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Vera Flood Victims: The Aftermath A month has passed since the storm struck and last week Martin Shortland visited Vera to see how the clean-up operation is going.

Read his full report on page 3

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THE AFTERMATH OF THE FLOODS EXCLUSIVE REPORT BY MARTIN SHORTLAND - page 3

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Vera Flood Victims: The Aftermath A month has passed since the storm struck and last week Martin Shortland visited Vera to see how the clean-up operation is going, this is his report.

The water may have gone, but the evidence of the flood that devastated the town of Vera is still there for all to see.

Even before I reached the town, it was clear a huge force of water had smashed across the countryside, flattening all before it, debris is everywhere; it’s a mess. Further into the town, signs of the chaos and destructive power of the water are all too obvious.

The violent storm and the subsequent flooding caused huge amounts of damage from Murcia to Malaga, many lives were lost, including that of a British woman in Vera.

Emergency services struggled to cope with the deluge and accusations of incompetence and severe underfunding soon followed.

I went to Vera to discover if there was any truth in the allegations and to see how the residents were coping; it soon became clear the relief effort is struggling. Whilst the local council is sharing some of the responsibility, it is not responding to the disaster in a way local residents feel it should be. People I spoke to - many of whom were badly affected by the flood – were critical of the lack of assistance from the authorities. Too little too late was a phrase I heard more than once.

‘A shocking reminder of the catastrophe that swept through Vera’ The after effects of those two devastating days are still evident; damaged cars covered in dry mud still lay abandoned. Trees and bushes, washed down from the sierra are piled everywhere and once white buildings have a thick brown stain on their walls. I stand over six feet tall and in many places the stain was at eye level; a shocking reminder of the catastrophe that swept through Vera.

It’s difficult to find out how many homes have been damaged – one figure quoted was as high as a thousand - but hundreds of those are uninhabitable; the families have had to find alternative accommodation and hundreds of lives have been ruined. In the worst affected area, some roads are still impassable and there are few signs of any activity to improve things. Some structures are clearly unstable, posing a danger to public welfare and there have been reports of looting in empty properties.

One eye witness saw two men removing the contents of a property while the owners took a coffee break in a nearby cafe.

But now there is a potentially more dangerous threat to public health. The fear of disease spreading from abandoned homes and the rubbish in and around these properties is a major concern. Many empty holiday homes have been overrun by vermin and it would appear little is being done to resolve this situation. Foreign home owners are either unable to visit their properties to assess the damage, or as in some cases, are not aware of the severity of the disaster. Again,

according to people I spoke to, the authorities don’t appear to be addressing this serious problem.

‘Now there is a potentially more dangerous threat to public welfare’ Harvey Defriend, a volunteer who is acting as liaison officer between the local Red Cross and the council has been involved in the operation since the first day and voiced his frustration at the lack of communication between local authorities, he said, “The council really don’t seem to care much and their response to the hardship being experienced by hundreds of people is woeful.” He expressed dismay that the person placed in charge of the council operation normally looks after culture in the town, he said, “This person clearly has no experience or training in dealing with a disaster of this scale, it’s very irritating and does nothing to dispel the impression the council doesn’t consider this to be their problem.”

He explained the three phases of the Red Cross operation so far. Phase one involved providing emergency medical care, food and shelter to those in most immediate need. He was critical of the lack of assistance from the police as the full horror of the crisis began to unfold on the first day, saying, “We were left to our own devices to do what we could, with little or no help from the police, under the circumstances it was pitiful.” Phase two has involved finding temporary accommodation for those people left homeless. In some cases families have been forced to rent, but many of them will be unable to sustain the costs for much longer.

Phase three involves the longterm future of the homeless and it is this phase which worries the Red Cross most.

Mr. Defriend expressed the concerns of the organisation. ”We are just not geared up for a long running operation like this. Many of the people we are supporting have no other means of helping themselves, they have lost everything.”

My impression is that of a community doing all it can to help itself, which after a disaster of this magnitude is hard to believe. Many of the people I spoke to criticised the amount of support and assistance being provided by the authorities. The Red Cross appear to be doing as much as they can, albeit with limited resources. Their premises are small and apart from two fulltime employees, they are totally dependent on volunteers. During my visit to their headquarters on the outskirts of the town, I saw a steady stream of people bringing in clothing, food and bedding. A team of volunteers were busy sorting and grading the items and making up boxes ready for collection by the needy. A Spanish couple with a young baby were grateful for their box containing vital supplies; they are staying with friends in a one bed apartment, but

feel they can’t stay for much longer, then what? A retired man explained how his caravan containing his life’s possessions was washed away and found shattered amongst the debris of the flood. He is heartbroken, homeless and lonely, what next for him?

‘We desperately need baby clothing, food and money’ I spoke to Eva Cerego, head of the Red Cross in Vera and she made an appeal for more donations, she said, “We desperately need baby clothing, food and money.

People wrongly assume because the flood is over, the problem is over, that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Whilst we appreciate the gifts we receive, we need money most of all because we will have to fund the homeless for months to come.” She made it very clear they are running the flood relief operation separately from their normal work and added, “People who normally donate to the Red Cross should not worry their money is being diverted into the flood relief fund, it isn’t. It’s a separate process, so people wishing to donate to flood relief should make that clear to us, all other donations will go to our normal Red Cross work which we are continuing with.”

She would not comment on the relief operation being conducted by the local authorities, pointing out the Red Cross is an independent organisation and waits to be invited to assist in events such as the Vera flood. She added, “We are doing all we can with limited resources, so anyone wanting to help in this ongoing effort will be more than welcome. I can’t stress how challenging an undertaking this is and the short term prospects of those most severely affected are not at all good. We urgently need more funds and people to help administer those funds.”

‘There just isn’t enough money to go around’ What is happening in Vera today is happening in numerous areas throughout south eastern Spain affected by the storm. But on a wider scale, the financial problems which plague local authorities are nationwide.

Political analyst Pablo Hernandez, from the University of Almeria told me. “Spain, like many European countries is in political and financial turmoil right now and that goes from the very highest government level down to the grass roots.

There just isn’t enough money to go around and when a tragedy like the one in Vera occurs, local, regional and national authorities are unable to respond in an effective way.

Funds which years ago would have been held in reserve for just such an emergency are not available now, it’s a sad fact.”

Those words will be of little consolation to the people of Vera whose lives have been wrecked by the floods. Of course, natural disasters happen throughout the world and none of us are immune to

them. In this case, it would seem more should and could be done to help a local community struggling to come to terms with the events that so cruelly struck their town a month ago.

The Vera Lions have 30 volunteers available to help with cleaning and decorating, for details contact Glyn Williams on 670816332.

The Vera Red Cross can be contacted on 950393757 to volunteer or donate money, food and clothing.

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Ryanair forced to compensate family for denying boarding to four-year-old daughter

Ryanair has been ordered to pay compensation to a family for refusing to allow their four-year-old daughter to board a plane from Valencia to Palma de Mallorca as she was not carrying any identification.

Spanish law dictates that children under the age of 14 do not need to carry a passport or DNI – national identity card – if they are travelling with their parents or legal guardians.

The judge said that this was the case no matter what nationality the airline operating in Spain was.

At the time, the stewards told the parents they could board the aircraft if they wished, but that their child could not, to which the parents replied, “are you going to look after her while we’re away, then?”

According to the judge, by refusing to allow a minor to get onto a plane, it was automatically considered that said minor’s parents or guardians had been denied boarding.

And there was no legal reason why they should be, the

court stated.

Where the parents are carrying valid ID and have met all requirements in place for boarding the airline, they cannot legally be separated from underage members of the family, and underage children are not permitted to travel alone.

The Irish low-cost airline did not turn up to the court hearing over the incident which occurred in March last year and for which the parents were represented by the Comunidad Valenciana’s regional consumer association.

In the defendant’s absence, the judge awarded 1,000 euros in compensation.

The plaintiffs said they were satisfied with the result, but felt that the award was too low, since it did not reflect the stress, hassle and time on holiday lost as a result of having to make alternative travel arrangements.

They had to catch trains and buses and finally ended up in Sevilla in order to get on a plane to take them to Mallorca.

McDonald’s to create 3,000 jobs with 60 new restaurants

Fast-food chain McDonald’s has announced plans to set up 60 new branches in Spain, which will create 3,000 new jobs.

This will mean a total of 500 restaurants in the country by 2014, says the company representative for Spain, Patricia Abril.

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Two young people have been crushed to death by a train last Wednesday today in Alicante, emergency services report.

They have been identified as a Spanish man of 27 and a 17year-old Peruvian girl, but full details have not been revealed as they were not carrying any ID with them.

Thought to be a couple, the two were hit by a passing train at 08.20hrs between the stations of Torrellano and San Gabriel on the Murcia-Alicante line. Police say they do not know why the two victims were on the track, and have not ruled out any possible theories, but in principle it is not thought to have been a suicide attempt.

Rail traffic was held up for an hour and 40 minutes after the accident. Chillingly, it is almost 10 years to the day that three other people were killed at exactly the same place – a 12-year-old girl, her mother, aged 50 and a 65-year-old man. They were part of a group of 154 walkers from an organised rambling club in Elche, who were taking part in a night hike on September 28, 2002.

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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

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Student and teacher protests take over Madrid

Yet another demonstration in cities across Spain – this time over funding cuts in education – took place last Thursday to mark the last of a three-day school strike throughout the country.

ThinkSpain reported that Madrid was the focal point seeing tens of thousands of parents, pupils and teachers taking to the streets, although similar protests were held in Valencia, Zaragoza, Oviedo and Sevilla, among other provincial capitals.

For the first time in history, an education-related protest was organised by PTA federations rather than unions or pressure groups, and surrounded the Congress building, the ministry of education headquarters, the Puerta del Sol square and the Plaza de Neptuno.

They called for president Mariano Rajoy and education minister José Ignacio Wert to resign, accusing them of ‘dismantling’ the State schooling system.

Teachers have been made redundant across the country

Amnesty International has called for Spain’s ministry of the interior to punish the police officers who acted with alleged ‘undue force’ during the protests of September 25 in Madrid.

The worldwide peace group has written to minister Jorge Fernández Díaz asking for an investigation to be opened into whether indeed officers used unnecessary brutality.

Head of Amnesty International for Spain, Esteban Beltrán, says the association has compiled video, photographic, spoken and written information that they consider ‘worrying’.

These include images of passers-by and tourists being hit by police, particularly in the middle of a confrontation outside Atocha station in Madrid.

“There was no threat to the police, and yet they used anti-riot material – which is against the law in enclosed spaces,” Beltrán said in his missive to the minister.

Elements of concern also included the ‘lack of clear and visible identification’ by the police before acting, with their faces covered and no identity card shown.

This is fundamental and is even stated as such in a circular issued by the ministry for the interior in 2007.

“This is not an academic question – it’s a matter of being immune to legal liability,” said Beltrán.

“In the majority of cases where alleged attacks by police on members of the public were brought to trial, these were thrown out because there was no way of telling which officer was behind it.”

Beltrán also referred to ‘hitting reporters without any clear motive or provocation’.

“Whilst it’s true that the State police do act in difficult circumstances and that, yes, there were acts of violence during this major protest, it is very important that the use of force should be a last resort only,” Beltrán concluded.

During the September 25 protests in Madrid, 35 people were arrested and 60 became injured during confrontations at Atocha station and also outside the Congress building.

Many witnesses and people caught up in the scuffles say officers began to beat and push around pedestrians and bystanders who were nothing to do with the demonstration, or who were involved but peacefully so.

One mother in a recent press conference famously threw a tupperware container at the then president of

the Comunidad de Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre, who has since resigned to spend more time with her family.

And Wert himself caused a sensation earlier this week when he said publicly: “Investing more in education is not going to create better students.”

Organisers say the protest was on the part of parents who ‘find it more and more difficult to get up every day, look their children in the eye and explain to them why they have to give up their studies, why they can’t have a proper meal at school and why they don’t have the textbooks they need’.

Students and tutors from the Madrid Complutense and Madrid Autonomous Regional universities have been staging a three-day lock-in and joined in the protest, hitting out over price hikes and cuts in teacher numbers.

Some classes at both colleges were held outside in full public view for ‘visibility’ reasons and to enable students to join in the protests without missing classes.

Over 1,500 jobs are being offered to Spaniards within Austria’s hotel and catering industry, and a further 2,000 places on training courses.

The Austrian Hoteliers’ union (ÖHV) says: “Whilst in the south of Europe, an entire generation is in despair [because of not having jobs], we have trouble filling vacancies.”

Peter Peer, president of the ÖHV, says the demand for staff in hotels in Austria is ‘extremely high’, particularly in the cities and in Tirol, close to the Swiss border.

This applies both in summer, when city-breakers and people seeking trips to the rural heart of Europe flock to the country, as well as in winter during the skiing season and the Christmas markets.

Hotels, bars and restaurants in Austria are looking for waiters and waitresses, bar staff, cleaners, chefs, receptionists and other assistants who are willing to start immediately.

There were 1,721 vacancies last month and 2,187 places on hotel and catering training courses, but Peer says there are probably more now that the ski season is

about to start.

And Vienna, as well as being a popular city-break destination, also hosts more business and political conferences than anywhere else in the world.

Depending upon the job and the level of training required of – and held by – the candidate, salaries reach an average of 21,000 to 25,000 euros a year, being between 1,500 and 1,800 per month over 14 months, in a similar system to Spain’s summer and Christmas doublewage scheme.

Starting salaries may be lower, but the minimum wage is 1,300 euros a month gross, or 1,050 euros a month after tax in 14 monthly payments.

Apprentices on training courses get 574 euros a month gross in the first year, which rises to a before-tax figure of 640 euros, 768 euros and finally 827 euros each year of the four-year course.

Knowledge of the German language is essential and English is also highly valued.

Those wishing to apply can take a look at offers on www.oportunidad-austria.es or www.hogastjob.com.

Higher education has now become far more expensive and the minimum pass mark for university entrance exams, or Selectividad, has been raised, meaning lots of students who have a bad day on the day of the test could find themselves unable to go to college and study for their dream career unless their parents can afford to pay.

Canteens have shut down and grants for textbooks, school dinners and school buses scrapped in many parts of the country, and parents are even being expected to pay several euros a day for the privilege of sending their kids to school with a packed lunch.

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photo: www.cnn.com

Amnesty International calls for investigation into ‘police violence’ at Madrid demonstration

and class sizes made unmanageably large, and full-rate IVA – now risen to 21 per cent – has been slapped on school textbooks which parents have no option but to buy.

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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

news flash

Afghan wedding party hit by bomb At least 18 people travelling to a wedding are killed by a roadside bomb in Balkh province of northern Afghanistan, while others are wounded.

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Berlusconi denies ‘Ruby’ sex ties

Sport Italian ex-PM Silvio Berlusconi tells his trial in Milan that he never had “intimate” ties with an underage prostitute he faces charges about.

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Homeland angers minister over depiction of Beirut

A Lebanese minister has threatened to sue the makers of hit US TV series Homeland for misrepresenting Beirut in a recent episode of the show.--------------------

Carrefour pulls out of Colombia

Shares in Carrefour gain almost 7% after the French retail giant announced the sale of its Colombian business to Chile’s Cencosud for 2bn euros ------------------------

Error sees Google stock suspended

Trading in Google shares was suspended for over two hours after it released financial results early by mistake, showing a 20% profit fall.

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EU summit: Compromise deal on eurozone bank supervisor EU leaders have agreed to set up a single eurozone banking supervisor - a major step towards a banking union.

In a report by the BBC, a legislative framework is to be in place by 1 January next year, with the body starting work later in 2013.

The European Central Bank-led mechanism will have the power to intervene in any bank within the eurozone.

The deal appears to be a compromise between France and Germany, who earlier disagreed over the timing and over the number of banks the ECB would oversee.

The timetable remains important, because only when the body is fully operational will the eurozone’s rescue fund inject cash directly into ailing banks - so important for countries like Spain, says the BBC’s Europe editor, Gavin Hewitt.

The deal was, at best, an uneasy compromise between the French and Germans and much wrangling lies ahead, our correspondent says.

France and the EU Commission wanted joint banking supervision, with the ECB in the lead role, to become operational in January 2013.

But German Chancellor Angela Merkel stressed that national budget discipline should be the priority.

Germany had been at odds with the European Commission over the scope of the proposed ECB supervision. Under the draft plan, all 6,000 banks in the 17-nation eurozone would be included Germany wanted it limited to the biggest, “systemic” banks.

Previously, the German government has expressed a desire to retain supervisory responsibility within Germany over the country’s Landesbanks - stateowned banks that play a key role in the economies and state finances of Germany’s federal regions.

Announcing the result of talks early on Wednesday, European Council President Herman Van Rompuy said the 27 EU member states had agreed to set up - by the end of this year - “a Single Supervisory Mechanism [SSM], to prevent banking risks and crossborder contagion from emerging”.

“Once this is agreed, the SSM could probably be effectively operational in the course of 2013,” he said.

EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said that the ECB “will be able to intervene if needed in any bank in the euro area”.

With new supervisory powers the ECB would be able to act early on to prevent a systemically dangerous accumulation of debt on a bank’s balance sheets.

And once the legal framework is in place the new permanent rescue fund, the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), will be able to recapitalise struggling banks directly, without adding to a country’s sovereign debt pile.

ECB supervision will not extend to the UK - Europe’s main financial centre, but outside the euro.

However, the BBC’s Business editor Robert Peston says there is now a serious risk that the UK will always be outvoted when decisions are taken on the regulation of banking and finance in the EU as a whole.

Poet ‘Death Sentence’ Appeal Thrown Out of Court

An appeal against the death sentence of Elche poet Miguel Hernández has been thrown out by the Constitutional Court.

The family of the late literary legend, who was condemned to execution on January 18, 1940 for ‘adhesion to rebellion’ against Franco’s régime, want to see Hernández given a posthumous reprieve.

They say his arrest and sentence was unconstitutional, but the court found that various articles in the Constitution in force at the time – dating back to 1890 – meant his fate was within the boundaries of legality.

Hernández, one of the last and youngest members of the so-called Generation of ‘27 – a group of writers and artists whose works reflected the political and social turbulence of their era – was given a last-minute stay of grace when his execution was exchanged for a 30-year jail term.

But the poet only lived for another two years, and died behind bars in 1942.

His ascendants applied to the Supreme Court for his conviction to be overruled and for their late relative to be acquitted in accordance with the law of historic memory, which seeks to limit the social and emotional damage caused by General Franco.

But the court said it was unable to provide individual reprieves, only collective ones for the whole society group which had been convicted for the same offence.

It was then that the family applied to the Constitutional Court, only to be told that the Constitution which was current at the time of Hernández’s sentence did not make this illegal.

It is more than a theoretical possibility that the interests of the UK and City of London in shaping financial rules will be systematically ignored or overridden, he says.

Both Germany and France appeared to be claiming victory in the negotiations.

The German chancellor said that the agreement was that “banks must be supervised in a differentiated way. That means that some will be direct... at the ECB level and others indirectly, via the national authorities.”

She also said that ECB President Mario Draghi had told her it would be a matter of some months before the ECB was ready to take on its new role.

Mrs Merkel confirmed that the EU bailout funds would not be used to directly inject risk-absorbing capital into troubled eurozone banks until the new supervisory arrangements were in place.

A decision about how to recapitalise Spain’s banks will be made in the next couple of weeks, according to Jean-Claude Juncker, who chairs the Eurogroup of finance ministers.

French President Francois Hollande said there had been no discussion of a possible request by the Spanish government for a bailout of its own finances.

But he said “the worst is behind us”.

“We are on track to solve the problems that for too long have been paralysing the eurozone and made it vulnerable,” Mr Hollande told a news conference.

Article courtesy of www.bbc.co.uk

Torrevieja murder suspect denied bail

A man suspected of murdering his girlfriend in their home in Torrevieja has been remanded in custody without bail.

The accused, 45, is said to have regularly beaten the victim, according to a female friend of the latter. But the woman always refused to report her partner as she was scared he would kill her, the friend said.

The body of the victim, a 48-year-old woman originally from Alcoi, was found inside a cupboard in the rented house on C/ Orihuela in Torrevieja (Alicante) at 11.00hrs last Monday by the cleaning ladies.

They had gone into the apartment to tidy it up for a tenant due to move in shortly.

Alerted by the stench which filled all the rooms, they found the woman’s decomposed corpse after an extensive search.

Her boyfriend, who had an injunction preventing him from approaching her, was arrested later that day at the bus station in the own. He is said to be the previous owner of the apartment, which now belonged to an estate agency, and had been living there with the deceased.

Although it was initially thought she had been beaten to death, an autopsy found she had perished through lack of oxygen. The accused is a known long-term drug-taker, Guardia Civil officers say, and they have not ruled out he may have given the woman drugs and accidentally overdosed her.

But the woman’s close friend said she herself had once cured her wounds after the suspect reportedly stabbed her on one occasion, and he has a criminal record for violence against her. The female magistrate charged the man with murder and also offences relating to breaking a restraining order.

