Roquetas R362

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roquetas & almerimar

SolTimes issue 362

7-13 NOVEMBER

est. 7 yrs

your free weekly newspaper

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flea market 11 nov

9 dec

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Dance Party every Monday from 20hrs

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM pg 6

Arkrites British Food Store in Roquetas (near Theos)

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out of hours please call 950 334 544 In the Urb of Roquetas de Mar, just off Avda de Mediterraneo in the square near La Gamba Toscana & Theos

Menu del dia 9.50€ served friday - wednesday

Enjoy Pierr e’s Fr ench Cuisine Kitchen open: 12.30 - 3.00, 7.00 - 10.00. Closed Thursdays Plaza Los Jazmines 10, 04740 Roquetas de Mar Opposite Playa Capricho in the car park

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SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

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Rajoy optimistic about economic growth in 2014

Prime minister Mariano Rajoy has insisted that “there will be economic growth in 2014 in Spain”.

In an interview with Cadena Cope, Rajoy said he firmly believes that 2013 will be better than 2012 and that in 2014 there will be economic growth, based on the fact that the economy has fallen less than expected this year and fewer jobs will be lost than had initially been estimated. Rajoy said he understood people’s discontentment with the high levels of unemployment and the effect on domestic economies of the government’s decisions, like tax increases, and said he’d like to be able to “reverse the situation, at some point in the future” with respect to some of the measures taken to correct the deficit. “We would like to be able to lower income tax in 2014,” he said. “I hope to be able to do so”. The Prime minister confirmed that he had no intention of increasing taxes any further in 2013 and that he would not lower civil servants’ salaries either. However, he said he had not yet taken a decision with regard to pensions, and is waiting for the CPI results in November, on which pensions are usually calculated. Rajoy also mentioned his dislike for

Valencia pharmacies begin indefinite strike over government nonpayment

Pharmacies in Valencia, Alicante and Castellón began an indefinite strike today in protest over the 450 million euro debt the regional government has with them. From November 5th onwards, two in every three pharmacies will be closed each day, on rotation, until the debt is settled. Pharmacists argue that the regional authorities have brought the strike upon themselves, by leaving pharmacies in a “dramatic situation which has forced them to close indefinitely”. The regional government of the Comunidad Valenciana owes pharmacies five and a half months worth of prescription payments. Last week they settled half of their April debt and half of their May debt using funds from the Reginal Liquidity Fund (FLA). “This move leaves us back where we were, since on Wednesday we’ll be adding another month’s worth to the ongoing debt”, complained the pharmacists.

the “euro per prescription” measure adopted in Catalonia and Madrid, saying that it failed to treat people “equally” and made people in those areas “pay twice” for their medication. He said he intended to negotiate this measure with the authorities in Catalonia and Madrid, but that if he did not reach a satisfactory conclusion, was prepared to take the matter to the Constitutional Court. When asked about whether Spain was going to ask for a bail-out from the EU, Rajoy said he had not ruled out the possibility, but that he would make the decision “if and when it is in the general interests of all Spanish people”. With regard to the recent spate of repossessions, the prime minister accepted that the code of practice introduced in March “has not worked as we would have liked it to” and that new measures “to be applied immediately” are currently being negotiated with the PSOE to solve the “dramas, which are causing a lot of pain and are a very graphic image of the crisis”. With regard to the Hallowe’en tragedy at the Madrid Arena, which left four young girls dead, he said: “It is not a matter of modifying the law, but rather of ensuring that the current laws are adhered to”.

SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

the rose singers

SONGS FOR REMEMBRANCE & REJOICING

Friday 9th November Living Water Church, Mojacar Playa (Opposite Red Cross) Saturday 10th November Miraflores Restaurant Camping Los Gallardos

TIME: 7:30pm TICKETS: 8 Euros Tickets Available From: Gill’s (Mojacar Playa) Total Entertainment (Turre) Forget-Me-Not (Buganvillas) And from both venues & Choir members A donation from the proceeds will be given in support of the Royal British Legion in Spain’s Poppy Appeal

Ferrer clinches first Masters 1000 title Spain’s David Ferrer clinched his first ever Masters 1000 title yesterday, beating big-serving qualifier Jerzy Janowicz 6-4, 6-3 in the Paris Masters final. It is the Spaniard’s seventh title of the year - more than any other player in 2012. He was lifted trophies at the Heineken Open in New Zealand in January, Copa Claro in Argentina in February, the Mexican Open in March, the UNICEF Open in the Netherlands in June, the Swedish Open in July, the Valencia Open in October and now the Paris Masters in November. “I was very nervous because it was my chance to win a first

Masters title but somehow I knew this time was my turn,” said the Spaniard. Fourth seed Ferrer was too consistent for the world number 69, who had beaten five players from the top 20, including Andy Murray, to reach the final. Janowicz is the first qualifier to make the final in eight years and will move into the top 30 when the new ATP world rankings come out this morning. Ferrer is now on his way to London to compete in the ATP World Tour Finals, where he has been drawn in a group with Roger Federer, Juan Martín del Potro and Janko Tipsaravic.

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Plans to get rid of All Saints bank holiday revealed

This could be the last ‘All Saints’ long weekend in Spain if the Council of Ministers, hoping to increase productivity in the Spanish economy, agree to get rid of this longstanding fiesta when they debate next year’s official calendar later today.

A year ago, Mariano Rajoy announced his intention to get rid of the infamous ‘puentes’ whereby Spaniards add random days off to official fiestas in order to join them up to the nearest weekend. He proposed moving all official fiestas to the nearest Monday - not unlike Bank Holidays in the UK - except for those more deeply rooted in Spanish society, in an attempt to improve Spain’s competitivity. Leaked information about today’s Council of Ministers debate suggests that the Todos los Santos (All Saints) fiesta on November 1st could be moved or removed altogether, but that the Purísima fiesta on December 8th would be maintained. The fiesta de la Constitución (Constitution Day), traditionally held on December 6th, is

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Three young girls have died and another two are in a critical condition in hospital after suffering cardiorespiratory arrests during a stampede at a private Halloween party in the Madrid Arena last night. Emergency services received a call around 4 o’clock this morning to come to the aid of a group of young girls aged between 18 and 25, who were all in traumaprovoked cardiorespiratory arrest as the result of being crushed by the mass of people in the venue. Two of the girls died in the first aid centre at the venue, after paramedics had spent more than 30 minutes trying to reveive them. The third died on arrival at the Hospital Clínico and the other two are in a critical condition at the 12 de Octubre Hsopital and the Fundación Jiménez Díaz respectively.

Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Hello Kitty, Sponge Bob, Disney princesses, fairies, butterflies, puppies… they all travel with him and his customers every day. Rafael Segura’s taxi just oozes magic and happiness.

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Seville-born Rafael, a taxi driver since 1985, has converted his taxi into the most original cab in Seville. A year and a half ago, his six-year-old daughter Alicia said she wanted his taxi to be different from all the rest. No sooner

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suggest that the stampede was prompted by someone launching a flare which unleashed panic in the crowd. One of the partygoers said that there was only one exit open and that “all the others were sealed shut”. There are many similar recriminations on Twitter and other social networks, many complaining that twice as many tickets were sold than the venue’s capacity. “Removing corpses before our very eyes.... unbelievable” said one Twitter user. Other partygoers did not hear about the tragedy until after the event. “We were up on the third floor and didn’t hear about it until it appeared on the Internet”, said one young person. “The organisers of the party wouldn’t let us go down to the main floor because it was too crowded”.

There is not a single inch of the dashboard, the seats, the sides or the five doors which is not covered with smiley faces, soft toys or stickers of some cartoon character or other. Rafael wants his taxi to be full of colour and happiness so

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Any changes have to be agreed by the Autonomous Regions and put to the vote in the Congress of Deputies before they can be adopted definitively.

Alicia now says she is really “proud” of Rafael and his taxi. “She wants to show it to all her friends”, her father told the a journalist from 20minutes.es, who came across it by accident on the way to a meeting.

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The fiestas that are not going to be moved or removed are New Year - January 1st, October 12th - día de la Hispanidad; December 25th - Christmas Day, Good Friday and May 1st.

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Fiestas such as San José (St Joseph’s Day) on March 19th and the fiesta de Santiago (St James’ Day) on July 25th could be moved permanently to the nearest Monday. These changes would primarily affect Valencia and Galicia respectively.

Seville taxi-driver offers free rides for kids with cancer

Transport to UK - anywhere available from Portsmouth to Scotland Next leaving - November 8th

STEVE HAYES INFORMATICA

August 15th would also remain a national holiday, as requested by the tourism industry.

Three dead in Madrid Halloween tragedy

The police investigation is ongoing, but initial reports

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likely to either be removed altogether or moved to the nearest Monday to avoid the frequent custom of joining it up to the Purísima to create a ‘macropuente’ at the start of December.

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that children who climb aboard can forget their problems for a while - he has offered free taxi rides to and from the doctors or the hospital for children with cancer. He says he has had first-hand experience of the disease - in his family “there have been cases” - and is aware of the importance of keeping children’s spirits up and making them smile when things get tough. But this is not all he is doing to help. Rafael is also offering free transport to families with no income and children, elderly or sick people to care for: “We all need to do our bit to help those who are worst off,” he said.

F5 fighter jet pilot dies in training accident

The pilot of a Spanish air force F5 fighter plane has died this morning and another person has been injured in an accident close to the Talavera la Real air base in Badajoz this morning. The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the other person injured when the two-seater F5 crashed, was a student under instruction from the pilot. No information about the severity of his injuries has been released, but it is known that he has suffered multiple traumas and his condition is being stabilised in the intensive care unit at the Hospital Infanta Cristina in Badajoz The Spanish air force considers the F5 to be the ideal teaching plane for the Escuela de Talavera la Real and is currently investigating the accident. Initial hypotheses suggest there was an engine failure. The F5 has ejector seats and Ministry of Defence investigators whether the pilot and his student had time to activate them.


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SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

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Chinese business owners: “We are not all criminals”

Chinese bazaar and restaurant owners have hit out at the bad press they say they receive particularly following a recent mafia bust in Madrid.

Store owners closed their premises all day on Saturday on the Cobo Calleja industrial estate in Fuenlabrada in the outskirts of the capital – as well as in other parts of the country – to put across the collective message: “We are not all criminals.” One of the spokespersons for the Madridbased association of Chinese traders, Yenong Chen – a law student at Getafe university – says he and his colleagues have lost up to 70 per cent of their trade, especially from Spanish customers, since the mafia bust in October. “We want to draw Spanish society’s attention,” says Chen, “and make them change their perception of Chinese people as a closed, insular community. “We are a community of emigrants, just as the Spanish have been in decades past, and we have come to their country to earn a

living in an honourable manner and involving all the necessary sacrifices.” The largest shut-down in Europe of Chinese business premises, Saturday’s closure will have affected profits even more, but was ‘necessary’, Chen explains. “We just could not carry on like this – sales have fallen dramatically, and we need to change our public image,” he adds. As for whether any members of the association got wind of the mafia operation which hit the headlines nearly three weeks ago, Chen said nobody had noticed anything out of the ordinary. “They just seemed to be going about their business, and it was a great shock when we all found out,” he reveals. The association’s other spokesperson, Xia Linmei, also has a shop on the industrial estate and she says the mafia arrests had ‘enormously’ affected the livelihoods of Chinese traders in the area.

Government spokesman retaliates to Javier Bardem’s criticisms

Bond villain Javier Bardem’s criticism of the reigning PP government has attracted a hostile response from the party’s congress spokesman, Rafael Hernando, who says: “All that’s rich coming from a millionaire who lives in Miami.” Bardem (pictured) said in a recent press interview that the unacceptably-high unemployment levels in Spain were ‘very convenient’ to the government, since it allowed them to

impose ‘terrible’ working conditions. He says the government “has a total lack of any commitment to the social and public systems.” To this, Hernando retaliated on Twitter by stating: “You’d have to be a ‘great villain’, and not just on screen, to claim that so much unemployment is convenient to the government.” Just a few weeks ago, Hernando famously called the National Court judge

Santiago Pedraz an ‘anarchist snob’ on Twitter for referring to the ‘convenient decadence of the so-called political class’ when he threw out the case involving investigations into the cause of the huge nationwide protests on September 25. The Congress PP spokesman later excused himself on Twitter for his comments aimed at the judge for ‘any possible offence’, although he did not remove the statement from his page.

Fake Tous jewellery worth two million euros seized

A massive forgery racket making and selling fake Tous ‘teddies’ has been uncovered in Ourense. They were using a company in the city, which is in the north-western region of Galicia, as a front for creating copies of pendants, earrings and keyrings designed to look exactly like those sold by the Catalunya-based multinational jewellery and accessories firm. These were sold at prices very similar to the originals on sale via Tous shops and concessions. Police have been on the trail of the forgers since the Tous family themselves reported having seen replicas of their own jewellery items on sale. Officers then found three warehouses in Córdoba in southern Spain making gold versions

of the teddy bear pendants, the iconic and best-known Tous symbol. Silver and steel versions were imported from south-east Asia, say investigators. Nearly 31,500 items of forged Tous jewellery, plus moulds for making them have been seized, and are said to be worth around two million euros. The operations were controlled from a head office in Ourense, and a number of people have been arrested there. In total, 22 people have been taken in for questioning in provinces throughout the country – including Madrid, Valencia, Málaga, Sevilla, Bilbao and every province in Galicia.

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No compensation for car accident injuries if seatbelt not worn

Drivers or passengers injured in a non-fault road traffic accident may be denied compensation for injuries if they were not wearing a seatbelt at the time. A recent verdict in the European Court of Justice (ECJ) found that it did ‘not go against’ the EU right to ‘protection for accident victims’ for a third party insurance company to refuse to indemnify an innocent party for injuries where this person did not have a seatbelt on. The case which has set the precedent at the ECJ relates to a crash between two cars in Portugal in 2004, in which the passenger of the third party vehicle suffered severe cuts to the face and head after flying through the windscreen. Given that the driver causing the collision had no insurance, the injured man presented a claim in the sum of 65,000 euros to the Portuguese Automobile Guarantee Fund, which is similar to the Spanish Insurance Compensation Consortium or the UK’s Motor Insurance Bureau, which indemnify accident victims of uninsured motorists. His claim was rejected based upon Article 570 of the Portuguese Civil Code on the basis that: “The damages suffered were attributable to the claimant due to his not wearing a seatbelt as required by Article 82, Section I of the Portuguese Highway Code.” When an appeal to the High Court of Guimaraes failed, the claimant took his case to Europe, where it was rejected. Given that this is an EU ruling, the same situation would apply in Spain. According to the president of the Associated European Motorists (AEA), Mario Arnaldo, Spain’s Law of Public Liability and Road Traffic Insurance makes third parties causing accidents exempt from liability where the injuries or damage were due ‘uniquely to the conduct or negligence of the victim’.


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SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

The Poppy Appeal 2012

At 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month of 2011, the nation will pause. We will fall silent and take two minutes to reflect on the sacrifice of our brave Service men and women from conflicts past and present. Each year the nation expresses its unequivocal support for The Royal British Legion’s charity work through the Poppy Appeal, emphasising the need to help all generations of the Armed Forces and their families - today and for the rest of their lives.

Sport

Why do we wear a poppy?

An American teacher, Moina Bell Michael, inspired by John McCrae’s 1915 poem In Flanders Fields, began selling silk poppies to friends to raise money for the exService community. McCrae, a doctor serving in the First World War with the Canadian Armed Forces, was moved to write the poem about the poppies that grew after the aftermath and devastation of the bloody fighting in the Flanders and Picardy regions of Belgium and Northern France. “Take up our quarrel with the foe; To you from failing hands we throw, The torch; be yours to hold it high, If ye break faith with us who die, We shall not sleep, though poppies grow, In Flanders Fields,” he wrote. In 1920 the poppy was proclaimed as the United States’ national emblem of Remembrance and the following year Madame Guerin, a Frenchwoman, sold millions to raise funds for rehabilitation in areas of France. She also sent women to London to sell poppies and persuaded Earl Haig to adopt it for the British Legion. The first official

Poppy Day was held in Britain on 11 November 1921.

remembrance

The Royal British Legion is the national custodian of Remembrance, a role which ensures that those who gave their lives for peace and freedom are remembered. In 1921, the year the Legion was formed, ‘Armistice Day’ was formally adopted as the national day of Remembrance and the Legion was charged in its Royal Charter with organising “Festivals of Remembrance, services and parades to perpetuate the memory of sacrifices made during service with Our Armed Forces in war and peace”. In the years which have passed since then, the Legion has been responsible for organising national, regional and local ceremonies of Remembrance to reflect the nation’s concern that the human cost of war should not be forgotten. These include: The annual Poppy Appeal. Every year the Legion mobilises a countrywide network of Poppy Appeal collectors to meet the enormous public demand for poppies - the nation’s symbol of Remembrance. The Two Minute Silence at 11am on 11 November. The nation pauses to honour those who have given their lives for peace and freedom. The Legion has been instrumental in reinstating this in the nation’s calendar.

The annual Festival of Remembrance

Every year the Legion organises a festival at the Royal Albert Hall to pay tribute to all those who have given their lives for our peace and freedom. In 2010 the festival attracted more than 7 millions viewers. The Parade and Service at the Cenotaph in Whitehall on Remembrance Sunday is organised by the Government and the Legion. The Legion is also

known for proudly honouring those fallen in Service during repatriations at Royal Wootton Bassett and Carterton. The Legion houses the Armed Forces Memorial in Staffordshire which records the names of the fallen from Afghanistan, and hosts the annual dedication of the names of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Remembrance is not just about those who fought in the two World Wars of the last century, but also about those involved in the many other conflicts worldwide since 1945 and those still fighting for peace and freedom now. It is also about learning from the past and resolving to make the world a better place to live in the future.

fIELD OF REMEMBRANCE

Each November The Royal British Legion creates Fields of Remembrance to pay tribute to all those who have bravely served in our Armed Forces and who are sadly no longer with us. In 2010, an additional Field at Wootton Bassett was added to the traditional sites of London and Cardiff, to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives serving in Afghanistan. In 2011, a fourth Field was opened in Belfast. The Fields become a sea of Remembrance Crosses with scarlet poppies - a touching symbol of Remembrance and tribute to the memory of ex-Service men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect their country.


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SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

more arrests in Jimmy Savile abuse inquiry Entertainer Freddie Starr has been arrested in the police inquiry into sex abuse claims against Jimmy Savile.

have been of interest to the police, will then have to report to the BBC Executive Board.

A report by the BBC states that Mr Starr was arrested in Warwickshire by Operation Yewtree officers on suspicion of sexual offences and bailed after a number of hours of questioning. He has denied claims he groped a girl of 14 while in a room with Savile.

Speculation is that the programme was dropped because the BBC was already planning to run more favourable programmes in tribute to the former BBC presenter, who died in October 2011 - the BBC has repeatedly denied such claims.

The Metropolitan Police said officers arrested a man in his 60s, from Warwickshire, at 17:45 GMT in connection with the investigation. Police said the individual fell under the strand of the investigation termed “Savile and others”.

