issue 382
ROQUETAS & ALMERIMAR
10-16 APRIL
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• Mediation Talks Begin Between Refuse Workers Union And The Mayor • Discord Rumbles On Over Rambla Renovation Work
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• The Parks Department Is Continuing To Make Year Round Cut Backs
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• Almerimar Marina Reports Successful Easter Holiday Trade martin shortland Reports
page 30
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Homeowners Associations unite to press for changes to Planning Laws AUAN press release 7th april 2013
Almería............................................
The Delegada del Gobierno en Andalucía, Carmen Crespo, will hold a meeting with agricultural organisations to tackle the problem of thefts in the area. She said that crime is down about 3% in Andalucia but acknowledged that there is a problem with robberies in second homes, garages and in the countryside. The meeting will address such matters as the amount of time spent at a police station by victims reporting petty crimes, and means by which this could be reduced to encourage the reporting of small thefts. Another point will be the investigation of how stolen goods are disposed of by the thieves. A suggestion is that the police presence should be strengthened in Almería Poniente, where there had been several thefts from cortijos.
Albox.................................................
The Asociación de Personas con Discapacidad ‘El Saliente’, who manage the the Residencia y Unidad de Estancia Diurna para Personas con Discapacidad Física Gravemente Afectadas ‘Francisco Pérez Miras’, (Residence and Day Care Unit for People with Severe Physical Impairment ‘Francisco Perez Miras’) in Albox, has engaged the construction company Jarquil to improve the swimming pool in the courtyard of the residence so that the facilities may be used for recreation, and not only by residents. In early 2012 the doors were opened on this new social resource in the Comarca del Almanzora, which also houses the Residencia y una Unidad de Estancia Diurna,(Residence and Day Care Unit) as well as the Centro Ocupacional ‘El Saliente’ (Occupational Therapy Centre El Saliente). Thanks to the works by Jarquil in these facilities are now able to provide recreational, rehabilitative and therapeutic treatments, in order to achieve both physical and psychological improvements for those who need them. The therapy area has the necessary equipment adapted with several showers and a swimming pool, and therapeutic treatments, with the help of the physiotherapist, as well as leisure and rehabilitation, can be offered with all the consequent positive benefits of aquatic therapies to this group of severely disabled people. Hydrotherapy is a therapeutic adjunct in the treatment of
Homeowners groups representing some 80,000 families affected by planning issues throughout Andalucía met in Cordoba on the 6th April. After an intensive exchange of views and problems the representatives of both Spanish and foreign homeowners associations from Córdoba , Málaga, Sevilla, Almería , Jaén y Cádiz agreed to form a confederation of associations in Andalucia provisionally called “La confederación Andaluza para la regularización urbanística (“CARU”) or, in English, “the Andalucian Confederation for Planning Regularisation”. The problems discussed ranged from homeowners unable to rebuild houses destroyed by fire in Mijas to flooding, retrospective application of protected land status, revocation of planning permissions, problems with
land division, denial of access to public services etc. CARU emphasises that it is non political and open to dialogue with all institutions and industry groups. The next step is to organise an initial meeting to constitute the confederation, to which other groups will be invited. It was also agreed to set up a working party formed of experts with the objective of analysing and promoting legislative change as well as requesting meetings with the planning spokespersons of the various political parties at a regional level. Francisco León provisional president of the confederation stated: “I have attended many meetings with those affected but I have never seen such unanimity and desire for change and progress”. For more information contact: info@almanzora-au.org or Call Maura Hillen on 661 329 919
people with functional disabilities; it generates significant psychological benefits and contributes to improving the quality of life for severely disabled people.
Vícar..................................................
Officers from the Guardia Civil of Vícar were able to thwart a robbery on an agricultural storehouse and to arrest R.E.O., 33 years old, of Vícar, for attempted burglary. The arrest is part of the Guardia Civil’s plan against thefts in agricultural and livestock facilities, with increased surveillance. The Civil Guard were in the course of regular patrol when they learnt of a robbery at a farm store in El Algarrobo, in the municipality of La Mojonera. The officers made a thorough visual inspection of the warehouse, and found that the lock had been forced, though access had not been gained, as the door was blocked. The officers learnt that the perpetrator, realising the presence of several nearby neighbours, ceased his efforts and fled the scene. Acting on information received the officers were able to place a Volkswagen vehicle at the scene. The officers located a vehicle with similar characteristics in the area, and identified R.E.O. as the owner. After conducting enquiries they were able to collect enough evidence to arrest him for attempted burglary.
Albox.................................................
In a full session the Ayuntamiento of Albox has unanimously approved the creation of a tax to be levied for the use of its landfill by other municipalities. The Alcalde, Rogelio Mena, has maintained that this tax is ‘a matter of historical justice’, pointing out that for 15 years Albox has been accepting waste from 44 municipalities in the province of Almería, which over this period of time has amounted to a quantity of more than one million tons. The tax has been set at a fee of 12 euros per ton, and with the revenue raised the Ayuntamiento aims to ‘correct environmental deficiencies and to fix the deteriorating infrastructure consequent upon the provision of this service.’
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SPAIN’S Under-26’s have stopped looking for work
Over 860,000 young people on the dole say they have simply given up looking for jobs, because they no longer believe they will find one. According to a report by ThinkSpain, research by ASEmpleo says those who were aged 25 and under when they were made redundant between the end of 2007 and late 2012 and have not found work since do not believe they will ever get a job again. The number of people in this age-group who are out of work has gone up by over a third in this five-year period. Cantabria is the region with the most under-26s who lost their jobs and have not worked since in this time, and even in
the Canary Islands with the lowest level of loss of active inhabitants of this age-group, the number has still gone down by 29.5 per cent. In all, 55.1 per cent of 25-year-olds and under who want to, and are able to, work, are unemployed, and nearly half of these – 45.6 per cent – have not worked in over a year. And in 2012 alone, Spain lost 1.33 million workers aged under 26. An average of seven in 10 people of this age are registered as unemployed in the Canary Islands, the region with the worst statistics, and 4.6 in 10 in the Basque Country, the region with the lowest youth jobless figures.
Duchess of Palma to testify over Nóos Institute corruption case
King Juan Carlos’ daughter, the Infanta Cristina is finally thought to have been involved in the infamous Nóos Case surrounding her husband, Iñaki Urdangarín, and will be called to testify in court on April 27 at 10.00hrs. Her summons comes just days after Urdangarín’s former co-director, Diego Torres, sent new emails to the judge in charge of the money-laundering and corruption trial which hinted at the involvement of the Duchess of Palma in the activities of the Nóos Institute, which was set up as a non-profitmaking organisation in order to benefit from public grants but which in fact was anything but. The emails suggest the Infanta Cristina was consulted by her husband over the activities
of the Institute. Sources from the Zarzuela Royal Palace declined to comment on the matter, saying it was not their policy to make statements concerning ‘court decisions’. Initial suspicions about Cristina – who is an ‘Infanta’ rather than a ‘Princess’, like her sister Elena, because she is not an immediate heir to the throne – arose on January 12, 2012 when the national daily newspaper El Mundo published that the Duchess of Palma earned 571,000 euros ion just three years of activity with Aizoon, a company she set up with Urdangarín. But on March 5, 2012, just days after Urdangarín first testified in court in Palma de Mallorca, Judge José Castro ruled out any involvement of the Infanta Cristina.
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Earthquake of 4.3 on the Richter scale in Lorca causes widespread panic
An earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale has terrified residents in Lorca (Murcia) who are still reliving the horrors of a quake reaching 5.6 nearly two years ago. Detected at 04.27hrs yesterday (Thursday), the epicentre of the quake was in the nearby village of La Paca, which comes under the jurisdiction of Lorca, reaching number III on the Intensity scale – around the middle – and 11 kilometres underground. According to the National Geological Institute, the tremor was felt in the whole of the north of Lorca, the city centre itself, and in the nearby towns of Aledo, Totana, Cehegín and Archena, and even just over the border in Almería, the province immediately south of the Murcia Region. The Institute says this was an aftershock of a quake of 2.7 on the Richter scale at around 23.30hrs on Wednesday, at eight kilometres underground, and that a further aftershock of 1.6 on the Richter scale was felt at 05.33hrs with its epicentre just to the north-west of Aledo. Emergency services received a flood of calls and the city council has
posted information on its website as to how to stay safe in the event of an earthquake. So far, no reports of injury or damage to property have been registered. On May 11, 2011, a quake reaching 5.6 on the Richter scale – an aftershock of a much smaller one – destroyed the city, leaving thousands homeless, hundreds injured and nine dead, including an eleven-year-old boy. Earthquakes are a regular feature in Spain, particularly in the Murcia and Almería areas which sit on a fault line, but the majority reach no higher than 2 or 3 on the Richter scale. At this level, most people feel the ground move suddenly and occasionally suffer a crack in a window or ornaments falling off a shelf, but the intensity of vibrations is little more than a heavy lorry driving past. In March 2006, a quake of 4.5 on the Richter scale in Casas Bajas, a village of 200 inhabitants in the province of Valencia on the Teruel border, caused tiles to fall off roofs and panic to break out among residents, but no injuries or real property damage occurred. And in summer 2011, over 8,000
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earthquakes were registered in El Hierro, one of the Canary Islands, caused by an underwater volcano erupting. Volcanic activity has reawakened on the island and at least 2,000 quakes have been recorded in less than a week, although none over 4.6 on the Richter scale and most of such low intensity that inhabitants would not have felt them. Neither in summer 2011 nor in the past
week have authorities been concerned for inhabitants’ safety, with the worst of the damage being rockfalls in a tunnel near the village of La Restinga, largely due to the epicentre being between 12 and 20 kilometres below ground. In the case of the devastating Lorca earthquake two years ago, the epicentre was only a kilometre below the surface, which heightened its intensity.
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SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
Body Found In Sea Off Iberia agrees to an alternative to major job massacre Torrevieja Beach
The body of a man was found floating off the coast of Torrevieja (Alicante) by rescue services last Tuesday. Various walkers called 112 when they saw what looked like a corpse in the sea at around 19.30hrs last night in an area of rockpools just off one of the beaches in the popular holiday resort town.
Sport
Coastguard workers, who managed to bring the body ashore, say the man was too far gone to be able to save him and was thought to have died long before they got there. The cause of death is as yet unknown, but a post-mortem is due to be carried out. They have not given the victim’s name or revealed his nationality, since he has not been formally identified, so it is not known whether he is a tourist or local resident. Emergency services say the deceased is around 52 years of age.
Village Evacuated Due To Floods
Torrential rain sweep across Andalucía and high winds hit the Canary Islands with a vengeance last week, whilst an entire town in the province of Badajoz ws been evacuated due to flooding. Cádiz, Sevilla and Huelva provinces were all on ‘yellow alert’, denoting risk of floods and storms. At least 659 people had to be evacuated from Barbaño, a hamlet belonging to the town of Montijo (Badajoz) due to a very real threat of floods. They were taken in a fleet of 12 coaches to Montijo sports centre where they spent the night. Ambulances were on standby and the Red Cross is attending to residents’ basic needs, supplying food parcels and toiletries. The river Guadiana runs through the province of Badajoz, & had already caused extensive flooding after bursting its banks.
IBERIA plans to retire off a number of its cabin crew early by paying them 2,761 euros a month until age 60. Voluntary redundancies and a maximum number of jobs axed per year are other measures on the cards to help soften the blow of the Spanish airline’s restructure, which has led to numerous strikes in the past year and multi-million losses. They have agreed with unions to stagger redundancies until 2015 and to give priority to those who can be retired early and those who agree to leave voluntarily with a severance pay. In total, 2,256 ground staff and 627 cabin crew and pilots will be affected. If the process goes smoothly, IAG, the holding company of Iberia and British Airways, with which it merged in recent years, will agree to increase the capacity of the Spanish side of the firm, including
providing a Boeing 787 to add to the fleet.
Ground staff will be retired early from age 58 and cabin crew and pilots from 55, with the company guaranteeing a monthly income for each of 2,761 euros a month by topping up their dole money if they are entitled to it or paying them in full if they are not, until the age of 60. At this point, they will get 80 per cent of this figure, unless they are then able to claim their State pension. Relocation agreements are also being considered for those staff members who are willing to move to another part of the country or abroad. Whilst the unions for most of the staff are in agreement with the proposals, Iberia pilots are the exception and have threatened further strike action.
applications soar for Australia’s ‘best jobs’
More than 70,000 people from the UK have applied for six dream holiday jobs in Australia.
Tourism bosses say that figure could climb another couple of thousand before applications close next Wednesday for the temporary posts which are being advertised as the ‘best jobs in the world’. Among the roles on offer are a park ranger in Queensland, a wildlife caretaker in South Australia and a ‘lifestyle photographer’ in Melbourne. Other roles up for grabs include an Outback adventurer in the Northern Territory, The job description involves getting ‘up close and personal’ with the wildlife, sleeping under the stars in a bush camp and soaring across ‘postcard-worthy’ landscapes in a hot air balloon. Meanwhile others have applied to become a ‘taste master’ in Western Australia, which involves visiting the state’s many restaurants, pubs and vineyards; and a ‘chief funster’ in New South Wales who will live in Sydney and review festivals and events. The jobs, which start on August 1, last six months and receive a package of around £67,000, including a salary of £35,000. Each winner is expected to take on a promotional and PR role for each state.
As a company we have over 25 years of experience in the Financial Services Industry and have been doing pension transfers since inception in April 2006. We are now in a position to offer ex-pats our services due to a new product launch. We understand that times are tough and that people need cash NOW to sort out their personal lives. We are told every time we speak clients “I would rather have my money now rather than wait until I retire” we completely sympathise and understand your feelings. We now have several options to help our clients release money NOW from the pension fund. It is a very simple process and takes only a short time to release your cash. No matter how small or large your pension fund is even the smallest amount of money could help in these difficult times.
With youth unemployment at 20.8 per cent among those aged 16 to 24 in Britain, the prospect of earning £34,000 for six months’ work has attracted a surge of applications. A spokeswoman for Tourism Australia in London said: ‘The response has been phenomenal. Maybe it’s been the cold weather we’ve been having but the number of applications has been unbelievable.’ In total Tourism Australia says it has received 515,308 applications from across the globe, including 76,658 applications from the UK. Some people apply for one job while others apply for more. After applications close next Wednesday, the huge number will be shortlisted to 150 within two weeks. The 18 finalists, who will be announced on May 15, will be flown out free-of-charge to Australia in mid-June for six days of interviews. The six winners will be revealed on June 21. The spokeswoman added: ‘We’ve had applications from nearly every country in the world, but Britain has the highest proportion. Of the total, 76,658 applications have come from Brits looking to escape the uncertain job market here. This is more than from any other country - not surprising when you consider youth unemployment figures, the cold weather in the UK, and the appeal of Australia’s incredible experiences.’ The job competition follows Tourism Australia’s successful campaign in 2009 to find a caretaker for Hamilton Island off the Great Barrier Reef won by Briton Ben Southall. He beat more than 34,000 applicants from 200 countries to spend six months snorkelling, swimming, feeding the fish and cleaning the pool at a three-bedroom luxury villa, as well as publicity duties such as blogging, compiling web diaries and videos. (Article Courtesy of www.mailonline.co.uk)
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SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
Spain And Cyprus Will Be The Only Two Eu Member States In Recession By 2014
Spain and Cyprus are the only EU countries currently in recession, according to British bank HSBC. In 2012, Spain’s GNP suffered a fall of 1.4 per cent and economic activity is expected to drop further this year, by another 1.9 per cent – and even next year is not looking good with a predicted GNP reduction of 0.2 per cent despite over-optimistic claims to the contrary by the Spanish government. Spain seems to believe that in 2013, the GNP will only fall by 0.5 per cent and next year will grow by 1.2 per cent. And president Mariano Rajoy claims that by next year, the country will start to create employment again. This means that along with the recently-bailed out Cyprus, Spain is likely to be the only country which continues to be in recession by 2014, claims a report by HSBC.
Harsh austerity measures have hit public funding, consumer spending and demand in the market in Spain hard, leading to economic decline of up to seven per cent lower than its maximum growth seen in 2008, the bank claims. “The [Spanish] government assumes that the pace of its cutbacks will relax in 2013 and will be reversed in 2014, but we are more pessimistic in our expectations,” the report states. According to the British bank, Spain will reduce its deficit to 5.5 per cent of the GNP this year and to up to 4.5 per cent next year, but says this will be difficult given that it depends entirely on public spending cuts. And it is far less optimistic than Spain about employment creation – the HSBC believes the jobless rate will rise to 27.2 per cent this year and to 27.4 per cent in 2014.
Mortgage repossession protesters stage flash-mob siege
At least 200 protesters gathered outside what they believed to be the home of government vice-president Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría yesterday chanting and calling for mortgage laws to be changed and more protection against repossession. According to a report by ThinkSpain, they targeted a property near the Plaza de Manuel Becerra in Madrid’s upmarket Salamanca district and also left an envelope addressed to the vice-president filled with fake 500euro notes, alluding to the recent scandal in which former PP treasurer Luis Bárcenas is alleged to have paid top-flight party members, including the president, cash-in-hand extra wages over a period of 10 years. The crowd included Jorge Verstrynge former secretary-general of the Alianza Popular (‘popular alliance’), as the PP used to be known. When quizzed over his involvement in what is technically an illegal practice, Verstrynge said that if, during his time as a political leader, he had suffered a similar ganging-up from a flash mob outside his house, he would have ‘understood’. “If I had behaved badly as a politician, I would have fully understood being targeted in this way,” Verstrynge stated. “The whole point of politicians is that they are there to serve the public – and when they fail in this duty of service, they have to bear the consequences. Over 40 per cent of the population of Spain suffers from high blood “I don’t dislike Soraya (Sáenz de Santamaría), I think pressure, or an estimated 14 million people, medics say. she’s an okay person – but that’s not the point. And around 14 per cent of sufferers have no idea of their condition, so “People want to see the law changed to protect they are unaware that their arterial pressure is potentially causing them their interests and basic rights, that of being allowed dangerous health problems. to have a roof over their heads. A reading of 140 over 90 (140 sistolic and 90 diastolic) is considered “Politicians therefore have to listen to these people ‘high’ and could lead to possible heart problems or strokes. and not just treat them with contempt. According to Dr Nieves Martell, 20 to 30 per cent of cases can be “If they treat them like dogs, they’re going to bite prevented by monitoring blood pressure at home and taking steps to – and right now, they’re only barking.” reduce it, such as eating Omega 3-rich food, cutting down on salt, red This is the latest in a series of demonstrations aimed meat and alcohol, for example. at individual politicians outside their homes, known as And in 15 per cent of cases, minor adjustments to lifestyle could bring escraches. blood-pressure readings down to normal levels without the need for The escrache phenomenon originated mostly medication. in Argentina but also in Paraguay and Chile, where members of society decide A mother has been fined out if there was any justifiable ‘total lack of interest’ in to publicly embarrass, target 1,500 euros for allowing her reason why her daughter was the child receiving proper and photograph politicians for ‘bad behaviour’ or anti-social daughter to bunk off school. not going to school and to education. Education authorities say remind her of her obligation In some cases, parents policies. When a homeowner is unable the 13-year-old only went to to ensure her daughter who allow their children to school for five weeks in the received an education. But continually skive off school to pay his or her mortgage, many first years – and in the second in spite of promises to do can end up losing custody lenders apply clauses which the year, she only attended class so, the mother ignored the and the kids are put into European Union has deemed for four days. warnings. The headmaster of care, but it has not been ‘abusive’ – upping the interest She was at primary school the school in Motril said the revealed whether this may rate to 18 per cent as soon at the time, in the academic accused failed to enrol her happen in the case of the as the first monthly quota is unpaid – and then repossessing years of 2008-2009 and 2009- daughter for the year 2009- Motril schoolgirl. 2010, say social services in 2010, but after contacting Motril (Granada) where the them, managed to get the mother and daughter live. child a place, albeit late. They contacted the mother And the school secretary during the first year to find remarked on the mother’s
high blood pressure concerns
the property when the second or third one is not. A large number of banks are not prepared to negotiate in any way to enable the homeowner to continue to pay a smaller amount, increase the loan term or take a payment holiday until they are able to get a job and resume full payments. And once a house is repossessed, the homeowner is still left with the full debt to pay – less what the house is auctioned for but plus legal fees and commission, which nearly always ends up being the full amount of the loan – despite no longer having a home to show for it. Two major protest groups – Stop Desahucios (‘stop evictions’) and the Plataforma de Afectados de la Hipoteca, or PAH (‘Mortgage Victims’ Association’) are fighting to change the law to allow those homeowners who know they will never get on top of their mortgage payments to simply hand back the keys to the bank and wipe out the loan, and to force lenders to negotiate with homeowners at risk to give them a chance to get back on their feet. They also want to see council housing at a token rent, or none at all if the occupant has no income, provided to those whose homes have been repossessed. Numerous suicides have hit the headlines across Spain in the last six months among homeowners who were facing repossession. They have included both men and women, mainly in their 50s and having been made redundant, although one victim in Alicante was a 36-year-old father of two. Cases in Valladolid, Navarra, the Basque Country, Granada, Mallorca and Valencia have been reported. The majority threw themselves out of a window to kill themselves, although two men – including the young Alicante father – hanged themselves. Both pressure groups, the PAH and Stop Desahucios, have appealed to homeowners in trouble to contact them at the first sign of being unable to pay their mortgage where the lenders are inflexible. They have called for those facing possible repossession ‘not to commit suicide’ but to ‘join them and fight for justice’.
Mum fined 1,500 euros for letting daughter play truant for months
STEVE HAYES INFORMATICA
Serving the local community since 2003
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SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES
take a trip to turre... STOP ‘N’ SHOP IN YOUR...
Super Corner
ENGLISH SUPERMARKET ALL YOUR FAVOURITE BRANDS AND MORE IN ONE SUPERSTORE!!
