RTN Newspaper - Costa Blanca South 5 - 11 January 2018 Issue 950

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Issue 950

5th - 11th January

Reporting The News Photo credit Twitter

Inside this week...

doggy traffic lights

P5

FLYING HIGHER: AlicanteElche Airport only had 305 significant delays during 2017

Alicante-Elche Airport is ‘most efficient’ in Spain

by Steve Collins THE END of 2017 has come to an end with some good news for Alicante-Elche Airport. They can now proudly boost that they are the holders of the most ef-

ficient airport in the country. This news comes shortly after predictions that will be beat their own passenger record and finish the year around 14 million.

Over the past 12 months, passengers using the airport only suffered 305 flight

delays (classed as being three hours minimum) out of a total of 90,000 handled.

Even so, it cost close to €11 million in compensation payouts to the 34,000 passengers affected.

Continued on page 2

over 50’s employment crisis

P8 rescue helicopter kept busy

P11

2 Photo credit Twitter

Winter visitors arrive in their thousands by air...

by Steve Collins

RECENT ARRIVALS: Thousands of cranes wintering in Spain CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE All the figures have been supplied by the AirHelp organisation who are a world leader in claims affecting airline passengers.

Communications director of AirHelp, Paloma Salmerón, said: “In the case of a delayed or cancelled flight, passengers may be entitled to receive up to €600 in compensation. However, despite this, less than 2% of travellers request this compensation, which means that many of them do not know that they are entitled to these payouts.”

EUROPEAN cranes have returned to Spain in their thousands to spend the winter season in the country and the Murcia region has seen their own fair share.

It’s been estimated that more than 218,000 have arrived according to the first major count of the season and announced

by José Antonio Román, the census coordinator and a member of the Crane Working and Conservation Group.

Román noted that the total number of wintering common cranes across the Iberian Peninsula as a whole – that includes the estimated 10,000 in Portugal – is around

228,000, a figure that represents a significant drop on the 242,000 from the same period last year.

The decrease in the number of wintering cranes across Spain and Portugal, he commented, is explained in that in countries like Germany there are still some 37,000 cranes and in Poland around 15,000, which means that there are still more than 50,000 cranes in the centre of Europe that will end up here when the really cold weather sets in.

The severe drought conditions experienced across the Murcia region has also been a contributing factor to the lack of cranes arriving this season.

Welcome and unseasonal temperatures AS one year ended and another got underway, the Alicante province experienced above average temperatures during the day and night... although weather warnings suggest that this weekend (and possibly beginning today, Friday) will see a cold plunge and put an end to those

early 2018 dips in the sea.

New Year’s Eve registered temperatures of up to 22ºC at midday which was 5 and 6 degrees higher than the average recorded for the time of year. The first day of 2018 was little different with 21ºC. The minimum recorded for that 24 hour

period across Alicante was 13ºC. Spanish State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) said that the coldest days of December were at the start of the month and the warmest at the end...totally contrary to the expected normal climatic behaviour.

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Photo credit Pexels xxxxxxxxxxx

Extra investment on the buses THE Murcia region’s Minister for Development, Pedro Rivera, has announced a grant of just under €80,000 for improvements to one of the most used bus services in the area.

The €79,300 is part of a multi-million investment in public transport infrastructure for this New Year, and will be spent exclusively on the 52 route which links the Urbanisation of Altorreal in

Molina de Segura to the city of Murcia.

Since the route was set up, a total of 30,000 people have used the service and has given the 10,000 that live in Molina de Segura a life-line and they are being asked for their suggestions and proposals to improve the route even more.

Pedro Rivera stressed the regional government’s commitment to ensure that everyone has access to basic transport services that many people rely on to travel to work, school, hospital and

TRAM strikes potentially at an end THERE is some light at the end of the tunnel to a series of strikes by drivers working on the TRAM service in Alicante after 80 per cent of the FGV workers accepted a pre-agreement with the company to call off the industrial action. The agreement will mean the planned series of strikes for January 12 will now not take place, and a new series of negotiations are due to start as from Wednesday January 10.

THE FIRST baby born in Torrevieja in 2018 was a girl, although the day was almost 12 hours old before she decided to make her first appearance into the world.

Chaine arrived in Torre-

vieja Hospital at 11.36am and weighed in at 3.4 kilos. Her parents, Naoual Djebane and Walid Bengherbia are Algerian had were both delighted at the arrival of their little daughter.

Remembering when it snowed...

FARE DEAL: Molina de Segura to benefit from improved transport links to Murcia

by Steve Collins

New Year brings new life

clinics on a daily basis. He also highlighted the particular investment on the 52 bus route that has proved to be both popular and successful.

The buses leave the Plaza Circular in Murcia towards Altorreal on Monday to Friday are at 6.45am, 1.15pm and 10.30pm, with the journeys in the opposite direction leaving at 7.05am, 1.35pm and 9.25pm.

The Saturday schedule is 9am, 6pm and 10.30pm from Murcia and 9.20am, 6.20pm and 8.50pm from Molina del Segura.

GUARDAMAR’S Mayor José Luis Sáez, accompanied by Councillor Pilar Gay have opened a photographic exhibition in the municipality dedicated to the rare and unexpected snowfall almost 12 months ago. Entitled ‘Guardamar Nevado’, the display features 130 photographs that were taken by 19 different people via mobile phones, tablets and even the good old-fashioned camera that recorded the first snow in the municipality for 60 years.

It was explained at the launch that a German tourist was staying in Guardamar at the time of the snow on January 18, 2017 who had come especially for the warm weather and to escape the cold and snow he was experiencing at home. Some of his photographs have been included in the exhibition.

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Council announces dedicated family meeting point Photo credit Twitter

ORIHUELA Councillor Sabina Galindo has announced that the municipality will finally have their own ‘family meeting point’.

The initiative follows approval given by the provincial department of equality in Alicante following a petition made by the Orihuela council, and will enable families to meet a little closer to where they live. Cur-

rently, those affected need to travel to either Torrevieja or Elche for the nearest meeting points to Orihuela.

These ‘family meeting points’ – known in Spanish as Punto de Encuentro Familiar (PEF) – offer a neutral space in which to carry out visits between parents and children in cases where they don’t live with one or both parents following separations, divorces or child protection orders.

The PEF promotes the conditions for

the rebuilding of relationships between the child and the parents when it may be most needed.

The PEF are run and organised by a specialised team that provides children with their right to meet and interact with both parents and other relatives. They also ensure the safety and welfare of the children involved and has trained legal, educational and psychological experts on hand when required.

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THE REMAINS of a wooden bridge discovered over the River Segura in Rojales are believed to date back to the 16th century. They were found during an archaeological dig in the area, and the find has been described as “one of the most

important archaeological discoveries in the town for decades” by Councillor Inmaculada Chazarra.

It seems the old bridge was supported by bases on either side of the river, and it’s those on the right bank that have been found.

Police to get special overtime payments

CONTACT: Councillor Sabina Galindo at the launch of the PEF initiative

by Glenn Scott

Major historical remains discovered

IN LINE with similar schemes adopted by other municipalities, the City Council of Orihuela has announced that they will pay members of the National Police and the Guardia Civil €207 for volunteering for extra overtime work. Councillor Rafael Almagro announced the scheme this week and said that this extra work would be no more than six hours a day. The decision was made at an extraordinary meeting of the council.

City praised for water recycling innovations

THE CITY of Alicante has received national recognition for the way it handles and controls both their public transport and waste-water systems. Particularly highlighted has been the way the municipality use treated water on their parks and gardens,

and the Observatory of Urban Services (OSUR) has seen this as a bench mark in the way waste-water can be used. They also complimented the city on the pioneering technical innovations that have been used on a number of the local bus routes.

5

Traffic signs want dogs to stop

by Lynn Whittaker

STOP OR GO: Dogs and owners asked to give the red light to traffic sign habits

Lottery gambling habits continue IT’S exactly two weeks since many thousands of Spaniards and others were celebrating their wins in the El Gordo Christmas Lottery. Now, people are waiting with baited breath for the second biggest draw of the season – The El Niño – which will take place tomorrow (Saturday January 6) as usual.

Ahead of the draw, it was announced that people living in the Valencian Community will spend an average of €24.93 per person on the ‘tenths’ of a ticket, representing €6 more than the national level. Gamblers in the Murcia region are expected to have spent €22.28 each on their tickets that they hope to bring them a big windfall to start 2018.

A SET of traffic lights has collapsed in Elche due to rust...believed to be caused by the amount of dog urine!

Allowing dogs to urinate in the public highways are not only a problem of cleanliness and general hygiene; it’s now become a matter of road safety.

A set of traffic lights that had fallen down at the junction of Calle Pedro Juan Perpiñán and Calle Baltasar Tristany had to be removed by the fire service. Fortunately, no passers-by were injured by the fall and there was no traffic disruption as a result.

Although many have seen what has happened as a joke, firefighters say that this is a common problem and the corrosion caused

Quick evacuation work prevents fire injuries

by dog’s urine is affecting other structures throughout the municipality, such as street lamps.

However, street lighting is made of thicker material than that of the traffic signals and they are also exposed to all kinds of weather for 24 hours.

The cost of replacing traffic signals can cost anything between €600 to €1,500, and can be up to €4,000 or higher depending on the type of materials used, the wiring involved, whether or not it incorporates LED technology, and whether any underground work is required.

It’s been accepted for some time that the biggest enemy to the humble traffic light is a vehicle that crashes into them. Now, they face a slower destruction thanks to the habits of dogs and their owners.

FIREFIGHTERS based in Elche were called to a fire that broke out on the fourth floor of a building in Calle Alfredo Sanchez Torres.

Members off the local and National Police were first on the scene and quickly evacuated, as a precaution, the entire block that is believed to contain around 20 people. Some of the burning material from the top floor had fallen onto a roof of a first floor apartment and so there was a major concern that the fire would spread further.

There were no reported injuries and none of the residents suffered from the effects of the smoke, mainly due to the quick and professional work of the emergency services.

6

Former UK residents account for population falls

Queuing for the kings SUCH is the popularity of the Three Kings Parade that is passing through the city of Elche tonight (Friday) that many people queued for as long as nine hours to get one of the valued tickets.

Shortly after midnight, the local people started a queue at the office that sells the 3,300 tickets for the seats that guarantee the best view of the traditional parade. The viewing areas are divided into two zones and each ticket costs €1.50.

by Glenn Scott ACCORDING to figures from the Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE), the population of Orihuela has seen their lowest numbers for 10 years.

The municipality ended 2017 with less than 80,000 officially registered residents, which were 4,000 down on the same time last year.

Such a significant decrease can have an impact on the amount of money received from central government as they give an annual per capita grant based on the padrón numbers.

Once adjustments have been made after a programme of cross-referencing data, it’s estimated that the final figure will be 78,000 and thus the lowest population in Orihuela since 2006, The INE first warned Orihuela of the steady decrease in population back in 2014 when a significant 8,000 people disappeared from the padrón. The overwhelming majority of these were previously living on the Orihuela Costa and a very popular area for UK citizens. It’s understood that 1,500 British have left that area alone...and that’s only the official figure.

REDUCTION: Orihuela Costa suffers a major population drop Similar scenarios exist in other local municipalities in the Alicante province where there is a large population of foreign, mainly British, residents that either don’t register on the padrón for whatever reason or, if they leave the country, don’t

remove themselves from the official listings.

As from now, there should be more accurate numbers of people registered on the padrón as the INE have adopted better communication between themselves and the municipalities.

New Year Disco disappointments REVELLERS that wanted to spend New Year’s Eve at a disco in Torrevieja were left more than disappointed as when they arrived to celebrate, they weren’t allowed in because it was full. Their issue was that they had paid up to €30 for a ticket and the dozens that were denied entry alleged that more tickets

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than the capacity for the venue had been sold. The events were shared like wildfire across social media platforms, with some of the ticket holders that had managed to gain entry saying that when they went outside for some fresh air they were also prevented from returning.

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7

Dedicated cancer case nurses a success

by Lynn Whittaker

LINK: Assurances and advice from specialist nurses

Welcome falls in unemployment announced THE NUMBER of registered unemployed in the region of Murcia fell by 8,014 during the past year and represented a 6.87 per cent fall since 2016. According to figures released by the National Institute of Employment (INEM), the to-

tal number of unemployed for the end of 2017 stood at 108,599. Christmas seasonal employment helped to reduce the numbers as 2,837 fewer people registered as being without work in December.

TWO of the most popular hospitals in the area have spoken of the success of the first year of improvements made to the care on offer for cancer patients.

Both the Torrevieja and the Vinalopó Hospital has incorporated the position of Case Manager Nurse as part of their Oncology units.

This position was created to coordinate and guarantee the service offered to patients undergoing cancer care at every stage of the process, and to ensure that the care is tailored to each

individual with their differing needs.

As the medical team explained, “when a patient hears the word cancer, they have many questions, worries, expectations and fears all rolled into one. At this point, the Oncology case management nurse comes in to offer a closer and more personal service and the link between the patients and the professionals.”

One of the nurses in that position is Ana Navarro. “I help solve the doubts the patients have about their treatments, how to manage the disease and to recommend

Public demand results in family areas

the correct lifestyle. I’m also there to make appointments for the patients.”

This new kind of cancer consultation has so far, since its inception back in March 2017, seen a total of 538 patients in Torrevieja and 316 in Vinalopó use the services of the Case Management Nurse. This oneto-one contact that the patient has also allows them to easily access a dedicated telephone number to discuss any issues rather than make potentially unnecessary and stressful visits the hospital’s emergency departments.

THE Department responsible for gardens in Crevillente has announced that they will construct some new public recreation areas in the municipality to satisfy public demand. Spending time outdoors with the family is a very traditional pastime among the people of Crevillente, so they will welcome the new park that will be located north of the Rambla de Castellar and Parc Nou in the pine forest. It will include 12 picnic tables and the current children’s attractions in the adjacent park will be moved to the new area.

8

Employment ‘crisis’ for the over 50s

by Ray Chadwick THE MUNICIPALITIES of Elche, Torrevieja and Orihuela contain some the highest unemployment numbers for the over 50 age groups.

In what is being described as “the 50 crisis” by trade unions and other workers organisations, for municipalities in the Alicante province that have more than 45,000 inhabitants the greatest number of registered unemployed people in four of them are between the 50 and 59 age group; one of them being Elche.

For Torrevieja, the highest number of unemployed is in the band between 45 and 49 years old, and in Orihuela it’s between 50 and 55 according to data supplied by the Public Employment Service (SEPE).

In most of the main cities in the provinces, the number of unemployed workers aged 49 and over accounts for just over 50 per cent of their totals. To be unemployed during that period of their working life is complicated as those final years in normal employment is when future pension calculations are made.

Restaurant chimney fire extinguished THE EMERGENCY service coordination centre in Murcia received a 112 call following a fire that had broken out in a restaurant located on Calle de Palma in Cartagena.

The caller reported that there was a fire in the chimney on the roof of the building that contains the restaurant, and was particularly concerned as there were people inside the premises at the time... the busy lunchtime period around 3pm.

Local police and firefighters from Cartagena arrived at the scene and quickly extinguished the chimney fire. The building was declared safe at 4.30pm and the fire didn’t cause any injuries.

Highest number of unemployed are those between 45 and 55 years old.

According to the statistics, 3,842 people out of 25,382 unemployed in Alicante city were between 55 and 59years-old, and 56 per cent of the total was over 49-years-old. In Orihuela, 772

people between 50 and 54-years-old are registered as being without work – from a total of 5,215 – and in Torrevieja 1,228 out of a total of 8,229 are between 45 and 49-years old.

New anti-terrorism measures announced SPAIN’S Minister for the Interior as announced a series of security measures that have been agreed by all parties in government. They include closer monitoring of car-hire firms and those that distribute gas bottles, as well as instructing all hotels and those that rent out holiday accommodation to ensure they take copies of the guests’ ID. Juan Ignacio Zopido said that these new anti-terrorism initiatives is based upon the four P’s, standing for 'prevention, protection, persecution and preparation'. New laws adopting these measures will come into force during 2018.

In future, people that buy their gas bottles directly from a shop or from a petrol station may have to show a form of iden-

tification and show their passport, NIE or DNI number before completing a purchase. This won’t apply to the usual doorto-door sales.

Other measures will include asking for holiday apartment agencies, hotels and vehicle rental companies to keep more detailed customer databases and to always take copies of their customer’s ID. In order to combine Spanish legislation with existing European regulations, the Interior Ministry is working on a draft law to cover data processing in flight booking in order that Intelligence services can detect behaviour patterns that hint at possible threats from terrorism or possession of explosives or drugs.

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Have your Say!

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“Costa del Sol pet cemetery to open in 2019” reaching 1,191 people with 17 reactions & comments

Patricia Marsh “The money should be put to making their living facilities more acceptable & helping the people who care for them...”

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Jellyfish arrive out of season on Costa Blanca Fifth outbreak of Xylella fastidiosa confirmed on the Costa Blanca Lemons are the latest crop hit by drought in Alicante Street evacuated due to fire on Christmas day Children´s ward welcomes Santa at Torrevieja Hospital

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The ones that didn’t get away

by Glenn Scott OFFICERS of the Guardia Civil based in Alicante have confiscated a total of 235 kilos of fish and shellfish.

