Edition 641 by Tenerife News

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FRIDAY 20th DECEMBER TO THURSDAY 9th JANUARY 2020

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SPECIAL 3 WEEK XMAS EDITION 641 PAGES 41 - 48

FORTNIGHTLY SUPPLEMENT INSIDE

TENERIFE’S PIONEERING

RACE FOR LIFE

REACHES EUROPEAN LEVEL

Pink tide takes to the streets for 15th time

HE Race for Life celebrated its 15th edition with an international premiere and raised more than 36,400 euros.

The pink tide broke records again with more than 4,000 people backing the municipalities of Adeje and Arona in the traditional route for the fight against breast cancer which has reached a European level. More than 36,400 euros will be allocated to support projects, physical activity programmes for people suffering from this disease and their families, the initiative of a small businesswoman who will design bikinis and coloured swimsuits for mastectomised women and research on the BRAC gene. From 11am in the morning, the south of Tenerife was impregnated with pink among thousands of people willing to contribute their grain of sand in the most important solidarity event of the Carrera por la Vida Foundation. The much-anticipated event made a leap to Europe as representatives of Spain in the Think Pink Europe network, with its director Jurgen Vanpraet, present at this great solidarity party, which once again managed to unite those present in a massive flashmob, accompanied by the foundation’s mascot. In addition, this year the road was marked by numerous pink wings, the idea of Hilda Siverio, avoiding plastic or aggressive elements with the environment and betting on ecological material. It was a scene which signified an international benchmark of awareness at all

Photo: carreraporlavida.org / Siroldgolfer Event Foto’s levels and that began with the starting gun of the Adeje Volunteer Fire Department. A day full of emotions among which the delivery of pink bands has stood out as a sign of unconditional support for men and women affected by the disease. On this occasion, the brand new pink tide left Siam Mall of Adeje, ending the tour on Avenida Las Américas de Arona, where the band Banditos made the crowd vibrate. Four kilometres of struggle, to which people living in La Gomera also joined, on a morning full of surprises in which a special thanks has been shown to each and every one of the participants, in the form of a commemorative pin, for the 15 years of experience. The event, more than consolidated, exceeding the level of participation every year, was organised by Arona and Adeje councils in

collaboration with the Carrera por la Vida Foundation and private sponsors. President of the Foundation, Brigitte Gypen, thank-

ed the participation of “all volunteers, companies, institutions and collaborators that make the Race for Life bigger every year, enforcing

its 15th anniversar y with resounding success.” “We will continue to grow together, now being part of the European network, which

means more effort and work but we assume it with great enthusiasm and performance, being able to help more people, crossing borders,” she vowed.

Gruesome death in field P OLICE in Tenerife have been investigating the gruesome death of a man in his 40s whose arm was partly chewed off by a pair of dogs after he suffered stab wounds.

He was found in the middle of a field in La Laguna in the early hours of the morning. Reports suggest the man was still alive at some stage and was calling for help as a number of people heard someone shouting. The victim was found by the police and fire brigade. He had suffered knife and bite wounds and was already dead. Part of one of his arms had been chewed off by two

dogs listed on the potentially dangerous breed. Police officers had to shoot them at the scene for fear of being attacked themselves.

At one stage, a man was arrested in connection with his death.

ISSUE 641

CONTENTS 02

LOCAL NEWS

COMMUNITY NEWS

CANARY ISLANDS NEWS

FINANCIAL NEWS

SPANISH NEWS

ENGLISH LIBRARY

OUR COLUMNISTS

PET’S / MOTOR WORLD

EATING OUT & ABOUT

THE LOOKOUT

HEALTH MATTERS

CLASSIFIEDS

A-Z SERVICES

CONTACTS

SPORTS NEWS

PROPERTY SUPPLEMENT

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THRID AIRCRAFT

Vueling puts its faith in Tenerife

UELING is reinforcing its presence on Tenerife with a third plane based at the north airport.

The A320 will be the third aircraft here and will contribute to a 29 per cent growth in terms of capacity thanks to more than 388,000 newly created seats. The airline is showing its commitment to the Canaries and will continue to enhance its connectivity with a schedule of 17 routes and more than 1.7 million seats. A new connection with Dakar and the reinforcements of the routes in the domestic

sphere are the main novelties presented by the company and the Cabildo de Tenerife The third plane will be permanently installed in Tenerife North Airport as of June 1, 2020. Vueling began operations on Tenerife in 2008 with the inauguration of the route that connected the island with Seville. Eight years later, the company based its first aircraft at the Tenerife North Airport and already in the past year, reinforced its operation with a

second aircraft. On behalf of Vueling, Michael J. Delehant, chief Strategy & Network Officer of Vueling, has stated that “the arrival of this new aircraft is further proof of Vueling’s commitment to Tenerife and the importance of the Canary market in the strategy of the company. This new aircraft will allow us to continue strengthening the connectivity of the Canarian territory, especially in the domestic sphere, bringing the whole culture, gastronomy and beauty of the Canary

Islands closer to the peninsular tourist.” Pedro Martín, president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, said: “Having managed to get Vueling to install a third plane on our island highlights the results obtained after the clear commitment of this Cabildo for two fundamental axes today in the tourism sector in our island: connectivity and promotion. In fact, the budget of the island corporation contemplates a considerable increase in the allocation for next year. ”

MODERATE INJURIES

Man falls at shopping mall A

man was injured after an accidental fall at a shopping mall in Tenerife. The accident happened on Avenida Los Pueblos in the municipality of Adeje just before 2.30pm.

The 78-year-old man suffered cuts and bruises of a moderate nature when he fell down the stairs. The Canary Emergency Service and police went to the scene and medics treated him before he was taken to hospital.

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TWO DEATHS

FALSE COMPANIES

Black Friday on Tenerife roads Police uncover I massive social security fraud T was a black Friday the 13th on the roads of Tenerife. Just before 4am, there was an accident on the TF-1, on the northbound carriage at Adeje, caused by a car believed to be travelling in the wrong direction.

Three vehicles were involed in the crash. A 40 year man of Senegalese origin was killed and a 24-year-old Brazilian man was seriously injured. It is understood both were in the same car which was travelling in the right direction. The Senegalese man was trapped in the wreckage and had to be released by firefighters but nothing could be done to save his life because of the severity of his injuries. Several other people needed assistance at the scene but they were not seriously hurt. In connection with this accident, a 36-year-old Spanish man was breathtested and arrested. Just an hour earlier, at 3am, the 112 emergency control centre had received a report about another accident, this time in Avenida Las Madrigueras in Los Cristianos and involving a motorcyclist

ATIONAL Police agents have uncovered a fraud of 5.5 million euros to the Social Security coffers in the islands of Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Tenerife. who had left the road and come off his bike. When police and medics

arrived, they found the driver’s heart had stopped and they tried to revive him but without

success. The cause of the accident is not known. The victim was aged 43.

ARONA INCIDENT

Mass brawl leaves two injured

man and a woman both needed treatment when a brawl broke out in the Veronicas area of Playa de las Americas.

Police were called out just before 6.30am in the morning following reports of a fight. A 42-year-old suffered moderate limb trauma whilst a 21-year-old woman needed treatment for a cut to her head. The 112 centre was told a mass brawl was taking place at the door of one of the entertainment venues on the “strip”. Both injured parties had to be taken to hospital.

One of the debtors organised events of up to 600 attendees in which 35,000 euros were billed, forcing their workers to do a 14 hour shift. Investigations began at the beginning of the year. The agents received several complaints about alleged irregularities committed by various employers who did not pay the social insurance of their workers for their own benefit, with the consequent damage to the General Treasury of the Social Security. After a thorough study of the documentation, it was observed that in all the cases analysed, the intention was to evade the payment of the amounts owed and thwart the legitimate collection to the Treasury. For this, in several of the cases, they created opaque and mercantile business

successions with which to hide the benefits obtained and the assets of the investigated societies. After ten months of investigations, fraud has been quantified to the Public Agency of more than 5.5 million euros, which comes from sectors such as catering, hospitality, sports activities, textiles, consulting, construction, investment and communication. The 34 responsible have turned out to be mainly the administrators of the companies, but also their frontmen, some workers who were in collusion as well as relatives of the former. They are charged with crimes such as contribution fraud, execution frustration, benefit fraud, document falsehood, fraud, against workers’ rights and embezzlement.

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STRUCTURED GROUP

Eight arrested for cocaine sales in Adeje

ATIONAL police have arrested eight people for selling drugs in the south of Tenerife, specifically in Adeje.

The six men and two women are aged between 30 and 39 years of age. They face charges of belonging to a criminal organisation and drug trafficking. The investigation revealed that those involved were dedicated to the distribution of cocaine and hashish. Enquiries began last August when police learned that the

commercialisation of illegal substances was carried out from a house located in the Armeñime district by an organised group, where each member had their specific task. One of them stored the largest amount of the drug at home and supplied cocaine and hashish to other members of the group for sale. After

Robbery at bingo hall

ARMED RAIDERS

HREE hooded men carried out a robbery with violence and intimidation inside a bingo hall located in the Santa Cruz district of Añaza.

The incident happened at Bingo Santa Cruz, which is located on Luis Celso García Guadalupe Avenue. After putting on hoods to avoid being identified in the images of the security cameras of the business, the criminals, who were armed with a machete, accessed the premises and intimidated the staff. At that time, the thieves obtained a haul of around 3,000 euros. Police immediately went to the scene and searched the area but no arrests were made.

identifying the different members of the organisation, the national police officers proceeded to detain the defendants and transferred them the south police station. The agents intervened 200

Road improvements in Rural Park

grams of high purity cocaine, substances for cutting and elements for distribution, 3.2 kilos of hashish, anabolic substances and two vehicles. In the raids, they found 3,200 euros.

Car had counterfeit ITV sticker

EL CERCADO

DRIVER ARRESTED

OLICE in Guia de Isora arrested a driver whose car was showing a counterfeit ITV sticker on its windscreen.

The 46-year-old man was stopped in Santiago del Teide. After interviewing him and checking various documents, such as the vehicle’s permit and the technical inspection card, they realised that the regulatory sticker that all vehicles must carry had a counterfeit expiration date. He was arrested on suspicion of a crime of falsifying a public document.

ENERIFE Cabildo has recently completed the improvement and paving works of the track called El Cercado in the population centre of Bejías in the Anaga Rural Park and within the Anaga Massif Biosphere Reserve.

The execution period of these works has been eleven months and the total execution budget has amounted to €195,545.08. “The need to undertake these works arose during the realisation of the inventory of needs of the Subprogramme of Infrastructures in Nuclei of the Rural Park of Anaga, and were financed with the Canary Islands Development Fund (FDCAN),” said the Minister of Environmental Management, Isabel García, who added that with them “the improvement of the surface has been achieved, which will facilitate traffic in a comfortable and safe way at any time of the year, and not limiting its accessibility to favourable weather conditions.” The track is 710 metres in length and three metres in average width, which serves the agricultural area known as El Cercado.

BANK SUSPICIONS

Man was hiding gun under skateboard

OCAL police officers in Los Realejos arrested a 40-year-old man who was equipped with a 22-caliber carbine (real firearm) and a compressed air gun.

The individual was arrested while loitering suspiciously before a bank, according to municipal agents. The man was hiding one of the weapons under his skateboard and had covered some tattoos with American tape, supposedly so that they would not identify him. On another occasion, the now arrested was investigated for illegal possession of weapons. The individual, a resident of Los Realejos, was transferred to the Puerto de la Cruz Police Station. The arrest took place within the framework of the measures adopted by the area of ??Citizen Security to increase surveillance in various commercial areas and towns of the municipality.

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Cabildo makes plans to expand Hospital del Sur G

Anger over “forgotten” areas of Garachico and San Juan de la Rambla RESCUE PLEA

MORE BEDS?

ENERIFE Cabildo has pledged to expand the Hospital del Sur at El Mojón to make it “a real hospital”. The Cabildo and the Ministry of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands consider the future transfer of a new building, owned by the insular corporation, which is built in the Hospital del Sur complex, in exchange for land in the area of El Mojón itself to build a center for major dependents. The objective of this initiative is to expand and improve the services provided so that the Hospital del Sur “is considered a real hospital”. “The Hospital del Sur needs to improve, among other services, the urgencies and have an adequate laboratory and operating rooms,” said the president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Pedro Martín. He made his comments whilst visiting the site with the

regional Minister of Health , Teresa Cruz, and the manager of the University Hospital Nuestra Señora de Candelaria (Hunsc), Natacha Sujanani. In this way, by incorporating this infrastructure that the Cabildo builds in the Hospital del Sur and that was to be used as a health centre, the number of hospital beds would be increased, from the current 100 to 400, as detailed by the Regional Minister of

Health. This facility would also host 18 operating rooms and emergency area on its ground floor. In the same way, the Government of the Canar y Islands will guarantee to the Insular Corporation 300 residential places of people in a situation of dependency. The collaboration between both administrations will be substantiated through agreements.

ARACHICO and San Juan de la Rambla have joined forces to voice their concerns about being “forgotten” areas of Tenerife.

