ISSUE 646 • 20th - 26th July 2018
EST 2005
Marriage probe CREDIT: Policia Nacional
By Jose Artur NATIONAL POLICE officers have arrested 31 people in connection with a group who allegedly arranged ‘marriages of convenience’ between Spanish and European Union citizens and people from elsewhere. Two lawyers from El Ejido and a suspect who ran a shop offering long distance phone calls were among those detained by police. Police claimed the investigation, dubbed Operation Fragua, was opened last December after registrars in Almeria found errors in marriage documents submitted for them to sign off. The documents concerned both formal marriages and couples registering as living together. Many of the marriages probed as part of the investigation ended in divorce and registrations were cancelled. This happened around a year after
Making room
ENQUIRY: Police made 31 arrests. documents were first filed, police claimed. Allegations also include the charging of thousands of euros in some cases to the couples who wanted to be part of the scheme. The people typically paired for the unions did not know one another and matches were arranged by the group. Authorities suspect the group made the arrangements so those paying them could gain visas and residency per-
mits in Spain. Officers arrested 14 Spanish nationals and foreigners initially as part of the probe. Further suspects were detained as police gathered evidence from the documents pre-
sented by registrars. The investigation remains open as police continue to trace further suspects and gather evidence for trials. Officers have not ruled out making more arrests.
A L M E R I A’ S c i t y c o u n c i l i s s e t t o c r e a t e a temporar y space for flowers, cards and other items left at the city’s Whale sculpture for Gabriel Cruz during works. The artwork is set to undergo a conversion into a permanent memorial for the eightyear-old who was found dead following a 13-day search in the Nijar area. The decision to conver t the sculpture was taken with approval from Angel Cruz and Patricia Ramirez, the boy’s parents. The council said tributes from the public could be left in the nearby Las Almadrabillas Park. Authorities plan to leave boxes and hangers out so people can continue to leave items. The works are expected to take around a month and a half at a cost of €182,000. Mourners of the eight-year-old rallied around the ar twork following the discover y of his body in March this year. F i s h e s w e r e C r u z ’s f a v o u r i t e a n i m a l a n d images of the creatures were used during the search for him and later at his funeral.
NEWS BITES
Flying squad
News
20th - 26th July 2018
Migrant smugglers held Photo credit Salvamento Maritimo/Twitter
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THE Spanish government has for the first time approved the use of drones for the study of threatened water birds in Almerian wetlands, including Punta Entinas-Sabinar, Salinas de Cerrillos, Cañada de las Norias, Ribera de Algaida and Albufera de Adra.
Little pests PULPI Town Council has been carrying out a campaign to reduce mosquitos. A combination of aerial and land-based spraying has been used as the hot weather has encouraged the pests.
Play time YOUNGSTERS in Vera will enjoy the town’s ‘summer playroom’ which will run until September 1. More than 500 applications were made for the 300 places in the playgroup in the Casa de Cultura.
STRAIT TALKING: The gang charged to arrange crossing into Spain on small boats.
By Staff Reporter FIVE people have been held in El Ejido after armed police raided three properties in connection with a human trafficking plot. It comes in the wake of a probe launched in Cadiz Province following the arrival of a flood of dinghies and other small vessels carrying African migrants across the Strait of Gibraltar to Spain. One of the boats used by the gang was wrecked off the coast of
Tangiers with 46 people on board, only 10 of who survived with 30 still unaccounted for. Investigators found that the mob was responsible for the launch of at least 19 such craft carrying at least 100 migrants including 15 unaccompanied children. Members based in Morocco would search for individuals interested in travelling to Spain and offer to transport them for a fee of €2,000-€5,500.
Others based in Spain were responsible for receiving the boats on beaches around the town of Tarifa before driving them to Almeria. But once there, they were held in private properties and told to pay an additional €400-€600 under threat of being handed over to Spanish authorities. The group is believed to have raked in at least €200,000, according to a police statement.
40 on trial for fraud A TOTAL of 40 defendants accused of defrauding social security out of hundreds of thousands of Euros through false contracts appeared in court last Monday. Prosecutors claimed in their submissions to the Provincial Court in Almeria City that the main defendant used a company to create the non-existent work contracts which he sold on. These people could then apply for payouts including unemployment benefits from the Social Security system. Prosecutors have requested the defendant be handed a five-year prison sentence and be fined €900,000 if found guilty.
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News
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IRISH budget airline Ryanair is set to spark travel chaos after cancelling up to 600 flights in Spain, Portugal and Belgium over two days due to cabin crew strikes. The industrial action will affect almost 50,000 passengers flying to or from the three countries next Wednesday and Thursday. The carrier has reportedly contacted the travellers and confirmed those who did not receive an email or text message should expect to fly as scheduled. Up to 300 flights per day will be axed, and Ryanair said in a statement: “These strikes are entirely unjustified and will achieve nothing other
CREDIT: Almeria City Council, via Facebook
Ryanair flights axed RESTORATION: Workers have begun repairing the fountain.
‘Vandal’ repairs GROUNDED: Up to 50,000 passengers are set to be affected by the strikes. than to disrupt family holidays.” It comes after cabin crew from across Europe published a list of 34 demands earlier this month, including “a fair living wage,” better sick pay and contracts in their native language. They have previously complained that they are
forced to pay for drinking water during flights and must physically report to work when sick in order to submit written details of their symptoms. But Ryanair published a list of cabin crew benefits on social media, including annual wages of up to €40,000, and claimed its staff enjoy some of the best conditions in the lowcost airline sector. “We think are crew are well paid and we think their terms and conditions are good,” said chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs. “But we will sit and meet with them see what issues they have and consider them. We will
keep an open mind.” And although the company will consider demands for local, rather than Irish, contracts, Jacobs said it will maintain its “low-cost, high-efficiency” business model. Ryanair last December managed to avoid threatened strikes by recognising trade unions for the first time, but has since struggled to strike deals with some of them. Jacobs added it decided to cancel flights a week in advance since it saw little prospect of the strikes being called off and wanted to give passengers the chance to rebook.
WORKERS have begun restoring a fountain in a plaza in Almeria City after local authorities said it had fallen victim to vandalism. Almeria City Council said the fountain, located in the Plaza San Pedro, was “shattered” by vandals last Tuesday night. “Although the external wall is almost ready, the top tray is unrecoverable. We’ll have to do it again,” the authority said in a Facebook post. Ramon Fernandez-Pacheco, the mayor of Almeria City, said repairs would begin immediately. Workers were sent to the site on Wednesday. “If I write what I think of those who have done this, Facebook would close my account. We’ll repair the source and go back to how all of us like Almeria,” he said. Pictures shared by the mayor and by Almeria City Council showed one of the stone walls surrounding the fountain toppled over. The stone work atop the monument had also been knocked off and was lying on the floor beside it. The identity of those responsible remains unknown.
News NEWS BITES
Designer fakes MORE than 1,000 counterfeit t-shirts, sunglasses, bracelets and other items have been seixed by police in Roquetas de Mar since April. The fake goods were being sent to ‘looky looky’ street vendors throughout Almeria province, according to reports.
Melon row ALMERIAN farmers have written to the Food Information and Control Agency after the wholesale price of watermelons plummeted by 74 per cent in the space of a month at a time of year when demand increases.
Fishy deal TWELVE new boats from Carboneras, Roquetas de Mar and Adra will be allowed to fish commercially in the Cabo de Gata marine reser ve in a surprise move by the Spanish government which is likely to enrage environmental groups.
