RTN Newspaper - Costa Blanca North 15 - 21 December 2017 Issue 947

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Issue 947

15th - 21st December 2017

Reporting The News

Santa’s been and gone!

Inside this week... controversy over new bus station

P4 giving4giving raises 1000€

P16 hangover cures

P41

The Group ready to set off!

by Tahnee Wright

LAST SUNDAY 20 Har-

leys and 40 Santas met in Pedreguer for Free Spirits HD’s annual Santa Run.

Prizes for ‘Best Dressed Bike’ and ‘Best Dressed Santa’ were awarded to doublewinner Nigel Webb and after a few questions were raised as to whether Nigel had bribed the judge, the group set off in the direction of the Marina Baixa.

After weaving through Alcalali, Jalon and Lliber, the bikers took the N-332 from Benissa to Altea before stopping

for coffee at Diferens and enjoying some delicious homemade shortbread, baked by group member Anne Tindle.

From Altea, the entourage headed to Benidorm where they rode along the Playa de Levante to great reception from the public who shouted, waved and even high-fived riders and pillions.

Continued on Page 2

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Council collaboration JAVEA COUNCIL has renewed its collaboration agreements with parent’s associations at schools across the municipality.

Earlier this week, both CEIP Port de Xabia and Colegio Maria Inmaculada received grants of €900 to aid

extracurricular activities whilst IES Numero 1 received €1,030.

The council also took the opportunity to renew its collaboration agreements with two local sports clubs, granting El Club Nautico Javea €5,296 and La Sociedad de Colombicultores €1,870.

Santa’s been and gone!

Continued from Front page The group then made their way to Calpe where they were joined by more friends and family at Bar Grizzly’s for lunch and live music.

Free Spirits HD is an English-speaking Harley Davidson enthusiast group of over 50 members based across the Marina Alta.

The male and female group - made up of riders and pillions – enjoy a ride out at least every other weekend throughout the year, winding the forgotten country corners and the cool coastal routes.

The routes are well planned, with coffee and lunch stops on the way.

In return for a donation to Cancer Care Javea, Free Spirits HD’s chosen charity for year 2017/ 2018, you can join in the fun...

The group can arrange to escort you to that special event or perhaps you’d like to treat a loved one to a ride out for a day: Weddings, Group ride-ins, Birthday celebrations etc.

For more information get in touch with Charity Ride Co-ordinator, Simon Brooks via the website – www.freespiritshd.com.

Free Spirits HD is always ready to welcome new members, for more information get in touch with Director Barry Haylor - 629 728 375 / freespiritshd@gmail.com.

Doublewinner Nigel Webb

RTN Writer Tahnee Wright with FSHD member Mark Stinton

24 feb - 2 march 2017

Open-air museum almost complete MIGUEL ANGEL MIGUEL GARCIA – the sculptor who has carved works of art out of the scorched tree trunks of Javea’s Granadella - has announced that he hopes to complete the “open-air museum” soon and will finish with a sculpture of a firefighter.

Miguel - a gardener and tree-trimmer by trade has been hard at work in the park of Pinosol, where many chalets were burnt in

the forest fires of last September.

He had hoped to complete before the end of the year but his chainsaws have had to be repaired as the soot of the burned trees has damaged the filters.

He said excitedly of his final sculpture: “I will finish with a sculpture of a firefighter. I want it to be a tribute to all those who participated in the extinction of the fires.”

The scorched trees in Javea

15 years for man who killed father A MAN who beat his 84-year-old father to death in Gandia has been sentenced to 15 years in prison by the Court of Valencia.

The court heard how the murderer went to his father’s home one evening in June last year after having

been drinking at a local bar since lunchtime.

He punched the pensioner in the head several times – causing him to die from a brain haemorrhage just four days later.

The man tried to blame his actions

A fond farewell to an Albir legend

Jan Phillips 14.01.1947 – 05.12.2017

It was with much sadness that this dear lady who was a friend to so many passed away and will be greatly missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.

She received a call, a sort of an offer you can’t refuse for an appointment from which she would not be returning. Her new mission takes her

to a place where she will continue to make more laughter and sing more loudly. We all have some wonderful memories of Jan. She was our Albir gal and it won’t be the same without her being around.

Jan was given the gift of life but, sadly, had to give it back.

MUCH LOVE FROM US ALL xx

on his alcohol intake, but the jury concluded that whilst he had been drinking for a number of hours, the amount of alcohol consumed was “not enough to annul or seriously alter his volitional and cognitive faculties, but only alter them slightly.”

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24 feb - 2 march 2017

Controversy over new bus station Photo credit Zoe Gumm

ALICANTE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL announced it will allocate nearly €3 million from the Municipal Cooperation Fund to Marina Alta municipalities.

The grants are designed to benefit the smaller towns and villages – to improve infrastructure and utility networks.

Jesus Pobre, La Xara and Llosa de Camaxto will each

TAKING SHAPE: The façade was installed earlier this week

by Tahnee Wright DENIA’S new bus station is taking shape as the façade was installed earlier this week.

However, the choice of language used for the sign across the façade, which reads ‘Estacion de Autobuses de Denia’ (‘Denia Bus Station’ in Spanish) has caused controversy amongst residents.

Some residents took to social media

to denounce the fact the sign is written in Spanish and not Valencian.

“Estacio d'autobusos de Denia. Is it so difficult to respect the co-official de llengues?” said one user whilst another argued that “the language in Spain is Spanish, so it is not wrong.”

Residents are also concerned that the dimensions of the new bus station will not allow enough space for large buses to safely manoeuvre in and out of it.

Councillor for the Citizens group Ser-

Boost for those who need it most

gio Benito said: “The original project has not taken into account the limitations for the manoeuvring of large buses and it will be impossible for them to enter and exit the station.”

He said that the problems can be seen “at a glance” yet officials have said that no changes can be made until the project is completed.

Benito has urged the council to carry out tests now before costing the town more money.

receive €40,000.

Of the municipalities will less than 500 inhabitants, Benigembla will receive €73,352, Castell de Castells will receive €88,592 and Murla will receive €68,888.

Of the municipalities with around 5,000 inhabitants, Benitachell will receive €89,624, El Verger will receive €87,090 and Gata will receive €97,475.

What about Oliva?

MARINA ALTA officials will attend a protest on Saturday to campaign for the Benidorm – Denia train track to be extended as far as Oliva.

Council members from El Verger, Ondara and Pedreguer will be present at the protest and appeals have also been promoted through social networks.

Pedreguer Mayor Sergi Ferrus said: “It is important to extend the network to serve commuters in La Safor – with many Oliva residents working in Denia and vice versa.”

El Verger Mayor Basili Salort reinforced his neighbouring mayor and said: “It would be of great benefit if the network was to reach Oliva.”

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Have your Say!

A popular post this week is “How to cook the

perfect turkey on Christmas Day” which has reached over 1,800 people.

Rita Taylor Young “I once cooked a turkey and kept looking for a funny smell then I found out I had left the plastic bag with the giblets inside it”

@RTNNewspaper

Our most liked posts from this week

No such luck for cyclists

by Rose Holmes THE N-332 as it passes through the Marina Alta shows no sign of improving for cyclists.

Recent works undertaken on the road have done nothing to increase safety, with sections of the hard shoulder narrowed at some of the road’s most dangerous points.

Richard Sixto, Deputy of the EsquerraUnida del Pais Valencia (United Left of the Valencian Country) has demanded an explanation from the central government after receiving countless complaints from Marina Alta cycling clubs.

“We do not understand why, when the road was being surfaced and the lines of the hard shoulder repainted, that it was

not widened – or at least kept the same.

At some points it has even been narrowed.”

Complaints have been received regarding the section of road that joins the CV-732 at Pedreguer – at this point, cyclists heading towards Gata or joining the N-332 from Pedreguer are met with little to no space between the lines of the hard shoulder and the guardrail.

Complaints have also been received regarding the N-332 Gata exit in the direction of Ondara.

Sixto further lamented the central government, accusing them of not having learned from the train of tragic accidents that have occurred on the road this year.

He is awaiting a response from Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

Spending the money to get it right

CALPE COUNCIL has announced it will increase its staffing spend by 275 per cent in 2018.

As the town sees more construction, the council must increase its labour force to deal with the influx of building permits and state transfers.

The €58,925 spent on building consultants this

New York Police Department responds to reports of an explosion.

How to cook the perfect turkey on Christmas Day Fake worker scams €35,000 from elderly woman Banco Santander cuts incentives The Rooster Bar - By John Grisham

In Total 6,968 People reached 2,924 Post engagements

rtnnewspaper.com

NO SIGN OF IMPROVEMENT: Countless complaints have been filed by Marina Alta cycling clubs

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24 feb - 2 march 2017

Freemasons of Dama de Elche Lodge donate toiletries to EMAUS in Elche

by Tahnee Wright On Thursday, 30th November, Trevor Bagnall, Charity Steward of Dama de Elche Lodge, accompanied by his wife, Pat, made a pre Christmas visit to the twenty one children of the EMAUS children’s home in Elche to deliver many gifts for the children.

These gifts were mainly toiletries either collected by the Masons themselves or generously donated by their wives. These were presented to Annette English who received them with pleasure. She later sent the following email.

Last week Trevor Bagnell and his wife Pat Arrived in La Marina with a car load of toiletries for the children . I told them we must have the cleanest kids in Elche at the moment. All of these toiletries are very welcome at the home and are always

needed . Our thanks to all the members of Dame De Elche Masonic Lodge Number 163.

The gifts were given to this splendid charity, which was chosen by Worshipful Master Gordon Ramshead as his chosen charity for the year. This will be the last donation by Gordon who is soon to step down as Master but no doubt his successor will try to carry on his good work.

The Lodge has also provided 1000 litres of much needed fuel oil for their heating over the winter and they will also be making a further donation to Debra (the Butterfly children)within the next two weeks when further details and photos will be given. If you can spare any items for this worthy charity, please contact Annette or, if you have an interest in Freemasonry, please contact me at the following email address. prensa@glpvalencia.com

Costa Blanca Anglican Chaplaincy - Christmas Services Saturday December 16 4.30pm

El Campello – Carol Service Celebrating Christmas in readings and carols in the beautiful church at Coveta Fuma.

Monday December 18 5.00pm Albir – Candlelit Carol Service For more information get in touch with local Warden Elaine Mitchell 966 864 962 636 164 467.

Christmas Eve Sunday December 24 11.30pm Javea - Midnight Mass

Chief inspector steps down Not coming home for Christmas THE CHIEF INSPECTOR of the National Police in Denia retired this week and took the opportunity to highlight the progress made in the Marina Alta capital in the past few years. 65-year-old Antonio Cabeza explained that the number of burglaries has decreased by 37 per cent since last year, with the number of thefts dropping by 10 per cent. The crime rate in Denia has decreased by 1.7 per cent overall and is below Valencian Community average. Cabeza has headed up the National Police force for 12 years and expressed his greatest thanks both to the council and to the municipality for their support past and present.

Christmas Day Monday December 25 The Eucharist will be celebrated in all Costa Blanca Anglican Chaplaincy churches, at the usual Sunday service times: Albir - 9.45am Javea - 9.45am Calpe - 10.30am Denia - 11.45am El Campello - 12.00pm Gandia - 12.00pm La Fustera - 12.00pm Church of England parishes in Spain are entirely self-funding. So, fund raising is essential to maintain the Church’s ministry here, includ-

THREE MONTHS after they were evacuated, residents of the Grupo Catala building in Denia have been told it is not likely they will be able to return to their homes before Christmas. The 1960s apartment block on Avenida Marquesat/ Calle Elx - which houses ten apartments - was evacuated at the end of August as it was in “danger of collapsing”. Residents left their homes with little to no warning whilst the weather was still warm, but now

ing funerals and pastoral care to the sick and the bereaved - and the activities of the seven local churches in support of causes such as Caritas, EMAUS, Gandia Hospice, Red Cross and World Vision.

The Costa Blanca Anglican Chaplaincy serves the community from Valencia to Alicante with services in eight different towns.

For more information about the chaplaincy, check out - www. costablanca-anglicanchaplaincy.org

the cold is closing in and they are prohibited from returning to their properties even to collect winter clothes. The apartment block is cordoned off and the council have said that the situation remains uncertain owing to bureaucratic problems. Eight of the ten apartment owners have fronted costs for the works carried out to ensure the safety of the building, whilst the remaining two apartment owners have gone missing.

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U3A Marina Baixa donates €1,200 to local charities

Three local charities have recently benefited from donations from the U3A Marina Baixa Charity Fund.

Pista Azul reopens this Sunday

by Tahnee Wright Calpe’s Department of Sports will reopen the Pista Azul on Sunday.

The track has been closed for months whilst €190,000 worth of improvement works have been undertaken to weatherproof the facilities.

The works, financed by Alicante Provincial Council, have seen the track

completely enclosed to keep out the wind and rain that had previously forced cancellation of training and matches.

The changing rooms have been modernised and the stands are now covered to reduce glare.

The reopening ceremony on Sunday ties in with a number of sporting events: 10.00am – Friendly C. D. Calpe Futsal

A ONCE OVER: Councillors check out the improvement works Photo credit Calpe Ayuntamiento

11.00am – Friendly C. B. Ifach Calpe 12.00pm – Friendly C. G. Les Marines – bronze medallists in the Spanish championship 12.10pm – Friendly Alevin Absoluto G. C. Calpe – silver medallists in the Spanish championship There will be children’s entertainment all morning with bouncy castles and music from Calpe rapper ‘Jocin’ from 12.15pm onwards.