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

Met Police launch criminal inquiry into Savile abuse claims

Scotland Yard has launched a “formal criminal investigation” into alleged incidences of sex abuse by the late BBC presenter Sir Jimmy Savile and others.

The Metropolitan Police said more than 400 lines of inquiry had been “assessed” and over 200 potential victims have been identified. Cdr Peter Spindler said a “staggering” number of victims had come forward.

In a report by the BBC, the Children’s charity the NSPCC said Savile could have been “one of the most prolific sex offenders”.

Scotland Yard said the investigation dubbed Operation Yewtree - moved from an assessment to a criminal investigation after detectives established there are lines of inquiry involving “living people that require formal investigation”.

Cdr Spindler said the response from the public had been “astounding”.

He added: “We are dealing with alleged abuse on an unprecedented scale. The profile of this operation has empowered a staggering number of victims to come forward to report the sexual exploitation which occurred during their childhood.

“I am pleased that victims feel confident

enough to speak out about the abuse they suffered and would like to reassure the public that we take all these cases very seriously and they will be investigated with the utmost sensitivity.”

The Met added that the BBC could begin its internal review, which can be run in parallel to the criminal investigation.

The force said they would “develop a protocol”, ensuring that “any future potential criminal action is not jeopardised” by the BBC’s own inquiries.

Stephen McFadden said “people started running” as the pilot of the Jet2 737 shouted “get out, get out” following the emergency stop at 07:40.

Four passengers were taken to hospital and another 13 were treated at the scene for minor injuries. The runway re-opened at 10:00. An investigation is now under way.

Mr McFadden described how he and his young family had to disembark the aircraft following the emergency stop. He said: “We were careering up the runway and smoke started belting out of all the air vents with a smouldering smell. Then the brakes went on and the emergency chutes went out and we were all evacuated. I have a nine-week-old daughter and a fouryear-old daughter. I had my nine-week-old attached to my chest as I went down the emergency chute and my wife had our four-year-old and was in tears.”

Mr McFadden said the scene “was like something out of a movie”.

He added: “There was panic, people started running and I shouted ‘slow down’, and then the pilot shouted ‘get out, get out’. It was just sheer panic, something noone would want to go through again.”

The passengers said he and others were now waiting to find out what would happen with their travel arrangements.

“Jet2 need to get it sorted soon or people will start to really complain,” he said.

Another passenger, Graham Divers, from Glasgow’s Carmunnock area, said: “I was sitting in row 11 and I could smell smoke as we were accelerating hard. I looked up. One or two passengers, including myself, had our reading light on and when I looked up to the lamps and the ceiling, I could actually see smoke swirling around

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Peter Watt, head of the NSPCC’s helpline, said they had received more than 136 calls “directly relating to allegations against [Savile]”.

He went on: “It’s important we recognise the brave step victims have taken in coming forward and we urge any other victims to do the same.”

Mr Watt added that increasing numbers of people were reporting “unrelated abuse” after hearing victims in the Savile case speak out.

Passenger tells of panic on Jet2 plane

Passengers on an Alicante-bound plane from Glasgow Airport have described “sheer panic” after “swirling” smoke in the cabin forced an emergency stop.

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and I thought, oops, there’s something not right here. We were accelerating very, very hard down the runway at this stage and I was about to scream out to the cabin crew when obviously the pilot realised there was something wrong and he immediately throttled the engines back and put the brakes on. It’s the hardest braking I’ve ever experienced in my life.”

Following the emergency stop, all 189 passengers were taken off the plane using the plane’s chutes.

Strathclyde Police said that 17 people were hurt during the incident, with four being taken to hospital and 13 being treated at the scene for minor injuries.

Crews from Strathclyde Fire and Rescue were called out to assist firefighters based at the airport.

A spokesman for Glasgow Airport said: “At approximately 07:45 flight LS177 from Glasgow Airport to Alicante was forced to make an emergency stop on the runway just prior to take off. The 737-800 Jet2.com aircraft was forced to curtail take off due to smoke in the cabin. All 189 passengers were disembarked. Glasgow Airport had to suspend flights until 10am when the runway was reopened. This has resulted in delays and passengers are advised to check with their airlines.”

A statement from Jet2 said: “...Flight LS177 from Glasgow airport to Alicante made an emergency stop on the runway just prior to take off. The 737-800 aircraft was evacuated as per standard operating procedures. All 189 passengers have disembarked the aircraft and we are aware of 17 passengers with minor injuries who are being looked after by paramedics and our staff on the ground. We are currently working with the airport and Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) to arrange for the aircraft to be moved.”

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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

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The Appeal is the Legion’s big gest fundraising campaign and is most obvious to the public when lapel poppies are available from the last week of October until Remembrance Sunday, on 11 November.

The 2011 Poppy Appeal raised a staggering £40 million, in the UK and over €130,000 in Spain, smashing all previous records.

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Each year the United Kingdom expresses its unequivocal support for The Royal British Legion’s work through the Poppy Appeal. The overseas branches of the Legion also support the Poppy Appeal in much the same way as the UK.

But the campaign continues all year with all money raised going to support our welfare work for the Armed Forces community. In Arboleas and Albox you can find poppy boxes in most commercial outlets all year round.

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THE ALBOX ROYAL BRITISH LEGION POPPY APPEAL 2012

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The Albox Branch 2012 Poppy Appeal will launch on 18th October at the members meeting

at La Parrilla Hotel at 11.am

Members of the public will have the opportunity to make a donation and wear a poppy in recognition of their donation.

Poppy sellers will be available at the Arboleas, Los Llanos and Albox markets during this period.

Chris Pearce, the Branch Chairman said ´´This is an important time for the Legion when we go all out to raise funds for our cause´´. ´´We appreciate everyone´s donation however large or small´´.

If you want more details or want to become a member and help with The Legion’s good work for serving and exservice personnel and their families (you don’t need to be ex-forces to join) go along to one of the meetings or contact the ChairmanChris Pearce on 630 56 26 18 email: hello@ chrispearce.co.uk or visit the web site at www.britishlegion.org. uk/branches/albox

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Mojácar Welcomes Spanish Soldiers

Mojácar has once again played host to a group of Spanish soldiers from the Legion military base in Viator, Almeria. All were on a ‘total immersion’ course in English to prepare for their forthcoming important military language exams in Seville.

The course was organised by Andrew Mortimer, a multi-lingual trainer and interpreter based in Roquetas, who has worked at the Spanish Legion Brigade bases in Viator, Almería and Ronda, Málaga for twelve years. Along with Andrew and his team of teachers (Wendy Gretton from Turre and Patrick and Jill Bennett from Mojácar) the soldiers took part in an intensive two week course in Almeria before coming to stay with families in Mojacar. As well as more intensive lessons and social activities with their host families, they were invited to join the Mojácar Walking Group by organiser Barrie Naylor for a 13.5 km hike from Los Gallardos to the hilltop Cerro Cabezo de Maria Hermitage, which they thoroughly enjoyed. They were also warmly welcomed

by Mojácar Club Taurino founders Audrey and Mike Hathaway to a lunch event at the Karma restaurant, where students had

the chance to chat to members and find out about the Club while sampling Indian cuisine for the first time.

All students expressed their gratitude to the teachers and the host families who had welcomed them so warmly into their homes and, to Club Taurino and The Walking Group who had given them the opportunity to speak to so many English speakers of different dialects. Thanks also go to Mojácar Town hall for all the support provided. The students agreed that, as well as preparing them for their exam, it been an invaluable experience that they would never forget.

If you are interested in finding out more about the Homestay Programme, please contact Andrew Mortimer at: andrewmortimer7@msn.com A photograph of the students receiving their Certificates after successfully completing their Homestay Intensive English Course – from left to right , the teachers: Andrew Mortimer, Jill Bennett, Patrick Bennett, Wendy Gretton and the students: Juan Valverde Pretel, Vicente Alaez Torio, David Martinez Sanz

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

9

Those Pesky Flies

Some of us have developed an obsession with killing flies. I myself get great pleasure in killing a pesky fly that has been landing on my forehead, ear, nose, lips, eye lids, hands, back, neck, legs, ankles…you get the picture.

You may have noticed that recently there has been a rise in the number of flies either around your home or out and about.

Here are a few facts about flies before you choose your method of execution: There are over 120,000 species of flies, but I will concentrate on the 6 that cause so many problems for humans and animals: house, stable, flesh, blow, blue & green bottle, and dump flies.

Flies have been around as long as mankind and have been found in all seven continents. It has been documented that the fly transmits deadly diseases such as typhoid fever, dysentery, cholera, yaws, anthrax, leprosy and tuberculosis just to name a few. In many instances, flies are the indirect cause of low cattle weight and poultry death.

A Fly Is Born… During a fly’s lifetime (usually a 30 day cycle), a female fly will lay anywhere from 400-600 eggs. Each fly egg hatches into a small, grub-like, creature (larvae), which looks more like an inchworm than a fly. By eating nutrients from soil, ponds or even in the sea, larvae will grow to adult fly size within a few days.

TYPES OF FLIES: There are several kinds of flies that are common around farms, residential areas and food-handling establishments.

House Fly - The housefly (Musca domestica) is one of the most common of all insects. It is a worldwide pest in homes, barns, poultry houses, food-processing plants, recreation areas, etc.

House fly eggs are laid in almost any type of warm organic material. Animal or poultry manure is an excellent breeding medium. Decaying vegetation such as grass clippings and garbage can also provide for optimum breeding conditions. Houseflies are strong fliers and can become widely distributed by flying, wind currents, vehicles and animals. Generally, though, flies are abundant in the immediate vicinity of their breeding site.

Stable Fly - The stable fly, also known as the dog fly, is a blood-sucking fly. Stable flies primarily attack animals for blood, but in the absence of an animal will also bite humans. An adult stable fly can fly up to 70 miles from their breeding sites. The stable fly adult is similar to the housefly in size and colour. The stable fly, however, has a long bayonet-like mouthpart for sucking blood. Unlike many other fly species, both male and female stable flies suck blood.

Stable fly bites are extremely painful to both man and animal. When hungry, stable flies are quite persistent and will continue to pursue a blood meal even after being swatted several times.

Flesh Flies - Flesh flies are a scavenger fly species that usually feed on meat scraps and dead animal carcasses. Female flesh flies retain eggs within their bodies until the eggs are

10 ways to kill a fly:

1. Plants. The Venus Fly Trap. Although this sounds great it is only 10% effective.

2. Sticky Strip. These are cheap and look unsightly but are 80% effective.

ready to hatch. The larvae are deposited directly onto the food, which the larvae will eat from.

The life cycle for the flesh flies can be completed in 8 to 21 days.

Blow Flies and Bottle Flies – There are quite a few species of blowflies and bottle flies found in and around residences. Green bottle, blue bottle, and bronze bottle flies may be more abundant in urban areas than houseflies.

Blowflies and bottle flies can breed on dead rodents and birds. They usually breed in meat scraps, animal excrement, and decaying animal matter around houses. The adult flies are quite active inside and are strongly attracted to light.

The life cycle usually lasts 9-21 days from egg to adult.

Some Other Facts About Flies:

Flies have over 4,000 facets for sight in each eye...Movement attracts flies more than colour...Flies have a smelling distance of over 750 yards...A fly’s feeding range is usually limited to two miles...A single bin on its own, if not emptied, can be the breeding ground for 30,000 flies...During warm weather, a fly can produce a family generation in less than two weeks...

Article Written by Johnny B

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3. B ug Zapper. These aren’t just for entertaining HillBillys. Over time this fly killing machine is 100% effective.

4. V acuum Cleaner. Hmm..This is usually used in the heat of the moment and is 55% effective but not deadly.

5. Wafting. 1% effective and from a distance you look really stupid.

6. T he Sol Times. After reading your favourite newspaper this can turn in to a deadly weapon. Having just enough pages to create the density required to roll up and WACK. Problem solved. 70% effective.

7. E mploy a Spider. Did that give you a shiver; almost 50% of women and 10% of men show signs of Arachnophobia. Ok, this isn’t the best method but it’s 95% effective.

8. T he Gimmick. You know, the one you just spent €2.98 on as an impulse buy at you local supermarket or novelty shop. The effective rate is between 10%-80%.

9. T he Hand. Although this is only 10% effective everyone will say WOW you got him.

10. T he good old Fly Swatter. Every home should have one of these fantastic inventions 60% effective. This Depends on how good you are.

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...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

Investing For Grow th – Thr ee K ey Principles To Guide Your Investment Strategy - Part 1 By Bill Blevins, Financial Correspondent, Blevins Franks

An investor’s portfolio should be built around their specific objectives.

If you are investing for growth, then I normally recommend three main principles 1) Time in the market 2) Spread the risk 3) Regular reviews

Time in the market – not timing the market Investors who remain invested over the longer term often achieve better results than those who attempt to time the market.

Some investors try to be clever about when they buy and sell to maximise gains. You would need to predict the future (and many events that affect markets cannot be predicted) and you would need to be right twice.

Others make emotional investment decisions, reacting to short-term market movements. Investor sentiment actually lags market movements so those who react to sentiment often enter and exit the market at the wrong time.

Investors can go though a roller coaster of emotions, starting with optimism, moving on to excitement and then euphoria as markets rise higher and higher, before changing to anxiety as markets fall off their peak and slipping through anxiety and fear to despondency as markets fall, before improving again through hope and relief back to optimism.

Many investors invest at the ‘euphoria’ point – but this is actually the riskiest point in a market cycle. Likewise the point of maximum financial opportunity is when most investors are despondent and fewest people are investing.

Often the best returns from equity markets come in periods just after a downturn. Markets are very sensitive to economic events and can rebound quickly after good news. Those

investors who sold out after markets fell usually miss out on the best of the upside and this can have a significant effect on their overall investment performance. Those with capital available to invest who were waiting for markets to improve usually miss out on the opportunity to profit from much, if not all, of the sharp increase in performance.

Often a few very good days account for a large part of the total returns over a market cycle. If you miss these days you could end up with considerably less profit, or even make a loss when you could have made a gain.

Next week I will look at spreading the risk and the importance of reviewing your portfolio.

To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevinsfranks.com

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With prices starting at just 2995 € and IVA FREE, less does equal more. Therefore it makes so much sense to protect your loved ones by investing in a guaranteed funeral plan from Iberian.

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TEL. +34 - 950 617 017 / FAX. +34 - 950 133 342

E-MAIL: vera@euroabogados.es or luisamorales@euroabogados.es

www.soltimes.com

11

vERA FUN RUN SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

UPDATE IMPORTANT NEWS

AGE CONCERN: An Appeal for Mobility & Home Care Equipment

Age Concern Almanzora is a voluntary organisation which has been established to offer support, advice & assistance to expatriates living in the Almanzora region. As part of our ongoing development we are hoping to create a loan service for mobility equipment – so if you have any unused & unwanted walking sticks, walking frames, toilet seats, grab rails, wheelchairs or any other suitable equipment gathering dust around your home Age Concern Almanzora and their clients would be very grateful for them.

Donated equipment can be handed in at the Helpdesk in Arboleas on Wednesday 10am–1pm and Friday 10am-11am. The office is situated adjacent to the Spar shop, on the square facing the Town Hall. Alternatively you can ring on 634 333 544 or email ageconcernalmanzora@live.com to arrange collection.

Your help and support is essential; who knows, you or someone you love may need this service in the future!

The Vera & District Lion Club, organisers of the Vera Fun run, originally scheduled for Saturday the 6th of October 2012 have asked us to point out that following the cancellation of the event ( entirely due to the recent storms & floods) that the event is to be re-scheduled for next spring.

Spokesperson for the Vera & District Lions added. “ We haven’t confirmed a date for the re-scheduled date yet but we hope it will be around Easter next year ”. He added “ We are very aware that many of the original competitors are holding sponsorship money and would ask they either hold on to the money until the event is re-scheduled or they can arrange for the money to be collected by contacting: Glyn Williams on 950467324 - email glyn@blueseavillas.co.uk or Keith Porter on 681047355 email keith@keith-porter.co.uk “We are also very grateful to those people and their sponsors who have passed on their donations despite the cancellation of the event.”

Money raised by the Vera & District lions Club goes to local good causes.

The Vera & District Lions Club International Registration No. 117889 : Spanish registration No. Malaga 116B

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...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

lo ok g o o d feel grea T

The cheat’s way to get your five-a-day just sprinkle a powder on your cereal It will come as a huge relief for those who hate eating their greens - or simply struggle to hit the elusive target of five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

Spanish scientists have developed a way to freeze-dry certain foods, turning them into a powder while retaining the health benefits.

The idea is that the powder is then simply sprinkled on food or added to milk or water to create a fruit juice.

Those involved with the project say it would help more people hit the five-a-

day target – and be more convenient.

The Government has heavily promoted its five a day campaign, highlighting the health benefits of getting five 80g portions.

The recommendation is based on advice from the World Health Organization, which recommends eating a minimum of 400g of fruit and vegetables a day to lower the risk of serious health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Yet fewer than a quarter of Britons are

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managing it, according to a recent survey by the World Cancer Research Fund, while other research has suggested one in 10 children manage just on portion a day.

This is one of the reasons that made the Universitat Politècnica de València researchers develop new products that could promote fruit consumption.

Grapefruit, kiwi and strawberries are the first fruits the researchers have turned into powder ready to sprinkle on other foods or as a functional ingredient in juices, purees, milk or tea.

These were selected as they have a high water content, meaning they rot quicker.

Lead researcher Nuria Martínez Navarrete added: ‘Grapefruit is a citrus fruit with great nutritional and functional value but its consumption is very small because, among other reasons, it is very bitter. Meanwhile, strawberries are a seasonal fruit.’

Furthermore, it’s thought fruit consumption may be low because fresh fruit only lasts a few days – and many of us are too busy to shop every day.

The researchers found that freezedrying conserves the compounds that are responsible for the beneficial effects

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of fruit, such as the antioxidant (diseasefighting) property.

According to the researchers, per 100 grams of fresh grapefruit, between 10 and 15 grams of powdered grapefruit are obtained.

Half of this dose could flavour a serving of salad. Or, adding 85ml of water would be equivalent to drinking the juice of half a grapefruit.

Dried fruit was also found to have significant health benefits.

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A Well-being Clinic is held once a month with Sandra a fully-qualified nurse. Book yourself in for a health “MOT”, this includes Blood Pressure, Mole Check, Breast Check, Urine Analysis as well as general health & medical advice, at only 12.50€ pp.

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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

13

Lazy Brits spend as little as TWO minutes grooming themselves ...and send sales of wipes and dry shampoo soaring!

Gone are the days when women spent hours preening themselves with lotions, potions and beauty treatments.

As the recession bites and working hours rise, women’s beauty regimes are taking a back seat. More of us than ever are turning to quick fix beauty treatments and products rather than spending hours in front of the mirror.

In the past year alone Superdrug has seen huge demand for beauty products that save time - with dry shampoo topping the list.

The retailer sells fifteen masks every minute and has seen a 35 per cent rise in sales of the mask as well as an eight per cent rise in sales of Superdrug’s own label face wipes.

Another favourite has been dry shampoo which sees over 17,000 bottles sold every week as time-strapped Brits look for quick and easy ways to freshen up their locks.

The quick hair fix takes less than fifteen seconds to work its magic compared to the average twenty minutes time of washing and drying hair.

Despite the masses of expensive and high-tech products on offer, the poll

by Superdrug found that twelve per cent of people claimed to spend just two minutes or less looking after their skin every day.

Following the demand for speedy beauty tricks, Superdrug is introducing a range of time-saving products including giant hair doughnuts, lip stains and eyeliner appliques which glue on.

In a report by the Daily Mail, Sara Wolverson, beauty director of Superdrug, said: ‘For people that lead a busy schedule these quick fixes are the perfect opportunity to give yourself a quick pick me up without having to spent lots of time .

‘We’ve seen a massive demand for products that take no time at all. Whether it’s down to people working longer hours or people generally just spending less time on pampering themselves there is a definite trend in product that take less than ten minutes to apply.’

4 Ways to Strengthen Your Immune System What can you do?

On the whole, your immune system does a remarkable job of defending you against disease-causing microorganisms.

But sometimes it fails: A germ invades successfully and makes you sick. Is it possible to intervene in this process and make your immune system stronger? What if you improve your diet? Take certain vitamins or herbal preparations? Make other lifestyle changes in the hope of producing a nearperfect immune response?

The idea of boosting your immunity is enticing, but the ability to do so has proved elusive for several reasons. The immune system is precisely that — a system, not a single entity. To function well, it requires balance and harmony. There is still much that researchers don’t know about the intricacies and interconnectedness of the immune response. For now, there are no scientifically proven direct links between lifestyle and enhanced immune function.

But that doesn’t mean the effects of lifestyle on the immune system aren’t intriguing and shouldn’t be studied. Quite a number of researchers are exploring the effects of diet, exercise, age, psychological stress, herbal supplements, and other factors on the immune response, both in animals and in humans. Although interesting results are emerging, thus far they can only be considered preliminary. That’s because researchers are still trying to understand how the immune system works and how to interpret measurements of immune function. The following sections summarize some of the most active areas of research into these topics. In the meantime, general healthy-living strategies are a good way to start giving your immune system the upper hand. Adopt healthy-living strategies Your first line of defense is to choose a healthy lifestyle.

