RTN Newspaper - Costa Blanca South 17 - 23 March 2017 Issue 908

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Issue 908

17th - 23rd march 2017

Educational protests in Torrevieja More than 500 people took to the streets on Tuesday afternoon to protest about education choices forced upon their children in the region p3

Easter boosts the creation of 5,800 jobs in Alicante

Twenty-seven arrested in drug trafficking bust Ring even had a ‘research and development’ division.

by Tahnee Wright

recruitment figures are set to peak again as we approach the Easter period p9

Buy-to-Let and how Wincham can help you purchase, own, & sell property in a tax efficient way Read more with Mark Roach p28

Entertain Me by Sammy Kruz p32

Rojales turns Pink Almost a thousand people turned the streets of Rojales into a pink tide against cancer last weekend.

Read more on page 19.

The Guardia Civil has uncovered a business network dedicated to the cultivation and trafficking of drugs, primarily cannabis and hashish, in Alicante.

The 27 suspected members of the network have been detained in Torrevieja, Elche, Rojales and Orihuela,and are of Dutch, Colombian and Spanish nationality.

They are charged with crimes against public health, illicit possession of weapons and membership of a criminal organisation.

Police seized 1,122 marijuana plants, 1,200 kilos of marijuana buds and seeds, another 14 kilos of marijuana ready for consumption, 1.5 kilo of hashish, more than 250 ounces of cannabis oil, as well as cannabis oil for electronic cigars and cannabis gummies.

The Guardia Civil of Torrevieja began investigations after detecting a rapid increase in the number of cannabis clubs (commonly referred to as ‘smoking clubs’) in the area. During the various inspections carried out, officers found that anyone could use and purchase drugs narcotics in the clubs, thus failing to comply with the regulations in place for such establishments. Especially worrying was that in addition to marijuana, you can buy hashish, which is much stronger and more addictive.

Due to the sheer quantities of narcotics available throughout the clubs, the Guardia Civil launched further investigations, suspecting that the clubs could be run by a criminal drug trafficking organisation.

The researchers found that behind the alleged association a group of Dutch citizens were hiding and in collaboration with other European police, found that they had a prior history of drug trafficking in several European Union countries including the UK, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Continued on page 3

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17th - 23rd march 2017

News & views

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WEATHER IN BRIEF

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Sun & Clouds Cloudy & a little Rain

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Cloudy & a little Rain

17th - 23rd march 2017

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Educational protest in Torrevieja More than 500 people, including fathers, mothers, students, teachers and residents of the Vega Baja took to the streets on Tuesday afternoon to protest about education choices forced upon their children in the region.

by Keith Nicol The protest was also supported by members of the Partido Popular and Citizens Party with the hundreds of people calling for associations of parents of the Vega Baja to repeal of the decree of plurilingualism of the Generalitat.

The group of five hundred people marched from the commercial areas along the CV-905 and made their way to the Town Hall, in the centre of the City under the motto " We are Valencians, we speak Castellano". The group do not want children to be taught in Valenciano or English but only Spanish.

They consider it to be discriminatory to force children to be taught in English and Valencian because they argue that the students can benefit more by receiving more training in English but not if at the same time they accept more teaching hours in Valencian.

The Ampas de Torrevieja Platform, the main promoter of the protest, indicated that they are not "against learning Valencian" but rather to guarantee the rights of their children.

The protest was attended by representatives of parents of Albatera, Cox, Catral and Orihuela, among other towns in the region. Also political representatives such as the mayor

of Orihuela, Emilio Bascuñana (PP) and the deputy president of the Diputación, Eduardo Dolón (PP), attended, along with Citizens councillor Paqui Parra councillor among other local PP and Citizens politicians.

At the end of the protest, the spokeswoman for the parents,

Continued from front page Through these channels of information, researchers were able to establish a network of contacts within the organisation, with Spanish citizens from Torrevieja, Elche, and Orihuela, in addition to international citizens from Iran and the Dominican Republic.

The Dutch citizens worked with with a ‘manager’ from Orihuela and in attempt to give a legal appearance to their business, they rented two industrial warehouses in the Algors de Elche area which were immaculately organised, differentiating the classes of plants according to their quality and growth.

The organisation claimed, on social media, to be dedicated to the ‘organic cultivation of industrial hemp’ however, inside the warehouses, it was evident they had made a heavy investment in air conditioners, lighting, air filters and water purifiers to disguise to strong odours of the cannabis.

The organisation had special machinery to extract cannabis oil, which could be used in the creams and electronic cigarettes that were later sold in the clubs. They were also mass producing cannabis gummies in the shape of bears, to look like sweets.

The ‘Research and Development’ division carried out various investigations and tests to make new products with derivatives of cannabis. To do this, the organisation employed experts in marijuana cultivation who experimented with various varieties.

The organised announced on social media the running of various projects to genetically improve plants to improve the production of hashish resin and even attended international congresses on marijuana.

Of the 13 properties raided in the bust in Torrevieja, Elche, Rojales and Orihuela, including the warehouses and the club headquarters, in addition to narcotic substances, 7,500€ cash, a pistol, two vehicles, two motorcycles and a moped was seized.

Gracia Martínez, thanked everyone for their support and said a special word of thanks to those dozens of people from the Vega Baja and said that “Tuesday's protest is a demonstration of the socio-linguistic reality of Vega Baja, and that that reality already has its own voice that must be heard.”

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17th - 23rd march 2017

MPs won’t guarantee rights of EU nationals Reject amendment from House of Lords.

by Tahnee Wright MPs have rejected an amendment by the House of Lords to guarantee the rights of EU nationals before the Brexit negotiations begin.

It came as MPs were asked to overturn two amendments made by peers in the upper legislative chamber to the Government’s EU Notification of Withdrawal Bill, which provides Theresa May with the power to invoke Article 50 - a short, five paragraph notice letter which, once received by the EU, will allow negotiations to commence.

The House of Lords amendment aimed to force the Government to publish proposals for guaranteeing the rights of EU nationals before Article 50 was invoked.

The amendment was defeated by 335-287 votes – a majority of 48.

Speaking in the Commons before the vote Keir Starmer, the Shadow Brexit Secretary, said protecting the rights of EU nationals was a matter of principle and that bargaining tactics - using the EU citizens in Britain to obtain rights for UK nationals in the EU - should be avoided.

But the Brexit Secretary David Davis predicts the UK will reach a swift agreement with the EU countries over the one million UK nationals living in member states and the 3.2 million EU citizens living in Britain.

Nick Clegg, the former Liberal Democrat leader and Deputy Prime Minister, spoke before the amendment was defeated and

Orihuela to pay €43,500 to girl who fell on the gate of a park

There are one million UK nationals living in member states and the 3.2 million EU citizens living in Britain

slammed the Government over the failure to guarantee the rights of EU citizens.

He said a ‘mountainous volume of red tape’ would be created if the Government tried to separate the three million EU citizens already living in Britain from the millions who may, after a certain cut-off date, want to live, study and work in Britain in the future.

Clegg reminded Brexit Secretary David

Davis of their work together in opposing ID cards 12 years ago, predicting the Government will have to introduce something similar to the onerous paper trail behind ID cards.

To follow developments as they happen, we recommend following the advice given to RTN by Simon Manley, British Ambassador to Spain in a recent interview and visiting https://www.gov.uk/.

Man caught mid-robbery in Elche National Police arrested a man on suspicion of robbery of a house in Altabix, Elche last week. The offender, of Spanish nationality, received a shock after climbing a wall of the house and running straight into the owners, who alerted 091.

The offender initially tried to flee on a bicycle belonging to the owners after cutting through part of a metal fence. In desperation, he left the bicycle behind and escaped on foot.

The owners provided a physical description to 091 along with a guide as to which direction the offender had headed in.

Police attended the property and the offender was later located by the Grupo de Atención al Ciudadano in an area notoriously frequented by drug addicts.

The offender was taken to the Police Station and later charged with attempted robbery with forced entry.

Accounting issues in Elche?

The City of Orihuela has been ordered to pay compensation of 43,500€ to the young girl who broke her femur after falling on the iron gate of Severo Ochoa park in November 2012.

The events occurred as the then ten-year-old girl was playing with friends, swinging on the gate to the park. Suddenly, the girl fell, destroying her femur, which has required a surgery to regain mobility.

The girl’s parents lodged a complaint against the council, claiming the accident would not have happened had the gate been properly maintained – it only had one screw holding it together at the top and the frame was completely rusted.

The young girl was faced with a slow recovery and long rehabilitation period as her femur was crushed.

The judge found the council to be negligent and ruled in favour of the young girl. The compensation will be paid by the Civil Liability Insurance, whilst a bond of 3,000€ will need to be met by the council.

In a document released by auditing body Sindicatura de Comptes de fiscalización de las obligaciones, it was revealed that the Consistory of Elche registered an overspend in 2015 of more than 6.4million€, which was hoped to be paid for from the 2016 budget.

Ana Arabid of the Finance department at the City Council of Elche explained that this is completely normal – the amount in question corresponds to bills for services or products that are normally contracted in November and December (2015), but are presented to the City for payment in the New Year (2016).

Arabid continued to explain how the Elche carry-over sum pales into insignificane when compared to those of Valencia (20.1million€), Alicante (13.9million€), Gandia (13.9million€) and Paterna (6.6million€).

In the preparation of the regional report, auditors found indications of accounting discrepancies in thirteen municipalities and Elche was not one of them. The City Council of Elche have reminded the auditors that the 2015 budget was drawn up by the former PP government team and was only taken over mid-year by PSOE, Compromís and Ilicitanos.

17th - 23rd march 2017

Three robberies a day in Torrevieja

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Crime report finds a third of the crimes registered in the province of Alicante in 2016 were committed in Vega Baga.

by Tahnee Wright The latest Crime Report of el Ministerio de Interior affirms Torrevieja as the most insecure city in the province, with an exceptionally high and increasing number of robberies.

The report highlights the number of murders, but this figure was halved in 2016, with 15 cases compared to 30 in 2015.

Of these, more than a third were registered in Vega Baja (2 in Orihuela and 4 in Torrevieja).

The number of robberies with violence has increased by 4% and the number of robbery with force in homes has increased by 3.7%. There has also been an increase in the number of motor vehicle thefts by 0.7%.

General theft figures dropped by 2.6% and the number of criminal damage cases decreased by 3.2% - from 9,933 cases in 2015 to 9,619 in 2016.

Of the province of Alicante, Torrevieja is the municipality with the highest number of robberies with force in homes.

Torrevieja registered more cases of robbery with force that the city of Alicante – which has triple the inhabitants of Torrevieja

Last year, Torrevieja registered 978 cases of robbery with force, in comparison to the city of Alicante – which has triple the inhabitants of Torrevieja - where 839 cases were registered.

In 2013, the City Council of Torrevieja launched a citywide CCTV system that has helped to secure the arrest of many offenders thus far.

On average, there are three robberies with force in homes a day in Torrevieja.

Holidays mark the perfect occasions for thieves, according to data from the security sector and Spanish locksmiths will have carried out at least 110,000 lock changes to targeted homes by the end of this year.

Research has revealed 80% of the locks installed in Spain are obsolete, mainly because they were installed 25 years ago or more. If you are concerned about the security of your home, make an appointment with a local locksmith firm.

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17th - 23rd march 2017

Spanish paedophile auditioned for The X Factor Whilst on the run for raping a 10-year-old girl.

by Tahnee Wright Manuel Pons Sanchez, 46, was being hunted by the Spanish police for a series of sex attacks when he auditioned on the talent show in 2009.

Menorca - based Pons Sanchez carried out the violent attack in 2004, beating and biting the young girl before tying her to a bed and raping her, leaving her suffering from anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

He fled to the UK soon after.

The attack was not reported until 2007, when the victim´s mother told Spanish authorities. An International Arrest Warrant was issued but Pons Sanchez thought he was safe from arrest, even more so in the UK. In the UK, he resided in Liverpool whilst working as a porter for private firm Medirest at Whiston Hospital, whose staff were unaware he was wanted.

Pons Sanchez made it to the bootcamp round of The X Factor. After hearing him sing U2’s With Or Without You, Cowell said: `Hey, Manuel, we like you. I don’t think anyone’s going to try harder` Pons Sanchez also appeared on the ITV2 spin-off show Xtra Factor, playing Fawlty Towers character Manuel in a sketch with

Holly Willoughby.

Producers were unaware he was wanted in Spain. It appears the Spanish authorities failed to notify their British counterparts, despite knowing in 2008 that Pons Sanchez was in the UK. The Spanish Police saw a recording of the episodes which featured Pons Sanchez. After being recognised, he was captured and extradited to Spain.

The British authorities informed he had no criminal activity while living in Great Britain.

In the trial at Palma de Mallorca Court, Pons Sanchez was jailed for 23 years and six months last for a series of attacks on the girl when she was aged between six and 10.

Holly Willoughby with Manuel Pons Sanchez

Two days to clear flooded areas of San Juan beach The City Council of Alicante have estimated that 20,000 cubic meters of water collected across Avenida Niza and Avenida Costa Blanca near San Juan beach between Sunday and Tuesday. Firefighters, who continued on Wednesday evening to drain the 20 million litres of water, have confirmed the exercise would take another two days to complete. As of Wednesday evening, of the five buildings affected by the flooding, water had been cleared from two and the draining exercise continued in the others. The enormity of the exercise was realised by residents of one of the buildings after they initially took to the task themselves, working all day and night only to reduce the water level by 20 centimetres.

Many residents of the buildings made the decision to pack up their belongings and stay with friends or family earlier this week, as apartments were (and some continue to be) without light or water.

Alcala Town Hall stripper scandal Council workers in Alcala de Henares (Madrid) have found themselves in hot water after calling in a stripper to perform at a party for a retiring colleague.

The party took place at the end of the working day on council premises on March 4 when colleagues called in the stripper as a send-off for a fellow worker.

The male council worker, whose identity has not been revealed, looked like he had the time of his life as the whole episode was caught on camera and then posted on YouTube.

The erotic dancer stripped to her underwear and performed a lap dance over the departing worker.

Miguel Angel Lezcano, the spokesman for the Ciudadanos party in Alcala de Henares, demanded someone take ‘political responsibility’ for the party.

The mayor’s office has launched an investigation into the ‘lamentable planning of a party involving a stripper’.

Still of the YouTube video, which is surprisingly still available online

Fraudster car-salesman arrested in Alicante

A 41-year-old man has been arrested in Alicante, accused of conducting a string of scams, primarily advertising vehicles online that in reality, did not exist.

The Economic Crime Group of the Provincial Police Brigade of Alicante initiated investigations in January after receiving a complaint from a member of the public who suspected the accused was hiding some form of illicit activity. The police made their inquiries and discovered the accused offered said non-existent vehicles through a well-known website, inserting advertisements for the vehicles at well below retail-price in a bid to attract more potential customers at a faster rate.

Once potential customers made contact with the accused, he agreed to reserve the vehicles and demanded deposits of between 500€ - 1000€. The unsuspecting victims deposited the monies into an account that was held in a different name to that of the accused and never heard from him thereafter.

Of the complaints filed thus far, police have located five of the victims from Alicante and other provinces. On the same website, the accused was also involved in an employment-offer scam whereby he received 900€ per transaction which he handed over to a third person in the business – his aim being to establish an intermediary structure to conceal his identity.

17th - 23rd march 2017

Six tonnes of oranges stolen in Orihuela and Pego Three men arrested by Guardia Civil.

by Tahnee Wright The Guardia Civil of Torrevieja have arrested two Moroccan men, aged 21 and 28 on three offences. For offences against officials, crimes of damage and the theft of at least five tonnes of oranges - a tonne and a half of which have been recovered.

The arrests took place in Orihuela, after the Guardia Civil were tipped off that the stolen oranges were hidden in a zone of scrub and cane. A surveillance device was installed which confirmed the tip off and officers then managed to surprise the two men just as they were loading the oranges in two vans.

Upon realising they had been caught, the men attempted to escape in one of the vans.

The Guardia Civil had already foreseen this

happening and cut the men short a few metres, although they did not give up and resisted arrest, attacking officers. Officers finally put the men on the floor after receiving several blows to the head.

After investigating the origin of the oranges, Team ROCA agents verified that they had been stolen from an agricultural estate located in Abanilla (Murcia). The team returned more than 1,500 kilos of the oranges to their rightful owner.

The two vans used by the men have also been seized.

In Pego, the Guardia Civil have arrested a 26-year-old man for stealing 1,300 kilos of oranges from a farm and also for possession of false documents, which he had intended to use to sell the oranges on.

Suspicious package in central Alicante The National Police cordoned off La Calle Pintor Lorenzo Casanova after an abandoned bag was found.

The area was flooded with officers as the bag was treated as a ‘suspicious package’ and had to be examined by a police dog especially trained to detect explosives.

After examination, the situation was declared a false alarm and the bag was found to belong to a homeless person.

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17th - 23rd march 2017

'Maximum number of victims' A call unearthed

by Belgian Police investigators reveals Brussels terror attackers final plans for deadly plot.

by Tahnee Wright A sinister telephone exchange between the suicide bombers who carried out the Brussels terror attack has been released.

Najim Laachraoui and Ibrahim El Bakraoui killed 32 people and wounded more than 300 other victims when they launched two suicide attacks at Brussels Airport and another bombing at a Metro station almost a year ago today, on 22nd March 2016.

The 10-minute recording of the call made the day before the attack features the pair discussing their plans - to target the Belgian capital’s airport and metro lines with more than 100 kilos of explosives - with a ringleader in Syria.

The arrest of the mastermind behind the Paris attacks in November 2015 had unnerved the pair and created a sense of urgency. Both feared arrest because of of Laachraoui’s own involvement in the Paris attacks, which killed 130 people.

In the transcript of the conversation, Laacharoui told their point person in Syria they could no longer ‘delay’ their attack. El Bakraoui added ‘we’re working in a rush… we had lots of plans… but we’re obligated to work now, or we’ll have to rot in a cell’.

The terrorists had decided against firing into crowds, wor-

Scene inside Brussels airport after blast (credit: BBC)

rying people would flee and airport security would intervene and instead revealed they would target American, Russian and Israeli flights at the airport.

‘We’ve decided that, for a maximum number of victims, we have to infiltrate and set everything off at the same time’.

The recording was discovered on a laptop found in rubbish bins in the Brussels neighbourhood of Schaerbeek, thanks to a tip off from a taxi driver who, after hearing the news, understood that the men had taken to the airport that morning were Laachraoui and El Bakraoui.

The pair had sent a number of recorded voice messages via encrypted services to their counterparts in Syria and inves-

tigators also found a letter addressed to the Belgian government, last saved at 10.43pm the night before the attacks.

Belgian authorities have been on high alert since the March 22 attacks, with police conducting numerous raids across the country in a bid to thwart further plots.

On March 7 this year, federal prosecutors said police had apprehended a 24-year-old woman, identified as ‘Molly B’, who was suspected of planning European attacks.

A statement said a probe shows ‘indications of assistance being provided by the woman to persons with the intention to commit an attack in Europe’, adding her detention is not linked to previous attacks.

Police investigate hit man arrested three days after Maria del Carmen Martinez murder

Maria del Carmen Martinez and husband Vicente Sala

Agents of Alicante and the Central Organized Crime Brigade arrested a fugitive of Colombian nationality claimed by Germany in December, three days after Maria del Carmen Martinez was murdered.

The fugitive was wanted for attempted murder and drug trafficking in Germany.

He fled Germany after shooting a man twice over a drug related issue and settled in Alicante. A European Order of Detention and Delivery was subsequently issued and when he was captured, a large amount of telling computer and telephone material, several memory devices and twenty grams of cocaine were found.

He was placed at the disposal of the Audiencia Nacional.

Agents working on the case of Maria del Carmen Martínez recently analysed the fugitive’s movement around the time that he was arrested to ascertain whether he could have been linked to her murder. After investigations, any connection to the murder of María del Carmen Martinez was ruled out.