Alfaz del Pi Food Bank Last Monday, U3A Treasurer, Maureen Barrett, presented volunteers at the Alfaz del Pi Food Bank with a van-load of food worth €500. The food was bought with a donation from the U3A Marina Baixa Charity Fund. Items donated focused on children at Christmas and included a variety of: chocolate milk, juices, sweets, breakfast cereals, biscuits, chocolate and special treats for the festive season. The Food Bank volunteers will soon begin distribution to some of the poor and needy families in the area.

La Nucia Food Bank also received a €500 donation from the U3A Marina Baixa Charity Fund at the start of 2017.

Cruz Roja Espanola Cruz Roja Espanola (Spanish Red Cross) provides help and support services, including Teleassistance, to people of all ages in the community. U3A members recently gained a better understanding of the organisation’s services when Pedro Dominguez, Cruz Roja Regional Technician for European Residents, gave a helpful presentation at their September General Meeting. U3A President Elaine Mitchell presented Pedro with a cheque for €500 from the U3A Marina Baixa Charity Fund at the meeting and the money is being used to purchase equipment for the new Cruz Roja premises, which are due to open shortly in the centre of Alfaz del Pi. Franciscan Shelter for Men at Palma de Gandia The shelter provides a home and nursing care for around 65 homeless men, many of whom suffer from mental or physical illness, some of whom are terminally ill.

The hospice is funded entirely by charitable donations, with no state aid or official grants.

Hazel Layt is a constant helper and fundraiser for the shelter and she is also a member of U3A Marina Baixa.

Hazel was presented with a cheque for €200 from the U3A Marina Baixa Charity Fund which will be used to purchase provisions for a Christmas lunch for the residents.

The lunch is prepared, cooked and served by Hazel with assistance from other volunteers including a few U3A members.

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24 feb - 2 march 2017

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Local beauty spot targeted by vandals

by Tahnee Wright VANDALS have once again taken to the Vall de Gallinera.

Last weekend, neighbours found trees had been hacked down in the Cami del Castell de Benissili, with the remains left strewn across the footpath to prevent access.

Vall de Gallinera Mayor Toni Pardo said the council is convinced that the vandalism was pre-meditated and believes that some of the remains could have been brought to the footpath from another location as there was so much of it.

The incident has been reported to the police.

Mayor Pardo has urged residents to be vigilant and contact the police if they notice any suspicious activity.

Although the culprit has not yet been caught, it is reported that some neighbours know who is responsible, although refuse to contact the police. Pardo said: “Someone must have seen

something, but I am of the opinion that no one is contacting the police for fear of reprisals.”

The incident has also been reported to the Ministry of Environment, who have said that there is little they can do without knowing the identity of the vandals.

Mayor Pardo confirmed that surveillance will be increased and recalled that this is not the first time the Vall de Gallinera has fallen victim to vandalism – in October last year, a dozen pine trees were cut down across the same footpath to prevent access.

Shortly before that, someone destroyed all eight of the ‘Ruta dels 8 pobles’ signs that connect the urban nuclei of the area.

Just last month, someone also destroyed the railing to the footpath which was built by neighbours from the remains of the first felled trees.

Have you seen any suspicious activity in the Vall de Gallinera?

If so, please get in touch with the Ayuntamiento or the Guardia Civil.

Better, together!

This year the Calpe and Vall del Pop U3As held a joint Christmas Dinner Dance at Salon Canor in Teulada, with over 160 members in attendance.

The entertainment was provided by Sharni, who pitched the music just right, with everyone dancing right from the start and throughout the evening.

The three-course dinner followed by coffee and chocolates was “excellent” and accompanied by some delicious wines.

Everyone had a thoroughly enjoyable evening,

which concluded with flowers being presented to the joint organisers Anne and Sandra, with a special thankyou bouquet from the Vall del Pop members to Anne.

For further information check out the U3A Vall del Pop website - http:// u3avalldelpop.com. The U3A is all about enjoyment and learning and this is particularly evident in the U3AVall del Pop group, whose members generally meet on the first Thursday of each month at the Polivalent Centre in Murla.

Swimmers celebrate 200km success IN THE WAY: Remains left strewn across the footpath to prevent access

IN JANUARY this year, Javea residents and swimmers Colin Smithson and Jose Ramon Garcia set themselves a challenge – to swim 200 kilometres from Valencia to Alicante.

They took to the task in stages, beginning on the beach of Pinedo in Valencia.

Last Saturday, some 11 months later, the double-act completed the challenge, swimming the 28th and final stage from the port of El Campello to the beach of San Juan. With generous donations from family and friends, Colin and Jose have raised funds for UK children’s charity Cash For Kids and the Club Esportiu Aquarium in Alicante.

For more information check out https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/silloth-rotary-club.

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An excellent choice

MORAIRA U3A CHICAS QUE COMEN group took over The Olive Tree Restaurant in Moraira for their Christmas gathering, which Jan Adams said was an “excellent choice.”

After a welcome glass of cava in the sunshine on the terrace, the group enjoyed a “delicious” meal, followed by ‘Santa´s Elves’ running around efficiently distributing Se-

cret Santa presents.

For further information check out the Moraira-Teulada U3A website https://www.u3amoraira-teulada.org/.

General meetings are held on the first Monday of every month at Salon GL Avenida Mediterraneo 32, Teulada.

2018’s first meeting will be held on Monday January 8.

With love, from CHUMS WHERE TO START: CHUMS and the ladies from Finestrat Social Services with the mountain of toys and gifts

by Rose Holmes Last Tuesday, CHUMS (Friends of Charity) went shopping with the ladies from Finestrat Social Services and spent €453 buying toys and gifts for the less fortunate children in the municipality for Christmas.

In October, CHUMS spent €630 buying nappies, toiletries and healthcare items for the

local food bank, €300 of which was raised at the benefit in memory of Eva Carter who died of cancer in Ferbuary.

The group hopes to help the food bank again in the new year.

To find out more about the work of CHUMS, based in Benidorm and Albir, please contact Marilyn - marilyncrogers@yahoo.co.uk / 965 864 394.

A big thank you CALPE U3A member Dave Stockton wrote to RTN to say a ‘BIG THANK YOU’ to the Calpe U3A Travel Group for organising the Black Friday Pre-Christmas trip to Barcelona recently: “On Thursday November 23, Calpe U3A set off on their last trip for 2017 - a Black Friday Pre- Christmas to Barcelona. 50 members boarded the coach at 8.00am and set off in fine weather. We arrived at the city centre hotel in the early evening.

Barcelona is a bustling, busy city with many fine sites. On the four-day threenight visit we covered many of the main attractions: Plaza De Cataluna, Montjuic view point, Catherdral of the scared family La Rambla and the fantastic port

area, which has some of the world’s largest super yachts moored.

The city at night has majestic fountains putting on a light show set to music.

We all had a treat on the last day with a visit to the mountain monastery of Monserrat (the saw-toothed mountain) with its train station, funicular railway and cable car. Most of us attended the mass in the ancient Benedictine monastery church and heard the angelic choir singing.

All too soon we arrived back in Calpe on the Sunday with many happy memories of a great pre -Christmas trip. A big thank you to the Calpe U3A Travel Group.”

News from around Europe NETHERLANDS Teen moms THE NETHERLANDS has the lowest rate of teenage motherhood in the entire EU, the national statistics office CBS said on Monday. In total, 1,492 girls below the age of 21 gave birth in the Netherlands last year – a record low.

Breaking the rules ABOUT ONE THIRD of the packaging used in the Netherlands is difficult to recycle and is often contaminated with PVC, even though this has been banned because of the environmental risk, ac-

cording to researchers at Wageningen University.

25 years on POLICE have arrested a man in connection with the rape and murder of a young woman 25 years ago after taking DNA samples from more than 100 men. The breakthrough in the case of 19-year-old Milica van Doorn was announced on Monday morning.

Hands up THE LEADER of motorbike gang No Surrender has been arrested on charges of assault, blackmail, rob-

bery with violence and forgery, the police said on Tuesday morning. Henk Kuiper, 53, was arrested at his home in Emmen in Drenthe, the police statement said.

Something suspicious INTERPOL has been asked to investigate the death of a Dutch teenager who fell from the 20th floor of an apartment block in Kuala Lumpur last week.

18-year-old Ivana Smit was naked when she fell 42 metres and onto a sixth-floor balcony of the building in the Malaysian capital.

FRANCE Mobile phone ban FRANCE’S EDUCATION MINISTER recently announced that mobile phones will be banned from primary, junior, and middle schools, calling it a matter of “public health.” While phones are already prohibited in classrooms in France, starting in September 2018 students won’t be allowed to use them on breaks, at lunch, or between lessons either.

Coming together POLICE arrested a man in connection with the jihadist murder of a police couple after his DNA was matched to traces found in their home near Paris.

The 24-year-old has been linked to a Daesh extremist Larossi Aballa who claimed the June 2016 attack before being killed by police in a shootout.

Desperate measures A FRENCH COUPLE have gone on trial

Games on Iceland GAME of Thrones‘ 8th season will partially be shot in Iceland next February. It is expected that the crew and cast will spend at least a few days in Iceland and will depend on where there is enough snow for them to shoot their scenes.

Good Samaritan murdered KLEVIS Sula, a 20-yearold man who died of his injuries following a stabbing at Austurvöllur square a week ago had been attempting to help the attacker whom he found sobbing alone in the square. Police have arrested the

Anti-government activities RUSSIAN AUTHORITIES have blocked access to the website of Open Russia, a democracy and civil-society group founded by former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky. The move was the latest against Open Russia, with prosecutors accusing the group of conducting “anti-government activities.”

Going home RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN has ordered the withdrawal of Russian troops from Syria. He announced the move during his first visit to the country, as he arrived

Bla bla pervert A 52-YEAR-OLD FRENCHMAN is on trial accused of eight sexual assaults on young women he drugged with chocolate mixed with tranquilisers after they signed up to travel with him in his car via ride-sharing app Bla Bla Car. RIP Johnny HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of people lined the streets of Paris last Saturday to bid farewell to the French rock star Johnny Hallyday, who died last week at the age of 74 after a battle with lung cancer. His coffin was driven in a cortege down the Champs-Elysees followed by hundreds of leather-clad bikers.

suspect, an Icelander, and are using security camera footage as evidence.

It’s Oh So possible...

A PROPOSAL was made at the City of Reykjavik’s last cultural and tourism board meeting to raise a statue of Icelandic artist Björk at Harpa Conference Centre and Concert Hall. Björk, famous for It’s Oh so Quiet put Iceland on the world music map.

Eruption concerns remain THE ICE cauldron in the Öræfajökull caldera continues to deepen and become larger

as geothermal heat increases. This is shown by new measurements in the ice cauldron and these findings were presented at a meeting of the science unit of the Icelandic Civil Protection.

A Sonic decision for Bernie BERNIE the African hedgehog is the first hedgehog ever to have been imported to Iceland. His owner is Eszter Tekla Fekete who moved to Iceland with her family from Hungary. She has owned Bernie since 2015 and her family have waited over a year for permission.

RUSSIA

You’ve got it wrong THREE MORE Russian athletes - biathlete Olga Zaytseva and cross-country skiers Yulia Chekaleva and Anastasia Dotsenko - are appealing lifetime bans from the Olympics that were imposed in connection with doping practices uncovered at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, the Court of Arbitration for Sport has said.

accused of causing the death of their 13-month baby by allegedly putting antidepressants and tranquillisers in her bottle to stop her crying.

ICELAND

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with no advance notice at Khmeimim Airbase in Syria’s Latakia province on Monday morning.

Disruptive behaviour MEMBERS of a Russian nationalist group disrupted the screening in Moscow of a film about the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine. The movie Bullet’s Flight was due to be screened in the Oktyabr movie theatre last weekend, but reports said several individuals sprayed an acrid liquid in the hall, prompting an evacuation.

Flights resume RUSSIA’S TRANSPORT MINISTER has announced Moscow is ready to resume direct flights to Egypt, more than two years after a Russian passenger plane crashed as it left Sharm el-Sheikh airport. Maxim Sokolov said the paperwork could be signed as early as this week, with flights between Cairo and Moscow beginning in February.

SCANDINAVIA Plastic to fabric RATHER than plastic, all shoppers on the Danish island of Samsø will from next year be asked to use shopping bags made of fabric. “We are avoiding plastic carrier bags in the entire trade sector,” project leader Gunnar Mikkelsen of Samsø Municipality.

Yes to beavers HOLSTEBRO City Court has ruled against local land owner Find AndersenFruedahl in a civil law suit against the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (Miljøstyrelsen).

Andersen-Fruedahl had sued the agency for between 200,000 and

300,000 over damage caused to his property by a number of gnawing beavers.

Dogs for life...for ever RESEARCHERS at Uppsala University in Sweden conducted a huge study revealing that dog owners have a lower risk of dying compared to non-pet owners. The study followed 3.4 million Swedes, some of whom owned dogs and some of whom didn’t.

It’s true...honestly!