The BBC’s Director General, George Entwistle, has stated that he was launching the inquiry to shake off the “clouds of suspicion”. Last Thursday, a statement issued on behalf of the review said: “It will establish whether there were any failings in the BBC management of the Newsnight investigation relating to allegations of sexual abuse of children by Jimmy Savile, including the broadcast of tribute programmes on the BBC.This will encompass the BBC’s handling of material derived from the investigation that could have been of interest to the police or relevant authorities and whether any inappropriate managerial pressure or consideration may have influenced the decision of the editor of Newsnight.”

Mr Starr was then released on bail, however, Scotland Yard has not said when he was bailed until. Last Sunday, ex-pop star Gary Glitter was arrested and bailed after being questioned as part of the inquiry. Glitter, 68 - real name, Paul Gadd - was arrested at home and questioned at a London police station before being released on bail until mid-December. Meanwhile, an independent review into BBC Newsnight’s dropping of a programme about the allegations against Savile will report later this month. Operation Yewtree is a Scotland Yard criminal inquiry into sexual abuse claims. This independent review will be carried out by ex-Sky News boss Nick Pollard and will seek to establish whether there were any “failings” in the decision to drop the Newsnight investigation. The Pollard Review, which will also look at the BBC’s handling of material which might

It also commented that the review will examine the editorial decision on the Newsnight investigation and a blog dated 2 October posted by the programme’s editor which was changed by the BBC on 22 October 2012. Participation in the review, which has already begun, is voluntary. It is understood that the Police believe Savile could have abused as many as 300 people over a 40-year-period.

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Recession to blame for increasing obesity rates

According to a new report, the recession has caused an increase in obesity across the world, as families turn to cheaper, less nutritious foods. The report, entitled “Generation XXL” and published by IPSOS, blames the worldwide recession for the increased in global obesity rates. 17% of those surveyed said that the main reason they didn’t eat more healthy food was because it is more expensive.83% of Spaniards say that it is now more difficult than ever to live healthier. The change has not been quite so notable in Spain, but in the UK, sales of lamb, fresh vegetables and fruit have dropped sharply, whereas sales in package products like biscuits and pizza, have increased steadily over the past five years. Furthermore, sales of organic products fell by 15% last year, and 23% of consumers gave up their gym membership. According to the report, 63% of Spaniards believe the Government should regulate the consumption of unhealthy foods. This

percentage is almost exactly the same in Italy (64%), but much lower in Germany (43%), Belgium (39%) or France (35%). The combination of the recession and our ever more sedentary lifestyles has led to a rise in the rate of obesity. In Great Britain, 23% of the population is obese and 61% overweight. 80% of Brits blame childhood obesity fairly and squarely on the parents, followed by bad eating habits or ‘fast food’. In the USA, obesity now affects 34% of the population and 75% are overweight in some way. The IPSOS report says that there is a direct correlation between obesity and people’s educational and income levels. There is a direct correlation between the quality of a person’s education and their weight. 65% of the world’s population now lives in countries where more people die of illnesses related to obesity than of malnutrition. In a hypothetical situation whereby everyone in the world consumed the Earth’s resources at the same rate we do in Europe, we would need three planets the size of our own to sustain this kind of consumption

ETA suspect swallowed memory card in pre-dawn raid

Police have revealed that the ETA suspect, Izaskun Lesaka Argüelles, who was arrested in the French town of Mâcon last week, swallowed a memory card in an attempt to conceal information just after police broke into her hotel room in a pre-dawn raid. Lesaka, alias ‘Anne’, a 37year-old from Pamplona, was sleeping peacefully in the apartahotel Le Cours Moureau, when French police stormed the building

in the early hours of last Sunday morning. She and her sidekick, Joseba Iturbide, had booked into the hotel on October 26th, under the name of María Pilar Rodríguez and had paid in cash for a fivenight stay. They had arrived in a stolen Citröen C-3 with false number plates, and were equipped with sleeping bags, a tent and maps of the area, in readiness for a quick escape.

Specialist officers from the French kept Izaskun and her companion under close surveillance, knowing that they were capable of disappearing into thin air as they had in March, when they realised the apartment they had been hiding in near Toulouse was being watched, and again in April, when Izaskun discovered and removed a tracking device that had been fitted under the mud flaps of her car.

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we buy sales rooms

Sales Rooms HOUSEHOLD ANTIQUES sales rooms GARDEN FURNITURE sales rooms HOUSE CLEARANCES 73 Ctra Lorca - Baza, Albox, Almeria 04800 ON THE LONGO’S SITE, NEXT TO ANIMALBOX

950 06 45 76 661 75 98 82 M o n - Tu e s - We d s - T h u r s & S a t 9 a m - 2 p m F r i d a y Ev e n i n g s 5 p m - 9 p m ( s a l e s & v i e w i n g s)

centro óptico

Avda Pio XII, s/n 04800 - Tel: 950 121 991

A Months Supply of One-Day Lenses Graduated Lenses

Hard of Hearing? Come and have a free test!!

Only €18.90

All accessories and various models available

1 pair

Get Your Eyes Tested For FREE

€56

2 pairs:

€93

28€ Single Vision 96 € Varifocal

30% discount 30% discount off all for OAPs

Designer Sunglasses

great autumn offers perm cut & blow dry

49.95€

only

Only 15€

Fingers + Toes for ONLY 25€

chiropractor Monica with over 40 years experience

his and hers cut + blow dry

only 25€

beauty specials

Call Cutting Edge for details

Calle Malaga - Albox (100m from Mercadona)

Monday - Friday 9.30am - 5pm Saturday 9.30am - 3pm. No siesta

As the festive season approaches, we are all thinking about presents for friends, neighbours and family. Here’s an idea from The Book Box. Why not give one of our Gift Certificates? You choose the value and your friends choose the books. A book is a very personal gift and you never know whether the person you are buying for has read it previously - or worse, they may not enjoy it. Better for them to select from our catalogue of over 15,000 titles. Call in to The Book Box in Longo’s Courtyard, Albox or for any further information telephone 662 585 098. Optica Albox is found just down from the donkey roundabout in the old town of Albox. Isa and her team offer a friendly and professional service. They genuinely believe in making sure you look after your eyes and ears. At all times of the year, not only is it important to protect your eyes, but it is very important to protect your eyes and it’s best to have a good quality pair of sunglasses or reactalenses to prevent cataracts and many other problems. Don’t forget you can still go and get your FREE eye or ear test at any time! So, don’t delay, get your FREE appointment booked today on 950 121 991. Here we are again in the winter months of our pools, winterising dozers available at last year’s prices. With all the water problems we have encountered this year; it’s time to consider an alligator system for your pool: The Natural Choice for Water Purification. Only available at the 1 stop pool shopoes the chlorine in your pool irritate your skin and make your eyes burn? Do you want to reduce your chemical use? Aligator Systems have the solution. They are world leaders in using water ionisation techniques to purify water by killing algae and bacteria found in swimming pools and water systems. Fully automatic and self-regulating, Aligator offers substantial savings over conventional chemical treatments. Plus, the system reduces maintenance time and the need for chemical use by up to 80%. Easy to use, Safe for allergy sufferers, Non-corrosive, Environmentally friendly, Economical, Easy to install and a system for a 8x4 pool approx 900 euros fitted Depending on a survey. For more information call 950 104 345 or for maintenance queries call 637 582 696. One of the other premises outside of Longo’s ferriteria is Inford@tox, a family run computer shop full of ink cartridges and many accessories. You can also order letter headed stationary and marketing material and they have some stationary in store too! Andres and Rosa can also help you with servicing, maintaining, repairing, upgrading your computer and every morning there is an English speaking assistant to help you with any queries. For more information call 950 633 223 or find them on facebook and twitter!

Gelish nails a set or have

ALBOX

photo: www.flickr.com/people/tacowars/

OPEN DAILY FOR BUSINESS AS USUAL

manicure & pedicure

only 30€

Half Leg & Eyebrow Wax

only 18€

Call for an appointment

950 633 086

Prices are subject to change without notification. Please confirm on booking. We reserve the right to withdraw offers at any time.

Just up from the BP garage in Albox is Sol Y Mar estate agents and the Post Shop. Christmas is just around the corner so now is a good time to open your secure Post Box for 35€ per year to prevent your Christmas cards and gifts going astray this year. All major companies like Amazon and Ebay will deliver to your Post Box. All your postal needs can be dealt with through our shop using Offex. Don’t leave it to late to send your cards and gifts to loved ones back home. The Post Shop remains the cheapest, legal company for all your postal needs in Albox! Sol Y Mar are also official HITS agents and have a wide selection of phone/ sim cards and accessories to choose from. Pop into the office to see Richard or call Charlie on 677 667 722. Bekki, Miguel, Mike & Maureen of A&A AUCTIONS & SALESROOMS have been running this successful family business for over 3 years now in Albox and have opened in their new premises on the Longo Centro Commercial site in Albox right next to Animalbox where they have doubled in size, here they have over 1000sqr metres which allows them to display sale items to maximum effect. They have a large range of furniture, garden furniture, electrical goods, many household items and they can also take the stress out of clearing your or a loved one’s house for you. Business is open as usual from 9am - 2pm Monday to Thursday & Saturdays, Friday (eve) opening 5pm - 9pm. for further information please call them on 950 06 4576 or 661 759 882. A & A Subastas y salas de venta en Albox tiene una amplia gama de muebles, muebles de jardín, electrodomésticos, muchos artículos del hogar y también pueden hacer separaciones de la casa. El negocio está abierto como de costumbre, de 09.00 – 14.00 de lunes a jueves y sábados, viernes (tarde) la apertura de 17:00-21:00. Para más información, favor de llamar a 950 06 4576 o 661 759 882.


www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

photo: www.flickr.com/photos/peperuiz/

Lisa opened Lulu’s Dog Grooming Parlour after years of working for Nexo in Albox, Olula and Velez Rubio and for different vets in Huercal Overa. So much was the demand for her skills that she opened a brand new parlour of her own next to Eurowise on Adva. Le Panto in Albox. Lisa is fully City & Guilds trained and looks after and handles all dogs with the utmost care and attention and your beloved pet is sure to be pampered after a visit to her. She also stocks many accessories for your pooch including leads, collars, beds, bedding, bowls, shampoos and conditioners and can now offer the cheapest prices on Royal Canine food in the area! For more information or to book an appointment call 950 952 940/ 697 569 750. They are closed on a Monday, but please do still call the mobile number above to book an appointment for any other day.

Tony and Catherine have successfully run Eurowise, just up from Mercadona in Albox, since April 2011. Their aim is to provide you with a one stop place to get all your English essential. With regular deliveries from the UK, their huge selection of chilled, frozen, dried and ambient foods including pies and pastries, changes regularly, so pop in today in case you miss any goodies, you won’t be disappointed! You can also top up your Hits mobile with them and they have a limited amount of post boxes available for just €10 per year! Visit their new website www.eurowise.eu for more information and new offers! Dynos, near the new bridge will supply and fit both

The Book Box top quality pre-read books Thousands of Titles - Hundreds of Authors All checked, cleaned & catalogued At - The Courtyard, Ferreteria Longo, Albox Open Mon - Sat 10am - 2pm We know our books Prices €1.50 - €5.00 Jay & John - 662 585 098

The Post Shop Albox Don’t leave it too late to open your Post Box in time for Santa

Secure box means peace of mind !

Just € 35 a year

T: 950 064 584 M: 654 590 258

Computer Services Internet & Email Virus Cleaning

5% discount

for pensioners from 7th November until Xmas

Visit Us on the web: www.infordatox.com Phone: 950 633 223

Next to the Centro Comercial LONGO Find us on & @Infordatox1

Total Entertainment is well known for having daily English newspapers and magazines and of course for being an internet café where you can also get hot and cold drinks, cakes and pasties, but Claire also has a mini cinema available in which she puts on old and new films weekly but it also available to rent privately as well! She has DVD’s for hire and for sale, a great selection of books, jewellery, an Offex Postal service and she also does mobile phone top-ups for all major networks! View their new website www.totalentertainment.es for up to date information and to make bookings for the mini cine and Avon too! For more information call Claire on 950 121 318. Ink Cartridge Solutions are located within Knight’s Insurance on Calle Malaga in Albox just up from Mercadona’s open Mondy – Friday 9.30am – 2pm. Steve is able to professionally clean out almost any cartridge and refill it again for you while you wait or while you do your shopping, it just takes 20 minutes. Black cartridges cost just €8 and €10 for colour for most standard cartridges, compatibles are also in stock. For more information, call Steve on 617 118 804.

9

EUROWISE

UK SUPERMARKET fresh, frozen, ambient & dried goods cheese, butters, ice-Cream’s large range of fruit squash Branded & Budget Lines

Mobile top-ups available We now have Post Boxes available for just 10€ per year!

UK and Spanish dishes and aerials, not to mention their extensive supply of computers, gaming consoles and accessories. They can also help with any repairs or problems you may have. If you have problems with your TV or computer switching off and loosing signal in power cuts, visit Dynos for a Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS). For further info call 950 430 806. Jo and the team at Cutting Edge, on Calle Malaga in Albox are the experts in everything to do with your hair! Need a new colour or a treatment for winter, call in or see their adverts weekly in the Sol Times

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

POOL SHOP

Post office services & passport checks

view our new website www.eurowise.eu off your total print off a voucher & receive 10% shopping bill avda Lepanto, Albox

Mon - Fri: 9am - 6pm Sat: 9am - 3pm Sun: 10am - 3am

Tel: 950 439 801

Can´t receive your favourite channels? let us visit you and solve all your TV problems! We can realign your dish or supply more powerful dishes!

In-House PHOTO PROCESSING BOOTH We also have laptops all for your computer needs...

www.dynos.es

TEL: 950 430 806

email: albox@dynos.es - Speak to Ascension Summer opening hours: Mon - Fri 10 - 2pm & 5 - 8.30pm (Closed Saturdays & Sundays)

Calle Salvador de Madariaga Nº 7, Local, 04800. Albox, Almeria. Dynos is located past the new bridge over the rambla in Albox on the right-hand side

Mix & Match

TOTAL Entertainment

insurance quotes available

upcoming events

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

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

Shop: 950 104 345 or Maintenance: 637 582 696

Save Money With...

Ink Cartridge Solutions

Refill Your Empty Cartridges. Why Replace When You Can Re-use? Environmentally Friendly & Cost Effective

Mon 12th NovEMBER: Total Tanning Spray Tans with Wendy Mon 19th NovEMBER: Per Una Clothes Party 1pm Two opportunities to go Christmas shopping in Murcia Thurs 29th Nov & Sun 16th Dec Coming soon: Zenia Boulevard (New Shopping Centre in Torrevieja)

Log on and view our new website

at your side

i n v e n t

Tel: 617 118 804 Open Mon - Fri 9.30pm - 2pm

Located within Knight Insurance Office, C/Malaga 6, Albox

www.totalentertainment.es Just call into Total Entertainment, Avenida Lepanto, Albox (opp football stadium) or call Claire on 950 121 318 / 691 987 454 contact@totalentertaiment.es


10

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

SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

ALMERIMAR & surrounding area Upholstery

Calle Galera No6, Almerimar

from 15th november

(Behind Bar Ankara)

our hugely successful open mic night & jam session

now open

In Association with Animales de Berja & Ursamarina

Ankara

Est 2005 Cafe Bar Ray & Kay welcome you...

to their small and friendly cafe bar for breakfast, lunch & drinks

Open: Sunday 2pm - 10pm

Tapas served daily 12 noon - 5.30pm (except Sunday)

Gerry’s curry night - thurs 29th nov - Book early avoid disappointment

Friday Golf

Saturday

stumble inn - 3pm-5pm free 100€ cash draw followed by live entertainment free buffet at 4pm

Sunday

Monday-Saturday 10am-2pm

Tlf. 950 609 546

Darsena 3, Almerimar - next to pharmacy

Friday

The Charity Shop

Bar & Restaurant

Sky Sports / ESPN for all sports Tel 610 900 320

Thursday

FROM 15 NOVEMBER - OPEN MIC NIGHT & JAM SESSION MACGOWANS 29 NOVEMBER - GERRY’S CURRY NIGHT - ANKARA

...and email all your news and views to: editor@soltimes.com

MacGowan’s

Open: Mon - Sat 10.30am - Close

Sol Times Distributed

693 774 932

Tel: 692 17 60 69

Calle Varadero Almerimar 04711 (Almeria)

Wednesday

For all your local advertising needs call Mark on

• We Upholster Chairs, Sofas and Wing Chairs • 30 years of experience • Large fabric selection • Free pick up & delivery • In home free estimates

Guinness, Murphy’s Cider, Heineken, Large Selection of Spirits

what’s on

El Ejido Bowls Club

10am – 1pm: Almerimar Walking Club - Meet at Mercadona

Monday

11am – 1pm: Ladies Coffee Morning - Yachting Golf Restaurant 5pm – 7pm: Jeu de Boules - East Beach

Tuesday

Monday and Thursday - 5pm to 7pm Ring Alison on 677 317 920

Tuesday Golf -----------------------------------------------------------IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR WEEKLY EVENTS TO BE PUBLISHED HERE - FREE OF CHARGE SEND THE DETAILS TO EDITOR@SOLTIMES.COM

to book or for further information

Remembrance Day

I was fifteen years old when the Declaration of War was read out by Mr Neville Chamberlain; an age to be aware of the conflict that followed. If you take into account ill health and loss of memory there are few people left today who can remember what really happened and how the average person was affected. All over Europe there was upheaval and movement and in Britain there was apprehension and perhaps a bit of excitement as the drama began to unfold. The Home Guard, in some ways, was not taken too seriously; I don’t think that anyone in my squad ever thought that we would actually come face to face with the enemy and so there was a sense of foreboding when the first wave of bombers arrived and the straps of the gas mask cases were undone in readiness for the worst to happen. I can remember coming out of the shelter on numerous mornings to face houses smouldering, casualties on makeshift stretchers, shrapnel scattered in the street and the smell of explosives and burning. Yet, in spite of all the chaos, at the appointed time bleary eyed, subdued and slightly shell shocked we workers trudged along to the factories. Somehow the deafening clatter of the capstan lathes, the boring machines and the automatics brought everyone back to reality. There was a job to do and just as important we were on piece work! The gaps down the assembly line spoke for themselves and immediate steps were taken to keep the machines in full production. Rods of aluminium and brass whirled in the cutting blades, cooled by the oil suds spray, whilst the operator poked the razor sharp swarf away. Threaded cones dropped into the basket, light ammunition and heavy brass shapes all urgently needed by a nation that had left it late to compete in a war with Germany. Necessity brought a steady routine, going home in greasy overalls, a quick tea of Spam, powdered egg and chips, then getting ready for a night in the air raid shelter. Sometimes the warden would call for help if the incendiary bombs were burning in the street and we all responded with stirrup pumps and pails of water. How we envied the wardens with their protective head gear. A tale was told of a warden who got hit on the helmet with a piece of shrapnel, took it off to show his mate the dent then was immediately hit on the head by a second lump. Another tale concerned an official who asked a worker what his contribution was on the aeroplane production line and the worker replied, “Seven, Sir,” The official was full of praise. “Seven fighters,” he repeated. “Oh I thought you said lighters,”

said the worker. As the war progressed each individual eventually managed to fit their limited social life around the routine of sporadic air raids and shortage of sleep - I recall one evening sitting in the air raid shelter and trembling not with fear but with exhaustion. The lack of sunlight - even in summer, the industrial haze that hung over the city blotted out the sun - gave everyone a pale zombie look. As winter took hold, water left in the bath froze and there was only the bare necessity of fuel to warm one room. In our limited means we fought back, worked hard and played hard. A bombed area on the main street was converted to a tented dance hall with a full orchestra, the cinemas kept going in spite of bombs falling and the works’ canteens were made available for dancing and shows. When beer was obtainable the pubs were packed and the carpeted interior of the picture house provided a dream factory where we felt safe in the dark watching the familiar faces on the screen and managing to laugh together at the cartoons. The Yanks arrived, bringing Hollywood glamour, strange accents & much sought after ‘Lucky Strike’ cigarettes as well as ‘big bands’, the jitterbug and the famous open jeep. In a seemingly hopeless situation the nation was called to prayer and the churches were packed. At the age of eighteen I volunteered as a pilot but was rejected and accepted instead as an air gunner. A few weeks later I was badly injured and was transported to the hospital by an ambulance which was being rocked on all sides due to the intense bombing. The damage to my left eye meant I could not fly and I was accepted as a trainee carpenter. Fate sometimes plays a strange part in life and I am thankful that I survived, considering that the lifespan of an air gunner was limited. Taking everything into consideration we were only bit players compared to the soldiers who fought a rear guard action in France and were rescued from Dunkirk, only to then fight their way from El Alemein to Berlin. Many died during these battles and their bodies were left in the desert and the fields of France and yet they had so much to live for. On 11th November we should remember those days of despair, when all faiths prayed. Maybe we should, once again, hold a day of prayer just to say ‘Thank You’.