Parking plan CARBONERAS council has pledged to convert several open spaces into public car parks, with the town’s population set to triple over the next few weeks as tourists descend on the holiday hotspot.
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Foreigners saving villages ONLY the influx of foreigners is saving many o f A l m e r i a ’s i n l a n d towns from a dwindling population – and even this might not be enough. Of the 103 municipalities in the province more people die than are bor n in 66 of them. In 2016 30 villages had an average of fewer than two births, and in most, more people left the municipality than arrived. At least, this holds true for migration within Spain, to which many of Almeria’s youngsters are moving in search of better opportunities. However there are several towns and villages where an influx of followers is more than enough to make up for the population loss. Overall, the province saw 1,259 more individ-
POPULATION BOOST: Mojacar is among the towns to benefit from foreign residents. uals arrive than leave in 2017 according to the data provided by the Institute of Statistics and Cartography of Andalucia. At the same time it lost population (986) on balance to the rest of Spain, meaning these new arrivals must have come from abroad. Looking at 2017 some of the leading destinations for foreign settlers
Stars wanted BRITISH film-maker Paul TT Easter is interested in shooting a feature film in and around Albox and would much appreciate any help or advice. He has had films released in the UK and USA, including cinema screenings, but at present is test filming with no budget or funding in place. An English-speaking cast is needed in the age range 18-60, and special thanks could be given in the film’s closing credits, for example company names, involvement, locations, props, adverts, etc. Please contact paultteaster@gmail.com for more information.
were: Mojacar with 274 more arrivals than departures for foreign shores, Pulpi (407), Vera (207), Huercal-Overa (174), Cuevas del Almanzora (197) and the Almeria city (845). As for migrations with the rest of Spain, the largest municipalities lose the most inhabitants. The capital lost 303 inhabitants during 2017, El Ejido 242 and Roquetas de Mar 74.
News
20th - 26th July 2018
CREDIT: Navantia
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SINKING FEELING: The S-80 Plus is too big for the dock.
New sub ‘does not fit’ SPAIN’S Defence Ministry is set to spend some €16 million to enlarge a dock in Cartagena after it emerged a newly-launched submarine would not fit in its mooring. The news comes as the S-80 Plus submarine project has been beset by problems including costing almost twice as much as initially estimated and redesigns being required. The government in Madrid is due to sign off an increase in the budget to build four of the vessels.
Costs are set to rise to €3.9 billion from the original forecast of €2.1 billion, meaning each submarine will be priced at almost €1 billion. The lack of room in the Cartagena naval base comes in part from enlargements that had to be made to the submarines in 2013. Designers found a 125tonne weight imbalance which could have meant the S-80 would have been unable to resurface if it had been launched according
Up in smoke FOUR men have been held after a strong smell led detectives to an indoor cannabis plantation in El Ejido. The quartet were surprised as they carried bags of the drug down a set of stairs after a neighbour reported the stench. Police revealed in a statement the gang, which included individuals from Lithuania, Albania and Romania, was supplying dealers in Eastern Europe. Almost 26 kilos of dried cannabis buds with a street value of more than €130,000, six mobile phones and a car were seized during the swoop.
to the original design. Experts found 10 metres had to be added to the initial length of 71 metres and its water displacement would have to rise to 3,000 tonnes. The Cartagena docks only have enough room for vessels of up to 78 metres in length. The findings were confirmed by a United States consulting firm hired by the Defence Ministry for a cost of €14 million, with the updated model dubbed the S80 plus. Navantia, the stateowned firm building the submarines, is expected to lower the price of the vessels if it decides to sell them to other governments. The market value of the submarines is estimated to be between €400 and €600 million. The vessels feature an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system which allows them to stay submerged for almost two weeks. The AIP feature will be built into the third of the four submarines delivered to the government.
NEWS CREDIT: Wikimedia Commons
Cash boost for communities ELEVEN of Almeria Province’s most disadvantaged communities will be getting a €13 million boost from the Junta de Andalucia regional government. Plans have been included in the Andalucian Strategy for Social Cohesion and Inclusion to improve the quality of life of some of the province’s poorest inhabitants. The cash will be paid out from 2018 to 2021 with Almeria City getting the lion’s share (€6,627,472). El Ejido will pick up €2,405,39, with €1,048,762 going to Nijar, €1,262,904 to Roquetas de Mar, €1,006,124 to Vicar and €728,244 budgeted for the Provincial Council to spend in La Mojonera. It is estimated that these funds will help improve the quality of life for about 90,000 people. The money will be split between local authorities’ social programmes and private sector charities. Aid will be largely concentrated on urban areas with a high concentration of vulnerable people.
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EMISSIONS CALL: The group has called for action on port pollution.
Pollution appeal AN environmental group has written to authorities to call for action on emissions from ships in the port of Almeria City. The Ecologists in Action have also requested a meeting with officials from the Junta de Andalucia. The group said pollution from ships had swept across several houses in the area which could cause harm to residents. “The emissions contain Clinker (Hexavalent chromium) and Gypsum (crystalline silica) which can cause cancer, eye, skin and lung problems, as well as harm women during pregnancy,” the group
said. The Ecologists added southwesterly winds had caused pollution from ships moored around 200 metres from homes to blow over them. “Most of the ships are very old and do not meet all the necessary technical improvements required, and use an absolutely harmful fuel,” the group said. The environmentalists added locals were also being affected by noise and light pollution, claiming the area around Almeria’s Provincial Hospital was being exposed to sounds above 50 decibels.
Man held in ‘theft’ probe GUARDIA CIVIL officers have arrested a 40-year-old suspect in connection with robberies on a farm in the Nijar area. Police were called to Campohermoso after the owner of the property claimed a cart, a back-mounted chemical sprayer, rubber irrigation pipes and buckets had gone missing from a warehouse. Officers detained the 40-year-old, from Nijar, following their investigation. Proceedings have been sent to the Guardia Civil Court of Instruction in Almeria. CREDIT: Guardia Civil
ARRRESTED: The 40-year-old is suspected of stealing from farms.
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Endangered birds
NEW BORNS: Marbled ducks are classed as critically endangered AN environmental group has said that at least 14 chicks of one of the most endangered aquatic bird species in Europe have been born at a wetland in Roquetas de Mar. The Society for the Study and Recovery of Almeria Biodiversity (SERBAL) said two female Marbled ducks had been spotted with their young in Ribera de la Algaida. The birds are classed as critically endangered by the Ministry of
Environment. SERBAL carried out regular visits to the wetland to monitor the birds during their breeding season earlier this year. The group said “abundant” rainfall meant more water-based animals had been drawn to the area than usual. “The Marbled duck is a very discreet and distrustful species, especially during breeding season, so monitoring it is complicated.
“One of our cameras captured one female with six chicks and another female with eight chickens last month. “We are sure they were two different females since both ponds are very far apart and the chicks observed were of different ages,” the group added. Marbled ducks go to the Ribera de la Algaida every year but changing water levels mean they do not always breed.
Water good idea MINISTER of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, Rodrigo Sanchez Haro, has called for a reduction in the price of desalinated water to a maximum 30 cents. At a conference in Almeria he said these demands were made to the previous central government of Mariano Rajoy, and they remain “fair” now. He stressed that the future of agriculture in Almeria depends on sustainable access to water, and it is “essential” to install the hydraulic infrastructure being planned in the province. A working group will also be set up to monitor the process, with a timescale put in place for the hydraulic project. Mr Haro also expressed the need to reduce agricultural plastics for environmental reasons.