The amount was detained after a series of inspections of shops and markets dealing in the direct sale of the products to the consumers in the lead up to the festive period. Shellfish is traditionally enjoyed by Spanish families for their main Christmas Eve, New Year’s Day and Three Kings Day celebrations and so the demand is so much higher –

along with the price – at this time of the year.

During the planned programme of inspections, a total of 18 municipal markets, warehouses and fishmongers in Alicante were visited with six of them not coming up to the expected standards. They were reported for selling products that don’t meet the minimum size requirements, not indicating if it contains sulphates, and no indications of freezing and thawing methods. Many products also lacked correct labelling and the ability to trace their origin as is now standard.

Alcohol possible factor in car death plunge A SERIOUS accident that took place on the A-70 motorway as it passes Barranco de Barbacena in Elche has left one person dead and another seriously injured.

The circumstances that led to the accident haven’t yet been established, but as stated by the Guardia Civil the vehicle driven by the deceased man had fallen down a ravine from a considerable height. As firefighters arrived at the scene, they found that the front of the car that contained the driver and his passenger was completely destroyed, and when realising they could do nothing to save the driver who was already dead – believed to be around 20-yearsold – they concentrated on rescuing the other occupant who was left with serious injuries.

Neither person had any documentation on them, so the process of identification continues. It’s also been announced that alcohol cannot yet be ruled out as a contributory factor to the accident that didn’t involve any other vehicle.

POPULAR: Christmas season sees shellfish as part of the Spanish celebrations

Balcony rescue EIGHT people have been rescued from a fire in Cartagena.

The blaze broke out in the early hours of Tuesday morning in the building in Plaza de San Francisco that is understood to be occupied by migrants. The fire caused major damage to the third and fourth floors, especially to the large amounts of wood in the structure.

When the firefighters from the Fire and Rescue Service of Cartagena (SEIS) arrived at the scene, they were greeted with a number of people on the fourth floor of the block shouting for help as they were trapped.

Officers quickly put the automatic ladder into operation to take them to safety while another unit began to extinguish the blaze inside the building.

In total, eight people were rescued with one of them suffering from serious burns which, after some initial treatment from the

paramedics, were taken off to hospital.

Once the fire had been brought under control, the fire brigade began evacuating the entire building little by little to avoid the possibility of anyone suffering from the effects of smoke or from any potential collapse of the most badly affected parts of the block.

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Mountain rescue helicopters deployed 20 times last year HELICOPTERS run by the fire brigade took part in 20 mountain rescues during 2017.

More and more people are attracted to the outdoor pursuits and especially climbing and hiking in the mountains around Orihuela, Callosa de Segura and Redován.

Many see the some of the highest peaks in the Vega Baja region that can go above 600 metres in places as an adventure and a challenge, but they can also be dangerous if certain precautions aren’t taken.

A number of the walks and slopes require specified knowledge, training and techniques using specialist equipment and really should only be undertaken by professionals.

Fire and rescue authorities believe that if more precautions and a higher degree of preplanning had taken place, the number of rescues would have been less. Too many of the expeditions aren’t planed to end before nightfall and when it gets dark it leaves those most exposed disoriented and trapped.

The last rescue in the area took place at the start of December when two mountaineers were trapped 150 metres up, and because of the strong winds at the time, the helicopter couldn’t get close enough and had to drop off the rescuers some distance away to complete the operation on foot.

The rescue helicopter is based in San Vicente del Raspeig in the Alicante province and once the alarm is raised can be on the scene in

Photo credit Twitter

by Lynn Whittaker

ON HAND: Helicopters rescued many that did not plan their adventures less than 40 minutes at any point. The team consists of 16 rescuers, although the intention is to increase that number to 25, and they are

Water interaction investment planned AS the new year of 2018 gets underway, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment is already working on a number of plans that will see them carrying out new scientific research on the Mar Menor. They intend investing

almost €3,000,000 on a series of investigations on how the Mar Menor connects with the Mediterranean, the underground wells in Cartagena, and their effects on the quality of the water as a result of these movements.

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always backed up by the fire services from Orihuela, Torrevieja and Almoradí when the service is called out in the Vega Baja.

Blaze destroys scrubland

MEMBERS of the fire brigade based in Orihuela were called to fight a fire that broke out at the weekend in Torremendo. The alarm was raised just after midday when flames were seen in an area of reeds and bushes that eventually destroyed more than 400 square metres of land. Thanks to the rapid intervention of the firefighters, the fire didn’t spread further, although it did take more than an hour to fully contain the blaze. The cause of the fire is currently unknown.

12

Dog fouling still a mess

by Steve Collins THE amount of people fined for allowing their dogs to foul the public highways in Elche has increased significantly over the past 12 months.

During 2016, only 60 fines were issued for such infringements...this increased to over 600 during the past year and the Elche City Council is now going to redouble its efforts to crackdown on the issue.

One of the first new initiatives is to launch a new company to combat the excessive urination of dogs by distributing special bottles.

The Department of Cleaning will launch a new company to combat urination with the distribution of bottles, as well as increasing the

amount of surveillance of the problem. Dog fouling in public, which is against the law, has been one of the most registered complaints in the municipality and the councillor responsible for cleaning in Elche, Héctor Díez, has indicated that there will be extra pressures on the offenders and more awareness campaigns.

Current fines for allowing dogs to defecate on the street are €120 which can be reduced by 30 per cent for prompt payment. However, that fine could be subject to an extra 20 per cent if the dog owner is a repeat offender.

Fines can also be issued to people who also allow their dogs to urinate on the pavements if the owners don’t wash it away afterwards, and to this end it’s encouraged that dogs should be made to use the roadways if necessary.

PATROLS: Elche to crackdown on dog fouling after massive increases in fines

Spain welcomes 2018 with tax rises...and some cuts THE NEW Year of 2018 has begun with increases in the minimum wage, property taxes, fuel, and tolls on motorways.

On average, mains gas supply will go up by an average of 6.2 per cent - 4.9 per cent for customers who use it for hot water and cooking only and 6.6 per cent for those who use it for heating – and is due to price rises in the costs of raw materials on the international markets. However, the percentage of the bill that is regulated by the government will remain frozen for the fourth year in a row.

As for electricity bills, the amount set by the government in fees and taxes – around 60%, with the rest covering the actual power consumed – will also be frozen, meaning any increases will be due to the price of the energy itself and influenced by crude oil costs, which appear to be continuing their upward trend.

Bottled gas will remain at €14.45, having risen by 30 cents in November 2017. The next revision of the price of butane gas is due on the third Tuesday of January.

It has already been reported that motorway tolls will rise by 1.91%, but it was announced on January 1 that rail fares would remain the same, and that airport tax had been reduced by 2.22 per cent.

LETTERS: Increases on stamps, letters and packages come into force Postal costs will go up, with stamps for ordinary letters and cards to national destinations going up to 55 cents and parcels rising by 1.32 per cent, whilst stamps for international letters and packages have gone up by 10 cents.

State pensions have, once again, gone up by the minimum required by law – 0.25 per cent, and have done so since January 2012.

The minimum wage has increased to €735.90 a month and payable over 14 months a year – with a double salary in August and at Christmas – bringing the annual total to €10,302.60.

As the minimum wage is below the taxation threshold, this means workers who are only given 12 payments a year will take home €858.55 a month for a full-time, 40hour-a-week job.

Man remains in serious condition A MAN was discovered in the middle of a street in Murcia in such a bad state that those first on the scene believed he had been practically beheaded.

He was found by a cleaning company employee on Avenida Antonete Gálvez bleeding profusely from a slash to the neck and head that were allegedly caused in a stabbing incident. The alarm was raised and members of the local police and the paramedics attended the scene where the victim was immediately taken to the University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca de Murcia, where he remains in a serious condition.

The investigation into the stabbing continues and police are asking for any witnesses to the incident.

13

Cancer drug handling concerns NURSING Union SATSE has criticised a lack of security at the Alicante General Hospital were medication is prepared. They have warned of a number of “serious irregularities” in the pharmacy unit where a number of cancer-related treatments are prepared and thus the medical staff responsible for these tasks are allegedly “exposed to very toxic products that puts their health at risk”. The comments were made by SATSE advisor Paco Martínez.

Missing man’s body discovered THE BODY of a 71-year-old man that disappeared in Alicante has been found.

Juan Montoya Molina was reported missing in the city on December 8, but he was found dead in a field on New Year’s Eve in Villafranqueza, a few miles north of the Alicante. According to reports, the body showed no signs of violence and his death was likely due to natural causes. What is not yet known is how the dead man came to be so far away from his home, and the investigations continue.

Greater car sales are best sign yet of economic recovery

POSITIVE: Almost 10 per cent increase in Murcia car sales in 2017

by Glenn Scott SALES OF cars for the Murcia region have recovered to the extent that they are now at levels not seen since before the economic crisis that hit the industry.

Without taking the month of December into account, a total of 24,107 vehicles have been registered in the region during the year.

This compares to 22,067 in the same period last year and accounts for a rise of 9.24 per cent. The figures are contained in data from the associations of manufacturers (ANFAC), dealers (FACO-

NAUTO) and retailers (GANVAM).

The latest data continues a trend that has been noticed over the past two years and even more signs of the economic recovery; when car sales are up, it’s one of the best signs of consumer confidence.

The sales of cars was one of the first businesses to suffer when the economic crisis began a decade ago, and many of the manufacturers have had to reinvent themselves to get to the point they are now.

“Many companies did not survive and the rest struggled to keep themselves going. Those that fought their way through the worst of times have made necessary

changes to their work ethic and reduce costs. The market accepts that it will never be the same as it was during the real boom years of 2004 and 2005 and we are now in a more competitive and aggressive environment,” said José de la Cruz López who is the President of Gretamur-Fremm.

Not only have the sales of new cars grown quickly, the second-hand market has also moved up a gear. Again, without the December 2017 figures, a total of 61,700 second-hand vehicles were sold during last year, representing an increase of 11 per cent compared to the first 11 months of 2016.

14

Delays ahead for the N-332 improvements

by Ray Chadwick LONG-SUFFERING motorists that have had to put up with regular traffic jams on the N-332 for close to a decade face waiting in queues for a while yet before the much promised road widening scheme sees its first work.

The latest delay is due to the Ministry of Development in Madrid stating that they will now be commissioning a study into the impact on the local environment; the results of which will decide the feasibility of the project.

Therefore it’s not likely to see any building getting underway before the year 2020 on the stretch of the N-332 that is currently single lane only. Figures show that during the busiest times of the year, some 50,000 vehicles use the road in each direction, making it one of the most used in the Alicante province.

Its links to some of the biggest shopping centres in the area – Habaneras and Zenia Boulevard – as well as being close to the Torrevieja Hospital add to the popularity of the road.

As well as the frustrations experienced by drivers that have endured close to 10 years of hold-ups and nose to tail driving along that part of the N-332,

Improvement works now unlikely to start before 2020 the road is a notorious accident blackspot that is recognised by the Spanish

On his own, number one son A FATHER has been arrested in Arrecife (Lanzarote) for leaving his eight-year-old son locked in his car to go to a bingo hall.

The accused, 33, is said to have an existing criminal record and was caught after residents near where the car was parked heard a child inside crying and calling for help.

They rang the National Police hotline, 091, who rushed to the scene and managed to open the car.

The little boy said his father had 'gone to bingo ages ago' and that he, the child, was 'very scared'. Whilst some of the officers looked after the boy, others went to find his father in the bingo hall, which was barely 100 metres away.

The child and youth prosecution service has been alerted, and the child is now with his mother. It is thought the father was released with charges following his arrest.

Only child of dictator Franco passes away aged 91 THE ONLY CHILD of former Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, Maria del Carmen Franco y Polo, passed away last Friday at her home in Madrid.

She was 91 and had been suffering from cancer.

Born in Oviedo, Spain on September 18, 1926, Carmen as she was known, was the only daughter of Franco and his wife Maria del Carmen Polo.

As honorary chairman of the National Francisco Franco Foundation and Duchess of Franco, she played a role in protecting her father’s legacy following his death in 1975.

In April 1950, Carmen married Cristobal Martínez-Bordiu, a heart surgeon from Villaverde, with whom she had seven children.

Martinez-Bordiu died in 1998.

During her last months, Carmen was surrounded by her grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.

In a heartfelt message on Instagram, her grandson Alfonso de Borbon announced “God has taken Man (her nickname) (RIP) but she has not gone: she will be forever in my heart.”

He added “You will always be my super-granny, my second mother, one of my pillars and my example to follow.”

Directorate of Traffic and therefore seen as a priority project.

Popular prescription medication reduced in price PRICES paid for a total of 1,253 prescription drugs have been reduced since January 1. Thanks to the measure, patients will save €89.6 million a year. In addition, a further 327 medicines dispensed by hospitals will also reduce their prices.

According to the General Council of the Official College of Pharmacists, approximately 80% of the drugs are all different brand names of 10 active ingredients.

These include Salbutamol, popularly used to treat asthma.

The tetracyclic antidepressant Mirtazapine, a version which creates a calming and appetiteenhancing effect and is used to treat anxiety, is on the list as well as the antibiotic Azithromycin, Chondroitin Sulfate – often sold as Glucosamine – used to ease the effects of arthritis, and the contraceptive Ethinylestradiol, also known as Levonorgestrel.

Two medications for arterial hypertension – CandesartanHydrochlorothiazide, also known as used for treating water retention in patients with congestive heart failure, liver cirrhosis or

CHEAPER: Patients benefit if they need to keep taking the tablets kidney disorders, and Olmesartan Medoxomil, for treating high blood pressure, will go down in price.

The immune system suppressant Methotrexate, used for cancer, ectopic pregnancy, rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune diseases; Latanoprost, often sold as Xalatan,

used to treat glaucoma; and Insulin Glargine, to treat diabetes, are the final three on the list.

Any of the drugs on the list already in stock will be sold at the new lower prices and pharmacies will have to absorb the cost difference.

24 feb - 2 march 2017

British buying less and selling more property

by Lynn Whittaker ACCORDING to a survey among real estate professionals Brexit is having “significant” effects in the property market in Alicante.

The study was conducted by the College of Real Estate Property Agents (API) of Alicante, and the findings showed that during 2017 there has been a decrease in the number of Britons who want to buy a house and an increase in those who want to sell the one they already have.

According to the API, “many areas” of the province, “especially the coastal ones”, have experienced a significant decline in home sales to the British in 2017, a trend that they believe will be accentuated in 2018.

“Traditionally, the British have represent-

ed one of the main buyers of homes in Alicante, which is the province where there are more sales of houses and flats to foreigners throughout Spain,” said the institution, which announced that 2017 has been the lowest level of sales figures to British buyers in decades.

However, it has been emphasised that the decline in sales to the British does not imply that sales overall have been affected. “The gap in the market has been more than adequately covered by foreigners from other nationalities,” API continued.

The report goes on to say that during 2018, of the 125 different nationalities already buying homes throughout the Alicante province, the most active will most likely be the Belgians, Dutch, French, Norwegians, Germans, French and Russians.

It’s not just the goose getting fat at Christmas...

ACCORDING to a survey undertaken by Groupon among 5,000 people in Spain, people in Murcia have come out top of the list for those that expected to get fatter during the Christmas season.

Eating more chocolate and especially the traditional Turron bars at this time of the year always takes its toll, and 77 per cent of people living in the Murcia region fully expected to put on an average of three kilos of weight in the festive period that ends this weekend.

15

16

News from around Europe RUSSIA

NETHERLANDS Moving with the times According to a recent analysis, crowdfunding, crowd financing, and crowd investing in the Netherlands showed strong growth of 31 per cent last year. A total of €223 million euros was raised through Dutch crowd initiatives in 2017, which financed over 5,300 separate projects.

Body of missing student found A body found in the water of the Noordersingel in Leeuwarden on New Year’s Day is that of 18-year-old student Remon Bruinsma. Missing

for a month, Bruinsma was last seen leaving a pub in the city’s Nieuwestad district at 2.00am on December 1 after a night out. The investigation continues.

Man kills himself and his son A 46-year-old man killed himself and his four-year-old son by jumping in front of a train last Saturday night in Haarle, Overijssel province.

Some 200 people kill themselves by jumping in front of trains in the Netherlands every year.

Golden tickets A small frisian villagecalled

Eastermar won the top prize in the Postcode Lottery’s New Year draw. Just two addresses in the village with the postcode 9261 XC take part in the lottery and they will share the €26.95 million winnings.

Population now 17.2m The official population of the Netherlands rose 100,000 last year to reach 17.2 million. In total, some 233,000 ‘foreigners’ – including refugees – moved to the Netherlands while 151,000 left, increasing the population by 82,000. In addition, 19,000 more babies were born than people died.

FRANCE Trouble shows no sign of settling France saw an increase in arrests on New Year’s Eve as well as an increase in the number of cars torched by vandals, a ritual among revellers. The number of vehicles set alight climbed from 935 a year ago to 1,031, while arrests rose from 456 to 510, the interior ministry said on Monday.

Trafficking ring bust Indian Police have broken up an alleged human trafficking ring which transported young boys to France on the pretext of sending them on rugby tours. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested three men after they allegedly tricked the families of 25 children into sending them to France for what they said was a rugby camp.

Terrorists arrested A 21-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman were arrested in France last week for planning to commit terror attacks.

The man was planning to attack soldiers, while the woman planned to strike in the French provinces. Both have been charged with criminal conspiracy in connection to a terrorist enterprise.