Following general good-health guidelines is the single best step you can take toward keeping your immune system strong and healthy. Every part of your body, including your immune system, functions better when protected from environmental assaults and bolstered by healthy-living strategies such as these:

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SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

the £229 laptop ‘for everyone’

have a larger display than tablets selling in the same price range. The laptops will be set up to automatically use all of Google’s services, including its search engine, Gmail and YouTube video site.

Because the laptop lacks a hard drive, Google also is offering 100 gigabytes of free storage on computers kept in its eight data centers.

Those remote computers provide the backbone for Google’s online storage service, Drive.

Google hopes a new low cost laptop could tempt buyers away from new tablets from Apple and Microsoft. The lightweight computer will sell for £229 (176 Euros) and is being made with Samsung. It was revealed just days before Apple is expected to unveil a low cost version of its iPad tablet, and Microsoft

and Amazon begin selling their tablet computers. The Google machine’s software is based on Google’s Chrome web browser.

Like other so-called Chromebooks, this laptop doesn’t have a hard drive, instead storing information on Google’s internet servers.

The machine in the latest

Chromebook, a line Google first released two years ago.

It will go on sale early next week in PC World stores in Britain and more than 500 Best Buy stores in the U.S. “This is a big step in the journey for us,” said Sundar Pichai, Google’s senior vice president of Chrome and apps. “I think it’s generally an exciting time in the computing industry.”

Like tablets, the discount Chromebook will rely on a computer chip design known as ARM, instead of Intel microprocessors. The ARM architecture is more energy efficient, extending the duration of batteries between charges.

O

With an 11.6-inch (29.46centimeter) screen, the new Chromebooks also will Bedar, 04288 (next to Miramar Restaurant) Tel: 950 469 624 or 687 938 466 Email: info@olivehouse-es.com www.olivehouse-es.com Monday - Friday 10am - 3.30pm

Olive

Sales office now open in Bedar

OLV546

Tabernas

This immaculate Finca type property located just a short drive from the popular town of Tabernas. The property boasts 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and sits on a wonderful plot of over 2,000m2 with over 60 Olive trees.

154,950€

OLV395

Gafarillos (sorbas)

OLV447

...it’s all in the detail Antas

This well appointed 3 bed, 3 bath townhouse is minutes from the town of Antas, walking distance from bars & restaurants and has a large private pool with great views.

now reduced to 170,000€ OLV365

Bedar / Antas

However, despite the low price, experts say the new Chromebook will face a tough time winning over consumers because it isn’t set up like a traditional PC with a hard drive, said Gartner Inc. analyst Carolina Milanesi.

“A lot of people are going to see it and think, `Once I have it, what exactly do I do with it?”” Milanesi said.

Google, which is based in California, will try to educate and woo prospective buyers by setting up Chromebook kiosks in Best Buy stores where staff will be on hand to field questions. The company also will promote the new Chromebook in television ads.

The attempt to grab a few early headlines Thursday backfired, though, when Google prematurely released

THE CLOUD LAPTOP

Unlike a traditional laptop, the Chromebook has no hard drive, instead keeping all of its information on Google’s servers.

This means that while most functions can still be used without an internet connection, some are limited.

Google also supplies a virtual Drive for the machine, which users can also access from a desktop Pc and even their mobile phone. its third-quarter earnings while the company was providing a preview of the low-priced Chromebook to a group of reporters. Once the earnings slipped out, some reporters bolted from the laptop presentation to focus on numbers that disappointed investors.

Google Inc. appears to be trying to beat Microsoft and Apple to the punch with the discount Chromebook.

Microsoft is poised to release Windows 8, a dramatic makeover of its famous operating system, on October 26th. The long-awaited makeover is designed to run on touchbased tablets, as well as laptop and desktop computers. A variety of manufacturers will be selling

a hodgepodge of Windows 8-powered personal computers and tablets.

Apple says it plans to show off a new product this Tuesday; the event is widely expected to be the comingout party for a slightly smaller version of its hot-selling iPad. The mini iPad is expected to feature a 7.85-inch (19.94-centimeter) screen compared to the nearly 10-inch (25.4-centimeter) screen of the pioneering iPad. Industry analysts expect Apple to price a smaller iPad in the $249 to $299 range (200-240 Euros)in an effort to siphon sales away from other scaled-down tablets, such as Google’s Nexus 7 and Amazon.com Inc.’s Kindle Fire.

Deborah Cubel Fisher

Announcing the new Wills and Inheritance process office now open in Translations / Interpreter Corvera: Purchase / Sale private contracts C/ Actor Francisco NIE’s, Residencia, Medical Cards....

Rabal, 3 Bj X Corvera (Murcia) Land property and Catastro registration 30153 Vehicle registration / driving licenses Please telephone: Conveyancing / Notorial documents 629 412 446 Mortgages Payment of taxes (local rates, rubbish collection, vehicle, tax returns for residents and non residents and refund of the capital gains tax).

Special offer

Wills €125 per person - Including Notary Fee

Yearly contract €145 Including VAT 18% Yearly tax returns (no increase if more than one owner, or more than one property) Legal and fiscal advice FREE throughout the year Free assistance / advice for any visitors staying at your property Free visit from a technician / architect to offer independent expertise on matter such as: putting in insurance claims, confirmation of the legality of an extension / building work, free estimate for any work to be carried out

This is a great buy consisting of a renovated 2 bed village house, a large 70 m2 garage and a fabulous 1,000m2 plot, currently being used as a garden and large vegetable plot.

This great village Cortijo has been restored to a high standard. It has 4 beds and is situated between Bedar and Antas. It also comes with a small piece of land with fruit trees.

129,000€

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If you introduce another client to us you will not be charged your next annual fee Vera Advisors, S.L. C/ del Mar, 33 - Local 11 Vera 04620 (Almeria) Tel: 950 39 06 21 Fax: 950 39 02 12 email: dcasesores@notin.net

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

Finding a hole in your sock is a distressing moment for anyone - and an American entrepreneur claims to have found an answer.

Cameron Carter, a 23 years old from Chicago who attended the US Air Force Academy, decided to take the military technology usually found in bulletproof vests, and put them into socks.

The resulting product is called ‘Socrates’, and are guaranteed to never develop holes or worn out bottoms.

Carter has turned to online site Kickstarter to fund the project, and has already almost tripled his original aim, raising $28,000 dollars.

‘Most people wear socks every day, all day, but continue

to bu y f lim s y products, said Cameron on the firm’s web site.

‘Break the cycle! Your socks should be as sophisticated as you are.’

The sock is made primarily made from fabric with built in lycra.

The Kevlar sections are carbon threaded around the toe and heel areas where wear and tear is greatest.

The firm is selling the socks online for $25 for two pairs, or $65 for three, and says they will be shipped five weeks after the Kickstarter funding closes later this month.

The product has already become a huge success, with over 700 people having signed up.

Once production has begun, the firm is also planning to expand with women’s socks and different designs.

Scientists claim to have cracked the code of every drinker’s dreams - what makes a perfect pint.

Researchers devised a formula based on factors including surroundings, music volume and the number of drinking partners.

The equation also takes into account the availability of snacks, the ambient room temperature, and the number of days until you are required back at work.

The resulting formula is: E = - (0.62T2 + 39.2W2 + 62.4P2) + (21.8T + 184.4W + 395.4P + 94.5M - 90.25V) + 50(S + F + 6.4).

E stands for enjoyment, T for temperature, W is the number of days before the drinker is back at work, P is the number of drinking companions, M is for mood, V is the volume of background music, while S and F relate to snacks and food available.

The complex formula was devised after researchers polled 1,000 volunteers from up and down the country on what conditions they preferred when drinking their pint.

Dr David Lewis, who calculated the formula at Mindlab on behalf of pub chain Taylor Walker, said: “Following all of our research we developed a formula for the perfect pint.”

Ultimate green car up for grabs

An Australian man has put what he describes as the “ultimate green car” up for sale on eBay. For the bodywork of the 1998 Mitsubishi Magna is completely covered with astro turf.

The owner, who gave his name as Tim, placed it on the auction site with a starting bid of just one Australian dollar.

But it has now garnered a number of

bids, with the price now standing at AUS$51.

Tim says he used 20sq m of AstroTurf to cover the car’s bad paint job about six months ago.

“The paint job was botchy and we needed something to cover it and someone suggested AstroTurf,” he said.

“It cost about $500 to do and a lot of work and glue went into it. We went

insane with the amount of glue and cutting we had to do but it worked out really well and everyone always smiles when they see the car.”

In his eBay advert Tim writes: “It draws more attention than a Ferrari (plus you don’t look like a douche),” he wrote.

“Since you are awesome you won’t care that it doesn’t come with rego or safety certificate, but it does come with spare astro turf.”

weird & wonderful news...

socks that could last forever

Scientists crack formula for perfect pint

15

16

...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

Police dogs sniff out 9.5 million euros in under two minutes

National Police sniffer dogs took just two minutes to find 9.5 million euros in cash hidden in a bidet, safe deposit boxes hidden in crates, and a computer printer in one of the 13 buildings raided by officers investigating the massive Chinese mafia operation which was busted earlier this week.

Houses, business premises and warehouses were overturned by the police force in the last two days on the Cobo Calleja industrial estate and elsewhere in Fuenlabrada, in Majadahonda and Villaverde (all in Madrid).

These 13 properties where the huge amounts of cash were found are just a handful of the 108 buildings raided by police since the mafia operation was uncovered.

A councillor from Fuenlabrada is one of more than 80 people arrested, who also include the ringleader, Chinese national Gao Ping.

Ping had been planning to flee Spain and return to his home country without telling his wife, a court heard today whilst remanding him in custody without bail.

Porno actor Nacho Vidal was also

Villagers shocked by teenage girl’s death in street shoot-out

A 13-year-old girl is one of two people who lost their lives last Saturday in a shocking shoot-out in a sleepy village near Albacete. Police reports indicate that one man was killed and another hospitalised with minor injuries, but that neither are any relation to the little girl.

arrested, but has insisted he is innocent and will prove it.

So far, 500 officers and eight sniffer dogs have been involved in the searches, which have uncovered a total of 11.6 million euros in cash – all bar 2.1 million of which was found by the dogs.

These police dogs undergo intensive training and are able to detect even the faintest scent of coins or notes through walls or sheets of solid iron.

Many have managed to locate hidden cash where experienced criminals buried it underground or covered it with strongscented chemical agents such as perfume or bleach.

They are capable of sniffing out their quarry among up to 100,000 different scents, even extremely strong ones.

Spain’s National Police force has 450 dogs trained in eight different specialities, which include missing persons, rescue, defence, and sniffing out flammable materials, explosives, drugs, money and dead bodies.

The photograph shows one of the 450 dogs which work for the force.

Searches are currently underway for a 39-year-old man identified only by his initials, J.C.A., who lives in the village of El Salobral, which is a close-knit community about 15 kilometres south of Albacete city.

The tragedy happened near the parish church and all parties – including the suspect – are said to be from families who are well-known in the village.

Although the motives for the shoot-out are not known, mayor Ángel Sánchez and various residents initially thought that the accused had tried to have a ‘relationship’ with the deceased teenager, which her family did not consent to – but no concrete evidence of this has come to light.

Police cordoned off a 200-metre radius of the area, and have recommended to those living within this area to not leave their houses until they are told it is safe to do so.

Currently, the injured man, who was taken to Albacete University Hospital with a bullet-wound to the shoulder, is said to not be in any danger.

Fraudulent car theft claims rocket due to recession

Police have reported, in the last two years, a sudden upsurge in the number of fake car thefts, largely as a result of the recession In the last year alone, reports of stolen cars which turned out to be fraudulent have rocketed by 880%.

Car thefts in 2009 represented only 1.18% of total crime (1.13% in 2010) however, by the end of 2011 this had shot up to 13.5% cent of the total crime figure.

Police indicate the usual story is that the car-owner

reports the vehicle as stolen, claims the settlement from their insurance company and proceeds to sell the car on but with a different registration number and identity.

Aggravated robberies are also ‘invented as a way to ensure their policy will cover the theft. This also solves the problem of when the insurance company asks for both sets of keys to the car, since the claimant says he or she only has one since the attacker stole the spare set - the third party who sells on the car with a different

registration number does not need to reprogramme the settings or get a new key cut - highly convenient.

The rise in this particular crime came about when Police began to detect a high number of cars being bought and sold with the same characteristics to those reported as stolen.

Insurance companies say fraudulent claims have gone up by 10.5% in the last year, having detected a total of 130,959 cases across the industry – seven in 10 of which involved stolen cars.

LEGAL CORNER WITH MICHAEL DAVIES, ABOGADO/SOLICITOR

If you wish us to print an article about a particular topic, please e-mail info@daviessolicitors.com

BEING A RESIDENT OF SPAIN OR NOT CAN MAKE A CONSIDERABLE DIFFERENCE TO CAPITAL GAINS TAX NASTY SURPRISE: HAVING WHAT EVERYONE CALLS ‘THE RESIDENCE CERTIFICATE’ IS NOT PROOF OF TAX RESIDENCY AND IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WILL BE TREATED AS A NON-RESIDENT AND 3% OF THE SALES PRICE WILL BE HELD BACK WHEN YOU SELL YOUR PROPERTY...

Q. I have sold my house. I was under the impression that I was a resident and that the 3% retention for non-residents would not be applicable, but the notary said that my residence certificate was not proof of residency and that he had to treat me as a nonresident which means that 3% of the sales price was retained and paid into the tax office . How can the resident certificate not be proof of residency?

A. What the notary is saying is correct. It is a common nasty surprise at the notary lately suffered by sellers that are not getting the correct advice prior to selling . The new resident certificates without a photograph, issued by the police, do not state you are a tax resident of Spain - what it says is that you are a resident of Europe.

To be able to be treated as a tax resident of Spain at the moment of sale, you need to provide the notary with a certificate issued by the tax office in Spain stating that they consider you a tax resident of Spain. This needs to be requested in advance of going to the notary by your solicitor or yourself to avoid the 3% retention. Some notaries will also accept as proof of residency your Spanish tax returns.

If you are thinking of selling, it is important to find out from the tax office well in advance if your status is that of a resident or non resident, and the certificate issued by them needs to be taken to the notary the day of signature.

P.S. If you are a non resident, do not forget it is obligatory to file a non-resident tax returns, and that the tax man has created a task force to go after those that have not been paying (and they are sending out letters since November 2011).

Michael Davies is a Spanish Abogado and has been practicing law in Almería since 1993. He is member of the Law societies of Almería and Madrid and has offices in Mojacar and Almeria High Street.

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

17

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18

...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

price €299,999

RE DU CE D

Beautiful Villa with pool and garage in Mojácar playa Large 4-bed / 3-bath Villa set on a quiet residential area of Mojacar Playa within a short walk to the Playa del Descargador and all amenities and services the town has to offer.

As you enter the property on the ground level it is comprised of a large paved terrace with parking area and access to an underground garage and huge basement area.

The property itself is comprised of porch, entrance hall, living room with a wood burner and with french windows leading to a covered terrace and pool area with magnificent mountain and sea views, dining room, a cloak room, master bedroom with en suite bathroom and also french windows also leading to an outside terrace and pool area. Large fitted and well

equipped kitchen with a covered utility area; then a marble stairwell leading to the upper level comprising of hallway, 3 double bedrooms, a family bathroom and 1 large and 1 small terraces with sea and mountain views. The freehold plot where the property is built has an area of 390.00 mts² and a built area of 143.20 mts². It is approx. 10 years old and benefits from air conditioning, electric central heating, mains electricity and water as well as telephone and broadband services. The Villa is suitable for either full time living or simply a holiday place to unwind. It’s a really good value for money!

For more information or to book a viewing appointment please visit our office or contact us via phone or e-mail. Ref: 1117

Paseo del Mediterraneo 197 - Mojacar - Almeria

Tel: 950 472 430 / 610 053 563

property group

property guide.... for sale

plot of land of 800m2 & villa 125m2 brick built up to & including roof Wonderful location & exceptional views yet 5 mins to town with all amenities.

Fully legal with escritora must be viewed!

Bargain Price - only 65,000€ To view or for more details 609 199 394

Apartment For Sale on golf course

1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, kitchen with white goods, Nice views of golf course parking, Mojacar approx 7 mins

now only

€39,950

T: 664 291 793 jescott29@hotmail.co.uk

Apartment to Rent

Los Almendros –Valle Del Este-Vera

Ground Floor Apartment, Fully furnished, fully equipped • Lounge/Diner • Shower room • 3 Double Bedrooms • Bathroom • Own Garden • 500€ a week

holiday let only

Communal Pool 25 paces from front door Suit Professional couple, Tel: 44(0)1256 880048 Reference required Ask for Karen Winters Holding deposit required

www.veritashomes.co.uk info@veritashomes.co.uk

Balearic property sales up by 30 per cent

According to a report on www.aplaceinthesun.com, the sale of property in the Spanish Balearic islands rose by 32.3 pert cent year-on-year in August, according to a new report.

901 property sales were made in the Balearics in August with 56 per cent of those for previously owned homes, representing a 61 per cent increase year-on-year, according to the data from The National Statistics Institute.

Nationwide, Spanish property sales increased by 3 per cent in August compared to the same month last year, reaching a total of 27,708 transactions – the first time sales have risen since February 2011. This is largely being credited to the government’s decision to cut VAT on new homes by 50 per cent until the end of the year.

Marc Pritchard, sales and marketing manager at Taylor Wimpey España, said: “Top properties in prime locations do sell at the right price, for example in Mallorca. Prices are stable on the island – it’s a resilient market with a good reputation. One thing to note is that the German market is definitely back. We have certainly seen much more interest from German buyers - probably the strongest in 10 years - on Mallorca. Last month 21 per cent of our sales came from German buyers.”

For more information read all about property abroad on The Place in the Sun website: www.aplaceinthesun.com

O

Contact: 607 705 085 or 687 938 466 C/Llanos, Bedar (Next to the Miramar Restaurant)

Open: Monday-Friday 10.00am-3.30pm

www.olivehouse-es.com

OLV478

Lubrin

Lubrin

Olive

This pretty, detached, stone Cortijo is situated in a quiet valley outside Lubrin. It has a lovely, quiet setting and would make a great project for someone looking for something in the Spanish countryside.

ONLY 19.950€

VERA APARTMENT FOR RENT LONG/SHORT-TERM/HOLIDAY RENTAL 2 BEDROOM, 2 BATHROOM, pENTHOUSE APARTMENT IN VERA PLAYA - ALL MOD CONS, BALCONY & ROOF TERRACE OFFERING FANTASTIC VIEWS

cALL 663 977 230 or EMAIL: gedfab@yahoo.com

Urgently required

farmhouses & equestrian properties For Sale

clients waiting to view info@icasaspain.com

...CALL 902 750 190 OR 950 121 936 ~ EMAIL: SALES@SOLTIMES.COM

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

New One Stop

summer offer ref.426 MOJACAR

99.950€

Tel: 950 473 040 Fax: 950 472 412

www.newonestop.com info@newonestop.com

Paseo del Mediterraneo 133, Mojacar Playa 04638, Almeria

EST. SINCE 2002

SUMMER BARGAIN, apartment with 2 double bedrooms, 2 baths, 79m² built plus 39m² south facing terrace with fantastic sea views, spacious living/dining room, 18M Private secure locked Garage, A/C hot & cold, furnished, beautiful communal pool & garden.

Transferring Currency Abroad?

REF.316

Mojacar

109.950€

REF.528

Mojacar

183.950€

REF.466

Mojacar

79.950€

Large townhouse centrally located & full of charm, with 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, large terrace, fully fitted kitchen, good size lounge, swimming pool, south facing, only 50m from the beach and all amenities, fantastic opportunity for summer or full time home.

REF.493

MOJACAR

89.950€

Luxury large furnished Penthouse, 1 bedroom + wardrobes & 1 bathroom, large Terrace 39m, sea & mountain views, fully fited kitchen, sold fully furnished, A/C (hot & cold), private locked garage of 18M, 2 communal pools, south facing.

turre

115.000€

reduced

An amazing 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms 220m detached villa with large private pool, located 5 minutes’ drive to beach, with the most stunning views of the area, air conditioning hot & cold, a huge under build of 120m, all this on a 815m² landscaped plot, electric remote control gated entry.

REF.515

mojacar

84.750€

Ground floor 2 beds, 1 bath, 2nd line Apartment, 25m terrace with open golf views, complete equipped American kitchen + white goods, living/diner room, beautiful pool & private secure Parking, A/C, fully furnished, quick sale required

REF.525

Mojacar

98.000€

Penthouse apartment with 1 double bed, 1 bath, 50m² built plus large 35m² sun terrace & 50m private solarium, with fantastic sea & Mountain Views, very sunny, spacious living/dining room, A/C hot & cold, furnished, beautiful communal pool & garden.