LIFE’S A BEACH: The team.
Deep clean A TOTAL of 19 people got together for a brilliant day out on the water past Villaricos. Organised by Coastal Cleaners Andalucia and led by Sama2005 the event saw participants kayaking and snorkelling in cr ystal clear water before cleaning the beach of a remote bay only accessible from the sea. The trip was three hours in total and six large bags of rubbish - mainly plastic bottles - were recovered from the shoreline. For information about future events search for Coastal Cleaners Andalucia on Facebook.
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20th - 26th July 2018
Walk this way
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CONNOR AND TONIA GRAY from Chapman’s Bar and Restaurant in Albox are doing this year’s Saliente Pilgrimage on September 7. They are raising money for four local charities, namely APSA (Animal Protection Society Albox), Age Support Almanzora, Vera Orphanage and Walk for Life (Cancer). The money raised will be divided equally between the charities. Sponsor forms are available from APSA, Age Support, Chapmans Bar and Restaurant, Cutting Edge, Lulu’s Dog Grooming, Total Entertainment and in CAT Services.
Runners named THE Mojacar paseo running group now has a name. El Bandido Runners said: “We have no fixed base and so go where we can run.”
Starting from the Best Indalo Hotel every Saturday morning, the events see participants run, jog or walk from the start line to the Red Cross round-
Artists help animals PROCEEDS from a new art exhibition dubbed ‘Origen’ [Origin] at the Convento de la Victoria in Vera will be donated to the PAWS-PATA animal charity. Photographer Manuel Villamil and painter and filmmaker Cristina Gomez will have their work on display until July 28.
about at the end of the paseo before heading back to the hotel. The total distance is five kilometres and entrance is free, although any funds raised are donated to cancer support group MACS. Anyone interested to take part should email organiser Kevin Rowe ironmankev08@gmail.co m or see the El Bandido Runners Facebook page. Runners are advised to bring water and a towel.
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Weekender Services Special
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Ebola vaccine Page 20
Cooling Gazpacho Page 18
Nissan Juke Page 31
Photo credit: Nissan Newsroom
Property scandal
Credit: Aleph/Wikimedia
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Feature
20th - 26th July 2018
TRAVEL
Trujillo - birthplace of the conquistadores WHEN thoughts turn to Extremadura, most attention is focused on the magnificent Roman remains of Merida, or the impressive monasteries of Guadalupe and Yuste. But for me the real jewel in the crown of this land of conquistadores is Trujillo which must rank as having one of the prettiest old towns in this relatively untouched region. Although the city has its origins in a primitive settlement called Turgalium, followed by Roman and Visigoth settlers, it was expanded by the Muslims who ruled for 500 years.
They were responsible for the imposing castle which dominates the city from its position atop the hill, which the city huddles against. But it is the period that followed the Christian reconquest of the city, and particularly the 16th century that was the genesis of Trujillo’s magnificence. The city was the birthplace of many of the conquistadores who led Spain’s forays abroad. Most notable were Francisco de Pizarro, discoverer of Peru, Fray Jerónimo de Loaísa, the first Bishop of Cartagena de Indias,
and Nuflo de Chaves, discoverer of Bolivia. Much of the wealth of the Americas flowed into the city, and was spent on magnificent houses, palaces and churches. The ancient parts of Trujillo are mainly in two areas - the medieval village of Arabic origin and the Renaissance city itself clustered around the Plaza Mayor - a vast square. While the architecture differs, a walk through both districts has one thing in common. Storks have taken over the rooftops and are to be seen nesting everywhere.
Un-economy By Jos Biggs
THIS will be my first summer with a fully functioning (hopefully) air-con it’s a long story, but the bottom line is that when Procoal put in the original system it was old fashioned and out of date repair-wise. Every year someone would come and tinker with it with ver y little result, but it gave up completely a couple of years ago. Fransisco, our Spanish neighbour and a polymath, signed it’s death certificate, got and installed a new unit which of course needed gassing - gassing is expensive, and this was the fourth time we have had to meet this particular expense. Fine last year, but when I switched it on this year - it was working except it was not giving out cold air. I called him. ‘Francisco’ I said, ‘the
aire is not working!’ He came posthaste, climbed about in the ceiling a bit, then informed me cheerfully that there was no gas. ‘But it had new gas last summer. Yo u s a i d i t w o u l d n o t n e e d r e gassing for years.’ I added ‘And years’ for emphasis. ‘Yes, but the gas has escaped.’ His bonhomie was undented. Lions and tigers escape, and are caught again, but how can you catch escaped gas? I don’t suppose a tranquilizer dart would be much help, even if you could find where the escaped gas was hiding. Where is it? And why did it escape in the first place? I felt a nasty twinge coming on in my pocket. Four gassings is more than the purse can readily stomach.
josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk
Feature
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Weekender 13
TRAVEL
Cadiz: a city break in Spain WHEN we think of booking a city break in Europe - Rome, Barcelona and Paris seem to be the first that pop into our minds. Let’s keep going down the list and we look at Lisbon, Zurich, and Brussels. However, the latest city that is becoming very popular for weekend getaways is right in the heart of our own Spanish community, Cadiz. The regional capital city, located on the shorelines in the south west of Spain, is one of Europe’s disregarded treasures. The old trading city with its narrow streets and historic buildings has become easily accessible from Gibraltar or Jerez international airports. Founded in 1100 BC by the Phoenicians, the city was taken
HIDDEN GEM: Cadiz. from the Moors by the then Spanish King Alfonso X in 1262 when it began its historic journey as one of Spain’s main trading channels after Christopher Columbus sailed to America from the port on his second and fourth journeys. Considered now as one of the
oldest cities in western Europe, the main sights to begin a few days sightseeing would be the Plaza de Mina and Plaza de la Catedral in the city centre. The Plaza Mina which houses the Cadiz Museum has been untouched since the 19th century, and stands alone with beautiful centuries old trees, gothic archi-
tecture and various statues, one of which is the bust of Jose Macpherson (a pioneer in the development of petrography, stratigraphy and tectonics) who was born in Plaza de Mina 12 in 1839. The museum contains many ancient artifacts and works of art from the Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens. The Plaza de la Catedral houses both the Cathedral and the Baroque church of Santiago. After enjoying breakfast at one of the many restaurants in the square, a visit inside the crypt is a must if you are visiting the cathedral. A highly recommended stroll through the bustling narrow streets takes you along the seafront where the breathtak-
ing views of Caleta Beach snuggled up against the Castillo de San Sebastian (the old fortress) will take your breath away. Keep a look out to see if another James Bond girl surfaces through the waves like Halle Berr y did in the Bond classic Die Another Day - No it wasn’t Havana it was Caleta Beach! A Roman market, the Holy cave and a snack outside the San Felipe Neri church where the first constitution was signed in 1812 should also be on the ‘hit list’ as well as sampling the delicious range of freshly caught fish from the area. On your return don’t forget to photograph Europe’s tallest bridge, La Pepa.
