Betty Henderson
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
in Guardamar are revving their engines for an exciting event set to take place on Saturday, April 1. The Classic Car Show, which kicks off at 10am, will feature classic and American cars, motorbikes, live music, dancing and an enormous paella to feed 500 people in Guardamar del
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BEACH bars in Orihuela will not open during the Easter break according to an announcement made on Friday, March 24. Beach bars or ‘chiringuitos’ will not open due to a delay in awarding a contract to the company managing beach bars in the Orihuela region as well as running other services on local beaches. The previous contract ran out in January and has not been renewed.
The councillor for Beaches, Antonio Sánchez, explained his department had hoped to award the new contract by March, but several of the proposals are still awaiting review, so the process has been delayed. The council aims to review proposals carefully to ensure quality services to beach users.
The delay has caused disappointment for residents and tourists who had hoped to enjoy the beachfront bars during the holiday season. Residents are eagerly anticipating the reopening of the
Segura’s Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
The event is also a charity initiative, raising money for an excellent cause! Funds raised at the event will go towards the book bank at local Guardamar high school, IES Les Dunes, which currently benefits 180 sixth form students.
The school would like to support 100 more students studying at the centre by providing them with educational books, but needs to replace almost all of its books to do so.
The total cost of the project is estimated to be around €10,000 to be able to support the students.
The Classic Car Show is now in its 11th year and promises to be a great day out for all guests, whether they are car enthusiasts or just looking for a fun day out with family and friends!
International Guardamar are looking to replicate the success of last year’s Classic Car Show with a packed programme of events scheduled.
Betty Henderson
ARTIST Nicola Harrison is set to hold another charity art exhibition following the success of her first edition on Saturday, March 25. The event will take place on Saturday, April 1 at the Casa Contenta in Rojales, in support of the Easy Horse Care Rescue organisation.
During the exhibition, guests will have the opportunity to view Harrison’s artwork, before the artist auctions off one of her incredible pieces of art to raise funds for the charity. Entry to the event is free, although visitors are asked to make a donation.
The Easy Horse Care Rescue charity is a nonprofit organisation which is dedicated to saving neglected, abused, and abandoned equines from across Spain.
One supporter of the charity, Peter Fryer, has
ALICANTE is certainly setting itself as a major tourist destination as the prestigious National Geographic confirmed they are using the Castle of Santa Barbara for its Legend Route.
The article entitled: Spain in 10 Medieval Castles of Legend, proposes a journey through time. The publication points out that Spain’s castles “have become one of the best ways
urged people to attend the exhibition, writing on Facebook: “Please come along and support this wonderful charity. All donations and raffle will go to the Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre. There are some wonderful artworks by Nicola Harrison on view and for sale. Thank you.”
to get to know the distant Middle Ages and to relive the vicissitudes of those who protected themselves behind their walls.”
The magazine places Santa Barbara Castle in second place on a list which also includes Belalcazar Castle (Cordoba), Lo
harre (Huesca), Trujillo (Caceres), Calahorra (Granada), Peníscola (Castellon), Bellver Castle (Mallorca), Tossa de Mar (Girona), Olite (Navarra) and Belmonte (Cuenca).
All of them are of firstrate heritage importance and in a perfect state of conservation.
THE Plaza39 auction on Saturday, March 18 was a wild ride, thanks to the auctioneering skills of the electrifying Nicky Peck at the helm. The event raised an incredible total which will be released once all the money is in.
A 3.1 MAGNITUDE earthquake hit Torrevieja and surrounding areas on Thursday, March 23, just before midnight. Concerned residents from various locations including Orihuela, Guardamar and Los Altos reported hearing and feeling the tremor although no damage was recorded.
SAN FULGENCIO Town Hall has come up with an innovative solution to tackle furniture and large item waste, with a convenient collection service. Call or WhatsApp 693 927 778 or use the San Fulgencio +Limpio app to arrange a pickup.
ON Wednesday, March 22, Torrevieja firefighters acted quickly to put out a fire in the garage of a residential building. After receiving the call at 3.47am, firefighters sprung into action to control the fire and prevent any injuries.
GOLFERS are invited to swing into action and join Help Vega Baja’s exciting mini golf tournament at Quesada Mini Golf on Saturday, April 29! All ages and abilities are welcome for a funfilled afternoon of friendly competition while raising funds.
LA FLORIDA charity fair is back on Friday, March 31 from 12pm5pm, offering handmade goods and clothes. The fair supports local animal rescue, Little Pod Association. Guests are invited to come and find unique products while contributing to a good cause.
THE French highspeed rail company has arrived in Alicante. Tickets are available for just €9 to Madrid and they have announced they will begin to operate on April 27. The announcement comes just after RENFE launched their Avlo trains between Madrid and Alicante.
Ouigo, a subsidiary of SNCF, announced they will offer two daily round trips from Alicante to the capital at 2pm and 4pm. The General Director of the operation, Hélène Valenzuela, visited Alicante
train station for the opening of the ticket sales along with the Commercial Director Federico Pareja.
Ouigo plan to offer seats from €9 per trip on their double decker coaches. This base price includes hand luggage, services
YOUR EWN HAS
such as seat selection, or the possibility of travelling with pets can be added. From April 27 they will offer 14,000 seats weekly and Ouigo hopes to increase this figure to 28,000 within a few weeks of commencing.
The high speed train rivalry will heat up again in June as a third operation, Iryo a private high speed rail operator in Spain, has announced they will begin operating from June 3. Their tickets are already available from this date.
ORIHUELA was recognised for its quality beaches at an awards ceremony in Cullera, near Valencia on Friday, March 24.
The event was organised by the Spanish Association of Environmental Education and Consumers, ADEAC, recognising beaches that have held the Blue Flag award for 36 years in a row. The ADEAC awards both Blue Flags and Blue Trails to beaches and hiking trails in Spain that display outstanding natural beauty and meet a rigorous criteria.
The Blue Flag award began in 1987, and has awarded Blue Flags to more than 250 towns, including Orihuela. In fact, the Orihuela municipal
120 STORIES IN THIS WEEK’S EDITION
Betty Henderson
ELCHE City Council took a leap towards a safer society on Monday, March 27 as councillors voted for a new policy to prevent sexual assault in nightclubs and bars in the city. A series of other positive initiatives were also voted through including to increase local funding and to improve infrastructure.
area has 11 Blue Flags fluttering on its beaches every summer. Orihuela beaches are known for their excellent water quality, local environmental education programmes, beach information and management, accessibility, and safety. The councillor of Infrastructure, Angel Noguera, attended the event in Cullera where he announced the creation of a department to manage Blue Flags and Blue Trails in the Orihuela Council.
The department aims to secure Blue Flag and Blue Trail certifications for years to come and ensure they meet international standards of environmental quality, safety, services, and education.
TWO hundred new Local Police officers are bound for some 30 municipalities in the province of Alicante.
The aspiring municipal police officers have just graduated. Before taking up their duties in their respective municipalities as civil servants, these officers must undergo practical training, which will last for two months.
Throughout the training, they will still be working but
won’t be carrying a firearm.