TURRE, NEXT TO MESON DEL POBRE OPEN MON-SAT 9:30-6PM & SUN 9:30-1:30PM C/Avda de Almeria 17, 04639, Turre, Almeria, Tel: 950 47 96 46
Restaurante pizzeria
Mari Cruz for one week only
special mixed meat BBQ Served With Salad, only Chips or jacket Potato 1 4 € p p
Ask about our special menu
Sunday Paella & mixed salad 12€
Find us on “Pizza Mari Cruz”
Evening special
free Bottle of Cava when ordering 2 courses from the Menu - min 4 people
The Fundraiser Charity & Community Shops
The people’s charity, The Peoples Choice
Run totally by volunteers
Helping the disabled Cancer Research Vera Orphanage We put our hearts Asprodalba into helping and many more
vera shop has now moved to just before the guardia civil & next to the chinese shop
Opposite Super Turre in Turre & Just before the Guardia Civil in Vera Open 6 days a week... times on shop doors Contact 664 620 288
selecciones displaying a great selection of new & used furniture
new in!!! moroccon pots in all sizes we also stock Sportswear supplied direct from the UK
Find us in Turre near the Fundraiser. Open Mon - Sat from 10am
Tel: 634 347 295
K
ash barturre
open Tuesday - Sunday 9am - late • Closed Monday
orts Live music Special p s l l a Find me n nus w us on o h s darts
Large selection of drinks
pool table
karaoke
tel: 950 479 593 or 634 311 163
DONNA’S BOUTIQUE has a fabulous collection of quality & affordable clothing all from the UK, catering for sizes 8 - 28 which are constantly being updated. There are also many accessories to admire inc sparkly costume jewellery, hats, handbags & shoes to name a few, all at excellent prices! Donna’s eye for fashion makes every lady feel good in their outfit & that’s why her customers come back time after time! If you cannot go to the shop the shop will come to you! Private parties are catered for, minimum 10 persons! Donna has a face book page which keeps everyone updated, so type in Donnas Boutique & hit the LIKE button, to see what’s new in! Donna can deliver to you anywhere
Bugs
in Europe!!!! SUPER CORNER has opened earlier this year under the friendly ownership of Simone and Nabil. You can shop for all your British branded supplies whether the food you require is tinned, frozen, packet, or fresh, all at bargain prices. Open everyday. Now selling a selection of wines & chilled soft drinks If your missing all your favourite British foods pop into Super corner & treat your tastebuds. CONNEXIONS has been up and running now for 10 years and is constantly keeping up to date with modern technology. Ken and Gill offer a great service. There is a wide range of laptops, tablets, mobile phones, books as
Mosquito Screens & Blinds
well as art piece . Also in store is the new Android TV box, no satellite dish needed just an internet connection of at least 2mbs. If you need a new TV to cope with the swap over we can help! We still do a full repair & upgrade service. Come and visit their shop for more info and to see it working. MARI CRUZ is situated in Turre high street. It has a lovely outside terrace & roomy indoor area. Specialising in grilled meats & fish cooked on a BBQ. A variety of wine, beers, tapas, homemade pizzas & pastas is available to eat in or take away. There is Lounge for meetings, company dinners, small events & birthdays. Come & buy any pizza to take away and get a free
margarita pizza absolutely free. Special menus of the day are available changing every week and if you fancy something special try the evening menu, 2 courses min 4 people and receive a free bottle of cava. GILLEE’S BAR is the bar to go for all football, English/ Spanish & major sports events. The menu is full of great British classics such as Full English breakfasts, served all day, Atlantic cod is served on Friday’s Fish & chip day eat in or take away and on Sundays a traditional roast dinner is served. Special dishes are served everyday They now cater for private functions & parties call in for more info you will definitely receive a warm welcome from Dave &Tina. telephone:
tyles hair & Beauty
644 496 198 678 992 093
come in for our april offers gents hair pedicures & new micro from €5 manicures hair extensions
• Pull down / Sliding Blinds & replacement windows & doors Screens, Windows & Patios Aluminuim & UPVC fitted • Vertical Blinds & made to measure • Security Grills Supplying & fitting windows • Awnings & doors for 25 years
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ALMERIA/RQ
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SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
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Indian restaurant & tapas bar STYLES has been in Turre for 2 year in April. Thanks to the commitment of Michelle and Wendy, they do their best to offer their clients up-to-date hairdressing & beauty treatments. April has some amazing offers. Now in stock are the new micro hair extensions, the latest new technique to apply hair extensions by using micro ring instead of glue. It also benefits from the light weight & is very easy to use. It is very safe for the natural hair. Tooth gems & hair gems are also available. You won’t be disappointed with any of the treatments they offer. Calling all you men haircuts are now from only 5€ SOLSHADERS has been operating in this area for more than 7 years & is a fully legal Company. Their fantastic range of Awnings (which can protect your terrace from the wind), Insect Screens and Internal Blinds are available in a variety of colours & styles with a sign writing service also available. Justin is committed to giving all his clients 100% satisfaction & offers a free on site quotation without obligation & with his outstanding prices & excellent after sales service you are guaranteed a professional job from start to finish. Give us a call on 627 907 207 / 634 319 882 or Email: solshaders@live. co.uk. FUNDRAISER’s Adene is involved in helping to raise monies for a number of local charities in the local area. They are always welcoming
quality clothes, hangers & plastic bags aswell as books & all household items.The Vera shop has now moved next to the Guardia Civil and the Chinese Shop. KASH BAR has been up and running now for 6 weeks. After a full refurbishment, Ashley welcomes everyone and is anxious to please. Serving all day breakfasts, snacks & special dishes cooked by their Russian chef, there is plenty to choose from. Their wide range of beers, ciders and wine is next to none and you can enjoy sitting on their sunny terrace or watching any of the live football games on one of the HD TV screens. A separate room featuring a pool table is also available as well as a game of darts. Live entertainment & karaoke every week. BUGS has been supplying & fitting windows & doors for 25 years. Pull down / Sliding Blinds & Screens, Windows & Patios, Vertical Blinds,
Security Grills, and Awnings as well as aluminium and UVPC replacement doors and windows, Peter will give you a friendly, speedy response and covers all areas. CHILI BAR AND RESTAURANT situated at the top end of Turre. It boasts a spacious terrace where you can sit in the sun or shade every day serving delicious authentic Indian tapas, Menu del dia at €8.50 /noche at €10, Indian themed pizzas and kebabs and a full range of house and special dishes to sample eating in or Take away. Meet Ali and his friendly team who will always give you a warm welcome. John & Fiona from Price Busters have now moved to Turre. THE BUTCHERS next to the fundraiser is open 6 days a week and specialise in all English cuts of meat including beef, pork, chicken, lamb, cooked meats and homemade
connexions
tel: 950 468 425 www.chiliturre.com open everyday 11am till late Avenida de Almeria 36, 04639 Turre, Almeria
Cafe Sports Bar - Avenida de Almeria 55, Turre, Almeria
all day breakfasts from €3.50
Sunday Roast
2 courses 10€ 1 course €7.50
friday Fish & chips atlantic cod only 7 .50€ private parties & functions are now catered for speak to tina for more info
telephone: 634 309 540 closed Thursday
950 479 502
broadband internet, New wireless internet
service available 4&6mb from €24.95 p/m No landline required Call us for details if you are a part time resident. to find out if your area is covered go to
www.connexionsonline.net
computers ~ laptops Distributor for mobile phones, sales, repairs & unlocking full repair service printers ~ inks area distributor for Photo papers hits sim cards routers ~ monitors Don’t lose your TV channels wireless devices Android TV boxes available internet dongles at low cost No Satellite dish needed
Call into our shop in Turre town square just along from the Cajamar bank
The BUTCHERS Carnicera
Quality English Cuts Especialistas en carnes Ingles
Specialising in English cuts of meat homemade sausages & burgers English Cheese, Bread,Pies, Pasties and much more......
ARRIVING SOON
Oak Cask Wines & fruit & vegetables
Tel: 634 31 26 12
sausages & burgers to name a few. Also on offer is a great selection of baked goods such as pies, Cornish pasties & sausage rolls. Come in and browse and let John & Fiona prepare your perfect cut of meat. Arriving soon Oak Cask Wines and fruit and vegetables SELECCIONES situated next to the butchers has now been opened for nearly 6 months. They sell good quality, good conditioned, new and used furniture as well as selling items on consignment. There onsite man with a van is happy to deliver and collect various items and will make sure they reach you in one piece. New branded sportswear direct from the UK is also available and for something a little bit different come and look at the variety of Moroccan pots, hand painted lamps, leather bags & shoes . You are guaranteed to receive a 1st class excellent service.
Mon - Fri 9.30am - 5.30pm & Saturday 9.30am - 4pm
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Tel: 627 907 207 / 634 319 882 Email: solshaders@live.co.uk Web: www.solshaders.com
10
...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES
SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
Deborah Cubel fisher
“on parle francais”
7 years experience in this area legal & fiscal advice for residents & non-residents Tax Payments and refunds
• Wills and Inheritance process • Translations / Interpreter • Purchase / Sale private contracts • NIE’s, Residencia, Medical Cards.... • Land property and Catastro • Vehicle registration / driving registration licenses licenses • Conveyancing / Notorial documents • Mortgages • Taxes (local rates, rubbish collection, vehicle, tax returns for residents and non residents and refund of the capital gains tax)
Special offer !!!
Wills €125 / each Including Notary Fee
Yearly contract €149 Including VAT 21%
• Yearlytax 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
C/ del Mar, 33 - Galeria Alcana Local 11 Vera 04620 (Almeria) Tel: 950 39 06 21 Fax: 950 39 02 12 email: dcasesores@notin.net
ASSSA - your private health insurer in Spain
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Currently, many European citizens are experiencing changes which are bringing the effects of the crisis in Spain much closer to home. Some of you may be losing your entitlement to a SIP card while others of you may still be using your EHIC – European Health Card. This card is only for access to medical state treatment for english residents that are on a temporary stay in Spain and many of the medical centers in the Region of Murcia are now clamping down on the cards use and only treating emergencies. Are you in either situation? Would you consider a reasonably priced private health insurance with ASSSA so that you can visit local, English speaking doctors in Spain? Are you privately insured, but dissatisfied: premium increases; no customer service in your language; your insurance company has radically reduced and changed their services? ASSSA offers you impartial advice and tailor-made solutions with special offers available and special conditions for those transferring in from another private insurer. Personal advice and support even after signing your contract? With our insurance company, this comes as a matter of course. ASSSA has, for over 75 years, offered its customers in Spain excellent private health insurance at an affordable price. For the last 20 Years we have specialized in meeting the private health insurance demands of our European fellow citizens along the Costa. In order to achieve this superior customer service and customer proximity, we have set up a chain of customer service offices along the coast
ASSSA - Experience, Expertise & Customer Service
Our personal service is unique. Our friendly, multi-lingual employees are pleased to inform you of both our achievements and policies without any obligation to purchase. Our philosophy is to answer all client queries fully and with complete honesty. Many of our clients join us on recommendation from existing ones, which is a clear indication of our unique service. After joining ASSSA you are allocated a personal contact that speaks your language and assists with any questions that you may have. Your personal contact will deal directly with you for medical assistance, offering her personal empathy, help and support.
Doctors and Hospitals
We offer our customers an extensive directory of private clinics, GP´s and Specialists working from some of the best private healthcare hospitals. In order to comply with the wishes of our clients, we make contracts with facilities most of whom speak your language or offer a free translation service. For this reason, we have many English speaking medical professionals under contract with ASSSA.
Quality insurance
DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A FUNERAL PLAN ? IS IT A FIXED PRICE ?....
Some companies may charge extra at the time of need
ARE THE SERVICES FULLY GUARANTEED ? .... will you get everything specified in your plan
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CAN YOU TRANSFER THE PLAN IF YOU RELOCATE ?.... does it cover all E.U. countries including U.K.
ARE YOUR FUNDS TOTALLY SAFE ?....
or are they subject to the fluctuations of the stock market like trust funds
ARE YOU COVERED IN SPAIN AND THE U.K. ?....
Insurances generally only cover you in the country of residence We advise people to check terms and conditions fully before choosing a plan provider
WITH A FUNERAL PLAN FROM IBERIAN YOU CAN SAY YES TO ALL OF THE ABOVE QUESTIONS PLUS LOOK AT THESE EXTRA BENEFITS TOTALLY FREE OF IVA/VAT 5 YEARS INTEREST FREE INSTALMENT OPTION PRICES FROM 48.16€ PER MONTH ** THE PRICE YOU SEE IS THE PRICE YOU PAY ** PRICES BASED ON A DEPOSIT OF 500€ FOLLOWED BY 60 MONTHLY PAYMENTS FLEXIBLE PAYMENT OPTIONS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
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We provide flexible levels of health insurance - depending on the cover level and premium best suited to the client’s requirements - from a supplementary insurance (from 44 € a month) to a more fully comprehensive insurance cover (from 80 € a month). During the current economic crisis we are pleased to be able to offer the following discounts until the 30.06.2013, of 12% for the entire contract lifetime at our Summum level; 10% on our Plus or Master level cover; 50% discount for children under 16 insured with parents, plus comfortable monthly payment without surcharge. In addition, we offer dental insurance reduced by up to 20% (from only 68 € per annum).
Insure your health!
The benefits of ASSSA insurance: ASSSA offers a variety of unique, written, contractual guarantees. The age at which you sign your contract is always used as the basis on which to calculate your premiums, i.e. the premium does not increase due to increased age. In addition, ASSSA provides protection against policy cancellation from the first day of insurance. Contracts with ASSSA are of course, in your native language as transparency is important to us.
Visit us for a chat and without any obligation, receive a personal premium calculation. Our employees will be pleased to answer all your questions. Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 09: 30-13: 30, later appointments or home visits by arrangement.
We look forward to your visit! Customer service office: VERA Tel: 950 392 487 Louise Zarb vera@asssa.es
advertising feature
“English spoken”
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SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
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12
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SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
ALMERIMAR & surrounding area
El Ejido Music Festival.... Saved At The Last Minute
what’s on Wednesday
Sol Times Distributed
Thursday
8:30pm - OPEN MIC NIGHT & JAM SESSION - MACGOWANS
Friday
stumble inn - live entertainment 9pm Friday Golf
Saturday
send your events to editor@soltimes.com Up until a few weeks ago, there was growing concern the San Marcos Rock Festival would not happen this year. The local council, who in previous years had supported the event, decided to withdraw their support. The councils backing has always been vital to the event; they provided a venue, promotional help and a certain amount of funding. The organisers, The Sabilon Music Club, have spent most of the year frantically trying to find another venue and finally last week were able to announce the festival will go ahead, thanks to The Cultural and Recreation Society of El Ejido. They have offered their help and will
expat vets
Landline: 958 830 155 Mobile: 603 121 631 24hrs Home visits and surgeries, spaying and castrations, blood tests, x-rays etc. Portable surgery equipment including anesthetics, X-Ray machine and more... Language skills: Spanish, English and French.
Ali Jaouad www.ali-vet.com
RMC European Services SPAIN – UK
UK – SPAIN
National International Freighters & Removals UK Storage Tel 0034 652 885 268 0r 0044 7845782325 Email: richardcummings@mail.com
MacGowan’s Bar & Restaurant
every thursday Guinness, Murphy’s Cider, Heineken, Large Selection of Spirits
8.30pm start
open mic night & jam session
Calle Varadero Almerimar 04711 (Almeria)
Tlf. 950 609 546
provide the venue as well as a certain amount of funding. This will be the ninth year of the festival, but not the first time the organisers have had problems. A number of venue changes and working to a very tight budget have on more than one occasion looked like the end of the festival. But the determination of the dedicated group of organisers has yet again pulled it back from the brink. They now have a lot of work on their hands to get everything in place. Although a few artists have agreed to perform, others are still to be confirmed; among those already booked are Bla Bla Bla, White and Black, DJ Maykel and DJ Monty. The event will open at six o’clock with childrens activities including face painting and workshops and then from eight, a number of dance workshops take place with hip hop and other dance demonstrations. The music will begin at ten and the organisers want to capture the essence of past festivals with a broad variety of acts, from hip hop, rock and electronic. The San Marcos Rock Festival takes place on the 27th April, the entrance price is just two euros. rePORT ABD PHOTOS BY mARTIN sHORTLAND
Friday Golf Society 5 april:
After discussions with a number of the players at the clubhouse we decided to cancel the regular Friday golf this week due to bad weather. It was raining when we were due to start at around 12:30pm and the forecast was for drizzle/rain throughout the afternoon. An ad-hoc competition was organised instead with around 24 of the original 46 players deciding to brave the weather. We are now coming to the end of our main 2012/2013 season with the last Sunday competition having taken place on Sunday 7 April. We will continue with our regular Friday competitions throughout the spring and summer. In addition we will start summer Tuesday competitions towards the end of May. The next big competition scheduled is the Top Banana competition at La Envía on 21 June 2013. The society hopes to defend the trophy that we won for the first time last year. You can see the full results at:
www.fridaygolfsociety.es
If you would like to take part in the friendly Friday competitions at Almerimar you can put your name up on the entry list by the pro-shop or contact info@ fridaygolfsociety.es
Sunday
10am – 1pm: Almerimar Walking Club - Meet at Mercadona SECOND SUNDAY OF THE MONTH ‘RASTRO-MARKET’ IN CAR PARK OPPOSITE LEO’S
Monday
11am – 1pm: Ladies Coffee Morning - Yachting Golf Restaurant 5pm – 7pm: Jeu de Boules - East Beach
Tuesday
Tuesday Golf
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IF YOU WOULD LIKE YOUR WEEKLY EVENTS TO BE PUBLISHED HERE - FREE OF CHARGE SEND THE DETAILS TO EDITOR@SOLTIMES.COM
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almerimar local information keep up to date with what’s happening in Almerimar: www.facebook.com/localinformation
El Ejido Bowls Club
Monday and Thursday - 5pm to 7pm Ring Alison on 677 317 920 to book or for further information
El Ejido Rugby Club
Based in Almerimar, we are always looking for new players and have training sessions starting at 21.30h every Tuesdays and Thursdays. Players of all abilities welcome. The team is very sociable and after have players from beginner to experienced. We are currently in Andalucia Regional Division 2 and just about to start the second phase of the league. Home matches are usually at 12.30 on Sundays at the grass rugby pitch in Almerimar. For more information call Jonathan on 695 635 078
www.soltimes.com
SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
news update Reports & PHOTOS by Martin Shortland
Discord Rumbles On Over Rambla Renovation Work
The two major political parties were at one another’s throats again last week over the rambla de canuela flood channel improvement work. As I reported two weeks ago, the town mayor Gabriel Amat stepped in to break the deadlock which had existed between the local council and the regional council of Andalucia. Neither one had wanted to accept the financial responsibility for the work. It took a demonstration by business owners and residents to pressurise the local authority into action, who agreed to start the work immediately if the regional council would likewise agree to cover half the costs; that agreement was forthcoming and the work began.
The opposition PSOE party launched a stinging attack on the town councils handling of this long running dispute, accusing them of, “not being able to manage the situation which has hurt the citizens and farmers of Roquetas in a serious way”. The ruling party called the remarks nonsense and defended their stance and yet again poured blame on the regional councils ‘head in the sand’ attitude. They claimed it was them who had finally taken the initiative in trying to do something positive in the affair. Earlier in the week at a meeting of farmers whose greenhouses
have been affected by the overflowing water, the regional councillor for agriculture Jose Ortiz said the work currently being carried out on the channel would do little to change the situation, other than improving the access roads which are presently liable to closure through flooding The farmers claim the water is rotting large amounts of crops and fear the damage will cause wholesale losses. Mr. Ortiz called for an immediate review of the councils plans, urging them to install 1,500 metres of piping, taking the water directly out to sea. The farmers spokesman called for an end to the politicising of the dispute being conducted by the council and the opposition party, saying they should be concentrating on bringing an end to the dispute. Both of the roads most badly affected by the constant flow of water were still near impassable last week; another was completely closed in order to allow contractors to carry out repair work. Yet again, it would appear the politicians are getting carried away with party politics and losing sight of the urgent need to take action on a serious problem which has been causing hardship in the community for some considerable time.
The Parks Department Is Cutting Back . . . And Trimming . . . And Pruning The local council parks department readily admits it doesn’t know exactly how many trees there are in the municipality of Roquetas. One person estimates ‘an awful lot’, another, ‘a huge number’, and a third states . . . ‘thousands’! One thing is for sure, we can all speculate, but it’s unlikely we will ever know the true figure. And there are two main types; the decorative ones that line most residential streets and the palm trees, which line all the other streets. However many there are, they all have to be pruned and pruning the trees of Roquetas is a year round job. The decorative ones aren’t just cut back – nothing so simple. They are carefully shaped into perfect circles with a hole in the middle, ending up looking like a very large green polo mint on a stick. The palm trees just have the previous years dead fronds cut off, but it takes just as long because they are taller – requiring a hydraulic lift - and often not easily accessed. Look away now if like me, you’re no good at sums. This may sound like one of those exercises we all had in junior school, because it is. Here we go. If it takes one man one hour to prune a tree and he works eight hours a day, five days a week, how many trees per week will ten men prune? Got it? Yes, just what I said, an awful lot! Those ten men don’t spend all year pruning trees; according to the head of the council parks department Miguel Sanchez, they devote about six months of the year on tree work and the other six months on related gardening jobs. They might prune trees for a fortnight, then move on to gardening work and so on. Again, Mr. Sanchez is unsure of how many plants, shrubs, cacti, hedges, yuccas and small
13
Almerimar Marina Reports Successful Easter Holiday Trade
The marina at Almerimar enjoyed a busy Easter holiday week according to a report from the port managers office. Jose Rodriguez said the occupancy of moored vessels was as much as 80%, a small increase on the same period last year. He pointed out the success of the marina still continues, with some 900 of the 1,000 births occupied. It remains one of the most popular ports along the coast and sets a high standard when compared to other less popular and more expensive marinas. Occupancy of the resorts hotels was around 65% across the week, although for the Easter weekend, this went up to 90%. The Hotel Golf Almerimar was almost fully booked, although this could have been helped by the fact the AR Almerimar Hotel is now closed. Most of the apartment complexes in the resort were full, possibly with people wanting to save money and self cater. The same could not be said for El Ejido, where the hotels reported very bad figures; the best being 30% occupancy at The Don Miguel, but most of the other town centre hotels were no more than 15% full. The local tourist board puts this down to seasonal trends. At this time of year, most people want to stay close to the sea and the sun and enjoy the varied sports and attractions the resort of Almerimar has to offer.