Weekender
Property
20th - 26th July 2018
Tenants’ rights are building SPAIN is introducing a series of measures to strengthen legal protection for people who rent their homes. Home-building, boosted by foreign investment, is thriving in the country, 10 years after a property bubble burst, and the new Socialist government is now looking to rein in some areas of the market. Development Minister Jose Luis Abalos said: “We need to make sure housing stock is mainly allocated to satisfying the right to housing, safeguarding its social function.” Buyers of rented property will have to respect the terms of existing tenants’ contracts, avoiding the postcrisis situation where cash-strapped councils sold social housing to private equity firms that subsequently raised rents. Mr Abalos also proposed regulatory and fiscal measures to encourage owners of empty properties to let them. He announced that over the next four to six years, 20,000 affordable homes for rent will be built, adding to a supply which currently makes up for just 2.5 per cent of Spanish housing stock, according to the OECD. This compares with 14 per cent in France and 18 per cent in Britain. Curbs will be placed on deposits or other guarantees that landlords can demand from tenants, and the government will aim to ease access to credit to help people rent.
Juan Carlos I in property scandal THE former king of Spain, Juan Carlos I, bought multiple overseas properties through his alleged lover Princess Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, according to claims made by her in a leaked recording. In a 2015 conversation with a former Spanish police officer in London, Princess Corinna alleged that the king’s lawyers put her name on overseas properties without her permission, complaining that she was being drawn into ‘money laundering.’ The 53-year-old princess, who obtained her title from her second marriage, also claimed that that Juan Carlos I held bank accounts in Switzerland in the name of his cousin, Alvaro Orleans de Borbon. The allegations are the latest contro- ROYAL SCANDAL: The allegations versies to spring from the long-reput- are an embarrassment for Juan ed relationship between the Monaco- Carlos I.
Credit: Aleph/Wikimedia
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based princess and Juan Carlos I, who has an estimated fortune of up to €2 billion. Princess Corinna, an adviser to Prince Albert of Monaco, was named in the Spanish press as the then king’s lover after she was seen in his company during a secret 2012 elephant hunting trip in Botswana. It is an incident that is widely seen as the beginning of the fall of Juan Carlos I, who abdicated in 2014 at the age of 76. Princess Corinna claimed the properties had been put in her name not ‘because he loves me a lot, but because I reside in Monaco,’ where such assets do not have to be publicly declared. The Spanish palace has not commented on last week’s reports, and Alvaro Orleans de Borbon has denied the claims.
Ortega makes €680 million Adelphi bid THE Spanish billionaire and founder of Zara is set to buy the Adelphi a Grade II listed building in central London for about €680 million, weeks after losing out on buying another prominent building in the capital. Amancio Ortega, 82, founder of the Inditex fashion empire that includes the retailer Zara, is understood to be the preferred bidder for the 330,000 sq ft office building by the Strand. At the moment it is home to the musicstreaming ser vice Spot i f y, a s w e l l a s C o n d e Nast, The Economist, and Finsbur y, the pub-
lic relations company. Mr Ortega is the ninth richest person in the world, and is worth €58.7 billion, but no final decision to sell the property to him has been taken. The building is owned by Blackstone, America’s largest private equity firm, which bought the site in 2012 for €294 million. The 1938 building has been restored to its art deco glor y with Traver tine marble surfaces and etched glass panels, while the four sculptures that frame the Adelphi and which were designed by the sculptor Gilbert Ledward, remain in place.
Pontegadea recently m a d e a €1 . 1 3 b i l l i o n bid for Goldman Sachs’ London headquarters but missed out t o S o u t h K o r e a ’s N a tional Pension Ser vice, a sovereign wealth fund. Blackstone put the Adelphi up for sale in April after completing full occupancy of the building last July when Shiseido Group, the Japanese cosmetics company, took the remaining space. The private equity group has completed a huge refurbishment of the site, which is one of the largest single office b u i l d i n g s i n t h e We s t End with panoramic views over the Thames.
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Weekender
Services Special
20th - 26th July 2018
Local services are FOR ever ything you want, whether its goods or services, there is a multinational vying for your business the other side of a computer screen. But sometimes it is good to stay local. Thankfully in Almeria we still have the choice of going local for our ever y need - and in many ways it is still the best way. Of course, some people will always prefer the ser vices of the big boys, after all they do have their advantages. However, what they can’t
! t s be
offer is the very highest level of personal ser vice. Nothing beats face to face contact when it comes to ensuring you get exactly what you want. Being able to describe, and even better show, someone your specific needs goes a long way to avoiding misunderstandings. What’s more, local tradesmen and services firms are especially anxious to make a good impression on their clients as they know how important a good reputation is to them. The wrong manner or
slipshod service is a recipe for losing future trade, so you will often find your local firm will go the extra mile - sometimes including out of hours working - to make certain you are truly satisfied with their work. And of course any money you spend with them is far more likely to remain in circulation in the local area - so you can help your entire community’s wealth by calling one of the advertisers on this page.
Lifestyle
20th - 26th July 2018
Loving a coffee
PREPARE A KIT: With towels and bedlinen for each guest.
Tips from pros SUMMER is often the time hordes of friends and relatives decide to descend on us for a visit, which is great but can be hard work for the hosts, especially if they don’t happen to live in a huge villa with a fleet of cleaning staff! If anyone knows how to prepare small spaces for large visitor numbers and keep them decluttered and ready for use, its cruise ship staff. Here are a few tips from ship housekeepers which we can all learn from: 1. Prepare a kit for each room with towels, bedlinen and anything else you want to leave ready for your guests in advance. This will save time running around the day before they arrive and means you have everything on hand when you go to prepare their room(s). 2. Have a special storage area for linen and separate or label it by size or room.
THE rise in popularity of artificial lawns instead of real grass may save water, but it also brings with it a number of negative effects, not least a threat to local wildlife. Most of the fabricated turf is produced via a heady cocktail of the plastics polypropylene, polyurethane and polyethylene, which conservationists say is discouraging butterflies, bees and garden birds, as well as creating massive amounts of nonbiodegradable waste. Mathew Frith, director of conservation at the London Wildlife Trust, said: “You are using fossil fuels to make it, so there is a carbon impact there; you have to remove a significant amount of soil to
Once washed and ironed, or returned from the laundry, organise your bedlinen in one place and keep double and single sets apart so you can quickly and easily grab what you need without hunting through piles of sheets, wrinkling everything else in the process. 3. Storage boxes are a great way to make the most of available space, but make sure you stack them right to keep things simple. 4. Opt for multi-task cleaning products to cut down on the number of bottles you need, and keep them all in one place. While hotel and cruise cleaners have a trolley, you can convert this idea for the home but keeping everything in a bucket or box. 5. Keep to a cleaning routine. If you always do everything in the same order, you’ll be able to perfect an efficient routine and save time.
Grass roots for wildlife lay it so you are reducing the direct and indirect porosity of the soil; you are removing habitat which a wide range of species are dependent on and at the
end of its life this is a nonbiodegradable product which ultimately goes back into landfill. So we are concerned at its proliferation.� Paul de Zylva, senior nature campaigner for Friends of the Earth, added: “I think the negative impacts of artificial grass are substantial. By using artificial grass, you are creating a ‘Don’t come here sign,’ for wildlife.�
COFFEE is good for more than just waking you up in the morning, in fact your garden will appreciate it almost as much as you do! However, we’re not talking about Nescafe out of a jar here; for the following tricks to work you need proper coffee grounds. Along with giving yourself and your plants a boost, you’ll be reducing your household waste by recycling: another bonus! First of all, a little known fact is that slugs and snails really hate coffee, so if you pop it round the base of your plants the pests should stay away. Also, it can be used as a natural fertiliser as coffee grounds are high in nutrients and will help your plants grow bigger and better. Finally, it can alter and improve the colour of your flowers as it is acidic and will change the pH level of the soil. Coffee, anyone?