We will sue A french activist group says it has filed a complaint against Apple over revelations that the tech giant remotely slowed the performance of older iPhone models.

French law since 2015 has made planned obsolescence - deliberately reducing the useful life of products - a crime.

No lighty French power grid company Enedis on Monday said some 65,000 homes were without power in France’s western regions of Brittany, Pays-de-la-Loire and Nouvelle-Aquitaine due to winter storm Carmen. The storm hit France’s Atlantic coast on Monday as national weather service Meteo-France warned of gusts of winds up of to 150 kilometres per hour.

ICELAND Scouting for thieves TWO pallets of fireworks were stolen from the scout group Skjöldungar in Reykjavík. Every year, scouts sell fireworks to fund their rescue missions. The companies are not-for-profit and rely on public donations. The stolen fireworks account for 20 per cent of what was planned to be sold.

Black, white or skinny NESPRESSO opened its first store in Iceland – in the Kringlan shopping mall - with grand fanfare.

It’s been a global coffee brand for over 30 years and sells its system of

machines and capsules worldwide and is one of the main brands of the coffee capsule concept.

Staff Christmas benefits COMPANIES in Iceland have continued to the tradition of giving their staff a Christmas present as a bonus. Among them are bank employees of Íslandsbanki, Landsbanki and Arion banki who each received a Garmin watch and a 50,000 ISK gift voucher.

More state funded artists FOUR new artists have been added to the list of those who receive

Set free Russian blockchain expert Pavel Lerner was freed by his abductors in Ukraine last Friday. Mr Lerner, 40, a leading analyst at cryptocurrency company Exmo, was kidnapped on Boxing Day while leaving his office in Kiev’s Obolon district. According to Ukrainian media reports, Mr Lerner was “thrown out on a motorway” by his abductors.

Predominantly political A russian court has sentenced UKbased financier Bill Browder - a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin - to nine years’ jail in absentia. Interpol has rejected repeated requests from Russian prosecutors to help them arrest Mr Browder - it says the case against him is “predominantly political in nature”.

Back in touch Russian scientists restored communications with a satellite days after they lost contact with it. Angosat-1 was launched on Boxing Day and just

hours later, Russian ground control staff said they were no longer receiving data from it. It comes soon after Russia revealed “programming errors” led to the loss of another multi-million-euro satellite.

Fake news In the week between Christmas and New Year, more than 50 sites in 30 Russian cities, including five airports and some government offices were evacuated following bomb threats that later proved to be fake.

Giving up Nikolai Philipchenko, an officer of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), has withdrawn his appeal against a Lithuanian court’s decision to sentence him to ten years in prison for spying.

Lithuanian law-enforcement bodies say Philipchenko sought to recruit officers from Lithuania’s VIP Protection Department to bug President Dalia Grybauskaite at her home and office.

SCANDINAVIA New Year blast A NUMBER of apartments in Helsingborg, Sweden were evacuated after an explosion in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Police were called to the scene and said one person was taken to hospital with serious injuries. The blast happened in a communal area of the building.

Bloody bubbly blunder A MAN has been placed into an induced coma after a champagne bottle exploded between his legs on New Year’s Eve in Copenhagen as he attempted to open it. He

was injured when a shard of the shattered glass cut through an artery in his leg.

Asylum families free THE POLICY of keeping families at the Trandum facility after their application for asylum in Norway has been rejected and has come to an end. The change in procedure has started following a decision by the civil ombudsman that the detention centre is unsuitable for children.

Christmas fall mystery A MAN in Norway was found on Christmas Eve, over 24 hours after he’d

fallen 10 metres while out walking. The 24-year-old was reported missing at around 6pm on December 23 after the man’s sister was contact by a mutual friend who was concerned that he was late for a meeting.

Icy job figures LOCAL areas with the highest rates of unemployment in Finland are in Lapland and North Karelia. Lapland has a rate of 18.8 per cent, followed

by Lieksa, Enontekiö, Juuka, and Tohmajärvi. The regions with the highest rates are North Karelia with 14.5 per cent, ahead of South-Eastern Finland.

GERMANY state-funded grants for their work. They are Guðrún Helgadóttir, Gunnar Þórðarson, Kristín Jóhannesdóttir, and Þorgerður Ingólfsdóttir and make up a total list of 25 beneficiaries that get an “honorary artist salary”.

Waves in the sky RARE and unusual cloud formations, shown as “wave clouds” in Icelandic were spotted over Reykjavík by local residents. Formed by strong winds, it’s similar to what happens when waves form in the ocean, and there are two masses with different densities moving at different speeds.

Firework blast tragedy NEW YEAR celebrations in Germany left two people dead, a child injured and five people requiring amputations due to accidents with fireworks.

A 35-year-old man and a 19-year-old died when fireworks – believed to be the ‘Polish rocket’ which contains more explosive than normal - went off in their faces.

Inflation slowing down INFLATION in Germany slowed slightly in December but was still ahead of forecasts made by the European Central Bank for the second month in a row. Consumer prices in the country rose by 1.7 per cent year-on-year according to figures from Destatis.

Ben and Emma are top kiddies FOR THE seventh year in a row, Ben is still the most popular name for boys, with Emma taking over the top spot for

girls...replacing Mia that lead the list in 2016. Jonas, Leon and Paul were next behind Ben while Sophie was next to Emma.

Twitter “insults” reported A FAR-RIGHT German MP was being investigated by police over alleged inflammatory comments she made on her Twitter account on New Year’s Eve, connected with the appeasement of Muslims. Her account was temporarily suspended but she was later posting again on the site.

Car and jail breakers FOUR people were being sought by police after breaking out of Berlin’s Plötzensee prison. They were all part of a car workshop group who carved out a hole in the wall and then slipped under a barbed wire fence after reporting for the class as normal.

18

Afternoon opening for a number of health centres INCREASE: Tourists spent an extra 12.9 per cent in 2017

Spain’s holidaymakers spend over €82 billion in 2017

by Glenn Scott TOURISTS visiting Spain in 2017 spent far more money than the previous year, even though Catalunya's disputed independence referendum resulted in a fall in the autumn.

Year-on-year growth, as at the end of November, was around 12.9%, and for that month, holidaymakers spent 10.3% more in Spain than they did in November 2016.

According to the National Institute of Statistics (INE), in 2017 – excluding December, for which figures are not yet available

– visitors parted with a total of €82.3 billion whilst on holiday in Spain. In November alone, they spent €4.64bn.

Including accommodation, the average holidaymaker spent a total of €1,054 – around 2.7% more than the previous year – with daily spending rising 0.4% to €139, relating to food, excursions, shopping and entertainment.

It was no surprise that the highest spending was seen in July (€11.9bn) and August (€11.34bn), rising steadily over the year from January's €4.25bn, and then going down after the main summer months.

Spending was high in September, at €9.43bn, given that in the last few years, this has been one of the hottest months in Spain and, in 2017, August brought disappointing weather on the Mediterranean meaning a significant business boost for retailers and restaurants as holidaymakers had to change some of their holiday plans.

As always when these figures are announced, it’s the British that made up the largest national group of foreign holidaymakers and spent 17.9 per cent of the total, whilst Germans accounted for 13.3 per cent.

THE MURCIA Health Service (SMS) is considering reopening some of the health centres that make up the Primary Care Network in the afternoons.

To do this, a full viability study is being carried out to see if it’s possible to open certain centres which would enable them to expand the current schedules.

“This is one of the principal demands of the local population and will be a major challenge for the new year. We have to analyse which of the centres could be reopened and we also have to get the approval of the health professionals,” said an SMS spokesperson.

19

Skateboard hero Ignacio to be honoured at new memorial centre

by Tahnee Wright IGNACIO ECHEVERRIA, the 39-year-old Spanish lawyer killed in last year’s terror attack in London will be the subject of an exhibit at the Memorial Center for Victims of Terrorism that is set to open in the Basque Country later this year.

Echeverria worked for HSBC and was a keen skateboarder.

On the night of June 3, he was on his way home having been skateboarding with friends when he stumbled across the terror attack at Borough Market. As he saw the terrorists stabbing a defenceless woman, Echeverria ran to her aid and attempted to fight them off with his skateboard when he was killed.

The memorial will showcase the skateboard he used against the terrorists before he was fatally stabbed.

Echeverria’s parents donated the skateboard to the Foundation of Victims of Terror because “it is a positive thing to spread this example to children and young people, explaining that it is worth being good even if you die because of it,” they told the Foundation of Victims of Terror magazine.

Echeverria was one of eight people who were killed in the terrorist attack. The woman he tried to protect was also among the dead.

He was posthumously awarded Spain’s highest honour for civilians, the Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit and thousands of people attended a vigil in Madrid where skateboards were held in the air in his memory.

Fontilles helps 300,000 people worldwide

FONTILLES, a leading non-profit association in the fight against leprosy and other diseases linked to poverty, will develop 24 health cooperation projects in 11 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Fontilles was founded in 1902 by lawyer Don Joaquin Ballester and Jesuit priest Father Carlos Ferris, in order to offer an improved quality of life and treatment to a greater number of leprosy patients in the Alicante and Valencia region.

A hospital, the Fontilles Colony Sanatorium – Sant Francesc de Borja, was opened in 1909, with the aim of hosting leprosy patients from all over Spain and performing a triple function of medical treatment, research and teaching. It was declared of Public Utility in 1966.

Since then, adjusting to new needs in the fight against leprosy has been a first priority but Fontilles has also been supporting or running an increasing number of international projects and became a Member of the International Federation of Leprosy Control (ILEP) 1969.

The 24 health cooperation projects will benefit around 300,000 people.

SKATEBOARD HERO: Ignacio Echeverria

E

L A S NO OW N LE A S NO OW N E SAL

20

The comfort of our illusions I often look back and consider the insanity of endless wars. Then I realise that by being in denial we simply prefer the comfort of our illusions to the truth.

There are many people who actually like war. Winston Churchill’s hand must have trembled when in 1916 he penned his letter to Lord Asquith’s daughter.

“I love this war. I know it’s smashing and shattering the lives of thousands every moment and yet, I can’t help it, I enjoy every second of it.”

by

Michael Walsh

keyboardcosmetics@ gmail.com The opinions published in Mike´s weekly column are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or newspaper sponsors.

George Orwell

The many anti-war movements have only their consciences in their arsenals. In the last 10 years alone US arms manufacturers placed $6 trillion in their loot, shoot and scoot coffers. It is hardly an even playing field is it.

As long as media can convince us of a threat then the arms industries and their shareholder’s, many of whom are politicians, are assured of vast profits from arms paid for from the taxpayers’ purse.

A pity they don’t pay for their own wars; it would make a difference.

“A people who keep electing corrupt politicians are not victims, they are accomplices,” said journalist George Orwell.

Mainstream news editor Finian Cunningham comes straight to the point: “War is a profitable business: It seems that the US has placed it at the heart of its economy. This is why US politicians and military officials

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have claimed that Russia poses a threat to their nation and its allies. Washington’s only enemy is peace.”

Stephen Donovan was laconic; “The US has as much interest in peace as does a condom maker in abstinence.”

The truth sank in for U.S. General Smedley Butler: “War is a racket. It is conducted for the benefit of a very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes.”

These pundits and others are right: companies under the direction of US Vice-President, Dick Cheney, made $39 billion from the Iraq war alone.

Vampires of war have always infested parliaments and still do so. “Senators who voted to attack Syria received 83 per cent more campaign money from military contractors than lawmakers voting no.”

The situation is the same in Britain where the British parliament in effect voted for perpetual war. Again George Orwell: “War against a foreign country only happens when the moneyed class think they are going to profit from it.”

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21

The day I met my first ligger by

Barry Duke The opinions published in Barry’s weekly column are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or newspaper sponsors.

Once upon a time a demented woman who ruled a faraway land convinced her subjects that greed was good, that trade unions were bad and that an unbridled market economy and privatisation would benefit all.

Many – as easily played for imbeciles then as those who voted almost 40 years on for Brexit – fell hook, line and sinker for the Iron Lady’s garbage and gave the crackpot capitalist two more terms to wage war on social cohesion and make the well-off far richer than they already were.

The result was the unleashing of a short-lived era of conspicuous consumption. Obscene amounts of cash were lavished on extravagant events hosted by stockbrokers, bankers and wealthy individuals in hotels and restaurants across the country.

These attracted battalions of liggers – individuals who attend parties, openings, and social gatherings solely intent on obtaining free food and drink.

Some even came equipped with Tupperware tubs and outsize bags into which they would shamelessly tip whole trays of comestibles. (A Benidorm couple recently gained a measure of notoriety when they gatecrashed a private birthday party and made off with an entire cheese board!)

Others – like Joe, the first ligger I’d ever come across – were far classier. We met back in the 1980s at a Conservative Party fundraiser in London hotel. Guest speaker was soon-to-jailed –for-perjury Lord Jeffrey Archer, and I’d been sent by a local newspaper to report on the function.

The evening got off to a surreal start when I arrived in full biker’s leathers (I had my tuxedo and accoutrements in a pannier.) “Oh,” said the concierge “you must be delivering the gear for the party.” Clocking my puzzled expression, he held a nostril shut, made a snorting sound and winked.

Just then the pukka drug courier arrived and I legged it to the gents, where I quickly transformed

myself from Hell’s Angel into a dapper dinner-jacketed gent.

As I entered the function room, a suave, elegantly-dressed individual oiled his way to my side, and asked whether I was an official guest.

When I said yes he giggled somewhat drunkenly and confessed that he wasn’t. I invited him to explain, and he said that, being jobless and broke he’d hit on a method of eating and drinking free seven days a week.

“All you need,” Joe confided, “is a good suit.

And a business card. Then you trawl the hotels and restaurants for top-notch functions and stroll in as though you own the place.”

I stored this information for future use in the event of finding myself out of work and penniless as millions did during the ghastly Thatcher era. Two weeks later I met Joe again at a function at the Café Royal in London. Once more he was impeccably dressed, but much drunker than he was when we first met. Then it all went horribly wrong when a pianist, tinkling away at the keyboard, started playing a Cole Porter number.

Joe drew a barstool up to the piano, and began to bellow the words of “Let’s Do It”.

Then he slipped off the stool and fell to the floor. At that point the organisers realised that he wasn’t the journalist he claimed to be. His ligging came to an ignominious end when he was escorted off the premises and told never to show his face there again.

What reminded me of Joe was a delightful festive season luncheon I attended at Restaurante Ongo Etorri in Benidorm a week or so ago. Eighteen of us gathered for the occasion, and, as one might expect, most

opted for turkey. What no one expected was that TWO giant birds would be presented to 14 diners, and four legs of lamb to the rest.

As we wrapped up a mountain of leftovers to take home for our loved ones – our dogs – I thought that Joe would have been in his element if he had had the opportunity to share in what was a truly fabulous five-course meal.

How do you solve your own murder?

Imagine being trapped inside your own mind, you can’t move any part of your body, you can see but only every now and then; and then that’s only blurry images. The only thing that is working properly is your hearing and you are forced to listen while others decide whether you have a future or not.

Everyone believes Alex is in a coma, unlikely to ever wake up. As his family debate withdrawing life support, and his friends talk about how his girlfriend Bea needs to move on, he can only listen.

But Alex soon begins to suspect that the accident that put him here wasn’t really an accident. Even worse, the perpetrator is still out there and Alex is not the only one in danger.

As he goes over a series of clues from his past, Alex must use his remaining senses to solve the mystery of who tried to kill him, and try to protect those he loves, before they decide to let him go.

A stunning edge-of-your-seat debut novel with an unforgettable narrator.

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22

Basic Spanish for everyday needs by

Jane Cronin

Introduction to present perfect tense Today we are going to start looking at a new thing to do with verbs. So far we have linked some sentences in a simple way to talk about our intentions, needs and obligations, keeping our verbs in their simple infinitive form (for example “hablar”). Then we looked at changing each verb into a gerund or “-ing” form (for example “hablando”) and using this to talk about things happening at the present moment. In both cases the main verb itself only has one form, which makes it much simpler to deal with.

We are now going to do a similar thing, this time enabling us to talk about past events. We are going to turn the verb into what we call a past participle. Before we do that though, we need to know what a past participle is in English!

For example, let’s take the verb “to speak”. In English we can work out the changes by saying: “Today I speak”, “Yesterday I spoke”, “Recently, I have spo-

ken”. This gives us three forms of the verb “to speak”, namely, “speak, spoke, spoken”. “Spoken” is our past participle, and we combine it with the word “have” or “has” in English to talk about the recent past. “I have spoken to the lawyer and he says that …”.

Unfortunately some English speakers use this form wrongly in their own language. You hear people say “I have spoke”, using the past tense instead of the past participle. Another difficulty for us is that sometimes the past tense and the past participle are the same in English. For example: “Today I buy”, “Yesterday I bought”, “Recently I have bought”. So “bought” is both the past tense and the past participle of the verb “to buy”.

This is also true (in English – don’t worry we’ll get onto the Spanish before this article is over!) of our regular verbs which end in “-ed”. “Today I wash, yesterday I washed, recently I have washed”.

Sometimes people ask me: “How you do say washed in Spanish?” or “How do you say bought in Spanish?”

To answer this I have to ask for more information about the situation to work out which form they’re looking for. They sometimes look at me strangely, as if I can’t answer the question or something!