By Jack Brennan ~ If you would like to contact Jack Brennan about this article please email: mrmoose@loodude.fsnet.co.uk


www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

Bar Spinnaker

BEACH-FRONT BAR

11

Halloween night went well, everyone had a good time , quite a few turned up in fancy dress, the best costume award went to Lesley, the “Wicked Witch of Roquetas!!” It was a very hard choice as everyones costumes were excellent. Man City Mike and Keith won the Halloween quiz, although a lot of customers did try to bribe me (Linda) for the answers. The Spinnaker customers kindly donated their change for Help the Heroes and the Poppy Appeal. The Find the Joker (which is drawn on a Wednesday night) jackpot now stands at 298 euros. Linda, Bar Spinnaker, Roquetas De Mar

Property management Sales & Rentals

Roquetas de Mar, Aguadulce Almerimar, Vicar, La Envia Golf

For all your property needs Services include Key Holding, Maintenance, Furniture Packs, Cleaning & Laundry, Weekly Apartment & Post-box Checks Golf Discounts and Golf Packages Available Rental Properties required for long or short lets in Roquetas de Mar Call or e-mail us for further information.

Mobile: (0034) 663 426 921

info@enviapropertyservices.com

www.enviapropertyservices.com

Monday to Friday

teeing off

between 10am & 12noon

green fee meal & 35€ per p erso drink n to book a tee time call

950 55 96 46

or email:reservas@laenviagolf.com www.laenviagolf.com


12

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

SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

EDITOR@SOLTIMES.COM lo ok g o o d feel grea T Memory loss can start as early as your 30’S w

ne

The average age we experience memory loss is 57 – but it can begin as early as our thirties, new research has revealed.

free week’s trial on the toning tables

In an online poll, 11 per cent of respondents said they had started to notice their memory suffering in their 40s. Six per cent had noticed it in their 30s.

e a Film Star Lookhlik Dr Juan Araujo

The survey also revealed that the over-50s are plagued by the fear of memory loss and many have frequent and embarrassing memory lapses.

wit

ne, Plastic Surgeon, Botox, Restyla ra lptu Scu and Radiesse Also consultations for all types of cosmetic surgery

th Saturday 10 NovEMBER ary)

(appointments necess

Examples included leaving the house without putting on socks, forgetting how to spell common words like ‘hour’ and even struggling to remember their own name when introducing themselves at a business

Hopi ear candle Treatment just €13 For more information call Sophias on 950 449 451 email: info@sophias.es or call in to see us in Arboleas

elax evive

ejuvenate retreat elax Cucador

Holistic Massage Melissa 626 144 680

Reflexolgy with therapist Melissa

UK

qualified

1 hour session or discounts for a course of 6 sessions. 626 144 680

The research, published to coincide with the UK’s first ever online Memory Training course, also revealed that half of over-50s have been embarrassed about forgetting simple things. Other people’s names came top of the list at 37 per cent, followed by keys and glasses at 19 per cent. More unusual examples included not remembering the word for ‘apple’, how to spell ‘hour’ and names of colours. Some people even admitted to leaving loved ones behind in shops. While these memory lapses can be seen as humorous mishaps or plain old forgetfulness, the research does reveal that 31 per cent of people are concerned about losing their memory now and a further 31 per

NUMEROLOGY WORKSHOP at LA VIDA

cent are concerned that it could become a problem for them in the future.

FIND THE SECRET OF YOUR NAME YOUR TALENTS AND PAST LIVES

According to the research, the 92 per cent of over-50s do try to keep their minds and memory active.

WITH A PSYCHIC TAROT READER AND NUMEROLOGIST WITH 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE ANNA

Beauty Therapy

elissa, who is UK fully-qualified with over M 10 years experience, offers a range of relaxing massage treatments: from a simple Back, Neck & Shoulder Massage to Hot Stone treatments.

meeting.

Melissa 626 144 680 Sandra 661 858 949 Our UK fully-qualified therapists are available on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 9am to 1.30pm to pamper you… We offer a full range of Facials plus Waxing, Tinting, Manicure, Pedicure or a set of Gelish Nails from 15€! sandra

Numerology is an ancient study of the connection between numbers, your name, birthday and events in everyday life. It is a way of finding your Spiritual path, your Destiny and how to use your talents to the best advantage.

Call ANNA

Osteopath Naturopath

exclusive luxury treatments Elemis luxury Facials only

35€ (1hr 20m)

Enrique Arias, N.D, D.O

Tel. 629 289 385

Elemis Body Treatments Well-being Clinic is held once a month with A 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.

A set of Gelish nails 15€

Relaxation Class – Liz 667 979 445

Join Liz Hill, our Yoga therapist, on Tuesday afternoons for her new relaxation class.

Laser Lipo

Help to shift those inches in a pain-free way with the Laser Lipo.

Health Care For Adults and Children

Hands and Feet only 25€ Lots of fabulous colours

Ice White Teeth Mel with Sam

Sam & Mel use the latest revolutionary LED technology, with no bleach or peroxide.

for info and appointments

also available

Almeria Angels Sandra 902 026 468

• Emergency Home Visits • English • Spanish • French • German • 20 Year’s Serving the community

Shiatsu Therapy – Wendy

o you suffer with: Back/Neck problems, Stress/ D Insomnia, Headache/Migraine? Shiatsu will help. Shiatsu therapy is very much hands-on, which promotes normal healing for general wellbeing. The recipient is treated fullyclothed. Wendy, fully-qualified in the UK, is available from 3pm.

UK Registered - Treating

Sciatica - Back Pain - Sports Injuries Digestive and Cardiovascular Disorders Headaches - Arthritis - Skin Conditions

We are a self-contained private suite of rooms on the right hand side of La Vida Cucador, with its own entrance, plus disabled access and good parking

If you are a fully-qualified therapist and want to know more about us or to book a room, email retreatcucador@gmail.com Become a friend on Facebook & see our monthly Special Offers!

Tel:950 475 403 indigogimnasio

special offer + +

6 month membership

only €150 (= 25€ per month)

Hotel Plaza Indigo Tobaccanist Puntazo Gym

Hotel BBME Maui bar Parador

playa

playa

Comercial Centre

FAALAAS AAS

670 897 832 for details

Centro Cueva Del Lobo Paseo Mediterraneo 10, Mojacar Beach Centro Medico Indalo C/ Manuel Azaña, Almeria

25 The Post Shop, Albox, Stall 71 Los Llanos market

TEL: EL: 634 3117 4922

Home Accessories Scented candles, tea lights and holders Dried, silk & foam flowers Giftware Bathware Beautiful home accessories Stockists of Landon Tyler products Home parties available - view our range with your friends in the comfort of your own home

The survey of more than 1,000 adults aged over 50 was commissioned by adult learning website Love to Learn. It has teamed up with former world memory champion Jonathan Hancock, who is the course’s online tutor. He said: ‘Brilliant memory is something you do, not something you own. The brain is a muscle and changes according to how you exercise it and what you practise. Everyone can train their memory, and can surprise themselves with how much they can improve it.’ The course claims to deal with different areas of memory training from techniques used by the Greeks and Romans to modern methods for remembering names, important dates, numbers, lists and ideas. For more information: www.lovetolearn.co.uk

kim clark benefits consultancy

■ if you suffer from... ■ or you need...

• mobility problems •h elp with washing/ • pain/breathlessness dressing • falls/stumbles • supervision rule changes mean that you could now be entitled to extra income by claiming UK Sickness/Disability Benefits while living in Spain For advice or to book a consultation call 950 169 729 or 663 297 568 www.ukbenefitsinspain.com kimos28@hotmail.com


www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

MOVEMBER... Over the past two years, Movember has paid homage to the Modern Gentleman and Country Gentleman, showing his appreciation and indulging his penchant for luxury items, etiquette, craftsmanship, pride and honour. In 2012, we are getting down to the raw hard truths of the past two years and taking a look, quite simply, at what it means to be a better man. 2012 is the year of Movember & Sons. Knowledge shared from one generation to the next and wisdom passed down by one’s dad or mentor, plays a meaningful role in shaping who we become. This learning continues throughout life but also reaches a point at which the exchange is reversed and insight is passed back up the chain. This Movember, we will encourage all men to seek and share knowledge and wisdom with mates and loved ones, to learn their family health history and to understand the risks they face. These simple actions can have a significant impact of the quality and longevity of your journey through life. Last year, Movember had its most successful year to date with over 852,000 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas across the globe raising a phenomenal GBP £79.3 million. The hairy movement will continue to grow in 2012, as 21 countries across five continents unite to have an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health. Knowledge is power; the time to learn and grow is now. Prepare yourself my son. So, you’ve registered for Movember and you’re ready to start growing a Mo come Movember . A decision now needs to be made as to what sort of Mo you will grow. Will you rock the trucker or are your fine upper lip locks geared more towards the wisp? It’s a big commitment and some wise men go as far to say that, you don’t choose the moustache, rather it chooses you. So, give it some thought and get yourself involved. You’ve certainly come to the right place to have your questions answered. The Movember Rules and Style Guide will keep you and your Mo growing, showing, and flowing all month long. Anything is possible during Movember so get creative and use the Rules and Style Guide as your escort into the hairy world of Mo http://uk.movember.com/uploads/files/2012/Movember%20Style%20Guide.pdf

13


14

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

SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

YOUR HALLOWEEN PHOTOS

Scary Green Monster!

‘DAVE’ the dog bobbing for his ball!

Sean and Aine

Nathan from Zurgena ...so scary that his little brother burst into tears!

Morgan’s Gruesome Halloween Celebrations...

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).

Halloween at Bistro Bonita, Cerro Gordo

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 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

Halloween at Bar El Poli (Pool Bar) Partaloa


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SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

Formula One fans can already catch every moment of a thrilling race from all angles thanks to cameras tracking drivers every move. But in future, thanks to new spherical 360 degree camera unveiled by a Norwegian firm, racing aficionados could actually interact with the footage and rotate the angle at will. It allows the viewer to control the angle themselves using the arrows on their computer keyboard, switching from the view ahead of the car, to the right or left, or even hovering above the driver looking down at his helmet. Red Bull Racing, who have teamed up with the camera’s creators at Norway-based Making View, strapped one of the spherical cameras to an F1 car to showcase the technology Viewers can interact with the camera and switch the angle at the touch of a button while playing back recorded footage of the high-speed circuit. The clip shows the driver steering the car in a ‘donut’ manoeuvre, and the 360-degree camera allows the viewer to see mechanics rushing up to the vehicle to spray cooling foam on the tyres. Making View’s ViewCam weighs just 600g and the firm claim it can be attached to things besides a car, including a helmet or onto an athlete’s person.

weird & wonderful news...

Remarkable 360-degree camera mounted on Red Bull F1 car lets you take control of high-speed views

15


ADVERTISING FEATURE

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SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

JANE CONFIRMS THAT DREAMS REALLY DO COME TRUE WITH CAMBRIDGE 800! At CAMBRIDGE 800 they know that losing weight is only half the battle but that keeping it off long term is what really matters. All new Consultants begin their journey with Cambridge 800 as customers and after seeing how well the Steps programme works for them, and experiencing first-hand the level of support they receive, many decide that they too want to help others manage their weight. They know intimately the problems you face, the discrimination, the jokes and the pain. Having been at both ends of the scales – literally, they talk from experience and understand how hard it can be if you have weight to lose. They also understand the health benefits associated with a healthy weight and BMI. Here is the story about Jane, now a Cambridge 800 consultant who saw her dreams come true by losing the weight and more importantly, keeping it off! ‘’At the age of 8, my school nurse told me I was overweight - my first memory of being ‘different’, the ‘odd one out’. After years of trying to lose weight, at the age of 18, the NHS considered me ‘untreatable and obese’ and I was told that no more could be done for me. From then on, my weight gradually increased. I tried in vain many weight loss diets yo-yoing up and down, but when you have half your body weight to lose, will-power alone is not enough. In 2002 aged 42 and 5.3 inches tall, with a BMI of 45, I tipped the scales at 18 Stone. Enough was enough! Unhappy with my size for far too long, I thought I had no other option than to make friends with my size and accept my fate gracefully as there was nothing I could do to change it – but I was wrong ....... During a break to Spain, a friend visited me from the UK. She was half the size since I had seen her previously and looked absolutely stunning! She told me all about the fantastic Cambridge weight loss plan she had been on, and it had only taken her 4 months to achieve it.

BEFORE AFTER

Inspired, I truly believed if she could do it, so could I - and I did. It was then that I found CAMBRIDGE. I went back to the UK and met with my CAMBRIDGE Consultant who gave me ongoing, one to one support and I finally lost the weight. That was 6 years ago, and in total I have lost 7.5 stone (47,6 kilos) and most importantly, have maintained it ever since. I have my life back! I wanted to help others achieve what I had, so I decided to train as a CAMBRIDGE Consultant in the UK. But the biggest twist of fate in all of this is that it has now lead me back to the country where it all started, and a new career with CAMBRIDGE 800 in Spain!’’ CAMBRIDGE 800 is part of the Cambridge Weight Plan Group of Companies, manufacturer in the UK and offers a range of weight management programmes, providing flexibility and choice as well as structure. The products can be used either as a total diet replacement for fast, predictable weight loss with nutritional assurance, or with conventional food for a more gradual weight loss and effective weight management. Contact Cambridge dreams come true too.

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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.


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SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

17

Triumph’s 2013 Street Triple Press Launch in Almeria

s o lt i m e s exclusive

Triumph UK chose Almeria as the venue to launch their 2013 Triumph Street Triple last week (29th Oct.- 2nd Nov.). Europe’s motorcycling press were treated to glorious biking weather and a stunning example of Triumphs intention to lead the middle-weight naked (unfaired) sector. The test route took them from Almeria to twisty and fast flowing mountain roads to Senes, then to Las Menas, down to Seron and to a welcome lunch break in Tijola. Triumph UK had ten bikes available to the Europe’s eager press, with representatives from Italy, Spain, Dutch, German and of course the UK. Also among the testers was Geoff Hill, the author of the biking adventure book, “Way To Go”. The new 2013 model, due to be released on the market soon, boasts some subtle but effective changes. Triumph claim to have placed last years already gristle-free model on a diet and this years model now struts its stuff a full 6 kilos less, with a weight of 183 kilos with a revised frame geometry for more “flickability”. The previous models’ high level exhaust has now been replaced with an under-slung version to maximise mass centralisation and together with a new swing-arm design has made the 2013 Street Triple a serious contender in the middle-weight naked sector next year. The 675cc engine, which boasts the unique triple cylinder configuration, has had some revisions, although concentrated more on usability rather

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than outright power, which in the real world, ie: everyday roads rather than racetracks, is not a bad thing. Power remains at 105bhp which although is not the most powerful in its class, has always been more more than adequate . Triumph has always placed everyday usability rather than outright power high on their priorities. ABS now comes as an option on the Street Triple. The test bikes sported this option although this didnt stop one tester from an embarrassing slow speed drop on a gravel car park! As a testament to the durability of the bike, it didn’t even break the indicators and a brake lever was replaced for safety reasons. All in all, the feedback from the testers was positive, and judging by the grins and scraped knee-sliders, the bike proved itself quite well and left a very positive impression among the lucky few who were chosen to sample one of next years must have bikes. With Kawasaki due to release the new Z800 any time soon, the Street Triple will have to punch above its weight, or in this case, engine size, to out gun the bigger engined bike and also to tempt the biking public from their hard earned and ever shrinking new bike budget. This is nothing new to Triumph. As with the Daytona 675 and especially the “R” version giving the 1000cc superbike elite a run for their money, Triumph once again are likely to leave their rivals scratching their heads. Report & Photo by: Mark Porter

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

SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

price €75.000

ex lc usi ve

Immaculate 2 bed Apartment in Mojácar playa Beautiful east facing 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms Apartment with private underground parking place within a short distance to the Playa del Descargador, Mojácar Playa. The Apartment has a built area of 59,59 mts² which is distributed between living/dining room with an open fireplace, kitchen, bathroom, master bedroom with an en suite bathroom and a second bedroom. There is also a front terrace with approximately 13,00 mts² and the property comes with an underground private parking. The property is immaculate and is being sold with fitted wardrobes in the bedrooms,

fully equipped kitchen and air conditioning. The urbanization where the property is located is very well kept and benefits from a communal swimming pool and changing room. It has been priced to sell so an early viewing is highly recommended to avoid disappointment. The beaches and Mojácar’s famours beach bars “Chiringuitos” are located a few minutes walk. The Commercial Centre, Medical Centre, School, Consum and Mercadona Supermarkets are a short drive away. Mojácar Village is also short drive away.

The property is also strategically located for golf enthusiasts as there are 5 golf courses between 5 and 25 minutes drive. The golf courses are Macenas Golf, Marina de la Torre Golf, Cortijo Grande Golf, Valle del Este Golf and Desert Springs Golf. Other coastal resorts within easy reach are Garrucha and Vera Playa. This is an excellent opportunity for those looking for a property extremely well priced and well located for the beaches of Mojacar Playa. For more information or to book a viewing appointment please visit our office or contact us via phone or e-mail. Ref: 1123

Paseo del Mediterraneo 197 - Mojacar - Almeria

Tel: 950 472 430 / 610 053 563

property group

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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

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Paseo del Mediterráneo, 22b Mojacar Playa 04638, Beside the Red Cross on the Beach front.