Weekender 17
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18
Weekender
Food & Drink
20th - 26th July 2018
Gazpacho IT is that time of year when if you can help it, anything that reduces the heat in the kitchen is a bonus. If I can, I try to prepare things in the morning whilst it is still cool. This week however, there was one day, where I honestly couldn’t be bothered to cook anything, and Gazpacho had to be made. With all the fabulous fruits and vegetables in season, whether you grow your own, buy from the supermarkets, or visit a local market, Gazpacho makes good use of them, as well as being a delicious dish. There are many recipes out there and I have tried quite a few of them. Some use vegetable stock, some prefer green peppers, others red peppers, but the one I like to make is a bit of a variation of them and includes bread which helps to thicken it. I also like to add croutons and a few chunky pieces of peppers and cucumber to garnish, which adds to the presenta-
COOLING: Gazpacho.
OLIVE TREE FARM was set up about four years ago with the intention of achieving a level of self sufficiency. We have poultry for meat and eggs, goats for milk, rabbits and small pigs for meat and harvest our 70 olive trees each year for oil. We also grow a variety of fruits and vegetables.
tion of what I consider to be a lazy dish. Just make sure you chill it for at least a couple of hours before you serve it. Ingredients 4-5 large very ripe tomatoes Seeds removed, no need to peel 1 small red onion chopped (white will be fine if you cannot get red) - Save a little for garnish 1 red pepper - deseeded and chopped 2 garlic cloves finely chopped 1 slice of white bread torn into pieces, crusts removed (or take some of the white out of yesterday’s baguette) One cucumber deseeded, peeled and chopped Save a little for garnish Olive oil - 3 - 4 tablespoons is plenty 1 teaspoon of Sherry vinegar 1 teaspoon Tabasco 1 teaspoon sugar Salt and freshly ground black pepper Optional - Croutons, chopped cucumber, green pepper and finely chopped onion to garnish. Method Add all your ingredients into a food processor and whizz it up. I like a bit of texture but if you prefer it perfectly smooth, that works fine by whizzing for an extra minute, if it is too thick, you can always add a little cold vegetable stock. Once you have got all your flavours as you like it, add all this to a large bowl, cover and chill for at least 2 hours before ser ving, or preferably overnight.
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Weekender
Health & beauty
20th - 26th July 2018
Ebola vaccine hope A TEAM of Spanish researchers at the October 12 Hospital has been working to develop a vaccine against all five strains of Ebola. Inspired by the case of a Spanish nursing assistant Theresa Romero, who became the first person to be infected with the virus outside Africa, Robert Delgado and his team of researchers have been concentrating their work on developing a vaccine against all five strains of the disease. Theresa Romero caught Ebola while caring for a Spanish missionar y from Sierra Leone who had returned to Spain and who sadly
PROTECTION: A new vaccine is being developed in Spain.
then died. The Ebola epidemic in 2014 was widespread in West Africa resulting in the loss of life of more than 11,300 peo-
ple in the region. In addition to medical workers and volunteers from other countries including Spain, United Kingdom and the United
States who became infected. Ebola can be caused by five viruses but at the present time there is only a vaccine available
against the Zaire strain which was developed by the pharmaceutical group MERCK. This vaccine was used during the outbreak in 2014 with some positive results although at the time it did not have market approval. Robert Delgado the lead researcher at the October 12 Hospital told repor ters that the difficulty lay in the fact that the virus protects itself with proteins that act as a shield and only exposes itself in vulnerable zones for short periods of time. This makes it extremely difficult for the body’s immune system to combat the virus.
‘CANCER DANGER’: T
What and is i SINCE the Johnson and Johnson case this week when they were ordered to pay out over €3 . 5 b i l l i o n i n d a m ages to women who have contracted ovarian cancer from their signature talcum powd e r, q u e s t i o n s a r e b e ing asked if the infamous baby powder is safe to use. The latest case which presented 22 women ovarian cancer sufferers, of which six had died, all claim that the asbestos in the powder caused the cancer. For years there have been concerns that the mineral in talcum powder when applied near the genitals is cancerogenic but there is ver y little proof to solidify these claims because of mixed evidence. The lawyers for Johnson and Johnson denied there was any harmful product in the powder but the prose-
Health & beauty
20th - 26th July 2018
Weekender 21
Health benefits of turmeric
Talcum powder.
is talc it safe? cution told the court that the company had used flawed testing and has known since t h e 1 9 7 0 ’s t h a t i t w a s potentially a danger risk. Talc is a clay mineral mined all over the world, however in its natural form it contains another silicate mineral called asbestos. In the process of breaking down the particles to make talc u m p o w d e r, a s b e s t o s traces are apparently removed from the talc, leaving just a non-toxic mineral powder. H o w e v e r, s t u d i e s u n dertaken by different laboratories have shown mixed results. Based on dozens of studies using thousands of women from all ages, women who use or used talcum powder are about 30 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer than women who did not use talcum powder.
TURMERIC has been used for thousands of years as a food and a medicine. Curcumin is the main active ingredient of turmeric and it has been acknowledged for many years for its medicinal benefits. The health conscious amongst us have recently become more aware of its long term anti-inflammatory effects and strong antioxidant properties. Shor t term inflammation is necessar y to fight foreign invaders in the body but long term inflammation can lead to some chronic diseases. These include heart disease, cancer and even Alzheimer’s. Unfor tunately, Curcumin is
poorly absorbed into the bloodstream and the one we find on our spice rack contains very little. It is advised to use a high quality turmeric supplement from Health Food shops containing Bio Piperine, a natural substance that enhances the absorption of Curcumin by 200 per cent. Arthritis sufferers also experience great pain relief from taking turmeric as do sufferers of digestive and in-
testinal problems. The spice is the dried and ground rhizome of a plant belonging to the same family as ginger. There are various ways of taking turmeric, dissolved in milk aids the absorption as does a
pinch of black pepper. Making a paste of two parts honey one par t turçmeric to dab on spots can offer relief to acne sufferers. Easily added to most foods it has excellent health benefits.
SPICE ONE: Turmeric is thought to have powerful healing properties.
22
Weekender
Leisure
20th - 26th July 2018
PHOTO CREDIT BBC
The BBC unveil their star-studded autumn line-up of drama - including John Malkovich, Toni Collette and Idris Elba Richard Shanley
Dishing the Dirt OF EUROPA DIGITAL
THE BBC has unveiled its star-studded autumn line-up of drama - and it seems Hollywood are missing some of their biggest stars, because they’re too busy on British TV! In the juicy trailer following the World Cup final, we saw Hollywood actor John Malkovich as Hercule Poirot in the upcoming adaptation of Agatha Christie’s The ABC Murders - and Heriditary star Toni Collette leading the cast in comedydrama Wanderlust. You’re in for a treat with brand new dramas: Bodyguard. Doctor Who. Gentleman Jack. Informer. Killing Eve. Les Misérables. Luther. Mrs Wilson. Press. The ABC Murders. The Cry. The Little Drummer Girl. The Long Song. The War of the Worlds. Wanderlust. We also got a first-look glimpse at Les Misérables - starring Dominic West as Jean Valjean, David Oyelowo as Javert and Lily Collins as Fantine, alongside Adeel Akhtar and Olivia Colman as Monsieur and Madame Thénardier.