17th - 23rd march 2017

Welcome to Torrevieja Shopping Routes Torrevieja's Small and Medium Business Association APYMECO introduced their new Shopping Discount card at Expo Torrevieja last weekend.

by Keith Nicol Promoted with street maps and a new app, more than 130 local shops offer a range of discounts from 5% to 20% off their products with the presentation of their free card. It's been launched just in time for their latest campaign to celebrate Father's Day this weekend, with even more special offers with Dad in mind.

Along with the new discount card is a new website: www.torreviejashoppingroutes.com that also has the download option for the app. This month Apymeco say that they have started a new commercial and tourism journey through their project Torrevieja Shopping and Tourism Routes. Their focus now to communicate as much relevant information as possible about businesses and professionals, tourism, events, promotions, marketing campaigns, sweepstakes, discounts, etc. all in one place. Coming soon will be a weekly newsletter which you can sign up for.

Their Father’s Day – San José promotion started on Wednesday continues through Saturday 18 March. Keep your eyes peeled and be

on the lookout for the arch villain from Star Wars, the one and only Darth Vader, who will be doing the rounds and visiting the shops of Torrevieja. There is also the opportunity to win prizes during this weekend, in all the shops this weekend. The Father's Day event is organized by Department of Commerce Ayto.

Torrevieja with the collaboration from Apymeco, Casagrande Polygon Association, Merchants Association District Zoa Km.1, Acolam and merchants Association Barrio Acequión.

The website allows you to quickly find your way around Torrevieja. It features a 'Wellness, Route', Fashion Route, Professional Services Route and Home Route, for furnishing, home improvements, etc.

The new Shopping Card is presently in Paper form and expires on March 31st, At that time the new Plastic, Credit Card style discount cards will be ready along with expanded offers and selection. And don't worry girls: it may be Father's Day this weekend but there are lots of discounts on offer for shopping and services for you too.

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17th - 23rd march 2017

17th - 23rd march 2017

Torrevieja tremors Last Thursday morning at 11.48 another minor earthquake was felt throughout the Vega Baja.

Torrevieja Church after the earthquake of 1829

by Keith Nicol With the region being located in a major earthquake zone, minor earthquakes are welcome as they release the build up of pressure and advert a larger catastrophe. Last October a new study by researchers from the University of Alicante brought to light once again, that the city of Torrevieja and the Vega Baja in General is not adequately prepared for earthquakes.

Thursday’s tremor had its epicentre just south-east of Los Montesinos with a magnitude of 2.7. according to data provided by the National Geographic Institute (IGN). The epicentre was estimated to be twelve kilometres deep and felt in Torrevieja, :a Mata, Los Montesinos, Rojales, Benijófar, Almoradí, Dolores and around Daya Nueva. If statistics are anything to go by, Spain suffers a major earthquake every seventy years. Setting aside Lorca, which was most likely caused by man made interventions, the last one happened on Christmas Day in 1884 in Arenas del Rey (Granada), thus chances of a more local occurrence grow greater every day.

Thursday’s quake immediately reminded Spanish historians about the areas most infamous earthquake in March 1829, that more or less flattened Torrevieja. In 2012, local citizens, clubs, associations and schools all partook in an an emergency exercise to test contingency plans should a major earthquake strike the area, however these drills were never followed up on.

Sociologist Antonio Aledo and environmental expert Samia Sulaiman at the University of Alicante noted that “although earthquakes that we are experiencing in Torrevieja are small, the city is, after all, one of the most earthquake-prone regions in Spain. The development of the city since the 1970s with a large and almost aimless expansion has given the city a property structure that increases the risk during major earthquakes.”

The earthquake that took place in Torrevieja in 1929 remains the largest experienced in Spain over the last 600 years. The earthquake of 21 March 1829 killed 389 people and injured 209 people, destroyed more than 2,000 homes and other structures. The earthquake was estimated at a magnitude of 6.6 on the Richter scale and 6.9 at it’s highest point.

When it rains it pours After having the hottest weekend of 2017 to date, with temperatures nipping into the 30s, wet and windy weather returned to the Vega Baja this week, with temperatures plummeting to the low teens and in some areas more than 40 litres of rain per square meter closing roads and causing major problems.

On Monday wind gusts reached 82 kilometres per hour in Torrevieja, where they and the City of Orihuela suspended all its outdoor activities including events and sports. Fire and emergency services rushed to the Torrevieja seafront shortly after 2.30pm on Monday as the threat of an electricity pole collapsing due to the high winds forced the closure of Avda. Alfred Nobel, close to Los Locos in Torrevieja. The strength of water flowing down the streets also knocked over a palm tree, in the area being worked upon to repair previous wind damage, in the boardwalk of La Mata.

This is the third time the area has experienced heavy rainfall this winter and although nothing like what

could be expected in a Gota Fria, the rain coupled with high winds, generated some problems in places like Guardamar, Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa and Pilar de la Horadada. The Policia Local had to close some roads to traffic that, as is usual, flooded in Torrevieja, in addition to attending properties and especially bars and cafes, who had reported problems of walls and cornices collapsing plus awnings becoming detached or also collapsing, the rising winds complicated the maritime situation with gusts reaching up to 82 kilometres per hour, as recorded in the Los Altos area, south of Torrevieja.

In Torrevieja, an electric pole located on the corner of residence Mar Bella forced the closure of Avda. Alfred

Nobel because it threatened to fall on the road. As is a normal occurrence during heavy rainfall, many roads in the residential areas of Las Torretas were flooded in addition to Calle Joaquín García, in the vicinity of the Doña Inés urbanization and Jardín del Mar. At these points some vehicles were trapped and then abandoned by drivers due to the high water levels.

Fortunately, the bad weather seems to be behind us now and with the organisers of today’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade keeping their fingers crossed, it looks like a return to normal Spring weather, with temperatures in the mid twenties and little if any rain forecast for at least the next week as we close in on Easter.

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17th - 23rd march 2017

Masymas buys out Murcia based supermarket chain

Petition to stop poisoning in Elche A petition has been initiated as part of the campaign to raise awareness about the dangers to pets and children when using toxic substances to deter animals.

Homeowners might be inclined to coat exterior walls and crevices with a toxic substance to stop cats and dogs urinating or defecating nearby.

In just one week, over a thousand signatures have been collected on the Change.org petition to stop this.

The initiative, led by the Peludines group, is receiving a very good reception, according to Ana Sanchez, its president, who is also going to start collecting physical signatures from local Elche businesses.

The group have reacted partly to the municipal campaign where owners are asked to pick up their animals' defecations (which we think is fair enough) and to stop them from urinating anywhere (a little more difficult).

Fines will also be handed out to unlawful owners.

As a response, the group have called for fines for those who use toxic substances where access by the general public is allowed, reasoning that such substances can not only cause harm to cats and dogs, but also children.

Juan Fornes Fornes, Masymas President

by Tahnee Wright Juan Fornes Fornes SA, the Pedreguer based company that own Masymas and Fornes by Masymas have recently purchased supermarket chain Murcia Fresh Market.

The purchase means the three Murcia Fresh Market supermarkets – two in Murcia and one in Alicante – have been rebranded as Masymas. These supermarkets occupy a total area of 4,855 square metres and invoice approximately €10million per annum. The 58 employees across the three supermarkets are now employees of Masymas.

The purchase means an increase in Masymas’ presence in Murcia, where it now has 8 supermarkets.

In 2016, Masymas’ sales increased by 3 per cent and it closed the year with a turnover of €275million, up €10million in comparison to 2015. These results confirm Masymas’ position as third ranked in the Valencian chain of supermarkets.

Celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, Juan Fornes Fornes SA now operate 129 establishments, 127 of which are operated as Masymas, with the other two under its new, slightly more urban sister-brand of Fornes by Masymas.

On its website, Juan Fornes Fornes SA puts its evolution down to a ‘close, familiar and human management that has made our stores a reference for the daily purchase of thousands of people from large cities, medium towns and small towns’.

Easter boosts the creation of 5,800 jobs in Alicante Top sectors being transport and distribution, tourism, hospitality and entertainment.

Following the trough in employment since the Christmas and New Year campaigns and sales, recruitment figures are set to peak again as we approach the Easter period, with a forecast 5,860 jobs to be created in Alicante alone.

The forecast represents an increase of 2.7 per cent on Easter 2016, although it is still almost 5 per cent below the state average of 7.6 per cent.

Companies are beginning to actively recruit to ensure they are able to increase their activity across the Easter period, when many tourists will arrive to the coastal zones.

Of the new jobs, the majority will be temporary seasonal contracts and the employment boost will focus on the sectors in highest demand over the season - transport and distribution, tourism, hospitality and entertainment.

Companies will be looking for candidates who have previously worked in sim-

ilar companies or in the same industry in order to reduce training time and increase efficiency. Those entering jobs with no previous experience should be able to adapt quickly to their new position, so everything is in place for the influx of Easter tourists.

Being able to speak a second language will be highly valued across all positions and candidates who speak English are likely to be favoured. English will be required for many of the job positions offered as it is the basic language in hospitality, catering and transport.

However, on an international level, Spain has received many more Russian, Chinese and Arabic tourists in recent years so the ability to speak these languages will be a bonus. In the case of European tourism, Spain remains popular with the French and German so proficiency in these languages will also stand a candidate in good stead.

The forecast represents an increase of 2.7 per cent on Easter 2016

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Only 500 European Bison left in Spain

by Tahnee Wright The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), has approached Aragon, Castilla y Leon, La Rioja, Navarra and the Basque Country for collaboration and urgent action by increasing forces to halt the ‘imminent extinction’ of the European Bison. The NGO wants these regions to support the campaign #MenosDe500 to signify only 500 European Bison remain in Spain.

Aragon has an estimated population of 34 European Bison limited to the rivers in the North East.

Castilla y Leon is host to a reduced population, in a few rivers north west of the Burgos province and the northern edge of Soria.

La Rioja enjoys a large and widely distributed population and despite being the smallest autonomous region it is very important for European Bison protection, given its geographic position and the wide expanse of favourable habitats.

Navarra has the highest density of the European Bison population in the world and

represents a third of the total population on the Iberian Peninsula where some 350 bison survive – here the monitoring of invading species has just started.

The WWF considers the Basque Country an area of grand importance for the European Bison, given since the 90s its territory bordered Navarra and La Rioja to create one of the largest breeding grounds on the Iberian Peninsula.

However, the Basque Country has seen a recent population drop with only a few examples in the provinces of Vizcaya, Guipúzcoa and Avila where remaining numbers are isolated.

It has been requested that The Ministry for Agriculture, Fishing, Alimentation and the Environment urgently declare the European Bison a highly endangered species.

In a letter sent to the Regional Governments the WWF alert to the dramatic situation of this small carnivore, with a population loss of 90% in their original worldwide distribution area If urgent measures are not taken, the European Bison will face total extinction in Spain within five years.

European Bison – Photo WWF

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Tony De Love says farewell for now

Sunday, a day for shopping in Alicante Alicante’s shopping centres are now permitted to open on Sundays and public holidays. The court has allowed the provisional opening for the shopping centres of Puerta de Alicante, Gran Via and Plaza Mar 2.

The decision was made despite the appeal against the opening by the city, claiming the shopping centres were not in the Tourist Relief Zone (ZGAT).

Damian Munz

by Keith Nicol The one and only, Damian Munz, better known in local entertainment and radio circles as Tony de Love, is packing his bags and heading back to the UK. Apart from being a regular on the entertainment and karaoke scene around the Orihuela Costa and Vega Baja, Tony/ Damian was also one of the original presenters on TKO radio, along with being involved with local TV production. Damian is returning to the UK to manage a family Delicatessen along with his son Bradley, in Preston.

Damian said: “I am going home to work with my son and return to my early training, until the age of 17, as a trainee in my own family's butcher business. This was

started by my Grandfather who settled in Bradford after fleeing Germany. My wife Cath and daughter Abbi are both staying in Spain as Abbi wants to finish her education here, so I'll be back regularly.”

Damian added: “I was born over a butchers shop. My dad was a butcher. My Grandad was a butcher who emigrated from Germany in between the wars to escape Hitler. My Grandfather was a German Pork butcher from South Germany in a tiny hamlet named Hohebach. He settled in Bradford, where I was born and brought up, and my Granddad became a successful Pork Butcher, famous for Pork Pies and for introducing German Specialities such as Polony, Hazlet, Salami and a range of Home made Sausage.” At 18 Damian went into engineering, design

Polish couple arrested

by Spanish police for swindling more than €1,600,000 in Germany THE Guardia Civil in Alicante arrested a 51-year-old man and a 52year-old woman, both of Polish nationality, who were being sought by the German authorities The couple are charged with a whopping €1.6million of social security fraud offences in Germany.

The German authorities requested the collaboration of the Spanish authorities in locating the couple, after receiving information that they could be residing in the area of San Fulgencio (Alicante).

The couple had hired workers of Polish nationality without insurance and without paying the relevant contributions to the social security system in Germany. As a result the agencies suffered losses of 451,508€. It is also claimed they had defrauded the German social security the amount of 1,184,207€, in unemployment benefits that did not belong to them.

The couple, who are said to have resided in Spain since 2006, have already been transferred to the National Court of Madrid to attend an extradition hearing.

and sales followed by running a pub in Longridge for 14 years. Damian met his wife Cath on Friday 13th December 1985, at work, at the same Engineering company. They married in 1989 and packed up the family and moved to Spain in July 2003, when the kids were three and four years old. Damian will continue to stay involved with his event management business and flying back to perform at weddings and also provide a catering service for special events and occasions.

Putting on his Tony de Love hat, he'll be performing a couple of farewell gigs, both at Smiling Jacks on 25th and the last gig on 27th March. He flies home the following day and everyone is welcome to party with Damian/Tony before heading back to Preston.

Protests against hunting with dogs

Alicante City’s Plaza de Luceros recently played host to more than 100 people, Pacma and other animal protection societies who all gathered to demand a ban on hunting with dogs.

Also present was the city’s Animal Protection councillor, Marisol Moreno.

Organised by the ‘No hunting with dogs’ platform, the demonstration was also attended by dog owners, accompanied by their greyhounds and hunting dogs.

‘Greyhounds and other dogs used for hunting live in dreadful conditions and they are taught to be violent. When they are no longer of use they are killed and they die awful deaths’, one of the protesters said.

Further demonstrations are planned, calling for tougher sentences for ill-treating animals.

Darth Vader takes over Torrevieja Father’s Day campaign promoted with the motto ‘I am your father’.

Six shopping merchants across Torrevieja have come together to organise the commercial campaign to promote local commerce when purchasing gifts for Father’s Day, which is observed in Spain on March 19 as opposed to the UK date which falls in June.

The campaign can be seen advertised around the city and has already proved very popular with adults and children alike. In the advert, Darth Vader is seen saying ‘I am your father, look for me in the shops of Torrevieja’.

Customers of the local shops involved in the campaign will have the opportunity to have their photo taken with ‘Darth Vader’ who will be paying random visits on Saturday and even purchasing gifts for unsuspecting ‘chosen ones’, as ObiWan-Kenobi would say.

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San Luis/La Siesta Neighbourhood Watch needs new president Meetings will cease unless a new volunteer comes forward.

by Tahnee Wright The Neighbourhood Watch/Residents' meetings of San Luis/La Siesta were started 17 years ago by Graham Knight and have been held on a monthly basis ever since.

The final meeting will be held on Monday April 27 at 4.30pm in Casa Ventura unless a volunteer is prepared to come forward to take over as President to run the meetings.

The only requirements are: 1. To be resident in San Luis / La Siesta / El Chaparral 2. To be an English speaker 3. To be enthusiastic and to care about the area It is not an onerous task as the president is not expected to sort problems out but only to point people in the right direction. This is done by liaison with the Foreigners Office of the Town Hall.

Every meeting is attended by at least 1 representative from the Foreigners office to answer questions and problems and to pass on information.

The Mayor, Jose Manuel Dolon has confirmed he will attend the next meeting on April 27.

In collaboration with the Town Hall the association has corrected many local problems over the years. Instigating repairs to pavements, street lights, green areas, road signs and markings and even persuading the Town Hall to resurface the car park in San Luis Playa Tolosa.

It will be a detriment to the area if the meetings have to be terminated.

Meetings are currently held 9 times a year, on a monthly basis except in December, July and August. If this or the venue of Casa Ventura is not convenient to the new President, all can be amended to suit. Previous Presidents Janice Gray, Jean Wardle and Rita Huntley, who have each done the job for many years, are no longer able to commit themselves fully but would be only too willing to assist, if and when required.

For more information contact 966 789 265 / 966 784 735 / 966 785 423.

Previous Presidents Janice Gray, Jean Wardle and Rita Huntley

All change at Torrevieja U3A On Monday February 27, the CMO building in Torrevieja played host to the AGM of the of the Torrevieja U3A, now in its 11th year. The meeting saw various changes confirmed, with a new president, a change in various committee roles and three new faces voted onto the committee.

With in excess of 40 group activities to choose from, exciting times are ahead for the Torrevieja U3A. On a recent excursion, members took a coach to Lorca and enjoyed the beautiful sites of the traditional Spanish town.

For more information or to join, check out www.torreviejau3a.com

Views over Lorca

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Trump and the Palomares Nuclear clean-up

by Keith Nicol Shortly before England won the World Cup for the first and only time in 1966, a US air force bomber crashed in the region of Palomares, Almeria. The accident resulted in four hydrogen bombs being dropped over the area. Three of the bombs were found near the fishing village of Palomares. The non-nuclear explosives in two of the devices detonated, resulting in the contamination of a two-square-kilometre area with plutonium. The fourth bomb fell into the sea and was recovered more than two months afterwards.

The bombs were not primed to explode and so a major disaster was not something that could have resulted from the accident. The incident was quickly covered up by the US Air force but later revealed by two brothers.

Although the area is fenced off, and has been for fifty years, some of the area has been farmed over the years, although the zone is still toxic.

Half-a-century later, on October 19, 2015, Spain and Washington signed an agreement paving the way for the US to transport almost 50,000 cubic meters of contaminated soil back to the USA. At a price of 640 million euros, the project requires an international treaty that has yet to be ratified by Spain’s Congress.

Last week, James Costos, the US ambassador to Spain since 2013, resigned.

After the US Senate approves a Donald Trump-appointed successor, a process that could take several months, among the priorities on the new incumbents desk will be a renegotiation on how to clean up tonnes of contaminated soil in Palomares (Almería).

The original agreement was to finish the deal by December 31, 2015, however Spain’s two inconclusive elections resulted in a ten-month political stalemate that was only resolved in November, 2016. On November 8, four days after Rajoy took office at the head of a minority government, Donald Trump won the US elections and since the agreement was not legally binding it’s still not known how Trump will view the agreement on the Palomares clean-up.

Guided visits to the Water Treatment Plant

Next Wednesday, March 22nd, is World Water Day. To mark the occasion, the Town Council of Torrevieja and water company Agamed have organized an open day to the water treatment plant of the town, which is located beside the main cemetery, off the N332..

The objective of this initiative is to raise awareness of the purification processes that water passing through our household systems or drainage systems is subjected to, in order that it can later be reused for other uses other than human consumption , such as irrigation of green areas, agriculture or street washing; Taking as an example, the work carried out in Torrevieja, be it street cleaning or irrigation, etc, is one of the best examples in the entire country, as 100% of the water that is purified through this system is reused.

The visit to the Water Treatment Plant is free and falls within the slogan that the UN has marked to commemorate this day in 2017: Wastewater and the open-door campaign launched by the Spanish Association of Water and Sanitation. Tours are available from 9.30am until 2pm Anyone interested in knowing more should make their way directly to the Plant where videos on the management that Agamed uses will be shown, before the guided tour by Technical personnel of the management company of the integral water cycle. Before you ask, it was not noted if any presentations would be given in English, although many of the staff are bilingual.