The Mayor of the Villa de San Juan de la Rambla, Fidela Velázquez received José Heriberto González, her Garachico counterpart, in order to continue her fight for the northwest region by breaking the “isolation, lack of attention and development compared to the rest of the island”. Maintaining the idea of recovering the path started years ago in meetings between local councillors in the area, both mayors agreed that this part of the Island is at a clear disadvantage over other places. “We are a region that, by tradition, has been forgotten and therefore at a disadvantage in the face of infrastructure development, accessibility, opportunities and quality of life,” they maintained. Both agree that the solution

José Heriberto González & Fidela Velázquez lies in creating a common front resulting from the union of all affected municipalities as a method of pressure on both the Cabildo and Government. “Compared to the other areas with similar characteristics, the northwest is obsolete, its worst consideration has led us to a borderline reality that is causing a worrying loss of inhabitants in favour of areas that offer better prospects,” say the mayors. “Unjustly it has been devalued by external causes to itself, the uniqueness of the region is unique in the Canary Islands and is wasted due to lack of sensitivity of those who in their

Tenerife hospital gets top award for pioneering MS service

hand have the power to remedy this situation. ” Both Fidela Velázquez and Sr. González are confident that there is still time to rescue the region and enhance it to reach an equal point in the island. To this end, they stress that it is a priority to take into account when designing key infrastructure and meet, once and for all, the demands that have been ignored for years. “We cannot allow to continue to the tail in the development of communications, accessibility and services. It’s time to make a region,” they stressed.

VIRTUAL PHARMACY

HE pharmacy ser vice of Tenerife’s University Hospital Nuestra Señora de Candelaria has been awarded a top prize for the innovative nature of a pharmaceutical project that improves care for patients with multiple sclerosis.

The award was granted by the Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy during the Collaborative Networks and Innovation in Hospital Pharmacy, organised with the collaboration of Sanofi. Dr. Pilar Díaz, from the Hospital Pharmacy service of the University Hospital Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, was in charge of collecting the award on behalf of the team of specialists currently developing this initiative at the centre. “This project seeks to improve the pharmaceutical care that our patients with multiple sclerosis receive, continuously and adapted to their needs. And for this, technological tools have been incorporated so that these users can use them easily, ”explains Dr. Díaz. The strategic lines on which this initiative is based revolve around virtual consultations, the evaluation of the level of digital literacy of patients, the development of a virtual desk for information consultation on the internet, as well as the study of hospital delivery at home or ‘home delivery’ to patients not admitted to the centre. Dr. Javier Merino, head of the Hospital Pharmacy service of the University Hospital Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, said: “It is a pride to receive this award because it recognises quality health care provided in the hospital centre that will have a direct impact on the quality of life of patients and that, in addition, could be exported to other hospitals. ” He also stressed that “it is a project that has been possible thanks to the collaborative work between the Pharmacy and Neurology services with Dr. Miguel Ángel Hernández, as well as with the involvement of the Tenerife Association of patients with this disease (ATEM)”.

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THE SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS TO KEEPING OUR PLANET CLEANER

LORO PARQUE AND LA LAGUNA UNIVERSITY JOIN FORCES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST PLASTIC

HE Loro Parque Foundation has presented a sculpture made from recycled objects that shows the serious problem that plastic generates in the environment. The inauguration took place in the Auditorium of the University of La Laguna (ULL) and was attended by more than 500 people. In addition to other authorities and collaborating associations, the event was also attended by: Rosa María Aguilar, rector of the ULL; Professor Victoria Martín Osorio; Enrique Arriaga, first vice-president of the Cabildo de Tenerife; Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, mayor of San Cristóbal de La Laguna; María Candelaria González Morales, general director of Educational Centres, Infrastructure and Promotion of the Government of the Canary Islands; Wolfgang Kiessling, president of the Loro Parque Company and Christoph Kiessling, vice-president of the Loro Parque Company and president of the Loro Parque Fundación. In this way, the Loro Parque Foundation and the University of La Laguna have joined forces in their fight against the use of

plastic to lessen the effects of climate change. The two institutions, fully aligned with the Sustainable Development Objectives, have participated in the presentation of the project ‘BYE BYE, PLASTIC’, an initiative designed to raise awareness among the entire population for the damage caused by non-biodegradable waste in nature. Rosa Aguilar pointed out that in 2017 the two convening entities signed a general catalogue of measures from which some research projects arose. One of those is in the area of industrial engineering to find out how noise pollution affects cetaceans, led by Professor Fernando Rosa, and another in the field of zoology on marine mammals, led by Professor Alberto Brito. Thus, this artistic representation of the Foundation is part of the numerous actions against single-use plastic carried out in all the facilities of the Loro Parque Company. In this way, thanks to the

implementation of this strategy, since the beginning of 2018, more than 30 tons of this harmful material have been eliminated, stressed the president of Loro Parque Foundation. In this sense, for the manufacture of this consciousness-building piece of art, the creator of the sculpture, Paolo Bonano, has been inspired by the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria artist Néstor Martín-Fernández de la Torre. For this purpose, he has mostly used cans, bottles and plastic lids. Through these actions, it is intended to reinforce the commitment to promote the search for solutions to keeping our planet cleaner and to raise awareness of the problem that the oceans and the different species that inhabit them are facing, with particular emphasis on the effects of marine litter. With all this, Loro Parque Foundation highlights, once again, that the accumulation of plastics in the oceans affects marine biodiversity in a terrible way. According to figures from the United Nations, presented at the session by the president of the Foundation, Christoph

Kiessling, 13 million tons of plastic seep into the ocean each year, which causes, among other damages, the death of 100,000 marine species ever y year. In addition, it is estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean. “All of this makes the role of wildlife conservation centers essential in protecting species for future generations,” added Mr. Kiessling.

Two men arrested for car burglary

WO men have been arrested for breaking into cars at a popular beach.

Civil Guard agents from Granadilla de Abona caught the pair, aged 22 and 33 years and residents of La Laguna and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, after seeing them acting suspiciously in the parking area near the beach of La Tejita in El Medano. As the officers approached them, one of the men had already forced the lock of a rental car and was inside looking for valuables. The two men were arrested for a crime of attempted robbery with force.

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EVENTS GALORE

HOUSE BLAZE

woman

Arona aiming to make Firefighters thousands of children so happy find body of

HE different departments of Arona council have prepared a programme of activities that will extend until the end of the Christmas holidays. Children’s shows will include Christmas through the senses, the Canaries Folk Fest, the XIII Festival of Gospel, the New Year’s Eve party, the Three Kings’ Cavalcade and Christmas is coming, all bringing the atmosphere of the festivities to the different towns of the municipality with 100 events. The programme is aimed at the whole family, but especially for the children, for December and the beginning of Januar y, with special emphasis on the Christmas holidays and even after Reyes, a time in which activities such horseback riding or children’s shows such as Christmas is coming which takes children’s recreational activities to the different towns of the municipality. Activities will take place throughout the days, such as the Christmas Farmer ’s Market, the Canarian Folk Fest festival, concerts, the XIII Canar y Islands Góspel Festival, Arona, proud of our elders, An Afternoon of Kings, in which the pages of the Magi will collect the letters of girls and boys, the Christmas Concert, the Great New Year’s Eve Party, the night of December 31st from 10pm with two environments, outside the Cultural Centre of Los Cristianos and the Grand Cavalcade of the Magi from the East, which will begin at 5pm with the arrival of His Majesties by helicopter. This extensive Christmas programme has been launched thanks to the joint work of the different departments and aims to bring the Christmas spirit to the last corner of the municipality, entertain and encourage the little ones, as well as boost the local

commerce of Arona. Full information can be found at www.arona.org The Mayor of Arona, José Julián Mena, explained; “We have organised a complete cultural and leisure programme aimed at the whole family, with the illusion of bringing the illlusion of Christmas to all areas of the municipality, supporting parents and mothers during their children’s vacations in the coming dates and also boost the commercial activity of Arona. ” Councillor for economic promotion, Dácil León, has stressed “the importance of backing the commerce of the municipality from the corporation, encouraging different commercial areas with different activities for the whole family, especially designed for children.”

IREFIGHTERS who tackled a blaze in a property in Santa Cruz found the body of an elderly woman inside.

They had been called out to calle Mencey Imobac just after 10pm and were joined by the Canary Emergency Service, Civil Protection, local and national police. The body of the 86-year-old woman was partially charred but a post mortem had to be held to determine the cause of death and whether she had died as a result of the fire or before it. Firefighters searched the rest of the house to make sure noone else was inside.

COMMUNITY

NEWS

Sani needs a new home

T is never easy when couples break up and go their separate ways. Hearts are broken and there is a lot of stress and uneasiness. Unfortunately, if there is a pet in the house, they usually suffer also, through no fault of their own.

One part of the couple do try and make it work for their pet, but sometimes this is not always possible either. Nearly two years ago now, in February 2018, this beautiful boy was brought to K9 for this reason. This boy, whose name is Sani, is 5 years old and is a boxer/presser mix. He is a large dog. He also has heartworm, which is being treated on an on-going basis at K9. Sani has a lot of love to give, but has not been given the chance to show it. Why? Sani like a lot of our dogs at K9, can be fearful of new people and especially men. When some new volunteers come to our kennels to walk the dogs, they like to walk through and see all the dogs we have, and slowly fall in love with them all. Sani who lives in the last kennel is the last to be seen and people are automatically gravitated towards him. I am not surprised, for he is a truly handsome boy. If Sani does not know you, he will bark out of fear but most people mistake this for aggression which can understandably put people off. Do you want to get to know Sani? To discover how truly wonderful this boy is? Please come up and meet him in K9. Have patience with him, let him get to know you and you will be so full of love for this boy. Once Sani knows you, he is a great dog. He is very obedient, and always comes when you call him. He is a joy to walk on and off the lead and when he is welcomed to, he gives very good cuddles! When our volunteers take Sani for a walk and put his lead on first in the kennel, he will take the lead in his mouth and almost bring you out of the kennels, as if to say “Come on, lets go for a walk”. It is a very funny sight to witness and this is one of the many qualities we love about Sani. He needs a second chance. He needs to be shown that there a good, loving people out there who want to give him a good home. He can be ok with some dogs, and not ok with others, but he doesn’t really react to other dogs, unless provoked. If you are interested in getting to know Sani and welcoming him into your home, please call up to K9, any day, between 9.301.30.

2018-2019

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PUERTO DE LA CRUZ

Christmas news from All Saints’ church

LL Saints Church, Puerto de la Cruz would like to wish all our readers a blessed, joyous and peaceful Christmas and all the very best for the coming year 2020. There will be a Service on Christmas Eve at 11.30pm and a Christmas Day Service at 11am followed by mince pies. Our weekly services are held as follows:Sunday Holy Communion at 9.30am and a Sung Eucharist at 11am after which refreshments are available in the parsonage grounds. We also have a Holy Communion Service on a Wednesday at 10am, followed by coffee and either a Bible Study or a Prayer Meeting. The wonderful Christmas Car Boot was lucky with the weather as after a couple of showers the rest of the day remained cloudy but dry. We kick off the New Year with our next Car Boot on Saturday January 11th, a week later than normal after which the Car

Boots will follow the usual pattern of the first Saturday of the month. I feel a special mention of thanks should be said to our Churchwarden Wendy and her team of helpers who work so tirelessly behind the scenes to make every Car Boot the success that they are. Thank you one and all also the stall holders and buyers who come regularly to enjoy our Car Boots for your support over the last year, here’s to 2020 and may it be as successful as the previous years. PLEASE NOTE A CHANGE OF DATE AND TIME: Our Christmas Carol Service will

be held in the church on Thursday December 19th at 6.30pm, this is because we are very lucky to have the children from Saint Andrew’s School with us again to celebrate our evening.This is a very family orientated evening for everyone to join in singing timeless favourite Carols and hearing of the Birth of Christ in our well known Readings. Mince pies will be served after the Service. There will be two concerts in our church by the Reyes Bartlett Choir on Friday December 20th and 27th at 6pm . Occassions not to be missed. We are holding an Epiphany Lunch on Tuesday January 7th at the Hotel Masaru in La Paz at 1pm . Tickets priced 17 euros available from Wendy 922320978/605486792 or Jane 922575268//676506957 or

after the service on a Sunday. Two vacancies have arisen on the Chaplaincy Church Council. We are looking for a new Church Treasurer from January 2020, if you enjoy accounting and are computer literate, we would be very pleased to hear from you . Please phone Cher yl on 635666343 for further details. Also a Safeguarding Officier is required, training will be given but obviously experience is preferred. Please phone Wendy on numbers given above if you feel this could be you. As All Saints Church remains in an Interregnum, our locum Priest until December 30th is Reverend Jeff Green and his wife Liz. They are no strangers to Tenerife having been with us twice before and we were all glad to welcome them back again.

Be an angel too and support Accion del Sol O

UR staff at the refuge are our very own angels who work tirelessly to ensure the dogs in our care are fed and given the best life possible before their adoption. We would like to say a special thank you to you all for your hard work and dedication.

With Christmas only around the corner, we have again started a campaign after the success of last year to ask our friends and supporters of Accion Del Sol to donate a shoe box of goodies for the dogs such as tinned dog food for our older dogs and puppies, puppy milk, dog toys, dog collars and leads. Marion and her team do such an amazing job at the refuge so I thought it would be great to bring some Christmas cheer to the 200 plus dogs at the refuge. You can deliver your box personally to the refuge by the 20th of December during the below opening hours or call 687905511 to arrange for your donations to be collected. Please do write your name on the box so that we know who kindly donated to the dogs. Please do call the refuge on 664321219 between the hours of 8am -17.00 if you can help in any way. We are always in need of tinned dog food for our older dogs, puppy milk, blankets, towels, sheets, dog toys, collars and leads. If you have any of the above to spare, they would be very much appreciated at the refuge or visit Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday afternoons from 14.00-17.00pm and Saturdays 13.00- 16.00. The dogs especially enjoy a gentle walk down to the beach for a cooling paddle in the sea. So please do come and walk the dogs if you have some time to spare. We are situated directly under the Eolica Parque exit 52 on the TF1 north bound which is after the after the El Medano junction . Head for the giant windmills on the coast and we are the buildings on the right hand side or email the refuge at teneriffa@aktiontier.org or visit our Facebook page.