EAGERLY ANTICIPATED: Luther is back for a fifth season. For Luther fans, there was another opportunity to see Idris Elba back as John Luther in the crime drama’s eagerly anticipated fifth series. And although Alice Morgan actress Ruth Wilson did appear in the promo, it was another series - Mrs Wilson, inspired by the star’s grandmother - that warranted her appearance. So what does that mean for the return of our favourite conniving killer?
Other Stateside stars popping up on British soil include Alexander Skarsgård and Michael Shannon in The Little Drummer Girl, and Grey’s Anatomy star Sandra Oh alongside Brit actress Jodie Comer in Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s thriller Killing Eve. And there are plenty of other home-grown actors set to appear on the BBC over the coming months. Jenna Coleman returns to BBC One in
psychological thriller The Cry, while Richard Madden and Keeley Hawes star in Line Of Duty writer Jed Mercurio’s brand-new series Bodyguard. Suranne Jones stars as Anne Lister in Gentleman Jack, while new drama Press, set in the fast-paced and challenging environment of the British newspaper industry, stars Charlotte Riley, Ben Chaplin and David Suchet.
If you would like me to answer any questions you may have on satellite TV or to expand on anything I have written about please call me on 678 332 815 or email richard@europa-digital.com. I look forward to your comments and questions. Don’t forget to listen to my radio show every weekday from 10am on Spectrum 96.1 and 106.8FM, now covering almost 3,000sq kms of Costa Almeria and Calida or listen online at costaalmeria.spectrumfm.net for the latest news and views from the world of satellite television.
PETS
20th - 26th July 2018
Weekender 23
Sponsored by
Fancy dog-sitting in the UK for a change? LOVE dogs? Then we need your help. We are always looking for pet lovers and especially dog and cat lovers who are happy to house-sit and care for the family pets while they are looking after the owner’s property. It’s an exchange of services like oldfashioned barter. As a sitter you get free accommodation and you give your time house and pet-sitting for free. It’s a win-win! Dog-sitters give peace of mind. Many dog owners, especially, like the pets to maintain their routine during the day and for someone caring to be with them at night in their own home. So a live-in house-sitter is the best choice for them while they are away. As a pet-sitter what do you get? As a house-pet-sitter you enjoy the opportunity of living in a comfortable home in a new location, while you are caring for pets and property. It’s an authentic holiday, living like a local with the owner’s guidance you can enjoy the best the locale has to offer without the need for guidebooks. What our members say about us on Trustpilot.
PET-SITTING: Giving peace of mind to pet owners. I instantly felt like I was being looked after ... I cannot say enough good things about this website … Lamia and I spoke on the phone as soon as I signed up and she was so helpful. I instantly felt I was being looked after and that I’m valued as a house-sitting member. Lamia is not only professional but friendly, and takes a genuine interest in you as a house-sitter. I’m very excited about my next booking. I have just returned from one week of dog sitting and it was so much fun. I am still smiling from all the lovely memories. I live on my own and the companionship of pets when their owners go on holiday is a brilliant idea!
Sonya Piggot - House-sitter How we work. All new members register to join our online HouseSitMatch network. On registration we ID check every new member to ensure we know who you are, and in addition house-sitters and pet-sitters are police checked by us. We charge for membership to ensure that there is a commitment from both parties and that we can afford to manage our network online professionally. How you benefit as a home and petowner. Our membership offers you a secure network to help you find suitable sitters. We don’t reveal your contact details, or your address. You post an advert ahead of your travel dates, we publish the advert then house-sitters apply. You can view their profiles and chat with them before you accept your choice of applicant. If you join as a Premium member we can also help you at each stage of the process to get you started and to manage your account. How you do join? Please register online via our website www.Housesitmatch.com.
Do you need a house or pet-sitter? Get in touch. House-sitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and pet-sitting, and the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation! Register as either house-sitter or homeowner with a 20 per cent discount using coupon code P2020 – an exclusive offer for readers. To find a house pet-sitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com To find a house or pet-sitter go to www.HouseSitMatch.com call Lamia on 00 44 (0) 777 214 2742 or email admin@housesitmatch.com
Vegetables linked to heart disease PEAS, lentils and potatoes are just some of the vegetables linked with a sudden rise of canine heart disease. The condition known as ‘Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy’ (DCM) is more prevalent in dogs that are eating certain brands of dog food that use vegetables as one of the base ingredients. Symptoms of the disease are characterised by an enlarged heart, causing incorrect functionality. Early signs can include, distention of the stomach, lethargy and weight loss - in the later stages weakness, fainting and coughing can signal congestive heart failure as the lungs fill up with excess fluid. In rare cases it can be fatal. DCM is more prevalent in certain breeds including great Danes, boxers, Doberman pinschers and St. Bernards.
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Weekender
Puzzles
20th - 26th July 2018
Wordsearch Disney
Boggled How many English words can you find in the Boggled grid, according to the following rules? The letters must be adjoining in a ‘chain’. They can be adjacent horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Words must contain at least four letters and may include singular and plural or other derived forms. No letter may be used more than once within a single word, unless it appears twice. No vulgarities or proper nouns are permitted.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
TARGET:
TOY STORY
PLUTO
LION KING
SLEEPING BEAUTY
MICKEY MOUSE
ALADDIN
PETER PAN
ROBIN HOOD
DUMBO
HERCULES
OLD YELLER
BAMBI
THE RESCUERS
DUCKTALES
PINOCCHIO
• Average: 11
• Very good: 23
• Good: 16
• Excellent: 29
SCORING: • 4 letters: 1 point • 5 letters: 2 points • 6 letters: 3 points • 7 letters: 4 points • 8 or more letters: 11 points
Cryptic
Quick
Across 1 Quantity much larger than is needed (7) 5 Talk pompously (5) 8 Additional payment (5) 9 Draw back (7) 10 Flat and smooth (4) 11 Fifth columnist (8) 13 Traditional headdress consisting of a long scarf wrapped around the head (6) 15 Large marine mammal (6) 18 Perceive or think about in a particular way (8) 19 Eager or enthusiastic (4) 22 Covetousness (7) 23 Join together (5) 24 Metal rod with a handle, used for prodding and stirring an open fire (5) 25 Grasp tightly (7)
Down 1 Thing or area being discussed (7) 2 Series of hills or mountains (5) 3 Rich, juicy and succulent (4) 4 Disperse widely (6) 5 Left to choice (8) 6 Non-professional (7) 7 Come or go into (5) 12 Well known or easily recognised (8) 14 Plunder (7) 16 Open and genuine (7) 17 Niche or alcove (6) 18 Fastening device (5) 20 Best of all (5) 21 Spiritual teacher (4)
defy defend defied define defined derro heir hero heifer heirs defer deify hied hire hired eyed error errors errs equine equip fermi ferried fever fend fried from fiend find fine fined firs ever dried drip
Across 7 It’s dead simple if Alec goes off (6) 8 Get angry about team having magical potion (6) 9 Event in Monica Seles's diary (4) 10 Current Queen’s banner (8) 11 Smith crashes Ferrari (7) 13 Left port weighed down (5) 15 Carrying some nuclear medicine (5) 17 Nothing’s following the U-boat, it’s below freezing (3,4) 20 Press sat around and intrude (8) 21 Give support to a Verdi opera (4) 23 Georgia collected knowledge in abundance (6) 24 Ample chicken ought to be included (6) Down 1 Young lady going to a festival (4)