Then, if they pass the evaluation, they will take up their duties as new Local Police officers. Of the 200 applicants, 104 are from the city of Alicante.
The Head of the Local Police of Alicante, Jose Maria Conesa, confirmed: “Now they have two months of practice in their local councils. We are going to assign them to different units. It will be very useful for security at Easter and Santa Faz.”
PINOSO has confirmed that for its March blood collection a total of 30 people attended the Health Centre to donate their blood and 24 of them were able to do so, including two first time donators.
The town council has requested that anyone who is eligible to donate blood attend the next collection at the Health Centre on Friday, April 21.
So far this year, the number of Pinoso residents who have donated their blood amounts to 78 people.
The council added that there are three very important reasons for donating: Blood cannot be manufactured, it is essential for operations and emergencies and has a shelflife so cannot be stored indefinitely.
Blood or the components of blood are used to treat patients with medical conditions such as anaemia, cancer blood disorders, and those having surgery.
Blood is usually separated into its individual components or parts, so a patient can be given the
particular component they need. This makes the most of every blood donation, as the components in one unit of blood (or one donation) can be used to treat different patients.
Representatives from the city council also highlighted their attempts to obtain more funding for the region from the national government to compensate local businesses for lost income due to the pandemic.
The standout piece of legislation was a policy which will aim to prevent sexual assault in nightclubs, by developing a partnership between the local hospitality industry, Local Police, and National Police.
Authorities committed to improving infrastructure with a scheduled maintenance plan for sports facilities and installing new pedestrian traffic lights.
ELCHE’S bus service is set to be transformed with a sweeping digitalisation plan coming into effect later this year. The department is embarking on the digitalisation project to modernise the service and make it more convenient for all users.
From the use of mobile payment options to an innovative app, the changes are set to revolutionise the way people use public transport in the city from September. Authorities announced the €1.8 million scheme on Thursday, March 23.
Over the next six months, the department is set to revamp its ticket and season system, making it easier and more convenient for users to purchase tickets and board buses. A new app will also allow users to find out information about routes, request stops, and purchase tickets using a QR code. The system will also accept traditional physical passes and tickets, providing flexibility for users.
The update will also make life easier for bus drivers with an innovative digital control panel. Buses will also be equipped with cameras for user safety, and a voice service will be available for visually impaired users.
Betty Henderson SAN FULGENCIO is gearing up for an exciting food fair in April, and it’s set to be one of the most unique events of the year.
The town is all set to host an artichoke and broccoli fair on Sunday, April 16, which will showcase the best of the local produce and give visitors a chance to try gourmet dishes made with the freshest ingredients.
The fair is not just about indulging in delicious food, but also aims to encourage residents to buy fresh produce grown in the region and experiment with new ingredients after watching demonstrations from skilled
chefs. This firstofitskind fair is expected to boost the local economy by encouraging residents to support the farming industry.
Visitors will be able to witness chefs create mouthwatering dishes right in front of their eyes, and sample them for free! Not only will they be able to taste the dishes,
THE atmosphere in Torrevieja is buzzing as the La Siesta park upgrade project is finally coming to life, and the results are already starting to show. The park’s cycling ‘pump track’ is set to be the largest in the world!
but there will also be drink pairings available, some of which will be free of charge.
The fair will be held at the Centro Multiusos in San Fulgencio, starting at 10.30am on April 16. Chefs are also welcome to participate in the event and can register by contacting the town hall or Ramón on 966 794 201.
ELCHE showcased its natural beauty and impressive tourist attractions at the BTravel and BIndustrial fair in Barcelona from Friday, March 24 until Sunday, March 26.
Tourism representative, Carles Molina, highlighted the importance of the Catalan market for the city’s tourism strategy, saying that the city wants to attract more visitors from the Catalan market. The fair welcomes attendees from over 40 countries, with 120 exhibitors showcasing various tourism products and services, and Elche’s presence at the fair is sure to guarantee the city access to an even bigger market.
The fair provided an op
portunity for Elche to showcase its rich industrial heritage, including olive oil mills, vineyards, shoe factories, and traditional palm groves, to potential visitors from the Catalan market.
The city’s excellent air, rail, and road connections make it easily accessible to tourists from Catalonia.
The team also participated in a workshop with agents from the Catalan tourism sector. Catalan tourism is particularly important to the local economy, accounting for a nearly 5 per cent market share.
Elche wants to boost its tourism sector and attract more visitors from various regions of Spain and beyond.
One of the most ambitious parts of the renovation project was the creation of a massive 4,200 square metre ‘pump track’, a cycling track that promises to be a gamechanger for outdoorslovers.
Local mayor, Eduardo Dolón, took a trip to the park on Wednesday, March 22 to inspect progress on the project. During the visit, Dolón met with the councillor for Parks, Antonio Vidal, the chief engineer of the construction company, Urdecon, José Manuel Fernández, and the director of the pump track construction, Christian Tidow. “We’re looking at the largest fullytarmacked pump track in the world. It’s pioneering in Spain. It’s going to be a gamechanger for our country,”Tidow explained. A pump track is a type of cycling track consisting of a circuit of bumps and turns that allow cyclists to ride without pedalling. Cyclists use a pumping motion and shift their weight on the bike to propel themselves through the course.
WEEK
“Where a woman rules, streams run uphill.”Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de San Fulgencio (via Facebook) An ancient Ethiopian proverb meaning that women are key game changers and can make wonderful things happen. There is struggle in an uphill endeavour, but a miracle in its very existence.
70% of workers in the health sector are women.
Betty Henderson
THE Alicante Department for Culture and the Museum of Fine Arts (MUBAG) have joined forces to welcome a unique art exhibition by Didier Petit de Meurville to Elche. The French artist, diplomat and church decorator’s works
are on display in La Lonja Medieval Lonja until April 30.
The exhibition was launched on Thursday, March 23 by councillors and art fans as well as the Alicante councillor for Culture, Marga Antón and the Regional Culture Delegate, Juan
COSTA BLANCA Morris Dancers (affiliated to Torrevieja U3A) are a group of friends who meet at the town hall, Plaza Florida, Pinar de Campoverde 03191 (near Pilar de la Horadada) every Friday from 4 6pm to practise and learn new Morris dances which they are happy to perform at any indoor or outdoor social or charity event.
The group, who believe they are currently the only English Morris team in Spain, are always looking for new members, men or women of any age. No previous experience is necessary as training will be given, so if you are looking for a fun and not too strenuous form of exercise, contact the Squire, Jean Tonge, by email at costablancamorrisdancers@yahoo.com.
The dancers are also happy to welcome any experienced musicians who would like to join the accompanying band.
To learn more about the band contact Ian Smith by email ian@isadmin.org. You can also find Costa Blanca Morris Dancers on ‘Facebook’ or call in to a practice any Friday (except July and August).
de Dios Navarro.
Antón explained the reasons behind Elche being selected to host the exhibition saying, “Petit was a French consul in the Alicante region, and during his stay, he was able to appreciate the beauty of Elche and the landscapes of the province.”