Well, there’s plenty more to say about all of this, but just so you are not left entirely in the dark, here is how we form a past participle in Spanish. In most cases we take the –ar off the infinitives of –ar verbs and change it to –ado. Therefore “spoken” is “hablado”. We take the –er or –ir endings off those verbs and change them to –ido. Therefore “drunk” as is “I have drunk” is “bebido” and “slept” (as in “I have slept”) is “dormido”. I say in most cases because there are one or two irregular ones. There’s also a great deal more to say about this subject as a whole, but at least we’ve made a start!

past participle hablado Today I buy hablar bebido past tense verbs

Yesterday I spoke

dormido

Help at Home - one good year deserves another!

by Bill Hulse HELP AT HOME, aka HAH, was founded nearly a decade ago by Lesley and Paul Eburne. For several years they organised and ran the charity very successfully and should be justifiably proud of what they achieved. Then, in October 2016, they decided that it was time to step down from the committee to allow themselves more free time.

They thought that perhaps the charity should be wound up. However, the rest of the committee determined to carry on what had been established so well, and with the overwhelming support of the membership, thanked and wished them well and determined to continue the charity’s activities.

Since then, the Committee has strengthened and joined by several new members.

The carers and volunteers gave their time freely, and in 2017 achieved over 1000 hours of free care work and if enlisting the help of a professional or specialist then HAH paid the bill. They continued to loan out mobility aids without charge and have recently invested €5000 in more equipment to ensure that de-

mand can be met.

HAH strive to meet every request for help and only a shortage of volunteers or professional agencies, particularly in the high summer, prevented from helping every time.

They could achieve this because of the generosity of the regular and occasional sponsors, and because of fundraising efforts.

HAH want to help whenever they can so if you, a family member, or a friend, needs some extra help, perhaps following an accident or due to ill health please contact them and they will do everything they can to help. All requests, whether through the Care Line, 633 673 034, via Facebook, HAH (Help At Home) – Mar Menor or by e-mail, helpathomespain@ gmail.com, will be responded to.

To enable them to deliver this help they welcome new carers, volunteers and members. There is no charge for membership, so even if you only have an occasional couple of hours to spare your help will be very welcome.

Visitors to the monthly meetings are always welcome. These are held on the first Tuesday of each month at the Las Claras

FUNDS: Christmas hamper tickets raised €234 for the HAH Mar Menor Centre in Los Narejos starting at 11am, although this month, January, the meeting will be on the 9th. They are at La Zona selling second hand books and DVD’s every Monday, and selling second hand clothes and bric-a-brac on the last Friday of each

month. Fresh items are always welcome and we can collect if necessary.

The website, www.helpathome.es carries full details of all activities as well as all contact details. Could you help them to help others?

money

BBVA leads the way for online banking BBVA has reached an important milestone in its continued drive towards technology focused banking, with a key digital tipping point reached in Spain.

In October the bank in Spain passed the 50 per cent mark in terms of the percentage of its Spanish customer base now engaging with the bank online.

In fact, across its wider business, six of BBVA’s 11 core countries have now passed this tipping point, with the USA, Turkey, Argentina, Chile and Venezuela also past the 50 per cent mark.

In Spain specifically, the use of digital channels to access banking services has grown by more than 17 per cent in the last 12-months alone. Meanwhile the figures for customers accessing by mobile has also soared - rising by 30 per cent in the last year.

BBVA’s Head of Business Development in Spain, Peio Belausteguigoitia said: “The adoption of digital banking services and digital channels in Spain continues to grow quickly and is an example of the changing patterns with which people use technology now to manage their lives and achieve their goals.

“At BBVA we are totally focused on building the absolute

best digital banking platforms anywhere in the world and the awards we are now seeing coupled with the ever-increasing usage from our customers shows we are on the right path and that we have the expertise needed to deliver.”

23

Catalonia crisis has cost €1 billion

SPAIN’s economy minister believes the Catalan independence movement has cost the country €1 billion since October.

Luis de Guindos told Spanish radio that slowdown in the Catalan economy since the unauthorised independence referendum on October 1 has caused the damage.

The minister said growth in the relatively affluent region had slowed from 0.9 per cent to 0.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2017.

"Catalonia used to have growth above that of Spain, it was one of the drivers of the Spanish economy," Mr de Guindos said, adding that the region had now become a “burden”.

He blamed the previous regional government for generating "enormous uncertainty, concern and a loss of confidence”.

Catalonia accounts for around 20 per cent of Spain’s GDP and warnings about economic damage were a major part of its campaign against Catalan separatist parties in the December 21 regional election.

According to reports, 3,100 companies have moved their headquarters out of the region as a result of the ongoing crisis.

25

by

IGNACIO PELLICER MOLLĂ & PEDRO HEREDIA ORTIZ

LAWYERS

legal Mortgages and clauses Q A What is a mortgage abusive clause? How do I know if my mortgage has one?

The Supreme Court has acknowledged that in the past there has been an unfair imbalance between lender and borrower. There have been more than 10 abusive mortgage clauses recognized and any one of these could be written in your mortgage.

In order for us to assist you, please let us see a copy of your mortgage deeds and any facturas that were paid at the time of purchasing the property (to include notary fees, land registry fees).

We will then be able to review your particular scenario and let you know if you have any of the mortgage floor clauses.

The next step would be for us to make a claim on your behalf, to have your money returned to you.

PELLICER & HEREDIA Lawyers have a department specializing in the mortgage floor clauses.

For more information contact 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

Friday 5th - Thursday 11th January

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 11:00pm 11:25pm 11:35pm

12:25am

Breakfast Rip Off Britain Homes Under the Hammer Wanted Down Under Close Calls: On Camera Bargain Hunt BBC News BBC London News Doctors Father Brown I Escaped to the Country The Farmers’ Country Showdown Antiques Road Trip Pointless BBC News BBC London News Celebrity Mastermind Match of the Day Live BBC News BBC London News Graham Norton’s Good Guest Guide Enterprice

7:00am 7:30am

8:15am 9:00am

10:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 1:10pm 3:15pm 4:15pm 5:15pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm

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

10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:05am

Flog it! Trade Secrets The Farmers’ Country Showdown Antiques Road Trip MasterChef: The Professionals BBC Newsroom Live Westminster in Review Coast The Triple Cross Dolphins: Spy in the Pod Dolphins: Spy in the Pod Planet Earth II Antiques Road Trip Eggheads Great British Railway Journeys Natural World Mastermind Christmas University Challenge 2017 Rome Unpacked QI Newsnight Deep Water

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

11:00pm 11:30pm 11:40pm 12:40am

Good Morning Britain Lorraine The Jeremy Kyle Show This Morning Loose Women ITV Lunchtime News ITV News London Midsomer Murders Tipping Point The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street River Monsters Coronation Street The Big Soap Quiz: Coronation Street v Emmerdale ITV News and Weather ITV News London Guess the Star Take Me Out

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

12:00pm

1:00pm 1:05pm

2:05pm 3:10pm 4:00pm 5:00pm

6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

10:00pm 12:10am

3rd Rock from the Sun 3rd Rock from the Sun 3rd Rock from the Sun Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Frasier Frasier Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA Sun, Sea and Selling Houses Channel 4 News Couples Come Dine with Me Posh Pawn Countdown The Secret Life of the Zoo A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Jamie and Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast The Beatles The Bourne Legacy

7:00am 10:40am 12:15pm

12:45pm

1:40pm 1:45pm 2:35pm 4:20pm 6:00pm 6:35pm 7:30pm 8:00pm

9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:05am

Childrens TV Igor Animals Make You Laugh Out Loud GPs: Behind Closed Doors 5 News Lunchtime The Hotel Inspector Family Secrets Deadly Paradise 5 News Barging Loving Celebs 5 News Tonight Greatest Celebrity Wind-Ups Ever!

Costa Del Celebrity Celebrity Big Brother Will and Grace Celebrity Big Brother Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit on the Side

8:30am 9:00am

9:30am

10:00am

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

Funniest Moments David Attenborough’s Micro Monsters David Attenborough’s Micro Monsters Dogs: An Amazing Animal Family Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family NCIS: Los Angeles Hawaii Five-0 Hawaii Five-0 NCIS: Los Angeles Modern Family Modern Family The Simpsons Futurama Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Modern Family Delicious A League of Their Own The Best of the Late, Late Show

The Pets Factor Matilda and the Ramsay Bunch Matilda and the Ramsay Bunch The Dengineers Deadly Top 10 World’s Sneakiest Animals Homes Under the Hammer Pets: Wild at Heart Hairy Bikers’ Mediterranean Adventure Back to the Land with Kate Humble Rome Unpacked The Letter Natural World Trust Me, I’m a Doctor Tom Kerridge’s Lose Weight for Good Hugh’s Wild West A House Through Time Dad’s Army Grand Tours of Scotland’s Lochs Feud: Bette and Joan Feud: Bette and Joan Live at the Apollo

7:00am

Childrens TV

10:25am

ITV News

10:30am

Saturday Morning

with James Martin

12:30pm

The Hungry Sailors

1:30pm

ITV News

1:40pm

Endeavour

3:40pm

The Greatest TV

Moments of All Time

5:35pm

ITV News London

5:45pm

ITV News

5:55pm

The Chase:

Celebrity Special

7:00pm

Catchphrase

8:00pm

Take Me Out

9:00pm

The Voice UK

10:35pm

ITV News

10:50pm

Spectre

7:05am 8:00am

8:25am

8:50am 9:20am 9:55am 10:25am 10:50am 11:20am 11:50am 12:15pm 12:45pm

1:45pm 6:30pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

10:00pm

12:40am

Triathlon Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Frasier Frasier The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Simpsons The Simpsons Sun, Sea and Selling Houses Darts A Place in the Sun Channel 4 News Spying on the Royals Princess Diana’s ‘Wicked’ Stepmother The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2 The Transporter

7:00am 11:10am

11:40am

12:40pm 3:30pm

4:30pm 4:35pm

5:55pm 6:00pm

7:00pm

8:00pm

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

12:45am

Childrens TV Dogs Make You Laugh Out Loud Christmas Cruising with Jane McDonald West Side Story The Hundred-Foot Journey 5 News The Hundred-Foot Journey 5 News Weekend Playful Pups Make You Laugh Out Loud The Wonderful World of Puppies Greatest Celebrity Wind-Ups Ever!

Blind Date Celebrity Big Brother Worst Celebrity Pop Songs Ever Lip Sync Battle UK

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

6:15pm

6:30pm

7:00pm

7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 12:25am

Futurama Futurama Futurama Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Soccer A.M. Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Modern Family Gillette Soccer Saturday Gillette Soccer Saturday Gillette Soccer Saturday Harry Hill’s Tea Time The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons A League of Their Own Air Force One A League of Their Own

The Beatles, 10pm, Channel 4

Saturday 7:00am 11:00am 12:30pm 1:00pm 1:15pm 1:45pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:10pm 6:40pm 6:50pm 7:00pm

7:40pm 8:25pm 9:30pm 10:20pm 10:35pm 11:30pm

1:05am

Breakfast Saturday Kitchen Live Mary Berry Everyday BBC News Football Focus Match of the Day Live Money for Nothing Final Score Celebrity Mastermind BBC News BBC London News And They’re Off... for Sport Relief Pointless Wedding Day Winners Casualty BBC News Hard Sun Match of the Day: FA Cup Highlights The NFL Show

8:10am 8:30am

8:45am

9:00am 9:30am 10:00am

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

2:00pm

3:00pm 4:00pm 5:30pm 6:15pm 6:45pm

7:15pm 8:15pm 9:15pm 9:45pm

10:15pm 11:00pm 12:00am

Dancing on ice ITV 7.00pm

Sunday 7:00am 8:30am

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

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

2:40pm 5:00pm 5:30pm 6:05pm 7:05pm 7:20pm 7:30pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

10:00pm 11:00pm 11:20pm 11:30pm

12:30am

Breakfast Match of the Day: FA Cup Highlights The Andrew Marr Show The Big Questions Homes Under the Hammer Bargain Hunt BBC News Wallace and Gromit: A Grand Day Out Match of the Day Live Escape to the Country Songs of Praise Antiques Roadshow BBC News BBC London News Countryfile Still Open All Hours Attenborough and the Sea Dragon McMafia BBC News BBC London News Match of the Day: FA Cup Highlights The Women’s Football Show

The Voice UK, 9pm, ITV1

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

12:30pm

1:00pm 1:30pm

1:40pm 2:40pm 3:10pm 3:50pm 5:30pm 6:15pm 7:00pm

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

11:00pm

12:25am

Coast The Instant Gardener Gardeners’ World Greatest Gardens Countryfile Saturday Kitchen Best Bites Raymond Blanc: How to Cook Well Food and Drink The A to Z of TV Cooking Natural World Money for Nothing Talking Pictures Ladies in Lavender Flog It! Ski Sunday The Real T rex with Chris Packham Robot Wars Special Dragons’ Den Michael Palin: A Life on Screen And Now for Something Completely Different Strictly Ballroom

7:00am 10:25am 10:30am 10:55am 12:30pm 1:30pm 1:40pm 2:40pm

3:45pm 4:45pm 5:00pm 5:10pm 7:00pm 9:00pm 11:00pm 11:10pm 1:35am

Childrens TV ITV News River Monsters The Voice UK Tipping Point ITV News A Right Royal Quiz The Big Soap Quiz: Coronation Street v Emmerdale Catchphrase ITV News London ITV News Happy Feet Two Dancing on Ice Vera ITV News Captain Phillips Great Art

7:15am 7:40am 8:05am 8:30am

8:55am

9:25am 10:00am 10:30am 1:30pm 6:30pm

7:45pm 8:00pm

9:00pm

10:00pm 11:00pm 1:10am

King of Queens King of Queens King of Queens Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Frasier Sunday Brunch Darts The Great Festive Bake Off Channel 4 News The World’s Wildest Weather The Biggest Little Railway in the World SAS: Who Dares Wins The Sweeney Moonrise Kingdom

7:00am

Childrens TV

11:20am

Pets Make You

Laugh Out Loud

11:40am

Groundhog Day

1:40pm

Practical Magic

3:40pm

Will and Grace

4:10pm

Blind Date

5:15pm

The Love Punch

7:00pm

The Two Ronnies

9:00pm

Aviva Premiership

Rugby Highlights

9:55pm

5 News Weekend

10:00pm

Celebrity Big Brother

11:00pm

Hot Pursuit

12:00am

5 News

12:05am

Hot Pursuit

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 11:00pm 12:00am

The Hour of Power Futurama Futurama Futurama Futurama The Simpsons 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 Modern Family The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons MacGyver Hawaii Five-0 NCIS: Los Angeles The Blacklist

28

Pick of the Day

Monday 7:00am 10:15am 11:00am

12:00pm 12:45pm 1:15pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 2:45pm 3:15pm 4:00pm 4:45pm

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

12:15am

Breakfast Rip Off Britain Homes Under the Hammer Wanted Down Under Close Calls: On Camera Bargain Hunt BBC News BBC London News Doctors Father Brown I Escaped to the Country The Farmers’ Country Showdown Antiques Road Trip Pointless BBC News BBC London News The One Show An Inside Out Special EastEnders Panorama Silent Witness BBC News BBC London News Have I Got Old News for You Miriam’s Big American Adventure

7:00am 7:30am

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

3:15pm

4:15pm

5:15pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm

8:00pm 8:30pm

9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:15am

Flog it! Trade Secrets The Farmers’ Country Showdown Antiques Road Trip Antiques Roadshow Victoria Derbyshire BBC Newsroom Live The Daily Politics Coast Brazil with Michael Palin Himalaya with Michael Palin The Great British Winter Planet Earth II Flog It! Eggheads Great British Railway Journeys Match of the Day Kate Humble: Off the Beaten Track Only Connect University Challenge Surgeons Insert Name Here Newsnight Robot Wars Special

7:00am Good Morning Britain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:55pm ITV News London 3:00pm Judge Rinder 4:00pm Dickinson’s Real Deal 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Best Walks with a View with Julia Bradbury 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Next of Kin 11:00pm ITV News and Weather 11:30pm ITV News London 11:40pm Piers Morgan’s Life Stories 12:40am Killer Women with Piers Morgan

7:20am 7:40am 8:05am

8:30am

9:00am

9:30am 10:00am 10:35am 11:05am

12:00pm

1:00pm 1:05pm 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 Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Frasier Frasier Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA Sun, Sea and Selling Houses Channel 4 News Darts Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News How to Lose Weight Well The Undateables First Dates Hotel Derry Girls

7:00am

Childrens TV

10:15am

The Wright Stuff

12:15pm

GPs:

Behind Closed Doors

1:10pm

5 News Lunchtime

1:15pm

The Hotel Inspector

2:15pm

Home and Away

2:45pm

Neighbours

3:15pm

NCIS

4:15pm

Killer Mom

6:00pm

5 News

6:30pm

Neighbours

7:00pm

Home and Away

7:30pm

5 News Tonight

8:00pm

Car Crash TV

9:00pm

Police Interceptors

10:00pm

Celebrity Big Brother

11:00pm

Not So Sweet Sixteen

12:05am

Celebrity Big Brother’s

Bit on the Side

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

12:00am

Futurama Futurama Monkey Life Monkey Life Meerkat Manor Meerkat Manor Road Wars Stargate Atlantis MacGyver NCIS: Los Angeles Hawaii Five-0 Hawaii Five-0 NCIS: Los Angeles Stargate SG-1 The Simpsons The Simpsons Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Attenborough Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol The Force: North East

The Blacklist, 10pm, Sky1

Tuesday 7:00am 10:15am 11:00am

12:00pm 12:45pm 1:15pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 2:45pm 3:15pm 4:00pm 4:45pm

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

12:25am

Breakfast Rip Off Britain Homes Under the Hammer Wanted Down Under Close Calls: On Camera Bargain Hunt BBC News BBC London News Doctors Father Brown I Escaped to the Country The Farmers’ Country Showdown Antiques Road Trip Pointless BBC News BBC London News The One Show EastEnders Holby City Silent Witness BBC News BBC London News Canvey: The Promised Island An Inside Out Special

Silent Witness, 10pm, BBC1

7:00am 7:30am

8:15am 9:00am

10:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm 2:00pm 2:15pm

3:15pm

4:15pm

5:15pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm

8:00pm

9:00pm 10:00pm

11:00pm 11:30pm 12:15am

Flog it! Trade Secrets The Farmers’ Country Showdown Antiques Road Trip Celebrity Antiques Road Trip Victoria Derbyshire BBC Newsroom Live The Daily Politics Coast Brazil with Michael Palin Himalaya with Michael Palin The Great British Winter Planet Earth II Flog It! Eggheads Great British Railway Journeys Rick Stein’s Road to Mexico Inside the Factory House of Saud: A Family at War Inside No 9 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

9:00pm

10:00pm 11:30pm 12:00am 12:15am

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 Save Money: Good Food The Martin Lewis Money Show Live School for Stammerers ITV News and Weather ITV News London Girlfriends

7:10am

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

12:00pm

1:00pm 1:05pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

12:00am

Kirstie’s Fill Your House for Free 3rd Rock from the Sun 3rd Rock from the Sun Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Everybody Loves Raymond Frasier Frasier Frasier Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares USA Sun, Sea and Selling Houses Channel 4 News Darts Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News The Secret Life of the Zoo 24 Hours in A and E Working Class White Men Naked Attraction

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

1:10pm 1:15pm 2:15pm 2:45pm 3:15pm 4:15pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm

9:00pm

10:00pm 11:35pm 12:35am

Childrens TV The Wright Stuff GPs: Behind Closed Doors 5 News Lunchtime The Hotel Inspector Home and Away Neighbours NCIS Eyewitness 5 News Neighbours Home and Away 5 News Tonight Secrets of the National Trust with Alan Titchmarsh Diet Secrets and How to Lose Weight Celebrity Big Brother One Night with My Ex Celebrity Big Brother’s Bit on the Side

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

Futurama Futurama Monkey Life Monkey Life Meerkat Manor Meerkat Manor Road Wars Stargate Atlantis MacGyver NCIS: Los Angeles Hawaii Five-0 Hawaii Five-0 NCIS: Los Angeles Stargate SG-1 The Simpsons The Simpsons Futurama The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons The Simpsons Harry Hill The Blacklist Trollied A League of Their Own The Force: North East

29

Pick of the Day

WEDNESDAY 7:00am Breakfast 10:15am Rip Off Britain 11:00am Homes Under the Hammer 12:00pm Wanted Down Under 12:45pm Close Calls: On Camera 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News 2:30pm BBC London News 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm Father Brown 4:00pm I Escaped to the Country 4:45pm The Farmers’ Country

Showdown 5:30pm Antiques Road Trip 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 9:00pm The Truth About Looking Good 10:00pm Miriam’s Big

American Adventure 11:00pm BBC News 11:30pm BBC London News 11:45pm A Question of Sport 12:15am And They’re Off... for Sport Relief

7:00am Flog it! Trade Secrets 7:30am The Farmers’ Country Showdown 8:15am Antiques Road Trip 9:00am Fern Britton Meets...

10:00am Victoria Derbyshire 12:00pm BBC Newsroom Live 12:30pm The Daily Politics 2:00pm Coast 2:15pm Brazil with Michael Palin 3:15pm Himalaya with Michael Palin 4:15pm The Great British Winter 5:15pm Great Barrier Reef

with David Attenborough 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Great British Railway

Journeys 8:00pm Rick Stein’s Road to Mexico 9:00pm Tom Kerridge’s Lose

Weight for Good 9:30pm Trust Me, I’m a Doctor 10:00pm Fighting for Air 11:00pm Mock the Week 11:30pm Newsnight 12:15am Inside the Factory

7:00am Good Morning Britain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:55pm ITV News London 3:00pm Judge Rinder 4:00pm Dickinson’s Real Deal 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:25pm Party Political Broadcast by

the Conservative Party 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Britain’s Brightest Family 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Girlfriends 11:00pm ITV News and Weather 11:30pm ITV News London 11:40pm Britain’s Busiest Airport -

Heathrow 12:40am Holiday Horrors: Caught on Camera

7:10am Jamie’s Comfort Food 7:20am 3rd Rock from the Sun 7:45am 3rd Rock from the Sun 8:10am Everybody Loves Raymond 8:35am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:05am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:35am Frasier 10:05am Frasier 10:35am Frasier 11:05am Ramsay’s Kitchen

Nightmares USA 12:00pm Sun, Sea and Selling Houses 1:00pm Channel 4 News 1:05pm Darts 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Kirstie and Phil’s

Love it or List it 10:00pm Kiri 11:00pm 999: What’s Your Emergency?

12:05am 24 Hours in A and E

7:00am Childrens TV 10:15am The Wright Stuff 12:15pm GPs: Behind Closed Doors 1:10pm 5 News Lunchtime 1:15pm The Hotel Inspector 2:15pm Home and Away 2:45pm Neighbours 3:15pm NCIS 4:15pm The Wrong Babysitter 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Starting Up, Starting Over 9:00pm GPs: Behind Closed Doors 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:05pm Celebrity Big Brother’s

Bit on the Side 11:50pm Football on 5 1:10am Police Interceptors

7:00am Futurama 7:30am Futurama 8:00am Monkey Life 8:30am Monkey Life 9:00am Meerkat Manor 9:30am Meerkat Manor 10:00am Road Wars 11:00am Stargate Atlantis 12:00pm MacGyver 1:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 2:00pm Hawaii Five-0 3:00pm Hawaii Five-0 4:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 5:00pm Stargate SG-1 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm A League of Their Own 10:00pm A League of Their Own 11:00pm Russell Howard’s Hour 12:00am The Force: North East

7:00am Good Morning Britain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:55pm ITV News London 3:00pm Judge Rinder 4:00pm Dickinson’s Real Deal 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Divorce Wars 9:00pm Emmerdale 9:30pm The Cruise 10:00pm Transformation Street 11:00pm ITV News and Weather 11:30pm ITV News London 11:45pm Great Art 12:45am Joanna Lumley’s Postcards

7:20am 3rd Rock from the Sun 7:45am 3rd Rock from the Sun 8:10am Everybody Loves Raymond 8:35am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:00am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:30am Frasier 10:05am Frasier 10:35am Frasier 11:05am Ramsay’s Kitchen

Nightmares USA 12:00pm Sun, Sea and Selling Houses 1:00pm Channel 4 News 1:05pm Darts 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm George Clarke’s

Amazing Spaces 10:00pm Hunted 11:00pm Derry Girls 11:35pm The Undateables 12:35am Working Class White Men

7:00am Childrens TV 10:15am The Wright Stuff 12:15pm GPs: Behind Closed Doors 1:10pm 5 News Lunchtime 1:15pm The Hotel Inspector 2:15pm Home and Away 2:45pm Neighbours 3:15pm NCIS 4:15pm Dear Diary, I Died 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Baby Ballroom 9:00pm Big Family Values:

More Kids Than Cash 10:00pm Celebrity Big Brother 11:00pm Celebrity 100% Hotter!

12:05am Celebrity Big Brother’s

Bit on the Side

7:00am Futurama 7:30am Futurama 8:00am Monkey Life 8:30am Monkey Life 9:00am Meerkat Manor 9:30am Meerkat Manor 10:00am Road Wars 11:00am Stargate Atlantis 12:00pm MacGyver 1:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 2:00pm Hawaii Five-0 3:00pm Hawaii Five-0 4:00pm NCIS: Los Angeles 5:00pm Stargate SG-1 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm Futurama 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Duck Quacks Don’t Echo 10:00pm A League of Their Own 11:00pm Delicious 12:00am The Force: North East

Tom Kerridge's Lose Weight For Good, 9pm, BBC2

thursday 7:00am Breakfast 10:15am Rip Off Britain 11:00am Homes Under the Hammer 12:00pm Wanted Down Under 12:45pm Close Calls: On Camera 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News 2:30pm BBC London News 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm Father Brown 4:00pm I Escaped to the Country 4:45pm The Farmers’ Country

Showdown 5:30pm Antiques Road Trip 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Big Cats 10:00pm Death in Paradise 11:00pm BBC News 11:30pm BBC London News 11:45pm Question Time 12:45am This Week

7:30am The Farmers’ Country Showdown 8:15am Antiques Road Trip 9:00am MasterChef:

The Professionals 10:00am Victoria Derbyshire 12:00pm BBC Newsroom Live 1:00pm The Daily Politics 2:00pm Coast 2:15pm Brazil with Michael Palin 3:15pm Himalaya with Michael Palin 4:15pm The Great British Winter 5:15pm Great Barrier Reef

with David Attenborough 6:15pm Flog It! 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Great British Railway

Journeys 8:00pm Rick Stein’s Road to Mexico 9:00pm Hairy Bikers’ Mediterranean

Adventure 10:00pm A House Through Time 11:00pm Live at the Apollo 11:30pm Newsnight 12:15am Michael Palin:

A Life on Screen

this weeks weather FRI Jan 5

sat Jan 6

sun Jan 7

mon Jan 8

tue Jan 9

wed Jan 10

thu Jan 11

20º 10ºC

14º 6ºC

22º 9ºC

12º 7ºC

13º 10ºC

15º 4ºC

14º 3ºC

Times of clouds and sun

Cloudy

Mostly cloudy, a little rain

Mostly cloudy with a shower

Partly sunny

Sunshine and patchy clouds

Periods of rain

/

/

/

/

/

/

/

Big Cats, 9pm, BBC1

30

community news

Masons of Dama de Elche Lodge donate money to local charities

Torrevieja U3A spend Christmas together What better way to spend Christmas than with a group of friends all intent on having a good time together.

14 people mainly from the U3A that have become good friends through a couple of the group activities, petanca and Spanish mainly, spent their festive break at Mojacar and had a great time. The weather was marvellous, hotel good and apart from several people having the annual coughs and sneezes, a good time was managed to be had by all.

Christmas morning after breakfast saw a game of beach petanca. Not very successful; nothing like the real thing but a table of Christmas goodies on the beach soon helped to put that matter right. Roll on next year.

GRATEFUL: Two charities receive much needed donations Worshipful Brother Gordon Ramsey, of Dama de Elche Lodge, recently visited two local charities to present cheques to assist them in continuing to support the children in need.

The first visit was to DEBRA (The Butterfly Children). These children are born with a genetic disorder which causes their skin to be as fragile as a

butterfly's wing. This creates enormous problems and needs very careful treatment. This is both difficult and very expensive. With a donation of €1000 this will be a great help in continuing the treatment of the children.

The second visit was to the Elche Children's Home where a further cheque was presented to buy one thousand litres of fuel oil to help keep

the children warm through the winter.

This is a regular donation by the Dama de Elche Lodge with the home being one of its charity recipients.

Should you feel able to support these charities please do so by contacting them directly.

If you would like more information about Freemasonry please contact prensa@glpvalencia.com

A Choral Spectacular Melody Makers International along with the Orihuela Costa Male Voice Choir are presenting a Choral Spectacular at the Orihuela Costa Resort Hotel in La Zenia on Saturday 27th January. There are two performance at 2pm (10€) and 8pm (12€) with tickets available from La Ponderosa Gift Shop, La Zenia, CardPlace at Punta Prima and Benimar. Also at the Debra charity shops at Urb. La Marina, San Fulgenico and

Pueblo Bravo, Rojales.

Melody Makers was formed in 2009 by Nigel Hopkins

and is a mixed group of 60-70 singers who specialise in performing large-scale popular music concerts on the Costa Blanca. Each concert is different from it´s

predecessor and the choir sings the entire programme from memory.

The event will help support Debra the Butterfly Children Charity

Letters to the Editor

talk to us

RTN welcomes Readers views for publication in its Letters to the Editor section. All letters by email or post should carry the writer´s address, and contact number, though only the name and town will be published.

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

31

health

Media use proven to increase childhood obesity CHILDREN’S waistlines have been expanding with the amount of time they spend with televisions, computers, smartphones and tablets, European doctors say.

In the past 25 years, obesity rates have climbed rapidly among European children and teens, according to a consensus statement from the European Academy of Pediatrics and the European Childhood Obesity Group published in Acta Paediatrica.

Roughly one in five kids and teens in Europe are overweight or obese, according to a 2017 World Health Organization study, the authors note.

Today: • 97 per cent of European households have a TV in their home • 72 per cent have a computer • 68 per cent have internet access and • 91 per cent have mobile phones This has spurred a surge in screen time, contributing to inadequate sleep, worse eating habits and less exercise - all of which can make it easy for children to become overweight, the statement authors argue.

“Mass media has been shown to have a broad effect on children’s health and can

affect them physiologically and have an impact on their socio-cultural functioning and psychological wellbeing,” said senior author of the statement, Dr. Adamos Hadjipanayis.

“There is evidence of a strong link between obesity levels across European countries and childhood media exposure,” Hadjipanayis added.

Parents are part of the problem, Hadjipanayis and colleagues argue.

Even as children’s screen time rises, parents demonstrate little awareness about what their kids do online or how much time they spend with tablets, smartphones and computers, the statement emphasises.

Food advertising is another problem, because it can convince kids to crave and demand more junk food and make them less likely to eat their fruits and veggies, the statement also notes. Kids also tend to consume a large portion of their daily calories while watching TV, when ads may influence their food choices.

The fix is more vigilance, the authors argue.

“When their TV time goes down, so does their (weight),” said Dr. David Hill.

“Food advertising seems to drive this relationship, as opposed to decreased activity.

• Avoid any skin care product containing alcohol and sodium lauryl sulphate, which can dehydrate skin.

• Take warm showers.

Hot showers may feel good, but they melt away protective skin lipids.

• Opt for a warm mug of herbal tea.

Caffeinated and alcoholic beverages dehydrate your skin.

• After an excursion in the frigid outdoors, avoid rushing to sit in front of a roaring fire. Temperature extremes stress skin.

• Apply moisturizer at least 30 minutes to an hour before heading outdoors.

Moisturizers containing a lot of water can freeze on skin.

Winter beauty care cautions

Sleep is also a major concern,” Hill added. “Screen media before bedtime interfere with sleep quality and duration, and poor sleep contributes to obesity.”

Common sense should prevail, said Dr. Jennifer Emond.

“Limit media time each day, no media in the bedroom and ensure the media children are exposed to is high quality,” Emond said. “Regarding social media, parents should have access to their children’s social media sites and monitor their children’s interaction with social media that has benefits beyond promoting a healthy weight.”

32

health

DIY Mint Lip Scrub

This homemade lip scrub will have your lips feeling soft and without the chemicals or the designer price tag.

Ingredients • 1/4 cup sugar • 1 teaspoon honey • 1 teaspoon olive oil • 1 drop peppermint oil Directions Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl until they resemble a coarse paste. Store in a glass jar or lidded container.

To apply, hold a warm flannel over lips for 3-5 minutes to soften. Slather with minty scrub and let sit for 5 minutes. Wash off with a warm flannel and apply usual lip balm. Lips will be tingly, fresh and plump.

Doctor claims man flu really does exist DESPITE the age-old claims men exaggerate the severity of their colds, researchers showed they are more likely to be admitted to hospital or die from flu-related symptoms than women.

Kyle Sue, an assistant professor in family medicine from the Memorial University of Newfoundland in Canada, set out to determine whether men really experience worse symptoms than women and why that might be.

He found that for many acute respiratory diseases, men are also more susceptible to complications and more likely to die, according to the study now published in the British Medical Journal.

Some evidence also finds men suffering more from viral respiratory illness than women - because they have a less robust immune system.

Dr Sue said: "The concept of man flu, as commonly defined, is potentially unjust.

"Men may not be exaggerating symptoms but have weaker immune responses to viral respiratory viruses, leading to greater morbidity and

WEAKER SEX: Canadian professor justifies the common male condition mortality than seen in women," he continued.

"The Oxford dictionary defines it as 'a cold or similar minor ailment as experienced by a man who is regarded as exaggerating the severity of the symptoms'.

"Since about half of the world's population is male, deeming male viral respiratory symptoms as 'exaggerated' without rigorous scientific evidence, could have important implications for men, including insufficient provision of care."

Men's weaker immune system could

allow them to invest their energy in other biological processes, such as growth, secondary sex characteristics, and reproduction.

Prof Sue added: "Lying on the couch, not getting out of bed, or receiving assistance with activities of daily living could also be evolutionary behaviours that protect against predators.

"Perhaps now is the time for male friendly spaces, equipped with enormous televisions and reclining chairs, to be set up where men can recover from the debilitating effects of man flu in safety and comfort."

advertising feature

33

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34

Puzzles Code Breaker

You are very unsure what part you have to play in a situation that could be veering out of control. In hindsight you would never have got involved in the first place; but since you are then you have to see things through. Make sure that your own true feelings are known by those who are relying on your discretion.

Word Pyramid

12

This is a great time for planning some short term projects as you are finally getting your act together. Your creativity nurtures others who will, in turn, be influenced and inspired by your achievements. The Uranus direct brings timbre to your every success, so let it all happen, it’s finally the start of something both new and exciting.

The Venus conjunction with Pluto brings you a blessing in disguise. It seems that something has to go wrong to let you know your options right now. Sometimes it is how you put things right that really show you best where you are and what you are standing up for. All will be well, love will triumph over conflict!

Mars sextiles Pluto and this is the strength that you need to make that final push. Your recent decision was a risk that you took, and this week you will be very relieved to see what an impact it has made. At the start of a New Year know that all this could be just a drop in the ocean compared with what good is about to come.

As the Sun sextiles Mars, you may think that this is a same old start to yet another year. Sure this January things will drag, but this week is the time to sow the seed, and out there in the future you will reap reward. Don’t stay silent when you know things have to be said. Mars inspires and protects all aspects of love.

Transparency is the only way. You cannot live a lie and why should you? This week is thwart with changes to schedules and petty irritating matters of little concern.

You may feel as if you are being tested, but all will be revealed to you soon. Everything is building you the strongest defence if you just let things lie. Be patient.

The Mercury trine with Uranus sees you finally spilling the beans. You have been keeping yourself to yourself and for absolutely no reason. What has to be said, has to be said and this week just see what a difference reveal makes to your situation. Let those who support you do their job, they know the truth!

Accept that you are ascending in your inert spiritual wisdom. This is working with your inner self to channel energies into a new way of operating. Far from being change for changes sake, this is a way to see your talents respected and your beliefs accepted as you have to move on up and take on what now comes your way!

R

O I

C

Word Wheel There is 1x9 letter word and 117 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!

Someone has been there in the corner of your eye, sending you a message of love; so have fun getting together and let things happen. The current silence gets you nowhere. You are starting off a new year as you wish it to continue, and this year is a time for your inner you to shine through and bring you all that your heart desires!

Listen to your heart and you cannot go wrong. Saturn will keep you grounded and balanced right now in work or in domestic duties. You enjoy your routines but let things happen this week as a welcome change to the daily tasks occupies your time, and opens you up to do what it is you really want to do right now.

T

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.

Let others take centre stage this week as the Moon resides in Scorpio and you have a hidden agenda to follow.

Give into the whims of others, if you have to, but know that some kind of reward is coming your way very soon.

Seeing something from another distant angle brings you to your senses, yes, you were right all along!

Take time away from domestic issues, but do not bury your head in the sand because it takes two to tango! You are impetuous and wanting to bring about changes, but do you really know what this is really about? You should know what you do, but do you? Compromise is not an option, nor is it an excuse.

N

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 19 represents C and 20 represents M. 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 Why are horoscopes always different in every paper? Surely they should all be the same?

Marcus K.

WORD fit

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

Well, Marcus, it would be very boring if we all thought alike. Within the constancy and consistency of the Cosmos, an astrologer picks up on aspects and works within their own concepts to predict, as indeed I do. Because our Science is governed by astrological bodies and their transits, so we can, and do, each of us, home into aspects we wish to focus on. My weekly casting is my interpretation of events that are poignant to my readers each and every week. Many newspapers now select horoscopes issued by computers.

The RTN brings you, weekly, a live casting especially for the Costa Blanca, and that makes such a difference! www.kennycorris.net kennycorris@hotmail.com

Don't forget to email or message me with your Postbag Questions!. Check out my new website: www.kennycorris.net

For Birthday Celebrants See the New Year in context of where you were and now where you are. The journey for you can be complex, but

you like it that way; and you can accept challenge with

open arms. Reward seems long overdue, but don't give up on a good year!

3 LETTERS CBS IRE KIN LEA LEE MBA OER ORE PER TEL TTY YET 4 LETTERS AGEE AKIN ANNE CAMP DEAR FLAM ICON

IDLE LAIR MAST MELT METE NOEL OLAV OPEN OSLO PEER RISE SEAN SERA THIS TOOT TORN YALE 5 LETTERS ADORE AGATE ALOHA

ARENT BEEBE CLOMP EERIE INAPT METER MINOR PERIL QUAKE REPEL SARAN SLEEP SPIKY TENSE UNTIL 6 LETTERS ARISEN AUNTIE CLEVER FUNNEL MUTTER

NOTION QUIVER VENEER 7 LETTERS CANTEEN CONSIGN EMANATE EMINENT GROMMET LACERTA LATERAL LEANDER MELANIN MEMENTO NANETTE ONETIME VARIATE VENISON

More Puzzles

Cryptic

ACROSS 1 Part of mouth that’s hit by very angry person (4) 3 It discharges a spray or emits a fluid (8) 9 Play outside church with old Greek coin (7) 10 Drink containing very soft fruit (5) 11 City said to be pink (5) 12 Restless ladies went on a voyage (6) 14 Little bird and I got little nuts (4-6,3) 17 Sue is a funny person from down under (6) 19 Where snooker player may put chalk when expected (2,3) 22 Jack goes in car to find Scandinavian inlet (5) 23 Tavern drink, we hear, for one with access to confidential information (7) 24 Hedger’s response upset nosy dean (3,0,3,2) 25 Crazy about eastern drink made from honey (4) DOWN 1 Detectives I upset with regulation about mockery (8) 2 Network’s first to plug old tune that’s being broadcast (2,3) 4 Serbian trains working for this railway? (5-8) 5 This writer’s turning up twice outside a US city (5) 6 Wise eccentric in panties (7) 7 Bambi, for example, turning up in tall grass (4) 8 Talk about the French holiday accommodation (6) 13 The elder sort of English king (8) 15 Nerve cells that could make nose run (7) 16 As a self-centred person, I get so wound up (6) 18 Country star accepting Russian agreement (5) 20 Chandler, oddly, holds good sponge (5) 21 Dubious moment when leader disappears (4)

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

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

Quiz 1 The drink Tequila is made from: Sugar-cane; Aloe vera; Blue Agave; or Cactus?

2 Which one of these is not a record-player speed? 33; 45; 78; or 96?

3 Saponification produces: Rubber; Soap; Tomato ketchup; or Human babies?

4 The Latin terms ‘(summa/magna) cum laude’ refer to levels of distinction for: Academic degrees; N American driving licences; Champagne quality; or Cheese curing certification?

5 Which one of the following does not apply to stingray creatures: Edible; Venomous; Fish; or Tree-climbing?

6 The Cockney rhyming slang ‘Bread’, meaning money, is fully ‘Bread and...’ what?

7 De La Rue is a famous international maker of: Cigars; Pens; Saddles; or Banknotes?

8 Letter, Legal, Executive, Ledger/Tabloid are N American: Lawyer grades; Paper sizes; Postal delivery classes; or Official shades of black inks?

9 Nacreous means: Hot; Dull; Pearlescent; or Smelly?

10 The US-originating term ‘prom’ (school dance) is an informal abbreviation of: Promotion; Promenade; Promise; or Promiscuous?

ACROSS 1 Inquisitive (7) 5 Hebrew prophet and lawgiver (5) 8 Alloy of copper and zinc (5) 9 Violent whirling windstorm (7) 10 Green salad plant (7) 11 Vegetables associated with Wales (5) 12 Slice of bacon (6) 14 Noisy disturbance (6) 18 Truck (5) 20 Feather or ribbon on military headwear (7) 22 Married (anag.) (7) 23 Gentleman’s gentleman (5) 24 Measureless chasm (5) 25 Long-lasting (7)

DOWN 1 Mender of shoes (7) 2 Cook in an oven (5) 3 Unclear (7) 4 Sofa (6) 5 Wall painting (5) 6 Drastic reorganisation 5-2) 7 Footwear (5) 13 Rough cider (7) 15 Expose (7) 16 Emblem of royalty (7) 17 Afraid (6) 18 Long-necked woolly animal (5) 19 World War I battle (5) 21 Extemporise (2-3)

Last Weeks Solutions on page 42

36

More Puzzles

Giant Crossword Across

57. Freight (5) 58. Reproduction (7) 59. Patron (7) 61. Irritated (7) 62. Tight (4) 64. Cut (10) 67. Held sacred (9) 69. Hoard (5) 70. Pragmatic (9) 72. Dig (5) 73. Accumulated (9) 74. Superimposed (7)

1. Vegetable (7) 5. Blandished (9) 9. Titled peer (5) 13. Remember (9) 14. Units of time (5) 15. Escapade (9) 16. The study of insects (10) 18. Ship’s steering device (4) 19. Cautious (7) 22. Entourage (7) 23. Lands surrounded by water (7) 24. Piece of furniture (5) 25. Rescued (5) 26. Mythical beast (7) 28. Olfactory organ (4) 29. Lets in (6) 31. Nipped (7) 33. Wrong (9) 35. Lower limit (7) 38. Skilful (5) 39. Up-to-date (6) 40. Fraudulence (6) 42. Ringlets (5) 45. Not paid on time (7) 47. Inventions (9) 49. Memory loss (7) 50. Phsically strong (6) 52. Grain store (4) 54. Candidate (7) 55. Cake topping (5) 1

2

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1. Theft (7) 2. Implied (5) 3. Without bounds (9) 4. The night before (3) 5. Weariness (7) 6. Dull pain (4) 7. Cease-fire (5) 8. Similarity in appearance (11) 9. Month, in short (3) 10. Gained (9) 11. Equipoise (11) 12. Adolescents (9) 15. Dialects (7) 17. Lackadaisical (7) 20. Hazard (4) 21. Bills (8) 22. Income (7) 23. Disregard (6) 4

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Jumbo Quiz

25. Female singing voice (7) 27. Insanely irresponsible (7) 30. Leave out (4) 32. Detested (5) 34. Perfidy (7) 36. Synthetic fabric (5) 37. Type of horse (7) 39. Security interest (4) 41. Tremendous (8) 43. Teller (7) 44. Part of a poem (6) 46. Abashed (11) 48. Conceited (11) 49. Wondrous (7) 50. Advocate (9) 51. Villain (9) 53. Hindered (7) 55. Immediately (9) 56. Quarry (4) 59. Exchanged (7) 60. Ignited (7) 63. Male relative (5) 65. Become liable to (5) 66. Dexterous (4) 68. Indicating maiden name (3) 71. Whole (3) 10

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1 Which famous London railway station is located on a bridge over the River Thames: Blackfriars; London Bridge; Kings Cross; or Waterloo?

2 ‘Lorem ipsum’ (from Latin delorem ipsum, ‘pain itself’’) is: Red cabbage; Legal term for theft; The period/full stop; or Jumbled Latin ‘placeholder’ text in draft documents/graphics?

3 A troubadour (11-13thC France) was originally a: Bullfighter; Swordsman; Horseman; or Singing poet?

4 Czech Emil Zatopek (1922-2000) is a famously brilliant: Financier; Distance runner; Architect; or Psychiatrist?

5 What is the 2015-originating portmanteau term referring to the UK leaving the EU? 6 The German ‘dachshund’ means ‘(What?) dog’: Fox; Rabbit; Horse; or Badger?

7 The human hormone Ghrelin (also called Lenomorelin) is known as the ‘(What?) hormone’: Love; Hunger; Intelligence; or Laughing?

8 Acid rain is generally caused by which two of these emissions: Carbon dioxide; Sulphur dioxide; Nitrogen oxide; or Hydrogen cyanide?

9 Panama disease destroys what crop: Beetroot; Bananas; Strawberries; or Peas?

10 The UK billionaire called for Parliamentary questioning (2016) about his governance of the collapsed BHS company is Sir Philip: Green; Brown; Black; or Pink?

11 Professor Pat Pending, the Arkansas Chuggabug, and the Ant Hill Mob feature in which popular 1968-69 17-episode TV cartoon series?

12 Spell the typographical ‘star’ symbol: Asterix; Astorix; Asterisk; or Asterics?

13 The logo on the famous Victorinox Swiss Army pocket knife is a (What?) in a shield: Cross; Mountain; Knife; or Star?

14 The large 14-35inch elastic plastic exercise ball developed in 1963 by Aquilino Cosani, is called a (What?) ball: Swiss; Dutch; French; or Spanish?

15 The salad condiment comprising oil and vinegar, often reddened with parika and tomato, popularized/produced first in the 1950s is ‘(What?) dressing’: German; French; Power; or Croix?

16 Which newspaper remains shunned in Liverpool UK due to its grossly false reporting of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster?

17 Which two of these countries are not in Africa: Libya; Colombia; Sudan; Paraguay; Chad; or Angola?

18 What 1940s-originating word meaning ‘take a quick look around’ derives from British military slang from Arabic ‘safa’, ‘try to see’: Shifty; Shufti; Shafty; or Shanty?

19 An increasing human/animal health hazard in Europe is the ‘Oak Processionary (What?)’: Caterpillar; Mouse; Squirrel; or Woodpecker?

20 The ‘Tex-Mex’ dish fajita is a essentially (What?) in a (What?) (two answers required): Grilled meat; Boiled fish; Tomato; Rice pudding; Tortilla flatbread; or Potato omelette?

37

More Puzzles

Squiggly Soduku New Year Wordsearch CELEBRATION FIREWORKS JANUARY PARTY COUNTDOWN GATHERING MIDNIGHT RESOLUTION EXTRAVAGANZA INVITATION NOISEMAKER TRADITION

Number Fit

5975234635321448 3 DIGITS 070 077 106 261 466 477 658 728 734 4 DIGITS 0098 0285 0477 1137 1216 1405

Did you know?

1568 1702 1870 2498 2562 3099 3115 3178 3878 4549 4618 4703 4704 5587 5829 5961 6334 6456

Did you know 11% of people are left handed Did you know August has the highest percentage of births Did you know unless food is mixed with saliva you can’t taste it Did you know the average person falls asleep in 7 minutes Did you know a bear has 42 teeth Did you know an ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain Did you know lemons contain more sugar than strawberries Did you know 8% of people have an extra rib Did you know 85% of plant life is found in the ocean Did you know Ralph Lauren’s original name was Ralph Lifshitz Did you know rabbits like licorice Did you know the Hawaiian alphabet has 13 letters

6518 6838 6895 7403 7487 7974 9607 9648 5 DIGITS 01777 01778 02693 05051 12621 16566 16854 17689

28252 40227 46024 49707 53617 56073 58516 61471 72558 74163 74403 75477 75814 80372 82348 85567 85904 86565

6 DIGITS 014723 041345 277853 411776 466245 589941 7 DIGITS 1685606 2153487 3039635 3481886 5825297 6586211 8748849

Did you know ‘Topolino’ is the name for Mickey Mouse Italy Did you know a lobsters blood is colorless but when exposed to oxygen it turns blue Did you know armadillos have 4 babies at a time and are all the same sex Did you know reindeer like bananas Did you know the longest recorded flight of a chicken was 13 seconds Did you know birds need gravity to swallow Did you know the most commonly used letter in the alphabet is E Did you know the 3 most common languages in the world are Mandarin Chinese, Spanish and English

38

24 feb - 2 march 2017

food & drink

The best New Year´s detox recipes With the festive celebrations well and truly over, now is the time many look forward to the New Year with a feeling that they need to put the excess of the last few weeks behind them and start a fresh, to cleanse their souls and detox their bodies. A great way to start is with a few new and healthier recipes.

Green Smoothies INGREDIENTS: 3 cups frozen diced pineapple 3 cups fresh baby spinach 1 cup frozen diced banana 1 celery rib (optional) 1 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger (start with less and add more if desired) 1 Tbsp. chia seeds juice from half a lime

Ultimate Detox Salad INGREDIENTS: 1/3 cup Grapeseed Oil 1/2 cup Lemon Juice, Fresh 1 tablespoon Fresh Ginger, Peeled and grated 2 teaspoons Whole Grain Mustard 2 teaspoons Pure Maple Syrup, Optional 1/4 teaspoon Salt, Or to taste For the salad: 2 cups Dinosaur Kale, Tightly packed and thinly sliced 2 cups Red Cabbage, Thinly sliced 2 cups Broccoli Florets 2 large Carrots, Peeled and grated 1 Red Bell Pepper, Sliced into matchsticks 2 Avocados, Peeled and diced 1/2 cup Fresh Parsley, Chopped 1 cup Walnuts 1 tablespoon Sesame Seeds DIRECTIONS: Whisk together all ingredients for the dressing (or put everything in a small blender and blend) and set aside until ready to use.

Add the kale, cabbage, broccoli, bell pepper, and carrots to a large serving bowl.

Pour desired amount of dressing over the salad and toss until everything is coated.

Add the parsley, diced avocado, sesame seeds and walnuts and toss again.

Serve as an entrée salad or as a side salad to your favorite meal.

DIRECTIONS: Combine all ingredients in a blender and pulse until smooth.

Add a little water or juice if needed to help the blender blend.

Pumpkin Papaya Superfood Açaí Bowl

Ingredients to blend: 1 unsweetend açaí smoothie pack (Tambor Acai can be used) 1/2 can organic pumpkin (or 1/2 cup baked pumpkin, chopped in cubes) 1/2 cup papaya 1/2 ripe banana 1 tbs. maca for energy boost 1 tbs. pumpkin spice 1 cup almond milk Toppings: granola, remaining banana, papaya, cashews, goji berries and pomegranate seeds.

Indulge slowly. Always eat with love – it makes everything taste even better!

Cherry Chia Seed Pudding Ingredients For the pudding: 2 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk 1/2 cup bing cherries, pitted and halved 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom 1 teaspoon SweetLeaf Stevia 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 cup chia seeds For the cashew cream: 1/4 cup of cashews 1/4 cup bing cherries, pitted and halved

2 tablespoons cold water 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/8 teaspoon SweetLeaf Stevia

DIRECTIONS: Blend milk, cherries, cardamom, Stevia and vanilla together in a blender on high until smooth. Pour the cherry mixture over chia seeds and whisk thoroughly. Let rest for 5 minutes then stir again. After 10 minutes, stir again. Cover and refrigerate at least

3 hours or overnight.

Soak the cashews in water and also refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight.

To make the cream, blend the cherries in a blender until you have a smooth puree. Drain and rinse the soaked cashews and add to the blender along with cold water. Blend until the cashews are liquefied, and have a smooth texture. Add vanilla and Stevia and blend until well combined.

Before serving, give the pudding a good stir and divide into 4 cups; top with cream and more cherries.

24 feb - 2 march 2017

39

food & drink

Spanish roast lamb Preparation time – 10 minutes.

Cooking time – 120 minutes

ients I n g rueckd ling Lamb

1/2 s g of lamb) (or large le s, tely 9-11 lb approxima elted 6 oz lard, m ), il if desired o e v li o te d, (substitu toes, peele ta o p 0 1 8 to salt to taste

Method

1. In a small saucepan, heat the lard until it melts. If you prefer, use a small bowl and heat in microwave oven.

2. Heat oven to 400ºF. 3. Rinse the lamb and pat dry. Trim off excess fat and discard.

4. Place lamb in the roasting pan or another oven-proof dish. (Traditionally,

the lamb. Baste with lard when you baste the lamb.

7. The amount of time that the lamb spends in the oven will depend on how thick the piece(s) of meat are. A good rule of thumb for a bone-in leg of lamb at 400ºF is to allow about 30 minutes roasting time per pound of lamb.

Chicken and mushroom pie Prep. Time – 45 mins. Cook time – 30 mins Ingredients

Method 1. Heat the oil in a large, non-stick frying pan. Season the chicken to taste and fry for 5-8 mins until golden brown, turning occasionally. You may need to do this in two batches, depending on the size of your pan. Lift the chicken onto a plate and tip the bacon into the pan. Fry for 5 mins until crisp. Add the onion, mushrooms and thyme, then fry on a high heat for another

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups butter or lard, 1 cup vegetable oil, 1 2/3 cups granulated sugar 4 large egg yolks, 2 shots of anise, 1 lemon peel (grated), 2 tablespoons lemon juice (juice of 1 lemon), 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 7 1/4 cups plain white flour, 1/2 tsp. baking soda.

1 large egg white (beaten for glaze)

Method

the Spanish use large, open clay dishes).

Rub the lamb with salt and baste with the melted lard.

5. Place in oven to roast. Occasionally baste with large and turn until lamb is golden brown on the outside and meat is tender.

6. Peel 8-10 small potatoes and cut in half. Place in the roasting pan around

1 tbsp vegetable oil 8 skinless boneless chicken thighs 8 rashers smoked streaky bacon, cut into large pieces 1 onion, halved and sliced 250g pack baby button mushrooms handful thyme sprigs 2 tbsp plain flour 400ml chicken stock 200ml milk 500g pack fresh puff pastry, or frozen and defrosted 1 egg beaten

Mantecados

3 mins until the onions start to colour.

2. Tip the flour into the pan and cook, stirring, for 1 min. With the pan off the heat, gradually stir or whisk in the stock, followed by the milk, then add the chicken back to the pan. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 30 mins. Spoon the filling into a large pie or baking dish (approx 20 x 30cm) with a lip and leave to cool.

3. Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. On a floured surface, roll the pastry to the thickness of two £1 coins. Cut a long strip as wide as the rim of the pie dish and, using a little of the egg, fix to the edge of the pie dish. Brush with egg, then lift the rest of the pastry over the pie, using the rolling pin to help. Gently press the edges with your fingers and trim with a sharp knife. Brush lightly with egg to glaze, then bake for 30 mins or until the pastry is risen and dark golden brown.

1. Preheat oven to 325ºF. 2. In a very large mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to whip the butter or lard with the oil. Add the sugar and mix until smooth. Add the egg yolks, anise, lemon peel, lemon juice and cinnamon and mix together.

3. Add flour one cup at a time to the mixture, and then add baking soda. Be sure to mix well. The dough should be very smooth and soft.

4. Using a teaspoon, scoop out a dollop of dough. Form balls about the size of walnuts using your hands. If the dough is too sticky to roll into balls, mix in additional flour (from 1/4 to 1/2 cup).

5. Place balls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Lightly press down on each ball to flatten slightly. Brush the beaten egg white on the top of each cookie. Bake cookies until they begin to turn light brown on the bottom edges, about 15 to 20 minutes.

6. Let the cookies cool 5 minutes before removing from the cookie sheet, as they are very delicate.

Preparation Time – 20 minutes. Cooking time – 20 minutes

40

home & garden

Don’t neglect your decking Your decking has worked hard all summer. Now is the time to give it a little TLC before winter sets in. RTN have the tips you need to prepare your decking for winter, ensuring its beauty and function for years to come.

Tip #1: Loose nails that are exposed above the decking’s surface create hazards, especially for children and pets. If you have wooden decking, drag the back of a rake across the boards to find any protruding nail heads. Hammer them down, or replace them with galvanized screws that are approximately ½-inch longer than the original nails.

Decking made of other materials should not experience a loosening of nails. However, if you desire a smooth surface that is completely free of any type of fasteners, consider a woodalternative material for the ultimate clean and worry-free appearance.

Tip #2: Scuffs and abrasions accumulated during the summer from furniture or

foot traffic are easily acquired and can mar the beauty of your decking’s surface. To keep wood decking looking good as new, it’s important to wash, stain and seal it in advance of the arrival of warm weather, as the process can take several weeks and may require the use of heavy equipment such as a power washer.

Tip #3: BBQ sauce is delicious, but not when the leftovers from a summer cookout are coating your decking. In fact, oil and grease stains can be downright unappetising, especially if they’re set-in.

For wooden decking, try to scrub the stain with a household de-greasing agent as soon as it occurs. Use an automotive degreaser or a carburetor cleaner, and rinse immediately with hot water.

For composite decking, food and drink spills wash off easily with just soap and water.

Tip #4: Mould and mildew can grow on any exterior surface – especially on decking where water is allowed to stand or to puddle under potted plants. Sweeping away pools of water and periodically cleaning the decking surface creates a first line of defence against mould and mildew.

These actions prevent the creation of an environment that promotes the growth of fungus. In addition, wooden decking need to be sealed twice a year to protect against other types of moisture damage, such as rotting planks, which can make it unsafe for kids and pets.

41

electrical repairs

architect 251843

structural

surveys

Mark Paddon BSc Hons. MCIOB. CAAT.

Property buyer’s surveys and expert defects diagnosis

locksmith

962 807 247 653 733 066 www.surveyorscostablanca.com ALARMS

ALARMS & CCTV: All types, quality systems, very reasonable, guaranteed.

Tel: 966 797 370 / 662 243 099 bathrooms

Bathroom Conversions Costa Blanca, contact 698 320 434 (260101) Boating

motoring

Yacht share for sale.

7m day sailing boat with cabin. Moored in marina on Mar Menor. Well established group that will crew and help you gain experience. €2,200 Email: peter.ewers@outlook.com Text: 0044 789 900 7646 (240992) BUILDING SERVICES

J & J PAINTERS. Inside outside - clean - fast - low cost. Torrevieja - Orihuela Costa and surrounding areas. Tel: 650 363 159 ALL types of construction services, reforms, reconstruction: kitchens, bathrooms, roofs, tiling, floors, plasterboard, bricklaying, plumbing & facades. Reasonable Prices.

Torrevieja & surrounding areas. Call 672 929 913 any time CARAVANS FOR SALE

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

LA SIESTA EVANGELICAL CHURCH on Urbanisation La Siesta, Torrevieja is a friendly, English speaking Church. We hold services each Sunday and everyone is welcome. Our 11.00 am Services are held every 2nd and 4th Sunday in the month (and 11.00 am on the 5th Sunday, if this applies.) On the 1st and

3rd Sunday’s our Services are at 9.30 am. Our choir sings at our 11.00 am Services and there is also a Sunday School, called Stepping Stones, on these Sundays.

We welcome residents, visitors and children.

For more information see our website www. lasiestaevangelicalchurch. org or telephone Pastor Keith on 666 180 108.

usually something there for everyone --- but not always.

Charitable donations have recently been made to The Alzheimers Centre, Cancer Research and The Amigos Ambulance Service. We still need your help with donations etc. Please keep them coming in! We are situated on Avenida Del Furs close to the Fountain Roundabout and immediate left by Don Colchon bed shop.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IS ALCOHOL COSTING YOU MORE THAN MONEY? Drinking to excess not only affects your health it can spill over into every other aspect of your life – damaging everything that is important to you. English-speaking AA meetings are held throughout the Costa Blanca from Valencia City to Murcia. Anyone wishing to attend a meeting or discuss a possible drinking problem contact Costa Blanca North: *648 169 045* or Costa Blanca South: *625 912 078* or Costa Calida *679 385 105*. All calls are treated in the strictest confidence. AA in German: 645 456 075; Spanish: 679 212 535; Flemish: 635 047 053; and Scandinavian: 659 779 222. www.aa-costablanca.org (93323)

THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Orihuela Costa - covering from Punta Prima to San Javier. The branch meets at Olympia restaurant, Mil Palmeras on 3rd Thursday of each month at 19.00 19.30pm. More info can be found on branch website www.orihuelacostarbl.co.uk.

Alcoholics anonymous Our meetings currently are held on Wednesday evenings in Cañada de Gallego, near Mazarrón.

From next week (w/c 3rd September) they will be moving to Thursday evenings. So the first Thursday meeting will be on 7th September at 5.30pm.

Meetings are one hour. Your readers (visitors or others who think they may have a problem with alcohol) can obtain details by calling our helpline on 646 290 420.

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

THE ANGLICAN CHURCH, La Fustera. For more info: contact Frank Bentley on 966 495 188 CANCER SUPPORT GROUP (MABS) MURCIA/MAR MENOR Help and support is just a phone call away, Avda Rio Nalón, Tel: Sylvia 633 306 035 TORREVIEJA Christian Fellowship (TCF) is an English speaking lively church located at Avenida de las Valencianas 68, Torrevieja 03183. Residents and holidaymakers are welcome to attend our services with communion and ‘kids church’ each Sunday at 10.30am.

We have a Fellowship Meeting (Bible Study) each Wednesday at 6.00pm. For further information see our website www.tcf-Spain.org or tel 966 700 391. stroke Association Spain formally torrevieja stroke support.

Meets each Wednesday and Friday 14.30 till 17.00.

Casa de cultura Benijofar.

Our aim is to support and rehabilitate stroke survivors and their carers. Speech Therapy and physiotherapy.

Carers meetings etc more info please contact Suzanne 654 801 260. strokesupportgroup@ hotmail.com Donations for our car boot appreciated.

THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Gran Alacant & La Marina Branch meets First Monday of the month 18:00 at “La Taberna next to Monte & Mar Restaurant & Bowls Club, Plaza Mayor (MASA Square) Gran Alacant. granalacant.secretary@ gmail.com CHIMNEY SWEEP

PROFESSIONAL CHIMNEY SWEEP. Family Business established over 60 years.

660 478 881 DAMP

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

MR FIXIT. For all your electrical, plumbing, general & appliance & boiler repairs. No call out charge. 698 320 434 (260205) INSURANCE & iNVESTMENTS

BENEFICAL INSURANCE SERVICES. Car, Home, Business, Travel, Life, Funeral, all insurances available. Policies in English.

BEST rates, covers & service.

Immediate quotes. Tel 961 129 215 / 622 275 561, (whatsapp) info@ beneficialinsuranceinspain. com or visit www. beneficialinsuranceinspain. com for online quote.

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42 SOS www.sosinsuranceinspain. com Insurance in Spain. Best prices available. CALL US FIRST for all your insurance needs, including best deals on Funeral plans. Buildings and contents cover from just 82 euros per year and cars from 120 euros. Tel 966 787 123 / 622 275 561 / 686 116 297 / email info@sosinsuranceinspain. com INTERNET

GET YOUR business noticed online! Make sure that expats in Spain can find your product, service, restaurant, bar or shop.

Contact Spain’s newest and brightest online directory TODAY. Call 952 561 245 or email mark.w@ euroweeklynews.com for more details.

METALWORK

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

ALL METAL WORK UNDERTAKEN. Costa Calida. stan@eriksmetalwork.com.

636 050 008.

to DONATE please call 965 967 033 or sales@easyhorsecare.net www.easyhorsecare.net or call Sue 652 021 980

MOTORING

WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market.

For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 902 123 309.

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touch. Pets carried with care 965 696 750 / 0044 (0) 7447 918 589 e-mail chrisyounge73979@aol. com

PLUMBING

FIELD SALES positions

general & appliance &

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REMOVALS AND STORAGE

PROPERTY FOR SALE

CIUDAD QUESEDA Villa 500m2 plot, 4 double bedrooms, large bathroom and shower room. Large Balcony, Cloakroom, lounge dinner, large kitchen (white goods included). Oil central heating though out. Double glazed conservatory, car port. 10x8 solar heated

PET CHARITIES

Spanish preferred, but not

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MAN AND VAN UK - Spain.

2 vans travelling twice a month, Murcia - North / South UK. Storage in Spain.

Tel 610 846 260 or 0044 751 918 6355 email van.man@hotmail.co.uk

Applications by email with full CV should be sent to

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contempo contempt emoticon epitomic impotent pentomic pimiento competition

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Quick Solution

Soduku Solution

Word Ladder

FOODS POODS POONS POWNS POWND

Codebreaker Solution

Cryptic Solution

transport, English and

Torrevieja / Orihuela Costa

POOL MAINTENANCE

EASYHORSE CARE RESCUE CENTRE. We aim to rescue HORSES. If you would like

658 965 204 or email

Sales rep required for

POOLS

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

Sandra on

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PERGOLA COVERS

Passport required. Contact

situations vacant

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43 TELECOMS

FED UP PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR MOBILE PHONE CALLS? THEN CONTACT TELITEC TODAY.

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CALLS TO SPAIN 7C PER MINUTE INCLUDING MOBILES. CALLS TO UK 5.3C PER MINUTE. NO MONTHLY FEES, NO CONTRACT. WWW.TELITEC. COM TEL: 902 889 070 (0) WANTED

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Blanca

BLANCA Pointer/Staffy cross.

She mixes well with other dogs , likes people and is obedient. She also has an amazing personality and is very intelligent.. She has been spayed. D.O.B Approx Sept 2009.

Boris Boris was rescued off the street with a horrendous facial injury. He was restored to good health by APAH, who are now hoping to find a loving home for him. A real

character, Boris is a cat who thinks he’s a dog. He has loads of love to give and would follow his new owner everywhere, but he does need to be the only pet. To arrange to meet Boris, please call APAH today.

Marta Marta - D.O.B.APPROX OCTOBER 2010 Marta is a beautiful black and tan German Shepherd cross, medium sized.

She is a very gentle and affectionate dog and would be very loyal to her owners. he is good with other dogs and very shy towards people to start with.

Ria Ria is a 9 month old German Shepherd and was found on the streets. She is in excellent health, good with other dogs and loves attention

44

motoring

Honda picks up two coveted annual awards HONDA has triumphed at the inaugural Workshop Magazine awards, picking up Car of the Year with the Jazz and the coveted Manufacturer of the Year.

Readers voting for the Jazz praised the car’s logical design which makes it simple to repair. It was also noted that parts are readily available from Honda. Similarly, the manufacturer of the year was voted for by readers and Honda was commended for its efficiency and strong relationships with workshops.

Aimed at garage owners, managers and automotive technicians, Workshop magazine held its first awards at the Brewery in London celebrating and recognising the best and brightest in the industry.

The current Jazz builds on the strong reputation of its highly successful predecessors. The global car, also known as the ‘Fit’ in some markets, has sold over 5,000,000 units worldwide since the first generation model was introduced in 2001.The model will receive a facelift in the New Year with a the 1.5 i-VTEC engine being added to the range alongside new trim levels.

“We had feedback from a lot of garages all

praising the Honda Jazz for being easy to work on, reliable and for Honda itself when it comes to getting parts for it,” said Rebecca Chaplin, Head of Editorial at Blackball Media. “It was a tough contest but nothing else could quite match it!

“Equally, Honda should be delighted with the manufacturer of the year award because it’s a testament to what the workshop industry believes is the best manufacturer to work with. Franchise and independent garages love working with Honda because, whether they need parts or support, it always come up trumps offering the best service for

BEST: Honda secure car and manufacturer of the year awards

workshops when they need it.”

“With both of these awards being voted for by the readers of Workshop magazine, it makes them all the more powerful and all the

2015 SEAT IBIZA 1.2i ADVANCE 5-door one owner from New 56,000kms metallic blue AUX plug in etc 10,995 2015 FORD FIESTA 1.25 TREND PLUS 5-door Silver paint USB Climate control Multi function steering wheel 34,000kms 9,500€.