THE LANGUAGE Council of Norway has pronounced ‘fake news’ (falske nyheter) as the new Norwegian word of the year. The expression made famous during the 2016 US election

beat other neologisms including ‘Swedish conditions’ (svenske tilstander), ‘October child’ (oktoberbarn) and ‘purple voter’ (lillavelger) to the award.

Migrant study IMMIGRANTS, their descendants and ethnic minorities continue to face widespread discrimination across the European Union, finds a survey conducted by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) based in Finland. A total of 25,500 randomly selected firstand second-generation immigrants and members of ethnic minorities were interviewed.

GERMANY USA for Europe THE LEADER of Germany’s Social Democratic party has put down his red lines for talks to form another coalition government with Angela Merkel. In a speech at the SPD’s party conference in Berlin, Martin Schulz called for the creation of a “United States of Europe” by 2025.

Major train collision POLICE said that several people have been injured – some local media reporting as many as 50 - after a passenger train and a freight train collided near Düsseldorf.

The incident occurred near a train station in the town of Meerbusch and emergency crews helped people from the wreckage.

Berlin flag protest INTERIOR Minister Thomas de Maizière has sharply condemned the burning of Israeli flags during anti-Israel protests in Berlin. Israeli flags were burned at the Brandenburg Gate

during a pro-Palestinian demonstration against US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Terrorist false alarm POLICE were alerted on Sunday afternoon after the tenant of a building in the Charlottenburg neighbourhood reported having found ammunition hidden behind some tires in the underground car park. According to a police spokesman, it is probably coincidental that the 7.65 calibre bullets were discovered close to a Christmas market.

New village owner THE ONLY bidder at an unusual auction put down €140,000 and walked away the new owner of a small slice of German history: the village of Alwine, population 20. Its empty homes and ageing residents mirror the wider fate of the excommunist east German hinterlands since the country’s reunification 27 years ago.

16

Giving4Giving Christmas Fair raises €1,000

STALLHOLDERS OR SANTA? Everyone was in the festive spirit

by Tahnee Wright BENIDORM’S FLASH HOTEL played host to a Christmas Fair in aid of Giving4Giving last Friday.

Fair-goers enjoyed browsing over 50 gift and wellbeing stalls and trying their luck on the raffle and tombola whilst the little ones loved visiting Santa’s grotto.

The Christmas Fair helped Giving4Giving raise €1,000 for Aspanion (Association of Parents of Children with Cancer).

Aspanion aims to ensure the best quality of life for the children and adolescents with cancer and their families, from diagnosis onwards.

It achieves this by working across five key

programmes providing psychological and financial support, recreational support, education and social integration, advocacy awareness and general information.

This Christmas, Giving4Giving has pledged €1,500 worth of toys for the Red Cross, €2,000 worth of vouchers for the EMAUS children, €500 for Caritas and a whopping €2,000 worth of medical equipment for Help International Benidorm.

The charity hosts numerous fundraising events whilst also running 3 charity shops one in La Nucia and two in Altea - along with a charity auction house in La Nucia.

For more information or to get involved, get in touch with Gary on 603 137 697.

18

Happy British killmas by

As Britain transforms into a multiracial nation tens of thousands of Britons face unnecessary death through deprivation of basic necessities. Cold weather related deaths in the UK have hit a 15-year high, shocking official figures show.

Last winter saw the highest number of hypothermia related casualties since the turn of the millennium.

Those worst affected are the elderly who now face a heat or eat dilemma.

Whichever they choose they lose but for government and the Grim Reaper it is a win-win situation.

British workers, directly or indirectly, are taxed 48% on every penny they earn through their working lives. For fifty of their productive year’s government is a burden to them. They go without so government doesn’t go short. These wage slaves are worn out and unproductive by the time men and women reach retirement at 66 years of age (from 2018).

Having nothing else to give the retired become a burden on government. At this point the government has no further interest in them or their life expectancy.

The colder the weather gets the greater the relief of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. But, there will be no cold-related health problems for MPs as 78 per cent of them are millionaires, some many times over.

There were almost 44,000 unneces-

Michael Walsh

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sary British deaths between December and March last year, the largest annual rise in such figures for almost five decades. In 2012/13 there were 31,000 extra coffins filled by early culled pensioners.

Experts said the failure of the flu vaccine last year, which was only effective in 3 per cent cases, was one of the key factors behind the deaths. But, Big Pharma’s profits are healthy as are the elite’s shares in that industry. Charities raise concern that the death toll could rise this year. Britain’s 300 plus crematoria will struggle to cope.

The report from the Office of National Statistics show the number of premature deaths in 2014/15 the highest since 1999/00, with 27 per cent more people dying unnecessarily of hypothermia in the winter months compared with the non-winter months.

There were more than twice as many excess winter deaths than the previous year, when there were 17,460 deaths caused by lack of heating. The 151% rise is the biggest annual increase since 1967.

The number of cold-related deaths began to climb in December 2014 and peaked on 1 January 2015 with New Year’s Day seeing the number of excess deaths a third higher than average. Their years of pasture cruelly cut short the retired prematurely meet early death as a consequence of government indifference or government having ‘higher priorities’.

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20

Irregular gerunds Basic Spanish for everyday needs by

Jane Cronin

Last week I promised, or possibly threatened, that we would look at irregular gerunds. That sounds a lot worse than it is, honestly!

First as a quick recap, a gerund, or present participle, is the equivalent in Spanish of the English “– ing” word. “Running”, “jumping”, “playing” are all gerunds in English. To make one of these things in Spanish we must change verbs that end in “-ar” in the infinitive to an “-ando” ending. We do this by changing only the “ar” part of the verb. The other part is the root of the verb which remains unchanged, irrespective of whether it consists of just one letter or many letters. Verbs that end in “-er” or “-ir” in the infinitive make a similar change with those two letters becoming “-iendo”.

We have also seen how these gerunds combine with the verb “estar” to produce a verb tense that refers to actions in the present moment. Thus we can make statements like: “Estoy escribiendo” (I am writing), “estamos estudiando” (we are studying”, “están hablando” (they are speaking) and so on.

Now I have to tell you that there are just a few verbs which produce very minor changes in the gerund.

The changes are really quite negligible, to the point where, if we missed them completely when speaking, it would hardly be noticed.

irregular gerunds

vas leyendo

Firstly, the verb “dormir” (to sleep). When we change this to a gerund, we make the usual –ir to –iendo change, but we make a one-letter change to the root, giving us the word “durmiendo” (sleeping).

Another verb which does exactly the same thing is “morir” to die. “Dying” is therefore “muriendo”.

Secondly, there are a few other verbs ending in –ir when make a root change from “e” to “i” in the gerund. Here they – “pedir” (to order, to ask for) becomes “pidiendo”; “decir” (to say, to tell) becomes “diciendo”; “venir” (to come) becomes “viniendo”; “seguir” (to follow, to continue) becomes “siguiendo”; “repetir” (to repeat) becomes “repitiendo” and “medir” (to measure) becomes “midiendo”.

Well, that’s about as scary as gerunds get. As I’ve already said, a principle use of the gerund is with the verb “estar” to talk about present actions. However, we do find the gerund used in other ways. One interesting use is in conjunction with the verb “ir” (to go).

For example we can say “voy aprendiendo”. The literal translation of this would be “I go learning”, but what it actually means is that “I am gradually learning”. The use of the verb “ir” here gives the meaning of something occurring as a gradual process. “Va descrubriendo” (“he or she is gradually discovering”),

“vas leyendo” (you are reading gradually). To any of these we might add a phrase such as “poco a poco” (little by little) – “voy entendiendo poco a poco” (I am gradually understanding, little by little).

We can also add the gerund to the verb “venir” (to come). In this case it expresses the idea of having been doing something for a period of time. For example: “Vengo diciendo que …” (literally “I come saying that …) but what it actually means is “I have been saying that ….”. “Vengo pensando”, “I have been thinking”. These two forms, with “ir” and “venir” illustrate the fact that the gerund does have other uses, but our principle one for now is with “estar”.

Time for a little homework, I think. Translate into Spanish: What are you doing?

I am measuring the wall.

You are telling the truth.

My husband is washing the dishes.

We are spending a lot of money.

My children are cleaning the house.

As ever, I will start off with the answers next week.

See you then.

seguir Voy aprendiendo

muriendo

Voy entendiendo poco a poco

Vengo diciendo que...

Need a hand with your bags?

Jalon Valley A.R.C.’s next fund raising event will take place at Iceland in Benissa next Wednesday December 20 and Friday December 22.

Volunteers will be on hand to help shoppers pack their Christmas shopping bags

and a hamper filled with festive goodies will be raffled.

For more information on all the rescued animals in A.R.C.’s care, get in touch with Jayne - 649 310 285 or Sally 625 985 689.

22

The way I see it…

T’is the season to be jolly, Fa, la, la, la, la, etc, etc.

Yes! This is season of good will, you may call me Ebenezer Scrooge, but let me fill you in on a few facts, that you could by say has come straight from the pantomime horse’s mouth.

Finally, the great British The opinions government has woken up to published in Harvey’s the cost of overseas spending, weekly column after £12 million of tax payer’s are not necessarily representative of those money to fund an aid project in Syria is halted, after fears it of the publishers, advertisers or may end up in the hands of ternewspaper sponsors. rorists.

This after many other aid projects had already been given to governments and countries that use the money in illegal or illicit ways to keep their inhabitants in extremely appalling conditions.

An almost secret government office called the CSSF, known by the few as the Conflict, Stability, and Security Fund, this department receives money from the Overseas Development Fund, this the ministerial part of government that spends our hard-earned money, by giving it away more often than not to countries supposedly helping them in their hour of need. However, it often ends up helping karaoke groups, samba dancing and buying poles for limbo dancing?

An eye watering amount of money has been given away by the British (tax payers) who are still trying to rule the world as we did during our Commonwealth days, during that time we took from most of Africa, India and some of the far East, we marched around in uniforms covered in gold braid and white plumes in our hats, looking rather grand.

Gone are those days, as we still try to look like the upper echelons of world domina-

Harvey Mann

tion, but to do this we have to dig deep, very deep, throwing money to the left and then to the right.

I have seen the ends of some of this money that has been given to countries such as The Sudan, Rwanda and Tanzania, yes! you could say that this is just a handful of examples, but believe me I know it happens in many other places.

OK let me give you my first insight into The Sudan. As an unpaid escort, I was responsible to take 25 lorries carrying 600 hundred tons of grain from Kampala into Uganda to a place called Ayod where we unloaded the trucks at a UN staging post, Ayod does not exist on any map.

There had been a war raging almost since the days General Gordon fell to the Mahdi Khartoum in 1885, now for many years skirmishes between the Islamic north and the mainly Christian (thanks to the British rule) south with many thousands of people killed maimed, women raped, villages burned to the ground, men and boys kidnapped and press ganged into fighting, often for the notorious? Peoples Sudanese Liberation army, these are a ragtag band of men once led by a Sudanese educated in America, and then a splinter group led by a man with an impeccable British accent, guess where he was educated.

Much of the money that has been donated to the Sudan, for so called help to the poor and needy have ended up on both sides, in many cases to further the fighting in this ravaged country.

I travelled around 12 hundred miles with the lorries, we took salt and kegs of soap to give to people in the villages, as

they have no shops, this made money worthless in almost all of the areas, not surprisingly, men and boys were armed, wore uniforms, some even had boots, others wore trainers.

In Rwanda, I lived in the Virunga mountains with the huge silverback gorillas, as part of a programme to raise the worlds awareness in saving the almost extinct mountain gorillas.

In April 1994, I was woken by gunfire and screaming coming from the streets outside, I looked out to see bodies covered in blood, men running some firing guns other swinging machetes above their heads.

This was the outbreak of one of the worst ethnic cleansing civil war outrages in modern times, in three months almost one million people were killed many by their own relatives, The cause? Some funds given to the Democratic of the Congo the neighbouring country to Rwanda, was passed onto Hutu militia, to kill members of the opposing Tutsi tribe, relatives from inter-married families were killing each other in the streets, even babies were being hacked to death.

I managed to get out of the country, after a few weeks, as I had UN papers. The money given to the D.R.C come from

the British overseas budget to be used on farming projects.

Next, I had been working with the Tanzanian army to catch the King of the Elephant poachers in the Selous. £50,000 pounds given out from the overseas development to a wellknown charity to buy a highspeed boat to chase poachers on the Rufiji river disappeared after it was discovered that the part of the river that the boat was going to be used had been dry for at least 3 years.

That is just a small example that I have seen with my own eyes. The waste by the British overseas development Fund has been astronomical, they mainly rely on the words of NGOs, who often or not in some cases are

getting backhanders or some kind of reward for not always giving the right information.

Yes, we were Great Britain once, but it is about time we pulled in our horns and stop giving away tax payers money, including the huge sum that the E.U are asking for, we are much better than almost all of the European countries put together, we will survive as the E.U. are going to face a major crisis a few years ahead. We are still great but no longer with a capital G, and we can become bigger and better and more financially stable, if we stop giving to, karaoke training, samba dancing training, and let the limbo dancers find other sticks to dance under.

24

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26

by Gonzalo Blanco Blanco Abogados available across the Costa Blanca and inland with offices in Denia and Xativa

Check List: Selling a property in Spain.

Capital gains taxes In general, the gain will be determined as the difference between the transfer and acquisition values. Tax rate: 19%.