During this visit you will discover how the water cycle works in Torrevieja: three phases to which the water is subjected to once it reaches these facilities, starting with the pretreatment phase where the larger particles are removed. Next, water is moved to circular tanks that allow the sedimentation of organic matter. Subsequently, in order to eliminate the organic residues, a second purification phase, in this case biological, is carried out, which allows the elimination of the contaminants that have been dissolved. So that the water can be reused, it goes through a third phase known as tertiary treatment, where it returns to totally transparent state, producing water free of micro-organisms.

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Rojales turns Pink Almost a thousand people turned the streets of Rojales into a pink tide against cancer last weekend.

by Keith Nicol The official numbers and pink shirts given to the participants for the IV Solidarity March of Women were sold out in a few minutes with many other participants joining in the walk at their own leisure. The 5K served as a tribute to Isabel Cañadas, a teacher of the IES La Encantá, who passed away last year.

For the City of Rojales it was a historic day. Never before had a sporting event brought together so many people to the streets: and they did so for a good cause. The IV Solidarity March for Women brought together more than 900 participants who came from various parts of the region to contribute their bit to the fight against cancer. The token three euros inscription went to the National Centre of Investigations Ontologicals (CNIO), whose communication director, Nuria Noriega, came from Madrid to attend the event. After the official 850 numbers were sold, there were still more than 50 people who decided to pay and participate anyway, and join the march.

All the participants wore a Pink T-shirt with an image that was designed for this march, by Sara González, a student of the IES La Encantá who won the poster contest. Isabel Cañadas, was a professor of Physical Education, who died last year of the disease. It was a highly charged and emotional day which drew some tears from her friends, colleagues, teachers, and students, but all were clear in their focus that the march was not only a tribute, but also a vindication of strength and support for all people suffering from cancer .

At the end of the march the students of the institute presented a short speech in memory of Isabel and of support to all the women who are fighting breast cancer. The Sports Councilor for Rojales, Pedro Llopis, pointed out that “we have been overwhelmed, as we have never seen such participation in any event ever.

EuroMillions winner collects more than 80.5 million euros The EuroMillions draw took place this Tuesday March 14 with a single winner (five numbers plus two stars) collecting 80.5 million euros. The winning ticket of the first category was stamped in Portugal, with a winner from the second category (five number plus one star) collecting 244,777€ in A Coruna, Spain.

There were five winners in the third cat-

egory – one based in Vigo (Pontevedra) – each colleting 32,577.93€.

The winning combination was made up of numbers 3, 5, 21, 36 and 44. The stars were 3 and 6. The proceeds of the raffle amounted to 49,575,103.60€ In the next draw Euromillions will put into play a guaranteed fund of 17million€ for the winners of the first category.

Pink Shirts were sold out in minutes

Double records for Alicante weather

Between Monday and Tuesday, Alicante received half as much rain as it gets in an entire year on average.

It was the city’s third-rainiest day in the last 80 years and the rainiest 24-hour period so far in the 21st century, according to AEMET, the Spanish meteorology agency. The rain came as even more of a shock after the heat wave experienced across south eastern Spain over the weekend, which produced new March temperature records for Alicante.

At Alicante Airport, the temperature reached a sweltering 34.8°c, the highest ever recorded in March (and also April). In 2016, temperatures of 34.8°c or above were only recorded seven times at the airport.

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Carnival time at Finca San Miguel de Salinas

by Tahnee Wright On Saturday 25th February, Finca San Miguel de Salinas held a spectacular carnival style open afternoon.

The event was blessed as what was initially a chilly morning soon turned into a warm, bright afternoon.

The finca welcomed many guests, some of whom even turned up in fancy dress!

Plenty of singing and dancing was enjoyed by all, initiated by Jurgen Rost, who was at his best, singing German and English songs.

Food was aplenty with paella, sausages and homemade cakes and Angela Richards organised the raffle which raised €300.

Snow, a 2-year old dog who had been locked away for his whole life was taken in by the finca and has now been fostered by a local family.

The total raised was an outstanding €1,250.

The next open day will be held on Saturday March 25 from 1pm to 5pm and the finca will host its Easter party on Saturday April 29. Both events promise fun for the whole family. Feel free to bring apples, carrots and tomatoes to feed the farm animals or cat food/ dog food for the cats and dogs.

Finca San Miguel is supported by ‘Happy Animales Spain’, founded by Mona Nowak. Happy Animales Spain is a registered charity committed to the welfare of impoverished and abandoned animals. At Finca San Miguel, neglected animals are taken, provided with any veterinary care

they might need along with a lot of cuddles and very often adopted.

The work of Finca San Miguel and Happy Animales Spain is not limited to the dayto-day running of the finca. They regularly inspect animal cruelty in the area, discuss solutions with animal owners and carry out follow-up checks. If there is no other option, they will work to confiscate the animals and take them in at the finca.

You can help Finca San Miguel by giving donations or become a food sponsor for €5/ €10 or more each month.

For more information and directions, follow Finca San Miguel De Salinas on Facebook or contact Mona - 616 792 355 or Sol nicosolm@hotmail.com.

Snow before

Snow after

Expo Torrevieja delights the thousands Crowds at the Show

Mayor Jose Manuel Dolon

Last weekend the City of Salt was blessed both with great weather and a lifestyle fair at the picturesque Salones Bahia Costa in La Mata, Torrevieja. Around six thousand people visited the seventy plus exhibitors to find out more about enhancing their quality of life while visiting or living on the Costas. The expo was the brainchild of Keith, Kjetil and Artuo and attracted mainly Scandinavian exhibitors, along with those from around Spain and even The Claims Bureau who flew in specially for the show from the UK. The region has been without a top notch Lifestyle Fair since the demise of the This Is Spain shows and the first new expo is always done with a little trepidation due to the costs involved and making sure that a good crowd enjoyed the show. But with around six thousand visitors spread over two five hour periods, it attracted a good crowd who discovered a wide array of products and services ranging from Private Hospitals, Insurance, Real Estate, Property Rentals, Gifts, Clothing, Arts and Crafts, Internet and Television, Wine, Gastronomy, Printing, Creative Arts, Energy Savings with 100% solar energy without the need to put solar panels on your house and a whole lot more.

The organisers wished to thank the exhibitors and all the visitors for their support, and are already planning another major exhibition for November and smaller more focused fairs over the next few months, which will include a property show plus a Health, Wealth and Lifestyle show, to name but two. The Town Hall were on hand with their Tourist Department to hand out information about where to go and what to do in the City, Live and Enjoy Torrevieja with a choice of different tours for groups, clubs and associations and Apymeco; the Small and Medium Business Association, giving out their free Discount Cards and information on Free Parking in Torrevieja. For more information about future events please visit www.expotorrevieja or email: info@expotorrevieja.com.

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Educashun ain’t what it used to be

by

Colin Bird

I am not by any means a television addict and certainly not a fan of the soaps or much of the other garbage that passes for entertainment. (You can tell that I am rapidly becoming a miserable old git).

But I have to confess a liking for the two early evening quiz programmes – Tipping Point and The Chase.

I am usually busy in the kitchen doing my poor man’s Jamie Oliver bit when they are screened, and I try to combine the two activities.

It means I will often drop my partially chopped onion and rush to the TV to answer some of the questions and amaze the Princess with my super intelligence And sometimes I am told to put down my toad in the hole and come listen to the hilarious quips of Bradley Walsh.

But it strikes me that either the auditioning process is pretty laid back, or that many of the contestants are simply bubbleheads.

Look I know that any question is easy if you happen to know the answer and conversely, difficult if you don’t. But there are instances where you can’t help thinking: “Are they being serious?”

A while ago a young college chap on The Chase was asked: “Which famous British explorer first mapped New Zealand.”

Okay, not everybody would feel confident about the answer, but hey, they might get lucky with an educated guess. But “Robinson Crusoe” was just a tad

off the mark I felt.

Then he confirmed his dweeb status with the next question that was: What was the H.G.Wells book about a man who could travel through time?”

‘Great Expectations’ according to him. Hmm. Another college graduate identified The Rockies as the rocky island south of the Isle of Man, and yet another Student on Tipping Point was unable to identify Lancaster as the family house that opposed York in the War of the Roses.

The worrying part is, the genius concerned had boasted of an A- Level in history.

And it’s not just the younger generation.

A Daily Express survey found that 22% of people over 65 were unaware that the Romans had ever occupied England.

But listen. In the same survey less than half of the younger age group were able to identify Francis Drake as the victorious leader against the Spanish Armada.

The rest thought it might have

Monkeys can’t talk by

Victor Pemberton

Well that’s what they say. Or can they? It was once said that if the monkeys ever left the Rock Of Gibraltar, so would the British. As far as I know both are still there, but for how long nobody can tell. Of course the monkeys are really apes whose official name is a bit of a mouthful –Barbary macaques. Although the tourists love them they can be vicious little creatures and will give you a nasty bite if they take a dislike to you.

But I digress. Gibraltar is not just about monkeys and tourism. It’s about a political struggle for sovereignty between two of the most powerful nations in Europe, a struggle which has existed ever since the tiny territory was ceded to Great Britain ‘in perpetuity ’under the Treaty of Utrecht in the early part of the 18th Century. It’s been a bitter struggle, and still is, with Spain constantly adamant that the territory belongs to them, and the British government, backed frequently by referendums which show the Gibraltans themselves wanting to stay British, asserting that most of the territory remains under the property of them.

So what a mess! And all because of a large lump of limestone rock jutting out of the sea. Of course it is in a strategic position: the narrow Straits of Gibraltar command one of the most important shipping lanes in the world. But are territorial disputes amongst politicians a good enough reason to punish ordinary people of all nations, but mainly British and Spanish citizens, by closing border posts and making them sit in their cars in the boiling heat for hours on end? Or to use small Spanish fishing boats to chug provocatively into British territorial waters in order to cause an international incident with the British navy? Its crazy and dangerous. I mean, do we really want to see another blood bath such as the great conflict with Argentina in the Falklands? Are we really prepared to sacrifice our loved ones all over again, and for what? Territorial claims?

But for me there is still something I don’t understand about all this. The people of both Spain and the United Kingdom know about the situation at Gibraltar and yet there is very little conversation about it on the streets or in the restaurants or bars. It’s almost as though it’s a taboo subject that ordinary folk don’t want to talk about. However one can only hope that one day they will let their politicians know how they feel about the prospect of going to war with a friendly country over a ridiculous lump of Rock in the middle of the great Meditteranean Sea, a Rock that will remain solid long after our politicians have finished arguing about who it belongs to.

I don’t think the monkeys will ever quit the Rock. Somehow I think they have more sense than their masters in Madrid and London.

Do you have any ideas of how the Gibraltar crisis could be resolved? If so why don’t you to get back to me and well share your ideas and views with our other readers : victorpemberton.com I look forward to hearing from you.

been Christopher Columbus, Horatio Hornblower or, get this – Gandalf.

The future looks bright.

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Why marriage is important by

Barry Duke

Right now I am making plans to marry Marcus, with whom I have lived with for over 20 years.

Let me briefly explain why I believe marriage, same-sex or otherwise, is vitally important.

It basically boils down to legal protection for the parties involved if some life-changing event takes place, such as incapacity, terminal illness or death.

A marriage certificate allows married partners to easily prove their legal rights if confronted, for example, by emergency situations. The power to quickly and easily prove one’s relationship status is particularly important for same-sex partners because prejudice against same-sex relationships can mean legal rights are denied.

If you are living in Spain, which legalised gay marriage in 2005, you can, as an expat, arrange to be married here, but I am informed that there is a long waiting list, and that couples can get their plans further delayed by bureaucratic processes involving officials both in Spain and the UK. However, there is one instant solution in Spain that can afford both partners a valuable measure of protection, and last week I legally made Marcus my next-of-kin.

This gives him instant access to hospital officials in the event of my death, and makes him my guardian should I be incapacitated. He will also be able to act on my behalf in regard to my bank accounts, pension schemes and the like.

The legal document I obtained also gives specific instructions to my local hospital on how I should be treated if admitted with a serious condition. I specified that I do not want to be resuscitated if resuscitation would leave me an invalid, and that, if, I were to die, I want my remains to be donated to medical science.

I also specified that, if my body were to be rejected, I am to be cremated without a funeral.

Such a document can be drawn up by any law firm, and the one I chose was Advocate Abroad, (http://advocateabroad.com/lawyers-in-spain/lawyers-benidorm/) an English-speaking Spanish firm based in the centre of Benidorm.

The lawyer (abogado) I met with was Juan, who explained the entire process to me, and within days I was handed an Acta De Manifestaciones by a notary, and instructed to register it with the hospital in Villajoyosa.

When I return from the UK on March 21, I will ask Juan to draw up a reciprocal document, making me Marcus’s next of kin. These documents will give both of us peace of mind until we tie the knot.

In my next column I will update you regarding my wedding plans.

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Costa del Goldmine by

Michael Walsh

keyboardcosmetics@ gmail.com

When 15-year old Brian Adamson dreamed of places he wanted to someday visit he couldn’t imagine life as the ultimate entertainer’s entertainer. Of humble beginnings, the New Zealander worked his way around the world to Southampton.

Within two years Kiwi Adamson saved £300 he had earned as a warehouseman. Invested in premises situated in St Michael’s Square this modest sum financed the opening of his Silhouette Club. A little razzmatazz and the nightspot’s doors open to the household name artistes of the 1960s.

The Swinging Sixties offered rich pickings for clubowners. Adamson’s club had much in common with Peter Stringfellow’s Covent Garden Club. Sharing a humble background the two were set to make millions from Britain’s most exciting nightclubs.

Adamson’s 80% success rate at baccarat resulted in a stream of invitations to attend the gambling tables of Caesar’s Palace and similar gambling corporations.

The buccaneering impresario is now resident in Marbella where he owned The Silhouette Restaurant and Piano Bar near Puerto Banus.

As the impresario’s ghost-writer I am spellbound by his story. Adamson kept the company of Burt Reynolds, Diana Dors, Bo Derrick, Freddie Star, Shirley Bassey, Joan Collins and similar great artistes.

The promoter’s all expenses paid jamborees saw him travel first class by Cunard and Concorde. In 1985, when the promoter sold the Silhouette Club, he was handed a Leisure Holdings cheque made out for £3 million plus £1 million in company shares.

Before ‘retiring’ to join us here in Spain the playboy had pressed the flesh of the world’s greatest sportsmen, Mike Tyson, Chris Eubank and Mohammed Ali,

Jackie Stewart and Kevin Keegan. He enjoyed têteà-tête with Tom Selleck, Diana Ross, Barbara Windsor, Telly Savalas and Zsa Zsa Gabor.

Adamson is great to work with. Many celebrities miss out by not telling their stories. Artistes lead exciting lives and by anecdotes and name dropping are sitting on a fortune.

Performers have advantages over lesser known writers. During their careers celebrities acquire countless fans. This market will purchase tell-all memoirs before the printer’s ink dries. A further advantage is that Brian Adamson and Peter Stringfellow performers still working the circuit sell signed copies, thereby adding to returns.

Michael Walsh can be contacted by emailing keyboardcosmetics@ gmail.com

Alicante officials want to improve their Valencian Data taken from results of a University of Alicante survey on language use of the City Council of Alicante has revealed that three out of four public employees expressed desire to ‘improve their standard of Valencian’ and willing to be trained to a standard where they can use the language on an ‘everyday basis’.

Results also pointed out that more than 90 per cent of the employees understand Valencian, about 40 per cent know how to speak it and approximately one third use it when they are required by a Valencian-speaking person.

Councilor Natxo Bellido and professor of the University of Alicante, Antoni Mas presented the results of the survey carried out last year on the sociolinguistic situation of the city this week.

The survey was developed and directed by teachers Brauli Montoya and Antoni Mas and was carried out by three 2015-2016 students - two of the Catalan Philology degree and one of the Master's Degree in Linguistic Counseling and Literary Culture.

The 17-question interviews were carried out face-to-face, except in the case of the Local Police where, due to the specific needs of the service, answers were written in the absence of the interviewer.

Of a total of 2,176 female workers in the Alicante region, 653 were interviewed from all the municipal areas, which represents 30.01% of the total.

Brian Adamson, Telly Savalas and

Joan Collins

Brian Adamson and Joan Collins

Brian Kiwi Adamson (retired) relax es at Benalmadena on the Costa del Sol

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mail

17th - 23rd march 2017

talk to us

admin.rtn@ewnmediagroup.com with your full name and address

Email letters to

letter of the week

Teachers Strike

Last week was strike week for most of the Spanish schools. Spanish teachers went on strike in cities across the country by the thousands, seeking to defend the education sector against package of spending cuts. Many schools sent out letters across the country but my children did not receive one.

How are we meant to arrange as a working mother for child care when the teachers aren’t giving us any notice. I had to send my children into school as I work full time, even though they had a fun day with no school work. How do we know whether the children are safe at school with only a few teachers to supervise?

Where to go on a rainy day?

After a slow start, summer seems to be here! The sun is out the air has been lovely and warm the last few nights, I don’t think it is going to last too long, as the forecast is for a rainy weekend. I have lived in Spain for only a few months. Where can I take family and friends if the weather is not so good? We think of living in Spain as sun, sea and sand but when the weather turns and when it does it doesn’t hold back, what do we do to entertain the family?

Wash away those doggy blues!

I recently read there will be a new law in Spain than not only do we have to carry with us on our dog walking trips poo bags but we have to carry around a bottle of water to wash down the dog urine as well. Is this true? And if so when does this new law take place? My dog walking trips are not only

going to be more stressful walking the dog picking up poo with my children running off in front while the dog is trying to chase after them while I have all my bin bags of rubbish I was throwing away all at the same time to save time, I now have to carry a bottle of water to wash his urine down with as well.

Too much Homework

I am a mother of three. My children go to school full time as I have to work. Why after they have been at school all day and stayed longer for extra classes i.e homework club do they still come home every night with so much homework? My eldest daughter who is only 10 has at least two hours of homework most nights. I believe in children should be children and when school has finished then so should the schoolwork. What happened to the days when children came home and went out to play on their bikes or with friends? Even enjoying a nice family walk together. Or letting them sit and watch TV. The homework situation is putting too much stress on our family life.

money Recent changes to inheritance tax in Spain 17th - 23rd march 2017

by

Christina Brady

Blacktower Financial Management Group

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Are you aware that inheritance tax rules (ISD) in the Valencia Region have recently changed and could have a significant impact on the amount of inheritance tax (ISD) your spouse or beneficiaries will have to pay upon your death.

You may need to take action and look at how you can re-structure your assets to effectively mitigate this.

If you are married and live in Spain, you should be aware that passing assets between Spouses on death in Spain is not tax free, unlike the UK where spouse to spouse is tax free. Your spouse will get an allowance of only Euro 100,000 before ISD tax is calculated. ISD tax will be calculated on your worldwide assets, so that includes UK Bank accounts, UK based assets and any assets held here in Spain, like Spanish bank accounts, Spanish property etc etc.

A few years ago this was not an issue as in the Valencia Region you had a discount of 95% on any ISD due, this reduction was then reduced to 75% and has now been reduced to 50%.

This could now mean that on death your spouse could have to pay a lot more in ISD tax.

You can legally mitigate the amount of ISD tax by utilising the tax advantages of a tax compliant bond, which means that if money is invested on a joint life basis, on first death there is no taxable event, the policy just continues as is, in the survivors name, so no enforced encashment and so no ISD tax liability.

A tax compliant bond also has the added advantage of being sited outside Spain, so if your beneficiaries reside outside Spain they are (usually) not subject to ISD tax in Spain.

If you would like a review of your financial assets to ensure they are tax efficient from an inheritance and income tax point of view, please contact me by email christina.brady@blacktowerfm.com or call me on 658 892 330.