FRIENDS OF TENERIFE

News and forthcoming events at FOT

EMBERS of the Friends Of Tenerife Committee were invited by the Red Cross to a presentation of awards in the University of Tenerife in appreciation of the help we give to the association. We were awarded a bronze medal and a certificate which was presented to our President, Ken Fisher. Some hundreds, if not thousands, of officials, helpers and members of the Red Cross were present. It was good to know that our help was so appreciated, and we shall , of course, continue to support them as we have done for some years.

Our Annual Christmas Dinner was held at the Mini-Golf Restaurant in La Paz on Tuesday 10th December, and was attended by members of the committee and some 40 or so members.There was the customary Raffle and there were many prizes including a food hamper given by Carmen, our Vice President, and a special raffle for two beautifully decorated Christmas Cakes made by Cheryl. All the money raised by our raffles etc. go to our charities who are so grateful for our continuous help. Our next event is a New Year’s lunch to be held at the Ruen Thai Restaurant in Puerto on the 21st January. The price for this is 20 euro for members, and the time, as usual, 1.00 for 1.30 p.m. To book for this event, ring Maureen or Jean on the telephone numbers given below. On 4th February there will be another Coach trip to the South of the Island calling at Iceland but preceded by a stop in Las Americas where you can enjoy looking round the shops, or, even better, lunching on Fish and Chips at Scampi’s. The coach, as is customary, costs 10 euros, and leaves from outside the Botanical Gardens in La Paz at 11.30 a.m. On 18th February - a buffet lunch at the popular Masaru in La Paz for 17 euros. On 25th February our Annual General Meeting will be held at the Teide Mar in La Paz at 6.00 for 6.30 p.m., and will be followed, as is customary, by a buffet for the price of 5 euro. On 17th March a lunch has been arranged at the Restaurant Magnolia in La Paz, as usual 1.00 for 1.30 p.m. the price, 18.50 euro. We should like to wish all our members a very enjoyable Christmas and a happy and healthy 2020 and we look forward to seeing you at some, if not all, our forthcoming events. For further information, or to book for any of our forthcoming events, please call Maureen on 922 341 979, or Jean on 922 384 809.

(Please note that the next Car Boot sale to be held at All Saint’s Church in the Taoro Park will be on the 11th January 2020)

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CHATROOM IMAGES

ARRESTS IN CANARIES AS PART OF EUROPEAN OPERATION AGAINST CHILD PORNOGRAPHY N ATIONAL Police have led an international macro operation against child pornography in which a total of 33 people have been arrested in eleven countries on three different continents. In Spain, 17 people have been arrested and nine others have been investigated, most of them minors, for storing and distributing child pornography through an instant messaging application. The suspects are said to have shared paedophile material along with other content of extreme violence. The Chemosh operation, which has lasted for 26 months, has been carried out by the Central Cybercrime Unit of the National Police in collaboration with Interpol, EUROPOL and the police forces of Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, India, Italy, Pakistan , Peru, United Kingdom and Syria. “The police investigations began as a result of information from the citizen collaboration received in the email denuncias.pornografia.infantil@policia.es. It warned about the existence of a WhatsApp group, formed

by minors, in which several of its participants had normalised the existence of pedophilia and sexual abuse of other minors. They shared files of paedophile content, sometimes of extreme gravity, together with other contents that were legal but were not suitable for minors because of their extreme hardness,” said a police spokesman. The detainees in Spain belong to all social and cultural strata and do not adapt to a specific profile, except that they are all male and that they are mostly young. Most of those investigated had their mobile phone terminals on behalf of their parents, so they were also previously investigated to rule out their involvement. Regarding the police operation in Spain, there have been five arrests in Las Palmas, three in Madrid, two in Valladolid and one in the provinces of Santa Cruz de

PROTECTED SPECIES

Live lizards found in parcel post from Tenerife

USTOMS agents in Germany have rescued 39 live lizards in a postal package from Tenerife. It is a protected species, so the consignee of the shipment faces a penalty of five years in jail.

As revealed by the customs office in Saarbrücken, the events were recorded at the Speyer international loading station when during an X-ray inspection it was found that the package contained live animals, although it was not recorded as such. Officers opened the postal package, in which they found the animals in individual cloth bags and sewn up to prevent their departure. The consignee of the shipment, a woman from North Rhine-Westphalia, faces a heavy fine, as small lizards can only be imported to Germany with a special permit. After their rescue, the animals were taken to a shelter. According to German media, despite the fact that the lizards travelled in a cardboard box in the bags and without water or food, they survived the transfer.

German Mechanic in Las Chafiras

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Tenerife, Murcia, Valencia, Palencia, La Rioja, Cuenca and Salamanca. In addition, five people are investigated in Madrid, and one in the provinces of Valencia, Guadalajara, Ciudad Real and Alicante. Of all these detainees and investigated, 14 are

minors and another seven are under 25. The average age of the 26 involved is only 22 years. On the island of La Palma, the agents arrested a 19-yearold boy who had started in the world of paedophilia through comics in which minors

appeared who suffered abuse. He then went on to actively search for sexual material of minors, although he did not usually be an active member of paedophilia groups in fear of being arrested, although he used to instigate other members to share their pedophile

material. At this time, any citizen can inform the National Police of any criminal act related to child pornography through the email denuncias.pornografia.infantil@policia.es, where their information will be addressed immediately.

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TOURISM IMPROVEMENTS

NORDIC TOURISM

NEW-LOOK FOR PROMENADE Lanzarote IN LANZAROTE celebrates new T flight to Oslo HE Ministr y of Tourism, Industry and Commerce of the Government of the Canary Islands, directed by Yaiza Castilla, has approved a grant of 300,000 euros to Haría council, on the island of Lanzarote, for the development of works on the promenade of Punta de Mujeres.

The work, which has an execution period of 31 months, aims to improve the distribution and rationalisation of the public space that exists between Punta de Mujeres and Arrieta in order to promote connectivity between both areas in an ecological and sustainable way. The project, which is financed in 93% by the Government of the Canary Islands, through the General Directorate of Tourism Infrastructure, and the remaining percentage by Haría council,

includes the extension of the surface of steel and the creation of volcanic stone walls in areas. It also contemplates the landscaping of the area through the planting of trees along the north side

Hiker, 65, airlifted after fall

of the new sidewalk. Director of Tourism Infrastructure of the Canary Islands Government, Fernando Miñarro, said the initiative is part of the Tourism Infrastructure Improvement Plan

that is being developed by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce in different areas of all the islands with the main objective of consolidating the excellence of the Canary Islands as a tourist destination.

LANZAROTE RESCUE

LEG INJURY

HE emergency helicopter had to be called in to rescue a woman who fell whilst out walking in Lanzarote.

The 112 control centre received a report of the accident just after 1pm. It happened at Caldera Blanca in the Timanfaya National Park which is in the municipality of Tinajo. The Emergency and Rescue Group with the rescue helicopter, Canary Emergency Service and local police all attended, together with the Lanzarote Emergency Consortium. The 63-year-old woman of Danish nationality suffered a leg injury of a moderate nature and was airlifted by the helicopter before being taken on to hospital.

Hang glider crashes in mountain A

hang glider suffered abdominal trauma in a crashlanding in Lanzarote.

The 55-year-old man was taken to hospital following the accident at the Montaña El Cuchillo in the municipality of Tinajo. The Canary Emergency Service, Consortium of Security, Emergencies, Rescue, Prevention and Fire Fighting of Lanzarote and local police also attended following an alert that a paraglider had crashed into the mountain. The man was treated at the scene by SUC staff and firefighters helped with his rescue. His injury was described as moderate.

new route is linking Lanzarote with Norway and passengers on the first flight were treated to a gastronomic surprise.

Scandinavia Airlines (SAS) has introduced the weekly frequency to and from Oslo every Saturday until the end of next March. The 186 tourists who landed at the César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport from the Norwegian capital on the inaugural journey were entertained with Canar y wines, cheeses and snacks. The event was jointly organised by the Lanzarote Foreign Promotion Society (SPEL-Turismo Lanzarote) and AENA in the arrivals terminal. The passengers also enjoyed folk music and songs offered by Pal ‘Porrón. Minister of Tourism Promotion of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Ángel Vázquez

(PP) highlighted “the importance of the recovery of this route by SAS for the arrival of Nordic tourists, since the Scandinavian market responds to the tourism prototype that we want in order to strengthen the destination because of this sector ’s high purchasing power and respect for the environment.” The event was attended by the CEO of SPEL-Turismo Lanzarote, Héctor Fernández; the director of the César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport, Juan Carlos Peg; and Cristina Villalón, delegate in Lanzarote of Aviapartner, a company that provides handling services to the aforementioned Scandinavian airline.

LA PALMA

Paraglider hurt in take-off

paraglider was injured when he crashlanded in La Palma.

The incident happened in the take-off zone of Puerto Naos in the municipality of Los Llanos de Aridane in the mid-afternoon. The man suffered various injuries to his arms and legs, described as “moderate”, and was taken to the city’s hospital. The Canary Emergency Service, local police and Civil Guard all attended.

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CANARY RESIDENTS ARE BRIDGING THE GAP IN TOURISM NUMBERS BY STAYING LOCAL Local holidaymakers recognised as “vital third market”

ESIDENTS of the Canary Islands who choose to take a break within the archipelago rather than travelling further afield are being applauded by tourism chiefs as “a key market”. Domestic tourism is expected to end the year at nearly 16 per cent up, with more than 1.5 million Canarian residents staying on one of the islands. Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Yaiza Castilla said the Canarian market is a “key market” and in figures occupies the third place in number of clients staying in accommodation establishments of the islands, after English and German. The Government has allocated through Promotur 350,000 euros for local promotion campaigns, promoting identity elements as a tool for differentiation. Canaries generate a turnover of around 460 million euros on their vacations in the

islands, not counting travel expenses. Throughout the year, different campaigns are carried out to coincide with Easter, summer vacations, Christmas and long weekends. According to the Survey of Accommodation in Tourist Establishments of the Canary Institute of Statistics (ISTAC), residents of Gran Canaria and Tenerife are the ones who travel less and prefer to stay in hotel establishments or apartments on their own island, to a large extent because they have a wide choice. But when they leave, in the case of the Gran Canarians, they choose a trip to Fuerteventura and Tenerife, followed closely by Lanzarote. In turn, the least visited islands

internallly are El Hierro and La Gomera. Tenerife residents travel to Gran Canaria first, followed by La Gomera and, to a lesser extent, Fuerteventura. In the case of the islanders of Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and La Gomera, they prefer Gran Canaria. One of the most striking figures is that ver y few Lanzarote residents visit La Gomera (only 61 lodged) or El Hierro (only 123 people). The island that has received more residents throughout this year is Gran Canaria, with 43.8%, being the largest recipient. It is closely followed by Tenerife, with 30.2%, then a big gap to Fuerteventura (8.6%), Lanzarote (7.8%), La Gomera (4.8%), La Palma (3.9%) and El Hierro (0.9%). The contribution of the Canary Islands’ resident who travels within the archipelago itself has also been estimated by the Tourism Research Area of Promotur. Taking into account the 2018 data regarding hotel and extra-

hotel billing, their economic contribution was 226 million euros, without accounting for other expenses associated with their stay such as restaurants, supermarkets, leisure activities, shopping or vehicle rental. Under the assumption that this segment makes a daily

expenditure in destination similar to that of the peninsular, the turnover for these other concepts could reach 260 million euros. In addition, to this must be added the displacements by boat or plane, as well as the expense generated by tourists staying in second homes, friends and

family homes or vacation homes, not considered in this estimate. The Canarian market, along with the peninsular, comes to compensate the seasonality of the flows of tourists from other foreign markets, contributing to increase the occupation in periods of lower demand.

TENTH ANNIVERSARY

Teaching classroom and exhibition to honour “El Silbo”

A Gomera has once again opened a special classroom so all interested in the traditional “Silbo” language can learn the art as well.

Ten years ago, Silbo - which uses a unique whistling technique for communication - was declared an “Intangible

Heritage of Humanity” and since then, the island’s government has initiated numerous projects to make sure it is kept alive. The classroom is in its fourth year and is proving a particular success with children, though all ages are welcome. Minister of Culture, Rosa Elena García said: “This is a way of guaranteeing survival and generational relief, both in practice and in teaching.” On this occasion, the classroom is visiting various

new locations and has different schedules. It is necessary to pre-register at lagomera.es or in the places where it is taught. As an added attraction, there is a tenth anniversary exhibition in the Casa Bencomo of San Sebastián de La Gomera. The opening hours are from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 2pm. The event offers an historical tour of the evolution of the Silbo, going through its most critical moments before a possible disappearance, as well as the continuous references that have been made about its heritage in historical documents and the media.

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Four arrests as police break up DAESH support network operation highlights the excellent collaboration between the General Information Commission of the National Police and the Spanish Na-

tional Intelligence Centre (CNI), as well as with the General Directorate of Territory Surveillance of the Kingdom of Morocco, es-

RITS behaving badly in Magaluf and Ibiza are facing even tougher action as the Balearic Government plans a new onslaught against “trash tourism”.

particularly balconing. Spanish newspaper Diario de Ibiza says the concept of bobbies on the beat, whereby British police have been drafted in to help in the summer season, will be vetoed. Instead, it is planned to set up “field hospitals” in the middle of nightlife hotspots. The new laws will focus on three areas known for trouble : Punta Ballena (Magaluf), Jamón Street (Playa de Palma), and Sant Antoni de Portmany (Ibiza). Police will be able to dish out heavy fines for breaches such as the uncontrolled sale of alcohol and its consumption in public spaces. “Government sources speak of fines of tens of thousands of euros to esta-

subsequently disseminated to the members of their virtual community,” said a police spokesman. He added: “This joint

SECURE MESSAGING pecially in the Melilla-Nador axis, which once again has enabled the neutralisation of a dangerous threat that affected both countries.”