The person acquiring the property, resident or otherwise, is obliged to withhold and deposit with the Treasury 3% of the agreed price, this amount having for the seller the nature of payment on account of the corresponding tax for the income deriving from this transfer.

Therefore, the purchaser will deliver to the nonresident seller a copy of the form 211 with which he/she has made the withholding, so that the latter can deduct this amount from the amount to be paid resulting from the declaration of the gain. If the withheld amount is greater than the amount payable, the refund of the surplus can be obtained.

If the the taxes to be paid are substantially less than the sum retained, you have to submit an application form 210 to the Hacienda to have the difference returned. To calculate the acquisition value you can add the taxes that you paid for the purchase, solicitor fees, notary fees, registry fees and any structural reform always with the invoices.

Submission methods: • on paper, generated as a result of printing the

PDF form contained in the web portal of the Tax Agency.

• online, via Internet.

When the property is of shared ownership by a married couple in which both spouses are nonresident, only one self-assessment may be made.

Tax return period: three months from the end of the period which the purchaser of the property has for depositing the withholding (this period is, in turn, of one month from the date of the sale).

Exemption for reinvestment in habitual residence by taxpayers with residence in Spain ( EU, Iceland and Norway ) The capital gains obtained by the transfer of what has been their habitual residence in Spain may be excluded from taxation, provided that the total amount obtained through the transfer is reinvested in the purchase of a new habitual residence. When the reinvested amount is lower than the total of the amount received in the transfer, only the proportional part of the capital gain obtained corresponding to the reinvested amount will be excluded from taxation.

Contact us for specfic information, our work requires study of the corresponding documentation to give you the best legal advice. Available in Costa Blanca and inland.

1.-Commu nity fees.

Letter of th e adminis trator.

Only whe n you live in a comunity of owners .

2.- Price a nd payme nt: A certain amount th at the buyer give s to the se ller as a signa l.

pay the Ib i of the cu rrent year.

6.-Cedula de habita bilidad: There are Autonom ous Communit ies that re quire the seller to deliver to the buyer a va lid habitati on certificate . It is very important in order to get the utility contracts for non urban pro perties.

3.- Selling fees: There are fees relate d to the purchase negotiatio n.

Who pays? ...

Municipal Taxes. Sell 7.-Verifica er Notary fe tion of pa es. negota yment: tiable The notary Registrati on fees. will verify and record in negotatia writing ho ble w and when the house has been 4.-Energy paid for. efficiency certificate : The notary 8.-Only fo will ask th r non resi e seller dents for the en sellers: ergy effici e n cy certificate C a p ital gains or a copy retention of it. in the sales p rice of a d 5.-Ibi Tax welling, while the certificate buyer is o for the last 5 yea bliged to retain 3 rs. % of the d And also eclared purchasin the vendo g price if r has to the vendor is a non-resi dent.

Gonzalo Blanco Legal Lawyers registered at Icaalmeria nº 2717 Marques de Campo 58, 5º Denia. Alicante Reina 21,1 Xàtiva. Valencia. www.blancolawfirm.com Website: http://lawyerblanco.blogspot.com.es/

legal

Cadastral meaning by

IGNACIO PELLICER MOLLĂ & PEDRO HEREDIA ORTIZ

LAWYERS

Q

A

What does Cadastral stand for? I have looked in Google translate and it doesn’t exist!

The Cadastral reference relates to the physical measurements of a property.

It concentrates on the following: - exact location - physical description - boundaries - valuation This description must be mirrored with the description found in the Escritura.

For more information call us today.

If you have any further questions about this or any other legal matter, please do not hesitate to contact us; we have a team of experts standing by to assist you in any way we can. Call 965 480 737 or email info@pellicerheredia.com Videos at www.pellicerheredia.com

27

28

by

Kevin Wright Account Manager

Moneycorp

currency Currency questions answered by Moneycorp

The cost savings of using a specialist currency company are attractive but I have been put off as I understand there could be extra work involved. I also have concerns regarding the safety of my money - am I being over cautious?

Specialist currency providers are becoming popular choices for British ex-pats living in Spain or, indeed, those returning to the UK. Opening a trading facility is much easier and quicker than you may think but is necessary to comply with European KYC anti-money laundering legislation. moneycorp offers the option for customers to apply for registration on-line, via our website, which is a short and straight forward process. Alternatively, customers can simply complete a paper registration form. Additional documentation such as proof of identity and proof of address may be required in some cases. For the small amount of effort to apply for an account, there are many potential benefits available. These include potential cost savings and the advantage of having a range of currency services that are not always offered by traditional financial institutions, such as high street banks. Trading is also straightforward and is normally conducted over the telephone. Put simply, you can have access to great rates along with ‘real time’ information on the market which can help you to trade your currency at an advantageous time. Using a specialist currency company means you can arrange to have the rate monitored on your behalf, to help you make the most of market movements and potentially avoid trading when the market is not favourable for you. Purchasing a Forward Contract, means that you can fix the prevailing rate of exchange to buy currency now, to be settled at a determined date in the future, thus avoiding any potential impact from subsequent market fluctuations. A deposit of 10% of the total amount is required for this service.

The question of security is completely understandable and one that any client needs to be comfortable with. There are certain questions that will allow you to choose a currency provider with confidence and should be addressed if you have any doubts: How long have you been in business?

How many staff do you have?

What is your turnover?

How many clients do you deal with each year?

Do you have any other divisions as part of the company?

Do you speculate with the funds?

How do you handle client funds?

Do you have audited accounts at Companies House?

Where are your offices?

Are you Financial Conduct Authority Regulated?

This is how moneycorp answer:

How long have you been in business?

Moneycorp has been dealing in foreign exchange since 1979.

How many staff do you have?

Over 760 last year.

What is your turnover?

The last financial year saw Moneycorp trade over £25.6 billlion worth of currencies.

How many clients do you deal with each year?

We executed over 7 million client transactions in 2016.

Do you have any other divisions as part of the company?

Yes. Retail, wholesale, commercial including an awardwinning online trading platform.

Do you speculate with the funds?

Absolutely not! Moneycorp does not take trading positions and all foreign exchange positions are exactly matched with our panel of liquidity providers.

How do you handle client funds?

All client funds are safeguarded in segregated client bank accounts.

Do you have audited accounts at Companies House?

Yes, we do. PricewaterhouseCoopers have been our auditors since 1987.

Where are your offices?

Moneycorp has its HO in central London and has other offices outside the UK. Details of locations are on our web site.

Are you regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority?

Yes. Moneycorp is the trading name of TTT Moneycorp Ltd. which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for the provision of payment services.

For further information about how Moneycorp can help with your particular currency requirement, contact us on +34 902 887 243 or email kevin.wright@moneycorp.com

Moneycorp is a trading name of TTT Moneycorp Ltd. which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for the provision of payment services.

TTT Moneycorp Limites, Sucursal en España is registered with the banco de España under the code number 6875 and with the Mercantile Registry of Málaga under volume 5461, book 4638, sheet 7, page MA-131271, inscription number 1. Its registered office address is Centro Comercial Cala Sol, Local 108, La Cala de Mijas, 29649 Málaga and its Spanish tax identification number is W8266051E.

Friday 15th December - Thursday 21st December

Pick of the Day

FRIDAY 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 12:25am

Breakfast Island Medics Homes Under the Hammer Street Auction Fake Britain Bargain Hunt BBC News BBC London News Doctors Armchair Detectives Escape to the Country The Hairy Bikers Home for Christmas Money for Nothing Pointless BBC News BBC London News The One Show A Question of Sport EastEnders Still Open All Hours Have I Got News for You Mrs. Brown’s Boys BBC News BBC London News The Graham Norton Show Would I Lie to You?

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

9:00am

10:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm

3:30pm 4:15pm 5:00pm

6:05pm 7:00pm 8:00pm

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

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

Flog it! Trade Secrets Island Medics The Hairy Bikers Home for Christmas MasterChef: The Professionals Victoria Derbyshire BBC Newsroom Live The Daily Politics Coast Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip Home Away From Home 32 Brinkburn Street The Fifteen Billion Pound Railway The Blue Planet Strictly - It Takes Two Celebrity Antiques Road Trip Mastermind Only Connect The Sweet Makers at Christmas QI Newsnight Expedition Volcano

7:00am 9:30am 10:25am 11:30am 1:30pm 2:30pm 2:55pm 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 11:45pm 12:45am

Good Morning Britain Lorraine The Jeremy Kyle Show This Morning Loose Women ITV Lunchtime News ITV News London Judge Rinder Dickinson’s Real Deal Tipping Point The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Judge Rinder’s Crown Court Coronation Street I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!

Coming Out ITV News and Weather ITV News London Through the Keyhole Play to the Whistle - Extra Time

7:20am 8:35am 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am 10:35am 11:05am

12:00pm 1:00pm 1:05pm

1:15pm

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6:00pm

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

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3rd Rock from the Sun Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Frasier Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA Jamie’s Festive Feast Channel 4 News Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas Christmas Magic Countdown Lost and Found A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast Gogglebox The Last Leg First Dates

7:00am 10:15am 12:45pm 12:50pm 2:35pm 4:15pm 6:00pm 6:35pm

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

11:00pm

12:35am

Childrens TV The Wright Stuff 5 News Lunchtime Married by Christmas Once Upon a Holiday Mr Christmas 5 News The Yorkshire Vet at Christmas 5 News Tonight The Gadget Show Brunel Strictly Come Dancing: Before They Were Famous The Strictly Story: Fake Tan, Tangos and a Ten From Len Strictly Special: Lip Sync Battle

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

Monkey Life Monkey Life Monkey Life Monkey Life It’s Me or the Dog Meerkat Manor Meerkat Manor Meerkat Manor Meerkat Manor Modern Family Modern Family NCIS: Los Angeles Hawaii Five-0 Hawaii Five-0 NCIS: Los Angeles Stargate SG-1 The Simpsons Futurama Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Modern Family Karl Pilkington A League of Their Own The Simpsons

Saturday 7:00am 11:00am 12:30pm

1:00pm 2:00pm 2:15pm

3:15pm 4:15pm 5:00pm 6:25pm 6:35pm 6:40pm 7:30pm 10:00pm

11:00pm 11:20pm 12:45am

Breakfast Saturday Kitchen Live Nigel Slater’s 12 Tastes of Christmas Football Focus BBC News Sports Personality of the Year 2017 - The Contenders Bargain Hunt Escape to the Country Final Score BBC News BBC London News Pointless Strictly Come Dancing Michael Mcintyre’s Big Show BBC News Match of the Day The NFL Show

7:15am

8:00am 8:30am

9:00am 9:30am

10:00am 12:00pm

1:00pm

1:30pm

2:00pm 2:45pm 3:20pm 3:50pm 4:20pm 6:05pm

7:05pm 9:00pm

10:00pm 10:55pm 11:45pm

Holiday of My Lifetime with Len Goodman Nature’s Weirdest Events Naomi’s Nightmares of Nature Deadly 60 Show Me What You’re Made of: UK Saturday Mash-Up! Penguins on a Plane: Great Animal Moves Raymond Blanc: How to Cook Well Tom Kerridge’s Best Ever Dishes Homes Under the Hammer Coast Garden Rescue Mastermind Possessed Roger Moore: My Word is My Bond Escape to Athena Attenborough’s Life That Glows Feud: Bette and Joan Feud: Bette and Joan QI XL

7:00am 10:25am 10:30am

12:20pm

12:50pm 1:20pm 1:45pm 1:55pm 3:55pm

5:35pm 6:35pm

7:05pm 7:15pm 7:30pm

10:45pm 11:00pm 12:55am

Childrens TV ITV News Saturday Morning with James Martin at Christmas Gino’s Italian Coastal Escape Countrywise Thunderbirds are Go ITV News Endeavour The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas The Chase Paul O’Grady: For The Love of Dogs ITV News London ITV News The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey ITV News The Hangover Tonight at the London Palladium

7:05am 7:30am 7:55am 8:20am 8:45am 9:15am 9:40am 10:05am 10:35am 11:05am 11:35am 12:05pm 1:50pm 2:20pm 2:55pm 3:25pm 3:55pm 4:30pm 5:30pm 6:35pm 7:00pm 8:00pm

9:00pm

10:00pm 12:10am

Adventure Racing Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Frasier The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Holiday in Handcuffs Come Dine with Me Come Dine with Me Come Dine with Me Come Dine with Me Come Dine with Me Grand Designs Best Laid Plans Channel 4 News Word of the Guy Martin v the Robot Car The World’s Most Expensive Presents Pitch Perfect The Inbetweeners Movie

7:00am 10:50am 11:45am

1:55pm 3:40pm 5:25pm

6:25pm 6:30pm

7:05pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 9:55pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:20am

Childrens TV The Gadget Show Nativity 3: Dude, Where’s My Donkey?!

