Costa de Almeria 30 March – 5 April 2023 Issue 1969

NUT TO BE MISSED

CABO DE GATA National Park is renowned for its outstanding beauty, but the area is set to reach an even wider audience thanks to an exciting promotion. The beauty spot, near to Nijar has been selected as a destination for Nutella’s latest advertising campaign, meaning it will be displayed on jars of the delicious chocolate spread.

The campaign, called ‘Lo bueno lo tenemos en casa’ (The

good things we have at home), aims to encourage local tourism and promote stunning natural treasures that surround us. With its diverse landscapes and abundant wildlife, Cabo de Gata is one of Spain’s most outstanding natural reserves, covering 38,000 hectares of land and sea.

The other 15 destinations are equally breathtaking, including several national parks.

CAR enthusiasts from across the region flocked to Mojacar Playa on Sunday, March 26 for the monthly 950 Classic & Performance Car Show. The event, held on the beachfront opposite Scotty’s, was a resounding success, drawing an impressive array of classic and retro vehicles for all to admire.

The event is more a gathering of automotive enthusiasts, but is also a celebration of the artistry and craftsmanship that went into creating these timeless vehicles. Many of the

Retro revving

cars on display had been lovingly restored by their owners, who chatted with visitors about their experiences. From vintage roadsters to sleek sports cars and everything in between, the show offered something for everyone. There was plenty to marvel at for all guests, whether car experts or new to the show.

For those who couldn’t make it to the event in person, organisers created a video showcasing some of the highlights of the show. This video is available online: https://www.face book.com/watch/?v=200639846001

150&ref=sharing

The event will return next month for another exhilarating edition.

Egg-citing Easter hamper

SPRING has sprung across Almeria, and with Easter right around the corner, the Age Support Almanzora charity (ASA) is bringing a basket full of joy and treats for animal lovers and supporters alike. The charity is holding an egg­citing Easter raffle with a delightful hamper up for grabs!

For just €1 a ticket, you can enter to win a hamper packed with chocolate and other springtime goodies, including an Easter­themed address book, chocolate eggs, and bunnies. The raffle is being held at the ASA shop in Albox, located

ALMERIA tourism is looking very positive as it appears that hotel occupancy is close to being 100 per cent over the Easter Week.

A search through websites such as Trivago or Booking.com is enough to confirm that the city of Almeria will be packed with tourists in just a few days.

Hotel booking options

opposite the Peugeot showroom on Avenida Lepanto.

The raffle will run until Monday, April 3, when tickets are drawn, just in time to be the perfect Easter gift.

ASA’s mission is to improve the quality of life for older people by providing emotional and practical support, particularly for the expat community.

ASA’s services are completely confidential and provided by volunteers, who are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of the people they serve. Their popular services include a befriending initiative to avoid loneliness, UK benefits advice and bereavement support.

Sold out

in the capital are rather scarce and any availability is expensive.

This denotes that a hotel occupancy rate that would not be far from 100 per cent in the hotel establishments of the capital.

For the Holy Week holi-

days ( between April 6, Maundy Thursday, and Easter Sunday, April 9 ) , Booking.com offers hotel rooms available in only nine establishments in the capital.

Other hotels in the area including other establishments and also new ones are already ‘sold out’ as people flock to enjoy the Easter holidays in Almeria.

Age Support Almanzora’s Easter hamper is packed with delicious goodies and other springtimethemed gifts.

Photo credit: Age Support Almanzora

NIBS EXTRA

Goleta park

THE laying of the first stone marks the start of the initial phase of the Parque de la Goleta in Almeria which will take up to seven months to complete. The brand­new space is set to become a benchmark in terms of accessibility, sports and children’s playgrounds.

Non-compliance

ON Friday March 24, Ecologists in Action presented a complaint to make the Carboneras Town Hall comply with sentences regarding the site of El Algarrobico. It refers to the municipal hiring of a former magistrate who is on leave of absence after intervening in a ruling in favour of the Azata hotel.

Climate Day

ALMERIA closed World Climate Day with a concert. March 26 saw a close to the campaign to raise climate awareness which began on March 20. Attending the concert, mayor, Maria del Mar Vazquez said: “Climate change is not a possibility, but a reality.”

Longest-serving

JOSE ANTONIO TORRES

SAEZ was born in Chercos on July 23, 1925. At 97 years and after a whole professional life linked to the Guardia Civil, Jose is now mayor of his birth town. He is the longest­serving mayor in Spain.

Found guilty

THE conviction of the skipper of a boat has been upheld. The Supreme Court found that the accused and an assistant acted in ‘collusion’ by charging a total of 21 people between €2,000 and €5,000 for their transfer from Algeria toSpain.

August date

MINISTER of Rural Development, Carmen Crespo, confirmed the investment of €143,414 for the La Palmera road in Almeria. Completion is expected by August.

Betty Henderson

CAR lovers are ready to rev their engines in Almeria because the Retro Almeria car show is back and better than ever! From Friday, April 14 to Sunday, April 16, the town of Roquetas del Mar will welcome a plethora of retro cars to its Palacio de Congresos Aguadulce.

Car enthusiasts will be treated to an exciting lineup of events all weekend long, including a car show and exhibition, sales of classic car vehicles and parts, and stalls selling car merchandise.

The event’s cafeteria is also set to serve up delicious

Retro Almeria’s car show is one of the highlights of the event, showcasing some of the most unique classic cars.

home ­ made food to help guests fuel up after a long day of exploring the fair.

ALMERIA has extended the council tax (IBI) rebate for hotels in a bid to help them keep their doors open all year round.

It was unanimously approved that the application of a 10 per cent rebate on the IBI tax would be given to seven hotel establishments in the city that ‘break the seasonality and keep their doors open throughout the year’.

The councillor for Economy, Carlos Sanchez, confirmed: “This agreement is in

The event will also feature an extensive play area complete with bouncy castles,

Engines ready All year round

line with the municipal commitment to promoting economic activity and job creation.

“We recognise that this activity, as part of the tourism sector, is of great importance to the local economy, which it is intended to continue to promote with measures such as this.”

trampolines, and various activities to keep the little ones entertained.

Tickets for the event start at €6 and are available online at: https://unumove.com/zonainscripcion/ticket/retroalme ria­2023­entrada­publico­gen eral/ Interested clubs can also contact organisers through email or phone to reserve their spot. The festival will open at 4pm on Friday and 10am on both weekend days, remaining open until 8pm.

Rail commuting

ALMERIA capital is ready to demand the implementation of a commuter rail service between the city and the Poniente Almeriense. The news comes after the city council approved the motion presented by Ciudadanos, which obtained the unanimous support of the Corporation. As Rafael Burgos, spokesman for the Consistory of the capital, recalled, this initiative comes from the Mesa del Ferrocarril.

The initiative aims, he said, to “begin to take the appro­

priate administrative steps” for the Andalucian government to incorporate the necessary land reserves for its management and the implementation of the General Railway System of the Mediterranean Coast.

He added that it would then be possible to have railway/train routes in the interior of the region, by means of an implementation study to be carried out by the Regional Ministry of Public Works, in order to make this suburban train service “a reality as soon as possible”.

Keeping tourism strong is a priority for the municipality and air traffic figures are positive.

Recent airport figures show there has been a 48.3 per cent increase in passenger traffic compared with January 2022, reaching 74.8 per cent of pre­pandemic figures in January 2019.

Laika’s moving tale

A PRODUCTION of 'Laika' at Almería’s Teatro Apolo on Sunday, March 26 touched the hearts of families who filled the venue. The play tells the emotional and exceptional story of Laika, the first living being to orbit the Earth in 1957, through a combination of live projections, puppets, collages, voice­overs, and acted sequences.

The play explores the relationship between one of the Soviet researchers who prepared the dog for the fateful space mission and the beloved dog, Laika. It follows the tragic story of how the researcher tried to save her from a tragic ending when she learned that Laika was not expected to return from her mission.

Despite the story’s tragic ending, the play, created by Xirriquiteula Teatre, is a touching, and funny show that uses onomatopoeia, humour, and a mix of classic and modern theatrical tech­

niques to captivate an audience. Actors dedicated the performance to all animals that have been sacrificed for human progress throughout history.

Xirriquiteula Teatre, a pioneer Catalan theatre company, aims its performances at children and young people, with a unique style to capture universal values and celebrate human rights.

SALAS Garcia Optical and Audiometry celebrated their 20th anniversary on Friday, March 17, marking two decades of exceptional service to residents in Huercal­Overa.

The event was a huge success, with customers receiving a 20 per cent discount on top of their regular 20 per cent discount as a sign of appreciation for their continued support over the years. During the last two decades, the opticians business has become one of the most trusted optical centres in Almeria. Their philosophy, ‘see, hear, and live’ is reflected in their business practices, which prioritise customer satisfaction and are backed by years of experience. They listen to and support their customers in improving their vision and hearing, which has helped them grow over the years.

Loly and Mari Salas Garcia, along with colleagues Angela, Mario, and Natalia, form the team at the centre. They are constantly adapting to new trends.

Even

Photo credit: Retro Almeria (via Facebook)

TRAIN SERVICE: Between Almeria and Poniente.

Image: Ian Peter Morton / Shutterstock.com

Nostalgic nineties trip Rolling in victory

MOJACAR Bowls Club celebrated their ninth anniversary on Thursday, March 9 with an exciting day of play. Club members played with enthusiasm throughout the day, with the final match drawing everyone’s attention. The Mojacar Bowls Club (MBC) and the Almeria Lawn Bowls Club (ALBC) clashed in a thrilling match that had spectators on the edge of their seats.

In a thrilling match, Mojacar emerged victorious for the second time in nine years. The winning team, Lesley Bell, Mick Lunnon, and Rosemary Millar, displayed incredible skill and teamwork, leaving the ALBC runnersup, Reg Birmingham, Peter, and Linda Latham, in their wake.

Founded in 2014, the Mojacar Bowls Club is known for its friendly, welcoming atmosphere and has approximately 50 members who either live in Spain or visit regularly. Visitors, touring teams, and visiting clubs are always welcome to join in on the fun.

For those new to the sport, the club offers three free lessons with qualified coaches to get them started on their bowling journey. For more information about the club visit their website

GUESTS are invited to step back in time and indulge in the sumptuous flavours of the past at a unique gastronomic event in Vera. The month­long event began on Wednesday, March 22 and aims to bring local residents and visitors a taste of the traditional gastronomy in the Levante Almeria region during the mining period.

Four top­level restaurants in

Unleashing spring fun

NIJAR is preparing to host a Spring Festival that is guaranteed to transport guests to the good old days of 90s pop, dance, and techno beats.

The town is hosting a Spring Festival on Friday, March 31, promising a night filled with tunes from the golden era of Spanish pop.

Organisers from Campoiris Cultural Association say the event is sure to be a blast.

Starting at 6.00pm in Plaza Juan Antonio Lozano Mesa, hundreds of concertgoers are set to groove to the sounds of performers including Andrés Honrubia, Brisa Play DJ, Pako Revolution,

Paco Fiesta, Espinosa, Chus Sánchez, Paco Rambo, and Cintas.

Music legends Rebeca, Viceversa, Sensity World, and New Limit’s tunes are also guaranteed to play during the evening.

The spectacular event is

Culinary time capsule

the area will take diners on a journey to Almeria’s mining boom in the 19th and 20th centuries.

This unique event is taking place at the same time as the ‘Lights and Shadows: society in the southeast of Spain during mining times’ exhibition

Some of the delicious dishes on the menu were presented at an opening ceremony for a historical culinary event in Vera showcasing the town’s cuisine during the mining boom.

free to attend, however guests are advised to arrive early to secure a spot as there are limits on capacity.

The 90s music night is just one event in an exciting spring programme offered in Nijar to take advantage of the warmer weather.

hosted at the La Victoria Convent. The exhibition is showcasing original recipes from stately homes owned by Almeria’s bourgeoisie, and aims to highlight the importance of gastronomy during the mining period.

The event will offer an exquisite culinary experience to all visitors.

Menus on offer feature a wide range of dishes, all based on centuries ­ old recipes. From succulent meats to delicious seafood, each dish will transport visitors to a time gone by.

The event lasts until Friday, April 21.

ATTENTION all animal lovers!

Paws­Patas Animal Rescue Shelter are welcoming the new season with an exciting Spring Fete on Sunday, April 16. As well as being a fundraising event, guests can also learn more about the animal rescue shelter’s lifesaving work in its headquarters in Los Gallardos.

From 2pm onwards, the festivities will kick off at the Oasis Pool Bar with an array of stalls showcasing a wide range of bargains and delightful home­made goods, alongside an exciting raffle with incredible prizes. Live music will also be played all afternoon.

The highlight of the event, however, is the opportunity to learn more about PawsPatas’ exceptional work with abandoned and abused animals. Visitors can witness firsthand the loving attention provided to these animals with meet and greet sessions as well as an opportunity to sign up for the shelter’s volunteering programme.

Alongside the fair, guests are also treated with access to the swimming pool and can enjoy a delicious selection of food and drinks.

The event costs €2 which will go towards the shelter.

More information by email: claire@paws­patas.org.

Connecting Heurcal

HUERCAL­OVERA Town Council has now given the green light for the project entitled: ‘Improvement works of the Natural Way and construction of a pedestrian footbridge over the A­7 Motorway’. This means the Greenway will be increased by five kilometres, linking it with Alamajalejo by a pedestrian footbridge to be installed on the A­7 motorway.

There will also be two more footbridges, the adaptation of the Almajalejo area and signposting.

With this adaptation, the Vi Verde de Huercal­Overa Nature Trail forms part of the Network of Nature Trails promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture.

The mayor, Domingo Fernandez, stressed that: “The town council will continue to improve the Greenway adapting it to nature.

“We will extend the nature trails and continue to offer more miles for the leisure and sporting enjoyment of our neighbours and visitors.”

Organisers from Campoiris Cultural Association present their packed programme to welcome in the spring.

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Vera

Photo credit: Asociación Cultural Campoiris

ONE tour operator announced the launch of new direct flights to Egypt from 21 Spanish airports, including Almería on Tuesday, March 28. Soltour is set to offer two tour packages, ‘Mitos de Egipto’ and ‘Leyendas de Egipto’ in September with flights operated by Egiptair.

The packages include visits to a range of exciting attractions including to the temples of Abu

Simbel, Kom Ombo, Luxor, the Necropolis of Thebes, the Pyramids of Giza, and a cruise on the River Nile, as well as the direct flights.

Travellers from Almeria have a unique opportunity to visit Egypt thanks to a direct flight option in September.

Tourism officials expressed their delight at the new connection, offering residents in Almeria a chance to explore Egypt’s rich history.

Exclusive Egypt experience International Women’s Day

TO celebrate International Women’s Day 2023, in partnership with Mojacar Town Hall, DCM and Platino Gym and Los Bandidos, a run, jog and walk was organised along the Paseo in Mojácar.

Two hundred and eighty people registered to run, jog and walk to celebrate the International Women’s Day 2023. The event was held for the first time in partnership with Mojacar Town Hall, DCM, Platino Gym and Los Bandidos.

The event raised €897 for the local branch of the Red Cross in Mojacar.

Trophies were awarded to the top three in the male and female categories. Steve Murton, representing Los Bandidos, was the first person over the line.

Los Bandidos was set up in June 2018 with a small group running the 5k Mojacar Paseo, and now has road cycling, sea swimming and triathlon groups. All ages, nationalities and speeds are welcome, whether permanent residents or holiday makers. If you would like more information please follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/490933409244200.

Credit: Abir Kamel abdel rahman / Wikimedia Commons

Easter weather

EASTER Week is approaching and many are already looking at the weather forecast over the festive period. Some, because they don’t want the rain to spoil the processions. Others want to go to the beaches to sunbathe or eat on a terrace. There will also be those who want rain which is necessary during the current drought. Easter Week 2023 runs from April 2 to 9 (from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday), although there are important events from Friday of Dolores (March 31). Therefore, it is still too early to have reliable predictions of the weather during those days.

However, meteorologists work with many variants, for example, statistics.

Indications are that rain was present in almost three out of four years in practically

the whole of Spain but in Almeria, there is a curious circumstance.

Almeria is the province that has seen the least rain between April 2 and 9 in the 30 years analysed.

Only in 15 of the years did it rain at all on those days, which means the probability of rainfall is 50 per cent in the province.

Semana Santa

Betty Henderson

THE fragrant smell of incense is already wafting through the streets in Cuevas del Almanzora as the town prepares to celebrate ‘Semana Santa’, Holy Week.

Preparations for the week, which begins on Sunday, April 2 already began on Saturday, March 18 because 2023 marks a special year for Holy Week in the town. This year is the 20th anniversary of the week being a declared event of ‘tourist interest’ in Andalucia.

The town’s celebrations were selected for the honour thanks to their traditional activities and religious significance. The town’s Holy Week

Most used

is known for its colourful processions, stunning images, and unique live reenactments. This year, the celebrations will feature several new and exciting events, including a procession with a new image, Jeus Lord of Humility and Patience.

For the first time since the 17th century, one of the Catholic Brotherhoods leading the processions, the Paso Morado Cofradía will also carry a ‘La Dolorosa, Maria Santísima de la Estrella’, Virgin Mary statue under a protective canopy. The celebration is a testament to the region’s rich cultural heritage and unique blend of tradition and modernity.

Missing dogs

A LOCAL dog owner is seeking help to find their two missing dogs, Freddy and Car men, who have been missing since Friday, March 10 in Los Gallardos, near Vera.

The pets are quite big but are very friendly. No one sightings have been re ported, so it is possible that they have wandered far from their last known location. If you see the dogs, please contact 662 344 734 urgently. Owners are offering a substantial reward for finding the dogs.

IN Almeria, the unusual gains a place in the planning of transport infrastructures. This has been pointed out by businessmen in the hospitality sector, who consider it a shame that, in the absence of public transport such as the railway or the plane, it has become one of the Spanish provinces that uses the Blablacar the most.

This travel system, described by some as the ‘21st century hitchhiking’, has become the most widely used by Almeria residents and even by those who want to reach the province. There are almost 170,000 people from Almería who travel through this system that puts those who wish to travel in contact with those who are going to make a trip with his car, in exchange for a financial contribution.

If Almeria, its citizens, its students or its businessmen harbored hopes about a general improvement in communications in this 21st century, the reality is that air or rail services are anchored in figures from the middle of the last century.

RAIN FORECAST: But the experts say it’s too early to tell.

Image: masarik / Shutterstock.com

UK budget abolishes pensions lifetime allowance

The main tax changes announced in the UK spring 2023 budget related to pensions. The predicted rise from £40,000 to £60,000 in the annual tax-free has now been confirmed, with the big surprise being the scrapping of the lifetime allowance (LTA).

First introduced by Gordan Brown in 2006 to bring in more tax from society’s wealthiest, the lifetime allowance was significantly reduced over recent years and arguably disincentivised pension saving.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is hoping that abolishing it will help retain the senior workforce within the NHS and tempt some to return.

What do these changes to pensions mean?

With the lifetime allowance in place, anyone whose pension funds (excluding state pension) amount or grow to over

By Jon Pemberton, Partner, Blevins Franks

25% for income or overseas transfers. As of 6 April 2023, however, the LTA tax rate will effectively reduce to zero before being scrapped entirely in the 2024 Finance Bill.

Other pension changes effective from 6 April 2023 include:

The Annual Allowance for pension contributions increases from £40,000 to £60,000 and the Mon-

£10,000. The adjusted income threshold for the Tapered Annual Allowance also increases from £240,000 to £260,000.

The maximum Pension Commencement Lump Sum for those without protections is retained at £268,275 and frozen for those without protections thereafter.

Do you need to act now?

For many people who have pension funds above £1 million (or likely to swiftly exceed it) there may be options to transfer to a suitable alternative pension scheme depending on their personal situation. It’s worth seeking specialist, regulated advice to look at your situation now. Pension transfers can take several months and the clock is ticking towards the next UK general election which must be held by 24 January 2025, and which may well see things change radically.

Following the budget, Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves stated

ment will reverse this move”.

Recent poll numbers suggest that Labour could very well form the next UK government.

The reinstatement of the lifetime allowance on pensions is certainly not guaranteed, but given that senior members of a political party that could win the election made a definitive statement that could easily belong to an election manifesto, the possibility should not be ignored.

Other budget changes

The starting rate for savings will be frozen at £5,000, enabling individuals with less than £17,570 in employment income to receive up to £5,000 of savings income free of tax. Annual ISA subscription limits remain unchanged.

The government will formalise and extend an existing income tax concession for low-income trusts and estates. Calculations and reporting will become more straightforward and HMRC intends to

The various income tax allowances and the National Insurance contributions thresholds remain frozen until April 2028, and the additional rate threshold reduced to £125,140.

The two inheritance tax nil rate bands also remain frozen until 2028, and the cuts to the capital gains tax exemption threshold and the dividend allowance, announced in the Autumn Statement, go ahead as planned.

Take personalised advice to ensure your tax planning is up to date, both for the UK and Spain, and to full benefit from any positive tax reforms.

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; individuals should seek personalised advice.

Keep up to date on the financial issues that may affect you on the Blevins Franks news page at

Filming in Cabo de Gata

A YEAAR ago now, the name of Chanel Terrero was on everyone’s lips: her election at the Benidorm Fest as Spanish representative for Eurovision 2022 launched the SpanishCuban actress, singer and dancer to fame.

Chanel continues preparing what will be her first album: a work about which little is known, more beyond that it will see the light throughout this 2023 by the hand of Sony Music Spain and that it will include both that song and ‘Toke’, the official song of the Spanish soccer team for the World Cup in Qatar.

This album will link Chanel

with Almeria: the landscape of the province has been chosen as the setting for her new video clip, which has already begun filming in the surroundings of the Almadraba de Monteleva, with the

church of Las Salinas and its cinematographic roads, being some of the locations chosen by Sony Music for this production. A party sequence is also planned in a well-known beach bar for which local figures will be included.

This iconic area of Cabo de Gata has been immortalised both on the big screen and on the small screen in the past. Also in music videos: the band Jamiroquai knows it well, whose vocalist and leader, Jason ‘Jay’ Kay, chose six years ago to set the story that accompanied his ‘Cloud 9’, the same landscapes that will now be seen in the new video from Chanel.

Laika’s moving tale

A PRODUCTION of ‘Laika’ at Almeria’s Teatro Apolo on Sunday, March 26 touched the hearts of families who filled the venue. The play tells the emotional and exceptional story of Laika, the first living being to orbit the Earth in 1957, through a combination of live projections, puppets, collages, voice ­ overs, and acted sequences.

