realise that you are expending too much

Saturday April 16

CALA MILLOR

INCA

MAGALLUF

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Give others the benefit of the doubt and your infinite patience this week. Situations will change from minute to minute. It would be a waste of energy to take anything at face value. Time is often the first thing to solve many problems.

IRISH LOTTO

ALCUDIA

POLLENÇA

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) You are freer than you imagine. Your imagination is letting you down a bit at the moment. Not for some time have opportunities been throwing themselves at you like this. The question is not if you should take up an offer but rather which one you should choose.

UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

CALA d’OR

PALMA ANDRATX

and so you will both be happy.

LEO (July 24 - August 23) With high energy you are seeking to get as much done as possible in a small amount of time. Rather than go at it ‘hammer and tongs’, it could be easier. Let someone help you out. They will find it satisfying

CALA MILLOR

INCA

CALVIA

Wanting to put things right with someone close is a good instinct to have. It would certainly give you peace of mind. Indeed, this should be a quiet and peaceful week and one that is long overdue. Being successful in business is only one part of success. The light is dawning that what you have always wanted has changed.

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) What is the reason that you are being held back? Are you sure that you are, in reality, being held back at all? These are not trick questions. Being honest with your answers this week will lift a cloud from your horizon.

ALCUDIA

POLLENÇA

TAURUS

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Someone very special could come into your life. You must, however, be at the ball to meet the prince. This opportunity for happiness is not going to jump up and bite you. A phone call could be the start of it all. Accept invitations and get out and about. Be aware of what is going on so that you can be in the right place at the right time.

weather

TODAY

CARE CART (PARE) PART (PORE) PORT POET POEM

POEM BACK

for next 7 days

Mallorca

LA PRIMITIVA

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA

Saturday April 16

Sunday April 17

REINTEGRO

10 36

15 47

REINTEGRO

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

CARE

TIME

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Answers 1. AER LINGUS, 2. SEVEN (1970, 1980, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1996), 3. The highest PEAKS/MOUNTAINS in Ireland, 4. HIBERNIA, 5. GIVE IRELAND BACK TO THE IRISH, 6. PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON, 7. SHERGAR, 8. CORK, 9. MARY ROBINSON, 10. BALLET/DANCE

OUT

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21 - 27 April 2016 / Mallorca

AK, BE INFORMED AND ENJOY A CHALLENGE

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Enjoy filling in the following puzzles and check the answers in next week’s edition

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS CRYPTIC

Code Breaker

Quick Across 1 Most costly (7) 5 Looks for (5) 8 On one's own (5) 9 Long-winded (7) 10 Educator (7) 12 Earlier in time (5) 13 Relaxed and unconcerned (6) 15 Talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice (6) 18 Move around (5) 19 Gracefully refined (7) 21 Put into words (7) 22 Bet (5) 23 Contract conditions (5) 24 Hang freely (7) Down 1 Forceful and extreme and rigorous (7) 2 Distinctive odour that is pleasant (5) 3 Female sheep (3) 4 Public house or inn (6) 5 Sacred text (9) 6 Conceited and self-centred person (7)

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Crossword

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Across:

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 8 represents P and 25 represents C, so fill in P every time the figure 8 appears and C every time the figure 25 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.

1 Writs, 4 Recites, 8 Grenada, 9 Barks, 10 Staff, 12 Latrine, 13 Rather, 14 Method, 17 Surmise, 19 Risks, 21 Evade, 22 Swindle, 24 Theseus, 25 Guess.

Down: 1 Wages, 2 Ire, 3 Snaffle, 4 Really, 5 Cabot, 6 Tarnishes, 7 Suspend, 11 Alternate, 13 Respect, 15 Earring, 16 Verses, 18 Irene, 20 Sheds, 23 Doe.

QUICK Across:

7 Smile contemptuously (5) 11 Lacking in feeling, pity or warmth (9) 14 Ship's captain (7) 16 No longer active in your work or profession (7)

English - Spanish

1 Iris, 4 Steady, 9 Soldier, 10 Glare, 11 Fed up, 12 Cassock, 13 Lizard, 15 Candid, 19 Scalpel, 21 Sober, 23 Cross, 24 Evasive, 25 Assess, 26 Nose.

17 Playing in opposition to (6) 18 Pleasing to the senses (5) 20 Discuss with reasoning (5) 22 Existed once (3)

Down:

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

2 Ruled, 3 Skipper, 4 Strict, 5 Edges, 6 Diamond, 7 Useful, 8 Meek, 14 Zealous, 16 Abstain, 17 Darned, 18 Pliers, 19 Sack, 20 Paste, 22 Bliss.

Across 1 Silla de montar (6) 4 Cup (vessel, amount) (4) 8 Molestar (5) 9 Free (at liberty) (5) 10 Forward (in position) (9) 14 Queen (5) 15 Beret (5) 16 Querer (4) 17 Cherry (6)

ENGLISH-SPANISH Across: 1 Cielo, 4 Firma, 7 Guarantee, 10/16 Hot air, 15 Primavera, 17 Oeste, 18 Arroz.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Down 1 Jabón (4) 2 Diente de león (9) 3 Law (legislation) (3) 5 Berenjena (9) 6 Birds (large) (4) 7 Plano (llano) (4) 11 Abbot (4) 12 Cuervo (4) 13 Branch (of tree, family, science) (4) 15 Abeja (3)

Hexagram

Down: 1 Caja, 2/8 Egg cup, 3 Orar, 4 Flag, 5 Ritmo, 6 Ayer, 9 Units, 11 Apio, 12 Race, 13 Mesa, 14 Cruz.

Cryptic 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 (VULGAR) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues.

AMPERE ARMPIT ASTUTE CONFER DEARTH DECODE EMERGE FILTER INDIUM RELOAD

SKATER SOURCE STEREO TRIPOD VENDOR VESPER VULGAR (10) WINTER WITHAL

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 1 Whiten 2 Cordon 3 Ardent 4 Hurtle 5 Centum 6 Depend 7 Tomato 8 Netted 9 Lounge 10 Author 11 Cranny 12 Nutria 13 Heater 14 Tennis 15 Senior 16 Reject 17 Titian 18 Coarse 19 Filter

Across 1 Share out all of the starters (5) 4 Reject not at home with a group of actors (7) 8 Mad Earl becomes worried (7) 9 Get rid of small fish (5) 10 Greek character from the tabloid press (5) 12 Funnily I earn it from lack of motion (7) 13 Finally understood this Roman type of architecture (6) 14 Recently left at a cathedral city (6) 17 Stops a Republican’s lies (7) 19 Locations for spectacles, we hear (5) 21 Instrument for weighing undone laces (5) 22 Raise tax in the Spanish-English quarter (7) 24 Young boy sent assorted poems (7) 25 Post the investment (5) Down 1 A head of department is liable to blend in (5) 2 Begin learning English at the meadow (3) 3 Main tip - adjust the kettledrum (7) 4 Adjudge Rodin a drunk (6) 5 Try some pasta stew (5) 6 A parent taking initially too much for flat (9)

7 They rap in treatment (7) 11 Think about intern, eat bananas (9) 13 Bifocals for tumblers perhaps (7) 15 As Wren's design returns (7) 16 Stares around for autumn flowers (6)

18 Vegetable in recipes we devise (5) 20 Blockade is back with, for example, a boat (5) 23 Turkish leader is in middle of Niagara (3)

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21 - 27 April 2016

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SPECIALIST: Doctor Luis Perez Belmonte. NOW out of the clutches of the rainy, cold winter and fully in the essence of spring, with flowers blossoming along the Costas, we can really start to enjoy the warm weather. Although this comes at a cost to a few; increasing pollen counts, and sensitivity to allergies. This week we have asked Dr Perez Belmonte a few questions about allergies. - Is it true that in the modern era there are more allergies than there used to be? Over recent years allergies have started to appear a lot more often than in the past. This may be due to modern lifestyles and exposure to contamination. We now have specialists in allergies who can diagnose them whereas in the past this wasn’t possible, and anyone with signs of a possible allergy should see their doctor for a diagnosis and treatment. - I am sneezing a lot. Do I have an allergy? Allergies can cause all

sorts of symptoms and even seem like other illnesses. Symptoms include sneezing, an itchy nose and sore throat but can also cause breathing difficulties. The eyes and skin can also be affected. Others can affect the digestive system and in serious cases can cause collapse. - What are the best ways to control allergies? The first thing to do is get a diagnosis from a specialist. Then there are many different treatments ranging from tablets to vaccinations, depending on the type of allergy, which can help control symptoms and even cure allergies in some cases. - I think my child has a food allergy. Can this be cured over time? Sometimes children can develop allergies to certain foods, such as nuts, which stop them from leading a normal life. Although cases vary, they are usually unable to ‘get used’ to these foods. These allergies require attention from a specialist in paediatric allergies.