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Olive

Lubrin This traditional village property situated in the heart of Lubrin boasts two bedrooms and a sunny roof terrace with views over the town. Lubrin

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

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SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

New One Stop

summer offer ref.534 MOJACAR

149.000€

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

Large townhouse centrally located & full of charm, with 3 beds, 3 baths, large terrace, kitchen, Extra-large lounge with fireplace, swimming pool & tennis court, private locked garage, 100m from the beach and all amenities, fantastic opportunity. BARGAIN!!!

Transferring Currency Abroad? REF.426

Mojacar

99.950€

reduced

Mojacar playa

289.000€

One of the finest Mojacar villa with beautiful open sea views, total of 200m built on a plot of 2,000m2, total of 3 beds and 2 baths, huge sun bathing area, large roof terrace, private locked garage, space for a pool, REDUCED FROM 690.000€

bargain

84.750€

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.492

garrucha

59.000€

turre

59.000€

Almost new apartment with Good Mountain views, close to the beach, first floor with lift, 2 double bedrooms, 1 full bathroom, fitted complete kitchen, French balcony, pre-installation of A/C, sold fully furnished, walking distance to all amenities.

REF.500 los gallardos 84.950€

turre

109.000€

98.000€

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.152

north albox

28.000€

Ruin of 150m in need of total reform, set on a plot of flat land of 5,000m, in the most magnificent rural location, electricity and mains water by the house, the property comes with full title deeds, totally fenced and gated entry.

REF.529

arboleas

169.995€

reduced

reduced

Full of character 155m built & totally reformed town house centrally located, 4 beds, 2 baths, private large sunny solarium with beautiful mountain views, to be sold fully furnished, exterior patio for alfresco dining, close to amenities, quick sale required..

REF.531

Mojacar

reduced

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.

REF.530

REF.525

bargain

reduced reduced

reduced

REF.509

Mojacar

reduced

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.

REF.535

REF.515

mojacar

89.000€

Lovely detached villa of 126M, in a lovely location with fantastic mountain views, has 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, lounge, lovely kitchen, various terraces, located on 605M plot with a private pool, Private large garage converted into a guest apartment.

REF.317

mojacar

69.950€

reduced

bargain

reduced

Semidetached villa with 2 double bedrooms, 2 baths, plus sun terrace with Fantastic Mountain Views, very sunny, spacious living/dining room, private drive way, A/C hot & cold, beautiful communal pool & private garden well maintained, Bargain price.

Ground floor golf apartment with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, terrace with some sea views, complete equipped large kitchen & back patio, living/dining room, 2 beautiful swimming pools, A/C, fully furnished, secure underground parking.

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 garag, 2 communal pools, south facing.

19


Tourism Boost Planned

20

SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

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

Well, the Association of Tourism for Roquetas has taken steps to find out why and m importantly, to do something about it. At a meeting held recently, they identified some k areas which need to be addressed, one of the most important being the lack of promotion countries outside Spain. Whilst Spanish people know about the area and are regular visit – making up more than 60% of the visitor average – the Association of Tourism plans to much more to attract visitors from outside Spain. Countries like the UK, Holland, Scandinav France and Germany are high on their list, but they intend to spread their campaign Euro wide.

Representatives from the Association will be putting the case for Roquetas as a top cla holiday destination at some of the major tourism trade fairs in Europe over the coming mont Venues include London, Berlin and Amsterdam, but many other fairs will be visited. They inte to raise awareness of this often neglected part of the Costa del Sol by encouraging tour operators and holiday companies to promote the many benefits of the wonderful year round climate. But, the Association says, it’s not just the tour operators who have to be convinced. Local hotels and tourist attractions all have to do their bit as part of the overall promotion package. Vice President of the Association, Francisco Garcia told me, “We have a wonderful resort here in Roquetas, with great beaches and hotels, restaurants and bars and a host of other attractions for people of every age group. One of our concerns however is the lack of visitors both now and early in the year. Once the summer rush is over, the place goes quiet and as we all know, April and May, September and October are delightful months here; this is what we have to sell.” It’s one thing to mount a successful sales campaign for the region, but ultimately it’s another thing to convince the airlines to continue regular flights either side of the June, July and August boom period. Transport is the key. Without flights, people can’t get here and that’s at the heart of the problem. Almeria airport is the perfect access point to the region and the expansion of the airport almost ten years ago was planned around a large increase in visitor capacity.

Francisco Garcia shares the concerns of many as to why the airport is not used more. H said, “It is frustrating that our local airport is not used to its full capacity. After all, that was whole point of the development plan. Unfortunately it’s a very complicated situation betwe the flight operators, airport authorities and a host of other factors. Sadly, the regions tou industry and the people who want to come here are the ones who suffer, but no one can fo the airlines to utilise their routes throughout the year.”

And it’s not just the new visitors who are unable to enjoy the delights of Roquetas because the problems with transport. Many existing holiday home owners struggle to get here during spring and winter months. I spoke to Mike and Shirley, a retired couple from near Manches with an apartment in the urbanisation. Mike explained how difficult it has become for the “When we first bought our property we could fly all year round from Manchester to Almeria, that’s all changed now. Out of season it’s a nightmare, we have to fly to Malaga or get the tr to Gatwick, either way it’s a lot of travelling and we aren’t really up to it anymore. Basically, won’t be able to come here for much longer unless something changes.”

People like Mike and Shirley represent a valuable proportion of the overall tourist industry region is desperate to hold on to; every visitor, whether new or old is an important one. Bu would appear in the present economic climate – if that is the reason - the airlines and airp authorities are not prepared to go the extra mile to encourage people to travel to this lov part of Spain. Time will tell as to whether the Roquetas Association of Tourism is successfu its campaign to sell the region to the rest of Europe.


d For Roquetas de Mar

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SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

21

Imagine the scene. It’s late October, a balmy 25 degrees, the sky is blue, the sea is calm and the palm trees lining the deserted beach rustle gently in a warm breeze. Where are we, somewhere exotic like the Caribbean or Seychelles? You could be forgiven for thinking so. No, its Roquetas de Mar just a couple of weeks ago. Whilst the short, often wet and cold summers in the UK and northern Europe finish in August - if they’re lucky - the Costa Almeria is blessed with beautiful weather for much of the year. And yet, with the exception of the busy holiday period during July and August, there are relatively few visitors at other times of the year. Why is that? Report & Photos by Martin Shortland

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

SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

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French officials have cast doubt on a report likely to recommend sharp cuts in public spending before it has even been published, according to a report by the BBC. The report continues: The government-commissioned report into French competitiveness, due to be issued later on Monday, was written by former aerospace group EADS chief executive Louis Gallois. Any “shock therapy” proposals, however, have already been ruled out by the Socialist government. The report was commissioned in July. “We cannot simultaneously restore public finances and impose a competitiveness shock,” a government source told Reuters news agency before the report’s publication. Mr Gallois was asked by President Francois Hollande to investigate what was holding France back, as part of a “competitiveness pact”, looking at why the French economy has fallen behind rivals such as Germany and suggesting reforms that could help address the gap. France accounts for just 13% of eurozone exports, compared with 17% a year ago, and its unemployment rate stands at 10.2%,

as against Germany’s 6.9%. The report’s expected proposals, which have been widely reported in the French media, are likely to include slashing the social contributions paid by employers by 20bn euros (£16bn), as well as those paid by employees by 10bn euros. To recoup some of these lost funds, the report is expected to suggest increasing VAT, as well as payments into a separate social levy that affects pensions and workers’ pay. However, the government has already made clear that it will not contemplate shifting more of the tax burden on to households when it has already drastically cut spending, in a bid to reduce its 2013 deficit to 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) from 4.5%. An indication of the report’s likely reception came from Social Economy Minister Benoit Hamon: “This report is a contribution. It’s the government that governs,” he said. The government’s official response to the report is due on Tuesday.

Activity in the UK service sector grew at its slowest pace in almost two years in October, a survey has suggested - as reported by the BBC. The PMI services index from Markit/CIPS fell to 50.6 from 52.2 in September. Any score above 50 indicates growth. Growth in new business eased, while employment in the sector fell for the second consecutive month, Markit said. The figure was a reminder of the tough underlying economic conditions despite last month’s better-than-expected growth figures, it added. Official figures showed that the UK economy grew by 1% between July and September, ending a nine-month long recession. “The latest UK services PMI data provide a warning to those who saw the strong growth in the GDP in the third quarter as symbolising the start of a strong and speedy economic recovery,” said Markit economist Andrew Harker. “The expectation among firms is for activity to improve over the

coming year, but the road to full economic recovery still looks to be a long one.” Last week, the PMI survey for manufacturing indicated that the sector shrank in October for the sixth month in a row, while the survey of the construction sector found that while output was slightly higher, new work and employment shrank. Analysts said the weaker-than-expected services PMI reading increased the possibility that the Bank of England might increase its programme of quantitative easing (QE), which has now reached a level of £375bn, when its monetary policy committee (MPC) meets later this week. Under QE, the Bank buys government bonds, hoping to create beneficial knock-on effects for the economy. “It does raise the risk of further QE from the Bank. On balance, though, we think it probably won’t, given the risk of inflation,” said George Buckley at Deutsche Bank. “What it does tell us is that while there have been some mixed messages, more positive than negative, we’re not seeing a very fast recovery at all.” Vicky Redwood, at Capital Economics, said: “The MPC pays a lot of attention to this survey and this Thursday’s meeting now looks an even closer call than before. “Given the stronger near-term outlook for inflation, we think that the chances of more QE this week are just below 50-50.” Separately, a report suggested that the UK would be the fastestgrowing major economy in Europe in the next two years. The eurozone debt crisis would drag the bloc into a second year of recession, the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) said. While the eurozone economy would contract by 0.4% in 2013, the UK economy would grow by 0.8%, the think tank predicted. In 2014, the CEBR said the eurozone would register growth of 0.4%, compared with the UK’s 1.4%.

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SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

Apple paid only 2% corporation tax outside US

Apple paid less than 2% corporation tax on its profits outside the US, its filing with US regulators has shown. A BBC report indicates that the company paid $713m (£445m) in the year to 29 September on foreign pre-tax profits of $36.8bn, a rate of 1.9%. It is the latest company to be identified as paying low rates of overseas tax, following Starbucks, Facebook and Google in recent weeks. It has not been suggested that any of their tax avoidance schemes are illegal. All of the companies pay considerable amounts of other taxes in the UK, such as National Insurance, and raise large sums of VAT. Apple’s figures for foreign tax appear on page 61 of its form 10-K filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The form is used to summarise the performance of public companies. It had paid a rate of 2.5% the previous year. Apple channels much of its business in Europe through a subsidiary in the Republic of Ireland, which has lower corporation tax than Britain. But even Ireland charges 12.5%, compared with Britain’s 24%. Many multinational companies manage to pay substantially below the official corporation tax rates by using tax havens such as Caribbean islands.

Ryanair profits jump on traffic and fare rises

Low-frills airline Ryanair has reported a rise in profits thanks to an increase in both passenger numbers and fares. Net profit for the six months to the end of September was 596m euros ($765m; £477m), up 10% on the 544m euros the company made a year earlier. Record half-year traffic numbers and an average 6% rise in fares helped boost revenue by 15% to 3.1bn euros. The airline also raised its full-year profit forecast to 490m-520m euros, up from 400m-440m euros. “Our 10% profit increase in the first-half combined with traffic growth of 7% during a period of high oil prices and continuing recession/austerity in Europe was another robust result,” the airline said in a statement. Profits exceeded the airline’s expectations due partly to strong bookings after the Olympics and lower than forecast fuel costs, it added. However, overall fuel costs rose by a quarter to 218m euros, as the average cost of oil over the period rose to $98 a barrel from $83 a barrel. Ryanair said it expected “market conditions in Europe to remain tough as recession, austerity, high fuel costs and excessive government taxes dampen air travel demand”.

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 Email: enquiries@mbitalmanzora.es Electronic Repairs

Telephone: 646 341 575

translations Honest & Reliable Translator Competitive Hourly Rate

Kathryn Jefferies Doctor & Hospital Appointments, Trafico, Residencias & many other situations

tel: 654 197 014 ~ kathrynj26@yahoo.co.uk

Nick Howe Chief Technician

+34 699 909 737 Established for over 10 years Office: +950 528 334 E-Mail: solosat@gmail.com

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

Licensed to transport animals by the Junta de Andalucia DEFRa Approved Vehicle

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”

R & R Services

Regular trips between Spain and UK taking all household items and furniture

We transport your pet with the utmost care and safety Pets are fed and watered every 3 - 4 hours & dogs walked For further information on departure dates and charges Please contact: 0034 686 140 034 (Spain) 0044 7526 140 797 (UK) Email: rozrik@hotmail.com

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

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

• 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

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

Upholstery

• We Upholster Chairs, Sofas and Wing Chairs • 30 years of experience • Large fabric selection • Free pick up & delivery • In home free estimates

Tel: 692 17 60 69

Brighten up your Walls!

Stunning Prints & GIANT posters A3 x 9 - 100’s to choose from or email your own photos...

Ideal Christmas PresentS

Tel: 634 388 243 newallprints@hotmail.com


24

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

SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

Palomino Kennels

Exclusive Boarding Kennels/Cattery Glad t me to hey sent Pa Kenne ls whi lomino back t e they wen o t wet En cold & gland !

Offer a Warm, Friendly Environment in a secure Countryside Setting. All Diet Requirements Catered for. Daily Exercise in 10 Acre Estate, Vet on 24/7 standby. (25 years Experience).

Call 662 668 423 or 950 067 051 www.palominokennels.com

Albox RBL christmas Poppy Dinner Dance The Albox Branch of The Royal British Legion is holding their annual Christmas Poppy Dinner & Dance on the 1st December at La Parrilla Hotel and Restaurant in the main square of Albox. The theme this year is a Masked Ball, with prizes for the best masks. The celebrations start at 7.30 p.m. and music is provided by the ever popular JC. The price of only 20 € for members and 22 € for non-members includes a 3 course meal and some drink. If you would like a vegetarian or fish alternative please mention at time of booking. There is also a Grand Raffle to be sponsored by Plas -Tech Windows & Guttering. All proceeds will go to the RBL funds. Tickets are going fast, so book yours with the Social Secretary Bob Cowan on 608049490 or email rcowan25@gmail.com Just after this event is the Albox RBL Xmas Bazaar. This is to be held on Thursday 6th December, also at La Parrilla Hotel & Restaurant, starting at 10.30 a.m. Stalls are now fully booked and include The RBL Tombola stall, Poppy Goods, The RBL book stall, Frillies, Wooden Puzzles, Avon, Crafts, Phoenix Cards, Adene Watts Crafts, Serendipity Craft, Home Made Goods – Pat Stooks, Elaine Wools, Simply The Best, Cakes and bakes, Iron Art, Pet supplies stall, Property Buy/Sell and much, much more. So come and enjoy a morning of browsing and pre - Christmas shopping while enjoying your favourite tipple and meeting up with friends.

Vera Branch Office: Ronda Las Buganvillas Local 24, 04621 Vera (Almeria, Spain)

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

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

The cost of dying has got a lot more expensive – Or has it?? From 1st September the rate of IVA (vat) charged by Funeral Directors rose from 8% to 21% so an average funeral cost here in Spain will be in the region of 4840 €. With an Iberian Funeral Plan you fix the cost of the funeral at today’s price and it is fixed forever, irrespective of how much funeral expenses rise in the future. With guaranteed Plan prices starting from just 2995 €. Do you need to look elsewhere for total peace of mind?

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

Christmas Craft Fayre

Just look at the facts: • Iberian have the best plans and plan benefits at the best prices • Iberian plans are the only genuine interest free plans if you wish to pay by instalments • Iberian do not charge you an additional administration fee • Iberian do not have any deferred or final settlement payments at the end of the instalment term • Iberian Funeral Plans are fully transferrable to the UK • Iberian Funeral Plans cover you throughout the EU and can assist worldwide

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. Visit www.iberianfuneralplans.com or simply contact our offices on 952595691 (Malaga) or 965993498 (Benijpfar-Alicante) Also located in The UK, Portugal, Canary Islands and Balearics

The (pre) Christmas Craft fair will now be held at The Blue Parrot, Avenida Ciudad de Barcelona, (Hotel Street) Vera Playa. This is a charity event in aid of Asprodalba and will take place from 11:00 until 15:30 on Sunday 11th November 2012. This will be an ideal opportunity to buy those special individual gifts from local artists and crafts people. This is a charity event in aid of Asprodalba and will take place from 11:00 until 15:30. Last year saw over 300 people visiting this event. The range of goods on sale will

include hand made cards, hand made natural soaps and perfumes, hand embroidered goose eggs, bobbin lace jewellery and Christmas decorations, jewellery, wooden puzzles, original art works, local photography, hand knitted goods, home made jams and chutneys, remodelled clothing and much, much more. There will also be a charity raffle. Prizes will include a beautiful Aran cardigan kindly donated by Trevor and Alice. Any donations of prizes gratefully accepted.

If it’s a sunny day don’t be surprised if you encounter a few naked people!


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SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

25

Property... Property Sales • Property Management • Long & short term rentals • Insurance

We Urgently Need Quality Properties Both For Sale & Rent

We Have Clients Waiting... 309 Paseo del Mediterraneo, Mojacar Playa (50m from Ferreteria Lopez)

Tel: 950 478 834 info@mojacarhomes.net www.mojacarhomes.net

PRICE BROWN

Property sales 30 years experience multi lingual team resales offices in mojacar & Turre Maintenance property Vigilance

ESTATE AGENTS • MOJACAR • INMOBILLARIA Mojácar Playa 99,500€ A1130 Charming first floor apartment of 65m2 + terrace of 55m2 Less than 100m from the beach - great sea views! 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom. Good location for golf & beaches

For a superb selection of properties for sale & rent visit our office on the Paseo del Mediterrano and talk to our friendly, knowledgeable staff - or visit our website

Tel: 950 478 935

RECOMMENDATION OF THE WEEK

For sale & rent

Properties in Huercal-Overa & the surrounding areas. New office now open in Huercal-Overa 100m from lidl

invest in Mojacar Now!

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+34 950 478 915

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Do you have a property to sell?

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Considering letting? Holiday or long term? Only 10% commission for full management

Office: Avenida Doctor Meca, 88 Portal B, 30860 Puerto de Mazarrón, Murcia Tel: 968 584 785 Mobiles: 648 609 438 or 630 187 041

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We are currently looking for more properties in Puerto de Mazarron, Isla Plana, La Azohia & Bolnuevo

Maybe you would just like us to advertise your property on our website and international portals for a reasonable fee?