2015 FIAT 500 1.2 LOUNGE air-con, CD/radio with USB, city steering, 65,000kms. Like New with Sport interior 8,995€ 2015 MITSUBISHI SPACESTAR 1.0 Bluedrive with cd radio 5-door Aircon finished in red metallic perfect holiday home Car 7,995€.

2014 CITROEN DS4 STYLE PLUS 1.6i with Park assist, Auto lights/wipers Climate Cruise ONLY 3000kms.

NEW PRICE 23.449€ 2013 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE 2.0 AUTOMATIC in Cherry red paintwork 28,000kms like new condition A/C 6 CD 10,500€ 2013 FIAT PANDA 1.2 LOUNGE 5-door Beige paintwork 62,000kms electric windows Aircon great little holiday home cars 6,800€.

2011 LEXUS CT200h 1.8i Petrol and ELECTRIC HYBRID Mila metallic with beige trim 17” Alloys with comfort pack AUTOMATIC 12,995€.

2011 PORSCHE CAYENNE TURBO 4.8 Twin Turbo full Porsche options Service history 63,000kms 8-speed Automatic.

59,995€ 2010 NISSAN QASHQAI TEKNA 1.5DCi 110bhp 6-speed gearbox unmarked gunmetal paintwork 104,000KMS easy to get into 9,995€.

2005 FORD FOCUS 1.6i TREND 5-door 103,000kms in excellent condition New tyres etc récent service perfect holiday home car

2006 SUBARU IMPREZA 2.5 WRX TYPE UK270 lots of new parts with new engine rebuild superb 4x4 limited edition PRODRIVE Car 1998 MERCEDES A-CLASS A160 1.6i AVANGARDE 169,000kms 5-door Climate control new Tyres new ITV perfect holiday home car.

1994 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STi ACROPOLIS edition, no 20 of 100 hand-built cars, 68,000miles.

Was14,995€ 1973 SEAT 600L in cherry red paint work in original condition very clean for its age ... appreciating classic. !!

more special with Honda being recognised by those at the sharp end on the tools in the workshop,” added Phil Webb, Head of Car at Honda UK.

8,800€ 8,495€ 7,995€ 7,500€ 12,995€ 8,500€ 5,995€ 11,995€ 58,000€ 9,500€ 5,495€ 9,995€ 2,300€ 12,995€ 4,995€

45

motoring

When driving technology gets inside the brain

NISSAN unveiled research this week that will enable vehicles to interpret signals from the driver’s brain, redefining how people interact with their cars.

The company’s Brain-to-Vehicle, or B2V, technology promises to speed up reaction times for drivers and will lead to cars that keep adapting to make driving more enjoyable.

Nissan will demonstrate capabilities of this exclusive technology at the CES 2018 trade show in Las Vegas. B2V is the latest development in Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the company’s vision for transforming how cars are driven, powered and integrated into society.

“When most people think about autonomous driving, they have a very impersonal vision of the future, where humans relinquish control to the machines. Yet B2V technology does the opposite, by using signals from their own brain to make the drive even more exciting and enjoyable,” said Nissan Executive Vice President Daniele Schillaci. “Through Nissan Intelligent Mobility, we are moving people to a better world by delivering more autonomy, more electrification and more connectivity.”

This breakthrough from Nissan is the result of research into using brain decoding technology to predict a driver’s actions and detect discomfort: Predict: By catching signs that the driver’s brain is about to initiate a movement – such as turning the steering wheel or pushing the accelerator pedal – driver assist technologies can begin the action more quickly. This can improve reaction times and enhance manual driving.

UNIQUE: Nissan’s technology is the first of its kind Detect: By detecting and evaluating driver discomfort, artificial intelligence can change the driving configuration or driving style when in autonomous mode.

Other possible uses include adjusting the vehicle’s internal environment, said Dr. Lucian Gheorghe, senior innovation researcher at the Nissan Research Center in Japan, who’s leading the B2V research. For example, the technology can use augmented reality to adjust what the driver sees and create a more relaxing environment.

“The potential applications of the technology are

incredible,” Gheorghe said. “This research will be a catalyst for more Nissan innovation inside our vehicles in the years to come.”

Nissan’s B2V technology is the world’s first system of its kind. The driver wears a device that measures brain wave activity, which is then analyzed by autonomous systems.

By anticipating intended movement, the systems can take actions – such as turning the steering wheel or slowing the car – 0.2 to 0.5 seconds faster than the driver, while remaining largely imperceptible.

46

motoring

Tim Saunders Motoring journalist www.testdrives.biz

Peugeot 3008 When I take delivery of the Peugeot 3008 SUV (sports utility vehicle) I have a schedule planned. It is going to Chichester, only 30 minutes from home, down the M27 and after that a more gruelling trip to Cornwall, some 240 miles away. This should give me a good idea of what this vehicle is about. Throw into the mix a trio of trouble: Harriett (6), Heidi (4) and Henry (1).

My little rascals get really excited when a vehicle is delivered and when they see the 3008 their eyes light up.

The burgundy finish gets a thumbs up and we all like the black roof and smattering of chrome. Looking closer the rear section reminds me of the Range Rover Evoque but there’s also a hint of the ‘70s about it with the way the panel under the glass swooshes up in a sort of curve. The chunky chrome exhausts at the rear and the black privacy glass, the large chrome grille at the front and the sizeable bonnet all help to give this mid range SUV character. And even some drivers of more expensive Land Rovers and Range Rovers double take, I notice. Inside it is dark due to the black roof fabric and dark interior trim. This is only really emphasised if, like me, you have been driving cars with large glass roofs. There’s a comfortable driving position and, as my

son Henry makes me realise when he stands in front of it, it sits quite high up.

Therefore, the driver enjoys a good view of the road ahead.

All controls are close to hand and the finish of the 3008 is good although the bonnet feels a little tinny to me.

Equipped with engine start/ stop this function pleasingly kicks in on a regular basis when stopping at traffic lights or when stuck in endless traffic jams but more of that later.

Our treks to Chichester go by without a hitch except for perhaps the reversing out of a tight parking space with a brick wall on the driver’s side. It becomes clear that there are blind spots and although the reversing camera does undoubtedly make life easier the driver still needs to proceed with extra caution when making tight manoeuvres. It soon becomes clear that the load carrying capacity is not large enough for the Saunders family, which is disappointing in a vehicle of this size. The boot just isn’t big enough for the various paraphernalia required for little Master Saunders: pram, pushchair and travel cot. It might be best, like in some Volvos, if the thin spare emergency tyre were removed and replaced with a puncture repair kit. This would certainly make for a deeper boot. The pushchair, which folds pretty tightly, slides

in beneath the girls’ feet in the rear while the pram and travel cot together with only two sets of luggage and some other smaller bags are crammed into the boot (with the parcel shelf removed).

This tight space makes us travel lighter but it’s still a struggle.

We set off for Cornwall at 10am on a Monday morning and it quickly becomes clear that this is a bad decision.

We have never seen so many roadworks and traffic jams.

It takes three hours for us to travel the 70 miles from our home in Hampshire to Dorchester in Dorset. It is only meant to take us four hours to travel to Cornwall.

So we are eventually able to stop to stretch our legs on the outskirts of Dorchester.

And boy do we all need it.

For the past 30 minutes little Henry has been exercising his larynx and my head is about to explode. He sits in his car seat in the middle of the rear seats and has discovered that he can pull his shoes and socks off and throw them at the poor old driver. I don’t blame him at all; this traffic is hell on earth.

We watch as motorists ahead of us get out of their cars to do stretches or have a cup of tea. In fact one looks like they’re having a picnic.

Britain’s roads just cannot cope. We really do start to wonder whether we should continue to Cornwall. After a nappy change and a quick

feed Henry is shoehorned back into his car seat… begrudgingly. Back on the road we go. So far we have not had chance to see what the 3008 is capable of and hope that the traffic is now freer flowing. It is for a bit. We get into sixth gear and it starts returning over 50mpg. I discover the cruise control on the bottom left behind the steering wheel and quickly find it easy to operate.

We finally get to Portreath in Cornwall after travelling for eight-and-a-half hours, absolutely shrivelled. During this time we have sat in more traffic jams and experienced sunshine, driving rain and high winds. The latter does buffet our French friend but we arrive unscathed. During our time in this fine county,

where we enjoy the odd pasty, we visit a number of fabulous beaches at Porthtowan and Portreath.

During these travels we encounter Cornwall’s typically narrow and often hilly roads and the 3008 really has to be worked hard to get up some of them. On occasions it is such a struggle there is nothing for it but to use first gear.

Overall we have enjoyed our time with the Peugeot and

although it is not perfect it does cope with family life and like an old friend, we all miss it.

Facts at a glance Peugeot 3008 SUV GT Line BlueHDi 120 M6 Price: €31,636 Engine: 1.6-litre Top speed: 188kph 0-100kph: 11.2secs Economy: 3.36 l/100km Watch the videos at www.testdrives.biz

´Unprecedented demand´ Volkswagen UK has halted sales of their hybrid

Golf GTE following huge demand and a backlog of orders.

The latest electric hybrid version of VW´s ever popular hatchback has been removed from sale because of a large and growing waiting list following ´unprecedented demand´ and a huge production backlog.

The success of this plug-in hybrid with it´s traditional petrol engine and electric motor

seems to have caught Volkswagen by surprise.

The move is to prevent the waiting list from growing beyond several months which the auto maker feels would be unacceptable.

This follows previous attempts by VW to meet the initial high demand by adding a second shift at it´s production facility to double output to 70 cars a day, up to 2,100 a month.

Other hybrid models offered by VW, such as the Passat GTE and other traditional Golf models are unaffected.

A Volkswagen spokesman stated: “Due to bottlenecks in production and in order to not impose unreasonable waiting times on our

customers for new car orders, temporarily the Golf GTE cannot be ordered. We will inform you as soon as this model is available to order again.”

Questions remain over the production bottle necks beyond the high demand as it´s reported only 7,500 Golf GTE cars were sold across Europe in 2017. A sales volume many expect one the world´s largest vehicle manufacturers to be able to meet.

The Golf GTE has a 1.4l TSI petrol engine and a 75kW electric motor with a 6 speed gearbox. With a range of 50km in all-electric mode and a total combined range of 880km.

Acceleration 0-80 km/h in 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 222km/h and a combined cycle fuel consumption of 1.8-1.6 l/100km.

24 feb - 2 march 2017

47

sport

Double blow for British pair

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 quiz-organiser and fund–raiser, for various charities.

FESTIVE SEASON RECAP Manchester City’s record-breaking 18-match winning run came to an end on New Year’s Eve when they drew 0-0 at Crystal Palace. Nevertheless, Pep Guardiola’s side still entered 2018 with a 12 point lead over neighbours United (recent 2-0 winners at Everton) at the top of the PL. Arsene Wenger’s record 811th Premiership game in charge of Arsenal ended in a 1-1 draw at West Brom, but the long-standing French boss wasn’t at all happy with referee Mike Dean’s decision to award Albion a late penalty. What about the blatant spot-kick not given against the Baggies earlier in the season at The Emirates, Mr. Grumpy?

MISSING: Both British No1 players out with worrying injuries JUST days after pulling out of the Brisbane International, Andy Murray confirmed that he would not be competing at the first Grand Slam of the year in Melbourne.

This is the second major tournament in a row that Murray has had to withdraw from, having pulled out of the US Open days before it started.

In a statement from Tennis Australia, Murray said: “Sadly I won’t be playing in Melbourne this year, as I am not yet ready to compete. I’ll be flying home shortly to assess all the options but I appreciate all the messages of support and I hope to be back playing soon.”

After his withdrawal from Brisbane, Murray posted an emotional message on Instagram indicating just how desperate he is to return to the court, where he also hinted that maybe surgery now was an option he would have to consider.

Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley said: “We are fully aware that Andy has been going through a difficult period with his

hip and that he’s done everything possible to prepare for the Australian summer.

“Personally, I also know that Andy loves tennis and would do anything to play. This is a very hard decision for Andy and we totally respect it.

“We wish him the absolute best on his road to recovery and look forward to having him back in Melbourne. He is a true champion and one of our favourites.”

Andy Murray isn’t the only British tennis star to withdraw from tournaments down under as Johanna Konta has followed suit after retiring from the Brisbane International during her quarter-final match against No3 seed Elina Svitolina.

As reported by WTATennis.com, Konta said, after the match: “I don’t feel too comfortable saying really too much because, actually, I don’t know yet until tomorrow morning,” the former Wimbledon semi-finalist said after the match. “But hopefully it’s nothing more than a low-grade strain and more muscle spasm more than anything.”

Nothing ruled out in Real Madrid’s transfer window REAL MADRID manager Zinedine Zidane has not ruled out the club making signings in the January transfer window by stating ‘anything can happen’.

The French boss was speaking after being questioned on a possible move for Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper and Spain international Kepa Arrizabalaga, with whom Madrid have been heavily linked.

“We only think about our own players and Kepa is not a Madrid player, so it is simple,” Zidane said on Wednesday.

“I discuss everything with the president (Florentino Perez) and yes maybe that was also about reinforcements.

“But we have not signed anyone at the moment, although anything can happen until the end of January.

“Anything is possible, we might sign somebody but we do not want any exits from this squad and I am happy with the players who are here.

“Defeat in El Clasico was tough to take but this club will fight to bounce back.”

UNCOMMITTED: Zidane not ruling anything out...or in for January

In-form Spurs are still winning (thanks to Mr Kane who’s certainly been ‘able’ of late); so too are Chelsea and Liverpool, the latter’s success coming at Burnley in New Year’s Day, courtesy of a dramatic late goal from Ragmar Klaven. Meanwhile, Reds’ boss Jürgen Klopp has signed Virgil van Dijk from Southampton for a world record fee for a defender of £75m.

In-form Wolves are racing away from the pack in the Championship (they beat Bristol City over the festive season); Wigan Atrhletic and Shrewsbury Town are still first and second in FL1, while Luton Town lead FL2, despite a heavy ‘festive season’ 4-0 defeat at Port Vale.

And in Scotland, the old firm derby ended Celtic 0 Rangers 0.

And with football’s transfer window now open, we can expect plenty of activity between clubs over the next few days with several Premiership players moving to pastures new… with perhaps Coutinho, Sanchez and Walcott, among them! An expected 300+ deals will take place during this month.

Alastair Cook scored a majestic 244 not out in England’s first innings total of 491 in the drawn fourth Test with Australia in Melbourne. In fact, only the rain prevented Joe Root’s team from gaining a consolation win. Cook’s knock, by the way, was the biggest by an overseas player in Australia.

In Rugby Union, Exeter Chiefs started 2018 ten points clear at the top of the AVIVA Premiership… Ulster stormed back from 17 points to nil down to beat Munster 24-17 in the Pro-12 League… the impressive 6-4 favourite Might Bite won the Boxing Day King George VI Steeplechase at Kempton Park…. GB tennis star Johanna Konta started the year by beating Madison Keys in the first round of the Brisbane Open… and Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, playing in his last competition before retirement, was beaten 7-2 by debutant outsider Rob Cross in the PDC darts final.

FA CUP 3rd ROUND WEEKEND There are 32 FA Cup third round ties coming up, starting on Friday with the Liverpool v Everton clash at Anfield and twelve-time winners Manchester United against Derby County at Old Trafford.

On Sunday, holders Arsenal, 13-time winners and 29-time semi-finalists, visit Nottingham Forest, Wimbledon play Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley, West Ham United travel to Shrewsbury Town and Leeds United travel 216 miles to South Wales to oppose Newport County.

In between times, Saturday’s 25 games feature Norwich City against Chelsea, Fulham v Southampton, Newcastle United v Luton Town, favourites Manchester City v Burnley; Bournemouth v Wigan Athletic, Bolton Wanderers v Huddersfield Town, Jamie Vardy’s old club Fleetwood Town v Leicester City, Coventry City v Stoke; Wolves v Swansea City; Watford v Bristol City; Exeter City v West Bromwich Albion, Middlesbrough v Sunderland, Aston Villa v Peterborough United, Birmingham City v Burton Albion, Cardiff City v Mansfield Town, Blackburn Rovers v Hull City, Brentford v Notts County, Carlisle United v Sheffield Wednesday, Doncaster Rovers v Rochdale, Ipswich Town v Sheffield United, Millwall v Barnsley, QPR v MK Dons, Stevenage v Reading, Wycombe Wanderers v Preston North End and Yeovil Town v Bradford City. The last third round tie is Brighton & Hove Albion v Crystal Palace on Monday.

CUP FACT FILE * The last final to be decided on penalties saw Liverpool beat West Ham United 3-1 in 2006. * Arsenal have won three of the last four FA Cup finals, retaining the trophy in 2015. * The losers of the last 12 finals have all been different clubs! * The last Cup final to end goalless was the Arsenal-Manchester United encounter in 2005. * Fifteen of the 18 finals played since 2000 have involved a London club. * The last non-London showdown was Wigan Athletic’s 1-0 win over Manchester

City in 2013. * The biggest win in a final has been 6-0 by Bury over Derby County in 1903. * The biggest win since WW2 is 4-0 – achieved twice by Manchester United v Brighton in the 1983 replay and against Chelsea in 1994 and by Arsenal over Aston Villa in 2015. * The final has gone into extra-time five times in the last 13 years – and Manchester United have been involved in three of them. * So far a total of 43 different clubs have won the FA Cup since 1872 – the Wanderers were the first.

There’ll be a shock result – there always is in the third round!