Euro Weekly News - Costa Blanca North 15 - 21 December 2016 Issue 1641

ISSUE NO. 1641

15 - 21 December 2016

COSTA BLANCA NORTH

YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION

Drug lord in the dock

By Simon Firth A three-year investigation by Spanish, French, British and South American police forces will come to an end with the trial of a drugs gang accused of moving more than 200 kilos of cocaine into Spain.

At the head of the gang was Brian Colin Charrington, according to the prosecution, who was arrested at a property in Alicante Province in July of 2013.

Spanish police say Charrington, a former car dealer from Middlesbrough, was one of European police’s ‘10 most investigated criminals.’

In a trial following an earlier arrest in 1992, he was revealed to have been an informant working

for the North-East Regional Crime Squad.

Charrington subsequently moved to Spain where he is ac-

cused of building up a drugs smuggling network that was only ended when police finally Turn to page 4

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LOCAL NEWS

Local is best THE 1640 (December 8-14) issue of the Costa Blanca North Euro Weekly News contained no less than 66 local news items, demonstrating once again our dedication and commitment to delivering the news that matters most to you, our readers, in each of our six editions. Nobody does it better!

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Made in China THE National Police is coordinating a massive sting operation in Alicante Province, Barcelona and Madrid in order to take down a network of Chinese

By Linda Hall and Matthew Elliott ONE of the wealthiest and most prominent figures in Costa Blanca high society was shot dead by a suspected hitman in a murder that has shocked Spain.

Maria del Carmen Martinez, widow of the former CAM bank president Vicente Sala, was shot execution-style while sitting behind the wheel of her Porsche Cayenne SUV in one of her family’s Alicante car dealerships.

The assassin used a silencer to

con-artists, with hundreds of arrests expected. Around 500 investigators are involved in the operation, which aims to combat real estate and telephone fraud.

gunt, originally designed as one of the largest industrial parks in Europe, but only partially finished. Once built, the centre will supply all Mercadona depots throughout the country.

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Taken out

Super duper THE Mercadona supermarket chain plans to build its principal logistics centre in Sagunto (Valencia). The supermarket chain has spent €24 million on a 358,270-metre plot in Parc Sa-

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fire two shots at point blank range to her head and cheek. Martinez, 72, died instantly at around 7pm on Friday December 9, slumping outside the car where she was later found.

Neither her car, nor her luxury handbag and other easy pickings were taken, leading detectives to conclude this was a contract killing possibly linked to her family’s extensive business empire.

Madrid has offered to send a special investigative unit, but Alicante has thus far preferred to handle the case locally. Au-

thorities believe the perpetrator may have been hired outside Spain and has already left the country.

Martinez had taken over the family business after her husband’s death in 2011 but speculation is rife that the household is bitterly divided. There are well-known tensions involving her adult children, three daughters and a son.

Martinez was a highly-regarded public figure. A huge funeral the following day was attended by a who’s who of the business, social and political worlds of Valencia.

Photo by EFE/You Tube

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EXECUTED: Shot dead by a suspected hitman.

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FEATURED NEWS

COPYRIGHT trabantos/Shutterstock.com

Stay safe at Christmas time

BE ALERT: And stay safe, whether you’re out shopping or visiting friends.

By Sam Croft NOW that the holiday season is getting into full swing, the Spanish National Police has issued a list of 10 preventative guidelines to help you avoid becoming a victim of crime, both in the real world and online.

As much as it’s important to relax and have fun at Christmas, it is also important to stay safe and be alert. Here at the Euro Weekly News we thought we’d pass on these tips to our readers to keep you and your loved ones safe over the holiday period.

1. It is essential to keep children safe at all times. In Christmas markets, commercial areas, or parades, do not let your children out of your sight. To be extra safe, write down your phone number on their wrists, or give them identifying bracelets.

2. In crowds, always pay special attention to your belongings: handbags, wallets, mobile phones. Don’t go out with large quantities of cash, hang your handbag over the front of your body, don’t keep important objects in your back pockets, and keep your documentation, keys, and money in separate places.

3. If you are going to shop online, be wary

of products which offer prices well below the market price, or of salespeople who don’t give out data which will allow you to track them down. Carry out these purchases with caution and make sure that you are using reputable websites. You should also avoid giving out your banking information or passwords if you are using a public Wi-Fi network.

Over Christmas, the National Police has implemented a special increased presence to strengthen security.”

4. Additionally, you should take precautions when you make physical purchases in shops.

Check that the charges correspond to the items that you have bought and keep all receipts and verifications of your purchases.

5. During the holidays it is common for us to receive congratulatory messages or messages from charitable organisations while online. Remember however, that dubious links or files could be linked to malware which may steal your data or access your e-mail account

for malicious uses. Don’t open suspicious links and be wary of unfamiliar e-mail addresses.

6. If you go on holiday, take precautionary measures when you leave your home. Don’t forget to lock and bolt your doors as thoroughly as possible before heading away. Remember not to leave signals that your home will be uninhabited, and don’t post messages on social networks indicating how long you will be gone.

7. Additionally, if you are going away for Christmas, you should clearly identify all of your belongings before boarding the plane.

Never check-in other people’s baggage under your name. Always keep an eye on your suitcases and belongings and avoid travelling with large quantities of money in your handbag or suitcase.

8. With regards to scams, there are ‘classics’ which come back every Christmas. A common one involves con artists who lure in passersby with flashy tricks involving cards, glasses, or nutshells. They encourage people to try to track down a hidden object. Don’t participate in this so-called ‘game,’ as you are sure to lose.

9. Buy your lottery tickets in authorised places. Check to make sure that the ticket contains a logo, a barcode, and all of the other elements of verification. If you buy it online, always use a reliable website. Don’t let the ticket get too worn or you could have problems if you win, and remember that tickets typically expire in three months. Good luck!

10. If you buy a lottery ticket with family and friends, it is advisable to photocopy the ticket and specify who is participating and outline how much money each person has contributed.

Over Christmas, the National Police has implemented a special increased police presence to strengthen security and prevent crimes like thefts, robberies, and fraud. The number of officers has been increased in busier areas, especially ones with high degrees of commercial activity, traditional markets, and fun and leisure zones.

From all of us at the Euro Weekly News, if you’re out and about over Christmas, whether shopping or visiting friends, follow these guidelines whenever you can to stay safe... and have a very Merry Christmas.

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INDEX News 1 - 42

Featured News 3

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Drugs gang facing jail terms of 110 years From Front page

Our View 6

Indoor Market 14

European Press 44

Finance 47 - 52

Stocks 48

Leapy Lee 53

Christmas Special 55 - 68

Daily TV 70, 72, 74, 76,

78, 80, 82

Letters 69

Time Out 38 - 86

Health & Beauty 88 - 92

Social Scene 93 - 97

Property 98 - 100

Home & Gardens 102 - 103

Pets 104 - 105

Services 106 - 110

Classifieds 111 - 113

Motoring 114 - 117 Sport 118 - 119

surrounded his property in the town of Altea and arrested him.

Besides other alleged members of the network, Charrington is also accused alongside his son and partner.

The prosecution claim members of the gang travelled to Venezuela and Colombia in 2012

The prosecution is calling for fines of more than €80 million. to acquire cocaine. They are said to have returned via Brazil and Argentina before re-entering Spain with the drugs.

Police have said they seized luxury vehicles, Rolex watches and even boats at the various

DRUGS GANG: Is accused of money laundering amongst other offences.

properties used by the gang.

The offences range from money laundering to membership of a criminal organisation with the

prosecution calling for fines of more than €80 million and jail terms totalling more than 110 years.

It has been widely reported in the past Charrington liked to fill in his Wikipedia entry, boasting about his criminal exploits.

Bite from cat proved fatal A 42-YEAR-OLD woman died in Turis (Valencia) days after she was bitten by a stray cat.

Adriana de Oliveira Amaral, originally from Brazil, and her husband Carlos who is a retired radiologist, had complained for two years about the ‘multitude’ of cats that haunted the

rubbish containers near their home and entered their garden. Despite promises from the town hall the cats and the rubbish remained and one morning Adriana was bitten by a ‘gingercoloured cat.’

Two days later she collapsed in their home and was taken to Manises hospi-

tal with a suspected stroke but died there after suffering three heart attacks, three days after she was bitten.

Carlos discovered that according to her death certificate Adriana died of septicaemia caused by the bite from the cat which was later caught and handed over to the Local Police.

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Vilamarxant town hall

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Murder investigation of retired doctor underway THE National Police is investigating the murder of a 63-yearold retired doctor in Valencia’s Monteolivete neighbourhood, whose body was found on Thursday (December 8) with his hands tied together and a plastic bag over his head.

The body of the victim, named as Vicente Soler, was found within his seventh-floor flat at number 174 on Avenida de Peris y Valero after his downstairs neighbour complained that water was pouring through the ceiling and there

was no sign of life in the flat.

After contacting the administrator and president of the community of owners, who were also unable to contact Soler, and a failed attempt to climb in through a window, the residents decided to call a locksmith and enter, believing that the owner of the flat could be on holiday.

Upon entering the living room of the flat, however, they saw a body under a table and called the police. Two patrol cars were dispatched to the property and upon arrival, at

BOU EMBOLAT: Public turning against this version of bull-running.

Put to the vote bous al carrer which are inseparable from from fiestas in Pedreguer which is known as the ‘Cathedral of Bull-runPEDREGUER is all set to go ahead with ning.’ its ballot on bull-running in next year’s The referendum is open to all residents fiestas. ove r 16 a nd vote s c a n be The town hall, controlled cast between January 9 and by the Compromis party, is A mini ref15 via the internet or left in organising a mini referenerendum the ballot boxes provided by dum which will ask townswill ask the town hall. These were people if they want bou emtownspeople requested by the Passio pels bolat and bou encaixonat. what they want.” Bous bull-running associaThese are bull-running’s tion which pointed out that two most controversial vermany older residents have neither mosions that involve fixing burning brands biles nor an internet connection. to the bull’s horns in the first place or At least 25 per cent of the local popupenning the animal in a small, dark conlation will have to vote for the outcome tainer in the second. of the ballot to be binding.

There is no question of eliminating

By Linda Hall

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Building on land owned by charity A DEVELOPER has announced it is to build 36 apartments on land owned by a charitable foundation. The construction, by Nuevo Milenio SL from Madrid and the Gozalbo-Marqués foundation, could start within three months with a licence already in place.

The apartments, at the Les Marines de Dénia beach, have already gone on sale with the promotor announcing many have already sold. The land earmarked for the apartments is one of the last remaining plots free along the coastline and sits near the road at the end of the beach.

The build, originally given approval in 2007, did not progress due to the property market decline at the time. The new construction partnership is now able to enforce the original licence.

The non-profit foundation aimed at helping disadvantaged people was created in 2012 by Maria Teresa Marqués in honour of her husband, Luis Shipment, who had died a year earlier leaving all their possessions including land to the foundation.

6.30pm, discovered the flat in a state of disorder and the deceased under the table, in a pool of blood, with his hands tied together and a plastic bag over his head.

Due to the signs of a violent death, investigators were called in to examine the scene of the crime. Now it is down to the Homicide unit to determine whether the elderly man was killed by burglars or whether the home was messed up after his death to throw investigators off their tracks.

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Bushland firefighters’ new governing body makes plans PLANS are being made for ‘forest firefighters’ (Spanish: bomberos forestales), who currently battle wildfires under the

umbrella of the Tragsa enterprise, to soon become part of the Valencia Agency for Safety and Emergency Response.

Tragsa, a public company, will continue with its work related to agricultural workers and road repairs, but it has been felt that the firefighters would be better served under the new specific institution.

The parties that make up the autonomous government, PSOE and Compromís, have tabled an amendment that would create the Valencian Agency of Security and Emergency Response.

Jose Maria Angel, Chief Executive of the Emergency

team said: “An essential service such as that which fights forest fire should be public, the intention is Tragsa would continue to develop activities related to repairing roads and agriculture but that workers involved in firefighting have a direct link with the agency.”

Firefighters affected by the changes are reported to have greeted the proposals with delight saying that “this will help improve our working conditions and provide a more efficient service.”

In recent times the workers have protested that Tragsa has failed to hear their complaints regarding working conditions and pay, resulting in very low morale.

The proposals will require a change in an already proposed bill and awaits the endorsement from the Valencian Ministry before the service and workers can be officially be united.

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OUR VIEW

Thinking of others AS we all gear up for Christmas and New Year celebrations, spare a thought for those who are going to have to cope with their first year alone following the death of a loved one or those who are going to be spending their time in hospital, perhaps confused and unable to communicate fully with those who are looking after them.

Those of us who speak good Spanish could do worse than to talk to local expatriate charities to see whether we can assist by offering a few hours of interpreting for those who can’t always express themselves as they would want to.

For many this is a great time, enjoying family life and getting ready for the magic of Christmas, New Year’s Eve and even Three Kings, but for others it is a

lonely and desperate time when there seems to be little to look forward to and much to regret, which can end up with depression and a dangerous reliance on alcohol.

It isn’t easy to give up your time when there are so many distractions and matters to prepare, but if you do know a lonely person or elderly couple, it would be a wonderful thing to offer them a little bit of your time.

Sadly one of the greatest problems with elderly people in Spain and away from their family is the problem of what we call senility or Alzheimer’s and whilst those who suffer from it tend to be cushioned from its effects as they revert into their own world, those who have to live with the deterioration of their loved ones have a double burden to bear.

Now we want to hear your views.

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Trains affected by heavy rainfall A SERIES of landslides following heavy rain resulted in train services being cancelled and Renfe workers rushing to make repairs.

The rail line between Javea and Alcoy was found to have rocks and stones on the track, resulting in passengers being transferred to minibuses between the two towns.

The service resumed the following day although commuters claimed that during the closure they were left waiting on the Javea platform for the mini

bus for over an hour.

The same line recently suffered two other disruptions in its service following the failure of trains. The Ministry of Public Works is now debating the need to implement a modernisation plan.

In addition to the calls for an improvement in the train service and structures, the Popular Party has requested that a new road be built giving better access to the motorway from the station and the new proposed technology park project.

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LOST OPPORTUNITY: To access funding to help the long-term unemployed.

Council under fire about employment funding

By Caroline Tyszka THE Finestrat PSOE party has spoken out about the council not applying for government funding to help the unemployed. The Generalitat Valencia has several programmes that promote employment through SERVEF offering funding to help people seek work.

The lists of subsidies applied for and accepted has now been

published with the town of Finestrat not being included.

Shocked by this revelation the Socialists contacted the directorate general of employment and programmes for the government who confirmed the council had not applied for any of the programmes designed to promote employment.

The party has now accused the mayor of being more interested in opening new business-

Reservoir drought conditions ease off RIVERS, streams and watercourses, dry for the last three years, are flowing once again in inland Alicante Province areas.

Up to 140 millimetres of rain fell in Agres, L’Orxa and Beniarres and the cascade has returned to the l’Encanta stream in Planes. Thanks to Alcoy’s 80 millimetres, the River Molinar has water once more although its modest flow came from gullies draining into the river, not the subterranean spring that usually feeds it.

Alicante Province reservoirs have also felt the benefit of the recent rains – the most important so far this year although the increase in reserves has not been dramatic.

Beniarres now has 4.05 cubic hectometres compared with 3.28 cubic hectometres two weeks ago. Guadalest has improved from 2.13 to 2.32 cubic hectometres but there was no difference in the Amadorio dam in Villajoyosa where there is still only a minimal 0.6 cubic hectometres.

es and having his photograph taken rather than seeking funding. “This is a serious and intolerable discovery,” they said, “the town has lost a great opportunity to help find work for the long-term unemployed, with apathy and mismanagement seemingly the problem.”

Many other local towns applied including Sella who received €7,500 and Benidorm €33,200.

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No Brexit judgement BREXIT PAGE

By John Smith

MANY find it hard to understand why the government has allowed itself to fight the decision by the High Court to find in favour of the demand that it should put the decision to parliament to decide on whether or not to trigger Article 50 to start Britain’s exit from the European Union.

If Britain is a true democracy then it is argued that as MPs are elected to rule, then the very least that could happen in this scenario is for the matter of formal exit to be placed before Parliament.

The refusal by government to do this infers that it is not confident that it will receive the number of votes needed but it is impressive that the courts have become involved as it does show that the government can be held to account by an independent judiciary.

With both sides having stated their cases, the

judges in the Supreme Court have retired to make their decision although this is unlikely to be revealed until the new year. At the end of the four day hearing, one very important and salient point was made which should be obvious and that is that whatever decision is made, it will not automatically stop the exit, but will either give the government the right to proceed without bothering to put the decision to parliament or parliament will be entitled to vote on the matter.

The current working majority of the government is 14 seats and it would need every opposition party (except UKIP) to vote against the Brexit plus eight conservative defectors in order to defeat the motion although if the four Sinn Fein MPs who have never taken the oath of loyalty decided to sit in the Commons, then the matter would be even closer.

It is however unlikely that such an event would ever happen as on December 7, the Commons passed Labour’s motion calling for “the prime minister to commit to publishing the government’s plan for leaving the EU before Article 50 is invoked” by 448 to 75 votes – a majority of 373 – after it was amended by Downing Street to “call on the government to invoke Article 50 by 31 March 2017”.

Of the 75 opposing the vote, the bulk were represented by the SNP members plus 21 labour MPs with just one conservative, the voluble and pro-EU former cabinet minister Ken Clarke. It was something of a landmark in as much as it

marked the first time MPs had endorsed the government’s Brexit timetable Prime Minister Theresa May can expect a more gruelling time when she attends the European Council Summit on December 15 which amongst other matters will be reviewing Brexit.

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LORD NEUBERGER: President of the Supreme Court.

Photo Credit: Chensiyuan Wikimedia

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Ark will sail away from the city

By Eleanor Hawkins EL ARCA DE NOE, the Alicante City animal shelter which sparked controversy and political turmoil last week when the council’s Animal Protection department locked heads with the mayor over a proposed extension of its concession, will sail on to an as yet undisclosed destination.

Ahead of a council session on Tuesday (December 13) at which Mayor Gabriel Echavarri was expected to

Equality for Fiestas King A WOMAN can be one of the Three Wise Men, Denia Town Hall decided.

The Fiestas department originally refused to allow a female King in the traditional January 5 parade to celebrate the arrival of the Three Magi laden with presents.

In Denia one King customarily comes from a Moors or Christians company and, as explained in the Euro Weekly News last week, this year it fell to the Amazighs, an all-female company.

Their captain Maia Jose Lopez revealed that the Fiestas department told her: “This could challenge the credibility of a fiesta that is so important to children.”

Denia’s women’s association, Xarxa de Dones, reminded Denia Town Hall that by refusing to allow a woman to take on the role of King, the town hall was failing in its commitment towards equality.

On November 7, the council approved a motion to “encourage awareness, combat sexism in cultural activities and fiestas and eradicate sexual stereotypes,” the Xarxa recalled.

The Fiestas department has now backtracked and agreed that the Amazighs can decide who will take the part of the King and her attendants on the float.

lose his battle to allow the facility to remain, shelter manager Raul Merida announced that the ‘ark’ would continue, but in a different location.

“I’m not going because I want to, I’m going because I’m not

wanted here,” Merida stated.

He did, however, thank the mayor for his support following a visit to the facility on Sunday in spite of a protest held outside the doors.

“I have asked for time to

move the animals calmly and Echavarri has decided we have until May 31 to leave the premises,” the manager explained.

Merida said he was overwhelmed by the amount of

support received from many quarters and explained he had received thousands of messages and a call from popular animal TV show presenter Wild Frank offering to help move the animals.

Along with an offer from a private foundation in Elche, Arca de Noe has been approached by two town halls in the province interested in the shelter being moved onto their patches, Merida said.

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Photo credit: Oliva town hall.

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BUZZ OFF: Fumigators deal with the fleas.

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Fleas invade theatre

By Linda Hall OLIVA’S Olympia Theatre was fumigated after receiving complaints of fleabites.

Residents claimed they were bitten after visiting the theatre

and the town hall took action after photos appeared on the social media.

A specialist company was called in to fumigate the theatre which was closed for 12 hours but despite taking immediate

steps, Oliva’s Culture councillor Enric Escriva called for calm. The Olympia received its annual fumigation last June and like all municipal buildings was inspected in October, he said.

Meanwhile neither the town hall nor the theatre staff had received complaints, Escriva pointed out. A great many people visited the theatre and this was an isolated case, he said.

Several Oliva residents then announced that they, too,

had been bitten, prompting Escriva to admit that cleaning at the theatre “could be better” and the town hall was looking for ways to improve it.

Socialist councillor and spokesman Carlos Mengual claimed that the theatre has been in a lamentable state for a year and was not properly cleaned.

“The toilets are dirty, the damp attracts fleas and people say they have even seen cockroaches walk across,” he said.

THEATRE CLEANING: Could be better.

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Trophy hunters dump unwanted carcases THE Guardia Civil are looking for the killers of two mouflon found in Sax. The headless bodies of the wild sheep were dumped in the River Vinalopo and officers from the force’s Nature and Environment Protection unit are investigating whether the animals were killed by licensed hunters or poachers.

The day before the mouflon were found dozens of wild and Barbary sheep were killed in the Sierra de Biar during an au-

thorised cull supervised by the regional government.

It is customary for huntsmen to take heads as trophies but they are also responsible for paying to dispose of the carcases, which in this area are usually taken to Alcoy where they are used to feed a colony of vultures.

Possibly the hunter or hunters wanted to avoid this expense and now risk fines for anti-social conduct, Seprona suggested. Alternatively the mouflon – a male and a female each weighing more than 40 ki-

los – could have been shot by poachers.

A first-rate head with imposing horns can fetch up to €15,000 on the black market although the consequences are more serious, Seprona said, as poaching is classed as a crime incurring a hefty fine.

Dogs savagely attack man

Photo Rufus45

By Linda Hall

HEFTY FINES: Await poachers if caught.

Impossible deadline for competition TRADERS in San Vicente del Raspeig have complained that the deadline for submitting their stores window dressings was an almost impossible challenge.

Shops and restaurants interested in participating in the towns 21st Christmas win-

dow dressing contest had only five hours to submit their applications in the hope of winning the €2,500 first prize.

Carmen Escolano, councillor for the PP complained that the traders were the victims of the council’s inability to forward

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plan such an important event for the local businesses. Despite the short time period the councillor highlighted that “even with the difficulties many are participating in this event which tries to encourage purchases in local shops and restaurants.”

TWO dogs have attacked a man who was walking his own dog in Calpe.

The incident happened as the man from the Cucarres Urbanisation was passing by a villa at the foothills of the Serra d’Oltà.

The property, which only had a low wall, housed two aggressive and possibly dangerous breed dogs, which upon seeing the walker ’s dog jumped the wall and went into attack mode.

The man stood between the attacking dogs and his own to defend him receiving several bites to his arm.

Fortunately a neighbour heard the commotion and called the Guardia Civil who attended within minutes. The officers managed to separate the attacking

dogs from their victim and identified the violent animals as being the breed Fila Brasileiro, which in Spain is considered potentially dangerous.

It took the officers several hours to locate the owners who were instructed to keep the animals locked up until an investigation determined what the next step should be.

Regulations state that potentially dangerous dogs, such as this breed, must be enrolled in a specific municipal registry of breeds of risk. Their owners must take out liability insurance and they are prohibited from allowing them loose in public places.

The victim required several stitches for the deep bites and his dog also required treatment.

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Right person for the job A BENIDORM Town Hall probe into employees’ contracts revealed that all those examined were flawed.

Of the 86 work contracts extended since the 80s, 76 were still valid and when auditors scrutinised 30 chosen at random they found irregularities in every one of them.

Based on these initial findings the town council voted to analyse the remaining 40 contracts which also turned out to be flawed.

Common defects included an absence of any selection test, selection tests not involving the functions required for the post and contracts based

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IRREGULATIES: Most town hall workers are on ‘flawed’ contracts. on a written report from department heads. Temporary contracts were extended so many times that they became permanent, the audit discovered.

Faced with these multiple irregularities the town hall must now decide what to do with the 76 municipal workers, most of whom are on indefinite contracts.

The report indicated that the anomalies were sufficient to invalidate the contracts but recommended improving the processes for selecting personnel. It also pointed out that although the rules for taking on staff were different in the private sector, there was a Constitutional mandate “requiring jobs to be advertised, open to all and based on merit and ability.”

Asbestos threatens animal shelter ROOFING that contains asbestos is still in use at Benidorm’s municipal animal shelter An inspection found that 850 square metres of corrugated roofing contained the now-banned building material, prompting the Compromis-Los Verdes party to call for its immediate removal.

Radical action was essential because the health of the animals and the volunteers who look after them is at risk from a substance that can cause serious lung disease, said the party’s spokesman Josep Bigorra.

Town hall spokesman Jose Ramon Gonzalez de Zarate admitted that he was aware of the results of the inspection at the shelter, which receives an annual subsidy of €30,000.

There were no people in the area adjoining the shelter, said De Zarate who added that the cost of removing the roofing was not yet known.

The town hall has already removed asbestos roofing from the municipal store and Vasco Nuñez de Balboa school is next in line. Strictly speaking, this is the responsibility of the regional government, but the council plans to eliminate the roofing there before the end of the year, De Zarate announced.

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Photo credit: Caroline Tyszka.

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DOCKING STATIONS: Total renovation for Benidorm installations and bikes.

Piggybacking on bike share scheme

By Linda Hall BENIDORM is signing agreements with neighbouring towns to extend its bicycle hire service throughout the area.

With Finestrat, La Nucia, Villajoyosa and Alfaz del Pi joining the scheme, Benidorm will be at the heart of the interchange system, said town hall spokesman Jose Ramon Gonzalaz de Zarate.

“Bicycles from these towns can also be used here, as already happens with Altea and its BiciAltea facility.”

Bicidorm bicycles and those from other municipalities cost €4.55 a day, €10 per week and €20

Pride matter JOSEP BIGORRA, CompromisLos Verdes spokesman, called for a member of Benidorm Residents Committee to resign.

The member in question criticised Bigorra’s absence from the town’s Constitution Day events, commenting that “the councillor, whose wages we pay, apparently does not like the Constitution very much.”

He went on to complain: “A councillor who makes a great fuss over demanding respect for his pride today failed to respect the pride of being Spanish.”

These comments were homophobic, objected Bigorra, who requested the Committee member be reprimanded and asked him to make a public apology at the next meeting before resigning.

for a month’s hire. An annual season ticket costs €30 and is valid for all participating towns but the advantages do not end there, De Zarate continued.

The season tickets can also be used by visitors from towns and cities throughout Spain that share the same share system.

Benidorm’s 22 docking stations are undergoing total renovation while bicycles that are more than two years old are being substituted and the remainder serviced. The familiar white bikes have undergone a colour change and are now bright blue.

The town hall also plans to incorporate 150 new bicycles and 12 more docking stations, De Zarate announced.

Alarm system THE Red Cross no longer provides Alicante Diputacion’s emergency home alarm service for the elderly and disabled.

Last June the Diputacion awarded an annual €1.671 million Teleasistencia contract to Atienza, a Madrid-based company specialising in home care, whose tender was cheaper than those of the Red Cross or Ilunion Sociosanitario.

The Red Cross challenged this decision, claiming this was based on economic criteria while its own offer was technically superior. Although the NGO lost its appeals against the Diputacion’s decision, Atienza did not begin providing the Teleasistencia service

until last month.

The Diputacion has also introduced changes in the 24hour alarm system whose users are put in direct and immediate contact with help in an emergency.

In 2017 the age limit will be lowered from 70 to 65 for the elderly and 60 for the disabled.

Maximum income has also been stepped up from €931 a month to €1,224.

The Diputacion now provides Teleasistencia for more than 12,200 people in Alicante Province although this is the regional government’s responsibility, said Miguel Zaragoza who heads the Diputacion’s Health department.

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NEWS

Advertising feature

Contesting and disputing a Spanish Will following European regulation DEAR readers, Our law firm frequently receives petitions enquiring how to contest a Spanish Will.

We have dealt with many of these kinds of court cases. Recently, following the advent of regulation 650/2012 coming into effect, the scenario has changed dramatically.

For any death which took place before the August 17, 2015, to which the European regulation 650/2012 is not applicable, it was possible to claim Spanish Inheritance Rules. Considering the inheritance of a British citizen, this meant children could contest the Will and claim for two-thirds of the estate, if the British national was domiciled in Spain and had all his/her real estate assets in Spain.

This is because normally the English, Scottish, etc. laws defer to Spanish law under the doctrine of renvoi, as the law that

should govern the succession.

However, following the European regulation 650/2012 coming into effect, any death that takes place on or from August 17, 2015, in order to contest the Will it is vital to determine when the Spanish Will was granted if you wish to contest it.

If the Spanish Will was granted before the August 17, 2015, article 83 will apply (transitional provisions), and its provisions will normally be respected, as long as they are valid as per the rules of private international law which were in force at the time, etc.

If the Spanish Will was granted on or after August 17, 2015, the law of habitual residency of the deceased will apply unless they have expressly opted for his/her national law to apply to the inheritance on the Will.

Therefore, now and after the Regulation 650/2012 became applicable, it is highly

relevant to know when the Will was signed, if it is to be contested. This could determine the applicable law in relation to the inheritance, and therefore if we could contest the Will, for example applying Spanish Inheritance laws that would see the children being forced heirs, even if they had been excluded.

If you want any further information regarding contesting a Will or to avoid your Will being possibly contested, contact us, we will help you. The information provided in this article is not intended to be legal advice, but merely conveys general information related to legal issues.

Carlos Baos (Lawyer) Spanish Law firm solicitor attorney barrister.

Alicante, Denia, Costa Blanca Marina Alta White & Baos 2016 All rights reserved

FINANCE

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

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Chancellor Philip Hammond delivered his first Autumn Statement on 23rd November. It was the first budget after the Brexit vote but does not provide many clues as to what a post-EU world will look like and there were no reactionary tax reforms. There were, in fact, few significant changes which will affect expatriates.

One interesting change going forward is that this will be the last “Autumn Statement”.

The 2017 Spring Budget will also be the last spring one. After that the Chancellor intends to deliver a single budget every autumn. This should mean there are less tax changes in a year, and that they are announced well in advance of the new tax year. Finance Bills will be released after the autumn budget.

Tax rates The personal allowance will be £11,500 for the 2017/18 tax year, rising to £12,500 by the end of this parliament.

In the 2020s it will automatically increase in line with inflation.

The higher income tax threshold will be £45,000 in 2017/18, rising to £50,000 by the end of parliament.

The ISA limit increases from £15,200 to £20,000 in April 2017.

Remember, ISAs are not tax free in Spain. Once you have ceased to be UK

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The UK Autumn Statement

By Brett Hanson, Partner, Blevins Franks tax resident, you can no longer add to these investments.

Pensions Changes were announced in respect of the tax treatment of foreign pensions. The UK will extend its “taxing rights over recently emigrated non-UK residents’ foreign lump sum payments from funds that

have had UK tax relief”. It appears that, if you have a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS), you will need to submit UK tax returns for payments for 10 years instead of the current five. If you are resident in Spain, under the double tax treaty with the UK, taxing rights fall to your country of residence, so you will not pay more tax.

For UK residents, the tax treatment of foreign pensions will be more closely aligned with domestic pensions. This probably means the 10% discount on foreign pension income for UK income tax purposes will be lost.

The Money Purchase Annual Allowance will be reduced from £10,000 to £4,000 in April 2017.

This is the amount of tax-relieved pension contributions you can make

if you have already accessed a pension flexibly.

The pension ‘triple lock’, whereby the state pension rises annually by the highest of inflation, earnings growth or 2.5%, will remain in place for the rest of this parliament. But the Chancellor hinted it may then be scrapped, saying the government will need to tackle the challenges of rising longevity and fiscal sustainability.

UK residential property All UK residential property will be exposed to UK inheritance tax from 6th April 2017, regardless of the structure it is held in.

The Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings charges will rise in line with inflation.

Non-domiciles The new 15 out of 20 year rule will apply from 6th April 2017.

This means that non-UK domiciles

living in the UK will become deemed UK domiciled two years faster than at present, exposing their worldwide assets, income and gains to UK taxation.

If you think you could be affected by any of these measures, seek personalised advice from a professional who can guide you on both UK and Spanish tax and the interaction between the two regimes.

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

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

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FEATURE

A Christmas Tale from Tuscany

By Dario Poli THE plane landed with a soft bump at Pisa airport. I disembarked and was met by a tall blonde Italian friend by the name of Giovanni. His good looks, striking blue eyes and tall posture, reminded me more of an upstanding German officer, than the traditional stereotype view of an Italian.

He greeted me warmly, confirming the various holiday arrangements he had made for my Christmas break in Tuscany. Once settled in his Alfa Romeo, with typical Italian verve, we sped rapidly out of the airport, passing the famous leaning tower and its cathedral, and headed, via an excellent motorway, into the open country, towards our final destination, the popular ski-resort of Abetone situated high in the snow-capped Apennines.

To reach the resort we had to traverse through the wonderful rocky countryside of Garfagnana. Crossed by the river Serchio, Garfagnana stretches out amongst rugged hills and richly wooded valleys.

Though I was familiar with this region of Tuscany, Giovanni opened my eyes to the many varied local

Christmas traditions, whilst driving at enormous speed, one hand casually on the steering wheel, the other, pointing out places of special historical interest to his petrified passenger.

He navigated the car with consummate skill, racing along the much narrower winding roads as we headed towards Upper Garfagnana and the dramatic snow-capped peaks of the Apuan Alps, alluringly visible in the distance.

Near Borgo Mozzano, we saw the spectacular Maddalena Bridge known as the Devil’s bridge because of its peculiar arch shape. In the middle valley of the river Serchio, nature offered us a superb show, as the road runs along the river for a while amongst chestnut groves and lush green valleys which abound, even in winter. We stopped for an espresso at Bagni di Lucca, a secluded paradise surrounded by hills and woods known as the ‘Land of princes and poets,’ due to its popularity with local and foreign poets including Byron, Lamartine, Heine and Shelly who came for inspiration and to enjoy the thermal waters in well run ‘health giving’ establishments.

Re-invigorated by the coffee, it was time to move on. Giovanni was determined to reach the ancient fortress town of Castelnuovo by the afternoon. Passing through many picturesque villages, I was finally deposited at a small hotel in the town and my dashing driver left me, with instructions to be ready for collection M ad da len a Br id ge wi early next morning, th its pe cu lia r ar ch sh ap e. which was Christmas Eve. served in a time capsule undisturbed Giovanni arrived on the dot, and medieval design. by the touch of man. took me on a winding drive up the Two large fierce-looking mules We climbed steadily upwards mountain and after one hour, he had observed our intrusion into their along a narrow muddy well-worn stopped at a lake, then led me on a world. With considerable resentment pathway in the forest for about half hike up a steep hill towards a small they jointly insisted in directing their an hour, breathing the intoxicating unnamed hamlet of about 40 houses, attentions on the impudent strangers perfume of fresh pine and sucking in perched like an eagle’s nest on a by making a beeline rapidly towards the biting pure mountain air, with the plateau high above us. us, their intentions unmistakably hosfirst falling snowflakes lightly caressIt was built in Roman times and tile. Just before impact they were ing our cheeks. was occupied by poor farmers until stopped in their tracks by a piercing Out of breath and gasping, we 1950, when they abandoned their whistle. There stood the figure of Silgratefully found ourselves standing homes in the Italian exodus to find vio, our saviour. on a narrow plateau about 200 metres prosperity in the United States. Now wide in front of an ancient church of all were empty. Locked and prePart 2 is in next week’s Euro Weekly

NEWS

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NEWS EXTRA

Shops close THE Ondara Town Council has agreed with the Marina shopping centre and large food stores they will close seven of the 18 Sunday holidays in 2017. Three Easter Sundays and the last in August are agreed.

Charity run TERRA MITICA hosted a charity fun run to raise funds for Caritas. Around 400 adults and 500 children participated, enjoying inflatables, workshops and some of the rides.

Hot chocolate and a raffle helped raise funds.