We will listen to your requirements and will also give you open, honest advice

We are looking forward to working with you


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

SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

coffee break STANDARD CROSSWORD

Down 1 Passes a rope through a hole (6) 2 Tally (9) 3 Written fictional story (5) 4 Protracted (7) 6 A yellowwood tree with aromatic leaves (9) 7 Increase in salary (5) 8 Make longer (8) 11 Largest continent (4) 15 Trademark or signature (9) 17 Unreadable (9) 18 Crony (8) 20 Ancient Biblical kingdom (4) 21 The central theme (7) 22 Evaluate (6) 24 Diameters (5) 25 Encrypted (5)

3 Purpose to take Roundhead and a friend all over the world! (15) 4 Former partner sat unprotected (7) 6 Changed 100 charities’ (not one) racist traits (15) 7 Musical drama workage? (5) 8 English double-up outside bird’s scope (8) 9 Pen is in professional bearing (6) 16 Company number right to take thanks for vessel (9) 17 Cabaret I sorted out for microorganisms (8) 19 Come back to spin again? (6) 20 Study new lane, say (7) 21 Faze brass section with animals (6) 23 Eye instrument? (5)

Down 1 Result of very loud entry into Crete explosion not right! (6) 2C alled in a hoop for setting up (9)

HARD SUDOKU

Very Hard!

CRYPTIC crossword

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU PUZZLE SOLUTIONS

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across 1 I nspected “times a million”, dine out after last case (8) 5 Educate fish? (6) 10 Original Tree Street (5) 11 Ageless, soft German - not good before eye-opening books! (9) 12 P risoner returns art, good man initially spots differences (9) 13 Separated for a time, without equality (5) 14 Reptile is reportedly in fat (6) 15 Observed books in French city at the beginning of December (7) 18 Anne and Germaine reported to be even more furious (7) 20 No pars creating rims (6) 22 G od before final creation: a prickle (5) 24 I nterpret crazy rants, dead (9) 25 Move rear gully every day, perhaps (9) 26 C entral drinking establishment comes before Queen (5) 27 B others to put girl before headless boys (6) 28 Same production, without certain quantities (8)

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 Lately (8) 5 Stellar (6) 9 Invigorates (8) 10 Delegate (6) 12 On par (5) 13 Will (9) 14 Self-love (6) 16 A company that flies passengers (7) 19 Specify individually (7) 21 Without difficulty (6) 23 Flagrant (9) 25 Coops (5) 26 From India (6) 27 Uneatable (8) 28 Lancelot was one (6) 29 Thoughtless (8)

Happiness comes only when we push our brains and hearts to the farthest reaches of which we are capable. Leo Rosten

STANDARD SUDOKU

26


www.soltimes.com

food news

SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

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.

bin the crisps and go potty for popcorn With sales jumping by 300 per cent in the past year, popcorn is suddenly the most fashionable snack on supermarket shelves. And it could even be better for you than munching on an apple. If you think popcorn is just another salty snack, think again. A new study is bringing popcorn into the same arena as fruits and vegetables. They are nutritional powerhouses. Popcorn contains more polyphenols, healthy antioxidant compounds than fruits and vegetables, according to a report presented at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society. Popcorn only contains about four percent water while fruits and vegetables are 90 percent water. Because of this, the polyphenols in fruits and vegetables are diluted, while those in popcorn are concentrated; a recent study found that popcorn contains up to 300 mg of polyphenols in a serving; sweet corn contains 114 mg; and fruits contain 160 mg. It turns out that the popcorn hull, in spite of its aggravating tendency to get stuck between the teeth, is a nutritional powerhouse. The concentration of polyphenols and fiber are even higher in the hull. While this is great news for popcorn lovers, it does not diminish the role of fruits and vegetables in the diet. They contain essential vitamins and minerals as well as other phytochemicals not found in popcorn. Popcorn may be the perfect snack food if prepared correctly. Air-popped popcorn is low in calories and fat, high in fibre, and contains no sugar or sodium. Cooked in a lot of oil, drowned in butter, and heavily salted, such as cinema popcorn, it quickly becomes a nutritional nightmare. Microwave popcorn is roughly 43 percent fat while popcorn cooked in oil is about 28 percent fat. The Dietary Guidelines recommend at least three servings of whole grain foods each day, and a serving of popcorn fulfills one of those. Three cups of popped corn is considered a serving. Airpopped corn contains less than 100 calories in a serving while corn popped in oil has about twice as many calories. However, please note that popcorn is NOT recommended for children under the age of four because of the risk of choking.

Beans, beans, good for your heart...

the more you eat, the better for your blood sugar levels

We’ve heard beans are good for your heart before. Now a study has confirmed that they could help to save your life - if you have type 2 diabetes. Eating more pulses including beans, chickpeas and lentils can reduce the risk of heart disease by controlling blood sugar levels, researchers at the University of Toronto discovered. A low-glycaemic index (GI) diet that contains beans was found to improve glycaemic control and reduce coronary heart disease (CHD) in diabetes patients. Dr David Jenkins and colleagues tested the effects of eating more foods from the legume group on 121 people with type 2 diabetes. They found the low-GI legume diet reduced coronary heart disease risk by -0.8 per cent, largely because of a reduction in blood pressure. Dr David Jenkins, a doctor at St Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, said: ‘Legume consumption of approximately 190g per day (a cupful) seems to contribute usefully to a low-GI diet and reduce CHD risk through a reduction in blood pressure.’ Low-GI foods have long been associated with improvement in blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes and have been recommended in many national diabetes guidelines. Dr Jenkins added: ‘These findings linking legume consumption to both improved glycemic control and reduced CHD risk are particularly important because type 2 diabetes is increasing most rapidly in the urban environments of populations in which bean intake has traditionally been high.’ The news comes just a week after scientists discovered that sitting down all day can double the risk of diabetes, heart disease and death. So those with desk jobs might do well to grabs some beans on toast for breakfast in the morning.

THIS SATURDAY

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

ppy Dance o P

WED-SAT 6:30-9:30pm

Menu

plus de la Noche 2 COURSES 10.95€

GREAT value MENU CHANGES WEEKLY

Come and Support

THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION

Book Your Table NOW!

LIVE MUSIC

with the Wonderful

booking advisable

JC

60s, 70s, 80s

fridays

Beer-battered cod, homemade chips & peas

♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫♪♫ Dancing from 9pm Restaurant Open 6.30 - 9pm

from

5.95€ in the Bar

Our Two Course Menu de la Noche from 10.95€

Prize Draw Raffle Prizes include:

Meal for Two, Facials, Stress Massage, Wine & Cuddly Toy

booking advisable

Proceeds to the

Royal British Legion

traditional

sunday lunch

Bookings now being taken for our traditional

6 course, home-cooked

christmas day meal

12.30PM - 5PM

With

live music Kris Kelly

by

fISH OF THE DAY OPTION ALSO AVAILABLE

email or call for bookings or menu details Open Every Day 12pm - Late

Tel: 950 634 562 lavidacucador@gmail.com

We are here

Albox Arboleas Zurgena La Alfoquia

Mojacar

E15

booking advisable

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 NOVEMBER 2012

send your favourite recipes to editor@soltimes.com STOP ‘N’ SHOP IN YOUR...

Super Corner

ENGLISH SUPERMARKET

ALL YOUR FAVOURITE BRANDS AND MORE IN ONE SUPERSTORE!!

n i k p P um

TURRE, NEXT TO MESON DEL POBRE OPEN MON-SAT 9:30-6PM & SUN 9:30 - 1:30

Mesón de

Irene

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

Traditional Takeaway Fish & Chips

#

Unmissable offer!

Pumpkin & Apple soup Ingredients: onions, peeled and chopped 2 1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed 1 tbsp olive oil 500g/1lb 2oz pumpkin, skinned, seeded and cubed 2 baking apples, peeled, cored and chopped 570ml/1 pint vegetables stock 300ml/½ pint dry cider or apple juice 2 sprigs fresh sage - S alt and pepper

Opening Hours 12:30-9pm Tues-Sat Opposite Iceland Car Park,Vera

Saturday Night Meal Deals

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

La FREE

VidaBar Cucador

menu del dia

La Alfoquia, Plaza Santa Ana (Opposite the Old Station)

now showing all champions league & la liga games

Sunday Lunch Kentucky

Fried Chicken eat in or take away

FREE

Pizzas

Eat in or Take Away Tuesday - Sunday from 7pm

traditional paella (min2 people)

667

919

Café Bar

Ingredients:

For the pastry: A packet of ready made sweet short crust pastry with 40g/1½oz crushed pecans mixed in. For the filling: 450g pumpkin flesh, cut into 1in/2.5 cm chunks 2 large eggs plus 1 yolK 75g soft dark brown sugar 1 tsp ground cinnamon ½ level teaspoon grated nutmeg ½ tsp ground allspice ½ tsp ground cloves ½ tsp ground ginger 275 ml double cream

025

Live music frank dee with

blackthorn cider

now showing horse racing daily

Here’s a COUPLE OF Ideas…

Ingredients: Pumpkin

LA ALFOQUIA, ZURGENA

SAXON REAL ALE ON TAP - ONLY 2.40€ PER PINT

book the Venue: For your Private Parties, Weddings and Birthdays etc.

From €4,95

now serving GuiNness & strongbow

all Lite bite take-away Premier food menu league available served football 12pm-8pm until 8pm all welcome live

lavidacucador@gmail.com

Served 2 - 6pm

Choose from Beef, Pork or Chicken with all the trimmings!

ladies friendly darts wed 8pm

Tel: 950 634 562

Liquidise and serve piping hot with crusty bread.

Open Everyday 9.30am - 11pm (except Monday) Kitchen open 9.30am - 4pm, 7 - 11pm

12.30 - 3.30 MON - THURS + SAT 2 COURSES 6€, 3 COURSES 8€

ESTRELLA ONLY 2€ PER PINT Open Every Day 12pm - Late

Cook for another 2 minutes, season well and add the stock and the cider or apple juice. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the ingredients are tender.

Great Food at Great Prices Tel: 633 684 855

Tel: 663 440 329 www.thechippyvera.com

2 x Cod or Haddock & Chips Only 10€

Method: Heat the oil in a large saucepan and add the onions and the garlic. Cook for 2 minutes and then add the pumpkin, chopped apples and sage.

The rest of the world have long made the most of the enticing flavours of pumpkins and squashes, so perhaps it’s time for British cooks to take advantages of these brilliant autumn bounties. Now that Halloween has passed, there’s probably an abundance of pumpkins needing to be used up!

th o v fri 9 n

Freshly Baked Pies with Homecut Chips h & Ch ips From €5 Sunday Roast Fis Open Monday - Friday 8am til late Saturday & Sunday 9am til late

pie

Method Pre-heat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Use a shop bought sweet crust pastry case, about 9 inch/23 cm diameter and 1½ inches/4 cm deep. To make the filling, steam the pumpkin then place in a coarse sieve and press lightly to extract any excess water. Then lightly whisk the eggs and extra yolk together in a large bowl. Place the sugar, spices and the cream in a pan, bring to simmering point, giving it a whisk to mix everything together. Then pour it over the eggs and whisk it again briefly. Now add the pumpkin pureé, still whisking to combine everything thoroughly. Then pour the filling into your pastry case and bake for 35-40 minutes, by which time it will puff up round the edges but still feel slightly wobbly in the centre. Then remove it from the oven and place the tin on a wire cooling rack. Serve chilled (stored loosely covered in foil in the fridge) with some equally chilled créme fraïche, but warm or at room temperature would be fine.


www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

Pumpkin Lasagne butter in a small saucepan without letting it brown. Add the flour little by 90ml/3fl oz extra virgin olive oil little, stirring constantly to prevent lumps 1kg/2lb 3oz pumpkin, peeled, seeds from forming. When the flour has evenly removed, cubed absorbed the butter, continue to cook, Paprika, to taste stirring, for 4-5 minutes. Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste Add the 350ml/10½fl oz milk a little Salt & freshly ground black pepper at a time, stirring constantly to make a 250g/9oz fresh ricotta cheese smooth, thick and creamy sauce. 250g/8¾oz green lasagne pasta sheets Season. 150ml/5¼fl oz milk Arrange a layer of lasagne pasta sheets 25g/1oz grated parmesan cheese, in the bottom of a large ovenproof dish. or vegetarian parmesan-style grating Spoon over a third of the pumpkin cheese mixture. Lay more pasta sheets over For the béchamel sauce the top, followed by another layer of 55g/2oz butter pumpkin and another layer of pasta, 55g/2oz plain flour followed by a final layer of the pumpkin 350ml/10½fl oz milk mixture. Finish with a layer of lasagne Method pasta sheets. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas Pour the 150ml/5¼fl oz milk over the 4. top and allow it to drain through to all Heat the olive oil in a large heavy- pasta layers. based pan. Add the pumpkin and Bake for ten minutes in the preheated cook, covered, stirring gently from oven, remove and spread the béchamel time to time, until the pumpkin is tender, up to one hour. Season the sauce on top. Bake for a further 15-20 pumpkin with plenty of paprika, a minutes or until all the milk has been grating of nutmeg, freshly ground absorbed by the pasta and the lasagne black pepper and a little salt, to looks cooked and is beginning to go crisp. taste.

Ingredients:

Add the ricotta cheese while it’s still on the heat. Stir well then remove from the heat. Cover and allow mixture to stand. For the béchamel sauce, melt the

Remove from the oven, sprinkle with parmesan and place back in the oven for a few minutes - take care not to burn the pasta or the béchamel on top. Serve immediately.

What’s On at Jacks, Albox: Nov-Dec 2012 Monday • Art Classes 9.30-2pm • Line Dance Group 2.30-4.30pm with • Richard & Eleanor • Rock & Roll Night 7.30-10.30pm with Trevor & Sue Tuesday • Keep Fit Class (all levels) 9.30-10.30am with Diane • Art Class 11-1pm with Pat & Nina • Almanzora Photo Club each month • Quiz Night – fun for all – 7.30 for 8pm with Cherry, Cash prize & Wooden Spoon! Bringing Cherry’s famous quiz format Jacks (also Monday’s at La Vida) Wednesday • Art Class 12-2pm with Dee • Bingo – Eyes down at 2.30pm with Ged – Cash prizes, Spot prizes & Rollover Jackpot, plus Play Your Cards Right • Line Dancing with Carrie 7.30-10.30pm with famous Carrie (Dusty Boots) Thursday • Keep Fit 9.30-10.30am with Diane • Image Swimming Club 11-12.30pm with Helen • Art Class 1-3pm with Pat or Nina • Crib Club held twice a month 7.3010pm • CEROC Dancing 8pm with Ann: a social evening, all welcome. You don’t need to know the steps to enjoy the night!

Friday • Computer Club 10am-3pm various levels. • Geneaology 3.15pm each month with Nina. • Cod ‘n Chips (12-9pm) – Atlantic Cod, fresh hand-cut chips & peas from 5.95€. Sunday Lunch... • 12.30-5pm. Traditional Sunday lunch, bookings advisable. 950 120 718 Our menu is available from 9am ‘til late Monday to Saturday. Bookings being taken for Christmas Lunches 1st to 23rd December.

Christmas Fayre is on Friday 7th December 4-8pm. Lots of Christmas bargains to be had. Call Jacks if you wish to book a stall for the event.

A wonderful Christmas treat The Cantante Choir will perform their Christmas Concert on 18th December, to include mulled wine & mince pies - we’ll provide the song sheets so you can sing along to your favourite carols. Table bookings now being taken.

For bookings or enquiries please contact us on jacksalbox@gmail.com or tel. 950 120 718

Thursday 15th november 10am-

a y F r n e m u Aut

3pm

ty

u a e b & h t l a e h craft,

Re0tarme-2apmt O pen 1

Per Una & M&S Clothing

NEW STOCK: CHRISTMAS PARTY DRESSES

Almeria Angels Tibetan Silver Jewellery UK Fashion Chinese & Indian Spices Psychic Artist ~ Stone Sculpture Home Accesories Nail Extentions Unique Gift Ideas Candu Computing Crystals & Precious Stones UK Branded Sweets Homemade Pies & Cakes Angel Gifts & Candles homemade Jams & Pickles

Clairvoyant ~ Tarot Card Readings

Come early to book your session!

to book a stall contact us now! 950 634 562 or email lavidacucador@gmail.com

VidaVenue

La

Cucador

telephone: 950 634 562

Arboleas Zurgena La Alfoquia

Mojacar

E15

NEW TEAMfrom • NEW LOOK • NEW MENU 9am til late Mon - sat

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

1km

SUNDAY LUNCHES STARTS THIS SUNDAY 11TH NOV

y onl6.95€

12.30 - 5pm

to include a FREE Drink

Delicious Sunday Lunches

Topside of beef & Yorkshire pudding roast Pork with crackling and apple sauce tender roast chicken with stuffing local grown potatoes , seasonal vegatables & gravy A glass of house wine, tubo of beer or a coffee starters and homemade puddings 2€ each to book a table please call

950 120 718

All Day Breakfast from 9am Includes FREE Tea or Coffee

MENU DEL DIA

onl y

5€

Bar Menu, Snacks & Home-made puddings

2 Courses Every Day 12-3 Except Fridays

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

ALBOX

La Vida

Cucador Junc 547 Huercal Overa

from 5.95€

Chips, Mushy or Garden Peas… Friday 12 - 9pm, Saturday 12 - 4pm

We are here

Albox

ALBOX

fORMERLY rUMORES

@

BP Garage

•••

← ARBOLEAS BAZA → Av•••AL . L BO ep an X → to

950 120 718 / 610 641 567

jacksalbox@gmail.com

29


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

SOLTIMES OCTOBER 2012

Playa Serena, roquetas de mar

Call 679 156 715 mon - thurs from 11am fri and sun 11am - 6pm. Closed saturday

e huge sunny terrac and spacious bar Traditional treats every thursday Thursday 8th november 6pm - 8pm

fisherman’s pie, braised pork chops or chicken stew and dumplings - 4.95€

Booking essential

quiz 2.15pm prompt followed by bingo

tuesday bingo 2.30pm

Royal British Legion Service of Remembrance (part of monthly Anglican Church Service)

Thursday 8th November 11.30am Snacks

available all day Tapas served from 1pm - close

Next table top sale

Sunday 25th november Please book to reserve table

spanish lessons - all levels - now tuesday at 12noon 5€ sunday lunch special €5.95 booking essential

Marley’s

Situated behind the Tabacos

Breakfasts Best in town

Served 10am - 2pm (Tues - Sat) 10am - 12pm (Sunday)

Tapas

Served 12 noon - 5pm Snacks available all day

Weekends Friday - Fish Night 7pm - 10pm Sunday - Roast Served from 1pm - 6pm (voted best in town) (Booking Advisable)

Choice of beef, pork or chicken. Lamb served 2nd and last Sunday of each month!!!

winter hours winter hours

 a e b   part  f it  o 

Monday - saturday 12 noon - 4pm & 7pm - close Sunday : carvery 2pm - 7pm Thursdays - closed

Tapas

Burty’s BAR

served day and night

turkey & tinsel

30

Saturday 15th December

Going away for Christmas?

Why not get together with friends for a Christmas meal? €12.95 per person

new years eve gala buffet

Carved meat & fish etc 15.95€

wacky wednesdays Tubo, Wine, Soft Drink 1€ Mini meals 1€ 12pm - 4pm, 7pm -10pm

Tel: 659 683 447

Playa Serena

www.newyorknewyork.es

OPPOSITE THE PLAYA LUNA HOTEL

Opening Times: Monday Closed Tues - Fri: 10am - Close Sat & Sun: 10am - Close

Homemade Pies and Desserts (Take away - 24hrs notice) Sausage Rolls - €1.20 All Individual - €1.80 All Large - €8.00 All Medium - €5.50

Choose from:

• Steak • Steak & Ale •S teak & Kidney •C hicken & Mushroom • Mince & Onion

• Meat & Potato • Apple Pies •B akewell Tarts •L emon Meringue

Also Available - Quiches & Celebration Cakes

ALL SPORTS SHOWN LIVE ESPN and SKY SPORTS

Please call Shell on 722 781 631 or Steve on 679 703 513 For any orders or bookings


www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

31

ROQUETAS DE MAR The final fund raising event for 2012 was a table top sale held on 2nd November at Y Da Wakes. The event was closed with a sing-a-long led by Brian and the final count up of the amount raised for Help for Heroes during 2012 which totalled 4,207€ Yvonne and Dave at Y Da Wakes would like to thank everyone who supported the Charity in 2012 and they look forward to continuing their fund raising activities next year. ROYAL BRITISH LEGION IN SPAIN DISTRICT NORTH ROQUETAS BRANCH 3569 Patron: Her Majesty the Queen Registered Charity No.219279 Spanish NIF N8261536

POPPY APPEAL EVENT TO BE HELD AT PLAYA SERENA GOLF CLUB ON

TUESDAY 13th NOVEMBER 2012 at 2.00 for 2.30 pm MEAL FOLLOWED BY MUSIC & DANCING ORGANISED BY PAUL & CAROLINE JOHNSON (including a exhibition dance by Paul & Caroline And a short demonstration by their students)

THERE WILL ALSO BE A TOMBOLA FOR THE POPPY APPEAL €15 per person (including meal and drinks) With €3 from this going into the POPPY FUND

For tickets and details of menu please contact: Stuart and Joan on 950 333 243 or 603 602 980 or: Paul and Caroline on 950 536 060 or 618 483 791

Mini Hollywood

Tabernas, Carretera National 340km, Desierto de Tabernas, Almeria Open 12:00 - 18:00 TEL: 950 365 236 / 950 362 884

A simulated Wild West town

There are daily shows of Wild West scenes, some outside depicting shoot-outs and a hanging (not a real one!) some inside with dancing and bar scenes. There is a museum, a photo gallery with costumes available for customers to wear for their souvenir photos shoot, restaurants, a train for transport around the quite extensive zoo, there is a big swimming pool and a playground for the children.

Bar Southern.................................... Every Thursday Bingo 3pm Last Saturday of the month - Jackpot Money Quiz 8pm 1st Friday of Month: Ladies Do Lunch! from 2pm (Menu del Dia 7€) Burtys Bar........................................ Tuesday - 12 noon Spanish Lessons & 2:30pm Bingo Thursdays - Quiz 2:15pm followed by BINGO Table Top Sale - Sunday 25th November Bar Spinnaker................................... Tuesday - Bingo 3pm Wednesday - Steak 7.50€, Quiz 9.30pm Friday - Fish and Chips all day 5€ Saturday - Curry Meal with small wine 7.50€ Sunday - Sunday Roast 1pm - 6pm Chaplins pub..................................... Opening Hours: Tuesday - Thursday 5pm - late Friday - Sunday 1pm - late Wednesday: Rib Night Friday: Chip Shop Day - Fish’n’Chips etc served from 1pm, Quiz Night Sunday - Sunday Lunch served until 8pm TEL: 950 335 022 La Bodeguina..................................... is now a drop in centre for any donations for the Mojonera Dog Sanctuary Thursday Night - BBQ lady lay.............................................. Tuesday Night - Curry Night Revita Natural Health and Relaxation centre.......................... Calle Tortola 4, Roquetas De Mar Tel 950 333 048 Tai Chi - Tuesday & Thursday 10am Yoga - Sunday 9pm Belly Dancing - Wednesday Y Da wakes......................................... Monday 8:30pm Bingo Saturday - Music and Karaoke with Brian

DANCE CLASSES GOING STRONG!

The Latin And Ballroom classes held at Playa Serena Golf Course are going strong. There are two classes a week, on a Tuesday morning 10.30am to 11.30am and from 4th October the Thursday evening class will move to the slightly earlier time of 6pm to 7pm. If you are interested in Strictly Come Dancing or you have always wanted to learn, come along and have a go. You can be sure of a very warm welcome and have great fun in the process, all for just 4 euros per person per class. On Tuesday 13th November at 2pm there will be a Lunch Dance with proceeds going to the Poppy Appeal. So if you would like to learn for this event or just brush up on what you already know come along to class. Paul and Caroline will be there to guide through the whole process. Look forward to seeing you soon... Email: pacarjohnson@gmail.com 618483791

SEND your birthday & ANNIVERSARY GREETINGS TO EDITOR@SOLTIMES.COM & WE’LL PRINT THEM FREE OF CHARGE! Property management Sales & Rentals Roquetas de Mar, Aguadulce Almerimar, Vicar, La Envia Golf

Services include Key Holding, Maintenance, Furniture Packs, Cleaning & Laundry, Apartment & Post-box Checks

Mobile: (0034) 663 426 921

info@enviapropertyservices.com

www.enviapropertyservices.com

Cristina - Erika Diez Mentzel ABOGADA - LAWYER Conveyance - Litigation Inheritance - Divorce Wills - Mortagage Matters Non Resident Taxes

C/ Pombal, 11 - Las Marinas 04740 ROQUETAS DE MAR, (ALMERIA)

Tel: 950 33 68 61 Fax: 950 33 68 62 email: cristina@diez-mentzelabogados.com www.diez-mentzelabogados.com

estampa apas T

Ta

y outdoor n n u s s u io c Spa e seating 24 terrac Y TV SK

Bar

Tapas/Snacks English Breakfast Fish & Chips Coffees & Cakes Cocktails/Sangria

Open 10am - late (Closed Tuesday) FREE WI-FI Next door to Zurimar 678 202 160

La Grappa

Authentic Italian Restaurant

• Pizzas • Fresh Pastas • Fresh Fish • Argentinian BBQ’d Food On The Terrace

BBQ

EVERY DAY

Dental Clinic

Open 12 - 4pm 7 - 12.30am Av. Playa Serena, 37 Roquetas de Mar

950 334 188 609 337 316

to reserve your table

On-site Dental Laboratory Dr med. dent Hubert Hillenbrand 20 years experience

950 32 64 52

Edificio Porto Mar Avda Mariano Hemandes 48 Roquetas de Mar, German & English Spoken

www.almeria-dentista-zahnarzt.com

near Hotel Zoraida Garden


32

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

SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 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 email: info@md-aircon.com

md_aircon@mobileemail.vodafone.es

alternative energy 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

c a r l o s s a li e n t e & 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

baby hire

Everything for the visiting baby Car seats,high chairs, stair gates, cots etc Tel: 950 436 581 or 666 375 688 expectingababy@hotmail.co.uk 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

bar & restaurant villa & pool for rent 4 year lease €55.000 to include all kitchen equipment & furniture €250 per week established 7 years for further info call 950 432 719 chimney sweep SAMMY SWEEP Chimney Sweep Service available covering all areas call paul on 619 070 839

computers

trade Businesses can advertise in the classified section

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

drainage cont...

for sale

Drainage

Steve Hayes Informatica

Solutions

Pc’s, Laptops, Printers etc. Sales & Repairs on-site callout / tuition. Consumables Albox, Almeria

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

Established 7 years in spain

Tel: 950 120 900

construction

construction

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

established in spain for 14 years

fully legal

Constructions

Martinez moreno cb (Rambla de Oria) All types of building work undertaken inc plumbing & electrics

tel: 609 421 734 (Spanish) tel: 696 052 044 (English)

eleganthomes realise the dream

property damaged by the recent floods? then, let our professional construction team help you! call mike on 687 629 777 or email: info@elegant-homes-online.com

drainage

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

950 091 109 or 648 768 587 Cleaning of Septic Tanks • Emptying of Septic Tanks & Cesspits, with high pressure cleaning • Small Only unblockages of pipes & drainage 100€ Pool Cleaning & Water Tanks

Contact: 675 838 808

Tel: 616 531 283 or 670 088 966

Now exhibiting at Los Llanos market, Arboleas every Saturday Tel: 950 120 077 Mob: 625 435 050 / 615 396 056

39 W x 240 H) 90€ San Jose Chrissie 635 288 940 F o l d i n g Fishing Chair – Brand New 15€ Tel: 950 438 097 Three oil filled Orbegozo electric radiators, as new 20€ each. 687 056 397. Y a m a h a 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 instrument. Current list price in excess of 300€. Accept 170€. Tel: 693 753 327 Saliente

I n v a li d (132 L x 42 W x Support Rail 89 H) 45€ San Chrissie Knowles & ELECTRICIAN for bathroom. (Up Jose & Over style) Still 635 288 940 Abbott in box 35€ Tel: Chess Table no.1 for 950 438 097 with full set of electrics and 25 years experience A d j u s ta bl e metallic pieces plumbing. Full City & Guilds T r e a t m e n t 50€ Tel: 950 438 Re-wires, Couch, portable. 097 Fully free to air Full Size 100€ Two Display insured UK satellite Tel: 950 475 135 Kitchen Cabinets & legal systems. Boletins VW Golf spare (84 L x 53 W supplied 950 137 208 wheel, Firestone x 204 H) 45€ Tel : 687 245 569 195/65/15 half each San Jose 638 010 691 worn, 5stud 15€ Chrissie 635 288 Tel: 676 045 164 940 gardening Albox Si d e b o a r d / Dresser Display P i n e potty finca services Si d e b o a r d , above (188 L x professional tree locksmith insurance felling & pruning, Phil the Pick Locksmith 24 including all types of palm trees hours. Locked strimming of overgrown Out? Locks fitted/ gardens & hedge cutting upgraded house spanish registered. glenn & jayne safes. Arboleas Formerly of Knights Insurance, logs available & surrounding C / Malaga, Albox ring john on area. Special ... are now exclusive 616 855 294 or 950 163 930 weekend rates. agents Tel: 697 243 181 for Liberty Seguros

electrical

Neil Godwin

heating

neater heater See our main ad on the news pages Carlos (Saliente) plumbing & heating services. If it involves water, we can help! www.carlossaliente.com Tel: 968 969 962

house clearances

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

same people - same great service - differeent name

logs

infoalbox.libertyseguros@gmail.com

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

Tel: 950 121 943

iron/metal works

metal works

Gates, rejas, fabriction welding reliable service Telephone

950 069 208 or 638 449 944 adwelds@yahoo.com

Call Cash & Carry Clearances

The Metal works Grills, railings, gates of all types, security/ sliding/roller, rejas, Tel: 618 725 567 or concertina doors etc. 619 773 582 cashandcarry54@yahoo.co.uk Tel: Keith Wood on hobby/craft

interpretor

Elaine’s Wools

Translator

quality UK wool & accessories. Come & view my display Also available at Camposol, Mazarron

Call 667 273 889 elaines wools@gmail.com

638 900 949

English, Spanish Need help with NIE / Residencias, French, Swedish C a d a s t r e , Documents, P r o p e r t y Notary, Court, C o n v e y a n c i n g , New Building Legal Declarations, Tel: 646 844 708 Notary, Wills etc Tel: 646 844 www.4way 708 www.4way connections. connections. webs.com webs.com

T & T Metals For all quality metal works, including gates, railings, rejas, staircases, gazebos & chainlink fencing - Tel: 950 431 738

Phil Delivers

Logs

gravel & all building materials

Albox & Surrounding areas

tel: 634 328 779 legal

If you wish us to print an article about a particular topic in our regular space on pg 16, please email info@daviessolicitors.com


www.soltimes.com NUMBER PLATES

SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

personal cont...

“RE-PLATE” Spanish • blonde slim • curvy MATE GB

24 hours english spoken

E

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 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

painter & decorator

over 25 years experience

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

now covering mainland spain

commercial & major retail painter’s expert quality workmanship

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

634 612 828 pets section pALOMINO kENNELS Exclusive boarding kennels/cattery Tel: 950 067 051 R&R Services Pet transportation, licensed by Junta de Andulucia, DEFRA approved vehicle Tel: 686 140 034

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 woodhouse boarding kennels & cattery

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

pet taxi TRAVELLING IN AIR CONDITIONED VEHICLE DELIVERED TO DOOR PETS STAY IN PET FRIENDLY HOTELS. ACCOMPANIED TRAVEL AVAILABLE

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

Large 2-bed comfortable flat for immediate let, 200mtrs Mojacar Beach. Minimum 3 months. 350€per month + Bills. Or long term. No pets, no smokers. Tel. 950 475 410.

Apartment For Sale

telephone 678 838 547

All other types of pets considered

APSA charity Lucky needs a home!

Lucky was brought in late one night, having been hit into the air, by a car. Now fully recovered, ready for a home.

Please ring 663 762 642 or see other dogs and cats for homing www.apsa.org.es

Sada is of mixed breed, i have been wormed & vaccinated. i’m a little timid but i gain trust very quickly & love to be cuddled. before i came to the dog house i was at puppy rescue after being abandoned at bins at only 8 weeks old. i would really love a forever family & home. d.o.b 13/08/2010 you can meet me at the dog house. call paul on: 626766073 or e-mail thedoghse@hotmail.com españolas enlace: veronica 608858318

SELL YOUR PROPERTY FAST WITH

SOLTIMES

plumbing

Call PauletteTODAY on 950 121 936 OR 902 750 190 Ext 330

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

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

Bargain price 65,000€ 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

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

A&E Taylor – Gas boiler & plumbing repairs. Tel: 618 062 080 Knowles & Abbott no.1 for plumbing & electric. CH, solar hot water and water deposits. Telephone 950 137 197 or 606 807 797

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

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

ENGLISH MOVE

SINGLE ITEMS TO COMPLETE HOUSE MOVE

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

A1 Sky Television

1 bed, 1 bath apartment (sleeps 4), fully fitted kitchen Build 256 m², Terrace 100m², Plot 1200 m² with white goods, parking Telephone 649 186 107 email for more info at thunderpaul2003@hotmail.com area, lovely views. Ideal only €160,000 golfing holiday apartment. Close to Mojacar / Turre. removals Easy access to motorway. Approx 10 mins to DAVE’S TRANSPORT Mojacar beach

plasterer

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

satellite/television

€39,950ono

T: 664 291 793

UK - SPAIN - UK From a parcel to a small house move

For just 10€ per week!

Reduced

Portugese No need for kennels Gelding Pet sitortingcattery, in your own 12 yrs, looking home, Arboleas & for a good surroundi ng areas. home, ideal companion Call Vanessa on horse 637 061 482 lovely natured Not just cats & dogs,

removals cont...

ground floor, 1 Your property will appear as shown bed, lounge, opposite and be seen by almost Satelitte TV, 55,000 Sol Times readers! diningroom, suit couple or single 175€+ bills per month Tel: 950 449 074 or 634 368 071

B r iti s h All plasterer work guaranteed Tel Paul 634 327 201

VERA PLAYA

24 HOURS • STRIPTEASE tEL: 687 891 515

in Los Menchones near Zurgena

jescott29@hotmail.co.uk

“Readers of a sensitive disposition may find some of the advertisments in this section offensive”

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

Apartment to rent

(0034) 667 235 205 (sp) (0044) 7850 575862

personal

YOUNG PRETTY GIRLS

property for rent & SALE

33

Systems

Sky Digibox Pace with sky card

Satellite TV installations, alignment of dishes etc. Also Spanish“freeview”systems supplied & installed

Tel Dave: 628 607 778

BBC 1, 2, 3, 4 ITV1, 2, 3, ch4 & 5.

60€

can deliver. Tel: 667 235 205

solar power system

www.ecocorp.eu

at ecocorp we do not just sell you a system we deliver, intall & guarantee everything for up to 10 years

Swimming Pool Heating

titanuim swimming pool heat pump For pools approx 8m by 4m 2495€ INC Installation This unit uses only 1.7kw input power!

Solar Power Systems

off grid systems for homes with no electricity 3kw systems from 6495€ 5kw systems from 7495€ 7kw systems from 8995€

Tel: 671 716 597 situations vacant

Class One Drivers Required Class One HGV Drivers required for UK work. Working for Blue-chip companies in the Midlands area. Requirements: Must have driver card (didgi). No more than 6 points on licence, age 25+ Must be prepared to work weekends / shift patterns Accommodation and flights arranged. Average earnings per week £750.00 to £1000 Self-employed Flexible work patterns suit for example 3 weeks on 10 days off back home. For application and more information email: ultimateforceukltd@gmail.com

storage

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

Tel: 650 038 251 stables

634 337 185

SPAIN UK SPAIN Removals

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

marmenorremovals@hotmail.com

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

swimming pool safety

NEATER HEATER See our main advert on the news pages

tuition

SPANISH LESSONS WITH VICTORIA

For info call on 950 472 590 or e-mail: victoriaspanishteacher @gmail.com or visit:www. victoriaspanishteacher. villadeturre.com


34

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

SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

SALES representative required for 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 www.carpartsinspain.com

or telephone 692 930 326

car & van hire

FOR SALE PUEGOT 107 AUTO / MANUAL “2 TRONIC” FIRST REGISTERED 26 – 03 - 2008 COLOUR - BLACK 998 c.c. PETROL (GASOLINA) 7,200kms I.T.V. till 20-03-2014

PRICE: 5,500€ Tel. 950 398 021 mechanics

Van hire

Mikes Mobile

stu british mobile Mechanics car mechanic All types of service, 26 years

ONE WAY

UK to Spain or Spain to UK

*LOCAL *NATIONAL *EUROPEAN

for sale cont...

* COLLECTION & DELIVERY *STORAGE

TEL: 667 235 205

Pick up/drop off locations Throughout UK, France and Spain

repair & ITV testing Fully qualified & legal with over 35 years experience Ring Mike or Chris:

628 350 178 or 636 824 974

experience very reliable & competitive rates local to the Arboleas area certificates can be seen Tel: 608 447 696

motorhomes

Van, car and driver

for hire

house & garden clearances, collections & deliveries, weekly collections from IKEA,

Motorhomes for sale & wanted urgently

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

Airport transfers Almeria 60€ one way, 110€ return Alicante 80€ one way, 150€ return

Tel: 950 047 033 or 687 845 730

Tel: 634 345 257

info@hispavan.com www.hispavan.com

for sale

wanted

125cc Lifan Heritage cruiser

URGENTLY REQUIRED

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

950€ Registered 2009, immaculate condition. Large Topbox and Transfer incl. Albox area.

Tel Shaun on 610 324 666

TEL: 636 411 540 OR 664 619 819

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

SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

w ith murderous intent. . .

I like, if possible, to remain on friendly terms with the world and all of its inhabitants. I frequently assist beetles to the other side of the path, and always apologise to weeds before committing them to the hereafter. However, when the sparrows started pinching our fruit I felt that they had overstepped the mark and abused my pacifist approach. I felt the red mist come down, and had I been able to catch them I would have smacked their little feathery bottoms and sent them on their way.