The above information was correct at the time of preparation and does not constitute investment advice and you should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity. Blacktower Financial Management Ltd is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority and is registered with both the DGS and CNMV. Blacktower Financial Management (Int) Ltd is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and is registered with both the DGS and CNMV in Spain.

property

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Buy-to-Let and how Wincham can help you purchase, own, & sell property in a tax efficient way by

Mark Roach

Company Director and Spanish Tax Consultant

With the recent legislation changes in the UK, it is becoming far more Tax efficient to own investment properties in a corporate structure.

From the 1st April 2016, landlords have had to pay the standard rates of Stamp Duty, plus an extra three percent when they purchase a Buy-to-Let property in addition to their main residence. This increase can add thousands of pounds to the Stamp Duty bill and applies to property purchases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

This change in Stamp Duty charges also extends to homes abroad. For example, if you already own a home in Spain and buy an additional property in England, you will have to pay the higher rate of UK stamp duty.

Wincham are Lawyers, Accountants and Tax Advisers and have been market leaders helping clients purchase and own properties within a UK Limited Company structure since 1994.

Wincham are now replicating our successful model and supplying these services to the UK Buy to let market, allowing clients to benefit from our expertise in this field.

If you own UK Investment property in your personal name which is mortgage free then Wincham can help you place your property into a UK Limited Company structure with minimal or no Stamp Duty or UK Capital Gains Tax (CGT) to pay.

Reasons to own UK investment property within a UK Limited Company.

• Mortgage interest Tax allowance against Company profits.

• The Resale of a UK Limited Company holding a property could have no Stamp Duty.

• £5000 Dividend Tax Free per Shareholder.

• Inheritance Tax Planning and in many cases, zero tax to pay.

• Only 20% Corporation Tax to pay on profit, compared to 40%+ for personal income Tax bands.

• Reduction of Capital Gains Tax. • Any advances you make to your Limited Company can be drawn out by the way of a Directors Loan, Tax free.

Further information may be obtained via our dedicated Buy to Let Wincham website page here www.winchambuytolet.com

Wincham International Limited, Wincham House, Greenfield Farm Trading Estate, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 4TR, England.

(Wincham International also have offices located on the Costa Blanca and the Costa del Sol) UK Tel: +44 (0)1260 299 700 | Spain Tel: +34 965 830 991 | Email: iht.info@wincham.com | Web: www.wincham.com

If you have any questions regarding privately buying or selling a property, or have any Legal, Accounting, or Taxation requirements, visit the Wincham website www.wincham.com or call one of our trained Wincham Consultants +44 (0) 1260 299 700 (UK), or 0034 965 830 991 (Calpe, Spain).

17th - 23rd march 2017

financial news

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Baby boomers may be putting their family’s inheritance at risk Where there’s a Will, there’s a way Research carried out by Safestore has revealed that 31% of people aged 55 and over do not have a Will and as a result, may be risking inheritance for future generations.

Out of 31% of adults aged 55 and over who do not have a will: • 12% have children in their household • 16% are separated or divorced • 48% admit they ‘haven’t got round’ to writing one • 18% feel that they don’t have anything of value to leave behind • 12% believe that all assets would go to a partner regardless Wills are essential life documents which really ought to be in place well before you reach 55. It is concerning that so many 55+ year-olds have not taken the time to complete one, especially where there are children or marital issues involved’ says Simon Crooks, a solicitor and specialist in tax and estate planning with Argo Life & Legacy Ltd. Without a Will you lose the opportunity to express your wishes as to what happens with your assets and who sorts it all out when you die... You get to choose the people who will manage your affairs on death and they have

power to act straight away. If you have younger children you can appoint people as Guardians to be responsible for their upbringing and welfare. One of the key benefits is spending time considering surrounding issues retirement plans, tax planning, care fee planning, policies and pensions. Not having a Will often means none of these issues have been considered which can cause problems in the future.

The results also indicate that a vast majority of people do not understand intestacy rules as without a will, if you are separated but not divorced from your spouse they are legally entitled to most, if not all of your estate. Similarly, those who are married and assume that their estate will go to their spouse are technically correct, however without a legal document in place there are numerous complications.

People often think they will review their Will after a divorce is finalised - when they know what their financial position will actually be. But what happens if you die before this is sorted? You’re stuck with the Will already in place or the Intestacy Rules and your soon to be former spouse inherits some or all of your estate. It is best practice to write a new Will as soon as you can and review it when the divorce is complete.

31% of people aged 55 and over do not have a Will

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17th - 23rd march 2017

currency

by

Kevin Wright Account Manager

Moneycorp

In the process of selling your house in Spain and converting the money back into Sterling?

What can you do to make sure that you get the most for your money, particularly regarding the charges levied by your Spanish Bank.

All too often British people living in Spain assume that Spanish banks operate in a similar way to the UK. This is not the case.

In today’s current market place many people looking to sell a Spanish property will have had to reduce the price of their property to be able to negotiate a sale. With all the associated costs and taxes that need to be paid out, maximising the amount of Sterling that you finally receive for your euros is vital. Clients need to be aware of two important factors that can cost you dearly when converting your euros into Sterling and moving those funds out of Spain.

Spanish bank charges Once your sale has been completed you will receive a cheque from the Notary. Many Spanish banks will charge a fee based on the value of this cheque to accept and clear the funds. They will then look to charge a further percentage fee to send your funds out of Spain. To put this into perspective, on an amount of 150,000€, you could incur fees up to 1% just to clear your cheque and transfer funds out of Spain. As most clients close their accounts when they leave Spain, there is little room for negotiation. If you do manage to reduce the fees it is often based on leaving a lump sum on account for up to a year.

Exchange rate risk on repatriation The agreed sale price of a property is often based on the amount of Sterling that the seller hopes to receive, according to the

exchange rate at that time. However, a Notary / completion date can take place some weeks or even months after the contract of sale has been signed. This means that sellers run the risk of the exchange rate moving against them and thus reducing the amount of Sterling that they receive.

For example, with an exchange rate of 1.20, a sale value of 150,000€ will give you £125,000. Should this exchange rate rise to 1.23, a rise of just 3 cents, this would give a return of £121,951 – that is £3,049 less Sterling hitting your UK account.

Moneycorp offers a range of service that allows clients to lock into favourable exchange rates at the time of the signing of the contract, taking away the risk of the exchange rate moving against them in the future.

Using Moneycorp will also allow you to eliminate or significantly reduce bank fees leading to even greater savings.

For more information on how Moneycorp can help you to save on your Spanish bank fees as well as helping you get more pounds for your euros, contact us on 902 887 243 or email Moneycorp directly at kevin.wright@moneycorp.com

Spring clean your business with a positive approach to leadership

Soft skills set an individual or team apart and help them excel.

With spring just around the corner and the first quarter of 2017 almost complete, now is a perfect time for business leaders to start their ‘spring clean’ – examine their routines, make improvements and reflect on the state of their business.

This is especially timely given the fast pace of change in today’s working environment, with the very notion of what defines good business practice and effective leadership constantly changing.

In his new book, Jan Mühlfeit, former Chairman of Microsoft Europe, explains that professional leaders today would be wise to jump on the ‘soft skills’ bandwagon - something that cannot be replicated by machines and yet can make all the difference between failure and success.

Hard skills are important, but soft skills, such as work ethic, attitude, communication skills and emotional intelligence can set an individual or team apart and help them excel.

This is increasingly recognised by organisations worldwide. Two-thirds of the respondents to a 2012 Harvard Business Review global survey of managers and leaders at large corporations agreed that their organisations needed to work on developing mindset, self-awareness and leadership.

The challenge faced in today’s business world is that the importance of these soft skills is still often undervalued and there is far less training provided for them than hard skills.

In attempting to discover why certain business leaders

succeed, another study by consultancy firm Green Peak Partners and Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labour Relations, discovered that a ’high self-awareness score was the strongest predictor of overall success’.

Through self-awareness leaders can discover and reveal their true authenticity, and this is the secret ingredient that will gain the trust and respect of others. Tapping into self-awareness means being able to lead both yourself and your team to their potential, explains Mühlfeit.

By knowing who you are and understanding the impact you have on others, you’ll naturally become more open, empathetic and influential, and you can skillfully interact with your colleagues without compromising your core principles or character.

17th - 23rd march 2017

legal

by

IGNACIO PELLICER MOLLÁ & PEDRO HEREDIA ORTIZ

LAWYERS

Modelo 720 - your questions answered My neighbour has told me I have to pay for my house in the UK – a modelo 720 new tax? Why should I pay for something in Spain, which I already pay tax on in the UK? This is not a tax, rather a declaration of assets.

This applies to fiscal residents in Spain who have overseas assets that fit into any of the following three groups: 1) Bank Accounts 2) All types of financial assets 3) Real estate that amount to or exceed 50,000 euros, and only for the group in which this amount is exceeded

REMEMBER: The period when this needs to be presented (for the year 2016) is from 1 January to 31 March 2017.

However Once you have made the Modelo 720 declaration, you then only need to declare your overseas assets in subsequent years, when: 1) any of the above 3 sectors increases in value greater than 20,000 euros 2) you are no longer the owner of the aforementioned assets (sale, transfer, etc… even if you made a loss) 3) in any of the 3 sectors, you did not

previously declare that you had assets to the value of 50,000€, if you NOW do have assets to that or exceeding that value .

Failure to meet this tax liability might be penalised by the Spanish tax.

If you require further legal advice on any tax, legal or administrative matters please contact us and any of our secretaries will make arrangements to organize an appointment.

If you have any questions regarding this or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact us our team our experts will be happy to assist you.

Call 965 480 737 or 606 056 282 or email info@pellicerheredia.com Videos at www.pellicerheredia.com

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Silver Screen Tale As Old As Time

I have died and gone to Disney heaven. Walt Disney remakes the classic 1991 animated flick into a live-actiondark-romantic-fantasy and its getting rave reviews, starring a bonanza of British actors such as; Emma Watson, Luke Evans, Ian Mckellen and Emma Thompson, Beauty And The Beast is sure to be a big screen knock-out! Released 23 February 2017.

“Those who predicted this wouldn’t hold a talking candle to the animated original will be pleasantly surprised. The tale may be as old as time, but it’s retold with freshness, brio and flair” – EMPIRE

On everyone’s lips Justin Bieber is acting up again!

This troubled young soul has made the headlines again this week, but for all the wrong reasons. I get the feeling that there is nobody in his life that can give him a good slap and say, you are a d**k!

Excuse the profanity! I’m guessing if you are part of his “squad”, you have to stay in his good graces to stay on the payroll! Bieber was caught on camera last week telling a fan they made him “feel sick” when they attempted to take a photo with him. The singer is currently on tour in Australia, last playing Melbourne on Friday (March 10) night. He’ll perform at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane tonight (March 13). However, while in Melbourne, Bieber was caught up in an unfortunate altercation with a female fan who approached him for a photo. Filmed by a passer-by, the fan asked Bieber for a photo only for the singer to reply: “You have no respect level. Look at you – you’re making me sick.”

Like Marmite, it’s a love or hate relationship.

MORE….Music A classic relived and revived!

The new flick, Beauty And The Beast’s soundtrack also holds some hidden gems along with the old school Disney tracks. “Tale As Old As Time” originally recorded in 1991 by Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson, has be rejuvenated by pop megastars Ariana Grande and John Legend! VERDICT, stunning! Actually made me cry when I first listened to it… also on the official music video you get the added bonus of seeing Belle dancing with the Beast! Swoon and blub fest!

The sound of music

Steady Eddy!

The superstar red-head topped his home country’s album charts with ÷ (Divide) and filling nine of the top 10 places on the single charts. Told you so!

Security!

A One Direction star was arrested on suspicion of battery over allegations that he attacked a photographer and a passenger at LAX last week. Pop star Louis Tomlinson told police 'I may have taken him down' when asked if he had tripped a paparazzi photographer during an airport scuffle. The report cannot be released due to LAPD guidelines. Here’s a snap to wet your appetite!

17th - 23rd march 2017

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television

17th - 23rd March

friday 17th March BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

7:00am 10:15am 11:00am 12:00pm 12:45pm 1:15pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 2:45pm 3:15pm 4:00pm 4:45pm 5:30pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 10:30pm 11:00pm 11:25pm 11:35pm

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

7:00am

Good Morning Britain

9:30am

Lorraine

Breakfast The Housing Enforcers Homes Under the Hammer Fugitives Dom on the Spot Bargain Hunt BBC News BBC London News Doctors Moving On Escape to the Country Money for Nothing Flog It! Pointless BBC News BBC London News The One Show A Question of Sport EastEnders Room 101 EastEnders Tracey Ullman’s Show BBC News BBC London News Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest

Flog it! Trade Secrets Fugitives Money for Nothing Big Dreams Small Spaces Victoria Derbyshire BBC Newsroom Live The Daily Politics Two Tribes Beat the Brain Building Dream Homes Channel Patrol Ireland with Simon Reeve The Hunt Bargain Hunt Eggheads The Hairy Bikers’ Comfort Food Celebrity Antiques Road Trip Gardeners’ World Only Connect Wild Ireland QI Newsnight

10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 1:30pm

ITV Lunchtime News

1:55pm

ITV News London

2:00pm

ITV Racing Live

5:30pm

Celebrity Home Secrets

6:00pm

The Chase

7:00pm

ITV News London

7:30pm

ITV Evening News

8:00pm

Emmerdale

8:30pm

Coronation Street

9:00pm

Judge Rinder’s Crime Stories

9:30pm

Coronation Street

10:00pm Lethal Weapon 11:00pm The Nightly Show with Davina Mccall 11:30pm ITV News

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

itv2

7:00am 7:45am 8:10am 8:35am 9:00am 9:30am 10:05am 10:35am 11:05am 12:00pm

7:00am 10:15am 12:15pm 1:10pm 1:15pm

7:00am 7:25am 8:15am 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am 10:35am 11:25am 12:20pm 1:25pm 1:55pm 2:30pm 3:00pm 3:50pm 4:55pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 12:00am

Countdown King of Queens King of Queens King of Queens Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Frasier Undercover Boss USA Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA 1:00pm Channel 4 News 1:05pm A New Life in the Sun 2:05pm Posh Pawn 3:10pm Countdown 4:00pm Fifteen to One 5:00pm Sun, Sea and Selling Houses 6:00pm Couples come dine with me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:30pm Unreported World 9:00pm Scruffts: Britain’s Favourite Dog 10:00pm Gogglebox 11:00pm The Last Leg 12:05am 8 Out of 10 Cats

Childrens TV The Wright Stuff GPs: Behind Closed Doors 5 News Lunchtime Benefits Britain: Me and My 14 Kids 2:15pm Home and Away 2:45pm Neighbours 3:20pm NCIS 4:20pm Patient Killer 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm The Gadget Show 9:00pm Tony Robinson’s Coast to Coast 10:00pm When TV Goes Horribly Wrong

9pm Tony Robinson’s Coast to Coast

E4 You’ve Been Framed!

Who’s Doing the Dishes?

The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Emmerdale You’ve Been Framed!

Psych Below Deck Who’s Doing the Dishes?

Emmerdale Emmerdale You’ve Been Framed!

The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Jeremy Kyle Show The Jeremy Kyle Show Judge Rinder You’ve Been Framed!

You’ve Been Framed!

You’ve Been Framed!

Two and a Half Men Two and a Half Men American Pie: The Wedding Family Guy

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

Suburgatory Charmed Coach Trip Hollyoaks Rules of Engagement How I Met Your Mother Charmed How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother The Goldbergs The Goldbergs The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother Last Man Standing Last Man Standing The Goldbergs The Goldbergs The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Hollyoaks New Girl The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Red 2 Sleepy Hollow

SATURDAY 18th March BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

itv2

7:00am 11:00am 12:30pm 1:00pm 1:05pm 1:10pm 3:25pm 6:00pm 6:40pm 6:50pm 6:55pm 7:00pm 7:45pm

7:35am

Yellow Canary

7:00am 10:55am 11:30am 11:40am

You’ve Been Framed!

Whisky Galore!

7:20am 7:45am 8:10am 8:35am 9:30am 10:00am 10:30am 11:00am 11:30am 12:00pm 12:30pm 1:00pm 1:30pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 3:00pm 3:30pm 4:00pm 4:30pm 6:35pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

7:00am

9:10am

7:00am 10:25am 11:20am 12:20pm 1:20pm 1:30pm 3:15pm 3:45pm 5:00pm 8:30pm

7:25am

Emmerdale Omnibus

10:00am

Coronation Street Omnibus

Breakfast Saturday Kitchen Live Football Focus BBC News Weather Six Nations Rugby Union Six Nations Rugby Union Escape to the Country BBC News Regional News Weather Pointless Let’s Sing and Dance for Comic Relief 9:00pm Who Dares Wins 9:40pm Casualty 10:30pm Mrs. Brown’s Boys 11:00pm BBC News 11:15pm Weather 11:20pm Match of the Day

10:30am Coast 11:30am Homes Under the Hammer 12:30pm Mary Berry Everyday 1:00pm

Little Paris Kitchen

1:30pm

Firecreek

3:15pm

Talking Pictures

4:00pm

Gardeners’ World

4:30pm

University Challenge

5:00pm

Only Connect

5:30pm

Final Score

6:30pm

Flog It!

7:30pm

Wild Ireland

8:30pm

Britain at War

9:30pm

Dad’s Army

CITV Alphabetical Guess This House Rebound ITV News and Weather Carry on Matron Off Their Rockers The Voice UK Six Nations Rugby Union Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway 9:30pm The Voice UK 11:30pm ITV News and Weather 11:45pm Lethal Weapon 12:35am Rambo III

10:00pm Dame Vera Lynn: Happy 100th Birthday 11:00pm QI XL

1.10pm Six Nations Rugby Union

11:45pm True Grit: A Further Adventure

1.30pm Carry on Matron

King of Queens Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Race of Champions 2017 Frasier Frasier The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Extreme Food Come Dine with Me Come Dine with Me Come Dine with Me Come Dine with Me Come Dine with Me Location, Location, Location Grand Designs Channel 4 News Escape to the Chateau Penelope Keith at Her Majesty’s Service 10:00pm Lucy 11:45pm RoboCop

12:35pm 1:35pm 2:30pm 3:25pm 4:20pm 5:15pm 6:10pm 7:10pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 9:55pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm

Milkshake!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Chinese Food in Minutes On Benefits: Life on the Dole On Benefits: Life on the Dole On Benefits: Life on the Dole Dance Moms Dance Moms Dance Moms The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away!

Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away!

NCIS: Los Angeles NCIS 5 News Football on 5 Football on 5 The True Story

12:25pm

E4

Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway

2:00pm

The Voice UK

3:15pm

Rumour Has It...

4:15pm

FYI Daily

4:20pm

Rumour Has It...