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ornamental trees his team have to attend to, but, yes you’ve guessed, there are an awful lot. It’s not just the gardens and parks, but all the roundabouts, paths, central road dividers and traffic islands; there are plants everywhere and everything has to be cut back, pruned and trimmed at least once a year, sometimes more. Then there’s the grass, miles and miles of it. Most people will think the grass only needs cutting during the winter, because after all, it’s too hot during the summer for anything to grow; it just goes brown and shrivels. Not the case and here, the parks department have made a rod for their own backs. All the grassed areas in the municipality have sprinkler systems to prevent the grass from going brown and shrivelling, which in turn keeps it green and makes it grow, which of course means it has to be mown and strimmed, all year round. Ah, the green, green grass of mown! With the imminent onset of the tourist season, Mr. Sanchez and his men are working flat out to ensure the grass, trees and gardens of Roquetas will look at their very best for all to appreciate. It’s a daunting task, but one which this highly skilled team of gardeners carries out with supreme expertise.
Martin Shortland is a freelance journalist, living in Spain since retiring from a career as a broadcaster, writer and radio journalist. He has worked for the BBC and in commercial radio, most recently as Programme Director and Head of News for large radio group in the South East of England
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Pope Francis has called for “decisive action” in the fight against sex abuse of minors by priests. He told Bishop Gerhard Mueller, head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith - the doctrinal watchdog that deals with sex abuse cases - to ensure perpetrators were punished. It was the Argentine Pope’s first public statement on clerical sex abuse. He was elected last month, replacing Pope Emeritus Benedict, who became the first pope in 600 years to resign. When first elected, Benedict XVI promised to rid his Church of the “filth” of clerical sex abuse, but critics accused him of covering up abuse in the past and failing to protect children from paedophile priests. Victims of sex abuse by clergy have called for a strong response from the new pontiff to the crisis that has rocked the Church. In his remarks on Friday, Pope Francis said combating the crisis, which has mired the Church in scandal from the US, Ireland and Europe to Australia, was important to the credibility of the Church. A Vatican statement said the Pope had urged Bishop Mueller to “act decisively as far as cases of sexual abuse are concerned, promoting, above all, measures to protect minors, help for those who have suffered such violence in the past (and) the necessary procedures against those who are guilty”.
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The Authority of the Orange Clip I was sitting peacefully, covered in a red gown while Bobbie snipped and Maggie made tea and conversation. All was calm, all was bright, until the magic spell was broken by the entry of two Gentlemen of the Law. Armed with the obligatory guns and handcuffs, and brandishing a threatening piece of paper they homed in on Maggie. Maggie is built along the lines of petite, but she stood her ground, like a heroic kitten faced by a pair of hunting hounds. Sensing Maggie’s peril, but with no thought to her own safety, Bobbie abandoned her scissors and rushed to the aid of her compatriot. At least now it was two on two, but the dynamics were still small and harmless women against the King’s armed enforcers, who were insisting on speaking to the establishment’s owner, not at that moment present. Maggie’s heroic kitten had been joined by Bobbie’s valiant puppy, but they were still facing two hunting hounds dressed in green. The whole situation was beginning to resemble a Walt Disney cartoon – all it needed was Bambi to wander in. For some josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk reason the
By Jos Biggs
Upholders of the Law seemed to be unable to understand any part of ‘no aqui’. No matter how many times or in how many different ways Maggie and Bobbie told them, the fact that the person to whom they needed to speak was not there simply didn’t register. The encounter was getting nowhere. Time, I felt, for reinforcements. With my red cape billowing around me I joined the fray, 5ft 7 of implacable authority. The effect was immediate. Silence fell as the eyes of the Law turned towards me. I was the focus of their 100% attention. I am not easily cowed, either by guns, handcuffs or even pieces of paper, so I drew myself up to my full height and fixed them with a steady return gaze. ‘The owner’ I informed them firmly, ‘is not here. You will have to come back later.’ They exchanged a let’s-get-out-of-here look, and I knew I had them bested. Victory was mine. I had mastered the Force. With an apologetic mumble they left. By sheer force of personality I had triumphed. Or could it have been the effect created by the large orange clip holding my hair up in a haystack on the top of my head? Was the triumph due to my authority, or was it due to the Authority of the Orange Clip?
The Weird Ritual of Shopping
I hate shopping. No wait . . I hate shopping with other people. Nope, not right either . . . Ah. I hate shopping with women! When I’m on my own, I can indulge myself if I wish and buy a natty new shirt or another pair of summer slacks (although I know full well there will be consequences later at home). “Not another shirt!” she’ll say or “You have plenty of slacks already.!” I can stop for a coffee and a big wedge of cake when I feel like it
(although I know full well there will be consequences later with my waistline). And when I’m fed up, I can get in the car and go home. Look it’s a scientific fact.... women are hell to shop with.! I spend most of my time being dragged from shoe shop to jeweller to fashion outlet and have you noticed how a woman just has to touch everything even if she has no intention of buying? It’s like a weird kind of ritual. But if I dare look away for just a nano-second, she’s gone. Completely.
Women have this amazing ability to disappear from the face of the earth the minute you turn your back and then you spend the next half hour trying to locate them, because you know as sure as hell they won’t come looking for you. So I go to the end of each aisle and peer down – nothing. I do a complete clockwise circuit of the store but still no sign. Then counter clockwise with the same
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result. I am now giddy, but then lo and behold, with not a care in the world there she is, in more or less the same spot when I last saw her – and what does she say? Where have you been? Where have I been? WHERE HAVE I BEEN? Three times round the bloody shop looking for you, that’s where I’ve been.! But I don’t say it and leave it to ferment in the darker recesses of my mind where I store all the other unspoken comebacks. I know when to keep quiet. And listen, because every bloke out there can attest to this . . . You are both in the supermarket and your wife tells you to take the trolley to the checkout while she goes to the toiletries for her favourite something or other. She’ll be two seconds she tells you. So you do, even though you know from bitter and frequent experience what two seconds to a woman actually means. Of course it turns out to be the precise moment in the day when there is virtually no one in front of you except some weird bloke in an AC/DC shirt, a bad haircut and blackheads. He is obviously single, and his purchases amount to half a dozen bars of chocolate, two cans
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The weather hadn’t yet turned. That magic day when the rain stops and a precipitation free summer is promised was still a week or so away. A long shadow began to stretch across the village. Poyato hummed to himself as he walked to the Bar la Casa Devante for his morning coffee. Stopping in his tracks he noticed an iron girder some fifty metres above and coming from the east while another encroached from the west. The outline of giant cranes could be seen busily hoisting elements of the structures into place. Poyato hurried into the bar indignant and extremely verbal. Spanish drivers had long complained about the diversion around the secure borders of Alqueria. Many kilometres had been added to journeys. Any unwary drivers trying to drive through Alqueria are stopped at the border and their vehicles searched. Anything which isn’t bolted to the bodywork is confiscated and auctioned in one of the Alquerian bars during the evening. The situation became intolerable when the Camino de Alqueria, the only unrestricted route south of the village became a toll road over night. Alquerian mobile toll booths appeared along a three kilometre stretch. Individuals from the village with an eye for a profit simply set up their own booths. One unsuspecting driver paid more in tolls than his car was worth, another had to re-mortgage his house simply to get to his place of work. Questions were asked in the Spanish parliament. Funds put aside for the Distressed Politicians much needed Erotic Dancing and Strong Liquor Fund were re-allocated for the construction of a bridge spanning the whole of Alqueria. If Alqueria had had an air-force they would have scrambled it but they settled instead for hurling cobblestones and insults at the construction workers. Poyato and his colleagues raised the issue with the United Nations. That illustrious body regarded Alqueria as one would regard a troublesome verruca and took no action. It was left to the good people of the Pueblo to take the law into their own hands. Before the Winter weather breaks the strange Alquerian mist usually puts in an appearance and this year was no exception. The foul smelling green fog descended reducing visibility to a few metres. The people of Alqueria seized their moment. A midnight visit to the road builder’s site-offices and a few alterations to critical coordinates was all that was necessary. For the next two weeks the eerie sound of construction work drifted through the dense fog. When the green haze finally lifted the results of the sabotage became apparent. The two ends of the bridge took a neat ninety degree turn to the north and disappeared into crevices in the sierra’s cliff face. The first cars to use the new route thundered past, never to be seen nor heard of again. The legend of the Alquerian Triangle was born. More of that later...
of beer and a microwave dinner. His appearance indicates that he is certainly eating alone tonight and is destined to do so until income tax is abolished. The point is, he is obviously only going to be a few seconds checking in his acquisitions and paying. You will your wife to appear and even offer up a little prayer, but of course now that there is a free run at the till, there is no sign of the little lady. A decision is needed and naturally it is going to be the wrong one, because you decide there is no point in checking through twice and so decide to wait. Huge mistake. As you back off to wait for the light of your life to put in an appearance, there immediately appear three thousand shoppers who converge on the only two checkouts that are open, all with trolleys piled two storeys high with groceries and supplies for the Orihuela Fiesta.Your better half arrives at this point and now it’s only a question of whether you will miss lunch or dinner. And of course, it’s your fault. Then there are the dreaded sales.
Hitherto there has been no mention of the need for a new dress; a sensible pair of walking shoes or even the desire for another handbag. Not until you get to the shops where that magical SALE sign resides tantalisingly to all women in the window and burns like a white hot brand into every long suffering husband’s brain. More touching and feeling ensues – not with me unfortunately, but the shop goods - but this time there are gasps of surprise and joy as bargain after bargain is unearthed on the endless racks, shelves and cabinets. Then with debit card in hand, the words that I have become all too familiar with . . . “You can’t go wrong at that price!”
By Colin Bird : badbirdnow@gmail.com
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proceed. For further Information regarding F.A.C.E Please ring Adele Wrigglesworth on 667 255 094 or go to www. face-charity.com. For further Information regarding Age Concern Almanzora call 634 333 544 or go to www. ageconcernalmanzora.com or e-mail ageconcernalmanzora@ live.com. For Further Information regarding Grupo Scout 106 Del Saliente call Magdalena Muñoz Oller on 630 778 187 Photos: Photograph Courtesy of Kevin Wrigglesworth - Cheque Presentation of 500€ Outside Age Concern Almanzora Shop in Arboleas - From Left To Right - F.A.C.E President Adele Wrigglesworth with Cathy Stott (President Age Concern, Almanzora Valley Area), Margaret Ridyard (Age Concern Almanzora, Shop Manager), F.A.C.E. Vice President Carrie Green and F.A.C.E.
F.A.C.E. Present Double Whammy! damage internally to the rondel scout huts, which are situated below the old bridge in Albox, and much equipment was destroyed. After many years of neglect the roof needs refurbishing, and after several break in attempts, the security of the Scout rondels also needs to be improved. Parents of the youngsters that attend
F.A.C.E. (Fundraising in Arboleas, Caring for Everyone) recently performed a double whammy by presenting two cheque’s on the same day to two different groups. The first cheque to the value of 500€ was presented Age Concern Almanzora, a fully legal organisation that is celebrating its first Birthday. It offers help to the over fifties. Age Concern has a shop in Arboleas, courtesy of the Arboleas Council and does a range of fundraising activities in its own right. As it is a young organisation, it is still developing the services it offers, but so far it has appliances for hire, an information service and a care group. It is also capable of undertaking visits when appropriate. Age Concern Almanzora’s big project is to have a main drop-in centre in Arboleas. The project is dependant on the completion of the new Medical Centre, presently under construction, and also the construction of a Day Centre, which is planned to be opposite the new Medical Centre. The Arboleas Council has already promised Age Concern Almanzora that space will be available for them upon completion of the building. It is just hoped that the Junta de Andalucía will make agreed payments that will enable all the building work to be
completed. It will then become Age Concern Almanzora’s responsibility to provide the equipment required for this Drop-In facility, which will be a very big expense for this new charity to undertake. Although F.A.C.E. Was instrumental in providing funds along with the Arboleas Council, towards the training and set up of Age Concern Almanzora, this was the first occasion that F.A.C.E. Had actually donated to the charity its self and the 500€ will be used to eventually purchase some of the equipment that will be required at the Drop-In facility. On the very same day F.A.C.E.
Also presented another 500€ to the Grupo Scout 106 Del Saliente. Although the Scouts as a group are known and recognised through out the whole world, their presence in this part of Spain is not so well known about. In fact there are several Scout groups in Almería, however the Albox Scout group, comprising of over ninety youngsters, is the only Almería Group which is not based in Almería City. It is just coming up to celebrating its one hundredth Birthday in 2016. Unfortunately the Grupo Scout 106 Del Saliente has suffered a run of bad luck over recent times. A fire caused
the Scouts group have been diligently been trying to raise funds for over a year, so that some of these works can be undertaken. To undertake the works in question over 10,000€ will be required. F.A.C.E. Are hoping that the donation they have made will enable some of the work required to refurbish the rondels will be able to
Committee Members Gilly ElliottBinns and Richard Tolman; F.A.C.E. President Adele Wrigglesworth (Centre) Presents 500€ to Scout Leader Javier Carrillo García with members of Grupo Scout 106 Del Saliente; F.A.C.E. President Adele Wrigglesworth (Centre) Presents 500€ to Scout Leader Javier Carrillo García with members of Grupo Scout 106 Del Saliente.
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LOOK GOOD, FEEL GREAT
CLEARING OUT MIND CLUTTER THROUGH MEDITATION
The term Meditation refers to a broad variety of practices (much like the term sports) that includes techniques designed to promote relaxation, build internal energy (chi, ki, prana, etc.) and develop compassion love, patience, generosity and forgiveness. A particularly ambitious form of meditation aims at effortlessly sustained single-pointed concentration. Meditation often involves an internal effort to self-regulate the mind in some way. Meditation can help clear the mind and ease many health issues, such as high blood pressure depression, and anxiety to name a few. It may be done sitting, or in an active way, for instance Buddhist monks involve awareness in their day-to-day activities as a form of mind-training. Prayer beads or other ritual objects are commonly used during meditation in order to keep track of or remind the practitioner about some aspect of the training. The term “meditation” can refer to the state itself, as well as to practices or techniques employed to cultivate the state. In brief, there are dozens of specific styles of meditation and we must all choose what style suits us.. How do we live our lives?
We live most of our life through three states of consciousness: waking, dreaming and sleeping. In the waking state of consciousness, we experience the world through the five senses. We seek elevation and joy from these senses. The mind is higher than the senses. The mind is infinite, its desires are many, but the capacity of the senses to enjoy is limited. Greed is wanting more and more of sensory objects. Even though one can only enjoy a limited amount during a lifetime, one wants all the wealth in the world. Giving too much importance to sensory objects leads to greed; giving too much importance to the senses leads to lust; and giving too much importance to the mind and its desires leads to delusion. We hold on to the concepts of the mind and want things to happen in a certain way. Thus, the concepts in our mind impede us from perceiving the infinite consciousness that is a part of us. This is not to say that the senses or the mind are bad. But we must learn to discriminate between things and be aware of what is happening at all times; that is when clarity dawns on us. This is the first step toward the higher state of consciousness. In the waking state, one is constantly engaged in looking, eating, working, etc. The other extreme is the sleeping state where one is completely cut off and dull. The dullness and heaviness linger even after waking. The more one sleeps, the duller one feels since a lot of energy is expended in sleep. Then there is the dreaming state where one is neither asleep nor awake. Here, you neither feel at rest nor are aware of your surroundings.
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Meditation helps in two ways -- it prevents stress from entering the system and simultaneously releases accumulated stress. With the assimilation of meditation into daily life, a higher state of consciousness called cosmic consciousness dawns within us. Cosmic consciousness perceives the whole universe as part of oneself. When we perceive the world as a part of us, love flows strongly between the world and us. This love empowers us to overcome the opposing forces and the disturbances in life. Anger and disappointments become fleeting emotions that occur momentarily and then vanish. A higher state of consciousness will not simply happen one fine morning. The consciousness is within you -- it needs to be nurtured through spiritual practices like meditation. Some trees yield in three years, and some in 10 years. And those that are not nurtured never yield, they simply exist. Letting Go and Acceptance Attaining higher states of consciousness does not require any complicated strategy; one just needs to learn the art of letting go. This is the difficulty generally and requires a lot of forgiveness within ourselves. Even when you grow into higher states of consciousness, you find that you may be thrown off-balance by different situations and disturbances. At this time you become strong yet soft -- a delicate and beautiful individual capable of accommodating different values in life without any conditions. As your consciousness opens and the whole system gets physically, mentally and spiritually elevated, your life truly becomes worth living. The key is to be kind to yourself and others, keep forgiving yourself and others every day. Remain open to change, and above ALL smile…………..we take ourselves too seriously!
In the past, as in some circumstances today, this education would often involve, periods of retreat in communities (ashrams, monasteries, meditation centers, etc.) whose sole purpose is the cultivation of awakening. Nonetheless, such states can also be developed by any serious practitioner who undergoes skillful and whole-souled training, that’s anyone of us!
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The higher state of consciousness is somewhere in between the waking, sleeping and dreaming states. Here, we know we “are” but we don’t know “where” we are. This knowledge that I “am,” but I don’t know “where” I am or “what” I am? This state gives the deepest possible rest that one can experience. And one can achieve this through meditation.
Meditation is a way to improve one’s awareness of the world and to become better equipped to play a better, more finely tuned and fairer role in life. The essential attitude for correct meditation is one of listening. To listen clearly one must subdue the level of interference that is exerted on one’s mind in our daily life; to still the mind and to listen to the “internal vibrations” of the mind. Listening will assist in ALL relationships. Be prepared to really listen to someone else (just listen) without thinking about what you want to say half way through. As you keep listening you will not only begin to know yourself more, you will see the other person, a miracle!
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Being Optimistic May Help You Live Longer! We all like to feel needed. But new research suggests having a sense of purpose is good for our health, too. An article by the Daily Mail reveals that a study of 7,000 people, those with the strongest sense of direction in life were over 70 per cent less likely to suffer a stroke. The researchers accounted for other aggravating factors such as blood pressure and alcohol use and believe the effect comes through regulating the immune system. It appears that by maintaining a purpose in life not only increases our quality of life but may also improve our physical health and increase longevity. It has long been thought that pursuing meaningful activity after retirement is important for physical and mental health – which often declines dramatically soon after retirement. But while past research focused on the detrimental effects of negative psychological traits, such as depression
chewing gum can boost your brain power
Most of us don’t think twice about it, but chewing — mastication — has implications for our health. The way we chew, for instance, can alter our digestion, teeth and even our face shape. And new research suggests how often we chew could even affect our brain power. We’ve all heard the dictum about chewing each mouthful 20 times before swallowing, but actually how many times we should chew depends on what we’re eating, says gastroenterologist Dr Nick Read, chief medical adviser for charity The IBS Network. ‘The Victorians thought you needed to chew food 14 times but we generally wait until it feels right and then swallow — it’s intuitive.’ He says that because our diet has become softer, thanks to all that processed food, we now don’t need to chew for so long. However, raw fruit and vegetables, and meat, demand more chewing. ‘If you don’t, lumps of food will pass through your digestive system and not be completely absorbed,’ says Dr Read. Chewing breaks food down into small pieces, which increases the surface area for the digestive enzymes to react with and so helps swallowing and digestion. Chewing also sends messages to the brain through the trigeminal nerve in the face. The brain then sends signals down the vagus nerve (the long nerve connecting to the abdomen) to tell the stomach to start acid secretion in preparation for the food arriving. Chewing also generates saliva from the salivary glands, which mixes with the food, ensuring it’s the right consistency to be digested and travel through the digestive system. Saliva is also essential for cleaning our mouths when we’re eating. When we eat slowly, our bodies are more relaxed, allowing the
parasympathetic nervous system, which stimulates digestion, to do its job properly. However, if you’re eating on the hoof and rushing about, you also stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, which is associated with ‘fight or flight’ responses. ‘The sympathetic side puts the whole body on alert and diverts energy to the heart, brain and muscles, while the parasympathetic nervous system’s functions, such as digestion, are halted,’ says Dr Read. In practical terms, the sympathetic system inhibits the secretion of stomach acid, and slows down gastric emptying so food stays in the stomach longer, making us feel over-full and sick. This can also cause painful spasms in the intestine. Eating quickly and not chewing enough also makes us swallow more air, which may cause bloating, belching and discomfort. While the evidence is mixed, it’s thought chewing gum may stop you forming some kinds of memory, says Professor Andrew Smith from Cardiff University, a specialist in healthrelated behaviour. ‘Many aspects of memory rely on using sub-vocal rehearsal (when you repeat words to yourself in your head) and it’s difficult to do that while chewing because it’s a competing activity — but this area needs more research.’ Gum may also have a negative effect on the gut. Chewing gum stimulates acid secretion in the stomach but then doesn’t deliver food to it, leaving excess acid. It could cause gastritis - inflammation of the stomach lining, ulcers, blistering, indigestion and soreness and as most gum contains sorbitol, which is a poorly absorbed sugar and can go through the intestine without being absorbed and ferment in the colon, this can lead to excess gas and bloating.’ Further research is underway!
and anxiety, new research is investigating how positive traits, such as optimism, protect against illness. In the recent study, men and women aged 50 and over were tracked for four to five years and completed psychological tests while researchers recorded strokes. The results show that the higher someone’s sense of purpose, the lower their risk of a stroke. Those with the greatest sense of purpose were 73 per cent less likely to suffer a stroke compared to those with the lowest. Other research has shown that positive mood can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, also implicated in stroke. ‘This is significant as we have an ageing population and it helps show what behaviours inoculate people from getting ill,’ says Cary Cooper, professor of health psychology at Lancaster University. ‘Maybe retirement is not good for some.’
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Osteopath Naturopath Enrique Arias, N.D, D.O
Tel. 629 289 385
for info and appointments
Health Care For Adults and Children • Emergency Home Visits • English • Spanish • French • German • 20 Year’s Serving the community
UK Registered - Treating
Sciatica - Back Pain - Sports Injuries Digestive and Cardiovascular Disorders Headaches - Arthritis - Skin Conditions Centro Cueva Del Lobo Paseo Mediterraneo 10, Mojacar Beach Centro Medico Indalo C/ Manuel Azaña, Almeria
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
Hair & Beauty Studio Join us on @ Room 97 Hair & Beauty Studio
for current offers & giveaways
La Alfoquia
Tel: 683 479 261
Dra Monica Algañaraz –has over 40 years experience in physiotherapy and osteopathic treatment. General postural assessment and holistic health checks available English spoken
Tel: 695 355 381 Olula Del Rio
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SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
Ken & Jackie Dog & Cat Sitter service
• Your home or ours • Honest & trust worthy • 5 years experience of all types of animals • References available on request
676 389 592
Let us transport your loving friends to and from the UK & Europe in comfort with loving care in our air-conditioned van Tel 950 092 096 or 661 402 493 - Email jt.transport@yahoo.co.uk
...take care of your pets Huerca - Overa Veterinary Centre is run by Husband and wife team Angel and Elena who both speak an excellent level of English. Since May 2011, they have offered an invaluable service to the pets in the area. The veterinary Centre can help and advise you on any concerns that you may have about your pets welfare. In particular now that the weather is getting warmer remember there will be more parasites about such as fleas, ticks and sand flies. As always it is necessary to use a system to prevent them and the illness that they cause by the use of Pipetes and Collars. Also we now provide the new vaccination against leishmania. With this vaccination we will do the leish test for free. Now is the best
woodhouse boarding kennels & cattery arboleas
Comercial Carmona
e h I j o s
time to prepare your dogs for the spring and summer so why not make an appointment to come along and see us now. Dog and cat grooming services are now available. For more information or to book and appointment call 950 61 67 You may already know Tracey and her husband Bob from the television programme Living the Dream. They are now running WOODHOUSE BOARDING KENNELS & CATTERY in Los Uteras which is situated just 15 minutes away from Arboleas. Tracey has been running the kennels here for 6 years and also is heavily involved with the dog charities in the area. Woodhouse kennels is fully legal and Ministry approved with a 24 hours veterinary service available.