The play explores the relationship between one of the Soviet researchers who prepared the dog for the fateful space mission and the beloved dog, Laika. It follows the tragic story of how the researcher tried to save her from a tragic ending when she learned that Laika

was not expected to return from her mission.

Despite the story’s tragic ending, the play, created by Xirriquiteula Teatre, is a touching, and funny show that uses onomatopoeia, humour, and a mix of classic and modern theatrical techniques to captivate an audience. Actors dedicated the performance to all animals that have been sacrificed for human progress throughout history.

Xirriquiteula Teatre, a pioneer Catalan theatre company, aims its performances at children and young people, with a unique style to capture universal values and celebrate human rights.

One more time

THE mayor of Mojacar, Rosa María Cano (PP), will continue one more legislature working for her people. This is how she has confirmed it to a local news source in an interview. “I am going to go to number 2 on the list of my party - Partido Popular - in the municipal elections of 2023, because I cannot leave without making the transition,” she said.

Cano stated in 2019 when she won the municipal elections again that these would be the last ones she would run for, pointing out that “we have the great fortune in the Popular Party of this town to have highly trained people willing to give their all for our municipality.

Young people, many of them, with the impulse, the dedication and responsibility necessary to put Mojacar at the top. As I have said before, I dedicate 100 per cent of my time to Mojacar, I think I have an outstanding debt with my family and with myself, but whoever thinks that I am definitely abandoning politics and my people are wrong. I think there are

many ways to continue working for Mojacar and for all Mojaqueros.”

Rosa María Cano already pointed out her great objectives for the current legislature: the implementation of the coastal variant, the construction of the residence for the elderly and a bus station. Three projects that have already started in the case of the first and the third and that are a reality in the case of the second.

Currently, the opposition is only made up of the PSOE, which has five councillors compared to the eight of the Popular Party, which governs in this way with an absolute majority.

A few days ago, the government team carried out a remodelling of powers because Ana María García has revoked her exclusive dedication and has delegated her powers in Health and Personnel to the mayor, Rosa María Cano, those of Education to María Luisa Pérez and those of Recruitment to Francisco García.

Almeria popular for filming.

Economic engine

ROQUETAS was in receipt of a huge economic complement when the Business Confederation of the Province of Almeria (ASEMPAL) said that it was “the economic engine for Almeria.”

The president of ASEMPAL, Jose Cano, stressed that Roquetas de Mar was “the second municipality in job creation in 2021 and the second in business creation ensuring that we have a liberal economy.

“When we believe in business, this is also reflected in the number of workers.”

He added: “Roquetas de Mar is the number one town hall in terms of payment to suppliers and this means that the town hall gives strength to companies.

ONE social walking group is inspiring outdoor­lovers to enjoy the wonders of Almeria’s countryside. The Los Arcos Walking Group meets twice a week for informal, social walks to discover more of the local area.

The Los Arcos Walking Group welcomes anyone with a reasonable level of fitness that is able to walk for several miles at a time. All walkers need are a decent pair of walking shoes, some water, and a little snack to keep energy levels up along the way, like a tasty banana.

The group offers a variety of walks, ranging from gentle strolls to more challenging treks through the hills. The Los Arcos Walking Group meets every Wednesday and Saturday at 9.20am, departing at 9.30am from opposite the Los Arcos Cafe, near the bus stop.

From there, the group drives to their start location, which could be anywhere from a 15 to 30minute drive away. Most members have their own transport, but if not, there is usually space in someone else’s car.

The group is a social

“Roquetas de Mar is emblematic and has excellent administrative services.”

For Cano, “defending the liberal economy is not defending one party or another; it is defending the welfare state and that is related to the business world.”

As spokesman for the province’s businessmen,

the president of ASEMPAL took the opportunity to ask that they be “defended when it is time” from the “permanent attacks” that they are receiving from “certain institutions.”

“The focus is put on entrepreneurs to divert attention from other issues,” he explained.

Boot up!

group of friends, so do not accept liability if anyone gets an injury during the walks.

Ramadan giving

THE Muslim community in Almeria came together to mark the beginning of Ramadan on Wednesday, March 22. This year, the local Islamic community has also set an ambitious charity goal, aiming to offer 4,400 meals to people in need over the next month.

Ramadan is traditionally a month of reflection, prayer, and acts of kindness for Muslims around the world. It is a time for fasting, but also a time for solidarity and generosity towards the less fortunate. Almeria’s 55 mosques are honouring this tradition by offering daily meals to an average of 80 people per mosque throughout the month.

Abdallah Mhanna, the President of the Imam Centre of Almeria, believes that giving to the less fortunate is not only a religious duty, but also a way to receive blessings from God. “Our religion tells us that if you give to a poor person, you will receive the same benefit from God,” he explained.

ROQUETAS: Has excellent administrative services.

Image: Charlesy Shutterstock.com

A social walking group in Los Arcos is encouraging outdoors lovers to discover more of Almeria’s diverse climate.

Photo credit: Eduardo Milla Wikimedia Commons

One woman hit maker

THE Song Writers Hall of Fame is dominated by men but Holly Knight is the amazing exception having written some of the best ­ selling songs of all time.

She started off as a pianist as a child, went through a rebellious period, leaving home in New York as a young teenager before becoming a member of band called Spider which saw her compose her first minor hit. Quite early on in her career she discovered that being a ‘rock chick’ and musician she had to fight enormous prejudice and sexism but went on to write or co­write hits for performers such as Aerosmith, Pat Benatar, Bon Jovi, Chaka Khan, Cheap Trick, Heart, Kiss, Meatloaf, Ozzy Osbourne, Patty Smith, Rod Stewart, John Waite and most fa ­

mously of all, Tina Turner.

In fact, Tina Turner has recorded no less than nine of her compositions, perhaps the most famous being The Best (originally recorded by Bonnie Tyler) which after a relatively slow start became one of the most played songs from the 1980s which is still hugely successful today.

In her new book, I Am The Warrior she reveals all about her 40 plus year career which has seen her have two marriages and affairs with some of rock’s greatest stars including several members of KISS.

From the very beginning she recognised that she would have to fight to be accepted as a musician and songwriter but was determined to do it on her own terms without having to use

sex to climb the ladder.

She admits that sometimes it appeared that she was in the right place at the right time and having managed to meet highly successful song writer and producer Mike Chapman who had hit it big in the UK writing scores of hits with Nicky Chinn for artists like Sweet, Racey, Suzi Quatro, Mud and Kim Wilde, before he moved to Los Angeles where Holly was taken under his wing. Pretty soon though, they had co­written Love is a Battlefield for Pat Benatar and from there, working with Chapman and other writers and artists, the rock hits just kept rolling in.

Much of what Holly did was ideal for the newly opened MTV music station and she found more and more of her compositions

being promoted both on radio and through videos on MTV.

Talking about the book,

Holly said “I’ve been fighting my whole life for the things that mattered to me. It started when I was a child but as I

got older, I was able to articulate in a more elegant and creative manner what was most important to me: independence, autonomy, expressing my own voice, anarchy in all its glory, and, essentially, telling people to **** off in a clever way.”

Summing up, Tina Turner said in the foreword to I Am The Warrior “It seems a lifetime ago that I first heard The Best.

“It’s not a song that I’ve carried ­ but rather a song that has carried me around the world. The energy it gave me on stage lifted me and the audience, a rare treasure ­ a universal anthem.”

Credit: Matthew Beard

Holly Knight dressed typically in black.

Chinese tourism triumph

Betty Henderson

SPAIN’S tourism industry is on the rise after suffering due to the pandemic. The country welcomed the first group of executives from Chinese tour operators and travel agencies since before the pandemic on Wednesday, March 22. The visit marked a crucial step in a new policy by the Spanish national tourism agency, Turespaña as it seeks to re­establish itself as a major destination for Chinese travellers. The 20 Chinese tourism executives from Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou spent the day in Sevilla on Wednesday, March 22, as part of a 12­day tour that will see them visit six other key destinations across five different autonomous communities; Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Granada, and Segovia. Turespaña’s initiative also includes marketing and promotional activities, such as promoting tourism at the ITB trade fair and producing an audiovisual guide to tourism in Spain for the Chinese market. Additionally, there will be a significant investment in online marketing. This effort comes at a critical moment, as China has recently authorised Spain to receive group travellers once again, in addition to independent tourists. China has also dropped its requirement for tourists to take PCR tests on returning.

MEETINGS tourism is confirmed as one of the major driving forces behind the development of the tourism sector in the capital.

Last year, this segment had a direct economic impact of €1.715 billion in the city of Madrid.

This figure represents 87 per cent of that obtained in 2019, before the pandemic, and which corroborates the good performance close to full recovery of this industry in the capital.

According to a report by Braintrust measuring meetings tourism in the city of Madrid in 2022, accommodation and extra­meeting expenses on shopping, leisure and/or catering were the items to which the highest percentage of expendi­

Business impact

Their average expenditure stood at €1,539 in 2022, compared to €753 for domestic tourists.

In total, this visitor’s spending accounts for 40 per cent of the total.

50%

ture was allocated, with 38 per cent and 30 per cent respectively.

The rest was spent on registration (18 per cent), and consumption by accompanying

ACCORDING to hotel reservation site Booking.com, accommodation in Spain will be 22 per cent more expensive on average this year than Holy Week 2022.

This means about €30 more per room, per night. According to Booking.com, in 2023 the average price per night in April’s Holy Week will be €155, compared to the €127 it cost last year.

Director of Hosbec Valencia, Alberto Galloso, explains that as particularly electricity and food prices have increased, that “hoteliers have to

persons (4 per cent).

It is also worth noting the high level of spending by international trade visitors, who accounted for 29 per cent of the total number of participants.

Easter increase

transfer these costs little by little.”

Sixty per cent of the visitors in Spanish hotels this April will be foreigners. Spain will be most popular with the British this Easter, followed by the French, Germans, Italians and the Dutch.

Booking.com said that the most popular Spanish cities with both domestic and foreign visitors will be Madrid, Sevilla, Granada and Barcelona.

Less than 50% of working-age women are in the labour market.

Village life

THERE are 36 traditional Spanish villages in inland Malaga Province looking for people to move there.

Malaga, in Andalucia, is promoting its towns and villages to attract foreign buyers and staunch the exodus of Spaniards looking for work, the ‘empty Spain’ phenomenon.

The website ‘vente a vivi ra un pueblo’ (come and live in a village) showcases the beautiful tranquillity of rural life on the Iberian peninsula.

There are 12 areas where towns exist that are being promoted, from Andalucia, Aragon, Canary Islands, Castilla la Mancha, Castile and Leon, Madrid, Valencia, Extremadura, Galicia, The Roja, Murcia and Asturias.

On the platform you can explore work options, health care support, business plans, with the website featuring a town of the week, this week is Villarrodrigo (Jaén).

The website offers information on the number of inhabitants, educational centres, medical centres, internet access, public transport details and grants for entrepreneurs as well as work availability.

Business meetings have an impact on expenditure.

Image: Andrey Burmakin / Shutterstock.com

Bilateral boost

Betty Henderson

SPANISH sources confirmed to the European Union on Thursday, March 23, that the President, Pedro Sánchez, will travel to Beijing to meet with the Chinese President, Xi Jinping.

Although Sánchez will go as a national leader and not as an EU spokesperson, sources from the Spanish government have informed the EU and the United States of the objectives of the bilateral meeting saying they are aiming to strengthen relations and defend Spain’s interests in China.

Full details for the meeting are yet to be announced although it will come days after the Chinese Premier presented his peace plan to Moscow regarding the war in Ukraine.

Spanish sources confirmed that Sánchez will discuss

the issue of the war with Xi Jinping.

Sánchez spent Thursday, March 23 and Friday, March 24 in Brussels at European Council sessions where he heard the EU’s plans for peace in Ukraine.

Although Sánchez will not represent the EU in China, he is expected to defend the European position on issues such as the war.

As a global leader, China’s economic and political influence continues to

grow, and Sánchez’s visit will undoubtedly be followed with great interest across the world.

Spain shines bright

SPAIN made strides in renewable energy use during 2022, cementing its position as a leader in Europe. According to the report on the electric system released by Red Eléctrica on Thursday, March 23, Spain has become one of the

best­performing countries in the continent’s energy transition, only surpassed by Germany.

Spain also ranks third in the current total capacity of solar power, with Germany and the Netherlands occupying

Latin American affair

SPAIN wants to make 2023 the ‘Year of Latin America’ in Europe. The Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, announced the country’s plans at the Ibero­American Summit as he touched down in Santo Domingo on Thursday, March 23, alongside King Felipe VI.

Spain had ambitious goals for the summit in the Dominican Republic, with Albares saying they wanted “Latin America to be definitively at the heart of the European agenda with a work and financing programme.” He added that he wants to focus on Latin American relations when Spain assumes temporary leadership of the European Union in July.

Other priorities at the summit included the environment, digital rights for residents, and the development of new partnerships. Foreign ministers from each of the countries met on Friday, March 24, ahead of the conference officially opening on Saturday, March 25.

The summit was especially symbolic as it is the first to be held since the pandemic and since various global emergencies began, including the war in Ukraine..

the top positions, while it ranks second in combined wind and solar energy production, behind Germany.

Thanks to Spain’s excellent efforts in the renewable energy sector, the country installed technology to boost renewable energy production by 5,900 MW in 2022. Of this, 4,500 MW were generated through solar panels, while wind technology generated 1,400 MW of energy.

Solar technology has finally taken centre stage in Spain’s electricity production after promising impressive potential for many years. Solar panels have also surpassed hydroelectricity in generating capacity, becoming the thirdlargest energy producer in Spain.

Spain’s renewable potential was crucial in supporting its European neighbours, affected by the Ukraine conflict and the ensuing energy supply tensions. Spain closed 2022 with its highest­ever export rates, also supporting France and Portugal.

The Spanish President has met with several world leaders already this month, including the Finnish Prime Minister, Sanna Marin.

Photo credit: Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón (via Facebook)

22% of paramilitary seats are made up by women.

Invasion of privacy

Betty Henderson

THE Norwegian national football team reportedly expressed concern about the Spanish press as they prepared to take on Spain in La Rosadela on Saturday, March 25.

The team were training at La Quinta in Marbella and while their training sessions were open to journalists for the first 15 minutes, they only allowed Norwegian journalists in during this period.

However, the team’s concern reportedly began after Movistar Plus approached the Norwegian team's training camp to cover training sessions. The broadcaster was denied access, but decided to film footage from one of the surrounding hills.

The decision caused outrage among the Norwegian players, who feel

that their privacy was violated. The team wanted to keep their preparations for the match against Spain under wraps.

Norwegian midfielder Sander Berge, who plays for the English club Sheffield United, said it

Phantom of the Opera

MUSICAL theatre fans will be delighted to hear that the Malaga­born and based actor and director, Antonio Banderas, recently spent time attending the auditions for the new Spanish production of Phantom of the Opera.

Banderas has confirmed he is collaborating with Amigos Para Siempre (APS) and Andrew Lloyd Webber, to create Spanish­language productions of the musical across major global markets.

The Phantom of the Opera is a musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by

Charles Hart, and a libretto by Lloyd Webber and Richard Stilgoe.

Based on the 1910 French novel of the same name by Gaston Leroux, it tells the sto­

ry of a beautiful soprano, Christine Daaé, who becomes the obsession of a mysterious, masked musical genius living in the subterranean labyrinth beneath the Paris Opera House.

The show’s initial run in Madrid will start from September 22 until November 11 at the Teatro Albeniz Umusic Hotel, Madrid Calle de la Paz, 11, 28012. For more information or to book tickets head to the website: https://umusichotels.com/ or call (+34) 911 231 099.

Five arrested for pigeon theft

was unacceptable for their training sessions to be filmed without their permission.

Meanwhile, the national coach, Stale Solbakken took a more laid­back approach, stating that they had to simply “live with it.”

THE men, aged between 16 and 20 were intercepted by the National Police in Alicante, when they were allegedly returning from having stolen competition pigeons from a bird club in Benidorm. They would have forced the cages where the birds were found to take them and transfer them to Alicante. Officials attached to the North District Police Station intercepted the vehicle with five occupants.

The police realised the occupants were ner­

vous and elusive when questioned about the origin of the pigeons they had in the car with them. After investigations, it was found they were stolen and the men were charged with robbery. It is not the first time these competitive birds have been stolen, due to their high value within the world of pigeon racing. Pigeon racing is the sport of releasing specially trained homing pigeons, which then return to their homes over a carefully measured distance.

Mega fires predicted

“WE are moving from the era of big forest fires to mega forest fires in Spain,” said Pablo Martin Pinto, wildfire expert from Valladolid University, warning that vast blazes like the Sierra de la Culebra wildfire last year, were "here to stay”.

Sierra de la Culebra, in Castilla y Leon, located in the northwestern region of the Iberian peninsula, was ravaged by fires last June and July, with more than 65,000 hectares burnt ­ a fifth of the total area affected by fires in Spain last year.

The blaze also claimed

four lives.

The fire damage has meant the town will lose its annual income of €80,000 from selling firewood, says mayor Antonio Juarez.

In 2022 Spain suffered nearly 500 wildfires that devastated massive swathes of land, with experts warning that such California­style fires are likely to increase.

Spring has only just begun in Spain, and some 700 firefighters have already been battling Spain’s first major forest fire which has so far burnt through some 4,000 hectares of land, forcing 1,500 people to flee.

Banderas attended the recent auditions.

Image: Antonio Banderas / Twitter.

The Norwegian football team have reportedly been frustrated by invasions of privacy from Spanish media as they trained in Marbella.

Photo credit: Fotballandslaget (via Twitter)

Outrage over ‘green’ funds

ENVIRONMENTAL

ac ­

tivists in Spain have said that €26.4 million of ‘green’ economic recovery funds from the European Union are being spent on ski resorts in Spain.

Five activist groups have also sent a delegation to Brussels to meet with European Union officials in order to investigate the case.

The funds are reportedly being used to join two ski stations located in the Pyrenees mountain range, as activists argue, this violates the conditions.

“This is a space of enormous environmental quality, and serves as a green corridor for the passage of animal populations such as the bearded vulture or other flora and fauna char ­

Homes evacuated after forest fire

acteristic of the area,” says Marina Gros, spokesperson for Ecologists in Action, as reported by a local news source.

The plan for this project was approved by Spain’s tourism ministry in December and aims to join the resorts of Astún ­ Candanchú and Formigal with an 8km cable car.

Ecologists in Action have also joined along with groups such as Greenpeace and World Wildlife Fund to take this issue to the European Union, after they failed to stop it domestically within Spain.

A petition to stop the cable car project has also been initiated at Change.org, where over 50,000 signatures have already been gathered.

FIREFIGHTERS were working to extinguish a forest fire that was declared on Saturday, March 25, in the Valencian Community municipality of Picassent.

As reported by the Generalitat Emergency Coordination Centre on its social networks, what started out as a vegetation fire quickly escalated into being reclassified as a forest fire by 1.30pm. As a result, the residents of several properties were evacuated as a precaution.

Alert Level 1 of the Special Plan Against the Risk of Forest Fires (PEIF) was established due to the proximity of flames to non­forest assets and its possible affectation of forested land.

Three crews from the Valencia Provincial Fire Department Consortium were initially deployed.

They were joined by three units from the Generalitat’s forest fire service,

three fire appliances, two air vehicles, two environmental agents, a forestry prevention unit, a forestry technician, and an SVB ambulance.

Credit: Twitter@BombersValencia

a danger of it affecting the population and non­forest assets, for which extinction may be necessary, as reported by a local news source.

Arrested for burning vehicles

around 3.40am, with residents woken up by the sound of explosions.

In addition to the 21 vehicles that were com ­

pletely burned, another five were partially affected by the fire. The flames also damaged various items of street furniture.

Her actions were “totally premeditated and coordinated” said Enrique Cabaleiro, the mayor of Tui. He revealed that the first investigations already pointed to the fact that the perpetrator had used petrol or some type of accelerator to start the fires.

Investigators collected images from security cameras in the area in order to identify those responsible. The detainee is thought to be a woman in her 50s, a resident of the town, who could have burned the cars due to “family quarrels with her sisters,” according to Cabaleiro, as reported by a news source.

In this case, the intention of the fire was clear, since there were five different sources. Several officers were observed taking photos and collecting samples of the burned vehicles.

The fires started at

95 Passengers trapped in a tunnel

NINETY-FIVE passengers were left trapped inside a tunnel at Barcelona’s Sants station after their high­speed AVE train broke down.

According to sources at Renfe and Protection Civil, an AVE train carrying 95 passengers travelling from Figueres in Girona broke down inside a tunnel at the entrance of Sants station in Barcelona on Monday evening, March 27.

High­speed traffic was cut in both directions due to the incident, which is believed to have been a mechanical breakdown. The incident occurred at 8.30pm on the train which covers the route departing at 7.35pm from Figueres to Barcelona Sants.

Renfe sources stated that, as a result of the breakdown, the train was stopped and that another train had been sent to ‘dock and be able to park it in Sants’. Also ‘the option of transferring to another train located in parallel has been evaluated, but it was not feasible’.

They also assured that the 95 passengers: “were being kept informed, and the punctuality commitment is being applied with a 100 per cent refund of the ticket amount.”

Due to the incident, the Ferrocat plan was activated in the pre­alert phase and, according to Civil Protection, no passengers required any assistance, as reported by a local news source.

GUARDIA CIVIL officers in the Pontevedra municipality of Tui, on Monday, March 20, arrested a woman suspected of setting fire to 20 vehicles in the early hours.

New easier guide

A GAME-CHANGING guide is now published, aimed at those who dream of living in Spain but who are concerned they may find the process and regulations daunting.

Produced by Age in Spain, a Spanish charity which has supported English speakers in Spain for more than 30 years, Moving to Spain: a complete guide takes the reader step­by­step through all that is involved in making the move. It describes how Spain works: how to apply for the right visa, what to do when buying a property and how to bring your car or pet. The guide also explains why it is essential to plan ahead, especially for health care

and social services that might be needed later.

There’s guidance to help the reader decide where in Spain would best suit them to live, and an introduction to the culture of Spain that will be of interest even to those just visiting on holiday.

And because it’s an ebook, there are links to live interviews with people who have already successfully made the move, as well as links to public information websites which means the guide will stay up­to­date if regulations change.

It’s free to download from https://www.agein spain.org/moving ­ tospain.

President of Age in Spain, John Rafferty, a

International Paella Day

Scot who has been living in Spain for 15 years, said:

“Spain is the most popular European destination for people who retire and want to enjoy all the benefits of a Mediterranean lifestyle. It’s also popular with younger families who want to live and work here.

“The guide is designed for UK citizens and the many others from non­EU countries who wish to live in Spain, but there’s lots of information that will be of interest to anyone who speaks English and is interested in how Spain works.”

The e ­ book has been produced with support from the UK government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Age in Spain. www.ageinspain.org

Email: info@ageinspain.org - Tel: +34 932 209 741

SPANISH PAELLA DAY was celebrated worldwide on Monday, March 27. There are uncountable variations of paella so that everyone can discover their own favourite paella recipe on Spanish Paella Day.

Considered by many to be the national dish of Spain, paella originated, as many traditional dishes do, as ‘peasant’ food ­ a lunchtime rice dish prepared by workers in the field over an open fire.

The bigger the pan one uses, the more friends and family can be invited to eat paella on Spanish Paella Day.

The basis for a traditional paella is rice. Saffron gives the paella its typical yellowish colour. Apart from rice and saffron, anything that the chef feels comfortable with can be added. Very popular are chicken and fish but also diverse vegetables like beans, peas or carrots make the perfect paella. The world’s largest paella served 110 000 people and needed the army’s support in order to distribute the food!

Eighty chefs were involved in the cook which took from 9am till 1pm. The pan weighed 32 tonnes.

New Imserso season

A NEW season of Imserso trips for pensioners has been approved by Spain’s Council of Ministers. As a result, there will be an increase of 70,000 places compared to 2022, with a total of 900,000 being offered.

The destinations on offer will cover 52 provinces. The variety will be expanded in the provinces of Albacete, Almería, Ávila, Cáceres, Castellon, Girona, Lleida, Tenerife and Toledo. There

will also be 19 new nature routes, including the Sierra Nevada and the natural park of Las Medulas,

In addition, more than 1,000 places will be reserved for itineraries with literary, musical, theatrical or gastronomic cultural themes in areas of special cultural interest in Spain.

It is unknown whether the rates will rise for next year, although 78 per cent of each trip is covered by each benefi­

ciary and 22 per cent by the General State Administration.

108 years is the amount of time it will take to close the gender age gap.

Council tax to rise

HOUSEHOLDS in England will see their bills rise on April 1 as most cash­strapped local authorities announce plans to hike council tax to the maximum level to plug black holes in their finances, according to a news source.

Average council tax bills will exceed £2,000 in April with households facing a £99 hike to annual bills.

The average Band D council tax set by local authorities in England for 2023­24 will be £2,065 ­ a rise of £99 or 5.1 per cent on the 2022­23 figure of £1,966, according to government figures.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt allowed cash­strapped local authorities to increase council tax by up to 5 per cent without calling a referendum in the Autumn Statement to plug holes in their finances.

Previously, town, city and county halls could only increase bills by 3 per cent without a referendum.

Average council tax bills for Band D properties are al ­

ready around £1,966 ­ a rise of more than £500 ­ a ­ year since 2010.

Three struggling councils have been given special per­

mission by the government to impose higher rises ­ up to 10 per cent for Thurrock and Slough, and an eye­watering 15 per cent for Croydon.

Covid surge

COVID is making another resurgence across Britain, prompting scientists to repeat their calls for the return of face masks.

According to the ZOE Health Study some 136,722 new symptomatic Covid cases were reported across the UK on March 20, 2023. It takes the total number of people currently predicted to have Covid in the UK to above 1.5million, rising by around 300,000 in just a week.

Surveillance data suggests one in 40 people in the UK are infected. Hospital admissions for the virus are approaching a three­month high. Latest hospital data shows 1,189 people infected with Covid were admitted to hospitals in England on March 13. Professor Danny Altmann, an immunologist at Imperial College London, called the surge “definitely something to worry about.”

He told a news source the UK was in a “rather serious situation” because of the waning vaccine immunity coupled with new variants. Another round of the historic jab drive will begin in the next fortnight. The over­75s, care home residents and those aged five and over with a weakened immune system will be eligible for the booster.

Most visited

THE National History Museum was the most visited UK Museum for the second year running and achieved a 196 per cent increase in attendance.

The Museum welcomed 4,654,608 visitors last year making it the most popular indoor attraction in the UK.

Museum Director Doug Gurr confirmed: “We are thrilled to have become the UK’s most popular indoor attraction for a second year running.

“It is a testament to our innovative and inspiring public programme of events and exhibitions which included Our Broken Planet: How We Got Here and Ways to Fix it, Dippy Returns and Wildlife Pho ­

tographer of the Year as well as the dedication of our Visitor Experience team who work so hard to ensure visitors have a brilliant day out.”

The Museum is continuing to see strong visitor attendance in 2023 so far and is on track to exceed £5 million for the fi­

nancial year.

Director of Public Programmes Alex Burch adds: “Visitors are going to be in for a treat yet again this year with the opportunity to come face to toe with one of the largest known creatures to ever roam the earth.”

Harry in court

THE Duke of Sussex arrived at the High Court in London on Monday March 27 for a hearing in his claim over allegations of unlawful information­gathering.

Harry’s claim against Asso­

ciated Newspapers is part of a bid to end High Court claims brought by a group of high profile people including Harry, Sir Elton John and Baroness Doreen Lawrence over alleged unlawful activity

at its titles.

Footage showed the prince smiling, accompanied by bodyguards arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London and surrounded by reporters and photographers.

The group of claimants, including Sir Elton’s husband David Furnish and actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley, announced in October last year they were bringing claims for misuse of private information against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).

In a statement announcing the launch of the legal action by Hamlins law firm, it was alleged the unlawful acts included recording private phone conversations and hiring private investigators to secretly place listening devices inside cars and homes.

A spokesperson for ANL also said the allegations were “unsubstantiated and highly defamatory claims, based on no credible evidence”.

MUSEUM: Most popular indoor attraction in the UK.

Image: Trustees of the National History Museum, London

Composer’s son dies

IN a video posted online on Saturday, March 25, the legendary composer Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber announced the sad death of his eldest son Nicholas. The 43­year­old had been battling gastric cancer and was recently moved into a hospice.

“I am shattered to have to announce that my beloved elder son Nick died a few hours ago in Basingstoke Hospital. His whole family is gathered together and we are all totally bereft. Thank you for all your thoughts during this difficult time,” Sir Andrew said.

The composer has earlier posted a video message on Instagram saying that his son had been moved to the hospice: “I want to thank you for the outpouring of messages of support for my son, Nick. He’s now been moved into a hospice and he’s battling away.

“I’m going to go see Nick in a minute and I’m going to pass on all of the fantastic wishes that I’ve had for him from everywhere all around the world,” Sir Andrew added.

In 2021, Nicholas scored his father’s original cast album for ‘Cinderella’, which earned him a Grammy nomination.

Game show to return to TV screens

AFTER seven years, the iconic ‘Deal Or No Deal’ game show is set to make a triumphant return to British television screens. The new reboot will be hosted this time around on ITV, by Stephen Mulhern, according to a news source.

Its return was confirmed in a statement by ITV, revealing there will be new­look prize boxes. The format remains unchanged, as contestants attempt to beat the ‘banker’ and hopefully win a huge cash prize. Noel Edmonds fronted the original show on Channel 4, from 2005 to 2016.

Mulhern has already cemented himself as a top host on ‘Catchphrase’ and more recently, ‘In For A Penny’. Speaking about his new role, he said: “Wow what an opportunity, I’m beyond excited to be hosting the brand­new series.

“I’ve always been such a huge fan of the show. It looks so simple but it’s an incredibly compelling game for both those playing and the viewers. I can’t wait to get started,” he enthused. The legendary gameshow regularly attracted huge viewing figures during its 11­year run.

Sir Lloyd Webber facing a difficult time.

Credit: Twitter@OfficialALW

BULGARIAN police announced an incredible discovery that sent shockwaves through the art world on Tuesday, March 22. A previously unknown masterpiece by one of America’s greatest 20th century artists, Jackson Pollock, has been uncovered in their country.

The stunning find was made as part of an investigation into international art smugglers, and the painting

Priceless painting

is believed to be worth a staggering €50 million.

Art experts were allegedly consulted and confirmed the painting’s authenticity. However, details of the painting have not yet been revealed to the public, leaving art aficionados to wonder.

The discovery was made as part of an international operation, which involved

Badgering the tracks

IN the Netherlands, one small furry mammal has been causing big problems for the country’s rail network. Badgers, a protected species in the country, have been digging burrows beneath railway tracks, leading to cancellations and line closures.

Trains in both the north and south of the country have been affected, with some services being halted for at least a week from Tuesday, March 21. The latest closure occurred on the line between Den Bosch and Boxtel.

It was the second time in a week that services had been stopped because of badger activity, according to John Voppen, CEO of ProRail, the company that maintains the Dutch rail network. He explained that the problem could take a significant amount of time to deal with as train operators needed to seek permission to move the animals or disturb their habitats.

The Den Bosch­Boxtel­Eindhoven route is a crucial connection linking the north and south of the country, and passenger and freight trains have both been affected on the route.

Retirement rage

Bulgarian and Greek authorities as well as Europol. Several people have been arrested, including Bulgarian nationals, but the circumstances remain unclear.

Jackson Pollock was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, known for his groundbreaking contributions to the abstract expressionist movement. .

Betty Henderson

THE French President, Emmanuel Macron, is facing furious backlash from residents across the country over plans to raise the pension age.

Protesters have taken to the streets in their thousands, with the government’s decision to bypass a parliamentary vote and impose the reforms only fu ­

IMF funding first

IN a historic move, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reached an agreement to provide Ukraine with a whopping $15.6bn (£12.8bn) of funding. The decision, announced on Wednesday, March 22 is the first time that the IMF has loaned money to a country embroiled in war, and it is set to be approved in the coming weeks, subject to approval by the company’s executive board.

This funding will be a lifeline for Ukraine, which has been ravaged by Russia’s invasion, devastatingly causing the economy to shrink by 30 per cent in 2022. The IMF recently amended its rules to allow loans to countries facing ‘exceptionally high uncertainty’, which is why Ukraine qualifies for this massive aid package, although the IMF did not explicitly refer to Ukraine when making the rule change.

The funding is a welcome boost to help Ukraine to finance critical rebuilding projects.

elling their anger.

The demonstrations have quickly spiralled out of control, with clashes between protesters and police becoming increasingly violent. Bins have been set alight, and petrol stations are running short of fuel due to blockades at oil refineries.

The unrest has even prompted calls for King Charles’s upcoming visit to France to be cancelled.

Despite the escalating situation, Macron remains defiant, insisting that the pension

reform is necessary to address the country’s changing demographics in a speech given on Wednesday, March 22. However, his refusal to back down has only added fuel to the fire, especially as it was his first public statement on the matter since this round of strikes began more than a week ago.

The tension in France shows no signs of stopping, with a ninth round of strikes and national protests which took place on Thursday, March 23.

Protests against the French unpopular retirement age bill reached the summit of Mont Canigou in the Pyrenees.

Photo credit: CGT Confédération Générale du Travail (via Facebook)

PRESS EUROPEAN

DENMARK

Back to work

COINCIDING with the announcement of plans to celebrate Queen Margrethe of Denmark’s 83rd birthday on April 16, court sources in Copenhagen confirmed that she hoped to resume her constitutional duties that same day, having recuperated from extensive but planned back surgery last February.

THE NETHERLANDS

Wildlife death

WK2, a wildcat tagged and monitored via GPS in 2014 and known to be at least 13 years old, died after it was run over on the N281 near Nijswillier (Limburg). This was the third time in five years that a wildcat was killed on this road, the Mammal Association said.

BELGIUM

Happy event

A RARE Rothschild's giraffe was born at Belgium’s Pairi Daiza zoo in the early hours of March 22. “The little one, whose sex has not yet been determined, weighs about 70 kilos, is 1.5 metres tall and is already eating well,” the zoo management announced in a Facebook post.

GERMANY

Joint approval

GERMANY is expected to introduce a bill which, if approved, would give the go-ahead to the consumption and sale of cannabis. Health Minister Karl said that after months of talks with Brussels, his plans, which complied with European law, had received “very good feedback” from the European Commission.

FRANCE

Roman des-res

ARCHAEOLOGISTS in Rheims unearthed a Roman structure dating back to the Second century AD. The impressive building, which once had more than 20 rooms, its own bath house and a garden, was either the home of a very wealthy person or possibly a public spa, experts said.

NORWAY

Meltdown

MOST of Norway's glaciers will have disappeared by 2100 even if targets to limit rising temperature are met, experts warned. As the glaciers retreat, there will be more landslides and rockfalls once the ground is no longer frozen and it becomes more unstable, said Oslo University’s Regine Hock.

FINLAND

Further help

FINLAND will provide an additional €12 million in humanitarian aid to help earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria. Half will be channelled to Turkey through the Red Cross and Red Crescent organisations and the other half will reach Syria through the Syria CrossBorder Humanitarian Fund (SCHF).

IRELAND

Urban forest

VOLUNTEERS in Mulhuddart (Dublin) planted Ireland’s first Tiny Forest, a concept pioneered by Japanese botanist, Akira Miyawaki. Six hundred trees planted on a tennis court-sized plot will mature within 20 or 30 years instead of 200 or 300 thanks to special planting and ground preparation methods.

ITALY No way

ITALY will debate a bill that would criminalise partners who go abroad to have a baby via a surrogate. The proposed law, which would mainly affect same-sex couples, is part of the socially-conservative ideology of prime minister Giorgia Meloni, who has little sympathy for the LGBT community.

PORTUGAL

Custom built

ARCHITECT Tarek Shamma built La Folie, a tower in the seaside town of Melides, for luxury shoe designer Christian Louboutin. Inspired by India’s step wells and the Jantar Mantar Observatory, the unique structure was created solely as somewhere to read, meditate and host friends for drinks and parties.

UKRAINE

Match point

UKRAINE took on the UK in a solidarity chess tournament as Ukrainian champion Andrei Volokitin played his British counterpart Michael Adams in the House of Commons. Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle organised the game to champion Parliament’s support for Ukraine.

SWEDEN

Northern lights

THE Swedish Institute of Space Physics recently created a light show in the night sky, releasing material from a sounding rocket to research the aurora borealis. The experiment was part of research to help scientists improve near-space weather forecasts to protect satellites and critical infrastructures.

WOMEN WOMEN

in Business in Business

Dreaming BIG

We all have a dream

WHETHER that dream is opening your own bakery, completing your first ever triathlon, or one day becoming the CEO of a major company, imagining pursuing our passions is something we all do.

When it comes to the actual reality of making those dream happen though, that’s when it can become a bit more complicated.

From Oprah Winfrey to Marie Curie Michelle Obama or Madonna, all women who end up changing the world have to

start somewhere. It’s just that first push which is often the hardest.

If you are at that crossroads in your own life, this special is for you. The Euro Weekly News knows how many extraordinarily talented women there are in the world. But we also know that the hows, wheres, whats and whys of business aren’t always obvious.

Luckily though there is inspiration lurking in literally every profession, country and corner. And, as well as celebrating some of the incredible female business

success from across history and the world, we wanted this special to share inspiring tales and tips on exactly how success can be achieved.

From women who have climbed to the top of their professions, we have compiled a series of tales of resilience, selfbelief, discipline and passion. In short, all the ingredients to achieve phenomenal success.

Expect to find features on some of the world’s most successful women, as well

as how to guides, and information on women living not a million miles from your own door who provide inspirational leadership and success every day. Whatever your dream, we want your success. For anyone looking to take that next step in their lives, enjoy finding the inspiration and tools you need right here.

Remember, you’ve got this. “If you can dream it in your head, you can hold it in your hand.”

MADONNA: Has left an indelible mark on the world of music and is known as the Queen of Pop.

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m Holly Underwood and for the last 16 years I have lived in Andalucia with my parents and elder brother. I came here when young and feel very privileged to have been brought up in such a beautiful part of Spain.

Apart from the scenery, beautiful weather, and the joy of village life, I love the importance of family. Our own family have always been close, and the influence of living in Spain has made us even closer. That closeness is a part of why we work so well together and suc cessfully in the family business.

What would you say motivates you?

That’s easy - helping people. Helping customers and them ap preciating that help is a wonderful feeling. I was schooled in Spain and enjoy being able to help people with the paperwork and language barrier.

We all take a lot of pride in reading and sharing our positive customer comments. That is most gratifying and since that ‘help’

Interview

Holly Underwood, Ecocorp

sions that you make impact multiple aspects of the business.

Have you made any mistakes along the way that you have learnt from?

Mistakes are a key part of learning and improving. There are four important things I have learned:

1. Taking a little more time helps you to make better decisions.

2. Making a bad decision is far better than not making any decision.

3. When you get it wrong, own up, apologise, and then fix your own mistakes.

Sadly, most workplaces haven’t yet fully embraced having women in senior roles, whereas mum and I have an equal voice and are involved in all important business decisions. That may be easier in a family business, but thankfully it is changing elsewhere too and the years of a woman having to be better than a man is now no longer a prerequisite. If, you are good enough, your gender is irrelevant. Do you have any future plans for the business?

ethos is in all of us it’s probably why we have such high levels of repeat business and recommendations.

What do you enjoy most about working in a family business?

In other jobs I’ve enjoyed and

welcomed responsibility, but that was often accompanied by feeling that I was being managed. With the family business and us all having different responsibilities I’ve been empowered to make decisions. You quickly realise the deci-

4. Don’t make the same mistake again.

What advice would you give aspiring young businesswomen?

Be brave, believe in yourself and don’t accept or excuse inappropriate behaviour from others in your organisation.

Apart from continuing to deliver great service and continuing to grow, I would love it if our business was to achieve acknowledgement within the solar sector.

Recently, we were approached for recognition as one of the top five Solar Energy Service Providers in Spain. It’s early days, but if we do achieve an award, it would be testament to the hard work

Roxana Bobilca: The woman behind Next House Almeria

THE philosophy behind Next House Almeria is offering quality services and properties to its clients. Founded by Roxana Bobilca and created based on her own experiences of the property market in Spain, Next House Almeria prides itself on honesty, transparency and efficiency.

A young and dynamic team who are experts in their field, nobody will work harder to find your dream home or help you to sell your current property. We spoke with Roxana, the female behind this successful business, about why she created Next House Almeria, what motivates her and her advice for budding business owners.

Hi Roxana! So tell me a bit about yourself and Next House Almeriahave you always lived in Spain and, if not, why did you make the move?

I am Roxana, the owner and director of Next House Almeria. We are a real estate agency located in Albox, 30 minutes inland from the beautiful coastline of Almeria, but close to the Murcia and Granada borders. All of our

properties have easy access and proximity to towns such as Albox, Arboleas, Cantoria, Partaloa, Zurgena and many more in the Almanzora Valley area, which have everything you need for your daily life.

I am originally from Romania and studied languages (Spanish and English) at University, I chose to relocate to Spain to finalise my studies. I stayed be cause I fell in love with the country, the lifestyle, the culture and the peo ple.

Like many of us do! What made you de cide to open Next House Almeria and what was the inspiration

behind this?

I have always been good at helping people, in all aspects. Having experi -

when they find their forever home is so rewarding, I knew that this was something I wanted to do forever!

What would you say motivates you?

My family of course. However, I would say I also motivate myself a lot. I always try to improve every day and be the best version of myself.

Do you have any female role models or role models in general?

My mother because she has always and unconditionally supported me and my business.

What mistakes have you made along the way and how have you learnt from them?

My biggest mistake is being too trusting. I have learnt to be more selective with those I trust.

Yes, that’s good advice. And what do you enjoy most about running Next House Almeria?

enced first-hand what relocating to Spain is like, I feel I have a good understanding of how to support people through this journey. Also, seeing the smile on people’s faces

Meeting new people, exploring new areas and connecting homes with people!

What advice would you give an aspiring young businesswoman?

To always be honest, kind and brave.

we all do.

HOLLY UNDERWOOD: Don’t make the same mistake twice.

SAM and Holly Underwood, as a mother and daughter working together may not be that uncommon. What may surprise you is that Sam and Holly work in the Renewable Energy Sector. Traditionally the Renewable Sector was viewed as male centric though in that regard Ecocorp Solar is completely different. Almost 40 per cent of the total staff is female - gender has not and never will be a barrier. Holding senior responsibilities within this high growth, successful family business is why we approached Sam and Holly to feature in ‘Women in Business’. That two women, from different generations, sit right at the very heart of the business and are involved in all of the important decisions is a testimony to Sam and Holly themselves, but also emphasises the core values and beliefs of the business - honesty, respect and inclusiveness.

Sam Underwood, Ecocorp

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m Sam Underwood, everyone would say that I am a ‘mum’, and I take this as a compliment. I’m blessed to have married the man I fell in love with 41 years ago, we have two wonderful children - Daniel and Holly. Soon, I will become a grandmother for the first time, and I am sure that it will be a different and very special type of love.

We’ve lived in Spain for 16 years and, despite both children having partners and their own homes, we all still live in the same hilltop village. Togetherness and family is what I love most about our life here.

Have you always been involved in the family business?

I was initially involved out of necessity. As the business grew it was only natural to use my existing office skills to assist with the administration. That helped the men focus on growing the business and making sure customers were happy. It’s now a full-time role for me.

What would you say motivates you?

Family is my greatest motiva-

tion, seeing them working together fills me with pride. Seeing my son mature is a gift, and it’s won-

derful to see him come out from under his father’s shoulders and work toward becoming his equal.

Holly and I act more like sisters. When Holly joined the business she was already mature beyond her years. Seeing any strong willed, spirited, and intelligent woman is always inspiring in a workplace and when it’s your only daughter it can’t get much better.

As a team, when it gets tough nobody complains or moans. We roll up our sleeves, discuss what needs doing and agree a plan. Recently, one of our newer senior employees said it was the best place she had ever worked as everyone is always so happy. That’s such a compliment and reinforces what a special environment we work in.

Have you made any mistakes along the way that you have learnt from?

When you get to my age in life it would be crazy to say anything other than yes and yes. Mistakes happen, it’s how you deal with

correcting them that is key. We do not always get it right, but we will always work with our clients and strive to meet, and hopefully exceed their expectations.

I have learned that my voice and my thoughts are important within the business. There are a lot of strong personalities in my family, but working together has made me appreciate that we have shared values.

What future plans do you have for the business?

Our future is in so many ways wholly dependent on continuing to do the good work that we do and have learned to do over many years. From experience, we know that if we do our bit and the customer is treated properly, honestly, and fairly, they in truth will then determine the future of our business.

Most of our work is recommended, based on staggeringly high levels of customer satisfaction. If we continue to do that then the company will continue to flourish.

SAM UNDERWOOD: When it gets tough, nobody complains.

MOJACAR ESTATES has been a successful independent estate agency since 1982, with Karin Schröter taking over the business in 2002. This now family-run agency, with a team that has been together since the inception of the company, offers a personal, honest and transparent approach to buying, selling and renting.

Covering the areas from Carboneras to Garrucha, Vera Playa to San Juan de los Terreros, as well as inland including Turre, Los Gallardos, Bedar, Vera, Cuevas del Almanzora up to Pulpi and Aguilas, Karin and her multilingual team listen to their client’s needs to find the perfect villa, apartment, townhouse or cortijo.

Due to the international client base in Mojacar and the surrounding areas, Mojacar Estates is experienced in assisting every type of client and has come across many challenging situations along the

way - always putting the client and their interests first. The agents provide a comprehensive service to help potential buyers, sellers and renters on their property journey.

If you are looking to relocate to Almeria Province and need help finding your new dream home, or perhaps you are searching for the perfect property to enjoy holidays

in Spain, Karin and the team are dedicated to taking on the challenge. Motivated by matching the right client to the right property, Karin said: “I love the challenge of listening to what a client wants and needs, and searching for a property that will be a perfect match.”

For those selling their property with Karin and the team, your

house will be marketed using the best tools including listings on the most popular property portals, Google Ads, printed press, YouTube and the Mojacar Estates website. Using their approach of honesty and trust, the team will guide you through the paperwork, fees, and legalities to achieve a quick sale for the best market price.

If you are looking for something less permanent or a property to rent while you decide whether Almeria is the location for you, let Mojacar Estates find something to suit your lifestyle and needs. With an extensive portfolio comprising sea-view apartments, townhouses with a pool, charming village houses and modern villas, you could be soaking up the Mediterranean sun and enjoying the delights of Almeria sooner than you think!

Karin ensures that everyone at Mojacar Estates keeps up-to-date

Website: www.mojacarestates.com - Telephone: +34 950 478 935

Sales: sales@mojacarestates.com - Rentals: rentals@mojacarestates.com

Address: Facebook: www.facebook.com/mojacarestatesalmeria

Mojacar Estates: All with a personal touch ALMERIA, THE PERFECT WEDDING DESTINATION

OK, so it’s time to put Almeria on the map as a Destination Wedding Location! It’s true, Almeria is one of Andalucia’s hidden gems! Did you know that Almeria Costa was voted by the Guardian as being in the ‘top 20’ in the world for the good life? No… well you do now!

Hi, I’m Sally Chapman, alternatively known as Celebrant Sally Spain. As an experienced Celebrant I have travelled all along the coast of southern Spain and beyond officiating wedding ceremonies and despite seeing some beautiful parts of the country and some stunning venues, I have often wondered why more couples don’t consider Almeria when planning their wedding.

This may come as a bit of a surprise to you, but Almeria has been kept a bit of a secret and few people will know that it’s often referred to as the ‘Jewel in The Crown’ of southern Spain. In the last couple of years however, it’s become more familiar for those who watch the popular Channel 4 TV series of

Sun, Sea & Selling Houses, fronted up by the now familiar ‘Garner’ Family.

What Makes Almeria Stand Out as a Wedding Destination?

When thinking of a destination wedding location however, Almeria might not be a place that springs to mind, but because of the diversity it gives you a great opportunity to find that somewhere special that may be a bit off the beaten track, but also that hidden gem that isn’t knocking out hundreds of weddings each year.

With the added advantage of having an international airport on its doorstep makes it an easy wedding destination to travel to.

A semi-arid province of mountains and valleys, including the desert of Almeria, a virtually unspoilt coastline and several natural parks makes it a perfect place to find your ideal wedding venue. Its villages and towns offer Spanish properties in locations as diverse as the landscapes, mountain village retreats, rural valley hide -

aways and beach side fishing villages, and to boot it is the driest region in Europe boasting an average of 342 hours of pure sunshine.

Where Is the Best Place to Have a Wedding Ceremony in Almeria?

The beauty of using a Celebrant to officiate your wedding ceremony is that your choices are endless as to where you can hold your wedding ceremony. As it is a nonlegal ceremony (ie; you would have contracted your legal marriage at a registry office prior to coming out to Spain) this means there are very few restrictions as to where you can have your wedding ceremony or blessing depending on your budget and preference.

The Stunning Cabo de Gata Natural Park

The most favourite area of mine in Almeria has to be the beautiful Cabo de Gata - Nijar Natural Park which is one of the few protected areas in Europe full of beautiful landscapes which boasts incredible scenery.

on market trends and laws, giving you the peace of mind that everything is taken care of and above board. Karin said: “The housing market in Almeria has changed a lot over the years and we have been a part of that. We help many international clients and, while the market used to be made up mostly of British nationals, we are seeing a lot more people coming over from Belgium and Germany.

“The cost of living and energy prices have also had an impact on the property market here. And we are seeing more people relocating here for work - I would say it’s now 50 per cent working professionals and 50 per cent holiday home purchases,” she added.

With an exciting future ahead and Karin’s son gradually taking over Mojacar Estates, the closeknit team welcome you to join their family of clients and let them take care of the stressful aspects of buying or selling your property.

Whether buying, selling or renting.

Almeria is full of beautiful landscapes for your wedding.

The choices are endless for your wedding ceremony.

Interview FAMILY-run estate agency that has been growing and thriving since Director Karin Schröter took over in 2002, Mojacar Estates is dedicated to matching the right home to the right buyer.

A Karin Schröter: The female behind the force

Originally from Germany, we spoke with Karin about what it’s like running Mojacar Estates, what motivates her, and her plans for the future of the business.

Hi Karin! Tell us a bit about yourself and the Mojacar Estates

I had my first holiday home in Spain in 1986, which I bought through Mojacar Estates, and I used to own an engineering company in Germany. We moved to Mojacar permanently in 1997 where I worked at Mojacar Estates.

In 2002, the owner was retiring and approached me about taking over. I already knew the team and had plenty of experience in the property market, so I made the decision to take over. It was a bit of a risk, and moving to Mojacar was what I call a ‘lucky coincidence’, I now love living here and it was definitely the right decision. Mojacar is a town that still feels very Spanish and authentic.

What do you enjoy most about working in the property market at Mojacar Estates and owning the business?

I like a challenge and getting to know people, finding out their requirements and then matching them to their perfect property. We work with people from many different nationalities - English, German, Dutch, French and more - and they all have a different mindset and mentality.

A good example of this was during the Covid pandemic, different nationalities had different priorities, where the French were hoarding wine the English were hoarding toilet paper! Sometimes you need to read body language to deci-

pher how clients truly feel about a property. Because we use a personal approach, we really get to know the client and how they think, how they communicate and what their expectations are – I love the challenge of working with their needs to find a property that they fall in love with.

What would you say

Every day is very different and I wear a lot of hats. I used to be on the ground meeting clients at properties, but now I work on more of the admin-side of the business, speaking with clients and dealing with sales.

What advice would you give to an aspiring businesswoman?

Firstly, after working in a man’s world for 15 years in the engineering field, I saw a lot of collaboration between men and women. Once you prove yourself, you have the respect no matter what your gender is and there shouldn’t be any discrimination.

I think you have to be open to different things and different ways of thinking, as well as learning languages because this is a huge plus when working in an international sector. You will need to throw your habits away and learn how to become flexible - every time we think we have seen it all at Mojacar Estates, something comes up that we haven’t come across and need to figure out how to deal with. The housing market is constantly changing along with the needs of clients, so being flexible is a big advantage.

Trust, openness and loyalty are the things I think are most important when running your own business.

And what are your future plans for Mojacar Estates?

My son joined the business two years ago and I am preparing for him to take over what has been built over the past 25 years. Because the team has been working together since the beginning, we are all like a close family, so my plans are to gradually become less visible within the business while my son is training and learning so that I can pass it on to the next generation. I am looking forward to seeing what Mojacar Estates becomes!

Trust, openness and loyalty are most important.

Wood2Go ensure the best timber is used

WOOD 2GO is a proud family-run business by Father - Graham, SonPaul, Daughter -in-law - Sarah, eldest Daughter Holly with soon to be Son-in-Law Juan David.

Wood2Go will shortly be celebrating their 17th year of trading in Spain this year. The business is situated in the tranquil and beautiful Los Velez area which is in the northern part of the province of Almeria, which makes Wood 2 Go central to serving the areas of Almeria, Murcia and Granada provinces, ready to help out in anyway they can.

Open to the public for the DIYers and fixer uppers to professional builders and joiners. All are welcome to experience their variety of stock in timber and sheet materials such as Plywood and OSB. Professional customer service and delivery is available to all areas! They also have the manpower on standby to install their Pergolas, Carports, Gazebos, Sheds and Porches for their clients.

To ensure longevity and quality

Wood2Go ensure the best timber is used in their production of Carport, Pergolas, Gazebos, Sheds, T&G Boarding and Decking Boards in high grade Glulam (G24). Available in lengths up to 12 metres!

With the scorching sun it is important to have the right materials and with Wood2Go and their top level wood they are less likely to twist or warp and is stronger than ordinary timber.

With each project special and personalised to their clients, Paul and his team make everything from scratch, their craftmanship is one of the best you will find in

Almeria, built from the ground up. Wood2Go fittings such as their post holders, brackets and more are all manufactured locally from durable heavy-duty materials.

To ensure durability of their products they use ‘Glulam’ beams. ‘Glulam’ is made by gluing together, under pressure and heat,

Tips from the top

KNOWING what you want to do in life is one issue in itself, but knowing how to start can be another one entirely.

That’s why the Euro Weekly News has put together this list of some of our tips, collat ed from successful businesswomen, on how to achieve success in your own venture.

Follow your heart

Working is something you have to do day in and day, so make sure its some thing you enjoy do ing. Having passion for what you are selling or the service you are offering, is the best way to start as this will be your driving force.

pay off in the long run.

lengths of timber that have been accurately planed. The resulting product is strong, stable and light and giving significant advantages over structural steel and concrete.

The beams are made with wood from sustainable forests to ensure that Wood2Go are not harming the planet, but actually contributing to

Lady boss

helping it. “The sustainable forests we get our resources from are some of the best managed in the world, where reforestation and environmental considerations are given high priority. The trees used are usually Scots or Corsican Pine, though can sometimes be redwood or Siberian larch.”

All of their timber can be resawn and or planed to suit a client’s requirements. Wood2Go also offer free and friendly advice on all projects, so if you are planning anything such as a Porch, Pergola, Carport, Shed or material for DIY projects, you need to go to Wood2Go.

Always check with your town hall about running your business.

Start small You need to get the cash flow going as soon as possible, but do not overstretch yourself to start with. Focus on getting your product right and treat those first (and second, and third, and every client along the way) customers as kings and queens; their experience of your company could make or break you.

Be brave Start now

INSPIRATION not perspiration, as they say. And while business success definintely involves plenty of hard work, it is inspiration and passion that drives that hard work.

Luckily there are plenty of uber successful female authors who have made it their life missions to not only inspire but to show others how to achieve success the most efficient way possible.

Here, we round up our must-read motivational books to super charge your business.

skills, and desires. It’s a book for startup business women who get honest with themselves about their reasons for wanting to start a business.

She Thinks Like a Boss : Leadership: 9 Essential Skills for New Female Leaders in Business and the Workplace. Jemma Roedel

Discover how to become an effective woman in leadership - even if you’re shy, avoid conflict at all costs, or lack confidence.

Do your research Whilst passion is great for your business idea, you need to make sure what you are offering is what people want to buy. Taking some time out to do market research could

- there is never a perfect time, perfect image, perfect weight, or perfect set of circumstances. Put yourself out there now. Now is the perfect time.

Whether working from home or setting up an office or shop, always check with your local town hall and lawyer about how to run your own business.

The Fearless Woman’s Guide to Starting a Business: What Every Woman Needs to Know to be a Courageous, Authentic and Unstoppable Entrepreneur, Ameé Quiriconi

The Fearless Woman’s Guide to Starting a Business is a book for freedom-seeking female entrepreneurs and solopreneurs who want to know how to connect with their true passions,

If you are tired of seeing men at work get promoted, be given better assignments, and enjoy pay raises even though you know your skills and results are just as good, then help is at hand in the form of this bestseller.

Just F*cking Do It: Stop Playing Small. Transform Your Life, Noor Hibbert

JUST F*CKING DO IT will take you on a mind-altering journey of self discovery and personal transformation using an approach which com-

bines psychological rigour with spiritual power - helping you to become the best version of yourself and create a life of happiness and abundance. It’s only fair to let the boys play too, so we’ve included this global bestseller on our list to help optimise every spare minute of your busy work day.

The Miracle Morning: The 6 Habits That Will Transform Your Life Before 8AM, Hal Elrod

What’s widely regarded as “one of the most life changing books ever written” may be the simplest approach to achieving everything you’ve ever wanted, and faster than you ever thought possible. A must-read.

THINK LIKE A BOSS: Our round up of the best motivational reads.

WOOD2GO:

Interview T Wood2Go Sarah knows that the timber industry is not just for men but for women too! The Euro Weekly News spoke to Sarah about Wood2Go, their service and what inspires her.

An interview with Sarah Irving of Wood2Go

AHi Sarah! Tell us about yourself and background

We moved our family kit and caboodle to Spain 17 years ago to start our next chapter. We were lucky in a way that Paul’s parents had already made the move to Spain and were able to guide us in every way from housing and gaining residency.

Our first task when arriving in the Los Vele z area in May was to get our two children registered into school. It was a tedious process but we got there in the end.

It was very daunting taking them to school as my Spanish was very limited but three lovely English Mums and one Spanish Mum came to my rescue and that was the start of a very important support group of friends that saw me through having my third child in Spain. Going through our Son having a brain tumour at age 10 and all that involved and various other bumps in the road.

What service or product do you offer?

We are a family-run wood businesswe sell laminated timber for DIY projects as well as making and installing our own Pergolas, Carports, Sheds, Porches etc.

Have you always wanted to run your own business?

My husband Paul left school at 16 and was the Manager of the Family Run Sawmill back in the UK and we

made the decision to move to Spain for his health in 2006 and decided to start our own business.

What is the background behind Wood2Go?

The business was started in May 2006. My background has been sales and administration and Paul’s is timber. Have you come across any indifferences?

Yes, in some respects I have found if you have to deal with a Spanish-run company, depending on what it is, you will get more assistance from them dealing male to male, but on the whole most of the Spanish (either in business or as clients) are happy to deal with me or my Daughter.

What motivates and inspires you?

My family motivates me and looking towards the future for them.

Do you have any advice for people wanting to start their own business?

Look into all aspects involved in starting a business (and this applies to wherever you are) before you make the leap.

The most important thing is to establish yourself when you come to Spain, get involved in any way you can with what’s going on around you. My Spanish is still pretty basic but I have three inbuilt translators that will correct me and help when needed. My eldest daughter is now involved in the business and this has expanded things more for us.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Hopefully retired and our Daughter and Son-in-Law will be running the business.

WOOD2GO: My family motivates me and looking towards the future for them.

Realtors Almeria & Almeria Holidays: The coastal property specialists

WHETHER you are looking for a comfortable holiday home close to amenities, a rental apartment or villa by the sea, purchasing a home for your new life in Spain, or as a rental investment, or selling your property and moving on, Realtors Almeria & Almeria Holidays offer integrated one-stop property/holiday solutions, with have a very high percentage of repeat business.

After making the move in 2003 from London to Mojacar, voted one of Spain’s top 20 most beautiful ‘pueblos’ in the whole of Spain, the Rae family took over Realtors Almeria & Almeria Holi-

days.

George and Catherine Rae are a father and daughter team, along with Sandra, who has worked for the businesses for more than 25 years.

With so many years of experience they have an indepth knowledge of all aspects of the coastal property market, specialising in sales, rentals, management, and maintenance/projects and have developed a reputation for professionalism and reliability, with many repeat clients each year and references to prove it.

The business operates three specialist divisions: Realtors Almeria specialis-

es in coastal and inland property sales, with a portfolio for a range of tastes, from onebedroom coastal apartments at €80,000, to larger front line properties at €300,000, villas around €350,000 upwards, or inland

villas for €150,000 to €350,000.

Almeria Holidays handles holiday and seasonal rentals, with approximately 70 beach side holiday rental properties, valued around €15 million providing accommodation

for up to 300 people per week, many returning year after year for up to 25 years.

The Almeria Building Service division handles all the building and maintenance services for property owners and buyers projects or refurbishment undertaken.

The Realtors Almeria division, is run by George, and specialises in resales of high value coastal properties, whether an apartment for €80,000 to villas of €500,000 upwards, or inland three bedroom villas with land and private pools for around €200,000 to €350,000 on average.

“Our objective is always to find the right properties for

the clients whether we have their requirements on our books, or need to look elsewhere, through associates we have known for over 15 to 25 years,” said George.

“People buying here, need a specialist with knowledge and understanding of all aspects the law and the local market, to ensure the process is trouble free. We have the experience, contacts and language skills needed,” he added.

For those selling, Realtors Almeria has the early opportunity to promote your house before prospective buyers even arrive in Spain and can offer it as a priority viewing, to their many rental clients.

An interview with Catherine Rae

WE spoke with Catherine Rae, one of the inspirational women behind Almeria Holidays. Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m 24 and we moved to Spain when I was five - Me, my two brothers, my mum and my dad. My dad, George, is from Scotland and my mum is half African and half Scottish. My parents met in London and had me and my brothers before moving to Spain.

They were looking for a safer and more peaceful life than living in London and I think my dad was looking for a bit of down time when we first moved, my mum had other plans and wanted to buy the business!

It sounds like your parents are motivated by the business too, and your mum is somewhat of a ‘girl boss’ herself!

Yes she saw the business was for sale and was determined to buy it - so we did! Since then, my dad has worked really hard to build up our great reputation. I’ve watched the company grow and seen how business works, which gave me the passion to want to join the company.

I worked for Almeria Holidays to earn money and then took a gap year travelling and gaining some life experience,

which I think also proved to myself that I have the skills and confidence to get involved in everything in the business. I went backpacking across Europe, which takes a lot of planning and forces you into unfamil iar situations, this taught me so much and when I finished I was real ly looking for ward to get ting involved in Almeria Holidays. real estate course during Covid and learnt a lot dur ing

that time, when we were back in the office I put everything I had learnt into practice.

What would you say motivates and in-

I’m lucky to have many people in my life that inspire me. My parents inspire and motivate me, my mum is a really strong woman and my dad is amazing at what he does. My brothers are really business-minded too. One of my brothers lives in London and has his own business and my other brother is setting up a bar in Spain. My colleague in the office, Sandra, is amazing with organisation and I really admire this. We both like everything to be very organised so she is a great lady to have around!

My boyfriend’s work ethic also really inspires and motivates me, and my best friend is a very focused and inspirational woman.

CATHERINE: Enjoys everything about the business.

What do you enjoy most about running the business?

I honestly enjoy everything about the business! I have amazing relationships with clients and love making them happy. I dabble in all areas of Almeria Holidays including the website, social media, meeting clients, and managing the office. Every day is different.

Because we are a family-run business, I’m more invested in doing things right. Although I would always care about the clients if this wasn’t my family’s company, seeing the business grow and the returning clients means I am much more passionate.

What mistakes have you made along the way and what did you learn from them?

I made some mistakes when I first went into helping run the business, I think the most important thing is I learnt from them. I took over answering the phones, because I speak fluent Spanish, and that forced me to think on my feet. Any mistakes I have made I have remembered so that I don’t repeat them!

My dad also taught me how to deal with different situations that cropped up. Our approach is calm, organised and about listening to the client.

SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE: Almeria Holidays team.

Attention to detail

WHEN you are abroad - whether it is because you have a second home in Spain or you have relocated here - you will want to know that if anything happens you can deal with someone in English and with the highest level of attention to detail.

That is where Jennifer Cunningham Insurances SL can help.

Offering all types of insurance, from pets to homes to cars, Jennifer Cunningham Insurances SL provides specialised policies, all in English, and all aimed at your exact needs.

Both their Liberty Seguros and ASSSA policies have special divisions, created exclusively for expats’ needs. To support these policies, Jennifer has two very special, unique additions to her com -

pany, a dedicated Claims Administrator and a Renewals Department, which means you will be contacted every year to check your policy at renewal. Again, all in English and all with a personalised service. There is no such thing as an automatic renewal, where you can lose control.

Jennifer initially specialised in health insurance, on the Costa Blanca in 1992, but it was not long before she was asked to expand into general insurance. The company, still led by Jennifer Cunningham, has an extensive network of eight offices with an expert team who can tailor make the policy for you to suit all your needs and that of your family.

Jennifer’s philosophy is that of straightforward and honest advice, which is still instilled in all her staff members up and down the coast. Jennifer is

passionate about her team providing a professional quality of service to all her clients.

It is vital that the advice offered with regard to coverage is taken to ensure you are never under-insured, which offers you better protection should you have to make a claim. To be advised by an assessor that you are under-insured, will be the start of a nightmare.

Jennifer Cunningham Insurances SL offers all types of in-

surance, including cars, motorcycle, classic car, health, dental, comprehensive home, second home, public liability, commercial, landlord, funeral, travel, life insurance, pets, and marine policies, and Jennifer is very proud to be working with both Liberty Seguros and ASSSA to provide quality policies

Inspirational leader

THERE are some people in life who, as well as building their own success, do their utmost to help others along the way too. Jennifer Cunningham is one of those people.

A determined, passionate lady who keeps herself fit through healthy living and an inspiring enthusiasm for helping others, Jennifer’s story is a stirring one that relates courage, dedication and the incalculable benefits of a positive mental attitude.

Having moved to Spain in the late 1980s, Jennifer soon found herself alone with only a half-finished home and widow’s pension after her husband sadly passed away.

Many will recall the transformative moments in their lives when they stood, changed but unbroken, and found the strength to continue by channelling their love, rather than letting themselves become overcome by fear. And Jennifer began the long road towards developing her own life, and helping others along the way.

From humble beginnings working

from the simplicity of her own bedroom, Jennifer managed to apply her experience working in health insurance to eventually become a household name on the Costa Blanca, admired for her forthright attitude and prudent advice.

It certainly wasn’t an easy feat. At the beginning Jennifer wasn’t computer literate, which means that like many others she didn’t have a clue how to use the darned machines. Learning from scratch blessed her with a more empathetic understanding of the difficulties faced by her fellow expatriates in Spain however.

Jennifer initially specialised in providing health insurance locally on the Costa Blanca when she set out in 1992, but it was not long before she was asked to expand into general insurance. Her company, still led by Jennifer, now has an impressive network of eight offices with an expert team who can tailor make the policy for you to suit all needs.

Despite her astronomic success, Jennifer is still a hands-on Managing Director though and she keeps

herself and her staff aware of changes to Spanish insurance regulations and laws, keeping a steady hand at the helm of the company. She is also well-known and respected throughout by Spanish nationals and especially expats for offering excellent service.

This is because her company, Jen -

for her clients.

So if you are concerned about protecting your valuables, home or car and want great customer service in English, contact Jennifer Cunningham Insurances SL on 966 461 690 or for more information, visit www.jennifercun ningham.net.

They look forward to hearing from you and becoming one of our valued customers.

nifer Cunningham Insurances, was built on the principle that a personal, one to one service was fundamental to ensuring that people’s needs are properly met and that real interaction can never be replaced with the detachment of the telephone or internet.

Jennifer also has her own sound advice on Bay Radio where she offers valuable and impartial insights.

It is even spreading further afield to cover all of Spain, including Malaga, Barcelona and Madrid.

More than simply a caring and successful businesswoman though, Jennifer is one of the many inspiring figures who quite simply make the Costa Blanca far better place to live.

Jennifer is a born leader.

The team provides a professional quality service to all clients.

Jennifer is an inspiration to many.

A keen eye for detail.

A passion for optics

ALEADING optics and audiology centre in the heart of HuercalOvera, Almeria, Salas Garcia Opticas was created by sisters Loly and Mari Salas Garcia over 20 years ago and has since grown and expanded in helping clients improve their visual and hearing health. Loly and Mari are passionate about helping people to experience everything life has to offer through the gift of sound and vision.

Focused on providing the best solutions for visual and hearing health, the philosophy of Salas Garcia Opticas is to help improve their clients’

lives through sight and sound. The multidisciplinary team are experts in constantly adapting to new trends and training by keeping up with the latest market developments and medical advice.

The Huercal-Overa shop has a huge range of fashionable, practical and classic frames from some of the best brands on the market, including Christian Dior, Gucci, Philipp Plein, Swarovski, and Prada. Using stateof-the-art machinery and technology, the professionals at Salas Garcia Opticas also help clients with prescription sunglasses, contact lenses,

ocular prostheses, Ortho K and controlling the progression of myopia.

Our sight and sound are extremely important to the way we live our lives, and this is something Loly, Mari and the expert team understand more than most. Each client’s case is adapted and personalised according to their needs, using the latest in eye measuring equipment, high-quality lenses and adapted frames. To guarantee the best service and solutions, the team will carry out continuous monitoring of your eye health.

For those who have an issue with their hearing, Salas Garcia Opticos will

find you the best solution in hearing aids including Widex, Phonak and Oticon. Loss of hearing is often a gradual and slow process that can easily go unnoticed, but the team can carry out tests to discover your hearing problems and provide you with the best hearing aids or hearing therapy.

Answering any questions or concerns you may have, even after the sale, the experienced and professional team will guide you through your options using their wide catalogue of hearing products.

See, hear, and live, with the help of the experts at Salas Garcia Opticas.

The EWN’s ace team of fearless females

THEY say no (wo)man is an island and anyone who has ever run a team understands that it takes a mixture of talents, personalities and effort to achieve true greatness.

At the Euro Weekly News we’ve known this all along, and that’s why we are immensely proud to have a crack team of amazing women whose combined powers make the EWN a success.

Here we explore the women behind Spain’s largest English-speaking newspaper.

Michel Euesden: A pioneer in Spain’s newspaper industry, Michel has a drive, passion and commitment to success that is literally second to none.

A straight shooter, she has consistently defied expectations, first by becoming one of Spain’s only women at the helm of a major newspaper, and later by continually pushing and growing the Euro Weekly News to an extraordinary half a million readers a month across its seven printed editions.

Sally Underwood: Once a freelance writer for the Euro Weekly News living in the hills of Axarquia, Sally has grown in the company to become its editorial director. Supported by Michel, her journey from local reporter in 2016 to tak-

ing editorial control in 2022 has been one of the best experiences of her life.

Mo: A familiar, and much-loved name to many EWN clients, editorial manager Maureen Doninger has been working for the company for more than 13 years. With an eagle-eyed attention to detail, Maureen ensures that an incredible seven papers come together each week, seamlessly and with consistently high quality.

Alison: Office manager and saleswoman Alison Steele is a corner-

stone of the EWN’s commercial success. Ruthlessly efficient but with a genuine warmth that keeps her clients loyal for years, literally every office could be improved by an Alison.

Michelle Coy: Another member of our crack sales team is Michelle Coy, who has been with the company for more than 10 years. Known for her extremely high levels of customer service, Michelle always goes above and beyond for her clients on the Costa Blanca, ensuring consistent client care

throughout our footprint.

Linda Hall: Our longest-serving staffer, Linda Hall has been with the company an astonishing 27 years. An extraordinary woman who arrived in Spain in the 1960s, Linda is an expert on all things political and contributes her views via her weekly column.

Amalia: After arriving at the company 15 years ago without a word of English, it is fair to say that the Euro Weekly News now just wouldn’t be the same without its effervescent and extraordinarily talented financial director.

Vanesa: Some people are born rulebreakers while others love to follow the rules. The reason we love Vanesa is that she falls firmly into the latter category, ensuring our accounting and HR systems are followed to the letter and protecting the company in what can be a minefield of Spanish bureaucracy.

Lynn: Last but definitely not least is our head of recruitment, Lynn. A firecracker with a fantastic sense of humour and an infectious giggle, Lynn is the warm voice at the end of the phone to applicants looking to join the EWN’s ever-growing news empire.

Thank you ladies, from everyone at the EWN family!

EWN TEAM: Some of the women who make the EWN a success.

Hi Mari and Loly! Tell us a bit about Salas Garcia Opticas and yourselves

As sisters, we always had the conviction of having a business with which we could serve people. We were passionate about the health sector and the area of optics, that’s where Salas García Ópticos was born and we have just celebrated 20 years of serving our community.

Our home and work have been mainly in Spain, but Mari lived for a while in England to perfect herself in the English language. We have travelled together to various countries in Europe to learn about their culture.

Sounds great! What inspired you to open Salas Garcia Opticas?

Initially, when we were choosing our careers we weren’t exactly sure what we wanted to do, but we were very clear that it should be a health profession. That’s when we chose to open Salas Garcia Opticas and help people with their vision and hearing.

What would you say motivates you the most?

We started this business convinced that we could provide a quality service to our clients. We are motivated to help them change their lives, to allow them to see better and hear the world around them better.

Salas Garcia Opticas

What do you enjoy most about working in the vision and hearing sector? What we like the most is to see the happy faces of our clients when they see that

their senses return and that their quality of life has improved. We love seeing those who have vision problems being able to see clearly

What mistakes have you made along the way and what did you learn from them?

Our company, like all of them, has made mistakes along the way that have helped us to improve and learn the correct way to correct them, to avoid repeating them and to grow more as professionals every day.

What advice would you give to aspiring businesswomen?

We would tell them that they can, that there are no impossible goals or small dreams and that with work, effort and dedication they can carry out all their projects and go as far as they want. We would also tell them that they are very capable of building everything they dream of and that they should not allow anything to stop them.

Do you have any plans for the future of Salas Garcia Opticas?

Every company must look to the future. We always try to train ourselves more as professionals and grow more as people so that we can offer the best services and serve our community.

Golden Leaves International: Expat funeral plans with your needs in mind

LANNING our funeral isn’t something most of us consider in advance. However, it is especially important for expats to plan ahead for when the time comes, giving family and loved one’s peace of mind and alleviating some of the stress. That’s where Golden Leaves can help, an experienced and passionate company that has been at the forefront of the funeral planning industry since its foundation in 1984.

There are numerous considerations to take into account when planning a funeral, including logistics, refreshments for guests, casket purchase, and burial grounds.

With the immense emotional strain the death of a loved one can cause for a family, dealing with arrangements in a foreign language and financing problems only exacerbate the grief.

“I raise up my voice - not so I can shout but so that those without a voice can be heard… We cannot succeed when half of us are held back.”

Malala Yousafzai

ing abroad, a funeral plan with Golden Leaves takes away the pressure of having to arrange a funeral, supporting grieving families and friends during these tumultuous times.

“Don’t compromise yourself. You are all you’ve got. There is no yesterday, no tomorrow, it’s all the same day.”

Janis Joplin

carried out as per their wishes, taking the distress and financial burden away from family and friends when the time comes.”

Funeral plans with Golden Leaves are designed around your needs. The international team led by Emma can help you to navigate which plan is best for you and your loved ones, from their direct, simple, traditional and repatriation plans. Each of these plans have been designed with the expat in mind, guaranteeing to cover the cost of your funeral when the time comes.

Inspired by her team and the service they provide to their clients, Emma said it is their range of plans, customer support and payment plan options that sets Golden Leaves apart from the rest. The team has helped thousands of expats in Spain prepare everything for their funeral, with plans that offer flexibility and peace of mind - whatever your financial situation.

“Without an open-minded mind, you can never be a great success.”

Martha Stewart

With a ‘one call does it all’ service to help take care of all the paperwork in Spain when you need it most, Golden Leaves offers every type of funeral plan, from direct cremation to repatriation.

We spoke with Emma Quantrill, international oper -

Leaves, she told us: “In our case, when dealing with funerals, we see many people grieving and not thinking as they normally would. We are there to safeguard the client and ensure that everything is

Get in touch with Emma and the international team at Golden Leaves to start planning for your funeral so that, when the time comes, you and your loved ones will be in the best possible hands.

“Always aim high, work hard, and care deeply about what you believe in. And, when you stumble, keep faith. And, when you're knocked down, get right back up and never listen to anyone who says you can’t or shouldn’t go on.”

Hillary Clinton

Emma Quantrill and her team has helped thousands of UK expats in Spain.

Emma Quantrill: A true inspiration to all ambitious women

DEATH is not a subject many of us are comfortable talking about, yet there is one woman whose leadership, strength and humanity allow her to not only discuss the subject daily but deal with it with total professionalism and compassion.

That woman is Emma Quantrill, International Operations Director at Golden Leaves. In what has been a male-orientated profession for hundreds of years, Emma has broken the mould to lead one of Spain’s most trusted funeral plan provider for the past eight years. Here, the Euro Weekly News finds out how this extraordinary woman achieves everything she does and what inspires her the most.

Hi Emma! Tell us a bit about yourself

I have lived in Spain since 2007 and moved to join my parents who retired here in 2006 - And so my life in the sun began!

You’ve obviously achieved huge success in that time; how do you do it?

I have worked with Golden Leaves as the International Operations Director since 2015. Passion plays a huge part in my success and I am an avid believer in our product as I know how vital is it for the expat to have their affairs in order when living in a foreign country as we don’t always fully understand the system.

How did your journey working at Golden Leaves start and what inspires you?

I was asked to join the company in 2015. I had worked in the industry for a number of years beforehand and had a lot of experience, I discovered Golden Leaves was the number one provider of pre-paid plans in Spain. I believed in them along with their priority, focus on customer care, service, range of plans and payment options. Eight years later I still feel this way about Golden Leaves. I am proud to be a part of this groundbreaking company and proud to head up the international team. It is hugely important to love where you work; this is my inspiration to achieve the best every day.

What motivates you the most?

I am motivated and inspired by my team, our clients, the company and the products that we offer. Also knowing that we are in some small way helping that individual and their families at a very difficult time in their lives.

What do you enjoy most about your role at Golden Leaves?

Firstly helping a client, secondly seeing my team flourish, and seeing the business grow.

What mistakes have you made along the way and what advice would you, as a hugely successful woman, give to others about set backs?

I have made mistakes, it’s part and parcel of running a business as a woman in Span. I would tell people that as long as you can rectify those mistakes and learn from them, it’s all a part of self-growth and development.

What advice would you give an aspiring young businesswoman?

Make sure you have done your due diligence. Love the product, know the market, and know its demandsand needs. Understand and teach yourself the basics on the social platforms and market everything to the correct audience. Finally try to enjoy the choices you make creating your business and making it a success.

“Fearlessness is like a muscle. I know from my own life that the more I exercise it the more natural it becomes to not let my fears run me.”

Arianna Huffington

“Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.” Oprah Winfrey

Emma is an avid believer in the product.

Raquel Del Pozo of Costa Coches

OSTA COCHES is a budget car rental company in Mojacar that has been established for over 20 successful years, offering customers low prices all year round, a friendly and efficient service, and no hidden costs. The company also bought AA Parking, which provides safe, low-cost and efficient parking for Almeria and Alicante Airport, as well as preferential rates for Murcia Airport.

We spoke with Raquel Del Pozo, one of the businesswomen running the Mojacar office and ensuring a service that is second to none, about her role in Costa Coches and AA Parking, what motivates her, and her advice for aspiring businesswomen.

Hi Raquel, tell us a bit about yourself and your background I lived in London for four years to finish my studies and

start working there. I then moved back to Madrid, where I am originally from and was brought up, to work for an international company.

What was your journey to becoming such a big part of the businesses?

I moved to Mojacar in 2011 and had the opportunity to be hired by a hard-working woman, the CEO of Costa Coches and AA Parking, Stacy Reading. She taught me all the secrets to this business, which now helps me to efficiently run the company in her absence.

What would you say motivates you?

A good environment at work with a young dynamic team and continuity of the company

under any adversity. I also like that the main office is run by a team of competent women and find great satisfaction in this.

Do you have any female role models or role models in general?

Madam C J Walker is one of my role models. She was the first woman of colour to start a business and she made it succeed, which is really inspirational. What mistakes have you made along the way and how have you learnt from them?

I have done my best to make as few mistakes as possible as they could cause major problems for the company.

Talent and philanthropy: The rise of Shakira

WHILE it may be her personal life that has made most recent headlines, Colombian-Lebanese mega star Shakira has made it to the top of the business world, not only selling out stadiums and creating a line of no less than 30 perfumes, but has also made a difference along the way.

Here we explore the star’s philanthropical work. Shakira - meaning ‘grateful’ in Arabic - founded the ‘Pies Descalzos’ (Barefoot) Foundation during the late 90’s, aged just 18.

After seeing many children living in poverty on

However, life makes you overcome obstacles and you learn from them at the same time. What do you enjoy most about running Costa Coches?

Dealing with customers face to face for so many years like we do at Costa Coches and AA Parking, you get to know them and their families and we end up becoming one big family. I have become very good friends with a lot of our clients and my colleagues, I like the team we have created because we all work together to reach the same goal and make out clients happy.

What advice would you give an aspiring young businesswoman?

To have great enthusiasm, dedication, and motivation towards your co-workers and employees, because it isn’t always going to be easy, but with a bit of motivation we can get through it all.

Barranquila’s streets growing up, Shakira promised herself she would do something to help.

The charity’s name has a double meaning. It was the title of Shakira’s 1995 international hit record and also brings to mind the poverty of children who cannot afford shoes.

The foundation believes education is not only a basic right but also holds the key for society’s growth.

The Barefoot Foundation runs five schools, offering nutritious meals, education and psychological support to children and their families.

Some 4,000 children benefit from the charity’s work, which also operates in Haiti and South Africa.

Shakira is also involved in advocacy efforts to raise awareness of children’s needs in Colombia, Latin America and around the World. She has spoken in numerous prestigious settings including the Oxford Union debating society. She also serves on the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics in the United States and is a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations children’s fund, UNICEF.

RAQUEL: With motivation we can get through it all.

Shakira set up a charity.

FINANCE

Jobs query

million

($28.4 million) was paid in salary last year to the Barcelona-born Spanish businessman, Ramon Laguarta, who is the chairman and chief executive officer of the US multinational PepsiCo.

BUSINESS EXTRA Safe landing

THOUSANDS of jobs in the City are at risk following the emergency merger between the Swiss banks UBS and Credit Suisse. UBS has 6,000 London employees and Credit Suisse approximately 5,000, but neither bank has yet revealed how the rushed ‘shotgun marriage’ will affect them.

Not so sweet

SUGAR has been more affected by inflation than any other product in Spain, with a 52 per cent price rise. As the country does not produce enough sugar to cover its needs, it has been exposed to international events in general and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in particular.

Outward bound

SUPERDRY, whose shares fell sharply in January, sold its intellectual property assets in much of the Asia ­ Pacific region to South Korea’s Cowell Fashion Company for approximately £40 million (€45.2m). Cowell will own and use the brand in its home market before extending to other countries, including China.

Big money

ACCORDING to Bank of Spain figures, deposits in the country’s savings accounts amounted to €1,612 billion at the end of 2022. Santander, BBVA and Caixabank between them accounted for €935 billion ­ 57.5 per cent of the total ­ compared with 53.8 per cent at the end of 2021.

Booked up

JULIA QUINN, the American author of the bestselling Bridgerton series who has sold 20 million books in the US alone, said she was optimistic that human creativity would survive, despite bookwriting chatbots. Meanwhile romantic fiction sales in the UK have doubled over the past three years.

ECB reassures bondholders

Linda Hall

IN an unexpected twist, investors in Credit Suisse’s additional tier­one (AT1) bonds saw 16 billion Swiss francs (€16 billion) slashed to zero by the UBS takeover. As a relatively risky investment, the AT1 bonds known as contingent convertibles or CocCos are a type of debt regarded as part of a bank’s regulatory capital.

They are also described as ‘bail­in’ bonds introduced to avoid a repetition of the government bailouts required during the 2008 global financial crisis.

Holders can convert CoCos into equity or write them down in certain situations, for example when a bank’s capital ratio falls below a previously­agreed threshold.

The unconventional move of prioritising Credit Suisse shareholders is at odds with the usual practice of favouring bondholders over shareholders when a bank fails and recently prompted turmoil in the market for convertible bank bonds.

Credit Suisse shareholders have received €2.788 billion in UBS shares and giving them preference in the deal was

a departure from usual practice that was criticised in most quarters.

The European Central Bank, the European Banking Authority and the Single Resolution Board emphasised that they would continue to impose losses on shareholders before bondholders.

“This approach has been consistently applied in past cases and will continue to guide the actions of the SRB and ECB banking supervision in crisis interventions,” they said.

Meanwhile, CoCos issued by Spanish banks initially fell by an average 11.1 per cent but jitters subsided, although tension remains. Uncertainty also surrounds the way market will react when banks try to reissue these assets.

New headquarters for GBR

THE UK government has chosen Derby as the headquarters of Great British Railways (GBR) which will be responsible for the country’s trains, fares and timetables.

The announcement brings with it the prospect of more jobs and investment worth multi­millions after the city beat off competition from Birmingham, Crewe, Doncaster, Newcastle and York.

“This not only a huge win for the brilliant city of Derby, but a key milestone for the entire rail industry across the

Gap rises

ENERGY SUPPORT pushed up UK government borrowing last month to its highest level for February since records began in 1993. The gulf between spending and income from taxes rose to £16.7 billion (€18.9 billion), the Office for National Statistics (ONS) announced.

The ONS explained that this was largely due to this year’s outlay on energy schemes.

At the same time, the interest paid on government debt amounted to £6.9 billion (€7.8 billion) in February, £1.3 billion (€1.5 billion) less than in February 2022, owing to changes in the inflation rate that determines the interest the government pays on its debts.

country,” Transport Secretary Mark Harper said.

Derby has had one of the lowest concentrations of civil service jobs in the country

until now, a statement from the city council said.

The move to Derby would not only bring key jobs but it also meant that the city ­ already the centre of one of Europe’s largest rail clusterswould play an even more important role in the future development of the railways, the statement continued. Derby’s rich rail heritage and innovation culture were prominent in the city’s bid, together with its rail­related industries that employ more than 11,000 people in the

Just Eat on a diet

JUST EAT, the takeaway delivery firm, will cut 1,870 UK jobs following reduced sales.

The company experienced a 9 per cent slowdown last year once Covid restrictions were relaxed and diners could return to pubs and restaurants.

As a result, the firm will no longer employ its own couriers, using contractors instead and triggering 1,700 job losses plus 170 operational roles. Drivers and riders affected by the cut­down have received six weeks’ notice.

Unlike Just Eat drivers, couriers were classed as company employees, receiving an hourly rate, an uncapped bonus and benefits that included sick pay.

“We propose to transition away from the worker model for couriers,” a spokeswoman said. “This is just a small part of our overall delivery operations in certain parts of six UK cities,” she added.

SPAIN’S banking sector is in an ‘immensely’ stronger position than it was in 2008.

Financial experts pointed out that owing to regulators’ demands that were made in the wake of the previous financial crisis, banks have had to create an anti­crisis safety net.

This has been designed to protect the economy during a hypothetical financial catastrophe and to rule out the need for a bailout that requires public money.

According to their results made public at the end of last year Spain’s six principal banks can count on an anti­crisis safety net of €213 billion, €43 billion more than required by the European Central Bank.

area, and where trains are still designed and built at the Alstrom works in the Litchurch district.

The first indication that Derby had been successful in its GBR bid arrived last February with the announcement of plans to start major regeneration in and around Derby’s railway station. Another giveaway was city council approval of a £500,000 (€567,145) loan to acquire Midland House and the adjoining car park close to Derby’s Midland Station.

Come and go

MARIO VAZ takes over Vodafone’s Spanish division at the end of March.

This coincides with the exit of the company’s Irish­born CEO, Colman Deegan, following a series of poor quarterly results.

Vaz has had a successful track record in Portugal, which has many points in common with the Spanish market. These include a fully­developed market that combines telephone and data communication within a single network and aggressive competition from the entry of new low­cost operators.

Vaz now faces the challenge of returning Vodafone España to increased earnings and profits, as it faces competition from budget operators like the increasingly­present Digi.

No thanks

ONLY 9 per cent of Britain’s over50s who are retired said the Budget’s pensions giveaway could entice them back to work.

Measures included an increase in the annual pension allowance, eliminating the lifetime limit and hiking the amount that those who have drawn funds can put back each year, but the ‘back to work’ Budget did not sway retirees.

“For most, saving enough to breach the lifetime allowance or the annual pension allowance is a distant pipedream and for others little could induce them back to work,” financial experts agreed.