If you have any questions for Dr Perez Belmonte, please send them to: jefemedico@helicopterossanitarios.com The Coast’s Home GP service - wherever you are - at home - in the office - in the car - on the golf course your GP will get to see you any time, anywhere. A priceless service at an affordable price.

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Mallorca

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The Palma Jazz Quartet concert

Choir offers 60s musical journey

photo provided by Geoff Frosell

By Sandra Galo THE Palma Jazz Quartet will be performing in a concert from 10pm to midnight at the Blue Jazz Club restaurant on Thursday April 21. The cosmopolitan group is composed of Geoff Frosell from London on trombone, Richard Vinton from Florida on piano, Pablo di Salvo from Buenos Aires on double bass, and Mallorcan Jose Luis Garcia on drums. The Palma Jazz Quartet has been playing ‘Classic Jazz’ from the 1920s to 1980s since 1999 with some of the best Jazz musicians on the island. The Blue Jazz Club is located on the seventh floor of the Hotel Saratoga and offers spectacular views of the bay of Palma. Entrance is free. For dinner reservations, call 971 727 240.

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TROMBONIST: Geoff Frosell will be performing with the Palma Jazz Quartet.

THE Pro Musica Choir of Soller invites music lovers to join them on a fascinating musical journey through the decade of the 1960s in their concert on Saturday April 30. The choir directed by Pep Alarcon will be accompanied by pianist David Mohedano, bass soloist Joan Segui and The Sixties’ Band. The performance will be held in Sa Pobla at the Teatre Sa Congregacio at 8pm. Entrance is €10 at the door with advanced tickets priced at €8. Children under 12 pay €5. Reservations can be made by sending a WhatsApp message to 653 087 429.

New additions for fair SAN JOAN situated in the centre of Mallorca will celebrate its 25th Agricultural, Industrial and Livestock fair on Sunday April 24 starting at 11am. The fair displays both agriculture and livestock from around the island as well as crafts and local industry. This year the fair will introduce some new elements including tapa tasting at different establishments on Friday and the participation of a large number of local companies and entities.

E W N 21 - 27 April 2016 / Mallorca

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SOCIAL SCENE

Made in Baleares exhibition THE exhibition entitled Made in Baleares will be displayed in Palma’s Bellver Castle from April 16 until July 17. The exhibition is a collection of 40 works by international photographers that depict the islands during the 20th century.

The exposition was produced by the University of the Balearic Islands’ research team around the concept ‘The building of a tourist image through photography.’ Made in Baleares brings together around 40 photographs from photogra-

phers with very different feelings, but equal in professional standing. Their work portrays different aspects of daily life and landscapes in the Balearics. Many internationally renowned photographers visited the Balearic Islands for various reasons. Some came as part

of their work for the press and editorials. Some visited for leisure and recreation purposes. Others arrived in the Balearics because they were fleeing the severe economic crisis of the interwar period or escaping from ideological persecution.

New Son Servera Clown Festival SON SERVERA began a new edition of the Son Servera Clown Festival of Humour on the weekend of April 1617. The festival started with a performance by the Trukitrek Puppet Company with their show entitled Jukebox featuring musical cabaret puppets. The stars of the show took the form of half-dwarves and

half-humans and performed an unforgettable repertoire of songs with a comical touch. Trukitrek was followed by the company Circolos with a powerful show of acrobats from the National Circus School of Rio de Janeiro. The acrobats performed various acts filled with elegance as well as humour. On Sunday, Mammamia

Circus performed the spectacular Deca2 featuring 10 artists travelling through Europe to commemorate a decade of the circus. The festival will continue until May 1 with theatre plays and various activities including The Turn of the Chefs, a spectacular show performed by the Madrid company Yllana.

Age Concern fun quiz AGE CONCERN MALLORCA’S next event is a Fun Quiz Night to be held on Friday May 13 at 7.30pm. The entertaining evening will take place at The Pub in Magalluf located opposite Katmandu (the upside down house) and hosted by Ricki of Can Pastilla. The event will be accompanied by a meal with a choice of Shepherd’s Pie, Steak & Ale Pie, Fish dish or Vegetable

Lasagne which should be chosen at the time of booking. To make a reservation, please contact Jackie Hendry on 971 683 741 or 663 016 061 or by sending an email to mallorca@ageconcern.org.es. Entrance is €10 and includes the meal and a donation to Age Concern. Seating is limited so book early to avoid disappointment.