2 American aboard cruise ship is one dimensional (6) 3 Refused to eat with Earl, then ate plenty (7) 4 Bread is bad for facial hair (5) 5 Volunteers surrounding Islamic republic’s capital (6) 6 Free pile designed for a member of the House of Lords (4,4) 12 Arraign a disorderly land reformer (8) 14 Went after and usurped criminal (7) 16 Sue going back to North London railway station (6) 18 Fanatic Zionist leader gets a lot after the end of June (6) 19 Tag first murder victim found under lake (5) 22 Italian magistrate is in a dog eat dog world (4)
Puzzles
20th - 26th July 2018
IRREGULAR SUDOKU
SOLTIMES STAR QUIZ : A NOVEL IDEA 1. The story of the gentle knight and his servant Sancho Panza has entranced readers for centuries (1605) 2. The one with the Slough of Despond and Vanity Fair (1678) 3. A wonderful satire that still works for all ages, despite the savagery of Swift’s vision (1726) 4. The adventures of a high-spirited orphan boy: an unbeatable plot and a lot of sex ending in a blissful marriage (1749) 5. Inspired by spending too much time with
Shelley and Byron (1818) 6. A revenge thriller also set in France after Bonaparte: a masterpiece of adventure writing (1844) 7. Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff have passed into the language. Impossible to ignore (1847) 8. The improving tale of Becky Sharp (1848) 9. ‘Call me Ishmael’ is one of the most famous opening sentences of any novel (1851) 10. A story written for the nine-year-old daughter of an Oxford don that still baffles most kids (1865)
Kakuro
Answers 1. DON QUIXOTE, 2. PILGRIM’S PROGRESS, 3. GULLIVER’S TRAVELS, 4. TOM JONES, 5. FRANKENSTEIN, 6. THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, 7. WUTHERING HEIGHTS, 8. VANITY FAIR, 9. MOBY-DICK, 10. ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND
SUDOKU
Weekender 25
Fill all the empty squares using the numbers 1 to 9, so that the sum of each horizontal block equals the ‘clue’ on its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the clue on its top. No number may be used in the same block more than once.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
CrosswordSolutions from last week Quick
Cryptic
Sudoku
Irregular Sudoku
26
Weekender
Feature
20th - 26th July 2018
Is there a book inside you? by Sandy Shore IS there a book inside you? If so, it might be best to leave it there and enjoy dreaming of what it must be like to be a successful author. Although I retired as a ghost-writer I still get calls inviting my help from budding authors. Far be it for me to rain on anyone’s parade, but I don’t know of a single new author who recovered their outlay after their book was published. There is kudos to having one’s book printed and seeing your name on its cover. If you are a celebrity or football wag, entertainer or artiste, then having one’s biography carries more street cred than does a head-turning Mercedes or BMW and costs considerably less. A biography or a novel is a marketing investment. But, very few ordinary authors recover their
GO FOR IT: But be prepared to market yourself. outlay. The difference is the celebrity’s book will open doors and impress. But, that is the business they are in, is it yours? When you are thinking of setting down your life story there are three hurdles ready to trip you. Unless you are a professional writer you will need a ghost-writer.
You see, 40 per cent of books authored by professionals are ghosted; in the case of amateurs 80 per cent are editorially enhanced by professional writers. Uploading to Amazon and other online publishers is not for the faint-hearted. If you need professional help brace for at
least a €650 outlay. I speak from experience and that of others when I say that Amazon is useless at selling books. But, the American conglomerate creams off an eye-watering 55 per cent of the cover price and profit from hiked shipping fees whilst authors remain
destitute. Amazon simply makes your book available and facilitates its purchase; it does not market your book. Finally, there is the hard bit. If you don’t yell you don’t sell and you have to market your book. This can be done FOC via social media or by expensive marketing agencies, which few can afford. A little research revealed that the professional author earns in the region of €7,200 per annum, which is roughly that of a UK pension. The basics of writing and publishing before marketing can set you back at least €2,000. On the other hand, folk spend such trifling amounts on indulgences that don’t yield returns other than memories. As with all else in life it is a matter of priorities but if floats your boat then go for it. Your book is unlikely to make you rich except in experience, a sense of achievement, and well-earned respect.
Behind THE MUSIC It’s still my favourite V L James vljamesinfo@gmail.com Facebook: @vljamesinfo IN about 1980 at about 13 years of age I started to buy the odd album as and when I could afford to. I bought a mixture of both current albums and TOTAL classics I was told that everyone should own. The classics I had were by The Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and The Who. It was time to buy my first Stones album, but which one? I obviously knew all the hits from the 60’s as they were regularly on the radio. One day I heard the haunting intro to Gimme Shelter, beautiful layered guitars. That was it, I needed to buy the album. I went to Tracks record shop and asked Andy where I could get Gimme Shelter? He gave me a copy of Let It Bleed. Released in 1969 Let It Bleed followed on in the vein of previous album, 1968’s Beggars Banquet, featuring heavily Blues
CORKER: Let It Bleed
and Roots influenced songs. It was also the last album to feature Brian Jones and the first to feature Mick Taylor. Gimme Shelter opens the album brilliantly but every track has its merits. You Can’t Always Get What You Want, Midnight Rambler, Let It Bleed and a wonderful blue grass version of Honkey Tonk Women, Country Honk, are all still regularly in the Stones’ sets to this day. Let It Bleed is still my favourite!
28
BUILDERS
DRAINAGE
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CARS WANTED CARS WANTED for Cash. Classic Cars & Land Rovers, Range Rovers, Defenders & Discoveries. Please call: 659 685 133 (253556)
CHARITIES/CHURCHES GIRASOL COMMUNITY CENTRE. Mosaic Classes, Art Classes, Karate, Yoga, Thai Chi, Pilates, Health Screening every 6 weeks. For Hire 5.00€ per hour. Tel 639 089 170
COSTA Almeria and Costa Calida. Mojacar Eucharist Sunday 11am, at San Pascual. Aljambra Chapel, Albox, Eucharist,
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20th - 26th July 2018
MOTORING
HOME MAINTENANCE MARKS Home Maintenance services. Painting General Maintenance. Kitchen Unit Renovation. References available. 634 908 475 (259695)
second and last Thursday of each month, 11am. Evensong, second Sunday of each month 6pm. Llanos Del Peral, Cucador, Eucharist or morning worship, Sunday 11am. Church Wardens: Pam Carter 667 947 573. Janet Smith 671 451 838. For more information go to their website at www.mojacarchurc h.org
HEALTH & BEAUTY GIRASOL HEALTH FOOD SHOP, Calle Malaga, Albox. For all your dietary needs, health foods, organic foods, supplements, super food powders, organic eggs and veggie box scheme. Est 2006. Tel 639 089 170
INSURANCE ALBOX/MOJACAR INSURANCE, Award winning Agent for ALL your insurance needs. ALBOX OFFICE: 950 121 943. Mojacar office: 634 323 399
MOTOR INSURANCE. For the most competitive quotes in English call Linea Directa on 902 123 309, you could save as much as 30% and you can transfer your existing no claims bonus. Call Linea Directa on 902 123 309 for motor insurance with a human voice in English from Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and save money now! (200726)
CHURCH SERVICES
INTERNET GET YOUR business noticed online! Make sure that expats in Spain can find your product, service, restaurant, bar or shop. Contact Spain’s newest and brightest online directory TODAY. Call 951 386 161 or email mark.w@euroweeklyn ews.com for more details.
