QF Focus - February 2021

Dep. Legal A-685-2016

E FR E

FEBRUARY 2021

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

Happy Valentin e's Day

Also inside this issue:Jason Fox:

We all have emotions, it’s called being human

6 interior trends set to be big in 2021

Your Horoscopes - Your Local Community News Puzzles - Recipes - Legal - Astronomy A View From The Top - Finance - Health & Beauty - Violet King - Local Business Reviews BROUGHT TO YOU BY....

Club & Charity News Prize Compe��on Classified Adverts And So Much More

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QF���� Maga���e Fe���a�� 2021

For years now, we have heard the word Brexit mentioned many, many times. Often, when I spoke to people about Brexit and the possible changes that would occur as a consequence, I just usually got a shrug or “what do you think is going to change – after all, we are British and Spain needs us” but at the end of the day, we are now classed as immigrants.

That of course, is true, but as we can see, there are already changes. Firstly, there is the TIE. If you are a resident, and have the green Residencia document or card, it is just a case of changing over. If you are not a resident, and plan to stay, you need to start this process if you haven’t already. This will require a Padron, proof of income and healthcare.

For those with UK registered vehicles, they will need to be changed to Spanish plates if you are here for more than 90 days, as will your driving licence. There is no alternative if you wish to continue living in Spain.

The Spanish government is now in talks with the UK and there may be some changes at some point, as separate agreements are made, which will include, hopefully an alternative to the EHIC card. But as there is very limited travelling at the moment, due to the COVID situation throughout the world, there is no immediately necessity for this.

My world, like everyone’s has become smaller and very frustrating and I just hope quantities of the vaccine will soon be available to take one factor away, which of course, is fear. I try not to become a recluse, as I so enjoy going out for meals, and looking at the sea, and chatting, but all the time, you are just keeping your fingers crossed, but this has now stopped. I do, however, feel safer in Spain as they seem to be far stricter on mixing and especially the wearing of masks. I do not understand, with such a high death rate in the UK, why mask wearing is not mandatory at all times, like here. I am convinced it does help and anything that helps, must be beneficial. ● For more information, or a quotation, please call one of my offices or visit the website, www.jennifercunningham.net.

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January has been a very cold month and I made the mistake of not being stocked up with wood for our log burner when we had rain, meaning it was soaking wet when we did purchase some. I won't be doing that again and will keep an eye on the weather forecast in future.

I am sure the time will fly by and before we know it, we will all be complaining about how hot it is.

Although further restrictions have now been put upon us, I do think that some sort of action did need to be taken, it's just a shame it is always the hospitality sector that seems to suffer the most. These businesses are struggling through very difficult times making it very important to keep supporting them once they are allowed to reopen. They rely heavily on the tourism trade and of course that has been almost none existent for the past year. In the meantime, please continue to support the other local businesses that are allowed to open... The last thing anyone wants to see is these small shops closing for good once we are eventually through the mess we are currently in.

Thank goodness there are some decent programmes to watch on TV to pass the winter nights... and the jigsaw puzzles bought for me from my kids at Christmas are really going to put to good use!

Stay safe and healthy and look after each other.

Congratulations to Mrs. Taylor from Jalón 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. Good luck.

Michelle

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

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

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Pick up your next issue on 2 March Deadline for advertising & editorial -15 February

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QFocus Magazine February 2021

OUR SPOTTY SUN

Last month I talked about our Sun waking up from its long period of inactivity, and what that might mean for us all.

The coronal mass ejections, great loops and streams of fiery plasma that shoot out from the surface are among the most spectacular things a human could see. Alas they are not something an ordinary amateur astronomer can observe, a special kind of equipment and the knowledge to use it safely take them out of reach of these basic articles.

So, what can a perfectly ordinary observer do with simple binoculars and a bit of low cunning? You can see sunspots, or to be more precise, a projection of them. It's important that if you try this you aren't tempted to look at the Sun directly, to repeat myself from last month, you WILL burn your eyes from your head.

Have a look at the picture alongside this article, it's from a great website called timeanddate.com that many amateur astronomers use to find out when things are happening. As you can see, the principle is very simple. A piece of card to project on to, another piece of card around the binoculars to cast a shadow and something to hold the binoculars steady, a tripod in this picture. All you have to do is set it up, jiggle the binoculars around until you see an image of the Sun on the card, and focus. A small telescope will work just as well, or better.

If you are lucky, and there are some sizeable sunspots that day you will see them as tiny dark blobs on the image. Only use this setup for about 3 minutes at a time, because the binoculars will get very hot, but if you keep looking over a few hours you'll see the spots apparently moving across the Sun as it revolves.

This was part of the method first used to work out how quickly the Sun revolves on its axis, over 400 years ago.

What are sunspots? That's a subject that can fill a book so I'll keep it straightforward. They are areas cooler than the rest of the surface, about 5,500 degrees centigrade. They are usually much bigger than the Earth and caused by vast magnetic currents rising from the interior. More importantly for us, they are strange and fascinating things we can all see for ourselves. Next month I will be continuing about the Sun and talking about eclipses and I'll have some rather fabulous news on the subject.

Before I close for this month, keep an eye on the news in February, there are three missions arriving at Mars, including the spectacular Perseverance Lander from NASA with a helicopter on board!

There's also a very clever orbiter from the U.A.E. and a mission sent by China.

OateGrsoup Charljaes tro As nomy

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

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Blacktower Financial Management Group 35 years old in January 2021

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I hate adverts where firms declare they “are the best” or “the cheapest in Spain.”

But this year I will allow myself a certain amount “putting it out there”. Blacktower Financial Management Group, a UK financial advisory group which is privately owned by one of its 1986 incorporation founders, Mr John Westwood, was 35 years old this January. see advert below for more information John is still a full time executive for Blacktower and I have been As you can see, despite the terrible exclusively licenced by the company since January 2014 and have year the world experienced in been extremely happy with their diligence, client care, and respect 2020 and the significant drop in the stock markets last March, the for the rules and regulations. Brexit has forced Blacktower to move year finished out well because all events create opportunities for it's EU regulation from Gibraltar to Cyprus as at 1st January 2021. fund managers. If you'd invested £50,000 on 1st January 2015 in the This means that we are contacting all of our EU clients (1,000's) Balanced Portfolio, then on 31st December 2020 it would have been to arrange for them to sign a new service agreement with our worth £85,091. It's NEVER too late and the world keeps turning.