One Christmas Eve Love Always, Santa Mariah Carey’s a Christmas Melody 5 News Mariah Carey’s a Christmas Melody Sinkholes Sinkholes Sinkholes 5 News Weekend Football on 5 Football on 5 NCIS: New Orleans NCIS: New Orleans

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

Ashley Banjo The Simpsons The Simpsons Supergirl The Flash Soccer A.M. Futurama Futurama Futurama Futurama Futurama NCIS: Los Angeles Gillette Soccer Saturday Gillette Soccer Saturday Gillette Soccer Saturday Gillette Soccer Saturday Modern Family Modern Family The Simpsons The Simpsons A League of Their Own A League of Their Own The Russell Howard Hour Karl Pilkington

7:05am 8:05am 8:35am

9:35am 10:30am

12:00pm

12:30pm 1:15pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 5:35pm 6:20pm 8:00pm

9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

11:30pm 12:30am

Coast Gardeners’ World Monty Don’s Secret History of the British Garden Countryfile Saturday Kitchen Best Bites Nigel Slater’s 12 Tastes of Christmas My Life on a Plate MOTD2 Extra Talking Pictures Equestrian Ski Sunday Nativity!

Life in Polar Bear Town with Gordon Buchanan James May’s Toy Stories The Alternativity Detectorists Christmas Special Match of the Day 2 Insert Name Here

7:00am 10:25am 10:30am

10:55am

11:40am

12:10pm

12:40pm

1:40pm 1:45pm 3:50pm 5:45pm 6:45pm

7:45pm

8:40pm 8:50pm 9:00pm

12:05am 12:25am

Childrens TV ITV News Best Walks with a View with Julia Bradbury Countrywise Winter Wonderland The Martin Lewis Money Show Save Money: Good Food How to Spend it Well at Christmas with Phillip Schofield ITV News Step Up Midsomer Murders Tipping Point The Chase: Celebrity Special The Chase: The Bloopers ITV News London ITV News The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug ITV News Through the Keyhole

7:10am 7:35am 8:05am 8:30am 8:55am 9:25am 9:55am 10:30am 1:30pm 2:00pm

3:05pm 3:35pm 4:05pm 5:50pm 6:20pm 6:50pm 9:00pm

10:00pm

11:00pm 1:35am

3rd Rock from the Sun 3rd Rock from the Sun Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Frasier Sunday Brunch Paul Hollywood Jamie’s Ultimate Christmas The Simpsons The Simpsons Jingle All the Way Born Silly Channel 4 News Miracle on 34th Street Coastal Railways with Julie Walters Inside Bentley: A Great British Motor Car Die Hard Mercury Rising

7:00am

Childrens TV

11:35am

Football on 5

12:30pm

Football on 5

1:00pm

Season’s Greetings

2:50pm

Twelve Trees

of Christmas

4:30pm

Mrs Miracle 2:

Miracle in Manhattan

5:30pm

5 News

5:35pm

Mrs Miracle 2:

Miracle in Manhattan

6:20pm

5 News Weekend

6:25pm

A Heavenly Christmas

8:10pm

Legally Blonde

10:00pm

Agatha Christie’s

Crooked House

12:00am

Sleepy Hollow

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

The Hour of Power Futurama Futurama Futurama Futurama Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons WWE Raw NCIS: Los Angeles NCIS: Los Angeles NCIS: Los Angeles Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Inhumans Stella Trollied A League of Their Own

Brunel, 9pm, Channel 5

Strictly Come Dancing, 7.30pm BBC1

Sunday 7:00am 8:35am 10:00am 11:00am 12:00pm 1:15pm 2:00pm 2:15pm

3:15pm 3:50pm 5:20pm 6:20pm 6:35pm 6:45pm 7:45pm

10:00pm 11:00pm

12:00am 12:20am 12:30am

Breakfast Match of the Day The Andrew Marr Show Fern Britton Meets...

Sunday Politics Bargain Hunt BBC News Mary Berry’s Country House Secrets Songs of Praise Toy Story 2 Blue Planet II BBC News BBC London News Countryfile Sports Personality of the Year 2017 The Apprentice The Apprentice: You’re Hired BBC News BBC London News Ronny Chieng: International Student

Sports Personality of the Year 2017, 7.45pm, BBC1

31

Pick of the Day

monday 7:00am 10:15am

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

10:30pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:45pm

12:30am

Breakfast Let’s Get a Good Thing Going Homes Under the Hammer Street Auction Fake Britain Bargain Hunt BBC News BBC London News Father Brown Escape to the Country The Instant Gardener Money for Nothing Pointless BBC News BBC London News The One Show Panorama EastEnders Mary Berry’s Christmas Party Would I Lie to You? BBC News BBC London News Have I Got a Bit More News for You Michael Mcintyre’s Big Show

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

9:00am

10:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 2:45pm

3:15pm 4:00pm 5:00pm

6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm

8:30pm

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

11:30pm 12:15am

Flog it! Trade Secrets Island Medics The Hairy Bikers Home for Christmas Mary Berry’s Country House Secrets Victoria Derbyshire BBC Newsroom Live The Daily Politics The Link Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip Home Away From Home Inside Claridge’s Alaska: Earth’s Frozen Kingdom The Blue Planet Celebrity Eggheads Celebrity Antiques Road Trip Inside the Christmas Factory University Challenge Employable Me The League of Gentlemen Newsnight Blitz

7:00am 9:30am 10:25am 11:30am 1:30pm 2:30pm 2:55pm 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 11:45pm

12:45am

Good Morning Britain Lorraine The Jeremy Kyle Show This Morning Loose Women ITV Lunchtime News ITV News London Judge Rinder Dickinson’s Real Deal Tipping Point The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Save Money: Good Food Coronation Street Birds of a Feather ITV Newsand Weather ITV News London Killer Women with Piers Morgan Fraud: How They Steal Your ID

7:20am 7:45am 8:10am 8:35am 9:00am 9:30am 10:00am 10:35am 11:05am 11:35am 12:05pm

1:00pm 1:05pm 1:20pm 3:10pm 4:00pm 5:00pm

6:00pm

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

11:00pm 12:05am

3rd Rock from the Sun 3rd Rock from the Sun 3rd Rock from the Sun Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Frasier The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA Channel 4 News Jamie’s Comfort Food Carry on Cleo Countdown Lost and Found A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Paul Hollywood Supershoppers Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds at Christmas First Dates Sarah Millican Home Bird Live

7:00am

Childrens TV

10:15am

Puppies Make You

Laugh Out Loud

11:05am

The Gadget Show

12:05pm

The Gadget Show

1:10pm

Jim Henson’s

Turkey Hollow

2:50pm

Back to Christmas

4:35pm

A Cinderella Christmas

6:20pm

Christmas Bucket List

8:00pm

World’s Strongest Man

2017

9:00pm

Brick by Brick:

The Lego Story

10:00pm

Abba: When All is Said

and Done

12:05am

ABBA: Live in Concert

7:00am 7:30am

8:15am 9:00am

10:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 2:45pm 4:00pm 5:00pm

6:00pm 7:00pm

8:00pm

9:00pm 10:00pm

11:00pm

11:30pm 12:15am

Flog it! Trade Secrets Let’s Get a Good Thing Going Street Auction Celebrity Antiques Road Trip Victoria Derbyshire BBC Newsroom Live The Daily Politics The Link Equestrian Inside Claridge’s Alaska: Earth’s Frozen Kingdom The Blue Planet Sacred Rivers with Simon Reeve The Repair Shop at Christmas MasterChef Rick Stein’s Road to Mexico The League of Gentlemen Newsnight NFL

7:00am 9:30am 10:25am 11:30am 1:30pm 2:30pm 2:55pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm

11:05pm 11:40pm 11:50pm 12:50am

Good Morning Britain Lorraine The Jeremy Kyle Show This Morning Loose Women ITV Lunchtime News ITV News London Judge Rinder Dickinson’s Real Deal Tipping Point The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale The Royal Variety Performance 2017 ITV News and Weather ITV News London Lethal Weapon Lethal Weapon

7:20am 7:45am 8:10am 8:35am 9:05am 9:35am 10:00am 10:35am 11:05am 11:35am 12:00pm

1:00pm 1:05pm

1:20pm 3:10pm 4:00pm 5:00pm

6:00pm

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

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

3rd Rock from the Sun 3rd Rock from the Sun 3rd Rock from the Sun Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Frasier The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA Channel 4 News Jamie’s Cracking Christmas Carry on Cabby Countdown Lost and Found A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Jamie’s Italian Christmas Shamed Extraordinary Teens Micky Flanagan’s Out Out Tour

7:00am

Childrens TV

10:15am

Access

10:25am

Nutcracker Sweet

11:45am

Free Birds

1:30pm

Five Children and It

3:10pm

A Royal Family Holiday

4:50pm

Hearts of Christmas

6:25pm

A Prince for Christmas

8:00pm

World’s Strongest Man

2017

9:00pm

Jo Brand’s

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

1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 5:30pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

10:00pm 12:55am

Futurama Futurama Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Attenborough: Wild City Hawaii Five-0 Hawaii Five-0 NCIS: Los Angeles NCIS: Los Angeles Modern Family Modern Family The Simpsons The Simpsons Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons A League of Their Own Christmas Special 2012 The Russell Howard Hour

The League of Gentlemen, 11pm, BBC2

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

1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 5:30pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

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

Futurama Futurama Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Attenborough: Wild City Hawaii Five-0 Hawaii Five-0 NCIS: Los Angeles NCIS: Los Angeles Modern Family Modern Family The Simpsons The Simpsons Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Sky Sports Funniest Moments: Best Bits Trollied A League of Their Own The Russell Howard Hour

The Royal Variety Performance 2017, 8.30pm, ITV1

tuesday 7:00am 10:15am

11:00am 12:00pm 12:45pm 1:15pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 2:45pm 3:40pm 4:25pm 5:15pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:45pm 12:45am

Breakfast Let’s Get a Good Thing Going Homes Under the Hammer Street Auction Fake Britain Bargain Hunt BBC News BBC London News Father Brown Escape to the Country The Instant Gardener Money for Nothing Pointless BBC News BBC London News The One Show EastEnders Holby City U2 at the BBC BBC News BBC London News Drugsland KKK: The Fight for White Supremacy

Cats and Kittens

10:00pm

Britain’s Favourite

Biscuit

11:30pm

Greatest Ever

Christmas Movies

32

Pick of the Day

WEDNESDAY 7:00am 10:15am

11:00am 12:00pm 12:45pm 1:15pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 2:45pm 4:35pm 5:55pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:45pm

12:25am

Breakfast Let’s Get a Good Thing Going Homes Under the Hammer Street Auction Fake Britain Bargain Hunt BBC News BBC London News Raiders of the Lost Ark Chicken Run Book of Dragons Pointless BBC News BBC London News The One Show Judi Dench: My Passion for Trees The Real Marigold on Tour BBC News BBC London News Male Rape: Breaking the Silence Junior Doctors

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

10:00am 12:00pm 12:30pm 2:00pm 2:45pm

3:15pm 4:00pm 5:05pm

6:05pm 7:00pm

8:00pm

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

Football on 5

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

10:00pm 12:40am

Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Attenborough: Wild City Hawaii Five-0 Hawaii Five-0 NCIS: Los Angeles Golf’s Funniest Moments Modern Family Modern Family The Simpsons The Simpsons Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Michael Bublé’s Christmas in Hollywood The Rock The Russell Howard Hour

Childrens TV Snow Queen Open Season 3 Loch Ness Christmas with the Andersons Mrs Miracle 2: Miracle in Manhattan A Royal Christmas World’s Strongest Man 2017 Britain’s Craziest Christmas Lights Donny Osmond’s Easy Listening Christmas An Audience with Donny and Marie Lip Sync Battle UK Xmas Special

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

1:00pm 3:00pm 5:00pm 5:30pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

12:00am

Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Modern Family Modern Family Egg Drop Big Cats: An Amazing Animal Family Terry Pratchett Terry Pratchett Modern Family Modern Family The Simpsons Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Gwen Steffani A League of Their Own Russell Howard Christmas Special A League of Their Own Christmas Special

Flog it! Trade Secrets Nigella’s Christmas Table David Suchet: In the Footsteps of St Peter Victoria Derbyshire BBC Newsroom Live The Daily Politics The Link Terry and Mason’s Great Food Trip Home Away From Home Inside Claridge’s Alaska: Earth’s Frozen Kingdom The Blue Planet Sacred Rivers with Simon Reeve The Sweet Makers at Christmas MasterChef Peaky Blinders The League of Gentlemen Mock the Week Alternativity: The Performance

7:00am 9:30am 10:25am 11:30am 1:30pm 2:30pm 2:55pm 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 11:45pm

12:45am

Good Morning Britain Lorraine The Jeremy Kyle Show This Morning Loose Women ITV Lunchtime News ITV News London Judge Rinder Dickinson’s Real Deal Tipping Point The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Gino’s Italian Coastal Escape Coronation Street A Night for the Emergency Services ITV News and Weather ITV News London Car Crash Britain Caught on Camera Play to the Whistle

7:20am 8:40am 10:00am 11:05am 11:35am 12:00pm

1:00pm 1:05pm 1:25pm 3:10pm 4:00pm 5:00pm

6:00pm

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

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

3rd Rock from the Sun Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA Channel 4 News Jamie’s Cracking Christmas Carry on Nurse Countdown Lost and Found A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News The Secret Life of the Zoo at Christmas The Channel Gogglebox Micky Flanagan: Back in the Game

7:00am

Childrens TV

10:15am

Snow Queen

11:35am

Jack and the Beanstalk

1:25pm

James and the

Giant Peach

2:55pm

My Angel

4:40pm

Christmas Carol

6:20pm

A Fairytale Christmas

8:00pm

World’s Strongest Man

2017

9:00pm

GPs:

Behind Closed Doors

10:00pm

Harry Potter:

20 Years of Magic

12:00am

MasterChef: The Professionals David Suchet: In the Footsteps of St Peter Victoria Derbyshire BBC Newsroom Live The Daily Politics Snow Babies Natural World Victorian Bakers at Christmas Back in Time for Christmas The Lake District: A Wild Year Sacred Rivers with Simon Reeve Inside the Christmas Factory MasterChef Joanna and Jennifer: Absolutely Champers Absolutely Fabulous Insert Name Here QI Dara and Ed’s Road to Mandalay

7:00am 9:30am 10:25am 11:30am 1:30pm 2:30pm 2:55pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm

11:15pm 11:45pm 11:55pm

Good Morning Britain Lorraine The Jeremy Kyle Show This Morning Loose Women ITV Lunchtime News ITV News London Judge Rinder Dickinson’s Real Deal Tipping Point The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Tonight Emmerdale Coronation Street Gordon, Gino and Fred’s Great Christmas Roast ITV News and Weather ITV News London The Royal Variety Performance 2017

7:20am 8:35am 10:05am 11:05am 12:00pm

1:00pm 1:05pm 1:15pm 1:25pm 3:10pm 4:00pm 5:00pm

6:00pm

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

11:00pm

12:05am

3rd Rock from the Sun Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier The Big Bang Theory Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA Channel 4 News Jamie’s Cracking Christmas Jamie’s Comfort Food Bites Carry on Constable Countdown Lost and Found A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News The Supervet at Christmas The Undateables at Christmas The World’s Most Expensive Toys Father Ted

7:00am 10:15am 11:50am 1:15pm 3:15pm

4:55pm

6:40pm 8:00pm

9:00pm

10:00pm

11:30pm

12:30am

Michael Buble's Christmas in Hollywood, 9pm, Sky1

thursday 7:00am 10:15am

11:00am 12:00pm 12:45pm 1:15pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 2:45pm

4:35pm

5:50pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:45pm

Breakfast Let’s Get a Good Thing Going Homes Under the Hammer Street Auction Fake Britain Bargain Hunt BBC News BBC London News Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Wallace and Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit Merry Madagascar Pointless BBC News BBC London News The One Show EastEnders DIY SOS The Big Build Love, Lies and Records BBC News BBC London News Darcey Bussell

8:00am

9:00am

10:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 4:00pm

5:00pm 6:00pm

7:00pm

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

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

The World's Most Expensive Toy, 11pm, Channel 4

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34

Puzzles Code Breaker

Mars takes on Uranus just before the Holiday festivities kick off. You are well prepared to celebrate this year, and have greatly simplified entertaining and hospitality down to a fine art. All that is left is to enjoy the vigours of this time of year and all that they may bring you.

Word Pyramid

9

Mighty Uranus steers your planetary leader, Mercury into calmer waters just in time to enable you to celebrate the holiday season with no pressures or fears. Everything and anything can and will happen if you just let it, and especially now that you can focus on what positive energies bring!

Venus takes on lucky Jupiter and you could not have a better aspect to look forward to. Considering that you have been in a dark place it would seem that all is coming to you in the form of fortune and good luck, heralding happier times and all the very best is coming your way!

Your planetary leaders are kept busy of late. Pluto conjuncts with Mercury, and Mars sextiles with Uranus. This presents a truly mixed bag, but the endless possibilities are something worth focussing on now that you are less pressured and have the time to realise now just how far you’ve come.

Saturn enters into your second house and brings back the ghost of Christmases past somewhat. There is much to celebrate this year and yet you are taken back, maybe to see just how far you have moved on? Wily, sage Saturn has a habit of helping to eliminate the past, bringing clearance.

Time for change as the Sun enters in splendour. It illuminates your pathway for the events ahead in the festive season. This time of year really does belong to you and the clarity of your reactions will set you in good stead for not just the celebrations ahead, but the many changes due.

Your opposing sign of Leo thrives with the Sun entering Capricorn. You need to be earthed and to know your strengths and your weaknesses better if you are to take full advantage of an opportunity coming your way. There is nothing that you can do about anything right now so relax.

Though you have had little regard for this year’s festivities you now have something rather wonderful to focus on, and something to lead you into the New Year, with good luck and blessings following you all the way! Expect to receive an offer that you just cannot refuse, and turn things around!

O

E C

S

Word Wheel There is 1x9 letter word and 305 others! Make as many 3 or more letter words as you can using any letter combination just once and you must use the central letter in every word!

Mercury squares Uranus, and allows for some communication that’s unexpected and rewards you in its actions.

You are forced to make changes to your Christmas plans this year but it is taking care of others that finds you trying to please everyone in the process. Take time for yourself!

Forget what you signed up for and take care of those who love you deeply but do not quite understand your current wants and needs. A time to talk freely, and to break the negative energies of the silence that has developed; which does nothing for either of you. Be true to yourself, above all!

N

Start at a letter and spell out a 10-letter word by moving to adjacent letters. Each letter will be used at least once, but no letter will be used twice in a row.

Venus beguiles Pluto in a conjunction that sees you taking a consequential trip along memory lane, and giving in to some healthy and reminiscent nostalgia. With one or two surprises in store for you, this festive season sees you putting a value on the things you generally take for granted.

Resolve is especially comforting at this time of the year, and the stubborn attitude of someone close to you has hurt you somewhat. Making up is very hard to do, but you know it is the only way too, especially with the season of goodwill on your doorstep. Play it cool and all can be merry and bright!

D

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 17 represents C and 23 represents H. 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.

Kenny’s Postbag Kenny, I have the most terrible feeling that

WORD fit

Using just logic, can you make all the words fit correctly into the grid?

something is about to go wrong. I often get these negative feelings and they really bring me down. What can I do?

Anna G. Anna, be strong. We cannot control fate but we can bring on some negative energies by the stress that we put ourselves under. If you are prewarned about something such premonition is hard to deal with, but you must be happy when nothing bad happens! Speak to Spirit and tell them to keep you in touch but eliminate fear on all levels please, especially for things that anyway are out of control.

For Birthday Celebrants Cosmic aspirations are shifting greatly, and there is a high probability you will change your mind over something which currently seems to be holding you well and truly back from the real event!

3 LETTERS ALE ALP BYE DYE GOP MAD PTA TON TTL 4 LETTERS ABUT AHOY ALIA AMOK AREA ASIA BOMB

DOLL DOOR ELLA GINN HARE HARM HEBE IOTA KNEE LAME LANE LARS LASH LASS LEON LILA MAID MART

NONE OATH OILY OLIN OMIT OVEN PECK PLOD RIME ROBE SILL STUB TALL TOSS TRAP 5 LETTERS AAHEAD ALIVE

ALOHA AROSE CABAL CADET CREAK DEMON EMILE GILES INTER IONIC LAGOS NOOSE ORATE PEARL SAMOA SINEW SPEND

6 LETTERS CLINIC DENTON HANNAH HEARST ISAIAH KIDNAP RELISH SEWAGE SPRAIN TATTLE 7 LETTERS AIRPARK HIGGINS LACTATE PROTEGE

More Puzzles

Cryptic

ACROSS 1 Unready king making girl embarrassed (8) 6 Article I’m to make objective (3) 9 Precise former spouse has to do something (5) 10 Directors and editor got on (7) 11 Oil change after journey in African port (7) 13 “Room at the Top” in Greek (5) 14 Teased for being badly dressed (6) 15 Beer? Bert is ordered to swallow it (6) 19 Aimed to reform press, TV, etc. (5) 21 Allowances made for disturbance on stair? (7) 22 Just say I may be found in a French resort (7) 23 New gown about right? No, it’s not right (5) 24 Observe the bishop’s territory (3) 25 Drink that’s bad for teenager? (5,3) DOWN 2 Dashing in great confusion (7) 3 Scoff when leader is knocked out in preliminary round (3) 4 Bunny talk? (6) 5 Mad artist turns playwright (9) 6 Check car heading for Tottenham (5) 7 Another word for doctor found in some dictionaries (5) 8 Browbeat Trojan hero (6) 12 Working with gear in top form (9) 16 Pair involved in most woe (7) 17 Quit and write one’s name again? (6) 18 Royal pop star (6) 19 Mother has second thoughts after contagious disease (5) 20 Teacher with north-eastern poet (5) 23 Be successful for first half of season (3)

Quiz 1 Flared trousers were originated in the early 1800s by: Sailors; Clergymen; Circus

ring-masters; or Rat-catchers?

2 The Hang Seng is Hong Kong’s: Metro; Daily newspaper; Stock market index; or

Dog show?

3 Annealing a metal makes it: Melt; Softer; Vaporize or Convert into diamond?

4 Shire, Arabian, Mustang, and Hackney are types of: Radish; Taxi; Religious cult;

or Horse?

5 The Soviet Union dissolution of 1991 created how many independent states:

5; 9; 15; or 35?

6 A half divided by a sixth is: A third; A Ninth; A Twelfth; or Three?

7 Where are found the Seas of Tranquility, Cleverness, Nectar, and Moisture:

Human liver; Superman comics/films; The South Pole; or The Moon?

8 Pitcairn Islands, home to several 1790 ‘Mutiny on the Bounty’ mutineers, are in

Can you by changing 1 letter at a time, get from the first word to the last word in the given number of moves?

meals 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

wheel

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

ACROSS

Word Ladder

Soduku

Quick

Futoshiki

The purpose of the game is to discover the digits hidden inside the board’s cells; each cell is filled with a digit between 1 and 6. On each row and column each digit appears exactly once; therefore, when revealed, the digits of the board form a so-called Latin square. The board may also contain some inequalities between the board cells; these inequalities must be respected and can be used as clues in order to discover the remaining hidden digits. ie > is greater than and < is less than.

35

the Southern: Pacific; Mediterranean; Baltic; or Arctic?

9 Spell the Japanese rice dish: Sushi; Souchi; ; Sueshy; or Soo shee?

10 In a church a piscina is a: Choirboy’s scarf; Basin; Altar cloth; or Medieval organ?

1 Rigorous (6) 4 Sloping script (6) 8 Imitate (5) 9 Substitute (5-2) 10 Welsh city (7) 11 Indian language (5) 12 Flabbergasted (9) 17 Parrot’s name (5) 19 Recital (anag.) (7) 21 Without weapons (7) 22 Leaves out (5) 23 Make possible (6) 24 Decapitate (6)

DOWN 1 To such an extent (2,4) 2 Comments (7) 3 Spiny desert plants (5) 5 Instructor (7) 6 Weighed down (5) 7 Outspoken (6) 9 Protect (9) 13 Appalling (7) 14 Mislead (7) 15 Husband or wife (6) 16 Came to an end (6) 18 Capital of Tibet (5) 20 Type of steak (1-4)

Last Weeks Solutions on page 45

36

whats on Christmas comes early for Marina Baixa cyclists BENIDORM COUNCIL recently presented a project to create 12 kilometres of cycle lanes to connect the entire Levante network.

The council has requested funding from the European Regional Development Fund of the Valencian Region 2014-2020, launched by the Generalitat to promote projects linked to mobility and/ or historical heritage.

All going to plan, works will be undertaken to adapt the following roads: Avenida Europa, Avenida Derramador, Avenida Comunidad Valenciana, Avenida Bernat de Sarria, Avenida Atmella del Mar, Avenida Severo Ochoa, Avenida Pekín, Avenida Sierra Dorada and Avenida Hamburgo.

The project also proposes converting Avenida Ciudad Real, Avenida Zamora, Avenida Ibiza, Avenida Lepanto, Avenida Roma and Avenida Londres into pedestrian and cyclist only streets.

Careline Theatre exceeds €57,000 in donations

Acting UP: Careline Theatre Cast Since 2006, Careline Theatre has donated over €57,000 to charity thanks to the loyal support of its audiences and the hard work and dedication of all its members.

Robin Hood – The Panto, directed

by Marian Carter, has all the traditional ingredients of the classic panto and with Careline’s trademark professional touch

it’s sure to be a hit for all the family.

Opening night is ‘Party At The Panto’ with a free glass of cava plus nibbles.

Donations from this production will be going to Help of Denia and Marina Alta, MABS and Jalon Valley Help.

Show dates run from Thursday January 18 to Sunday January 21 at 8.00pm each evening, with matinees on

the Saturday and Sunday at 3.00pm.

Tickets cost €12 for adults, €8 for children. €11 for pre-paid groups of 10 or more adults.

Book your tickets now by calling the Careline Box Office on their NEW number 605 181 726 or email carelineboxoffice@gmail.com.

37

Benidorm food & drink

Old Town Benidorm Calle la Palma 7

providing cosy bars and restaurants in the heart of Old Benidorm.

From a tasty snack to a full blown A La Carte menu, cocktails and shots, English and local beers and wines, there is something for

everyone! All these venues are within a 5 minute walk of each other, so try them all...

Make sure you tell the owners you saw their advert in RTN!

BENIDORM OLD TOWN uay

C/Marav all

Urug

Jaim e

Last March, Nosh became Benidorm’s latest dining experience. Located just off the walking street, in the Old Town’s main dining destination, calle la Palma.

In addition to our delicious seasonal menu, we have weekly specials offering mouth watering specialties with influence from world cuisine, right here in Benidorm.

Our carefully selected wines change regularly to complement our menus.

Alongside these we provide cheese boards, with an average of 40 different cheeses to choose from… including some great vintage choices too!

Benidorm’s Old Town has an enormous amount to offer in terms of atmosphere and tradition.

Known for it’s huge array of Tapas Bars, there is also a huge expat community

TOWN HALL

04 02

ALE-HOP

09

01

07

06

03

Nosh

01

Two palms

02

Calle la Biga

Kafee Klee

03

Life Guard Station Molly’s 04

Molly’s

04

O’Maras

05

White Bull

06

Thistle

07

Amigos

09

You can book online via the link on Facebook, email us on reservations@noshrestaurant.es or call us on ES +34 965 02 02 71 or from the UK on +44 (0)20 3695 2440 We are looking forward to your visit!

Calle Moli

Calle San Roque

05

Calle Ruzafa

BRUNCH: 12.30 - 4.00pm DINNER: 6.30pm - 11.00pm

02 2 Palms

Amigos 09

01 Nosh

38

advertising feature

The wonderful world of knitting Casa Lis – Costa Blanca’s finest suppliers of wool and accessories

After moving to Spain from Sweden eight years ago, Johanna is the owner of Casa Lis in Albir, supplying people all over Spain with wool and accessories to make the perfect crotcheted or knitted garment.

Casa Lis stock the well-known brand of Drops wool which is used worldwide by beginners and more

expert knitters. The quality of this wool and the easy to use website for downloading free patterns is a knitters paradise and no matter where you are the wool can be delivered to your doorstep. The website is in many languages making it easy to use or you can go to Casa Lis where Johanna is only to willing to help.

Johanna also stocks all the accessories that you need including needles, ribbons and buttons so whether you are making babies bootees or a jumper for Mum, Casa Lis has everything you need.

Don’t worry if you cannot get to Casa Lis as Johanna has an easyto-use website which lists all the

items in the shop. Purchases can be made via the website and delivered to your door anywhere in Spain. Parcels over 1kg are delivered free and will be received within 48 hours.

So if you are looking for a pattern or design to make a loved one a gift then Casa Lis in Albir is

perfect. They are open Monday to Saturday from 10am until 2pm and are located at Joaquin Turina 4, Local 2, Albir where there is ample free parking.

Alternatively call 966 864 522, email lis@casalis.es or visit www.casalis.es for more information.

Charity News

A week and a bit to go!

Christmas is nearly here, and for many of us there are still those ‘tricky to buy for’ friends and family.

You may not think a charity shop is the obvious place to go, but pop into the Grant a Wish boutique in Plaza de la Constitucion in Javea next time you’re in town.

We have some fabulous new gift ideas – beautiful crystal decanters, fine china and paintings – all in mint condition, as well as the gorgeous jewellery and evening bags in our display cabinets. It’s not too late to stock up on diaries, New Year cards and Christmas gift bags either.

We’re open as usual all next week – Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9.30 – 1.30, Saturday 10 – 12, and Tuesday and Friday 5 – 7 p.m.

Come in and say hello – we’d love to see you – and anything you buy or donation you make will help us to Grant a Wish for the people and causes we support this Christmas.

40

health

Vitamin D3 and Calcium Especially recommended in the prevention of osteoporosis It is more and more known that osteoporosis and the bone fractures that consequently fol¬low are not coincidental, but caused by degenerative processes which can be prevented with a suitable diet.

Approximately one out of every three women suffers from osteoporosis after menopause and therefore runs an increased risk of breaking a bone.

In males, one out of every six men, over the age of 50, suffers from osteoporosis.

The basic bone structure undergoes continuous change. Bone tissue is continually being bro¬ken down and renewed. Of the 1.5 to 2.5 kg of calcium stored in the whole body, about 98% forms part of the bone structure, the remaining 2% forming part of the softer tissues and the blood. Equilibrium is in fact kept and directed by various hormones and by vitamin D. Building up bone tissue is undertaken by special cells which form the basic substance of the structure. In this basic substance, minerals, such as calcium phosphate, are also stored; which is why it is important that the body has a proper functioning calcium and phosphate regula¬tory system. The actual regulation is carried out by a number of hormones. What is known as “D hormone” is especially important to enhanced the intake of calcium and supplementing storage levels of minerals in the bones; D hormone is made by the body using vitamin D3.

Breaking down bone tissue is carried out by special cells, which,

with the help of specific en¬zymes, dissolve the basic substance of the bone; in the process they also dissolve the minerals contained in the bone structure, a process which is greatly accelerated by the acidity of the modern environment.

During childhood, puberty and early adulthood, more bone is built up than broken down; bone structure reaches its maximum size at approximately 35 years of age. From that moment, breaking down bone structure becomes more prominent than building it up. How fast the breaking down process takes place is the deciding factor in the prognosis of osteoporosis. The hormone changes that take place during menopause lead more women to osteoporosis than men, as the bone density of woman is reduced by an average of 40% compared to only 12% in men.

The positive influence of vitamin D on the intake of calcium, will, in fact, be regulated by the body‘s D hormone. After its synthesis from vitamin D, the D hormone will firstly cause an increase in the calcium and phosphate content of the body and will secondly slow down the hormone responsible for breaking down bone structure. D hormone will increase the rate at which the body absorbs calcium and minerals in its bone structure. A shortage of D hormone causes a decreased intake of calcium from the intestines which lowers the calcium levels in the

blood; to compensate ,calcium is taken from the bone structure By adding calcium and vitamin D3 to our daily diet , the breakdown of bone tissue (oste¬oporosis) is counteracted and the danger of typical bone fractures; such as a broken hip with all its accompanying discomforts and complications, are minimized.

Budding triathletes take note MEN who compete in triathlons could be putting their hearts at risk, a new study contends.

The finding results from an examination of 55 male triathletes who averaged 44-years-old, and 30 female triathletes, with an average age of 43. All participated in triathlons, which involve sequential endurance competitions of swimming, cycling and running.

The researchers found that 18 per cent of the men had evidence of scarring of the heart, known as myocardial fibrosis. None of the women had signs of the condition.

Myocardial fibrosis usually affects the pumping chambers and

can progress to heart failure.

"The clinical relevance of these scars is currently unclear [but] they might be a foundation for future heart failure and arrhythmia [irregular heartbeat]," the study's lead author, Dr. Jitka Starekova, said in a news release from the Radiological Society of North America.

Though regular exercise has been proven good for the heart, previous studies have found myocardial fibrosis in elite athletes.

"Although we cannot prove the exact mechanism for the development of myocardial fibrosis in triathletes, increased

41

health

Hangover cures Splitting headaches, sickness, dizziness, dehydration: anyone who's ever drunk too much knows the consequences.

Alcohol makes you pee more, which can lead to dehydration. Dehydration is what causes many of the symptoms of a hangover. Hangover cures are generally a myth. There are no cures for a hangover, but there are things you can do to avoid one and, if you do have one, ease any discomfort.

Tips to avoid a hangover • Don't drink more than you know your body can cope with. If you're not sure how much that is, be careful.

• Don't drink on an empty stomach. Before you go out, have a meal that includes carbohydrates (such as pasta or rice) or fats. The food will help slow down the body's absorption of alcohol.

• Don't drink dark-coloured drinks if you've found you're sensitive to them. They contain natural chemicals called congeners, which irritate blood vessels and tissue in the brain and can make a hangover worse.

• Drink water or non-fizzy soft drinks in between each alcoholic drink. Carbonated (fizzy) drinks speed up the absorption of alcohol into your system.

• Drink a pint or so of water before you go to sleep. Keep a glass of water by the bed to sip if you wake up during the night.

Hangover treatment If you wake up the next morning feeling terrible, you probably didn't follow our advice.

Dealing with a hangover involves rehydrating the body to help it deal with the painful symptoms. The best time to rehydrate is before going to sleep after a drinking session.

Painkillers can help with headaches and muscle cramps.

Sugary foods may help you feel less trembly. In some cases, an antacid may be needed to settle your stomach first.

Bouillon soup, a thin vegetable-based broth, is a good source of vitamins and minerals, which can top up depleted resources. Its main advantage is it's easy for a fragile stomach to digest.

You can replace lost fluids by drinking bland liquids that are easy on the digestive system, such

systolic blood pressure during exercise, the amount and extent of race distances and unnoticed myocarditis could be co-factors in the genesis of the condition," Starekova said.

She's with the department for diagnostic and interventional radiology and nuclear medicine at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany.

"In other words, repetition of any extreme athletic activity may not be beneficial for everyone," she explained.

Starekova and her colleagues plan long-term follow-up of the triathletes with myocardial fibrosis.

as water, soda water and isotonic drinks.

Things to avoid ‘Hair of the dog’ – drinking more alcohol – does not help.

Drinking in the morning is a risky habit, and you may simply be delaying the appearance of symptoms until the alcohol wears off again.

If you've had a heavy drinking episode, hangover or not, doctors advise that you wait at least 48 hours before drinking any more alcohol to give your body time to recover.

Sometimes, of course, a hangover makes that advice easier to follow.

How can Botox make you look younger?

Botulinum treatment (or Botox as it is better known) offers ways of reducing deep facial wrinkles without the need for surgery. This anti-aging treatment is simple, effective and low-risk, resulting in growing popularity in the cosmetics industry. When we are young, our skin springs back to its initial position after facial expression. But by time, as we age, our skin loses its volume and our collagen and elastin stores naturally deplete. As a result of that, we notice fine lines, wrinkles and sagging of our skin.

Many facial wrinkles occur when we use our muscles to form facial expressions. The wrinkles formed during these expressions are called dynamic wrinkles. For example, when we smile our eye wrinkles become prominent, and when we frown the vertical lines between our eyebrows become noticeable. When properly used, Botox treatment has minimal risk. It is injected into specific muscles responsible for causing wrinkles. Only tiny amounts are used, and spread of the toxin from the site of injection is very limited.

The effect of Botox lasts for different lengths of time in different people, but normally for 3-6 months. Regarding to the Spanish law, only an experienced Doctor can perform Botox injections. The procedure will usually take less than half an hour, including consultation and injection. No anaesthetic is required and apart from the risk of a little bruise, you can return to work immediately.

At Derma Clinic Spain we are well experienced with the Botox treatment, and you are welcome for a free consultation to discuss your aesthetic treatments.

50% discount on all medical peeling

Derma Clinic Spain are located at Camino del Pincho 2, 1, 03580, L´Alfaz del Pi, Alicante.

For more information call 674 255 579 or email info@dermaclinicspain.com. Alternatively see their Facebook page facebook.com/DermaClinicSpain

42

home & garden

Popular festive houseplants Consider adding these popular Christmas houseplants to your collection.

Poinsettia

A poinsettia is a pointed red flower that is often associated with the Christmas season. It is most commonly seen in red, but this plant can also bloom in shades of pink and soft yellow. Since these tropical plants are forced to bloom during Christmas, they need a little bit of extra care to get the plants to re-bloom. They grow best in direct sunlight and humid temperatures.

Holly Holly has been a part of Christmas since it became part of the classic Christmas carol ‘Deck the Halls’ nearly 150 years ago, but holly and berries have been a favourite to brighten the desolate winter since ancient times. The holly shrubs that we all know as traditional Christmas plants have pointed leaves, red berries, and small white blooms.

Holly is a plant that requires full sun and well-drained soil that is a bit on the acidic side to grow properly.

Cyclamens This plant is a lovely Christmas plant to make your home feel more festive. It is a plant that originates from Europe and the Mediterranean area, and the blooms are often delightful shades of red that match the rest of your Christmas décor.

Christmas Cactus

Christmas cactus is a tropical plant that originates in the tropical rainforests of southern Brazil. The flat, segmented stems of the plant remain green most of the year, but around Christmas, colourful red, orange, pink, purple, and white blooms form. They grow best with moist soil and a lot of indirect sunlight. If you want to ensure that your Christmas cactus will bloom, then be sure to provide the plant with 12 hours of darkness each night for six to eight weeks before Christmas.

Winter Cherry

Winter cherry is a plant that blooms small white flowers in the summer, but they are mostly known for their tomato-like berries that can be seen near the Christmas season. The longer the berries are on the stem, the redder they will become. These plants adore bright sunlight, but nothing that is too direct. They also need relatively cool temperatures, but nothing too drafty. In addition, this plant is also toxic so be careful if pets or small children are in your home.

Amaryllis

Amaryllis is a plant that has been seen in homes around Christmas time more and more each year. The bell-shaped blooms are often beautiful shades of red that create a welcoming warmth in your home. Since these lovely plants are tropical, they do require relatively warm temperatures and humidity in the air. This is a plant that requires bright sunlight, but it should not be placed in direct sunlight though because this can hinder the bloom and result in a lack of colour for your Christmas gathering.

Paperwhite Narcissus

This is a delightful plant that stems from the Mediterranean. It is a close relative of the daffodil, and it is also a plant that creates bell-shaped blooms that are extremely fragrant and perfect for your home during Christmas. The stalks of this houseplant are typically about a foot to a foot and a half in height, and the blooms are starshaped delicacies that are pure white in colour. The blooms can be yellow or orange, but these varieties are often more rare.

43

pets

Christmas dangers for dogs Christmas is the time to indulge, celebrate and have fun – and as part of the family, our dogs will normally be enjoying some of the action too.