REF.077

garrucha

139.000€

bargain

Large townhouse centrally located, tastefully decorated, with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, terrace, good size fitted kitchen, lounge, on 2 floors with front garden, walking distance to all amenities, banks, shops and bars.

REF.172

229.950€

reduced

reduced

REF.524

mr villaricos

reduced

reduced

Large Duplex tastefully decorated, 99m built, 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, private garden & roof terrace with sea views, fully fitted kitchen, A/C hot & cold, communal pool & beautiful garden, close to all amenities.

REF.185

mojacar

349.995€

First floor golf apartment with 3 bedrooms,2 bathrooms, terrace with sea views, complete equipped large kitchen + white goods & laundry room, living/dining room, 2 beautiful swimming pools, A/C, fully furnished, easy access.

REF.268

el-calon

139.000€

Ground floor 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms apartment, approx. 106m², west-east facing, fully fitted kitchen, easy access, good size lounge-diner, terrace of 13m & store room, communal Pool, easy parking, walking distance to beach.

REF.492

turre

59.000€

reduced

A Spacious charming detached villa, 3/4 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, A/C Heating and cold, fitted kitchen Good size lounge with open fire place, private roof solarium with sea view, large lockup garage + private pool

Front line large Duplex of 112m built, south east facing, with sea views, 3 double bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, private front & rear terrace, small front garden & top floor terrace, lounge/diner with fire place, equipped kitchen, Large secure underground garage

BARGAIN PROPERTY, Brand new townhouse centrally located, 4 beds, 2 baths, terrace, kitchen, lounge/diner, communal swimming pool, quick sale required, and fantastic opportunity for holiday or full time home with incredible price

19

20

...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

tur r e

photos: casaturismorural.com lifestylehomesinspain.com olivehouse-es.com

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Call into our shop in Turre town square just along from the Cajamar bank

The small town at Turre is a few kilometres inland from Mojacar Playa and nestled at the foot of the beautiful Sierra Cabrera mountain range. The place is of Latin origin, the word ‘Turris’ meaning ‘tower’ is based on the watchtower that was built by the Moslims from Mojacar in the Nazaria period; this watchtower, was to protect the people from the continuous attacks by the Christians of Lorca Over the past years the towns population has grown rapidly and many expats have moved to this expanding town of many nationalities. With the main high street, many meandering side streets, town square, the Parish Church de la Purísima Concepción, constructed between 1861 and 1887 as well as other significant monuments, shops, bars and restaurants Turre has plenty to offer its residents and the many people who holiday in the area.

Thereareanumberoffiestasthattakeplace,oneforyourdiarytakesplacefromthe3-6thOctoberStFrancis ofAssisi,Localgames,livemusic,tastytapas andplentyofdancingtakeplaceonthisendofSummerfiesta.

During the summer months the town hall organised the Turre tapas trail where over 20 bars and restaurants took part. Many local special tapas are abundant to taste including Gurullos (Fried bread with garlic, spicy sausage, bacon…). Migas (Fired bread with garlic and spicy sausage) Snails and Wheat stew.

Festivals: Old Lady’s Day, 20 days before Holy Week; St Anthony of Padua, June; Festival of the Gypsies, 25th July; Summer festival, first week in August; St Francis of Assisi, 3-6th October; Inmaculada Concepción, 8th December telephone:

tyles hair & Beauty

sudo full body spray tan

644 496 198 678 992 093

20€

· rock star nails · Non-Surgical Face Lift · Waxing · Facials · Manicure/Pedicure · Cut & Blow Dry · Gents Cut · Colour, Cut & Blowdry · Foils bookings now being taken for Christmas Gift vouchers available for that special person

Chili Bar Turre

fab-u-loss fitness plate only 15€ per month unlimited use!

Book your appointment now on 644 496 198

Opposite Gillee’s Bar, Turre - call us for more info or visit www.styleshairdressers.com

Tel: 950 468 425

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

21

PEAR ON THIS FEATURE, PLEASE CALL SOPHIE ON 677 993 717

Chili bar boasts a spacious terrace where you can sit in the sun or shade every day and experience delicious authentic Indian tapas, Menu del dia/noche, Indian themed pizzas and kebabs, special cocktails and a full range of house and special dishes are also available eat in or Take away.

Gillee’s Bar is the bar to go for all football, English/Spanish and major sports events. Food menu includes Full English breakfasts, served all day, Friday is Fish & chips day and on Sundays a traditional roast dinner is served. Dave and Tina will certainally give you a warm welcome.

Solo sat is the number 1 company to use for all your satellite tv, air conditioning installations and repairs. Nik has over 10 years experience of fitting all types of satellite TV systems and air con units domestic and commercial, he is always happy to answer any queries you may have at anytime.

Styles has been in Turre 18 months now. Thanks to the commitment and hardwork of Michelle and Wendy, they do their best to offer their clients upto-date hairdressing and beauty treatments. You won’t be disappointed with any of the treatments they offer.

Super Corner has opened earlier this year under the friendly ownership of Simone and Nabir You can shop for all your British branded supplies whether the food you require is tinned, frozen, packet, or fresh, all at bargain prices. Open everyday.

Donna’s Boutique has a fabulous collection of quality clothing, sizes 8 - 28, which is constantly being updated. Many accessories including sparkly costume jewellery, hats, handbags to name a few, all at excellent prices! Donna’s eye for fashion makes every lady feel good in their outfit & that’s why her customers come back time after time.

Connexions is friendly couple Ken who offer a great computer From photocopying, adapters, network virus and spyware other amongst aswell as all your requirements.

run by and Gill service. repairs, mobile support, removal things internet

roller blinds repairs and is happy to be contacted any time about the work you may need done.

Mat Murray has been established in the Turre & surrounding areas for 14 years. He is highly skilled in swimming pool designs, construction, repairs, reformations and general building. Mat will be very happy to help with any building required.

Fundraiser’s Adene is involved in helping to raise monies for a number of local charities in the local area. They are always welcoming quality clothes, hangers & plastic bags aswell as books & all household items.

X-tone has now arrived, Kelli has moved from Mojacar and now set up her circuit of toning chairs in Turre situated behind The piano bar. Safe and easy to use even for the unfittest of use. Ideal for stroke rehab, reduces high blood pressure & helps with arthritis, new hip/knee joints without strain.

Cafe Sports Bar - Avenida de Almeria 55, Turre, Almeria prize Bingo tuesday 4pm all day breakfasts Sunday darts on friday night from €3.50 Roast Christmas bookings friday Fish & chips 2 courses 10€ now being taken only 7.50€ 1 course €7.50 25€per person Spanish TV, SKy, Abu Dhabi

telephone: 634 309 540

The people’s charity, The Peoples Choice

Run totally by volunteers

Helping the disabled Cancer Research Vera Orphanage We put our hearts Asprodalba and many more

into helping

Autumn stock now in Opposite Super Turre in Turre & Maxi Dia in Vera Open 6 days a week... times on shop doors Contact 664 620 288

The No Sweat Workout

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TURRE t: 664 550 661

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Nick Howe Chief Technician

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ADVANCED VEKA WINDOW SOLUTIONS

VISION WITH QUALITY

Windows & Doors Glazing Guttering Roller shutter repairs Advance windows is garage doors Turre’s local window and

door specialists. Steve is installing in competent windows & doors, glazing,

The Fundraiser Charity & Community Shops

Call Stephen for more information

610 924 160

construction • Pool construction • Pool makeovers & repairs • p roject management • all building projects & reforms Mat Murray 647 841 750 matmurrayes@gmail.com All insurance work undertaken established in spain for 14 years - fully legal

Fabulous Clothing & Acessories in Turre, nect to Meson del pobre

Supplier of UK branded clothing at affordable prices Sizes 8 - 28 catered for

Now a stockist of the Ahh Bra private events and house parties catered for!

677 542 931

www.donnasboutique.es

22

...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

OPEN for business

tel: 950 930 900 968 969 962 Solar Oil Gas Solid Fuel pellet

Solar Hot Water & Pool Heating Full Heating Installations Water Treatment Systems Water Deposits & Pumps

fully legal company with public liability insurance carlos.saliente@gmail.com • www.carlossaliente.com Cortijo Pipa, Avda de Limaria 1, Limaria, arboleas

EU summit: France says bank deal helps eurozone fusion

The French president says a deal to start building a banking union on 1 January will enable the eurozone to speed up economic integration.

“Thanks to this we can advance more quickly and with more assurance,” Francois Hollande said in Brussels.

He was speaking after EU leaders agreed to set up a single banking supervisor for the 17-nation eurozone - a key step towards a banking union.

But Mr Hollande also said EU states “need different speeds” of integration.

“We should have a council of the eurozone to meet on a regular basis...

We need different speeds - that’s agreed by everyone now, and there are even some moving backwards,” he told a news conference.

Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel insisted again that “quality takes

precedence over speed” in setting up the banking union.

It has been agreed that the European Central Bank (ECB), as supervisor-in-chief, will have the power to intervene in any of the eurozone’s 6,000 banks.

The deal appears to be a compromise between France and Germany, who earlier disagreed over the timing and over the number of banks the ECB would oversee.

A legislative framework is to be in place by 1 January, with the supervisory body starting work later in 2013.

The timetable remains important, because only when the body is fully operational will the eurozone’s new rescue fund, the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), be able to recapitalise struggling banks directly, without adding to a country’s sovereign debt pile.

English Mobile Mechanic Need a Translator?... or help with NIE, Cadastre etc?

Working in conjunction with Lawyers & Spanish officials Translation Services

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• NIE & Residencias • Cadastre • Conveyancing of properties • New Building Declarations • and many more!

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A priority is to rescue weak banks in Spain, where a recent audit put the bailout requirement at 59.3bn euros (£48.3bn; $77.4bn).

But the Greek crisis also looms large, as the EU awaits a key report from the “troika” of international lenders - the ECB, European Commission and International Monetary Fund.

Mr Hollande insisted that “Greece’s presence in the eurozone should not be questioned any more” and Mrs Merkel said the Greek government was “really making an all-out effort” to reform its economy.

Meanwhile, Spain’s main trade unions have called a general strike for 14 November, coinciding with similar protests in Portugal and Greece.

Article courtesy of www.bbc.co.uk/news

Bugs

Mosquito Screens & Blinds

Pull-down / Sliding Blinds replacement & Screens, Windows & windows & doors Patios Aluminuim & UPVC fitted Vertical Blinds & made to measure Security Grills ttin Supplying & Fi g Windows Awnings

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All Areas Covered - speedy Response Call Now for Your No-Obligation Quote Get the best for less Tel: 600 049 515

POOL SHOP

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any 2 Tubs Of either Multi, Shock or Chlorine tablets for just 36€

insurance quotes available

winteriseRS available still only 15€ FIND US In Longo’s Courtyard

Shop: 950 104 345 or Maintenance: 637 582 696

TYRE KING

New Walls New Roofs Structual Alterations professional bricklayer Building for you Phone Gerard - 626 730

The Best Deal for Miles

car - motorcycle - van - 4x4 - motorhome - quad - trailer - wheelbarrow

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● All new tyres supplied have manufacturers warranty ● Computerised tracking including 4x4s ● While you wait service ● Motorbike tyre specialists balancing - computerised laser tracking - puncture Poligono El Real, Calle El Garcel F19, Antas - 950 459 253 e: tyreking@ymail.com - Mon - Fri: 9.30 - 17.30

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domestic & commercial supplied & fitted many colours & styles all areas covered free quotations signwriting service FOR COMMERCIAL

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Email: solshaders@live.co.uk

HIRE A HUSBAND

Professional, reliable, handy man available for all the jobs he doesn’t get round to, including Van Removals, Painting, Small Plumbing Jobs, Shelves, Garden Clearance, All Outside Work.

Walls, Stone Cladding, Rendering etc.

Good hourly / daily rate. 6 yrs in the area.

Call Jim 677 557 190 Evenings 950 930 596 References available. Pics of work completed.

LOGS FOR SALE

*** Prices held for a 3rd year *** - Grade a Olive - No Roots - Best Prices Available

Tel: 687 314 775

Same Day Delivery & Stacking Service Available

elite plant hire construction & drainage

• general builders • walls • jcb 3cx hire • paving • patios • extensions • roofing • cladding references available call lee on 636 092 632 eliteplanthire@hotmail.co.uk

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

Spain’s PM Rajoy gets mixed regional poll results

Nationalist parties in Spain’s Basque Country have won regional elections, an outcome expected to fuel calls for independence.

The conservative Basque Nationalist Party came top in the poll, closely followed by the Euskal Herria Bildu coalition of left-wing separatists.

In Galicia’s regional poll, the centre-right People’s Party of PM Mariano Rajoy held on to its absolute majority.

The elections are seen as a key test of the government’s austerity policy.

The Basque Nationalist Party (PNV) won 27 seats in the regional parliament, while Bildu took 21.

The opposition Socialist Party trailed in third place with 16 seats, followed by the Popular Party (PP) with 10.

The Basque elections have been described as a landmark by analysts.

Bildu was established following the Spanish government’s decision to ban the political wing of the armed separatist group Eta nearly 10 years ago.

The party represents the political ambitions of those who in the past supported Eta, although unlike its predecessor, it has publicly condemned the use of violence for political ends.

• Painting & decoration • Machinery • Protective clothing • Swimming pools • Technical support

Ramon y Cajal 8. Albox Tel: 664 832 425 kloc@kloc.es www.kloc.es

David

665 517 643

Steve

610 905 173 valleyconstruction2008@gmail.com

Fully Legal & Experienced Builders All Building Work Undertaken No Job Too Big or Small!!

Phone or email for a no obligation quote

Log-on-Tommy

Stacking service available Free Kindling with every full load

now incorporating “Sammy Sweep”

Both Bildu and PNV are expected to form a coalition, and may then push for a referendum on independence, causing a headache for the central government in Madrid, especially as the result comes weeks before elections in another Spanish region, Catalonia, where calls for a referendum on independence are also growing, press reports indicate.

PNV leader Inaki Urkullu gave little away about any coalition plans, but told a post-election rally in Bilbao: “A new era has started”.

Laura Mintegi, head of the Bildu coalition, told supporters: “It is time to start thinking as a people, as a nation. It is time to stop the orders from Madrid”.

Away from the Basque Country, Mr Rajoy enjoyed poll success in his native Galicia after his PP gained three extra seats, to secure 41 seats in the 75-member regional assembly. The Socialists took 18 seats, while two nationalist parties secured 16 seats.

Spain has been in economic difficulty since the 2008 global financial crisis caused a big crash in the property market, triggering huge losses at its banks. Its recession is forecast to deepen, and the country’s 17 regional governments are laden with heavy debts.

Unemployment stands at about 25% nationally, and 21% in Galicia. There have been widespread protests against public spending cuts.

OFFICIAL HITS AGENTS IN ALBOX

WE HAVE THE FULL RANGE OF HITS PHONES & SIM CARDS IN STOCK Contact us now on: Tel: 950 064 584 | Mob: 654 590 258 Email: info@solymarspain.com | Web: www.solymarspain.com We also offer all major mobile top ups from our office

SMITH PLUMBING SL official gas installers to Spanish Regs IG II New Installations Safety Checks Gas Boletins Issued Fully Insured 19 years experience in this area

Tel: 950 468 041

James & Son Removals / Storage

UK, France & Spain personal shopping from the UK

Small Cut Olive Logs No Roots For The Smaller Fire

619 070 839

(Argos, Screwfix, Wickes etc)

Pet Transportation & Competitive Rates 950 529 731 / 627 968 434

23

FOR GREAT autumn ADVERTISING RATES CALL 950 121 936 Satellite TV Systems 1.2m Dish Cable, Bracket, LNB installed €150 Satellite Re-alignment Inc, SD Freesat Box €220

Internet Via Satellite Console Repairs General Electrical E-mail: enquires@mbitalmanzora.es Electronic Repairs

Telephone: 646 341 575

City & Guilds & ACS qualifications, CORGI registered with 10 years experience

Chris: 637 82 97 87 / 618 06 20 80 Gas & Oil Fired Central Heating - Gas Appliances Plumbing - Servicing - Repairs - Installations FREE QUOTATIONS & ADVICE

easyclean

window polishing

weekly, fortnightly or monthly

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quality work

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tel: 618 980 302

Albox & Surrounding areas

Lulu’s

Peluqueria Canina

professional dog grooming parlour Lisa is City & Guilds qualified she sets the standard Others Try to follow

Nail Clipping and Anal Glands - Only 5€ each!

No need for appointment closed mondays - you can still call 697 569 750 for appointments

Open 10.30am - 6pm Tuesday - Friday Avda LePanto, 20, 04800, Albox, next door to Eurowise

Tel: 950 952 940 . 697 569 750

Clean Team British Plasterer Domestic & Commercial Cleaning Services Quality Cleaning at an Affordable Price 100% Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed

Regular or One-Off Service No Job Too Big or Too Small All Areas Covered Tel: 950 930 652 Mob: 634 332 502 E-mail: Cleanteam.es@gmail.com

www.almeriabuilders.com w Ne rms a al

ful ly est lega 200 l 2

All types of building work carried out see our website for more details

info@almeriabuilders.com Joseph Scott Tel: 659 685 133

• 8 years in Spain with 25 years experience • Quality work guaranteed • References available

Tel: 634 327 201 / 661 129 028 Email: atpspain@gmail.com www.paulmorrison.es S.M.S.BUILDING MAINTENANCE

All Building Work Undertaken Garages, Patios, Boundary Walls,Renovations, Cladding, Enclosures, Painting & Decorating (from 50€ per room including paint) Also All Exterior Painting and Damp Proofing

( No job Too Small)

GUARANTEED TO BEAT ANY QUOTE For free estimate or advice please call

Steve on 950930536 or 634306690

Email : Steven561@btinternet.com

MOBILE VEHICLE VALETING PART & FULL VALETS - T CUTS & POLISHING - INTERIORS UPHOLSTERY CLEANING - SOFAS AND RUGS

24

...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

Mojacar Royal British Legion Kick Off The Poppy Appeal In Style

A record number of members and friends of The Royal British Legion Mojacar branch met on Saturday at Hotel Continental to enjoy a fabulous dinner and dance. The evening started with cava and canapés before taking to their seats to feast on a well prepared meal followed by music supplied by Brian Dee who proved to be in top form judging by the numbers taking to the dance floor. The whole event proved highly enjoyable with some excellent raffle prizes donated by some local restaurants and businesses together with some from individual members.

You do not need to have served in the armed forces to be a member to enjoy the wide variety of events held throughout the year and the group meet on the first and third Thursday of each month in the artisan centre. More information is available on http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/mojacar or telephone 950 473 025

saturday 3RD NOVEMBER

It’s go....go....go.... from Taberna Cristina for the annual Wacky Races event...

This will be the 6th year that this successful charity event has taken place with proceeds going to Asprodalba, Puppy Rescue, and Villaricos Church towards flowers for Easter.

This year’s race will follow the same format adopted last year and teams will race against the clock. The fastest cart around the course will receive a voucher for 150 euros, 2nd place 100 euros and 3rd place 50 euros. On the day there will be 3 wild cart entries accepted no later then 11.30am. Each team can have 5 members, minimum age 12 years and the driver should wear protective head wear. They will race a provided cart especially made for this event at a cost of 25 euros entry fee and hopefully obtain some sponsorship.

In addition there will be stalls, a raffle (can you donate any prizes please) a bouncy castle, “hook a duck” and face painting for the children. There’s a B.B.Q, singing, line dancing, belly dancing and a dog show (we need more dogs to enter).

First race starts at 12 noon and afternoon events finish around 4pm.

If you can’t make the races then come along to the evening entertainment starting at 7.30pm. We have the fabulous Los Gringos to entertain us until late.

If you need any more information or details please ring Taberna Cristina on 693 743 791 and speak to Martyn or Irene.

Albox Football Ground

da

ni

Peugeot Garage

o

nt

pa

x

Le

Atrium

de

Tel: 648 608 799

Mercadona

e Av

Avda. Lepanto 36, 04800 Albox (Next to Total Entertainment) Open MonDAY - Saturday 10am - 2pm

Total Entertainment

ALBOX

cl os ingbig n sale... dow30% off everything in store Open 10am - 2pm daily

we

are

here

!

BP Garage

(inc furniture)

Last Day

tuesday 30th October

don’t miss out on these fantastic bargains!

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

25

Financial Services For Expats

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QROPS Speacialists Confused about QROPS? Need to release a cash lump sum?

Call us for a plain speaking, no jargon chat about how we can help you.

AES INTERNATIONAL

Main Office – Torrevieja C/Bautista Bertomeu Sober (Near Aquapolis Water Park) 03183 Torrevieja, Spain Open: Mon – Fri (10am to 2pm) Tel: 965 704 338

Murcia Region Orihuela/Mar Menor/Murcia Mazarron Steve Higgins Tel: 968 978 188 Mob: 634 017 511

HERE FOR THE FUTURE

www.AESinternational.es AES International is a trading style of AES Financial Services Ltd which is registered with the Comissión.