Blacktower Cypriot Company (who now licences me), and if that's If you want to be part of the financial world and have some spare not enough - all European based Blacktower Financial Advisers, funds to invest, making more money for yourself, then please call me. which numbers around 100, must take a Cypriot Financial adviser HAS YOUR UK ADVISER CAST YOU ADRIFT? exam IN CYPRUS. At 56 (my photo is 4 years old below!), I don't Lastly, Brexit has forced many EU resident ex-pats who had relish this thought, especially as I have worked hard enough for UK institutions looking after their money and investments to be my British Accounting and Financial exams. Nonetheless, for you, “orphaned”. If you need us to take over the management of your the client, it won't affect our service and advice to you, and like all investments or you wish to consider pooling your many pension my clients, hopefully, you will make some tax-efficient money and pots, then please call me. get a few other benefits like avoiding inheritance tax here in Spain. Please call me for this or any other investment products.

The final numbers are “in” for 2020; here is the performance of a David Diggle C.A.T., DipFA TEL: 615 607 278 / 865 751 713 popular Multi-asset fund that we advise upon: email: dave.diggle@blacktowerfm.com website: www.theblacktowergroup.com The Blacktower Group (formed Jan 1986 UK) has been offering sound, independent advice for 35 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.

All companies under the Blacktower Group are regulated/licenced in the locations they are positioned. For full details of how and who we are regulated by visit www.blacktowerfm.com

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QFocus Magazine February 2021

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 February 2021

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FIVE FACTS ABOUT LICENCES IN SPAIN

Spanish building licences are quite famously difficult and tortuous to obtain and in most cases a bit of a nightmare.

Here are 5 common tricky situations that can only be solved using a Retrospective Licence.

1- Garages or building work carried out attached to the boundaries (even permanent carports etc) cannot obtain a licence (generally speaking). The minimum distance from an open window to the neighbour's boundary is 2 metres in Spain. Generally detached villas in Alicante area must stay away from the boundary by a minimum 3 metres, although this may vary and can even be much more.

2- Glazed in terraces or closed in porches are built without a proper licence in 95% of cases. Spanish properties traditionally tend to have many open (patios) or semi-open spaces (porches) to create breezes or shaded areas. These semi-open spaces are very frequently closed in by using glazing or brick work. The Spanish laws regard these enclosures as extensions of the built floor area of the property and therefore they are subject to a 'Major Licence' for their construction. Licences to close these spaces in are generally not issued.

3- Most pools are not declared in the title deeds. Many of them don't have a licence either. The small percentage that have a licence generally don't have the architect’s certificate signing off the building of the pool. If your are selling your property you can use a Certificate of Antiquity or Retrospective Licence for pools, to give peace of mind to the purchasers and also use it to upgrade the title deeds to include the pool at the time of selling.

4- Any exterior cupboard, semi open kitchen or other covered building work must have a proper 'Major Licence' when it has an interior height over 1,50 metres.

5- Under-builds with living accommodation are nearly never made with licences and like the previous examples can be added to the title deeds using a Retrospective Licence.

In all these scenarios the document needed is a Certificate of Antiquity, also known as a Retrospective Licence, to guard against

possible sanctions and it is highly recommended to avoid putting off potential buyers due to the existence of illegal extensions in or on the property. It will also be needed on completion of the sale in order to update the property’s description in Title Deeds & Land Registry.

The only condition in order to obtain a Retrospective Licence is that the building work done is 4 years old, before the 20th August of 2014.

If you are purchasing a property in this area remember to always give your solicitor an exact description of the property highlighting the building works above and ask them to guarantee what you are buying is exactly what is registered at the land registry.

Only proper Spanish architects are competent to issue retrospective licences so if your solicitors are studying your case, ask them to contact Martinez de la Casa Architects to provide the Antiquity Certificate and we will make the whole process easier, faster and cheaper with our fixed published prices and guaranteed deadlines.

Cost of a Certificate of Antiquity / Retrospective Licence for pools is 190€ +IVA and extensions or complete properties 270€ +IVA. Discounts available for existing Martinez de la Casa clients or if you require your Energy Performance Certificate (121€ IVA Inc) or Habitation Licence (from 118€ Registration tax not included), done at the same time.

Martinez de la Casa Architects can guarantee all services within stated deadlines and a fixed price. With over 5,000 clients in South East Spain, we are considered one of the most prominent and respectable architecture practices, providing all types of certificates and licences, amongst other services.

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 client's testimonials.

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QFocus Magazine February 2021

Jason Fox: We all have emotions – it’s called being human TV’s Jason Fox talks about life after the military, men’s mental health, and why it really is OK to admit you’re having a tough time.

A former Royal Marine Commando and Special Forces Sergeant, Jason Fox is well qualified for his role on hit Channel 4 series SAS: Who Dares Wins, putting ordinary people though punishing physical and psychological tests.

Having joined the army at 16, he worked in hostage rescue, surveillance and counter terrorism among other things, before leaving the military with PTSD two decades later. He’s written several books since, the latest of which – Life Under Fire – looks at building inner strength and resilience.

Here, Fox, 44, talks to us about life after the military, and why mental health might be his most important cause…

Do you have an addiction to danger?

“I enjoy challenging myself, and did from an early age. It gives me a sense of achievement, so I like being in uncomfortable situations.

But I don’t go out of my way to find new and wonderful ways to kill myself; if something looked like it was going to be certain death, I wouldn’t do it. I don’t deliberately push my luck.”

You’ve talked about beating your demons and having suicidal thoughts…

“Demons are like your emotions. Human beings are driven by emotions, and we can sometimes allow them to control us, or be embarrassed by them. That makes us not talk about them, and when I went through my sticky patch and was contemplating suicide, I wasn’t being honest with myself about what my emotions were. I was trying to ignore them, which was just compounding the issue.

They’re my emotions, and it’s up to me what I do with them.”

How would you describe yourself now versus then?

“My description might be different to what others might say, but I’d say I’m a very positive person who enjoys life. I’m glad I went through what I did because it’s made me much more rounded in my approach to myself. I like to think I’m a reasonably aware person – not just of my own feelings but hopefully other people’s too.”

Did you on some level enjoy the chaos of war?