LOCKSMITH PHILL THE PICK, LOCKSMITH-24hr. Locked Out? Locks fitted/upgraded, house safes. Arboleas and surrounding. Special Weekend Rate. Tel 697 243 181 (257799)
WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 902 123 309. (200726) REMOVALS AND STORAGE
FULLY Insured UK/Spain Removals & Storage, UK Trading Standards Approved www.indalotransport.c om 634 33 64 68 or Freephone UK 0800 999 33 68 (258237)
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Services BUILDERS
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20th - 26th July 2018
CAR VALETING
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PAINTERS
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29
30
Sport
20th - 26th July 2018
Credit: @Wimbledon/Twitter
Djok and awe Novak serves up Wimbledon glory N O VA K D J O K O V I C w o n his first Grand Slam title in more than two years by overcoming Kevin Anderson to claim his fourth Wimbledon championship. Djokovic, seeded 12th, won 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7-3) on Sunday to win a 13th Slam, his first major since the 2016 French Open. The Serb, 31, quickly took control to take the opening set in 29 minutes, and broke his South African opponent twice more to storm the second set too.
However he did not have it all his own way in the third, and had to sur vive five set points before dominating the tie-break to seal victory. “I had many moments of doubt, I didn’t know if I could come back to this level to compete,” said Djokovic, who also won the Wimbledon title in 2011, 2014 and 2015. “There is no better place to make a comeback, it’s a sacred place for the world of tennis, it’s very special.”
19th Hole Golf Society A SCORCHING hot day greeted the 19th as they played a Dusty Bin (3 - 2 - 1) competition at Valle del Este golf course. After enjoying the bacon rolls and coffee at Karen’s they set out to tackle the course which was playing quite long, but with the greens very receptive. The winning team of Bernie Obrien, Dave Wadey and Vaughan Williams had ‘Fred the Ghost’ to thank for contributing on six holes on their way to amassing 80 points. A very close second on 78 points were Nigel Greenwood, Bernard Erreca, Richard Wild and Geoff Smith. Another six teams finished with scores in the 70s which was commendable due to the blistering heat. There was only one two, recorded by Pete Dow on the 12th.
Nearest the pins:6th Tony Mackay. 8th in 2 Dave Wadey. 11th in 2 Mike Esposito. 12th John Briddon. 14th Richard Wild. The 19th Hole Golf Society play every week on local courses. Contact mikeesposito54@yahoo.com.
He is now in outright fourth place on the all-time list of Grand Slam m e n ’s s i n g l e s t i t l e s , moving clear of Roy Emerson and closing the gap on Roger Federer (20), Rafael Nadal (17) and Pete Sampras (14). The former world number one will move back into the top 10 when the latest rankings are released on Monday. WINNING GRIN: Djokovic is back at the top of the game.
Athlete mocked A 16-YEAR-OLD Ethiopian runner has been cruelly ridiculed online by social media users – including a Spanish athlete - who say she looks too old to be competing in an under-20 competition. Girmawit Gebrzihair won the bronze medal in the 5,000m race at the
World Under-20 Champ i o n s h i p s h e l d i n Ta m pere, Finland. But Gebrzihair’s third place finish led to a backlash in social media from commenters who questioned her listed birth date of November 21, 2001. However, none of the critics have provided
any evidence to prove the birth date is false. Among those who mocked the athlete online was Oscar Husilloes, a Spanish sprinter who specialises in the 200m and the 400m. The 24-year-old tweeted a picture of Gebrzihair, adding in Spanish:
Stone storms to Scots win SOUTH AFRICAN Brandon Stone broke the Gullane course record with a final round of 60 to win the Scottish Open by four shots. Stone, 25, almost became the first player ever to score a round of 59 on a European Tour, missing a birdie putt on the 18th. “The first time I knew I had the opportunity (to score 59) was when I was walking on to the 18th green,” he said. After missing out on a piece of history, Stone’s round is the 29th recorded 60 in
a European Tour. However, he was still understandably elated with his win: “To stand here as the Scottish Open champion is really incredible,” said Stone. “The attitude was spectacular all week, my caddie obviously kept me very calm and level headed, not only today but the entire week.” Englishman Eddie Pepperell had led for much of the final day, but had to settle for second on 16 under-par.
‘Her children and grandchildren are in the stands to see her run in the Wo r l d U 2 0 C h a m p i onships.’ However, his tweet also sparked a backlash, with some slamming the athlete for his lack of respect and defended Gebrzihair. ‘You may have doubts about their age, but you could express them with more education,’ one Twitter user said. But others made harsh jokes about Gebrzihair’s appearance, including o n e w h o s a i d : ‘ T h a t ’s Benjamin B u t t o n ’s cousin.’ Gebrzihair finished third behind her compatriot Ejgayehu Taye and Kenyan athlete Beatrice Chebet, who took gold in the 5,000m final.
Motoring
20th - 26th July 2018
EIGHT years after it created the compact crossover segment, the one millionth Juke has rolled off the line at Nissan’s Sunderland Plant. On average, a brand new Juke is built at the plant every 105 seconds. Well-known for its distinctive sporty styling, the 2018 Juke comes with a host of interior and exterior personalisation choices. Thanks to all the options and possible personalisation combinations, more than 23,000 different versions of the latest Juke are available for customers. The one millionth Juke built in Sunderland was a Tekna grade in Vivid Blue, the most recent colour to be added to the range. Kevin Fitzpatrick, Senior Vice President Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management and Purchasing, Nissan Europe, said: “Reaching the one million milestone is a fantastic achievement for any model. “Eight years ago we had never seen anything like the Juke before - it
Photo credit: Nissan Newsroom
1m Nissan Jukes built
DISTINCTIVE: Juke remains just as popular as it was in 2010. created an entirely new segment and brought a distinctive never-seen-before look to the market. Fast forward to today and we have one million customers and Juke remains the segment leader. “It’s terrific to see that the 2018 model, with all its improvements and personalisation options, is as popular as the version that rolled off the line
for the first time in 2010.” The one million figure includes the premium sports version, Juke Nismo, which went into production at the Sunderland plant in 2012. Sales statistics show that black is the most popular car colour for Juke customers across Europe - and is also the number one choice for personalised interiors and exteriors.
A Mini fit for royalty FOR a quarter of a century, Goodwood in southern England has hosted one of the most inspirational and accessible events on the global motor sport calendar. At this year’s edition of the Festival of Speed (FoS), which took place between July 12 and 15, a quite unique Mini was up for auction. The one-off model was created by Oliver Heilmer, Head of Mini Design, and his team for the wedding in May of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex - and presented to one of the couple’s chosen charities, the non-profit organisation Children’s HIV Association (CHIVA). A host of details dedicated to the happy couple ensure the Mini is a gen-
uine one-off. The roof graphic, for example, is essentially an amalgamation of the US and UK national flags. And when you open the driver’s and front passenger doors, an exclusive ‘Just Married’ welcome message appears on the ground outside. “We’re delighted that CHIVA is getting the chance to auction this special Mini at the Goodwood Festival of Speed,”
says Heilmer. “We’re crossing our fingers it raises as much money as possible for this great cause.” At the time of going to press, it’s not known the amount finally bid. Every year, the Goodwood Festival of Speed gives vehicles from different eras the opportunity to strut their stuff ... from prewar models to modernday Formula One machines.
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