Now another of God’s creatures has awakened the demon within me – namely the wasps! I did pride myself on my Christian attitude to these apparently useless pests, but no more! They are monopolising our pool, bought, paid for and maintained by us, and I feel that they should at the very least have the good manners to move over when I feel like a swim. But no, they expect me to swim round

By Jos Biggs

josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk

them, and they get cross and use waspish swear words if I splash too much.

I topped up their nice trap (Ugh! Is there a worse smell?) and demolished their nest, but still our pool was wall-to-wall wasps. So imagine my joy when we found the answer in Piscinas Octopus in Albox – Washing-up liquid! In two sentences, the answer is to spray the pool surface with a small amount of dilute washing-up liquid. This breaks the surface tension, so that the wasps can’t sit on the surface, they fall in and drown. With murderous intent I sprayed just the tiniest amount, and sat back to see the results. Within minutes the body count began. I took up my trusty net and patrolled the pool, scooping up corpses with a merry cackle, the personification of Death in a bikini. Now, within days, we are virtually wasp-free. Either we’ve killed them all, they have learnt. A worrying thought has just occurred to me. Suppose they plan a revenge attack?

The Haverford Mouse & Me

I realised the other day that we have had two rescue cats in our house now for the last two years and the probability is that neither has ever seen a mouse. This causes me some concern and a little guilt, because all self respecting felines, should at least know what the little blighters look like and experience the joy of chasing them. Ozzy and Woody have had to make do with a collection of colourful knitted things obtained from the local bazaar Chino that they toss around enthusiastically, leading inevitably to yet another toy disappearing under a sofa, or sideboard. It’s become routine to move the furniture on a regular basis in order to recover a multitude of meeces and return them to the cat’s toy box. When they first arrived as tiny street ragamuffins and only a few weeks old, we bought them an assortment of toys to occupy their attention, along with rolled up balls of tin foil and screwed up paper. In addition to this, friends would arrive and bring more interesting items – phony mice, woolly balls and squeaky things. It was all very entertaining for visitors because, our two waifs would retrieve things when thrown

and drop them at their feet ready to be thrown again. It must be a Siamese trait, because having always had these Oriental eccentrics in our lives prior to Spain, each of them has had the same retrieval instinct. Our current two may be only moggies, but with their blue eyes and coloured points, they are of definite Siamese vintage. So, they

John MacDonald (El Sordo) www.caratacus.eu

viewpoint

neighbouring fields. It was never a major problem, but there were times when our two slanty eyed gato’s would come across an intruder during the night. “Friend or foe”, they would meow menacingly and not receiving a satisfactory answer, take the offender into custody. The problem was, having detained the furry burglar; the proud duo would bring it to me unharmed at some unearthly hour of the night and feeling sorry for the poor thing I would slip out of the house and release it some distance away. The thought often crossed my mind that the bloody thing was probably back at the cottage before me. On one occasion, I had just released yet another rodent into the hedgerow and was returning to my bed when have suddenly headlight beams a goody appeared on the crest of the b o x hill. There was nowhere to in a hide, so I tried to look as corner natural as possible as a Range of the lounge Rover picked me out in its – a sort of feline headlights, before quickly version of Toy Story. accelerating away. It’s good that we don’t have It’s hard to look nonchalant house mice here, although I at 4am, with a cold mist think I would swop an icky wafting around bare skinny cucaracha for a be-whiskered legs, wearing your wife’s ratón any day of the week, flowery bath robe and Scooby and I have to confess to a Doo slippers. certain fondness for the little Then there was the devils as long as they are not snaffling my chocolate Haverford Mouse. digestives in the kitchen Haverford is a township in cupboard. Pennsylvania where I stayed Living the country life in at a rambling old house that the UK, mice – mostly the belonged to the mother of my field variety – were a fact American chum. Sharing of life. Moreover, living in her home with a female a thatched house, it must companion of many years have been an overwhelming standing, she welcomed temptation for them to a man about the house as move in once the combine an added security measure harvesters got to work in the and the prospect of some intelligent conversation. Unfortunately she By Colin Bird : badbirdnow@gmail.com

got me. My room was over the kitchen, the stairs to which were directly outside my bedroom door. Then one night I was aware of a disturbance below and being a responsible sort of chap, I tippy toed down the stairs to investigate. The rustling sound that I had heard grew louder and seemed to emanate from the open larder, so I hit the lights and as I did so, a whiskery brown head popped out of the top of a jumbo box of corn flakes and peered at me. Mousy had been having a high old time and his cheeks were bulging with Kellogg’s finest. I didn’t have the heart to grass him up, but I discreetly disposed of the breakfast cereal the next day. For the remaining months of my stay, my new little buddy Hank would visit me in my bedroom most nights and squat on my bedside table as I watched TV - both of us gnawing on brownies and watching Tom and Jerry cartoons.

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Alq u e r i a Th e f r e e p r e ss o f Alq u e r i a The freedoms offered by the new Republic of Alqueria include the freedom to lie, misrepresent and libel. The perfect environment for a daily tabloid newspaper to exist and Alqueria Hoy was born. A daily newspaper published weekly however, not a lot happens in the village. El Baboso, a semi-literate and thoroughly disgusting man was the natural choice for editor. His only redeeming feature is a flair for inventiveness. A skill much needed if the pages are to be filled with anything other than mundane twaddle. To satisfy both the Newcomers and Hill People a dual headline system had to be employed. Hill People on the left, Newcomers to the right. A recent round of redundancies at Rodriquez’s olive mill produced the following two headlines. The Hill People’s read. ‘Rodriquez sacks twelve at Olive Mill. Men forced to steal as wives forage in refuse bins. Daughters are forced into prostitution while several children have been taken into community care. The latest redundancies push the unemployment rate in Alqueria to 75%.’ The Newcomer’s headline about the same story reads. ‘Rodriguez streamlines Olive Mill. It’s a good deal for Alqueria.’ Horacio Stranglardeganso, landlord of the Bar la Casa Devante writes the paper’s agony column. His advice for apparently all requests for help is to drink strong liquor, preferably in his establishment until one’s head spins. Advice eagerly taken up by a sizeable portion of Alqueria’s population. Manuela’s advice to the love-lorn had to be dropped. Even El Baboso wouldn’t take the risk of publishing, no matter how imaginative her advice is. The small ads are the usual attempts to devoid oneself of household rubbish by demanding extortionate prices. The weather forecast was simply reprinted from last year’s El País. This proved so accurate that a team from the Meteorological Office in the UK was sent on a fact finding trip. Someone somewhere decided to include a daily prayer. When one lives in Alqueria one certainly needs a daily prayer or some form of benevolent intervention. The village priest, known locally as Sacerdote del Semblante Lánguido is a tall cadaverous man, hook-nosed and sombre to the point of being utterly depressed. His first attempt to write the daily devotion was an utter disaster. He used the paper’s platform to announce he was a closet Existentialist. Having ‘come out’ he now spends his time sitting in cafés with his head in his hands depressing everyone with his view of the meaningless universe. As Alqueria moves into complete and autonomous statehood its free press can proudly take its place amongst the tabloids of Europe

www.carsupermarket.es


36

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

SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

braben’s blog....

Our forgotten corner Not a red tapas in sight Almeria has long regarded itself as the poor man of Andalucía; the road network for example is poor when compared to the more prosperous western parts of the region. Wherever there is damage to roads and bridges after ‘that storm’ there are just cones or if lucky there are a few local tractor drivers working or leaning on a shovel smoking a fag. The A334 is normally the vein that enables business and leisure interests to course through keeping the Almanzora Valley alive but the operation to rescue it is painfully slow. The diversions around Arboleas have been in place for four years and the unfinished bypass slowly gets washed away whenever it rains. The cost in lost productivity surely outweighs the 22 million Euros it will cost to finish the Albox section. The last section to connect to the Ballabona junction is nearly 3 years past even its starting date. The 22km Sorbas section of the mythical high speed rail link will soon be finished (except the ballast, rails, power, signals and the trains) to become the most expensive footpath in Andalucía. Almeria City has been waiting decades to connect the port to the rail system and to build a new station for the bustling city but a recent announcement put those hopes back another 20 years. The grandly titled Autovia de Mediterraneo or E15/A7 which should stretch unbroken from Rome to Cadiz reverts to a donkey path going west around Adra and Almeria City is still without speedy access to Malaga. Instead it’s a long cold drive north on the A92 to Granada then west to Antequera and then south on the new AP46 toll road so completing the

third side of a very uneconomic square. The AP46 seems as much a white elephant as our own E15 to Cartagena; it’s largely empty as it runs parallel to the more than adequate A45. Now, however, the fat cats from Madrid can drive more quickly to their summer holidays and by paying a toll can completely avoid the proletariat masses who tend to use the other road Seriously though it’s worth paying the 3.15€ toll as it’s a massive feat of mountain goat engineering as it skims the mountain tops via 15 viaducts (3 of which are over 700m long) and 3 tunnels. The views are outstanding when the environmental cost is ignored. A must stop on the AP46 are the services at the northern end with the restaurant Robledo. Notice boards proudly announce everything as homemade and typical of the region. Not a boring red dish to be seen in the tapas counter and instead freshly made migas, broad beans with Serrano ham and pulpo a la Gallega amongst others are served in generous portions. The shop too sells a great variety of local gourmet specialities. It’s so refreshingly different to service stations in the UK. Spending our honeymoon recently around Jerez and Algeciras the roads are much better with trains and regular buses to speed the lucky citizens around. Often as estate agents we are asked what the bus network is like as believe it or not; non-drivers also buy and rent houses! We tell them that apart from the yellow buses around Mojacar there’s not a lot of point moving to rural Almeria. In Vera, Cuevas Almanzora and Huercal Overa where national buses stop there are no local buses to such distant out posts as Albox, Mojacar or Garrucha. The rural life!

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 - w w w.facebook.com/stephen.amore

I know what you are going to say, there are far more weighty matters for us to consider than the theme of this week’s ramblings, and I suppose you’re right, but nevertheless, it is worth some investigation. So what weighty matters should we be considering? Perhaps things like suitable alternatives to petrol? Another could well be how we can stop global warming. Yes issues that are rightly taking up a great deal of the thinking time for many people. But, another question is worth consideration…where have all the ventriloquists gone? Have you noticed that, unlike in the past, we very rarely see a ventriloquist on television, although I am sure that, like me, you have some suspicions about those people on daytime television, some of whom could easily be ventriloquist dummies for all the personality they have! No, unless you have the box set of DVD’s celebrating “The Good Old Days” I think it is almost impossible to find one. By the way, is there a box set of “The Good Old Days”? So why have they gone and where have they gone too? I think the answer to the first question is not that they have been wiped out by a stray asteroid, but rather we are not as daft as we used to be! In the past we happily settled down to programmes that today we would feel embarrassed to watch-remember Eldorado, Triangle and On the Buses? Doesn’t it make you shiver that there may have been a time when you actually said, “Sorry, can’t stop, I’ve got to get home to see Triangle tonight, I love that show.” Well in the past we were happy to be fooled by ventriloquists and ignore their hands working the dummies’ mouth and their lips staying almost still. Maybe that was why the classic Morecambe and Wise ventriloquist sketch with the huge dummy was so funny-we were having our daftness thrown back at us. Graham is married Okay, ventriloquists have become endangered, but where to Helen and has are they all? If we look around we can perhaps see where a daughter, Alice. lives part of the they may have gone. Cast your eyes over the debating He year near Albox, chamber in the Houses of Parliament, some in there could but works in Qatar, possibly be ex ventriloquists, or maybe the dummies. No, teaching. If you wish to contact Graham far be it from me to say that there are politicians who regarding this article email: are being worked by others and have words put in their helenandg@yahoo. mouths! Now, which one is Lord Charles? co.uk

REVIEW it... The Story of Beautiful Girl BY Rachel Simon

“There was a baby. A couple on the run. And they were different. They were not right.” Rachel Simon’s literary career started with her bestselling memoir of her intellectually challenged sister, Beth in “Riding the Bus with my Sister.” Her motivation for writing both books was not just about Beth but other less fortunate individuals who were institutionalised. In 1972 a programme was shown on US tv about the Willowbrook State School which “horrified” her family. “I came to feel remorse that institutional tragedies had unfolded in a parallel universe” one that was alien to Simon. There seemed to have been a “secret history” which had been “kept out of sight for so long.” It wasn’t just the American “secret shame” but worldwide. Doris Lessing uses shocking but real images based on a German lunatic asylum in “The Fifth Child.” In the UK Panorama exposed the “shocking treatment” of its disabled residents at Winterbourne View Private Hospital in Bristol recently. The Daily Express reported on the story with a shocking headline that speaks for itself: “Evil Carers Caught on TV Jailed For Reign of Cruelty.” Another motivating factor was Dave Bakke’s book: “God Knows his Name: The True Story of John Doe No.24.” It was based on an African American, labelled as “feebleminded” and thrown into an institution like a piece of garbage, branded like an animal, No 24 because no-one knew his name or cared enough to find out. Society dehumanised its most vulnerable. Simon admitted to being “stupefied, horrified and outraged” and the novel became a strong political statement. The book is a tribute to the resilience and courage of Lynnie who was “exiled into the wilderness” of a Pennsylvanian School for the Incurable and Feebleminded, a place for “defective” children, like a “trap that snaps closed on an animal.” She was originally classified as an upper division “imbecile” and then promoted to the “moron” category. Shocking. No.42 is the love of Lynnie’s life and we as the reader share his suffering and misery. Martha is a retired teacher who abandons her security and promises to “hide” the baby that is bequeathed to her by two runaways, one stormy night. This is Martha’s second chance after ironically being denied motherhood with the loss of her own “defective” child a long time ago “the cruelest chaos imaginable.” After the initial shock she relishes the challenge but her life is turned upside down with constant hideaways to avoid anyone finding out the true identity of the child. Then there is Kate, an attendant at the school who recognises Lynnie’s gift and shows love towards her amidst the abuse and horror. Salvation at a price. Beautiful people full of love in a world full of hate for deformity or simply, disability. Martha keeps a meticulous record of Julia’s life with memorabilia attached to give her some kind of identity when she is no longer able to care for her: “Even after I have passed away, you have only to look in the face of anyone you love and you will see me. I am here for you always.” Unconditional love. Homan’s love for Lynnie is also unconditional, precious and longlasting. The lighthouse is symbolically a safe haven for Lynnie and the story begins and ends on this note. “Can you imagine a better day than this?” with freedom from oppression and dollops of love to finish a lovely tale. I leave you with a similar rhetorical question: Can you imagine a better novel to read than this one? ISBN: 978-0099-55838-5

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


SOLTIMES APRIL 2012

Road Test: Honda CR-Z

Travel over three-hundred-and-fifty miles in style, on just 40 litres of petrol, while being environmentally friendly.

photo: www.autoblog.com/media

That’s the offering from Honda with its sleek, aerodynamic Honda CRZ hybrid coupe where the road tax is just £20 a year because of its low emissions. But there’s a drawback, if you want reasonable efficiency, you have to be really light-footed. That said travelling at 50mph for a straight 30-mile stretch still seems to use as much fuel as slowly hauling it up to 70mph over the same distance, according to my interpretation of the digital reading. Hybrids are an interesting phenomenon whereby the engine

charges an electric motor, which kicks in, typically at low speeds. It also assists the engine when climbing hills. Therefore you would think that they were super-efficient. But I am yet to test one that is and sadly the Honda doesn’t surprise me. When travelling uphill efficiency seems to halve, according to the digital reading - despite assistance from the electric motor, which charges while travelling on the flat. As I crawl past filling stations charging an eye-watering £140.9 per litre of unleaded and despair at the

government’s insatiable greed, the CR-Z refuses to return anything more than 45.7mpg, according to the digital read out - far short of the claimed 56mpg. But then I do get a surprise, because a few miles after showing it some fuel, the reading leaps to 65mpg… Baffled once again by technology I resort to a rough bit of arithmetic converting the 40 litre fuel tank into 8.79 gallons and dividing this into the 350 miles travelled, giving an average 39.8mpg. Disappointing particularly when considering that the vast majority of this test is conducted in economy mode with careful use

of the cruise control and six-speed box. There are only a few joyful seconds, literally, in sports mode. For me, the CR-Z should start in economy mode. Forgetful motorists, like me, only remember to engage this function 10 or 15 miles into their journey. This aside, when driving the 1.5-litre petrol coupe, you don’t realise it’s a hybrid and it doesn’t look like one either. On checking the wing mirrors are correctly adjusted, the attractive rear haunches leap out at you. “I don’t know of any other car whose rear looks like a sort of cool dorsal fin,” says a work colleague. There aren’t many, although the Smart coupe and the original Citroen C4 share similar looks but the CRZ is clearly inspired by its predecessor, the CR-X from the ‘90s. She’s right though, it does have a particularly striking, wind cheating design. The engine bursts into life by turning the key in the ignition, pressing the clutch and pushing the start button to the left of the steering wheel. It took me a while to realise this as usually there’s either one or the other but never normally a key and a button as you can see from the video at testdrives.

biz. Hard ride and excellent handling coupled with its low-to-the-ground design makes it a fun car to drive, even at low speeds, much like a go-kart. If fuel costs are pushed to the back of your mind, this is a thoroughly enjoyable car to drive; sports mode really making it urgent and responsive. But I’m not a great fan of the bar over the rear window because it hinders the vision, although a necessary part of the design. A wiper on the rear window would be beneficial as the heating element takes a while to warm up and clear a dew covered screen. There’s really only room for two in this car with the rear seats not being of an adequate size for rear passengers. The boot is reasonable. I recommend that the rear seats are removed and the boot is enlarged. Equipment includes air conditioning and electric windows and, as in the Civic and CR-V, there’s

37

a traditional handbrake, which I like, as well as the electrically folding wing mirrors. Parkers, the car experts, say: “Honda’s brief was simple. Create the world’s first fun-to-drive hybrid. The Honda CR-Z is the result and, if successful, it could be the perfect car for enthusiasts with a conscience.” Definitely a fun alternative to traditional hybrids the CR-Z is the ideal city car. If the fuel tank was increased to 50litres and it was coupled to a clean diesel engine, this coupe would become a worthy and fun long distance companion, too

specification

£17,400 - £23,080 Economy: 45mpg 0-60mph: 9.6secs Top speed: 124mph Power: 122bhp CO2 emissions: 117 g/km Road tax: £20 Watch the video at: www.testdrives.biz

Advanced motorist Tim Saunders is the former Business and Motoring Editor of the Bournemouth Daily Echo. His regular test reports appear in numerous newspapers, magazines and websites throughout the UK, Ireland & Gibraltar - and now here in Spain! For more information contact Tim on: timasaunders@tiscali.co.uk

Ford’s three-cylinder future

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www.rancholuzdelsol.com Tel: 678 838 547 Clever 1.0-litre EcoBoost engine is set to go large and go global Ford’s 1.0-litre, turbocharged three-cylinder EcoBoost engine could expand up to 1.5-litres in size with power in excess of 200bhp, and feature in cars as large as the S-MAX and Galaxy in the next few years. Speaking to Auto Express as Ford was awarded the Dewar Trophy by the Royal Automobile Club for outstanding British technical achievement, Ford’s head of petrol engine development Andrew Fraser said: “We have a maximum capacity per cylinder of 500cc, so a 1.5-litre engine is certainly possible. “In growing markets there are incentives for certain sizes of engines, so in Brazil they want a 1.0-litre engine, in India it’s 1.2 and in China it’s 1.5 – the EcoBoost engine could be all of those.” According to Fraser, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost has hit a high of 220bhp while testing, and ran at 202bhp in a Formula Ford road-legal race car around the Nurburgring racetrack in Germany.