“It’s difficult to understand why soldiers miss it. It’s not that I miss the violence, I think what comes with the chaos is a very strong bond between you and the people you experience it with. That feeling of brotherhood with people you can trust with your life. It’s unfortunate you have to experience it in such dark places, but it is an addiction. It’s the sense of belonging that people miss.”

Do you think you’ve managed to find that again with your work?

“Yeah, I think so. My purpose now is to enjoy life, but also to help people in whatever capacity I can. Whether that’s through talking about mental health, or through my organisation (Fox co-founded Rock2Recovery which supports people in the forces, veterans and their families dealing with stress).

And what do you think Who Dares Wins does for people?

“We all put in an awful lot of effort to give people a life-changing experience. It looks like we’re just screaming and shouting, but there’s a lot more than is shown. It’s an opportunity for people to really push themselves – to see what they’re actually capable of. I love the way all the people who come on are so surprised by what they can achieve.”

What was your journey out of the army like?

“It wasn’t sudden. On my final tour of Afghanistan, there are moments I can pinpoint when I felt strange things. Like lying in a ditch and suddenly thinking about being at home as a 10-year-old boy, when I’m supposed to be a seasoned combat veteran.

By Luke Rix-Standing, PA

“When I came back from that tour, I was so unmotivated. I wasn’t having flashbacks or anything, but I was supposed to be a leader and it just wasn’t right. I tried to explore that, to restore my military mojo, and it turned out I’d contracted PTSD and was in a fit of depression.”

Did you feel a loss of purpose?

“Yeah. I was told the thing that would fix me was leaving the military. I wasn’t totally happy with it, but I had to listen. Then I woke up expecting to feel better, and I didn’t, I felt worse. I’d lost my sense of belonging, and no longer felt part of something that had been a massive part of my life since I was 16. There’s an identity there, so you’re left thinking, ‘Who am I? What’s my purpose?'”

Do you look back on your army days and think about the lives you cut short, or those you couldn’t save?

“Not any more, because it is what it is. The by-product of that job is extreme violence, but I enjoyed soldiering. I enjoyed the sense of purpose, the camaraderie, the different skills. I didn’t enjoy being extremely violent, and I genuinely believe most of the blokes I worked with didn’t enjoy it either.

“When you’re in a gunfight, no one’s angry, no one’s happy – it’s just what you do. And the people I couldn’t save – I can’t change it. I did revisit it for a period and it wasn’t helpful for my mental health, so I learned from that and moved forward.”

You talk a lot in the book about hiding your PTSD. Do you think there is still an inclination among men to close down?

“It’s a by-product of old attitudes. Different things work for different people, but to blanket men with this idea that you just need to shut up and ‘man up’ is not helpful. It obviously doesn’t work for a lot of people, because men are killing themselves at an astonishing rate.

“We need men to know that if they don’t feel good, that’s all right, and it’s a natural reaction to something. It’s called being human.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want it to be an excuse – ‘I can’t do this and I can’t do that’ – you’ve got to find a little bit of grit and determination to help you through tough times. But please, please find the right people you feel comfortable talking to, because that 100% saved me.”

Was it a bit of a revelation when you did open up?

“Yeah. One of the most pivotal moments was on the first series of Who Dares Wins, as one of the main reasons I went on the show was to use it as a platform to talk about mental health. I knew when episode two came out at nine o’ clock on a Monday, it was [going to be] me on national TV saying, ‘I’ve been medically discharged for PTSD and I suffer from depression’. I was so scared, so anxious, and not a nice person to be around that day.

“I had no idea how it was going to be received, but when it went out, the feedback was awesome. I felt such a sense of empowerment, like the biggest weight had been lifted, because I’d admitted something real and said: ‘That’s who I am’. I didn’t need to keep up this façade of being this super tough bloke. I’m so pleased I did it.”

What would your older self say to your younger self?

“If you start to feel a certain way and it doesn’t sit right – address it. Talk with someone you trust. That’s probably the only thing, really – you’re going to go through some things, but it’s OK. Don’t be ashamed of it. Talk to someone.”

Life Under Fire: How To Build Inner Strength And Thrive Under Pressure

by Jason Fox is published by Penguin Random House, priced £20. Available now.

Picture credit: Penguin Random House/ PA.

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Book Review by Ivor Kindle Title: Book 1 Corsair. Book 2 Buccaneer. Book 3 Sea Robber.

Author: Tim Severin Publisher: Macmillan

This is a rattling three part nautical tale of the young life and adventures of Hector Lynch, pirate.

Young Hector was taken from his village on the coast of Ireland by an Arab slave trader. Taken to Algiers he was put to work along with many other captured people. It is the year 1677 and the life of Hector Lynch is about to change forever.

Hector meets up and befriends Dan a Miskito Indian and they hatch a plan to escape the horrors of life as captive slaves. Along the way they meet and befriend other desperate captives and a life of adventure on the high seas begins.

Buccaneering and pirate life aboard ship all come to life in these fast paced stories.

The Caribbean and the Spanish Main are brought to life in Severin's tales. Ship craft and the politics of deceit are discovered on the high seas.

The story moves to the East Indies and is full of historical detail and boys own cut throat adventure.

Easy and enjoyable to read during these stay at home times.

Keep reading, Ivor Kindle.

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QUICK

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QFocus Magazine February 2021

CROSSWORD By the PA puzzles team

Across 1. Declare (5) 4. Pirate (7) 8. Terse (7) 9. Surge (5) 10. Delightful (4) 11. Wrestle (8) 13. Float (4) 14. Blemish (4) 16. Rash (8) 17. Entreaty (4) 20. Under (5) 21. Obvious (7) 22. Extract (7) 23. Skinflint (5)

Down 1. Invincible (13) 2. Invigorating (5) 3. Foray (4) 4. Invent (6) 5. Expedient (8) 6. Vindicator (7) 7. Theme park ride (6,7) 12. Disciple (8) 13. Pastoral (7) 15. View (6) 18. Smirks (5) 19. Stable (4)

See classified pages for answers JAGGERY A Irish dance B A coarse, dark sugar C Rough around the edges

MANUMIT A Muslim hermit B Tree that yields oil C Release from slavery

ANSWER: B

ANSWER: A

BY PA PUZZLES TEAM

LANOLIN A Fat from wool B Nut oil C Light cream

ANSWER: C

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

QFocus Magazine February 2021

www.femalefocusonline.com Page 12 serano ham as my treat for my snacks... Ergo... European countries import Cheese and Ham products into the UK market where they are bought and consumed as snacks and sandwiches. They (the elcome to my monthly column “A view EU) now say after Brexit that the same products that they import from the top”. Hopefully you will find my into the UK, cannot be put into a sandwich and bought back into rambling readable (maybe even enjoyable). the EU as they are a risk. Have I missed something or is this the You may agree or you may disagree with my start of a chaos of Brexit rules, rules that were rushed through views, I care not. These are my views long held and forged the British Parliament without any oversight all so Boris Johnson over a life time of work, travel and experience. Now that’s could say he got Brexit done?

A View From The Top

W

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

You just could not make this up.

So Brexit... The greatest piece of self harm, apart from starting a War, that a Country could foist on its citizens is here (Britain) with us. Now I had fully intended to actually leave Brexit alone as it were. I had decided that enough has been said about the issue and frankly Britain and its Brexit voters are welcome to it. Apologies of course to those who did not vote for Brexit, but that is in the past and it must be the future that is important. That said I will still point out absolute acts of folly that come to light as a matter of Brexit nonsense. The first of what I expect to be many such episodes, can be seen as the "Incident of the Cheese and Ham sandwich".

Lorry drivers arriving in Holland from Post Brexit British ports are being stopped and having not only their Cargo checked, but also their lunch boxes. I imagine they would be in for a shock if they checked the "Great Linford Christie's famous Lunchbox".

But I digress, no, what is happening is Dutch Customs are actually checking the sandwich content of British lorry drivers’ lunchboxes and cheese and ham sandwich fillings are being confiscated on health and safety grounds, due to the fact that dairy products could be a source of Foot and Mouth and therefore are not allowed into the European Union. Now Dear Reader, I can see the common sense in this and I am aware of the devastation that Foot and Mouth caused to the British dairy industry many years ago. What I can not get my head around, is that when I lived in Britain I always picked, as a matter of choice, Dutch Gouda Cheese and Spanish

Is it a Binary World?

I was watching a TV programme recently and the topic of discussion was in relation to a person who was the first person to be allowed "Indefinite leave to stay in the UK" due to the person claiming to be Non-Binary.

I watched the short interview and once it was over to be h o n e s t , I was as ignorant of the term "Non-Binary" as I was when the interview had begun. So here, Dear Reader, is my take as it were on the world of the Binary and the Non-Binary. Binary as a term is used to describe the Gender allocation... The idea that there are only two genders is called "Gender Binary" because Binary means having two parts... Male and Female. Chromosomes XY for Males and XX for Females... Are you keeping up thus far?

Now I understand the gender set behind this idea simply because, like lots of people my teachers explained the basics of gender set and chromosomes during science lessons whilst I was at school.

However, what was never explained, in fact what was never even mentioned, was the matter of people who were starting to consider themselves Non-Binary. Well, here we go. To my understanding there are more than "two genders" even though as explained earlier in my piece the most recognised being male and female.

This gender allocation is usually based on a person’s anatomy...

I.e. the genitals they were born with. Non-binary can be seen as being outside the gender norm due to the fact that people may experience a gender identity that is neither exclusively male or female despite genital allocation. This can be known as being "gender fluid"... A person’s gender identity is actually their internal sense of themselves as a woman or man, or a person out of binary allocation. Non-Binary therefore can be seen as the umbrella term covering all gender identities outside the gender binary. How was that for you Dear Reader, I suspect like myself you are still somewhat puzzled by the Binary and Non-Binary world. However, for myself I have at least made a start in trying to understand my fellow human beings in perhaps a little more complex way. I will read more and do some more research in an effort to enlighten my enquiring mind, why don't you join me? As a Professor once said to me during a tutorial "The greatest university in the world is a library full of books" add google to that nowadays and the world is indeed our oyster.

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our ARIES Don't jump to conclusions before hearing the full story. Getting angry will not solve anything and will just make enemies. Find out the facts and then decide on your course of action.

TAURUS Getting out of your comfort zone will lead you to do something you would never have thought of. It will also mean you meet people who you would have never come into contact with. This will lead to new ideas beginning to form and exciting times ahead.

GEMINI With a much healthier attitude towards your to do list you will start flying through the tasks. Making sure you concentrate on each job will mean you don't make mistakes and have to redo it again.

CANCER A friendship is turning into something deeper. Think carefully before taking it to the next level or put some distance between you if you do not want it to go there. Changing the way you do things is the only way things will turn out differently.

LEO A text or email can lead to someone mistaking the tone it was sent in so be careful to let them know how you mean it to sound. Offering help to someone will be more appreciated than you will know.

VIRGO Where you would normally be over careful regarding money you find yourself wanting to take a risk on something you would usually pass over.

Towards the end of the month you need to do some decluttering. For some this means your desk or wardrobe, for others it means some of your 'friends'.

QF���� Maga���e Fe���a�� 2021

oroscope LIBRA As your popularity soars it is a good time to put forward an idea that has been taking shape for a while. Everyone will be more than happy to help you make it happen. Someone close to you needs your help but will not ask - go to them and give it.

SCORPIO Keep an open mind about things this month and you will find yourself listening to new ideas you would not normally have given the time of day to. Work out which are better than yours and then be graceful enough to give credit where credit is due.

SAGITTARIUS Taking more time to embrace technology will open up a whole new world for you. For some it might mean discovering podcasts, for others getting a smart TV. There is so much out there, you will wish you had done it sooner.

CAPRICORN You will need to be clever with your money to make it work for you. You are tired of just going with the flow and need a bit of spontaneity right now. Fortunately there seem to be a lot of friends feeling the same.

AQUARIUS Although you like to be in charge, now is the time to call on the guidance of others to get the job done. It is not a failure to ask for help when you need it, in fact it is the opposite - a show of your strength.

PISCES If you stop worrying about your ability or not to do something and just do it, you will be so pleased with the outcome you will wonder what all the fuss was about. Have more confidence in your abilities.

Page 14 www.femalefocusonline.com Lyrical Mixed COSTA BLANCA SOUTH Voice Choir: Lyrical continue to think very positively about the future and are Note from Benny: Nothing new to report this month. Some aiming to perform performance cancellations, some positive alternative bookings, and some adaptations for more social-like activity just to keep things a ‘Spring Concert’ together. The cold weather has made it very difficult for groups to at the end of April or in May. Rehearsals for this concert will start rehearse in the open air, and indoor meetings are banned, so either just as soon as present Covid restrictions are eased. New singers Zoom, or bubble meetings if possible. Nice to read that a few groups are always welcome. An ability to read music and to be able to are also trying to adapt to radio and video productions instead of hold your own tune in 4-part harmony are distinct advantages. just shutting down until things get better. We need the amdram and For more up-to-date information, please contact Philip Mitchell music scene, we need their wonderful charity funding, and we need (Musical Director) on 865 750 435 or Trent Harris (Chairman) on this true-brit determination to continue regardless that the average 650 764 127.

QFocus Magazine February 2021

age in most groups is in the older high-risk category. Please support these groups wherever they are in whatever way you can.

Actors Community Theatre Society: ACTS are keeping everything crossed in the hope that a reading of ‘The Vagina Monologues’ at the Madhouse will go ahead on 12 February. With ‘Ladies’ Day’ still on hold as their next major production, they are hoping to arrange a number of small events, including both a Comedy Night and a short one-act play, The ‘Bespoke Overcoat’ in the not-too-distant future - all subject to Covid restrictions of course. Exact date to be confirmed but full details will be posted on their face book page https://www.facebook.com/groups/1568693883460095.

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, threepart female choir. For more up-to-date information, please contact: valbeange@gmail.com or valcantabie@gmail.com.

Phone: 966 795 816. Mobile: 648 034 232.

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.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR THE STAGE DIARY

The Stage Diary column in this magazine, has been running now for over 15 years. The aims are to promote and publicise amateur non profit-making entertainment groups, both amdram and musical, that raise funds for charitable causes.

The service is free of charge, edited and assisted by showbiz journalist, Benny Davis. The Costa Blanca South version is at present listing only six groups still managing to survive during the present coronavirus pandemic, as some others have been forced to close down. However, always looking on the positive side, we know there are more organisations within the area willing to carry on the good work, whenever possible, of both entertaining the public and raising money for good causes. So, if you fall into that category and would like to take advantage of this free service, please contact Benny at: benny.kelso@gmail.com to receive a guide explaining how to become a member of the Diary.

Rojales Pantomime Group: Christmas has come and gone and still no panto, however, this Pantomime Group may be down but are certainly not out. They are looking forward to being able to start rehearsals as soon as legally possible for their next, long awaited fun and colourful pantomime ‘Treasure Island’, now re-scheduled for later in the year.

So, if you would like to join them and bring a smile back into your life, email them at: rojalespantomime@gmail.com Studio 32: The Company have had to temporarily postpone rehearsals for ‘South Pacific’ at Casa Ventura due to recent changes to the Covid regulations. However, they are confident that the show will go ahead as planned at the end of May. Due to various circumstances, including Brexit and Covid they have lost a few members, so are actively seeking new faces to pop along to join either as cast members, backstage crew, technicians or front of house. No previous experience is necessary as coaching will be given. Anyone interested please contact them on studiothirtytwo@icloud.com or call 607 424 299.

If you would like to be part of this band of charitable entertainers, please email editor@femalefocusonline.com.

Deadline for copy is the 15th of the month prior to publication.

Full details of all Stage Diary entertainment groups are available online at www.femalefocusonline.com

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QFocus Magazine February 2021

Razorzz Barber at Absolute I would like to introduce myself, I am Nikole Aranda-Sage and I am the newest barber to join the salon. I studied in Tonbridge West Kent Collage and passed with a City & Guilds qualification. I use old school cut throat shave methods, hot towel treatments and modern day skin fades. I also do skin care treatments such as face masks, facial waxing or using trimmers as the customer prefers.

I care a lot about the experience of the services that my customers receive and I always try and make it a good experience as I know how important it is to have "You Time" and relax. To get in contact you can always check out the Razorzz Facebook; Razorzz Barbers or go to my Instagram Razorzz Barber or contact the salon - appointment only. â—? For a salon appointment or more information call Absolute Hair, Nails & Beauty on 966 731 336 or see our advert.

Valentine's Day is named after Saint Valentine, a Catholic priest who lived in Rome in the 3rd Century. There are many stories about St Valentine and over time these stories grew into the legend we know today...

St Valentine's Day is an annual festival to celebrate romantic love, friendship and admiration. Every year on 14 February people celebrate this day by sending messages of love and affection to partners, family and friends. Couples send Valentine's Day cards, flowers and gifts, and spend special time together to honour their love for each other.

The Early History of Valentine's Day At the time of Valentine's life, many Romans were converting to Christianity, but the Emperor Claudius II was a pagan and created strict laws about what Christians were allowed to do. Claudius believed that Roman soldiers should be completely devoted to Rome and therefore passed a law preventing them from marrying. But Valentine, being a priest, began to marry these soldiers in secret Christian ceremonies and this was the beginning of his reputation for believing in the importance of love. Eventually, Valentine was found out and jailed for his crimes against Claudius. While imprisoned, Valentine cared for his fellow prisoners and also his jailor's blind daughter. Legend has it that Valentine cured the girl's blindness and that his final act before being executed was to write her a love message signed ‘from your Valentine'. Valentine was executed on 14 February in the year 270.

How did Valentine's Day develop?

It wasn't until more than 200 years later that 14 February was proclaimed St Valentine's Day. By this time Rome had become Christian and the Catholic Church was determined to stamp out any remaining paganism. A pagan fertility ritual was held in February each year and the Pope abolished this festival and proclaimed 14 February Saint Valentine's Day, thus establishing this feast day onto the Catholic Calendar of Saints.

Valentine's Day Symbols The practice of sending love messages developed into people sending special cards expressing their affection. These cards were beautiful creations handmade by the sender and individually designed to show how much they loved the recipient. Cards would usually contain sentimental verse, proclaiming the beauty of the receiver and how much they were loved.

Saint Valentine's Day cards were traditionally decorated with pictures of cupid, hearts and flowers and trimmed with lace and ribbon. These images are still used today to symbolise love and are recognised all over the world. And to further show their love and devotion, flowers and gifts were also given.