For all your pet needs
SUMINISTROS INDUSTRIALES, S.L.
Small friendly kennels 24hr vets service pet transporting arranged welcome to view €350
€200
Dalmation Pups
Chihuahua
€360
Bichon Maltese
Having kept fish for over 15 years in the UK and here in Spain, Ben prides himself on being able to offer helpful advice to anyone buying new fish stock or equipment.
NOW IN - Hens & Chickens 8 Different Breeds Cheapest in the Area APRIL OFFERS
Animal feeds special prices
emergencies 663 524 003
quality
Warehouse & Pet Shop - Olula Tel: 950 613 130
Open: Monday - Friday 8.30am-2pm & 3.30pm - 8.30pm, Sat 8.30am - 2pm
From Albox on A334 do not turn off for Olula Mercadona, take the turning after the Tanatorio
tanatorio 54
English Speaking Tel: ben 687 497 892
olula del rio
km
Ctra. Nac. 340, 208 Huércal Overa (Almeria) Tel: 950 61 67 81 www.cvhuercalovera.es Opening hours: Monday - Friday 10am - 1.30pm, 5pm - 8pm Saturday 10am - 1.30pm
Huge selection of fish & Equipment Top quality pet foods always in store Full range of all pet accessories All breeds of birds from only 3€
whole corn....................................25g....€8.30 barley ...............................................25g....€8.30 broken corn ..................................25g .... €8.45 wheat...............................................25g....€ 9.00 hen food.........................................25g...€12.65 dog food rabbit food...............................25g....€11.35 20kg..€14.95
Olula Fines del rio
albox
a334
mercadona
baza 4
a33
We are here comercial carmona warehouse & petshop
If you want the best for your pet, contact the Bo and Antoinette – 639 722 197 or info@animalhotel. es – and make a booking or arrange to drop by and see the accommodation for yourself. The Animal Hotel can be found on Facebook or at www.AnimalHotel.es Comercial Carmona in Olula del Rio have the pet store that we all love to visit. Ben, the store manager is English and a true animal lover that also an extensive knowledge of fish keeping, reptiles and birds.
ministry approved
Tracy 650 211 952
Cats and dogs receive 5star treatment at the Animal Hotel, near Águilas. Bo and Antoinette have designed the unique accommodation which even includes the option of communal living rooms for the cats. In the kennels, the emphasis is on safety as well as comfort – all the dogs sleep indoors to prevent sand fly bites and leishmaniasis but have private outside areas during the day.
They also have a huge range of quality pet foods in store including products by Kiki, Royal Canin, Brekkies and Advance just to name a few. Why not take a trip to Olula and pay them a visit, you will not be disappointed. Give Ben a call now on 687 497 892
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Raking the Ashes BY Anne Fine
“In the end everyone gets to choose. And you can settle for emotional fog blurring the edges of failure. Or you can get out.” When you read this novel you get the impression that relationships are doomed! Condemned for being too nice a guy, kind and amiable, one who never sees the bad in people, never fearing the worst, Geoffrey is deemed weak and useless by the feisty Tilly. She finally discards him, throws him on the rubbish heap as if he is a piece of garbage and lets him fester. Tilly is strong, pushy and outspoken. She gets what she wants and is used to pushing people in and out of her life when it suits her. It seems incredible that these two people would stay together for so long before the final crunch! Polar opposites. The novel focuses and refocuses on conflict mainly between Tilly and Geoffrey as well as his ex-wife, Francis and their two children, Harry and Minna. Fine tells us from the start that the relationship will not last by describing the “death rattle” that was always present. The story is not just unsettling, the outcome is absolutely shocking. Tilly always seems to be plotting her escape and around 14 or 15 years later she finally succeeds. “I was seduced along with him into living the lie.” Fine has explored the difficult role of the step-parent in many of her other novels. She describes the modern British family as a “mix and match” because of divorce and remarriage. For a stepparent the future can be a daunting prospect. Tilly shows kindness and consideration towards Minna and Harry but it is a thankless task when she is constantly criticised by Francis or Geoffrey for interfering. It is not surprising that with all of the bickering and insecurities the children grow up with serious issues. Minna truants from school then gets pregnant. Harry steals then pumps himself with drugs. Tilly felt as if she were “some pleat in their family economy-there to be taken in and let out again just as it suited them.” Tilly likes to think that she lives in the real world of honesty and truth and criticises Geoffrey for living in a “comfortable and unthreatening cloud cuckoo land.” When she works on the rigs as an engineer she “kicks men’s butts.” She is unable to remain faithful and admits to having one lover after another. She was constantly irritated by Geoffrey who adopted a “weasel way” of blocking discussion. She felt that he treated his children more like pets than children. It’s not surprising that Tilly snaps and reaches the end of her tether in planning his demise or her escape, whichever is the most convenient method to end it all. Her growing hatred seems un-natural and unhealthy considering his only fault is his weakness in her eyes. Out of the blue, a timid Geoffrey loses control and accuses her of feeding on other people’s weaknesses. “You have an evil gift for twisting what you know about people round into knowing how to upset them.” And he is right. This proves too much for Tilly who wants OUT! “I want to pack in this small life and pick another-Choose to be anything. Fly!” An idealist? Or just grossly unhappy? There certainly seems to be a void because she states that life is “worthless, pointless and drab” and that nothing matters anymore. She experiences extreme emotions from exhilaration to depression. Manic. Over time she grew to despise Geoffrey then became poisoned by hatred. In her own words, the relationship shrivelled rather than thrived. When Francis died, Geoffrey was close to bankruptcy so Tilly delayed the inevitable. Harry’s wedding finally clinched it and once she had decided, there was no going back. She felt released and happy: no guilt to “live my own life and feel time my own again” was her natural right after years of sacrifice and misery. She believed that Geoffrey had destroyed many of her good years from her late twenties to her early forties. Not only did she want to leave him for good, she wanted to make him pay with “interest.” Ominous. Remember the saying “Revenge is sweet?” Tilly might be “blissfully happy” at the end but for Geoffrey, the penalty was a heavy price to pay. Be warned. The ending is shocking and Tilly seems more the persecutor than the victim. My final warning is don’t cross swords with her. She is a dangerous woman. ISBN: 0-552-77285-2
Carol Naylor - writing exclusively for the Sol Times Naylorcl@hotmail.es & www.carolnaylor.blogspot.com
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SLIM YOUR WAY TO A NEWER YOU WITH ‘GASTRIC MIND BAND‘ THERAPY
Gastric Mind Band Therapy, developed and perfected right here in Spain, at the Elite Clinic in Fuengirola over a five-year period, is the surgery free way to begin your journey to a brand new way of life as a slimmer and healthier person.
treatment. The treatment is even available from a small number of selected and accredited therapists around the world, Gastric Mind Band Therapy is now regarded by many as the ‘Gold Standard’ provider.
This totally painless weight-loss procedure is a massive favourite with the stars, and simply involves a clever combination of a number of proven psychological approaches, including Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Time Perspective Therapy and Pause Button Therapy (A book is also available from Elite written by Martin and Marion too), along with Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Hypnosis and Guided Imagery.
GMBT, has had extensive coverage in the Media, being featured on TV shows such as ITV Daybreak and Good Morning America, as well as in Hello Magazine, Vogue, Marie Claire and Easy Living, to mention just a few magazines.
GMBT was developed by Martin and Marion Shirran at their Fuengirola Clinic who have now accumulated close to 6,000 hours with one to one clinical time with clients from around the world and are constantly improving and perfecting the
Clients undertaking treatment in the Elite Clinic in Fuengirola however, will be seen exclusively by the founders and developers of the ‘Gastric Mind Band’ Therapy, Martin and Marion Shirran. By visiting the web site, you will find an FAQ section, which should answer all your questions as well reading some real life case studies including their successes and opinions. For more information and an initial free consultation contact Martin or Marion at the Elite Clinic in Fuengirola on: 951 311 591 or go to www. gmband.com
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SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
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SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
braben’s blog...
Do you remember that song about wearing flowers in your hair if you’re going to San Francisco? The words were maybe closer to the truth than we thought because only this week a law has been passed that makes walking naked in that city a crime. Aha! Perhaps all they were wearing were flowers in their hair. I wonder if many people suffered from embarrassing pest invasions-no, let’s not go there. But it seems that an awful lot of people in the city by the bay have been protesting; they think they should be allowed to roam naked through the streets without hindrance. Now look, have you ever been to San Francisco? Well, it gets chilly and when that cold mist comes down I wouldn’t want any of my bits exposed to anything approaching the chilly zone. What’s more, standing too close to the lift doors when they close suddenly could have major bits changing implications. On reflection perhaps that last sentence should have started with, “What’s less”! After that, mull over running for the bus. No, on second thoughts, banish all thoughts of such unbridled wobbliness from your consciousness or risk nightmares. You know the image becomes worse if we factor in the recent record breaking feats of a Japanese man, who sprinted one hundred metres on all fours in less than 18 seconds. I don’t know why either, but he predicts it will be an Olympic sport in the future and that one day we will all run that way. No please, put that image in the same distant corner of your memory as the wobbly bus running one. I think we’ll need a stiff drink after this. Then there are Twinkies! Are they connected to naked city life? Now, don’t be naughty, it’s a cake and the makers of Twinkies are going out of business; the whole of America will now be a Twinkie free zone. What is a Twinkie you may ask? I don’t know, but like Graham is married Helen and has Tootsie Rolls, whatever they are, I would get a great atodaughter, Alice. deal of satisfaction asking for them in a shop. Have you He lives part of the year near Albox, ever asked for a Twinkie? No, don’t answer that, you but works in Qatar, never know who may be listening. teaching. If you wish Naked San Franciscans, Twinkies, wobbly bus catchers, to contact Graham regarding this all fours runners, this has been strange. Now I need to article email: sit in a darkened room and search for my Twinkie! helenandg@yahoo. Shh, don’t tell anyone! co.uk
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The Iron Lady
A few weeks ago I pondered the reason for the existence of yellow cars and asked readers for comments; one man commented that they reminded him of spring and said he has always hankered after one. I replied asking why then did he not have one. Another reader thanked me for bringing the subject up and admitted that her boyfriend owns a yellow car. Hilariously she explained that it in the summer it attracts wasps and other buzzing pests so yet another reason never to own a yellow car. Wasps, they are yellow too and again I have no idea why they exist apart from to cause misery. If supermarkets set different prices for every town there would soon be uproar. Why then do petrol stations get away with charging different prices depending on location? When running low on a motorway there is no choice but to pay a premium, prices also differ within the same brand from town to town. Luckily Almeria has the cheapest fuel prices in Andalucía but it’s a huge expense none the less. The AP7 motorway near Malaga has two toll points on it which charge over 8 Euros to get to Estepona. Arriving there on the Monday before Easter the cheeky bleeders had bumped the price up by over 50%. The toll gate man gave me a Spanish shrug and said ‘Its Easter!’ But it’s only Monday I decried. I then tried to shrug back asking if we could drive 50% faster, he said yes and we also get free tuna sandwiches. After driving for the first time recently through the cess pit that is otherwise called Fuengirola on the A7 the toll road is certainly worth any money to avoid it. With the days getting longer in
April us men get the annual conundrum of when to remove the socks; leave them off in the day and the still chilly nights will soon bring regrets. Wear them and the feet are soon too sweaty and toasty by mid-afternoon. I was told the other day that May 1st is the official Spanish day to consign the damn things to their drawer until autumn. This now makes sense as to why our hosts are still wrapping up as if braving an Arctic storm even when the sun is shining. After the sad news recently of the whale that died from ingesting plastic in Almeria waters; it’s heartening to see that another country has started to charge for plastic bags. Northern Ireland has now followed Wales with Scotland about to do the same. As ever England has done nothing. Plastic bag waste accounts for nearly 3/4s of all plastic waste found in the seas around the world. Spain brought a 2c charge for bags in last year and those Mercadona bags for life are great as well when moving house. And lastly, may the Iron lady rest in peace! Maggie Thatcher made British history in 1979 as the first ever female Prime Minister. Love or loath her for her decisions during her 11.5 year term, no-one can disagree that she was a real character who ensured Britain was respected again on the world stage. Five years into her Prime Ministership the IRA bombed the Grand Hotel during the Tory party conference leaving 36 people injured or killed. The IRA statement released the day after contained an all too memorable quote – it read ‘Today we were unlucky, but remember we only have to be lucky once. You will have to be lucky always!’ Her luck lasted for another 30 years!
Enjoy Stephens musings? Pop over to http://findmeahomeinspain.wordpress.com as the articles are posted on there...and they’re a bit longer too! Findmeahome are always looking for quality homes for their sales and rental portfolios, please contact Stephen for a valuation: stephen@findmeahome.es Telephone: 636 266 641
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
Q. Please explain the situations in which a resident qualifies for non-payment of capital gains tax?
A. The first thing is to be able to prove to the notary the day of the sale
that you are in fact a Spanish tax resident. It is very important to realize that having what everyone calls the “residencia” issued by the police does not in fact prove you are a tax resident of Spain, and that if this is the only document you take to the notary to prove tax residency, the notary will consider you a non resident and you will be subject to a 3% retention. To prove you are a tax resident your solicitor needs to request a certificate from the tax authorities, which can then be taken to the notary. If you suffer the nasty surprise of them saying that in fact you are a non resident, you will need to get this amended by proving to them that you are in fact a resident before they will issue you with the correct certificate for the notary. The best way to secure tax residency status is making a resident income tax declaration in Spain in June of every year. If you are going to sell shortly, request this certificate in advance to avoid last minute surprises. 1. The possible total or partial exemption from capital gains tax due to reinvestment (roll-over): If you are a resident and sell one property to purchase another of the same or higher price you can claim 100% exemption from capital gains tax. To benefit you have to have been a resident for at least 3 year before the sale takes place, and you must purchase the next property within 2 years of the sale. If you are moving to a smaller property, you can claim exemption of a percentage of the capital gains tax. 2. Claim of total exemption if you are over 65 years old: If you are over 65 and sell your main home (where you must have lived for at least 3 years as a resident), you can claim 100% exemption from capital gains tax even if you do not reinvest. If the property is owned by a couple and one member is over 65 and the other is not, you are allowed to claim the exemption in respect to half the price. I f you do not qualify for any of the above exemptions the rate of tax applied to your profit is 21% for profit up to 6000 euros, 24% for profit between 6001 euros and 24000 euros and 27% of profit above 24001 euros. 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 APRIL 2013
property of the week ref.588 MOJACAR pueblo 44.950€
Choice of 4 apartments with 1, 2, or 3 bedrooms, 1 – 2 baths, lounge/ diner, fully fitted kitchen with all white goods, fitted wardrobes, with outside terrace space, communal swimming pool, private parking & store room optional.
FROM 44,950€ REF.583
mojacar
99.000€
REF.548
tabernas
154.000€
REF.586
mojacar
124.950€
bargain
bargain
First line apartment with 3 beds, 1 bath, terrace with fabulous sea views, newly equipped kitchen, living/dining room, beautiful swimming pool, semi furnished, A/C hot and cold, easy access.
Beautifully renovated detached Cortijo, full of charm and light, in excellent condition, set on an elevated plot of 2,200m2 with amazing mountain views. Main house - 2 bed, bath. Separate annexe with bed and bath. Large front porch.
1st floor apartment, 3 double beds, 1 family bathroom, lounge-Diner, kitchen, 30m terrace with sea views, 3 swimming pools, tennis court, private parking space, lifts, furnished.
REF.542
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las negras
185.000€
mojacar
179.000€
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74.950€
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300m from the beach, small development of brand new modern houses, with large basement , 275m2 built on a 580m2 plot, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, large independent kitchen, sea and mountain views, in an excellent condition, 5 available.
Luxury 3 beds, 2 baths 2nd line Penthouse, with 90m roof terrace, open sea views, complete equipped kitchen, large living/dining room, beautiful pool & Gym, private secure Parking & store room, A/C, fully furnished.
Beautiful Penthouse apartment with 1 beds, family bathroom, 39m terrace with fabulous sea views, equipped kitchen, living/dining room, 2 beautiful pools, fully furnished, private locked garage, easy access.
REF.579
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la alfoquia 79.000€
turre
58.000€
carboneras
110.000€
Amazing village house, full of rustic character and charm offering incredibly versatile accommodation - 219m2 - B+B potential for 6 bedrooms,3 bathrooms. In good condition needing some minor updating.2 roof terraces, covered patio, pool.
Brand new Penthouse apartment with 3 beds, 1 bath, fabulous mountain views, kitchen, living/dining room, 80m private solarium, in the central of Turre, walking distance to all amenities..
Excellent attic duplex in very good condition with 2 large terraces giving wonderful sea views - only 50metres to the beach. 2 double bedrooms,2 bathrooms, air-con - hot and cold - throughout. Excellent location.
REF.587
REF.577
REF.578
turre
57.000€
Brand new apartment with 2 beds, 1 bath, kitchen, living/dining room, communal swimming pool and sun lounge area, in the central of Turre, walking distance to all amenities, choice of Ground floor or 1st floor with lift.
arboleas
135.000€
Wonderful villa in immaculate condition with 2/3 beds,2 baths, swimming pool, garage. Beautiful garden full of mature trees and plants. Air-con hot and cold throughout sat TV, internet + many extra features - delightful property.
arboleas
145.000€
Reduced price -Fantastic villa of 145m2 set in a great location with 3 double beds, all with fitted wardrobes,3 baths, fitted kitchen, utility room,600m2 plot with covered porch and off-street parking. Large terrace with wonderful views.
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SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
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SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
If you’ve ever walked along the ‘prom’ towards Aguadulce, you will have inevitably come to the bit where it stops, rather ignominiously. Suddenly there’s just a rough dirt track for two or three hundred metres and then the ‘prom’ continues once again in all its grand boulevard splendour. But the good news for every walker, bike rider, roller skater and jogger, is that the incomplete section of this wonderful promenade, which winds along the coast between the towns, could soon be finished. Could! Stretching for over ten kilometres, it starts at the far end of the Urbanisation at Las Marinas and ends at the marina in Aguadulce. Sections have been steadily completed over the last fifteen years, making it a magnificent feature of the area. With dedicated cycle lanes and a broad pedestrian walkway interspersed with exotic plant beds, this palm tree lined avenue is used by thousands of people every day. At the height of the long hot summers, the promenade is at its coolest before the sun rises and that’s when the majority of keep fit fanatics get their training in, before the temperature soars. Others just enjoy a gentle stroll and the sweeping sea views. The stumbling block has been the acquisition of land from private owners. One piece of land is owned by a religious order and the other by the Andalucian institute of youth hostels. Now this is where things become a little confusing. The council has yet to come to an agreement with the landowners over the purchase of the land and they are still unsure if the owners are willing to sell. What they (the council) have said is they are determined to push ahead and finish the final segment, one way or another. The cost will be around 900,000 euros and the council has to apply to a national government department to get approval to spend the money. The key words in the Town Hall press release being, “. . . to get a ruling on whether there is budgetary availability for the project despite the current economic difficulties.” The plans have been drawn up, or more accurately, two sets of plans have been drawn up. The first set are based on the assumption the landowners will sell the land to the council and it will then be a relatively straightforward job to fill in the missing link. The second set are more complicated and based on the fact the landowners don’t want to sell the land. In that case, a by-pass will take the promenade around the private land – even possibly over the sea – to make the connection of the two segments possible. The council’s last application to a ‘government department’ towards the end of last year wasn’t successful, it concerned the unfinished Roquetas/Aguadulce A7 link road; the government’s response was to refuse the funding and set a date for the resumption of the work in 2017. Agreed, there was a lot more money involved on that occasion, but one wonders if shear enthusiasm and determination by the council to get this latest project completed, will be enough to persuade the government to release the money?
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The Final Link: Roquetas/Aguadulce Promenade May Be Completed Soon report & photos by martin shortland
Mediation Talks Begin Between Refuse Workers Union And The Mayor
Representatives of the refuse workers trade union CSIF held preliminary talks with the mayor and council cleansing department officials last week. The talks come after a strike, planned to start over the busy Easter weekend, was called off at the last minute. The tourist board and local business groups petitioned the mayors office in a bid to stop the strike, claiming it would do untold harm to the image of the town. The employees decided at an eleventh hour meeting they would postpone the action, not wanting to be seen as causing hardship to the struggling local economy. The dispute between the company and staff goes back to last July, when the company announced they planned to introduce a new set of proposals, covering shift patterns, working hours, holidays and pension arrangements. On average, every employee would lose 3,500 euros per annum because of the reduction in their working hours and it was this which eventually brought about the call for strike action. The Union has claimed Urbaser – the contract cleaning company – is receiving an increase in payment for its services this year of 1.4 million euros, which if added to the almost 200,000 euros in staff wage savings, amounts to close on 2 million euros. The company have been tight lipped throughout the dispute, but have said they plan to invest a lot of the money in much needed plant and equipment. The Union is sceptical about this claim, wondering where
the money is going. They say the employees are losing out financially and the residents of the town are losing out on the level of service the company will provide; a service which still has to be paid for. The mayor had initially refused to become embroiled in the dispute, saying it was a matter between the company and staff. His eventual involvement came with a promise to sit in on all subsequent talks between the two sides, the intention being to stop any future strike by the workers. At this first meeting, the union negotiator presented a set of counter proposals agreed with the staff. In a brief statement he said, “This document does contain some sacrifices, but our main objective is how the possible cuts affect the minimum monthly payroll of the employees.” Next week is the turn of the company management to put their side of the story to the mayor; the meeting is scheduled for Tuesday. In a terse statement they said, “We intend to introduce a minimum proposal to settle the labour dispute of the refuse collection service workers.” It will be a test of the negotiating skills of the mayor as to whether he can bring the two sides together, in what seems like a classic case of employer versus employee. Clearly, we are not being presented with the whole picture, but it would seem, from the little we have heard, both sides appear to be offering concessions with a view to avoiding any further need for a strike.
Monday to Friday
teeing off
between 10am & 12noon
green fee meal & 3 per p5€ erso drink n to book a tee time call
950 55 96 46
or email:reservas@laenviagolf.com www.laenviagolf.com
26
...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES
SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
property guide....
Holiday Rentals Up 29% at Easter
O Olive
Serena Bedar
Global demand for holiday rental accommodation in Spain during Easter Holy Week this year increased by 29% compared to Easter of 2012, according to statistics from the Spanish Internet holiday rental portal, Homeaway.es.
Contact: 607 705 085 or 687 938 466
Demand for accommodation in Spain by European and American tourists saw an increase of 33%, and domestic tourism growth stood at 24% compared to 2012. El Mundo reported that among the foreign tourists, the Germans were the ones showing greatest interest in Spain this Easter, followed by American, British and French tourists.
C/Llanos, Bedar (Next to the Miramar Restaurant)
Open: Monday-Friday 10.00am-3.30pm
www.olivehouse-es.com
169,950€
This beautiful property is situated in the much sought after village of Serena, close to Bedar. The property boasts many interesting features and outside areas , 3 beds and spacious living accommodation. A MUST SEE.
Andalusia was the main preferred destination for Spanish tourists over Easter, accounting for 30% of the total enquiries received by all the Spanish regions
for holiday bookings during this period. Seville, Cadiz, Granada and Malaga were, in that order, the Andalusian provinces to receive most enquiries for holiday bookings during Easter 2013. Catalonia, with 16% of all the enquiries received for Easter holiday bookings via the Internet portal, is second place in their rankings, with Barcelona, Girona and Tarragona being the Catalan provinces most in demand. Madrid received 7% of the domestic tourist enquiries and Mallorca received 4%, placing the Balearic Islands in fourth place in the ranking, with Asturias (3%) closing the list of the ‘Top 5’ destinations most in demand for holiday homes to rent in Spain this Easter. Article courtesy of www.kyero.com - for all the latest property news
OLV667
VERA APARTMENT FOR RENT
Apartment For Sale on golf course
SHORT-TERM/HOLIDAY RENTAL
2 BEDROOM, 2 BATHROOM, pENTHOUSE APARTMENT IN VERA PLAYA ALL MOD CONS, BALCONY & ROOF TERRACE OFFERING FANTASTIC VIEWS
cALL 663 977 230 EMAIL: gedfab@yahoo.com
Vera Playa Apartment
1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, kitchen with white goods, Nice views of golf course parking, Mojacar approx 7 mins
now only
€39,950
T: 664 291 793 jescott29@hotmail.co.uk
Returning to UK?
£69,000 ono
MODERN PARKHOME (NW Leicestershire)
Private sale of this lovely home on a secure, well established, residential park and at an extremely attractive price. > 2 Fitted Bedrooms > Large lounge/diner > Inclusive fitted kitchen > Luxury shower room/WC Email: ronlen@btinternet.com
UK: 01455 293603
...CALL 902 750 190 OR 950 121 936 ~ EMAIL: SALES@SOLTIMES.COM
Just reduced!
Large townhouse with garage in Mojácar for only €169,000! End of terrace spacious townhouse with sea views within 200 meters from the beach. The property is south facing and is set in a sought after, very residential area, on the grounds of a gated private community with a private road which can be accessed via two different streets. It also has a lovely communal lawned
gardens and large swimming pool. The property has a total built area of 138 mts² distributed between ground and first floor, and basement. The basement where the garage is can be accessed from the property or from the underground road that runs through the community. On the ground floor there is a large entrance hall, an independent fully
fitted kitchen, a cloakroom with shower, and a large dining / living room with a fire place. The private terrace leads to the gardens and swimming pool. Upstairs there are the master bedroom, a family bathroom and two further bedrooms. Like the rest of the house, the garage also has marble floors and natural light. The house is very airy and light. All in
all a very nice house throughout which can be used as a permanent home, a holiday home or as an investment property. This is a must see property and the low asking price makes it very attractive. For more information or to book a viewing appointment please visit our office or contact us via phone or e-mail. Ref: 1483
Paseo del Mediterraneo 197 - Mojacar - Almeria
Tel: 950 472 430 / 610 053 563
property group
www.veritashomes.co.uk info@veritashomes.co.uk
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SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
LANGUISH iN lUXURY
27
If you are lucky enough to have a large bathroom, or a room suitable for a second bathroom, you might like to choose a true wet room – a fully waterproofed or “tanked” room tiled and with an open shower area – in which underfloor heating is a possibility, if you want to take advantage of green energy. The addition of a wetroom can add value of a property in the best cases, but at the very least will add value and appeal to your home if you want to sell it. If your space, and your budget, is a little more modest a fitted bathroom can still be a beautiful bathing space. A bath may be the focal point of your bathroom, so whether you opt for a traditional rectangular bath with paneling or a freestanding bath tub, you do need to think about styles and materials to suit your overall design. If space is at a premium, storage needs to be well planned, but bathroom cupboards do not need to be very deep as their contents are generally small and narrow. A wallmounted towel rail can not only be functional in terms of providing warmth and, of course, holding your towels but can have significant aesthetic value too.
For many people the creation of a luxurious, tranquil space in which to escape from the world, if only for a while, is the ultimate aim of their bathroom design. The actual design, of course, depends on the size of your bathroom – or on the size of your house if you are considering a wet room for example, as an ensuite or second bathroom – and your budget but there is any number of designs for you to choose from.
Getting Your Home Ready For Summer! Match Your Garden...
Just as a favorite chair’s upholstery may inspire a room’s colour scheme, a few dominant hues in your flora can anchor an area’s composition. Use green-glazed pots and mix with chartreuse-greensquare pillows. Add in some tones of blue and aquamarine for seat cushions too for a really fresh feel!
Create Festive Decorations...
With a few snips and folds, and a little imagination, you can turn humble paper into party-perfect decorations.
Create A Shady Spot...
All by itself, a simple canopy can turn an empty space outside into a “place.” Although trees might take years to grow, an expanse of cloth goes up in minutes
28
SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES
Code of ethics for police officers AGREED
A new ‘code of ethics’ is about to be launched for the Local and National Police in Spain, instructing officers to work with ‘empathy’, avoid brute force and to put political values aside in the course of duty.
In response to various claims of police officers beating up, torturing or otherwise using undue force against members of the public during demonstrations – some of these mere bystanders and many claiming they were not causing any disorder or disturbance – the force is now expected to adhere to 26 articles in a new code which demands ‘self-control’, ‘empathy’, ‘respect’, ‘elegance’ and ‘impartiality’.
are illegal,” the code states.
It also adds that officers’ political views should be kept out of their duties and that they should work towards combating corruption. “All officers shall receive the full support of their colleagues and superiors where they become aware of any act of corruption or violation of professional ethical principles, including persons who perform these acts, those who sanction or tolerate them, those who are aware of them and do not take action to prevent them or do not report them,” the text reads.
Likewise, there will be no sanctions applied to officers who disobey their superiors if the orders given to them are illegal.
Any form of physical force or violence either by or towards a police officer or between other persons must be stopped or prevented at all costs, and ‘torture’, brutality or violence to get prisoners or arrested parties to confess is prohibited.
“Every officer shall be personally responsible for his or her own acts, omissions and, where applicable, orders given to his or her subordinates, but shall not be held responsible for failing to obey orders which
Officers are also requested not to drink alcohol or take any ‘mood-altering substances’ such as illegal drugs whilst on the job ‘where this may affect their personality or judgment’.
The code is ethically rather than legally binding, meaning in theory officers who breach it cannot be sanctioned.
Signs of property market improvement
Sol Insure A New Ray Of Light For Insurance
Looking Around for Insurance or Renewal Due?
Sol Insure
Let find the best policy for you! Providing the best cover at competitive rates
info@bwispain.com
950 472 098
UK House prices rose by 0.5 per cent in February, which means they are up by 1.9 per cent in the last three months compared to the same period 12 months ago - their biggest year-on-year growth since September 2010, Halifax reported. In a report by the Mail Online, the average house price moved up to £163,600, though that remains 3 per cent below the last peak of £168,593 in April 2010 - and 18 per cent below the all-time high on the Halifax measure of £199,612 in August 2007. Nationwide earlier reported prices rising by 0.2 per cent in February after a 0.5 per cent increase in January. Prices had previously been flat in both December and November. As a result, house prices were flat year-on-year in February on the Nationwide’s measure. ‘Overall modestly improved housing market activity since mid-2012, supported by the Funding for Lending Scheme, and a moderate recent firming of prices suggest that there is a growing prospect 2013 could be a slightly better year for the housing market,’ said Howard Archer of IHS Global Insight. Housing activity has picked up modestly in recent months too, although still muted compared to the long-term picture - with the latest Bank of England figures showing mortgage approvals on the rise for five months running. In addition to the recent modest rise in mortgage approvals, the latest Bank of England’s credit conditions survey reports that lenders made significantly more capital available for home loans in the fourth quarter last year, and
expected a further marked increase in the first quarter of 2013.
Commenting, Martin Ellis, housing economist at Halifax, said: ‘This increase in both house prices and activity in recent months is consistent with evidence of some improvement in market conditions. ‘The more than half-a-million increase in the number of people in employment over the past year is likely to have been a factor supporting housing demand. ‘We expect to see a national increase in house prices over the course of 2013. Weak income growth and continuing below-trend economic growth, however, are likely to remain significant constraints on housing demand.’ He also pointed out that the national house price averages mask strong market variations across the country. Property analyst Hometrack recently found that three-quarters of the increases in house prices it recorded in February across England and Wales were due to rises in London and the South East. Hometrack found that while prices increased in London by 0.3 per cent on a monthly basis in February, they dropped by 0.2 per cent in the North East. Harris said: ‘Lenders continue to cut mortgage rates, undercutting each other almost on a daily basis. ‘More options at better rates at higher LTVs (loans to value) are filtering through, and we need more of these to support the first-time buyer market.’
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Est 25yrs
SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
PRICE BROWN PARTNERSHIP ESTATE AGENTS/INMOBILARIA - MOJACAR
SALES, RENTALS & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT VENTAS, ALQUILERES Y MANTENAMIENTO
149,500€ Mojácar Playa SDV612 139,950€ Mojácar Playa LV602 349,995€ Mojácar Playa DV1220
118,000€ Mojácar Playa LV590 Charming linked bungalow of 70m2 + large roof terrace & terraces of 15m2 & 16m2 respectively. Super views & only a 2 min drive from the beach. 2 bed, 1 bath. No community fees.
Lovely semi-detached 2 bed townhouse of 66m2, not inc. terraces, across the road from the beach. Completely renovated to a high standard with community parking, gardens & pool.
Superb linked villa of 81m2 with a private terrace of 22m2 just 400m2 from the beach. 2 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms & furnished. Well maintained community gardens & pool.
Very attractive detached villa, with self– contained 1 bed, 1 bath, apartment, of 109m2 on 492 m2 & great sea views. 2 bed, 2 bath. Private garage & pool. There is also a basement of 44 m2.
109,950€ Cortijo Grande LV626
39,950€ Cortijo Grande A1140
97,500€ Cortijo Grande LV640
395,000€
Pretty linked townhouse of 85m2 + garden/ terrace 22m2 with superb views over the golf course. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, nicely furnished. Only 15 minutes drive to the local beaches.
Very attractive 1st floor apartment of 49m2,next to the beautiful Cortijo Grande Golf course. 1 bedroom , 1 bathroom. Furnished with a brand new fitted kitchen. Perfect holiday home.
Lovely furnished front-line golf townhouse of 89m2 with breathtaking views over the golf course. 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, private terrace. Short drive to towns & beaches.
An extremely private detached villa of 249 m2 on 20,462 m2 with superb views to the sea. In superb order throughout. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms. Garage, terraces, gardens & plenty of room for a pool.
85,000€ Valle del Este A1148 A quality 2nd floor apartment of 70m2 in a well kept community next to the golf course. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Garage parking & storeroom. 2community pools. Country views.
52,000€
Turre
A1161
Quality 2nd floor apartment of 59m2 + south-facing terrace with lift access in walking distance of the town centre. Communal roof terrace with fabulous views. 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom. Furnished. Parking.
La Parata
DV1253
125,000 € Mojácar Playa LV656 425,000 € Mojácar Playa DV1266 Extremely attractive furnished bungalow of 77m2 on 193m2 less than 5 minutes drive to the beach. 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, terraces, garden & roof terrace. Community gardens & parking.
South-facing detached villa with separate apartment less than 250 metres from the beach. 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms & furnished. Private pool, ample terraces & garage. Amazing sea views.
www.pricebrown.com Tel: +34 950 478 915 Fax: +34 950 478 963 sales@pricebrown.com
rentals@pricebrown.com
Mondays 10.00 - 13.30 & 16.00 - 19.00 Tuesdays - Fridays 9.30 - 13.30 & 16.00 - 19.00 Members of the National Association of Estate Agents Overseas
All properties listed with Price Brown comply with the consumer protection act - decreto 218/2005 11 Octobre (Andalucia).
Members of the Agrupacion Tecnica Profesional
Prices are correct for 7 days from going to print for all properties on these pages
29
30
SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES
food news...
UK farmer makes world’s first MILK VODKA
It is the drink of choice in Russia, typically made from grain and consumed by hard-bitten drinkers in sub-zero temperatures. But now farmer Jason Barber is making the world’s first milk vodka – from his herd of 250 cows at Beaminster, Dorset. Black Cow vodka has become the must-have tipple at restaurants owned by Heston Blumenthal and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. Celebrity fans include 007 star Daniel Craig and Liz Hurley. The milk from Mr Barber’s cows is separated into curds and whey. The curds are used to make cheese while the watery leftovers – whey – are fermented into a beer using a special yeast that converts the milk sugar into alcohol. This is distilled and treated in a secret blending process. The vodka is then triple-filtered before being bottled – with a gold top. It has taken Mr Barber three years to perfect the process and produce a vodka that approving experts say has ‘a creamy nose’. Mr Barber, 47, a sixth-generation farmer, had the idea after watching a TV documentary about Tuva, a small republic in Siberia, where locals make vodka from yak milk. He said: ‘I’m a big fan of vodka – it’s the only drink that doesn’t give me a hangover.’ Black Cow is made from the same milk used to make Barber’s 1833 cheddar, winner of the World Cheese Awards Cheddar Trophy 2012.
scientists: Red meat chemical ‘damages heart’
A chemical found in red meat helps explain why eating too much steak, mince and bacon is bad for the heart, say US scientists. A study in the journal Nature Medicine showed that carnitine in red meat was broken down by bacteria in the gut. This kicked off a chain of events that resulted in higher levels of cholesterol and an increased risk of heart disease. There has been a wealth of studies suggesting that regularly eating red meat may be damaging to health. In the UK, the government recommends eating no more than 70g of red or processed meat a day - the equivalent of two slices of bacon. Saturated fat and the way processed meat is preserved are thought to contribute to heart problems. However, this was not thought to be the whole story. “The cholesterol and saturated fat content of lean red meat is not that high, there’s something else contributing to increases in cardiovascular risk,” lead researcher Dr Stanley Hazen told the BBC.
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SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
send your recipes to editor@soltimes.com
the rise of the cupcake
The humble cake has become a hero of our times. We’re baking them, buying them, selling them, reading and watching TV programmes about them. While the global economy crumbles, an army of bakers has been beavering away in kitchens throughout the land, selling scones and cupcakes and, more importantly, acting as a powerful rising agent for national revenue. Where once hemlines were an indicator of the state of the stock market, with this recession we seek sweet salvation. According to a report by the Mail Online, last year we bought more than 110 million cupcakes – nearly two each for every man, woman and child. And that’s not counting the confections we made at home, quite a sum when you consider that 58 per cent of us tried baking in 2012, up from 27 per cent in 2011. Georgi Gyton,
associate editor of industry magazine British Baker says, “Cakes are an affordable luxury. Where once we treated ourselves to a meal out, now we’ve downscaled to tea and cake. What’s more, baking fits in with the back-to-basics mentality of austerity, and cupcakes and layer cakes are easy to make. The satisfaction of making a cake and decorating it yourself is incredibly uplifting. That’s why TV shows such as The Great British Bake Off have been so popular. It’s all about the feel-good factor.” Sales of bakeware and ingredients have also shot up: kitchenware specialist Lakeland sold 3,500,000 disposable piping bags in the first half of 2012, while homeware retailer Dunelm Mill has seen a surge in sales of cake tins and cooking utensils. As its chief executive Nick Wharton says, ‘Baking is becoming ingrained in the British psyche again.’
have you caught the baking bug? then Why not send us a photo of your cakes and we’ll print them here for all of our readers to enjoy! editor@soltimes.com
Grea s e tF m Ti rie d nds YELLOW Goo
STONE BAR
Food Around The World Dining Group On the last Sunday of every month starting 28th April from 12 noon
On the last Sunday of each month The Yellow Stone Bar will be holding a “Food Around The World” dining experience. You will need to pre-book your table and pay a 5€ deposit. We will visit a new country each month and sample traditionally cooked food of that country. The menu will consist of a salad followed by a choice of starters, choice of main courses and a choice of desserts. A glass of Red, White or Rose wine will be served with the main course and the total cost will be 11.95€ per person.
On Sunday
28th April
we are going to visit
THAILAND
so book early to avoid disappointment!
It will then be down to the Diners to decide the next destination for the following month and this will be announced the following day on the notice board. We can also keep you up-to-date by email or you can follow us on Facebook! Bookings are mandatory and on a “first come first served” basis.... we look forward to seeing you! ITV Find us in Piedra Amarilla CENTRE For more information and phone orders ← Albox Fines → call Paul: 634 332 178
yellowstonebar@gmail.com
Yellow Stone 1km Piedra Amarilla →
Los Mellizos Restaurant
La Alfoquia, Zurgena
We have a new chef and a new Menu !
showbar & restaurant
The Irish Rover
Your No1 Entertainment Venue in Mojacar for All the Family
Fantastic New menu of the Day only 10€ per person MAD
MONDAYS
Chicken, Chips, Salad & a Bottle of Wine per 2 People
Eagles Tribute
Only 12€
ABBA
Madness
Friday Friday Friday 31st May 10th May 12th April Chips telephone: 950 473 135 Fish w&ith
mojacar playa between Lua & Moma Beach
Open 10am till late 7 days a week
tter
Bread & Bu
5.95€
friday night mixed grill & steak special menu from Friday 12th April -- Abbie Lou Friday 19th April -- Dee Sharp Friday 26th April -- Steve Fisher
Open Mon - Fri 8am - late. Sat & Sun 9am - late
8€
Tlf: 667 919 025
32
...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES
SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
view us online www.soltimes.com ALBOX
Bar Menu & Snacks Home-made puds
MENU DEL DIA
Burgers, Lasagne, pies, Omelettes, chilli plus
5
served 12 - 3 except Fri & Sun
All Day Breakfast from 9am
onl y €
2 Courses
Includes FREE Tea or Coffee
friday & SATURDAY
Cod ‘n’ ChipS
Beerfrom battered 5.95€ Atlantic Cod, Homemade Chips, Mushy or Garden PeaS SERVED 12-9pm
Friday & Saturday
Our Restaurant is Open 6pm-9pm
EVENING from MENU 5.95€
Traditional SUNDAY LUNCH
ly Delicious & Home-cooked n o served A Choice of Topside Of Beef & 12.30 - 5pm Yorkshire Pudding; Roast Pork With Crackling And Apple Sauce Tender or Roast Chicken With Stuffing - all served with Locallygrown Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables & a Glass Of House Wine, Tubo of Beer or a Coffee
6.95€ to include a FREE Drink
Starters, Puddings - 2€ each
SUNDAY SERVED 10AM-12PM
BREAKFAST
Activities at
Monday
Wednesday
Tuesday
Thursday
Rock ‘n’ Roll - 7:30pm Line Dancing 7:30pm
Quirky Quiz - 7:30pm
Ceroc Dancing & Fun Social Night 7:30pm
all welcome ...Art Classes (held most days) ... plus Computer Club...Keep fit & slimming classes check the board for times ALBOX
•••
← ARBOLEAS BAZA → Av•••AL . L BO ep an X → to jacksalbox@gmail.com
OPEN 9AM-LATE MON-SAT 10-6 SUN @
BP Garage
950 120 718 / 610 641 567
g htenin g ri f The . . . t u abo th u tr
crisps
Should packets of crisps carry a health warning? You might scoff at the suggestion, but it comes as evidence emerges to show the snack is bad news — fuelling not just the obesity and heart disease epidemics, but linked to developmental problems in unborn babies, hyperactivity in children and potentially cancer in adults. The risks would not be so critical were it not for the alarming extent to which Britain’s crisp-munching habit has grown. Last week a YouGov poll found that a third of British children eat crisps every day. The other twothirds of UK children eat them several times a week. In fact, Britons polish off six billion packets a year — the equivalent of one ton of crisps every three minutes or almost 100 packets per person. Snacking on a packet a day — as so many of Britain’s children now do — can add up to the equivalent of drinking almost five litres of cooking oil per year to their diet. That is not to mention fat, sugar and salt the packs contain. All this may seem difficult to believe of those innocent-looking grab bags crowding the shelves at the corner shop, supermarket and petrol station. But the fun logos and bright colours mask a product that has been industrially perfected to tantalise our taste buds to the point of addiction. So claims Michael Moss, the author of newly published book: Salt, Sugar, Fat: How The Food Giants Hooked Us. His investigations have revealed how decades of research by food-making giants have transformed crisps from the mildly enticing snacks of the Seventies into products designed to smart-bomb our brains’ craving centres with precision chemistry. When you pop a crisp in your mouth, he explains, the taste of salt hits you almost immediately. It’s an effect that the salt industry calls ‘the flavour burst’. Modern crisps are also loaded with fat to provide something that the industry calls ‘mouthfeel’. This makes the experience of eating modern-day crisps similar to the pleasure sensation you get when you bite into gooey cheese.