5:20pm

Nanny McPhee

6:20pm

FYI Daily

6:25pm

Nanny McPhee

7:15pm

Mr Bean’s Holiday

8:15pm

FYI Daily

8:20pm

Mr Bean’s Holiday

9:00pm

Scorpion

10:00pm

The 40 Year Old Virgin

11:10pm

FYI Daily

11:15pm

The 40 Year Old Virgin

12:25am

Family Guy

7:00am 7:30am 7:55am 8:20am 8:45am 9:10am 9:40am 10:10am 10:40am 11:10am 1:00pm 1:30pm 2:00pm

Rules of Engagement Melissa and Joey Melissa and Joey Baby Daddy Baby Daddy Young and Hungry Young and Hungry How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother Planet 51 Black-Ish Black-Ish The Goldbergs 2:30pm The Goldbergs 3:00pm The Goldbergs 3:30pm The Big Bang Theory 7:30pm Twilight Saga: Eclipse 10:00pm The Hunger Games 12:45am Gogglebox

11.10am Planet 51

SUNDAY 19th March BBC1 7:00am 8:30am 10:00am 11:00am 12:00pm 1:15pm 2:00pm 2:10pm 2:15pm 3:15pm 4:00pm 4:45pm 4:55pm 5:30pm 6:30pm 6:50pm 6:55pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:20pm 11:25pm 11:30pm

Breakfast Match of the Day The Andrew Marr Show The Big Questions Sunday Politics Bargain Hunt BBC News Weather for the Week Ahead Flog It! Countryfile Spring Diaries Escape to the Country Lifeline Songs of Praise Shop Well for Less BBC News Regional News Weather The Big Painting Challenge Countryfile Antiques Roadshow SS-GB BBC News Regional News Weather Match of the Day 2

BBC2 7:00am A to Z of TV Gardening 7:45am Island Parish Sark Winter 8:15am Around the World in 80 Gardens 9:15am Gardeners’ World 9:45am Countryfile 10:45am Saturday Kitchen Best Bites 12:15pm Nigel Slater’s Dish of the Day 12:45pm Simply Nigella 1:15pm MOTD2 Extra 2:00pm The Importance of Being Earnest 3:30pm The House That £100k Built 4:30pm Back to the Land with Kate Humble 5:30pm Ski Sunday Special 7:00pm Six Nations Rugby Special 8:00pm Robot Wars 9:00pm Top Gear 10:00pm Down the Mighty River with Steve Backshall 11:00pm While We’re Young

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

7:00am CITV

7:15am 7:40am 10:25am ITV News 8:05am 10:30am Countrywise 8:35am 11:00am Peston on Sunday 9:30am 11:55am Wild Australia with Ray Mears 10:00am 12:25pm Chopping Block 10:30am 1:30pm Who’s Doing the Dishes?

1:30pm 2:25pm ITV News and Weather 1:55pm 2:30pm Off Their Rockers 2:25pm 2:55pm 3:00pm Tipping Point 4:00pm The Voice UK 6:00pm Little Big Shots 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:10pm ITV News and Weather 7:30pm Harry Hill’s Alien Fun Capsule 8:00pm Five Gold Rings 9:00pm Vera 11:00pm ITV News and Weather 11:20pm The Nightly Show Best Bits 11:45pm Peston on Sunday

3:55pm 5:45pm 7:35pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:00am

King of Queens Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Race of Champions 2017 Frasier Frasier Sunday Brunch The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces Rio Johnny English Reborn Channel 4 News Dave’s Guide to Spending Money Rivers with Jeremy Paxman Homeland Gogglebox 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown

CHANNEL 5

itv2

E4

7:00am Childrens TV

7:00am 9:30am 12:00pm 2:00pm 2:05pm 2:40pm 3:00pm 3:15pm 3:30pm 3:50pm 4:25pm 4:55pm 5:55pm 6:00pm 6:50pm

7:00am 7:25am 7:50am 8:15am 8:45am 9:15am 9:40am 12:15pm 1:55pm

11:30am Football on 5 12:30pm Football on 5 1:00pm The Gadget Show 2:05pm Batteries Not Included 4:05pm Zathura: A Space Adventure 6:00pm Cloudy with A Chance of Meatballs 2 7:50pm 5 News Weekend 7:55pm Left Behind 10:00pm Elysium 11:00pm 5 News 11:05pm Elysium 12:10am Dark Skies

7.55pm Left Behind

7:55pm 8:55pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm

Emmerdale Omnibus Coronation Street Omnibus The Voice UK 2awesome Guidance Fame High Third Wheel Third Wheel L.A. Story You’ve Been Framed!

You’ve Been Framed!

Despicable Me FYI Daily Despicable Me Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway Red Riding Hood FYI Daily Red Riding Hood Ibiza Weekender Family Guy Family Guy

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

Melissa and Joey Melissa and Joey Baby Daddy Baby Daddy How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother Hollyoaks Omnibus Space Chimps Made in Chelsea Does Come Dine with Me Black-Ish The Goldbergs The Goldbergs The Goldbergs Brooklyn Nine-Nine Brooklyn Nine-Nine The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Addams Family Values Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Die Hard 2

17th - 23rd march 2017

television

17th - 23rd March

MONDAY 20th March BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

itv2

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

7:00am 7:30am 8:15am 9:00am 10:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm

7:00am 9:30am 10:25am 11:30am 1:30pm 2:30pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm

7:00am 7:45am 8:10am 8:35am 9:00am 9:35am 10:05am 10:35am 11:05am 12:00pm

7:00am

7:00am 7:25am 8:15am 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am 10:35am 11:25am 12:20pm 1:25pm 1:55pm 2:30pm 3:00pm 3:50pm 4:55pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm

Breakfast The Housing Enforcers Homes Under the Hammer Fugitives Fake Britain Bargain Hunt BBC News Regional News Doctors The Code Escape to the Country Money for Nothing Flog It! Pointless BBC News Regional News The One Show Inside Out EastEnders Panorama Crimewatch BBC News Regional News Have I Got a Bit More Old News for You 12:30am Live at the Apollo

Flog It! Fugitives Money for Nothing Great Interior Design Challenge Victoria Derbyshire BBC Newsroom Live The Daily Politics Women’s Six Nations Highlights Beat the Brain The TV That Made Me Who Do You Think You Are? More Creatures Great and Small Great Barrier Reef with David Attenborough Bargain Hunt Eggheads The Hairy Bikers’ Comfort Food Top Gear University Challenge Mary Berry Everyday Natural World Cradle to Grave Newsnight Down the Mighty River with Steve Backshall

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

35

Good Morning Britain Lorraine The Jeremy Kyle Show This Morning Loose Women ITV Lunchtime News Judge Rinder Chopping Block Tipping Point The Chase Local News ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm The Kyle Files 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Broadchurch 11:00pm The Nightly Show 11:30pm ITV News

10pm Broadchurch

Countdown King of Queens King of Queens King of Queens Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Frasier Undercover Boss USA Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA 1:00pm Channel 4 News 1:05pm Vet on the Hill 2:05pm Posh Pawn 3:10pm Count Down 4:00pm Fifteen to One 5:00pm Sun, Sea and Selling Houses 6:00pm Couples Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Channel 4 News 8:55pm The Political Slot 9:00pm Dispatches 9:30pm Travel Man 10:00pm 24 Hours in A and E 11:00pm How’d You Get So Rich?

11:50pm Tattoo Fixers

Childrens TV

10:15am The Wright Stuff 12:15pm GPs: Behind Closed Doors 1:10pm

5 News

1:15pm

Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away!

2:15pm

Home and Away

2:45pm

Neighbours

3:15pm

NCIS

4:15pm

Running for Her Life

6:00pm

5 News

6:30pm

Neighbours

7:00pm

Home and Away

7:30pm

5 News Tonight

8:00pm

Cars That Made Britain Great

9:00pm

Police Interceptors

10:00pm Inside King’s Cross: The Railway 11:00pm All New Traffic Cops 12:00am Homefront

9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 10:30pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:55pm

E4 You’ve Been Framed!

Who’s Doing the Dishes?

The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale Coronation Street Coronation Street Psych Below Deck Who’s Doing the Dishes?

Emmerdale Coronation Street Coronation Street The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Jeremy Kyle Show The Jeremy Kyle Show Judge Rinder You’ve Been Framed!

You’ve Been Framed!

Funniest Ever You’ve Been Framed! Gold Two and a Half Men Two and a Half Men Family Guy The Great Indoors American Dad! American Dad! Family Guy

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

Suburgatory Charmed Coach Trip Hollyoaks Rules of Engagement Last Man Standing Charmed How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother The Goldbergs The Goldbergs The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother Last Man Standing Last Man Standing The Goldbergs The Goldbergs The Big Bang Theory Hollyoaks New Girl The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Made in Chelsea First Dates Abroad The Big Bang Theory

Pick of the Week Dame Vera Lynn: Happy 100th Birthday Saturday 18th March, BBC2, 10pm TUESDAY 21st March

BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

itv2

E4

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

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

7:00am 9:30am 10:25am 11:30am 1:30pm 2:30pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

7:00am 7:45am 8:10am 8:35am 9:00am 9:35am 10:05am 10:35am 11:05am 12:05pm

7:00am Childrens TV 10:15am The Wright Stuff 12:15pm GPs: Behind Closed Doors 1:10pm 5 News Lunchtime 1:15pm Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away!

2:15pm Home and Away 2:45pm Neighbours 3:15pm NCIS 4:15pm Locked Away 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Police Interceptors 9:00pm The Yorkshire Vet 10:00pm Yorkshire: A Year in the Wild 11:00pm The Morecambe and Wise Story: Look Back in Laughter

7:00am You’ve Been Framed!

7:25am Who’s Doing the Dishes?

8:15am The Ellen DeGeneres Show 9:00am Emmerdale 9:30am Coronation Street 10:00am Coronation Street 10:35am Psych 11:25am Below Deck 12:20pm Who’s Doing the Dishes?

1:25pm Emmerdale 1:55pm Coronation Street 2:30pm Coronation Street 3:00pm The Ellen DeGeneres Show 3:50pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 4:55pm The Jeremy Kyle Show 6:00pm Judge Rinder 7:00pm You’ve Been Framed!

7:30pm You’ve Been Framed!

8:00pm You’ve Been Framed!

8:30pm You’ve Been Framed!

9:00pm Two and a Half Men 9:30pm Two and a Half Men 10:00pm Hell’s Kitchen 11:00pm Plebs 11:30pm Family Guy

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

Breakfast The Housing Enforcers Homes Under the Hammer Fugitives Fake Britain Bargain Hunt BBC News Regional News Doctors The Code Escape to the Country Money for Nothing Flog It! Pointless BBC News Regional News The One Show EastEnders Holby City EastEnders Would I Lie to You? BBC News Regional News How Police Missed the Grindr Killer

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

Flog It! Trade Secrets Fugitives Money for Nothing The Big Painting Challenge Victoria Derbyshire BBC Newsroom Live The Daily Politics The Super League Show Countryfile The TV That Made Me Who Do You Think You Are? More Creatures Great and Small Great Barrier Reef with David Attenborough Bargain Hunt Eggheads The Hairy Bikers’ Comfort Food The Best of British Takeaways Back to the Land with Kate Humble American Justice Inside No 9 Newsnight Incredible Medicine: Dr Weston’s Casebook

Good Morning Britain Lorraine The Jeremy Kyle Show This Morning Loose Women ITV Lunchtime News Judge Rinder Chopping Block Tipping Point The Chase Local News and Weather ITV Evening News Emmerdale Britain’s Busiest Motorway The Secret Chef Play to the Whistle The Nightly Show with Dermot O’Leary 11:30pm ITV News 12:15am Prime Suspect 1973

1:00pm 1:05pm 2:05pm 3:10pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:35pm 12:30am

Countdown King of Queens King of Queens King of Queens Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Frasier Undercover Boss USA Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA Channel 4 News Vet on the Hill Posh Pawn Countdown Fifteen to One Sun, Sea and Selling Houses Couples Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News The Secret Life of the Zoo Mutiny Catastrophe This is Us Gogglebox

11pm The Morecambe and Wise Story

Suburgatory Charmed Coach Trip Hollyoaks Rules of Engagement Last Man Standing Charmed How I Met Your Mother The Goldbergs The Goldbergs The Big Bang Theory How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother Last Man Standing Last Man Standing The Goldbergs The Goldbergs The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Hollyoaks New Girl The Goldbergs Black-Ish Tattoo Fixers Bizarre ER The Big Bang Theory

36

17th - 23rd march 2017

television

17th - 23rd March

wednesday 22nd March BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

itv2

7:00am 10:15am 11:00am 12:00pm 12:45pm 1:15pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 2:45pm 3:15pm 4:00pm 4:45pm 5:30pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:40pm 11:45pm 12:15am

7:00am Flog It! 7:30am Fugitives 8:15am Money for Nothing 9:00am Mary Berry Everyday 9:30am Great British Railway Journeys 10:00am Victoria Derbyshire 12:00pm BBC Newsroom Live 12:30pm The Daily Politics 2:00pm Lifeline 2:10pm Coast 2:30pm Beat the Brain 3:00pm The TV That Made Me 3:45pm Who Do You Think You Are? 4:45pm More Creatures Great and Small 5:15pm Great Barrier Reef with David Attenborough 6:15pm Bargain Hunt 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm The Hairy Bikers’ Comfort Food 8:00pm Great Continental Railway Journeys 9:00pm The House That £100k Built 10:00pm Incredible Medicine: Dr Weston’s Casebook 11:00pm Live at the Apollo 11:30pm Newsnight 12:15am American Justice

7:00am Good Morning Britain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 3:00pm Judge Rinder 4:00pm Chopping Block 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:15pm ITV Evening News 7:45pm Emmerdale 8:15pm International Football Live 11:00pm The Nightly Show with Dermot O’leary 11:30pm ITV News

7:00am 7:45am 9:00am 9:35am 10:00am 10:35am 11:03am 12:05pm

7:00am 10:15am 12:15pm 1:10pm 1:15pm

7:00am 7:25am 8:15am 9:00am 9:30am 10:35am 11:25am 12:20pm 1:25pm 1:55pm 3:00pm 3:50pm 4:55pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:05pm 11:10pm 12:10am

Breakfast The Housing Enforcers Homes Under the Hammer Fugitives Fake Britain Bargain Hunt BBC News Regional News Doctors The Code Escape to the Country Money for Nothing Flog It! Pointless BBC News Regional News The One Show The Sheriffs are Coming DIY SOS The Big Build BBC News Regional News Weather Peter Kay’s Car Share A Question of Sport

8.15pm International Football Live

Countdown King of Queens Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Frasier Undercover Boss USA Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA 1:00pm Channel 4 News 1:05pm Vet on the Hill 2:05pm Posh Pawn 3:10pm Countdown 4:00pm Fifteen to One 5:00pm Sun, Sea and Selling Houses 6:00pm Couples Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Hidden Restaurants with Michel Roux Jr 10:00pm The Royal House of Windsor 11:00pm 999: What’s Your Emergency?

12:00am Lee Mack

Childrens TV The Wright Stuff GPs: Behind Closed Doors 5 News Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away!

2:15pm Home and Away 2:45pm Neighbours 3:20pm NCIS 4:15pm Deadly Departure 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Police Interceptors 9:00pm GPs: Behind Closed Doors 10:00pm Can’t Pay? We’ll Take it Away!

11:00pm The Great British Benefits Handout 12:05am The Cesspit Murder

E4 You’ve Been Framed!

Who’s Doing the Dishes?

The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale You’ve Been Framed!

Psych Below Deck Who’s Doing the Dishes?

Emmerdale You’ve Been Framed!

The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Jeremy Kyle Show The Jeremy Kyle Show Judge Rinder You’ve Been Framed!

Two and a Half Men Two and a Half Men The Back Up Plan FYI Daily The Back Up Plan Family Guy

7:00am Suburgatory 7:20am Charmed 8:05am Coach Trip 8:35am Hollyoaks 9:05am Rules of Engagement 10:00am Last Man Standing 11:00am Charmed 1:00pm How I Met Your Mother 2:00pm The Goldbergs 3:00pm The Big Bang Theory 4:00pm How I Met Your Mother 4:30pm How I Met Your Mother 5:00pm Last Man Standing 5:30pm Last Man Standing 6:00pm The Goldbergs 6:30pm The Goldbergs 7:30pm The Big Bang Theory 8:00pm Hollyoaks 8:30pm New Girl 9:00pm The Big Bang Theory 9:30pm The Big Bang Theory 10:00pm Timeless 11:00pm Supernatural 12:00am The Big Bang Theory

thursday 23rd March BBC1

BBC2

ITV1

CHANNEL 4

CHANNEL 5

itv2

E4

7:00am 10:15am 11:00am 12:00pm 12:45pm 1:15pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 2:45pm 3:15pm 4:00pm 4:45pm 5:30pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:40pm 11:45pm

7:00am 7:30am 8:15am 9:00am 9:30am

7:00am 9:30am 10:25am 11:30am 1:30pm 2:30pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

7:00am 7:45am 9:05am 10:05am 11:05am 12:05pm 1:00pm 1:05pm 2:05pm 3:10pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

7:00am Childrens TV 10:15am The Wright Stuff 12:15pm GPs: Behind Closed Doors 1:10pm 5 News 1:15pm Can’t Pay? Benefits Special 2:15pm Home And Away 2:45pm Neighbours 3:15pm NCIS 4:15pm Killer Obsession 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Police Interceptors 9:00pm On Benefits and 40 Grand in Debt 10:00pm The Last Days of George Michael 11:00pm Extraordinary People: Nelly the Snakeskin Woman 12:05am Shannon Matthews: What Happened Next

7:00am 7:25am 8:15am 9:00am 9:30am 10:35am 11:25am 12:20pm 1:25pm 1:55pm 3:00pm 3:50pm 4:55pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:35am

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

Breakfast The Housing Enforcers Homes Under the Hammer Fugitives Fake Britain Bargain Hunt BBC News Regional News Doctors The Code Escape to the Country Money for Nothing Flog It! Pointless BBC News Regional News The One Show EastEnders Shop Well for Less The Red Nose African Convoy BBC News Regional News Weather Question Time

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

Flog It! Fugitives Money for Nothing Gardeners’ World Great British Railway Journeys Goes to Ireland Victoria Derbyshire BBC Newsroom Live The Daily Politics Two Tribes Building Dream Homes The TV That Made Me Who Do You Think You Are? More Creatures Great and Small Attenborough and the Giant Egg Bargain Hunt Eggheads The Hairy Bikers’ Comfort Food Great Continental Railway Journeys The Great Pottery Throw Down The Last Kingdom Mock The Week Newsnight

Good Morning Britain Lorraine The Jeremy Kyle Show This Morning Loose Women ITV Lunchtime News Judge Rinder Chopping Block Tipping Point The Chase Local News and Weather ITV Evening News Emmerdale Tonight Emmerdale Harry Hill’s Alien Fun Capsule Prime Suspect 1973 The Nightly Show with Dermot O’leary 11:30pm ITV News

Countdown King of Queens Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Undercover Boss USA Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA Channel 4 News Vet on the Hill Posh Pawn Countdown Fifteen to One Sun, Sea and Selling Houses Couples Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Great British Buildings: Restoration of the Year 10:00pm Three Wives, One Husband 11:00pm Syria’s Disappeared: The Case Against Assad 12:00am 24 Hours in A&E

10pm The Last Days of George Michael

You’ve Been Framed!

Who’s Doing the Dishes?

The Ellen DeGeneres Show Emmerdale CYou’ve Been Framed!

Psych Below Deck Who’s Doing the Dishes?

Emmerdale Totally You’ve Been Framed! Gold The Ellen DeGeneres Show The Jeremy Kyle Show The Jeremy Kyle Show Judge Rinder You’ve Been Framed!

You’ve Been Framed!

You’ve Been Framed!

Two and a Half Men Two and a Half Men Release the Hounds Family Guy Celebrity Juice Live Family Guy

Suburgatory Charmed Coach Trip Hollyoaks Rules of Engagement Last Man Standing Charmed How I Met Your Mother The Goldbergs The Big Bang Theory How I Met Your Mother Last Man Standing The Goldbergs The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Hollyoaks New Girl The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Gap Year Brooklyn Nine-Nine Brooklyn Nine-Nine The Big Bang Theory

17th - 23rd march 2017

37

Life

Cruise in style on an exclusive, award-winning vessel Book your cabin with Gandia Tours from only €50.

Gandia Tours are excited to be offering itineraries spanning the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands & Madeira with two of the world’s best regarded cruise providers, Celebrty Cruises and NCL. If a two-week cross mediterranean trip tickles your fancy, you’re in good hands. The Celebrity Eclipse vessel from Celebrity Cruises was the proud recipient of the ‘Best from the UK’ award from the 2015 Cruise Critic - UK Cruisers' Choice Awards and itineraries are now being offered from Barcelona through Gandia Tours.

Onboard Celebrity Eclipse, your journey becomes a destination in itself. Whether you choose to treat yourself to an indulgent treatment at the world-renowned Canyon Ranch SpaClub, or get competitive with some games at the Lawn Club (a half acre of real grass), there’s luxury on every level.