But the festive season also presents a world of hidden dangers to our four-legged friends, from toxic foods to dangerous seasonal plants.

To ensure your dog remains safe this Christmas, make sure you’re in the know!

Dangerous foods and drink: Chocolate - The chemical theobromine, which is a bit like caffeine, is found in chocolate and is toxic to dogs. Even small amounts can cause agitation, hyperexcitability, tremors, convulsions and problems with the heart. The darker the chocolate, the more potent levels of theobromine become – with baker’s chocolate the most dangerous. Chocolate should be avoided at all costs. But what do you do if your dog does eat chocolate? Even small amounts have the potential to make them feel sick, but veterinary treatment should be sought for any dog ingesting more than 20 mg/kg of theobromine – that’s equivalent to 3.5 g/kg of plain or dark chocolate and 14 g/kg milk chocolate.

White chocolate does not contain enough theobromine to cause toxicity, but it can be fatty and pose a potential risk of pancreatitis.

Avoid putting any chocolate on or under the Christmas tree, as the temptation might be too great for our four-legged friends.

Christmas pudding and mince pies: Grapes and dried vine fruits (currants, sultanas, raisins) - Grapes and their dried products (currants, sultanas and raisins) are toxic to dogs. Ingestion of even a small quantity can cause severe kidney failure.

Don’t forget this will include food items that contain dried fruits such as Christmas pudding and mince pies. Be aware that chocolate-coated raisins run the additional risk of chocolate toxicity.

Onions (and garlic, leeks, shallots and chives) - Onions, garlic, leeks, shallots and chives all belong to the Allium species of plants and can cause toxicity, whether

berries may result in an upset stomach. The American species of the plant is far more dangerous.

Christmas trees - A mild stomach upset can be caused if dogs eat pine needles, but the sharp tips can cause more damage internally.

Ivy - The ivy that tends to be used in wreaths and decorations is Hedera helix (not Toxicodendron radicans, the American poison ivy). But the Hedera species can still cause a tummy upset when ingested. Where there is significant or prolonged skin contact, Hedera species can also cause both irritant and allergic contact dermatitis.

Keep your dog safe this Christmas uncooked or cooked. Initially there can be vomiting and diarrhoea but the main effect is damage to red blood cells, resulting in anaemia. This may not be apparent for several days after ingestion.

Alcohol - Alcohol can have a similar effect in dogs as it does in their owners when drunk in excess. They can become wobbly and drowsy and in severe cases, there is a risk of low body temperature, low blood sugar and coma.

Dogs may help themselves to any unattended alcohol left lying around over Christmas, so ensure it's always out of their reach.

Macadamia nuts - Macadamia nuts can cause lethargy, increased body temperature, tremor, lameness and stiffness in dogs.

Leftovers If there is any food left over at Christmas, be careful to dispose of it well and keep it out of the reach of your four-legged friend. Not only may the food include ingredients toxic to dogs, mould in leftovers (including yoghurt, bread and cheese) can produce toxins that cause rapid onset convulsions in dogs.

Artificial sweeteners - A sugar-free

Fynn

Bert ie

FYNN Miniature Pinscher - Born July 2016 - a fabulous little boy - full of fun, loves everybody, enjoys being with all other dogs . Microchipped fully vaccinated and negative of lishmania

Gio

Lovely tabby with Bengal markings is 18 weeks old, he has a very pretty face, loves playing chase and is affectionate. Great with other cats & also OK with dogs. NO ADOPTION FEE ALTHOUGH A DONATION IS APPRECIATED.

Gio is a young boy who came to the shelter two months ago. His size is medium size and he is a happy dog who is always ready to walk or play! He has lots of energy and is ready to learn.

We think he is a Pointer / Setter mix. If you want to meet Gio or know more about him call Akira.

sweetener called xylitol is often found in the sweets we consume over Christmas, as well as chewing gums, mouthwashes, toothpastes and supplements. It is poisonous to dogs and, although the amounts in different products vary, event one to two pieces of chewing gum can cause toxic effects in a small dog. It can induce the release of insulin in the body, resulting in low blood sugar and sometimes liver damage. Signs of poisoning can be rapid or delayed, and include vomiting, lethargy, convulsions and comas.

The prognosis is good if the low blood sugar is treated quickly.

Christmas plants: Poinsettia - Although toxicity of the poinsettia has often been exaggerated, it can cause irritation to the mouth and stomach with overproduction of saliva and sometimes vomiting.

Holly - The plant is considered to be of low toxicity, but ingestion of holly berries may result in a stomach upset.

Mistletoe - Ingestion of European mistletoe

Other hazards: Silica gel - Silica gel comes in small sachets and is often found in the packaging of new shoes, handbags, cameras or electrical equipment which we unwrap over Christmas.

Although it is labelled “Do not Eat” it is considered to be of low toxicity.

Christmas decorations - Decorations made of plastic, paper or foil are of low toxicity although may obstruct the stomach. Glass decorations could pose a risk if chewed or swallowed.

Wrapping or crepe paper - Ingestion may cause staining in the mouth which may look alarming, but the toxicity is considered to be low. But if your dog eats a large amount, it may cause an obstruction to the stomach.

Candles - Although candles, even scented ones, are considered to be of low toxicity, ingestion could potentially block the intestine or cause choking.

Potpourri - When eaten, potpourri can cause significant gastrointestinal effects in dogs.

These may last several days even after the material has passed through the gut.

Cigarettes - Nicotine is toxic to dogs, and cigarette butts are especially dangerous - so it's important not to leave any ashtrays in reach of dogs over Christmas, or dropped on the floor where they may eat them.

Nicotine replacement patches and e-cigarette refills can also pose a risk. Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, excess saliva and hypertension.

44

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Wordwheel Solution alp ape apt asp dap lap pad pal par pas pat pea ped pee per pes pet

pst rap rep sap spa tap alps aped aper apes apse daps deep laps leap lept pads

pale pals pard pare pars part pase past pate pats peal pear peas peat peds peed peel

peer pees pele pelt pere pert pest pete pets plat plea pled prat pree rape raps rapt

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adept apers apres apter asper deeps drape etape lapse leaps leapt leper lepta padle padre paled paler

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slept spade spaed spale spare spate spear speed speel speer spelt splat sprat spree steep strap strep

taped taper tapes tarps tepal tepas traps adepts asleep depart drapes elapse etapes lapsed lapser leaped leaper

pearls pedals pedate pedlar pedler pelted pelter pesade peseta pester pestle petals petard peters petrel plated plater

lepers padles padres palest palets palter pardee parled parles parsed parsee parted pasted pastel paster paters pealed

plates pleads please pleats prated prates preset rasped reaped repast repeal repeat repels repled retape sapele septal

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pedlers pelters persalt pestled petaled petards petrale petrels plaster platers pleader pleased pleaser pleated pleater predate prelate

presale prestel psalter relapse repeals repeats replate replead respade respelt retaped retapes sepaled speared spelter stapled stapler

tapered paltered pedalers pederast pedestal petrales pleaders pleaters predates prelates relapsed repasted replated replates repleads trapesed plastered

Word Ladder

Word Pyramid stepsister

TREES TRIES TRINS TEINS TEILS TELLS BELLS

Codebreaker Solution

Cryptic Solution

Quick Solution

Soduku Solution

Wordfit Solution

Quiz solutions 1 Dog 2 East Germany 3 Flowers 4 Shark 5 Skin 6 Australia 7 Veruca 8 Elements 9 RadioShack 10 Maserati

46

motoring

Millions of drivers struggle with basic car care AS CARS become more technologically advanced fewer drivers are capable of maintaining and servicing their own vehicles.

But a shocking new survey has found that many drivers can’t do some of the simplest tasks, with almost 1.3 million motorists unsure of how to open the bonnet of their own car.

AA Garage Guide surveyed more than 18,000 drivers about a range of vehicle

safety checks - some of which are now included in a question and answer section in the driving test.

The results show that there are many drivers out there with a car manual stays firmly in the glovebox.

Some four per cent of the motorists polled by the AA’s garage-finding service said they were unsure how to unlatch the bonnet to gain access the engine bay of their motor. With 31.7 million drivers on the road in Britain today, that equates to 1.27 million car owners.

When asked if they knew how to check if there was a legal amount of depth on their car tyres, 22 per cent - which accounts for almost 7 million drivers - said they didn’t know how to do it.

More than a quarter (26 per cent) also didn’t know how to top up their vehicle’s cooling system with antifreeze - a worrying statistic when you

consider these 8.2 million drivers have been faced with the recent cold snap with snow and ice covering the ground.

With the new ‘show me, tell me’ questions regarding safety checks being added to the new driving test that began at the start of this month, the results showed that many experienced motorists simply wouldn’t know the answer to many queries prompted by a driving examiner.

Olli Astley, director at AA Garage Guide, said “It is worth learning some simple maintenance tasks to make sure you’re not constantly popping in and out of the garage for problems you could fix at home – watching a YouTube video, asking a friend or swotting up next time you’re at the garage is a great way to start,”

47

sport A former player, Tony Matthews is now the world’s most prolific author of football books with 150 published since 1975. He has also been a PE teacher, policeman, radio correspondent and is now a quizorganiser and fund–raiser, for various charities.

Football In last weekend’s derbies, Wayne Rooney’s penalty earned Everton a point at Liverpool. Manchester City (streets ahead) beat lack-lustre rivals United 2-1 at Old Trafford to set a new Premiership record of 14 successive wins at start of a season and also end the Reds’ 40-match unbeaten home run.

And West Ham pipped champions Chelsea 1-0 to give David Moyes his first win as manager.

Elsewhere, Tottenham walloped Stoke 5-1, becoming the first team in top flight football to beat their opponents by four or more goals in four successive meetings: 4-0, 4-0, 4-0 and 5-1.

There were also wins for Burnley, Huddersfield, Swansea and Leicester who ruined Newcastle 125th birthday party on Tyneside; Jermain Defoe’s 200th career League goal helped Bournemouth draw 2-2 at Crystal Palace for whom Christian Benteke ‘fluffed’ a late penalty and Ar-

senal drew 1-1 at Southampton.

Olivier Giroud’s late equaliser for the Gunners, puts him level with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for most PL goals scored by a substitute.

Wolves, Cardiff and Bristol City stand 1-2-3 in the Championship; Birmingham are third from bottom, having scored only ten goals in 21 League games, the fewest of all 92 clubs. Wigan and Luton top Leagues 1 and 2 and SPL leaders Celtic are unbeaten in 68 domestic matches after drawing 2-2 at Hibernian. In La Liga, Cristiano Ronaldo’s netted twice in Real Madrid’s 5-0 romp against Sevilla and Lionel Messi scored in Barcelona’s 2-0 win over Villarreal.

Earlier this week, the 10 PL games included Huddersfield-Chelsea, Liverpool-WBA, Manchester United-Bournemouth, Swansea-Manchester City, Newcastle-Everton, Spurs-Brighton and West HamArsenal, and over the weekend we

have Arsenal-Newcastle, Bournemouth-Liverpool, Chelsea-Southampton, Manchester City-Spurs and WBA-Manchester United.

In the Championship, it’s Bristol City-Nottingham Forest, CardiffHull and Derby-Aston Villa, plus Sheffield Wednesday-Wolves (tonight); Wimbledon-Wigan and Shrewsbury-Blackpool in FL1; Forest Green Rovers-Luton and Notts County-Grimsby in FL2 and Hearts-Celtic in the SPL. In Spain, Barcelona play Deportivo and Eibar meet Valencia. The Leganes-Real Madrid game has been postponed.

And in the last 16 of the Champions League, it’s Bayern MunichBesiktas, Chelsea-Barcelona, Liverpool-Porto, Manchester City-Basel, Manchester United-Sevilla, Real Madrid-PSG, Shahktar DonestkRoma and Spurs-Juventus; in the Europa League last 32 it’s ArsenalOstersunds and Celtic-Zenit SP.

Round Up Last Saturday, James DeGale lost his IBF World super-middleweight crown to American Caleb Truax while Lee Selby defeated Eduardo Ramirez to win IBF world featherweight title. In New York, Belfast featherweight Michael Conlon made it five straight wins by beating Luis Fernando.

In Rugby Union’s European Champions Cup, Aviva PL leaders Exeter lost 18-8 to Leinster and Saracens crashed to their heaviest-ever European defeat, losing 46-14 against Clermont.

And Welsh captain Sam Warburton will miss the Six Nations tournament through injury.

England’s cricketers, two-nil down in the Ashes Series, are playing the Australians right now in the third Test at the WACA in Perth. Still without Ben Stokes, another Ben, Northants batsman Duckett, has been suspended by the ECB for throwing

his drink over Jimmy Anderson!

Ronnie O’Sullivan is the UK snooker champion for the sixth time (out of seven), equalling Steve Davis’s competition record.

The ‘Rocket’ beat Shaun Murphy 10 frames to five in last Sunday’s final at York’s Barbican.

Ex-World number one Serena Williams, who gave birth to a daughter in September, will compete in the first tennis Grand Slam of 2018 in Australia.

Retired cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins has had his first gruelling taste at rowing!

The William Hill World Darts Championships started yesterday with the retiring Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor strongly.

And this Sunday, live on BBC TV from Liverpool, the Sports Personality of the Year will be announced.

It’s Lewis Hamilton for me.