55
22-28 JANUARY 2010
Attila
The Gathering Of The Storm
Author: William Napier Publisher: Orion (paperback) Price: 9.80 euros ISBN: 978 0 7528 8142 3
THE NAME rings a bell because we’ve all had an Attila in our lives: mothersin-law, bosses, ex wives, tax men; mine taught Latin at the grammar school and also went by the name of Adolf, so you get the idea. Attilas are social misfits who get their titles from a very nasty Attila indeed. I suppose that was his real name but since nobody had the balls to ask him I suppose we’ll never know. We know him as Attila the Hun. Enough said. In AD 441 the Roman Empire was looking a bit battered. Pax Romana was at an end and the Empire that once stretched from Africa to Hadrian’s Wall had been kicked into touch by the Visigoths and the Vandals, who had settled in what they had left of her borders after a few years of pillage and rape. In the East, however, the Scythian Huns were gathering under their returned leader Attila who had been kicked out and had his family slain by the king, who also happened to be his uncle, 30 years before. Attila being Attila knew how to bear a grudge and suitably worked up had come out of exile to
Almodóvar bags Critics’ Choice Award Book Review by
Danny Collins
copy@dannyjpcollins.com
seize the Scythian throne and convince the king that he’d had it wrong all along – if beheading and burning the ex monarch can be classed as convincing enough. Once in charge, Attila gathered the tribes of Scythia and Sarmatia – now southern Russia and the Ukraine with a few ‘stans’ thrown in – and marched on Rome and the rest is history. Author William Napier had put together a fine ‘faction’ on this daunting character, who finally brought tottering Rome to its knees and changed the face of Europe forever. Read it and you’ll understand why even today the name Attila is redolent of everyone’s worse nightmare. I thoroughly enjoyed the read and now behold my motherin-law in a new light.
All the featured books are available off the shelf or by mail order from Librería Europa, Calle Oscar Esplá 2, 03710 Calpe. Tel: 96 583 58 24; e-mail: libreria.europa.calpe@gmail.com Take along or send this review for a discount of 5% on your purchases.
Penelope Cruz and Pedro Almodóvar
CULT FILM director Pedro Almodóvar has won his first Critics’ Choice Award for Best Foreign Language Movie, for the film Abrazos rotos starring his favoured actress Penelope Cruz. The prize is given by the BFCA Movie Association (Broadcast Film Critics) and the ceremony took place last week in LA. Almodóvar was competing against the French box-office hit Coco Before Chanel; the German production The White Ribbon; the Chinese film Red Cliff, and the Mexican-US hit Sin nombre. Abrazos rotos was also nominated for a Golden Globe, but lost out to The White Ribbon.
WE INSTALL THROUGHOUT THE COSTA BLANCA INCLUDING INLAND AND RURAL AREAS UK Authorised Sky Agent
SKY DIGITAL SATELLITE SYSTEMS A GENUINE REGISTERED COMPANY, WITH GENUINE REGISTERED PREMISES
INSTALLING DAILY IN: GANDIA • DENIA • JAVEA BENITACHELL • MORAIRA CALPE • ALTEA • ALBIR ALFAZ • BENIDORM • VILLAJOYOSA CAMPELLO • ALICANTE • ELCHE SANTA POLA • GUARDAMAR TORREVIEJA • CARTAGENA LA MANGA
RECEPTION OF BBC & ITV TO RECEIVE BBC AND ITV ON THE COSTA BLANCA 24 HOURS A DAY YOU WILL REQUIRE EITHER A 2.4, 1.9 OR 1.45 METRE DISH DEPENDING ON THE SIGNAL STRENGTH IN YOUR AREA. WHY NOT RING US TO FIND OUT YOUR EXACT REQUIREMENTS OR CALL INTO OUR FACTORY SHOWROOM FOR A LIVE DEMONSTRATION OF OUR COMPLETE RANGE OF SATELLITE SYSTEMS.