Store success THE new Leroy Merlin store opened its doors to a queue of people wanting to take advantage of first day offers. The opening ceremony was attended by Juan Francisco Perez, mayor of Finestrat and the CEO of Leroy Merlin Spain.

Sixty years on

By Linda Hall IN 1956, the US decided to build an Air Force base at the highest point on Aitana.

The result of the bilateral agreement between Spain and the US, construction began the following year and was completed in 1960.

Three years later the base in the mountain village of Alcoleja, was handed over to Spain.

This reminder of the Cold War was closed 10 years ago although its radar towers still control air traffic and belong to the EVA early warning system.

Coinciding with the feast day of the Virgen del Loreto, patroness of the Spanish Air Force, military and civil authorities recently visited Alcoleja to commemorate the base’s 60th anniversary.

In his speech to the visitors and residents, Alcoleja mayor Francisco Fenollar

AITANA BASE: Radar towers still control air traffic. recalled that the base brought a social and economic revolution. It also brought work to the area and the population - now 191 according to the 2014

census - increased to more than 1,000.

“The base supported local families and the village supplied the human touch,” Fenollar said.

Alcoleja now looks to the future, the mayor added, expressing the village’s hopes that a socio-economic use can be found for the abandoned base.

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Supermarket is the future THE Mercadona supermarket chain plans to build its principal logistics centre in Sagunto (Valencia).

The supermarket chain has spent €24 million on a 358,270metre plot in Parc Sagunt, originally designed as one of the largest industrial parks in Europe but only partially finished.

Once built the centre will supply all Mercadona depots throughout the country with the products, regardless of origin or final destination, that are sold in the supermarkets.

The chain has not announced when building is due to begin or when the centre will open although work is expected to be carried out parallel to developing the site and constructing a railway link.

“I’m convinced this will attract many more investors,” said local mayor Quico Fernandez.

“Now we’ll progress from the virtual to the real and what’s more with Mercadona, Valencia’s most important company.”

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NEWS

PUBLIC TRANSPORT: Will be free in the run up to Christmas and the New Year.

Free Christmas bus service

By Caroline Tyszka FOR the second year running Alcoy Town Council are running a free travel on Saturday’s campaign.

Every Saturday in the run up to Christmas and the New Year all of the town’s buses will offer free journeys to the public. This means that on 17, 24 and 31 December passengers will travel without cost.

The measure aims to facilitate access to different areas of the town using public transport and therefore reduce the use of

private vehicles.

It is hoped that the campaign will encourage the use of public transport and attract more users.

Jordi Martinez, councillor for Mobility, said: “On Saturdays, the bus is free. The measure is in addition to the various actions we are doing to promote the use of public transport in Alcoy. Christmas is a time of shopping and increased traffic, this scheme involves less use of cars and better use of public transport, promoting the environment and reducing traffic in our town.”

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NEWS

Honouring volunteers

LA NUCIA: Volunteers with their mitten gifts.

By: Caroline Tyszka THE work of the La Nucia social volunteers was celebrated during a special event marking International Volunteer Day. The town’s 50 volunteers attended the ceremony at the La Casilla social centre for the elderly. Following a reading of the manifesto for volunteers each person was presented with

a gift recognising the selfless work that they do.

The volunteers, made up of different ages and nationalities, collaborate weekly with the Social Welfare and Senior Citizens department of the town hall to organise activities and events to help others. This can be working at the food bank, holding craft workshops, organ-

ising the Christmas fair and intergenerational activities.

Beatriz Pérez-Hickman, councillor for Social Welfare, praised the volunteers who help others without asking for anything in return. She said: “With this tribute we wanted to publicly thank the work of our 50 social volunteers, caring people who want to help the neediest.”

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NEWS EXTRA

Ho ho heist FOUR men wearing Santa Claus costumes burst into a Valencia City Apple distributor where they seized large numbers of iPads.

They fled in the direction of the A-3 motorway in a stolen BMW X5.

Rock star THE Marina Alta is one of the world’s most photographed places, according to Google’s Sightsmap, a heatmap that is overlaid on Google Maps to reveal the world’s most-photographed locations.

Out of season DESPITE fewer jelly fish this summer, hundreds of ‘mauve stingers’ were washed up on Javea’s Arenal beach recently, brought in by storms. Higher sea temps and nutrients in the water have kept them there.

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Written in sand

By Linda Hall AN information panel will give details of a Civil War machine gun nest on Benidorm’s Levante beach near El Torrejo.

Illustrated with photographs of the remains, the panel will explain that the tides and sea currents uncover th es e at ce rta in time s o f the ye a r.

They are visible at present and the Historic Heritage department recently removed more sand so that what is left of the bunker can be documented and photographed.

This demonstrated that the PSOE spokesman Ruben Martinez was mista k en w h e n h e cla ime d tha t the bunker was destroyed when an access ramp was built, declared Historic Heritage councillor Ana Pellicer.

The ramp between the beach and El Torrejo was built with Coastal Authority permission and replaced an older structure that was in bad condition and had been closed off years ago, Pellicer explained.

“We knew that the ramp would not a ffec t th e ma c h in e g u n ne s t,” s he said. “Martinez would also have had

UNCOVERED: Remains of Civil War bunker this information if he had asked before raising the alarm and spreading rumours on the social media.”

Another panel will be placed be-

side the still-intact Civil War bunker situated at the far end of the beach in the R incon de Loi x, Pel l i cer announced.

NEWS

Motorway to be revamped THE Alicante-Villena 3 Platform is seeking political, social and corporate support for its call to revamp the A-31 motorway.

Improvements approved by the Ministry of Public Works nine years ago have not materialised although the AlicanteMadrid motorway needs a third lane in each direction, maintains the Platform.

State investment is necessary to redesign the A-31 “once and for all” and add the third lane, declared Elda councillor Francisco Sanchez Martinez who heads the area’s Ciudadanos party. “It’s time for all Alto and Medio Vinalopo towns to work together and leave aside political considerations,” Sanchez said.

The A-31 was not purposebuilt but is the result of adding two lanes to the old N-330, creating hazards in some sections.

The Alicante-Villena stretch has more traffic than any other motorway in Spain, with a daily average of 60,000 vehicles.

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SOCIAL NEWS Photo Credit Geoff Farrimond

James Shearer 1955 - 2016

By Caroline Tyszka THE Costa Blanca community has said farewell to James Shearer, who sadly lost his battle with cancer on Wednesday December 7 at the age of 61.

James, probably better known as Scottish Jimmy, lived in La Nucia but was also a worldwide traveller as director for the Sukier Model Agency.

Owning his own restaurant in Finestrat for some years with his husband Sukier Vallejo Marte he also worked closely with many of the town halls organising international modelling events.

Jimmy was laid to rest at the Villajoyosa crematorium on Thursday December 8 with many of his closest friends attending.

The model agency issued

JOINT FESTIVITIES: The concert will include a feast of Christmas songs.

Choirs unite in Orba VALLEY VOICES are pleased to announce that they will be joining forces with the Cor d’Orba for a concert full of festive music.

The concert will take place on Sunday December 18 at 1pm in the beautiful church in the Orba square, Iglesia da la Natividad del Señor de Orba.

So come along and join them for a feast of Christmas songs to get you in a merry mood.

There is no entry charge but raffle tickets will be available for the chance to win a prize. So no bah humbug here just music to give you cheer!

Valley Voices are kindly sponsored by Garcia Villas.

CHUMS Christmas party fun LOST BATTLE: James sadly passed away. a statement which read: “James Campbell Walker Shearer was more than a director and founder, he was

the stability of the group for more than 15 years and we have suffered an irreparable loss.”

ON Friday December 2 Chums (friends of charity) held a Christmas party at the Peppermill in Benidorm and they invited HELP International, Benidorm to join in the fun.

Everyone had a superb meal and enjoyed the entertainment afterwards by ZODIAC.

There was dancing and even some carols which they all enjoyed singing along to. It is safe to say a good time was had by all.

If anyone would like further information about either group please call Marilyn on 965 864 394.

SOCIAL NEWS

www.euroweeklynews.com

Father Christmas is paying MABS a visit

By Caroline Tyszka VOLUNTEERS at the MABS c e n t r e i n L a Ca la Finestrat are making their final preparations for a very special visitor.

Father Christmas is squeez i n g i n a t r i p t o th e charity shop on December 17 to give presents to the children before returning to the North Pole for his busiest week of the year.

Children up to the age of 10 will receive a free gift from Santa whilst their parents can browse around the shop and enjoy the festive atmosphere.

Gift giving will be between 11.30am and 1.30pm with sweets, cakes and drinks also available. Louie the Clown will be entertaining the children with balloon m o d e l l i n g a n d p late spinning lessons.

SPECIAL VISITOR: Santa will stop off at the MABS Centre.

Staff at the shop will be in fancy dress and hope that as many children as possible can attend this fun afternoon.

The MABS Centre is dire c tly oppos ite the new Leroy Merlin store on Ave nida de Fine s tra t 6.

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SOCIAL NEWS

U3A Vall Del Pop: 2017 speakers • JANUARY meeting - Dementia Risk Reduction Polivalent, Murla - January 12, 2017 Dementia researchers agree that if the onset of dementia could be delayed within 20 years, the number of people living with dementia could fall by almost 30 per cent.

There is cautious optimism that these decreases are already happening in developed societies, with reports from Sweden, UK, Spain and the US suggesting substantial reductions of the dementia burden.

How good is this evidence and why should it be happening? Lawrence Whalley, MD, FRCP(E), FRCPsych, Professor Emeritus of Mental Health at the University of Aberdeen, UK, will be talking about mental health and particularly dementia.

• February meeting – United Nations Mr Robert van de Loo

will be talking about his work with the UN. • March meeting – No speaker as this is the Annual General Meeting • April Meeting – Spanish Taxes Mr Daniel Herrenz will be talking about many aspects of Spanish taxes.

• May Meeting – Working with BOAC/BA Ms Lorraine Bellami will be recounting tales of her experiences and places visited.

U3A stands for the University Of The Third Age and is about learning for pleasure and meeting likeminded people in a friendly atmosphere to share knowledge and interests.

The word ‘university’ is used in the original sense of the word, ‘a community of people sharing knowledge’.

The group draws upon the knowledge, experience and skills of its members to establish interest groups, with 45 groups currently active

JANUARY SPEAKER: Lawrence Whalley. on a weekly or monthly basis.

The groups include:

Leisure pursuits – casual choir, dining experience, wine tasting.

Skills – digital photography, mosaics, flower arranging.

Educational – Spanish conversation, bridge, Egyptology, creative writing.

Active pursuits – ballroom dancing, line dancing, Thursday explorers, mountain walking.

Events and trips – organised throughout the year.

There are many many more groups awaiting you to join.

Members enjoy these opportunities whilst raising money for local charities.

All this for a yearly membership fee of only a few euros! New members are always welcome.

U3A Vall del Pop holds its general meetings on the first Thursday of the month at the Polivalent, Murla.

See their website http://u3avalldelpop.com for further details.

Forthcoming Events December 15, 2016: Christmas party time at

Castelvi – get into the Christmas spirit and dance the night away with good food and excellent company.

December 19, 2016: Film ‘Florence Foster Jenkins,’ Parcent.

January 12, 2017: General meeting - Speaker Lawrence Whalley on Dementia Risk Reduction January 27, 2017: Benidorm Palace, hotel and show February 2, 2017: General meeting - Speaker Robert van Loo on his work with the United Nations February 8, 2017: 10th anniversary fun quiz at Los Amigos March 2, 2017: Annual General Meeting March 20, 2017: Sangreal Tour, Aragon April 6, 2017: General meeting - Speaker Daniel Herrenz on Spanish Taxes May 4, 2017: General meeting - Speaker Lorraine Bellami on working with BOAC/BA

SOCIAL NEWS

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GLORIOUS CELEBRATION: Carol service in Gandia.

The joy of Christmas AS Christmas fast approaches, the Church of England here in Spain celebrates the wonderful story, but always mindful of those for whom loneliness and anxiety will mark the occasion.

The church family supports a number of worthy causes, and at this time of year the families cared for

by EMAUS, the vulnerable men sheltered by the Franciscan brothers near Gandia, and the many families fed by the foodbanks along the coast benefit particularly.

A glorious carol service was held in the Borja Palace in Gandia. The service was led by Father Marcus and the U3A choir led by Philip Ashley sang some carols. It was another full house and everyone enjoyed themselves (especially the mulled wine, mince pies and stollen after the service).

There are two carol services still to come before the Christmas day worship: • El Campello Carol Service, December 17, 4.30pm.

At the delightful church of Coveta Fuma. With a seasonal drink to follow nearby. A wonderful opportunity to share the celebration.

• Albir Carol Service at the Church, December 19, 4pm.

This will be preceded by Christmas lunch At Brisa del Mar Restaurant in Albir.

Details from Elaine on 966 864 962, mobile 636 164 467 or Hazel on 966 895 306, mobile 659 018 400.

• Javea Midnight Mass, December 24 2016, 11.30pm.

The first service of Christmas Day is the traditional midnight Mass, in the beautiful Ermita, on the Jesus Pobre Road out of Javea.

• Christmas Day Services, December 25 2016, 9.45am.

On this very special day communion services will be held at each of our churches at our regular Sunday service times: Albir 9.45am, Javea 9.45am, Calpe 10.30am, Denia 11.45am, El Campello, Gandia and La Fustera, 12 noon.

The church looks forward

to welcoming you, as we celebrate together the birth of our Lord.

• Denia carols by the market, every Monday, 11am.

We are singing carols at the Monday market in Denia, from 11am-1pm each Monday until December 19.

For location and directions see the church’s website www.costablanca-angli canchaplaincy.org/and click the ‘Churches and Services’ button, and then the relevant church tab.

The Costa Blanca Anglican Chaplaincy serves the community from Valencia to Alicante with services in eight different towns. For services in the southern Costa Blanca (as far south as La Manga and Hondon de las Nieves) visit the site of the neighbouring chaplaincy www.c-of-e-torrevie ja.com.

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ALFAZ DEL PI /

Expats get f

Getting into the festive spirit THE Al f az del Pi coff ee l adi es donned t hei r best f r ocks f or t hei r annual Chr i st m as par t y at Br ew Rock in Altea at the weekend.

Over 20 members of the ‘ m or ni ng m i ss- chi ef s –

l adi es coff ee m or ni ng’ group joined in the festive f un. Wi t h a t hr ee- cour se m eal and wi ne f l owi ng freely it wasn’t long before they were all up dancing to the music supplied by John the Fiddler.

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/ ALBIR

festive

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NEWS

Network to bridge the gap

By Linda Hall LIKE other town halls throughout Europe, Alfaz is submitting an Integrated Sustainable Urban Development (EDUSI) request to Brussels.

The PSOE-PSPV and Ciudadanos parties voted in favour of making the application which it is hoped will bring in cash from the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). Canviem and the Partido Popular voted against it.

The hoped for grant would be used to create a network of paths and corridors for pedes-

The group meet up every Monday at midday at the Alfaz del Pi train station bar with old and new members of any nationality welcome to attend although the main lan g u a g e sp o k e n is English.

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EDUSI REQUEST: Town hall votes to apply for EU cash. trians and cyclists to solve the problems caused by the distance that separates Alfaz and

Albir, explained town hall spokesman and Town Planning councillor Toni Such.

The Town Planning, Environment and Local Development departments have been

working for months on the project which foresees an investment of €8.6 million, half of which would come from Brussels.

“By consulting the local population we were able to pinpoint the municipality’s significant features, its assets, weaknesses, hazards, strengths and opportunities,” Such said.

“Using this information enabled the town hall to identify priorities and produce a plan of action for the EDUSI application. We believe that economic help of this kind will generate investment in the town and a multitude of jobs,” he added.

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NEWS

Homeowners wary of sewage project

By Linda Hall AFTER more than 30 years of requests the Rio Park residential area in Muchamiel will have main drainage. The €2.4 million cost must be met by the owners of homes and plots in Rio Park, Urban Development councillor Jose Antonio Bermejo explained. Nevertheless, he continued, the town hall intends to seek outside funding so residents do not have to meet the entire cost.

The Rio Park main drainage system has been included in the town’s application for EU funding under the Integrated Sustainable Urban Develop-

ment (EDUSI) plan, Bermejo revealed.

The town hall will now establish norms to work out how much each owner should be charged. Rio Park residents are “worried, wary and on tenterhooks,” said Jose Molina, president of the Rio Park Residents Association. Many suspect the project was intended to benefit the company running the local aerodrome and only the primary network of sewage pipes would be laid.

Molina met Muchamiel mayor Sebastian Cañadas and asked that main drainage reached Rio Park’s 500 homes before the system was extended to the airfield.

Starting far too young APPROXIMATELY 340 minors in Alicante Province were taken to A & E with alcohol poisoning over the last year.

Their average age was 13 although there were also cases of eight-year-olds, according to the regional government’s Health department. There were more boys than girls – 58 per cent compared to 42

per cent - and emergencies invariably occurred over the weekend.

Health experts warned that society was lowering its guard regarding alcohol and the young. “Some adults will buy the alcohol for minors and there are shops that sell to them directly,” said Francisco Juan, director of the Aepa

Foundation which runs the Valencian Community’s addiction rehab centres.

“At present both cases are liable to fines but if these were really heavy perhaps people would think twice before doing it,” Juan continued.

“There should be public commitment as there is as regards smoking.”

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TEULADA MORAIRA

NEWS

Region set to host 2017 La Vuelta Experts share their expertise

NAIRO QUINTANA: In the Javea-Calpe time trial.

the Provisional Government Cesar Sanchez announced that Orihuela will host one of the two planned stages in the region. In order for the riders to reach the top of the Cumbre del Sol they will have to pass through the four towns and possibly more.

The La Vuelta is an ideal platform to help publicise and promote tourism within the region. One initiative for Teulada-Moraira was watched by more than five million viewers in Spain and also seen in more than 50 countries.

The Spanish round of the race will start on August 19 and finish on September 10.

FIFTEEN people aged between nine and 50 recently took part in Teulada-Moraira’s Fourth Local Theatre Meeting.

The series of workshops organised by Teulada’s Theatre School and the town hall set out to demonstrate that plays and drama are year-round activities not restricted to World Theatre Day. This year’s meeting brought together drama professionals and amateurs from all over the region, giving them the opportunity to learn different techniques.

Theatre School teacher Rosa Catalan coordinated the event and organised the four workshops given by Hugo Renaerts (Clown), Toni Fern (Words in action), Olga Mata (The art of comedy) and Daniel (Synchronisation).

This year’s edition of the Theatre Meeting was so successful that another is planned for 2017 with the addition of a master class suggested by this year’s participants.

Signed, sealed and ready for delivery Photo credit: Teulada-Moraira town hall

DETAILS of the 2017 La Vuelta bike race are to be formally announced in January although it has been surmised that some of the region’s towns are on the route.

The official announcement of the race route is due to be made at a gala on January 12 at the Palacio Municipal de Congresos in Madrid and will be televised live.

The 21 stages of the 72nd edition in Spain will include Calpe, Benissa, TeuladaMoraira and Benitachell.

During a normal meeting with the Provincial Council of Alicante the president of

EDUSI PLAN: Juan Bautista Rosello (l) and Carlos Linares (r) sign the application.

TEULADA-MORAIRA mayor Carlos Linares has put the finishing touches to the town’s application for European Union funds.

Together with Juan Bautista Rosello, mayor of neighbouring Benissa, he has now signed the two towns’ joint Integrated Sustainable Urban Development (EDUSI) plan.

The signed document will be sent to Brussels where, if the application is successful,

the towns will receive a €4.8 million grant under the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER).

This will be used to invest in sustainable mobility, green areas, energy efficiency, new technology, social inclusion and the towns’ historic and cultural assets.

If the Teulada-Benissa is not chosen in the upcoming round of grant allocations, another application will be made next year.

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

JAVEA - XABIA

EWN

39

NEWS

Open air carol singing at Javea port SHOPS are stocked with turron, glace fruits, tangerines, mince pies, Christmas chocolate and Christmas cards. The season is upon us when we celebrate the birth of Jesus and families, traditions and celebration are at the fore.

Traditional carol singing takes place all over the world and Javea is no exception. The tradition of singing open air carols continues and will take place at 12 noon on Friday December 23 at Javea Port (opposite the Miramar Hotel).

You are invited to wear read and join Javea International Baptist Church to celebrate Christmas singing carols both

December 18 and a Christmas Day Service on Sunday December 25, both at 10.30am.

Javea International Baptist Church is lively and has many other activities available every week including a walking group on Tuesdays and the

CHRISTMAS ATMOSPHERE: At the traditional open air carol singing event. traditional and new.

Bring your family, friends and neighbours, enjoy a coffee or hot chocolate at one of the nearby cafes and join in singing

carols old and new to get into the real spirit of Christmas.

Javea International Baptist Church is an English speaking church situated in the pueblo

just up from the main underground car park. The Sunday Service is at 10.30am.

There will be a Carol service at the Church Centre on Sunday

Place For Friendship cafe on Thursdays (market day) where you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with cake and biscuits.

Visit www.javeabaptist.es for directions and more information on all activities and events or call 965 795 847.

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E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

JAVEA Tots town hall visit FIVE-YEAR-OLDS from the Graull school in Javea visited their town hall recently.

They are currently learning about different jobs and professions at school and the visit was arranged so that they could meet the local mayor, Jose Chulvi. To find out more about what his work entailed the children were shown round the council chamber and afterwards visited the mayor’s office where Chulvi explained the work that he has to do each day.

Javea U3A Christmas Extravaganza MORE than 300 members enjoyed Javea U3A’s annual Christmas Extravaganza at the Parador Hotel on Wednesday November 30.

The festive frolics always attract an enthusiastic turnout and this year was no exception with a record number defying the wet weather and having organisers rushing about searching for extra seats to accommodate everyone!

The show included the usual miscellany of music, mayhem and mickey-taking provided by various members of the U3A committee and other willing fellow U3A participants.

It all began with the Costa Blanca Male Voice Choir giv-

FESTIVE FROLICS: The cast of Robin Hood and his Merry Men. ing its usual polished performance of Christmas songs, followed by the U3A’s own guitar group demonstrating their continually improving skills –

group leader Phil Shepherd and his wife Jean really are bringing the best out of their students!

Then it was the ‘panto’ high-

light of the day (oh, yes it was!) – the Extravaganza itself. This year regular director/choreographer Sally Wells presented her own version of Robin Hood and his Merry Men, starring Jackie Heaton as principal boy Robin and Mike Frost as the beautiful (ha! ha!) unshaven Maid Marion.

Backed by Paul Wessendorff’s excellent band of guitarists and singers, the show went down a storm and the easily-satisfied audience showed their obvious appreciation by cheering loudly and demanding an encore … probably egged on by the promise of complimentary mince pies and sherry!

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

EWN

41

Collecting gifts

- XABIA

NEWS

VIP makes brief stopover FATHER CHRISTMAS will be making two flying visits to Javea this year to pick up the youngest residents’ letters.

He makes his first stop today, Thursday December 15, in Arenal at 4pm where, accompanied by one of his elves, he can be found beside the Christmas tree on Paseo Tenista David Ferrer.

He returns tomorrow, December 16, at 10.30am in the Plaza de la Iglesia in the old town where the Christmas tree has been set up. The afternoon sees him at Duanas port area where he is due to arrive at 5pm and again he and his elf attendant will be easily spotted beside the Christmas tree there.

YEARLY DATE: Javea children make their requests.

SPECSAVERS OPTICAS in Javea and Calpe have a long standing relationship with The Friends of the Children of EMAUS, joining forces with them back in 2011 to provide free eye tests and glasses for their children. They are supporting them once again, by being part of their drive to collect gifts for the children in the home.

Christmas is a particularly difficult time for these vulnerable children, so this campaign will fill a Santa’s sack with presents for each of the 100 children in the EMAUS homes, to really brighten up their Christmas and put a smile on their faces. They are asking for CDs, toiletries, games, school stationery and other school equipment, gloves, scarves and hats suitable for babies and children up to 18 years old. No need to wrap the items, simply drop them into Specsavers Opticas in Javea or Calpe during December.

“If everyone could buy just one extra present when Christmas shopping and donate it to a child in need, it would make a huge difference,” says Mike Stone from Specsavers Opticas Javea. “We hope people will get involved and make this a wonderful Christmas for the children of EMAUS.” To find your nearest Specsavers visit www.specsavers.es and to find out more about EMAUS visit www.fcemaus.es.

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E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

NEWS FROM OUR FIVE OTHER REGIONS

COSTA DEL SOL

An educational visit AXARQUIA

RUBBISH LESSON: Children pay a visit to the rubbish treatment plant.

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

MALLORCA

COSTA DE ALMERÍA

By Eleanor Hawkins FIFTY sixth year children from Virgen de la Antigua infant and primary school in Almuñecar have been on a visit to Verde Velez rubbish treatment plant to see for themselves what goes on there and learn more about the importance of recycling.

The visit, part of the ‘Almuñecar limpia te beneficia’ (A clean Almuñecar is good for you) campaign, was sponsored by FCC municipal cleaning company and was one of many activities included in the campaign calendar.

The children were accompanied by their teachers and staff from the council’s Environmental department and were given a talk on recycling and a guided tour of the facility, with in situ explanations of what the different machines were for and the tasks carried out on the premises.

The children later said they had understood the ecological impact of consumerism and the financial burden treating waste places on councils.

AXARQUÍA

Christmas turkey

Screen villain

Ex-mayor trial

Festive timing

CRISTINA CACHO is the winner of the Christmas Tales competition in Orihuela.

The student from the Jesus Maria de San Agustin school was noted by the jury for her “originality and narrative approach” in her story ‘The Christmas Turkey.’

A MYSTERY man captured on CCTV breaking into several schools in Palma in November has been arrested after eagleeyed Local Police officers recognised the suspect as he cycled nonchalantly down Constitution Avenue. The 43-year-old has been charged with burglary.

FORMER mayor of Oria Jose Perez is to stand trial on January 19 for alleged irregularities in employing 46 people between 2007 and 2011. According to the Public Prosecutor, the mayor took on up to twice the number of employees budgeted for each year.

BETWEEN December 12 and January 6 cafes, restaurants and shops in Rincon de la Victoria will be able to open two hours later than normal. More people celebrating the festive season and buying gifts will be a major boon for business.

Better roads

Molvizar accident

THE Provincial Council is carrying out work to improve safety on one of cyclists’ favourite roads in Almeria, the AL-3117 between Almeria and Rioja via Viator and Pechina. Provincial Public Works and Development delegate Oscar Liria recently visited the site and explained that the road is being widened to avoid collisions and guarantee cyclists’ safety.

ON the morning of Saturday December 10, a 37-year-old female driver lost control of her vehicle on the Camino Barrio Minchal Alto and careered off the road, descending some 20 metres. After roadside treatment Emergency Services took her to the Santa Ana Hospital in Motril.

Feeling festive ORIHUELA has officially opened the municipal Belen, or nativity scene, comprising of more than 300 figures. It is open to the public in the Palacio Episcopal from 10am-2pm and 4pm-9pm.

Inheritance tax INHERITANCE tax in the Murcia Region will no longer be paid by large families as introduced in the draft budget for 2017 by the Regional Goverment.

Dead dolphin A THREE-METRE long dead dolphin was found washed up on the beach of La Mata. It was removed by the City as the municipal marine biologist, Juan Antonio Pujol, revealed there were no obvious signs indicating the cause of death.

Winter crop ARTICHOKES have become the most profitable winter crop in the Vega Baja.

Cultivation grew this year by 9.5 per cent compared to last and the harvest is expected to reach 26,000 tons.

Beach collision A MOTORCYCLIST was seriously injured after a crash on the Playa de Palma.

The 55-year-old collided with a car and sustained a head injury and fractures in his lower back. He is being treated in hospital while police investigate what caused the crash.

Robbers face jail TWO young men, one Spanish one Senegalese, face 13 years in prison between them after robbing two homes on different floors of a Palma apartment block. One item stolen was an electric bike worth €1,450. Each now face six and a half years behind bars.

Cocaine pizza THE owner of an Italian fast food restaurant in Magaluf has been jailed for going full Mrs Doyle and serving his pizzas with a topping of cocaine. He was arrested in 2015 after selling a British tourist the drug, with Guardia Civil officers then finding 12 bags stashed among the mozzarella.

NEWS

Burglar arrested THE Local Police have arrested a man in Huercal-Overa for allegedly burgling a petrol station and parish church earlier this month. A body search revealed seven lottery tickets which belonged to the parish church and were reported stolen along with money from the collection box a few days beforehand.

Police attacker ALMERIA’S Public Prosecutor will be requesting a 16 years and six months jail sentence for a man who attacked two National Police officers at the city’s Intermodal station on December 19 last year, stabbing one in the face.

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

Almuñecar rescue ALTHOUGH the crews responsible for maintaining the beaches in Almuñecar have on occasion discovered dead mammals on their beaches, they were surprised when they came across a stranded dolphin on the morning of December 11.

Using a tractor and a number of volunteers, they managed to return the dolphin to shallow water where it swam off.

Salobreña drugs GUARDIA CIVIL officers busted a major drugs gang operating throughout Spain. The Salobreña operation was producing 10 kilos of cut cocaine every day and was run by a man who was described as very dangerous with European warrants out for his arrest.

Drunken rampage A DRUNKEN partygoer spent the eve of the Immaculate Conception holiday in a San Pedro jail cell after rampaging across the town smashing street furniture and leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.

Cheap Christmas SNARKY comments and heavy criticism have greeted Benalmadena’s austeritythemed Christmas lighting.

Hundreds have taken to social media to express their anger that the council skimped on decorations to save money while other towns enjoy the season in all its glory.

Leisurely stroll WORK has begun on a new paved public pathway running right through Torremolinos. It involves asphalting across Los Alamos, Montemar, Playamar and El Pinar and will come at a hefty cost upwards of €1 million but is promised to be worth every penny.

Ceiling collapse FIREFIGHTERS and Local Police officers used their muscle to prop up a collapsed ceiling in a Malaga apartment block. One man was injured when the ceiling suddenly fell in and was fortunately rescued from the rubble before more of the second floor gave way.

Fatal stunt A MAN plunged to his death as he tried to negotiate his way between two balconies on the fourth floor of a Marbella apartment complex. It is thought that the 52-year-old had forgotten his keys and had asked his neighbour if he could nip across the adjacent balconies.

EWN top for all the news from Spain.

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E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

EUROPEAN PRESS

DENMARK

GERMANY

Lego brand

Legal cannabis DUSSELDORF is planning to legalise the sale of cannabis to the over 18’s.

The council is pushing ahead with plans and is taking advice from numerous experts in the are a s of psychol ogy, cr i m e and economics.

LEGO, the Danish toy maker, has announced the creation of the Lego Brand Group, which will work on developing further growth and new opportunities for the company. Lego sales have increased to €4.8 billion in the last decade.

Officer killed A POLICE officer who was shot as he arrived for a shift in Copenhagen, has died from his injuries. Police arrested a 26-year-old in relation to the shooting who has mental health problems.

Grammy nominee DANISH band Lukas Graham has been announced as a Grammy nominee

LEGO SALES: Have increased. in three categories. The band will compete against the likes of Adele and Beyonce to win ‘Record of the Year’ for their hit ‘Seven Years.’

Late starters A STUDY has found that women

living in big cities are leaving it longer to start a family.

The a ve ra ge a ge of firs t time mothe rs in C ope nha ge n a nd Fre de riks be rg is 30.8 a nd 32, whilst in provincial towns such a s Lolla nd, the a ve ra ge a ge is 25.5.

AN international study on student assessment found that whilst the 6,000 French students questioned were per-

THE new ruling government in Ber l i n has r eveal ed pl ans wanting to make the city a much greener place and to improve the treatment of refugees.

Top company SOFTWARE com pany SAP

Heart care

Winter pollution

Student study

Berlin’s blueprint Domestic case A MAN has been arrested in northern Germany accused of setting his wife on fire.

The wom an i s i n a ser i ous condition in hospital suffering from extensive burns.

The couple of African origin have been in Germany around 20 years.

BELGIUM

FRANCE AIR pollution in Paris is currently at its worst winter levels in the last 10 years. Car travel has been limited in the city to reduce pollution as public transport was made free for passengers.

has been named as the best place to work in Germany according to a report which has been compiled by a job search website.

The company was named the best place to work as it was a ‘great employer with many social benefits.’

forming around average in science, maths and literacy, French students were the most affected by their social and economic surroundings.

Heritage protection AROUND €30 million is being offered by France to a new fund that is being set up to help protect cultural heritage sites and pay for restoration of ar-

eas damaged during war and times of conflict in places such as Syria and Iraq.

Public to private A FRENCH town has been told to remove a statue of the Virgin Mary from a public park to comply with the country’s ban on religious symbols. The mayor said they will find a new home for the statue on private land.

THE Euro Heart Index, comparing cardiology care in 30 European states, has ranked Belgium seventh place for heart care in terms of prevention, procedures and access to care. France topped the list with Cyprus in last place.

High costs

Pilots wanted AIR BELGIUM, the new airline launched earlier this year, is looking for pilots and cabin staff as it prepares for its inaugural flights between Belgium and Asia in June 2017.

Motorway attacks

SWEDEN

NORWAY

THE higher rate of inflation in Belgium means that restaurants, cafés and the telecommunications operators are more expensive than neighbouring countries. From 2008 to 2016, prices rose by an average of 1.5 per cent.

Not true

Crime aid

HOLLAND

A NEW museum is to open in Stockholm in April 2017 aimed at tourists to dispel the myths of the Vikings, as historians say they are the most falsified figure in the country.

NORWAY is giving Sri Lanka NOK 39.7 million (€4.39 million) to support UN efforts to combat fisheries crime which is posing a threat to resources and economic development in developing countries.

Sustainable sources

Open house A 25-YEAR-OLD man is opening his Stockholm home to disadvantaged children this Christmas. Having worked for charities, he will offer the youngsters lunch and games.

Fashion conference STOCKHOLM University has hosted the first ever academic conference looking at luxury and sustainability in the fashion industry and its social impact.

Malmo shooting A MAN has died in hospital after being found with gunshot wounds in Malmo. No one has yet been arrested in connection with the shooting. A total of 25 people have been killed in the southern Skåne region this year.

Elephant attack A NORWEGIAN man in his 70’s was killed following an elephant attack as he was on safari in Malawi, Africa. He died in hospital from his injuries.

School stabbing A TEENAGE boy, aged 15, has confessed to stabbing a boy and a woman at a primary school in Kristiansand. Police do not believe anyone else was involved in the killing.

Online abuse AN eight-year prison sentence has been handed down to a 66-year-old man after being found guilty of online sexual abuse against children in Norway and the Philippines.

AS part of the government’s new energy strategy, the use of gas cookers and heaters will be phased out. The country wants to ensure that 16 per cent of the energy requirements are from sustainable sources by 2023.

Modern families A REPORT commissioned by the government has said that family law in the Netherlands needs to be drastically overhauled and updated to cope with modern families and allow up to four legal parents in two separate households.

THE number of attacks and incidents involving migrants has increased at the Flemish Brabant motorway services. Lorry drivers have reported being attacked and there has been two stabbings.

Not guilty A POLICE officer has won his appeal after being jailed for two years for shooting a man during an arrest. A court now agreed that the officer took the shot in an emergency situation to defend himself.

Illegal fireworks OVER 14,000 kilos of illegal fireworks have already been seized by police and customs in the run up to the New Year. By this time last year around 32,000 kilos of fireworks had been seized.

46

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

NEWS

RUSSIAN PRESS

Engine trouble

UNMANNED SPACESHIP: Broke up in airspace over the remote Tuva region.

AN unmanned spaceship crashed in Siberia on its way to the International Space Station. The Progress MS-04 cargo craft broke up into smithereens in airspace above the remote Tuva region, destroying two and a half tonnes of fuel, food and equipment, the second time a Progress vessel has crashed in two years.