Nacional del Mercado del Valores (CNMV) and Dirección General de Seguros y Fondos de Pensiones (DGS) and is authorised to give investment advice under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID). Some of the investment examples advertised may be unregulated collective investment schemes (UCIS) and may not be suitable for all investors. Investors should always speak with their advisor as to the suitability of these investments within their portfolio. It does not constitute an offer to enter into any contract or agreement, nor is it a solicitation to buy or sell any investment.

...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

coffee break STANDARD CROSSWORD

Down 1 A composite (6) 2 Fixed (6) 3 Insect stage (5) 4 Lukewarmly (7) 6 Honors (9) 7 Grow on trees (8) 8 Unwarranted (8) 11 Beige (4) 15 Freedoms (9) 17 Withdraws (8) 18 Sloped (8) 20 Nature of being (4) 21 Having a superior position (7) 22 American neighbor (6) 23 Land surrounded by water (6) 26 A poem by Homer (5)

in health resorts (9) 5 Dog track? (5) 6 Outcomes of student’s union Lieutenant entering about second (7) 7 Proposed guests almost edge off (9) 10 Confine without belonging to you and me to inspire (9) 13 Colour that might be preceded by milk? (9) 15 Striking ten in chaos after formal dance (9) 17 1down-able final in short photo (7) 19 Faithfulness of toy ally, perhaps (7) 21 Negative student body that I’m up before (5) 22 Wrote down “famous” (5)

Down 1 Shape of fungus? (5) 2F irst degree is similar to aversion (7) 3 Europeans lift sewer

HARD SUDOKU

Very Hard!

CRYPTIC crossword

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across 1T he majority of French on the inside are humble (6) 4 Shops in Harrods to restock (6) 8 Redhead girl without American language (7) 9 Portion of a book’s journey (7) 11 Extra plus for little Alexander (10) 12 S tarts to let in evil students - they’re not true! (4) 13 Exonerate some tragic learner (5) 14 Contrary to Pope is failure (8) 16 C ompany show-off takes a thousand for writer of music (8) 18 L ubricated love? I was first! (5) 20 S omewhere to sit for head of Society (stupid oaf!) (4) 21 E xaggerating good news at first, if negative principle of Chinese philosophy appears in magazine (10) 23 G ently hitting at can, within parental guidance (7) 24 N ew year illuminated inside for the truth (7) 25 S omehow sees 90 spare (6) 26 R emained a first year in Ted’s confusion (6)

SUDOKU PUZZLE

Sudoku is a placement puzzle. Enter the numbers 1 to 9 in each row and column of a grid, made up of 3 x 3 subgrids. The catch is that each row, column and grid must contain only one instance of each number or letter.

Across 1 Humbleness (8) 5 Monkey-bread tree (6) 9 Insolvent (8) 10 Discarded food (6) 12 The official language of Iceland (9) 13 Community (5) 14 Kill (4) 16 Take one’s clothes off (7) 19 Give a title to someone (7) 21 Singlet (4) 24 King or Empress (5) 25 Sentries (9) 27 Frank (6) 28 Cathedral (8) 29 Gets pleasure from causing pain (6) 30 Resembling a tree in form (8)

Belief in oneself is one of the most important bricks in building any successful venture. Lydia M. Child

STANDARD SUDOKU

26

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

HALLOWEEN 3 page SPECIAL

Halloween or Hallowe’en - a contraction of its original title “All Hallows’ Evening” also known as All Hallows’ Eve, is a ANNUAL holiday observed around the world on October 31, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows.

Most scholars believe that All Hallows’ Eve was originally influenced by western European harvest festivals and festivals of the dead with pagan roots, particularly the Celtic Samhain.

Others maintain that it originated independently of Samhain.

Typical festive Halloween activities include trick-ortreating (also known as “guising”), attending costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns, lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions, playing pranks, telling scary stories, and watching horror films.

WHATEVER YOU’RE DOING THIS HALLOWEEN, HAVE FUN BEING SCARY...

HALLOWEEN PARTY

AT pool BAR, PARTALOA Come along on Wednesday 31st October and enjoy a Halloween Night of LIVE MUSIC with Matt Black singing all of your rock’n’roll favourites from the 50’s & 60’s as well as hits from The Rolling Stones, The Beatles & Many More..

TICKETS ONLY 3€ Entrance to include Chilli & Rice OR Curry & Rice...

PRIZES FOR THE BEST FANCY DRESS TOO!

For more information call Michelle 677 874 852

showbar & restaurant

The Irish Rover

Your No1 Entertainment Venue in Mojacar for All the Family

Wednesday 31st October

halloween party Entertainment karaoke & party games

from 7pm - 9pm childrens fancy dress competition from 9pm - late Adults Fancy dress competition

La

Cucador

VidaRestaurant&Venue

Delicious menu and a great selection wine, a friendly, relaxed atmosphere, plenty of comfort and leg room.

Waitress service with a smile.

Enjoy stunning views of olive groves and mountains.

this SATURDAY

our main menu includes 16oz steaks mixed grill fresh fish & salmon

27TH OCTOBER

WED-SAT

halloween dinner dance

6:30-9:30pm

Menu

plus de la Noche

dinner dance

2 COURSES 10.95€

GREAT value MENU CHANGES WEEKLY

3 courses plus 1/2 bottle of wine

€15.95

or main course & glass of wine/beer 7 - 7.30pm

book your table now

booking advisable

€8.95

telephone: 950 473 135

mojacar playa between Lua & Moma Beach Open 10am till late

fridays

Beer-battered cod, homemade chips & peas

Live music & dancing from 9pm with

from

brendan o’dee

5.95€ in the Bar

a raffle with fab prizzes to be won proceeds to F.A.C.E.

booking advisable

Bookings now being taken for our traditional

traditional

sunday lunch

6 course

frankie’s bar

Friday Live entertainment come and enjoy a drink at your friendly local

Rocky Horror Halloween

Wed 31st October

Halloween Pa Part rty y

9pm - late

home cooked

12.30PM - 5PM

christmas day meal With

live music

fISH OF THE DAY OPTION ALSO AVAILABLE

from the brilliant

Kris Kelly Fancy Dress Buffet & Witches Br ew

All day Friday: Beer-Battered cod & chips €7.50 probably the largest fish n chips in the area

tel: 662 47 48 61

booking advisable

Email or call for the menu Open Every Day 12pm - Late

Tel: 950 634 562 lavidacucador@gmail.com

We are here

Albox Arboleas Zurgena La Alfoquia

Mojacar

E15

1km

La Vida

Cucador Junc 547 Huercal Overa

book the Venue

For your Private Parties, Weddings and Birthdays etc.

27

28

...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

SPOOKY FOOD FOR HALLOWEEN

Ingredients 100g cherry tomatoes; 150g pack mini mozzarella balls, drained; handful basil; 400g green tagliatelle; 350g jar tomato sauce; 4 tbsp fresh pesto

mETHOD Halve the cherry tomatoes and use a small, sharp knife or a teaspoon to remove the seeds. Cut the mozzarella balls in half. Place one half inside each tomato, trimming the edges if necessary to fit it in. Either cut the smallest circles you can from a basil leaf or finely chop the leaves and scrunch into small circles. Place one at the centre of each mozzarella ball.

Boil the pasta. Meanwhile, heat through the tomato sauce. When the tagliatelle is cooked, drain and stir through the pesto and any remaining basil, chopped finely. Divide between 4-6 serving bowls. Spoon over some tomato sauce, then arrange the stuffed tomato eyeballs on top.

667

919

Café Bar

025

LA ALFOQUIA, ZURGENA

Live music now showing horse racing daily

kris kelly

with

race night

f r i d ay 2 6

s at 2 7

th

th

oct

Open Monday - Friday 8am til late Saturday & Sunday 9am til late

ALBOX

NEW TEAM • NEW LOOK • NEW MENU from 9am til late Mon - sat

MENU DEL DIA

5€

2 Courses Every Day 12-3 Except Fridays

All Day Breakfast from 9am Includes FREE Tea or Coffee

Bar Menu, Snacks & Home-made puddings

Including Burgers, Lasagne, Omelettes, chilli Home-Made Hand Cut Chips..

Cod ‘n’ Chips - fridayS Beer-battered Atlantic Cod, Homemade

from Chips, Mushy or Garden Peas…

5.95€ Friday 12 - 9pm, Saturday 12 - 4pm Whats on at jacks?

witches brew Mesón de

Irene

Unmissable offer!

Free Bottle

of La Mancha Red or white wine per couple to take away with any of our night menus

Valid only with this voucher Mon - Sat: 19.00 - 22.00

Great Food at Great Prices Tel: 633 684 855

WednesdayS B ingo Eyes Down 2.30PM Spot Prizes. Cash Prizes

This Weeks Rollover JACKPOT 250E, Play Your Cards Right 30E FREE

live Football

Saturday and weekday Premier League, Cup and European Matches (Details on notice board & Smooth FM) ∙ Ceroc Dancing ∙ ROCK ‘N’ ROLL ∙ LINE DANCING

∙ KEEP FIT ∙ SLIMMING CLUB ∙ CRIB CLUB

Coming soon ALBOX

@

BP Garage

•••

← ARBOLEAS BAZA → A •••A 950 120 718 / 610 641 567 v. LepLBOX an to → jacksalbox@gmail.com

Cherry’s Famous Weekly Quiz With Cash Prizes

La Alfoquia, Plaza Santa Ana (Opposite the Old Station) Open Everyday 9.30am - 11pm (except Monday) Kitchen open 9.30am - 4pm, 7 - 11pm

now showing all champions league & la liga games

Sunday Lunch

∙ COMPUTER CLUB ∙ GENEALOGY ∙ ART CLASSES

#

onl y

Ingredients 1 tbsp olive oil; onion, finely chopped; 1 garlic clove, crushed; 650g frozen petits pois; 750ml vegetable stock; 6 rashers streaky bacon; 1 tbsp butter, optional

oct

Fis h & Ch ips Pi e & ch ip s Sunday Roast

fORMERELY rUMORES

Eyeball pasta

Served 2 - 6pm

Choose from Beef, Pork or Chicken with all the trimmings! wed 31st from 7pm

Halloween Party

Prizes for the best dressed man & woman

From €4,95

curry or chilli con carne only €4.95 booking essential

now serving GuiNness & strongbow Caña with a tapas only €1

mETHOD Heat the oil in a saucepan. Add the onion and gently cook over a medium heat for 5-6 mins until softened but not coloured. Add the garlic and cook for a further min. Stir in three-quarters of the petit pois, then pour in the stock. Bring to the boil and simmer for 1012 mins. Meanwhile, grill the bacon until crisp.

Allow to cool for a few mins, then carefully transfer to a food processor and whizz until smooth.

You might need to do this in two batches, depending on the size of your processor.

Return the soup to the pan and add the remaining petit pois.

Bring to the boil and simmer for 2 mins or until the whole peas are tender. Season to taste, then stir in the butter, if using. Break the bacon into pieces and scatter over bowls or mugs of soup. The soup can be made up to a day ahead; just grill the bacon on the day

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

creepy bites

Hostal Rural

ingredient 320g pack soft wheat tortillas; 3 tbsp vegetable oil; 50g poppy or black sesame seeds mETHOD Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Use biscuit cutters to stamp out shapes from the tortillas (we used a ghost, cat and witch’s hat). Brush all over with oil. Take half the bites and dip one side into the seeds, then spread the bites out on a baking sheet. Bake for 10-15 mins until crisp. Can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored in an airtight container.

18th November

hellfire spread ingredient ½ squash , peeled, deseeded and diced; 1 tbsp vegetable oil; ½ tsp ground cumin; 3 tbsp mascarpone mETHOD Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Toss together the butternut squash and oil, then season. Place on a shallow baking tray and roast for 20-30 mins until browned. Leave to cool. Whizz the squash together with the cumin and mascarpone, season and serve.

Can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored in the fridge

slime sludge

ingredients 2 avocados , peeled and stoned; 2 spring onions , chopped; 1 tomato , chopped; juice 1 lime; handful coriander leaves, chopped method Place all the ingredients in a blender or mortar. Whizz or mash everything together until smooth. Serve immediately or the avocado will discolour.

29

HALLOWEEN PARTY in association with

PAWS

Tickets 10€

available from Thomas’s Supermarket

Greek Restaurant Eudoxia

Greek Food at its

BEST...!

Tel: 663 314 445 paseo del med, 85, Mojacar Playa 200m from Best Indalo Hotel find us on

Eudoxia

gastronomy

open

everyday

Christmas at Bookings are now being taken for our Christmas Day Menu

DEL DIA Traditional 4MENU Courses with Wine & Coffee christmas Included - Mon to Sat inclusive lunch 5 Courses all nights...

Lunch 1pm - 4pm Dinner 7pm - 10pm

ONLY 35€ pp

grilled 14oz Entrecote Beef Steak 16oz T-Bone Steak Slow Roast Shoulder of Lamb

have your christmas party with us

sunday roast menu del dia

(booking essential)

Our usual night time menu including roast lamb and roast pork

Bridge

Baza/Fines ► ◄ Albox

→

→

Petrol Station

→

→

→

→

→

ITV

MESON DE IRENE

→

Early booking essential

4 courses with bottle of ESTE Roast Lamb Shoulder & Pork Knuckle, Roast Potatoes & Vegetables

Lunch 1pm - 4pm

vegetarian menu available Childrens menu available FREE WIFI

New Covered Smoking Terrace Open Monday to Saturday 7am ‘til late Sunday 9am - 4pm Booking Recommended Spanish Speaking 950 430 145 English Speaking 647 730 103

P o l I G O N O I n d u s t r i a l A l b o x , N e a r t h e I T V G a r a g e

w w w.me s onde i re ne.com

(Served in one sitting from 1pm) • Cava Served On Arrival

• Meditteranean Broth – Served with fresh bread • Home Made Chicken and Port Pate Served with fresh salad, onion jam & wholemeal toast • Prawn and Crab Timbale Served with fresh salad and balsamic dressing • Wardie Mushrooms stuffed with blue cheese in a light tempura batter, served with fresh salad & balsamic dressing • Golden Roast Turkey Served with local vegatables, cranberry & sausage stuffing, pigs in blankets • Rib Eye of Beef Served with all the above with a rich Rioja gravy • Poached Salmon Fillet in a Light Hollandaise Sauce • Traditional Christmas Pudding Served with a Brandy Sauce • Bramley apple and Mixed Fruit Crumble • Meringue & Ice Cream Mess with Baileys • Or Mince Pies & Coffee / Tea Reservations Essential

25€

Paseo del Mediterraneo 89, Mojacar T: 950 615 591 Mob: 634 361 954 / 634 347 256 www.arriba-mojacar.com email: westie1020@aol.com

30

...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

. . .

T U O B A & T OU

free wifi

Downstairs on the sea front next to the Irish Rover Look out for our live entertainment evenings

sunday Roast menu of the day

3 courses €10 3 course - €10.50 the night of u main course - €7.50 men

Bar open 10am - LATE Food served all day from 10.30am Last orders 10pm

3 courses €11.50

regular TRIBUTE SHOWS see website for details

tel: 950 473 099 www.beachcombermojacar.com

La Cena

Restaurante

Albox

menu del noche 3 starters, 5 mains & 3 deserts Full A La Carte also available

two new added Sunday Sizzler €8.95 options to the menu including a carafe of wine per couple del noche

Tuesday - Saturday 7.30pm - late. Sunday 2pm - 6pm Closed Monday. Call 950 430 930 after 5.30pm Find us across the old bridge from Palza Mayor Albox, opp Bar Wassy

tranger come S WelRestaurante, Limaria

Menu of the Evening, 3 courses 9.95€ including a drink A la Carte from 6.50€ for a main course Menu of the Day 7.75€ including a drink Wednesday Lunch, Midweek Roast, Beef or Pork & Tea or Coffee €5 Thursday and Friday Steak Night 7.95€ Lunch-time Menu from 5€ Sunday Lunch 5€ or 3 course 9.75€ Established 7 years

950 432 719

The Food Crazy cow Cafe cooked with love All food freshly cooked to order You will not be disappointed!

Breaking news

New winter dishes plus all your old favourites

Last food orders at 6.30pm

Winter Opening Times Tues - Sat 12noon - 7pm Sun 12noon - 4.30pm Closed Monday WE ARE OPPOSITE PLAYA BLANCA, MOJACAR PLAYA SEE YOU THERE XX Tel: 697 465 620 Email: crazycowcafe@yahoo.com thecrazycowcafe

LA CENA, in Albox is a fine dining experience without the expense. A beautifully decorated restaurant run by husband and wife team Simon and Carol. At the moment they are serving a superb Menu Del Noche where you can choose from a choice of 3 starters, 5 mains and 3 deserts.

They also offer an alternative to the Sunday lunch, a Sunday Sizzler at just €8.95 per person, with a carafe of wine per couple included! If any of this has wetted your appetite, call 950 430 930 after 5.30pm today!

THE CRAZY COW BAR & CAFÉ on Mojacar Playa, just opposite Playa Blanca have a new menu available! They are still cooking famous tapas (mini meals) including cottage pie, curry, fishcakes and many other favourites all freshly cooked to order!

Just go along and graze on a selection, you will not be disappointed! For more information call 666 891 340 (closed Mondays).

Cliff & Julie have owned and run THE WELCOME STRANGER RESTAURANT & BAR in Limaria, Arboleas for 7 years and pride themselves in top quality food and service at this hidden gem in the valley of Limaria. They offer classic choices with innovative twists, vegetarian options, all dishes are made on the premises. There are outside terraces available to dine on or to simply enjoy a refreshing drink. Steak Specials Nights on Thursday & Friday with rump steak, homemade chips, peas, mushrooms & tomatoes for just €7.95!

The menu of the night and the a la carte menus are available EVERY evening. They also do an extremely popular Sunday lunch (see main ad for more details), bookings advisable and now offer a mid week roast too on a Wednesday – choose between beef and pork for just €5! They are closed for one day TODAY, 10th October, but for more info and to reserve a table call 950 432 719.

Tonight, 24th October, BEACHCOMBER hosts ‘Red’, a Carpenter’s tribute. In ‘Red’s’ 2nd set she sings the songs of The Carpenters with her unique voice. Her first set will be easy listening songs and the final set, which takes us up to the midnight hour, will be more. Other artist’s songs Red will cover are, Shania Twain, The Marvelettes, Dusty Springfield, Barbara Streisand, Neil Sedaka, Gladys Knight and The Corrs plus many more.

Future events include, 7th November, A night with Darren Anthony and 21st November, a Tribute to Rock and Roll including a tribute to Elvis. As usual, Beachcomber continues to serve delicious food at affordable prices – you’ll be amazed at the quality and affordability! For more info call 950 473 099.

Firewalls

Last time I introduced you to the personality type of the Hacker and Cracker to show the differences between them.

Now maybe the next question should be “How can I make it too difficult for them to get onto my computer?”.

You may be surprised to know that most of you already have 3 superb forms of defence against unwanted intrusion.

These are: the “Firewall”; your “virus scanner” and finally a “password”.

Passwords is the next topic on the list. Viruses, virus scanners and monitors we looked at recently, so for this week we will look at what a “firewall” is and how this single piece of technology is the reason why malware and spyware need you to invite them onto your computer.

I can hear you already, “What is a firewall?”. Historically a firewall was a method of protection, a barricade around your living and sleeping areas. It was usually made of anything that would burn, ready to be lit should invaders or wild animals try to encroach upon your space or have you as a tapa. In your computer the firewall serves a similar job.

Definition of a firewall: “A firewall can either be software-based or hardwarebased and is used to help keep a network secure. Its primary objective is to control the incoming and outgoing network traffic by analysing the data packets and determining whether it should be allowed through or not, based on a predetermined rule set. A network’s firewall builds a bridge between an internal network that is assumed to be secure and trusted, and another network, usually an external (inter)network, such as the Internet, that is not assumed to be secure and trusted. “. Anyone interested (or boring) enough, should look at Wikipedia as a starting point for further information.

What is network traffic; data packets and rule sets? In truth, these are the “nuts and bolts” that make things work. It’s very much like driving. All we need to know is that we accelerate to get there quicker, use the clutch to change gear and brake when we have arrived – the rest, while it works, isn’t important. In the same way we don’t have to worry about how it works. It just does, and does it brilliantly!

First thing to know it that most operating systems have either a built-in firewall or have a separate program to perform the function. Windows have had their firewall since XP (Service pack 2). Unix, Linux and all the variants also have firewalls as does Apples’ OS. and, with the numerous updates that they consistently throw at your with such gay abandon, you can sleep well knowing that your constantly vigilant firewall is defending your personal information from the bad people who want to do bad things just because they can, whether they are private individuals, corporate entities or governing bodies (Oops, a little conspiracy theory thrown in)!

So, on that upbeat note, until next week, keep dry, keep safe and sleep well.