FREEVIEW HD SYSTEMS 1.45m DISH SYSTEM – 745€ 1.9m DISH SYSTEM – 845€ 2.4m DISH SYSTEM – 1145€
SKY STANDARD SYSTEMS 1.45m DISH SYSTEM – 795€ 1.9m DISH SYSTEM – 895€ 2.4m DISH SYSTEM – 1195€
SKY TELEVISION SATELLITE SYSTEMS
ALL SYSTEMS BELOW ARE FULLY INSTALLED USING THE PROFESSIONAL RANGE OF FAMAVAL DISHES
SKY + SYSTEMS
1.45m DISH SYSTEM 895€ 1.9m DISH SYSTEM 995€ 2.4m DISH SYSTEM – 1295€
UK Authorised Sky Agent
INSTALLING DAILY IN: ALCOY • CASTALLA VILLENA • ELDA • PINOSO NOVELDA • CREVILLENTE • ORIHUELA FORTUNA • MURCIA SEGORBE • SAGUNT • LIRIA CHIVA • REQUENA • PICCASENT BENIFAIO • ALCIRA • CULLERA XATIVA
SKY + HD SYSTEMS
1.45m DISH SYSTEM – 995€ 1.9m DISH SYSTEM – 1095€ 2.4m DISH SYSTEM – 1395€
SKY SUBSCRIPTION AND NEW WHITE FREESAT SKY CARDS NOW AVAILABLE FAMAVAL PROFESSIONAL PORTUGUESE DISHES
HAVE YOU ALREADY HAD YOUR FINGERS BURNT BY HAVING A MICROWAVE OR REBROADCASTING SYSTEM INSTALLED, WELL DON’T GET THEM BURNT AGAIN BY HAVING THE WRONG SATELLITE DISH INSTALLED. THERE ARE SEVERAL MANUFACTURERS OF 2.4m, 1.9m & 1.45m DISHES ON THE MARKET THROUGHOUT THE COSTA BLANCA, TWO MANUFACTURERS FROM PORTUGAL, ONE FROM SPAIN AND ONE FROM TURKEY. OUR COMPANY USE THE FAMAVAL PROFESSIONAL PORTUGUESE DISH MANUFACTURER WHO ARE KNOWN THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY AS HAVING MUCH HIGHER QUALITY AND A SUPREME HIGHER GAIN, OUR 2.4m PROFESSIONAL DISH IN PARTICULAR HAS A UNIQUE FUTURE PROOF OPTION OF INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE DISH TO 3.1m BY USING EXTENDER PANELS, THIS DISH IS EASILY DISTINGUISHABLE BY THE 24 SMALL HOLES AROUND ITS PERIMETER FOR THESE PANELS TO BE FITTED IF NEED BE IN THE FUTURE, WE CALL THIS OUR PROFESSIONAL 2.4m UPGRADABLE DISH. WE CAN ALSO SUPPLY AN ECONOMY 2.4m DISH BUT THESE CAN ONLY BE USED IN STRONG SIGNAL AREAS, PLEASE NOTE THESE DISHES ARE NOT UPGRADABLE AS THEY DO NOT HAVE THE ADAPTABILITY OF THE PROFESSIONAL DISH. WE USE THE SAME PROFESSIONAL MANUFACTURER OF OUR 1.9m DISH WHICH AGAIN HAS SUPREME HIGHER GAIN AND QUALITY AND PERFORMS PERFECT WITH WEAKER SIGNALS SUCH AS BBC, ITV ETC. WE CALL THIS OUR PROFESSIONAL 1.9m DISH. OUR ECONOMY 1.9m DISHES AGAIN CAN ONLY BE INSTALLED IN STRONG SIGNAL AREAS, PLEASE NOTE THAT BBC, ITV ETC. WILL GO OFF AT APPROX. 10pm ON THE ECONOMY DISH IN CERTAIN AREAS. WE ALSO OFFER DUE TO THE ROBUST BUILD ON ALL OUR PROFESSIONAL DISHES A 5 YEAR GUARANTEE AGAINST WARPING OR KINKING IN HIGH WINDS. UNFORTUNATELY THIS GUARANTEE IS NOT OFFERED WITH OUR ECONOMY RANGE OF DISHES. CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS.
HIGH GAIN 43 ELEMENT DIGITAL TV AERIALS (LIVE 3pm ENGLISH PREMIER GAMES & MOVIES ETC IN ENGLISH AUDIO) FROM 195€ FULLY INSTALLED SOUTHERN SPAIN’S LARGEST SATELLITE EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER TO THE TRADE OR RETAIL DIRECT FROM OUR WAREHOUSE.
COMPLETE RANGE OF SATELLITE DISHES, LNB’S, BRACKETS, CABLE, SKY/FREESAT COMBINED DIGIBOXES, SKY HD DIGIBOXES, SKY + DIGIBOXES, STANDARD THOMSON DIGIBOXES, EUROPEAN DIGIBOXES, CARD SPLITTERS, VIDEO SENDERS, REMOTE CONTROLS, PLUS MANY MORE ASSOCIATED PRODUCTS.
UK Authorised Sky Agent
WHY NOT PAY US A VISIT? CHECK OUT WHO YOU ARE DEALING WITH – CHECK OUT OUR PREMISES CHECK OUT THE DISH AND THE ELECTRONICS QUALITY – CHECK OUT THE PICTURE QUALITY DEMONSTRATIONS A PLEASURE! ALL OF WHICH YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO DO WITH A LOT OF OTHER COMPANIES! With all installations you and your property are fully protected by our Public Liability Cover!! Payment by credit card – no problem. All major credit cards accepted
HDDEMONSTRATIO N ONDISPLAY
Factory showroom open Mon-Fri: 8am-4.30pm www.digitalsatsystems.com Ring Steve in Benidorm Ring Colin in Denia Ring Phil in La Marina Ring Dave in Valencia 96 586 6999 96 585 4528 96 680 4748 96 585 2251
DIGITAL SATELLITE SYSTEMS Ring Paul in Torrevieja 96 585 2251
DIGITAL SATELITE SYSTEMS, C/ CAMPELLO Nº 9,, POLIGONO INDUSTRIAL FINESTRAT, (BENIDORM). OUR WAREHOUSE IS JUST OFF THE A7 MOTORWAY, JUCTON 65A, AFTER COMING THROUGH THE TOLL FOLLOW THE ALICANTE 332 DIRECTION THEN TURN OFF AT THE HIPERMERCADO, CENTRO COMERCIAL DIRECTION, THIS WILL THEN TAKE YOU TO A ROUNDABOUT, THEN FOLLOW THE ZARCAR PETROL STATION DIRECTIONS AND YOU WILL FIND US JUST 100 MTS UP THE ROAD.