Mallorca and Ibiza plan new onslaught against rowdy tourists

OLICE in Spain and Morocco joined forces to crack a support network for DAESH and made four arrests.

The suspects, led by a 31year-old Moroccan living in Guadalajara, used the social network and secure messaging sites to spread “violent messages”, showing how to make bombs and carry out attacks. Police said they also took part in regular night-time meetings at homes in Melilla and Morocco which were attended by other individuals who shared their radical views. The aim of the cell was not only to spread the Jihadist message but to recruit and indoctrinate new members.

The leader adopted numerous security measures in his online activities and communications as a form of protection, among others, using secure instant messaging applications, different mobile phone lines and the use of the internet through public networks. “The investigation showed that the members of this network were connected online through their social networks, where they continuously and over time shared audiovisual material of violent jihadist activities that were

News laws are being prepared which will mean heavier fines for drunken behaviour and any holidaymaker found “balconing” will be immediately thrown out of their hotel. There will also be a further clampdown on drinking in the streets of hotspots such as Magaluf and Sant Antoni and bars and clubs will face fines running into thousands of pounds for flouting the rules. They could also be closed down for three months. The Balearic Government is said to be taking the steppedup action due to a fall in

visitors following the collapse of the Thomas Cook group. Tourism chiefs say they are not prepared to lose any more tourists because of the bad image locations such as Magaluf and Sant Antoni have gained over the years and say the “trash tourism” has to stop. It is understood the new raft of rules will be finalised in January, in plenty of time for people to book for the 2020 season. The Ministry of Tourism has been preparing a package of legal measures “for weeks” that aim to tackle the excesses of alcohol and the spin-off behaviour,

blishments that serve alcoholic beverages outside hours, as well as the possibility of closures for up to three months in the middle of the high season. It is also intended to close the most controversial places and prohibit large alcohol intakes in the streets of Punta Ballena, Jamón and the town of Sant Antoni,” says the newspaper. As for balconing, the law will force hotels where this practice is detected to “expel customers immediately”. It will also cover the imposition of sanctions on establishments that do not take decisive measures against tourists usually young Britons - who throw themselves recklessly from the balconies of the rooms to the pool, risking death.

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SPAIN

LEGISLATION PENDING

New warnings over use of personal mobility vehicles

PAIN’S driving directorate has issued new instructions over the use of personal mobility vehicles.

“The objective is to establish clarifying criteria for users, city councils and agents of the authority until the formal regulation, currently in process, is published,” said a spokesman for the DGT. The department says it is necessary to explain what users can or cannot do due to the increase in personal mobility vehicles, especially in urban areas. A formal law is being discussed in the European Union. A VMP is a vehicle with one or more wheels equipped with a single seat and propelled exclusively by electric motors that can provide the vehicle with a maximum speed of between six and 25 km / h. Authorisation is not needed to drive them or mandatory insurance, therefore, points will not be deducted from the driver.

However, criteria they are subject to include: •An obligation to undergo alcohol and drug tests and fines if over the limit. If the driver is positive for alcohol or drugs, the VMP is immobilised, as is the case with other vehicles. •A ban on using the mobile phone or any other communication system manually. • No use of headphones connected to receiving devices or sound players. • Helmet and other protection elements. In the absence of a regulation in the General Circulation Regulation, the use of these elements will be governed by the provisions of the corresponding Municipal Ordinance. • VMP and other electrically powered light vehicles are only authorised to transport one person, so that the movement of two people is punishable. • It will be considered negligent and therefore punishable to drive at night without lights or garments or reflective elements. • In the case of infractions committed by persons under 18 years of age, the parents or guardians will be jointly liable for the infraction committed by the minor.

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DANGEROUS OFFENCES

Guns imported from Eastern Europe were “recycled” for black market

HE Civil Guard, in the framework of the operation “Tangerina”, has dismantled in Miranda de Ebro (Burgos) a clandestine workshop for the manufacture of explosive devices, such as hand grenades, as well as machine guns. It is one of the largest seizures of this type of artisan artifacts made so far in Spain.

Agents have arrested a person who is charged with the alleged crimes of arms trafficking, war weapons deposit, weapons deposit, ammunition deposit and explosive deposit. The detainee had a clandestine workshop installed at his home equipped with all kinds of machinery for the manufacture of improvised explosive devices, as well as for the handling of firearms and the artisanal manufacture of ammunition for them. Police have intervened 17 of these artifacts, already assembled and loaded, many of which he had hidden in a community garage. Likewise, more than 30 kilos of different explosive chemicals and laboratory equipment used to manufacture them have been seized. The suspect acquired poor unused firearms in Eastern European countries, many of them from war (assault rifles and submachine guns), which he later manipulated to put them back in a position to fire. These weapons were illegally introduced into the countr y through postal packages, so that if they were not registered in the national databases, they could be diverted to the illegal market

or used in criminal acts with total impunity. “Given the condition of weapons of war of some of them, both for their caliber and for their ability to make automatic fire (machine guns), the reactivation of this type of

weapon and their illegal possession pose a serious risk to citizen security,” said a police spokesman. “This intervention has prevented not only that the high number of explosive devices and weapons seized could be

used in violent events or diverted to the black market, but also the risk to the residents of the places where the detainee stored them in case of an explosion accidental during manufacturing and handling.”

Disgruntled client tried to torch brothel! A

BOUGHT PETROL

59-year-old man was arrested for trying to burn down a brothel in Madrid because he was “dissatisfied” with the service he received!

The disgruntled client, caught at the club with a bottle of petrol in his hands, told police he had sex with three women but wasn’t happy with any of them. He also said he had fallen in love with one of the women but was annoyed as she did not share his feelings. He was arrested after he told a taxi driver he was going back to the hostess club to “burn it down with the people inside.” He followed him whilst phoning the police who caught the man redhanded. The incident happened at a club in Madrid which the suspected had visited in the early hours of the morning. He stormed off after threatening the staff and sent to a nearby garage to buy petrol which he intended to spray inside the premises and then set fire to it. When police arrived on the scene just before dawn, they found him holding a three-litre bottle of fuel and a lighter which he threatened to use.

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HITMEN STRIKE

Drugs’ war continues on Costa del Sol with another killing

HE Costa del Sol continues to be plagued by brutal murders connected to the ongoing drugs’ war.

Police have been investigating the fourth murder in just one month and just eleven days after a British man was slain in a hail of bullets. The latest victim was a French citizen in his 60s. He was gunned down in the Cabopino area of Marbella where his car was parked outside a petrol station and several restaurants. Witnesses say he was returning to the vehicle when he was surprised by two masked men who were waiting in a blue Renault Megane. They got out and

shot him at least twice and then sped off in the car, which was rented, towards the motorway in the direction of Malaga through the popular tourist area of Calahonda. The car was going so fast that is smashed through the toll barriers. The car was later found abandoned and on fire near Mijas. On November 22nd, a British man from Salford, Greater Manchester, was shot dead as he parked outside his luxury villa in Riviera del Sol near

Fuengirola after returning from the gym. He died instantly after one of the seven bullets fired at him hit him in the heart. Just a week before, on November 16th, hitmen shot and killed another man and seriously injured another in a shooting in the Andasol urbanisation of Marbella. In this case, the man killed was of Arab origin. The second man was rushed to Costa del Sol hospital. And just before this, the body of a man of Bulgarian nationality was found in the gutter of the A-7176 that links the municipalities of Marbella and Istán. He had suffered four

gunshot wounds. Spanish police believe the latest shooting was an adjustment of accounts, with numerous drug gangs at work on the Costa del Sol where many residents say they are fearful of their lives if they get caught up in an attack. The Spanish press say this latest shooting is just the tip of the iceberg in the multi-million pound drugs’ war on the Costa del Sol “in which mafias throughout Europe compete”. “These crimes are a consequence of dirty businesses that go wrong, although this time several incidents have coincided in a short space of time,” says Sur.es

Police in Spain and UK find Europe’s first-ever narcosub

OLICE have discovered the first-ever “narco submarine” in Europe which was being used to smuggle 3,000 kilos of cocaine into Spain.

Drug runners thwarted by rough seas off the coast of Pontevedra deliberately flooded the vessel and abandoned it when they realised they wouldn’t be able to complete their mission. The intention had been to transfer dozens of bales of cocaine onto a second ship off the beach of Hío in the region of Morrazo. Unknown to them, their drug smuggling operation had already been rumbled by the police in Spain, helped by squads in the United States, Portugal and Brazil. Police in the UK also played a major role. “This is the first narcosubmarine detected on the European continent,” said a police spokesman. “ Although the use of submarines is very common in America, it is the first time this drug transport system is detected in Europe.” The investigation is still open to determine both the origin of the drug and the organisation intending to receive the drug in Spain.

Defunct cars were still pumping out greenhouse CENTRES RAIDED gases

HE Civil Guard has investigated 68 people linked to 30 companies throughout Spain for the emission into the atmosphere of refrigerant gas in the inadequate management of vehicles at the end of their useful life. The investigation, in the context of the actions of the Coordinating Office of the Environment and Urban Planning, has focused on the communities of Madrid, Catalonia and the Basque Country. “Air conditioning systems in motor vehicles use cooling fluids to reduce the temperature of the interior passenger compartment. These substances, depending on their type and composition, can be harmful and contribute to climate warming,” a police spokesman explained. The investigation focused on

monitoring the activity of vehicle treatment centres which deal with defunct cars which were said to have close to zero kilograms of gas but were still pumping out emissions into the atmosphere. “Vehicles at the end of their useful life contain a significant amount of contaminants and hazardous waste that must be properly managed. In the case of coolant circuit fluids, their incorrect management would entail the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere,” said the spokesman.

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AVALON celebrates exceptional feedback after being named ‘BEST FUNERAL PLAN PROVIDER’ at this year’s Personal Finance Awards

VALON Funeral Plans is celebrating a coveted award win after being named ‘Best Funeral Plan Provider’ at the 2019/20 Personal Finance Awards. Now in its 22nd year, the Personal Finance Awards has long been recognised as a benchmark for excellence in the UK’s consumer finance market, providing a reflection of the consumer’s choice of top financial providers over the last two decades. Nominations for the awards are sent in directly by the consumer, based on their experience of outstanding products or customer service in the industry. This year, the awards received just over 20,000 votes. With over 25 years’ experience providing funeral plans to more than 70,000 customers across the UK and Europe, Avalon was recognised for its dedication to its customers, as well as the high standard of its service. These qualities are continuously reflected in the company’s industry-leading customer feedback, with over 2,000 reviews and a rating of ‘excellent’ on Trustpilot, as well as a five-star rating on Defaqto, lending justification to the company’s esteemed award win. So trusted is the brand that someone chooses an Avalon funeral plan every 10 minutes*.

in mind, with unique features compared to other providers. If expats split their time between the UK and the Canaries, an Avalon funeral plan is valid in both countries so they can choose to have a funeral either in the Canaries, or back in the UK. They also provide local support for customers and their families, working with local, independent Funeral Directors in the Canaries. Their 24/7 English speaking expat bereavement helpline is of vital support for families when the time comes, particularly in countries where the funeral process can be unfamiliar and complicated. For example, funerals in the canaries can happen with 24-48 hours and Funeral Directors can request part of full payment upfront, plus there is the language barrier to contend with. Having an Avalon expat funeral plan in place makes planning and paying for a funeral as an expat simple. The award win follows a successful period of growth for the business under a new senior management team led by CEO, Susan Stevenson. Speaking about the award win, Avalon’s CEO, Susan Stevenson, said: “There are few other industries in which taking care of the customer, their journey and their family is quite so important.

Avalon employs more than 200 people at its offices in Cheshire and across Spain, The Canaries, Portugal and Cyprus. The company is flexible in offering customers three different ways to discuss their requirements and their range of funeral plans. They can speak to a specialist advisor in the comfort of their own home, or over the phone, or 24/7 online.

“We like to think we’re different to other funeral plan providers in that we go the extra mile in helping customers and their loved ones when they perhaps need it most.

For more information, visit www.avalonfuneralplans.com

Avalon is the fastest growing provider of funeral plans in Europe, providing specialist expat plans in Spain, the Canaries, Portugal and Cyprus.

“It’s our promise to always put our customers at the centre of what we do, and the fact that we’ve been recognised for our efforts - particularly by such a widely renowned awarding body as the Personal Finance Awards - really means the world to us.”

Based on sales of funeral plans over the period January – December 2018, by home appointment or over the phone, during standard trading hours.

Avalon funeral plans are specially designed with British expats

Regulated in the UK by the Funeral Planning Authority (FPA),

20TH DECEMBER TO 9TH JANUARY 2020 I TENERIFE NEWS 641 WWW.TENERIFENEWS.COM

Service with a smile at

BLEVINS FRANKS The expansion of the company in the archipelago is a testament to the Tenerife’s team success and popularity. They care for the finances of many families and have well over 100 million euros of funds under advice in the Canary Islands.

FTER over two decades of looking after the finances of both expatriate Canary Island residents and non-residents, business is going from strength to strength for Blevins Franks Financial Management Canary Islands. Further expansion has begun under company Partner Paul Montague, starting with the appointment of Adele Thomas as Private Client Manager. ‘Our growth over the past few years has been incredible,’ says Paul. ‘With continued low high street interest rates, bank insolvency and survival playing on people’s minds, investors have been looking for a different home for their money. People also want to ensure that they are perfectly positioned tax-wise in the Canary Isles and that they are not looking over their shoulder; especially with the Brexit issues. Our re-putation for trust and honesty in such tumultuous financial times has ensured that client referrals are at an all-time high. We’ve basically had no choice but to grow the team.’ Adele Thomas began her financial career in 2003 with various roles at NatWest bank in the UK. A keen football fan (and a fully qualified coach), her next position was at her favourite team, working in corporate sales and business development at Everton Football Club. This was followed by four years as director of a mortgage advice company, before she was head-hunted by Paul in July 2019 to assist with the ongoing expansion plans at Blevins Franks Canary Islands. ‘Adele will help me carry out reviews of existing client portfolios,’ says Paul ‘Between us we’ll ensure funds are in the right place at the right time to satisfy the needs of not just the clients, but also their imme-diate family thereafter.’ Before the move, Adele had

With the client base growing, and the consequent expansion of the Canary Islands team, it’s no wonder that there’s such a positive atmosphere in the Tenerife office.

been a regular visitor to Tenerife since childhood, always thinking that one day she would like to live on this sunny island. ‘Obviously, it was a big decision,’ she recalls. ‘It wasn’t just me to consider, there was also my husband and my three children, Ivy (11), Evie (6) and Frankie (2). We’d all be uprooted. And I didn’t know where to start.’

‘I actually love coming to work,’ beams new recruit, Adele, ‘and I’m proud to be associated with such a well-

The banter amongst the trio in the office is palpable, and Adele had no problem fitting into this informal office culture. ‘It’s a unique at-mosphere,’ she says. ‘The level of professionalism is so high, but it’s not stuffy at all. Paul is one of the most meticulous people I have ever met, but also so down-to-earth. What you see is what you get. No airs and

Blevins Franks has been providing specialist financial advice to British expatriates across Europe for over forty years. If you want to check that your current financial situation is at its maximum potential, call Paul and his team now on +34 922 716079 or email: canaryisles@blevinsfranks.com For more information visit www.blevinsfranks.com

Blevins Franks Financial Management Limited (BFFM) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK, reference number 179731. Where advice is provided outside the UK, via the Insurance Distribution Directive or the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II, the applicable regulatory system differs in some respects from that of the UK. Blevins Franks Trustees Limited is authorised and regulated by the Malta Financial Services Authority for the administration of trusts and companies. Blevins Franks Tax Limited provides taxation advice; its advisers are fully qualified tax specialists. This promotion has been approved and issued by BFFM.

Fortunately, she had in-built help. Alison Skirrow has worked with Paul for 11 years. She’s the business coordi-nator and the first point of contact for clients. According to Adele, mother-of-two Alison couldn’t do enough to help her settle into a new life in Tenerife; both in and out of the office. ‘Alison is unbelievably efficient in the office, but she’s also such a warm, people person,’ says Adele. ‘Both she and Paul were instrumental in helping me find the right schools for my kids and making inroads to a social circle via local sports and activity groups for ourselves, and for Ivy, Evie and Frankie.’

respected company. I’ve now got a dream job, with my dream company, in my dream destination. What’s not to smile about?’

Keep up to date on the financial issues that may affect you on the Blevins Franks news page at www.blevinsfranks.com Alison Skirrow / Adele Thomas graces, just straight talk, mixed with a great sense of humour.’ Alison agrees; ‘Paul might be the boss,’ she says, ‘and a good one on that. But at the end of the day, he knows it’s me who wears the trousers!’ Paul looks up from his screen at the far end of the office. A cheeky smile crosses his face. ‘We have a chuckle,’ he says, ‘a good team spirit, but we’re deadly serious when it comes to looking after our clients. It’s all about customer care. People trust us.’ It’s this trust and approachability that has sustained Blevins Franks’ reputation as the European leaders of financial management. All Blevins Franks partners and private client managers are regulated by the UK’s financial conduct authority, including those covering the Canary Islands. This gives clients an extra layer of trust and security. ‘It’s quite simple,’ says Paul. ‘If you have monies to invest, we’re the best at looking at your overall financial situation when it comes to retirement, investment, and estate planning. No one is better at making sure your money is in the right place.’

Paul Montague

641 TENERIFE NEWS I 20TH DECEMBER TO 9TH JANUARY 2020

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How to retire to the Canary Isles with financial peace of mind By Paul Montague, Partner, Blevins Franks

NYONE recently retired or approaching retirement is entering a new and exciting phase in life. While some worry retirement will be boring, many embrace the freedom it offers. If you have chosen to retire in the Canary Isles, you probably fall into the latter category!

Tenerife certainly offers a beneficial lifestyle for retired expatriates, but long-term financial security is crucial to help you enjoy your retirement years. You need to take a good look at your finances and the way you hold your assets. Your situation is totally different now from your working days in the UK, so be prepared to make some adjustments. Savings and investments You may have built up a successful portfolio of investments over your working life, but your circumstances and objectives were different then. With a regular salary you could afford to take more risk and focus more on growth. If you are looking for income now you are retired you need to plan for that, and also to protect the capital that generates the income. You should aim to earn at least enough capital growth to

keep pace with inflation over time to help maintain your spending power throughout retirement. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a fine balance. The starting point is to obtain an objective assessment of your risk tolerance. Together with a good understanding of your aims, circumstances, needs and time horizon, this is key to ensuring your portfolio is suitable for you. Taxation All that free time in retirement costs money! You can help maximise your income through strategic tax planning. While tax mitigation opportunities are limited when paying PAYE on your salary, how you hold investments can make a difference to retirement income. Take note that UK tax planning is unlikely to be effective in Spain. ISAs, for example, become taxable for Spanish residents. Once resident in Spain, you gain access to investment opportunities that might provide better tax-efficiency alongside other advantages. Pension plans This is the time you get to benefit from those years of pension contributions. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for expatriates, but once you are no longer UK resident it may become less beneficial to leave UK pensions where they are. UK pension income is paid in sterling, so if your key spending is in euros, this invites exchange rate risk. UK pensions remain subject to UK regulations, which could change for non-residents after Brexit. Many expatriates transfer UK pensions to a Qualifying Regulated Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS) or reinvest funds into more tax-efficient arrangements for Spain.

To protect your long-term financial security, research your pension options and understand the various implications. You need to take care here, so professional, regulated advice is essential. Estate planning None of us like to think about our departure from this world, but there is no denying that reaching retirement age does bring it closer to home. Decide who you want to leave your assets to, how much and when. Then research the most effective way to achieve this, in the most tax-efficient way, taking both Spanish and UK rules into account. An integrated financial planning approach produces better results than just focusing on one element at a time. While some try a DIY approach, cross-border tax, wealth management, pensions and estate planning is complex and it is difficult to objectively assess your own situation. For peace of mind, talk to a specialist adviser who will take time to understand your circumstances, needs and goals to help you secure a prosperous retirement in the Canary Isles. The tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; individuals should seek personalised advice. Keep up to date on the financial issues that may affect you on the Blevins Franks news page at www.blevinsfranks.com

AT YOUR

20TH DECEMBER TO 9TH JANUARY 2020 I TENERIFE NEWS 641

LEISURE

THE ENGLISH

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LIBRARY

President Ken Fisher, the Management Committee and Volunteers wish all our members a Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year. TUESDAY DECEMBER 31st The closing date for our Library Writing Competition draws near, your last chance to win the 100 euro prize for each category. For more details go to - englishlibrarycompetition@outlook.com THURSDAY JANUARY 9th 11.00-13.00 - CLASSICAL MUSIC APPRECIATION GROUP The first meeting of the library’s new venture hosted by Chris Hair. The group will cover aspects of classical music from the Renaissance to the early 20th century. To be held the second Thursday of the month. Entry one euro to include tea or coffee. THURSDAY JANUARY 23rd - MURDER MYSTERY LUNCH - PETIT LOS ANGELES 1.00 for 1.3O By popular demand especially for those of you who missed out in June, a repeat performance of a Knackwurst Too Far based on the popular TV series ‘Allo ‘Allo. Tickets for this fun-filled lunch sold out very quickly in June so don’t miss out this time. Only 30 places available so book early at the Treasurer’s Desk. Three course lunch with wine 18 euros. THURSDAY JANUARY 30 2.00pm - FILM CLUB - YESTERDAY If you remember and loved The Beatles then this film is for you. More details in next review. We welcome visitors to join us during our opening hours Monday and Friday 3pm to 5.30pm and Wednesday and Saturday 10pm to 1pm. Refreshments are served in the garden on Wednesday and Saturday mornings Discover more about us on Facebook, TripAdvisor and our Website ‘theenglishlibrary.es’. Did you know you can access Facebook through our Website. You will find us at Calle Irlanda 5, Parque Taoro, Puerto de la Cruz. Telephone 922 383 098.

LIES LIES LIES ADELE PARKS

buried.....alive. Larry confesses the crimes; it was an open and shut case. But now he’s dead and events from the past start to repeat themselves. Did she get it wrong all those years ago ? Or is there something much darker at play ?

SECRETS OF SANTORINI PATRICIA WILSON

Lies can make you they can break you. Daisy and Simon’s marriage is great isn’t it? After years together, the arrival of longed-for daughter Millie sealed everything in place. A happy little family of three. So what if Simon drinks a bit too much sometimes - Daisy’s used to it, she knows he’s letting off steam. Until one night at a party things spiral horribly out of control. And the happy little family of three will never be the same again.

THE CRAFTSMAN SHARON BOLTON He hid the bodies where nobody could find them. But some secrets aren’t buried deep enough...Florence Loveday’s career was made when she convicted coffin-maker Larr y Glassbrook of a series of child murders 30 years ago. Like something from our worst nightmares the victims were

the dark secrets behind her family’s separation.

TO KILL THE TRUTH SAM BOURNE Historians and Holocaust survivors dead in mysterious circumstances. Museums and libraries burning across the world. Digital records and irreplaceable proof, lost forever. Former White House operative Maggie Costello has sworn off politics. But when a newly elected governor begs her to help stop the lethal spiral of killings, she knows this is bigger than any political game. But who stands the most to gain from the chaos? A thriller for our times, To Kill the Truth takes the era of ‘fake news’ to its terrifying logical conclusion - with explosive results.

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Use your own ideas to fur ther your interests. Don’t let jealous friends put you down, making you insecure about your capabilities. You will have a productive day if you organize yourself well at work. TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21) You will be ready to jump on anyone who gets in the way of your progress today. Visitors may relieve the tension. Don’t waste this exciting day by sitting at home.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Your personal secrets may be revealed if you let coworkers in on your family dilemmas. You may find your self in a romantic situation. Be diplomatic but stem.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) You must look into your options. Trips will be enjoyable, and communication with your lover will clear up any misconceptions. You may find out that someone has not been completely honest with you. LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Channel your energy wisely and you can score points with the boss. Your charm will attract someone special. Travel will be on your mind, but you should be sure that you’ve got all your work up-to-date. VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) A series of misunderstandings may be at fault. Major job changes or opportunities to get ahead professionally are apparent. You may find that others do not do things the way you want; however, if the job gets done, let it pass. . LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Changes in your domestic scene are evident. Try to take care of the needs of those you love. Take that long overdue vacation if you can.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Be careful how you deal with colleagues. Visitors may relieve the tension. When the work is done, they may serve you for a change.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Fitness or weight loss programs will help your self esteem. Maybe it’s time to look into ways you can improve your health. Be aware that you might be at fault as well.

Sent away to a convent school in Dublin at the age of five Irini McGuire, has always had a strained and distant relationship with her mother, Bridget, a celebrated archaeologist who lives on the paradise island of Santorini. So when Irini receives news her mother as been injured at a dig and is in a coma, she knows it is finally time to return to the island of her birth. Reading through Bridget’s notes at her bedside, Irini starts to realise how little she knows about her mother ’s life. Now, driven by rumours that Bridget’s injury was no accident, Irini must uncover

SOMETIMES ALWAYS NEVER DVD - DL452 Alan is a stylish tailor with moves as sharp as his suits. He has spent years searching tirelessly for his missing son Michael who stormed out over a game of Scrabble. With no body to identify and his family torn apart, Alan must repair the relationship with his youngest son Peter and solve the mystery of an online player who he thinks could be Michael, so he can finally move on and reunite his family.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Female colleagues may be able to help you get the job done. You can make professional changes and direct your energy into making all the right moves. Go after your goals. You can learn valuable information if you listen and observe what others are doing and saying. AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) You may be the recipient of false information. Take care of matters involving institutions or government agencies. Catch up on your correspondence and reading. PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Unexpected events may upset your routine. Your best effor ts will come through investments concerning your home. Romantic oppor tunities may not be as they appear.

20TH DECEMBER TO 9TH JANUARY 2020 I TENERIFE NEWS 641 WWW.TENERIFENEWS.COM

It’s that time of year again W

ITH Christmas and New year approaching there will be lots of parties, get togethers and family gatherings. Whilst this can be a ver y happy time of the year, drivers and pedestrians must be mindful of the dangers this season brings. Of course, the most important is to remember the age old saying “Don’t Drink and Drive” which is probably the most common known and used slogan at this time of the year. Some people are of the opinion that drink driving laws in Spain do not apply...... BUT of course they do. The levels of permitted alcohol in your blood system are very low so you should be aware that potentially one drink i.e. a local measure of a gin and tonic for example can very easily take you over the legal limit. In Spain, you’re no longer considered fit to drive when

your blood/alcohol concentration exceeds 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood (or 30mg for drivers with less than two years’ experience and professional drivers). Of course, Alcohol plays a major part in a high percentage of road traffic accidents, especially those happening late at night. There are many factors that effect when one would be over the limit, these include you age, sex, weight and the amount you normally drink. The police carry out random breath tests on the side of the road and more so over the festive period, as residents will no doubt be

aware. It is important to note that drunk driving can result in fines of 1500 euros, loss of points from your licence or a suspension or in the worst case a period in prison. A driver who refuses to take a breath test can be liable to a prison sentence of 6/12 months and a loss of 6 points from their licence. It is interesting to note that the same rules apply to cyclists although of course loss of points does not apply! Another thing to consider is that if you have an accident whilst under the influence of alcohol your insurance becomes null and void and the individual is then responsible for payment of repairs and damages as well as medical costs of the third

party (where one is involved) and if a fixed object is involved i.e. a lamppost costs for repairs or replacement will be claimed by the Ayuntameinto against you. So rather than saying “oh I’ll

just have the one” have a nominated driver who refrains from drinking or take a taxi. That way you can enjoy your Christmas and potentially save yourself a lot of money and

heart ache. A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our clients and readers.

Pets World

How to keep your dog safe this Christmas

HRISTMAS is the time to indulge, celebrate and have fun and as part of the family, our dogs will normally be enjoying some of the action too. But the festive season also presents a world of hidden dangers to our four-legged friends, from toxic foods to dangerous seasonal plants. To ensure your dog remains safe this Christmas, the Blue Cross animal charity in the UK has teamed up with the Veterinary Poisons Information Service to ensure you’re in the know about what dangers to keep your dogs away from during the festive season.

Dangerous foods and drink Chocolate

The chemical theobromine, which is a bit like caffeine, is found in chocolate and is toxic to dogs. Even small amounts can cause agitation, hyperexcitability, tremors, convulsions and problems with the heart. The darker the chocolate, the more potent levels of theobromine become – with baker’s chocolate the most dangerous. Chocolate should be avoided at all costs. But what do you do if your dog does eat chocolate? Even small amounts have the potential to make them feel sick, but veterinary treatment should be sought for any dog ingesting more than 20 mg/kg of theobromine – that’s equivalent to 3.5 g/kg of plain or dark chocolate and 14 g/kg milk chocolate. White chocolate does not contain enough theobromine to cause toxicity, but it can be fatty and pose a potential risk of pancreatitis. Avoid putting any chocolate on or under the Christmas tree, as the temptation might be too great for our four legged friends.

Christmas pudding and mince pies:

Grapes and dried vine fruits (currants, sultanas, raisins) Grapes and their dried products (currants, sultanas and raisins) are toxic to dogs. Ingestion of even a small quantity can cause severe kidney failure. Don’t forget this will include food items that contain dried fruits such as Christmas pudding and mince pies. Be aware that chocolate-coated raisins run the additional risk of chocolate toxicity.

Onions (and garlic, leeks, shallots and chives) Onions, garlic, leeks, shallots and chives all belong to the Allium species of plants and can cause toxicity, whether uncooked or cooked. Initially there can be vomiting and diarrhoea but the main effect is damage to red blood cells, resulting in anaemia. This may not be apparent for several days after ingestion.

Alcohol Alcohol can have a similar effect in dogs as it does in their owners when drunk in excess. They can become wobbly and drowsy and in severe cases, there is a risk of low body temperature, low blood sugar and coma. Dogs may help themselves to any unattended alcohol left lying around over Christmas, so ensure it’s always out of their reach.

Leftovers If there is any food left over at Christmas, be careful to dispose of it well and keep it out of the reach of your four-legged friend. Not only may the food include ingredients toxic to dogs, mould in leftovers (including yoghurt, bread and cheese) can produce toxins that cause rapid onset convulsions in dogs.

Artificial sweeteners A sugar-free sweetener called xylitol is often found in the sweets we consume over Christmas, as well as chewing gums, mouthwashes, toothpastes and supplements. It is poisonous to dogs and, although the amounts in different products vary, event one to two pieces of chewing gum can cause toxic effects in a small dog. It can induce the release of insulin in the body, resulting in low blood sugar and sometimes liver damage. Signs of poisoning can be rapid or delayed, and include vomiting, lethargy, convulsions and comas. The prognosis is good if the low blood sugar is treated quickly.

Which Christmas leftovers can I give my dog? Providing your dog is healthy and is not allergic to the following foods, these are safe to give them a titbit of at Christmas: Turkey meat (no skin or bones)

Salmon (fillets or cooked in spring water are preferable to smoked salmon) Lamb meat (no bones) Scrambled egg Green beans Brussel sprouts Parsnips Carrot Peas Swede Mash potato (best without additional butter) New potatoes Sweet potatoes Yogurt (but check the ingredients and don’t feed if xylitol is listed as this is toxic to dogs) Remember, giving your dog lots of new food can cause vomiting and diarrhoea!

Christmas plants Poinsettia

Although toxicity of the poinsettia has often been exaggerated, it can cause irritation to the mouth and stomach with overproduction of saliva and sometimes vomiting.

Holly

The plant is considered to be of low toxicity, but ingestion of holly berries may result in a stomach upset.

Mistletoe

Ingestion of European mistletoe berries may result in an upset stomach. The American species of the plant is far more dangerous.

Christmas trees

A mild stomach upset can be caused if dogs eat pine needles, but the sharp tips can cause more damage internally.

Ivy

The ivy that tends to be used in wreaths and decorations is Hedera helix (not Toxicodendron radicans, the American poison ivy). But the Hedera species can still cause a tummy upset when ingested. Where there is significant or prolonged skin contact, Hedera species can also cause both irritant and allergic contact dermatitis.

Eating Out & About

641 TENERIFE NEWS I 20TH DECEMBER TO 9TH JANUARY 2020 WWW.TENERIFENEWS.COM

The Oriental

Brunelli’s Steakhouse

Sook

Puerto de la Cruz

Santa Cruz

Inaugurated in 1996 by Queen Sirikit of Thailand, our Oriental restaurant offers Asian style ‘haute cuisine’, which includes a wide range of delicious dishes with the unique flavor of an essential continent within the international gastronomic scene. The menu changes regularly and offers the best of the delicate and tempting, yet sophisticated cuisine from Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Japan. The unforgettable experience in El Oriental is also felt though the traditional decor of the restaurant, which reflects both the magic and fineness of Thailand, making this restaurant the ideal place for a perfect dinner.

Just 50 metres from Loro Parque and with beautiful views of the ocean, Brunelli’s Steakhouse is waiting for you to explore the delights of the palate. Inspired in the original American steakhouses, this restaurant is located at the former fisher village of Punta Brava, in northern Tenerife, and offers you the best quality meat – tender, juicy and with an incomparable texture. Flavors like you have never tasted before thanks to a specially controlled maturation and their ‘Southbend’ oven, unique in the Canaries and which cooks the meat at more of 800ºC, highlighting all its properties and making your dinner simply perfect.

For reservations call 922 381 400 Avda. Richard J. Yeoward, 1 Puerto de la Cruz ( Hotel Botánico) www.hotelbotanico.com/service/el-oriental

For reservations call 922 062 600 In front of Loro Parque Puerto de la Cruz www.brunellis.com

Summer has arrived and the wonderful SOOK restaurant has devised a refreshing and appetising menu for the hot months. New mouth-watering dishes are home-made salmorejo with extra virgin olive oil, diced Iberian ham and bread croutons, avocado from our islands in tempura, served with sweet chilli sauce and soy, tuna tataki with seaweed salad and caramelised soy sauce and duck breast soft grilled, with papaya chutney. In addition, the air-conditioned restaurant continues to offer its refreshing desserts such as seasonal fruit salad with guava mayonnaise. SOOK is now also opening with its a la carte during the weekend, both for lunch and dinner. The opening times are 13:00 to 15:30 and 20:30 to 23:30 and for your convenience, there is a parking area. You might also like to try the full breakfast buffet open to the public from 7am to 11am from Monday to Sunday. Ideal to start a day of shopping or tourist visit to Santa Cruz. The price is 16 euros per person.

II Pappagallo

Hotel Botánico & The Oriental Spa Garden

Black Sea

Puerto de la Cruz

Il Pappagallo restaurant perfectly combines the old art of making pasta dishes and innovative side dishes that will both delight diners. The menu has been entirely renovated to offer diners a modern culinary repertoire that matches our attention and love for details, as well as our passion for excellence. A varied buffet and a great selection of Italian specialties await you in its terrace overlooking the Atlantic, ideal to enjoy unforgettable sunsets and the tranquillity of the night during summer. In addition, our wine cellar houses the best Italian wines, chosen amongst the most traditional wines of the country.

The Hotel Botánico & The Oriental Spa Garden in Puerto de la Cruz has launched a new weight loss programme which will allow their guests to delight themselves with delicious, lowcalorie cuisine in an idyllic environment. A combination of taste and aromas will make you forget you are on a diet. This method carefully elaborated by some of the most respected French chefs from the region of Brittany completely avoids any fats and promotes intelligent consumption of proteins and carbohydrates,while also boosting the primary flavoirs and the freshness of ingredients. The hotel has devised a seven-day accommodation programme which combines a holiday with health and fitness, with the special three meals a day combined with health, nature and organised activities such as tai chi classes, yoga, qi gong, pilates and meditation. Do ring for details.

The Black Sea Restaurant in Puerto, just opposite the Botanical Gardens, is receiving rave reviews and delighted customers are probably the best people to recommend it. The Black Sea, offering seating both inside and out, is a family restaurant and its owners are very proud of their food and service. Fresh food is available every day. Do try the suckling leg of lamb or choose from the large selection of tapas. The gourmet burgers are also a firm favourite with many diners. With its international menu, the restaurant welcomes guests of all nationalities and can cater for larger groups as well. You will find plenty of shade on the big terrace under awnings or the trees and only the best of products are used, not least the meat and fish, which are transformed into wonderful dishes, tasting as good as they look. There is also an extensive wine list.

For reservations call 922 381 400 Avda. Richard J. Yeoward, 1, Puerto de la Cruz www.hotelbotanico.com

For reservations call 922 38 63 95 Calle Retama 3, Puerto de la Cruz

For reservations call 922 381 400 Avda. Richard J. Yeoward, 1 Puerto de la Cruz ( Hotel Botánico) www.hotelbotanico.com/service/il-pappagallo

Avda. 3 de Mayo, 3 Santa Cruz Tel.: 922 294 500 www.hoteles-silken.com

Eating Out & About

20TH DECEMBER TO 9TH JANUARY 2020 I TENERIFE NEWS 641

Your dining experience around our restaurants

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Sabor Canario

Restaurante Gom

Tacoa Cervecería & Fábrica

La Orotava

Santa Cruz

El Sauzal

If you haven’t yet discovered La Orotava, you must do so as it is the most wonderful town full of charm, character and Canary architecture. This restaurant is located in one of the oldest buildings in the centre of La Orotava in a two-floor house of 800 square metres and two patios. Here you can taste the best of traditional Canary food with flair and innovation and wines from La Orotava. Its style is home-made Canary food, with both conventional and creative dishes, always inspired by the best produce from the town. Prices suit all pockets.

For reservations call 922 322 793 Calle Carrera 17 La Orotava info@saborcanario.es

FREE APPETIZER WITH THIS ADVERT Bar El Pincho

This iconic restaurant in the heart of Santa Cruz is definitely a place to head for if you enjoy stunning decor and high-end cuisine but at prices you can still afford. The food here is best described as a slice of home-made cooking with the taste and touch of nouvelle cuisine. The emphasis is on quality, freshness and naturalness where the raw product is the star, depending on what is available that day in the market. They offers a special menu for celiac and can help create food for anyone with a specific allergy. Weddings, etc are also catered for and there is always a dish of the day. You will find GOM within the Hotel Taburiente, located in front of Parque García Sanabria. Their opening times are Tuesday to Saturday from 13:00 to 16:00 and 20:00 to 23:00.

For reservations call 922 276 058 Calle Dr. Guigou,29 Santa Cruz www.hoteltaburiente.com

Craft brewery & restaurant

A wonderful place to discover and explore! This is the oldest craft brewery in Spain, having been in Tenerife since 2001, and offers a restaurant-brewery area, two terraces, guided tours with beer tasting in English, German and Spanish, is fully accessible for the disabled and has a playroom for children. You can enjoy different types of craft beers, ten at the moment, including the most recent “Winter Porter” and a “Tajinaste”, with Teide floral honey. Gastronomic specialities feature a wide range of snacks, delicious salads, smoked food, various types of sausages, Geman grills and roasted knuckle of pork. Also home-made desserts. And new on the menu: vegan cuisine. This super brewery/restaurant is even more popular because it sells its bottled beer to the public who can walk here just like they can to other bars and restaurants!

Carretera General del Norte, 122, El Sauzal Open daily from 13:00 to 23:00, Mon. open from 18:30, Frid. & Sat. 13:00 to 12:30am. Wednesday Closed. Tel: 922 56 41 73

Brunelli’s Steakhouse

Tressardi

Las Vistas, Los Cristianos

Puerto de la Cruz

At Bar El Pincho you can enjoy good prices, good food, good service and a fantastic view of the ocean. They are winning fans because of the friendly staff you encounter and the delicious Spanish tapas. They have a great offer, a combination of tapas for two for only 12.50 euros. There is also a wide selection of main plates, such as steak, chicken and fish, all cooked with love and the best ingredients they can find. Do try their fantastic cocktails which they always try to improve. Try also the special dishes from the north of the island and the drinks. Open everyday from 10:00am to 22:00pm. Live music from 5:00 to 19:00pm

For reservations call 649 431 110 Paseo Las Vistas, Los Cristianos www.barelpincho.com

For reservations call 922 062 600 In front of Loro Parque Puerto de la Cruz www.brunellis.com

If you want to seek out a really good Italian restaurant at an affordable price with a lovely terrace, look no further than Tressardi. It offers a very varied menu including traditional Italian dishes, pizza and pasta with gorgeous fillings and sauces, meat dishes, fresh fish and crunchy salads. The desserts like tiramisu and panna cota are to die for! So if you want a good Italian restaurant for a family meal, a romantic dinner, a quick lunch when working or take away, Tressardi is your restaurant. A friendly and homely restaurant that has quality products combining fast food and well elaborated dishes for kids and grown ups. Depending on your choices the price can go higher but an average 15-16 Euros per person is what you can expect.

OPENING TIMES: 15:00 -23:00 pm Wednesday closed Friday & Saturday: 15:00 -24:00 pm For reservations call 922 382 056 Calle Aceviños, La Paz, Puerto de la Cruz

Eating Out & About

641 TENERIFE NEWS I 20TH DECEMBER TO 9TH JANUARY 2020 WWW.TENERIFENEWS.COM

Donde Mario

La Bodeguita de Enfrente

Cuesta de la Villa

A great part of the fun of wining and dining in Tenerife is finding somewhere different and it’s well worth a trip out to Santa Ursula to the warm and inviting Donde Mario. Though from the outside you might easily pass by it, the inside is elegant and captivating. Restaurateur Mario Torres surprises us every day with his extensive use of produce in season, and his unbeatable experience with wines and cookery. Just try his Cherne warm salad, a super-healthy Canarian fish soup, or his Lomo de Vaca Morucha. You will be captivated.

Set in a series of old Canary houses, this restaurant is made up of a labyrinth of inter-connecting rooms leading off from the bar area in the centre. The atmosphere is reminiscent of an English country pub with its low ceilings with wooden beams and warm décor. The food is fundamentally Canarian. They grow most of their own produce at their allotment and only use olive oil to cook with. Their ethos is a simple one, only use the best, fresh produce and cook it with thought and care. The menu is described as Picoteo, slightly more than tapas without reaching the full-blown three-course meal status. It is delicious and affordable. “La Bodeguita de Enfrente” won the “II Gastronomic Awards Cruzcampo Gran Reserva El Día-Mesa Abierta”, which took place last year.

Why not try a touch of “picoteo”, the Spanish-style of eating where, as the name suggests, you pick a selection of dishes and share with your companions. You will find “El Calderito de la Abuela” in Santa Úrsula and it offers a unique and homely atmosphere combining Canary cuisine with modern creativity. In 2016, “El Calderito de la Abuela” won the “Best Canarian Kitchen Restaurant Award” in the first edition of the “El Dia-Mesa Abierta” Awards on July 28th. The exterior of this property belies what you will find inside as it is full of charm and carácter and there is an incredible view of La Orotava valley. “A gem” is how it is described.

For reservations call 922 302 760 Exit 31 TF-5, Carretera Provincial, 205 Cuesta de la Villa, Santa Úrsula www.labodeguitadeenfrente.net

For reservations call 922 301 918 Exit 31 TF-5, Carretera Provincial, 130 Cuesta de la Villa, Santa Úrsula www.elcalderitodelaabuela.net

For reservations call 922 304 585 Exit 31 TF-5, Carretera Provincial, 119 Cuesta de la Villa, Santa Úrsula www.dondemario.net

El Calderito de la Abuela

SPECIAL

XMAS FEATURE

20TH DECEMBER TO 9TH JANUARY 2020 I TENERIFE NEWS 641 WWW.TENERIFENEWS.COM

BY JOHN RIDDLE

I BELIEVE IN FATHER CHRISTMAS A FESTIVE SPECIAL

HIS year I will celebrate my 72nd Christmas and looking back over those decades I began to think about the many times I waited for Father Christmas to arrive. My earliest Christmas memories start in the less salubrious surroundings of a condemned house in Hartlepool as my family waited to be re-housed after the war. Father Christmas in those days wasn’t very rich but I was grateful he left a stocking which contained a packet of sweets, an orange and a two bob bit. In good years a toy car might be added. Our Christmas tree was quite a bare one in comparison with the extravagant ones sold today but it was always there complete with an angel at the top. The angel was a family heirloom made of horse hair but it disappeared many years ago and was replaced by a star. By the time food rationing ended we had moved to our new council house, near the hospital, to a house with two toilets, a bathroom and central heating. If our house had changed from the old terraced, poorly lit and cold house “down the town” then so had Christmas. My dad Stan worked at the

John at Loch Fyne

Christmas 2005

local Collier y and would never earn a fortune but he always put the needs of his family first especially at Christmas. I could tell you that at one Christmas I received a football as my main present and the next year the football boots but then that would me, as usual, embroidering the truth. It is a habit I have continued in my many newspaper articles and books if you believe the critics. But if the presents were small by today’s standards the house was always warm. Dad got a load of free coal every two weeks from the colliery, and Christmas dinner was the highlight of the year. In the early days we would have a leg of mince, but there I go again embroidering. Later years we would have a turkey and one year we nearly had a brace of pheasants. As a Christmas present from the owners of the timber yard at Seaton Carew, home of the famous canoe man, where I worked as the wages clerk I was presented with a brace of

pheasants. I took them home and my old mum explained that you had to hang a pheasant for at least 10 days unlike the monkey which only took a couple of hours. “Take those birds across to the butcher and ask him if you could swop them for a leg of pork” she instructed. I went to the butchers on my bike with the pheasants strung to the handle bars. The butcher gladly swopped the birds for the biggest leg of pork I had ever seen. I don’t see many pheasants hung up in supermarkets but no doubt your local independent butcher will be able to get you one by fair means or fowl. Christmas gradually got better year by year and the stocking was replaced with a pillow case and the presents included a train set, dart board, and clothes. We always received new clothes, which was welcome as “second hand” clothes whilst providing warmth always had a stigma. I remember once being told by a classmate; “That coat used to be mine”. I never wore it again. Christmas’s were always much colder and you didn’t have to dream of “A White Christmas” as old Bing Crosby

sang year after year –it was very often a reality. In the year I was born the snow fell in buckets, towns and villages were isolated and when it melted the floods followed. As the myth of global warming became a reality snow at Christmas is as rare as rocking horse poo. Church always played a great part in our house. Many people in Hartlepool attended midnight mass and near our house the worshippers went straight from the Workingman’s Club to the neighbouring St. Thomas More’s Church. As we grew up my sister Mavis and her husband Bob Harper would join us on Christmas Day and we would play board games and one year darts. Mavis and Bob have been married more than 50 years and I often quip; “You don’t get that long for murder”, with reference to the years I spent in prison, on the right side of the bars of course, as the Prison’s Probation Officer. It was just my little joke. As my friends often remark “That’s an old one John”. Well these days I only know old jokes but I am in good company after all there are no new

Christmas bus Elvis songs. But the King did have a Christmas Number One in 1962 with “Return to Sender” as I mentioned in my book “Stars of the Swinging 60s”. When I left home and started a family of my own I like to think I made Christmas special for my three children. These days they have their own family Christmas’s to enjoy and I am sure you have your own stories to recall. This year I am having my Christmas dinner in the Devon Arms in Los Cristianos, Tenerife as I have done for the past few years. It is a little break in the sun when I catch up with people from the north east who now live in the Canaries. I will be back in Hartlepool in 2020 to share more stories about the wonderful people of the north east and their history. In the meantime I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone in Los Cristianos and Tenerife a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year. *John Riddle was born in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. The family moved shortly after John was born, back to their home in Hartlepool. Educated locally John obtained a place

at Leeds University Department of Extra Mural Studies and graduated in 1973. John returned to the northeast and joined the Probation and After-Care Service. He worked with offenders in the area and “did time” as a Prison Probation Officer at HM Detention Centre Kirklevington, Frankland Maximum Security Jail and the notorious “H” Wing at Durham Prison. John took early retirement in 1997 to pursue his dream of becoming a journalist and came to live in Tenerife contributing to English language newspapers on the island. In his spare time, John is a busy, if not prolific writer and has penned numerous books and articles mainly on sport and the history of Hartlepool. These days he writes “not for profit books” and donates any surplus to local charities including the Hartlepool Hospice, Lifeboat, Cancer charities and Dementia charities. John resides in Hartlepool but can often be found during the winter months soaking up the sunshine in Los Cristianos, Tenerife.

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FIFTY EVENTS

Christmas arrives in style throughout municipality of Granadilla

RANADILLA de Abona at Christmas” is offering more than 50 cultural, commercial and sports activities throughout the municipality.

THREE KINGS

Festive programme in full swing in Adeje

“

The Mayor, José Domingo Regalado and councillor for culture and local development, Eudita Mendoza and Yanira González, respectively, presented the programme of events that will conclude on Januar y 5th and which includes concerts, exhibitions, fair, theatre, workshops, music live and contests, among many other initiatives aimed at the whole family. The Christmas programme, organised by the Department of Culture and Festivities with the collaboration of other municipal areas, kicked off with the inauguration of several exhibitions; a so-called ‘Paradise’ by Élida Medina, and that of nativity scenes prepared by schools, senior centres and municipal groups. Also, the municipal Christmas carol was created and interpreted by the Folk Association “Sentir Sureño”. Sr. Regalado explained that it is a wide amalgam of events, totally free and programmed with great enthusiasm, so that they can be enjoyed by the smallest to the oldest of the house during this holiday period. He also pointed out the involvement of residents in the different initiatives, in addition to pointing out that they want to bring the Christmas atmosphere and programming to the different areas of the municipality. Yanira González said that in order to promote commercial activity, the campaign ‘This Christmas stay in Granadilla” has been launched, which includes posters and advertising on lines 111 and 470 of

Titsa; an advertising spot; window dressing contests; live music performances in commercial areas; the traditional ‘Roller disco’; tapas and wines outside the farmers’ marketand gastronomic and dance workshops among other things. One of the most popular acts will be the Great New Year’s Eve Dance, with two environments; one in the square of El Médano, with Aparrandados and the orchestras Deliciosa, Alojeray and Tropin, which includes free transportation through the nuclei, and another of modern music in the Magallanes square. Also, the Children’s New Year ’s Eve will be celebrated, on the afternoon of December 28th, in the plaza

A alike. de la cultura of San Isidro, where there will be bells and lucky grapes for the little ones. On the afternoon of January 5th, the streets of the historic centre will be filled again with the celebration of the Great Cavalcade of the Magi from the East, which will end at the municipal pavilion. The music this Christmas will include the traditional gospel concert in the auditorium of SIEC on December 18th; the Parranda Chasnera in the Plaza de la Cultura de San Isidro on

December 22nd; the Young Singers in the Plaza de El Médano, on December 29th and the Classic New Year’s Concert, on January 1st at the Convent. From the sporting point, the highlight is the celebration of the ‘San Silvestre Medanera 2019’ on December 29th for children and adults in El Médano; the closing of the sports promotion campaign in the Los Hinojeros pavilion and the Christmas Sports Park in the municipal pavilion from December 22nd to 30th.

CATHEDRAL HOLOGRAPH

Follow the nativity scene route in La Laguna

DEJE is celebrating Christmas and the New Year in the style it knows best, for all ages, all nationalities and local people and tourists

The festive programme is already in full swing, with much still to come. Two big Christmas concerts have already proved a great success and the third will star the Municipal School of Music and the Band of the Musical Patronage of the Historic Villa de Adeje in Plaza España on Thursday, December 19th. The local council has included, for another year, children’s activities in the most populated cores, as well as Santa’s visit to César Manrique Square on Sunday, December 22nd and the delivery of letters to the envoys of SS.MM. the Kings in the squares of the neighbourhoods of Fañabé, Armeñime, Los Olivos and La Hoya. Adeje centre will also host the family film screening on the 26th and 27th at Plaza

España at 7pm. As an added value, a free Christmas Play Park has been organised, from December 26th to January 4th in the Pavilion of El Galeón. Of course, the end of the year will start again in the Plaza de Espana accompanied from 11pm by the orchestra Sensiones Gomera, Toque Latino and Maquinaria Band. Likewise, and as expected by all citizens of the southern zone, the Three Kings will arrive in the municipality of Adeje by helicopter at the Soccer Field from 5pm on Januar y 5th. After being received by the Mayor, who will be in charge of delivering the keys to the municipality, the Cavalcade will begin with the participation of children’s characters from film and television.

A Laguna council has developed a route of nativity scenes in various emblematic spaces and entities of the municipality.

The journey starts at the Casa de los Capitanes in calle Obispo Rey Redondo, 5, with a biblical nativity scene which can be visited until January 7th. The schedule will be Monday through Friday from 9am to 2pm and from 4pm to 8pm., except on December 24th and 31st when it will open only in the morning. On December 25th and January 1st, it will remain closed. The next stop is the Nativity of the Scout Aguere 70 Group in the Casa Mesa (by calle Viana). It is open from December 15th to January 6th and can be visited from Monday to Saturday, from 5.30pm to 8pm and on Sundays, from 11am to 1pm. Another point of this tour is Parroquia Matriz de Nuestra Señora de la Concepción. It will be in place until January 8th, from 10am to 2pm from Tuesday to Friday, from 10am to 5pm on Saturdays, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm, and on Sundays, from 10.30am to 12.30pm and from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. The headquarters of the Royal Economic Society of Friends of the Country of Tenerife, on San Agustín Street, 23, will open its nativity scene from December 16th to January 3rd. The schedule is from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 1pm and from 4pm to 7pm.. On December 24th and 31st, it will remain closed. The tour also includes the biblical nativity scene of the Hogar del Santísimo Cristo de La Laguna, on Viana Street, 64. It can be seen until January 7th, every day, from 10am to 2pm

and from 4pm to 8pm. Finally, the Cathedral of La Laguna, in the Plaza de Los Remedios, will show a holographic nativity scene whose projections will take place until January 7th from 7pm to 10pm.