For further information or advice on computing, contact Trevor on canducomputing@hotmail.co.uk

La FREE

VidaBar Cucador

menu del dia

12.30 - 3.30 MON - THURS + SAT 2 COURSES 6€, 3 COURSES 8€ all Lite bite take-away Premier food menu league available served football 12pm-8pm until 8pm all welcome live ladies friendly darts wed 8pm

SAXON REAL ALE ON TAP - ONLY 2.40€ PER PINT blackthorn cider

ESTRELLA ONLY 2€ PER PINT Open Every Day 12pm - Late Tel: 950 634 562

lavidacucador@gmail.com book the Venue: For your Private Parties, Weddings and Birthdays etc.

www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

31

COMMUNITY NEWS halloween extravaganza

at Mar Y Luna Restaurant San Juan de Los Terreros

Fri 26th Oct 8pm

• Fabulous Buffet •W elcome drink from the witches cauldron.

•B ring your own broomsticks • Fancy dress (optional), • Prize for the best costume.

Entertainment with the renowned Tony Justice Tickets 12€pp available from Mar y Luna Restaurant Mandy@sananimal.org or Traudl@sananimal.org San Animal Sanuario

the chippy....... Ladies Charity Night................

The Chippy in Vera Opposite Iceland Car Park have some fantastic deals on Saturday Night Only .

Saturday Night Meal Deals are 2 x Cod or Haddock & Chips ONLY 10€ or 2 x Pie & Chips ONLY 7€ 2 x Sausage or Savaloy or Chicken Nuggets or Fish Cakes & Chips ONLY 5€, More offers available please come in & see us for details.

Opening Hours 12.30 -9pm Tuesday -Saturday Tel 663 440 329

At The Irish Rover (Mojacar playa) ON 4th November 7pm In Aid of Vera Orphanage. ‘Our aim is to be able to provide the funds for new bedding for all the orphans’ WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TAKE THEIR BAD DREAMS AWAY BUT, HOPEFULLY WE CAN HELP THEM SLEEP MORE COMFORTABLY. For only 5 eUROS E a ticket Live singing entertainment; stand up comedians, karaoke and shopping fair…

Ticket pick up points: The Irish Rover (Mojacar Playa); Donna’s Bouquet (Turre); Costal Cars Garage (Antas); Fundraiser (Turre or Vera) or call 634371474 for more details….Thank you for making little dreams come true teatro saavedra cantoria special halloween performance wed 31st oct other performances fri 2nd & sat 3rd nov doors open 7pm curtain up 7.30pm sunday matinee 4th Nov doors open 2pm curtain up 2.30pm

HALLOWEEN PARTY pool BAR, pARTALOA

Come along on Wednesday 31st October and enjoy a Halloween Night of LIVE MUSIC with Matt Black, singing all of your rock’n’roll favourites from the 50’s & 60’s as well as hits from The Rolling Stones, The Beatles & Many More...

TICKETS ONLY 3€ entrance to include Chilli & Rice OR Curry & Rice...PRIZES FOR THE BEST FANCY DRESS TOO! For more information call Michelle 677 874 852

teatro pedro gilabert arboleas fri 9th & sat 10th Nov doors open 7pm curtain up 7.30pm Sun matinee 11th nov doors open 2pm curtain up 2.30pm tickets €7.50 Available From Bar Cantaria - Cantoria Giasol, One Stop Pool Shop - Albox Essentials - Arboleas Shandmade & Independent Theatre Stall - Los Llanos Market For More Details Telephone: 950 439 406 - 650 817 517 or email: itgboxoffice@gmail.com

THANK YOU ALBOX WEIGHT WATCHERS......................................

A very big thank you to Albox Weight Watchers group who raised 127.57 euros in coins from there loose change and donated it to the Walk For Life team in a tin which weighed 12 kilos. Every year Weight Watchers support Walk For Life and we cannot thank them enough. Walk for Life has now raised over 40,000 euros in the last 3 years and this money is used for anyone in the community affected with cancer. If you know anyone who needs any support then please contact us at Sophias or telephone 950 449 451 or email: walkforlife@sophias.es

La

VidaVenue

Cucador

sEE OUR MAIN AD ON PG 27 for directions

QUIRKY QUIZZES

Monday evenings - 7.30 for 8.00 pM Just 1.50€ to enter

Quirky Quiz Questions

This week the word is pretty ancient, and definitely not in general usage today, but nor do we have an alternative word in the English language for what it describes ~ the word is NUDIUSTERTIAN. And if you can find out what it means, then it will score your team a point in next week’s quiz ~ so get searching for that answer!

And if that’s caught your attention, then you’ll be sure to enjoy our Quirky Quiz Questions Come and join us on a Monday evening.

We definitely don’t take things too seriously ~ it’s just light-hearted competition. Sometimes from a slightly different perspective !!!

Bring your friends ~ Beat your neighbours

CA$H BINGO PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT CASH PRIZES SPOT PRIZES CASA ROLLOVER JACKPOT ALL WELCOME TUESDAYS 7.30 - 8PM EYES DOWN

independent theatre group Members of the Independent Theatre Group are busy at the moment with rehearsals for their forthcoming production, The Exorcism which is an absolute “must see”!

However, not a group known to rest on their laurels, they would like to give you details of their future production.

A Music Hall production is planned for the end of February 2013 and members and non members alike are invited to attend a meeting/audition evening to get this under way on Thursday 15th November 2012 at the Piedra Amarillo Recreational Centre from 6pm onwards.

Those attending should come prepared with either a song, sketch or monologue but please remember these should be in true music hall style!!

Even if you would only wish to be part of the chorus, then you will be most welcome.

If you would care to come along or indeed have any questions regarding this, please contact Jakki Higginbottom via email at thehigginbottoms@gmail.com or via telephone 950 930 593

5€ entry

32

...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES

SOLTIMES OCTOber 2012

SOL CLASSIFIEDS Airport services

Airport services Airport, social & shopping run.

Telelephone 663 429 521

www.AAparking.es Tel: 639 081 067

Cheap

Airport Parking

Alicante Almeria Murcia New Servicing / Repairs

Air-con

MD Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration S.L.

MD S.L

City & Guilds Fully Qualified F-Gas Certified

25 years sole experience in Air Conditioning & Refrigeration

not a jack of all trades

For all your installation or service MD Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration S.L offers requirements including our latest info@md-aircon.com telephone 950 432 110 / 607 364 917

607 364 917 or 950 432 110

chimney sweep

SAMMY SWEEP Chimney Sweep Service available covering all areas call paul on 619 070 839

computers Steve Hayes Informatica

Tel: 950 120 900

construction

alternative energy

construction

baby hire Everything for the visiting baby Car seats,high chairs, stair gates, cots etc delivery & Tel: 950 436 581 or 666 375 688 collection.

Tel: 615 806 126 expectingababy@ thebabyhirecentre@hotmail.com hotmail.co.uk Professional Baby

Equipment Hire

FREE blinds

INTERNAL & EXTERNAL BLINDS SH A DING SPA IN, W I T H...

Call Justin at Sol Shaders for a free no obligation quote Tel: 627 907 207 www.solshaders.net Email: solshaders@live.co.uk

beauty

avon

cosmetics

claire

Tel: 691 987 454 avonfromclaire@ yahoo.es

business opportunity

coffee shop premises for rent

• Pool construction • Pool makeovers & repairs • p roject management • all building projects & reforms Mat Murray 647 841 750 matmurrayes@gmail.com

established in spain for 14 years

fully legal

Reliable English Builder For all your building needs

• Block work • Balustrades • Paving Driveways & Paths

Call now for free estimate 620 112 193 or 630 493 817

For all your building, reforms & general work call Steve on 647 843 486

great potential! Constructions

prime location on Martinez moreno cb (Rambla de Oria) mojacar playa All types of building work undertaken inc tel: 659 109 379 plumbing & electrics

bar & restaurant tel: 609 421 734 (Spanish) villa & pool for rent 4 year lease €55.000 tel: 696 052 044 (English) to include all kitchen equipment & furniture €250 per week established 7 years for further info call 950 432 719

drainage

for sale

LICENSED POZO/CESSPIT EMPTYING 4 Installation of fibreglass septic tanks 4 Blocked Toilets, Sinks, Baths & Drains 4 CCTV Surveys 4 Drain Tracing 4 Turbine Root Cutting 4 Blocked Cesspits

Cleaning of Septic Tanks

email: info@md-aircon.com

carlos sal i ente & plumbing heating for solar pool heating, solar hot water installations and repairs. call 950 930 900 or 968 969 962, email carlos.saliente@ gmail.com

Classified box from 9€. lineage only 45 cents per word Deadline 5pm Friday Contact Paulette on 950 121 936 or 902 750 190 ext 332

950 091 109 or 648 768 587

Pc’s, Laptops, Printers etc.

Sales & Repairs on-site callout / tuition.

Consumables Albox, Almeria

md_aircon@mobileemail.vodafone.es

Solar Wind Power Solutions.

Always offers on Solar panels, Over 15 years installation ex p e r i e n c e Call Phil for competitive prices 636 261 240 email:info@ s un e r g ya l m e r i a . com www.sunergy almeria.com

trade Businesses can advertise in the classified section

• Emptying of Septic Tanks & Cesspits, with high pressure cleaning • Small Only unblockages of pipes & drainage 100€ Pool Cleaning & Water Tanks

Contact: 675 838 808

Drainage Solutions

• Emergency Drain Cleaning • High Pressure Water Jetting • CCTV Surveys • Drainage Repairs • Location of Cesspits • Qualified Engineer • Expert Reports

Established 7 years in spain

Tel: 616 531 283 or 670 088 966 electrical Knowles & Abbott no.1 for electrics and plumbing.

Re-wires, free to air UK satellite systems.

950 137 208 638 010 691

ELECTRICIAN

Neil Godwin

25 years experience

Full City & Guilds

Fully insured & legal Boletins supplied

Tel : 687 245 569

gardening

potty finca services professional tree felling & pruning, including all types of palm trees

strimming of overgrown gardens & hedge cutting spanish registered. logs available ring john on 616 855 294 or 950 163 930

heating

Norway’s answer to heating your home in Spain

Now exhibiting at Los Llanos market, Arboleas every Saturday Tel: 950 120 077 Mob: 625 435 050 / 615 396 056 SKY + BOX. 80€ ono Tel: 617 770 272 F u rther R ed u ct i on Wicker/Cane Open Display Unit 4 shelves Open lattice work sides and back.

Free standing - curved top.

Height 112cm Width 38cm Depth 18cm 7€ Roquetas de Mar Carole Mobile 619 253 983 (after 4pm) F u rther R ed u ct i on Flat Screen C o m p u t e r M o n i t o r , measures 15” diagonal across screen Fujitsu Siemens 25€ Roquetas de Mar Carole Mobile 619 253 983 (after 4pm) F u rther R ed u ct i on White Painted Wicker/Cane open Display Unit 3 shelves, open lattice work sides and back. Free standing - curved

top. Height 91cm Width 71.5 cm Depth 20cm (may need repainting) 5€ Roquetas De Mar Carole mobile 619 253 983 (after 4pm) Log Burner Effect Electric Fan Heater Excellent Condition Hardly Used Cost Eiio Selling For 50€ Tel Mob: 637 119 887 or 950 069 738.

Three oil filled Orbegozo electric radiators, as new 20€ each.

Tel: 687 056 397.

Head Tyrolia men’s ski suit size large 40€, Nordica men’s ski boots hardly worn size 44 40€.

Or both for 60€.

Tel: 678 101 471 (Mojacar area) Y amaha ERB070 4 string bass plus Yamaha practice amp, strap and gig bag. Immaculate condition with very little use from new.

Never gigged this is a quality

house clearances

cash payment waiting for all your unwanted goods, also business stock liquidations carried out

Call Cash & Carry Clearances Tel: 618 725 567 or 619 773 582

cashandcarry54@yahoo.co.uk insurance

instrument.

Current list price in excess of 300€.

Accept 170€. Tel: 693 753 327 Saliente.

M ahogony v e n e e r e d e x t e n d i n g dining table, 5ft, extending to 6ft 6inch, twin pedestal legs style. €200 Tel: 617 708 334 2 matching rocking chairs, high back fully upholstered, spanish style, will split €60 each, €100 the pair. Tel: 617 708 334.

hobby/craft Elaine’s Wools quality UK wool & accessories.

Also available at Camposol Mazarron & on the Arboleas forum.

Call 667 273 889 elaines wools@ gmail.com

interpretor T ranslator English – Spanish – French – Swedish Documents, Notary, Court, Legal Tel: 646 844 708 www.4way connections. webs.com

iron/metal works

metal works

Gates, rejas, fabriction welding reliable service Telephone 950 069 208 or 638 449 944 adwelds@yahoo.com T & T Metals For all quality metal works, including gates, railings, rejas, staircases, gazebos & chainlink fencing - Tel: 950 431 738

The Metal works Grills, railings, gates of all types, security/ sliding/roller, rejas, concertina doors etc.

Tel: Keith Wood on

638 900 949 legal

Need help with NIE / Residencias, C a d a s t r e , Tel: 634 312 171 P r o p e r t y glenn & jayne Conveyancing, www.neaterheater.es Formerly of Knights Insurance, eleganthomes realise the dream New Building C / Malaga, Albox neater heater See our main ad on property damaged by the D e c l a r a tions, ... are now exclusive the news pages recent floods?

Notary, Wills agents then, let our Carlos (Saliente) plumbing & etc Tel: 646 844 for Liberty Seguros professional construction team help you! heating services. If it involves water, same people - same great service - differeent name 708 www.4way connections. we can help! www.carlossaliente.com call mike on 687 629 777 Tel: 950 121 943 or email: info@elegant-homes-online.com infoalbox.libertyseguros@gmail.com webs.com Tel: 968 969 962

www.soltimes.com legal

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

painter / decorator cont...

painter & decorator

over 25 years experience If you wish us to print an article about a particular topic in our regular space on pg 16, please email info@daviessolicitors.com locksmith Phil the Pick Locksmith 24 hours.

Locked Out? Locks fitted/upgraded house safes. Arboleas & surrounding area. Special weekend rates. Tel: 697 243 181

logs load of small or big Olive logs, no roots €160 load of mixed Olive some roots €140 load of eucalyptus, no roots €150 all loads 2 tonnes Arboleas & surrounding areas

Call Lee on 636 092 632 eliteplanthire@hotmail.co.uk

Phil Delivers

Logs

gravel & all building materials

Arboleas & Surrounding areas

tel: 634 328 779

NUMBER PLATES

“RE-PLATE” MATE

give your property or business a fresh look this october

Tel: 649 186 107 or

email thunderpaul2003@hotmail.com

painting & decorating

• 35 years experience • Guaranteed to beat any quote • Quality work guaranteed

Tel Alan: 950 450 174 or 600 268 176

WE PROMISE TO BEAT ANY GENUINE QUOTATION For a full service contact:

Alan 662 249 159

www.replatematecostablanca.com

opticians Optica Albox All your optical needs, eye tests, hearing tests, contact lenses Tel: 950 121 991

painter / decorator now covering mainland spain

commercial & major retail painter’s

expertqualityworkmanship visit our website for more inf tntpainters@live.co.uk www.tntpaintersltd.co.uk

T: 664 291 793

jescott29@hotmail.co.uk

Arboleas. First floor flat overlooking the rambla. Four bedrooms, lift access nice views, central location, part furnished.

300€ pcm long term preferred. Available immediately 609 199 394

plasterer

All quality products

plumbing

10% off with this advert

A&E Taylor – Gas boiler & plumbing repairs.

Tel: 618 062 080

Make over your home this year

Tel Graham on 620 112 193 or 630 493 817

Knowles & Abbott no.1 for plumbing personal & electric. CH, “Readers of a sensitive disposition may solar hot water and find some of the advertisments in this water deposits. section offensive” Telephone 950 137 197 or 606 807 797

300€pcm inc water

phone Lynne on: 666 281 323

YOUNG PRETTY GIRLS

with barbie bodies 90-60-90 french, brunettes & columbians

CARLOS SALIENTE

Plumbing and Heating offer machined boiler decals for gas water heaters for just €65 – aguafuerte is not the answer!

Call 950 930 900 or 968 969 962, email carlos.saliente@gmail.com

pets section

Spanish • blonde Portugese slim • curvy Gelding 24 hours english spoken

634 612 828 pets section

12 yrs, looking for a good home, ideal companion horse lovely natured

in Los Menchones near Zurgena

ground floor, 1 bed, lounge, Satelitte TV, diningroom, suit couple or single

175€+ bills per month Tel: 950 449 074 or 634 368 071

for sale plot of land of 800m & villa 125m 2

No need for kennels or cattery, Pet sitting in your own home, Arboleas & surrounding areas. Call Vanessa on 637 061 482 Not just cats & dogs,All other types of pets considered

MY PLACE OR YOURS Dog & Horse Sitting Service

Ex RSPCA Inspector. Dog day sitting Going away? Let us take care of your pets, either at your home or ours.

Dogs kept in house or kennels.

Pet passporting service.

Just outside Albox.

Tel: 607 554 984

my-place-or-yours@hotmail.com

Tracy Mobile 650 211 952

Ken & Jackie Dog & Cat Sitter service

Your home or ours. Honest & trust worthy. 3 years experience of all types of animals. References available on request.

Tel: 950 067 943 or 676 389 592

From a parcel to a small house move

Professional,Friendly & Caring Fully insured, scheduled monthly door to door service

uk@fmtransport.co.uk www.fmtransport.co.uk +44 (0) 1582 499 836 +44 (0) 7977 754 389

Call Tony on Spanish mobile 699 819 213 English mobile 07976928053 English office: 0044 121 355 0005 Email: tonystehenson311@hotmail.com STORAGE FACILITIES AVAILABLE IN SPAIN & UK

sTABLES

satellite/ television A1 Sky Television Systems Satellite TV installations, alignment of dishes etc.

Also Spanish“freeview”systems supplied & installed

Tel Dave: 628 607 778

Rancho Luz Del Sol, Retamar, Partaloa.

One to one or group lessons, latest EN standard hats provided. Escorted hacking and treks.

Qualified BHS Instructor.

Call Erika Drew on 678 838 547

situations vacant

Almeria Based Academy Bargain price 65,000€ 2 nativerequire English Speakers To view or for more details

609 199 394

for SALE massive detatched cortijo with 50m2 workshop 20mins from mojacar This is a unique spanish country cortijo with 4 beds, 2 bath, Open plan living areas, kitchen & dining room as well as a workshop, courtyard front & back & room for a pool. Mountain views. possible B& B

to work mornings in the Roqetas de Mar area

Car essential 2 teachers required 8am - 9.30am twice a week

please contact Raquel at Big Ben Academy

raquelbigben@hotmail.com or call: 630 072 952

Great oppertunities, Hair stylist, therapist, nail technician required in Turre, Build 256 m², Terrace 100m², Plot 1200 m² Rates negotiable, call 644 496 198

Telephone 649 186 107 email for more info at thunderpaul2003@hotmail.com

only €160,000

removals

DAVE’S TRANSPORT 7.5 Ton, Lorry Part loads, Self load/Unload Minimal rates, Owner Driver Spain/uk/Local Storage available, based “Los Gallardos” &”hertfordshire” Call now 0034 620 049 524 (Es) 00 44 794 3135 214 (UK) woodnco@hotmail.com

storage

Storage Rooms for rent, 5 square metres to 15sq metres, Roquetas de Mar Urbanisation.

From 5€ a week.

Tel: 650 038 251 tuition

SPANISH LESSONS

telephone 678 838 547

Small friendly kennels, 24hr vets service, pet transporting arranged, welcome to view ministry approved

2

brick built up to & inc roof Wonderful location & exceptional views yet 5 mins to town with all amenities. Fully legal with escritora must be viewed

WITH VICTORIA For info

woodhouse boarding pALOMINO kENNELS Exclusive kennels & cattery arboleas boarding kennels/cattery Tel: 950 067

051

UK - SPAIN - UK

ENGLISH MOVE Apartment to rent SINGLE ITEMS TO COMPLETE HOUSE MOVE

VERA PLAYA

24 HOURS • STRIPTEASE tEL: 687 891 515

Don’t take a chance!

Don’t break the Law! Let us take the hassle away from you and re-register your vehicle on to Spanish plates

Easy access to motorway.

Approx 10 mins to Mojacar beach

PAINTING

GB

E

Reduced

property to rent urcal

2 bed casita furnished or unfurnished with fully fitted kitchen, shower room, €39,950ono lounge with log burner, sat TV, Large 1 bed, 1 bath apartment fly free patio, small garden with shed (sleeps 4), fully fitted kitchen & use of allotment. a quiet setting with with white goods, parking lovely views within a large fenced area area, lovely views. Ideal golfing holiday apartment. with private parking but only mins from Close to Mojacar / Turre. the motorway & Huercal Overa.

