Quesada Focus December 2020

Dep. Legal A-685-2016

E FR E

DECEMBER 2020

Female Focus Publications serving the English speaking community throughout the Costa Blanca since 1993

BROUGHT TO YOU BY....

Also inside this issue:-

Your Horoscopes - Your Local Community News Puzzles - Recipes - Legal - Astronomy A View From The Top - Finance Health & Beauty - Violet King Local Business Reviews - Club & Charity News - Prize Compe��ons Classified Adverts And So Much More...

Piers Morgan: I’m not claiming to be Mr Perfect

QFocus Magazine December 2020

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With LIBERTY SEGUROS you can have the home insurance that meets your needs!

LIBERTY SEGUROS has adapted its Home Insurance plans to provide solutions that best suit your individual requirements.

Understanding that every customer’s needs are unique, it has created additional coverages to allow you to enhance and complement your home insurance cover. Regardless of the plan you choose, you can now add Optional Packs to your home insurance to ensure your plan is perfectly tailored to you.

For example, if you own a second home and are concerned about being an ideal target for squatters, LIBERTY SEGUROS offers a complete legal defence guaranty, covering up to 6.100€ in legal costs for Illegal Occupation proceedings.

Owning a rental property has additional worries, such as tenant vandalism that can lead to complex and expensive legal proceedings. For this reason, LIBERTY SEGUROS offers a guaranty of up to 3.000€ to cover acts of vandalism by the tenant.

This allows landlords peace of mind to enjoy profitable rental incomes without added worries.

LIBERTY SEGUROS also knows how much gardens and terraces mean to homeowners. For this reason, it offers cover for garden furniture of 12.000€ to help protect treasured outdoor spaces.

Homeowners might have other worries too, such as drip irrigation systems. Again, with LIBERTY SEGUROS policy holders can have cover up to 500€ for burst or broken pipes to help with repairs.

Goods in storage rooms can also be insured up to 3.000€; and jewellery left outside of a safe can be covered up to 10.000€.

What’s more, individual jewellery pieces worth up to 6.000€ do not need to be itemised in the policy, and policy holders can increase their money in cash cover at home too.

It’s also worth noting that LIBERTY SEGUROS’s new home appliance repair cover includes 2 services per year up to 300€ – including parts. The maintenance of air-conditioning filters is also covered to include filter cleaning twice a year. In this manner, the units can continue to work just as they should, at the same time as helping occupants to avoid the health issues associated with their usage.

And that’s not all! As another example, refrigerated goods (which are not usually covered in the case of tripped fuses) are included in home policies with LIBERTY SEGUROS, offering 150€ towards lost food and medicines. This comes as standard.

LIBERTY SEGUROS really does have you covered and always has your real needs in mind!

Furthermore, you can also take out additional covers such as a Civil Liability extension and non-payment of rents; or Mandatory Civil Liability for hunters, Civil Liability for potentially dangerous dogs, cover for vehicles kept in a garage… amongst others.

And, as always, 24/7 emergency home assistance through a multilingual freephone number.

What’s more, if you are a new Liberty Seguros client and take out a Home, Car, Life or Funeral policy now, you will receive 30€ Cashback on your first policy and 60€ from the second policy onwards, or 60€ Cashback on each new policy if you are already a customer. Great cover, great Cashback!

For more information, simply call or visit one of the more than 300 LIBERTY SEGUROS qualified brokers and agents. They are available to provide friendly and expert advice about the best coverages and options to suit your specific needs.

Speaking in your language, the LIBERTY SEGUROS team can help you to find the cover that will be perfect for you. Visit libertyexpatriates.es to find the name and details of your nearest agent!

QFocus Magazine December 2020

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We are, yet again, almost at the end of the year and I am sure I’m not alone in saying I’ll be glad to see the back of this one. In hindsight, we really didn’t have 2020 vision on entering this year as I don’t think anyone would have envisaged all the things we have gone through. I am starting to feel quite positive though and believe that we have been through the worst and will soon start to see light at the end of the tunnel. Roll on 2021 that’s what I say!!!

As far as Christmas shopping is concerned, I still haven’t really made a start. I’ve purchased a few bits and pieces but I am on a mission next week to get most of it done and I will be trying, as best as I can, to shop local and give some much needed support to our doorstep businesses.

It is going to be a strange Christmas for everyone this year as I believe there will still be some restrictions in place, however we have to make good of a not so good situation. The important thing is to stay healthy and look after each other.

I’d like to end my notes with a huge thank you to all our readers, contributors and advertisers for your continued support during what has been the strangest year ever and wish you all a very Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year.....onwards and upwards!!

Congratulations to Jacqueline Gage who won last month's competition after spotting the Curry On Cooking logo. For your chance to win a selection of Curry Kits this month, see inside for full details.

Congratulations to Arilda Peacock of Jávea, winner of last month's Pure Organic CBD competition. This month you could win one Free Bottle of 10% Full Spectrum CBD oil or one Free Bottle of 6% Pet CBD. See inside for more details.

Good luck.

Michelle

QFocus Magazine covering the Alicante South region and the Female Focus covering the Alicante North region.

Discuss your advertising with your local representative:-

QFocus Magazine Office: Mon to Fri. 10am - 2pm Tel. 657 501 055

Sales Manager Michelle 663 178 228 michelle@femalefocusonline.com

Pick up your next issue on 5 January Deadline for advertising & editorial -16 December

Please send editorial to editor@femalefocusonline.com Advert content to adver�sing@femalefocusonline.com

Like and Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/FemaleFocus/ Female Focus is proud to have been voted the third most popular magazine worldwide in the independent Expat Survey Consumer Awards

Female Focus Publications are supporters of www.aldeasinfantiles.es

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SPACE ROCKS

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QFocus Magazine December 2020

This title isn't just the sentiment of all us amateur astronomers, it's also something that can and does affect us all, Meteorites.

irstly, a definition, a meteor is anything coming at us from space that burns up in the atmosphere, a shooting star if you like. These are mostly just dust particles, harmless and very pretty. Meteorites are much larger, anything that is large and dense enough to survive the burning as it comes through the air and hits the ground is called a meteorite. These can be any size from a pebble to something monstrous.

Has Earth been hit before? Oh yes, very often too. All those craters on the moon are obvious to see, they've happened over millions of years. The Earth would look just the same except that we have an atmosphere, weather and erosion. Over geological ages many of the obvious craters have been masked or worn away. It wasn't until the age of satellites that Earth was mapped from space, not just using visible light, but in various other ways like radar. What this revealed was that the Earth is pockmarked with the remains of craters which are so difficult to see now.

In recent times there has been an explosion of a rock over El Palo in the USA, and not long ago the much filmed meteor that exploded over Russia. Rocks from space are common, fortunately for us, most of these aren't very big so the damage is limited, but at sometime a big one is bound to arrive.

Now then, what's prompted me to bring all this up? In the news recently there have been stories about an asteroid called Apophis, it crosses our orbit every few years, and it's very big. It will get quite near us in 2029, and there is some doubt about it getting dangerously close in 2068. The problem is that it's very difficult to work out orbits so far into the future. Orbits are changed by Planets, other rocks and even sunlight, and it's the effect of this last bit, Yarkovsky radiation is the correct name, that is especially difficult to understand.

Fortunately for us, there is a worldwide project called Spaceguard which is constantly monitoring the sky, learning what is up there and where it will be in the future. One such centre is in Wales, near Powys, and they are open to visitors in normal times. They also have a superb very well written website, so if you're interested, go online and have a look.

OK it's nearly Christmas, so I'll finish the year with something more cheerful. December is a great time to go outside with your binoculars, and every year I encourage people to look at one of the most spectacular constellations. Orion is rising in the south east around 9pm, and is difficult to miss. With binoculars you'll see the famous star Betelgeuse on the top left, recently suspected to be going nova, an exploding star. This now seem unlikely anytime soon, but this huge red star is always worth a look.

Next, have a look across the middle at the belt, three very bright stars. Now look under the belt, you should see a hazy area, this is the Orion nebula, a place where stars are being born, formed from all the gasses and dust in space. Long ago our own sun, planets and us were made in much the same way. Makes you think doesn't it, how amazing the universe is.

Charles Oates

â—? To find out more about observing and astronomy, email us at vegabaja.astronomygroup@gmail.com. Vega Baja Astronomy Group

QFocus Magazine December 2020

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Forced UK account closures for expats living in the EEA – Update Since my last article on this subject, more information has come in light regarding this. Barclays have now stated that they will be closing all bank accounts (that includes current accounts, deposit accounts and savings accounts) and WEALTH MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS, and some see advert below International banking accounts for expats living in the EEA, if the client can’t provide a UK for more information residential address.

According to a communication one client has received, Barclays To date only one bank has stated that they won’t be closing wrote that they are starting to go through the countries in the EEA accounts and that is Santander. alphabetically and writing to all the expats with a non UK address Therefore, this appears to be a bank decision, not a Government advising them their accounts will be closed by the end of 2020. enforced decision and if you have access to UK address it may fix They also wrote that they were informing clients that in in order the problem for you. As at today (17.11.20), the Co-Operative Bank to continue banking with them the client must be living in the UK are still accepting EU residents for account openings and this is and all of the addresses held will need to be in the UK. information only and NOT advice to place savings with them.

Barclays have provided the following link; At Blacktower we are working with a large number of new clients https://www.barclays.co.uk/brexit/eea-changes/ where you will affected by the absolute need to move their investments in order to find all the relevant details. find the most suitable SOLUTIONS for them but in a number of In addition to this NatWest Wealth Management have also started cases it has meant completely restructuring financial affairs, which advising clients that unless they can supply a UK residence, their occasionally can expose clients to tax implications. It takes time investment portfolios will be liquidated and closed by the end of and expertise, but it can be done.

2020.

If you are or could be affected by this, or would like a review of HSBC and Lloyds have said that they are looking at this issue but your current financial affairs or any wealth management matter, to date no decision has been made to close accounts, however this please contact the Blacktower office on 965 058 212 or contact me view could change in the future. directly by email.

David Diggle C.A.T., DipFA of Blacktower Financial Management (International) Limited. Tel: 615 607 278 / 965 058 212.

Email: dave.diggle@blacktowerfm.com. Website: www.theblacktowergroup.com. Location: Costa Blanca. The Blacktower Group (formed Jan 1986 UK) has been offering sound, independent advice for 34 years.

The above information was correct at the time of preparation and does not constitute investment advice and you should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity.

Blacktower Financial Management (Int) Ltd is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and is registered with both the DGS and CNMV in Spain.

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QFocus Magazine December 2020

SUDOKU Here are four Sudoku puzzles of different skill levels for you to try.

It is not a maths game at all - it is a pure logic game.

Fill in the grid so that every r o w, e v e r y c o l u m n a n d e v e r y 3 x 3 grid contains the digits 1 through to 9 with no repeats, which means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.

Answers to puzzles in the classified pages

QFocus Magazine December 2020

THE MEANING OF

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HORIZONTAL CRACKING

orizontal cracking under the roof or terrace slabs is probably the most common building defect in southern Spain. The defect is easy to identify as they generally have a perfectly horizontal direction, beneath or on top of concrete slabs.

The cause that produces this fault is a differential expansion and contraction (due to drastic temperatures in summer and winter) of roofs or terraces which is different to the expansion of walls, some of them are never hit directly by solar radiation.

It is a minor building defect and can’t be considered structural.

Repairing the cause is technically impossible, by eliminating the borders of the crack and re-rendering the area the crack will reappear, and therefore the easiest and cheapest way to approach the problem is just a cosmetic repair by filling in the crack with a neutral silicone or with an elastic mortar decorating afterwards to unify the finishing colours.

Requesting a Structural Survey is now common practice in Spain, affordable and typically proven to save clients’ money by avoiding problem properties. For the nominal cost of 84€ IVA Inc, Martinez de la Casa Architects offer an on-site Building Survey and Defects Assessment for property buyers and owners throughout Almeria, Murcia & Alicante.

The service includes a property inspection by the Architect, with on-site defects advice and appropriate plan of action. A survey inspection will expose potential hidden costs.

Recommended before buying a home, Martinez de la Casa Architects (fully insured) also offer full Technical Property Reports, officially stamped by the College of Architects, for 450€ plus IVA. They can also provide sclerometers, hygrometers, luxmeters and poroscope and other highly sophisticated inspection services (by separate quote) to find hidden damages.

l Martinez de la Casa Architects is the Number 1 company in EPC Certificates (121€ inc IVA), Certificates/Retrospective Licences for pools (190 €+IVA) and extensions (270 € +IVA) and we also offer superb discounts for groups (+2) or if you require more than one certificate for your property done at the same time. Plus, if your solicitors are studying your case, ask them to contact us to provide the necessary certificate/s, and we will make the whole process easier, cheaper and faster for you.

For all enquiries or to arrange an appointment please call 665 810 411 or visit www.martinezdelacasa.com to see an impressive list of over 150 testimonials on our services.

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New presentation of Amata’s Virtual Craft Village and Craft Fair.

O

n 1 November the Virtual Craft Village, set up recently by association Amata, underwent a noticeable face-lift. It is now much easier to use and adapts itself automatically to the small screens of mobile phones and tablets.

At the same time, 10 new artisans started in their virtual fair, to sell their ceramics, crocheted soft toys, personalised linen bags, hand painted silk, mandalas painted on stones, leather handbags, hand woven shawls and mufflers and silver, leather or macramĂŠ jewellery. There are now three virtual fairs, each one with 10 stalls, showing up to 30 different products, as well as a video with more goods or with a craft demonstration.

These virtual fairs are set up in the centre of the virtual village www.puebloartesano.es, where you can also watch the artisans at work in their workshops, buy their work in their shops and follow various tutorials. In the (Spanish and English) menu, you will see that there is a lot to do and to see, that makes a visit to this, still growing, virtual village worth while.

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QFocus Magazine December 2020

QFocus Magazine December 2020

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Diamond Flores has moved premises recently and is now found on the main road in Los Montesinos (right next door to the Santander bank). They still offer fabulous flowers, for collection or they deliver to a huge area including Quesada, Algorfa, Beniófar, Orihuela Costa, La Marina and everywhere in between.

Bouquets for all occasions can be created, ranging from 10-100€. Do you know of someone having a birthday, anniversary, celebration, or need cheering up? Flowers are a beautiful gift to say you’re thinking of them. Funeral and wedding flowers are also available.

Recently under new management, they now offer a wider variety of gifts – have a look at the website www.diamondfloresspain.com to see some of their options.

Bespoke hampers can be individually created, to put a big smile on the face of recipients on their special day – they will do their very best to meet any special requests. If you’d like a gift that keeps on giving – how about a flower subscription? Have a beautiful bouquet delivered to your door every month! Diamond Flores also stocks homeware and vases, and they are stockists of the Fox & Wolf Collection products, so if you fancy some lovely scents at home come and have a sniff!

Have you ever fancied creating your own table decoration for Christmas? Diamond Flores will be offering classes in December to small groups in accordance with the COVID regulations of these times. Alternatively – if you have a group of friends and would them to come to your premises, that can also be arranged!

Just give them a call on 966 716 553, or contact them via their Facebook page. Do you work in real-estate?

Diamond Flores provide a variety of packages for you to congratulate your clients that have recently purchased.

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QUICK

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QFocus Magazine December 2020

CROSSWORD By the PA puzzles team

Down 1. Representative (8) 2. Chorus (7) 4. Winter flower (6) 5. Unclaimed territory (2,4,4) 6. Brands (5) 7. Cook (4) 10. Charming (10) 12. Laggard (8) 15. Fence (7) 16. Condescends (6) 18. Thoughts (5) 19. Temper (4)

BY PA PUZZLES TEAM

INTRINSIC A Involved B Genuine C Without fear ANSWER: B

The word may sound familiar, but do you know what it means?

KIER A New Zealand shrub B Bleaching vat C Stake-fence

LECTOR A University reader B Liberty granted C Church reading desk

ANSWER: B

See classified pages for answers

ANSWER: A

Across 1. Disastrous (4) 3. Thrifty (8) 8. Elevate (4) 9. Trade (8) 11. Elegance (12) 13. Game (6) 14. Flowery (6) 17. Resisting (12) 20. Flood (8) 21. Prima donna (4) 22. Reveal (8) 23. Elderly (4)

QFocus Magazine December 2020

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New and sive exclu atment! nail tre

Introducing Fiber Gel! Fiber gel is a brand new product on the market that is unlike any other.

It gets its name from the microscopic fibers infused into the gel, which provide extra strength and durability to even the weakest of nails, whilst also being self levelling meaning it will fill in any dents or ridges on the nail plate giving a smooth and flawless manicure every time!

Another huge benefit is this wonder product is also infused with vitamin E, so it actually feeds the nails through the nail plate whilst it is being worn.

With easy removal, and being totally kind to natural nails, it really is a revolution to the nail industry and is currently exclusive to Absolute!

A shellac manicure including Fiber Gel is only 23â‚Ź including any design (glitters, foils, chromes or stamping) and will give you between 2-4 weeks of flawless nails. â—? For a salon appointment or more information call Absolute Hair, Nails & Beauty on 966 731 336 or see our advert.

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our ARIES You are in a 'finish first or you finish last' kind of mood. Make a plan and make a date to have reached it. Making yourself a promise to buy yourself something you have wanted if you meet your deadline, will really give you the incentive to achieve it.

TAURUS Acting quickly will only lead to mistakes and regret.

Slow down and you will achieve so much more.

Open your mind to new experiences, take up that new hobby or find out more about your favourite subject.

GEMINI Optimism is your default and this is rubbing off on those around you as they too look at things in a more positive light. It has been tough but better days are ahead.

CANCER A valuable lesson will leave a lasting effect on you and the way you handle things from now on. Some pampering and downtime are just what is needed right now to recharge for the coming year.

LEO At last you can let go of a secret which you have been dying to share. With so much joy around you cannot help but get swept up in the celebrations even if you are not completely feeling it at the moment.

VIRGO There are exciting times ahead and in order to move forward you must face your past once and for all and leave it there. It has been holding you back for too long. Enjoying some time with family and friends will be the tonic that is needed to prepare you for the new year.

QFocus Magazine December 2020

oroscope LIBRA Don't make any spur of the moment decisions as you are bound to regret them later on. Make sure that you get some quality time this month as next year is going to be focused more on career moves than yourself. Don't forget though that family need your time too.

SCORPIO You have been chasing a goal for a long time and now it seems to be obtainable and within your reach. Don't rush things, you have waited long enough for this to come to fruition.

SAGITTARIUS You have so many things half finished that you are racing to get everything done. Make a list and do them one by one instead of jumping from one thing to another, then you can start afresh in the new year.

CAPRICORN There will be some soul searching this month which will be good for moving forward. Your to do list is almost completed but don't be afraid to ask for help to get some of the trickier things sorted out.

AQUARIUS A chance encounter gives you a completely different take on something you felt strongly about and it makes you realise you have to question things much more. Really opening your mind to other points of view puts a totally different light on things.

PISCES A financial opportunity seems too good to be true. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't but if you are interested then get it checked out properly before you move forward. Even though you cannot be with all those who you would like to be, it doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself.

QFocus Magazine December 2020

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Do you have confidence in yourself?

If you have confidence in yourself you can always be at your best, and you will be able to project the best attitude of mind and be able to handle things in the most efficient way. So if you don’t have confidence in yourself and are not getting the results you want.....why not?

Well known people who had confidence in themselves have managed to achieve big things. Even without academic qualifications they have managed to get to where they wanted to be in life, without losing the desire to make progress in life and doing the best they could do to get where they wanted to be. Many people like that are alive today and getting the rewards for their attitude in life.

Today, achieving our own personal goals may not always be easy, but it is possible.

We are all where we are as adults because of choices we have made through life. We either get what kind of rewards we want, or we end up paying the price, which we don’t believe is our fault. But it is down to us how things end up! Physical situations can be improved by acceptance of the imperfection of others. We are all different and all imperfect, so a change of attitude towards others will help us to deal with things in a way that brings different results. From waking up each morning and realising how much control we have over what goes on in our day is mind blowing!

Every day is a new challenge and the results are all down to the way we handle things on a daily basis. A smile or a frown....tone of voice.... 24/7 makes friends or enemies, and the way we react to the way others behave makes a real difference to the results we get.... Try it and see!

Life is really a learning curve, and not one of us can stop learning unless we choose to. Handle things differently and experience the different results! Try it!

Until next time..

Violet King

www.femalefocusonline.com

Is your hair in

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QFocus Magazine December 2020

good condition?

S

ome times, we forget how important it is to look after the condition of our hair.

The over use or improper use of hair straighteners, curling tongs, chemical products, colouring products etc can cause our hair to end up damaged and be left feeling limp, lifeless and with split ends which will just end up snapping o!

Age, poor eating habits and medicines can also be some of the main reasons for your hair to change, causing it to feel completely different to normal.

We always think that just a simple hair mask from any shop will solve this problem but unfortunately this is not going to happen.

BUT, there is light at the end of the tunnel!

With the power of our amazing in-salon hair treatments, we can offer you the exact product that you hair needs to solve any of the above mentioned problems that you may have.

We have a complete range of anti-ageing hair treatments and, after only one session, you will feel big changes!

Please don't hesitate to contact us for a free consultation to analyse your hair.

â—? Please don't hesitate to visit us at the salon or contact us on 965 724 671 to book your appointments! See our advert below for more details.

QFocus Magazine December 2020

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RECIPES by Pushpa from the Spice Hut

Ginger & lemon turkey

Healthy option after xmas 250g turkey pieces 125ml plain low fat yoghurt 4 tbspn of fromage frais, fat free if possible 2 tspn garlic paste 2 tspn ginger paste 2 tspn shredded ginger 1 tspn of curry powder 1 fresh lemon - juice of the lemon and the grated zest.

2 fresh green chillies, finely diced

1 tbspn of dried chillies 4 tbspn fresh coriander Salt 1/2 tspn turmeric Little oil 2 bay leaves 4 cardamom pods Stick of cinnamon Few cloves Few peppercorns

Mix together the yoghurt, lemon juice, zest, ginger, garlic, chillies fresh and dried, curry powder, turmeric, salt and fromage frais.

Marinade the turkey with the mix and set aside.

In a frying pan, heat oil and sizzle the whole spices on a medium heat until you can smell the spices.

Add the marinaded turkey, pour all the mix over it and cook on a low heat, keep stirring occasionally until cooked.

Garnish with the coriander sprigs, shredded ginger and serve hot.

Check the flavours and add extra spice or garlic/ ginger if needed.

The Spice Hut Quesada. Tel. 966 731 063 or visit www.spicehutspain.com.

â—?

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Commemorating Armistice Day on the Southern Costa Blanca

D

QFocus Magazine December 2020

espite various levels of lockdown the Royal British Legion was able to commemorate Armistice Day locally in both Orihuela Costa and Torrevieja.

In Pilar de la Horadada the Orihuela Costa and District event was held outdoors, beside the RBL Garden of Remembrance, with the authorities having previously decided that social distancing inside the tiny Capilla de las Mil Palmeras was not possible.

As such it was very much a scaled down service with just a dozen or so participants led by the mayor of Pilar de la Horadada, José María Pérez Sánchez, who read the Exhortation and Kohima in Spanish.

Assistant chaplain Stephen Treseder opened the event "To the memory of the fallen and the future of the living" with a short prayer after which, following the last post, silence and reveille sounded by Alwyn Pollendine, wreaths were laid while Piper John Wilson played a lament.

Just along the road in Torrevieja the local council authorised a much grander affair which was held at the Parroquia de la Inmaculada Concepción church in Ramon Galud.

The event was attended by Mayor Eduardo Dolón, the Chairman of Spain District North, Don Cubbon, and approximately 100 dignitaries and guests.

The service, led by Father Richard Seabrook, got underway as the standards were marched into the church to the sound of the pipes.

The music for the hymns was provided by a clarinet quartet from the Royal British Legion Band.

Following the service many of the congregation then moved to the cenotaph in La Siesta where wreathes and poppy crosses were laid in memory of the fallen.

Images show Torrevieja: Approximately 100 guests attended the Torrevieja event held in the Parroquia de la Inmaculada Concepción church Orihuela Costa: A ‘scaled down’ service held outdoors in Mil Palmeras.

QF���� Maga���e De�e��e� 2020

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STOCKING FILLERS Perfect gifts from local authors

Alicante based ex-pat’s travel book soars to top of charts Making that lifechanging move to live overseas has become that little bit easier with the publication of a chart-topping new guide.

Few know the pitfalls that await in sun-kissed foreign lands more than former diplomat and seasoned ex-pat Lynda Brettle.

Now the mother-of-two, who has lived in Spain since 2003, has pulled all of her knowledge and experience together for a fascinating new book.

Brains at the Border has already reached number one in Amazon’s Travel Writing chart, as well as attracting a string of five-star reviews.

Lynda said: “Living abroad is not the same as a holiday.

“Moving overseas for the first time, especially under your own steam, can be like getting behind the wheel of a car without any driving lessons and heading straight into the M4 traffic.

“Brains at the Border provides the guidance and support needed to avoid disaster.”

Lynda worked as a diplomat for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for many years before settling in Spain.

Since launching her own consultancy services for prospective ex-pats, she has seen first-hand the problems that can blight that dream move.

In Brains at the Border she recalls many of her own overseas experiences on paradise islands and in war zones, as well as providing valuable tips for overcoming the language, legal and bureaucracy hurdles that often await immigrants.

Lynda added: “Brains at the Border features my own thrilling, funny and dramatic experiences living and working all over the world with the FCO. “There are also the experiences, good and bad, of others, especially those setting up on their own in Spain – and the range of issues for anyone to consider when moving abroad.”

As well as running her successful ex-pat mentoring service, Lynda volunteers as President of the charity Samaritans in Spain.

Since the release of Brains at the Border it has received a string of entirely five-star reviews from delighted readers.

Lynda’s new guide has been described as a ‘life lesson’, ‘helpful’ and ‘a great insight into relationship survival’.

Following the success of Brains at the Border, Lynda is writing further books.

For more details, visit Amazon and search for Lynda Brettle, where the paperback and Kindle formats of Brains at the Border are both available from all marketplaces including Amazon.co.uk

Jacqueline Carpenter took early retirement to Spain three and half years and decided to write a book. Her first novel LOUISA was published last year and her second novel JOAN has just been published, both have received fantastic reviews.

LOUISA Louisa is fifteen and living a contented life with her family in Bermondsey, London.

The year is 1937, there is unrest in Europe and World War Two is looming.

Join Louisa, her lovable family and quirky friends for a decade in their lives as they encounter love, happiness, sorrow, deceit, strength and human kindness.

JOAN A heartwarming tale of family life set in England during the 1950s. World War Two is over and Great Britain in celebrating. Louisa, a pretty war widow, has remarried and taken her two sons from their home in Bermondsey, London to live with her new husband, Mark in Biddenden, a beautiful farming village deep in the Weald of Kent. Will they all live happily ever after? Join Louisa, her lovable family and quirky friends for a decade in their lives as they encounter strength, love, happiness, sorrow, deceit and human kindness. JOAN is the sequel to LOUISA and the second in a trilogy.

Both LOUISA and JOAN are available on Amazon and Kindle. www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08HGZWBQS

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Season's Greetings from the Female Focus Publications team

GIFT TOPPERS

These colourful creations add the wow factor to humble brown paper packages.

H o n e y c o m b Ornaments: Cut 4cm and 6cm half circles from honeycomb paper.

Glue one side of folded half circle to package; unfold and glue other side of sphere to box.

Use a silver paint pen to draw ornament hangers.

Paper Straw Christmas Tree: Use a pencil to draw a triangle on the top of package. Cut paper straws in graduated lengths to fit horizontally within triangle. Adhere with glue. Cut two 2cm pieces of straw and glue vertically at base to form a trunk.

Weave a piece of string down the length of tree, adhering with dots of glue along the way. Glue small buttons along length of string.

Yarn Pom-Pom: Twirl wool around four fingers 50 times.

Cut off the excess wool and slide the loop off your fingers, making sure that it doesn't unravel. Tie tightly at middle with wool. Use scissors to cut loops and fluff out with fingers. Wrap the present with coordinating wool, using ends to tie on the pom-pom.

Season's Greetings from the Female Focus Publications team

Spot the 12 differences (answers in the classified pages)

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Season's Greetings from the Female Focus Publications team

DIY SNOW GLOBE

Make an easy DIY snow globe with a jar, glitter, glue, Christmas figurines and water in under 10 minutes! Children will love making them with you.

You will need: • Clean jars with lids – You can either use recycled jars or mason jars, use something with smooth sides so you can easily see inside the jar when the snow is swirling around.

• Distilled water – Using clean distilled water will help prevent any sediment or rusting of your snow globe.

• Glycerin – This thickens the water just slightly to help the glitter fall more slowly to emulate snow.

• Figurines/trees – Choose whatever you’d like to place in the jar such as plastic or ceramic animals, trees and/or figurines.

• Tinsel glitter – Tinsel glitter, which has larger particles, worksbest for making DIY snow globes as it looks most like snow when falling through the water.

• Epoxy – A water resistant epoxy will permanently attach your trees or other figures to the lid of the jar.

• Sand paper – This helps to rough up the lid to help your figures attach securely.

How to Make DIY Snow Globes 1. Firstly, make sure your jars are cleaned and dried thoroughly.

Once dried, you may want to use a lint-free cloth and glass cleaner to remove any smudges or fingerprints from the inside of the jars.

2. Using your sandpaper, scuff up the underside of the lid. Attach your figurines to the underside of the lid using the epoxy. Leave to dry until they are firmly adhered.

3. Fill your jar just short of full with distilled water and add the tiniest drop of glycerin to the water. For a larger jar you may want to add a tiny bit more. If you add too much it’s going to make the water thick and chunky so depending on the size of your jar, you’re likely not going to want more than one drop.

4. Add your glitter to the jar, using more or less depending on how snowy you’d like it to appear. For best results, tinsel glitter (which has larger glitter particles) gave the most snowy look.

5. Insert your figurine and screw the lid on firmly and give it a good shake.

Season's Greetings from the Female Focus Publications team

Help Vega Baja Christmas Raffle 2020!

With sadness, HELP Vega Baja took the decision not to hold any events this year in view of possible risk to our supporters and volunteers with regard to Covid. However, this has an obvious impact on our income. We would therefore like to invite you all to purchase tickets for our fantastic "Christmas Raffle" which includes, amongst many superb prizes, a brand new flat screen Samsung TV! Tickets are available and cost just 1€ each, and for 4€ you can get 5 tickets! Purchase your tickets at our San Miguel Centre, from one of our volunteers (all our volunteers have personal ID) or from one of the local businesses who have offered to sell tickes for us.

Please help us to make this a Raffle to Remember.....

HELP Vega Baja - supporting people in the community for over 40 years.

Please visit our Facebook page ' Asociacion Help Vega Baja' for more details.

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Season's Greetings from the Female Focus Publications team

Spot the odd one out (answers in the classified pages)

A

B

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D

E

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QF���� Maga���e De�e��e� 2020

www.femalefocusonline.com Page 26 Piers’ prose is certainly I’m not claiming impassioned, but there will be allegations of to be Mr Perfect – I can be abrasive and inevitably hypocrisy. He slams woke hysteria, obnoxious

By Luke Rix-Standing, PA but hit the roof when Gregg’s released a vegan sausage roll.

The professional firebrand discusses Trump, liberalism, and He staunchly defends nuanced whether or not he’s part of the problem. discourse, but calls his opponents On New Year’s Eve, 2018, Piers Morgan tweeted the following: ‘purple-haired, ring-nosed, meat“My New Year’s Resolution for 2019 is to be just as annoying, hating, man-detesting lunatics.’ He argumentative & insufferably right about everything as I’ve criticises fellow broadcaster James been in 2018. Zero apologies in advance to the whiny PC- O’Brien for the title of his book, crazed snowflake imbeciles who will be horrifically offended by How To Be Right, but issues that absolutely everything I say or write.” tweet from New Year’s Eve. You may well not need an introduction to the 55-year-old veteran To his credit, he doesn’t shirk the journalist and Good Morning Britain presenter, but if you do, that criticism. “I’m not claiming to be Mr Perfect – I’m totally aware tweet is probably it. Many replies were supportive, a few lightly that I can be abrasive and obnoxious. Sometimes I join in the pilecritical, a few more veered into the unprintable – a standard ons, sometimes I go a bit over the top, and in that sense, I have response to a Piers Morgan Twitter outing. been part of the problem.

Morgan will happily take on anyone, anywhere. In the past year, “But I’m absolutely prepared to listen to people and debate with he’s enraged parts of the left with his take on trans rights and them, and then not fall out with them at the end. I’d be a hypocrite backing Boris Johnson’s Brexit agenda, despite voting remain in if I wanted to cancel people. I’ll defend my right to hate vegan 2016. He’s since given the same treatment to the pro-Boris right, sausage rolls for the rest of my natural life, but I don’t want to ban and appears to have been boycotted by the government after people from eating them.” savaging their handling of the pandemic.

He’s similarly philosophical on allegations of bullying, which, to “It’s been a curious year,” he muses. “In December, I was hugely my surprise, he does not dismiss out of hand. “I don’t reject it popular with Boris fans and Brexiteers, but then during the completely. The key thing is to always punch up, not down, and I pandemic, I began to be heavily critical of the government, and all do look back at certain debates and think ‘that person didn’t really my Brexiteer fans suddenly started to hate me. All the liberals that have enough tools to compete’. That’s never a good look, and I’ve had taken a dim view of me not joining the ‘remoaner’ campaign tried to evolve.” all started to fall in love with me again.”

When you do look back on his debates – and boy, are there a lot His new book, Wake Up, is likely to swing the dial back again, and of them – what stands out most is his relentless energy. Whether he’s already “expecting some horrific reviews from the ‘wokies'”. sparring on social media or powering through crack-of-dawn He’s quick to disassociate ‘wokie’ from ‘the left’, and even production meetings, Morgan lives at a mile a minute, and his from the original meaning of ‘woke’. “The history of ‘woke’ is commitment and ability are hard to question. completely laudable, it’s about having an awareness of social and “I think every journalist is exhausted this year,” he says, “but racial injustice, and if that was all it was, I’d be woke myself. there’s no doubt 2020 is exhilarating from a news point of view.

But it’s been completely hijacked, and ultra-woke liberalism is If news is your trade, you’ll never have a bigger story than this.” bordering on fascism.”

Morgan was born in East Sussex in 1965, and became the youngest Formerly editor of the Daily Mirror, Morgan identifies as a newspaper editor in the country when he took over at the News of ‘liberal’, but he’s equally firm over what the word should mean. “I the World aged just 28. He then spent nine years helming the Daily want liberals to go back to being liberal. There’s been a lot written Mirror, winning Newspaper of the Year in 2001, but was sacked by liberals about how the right-wing are intolerable, intransigent, three years later. and self-righteous, but many liberals are now behaving the same Victory in the American Apprentice brought a much-debated way or worse. Everything is offensive to the ‘wokies’, and they friendship with Donald Trump, which went on to include TV don’t believe in freedom of speech.” interviews, fulsome praise, searing criticism, and finally Trump To long-time Morgan-watchers, these will not be new sentiments, unfollowing Morgan on Twitter. “I don’t see myself as a political and on the page and in person, he’s as strident as you’d expect. animal,” he says, “I see myself as a journalist, and despite being a Pugnacious and polemical, the book barrels along at scorching friend of his, I’ve always tried to be fair-minded.” pace, taking aim at everything from cancel culture and veganism, His American adventure continued with a talk show on CNN, before to the role of modern masculinity. he returned to the UK to host GMB. “I like the British media best,” Originally planned as a set of extended essays, the madness of he says, “the Americans think they have the best media in the world, 2020 convinced Morgan to rejig the work into a set of retrospective but they think they have the best everything in the world. Coming diaries, and personal asides sneak in amidst the argument avalanche. back has been fantastic. I’ve loved breakfast TV more than I ever Not overly troubled by self-doubt, Morgan embraces his role thought I would.” as a provocateur – in fact, he considers the word a compliment. His new book is the latest of many, and it’s fair to say the ‘wokies’, “I’m a deliberate provocateur – my whole life is spent inspiring as he calls them, will not enjoy it. But if his GMB viewing figures arguments. But I’ve got Susanna Reid next to me, who disagrees are anything to go by, many more will. If there’s one thing you can with me all the time. We’re a perfect template for liberals – you say for sure about Morgan, it’s that he, and his opinions, play a should able to passionately debate everything, but remain friends.” commanding role in our national conversation.

He’s been called plenty of nasty names down the decades, but he Given the complaints he has about the present, Morgan is remarkably sees himself as one of the good guys, “albeit with flaws”. In person, positive about the future. “Things will get worse HarperCollins/PA he is courtesy incarnate, more considered if no less confident than before they get better, but I’m an eternal optimist. the bullish battering ram that graces morning television.

I say to people ‘I know it’s tough, but this will be Though the culture war stuff will doubtless claim a lot of column over, and when it is, head to your favourite pub, inches, Morgan reserves perhaps his strongest language for the have a curry, drink ten pints and toast freedom.” government. “Their incompetence has made me very angry, and If he has any thoughts in the meantime, he’ll let the boycott is a pathetic, cowardly dereliction of public duty to our you know. viewers. I make no apology for going after them so hard, because Wake Up: Why The World Has Gone Nuts by we’ve had the worst death toll in Europe, and the worst economic Piers Morgan is published by HarperCollins, record. Frankly, it couldn’t be any worse.” priced £20. Available now.

CNN/PA

Piers Morgan:

www.femalefocusonline.com

Page 27

Triple Bringing you delicious Craft Ales Brew

Triple Brew combines the best of three countries; Spain, Germany and New Zealand to bring quality Craft Beer via the on-site home brew retail and brewery, as well as speciality wines and delicious BBQ food. There are over 30 different wines, all available by the glass or bottle, at least 7 different beers on tap, including 3 home brewed on-site, making over 30 different beers to choose from.

Triple Brew is situated on Calle San Antonio, just a few steps from the Carlos III bridge (old bridge). On entering, you step into the wine bar area where an extensive menu demonstrates the quality of international wines and beers on offer and the gastronomic delights available.

Moving through to the cave room you will find the three beer stills fermenting the next batch of fine ales, and plenty of taps ready to serve you their home made craft ales along with a wide variety of bottles and cans. There are plans to bring more stills in the near future allowing a greater variety of made-on-site choices.

Beyond the cave you will find the large outdoor terrace and dining area which houses an open fire where all your meats are cooked.

Delicious side salads to complement the main courses and Faith's home-made garlic-chilli-cheese bread, flat bread and German Pretzels are a must, followed by some lovely desserts to finish off your meal.

Wine and Beer Tasting, and Home Brew courses are the kind of events they are looking to be doing in the near future.

You can visit Triple Brew on Monday, Thursday and Friday from 4pm until late with a special early bird BBQ from 4pm - 6pm for just 9.99â‚Ź which includes meat, salad, bread and a Glass of house wine/ beer. They are also open on Saturday from 1pm.

With every reservation for dinner you get a complementary glass of Cava on arrival.

What are you waiting for? Go there now!!!! â—? You can visit www.anythingbutpaella.com for an honest review of an experience.

QFocus Magazine December 2020

QFocus Magazine December 2020

Book Review by Ivor Kindle

Page 28 www.femalefocusonline.com As it's Christmas and a special time for children... I have selected three wonderful books that would make ideal presents for children.

1. Theory of Relativity - Author: Carl Wilkinson - Publisher: Laurence King - The most famous scientific theory of them all made beautifully clear.

2. Boy, Everywhere - Author: A.M. Dassu - Publisher: Old Barn Books - Sami is a very ordinary boy. 13 years old attending school, playing football, playstation etc - what makes Sami different is that he lives in Damascus.

3. Owl or Pussycat. Author: Michael Morpurgo. Publisher: David Fickling books - A true story of first love and first night nerves.

These books come highly recommended.

Happy Christmas to all you readers.

Keep reading, Ivor Kindle.

www.femalefocusonline.com

Page 29

For December I am offering 25% off my hot stone massage treatment.

As we are moving into the winter season a hot stone massage is an ideal treatment.

Hot stone massage - smooth flat heated stones are placed along the body, along the spine, on the chest, on the face and your hands and feet. The stones are normally made of basalt, a type of volcanic rock, as this type of rock retains the heat. Swedish massage techniques are used, long strokes and circular movements.

Some benefits of hot stone massage.

Heat has been used for many years to ease muscle tension and pain, it also helps increase blood flow to affected areas.

It may also reduce muscle spasms and increase flexibility.

Helps with your sleep pattern.

Helps to destress you and relax you.

May boost your immunity system.

Come and enjoy this wonderful treatment.

We have gift vouchers for Christmas, or a birthday treat.

For more information please visit www.mindbodyandsoulspain.com Facebook page - mindbodyandsoulholistictherapies or call me on 688 705 930.

SUPPORT

LOCAL BUSINESSES

QFocus Magazine December 2020

QFocus Magazine December 2020

Page 30

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

Note from Benny: More performance cancellations, more cautious dates estimated for 2021, and more heads dropped as this pandemic never appears to be ending. But our amdram and singing groups, both north and south of the Costa Blanca, have shown their fortitude by adapting in various ways. When entertainment venues and rehearsal facilities closed, some kept going through video links, others rehearsed in outside locations, and there were those who simply kept together by holding internal fun events whilst following social distancing and group regulations. One northern group even started to record radio one act plays from a garage. This true-brit spirit is even more remarkable when you consider that the average age in most groups is in the older high-risk category. So well done all.

Actors Community Theatre Society: Due to ongoing Covid restrictions, a small group held an appropriately socially distanced reading of, `The Vagina Monologues´ last month. The actors gave an extremely professional performance, which was well received by the invited guests.

They will continue to give small performances/readings during, and complying with, the current restrictions and are really looking forward to getting their teeth into something meatier next year.

Cantabile Ladies Choir:

At present time, the Choir do not know when rehearsals will commence. Further details next month when hopefully arrangements can be made. New members in all parts, are always welcome especially sopranos, the only requirement is the ability to sing in tune in this friendly, three-part female choir.

Contact: valbeange@gmail.com or valcantabie@gmail.com Phone: 966 795 816. Mobile: 648 034 232. Rehearsals usually take place in La Siesta Church, Torrevieja, Fridays 14:45 - 17:00 from September to May. Harmonisers Barbershop:

Whatever your singing talent, a warm welcome awaits you at Harmoniser´s. They are a friendly international group and a fun-loving harmony chorus, singing in the Barbershop Style.

They have just commenced Thursday rehearsals at 11am at Casa Contenta Rojales, near the Rojales Market and are particularly looking for tenors. If you are interested, please contact Michael Hume at: michaelhume4814@gmail.com for more information.

www.femalefocusonline.com

Lyrical Mixed Voice Choir:

Unfortunately, the Christmas Carol Concert scheduled to take place on the 12th December, has fallen prey to the Covid restrictions and subsequently cancelled. But still thinking positively, the Choir hope to perform a spring Concert, with rehearsals commencing in January 2021. Regardless of this disappointing change of plan, new singers are always welcome. An ability to hold your own tune in 4-part harmony and to read music a distinct advantage.

For more up-to-date information, please contact Philip Mitchell: 865 750 465 or Trent Harris on 650 764 127.

Rojales Pantomime Group: A scary but fun night was enjoyed at the Halloween social. Entering through a "Tunnel of Fear" there were screams and laughter galore as Rojales panto crew came scarily dressed, a skeleton bride, a traditional Dracula and an Ossy Osbourne Dracula, even a witch or two flew in! Merry Christmas all from their still happy, but frustrated panto team. They hope for a better 2021 and back to real entertainment.

Studio 32: This musical theatre group have recommenced rehearsals for their Summer production `South Pacific´. Covid restrictions permitting, the show will go ahead at the Cardinal Beluga Theatre in San Fulgencio from Wednesday 17th to Sunday 21st of March 2021. They are still actively recruiting new members to join the company, so if you are interested in acting, singing, dancing or helping out backstage, please contact them at info@studiothirtytwo.org.

Full details of all Stage Diary entertainment groups are available at www.femalefocusonline.com. If you would like to be part of this band of charitable entertainers, please email editor@ femalefocusonline.com. Deadline for receiving copy is the 17th of every month.

www.femalefocusonline.com

Page 31

AS SEEN ON TV

QF���� Maga���e De�e��e� 2020

Pan Roasted Brussels Sprouts Sabzi

Give Christmas dinner an Indian twist with this spicy South Indian recipe for the much maligned Brussels sprouts! This also makes a great Boxing Day curry.

The Brussels are pan fried with tempered spices which give an amazing flavour to the old boring sprout. The trick here is not to overcook the sprouts, to keep them al dente. It’s the over cooking which imparts that sharp bitter taste that so many of us associate with them!

Trimming the roots and cutting in half reduces the bitterness too.

Ingredients 1 tsp turmeric 200g Brussels sprouts 1 tsp ground black pepper 3 tbsp rapeseed/veg oil 1 tsp salt 5-7 curry leaves (optional) 1 tsp garam masala 2 garlic cloves finely chopped 2 chopped chillies (optional) 1 tsp mustard seeds 2 tbsp sesame seeds (optional) 1 tsp cumin Chopped fresh coriander to garnish (optional) TIME: 30 minutes - SERVES: 4 as a side - TOP TIP: A Curry On Cooking spice kit can be used to replace the spices.

Recipe - Prep the veg by washing and drying; remove a layer of outer leaves. Trim the roots and cut in to quarters.

- In a large saucepan or wok heat the oil to a medium heat; once hot, add the cumin seeds and mustard seeds, cook until they start to crack, pop and turn a golden colour. If using the curry leaves add along with the garlic.

- Add the spices; turmeric, pepper, salt, garam masala and chopped chillies cook for 1 minute.

- Toss the Brussels sprouts in to the pan, mix well. Stirring a couple of times cook for about 5-8 minutes or until the edges start to go brown.

- Add 5-6 tablespoons of water; stirring occasionally, cover and cook for 8-10 minutes, to prevent them catching add more water if required. Cook until the spouts are tender but still al dente - Once cooked check seasoning. Sprinkle and mix the sesame seeds, garnish with coriander and serve.

Looking for Christmas stocking filler, hamper or a gift with a difference? How about sending an Indian Afternoon Tea and Treats Hamper to loved ones in the UK? Check out Curry On Cooking’s website, full of currylicious gift ideas from curry kits, Indian stacking lunch boxes, and spice tins to chapatti making kits! Or how about an online tailored cookery lesson?

Drop the Spice Sisters an email at keepcalm@curryoncooking.com ● Recipe supplied by The Spices Sisters from Curry On Cooking. Don’t forget to

like them on Facebook 'Curry On Cooking'. You can purchase their currylicious kits from www.curryoncooking.com.

WORD SPIRAL

Starting from 1, fill in the grid in a clockwise direction with four-letter words. The last letter of each word becomes the first letter of the next word.

If you have correctly filled in the grid there should be a seven-letter key word reading across from 8.



WORDSPIRAL 1 - CLUES

BY PA PUZZLES TEAM



1. Housetop 2. Clenched hand 3. Mexican snack 4. Egg-shaped 5. Burden 6.

Arab sailing vessel 7. Lash 8. Fossil fuel 9. Golf pegs 10. Badger’s burrow 11. Cash register 12. Young sheep 13. Surety 14. Breathing organ 15. Flying insect 16. No longer wild Key word clue: Allspice

WORDSPIRAL 2 - CLUES 1. Make beer 2. Desire 3. Dense layer of grass 4. Amphibian 5. Snatch 6.

Bee sound 7. Metallic element 8. Tranquil 9. Fix 10. Unable to hear 11.

Sham 12. Viewing organs 13. Box, in training 14. Hurry 15. Raised area of land 16. Nobleman Key word clue: Place in Wales

Answers to puzzles in the classified pages

QFocus Magazine December 2020

www.femalefocusonline.com Page 32 3. The US election of course caught my eye. The wonder of seeing the current most powerful man on the planet telling lies on camera to the whole World was almost beyond belief, as is the sad sight elcome to my monthly column “A view of American citizens being unable to see that they are being lied from the top”. Hopefully you will find my to and actually believing the hubris from the Orange idiot. With rambling readable (maybe even enjoyable). apologies to Nelly... Donald the President packs his bags and says You may agree or you may disagree with my goodbye to the White House.. off he sets with a Trumpety Trump... views, I care not. These are my views long held and forged Trump... Trump..Trump. There that's got that off my chest so to over a life time of work, travel and experience. Now that’s speak.

A View From The Top

W

over let’s have a look at what is really winding me up.

Hello Dear Reader ...it's Christmas time again and as has been my wont for many years I offer for your Christmas delight some of my Wonders of the year for 2020.

1. Well let's start with the news that the Prime Ministers adviser and some time de facto PM Dominic Cummings (him with the dodgy eyesight) has been thrown out of Downing street for apparently falling foul of the PM girlfriend (his current one). Never mind the fact that the UK is in the middle of the worst health crisis any of us have seen with Covid 19... never mind that the UK is about to leave the Worlds biggest trading market and never mind the financial figures that the employment market in the UK has hit the rocks... No Dear Reader, what is really important to de Piffle Spaffer and his gang of sycophantic government insiders is that his present bird has the hump. Just how weak is the British PM...

Cummings has been riding rough shod over the British public for far too long. He, Johnson should have had the balls to get rid of him months ago... but No ...it's not about the British public... it's all about the vanity and narcissism of Spaffer himself... MY wonder is simply where does the UK go from here?

2.As a Republican I really do wonder where the Royal Family have been during the crisis that has afflicted the UK. The establishment is always there with its "Royalty is a stabilising force for good etc"... however to my mind the only thing that the Royal Family has been during the Pandemic is silent... the silence is deafening.

4. With the US election in mind, the biggest wonder for me was the sight of the British Foreign Secretary, Dominic Rabb (it must be the name)... who could not answer the simple question "Do you think all votes in a Democratic election should be counted?"...This is the man who, when Brexit secretary, did not know that Dover was a major port for EU imports in to the UK. With that in mind ..what actually are the qualifications in terms of common sense for becoming a Secretary of State. I wonder!

5. As the year 2020 comes to a close I must acknowledge my wonderment at the care and compassion of people who work in the caring and medical environments. The dedication of these people shines a light on a World in the midst of terrible times.

6. Of course I must also shine a light on the Wonderful effort put in by friends and neighbours in helping others who have been self isolating with a special mention to all the people who put in time and effort to keep children up to speed with education needs... reading...spelling etc via the internet. Er Indoors spent two hours each day during lockdown on the tablet making sure that the Grandchildren were kept up to speed with their reading etc. A good effort by all concerned.

7. During the past months people have needed to be at their resilient best as each day brought new horrors in terms of the numbers of people getting infected, the numbers of people losing their lives to this awful disease and the simple matter that our normal daily routine of living our lives has been so severely disrupted. It is a testament to the adaptability and strength of the human family that hopefully these times can be put behind us. The wonderment of human adaptability is a joy to behold.

8. Now, it would not be right of me to leave the year without a mention of the sporting year thus far. Yes it's been disrupted and yes it's been somewhat fractured... that said my wonder is that the sporting year has actually got going at all. I loved the Cricket... I love the fact that the Football has got going and I have just watched the Argentine Rugby team, the Pumas, beat the mighty All Blacks for the first time in their history. However love him or hate him... my sporting wonder of the year goes to Lewis Hamilton. I am not the greatest fan of Formula 1 but come on... driving a car at two hundred plus MPH surrounded by others doing the same... and being top of that pile... he deserves great credit.

9. As I come to the last few paragraphs of my 2020 wonders at Christmas ...it would be remiss of me not to mention the absolute wonder that is Christmas. If you have a Religious bent then I send you my best wishes... If you are Humanist by nature then I send you my best - in fact it is the joy that the festival of Christmas brings that gives me wonderment... the joy of young children is heartwarming as is the feeling of goodwill that Christmas generates. I wish you all the very best for the future... may your God go with you. Keep safe and keep well and have a good fruitful and healthy 2021.

www.femalefocusonline.com

CHERYL'S NOT-SO

Page 33

SECRET COVID DIARY

Adapted by Benny Davis from original notes recorded by Cheryl Speer, Director, Oliva Drama.

Location: Somewhere in the depth of the Oliva community. Year 2020.

March 11: Only five more rehearsals left before launching our spring production: Hard work, but sure it will be well worth the effort. Can´t wait. March 14: Spanish government announces Corona 19 virus has invaded the country and declares a state of alarm resulting in a national lockdown. All rehearsal efforts up the creek. Production cancelled, feeling totally deflated and sorry for all involved. What´s next? March 27/28: Extra depression as we would have been performing in Bellreguard theatre on these dates. However, must think positive and encourage our wonderful team to look ahead, not backwards. Maybe a glass of wine will help? Or maybe two? April, May: Everyone hunkers down, jokes shared over discussions on where we go from here. Mostly not printable! June 1: positive action at last. We combine two storage units into one for the sets; refund all ticket sales resulting in large financial write off on show.

Tripping over our bottom lips, we then disperse for our summer break, hoping for better things in September. September 8: Back again! Although situation not changed, raring to go! Annual General Meeting via newly discovered video zoom; elect new committee/ board. September 18: Fresh start! New committee secret meeting. Discuss how to keep our partisans engaged. Use Zoom? Sent covert messages to all contacts asking for online audition volunteers. Positive response from only three persons. Seems that’s our total cast! Obviously, followers are more nervous about new-fangled camera technology than fighting the corona enemy. Looked at number of one act plays and decide on `Fourteen.´ October 2: First read-through via Zoom. First time acting director – me! First time technical director. Zoom experience totally new for all. Rehearsals scheduled via Zoom, three days a week, one hour a day. Late October: After numerous attempts at recording, encountered serious problems with technical issues. Images freezing, voice fluctuations, etc. So, decided to go with radio play, like the BBC Home Service programme, `Saturday Night Theatre.´ Thought: Wonder if Hitchcock had the same problem when he started? October 31: Cast meet in person on my secluded terrace and really get on well despite the hazards of masks and social distancing. November 6: Final rehearsal away from prying eyes. Last minute script re-write as narrator wants fewer lines. November 7: After packing Spam sandwiches, several packets of Smiths crisps and a flask of steaming coffee, set off at 6.00am curfew lift for final recording at a secret garage location.

Arrived to find tech engineer had added his own contribution to the essential emergency rations, a bottle of 103 brandy. The team arrived individually after surreptitiously winding their way through passages and remote back streets of the town to avoid any lurking Covid agents. Doors closed and sealed, sanitizer security checks completed, recording starts for real. After some hard sessions, leaving a few crumbs on plates and an empty flask and bottle in our wake, we finally got two good takes. More celebrations with a surprise donation of bubbly and chocolates from our actors.

November 10: Myself and tech director final edit. After a few tweaks; sounds great but problems when transferred to MP3. Feel sorry for tech director, his job is never done! No bad luck this Friday the 13th: Final audio play done and dusted, distributed worldwide. Victory for the Covid oppressed. A ray of hope for everyone. To quote Winston Churchill: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts.”

Note: `Fourteen´ by Alice Gerstenberg, is a short play about a 1920s socialite's monumental struggle to save her much anticipated dinner party when everything goes wrong. You can access the play via website: www.olivadrama.com. Just click on the play poster. If you are impressed with this story and would like to support OCDA efforts, please donate a few euros to your local charity.

The group have raised over 1500 euros for their charities.

QFocus Magazine December 2020

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Health & Beauty SUFFERING FROM HAIR LOSS, Alopecia, male pattern baldness, scars? I have helped thousands of people regain their confidence.

Non surgical, permanent hair loss solution. Book a 100% free no obligation consultation. 628 101 711 or www.scalpmastery.com AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS For families and friends of problem drinkers. There are meetings in Torrevieja. Phone 634 349 961.

SLIM AND TONE At our new one stop Slimming, Toning and Vitamin Supplements Studio, we can offer you the Exante diet plan and the Shapemaster toning beds. Call 675 619 568.

Business Opportunities FOR SALE – HARRY’S BAR, Quesada. Unique opportunity to purchase this well established popular bar /restaurant. Freehold.

Call Joanne for more information on 693 494 951.

Services CYCLOGICAL QUESADA your one stop family run cycle shop for all your cycle sales, repairs, spares and cycle hire. Contact Gary or Lynn on 637 487 377. www.cyclogicalcostablanca.com.

Q U A L I T Y B L I N D S S PA I N www.qualityblindsinspain.com is a family run business, supplying and fitting made to measure blinds on the costa. Tel: 96 57 01 984 Mobile: 658 338 123.

www.femalefocusonline.com

S I M P LY D O O R S . F a m i l y r u n business our products range from external Doors, internal doors, sliding wardrobe doors, upvc windows and conservatories tel 96 671 8738 or 671 260 204. Web: www.simplydoors.es

NEED A SURVEY? Call Advantage Building Services if you are buying a property, or have structural problems with a property you already own. Subsidence cases investigated, insurance claims mediated and processed.

653 733 066 or email mrmpaddon@hotmail.com or find further information at www.surveyorscostablanca.com WATER FILTER SYSTEMS Whole House & Undersink Water Filter Systems. Reduce Your Plastic Waste & Have Clean Filtered Water From All Taps In Your Home While Also Protecting Appliances From Limescale Buildup. Tel: 681 315 659.

Web: www.aqualyze.es GLAZE N SAVE convert your single glazed windows and doors to double glazed units without changing the frames. Very cost effective and a clean process. This is not secondary glazing. For more information call Gary on 662 455 960 or 96 671 2832 email gary@glazensave.es. Web: www.glazensave.es

SPANISH INSURANCE: for all your insurance needs in English.

Home, health, travel, motor, funeral c o v e r, c o m m u n i t y, b u s i n e s s . www.spanish-insurance.net Tel: 96 673 0694. Offices in San Javier, la Zenia and Quesada.

BUILDING WORK All types of small or large building work undertaken including bathroom and kitchen refits, patios & terraces, painting, pool repairs, extensions and underbuilds, plumbing and electrics. Call 96 671 2832 or 662 455 960 for a free no obligation quote or email s_sconstruction@yahoo.co.uk TRANSLATOR AND INTERPRETER English/Spanish. All legal, medical and business matters. Covering the Costa Blanca. Contact: 658 957 404 or ejbtranslations@gmail.com

www.femalefocusonline.com for more adverts COYS RENT A CAR is an independent Car Hire company operating from Alicante airport, Torrevieja and the surrounding areas.

To get a quote, look at our website: www.coysrent-a-car.com COYS PARKING provide 6 month or 1 year contracts to park your car at Alicante airport, look at our website and click on Coys Parking www.coysrent-a-car.com

Property Sales & Rentals 4 BED VILLA PARCENT Villa for sale in Parcent 259.000â‚Ź. Well kept, beautiful spacious 4 beds, 2 shower rooms. Well laid out garden, gas central heated, double glazed.

For more information please call 638 176 866.

Wanted

Property Sales & Rentals BUY TO RENT PROPERTY Extended Town House La Marina (San Fulgencio). 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen /living /dining room. BBQ, 3 terraces. Close to amenities – supermarket, cafes, doctors. Close to Beach, swimming pool and airport (20 minutes). Tenant available long term. ₏75,000. Tel. 966 796 236.

MODERN DETACHED VILLA for sale in PEDREGUER. Lovely 2 bed 2 bath detached villa. All on one level. Neat garden with fruit trees, Olive tree & flowers. 15 minutes to lovely beaches. Walking distance into Pedreguer. 190.000â‚Ź or payable in ÂŁ or villa swop. Tel: 633 813 774.

3 B E D A PA RT M E N T, A L FA Z centre Apt. 4th floor, completely refurbished 2020, 3 beds /one as office, all new bathroom, laminate flooring,lights,air.con. Updated separate kitchen/ appliances, glazed utility area/ storage. All electric. Double front balconies, Sat.TV. negotiable 109,000â‚Ź. Tel: 603 811 219 afternoons.

6 ROOMED APARTMENT for sale in well run block in Gata de Gorgos. 2 baths, fully furnished, not overlooked good amenities, rail station, cinema, cafes, restaurants, and walks, on main bus route. Telephone 679 921 046.

Personal

AL-ANON FAMILY GROUPS For families and friends of problem drinkers.

There are meetings in Torrevieja. Phone 634 349 961.

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PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

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Have you booked your space yet?

Next issue March 2021, sold on a first come first served basis. Call Michelle to make your reservations on 663 178 228.

Pets Lily has low level Leish, no treatment needed.

She is spayed, passported, fully vaccinated.

Lily is good with other dogs, loves to play with balls and has loads of energy for the outdoors. Please call 711 075 305 or email k9clubinfo@gmail.com or Facebook ‘K9Club.Es’.

Olly is around 4 months old and has been in a foster home with other cats and dogs. He is a lovely, friendly kitten and purrs constantly when having a cuddle.

Call: 645 469 253 visit www.petsinspain.com or email info@petsinspain.com You’re invited to come and meet the Easy Horse Care Centre rescued horses, ponies and donkeys Call 652 021 980 or email rescue@easyhorsecare.net.

For more information visit our website http://www.easyhorsecare.net.

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QUICK CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS Across: 1 Dire; 3 Economic; 8 Lift; 9 Commerce; 11 Gracefulness; 13 Tennis; 14 Floral; 17 Withstanding; 20 Overflow; 21 Diva; 22 Disclose; 23 Aged.

Down: 1 Delegate; 2 Refrain; 4 Crocus; 5 No man’s land; 6 Marks; 7 Chef; 10 Delightful; 12 Sluggard; 15 Railing; 16 Stoops; 18 Ideas; 19 Mood.

WORD SPIRAL 1 SOLUTIONS 1. Roof 2. Fist 3. Taco 4. Oval 5. Load 6. Dhow 7. Whip 8. Peat 9. Tees 10. Sett 11. Till 12. Lamb 13. Bail 14. Lung 15. Gnat 16.

Tame. Key word solution: PIMENTO WORD SPIRAL 2 SOLUTIONS 1. Brew 2. Want 3. Turf 4. Frog 5. Grab 6. Buzz 7. Zinc 8. Calm 9. Mend 10. Deaf 11. Fake 12. Eyes 13. Spar 14. Rush 15. Hill 16.

Lord. Key word solution: CARDIFF All adverts must be sent with your Name and NIE or Passport Nº (not to be published).

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Free Property adverts: Property sale adverts should also be emailed to classifieds@femalefocusonline.com by the property owner. They will be published free for a 3 month period and can include Property Agent contact details (and photo to be included online only).

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