Our top picks: Variety of top-class complimentary dining venues 24-hour ‘Stateroom Attendant’ for all accommodation options

Unique and diverse entertainment programme – collaboration with renowned international producers Drinks package included for exterior cabins Concierge class option - custom blended bath amenities, Hansgrohe® massaging showerheads, afternoon savouries to your room and more...

Or perhaps you fancy a two-week island hop experience across the Canaries? NCL have got that covered, also offering itineraries from Barcelona through Gandia Tours.

Whilst onboard make a trip to the Tivoli Pool, soak in one of four outdoor hot tubs, or take the kids to Buccaneer's Wet and Wild. That's just the beginning - with 14 delicious dining options, 12 bars and lounges, the Maharaja's Casino, and the Roman Spa & Fitness centre at your fingertips, you're ready to have a holiday of a lifetime!

You'll visit exotic Casablanca and experience one of Morocco's best-preserved medinas and the Hercules Caves. In Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, you can hop on a bus to see the seaside sand dunes of Maspalomas. Bring a towel for a dip at the beach. From Gran Canaria, journey to the other big island of the Canaries, Tenerife, where a

motorcoach tour will take you above the tree line and over the clouds to see Spain's tallest peak, the Teide.

Our top picks: Signature ‘White Hot Party’ 17 extraordinary dining options The Stardust Theatre Four outdoor hot tubs Drinks package included on all bookings made before March 31 2017 Both two-week, full-board trips depart from Barcelona, see dates below: Mediterranean with Celebrity Eclipse: 22 September 2018 4 October 2018 Canary Islands & Madeira with NCL 22 December 2017 14 March 2018 24 March 2018

For more information call Gandia Tours on 965 744 326 or visit www.gandiatours.com

38

17th - 23rd march 2017

people

Cucaracha Club crowdfunder As reported a few weeks ago, the locally produced Cucaracha Club will have its official Premier in the UK next month.

Not resting on their Laurels, the production team are well underway with the planning of the sequel, with the script written, some casting of the major parts in place and locations scouting underway. Now the real work begins as the film heads into its Crowdfunding phase as they look to finance the film through a number of new initiatives.

With the action and film crew returning to the Torrevieja area in the autumn, it's once again an opportunity for businesses, cafes, restaurants, hotels and venues of interest to be able to promote themselves through the film by being featured in the film and the other promotional ways. In the near future, the search for cast and extras will also be underway for this Torrevieja based production.

Having learnt a great deal about the business of film making during the original production, the production team are must better prepared for their second production and looking forward to the challenge. Some of the stars from the original production, including Tom Watt (Lofty in Eastenders) have expressed an interest in reprising their roles, which will include many members of the original 'good guys', the Cucharacha Club, that gives the film its title. The script is finished and under wraps until the Crowdfunding phase is completed. The reason for this is so that those wishing to be involved in the Crowdfunding or having product placement in the film can be easily accommodated with changes made to the script to be able to feature their establishments or business.

The film enjoyed its world premier on March 10th last year, in a screening in Torrevieja's Virgen del Carmen to a full house and the promotional team are slowing putting all the necessary bits together, such as obtaining a PG12 Certificate for UK Screens, putting together media packs, talking with distributors and film festival organisers, and doing all the back stage stuff, that the typical cinema viewer does not know much about. For more information please visit: www.siesta.productions.

Billie & Clive

Charity production in aid of PAWS-PATAS ‘Hotel La Resistance’ will be performed

by Shoestring Productions at the Mont Marte Restaurant in Mojacar every night for four nights between Thursday March 30 and Sunday April 2.

Performances will take place at 7.30pm and food and refreshments are provided.

Tickets cost €12 and can be purchased from PC Playa in Mojacar or Connexions in Turre but be quick, they’re selling fast!

All proceeds will be donated to PAWSPATAS.

Vix with Gun

Cast members Chrissie Cremore and Stuart Drury

170 strong turnout to celebrate classical bicycles The Classic and Historical Vehicle Association ‘La Carbonilla’ of Redovan celebrated the sixth edition of its regional meeting of classic bicycles earlier this week.

The event brought together more than 170 people from both the municipality and other towns of Vega Baja, some even travelled from the corners of Valencia and Murcia.

The majority of participants were dressed in period clothes and took to the cycle from Redovan to Orihuela.

The president of La Carbonilla expressed extreme gratitude to all who took part in the sixth edition – which saw the largest number of participants since its inception.

17th - 23rd march 2017

food & drink

By Sheralee, The Pub, Formentera

Chicken Cacciatorre Chicken cacciatore ‘meaning hunter’ is a hearty Italian dish made with braised chicken in a tomato-based sauce with mushrooms and herbs. There are many different variations to this classic dish with many using red wine instead of white but this simple yet tasty recipe will be enjoyed by all whichever wine you use!

Serves 6 12.2kg / 5lb chicken jointed or cut in to pieces (as preferred) 125ml / 4fl oz olive oil 60g / 2 ½ oz butter 60g / 2 ½ oz chopped onion 225g / 8oz shitake mushrooms sliced 3 cloves garlic peeled + crushed 185ml / 6 fl oz dry white wine 2 bay leaves 1tsp chopped basil Ground black pepper and salt to taste 80ml / 2½ fl oz prepared tomato sauce or passata - Saute the chicken in the olive oil until light golden brown.

- Melt the butter in a separate frying pan, add the onions and mushrooms and sauté until golden. Add the garlic and cook for another 4 minutes - Spoon the mushrooms, onion and garlic over the chicken and pour the wine over. Add the bay leaves, basil and pepper. Simmer for about 15 minutes, partially covered then stir in the passata or tomato sauce and add salt and pepper to taste. Cook uncovered for a further 15 minutes then serve with bread or for a fuller meal use taglietelle or spaghetti

Recipe supplied by Sheralee from The Pub, Formentera 966 792 634

Alicante wine recognised in the US Tarima 2015 Monastrell of Alicante recently featured in the US press, recommended by wine experts as the perfect accompaniment barbecue favourites burgers and pulled pork.

Winemakers in Alicante use the Vaso system - training the vines to grow like goblet shaped bushes - to prevent sunburn and heat stress on the grapes.

The grapes are then hand harvested to lower tannin levels and the wine is eventually aged for 6 months in American oak barrels to round out the flavours.

This wine is very fragrant with dark fruit and dark chocolate characteristics balanced by delicate floral notes.

Chilli Chicken Whilst we are on Chicken, here is a favourite of mine.

It is quick to prepare and can be made as spicy as you like it!

Ingredients: • 2 boneless chicken breasts • 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch and salt to taste • 1/2 teaspoon crushed black pepper • 1 egg, scrambled and thinly sliced • 2 tablespoons dark soy sauce

• 3 garlic cloves, minced • 2 green chilies, sliced or more if you like things spicy • 2 onions, thinly sliced • 1 red pepper, thinly sliced • 2 cups chicken stock • 2 tablespoons chili sauce • 1 teaspoon rice vinegar Preparation • Cut chicken breast into cubes and season with salt and pepper. Brown in a wok. Remove and set aside.

(Chicken doesn’t need to be fully cooked) • Sauté chopped onion, garlic, green chilies. Add chili sauce, chicken stock, vinegar, soya sauce and chicken.

• Bring to a boil until chicken is cooked.

• Add cornstarch to thicken. Add chopped scrambled egg and serve.

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17th - 23rd march 2017

Horoscopes and Puzzles

Code Breaker

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

Now using your knowledge of the English language work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you discover the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.

POSTBAG

Kenny, I think that Spirit tried to connect with me as a child, but I was too young to take it all in back then. Is it ever too late to learn more about spiritual things? Did I have my chance way back then?

Devon K. Well Devon, we are always free to connect with Spirit at any time. Many were contacted too early and maybe were unable to get answers to the many questions that went unanswered at the time. So too are we more open and freer to discuss Spiritual matters nowadays. Just taking a short look back at life and you will reveal your spirituality automatically in many actions and deeds. It’s never too late to establish your connection to complete this, your Spiritual journey.

If It’s Your Birthday This Week 1

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The Cosmos is both grounding and accommodating as aspects show that it is time to start something new by turning over a new leaf. If the tried and tested doesn't work for any reason there are always alternatives, if you are unafraid!

The midweek entry of the Sun serves to illuminate the truth of a situation that you seem to be about to walk away from. Nobody could blame you for this final action, in hindsight you would never have got involved; but since you are, closure seems to be the best that you can do. Moving on means what it says and your energies are sought elsewhere!

The Sun in Aries serves to energise a project that is exceeding all expectations. You are happily finding that things are meant to be and that you can channel your expertise in more than one direction. This means looking within to see what is really there right now, and finding out what truly are your main motives and triggers right now.

Check up on finance and expenditure this week. You balance your books very well but there are some unexpected expenses right now that are a drain on your economy. This may be a time to make those provisions that you have often talked about but have yet to do. Saturn squares on the Sun bringing up matters of all securities.

Is this a calm before the storm? You are supposing that an awaited action will take time, but you may be surprised to hear that things could be up and running more promptly. The hard working actions of Mercury together with the stubbornness of Taurus are just what is needed to accelerate progress and you’ll soon get your green light!

A relationship steps up and your worries and fears seem to have gone out of the window! Since you have achieved balance all around, at long last, you can rely on this having a strong effect on your partner too. Mercury conjuncts with Venus this week to back you both, and the future happiness you both deserve is much closer than you think!

With Saturn squaring up to the Sun there is a need for clearance and clarity! This is a great time to have a good clear out, on the understanding that you can better love what is left and love it more! Be distinct with what you say to someone who seems to be over concerned with their interpretation of the truth.... which is rather heavily flawed.

Indecisions right now do not help you make forward thinking plans for the future; especially since travel is out there on the horizon. A clearer way ahead will allow you to plan everything for the trip, and to have something to look forward to, will serve to see you through a busy patch ahead; when rest and relaxation may very well go by the wayside.

Awaiting to conjunct with the Sun, Venus is in ebullient mood and it is very clear that an affair of the heart is having a very positive effect on you.

The midweek conjunction with Mercury ensures that communications are enabled and this means that you can finally have your say, be yourself, and concentrate on far more important matters.

Some very good news heralds the start of the week and brings you some hope as somebody is fighting your corner and justice is undoubtedly your deserve.

Without complicating a situation, you are only asking for what you deserve, and that should truly be absolutely yours as a right. You never were afraid to fight but calmer times are coming.

This is very much not a time to retreat into that shell in defence of current matters in hand. Facing up to things may be the hardest way but it is time to nip things in the bud, as those things cannot continue going on the way that they are! Whilst somebody needs a wake up call it doesn’t have to be you who sets the alarm this time.

Someone has got hold of the wrong end of the stick this week, and you have your suspicions as to why now? Those who think that they can convince you to make changes against your wishes do not know really know just how determined you are. They do not think of anyone but themselves! Say and do nothing, until the time feels right!

A creative time for someone who isn’t afraid to get their hands dirty this week. Nature calls and you are acutely aware that you have your feet on the ground for once. A shelved project gets a second chance this week too, though finance may be an issue, but without compromise there are ways around, and you are motivated to at least investigate

17th - 23rd march 2017

Cryptic Crossword

Across 1 Fed Rome about home rule (7) 5 Bit part actor is surplus to requirements (5) 8 Part of UK named Glenda incorrectly (7) 9 Attempts to score points in rugby (5) 10 The Middle East is the subject (5) 11 Eccentric from the Gold Coast range of mountains (7) 12 Hold out against rebel sister (6) 14 Begins jumps (6) 17 Eat in sewer without key jumper (7) 19 No right in big Bob’s habits (5) 22 Ogled broken stick (5) 23 Email could start tense, terrible weather (7) 24 Wait, it’s the wrong verse (5) 25 Safety First in wilderness is the last course (7)

Down 1 Rapid lot of aeroplanes (5) 2 Big Bird beheads Snoopy (5) 3 Warders went off knickers (7) 4 Humble fashions start trend (6) 5 Record the start of every new theatre extravaganza religiously (5) 6 Solvent is leaner (7) 7 Comes back with Wrens as alternative (7) 12 The surest learner affected the answers (7) 13 Trim the French in the confused nerds (7) 15 Turn endlessly and spin around for vegetables (7) 16 Discovered little Edward was outside a motoring organisation (6) 18 Not here? No, no! (5) 20 The lad be a refined, dashing young man (5) 21 We hear the perfume is despatched (5)

Quick Crossword Across 1 Drink of beer and lemonade (6) 4 Snow vehicle (6) 9 Lacking exceptional quality (7) 10 Change (5) 11 Run after (5) 12 Salad ingredient (7) 13 Eagles and hawks (5,2,4) 18 Assail (7) 20 Cuban dance (5) 22 Heirloom (5) 23 Collage (7) 24 Bicycle designed for two (6) 25 Small cave (6)

80’s

Pop Quiz

Survived the 80’s?

Here’s 10 questions to test your memory of those golden years! Answers next week!

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What craft toy involved cutting plastic figures, coloring them in, and then baking them in the oven?

Name 3 glam rock bands of the 80’s What planet was Spock brought back to life on?

Name 3 of the actors from “The Goonies” What was the famous line uttered by an old woman in Wendy’s ads?

Name the four ghosts from Pac-Man What were the names of the Saturday morning cartoon critters who lived in air-vents and befriended a boy who kept their secret hidden?

Name Eddie Murphy’s skit about vocabulary on Saturday Night Live What was the name of Michael Knight’s car?.... now, what was the name of his boss?

What actor mouthed the line “Whatch you talkin’ ‘bout Willis?”

Down 1 Insufficient (6) 2 Playing field (5) 3 Cul de sac (4,3) 5 Smallest amount (5) 6 Enter uninvited (7) 7 More difficult (6) 8 Trousers formerly worn by sailors (4-7) 14 Hormone secreted in the pancreas (7) 15 Husband or wife (7) 16 Tropical bird with hooked beak (6) 17 Summerhouse (6) 19 Male relative (5) 21 Intended (5)

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Fill the grid so every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1-9

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17th - 23rd march 2017

health

Brits tell 20 fibs a week about their healthy living habits The majority of Brits (61 per cent) are in complete denial about their health, according to new research.

A new study into the nation’s attitudes towards their wellbeing has revealed we tell on average 20 fibs a week regarding our lifestyles – that’s 1,020 every year. And it isn’t only our friends we try to deceive, it is also partners, doctors – and even ourselves, according to the research by KP Nuts.

In fact, a staggering 61 per cent of the adults who took part in the study admitted they were in denial about their health – with 16 per cent claiming they always paint a healthier picture of their lives to others.

Fifteen per cent have told acquaintances that they are a non-smoker when it wasn’t the case – and a further 13 per cent routinely play down the level of alcohol they consume.

However, the biggest fib to emerge from the poll was how much water we drink – with 18 per cent claiming they drink more than one litre of it every day.

But regardless of age, mums are the people we are most likely to lie to about our health

to - with 19 per cent of adults STILL pulling the wool over their mother’s eyes about how healthy they are.

16 per cent tell lies to their other half about their lifestyle – and a further 16 per cent admitted going to the school playground in their gym gear to give off a healthy vibe to the other mums and dads.

More worryingly – 19 per cent of us routinely lie to our GP about our lifestyles with 41 per cent filling medical forms in inaccurately to give off a better impression.

36 per cent exaggerate how healthy they are on social media –and men are the worst culprits (43 per cent) When asked why, 26 per cent of those polled said it was because of peer pressure – and 14 per cent said it was because of celebrity influences.

51 per cent said they felt pressure to keep up with the Jones’s in terms of their health.

But despite the trend for healthy living –

real or fake – millions of Brits believe many of their friends are also not being entirely honest about their lifestyles.

Around one in four (23 per cent) said ‘everyone does it’, while 35 per cent agreed because ‘no-one can be super-healthy all the

Sleep Guru’s top tips for World Sleep Day Today, Friday 17th March is recognised globally as ‘World Sleep Day’.

Anandi ‘The Sleep Guru’ has been helping people conquer their insomnia for the past five years with her very own Ayurvedic approach and ‘Personal Sleep Review'. Ayurveda is a natural health therapy which originated from ancient India and uses a variety of different exercises to help maintain balance.

Here, Anandi shares with RTN her top tips to help achieve a good night’s sleep: • Avoid caffeine and alcohol • Lengthen and deepen the breath, which calms the mind • Go to bed early and avoid technology for at least one hour before going to bed • A busy mind is never going to sleep well – a daily ritual that nurtures the soul is vital for relaxed slumber • Enjoy a diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables • Turn the lighting down in the evening • Avoid heavy conversations before bed time • Keep your bedroom tidy and free of clutter • Aim for a minimum of seven hours of solid sleep per night.

Anandi’s journey started in the fitness industry in 1986. A born leader and teacher, she found herself teaching others throughout her career in fitness, beauty and wellness.

To find out more about the benefits that can come from good breathing technique, such as an improvement of mental and emotional well-being, a calmer mind and lower blood pressure, check out Anandi’s Website - http://www.thesleepguru.co.uk/.

time’.

Another one in five (20 per cent) confessed their ‘crime’ but added: ‘I am nowhere near the worst culprit’. *Survey of 2,000 adult workers by KP Nuts, February 2017.

Unhealthy waiters make you order unhealthy food You’re more likely to choose unhealthy food if your waiter looks unhealthy, research by Anders Gustafsson, Professor of Department of Marketing at BI Norwegian Business School reveals.

Restaurant customers are subconsciously influenced by the appearance of their waiter when choosing from the menu. The researchers showed 100 females a video clip of three waitresses – healthy, overweight and unhealthy – before measuring their eye movements over the menu to see where their eyes lingered, as well as what they ordered.

The study showed that healthy or slightly overweight waiters often influence the customer to choose a healthier meal option – a big difference compared to an unhealthy looking waiter, and something that Gustaffson says we should really be aware of.

‘Our decisions when choosing from a menu aren’t conscious – we choose an automatic response to stimulus. Often, when picking what to order, we compare ourselves with others to make sure we don’t break the norm. When we meet a healthy or even slightly overweight waiter, we subconsciously choose to follow this norm and pick our meal accordingly. Yet when we meet an unhealthy waiter, we choose whatever we feel like eating. They don’t look like they care what we eat, anyway. Our brain concludes that they are not someone we want to identify with.’

17th - 23rd march 2017

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health

The promise to be slimmer for summer 2017 Slim4Life.es has been awarded an authorised Exante distributoriship in Spain and is proud to announce that Exante Meal Replacement products- the UK’s leading WEIGHT REDUCTION/ Slimming products are now available here.

It’s so easy!

1. Decide which Exante diet plan is right for you.

2. Choose from our huge range of shakes, bars, meals, desserts & snacks 3. Book your free consultation How It Works What is Exante? Exante diet plans are simple, flexible and work for you. We have a range of diet plans for you, suited for whether you are looking to drop a dress size, tone up or change your eating habits for good!

Want to lose weight?

Substitute up to 3 meals a day with our nutritious meal replacement products that give your body all the essential vitamins and minerals to support a healthy diet.

Want to tone up?

Each Exante product is high in protein, low carb and packed full of fibre, perfect for gym bunnies looking for a convenient post-workout snack.

Why Exante?

It works, it's convenient and it transforms lives!

Our philosophy is healthy living made simple through easy-to-follow recipes, flexible meal plans and exercises developed by our experts.

Learn how to cook quick and delicious meals and follow your personal weight loss coach as she guides you though your weight loss journey. Support To Stay On Track Does your busy lifestyle leave you short on time? Simply throw an Exante bar, shake or snack into your bag for a delicious and nutritious meal on-the-go.

Start Your Transformation If you're ready to say hello to the new you and ready to sign up for your New Year’s weight loss resolution?

Try our 28 day challenge to help guide you through the first 4 weeks of changing the way you eat with Exante- Feel healthy and watch the pounds fall off.