Down to earth

AENA has lost 90 per cent of the court cases that it has brought against rent defaulters.

Spain’s airports group had unsuccessfully hoped to be able to overturn new legislation affecting the rents paid by retail tenants, but 24 out of 26 sentences were entirely or partly in favour of claimants.

All had called for re­negotiated rents owing to the absence of passengers during the pandemic but the group considered that amendments to the law, obliging it to drop rents during this time, were unconstitutional.

ECB: Preference will go to bondholders over shareholders, the European Central Bank said.

MIKE HARPER: Transport Secretary announced Derby as choice for GBR headquarters

Photo credit: CC/DXR

Photo credit: CC/Richard Townsend

BUSINESS EXTRA

Ice cap

MULTIPACKS of Magnums now contain three ice creams instead of four, following a reduction in size from 110 to 100 millilitres last year. Neither has there been a change in the £3 (€3.4) price, which manufacturer Unilever attributed to the skyrocketing cost of ingredients and raw materials.

Pay scales

SPANISH government officials earned more last year than its politicians, with most going to Belen Gualda, who heads the State Industrial Ownership Corporation (SEPI). She received a pretax total of €237,986 compared with the €87,814 earned by Pedro Sanchez, president of the Spanish government.

In fashion

MARKS AND SPENCER recently received upgrades from three City brokers as Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and BNP Paribas raised share target prices and ratings. The latter described M&S as the “most improved brand since Covid” with analysts raising the target price from 140p ((€1.58) to 160p (€1.81).

Seat bonus

SEAT personnel at the Martorell plant in Barcelona will receive a €1,599 bonus thanks to the carmaker’s 2022 operating profit of €33 million, the UGT and CCOO trade unions announced. The employees will receive the bonus, the largest amount that Seat has ever paid out, on April 14.

Sell it

NOSTALGIA is pushing up the value of retro items like Pokemon cards, Casio watches and Polaroid cameras, which can sometimes fetch thousands of pounds at auction. Millennials and Gen Z could be sitting on a fortune, dealers said, as prices have risen by 200 per cent since 2019.

Centrica boss blasted

CHRIS O’SHEA’S £4.5 million (€5.08 million) take­home pay and £3.7 million (€4.18 million) bonus was greeted with outrage in the UK.

O’Shea is CEO of British Gas’s parent company Centrica and angry consumer groups told him to “examine his conscience” as millions of UK households struggled to pay for heating.

The CEO’s rewards were five times higher than the previous year although that time the Centrica boss waived his bonus owing to high energy bills.

The company announced record profits not long after the Times newspaper revealed that debt agents working for British Gas had been breaking into the homes of vulnerable customers to fit prepayment meters when they were unable to pay their bills.

These disclosures produced protests from consumer groups who had been campaigning for at­risk families to receive more support to help them with­

Visit to Brazil

stand the cost of living crisis.

Downing Street also prompted energy regulator Ofgem to open an investigation into British Gas’s treatment of struggling households.

Centrica’s remuneration committee failed to make any mention in its annual report of the British Gas prepayment scandal.

On the contrary, it defended O’Shea’s annual bonus, maintaining that he had delivered on his objectives of developing an ‘energy transition’ plan.

O’Shea had “successfully navigated challenging regulatory and political issues,” the committee said, at the same time “delivering shareholder value through new investment opportunities and portfolio­shaping.”

Ferrovial’s unknowns

FERROVIAL failed to factor in the unforeseeable when deciding to relocate its headquarters to the Netherlands.

The plan remains unchanged, but the Spanish multinational is watching its share price following Silicon Valley Bank and Silvergate Capital collapse in the US, and Credit Suisse in Europe.

Ferrovial will buy out shareholders voting against the Netherlands move at €26.0075 per share in the course of an April 13 meeting. This was arrived at by averaging Ferrovial’s share price over the three months prior to February 27, the day before it dropped its Netherlands bombshell.

At the time, the company contemplated few desertions and, assuming that these would account for a negligible percentage of its capital, fixed a €500 million maximum payout for shareholders opposing the relocation.

Despite the Spanish government’s opposition to Ferrovial’s relocation, the company was confident that this would be plain sailing, until the current financial situation produced fluctuations in its share price. This has since settled comfortably above the €26 mark.

Anything below that would raise shareholders’

FERROVIAL: Infrastructure multinational going ahead with Netherlands move.

doubts, although there is nothing to stop the company from renouncing the €500 million ceiling should enough shareholders decide to bail out.

But this possibility, Ferrovial sources insisted, would not be analysed “until the moment requires it.”

Not enough increase

AMAZON employees working in the UK are planning further industrial action.

The strike warning came as they dismissed a 50p (56.5 cents) pay rise, bringing the minimum hourly pay for warehouse workers to £11 (€12.42).

The company argued that with this latest increase an Amazon worker’s minimum pay will have risen by 10 per cent over the past seven months, putting it above the legal minimum rate of £10.42

(€11.77) an hour for the over­23s.

“We have listened to Amazon workers and the message is very clear,” said Amanda Gearing, a senior official from the GMB union which has backed workers at the Coventry warehouse in the first ­ ever strikes by Amazon’s UK employees.

“This new pay rate is an insult,” she declared. “In response we will be consulting over the next few days and announcing a new wave of action.”

Tous shines bright

JEWELLERY and accessories company

Tous closed 2022 with record sales and its highest profits in almost 15 years.

Ceasing operations in Russia following the Ukraine invasion had a negative impact of €7 million after Tous closed seven shops there and transferred 49 to its local partners. Nevertheless, growth was 17 per cent up on 2021 and 4 per cent above that of pre­pandemic 2019.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depre­

IBERDROLA chairman Ignacio Galan and Brazil’s president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva recently visited the company’s pioneering energy complex.

The €630 million plant, which is located in Paraiba, in the northeast of the country, will supply electricity to 1.3 million homes while preventing the emission of more than 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year, Galan said.

The complex consists of 15 wind farms equipped with a total of 136 turbines and an installed capacity of 471.2 megawatts, plus two solar plants with 228,000 panels and a 149.2 megawatt­peak capacity.

Doesn’t add up

SPAIN’S young are no longer attracted to a career in accountancy.

Multinationals and small firms worldwide have been warning governments for some time of a decrease of newlyqualified students choosing to become accountants or auditors.

This has become apparent not only at university when young people decide on the studies and future careers, explained a spokesperson for one of the Big Four accountants, Deloitte, Ernst & Young (EY), PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), and Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler (KPMG).

“It’s not only that fewer graduates want to become accountants,” they said. “Many decide to leave and go on to something different after working for two or three years.”

B&Q locals

B&Q could open at least 50 small and medium­sized stores across Britain. The DIY multinational is meeting the demand for accessible local stores where goods ordered online could also be picked up, B&Q sources said.

ciation and amortisation (Ebitda) grew 26 per cent year­on­year to €101 million and the Catalan company’s net profits rose 60 per cent to €35.7 million.

“In a complicated and changing socioeconomic environment, we have been brave and presented our new brand identity ­ which has been very well received ­ to stay ahead of the market,” said the company’s CEO Carlos Soler­Duffo.

The chain already has B&Q Locals in London and the group has earmarked locations for another 50 nationwide.

Medium­sized sites of between 4,000 and 5,000 square metres are likewise under consideration, in contrast to traditional B&Q centres occupying 12,000 square metres, while the new high street stores would range from 300 to 800 square metres.

CHRIS O’SHEA: Centrica CEO with former PM Liz Truss.

Photo credit: Flickr/Andrew Parsons/No 10 Downing Street

Photo credit: Ferrovial

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

SO there we were; on a deserted Saudi beach, miles from anywhere, surrounded by a number of shabbily attired Arab tribesmen, all of them atop various small sand dunes, quietly staring and oozing menace.

For those readers who last week didn’t peruse the ol’ boys column, this situation had arisen back in the 70s, when I found myself bringing shows into Saudi Arabia, residing and working in the country for some eight years. One thing I had to accept was the utter inequality of the ladies.

In complete contradiction of Muslim law I’d secretly driven my British Saudia Airline hostess girlfriend to a deserted beach, some 50 kilometres from Jeddah. We’d parked the car near the sea and finally stretched out in the privacy of a secluded area we thought to be miles from any habitation. Wrong.

After some half an hour I opened my eyes and drowsily became aware this was indeed not the case at all. We were surrounded. Know ­

Lucky escape

ing the attitude and laws of a country that considered all females second class citizens who were obliged to cover themselves completely, I realised that a beautiful white girl, clad merely in a bikini, was undoubtedly considered trash and easy pickings; while a white foreigner could be permanently removed with a minimum of problems. Time for some extremely diversive actions.

Without moving my head I quietly whispered the dangers to my now comfortably ensconced female companion. Due to her airline status, she was pretty astute and duly proceeded to follow my muttered suggestions. I told her to slowly get up and without lifting the towels or any picnic items, to move over to the car as though she was retrieving something we needed; I then told her to call me to help. This she did. When I heard my name I casually got up and moved leisurely over to the car.

On reaching it I opened my door and as she was already in the passenger side jumped in; quickly

TOO OFFENSIVE? OUR VIEW

slamming both doors of the American Chevy and turning the key, we basically took off. Not quite the take ­ off she was used to, but one that was certainly necessary. In front of us streaming into the rough track and making wild gestures and shouting were about a dozen or so more Arabian tribesmen.

What could I do? I simply kept driving straight at them. Not fast enough to injure anyone ­ as long as they got out of the way, which they duly did. We plunged through the crowd and in clouds of sand and dust thankfully burst free. Believe me, had we not I wouldn’t be here to write this piece. (Hurray!) This is just one glaring example of female inequality in Muslim countries.

If this is the case why does the British left so strongly support Islamic communities and also encourage female equality? It’s impossible. They simply don’t mix and never will. Ask Mr Khan. Keep the faith

Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com expat radioscotland.com

AGATHA CHRISTIE’S novels have been a staple for decades, but this week Harper Collins announced their decision to edit what it deems offensive language from some of her classics.

The changes will affect some of Christie’s most iconic characters, including Poirot and Miss Marple, as well as the hugely popular novel Death on the Nile. But is this censorship or just a sign of the times?

One could argue that after the days of Bernard Manning and Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown the world was definitely due a change.

But has the pendulum now swung too far the other way? And are we now just attempting to whitewash history by taking references to ‘nubians’ and ‘natives’ out of classic novels? After all, those were commonly ­ accepted terms at the time Christie wrote, and if we now remove them do we risk losing examples that could teach newer generations exactly how far the world has come, and why many have fought to change it.

A further risk in what could be seen as censorship is that by telling people what they shouldn’t be doing/reading/thinking, does this really encourage them to question their own view points? Or just alienate them further?

One thing is clear, the debate is far from over.

LeapyLee’sopinionsarehisownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthepublishers,advertisersorsponsors.

NORAJOHNSON BREAKINGVIEWS

Here we all are again!

The recent scathing Casey Review of the Metropolitan Police reminds us yet again of the institutional racism at its core. Commissioned by the Home Office in response to the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by serving Met officer Wayne Couzens, Baroness Casey’s report reconfirms that the Met remains institutionally racist, but goes even further.

It also accuses Britain’s biggest police force of being institutionally sexist, misogynistic and homophobic and suggests it could be broken up if it doesn’t improve. For Baroness Doreen Lawrence (mother of murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence) its findings were "no surprise".

Baroness Casey uncovered evidence of widespread failings, including chronic under­resourcing for tackling crimes against women and children, the collapse of neighbourhood policing and oversight failures which have allowed predatory behaviour to "flourish". Too many officers found guilty of gross misconduct hide in plain sight and keep their jobs like David Carrick, the prolific sex offender.

Advertising Feature Voss Homes

‘ROTTEN TO THE CORE’

Met itself is plainly unacceptable. The force’s problems are too deep­rooted.

But there is, undoubtedly, an urgent need for reform – the biggest overhaul in policing since the Met was created nearly 200 years ago. Reforms like those that led to the transformation of the Royal Ulster Constabulary to the Police Service of Northern Ireland at the end of the last century.

Now, it may be accurate to describe the Met as the report has done. However, as any company turnaround specialist knows, there are invariably competent and committed people at middle management level. But, as is often the case, it is at the top level where the changes should be made. Not just the person at the top but all those at the very top. In similar circumstances in a business setting, an experienced executive is often seconded from HQ and immediately takes on the responsibilities to turn the company around.

that his or her career is protected whatever the outcome. It’ll need to be someone who can circumvent the inherent political influence of the Mayor and others.

We need a people's champion, someone who can support the many good policemen and women who are the backbone of the force. Someone who can restore faith in policing. This top­down approach is required in London ­ and it is required immediately.

But I’ll leave the final words to Baroness Lawrence herself: the Met is still "rotten to the core" and has had "30 years to put its house in order" since her son's murder but has failed to do, "either because it does not want to or it does not know how to".

Consequently, I’m sure this latest scandal will run and run – a bit like, I suppose, 92 ­ year ­ old Rupert Murdoch’s engagements, marriages and divorces...

So, what can be done? Should the Met be broken up or can it be saved? Breaking it up would be a drastic step, and one unlikely to solve the issues identified. Leaving the job of reforming the Met to the

Surely there’s an experienced, competent, successful Chief Constable or ACC in the UK who could be trusted to take on what is an obvious mess in London? Give him or her complete authority, ensure

Nora Johnson’s 11 critically acclaimed psychological crime thrillers (www.norajohnson.net) all available online including eBooks (€0.99;£0.99), Apple Books, audiobooks, paperbacks at Amazon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity.

Property of the week

Villa Almendra near Huercal-Overa

NEW & EXCLUSIVE TO VOSS HOMES ­ An immaculately presented, spacious, recently modernised and decorated to a very high standard, two bedroom, two bathroom villa with H&C air con throughout, fibre optic internet, Florida style outdoor living enclosure and workshop on a beautifully cared for walled and private garden of 538m2. Walking distance to two bar / restaurants, school and doctors in Urcal village.

Ten mins drive to Huercal­Overa town with its twice weekly street markets, numerous shops, supermarkets, restaurants, sports and leisure facilities, historic buildings and hospital. Thirty­five mins drive to the coast at San Juan de Los Terreros or Mojacar etc.

Villa Almendra is on the edge of an established, well maintained development of villas and is ideal if you like country walks.

To the front of the property are full size sliding and pedestrian gates leading into the private gardens. There is

an attractive imprinted concrete driveway for three cars with a wooden car port plus storage area. Established and low maintenance gardens separate this from the 8m x 4m swim ­

ming pool with shower.

To the right of the villa a path leads round to the rear tiled garden with a large workshop and storage/utility room.

Ref. VH1869

169,500 euros

To the left of the villa is the part covered Florida style enclosure which includes seating, dining and cooking areas and looks over the front garden, swimming pool and rear garden. This enclosure enables you to enjoy more the benefits of outdoor living.

Within the enclosure is the front door leading in to the light and airy, open plan living room with super efficient pellet burning fire and H&C air con. Next is a study area which then leads into the separate recently fitted kitchen with high quaility cupboards, work tops and appliances. Next to this is the utility room with a door leading back out to the front garden and driveway.

A corridor leads down to the bedrooms and bathrooms. The main bedroom has H&C air con and a spacious, recently fitted shower room with walk in shower and double sinks. The guest bedroom has built­in wardrobes and is next to the family bathroom.

Voss Homes is a British family-run business with offices in the thriving, market town of Huercal-Overa and La Alfoquia village (Zurgena). For more information or to arrange a viewing of VH1869 please contact Voss Homes on 0034 950 616 827 or email us at enquiries@vosshomesspain.com.

Nora Johnson’s opinions are her own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.

Nora’s latest thriller.

Noraistheauthorofpopularpsychological suspenseandcrimethrillersandafreelancejournalist.

RECENTLY MODERNISED: In an ideal situation if you like going for country walks.

Corbynmania

SALLY UNDERWOOD POLITICAL ANIMAL

WELL well well, Jeremy Corbyn has been officially banned from standing as a Labour candidate at the next general election, has he?

What a phenomenally effective metaphor for the rollercoaster that is politics.

Corbyn, who had been a largely­unknown Labour MP for 32 years before springing to power as the party’s leader in 2015, is just one of hundreds of politicians to have seen their star rise to the giddy heights before crashing back down to earth in blaze (generally of ignominy).

Until just three years ago, ‘Corbynmania’ saw thousands come out at his regular public rallies, his Twitter following was booming, and a crowd of photographers hovered habitually outside his front door.

And now what? The once world famous politican now faces losing his membership of the very party he previously led.

This column is not a defence of Corbyn,

UK landlords are currently enjoying rising yields as rent values outperform house prices as rental yields have increased by as much as 205 per cent.

Despite the government’s best efforts, specifically, the abandoned plan to increase capital gains tax for landlords, the UK rental market has continued to strengthen over the past year.

The current average UK rental yield is 4.08 per cent. This marks a 0.19 per cent increase over the past

BRINGING the beauty of gardens to unused spaces on train platforms and the cosy feel of a pub to an inner city balcony are among some of the big ideas planted into the smallest of spaces at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

The Balcony and Container Gardens category has returned for its third year at Rural Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea and for the first time, all of the design teams in this section are headed up by

by the way. Far from it. His handling of antisemitism allegations within his party did not reveal someone fit to represent others.

What his career does highlight however, is the dizzyingly fast ascent and descent of our political leaders in public opinion.

But what Corbyn’s case also reveals is the contrast of the speed of public fall from grace compared to the speed at which any actual accountability comes into force.

If the Labour Party agree that what Corbyn did is so wrong, why has it taken them three years to vote on throwing him out of the party?

This in itself shines a light on one of the oddities of the UK political system. It is often said that being an MP is pretty much the only job in the world in which day one you could immediately take up residence under a palm tree in, say, the Bahamas, and merrily collect your salary each month for the next four to five years until the next election.

In the last 10 years, rules have at least tightened to mean that MPs can actually now be fired. But as Corbyn’s example shows, we’re still a long way away from full accountability.

Lucky landlords

year.

But to better understand exactly how well the national market is performing, Sirius has analysed yield data on a postcode level and found that some regional numbers dwarf this UK average.

Today, the UK’s highest rental yields are being generated in the BD1 postcode region of Bradford where they currently stand at a very healthy average of

Help support our mission

THE British Benevolent Fund was founded over a century ago to act as a charity of last resort for those Britons in Spain facing extreme financial hardship. A century ago, there were only handful of Britons who were able to come to Spain for leisure.

Today around 19 million Britons visit Spain on holiday.

The vast majority enjoy the warmth and hospitality that Spain has always shown to visitors and holidays pass trouble free. But not always.

A much misheld view is that the UK consular network can fund visitors to return home if this goes wrong.

Earlier this month we were contacted by a consular office about an urgent case of a divorced father who had come on holiday to Spain with his two young children. His former wife had given permission for the trip.

What transpired was that the father was a former alcoholic who almost as soon as arriving at the hotel started drinking. He didn’t stop ­ the hotel quickly re­

alised there was a problem with their guest and were concerned for the welfare of the children.

The manager ordered the hotel staff not to serve him but still he found a way.

The police were then calledit is of course no crime to drink but the safety of the children was now paramount.

The consulate were alerted to explain that the children would need to be put into care unless there was an immediate solution.

That’s where the BBF came in ­ the mother was aghast to find out the situation ­ but had hardly any resources ­ let alone money for a last­minute flight then return with the children. This we were able to do. She arrived the following day and was met by the hotel manager and waiting police for the handover to her of

her children. With that, this appalling situation which could have so quickly taken on a nightmare for the children, was resolved and they were able to return safe and sound.

The BBF can only help her and other urgent cases with the generosity of others. If you would like to support our mission with a donation to help those who have nowhere else to turn ­ please visit www.britishbenevolent fund.org. Olaf Clayton, Chair British Benevolent Fund

11.06 per cent.

In the Leeds postcode district of LS2, yields currently average 10.05 per cent, while in Manchester’s M14, they stand at 9.41 per cent.

This northern dominance continues with Leeds’ LS4 district (9.18 per cent) before the Midlands start to enter the picture with Nottingham’s NG7 (8.96 per cent) and Birmingham’s B29 (8.57 per cent).

Container gardens

women.

Multi ­ award winning RHS Chelsea designer Paul Hervey ­ Brookes confirmed: “The Balcony and Container Gardens this year do not shy away from the big issues of the day and they demonstrate that even the smallest space can have a big impact.”

“From grow ­ your ­ own to climate resilience, they

Noah’s Ark plants

NOAH’S ARK for plants hits important milestone: 40,000 different plant species now banked at Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst, England.

hurst, in rural Sussex.

are packed full of ideas for visitors to try at home to help make their own spaces more productive, resilient, and restorative.”

The gardens will go before the RHS judging panel on May 21 before the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023, sponsored by The Newt in Somerset, opens to the public from May 23 to 27.

A world­leading seed conservation programme led by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is celebrating a major milestone in its efforts to preserve rare, threatened, and important wild plants.

The Millennium Seed Bank (MSB) has banked more than 2.4 billion individual seeds representing a total of 40,020 different species of wild plants.

Described by scientists as ‘Noah’s Ark for plants’, the MSB is the world’s biggest wild seed storage facility, situated at the heart of Kew’s ‘living laboratory’ and wild botanic gardens, Wake­

Within the bomb and flood ­ proof building are 98,567 seed collections sourced from 190 countries and territories, across all seven continents, nine biogeographic regions, and 36 biodiversity hotspots.

In fact, the MSB holds the Guinness World Records title for world’s ‘largest seed bank’.

MSB’s Senior Research Leader, Dr Elinor Breman, confirmed: “Housed within the vaults of the Millennium Seed Bank is the world’s largest and most diverse collection of plants anywhere on the planet which makes it an invaluable tool for scientists tackling the global biodiversity crisis.”

Olaf Clayton of BBF.

Sally’sopinionsareherownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthepublishers,advertisersorsponsors.

Image: Royal Botanical Gardens Kew

40,000 species.

Advertising Feature API

Property of the week

Stunning 3 bed with roof terrace

BEAUTIFUL immaculate penthouse (89m2) on the second floor in Vera playa, Puerto Rey.

The apartment consists of an entrance hall, an independent kitchen (fully refurbished in 2019), fully equipped with appliances and natural stone worktop and access to a separate laundry room. There are two double bedrooms (both with fitted wardrobes), a single bedroom and a bathroom with large walk in shower. The spacious and bright lounge has quality sliding doors with access to the south facing terrace.

This south facing terrace has fantastic open views over the gardens of the complex.

The apartment also enjoys a very private roof terrace of 82m2 with sea views.

With its outdoor kitchen this is the place to be in summer and winter!

The house comes fully furnished and features ducted air conditioning. An underground parking space and storage room are also included in the price. This top floor is a must see, on one of the best loca­

Ref. API-V0542 Reduced to 169,000 euros

tions in the complex with impressive beach and complex views!

The urbanisation La Aldea is located only 200 metres from the sandy beaches of Vera. The complex enjoys two large swimming pools, large gardens and is located opposite the sport club of Puerto Rey (golf, paddle, tennis, gym, cafe, restaurant etc). From the community you have direct access to a small shopping centre with news stand, hairdressing salon, bar with WIFI.

Just 45 minutes from Almeria airport. Another highway connects Vera directly with Cartagena and La Manga and in one hour 10 minutes you reach Murcia airport.

• 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom

• terrace & spacious roof terrace (82m2) with sea views

• Fully furnished

• Air conditioning

• Parking space & storage room

• 2 communal swimming pools

• 200 metres to the beach

AT LIBERTY SEGUROS they know how important it is for you to receive personalised attention and quality service tailored to your individual needs.

Thanks to more than 200 dedicated expat Brokers and Agents all over Spain who really understand your needs and speak your language, you will be able to receive a more bespoke, more agile and more tailored service, with firsthand expert advice ­ whether in person or by phone, email or WhatsApp.

They will not only recommend the most appropriate insurance for your current circumstances, but will also talk to you about the different covers that you can take out. Many coverages go unnoticed or are simply not asked about because it can be assummed that they will make the policy much more expensive; but this is not always the case.

In addition, whether you need to make a claim or want to modify or clarify a point in your policy, you can always speak directly with the

First-hand expert advice plus great offers… That’s Liberty!

breaks down ­ as standard, at no extra cost and book value plus 30 per cent compensation in case of total loss or theft for vehicles over four years old. Damages caused by collision with wild animals will be also covered, without the policy holder paying excess either.

take out a new Car, Home or Life policy with LIBERTY SEGUROS will receive €50 Cashback. Whilst this offer is not available for renewals or replacements, there’s no limit on the number of new policies that can be taken out per customerand therefore, there’s no limit on cashback rewards.

With Home policies, LIBERTY SEGUROS offers extended cover for garden and terrace furniture, repair of white goods and TVs and cover for jewellery outside the home. When it comes to Life policies, with LIBERTY SEGUROS you can also opt for Level Term Life Insurance with no premium increase for 10 years, as well as international repatriation cover or cover for critical illness.

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What’s more, LIBERTY SEGUROS looks to always make things that bit better with fantastic offers for both existing and new customers.

From now up until June 27, 2023, both new and existing clients who

There are many advantages of relying on a reputable insurer such as LIBERTY SEGUROS, which has high quality products that can be fully customised to your needs and at very affordable prices.

There’s more; you can get a courtesy car ­ even if your vehicle

It’s not hard to understand why LIBERTY SEGUROS has become in the preferred expat insurer in Spain with over 150,000 international clients.

With this in mind, there couldn’t be a better time to switch to LIBERTY SEGUROS for even greater savings with the very best cover for all your main insurances.

PENTHOUSE: With fantastic open views over the gardens from the private roof terrace.

LIBERTY SEGUROS: The preferred expat insurer in Spain.

A topical topic

ATOPIC DERMATITIS (AD) is no more and no less than the most common type of eczema.

Skin becomes red, inflamed and in some cases may flake. Although generally considered a childhood ailment, a peak time for developing adult ­ onset AD is in your 50s.

Common triggers include soaps, detergents, shampoo, washing ­ up liquid and bubble bath.

Environmental factors like cold or dry weather and dampness

also play an important part, as do dust mites, pet fur, pollen and moulds.

Some foods produce flare ­ ups as well as anti­hypertension medication and diuretics, especially in the elderly.

Vitamin D helps, but moisturisers are the most usual AD treatment although dermatologists recommend avoiding those containing fragrances, essential oils, urea, lanolin, retinoids and ethanol amongst other ingredients.

Happy talk

Linda Hall

ARE you sitting comfortably?

If you are, your legs are probably crossed at the knee or ankle but whichever you prefer, it’s bad for you.

Professor Adam Taylor, who is director of the Clinical Anatomy Learning Centre at Lancaster University, warned that leg­crossing could misalign the hips and trigger long ­ term changes in the spine and shoulders.

The head can also move out of place owing to changes in the bones of the neck, caused by over­compensating to keep the body’s centre of gravity above the pelvis.

LEG CROSSING: Not always a good idea.

Over time, sitting with crossed legs can also cause a muscle imbalance between the right and left sides of the body, Professor Taylor said.

It can also obstruct blood vessels in the lower limbs, slowing down blood flow and eventually lead to blood clots.

Cross purposes More variety needed

COVID­19 took 6.7 million lives but has not affected humankind’s general happiness, the latest World Happiness Report found.

Interviews with more than 100,000 people in 137 countries found “significantly” higher levels of benevolence in all global regions than before the pandemic.

Evaluating their lives on a scale of one to 10, people usually gave scores as high during the Covid years as in 2017­19.

The report also found attitudes were ‘slightly’ more pessimistic in western countries but rather better in the rest of the world.

Good & bad

THE good news is that coffee boosts the calories which people burn each day.

The bad news is that they sleep less, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

University of California cardiologist, Dr Gregory Marcus, tracked 100 adults for two weeks, monitoring their movements and sleep patterns on the days when they did or did not drink coffee.

SO much diet advice is currently based on restrictions, said Kirsten Jackson, who is also known as the IBS Dietitian. She pointed out that too often guidance focuses on restricting calories and fat. Instead, Jackson recommends adding to your diet ­ and plants above all ­ for optimum gut health.

“We should aim to eat at least 30 different plants a week,” she said.

Even coffee would count as one, she explained, and a spice as another. “Grains too, so don’t stick to wheat­based bread and pasta but add barley, rice and quinoa. Add herbs to dishes and snack on nuts and you’ll soon reach 30.”

Results suggested people who drink coffee regularly walk 1,000 more steps than non­drinkers each day, but they lose out on around 30 minutes of sleep at night.

“The reality is that coffee is not all good or all bad, but has different effects,” Dr Marcus said.

Photo credit: Pixabay/Pexels

Live off the land

Linda Hall

AS well as gentle exercise and walking, the right kind of food will always help arthritis and it’s all abundant on the Costas.

Eat cholesterol ­ busting oily fish like sardines, mackerel and fresh tuna at least once a week. And always cook with olive oil

or sunflower oil ­ worth it despite the price­hike ­ as they both contribute towards reducing inflammation.

Dark leafy chard (acelgas) is generally around and often grows wild in gardens here once you let it in, while garlic’s diallyl disulfide can help to work

Fresh air needed

PEKING UNIVERSITY (Beijing) analysed the records of 389,000 people living in the UK over a 10­year period, estimating their exposure to air pollution.

This included PM2.5particles so small they can pass through the lungs into the bloodstream ­ and nitrogen dioxide emitted

against the enzymes in your body that damage cartilage.

Pull your socks up

WHILE nights are still chilly, wearing socks could help you to sleep better.

According to clinical psychologist Dr Michael Breus, research suggests that wearing socks to bed not only helps people to fall asleep faster, but they sleep longer and wake up fewer times throughout the night.

More investigation into bed socks was needed, Dr Breus said, although the ‘unique’ relationship between body temperature and sleep was established decades ago.

by vehicles.

Over this period 13,131 people were diagnosed with depression and 15,835 with anxiety. Those exposed to most air pollution were 16 per cent more likely to develop clinical depression and 11 per cent more likely to develop anxiety, the researchers found.

Well-done, please

UNDERCOOKED meat could be responsible for hundreds of thousands of urinary tract infections (UTIs) every year, scientists have warned.

In Britain, UTIs are responsible for an annual seven million GP consultations and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

has pinpointed E coli as the most common cause.

Meanwhile, US researchers spent a year matching UTIcausing E coli with the E coli found in meat and found that approximately 8 per cent were derived from the E Coli strains lurking in raw meat like chicken, turkey and pork.

USE the fingertip unit method (FTU) when applying an ointment or cream prescribed by the doctor. An FTU is the amount of any semi­solid that can be squeezed from the tip of an adult’s index finger as far as the crease of the first joint.

One FTU is enough to treat an area of skin twice the size of the flat of an adult’s hand with the fingers together or, in other words, ‘a handprint’.

39% of women wear makeup daily.

GARLIC: Its properties help to prevent cartilage damage.

Photo credit: CC/Donovan Govan

At one’s fingertips

Hi Euro Weekly LETTERS

I thought your viewers would like to hear my experience with Spain’s bus services. My wife who had a stroke in July and now uses a wheelchair wanted to go to Fuengirola for the day on the bus. Local people said the bus was very good for disabled people, so we set off. The bus pulled up, driver said no and left without us. So I pushed the wheelchair into La Cala. The next bus driver also said no. I asked if I could use the ramp. He said not possible, so two unknown men offered to lift the wheelchair onto the bus. The driver said ok however the same thing happened on the way home. A man came over to me and lifted my wife onto the bus. What I can’t understand stand is why a bus has a disabled logo on the side then you are told you can’t use a wheelchair. Anybody had the same experience as us? My wife and I are both 76 years old.

Regards Jeff & Maureen Milner, Alcantara

Hi Leapy

Unfortunately I am back in the UK for a while due to this ridiculous 90­day rule because my lovely lady has Parkinson’s and thought she would be treated better in the UK. She wouldn’t sign up to being a Spanish resident although we had lived in Spain for circa 13 years and paid all our non­resident taxes and everything we were asked to pay, but I love her so much I agreed. Possibly a mistake, but as they say love is blind. Now I have a gallbladder full of stones, an enlarged prostate which keeps me going to the toilet all night and a hernia that has reappeared after 30 years like a duck’s egg sticking out of my groin. Of course when I went to my doctor’s surgery after paying my National Insurance non­stop since I started work at the age of 15 and on April 6 I will be 75, there wasn’t a chance in hell of it being repaired, so on the 19th I go in to a private hospital here to get it sorted and will leave hopefully ok, but £3,500 lighter. We have also spent a bloody fortune on private health care in Spain so we wouldn’t be a burden on the system but of course it is a repair so not covered. Had it been a new hernia I would have been straight in to San Carlos and it would have been sorted now. I am sure I have bored you beyond belief but actually the whole purpose of this email was for me to see if you could find out who signed off the paperwork to enable that vile scum Glitter to go straight in front of people who have been waiting for months if not years and have a private room and have a very expensive op (at taxpayer’s expense) to have his knees operated on. I myself feel he should have been so far down the waiting list that he would have been long dead before he was called up and hoped he had suffered more pain than those poor children that he abused, it just beggars

belief Leapy. Now I know as you say you get so many people contacting you that you can’t reply and I fully understand that but it would be nice to read in the EWN that at least you have voiced your opinion on this. Keep up the good work and although we are back in the UK for a little while we always check your opinions on line and 99 per cent of the time agree with you entirely.

Joe

Dear Sirs

I have just read with great interest your article on applying for a blue badge. I started the process for applying for a blue badge for my husband in February 2020 and he finally received it in December 2022, which is two months short of three years and nothing actually went wrong. Your article seems to imply that your doctor can declare you as having at least a 33 per cent disability. This is not the case. You have to have an interview at the Centro de Valoracion y Orientacion in Malaga. You have to apply for this interview submitting all of your relevant medical history. After submitting the application we waited for this appointment for over two years.

Then several months after the interview for them to award their decision, then we were able to start the process for applying for the blue badge. Never in all of this procedure were we asked to provide passport photos. I have actually heard that the process is now taking even longer. I cannot help noticing recently that there are many unoccupied disabled parking spaces. I presume this is down to the virtually impossible task of actually obtaining a blue badge.

Kind regards

Valerie Neal, Mijas Costa

Just a thought

Lanzarote’s president has a point. Spain’s tourist image is damaged by an irresponsible minority.

For many decades, excessive drunkenness by certain British tourists has been a problem in Spain. The consequences can range from loud, juvenile groups at the next table in a restaurant to fights, vomiting and vandalism in public areas.

This behaviour can ruin a night out or even a holiday for more mature holidaymakers and is an unacceptable inconvenience for local residents.

Other nationalities don’t necessarily drink less than these Brits; the point is that they generally handle it better ­ possibly because they are in better mental and physical health.

David R Worboys

Ref: OLV1540

ROUNDED, leafy houseplants give the biggest boost to well­being, new research reveals.

Attractive plants that are happy and healthy give the biggest boost to well­being in homes and offices, while neglected plants can be worse than none at all, the Rural Horticultural Society (RHS) and the University of Reading have found.

The study looked at people’s perceptions of well­being and the indoor environment as affected by viewing different houseplants. People

A COOLING housing market is likely to spell trouble for the UK construction sector, with a potential decline in employment levels on the cards for the first time since 2014.

All signs are currently pointing towards a slowing property market across the UK.

The latest figures on the level of new homes reaching the market show that housing delivery is down by ­2.6 per cent across the

Big boost

scored plants on how beautiful, interesting, uplifting and relaxing they found them, with preferred plants found to give the greatest benefit to people’s well­being.

Healthy plants with a dense canopy resulted in the most positive effects on the way people felt about their indoor environment.

Palms were found to have particularly positive associations, as they reminded peo­

ple of holidays and happy memories. People thought the most ‘beautiful’ plants were those with a softer, rounded canopy, such as devil’s ivy (Epipremnum aureum) but there was no preference for any particular shape.

On the other hand, unhealthy plants were found to reflect negatively on people’s perception of their indoor environment, and researchers recommend removing them.

Cooling market

UK when compared to the pre­pandemic market.

A look at homebuyer appetites shows that so far in 2023, buyers are snapping up just 43 per cent of available stock on the market, down from 60 per cent in 2022 and 63 per cent in 2021.

Figures on mortgage approvals also support this downward trend where

Flavour your rosemary

buyer activity is concerned, with the number of approvals having already fallen by 20 per cent between 2021 and 2022.

This is partly due to the fact that, following September’s mini­budget, the number of higher loan ­ to ­ value products available to buyers was dramatically reduced.

Learning curve

LINDA HALL

ARE there still trileros in Benidorm?

I’ve not been back for years and since I’ve not read about them in the Alicante media the authorities must have won their ongoing battle with them.

I’m referring to the groups that I first saw 40 years ago, playing the Spanish version of the three­card trick with hollowed­out potatoes.

They operated on the Paseo and the Avenida del Mediterraneo, playing amongst themselves to persuade passers ­ by that winning was like taking candy from a baby although once someone put their money down it was literally a fair bet that they’d lose.

Without wanting to tangle with Spain’s discrimination laws, there’s no denying that the trileros were invariably gypsies. In the early Benidorm days they included some good ­ looking young men with long curly Cameron de la Isla perms but there was little glamour attached to them and they were neither lovable

rogues nor engaging villains.

Nevertheless, I once witnessed an edifying episode that had nothing to do with their trade as I waited for a bus in the Plaza Triangular and watched a young but veteran trilero repeatedly pushing a much smaller version of himself onto a school bus.

The child screamed, the young man shouted and deposited the wailing boy aboard, upon which the child wailed more loudly and hurtled back down again.

The father ­ older brother? ­ tried to put the squirming, shrieking bundle back on the bus but by now the driver was losing his patience and the trilero was one step away from meltdown.

He was used to an audience, but not one like this and swore as the child leapt to the pavement once more before he brusquely scooped him up and strode off.

It was admirable that despite the child’s lack of co ­ operation it should be an attempt to give him an education. But was that in the interests of integration or was it meant to help the boy to grow up to be a better trilero?

RESEARCH from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has shown that the addition of mycorrhizal fungi to soil leads to increased production of essential oils in rosemary, making the plants more aromatic and flavoursome.

Mycorrhiza are beneficial fungi that grow in association with plant roots, increasing the area from which plants can absorb nutrients and water.

The fungi are widely available commercially for gardeners to add to their soil to help plants become more vigorous, overcome plant problems and cope with conditions of drought, amongst other uses.

The research also found that the fungi

more consistently colonised the root area when it was mixed in with soil prior to growing on.

Adding mycorrhizal fungi did not affect the shape or structure of the plant, just the production of the compounds that enhance the flavour and taste of rosemary. This means that home gardeners and trade growers will be able to produce rosemary plants with a consistent appearance but with the potential for extra flavour.

The RHS saw a dramatic increase in interest in herbs over autumn, with searches increasing by close to 600 per cent compared to 2021.

Global swanning

CASSANDRA NASH

OPPOSITION leader, the Partido Popular’s Albero Nuñez Feijoo accused Pedro Sanchez of “paying homage to autocrats” at the recent Ibero­American summit.

It was unclear which autocrats the president of Spain’s government fawned over, as Venezuela’s undeniably autocratic president Nicolas Maduro was absent, although the country was represented at the summit.

Likewise Daniel Ortega, Nicaragua’s former revolutionary­turned­dictator. Instead, the country’s Foreign Minister Denis Moncada listened with gritted teeth as Chile’s president Gabriel Boric condemned Ortega’s decision to strip 94 Nicaraguan writers, journalists and human rights activists of their nationality. Cuba was present naturally, but Spain has always had a co­dependent relationship with Cuba and Franco, a Galician like Fidel Castro, maintained friendly relations with Cuba . Castro reciprocated with three days’ mourning when Franco died in November 1975.

Former PP president Jose Maria Aznar was once photographed with Fidel Castro and another PP president Mariano Rajoy, who participated in Ibero­American sum­

mits, reprimanded socialist president Jose Luis Zapatero’s for missing the 2010 Argentina meeting during the economic crisis.

Notably present at the Santo Domingo meeting was Spain’s head of state, King Felipe, also presumably kowtowing to the Latin American autocrats.

Moncloa ­ Spain’s equivalent of Downing Street ­ was quick to respond, counter­accusing Feijoo of “ignorance” as well as “insolvency” and “bad faith.”

Feijoo is unlikely to lose much sleep over any of this.

As the local and regional elections approach, the PP leads the PSOE in most polls, apart from the Centre for Sociological Investigation (CIS) whose president Jose Felix Tezanos is a Sanchez fan. CIS predictions consistently contradict other polls, including that of the largely pro­government daily, El Pais.

As Spain prepares to take over the sixmonth European Council presidency on July 1, Pedro Sanchez is currently here, there and everywhere, not only in Santo Domingo but also Beijing.

He admittedly cuts an imposing figure but not only PP voters are tired of his global swanning and their PSOE counterparts increasingly fail to share the CIS’s confidence.

ADDING FUNGI: Increases the production of essential oils, making the plant more aromatic.

Dealing with mosquitos Movie award

ADRIA Mobil’s brand movie has been awarded the ‘First Star ­ Golden Award’ for outstanding brand communication in the ‘Caravanning’ category at the renowned international ‘Golden City Gate Awards’.

Twenty­one countries took part in the international competition, submitting over 100 marketing entries from the tourism sector in various categories.

These were evaluated according to the criteria of concept, creativity, emotional impact, target group appeal, image design and overall design, among others.

The ‘Golden City Gate’ is an important international com­

petition in the field of tourism marketing and took place this year for the 23rd time.

The festive award ceremony was held during the International Tourism Exchange (ITB) in Berlin.

The ITB is a B2B trade fair that has been taking place since 1966 and is the world’s largest trade congress for the travel industry.

As a company based in Slovenia, Adria Mobil was also delighted to see the Slovenian Tourist Board (STB), Slovenia, win four gold and one silver award in various categories and Ljubljana Tourism, Slovenia, take home two gold awards.

Congratulations!

Camping tips

WHILE everybody loves to go camping and live in the outdoors it does have some downsides. Learning how to protect yourself from mosquitos while camping in Spain is definitely something you have to think about.

Firstly don’t leave any standing water around in buckets or any other containers. This avoids leaving a ready made breeding ground. Also any swimming pools in campsites should be well treated with the water circulating, again to prevent mosquitos using them to breed.

If you have children or babies with you on your camping trip, try using mosquito netting to cover their sleeping quarters.

When out walking or hiking, wear long sleeved tops and long trousers, together with socks ­ this means the maximum amount of skin is covered.

You can also use outdoor ‘bug’ lights and mosquito repellent candles which normally contain citronella

Using the correct repellent and any other preventive actions are the best things to discourage mosquitos. Humans’ blood

unfortunately seems to appeal to mosquitos and using the correct repellent is important.

Most sprays you can buy in the supermarkets do not smell very pleasant, but they do keep the mosquitos at bay.

IN 2020, a boy raised more than £700,000 for charity after spending 600 consecutive nights in a tent outside his house and compiled a list of tips for camping beginners.

Max Woosey, who was 12 at the time, captured the hearts of the nation by camping out to raise money for local hospices, and wanted to encourage others to get outside.

Checking the weather in advance, packing flip flops for night­time trips to the toilet, and zipping up all entrances to keep the bugs at bay were among his top advice.

His advice came after a survey of 2,000 people was carried out which found that one in six adults had never been camping, and 23 per cent had only been once or twice.

Of the more inexperienced campers polled, 46 per cent admitted bad weather can put them off, while 44 per cent did not relish the idea of an uncomfortable night’s sleep.

Having to leave the tent in the middle of the night for the toilet and feeling cold at night were other reasons some said they avoided the outdoors.

Well done.

Image: Adria Mobil

Wear trousers when out walking to protect your skin.

Image: shutterstock

UK landlords are currently enjoying rising yields as rent values outperform house prices as rental yields have increased by as much as 205 per cent.

Despite the government’s best efforts, specifically, the abandoned plan to increase capital gains tax for landlords, the UK rental market has continued to strengthen over the past year.

The current average UK rental yield is 4.08 per cent. This marks a 0.19 per cent increase over the past

BRINGING the beauty of gardens to unused spaces on train platforms and the cosy feel of a pub to an inner city balcony are among some of the big ideas planted into the smallest of spaces at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

The Balcony and Container Gardens category has returned for its third year at Rural Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea and for the first time, all of the design teams in this section are headed up by

Lucky landlords

year. But to better understand exactly how well the national market is performing, Sirius has analysed yield data on a postcode level and found that some regional numbers dwarf this UK average.

Today, the UK’s highest rental yields are being generated in the BD1 postcode region of Bradford where they currently stand at a very healthy average of

11.06 per cent.

In the Leeds postcode district of LS2, yields currently average 10.05 per cent, while in Manchester’s M14, they stand at 9.41 per cent.

This northern dominance continues with Leeds’ LS4 district (9.18 per cent) before the Midlands start to enter the picture with Nottingham’s NG7 (8.96 per cent) and Birmingham’s B29 (8.57 per cent).

Container gardens

women.

Multi ­ award winning RHS Chelsea designer Paul Hervey ­ Brookes confirmed: “The Balcony and Container Gardens this year do not shy away from the big issues of the day and they demonstrate that even the smallest space can have a big impact.”

“From grow ­ your ­ own to climate resilience, they

Noah’s Ark plants

NOAH’S ARK for plants hits important milestone: 40,000 different plant species now banked at Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank at Wakehurst, England.

hurst, in rural Sussex.

are packed full of ideas for visitors to try at home to help make their own spaces more productive, resilient, and restorative.”

The gardens will go before the RHS judging panel on May 21 before the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2023, sponsored by The Newt in Somerset, opens to the public from May 23 to 27 .

A world­leading seed conservation programme led by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is celebrating a major milestone in its efforts to preserve rare, threatened, and important wild plants.

The Millennium Seed Bank (MSB) has banked more than 2.4 billion individual seeds representing a total of 40,020 different species of wild plants.

Described by scientists as ‘Noah’s Ark for plants’, the MSB is the world’s biggest wild seed storage facility, situated at the heart of Kew’s ‘living laboratory’ and wild botanic gardens, Wake ­

Within the bomb and flood ­ proof building are 98,567 seed collections sourced from 190 countries and territories, across all seven continents, nine biogeographic regions, and 36 biodiversity hotspots.

In fact, the MSB holds the Guinness World Records title for world’s ‘largest seed bank’.

MSB’s Senior Research Leader, Dr Elinor Breman, confirmed: “Housed within the vaults of the Millennium Seed Bank is the world’s largest and most diverse collection of plants anywhere on the planet which makes it an invaluable tool for scientists tackling the global biodiversity crisis.”

GO LOCAL

Image: Royal Botanical Gardens Kew

40,000 species.

PETS

Keep dogs cool

ALWAYS make sure you and your dog are prepared for Spain’s impending hot weather.

Dog owners are well aware of how to look after their pets but need to take extra care as the weather starts to hot up. Providing plenty of fresh drinking water, water to play in, shade and a cool spot to lie down, always ensure you avoid the midday heat and even into the afternoon as temperatures start to climb. Early morning and later evening walks are preferable.

Frantic panting, extreme salivation, bright­red membranes, and laboured breathing are clear warning signs your dog is overheated. To keep cool at home, put them on a cool wet towel, cooling mat or place them in the breeze of a fan

whilst drinking small amounts of cool water. You can pour cool water over their feet, ears and head.

If out and near a body of fresh water, let your dog take a dip to cool down. If you think your dog is suf­

Processionary caterpillars back early

RESIDENTS and visitors have warned about the early return of the Pine Processionary Caterpillars this year.

Due to the unusually dry hot weather and the lack of rainfall, residents and visitors are being warned to again be extra careful if they have small children and particularly to take care of their dogs and cats against this year’s influx of the Processionary Caterpillars (Thaumetopoea Pityocampa).

Long­term residents of Spain will be used to the annual warning against Processionary Caterpillars but for those new to Spain, it is of the utmost importance to be especially vigi­

Cat-sitters become playmates

YOU may have had cats yourself, and know cats that demand a playmate. Well Talisker is one such cat. His owners find pet­sitters to care for him at home and then leave for their holidays. What the unsuspecting cat­sitters don’t realise is quite how demanding this intelligent feline can be. Challenging and fun Talisker will always need new pet­sitters.

Our house­sitting and pet­sitting network can help pet owners meet great checked pet­sitters, and secure care for their pets, for free, no matter where they are!

Talisker loves company, and always trains his catsitters well.

turbed. Let us help.

dates when you want to go away. Sitters apply and you choose.

How does it work?

HouseSitMatch can help you find suitable sitters. Join our network for a small annual fee. You get ID checked for safety and then build your advert saying when you are going on holiday. House­sitters see your advert, they respond and you choose the sitter who’ll care for your pets.

Trustpilot Testimonials ­ 4.9 /

lant to these small caterpillars which if ingested can be fatal to household pets. The caterpillars are typically 3­4cm in length and are orange and brown in colour.

When the caterpillars drop from their nests in the pine trees their poisonous hairs can penetrate the skin and cause instant irritation. Their bittersweet smell also attracts dogs and cats who may try to eat them, with the hairs getting embedded in their tongues.

It is recommended to be extra careful when walking dogs to avoid areas where there are large numbers of these caterpillars.

fering from heatstroke wet their coat or drench a towel in cool, but not really cold, water and drape it over them. This helps in lowering body temperature and is a crucial step in cooling down before getting them to the vets.

If you are planning a trip later this year, register now to find pet­sitters in time. Even if it’s just a short trip, you’ll know that sometimes you just have to leave pets at home. Young and senior pets in particular benefit from staying in their own home, so they can follow their routines undis­

Choose Housesitmatch.com for affordable travel, home and pet care. These are the steps to take:

1. Register as a homeowner on HouseSitMatch.com

2. Choose a Premium account (£89 per year) to ensure you can help online when needed

3. Create a profile with photos of your pet and the house

4. Post an advert for the

5 Excellent 10 out of 10 for housesit match.com

I have had nothing but good and helpful service from the people who run this site, and my experience has been excellent. Tristram Cosgrave ­ Dog and cat owner, Malaga How do you join?

Please register online via our website www.Housesit match.com.

Do you need a housesitter? Get in touch. House-sitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and petsitting, and the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation! Register as either housesitter or homeowner with a 50% discount using coupon code 20EWN – an exclusive offer for readers. To find a house pet-sitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com

Image by GaevoyB/Shutterstock

Let your dog take a dip to cool down in the heat.

AIR CONDITIONING

BUILDERS

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CARAVANS CHURCHES

LOCAL ANGLICAN (C of E) church services at Mojacar Los Llanos Del Peral and Alhambra. Communion every Sunday in Mojacar at 11am. Communion at Los Llanos every Sunday except the last Sunday in the month when there will be Prayer and Praise all at 11am. The services that were being held in the South American church Albox have now returned to the chapel and Communion is held on the second Thursday of the month at 11am. Priest in charge Rev Canon Alan Bennet telephone number 680 243 436. For further information, please go to The Anglican Chaplaincy of Costa Almeria and Costa Calida web page. Or contact Tony Noble 950 069 103. (10002)

TURRE EVANGELICAL CHURCH We meet every Sunday at 10.30. For worship. We believe you’ll find us ‘relaxed’, welcoming’ and ‘informal’. Find us on Turre’s main street, towards the motorway at the far end on the left. To know more contact 617 914 156 (10021)

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION - Why not make this year the year you volunteer? Call and see how you can help either as a caseworker (with full training) or as a Telephone Buddy. We also visit beneficiaries who are housebound or in hospital. If you feel you could support us here in Spain, and you have a Spanish phone number then why not email us for more info tbuddyh hvisits@gmail.com. If you or your partner served or are serving, and you feel you need help or support then contact us using the details on the card, we are here for the small things as well as the big, sometimes talking to someone is the first step to feeling more in control. It can be a personal need or some help with your home or information on what or who to speak to on a medical issue, we help with signposting if we cannot help directly, just call and have a chat with Pam who will try to guide you to where you need to be. If you would like to go to a branch meeting then find your nearest one at, www.british legion.org.uk/counties/ spain-north ZURGENA Branch meeting on the first Thursday, Coffee Morning on the third Thursday and Buffet & Quiz Night on the last Tuesday of the month all at Bar Trinidad, Arboleas, for further details please email zurgenarblchairman @gmail.com - (253989)

DRAINAGE

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STAY SAFE! Abbeygate Insurance Call 971 277 455 For your security www.abbeygateinsure.com

LANGUAGE CLASSES

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INTERNATIONAL SKIPPER LICENCE: Courses held in English and starts soon. RYA VHF and Radar Courses. 636 444 929 (303051)

Male/Female viagra, cialis, kamagra jelly, mixed trial packs available, all areas mail order. 604 385 476. viagra4you19@gmail.com

ABBOTT ELECTRICS

From a Light Fitting to a Full Rewire. Tel: 950 137 208 / 638 010 691 (301356)

VOSS HOMES are a professional, British family-run Estate Agents with an office in Huercal-Overa town. They specialise in selling and renting properties in the Huercal-Overa, La Alfoquia, Zurgena & Taberno area. Andy, Anna, Jess, Adele, Hannah, Amy & Karen look forward to helping you buy, sell or rent your ideal property. Please call 678 002 006 for more information (283824)

WANTED Gold, Silver, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel – 678 716 693 (288662)

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MOTORING

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PLUMBERS

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REMOVALS & STORAGE

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PROPERTY TO LET

UPHOLSTERY

Honda CR-V - under the radar!

ROAD TEST

byMarkSlack

THERE are some cars that operate under the radar, you can forget they’re out there and this is arguably the case with Honda’s CR­V. It isn’t exciting, it’s not head turning and it’s certainly not going to set your motoring senses aflame. What it does though is provide ultra­ reliable, comfort able and well equipped family transport. The build quality is superb, in fact it puts some premium models to shame, and even the lead ­ in model comes extremely well equipped.

You get leather upholstery, heated front seats windscreen wiper de­icer, auto wipers, auto LED lights, powered, heated, reverse tilting, folding door mirrors, parking sensors front and rear, cornering lights, auto high beam headlights, auto

dimming rear view mirror, adaptive cruise control, dual zone climate control, navigation with Car Play and Android Auto and a plethora of safety kit that’s not overly intrusive like so many modern cars.

The Honda comes with a 2.0­litre, four­cylinder petrol unit that’s mated to a twin

electric motor hybrid system that recharges on the move. The system automatically uses the most efficient drive whether electric, hybrid or engine. It’s a perfect compromise for those who see having to plug­in your hybrid or electric car as a bit of a faff. Inside it’s remarkably spacious and there’s

plenty of room for the family to stretch out, not to mention stow all their luggage.

The range starts from €41,558/£36,580 and there are three trim levels with two and four­ wheel ­ drive and just one 2.0­litre engine. As with most electric and hybrid vehicles the trans ­

THE MG4 EV has been named as UK Car of the Year 2023, with a panel of experts selecting the allelectric hatchback as the best new car on sale in the UK today.

The UK Car of the Year Awards (UKCOTY) is a wholly independent set of awards, designed to high­

mission system is automatic, however the Honda uses a single fixed­gear ratio creating a direct connection between moving components. Otherwise known as e­CVT. While very smooth under hard acceleration ­ the 2WD version reaches 62 mph in 8.6 seconds, so impressive for a low powered large car ­ it is noisy. This is in direct contrast to lower speed city driving and cruising when the CR­V is impressively quiet and refined. The transmission and drive modesEV, Econ and Sport ­ are all

switch operated rather than by levers and make for a compact and easy to use driving environment.

On the road it’s a genuinely nice drive and surprisingly nimble, the ergonomics are first class with a touch screen and instruments of excellent clarity. It may be discreet and sensible, as opposed to so many models that are overtly bold and­in­your­face, but that’s the secret of its success. It’s a touch of class and class doesn’t have to announce its presence.

Facts at a Glance

• Model: Honda CR-V SR 4WD

• Engine: 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol with self-charging hybrid system

• Gears: e-CVT automatic

• Price: €42,695/£37,580

• Performance: 0-100 kmh (62 mph) 9 seconds/Maximum Speed 180 kph (112 mph)

• Economy: 7.0 l/100km/39.8 mpg

• Emissions: 161 g/km

Model tested was UK-specification and equipment levels and prices may vary in other markets.

Car of the Year

light and advise on the best new cars on the market specifically for UK customers. Now into its sixth year, the UK Car of the Year Awards are designed specifically for the UK car­

buying public.

An expert panel of 27 automotive journalists praised the MG4 EV’s design, quality and outstanding value for money, recognising that the new fully electric hatchback puts zero emissions motoring within reach for more people than ever.

The MG4 EV has been crowned as the overall winner from a final list of seven popular new cars, ranking ahead of models from Dacia, Land Rover, Lotus, Kia and Toyota.

The model has also received recognition from Euro NCAP, achieving the maximum five ­ star safety rating following a rigorous testing process.

MG4 EV named as UK Car of the Year 2023.

HONDA CR-V: A touch of class and class doesn’t have to announce its presence.

LAMPS, reflectors and indicators continue to be the most frequent reasons for vehicles to fail their MOTs in the UK, but it’s problems with brakes and tyres that are more likely to lead to the most serious failures, according to DVSA data analysed by the RAC.

Failures for non ­ working headlights, indicators and reflectors accounted for just over a quarter (25.5 per cent) of all MOT failures in the 12 months to March 2022, while faulty or broken suspensions represented just under a fifth (19.4 per cent) of all failures.

Problems with brakes (16.4 per cent)

Month of momentum

MARKING another positive month of momentum this year, the latest days to sell data from Auto Trader reveals used cars in the UK took a record average of just 23 days to leave franchise forecourts in February.

This is five days faster than the same period last year (28 days), and six days faster than pre ­ pandemic February 2019 (29 days).

and tyres (12 per cent) were the third and fourth biggest reasons for an MOT failure, with bad visibility ­ likely cracks on windscreens ­ rounding up the top five, representing just 8.7 per cent of all MOT failures.

While a third of all initial MOT tests of cars, vans and small passenger vehicles the equivalent to 7.3m vehicles resulted in a fail and mean drivers need to fork out for remedial repair work, nearly one ­ in ­ 10 tests, 8 per cent, equivalent to 2.4m vehicles worryingly result in a fail where at least one dangerous defect had been found.

Used cars have only sold that quickly on two other occasions, in June 2021 and September 2020, both of which followed the release from heavy Covid restrictions.

Whilst the broader retail market, including independent retailers, saw a slightly longer average, at 25 days, it still marks the second fastest month on record.

It’s also one day faster than the same period last year (26 days) and five

days faster than February 2019 (30 days).

Highlighting the market’s positive trajectory, it’s also 15 days faster than January 2023 (40).

February’s record performance is reflected in the very strong level of engagement on Auto Trader. In January there were a record 80 million cross ­ platform visits to the marketplace, which

was up circa 14 per cent year­on­year.

11.34 million women drivers in Spain.

USED CARS: Are selling within just 23 days.

BRAKES AND TYRES: Were the third and fourth biggest reasons for an MOT failure.

One arrested after ‘security threat’ at Leeds

ON Friday, March 24, Elland Road stadium, the home of English Premier League side Leeds United was closed down. The action was believed to be the result of a reported ‘security threat’ made on social media.

In a statement posted on Twitter, the Premier League club wrote: “Leeds United’s offices, ticket office, Foundation offices and club shop at Elland Road will be closed until further notice on the advice of the police. We apologise for any inconvenience and we will inform the public when normal service resumes”.

“Police were called to attend the stadium following reports of a security threat to the premises. Investigations were ongoing to establish the credibility of that threat. The report was received at 9.49pm on Friday,” a spokeswoman for West Yorkshire Police told a news source.

However, Leeds United announced on Sunday March 26 that the stadium was once again open. A statement post­

ed on the club’s Twitter profile read: “West Yorkshire Police have advised Leeds United that Elland Road can reopen, effective immediately. We apologise for any inconvenience and we thank the public for their support”.

A 20­year­old man was reportedly arrested in connection with a ‘security threat’ that was made, believed to have been through a social media post.

In a statement posted on Twitter, the Premier League

club wrote: “Leeds United’s offices, ticket office, Foundation offices and club shop at Elland Road will be closed un­

til further notice on the advice of the police. We apologise for any inconvenience and we will inform the public when normal service resumes”.

“Police were called to attend at Elland Road football stadium following reports of a security threat to the premises. Investigations are currently ongoing to establish the credibility of that threat. The report was received at 9.49pm last night”, said a spokeswoman for West Yorkshire Police.

Spain kick off Euro 2024 Lidl and football

ON March 21, UEFA announced that Lidl has signed a multi­year agreement to become an Official Partner of UEFA EURO 2024 and the European Qualifiers for UEFA EURO 2024.

A long­time sponsor of various sporting competitions, this is the first time the food retail company headquartered in Germany will partner with UEFA.

Jeroen Bal, Divisional Board Member Customer, Lidl International said: “We are excited to be part of an event that fascinates both our customers and our employees in all countries.

“Just as our products are available to everyone, we want to help make UEFA EURO 2024 an experience for everyone ­ for example through our Lidl Fan Zones.”

He added: “Numerous Lidl countries will be cheering along, and it’s really something special that the final tournament is being held in the country where Lidl’s history began.”

UEFA marketing director, Guy­Laurent Epstein said: “UEFA is proud to welcome Lidl as a partner of the European Qualifiers programme and UE­

FA EURO 2024. Lidl’s presence across the continent will contribute immensely to the promotion of what will be another unforgettable competition.”

Manager sacked

ANTONIO CONTE was finally fired as manager of English Premier League club Tottenham on Sunday, March 26. His dismissal will not come as any great shock in football circles given his angry tirade in a press conference following the recent 3 ­ 3 draw with Southampton.

A statement released by Tottenham read: “We can announce that Head Coach Antonio Conte has left the Club by mutual agreement. We achieved Champions League qualification in Antonio’s first season at the Club. We thank Antonio for his contribution and wish him well for the future.

“Cristian Stellini will take

the team as Acting Head Coach for the remainder of the season, along with Ryan Mason as Assistant Head Coach,” it added.

Daniel Levy, the Tottenham Chairman added: “We have 10 Premier League games remaining and we have a fight on our hands for a Champions League place. We all need to pull together. Everyone has to step up to ensure the highest possible finish for our Club and amazing, loyal supporters.”

Conte had steered the side to a credible fourth in the table but the way his players threw away a two­goal advantage over the Saints sparked the Italian’s bizarre outburst.

A 3­0 WIN over Norway leaves Spain level with Scotland on top of Group A in their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.

Spain came through their opening match of Euro 2024 qualifying against Norway with an emphatic scoreline on Saturday, March 25. This was thanks to two late goals from Joselu, the former Newcastle United and Stoke City striker. Making his debut for the national team, he could not have wished for a better start. Luis de la Fuente kicked off his era as the new manager of Spain at Malaga’s La Rosaleda stadium, having replaced Luis Enrique after the Qatar World Cup. On reflection, it now seemed a smart move to hand Joselu his first start in a red shirt.

RB Leipzig star Dani Olmo opened the scoring for the home side after 13 minutes. He latched onto a cut­back from Alejandro Balde and deflected the ball just enough to beat Nyland in the Norwegian goal. Although La Roja dominated for large portions of the game, they could not find that second goal as the clock ticked down.

Just two days short of his 33rd birthday, after entering the fray as a substitute, Joselu scored twice with his first two touches of the ball. In the 84th minute, he met a cross from Fabian Ruiz and headed a perfect finish into the net for 2­0. Just one minute later, he powered home a cross from Oyarzabal with his left boot, sealing the three points for Spain.

ELLAND ROAD: Was closed down to a security threat made on social media.

50.5% of gym goers are women.

Clean sweep for Cambridge

CAMBRIDGE were victorious on Sunday after noon, March 26, in both the Men’s and Women’s Gemini Boat Race 2023 against Oxford on the Thames at Putney in London, as announced on the Twitter Boat Race profile.

In this 168th edition of the Men’s event, Tassilo von Mueller won the coin toss and chose the Surrey station for Oxford. That left Jasper Parish with the Middlesex station.

Cambridge cox Jasper Parish took a gamble ­ that ultimately paid off ­ in steering his team closer to the river bank to search for easier passage through the waters of the Thames in Fulham. This led to his rowers gaining a lead of around half a boat’s length. The Goldie boat subsequently crossed the line to take victory over Isis by 1.3 lengths, for the fourth time in five years.

One hour earlier, in the 77th edition of the Women’s Boat Race, Oxford took the Middlesex station, with Cambridge starting from the Surrey station. Cambridge were also victorious, with Blondie beating Osiris by 4.5 lengths in a time of 20m 29s.

BAYERN MUNICH , one of the true giants of European football stunned the sport on Friday, March 24, by firing their manager Julian Nagelsmann and immediately appointing Thomas Tuchel to replace him.

The shock news was confirmed in a very short and blunt statement from the German club. Posted on Twitter, it read: “FC Bayern and head coach Julian Nagelsmann have parted company. This decision was taken by CEO Oliver Kahn and board member for sport Hasan Salihamidzic in consultation with club president Herbert Hainer. Nagelsmann will be succeeded by Thomas Tuchel.”

In a further statement, Bayern wrote: “Tuchel will

Bayern fire manager

receive a contract until June 30, 2025, and will supervise squad training for the first time on Monday. Along with Nagelsmann, assistant coaches Dino Toppmoller, Benjamin Glck and Xaver Zembrod have also been released.”

Oliver Kahn added: “When we signed Julian Nagelsmann for FC Bayern in the summer of 2021, we were convinced we would work with him on a longterm basis ­ and that was the goal of all of us right up to the end. Julian shares our aspiration to play successful and attractive football.

“But now we have come

to the conclusion that the quality in our squad ­ despite the Bundesliga title last year ­ has come to the fore less and less often. After the World Cup, we have played

less successfully and less attractively. The big fluctuations in performance have cast doubt on our goals for this season, but also our goals for the future.”

Second spot

NEW ZEALAND’S premier batter Kane Williamson has moved back towards the top spot in the ICC Men’s Test Player Rankings while Australia’s Josh Hazlewood is the new No. 1 ODI bowler with India’s Mohammad Siraj slipping to third.

Williamson, a formerly top ­ ranked batter, has moved up four slots to take second position in the list led by Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne after top scoring with 215 in an innings victory over Sri Lanka in Wellington that helped seal their two ­ match ICC World Test Championship se ­

ries 2 ­ 0.

Henry Nicholls, who scored 200 not out and featured in a triple­century partnership with Williamson, has also made rapid progress, moving up 20 places to 27th position. Captain Tim Southee (up one place to 11th) and Matt Henry (up four places to 31st) are the Kiwi players to advance in the bowling rankings.

For Sri Lanka, captain Dimuth Karunaratne is in the top 10 with scores of 89 and 51 while Dinesh Chandimal has moved up one slot to 17th with scores of 37 and 62.

BAYERN MUNICH: Stunned the sport with their news.

Credit: Twitter@FCBayern

Annual boat race.