Random Movements photography display THE art of German photographer Norbert Schäfer will be displayed in three different venues on the island. The exposition entitled Random Movements was inaugurated at the Auditorium of Alcudia on Friday April 15 and will be on display there until May 11. On May 19 the exhibit will open at the Misericordia Cultural Centre until July 28. Lastly, the work will be inaugurated on August 5 in the village of Capdepera where it will be on display until August 26. The inauguration in Alcu-

dia was presided by councillor of Culture Francesc Miralles who said that this exhibition is a sign that “culture should spread over the territory and get closer to the citizens.” Random Movements is a reflection about life as reality in constant movement. The exhibit is curated by the cultural association Cultur UP, a non-profit organisation founded in February 2013 with the aim of promoting culture. Norbert Schäfer has been working as an artist and photographer for more than 30 years.

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21 - 27 April 2016 / Mallorca

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ROUTE 66: Serves food prepared of the highest standard.

Flickr by Andrea Schichan.

PALMA’S Route 66 American Diner, known for the quality of its honest old-fashioned fresh food, is now branching out and offering entrepreneurs the opportunity to franchise the award-winning restaurant. As the demand for restaurants to provide fresh rather than processed food is growing, more people are looking for establishments that offer these healthier alternatives. Route 66 has a proven record of excellence in preparing healthy home-made quality meals since it was first established in Mallorca more than a decade ago. Co-owners Cristina Martinez and Lola Homs ensure the food prepared at Route 66 is of the highest standards. Route 66 was named among the 10 best places to eat on a budget by the Daily Mirror in 2014 and among the top five hamburgers in Spain (2014) by El Confidencial, ranking with some of Spain’s best restaurants including La Royale in Barcelona and Ramon Freixa in Madrid with Michelin-star chefs. Route 66 uses fresh ground beef for its burgers, prepares its own delicious veggie burger as well as crispy and caramelised onion, sweet potato

Flickr by Rossano aka Bud Care.

Route 66 diner branches out AWARD-WINNING: One of the top 10 places to eat on a budget. fries, its own special sauces and mouth-watering desserts including old-fashioned milk shakes. Route 66 in Palma was the first American Diner to open in Spain 13 years ago. Today, there are two Route 66 diners operating in the Balearic capital at Calle San Magin 23 and Bisbe Joan Maura 5. In October 2015, Route 66 hit the market at Valencia’s Franchise Trade Fair (SIF) offering enterprising individuals a reasonably-priced franchise and the opportunity to join the chain of quality diners. Route 66 is looking to expand on the Balearic Islands and on the Spanish mainland.

Both Diners offer take-away and the Bisbe Joan Maura diner also offers clients an online delivery service from 1pm to 1am every day. The opportunity to eat delicious freshlycooked meals is available day and night at the San Magin street Diner which is always open. For information on joining the Route 66 franchise chain or to place orders for delivery, visit http://restau rantesdiner.com or phone 971 462 567. Email inquiries can be sent to centralfranquicias@restaurantesdin er.com. Route 66 is also on Facebook (Route 66 Diner Franquicias) and Twitter (DinerPalma).

AMERICAN DINER: Route 66 is looking to expand. Flickr by by mac.

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PROPERTY

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‘First impressions Golden Rule’ John Graham The property expert

“I HAVE spent all my money on a great interior, but still can’t sell my property close to the asking price.” “Potential buyers have booked a viewing but many didn’t even bother to get out of the car to look around and drove off.” With over 25 years experience in the property industry as a Technical Architect, I have come across this sort of problem many times, and nine times out of 10 it can be solved, so let’s first look at the cause of the problem and then how you can fix it. In my experience most home owners selling their villa or apartment are looking for the best market price, and to achieve a good sale price they

have more often than not fitted a top end kitchen, new bathroom suites, knocked down a few walls, and given the interior a fresh coat of paint, so job done right? Well actually no! There is a what I call the ‘First Impression Golden Rule’ in presenting your home for sale, and most sellers overlook it or don’t even know about it. My First Impression Golden Rule is based on scientific studies and surveys carried out by psychologists, studies by the property industry and my own professional experience. Psychologists have known for many years that when you meet somebody for the first time, you immediately start taking in and processing information about them. Subconsciously you look at the way somebody is dressed, their body language, their personality, or notice whether they are driving an expensive car. In selling your property the

GOLDEN RULE: Save a budget to improve the exterior of your property. buyer’s process is exactly the same, but they start subconsciously making positive or negative decisions about your property as soon as they park up outside your villa or apartment block, and within 10 seconds they will have decided on their first impression.

A negative first impression can also lead to lower offers, which can be extremely costly. For example, if you are selling your apartment for around €500,000 and you are offered 20 per cent less, that’s €100,000 off your asking price, or if you are selling your

villa for around €1,500,000 an offer of 20 per cent less is €300,000 off your asking price. That’s a lot of money to lose but in next week’s article I will write about some of the different ways you can avoid this scenario. So stick to my First Impres-

sion Golden Rule and don’t spend all your money on only improving the interior of your home. Save a budget to improve the exterior of your home as well and go for that important first impression. You will then enjoy 10 out of 10 viewings and have offers for or close to your asking price. Remember, you will never get a second chance to make a first impression on the buyer. Next week I will look at how you can improve the potential buyer’s first impression of your property and make a sale for or close to your asking price. If you are selling your property we have buyers for Mallorca and Ibiza, or if you’re buying a home in Spain contact me, we have a wide selection of property on offer. John Graham of Graham & Associates Fellow of The Architecture & Surveyors Institute. Email: gk.ipad@me.com

PROPERTY

21 - 27 April 2016 / Mallorca

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Brexit vote looms large A MONTHLY report from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has identified a “climate of security” caused by the looming Brexit vote and stamp duty changes, which may prompt lower sales and prices in the UK property market. The report is based on a wide survey of estate agents which, for the first time in eight years, saw more experts expect a decline rather than an increase in the shortterm future. Part of the story is the natural decline in sales due to the enforcement of the new stamp duty on April 1, as figures in the previous few months were dramatically higher as buy-to-let investors in particular sought to purchase before attracting higher fees. A significant part of the caution, however, is due to the financial and political uncertainty on the cards as the nation gears up to decide whether or not to leave the European Union. While the consequences of a Brexit for the property market and Britain’s wider economic health are, by definition, unknown, it is precisely that lack of certainty

that has spawned concern. London in particular is facing a more pessimistic outlook following years of consistently off the charts growth, and prices have already fallen in some areas. The city also entertains a mayoral election on May 5 which some experts are factoring into their analysis. In just 10 weeks we will at least have an answer to both parts of the puzzle.

Repossession opportunities FOR some buyers price is everything and motivation can be to simply find the cheapest available property. In recent years Spain has had one of the worst economic crises known in Europe, but as the country emerges from the dark depths of economic depression are there still options available for good value properties? Bank repossessions offer a valid, if somewhat melancholic opportunity. One option, which might sound a little distasteful for many, is bank repossessions. Profiting from someone else’s misfortune is never a nice thought, but it is a legal option for buying property usually below market value. For many expats the exchange rate is also a key element. Is sterling strong against the euro? It’s worthwhile budgeting and researching to see what you can get for your money. Bank repossessed properties typically mean that the bank who financed a property, has taken the property back, either by forced sale or through an agreement with the owner.

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HOMES GARDENS

21 - 27 April 2016 / Mallorca

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

A FEW thoughts about spring gardening in Spain. 1. If you live inland watch local weather forecasts regularly, there can still be shocks. Last Friday we woke to 10 degrees centigrade but within an hour cold rain dropped this to four, and an hour later inland ridges and peaks were covered in snow. Since then every hour has been 10 to 23 degrees. 2. If visiting garden centres check where recent supplies are from. Many Italian and French nurseries and garden centres are suffering from disease problems which have even been wiping out olive groves. 3. Minero and honey fungus attacks can occur at any time in the spring on fruit trees so give all a mixed spring neem and propolis foliar spray. 4. If you can’t find these products mail order from Trabe.

PETS

5. Citrus trees will benefit from a spring feed. For the past two years I have successfully trialled the Neudorff Azet ecological citrus fertiliser. 6. If you wish to seed

raised beds with a worm population, one can order from Humus + Fertil, SLL based in Roda in Albacete Province. © Dick Handscombe April 2016

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My life in his paws 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

A MUST READ. I interviewed Wendy on my radio show. This week we look at the first part of her story. My name is Wendy Hilling. I suffer with a very rare skin condition called dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa recessive. It means my skin inside and outside my body blisters and tears at the slightest knock.

As my condition worsened I found it difficult to open doors, use the cash machine, dress, and undress. I applied for a canine partner to assist me. It was decided I should train my own puppy so it would learn at an early age not to knock me. I was on the internet one day when I saw that Canine Partners were training dogs to help people who could not use their hands very well. I rang and got an interview with the training centre in Sussex. I found that the dogs I met were too bouncy for me. The dogs were not bad dogs at all, it is just that my skin is more fragile than a butterfly’s wing. I went home and after a while I had a call from Andy Cook, head of operations and he decided I should train my own puppy, under the watchful

eye of one of their trainers. It was a decision that was to change my life. Edward arrived in January 2007 at nine weeks old. He was a bundle of life and always on the go. He took to the training so well. He made me laugh. We were best friends from the word go. I began to change. Like a butterfly I was emerging out of my shell. I found a new confidence

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Spring thoughts Dick Handscombe

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in training Teddy and showing him off. People would ask about him and I never thought about my skin and what they were thinking. I realised nothing and nobody mattered, what they thought was up to them. Here I was with a puppy wearing a jacket and as proud as I could be. We graduated when he was 18 months old. Read on next week…

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Look no further for a boat. 4-page special starts here...

BOATS S P E C I A L

Mein Schiff 4, inaugural visit ARGUABLY the world’s largest travel business the Anglo–German company which owns a number of airlines as well as cruise ships and hotels indicated earlier this year that a lot of its business was diverting from Turkey to Spain, and is now following this up with the news that in 2016 its cruise ships will be visiting more ports in the Mediterranean including Gibraltar. All of its ships are imaginatively named Mein Schiff (my ship) and Mein Schiff 4, currently the newest member of the fleet paid its inaugural call to Gibraltar on Saturday April 9. In an informal but traditional ceremony aboard the ship, the Minister for the Port, the Hon Paul Balban, exchanged plaques with the Captain. The Mein Schiff 4 has a gross tonnage of 99,526 and a length of 293.2m. It can carry 2,790 passengers and has a crew of 1,030.

Photo Credit Pjotr Mahhonin Wikimedia

By John Smith

MEIN SCHIFF 4: Currently the newest member of the fleet. There will be a total of nine calls from this cruise company throughout 2016 and it is hoped that the next ship in the fleet, Mein Schiff 5 due to launch in the summer will also visit the Rock at some stage.

Minister of Tourism Samantha Sacramento said: “The government is extremely pleased with how the new 2016 cruise season is shaping up. There are numerous inaugurals lined up over the next few months,

which once again highlight the importance of Gibraltar as a maritime hub and regional cruise port of call in the Mediterranean. “It is particularly significant that we have attracted interest from the

German market and we are keen to develop the fresh business opportunities that this will generate over the coming months. “We look forward to receiving thousands of visitors and to another strong performance of the Gibraltar port in handling the arrival of these cruise ships, which include some of the largest vessels in the world. “Gibraltar has once again shown its capacity in this area and the new cruise season confirms an expanding local industry that has become an important driver of the economy and the Rock’s sustained prosperity.” As mentioned in an earlier edition of EWN, it is expected that once launched in the summer, the latest of the Mein Schiff fleet, which will be number five will visit Mallorca and indeed it is likely that Mallorca will be the first and possibly only destination which welcomes all of the Mein Schiff fleet during 2016.

BOATS

21 - 27 April 2016 / Mallorca

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THE Blue Ice, brand of Sea Engineering group, is getting ready to release a new renovated version of the Blue Ice 38 V. The boat represents one of the historical and most successful models of the shipyard but the new version whilst maintaining the basic features, introduces several changes that will make life on board even more comfortable, providing at the same time a touch of elegance to the exterior lines. Blue Ice 38 V is an open, sportoriented vessel, rich in standard equipment and largely customisable giving a perfect balance between performances and comfort. The use of space is excellent and enables any owner to exploit all of the 11-metre boat length. The interior, that includes two double bedrooms, a bathroom with a shower and a comfortable dinette, gains several centimetres in height and interior spaces are very bright, thanks to the abundance of windows, incorporated in a bulwarksâ€™ board, The main innovation concerns the cockpit. Organised on only one level,

Photo Credit Sea Engineering

New take on old style

BLUE ICE 38 V: A new, renovated version is ready to be released. it hosts a comfortable chaise longue and pointed towards the bow is a double sofa, which can be transformed into a large sun pad area that looks towards the stern, thanks to the

disappearing six person table. The sofas are now even more comfortable thanks to the new sunshade that comes out from the seatbacks and the two opposite-facing backrests.

Equipped with two Volvo Penta engines the new 38 V can guarantee excellent velocity in total safety, easily reaching 40 knots. The new Blue Ice 38 V will be

completed within summer 2016, and will be officially presented at the 2016 Cannes Yachting Festival next September, together with the new Blue Martin 13.90.

BOATS

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21 - 27 April 2016 / Mallorca

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33rd edition of the Palma Boat Show By Sandra Galo THE Palma Boat Show to be held in the Moll Vell on April 28 and May 2 will host more than 70 companies. The maritime industry is becoming a leading force in the Balearic Islands as shown by data

from the 33rd edition of the Palma Boat Show. Since the middle of March there has been a waiting list as evidence of the increased demand and the popularity of the event. The Palma Boat Show, organised by the Council of Employment, Trade and Industry in conjunction with the private sector, has expanded considerably compared to last year.

The area will increase to about 500 metres more than the previous year reaching up to 5,500 square metres which will house an exhibition of 600 boats, 30 per cent more than in 2015. In the sea, the number of moorings has also been expanded and more than 170 boats will be present including the largest yachts in the world (Eleanora and Nativa) both around 50 metres long.

More than 3,500 national and international brands from around 20 countries will be represented. The director of the Palma Boat Show, Chema Sans, said that this year’s show presents “some big business prospects,” and added that last year the event generated around €400 million and gave work to more than 2,000 people.

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Roadside phone hackers AN Israeli company has pioneered technology allowing police forces to detect whether drivers are texting while driving. Known as ‘textalysers’, the roadside devices will be able to determine whether a mobile phone is actively sending messages, and thus either penalise drivers for being distracted, or be used to uncover whether someone was texting when investigating an accident. Police could also check driver’s phones during routine traffic stops to find out whether they had recently been used. The technology is not yet in place but laws are being pushed through in New York despite opposition based on privacy concerns.

Clarkson Quote of theWeek

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“We all know that small cars are good for us. But so is cod liver oil. And jogging. I want to drive around in a Terminator, not the heroine in an E M Forster novel.” Some might say...

Introducing the BMW M4 GTS By Matthew Elliott BOASTING sleek, powerful, motorsport looks and a lap time of 7.28 minutes around the hugely taxing Nürburgring-Nordschleife circuit, the BMW M4 GTS is a modern day masterpiece channelling new levels of excellence. The special edition model is limited to only 700 units and comes in celebration of 30 years of the BMW M3. Also suitable for public roads, it has allowed specialist engineers at the company to creatively develop some of the highest powered technology available today. We’ve taken a radical route with the set-up of the BMW M4 GTS to create a sports machine for the race track that delivers top-end dynamics and inspirational performance. It allows us to demonstrate what is possible today with a road-legal car. Owners can drive their BMW M4 GTS to circuits such as SpaFrancorchamps, the Nürburgring or Laguna Seca, for clubsport events, for ex-

panelling construction, doors and boot ample, and then set lap times there that area, along with carbon-fibre bucket raise the bar to extremely high levels for seats and door pull loops rather than solroad-legal cars,” said Frank van Meel, id handles. Light but extremely strong CEO of BMW M GmbH. high-tech material makes up the bulk of An award winning six-cylinder in-line the exterior, while even the exhaust systurbo engine from the BMW M3/M4 is tem has a titanium muffler. used but with water injective technology The car also to raise output to an impressive 368 kW/500hp while increasing torque to 600 Nm (442 lb-ft) and maintaining the healthy fuel economy of the Coupe. Powering from a standstill to 100 km/h in a 3.8 second flash, it can hit a limited top speed of 305 km/h (189.5 mph). An excellent weight-power ratio of 3.0 kg/hp allows for a potent driving experience enhanced dramatically by a stylish efficiency driven interior. This is seen through lightweight BMW M4 GTS: A modern day masterpiece.

features the debut of Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLED), a seven-speed M Double Clutch Transmission, the ability to manually select gears, and exclusive M light-alloy wheels in star-spoke 666 M Styling, which are critical to the fantastical mechanical traction and corner grip.

Night-vision cars

NEW TECHNOLOGY: Driverless cars will operate well in daylight and darkness. SPECIALISTS at Ford are pioneering the development of a new generation of night-vision systems which require no natural light or illumination to function. They will focus on improving Light Detection And Ranging technology (Lidar) which shines light on a particular target, before employing state-of-the-art sensors to construct a complete image of the car’s environment. The move is related to the ongoing competitive

enhancement of autonomous cars rather than manned vehicles, which of course are required to have headlights on in the dark. Ford now say that the technology will allow driverless cars to operate equally well in both daylight and darkness. The promising Ford system would issue 2.8 million laser pulses each second to form a picture of the road ahead, allowing the internal system to paint a 3D image of traffic and other potential hazards.

Parking like Bond THE ageless Q appears to have been recruited by car companies eager to employ his genius for gadgetry and bring parking via a smartphone to the mass market. It might not be the same as engaging in a high-speed pursuit using only a watch, but it’s certainly a step in that direction. Fully automated parking has emerged as something of a byproduct from the race towards enhanced autonomous systems. With electric power steering, parking sensors, and a monstrous internal computer to perform the calculations, it is really quite a simple affair, and leads to pinpoint precision parking in the tightest of possible spaces. The development points towards an interesting future where cars could be borrowed on a grand intra-city sharing scheme, and commuters could call up cars using their smartphone then jump out and allow the cars to park themselves, waiting for the next person.

E W N Mallorca

21 - 27 April 2016

NEW TEAM: Triple world champion Jorge Lorenzo is set to join Duccati after the 2016 MotoGP season.

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Mallorca’s best guide to local sport

Golf club in top five CLUB de Golf Alcanada has confirmed its place at Spanish golf’s top table after being named among the country’s elite clubs by respected global website Leadingcourses.com. Having been awarded an ‘outstanding’ rating by the website in 2015, the acclaimed Mallorca layout was rated as one of Spain’s top five venues in the ‘best golf club overall’ category, alongside Valderrama - host of the 1997 Ryder Cup - Golf Son Gual and top European Tour venues PGA Catalunya and Finca Cortesin. All Spanish golf clubs are included on the Leading

Courses system, among nearly 22,000 courses in 109 different countries. The site - which is used by more than 250,000 golfers each month - is available in eight languages, enabling it to reach 92 per cent of European golfers in their mother tongue, and the ratings are determined by the reviews and scores provided by individual golfers. Alcanada’s director of golf, Kristoff Both, said: “To have been included in Spain’s top five alongside some of the most celebrated in European golf is an outstanding achievement for the club.”

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Advance Moves backs Loris Ford-Dunn in Supermoto FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD Loris Ford-Dunn has had a busy winter testing his new ktm Supermotoland.com SMR 450cc race bike, as he hops up from the youth Supermoto championships of Spain and into the highly competitive adult classes for 2016. But Loris is no stranger to Supermoto racing where racers battle on circuits made of asphalt, with off-road jump sections thrown in to make some of the most spectacular and close racing seen in Spain. Last year Loris finished in fourth place in the Spanish Youth championships for 85cc machines in his first year of racing. He knows that he is now stepping up to the top class, against many racers that have much more experience than himself, but he is relishing the opportunity to learn from the best. This year will essentially

SUPERMOTO RACER: Loris Ford-Dunn. be a learning year as he gets used to the more powerful bike and the tougher competition. With Loris competing under the wing of the Super motoland.com race team with continued Sponsorship from Advance Moves International Removals, he is guaranteed the backing and support that he needs to get himself up to speed.

SPONSOR: Advance Moves International.

His season starts in Alicante on Saturday April 30 at the Albaida circuit near Alcoy, with the first round of the Spanish championships on one of the toughest supermoto tracks in Spain. The very next day on Sunday May 1, the world’s best Supermoto racers will be racing at the same circuit for the second round of the world

championship Grand Prixs, so some incredible racing will be on show over the weekend. Tickets are available on the gate at around €12 each and the action kicks off from 10am on both days. So if you want to see a great weekends racing action then head to www.motoalbaida.com where circuit directions and further details can be found.