The current exhibition is the first time that Petit’s work has been shown outside of the MUBAG museum. His varied collection consists of 24 paintings, including of the Palm Grove of Elche, river slopes, and monuments. The exhibition also includes a self portrait by Spanish painter Manuel De Ojeda y Siles.
44% of seats in Spanish parliament were held by women in 2021.
Betty Henderson
GUARDAMAR experienced an exhilarating weekend of festivities from Saturday, March 25 to Sunday, March 26. El Raso was transformed into a hub of activity for the town’s first Neighbourhood Party, International Tapas Trail, and Fiesta, where the atmosphere was electric!
The event, which was the first of its kind, featured several community parties over the two days, complete with live music from George the singing chef, the Costa Blanca singers, Tony Alcock, the Jammers and Rich Lucey as well as bagpipes playing, fitness activities from Jo Jo Fitness, line dancers. Residents’ furry friends even got a slice of the action on the second day with an exciting dog show featuring a range of prizes.
THE town hall of Pilar de la Horadada has announced the arrival of the music festival ‘Molan Los 90’ (the 90s are cool).
Ten local bars and restaurants also displayed their wares in the International Tapas Trail which featured a wide variety of fusion dishes inspired by a range of global culinary influences. Meanwhile, El Raso wine club helped to create delicious wine pairings for the dishes. The highly anticipated weekend of festivities had been in the works for almost a year, and the outcome was nothing short of spectacular. One of the organisers, Maria Venerdi took to Facebook to express her gratitude and appreciation to everyone who made the weekend a success, as well as thanking everyone who chipped in to charity collections over the weekend.
The event raised funds for several charities, including the AECC, Cruz Roja Española, and Pels Pels Protectora.
The music festival will take place on Friday, August 4, and will include some of the biggest names in music. The festival will take place in the Recinto Ferial in Pilar de la Horadada, Avda. Felipe Vi. It begins at 9pm and the doors will open at 8.30pm.
The artists lined up to perform at this 90s concert are Whigfield of the iconic son ‘Saturday Night’, and Rozalla with
her big hit ‘Everybody’s Free’. Other artists that are included in the lineup are Just Luis, Viceversa, Ella, Locomia, Clublanders, and Sonic Madoc.
Also involved are DJs: Chumi DJ, Javi Boss, Borja
Alcaraz, DJ Xamby, and DJ Xavi. The festival will be presented by well known TV presenter Mar Montoro. All in all a special summer night awaits the town of Pilar de la Horadada.
ARE you keeping out of the car and active? Elche certainly hopes so. The city has now joined the Active Mobility Manifesto to move towards a healthier and more sustainable municipality The councillor for Mobility, Esther Diez, has presented a document which aims to promote walking and cycling to generate cities with optimal air quality, fewer pollutants, more habitable and resilient.
The councillor confirmed: “From the city council we believe that sustainable mobility is the most powerful tool we have to fight against the climate emergency, especially in a city where more than 80 per cent of polluting emissions come from private traffic.
“Active mobility allows a healthier ageing of the population, by facilitating a more active lifestyle, with greater interaction and social encounters.”
Diez, who expects the Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan to be approved at the next plenary session in April 2023 hopes to ensure the development strategy of all these green policies that aim to reduce these polluting policies by 50 per cent by the year 2030.
6 countries give women equal legal work rights as men.
ASPE sports fans will be chuffed to hear that as from April 1 a new tool for booking sports facilities and activities online will be implemented.
Aspe now has greater accessibility to its sports facilities where those interested can carry out online transactions related to municipal sports facilities. It will soon be possible to book paddle and tennis courts, events and classes among other facilities, through the town hall website deportes @aspe.es or on the website:
aspe.deporsite.net. For more information, email instalacionesdeportivas@aspe.es or or call (+34) 965 494 092.
DUE to port works, the Torrevieja Amusement Fair is set to move to Antonio Soria Park.
All the stallholders have finally decided to move the amusement fair in order to start working on the port as soon as possible, with the city council itself bearing all the costs of conditioning the land and the installation of light for the operation of fairground attractions.
The park has a surface area of approximately 200,000 square metres and the area has been set up for the Friday market.
The park has also recently become the
Betty Henderson LOCAL charity, Elche Acoge opened a new centre designed to provide refuge for families and individuals fleeing wartorn countries on Thursday, March 23. The new site is located in the former ‘King’s College’ building, in El Travalón.
The building has been renovated and adapted to accommodate the needs of refugees arriving from wartorn areas or facing discrimination. This centre now has space to house up to five families with children.
Through the new centre, Elche Acoge develops one of its key objectives: providing refuge to asylum seekers. Currently, the Foundation manages three accommodation sites for refugees in different neighbourhoods in Elche.
With 30 years of experience in welcoming refugees to Spain, Elche Acoge has also been selected by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security, and Migration as a partner organisation, to which refugees can be referred for support.
venue for major international concerts such Shakira and REM.
The park is located in the southern part of the city, within the Sports City of Torrevieja where there are approximately 8,000 parking spaces.
Access to the park is via the CV905 or via the N332 from Murcia or Alicante.
The site is very well communicated with the city centre and with the accesses to the city via the Avda. de las Cortes Valencianas or the Avda. Rosa Mazón Valero.
The organisation, which is mainly run by volunteers, helps refugees to assimilate to Spanish culture with support classes and language lessons and help with finding employment as well as providing shelter and help with asylum applications.
TORREVIEJA will celebrate the 26th Edition of the Torrevieja Book Fair. It begins on Saturday, April 1, and will run until Monday, April 10.
There will be a total of eight book stands (Buendía Bookstore, The Association of Paper Wings Writers, Las mil y Una Libros bookstore, Stationary Torrevieja, Trini Bookstore, Sanchos Ochoa Bookstore, Baigorri Bookstore, and Rivendel Bookstore) they will be situated on the Paseo Vista Alegre. There will also be a marquee constructed in this area where they will
carry out activities and book signings. One of the authors present will be Stephen Nicholas Jones who writes fantasy adventure books. There will be a total of 22 authors present throughout the fair to sign their work. Other activities are also planned for the fair with activities for children such as the Easter Bunny, Mr Bunny party on Sunday, April 2 at 12 noon.
Included in the lineup is a poetry reading, games, face painting, and an ODS workshop on Sustainability with Mediterranean aromatic plants.
Betty Henderson
LA ZENIA beach in Orihuela, is set to undergo a major transformation thanks to a major traffic calming plan created by the local town hall.
The new plan, which was announced on Wednesday, March 22, aims to cut back traffic and provide better access for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as improving parking facilities and creating a more welcoming environment for beachgoers.
The scenic area boasts stunning sea views, but has been developed without a solid plan during the last century, meaning developments are disorganised. The new plan aims to
counteract the poor design, making La Zenia beach more pleasant.
One of the key features of the new plan is the creation of “kiss and ride” zones, where cars can drop off passengers and unload luggage, but cannot park. This aims to reduce congestion and free up space for pedestrians and cyclists.
The plan also calls for pavements to be widened and a purpose built bike lane along the seafront promenade as well as a new car park at Zenia Boulevard Shopping Centre,
CARP-R-US travelled to the Embalse de Argos for Round Two of their Murcia Series. They were treated to a beautiful spring day with temperatures in the mid20s although a stiff breeze picked up in the afternoon. Unfortunately, the fish didn’t really respond to the warm weather and although everyone caught, the fishing was quite a struggle.
As there were only a few fishing everyone was pegged on the warm side with Willy Moons running out winner with 15.12kg caught using his usual method feeder technique. Second was Steve Fell
connected to the beach with a shuttle bus.
A traffic study is planned while the council prepares for the next step.
with 11.08kg again using method feeder and wafters.
Third was Alan Smith who had a late run of fish on corn to put 9.62kg on the scales. Fourth with a single carp was Graham Patterson with 1.94kg.
Further information about the club can be found on its website www.carp rus.weebly.com or on the Facebook page CarpRUs Fishing Costa Blanca.
Round two
4.2 hours is the quantity of domestic work that women get unpaid.
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.
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.
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
THE Song Writers Hall of Fame is dominated by men but Holly Knight is the amazing exception having written some of the bestselling 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 famously of all, Tina Turner.
In fact, Tina Turner has recorded no less than nine of her composi tions, perhaps the most famous be ing 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 recog nised 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.”
To find out more about Holly, her music and her book visit http://www.hollyknight.com
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
50%
Less than 50% of working-age women are in the labour market.
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
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.
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.
22% of paramilitary seats are made up by women.
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.
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.
Betty Henderson
THE President of France embraced Olivier Dubois in an emotional scene on Tuesday, March 22 as the journalist arrived back from Mali where he was held hostage. Dubois arrived back at Villacoublay military base after being held for 711 days by an AlQaeda affiliated group.
Dubois arrived on a French official Falcon
plane from Niamey, the capital of Niger, and was greeted by his wife and two children. On arrival, Dubois spoke with Macron for several hours, sharing his harrowing tale of survival.
Dubois was kidnapped on April 8, 2021, in
the northern Malian town of Gao while attempting to interview a highranking jihadist leader. He was held captive by the same group that kidnapped Colombian nun Gloria Cecilia Narvaez, who was held more than four years, and American Missionary, Jeffery
THE European Commission has adopted a new proposal on common rules promoting the repair of goods which will result in savings for consumers.
Over the last decades, a replacement has often been prioritised over repair whenever products become defective and insufficient incentives have been given to consumers to repair their goods when the legal guarantee expires.
The proposal will make it easier and more costeffective for consumers to repair as opposed to replace goods.
Additionally, more demand will translate into a boost to the repair sector while incen
tivising producers and sellers to develop more sustainable business models.
The proposal will ensure that more products are repaired within the legal guarantee and that consumers have easier and cheaper options to repair products that are technically repairable (such as vacuum cleaners, or soon, tablets and smartphones) when the legal guarantee has expired or when the good is not functional anymore as a result of wear and tear.
This proposal is part of the European Commission’s broader goal of becoming the first climateneutral continent by 2050.
Woodke, who was released with Dubois.
During captivity, Dubois was subjected to physical and psychological abuse, including being blindfolded and chained to a wall for days on end. He was also forced to convert to Islam and was regularly beaten and tortured by his captors.
Macron thanked Niger’s government for their help in securing his release.
THE European Commission is proposing common criteria against greenwashing and misleading environmental claims.
Under the proposal, consumers will have more clarity, stronger reassurance that when something is sold as green, it actually is green, and better quality information to choose environmentfriendly products and services. Businesses will also benefit, as those that make a genuine effort to improve the environmental sustainability of their products will be more easily recognised and rewarded by consumers.
This way, the proposal will help establish a level playing field when it comes to infor
mation about environmental performance of products. A Commission study from 2020 highlighted that 53.3 per cent of examined environmental claims in the EU were found to be vague, misleading or unfounded and 40 per cent were unsubstantiated. The absence of common rules for companies making voluntary green claims leads to ‘greenwashing’ and creates an uneven playing field in the EU’s market, to the disadvantage of genuinely sustainable companies.
According to the proposal, when companies choose to make a ‘green claim’ about their products or services, they will have to respect minimum norms.
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
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.
NEARLY half of companies in Spain, 44 per cent, have increased their prices from January to March 2023, and slightly more than half plan on doing so sometime before the end of the year, according to a new survey of 15,000 companies carried out by the Bank of Spain.
Analysts from the Bank of Spain say that for many industries the price adjustments for the rest of the year are concentrated in the first few
months. The rise in prices has been seen in all sectors, although it has occurred “with more intensity” in services such as information and communication and administrative services.
Most companies, however, expect the situation to improve considerably in the second quarter. Three out of four firms or 74 per cent believe that labour costs will also increase in the coming months.
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 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.”
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.
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 beneficiary 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.
Betty Henderson
THE ultimate Michael Jackson tribute show is arriving in Torrevieja for one night only on Saturday, April 1. The Forever King Of Pop is coming to town with a unique concert that will transport an audience into the universe of the legendary King of Pop. This sensational show is the only one endorsed by the Jackson family, and promises an exhilarating night
of entertainment and music.
The Teatro Municipal will host the show from 8pm in a tour date that is sure to attract MJ fans from across the region.
The show features spectacular choreography, stunning visuals, and of course, all of Jackson’s biggest hits. From ‘Thriller’ to ‘Billie Jean’.
Besides the music, the show is also a celebration of Michael Jackson’s life and legacy. It’s a
THE K9 Animal Rescue Quiz Night is set to make a return by popular demand, so it’s time to get the thinking caps on! This edition of the quiz will be hosted by the Twilight Bar and Café on Tuesday, April 18, promising an exciting evening filled with fun, food, and games.
The show has received rave reviews and sold out in several locations.
chance to relive some of the most iconic moments in pop culture history and pay tribute to one of the greatest performers of all time.
Tickets are available now from the theatre’s box office or online at https://culturatorre vieja.com/programacion.
to contact the venue via Facebook or call 664 113 226 to reserve a table to ensure a space at the event.
Food will be served from 6pm, giving guests plenty of time to indulge in some mouthwatering dishes before the quiz starts at 7.30pm. Guests are asked
They are also asked to specify whether they want to eat to allow the venue to prepare. Tickets for the quiz itself cost just €3 and will support K9 Animal Rescue in their lifesaving work.
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
IN a departure from longstanding foreign policy, the Spanish President, Pedro Sánchez, revealed that the country is in talks with Morocco about the management of airspace over Western Sahara, a disputed territory located in the north of Africa.
Officially, Morocco acts in violation of UN Security Council resolutions and international law by militarily controlling the marine and land entry to Western Sahara. Meanwhile, Spain has controlled Western Sahara’s
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.
airspace, through the Canary Islands, which Morocco has expressed interest in taking over for the last 47 years.
But now Sánchez has said that “conversations with Morocco in this area have started.” Although the government has not provided any further details, negotiations appear to focus on the management of airspace and coordination between Morocco and Spain to improve security and cooperation.