Phone or email Shirley for your free consultation – at 675 619 568 or slim4life.es@gmail.com

Emma Sherlock Before & After

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17th - 23rd march 2017

home and garden

Mediterranean gardening with experts from the Chelsea Physic Garden The Chelsea Physic Garden was established as the Apothecaries’ Garden in London, England, in 1673 and is the second oldest botanical garden in Britain. The garden is an oasis of tranquility which has been used to grow and demonstrate medicinal and useful plants for nearly 350 years.

The Garden has had a wide impact around the World, playing a key role in introducing the rubber industry to Malaysia and cotton to the Southern US. Perhaps most significant was the establishment of the tea industry in India.

The use of glasshouses at Chelsea Physic Garden has allowed gardeners to cultivate many challenging and exotic species.

RTN spoke exclusively with experts at Chelsea Physic Garden to find out their top 5 plant picks that thrive in a Mediterranean climate: Pelargonium 'Surcouf' - glorious in terracotta pots grouped together, pelargoniums require little watering and they love heat and sunshine which makes them the perfect plants for the Mediterranean, particularly on a small balcony or terrace.

Be sure to dead head regularly and feed once a week with high potash (tomato) feed to encourage a better and longer flowering season.

There is a huge variety of pelargoniums to choose from and they come with all sorts of leaf shapes (often fragrant) and colours. Pelargonium 'Surcouf' has fantastic lipstick pink flowers which last month after month throughout summer.

Pelargonium Sidoides - this very dainty species of pelargonium/geranium has circular, crinkled, silver-grey-green leaves and clusters of small, deep magenta - almost black - flowers on fine, long, wiry stems. A plant native to coastal South Africa, In Western medicine, the red roots of the plant have been used to treat the common cold and acute bronchitis.

Olive Trees - the glorious shade a tree provides in a hot climate is very welcome. Olive trees are almost synonymous with the Mediterranean as they are useful for crops of olives and love the hot dry, conditions.

Pinus Canariensis (Canary Island Pine) - an elegant pine tree and great for the Mediterranean as its one of the most droughttolerant pines, the Pinus Canariensis is a popular ornamental tree in warmer climates. Take care if planting in a garden as a Pinus Canariensis is can get large if not kept in check.

Lavender - long considered a multi-tasker in the world of herbal medicine, lavender’s oil is anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, so much so that it was used in the First World War as an antiseptic to treat wounds. The pale lilac or white coloured flowers produce a wonderful calming smell and its far reaching uses aid bites, burns, tiredness and tensions.

Growing lavender is simple with a dry and sunny soil; it will grow happily in a bed or even a border.

Rosemary - a great companion to lavender as they both enjoy the same conditions. Like many Mediterranean herbs,

rosemary and lavender are perfect for providing fragrant planting around a seating area or near paths.

Chelsea Physic Garden continues to play a significant role in education, running a range of courses for adults and activities for over 5000 school children a year. It also retains its medicinal plant display – one of the largest in the World, along with extensive ethnobotanic, useful, edible and conservation plant collections.

Why not visit when you are next in London? Check out www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk.

Make the most of your space

Big or small, make the most of the space you have with 25 easy-to-follow tips.

Nothing makes you feel more cramped in your living space than clutter and confusion. Follow our tips to help you minimize the mess and tidy up your space.

1. Add shelves above doorways.

2. Banish room-darkening shadows with additional light fixtures.

3. Put glass shelves across deep-set windows.

4. Use a chest or an ottoman with storage inside as a coffee table.

5. Put low bookcases along a sofa back: they'll double as a sofa table.

6. Keep the flooring throughout a small space the same for visual continuity.

7. Line a room with a shelf high up on the wall.

8. Keep window treatments simple.

9. Run a low bookcase underneath windows.

10. Stretch your space to the outdoors by making a patio or deck comfortable and welcoming.

11. Place a large bucket for magazines next to your favourite chair.

12. Line a hallway with bookshelves.

13. Use a wicker hamper as both an end table and storage space for blankets.

14. Buy a coffee table with a drawer for remotes.

15. Carve out shallow display space between wall studs.

16. Use fewer, larger pieces of furniture and accessories to reduce visual clutter.

17. Choose sofas and chairs with plain or textured upholstery rather than vibrant prints.

18. Install shelves around a window.

19. Add window seats with lids.

20. Run shelves up to the ceiling.

21. Buy a magazine rack or stack magazines in flat-bottom baskets underneath a console or coffee table.

22. Take advantage of wasted space with corner bookcases.

23. Think monochromatic.

24. Eliminate obstructions: the further you can see into and through a space, the larger it'll seem.

25. Arrange furnishings to avoid blocking views of windows and doors.

17th - 23rd march 2017

home and garden

A spring clean for green fingers The sun is shining; birds are singing and its time for your garden to bounce back from the winter weather. Check out our top tips for your getting your garden in great shape before the season reaches its peak: Take and plant up spring cuttings of geraniums, echiums, margaritas, leonothus, rosemary, sage etc.

Start to fill gaps in the garden but wait until inland frosts are past before planting the more tender plants.

When the rain ceases completely, complete the winter cut back in the flower garden and of hedges and trees.

Start a regular programme of spraying fruit trees, bushes and vulnerable plants - such as geraniums - with appropriate eco-sprays.

Start to plant out plantlets for summer harvests and sow seeds for tender plants such as squash, courgettes, tomatoes and

peppers that will not be planted out until late April and May. In view of the water shortages last year and the current low volumes of stored water in the reservoirs, install some roof guttering and water barrels/ tanks.

If not already done, plant seed potatoes and Jerusalem artichoke tubers.

Enjoy harvesting seasonal peas, broad beans and asparagus.

Start to mow lawns and give a spring feed.

Sieve out the ready compost in the compost heap to top up raised beds and prepare bean trenches for later planting.

Once you have a dry day or two, complete the laying of paths and terraces and the construction of water features so that plants can be planted around them for spring and summer colour.

Give ponds an annual clean out, cutting back excessive root growth.

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17th - 23rd march 2017

Tech

Smart Locks...

Schlage Sense Smart Deadbolt Let me in, but keep him out!

Ever had a handful of shopping, or a screaming toddler in your arms when trying to juggle a set of keys out your pocket?

The latest security and technology from Schlage offers an alternative. Clear, simple touch pad entry without a key, or voice activated from your Bluetooth enabled phone gains you access easily.

One of the strongest, most intelligent Bluetooth enabled locks available, the Schlage Sense Smart deadbolt gives you the option

to enter your home with an access code on its illuminated touchscreen or by using your iPhone.

The Schlage Sense Smart deadbolt is compatible with Apple HomeKit technology which allows you to talk to unlock your door using Siri on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

That connectivity puts you in total control of your home using a device that’s probably already in your pocket.

It meets the highest industry rating for security and durability. The slim profile and tasteful design creates a stylish look. Programming and using the lock is as simple as using an app.

Available on Amazon for approx 180€

Smart phone

Smart home

Class Glass?

Apple’s iPhone 8 is due to launch in September of this year.

With a glass body and edge to edge OLED display that will include a Touch ID fingerprint sensor and front mounted camera, a faster A11 processor and a 5.8” display. The new model may sell alongside standard iPhones as a premium model.

The glass case allows for new wireless charging technology to be implemented.

It is now 10 years since the iPhones first launch and it has to be said, that love it or hate it, iPhones have revolutionised the smart phone market.

IBM says it has managed to store data on a single atom.

The research, which was conducted at IBM’s Almaden lab in Silicon Valley, was published in scientific journal Nature on Wednesday. The finding could potentially change the way we store data in the future.

A hard drive uses approximately 100,000 atoms to store 1 bit of data (either 1 or 0 in a binary format). IBM says it has developed a way to reduce this down to the smallest level possible, ie 1 atom! The element Holium can be electrically charged with a positive or negative charge which can be read as as 0 or a 1 the same way a hard disk reads data.

Theoretically this means that 35,000,000 songs could be stored on a device the size of a credit card.

Imagine no more out of memory or space notifications! No need to ever delete a photo or video again from your devices.

The next step is to see if computer chip manufacturers can integrate this technology into a usable format in the future.

Possible feature set:

• Water Resistance • A USB-C Port Instead of a Lightning Port?

• Wireless Charging • Biometrics • Extra Storage • Taptic Engine • 3D Touch • Extra Battery Life • Front and Rear Cameras

17th - 23rd march 2017

47

Tech

RoboCar

Autonomous self driving vehicles are not as far away as you would think. All the major car manufacturers are pouring billions into projects that could see a fully self driving car on the roads by as soon as 2025. Giants such as Google and Uber have already tested vehicles, as well as haulage and delivery companies trialing self driving lorries. Drone deliveries are already in operation, and small robot home delivery pods are set to be in use shortly.

I don’t know about you, but the thought of a car “Self Driving” me to my destination sounds a little creepy, but then again, the thought of a little box on the dashboard telling you exactly where to go, where to avoid traffic congestion, where to stop for breaks and a coffee etc seemed like science fiction until the GPS navigators popped out onto the scene. In theory safety would be higher in a self drive, as radar, laser guidance, GPS and proximity sensors should be able to guide you safely anywhere! It is going to be an interesting few years watching the development of this science. Taxi firms and delivery companies may be first to market, but rest assured the Self Drive car is not too far away from our streets

Ultimate Brush Off...

A Bluetooth Toothbrush?

You have got to be kidding me!

I love a gadget as much as the next man, but sometimes I get the feeling the world has gone App crazy.

Oral B the oral hygiene giant, has introduced a Bluetooth toothbrush that connects to an App on your phone to tell you how long you have been brushing, if you are brushing too hard and if your brushing habits have improved even.

Erm..... what’s the point.

Next week a genetically engineered WIFI Tomato that giggles when you bite it and streams live video footage direct to your youtube account...

Last Weeks Puzzle Answers (Issue 907) Quick Soloution

Across: 1 Scarce, 4 Make-up, 9 Arrange, 10 Again, 11 Tense, 12 Chemise, 13 Worshipping, 18 Elegant, 20 Spare, 22 Chair, 23 Origami, 24 Needle, 25 Beetle.

Down: 1 Starts, 2 Apron, 3 Confess, 5 Awake, 6 Elation, 7 Ponder, 8 Description, 14 Operate, 15 Passive, 16 Beacon, 17 Decide, 19 April, 21 Adapt.

Cryptic Solution Across: 1 Alarmed, 5 Pupil, 8 Gates, 9 Copying, 10 Remainder, 12 Can, 13 Skates, 14 Grapes, 17 Paw, 18 Countless, 20 Opinion, 21 Ratio, 23 Trees, 24 Descent.

Down: 1 Anger, 2 Ant, 3 Massive, 4 Decide, 5 Paper, 6 Principle, 7 Legends, 11 Meanwhile, 13 Support, 15 Returns, 16 Burned, 18 Chips, 19 Scout, 22 Tie.

Pop Quiz • What was Dustin Hoffman’s character’s

Robin, Dr. Teeth, Janice, Sam the Eagle

name in “Rain Man?”

• Who was the actress that played Ferris

Raymond Babbitt

Bueller’s sister? Jennifer Grey.

• Name all five New Kids On The Block.

• Who was the original singer of Los Lobos’

Danny, Donny, Jordan, Joe,Jon

1987 hit “La Bamba”? Ritchie Valens. From

• What was the name of the show that

the movie of his life in the summer of ‘87

featured Larry Appleton and his zany

• What was the name of the once Morris-

foreign cousin? “Perfect Strangers”

sey-fronted band in the 80’s? The Smiths.

• Who played Sarah Connor in 1984’s “Ter-

Who was the actress that made waves in

minator”? Linda Hamilton

1984’s “Splash”?

• Name 8 Muppets from “The Muppet

Daryl Hannah.

Show”. Miss Piggy, Animal, Scooter, Kermit,

• Who was the lead actress in the famous

Ralph, The Swedish Chef, Gonzo, Fozzie,

bomb “Grease 2”?

Beaker, Lou Zealand, Waldor and Statler,

A young Michelle Pfiffer

48

17th - 23rd march 2017

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WE BUY, sell & transport all makes of static caravans 630 055 418 Elsyd7@hotmail.com (249246) CHARITIES/CHURCHES

LA SIESTA EVANGELICAL CHURCH on Urbanisation La Siesta, Torrevieja is a friendly, English speaking Church. We hold services each Sunday and everyone is welcome. Our 11.00 am Services are held every 2nd and 4th Sunday in the month (and 11.00 am on the 5th Sunday, if this applies.)

On the 1st and 3rd Sunday’s our Services are at 9.30 am.

Our choir sings at our 11.00 am Services and there is also a Sunday School, called Stepping Stones, on these Sundays. We welcome residents, visitors and children. For more information see our website www. lasiestaevangelicalchurch.org or telephone Pastor Keith on 666 180 108.

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 life – damaging everything that is important to you. Englishspeaking 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 (93323)

ROUNDABOUT CHARITY SHOP. We are now into summer and very soon we will be feeling the heat! It is time therefore for another visit to the shop where you might find a bargain or two. Choose from the clothing selection, jewellery, household goods, books or bric a brac.

There is usually something there for everyone --- but not always. Charitable donations have recently been made to The Alzheimers Centre, Cancer Research and The Amigos Ambulance Service. We still need your help with donations etc. Please keep them coming in! We are situated on Avenida Del Furs close to the Fountain Roundabout and immediate left by Don Colchon bed shop.

(93325) THE ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION, Torrevieja Branch, meet at 17.00 on the first Wednesday of each month at the Restaurante El Paraiso, Urb. Jardin del Mar 3 (behind Carrefour), Torrevieja. Contact Paul Edwards, Chairman 618 644 934 or Margaret Forshaw, Secretary 966 921 996. (95455) THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Orihuela Costa - covering from Punta Prima to San Javier.

The branch meets at Olympia restaurant, Mil Palmeras on

3rd Thursday of each month at 19.00 - 19.30pm. More info can be found on branch website www.orihuelacostarbl.co.uk.

(95457)

CANCER SUPPORT GROUP (MABS) MURCIA/MAR MENOR Help and support is just a phone call away, Avda Rio Nalón, Tel: 693 275 779 (95462)

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). Both offices are open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 1.30 pm and the Helpdesk at La Marina is open every Thursday (10 am to 1.30 pm) at the Hope Fellowship Church (opposite the Thursday Market site) at Avda de Justo Antonio Quesada, Urb. La Marina (Tel 615770145).

We are online at www. helpvegabaja.com and also on Facebook. You can email the San Miguel Centre at office@ helpvegabaja.com We also have a 24 hour Emergency helpline which is available to both members and non-members on 966 723 733 (95456)

PILAR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH, Calle Canalejas, 3.

Pilar de la Horadada. Sunday Service at 11am & Thursday at 5pm for Prayer and Praise and Worship. Home groups meet during the week. All welcome from any church background or none. For further information www.pilarchurch.org Reg No: 2009-SG/A (95463)

THE BAKER FOUNDATION for SPIRITUAL AWARENESS. 16 Nicolas De Bussi Ave, Playa Flamenca. Sunday Service every week 11am to 12 noon, everyone welcome. For further details please phone/fax 966 760 665 (95458) THE PHILIP SCOTT LODGE No 10671 of the RAOB meets every Friday in the Bar Catorce, Benijofar. Please call the secretary, Colin Bird on 693 287 614 for further information.

(95459) CHARITY BOOK STALL PEGO THURSDAY MARKET. Selection of over 500 books, all proceeds given to the elderly/disabled of Pego and local Animal Rescue.

More stock always required please contact Chrissie 965 977 228/617 647 395 (95460) THE ANGLICAN CHURCH, La Fustera. For more info: contact Frank Bentley on 966 495 188 (95461)

TORREVIEJA Christian Fellowship (TCF) is an English speaking lively church located at Avenida de las Valencianas 68, Torrevieja 03183.

Residents and holidaymakers are welcome to attend our services with communion and ‘kids church’ each Sunday at 10.30am. We have a Fellowship Meeting (Bible Study) each Wednesday at 6.00pm. For further information see our website www.tcf-Spain.org or tel 966 700 391. (95464) 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. acacostablanca.org or call the Secretary on: 966 495 042 (95465) THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION JAVEA BRANCH meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month @ Scallops Rest on the Arenal at 11.00am. Everyone is welcome to attend as a visitor and join the branch if they wish. Anyone needing any help or advice on welfare, or any information regarding the branch can contact either Sheila on 965 791 270 or Roger on 965 790 123 (95472) TORREVIEJA STROKE SUPPORT GROUP meets each Friday 2.45pm to 5pm in The Annex, (behind Age Concern Centre), Calle Paganini, Urb. La Siesta.

Our aim is to support stroke

survivors and their carers by a range of facilities from speech therapy, rehabilitation exercise, group discussion etc. For info: Louie 966 718 964 or 965 071 920, e-mail: strokesupportgroup@ hotmail.com Donations and further voluntary helpers are needed and guest speakers with relevant knowledge or experience are very welcome.

(95473)

THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Gran Alacant & La Marina Branch meets 1st Monday of every month (except July and August) at Bar Sioux , Avda Escandinavia GA at 7pm for 7.30pm prompt.

For further info contact Brian, Branch Secretary on 639 917 971 / email secretarybr3606@ gmail.com (95474) CAMPELLO CONTRA CANCER in conjunction with AECC Association Español Contra Cancer has opened a charity shop at C/Virgen de los Desamparados No 13 (next door to Mas y mas) El Campello. The shop is open Mon-Fri 10 - 2pm and is run by unpaid volunteers and all monies raised goes to the AECC. We urgently need donations of clothes, books, large and small furniture etc, and we will arrange collection of large items. We need volunteers to help out in the shop and also clothes rails, shelves etc. for display.

Please support your local Cancer charity and if you wish to obtain literature or simply talk to someone. Please stop by at the shop. Contact Mina or Trisha. Tel 650 071 278 or 610 921 413 e-mail aecc_campello@ hotmail.com (95475) INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY Calle Urbano Arregui 23, Torrevieja Evangelical non-denominational Sunday services 11am Children’s church 11am House groups in Torrevieja, Los Balcones, San Javier Ladies meeting Thursdays 11am. Pastor, Rafael Restrepo All nationalities welcome 966 799 273 / 660 127 276. (95476)

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.

We meet on the last Tuesday of the month at Casa Ventura, San Luis Urbanisation, at 6.30pm.

For further details Hon Sec 965 724 652 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 Harry Palmer Membership Committee Tel: 966 712 326 or email: palmers.quesada@yahoo.co.uk (95477) ROYAL AIR FORCES Association Branch #1359 Costa Blanca The Branch meets on the third Tuesday of the month at the El Paraiso Restaurant located close to the Carrefour Supermarket in Torrevieja.

The meeting starts at 1430 hrs. You do not have to be an ex-member of the RAF to join this friendly Association which supports the welfare of the RAF family and provides a social hub for ex RAF members and their friends. For further information about the Association and its activities please contact the Chairman on 692 508 916 or the Welfare Officer on 615 048 892 or visit our website: www. rafacb.com.

MEETS at Hamilton´s Bake House, 62 Calle Vicente, Blasco Ibañez, Benijofar 03178. We hold a Sunday Service at 11.30 a.m., a Tuesday Evening of Mediumship at 7 p.m. Also, every alternate Thursday from 23rd February, there is an Development/Awareness Circle where you can develop your skills commencing at 6.30 p.m. Spiritual healing is available every Sunday and Tuesday after the service.

The Divine Service with Mediumship on 19th February will be taken by Ray Bailey.

17th - 23rd march 2017 Len Cox will take the Evening of Mediumship on Tuesday, 14th February. The Divine Service with Mediumship, on Sunday, 26th February will be taken by Anna Marie.

Contact Wendy on 965323028. www.spiritualistcentrebenijofar.com New email is phoenixchurch23@gmail.com or info@spiritualistcentrebenijofar.com Identificacion Fiscal G54713789.