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However, Ford is happy with the engine’s current road car application where its highest output is 123bhp.

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38

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

SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

sport

Forum Golf Society................. Valle Del Este Golf Society

Compiled by AFM

sport shorts

On November 2nd Forum Golf Society played their fifth different top quality course in four weeks, with a stableford at Alboran following events at Aguilon, Desert Springs, La Peraleja and Hacienda Riquelme. Fittingly, the day´s winner was one of those that played at all five venues, so congratulations to a well – travelled Anne Lawrence, our winner with 38 points. Phil Elam (2nd( and Terry Moore (3rd) both scored 35 points, with Geoff Hebb (34 points) fourth, Adrian Lawrence (33 points) fifth & Fran Elam (33 points) sixth. Nearest the pin prizes went to Lee Coxon (within inches

• Last weekend, Manchester United beat Arsenal 2-1 to top the PL for the first time this season and Steven Gerrard made his 600th Liverpool appearance (1-1 v. Newcastle). • FAC 1st round shocks saw Chelmsford beat Colchester, Harrogate win at Torquay, Hereford oust Shrewsbury and Macclesfield knock out Swindon. • In this week’s Champions League, Manchester City-Ajax, Real Madrid-Dortmund & SchalkeArsenal played last night; Braga-Manchester United, Celtic-Barcelona & Chelsea-Shakhtar do battle tonight. • Tomorrow’s Europa League, it’s AnzhiLiverpool, Brugge-Newcastle and SpursMaribor. • Last week Arsenal, 4-0 down after 37 minutes, won 7-5 at Reading - the greatest comeback in League Cup history. • The League Cup ¼ final draw is BradfordArsenal, Leeds-Chelsea, Norwich-Villa & Swansea- Middlesbrough. Ties to be played on 11/12 December. • Henning Berg, Dougie Freedman, Ian Holloway & Mick McCarthy are the new managers of Blackburn, Bolton, Crystal Palace & Ipswich respectively. • It was Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) first, Fernando Alonso second and Sebastian Vettel third in Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Vettel, who started from the pit lane, leads Alonso by 10 points with two races left, in USA & Brazil. • Spain’s Jorge Lorenzo is the 2012 MotorGP world champion. • England’s Judd Trump is the world’s topranked snooker player. • Spain’s David Ferrer beat Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz in the Paris Masters Tennis final. • Surrey have signed South African batsman Graeme Smith who has captained the Proteas a record 94 times. • The weekend sees the first Rugby Union internationals of 2012-13: England-Fiji, Scotland-New Zealand, Wales-Argentina & Ireland-South Africa. • Harlequins, Saracens & Leicester lie 1-2-3 in Rugby’s Aviva PL. • The RUFC will invest £26m at grassroots level to capitalise on predicted interest ahead of the 2015 World Cup in England. • England beat France 44-6 in Rugby League’s Autumn tournament. The two countries meet again in Saturday’s final. • Kauto Star and Frankel, the UK’s greatest ever racehorses, over the jumps and the flat, have been retired.

Wednesday 31st October saw Badgers Golf Society visit Valle de Est golf for their weekly competition. With the course in great condition and blue sky’s , good scores were expected, but in the end it was a

with beachcomber john Boat Fishing. I went out with ‘Orca Steve’ and was joined by ‘Kayak Steve’, we started by trolling out of the harbour and at the entrance I landed an ‘Atlantic little tuna’ aka skipjack and Bacoreta in Spanish. It was joined on the trace by a Spanish mackerel. Great day trolling, thought I wrongly, that was it for the next three hours. We did try the holes in front of the harbour wall without much success. During another go at trolling we spoke with ‘Captain Cuba’ on the radio, he was out

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score of 37pts from George Crichton that won from in 2nd John Conely with 35pts on countback, and in 3rd Phil Fellows with 35pts. There was only two 2’s , Paul Adams and Jim Tierney and nearest the pins from

angling news

another 31 husband Mike Picken. He will never live it down. Ball sweep winner John Geaves, Dates for your diary. We are playing the green jacket competition over the usual 2 days at Alboran and La Envia you have to book now if you wish to join the 30 other golfers who will enjoy this two day competition Enjoy your golf at Cortijo Grande visitors and guests welcome MP

SOL TIMES COSTA ALMERIA

Tuesday 30th And While Some Of The Society Were Playing In Our Annual Away Trip The Remainder Played At Home And The Result Was A Win For John Clements, Dick And Sue Hull, And Ken Hadle With The Best 3 Cards From 4 Counting. Friday 2nd Nov And Our Monthly Medal Comp Which Was Won With An Excellent Round Of Golf. In First Place Alan Hewitt Gross Score 75 (Hcp 7) Nett 68 2nd Place Byran Brown Gross 89 (Hcp 16) Nett 73 3rd Place John Haydon Gross 88 (Hcp 15) Nett 73 Nearest The Pins Were Dick Hull & John Haydon Weel Done To Everyone,

And Welcome To Your New Hcp Alan Hewitt Now Off 6. This Week We Have A Very Special Event Which Takes Place On Sat 10th It Is Our Annual Charity Event In Aid Of Asprodalba Which Everyone Is Proud To Be Part Of. We Still Have A Few Places Left If Any Indivual Or Team Wish To Take Part, This Is Very Good Value For A Round Of Golf + Paella And Drink 30 Euros + 5 Euros Donation To The Charity. Phone Alan Townsend 634 379 887 Enjoy Your Golf At Valle Del Este.

Badgers Golf Society............................................................................

cortijo grande.......................... The competition at Cortijo Grande on Wednesday 31st October 2102 and our winner with 35 points Chris Astheimer second with 34 points our Captain John Park and third with another 34 Brian Harwood. No Ball sweep winners. Sunday 4th November and what a windy day we had. The scores reflected the conditions. Our winner with 34 points Bob Winter second with 31 Sheila Picken and third on countback with

of a hole in one!), Adrian Lawrence, Pat Garrigan & John Holder, with Steve Crees taking the longest drive prize. Forum´s upcoming fixtures are November 16th Team One Two Three Cha Cha Cha at Aguilon November 24th Celebration Night at The Meson, Arboleas November 30th Double Par Medal at Lorca December 14th Stableford at Desert Springs For further information, contact Phil Elam on 666 847840 / philjelam@ yahoo.co.uk, or see www. forumgolfsociety.webs.com

POSTAL ADDRESS: MATTHEWS MEDIA S.L. APDO. 242, 04800, ALBOX, ALMERIA

with ‘Farmer Rory’, ‘Kenolo’ and a couple of other mates, ‘Geoff the Hat’ and ‘Morrie Ell’. They were drifting over hard ground in shallow-ish water between the River Abajo and the Repsol garage and catching a few trigger fish and lots of weavers. One of the guys lost a real big trigger on the surface that Brian estimated to be 5lbs. It bit through the hook as they do! Anyway that was good enough for us and we trolled to their position and took over as Brian and his crew went back in for a coffee (Or three). We caught one trigger each over the next hour or so and it was a good finish to our day. O. Steve took the ‘Albox Sea Fishing Club’ out for a half day, the group consisting of ‘Squiddly Sid’, ‘Dennis the menace’, ‘Conger David’ and ‘Broken

Jim Tierney, Paul Adams, John Conely and the Badger himself Keith Bradley. Next game will be on Wednesday 7th November at Maceanas Golf Badgers will be back at Valle de Este on Wednesday

14th November and meet

rod John’. They fished the area where Steve had some success the previous day with me and ‘Kayak Steve’, drifting from 35ft to 80ft. The Trigger fish were not to be found but they caught a good variety of small fish including bogues, pandoras, weavers, cleaver wrasse, Spanish mackerel and Sid also got a striped bream and a small red snapper. The fish seem to be in the shallows at the moment and although the catch is of small fish there is always a chance of that trigger fish, so worth persevering. Shore Fishing. The Albox fishing club fished off the Repsol garage, seven fishermen and 14 rods. ‘Always laughing Tony’, ‘Dizzy John’, ‘Stay behind Brian’, ‘Mark the Spark’, ‘Tony with the trophy’, ‘Dennis the Menace’ and ‘Squiddly Sid’. Dennis - one wide eyed flounder. ‘Laughing Tony’ - two dorada bream. John - two dorada bream and one palomete. Mark - five fish - one wrasse, one bogue, two bream and one palomete. Sid – six fish – one wrasse, 1 palomete and four small dorada bream. Brian - 0 Tony - 0 All small fish and nothing for the pot. ‘London Bill’ has been catching small sea bass and palometes while spinning at Garrucha. ‘Kenolo’ took his eight year old nephew fishing to the rocks at Pozo, they were getting a bite every cast but only caught about 6 fish including some nice size

striped bream. Ken said “We will have one more fish and go”. He caught the bottom and after much pulling, up come an Octopus, he had to steer it from the rocks to the beach, about 50 yards and it clasped onto several rocks on the way but he got him in. See photo of Ken and his octopus. Coarse Fishing. ‘Baza Barry’ told me Negratin’s water level is dropping fast, as we might expect at this time of year. He didn’t catch anything of any size but had about 20 carp for six hours fishing. Two Murcia matches produced top weights of 18lbs and 30lbs including a 14lb barbel from Lake Blanca. The Albox fishing club meets every two weeks or so at Bar Wassy. For details of the next meeting tel Sid 634 313 650. I’m pleased to report the Beachcomber’s three web cams are working again and the other good news is they work on both 32 and 64 bit systems and on any browser so checkout Mojacar’s weather and Mediterranean Sea conditions here. www. beachcombermojacar.com/ beachcomber-webcam/ For further information on any of the above or to find out about beach, boat or coarse fishing licenses, see John at the Beachcomber Bar Restaurant on Mojacar Playa or tel 950 473 099. In case of difficulty reaching me (Probably out fishing) ask staff for my mobile number. Tight lines, John.

every Wednesday, guests are

welcome

book either Restaurant

and

can

at Badgers on

Mojacar

Playa or on 950478525


www.soltimes.com

SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

Badgers Golf Society................................. ALBOX DARTS.... Wednesday 31st October saw Badgers Golf Society visit Valle de Est golf for their weekly competition.

Jim Tierney and nearest the pins from Jim Tierney, Paul Adams, John Conely and the Badger himself Keith Bradley.

With the course in great condition and blue sky’s , good scores were expected, but in the end it was a score of 37pts from George Crichton that won from in 2nd John Conely with 35pts on countback, and in 3rd Phil Fellows with 35pts.

Next game will be on Wednesday 7th November at Maceanas Golf

There was only two 2’s , Paul Adams and

Badgers will be back at Valle de Este on Wednesday 14th November and meet every Wednesday, guests are welcome and can book either at Badgers Restaurant on Mojacar Playa or on 950478525

19th Hole Golf Society. Cucador.................. A depleted number of faithful 19th Hollers visited the far of course of Alboran on Tuesday 30th October. However the few had a good day within spite of some not very impressive scores being recorded! Top of the card this week was Mark Danson, playing off 3 Mark managed to win the day by one point scoring 32 points, and snatching Nearest The Pin on the 17th. Lee Coxon playing off 10, scored 31 points to secure runner up position. Dell(Boy)Kratzke had a very good day, playing off 28 he recorded 30 points, after scoring 20 points on the front 9, securing 3rd place(on count back), well done Dell. Brian (Dee) Lowden is still struggling to make his clubs do as they are told, but he is persevering with the stern chats he gives them, Brian finished in 4th place on 30 points, and managed to convert his Nearest the Pin on the 12th hole into a Two. But performances of the day goes to the Dows, for the first time anywhere in the world both Christine and Pete managed to get their same ball round the whole 18 holes. Well done both of you. A cruel member suggested you never hit the ball far enough to lose it, but I know that not to be true!!. Lets hope this form stays with

you as you will find it a relatively inexpensive game if you only use one ball per round. Our thanks to Terry Caddick for stepping in at the last moment and organizing the society, on the day, following the unfortunate absence of the usual organizers.

Results:

1st Mark Danson 32 points (03) 2nd Lee Coxon 31 points (10) 3rd Dell Kratzke 30 points (28) Twos; Brian(Dee)Lowden 12th Hole. Nearest The Pin: 12th Hole Brian(Dee) Lowden 17th Hole Mark Danson. 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 610 340 653 or email gs19thhole@hotmail.co.uk

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso says he will fight to the end in title bid

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso says he still believes he can win the title despite trailing Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel going into the final two races, according to a report by BBC Sport. Alonso gained only three points on Vettel in Abu Dhabi. The Red Bull driver started from the pit lane to finish third, one place behind Alonso. “I’m confident,” said the Spaniard - 10 points adrift of Vettel with 50 still available. “We will fight to the end. “We are not fast enough, this is true and we know this.” After a topsy-turvy season, Red Bull have moved their car on to another performance level since the Singapore Grand Prix at the end of September. Before Abu Dhabi, Vettel won consecutive races in Singapore, Japan, Korea and India, and the Red Bull was the fastest car again in the race in Abu Dhabi. Vettel started from the pit lane after being excluded from qualifying because there was not enough fuel in his car for the requisite one-litre sample. The Ferrari, meanwhile, continues to struggle for pace in qualifying and while it is more competitive in the race it is still not as fast as the Red Bull. Alonso said: “It’s a weak point, the performance that we have at the moment in our package, but we have some strong points which we will try to use.” After India, the Spaniard said he was “100% confident” of winning the title, a position from which he rowed back a little after Abu Dhabi. “We have two important races. We will try to finish in front of Sebastian,” he said. “We know that maybe with pure pace we cannot do it; we need to use other points.” Alonso believes Ferrari have the best team in terms of strategy and operation and he is

Results for Knock-out cup Round 1 Played Tuesday 30th Oct La Cinta 2 3 v 4 Corner Bar Carrillos Bar 3 v 4 El Cordobes Bar El Flax 4 v 3 El Local Cafe-Bar Oasis 5 v 2 Trinidad The Travellers 2 v 5 La Cinta 1 Bar Flora 3 v 4 Pablos Catalan 4 v 3 El Molino Regards Andy Martin Secretary to Albox & District Darts League Mobile 622905951 For On-line results see www. alboxinfo.com/albox-darts.php

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hoping this will give him an advantage.

Ferrari took some upgrades to Abu Dhabi and although they did not allow the team to compete at the front in qualifying, Alonso said he believed they had improved the car. “It helped for sure,” he said, “because when we tested it on Friday, they gave us some performance but we are talking very few hundredths of advantage. “When you have a gap to close that is a couple of tenths, when you bring hundredths and your opponents bring also some new parts, I think more or less you are in the same position. “So, we need to keep working and in Maranello they work day and night very hard to bring new parts. Here in the track, mechanics work 24 hours and we are doing our maximum and hopefully it will be enough.” Vettel said: “We have a very good car at the moment, the team is switched on and sharp, everyone is enjoying the moment. “I am looking forward to the next races, we have a fantastic chance. It is up to us.” Red Bull team boss Christian Horner revealed that Vettel always believed he could finish on the podium in Abu Dhabi. “Sebastian is just going about his job, he is mentally incredibly strong,” Horner said. “I went to see Sebastian before the race and he was in his room playing a drum kit with his trainer and he said: ‘I’ll see you on the podium.’” Horner added: “We know how consistent Fernando has been this year. It was entirely predictable that starting sixth he was going to be on the podium. “I had already mentally got an image of Fernando taking between 15 and 25 points out of us, so to limit that to only three and finish behind him is a remarkable recovery and a great drive by Sebastian.”

39

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40 SOLTIMES NOVEMBER 2012

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

carnival paramty 11 november 11.11 come and enjoy... th

Open 12noon till late wed - Mon (closed Tuesday) Avenida Playa Serena 224, 04740 Roquetas de Mar, Almeria 617 051 947

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pool table

darts board

The original Sunday roast Tapas and still the best roast in town. Homemade yorkies, roast potatoes, fresh vegetables. All meats carved to order. Sunday lunch from €3.50

Christmas day fully booked

Few places available for New Years Eve

every tuesday evening authentic curry night

all curries individually cooked

2 courses from 7€

lunchtime & early evening menu €3.95 (from 12.30pm - 3pm & 7pm - 8.30pm)

including homemade battered haddock, bbq spare ribs, large prawns platter in lemon & garlic, home made cheese & tomato tortilla pizza

C/Sierra Nevada, 23, Roquetas de Mar tel: 950 333 771 or 634 526 508 reservations RecommendeD

Open: 12.30pm - 4pm,7pm - Close. Closed Thursdays. Sunday 12.30pm - 5pm (food served from 1pm)

HELP FOR HEROES

final total for 2012

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thank you to everyone who supported the charity

Bingo Monday 8.30pm

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opening hours: Monday, Tuesday Wednesday Friday 11am - 3pm and 6.30pm - late Saturday 11am - late. Sunday 12 noon - 7pm. Closed Thursday.

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Freshly prepared tapas served daily

Calle Sierra Nevada 21, Roquetas De Mar Tel: 666 717 742

trip advisor

Bar Spinnaker

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Yvonne, Dave & John Welcome you to

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Tubo and Tapa €2

www.barspinnaker.co.uk

Sunday Lunch 1pm - 6pm from €4.50

Wednesday Special

Tuesday

Bingo 3pm Fillet Steak, chips or jacket pot & salad 7.50€ (with starter or dessert 10€) Quiz 9pm

Friday

Fish, chips & peas with bread & butter 5€

Saturday Curry

Onion Bhajee, Chicken Curry, Naan bread €7.50

From Monday 8th October opening times: Mon-Wed 10.30am till late, Thurs closed Fri-Sat 10.30am till late, Sun 10.30am till 7.30pm

ALL SPORTS AND SOAPS SHOWN

CHAPLINS pub

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HOMEMADE FOOD DAILY from 3€ WEDNESDAY RIBS 5.95€ FRIDAY FISH’N’CHIPS 3.95€ BEST IN TOWN SUNDAY sunday roasts 5.95€ regular, 2.95€ meduim, served 5pm - 8pm

• Mon 5th & Tues 6th : closed • Wed 7th : 5pm - late • thurs 8th : 5pm - late • fri 9th : 5pm - late (Quiz) • sat 10th & Sun 11th : 1pm - late • Mon 12th & Tues 13th :closed • Wed 14th : 5pm - late • thurs 15th : 5pm - late • fri 16th : open from 1pm Booking Advisable for fish & chips ETC Wed, Fri & sun

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welcomed by Bernard & Ralf

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Lady Lay


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