B r i t i sh plasterer All work guaranteed Tel Paul 634 327 201

INSIDE & OUT

removals cont...

property for rent & SALE

Apartment For Sale

33

please call on 950 472 590 or e-mail:

victoriaspanishteacher@gmail.com or visit:

www.victoriaspanishteacher.villadeturre.com

LEARN SPANISH… SPAIN UK SPAIN

634 337 185

Removals

Friendly Reliable Service Fully Legal Special deals from UK - Spain Office: 968 564 298 Mobile: 696 621 884

marmenorremovals@hotmail.com

…among friends, in a fun and easy manner with Paco at Camping Los Gallardos, MiraFlores Restaurant.

New, beginners class starts friday 2nd nov 2012 4.30pm

Private lessons and different levels also available.

CALL PACO 661 142 606

34

...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

SALES representative required for Mojacar/Albox & other surrounding areas

To continue the success of

SOLTIMES in this area

We are looking for someone special to work with local businesses to help them create more business from the large weekly distribution and readership of Sol Times

� Are you local to the Mojacar/Albox or surrounding areas and enjoy meeting new people? �C ould you sell advertising to new business owners whilst looking after our loyal base of regular clients?

� S ol Times needs an outgoing friendly professional….could this be you? �A re you able to work to deadlines? � Are you well organised, able to manage your own territory and enjoy being part of a team?

If you can say yes to the above, then we want to meet you!

We provide on going training from our head office in Almeria We offer a high level of comission, contract, petrol allowance and mobile phone plus the opportunity to work for the best weekly “Good News Paper” in the area.

Please send your CV to rosemary@soltimes.com or call Rosemary on Tel: 647 379 795 motoring section car parts

Car parts

Need quality new parts for any car

for sensible prices on all parts Clutches, Brakes, alternators, service kits Starter Motors, headlights

Free quote go online or phone

mechanics

Mikes Mobile Mechanics

All types of service, repair & ITV testing Fully qualified & legal with over 35 years experience Ring Mike or Chris: 628 350 178 or 636 824 974 d.b auto paramedics Mobile Mechanic call Kyle on 678 487 689

motorhomes

www.carpartsinspain.com

or telephone 692 930 326 for sale

125cc Lifan Heritage cruiser

Motorhomes for sale & wanted urgently

Motorhome & caravan Insurance arranged Motorhomes & caravan repairs & spares All vehicle imports, ITV & matriculations

Tel: 950 047 033 or 687 845 730

950€ Registered 2009, immaculate condition.

Large Topbox and Transfer incl. Albox area.

Tel Shaun on 610 324 666

GILERA RUNNER 125

info@hispavan.com www.hispavan.com

wanted URGENTLY REQUIRED

ENGLISH & SPANISH CARAVANS, CARS, MOTORHOMES & VANS ANY CONDITION WE COLLECT! THROUGHOUT SPAIN

BLACK/ORANGE. EXCELLENT CONDITION. 2003.

ONLY 3300 KM FROM NEW. ITV TILL JUNE 2013. ENGLISH REG.

GENUINE REASON FOR SALE

€995

ALMERIMAR. TEL. 628 652 476 or (0044) 7956 298 356

HONDA CV 750

1995, Metallic Blue, new tyres, new shocks, 4-1 motad, ITV Feb 2014, Service History, 26650 miles, Spanish Plates.

1150€

Tel: (0044) 7870 329792

TEL: 636 411 540 OR 664 619 819

Do you have a caravan, vehicle, or motorbike, for sale

Call Paulette on 950 121 936 or 902 750 190 This size advert is only 10€

to advertise in the classified section call paulette on: 950 121 936 or 902 750 190 ext 332

recruitment

GRAND CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR & FETE VERA HOTEL, SUNDAY 2ND DECEMBER, 10AM - 3PM The Vera Hotel (on the A1200 in Vera - just up from Iceland) will be hosting a Grand Christmas Craft Fair & Fete in the car park on

Sunday 2nd December from 10am – 3pm

Stalls and Fun for all the Family With over 50 stalls selling a multitude of craft items, the organisers, the Vera & District Lions Club, are also planning their own stall selling hot mulled wine, homemade mince pies and hot roasted chestnuts Carol Concert ~ Santa’s Grotto ~ Face Painting Bouncy Castle Best Dressed Santa’s Helper (for the under 10’s) Best Christmas Hat Competition (Traditional & Fun) AND MUCH, MUCH MORE....

A spokesperson for Vera & District Lions club said “Our intention is to make this a fun day out for all the family, with proceeds going to local good causes.

On the day we hope to be making an announcement of a substantial donation to one of our local charities” The Vera Hotel are helping out by putting on a special 3 Course Sunday Lunch Menu del Dia + Drink for just 12 Euros per person (Full Menu to be announced soon). Bookings for the lunch should be made direct to the hotel by calling 699 856 128 or email celebraciones@verahotel.es

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stall Holders

Anyone wishing to have a pitch should contact Adele in the first instance on: adelewatts2002@yahoo.co.uk The Vera & District Lions Club International Reg. No. 117889 Spanish Reg No. Malaga 116B)

Sol Times are pleased to Support The Vera & District Lions Club in Raising Money For Local Good Causes

www.soltimes.com

Last week Greg and Chris were staying for a few days. We reasoned that it would be wasteful not to make use of Chris’s small nimble fingers and Greg’s large amount of muscle, so we took the opportunity to make their holiday memorable by getting them to ‘help’ us to put the winter cover on the pool.

The next day, after our visitors had left we had a dust storm. Every flat surface was covered with orange dust as though the whole world had been Tango’d, including the pool cover, which now more closely resembled a well-prepared seed bed than a recently applied cover.

I gazed at it glumly; Pete is not at all well at the moment, so the helpless female ploy couldn’t be called upon; if I wanted the dust cleaned off before the forecast rain turned it to immovable mud then I would have to ‘Do Something About It Myself’.

With grim determination, I set about it with the long-handled pool brush. I pushed the brush forward across the cover, then pulled it back, telling myself firmly that this was an ideal stretching exercise, and very good for me.

At each push-pull

viewpoint

I dislodged a small ridge of dust, so I ended up with a sort of organic orange earthwork either side of the centre of the cover.

My satisfaction with my achievement was offset by the amount of dust that the pool brush, with its stiff bristles, left behind. However, it was an improvement, of sorts.

Next I took the small soft house broom, reached out with it and began to pull my mini embankment towards the edge of the cover and from there off into the gravel. By now my attitude towards gentle stretching exercises had changed somewhat, and parts of me where beginning to point out that the word ‘retired’ meant not having to work any more.

I finished, and stood back, attempting to silence the protestations of my back with the promise of a nice long soak in Radox. The soft brush had done an excellent job, and while the edges of the cover were once more bright blue, the centre, which I had only been able to reach with the pool brush, still had a generous coating of Mother Earth upon it.

By Jos Biggs

josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk

A TOUCH OF CLASS...............

Most of us have an impression of the so called upper classes and in my case when I was much younger, it was always one of chinless wonders sitting around in their palatial pads with their feet up on kneeling servants whilst sipping shampoo guffawing at tasteless jokes about the common people and rogering the house maids when the mood took.

This of course is the image that the likes of Jeremy Corbyn, Dennis Skinner and other self styled working class champions would like the masses to view them – I mean, where would the Labour party be if it turned out that the class system was now merely an interesting item in history and a thing largely consigned to the past.

It’s a fiction that the ‘The rich are different’ and belong to a sub-species of Homo sapiens - they are merely people like the rest of us, who by accident of birth, enterprise or luck, find themselves in financial Nirvana. It isn’t all Cuban cigars and chasing foxes either, because money brings with it its own unique problems. But it’s all easy to believe I suppose and largely a myth eagerly

At that moment Pete, who had been watching me through closed eyelids, woke up.

‘I’ve got a long handle in the shed. Would you like me to attach it to the soft brush, then you can get that middle bit that you’ve missed?

perpetuated by the extreme perception that they exist left . . . but this is by no on a different plane and a means an anti-socialist rant, class apart. Literally. But are they really? merely an observation.

In our past lives, my I am also the first to admit that there are certain wife had a good business members of the privileged as a mobile hairdresser, few who contribute nothing attending to clients in the to society and seem to surrounding villages. She spend their time pouring began this at a time when as much alcohol as possible no one else was offering down their necks at glitzy a similar service and the shindigs and having their idea really took hold and faces splattered across became what is today the society columns of commonplace.

Hello! magazine and Her clients ranged from Harpers. But then I know young mums unable to leave of many equally worthless their kids and travel several individuals from other miles into the nearest town walks of life, who prefer to visit the hair salon, to to sit on their backsides, well off individuals who happily living off the rest simply preferred to have of us and taking all they someone attend to them in can get from society. It’s their own homes. not a class thing.

Included in this second The other major factor category, were several titled that helps perpetuate the ladies and gentlemen, some imaginary class divide is who lived permanently in good old fashioned envy. the area and others who Whilst we peasants tend to divided their time between decry wealth and privilege their country retreats and in others, there are not London homes. many who would pass up One such was an exiled the chance to be in the same Polish Count and his position if the opportunity English wife.

He was arose. That’s why so many every inch an aristocrat of us mark off those little in appearance; tall and boxes on our Euro Million distinguished with tickets every week – we impeccably coiffered hair, aspire to be filthy rich and greying at the temples. ipso facto, put us in the He was always well turned same league as the despised out and never anything upper classes.

But is but the perfect gentleman. there really any difference Nevertheless, when he between inherited money asked if he could come to and money obtained our house to watch the through gambling? Both rugby one Saturday, because are the result of pure luck. it was a sport that his wife The same goes for titled hated with a vengeance; I people (because titles and readily agreed. We spent the possession of great the afternoon knocking wealth do not always go back cans of Abbot Ale; hand in glove) and the cheering on the England

By Colin Bird : badbirdnow@gmail.com team and telling

each other ribald tales of our respective past lives.

No, class distinction, no barriers – just two blokes enjoying an afternoon in each other’s company over a few beers.

Without exception, each of the other titled customers were down to earth and a pleasure to be with – most remaining loyal clients of many years standing and even becoming valued friends. If it had not been for the impressive houses and lead crystal accents, they would have been unrecognisable as being any different from the rest of us.

As far as I can see, the dreams of material possessions and status are things that are common to most of us. We didn’t see that working class hero John Prescott hesitate when offered a seat in the House of Lords did we. But then why should he...

35

John MacDonald (El Sordo) www.caratacus.eu

MISSED A BIT!. . . . . . . . . . .

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

A l q ueria T he A l q uerian S ystem The town hall of Alqueria is now the seat of the new Alquerian Government. Not the most imposing of buildings, plain, run-down and lurking in the Calle Horno next to the bakery. The aroma of freshly baked bread ceaselessly permeates through its halls. The familiar smell makes it a friendly building, contrary to the people who now use it as a debating chamber.

The Alquerian parliamentary model involves two elected joint presidents. One from the Hill People and the other from the Newcomers. This is necessary to stop the civil unrest which would surely follow if any one barrio gained the upper hand. A handful of ministers to handle the day-to-day running of the village completed the government. There are an equal number of ministers from each barrio. All decisions are decided by a show of hands from the villagers massed in the square. A sufficient number always turn out, not from civic duty but more from barrio rivalry. It is indeed bloody minded democracy.

To say this system is ideal would imply that politicians themselves are ideal and that would be absurd. In general if a politician is conscious he is probably lying and the Alquerian incumbents are no different. It comes as a relief when they fully immerse themselves in their corrupt activities and leave the running of the village alone.

The debate in the village square usually starts with the hurling of insults escalating to stone throwing and culminating in fistfights.

The vote doesn’t always go the way of the majority but to those left standing when the show of hands is called for. In many of the fistfights the ministers themselves have joined in. The last question resolved in this manner was the choice of design for the Alquerian national flag. At the end of the discussion the plaza resembled the ‘Valley of Death’ after the Light Brigade passed through. Littered with debris and unconscious villagers, it was a forlorn sight. Of those who remained standing a majority belonged to the Hill People. It was their flag that was adopted for Alqueria, republican colours for the field and a bottle Remitroot Liquor for the badge.

Another knotty problem which faces the new Republic and its unique form of government is the constitution. Manuela favours the ‘All men are created equal’ theme but her experience with men proves that this is not so. Poyato wants the ‘Liberté, égalité, fraternité ‘ approach. Rodriquez prefers the British model where no constitution actually exists in entirety and can therefore be manipulated by whoever is in power.

Whatever the outcome, it is a necessary step before the Alquerian passport can be issued and immigration into Alqueria encouraged.

www.carsupermarket.es

36

...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

Tyre kickers

sunset over turre Unless lucky enough to own a new or newish car; once a year the annual trek to an ITV station has to be endured. Having a hectic schedule means I have always driven up to the Lorca testing station as its open all day without appointments being needed.

My Spanish is more than passable but trying to obey the instructions to stop/go, press the brake/release the break, switch this on/off etc. whilst surrounded by the din of the other lorry and car engines was too much for me last week so the inspector took over.

Somehow he sensed I was a gringo and lo and behold the car failed as the two rear tyres were from different manufacturers. 200€ later I returned the next day and a different inspector didn’t even bother to look at my shiny new tyres and simply waved me through after politely thanking me for keeping his brother/son/fathers’ tyre shop in business.

My earlier comment that my Spanish is passable is actually questionable as the other day I was given a receipt for some work done on the central heating at home. A few days later I bought some goods from a local shop and again was given a ticket. When I got home I compared the two bits of paper and was intrigued to see that the two businesses must be one and the same as they were both called Albarán! The missus almost split her sides with laughter because Albarán is Spanish for delivery note!

Before moving from the UK in 2006 I lived in the middle of the Surrey countryside; the beautiful sounds of the dawn chorus from the wild birds would waft through a bedroom window if left open in the summer months. Here near Turre I again live in the country but instead of birdsong, the sound of many

dogs barking, growling and gnashing their teeth wafts gently across the fields of an early morning from a nearby kennels. Suddenly air conditioning seems a sensible alternative to leaving a window open.

Childhood obesity – now there is a subject. Across the western world children are getting fat through bad eating habits and a more sedentary lifestyle.

These blooming computer game consoles are a big part of the problem as youngsters sit down instead of running around like I expect we all did as kids.

So why a cereal called Krave is allowed to be sold let alone advertised on British television beggars’ belief as its slogan is ‘Chocolate for breakfast?’ The voluntary code of practice that the UK government agreed with food manufacturers is clearly working (for the manufacturers) then! I also remember tales of children turning orange from drinking that awful drink Sunny Delight made by a pharmaceutical company which only contains 15% fruit juice yet enough chemicals to dope a professional cyclist.

I have a confession to make; it has been me buying up all the local mangoes in Mercadona. For 11 months of the year the shops are normally full of hard and unripe bitter tasting excuses of mangoes from South America. Then for a few short weeks from late September the mangoes grown in the Costa Tropical in Granada hit the shelves. Gorgeous sweet ripe luscious mangoes that remind me of the ones I ate aged 10 when my grandfather bought me a little string bag full of them from India.

This year they are simply labelled as national mangoes – go on, fill your boots!

Stephen Amore has lived in Almeria since July 2006 and owns Findmeahome estate agency. Writing on a variety of topics close to his heart such as environmental issues, animal welfare, food and drink, music and travel, as well as commenting on the absurdities of living in Spain! email: stephen@findmeahome.es - www.facebook.com/stephen.amore

braben’s blog....

Isn’t it comforting to know that in these times of austerity there is still someone who prints more money than the United States Treasury-which by the way prints a not insubstantial amount of the folding stuff on an alarmingly regular basis. No, it’s not any Treasury that does this but Parker Brothers. Who are they?

A firm of stockbrokers? No! Maybe an Insurance Company-well, wrong again.

They are in fact the makers of Monopoly and that is just about the only thing that is making money at the moment. Scary isn’t it?

I raise this point not to depress you, rather to highlight an issue. Can we actually believe the information that Government Departments throughout the world release? Yes, the amount of Monopoly money sloshing around doesn’t really matter very much but, the comparative money available to us does. According to what we are told, there isn’t much of the stuff available.

Well, do we believe that?

Mount Everest! You may ask what that rather large natural phenomenon has to do with the first two paragaraphs? Well, when the mountain was measuredand I would love to see that tape measure! I well recall trying to measure windows at home with my wife and the trouble I got into when I kept putting the tape measure in the wrong place. How do they measure a mountain of that size?

Not too accurately it would seem. When the mountain was measured it was assumed that there should be several different measurements taken, just to be sure. Guess what…they were all different. So, the people who decide the final height-the dubious mountain height committee maybe-took an average of all the returns. It came to 29000 feet. That seemed too perfect, so they added 2 feet, just to give it a realistic feel!

The crux of this argument is that, whether it is money or mountains, can we really believe what we are being is married told? I’m not trying to be scurrilous, I simply want to point Graham to Helen and has out that, perhaps we shouldn’t believe all we are told, a daughter, Alice. from official sources. An astounding example of this is He lives part of the year near Albox, the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II who, although soundly but works in Qatar, defeated in a battle, put up a monument celebrating his teaching. If you wish supposed triumph, which generations took to be the to contact Graham regarding this truth until historians recently found otherwise! Well the article email: meaning of Ramses is “begotten by the Sun God”. That is helenandg@yahoo. co.uk Rupert Murdoch, isn’t it?

REVIEW it...

MY SISTER LIVES ON THE MANTELPIECE BY ANNABEL PITCHER

This is a remarkable debut novel from a young and talented writer and is on my highly recommended list.

Picture the scene: Trafalgar Square, togetherness as a family, the epitome of happiness. Jamie, 5, feeding the pigeons and his twin sisters,10, twirling around amongst the pigeons and an abundance of laughter. When Jasmine stopped, Rose continued much to her mother’s delight. A different scene. A deafening explosion, dad screaming Rose,Rose,Rose and then a family torn apart by anger, grief and guilt.

“Police found ten bits of her body.” A terrorist bomb exploded, destroyed an innocent 10 year old and violated the remainder of her family beyond recognition. The world turned black, the future was bleak but in spite of this, Jamie narrates the story from an innocent, naïve 10 year old’s point of view. He simply cannot remember much about Rose and cannot grieve over her unlike the rest of his family. “ I don’t remember anything about the day except a big bang and lots of crying.”

He is affected indirectly by her death in terms of the devastating effect it has on his mother, father and sister Jas. “I can’t do this anymore” and mum walked out. Father took to drowning his sorrows, seeking solace in a number of bottles of vodka or umpteen cans of beer. Five years of his life have been destroyed. Jamie and Jas became invisible. “It’s like we’re dead too,” stated Jas. Neglected by those who should love and nurture them. A fresh start and the three move to the Lake District hoping to start again. The urn containing some of Rose’s ashes is a constant reminder of the tragedy and whilst it remains on the mantelpiece, in the heart of the household it will control the family and feed their guilty consciences.

Jas changes her image drastically by cutting her hair, dyeing it pink and having her nose pierced, then almost refusing to eat.

There is no denying the seriousness of the content but Jamie is a young boy into Superman, football with a sense of humour and this is the appeal of a tragic story. So instead of being constantly depressed we are uplifted with his wry humour. After the funeral he asked Jas where Rose was and she pointed at the urn. “How can a girl fit into something so small?”

Delightful. For one of his birthdays Rose had left a book for Jamie next to the urn: “I got this strong urge to laugh when I saw it there, and imagined the urn sprouting legs and arms and a head and walking to the shop to buy a present.” A gem.

The book also explores friendship, teenage love and bullying with both Jamie and his sister finding the Courage to Fly in a talent show about families sticking together.

Instead of being beaten Jamie ends on a positive note: he felt like the “luckiest, richest boy on the planet.” You will understand this feeling when you read the novel and recognise, like the phoenix, the rebirth of hope and love.

ISBN: 987-178-0620299

Carol Naylor - writ ing exclusively for the Sol Times Naylorcl@hotmail.es & w w w.carolnaylor.blogspot.com

SOLTIMES APRIL 2012

Road Test: Peugeot Bipper Van

For this week’s road test we visit tranquil and picturesque Brittany en France...

Van Diesel is plastered across a local Ford Transit owned by Virgin Broadband.

It always raises a smile and springs to mind as I take delivery of the Peugeot Bipper Professional, the compact city van.

This is the first van I have driven and on entering you can’t help noticing that it feels rather hollow inside. In fact if you shout there’s almost an echo due to its capacious rear.

The next noticeable difference to a car is the fact that there is no rear view mirror and the distinct absence of a rear

window, instead there are two rear doors as you can see from the video at testdrives.biz. These are obviously for easy loading as is the helpful sliding side door. You have to rely on your mirrors, making me particularly apprehensive when reversing or pulling out to overtake. I now realise that I should be more forgiving of those van drivers, who I have previously thought, pulled out without looking. On manoeuvring to overtake, the driver cannot see anything by looking over their right shoulder, as they would in a car. In time, relying on the mirrors is easy as long

as the driver is cautious.

There’s a fairly raised driving position, so much so that I spy a mottled brown roe deer elegantly standing in a field as I wait for the lights to change.

In fact height wise it’s on a par with a Land Rover Freelander, giving a commanding view of the road ahead.