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.
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 Photographer 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 finan
EMERGENCY services were called on Wednesday March 22 to a dock in Edinburgh as a huge ship lost its stability in the dry dock due to high winds and leant at a 45degree angle.
cial 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.”
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 au
thorities in England for 2023 24 will be £2,065 a rise of £99 or 5.1 per cent on the 2022 23 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 in
crease bills by 3 per cent without a referendum.
Average council tax bills for Band D properties are already around £1,966 a rise of more than £500 a year since 2010.
Three struggling councils have been given special permission by the government to impose higher rises up to 10 per cent for Thurrock and Slough, and an eyewatering 15 per cent for Croydon.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “Officers and emergency service colleagues are responding to an incident at Imperial Dock in Leith, Edinburgh, whereby a ship on dry dock has become dislodged from its holding.
“Police were called to attend at around 8.35am and the public are asked to avoid the area to allow emergency service access.'
Leith councillor Adam McVey said the ship became dislodged in strong winds and he described the incident as “terrifying” for those on board.
A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We received a call at 08.29 hours today to attend an incident in Leith.
“We have dispatched five ambulances, an air ambulance, three trauma teams, our special operations team, three paramedic response units and one patient transport vehicle.”
The coastguard also sent teams to the scene.
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.
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.
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
MADONNA: Has left an indelible mark on the world of music and is known as the Queen of Pop.
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, self-belief, 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.”
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 taking 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 cornerstone 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 rule-breakers 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!
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 Yousafzaiing 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 Joplincarried 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
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 WinfreyEmma is an avid believer in the product.
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.
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
pay off in the long run.
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
Be brave Start now - 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.
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
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.
WHILE the word ‘business’ tends to conjure images of well-heeled professionals sitting behind desks or at the head of boardrooms, not all business looks quite so traditional.
Whether its producing, directing or acting, there are women making millions in the that business they call show business. Among them are multiple names who have taken the world by storm, and left their own mark on the industry at the same time.
One of the biggest names that spring most immediately to mind for those living in Spain is Penelope Cruz Sanchez, or as we know her; Penelope Cruz.
Born in Madrid, she is the daughter of Eduardo Cruz, a retailer, and Encarna
Sanchez, a hairdresser.
Cruz’s first big international hit was again with Almodovar, in All About My Mother (1999), where she played an un- chaste but well-meaning nun.
Since then the Spanish star has appeared in a range of big films from Vanilla Sky (2001), and Captain Correllis Mandolin (2001) to Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) and Nine (2009).
Married to megastar Javier Bardem, Cruz has since increased her wealth and profile even further with her own production company.
While Cruz may be one of the biggest names in Spainand the world- there are tens of actresses also killing it, both creatively and financially.
The highest grossing ac tress in the world, Scarlett Johansson shot to fame aged 19 in Lost in Translation alongside Bill Murray. She’s since grossed an astonishing $15.2 billion across 40 films. As the actress says, "I went through this realisation that acting, at its heart, is the abil ity to manipulate your own emotions."
Now so well-known for her global lifestyle super brand, Goop, that it is easy to forget she is also a hugely success ful actress, Gwyneth Paltrow has been starring in some of the biggest films for more than 20 years.
With an Oscar win and a worldwide gross of $11.6 billion behind her, Paltrow says, It's a waste of time for people to say
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.
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.
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,
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.
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-
AS children we are often taught that failure is bad.
Doing badly in a school test often ends in some sort of punishment.
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.
As a result, many of us enter adulthood thinking our failures are a negative, a sign we’re just not good enough at something, or a reason to be ashamed of our attempts.
But what if the reality was actually the opposite? What if it’s our failures that in fact give us the tools we need to achieve massive success?
Here we have rounded up a selection of household names who initially struggled to get where they are today.
Oprah Winfrey, the American talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist had a rocky start to life. She was brought up in a low-income family and says she was once sexually abused. She became pregnant at age 14, but lost the baby and went to live with her father.
She was fired from her first job on a local television station, but has since gone on to become one of the most popu- lar, influential and wealthiest women in media with television shows and even her own TV channel.
In 2013, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. Forbes state her net wealth as around $2.9 billion (€2.7 billion).
In her own words: “Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.”
J K Rowling, the woman behind the most famous wizard of all time, Harry Potter, has said she believed she was a failure before penning the novels.
She was a single, divorced
mother suffering from depression and struggling to make ends meet when she wrote Harry Potter. In 1995 all major publishers rejected her book, but a year later Bloomsbury accepted it and in 1997, the book was published with only 1,000 copies.
Today, Harry Potter is a multi-million franchise with books, films and even a West End show and J K Rowling is now considered to be the most successful female author in the UK. Her net worth is said to be around $1.1 billion (€1.02 billion).
She said: “It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously you might as well not have lived at all, in which case you’ve failed by default.”
HAVE you ever had one of those ideas for a product you just know could help people?
While most of us get them from time to time, not all of us do something about it. Billionaire Sara Blakely is not one of those women.
The self-made Spanx cre ator is a lesson in many things; not just how a great idea can turn into a billion dol lar business, but how re silience, grit, and a bit of selfbelief can change the course of our lives.
The Florida-born mother of four’s incredible success story really does lend credence to the American Dream, that anyone with initiative, hard work and the guts to take a few risks can achieve their goals.
Sarah’s path to success began in the 1990s when she chanced her $5,000 life savings on looking into the viability of her idea on how to give women a streamlined look under their clothes and turning it into something she could actually sell.
The idea was simple enough:
getting the firmer look you have from tights, but without covering the whole leg and foot.
Blakely cut the ends off a pair of tights, tried them out under trousers, and the seeds were sown for her business empire.
As with all good success stories though, she had her struggles and rejections along the way. Hosiery company after hosiery company turned down her concept until one stepped up to come up with a product
prototype.
Blakely’s first big break in getting someone interested in actually selling is also now the stuff of business legend: having managed to beg a Neiman Marcus Group rep to give her 10 minutes of her time she demonstrated the pros of her prototype product on herself to the rep in
the ladies’ loo.
The rep saw the potential, and Blakely’s product was soon on sale in their stores, followed shortly by others.
Blakely was pretty much a one-woman business show to begin with, doing everything she could to put her product on the fashion map, and still selling fax machines door-to-door for a living.
chose the product as one of her favourite things of the year.
Sales started to go up, and by its second year Spanx had achieved $10 million. Today the company produces a whole range of underwear, leggings and body shapers, for men and women and annual revenues are in the hundreds of millions.
Blakely has demonstrated she has a strong philanthropic side to her character as well as entrepreneurial, establishing a foundation to help women through education and entrepreneurial training in 2006.
In the same year she donated $1 million to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, and in 2013 she became the first female billionaire to join the ‘Giving Pledge,’ whereby the world’s richest people donate at least half of their wealth to charity.
But then came a really big break in 2000, when after sending a gift basket of prototypes to the Oprah Winfrey TV show, the globally influential lady herself
In 2012, Blakely was one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world, and was named the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire by Forbes. Two years later Forbes ranked her as the 93rd most powerful woman in the world.
SPANX: Self-belief can change our lives.SARA BLAKELY: Has a strong philanthropic side. Credit: Instagram/SaraBlakely
OPRAH WINFREY: Explains that failure is part of the path to success.
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
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.
OVER the years, women from across the world have achieved some extraordinary things. But what about right here in Spain?
Here we look at what our most inspirational Spanish sisters in arms are achieving.
Now 62, Ana Patricia Botin, 57, has served as the executive chairman of Santander bank, bucking the global trend for top banking positions to be occupied by men.
The fourth member of her family to hold the position, in 2013
Botin was ranked the most powerful woman in the world by Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. Forbes al so named her the 8th most powerful woman in the world in 2017, 2019 and 202.
Another globally successful banker Maria Dolores Dancausa, 64, is the chief executive officer of Bankinter, holding the position since 2010. She led the bank in 2016 when the bank bagged record profits. She also made it into a gender-less list of the top 50 European directors by Forbes, following her results.
In the world of political philanthropy Paloma Escuedero, 57, is hard to beat. She is the
communications director of UNICEF, the United Nations’ children’s fund, managing the agency’s brand image and global communications. Before taking on her new role, she was UNICEF’S country director in Spain responsible for 180 projects and 800 volunteers.
Banking and politics are not the only male-dominated sectors however, with haute cuisine one of the toughest arenas to break into.
Hugely famous Spanish chef Carme Ruscadella, 70, did just that with a slew of Michelin stars to her name.
A master of ‘natural’ cooking, she has a restaurant in her hometown Sant Pol de Mar, near Barcelona, one in Barcelona city, and another in Tokyo. Combined, the three restaurants have seven Michelin stars, making them some of the world’s most decorated kitchens.
Queen Letizia, aged 50, was a successful journalist on Spain’s most important national channel before marrying King Felipe VI in 2004. She serves as special ambassador for the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
WOMEN have worked tirelessly throughout history to en sure that the female voice is heard. Whether it's working in politics, becoming a social activist, or breaking down barriers in sports, women have gone above and beyond to achieve equality and advocate for a better society.
In this Women in Business supplement, we have taken a look at the most influential women throughout history and the inspirational words they spoke.
• “I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.” – Rosa Parks
• “At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can.” – Frida Kahlo
• “I really think a champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fall.” – Serena Williams
• “Have no fear of perfection; you'll never reach it.” – Marie Curie
• “Don’t ever make decisions based on fear. Make decisions based on hope and possibility. Make decisions based on what should happen, not what shouldn’t.” – Michelle Obama
• "Don’t try to lessen yourself for the world; let the world catch up to you." – Beyonce
• “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
• “I was a person with dignity and self-respect, and I should not set my sights lower than anybody else just because I was black.” – Rosa Parks
INSTANTLY recognisable, Cath Kidston’s eyecatching designs have become a familiar favourite on some of the world’s smartest highstreets.
But don’t let her cheerful patterns lull you into a false sense of security, under the girl next door look to Kidston’s business empire lies a razor sharp business mind that has built up an estimated £250 million company.
Influenced by her idyllic upbringing in the Hampshire countryside, Kidston says, “I’ve always been interested in houses and homes. From my earliest memories, I’ve liked re-arranging my room and was one of those children who was always restyling my bed- room.”
She adds, “I always loved to play shop, I loved
trading, drawing and doing all the stuff I love to do today.” The former shop assistant turned her passion into a business when she opened her first shop in Holland Park 1993, selling hand embroidered tea towels and shabby-chic furniture.
Her inspiration for selling products came after making an ironing board cover for her own flat. She explains, “I thought it would be the perfect product, because there I was, at home, doing my ironing on a grey ironing board. My flat was quite small and I had it hanging on the back of the door. I thought it was a really good idea.”
Subsidising her first venture, which she describes as a “glorified junk shop,” with interior design, Kidston decided to focus solely on selling her own
creations after surviving cancer at 37.
She explains the ordeal, “changed my attitude to risk within a business. It was a really positive turning point. It really helped me think, ‘I’m just going to make the most of it and get on’.” Her passion paid off and her designs are now sold in over 200 shops across 16 countries.
With an MBE for Services to Business to her name, Kidston, who has also raised large sums of money for cancer charities, has now sold the majority stake in her company. She says “having a business is a bit like having a child. As they grow up, you don’t want them to be too reliant on you, but you want to remain on very good terms with them.”
IT’S a given that owning your own business is timeconsuming. Sometimes it can feel like there could literally never be enough hours in the day to achieve everything you want to get done.
ent destination to your normal surroundings can help to reset the mind as much as a day zoning out in front of Netflix.
is it an efficient use of down time.
• “We are here, not because we are law-breakers; we are here in our efforts to become law-makers.” – Emmeline Pankhurst
• “Do what you feel in your heart to be right–for you’ll be criticised anyway.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
• “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” – Maya Angelou
• “There’s something so special about a woman who dominates in a man’s world. It takes a certain grace, strength, intelligence, fearlessness, and the nerve to never take no for an answer.” – Rihanna
• “You could make a case that, along with the technological revolution, the most provocative upending destabilising thrilling change in the course of human history is that we’re finally in it. … We’re here now, women are in the world, and we will not be bullied.” - Meryl Streep
But while we know that some amount of down time is vital to keep us performing our best, what it the most efficient way to use that time to your advantage?
Here we explore common time thieves that can easily monopolise the hours you dohave off, and how to avoid them.
The couch While at the end of a busy day or week the sofa may feel like the natural choice to come down a little, there are most efficient ways to bring your mind down from a million miles an hour.
A ‘a change of scene’ as they say, ‘is as good as a rest,’ and it is remarkable how true this can be. Travelling even to a slightly differ-
As an added benefit, expect new ideas to flow as the different perspective allows the mind to reflect on things.
The midnight emergency What happened to the days of a good old-fashioned cup of hot milk and a bedtime story, eh? Perhaps our parents really did know best all along as it seems that increasing numbers of us are now checking devices, dealing with work, or watching high-drama TV right up to the moment we go to sleep.
Endless research has found that quality sleep is one of the single biggest factors in cognitive function, yet we regularly ignore the sound sleep routines our parents set us up with and choose to raise our adrenalin levels right before bed.
This is neither healthy, nor
If you really can’t stomach the idea of a warm milk before bed (you are an adult, after all), why not go for the slightly more grown up angle of a good book, yoga, music (soothing, obviously), or a warm bath before bed?
Whatever you do, just make sure it’s something design to calm, not stimulate, your senses.
Procrastination The art of putting off to tomorrow what can be done today, procrastination is perhaps one of the biggest time thieves. To achieve the tasks in front of you and avoid putting them off, try one of the most forms of time management; time blocking.
Write out a task that needs completing, book out a block of an hour, turn off phones and emails, and commit to using that whole hour to completing that task. You’ll be amazed what you can achieve.
($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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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
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 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.”
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.”
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.
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 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.
REBECCA SERWOTKA “We sell houses!
It’s what we do, it’s ALL we do!” Certified API Spain. Your favourite local resale property expert, of Inmobiliaria Real Estate Agents in Ciudad Quesada. Published author of ‘Moving Forward 25 Essential Rules For Buying & Selling Real Estate Without Going Crazy’. Request your FREE copy! Prestige Award Winner for ‘Real Estate Agency Of The Year 2021/22 & 2022/23’.
It’s important to understand there are correct and incorrect ways of purchasing a property on the Costa Blanca, particularly when you require a mortgage. Failure to follow the correct process could result in your offer being rejected, causing you to
miss out on your ideal home.
To increase your chances of securing the home of your dreams in a competitive market, it’s crucial to be wellprepared and ready to move forward with your purchase. With many buyers looking to purchase the same properties, being able to confidently commit to reserving a home is essential. If you need a mortgage to finance your purchase, it’s advisable to first approach a bank for assistance.
Obtaining a ‘preapproval’ is now an essential requirement in today’s market. Once you have received the green light on your preapproval, you can then embark on your home search with confidence!
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. Knowing the at
titude 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 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 Mon and Wed.
LeapyLee’sopinionsarehisownandarenotnecessarilyrepresentativeofthoseofthe publishers,advertisersorsponsors.
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 commonlyaccepted 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.
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. So, what can be done? Breaking it up won’t solve its deeprooted problems.
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? Given complete authority, 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 cops who are the backbone of the Met. Someone who can restore faith in policing in a force that, for Baroness Doreen Lawrence (mother of murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence), is still ‘rotten to the core’.
Consequently, I’m sure this latest scandal will run and run a bit like 92year old Rupert Murdoch’s engagements, marriages and divorces...
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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.
COVID19 took 6.7 million lives but has not affected humankind’s general happiness, the latest World Happiness Report found.
THE good news is that coffee boosts the calories which people burn each day.
Pixabay/PexelsLEG 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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
BETWEEN the months of February and April the processionaries (pine caterpillars) migrate from their nests (bags) in the pines to their burial area to form the chrysalis that will rise to the butterflies at the end of summer. Sometimes it can happen earlier, so from January you have to be careful.
The fact they go in procession on the ground attracts dogs, not so much cats. The hairs released by caterpillars contain a capsule with a toxin called ‘taumatopein.’ Hair in contact with the skin or mucosa of dogs releases the toxin causing severe swelling, generally on the face, lips, mouth and tongue, in these cases causing the dog to scratch its face and salivation.
If the contact with the toxin has been intense, it can cause severe necrosis and infection of the tissues with loss, for ex
Wash
ample, of part of the tongue. It can sometimes cause severe laryngeal edema that can even lead to death. Eye injuries can also occur. This can occur not only by getting close to the caterpillars but also by the release of hairs into the environment from the bags of the pines by the wind.
If you live near pine trees or after a walk in a pine forest, observe these symptoms in your dog, if possible wash your dog’s mouth thoroughly with water. Use gloves since there may be hairs without releasing the toxin which can cause irritation to your hands and arms. Go to the vet for treatment.
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!
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
Talisker loves company, and always trains his catsitters well.
turbed. Let us help. Choose Housesitmatch.com for affordable travel, home and pet care. These are the steps to take:
1. Register as a homeowner on HouseSitMatch.com
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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.
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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
All pets in Spain by law should have a permanent identification (microchip) in case of loss, change of ownership or death of a pet. In Andalucia, the database that enrols pets is the RAIA (Registro Andaluz Animal Identification), owned by the Andalucian Council of Colleges of Veterinary.
If you find a stray animal, you can contact an authorised veterinarian, call the phone number or email the RAIA, contact the competent service of the town hall (Environment or Health) or the Local Police or Guardia Civil.
Initially you could check if the animal belongs to any of your neighbours or take it to your local vet and they will check to see if it is microchipped. If it is then they will contact the owner. If it is not chipped you could take a look at the Lost Animal pages on social media or put up signs in your local area.
Let your dog take a dip to cool down in the heat.
a dip to cool down. If you think your dog is suffering 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 this does not reunite the animal with its owner, inform the Local Police or the Guardia Civil so that they can proceed with identification and, where appropriate, temporary accommodation in a centre for abandoned and lost animals, until recovery by the owner.
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ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IS ALCOHOL COSTING YOU MORE THAN MONEY? Drinking to excess not only affects your health it can spill over into every other aspect of your lifedamaging everything that is important to you. English-speaking AA meetings are held throughout the Costa Blanca from Valencia City to Murcia. Anyone wishing to attend a meeting or discuss a possible drinking problem contact Costa Blanca North: 648 169 045 or Costa Blanca South: 625 912 078 or Costa Calida 679 385 105 All calls are treated in the strictest confidence. AA in German: 645 456 075; Spanish: 679 212 535; Flemish: 635 047 053; and Scandinavian: 659 779 222. www.aa-costablanca.org
CAMPELLO CONTRA CANCER in conjunction with AECC Association Español Contra Cancer. Please support your local Cancer charity and if you wish to obtain literature or simply talk to someone. Please contact Mina or Trisha. Tel 650 071 278 or 610 921 413 e-mail aecc_campe llo@hotmail.com (95475)
CANCER SUPPORT GROUP (MABS)
MURCIA/MAR MENOR Help and support is just a phone call away, Avda Rio Nalón, Tel: 693 275 779 (95462)
CHURCH SERVICE IN ENGLISH Tel: 950 617 549 www.givinglight.com. (10006)
FREEMASONRY. Are you aware that Freemasonry is thriving on the Costa Blanca? There are various Lodges meeting up throughout the Valencia region. If you already are a Mason or simply wish to know more about Freemasonry in Spain please contact sec@glpvalencia.com Tel 600 841 064 (95477)
HELP VEGA BAJA. We are a nonprofit making organisation that helps and supports anyone, without prejudice, in times of need or crisis within the Vega Baja area. Our offices are based in San Miguel at Calle Lope de Vega 46 (Tel 966 723 733), Torrevieja at Rambla Juan Mateo Garcia 4 (Tel 965 704 282). We are online at www.helpvegabaja.com and also on Facebook. You can email the San Miguel Centre at office@helpvegaba ja.com. We also have a 24-hour Emergency helpline which is available to both members and non-members on 966 723 733 (95456)
INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY, TORREVIEJA Calle Beniajan 16, Torrevieja 03185, Alicante Evangelical non-denominational church. Sunday morning Services at 11.00am. All nationalities welcomeContact 966 752 543 / 966 799 273. For other church matters phone: 966 799 273 / /617 215 463 www.icator revieja.org (95476)
LA SIESTA EVANGELICAL CHURCH on Urbanisation La Siesta, Torrevieja is a friendly, English-speaking church. For more information, including details of our services, see our website www.lasiestaevangelicalchurch.org (10005)
PHILIP SCOTT LODGE No 10671 of the RAOB. Please call the secretary, Colin Bird on 693 287 614 for further information. (95459)
PILAR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH. All welcome from any church background or none. For further information, www. pilarchurch.org Reg No: 2009-SG/A (95463)
ROYAL Air Force Association Costa Blanca Registered Members Group: The RAFA Costa Blanca RMG replaces the RAFA Costa Blanca Branch 1359 which is now closed. The RMG is a social group of caring people and remains affiliated to the parent Association. Contact with the Royal Air Force Association and the RMG can be made via the RAFA website rafa.org.uk Tel:0044 800 018 2361. (238593)
ROYAL BRITISH LEGION - Why not make this year the year you volunteer? 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 tbuddyhhvisits@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, http://branches.britishlegion. org.uk/branches/orihuela-costacovering from Punta Prima to San Javier. More info can be found on branch website www.orihuelacostar bl.co.uk. (95457)
ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Gran Alacant & La Marina Branch. For info, contact the branch Secretary at granalacant.secretary@rbl.communi ty
ROYAL MARINES ASSOCIATION
(Costa Blanca) The aim of the Association is to bring together not just ex Royal Marines, but ex Service personnel with an affinity to the Royal Marines. For further details contact Hon Sec P S Wilkins Tel: 966 194 158 email: inkinspain@yahoo.co.uk (10004)
ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION For information please contact Chairman Anthony Jenkins +34 693 866 709, Vice Chairman Dusty Miller +34 711 006 670, Secretary Mike Cockman +34 670 224 822, Treasurer Carl Louden +34 678 518 202, email rnatorrevieja@aol.com (95455)
STROKE ASSOCIATION Spain (formally known as Torrevieja stroke support) Our aim is to help and support stroke survivors and their carers, with rehabilitation, speech therapy, OC therapy and a very active social group. For info please contact 653 588 475 English and 620 907 474 Spanish or email strokesupportgroup@hotmail. com, website: torreviejastrokesup port.org. We are always looking for volunteers who have the skills and knowledge to support. (95473)
THE AIRCREW ASSOCIATION COSTA BLANCA BRANCH. Former & serving aircrews of the UK or Allied Armed Forces are welcome to join this convivial & friendly organisation, now in its 21st year. www.acacostablan ca.org or call the Secretary on: 966 495 042 (95465)
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH, La Fustera. For more info: contact Frank Bentley on 966 495 188. (95461)
THE BAKER Foundation Spiritual Centre Playa Flamenca. Calle Luis Gordillo, 1 Playa Flamenca Alicante 03189. You can join us on Facebook, The Baker Foundation spiritual centre. Or contact Linda Schug Tel. 606 990 665 for more details (95458)
THE PATIENCE LODGE No 2177 of the R.A.O.B Please call Secretary Dave Tonge on 688 704 091 for further information. (253807)
THE SPIRITUALIST CENTRE, Benijofar meets at Hamilton’s Bake House, 62 Calle Vicente, Blasco Ibañez, Benijofar 03178. We hold a Sunday Sevrice at 11.30am. For further information: www.spiritualist centre-benijofar.com. Telephone 711 060 171. Email martindroute66@ hotmail.com. Fiscal G54713789
MOVERS AND SHAKERS We are a non-profit organisation that supports people and their families with neurological diseases such as; HUNTINGTON’S, ATAXIA, MOTOR NEURONE, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS and PARKINSON’S. Our MOVERS AND SHAKERS CLUB held every Friday @ 1pm – 3pm, is a chance for members to meet up socially, for a drink and a chat on a full range of topics and to exchange ideas and information. The club is held at O’Briens Bar in El Raso, Guardamar del Segura (except July and August). For more details, contact Marion Smith on 711 008 250, or email: marion.smith@amscb.org.es, or you can find us on Facebook : fb@movers and shakers www. amscb.org.es (295976)
ELECTRICIAN
MR FIXIT . For all your electrical, plumbing, general & appliance & boiler repairs. No call out charge. 698 320 434 (291667)
FOR SALE/WANTED
WANTED Gold, Silver, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel - 678 716 693
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CLASSIC SPANISH LADY, Playa Flamenca area, private premises, all massage services from 40€. Ana 657 603 495 (302206)
ATTRACTIVE, Girlfriend, Professional Masseuse relaxing and therapeutic Masseuse. Tel: 693 357 526 (295448)
RELAXING MASSAGE FOR MENMario qualified masseur in Alicante - Special Massage for Men - 7 days 10am to 10pmAPPOINTMENTS visit : www.masajeyrelax.es/en or WHATSAPP 649 761 607 (302598)
MEETING POINT
HEALTH & BEAUTY
PERSONAL TRAINER, WEIGHT LOSS, TONING, RESULTS GUARANTEED. CERTIFIED WITH 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE. FORMER US KICKBOX CHAMPION. CALL 747 438 225
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
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BENEFICIAL INSURANCE SERVICES. Car, Home, Business, Travel, Life, Funeral, all insurances available. Policies in English. BEST rates, covers & service. Immediate quotes. Tel 961 129 215 / 622 275 561, (WhatsApp) info@beneficialinsuranceinspain.com or visit www.beneficialin suranceinspain.com for online quote.
STAY SAFE! Abbeygate Insurance Call 971 277 455 For your security www.abbeygateinsure.com
MASSAGE
MISCELLANEOUS
GOLD & SILVER Bought & Sold, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel678 716 693 (288662)
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WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 952 147 834. (200726)
MOTORHOMES
MOTORHOME / Campervan wanted. Left or right hand drive. Cash waiting for right van. Tlf 650 722 905
MUSIC TUITION
PIANO, Keyboard, Organ, Qualified Teacher. Please call 606 984 535 (302201)
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EXPERIENCE the best with a 1hr unique massage with Veronica. Shaving or permanent hair removal available. For appointments call 679 292 678 (302232)
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If you can read it, so can your clients. Contact us and have your business grow at + 34 951 386 161
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EASYHORSE CARE RESCUE CENTRE. We aim to rescue HORSES. If you would like to DONATE please call 965 967 033 or sales@easy horsecare.net www.easyhorsecare. net or call Sue 652 021 980 (95706)
GATAMI ORGANISATION, to help kittens and cats, looking for good homes, also spaying wild cats in the community. Kittens require adoption, fully vaccinated, de-wormed, deflead. volunteers to Tel Anna: 966 806 976 / 654 729 977 (95709)
P.E.P.A. VOLUNTEERS & FOSTER
HOMES URGENTLY NEEDED. By fostering an abandoned dog or spending a few hours each week on our
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SPAMA GANDIA SHELTER. Dog and cat rescue registered charity, La Safor area. 500 animals awaiting rehoming. Phone Gail 962 896 118. Visit our website for directions. www.spama.org and view our new blog at www.spama -safor.blog.com.es PLEASE HELP US TO HELP THEM (95707)
MR FIXIT. For all your electrical, plumbing, general & appliance & boiler repairs. No call out charge. 698 320 434 (291667)
POOL MAINTENANCE Repairs, Spares and Leak Testing. Call 965 725 565 / 676 945 360 www.pooltechspain.com (290726)
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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
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.
• 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.
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)
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 prepandemic 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
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 year on year.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
50.5% of gym goers are women.
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
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.”
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.