We feel this fat through a nerve called the trigeminal, which sits above and behind the mouth. It sends tactile information to the brain. The better the mouthfeel, the more we desire it. Combined with the salt and fat is the sugar that is naturally packed in the potato starch. This completes the trio of flavours that our instinctive brains naturally crave, says Moss. But the ultimate secret weapon of today’s crisps is their scientifically honed crispiness. ‘Research has found that the more noise a crisp makes when you bite into it, the more you will like it,’ Moss says. This has set snack giants in search of the perfect crave-inducing crunch. They have discovered things such as ‘the perfect break point’ (apparently, we love crisps that snap with four pounds of pressure per square inch). Another trick is to label such products ‘gourmet’, as if that makes their ingredients really any less bad for you when overeaten. All this helps to explain why so many of us ‘love’ crisps. But this highly seductive high-intensity burst of fat, sugar and salt comes at a potential price to our health. Consumed in excess, these ingredients are well-proven by research to increase our risk of obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and coronary disease. In children, over-consumption can put them on the path to a lifetime of ill-health. Moreover, science is now revealing a host of more insidious threats specific to crisps. Crisps are now the single largest contributor to the obesity epidemic in the U.S., according to research published in the authoritative New England Journal of Medicine by cardiologist and food researcher Dr Dariush Mozaffarian. He says: ‘All foods are not equal, and just eating in moderation is not enough.’ In his research, of all foods potatoes stand out as weight-pilers, but especially crisps. It is not just that crisps are easily available and highly fattening, he said. They also make you physically crave more of them.
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SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
email your favourite recipes to editor@soltimes.com
STARTER
e N i r r e t ricot ta to salad
...FOOD & ENTERTAINING METHOD
Preheat the oven to 200C/gas 6. Peel the beetroot, leaving a little stalk on each one, and cut into 4. Line a baking tray with tinfoil. Then, on another large sheet of foil, add the beetroot and scatter with half the thyme, 2tsp of oil and half the honey. Season and toss together to coat evenly. Bring the edges of the foil up to make a parcel. Put onto the lined tray and bake for 30-35 minutes. Meanwhile, cut the cod into 4 pieces and place them on a foil-lined baking tray, dust with paprika, salt and pepper, and drizzle with 2tsp of the oil. Snap off the tough ends of the asparagus stalks. Remove the beetroot from the foil and place on the tray, then add the asparagus, together with the rest of the thyme, honey and remaining oil. Season and return to the oven, along with the fish, and cook for 8-10 minutes. This dish can be served hot or cold.
with toma
INGREDIENTS Serves 4 6 small beetroot, around 350g (12oz) 3 large sprigs of thyme, leaves picked off 4tsp runny honey 2tbsp olive oil 750g (1lb 10oz) cod loin ¼tsp sweet paprika, plus extra for serving 250g (9oz) whole asparagus Salt and freshly ground black pepper
& y e n o H Cod With ot Beetro
INGREDIENTS Serves 4- 6 4 eggs & 1 egg yolk 250g (9oz) ricotta, drained 75g (2½oz) manchego cheese, grated 20g (¾oz) plain flour ½tsp dried green peppercorns, roughly crushed Sea salt 1tbsp chopped chives 2tbsp chopped chervil 1½tbsp tarragon For the basil dressing 1 small basil plant 5tbsp extra virgin olive oil Pinch of sugar 2tsp white wine vinegar 1tsp Dijon mustard 2tbsp finely grated manchego cheese To serve Assorted coloured tomatoes, quartered
33
METHOD
Preheat the oven to 180C/gas 4. Line a 500g (1lb 2oz) loaf tin with waxed paper, leaving a slight overlap. Whisk together the whole eggs and the single yolk in a bowl. Tip the ricotta into a large bowl and whisk in the egg a little at a time. Add the herbs, pepper and salt, and spoon into the loaf tin. Place the tin in a deep, large roasting tray and fill this with hot water to half way up the sides of the loaf tin, then place in the oven Bake for 45 minutes until golden and firm to touch. Lift the tin out of the water and cool for about 15 minutes. Remove the terrine and gently peel away the paper. To make the dressing, pluck the leaves off the basil plant and place in a heat-proof bowl. Pour over boiling water to cover, leave for 30 seconds, then drain in a colander. Refresh the leaves under cold water, then pat dry with kitchen paper and place in a small food processor with the other ingredients and whizz to a fine purée. Slice the terrine and serve with the tomatoes, a spoonful of the basil dressing
MAIN
DESSERT
urt h g o Y n e z o Tropical Fr pple Crisps With Pinea INGREDIENTS 1 small ripe pineapple (about 375-400g/13-14oz) 2tbsp golden caster sugar 175g (6oz) golden caster sugar 600g (1lb 5oz) thick coconut yoghurt Finely grated zest and juice of 2 limes 20g (¾oz) mint leaves, finely chopped
METHOD
Preheat the oven to 100C/gas ¼. To make the crisps, peel the pineapple and cut off 8-12 paper-thin slices. Put them on a baking tray lined with a cooling rack, sprinkle over the 2tbsp of sugar and bake for 3 hours, or until the edges are turning brown. Leave to cool in the oven and then remove and store in an air-tight container until needed. To make the tropical frozen yoghurt, core the remaining pineapple, roughly chop and blend the flesh in a food processor to make a purée. Mix together the sugar, yoghurt, lime zest and juice, and mint in a large mixing bowl and add the pineapple purée. Now pour the mixture into an ice-cream maker and churn until thick, then freeze. To serve, scoop the frozen yoghurt into dessert glasses or bowls and serve with the pineapple crisps.
...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES
SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
STANDARD CROSSWORD
Down
1 Female singing range (7) 2 A skin softener (9) 3 A daughter of Agamemnon (Greek mythology) (7) 4 Long and thin (9) 5 Savor (5) 6 Show religious devotion (7)
7 Revolutionary (5) 8 One who twists fibers into threads (7) 14 Longing for something past (9) 16 Simple or naive in style (9) 17 An officer of the court (7) 18 A loose African men’s tunic (7) 20 Manifestations of a Hindu deity (7) 21 Candidate (7) 23 Bearskin (5) 24 A group of south Pacific islands (5)
CRYPTIC crossword
CROSSWORD
1 Celebration of funny, fat Elvis (8) 2 Unemotional woman returning with plenty! (6) 3 Gold, headless insect without soldiers’ decoration (8) 4 Heard every street for ever (6) 6 Both sides in a
Very Hard!
SUDOKU PUZZLE SOLUTIONS
Down
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.
1 Searchers (7) 5 Hinders (7) 9 Children (9) 10 Jewish teacher (5) 11 Allocated (7) 12 A military unit (7) 13 Surgical procedure (9) 15 What we write on (5) 17 Restrained (5) 19 Pregnancy (9) 22 Asserts (7) 25 Reversion (7) 26 Pertaining to modern
day Persia (5) 27 The moving of a group (9) 28 A southern state (7) 29 Spartan (7)
HARD SUDOKU
Across
5 Worthless sailor with aeroplane going round Cuba (6) 7 Safe hospital member with the foreign ship (8) 9 Voting system taking toy for one who talks idly (8) 10 Slowly notice a soldier with nothing (6) 11 Reds’ revival’s making for harsh employers (5,7) 13 Reported part put in by handheld shelter (6) 15 Sailor quiet on fish (6) 18 Change crosspiece to be appearing threedimensional (12) 21 A French daughter after official pay back (6) 22 Way out of my left overs initially, given back to knowledgeable person (8) 23 Con upset person out of a half-rial (8) 24 In chrome thy Lada’s radical (6)
rugby fabrication - a felony (8) 7 That man has control (almost) within this place (6) 8 List awfully with a little gap (4) 12 Fiddled pay centre missing with adroit footwork? (8) 14 Die, lying devastated and giving up (8) 16 Open land up pal - for fellow lodger (8) 17 Very quiet - look outside for hot stuff! (6) 18 Game of drink? (6) 19 I’m unfortunately bringing up meat (6)
CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
coffee break
Across
STANDARD SUDOKU
34
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SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
view us online www.soltimes.com Climate Change May Drastically Reduce Traditional Wine-Producing Areas, Study Says Amid growing concerns that climate change may be negatively impacting agriculture and food industry operations worldwide, a new study suggests that the winemaking industry as we known it may soon be forever altered. A report by the Huffington Post indicates that rising temperatures and changes in rainfall are already rendering traditional grape-growing regions in the Mediterranean, such as areas in southern France and Tuscany, Italy, less suitable for producing quality crops, according to the study, published Monday in Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences. “The numbers that came back were so mind-boggling,” said Dr. Lee Hannah, lead author of the study, which was conducted by Conservation International and the Environmental Defense Fund. The study predicts that by 2050, areas suitable for grape cultivation will decrease between 25 and 73 percent in major wine-producing regions. Some wineries may be forced to move to higher elevations, which could have negative environmental consequences for native wildlife. Those that stay put may resort to using irrigation techniques to maintain production levels, which the study’s authors worry may have problematic consequences for freshwater conservation. Wines from traditional regions may also be more difficult to find in coming years. “It’s going to become more expensive to grow wine in those regions,” Hannah said. Wine is very susceptible to changes in climate and temperature, Hannah said, because climate changes affect terroir, or the environmental conditions in which grapes are grown. This in turn influences the taste of wine. On the flip side, some areas are experiencing better conditions for making wine. In New Jersey, winemakers shocked industry professionals last year at a storied tasting dubbed the “Judgment of Princeton.” There, wines from the so-called “Armpit of America” held their own against much more established and celebrated French wines. Although that’s good news for some people -- could New Jersey be home to the next Sonoma or Napa? -- the study’s authors question what the shifting landscape may mean for other regions. Areas near Yellowstone National Park and the mountains of central China will become suitable for grape growth, they say, and that could be detrimental to local wildlife. Areas expected to enjoy improved terroir in China fall mainly in giant panda habitats. Wine consumption in China has expanded exponentially in recent years. Earlier this year, The Wall Street Journal reported that sales of wine in China increased by 20 percent to about $41 billion in 2012, compared to the year before. “Future conservation efforts for the giant panda need to incorporate consideration of viticulture as a potential land use and viticultural suitability trends in response to climate change,” the study says. But climate change itself may not present the gravest threat to wildlife. “It’s likely that the indirect impacts of the agriculture sector adapting to climate change as crops begin to move ... will be bigger on wildlife than the direct effects of climate change,” said Dr. Rebecca Shaw, an author of the study who is also a senior scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund. “That, particularly in places like China, is going to have implications for wildlife.”
Bay bistro Next to Mediterraneo, Mojacar Playa
The Fresh Food Restaurant
Menu del Dia Deli Sandwich ONLY 9.95€ Menu Menu de la Noche from 6.95€ ONLY 12.95€ Full a la Carte all new e Menu spring tim Available menu open e a d ytim gs in n & eve
Sunday Lunch Special
3 Courses
Including Roast of the Week
closed tuesday’s
Only 9.95€
628 Tel:Tel: 950 450 199761 • 628391 761 391
To avoid disappointment please call and reserve your table
La
35
el Cucador
VidaRestaurant&Venue
this week’s restaurant specials
Enjoy Wonderful Views over the Olive Groves from our Candelit Restaurant wed - sat evenings Open 6pm-9pm
Savoury Stuffed Chicken 7.45€ Tender chicken breast filled with olives, onion, carrot & tomato served on a bed of peppered cabbage Chinese Pork Tenderloin7.95€ Medallions of pork in ginger, garlic & soya sauce served with rice
full selection of all your favourites - all homemade
Salmon & Asparagus 7.95€ Steamed salmon & asparagus served with a dill butter sauce on wilted spinach THE ABOVE MAINS ARE SERVED WITH A CHOICE OF POTATOES & SEASONAL VEGETABLES
menu changes weekly plus specials board
Starters: Ask for today’s choice of Starters, 2.50€ each
incl: fish of the day
Scrumptious Homemade Puddings Ask your waitress for the specials of the day, all 2.50€ each!
16oz steaks & mixed grills always available
Cheese & Biscuits Selection A selection of Cheeses served with biscuits & homemade chutney 3.50€
traditional sunday lunch served 12.30PM - 5PM
to include a complimentary coffee & chocolate
booking recommended
fridays
Beer-battered cod
from
5.95€ in the Bar
homemade chips & peas
bar lunches
served 12.30pm - 9pm booking advisable
6€ FOR TWO COURSES SERVED 12:30-3:30PM
lite menu
ALSO served from 12-9pm
~ bar specials ~
Tuesday
cod, chips & peas only 6 - 9pm or chicken curry & rice 5€ 1/2 roast chicken, only wednesday chips & salad 5 6 - 9pm or gammon chips & peas €
thursday ...is pie night! only 6 - 9pm delicious homemade pie, 5€ chis & peas
Open Every Day 12pm - Late
Tel: 950 634 562 lavidacucador@gmail.com
We are here
Albox Arboleas Zurgena La Alfoquia
Mojacar
E15
1km
La Vida
Cucador Junc 547 Huercal Overa
book the Venue
For your Private Parties, Weddings and Birthdays etc.
36
...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES
SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
SEND YOUR NEWS AND VIEWS TO editor@soltimes.com
allen needs a forever home
Allen is a Corgi mix, a breed that is a favourite of Queen Elizabeth of England. If you happen to see the Queen sometime soon, perhaps you could tell her about Allen! He is not a grand dog though and he would love to be YOUR best friend.
He is about 30 cm and weighs about 10 kilos. He has a damaged paw at the moment which is currently receiving treatment at the Sanctuary. He is a very friendly and sociable little dog. We think has already been with a family because he has a very endearing nature. However, when he meets strangers for the first time, he is a bit careful and shy at the beginning. This is probably because of his recent experiences. As you can imagine, being abandoned must be very traumatic. Do you know anybody who would like to take Allen into their home? If you can’t give Allen a home, perhaps you would like to become a member of the shelter
Notice
The ‘Friday Tapas Group’ meet up at 1pm each week (Friday) and the venues for the next three weeks are as follows: 12th April - Bar Cuellar in the Urb. at Bahia Serena Hotel. 19th April - Burty’s Bar. 26th April - no meeting. 3rd May - Lady Lay & La Bodeguina.
Anyone is welcome to join in and have a laugh, exchange views and ideas. The more, the merrier and the bar owners enjoy it too!
Burty’s BAR Playa Serena, roquetas de mar
sun - fri from 11am - 6pm Closed saturday
huge sunny terrace us bar and spacio Come and Catch the Winter Sun Tuesday pie night 5.30pm - 8.30pm
Steak & Ale, chicken, Bacon & Mushroom or Mince, Onion & Potato with chips & mushy peas or potatoes & vegetables. €6.95 Booking essential by 6pm Monday
Every Thursday
Special Steak Night 5pm – 8.30pm
6oz Sirloin Steak, Real Chips, Fried Onion, Mushrooms & Mixed Salad Only 8.95€ Larger Steaks & Baby Fillet Available
Booking Essential By 6pm Wednesday
Tapas served from 1 pm Next Table top Sale
28th april call to reserve a table
every thursday quiz 2.15pm prompt
tuesday
bingo 2.30pm
anglican church service 3rd thursday of the month 11:30am
next service 18th April
Opposite Playa Luna Hotel between Oasis & New York New York. Tel: 679 156 715
or even sponsor a dog. If you want a form for either of these options, send an email to geoffalmeria@hotmail.com and a form will be sent to you.
Failing these options, of course the shelter is always in need of blankets, towels and food etc. which can be taken to the Sanctuary. You can send monetary contributions directly into the Sanctuary’s Bank account. Details where you can visit, or for adoptions forms, please apply to the same email address. If you want to visit the Sanctuary to adopt a dog, you can visit on Saturday mornings. There are a lot to choose from, large and small. The best time for material donations, including food, is during the week. A warm welcome at the Sanctuary is assured for all those wanting to support the Sanctuary. Thank you for reading this appeal.
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SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
37
ROQUETAS DE MAR Happy Birthday Rob Enjoy your birthday in the sun, from Ged, Hudson & Steve XXXXX
sue
Have a wonderful day and enjoy the party!!! Love from all your friends and family xxx
moby also needs a forever home
This is Moby, a very cute puppy who was born on December 7th 2012. Moby is a male dog from the SOCIEDAD PROTECTORA DE ANIMALES DE ROQUETAS DE MAR. He really is in need of a loving home. Can you help? His weight is 2.8 kilos. We think he will stay small and might weigh around 6-7kg as an adult - he looks like a Chihuahuacross. He gets along well with other dogs and cats. He is sociable, affectionate and very friendly. Right now he is too small to stay at the shelter and is being taken care of by a lady who already has two dogs and two cats of her own. She says that Moby is very good and sleeps the whole night through on his cushion If you can’t give Moby a home, perhaps you would like to become a member of the shelter or sponsor a dog. If you want a form for either of these options, send an email to geoffalmeria@hotmail.com and a form will be sent to you. Failing these options, please be aware that the shelter is always in need of blankets, towels etc. which can be taken to the Sanctuary. Monetary contributions can be sent direct to the Sanctuary’s Bank account. Details where you can visit, or for adoptions forms, please apply to the same email address. If you want to visit the Sanctuary to adopt a dog, you can visit on Saturday mornings. During the week is best for material donations. A warm welcome at the Sanctuary is assured for wouldbe adopters. Thank you for reading this appeal...
what’s on
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 - 2:30pm Bingo Tuesday - Pie Night Thursdays - Quiz 2:15pm Thursday - Steak Night Table Top Sale - 28th April Bar cARDIES................................... NOW OPEN!! See our advert on the BACK PAGE! Chaplins pub..................................... Opening Hours: Open 1pm til’ close Tuesday to Sunday, 5pm til’ close Monday 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
Cabo del Gato
The Cabo de Gata covers 61km and is protected by Unesco as a Biosphere Reserve, due to its high ecological value. There are many hiking trails, as well as several villages of interest around the coastline. There are also many beaches with cliffs, capes, and volcanic hills as a backdrop. Wildlife in the Park include eagles, pink flamingo, wall lizards, grass snakes, to name a few. There are many beaches in the Park. Most are situated at the east and south end, and although popular during the summer, the Cabo de Gata beaches are have a rural feel to them, and do not get full to the brim with holiday makers.
lady lay.............................................. Tuesday Night - Curry Night NEW YORK, NEW YORK........................... Wednesday - Carvery 5pm-10pm Friday - Fish’n’Chips Sunday - Carvery 1pm-5pm 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......................................... SKY SPORTS Monday 8:30pm Bingo Roquetas Bridge Club........................ meets on Monday’s at 15.00. For more information please contact Alison Ferguson 950349749 or Sue Barlow 950333344
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.
La Grappa
Authentic Italian Restaurant
• Pizzas • Fresh Pastas • Fresh Fish • Argentinian BBQ’d Food On The Terrace
BBQ
EVERY DAY
Open 12 - 4pm 7 - 12.30am Av. Playa Serena, 37 Roquetas de Mar
950 334 188 609 337 316
to reserve your table
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
estampa apas T
Ta
Bar
y outdoor n n u s s u io c Spa ating 24 e s e c a r r te SKY TV
Tapas/Snacks English Breakfast Fish & Chips Coffees & Cakes sky sports now being shown Cocktails/Sangria
Open 10am - late (Closed Tuesday) FREE WI-FI Next door to Zurimar 678 202 160
38
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SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
SOL CLASSIFIEDS SOLTIMES Air-con
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BY TELEPHONE
Between 10am & 5pm
Monday to Friday
950 121 936 or 902 121 936 BY E-MAIL Send your advert or Classified lineage to
sales@soltimes.com IN PERSON
los carasoles, 27 Zurgena, 04650, Almeria
Mon to Fri 10am - 5pm above New Horizon Villas
DEADLINES
All adverts Friday at 5pm prior to publication FOR SALE
advertise all your unwanted items
for sale in this section
any single item up to 300€ free of charge
email: sales@soltimes.com
Scuba Diving Equipment for sale. Too much to list. 260€ Tel: 620 112 193 Timber shed 7ft high, 6ft wide, 5.5ft length, good condition €300; Octagonal bird cage 7ft tall, 5ft wide €300; Roof rack Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer €200 Tel: 674 515 770 (Cantoria area) STURDY BED SETTEE, Green, VGC, 100€ ono, Urbanisation Roquetas De Mar, Tel 950 334 544 Wii Game Console complete with controllers,Balance Board, Wii Fit game and more can be seen working,all as new. 150€ Ring Vera area 634302967 Dunlop golf
Carry bag colour black with stand 30€ Ring Vera area 634302967 White bathroom glass shelve and matching towel rail made by Tatay as new all complete. 5€for both Ring Vera Area 634302967 Pair of lilac voile tab top curtains plus matching voile scarf curtain 10 euros. Health grill good condiion 10€ Tel 634873035 (Arboleas) Large Daewoo TV and pine TV unit on wheels both for 35€! Also free real leather cream armchair! Tel 676827525 or 950930721 CHEST FREEZER - Compact size,
Airport services www.AAparking.es Tel: 639 081 067
Cheap
Airport Parking
Alicante Almeria Murcia New Servicing / Repairs
A i rport tr a n s f er s pick up all areas, competitive rates. For a quote please visit www. spanish estateagent.c om or call 661 143 871
excellent working order, slight superficial damage. 30€ BREVILLE silver jug kettle. 3 months old, as new. 15€ TEL: 689 581 752 (Cantoria) G E O R G E FOREMAN family sized grill, c/w stand. Excellent condition. 30€ TEL: 689 581 752 (Cantoria) PHILLIPS stainless steel 2 cup Expresso machine, integral coffee grinder. As new. 30€ TEL: 689 581 752 (Cantoria) MOULINEX bread maker, as new. c/w 2 recipe books. 30€ TEL: 689 581 752 (Cantoria) S I LV E RC R E S T ultrasonic cleaner. As new. 7€ TEL: 689 581 752 (Cantoria)
wanted w a n te d tiles mosaic small swimming pool tiles odd bits & pieces, can collect, any selection, any coulour, 647 379 878
MD Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration S.L. City & Guilds Fully Qualified F-Gas Certified
MD S.L
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
construction
electrical cont...