CHIMNEY SWEEP

PROFESSIONAL CHIMNEY SWEEP. Family Business established over 60 years. 660 478 881 (247324) DAMP

www.dryzone-espana.com - We are the longest established Damp Proofing company in Spain. We can cure Rising Damp, leaking Flat Roof or Terrace problems quickly & safely. We can make your Underbuild Dry. Villa Paint Due! We can protect your villa & stop PENETRATING DAMP with a Protective Coating. Call us for a survey now; Tel: 634 322 672 (250384) ELECTRICIAN

MR FIXIT. For all your electrical, plumbing, general & appliance & boiler repairs. No call out charge. 698 320 434 (245706) INSURANCE & iNVESTMENTS

SOS <http://www. sosinsuranceinspain.com> Insurance in Spain. Best prices available. CALL US FIRST for all your insurance needs, including best deals on Funeral plans.

Buildings and contents cover from just 82 euros per year and cars from 120 euros. Tel 966 787 123 / 622 275 561 / 686 116 297 / email info@ sosinsuranceinspain.com (250254) INTERNET

GET YOUR business noticed online! Make sure that expats in Spain can find your product, service, restaurant, bar or shop. Contact Spain’s newest and brightest online directory TODAY. Call 952 561 245 or email mark.w@euroweeklynews.com for more details.

METALWORK

MOBILE Metal Work Any welding or plasma cutting work carried out. For a free quote call 639 487 503 (250579) www.eriksmetalwork.com.

ALL METAL WORK UNDERTAKEN. Costa Calida. stan@ eriksmetalwork.com. 636 050 008. (248027) MOBILITY

MOBILITY equipment wanted. Cash paid. Scooters, wheelchairs etc etc Phone Will´s 602 547 878 (250705) MOTORING

WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance.

Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 902 123 309. (200726)

WANTED

WANTED Cars, vans, caravans, 4 X 4’s British Spanish 600 781 873 ibuyanycar@hotmail.com (249193) MUSIC TUITION

PIANO, Keyboard, Organ, Qualified Teacher. Please call 606 984 535 (240072) PERGOLA COVERS

TAILOR made, durable canvas, sails, umbrella, spa and BBQ covers. Mazarron based, and at Procomobel Market, Guardamar Saturday mornings. 667 879 399 krugercanopies@yahoo. co.uk (247317) PET CHARITIES

EASYHORSE CARE RESCUE CENTRE. We aim to rescue HORSES. If you would like to DONATE please call 965 967 033 or sales@easyhorsecare.net www.easyhorsecare.net or call Sue 652 021 980 (95706)

P.E.P.A. VOLUNTEERS & FOSTER HOMES URGENTLY NEEDED. By fostering an abandoned dog, or spending a few hours each week on our telephone helpline, you could help save the lives of many animals.

Please call: 650 304 746. For more information browse our website: www.pepaspain.com EURO WEEKLY NEWS CLASSIFAX AGENT (95708) 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, defleed. We also need volunteers to help Car boot sale in Polop on Sundays Tel Anna: 966 806 976 / 654 729 977 (95709) PET TRANSPORT

PET TRAVEL UK Family pet transporters Spain/UK. Travel with your pets for free. All air conditioned vehicles (no vans) www.pettraveluk.co.uk.

Removals also arranged in other vehicles. Tel UK 0800 612 4922 or Spain 960130537 (250330) PLUMBING

SPAMA GANDIA SHELTER. Dog and cat rescue registered charity, La Safor area. 500 animals awaiting re-homing.

Shelter open 7 days a week 12noon - 2.00pm & 3.30pm - 7.00pm. (Spanish speaking staff) or 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 (245706) POOLS

POOL MAINTENANCE Repairs, Spares and Leak Testing. Call 965 725 565 / 676 945 360 www.pooltechspain.com (248286) Pool Maintenance, Repairs, spares and leak testing. Call 965725565 / 676945360 www.pooltechspain.com

PROPERTY FOR SALE

CIUDAD QUESEDA Villa 500m2 plot, 4 double bedrooms, large bathroom and shower room.

Large Balcony, Cloakroom, lounge dinner, large kitchen (white goods included). Oil central heating though out.

Double glazed conservatory, car port. 10x8 solar heated pool. Screened BBQ area, plus much more seeing is believing.

340,000€. Contact 688 486 752 private sale (250716) REMOVALS AND STORAGE

MAN AND VAN UK - Spain. 2 vans travelling twice a month, Murcia - North / South UK. Storage in Spain. Tel 610 846 260 or 0044 751 918 6355 email van.man@hotmail.co.uk (249229) UK - SPAIN -Anywhere Europe!

Masses of experience. New clean vehicles. Insured with Royal Sun Alliance. Genuinely CARING service. FULL and / Part moves. ONLINE QUOTES!! www.bmceuropean.com Tel: UK 08456 443 784 / ES 634 344 787 FIND US ON FACEBOOK! (243375) UK-SPAIN-IRELAND. Removals with the personal touch. Pets carried with care 965 696 750 / 0044 (0) 7447 918 589 e-mail chrisyounge73979@aol.com (249024) SPANISH MOVES Small removals and deliveries.

Spain/UK Budget prices. Last minute jobs undertaken.

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www.spanishmoves.net. Pet transport also arranged in our air conditioned pet/people carriers. Telephone UK 0800 612 4922 or Spain 960130537 (250330) SEWING

QUALIFIED SEAMSTRESS 40 years experience, turn-ups to tailoring patterns taken from your favourite cloths, reasonable prices. Torrevieja, Sandra: 966 799 188 / 680 486 336 (248315) SITUATIONS VACANT

DO YOU CARE? If so, why not join our team of carers who work in the UK. Earn from £952 - £1,456 for 2 weeks. Good written/ spoken English, British or EU Passport required. Contact Sandra on 658 965 204 or email s.field@consultuscare.com (253024) EARN 300€ to 2,500€ per month working with a reputable British PLC. Flexible Hours.

No Selling. Local Training & Support. For more information go to www.the-vista-group. com (250266) FIELD SALES positions available.

Must have own transport, English and Spanish preferred, but not essential, must have local knowledge of the area and be smart and presentable.

Applications by email with full CV should be sent to recruitment@euroweeklynews. com.

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17th - 23rd march 2017

SWIMMING POOLS

WOODEN POOLS LIMITED. Manufacturers & installers of wooden above ground pools.

Take the plunge with one of the above ground pools. Best of all “No Planning Permission Required” Tel: 634 322 672.

Phone or email for a FREE COLOUR BROCHURE & PRICE LIST NOW. www.woodenpools. limited info@woodenpools. limited (250384) TELECOMS

FED UP PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR MOBILE PHONE CALLS? THEN CONTACT TELITEC TODAY. CALLS TO SPAIN 7C PER MINUTE INCLUDING MOBILES. CALLS TO UK 5.3C PER MINUTE. NO MONTHLY FEES, NO CONTRACT. WWW.TELITEC.COM TEL: 902 889 070 (0)

TRANSLATION

WE CAN TRANSLATE FOR YOU AT THE NOTARY’S OFFICE FOR PROPERTY SALE/PURCHASE, POWER OF ATTORNEY OR CONTRACTS. WE CAN HELP YOU OBTAIN N.I.E, RESIDENCIA, S.I.P CARDS, GUARDIA CIVIL ETC. Tel. 692 144 411 (247447) WANTED

DIESEL car LHD and motorhome right or LHD wanted.Cash waiting Tel 650 722 905 (247258) WANTED Quad Bike and Jet Ski. Call 650 722 905 (247257) RECORDS & CDs WANTED. Pop, Rock, Jazz, Blues. Top cash paid.

Henry 630 665 363 (248884)

Readers of a sensitive disposition may find some of the advertisements in this section offensive.

SPANISH lady - classic. Playa Flamenca, private house, 35 years, attractive. All erotic services, massage, sexy lingerie. From €40. Ana 865 646 437 (250516)

SOPHIE. Escort, sexy, slim, élégante, naughty lady, home or hotel. 3 languages spoken.

693 357 526 (247441)

LA ZENIA. Sexy 20 year old Spanish girl. Natural French, anal, lesbian, all services. I love white party. 645 385 461.

(248284)

XXX RELAXATION

Bisexual Gay, slim & sexy, mature. 70€ full service. 10 mins outside Quesdada. Call Tracy 604 332 601

FRIENDLY MATURE ENGLISH lady offers massage plus escort service in a comfortable apartment in San Javier area.

Call Vicky on 691 842 737 for further information. (236602)

ENJOY Veronica´s exciting full 1 hour massage. Fully qualified.

For an appointment call 679 292 678 (247404)

www.chicosorihuela.com. Guys, transvestites, complacent, feisty. We are eager and hot.

DARE!!! 616 804 411 (240271)

SPANISH lady. La Zenia, erotic massage with happy ending.

Private house. Sexy, elegant, 33 years. On whatsapp or call 611 472 803. (236718) KAMAGRA Gold 100mg plus Kamagra Jellies. Collection or Delivery. Roy- 602 579 481 (250580)

VIAGRA/Kamagra/Cialis/ Weight loss pills the best prices in Spain! BUY ONE GET ONE FREE on certain items. Order securely & discreetly online: www.costapills.net Postal Nationwide delivery sales@ costapills.net (251393) VIAGRA, cialis, kamagra all areas 604 385 476.

Viagra4you19@gmail.com (249545)

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motoring

40yearsofFiesta SPECS

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to believe, but the ever favourite Ford Fiesta has been going for over 40 years now. First produced in 1976, this nippy hatchback soon became a firm favourite.

In the seventies when you bought a car, you always had your eye on customising it, with upgraded radio cassette, electric window packs, and your own carpet choice! These days all modern cars come fully equipped even in base models. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m never quite sure where to hang my furry dice as they generally interfere with a sat nav display, heads up display or a built in car camera!

Now in its seventh generation boasting Engines with 1.0 L Ecoboost I3 (turbocharged petrol), 1.1 L I3 (petrol), 1.5 L Ecoboost I3 (turbocharged petrol), 1.5 L Duratorq I4 (turbocharged diesel) & 5-speed manual, 6-speed automatic & 6-speed manual

hothatchversions

The new 2017 ST model Zero to 60 mph: 6.7 sec Top speed: 150 mph

SPECS

The Ford Fiesta XR2 - [1977] had a top speed of 109 mph (175.4 kph)

First Generation Fiestas had either a 957 cc Engine for the base model or sportier versions of 1,117 cc / 1,298 cc / 1,597 cc. The original Fiestas were bullt in a custom made factory in Valencia

DidYouKnow!

The MOT Test was introduced in 1960

The first motorway was opened on 5th December 1958

The first recorded car accident was in 1891

The average car has over 30,000 components

17th - 23rd march 2017

SEAT is one of Spain’s largest Car manufacturing companies Seat is now a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group. The name stands for Sociedad Española de Automóviles de Turismo (Spanish Saloon/Sedan Car Company) and was formed in 1950 by the Instituto Nacional de Industria (INI) and six Spanish banks with FIAT assistance.

In 1953 the company produced their first model, the SEAT 1400. This 44 hp (33 kW) four-door saloon car had a top speed of 75 mph (120 km/h). When production ceased in 1964 over 98,000 had been made. Models produced licensed by FIAT in the 1960s include the 600, 850, 1500 and 124. 815,319 of the 800 models were made between 1964 and 1967.

SEAT produced its one millionth car in 1968

Seat 1400

During the 1970s SEAT produced the 67 hp (50 kW) 1200 model (1975 to 1980) and over 1.5 million 131 models (1974 to 1984).

The SEAT 1200 Sport was a 2-door coupé produced

by SEAT from 1975 to 1979. The car was known as the “Bocanegra” because of the shape of its always black plastic nose panel, which embraced the front grille and the headlights and incorporated, by 1970s standards, a prominent front bumper. “Boca negra” means “black mouth” in Spanish.

Other models produced at this time include the 127, 128, 132, 133 and the Ritmo. FIAT’s assistance ended in 1981 and was replaced by a co-operation agreement with the Volkswagen Group in 1982.

Up to 1981 most SEAT cars resembled FIAT models. The 1982 Ronda model was the first car produced by SEAT without assistance from FIAT. SEAT became a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group in 1986.

Other cars produced during the 1980s include the Fura (1981–86), Marbella (1986–98), Málaga (1985–92) and Ibiza. The Marbella was a rebadged Fiat Panda, while the Giugiaro styled Ibiza (launched in 1984) was the company’s first new product after the split from FIAT. In 2008 the company introduced the 1.4-litre, 170 hp (127 kW) Bocanegra (4th generation Ibiza) concept car. The Ibiza was in its fourth generation by 2008. The Toledo, launched in 1991, was SEAT’s first large family car since its split from FIAT. The Cordoba, which ran between 1993 and 2008, was the saloon version of the second and third generation Ibiza hatchbacks, and was slightly more popular than the earlier Malaga. The

The new 2017 Ninja 650 ABS comes in at approximately 7,500€. That’s a lot of performance for the money.

SPECS

Weighing in 42Ibs lighter than its predecessor, this is one seriously mean machine. A 649cc parallel twin engine delivers power through all the gears up to a 200kph + top speed. A new chassis design offers more rigidity and revised body panels give an aggressive stance. This bike looks like it’s going fast even when it is stood still. The comfortable riding stance makes this bike an everyday ride as well as a performance machine.

Engine: 4-stroke, 2-cylinder, DOHC, water-cooled Displacement: 649cc Fuel System: DFI® with dual 36mm Keihin throttle bodies Ignition: TCBI with digital advance Transmission: 6-speed Final Drive: Sealed chain Electronic Rider Aids: ABS

A 649cc parallel twin engine delivers power through all the gears up to a 200kph + top speed

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Alhambra was SEAT’s first MPV, launched in 1996 and based on the Volkswagen Sharan and Ford Galaxy. The Leon, launched in 1999, was a small family hatchback aimed at the likes of the Ford Focus and Opel Astra.

SEAT’s replacement for the long-running Marbella was the SEAT Arosa, launched in 1997; it formed the basis of the Volkswagen Lupo which was launched over a year later.

2009 models include the León Mk2, Córdoba Mk2, Toledo Mk3, Alhambra Mk1, Ibiza Mk4 and Altea and the new flagship sedan model Exeo.

Until the mid 1980s, SEAT cars were rarely seen outside Spain, but have since become popular in many export markets, including Britain, where sales began in the autumn of 1985. Just under 6,000 SEATs were sold in Britain in 1986, the company’s first full year of trading there, exceeding 10,000 sales in 1988 and exceeding 20,000 a year by 2000, peaking at more than 45,000 in 2013.

(Data from Wikipedia)

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sport

Two young girls rushed to hospital from Alicante municipal swimming pool Anxiety attacks caused by the sensation of drowning and lack of oxygen Two young swimmers aged 13 and 15, who are members of the Salvamento y Socorrismo Monte Tossal swimming club, were taken to Alicante General Hospital by ambulance last week after suffering dizziness and respiratory distress while they were swimming in the municipal swimming pool of Via Parque in Alicante.

The younger of the two swimmers suffered a similar episode in same pool last December, which also saw her rushed to hospital.

Firefighters intervened following the latest incident and the pool was reopened to the public this week.

The City Council of Alicante maintains that there is no risk to health, having recently solved the power problems of the pool dehumidifier.

The Via Parque pool is the newest of the pools owned by the municipality.

The latest incident occurred on Monday afternoon at around 4.00pm when the swimming club were training. At this time, the pool is very busy, which would have further impacted on any problems with the pool pumps and dehumidifier.

Once in the hospital, the swimmers were treated for anxiety attacks caused by the sensation of drowning and lack of oxygen.

In December the Councilor of Maintenance, Gloria Vara called the family of the younger swimmer to apologise and to inform them that the contract would be cut with external company in charge of the maintenance of the pool.

The family have requested corresponding reports on the incident of Monday from both the Municipal Police and the Firemen. They have also asked the swimming club to request a certificate from the Department of Sports to prove that the facilities are repaired and that there is no danger to swimmers.

They will be filing a complaint to the City Counil of Alicante and expressed that their daughter regularly swims in other pools such as the University, el Hogar Provincial and San Vicente. The only time she has ever experienced Via Parque swimming problems has been in these two cases in Via pool Parque.

Walking football tournament The San Miguel Strollers over 50’s Walking Football & Social Club are holding their first invitation tournament on Saturday May 20.

There will be 2 leagues of 4 teams, so with semi-finals and finals, 15 matches will be played in all.

To make this day a success, two more voluntary referees are required. Referees will be fed during the day and bought a pint after the games have finished.

The competition will take place on the Montesico Blanco football field, a great natural grass stadium located on Calle Montesico Blanco – 03193 San Miguel de Salinas, Alicante. If you would like to take part, please contact Bill or Jon - smstrollers@gmail.com

The Nautical Club of Altea host award giving ceremony for the 31st edition of the ‘200 miles to two’ Sailors were entertained by jazz group Projectjazz on the glorious Sunday afternoon of last weekend, against the backdrop of the bay of Altea.

The event was attended by authorities and members of the Board of Directors of the CN Altea. Esteban Vallejo, territorial director of the Presidency in Alicante, Inma Orozco, Lieutenant-Mayor of the City Council of Altea, Pere Barber, Councilor for Sports, Demetrio Munoz, General Manager of the Special Operations Command and Military Commander of Alicante, Miguel Sanchez, Manager and representative of the FVCV, Marino Gil, President of the Sailing Committee, Jose-Roman Zurutuza, President of the CN Altea and members of the Board of Directors of the Altea Yacht Club.

Amongst the many awards presented, two ingots of a kilo of silver were given to the winners of the 200 miles to two 2017, Matias Gil and Felix Tomas of RCN amidst much applause and many ovations. The duo collected the award whilst a jazz version of ‘We Are the Champions’ played in the background.

To close the ceremony, the president of the Altea Yacht Club, Jose-Roman Zurutuza, addressed a few words to the participants and sailors, thanking them for their participation.

Afterwards, the celebration continued with a buffet meal Club on the terrace of the Nautico de Altea club.

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More than €10,000 raised at La Marquesa Golf charity tournament

La Marquesa Golf Club in Rojales held another edition of the Justo Quesada y Josefina Memorial Charity Pro-Am tournament on Sunday, March 12th.

The event managed to raise €10,730, which will be divided evenly between Rojales Town Hall Social Services, Cáritas Rojales and the Butterfly Children charity – DEBRA Spain.

This was thanks to the fees paid for the honour of playing in Miguel Ángel Jiménez’s team, an auction of two sand wedges and a bag used by Sr Jiménez last year and donations of €20 per birdie scored from the management of La Marquesa Golf.

Rojales Councillor for Sports Pedro Llopis said it had been a magnificent occasion and thanks to the generosity of everyone involved would bring much needed help to people

who need it in the local area.

He also praised Miguel Ángel Jiménez for being so friendly and having made the time to come back yet again, “which is great publicity for what the municipality has to offer”.

Catherine Prangere of Cáritas explained they work with local families who need it most, giving them food and clothes for children.

“The amount will be a great help to carry on this project,” she said. Mary Chambers of DEBRA said it was an amazing amount of money and thanked La Marquesa for inviting them to be one of the beneficiaries again, Miguel Ángel Jiménez and everyone who gave so generously.

The extra funds will help with the research into Epidermolysis

Bullosa (EB), a very rare genetic condition which causes the skin to blister at the slightest knock or rub, causing painful, open wounds.

Results A total of 28 teams took part and the champions were the professional Jordan Gib and the amateurs Joachim Myhr, Geir Langeland and Aiden Reilly, who finished with a total of 131 shots. Second place went to the team led by Miguel Ángel Jiménez, who played with Antonio Pascual Pastor, Jonas Anders Sjolund and Antonio Pedrera Perez and remarkably scored exactly the same meaning the result had to be decided based on their handicaps. In third place was the team led by Jesús Rodríguez, one of La Marquesa’s own professionals.

La Marquesa Golf | Avda. Justo Quesada SN | Rojales | Tel: 966 714 258 | Email: reservas@lamarquesagolf.es

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24 feb - 2 march 2017