This year 2021 At this time in our history, with the pandemic so rife, please remember to show love and affection to your partner, family and friends this Valentine's Day and let's try to help our community by shopping local, thinking local and supporting local.

QFocus Magazine February 2021

www.femalefocusonline.com

Page 16

6 interior trends set to be big in 2021

By Sam Wylie-Harris, PA

&

Design platform Houzz have revealed their top pandemic-fuelled predictions for the new year. Sam Wylie-Harris finds out more.

After an unprecedented year, how will the pandemic have shaped interior trends to come?

There’s no doubt how we used our homes, and what we want from them, changed dramatically during 2020. According to home renovation and design platform Houzz.co.uk, this is already being reflected in popular search terms and design directions.

So, what can we expect to see more of in 2021? Houzz analysed their site data, browsed hundreds of home design photos, and interviewed professionals on Houzz Pro to reveal six key home design trends for the year to come.

Here’s a look, along with tips on how to make them work in your home…

1. The return of the all-white kitchen This neutral, light-enhancing choice for the hardestworking room in the house is growing in popularity again, with searches for ‘white kitchen’ rising significantly during 2020. We’re also seeing many popular photos on Houzz that have white worktops and expect to see more in 2021, perhaps reflecting a pandemic-fuelled desire for clean-looking cook spaces.

“We’re seeing a resurgence of white kitchens but with people leaning towards matte designs rather than gloss, which was favoured a few years ago,” explains Josh Delane, director of kitchen designers, The Wood Works. “It pairs well with metallic accents like brass, bronze, copper and even matte black fixtures.”

In terms of worktops, Delane says: “Veined and marble effect quartz worktops are surging in popularity – a good alternative to real marble, which is porous and can be stained easily, making it challenging to maintain in a kitchen. White Corian is also a popular choice and nice on longer islands, as it can be cut and joined seamlessly.” continued on facing page

WORD SPIRAL

WORDSPIRAL 1 - CLUES

BY PA PUZZLES TEAM

&

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.

&

1. Takes a seat 2. Celebrity 3. Ostrich-like bird 4. Highest point 5. Revise 6.

Performing trip 7. Harvest 8. Fruit type 9. Bacon skin 10. Twofold 11. Walk unevenly 12. Smoke hard 13. Horizontal 14. Burial vault 15. Soft mass or drop 16. Use one’s teeth on.

Key word clue: Body part.

WORDSPIRAL 2 - CLUES 1. Cod, say 2. Maori war chant 3. Nautical cry 4. Spun thread 5. Unclothed 6. Flat 7. Unfeeling 8. Round sports object 9. Country road 10. Fencing sword 11. Engrave 12. Elevated 13. Take notice of 14. Slightly wet 15.

Conspiracy 16. Tinge.

Key word clue: Surname.

Answers to puzzles in the classified pages

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Page 17

QFocus Magazine February 2021

2. Outdoor entertainment spaces will reign Unsurprisingly given all the pandemic restrictions, there’s been huge interest in outdoor spaces. Houzz’s pandemic survey back in July showed that, handsdown, the garden was the area most of us wanted to improve, with 30% of those surveyed wanting to make upgrades. Homeowners have increasingly been searching for ‘summerhouses’, ‘firepits’, ‘hot tubs’ and ‘outdoor kitchens’, which have all risen in popularity as search terms. We expect to see more of these features in gardens in 2021.

And it’s not just for summer – professionals on Houzz Pro report an increase in demand for designs that will allow them to use the garden later into the evening and year. “Since lockdown, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in leads through Houzz for our garden design business,” says Paul Dracott of Paul Dracott Garden Design.

“People have rediscovered the importance of outdoor space and how it can enrich modern life. The most popular requests are for outdoor eating and cooking areas, including pizza ovens, and also for firepits to extend the use of the garden into the evening.”

3. Nature-inspired interiors The incorporation of nature into our interiors looks set to continue, with colour experts on Houzz predicting warm earth tones, such as burnt umber, terracotta and clay, and contrasting forest colours like sage, pine and turquoise will be strong choices for 2021. These colours are perfectly complemented by natural materials such as rattan, jute, wood and concrete, which have all featured heavily in the most-saved photos on Houzz lately.

If you’re wanting to embrace natural materials in your home, rattan is a good place to start and will continue to be big in 2021. Omar Bhatti, director of Space Shack, says: “It has a bohemian vibe, which you can mix with any interior. To avoid overkill, my top tip is to use it in moderation. I would suggest investing in a rattan accent chair or small planter baskets and see how you like this in your space.”

Plants are another easy way to incorporate nature into interiors. Bhatti agrees: “You can never have enough plants. If I’m ever in doubt and need to fill an empty space or shelf, I always use plants. This is also a great way to bring the outdoors in and breathe some muchneeded life into any space.

“I’m all about an oversized plant, this is a great way to bring some drama into any room. Banana plants and birds-of-paradise are good options.”

If you’re going to get the paint out, Bhatti suggests a palette of natural neutral tones. Beige and taupes are classic options that work in any space. “I recommend painting all your stark white walls in a light sand or beige tone, which will warm up the space, and you wouldn’t even need an undercoat,” he says.

4. Healthy homes Searches for ‘home gym’ and ‘garden gym’ have both risen dramatically during 2020 too. In 2021, we expect to see more exercise equipment that fits seamlessly into interiors, or furniture that doubles up.

“When thinking about portioning off a room in your home as your dedicated exercise space, it’s important to choose a room that has a fitting purpose, lighting and mood,” advises Joe Robertshaw, director of Place for Humans. “Being motivated to exercise at home also comes down to ease and accessibility, the more hurdles that stand between you and the exercise, the more likely it is to go undone.”

5. Multi-functional spaces One thing 2020 really brought about was a need for rooms to be multi-functional. As a result, we’re starting to see professionals incorporate more hybrid designs, detachable units, and convertible pieces to create a home suited to the ‘new normal’. One example, which saw a surprising rise in popularity as a search term, is ‘murphy bed’ (a pull-down design), suggesting a need for homeowners to hide away large pieces of furniture in bedrooms or spare rooms during the day, so they can double as offices while many of us work from home for the foreseeable future.

“Given the current circumstances, our spare rooms have never been so important. Making spaces work for multiple occasions is critical to being able to utilise every centimetre of space in the home,” says Richard Hobden director of RHJB Architects. “A comparatively easy win is to replace the divan or fixed frame bed in the spare room with a simple folding bed. This can be a stand-alone piece of furniture or built into a storage wall, disguised as wardrobes. This will free up space elsewhere to create a multi-purpose study, home gym or playroom solution.”

6. Luxury vintage Sustainability, climate change and the impact we have on our planet continue to be a big theme for 2021. Professionals on Houzz are reporting a growing interest in high-end, second-hand furniture, which aligns with the interest in sustainability we’ve seen.

When buying second-hand furniture, try to see the item in person if you can (safely, of course). Buying online is very convenient but it’s much easier to hide any serious damage in a photograph than in person. “I like to be able to touch the item and check it’s in good condition, so I’m not too keen on buying from online resources, unless they have an option for you to view it first,” says Bhavin Taylor, director of Bhavin Taylor Design.

And make sure you know all of your measurements – an absolute must for multiple reasons. “There’s usually no returns policy when buying second-hand,” Taylor explains,. “If you buy a piece that’s the wrong size, it’s likely you’ll be stuck with it.” So remember to measure your doorways and other access points first. “There’s nothing worse than buying something and not being able to get it through the front door,” adds Taylor.

Picture credit: PA Photo/iStock.

QFocus Magazine February 2021

Page 18

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Today you can take the opportunity to start all over again.

Today you have a new start… You can believe in a new way of thinking that won’t hold you back… Let nothing hold you back from trying to achieve the good things in your life. We may all have a different interpretation of what is good, but whatever we do, we pay a price for, so it soon becomes evident what the really good things in life are!

Today you can move beyond the disappointments and shortcomings that once hounded you.

Every morning you have a blank canvas in front of you as you open your eyes. Today is ready to be created, to be lived, to be experienced!

Today, you can choose what to carry with you and what to leave behind. Today you have the chance to live life the way you know it can best be lived.

You can build on today because you have all your life’s experiences building up to it…

Everything that has happened to you so far in your life should be able to help you to make different decisions and enable you to decide for yourself what would improve your life from now on. You have probably got more reasons to move forward, and more of the ability to deal with your problems than any day yet.

On the other hand you could decide that today was going to be just another day, like many that have come before. Yet it can be whatever you decide to make it. It's all under your control!

I once had a very boring job for a week, waiting for another position to become vacant. I had to type addresses on 3,000 envelopes, with invitations asking people to come to a huge gathering in the North of England. To get me through this ordeal suddenly I started to think differently about it. I started to imagine how thrilled the people receiving those invitations would be, and I suddenly saw the boring job as a privilege and a way of making people happy and I felt it was worthwhile!

There is ALWAYS another way to look at things, and if you didn’t realise that, then TODAY is the first day for you to appreciate it and make a change. You will benefit from looking for the best in every situation... Believe me, I appreciate that fact every day!

Take care! Until the next time!

Violet King

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Page 19

QF���� Maga���e Fe���a�� 2021

THE PAINLESS SOLUTION FOR HAIR REMOVAL Have you ever considered having Laser hair removal? At Máximo beauty we offer this treatment, using nothing but the best leading company in the manufacture and use of this medical-aesthetic technology, TERMO SALUD. ABOUT THE MACHINE: ENEKA PRO DIODE Laser hair removal machine represents a new era in laser hair removal technology and treatment methods. It operates at a wavelength of 808nm, which is considered the “gold standard” in laser hair removal. ENEKA PRO incorporates the contact cooling system CONTACT COOLING SAPPHIRE which makes the treatment safer and more pleasant.

WHAT IS CONTACT COOLING SAPPHIRE: This cooling technology cools the skin, minimising the risk of burns, which in turn allows you to use higher fluences (power levels) delivered at a higher repetition rate (speed) while still maintaining comfort. The result is a ground-breaking laser hair removal solution that achieve superior results for all skin types.

HOW MANY SESSIONS DO I NEED? The number of treatments you’ll need depends on your skin type. People with dark hair can usually achieve permanent hair removal with 4-6 treatments every 4-6 weeks. People with fair hair will generally need only 3-5 treatments every 4-6 weeks. This also depends on the aftercare that is carried out after and inbetween treatments.

WILL IT REMOVE THE HAIR PERMANENTLY? Laser treatment can either permanently reduce the density of the hair or permanently remove unwanted hair.

Permanent reduction in hair density means some hairs will regrow after a single course of therapy and patients will need ongoing laser treatment.

Permanent hair removal means none of the hairs in the treated area will regrow after a single course of therapy and no ongoing laser therapy is needed.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? Full body 120€ (from the neck downwards). Individual area 69€. Face 60€ For more information please contact us and we will be happy to help you! ● Please don't hesitate to visit us at the salon or contact us on 965 724 671 to book your appointments! See our advert for more details.

QFocus Magazine February 2021

Page 20

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RECIPES by Pushpa from the Spice Hut

vegetable and lamb curry

info k; e t a d -to- Faceboo p u r o F our sada. e e s e e pleas ice Hut Qu Sp

1 med onion diced 225g of cooked lamb 3 tbspn of oil 3 tspn garlic paste 3 tspn of ginger paste 1 tspn of garam masala powder 225g of diced potatoes 100g of diced celery 100g of diced courgettes 225g of diced carrots 100g frozen peas Salt 2 tspn chilli powder Half pint of water Heat the oil, brown off the onions, add the cooked lamb and seal it for few minutes before adding the salt, garam masala, chilli powder, garlic and ginger paste and water. Add all the vegetables and stir well, simmer for 40 minutes, or until everything is cooked.

If you like it dry then cook it further to reduce the gravy.

Check for flavours, add extra salt, etc as required.

Serve hot with rice and naan.

Enjoy, Pushpa.

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

â—?

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AS SEEN ON TV

QF���� Maga���e Fe���a�� 2021

Page 21

Spicy Masala Oat Pancakes

If you are bored with porridge, overnight oats or bircher muesli try this pancake recipe for a change. Grinding the oats to a fine powder to make these super easy pancakes makes breakfast much more interesting. This is a great alternative for Shrove Tuesday if you fancy a spicy pancake. These can be made into mini drop scones or if preferred larger pancakes. The fenugreek leaves can be replaced with chopped spinach.

Ingredients 85g rolled oats finely ground 2 tablespoons gram flour (chickpea flour) ½ teaspoon cumin seeds 1 teaspoon garam masala 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon/to taste salt 1⁄2 small onion finely chopped 1 inch ginger grated 1 green chilli chopped optional 1 small carrot grated 2 tablespoons fenugreek leaves chopped optional Oil rapeseed/veg oil Water, as needed Time: 30 minutes. Serves: 4.

Top tip: Any Curry On Cooking spice kit can be used to replace the spices. Use half of the sachet.

Recipe In a mixing bowl add the ground oats, the gram flour along with all the spices; cumin seeds, garam masala, salt, black pepper and mix well.

Add the ginger, chillies, onions, carrots and fenugreek leaves.

Mix everything well and add water to make into a runny pancake batter. Cover and refrigerate for 5 minutes.

In a tawa Indian griddle pan or a non-stick frying pan, heat a teaspoon of oil to a medium heat.

Stir the pancake batter; pour a ladleful on to the pan and with the back of tablespoon spread the batter evenly in a round shape. Keep the heat on low, cook for 4-5 minutes or until the underside is cooked a little. Flip the pancake, cook the other side for 2-3 minutes on lowmedium heat. Flip and cook until it becomes golden on both sides.

Cook the rest and serve with raita or mint chutney.

NEW! JOIN THE CLUB The Spice Sisters have launched a 3 month Curry Club Subscription Club.

Each month your letterbox subscription will contain all the spices and recipes with links to the videos needed to create authentic dishes from scratch. Rustle up a feast to impress. A great gift for a foodie, curry lover or someone you are missing! Find out more at www.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.

Spot the 11 differences (answers in the classified pages)

Spot the odd one out

A

B

C

D

E

F

P��� 22

QF���� M������� F������� 2021

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SPANISH INSURANCE: for all your insurance needs in English.

Home, health, travel, motor, funeral cover, community, business. Visit www.spanish-insurance.net or call tel: 96 673 0694. Offices in San Javier, la Zenia and Quesada.

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. Tel. ( 0 0 3 4 ) 6 2 8 1 0 1 7 11 o r www.scalpmastery.com

Wanted

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 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 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: 965 701 984 Mobile: 658 338 123.

TRANSLATOR AND INTERPRETER English/Spanish. All legal, medical and business matters. Covering the Costa Blanca. Contact: 658 957 404 or ejbtranslations@gmail.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.

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.

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.

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

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 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

Property Sales & Rentals JESUS POBRE APARTMENT. Private sale of lovely spacious apartment of 70 m2, groundfloor, 1 bed, 1 full bath, open plan kitchen, living-dining area with log burner.

Roof terrace with sea- and panoramic views. SOLD with some high quality white goods. 125.000â‚Ź. Call for information 966 461 784.

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. 75,000â‚Ź.

Tel. 966 796 236.

Property Sales & Rentals For Sale – Harrys Bar, Quesada.

Unique opportunity to purchase this well established popular bar / restaurant. Freehold. Call Joanne for more information on 693 494 951.

Leisure Flawed Hero - out now. Looking for the perfect escape after a tough year? What better way than to curl up with a good book. View Amazon Kindle for ‘FLAWED HERO’ romantic thriller with an edge written by fellow expat Eve Williams.

www.femalefocusonline.com for more adverts 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.

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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QF���� M������� F������� 2021

P��� 23

E FULL PAG from

PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

ONLY

60

€

+ IVA per month

Have you booked your space yet?

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

Pets We have wonderful Danko the mastin here at K9 kennels. He is looking for that perfect home to call his own. Aged 2 years old, playful, friendly he is passported, vaccinated, castrated and free from Mediterranean diseases. Cat tested.

Please call 711 075 305 or send us an email k9clubinfo@gmail.com or Facebook ‘K9Club.Es’ Smudge is an amazing cat, used to children and dogs. He came from a very loving home, and is very laid back. Smudge is about 5 years old. 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.

Very easy

Medium

Easy Hard QUICK CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS Across: 1 Utter; 4 Corsair; 8 Concise; 9 Swell; 10 Nice; 11 Struggle; 13 Buoy; 14 Scar; 16 Reckless; 17 Plea; 20 Below; 21 Evident; 22 Excerpt; 23 Miser.

Down: 1 Unconquerable; 2 Tonic; 3 Raid; 4 Create; 5 Resource; 6 Avenger; 7 Roller coaster; 12 Follower; 13 Bucolic; 15 Aspect; 18 Leers; 19 Firm.

WORD SPIRAL 1 SOLUTIONS 1. Sits 2. Star 3. Rhea 4. Acme 5. Edit 6. Tour 7. Reap 8. Pear 9.

Rind 10. Dual 11. Limp 12. Puff 13. Flat 14. Tomb 15. Blob 16.

Bite. Key word solution: PATELLA WORD SPIRAL 2 SOLUTIONS 1. Fish 2. Haka 3. Ahoy 4. Yarn 5. Nude 6. Even 7. Numb 8. Ball 9. Lane 10. Epee 11. Etch 12. High 13. Heed 14. Damp 15. Plot 16.

Tint. Key word solution: BENTLEY

ANSWER TO SPOT THE ODD ONE OUT: D All adverts must be sent with your Name and NIE or Passport Nº (not to be published).

ADVERTS SHOULD BE sent with correct spacing and spelling, the first three words (only) in capitals. Email addresses will not be published on the website or in the magazine unless requested or supplied as part of the main text.

FREE CLASSIFIED ADVERTS. Sell your unwanted items for FREE! Free adverts cannot be faxed, phoned or posted they must be emailed to classifieds@femalefocusonline.com. Photos can be sent with your free advert, both will be published online but text only in print. Classifieds that are supplied incorrectly, all in capitals or with missing information may well be deleted.

‘Misc sales’ are for example one-off sales of second hand items to the value of 500€ or less. Maximum twenty words per advert/ item & maximum five adverts per person*, (email & web addresses count as three words). Property rental or any type of service, business opportunities, wanted, etc are not free and will be charged at the commercial advert rate.

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).

Commercial adverts: Minimum advert length ten words. 35 cents per word plus 21% IVA per month. Payment can be made by credit card or transfer. *Free adverts will be published in print on a space permitting basis. If you want to ensure your advert appears, normal commercial rates should be applied.