Constructions
A & B electrical for all your electrical needs, Tel: Aran 678 942 314 or Blas 662 470 647 Knowles & Abbott no.1 for electrics and plumbing. Re-wires, free to air UK satellite systems 950 137 208 or 638 010 691
Martinez moreno cb (Rambla de Oria) All types of building work undertaken inc plumbing & electrics
email: info@md-aircon.com
md_aircon@mobileemail.vodafone.es
tel: 609 421 734 (Spanish) tel: 696 052 044 (English)
alternative energy
drainage
950 432 110 / 607 364 917
607 364 917 or 950 432 110
Solar Wind Power Solutions. Over 15 years installation experience. established 12 years in Spain. 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 rlo s s a l i e n te 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
business opportunity
Business Opportunity
Good size beauty room to rent in busy salon call cutting edge on 950 633 086
FOR SALE
25% share of well established wellness centre that is due for expansion. genuine reason for sale for further information telephione
634 353 862
genuine enquiries only
computers Steve Hayes Informatica
Pc’s, Laptops, Printers etc. Sales & Repairs on-site callout / tuition. Consumables Albox, Almeria
Tel: 950 120 900
SOLTIMES
Now offer our Classified advertisers
5 LOCAL EDITIONS
...Let the Soltimes team help your business grow...
www.soltimes.com for more information
online at
950 121 936 or 902 121 936 EXT 332
equipment hire
Cleaning of Septic Tanks ▪ Emptying of septic Tanks & Cesspits, with high pressure cleaning ▪ Small unblockages of pipes & drainage
Pool Cleaning & Water Tanks
Contact: 675 838 808
BABY HIRE
furniture
Everything for
Linea
the visiting baby Car seats,high chairs, stair gates, cots etc Tel: 950 436 581
LICENSED POZO/CESSPIT EMPTYING • Installation of fibreglass
septic tanks
or 666 375 688 expectingababy@ hotmail.co.uk
• Blocked Toilets, Sinks, Baths & Drains • CCTV Surveys • Drain Tracing • Turbine Root Cutting • All types of domestic plumbing carried out
Nueve sofas kitchens bedroom furniture Arboleas
Tel: 950 120 630
gardening
landscape gardening
950 091 109 or 648 768 587
Drainage Solutions
• Emergency Drain Cleaning • High Pressure Water Jetting • CCTV Surveys • Drainage Repairs • Location of Cesspits • Qualified Engineer • Expert Reports
Established 7 years in spain
Tel: 616 531 283 or 670 088 966 electrical
ELECTRICIAN Neil Godwin
25 years experience
Full City & Guilds
Fully
insured & legal
Boletins supplied
Tel : 687 245 569
• Block work • Balustrades • Paving Driveways & Paths
Call Graham & Barry now for free estimate 620 112 193 or 667 853 062 potty finca services professional tree felling & pruning, including all types of palm trees
strimming of overgrown gardens & hedge cutting spanish registered. logs available ring john on 616 855 294 or 950 163 930
heating 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
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SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
39
www.soltimes.com health & beauty
NUMBER PLATES
avon cosmetics
“RE-PLATE” MATE
claire Tel: 691 987 454
avonfromclaire@yahoo.es house clearance
THE HOUSE CLEARING SPECIALIST
Immediate Cash. Quick decision. * We cover all areas * We turn up, give cash & carry * We buy almost anything – The Highest Cash Prices Paid **ONLY serious & immediate sellers should call please**
Tel: 679 207 545 or 636 411 540
insurance
hobby/craft
GB
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
Elaine’s Wools
www.replatematecostablanca.com
quality UK wool &
OPTICIANS
accessories. Come & view my display Also at
available Camposol,
Mazarron Call 667 273 889 elaines
glenn & jayne
have great offers on Life Insurance same people same great service new name
Tel: 950 121 943
infoalbox.libertyseguros@gmail.com
Optica Albox All your optical needs, eye tests, hearing tests, contact lenses Tel: 950 121 991
PAINTER / DECORATOR
painter & decorator
over 25 years experience
PROPERTY FOR SALE/rent
Personal cont...
Refined Mature lady 60+ would like to meet a single kind gental man aged 65/75 who is looking for love & friendship. a smoker ok but not a heavy drinker good sense of humour finacially stable Palaces Nr Zurgena area call between 4pm - 8pm evening
633 823 255 PETS SECTION
pet taxi TRAVELLING IN AIR CONDITIONED VEHICLE DELIVERED TO DOOR PETS STAY IN PET FRIENDLY HOTELS. ACCOMPANIED TRAVEL AVAILABLE
(0034) 667 235 205 (sp) (0044) 7850 575862
young budgies for sale
Property for rent in Cucador Self contained 1 large bed casita, bathroom, lounge & kitchen area, partly furnished, A/C, Private, Fabulous views, use of pool & jacuzzi
VERA APARTMENT FOR RENT SHORT-TERM/HOLIDAY RENTAL
60€ a week
2 BEDROOM, 2 BATHROOM, pENTHOUSE APARTMENT IN VERA PLAYA ALL MOD CONS, BALCONY & ROOF TERRACE OFFERING FANTASTIC VIEWS cALL 663 977 230 EMAIL: gedfab@yahoo.com Vera Playa Apartment
Call 647 379 878
for SALE detatched cortijo
plus utilities (suit lady, small dog welcome)
Reduced €39,950
Apartment For Sale
cortij0 grande golf course
1 bed, 1 bath apartment fully fitted kitchen, white goods, parking, lovely views. Ideal golfing holiday apartment. Close to Mojacar / Turre.
T: 664 291 793
jescott29@hotmail.co.uk
PLASTERER B ritish All plasterer work guaranteed Tel Paul 634 327 201
20mins from mojacar, 4 beds, 2 baths, Open plan living areas, kitchen & diningroom as well as a workshop, courtyard front & back & room for a pool. Mountain views.
Build 256 m², Terrace 100m², Plot 1200m²
€150,000
Tel: 649 186 107
thunderpaul2003@hotmail.ccom
PROPERTY TO RENT – URCAL 2 Bedroom Casita.Furnished or Unfurnished. Fully Fitted Kitchen, Log Burner, Internet Connection, Large Fly Free Patio within a large Fenced area. Available from the middle of March.
plumbing lilacs,blues, greens & CARLOS SALIENTE iron/metal works Plumbing and yellows Heating offer T & T Metals Avery bred 300€ pcm inc. water The Metal machined boiler For all quality male & female decals for gas water works Tel: 666 281 323 metal works, heaters for just €65 only €10 Grills, railings, gates – aguafuerte is not including gates, Now! the answer! Call 950 of all types, security/ email thunderpaul2003@hotmail.com Ready railings, rejas, ARBOLEAS Tel: 930 900 or 968 969 staircases, sliding/roller, rejas, For all your painting needs inside 647 379 795 self contained 1 bedroom 962, email carlos. gazebos & saliente@gmail.com apartment with B & B facilities concertina doors etc. & out contact Graham on 620 112 193 chain-link offered starting from 25€ per No need for Tel: Keith Wood on Plumber fencing now covering mainland spain
wools@gmail.com
give your property or business a fresh look this spring
Tel: 649 186 107 or
Tel: 950 431 738
638 900 949
legal
If you wish us to print an article about a particular topic in our regular space on pg 21, please email info@daviessolicitors.com locksmith
commercial & major retail painter’s
expert quality workmanship visit our website for more info tntpainters@live.co.uk woodhouse www.tntpaintersltd.co.uk boarding kennels Personal
“Readers of a sensitive disposition may find some of the advertisments in this section offensive”
VERA PLAYA
Tel: 697 243 181
& cattery arboleas Small friendly kennels, 24hr vets service, pet transporting arranged, welcome to view ministry approved
YOUNG PRETTY GIRLS
Tracy Mobile 650 211 952
24 HOURS • STRIPTEASE tEL: 687 891 515
friendly mare 9 years old 14.3hh 1.50m 500€ telephone 678 838 547
with barbie bodies 90-60-90 french, brunettes & columbians
Phil the Pick Locksmith 24 hours. Locked Out? Locks fitted/upgraded house safes. Arboleas & surrounding area. Special weekend rates.
kennels or cattery, Pet sitting in your own home, Arboleas & local area. Call Vanessa on 637 061 482
KNOWLES AND ABBOTT No 1 for Plumbing & Electrics All types of Plumbing
Central Heating Gas/Oil - Solar Hot Water Boiler Servicing, Repairs & Replacements Water Leaks - Sewage Blockages Water Deposit Tanks 500-8000l Pool Pumps - Septic Tanks Osmosis Systems
TELEPHONE: 950137197 / 606807797
Gas Safe Registered
For all your plumbing needs Fully Qualified heating engineer
contact barry 667 853 062 or graham 620 112 193
night, walking distance of Arboleas & Zurgena
Tel: 950 449 074 or 634 368 071
Long term rentals also considered 175€ + bills chalmersj8@hotmail.co.uk
PROPERTY management
Clean Sweep
Property Management
Everything For You Not Just Cleaning
Any Repairs Painting, Plastering, Window Cleaning, Replacement Windows, Gardening Translations ITV’s, Hospital, Endesa & Any Phone Calls
VERY GOOD RATES English: 622 034 479 or 633 831 877 Spanish: 622 769 332
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SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
are you a trade Business? advertise in the classified section & reach over 30,000 potential customers 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 REMOVALS
recruitment
SOLTIMES are looking for A
spring e into th e r futu with es sol tim
Bright, enthusiastic person with an outgoing personality to join our sales team as a Sales Representitive for the Mojacar & the surrounding areas Experience not essential as full training will be given. as long as you’re cheerful, organised, self motivated & can work to deadlines!
Send your CV to cmm@soltimes.com or telephone Chrissie on 647 379 878
We are a well established company operating both in the UK and in Spain for over 20 years.
Due to company expansion we are recruiting individuals to join our existing direct sales team. We are looking for experienced, motivated individuals with use of their own car. In return we offer and attractive package including paid holidays, expenses and commissions.
please contact Chelsie on 608 817 689 or email chelsie@avalonsl.es
Gestoria Salvador, a consulting company established in Almeria since 1969 is opening a new office in Mojacar and requires a Manager with excellent communication skills and knowledge of the Mojacar area. The individual must have experience in tax consultancy, legal work, book keeping and other administrative services, Spanish and English speaking is essential. An additional language is advantageous. Send your CV with photo to our email ags@gruposalvador. es Tel 950 237 155
satellite/television
A1 Sky Television Systems
Fully Qualified Stylist
Required for busy Satellite TV installations, alignment of dishes etc. salon in Albox Please call Also Spanish “freeview” systems Cutting Edge for supplied & installed details
Tel Dave: 628 607 778
Tel: 950 633 086
Sky Digibox Pace with sky card BBC 1, 2, 3, 4 ITV1, 2, 3, ch4 & 5
swimming pool safety
can deliver.
60€
Tel: 667 235 205
DAVE’S TRANSPORT 7.5 Ton, Lorry Part loads, Self load/Unload Minimal rates, Owner Driver Spain/uk/Local
motoring section for sale
car & van hire
Sell your vehicle with this size advert for only 10€
Van, car & driver
for hire
house & garden clearances, collections & deliveries, weekly collections from IKEA,
Storage available, based “Los Gallardos” &”hertfordshire”
Call now 0034 620 049 524 (Es) 00 44 794 3135 214 (UK) woodnco@hotmail.com
Airport transfers Almeria 60€ one way, 110€ return Alicante 80€ one way, 150€ return
call paulette on
950 121 936 or 902 750 190 Ford Focus 1.8CDTI GHIA 100BHP Silver Estate: 144,000km 2003/04, LHD, tow bar, Electric Mirrors & front windows, CD player, AC, economical & reliable family car, good condition, genuine reason for sale ITV till Aug 2014 Recently serviced (new brake pads) 3.300€ o.n.o Call 633 234 635 or 677 849 153 or emailnessgav@hotmail.com
mobile mechanics
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
Mikes
Mobile Mechanics
All types of service, repair & ITV testing Fully qualified & legal with over 35 years experience
Ring Mike or Chris: 628 350 178 or 636 824 974
solar power system
www.ecocorp.eu at ecocorp we do not just sell you a system we deliver, install &
guarantee everything for up to 10 years
Solar Power System kits Telephone 671 716 597 or 950 030 187
for UK phones 01332 896510
Mob: 722 294 384
stables
Rancho Luz Del Sol, Retamar, Partaloa. One to one or group lessons, NEATER HEATER latest EN standard hats provided. See our main Escorted hacking and treks. Qualified advert on the news BHS Instructor. Call Erika Drew on 678 pages 838 547
ONE WAY
*LOCAL *NATIONAL *EUROPEAN
* COLLECTION & DELIVERY *STORAGE
TEL: 667 235 205
Pick up/drop off locations Throughout UK, France and Spain
car parts
wanted
Car parts
URGENTLY REQUIRED
ENGLISH & SPANISH CARAVANS, CARS, MOTORHOMES & VANS ANY CONDITION WE COLLECT! THROUGHOUT SPAIN
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
From a parcel to a small house move
uk@fmtransport.co.uk www.fmtransport.co.uk +44 (0) 1582 499 836 +44 (0) 7977 754 389
Van hire
UK to Spain or Spain to UK
UK - SPAIN - UK Professional,Friendly & Caring Fully insured, scheduled monthly door to door service
Tel: 634 345 257
www.carpartsinspain.com
TEL: 636 411 540 OR 664 619 819
WANTED JCB’s, Mini-Diggers (All Makes), Tractors, Trailers & all other types of plant machinery. Any age, any condition.
Cash buyer All 4x4 vehicles buyer of all caravans, any condition, value from 200€ to 20,000€
Urgently Required
ALL Mitsubishi Shogun Monteo Pajero Landrover & all other makes
collect from anywhere
Tel: 645 094 339 or 950 064 763
or telephone 692 930 326
JT METAL RECYCLING NOW FULLY OPERATIONAL IN THE REGIONS OF Almeria & MURCIA Turn your old or unwanted CAR into CASH. We will dispose of in our Authorised Depollution End of Life Treatment facility. We also take fridges, washing machines , microwaves, all electrical appliances
Certificates Issued
WANTED CARS, VANS, LORRIES, TRACTORS, TRAILERS, PLANT MACHINERY
House & g arden clearances , sk ips supplied
Spanish or English
Also buyers of COPPER, BRASS, ALUMINIUM, LEAD, STAINLESS STEEL
TEL: 645 094 339 / 950 064 763
www.soltimes.com
SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
41
42
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SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
A&B
Electrical Installations -Electrical installations -Maintenance -Repairs
no job too small
English & Spanish
- Aran 678 94 23 14...............English & Spanish - Blas 662 47 06 47................Spanish
OPEN for business
The initial plan to make small savers pay for the Cyprus bailout was “not smart”, the European Central Bank (ECB) president has said.
tel: 950 930 900 968 969 962
A report by the BBC indicates that ECB president Mario Draghi had said a proposal to make “insured depositors” pay did not come from the ECB, the European Commission or the IMF. He said the proposal only arose in talks with the Cypriot authorities, and was “swiftly corrected”.
Solar Oil Gas Solid Fuel pellet
He was speaking after the ECB held eurozone interest rates at 0.75% again.
carlos.saliente@gmail.com • www.carlossaliente.com
He also suggested that the problems seen for some time in smaller, weaker economies such as Spain, were spreading to stronger economies.
Solar Hot Water & Pool Heating Full Heating Installations Water Treatment Systems Water Deposits & Pumps
fully legal company with public liability insurance Cortijo Pipa, Avda de Limaria 1, Limaria, arboleas
It was the ninth month in a row that they had been kept unchanged, but Mr Draghi indicated that the bank was ready to act, if necessary.
Cyprus eventually agreed a 10bn-euro (£8.5bn; $12.8bn) international bailout, which will see depositors with more than 100,000 euros lose some of their savings. Accounts which have less than 100,000 euros in them will not be affected, but would have been under the original bailout proposals. Speaking about the bailout, Mr Draghi said that the initial plan to impose a levy on all depositors “was not smart to say the least”. He said the ECB did not envisage savers covered by a guarantee - that is, those with up to 100,000 euros in
TNT
elite plant hire construction & drainage
• general builders • walls • jcb 3cx hire • paving • patios • extensions • roofing • cladding references available call lee on 636 092 632 eliteplanthire@hotmail.co.uk
pucker plastering & tiling Damproofing and SIKA TANKING Specialist Guaranteed British quality internal plaster finish
covering all aspects of:
Rendering, Plastering, Floor Screeding, Morticem, Partition Walls, Tape & Joint, Dry-Lining, MF Ceilings, Re-Skims, Coving, Cornice & Mouldings 28 years Experience in the trade 9 years in Spain English & Spanish Fluent
697524238
puckerplastering@hotmail.com covering Baza to Mojacar
HIRE A HUSBAND
Professional, reliable, handy man available... ...for all the jobs he doesn’t get round to, including Van Removals, Painting Exterior/Interior, Small Plumbing Jobs, Shelves, Garden Clearance, All Outside Work - Walls, Stone Cladding, Rendering etc... Property Maintenance Good hourly/daily rate - 7 yrs in the area.
Call Jim 677 557 190 Evenings 950 930 596 References available & Pics of work completed
New Walls New Roofs Structual Alterations professional bricklayer Building for you Phone Gerard - 626 730
Cyprus bailout: ECB says first Cyprus bailout plan ‘not smart’
savings - being forced to contribute towards the country’s rescue plan. “You have a pecking order, and here the insured depositors should be the very last category to be touched,” said Mr Draghi. “The (European) Commission draft directive foresees exactly this.” Mr Draghi also told a news conference that the Cyprus bailout was not a blueprint for what would happen in further bailouts. “Cyprus is no template,” he said. Mr Draghi was asked whether it would have been better for Cyprus to leave the euro. “What was wrong with Cyprus’s economy doesn’t stop being wrong if they are outside the euro,” he said. “So, the fiscal budget stabilisation, consolidation, the restructuring of the banking system would be needed anyway, whether you are in or out. To be out doesn’t preserve the country from the need for action.” He said that leaving the euro would entail a big risk for Cyprus, and that an exit from the currency could find the country having to pursue reforms “in a much more difficult environment”. The ECB president also said that the recent crisis in Cyprus had “reinforced the Governing Council’s determination to support the euro”.
AWNINGS - FLY SCREENS - INTERNAL BLINDS SHADING SPAIN, WITH...
764
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■
domestic & commercial supplied & fitted many colours & styles all areas covered free quotations signwriting service FOR COMMERCIAL
Tel: 627 907 207
www.solshaders.net
Email: solshaders@live.co.uk
S.M.S. BUILDING MAINTENANCE
All Building Work Undertaken Garages, Patios, Boundary Walls, Cladding Driveways, Tiling plus more... Painting & Decorating ( from 50€ per room including paint) Also All Exterior Painting and Damp-Proofing GUARANTEED TO BEAT ANY QUOTE For free estimate or advice please call Steve on 950 930 536 or 634 306 690
www.soltimes.com
SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
German economic output ‘at near stagnation’
Germany’s economy slowed to “near stagnation” last month, while France’s recorded its biggest contraction for four years, according to a closely watched survey. The Markit composite purchasing managers’ index (PMI), which measures both the manufacturing and services sectors, declined to 50.6 in Germany last month, from 53.3 in February. According to the BBC report, any figure above 50 indicates growth. France’s reading fell to 41.9 points, its worst since March 2009. For the eurozone as a whole, the index fell to 46.5 from 47.9 in February. Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit, said the latest data painted a gloomy picture. “The [eurozone] recession is deepening once again as businesses report that they have become increasingly worried about the region’s debt crisis and political instability,” he said. “The unresolved election in Italy was commonly cited as a key factor clouding the economic outlook in March, and the botched bail-out of Cyprus could well filter through to a further worsening of business sentiment across the region in April.” Mr Williamson added that the weak showing from Germany “suggests that the only source of bright light in an otherwise gloomy region has once again begun to fade”. Germany’s index reading was the worst in the country for three months.
FOR GREAT winter ADVERTISING RATES CALL 950 121 936 Need a Translator?... or help with NIE, Cadastre etc?
Working in conjunction with Lawyers & Spanish officials Translation Services
• Technical Manuals • Legal Contracts • Reports & Certificates • Notary / Court appearances (Vera only) • and many more
other Services
• NIE & Residencias • Cadastre • Conveyancing of properties • New Building Declarations • and many more!
Tlf. 646 844 708 Mojacar and surrounding areas
www.4wayconnections.webs.com
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elite plant hire construction & drainage
• general builders • jcb 3cx hire • patios • roofing
• walls • paving • extensions • cladding
Digger Hire available references available
call lee on 636 092 632 eliteplanthire@hotmail.co.uk
LOGS FOR SALE
FREE KINDLING WITH EVERY LOAD - Grade a Olive - No Roots - Best Prices Available
Tel: 687 314 775 Same Day Delivery & Stacking Service Available
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
Tel: 950 930 527 & 646 341 575
James & Son Removals / Storage
Upholstery
• We Upholster Chairs, Sofas and Wing Chairs • 30 years of experience • Large fabric selection • Free pick up & delivery • In home free estimates
UK, France & Spain personal shopping from the UK (Argos, Screwfix, Wickes etc)
Pet Transportation & Competitive Rates 950 529 731 / 627 968 434
Tel: 692 17 60 69
Clean Team British Plasterer Brighten up your Walls! 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
Holiday ers Change Ov m fro
€ 35 .0 0
www.cleanteamspain.com
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 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
Stunning Prints & GIANT posters A3 x 9 100’s to choose from or email your own photos...
Tel: 634 388 243
newallprints@hotmail.com
...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES
SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
€ € € € € € € € € € € € €
€ € € € € € € € € €€ € R ASHMAN € Urgently requires any goods. We buy absolutely anything from € single items to complete house clearance or business liquidation € clearances, with highest cash paid € IT’S SIMPLE AS 1. 2. 3. € 1. Call us with the list of what you have € and how much you want 2. We will turn up the same or next day € € 3. We pay cash and collect NO HASSLE + SIMPLE € € € € 679 207 545 € € € € € € € €€
M C
Murcia
E15/A7 Motorway A
x lbo
Starting Soon Soon At At Starting The Pink Pink House! House! The
622 288 750 679 207 545
Bespoke paving specialist with over 20years experience. No job too big or small. All made on site to your own design or choose from stock. Everything from stepping stones, edgings, coping, gravel effects, decorative features to driveway and patios. Full laying and landscaping service available.
20% Discount Discount ““20% REST. Balabona & Petrol Station
Vera/Mojacar EXIT 543
La Concepcion
We are here
44
on all all orders orders on placed in in May May placed 2013!” 2013!”
WANTED URGENTLY
ANY CONDITION – ANY AREA ENGLISH OR SPANISH
CARAVANS, MOTORHOMES, 4x4’s & Cars
TEL: 681 095 096 or 636 411 540
www.soltimes.com
SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
TEST DRIVE: SEAT TOLEDO
We live in extremely straitened times where most countries including the UK continue to accumulate debt. The prospect of a career for life has become virtually nonexistent. UK house prices have risen to such an extent that first time buyers are now nearly 40 years old. In fact when my father was my age he borrowed three times his salary to purchase our family home - a beautiful four bed detached property in need of updating with two acres of land in a picturesque part of Dorset. That would barely get me a one bed house in a rundown part of the next county now. Why has life become such a struggle? Most of us feel that there’s less money with which we have to do more. Consequently, the hard up motorist craves a good deal and Seat, realises this. It has responded with its Toledo, the family hatchback priced from under £13,000 to just below £18,000. And its diesel model also happens to be super economical. Thank goodness – perhaps life is
also owns Skoda. The rear wash/wipe on both models has been borrowed from the Audi A1. The washer is built into the wiper and effectively projects a jet of spray across the window unlike any other wiper I have come across. Buyers pay a premium for such innovative features on the Audi, too. Inside, the dashboard is very similar to the Rapid with the same layout and controls. Then there’s the good build quality and the hardwearing interior
not so bad after all. Named after the historic Spanish city, this is an extremely sensible car for our times. With its clean lines it one to be proud of; the 1.6TDI SE test model significantly helped by its rich burgundy finish. Sharing the same chassis as the Skoda Rapid, which I tested only a few weeks ago both models clearly share a good deal. This comes as no surprise as Spain based Seat is owned by Volkswagen, which
trim. Its seats could do with being more supportive, especially over longer journeys. Generally it has a competent if bland ride. There’s a folding armrest in the centre of the cabin, which is useful for long motorway jaunts when gear changes aren’t required. At speed the Toledo does buffet a bit in the wind but this is quickly forgotten when realising that this little gem returns over 50mpg at 70mph. Engine stop/start helps this model easily cover 700 miles on a tank of fuel. It’s pretty gutsy, too, hitting 60mph from standstill in just over 10 seconds. The five-speed box is as reasonable as you might expect; I don’t have a bad word to say about it. Families need a massive boot and they won’t be disappointed with the 550 litres of luggage space as you can see in the video at testdrives.biz. If more room is required the rear seats fold down and the centre rear armrest conceals a hole for long, awkward objects such as skis or piping. Luxuries include electric front windows, electrically adjustable wing mirrors
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
AutoFrio
Vehicle Air Conditioning Service
approved repairers
○Panel Beating ○Paint Spraying ○Bumper Repair ○Windscreens ○Plastic & Fibreglass Repairs
CARS ~ MOTORBIKES ~ MOTORHOMES Call Mark on: 607 324 623 or 607 324 624 ►►
old AA Auctions
►
timber yard
WE ARE HERE
CASA CONCHILLA
►
►
ALBOX BAZA ROAD
►
specification
and air conditioning.
“Seat will be hoping that the Toledo can help dent the sales figures of popular established hatchbacks like the Ford Focus while pinning back newer entries in to this market such as the Volvo V40,” writes Parkers, the car experts. While it may have the appearance of a saloon, this latest version of the Toledo comes with a large, wide-opening rear hatch.”
2013 onwards New price range: £12,495 - £17,840 Economy: 64mpg 0-60mph: 10.1secs Top speed: 118mph Power: 103bhp
The Toledo, just like the Skoda Rapid, makes an ideal family proposition.
Watch the video at: www.testdrives.biz
Pit Stop
Tel: 950 124 828 pitstop-oria@live.co.uk
TYRES • SERVICING • REPAIRS Part Worn Tyres from 20€ New Tyres from
30€
...includes fitting, balancing & IVA
Lazer Tracking only
Fixed Price Servicing
15€
• Petrol up to 2L from 85€ • Diesel up to 2L from 95€
ALL MAKES AND MODELS
free
tracking wit or morhe 2 n t yres ew Fr Cour tesee with a fy Car ull se (by arra r v i c e ng ement o nly)
FREE Safety / ITV check with every service
URGENTLY REQUIRED SPANISH VEHICLES FOR CASH
2001 Nissan Pathfinder, 4x4, Leather, A/C, Alloys, New ITV, 32 mpg, Auto........ .....................................................................................................................€3995 1999 Fiat Punto 1.9TD, VGC, Very Economical, New ITV........................ .€1495 Nissan Patrol 4x4, 2.8 Diesel, SWB, Tow Bar, New ITV............................€1295 1996 Peugeot 306, 1.9 Diesel, Alloys, 5 Door Hatchback ........................€1495 2002 Chrysler Neon, A/C, 5 Speed, Low Mileage.................................... €2200 1998 BMW 318, Alloy Wheels, VGC, New ITV............................................ €1495
Opel Astra 1.6 petrol, 1998 Good Condition throughout Spanish Plates RHD.€800
M.600 827 517 - T. 950 104 488 www.autofrio.es
Body Repairs
motoring
ALL THE ABOVE VEHICLES ARE SPANISH PLATED AND LHD
free callout service
Auto Shine
45
Find us on the Partaloa to Oria road (A399) 1km outside of Oria on the right. Carretera Autonomica A-399 c / Paraje el Puente sin 04810. Oria, Almeria
FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 950 124 828 Calle Mallorca, San Javier Call us: 968 146 158 or 618 628 511 www.specialistvehicles.com
BMW X1, AUTOMATIC, 2.0S DRIVE, DIESEL, 2011, 15,000KMS.…............€26,950 kia sportage 2l crdi, diesel, automatic, top of the range................€21,950 MERCEDES CLK, 200K, CABRIO, 2008, 71,000KMS.....................................€20,950 HYUNDAII30,1.4PETROL,2009,68,000KMS….............................................................€8,950 SKODA OCTAVIA 1.9TDi, 2006, 64,000KMS....................................................€6,950 HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2.0L CRDi, 2003, 123,000KMS.....................................€6,950 RENAULT SCENIC 1.5 DCi, DIESEL, 2004, 129,000KMS..............................€5,950 SEAT INCA 1.4 PETROL, A/C, 2001, 94,000KMS..........................................€2,450 CITROEN XSARA 1.8 PETROL, AUTO, 1998, 121,000KMS ..................................…1,450
over 40 cars in group stock
www.specialistvehicles.com Tel: 968 146 158 / 618 628 511
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...remember to say you saw it in the SOL TIMES
SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
sport
19th Hole Golf Society. Cucador
Tuesday 2nd April a less than normal group of 17 players arrived at Aguilon to play a singles stableford and a Mickey Mouse’s ball game The weather was pleasant with lovely sunshine but a slight cooling breeze. As always the Aguilon course was in pristine condition as our smallish band of seventeen 19th Holers, including a couple of guests, started off from the 1st Tee. Tension was
apparent as each team had been trusted with a “ Mickey Mouse Ball” which if lost on the way round the course could not be replaced and, therefore, Mickey’s score ended when the ball was lost. The earliest loss of a Micky was on the 3rd Hole (really Pete Dow you shouldn’t feel bad about putting our team out of the comp before we had really started!) but of the 5 teams two teams managed to
Can we start with a riddle? What effect does a virus have on the system? Answer: On a computer, usually, very little other than inconvenience. For You and I a virus may mean days or weeks of misery trying to be normal and failing abysmally. This is what happened to me last week, but as it hasn’t happened in nearly 8 years I consider myself really blessed. So for anyone who looked for, and couldn’t find my ‘Thoughts of the day’, I would like to apologise and attempt to start to make up for that, today. You have just got a new toy to play with. It has ‘Apps’ and ‘Widgets’ for it. What are they? Where did they come from? What use are they (this is the £64K question!)? Some of us who were old enough in the late 70’s and early 80’s to see computers starting to become small enough to be called ‘Personal’ (although they were still, in real terms, enormous!). Back then we didn’t have apps, widgets, doo-daa’s and thingy’s. What we did have was ‘Programs’. There were 2 basic types – Binaries and Script files. Binaries are a system of zero’s and ones that a computer naturally understands. Difficult to write in but having maximum speed when performing its task and were the workhorses of the computer. There were 2 common types of binary files *.com and *.sys System files (*.sys) were used to drag the computer, kicking and screaming, into life. Containing the basic code (io.sys) to allow the box of electronics to talk to the Operating System (msdos.sys or drdos.sys) and then – to you! This was what was called ‘Boot Strapping’ or shortened now to ‘booting’. Command Files (.com – NOT to be confused with the .com in an internet address) were one of the first forms of executable binary files. They were a neat little package of less than 64Kb holding all the program and data needed for it to work. These were superseded by an innovation called the Executable (.exe) as program designers wanted to be able to produce bigger and more complex programs! . Somewhat different in structure and a massive leap in the ability to create larger and far more complex programs. Somewhere along the line due to the increased size and complexity, these ‘Programs’ became ‘Applications’. With the introduction of Win95, the ‘wimp’ interface and time, these were shortened to ‘Apps’ (with fewer functions than the original and usually relying on other ‘Apps’ to provide these missing functions). So finally, what is a ‘Widget’? According to Wikipedia, it is a ‘WInDows GadGET’. A small window, usually sat on your desktop, that allows the display and modification of information from the main application. Anything can be a ‘Widget’ – today’s weather, stock market results and currency exchange rates (important to all of us :-) Now when someone tells you that they have a new widget you can look at them with a knowing smile and say “How Sad”. Are there any questions, subjects or computer related issues that we can share with all the SOLTIMES readership to help everyone understand the ‘beast’ more and fear it less? Drop me a line at the email address below or come to the “La Vida Faire” in Cucador on the 25 April where I will be hiding in a corner somewhere. Have a lovely week until next time. T. For further information or advice on computing, contact Trevor on 689 892 745 or canducomputing@hotmail.co.uk
safely transport Mickey around all 18 holes. Our winners of the Mickey Mouse competition were Ron (The Rocket) Curtis and Nekane( One of the brilliant team of Caddie Masters at Aguilon) : Ron and Nekane( pictured) scored 21 points and nursed Mickey back to the Club House. In the stableford competition another of our guests Darren Banks with 33 points took first place with Nekane taking second with 30 points. Clearly with an increasing wind gusting to gale force most players had real problems, but Nekane and Darren coped best along with Alan Chippendale who secured 3rd place with 29 points and had a Two on the 10th Hole. Nice to see Ralph Hunter take the nearest the pin on the tricky 4th Hole. Following on from last week Nigel Greenwood seems to have come to grips with
his 7 degree driver by taking the longest drive on the 14th Hole by about Taxi ride from all other mortals. Really good fun day with some impressive golf on yet another day when the weather was the main handicap. Results: Stableford 1st Darren Banks 33 points (18); 2nd Nekane 30 points (36); 3rd Alan Chippendale 29 points (14) Twos: Alan Chippendale 10th Hole Nearest the Pin: 4th Hole Ralph Hunter Longest Drive 14th Hole Nigel Greenwood The 19th hole G/S is now arranging weekly games at various courses in the area, our home course, which we play fortnightly, is Aguilon. If you are interested in joining the 19th hole give the secretary a ring on 610340653. Or email gs19thhole@hotmail.co.uk
CORTIJO GRANDE
Wednesday 3rd April and a close family finish to our second division with Robina beating Eric Dore on a countback 35 points for first place . Hope they do not take it home. Our first division winners John Park 34 points Greg Ward 34 No ball sweep winners Sunday and our monthly medal a competition that brings the cream to the top and we had a score of 66 by one of our senior ladies Lilly Pepper to prove it. In second with 70 Tony Stubbs. Our first division winner with anet 69 Mike Picken and second with 71 John Dempster. No ball sweep winners Enjoy your golf with Cortijo Grande visitors and guests welcome
VALLE DEL ESTE GOLF SOCIETY
HOLE IN ONE
What a wonderful day for our handicap secrectary sue hull who had a hole in one at the par 6th. sue excited phoned husband dick to tell him the good news: what? replied dick who didn’t play well after that,the thought of what it was going to cost him affected his game. well done sue treasure the moment and display the golf ball for everyone to see. tuesday this week we had a team game and the winners on the day were the jones gang consisting of ian jones, mike jones, & mike (the pro) jones also there leader the ghost jones.
friday and 28 players taking part in our monthly medal comp. the winner was our hole in one girl sue hull gross 101 (hcp28) nett 73 2nd harry wilson gross100 (hcp26) nett 74 3rd fiona anderson visitor gross 79 (hcp3) nett 76. good scoring in the windy conditions. nearest the pins margaret bennett & fiona anderson, longest drive mike jones. good old harry saved the lads bacon on the day getting in the mix and avoiding a clean sweep by the ladies. Enjoy your golf at valle del este.
Boxers GS Struggle to Real Murcia Imperial Beat Seve Ballesteros 0 Huercal Overa CF 2
Tues 3rd April saw Boxers making a pilgrimage to a Seve Ballesteros designed course at Peralaja, near the Mar Menor in Murcia. It was the society’s first visit and, despite receiving a warm welcome from the management who offered a well presented course, Seve showed his teeth - posthumously insisting that his track needs respect and a bit of learning. Scoring was poor in all divisions except for Dave France’s notable 35 and a fantastic par 4 eagle from President Tony Hammond; unsurprisingly it was these two players who scooped 1st and 2nd in Division 1 and recorded the only 2’s of the day. Division 2 first and second places went to the ‘Welsh’ pairing of Vorn Simons and Richard Measures, with Gordon Batchelor continuing to benefit from his tuition with Professor Ray Dixon and furthering his climb up the Division 3 ladder by beating Alf Walker on countback. NTP’s fell to Tony Harwin, Dave France and Eric Bence. The Captain and Competition Secretary have been busy striking attractive deals with all of the great courses within striking distance and the rest of April brings plenty of golfing action, with a visit to Valle del
Este on the 15th, the next round of Home Internationals at Desert Springs on the 17th, a 3 day break to play 3 different courses, restaurants and bars near Costa Naranjas in Murcia 22nd-25th and give the wives a shot at the Murcia shopping centres, then closing out the month with a trip to Playa Serena on the 30th. For details and a warm welcome to any of these games or our wide variety of social events please call Captain Derek Leonard on 690 35 28 60.
Another clean sheet for Huercal Overa as Real Murcia slips up at home. In front of a crowd of 150 at the Municipal Santiago El Mayor in Murcia (40 Huercal Overa Fans) Real Murica couldn’t break down a resolute defence that has kept another clean sheet. In a match that could have been tricky for the visiting team it was a fair and equal battle on the pitch. In the first half both sides found it difficult to penetrate, with both defences looking solid. It was in the 32nd minute when a cracking through ball by Heredia found Sele one on one with the Murcia keeper, but strong fingers saved the day for the Home team! It was only in the second half the game came alive with Real Murcia coming out of the traps early and putting pressure on the visitor’s goal with Pifarre and Perico coming close. Juanjo in the Huercal Overa goal made a few good saves but nothing to really trouble the score line… Then in the 83rd minute the ball was flicked over the Real Murcia back line with Benitez looking to latch onto it Miguel swiped at the Huercal Overa winger’s legs and the ref was forced to show the red card. A free kick was awarded roughly 25 yards out, Alex the Huercal Overa number 9 stepped up and floated it over the wall into the top corner of the net. 0-1 to the Visitors. With Real Murcia down to 10 men they had to chase the game through the last 10 minutes, this showed as another free kick was given to Huercal Overa on the half way line, the ball found Forroga on the left hand side of the box and with a little look up he fired home to make it 0-2 in the final minute. A fantastic effort by the team from Huercal Overa and special praise goes to the new coaching line up of Juanma and German. Next up for Huercal Overa is a home tie Vs Pinatar at El Hornillo this Sunday at 17:00. Everyone is welcome, so come along and we can guarantee a fantastic afternoons football. Lee Rickard Graham www.huercaloveracf.com huercaloveracf@fastmail.es
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SOLTIMES APRIL 2013
ANGLING NEWS
Boat Fishing: An unexpected break in the unsettled and windy weather conditions gave ‘Orca Steve’ the chance to get out for a day’s fishing joined by Oria residents Les and Mohamed WITH BEACHCOMBER JOHN along with Mojacar visitors Steve and son James who were out on a short break from Manchester, UK. The swell was below half a meter with the wind coming from the west giving flattening conditions although it was chilly first off until the sun got higher in the sky. They initially fished an area opposite the Mojacar Pueblo where they got some shelter from the wind but unfortunately the fish were elsewhere and they only got a couple of pickerels. Steve made the decision to move the boat to another popular area near the Repsol petrol station on the Garrucha/Mojacar road where they were soon into fish with Mohamed first to catch landing a couple of Atlantic mackerel. James, Steve and Les caught small pandoras and combers but the fish stopped feeding as quickly as they started and the catching dropped off. Steve moved the boat again and dropped anchor over a 360’ hole behind the Garrucha harbour wall where they were soon into fish again catching decent sized pandoras and blue mouths, James landed a nice Spanish mackerel. All the lads got troubled by a conger which took and then released the bait and hooked fish. Steve set Les up with a heavy duty conger rig to see if he could hook the troublesome eel but time was against him. The wind turned and came from the south and the waves got big and they had to return to port, at least they had wet nets! See photo of James with a blue mouth. Shore Fishing: ‘London Bill’ bagged up at a Garrucha mark he is keeping secret for the moment. Rag worm tipped with baby squid tentacles accounted for 30 dorada and other bream in just two hours. I’ll bend his arm up his back to find out where it is for next week. Coarse Fishing: ‘Puentes Ray’ and ‘Birds Nest Phil’ managed to get a day out on Lake Puentes near Lorca but unfortunately were not joined by ‘Casa Verde Barry’ as hoped as he wasn’t feeling too well. Get well soon pal. The two of them tried a new spot opposite where Ray normally fishes. The weather was warm and barely any wind to start with. Phil fished a conventional swim feeder and Ray a swim feeder also but on a carp rod with an optonics alarm. To start off bites were slow and they only took two carp each during the first 3 hours. Then the wind picked up to around 20km an hour and so did the bites. It went crazy and they were getting bite after bite as soon as the feeders hit the water, carp were being landed one after another. Ray lost count as to how many they landed but it was a lot of fish. Phil caught most of his on bread and Ray caught on corn and maggot. The weather changed from very windy to flat calm about eight times during the day but they kept on catching. Phil left at about 6pm with his aching arm poor thing! And Ray stayed on till 7pm and landed another 12 carp. Weights varied from 1lb to 3lb so no biggies but all in all a really magic day. Ray said sorry no piccies this time as he was too busy catching fish. Murcia matches were won with weights of 25lbs and 22lbs, both matches held on Lake Pedrera. The Albox fishing club meets every two weeks or so at Bar Wassy. For details of the next meeting tel Sid 634 313 650. Latest license information: There is now a loophole for those wanting coarse fishing licenses for Andalucia who don’t have NIE documents or/and don’t want to do the 24 hour course in Spanish, see me for more details. The only loophole left for fishing the beaches and boats in Andalucia without an NIE document is to The Best Deal for Miles make a trip to Murcia. For up to date information on any car - motorcycle - van - 4x4 - motorhome - quad - trailer - wheelbarrow of the above see me at the ● All new tyres supplied have manufacturers warranty Beachcomber Bar Restaurant ● Computerised tracking including 4x4s on Mojacar Playa or tel 950 ● While you wait service 473 099. You can also contact me on Facebook @ ‘John ● Motorbike tyre specialists Beachcomber Mojacar’. balancing - computerised laser tracking - puncture Tight lines, Poligono El Real, Calle El Garcel F19, Antas - 950 459 253 Beachcomber John e: tyreking@ymail.com - Mon - Fri: 9.30 - 17.30
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• Tomorrow night, the return legs of the Europa League quarter-finals take place: Basel-Spurs (currently 2-2), NewcastleBenfica (1-3), Lazio-Fenerbahce (0-2) and Kubin Kazan-Chelsea (1-3). Also tomorrow, the US Masters - golf’s first major of the year - gets underway in Augusta where Tiger Woods will be chasing his 78th PGA title. On Sunday, the second F1 Grand Prix of 2013 takes place in China and the BTCC continues at Donnington Park with Jason Plato and Matt Neal in action. And there are two FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley this weekend - Millwall-Wigan (Saturday) and Chelsea-Manchester City (Sunday).
• Recent action at the top and bottom of the Premiership, United were beaten 2-1 by rivals City in the Manchester Derby… Chelsea beat Paola Di Canio’s Sunderland, Spurs and Everton draw…Arsenal win at WBA… Newcastle beat Fulham… Aston Villa win at Stoke… Southampton likewise at Reading… and 10-man QPR draw with Wigan. • Five of the top six teams in the Championship drew, leaving Cardiff on top ahead of Watford and Hull.
winning, jockey Mania was badly injured in a fall at Hexham. • There were wins for Clermont (v. Montpellier), Saracens (v. Ulster), Toulon (v. Leicester) and Munster (v. Harlequins) in Rugby’s Heineken Cup quarter-finals. • The first MotorGP race of 2013 in Qatar was won by Spain’s Jorge Lorenzo. • Serena Williams claimed her 49th career title by winning the Family Circle Cup in South Carolina. • For the first time in 83 years a GB team came back from 2-0 down to win a Davis Cup game, beating Russia 3-2 to earn a place in the play-offs. • Ex-England international Matt Le Tissier (now 44) is returning to football with his native Guernsey who must play 17 League games in four weeks.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Doncaster Rovers lead League One and Gillingham have officially gained promotion from League Two. • Chester have climbed back into the Conference and Crewe beat Southend 20 in the Football League Trophy final at Wembley. • Celtic must wait until this weekend before claiming their 44th SL title but it was celebration time for Queen of the South who won first trophy in 10 years by beating Partick Thistle on penalties in the Challenge Cup final. • 66-1 outsider Auroras Encore, ridden by Ryan Mania and trained by Sue Smith, wife of ex-show jumping star Harvey, won the 2013 Grand National. Twenty-fours after
• Manchester United have more season ticket holders - 48,500 - which is more than rivals City can get into their Etihad Stadium, capacity 47,726. • This week in 1892, WBA beat Darwen 120 - the biggest-ever top-flight League win (equalled by Nottingham Forest in 1909). And in April 1959, Billy Wright became the first player in football history to win 100 international caps.
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