Terrorist terminated AN Emir of the Daesh terrorist group was killed by the Russian FSB security services in a raid on the North Caucasus region, a hotbed of Islamic extremism. Authorities say that 35-year-old Rustam Aselderov, thought responsible for the Volgograd blast which

killed 34 people, was taken out along with four of his closest commanders.

children into a televised martial arts competition.

Penal colonies

Costly cows DAIRY prices have skyrocketed across Russia, with more than a third of shoppers cutting back on yoghurt, milk, cream and cheese. The cost of butter has jumped 17 per cent over the past year as ordinary citizens feel the bite from European and American sanctions over the annexation of Crimea.

Body shot CHECHEN strongman Ramzan Kadyrov needed surgery after fracturing his ribs in a boxing ring sparring session. The Putin ally and president of the volatile republic raised eyebrows earlier this year when he entered his young

PRESIDENT Putin launched a scathing critique of the prison system after a jailed protester was said to have been tortured by guards. Penal colonies across the country have long been condemned by human rights groups. Putin called on all prisons to treat inmates as citizens of Russia despite their mistakes.

White Christmas MOSCOW has entered December white with snow as around a fifth of the month’s expected snowfall fell within a blizzardy 24-hour period.

Trains have been suspended and thousands of homes plunged into darkness with power outages ahead of what promises to be a cold, but beautiful winter.

Lost masterpiece A PERFORMANCE of Igor Stravinsky’s Funeral Song was conducted by a St Petersburg orchestra for only the second time in 107 years. The legendary score had been lost and then embroiled in legal controversy since 1909 until it was played before a delighted Russian audience who marvelled in the skill of renowned conductor Valery Gergiev.

Valery Gergiev.

FINANCE

Costa Blanca North

15 - 21 December 2016

STAT OF WEEK

business & legal LONDON - FTSE 100

+0.33%

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+0.76%

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Banks defending their position AFTER an investigation into the rigging of the euro interest rates, the European Commission has announced that it will be fining three banks - who did not originally accept their part in the fixing cartel a total of €485 million.

Of the three banks involved in this latest investigation, Credit Agricole, HSBC and JPMorgan,

Quote of the Week

€337 million is the amount that JP Morgan was fined by the European Commission for its part in the alleged rigging of the euro interest rates and is far more than any other bank was fined.

BUSINESS EXTRA

Photo Credit: SounderBruce Wikimedia

Building job

An Amazon bookstore in Seattle.

By John Smith INTERNET retail giant, Amazon has revealed that it will trial the concept of running a grocery store which has no checkout, but customers will automatically pay for the items in their baskets through an app and the company intends to use the same types of technologies found in self-driving cars.

It appears that the system they plan to use will be smart

the American Bank does not accept that they have done anything wrong and may appeal the decision as is made clear in a prepared statement shown below.

“We have cooperated fully with the European Commission throughout its five year investigation. We did not engage in any wrongdoing with respect to the Euribor benchmark. We will continue to vigorously defend our position

Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!” Donald Trump on the cost of presidential aircraft due for delivery in 2024.

Amazon opens grocery stores

enough to identify when items are taken from or returned to shelves and will record all of this in a so-called virtual shopping cart so that once the shopper leaves the store, their Amazon account will be charged and a receipt will be sent to them automatically.

The first shop is expected to open in Seattle where the company has its headquarters in the first quarter of 2017 and will be a natural extension of its physical bookstores.

INDIAN born British citizen Bali Padda who has worked for Lego for 15 years will take over as the first non-Danish CEO of the group still owned by the family of the original founder, to run and streamline the business.

Oldest bank FOLLOWING the resignation of Italian Prime Minister Renzi, shares in the already teetering Monte dei Paschi di Siena, took a nose dive but now that a rumour is circulating that a €5 billion rescue package is likely, their position seems less precarious.

Not enough THE Spanish government has agreed with demands from ‘opposition’ parties that the monthly minimum wage for 2017 should be increased 8 per cent to €825.5 which is an increase of €61.1 but is still considered insufficient by trade unions.

Spread betting crackdown THERE is to be a crackdown on spread betting in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority as it believes those investing in this very volatile market don’t fully understand the risks. The concept which was introduced in the 1970s over the daily

47

€14.56 billion is the amount spent by UK visitors to Spain in the first 10 months of the year and represents 21 per cent of total tourist spend in the country.

C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 12

By John Smith

EWN

movement of the gold price now covers individual shares or indexes such as the FTSE 100. The concept is that rather than purchase shares, investors bet on whether the market will go up or down and pay a fee to a broker who handles their bet.

against these allegations, including through possible appeals to the European courts.”

Danish European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager believed that the banks had worked together to exchange information and pointed out that banks have to recognise and respect EU competition laws like any other business regardless of where they operate from.

IBEX 35

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Company fines THE UK Competition and Markets Authority has fined the Pfizer pharmaceutical company £84.2 million (€99 million) after it increased its price to the NHS massively for an anti-epilepsy drug without justification, which is said to have cost the cash strapped health service tens of millions of pounds.

It also fined Flynn Pharma a distributor of another anti-epilepsy drug the lesser amount of £5.2 million (€6.1 million) for similarly overcharging the NHS.

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E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

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LONDON - FTSE 100

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) COMPANY Anglo American 1,240.00 26.00 Associated British Foods 2,936.00 247.00 Admiral Group 975.00 -1,824.00 Ashtead Group 1,620.00 -20.00 Antofagasta 755.00 -1.50 Aviva 483.50 0.80 AstraZeneca 4,300.00 20.00 BAE Systems 603.50 3.00 Babcock International Group 940.00 12.50 Barclays 235.00 1.90 British American Tobacco 4,392.50 -27.50 Barratt Developments 469.50 1.90 British Land Co 624.00 2.00 BHP Billiton 1,372.50 17.50 Bunzl 1,150.50 -2,055.00 BP 475.00 -1.20 Burberry Group 1,475.50 1.50 BT Group 355.50 3.50 Coca-Cola HBC 1,660.00 -5.00 Carnival 4,118.00 -4.00 Centrica 215.50 -1.50 Compass Group 1,362.50 -14.50 Capita Group (The) 475.00 -5.00 Croda International 1,500.00 -3,192.00 CRH 2,594.00 -111.00 Dixons Carphone 337.50 -22.70 DCC 0.00 0.00 Diageo 2,025.00 -18.00 Direct Line Insurance Group 161.70 -355.90 Experian 1,502.50 -4.50 easyJet 998.50 1.50 Fresnillo 1,185.00 1.00 GKN 317.50 1.30 Glencore 301.50 1.50 GlaxoSmithKline 1,480.50 2.50 Hikma Pharmaceuticals 1,679.50 -44.50 Hargreaves Lansdown 0.00 0.00 Hammers 543.00 -9.00 HSBC Holdings 675.00 1.20 International Consolidtd Air Gr 446.00 4.60 InterContinental Hotels Group 1,412.50 -3,350.00 3i Group 655.00 -38.50 Imperial Brands 3,640.50 170.00 Informa 290.00 -665.50 Intu Properties 0.00 0.00 Intertek Group 0.00 0.00 ITV 185.50 -6.00 Johnson Matthey 3,042.50 -2.50 Kingfisher 348.00 0.10 Land Securities Group 1,010.00 -4.00

% CHG. NET VOL 2.14 17,457.90 9.19 21,082.28 -100.00 5,232.08 -1.22 8,037.53 -0.20 7,413.64 0.17 19,785.08 0.47 52,069.52 0.50 19,181.41 1.35 4,742.50 0.82 40,535.48 -0.62 81,528.92 0.41 4,737.25 0.32 6,353.02 1.29 28,988.19 -100.00 6,805.63 -0.25 90,283.06 0.10 6,519.81 0.99 35,554.38 -0.30 6,041.59 -0.10 8,915.53 -0.69 11,798.32 -1.05 22,262.29 -1.04 3,237.64 -100.00 4,153.99 -4.10 22,643.27 -6.30 4,080.49 0.00 5,237.27 -0.88 51,053.05 -100.00 4,918.38 -0.30 14,188.14 0.15 3,999.89 0.08 8,606.92 0.41 5,431.45 0.50 43,565.68 0.17 71,192.94 -2.58 4,081.63 0.00 5,800.92 -1.63 4,330.81 0.18 134,558.38 1.04 9,510.30 -100.00 6,612.88 -5.55 6,799.63 4.90 32,644.11 -100.00 5,360.15 0.00 3,647.77 0.00 5,248.30 -3.13 7,306.12 -0.08 5,881.48 0.03 7,776.96 -0.39 7,954.73

COMPANY PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) Legal & General Group 244.00 0.20 Lloyds Banking Group ORD 62.00 0.26 London Stock Exchange Grp 1,400.00 -2,774.00 Micro Focus International 0.00 0.00 Mediclinic International 325.00 -737.00 Merlin Entertainments 432.00 -1.70 Marks & Spencer Group 329.00 -9.60 Mondi 1,757.50 146.50 Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets 225.00 0.10 National Grid 917.50 -4.20 Next 4,870.00 16.00 Old Mutual Group 195.25 -2.35 Provident Financial 1,425.00 -2,726.00 Polymetal International 376.50 -783.00 Paddy Power Betfair 5,000.00 -8,280.00 Prudential 1,586.00 -8.00 Persimmon 1,673.00 -43.00 Pearson 792.50 -8.50 Reckitt Benckiser Group 6,570.00 -30.00 Royal Bank of Scotland Grp 219.00 1.70 Royal Dutch Shell 2,091.50 4.00 Royal Dutch Shell 2,195.00 11.00 RELX 1,355.00 -18.00 Rio Tinto 3,257.00 33.50 Royal Mail 459.00 3.30 Rolls-Royce Group 665.00 -3.00 Randgold Resources 5,950.00 85.00 RSA Insurance Group 550.50 -6.50 Sainsbury (J) 242.50 -4.50 Schroders 1,493.50 -2,936.00 Sage Group (The) 625.00 0.00 Shire 4,420.00 -12.50 Sky 887.50 -112.50 Standard Life 359.50 -11.30 Smiths Group 700.00 -1,442.00 Smith & Nephew 1,140.00 -29.00 SSE 1,487.50 -4.50 Standard Chartered 669.50 12.00 St James's Place 887.50 -112.00 Severn Trent 2,125.50 -21.50 Travis Perkins 1,420.00 9.00 Tesco 217.78 -0.32 TUI AG 0.00 0.00 Taylor Wimpey 155.00 0.60 Unilever 3,105.00 -19.50 United Utilities Group 886.50 -6.00 Vodafone Group 198.95 0.55 Wolseley 2,245.00 -4,963.00 Worldpay Group 272.50 6.70 WPP Group 1,705.00 -66.00 Whitbread 3,495.00 -23.00

% CHG. 0.08 0.42 -100.00 0.00 -100.00 -0.39 -2.84 9.09 0.04 -0.46 0.33 -1.19 -100.00 -100.00 -100.00 -0.50 -2.51 -1.06 -0.45 0.78 0.19 0.50 -1.31 1.04 0.72 -0.45 1.45 -1.17 -1.82 -100.00 0.00 -0.28 -11.25 -3.05 -100.00 -2.48 -0.30 1.83 -11.21 -1.00 0.64 -0.15 0.00 0.39 -0.62 -0.67 0.28 -100.00 2.52 -3.73 -0.65

NET VOL 14,612.28 44,801.29 9,664.95 4,877.12 5,193.88 4,398.45 5,501.31 7,938.80 5,254.73 34,474.56 7,161.66 9,662.52 4,177.11 3,318.89 6,869.40 41,994.28 5,356.75 6,416.66 45,723.62 26,046.42 91,332.05 82,213.43 14,708.00 45,286.15 4,621.00 12,108.42 5,553.63 5,591.18 5,322.74 6,606.64 6,777.28 39,148.23 13,571.64 7,351.13 5,693.95 9,923.05 15,024.65 21,884.62 5,208.76 5,040.32 3,592.81 17,734.57 6,451.55 5,090.08 39,684.56 5,997.21 52,795.28 12,416.28 5,178.00 22,040.34 6,395.88

Kleinwort Benson Elite PCC Ltd

0.83913

1.19170 Units per €

US dollar...................................................................1.05653 Japan yen.................................................................122.287 Switzerland franc .................................................1.07592 Denmark kroner...................................................7.43665 Norway kroner ......................................................8.94515 currenciesdirect.com/moraira • Tel: +34 966 265 072

DOW JONES C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 5

COMPANY 3M AMERICAN EXPRESS APPLE BOEING CATERPILLAR CHEVRON TEXACO COCA-COLA CISCO SYSTEMS DU PONT EXXON MOBIL GENERAL ELECTRIC GOLDMAN SACH HOME DEPOT IBM INTEL JOHNSON & JOHNSON JP MORGAN CHASE MCDONALDS MERCK MICROSOFT NIKE PFIZER PROCTER & GAMBLE ST. PAUL TRV UNITED TECHNOLOGIES UNITEDHEALTH VERIZON VISA CLASS A WAL-MART WALT DISNEY

PRICE 178,490 74,770 113,950 156,490 95,530 115,810 42,000 30,060 74,850 89,000 31,780 241,850 133,390 166,520 35,760 112,260 85,490 121,260 61,230 61,970 51,720 31,700 84,370 119,190 109,790 160,120 51,490 79,140 70,080 104,860

CHANGE %CHANGE 2,61 +1,48 -0,14 -0,19 1,83 +1,63 1,1 +0,71 -0,74 -0,77 0,64 +0,56 1,02 +2,49 0,11 +0,37 0,17 +0,23 0,68 +0,77 0,25 +0,79 0,4 +0,17 0,86 +0,65 1,16 +0,70 0,06 +0,17 1,27 +1,14 0,37 +0,43 0,81 +0,67 1,11 +1,85 0,96 +1,57 0,17 +0,33 0,76 +2,46 0,87 +1,04 0,81 +0,68 1,36 +1,25 0,8 +0,50 0,36 +0,70 -0,14 -0,18 -0,26 -0,37 1,48 +1,43

VOLUME 735.183 775.025 7.9M 606.680 2.3M 1.9M 6.1M 5.9M 800.760 2.8M 8.3M 966.906 1.6M 855.742 4.3M 2.7M 3.8M 820.891 3.1M 8.6M 1.7M 8.3M 2.4M 625.656 840.385 767.073 3.1M 1.6M 3M 3.5M

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES

DECEMBER

5

COMPANY

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

Most Advanced AC Immune SA Sangamo BioSciences, Inc. RigNet, Inc. Town Sports International Holdings, Inc. Ocean Rig UDW Inc. Alpha and Omega Semiconductor Limited NII Holdings, Inc. Conn's, Inc. Educational Development Corporation Intersections, Inc. Calithera Biosciences, Inc.

$ 14.93 $ 3.20 $ 21.85 $ 2.75 $ 2.22 $ 22.99 $ 2.35 $ 14.45 $ 10.40 $ 4.03 $ 3.50

2.88 ▲ 23.90% 0.50 ▲ 18.52% 2.95 ▲ 15.61% 0.35 ▲ 14.58% 0.28 ▲ 14.43% 2.48 ▲ 12.09% 0.25 ▲ 11.90% 1.40 ▲ 10.73% 1 ▲ 10.64% 0.37 ▲ 10.11% 0.30 ▲ 9.38%

$ 6.85 $ 28.55 $9 $9 $ 23.36 $ 14.05 $ 36 $ 3.50 $ 2.51 $ 2.80 $ 4.50

2.45 ▼ 26.34% 8.49 ▼ 22.92% 2.53 ▼ 21.94% 1.15 ▼ 11.33% 2.60 ▼ 10.02% 1.46 ▼ 9.41% 3.70 ▼ 9.32% 0.35 ▼ 9.09% 0.25 ▼ 9.06% 0.23 ▼ 7.59% 0.35 ▼ 7.22%

Most Declined DAVIDsTEA Inc. Duluth Holdings Inc. Clearside Biomedical, Inc. Fanhua Inc. Willdan Group, Inc. IRIDEX Corporation CoLucid Pharmaceuticals, Inc. CPI Card Group Inc. Oncobiologics, Inc. Atlanticus Holdings Corporation Xcel Brands, Inc

50

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

Some banks looking to leave London Photo Credit: theendup shutterstock

By John Smith IF there is one fact of life that one can be fairly sure about, it is that banks are at best amoral and at worst totally immoral. Certainly and to some extent they understandably want to make sure that their financial position is as protected as possible, even though they may only still be in business because of the generosity of various governments who have diverted funds from the taxpayer to support their financial errors and in many cases wrongdoing!

There are already positive noises being made by eight EU capitals encouraging banks to move their business.

Now that Britain is due to sever its direct links with the European Union and it looks as if London could be excluded from the euro passport system, various banks have started looking for a safe bolthole within the EU from which to run their ‘wholesale’ businesses. According to Benoit de Juvigny, a French financial regulator, many international banks are looking to Paris as an option.

According to the BBC, there are already

PARIS: Could it be the new banking capital? positive noises being made by eight EU capitals encouraging banks to move their business to Amsterdam, Bratislava, Dublin, Frankfurt, Luxembourg, Madrid, Paris or

Valletta and in some cases at least, international banks have already started to undertake due diligence research in order to ensure that they would be able to operate

subsidiaries from their chosen city.

Whilst it would be unfair to accuse these cities (and no doubt others to follow) of acting like jackals fighting over a carcass, it is obvious that once Britain does leave the Union, it will find competition hard in many areas and the retention of business such as in the banking sector could become an expensive operation.

What is also worrying is that despite all that has gone wrong with banks in the past and the fact that members of the Union are in theory supposed to work together, it is more than speculation that at least one of those scrabbling for the new business may be prepared to relax legislation and control in order to attract international banks which could result in another financial disaster in the medium term.

Perhaps an unshackled Britain could actually find a way of wooing bankers back to London by seeing what concessions other countries are making and then topping them.

Alternatively, the underworld needs somewhere to safely deposit its illegally gained funds and perhaps the time is right to open the equivalent of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (also known as BCCI or the Bank of Crooks and Cocaine International) which had its headquarters in London before spectacularly being closed down in 1991.

Tata Steel and unions in principle agreement AFTER recognising the importance of India as a strong financial target, UK governments were happy to see an influx of investment into UK industry by Indian businesses but after some years, it came as a great disappointment when these companies started to have financial difficulties or decided that they wanted to divest themselves of their British financial interests.

Once such company was Tata, the massive industrial operation that had taken over most of the British Steel industry which announced in March of this year that it wanted to either sell its UK businesses or in a worst scenario close them down.

Thousands of workers, mostly employed in Wales were left facing future financial and work insecurity, especially when it appeared that apart from a relatively small division, there was little hope of finding a buyer for the business.

Now, following recent meetings between Tata and the two main unions representing workers in the plants - Community and Unite - it has been announced that subject to a ballot of workers the company would continue to operate the business and invest further to make it a viable and profitable concern.

Photo Credit: Tata Group

By John Smith

KOUSHIK CHATTERJEE: Group executive director of Tata Steel.

T h e ma in points of a gre e me nt w hic h should satisfy the workforce are: A guaranteed, minimum five-year commitment to keeping two blast furnaces at the

Port Talbot plant.

A £1 billion (€1.17 billion) investment plan to be implemented over a 10-year period in order to keep the manufacture of steel

running at Port Talbot.

An expression from Tata that it would commit to avoid making compulsory redundancies for at least five years.

Whilst all of this is very positive, the only possible sticking point will be over pensions where the company wants to replace the existing scheme for one which sees a new scheme requiring no more than 10 per cent of salary contribution from the company and 6 per cent from employees.

Both union representatives and Koushik Chatterjee, group executive director of Tata Steel and executive director for its European business expressed their pleasure at the outcome of the meeting, but stressed that the government still had a great deal to do to ensure that the company was supported especially as far as fair external competition and cost of energy are concerned.

Workers will need to balance the positive out com e of seei ng t hei r j obs pr ot ect ed against the new pension proposals which the uni ons bel i eve i s t he best deal i t coul d achieve, although they are not making a positive recommendation to their members concerning this particular matter.

In the event that Tata employees vote to reject the deal, then there is every possibility they will find it hard to invest further and may well withdraw from the UK completely.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

Between a rock and a hard place

La edit: o Cr Phot flickr cloa Mon

CRISTOBAL MONTORO: Spanish Minister of Finance and Public Administration.

By John Smith UNDER pressure from leftwing allies in parliament who want to see a relaxation of austerity and the European Union which wants to see the Spanish economy much more under control, the government of Mariano Rajoy and Cristobal Montoro, Spanish Minister of Finance and Public Administration have had to try very hard to produce a budget for 2017 which will be acceptable to all parties.

They are looking to increase taxes by some €4.8 billion by collecting certain monies in advance rather than arrears and hope to pull in additional funds by increasing the purchase tax of alcohol (except beer and wine) as well as cigarettes and tobacco.

In addition, following the example of other European states, there will be a new tax on soft drinks with high sugar content and although it is suggested that such a tax is not to raise funds but to alert the public to the dangers of these

There will be a new tax on soft drinks with high sugar content which will produce more revenue. drinks, it is interesting that it is likely to produce more new revenue than the increase in tax on alcohol and tobacco.

The government wants to ensure that people are paying tax on their earnings and to reduce the amount spent on the so-called black economy and is therefore reducing the limit of cash settlements of transactions from €2,500 to €1,000, although this could back fire on the local councils who up to now have been able to accept the larger sums via bank deposits.

Speaking of local councils, 2,452 have applied for the cadastral value of properties to be increased and whilst this could not be done in time for the current budget, government is expected to approve this in principle during the

year as it will make those local councils less reliant on national hand outs, assuming the residents can afford to pay any increased rates.

It was originally thought that approval of increased property taxes would be deferred for a year alongside certain environmental taxes and local death duties, but a codicil within the December 2 approval document covered the cadastral increase.

None of this is enough and after having hit the pension pot once again to allow for a Christmas bonus pay out, the government is not only going to have to consider what it will do there, but it has also promised to boost income by fighting tax fraud, making collection of IVA speedier and more efficient as well as collecting monies owed to government more competently.

Time will tell whether these actions will be enough to increase sufficiently to satisfy the EU, but if that is the case, then it is possible that the fragile alliance within parliament could be shattered.

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

EWN

51

OPINION & COMMENT

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

EWN

53

Boris Johnson was right about Saudi that Koreans, Pakistanis, Somalis, Filipinos, etc. get paid, but generally a mere pittance.

Homosexuality is a topping offence, yet the country is rife with men so highly sexed nothing is safe from their amorous intentions. (I was propositioned at least once or twice a day; but I was much prettier then!)

They insist on building mosques all over the world, but refuse to allow any trace of alternative religions in their country. Alcohol is banned yet, when I was there, they were the biggest importers of Johnnie Walker Whisky in the world.

In Jeddah they have the largest canvas-covered area in the world.

All air conditioned and able to accommodate over a million people.

How many refugees could this area accommodate? Ha! No, I’m afraid money buys it all my friends and they have enough to purchase everyone. On our own subservient heads be it.

Keep the Faith Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT BORIS JOHNSON was 100 per cent correct with his ‘proxy wars’ remarks regarding Saudi Arabia. It is merely another example of the deed this nation does best of all – delegate.

Having lived among them for some eight years I can categorically state that, in my opinion, they are the most arrogant hypocrites on the planet. If they were not floating on a sea of money, they would be fighting for survival, and probably losing!

Instead, sitting in their ivory towers they get everyone else to do their dirty work for them. Cashing in on the fact that this world is run by greed, money and the resulting power it brings, they continue to get away with just about everything.

Their human rights record is atrocious. The only difference now, is

HUMAN RIGHTS: Their record is atrocious.

Advertising feature SO Fay, an optician from Sheffield, how did that happen?

I was born in Sheffield and came to live in Spain in 1996.

My family settled in Alfaz del Pi. I started university at 18 in Alicante studying Optometry.

While studying I worked in one of the busiest opticians in Benidorm. It was hard work but I learned so much.

After graduating, I worked in an eye clinic in Tenerife with one of the best Optometrists on the Island, Jose Juan Bethencourt Puriños. Working with him gave me so much experience and I was able to specialise in children’s optics, along with anterior and posterior eye pathologies.

Then an opportunity arose and I was able to found Interoptics in Alfaz with my partner Juan Carlos. So here I am all the way from Sheffield.

Are eye tests really that important Fay? Vitally important not only for common eye problems but also for serious problems like glaucoma, retina problems, eye infections and diabetes. Even a

Interoptics A new concept in eye care

EYE TESTS: Are vitally important.

FULLY GUARANTEED: Interoptics has everything you need for your eye are. brain tumour can be detected with the correct eye test. Sad to say that there are many people who have worn glasses for years but don’t know they have other eye problems because

they have never had a full eye test.

So at Interoptics do you give these tests?

Yes at Interoptics they are

completely free, that’s how important we believe eye tests are, and that they should be available to everyone. Our eye test can be adapted to individual needs.

If any problems do show up we can give you referral notes for your doctor.

Of course, we have a large range of top quality products, glasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, work wear, sports glasses and special glasses for children. All are fully guaranteed.

At Interoptics we have

everything you need for your eye care. But the most important thing is to book the eye test.

Find Interoptics in Alfaz del Pi, 50 metres from the Cassa de Cultura, right by the medical centre, on the number 10 bus route.

Contact them on 965 033 038.

54

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

Nora Johnson

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

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

YOU can tell Christmas isn’t far off when the annual ‘families ripped off by unscrupulous and entirely predictable seasonal Winter Wonderland theme-park extravaganza’ is upon us.

This is like Groundhog Day, yet another year, yet another traditional Christmas fiasco. For the past few years problems at these Winter Wonderland events have been highlighted by the media and still people fork out to stand in long queues in ‘boggy’ fields to see dodgy Santas in tacky outfits and donkeys sporting cardboard antlers expecting the experience to be some sort of Disneyland.

Why? You’ll recall ‘The Magical Journey’ attraction created by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen at the UK’s Belfry

Golf Club promising ‘the most amazing Christmas experience that Planet Earth has ever seen’ was temporarily cancelled in 2014 following a barrage of complaints from angry parents and children left in tears to find hour-long queues for swearing Santas and chav elves.

A so-called Winter Wonderland in Milton Keynes was cancelled in 2013 after a deluge of complaints of Santas ‘dressed in outfits from Poundland’ and smoking elves, while in 2008 at Lapland New Forest ‘Santa got attacked and an elf got smacked in the face and pushed into a pram.’ All helping to put the grot into grotto!

This year, the Bakewell Winter Wonderland was branded a ‘shambles’ on opening last month after complaints visitors were forced to walk through muddy fields only to find... no Santa.

The glitter dust included pitiful stalls, non-existent reindeer, Santa’s Grotto still under construction - plus

COPYRIGHT FEATUREFLASH PHOTO AGENCY/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

The rip-off Winter ‘Blunderland’ of Grotty Grottos is upon us

LAURENCE LLEWELYN-BOWEN: Created the Magical Journey.

two-hour queues to meet Santa when he eventually turned up.

This happens every year. But if held in November in sodden fields, what sort of magical Christmas treat do you realistically expect?

Why not instead look in the local paper for any German markets or other special events nearby. There’s probably more fun to be had at a local church’s Christmas Fayre than at these ‘blunderlands.’

So, in conclusion, you get to a ‘Winter Wonderland’ entrance, look inside, see an absolute ‘shambles’... and still pay to enter? Mugs?

Gullible? Daft? Answers on a postcard to: ‘Santa, North Pole.’

Nora Johnson’s psychological/suspense crime thrillers ‘No Way Back,’ ‘Landscape of Lies,’ ‘Retribution,’ ‘Soul Stealer,’ ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.nora-johnson.com) available from Amazon in paperback/ eBook (€0.99;£0.99) and iBookstore.

All profits to Costa del Sol Cudeca cancer charity.

Throw the book at them Mike Senker

In my opinion Views of a Grumpy Old Man OK I am pretty much grumpy with the whole world this week. Let’s start with the real serious stuff. Don’t tell me that those football clubs did not have a clue what was going on or some suspicion that children were being abused by members of their staff.

Some have admitted they had. Chelsea made a payment to one victim who had to sign a non-disclosure document. Why? Because they wanted it to just go away. I hope they get the book thrown at them. It’s typical of big organisations that just want to buy their way out. It is unacceptable these people can hurt our children and appear to do it unnoticed. It makes my blood boil and my heart break. The bravery of the men now coming forward must be applauded and idiots like Eric Bristow should just keep their mouths shut.

What is it with this lunatic Trump? I can’t believe what he tweets. He managed this week to knock 20 per cent off Boeing’s share price by saying the new Airforce One was too dear and the order should be cancelled. He

may be right but don’t tweet about it! Call them in and discuss it. Also, the racists he’s bringing in to advise him are scary. Google Steve Bannon - it’s terrifying. You know it’s wrong when David Duke, head of the KKK, thinks you’re making good choices!

In other news, the Beckhams have allowed, and are promoting, their 11-year-old son Cruz to sing a charity song for Christmas.

It’s fine if that’s what you want but remember you can’t put the genie back in the bottle. You have now put him out in the public domain and you can never play the privacy card again. He’s 11 - let him have a childhood.

You can milk your fame for every cent but these things often end in tears... or worse.

Mrs S and I watch all the junk TV: X Factor, Strictly, I’m a Celeb and quite enjoy them. What I don’t enjoy is that nobody does great anymore... they ‘smash’ it. That’s all you hear. You smashed that dance, you smashed that song, and you smashed that task. As I recall if you smash something you break it. STOP IT! Just say, ‘Well done, you did great.’

We went to Miramar for our ‘after Christmas recce.’ We have a look at all the stuff we want for Christmas then go back and buy them in the sales. It saves a fortune and you get twice as many pressies!

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

EWN

55

© EWN MEDIA GROUP

SPECIAL Thanks to all of our Costa community SHARING Christmas with somebody is a special moment that makes them a part of your family, and you a part of theirs.

Which is why we at EWN are honoured to offer our heartfelt Christmas greetings to our extended family. All the loyal readers and advertisers out there who have made this paper such a spectacular success, who bring good cheer, hope and festive spirit to our communities across the Northern Costa Blanca.

The real heroes of Christmas are the people and businesses from Benidorm to Benitachell, Albir to Altea, who are the life and soul of our flourishing expat community.

Without community, there is no Christmas and the EWN family thanks you from the bottom of our hearts for helping make the Costa Blanca one of the strongest communities in the world.

We know that Christmas is about expressing gratitude, to the people who stick by you through thick and thin.

That’s why EWN pledges to always be there for our readers and clients by doing our bit to support local communities

right across the coast.

The greatest measure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable and unfortunate members. We’d like to call on everyone to use this time of year to remember and care for the lonely, afraid, and lost among us, for whom Christmas is an especially difficult period.

Every single one of us knows somebody who will be grieving, drinking (but not out of joy), feeling anxious and alone, who feel they have no family to celebrate with. Let’s show them that they do have a family, and that the Costa Blanca’s expat community is a force to be reckoned with, a real society that takes care of its own and doesn’t just follow the crowd.

As an authentic community newspaper, EWN pledges to bring you vibrant local news on the terrific businesses, charities, groups and individuals who are making the Costa Blanca great. Nobody can accuse 2016 of not being eventful! But now that it’s December let’s take a moment to forget the wild politics of the year and think about the side of life that revolves around family, friends and, above all, love.

e th t a s u f o e n o y r e v e From each and s! a tm is r h C y r r e M y E W N F a m il

56

SPECIAL

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

Five must-eat Christmas treats SPANISH sweet treats to enjoy after your meal IF nothing else, Christmas is an excuse to stuff your face full of anything and everything you can get your hands on. Although you undoubtedly already have your own holiday favourites, there are many sweet Spanish treats that would make a worthy addition to any Christmasthemed meal. Here are five of the best ones: Roscon de Reyes This is a very specific Spanish dish which is usually eaten on Three Kings Day (January 6). It is a kind of sweet bread which takes the shape of a large ring. The typical custom is to bake a bean and a small toy into the Roscon. Whereas the person who finds the toy is meant to have good luck as a result, the person who finds the bean is not so lucky: they have to pay for the Roscon the next time around! Exact recipes vary, but often the Roscon is adorned with fruits, figs, almonds and a light sprinkling of sugar.

Pestiños Those with a sweet tooth will adore these flaky pastries, which are extremely popular in Andalucia and the south of Spain in general. Pestiños are made using dough which is then deep-fried in olive oil before being smeared with honey or coated in sugar. Although they are occasionally eaten at other times of the year, they are a very common sight at Christmas in many shops and bakeries.

Mazapan Spanish marzipan, or mazapan, is said to date back to the 12th century, where it was the brainchild of an enterprising group of nuns from Toledo. At the time there was no wheat available, but fortunately the sisters had a huge stash of almond and sugar, and used it up accordingly! To make it, you will need some finely crushed almonds, sugar, eggs (both yolk and whites), water, a dash of cinnamon, and a bit of lemon

zest. Mazapan has gradually grown to be associated with Christmas, especially in Toledo where it is sometimes shaped into small animals before it is eaten.

Turron An absolute staple in many parts of Spain, Turron is essentially a form of nougat and is traditionally made with honey, sugar, and egg whites, as well as almonds or other kinds of nuts.

It is often sold in bar form and is readily available all over Spain. Turron is manufactured and sold in huge quantities at Christmas, where it makes an ideal gift for anyone who likes something sweet to go with their tea. For a spin on the traditional recipe, try making it with liquor, pralines, or chocolate.

Polvoron This is a kind of shortbread which is typically made using flour, sugar, milk, and nuts.

Polvorones are a typical Christmas treat in many parts of

Spain, particularly in Andalucia, where there are approximately 70 factories dedicated to producing popular versions of this longstanding holiday favourite.

TREATS: Roscon de Reyes (above) and Mazapan (right).

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It has picturesque sea views and is the perfect place to enjoy a good home-made meal or relax with a glass of wine.

Throughout December, Harbour View are offering a variety of winter warmer meals. Indulge in a steaming bowl of soup which are all home-made and include recipes of three cheese and cauliflower, broccoli and stilton, pea and ham, minestrone, leek and potato, spicy red pepper and lamb and barley broth.

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on both Christmas Eve and Boxing Day it is perfect to stroll along the beach then sit back and watch the world go by in a warm and friendly atmosphere.

New Year’s Eve is party, party, party at Harbour View as they are teaming up with Jarrow Lad to have a fancy dress party where everyone is welcome. There is a free warm buffet, prizes given for best fancy dress and you can also watch the traditional New Year’s Eve swim.

For those still in the party spirit then Harbour View is open New Year’s Day so celebrate the New Year with friends old and new at Harbour View.

Harbour View is open seven days a week and last orders for food is 6pm. Find them at Calle San Pedro, Benidorm or make a reservation by calling 965 858 884 or 646 701 204.

HARBOUR VIEW: Drew and the team await you with a warm welcome.

The menu still offers the finest full English breakfast, jacket potatoes and burgers as well as all the old favourites such as

lasagne, tikka masala and chilli.

Christmas is not far away so why not celebrate at Harbour View. Open

SPECIAL

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

Christmas Day events

Christmas Day…1950 THE Coronation Stone, taken from Scotland in the 13th century, is stolen from Westminster Abbey by four Scottish students. It broke in two but was returned four months later. It was used at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

Christmas Day…1952 QUEEN ELIZABETH II makes her first Christmas speech. It is broadcast from Auckland in New Zealand during a six-month royal tour of the Commonwealth. The Queen spoke of a “loving bond” between herself and her people and finished by sympathising with the victims of a bridge collapse at Tangiwai in the central north island in which 151 people died.

Christmas Day…1954 SCOTTISH singer and musician Annie Lennox is born in Aberdeenshire and goes on to be named as one of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Along with Dave Stewart she forms the Eurythmics in 1980 and goes on to achieve global success with the release of their second album, Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This). They went on to sell an estimated 75 million records worldwide.

EVENTS that have taken place throughout the years THE news, they say, never sleeps.

Even on Christmas Day the newscasters can find themselves overwhelmed.

So what events have happened to burst their ways onto our television screens when most of us struggle to keep our eyes open after a very big meal?

In the era of rolling television news, Christmas Day 1979 will go down in history as the start of the then Soviet Union’s very own Vietnam.

While ‘most’ of the world was blearyeyed, Leonid Brezhnev ordered the tanks in to take the Afghan capital, Kabul.

The war, which lasted until February 1989, cost the lives of thousands of Soviet conscripts.

If that’s the now depressingly familiar side of world events, what about the more enjoyable news that breaks on Christmas Day? In 1938, a year before the world was convulsed by World War Two, a relatively unknown actress, Vivien Leigh, was unveiled as the woman to play Scarlett O’Hara in ‘Gone With The Wind.’

Photo Credit Flickr e3s8

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Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh in Gone With The Wind.

Almost a year later the film was released and the rest, as they say, is history. It won a total of 10 Oscars with Hattie McDaniel taking the award for Best Supporting Actress, becoming in the process the first African-American to win an Academy Award.

At the time of writing, only two of the original cast are still alive: Olivia de Havilland who played Melanie Wilkes and Mickey Kuhn, who

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played her son, Beau.

Vivien Leigh was among 31 women who were tested for the role of Scarlett. She was almost unknown in the US but went on to take the Oscar for her portrayal of Scarlett.

In this Christmas special you’ll find news in briefs depicting events that have happened on the 25th of the year, down through the ages. We hope you enjoy them.

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Around the world in 12 days SLIGHTLY different NO matter where you are in the world, Christmas is about faith and family, (although shopping might be included nowadays) but it is also about culture, which means there are fantastic differences in how people celebrate.

So let’s embark on an unofficial world tour and see how the festive season is celebrated in each corner of the earth.

Russia’s Orthodox heritage means things are done slightly differently.

Christmas Day is January 7 and the official holidays stretch from December 31 until January 10. Children receive their gifts from Babouschka on January 5.

Despite most Russians enjoying a hearty feast most of the year, many religious people take a break over Christmas and stay away from meat and fish.

Typical meals include the famous beetroot soup, vegetable pies, potato salads sauerkraut, dried fruits and gingerbread.

Over in Japan Christmas isn’t really a holiday, but like the rest of the world the country has cottoned on to the festive celebrations, which they make romantic rather than religious.

People still attend work and school but in big cities the vibrant streets are

RUSSIA: Christmas is special everywhere

flush with Christmas lights and you’ll see couples young and old and families browsing the streets, shopping, eating and exchanging gifts.

They even have a special Japanese Christmas cake which is a delicious sponge cake adorned with strawberries, whipped cream, trees and a fig-

urine of Santa.

What do Brazilians do at Christmas?

What they do every day - go to the beach! In the southern hemisphere Christmas comes at the height of summer so, rather than wrapping up in scarves and coats, our Brazilian brethren prefer a dip in the sea.

A Portuguese heritage sees a strong emphasis on Catholic ritual but it wouldn’t be Brazil without bombastic parties and spectacular fireworks displays.

Food varies across the regions. You’ll have bacalhau in Rio, African street food in the north-east, turkey in wealthier families and rice, raisins and farofa (seasoned flour) everywhere.

The way of the future FACEBOOK IQ has published the results of its 2016 Holiday Outlook Study, which was carried out in 17 countries, including Spain.

The original study took place last year, and aimed to analyse trends related to technology during the Christmas season.

Unsurprisingly, the study confirmed that the internet and social media have changed the way that we celebrate Christmas. On average people posted 35 per cent more on Facebook during the holidays, often uploading Christmas videos and photos to bring a little bit of holiday cheer to their friends and acquaintances. Meanwhile, 46 per cent said they rely on Facebook to give them a bit of inspiration for gift ideas.

SPECIAL

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

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That all takes time and effort and brings with it a certain amount of stress and that’s if you’re successful first time with your calls and contacts.

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Born on Christmas Day

HUMPHREY BOGART: Best known for his movie Casablanca.

1642 Sir Isaac Newton THE English physicist and mathematician is rightly regarded as one of the most influential scientists in history. He formulated the laws of motion and gravity and is known for his confrontation with an apple. He is less known for his belief in alchemy and his belief that a base metal could be turned into gold.

1899 Humphrey Bogart During a career that spanned nearly 30 years, Bogart appeared in 75 films and won one Oscar for his performance in The African Queen. He was married three times before meeting the

woman who would become associated with him in popular culture, Lauren Bacall. Probably best known for his movie Casablanca, Bogart died of cancer aged just 57.

1907 Cab Calloway American jazz singer and bandleader Cabell ‘Cab’ Calloway is nowadays perhaps best known for his song ‘Minnie the Moocher.’ His big band provided work for such stellar talents as Dizzy Gillespie and his scat singing eventually assumed iconic status. He appeared on Sesame Street and in the movie The Blues Brothers and died at the age of 86 in 1994.

SPECIAL

Christmas Day…1962 ‘TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD’ is released, based on Harper Lee’s famous novel. Winning three Academy Awards, including best actor, Gregory Peck starred as Atticus Finch, a lawyer who defends a black man falsely accused of rape.

Peck’s last screen role was as Father Mapple in Moby Dick, the 1956 version of which saw him play the title role of Captain Ahab.

Christmas Day…1973 PAUL NEWMAN and Robert Redford reprise their roles as loveable rogues in The Sting, following their success in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The film was nominated for 10 Oscars, and won seven, including Best Picture and Best Director for George Roy Hill.

Christmas Day…1989 ROMANIAN dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and his wife are tried and found guilty on charges of genocide after an hour-long show trial. They were executed five minutes after the verdict was announced in a spot that had already been prepared. A TV crew organised to film the execution arrived too late.

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Spaniards are big spenders MAJORITY of money spent on gifts, food, entertainment and travel

By Sam Croft CHRISTMAS spirit is certainly not in short supply in Spain, at least when it comes to spending money.

Results from the recent Christmas Consumption Study 2016, which was carried out in various European countries, have indicated that on average, Spanish families plan to spend €682 this Christmas.

This represents a 4 per cent increase from last year, when the average spending was €655. This statistic positions Spain as the second biggest spender among the countries surveyed, only behind Denmark, where the average output per family sat at €689.

This growth is explained largely due to increased optimism as the country takes tentative steps out of the crippling economic crisis which plagued the country for years. Surveys have

SPANISH FAMILIES: Plan on spending €682 this year.

indicated that 74 per cent of Spaniards feel that in 2016, the country’s economic situation was stabilising or improving. Last year only 63 per cent felt the same way.

Additionally, 66 per cent of Spaniards reported that they feel that they feel like they are on top

of their finances this year compared to last year.

When asked to provide a breakdown of how they plan to spend their money, the majority was set aside for gifts (€265) and food (€212), whereas other purchases like entertainment and travel made up the remainder of the budgets.

Party from the comfort of home CHRISTMAS parties don’t need to be based on the same old themes - funky jumpers, embarrassing work nights out, a bucketload of mulled wine and a raging hangover. If you’re looking for a fun, quiet, alcohol-free night in while saving the pennies then why not try some of the following ideas this Christmas.

With a craft party you can stay at home with friends and family and each design gifts for one another using your scissor skills. Grab as many ribbons, labels, paper, cards, crayons and pens as you can handle, stick on some Christmas music and get cracking!

If the festive season has already drained your soul with all the extra effort involved driving, shopping, cooking, spending and eating then perhaps a themed film party will do just the trick. You can find plenty of Christmassy films online or stock up on some DVDs. Recline the sofa, grab some festive snacks, and gather around to hibernate for a while.

Finally if you’ve longed for revenge on those loud neighbours of yours, then now is your chance. Christmas karaoke might be the only time you and the extended family get to wail to your hearts’ content with a readymade excuse in case the police come knocking. Pick your favourite Christmas playlist, buy a cheap microphone and kick out the jams!

SPECIAL

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

Advertising feature

Fish & Chip Diner ALL dishes are home-made FISH AND CHIPS are not the only food available at David’s Fish & Chip Diner as they also pride themselves on many home-made dishes and desserts which make them a number one favourite with clients old and new.

David’s Fish & Chip Diner has been established for nine years in Moraira and is a family-run business where they offer a very friendly and warm welcome to their fantastic restaurant, which has both inside and outside seating and is easily found on the Moraira-Calpe coast road.

Throughout December they have a Christmas Menu consisting of two or three courses and a glass of cava which is served lunchtime and evenings, but booking is required.

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plies including a full English breakfast served until 3pm as well as the Lunchtime Special for 5€ or 5.50€ with a drink from 12pm3pm. Or why not have the cod and chips with bread and butter and a drink from 4pm-6pm for only 6.50€?

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Advertising feature

See things clearly with Amasvista Windows EVERYTHING is produced with high quality aluminium or steel and produced in their workshop AMASVISTA WINDOWS are window and door manufacturers producing terrace and balcony glazing, windows and doors (in aluminium, not PVC), railings and balustrades, awnings, arched windows, conservatories and carports, among other products.

Everything is produced with high quality aluminum or steel and all their products are made by order from their workshop in Pedreguer. Almost everything is produced in the workshop, with only the awnings being supplied by an off-site manufacturer based in Germany.

Melanie and Siegfried decided to open Amasvista in 2011 after noticing a gap in the market for quality custom-made windows and doors. People were often making do with an unsuitable product as they felt custom-made products were too expensive or took too long to manufacture. However, the truth is cheap products will not last long in the harsh Spanish climate and badly fitted doors and windows increase heating and air conditioning costs to the point where any saving is effectively wiped out. When people do ask for a quote they are usually pleasantly surprised.

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HIGH QUALITY: All their products are made by order.

a brochure to view the full range of products.

Alternatively, you can visit the showroom in Pedreguer to see the products getting made. Pedro can also arrange to visit you directly at home for a free consultation and quotation if that’s what you’d prefer.

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The tradition of the Three Kings CHILDREN receive presents if they have written letters to say how good they have been FOR many countries the traditional gift giving doesn’t take place on December 25. In Germany it’s on Christmas Eve and in Spain it’s January 6. The latter is Epiphany, the time linked nowadays to the arrival of the ‘three kings’ who come to pay homage to Jesus.

GIFT BEARERS: The Three Kings make their arrival on camels.

In fact only one of the gospels in the New Testament mentions this event, and talks of ‘wise men,’ not kings, and doesn’t mention how many are supposed to have arrived.

Although the New Testament does not give these men names, they have been named over time, as leg-

end and tradition have intertwined.

They are now thought of as Balthazar, a scholar from Babylon: Melchior, a scholar from Persia and Caspar, an Indian scholar. In some stories they are described as being the

kings of Arabia, Persia and India.

In the gospel it merely says they came from the ‘east.’

In German-speaking countries their initials are sometimes inscribed over the doors of Catholic homes to bless those inside.

Their gifts, of myrrh, frankincense and gold respectively, have meant the growth of more legends and symbolic meanings.

Whilst gold is and always has been regarded as a valuable metal, frankincense is a perfume and myrrh is regarded as an oil for anointing.

Their spiritual meaning is that gold represents temporal kingship, frankincense is representative of godliness while myrrh symbolises death.

What use the gifts were put to results in more myths and traditions: the gold is sometimes said to have been used by Joseph and Mary to flee Judea after they were warned of Herod’s

plan to slaughter first-born sons.

The myrrh is often associated with the acknowledgment that Jesus would suffer before his death and is then said to have been used to anoint his body after the crucifixion.

What became of the three wise men is not revealed in the Bible but in one thread of the story they were martyred and their remains ended up in Cologne Cathedral.

This version states their remains were taken to Constantinople after being removed from the Holy Lands by Saint Helena. After that they were supposedly moved to Milan only to be forcibly taken from there to Cologne by Emperor Frederick I in the 12th century.

In Spain it is the Kings who deliver presents to children if they have first written letters saying how good they have been, and they arrive on camels which are then left the food and drink.

OPINION & COMMENT

LETTERS

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

EWN

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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

A Christmas shambles in Almuñecar

Witchdoctor in a dress WHY do these uneducated people with their Bronze Age superstitions about sky fairies think they can tell the rest of us how to live?

What is it to do with them what the rest of us do on Sundays?

We do not tell them they must not grovel on their knees to empty air, while listening to the local witchdoctor in a dress. We can do without their blatant lies about pretending to care about Sunday being a family day. On my first

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

LIKE many, I am looking forward to the festive season and all that comes with it. So I was very happy to read in the EWN last week that the Christmas lights would be switched on in Almuñecar on Saturday the 2nd.

I have been living here on and off for the last eight years and was surprised every year again by the decora t i v e l i g h t s, t h e v a rio u s beautiful trees and the wonderful and sp e c i a l a t m o sp h e re in th e town square.

I also read that a new company now took care of the decorations etc due to financial cuts... well did they cut! The Christmas lights in the street look like they have been last used 30 years ago and since been stored in a cow barn (lots already ‘out of light’ after two nights).

A kind of Christmas market on the s q u a r e , wh i c h t a k es u p s o much space and now makes concerts and Christmas plays impossible the r e a n d a d d e d w ith s o me poor pine trees, pulled from the beaches of the Costa de la Luz. The designer of this mismatch has also dropped a pile of wood in the middle of all this, (expect it to be lit one day when dried) fenced off by some roadwork fencing.

But worst of all... NO TREE!! Is this a case of ‘penny wise and pound stupid’? The town hall of Almuñ e c a r c a n ’t b e th at p o o r?

And also so inconsistent!

This Christmas cut makes the town look cheap and poor and without any ambience for the upcoming festivities. Apart from creating a signature for the tourists, I think the people of Almuñecar deserve more than this shambles given for their Fiesta de la Luz...

Ann Olivier

A needless death?

THE tragic pictures of the flooded homes are enough to make you weep. All of us know that natural disasters can overwhelm a place, but do the Spanish really make enough provision for dealing with this amount of water? I know it’s not usual, but we know it will rain heavily like that again. So why not build the drainage systems that can cope? Would it really cost

visit to christian America in 1980, I was surprised to find so many s h o p s o p en o n S unda y, unlike mainly secular Britain at the time with its so many empty churches.

Michael Hill

A fee to stay in the EU I READ this week that the chief EU Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt has stated he supports the mo tio n th a t w o u l d a llow e xpa t Brits to pay a fee to Brussels so they can keep their EU membership. Is it not enough that we put millions of euros into the Spanish economy every year, that now they

that much? I am not saying the UK handles this better, but there at least you expect the rain to be heavy and persistent. The pictures of the firefighters and divers struggling to free the young woman in Estepona were heartbreaking. She must have been terrified. If someone deliberately locked her inside that building they should face the full force of the law.

Alison, Alicante

want us to pay as well? I think we expats are in a very iffy situation.

What with T May’s buffoon Johnson and now Verhofstadt, it seems to me that the only hope we have is the Spanish Prime Minster who in the past has said that our situation in Spain would not change.

We have heard that sort of thing in the past. It’s a shame we can’t pa c k up a nd go ba c k to the U K and plant ourselves on the benefit s ys te m, the n the G ove rnme nt would understand how we benefit their system by not being there, after all we are the ones that have paid our 45 years and now deserve to be treated with a bit more respect and consideration. It would also show Spain just how much we put into their country. The ex-

pats in Spain need a voice, then we will be treated fairly.

Ron Chivers

Doubling down A CONCISE, good summary. Hillary was elected president of California.

Trump was elected president of the U nited St at es. Per i od. The protests since then are mostly by e a s ily l ed, wr ongl y educat ed youngsters incited by paid rabble rous e rs f unded by peopl e l i ke George Soros. The Democratic Party itself is doubling down on stupidity. “We need more big government, more government spend-

ing, more regulation.”

What part of no do you not understand. Love the quote from Robert Frost: ‘Half the world is composed of people who have something to say and can’t say it… and the other half who have nothing to say and keep on saying it.’

Frank Barone

General Trump DOES anyone else worry that Donald Trump’s inner circle now has t hr ee gener al s i n i t and a fourth might also be on the way?

A lot of people voted for Trump because he speaks his mind and doesn’t sit on the fence. If I were in America I think I’d have done the same. Giving the political establishment a good shake-up can’t be a bad thing can it? But why is it US generals get involved in public life to this extent. You don’t get to be a gener al by pussy- f oot i ng ar ound, but t hat doesn’t m ean diplomacy has to be a rude word.

Mending fences after you’ve mouthed off is never easy.

Bill, Malaga

Christmas cards TO t he Br i t s t hat ar e sendi ng Christmas cards home, please be advised. The Calahonda post office charges double the stamp if the envelope is not white and oblong. If it is white and oblong the stamp cost is under 80 cents, but if the envelope is coloured and a different shape it cost €1.50 per card. As was explained by the post office, the cards or letters would have t o be sor t ed by hand. Not sure I believe that.

I f you have a l ot of car ds t o send an extra 70 cents per card mounts up. Merry Christmas.

Trilby

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

Letters may also be edited.

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

www.euroweeklynews.com

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

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E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

7:00am Breakfast 10:15am Operation People Power with Dave Myers 11:00am Christmas Kitchen 12:15pm Homes Under the Hammer 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News at One 2:30pm BBC London News 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm Father Brown 4:00pm Think Tank 4:45pm Escape to the Country 5:30pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Who Do You Think You Are? 10:00pm The Apprentice 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:30pm BBC London News 11:45pm The Contenders 12:45am This Week 1:30am Weather for the Week Ahead 1:35am BBC News

7:40am Bargain Hunt 8:25am Flog It! 9:00am Great Continental Railway Journeys 10:00am Victoria Derbyshire 12:00pm BBC Newsroom Live 1:00pm The Daily Politics 2:00pm Cash in the Attic 2:30pm Just Good Friends 3:00pm Just Good Friends 3:30pm Natural World 4:30pm Natural World 5:30pm A Place to Call Home 6:15pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 8:00pm Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 9:00pm MasterChef: The Professionals 10:00pm Close to the Enemy 11:00pm The Apprentice: You’re Fired!

11:30pm Newsnight 12:15am The Big Life Fix with Simon Reeve 1:15am Panorama 1:45am Black is the New Black

8:00pm World News Today The latest national and international news, exploring the day’s events from a global perspective.

8:30pm The Sky at Night 9:00pm Natural World 10:00pm Vienna: Empire, Dynasty and Dream 11:00pm Project Children: Defusing the Troubles 12:30am Colour: The Spectrum of Science 1:30am Horizon Series exploring topical scientific issues.

2:30am Natural World Wildlife 3:30am Vienna: Empire, Dynasty and Dream 4:30am This is BBC Four BBC Four is the BBC channel for people who want more.

More depth, more range, more to stimulate the mind.

www.euroweeklynews.com

7:00am Countdown 7:45am King of Queens 9:00am Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00am Frasier 11:00am Jamie’s Cracking Christmas 12:00pm Kirstie’s Homemade Christmas 1:00pm Channel 4 News Summary 1:05pm Jamie’s Comfort Food Bites 1:25pm The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation 3:10pm Countdown 4:00pm Coast v Country 5:00pm Deal or No Deal on Tour 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:55pm The Political Slot 9:00pm The Secret Life of the Zoo 10:00pm Grand Designs 11:00pm 60 Days in Jail 11:55pm 24 Hours in A and E 1:00am Random Acts 1:30am 999: What’s Your Emergency?

8:05am Pip Ahoy!

8:20am Thomas and Friends 8:35am Noddy: Toyland Detective 8:50am Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 9:00am Wissper 9:15am Peppa Pig 9:35am Paw Patrol 9:50am Toot the Tiny Tugboat 10:00am Toby’s Travelling Circus 10:15am The Wright Stuff 12:40pm 5 News 12:45pm Guess Who’s Coming to Christmas 2:25pm Married by Christmas 4:15pm Christmas Hero 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Police Interceptors 7:30pm 2016: A Right Royal Year 8:00pm Ultimate Strongman Team World Championship 9:00pm Xmas Excess: Parents Splash the Cash 10:00pm Benefits by the Sea: Jaywick 11:00pm The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door 12:05am Crackers About Christmas

7:00am Charmed 7:45am Hollyoaks 8:10am How I Met Your Mother 9:05am Rules of Engagement 9:35am Rules of Engagement 10:00am Melissa and Joey 10:30am Melissa and Joey 11:00am Young and Hungry 11:30am Young and Hungry 12:00pm Charmed 1:00pm Charmed 2:00pm The Goldbergs 2:30pm The Goldbergs 3:00pm The Big Bang Theory 3:30pm The Big Bang Theory 4:00pm How I Met Your Mother 5:00pm The Big Bang Theory 5:30pm The Big Bang Theory 6:00pm The Goldbergs 6:30pm The Goldbergs 7:00pm The Big Bang Theory 7:30pm The Big Bang Theory 8:00pm Hollyoaks 8:30pm Carjackers 9:00pm The Big Bang Theory 9:30pm The Big Bang Theory 10:00pm Ted 12:05am The Big Bang Theory 12:35am The Big Bang Theory 1:00am Gogglebox 2:05am First Dates

THURSDAY TV

7:00am 7:15am 7:30am 7:45am 8:00am 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am 10:30am 11:00am 11:30am 12:00pm 12:30pm 1:00pm 1:30pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 3:00pm 3:30pm 4:00pm 4:30pm 5:00pm 5:30pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:30pm 11:00pm 12:00am

7:00am Good Morning Britain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:55pm ITV News London 3:00pm Judge Rinder 4:00pm Dickinson’s Real Deal 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Tonight 9:00pm Emmerdale 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Extraordinary Weddings 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:30pm ITV News London 11:40pm The Jonathan Ross Show 12:45am The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 1:30am Jackpot247 4:00am Tonight 4:25am ITV Nightscreen

7:00am You’ve Been Framed!

7:25am Dinner Date 8:15am The Ellen DeGeneres Show 9:00am Emmerdale 9:30am Coronation Street 10:00am You’ve Been Framed!

10:30am Psych 11:25am Scorpion 12:20pm Dinner Date 1:20pm Emmerdale 1:50pm Coronation Street 2:20pm You’ve Been Framed!

2:50pm The Ellen DeGeneres Show 3:45pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 4:50pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:55pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 7:00pm You’ve Been Framed!

8:00pm You’ve Been Framed!

8:30pm You’ve Been Framed!

9:00pm Two and a Half Men 9:30pm Two and a Half Men 10:00pm Through the Keyhole 11:00pm Celebrity Juice 12:00am Family Guy 12:30am Family Guy 1:00am Mom 1:30am Mom 2:00am American Dad!

7:00am 7:10am 7:35am 8:35am 9:35am 10:40am 11:05am 11:30am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:05pm 3:10pm 4:10pm 5:15pm 5:50pm 6:20pm 6:55pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 11:00pm 12:00am 1:00am 2:10am 2:15am 3:15am 3:30am

Movies Now Doctor in the House Heartbeat Where the Heart is Wild at Heart Judge Judy Judge Judy Judge Judy Murder, She Wrote Wycliffe Heartbeat Wild at Heart An Avonlea Christmas Doctor in the House You’re Only Young Twice George and Mildred

By Royal Appointment Murder, She Wrote Agatha Christie’s Marple Mr Selfridge Mrs Biggs Les Miserables FYI Daily Les Miserables ITV3 Nightscreen Teleshopping Shopping from home.

7:00am 7:50am 8:40am 9:45am 10:50am 11:50am 12:55pm 1:55pm 2:20pm 2:50pm 3:20pm 3:50pm 4:50pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

10:00pm 11:05pm 11:10pm 12:45am 1:45am 1:50am 3:00am 3:55am 4:00am

The Wine Show The Chase Quincy, M.E. Ironside The Professionals The Chase Cash Cowboys Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Counting Cars Counting Cars Quincy, M.E. Ironside Counting Cars Counting Cars Cash Cowboys Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Steve Mcqueen: Motorcycle Movie Star The Living Daylights FYI Daily The Living Daylights Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning FYI Daily Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning The Wine Show ITV4 Nightscreen Teleshopping

11:00am San Andreas 1:00pm Avengers: Age of Ultron 3:20pm Arthur and Merlin 5:10pm Behind Enemy Lines 7:00pm San Andreas 9:00pm Avengers: Age of Ultron 11:30pm The Matrix Reloaded 1:50am The Fast and the Furious

7:30am Sully: Miracle on the Hudson Special 8:00am Office Space 9:35am Rushmore 11:15am Ride Along 2 1:05pm The Top Ten Show 2016 1:25pm Pitch Perfect 2 3:25pm Ricki and the Flash 5:15pm Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story 7:00pm Pitch Perfect 2 9:00pm Ride Along 2 10:45pm Brüno 12:20am Unfinished Business 2:00am City Slickers 4:00am Bad News Bears

7:00am The Great Gilly Hopkins 8:55am The Physician 11:30am Midnight Special 1:30pm Hail, Caesar!

3:20pm The Great Gilly Hopkins 5:05pm Midnight Special A desperate father struggles to keep his young son out of the hands of religious fanatics and governent.

7:05pm Risen 9:00pm Hail, Caesar!

Josh Brolin’s studio fixer has a job on his hands when a pampered movie star is kidnapped.

11:00pm Chastity Bites 12:40am Carnage Park 2:05am Like Father Like Son 4:10am Risen Joseph Fiennes stars as a world-weary Roman tribune searching for the body of the crucified Christ.

7:00am 7:15am 7:30am 7:45am 8:00am 8:15am 8:30am 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am 10:15am 10:30am 10:45am 11:00am 11:30am 1:30pm 3:30pm 4:30pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm

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

Football Gold Football Gold Football Gold Football Gold WWE SmackDown!

Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Premier League 100 Club Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Football Premier League Match Pack Premier League Review Football Premier League Review Sporting Triumphs

Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Cricket’s Greatest Cricket’s Greatest Cricket’s Greatest Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Football’s Greatest Teams England’s Best Days England’s Best Days Cricket World Cup Classic Sporting Triumphs Carp Wars 2016 World Rugby Show Fishing Live European Challenge Cup Rugby A League of Their Own Year La Liga Show More Than a Game Carp Wars 2016

72

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

7:00am Breakfast 10:15am Operation People Power with Dave Myers 11:00am Christmas Kitchen 12:15pm Homes Under the Hammer 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News at One 2:30pm BBC London News 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm Father Brown 4:00pm Think Tank 4:45pm Escape to the Country 5:30pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm Still Open All Hours 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Citizen Khan 10:00pm Have I Got News for You 10:30pm Walliams and Friends 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm The Graham Norton Show 12:25am The Apprentice: Why I Fired Them

7:30am Bargain Hunt 8:15am Flog It! 9:00am Life and Death the Pentecostal Way 10:00am Victoria Derbyshire 12:00pm BBC Newsroom Live 1:00pm The Daily Politics 2:00pm Rock Around the Clock 3:15pm Coast 3:40pm Natural World 4:30pm Natural World 5:30pm A Place to Call Home 6:15pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 7:00pm Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two 8:00pm Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 9:00pm Mastermind 9:30pm Coastal Path 10:00pm Rick Stein’s Long Weekends 11:00pm QI 11:30pm Newsnight 12:05am Close to the Enemy 1:05am Titanic’s Tragic Twin: The Britannic Disaster

8:00pm World News Today The latest national and international news, exploring the day’s events from a global perspective.

8:30pm Top of the Pops David Jensen presents the weekly pop chart show, first broadcast on 11 November 1982.

9:00pm The Good Old Days 10:00pm The Dave Clark Five and Beyond: Glad All Over 11:55pm Dusty Springfield at the BBC A selection of Dusty Springfield’s performances at the BBC from 1961 to 1995.

12:55am Doris Day: Virgin Territory Michael Brandon narrates a profile of one of the big screen’s more enduring legends.

1:55am Top of the Pops

7:00am Countdown 9:00am Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00am Frasier 10:30am Frasier 11:00am Jamie’s Night Before Christmas 12:00pm Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas 1:00pm Channel 4 News Summary 1:05pm Jamie’s Cracking Christmas Bites 1:15pm Jamie’s Comfort Food Bites 1:25pm A Christmas Wedding Tail 3:10pm Countdown 4:00pm Coast v Country 5:00pm Deal or No Deal on Tour 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Alan Carr’s Happy Hour 10:00pm Gogglebox 11:00pm The Last Leg 12:05am 8 Out of 10 Cats

7:00am Good Morning Britain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:55pm ITV News London 3:00pm Judge Rinder 4:00pm Dickinson’s Real Deal 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Countrywise 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Vicious 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:30pm ITV News London 11:40pm Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous 1:45am Jackpot247 4:00am ITV Nightscreen

7:00am You’ve Been Framed!

7:25am Dinner Date 8:15am The Ellen DeGeneres Show 9:00am Emmerdale 10:00am Coronation Street 10:30am Psych 11:25am Scorpion 12:20pm Dinner Date 1:20pm Emmerdale 1:50pm Emmerdale 2:20pm Coronation Street 2:50pm The Ellen DeGeneres Show 3:45pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 4:50pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:55pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 7:00pm Funniest Ever You’ve Been Framed! Gold 8:00pm You’ve Been Framed!

8:30pm You’ve Been Framed!

9:00pm Two and a Half Men 9:30pm Two and a Half Men 10:00pm The Mask 11:00pm FYI Daily 11:05pm The Mask 12:05am Family Guy

7:00am 7:25am 7:50am 8:50am 9:55am 10:55am 11:20am 12:05pm 1:05pm 2:10pm 4:15pm

7:00am 7:55am 8:45am 9:50am 10:50am 11:55am 12:55pm 1:55pm 2:25pm 2:55pm 3:25pm 3:50pm 4:55pm 6:00pm 6:25pm 6:55pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

5:20pm 5:50pm 6:20pm 6:55pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 11:00pm 12:00am 1:30am 2:30am 2:35am 3:30am 4:20am

Doctor in the House George and Mildred Heartbeat Wycliffe Wild at Heart Judge Judy Judge Judy Murder, She Wrote Wycliffe Rosemary and Thyme An Avonlea Christmas Doctor in the House You’re Only Young Twice George and Mildred Cameraman to the Queen Murder, She Wrote Foyle’s War Mr Selfridge Mrs Biggs Elizabeth: The Golden Age FYI Daily Elizabeth: The Golden Age Long Lost Family Rory Bremner’s Great British Views

10:00pm 11:10pm 11:15pm 12:25am 1:30am 1:35am 3:35am

The Wine Show The Chase Quincy, M.E. Ironside The Professionals The Chase Cash Cowboys Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Counting Cars Counting Cars Quincy, M.E. Ironside Counting Cars Counting Cars Cash Cowboys Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Steve Mcqueen: Motorcycle Movie Star Tomorrow Never Dies FYI Daily Tomorrow Never Dies Jackie Brown FYI Daily Jackie Brown Tommy Cooper

7:40am 7:50am 8:05am 8:20am 8:35am 8:50am 9:00am 9:15am 9:35am 9:50am 10:00am 10:15am 12:40pm 12:45pm 2:30pm 4:15pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:05pm 12:10am

Bob the Builder Little Princess Pip Ahoy!

Thomas and Friends Noddy: Toyland Detective Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom Wissper Peppa Pig Paw Patrol Toot the Tiny Tugboat Toby’s Travelling Circus The Wright Stuff 5 News The Christmas Gift I’m Not Ready for Christmas Christmas Carol 5 News at 5 Police Interceptors 2016: Terror in Europe The Gadget Show Christmas Makes You Laugh Out Loud 22 Jump Street 5 News 22 Jump Street The Other Guys

8:35am The Marine 4: Moving Target 10:10am Exodus: Gods and Kings 12:45pm Ant-Man 2:45pm Spectre 5:15pm Walking Tall 7:00pm Ant-Man 9:00pm Spectre 11:35pm The Matrix Revolutions 1:50am 2 Fast 2 Furious

7:30am 9:35am 11:20am 1:10pm 3:15pm 5:25pm 7:10pm 9:00pm 11:05pm 1:00am 2:50am 4:40am

Raising Helen Sister Act Galaxy Quest The Intern The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Krampus The Wedding Ringer The Intern The Night Before Entourage Bad Bromance Superfast

7:00am Charmed 7:45am Hollyoaks 8:10am How I Met Your Mother 9:05am Rules of Engagement 9:35am Rules of Engagement 10:00am Melissa and Joey 10:30am Melissa and Joey 11:00am Animals Unleashed 11:30am Animals Unleashed 12:00pm Charmed 1:00pm Charmed 2:00pm The Goldbergs 2:30pm The Goldbergs 3:00pm The Big Bang Theory 3:30pm The Big Bang Theory 4:00pm How I Met Your Mother 5:00pm The Big Bang Theory 5:30pm The Big Bang Theory 6:00pm The Goldbergs 6:30pm The Goldbergs 7:00pm The Big Bang Theory 7:30pm The Big Bang Theory 8:00pm Hollyoaks 8:30pm Carjackers 9:00pm The Twilight Saga: Eclipse 11:25pm The Big Bang Theory 11:55pm The Big Bang Theory 12:20am Tattoo Fixers

7:00am The Great Gilly Hopkins 8:45am Hail, Caesar!

10:35am Risen 12:35pm Midnight Special 2:35pm Zoolander 2 4:20pm Hail, Caesar!

6:20pm The Physician An English orphan (Tom Payne) with an extraordinary gift travels to Persia to study medicine.

9:00pm Zoolander 2 11:00pm Risen 1:00am Chastity Bites 2:40am Midnight Special 4:40am Ant-Man: Behind the Scenes A behind-the-scenes look at Marvel’s superhero adventure starring Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas.

5:10am The Great Gilly Hopkins

FRIDAY TV

7:00am 7:30am 7:45am 8:00am 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am 10:30am 11:00am 11:30am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 5:30pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 11:15pm 12:15am

Football Gold Football Gold Football Gold WWE Main Event Barclays Premier League World Premier League Legends Boxing Gold Boxing Gold Barclays Premier League World Boxing Gold NFL Highlights NFL: Greatest Games The Premier League Years NFL Highlights Football’s Greatest Teams Premier League 100 Club Game Changers Premier League Match Pack The Fantasy Football Club Football The Fantasy Football Club Barclays Premier League Preview

7:00am Cricket 1:00pm Cricket’s Greatest 1:30pm Cricket’s Greatest 2:00pm NFL Highlights 3:00pm Cricket 4:00pm Cricket 5:00pm Live the Csa Slam T20 Challenge 8:30pm NFL Highlights 9:30pm Cricket 10:30pm Cricket 11:30pm A League of Their Own Year 12:30am More Than a Game 1:00am More Than a Game 1:30am Cricket 2:30am Sporting Triumphs 2:45am Cricket 3:45am Cricket Day one of the fifth Test between India and England at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

4:45am Cricket

FEATURE

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

EWN

73

Advertising feature

A fantastic range of quality furniture DAVID and Jayne Harris, of Sofa Medico, are well known as upholst e r y sp e c i a l i s ts , h av in g earned an excellent reputation during their 13 years here in Spain, and have now expanded to Harris Furnishings in Pedreguer where its objective is to supply quality furniture to suit all tastes and budgets.

Harris Furnishings is aiming to fill a gap in the market with the kno wl e d g e t h a t man y c lie n ts over the years have taken the re-upholstery route, as they hav e b e e n u n a b l e to fin d s ome t h i n g t o su i t th e ir tastes.

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in the UK for many years - and take great pride in its restoration work, with customer satisfaction being its main priority, so your peace of mind is guaranteed.

Harris Furnishings provide a free delivery service between Ol i va and Al t ea and wi l l al so take away your old suite free of charge. Immediate delivery is available for some floor models, while Spanish brands are delivered within four to five weeks, and British brands have an eight to 10 week delivery period. Likewise, Sofa Medico offer a free col l ect i on and r et ur n ser vi ce within the specified area for most upholstery projects.

UPHOLSTERY SPECIALISTS: Supplying quality furniture to suit all tastes and budgets. leather. Some of the power recliner sofas and chairs in both leather and fabric have the latest finger touch-sensitive technology for your ease and comfort. Additionally, all leather suites come w ith a th ree -ye a r gua ra nte e , which includes accidental dam-

age and a leather cleaning kit.

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in the workshop on site. There is a wide range of upholstery options for your home, garden, boat, car and much more.

The com pany has over 30 years experience in the upholstery and furniture trade - having managed the family-run business

Call for a free no-obligation quote for re-upholstery, cleaning (leather or fabric) or repairs on 966 469 371 / 699 836 251, or visit the showroom to browse the fantastic selection of furniture on offer at Polígono Industrial Les Galgues, Calle de la Marroquinería 1, Pedreguer 03750.

Alternatively you can email sofa medico@yahoo.co.uk or see their Facebook page @harrisfurnishings.sofamedico.

Advertising feature

Have the best TV choices this Christmas AS the internet in Spain improves we are now able to watch TV through our own IP connection as well as satellite. You can now receive live as it happens UK and Irish television channels through your internet connection without using a satellite dish, television aerial or your computer.

The new generation of IPTV Set Top boxes Crystal Clear’s IPTV box connects straight to your television just like a normal satellite or cable receiver which means no connecting cables from your computer to the TV with exciting choices for your programme viewing.

There is more than 140 channels including all your favourites like BBC, ITV, Sky and BT Sports plus movies. The full channel list can be found on the website www.ccsattv.com. Also available is catch-up TV allowing you to go back and watch programmes you may have missed. With the pause, fast-forward and

rewind button you need never watch an advert again.

Also TV on demand which contains box sets of your favourite shows and series and there’s a video club in high definition with over 1500 films which is updated regularly and includes the latest box office films, all this and much much more for under €5 a week.

With this amazing, compact little box you can take it with you anywhere in the world as long as you have that all important internet connection. Don’t argue over what to watch, watch it all, your Christmas TV viewing will never be the same again.

What is the difference between an Android TV box abd an IPTV? While internet TV travels over the open, public, global Internet, IPTV uses a completely private, managed network to deliver your TV content directly to you. IPTV is a multicasting

INTERNET TV: Lets you watch UK and Irish channels.

of TV content within a controlled managed network, so allowing the IPTV provider to maintain, deliver and pick their own content, as well as give a continued service IPTV delivery is a higher quality, more reliable and more consistent viewing experience while best-effort Android internet boxes can be subject to delays due to lower bandwidth, high traffic to channel feeds or poor connection quality stream.

This is why some people think internet TV is

poor quality and channels keep moving or need reprogramming, as it’s all unmanaged. With IPTV a digital set-top box is used to access and decode the video content delivered via an IPTV system whereas an Android TV box nearly always use public open source players to access TV services The age old saying is still the same today ‘you get what you pay for.’

Contact Crystal Clear on 965 584 097 or 660 186 505 or visit www.ccsattv.com.

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E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

7:00am Breakfast 11:00am Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30pm Home Comforts at Christmas 1:00pm Football Focus 2:00pm BBC News 2:15pm The Contenders 3:15pm Bargain Hunt 4:15pm Escape to the Country 5:00pm Final Score 6:30pm BBC News 6:40pm BBC London News 6:50pm Pointless 7:40pm Strictly Come Dancing 9:55pm Michael Mcintyre’s Big Show 10:55pm BBC News 11:15pm The National Lottery Live 11:25pm Match of the Day 12:45am The NFL Show 1:15am Old School with the Hairy Bikers 2:45am Weather for the Week Ahead 2:50am BBC News

8:25am Scrambled!

8:30am Nerds and Monsters.

Molting Day 8:50am Horrid Henry 9:10am The Powerpuff Girls 9:30am Be Cool, ScoobyDoo! Mystery 101 10:05am Adventure Time 10:25am ITV News 10:30am Carry on Follow That Camel 12:20pm Judge Rinder 1:25pm ITV News and Weather 1:35pm This Time Next Year 2:35pm Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium 4:20pm Thunderbirds are Go 4:45pm ITV News London 5:00pm ITV News and Weather 5:15pm The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring 8:30pm The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey 11:40pm ITV News and Weather 11:55pm Private Benjamin 1:55am Jackpot247

www.euroweeklynews.com

Holiday Affair The Bishop’s Wife This Farming Life This Farming Life Japan: Earth’s Enchanted Island Japan: Earth’s Enchanted Island Japan: Earth’s Enchanted Island The Odd Life of Timothy Green Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger!

Dad’s Army Operation Snow Tiger Walt Disney Disney’s A Christmas Carol QI XL Porridge The Making of Young Men Balletboyz - Young Men Chances Are This is BBC Two Highlights of programmes on BBC Two.

8:00pm Queen Elizabeth I: A Timewatch Guide 9:00pm The Last Journey of the Magna Carta King 10:00pm Modus 10:45pm Modus 11:30pm Top of the Pops David Jensen presents the weekly pop chart show, first broadcast on 11th November 1982.

12:00am Ultimate Number 1s 1:00am Agnetha: Abba and After 2:00am Kings of 70s Romance 3:00am Burt Bacharach: A Life in Song 4:30am This is BBC Four BBC Four is the BBC channel for people who want more. More depth, more range, more to stimulate the... (read more)

7:10am Three Peaks Yacht Race 8:05am Everybody Loves Raymond 8:30am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:00am Frasier 9:30am Frasier 10:00am The Morning Line 11:00am The Big Bang Theory 11:25am The Big Bang Theory 11:50am The Simpsons 12:15pm The Simpsons 12:45pm The Dog Who Saved the Holidays 2:30pm Channel 4 Racing 5:05pm The Simpsons 5:35pm The Simpsons 6:05pm Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas 6:40pm Arthur Christmas 8:30pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Tree of the Year with Ardal O’Hanlon 10:00pm It Was Alright in the 1970’s 11:00pm Escape Plan 1:15am Before I Go to Sleep 3:25am 60 Days in Jail 4:20am Kirstie and Phil’s Love it or List it

8:45am Paw Patrol 9:05am Blaze and the Monster Machines 9:35am Noddy in Toyland 9:50am Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 10:00am Shimmer and Shine 10:25am Peppa Pig 10:35am Peppa Pig 10:45am Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 11:05am Jelly Jamm 11:15am The Gadget Show 12:15pm A Cinderella Christmas 2:05pm Christmas Cookies 3:50pm Love Always, Santa 5:35pm Christmas Under Wraps 6:35pm 5 News Weekend 6:40pm Christmas Under Wraps 7:25pm Space Cowboys 8:25pm 5 News Weekend 8:30pm Space Cowboys 10:00pm Football on 5 11:00pm Football on 5 11:30pm The Funny Thing About... Christmas 12:30am Greatest Ever Christmas Songs

7:50am Rude(Ish) Tube Shorts 8:00am Baby Daddy 8:30am Baby Daddy 9:00am How I Met Your Mother 10:00am Made in Chelsea 11:00am Celebrity Couples Come Dine with Me 12:05pm Melissa and Joey 12:35pm Melissa and Joey 1:00pm Melissa and Joey 1:30pm Melissa and Joey 2:00pm Black-Ish 2:30pm Black-Ish 3:00pm Diary of a Wimpy Kid 5:00pm The Goldbergs 5:30pm The Goldbergs 6:00pm The Goldbergs 6:30pm The Big Bang Theory 7:00pm The Big Bang Theory 7:30pm The Big Bang Theory 8:00pm The Big Bang Theory 8:30pm The Big Bang Theory 9:00pm The Big Bang Theory 9:30pm The Big Bang Theory 10:00pm The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 12:20am Gogglebox

7:00am The Hot Desk 7:10am Emmerdale Omnibus 9:40am Coronation Street Omnibus 12:35pm Catchphrase 1:35pm You’ve Been Framed!

2:35pm Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas 3:35pm Peter Pan 4:35pm FYI Daily 4:40pm Peter Pan 5:45pm Snow Dogs 6:45pm FYI Daily 6:50pm Snow Dogs 8:00pm You’ve Been Framed!

9:00pm Scorpion 10:00pm A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas 11:00pm FYI Daily 11:05pm A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas 11:50pm Family Guy 12:20am Family Guy 12:45am Family Guy 1:15am Mom 1:40am American Dad! 2:10am Bring it On 3:10am FYI Daily 3:15am Bring it On 4:00am Teleshopping

7:00am Movies Now 7:10am The Belles of St. Trinian’s 8:15am FYI Daily 8:20am The Belles of St. Trinian’s 8:50am Columbo: By Dawn’s Early Light 10:55am A Touch of Frost 12:50pm A Touch of Frost 2:50pm Foyle’s War 4:50pm Midsomer Murders 6:55pm Midsomer Murders 9:00pm Doc Martin 10:00pm The Booze Cruise III 12:00am Inspector Morse Police drama series featuring Colin Dexter’s enigmatic chief inspector and his sidekick Sergeant Lewis.

2:15am Wycliffe 3:10am ITV3 Nightscreen Text-based information service.

3:30am Teleshopping Shopping from home.

7:05am Motorsport UK 7:55am Bundesliga 8:50am Rugby Sevens World Series Highlights 9:20am Cash Cowboys 10:20am Cash Cowboys 11:20am Storage Wars 11:50am Pawn Stars 1:40pm The Great Outdoors 2:45pm FYI Daily 2:50pm The Great Outdoors 3:30pm Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure 4:30pm FYI Daily 4:35pm Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure 5:15pm Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey 6:15pm FYI Daily 6:20pm Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey 7:10pm On Her Majesty’s Secret Service 8:15pm FYI Daily 8:20pm On Her Majesty’s Secret Service 10:00pm The Specialist 11:05pm FYI Daily 11:10pm The Specialist 12:10am Inside Man

1:05pm Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation 3:25pm The Da Vinci Code 6:00pm The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers 9:00pm Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation 11:25pm The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift 1:25am Backdraft 3:55am The Top Ten Show 2016

7:00am Midnight Special 9:00am Moana: Special 9:30am The Great Gilly Hopkins 11:15am Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip 1:00pm Zoolander 2 2:45pm The Top Ten Show 2016 3:00pm Risen 5:00pm The Top Ten Show 2016 5:15pm Hail, Caesar!

7:15pm Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip 9:00pm Zoolander 2 10:45pm Midnight Special A desperate father struggles to keep his young son out of the hands of religious fanatics and government 12:45am Chastity Bites 2:20am The Physician 5:00am The Great Gilly Hopkins

7:50am 9:15am 11:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:35pm 7:25pm 7:55pm 8:55pm 9:55pm 11:25pm 12:10am 12:50am 1:20am 2:20am 4:05am

8:15am Christmas with the Kranks 10:10am Bad Santa 11:55am The House Bunny 1:40pm The Cable Guy 3:25pm Hitch 5:30pm Bridget Jones’s Diary 7:15pm Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 9:00pm Get Hard 10:45pm The House Bunny 12:35am Rush Hour 2 2:15am Search Party 4:00am South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut

SATURDAY TV

7:00am 7:15am 7:30am 7:45am 8:00am 8:15am 8:30am 8:45am 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am 11:00am 12:30pm 4:00pm 6:15pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 11:30pm 12:30am 1:00am 2:00am 5:30am 5:45am

Football Gold Football Gold Football Gold Football Gold Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Game Changers Premier League Preview 2016/17 The Fantasy Football Club Soccer A.M. Football Gillette Soccer Saturday Football EFL Goals Nissan Game of the Day Nissan Match Choice Football NFL Greatest Games Live NFL Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs A look back at some of sport’s greatest triumphs.

7:00am Cricket 1:00pm Sporting Rivalries 1:30pm Live European Champions Cup Rugby 4:15pm Cricket 5:15pm Cricket 6:15pm Live European Champions Cup Rugby 8:45pm Cricket 9:45pm Cricket 10:45pm NFL - America’s Game 11:45pm Sporting Triumphs 12:00am EFL Goals 12:30am Sporting Rivalries 1:00am Football 1:30am Football A match from the Premier League.

2:00am Football 2:30am Football 3:00am Football 3:30am Football 4:00am Football 4:30am Sporting Triumphs 4:45am Cricket

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7:00am Breakfast 8:40am Match of the Day 10:00am The Andrew Marr Show 11:00am Fern Britton Meets...

12:00pm Sunday Politics 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News 2:15pm Flog It! 3:10pm Elizabeth at 90: A Family Tribute 4:40pm Planet Earth II 5:40pm Songs of Praise 6:15pm BBC News 6:30pm BBC London News 6:40pm Countryfile 7:40pm Sports Personality of the Year 10:00pm The Apprentice 11:00pm The Apprentice: You’re Hired 12:00am BBC News 12:20am BBC London News 12:30am Walliams and Friends 1:00am Have I Got a Bit More News for You 1:45am Weather for the Week Ahead 1:50am BBC News

8:30am Nerds and Monsters.

Zanit-Clops 8:50am Horrid Henry 9:10am The Powerpuff Girls 9:30am Thunderbirds are Go 10:05am Adventure Time 10:25am All Stars 12:20pm Let’s Do Christmas with Gino and Mel 1:15pm ITV News and Weather 1:20pm Off Their Rockers 1:50pm The Incredible Hulk 3:55pm National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 5:45pm Santa Claus 7:40pm ITV News London 7:50pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm All Star Mr and Mrs Christmas Special 9:00pm Midsomer Murders 11:00pm ITV News and Weather 11:20pm Hot Fuzz 1:35am Jackpot247 4:00am Motorsport UK 4:50am ITV Nightscreen Text-based information service.

7:20am A to Z of TV Gardening 8:05am Big Dreams Small Spaces 9:05am Countryfile 10:00am Natural World 11:00am Saturday Kitchen Best Bites 12:30pm The A to Z of TV Cooking 1:15pm MOTD2 Extra 2:00pm Tom Kerridge Cooks Christmas 2:30pm Equestrian 5:35pm Full Steam Ahead 6:35pm The Terminal 8:40pm Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV 9:20pm Best of British 10:00pm Victoria Wood’s MidLife Christmas 11:00pm Victoria Wood: At It Again 12:30am Last Chance Harvey 1:55am Countryfile 2:50am Holby City 3:50am This is BBC Two Highlights of programmes on BBC Two.

8:00pm Danielle De Niese: The Birth of an Opera 9:00pm The Barber of Seville from Glyndebourne 11:45pm Lucy Worsley: Mozart’s London Odyssey 12:45am Horizon Series exploring topical scientific issues.

1:45am How to Build a Jumbo Jet Engine 2:45am Inside Porton Down: Britain’s Secret Weapons Research Facility Dr Michael Mosley investigates Britain’s most secretive and controversial military research base, Porton Down, on its 100th anniversary 3:45am How to Build...

Britain’s Secret Engineers 4:45am This is BBC Four

7:00am The Hot Desk 7:10am Christmas Bonkers Guinness World Records 7:35am Emmerdale Omnibus 10:20am Coronation Street Omnibus 1:20pm You’ve Been Framed!

2:20pm The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol 2:45pm Santa Paws II: The Santa Pups 3:45pm FYI Daily 3:50pm Santa Paws II: The Santa Pups 4:40pm Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas 5:40pm FYI Daily 5:45pm Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas 6:05pm Catchphrase 7:05pm The X Factor Winner’s Story 8:10pm The Amazing SpiderMan 9:10pm FYI Daily 9:15pm The Amazing SpiderMan 11:00pm Family Guy 11:30pm Family Guy

7:00am 8:00am 8:05am 8:45am 9:45am 10:45am 11:45am 12:45pm 2:45pm 4:45pm 5:45pm 5:50pm 6:55pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:10am 1:10am 1:15am 2:05am 3:55am 4:45am

George and Mildred FYI Daily George and Mildred Heartbeat Heartbeat An Avonlea Christmas An Avonlea Christmas Agatha Christie’s Marple Columbo: The Conspirators Casablanca FYI Daily Casablanca Agatha Christie’s Marple Meet the Penguins Land of the Midnight Sun Wycliffe Wimbledon FYI Daily Wimbledon Lewis Wycliffe May the Best House Win

www.euroweeklynews.com

7:15am 7:45am 8:10am 8:40am 9:05am 9:35am 10:00am 10:30am 1:30pm 3:05pm 5:10pm 5:45pm 6:10pm 8:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:05am 1:40am 3:15am 4:05am 5:00am

Gillette World Sport Frasier Frasier Frasier The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Sunday Brunch Lewis v Nico: F1 2016 Inkheart The Snowman Channel 4 News Cars Britain’s Wildest Weather Humans Gogglebox About a Boy Before I Go to Sleep 60 Days in Jail Kirstie and Phil’s Love it or List it Location, Location, Location Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer face the challenge of a double-header that’s all about postcodes and pickiness.

7:00am The Wine Show 7:55am Fifth Gear 8:40am Rugby Sevens World Series Highlights 9:15am The Motorbike Show 10:15am The Motorbike Show 11:15am Storage Wars 11:40am Pawn Stars 12:05pm Pawn Stars 12:35pm Pawn Stars 1:00pm Pawn Stars 1:30pm Pawn Stars 1:55pm Pawn Stars 2:25pm Rio Bravo 3:25pm FYI Daily 3:30pm Rio Bravo 5:15pm The Horse Soldiers 6:25pm FYI Daily 6:30pm The Horse Soldiers 7:40pm Diamonds are Forever 8:55pm FYI Daily 9:00pm Diamonds are Forever 10:00pm The Deer Hunter 11:05pm FYI Daily 11:10pm The Deer Hunter 1:45am Hell on Wheels 2:40am Quincy, M.E. 3:45am Ironside

7:40am 7:50am 8:00am 8:05am 8:15am 8:30am 8:40am 9:00am 9:25am 9:40am 10:00am 10:25am 10:45am 11:00am 12:30pm 1:30pm 3:15pm 5:00pm 6:45pm 9:00pm 9:55pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:05pm 11:55pm 2:00am

Wanda and the Alien Zack and Quack Seaside Antics Fireman Sam Pip Ahoy!

Little Princess Paw Patrol Blaze and the Monster Machines Noddy in Toyland Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom Shimmer and Shine Peppa Pig Jelly Jamm Football on 5 The Gadget Show A Perfect Christmas List Lost Letter Mysteries for Christmas The Christmas Scrooge Michael Buble at Christmas 5 News Weekend Hercules 5 News Weekend Hercules Snitch Super Casino

11:20am Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials 1:35pm John Wick 3:25pm The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King 6:45pm Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials 9:00pm The Man From U.N.C.L.E. 11:10pm John Wick 1:05am Fast and Furious

7:15am Welcome to Me 8:50am Valentine’s Day 11:00am Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby 1:10pm Ted 2 3:10pm Dumb and Dumber 5:00pm Dumb and Dumber To 7:00pm Mamma Mia! 9:00pm Ted 2 11:00pm Drillbit Taylor 12:50am Krampus 2:30am Ricki and the Flash 4:15am Sex Ed

7:00am 7:20am 7:45am 8:05am 8:35am 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am 10:30am 1:00pm 3:00pm 3:25pm 4:00pm 4:30pm 5:00pm 5:35pm 6:05pm 6:35pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm

12:20am 1:25am

Animals Unleashed Animals Unleashed Animals Unleashed Baby Daddy Baby Daddy Melissa and Joey Melissa and Joey Young and Hungry Hollyoaks Omnibus Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas The Goldbergs The Goldbergs The Goldbergs The Goldbergs The Goldbergs The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1 Tattoo Fixers Gogglebox

7:00am Risen 9:00am Zoolander 2 11:00am Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip 12:45pm The Physician An English orphan (Tom Payne) with an extraordinary gift travels to Persia to study medicine.

3:25pm The Young Messiah A seven-year-old Jesus still discovering the true extent of his gifts is pursued by a Roman centurion.

5:25pm Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip 7:10pm Hail, Caesar!

A studio fixer has a job on his hands when a pampered movie star is kidnapped.

9:00pm The Young Messiah 11:00pm Zoolander 2 12:45am Chastity Bites 2:25am Like Father Like Son

SUNDAY TV

7:00am 7:30am 8:00am 8:30am 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am 11:30am 1:30pm 4:30pm 8:00pm 8:15pm 8:30pm 10:30pm 10:45pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:00am 12:30am 1:30am 2:00am 5:30am

Football Football Football Football Football Football The Sunday Supplement Goals on Sunday Live Nissan Super Sunday Live Nissan Super Sunday Spanish Gold Spanish Gold Football Spanish Gold Spanish Gold Football Football Football Goals on Sunday Football Live NFL Football’s Greatest Teams A look at the AC Milan team that lifted the European Cup three times between 1989 and 1994.

7:00am Cricket 12:45pm Football 3:15pm Great Sporting Moments 3:30pm Cricket World Cup Classics 4:30pm Cricket 5:30pm Cricket 6:30pm Live NFL 10:00pm Live NFL 2:00am Premier League Legends 2:30am Great Sporting Moments 2:45am Cricket Day three of the fifth Test as India host England at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.

3:45am Cricket 4:45am Cricket Day four of the fifth Test between India and England at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.

78

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www.euroweeklynews.com

Breakfast Christmas City Christmas Kitchen Homes Under the Hammer Bargain Hunt BBC News at One BBC London News Cool Runnings The Nativity Madagascar Donkey’s Caroling Christmas-Tacular Pointless BBC News at Six BBC London News Celebrity Mastermind Panorama EastEnders Would I Lie to You? Last Tango in Halifax BBC News at Ten The latest national and international news, with reports from BBC correspondents worldwide.

BBC London News Match of the Day 2 Citizen Khan

7:30am Operation People Power with Dave Myers 8:15am Coastal Path 8:45am Great British Menu 9:15am The Game Plan 11:00am Robot Wars 12:00pm Money for Nothing 1:00pm The Daily Politics 2:00pm Natural World 2:45pm Nigella’s Christmas Kitchen 3:15pm This Farming Life 4:15pm A Place to Call Home 5:00pm Full Steam Ahead 6:00pm Gareth Malone’s Great Choir Reunion 7:00pm The Real Marigold Hotel 8:00pm We’re Doomed! The Dad’s Army Story 9:00pm University Challenge 9:30pm Only Connect 10:00pm Lenny Henry - A Life on Screen 11:00pm Two Doors Down 12:00am Top of the Pops 2 1:00am The Choir 2:00am Rick Stein’s Long Weekends

8:00pm Indian Hill Railways 9:00pm Digging for Britain Professor Alice Roberts with the very best in British archaeology 2016.

10:00pm Time Commanders 11:00pm Booze, Beans and Bhajis: The Story of the Corner Shop 12:00am Balmoral Documentary telling the story of Balmoral, the royal family’s most private 1:00am Queen Elizabeth I: A Timewatch Guide 2:00am Indian Hill Railways 3:00am Time Commanders 4:00am Booze, Beans and Bhajis: The Story of the Corner Shop 5:00am This is BBC Four BBC Four is the BBC channel for people who want more. More depth, more range, more to stimulate the mind

7:10am King of Queens 7:35am Everybody Loves Raymond 8:25am Frasier 9:20am The Big Bang Theory 10:40am Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas 11:10am 12 Dates of Christmas 1:00pm Channel 4 News Summary 1:05pm Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas 1:25pm A Christmas Proposal 3:10pm Countdown 4:00pm Coast v Country 5:00pm Deal or No Deal on Tour 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Jamie’s Ultimate Christmas 10:00pm First Dates at Christmas 11:00pm Alan Carr’s 12 Stars of Christmas 12:05am Derren Brown

9:20am Peppa Pig 9:30am Paw Patrol 9:45am Toot the Tiny Tugboat 9:55am Toby’s Travelling Circus 10:10am Milkshake Monkey 10:15am Milkshake! Bop Box 10:25am Jelly Jamm 10:35am SpongeBob Squarepants 10:53am SpongeBob Squarepants 11:10am Christmas Truce 1:00pm A Husband for Christmas 2:45pm Christmas Hero 4:35pm My Angel 6:15pm A Christmas Reunion 8:00pm Tour De Celeb 9:00pm All New Traffic Cops 10:00pm Chris Tarrant: On the Xmas Express 11:00pm Greatest Ever Christmas Adverts 1:05am Benefits by the Sea: Jaywick 2:00am Super Casino

7:00am Charmed 7:45am Hollyoaks 8:10am How I Met Your Mother 9:10am 12 Wishes of Christmas 11:00am Melissa and Joey 11:30am Melissa and Joey 12:00pm Charmed 1:00pm Charmed 2:00pm The Goldbergs 2:30pm The Goldbergs 3:00pm The Big Bang Theory 3:30pm The Big Bang Theory 4:00pm Young and Hungry 4:30pm Young and Hungry 5:00pm How I Met Your Mother 5:30pm How I Met Your Mother 6:00pm The Goldbergs 6:30pm The Goldbergs 7:00pm The Big Bang Theory 7:30pm The Big Bang Theory 8:00pm Hollyoaks 8:30pm Carjackers 9:00pm The Big Bang Theory 9:30pm The Big Bang Theory 10:00pm Made in Chelsea 11:00pm Empire 12:00am The Big Bang Theory

7:00am Good Morning Britain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:55pm ITV News London 3:00pm Judge Rinder 4:00pm Dickinson’s Real Deal 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm You’ve Been Framed!

9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Prince Harry 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:30pm ITV News London 11:40pm Fierce 12:40am Carry on Camping 2:10am Jackpot247 4:00am The Jeremy Kyle Show 4:55am ITV Nightscreen

7:00am You’ve Been Framed!

7:25am The Ellen DeGeneres Show 8:05am The Cube 8:55am Emmerdale 9:25am Coronation Street 10:25am Ninja Warrior UK 11:25am Scorpion 12:20pm I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!

1:20pm Emmerdale 1:55pm Coronation Street 2:20pm Coronation Street 2:50pm The Ellen DeGeneres Show 3:45pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 4:50pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:55pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 7:00pm You’ve Been Framed!

7:30pm You’ve Been Framed!

8:00pm You’ve Been Framed!

9:00pm Two and a Half Men 9:30pm Two and a Half Men 10:00pm Family Guy 10:30pm American Dad! 11:00pm Family Guy 12:00am American Dad!

7:00am The Sign of Four 9:00am The Belles of St. Trinian’s 10:00am FYI Daily 10:05am The Belles of St. Trinian’s 10:55am Bertie and Elizabeth 1:00pm Lewis 2:55pm Agatha Christie’s Marple 5:00pm Carry on Cleo 6:10pm FYI Daily 6:15pm Carry on Cleo 7:00pm Long Lost Family 8:00pm Agatha Christie’s Marple 10:00pm The Suspicions of Mr Whicher 12:00am The Sign of Four 2:20am A is for Acid 4:05am Bertie and Elizabeth 5:55am Wycliffe Drama series about a Cornish detective.

7:00am 7:55am 8:45am 9:45am 10:50am 11:55am 12:55pm 1:55pm 2:25pm 2:50pm 3:25pm 3:50pm 4:55pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

11:25am Hitman: Agent 47 1:10pm Lego DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League v Bizarro League 2:10pm True Lies 4:35pm X2 6:55pm In the Heart of the Sea 9:00pm Hitman: Agent 47 10:45pm Bad Boys 12:50am Armageddon

7:00am Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip 8:40am The Young Messiah 10:35am Zoolander 2 12:20pm The Physician 3:00pm The Top Ten Show 2016 3:15pm Risen 5:15pm Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip 7:00pm The Young Messiah A seven-year-old Jesus still discovering the true extent of his gifts is pursued by a Roman centurion 9:00pm Zoolander 2 10:45pm The Top Ten Show 2016 11:00pm The Lesson 12:45am The Physician 3:25am Chastity Bites 5:05am The Great Gilly Hopkins

7:00am 10:15am 11:00am 12:15pm 1:15pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 2:45pm 4:20pm 4:50pm 6:10pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

11:30pm 11:45pm 12:55am

10:00pm 11:05pm 11:10pm 12:30am 1:35am 2:35am 2:40am 3:25am

4:15am

The Wine Show The Chase Quincy, M.E. Ironside The Professionals The Chase Cash Cowboys Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Counting Cars Counting Cars Quincy, M.E. Ironside Minder Cash Cowboys Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Storage Wars Christmas Special Live and Let Die FYI Daily Live and Let Die Bundesliga Ronaldo FYI Daily Ronaldo Euro 96: The Summer Football Came Home Quincy, M.E.

7:30am Romancing the Stone 9:25am The Jewel of the Nile 11:20am The War of the Roses 1:25pm Three Amigos!

3:15pm Trading Places 5:20pm Click 7:15pm The Hangover 9:00pm Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story 10:45pm Trading Places 12:50am The Interview

MONDAY TV

7:00am 7:30am 7:45am 8:00am 9:00am 10:00am 10:30am 11:00am 11:30am 12:30pm 1:00pm 1:30pm 2:00pm

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

7:00am 1:00pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 5:15pm 5:30pm 5:40pm 5:50pm 6:00pm 6:10pm 6:20pm 6:30pm 6:40pm 7:40pm 8:40pm 10:40pm 10:50pm 11:00pm 12:00am 1:00am 2:00am 2:30am 2:45am 3:45am

Football Gold Football Gold Football Gold WWE Raw Goals on Sunday Football Football Football Goals on Sunday Football Football Football NFL Highlights Action from the NFL. The Denver Broncos are defending champions.

NFL Highlights NFL Highlights Football’s Greatest Soccer AM: The Best Bits 2016/17 F1 Season Review 2016 Brundle Meets Bernie Football Scottish Football Round Up Football Gold Soccer AM: The Best Bits 2016/17

Cricket England’s Best Days Cricket Cricket Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Rugby Gold Rugby Gold Rugby Gold Rugby Gold Rugby Gold Rugby Gold La Liga Gold Cricket Cricket Football La Liga Gold La Liga Gold Cricket Cricket MNF Pre-Match Football Sporting Triumphs Cricket Cricket Day five of the fifth Test in the series as India host England at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.

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10:15am Christmas City 11:00am Christmas Kitchen 12:15pm Homes Under the Hammer 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News at One 2:30pm BBC London News 2:45pm Rise of the Guardians 4:10pm The Nativity 4:45pm Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa 6:00pm The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm Celebrity Mastermind 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Holby City 10:00pm Last Tango in Halifax 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:30pm BBC London News 11:45pm Darcey Bussell 12:45am Six Wives with Lucy Worsley 1:45am Weather for the Week Ahead

7:00am Good Morning Britain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:55pm ITV News London 3:00pm Judge Rinder 4:00pm Dickinson’s Real Deal 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm The Royal Variety Performance 2016 11:05pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:35pm ITV News London 11:50pm Judge Rinder’s Crime Stories 12:50am The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 1:35am Jackpot247 4:00am Loose Women 4:50am ITV Nightscreen

8:00am 8:45am 9:45am 11:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 2:45pm 3:15pm 4:15pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 8:00pm

8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:45pm 12:15am 1:05am 2:05am

Bargain Hunt Fern Britton Meets...

Underdog Robot Wars Money for Nothing The Daily Politics Natural World Nigella’s Christmas Kitchen This Farming Life A Place to Call Home Full Steam Ahead Gareth Malone’s Great Choir Reunion The Real Marigold Hotel Mary Berry’s Absolute Christmas Favourites University Challenge MasterChef: The Professionals Inside the Christmas Factory Live at the Apollo Upstart Crow NFL The Apprentice Who Do You Think You Are?

7:00am You’ve Been Framed!

7:25am Dinner Date 8:15am The Ellen DeGeneres Show 9:00am Emmerdale 9:30am Coronation Street 10:00am Coronation Street 10:30am Psych 11:25am Scorpion 12:20pm Dinner Date 1:20pm Emmerdale 1:50pm Coronation Street 2:20pm Coronation Street 2:50pm The Ellen DeGeneres Show 3:45pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 4:50pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:55pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 7:00pm You’ve Been Framed and Famous!

8:00pm You’ve Been Framed!

9:00pm Two and a Half Men 9:30pm Two and a Half Men 10:00pm Love Actually 11:00pm FYI Daily 11:05pm Love Actually 12:45am Family Guy

www.euroweeklynews.com

8:00pm Indian Hill Railways Series looking at the little trains that have climbed through the Indian clouds for a hundred years.

9:00pm How the Wild West Was Won with Ray Mears 10:00pm Digging for Britain Professor Alice Roberts with the very best in British archaeology 2016 11:00pm The Inca: Masters of the Clouds 12:00am The Incredible Story of Marie Antoinette’s Watch with Nicholas Parsons 1:00am Booze, Beans and Bhajis: The Story of the Corner Shop 2:00am Indian Hill Railways 3:00am The Inca: Masters of the Clouds 4:00am Digging for Britain 5:00am This is BBC Four BBC Four is the BBC channel for people who want more.

7:05am King of Queens 7:30am Everybody Loves Raymond 8:20am Frasier 8:45am Frasier 9:15am The Big Bang Theory 9:40am The Big Bang Theory 10:10am The Simpsons 10:40am The Simpsons 11:10am Holiday in Handcuffs 1:00pm Channel 4 News Summary 1:05pm Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas 1:25pm Christmas Magic 3:10pm Countdown 4:00pm Coast v Country 5:00pm Deal or No Deal on Tour 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm The Supervet at Christmas 10:00pm This is Us 11:00pm Alan Carr’s 12 Stars of Christmas 12:00am First Dates at Christmas

8:45am Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 9:00am Wissper 9:10am Peppa Pig 9:25am Peppa Pig 9:35am Paw Patrol 9:45am Toot the Tiny Tugboat 10:05am Toby’s Travelling Circus 10:20am Milkshake Monkey 10:25am Paw Patrol 10:35am SpongeBob Squarepants 10:53am SpongeBob Squarepants 11:10am Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London 1:00pm Dear Santa 2:50pm Christmas Carol 4:35pm Christmas in the City 6:20pm Operation Christmas 7:55pm 5 News 8:00pm World’s Strongest Man 2016 9:00pm Penguins Make You Laugh Out Loud 10:00pm The Graham Norton Story 11:35pm Lip Sync Battle UK Xmas Special 12:05am 22 Jump Street

7:00am Charmed 7:45am Hollyoaks 8:10am How I Met Your Mother 9:10am A Christmas Wedding Tail 11:00am Melissa and Joey 11:30am Melissa and Joey 12:00pm Charmed 1:00pm Charmed 2:00pm The Goldbergs 2:30pm The Goldbergs 3:00pm The Big Bang Theory 3:30pm The Big Bang Theory 4:00pm Young and Hungry 4:30pm Young and Hungry 5:00pm How I Met Your Mother 6:00pm The Goldbergs 6:30pm The Goldbergs 7:00pm The Big Bang Theory 8:00pm Hollyoaks 8:30pm Carjackers 9:00pm The Big Bang Theory 10:00pm Tattoo Fixers at Christmas 11:00pm Virtually Famous Christmas Special 11:50pm The Big Bang Theory 12:25am The Big Bang Theory 12:50am Rude Tube

7:00am 7:10am 7:35am 8:35am 9:35am 10:35am 11:00am 11:30am 11:55am 12:55pm 2:00pm 3:05pm 4:10pm 5:15pm 5:50pm

7:00am 7:55am 8:45am 9:45am 10:50am 11:55am 12:55pm 1:55pm 2:25pm 2:55pm 3:20pm 3:50pm 4:55pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

8:45am Independence Day 11:15am In the Heart of the Sea 1:25pm I Am Wrath 3:00pm In the Line of Fire 5:15pm Exodus: Gods and Kings 7:50pm In the Heart of the Sea 10:00pm Independence Day 12:25am The Day the Earth Stood Still

7:00am 7:30am 10:10am 12:10pm 2:10pm

6:20pm 6:55pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 11:00pm 12:05am 1:05am 2:10am 3:00am

3:30am

Movies Now Doctor in the House Heartbeat Where the Heart is Wild at Heart Judge Judy Judge Judy Judge Judy Murder, She Wrote Wycliffe Heartbeat Wild at Heart Where the Heart is Doctor in the House You’re Only Young Twice George and Mildred Heartbeat Murder, She Wrote Midsomer Murders Mr Selfridge Mrs Biggs Wycliffe Million Dollar Princesses ITV3 Nightscreen Text-based information service.

Teleshopping

10:00pm 11:20pm 11:25pm 12:25am 1:25am 1:30am 2:35am 3:35am

The Wine Show The Chase Quincy, M.E. Ironside The Professionals The Chase Cash Cowboys Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Counting Cars Counting Cars Quincy, M.E. Ironside Counting Cars Counting Cars Cash Cowboys Pawn Stars Pawn Stars The Chase: Celebrity Special Diamonds are Forever FYI Daily Diamonds are Forever The Last Boy Scout FYI Daily The Last Boy Scout The Wine Show Tommy Cooper

2:30pm 4:30pm 6:20pm

9:00pm 7:50am Never Been Kissed 9:40am Hot Shots!

11:15am Hot Shots! Part Deux 12:50pm Spy 3:05pm Vacation 4:50pm 50 First Dates 6:35pm Jerry Maguire 9:00pm Spy 11:15pm Vacation 1:00am Team America: World Police 2:45am Bad Santa

11:00pm

12:50am 2:25am

Big Hero 6 Special The Physician Risen Midnight Special The Top Ten Show 2016 Hail, Caesar!

The Great Gilly Hopkins The Physician An English orphan (Tom Payne) with an extraordinary gift travels to Persia to study medicine.

Midnight Special A desperate father struggles to keep his young son out of the hands of religious fanatics and government agents.

Hail, Caesar!

Josh Brolin’s studio fixer has a job on his hands when a pampered movie star is kidnapped.

True Deception Carnage Park

TUESDAY TV

7:00am 7:15am 7:30am 7:45am 8:00am 9:00am 10:00am 10:30am 11:00am 1:00pm 5:00pm 5:30pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 12:00am 1:00am 1:15am 1:30am 2:00am 2:30am

7:00am 7:15am 7:30am 7:45am 8:00am 8:15am 8:30am 8:45am 9:00am 10:00am 10:15am 10:30am 10:45am 11:00am 12:00pm 12:15pm 12:30pm 1:00pm 1:30pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 8:30pm 11:00pm 12:00am

Football Gold Football Gold Football Gold Football Gold WWE SmackDown!

MNF Pre-Match Football Soccer AM: The Best Bits 2016/17 The Premier League Years Football Premier League Legends Premier League Legends Fantasy FC: Merse Meets Joe Cole Premier League Review Live World Darts Championship 2017 Premier League Review Scottish Football Round Up Sporting Triumphs La Liga World Premier League Legends Premier League Legends

Boxing Gold Boxing Gold Boxing Gold Boxing Gold Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs NFL Highlights Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs NFL Highlights Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Boxing Gold Soccer AM: The Best Bits 2016/17 NFL Highlights Time of Our Lives NFL Highlights Live the Csa Slam T20 Challenge Gillette Soccer Special A League of Their Own Year NFL Highlights

82

7:00am 10:15am 11:00am 12:15pm 1:15pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 2:45pm 4:05pm 4:20pm 4:50pm

6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:45pm 12:15am 1:15am 2:20am 2:25am

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

Breakfast Christmas City Christmas Kitchen Homes Under the Hammer Bargain Hunt BBC News at One BBC London News Puss in Boots Puss in Boots: The Three Diablos The Nativity Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted Pointless BBC News at Six BBC London News Celebrity Mastermind A Question of Sport Watchdog Six Wives with Lucy Worsley BBC News at Ten BBC London News Mrs. Brown’s Boys Who Do You Think You Are? The Apprentice Weather for the Week Ahead BBC News

7:00am Good Morning Britain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:55pm ITV News London 3:00pm Judge Rinder 4:00pm Dickinson’s Real Deal 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm This Time Next Year 10:00pm In Plain Sight 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:30pm ITV News London 11:40pm Wanted 1:40am Jackpot247 Join the presenters live and play roulette on your telly. Join in now at Jackpot247.com.

4:00am ITV Nightscreen Text-based information service.

7:05am 7:50am 8:35am 9:05am 9:35am 11:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 2:45pm 3:15pm 4:15pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 8:00pm

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

Christmas City Bargain Hunt Coastal Path Great British Menu Flight of the Navigator Robot Wars Money for Nothing Equestrian Natural World Nigella’s Christmas Kitchen This Farming Life World’s Sneakiest Animals Full Steam Ahead Back in Time for Christmas The Real Marigold Hotel Mary Berry’s Absolute Christmas Favourites University Challenge MasterChef: The Professionals The Big Life Fix with Simon Reeve Insert Name Here The Premier League Show Lenny Henry - A Life on Screen

7:00am You’ve Been Framed!

7:25am The Ellen DeGeneres Show 8:05am The Cube 9:00am Emmerdale 9:30am You’ve Been Framed!

10:05am Ninja Warrior UK 11:10am Small Soldiers 12:10pm FYI Daily 12:15pm Small Soldiers 1:20pm Emmerdale 1:50pm You’ve Been Framed!

2:50pm The Ellen DeGeneres Show 3:45pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 4:50pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 5:55pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 7:00pm You’ve Been Framed!

8:00pm You’ve Been Framed!

8:30pm You’ve Been Framed!

9:00pm Two and a Half Men 9:30pm Two and a Half Men 10:00pm Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason 11:05pm FYI Daily 11:10pm Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason 12:10am Family Guy 12:40am Family Guy 1:10am American Dad!

8:00pm Indian Hill Railways 9:00pm Britain’s Treasure Islands 10:00pm Inside Chernobyl’s Mega Tomb 11:00pm The Ides of March Political drama.

12:35am Britain’s Treasure Islands 1:35am Indian Hill Railways Series looking at the little trains that have climbed through the Indian clouds for a hundred years.

2:35am How the Wild West Was Won with Ray Mears 3:35am Inside Chernobyl’s Mega Tomb Documentary which follows the construction of a trailblazing 36,000 tonne steel structure to entomb the ruins of the nuclear power plant destroyed in the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

4:35am This is BBC Four

7:00am Sherlock Holmes The Last Vampyre 8:50am Casablanca 9:50am FYI Daily 9:55am Casablanca 11:00am Goodbye, Mr. Chips 1:00pm Lewis 3:00pm Agatha Christie’s Marple 5:00pm Carry on Follow That Camel 6:00pm FYI Daily 6:05pm Carry on Follow That Camel 6:55pm Long Lost Family 8:00pm Agatha Christie’s Marple 10:00pm Les Dawson Forever 11:00pm Les Dawson: An Audience with That Never Was 12:05am Lewis 2:00am Sherlock Holmes The Last Vampyre A feature-length case for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s celebrated cerebral sleuth.

3:55am Goodbye, Mr. Chips 5:45am Wycliffe

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WEDNESDAY TV

7:00am King of Queens 7:25am Everybody Loves Raymond 7:50am Everybody Loves Raymond 8:15am Frasier 8:45am Frasier 9:15am The Big Bang Theory 9:45am The Big Bang Theory 10:15am The Simpsons 10:40am The Simpsons 11:10am The Last Mimzy 1:00pm Channel 4 News Summary 1:05pm Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas 1:25pm The Holiday Tree 3:10pm Countdown 4:00pm Coast v Country 5:00pm Deal or No Deal on Tour 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas 10:00pm 24 Hours in A and E 11:00pm Alan Carr’s 12 Stars of Christmas 12:05am Micky Flanagan: Back in the Game

8:45am Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom 9:00am Wissper 9:10am Peppa Pig 9:35am Paw Patrol 9:45am Toot the Tiny Tugboat 10:00am Toby’s Travelling Circus 10:10am SpongeBob Squarepants 10:28am SpongeBob Squarepants 10:45am World’s Strongest Man 2016 11:45am Nutcracker Sweet 1:20pm The Elf That Rescued Christmas 2:55pm The Christmas Gift 4:35pm Christmas Under Wraps 6:20pm The Borrowers 7:55pm 5 News 8:00pm World’s Strongest Man 2016 9:00pm The Dog Rescuers at Christmas 10:00pm The Trafford Centre: Countdown to Christmas 11:00pm Chas and Dave’s Xmas Knees-Up 11:55pm Greatest Ever Christmas Songs

7:00am Charmed 7:45am Hollyoaks 8:10am How I Met Your Mother 8:40am How I Met Your Mother 9:10am The Dog Who Saved Christmas 11:00am Melissa and Joey 11:30am Melissa and Joey 12:00pm Charmed 1:00pm Charmed 2:00pm The Goldbergs 2:30pm The Goldbergs 3:00pm The Big Bang Theory 3:30pm The Big Bang Theory 4:00pm Young and Hungry 4:30pm Young and Hungry 5:00pm How I Met Your Mother 5:30pm How I Met Your Mother 6:00pm The Goldbergs 6:30pm The Goldbergs 7:00pm The Big Bang Theory 7:30pm The Big Bang Theory 8:00pm Hollyoaks 8:30pm Carjackers 9:00pm The Big Bang Theory 9:30pm The Big Bang Theory 10:00pm Timeless 11:00pm Lockout 12:55am Scream Queens

7:00am 7:55am 8:45am 9:45am 10:50am 11:55am 12:55pm 1:55pm 2:25pm 2:50pm 3:50pm 4:55pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 8:55pm

11:05am G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra 1:05pm Marvel’s Avengers Assemble 3:30pm Jupiter Ascending 5:40pm Die Hard 4.0 8:00pm G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra 10:00pm Marvel’s Avengers Assemble 12:25am Jupiter Ascending 2:35am RoboCop

8:40am The Top Ten Show 2016 Which movies are doing the best business at home and across the pond?

9:00am Rock the Kasbah 11:00am Zoolander 2 12:45pm The Young Messiah A seven-year-old Jesus still discovering the true extent of his gifts is pursued by a Roman centurion.

2:45pm Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip 4:30pm Star Wars: Rogue One Special 5:00pm Risen Biblical drama about a world-weary Roman tribune searching for the body of the crucified Christ.

7:00pm The Young Messiah 9:00pm Zoolander 2 10:45pm Ma Ma 12:45am The Lesson 2:30am Chastity Bites 4:10am Risen

9:30pm 10:00pm 11:05pm 11:10pm 12:45am 1:45am 1:50am 3:50am 4:40am 4:50am 5:40am

The Wine Show The Chase Quincy, M.E. Ironside The Professionals Classic Cars Cash Cowboys Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Minder Quincy, M.E. Ironside Minder Cash Cowboys Pawn Stars Pawn Stars Merry Christmas Mr Bean Mr. Bean The Living Daylights FYI Daily The Living Daylights Jackie Brown FYI Daily Jackie Brown Quincy, M.E. ITV4 Nightscreen The Motorbike Show The Wine Show

7:30am Star Wars: Rogue One Special 8:00am What About Bob? 9:45am The Benchwarmers 11:20am Dad’s Army 1:10pm Get Smart 3:10pm Magic Mike XXL 5:10pm Unfinished Business 6:50pm Wedding Crashers 9:00pm Dad’s Army 10:45pm The Intern 12:50am The Night Before 2:40am Ali G Indahouse 4:10am Jersey Girl 5:55am Son of the Pink Panther

7:00am 7:30am 8:00am 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am 10:30am 11:00am 1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 4:15pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:30pm 7:45pm 8:00pm 12:00am 1:00am 2:00am 2:30am

7:00am 7:15am 7:30am 7:45am 8:00am 8:30am 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am 12:00pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 3:00pm

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

Football Gold Football Gold WWE Experience Premier League Legends Premier League Legends Boxing Gold Boxing Gold The Premier League Years Premier League Review Sporting Triumphs Football’s Greatest Great Sporting Moments Great Sporting Moments Premier League Legends Fantasy FC: Merse Meets Tony Adams Darts Rivalries Darts Rivalries Live World Darts Championship 2017 Sky Sports Originals Time of Our Lives Premier League Legends Premier League Legends

Boxing Gold Boxing Gold Boxing Gold Boxing Gold Boxing Gold Boxing Gold Cricket’s Greatest Cricket’s Greatest Cricket’s Best Days Cricket’s Best Days Cricket’s Greatest Cricket’s Greatest How the ICC World Twenty20 Was Won 2016 Football’s Greatest Boxing Gold Boxing Gold Boxing Gold Boxing Gold Boxing Gold Boxing Gold Boxing Gold Boxing Gold Barclays Premier League World Time of Our Lives Barclays Premier League World Sky Sports Originals Sky Sports Originals Boxing Gold Boxing Gold

TIME OUT

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

Famous quote

This week

MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

‘

It is true that whisky improves with age. The older I get, the more I like it.”

Ronnie Corbett

in history 1620 – British ship the Mayflower docked at Plymouth, Massachusetts.

1773 – The ‘Boston Tea Party’ midnight raid took place when a group of Massachusetts colonists boarded three British tea ships and dumped 342 tea chests into the Boston Harbour in protest of the British Parliament’s Tea Act. 1775 – Pride and Prejudice novelist Jane Austen was born in Hampshire, England.

1840 – Napoleon was buried in Paris after he died in exile on the island of Saint Helena.

1865 – America abolished slavery formally adopting the 13th Amendment into the US Constitution.

1903 – The Wright brothers make the first successful flight in North Carolina in a propeller-driven biplane which flew for 12 seconds and covered 120 feet.

1914 – German battle cruisers caught the British navy by surprise as they began bombing Hartlepool and Scarborough killing more than 130 civilians and wounding a further 500.

1944 – American big-band musician Glenn Miller went missing after the aircraft he was travelling in disappeared over the English Channel.

1949 – Gone with the Wind actor Clark Gable married socialite Sylvia Ashley.

1957 – Rock and roll star Elvis Presley received his draft notice to serve in the US army.

1969 – The death penalty was abolished in the UK after a House of Commons vote.

1972 – The last three astronauts to travel to the moon landed safely in the Pacific Ocean spelling the end of the Apollo lunar-landing programme.

1983 – The Jules Rimet Trophy, the original FIFA World Cup trophy, was stolen from the Brazilian Football Confederation headquarters in Rio de Janeiro.

1988 – Pan Am Flight 103 travelling from London to New York exploded over Lockerbie in Scotland after a bomb was hidden inside an audio cassette player. All of the 243 passengers and 16 aircraft crew members were killed as well as 11 residents of Lockerbie.

1993 – Steven Spielberg’s Oscar winning film Schindler’s List, starring Liam Neeson, was released.

1995 – It was announced by European leaders that their new currency would be known as the Euro.

1998 – President Bill Clinton is impeached for lying under oath to a federal grand jury and obstructing justice in relation to his affair with 22-year-old White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

2001 – Italy’s leaning tower of Pisa reopened after experts spent 11 years and $24 million to reinforce the tower.

2008 – Madonna and director Guy Ritchie divorce after almost eight years of marriage.

2015 – Chelsea Football Club sacked manager Jose Mourinho.

Women’s wit

‘

Golf seems to me an arduous way to go for a walk. I prefer to take the dogs out.”

Princess Anne

World of English

‘

Our language is funny - a ‘fat chance’ and a ‘slim chance’ are the same thing.”

‘THE SUPERMARKET IS STILL UNDER WATER BUT THE FISH COUNTER IS DOING A ROARING TRADE!’

Kakuro

for next 7 days

Costa Blanca

weather

TODAY

Fill all the empty squares using the numbers 1 to 9, so that the sum of each horizontal block equals the ‘clue’ on its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the clue on its top. No number may be used in the same block more than once.

TOMORROW

JAVEA

DENIA JAVEA

DENIA

CALPE CALPE ALTEA ALTEA BENIDORM BENIDORM

ALICANTE

ALICANTE

TORREVIEJA

TORREVIEJA

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION ORIHUELA

ORIHUELA

Fri Sat Sun -

Benidorm

CLOUDY MAX 17C, MIN 11C MAX MIN

16 13 C 15 13 Sh 15 11 Sh

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

SHOWERS MAX 16C, MIN 10C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

15 11 C Mon - 16 10 C 15 13 Sh Tues - 17 10 C 14 10 Sh Wed - 17 10 C

Fri Sat Sun -

34 23 C 33 23 Sh 33 23 Sh S Sun,

14 6 C 14 8 C 12 6 C

MAX MIN

Mon - 13 6 C Tues - 13 5 C Wed - 14 6 C

Madrid

CLOUDY MAX 33C, MIN 23C MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Mon - 33 23 Sh Tues - 33 22 Cl Wed - 33 23 Sh Cl Clear,

TODAY:

Fog,

TODAY:

SHOWERS MAX 19C, MIN 10C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

17 11 Sh 17 12 Sh 17 9 Th

CLOUDY MAX 11C, MIN 6C

12 6 Sh 12 6 Sh 11 5 Sh C Cloudy,

TODAY:

MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Mon - 17 9 Sh Tues - 17 8 Sh Wed - 18 8 Sh

Mon - 11 4 C Tues - 11 3 Sh Wed - 12 4 Cl Sh Showers,

SHOWERS MAX 15C, MIN 8C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

15 10 Sh 14 12 Sh 14 9 Sh Sn Snow,

IRISH LOTTO

LA PRIMITIVA

EURO MILLIONS

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA

MAX MIN

Mon - 15 9 Sh Tues - 16 8 C Wed - 16 7 C

Murcia

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

14 8 Sh 16 10 C 15 10 Sh

Mallorca

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

SHOWERS MAX 14C, MIN 8C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 16 11 Sh Tues - 16 10 Sh Wed - 16 10 Sh

SUNNY MAX 15C, MIN 7C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Barcelona TODAY:

16 12 Sh 15 13 Sh 15 12 Sh

Bilbao

Almeria TODAY:

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Malaga

CLOUDY MAX 17C, MIN 11C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Mon - 15 7 C Tues - 16 7 C Wed - 16 8 C Th Thunder

LOTTERY

Alicante TODAY:

83

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

EWN

Saturday December 10

11

26

Saturday December 10

4

5

Tuesday December 6

1

Friday December 9

6

32

17

25

11

33

46

36

41

45

28

BONUS BALL

20

43

40

LUCKY STARS

4

9

9

15

17

25

37

34

47

49

44

20

37

27

BONUS BALL

Sunday December 11

12

7 31

Saturday December 10

LUCKY STARS

1

5

37

REINTEGRO

40

6

REINTEGRO

1

E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

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Suicide Squad Directed by: David Ayer Starring: Will Smith, Jared Leto, Margot Robbie, Joel Kinnaman, Viola Davis, Cara Delevingne Released from prison under the command of Colonel Rick Flag a dangerous group of criminals is secretly formed by US intelligence officer Amanda Waller into Task Force X to be used defensively in high-risk missions for the US government.

Armed with powerful arsenal they are sent out to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity. What happens when the group catch on to the fact they were deliberately chosen so they could be the fall guys when they failed their mission? Will they battle each other to be the last man standing or will the Suicide Squad work together to succeed, even if that means they die trying?

Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo, December 20

53

Sister of King Felipe VI of Spain, she is the oldest child born to former King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain. She is currently third in the line of succession to the Spanish throne. She has two children Felipe and Victoria but divorced her husband in 2009.

• Frankie Dettori, Jockey, December 15, 46 At the age of 12 his dad bought him his first horse and by 13 he had left school to become a stable boy and apprentice jockey. He has ridden the winners of more than 500 group races and been Champion Jockey three times. His greatest achievement as a jockey was in 1996 when he rode all seven of the winners at Ascot on British Champions’ Day. He was awarded an honoray MBE in December 2000.

• Billy Gibbons, Guitarist, December 16, 67 Guitarist and lead singer of American rock band ZZ Top, the band he formed in 1969. Their first album, aptly named ZZ Top’s First Album, was released in 1971 and they have since released a further 24, selling more than 25 million in the USA alone. In the 2011 Rolling Stone list he was ranked number 32 in the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

• Pope Francis, December 17, 80 Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he became a priest in 1969 and went on to become Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and a cardinal in 2001 before becoming the 266th Pope when he took over from Benedict XVI in March 2013.

• Christina Aguilera, Singer, December 18, 36 Award-winning pop singer who became the youngest and only artist under the age of 30 to be named on Rolling Stone’s list of 100 Greatest Singers of All Time when in 2009 she ranked at number 58. She has achieved five Grammy Awards, one Latin Grammy Award and also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

• Alexis Sanchez, Footballer, December 19, 28 The Chilean professional footballer kicked off his career in 2005 playing for Cobreloa in the Chilean Primera Division.

He became the most expensive transfer in Chilean football history in 2011 when Barcelona signed him for £25 million (€29.4 million). In 2014 he signed for Arsenal reportedly for £31.7 million (€37.2 million).

Funagram

Just Joking

Unscramble the name of a famous American mystery thriller film (two words): I OWN REWARD

Frosty the snowman was spotted looking through the carrot bin at the local supermarket… he was picking his nose.

Unscramble the name of a famous former world professional snooker champion: OPEN RED BET

One year, I decided to buy my wife’s mother a cemetery plot as a Christmas gift... The next year, I didn’t buy her a gift. When she asked me why, I replied, “Well, you still haven’t used the gift I bought you last year!”

Hexagram

10-Star Quiz

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

ABRUPT AUNTIE BLANCH BLOUSE BOBCAT BUREAU CRITIC DEFRAY LAUNCH LEGUME

MASSIF MASTIC OBJECT RESUME SELECT SPONGY SUBSET (10) TITIAN TRACER

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

1 Gyrate 2 Strand 3 Regent 4 Sundry 5 Errata 6 Allege 7 Darkle 8 Tangle 9 Screen 10 Kettle 11 Marble 12 Delete 13 Borate 14 Depend 15 Latent 16 Senior 17 Sodden 18 Triune 19 Seeing.

YOUR STARS CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Someone close has ideas about how things should be at home this Christmas. Although you wish to show an interest, and should, they may be more 'hands on' than you. Do whatever your talents allow to help because this will not be forgotten. Your other half may be feeling sensitive, so tread carefully. What is at the root of it is likely to come to light as the week progresses.

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) The pleasure you will get from helping in the home this week should not be underestimated.

What you have been thinking of as a chore turns out to be a great ball of fun. Youngsters may be involved at the weekend, so plan ahead to give them a festive surprise. Appreciation is all around you at the moment and should be sending a nice glow through you. It's best not to overspend on something that could mean no return for you.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Your relationships to others linked to the home environment are going well. Aim to build on that this Christmas week because the chance to make a real change to your surroundings opens up. Comfort is top of your agenda and the continuing sales give scope. Restlessness can be channelled into an energetic response when others seek help. Taking on a small charitable task makes you smile and brings satisfaction.

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Your mind is as sharp as a razor this week, so woe betide anyone who tries to trick you. It's a great time to use your talents fully, particularly in regard to a business venture. It is possible that your strengths are a little unrecognised so don't be afraid to try something entirely new. A strong urge to take control keeps others on their toes.

TIME

EURO WEEKLY’S SPACE FOR YOU TO TAKE A BREA

FUNAGRAM SOLUTION: REAR WINDOW, PETER EBDON.

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SAGITTARIUS

(November 23 - December 21)

Get both business and personal plans sorted out in the coming week. Thereafter, changes to your routine may be necessary, which is disruptive. The best-laid plans can need adjustment, so don’t beat yourself up over that. Spending extra time alone gives pause for thought and makes the next step so much clearer.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) This week is mainly concerned with financial matters, and it is easy to both save and make extra money. Keep your energy levels high by making the most of chances to exercise and get out in the fresh air. Your need to know exactly where you stand brings with it a danger of putting someone off romantically right at the start. Although your no-nonsense approach normally serves you well, in love you need more subtle methods.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) The repayment of a favour should see you with extra money in your pocket. Holding on to it is your best bet. Trying to change someone close is so obviously not going to work that it is surprising you tried for so long. What you may be able to do, however, is to spend less time in their presence. Make sure that you get out with friends, if only for a few hours. It will brighten your spirits.

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) A festive social gathering turns up an old friend who makes an offer. Although you may feel unworthy, please be reminded of the times in the past when you have given them support. Certainly, it will be through others that real progress will be made. It is easy at this time of the year for someone of your intelligence to become bored. Through making a start on a long-term plan, it is possible to feel inspired.

LEO (July 24 - August 23) Keep energy levels high by being at the hub of any social activities. Accept all invitations, however dull you feel that they may turn out and allow yourself to be surprised. Continue with any check-ups on your health, eating sensibly if you overindulged during the holiday. There is no better time to make that special effort.

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) As you have decided to rearrange both your business and home life, it is a busy time, indeed. You enjoy a challenge so it will not worry you that other people have different ideas. Although you are not inclined to listen to silly whims, some things crop up time and again and have to be dealt with at some point.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Concentrating on hearth and home gives you great satisfaction. As a born home-maker, you relish the idea of making something beautiful.

This week it may be possible to show more of your skills when someone seeks your advice.

This time it is on more of a personal note and you could end up helping with appearances.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Making a new start is not always the exciting thing that people imagine. When there are still old matters to be resolved, it takes the edge off the pleasure. It may be worth cooling off a new relationship until your social life is more settled.

TEA BREAK December 15 is International Tea Day 1. In Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, apart from Alice and the Hatter, which two creatures attended the ‘mad’ tea party?

2. In the famous PG Tips television advertisement featuring two chimps dressed as removal men, what was Mr Shifter’s reply when the young chimp asked: “Do you know the piano’s on my foot?”

3. In which decade of the 18th century did the famous protest known as the Boston Tea Party take place?

4. Originally released in 1970, Tea for the Tillerman was the fourth studio album by which singer-songwriter?

5. The first Betty’s tea room was opened in which Yorkshire town by Swiss confectioner Frederick Belmont in July 1919?

6. The name of which variety of black tea with the flavour of green is derived from the Chinese for ‘black dragon’?

7. Which British tea company introduced tea bags into the UK in 1953?

8. Which clipper ship, one of the last tea clippers to be built and one of the fastest, is now a popular tourist attraction located near the centre of Greenwich, in south-east London?

9. Which Indian state is responsible for the production of over half of India’s annual tea crop?

10. With what oily substance extracted from the rind of a dwarf variety of Seville orange is Earl Grey tea flavoured?

Not a lot of people know that… tea was referred to as ‘scandal broth’ by Sir Walter Scott in his book Peveril of the Peak because it was thought to stimulate gossip.

Answers 1. MARCH HARE and a very tired DORMOUSE, 2. YOU HUM IT SON, I’LL PLAY IT, 3. 1770s (1773), 4. CAT STEVENS, born Steven Georgiou, now known as YUSUF ISLAM, 5. HARROGATE, 6. OOLONG, 7. TETLEY, 8. CUTTY SARK, 9. ASSAM, 10. BERGAMOT

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Nonagram How many English words of four letters or more can you make from the nine letters in our Nonagram puzzle? Each letter may be used only once (unless the letter appears twice).

Each word MUST CONTAIN THE CENTRE LETTER (in this case C) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed.

TARGET: • Average: 11 • Good: 15 • Very good: 22 • Excellent: 28

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION hale halt hate heal heap heat heel help hype lath path phat that thee they yeah aleph ethyl haply lathe phyla teeth theta athlete heeltap TELEPATHY

OUT

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

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AK, BE INFORMED AND ENJOY A CHALLENGE

page

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

Cryptic

Code Breaker

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

CRYPTIC

Quick

Across:

Across 1 Sounds like seabirds or bears (5) 4 Chemical element from Burma I ordered (6) 9 Duplicate pie Carl cooked (7) 10 Steps inside spaceship (5) 11 Collapsed in church recess (4) 12 Stone smashed in grate (7) 13 Feel sorry about Herb (3) 14 It's the judge's habit to steal a note (4) 16 Son has time to be a wise person (4) 18 Spied middle of bakery item (3) 20 After break had meal and set out again (7) 21 Damage some hidden treasures (4) 24 Building support from trust (5) 25 One reaching across for a hand tool (7) 26 Name of man arranging events (6) 27 Felix effortlessly holds back outcast (5) Down 1 Mad Hatter is a danger (6) 2 Pores over ring edges (5) 3 Hide skinhead's family (4) 5 Evaluate a quiet expression of approval (8) 6 Eager to get out of ditch in garden (7) 7 Learn all aspects of being a captain (6) 8 Push river transport (5) 13 Comeback for chopped up pear tree (8) 15 See old boy put ball in play (7)

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Crossword

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7 Cartel, 8 Shoves, 9 Nest, 10 Adulates, 11 Tracked, 13 Regal, 15 Charm, 17 Cashier, 20 Handsome, 21 Also, 23 Escape, 24 Dismal.

Down: 1 Bare, 2 Static, 3 Cleaver, 4 Issue, 5 Donate, 6 Beverage, 12 Rehearse, 14 Calends, 16 Redraw, 18 Hoarse, 19 Homer, 22 Swag.

QUICK Across:

17 Has faith in repaired struts (6) 18 Drink from fractured pipes (5) 19 Tristram Shandy author enters in disguise (6) 22 Even nuisances find it boring (5) 23 Made out to be an aristocrat (4) Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 7 represents T and 12 represents Z, so fill in T every time the figure 7 appears and Z every time the figure 12 appears. Now, using your knowledge of the English language, work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you discover the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.

Across 1 Storage closet (8) 7 Courageous (5) 8 Absolve (9) 9 Perceive (3) 10 Secret look (4) 11 Conclude (6) 13 Easygoing (6) 14 Against (6) 17 Deep orange root vegetable (6) 18 Not easy (4) 20 Attempt (3) 22 Frightened (9) 23 Grab (5) 24 Practice (8)

Down 1 Inexpensive (5) 2 Declare openly (7) 3 Follow a command (4) 4 Brought up (6) 5 Incorrect (5) 6 Conquers (7) 7 Bewildered (7) 12 Provide commentary for a film (7) 13 Struggle between rivals (7) 15 More frightening (7) 16 Common (6) 17 Faultfinder (5) 19 Avoid artfully (5) 21 Monetary penalty (4)

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

1 Impose, 4 Discus, 9 Silence, 10 Ogles, 11 Stale, 12 Passive, 13 Unnecessary, 18 Vaulted, 20 Amble, 22 Circa, 23 Natural, 24 Taller, 25 Pretty.

Down: 1 Insist, 2 Polka, 3 Sincere, 5 Idols, 6 Collier, 7 Sister, 8 Resplendent, 14 Neutral, 15 Starter, 16 Avocet, 17 Replay, 19 Trace, 21 Beret.

ENGLISHSPANISH Across: 1 Parrot, 3 Acid, 7 Nib, 9 Charlar, 10 Demasiado, 13 Taladro, 14 Dar, 15 Last, 16 Bakers.

Down: 1 Pink, 2 Orchards, 4 Calidad, 5 Dark, 6 Mariposa, 8 Beetles, 11 Util, 12 Gris.

CODE BREAKER

Across 2 Derecha (5) 6 Race (racial origin) (4) 7 Buttonhole (4) 8 Escalón (5) 9 Húmedo (clima) (4) 10 Honey (from bees) (4) 11 Novia (en boda) (5) 12 Boss (4) 13 Mediodía (4) 14 Asado (5)

15 Puerta (4) 16 Abbot (4) 17 Años (5) Down 1 Waiters (9) 2 Frambuesa (9) 3 Hailstorm (9) 4 Storms (9) 5 Saucepans (9)

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What Alice Knew

By TA Cotterell AS a portrait artist Alice has a good job, the children are great and she is happily married to husband Ed, a highly respected Obstetrician - her life is just perfect.

That is until the night Ed arrives home late and a suspicious phone ca l l l ea ves her puzzled wh e n things don’t quite add up.

W hat happened th a t ni ght turns both of th e i r worlds upside down however, when she discovers the truth and she is forced into making a very tough decision.

Will she remain faithful to her husband and pretend that everything is okay or will she tell the truth and ri sk tearing her fami l y apart? books@euroweeklynews.com

Past Christmas toy hits

1. 2014 Frozen dolls The hit film Frozen left many parents in a tizz as once again they were were left ‘frozen’ out in trying to secure the hugely popular merchandise on offer, in particular the Snow Glow Elsa and Frozen Sparkle dolls. Stocks were selling out as soon as they came in and left some stores to limit people to buying just two items and left shops pretty much sold out by mid-December.

2. 2006 Nintendo Wii A revolution in the games console market the Nintendo Wii got gamers much more active with its motion-sensing Wii remotes.

Across the country people were swinging and swiping as they played tennis or 10 pin bowling in the living room. But not everyone was so lucky as once again shortages saw hungry gamers forced to wait in long queues to try and secure a console.

3. 1998 Furby This small furry animatronic creature available in different shapes and colours spoke ‘Furbish’ but with the right care from children could learn to speak English. It was a phenomenal hit and parents inundated shops in a bid to snap one up. Despite only being launched in October, 1.8 million were sold in 1998 although it went on to sell 14 million in 1999!

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

App of the Week Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock Ever woke up after a night’s sleep feeling awful? This app can help you figure out why. Using sound or motion it analyses you while you sleep and provides you with detailed sleep statistics and graphs when you wake up. It will figure out what phase of sleep you are in and will attempt to wake you up in your lightest sleep phase.

Features include 15 alarm melodies.

IT appears this year’s Christmas blockbuster toy will be the Hatchimal - a small furry robot that hatches out of an egg. For weeks parents have been frantically trying to track down this elusive toy for Santa to deliver on Christmas Day. Here’s a look back at some toy crazes of past Christmases.

Play on Words FROM

FROZEN: Stocks of merchandise sold out as soon as they came in. derbirds TV show, Matchbox launched a range of toys and in December 1992 demand for the Tracy Island playset was huge and resulted in a shortage. Again this toy saw parents fight it out in shops and a black market rise in order to secure the ‘must have’ toy. It later led Blue Peter to run a DIY demonstration by Anthea Turner so children not lucky enough to get one could make their own from old newspaper, pipe cleaners, yoghurt pots, cereal packets and bits of sponge!

6. 1991 Game Boy Manufactured by Nintendo the handheld video game had interchangeable game cartridges to play such as the addictive and popular Tetris. It has become one of the bestselling electric game devices of all time. When the original units were released in Japan all 300,000 sold out in just a fortnight and when it was released in the USA 40,000 units were sold on the very first day.

4. 1996 Tickle Me Elmo Another unpredicted success the plush Elmo toy that laughed and vibrated when squeezed sold out almost immediately.

Short supplies caused hysteria once again amongst parents desperate to get their hands on one. A stampede in one shop led to a poor worker receiving a broken rib and retailers were mobbed by parents willing to pay anything.

7. 1985 Teddy Ruxpin This loveable talking bear’s eyes and mouth would move in sync as it read children a bedtime story thanks to the audio cassette attached to its back. Using the same technology seen in talking creatures Disneyland Teddy Ruxpin appeared to come to life. It was so popular that 800,000 were sold in 1985 and a shortage of supplies in the lead up to Christmas doubled or tripled the price people paid to secure one for their child.

5. 1992 Thunderbirds Tracy Island Following the BBC’s revival of the Thun-

8. 1983 Cabbage Patch Kids The squidgy soft dolls that came with its

Sudoku

own name and an adoption certificate caused chaos for parents whose children had listed it on their wish list to Santa.

Low stocks lead to a frenzy of adults fighting as they scrambled to get one for their child with some even camping outside toy stores in an attempt to secure one. Some of the dolls were sold on the black market for 10 times their retail price and by New Year’s day more than three million had been sold.

TO

Boggled

9. 1977 Star Wars Action Figures The success of Star Wars took the world by surprise, so much so that toymaker Kenner did not have time to manufacture much in time for Christmas. They did however sell millions of vouchers for miniature action figures of the film’s characters such as Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader and Princess Leia. On Christmas morning children woke up to no actual toy, just an ‘Early Bird Certificate Package’ that gave them information about the toy figures they would receive in a few months.

How many English words can you find in the Boggled grid, according to the following rules?

• The letters must be adjoining in a ‘chain’. They can be adjacent horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

• Words must contain at least four letters and may include singular and plural or other derived forms.

• No letter may be used more than once within a single word, unless it appears twice.

• No vulgarities or proper nouns are permitted.

10. 1934 Shirley Temple Doll Possibly one of the earliest ‘must have’ Christmas toys the Shirley Temple doll.

Manufactured by The Ideal Toy and Novelty Company it was modelled on Shirley Temple and was the first ‘celebrity’ doll to hit the shelves. Shirley Temple was only six years old at the time and was starring in the film Bright Eyes which was released three days before Christmas. Apparently $45 million worth of the dolls sold were sold over a seven-year period.

• Very good: 35

TARGET: • Average: 18 • Good: 25 • Excellent: 46

SCORING: 4 letters: 1 point • 5 letters: 2 points 6 letters: 3 points • 7 letters: 5 points 8 or more letters: 11 points

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION cacti caciques cates cater catties cattier cite cites citer cities attire attires isms sett bait bate bates batt batter battier esquire equities ires iota attic attics vies great grit griot grot grotesque groat

Word Ladder FACE

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Fill the grid so that every row, every column and every 3X3 box contains the digits 1-9.

There’s no maths involved. You solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic.

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TIME OUT

HUNT BACK

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

Solution FACE PACE PANE (PACT) PANT PUNT HUNT

TOP 10

BOOKS

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Answers: Arctic Circle, From top to bottom.

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OPINION & COMMENT

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

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Part of the caste system All due respect

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

IN the early days Pablo Iglesias, Podemos secretary general and one of the party’s cofounders, mocked the established parties as the political caste. This was easy when he and the party were on the outside looking in but now they’re inside. Podemos male MPs might be tieless and the women might favour bovver boots but now they are part of the system and belong to the caste.

To dispel any lingering doubts, Iglesias is sidelining another Podemos co-founder, Iñigo Errejon. He wants to call all the shots and will metaphorically shoot anyone who gets in the way, a classic indicator of having taken out a lifetime subscription to caste membership.

Killing with kindness WITHOUT Albert Rivera and the Ciudadanos’ votes, Mariano Rajoy would not be president.

THE Public Safety Law, popularly called the Gagging Law and due for emasculation by the Opposition, does nothing for the government’s democratic credentials.

Harsh fines for unauthorised demonstrations or ‘lack of respect’ for the authorities can be imposed by police, not the courts and the law smacks of tyranny.

Rajoy argues that demolishing liberties and rights won since the Transition protects the population while the country is on high terrorist alert.

Like many of his arguments, this one is specious, because the Public Safety law is clearly designed to control the public not terrorists.

But neither could he have returned to the Moncloa without the PSOE party’s abstention. Rajoy should be grateful to both, although it is with the PSOE, now led by a Management Committee, that he negotiates.

He has little to say to Rivera and studiously ignores Podemos while treating the PSOE as the Opposition. Not very helpful to Ciudadanos and galling to Podemos which fancied itself as

leading the Opposition. Ultimately Rajoy could damage the PSOE by alienating the militant membership which has not forgotten or forgiven secretary general Pedro Sanchez’s forced exit before the investiture abstention. A smooth PPPSOE relationship will irritate paid-up party members and lose future votes, which wily Rajoy knows well.

What he’s doing is killing the PSOE with kindness.

Taxing situation THE Budget will slap more tax on vices - admittedly minor ones - like tobacco, spirits and sugary drinks, which makes a change from the past. Time was, in Spain, when vices were cheap and staples expensive.

Pablo Iglesias.

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Recent examples of resolved problems that we have solved for English speakers with interests in Spain 1. Flood home accident. Insurance Company Claim: A British client, who suffered a flood in his house in Malaga. Logically, he contacted his Insurance Company but they offered him a very poor level of compensation, which did not cover half of the damages.

It was a problem, because in addition, it was difficult for him to speak to someone effectively and in English.

LEGAL LIFELINE: For English speakers in Spain.

2. Problem with the Home Owners Association An expat resident in Spain, who was informed late about a meeting with the Home Owners Association made certain decisions in that meeting that were prejudicial to him.

The Administrator and the President did not answer his questions and he did not know how to oppose the decision.

The solution: Legal Lifeline: A team of bilingual lawyers available or English speakers with interests

in Spain, who work 24/7 to solve problems and for only an annual fixed fee of 184€. And they will always be spoken to in English.

Our lawyers do not just assess our client’s legal problem, but they also provide any services that are needed.

In the cases above, already resolved, Legal Lifeline lawyers performed the following: • They requested the necessary documentation: it was from the insurance policy in the first case or the data of the Administrator and President in the second case.

• Drafted all the legal documents that were needed: made a claim to the Insurance Company based on the knowledge of the Spanish Law and the content of the policy, in the first case and a wrote a letter to the Home Owner’s Association in the second.

• Negotiated with the opposing party: They contacted the Insurance

Company and called the Administrator to seek a solution favourable to our client.

• Negotiated the solution: In both cases, an agreement was reached by all the parties involved, so that a higher compensation was offered in the first case and suggestions were made to change the agreement adopted in the second.

The lawyer passed these solutions on to the clients, who accepted them and closed the cases, now that the clients were happy with the outcomes.

ALL THESE MANAGEMENTS BY LEGAL LIFELINE LAWYERS ARE INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL FIXED FEE OF 184€, SO THAT THESE CLIENTS HAVE NO ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE WHEN HAVING THEIR PROBLEMS SOLVED. Visit our website for more information www.legallifeline.com.

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HEALTH BEAUTY

Could blood help heal?

USING blood as a beauty treatment is now a common occurrence, particularly among Hollywood A-listers. The so-called ‘vampire therapies’ are a favourite of Kim Kardashian who was one of the first to draw attention to the rather unusual facial which involves using your own blood in the platelet-rich plasma therapy (PRP).

But now, the healing platelets, rich in proteins and beneficial properties to help accelerate and repair tissue, bone and skin, are not just being used in the beauty industry as a way of helping you stay looking younger for longer and are being used as a way of helping numerous conditions.

Pulled muscles PRP is becoming more common amongst athletes who are reporting that the growth factors in the platelets are helping to heal tendon damage with the blood being a natural healing substance and speeding up the process.

Golfer Tiger Woods and tennis

player Rafael Nadal are all reported to have received PRP to help treat various problems.

Arthritic knees Painkillers and keyhole surgery are the normal options for sufferers, but could blood be beneficial in treating such ailments? A study by researchers in New York reported that injecting the patients’ own blood cells into their knees reduced pain and improved function and appeared to delay the progression of osteoarthritis.

As a result, some specialists are now offering PRP treatment with the blood plasma being injected into the knee to stop arthritis getting worse.

Healing wounds A study last year published in the World Journal of Plastic Surgery, reported that using a patient’s blood could help heal wounds and burns. By incorporating it into a gel it is believed to not only help with the healing process, but help protect against infection on the wounds. It is also believed

to reduce the appearance of scars.

Hair loss Could PRP even be used to help prevent hair loss? Some dermatologists believe so as a study found that PRP injections into the scalp appeared to slow the hair loss process. However, it is thought to work better the earlier it is used in the hair loss process.

How does PRP work?

Blood is taken from the patient with the platelets separated from the other blood cells before going through a centrifugation process to increase the platelet concentrations. It is these platelets that are understood to have the healing benefits with the platelet-rich plasma then injected back into the patients.

UNUSUAL FACIAL: Using your own blood.

&

Men living with HIV IN Spain it is estimated that between 130,000-160,000 people are living with HIV, with around 20 per cent undiagnosed. Of new cases diagnosed, eight out of 10 of them are men, aged between 29-45 years of age.

These are the findings of a report on HIV and AIDS in the country made available to the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality.

Up to June 30 this year, there has been a total of 3,428 new diagnoses of the virus within the Autonomous Communities, Cuenta and Melilla. This rate is similar to those of other European countries.

The most common mode of transmission of HIV is through sexual relations. Transmission from drug injecting continues to decline and stood at 2.8 per cent. The report also shows a fall in the cases of the disease being detected among immigrants.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

www.euroweeklynews.com

Long wait to start road to recovery THE number of cancer patients in the UK having to wait longer than two months for treatment has nearly doubled compared to figures of five years ago.

The NHS aims to see patients within 62 days once a cancer diagnosis has been made, but the target set by the government of treating 85 per cent of patients within this time period has been missed regularly for the last three years, with around 82 per cent of patients being treated within two months.

Waiting times for cancer treatment be-

gan to fall below the target in 2014/15.

That year 128,642 patients were diagnosed with cancer in England, with a reported 83.4 per cent starting treatment within two months.

The situation is not helping survival rates with early treatment amongst the best way to fight and beat the disease.

Research comparing cancer survival in 29 countries show that the UK has amongst the lowest rates of survival. In Sweden, the country’s survival rates are almost a third higher than in Britain.

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

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E W N 15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

Sleep well at Christmas

HELP TO SLEEP: A book or sex?

FESTIVE cheer might by-pass a third of the UK population this year according to a survey from Drift Sleep, a British mattress manufacturer.

Grumpiness from lack of sleep affects 28 per cent of us, so with a third of us planning to go to friends or family this festive season, Drift asked the UK’s adults what they do to get a good night’s shut-eye.

More men (12 per cent) than women (4 per cent) say sex helps them sleep, whilst over twice as many women than men say a good book is the best way to drift off. For women it’s all about the bed as the mattress tops the list with 67 per cent saying that it’s the most important thing, followed by the pillow (65 per cent) and clean sheets (51 per cent).

Men can more or less be able to sleep any-

where as opposed to women, but there are still things keeping them awake.

Men are more likely to be affected by work worries with 17 per cent saying they can’t stop thinking about work when trying to drop off, whilst only 9 per cent of women have this problem. But when it comes to Christmas games more men than women will stay awake stressing about losing the family game of Monopoly.

Adam Black, co-founder of Drift Sleep said of the results, “With a third of the UK staying away from home this Christmas it’s important that people do all they can to get a good night’s rest. Despite the differences, it looks like what both men and women need is a comfortable bed and clean sheets, hopefully that’s not too much to ask of the relatives!”

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More tablet use damaging eyesight

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Ask The Doctor

Brought to you by

Arthritis and the weather

YOUNGER PEOPLE: Increase in cases of presbyopia.

EXCESSIVE use of technological devices such as tablets and computers is believed to be behind an increase in the cases of the eye condition presbyopia in younger people.

The condition of long-sightedness is more common amongst the over 50’s and is a natural result of the aging process and wear and tear on the eye. Sufferers experience blurred vision when doing close up work such as reading, sewing or working on the computer.

Now, the Eye Institute Tres Torres is reporting more cases in the younger population, of those in their late 30’s with an increased noted over the last five years.

SPECIALIST: Doctor Luis Perez Belmonte.

PEOPLE with arthritis tend to complain that at this time of year damp conditions and lower temperatures cause their joints to give them more grief.

Is it true that arthritis gets worse when the weather is bad? Why is that?

• It’s true that people who have joint problems, whether due to a chronic condition such as arthritis or due to previous injuries, tend to find their joints are more sensitive to temperature changes and damp conditions. This is due to the fact that the joint has been permanently affected and changes in atmospheric conditions lead the tissues to expand or contract, leading to symptoms.

What can be done to counteract the effects of the cold or damp on joints?

• The first thing that can be done is to try not to expose yourself to brusque temperature changes or wet weather and, if you have no choice, try to protect yourself as much as possible. If in spite of this, you start to notice symptoms or they worsen, you should take further measures such as taking anti-inflammatory drugs or resting.

Can we help our joints through diet or healthy habits?

• Obviously diet is fundamental to keep joints healthy. Your diet should be balanced and rich in fruit and vegetables as well as, of course, products containing calcium to help strengthen your joints and muscles.

You should take care not to gain excess weight or become obese as that can cause injuries to the joints in your legs. Moderate physical exercise, such as walking for 40-60 minutes every day, can also help strengthen joints.

Is arthritis hereditary? If my parents have it will I inevitably get it in the future or are there ways to avoid it appearing?

• Arthritis can be caused by many different things. In some cases these can be hereditary so some people are predisposed to inherit it and cannot do much to avoid it. Luckily, though, most cases of arthritis are due to other mechanisms such as excessive wear of the joints due to misuse, so learning how to care for your joints can help avoid problems later in life.

If you have any questions for Dr Perez Belmonte, please send them to: jefemedico@helicopterossanitarios.com

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Christmas at Balearia Port

Two Xmas markets to visit THE first of Villajoyosa’s two Christmas markets opens tomorrow (Friday, December 16) in the Plaza de la Iglesia.

As in previous years from now until Christmas Eve, stalls will feature gastronomy as well as arts and crafts and there will be a special corner for children to leave their letters for Papa Noel aka Father Christmas.

The second market will be held from January 2 until January 6, again with gastronomy and craftwork. On January 4 at 4.30pm the Royal Postman will visit the market to pick up children’s letters to the Three Kings after setting out from Finca La Barbera accompanied by a brass band.

EWN

FESTIVE MOOD: There will be lots of activities to take part in.

Christmas fun for all

By Caroline Tyszka A CHRISTMAS charity fair has been organised that should put even the most bah humbug in the festive mood.

On Saturday 17 and Sunday December 18 the town of La Nucia will be full of craft stalls selling Christmas cakes and other seasonal goodies.

As well as the children’s inflatables and craft workshops there will be live entertainment from dance and music schools including the Christmas school choirs of San Rafael and La Muixara.

Many of the local organisations such as the Cancer Association of La Nucia and the Association of Pensioners of La Nucia will be in attendance raising awareness and funds for their caus-

es and on the Sunday, at midday, Father Christmas will arrive to collect any letters from the children.

This will be the sixth Christmas fair which will again be held at the Plaça Major, opening at 11am until 9pm on the Saturday and 10am until 8pm on the Sunday.

Beatriz Perez-Hickman, councillor for Tourism, said: “The Christmas Fair is an initiative to create a charity Christmas atmosphere in these special days with activities and live performances for the whole family. We want to encourage all of our residents and those from the region to come and enjoy our celebrations.”

Free parking will be available at Les Nits car park, opposite the health centre.

SKATING Rink (with synthetic ice) and bouncy castles.

November 26 to December 22, Monday to Friday 5pm9pm €4, Saturday and Sunday 11am-2pm and 4.309.30pm €6. December 23: 11am-2pm and 4.30-9.30pm.

• Bouncy Castle Festival Different castles every week!

Play Park (a sea of fun) Fun for all ages in an exciting and safe environment, with full time monitoring and organised activities. Guaranteed Fun! • Friday December 16, 8pm.

Balearia Foundation Charity Concert The Conservatory of Valencia choir and orchestra will perform ‘Magnificat’ by Vivaldi • Saturday December 17 Skating Rink (with synthetic ice) Balearia Club special one-

day offer, only €2 admission.

Proof of membership must be shown.

If you are not a member, sign up at balearia.com.

• Wednesday December 21 - Saturday 23 Christmas market, Wednesday to Friday 129pm, Saturday 12-6pm.

• Friday December 23 11.30am.

‘Little Circus’ circus workshop. Learn the techniques to be an authentic juggler and a tightrope walker!

• Wednesday December 29 Christmas Stories: seasonal stories told through drama and activities.

• Wednesday January4 ‘Minidisc’ music entertainment show, with the most popular children’s music, dance activities and visits from famous cartoon characters. Fun for all ages!

Call 902 787 693 or see baleariaport.com.

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Subway: Freshness and healthy eating WHEN you’re part of the one of the biggest fast-food franchises in the world and healthy eating is top of your priorities then you’re onto a winner.

The combination is the winning recipe behind the success of Subway, the sandwich outlet that started in the US and is now a household name.

Subway in Benidorm is run by former professional chef Helgi Helgason who aims to provide high quality, tasty food, fast and just the way you like it.

The meal-option combinations are eye-watering in their variety and mouth-watering when it comes to one of the most important factors taste.

They take great care to ensure they use ingredients that are low in saturated fats and also salt. That way they ensure what you’re eating is both tasty and healthy.

Most combinations also include lots of salad and the dressings are designed to keep your tastebuds happy and be healthy at the same time.

For these reasons, Subway becomes a way of life for many and the

SUBWAY: Most combinations include lots of salad with healthy dressings.

reviews they get mean the food is value for money particularly when pennies, as they say, are short!

Subway’s reviews highlight the efficient service, the cleanliness and high standards of hygiene of the operation while others place a premium on cost savings.

Bread at Subway in Benidorm is baked several times a day to maintain freshness at all times and keep customers happy in the knowledge that what they’re eating might have come out of the oven only minutes before.

When it comes to offers, there’s always the Sub of the Day which costs just €2.50 and a Menu of the Day which retails at €4.50. The premises open at 10am and they’re there until ‘late.’

If you want to speak to the boss, you can get Helgi on Helgason_h@subway.com or email benisub@gmail.com and inquiries about extending the Subway franchise are always welcome.

Subway are on Avenida Estocolmo 2, 03503 Benidorm and you can ring 616 856 809.

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A new society for Marina Alta MAFAS or Marina Alta Fine Arts Society is a new society being formed in the Marina Alta. It is to be the local branch of the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Society (NADFAS) which currently has four branches in Spain, 325 branches in the UK with more in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

It is to offer members eight monthly illustrated presentations on many different topics ranging from Tutankhamun’s Treasures to Art Deco, Highgrove to Vic-

toria and Albert, Picasso to Pop Art, Indian fabrics to Faberge eggs and everything in between - there are 4,200 topics which the Committee will choose from.

Speakers are world-class and at a recent sample presentation the lecturer had been resident at the National Gallery in London for 10 years and was knowledgeable, interesting and funny.

Other specialists come from Tate Britain, Tate Modern and the Antiques Roadshow and all presenters are appointed by NADFAS who

fly them over to speak to exclusively.

Members will receive four magazines a year with reviews of exhibitions, offers of courses as well as cultural trips organised by the Association. The present list has Italy, China, India and Europe lined up.

If you wish to be kept informed about the programme of illustrated presentations to be held at the ParadorJavea starting January 19 please send an e-mail to s e c re t a r y @ m a f a s . o rg . u k saying ‘keep me informed.’

Teulada-Moraira Xmas programme TEULADA-MORAIRA’S Christmas programme is now in full swing and tomorrow, Friday, December 16, sees the traditional Christmas Concert with the Coral Teuladina and Agrupacion Musical Cultural in the Santa Catalina church at 9pm.

The Moors and Christians Mig Any (Half Year) fiesta is celebrated on Saturday, December 17 in Plaza de la Iglesia in Moraira, beginning at 11.30am.

Moraira’s Christmas Concert with the Coral Teuladina will be held in the Virgen de los Desamparados church at 9pm.

There will be a Christmas Market in Teulada on Sunday, December 18, from 9am until 7pm in Plaza de la Constitution, Avenida Santa Catalina and Calle Alicante.

Also on Sunday, the Club de Gimnasia Llebeig is organising the Mini-Princesas Trophy at 9am in the Pabellon Municipal.

The traditional Cant de la Sibbila (The Sybil’s Song), performed since mediaeval time s , w ill be s ung in Te ula da ’s Sa nta Catalina church on December 22 at 9pm, preceded by a gathering in Plaza de los Porches at 8.30pm.

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A warm welcome awaits INDIAN HAWELI restaurant is located in the beautiful area of Denia.

Established since 2005, this beautiful restaurant and terrace is the perfect place to visit for an incredible authentic Indian meal where they serve traditional Indian dishes, house specialities and all the favourites. For something different they have a King Prawn Grill which is very popular. All the ingredients are fresh and dishes are cooked to order.

The restaurant has a simple and quaint charm and is decorated with silk and satin drapes, chandeliers, Indian statues and the tables are dressed with the finest silverware and linen. There is a large round table which is perfect for hosting parties or larger groups and is tucked away so that you can dine in privacy. The restaurant creates a warm and romantic atmosphere and it doesn’t stop there.

Outside is a magnificent terrace area that can seat up to 100 people. It is the perfect setting for those warm summer evenings where you can sit back, relax and enjoy your meal while watching the world go by.

Indian Haweli have many live music nights throughout the year where you can combine a fabulous meal and enjoy some local entertainment. To find out what is on, visit www.hawelispain.com or their

INDIAN HAWELI: Perfect for that traditional authentic taste.

Facebook Indian Haweli Restaurant page where all events will be listed. By visiting the Facebook page and liking, it enters you into a free draw to win a meal for two.

Up until December 30, and including Christmas, there is a menu available for just 14.90â‚Ź which is fantastic value and should not be missed.

Indian Haweli also offer a takeaway service as well as free home delivery within a 15km radius. They can also do outside catering so if you are hosting a

party then let Indian Haweli do all the hard work while you and your guests party the night (or day) away.

Indian Haweli can be found at Ctra de las Marinas km2, 69 Denia and there is plenty of parking with space for up to 20 vehicles. Alternatively call 965 783 637 or 677 004 651 to reserve a table or place a booking.

Nikku and the team await you with a warm welcome and will provide you with spectacular service to ensure your dining experience is enjoyable.

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Electricity use at Xmas A STUDY carried out by new electricity distributor Podo has indicated that by and large, Spanish homes consume 20 per cent more electricity during the Christmas period. Altogether, this adds up to an extra €150 million worth of electricity.

The report indicated that the average daily light consumption in Spain shoots up by 9.43 kilowatts an hour during Christmas. Podo has indicated that the increase can be partially attributed to the use of Christmas decorations, but noted that homeowners tend to use household appliances and lights more during the holidays as well.

The regions of Cataluña and Castilla y Leon were singled out as the biggest users and abusers, with average increases of 27.4 and 27.1 per cent respectively. In regards to major cities, Madrid was up by 23 per cent, whereas curiously in Barcelona, electricity bills only increased by a comparatively mild 15 per cent.

TO READ MORE

PROPERTY www.euroweeklynews.com

Demolition time for some

By Sam Croft AT the present moment, there is a huge surplus of uninhabited homes in Spain. Most of these buildings have been languishing on the market for years, unable to find a suitable buyer. Experts in the sector are now beginning to argue that the time has come to do something about the situation, and the solution may involve a bulldozer or two.

It all started in 2008 when the crisis kicked in and the real estate bubble burst, leading to disastrous results for the Spanish property sector. Fast forward eight years and there are now thousands of these unused homes in the country, despite recent improvements in the real estate market.

Juan Antonio Gomez-Pintado, president of the property developers board APCE, has argued that it has become apparent that it is necessary for some of the excess stock to be demolished, given that it is unrealistic that it will ever be fully absorbed into the market.

EXCESS STOCK: It may be necessary for some properties to be demolished.

“There still exists the possibility of selling off part of it, but in some cases the time has come to demolish it because people prefer new residences, with environmental features, made with other materials

and which have been conceived differently than buildings constructed 10 years ago,” he stated.

According to data from real estate portal Servihabitat Trends, by the end of 2016 there will be

around 388,000 of these uninhabited homes on the market, although the number is expected to drop to 315,000 by the end of 2017 owing to the ongoing upswing in the sector.

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Success for Spanish real estate sector as record numbers are announced THE real estate consulting agency CBRE has estimated that a whopping €7.5 billion will be injected into the Spanish real estate sector in the fourth quarter of 2016, a number which represents almost the same quantity recorded in 2011, 2012, and 2013 combined.

The findings represent more good news for the Spanish real estate market, which has recently been on a steady upswing following years of uncertainty during the economic crisis CBRE has predicted that around €13.9 billion will be spent in the sector over the course of 2016, with more than half of those investments taking place between October and December.

The numbers mean that the real estate sector will experience an 8 per cent incrase in comparison to 2015, and a 45

The lap of luxury THE German investment fund Aquila Capital plans to build a huge luxury complex in the affluent La Moraleja neighbourhood of Madrid. The total budget for the project has been set at around €100 million.

The complex will be constructed in a 2,300m 2 plot of land and will consist of around 70 single-family homes. Each residence will have a total surface area somewhere between 300 and 500m2 and will have at least five bedrooms.

Overall, 75 per cent of the luxury homes sold in Spain are located in either Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga Province, and the Balearic Islands.

This should not come as a huge surprise considering the large amount of wealthy visitors and residents. Luxury residences are defined as homes which go up for sale for more than €1,000,000.

Americans, Brits, and Germans lead the pack in regards

GOOD NEWS: The Spanish of uncertainty. per cent increase in comparsion to 2014.

“The market now has new investors who have less debt and the ability to kick off a new real estate cycle,” indicat-

real estate market is on a steady upswing after years ed CBRE President Adolfo Ramirez Escudero.

The logistics market has had a particularly successful year in Spain although there have also been notable upswings in

the retail sector and amongst office buildings.

Of the money spent in the Spanish real estate sector in 2016, 37 per cent has come from foreign investors. North

Property prices are steadily increasing HOUSING prices (for both new and used homes) went up by 0.2 per cent in November compared to the same period last year, according to a report carried out by property valuation agency TINSA. Since 2007, property prices in Spain have decreased by 41.2 per cent, but they now finally seem to be on an upswing. Between January and November of 2016, housing prices have risen by 1.8 per cent, a rather impressive turnaround compared to the overall decrease of 0.2 per cent which the market experienced in the same period of 2015.

Experts have predicted that in 2017, prices will either stabilise or see a small increase of 2 per cent or less.

The Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands have fared particularly well this

year. In the first 11 months of the year, the two regions

saw property prices shoot up by 3.1 per cent.

to new endeavours and investments.

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Euro Weekly News announces media partnership with Antony Wolfson

By John Smith

A

NTONY WOLFSON is a very special entertainer who has attracted the attention of Euro Weekly News ever since he arrived in the Costa del Sol with his wife Karen just four years ago and now his latest achievement has meant that we are delighted to have been asked to become his official media partner as his musical star continues to rise.

Originally, destined to be an artist,

Antony attended the prestigious Central Saint Martin’s College which is considered to be the premier art school in the United Kingdom and when he left, he started work in commercial advertising and digital marketing.

As Antony explains during an exclusive interview, he had something of an early mid-life crisis and decided to join the City of London Police where he was soon promoted to the rank of Sergeant and became known as ‘The Singing Policeman’ as he appeared in so many charity events where his mellifluous voice was always in demand.

Having been brought up on a diet of Elvis Presley and some of the early rock and rollers he naturally gravitated to this style of music and his voice has been compared to Elvis at the height of his talent.

Antony Wolfson stresses that he is not an impersonator or a tribute artist but a singer who enjoys the songs of his great hero Elvis and it seems that plenty of others, including those who ought to know, agree with him.

He was inspired to give up his position in the police force and move to Spain because of the encouragement that he had received from people who had been close to the ‘King’ and had heard Antony though his website which had more than 60,000 visitors even when he was an amateur.

One of those was Kathy Westmoreland who sang soprano with Elvis from 1970 to 1977 and was introduced by him as “the little girl with

Antony in concert Photo Credit: Antony Wolfson

the beautiful high voice” and she contacted Antony saying “You are brilliant, I love everything you do.”

This praise was followed by Joe Esposito road manager and long-time friend and business associate of Elvis simply saying “Wow” when he saw Antony perform a concert in Melbourne. Joe then went on to introduce Antony to a number of members of the Presley family and has helped to open a number of doors for him.

Perhaps the greatest thing that has happened for Antony is that he has been given access to a number of unrecorded songs written for Elvis by the world renowned song writing duo of Leiber and Stoller who have penned at least 70 top 10 hits including 20 recorded by Elvis.

The first song, ‘Stay Awhile’ was recorded in 2015 and with very little promotion won the Akademia Award in Los Angeles in November of last year and continues to receive 10,000 radio plays monthly around the world.

Following the success of this song, Antony asked his friend and mentor Tim Knight, a long-time resident of Marbella to produce the next song, the more upbeat ‘Touch of Heaven’ which has just been finished at the Mikki Nilsen studio in Cortija Blanca with Mikki on guitar, Leonardo la Peruta on saxophone, US rockabilly star Susan Erwin on piano and Helena Paul on backing vocals.

When Mike Stoller heard the recorded version, his response was “You’ve got it” and then went on to say “Elvis would have done it one way but Antony does it his

way!” As far as Antony is concerned it is an honour to be allowed to record these tracks and he is blown away by the very positive comments.

The next step is to produce a video to support the song and until that is ready, he doesn’t want to issue it as a single but has at our request, included a short 30-second preview on his website at www.antonywolfsonmusic.com/mu sic with the expectation that the single will be launched simultaneously in both the UK and Spain with TV support in January.

Having just returned from the UK where he had the privilege of meeting with Priscilla Presley who he describes as “a beautiful lady inside and out” at a special concert ‘Elvis and the Philharmonic Orchestra’ held at the O2 in London which attracted an audience of 20,000, he is still gathering more plaudits.

The organiser of this concert Don Reedman which is due to tour Europe in 2017 and producer of three hugely successful Elvis related albums commented on the new song “Very cool.”

In a space of two weeks in January, Antony will be travelling to the USA, performing concerts by invitation in Memphis, Nashville, New Orleans and the Presley birth place Tupelo.

This local boy seems to be going from strength to strength and can be seen performing at some of the top venues in the Marbella area six times a week and we at Euro Weekly News will be following his activities in 2017 very closely as we think that we are the media partner of a potentially major star.

Antony and Priscilla Pre sley

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Eggplants thrive in heat Photo Credit: Schankz Shutterstock

By Graeme Tyrrell THE vegetable garden can be an interesting adventure, as well as productive, by diversifying the assortment of vegetables that you grow. There are more and more varieties of vegetables becoming available and greater variation of the types we all know.

The purplish blue star shaped flower of the eggplant is an interesting feature.

Eggplant or, as they can also be known in English, aubergine, is an attractive exotic vegetable originating from the northern regions of India. It is now adopted and grown in warmer climates around the world. In Spain it is called berenjena. It is well accepted in the Spanish and other cooking styles as it can be prepared in a variety of appetising ways due to its distinct but mild taste allowing garnishing to adapt it to your favourite tastes.

Normally shaped somewhat like an egg with a smooth, purplish skin and whitish centre, there have evolved many different forms and

AUBERGINES: Harvesting the ripe fruit is an art form. colour varieties including golf ball sized shapes, elongated, oblong, speckled, yellow, white, green, lavender shades and almost black.

There is enough variety to make any garden harvest basket fill with colour and form and the cook to have plenty of opportunities to dress up the meal.

The hearty purplish blue star shaped flower of an eggplant is an interesting feature of the plant.

Eggplants thrive in the Mediter-

ranean climate in well composted soil in summer, but will also overwinter to produce the next year’s crop in protected warmer winter zones. To get different varieties it may take some searching on the internet for seeds, but it is worth the effort if you have the time.

If growing from seed, plant them in a seedling tray in a warm place two months before the planting time in late spring, once the soil has warmed up rather than just

&

GARDENS

a few sunny days. Space them around 50 - 60cm apart in the garden with a stake to support the not so sturdy plant as when the fruits fully form, the weight is disproportional to the strength of the plant in many cases. They can be slow starters and they need the long summer with plenty of sun to fully mature.

Mulch around the plants to keep soil temperature lower around the roots in summer using compost and/or straw, seaweed or other suitable mulches.

Harvesting the ripe fruit is an art form. Use a cutting tool to remove the ripe fruit from the plant as the plant can be damaged by pulling them off. They can be more bitter when underripe or overripe so check they are firm and fully formed without soft spots to get them at their best. It takes practice to identify them at the right stage of ripeness.

Ideally the seeds in the fruit should be formed and visible but not enlarged, but you can only tell this after harvesting. Once cut the fruit needs to be used quickly as they discolour rapidly.

The fruits can keep for several days but if you have a garden it is best if you can harvest them and use them straight away to retain their freshness.

Houseplants for cleaner air DID you know that the air inside buildings can be extremely dirty and polluted?

To keep the air you breathe at home or in the office as clean and healthy as possible, the best bet is to surround yourself with purifying plants which absorb harmful substances.

Some of the best, easiest to find and care for air cleaning plants to add to your interior decoration are aloe vera, spider plants, snake plants (also known as mother-in-law’s tongue) areca palm, chrysanthemum, peperomia, bamboo palm, common fern, aglaonema, dracaena, phoenix roebelenii palm, ficus alii and gerbera daisy.

All of these, along with looking pretty, will work away silently to rid our surroundings of VOCs (common volatile organic compounds) and help boost our health and that of our surroundings.

SNAKE PLANT: Healthy.

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When the going gets tough, the tough get plants!

ORCHIDS: Flower all year.

By Eleanor Hawkins WHEN times are hard, surroundin g o u r se l v e s w ith certain plants and flowers can help improve our mood and find the inner harmony to carry on regardless.

There are many different types and personal preference obviously plays an important role, these are just a few top choices.

Lilies of the Valley Gardening expert David Domoney decided to carry out an informal three-month survey to discover which plants i n sp i r e d p o sitiv e feelings.

An amazingly large majority o f t h o se h e q u es tioned said lilies of the valley brought them happiness, in part because the aromatic flower s b r o u g h t b a c k beloved memories.

Geraniums Masses of richly coloured flowers have always helped cheer people up, but the soft aroma of the geranium plant (similar to that of roses) has also been found to encourage peace of mind.

English ivy and ferns Both purify the air, helping bring easier breathing and peace of mind.

Lavender The smell of lavender reduces anxiety.

Although lighting a scented candle could bring the same results, the natural fragrance o f f r e sh l a v e n d e r permanently scents the air for a more constant effect.

Roses A study published by the Journa l o f Ph y si o l o g ica l Anthropology revealed that office workers who looked at roses felt more relaxed and comfortable.

Orchids One of life’s most accessible luxuries, orchids have always b e e n f a v o u r ed in Feng Sh u i f o r i n c r e a s in g positiv e e n e rg y wi t h in a room.

T h ey flo w e r a ll y ea r ro u n d , b rin g in g a to u ch o f colour which can improve even the darkest mo o d in th e w in ter months.

Rosemary Rosemary has symbolised many things over the years fro m me mo ries to in ne r p ea c e . T h e co n n ec tio n is probably due to the smell of the plant, which encourages memories of summer days.

Sweet peas These flowers were also highly rated in Domoney’s survey for similar reasons to lilies of the valley.

T h o s e q u es tio n e d s a id th at s w ee t p ea s b ro u g ht back happy childhood memories.

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Hounds that pack on the pounds

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

You should be able to feel your pet’s ribs easily without pressing, but you should not be able to see the ribs through the coat. There should be a ‘tuck in’ in the abdominal area.

Your pet’s torso, viewed from above, should resemble an hour glass. You can conduct these quick checks, but since it’s hard for owners to be objective, it’s best to seek your veterinarian’s advice.

Overweight An overweight pet is not a healthy pet. Owners need to recognise that they are putting their pet’s health at risk by allowing that extra weight. Obesity commonly leads to diabetes, heart problems, and arthritis.

An overweight pet does not age well, either. Overweight pets are more prone to hip dysplasia, back and joint pain, and endocrine diseases.

Extra weight also decreases a veterinarian’s ability to manage these conditions both medically

and surgically.

The most common reason for overfeeding is that owners want to show their pet they care and one way is to give a treat.

One extra treat can turn into five and then 10. Be aware exactly how much you are feeding your pets.

It can be a challenge deciding how much is the right amount to feed your pet.

What’s listed on the bag is for the average pet, but lifestyle, activity level, and age also affect how much food a pet needs.

If your pet is overweight, feed less than what the bag says and adjust from there. Remember that treats reduce the amount of food required at each meal.

Talk to your veterinarian to figure out the ideal weight for your pet.

OBESE PETS: Rule out medical reasons first.

FOTO COPYRIGHT OLENA SAVYTSKA

David THE Dogman

OBESITY is not just a problem in people, pets are packing on the pounds too and it’s a problem that shouldn’t be ignored… !

How much does a fat pet weigh?

Putting your pet on the scale is not the best way to evaluate if the pet is overweight. There is a tremendous amount of individual variation in an animal’s ideal weight. It is better to look at the appearance of each animal rather than at a weight that this breed or type of animal ‘should’ be.

Never start your pet on a diet without consulting your veterinarian.

If you are faced with an obese pet, first rule out medical reasons for being overweight.

Then simply decrease calories in the diet and increase exercise.

An extra motivation is that people who lose weight together with their pet are more likely to keep it off. Working with a veterinarian is the best way to formulate a healthy diet for your pet. Contact your local veterinarian if your pet is overweight.

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15 - 21 November 2016/ Costa Blanca North

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Sebastian loves to follow Bragi around the house House-sitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and pet-sitting and the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation! To find a pet-sitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com or call Lamia on 00 44 (0) 777 214 2742.

They seemed to get on well. Then one AS cats go, Sebastian is a pretty loyal day Bragi noticed Sebastian in the street, friend. Certainly according to Bragi one of following him down the road to our house-sitters who loves to the local pub. He turned around pet-sit in Spain to escape Winter and collected him to take him in his native Iceland. He met home and put him indoors. his new friend after answerThis kept happening ing a housesit assignand became somement advert on Hous thing of a ritual beeSitMatch.com. tween pet and petA British couple livsitter. Almost as if ing in Orihuela Costa Sebastian just needwere looking for an ed to know Bragi experienced pet-sitter would accompany to care for their cat him home for safewhile they took a long ty! winter holiday. They Do you need a sitpreferred to have ter? Get in touch. someone at home carHouse-sitting can be ing for him where he a win-win for both would be relaxed and parties, free house comfortable. and pet-sitting, and Sebastian an inde- SEBASTIAN: An independent soul, the experienced and pendent soul, likes who likes company. checked sitters get company, and if he free accommodatakes to someone he tion! Register as either house-sitter or just follows them around. After a couple of homeowner now with a 20 per cent off indays in Bragi’s company, Sebastian began troductory offer using coupon code PERto shadow his house-sitter. Walking with FECT20. Visit www.HousesitMatch.com. him into each room, then into the garden.

I HAVE snails living in my substrate - lots of them. They have a cone-like shell and sometimes if I watch closely I can actually see the substrate moving about. Are they going to cause any problems?

Should I leave them or try (!?!) to eradicate them?

It sounds as though you have a colony of thiarid snails, probably Melanoides tuberculata (aka Red-rim Melania, Malaysian burrowing/ trumpet snail or simply MTS) or possibly Tarebia granifera (Quilted Melania). These are often referred to as aquarium pests since they can reproduce incredibly quickly when there is a consistent excess of food. As you’ve seen they spend the majority of their time within the substrate but do emerge occasionally, particularly at night.

They’re often said to be hermaphroditic, ie, possessing both male and female sexual organs but in fact they reproduce by parthenogenesis; females produce embryos which develop unfertilised and give

Aquarium answers birth to live, fully-formed young. Males do exist but in relatively small numbers compared with females.

In reality these snails are beneficial in the majority of aquaria since they eat detritus trapped within the substrate and their movement helps prevent anaerobic spots developing, particularly useful in planted set-ups. They will not harm live plants but do consume algae when they emerge at night, and if their numbers do increase quickly the usual cause is over-

feeding of fishes and/or insufficient cleaning of the substrate.

If you do wish to remove them please don’t use a commercial product (most are harmful to shrimp and some fishes) or add a ‘snail-eating’ fish such as a Botiid loach species (most grow relatively large, exhibit complex social behavior meaning a group of six to eight or more is required and shouldn’t be relied upon to eat snails) rather reduce feeding and remove them manually at night or using a ‘snail trap.’

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VEHICLE TRANSPORT

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TV & SATELLITE

SERVICES

CLASSIFIEDS www.euroweeklynews.com

AIR CONDITIONING

CAMPING

CHIMNEY SWEEP

CLEANING SERVICES

CHRIS PARKING Airport Alicante Short and long term parking in 2500m2 covered area. Caravan places also available. Outside parking from 0.77c per day. Workshop service available. Tel 603 518 439 www.chrispark ing.com (236657)

CAR PORTS BRICOMADERWOOD.COM. See our advert on page 102 (242550)

CARS WANTED

A1 SPECIALIST CLEANING. Carpets, upholstery, 15 years experience 965 058 177 / 697 511 071 marc@barnaclebills. co.uk www.britishbusinesspa gesinspain.es (243339) MARIA’S Housekeeping Services. Cleaning/Housekeeping Packages, Within Timescale/ Budget. Professional, Friendly, Reliable. 663 659 824 or hal lam_maria@yahoo.co.uk (236600) HOME HELP, Cleaning, Care Assistant, Waitress. Tel: 699 807 986. (248362)

AIRPORT TRANSFERS

COMPUTERS

CARAVANS ARENA Blanca Camp Site. Caravan and Awning as seen & large shed. Plot 109. €5, 500.

Tel: 602 460 890. marymal pas@gmail.com (248341) DETHLEFFS 675v 2008. Twin axle, twin motor mover 2.5m wide also awning £12,500 (Albir) smartcar44@gmail.com 602 618 554 (232384)

BUILDING SERVICES www.100percentplumbing.co m Call for a free quotation 965 835 939 (87006) MINI DIGGER, Dumper, Bobcat with operator for hire. Pedregeur based. Keith 639 620 448 (248846) RENOVATION – New Building 35 years experience Fixed price – Warranty 676 869 928 (236650)

CAVITY WALL INSTALL. INSULATE YOUR HOME and save on your energy bills.

Keep your home warm in winter, cooler in the summer.

Approx 90% of properties built in the last 40 years have cavity walls that are ideal to insulate. We also do floors & ceilings. To arrange a survey and no obligation quote call 626 997 748. www.ecocon fort.es (243780)

CHARITIES BUY & SELL

I BUY RECORDS 50’s to the 90’s. Best prices for good records. Tel: 622 750 117 / 962 851 809 (236552)

FENCING CHAIN LINK FENCING 1.50 mts high, post every 3 mts Price from 12€ per metre Quotes 607 417 945 (236626)

FLOOR POLISHING FLOOR POLISHING: All Marble & Granite types. Professional service. Free estimates. 627 103 412. (232428)

FOR SALE ALTEA LA VELLA: FRASER piano for sale in perfect condition. Comes with practice pedal and a matching piano stool all in brown. 1500€ Call 696 552 202 or Dick Seur 0031 651 578 309 (236665)

GARDENING

AIRPORT transfers - Benidorm & surrounding areas. Tel Fred 646 699 014 fredzuide@hot mail.com (248385)

BIKE FOR SALE

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CHIMNEY SWEEP, clean, efficient service. Tel 660 844 623 (247325)

AIRPORT PARKING

Costa Blanca North

15 - 21 December 2016

EL CAMPELLO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY, non-denominational Church. Everybody welcome. We meet every Sunday at 11.00 a.m. at Calle San Bartolome 35, Bajo, No.6 (next to Mercadona). For more information: www.elcampellochristiancommunity.org email: campellocc@gmail.com or Tel. Sue Bishop on 965 699 991 or 693 048 200.

(233602)

TREE SPECIALIST: Cut and removal of Palm / Pine trees.

Size not a problem. Also dangerous & difficult work. Garden cleaning and gravelling.

Free estimates. 627 103 412.

HANDYMAN

DANCE MARCIA’S Dance Centre (Calpe) Special kids classes in all disciplines. Adult classes available. Private or group lessons.

607 290 896 (236603)

ELECTRICIAN MB ELECTRICS. Approved electrician. Any electrical repair. Iberdrola paperwork. Affordable prices. Miquel 655 282 175 www.mbelectrics.es (243289) NEED AN ELECTRICIAN, moving meter boxes to boundaries, problems with meters tripping, new contracts, upgrading electrics. Mark 608 669 165. (249128) www.euroweeklynews.com

GARDENING

HEALTH & BEAUTY CHIROPODIST/PODIATRIST, Philip Mann, clinics in Benissa, Moraira, Javea, Calpe and Albir. 686 912 307 (240277) TATTOO Removal by laser fading. Free consultation. www.laser-tattoo-removal. info Calpe. Call 965 837 553 (241892)

MOBILE HAIRDRESSER DEBBIES Home Hairdressing.

Denia & surrounding areas.

Fully Qualified. Call 658 086 786 for an appointment/price.

(249562)

MASSAGE MASSAGE in Benidorm. Relaxing, qualified private service in my positive home. 604 232 351 www.pridemassage.info (247652)

HOLIDAY LET MOBILE HOME, 8 berth.

CAMPING ALMAFRA BENIDORM. 3 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Fully equipped home. Large decking area. Contact Angela Lucas (0034) 634 356 693. an gelalucas71@hotmail.com.

Facebook: Stawberryfieldscasa-rental Almafra.

(248452)

HOME & MEDICAL CARE

PURELY MAINTENANCE For all your maintenance needs - big or small, contact Carl on 965 878 866 or 669 218 928 email purelymaintenance@hotmail.c om (233351) handyjavea@gmail.com. For all villa repairs, maintenance and small building works. Specialists in pool re-grouting, filter and pump problems/replacements. No call out charge, no obligation quotes.

Call 625 397 209, Javea

INSURANCE

HOME AND MEDICAL CARE - Home care, Nursing services, Providing meals, Cleaning and maintenance, Assistance and many more, all our services can be tailor-made. Please check our website for more information, or ask for a free visit to discuss the possibilities. www.homeandmedical care.es 678 958 650.

SOS <http://www.sosin suranceinspain.com> Insurance in Spain. Best prices available. CALL US FIRST for all your insurance needs, including best deals on Funeral plans. Buildings and contents cover from just 82 euros per year and cars from 120 euros. Tel 966 787 123 / 622 275 561 / 686 116 297 / email info@sosinsurancein spain.com (249619)

For daily news visit www.euroweeklynews.com

INSURANCE

966 719 951

quesada@ibexinsure.com

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INTERNET

PEST CONTROL

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CLASSIFIEDS

CALPE. VILLA WITH GUEST APARTMENT. Beautiful. Must see! Everything on 1 level! House 125m2, plot 866 m2. Rennovated in 2014.

3 beds, 3 baths, Price € 380.000, Tel: 670 771 680 (228116)

BENIDORM and surrounding areas. Two man removal. 678 067 163 (232432)

PET TRANSPORT

BUGBUSTERS Fully legal Costa Blanca Pest Control Company. EST 1994. For all pest problems, commercial and domestic. Call Lois Clark 619 054 939/96 686 5204. bugbusterslois@hotmail.com.

ROESB 05552 CV (232424)

GET YOUR business noticed online! Make sure that expats in Spain can find your product, service, restaurant, bar or shop. Contact Spain’s newest and brightest online directory TODAY. Call 952 561 245 or email mark.w@euroweek lynews.com for more details.

PROPERTY SERVICES PROBLEMS with tenant or debtor? Then call us on 634 139 255. (236650)

PETS

ITEMS WANTED WANTED – Washers, fridges, freezers, dishwashers, ovens.

Cash Waiting. Tel: 965 874 838 Benidorm to Denia (248276) COINS. English. Pre 1936.

Good condition. Single pieces/collections. Tel 602 212 215 (236561)

LOCKSMITH LOCKSMITH/ELECTRICIAN/CA RPENTER for emergency safe opening. Altea area, call Michael Rice: 686 513 510 or Calpe area Sean Gannon: 667 507 630 (244778)

METALWORKS

PROPERTY TO LET

WANTED Cars, vans, caravans, 4 X 4’s British Spanish 600 781 873 ibuyanycar@hot mail.com (249193) ITVSteve. Precheck, collection, test, return. Calpe to Denia and Jalon. 660 340 810 www.itvsteve.es (236593) WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English call Linea Directa on 902 123 309. (200726)

PAINT MOBILE MECHANIC MOBILE MECHANIC, region Denia - Javea. Call Autobastian. Tel 608 860 725 / email autobastian@gmail.com (242000)

MOTORHOMES

CHAPA Y PINTURA LA PEDRERA. Paint & body workshop! Recognised by all major insurance companies. Efficient service.

We speak English! 965 731 816 / info@chplapedrera. com (241759)

PET-COURIERS.COM – If you love your pet try us first – we are the best. Door to door service throughout Europe.

Specialised vehicles – bespoke service. Full legal service including documentation if required. For further information call or e-mail us: Tel: (0034) 651 033 670 or (0034) 637 066 227. Email: info@petcouriers.com or www.petcouriers.com (243861) NEED YOUR PETS TAKEN CARE OF? Not kennels, just a friendly home. Large fenced area. 699 790 080 Altea (241910) COSTA BLANCA DOG Transport. The comfort of your pet is our priority. Excellent rates and Defra run. www.costa blancadoghoming.com 675 485 613 (248807)

PETS CHARITY

PAUL MERCER, Time Served Painting & Decorating Services, Wallpaper Hanging/Multi Spray Finishes. Free Estimate 692 455 881 (236600)

BRICOMADERWOOD.COM. See our advert on page 102 (242550)

www.euroweeklynews.com

RIGHT PLUMBER - plumbing & drainage for a honest, affordable, professional service call 656 303 236 (241899)

POOL MAINT. / SERV. ESTABLISHED, pool cleaner, Benissa Costa and Moraira, Tel 671 202 985 www.morairapoolcleaning .com (232459).

POOL SERVICES

ROLLER SHUTTERS ROLLER SHUTTER REPAIRS, awnings, motors, mosquito blinds. Calpe + 50 kms. 659 464 992 www.toldosalchemy. com (241760)

SITUATIONS VACANT

RENTAL APARTMENT RINCON AREA 2/4 PERSONS €250 PER WEEK. WIFI AND EVERYTHING INCLUDED. 0034 602 538 470. jcstevens@home.nl.

(248255) Benissa Costa, Bungalow long letting 2 bedrooms, pool, 8oo€ per month plus electricity. 965 747 975 helmutfrida @gmail.com (236671)

PROPERTY WANTED

PROPERTY FOR SALE

REMOVALS & STORAGE MORAIRA. SEMI-DETACHED TOWNHOUSE WITH GUEST APARTMENT. 3 beds, 2 baths, 85 m2. Swimming pool. Sea view. Ref.: 2ad-3587 – Price: € 130.000, Tel.:670 771 680. www.just homes.es (228116)

For daily news visit www.euroweeklynews.com

MOTORING PERGOLAS

www.100percentplumbing.co m Call for a free quotation 965 835 939 (87006)

CHIHUAHUA puppies with pedigree We also have private hotel accomodation with lots of room and attention for your pet (dogs,cats,bird,etc.)

Tel. 660 161 712 www.per rosinspain.com (236642)

PAINTER/DECORATOR STEPHEN HILL Painter /Decorator.

Property Maintenance. 35years experience. www.hillsprop ertyservice.com. 646 112 981 (248289)

PLUMBING

DOGS & ALL PETS VERY WELCOME - 500 year old beamed cottage set in beautiful valley of the charming Jesus Pobre village, Javea.

Beautiful pool & garden. www.littlehouseinspain.com.

(243920)

P&M REMOVALS. Small moves Spain/UK/Spain. Tel: 0044 1495 773771 Mobile: 0044 7519 172306 (248592)

UK - SPAIN - Anywhere Europe! Masses of experience. New clean vehicles.

Insured with Royal Sun Alliance. Genuinely CARING service. FULL and / Part moves. ONLINE QUOTES!! www.bmceuropean.com Tel: UK 08456 443 784 / ES 634 344 787 FIND US ON FACEBOOK! (243375) UK-SPAIN-IRELAND. Removals with the personal touch. Pets carried with care 965 696 750 / 0044 (0) 7447 918 589 e-mail chrisy ounge73979@aol.com (241100) WE WILL MOVE IT Full roof rack for long loads Full & part loads We will take pets Based in Javea & Denia Spain UK Spain Weekly 0034 634 360 846 0044 7783 222 251 wewillmoveit@hotmail.co.uk (233356)

FREE accommodation in Spain in return for handyman work.

Email oasisparks@yahoo. co.uk. Telephone: 696 090 776 (228034)

www.euroweeklynews.com

CLASSIFIEDS EARN 300€ to 2,500€ per month working with a reputable British PLC. Flexible Hours. No Selling. Local Training & Support. For more information go to www.the-vista-group. com (249564) FULL/PART TIME Kleeneze Agents required. Choose your own hours. Immediate earnings and a great opportunity to become financially free. Call Brian on 616 786 174 or go to www.new2spain.eu (249564) FIELD SALES positions available. Must have own transport, English and Spanish preferred, but not essential, must have local knowledge of the area and be smart and presentable.

Applications by email with full CV should be sent to recruitment@euroweek lynews.com.

TELESALES positions available for our Benissa office.

English and Spanish preferred, but not essential, must have local knowledge of the area and be smart and presentable.

Applications by email with full CV should be sent to recruitment@euroweek lynews.com.

DO you want a legal contracted position – in an office – administration – must possess common sense and a desire to work. Full and part time hours available. No time wasters please. Send cv to ssamantha328@gmail.com Male and Female dancer required for one night gig at new bar launch old town Benidorm in late December.

Photographer also required for one night. Contact George 661 894 002. johnhamilton305 @gmail.com. (248453) www.euroweeklynews.com

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com STAFF WANTED: Floristeria El Elegant/La Nucia (also known as Webflowers Spain). Somebody with some floral art experience or else someone who has mastered very quickly!!!

Spanish and English speaking is important!!! It’s hard work, but it is the most beautiful job of your life. And if you deliver workmanship, you get also still respect on all sides. Tel 965 870 724, Mob 669 003 985, Email webflowerss pain@gmail.com.

SOFT FURNISHINGS LOOSE COVERS, CURTAINS ETC. Made to Measure.

Choose from a wide range of beautiful fabrics in your own home. Tel: 965 771 397 or 686 453 827 (241750)

SOLAR LOWEST PRICES IN SPAIN. www.solarmegastore.es

SPANISH TUITION SPANISH lessons in Altea-Hills www.marialinares.es 678 936 110

STRUCTURAL SURVEYS MARK PADDON BSc Hons. Building surveying. MCIOB, CAAT. From 245 EUROS + IVA. Insured and legally registered in Spain.

Tel: 653 733 066 / 962 807 247 www.costablancasurveyors.com

TELECOMS FED UP PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR MOBILE PHONE CALLS? THEN CONTACT TELITEC TODAY. CALLS TO SPAIN 7C PER MINUTE INCLUDING MOBILES. CALLS TO UK 5.3C PER MINUTE. NO MONTHLY FEES, NO CONTRACT. WWW.TELITEC.COM TEL: 902 889 070 (0)

TIMBER SUPPLIES BRICOMADERWOOD.COM. See our advert on page 102 (242550)

WASHING MACHINES

REPAIRS WASHING MACHINE broken?

Call BlueSky Repairs for all your domestic appliance repairs. 626 430 671 / 966 875 283 (248333)

WIG SPECIALISTS TV / SATELLITE SATELLITE TV, best prices Dishes, Sky+ HD, Sky cards, Freesat boxes, re-alignment, Sky on Demand and Catch Up TV from www.uktvrouter.com - call now 962 800 807, 667 427 271 (248415) TV INTERNET & PHONE No Landline required STARTING FROM as little as 49.99€ + iva. More Information Whatsapp or Telephone 679 797 473 (242531) QUALIFIED BRITISH SATELLITE ENGINEER with over 25 years experience on Costa Blanca. Installing and repairing SAT TV equipment. Same day service, all work guaranteed. Call Steve 617 911 118 (241999)

SWIMMING POOLS WANTED WOODEN POOLS LIMITED. Manufacturers & installers of wooden above ground pools.

Take the plunge with one of the above ground pools. Best of all “No Planning Permission Required” Tel: 634 322 672.

Phone or email for a FREE COLOUR BROCHURE & PRICE LIST NOW. www.woodenpo ols.limited info@woodenpo ols.limited (249646)

FULL set of plastic ´Star Toys´nativity figures given free with Spanish newspaper Informacion in December 1999 or 2000. 20€ 615 762 637 (232385)

WIGS-R-US. Indoor Market Rincon de Loix, Benidorm.

Monday - Saturday 10 - 3.

Hundreds of wigs in stock, private appointments after 3pm and home visits. 690 378 844 (248381) WINDOW CLEANER ‘’CRISTAL CLEAN’’ Window Cleaning Service. Exterior and Interior, Glass Curtains etc.

647 475 822. (248368) XXX RELAXATION Readers of a sensitive disposition may find some of the advertisements in this section offensive.

Sh: Female SOPHIE. Escort, sexy, slim, élégante, naughty lady, home or hotel. 3 languages spoken.

693 357 526 (245721) BENIDORM 2 sexy pretty affectionate girls, massage, kisses, hotel/private apartment.

Tel 671 431 214 (245642) SEXY MATURE ENGLISH BLONDE, gives discreet massage, 1 hour or overnight stay. 15 mins Alicante airport. Tel Karen 662 049 021 (248277)

BENIDORM, sexy nurse, excellent body massage, including sex, 50€ per hour. Above restaurant Toni Romas, 638 908 955 (248299) VALERIA in Denia, clean and discreet, erotic massage, relaxing, sex, outings and more call 686 094 328. (236562) BENIDORM Russian Blonde.

Big boobs invites you for erotic massage/sexual pleasures.

632 422 799 (236564) MALE TO MALE RELAXATION MASSAGE IN BENIDORM. CALL 602 519 709. DISCREET (247813)

VARIOUS GUYS - Generic Viagra 100mg - Cialis Weekenders - and other associated products. Please contact Keith on 687 357 529

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VIAGRA/Kamagra/Cialis/Weigh t loss pills the best prices in Spain! BUY ONE GET ONE FREE on certain items. Order securely & discreetly online: www.costapills.net Postal Nationwide delivery sales@costapills.net (253176)

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FOR BEST RATES IN MOTOR INSURANCE CALL: 952 89 33 80

Clarkson Quote of the Week

Costa Blanca North

SPONSORED BY

MOTORING www.euroweeklynews.com

That Zonda really! It’s like a lion in orange dungarees. Kind of fierce, but ridiculous all at the same time.”

Some might say...

A Ferrari good cause

By Matthew Elliott THE very last LaFerrari ever to be produced has done its bit to help victims of the catastrophic earthquakes which struck central Italy earlier this year. It has sold at a charity auction in the United States for a spectacular €6.5 million, with all

LAFERRERI: Can reach 100kph in under three seconds.

the proceeds going towards rebuilding efforts.

Ferrari had given the car to auction overlords Sotheby’s in August just days after the 6.2 magnitude quake

killed almost 300 people across the Umbrian region.

Sotheby’s did what they do best and arranged a classic auction with a powerful PR team to help sell the 500th and final LaFerrari built, which will have a special plaque embedded in the finish

to pay tribute to the victims.

With production from 2013-2015, it has now become the most expensive car built in the 21st century ever to be sold at auction, commanding the highest ever price from Italy. With a top speed of 350kph, LaFerrari can reach 100kph in under three seconds and is the fastest road legal vehicle the Italian manufacturer has ever produced.

Motoring shorts

UK to face legal action THE European Commission is to initiate legal proceedings against the UK & Spain for failing to enforce environmental regulations during the Volkswagen ‘Dieselgate’ scandal.

Britain, alongside Germany and as many as seven other countries, will now have to justify its reasons for failing to adhere to European Union law which requires governments to take action against environmental breaches.

Volkswagen used cheat devices on its cars in order to pass emissions tests, a clear violation of European law, and Brussels is of the opinion that certain governments failed to take sufficient action in the wake of the scandal.

The EU will now issue formal notices to the offending nations, with individual cases to be shifted to European courts should they fail to receive adequate responses.

MOTORING

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North E W N

www.euroweeklynews.com

Year of the Benz IN Chinese astrology 2017 will be the Year of the Rooster but back on planet Earth it is shaping up to be the Year of M e rc e d e s . A b u m p e r 2 0 1 6 t h a t s a w sales rise by almost 50 per cent has given the brand justified confidence and in the first quarter of the New Year Mercedes will unleash two spectacular new models on an ever competitive marketplace.

First up will be the new S-Class Cabriolet which may well be the fanciest convertible in the business, a glamorous affair that combines comfort, power and style. Also before March we

will see the new E-Class which just won the New Zealand car of the year award.

The nine-speed automatic is considered one of the safest drives around courtesy of its hi-tech automated systems and a Coupe model will be followed in summer by Cabriolet and All-Terrain versions.

Also in 2017 expect the unveiling of a GTR and GTC, while a GT4 racecar is also in the works. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also the question of Mercedesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; pioneering new digital headlights, boasting new technology which will undoubtedly

S-CLASS: Combines comfort, power and style.

transform the roads as we know them.

Each headlight can monitor the road ahead using an army of sensors and a million microscopic mirrors enabling it to focus on dark and dangerous spots. They can recognise faces in ongoing cars and divert harsh lights away to prevent blinding. The icing on the cake? The headlights can even proj e c t h o l o g r a m i m a g e s o n t o t h e ro a d such as a snowflake to let you know its icy outside.

S-CLASS CABRIOLET: A glamorous affair.

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MOTORING

Outstanding credentials for the smart Ford S-Max

by Nick Fletcher THERE are plenty of midsized family MPVs available and most have individual plus points, but the big question is which one presents itself as the best allrounder.

One model which has outstanding credentials is the Ford S-Max, which in its latest guise is arguably the smartest looking.

It also comes in three trim levels, all well equipped, offers a choice of four die s e l a nd tw o pe trol e ngines, manual or auto gearboxes, and its revised cabin has a more upmarket feel than main rivals.

Only significant downside to the S-Max CV is that it is not the cheapest to buy, nor the most fuel-efficient in the sector, though it does atone with superior driving dynamics.

S-Max prices start at

£21,895 ( €29,161) and even ent r y l evel car s get Ford’s new SYNC 2 infotainment system,17-inch alloy wheels, parking sensors, keyless entry and push-button start and a DAB radio.

My Titanium test model had a wealth of extra kit including sat-nav, and in 2.0 litre diesel form costs £28,095 (€31,633). The 148 hp engine is good for 0-60 m ph i n 10.8 seconds and top speed of 123 mph.

Fuel econom y i s 56.4 mpg combined, very good but well short of that of the rival Citroen C4 Grand Picasso.

But i t i s not al l about economy.

The driving experience is where the S-Max scores, for despite its bulk it does have a l i ght , agi l e f eel and i t s suspension set-up and lower centre of gravity means it r i des and handl es bet t er t han m ost seven- seat er

MPVs. It also wins points for its interior, with smart styling, higher quality trim materials and clever use of space.

There are three individual seats in the middle row, and a pair of child-size ones in the back. Even with the rear seats in use, there is still 285 litres of load space.

Ther e ar e al so l ot s of oddm ent st owage pl aces spread around the car. Fold the rear seats and you get 965 litres of space and drop the middle seats and you get a van-like 2,020 litres.

This latest S-Max, longer and wider then the previous model, has a more handsome, more classy appearance mainly due to a heavily revised front end styling and its premium-look cabin.

Add pleasing driving dynamics to the package and its challenge to be the family MPV pack leader is compelling.

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SPORT

Totalcare Champions Cup winner is George ON Friday December 2 Montgo Golf Society played a medal competition at Oliva Nova for the Totalcare Champions Cup, sponsored by John and Mary Feek of Totalcare Property Services. The final trophy competition of the year members had to have won a singles competition in 2016 to qualify. With a couple of absentees due to injury and illness 24 members qualified to play however there was also a separate medal competition for members who had not qualified.

The competition for non-qualifiers returned better scores on the day with Penny Barden taking first prize with 71 off 13.7, closely followed by Bob Marsden with a

net 72 off 28.1. In third place was Gerian Van Ooijen with a net 75 off 6.7. All three scores would have been in the prizes for the champions Cup if they had qualified.

George Braddick took the Champions Cup with a net 74 off 13.7 to round off a fine end to the season. Susie Snelling was second with a net 76 off 18, and Neil Carter was third with a net 77 off 11.5.

There were nearest the pin prizes on the par three’s with Nigel Siddall taking the 3rd, Brian Redfearn the 6th, Simon Fox the 11th and Dennis Hammond the 16th.

In the longest drive competition Ros Fletcher won the ladies prize, however managed to turn an excellent drive in to a

scruffy seven. Not to be outdone in the men’s category Ed Wallace did even better by scoring 10 off his huge tee shot, and still had the nerve to collect his bottle of cava.

There were just two 2’s, scored by Nigel Siddall and Gerian van Ooijen.

The next event, on Friday December 16, a Christmas Texas Scramble at Oliva Nova is the final game of the season sponsored by Gerian van Ooijen and Francien Knoops.

Members are encouraged to wear seasonal costumes as there will be a prize for the best dressed Santa. Guests are welcome, subject to availability and a current handicap certificate. Fill in the online booking form at www.montgogolfsociety.net to register.

Orba Warblers visit Bonalba THIRTY-FOUR Warblers and one guest travelled to Bonalba to play a stableford competition and another round in the Campbell Lamont league.

Division One winner was Fred Cooley (Hcap 12.7) with 40pts, Captain Dave (Hcap 9.5) was second with 36pts and Steve Robinson (Hcap 5.8) was third with 30pts.

Division two winner was vice captain Clive Kay (Hcap 19.7)

with 35pts, Derek Gray (Hcap 21.9) was second with 34pts winning on countback from David Edwards (Hcap-26.9) third also with 34pts.

The four nearest the pins were won by Sheila Dindar (4), David Edwards (8), Dave Knight (11) and Steve Cliffe (14). There were two two’s won

by Arthur Sullivan (4) and Chris Field (14).

The football card team was

York City won by Wendy Sullivan who donated the winnings to the Captain’s Charity.

Wednesday December 21 the Warblers are at Oliva Nova for the traditional turkey trot three clubs and a putter stableford.

First tee off is 8.40am so arrive by 8am for registration. Guests welcome subject to availability and current handicap certificate.

Contact dr.knight1207@google mail.com.

Benitachell Bowls Club BBC Winter Rinks ‘Gt Expectations’ and ‘Mavericks’ both won their matches to go clear of the chasing pack with a five point lead for ‘Gt Expectations’ and three points for ‘Mavericks’ to take them into the new year in the BBC Winter Rinks sponsored by Direkt Optik and Prudential.

Northern League The BBC Lions home to their club rivals the Tigers, shared two rinks apiece with the shot difference going to the Tigers, to keep their challenge for top spot on target. The Lions won the Challenger League match to keep them on track for this title.

The Jaguars home to Finca Guila collected seven of the points on offer, together with the Challenger League match giving them top spot on shot difference in this league.

Winter League The BBC Winter League Team away to Finca Guiia scored on three of the rinks including a drawn game together with the shot difference gave the nine points towards finishing in top spot for the new year with two home games to come before the break For full information of all of our results or for details of the beginners course please visit the website www.benitachell bowlsclub.com.

TMGS at Campoamor FORTY members and a couple of guests played a straight forward Stableford. The only player to break par was Ove Cederberg’s with 37 points to win top spot in the Gold category.

After reseeding the tees were back on the main boxes. The extra distance had an effect on the Silver and bronze NTP. Only Remi Matikainen hit the green on hole 17 and no one hit the green from the Bronze cate-

gory on hole 15!

Full results: NTP hole 4 Ian Sutehall, hole 6 Mick Kennedy, hole 10 Bob Watson, hole 15 Nada, hole 17 Remi Matikainen. Viking and Ships Captain Ole Rong was the only member to make a ‘2’ to collect the €34 on offer. Best of the tow guests was E Asp 35 pts.

Bronze category: 3rd Rose Cox 30 pts, 2nd C Marsden 32 pts, 1st J Dursley 35 pts. Silver

category: A Rickers 32 pts L/H, 2nd R Matikainen 32 pts L/H, 1st J Davidson 34 pts. Gold category: 3rd K Aasebo 32 pts, 2nd B Watson 34 pts, 1st O Cederberg 37 pts.

The Christmas celebration on December 19 at La Marquesa is a four ball Texas scramble with prizes for the best fancy dressed and a meal afterwards (free to members). Visit www.tmgs.org or call 661 524 101.

SPORT

15 - 21 December 2016 / Costa Blanca North

www.euroweeklynews.com

EWN

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Vardy helps Leicester spank Man City Tony Matthews International Sports A former player and now the world’s most prolific author of football books with almost 150 published since 1975, Tony is also the sports correspondent for Spectrum Radio and lives on La Pilica in the Sierra Cabrera Mountains overlooking Turre.

Costa de Almeria

WITH Christmas approaching fast, there’s no respite for sports-minded people, competitors and fans alike, with continuous action in football, Rugby Union and horse racing, the 5th and final cricket Test between India and England, the International Horse Show at Olympia and PDG World Championship Darts in London all coming up.

FOOTBALL: * A week ago, Dundalk and Southampton were eliminated from the Europa League but Manchester United progressed to the knockout stage. Leicester crashed 5-0 at FC Porto in their final Champions League Group game while Tottenham’s European campaign ended with a 31 win over CSKA Moscow.

Meanwhile, Celtic drew 1-1 at Manchester City, Arsenal whipped Basel 4-1, Barcelona beat Borussia Dortmund 4-0,

Real Madrid were held 2-2 by Borussia Monchengladbach and Bayern Munich defeated Atletico Madrid 1-0. * Recent PL results were Leicester 4 (with a Jamie Vardy hat-trick) Manchester City 2; Arsenal 3 Stoke 1; Burnley 3 Bournemouth 2; Chelsea 1 (another Diego Costa goal) WBA 0; Hull 3 Crystal Palace 3; Swansea 3 Sunderland 0; Watford 3 Everton 2; Manchester United 1 Spurs 0; Southampton 1 Middlesbrough 0 and Liverpool 2 West Ham 2. Chelsea’s win was their ninth on the trot in the PL. * Championship leaders Newcastle claimed an emphatic 4-0 win over inconsistent Birmingham, Derby County beat Nottingham Forest in the East Midlands clash and Wolves drew 4-4 with Reading. There were also vital wins for Brighton, Huddersfield Town and Steve Bruce’s improving Aston Villa. * In La Liga, Real Madrid lead Barcelona by six points (37-31) with Sevilla third (26).

Last Saturday, Sergio Ramos headed a dramatic injury time goal for Real Madrid who cre-

ated a new club record of 35 matches unbeaten with a 3-2 win over Deportivo La Coruna.

And just six points cover the top five teams in Serie ‘A’ with Juventus (top on 36) followed

by Roma 32, AC Milan 32, Napoli 31 and Lazio 30. * After the midweek games involving BournemouthLeicester and Everton-Arsenal on Tuesday and Crystal PalaceManchester United, Middlesbrough-Liverpool, StokeS o u t h a m p t o n , Sunderland-Chelsea-Spurs-Hull and WBA-Swansea last night, the top matches over the weekend are Crystal Palace-Chelsea, Everton-Liverpool, Manchester City-Arsenal, Tottenham-Burnley, WBA-Manchester United and West Ham-Hull.

In the Championship we have Birmingham-Brighton, Burton-Newcastle, NorwichHuddersfield, Nottingham Forest-Wolves and QPR-Aston Villa; it’s Chesterfield-Bolton, Scunthorpe-Millwall and Walsall-Bradford City in FL1 and Accrington-Plymouth, CarlisleYeovil, Doncaster-Grimsby and Portsmouth-Hartlepool in FL2. * Crewe Alexandra director

and former manager Dario Gradi has been suspended pending an FA investigation over claims he ‘smoothed over’ a sexual assault complaint against a Chelsea scout in the 1970s.

CRICKET: * India thrashed England by an innings and 36 runs in the fourth Test in Mumbai to clinch the series with three wins.

Debutant Keaton Jennings scored 112 in England’s first innings total of 400 but bagged a first-ball duck in the second which saw the tourists dismissed for 195. India’s captain Virat Kohli smashed 235 and Murali Vijay scored 136 as the hosts posted a formidable 631 with England’s Advil Raschid taking four wickets for 191.

The final Test starts in Chennai tomorrow.

RUGBY UNION: * England captain Dylan Hartley was sent off six minutes after coming on in the second half as Northampton lost 37-10 to Leinster in the Champions Cup… dismissed for a swinging arm on Sean O’Brien in the 58th minute.

BOXING: * Britain’s Anthony Joshua

successfully defended his IBF heavyweight title with a thirdround stoppage of Eric Molina in Manchester. Joshua, who decked the American before the referee waved the bout, has 18 knockouts to his name from as many fights and will face former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley next April. * On the same bill, Dillian Whyte beat Dereck Chisora on a split decision in a WBC heavyweight title eliminator, Britain’s Khalid Yafai won the WBA super-flyweight title and Katie Taylor won her second professional fight.

CHEATS: * It’s believed over 1,000 Russians - including Olympic medallists - benefited from a state-sponsored doping programme between 2011 and 2015. Lawyer Richard McLaren said: “It was a coverup that evolved from uncontrolled chaos to an institutionalised and disciplined medal-winning conspiracy and covered 30 different sports with London 2012 being corrupted on an unprecedented scale.”

JAMIE VARDY: Scored a hattrick and helping Leicester to an easy victory.