In many respects this little van, the test model finished in bright red - making its driver feel like Postman Pat - is very much like a car to drive.

The cabin is an adequate size and its dashboard has been well designed, with plenty of space for

all that paperwork so often carried by delivery drivers. There’s electric windows, a CD player and a decisive five-speed gearbox coupled to a gutsy 1.4-litre diesel capable of travelling over 600 miles on a tank, if driven at a steady 56mph. More realistically it is good for 500 miles at a decent pace.

We’re not just talking about economy either but strong load carrying abilities.

It’ll shift up to 590kg of cargo measuring as much as 2.5 cubic metres. So that’s plenty of parcels, as colleagues at work keep pushing my way…

“The rear wheel arches are one metre apart and Bipper’s low loading height, optional sliding side doors and wide access make packing and stacking heavy goods easier,” writers Parkers, the vehicle experts.

There’s a hardwearing wood finish inside the rear of the test van.

The increasingly popular Bipper is keenly priced and efficient

37

It was pleasing that my 10-year-old 88,000 mile Ford Fiesta passed its MOT but there was an advisory note that the windscreen wipers needed replacing. More expense, I thought. Watch the video at testdrives.biz to see how bad they were!

I have owned the vehicle for two years and the Ford wipers must have been on there for a good few years before that time. They had got to a point where they were causing me embarrassment because as they attempted to rid the screen of water, they would screech up and down. Not ideal. The wiper on the rear window was worst.

So what to replace them with? Traditional wipers or do you embrace technology?

Until now fancy wipers were the preserve of new cars but now Bosch has made its excellent Aerotwin wipers available to a wide range of cars including older ones, thanks to incorporating clever multi-clip adaptors.

Storms battered England the day after I fitted my Aerotwins and for the first time I actually enjoyed driving in the rain because I now have crystal clear vision no matter what the conditions. This is because the three-part wear-resistant blade edge ensures an efficient wiping action, so even the smallest microdrops are removed. Even on partly dry windscreens, the wiper blade slides wax and dirt easily off the windscreen. They’re a joy to use and ever so quiet as you can see from the video at testdrives.biz.

They’re so good that my wife asked me to fit some to her P-reg Fiat Punto and she, too, is a happy motorist now. A friend has also bought a pair. What price pleasure? Around £30 a set.

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38

...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

sport

sport shorts

• Last night Barcelona played Celtic, Ajax met Manchester City, Manchester United took on Braga and Shakhtar Donetsk entertained Chelsea in the Champions League.

• Tonight, in the same competition, it’s Arsenal v Schalke, Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid and Malaga v AC Milan.

• And tomoorow, in the Europa League, Liverpool welcome Anzhi Mak, Newcastle play Brugge and Maribor welcome Spurs in the Europa League.

• Last weekend, Juan Mata inspired PL leaders Chelsea to a 4-2 victory over their former manager’s club, Tottenham.

Compiled by AFM

• Ex-Spurs, Luton, Plymouth & Barnet goalkeeper Milija Aleksic has died, aged 61.

• Chelsea’s Ashley Cole has been fined £90,000 for his Twitter remarks made against the FA. He escaped a ban for apologising.

• And administrators of hard-up Portsmouth, £61m in debt, have named the supporters club as the ‘preferred bidder’.

• Ten-man Manchester City scored twice late on through substitute Edin Dzeko to beat WBA 2-1.

• Wayne Rooney scored his first-ever own-goal and then netted twice at the right end as Manchester United defeated Stoke 4-2.

• In Formula One, Felipe Massa is staying with Ferrari as a ‘stop gap’ until Sebastian Vettel arrives in 2014.

• Battling Norwich City claimed their first PL win of the season, 10 over Arsenal.

• England’s Jonathan Brownlee is the 2012 World Triathlon champion.

• Swansea defeated Wigan 2-1 and both the Sunderland-Newcastle and QPR-Everton games finished 1-1.

• Ten players saw yellow and one red in the rough and tumble 2-2 draw between Crystal Palace and Millwall.

• Football’s oldest ‘derby’ (first played in Glasgow in 1882) ended Rangers 2 Queen’s Park 0 in SL3.

• UEFA have charged the Serbian FA and the Football Association following on pitch clashes at the end of last week’s U21 international between Serbia and England. Serbia has also been charged with alleged racial chanting by supporters.

• “Send him to gaol” said Leeds manager Neil Warnock after a fan of his team ran onto the pitch and assaulted Sheffield Wednesday’s Chris Kirkland in last Friday’s Hillsborough derby.

A 21 year-old ‘yob’ (since arrested in Cheltenham) struck the former England goalkeeper in the face after Leeds had equalised.

• Ties in the 1st round of the FA Cup, to be played on 3/4 November, include Aldershot v Hendon, Metropolitan Police v Crawley Town, the 2008 winners Portsmouth v Notts Co. who won 1894, Coventry City (1987 victors) v Arseley, Braintree v Tranmere, Gloucester City Leyton v Orient,

with beachcomber john

Carlisle United v Ebbsfleet and hard-up Hereford United v Shrewsbury Town, managed by the Bull’s former boss, Graham Turner.

• Dani Pedrosa won last Sunday’s rain-affected Motor GP in Malaysia. Championship leader by 23 points, Jorge Lorenzo, was second with Casey Stoner third.

• ‘Sam’s Men’ (West Ham) battered Southampton 4-1 and there were also single goal victories for Fulham and Liverpool who avoided their worst-ever start to a League season.

angling news

• Kevin Pietersen has apologised to the English County Cricket Board for remarks made on Twitter about South Africans and as a result he’s been named in England’s squad to tour India early in the New Year.

• Yorkshire have been eliminated from the Champions League by Highveld Lions of South Africa.

• Former England Test captain Tony Greig has been diagnosed with lung cancer.

• There were Heineken Cup wins for Leiceter (39-22 versus Ospreys) and Munster (33-0 v Edinburgh).

• Salford Rugby League club has been served with a winding up’ order. The initial hearing will be held Manchester in a fortnight’s time.

• Bill Drake, who played rugby for Hull in the 1950s/60s, has died, aged 81. His twin brother, Jim, also ex-Hull, passed away on the same day four years ago.

• A record Ascot crowd of 32,000 saw Britain’s greatest-ever racehorse, Frankl, ridden by Tom Quealey, win his 14th successive race last Saturday.

Footnote: The 219th Merseyside derby takes place on Sunday. So far Liverpool have 88 wins, Everton 66, with 64 draws. The Reds also lead 302 goals to 250.

DID YOU KNOW? Wayne Rooney (32 goals) is now 5th in England’s all-time scoring charts behind Bobby Charlton (49), Gary Lineker (48), Jimmy Greaves (44) and Michael Owen (40).

SOL TIMES COSTA ALMERIA

Sol Times Almeria is independent of political parties, private investment and government. Our policy is to provide readers with a news and information service that is fair, accurate and balanced. Sol Times Almeria is an independent publication. Published weekly and produced exclusively in Almeria. Sol Times News Group cannot be held responsible for claims made by advertisers, nor can it be held responsible for errors in advertisements caused by poor quality text, photographs or layout instructions. Furthermore, no responsibility can be accepted for any loss or damage resulting caused by any error, inaccuracy or non-appearance of an advertisement.

SALES HQ: 902 750 190

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EDITOR: editor@soltimes.com ~ DESIGN:production@soltimes.com

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POSTAL ADDRESS: MATTHEWS MEDIA S.L. APDO. 242, 04800, ALBOX, ALMERIA

Shore Fishing: Barry has been fishing Garrucha rocks and beach and catching only a few sea bass, palomete, mackerel and small melva tuna.

Boat Fishing: ‘Kenolo’ tells me he had a good day out with ‘Captain Cuba’, Brian insists there are shoals of cars in the sea from the recent floods and the lads on the boat certainly got snagged a lot of times. They had a few fish between them with Ken and Mark also having a squid each.

Brian had another good day out but didn’t start until about 9.30am once the sun had got up and it was a little warmer, fine weather fishermen I recon!

They went off the fort in about 80’ and jigged for a couple of hours. The wind, about 4kmh, sent them north and the current took them South. It seemed the current eventually won as they found themselves just south of the garage at the end of the two hours.

Fishing was pretty good all morning and they got well over a 100 in total, Brian said probably nearer 150 but people will think that’s just a ‘’fisherman’s’’ tally, surely not Brian?

90% were mackerel, a lot of very small ones which went back and a few pretty good sized ones that didn’t. They also caught a squid and lots of the usual assorted bottom fish, four weavers, one large one, pandoras and one nobody had seen before. ‘’Teacher John’’ proved the master of the miniscule, some

of his fish were so small they almost went unnoticed when they came up, but boy did he catch a lot. Brian said he got almost a 100 all on his own and his friend ‘Chilli Dave’ did just about as well. (So that’s nearly 200 now Brian? lol) Dave got fed up with mackerel so started bottom fishing and that’s when he came up with the lizard fish in the photo, caught in about 70’ just off the harbour entrance. ‘’Chilli Dave’’ also caught a rather nice ‘lizard’ fish; they are often mistaken for weavers but have no spines behind the head. It has almost identical colouring to the weaver, slimy with a large mouth full of very sharp teeth. (Brian said it reminded him of some women he has known. You are a brave man Brian; you wouldn’t get me saying something like that) See photo of a lizard fish and its captor, Dave.

Farmer Rory’ took up his usual position on the bow and did his own thing. It made Brian wonder though looking at Rory on the sharp end, a lot a boats have lovely maidens adorning their bows and all he had was Rory. He wants to know what he’s doing wrong. I think you should stop digging that big hole Brian or it will be so deep you won’t get out!

They had few if any real tangles even with five of them fishing and he was glad to report, no tackle was lost, for a change. Not like another day out with ‘Paul the rope’, ‘Inflatable Andy’ and ‘Mike the watch’. Brian

had to go for a large brandy and lie down in a very dark room for two hours after that experience, but that’s another story! Mike lost a very nice ‘trigger’ right alongside the boat that day.

They did catch each other quite a few times.

Coarse Fishing: ‘Puentes Ray’ gave the Puentes lake another try last week, conditions on arrival was no wind and the was water still high with a thick brown scum along the edge.

Weather was overcast but fine but the fishing was nonexistent. He float fished in about 14 feet of water with normal sweetcorn tactics.

Did not get a bite for about 3 hours and was beginning to think his luck had run out and then the wind started to blow towards him. The scum cleared and the fish started surfacing and he started catching. First fish was a 5lb mirror carp followed by several 4lbers. He caught 22carp and ended up having had a lovely day. Ray’s boilies arrived with his daughter on Sunday so he hopes to give them a try next week using different tactics and will keep us informed. There’s big carp in that there lake!

‘Baza Barry’ fished Lake Negratin and caught a few black bass and one trout, spinning and fly.

For further information on any of the above or to find out about beach, boat or coarse fishing licenses, see me at the Beachcomber Bar Restaurant on Mojacar Playa or tel 950 473 099.

Tight Lines, John

Valle del Este golf society..................................

The golf course was in excellent condition this week after the rains, and the greens are very receptive. Credit due to the course staff. Friday and our stableford comp, the winner Ray Harrison 36 pts (hcp16) now 15 2nd place,

Sean Walsh 34pts (hcp5) 3rd place Jim Quigley 33pts (hcp10) nearest the pins Ken Hadle and Jim Quigley. Dates for your dairy. Sat 10th Nov. Our annual charity day in aid of Asprodalba Teams of 4 for a Texas scamble 9am shotgun

start. This is an open comp anyone wishing to take part should call Alan Townsend on 634 379 887 before Friday 2nd Nov. Golf buggies should be booked in advance. Enjoy your golf at Valle del Este.

Forum Golf Society.................................................

On October 19th 44 members of Forum Golf Society took part in a Pairs competition at Desert Springs, using the increasingly popular 2 Man No Scotch Strokeplay format, and on a day when the worst net score was a remarkably good 2 under Par 69 Gary Blake continued his recent winning form, this time with wife Joy as his partner as they took first place with

an unbeatable net 56 !

John Smith & Roy Barker (57) were second, Fran Elam & Lee Coxon third with a net 59, also carding the best gross of the day with a round of 73, whilst Keith Ryder & Peter Moreton (59) were fourth & Des Riley & Derick Oldfield (also 59) came fifth.

Forum´s upcoming fixtures are : October 26th Stableford

at La Peraleja October 27th Stableford at Hacienda Riquelme November 2nd Stableford at Alboran November 16th Team One Two Three Cha Cha Cha at Aguilon For further information, contact Phil Elam on 666 847 840 / philjelam@ yahoo.co.uk, or see www. forumgolfsociety.webs.com

www.soltimes.com

sport

Urcal Golf Society................... 19th Hole Golf Society...........

Urcal Golf Society returned to Macenas on the 13th October for Captains Day. We had a really good turnout for the Individual Stableford competition, which resulted in a really close finish. The result hinging on count back and being decided by one point on the back nine.

Apart from the main competition there was also a putting competition, two longest drives and eight nearest the pin prizes.

It turned into a Billy Handy day as he not only won the main competition with a score of 35 points, he also won the putting competition with 29 putts on his round, the longest drive for the low handicappers and the nearest the pin prize on hole

number 14.

Second place in the singles went to Captain Tony Morgan and third place to Tony Cook with a score of 32 points. Longest Drive for the 26 handicaps and above went to Tony Hinds.

The other nearest the pin prizes went to Steve Fear, Roger Whitehead, Dick Gooding, John Smith, Bob Womersley, Bill Nicol and Maggie Nicol.

A good day was had by all and we look forward to our next match in two weeks time when we travel to the Lorca Golf Resort to play for the Urcal Challenge Cup. The Order of Merit table is also hotting up with only three qualifying matches to go and only five points covering the top four players.

If anyone is interested in playing with the Urcal Golf Society either as a guest or in joining the society please contact the Captain on skyblueforever2000@ yahoo.co.uk or by ringing him on 664 356 287

ALBOX DARTS LEAGUE.................

Highlights

Dave Babb from Cafe-Bar Oasis 180 Martin from Corner Bar 180 Barry from Corner Bar 118 Checkout Results for Week 3 Division 1 Tue 16 Oct Pablos 6 v 2 Bar Flora Tue 16 Oct El Cordobes 4 v 4 Carrillos Bar Tue 16 Oct Cafe-Bar Oasis 6 v 2 La Cinta 1 Tue 16 Oct Bar El Frax 1 v 7 Corner Bar

Cucador.

Tuesday 18th October and 19 members and guests of the 19th Hole Golf Society visited the very pretty Lorca Course.

The condition of the course was very good, which is a testament to all the hard work the green keepers put in to return the course back to being playable following the recent storm.

Brian (Dee) Lowden had a difficult day having to resort to the old club throwing technique, as the conventional usage of the clubs failed him; he only scored 26 points playing off 10. Although he only launched a couple of clubs, the rest of them got a jolly good talking to.

Terry (Mr. Consistent) Caddick had a brilliant day, playing off his new handicap of 16 (now reduced to 15) he coped with this quite tricky course better than everyone scoring 31 points and winning overall 1st place on count back and scoring nearest the pin on very difficult par 3 – 12th In second place, and recording his best result since playing with the 19th Hole, was Keith Kingdom. Keith also scored 31 points, playing off 28 (now playing off 27) and, after playing a very steady round, secured 2nd place on count back.

But the player of the day was Zeta Denyer( I know, I might be called bias)!!. Zeta in only her 1st year of competitive golf scored 31 point to take 3rd place on count back. This is the first time a lady golfer has won one of the main

prizes with the 19th Hole Golf Society. Zeta is on record as saying she owes it all to the ever patient Brian Everitt.

Brian persevered for over 10 months teaching Zeta the rudiments of the proper golf swing and, that teaching, patience and hours at the Driving Range, is now showing that if you want to play this funny old game you have to put the training hours in.

Our condolences to one of our Guests Peter Hodges, Peter had what can only be described as a horror (he mentioned some slightly stronger and colourful descriptions of his performance). Playing of 20 he is best statistic of the day was loosing 16 balls!!! and the fact that he introduced a couple of Spanish players to a more descriptive way of addressing the ball, which included a lot of Anglo Saxon words.

Results.

1st Terry Caddick 31 points (16) 2nd Keith Kingdom 31 points (28) 3rd Zeta Denyer 31 points (36) Nearest The Pin 4th Hole Matthew Minta 12th Hole Terry Caddick The 19th hole G/S is now arranging weekly games at various courses in the area, our home course, which we play fortnightly, is Aguilon.

If you are interested in joining the 19th hole give the secretary a ring on 610340653. Or email gs19thhole@hotmail.co.uk

CORTIJO GRANDE..........................

another 36 John Geaves and in third with 34 points John Rice. Second div winner with 35 Ian Hopkins second with 34 Janet Kay. Nice to see her back in Cortijo Grande and third with 31 Steve Bradfield.

Longest drive gents winner John Park. Ladies winner Lilly Pepper . Nearest Pin on 11th Alan Walton Our thanks to Mike s family for their support and all his old mates. We miss you Mike.

Our next away day is the Green Jacket competition a two day event 13th 14th November. To get the deal 950 469088 Enjoy your golf with Cortijo Grande old members visitors and guests wlcome MP

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Austin

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John

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John Colquhoun Tournament Secretary Indalo Bowling Club

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39

padel

PADEL is one if the fastest growing sports in Spain at the moment and is becoming more fashionable by the day. It is a mix between tennis and squash which originated in Mexico, then took off on a grand scale in Marbella, and now it comes to you!

Albox Tennis Club have started a new morning programme for Padel for beginners and intermediates, any day, Monday to Friday for one hour, twice a week.

The instructor and organiser, English speaking Daniel Lescano, is himself is a professional tennis and padel player and coach.

Padel is such an easy to learn, social sport which will help improve your fitness while you have fun. All you need to take part is a racquet and trainers. You can come on your own or with a partner or friends. The cost is just €30 per month for 2 hours a week and it is open to members and non-members and at the moment, Daniel is offering a one week free trial to give you a taste of the game. To take up this excellent opportunity, call Daniel on 607 758 646 or 656 329 614 now!

padel Special Morning Programme at

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Pit Stop

Results for Week 3 Division 2 Tue 16 Oct Trinidad 3 v 5 Catalan Tue 16 Oct Tercera Edad 6 v 2 El Molino Tue 16 Oct El Local 2 v 6 The Travellers

The competition at Cortijo Grande on Wednesday 17th October was won by a visitor John Cann with 36 points second with 35 Gunner Asheimer and third with another 35 John Geaves. Ball sweepwinner Greg Ward.

Sunday and an important competition as it is in memory of a man who showed great courage during his year as Captain but we lost him despite the effort he gave to survive his illness. Mike Ward will go down as the best of the best as our Captain.

The winner of the Mike Ward trophy was Harry Lentern with 37 points. The winner of the first div with 36 points Bob Winter and second with

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

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40 SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

WWW.SOLTIMES.COM

Valentino Rossi has called MotoGP “boring” and said that the sport has to change.

Jorge Lorenzo and fellow Spaniard Dani Pedrosa have dominated this year’s championship, winning 12 out of the 16 races so far between them.

“Now is the worst moment in MotoGP since I joined in 2000,” Rossi told reporters.

“It is the most boring moment. Races are quite bad and it is very difficult to stay awake.”

Defending champion Casey Stoner - who is retiring at the age of 27 next month - is the only other man to win this season and seven-time MotoGP champion Rossi believes the sport needs to change.

He said: “You look at Moto3, the races are very exciting, Moto2 is fantastic and then MotoGP is boring.

So they have to change the product.”

Rossi, 33, believes he can return to winning ways next

moto gp: Valentino Rossi calls for changes to ‘boring’ MotoGP

season as he prepares to return to Yamaha. He won four world championships with Yamaha before leaving for Ducati at the end of 2010, but has not won in the last 37 races.

He told BBC Sport: “This is not the time in my career to be struggling every weekend like this.

“It will be difficult but I think that I have the potential to win some races next year.”

Rossi last won a grand prix in Malaysia in 2010, and has managed just three podium finishes in his two seasons on a Ducati.

He signed a two-year deal to return to Yamaha earlier this year but admits he regrets not being able to be competitive for Ducati.

He said: “It is a great pity for me at Ducati.

“It was a dream, it was a great and important bet to try and win for Ducati but unfortunately we have no way. It has been two very difficult seasons.

“We try lots of things but we were never able to

fix the problems. We had some good races and a few good results but not what everyone expects. We lose the bet.”

Rossi will be in the unusual situation of being the second rider in his Yamaha team next season, as he partners Lorenzo again.

Lorenzo is on course to win his second championship this season and will be the team’s number one rider, but Rossi is determined to be at the front again.

He said: “I am at a certain age and I don’t know how many years I will continue in MotoGP, so I have to race with the best bike that I can.

“Fortunately during my career I have won more or less everything so I need to enjoy it to have the right motivation. I need to arrive at the circuit every weekend with the chance to fight for the victory. It will be difficult but that is why I change teams.”

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SOLTIMES

...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES