RTN Newspaper - Costa Blanca North 14 - 20 September 2018 Issue 984

FREE! COSTA BLANCA NORTH

Issue 984 14th - 20th September

For daily news online www.rtnnewspaper.com

WISH GRANTED! WHOPPING €16,000 RAISED FOR CHARITY Largest amount raised in one night for over 5 years!

Turn to page 6 Franco and Jody.

2

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

Cut free from car wreck A WOMAN and her five-year-old child were left trapped in a car after an accident in Albufereta.

Just after 8am on Monday morning a car going towards Alicante on the Avenida de la Condomina was apparently hit by another with such force that the first car was turned on its side.

Firefighters were quickly on the scene, with the rescuers managing to free the child through one of the windows.

The emergency services say that the child was unharmed due mainly to it being properly restrained in a safety seat.

However, it took nine firefighters using specialist tools to cut through the damaged car to rescue the 32year-old woman.

Once released, she was taken to the local hospital for further treatment. Her child accompanied her, and was admitted for observation after the traumatic experience.

Both cars were taken away by tow-

Credit Inti Garcés/shutterstock

CUT FREE: Firefighters rescued a trapped woman. (File photo of training session)

ing vehicles. The reason for the crash remains unknown, but the driver of the other vehicle, which is

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

PLAYING: Left outside the Alicante government building for two hours. (File image)

‘Lost’ parents leave three

by Darren Parmenter THREE young children were rescued from a car in the centre of Alicante after being locked inside, albeit with the windows open.

The car with a French number plate, parked on Calle Tucuman close to the headquarters of the Alicante Provincial Government and a number of restaurants, caught the attention of several passers-by when they heard shouting coming from inside.

According to reports, the three (two young boys and a girl) had been

left in the car by their parents who eventually returned two hours after the alarm had been raised, claiming they had got lost when returning to their vehicle.

When Local Police arrived at the scene, they found the two boys playing in the front seats of the car, while the oldest girl was using her mobile phone in the back.

Police took all three to the local child protection unit and towed the car to the municipal pound.

Then, according to witnesses, when the parents eventually turned up, they were greeted by no car and no children.

thought to have hit the first car from behind, was both uninjured and returned a negative alcohol test.

Denia... a leader DENIA has found itself at Nº7 on the list of cities and towns across Spain with the highest number of properties rented by tourists. The capital of the Marina Alta has 5,202 offered on the increasingly popular AirBnB-type portals, and is the leader in the entire Alicante Province. Much has been said and written in previous months about the proliferation in a number of major cities of visitor numbers due to AirBnB and similar organisations, but the likes of Denia are often forgotten about. It comes behind Barcelona, Madrid, Sevilla, Valencia, Marbella, Malaga and even above the likes of Alicante and Torrevieja who have made it into the top 20.

Kitchen fire alarm

A FIRE which broke out in Avenida Lepanto in Javea had its origins in a restaurant kitchen. It started during one of the busiest time during the municipality’s fiestas around 8pm on Friday, and set off the alarms in Restaurante Chambao.

A number of firefighters arrived on the scene from the local fire station, equipped with an extended ladder and lift, in case the fire grew out of control and people required rescuing. There were no reports of any injuries as a result of the incident.

Cash for repairs

AFTER two months of being closed, work is due to begin on the second floor of the Marina Baixa Hospital. Councillor Ana Barcelo announced during a recent visit to the facility that €130,000 is being spent on the refurbishment. The hospital located in Villajoyosa has suffered a number of problems during the summer that include faulty air-conditioning and a collapse of a ceiling in one of the operation theatre locker rooms. Both incidents caused delays and cancellations of a number of operations that will now be rescheduled for afternoons, evenings and Saturday morning if deemed required.

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

Alleged sex attacker arrested

O

FFICERS of the National Police have arrested a French-Italian citizen, aged 21, who is wanted in Switzerland for aggravated sexual assault, illegal detention and threats.

The arrested man is allegedly involved in the sexual assault of a Spanish woman with whom he had a sentimental relationship, after meeting in the city of Valencia where both were studying at the University.

Last June he allegedly kept the woman captive in a house where he subjected her to sadistic sexual practices and continuous threats until he finally forced her to get in a car and drove her to Annecy in France, where she was abandoned.

An investigation began late last month when the Canton Police of Geneva (Switzerland) requested the assistance of the Spanish National Police for the

3

All for just â‚Ź30 A MAN allegedly snatched a woman off the street, bundled her into a car and drove her 10 kilometres before she escaped - all for just â‚Ź30.

Guardia Civil have now arrested a 42-year-old Spaniard in Benidorm on suspicion of kidnap/theft.

The incident happened at 8am on Sunday morning as the 60-year-old went to mass in Ibi. She noticed a man in a car looking at her, who then jumped out and grabbed her, speeding off with her trapped in a gap between the seats.

The kidnapper was identified thanks to CCTV footage and the number plate being taken by local people who heard the woman’s screams during the struggle.

Online fraudster caught

TRACKED DOWN: National Police traced the fugitive to Valencia.

arrest of the fugitive.

The woman filed a complaint which led to a European Arrest Warrant being issued.

Thanks to the operational co-

ordination between the Swiss and Spanish police, the wanted person was traced to the province of Valencia where he was finally arrested.

A YOUNG woman has been arrested in Denia in connection with a number of alleged internet selling scams. The 25-year-old was detained by officers from the National Police after offering for sale a number of different items from pages of well-known retail outlets at considerably lower prices.

Her modus operandi was to take the money online in advance from her unsuspecting victims pleading a degree of personal poverty in the process - but the goods they ordered never arrived - at addresses in nine different locations across Spain that included Elche and Benidorm.

According to reports, the arrested woman is known to the police having a number of previous convictions.

4

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

Photo credit: Juan de la Playa YouTube

LEADING: Campello had almost 100 per cent hotel rates for August.

Passengers down... hotels stable

by Darren Parmenter

T

HE ongoing concerns at levels of tourism to the Costa Blanca have been strengthened by the release of the latest passenger numbers for Alicante-Elche Airport.

According to figures released by airport managers AENA, the traditionally busiest month of the tourist year - August - has seen a significant 3.3 per cent drop when compared to the same month in 2017. This translates to a fall of 54,048 passengers, and overall for 2018 to date the airport has only recorded a 0.3 per cent increase. The August fall is the first after eight years of uninterrupted growth which saw a record of 1,616,177 air passengers exactly one year ago.

Once again, the drop has been put firmly in the lap of the British tourists who have

been seduced into trying Turkey and Tunisia and Egypt after they’ve recovered from their own political and terrorism issues from the recent past.

The 3.3 per cent drop follows on from the 2.5 point fall in July, and in addition to travellers expanding their wings to other destinations, there are still consequences from the collapse of Monarch Airlines last year that saw 600,000 seats to AlicanteElche Airport lost. Not all of those were filled by other airlines for the summer season just completed.

But it’s not all gloomy news for the tourism industry. Hotel occupancy rates throughout the Alicante Province in August saw an average of 90 per cent; slightly up from 89.2 per cent for last year, but reversing the falls in the previous months.

Campello led the way with a record of 99.3 per cent... and at the other end of the scale; Orihuela reached just 48 per cent.

Clean up day

JAVEA Council is doing their bit to stop waste - especially plastic - ending up in the seas.

They have announced that tomorrow (Saturday), the municipality will be taking part in the international global clean-up day along with 150 countries around the world.

There will be three dedicated cleaning zones, and meeting points at the car park in Calle Langreo, the Les Mezquides football ground and the El Paso restaurant at 10am, with the project lasting until 1pm.

Fine issued PEDREGUER Council has shown its concern at the practice of breeding and the illegal selling of Vietnamese Pot Bellied pigs that are allegedly found in very poor conditions in the municipality. According to reports, six of them were found roaming in the middle of a road at one stage.

This comes as a result of a complaint from the Animal Law Defence Association of the Marina Alta (ADDAMA) related to a case that was first brought to the council’s attention in 2014. Officials say they are in the process of issuing a fine of €300.

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

Yes, the Spanish do stay in Benidorm!

by Darren Parmenter EVERY year, many thousands of Spanish pensioners visit the Costa Blanca thanks to the State sponsored IMSERSO project... although this year it’s going to cost a little more after the prices have been frozen for the past 14 years.

This week sees the annual project launched across Spain, specifically in Asturias, Cataluña, Galicai, Rioja and the Basque Country. Those living in the Valencian Community will get their chance to register next week and will see around 300,000 retirees holidaying in the area between October and April.

Benidorm, in particular, is a popular choice for the IMSERSO pensioners during the offseason and would go some way to explaining the issues raised recently by the 81-yearold British woman, Freda Jackson, who said that “there were

5

Still no results THREE months after an incident that shocked local people, the results of tests connected with the poisoning of a number of dogs in Benissa are still not known.

The alleged delay comes from the Senate in Madrid that has seen questions asked by members of the Parliamentary Association in Defence of the Rights of Animals (APDDA) as to why.

At least five dogs were found to be poisoned by bait allegedly left by hunters in March and April this year.

Two happy students THE mayor of Benidorm, Toni Perez, who also holds qualifications in tourism, was delighted to present diplomas to two Colombian students who have completed their studies in the

subject. Elsa Pilar Alvarez and Jhon Edison Franco, both from Manizales - a city twinned with Benidorm had been working at the Hotel Torre Dorada, part of the Servigroup chain.

ARRIVALS: October sees the start of the pensioner season in Benidorm and across the Costa Blanca. too many Spanish people in my hotel.”

Many hotels rely on this influx to keep them going during the winter period, and have managed to negotiate an average increase of €1 per person per day in the payments they receive from IMSERSO. Prices have not increased or been reviewed since 2004, and hoteliers warned the govern-

ment earlier this year that they could no longer bear the costs of hosting the pensioners unless action was taken. Depending on whether the hotel is three or four stars, the daily rate paid to the hotels will now be €22 and €23 respectively (up from €21). This covers accommodation, full board, entertainment, a medical service and a party on their last night.

Benidorm bike collision AN 18-year-old motorcyclist has been badly hurt after colliding with a car in Benidorm. The accident happened in the early hours of Monday morning on Calle Hollanda for reasons that are still to be investigated.

Paramedics from the Urgent Medical Care Service (SAMU) managed to stabilise the casualty at the scene before transferring him to Alicante General Hospital for treatment to a number of injuries.

6

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

1

2

EMOTIONAL AND PROUD: Jody and Franco.

A Glittering success A RECORD-BREAKING €16,000 was raised for an array of worthy causes at the second Annual Oceana GrantA-Wish Pink and Blue Ball.

In only its second year, the ball has been hailed a success by organisers who are jubilant at having exceeded the €12,500 collected in 2017.

Last year’s total was a record for a single fundraising event for the charity, an achievement which has been surpassed this year.

Jody Smart, who organised the event with Franco Pearson, said: “I am excited and humbled at the thought of how many more wishes we’ll be able to grant over the coming year from the proceeds of this event.

“We are blown away, emotional, proud and just so deeply grateful to each and everyone who helped us make it happen.

“It takes months and months to

pull together something so special and incredible! We surpassed our target of €15,000, which was just great. We feel blessed to have so many people willing to help the charity.”

The sell-out event, held at the Oceana Club in Benissa, saw 65 guests for the afternoon dinner and 150 for the evening ball, making it one of the social highlights of the year.

A glittering evening of entertainment included a grand auction

and The Price is Right show, while an array of talented entertainers wowed the crowd. Showing off his sleight of hand, Eros Yanni toured the tables astounding guests with his own brand of magic.

And saxophonist Frank Abrams provided a perfect backdrop and superb entertainment, while duo Moonshine, singer Matt Mason and Match/ABBA assisted in putting ona memorable show.

Jody pointed out that every penny raised will go to the Grant-A-Wish charity, which is now in its seventh year.

She said: “I set it up in 2012 and what started as a small idea has now become a very well-known and respected charity throughout Spain.

“In a way it is a very unique charity in that we help many different people from small charities to orphanages and the men’s home, to individuals who really need the help.”

Jody said: “The ball is such a beautiful and positive way for us to bring together all of our wonderful crew and friends at the Oceana Club, to help make a difference.”

Jody and fellow organiser Franco Pearson are already thinking about next year’s GrantA-Wish Pink and Blue Ball, to be held September 21, 2019.

1 • RTN Family 2 • Lisa and Jules from PMR 3 • Guests enjoyed a specially-created pink and blue cocktail on arrival 4 • Pink and blue sunglasses for all the guests too 5 • The colour theme continued into the scrummy food 6 • The EWN’s Jackie Butcher 7 • Live music make the afternoon and evening go with a swing 8 • The sun shone on the day 9 • Close-up magician Eros Yanni up to his tricks 10 • N-ice: The cocktail specially created for the event

3

4

If you know of anyone who may need help, or you would like to offer your voluntary services, you can find out more at www.wegrantawish.com or search Facebook for @grant.awish.37.

5

7 9

10 All Photos by: Karl Smallman

8

6

www.rtnnewspaper.com

Police numbers up BENIDORM Council has increased the number of Local Police by two members as part of an ongoing recruitment and selection programme that was started in the summer.

When up to full strength the local force will have an extra 15 officers to patrol the streets of the city.

The new Benidorm faces have a total of 32 years service between them from stints on the Benissa and Aspe forces.

Waste for everyone AS part of its continuing commitment to recycling and environmental issues, the Poble Nou de Benitachell Council will be installing its first municipal compost unit for the local residents.

The initiative will allow people to take their organic waste to the area and collect it later to use as garden fertiliser.

The construction of this facility has been possible thanks to a subsidy of €10,000 received from the Alicante Provincial Government.

Planning ahead worked JUST in time, and in advance of the torrential rain that swamped much of the Costa Blanca last week, the TeuladaCouncil Moraira worked to clear Tthe drains and runaway channels to prevent future problems associated with the severe weather conditions.

14th - 20th September

7

Tourist centre move justified THE decision to relocate the foreigners’ tourist office (SATE) from central Benidorm into the heart of the ‘British zone’ has already been justified.

Compared to 2017, the

move to the Rincon del Loix area that has been up and running since May, has seen an increase in enquiries by 14 per cent, with a total of 2,060 during the four month period.

The move was designed to make access to foreign travellers easier, especially those from the UK and Ireland where a majority of them stay in nearby hotels and apartments.

Despite the increase in people using the services of SATE - not to be confused with the traditional Tourist Information Offices - it hasn’t been accompanied by an increase in

crimes and other incidents reported. In fact, they have reduced, and reports of thefts from people or from cars and of scams such as the notorious ‘pea men’ - have declined.

8

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

Coffee and Spanglish COINCIDING with the start of the new school term, a cafeteria in Javea is offering free ‘language exchange’ meetings.

With the aim of encouraging people to make new friendships and at the same time learning and practising another language, the Cafe Cortado has begun to open its doors on a Tuesday evening from 7pm to 8.30pm to both native English and Spanish speakers.

Aid for the most needy SAN VICENTE DEL RASPEIG Council has announced that it plans to allocate €150,000 towards paying housing costs for disadvantaged families in the municipality.

According to reports, a total of 1,250 people will be able to benefit from the maximum subsidy of €120 which aims to cover electricity, water and gas bills. In addition, it can be used to meet the costs of repairs or community fees.

Councillor Alberto Bevia said: “We have pre-

ALTERNATIVE: Alberto Bevia says aid ‘corrects’ the unfairness.

Request for police award DURING the last plenary council meeting held at the end of August, the Teulada-Moraira Council agreed to ask the Ministry responsible for Local Police to honour one of their officers.

Antonio Ivars Llobell jumped into the sea to save the life of a young British man that was clinging to a buoy some 400m off the coast of Moraira. The RTN reported the incident in Issue 982 (‘Boys will be buoys’) and explained that the young man was found drunk and suffering from signs of hypothermia.

It has since transpired that the Local Police officer did more than he would’ve usually been expected to do and put his own life in danger to rescue the ‘boy.’

pared an alternative to the reduction of the annual IBI [SUMA] that corrects the inequalities which exist within housing in San Vicente.”

To b e e l i g i b l e f o r t h e aid, applicants must be registered on the Padron, and living in property where the cadastral value (on which the IBI is based) is less than €115,000).

It’s understood that there are a total of 25,000 homes with this official valuation.

The measures will be raised at the October plenary council meeting and there is nothing to suggest that the motion will not be passed, and the money will come out of the 2019 municipal budget.

Councillor Bevia said that once approved, there will be a major publicity campaign to inform people of the initiative and to ensure that nobody misses out on what they will be entitled to.

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

Twisters hit Costa Blanca A TORNADO that made its way along the Costa Blanca coast was a spectacular sight - if not a little frightening.

The severe weather phenomenon was witnessed by people from across the Vega Baja, as well as the southern Costa Blanca.

It made made its way across Guardamar del Segura and La Mata last Friday morning.

The northern Costa Blanca municipalities of Oliva and Denia experienced several waterspouts out to sea on Thursday afternoon, and the unusual weather conditions have been the result of two storms building up in the Vega Baja and in La Safor.

The severe weather came less

L’Alfas new ravine cleaning

Photo credit: @AEMET_CValencia Twitter

by Darren Parmenter

FRIGHTENING: Tornados approach Guardamar del Segura. than 24 hours after a yellow warning was issued across Alicante Province.

But the bad weather didn’t last long as the sun broke through within a few hours - but not before problems were caused by

torrential rain.

One reader contacted the RTN to say that he had just returned from shopping in Urbanisation La Marina and became trapped in his car. “It must’ve been at least half-an-hour before we even con-

A NEW plan was introduced by the Council of Technical Services and Urbanism to clean ravines, plots, and public roads throughout the municipality, intensifying the tasks performed by public operators of water management and road cleaning, with the aim of minimising the risk of flooding and assuring citizen and environmental security.

Operators will be in charge of lifting grates in scuppers, to prevent any elements from

sidered getting out and trying to get inside the house, such was the strength of the rain and hail falling. We then spotted the tornados in the distance that were coming toward us... it was quite frightening.”

blocking the passage of water. At the same time, they will be clearing some vegetation and other natural waste in streams and ravines.

The municipal protocol actions aim to develop the municipalities’ areas by an itinerary established by the city of L’Alfas Del Pi, to face the period of heavy rains that begins with this season’s arrival. This protocol will remain active until the end of spring.

9

Fire after fiesta LOCAL people returning home in the early hours of the morning after the traditional firework displays to close another week of fiestas in Javea were greeted with a fire of their own. It broke out on a piece of land used for garden waste in the Salada area and continued to burn throughout the night until finally being extinguished at 7am.

It’s not known at this stage whether the fire was started deliberately or down to a rogue firework.

School truancy scheme BENIDORM Council will be launching a pioneering programme aimed at solving the problem of truancy among the under 12-year-old gypsy population. According to figures released by the Social Services Department, the CEIP Leonor Canalejas School has the biggest problem, with 41 per cent absenteeism being recorded. The €9,000 cost of the scheme is thanks to a grant received by Benidorm from the Alicante Provincial Government.

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

Six arrested in drugs seizure TOTAL of six people - five men and a woman - have been arrested for allegedly selling drugs just a few yards away from a school playground in a village in Denia.

The group, aged between 20 and 43 years old, were detained in the La Xara area of the municipality.

According to reports, four kilos of marihuana ready for sale were seized, as well as 100 kilos of marihuana plants, five grammes of cocaine, two high-end vehicles, several mobile phones and â‚Ź2,000 in cash, on the raid on the home close to the school

Locals tell the council DURING an open meeting with local people in Benissa, the current three-party governing council were made aware of a number of issues which concern them.

More than 50 residents took part and explained that the condition of the roads, street lighting, a summer clinic, and a bus service linking the town centre to the beach are at the top of their demands.

A

STASH: 100 kilos of marihuana plants in a Denia house.

premises.

Investigations began after the National Police received a number of complaints about the suspicious activity of a number of people in the area.

It took some time for

the surveillance operation to bear fruit, which eventually not only discovered the properties used, but also the means by which the group were able to sell and distribute the drugs.

Market charges withdrawn Photo credit: Minube

BENIDORM Council has thrown in the proverbial towel in their attempt to charge fees for using the streets for the weekly markets in the municipality.

According to reports, they have taken this decision due to legal advice received on their decision to charge a total of â‚Ź18,421 to close traffic during the trading days For almost 30 years, not a single euro, cent or peseta was paid to Benidorm Council for occupying the public roads... a situation that was criticised by the Ciudadanos (Cs) political group almost two years ago. And so the council put in place a system of collecting backdated fees from those

COURTS: Plans to collect fees have been thwarted.

responsible for putting on the market.

The case ended up in the courts and now the council has withdrawn their plans.

11

Hotel fire injures woman A FIRE which broke out in a hotel in Benidorm left one woman slightly hurt as a result of the effects of smoke inhalation as she tried to put out the flames.

The cause of the fire is being investigated, but it’s understood that it broke out at midday in the rubbish collection area in the hotel on Calle Esperanto.

12

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

U3A Vall del Pop: keep fit classes T

HE weekly Monday Keep Fit Classes have started up again at the Multiusos Building in Alcalali where Jacintha Hoogewerf will be ready to set you on the road to fitness.

Jacintha has an instructor ’s diploma for Aerobics from Holland, together with a certificate as a Body Balance instructor.

She believes keep fit should be fun and working in a group stimul a t e s b o d y, m i n d a n d soul and she advises that regular exercise can help boost energy and even self-confidence, and that staying active is particularly im-

WORKOUT: Classes organised by Jacintha Hoogewerf.

portant as we get older.

The class is structured in a simple and effective

manner to allow everyone to work at their own pace, and with options for an easier or harder workout .

You will start with a warm up session, followed by a mixture of dance /aerobics to music of the 1960/70/80’s, and a complete body toning you will relax down.

You’re advised to wear comfortable clothes and trainers, and bring along a mat, towel and a bottle of water. There is a charge of €4 per session More information:call 663 411 748, or email familiehoogewerf@gmail. com.

For information on U3A Vall del Pop, check their website out at iu3avalldelpop.com.

Wanted: volunteers to teach English THE Voluntary English Teaching Group in Javea in conjunction with CREAMA (Unemployment Office) are looking for teaching volunteers for the 2018/19 English courses. This group of volunteers have been teaching unemployed residents of Javea and the surrounding areas for more than eight years and have been successful in getting many unemployed residents back to work.

These classes are fun, rewarding to teach, and have proved very helpful to Spanish people seeking employment. Also, the teachers have found that the experience has helped them integrate further into the Spanish community, forging new friendships and improving their own Spanish speaking skills at the same time.

The Group are currently very short of volunteer teachers and classroom assistants and need to recruit as soon as possible, as the courses start on October 22. Previous teaching experience is not necessary, but knowledge of English grammar, together with a little Spanish, is required.

Teaching follows the Oxford University Headway Courses and teachers are provided with books from these courses to help with lesson preparation.

Classes run from Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 12 noon, and each volunteer would be expected to work one morning per week.

Courses start on October 22 and continue until Easter 2019, and if required cover can be provided for holiday commitments.

For more information, call Tanya Sedgwick on 605 780 689 and e-mail: \htanyasedg@gmail.com or Sheila Gresty via e-mail: \hsheila.gresty@ gmail.com.

www.rtnnewspaper.com

A man and a woman needed!

JAVEA Players will be performing My Fair Lady between March 25 and 30, 2019 in Gata de Gorgos and in the Rojales Theatre (near to Guardamar del Segura) on April 13.

But, they have a problem, they need two more cast members.

They have a terrific team of soloists and chorus members, but they would like one more tenor/baritone to fill out the chorus numbers.

The part not only involves singing in chorus songs such as The Ascot Gavotte, but joining in the rollicking Get me to The Church on Time and With a Little bit of Luck.

They would also ask you to play Mrs Higgin’s chauffeur, a policeman and various servants.

No previous experience is necessary; just a good voice and a sense of rhythm as there will be some dancing involved. They also need a Soprano for the chorus with the maids and flowergirls.

Sounds like fun?

It would be luverly if prospective candidates would contact director Cherry Cabban on 636 798 109 – age doesn’t matter!

14th - 20th September

13

A mix of sausages and Scrabble

TOP SCORE: Quiz winners with group leaders David and Hilary Grove (far right).

U3A Javea ask the questions QUESTION: What do you get when 50 Javea U3A members turn up for a challenge at the local golf club?

Answer: A highly enjoyable evening on the return of the U3A’s popular Quiz Night.

Back after the summer break, the quiz once again proved a real tester thanks to the questions compiled and presented by group leader David Grove, ably supported by his wife and co-conspirator Hilary.

After a close contest, the competition was won by the Newbies team, made up of Dave O’Connor, Di-

ane Poirier, Lorely and Glyn Griffiths, Angela Black and Geoff Kane.

They walked away with a prize haul of bottles of wine.

The losers didn’t go away empty-handed either.

The lowest-scoring team (whose names shall remain anonymous to avoid any embarrassment!) received helpings of Toblerone chocolate bars.

The next U3A quiz will be a Christmas cracker on December 6 when all the questions will be related to the festive period. Full details are available on the website at www.u3ajavea.org.

SEVENTEEN Albir Anglican Church members and friends met last Sunday to have a fun evening which raised €194, and saw some tapas, followed by sausages and mash, with onions, peas and gravy that was thoroughly enjoyed. As always, there was room for dessert.

The group then split up into tables of three or four and had one or two games of Scrabble. A Swedish member, Annika, has now learnt a new skill and did really well.

The next fundraiser is when Mavis is having her hair shaved off. This will take place at the close of the service on Sunday, and has attracted a number of willing sponsors for this brave action that not many would fan-

ENJOYED: Waiting for the traditional bangers and mash! cy going through.

A service of Holy Communion is held in Albir every Sunday at 9.45am, and also every Thursday at 11am at the Forum Mare Nostrum, Alfaz del Pi, with the second Thursday of each month being a healing service.

If you need further information please telephone the

local church warden, Elaine Mitchell, on 966 864 962 or mobile 636 164 467.

Albir is one of eight congregations in the Chaplaincy, from Gandia to El Campello.

For more information or if you would like to help, you can go to the website at www.costablancaanglicanchaplaincy.org.

14

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

Help, I’ve got PPPD … and BAD I SUFFER from a mild form of a condition called persistent postural-perceptual dizziness.

People who have PPPD feel unbalanced and have the sensation of motion, despite being stationary.

It only affects me in large, overly lit spaces, such as airports and supermarkets which make me feel nauseous and disorientated. And I’d sooner stick my head up a dead bear’s bum than have a meal in a brightly-lit restaurant.

I have more or less learned to deal with PPPD but not with BAD - Brexit Anxiety Disorder.

“Oh come on!” I hear you cry, “you’re making that up.”

Nope, when Britain voted to leave the EU I was overcome

with a terrifying sense of uncertainty. The security I attained after six years of living in Spain instantly evaporated after that catastrophic vote. It was replaced with an all consuming rage. That fury is even greater now than it was two years ago.

Experts have officially classified my feelings, and the feelings of millions like me, as Brexit Anxiety Disorder. Dr Philip Corr, Professor of Psychology and Behavioural Economics at the University of London, and Dr Simon Stuart, a clinical psychologist say we are ‘remainiacs’ suffering from ‘chronic anxiety caused by loss of control and insecurity.’

Of course we’re insecure!

We’ve got a lot to be insecure about. Whenever Brexit features on the news it becomes more and more apparent that ‘remainiacs’ - far from being crazy - are sensibly reacting to a very real existential treat. There’s nothing irrational about wanting no part of the Brexiteers’ suicide plot, which has already had a ruinous effect on the UK’s economy and its societal cohesion.

Credit: Austin Goh/YouTube

by Barry Duke

TRUE BLUE: The old style British passport.

But, now and again, Brexit is good for a laugh. I recently received an e-mail from a former colleague, Graham Livingstone, who penned a spoof report that absolutely cracked me up, so much so that I feel compelled to share bits of it with you.

There was great rejoicing

among the simple ‘leave Europe’ folk when they learned that the government was going to re-introduce beautiful blue UK passports after Brexit. What joy! What patriotic fervour! What a poke in the eye for Johnny Foreigner!

Later they found they had more than ample time to worship

and adore their crisp, new all patriotic blue passports in lengthy queues at EU airports while those with Euro passports were whisked through the formalities in a jiffy and had already staked their places on choice stretches of beaches.

In addition, they found that they needed five quid to buy just one euro and were only able to book one week holidays instead of three, as that was all they could afford.

They consoled themselves with thoughts like: ‘Who needs to spend a fortune to go to places where they don’t know how to fry fish and chips proper and where they can’t speak no English, neither.’

‘The frogs can keep their clogs and windmills while the Dutch can keep their Champagne and wines,’ they were heard to say.

Many of them did not even make it as far as UK resorts and spent much of their time in bed, seeing how many times a day they could climax while lovingly stroking their lovely blue passports.

www.rtnnewspaper.com

Wonderful Benidorm

REPLACING: Benidorm seeking to fill the missing British from Denmark.

WITH the news that there has been a drop of British tourists visiting Benidorm this year, the area is spreading its wings and looking elsewhere to replace them.

The Visit Benidorm Foundation (VBF) has recently taken part in the ‘Go Travelling Live’ event in Denmark, a meeting of Scandinavian travel bloggers held in the Danish capital of Copenhagen.

Therefore, the VBF took up the offer of the Spanish Tourism Office in Denmark and shared a stand at the event to show the experience they have in attracting tourists to the area, which include a number of the bloggers.

14th - 20th September

Costa Blanca musical showcase HE Casa De Cultura in El Verger (two minutes from the Ondara shopping centre) will be hosting A Musical Gala on Thursday October 18.

The Gala will be an evening filled with a diverse range of music from inspirational and uplifting to musical theatre, stopping off at popular music en route, and performed by six different singing groups.

Sounds Familiar will be performing excerpts from their upcoming 10th anniversary show ‘Showstoppers.’ Also appearing will be three separate choirs, the Vall Del Pop Singers, the U3A Oliva Choir and the Chaplaincy Singers.

All three choirs have their own style of music.

Adagio, the seven-piece harmony group will be singing songs from their past and future repertoire, and the whole evening will be hosted by Amadeus, the three-part cabaret group.

T

Apart from the evening being great entertainment in itself, it will give you the opportunity to see what is coming up on the Costa Blanca in the next six to eight months, so you can decide if you want to see more of any one group.

Every group will be performing their own set separately, except in the finale when all the groups will join together for the first time.

The evening will be helping to raise money for local charities and the raffle on the night could win you a meal voucher at one of several local restaurants.

All proceeds from the raffle are going specifically to Jalon Valley Help.

The evening has been generously supported by Telitec and the Verger Town Hall. Tickets are €12 and are available from Philip Ashley on 965 581 483 or the Box Office at w w w. p h i l i p a s h l e y. c o m .

Doors open at 7.30pm with the concert starting at 8pm.

15

16

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

So, you’ve always fancied singing?

Photo credit: Costa Blanca Male Voice Choir

H

AVE you always wondered what it would be like to sing in a choir or whether your voice is good enough? Could you sing in harmony?

Why not take this unique opportunity to attend a free Open Evening at the first rehearsal of the Costa Blanca Male Voice Choir’s new season.

The boys are throwing open the doors of their rehearsal room at the Bar Mediterraneo in Teulada on Tuesday at 5.45pm and offering free beer, wine or water to all those who might be even remotely interested in male voice choirs... with no commitment.

After listening to the first hour of singing, there will be an opportunity to talk to other members of the choir

IN HARMONY: A unique chance to join this popular group.

and find out what it’s like to sing at the Cave in Benidoleig, in the beautiful church at Benitachell, or at the Remembrance Day Service in Moraira.

Let them explain how the choir’s special computer software makes it easier to learn your part and see for yourself the cama-

raderie. If you’d like to join in for the second half of the evening, you’d be more than welcome.

More information: www.costablanca malevoicechoir.wikidot.co m or call Mike Evans on 965 744 577 or email cb malevoicechoir@gmail.co m.

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

More smiles on faces Photo credit: U3A Moraira-Teulada

POSITIVE: Tony Grande (left) receives the U3A donation from President David Haxon.

THE general meeting of the Moraira-Teulada U3A held at the start of the month welcomed Tony Grande and his wife Lucy.

Tony, a representative for the Make a Smile charity (this year’s nominated charity for this branch of the U3A) had visited earlier in the year and everyone was impressed with the work and dedication of the charity to help disadvantaged children.

Tony spoke about the wonderful work done by those supporting Make a Smile in helping to provide a balanced diet and daily needs for more than 50 children in the Emaus group, as well as a home with 24 mentally handicapped children.

Tony emphasised that Make a Smile is determined at all times to make a positive impact on society. Their strong relationship with charities such as Emaus, Fundacion

Relleu, Grant A Wish and others, provide perfect examples of the benefits of the community working together to improve the lives of local underprivileged and vulnerable adults and children. At the end of the talk, Tony was presented with a cheque for ₏700 from the Moraira-Teulada U3A President David Haxon.

This was the proceeds from a quiz held in aid of the Make a Smile Charity in June.

17

18

14th - 20th September

www.rtnnewspaper.com

Suicide prevention strategy planned Credit: Luis García/Wikipedia

TALKS: Discussions were held at the Ministry of Health.

THE Spanish government is devising a strategy aimed at reducing the country’s suicide death toll.

Between 3,500 and 4,000 people a year take their own lives in Spain according to the National Statistics Institute, with another 8,000 people needing hospital treatment after failed suicide attempts.

The death toll is more than double that seen on the roads.

Just before she quit her post, then Health Minister Carmen Montón, met with health professionals last week in order to collect information about the problem.

The idea is to put in place a plan to deal with the problem which causes so much pain and distress that it dwarfs other causes of death but seems to be little talked about.

The Health Ministry points out that there are 65 suicides for every death from gender violence, 11 for each homicide and two for every road death.

Samaritans in Spain have a 24-hour helpline for people who need to discuss their problems. Call freephone 900 525 100 or email pat@samaritans.com. More information: www.samaritansinspain.com.

20

14th - 20th September

SPOTLIGHT ON CALPE

www.rtnnewspaper.com

Flood plans under review Calpe’s past is the future

IMPORTANT: Cesar Sanchez (second from right) at the uncovered remains.

REVIEWING: New technology making Calpe safer.

SINCE 2015, Calpe Council has adopted an emergency flood plan put in place by water company Aguas de Calpe.

It’s based on Directive 2007/60 from the European Parliament in October 2017 regarding the assessment and management of flood risks.

Aguas de Calpe is currently in

the process of reviewing the emergency plan to adapt it to the new technology and related equipment they use to manage the drainage networks throughout the municipality.

The computerised systems result in more security and monitoring, and reduce the chances of human error when real time

emergencies occur.

The council and Aguas de Calpe are working on the preparation of a municipal-wide action plan that will take into account every aspect of a flood alert, covering the deployment of the emergency services through to getting information and advice to the residents of Calpe as soon as possible.

CALPE’S mayor Cesar Sanchez, accompanied by the Deputy of Culture and Education, Cesar Augusto Asencio and other dignitaries, have visited the site of the Pobla Medieval d’Ifac to see at first-hand the new building discovered recently.

According to all the initial indications, the remains found just outside the west wall could date back as far as the early 14th century.

After learning about the new findings, Mayor Sanchez said that, “this new building confirms the importance of the medieval city and some of the riches they hide that are yet to be discovered.”

He went on to say that they will continue to investigate the history of the area. Alongside the Banys de la Reina, it will become one of the main elements of promoting tourism to Calpe.

22

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

Advertising Feature

Kitchen elegance and style at Casa Interior CASA INTERIOR provides kitchens that are tailor-made for your lifestyle and budget, with meticulous attention to detail and a passion for precision; they create a space that is not just a room, but an area that can be the heart of your home.

Owned by Carsten Klinksgaard, and assisted by his business partner Nicolas Iribas, Casa Interior, based in Altea are now in their 11th year, and continue to grow with an extensive list of satisfied customers.

The stunning range offered by Casa Interior is extremely versatile, explains Carsten.

“Everyone has a right to a spectacular kitchen, we work closely with all our clients to create their space, at a price that suits their budget.”

Supplying German, Italian and Danish kitchens, the showroom designs highlight just a few of the options available to clients, with services ranging from kitchen design, renovations, new installations and buy-to-fit yourself options. There is definitely a ‘nothing is too much trouble’ feel about Casa Interiors.

A carpenter by trade, Carsten describes

CASA INTERIOR: Carsten Klinksgaard and his business partner Nicolas Iribas. himself as a bit of an adventurer. Having visited the area just a few times many years ago he, his wife, daughter and grandchil-

dren decided to make Altea their home, which resulted in the beginnings of Casa Interior.

The multilingual staff, who speak Scandinavian, English, Spanish, Italian and German can help to advise about kitchen furniture from sliding doors to tables and chairs, Casa Interior certainly offers the whole package.

Every detail is taken care of by Carsten and his staff, from the planning stages to the furnishing of appliances if required.

From toasters and kettles to cups and saucers, all from exclusive brands such as Avintage, Bosch, Georg Jensen, Rigtig, Espring and Alessi, Casa Interior under the umbrella of www.kitchenspain.com can provide those special finishing touches.

Carsten believes that offering a “price right quality at affordable prices, with th” best designs and solutions” has enabled Casa Interior to provide their clients with beautiful kitchens, budgeting from €3,000 to €100,000.

“Even a small space can be transformed into a beautiful kitchen,” he says, “we are innovative in how we design, getting the most out of every possible area.”

Open from Monday to Friday 10am - 6pm and Saturday 10am - 2pm. Free parking.

Casa Interior : Partida El Planet,156, 03590, Altea. For information email Carsten@casa-interior.com, call 966 881 129 or visit www.casa-interior.com.

24

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

money

Basic items to face cut in IVA Photo credit: Ahora Madrid Wikimedia

SPANISH Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and the leader of Podemos, Pablo Iglesias, have met to discuss a series of initiatives seen as reversing some of the cuts that were imposed by the previous Partido Popular (PP) government.

Among the agreements are free school textbooks for families on low incomes, a reduction of IVA (VAT) on a number of day-to-day essentials such as food, and the self-employed below the national minimum wage to be exempt from income tax retentions.

They also agreed to consider increasing income tax for those earning more than €140,000 a year (or €10,000 monthly), which Iglesias believes will, “not hurt these people too much.”

According to reports,

SUPPORT: Pablo Iglesias, leader of Podemos, has met with the Spanish PM.

it’s not known if the cuts in IVA will include reducing the lower rate of 4 per cent or increasing the number of items that can be included in this bracket in the future, that currently attract rates of 10 or 21 per cent.

Iglesias has said that these agreements are policies that both parties can support and has lessened the chances of the opposition forcing an early general election; the next one due in 2020.

The meeting comes as the two have buried the hatchet from 2016 when Pablo Iglesias and Podemos prevented Sanchez’s previous attempt to replace former prime minister Mariano Rajoy.

Inheritance tax scrapping proposal SPAIN’S centre-right party Ciudadanos (C’s) has announced proposals for a zero rate of inheritance tax. They have asked the PSOE government to scrap the ‘death tax’ between parents and children and spouses altogether, and drastically reduce it for other family members.

Because of the current rates of tax in Spain, 2017 saw a record number of people actually refusing their inheritances - believed to be one in 10 - as the tax must be paid in advance of any assets being transferred to the beneficiaries; and they only have six months to pay that tax. The C’s wanted that period to be increased to at least one year.

The party led by Albert Rivera says the tax should be reduced to zero where the main beneficiary is a child or a parent, spouse or partner and where the inheritance is also their current permanent home.

The tax exemption would additionally apply to other distant relatives where the beneficiary in question does not own a home of their own.

Zero tax rates would apply to inheritances of under €1 million, with the tax-free threshold for other relatives reduced to €125,000 and €350,000, depending how far removed they are from the deceased.

Advertising Feature

Roadside Assistance Tyre Change Feel safer when you travel IF your car breaks down while on the road, Línea Directa offers a range of solutions for both your vehicle and its passengers. Their Roadside Assistance is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year.

your location, so they will find you even if you are unsure of your exact whereabouts.

When you need it most Providing you take out their Travel Assistance cover, the insured car can count on a series of services designed to make driving both safer and more secure, wherever you need it.

Car towing service If you are unable to continue on your journey, and are in Spain, Línea Directa will tow your car to the nearest approved garage, or the garage of your choice, whichever is nearest. If you are outside of Spain, Línea Directa will tow your vehicle free of charge to the nearest garage, up to a maximum of 100km.

Free tyre change service If you have a flat tyre, simply call their Roadside Assistance hotline and they will dispatch a qualified technician who will change your flat tyre for your spare, so you can continue on your journey as soon as possible. And with their GPS Geolocation service they can pinpoint

Did you know?

If your vehicle needs a tow, requesting a tow-truck is easier than ever. In just three clicks from the Línea Directa website, policyholders can check the on the progress and arrival time of the tow-truck and communicate with the driver if necessary.

NIGHT OR DAY: 24-hour roadside recovery.

We hope the information provided in this article is of interest.

If you would like to contact Linea Directa please call 902 123 309 More information about Linea Directa online at www.lineadirecta.com

26

14th - 20th September

F there is one thing the Spanish take seriously it is their food.

Although judging by the fun and games they have at the famous La Tomatina tomato fight in Buùol, maybe they don’t take it all that seriously after all.

In fact, La Tomatina is just one of many festivals in the country that cele-

I

FOOD Focus

Wine to celebrate

brate food, wine and drink, some big and famous, but many small and highlighting regional dishes and beverages.

At the moment (starting tomorrow (Saturday) and finishing on September 22, the festival of San Mateo is

centre stage. It is a mixture between a celebration of the mediaeval period and the wine harvest.

It has its origins in the celebration held in honour of the town of LogroĂąo in the 12th century. The city had the privilege of holding an annual fair and so became an important commercial centre. These fairs became more important and more frequent.

During the celebration of

these fairs the festive and entertaining character of them gained in importance and so wine was introduced to proceedings and became more and more important, especially as it is in the heart of the Rioja region.

The most important Fair took place on Thanksgiving Day, in September. The people of La Rioja were grateful for the harvest, so the fair was set for the third

THANKS: Festival celebrates the harvest.

www.rtnnewspaper.com week of September to coincide with the start of the harvest. San Mateo, was a saint who had been a tax collector and became the patron saint of merchants.

Today, the festivals of San Mateo and the Harvest are the most popular in La Rioja.

These days the people of La Rioja offer the fruits of the harvest and the first must be to their patron saint, the Virgen de Valvanera, and they celebrate the beginning of the harvest by asking the Virgin for an excellent result.

Eat your carrots and greens CARROTS could be an important weapon in the war against prostate cancer, scientists have claimed.

A study led by Professor Norman Maitland at the University of York says a diet rich in Vitamin A could be the key to beating the disease as it makes it more treatable.

The researchers have discovered that retenoic acid, a chemical made from Vitamin A, can reduce the ability of the cancer to invade surrounding tissue.

Vitamin A can be found in foods like carrots, sweet potatoes and leafy green vegetables such as kale.

www.rtnnewspaper.com

FOOD Focus

14th - 20th September

27

A beach front bar and restaurant

CAFÉ ALBIR is a modern bar and restaurant right on the beach front in Albir which offers a range of food throughout the day and late into the evening.

It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as snacks and tapas and is now even serving some Indian food due to popular demand.

It is a bright buzzy venue with a good sized terrace and inside it has the feel of an American Diner with bright decoration and some neon.

Apart from the food, many people enjoy the specially made cocktails and take advantage of the bucket beer deals or savour a tasty gin and tonic whilst enjoying the view of the beach from one of the best locations on the Albir beach front.

The menu is varied to include all you would expect at breakfast, baguettes with a range of tasty fillings, tapas, pasta, pizza and a superb range of paella and fideua but that’s not all, being opposite the sea, there is a range of sea food and shellfish as well as meat, burgers and salad as well as a children’s menu.

CAFÉ ALBIR: Inside or out, this modern bar and restaurant offers a great welcome.

As the fame of the Café Albir has spread, they have found that they have many regular customers who live locally and in Alfas with the majority coming from Britain, France, Holland, Norway and Spain, so you can expect a very cosmopolitan atmosphere in this popular bar/ restaurant.

Being so near to the beach, plenty of tourists drop in for refreshments and know that it is much safer to purchase drinks and food from an established operation rather

than risk taking something from hawkers on the beach.

Parties of people are welcome and if you are celebrating a special event contact Café Albir in advance on 632 019 852 to discuss what you are planning and you can even WhatsApp them on the same number.

Feel free to drop in to Café Albir at Passeig de les Estreles, 1, l’Alfas del Pi, Alicante 03581or to get details of their extensive menu visit cafealbir.com/ or Facebook cafealbir.

28

14th - 20th September

FOOD Focus

www.rtnnewspaper.com

A tomato a day keeps the doctor away‌

HEALTHY: Tomatoes are good for you.

TOMATOES - they are ubiquitous in Spanish food, tasty and provide a splash of colour - and they are also good for you.

Research has proven that eating a tomato-rich diet can cut the risk of heart disease by a quarter, perhaps helping explain why the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in

the fruit has long been known to be particularly healthy.

It is believed that the antioxidant lycopene, which gives tomatoes their red colour, holds the answer to a healthy heart, although researchers did say that whilst the powerful antioxidant appeared to shield against heart disease, more studies are

needed to be certain it is the lycopene and not something else that is providing protection.

The beneficial effects of tomatoes are boosted in the Spanish diet by being combined with other foods like olive oil and fish - also known to be particularly good for you.

30

14th - 20th September

FOOD Focus

www.rtnnewspaper.com

Make a date for Palace Variety Show IT dosen’t seem two minutes since the last Palace Variety Show. However, a whole year has passed and it’s here again. The sixth Annual Palace Variety Show is on Sunday, September 23, 2018 and is sponsored By Spain Property Shop.

This year’s show stars SAM BAILEY the 2013 winner of X Factor. You’ll remember her as the ex-prison warden with the big voice who blew our minds with her renditions of Skyscraper and Listen.

Headlining alongside Sam will be JAKE QUICKENDEN, also from the X Factor, but more recently known for his appearance on ‘Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.’ Not forgetting of course that he is also this year’s ‘Dancing On Ice Champion.’

Also starring with them is the returning comedy legend JIMMY CRICKET, who entertained so well at The Palace Variety Show 2015 alongside Stacy Solomon and Chesney

BIG VOICE: Sam Bailey will be headlining.

Hawkes.

The Palace Variety Show is an annual fundraiser which takes place at the Benidorm Palace. In the past it has raised funds for Help4Heroes and Elche Children’s Home.

This year all profits will be donated equally to The Royal British Legion and the AECC Cancer Charity, both of which will be there helping on the night with Maria and The Pink

GLAMOROUS: The ever popular drag show.

Ladies and Pink Panthers.

Last year’s show was hit a little bit with the downfall of Monarch Airways. Many people had bought tickets for the show but got stranded and were unable to come.

The show was a smash hit though, and saw the amazing Sonia own the stage. Starring alongside the very controversial Honey G. Previous shows have includ-

GREAT FUN: Jimmy Cricket making a return.

ed GARETH GATES, KATRINA & THE WAVES, CRISSY ROCK, RAY QUINN and MICK MILLER, to name just a few.

This year the organisers promise to blow all previous shows out of the water.

Other artistes will include local stars like James Macdonald, Benidorm’s most glamorous singing drag artiste. Also performing will be Nigel Birchill for all you

Tickets are available from the box office 965 851 660

Elvis fans and young singing superstar Dan Davy.

The Amazing FUSION SHOW will be there featuring S t e vie S p it , N ikki G, K ylie Burgazzi, Jay, Jaz Markwick and dancers from La Sal De Torrevieja, who will dazzle once more in some incredible Las Vegas Style Costumes.

Also joining us on stage will be Footwork Dance Studio, with Al Joel as this year ’s welcome artiste.

The organisers say this year’s show will be very special. It will have a slight military theme as a salute to the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. So keep the date free and remember SUNDAY , SEPTEMBER 23, 2018. Doors open at 7pm. Show starts at 8pm Tickets are €25 for Standard or €50 for VIP which includes front of house seats, Chicken or Fish & Chips as well as entry to the secret after show party.

www.rtnnewspaper.com

FOOD Focus

The pride of Calle Pal! NE of the many highlights of Benidorm’s Pride festivities was the opening of The Pig’s Kitchen restaurant in the Old Town’s Calle Pal - and what a fantastic debut it turned out to be!

This newest addition to the resort’s staggering array of top-class food outlets is the brainchild of Lee Weller and his wife-to-be Helen Cook who own the Pig ‘n’ Whistle pub across the road - and they could not have chosen a better time for their grand opening.

On Sunday afternoon, September 9, when the week-long Pride festivities were drawing to a close, hungry revellers thronging nearby streets were attracted to the Pig’s Kitchen by the tantalising aromas wafting from the spacious first-floor premises.

Items on the menu, created by chef Stephen and his partner, Geraint, included succulent belly pork with fresh apple sauce, home-made beef and pork burgers with caramelised onions topped with English cheese, garlic butter bread and ‘piggy’ crispy potato skins served with the kitchen’s secret sauces.

Among the many who thronged to congratulate the couple on their new venture were the owners of Kafe Klee and Rich Bitch showbar, two of the best-known venues in the Old Town - and the nearest neighbours to the Pig ‘n’ Whistle and the Pig’s Kitchen.

The festive atmosphere of the restaurant’s

O

opening was complemented by live music provided by Dalli Brothers, an Argentinian duo who possess enormous talent and an amazing repertoire of popular numbers spanning decades.

Champagne corks popped as guests flowed between the restaurant and the pub, which was decked out with rainbow flags and bunting to celebrate Benidorm’s eighth Pride event.

One memorable moment was when the Pig ‘n’ Whistle team received an unexpected gift of a Coronation Street photograph signed by the cast. It was handed to them by the TV programme’s senior wardrobe advisor.

This delightful moment was shared with family, friends, customers and local celebrities, who stayed late into the night to enjoy more live music and sample the pub’s wide selection of fine wines and ales.

At the conclusion of the festivities, Lee and Helen said: “We want to thank all of you wonderful people who made this September’s opening of our season the biggest and best yet. Without your support and an abundance of positive comments this wouldn’t have been possible.

“We aim high with our service, entertainment and our unrivalled range of drinks, and we are now also enormously proud to bring you food of the highest quality. And don’t forget whether it be in the Pig’s Kitchen or the Pig ‘n’ Whistle, there will always be a party”.

AIMING HIGH: Owners Lee Weller and Helen Cook.

14th - 20th September

31

32

14th - 20th September

FOOD Focus

www.rtnnewspaper.com

BALANCED: A little of what you fancy can be good for you.

Superfoods to keep you healthy IN our 20’s we seem to be able to eat as much as we want (within reason) without having to worry too much about our weight.

But as we get that bit

older it gets increasingly difficult for many people to keep those extra kilos off.

The reason is that our bodies burn less energy while resting once we pass 40, which can result in weight gain. But this is not to say it is inevitable - the old adage ‘a little of what you fancy’ holds true today as much as it ever did.

There is certainly no problem in treating yourself to a meal out, especially here on the Costa where there is so much choice life would be a lot poorer without sampling the multitude of cuisines available within a short distance.

But there are a selection of ‘superfoods’ available, which can help you keep healthy as part of a balanced diet. You could try: Oats - containing betaglucans, oats are a soluble fibre that can help lower the unwanted form of cholesterol, and contains antioxidants unique to the grain to protect against the build-up of plaque on artery walls. Eating just 3g of oats every day is enough to reduce total cholesterol by 5 to 10 per cent, say researchers.

Cherries - the fruit is useful in combating several conditions including gout and arthritis as they are a rich source of the antioxidant anthocyanin. Introduce a dozen cherries with yoghurt or seeds or drink a glass of unsweetened juice three or four times a week

to ensure you receive the beneficial vitamins.

Almonds - the benefits range from improved blood-sugar levels to reducing cholesterol. Make sure you eat plain varieties not sugared or salted versions.

Oily fish - Omega 3 fats in salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines and herring can help lower heart rate and blood pressure, and reduce the risk of irregular heartbeat. For optimal benefits, consume at least four times a week.

Soy - Isoflavones in soy beans have been linked to lowering cholesterol, increasing bone density in post-menopausal women and improving male fertility.

Consume fresh edamame beans or soy beans in cans two to three times week, but be cautious as soy can affect hormone levels and over-consumption is not recommended for premenopausal women.

Tomatoes - an excellent source of the antioxidant lycopene which protects against the formation and spread of cancer cells as well as protecting arteries.

Research has shown that drinking 150ml of tomato juice after 20 minutes of exercise offers protection against prostate, lung and stomach cancers and heart disease. Lycopene in tomatoes is more easily absorbed by the body when it is cooked.

www.rtnnewspaper.com

FOOD Focus GREAT POSITION: Right in the heart of the old town.

TEMPTING: Chic homemade take on cheesecake.

CLASSIC: Crispy and tender - cooked to perfection.

Gin galore at Bistro Shabby Chic T might be Altea Old Town’s newest restaurant, but Bistro Shabby Chic has already made a name for itself for its excellent cuisine, fantastic vibe and relaxing cocktails.

Now it is hosting a special night to celebrate something that is very close to many people’s hearts - gin!

Next Thursday (September 20), the chic restaurant will be offering customers the chance to try the gins produced by the Rutte distillery. Founded in 1872, the Dutch gin makers have had plenty of time to perfect their art and now Bistro Shabby Chic wants to introduce its clients to the Dutch master’s products.

Starting at 7pm, it promises to be a fun and lively night with a live DJ providing the entertainment while the restaurant’s mixologist will present three types of gin: Celery Gin A distilled gin with juniper, celery, cilantro, angelica root, orange peel and cardamom.

Dry Gin Geneva distilled with juniper, coriander, angelica, lily root, cassia, orange peel, sweet orange peel and fennel.

Old Simon Genever Distilled with juniper berries, toasted walnuts and hazelnuts, angelica root,

I

cilantro, oris root, angelica seeds, mace, celery, carob, liquorice and fresh fruit.

While the gin may be Dutch, the food will be served Spanish style with a selection of tapas being served alongside the drinks as well as a collection of delicious home-made desserts being available.

One of the favourite dishes served at Bistro Shabby Chic is their take on Octopus.

It is a classical Mediterranean dishbut served in Shabby style. Fresh from the sea, it is cooked with nice herbs to the point of perfection. They serve it chargrilled so the crispy skin and tender meat make a nice match. It’s served on a seasonal vegetable base with a hint of Asia given through pineapple and their special sauce.

Sweet potato and purple potato chips give the final touch.

To finish you need go no further than their cheesecake. They do a Chic version of the classical American-style dessert. It is of course home-made, always fresh and is served with a fruity sauce and seasonal fruit. Nothing more to say, just delicious...

Calle Salamanca 7, Casco Antiguo, Altea.

Phone: 651 770 843 Facebook @shabbychicaltea

7th - 13th September

33

34

14th - 20th September

FOOD Focus

www.rtnnewspaper.com

The Pride of Benidorm

by Glenn Scott Photo credits:Kind permission of Benidorm Pride Festival Facebook

THERE were rainbows all around Benidorm during the annual Pride celebrations, and not all of them due to the weather conditions that threatened to put a real dampener on the week’s events.

The traditional end of the European season of festivals celebrating LGTB diversity came to a close on Sunday evening with a spectacular beach disco that saw thousands of visitors and locals alike dancing the last of seven nights away.

Many were no doubt suffering sore feet from not only proudly marching along the whole length of the Benidorm promenade on Saturday afternoon, but also those who - for the first time - took part in a highheel race along the narrow streets of the Old Town on Thursday.

This is now the eighth time that Benidorm Pride has been held, with more people visiting the tourist capital during this week in September to enjoy the unique atmosphere as the years go by. In fact, the hoteliers in Benidorm had their own wide smiles as the rooms were almost full to bursting with a remarkable 97 per cent occupancy rate, according to the local association HOSBEC. What started off as an event attracting 10,000 people has now grown to 15,000 and if the popularity of last week is anything to go by, there’s every reason to believe that figure will be even larger next year.

There were more events than ever to celebrate Benidorm Pride 2018, taking place not only among the almost 50 bars and restaurants in the quaint ‘Old Town’ but along the beaches and in some of the well-known clubs and discos on the outskirts of the tourist capital.

SPECTACULAR: Lights and music made a great show.

OPEN TOP: Revellers come from far and wide.

PARADE: A highlight was the march through Benidorm.

THRONGS: Thousands gathered for the fun.

Even though the ‘White Party,’ the ‘Black Party,’ the ‘Melon Fiesta’ and the previously mentioned ‘High Heel Race’ were superbly supported and enjoyed by

all, it’s the Saturday parade where the memories of the annual event are made and enjoyed not just by members of the LGBT community. In fact, several coach-

es full of people from the southern Costa Blanca arrived just to visit Benidorm for the afternoon and take in the iconic multi-coloured parade.

They joined many thousands lining the route watching a multitude of floats, cars, lorries and even a bus from Manchester Pride. A majority of those taking part in the Pride parade were dressed in the most outrageous -

but superbly made - costumes imaginable, dominated by the traditional colours of the rainbow.

Such was the pull of the parade that many of the spectators tagged on the end to follow the march to its end in Parque L’Aiguera where they enjoyed an equally spectacular stage show full of local and international artists.

Many then stayed on for the main party which be-

gan at midnight in the Julio Iglesias Auditorium.

If that wasn’t enough, afterwards the revellers made their way back to the Old Town to support the bars and clubs, many of whom were allowed special ‘outside drinking’ arrangements for the night.

The streets were jam packed until almost dawn broke, with old friends meeting up again and new friendships being made in this truly international of atmospheres. As always, there were no reports of any trouble or a single incident during the entire week which required the intervention of the Local Police.

The success of Benidorm Pride 2018 adds to the goal of making Benidorm a gay-friendly destination for 365 days of the year, and to this end the Visit Benidorm organisation has been present at a number of tourism fairs in Madrid, Barcelona, London and Berlin to publicise the event in particular and the area in general.

Bring on Benidorm Pride 2019!

36

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

What’s On FRIDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 24hr chemists Benidorm - Avda Ibiza, 6 Esq. Avda Europe, 12 or Avda Mediterranean, 29 Ed. Coblanca 41 Loc. 1 Villajoyosa - C/. Canalejas, 1 Alfaz del Pi - Avda. Pais Valencia, 44 La Nucia - C/. Alicante, 8 Altea - Avda. Comunidad Valenciana, 6 Benissa - C/. Padre Melchor, 8 Calpe - C/. Corbeta, 10 Ed. Apolo VII, L-4 Moraira market is held every Friday morning from 9am until 2pm www.teu ladamoraira.com.es.

Alfaz del Pi market is held every Friday from 9am until 2pm. www.lalfas.es.

Ibi - Moors and Christians in honour of the Mare de Deu dels Desemparats. 5.30pm - Parade of the Moors starting from Calle Murillo

SATURDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 24hr chemists Benidorm - Avda Ibiza, 6 Esq. Avda Europe, 12 or Avda Mediterranean, 29 Ed. Coblanca 41 Loc. 1 Villajoyosa - C/. Colon, 39 Alfaz del Pi - C/. Bulevar Los Musicos, 18 Fase 2 BJ. Ed.Viminal La Nucia - Av. Coloma, Nº1 - Loc.9 (Zona Com. Plaza del Sol) Altea - C/. Carretera, 13, Local 2 (Altea La Vella) Benissa - C/. Alacant, 24 Calpe - Avda. Rosa de Los Vientos, 4 L-14-15 Benissa Farmers Market is held on the second Saturday every month from 9am until 2pm. www.ajbenissa.es.

Benissa general market is held every Saturday morning from 9am until 2pm. www.ajbenis sa.es.

Calpe market is held every Saturday morning from 9am until 2pm. www.calp.es.

Ibi - Moors and Christians in honour of the Mare de Deu dels Desemparats. 11.30am - Children’s Parade from the Calle Murillo.

6.30pm - Moors Parade from the Placa de I’Esglesia and finishing at the Castle. 9pm - Offering of the flowers between Calle Joaquin Vilanova and Calle Murillo.

Altea - Moors and Christians in honour of the two patron saints,

DO NOT MISS

Altea’s September spectacular

EVERY year, during the fourth week of September, Altea celebrates two patron saints - Santisimo Cristo del Sagrario and San Blas – with the latter connected with the Moors and Christians.

The annual spectacular has taken place since 1979 and the events are simply overflowing with

colour, with light and music. Think once you’ve seen a Moors and Christian’s parade and you’ve seen them all?

Think again...

The joint celebration of the patron saints ensures a set of fiestas full of excitement and entertainment for all ages, and witnesses all the fun of the

JOINT CELEBRATION: Altea’s Moors and Christians.

fair mixed in with the more solemn aspects and remembering the real and traditional reasons the fiestas are held.

Altea, with its maritime history, provides

Santísimo Cristo del Sagrario and San Blas. 8.30pm - Coronation of the Fiesta Queens at the Palau d’Esports Vila d’Altea.

- Solemn Procession carrying the statue of La Mare de Due dels Desemparats, starting from the Placa de l’Esglesia.

SUNDAY 16 SEPTEMBER

MONDAY 17 SEPTEMBER

24hr chemists Benidorm - Avda Ibiza, 6 Esq. Avda Europe, 12 or Avda Mediterranean, 29 Ed. Coblanca 41 Loc. 1 Villajoyosa - C/. Colon, 39 Alfaz del Pi - C/. Bulevar Los Musicos, 18 Fase 2 BJ. Ed.Viminal La Nucia - Av. Coloma, Nº1 - Loc.9 (Zona Com. Plaza del Sol) Altea - C/. Carretera, 13, Local 2 (Altea La Vella) Benissa - C/. Alacant, 24 Calpe - Avda. Rosa de Los Vientos, 4 L-14-15

24hr chemists Benidorm - Avda Ibiza, 6 Esq. Avda Europe, 12 or Avda Mediterranean, 29 Ed. Coblanca 41 Loc. 1 Villajoyosa - C/. Relleu, 20-22 Alfaz del Pi - Avda. del Albir, 44 Ed. El Llobarro La Nucia - C/. Sagi-barba, 14 Altea - C/. Cap Negret, 18 Bajo G Benissa - C/. Alacant, 24 Calpe - C/. La Niña, 7

Benidorm market is held every Sunday morning from 9am until 2pm. www.Benidorm.org.

Albir market is held every Sunday morning from 9am until 2pm. www.lalfas.es.

Altea - Moors and Christians in honour of the two patron saints, Santísimo Cristo del Sagrario and San Blas. 11am - Offering of the flowers parade from the Plaza Jose Mª Planelles to the Iglesia del Consuelo.

Ibi - Moors and Christians in honour of the Mare de Deu dels Desemparats. 8am - ‘War’ in the castle in Carrer Les Eres. 6pm Parade of the Christians also at the castle in Carrer Les Eres. 9pm

Denia market held every Monday morning from 9am until 2pm www.denia.es.

Albir - Coffee morning. If you’re new to the area or just feeling a bit lonely, a group of ladies - ‘Morning Miss-Chiefs’ - meet every Monday at 12pm for a chat, organise meals out, cultural trips etc. Find them on Facebook or pop along to Together Café & Pet Spar, Albir to meet them.

TUESDAY 18 SEPTEMBER 24hr chemists Benidorm - Avda Ibiza, 6 Esq. Avda Europe, 12 or Avda Mediterranean, 29 Ed. Coblanca 41 Loc. 1 Villajoyosa - C/. Cervantes, 51 Alfaz del Pi - C/. Federico Garcia Lorca, 19 La Nucia - C/. Carretera, 2 Altea - Plaza Ayuntamiento, 22 Benissa - C/. Alacant, 24

the perfect location for the thousands of locals and visitors that take part and watch the parades... and no fiesta is complete without a sky full of fireworks.

Calpe - Avda. Ifach, 10 Altea market held every Tuesday morning from 9am until 2pm. www.altea.es.

WEDNESDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 24hr chemists Benidorm - Avda Ibiza, 6 Esq. Avda Europe, 12 or Avda Mediterranean, 29 Ed. Coblanca 41 Loc. 1 Villajoyosa - C/. Arsenal, 44 Alfaz del Pi - C/. Pau Casals, 5 L2C Pd. Albir Ed. Sta. Barbara La Nucia - C/. Aladroc, 1 Urb. Holiday Club Altea - C/ Pont de Moncau, Nº1 Benissa - C/. Alacant, 24 Calpe - Av. Juan Carlos I, Nº12-14 Ed. El Dorado L-4

THURSDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 24hr chemists Benidorm - Avda Ibiza, 6 Esq. Avda Europe, 12 or Avda Mediterranean, 29 Ed. Coblanca 41 Loc. 1 Villajoyosa - C/. Barranquet, 14 Esq. Avda. Benidorm Alfaz del Pi - Avda. Miguel Hernandez, 1 L- 2 Ur. San Rafael La Nucia - C/. Alicante, 8 Altea - C/. La Sequia, 17 Benissa - C/. Alacant, 24 Calpe - Urbanizacion El Tosal 2 J Javea market is held every Thursday morning from 9am until 2pm. www.ajxabia.es.

Villajoyosa market is held every Thursday morning from 9am until 2pm. www.villajoyosa.com.

FRIDAY 12:00pm Dom on the Spot 12:45pm Close Calls: On Camera 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News at One 2:30pm BBC London News 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm Neighbourhood Blues 4:00pm Escape to the Country 4:45pm Garden Rescue 5:30pm Antiques Road Trip 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm A Question of Sport 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Celebrity MasterChef 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News 11:35pm Room 101

An Island Parish Garden Rescue Antiques Road Trip Gardeners' World Victoria Derbyshire BBC Newsroom Live Politics Live For What It's Worth Building Dream Homes Who Do You Think You Are? World's Weirdest Events Attenborough's Big Birds Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Celebrity Eggheads The Repair Shop Great British Menu Gardeners' World Ancient Invisible Cities: Athens Mock the Week

4:00am ITV Nightscreen 6:05am The Jeremy Kyle Show 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 Tenable 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 The Island Strait 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Doc Martin 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:30pm ITV News London

12:05pm Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA 1:00pm Channel 4 News Midday Summary 2018 1:05pm A New Life in the Sun 2:10pm Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix Practice 2 Live 4:05pm Find it, Fix it, Flog it 5:00pm A Place in the Sun: Home or Away 6:00pm Come Dine with Me 6:30pm Extreme Cake Makers 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice 10:00pm Gogglebox 11:00pm Naked Attraction 12:05am First Dates Hotel

9:55am Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:05am Peppa Pig 10:15am Jeremy Vine 12:15pm Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away!

1:10pm 5 News Lunchtime 1:15pm NCIS 2:15pm Home and Away 2:45pm Neighbours 3:15pm Secret Liaison 5:00pm Friends 5:30pm Friends 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Loch Ness Monster: The Missing Evidence 9:00pm Britain by Bike with Larry and George Lamb 10:00pm Big Brother 12:05am Big Brother's Bit on the Side

4:40am 6:30am

11:00am The Animal's Guide to Britain 12:00pm Natural World 1:00pm Nigel Slater: Eating Together 1:30pm Great British Menu 2:00pm Great British Menu 2:30pm Tom Kerridge's Proper Pub Food 3:00pm Homes Under the Hammer 3:45pm Wanted Down Under 4:30pm Scrappers 5:00pm Saving Lives at Sea 6:00pm Trust Me, I'm a Doctor 6:30pm Ancient Invisible Cities: Athens 7:30pm Dad's Army 8:00pm This Beautiful Fantastic 9:30pm Princess Margaret: The Rebel Royal 10:30pm Live at the Apollo 11:00pm Three Summers

8:15am Mr. Bean: The Animated Series 8:30am Toonmarty 8:40am Toonmarty 8:55am Thunderbirds are Go 9:25am Spy School 9:55am The Haunted Hathaways 10:25am ITV News 10:30am Saturday Morning with James Martin 12:40pm The Island Strait 1:10pm ITV Lunchtime News 1:25pm The X Factor 2:30pm ITV Racing Live 5:00pm WOS Wrestling 6:00pm ITV Evening News 6:15pm Regional News and Weather 6:35pm Info Not Available 9:30pm The X Factor 10:45pm The Jonathan Ross Show 11:45pm ITV News 12:00am Play to the Whistle

9:00am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:30am Frasier 10:30am The Big Bang Theory 11:00am The Big Bang Theory 11:25am The Big Bang Theory 11:55am Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix Practice 3 Live 1:25pm F1: Grand Prix 1:55pm Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix Qualifying Live 4:45pm Car S.O.S 5:45pm The People's Vet 6:45pm Escape to the Chateau: DIY 7:40pm Channel 4 News 8:00pm Britain at Low Tide 9:00pm Hannibal's Elephant Army: The New Evidence 10:00pm Daddy's Home 11:50pm X-Men: The Last Stand

11:35am The Wonderful World of Puppies 12:20pm Police Interceptors 1:20pm Police Interceptors 2:20pm Police Interceptors 3:20pm Bad Tenants, Rogue Landlords 4:20pm Bad Tenants, Rogue Landlords 5:20pm Rich House, Poor House 6:20pm 5 News 6:25pm Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away!

7:20pm Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away!

8:05pm Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away!

9:00pm Secrets of Underground Britain 10:00pm How the Victorians Built Britain 11:00pm Tower Bridge: Britain's Greatest Bridges

6:30am Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Special Sky Movies takes a behind-the-scenes look at the latest trip into JK Rowling's wizarding world.

7:00am Never Steady, Never Still 9:00am The Ballad of Lefty Brown 11:00am The Oddsockeaters 12:35pm Final Score: Special 1:05pm Final Score 3:00pm Poirot: Murder on the Orient Express 5:00pm Top Ten Show, the 2018 5:20pm The Disaster Artist 7:20pm The Oddsockeaters 9:00pm Poirot: Murder on the Orient Express 11:00pm Final Score 12:50am My Friend Dahmer

6:00am 6:30am 6:45am 7:00am 7:15am 10:30am 11:00am 12:30pm 1:00pm

10:00am The Beechgrove Garden 10:30am Saturday Kitchen Best Bites 12:00pm Great British Menu 12:30pm Great British Menu 1:00pm Great British Menu 1:30pm Rowing: World Championships 2018 3:00pm Triathlon World : Gold Coast Highlights 4:30pm Flog It! 5:20pm Money for Nothing 6:05pm Jaguars: Brazil's Super Cats 7:05pm Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull 9:00pm Dragons' Den 10:00pm King Arthur's Britain: The Truth Unearthed 11:00pm Mock the Week

8:55am Thunderbirds are Go 9:25am Spy School 9:55am The Haunted Hathaways 10:25am ITV News 10:30am Ninja Warrior UK 11:30am WOS Wrestling 12:30pm The X Factor 1:45pm ITV Lunchtime News 1:50pm You've Got Mail 4:00pm Paul O'grady's Little Heroes 4:30pm Love Your Garden 5:30pm Tipping Point 6:30pm The Chase 7:30pm ITV Evening News 7:45pm Regional News and Weather 8:00pm 5 Gold Rings 9:00pm The X Factor 10:00pm Vanity Fair 11:05pm The Imitation Game 11:45pm ITV News

8:30am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:00am Frasier 9:30am Frasier 10:00am Sunday Brunch 1:00pm Formula 1 1:40pm Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix Live 4:30pm Formula 1 5:15pm Orangutan Jungle School 6:15pm The Great British Bake Off 7:30pm Channel 4 News 8:00pm Million Pound Mega Yachts 9:00pm Battle of Britain: Model Squadron 10:00pm Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls 11:00pm Dawn of the Planet of the Apes 1:35am Adore

11:00am Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 11:35am Monkeys Make You Laugh Out Loud 12:20pm Police Interceptors 1:10pm Friends 1:30pm Friends 2:00pm Friends 2:30pm Friends 3:00pm Friends 3:30pm Friends 4:00pm Friends 4:30pm Friends 5:00pm Friends 5:25pm Friends 5:55pm The Kid 7:55pm 5 News 8:00pm World's Most 9:00pm Mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle 11:00pm Big Brother 12:30am 20 Moments That Rocked Comedy

7:00am The Disaster Artist 9:00am The Oddsockeaters 10:40am Top Ten Show, the 2018 11:00am My Friend Dahmer 1:00pm Poirot: Murder on the Orient Express Starry adaptation of Agatha Christie's classic murder mystery novel.

3:10pm The Forgiven 5:20pm The Oddsockeaters 7:00pm Final Score 9:00pm Poirot: Murder on the Orient Express 11:00pm The Forgiven 1:10am Final Score 3:00am Psych: the Movie 4:40am My Friend Dahmer

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

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

7:00am 9:00am 11:00am 12:50pm 2:50pm 4:45pm 5:15pm 7:10pm 9:00pm

11:00pm 12:50am 2:30am 4:45am

Final Score Mamma Mia - Here We Go Again: Special My Friend Dahmer Never Steady, Never Still The Disaster Artist Poirot: Murder on the Orient Express Final Score Final Score: Special The Ballad of Lefty Brown My Friend Dahmer Poirot: Murder on the Orient Express Starry adaptation of Agatha Christie's classic murder mystery novel.

Final Score Psych: the Movie Hatred Final Score

12:00pm One2eleven 12:15pm One2eleven 12:30pm SPFL Greatest Games 12:45pm SPFL Greatest Games 1:00pm Football's Greatest 1:30pm Live Chinese Super League 3:35pm One2eleven 3:50pm One2eleven 4:00pm Football's Greatest 4:30pm Football Countdowns 5:00pm One2eleven 5:15pm One2eleven 5:30pm One2eleven 5:45pm One2eleven 6:00pm EFL Matters 6:30pm Football Countdowns 7:00pm SPFL Matters 7:30pm EFL Matters 8:00pm Football 11:15pm The Debate - Live 12:15am SPFL Matters

SATURDAY 7:00am Breakfast 11:00am Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30pm Nadiya's Family Favourites 1:00pm Football Focus 2:00pm BBC News 2:10pm Weather 2:15pm Rowing: World Championships 2018 3:45pm Triathlon World : Gold Coast Highlights 5:15pm Final Score 6:15pm BBC News 6:25pm Regional News 6:28pm Weather 6:30pm Impossible Celebrities 7:20pm Pointless 8:10pm Strictly the Best 9:25pm Casualty 10:15pm Killing Eve 11:00pm BBC News

4:00pm 6:15pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 9:40pm 9:50pm 11:55pm 12:55am 1:00am 1:15am 1:30am 3:35am

Football's Greatest EFL Greatest Games EFL Greatest Games SPFL Greatest Games Football SPFL Matters Soccer A.M. SPFL Matters Live Gillette Soccer Saturday Live Gillette Soccer Saturday Football Best Championship Goals 2017.18 MLS Greatest Games MLS Greatest Games Football EFL Goals: Championship MLS Greatest Games MLS Greatest Games MLS Greatest Games Football MLS Greatest Games

SUNDAY 1:30pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News 2:10pm Weather for the Week Ahead 2:15pm Still Open All Hours 2:45pm Hold the Sunset 3:15pm Escape to the Country 3:45pm Lifeline 3:55pm Points of View 4:10pm Songs of Praise 4:45pm Fake or Fortune?

5:45pm Shop Well for Less 6:45pm Pointless 7:35pm BBC News 7:50pm Regional News 7:55pm Weather 8:00pm Countryfile 9:00pm Antiques Roadshow 10:00pm Bodyguard 11:00pm BBC News

12:30pm 12:45pm 1:00pm 1:30pm 3:35pm 5:40pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 9:05pm 9:35pm 10:30pm 10:45pm 11:00pm 11:10pm

EFL Greatest Games EFL Greatest Games Sunday Supplement EFL Goals: League One and League Two SPFL Greatest Games SPFL Greatest Games SPFL Greatest Games Live Chinese Super League Football SPFL Greatest Games EFL Goals: Championship MLS Live EFL Goals: League One and League Two EFL Goals: Championship EFL Greatest Games EFL Greatest Games MLS Greatest Games Football

The schedules for the television programme pages are provided by an external company: we regret that any changes or errors are not the responsibility of RTN.

MONDAY 12:00pm Dom on the Spot 12:45pm Close Calls: On Camera 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News 2:30pm Regional News 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm Chase the Case 4:00pm Escape to the Country 4:45pm Garden Rescue 5:30pm Antiques Road Trip 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm Inside Out 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Panorama 10:00pm Reported Missing 11:00pm BBC News 11:30pm Regional News 11:40pm Weather 11:45pm Have I Got a Bit More 2017 News for You

7:15am An Island Parish 7:45am The World's Most Photographed 8:15am Antiques Road Trip 9:00am Fake or Fortune?

10:00am Victoria Derbyshire 12:00pm BBC Newsroom Live 12:45pm The Week in Parliament 1:15pm Politics Live 2:00pm World Equestrian Games 4:30pm Natural World 5:15pm Ingenious Animals 6:15pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 7:00pm Celebrity Eggheads 7:45pm The Repair Shop 8:30pm Great British Menu 9:00pm Monkman and Seagull's Genius Guide to Britain 9:30pm University Challenge 10:00pm Black Earth Rising 11:00pm QI 11:30pm Newsnight

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 Regional News and Weather 3:00pm Judge Rinder 4:00pm Tenable 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm Regional News and Weather 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Griff's Great Britain 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Strangers 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:30pm Regional News and Weather

9:35am Everybody Loves Raymond 10:05am Frasier 10:35am Frasier 11:05am Undercover Boss USA 12:00pm Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA 1:00pm Channel 4 News 1:05pm Come Dine with Me 2:05pm A New Life in the Sun 3:10pm Countdown 4:00pm Find it, Fix it, Flog it 5:00pm A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Extreme Cake Makers 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Jamie Cooks Italy 9:30pm Travel Man 10:00pm The Undateables 11:00pm Gogglebox

8:15am 9:00am

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 Regional News and Weather 3:00pm Judge Rinder 4:00pm Tenable 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm Regional News and Weather 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm £10k Holiday Home 9:00pm Love Your Garden 10:00pm Info not available 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:30pm Regional News and Weather

10:05am Frasier 10:35am Frasier 11:05am Undercover Boss USA 12:00pm Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA 1:00pm Channel 4 News 1:05pm Come Dine with Me 2:05pm A New Life in the Sun 3:10pm Countdown 4:00pm Find it, Fix it, Flog it 5:00pm A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Extreme Cake Makers 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm The Great British Bake Off 10:15pm The Circle 11:15pm Naked Attraction

6:35am 7:00am 10:15am 12:15pm 1:10pm 1:15pm 2:05pm 2:15pm 2:45pm 3:15pm 5:00pm 5:30pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:05am

The Great Artists Milkshake!

Jeremy Vine Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away!

5 News NCIS Access Home and Away Neighbours Broken Trust Friends Friends 5 News Neighbours Home and Away 5 News Gallagher Premiership Rugby Highlights Traffic Cops Paddington Station 24/7 Big Brother Big Brother's Bit on the Side

4:40am 6:30am 7:00am

9:00am 10:40am 12:45pm 1:15pm 3:20pm 5:10pm 7:20pm 9:00pm 11:00pm 12:40am 2:45am 4:35am

My Friend Dahmer Black Panther: Special The Disaster Artist Behind-the-scenes farce charting the chaotic production of cult film The Room.

The Oddsockeaters Never Steady, Never Still Final Score: Special Poirot: Murder on the Orient Express Devil's Gate The Forgiven The Oddsockeaters Poirot: Murder on the Orient Express Devil's Gate The Forgiven My Friend Dahmer The Disaster Artist

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

SPFL Greatest Games Football's Greatest Football Countdowns EFL Goals: League One and League Two EFL Goals: Championship Play Off Final Highlights Football Countdowns One2eleven One2eleven One2eleven One2eleven Football Years Football Countdowns Soccer Am Best Bits Football Countdowns EFL Goals: League One and League Two EFL Goals: Championship EFL Soccer Am Best Bits SPFL Round Up Show

TUESDAY 12:00pm Dom on the Spot 12:45pm Close Calls: On Camera 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News 2:30pm Regional News 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm Chase the Case 4:00pm Escape to the Country 4:45pm Garden Rescue 5:30pm Antiques Road Trip 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Holby City 10:00pm Wanderlust 11:00pm BBC News 11:30pm Regional News 11:40pm Weather

9:30am 10:00am 12:00pm 1:15pm 2:00pm 2:50pm 3:30pm 4:30pm 5:15pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:45pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:10am

Garden Rescue Nadiya's Family Favourites The Farmers' Country Showdown Victoria Derbyshire BBC Newsroom Live Politics Live The Super League Show Natural World Politics Live Coast Ingenious Animals Put Your Money Celebrity Eggheads The Repair Shop Great British Menu Saving Lives at Sea Princess Margaret: The Rebel Royal Motherland Newsnight Weather

7:00am Milkshake!

10:15am Jeremy Vine 12:15pm Can't Pay? We'll T ake it Away!

1:10pm 5 News 1:15pm NCIS 2:05pm Access 2:15pm Home and Away 2:45pm Neighbours 3:15pm Double Daddy 5:00pm Friends 5:30pm Friends 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News The latest news coverage.

8:00pm World Rally Championship Highlights 9:00pm The Yorkshire Vet 10:15pm Killed on Camera 11:15pm Big Brother

6:30am Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: Special 7:00am Never Steady, Never Still 9:10am The Oddsockeaters 10:50am Top Ten Show, the 2018 Which movies are doing the best business at home and across the pond?

11:10am The Forgiven 1:20pm Affairs of State 3:15pm Poirot: Murder on the Orient Express 5:15pm The Oddsockeaters 6:50pm The Forgiven 9:00pm Poirot: Murder on the Orient Express 11:00pm Affairs of State 1:00am Devil's Gate 2:45am My Friend Dahmer

12:45pm SPFL Greatest Games 1:00pm Football's Greatest 1:30pm To be Announced 3:35pm SPFL Round Up Show 3:50pm SPFL Greatest Games 4:00pm Football's Greatest 4:30pm Football Countdowns 5:00pm One2eleven 6:00pm Football Years 6:30pm Football Countdowns 7:00pm EFL Greatest Games 7:30pm SPFL Round Up Show 7:45pm SPFL Greatest Games 8:00pm MLS Round Up Show 8:30pm Football 11:15pm Info not available 12:15am EFL 1:15am SPFL Round Up Show

The schedules for the television programme pages are provided by an external company: we regret that any changes or errors are not the responsibility of RTN.

39

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

WEDNESDAY 3:15pm 4:00pm

Chase the Case Escape to the Country 4:45pm Garden Rescue 5:30pm Antiques Road Trip 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm Ill Gotten Gains 9:00pm Shop Well for Less 10:00pm DIY SOS the Big Build 11:00pm BBC News 11:30pm Regional News

3:15pm

Who Do You Think You Are? 4:15pm World's Weirdest Events 5:15pm Ingenious Animals 6:15pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 7:00pm Celebrity Eggheads 7:45pm The Repair Shop 8:30pm Great British Menu 9:00pm Trust Me, I'm a Doctor 9:30pm Upstart Crow 10:00pm Trust 11:00pm On Two: Defending the Guilty

3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm

Judge Rinder Tenable Tipping Point The Chase Regional News and Weather 7:25pm Party Political Broadcast 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm To be Announced 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Joanna Lumley's Silk Road Adventure 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather

1:05pm 2:05pm

Come Dine with Me A New Life in the Sun 3:10pm Countdown 4:00pm Find it, Fix it, Flog it 5:00pm A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Extreme Cake Makers 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm The Supervet 10:00pm Grand Designs 11:00pm The Circle 12:05am Gogglebox

6:00pm

5 News The latest news coverage.

6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News 8:00pm Traffic Cops 9:00pm Gps Behind Closed Doors 10:00pm Casualty 24/7 11:00pm Big Brother: Blood Money 12:05am Big Brother's Bit on the Side 1:05am Ex on the Beach

6:30am 7:00am

Moana: Special Top Ten Show, the 2018 7:20am The Oddsockeaters 9:00am My Friend Dahmer 11:00am Affairs of State 1:00pm Poirot: Murder on the Orient Express 3:10pm The Forgiven 5:20pm The Oddsockeaters 7:00pm Affairs of State 9:00pm Poirot: Murder on the Orient Express 11:00pm The Wings of Eagles 12:45am The Forgiven 2:50am Devil's Gate

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

2:15pm 2:45pm 3:15pm 5:00pm 5:30pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

7:00am 8:40am 9:10am 11:10am

4:30pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:15pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm

One2eleven One2eleven One2eleven One2eleven Football Years Football Countdowns 7:00pm EFL Greatest Games 7:15pm EFL Greatest Games 7:30pm Football Countdowns 8:00pm Best Championship Goals 2017/18 8:30pm Football 11:15pm The Debate - Live 12:15am EFL

THURSDAY 4:00pm

Escape to the Country 4:45pm Garden Rescue 5:30pm Antiques Road Trip 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Celebrity MasterChef 10:00pm Press 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:30pm BBC London

4:15pm 5:15pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:45pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 10:45pm 11:00pm 11:30pm

World's Weirdest Events Ingenious Animals Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Celebrity Eggheads The Repair Shop Great British Menu Back in Time for the Factory The Mighty Redcar Nick Helm: The Killing Machine Match of the Day Newsnight

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

The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Britain on Painkillers: The Silent Epidemic Tonight 9:00pm Emmerdale 9:30pm Emmerdale 1918 10:00pm To Catch a Serial Killer - With Trevor Mcdonald 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:30pm ITV News London

3:10pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 6:30pm

Countdown Find it, Fix it, Flog it A Place in the Sun Four in a Bed Extreme Cake Makers 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News Includes sport and weather.

9:00pm Location, Location, Location 10:00pm No Offence 11:00pm The Circle 12:05am 24 Hours in A&E

Home and Away Neighbours The Nanny Betrayal Friends Friends 5 News at 5 Neighbours Home and Away 5 News Tonight Police Interceptors Hms Victory: Nelson's Great Warship 10:00pm Michael Palin in North Korea 11:00pm Big Brother

1:10pm 3:10pm 4:50pm 7:00pm 9:00pm 11:00pm 12:45am 2:30am

The Oddsockeaters Final Score: Special Affairs of State Modern Life is Rubbish Poirot: Murder on the Orient Express The Oddsockeaters The Forgiven Modern Life is Rubbish Poirot: Murder on the Orient Express Devil's Gate The Wings of Eagles Affairs of State

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

Football Countdowns One2eleven Football Years Football Countdowns EFL Greatest Games EFL Greatest Games Football Countdowns EFL Matters EFL Goals: Championship Best Championship Goals 2017/18 EFL Matters Football Years Football Countdowns EFL Matters

talk to us

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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@rtnnewspaper.com with your full name and address

this week weather FRI

SAT

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

Sep 14

Sep 15

Sep 16

Sep 17

Sep 18

Sep 19

Sep 20

35º/20ºC 37º/20ºC 36º/21ºC 35º/20ºC 36º/21ºC 35º/20ºC 36º/21ºC Partly sunny

Partly sunny

Plenty of clouds

Plenty of clouds

Partly sunny

Brilliant sunshine

Partly sunny

The schedules for the television programme pages are provided by an external company: we regret that any changes or errors are not the responsibility of RTN.

40

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

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

IT seems to me that over the years, as the number of TV channels at our disposal have multiplied, the quality of the programmes has diminished commensurately.

I remember ‘the good old days’ when there were two then three channels, and it was a toss-up what we should watch, such was the quality.

And with no video recorders back in the early 60’s, it meant that we missed some top notch shows. We were spoilt for choice.

Even the commercials were brilliant.

Now I spend all my time switching channels in the hope of finding something that is worth swopping 60 minutes of my life for, mostly in vain.

The Princess tells me that I have become a grumpy old man and I hope she is right. The programme Grumpy Old Men was one I could relate to and one I still miss.

It was portrayed as a comedy, but as far as I was concerned it was a show that seriously debated some of life’s important issues with straight talking. I

The X-piration Factor

NO OPTIONS: Simon Cowell’s latest judging panel is scraping the barrel.

was a great fan.

I felt that most of the participants made valid points and they often had me nodding my head like the Churchill bulldog in complete agreement.

Even then it seems I was well on the road to becoming a miserable old git.

My latest rant concerns the new series of X Factor.

Now this is not a favourite of mine at the best of times, but I shake my head in disbelief at the depths to which this programme has plunged.

Simon Cowell must be running out of

options for his judging panel, because now we have Robbie Williams, well okay, I guess he’s earned qualification.

Although I could not make out why he appeared to still be wearing pyjamas last Saturday.

His wife Ayda who is now a judge on XF because? Oh yes, because she is Robbie Williams’ wife.

And Louis Tomlinson who was a third place finalist on the show with the band One Direction back in 2010. Not a winner mark you, but third.

So there they were, our judging panel - Our Robbie, disrespectful as ever with his feet up on the desk; Ayda who when she stood up to make a point, showed off legs that went all the way up to Barcelona - although I have no real problem with that. And Louis sitting next to Simon, could have been mistaken for his grandson, and who I would take far more seriously if his voice did not sound as if it is still waiting to break.

Then out of the blue, Robbie produced his dad, who took his place on the panel. What was that about?

What’s next; Simon’s second cousin’s next door neighbour ’s baby sitter?

Give me strength.

42

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

Don’t blame the messenger

by Michael Walsh

keyboardcosmetics@gmail.com DISTRUST in mainstream media has always been self-evident, especially among the job’s own professionals. John Swinton, editor of the New York Tribune addressed the New York Press Association on April 12, 1893.

“There is no such thing as an independent Press in America, unless it is in the country towns.

There is not one of you who dare to express an honest opinion. If you express an honest opinion, you know beforehand it would never appear in print. We are tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are intellectual prostitutes.”

It isn’t fake news to concede that media reflects the opinions of its owners. The American owners of the Daily Mail wish not to be reminded that Viscount Rothermere, who pioneered popular journalism, ardently endorsed Adolf Hitler for many years.

Real journalists are self-effac-

FREE PRESS: Journalists are ‘soldiers of communication’. ing: Canadian Reuters correspondent Charles Lynch was candid: “It’s humiliating to look back at what we wrote during the war. It was crap, and I don’t exclude the Ernie Pyles or the Alan Mooreheads; we were a propaganda

arm of our governments.”

The most amusing self-effacement was that expressed by Derek Jameson. Considered Britain’s most notorious editor, he described his tabloid frankly. “All the nudes fit to print and all the

news printed to fit.”

Commenting on coverage of the unfolding Sergei Skripal drama, mainstream journalist Neil Clark broke ranks: “In all my years in journalism, I have never felt so ashamed of my profession as in

the last four weeks.”

A seminar specifically charged with giving the floor to international journalists was supercharged by candid exchanges unlikely to appear in print or on TV screens.

One delegate remarked: “There is no such thing as neutral journalism”. Another explained that journalists are now ‘soldiers of communication’, with the emphasis being on the term soldiers. An erudite delegate reminded attending journalists, editors and owners that ‘the internet and digital media are the battlefields of the 21st century.’

Paul Craig Roberts, US Assistant Secretary didn’t mince his words: “The United States no longer has a media. It has a propaganda ministry for the military/security complex, the neoconservatives, and the Israel lobby. And the idiot Americans sit in front of the TV and absorb the propaganda, and they read the New York Times and think that they are sophisticated and in the know.”

Fernando Casado, Spanish Analyst and Legal Expert share my experience. “Some journalists, who are actually quite open-minded and are aware of the real situation, have no choice but to write what is expected of them by their editors in order to make both ends meet and have a decent salary”.

Mike Walsh’s opinions are his own and do not necessarily represent the views of the publishers advertisers or sponsors.

www.rtnnewspaper.com Basic Spanish for everyday needs

by Jane Cronin

HELLO again! Well we are now going to have a break from verbs. What? I hear you say. You mean there are other things in Spanish apart from verbs? Indeed there are, and although I am feeling fairly optimistic at the moment, (don’t ask me why) this subject is actually about being negative.

Yes, our subject today is being negative, but not just that boring old ‘no’ that we can place before verbs to turn them around. ‘Tengo,’ (I have) ‘no tengo,’ (I don’t have) and so on. Instead we are going to look at the Spanish for never, no one or nobody, and nothing.

The Spanish for ‘never’ is ‘nunca’, and we will use this to illustrate how these negative words function in sentences. Basically, you have two options, you can either start a phrase or sentence with them as follows: ‘¡Nunca he visto una cosa igual!’ (‘I’ve never seen anything like it!’) ‘Nunca’ in this position sounds emphatic, and so lends itself to this kind of exclamation. If we want to use ‘nunca’ less emphatically we have to put it later in the sentence but create what we call in English a double-negative.

‘No he visto eso nunca.’ We’re back to the use of ‘no’ at the beginning and if we try to translate word for word we end up with ‘I

14th - 20th September

43

Never no one, nothing haven’t never seen that,’ which of course is not at all correct in English. In Spanish though, it is the principal way we express our negatives, with ‘no’ before the verb and the other negative word later in the sentence.

Exactly the same thing occurs with ‘no one’ which is ‘nadie’. We can say ‘Nadie vino,’ (Nobody or no one came) or we can express exactly the same idea with ‘no vino nadie,’ which just sounds slightly less emphatic.

‘Nothing’ is ‘nada’ and we can illustrate this with a very common phrase that is oftentaught as an item of ‘survival Spanish’ - ‘no pasa nada’. Again if we were to be horribly literal we would translate this as ‘nothing doesn’t happen’, but of course it should have justthe one negative in English, giving us

‘nothing happens’. The phrase could mean exactly that, as in the sentence: ‘Nothing happens in this village.’ ‘En este pueblo no pasa nada.’

However, it is far more commonly heard as a response to some kind of apology or expression of discomfort from another person, the equivalent of our ‘don’t worry’ or ‘nothing’s the matter’. I say: ‘Perdón,’ (Excuse me) and you reply ‘No pasa nada.’

We can also use ‘nada’ in some contexts to mean ‘at all’, as in ‘no me gusta nada,’ (‘I don’t like it at all’). If we want to be even more emphatic about our dislike of something, we can also say ‘¡No me gusta en absoluto!’ This sounds positive but in fact it is a negative phrase. I can’t think how to translate that ex-

tra emphasis, other than by becoming suddenly Irish, ‘I don’t like it at all, at all, at all.’

Another little negative thing you might like to know is ‘neither … nor’ which is ‘ni …. ni’, although we don’t always express ourselves the same way in English. For example: ‘No me gusta ni la carne ni los huevos’, (I don’t like meat or eggs - ‘I like neither meat nor eggs’). I do like eggs by the way, it was just an example.

If we focus on the most common, everyday uses of these negative words though, it is remarkable that they are frequently used entirely on their own - often as responses. ‘¿Has estado en Nueva York?’ ‘Nunca.’

(Have you been to New York? Never). ‘¿Quién vino a la reunión?’ ‘Nadie.’ (Who came to the meeting? No one). ‘¿Qué te pasa?’ ‘Nada.’ (‘What’s the matter with you?’

‘Nothing’). ‘Nada’ is the ultimate one-worder and is used in many ways. Sometimes it abbreviates, ‘de nada’ (‘not at all’). ‘Muchas gracias.’ ‘Nada.’ Sometimes it is used at the beginning of long explanations (for some strange reason). A reporter says: ‘Cuéntanos qué paso,’(‘Tell us what happened,’) and the interviewee starts his long detailed account with: ‘Nada. El avión se despegó y ...’ (‘Nothing. The aeroplane took off and ...’)

Finally, you can finish off a conversation with ‘pues, nada’ (‘well, nothing’) which can also be abbreviated to ‘nada.’ Nada. Hasta la semana que viene.

Advertising Feature

Are your child’s eyes prepared for school?

DURING the first 12 years of our lives, as much as 80 per cent of learning is accomplished through our vision.

Yet, one out of every four children has an undetected vision problem that may inhibit their progress. Once children go to school, good eye-sight is crucial to keep up with their studies.

Experts believe that many learning disabilities could be vision related as they may not be able to read the blackboard or text books.

Specsavers Opticas suggest that a child should have their first eye examination at around three years old, as the earlier things are detected, the easier they are to rectify without delaying the child’s development. As the new term gets underway, they are advising all parents to take children for a thorough eye test so poor eyesight does not hold them back.

The process of taking an eye test for a child is simple. Firstly, the optometrist

HAPPY: Be ready for learning.

will ask the parent or guardian about any relevant family history and any problems their child may be experiencing. Then several child-friendly tests will be undertaken, using special charts and other materials to help children indicate what they can see and how clearly.

They will test the vision of each eye and will check whether they work properly together. They will also measure the child’s focusing ability and the health of the child’s eyes before discussing their results with the parents.

If a child does need glasses, there are some great ranges which tick all the boxes of fashion and durability.

Children that wear glasses can now be the envy of all their friends with fun frames in bright colours sporting their favourite character or toy.

Popular ranges include Disney, emoji, Gruffalo, Star Wars™ and Marvel.

Specsavers also have their own children’s and teen ranges.

Visit www.specsavers.es to find your nearest store and book a comprehensive eye test.

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

45

health

New fibre bond technology THIS week in Clinica Britannia we have been very busy with one of our new procedures. We have had a number of patients with mobile teeth due to gum disease.

Gum disease is the most common disease in the world after dental decay. In susceptible indiv i d u a l s t h e b o d y ’s i m m u n e s y s tem reacts to toxins produced by certain bacteria. This results in the bone around the teeth reducing and over time can cause loosening of the teeth.

Due to our new fibre bond technology we have managed to splint the teeth together to hold them in place for many years to come as long as regular dental hygiene visits are maintained.

Benefits of this is you keep your own teeth and avoid a denture, it’s done in one visit and it’s low cost.

If you have any mobile teeth or are worried about gum disease, call us for a free consultation to see if this low cost treatment is suitable for you.

MOBILE TEETH: Caused by gum disease.

Please call Britannia Dental on 965 837 553 for a free consultation to see if you are suitable for this treatment.

Also like us on Facebook.

Britannia Dental Clinic Avenida Ejercitos Españoles 16 BIS 1st Floor (Not ground floor) E-03710 Calpe (Alicante).

New Treatments for Varicose Veins • New treatments of varicose veins with percutaneous closure in Clinica Britannia • Return to normal activities within one day, no scarring, no pain TECHNOLOGICAL developments have led to the appearance of new minimally invasive treatments, such as the Radiofrequency AblationCLOSUREFAST™ Procedure and the VENASEAL ™ Closure System DR VICENTE MERA The ClosureFast™ proceSenior Consultant Physician. dure uses radiofrequency energy to precisely and effectively treat patients suffering from chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).

The heat provided by the catheter shrinks and collapses the target vein, creating a fibrotic seal and occluding the vessel.

The VenaSeal™ closure system is the only non-tumescent, non-thermal, non-sclerosant procedure that uses a proprietary medical adhesive delivered endovenously to close the vein. This unique approach eliminates the risk of nerve injury when treating the small saphenous vein, which is a risk sometimes associated with certain thermal-based procedures. The procedure is administered without the use of tumescent anaesthesia, avoiding patient discomfort associated with multiple needle sticks.

CLINICA BRITANNIA BRITISH MEDICAL & DENTAL CENTRE 16BIS (next to 16) FIRST (not Ground) FLOOR Ejércitos Españoles Av.Calpe 03710 • Tel 965 837 553 24H 607 255 755

Rejuvenate your skin with PRP IS this your skin issue?

Are you noticing dark circles and puffiness under your eyes?

Are you seeing fine lines and sagging around your mouth, cheeks, and eyes?

Is your skin tone just not as bright, healthy, and firm as it used to be?

If your skin has started to show the signs of ageing, you may be considering cosmetic procedures. There are many to choose from, but one of the most effective ways to reverse the signs of ageing is PRP treatment.

What is Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP)?

To develop a PRP preparation, blood must first be drawn from a patient. The platelets are separated from other blood cells and their concentration is increased during a process called centrifugation.

Although blood is mainly a liquid (called plasma), it also contains small solid components (red cells, white cells, and platelets). The platelets are best known for their importance in clotting blood. However, platelets also contain hundreds of proteins called growth factors which are very important in the healing of injuries.

Many famous athletes - Tiger Woods, tennis star Rafael Nadal, and several others - have received PRP for various problems, such as sprained knees and chronic tendon injuries.

The PRP treatment is widely used in rejuvenating skin care. Blood plates have the ability to renew the skin and improve the skin’s ability to produce collagen. The goal of PRP skin rejuvenation therapy is to improve skin tone and texture, tighten skin, soften lines and pores. Results begin to show in just three to four weeks after the treatment session and continue to improve with time. Three treatment sessions are generally recommended, spaced one to two months apart, to achieve the best outcome.

PRP treatment offers patients a number of benefits, from firmer skin to a brightened complexion. We can treat fine line wrinkles around the eyes and around the mouth. Also scars after acne and stretch marks.

Speaking with a qualified dermatologist at Derma Clinic Spain can help you decide if PRP is right for you, or if you should consider an alternative route of treatment.

In September we have a very special offer on this treatment.

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

For more information call 674 255 579 or email info@dermaclinicspain.com.

Alternatively see our Facebook page facebook.com/DermaClinicSpain.

46

14th - 20th September

www.rtnnewspaper.com

health

Skin cancer awareness week

MORE than 250 dermatologists evaluated thousands of Spaniards across 49 provinces in a bid to detect and prevent skin cancer.

The initiative was part of the 2018 melanoma campaign organised by Spain’s Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (AEDV), in which 33 other EU countries also participated.

According to AEDV, around 4,000 melanomas are diagnosed each year in Spain and believe around 80 per cent of these could have been avoided if adequate sun protection was used.

Cases are more common in those aged over 50, particularly as sun protection and the damaging sun’s rays were less known about a few decades ago, but there are more and more cases of young people being diagnosed due to unhealthy habits of sun exposure.

However, the good news is that 80 per cent of melanomas are cured with surgery and early diagnosis means it is unlikely to have spread to other parts of the body.

During the week-long campaign earlier this year, specialists analysed moles and offered free consultations to check people’s skin. Different activities were also arranged to remind people of the importance of protecting the skin from the sun’s harmful rays

EVERYONE loves that healthy summer glow but for a truly healthy look you need to fake it!

Forget lazing in the sun for hours on end and all the associated health risks involved. There are literally hundreds of fake tan and self-tanning creams, lotions and sprays available to give the natural bronzed look you are looking for. However, whether it’s a deep tan or lighter colour you want, there are some top tips to follow to ensure an even look: Exfoliate. Ideally up to seven hours before you want to apply self-tan. This will help remove dead skin cells and help prevent uneven, blotchy patches with the product. When doing your legs, shave or wax at least 24 hours before.

Apply the product after showering. Ensure the skin is completely dry and moisturise beforehand, particularly on dry spots such as knees and elbows to help with an overall even result.

Wear gloves. Protect your hands from the product. Nothing gives the game away that you are faking it like brown stained palms.

and in checking moles for any changes. Remember if you have an existing mole that has changed shape, colour or size, you should get it checked.

Also, look for new moles, spots or lesions that are red, can bleed and are not healing.

SUN DAMAGE: Get your moles checked out.

Top tips for an even glow Wait to get dressed. To prevent the self tan staining your clothes or smudging, wait at least 15 minutes after applying before getting dressed.

Get help. Enlist the help of someone to apply tan to the back and to those hard to reach areas for an even glow.

Stay protected. Despite the healthy glow, you must still protect your skin from the sun and wear adequate UVA and UVB protection.

FAKE TAN: For a truly healthy look.

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

health

Avoid sleeping beauty diet

Good or bad boredom?

BOREDOM. What is boredom? Simply being fed up, having nothing to do at the weekend? Lacking enthusiasm in your work, being uninterested in things?

Boredom has many different levels and experiences and it can affect different people in different ways. It can be healthy, but can also be harmful.

Now, experts have suggested there could be up to five different types of boredom and the ‘wrong’ sort of boredom can be self-destructive and could lead to an earlier death.

A type of boredom known as ‘reactant’ is deemed the most harmful by experts. They say this involves strong negative feelings making people restless, angry and stressed. This can also lead to long term boredom with people more likely to skip school or quit their jobs, as well as smoke, take drugs and binge drink; all factors that can reduce the life expectancy as it was found that the boredom leads to bad habits.

Get active to boost your mood

EXERCISE has always been cited for boosting your mood and reducing stress levels, but the good news is it’s never too late to start as researchers claim just one workout can show immediate positive effects.

A n e w s t u d y c a r r i e d o u t a t N e w Yo r k ’s Centre for Neural Science, claims just one workout that leaves you sweating is enough to boost your moods when previous studies claimed it had to be continual, regular exercise to have similar results.

The researchers looked at how exercise impacts the brain and found after one workout it can have neurological changes and be seen as a stepping stone for greater benefits.

Working out releases a feeling of euphoria and triggers the brain’s cannabinoid receptors.

47

FED UP?: Boredom can affect different people in different ways.

However, ‘indifferent’ boredom could be beneficial.

This is the state where people are not actively doing anything, but they are calm and quiet and so allow their mind to wander off.

This has proven to boost creativity and it is often recommended to allow children to be ‘bored’ so they can spend time with themselves, be more creative and stimulate their minds to play and be active without outside factors such as electronics and video games being given to entertain them.

EXPERTS are warning against the so-called ‘sleeping beauty’ diet.

The ‘diet’ advocates sleeping as long as possible so there are less hours in the day to eat. Many women are also relying on sedatives and sleeping pills to enable them to sleep up to 20 hours a day and are at risk of overdosing and becoming addictive.

The diet could also have an impact on the mental health of followers unable to interact or socialise, spending most of the day in bed leading to social isolation and potentially depression. It can also affect a person’s body clock and dieters are more likely to binge eat when awake.

Experts warn sleeping pills should always be used with caution. A study by Keele University found that as they can cause drowsiness and impaired balance, the risk of a fracture doubled in those who relied daily on sleeping pills to get to sleep. In 2015, a University of Washington study also showed a worrying link between sleeping tablets and dementia and researchers from Nottingham University in 2012 found that sleeping pills increase the risk of contracting, and dying from, pneumonia during their study.

Try yoga to beat cancer effects YOGA could help those with breast cancer particularly as it helps patients to be more relaxed and better able to cope with side-effects.

Two studies were presented at the US cancer conference held

in Chicago as researchers claimed the activity of yoga had numerous benefits.

As well as lowering the cortisol stress hormone, they reported that those who practised yoga found they

YOGA: Helps patients to be more relaxed.

slept better and were not so exhausted, which is often a problem with cancer patients going through treatment and reduced pain levels.

The first study was carried out in New York with 321 patients,

the majority of whom had breast cancer.

The second study was in Mumbai, India and looked at whether yoga can improve survival rates of breast cancer patients.

48

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

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

Puzzles Page

EASY 1 2 3 4

Cryptic

Down 1 Bags naughty cheat on board (7) 2 Scour the bush country (5) 3 Unspoilt old city in South African region (7) 4 No care damaged part of eye (6) 5 Free range is a deadly sin (5) 6 Characters in sinister nerve agent plot are more relentless (7) 7 Britain finishes diver's problem (5) 13 Grades given to sailors (7) 15 Simple saint before getting crown of gold (7) 16 Dexterity is an insult, so we hear (7) 17 Creed moved east in retreat (6) 18 Student one may see through (5) 19 Some mistake lawyer for pack leader (5) 21 Cheese containing initially banned sweetener (5)

BEAT Weekly Stars

Across 1 Girl in difficulties, asks us and agrees (5) 4 Insensitive fool after credit (5) 8 Custodian’s organised car tour (7) 9 Inexperienced bowler's environment (5) 10 Burning coal in Nuremberg (5) 11 Reds ran about, running these? (7) 12 Leisurely walk with small Scandinavian goblin (6) 14 Sea creature from urban renewal rush hour (6) 18 Stew made from pet goat (7) 20 Black is black in retail event (5) 22 Money from writer before church (5) 23 Smoothing things out at the end of the day (7) 24 Good man gets beer, but it's flat (5) 25 Old Testament character, New Testament incident (5)

Kenny Corris For Readings, Consultations and Castings kennycorris@hotmailcom www.kennycorris.net Mobile: 686 361 594 / Tel: 965 878 424

Aries. Your feisty ruler, Mars is backed up on a reckless and haphazard transit, and basically anything could happen, and probably will. The secret will be to look ahead, and take things in your stride!

However, this is not a time to make any definite plans or to air your opinions, until Uranus takes over mid week.

Libra. As action is highlighted in your opposing sign of Aries, so the calm and peace is overwhelming as you embrace the passing energies of your planetary leader as she, as the Goddess of Love, sextiles Saturn. Observe this week the true passions that lurk within, as love finds a way into your unaware and unsure heart!

Taurus. Mars, coupled with an inspiring Uranus brings something very exciting right to your door. This heralds a need for simplicity and a need to agree to see things through how ever hard it will get. You are unafraid of hard work, but when a reward is in sight you will be motivated and encouraged to just get the job done.

Scorpio. The Sun brushes up to Kora, and this manifests in many ways, from the love and care with which you treat your neighbours and friends, to an action of great unselfishness, which will also clear the air of any recent conflict. Above all love yourself, because there will be plenty of love left for anyone who needs it.

Gemini. Mercury, your hard working planetary leader is covering a lot of distance amidst the planetary forces of Neptune, Pluto and Jupiter this week. This suggests that you have already set in motion your escape route, and are freeing quality time for yourself. This is not selfish in any way, but self preserving and you need it!

Sagitarius. With actions this week involving an indulgent Jupiter in cahoots, you have reached the top at last, and must pause to celebrate every which way. Above all you have achieved not only what you set out to, but have also made sure that everyone around you, who has supported you, has a chance to share in your good fortune!

Cancer. Mercury enters midweek into opposing Neptune, bringing a new way to oil the wheels and get things once and for all into motion, rather than waiting for things to happen. Taking into consideration all that’s around you right now there comes a need to bring everything back together, and consolidate.

Capricorn. As Mercury enters midweek there is a reason to open up channels of communication, and to ensure that, this time, your message is received by those whom you want to hear it. Someone has deliberately misconstrued your intentions, so put your cards on the table, and tell a few home truths.

Leo. Time is moving on, and although you are in the very best place right now, something somehow has got to give. You have taken over the lion’s share of the work and taken responsibility to higher levels as a response, but whatever you are waiting for now, bring it on without fear of reprisal, you haven’t put a foot wrong so far!

Aquarius. Your ruler Uranus ensures that you get the truth, and that you have a chance to show others your highly individual side this week. Your unique energies are greatly magnified by the Piscean energy of Light and Love, coming midweek and inspiring you to look within your psychic self, and to like what you see.

Virgo. Neptune brings you something long awaited, and in so doing, serves to greatly influence your artistic and sensitive side, motivating and stimulating you to take steps into starting some new project. Whilst it is best that whatever you do is done solely by you, it does serve to showcase just what you can do when you try.

Pisces. With mighty and highly organised Uranus moving in midweek you’ll get the help that you need and the result that you wanted all along, and, finally you will be rewarded by hearing the words that you need to, as you will be motivated to take this to just where it needs to be. Love energies catch you unawares!

Code Breaker

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 9 represents N and 19 represents Q, so fill in N every time the figure 9 appears and Q every time the figure 19 appears. Now, using your knowledge of the English language, work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you discover the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.

www.rtnnewspaper.com Across 1 Safe (6) 4 Counterfeit (4) 8 Make fit or suitable (5) 9 Red, green or yellow fruit (5) 10 Lawful (10) 13 Help (10) 17 State of extreme confusion and disorder (5) 18 Body excluding the head and neck and limbs (5) 19 Falsehoods (4) 20 Make up one's mind (6)

Quick

Down 1 Adult male deer (4) 2 Desist from (5) 3 Long tailed rodent (3) 5 First letter of Greek alphabet (5) 6 Number of players in a cricket team (6) 7 Mexican foodstuff (6) 11 Beg persistently and urgently (6) 12 Annul or suppress (6) 14 Animal trap (5) 15 Welsh breed of dog (5) 16 Centre of 9 Across (4) 18 Bind (3) Across 1 Back (of person) (7) 5 Cangrejos (de mar) (5) 8 Able (capable) (5) 9 Terrace (patio, verandah) (7) 10 To show (7) 11 Saint (5) 12 Margarita (flor) (5) 14 Décimo (5) 19 Nickname (5) 21 Clothes shop (7) 23 By plane (2,5) 24 To taste (5) 25 De nuevo (5) 26 Respuestas (a preguntas, en examen, test) (7)

Down 1 Above (6) 2 Tuberías (5) 3 Lagartos (7) 4 Height (6) 5 Faces (body parts) (5) 6 En contra de (7) 7 Estación (parte del año) (6) 13 Lawyer (f) (7) 15 Handcuffs (7) 16 Flowerpot (6) 17 Press (newspapers) (6) 18 Goats (6) 20 Cebolla (5) 22 Oak (tree) (5)

49

14th - 20th September

English - Spanish The clues are mixed, some clues are in Spanish and some are in English.

Kenny’s Postbag Kenny, I found my hard drive! My friend said that Spirit can guide you towards finding lost things, but how does that work? Oh! I must tell you that I hadn’t noticed, yes there is a small scratch on the cover…you were right!

Emma G.

I am not usually very good at finding objects, but I did find it easy to connect with your psychic energies. I am glad that you got back those photos you thought that you had lost for ever. It works because it works, and I cannot tell you how and why, just that in your case I felt almost led to actually seeing that hard drive. Now print out some of those pictures….just in case! Good luck!

Kenny Corris Don't forget to email or message me with your Postbag Questions!.

Check out my new website: www.kennycorris.net

Kakuro

For Birthday Celebrants Fill all the empty squares using the numbers 1 to 9, so that the sum of each horizontal block equals the ‘clue’ on its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the clue on its top.

No number may be used in the same block more than once.

Look before you leap, and make sure that you have the support that you need to make your current plan successful. Your skills of leadership will unfold; but have faith and then they will work alongside you, eventually!

Sudoku

Funagram Unscramble the name of a 2010 American 3D computer-animated comedy film (two words): MISPLACED BEE Unscramble the name of a famous American clarinettist, composer, bandleader and actor: WHIST AREA

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

ANSWERS: - DESPICABLE ME - ARTIE SHAW

50

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

AIRPORT PARKING

FOR SALE REF. SA-2457 - CORNER TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT ALBIR 70m2 - € 241,500 966 868 620 / 695 592 402 (279883) REF. SA-2373 - APARTMENT IN ALBIR 100m2 HIGH STANDARD, 2BEDROOMS 2BATHROOMS - € 282,000 966 868 620 / 695 592 402 (279883)

CARPENTRY www.dragonreforms.com Tel 966 807 098. Free quotes given. (276051)

CHARITIES EL CAMPELLO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY - nondenominational Church. We hold two services every Sunday 10.30am in English (Spanish translation) and 12.00 in Spanish only at Calle San Bartolome 35, Bajo, No.6, El Campello.

Everyone welcome. For more information: www.elcampellochristian community.org or email: campellocc@gmail.com.

Sue Bishop - 693 048 200 (English) or Carol Castlejon - 661 532 260 (Spanish / French).

(233602)

CLEANING SERVICES A1 SPECIALIST CLEANING. Carpets, upholstery, 15 years’ experience 965 058 177/ 697 511 071 marc@barnaclebills.co.uk www.britishbusinesspa gesinspain.es (259042)

FOR SALE REF. SA-929 – APARTMENT ALBIR 97m2, 2BEDROOMS, 2BATHROOMS, 2PARKING SPACES- € 160,000 966 868 620 / 695 592 402 (279883) REF. SA-2450 – APARTMENT ALBIR 74m2, 2BEDROOM, 1BATHROOM - € 160,000 966 868 620 / 695 592 402 (279883)

REF. SA-2026 - LUXURY PENTHOUSE CENTRE OF ALBIR 250m2, 3BEDROOMS 2BATHROOMS, 2KITCHENS, GARAGE € 739,000 966 868 620 / 695 592 402 (279883) REF. XSA-1014 - CENTRIC, INDEPENDENT AND SOUTH FACING VILLA ALBIR 100m2 , 4BEDROOMS, 2BATHROOMS, SWIMMINGPOOL – SALE PRICE € 329,000 966 868 620 / 695 592 402 (279883) REF. SA-2458 - SEMIDETACHED VILLA ALBIR 240m2 , 4BEDROOMS, 3BATHROOMS, DOUBLE GARAGE, SWIMMINGPOOL - € 345,000 966 868 620 / 695 592 402 (279883) REF. SA-228 – NEW MODERN SEMI-DETACHED HOUSE ALBIR 192m2, 3BEDROOMS, 3BATHROOMS, GARAGE - € 365,000 966 868 620 / 695 592 402 (279883)

INSURANCE BENEFICIAL INSURANCE SERVICES. Car, Home, Business, Travel, Life, Funeral, all insurances available. Policies in English. BEST rates, covers & service. Immediate quotes. Tel 961 129 215 / 622 275 561, (whatsapp) info@beneficialin suranceinspain.com or visit www.beneficialin suranceinspain.com for online quote.

(259397)

LOCKSMITH LOCKSMITH/ELECTRICIAN/CARPENTER for emergency safe opening.

Altea area, call Michael Rice: 686 513 510 or Calpe area Sean Gannon: 667 507 630

MASSAGE MASSAGE Benidorm by qualified professional friendly male therapist. 604 232 351 www.pridemassage.i nfo (256356)

METAL WORKS MOBILE WELDING SERVICE Gates, rejas, railings etc. Made to measure or repaired. Free quotes. No job too small.

Calpe. Made to measure or repaired onsite. Call Dave 965 834 869 or 616 173 699

MOTORING

PLUMBING

AUTOS GARAGE L’OLLA. Repairs, clean spools of automatic gearboxes.

We rectify your problems.

40 years of experience in repairing all brands. Electronic and inspection (ITV) service, hand free sets, towing hooks, reversing camera (245€) Free quotation of the repair if you know the problem. Telephone: 965 841 036. autoslolla @gmail.com.

WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English call Linea Directa on 902 123 309.

(200726)

POOLS

We sell and buy everything related to the classic Seat/Fiat Panda. Car sales, maintenance, restorations and repairs.

Tel: 608 860 725 WhatsApp: 648 055 007. www.pandajoy.es Facebook: PANDA JOY (277286)

WRITING SERVICES

MISCELLANEOUS

REF. SA-2516 – VILLA ALBIR 273m2, 6BEDROOMS, 4BATHROOMS - € 385,000 966 868 620 / 695 592 402 (279883) REF. SA-2241 - MODERN VILLA ALBIR 265m2, 3BEDROOMS, 3BATHROOMS, PRIVATE POOL – SALE PRICE € 547,000 966 868 620 / 695 592 402 (279883)

REMOVALS & STORAGE

www.rtnnewspaper.com MOTORING

14th - 20th September

51

SPANISH COURSES

PETS

MARCELO GESTIONES JAVEA. We can import your Cars, RD Vans and Pickups with or without import taxes. Call: 609 600 993/965 795 846.

We provide a professional and fast service in approx. 5 days. (276822)

PAINTER/DECORATOR HILLIER’S PAINTERS & Decorators. Covering the Costa Blanca & inland, 35yrs established. www.hillierpaintersanddecorators.com. Tel: 644 355 137 Facebook Hillier PaintersCostaBlanca (277285)

REMOVALS & STORAGE

PEST CONTROL MOSQUITO & Wasp Control, Garden treatments from 30 Euros.

Visit www.fogoffspain.com or call/whatsapp 681 609 730 (258886)

PET TRANSPORT

SITUATIONS VACANT

PET TRAVEL UK Family pet transporters Spain/UK. Travel with your pets for free. All air conditioned vehicles (no vans) www.pettraveluk.co.uk Removals also arranged in other vehicles Tel: UK 01209 630604 or Spain 960 130 537 (280295)

Puzzle answers Puzzle answers Puzzle answers Puzzle answers Puzzle answers

Word Ladder

Codebreaker

Kakuro

Quick

Sudoku

Cryptic

English-Spanish

BOOK TOOK TOOL TOLL TALL CALL

www.rtnnewspaper.com • General Enquires:

951 386 161 Local call rates

• Deadlines: Adverts: copy changes, classifieds and editorial Copy: Tuesday 5pm for following Friday’s edition.

News & Views from the North & South Costa Blanca & Costa de Sol

Edita : RTN Publishing and Media SL Deposito Legal : South A-853-1999 • North: A-134-2004 • Costa del Sol MA-630-2017

All adverts must be prepaid whether they are placed at our offices, by email or fax, or via our sales team. The advertisers full name, address and ID number must be supplied (not for publication). RTN does not accept any responsibility for claims made by advertisers, either in advertisements or advertorials, nor can it be held responsible for any inaccuracies, errors, or the non-appearance of advertisements or advertorials. This publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors as a result of poor quality artwork or logos supplied by advertisers and no responsibility is accepted for any loss or damage caused by any error or inaccuracy or nonappearance of an advertisement or advertorial. Every effort will be made to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of articles and advertisements in this publication, however the publisher does not accept responsibility for claims or opinions in the same. The publisher does not accept responsibility for opinions expressed by readers in the ‘Mailbox’ section of this newspaper. Reproduction of any part of this newspaper without the consent of the publishers is prohibited.E:&O.E. All rights reserved/Todos los derechos reservados

• Enquiries: sales@rtnnewspaper.com • accounts@rtnnewspaper.com • Editorial: newsdesk@rtnnewspaper.com • International Enquiries: marketing@rtnnewspaper.com • Distribution: distribution@rtnnewspaper.com • Complaints: complaints@rtnnewspaper.com

52

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

RADIO

PETS

REMOVALS/TRANSPORT MAN & VAN. FOR HIRE. CHEAP AND RELIABLE. JALON VALLEY + SURROUNDING AREAS. 636 100 873 OR 966 480 757 OR (279522)

SOFT FURNISHING LOOSE COVERS, CURTAINS ETC. Made to Measure. Choose from a wide range of beautiful fabrics in your own home. Tel: 965 771 397 or 686 453 827

STRUCTURAL SURVEYS SPANISH MOVES, small removals and deliveries.

Spain/UK budget prices.

Last minutes jobs undertaken www.spanishmoves.net Pet transport also arranged in our air conditioned

ROLLER SHUTTERS

PROPERTY RENTAL RETIRED COUPLE LOOKING FOR LONG TERM RENTAL IN LA MARINA BAIXA - PREF TWO BEDS NEEDED URGENTLY CALL JANICE 0044 7736251800 (279523)

PROPERTY FOR SALE SITUATIONS VACANT

MOBILE home for sale offsite. Suitable for extra accommodation or garden house. Needs work. £4,000. Please ring 696 090 776 (256587)

CALPE: Penthouse 98 m2.

New Building, Plaza Flores. 1 room, 1 bathroom, living room and large terrace. Price: €110,000.

Telephone 629 991 543 www.inmoplazamayor.com (279968)

RESTAURANT BAR RESTAURANT OLD GERMANY, Coast Road Moraira - Calpe.

In Front of Pepe La Sal. 966 499 149. German Food and Beer. Monday to Friday 11:30am14:30pm and 18:00pm till late. Saturday BBQ 11:00am - 16:00pm.

ROLLER SHUTTER REPAIRS, awnings, motors, mosquito blinds. Calpe + 50 kms. 659 464 992 www.toldosalchemy.com (256042)

SITUATIONS VACANT FREE accommodation in Spain in return for handyman work. Email oasisparks@yahoo.co.uk . Telephone: 696 090 776 (256587) FIELD SALES positions available. Must have own transport, English and Spanish preferred, but not essential, must have local knowledge of the area and be smart and presentable. Applications by email with full CV should be sent to recruitment@eu roweeklynews.com WORK FROM HOME! WE ARE LOOKING FOR LADIES AGED 20 TO 65 TO TAKE CALLS FROM AN ADULT-HOTLINE IN ENGLISH, SPANISH OR SWEDISH. PLEASE EMAIL YOUR INFO: work@kkhotline.com (279398)

MARK PADDON BSc Hons. Building surveying.

MCIOB, CAAT. From 245 EUROS + IVA. Insured and legally registered in Spain.

Tel: 653 733 066 / 962 807 247 www.costablancasur veyors.com (256116)

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

TV & SATELLITE SKYLINE SATELLITE EXPERTS IN REPAIRS, SERVICE CALLS OR ADVICE ON uk AND International tv installations 965 838 225 info@skyli nesat.com SPECIALIST IN COMMUNITY AND APARTMENT INSTALLATIONS, and Solutions, no dish, no problem. Satellite and TV accessories available 965 838 225 info@skylinesat.com

XXX RELAX SEXY MATURE ENGLISH, BLOND 15 mins ALICANTE AIRPORT, OVER NIGHT STAYS POSSIBLE RING KAREN 0034 662 049 021

EROTIC MASSAGE in villa. Gorgeous Mexican lady of 29 yo. Pool, pergola, drinks, class, satisfaction.

Calpe and outcalls. Vivian 644772227 (whatsapp)

XXX RELAX

www.rtnnewspaper.com

pets

14th - 20th September

53

• sponsored by

Ban on electric shock collars Photo credit: Policia Local Burriana

Does your dog need a lot of exercise?

CRUEL: E-collars cause pain.

ENERGETIC PETS: Some dog breeds need regular exercise.

Even when you’re away.

there is a commitment from both parties and that we can afford to manage our network online professionally.

Our latest review on Trustpilot: “I’ve used the services of HousesitMatch seven times now. I’m delighted to have found this agency. After a couple of disappointing experiences with other agencies I have nothing but praise for the HouseSit Match team.”

Their sitters are selected responsibly and with care, their back-up/help for home-owners is immediate and second-to-none and the company’s indisputably high standards no doubt account for the explosion in their growth in recent years.

“I simply can’t fault any aspect of the service offered by HouseSitMatch and am so grateful to Lamia and her team for all the help they have given me over the past couple

of years.”

Review by Ann, Mijas Costa, Spain How you benefit as a home and pet owner: Our membership offers access to a secure network helping you find suitable sitters. We hide your contact details and address.

You post an advert ahead of your travel dates, we publish the advert then house-sitters apply. You can view their profiles and chat with them before you accept an applicant.

If you join as a Premium member we can also help you at each stage of the process to get you started and manage your account.

How you do join?

Please register online via our website: www.House sitmatch. com -Choose a membership plan * Standard (DIY option) = £49 pa * Premium (with support at each step) = £79 pa

Do you need a house, or pet-sitter? Get in touch. House-sitting can be a winwin for both parties, free house and pet-sitting, plus the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation!

Register as either house-sitter or homeowner with a 20 per cent discount using coupon code P2020 – an exclusive offer for readers. To find a house- or pet-sitter go to www.HouseSitMatch.com call Lamia on 00 44 (0) 777 214 2742 or email admin@housesitmatch.com.

Unlike ‘reward’ style training pets react to the shock collars out of fear of punishment, reason enough to ban them, according to the UK’s Kennel Club.

Use of electronic shock collars is already banned in Wales, and Scotland has begun moves towards prohibiting them. Madrid banned ecollars and other ‘cruel’ training collars in 2016.

A public consultation in England received more than 7,000 responses, with the vast majority against the use

of the devices.

Government officials say that e-collars can be misused to deliberately cause suffering, and can worsen behavioural and health problems.

The UK’s Environment secretary Michael Gove said: “The use of punitive shock collars causes harm and suffering to our pets.

“This ban will improve the welfare of animals and I urge pet owners to instead use positive-reward training methods”.

apacprotectora@gmail.com APAC Sterling work from APAC Credit: APAC.

KEEPING energetic pets well exercised is important for their health and well-being.

If you’ve ever owned a fit and agile dog you will know that they are happy when they can run around and exercise on a regular basis.

This is particularly important for breeds that need to be active like Alsatians, Boxers, Greyhounds, Labradors, Retrievers, Rottweilers, Weimaraners; the list goes on. When you go away for a trip it is vital to maintain routines. A resident house-sitter can ensure that your dogs are cared for in the way you want with an exercise routine shared ahead of time.

How we work: HouseSitMatch is a house-sitting network where new members register online. We ID check everyone to ensure we know who you are, and in addition sitters are police checked. We charge for membership to ensure that

ANIMAL charities have welcomed the news that electronic collars which give dogs and cats shocks are to be banned in England, following the example of Madrid.

The so-called training devices, which are remotely controlled, can deliver an electric pulse of up to 6,000 volts to a dog’s neck for as long as 11 seconds.

Alternative ‘e-collars’ emit painful sounds or chemicals that overpower the animals sense of smell.

WANTS LOVE: Dudoso leads a lonely life.

ONE of the lesser known charities on the Costa Blanca is APAC (Association Protectora Amigos de Caballo).

Based in La Xara, Denia, it was set up to ‘defend and protect horses and offer a second chance by adoption,’ and as such punches way above its weight.

As a totally voluntary organisation they rely on public support and donations to help horses in dis-

tress, whether they have been maltreated or just generally need being taken care of.

One of the more recent arrivals in that category is Dudoso who is now looking for a forever home.

Described as being a very friendly horse he has been fed and watered but doesn’t get too much attention and could do with a little TLC. He is an older horse who has been living on his own

in a field for quite some time with no contact with either other horses or humans except for brief feeding times.

He has been looking for a loving and caring family with the time to give him the attention he deserves for several years now.

If you can help contact apacprotectora@gmail.com or WhatsApp 699 255 255.

For more information about APAC visit their website www.apac-cv.com.

54

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

motoring

Petrol meets technology during 2019 E

sure of a BMW iPerformance automobile with the versatility that is typical of a Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV). In doing so, the new BMW X5 xDrive45e iPerformance offers optimised qualities in terms of both driving dynamics and efficiency.

It does the sprint from zero to 100 km/h in 5.6 seconds, which is more than one

second less than the predecessor model. The top speed when driving on electric power alone is increased from 120 to 140 km/h. Its electrically powered range is now approximately 80 kilometres, almost three times that of its

p r e d e c e s s o r, a n d t h e c o m bined fuel consumption of the new BMW X5 xDrive45e iPerformance drops to 2.1 litres per 100 kilometres. Its

fuel tank has a capacity for 69 litres, and so long-distance driving is no issue either for this new kid on the BMW block.

Photo credit: BMW Press Room

FFICIENCY meets supremacy: the drive portfolio of the new BMW X5 is to be extended in the course of 2019 with the addition of a plug-in hybrid system.

The new BMW X5 xDrive45e iPerformance combines a model-specific in-line six-cylinder petrol engine featuring BMW TwinPower Turbo Technology with the very latest BMW eDrive technology.

Consistent progress in the area of plug-hybrid drive has produced a system output now increased to 290 kW/394 hp, a tangible enhancement in terms of electrically powered range and a significant reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 levels as compared to the predecessor model.

More impressively than ever, the second generation of the plug-in hybrid model combines the purely electrically powered driving plea-

VERSATILE: The new BMW X5, faster by the second.

Volvo looking beyond the future WHERE would you live if you could commute each workday in an autonomous driving, fully-functional, connected, comfortable, mobile office space?

What if the service was provided via an on demand subscription basis? Or what if it was provided by one employer yet not another - which company would you work for?

This is a mere glimpse of a variety of scenarios and questions raised by Volvo Cars’ new Volvo 360c concept, just revealed as part of the company’s vision for the future of travel - autonomous, electric, connected and safe - and which may allow Volvo Cars to enter new growth markets.

The concept environments reflect the potential for change in the fundamental structure of how people live, by transforming unproductive or boring travel time into useful and enjoyable minutes or hours on the road.

“The 360c explores what becomes possible when we remove the human driver, using freedoms in design and recapturing time.’

‘It’s a glimpse at how autonomous drive technology will change the world as we know it. The possibilities are mind-boggling,’ said Mårten Levenstam, senior vice president of corporate strategy at Volvo Cars.

Fully autonomous and electric travel offers a range of advanced safety and environmental benefits, such as less pollution, less traffic congestion, and related health and lifestyle advantages for those living in cities. It also opens up possibilities for more

Photo credit: Lister Press Room

CHALLENGING: Lister LFP promises ‘monster’ speed. residential freedom, reduced pressure on real estate pricing and more affordable home ownership.

“People becoming less reliant on proximity to cities is just one example of the impact of removing the burden of unproductive travel time,” said Mårten Levenstam. “The 360c driving office makes it viable for people to live at greater distances from crowded cities and use their time both in a more pleasant and more effective way.”

The 360c is based on a fully autonomous, electric car without a human driver. It reinvents how people travel, how they engage with friends, family and contacts, and how they can recapture time while travelling.

The concept presents four potential uses of autonomous driving vehicles -a sleeping environment, mobile office, living room and entertainment space - representing an attractive travel option that could rival air, bus and train providers, but with competitive advantages in comfort, convenience and privacy.

www.rtnnewspaper.com

14th - 20th September

55

sport Have your say...

2,332 People Reached 65 reactions

Top Comment: We saw it taking shape... amazing!

June-Anne Whitlock

@RTNNewspaper Most liked posts from this week • ‘Home alone’ dad arrested after abandoning kids to go to the beach

MONTHLY MEDAL: A hotly contested affair.

BBC 2018 Masters Competition Photo credit: BBC

• GRIM DISCOVERY: Brother finds ‘missing’ sister dead in other brother’s workplace

Orba Warblers Golf Society Photo credit: Orba Warblers G S

‘Frightening’ tornados strike the Costa Blanca

THE nice early start meant that the players were at least quite cool for the first hour until the sun rose and started to warm them through.

As the rounds took shape, it was suggested that it would’ve been better to have played the course the other way round. This would have seen the shade from the trees covering up the sun during the hottest part of the day.

It was great to welcome Roy Booth back to the Society after his spell of ill health, and he made it round the 18 holes. It’s hoped he’ll be around and playing more often now.

It was also nice to see Mickey Badain for his annual visit and, as

• 65 drowning deaths recorded in Spain during August alone • Major crime ring exposed on the Costa del Sol

In Total 8,921 people reached 13,865 reactions

ONLINE rtnnewspaper.com Send us your comments on Facebook, Twitter and on our website. Or if you prefer you can email our editor directly: admin@rtnnewspaper.com

VICTORS: The overall winning team of Rod Warnes, Lynda Warnes, Mick Adams, Linda Richards and Jeff Richards from BBC. Also pictured presenting the trophy is Izzy Hardy from Telitec.

IN extreme heat and humidity, the Benitachell Bowls Club (BBC) 2018 Masters Competition took place over four days from September 3 to 6.

A total of 70 bowlers took part from a number of clubs in the northern Costa Blanca (Javea Green, El Cid and Bonalba) and provided some excellent bowling.

The competition comprised four bowling disciplines divided into Rinks, Triples, Pairs and Singles.

The winners were: Rinks - Tony Hesketh-Field, Clive English, Chris Evans and David Browne.

Triples - Rod Warnes, Linda Richards and Jeff Richards.

Pairs - Jack Wardrop and Dee Hamilton.

Singles - Alan Phillips.

The BBC wishes to thank Telitec, Ginestar (Renault) and Direkt Optik for sponsoring the competition and to all the bowlers who took part.

always, seems to win when he visits. He finished in top spot with 36 points, followed in second with the in-form Michael Morley (35), and third place Steve Cliffe (33).

Clinching the final place on the podium was Paddy Kenmore with a blistering back nine of 24 points to finish fourth with 31 in total.

Nearest the Pins: Derek Gray (Hole 5) and Michael Morley (Hole 15), with Derek also receiving the ball for the ‘two’.

Guests are always welcome with a current handicap certificate.

For more information about Orba Warblers or to book-in, call Michael Taylor on 639 242 896.

Pego Golf Society Report from Malcolm Wise ON the morning when we were due to play golf at Oliva Nova, the day was dark and overcast as we had a cup of coffee before the golf, but as soon as we stepped out of the door, the heavens opened with torrential rain and this lasted just over one hour.

Many of our members and guests called it a day, but there were about 18 out of 39 who braved the elements, and came in with very good scores.

We were playing a Magic Three Competition, and there were 36 members taking part, with the competition itself played with two divisions for handicap. The day’s results were:

Division 1 1st - Michael Connolly (40 points off 20), 2nd - Shaun O’Gorman (39 off 6), and in 3rd place - Brendan Young (36 off 21).

Division 2 1st - Jim Hayward (40 off 23), 2nd - Peter Cornes (38 off 33), and 3rd - David Blakeley (34 off 23).

Nearest the Pin: Shaun O’Gorman (Hole 5), and there was only one ‘two’ scored on the day by Mick Connelly.

The ‘balls in the water’ competition was not won, so Barry Carter instead won a card draw. The actual number in the water was 45.

There is another tournament next week, so anyone wishing to join us at Pego should get in contact with Penny Barden by e-mail: pego handicapsec@gmail.com. We would love to see you.

Calling all sports clubs!

DO you have any news and reports about local sports? If so we want to hear from you.

Now the hottest part of the year is behind us the sporting season is upon us and as your local paper we want to report all the details we can, and if you have a picture all the better too!

Please note pictures should be of good quality and ideally a minimum of one megabyte in size.

Please send any reports to admin@rtnnew spaper.com.