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FAMILY APPEAL

FESTIVE WORKSHOPS

A Christmas flavour at El Rosario’s market

Massive Christmas programme in all parts of Guia de Isora municipality

HRISTMAS comes to Guia de Isora with music, theatre, sport and numerous outdoor activities to enjoy with the family.

The festive programme started with the concert of Ingrid Arthur and The Gospel Voices of America, with a large audience and have continued since with more concerts, folklore, gospel, Christmas music and more. There are numerous events still to come, such as a a new edition of Isora Suena on December 20th, an evening that brings together for several years all the musical and dance groups of the municipality to celebrate these holidays. From 5pm, there will be children’s activities in the square and the Christmas Market. In addition, the 101 Brass Band will make its lively tour of the commercial areas of the centre from 6pm. The grand concert will begin at 7pm with a parade and performance in the square. On Saturday, December 21st, Acojeja will have children’s activities (bouncy castles and workshops) from 10.30am. Alcalá will also have a children’s play park from 5pm in the Plaza de El Llano and will host the Christmas Market between 5pm and 10pm. The sporting activity is concentrated that day in the coastal nucleus with the Night Solidarity Race, with the children’s modality at 6pm and the adult one at 8pm. From 7pm, there will be animation again by the 101 Brass Band. On Sunday, December 22nd, Agua Dulce and Aripe will also have children’s activities (bouncy castle and workshops) in their respective places starting at 10.30am. In the

afternoon, in Playa San Juan, in the Plaza del Centro Cultural, an open-air Christmas concert by the Ajijide Coral will begin at 6pm. And at 7.30pm in the Auditorium of Guia de Isora, XXVII Extraordinary Christmas Concert with the Virgen de la Luz Band. (Entrance €3 to the benefit of the band). On Monday, December 23rd, there will be a parade through the open shopping areas of Playa San Juan from 7pm by the Virgen de la Luz Music Band. On Thursday, December 26th, the Auditorium of Guía de Isora will host a Christmas concert of the Youth Section and students of the Academy of the Virgen de la Luz Band at 7pm. In addition, the screening of the movie “El Grinch” (€ 2 entry) will take place at the San Juan Beach Cultural Centre at 6pm and the youngest children of Vera de Erques and Fonsalía will enjoy children’s activities in the Plaza each of these nuclei from 5pm. On Friday, December 27th, starting at 7pm, the commercial areas of Alcalá will also have the entertainment of the parade with the Virgen de la Luz Band. In Chío and Piedra Hincada there will be children’s activities in the square of each of these centres from 5pm. And in the Auditorium of Guía de Isora the film ‘Aladdin’ will be screened at 6pm (€ 2 entry). On Saturday, December 28th, El Pozo and Chirche will have children’s activities in the square of each of these

centres from 10.30am. The Cultural Centre of Tejina will host the screening of the film ‘How to train your dragon 3’ (€ 2 entry) at 6pm and in Guía de Isora, in the Auditorium, the end of the year concert will be held by pianist Valerij Petasch (€5 entrance ). On Sunday, December 29th the smallest of Cueva del Polvo and El Jarl will enjoy children’s activities in the square of each of these centres from 10.30am. In the Cultural Centre of Alcalá there will be a concert by Parranderos de Tágara, at 7pm. On Monday, December 30th, the nuclei of Chiguergue and Tejina de Isora will have inflatable castles and children’s workshops in their respective places from 5pm. In the centre of Guia de Isora, there will be parades through the commercial areas in charge of the Virgen de la Luz music band from 7pm. On Tuesday, December 31st, the New Year will be celebrated in the Plaza de Guía de Isora with a verbena from the Arguayo Banda and Guaracha orchestras, and then Dj Siverio to dance until dawn. The party will comment at half past midnight.

On Thursday, January 2nd, Playa San Juan will host the children’s park in the Plaza of the Cultural Centre and the Christmas Market from 5pm. The 101 Brass Band will liven up the commercial areas that evenking from 7pm and at 8pm, there will be a concert of Young Singers, Hakuna Matata, the greatest hits of the stor y classics. On Sunday, January 5th from 7pm, the Great Three Kings Parade will take place, touring the main streets of Guia de Isora, with the participation of the band of bugles and drums, Virgin de la Luz music band, juggling and different characters. Upon completion, the Magi will deliver their offering to the Infant Jesus in the church and collect the letters of the children in the square of Our Lady of Light, specially decorated for the occasion. People who want to parade in the parade should contact the Department of Culture (in the case of children and young people who want to be pages, they must communicate it before January 3rd). There will also be horse rides organised by the party commissions in Chío and Playa San Juan.

L Rosario’s agricultural market is joining the festive celebrations with workshops every weekend.

Until January 4th, various workshops and activities will be held with the aim that “zero kilometer” products reign at the tables of homes this Christmas. The programme of activities started on December 7th with a wine and cheese tasting workshop featuring the organic wines of the bodega La Hijuela, located in Machado, and the handmade cheeses of La Pedrera. The following Saturday, December 14th, the workshops looked at Christmas decorations and flowers you can eat. On the weekend of December 21st and 22nd, the market will offer good ideas for Christmas Eve dinners with an easy cooking workshop on the Saturday and the showcooking “The Christmas starters of chef Santiago Evangelista” on the Sunday. Saturday, December 28th will be a solidarity day with a collection of food for dogs and cats from Valle Colino, organised by Fecapap, and on Sunday 29th, a chocolate bar will take place to celebrate the proximity of 2020. Finally, on Saturday, January 4th, there will be Christmas workshops and a visit on behalf of the Magi to collect children’s letters. The market is located in La Esperanza.

CLASSICS AND CAROLS

Free admission to three Christmas concerts

N open invitation has been issued to three Christmas music evenings with compositions for soprano, recorder and organ by composers such as Bach, Corelli, Händel, von Herbeck abd Mortimer.

The performers are Dr. Barbara Hebborn, soprano and recorder and Hans Peter Reiners, organist. Christmas carols in different languages will also be sung together with the visitors. The Christmas music with active participation takes place on: Thursday, December 26th at 6.30pm in the parish church of San Fernando Rey in Santiago del Teide Sunday, December 29th at 8.15pm in the parish church of Nuestra Senora del Carmen in Los Cristianos Sunday, January 5th at 7.15pm in San Sebastian in Adeje, La Caleta Admission is free.

Employment, tax and accounting advice

Company accountancy (at our office or yours). Settlement of taxes (IRPF, societies, non-residents). Company constitution: (mercantile register). Representation of any kind of employment. Tax and accounting inspection. Settlement of estates (inheritance tax). Procedures for the transfer of vehicles. Contracts for renting houses, business premises, etc… Insurances: car, home, etc….

Ctra. Provincial nº183 Edf. Itahisa, Portal H, 1 Cuesta de la Villa Santa Ursula Tel: 922 30 48 58

urbano@asesoriaurbanotorres.com www.asesoriaurbanotorres.com

HEALTH

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LATEST TECHNOLOGY

HEARING AIDS WITH REMOTE CONTROL

Madhu Khatnani

O you need hearing aids but don’t know if you are going to adapt? Are you in Spain and want to make a purchase with aftersales service in case you return to your country? Do you feel too lazy to make an appointment and go to your hearing centre every two by three? Do you have poor mobility, or do not have a car, or do not like relying on someone to take you to your medical checkups? We present the solution: Beltone Trust are personalised hearing aIDS to facilitate the experience, to improve your hearing. They are high-end aids, very aesthetic, resistant, with exceptional sound, a discreet design, and with the possibility of being able to control and adjust it from your mobile, through a free application. This application incorporates “remote care”, it is a communication tool with your hearing care professional from anywhere in the world.

The hearing care professional will remotely adjust what you request, just send a message, he will correct the changes and upload it to the cloud, once you download it, the changes will automatically be applied to your hearing aid. The human body has even and symmetrical anatomical parts, the fact of having two ears is not something casual, the joint work of both makes us able to interpret the environment, locate the sound, orient and balance ourselves, that is why binaural adaptation

is always important. The brain is the one that encodes the signals recorded by each ear and enables the person to selectively listen and understand the environment.

CHARACTERISTICS OF BELTONE TRUST

There are many hearing aids in the market, and depending on the investment we make they will have advantages, disadvantages and limitations. Beltone Trust is part of high-end hearing aids and incorporates several revolutionary innovations that help you listen in a natural way: Personal Sound ID and Directionality Crosslink II. Personal sound ID: Restores differences in sound level between both ears, thus allowing us to better identify the source of

the sound source, recognise voices, improve conversation. Crosslink II Directionality: Offers a customised audition, particularly for each user, the hearing aid monitors the sound environment and adapts, automatically changing the configuration.

Allows the person to move from a noisy to quiet environment in a gentle way. HPF80 Nanoblock Coating: Blocks moisture and dirt. Noise Reducer: Ideal for windy days, breezes or

adverse weather conditions. There are several studies that confirm that Beltone Trust hearing aids facilitate speech comprehension significantly, especially when you want to listen to someone behind or next to you.

Advanced Smart Gain: Adjusts the volume automatically, offering the best quality according to the environment in which we are, for example: busy restaurant / disco or in a quiet park / beach.

Get your audiometric test today! Request an appointment now!

Feedback Suppressor: Annoying beeps and unpleasant sounds when talking on the phone or giving a hug are over. Ear-to-ear synchronisation:

Calle Aceviño 4 (Under Masaru Aparments) La Paz, Puerto de la Cruz Tel.: 922 389 975

Visual and auditory solutions Visual Center Madhu

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ARTEDENTAL HELPS LEAD THE WAY

3D technology transforms the dental sector in the Canary Islands

ODERN digital dentistry digitizes and processes images that reproduce a model of our mouth and then make prostheses or dentures that are impossible to match by the human hand. All thanks to X-ray devices, scanners, 3D printers or the so-called CAD / CAM technology. When we think of the great inventions of our time, we place the internet or smartphones at the head, not forgetting the importance of advances in digital technology medicine. And this one, categorically, can change anyone’s life. A medical sector that today embraces digital technology is dentistry. Part of it is the scanning of the mouth, the design of a smile through a computer and the manufacturing of 3D dentures (dentures, crowns and bridges). Modern digital dentistr y digitizes and processes images that reproduce a model of our mouth and then make prostheses or dentures. CAD / CAM is the acronym for Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing, and has less than a decade in the dental sector. In the Canary Islands, this type of technology is already becoming common in clinics. This is the case of Artedental, located in Puerto de la Cruz and whose bulk of patients come from countries such as the United Kingdom or Germany. This centre, at the forefront of notable advances in dentistry such as dental implant placement, now has Dr. David Trujillo, a dentist specialising in digital dentistry and one of the pioneers in the use of the CAD / CAM technique. In fact, Dr. Trujillo usually travels from Madrid to Tenerife to attend the patients of the clinic. He explains that one of the handicaps of digital dentistry is that “there is still no regulated training, only private training offer”, a circumstance that, added to its latest applications, limits the number of trained professionals. “The basis of a good digital doctor is the thorough knowledge of the prosthesis (possibilities, indications or materials) and the domain of three-dimensional environment programmes,” he says. While other clinics and specialists maintain a reactionary attitude to change and delay the

implementation of this technique, the Artedental specialist never doubted it: “I have been fully digitized for five years. I use the intraoral scanner for oral records, and I make my own milling and 3D printing center available to the clinic. ” The intraoral scanner is “a device that, as a camera, takes photos or three-dimensional records of the mouth, not being necessary in this case the classic silicone measurement”, explains the doctor. He emphasises this advantage because embedding a silicone filled mold on the denture is much more uncomfortable for the patient, who experiences “overwhelm, reflux and even nausea.” “Once you have the digital images,” Trujillo continues, “the patient’s prosthesis is designed using specialised software, and the design, in the form of an archive, is processed by machining machinery or 3D printing.” But the advantages of intraoral scanner and 3D technology are not limited to this. Time is a factor that makes a difference. The dental sector can be divided into two large groups: the clinics, where dentists work; and laboratories, where prosthetics shape crowns, bridges and dentures. The dentist takes care of the silicone (physical) impression and then sends it to the laborator y, where the prosthesis is manufactured. This process takes several days, sometimes weeks, depending on the workload of the laboratory or the difficulty of the prosthesis. If reading this bores you, let’s imagine the whole procedure. For the patient, it also means multiplying their appointments: it cannot be guaranteed that the prosthesis is adapted to the first one. This process is long and even lacks a guarantee of precision, since everything will depend on the tandem and the skills between dentist and prosthetic. With the CAD / CAM

technology the process is accelerated. Everything is digitized and the accuracy is absolute. The Artedental expert also underlines the significant advantages for the professional: “Better communication tools thanks to the fact that the patient visualiaes everything through images and, therefore,

better treatment compression and greater credit; more security for the accuracy and predictability of the solutions or more possibilities in terms of types of manufacturing and materials to choose for the same prosthetic project. And very important, the exact reproduction in case of repetitions or breaks, which is

also an advantage for the patient. The number of clinics that add to this progress does not stop increasing, and even prestigious publications advocate that professionals embrace change. It is a rising industry, a circumstance that also reflects the numbers. The company SmarTech Publish-

ing announced in its 2018 report that the 3D dental printing market will cover 9.5 billion dollars by 2027, and that the industry has increased more than 35% from year to year, and growing. This is undoubtedly the future of dentistry, and in the Canary Islands we can already access its advantages

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MUNICIPAL GALA

Arona pays tribute to outstanding achievers in sports Arona council through its Municipal Sports Board held the 24th edition of the Municipal Sports Gala

MOUNTAIN MARATHON

Entries open for seventh edition of Pinolere Trail

HE event took place at the Infanta Leonor de Los Cristianos auditorium with an invited audience to celebrate the achievements of the athletes. Arona handball player, Arinegua Pérez, who plays in the ranks of the Remudas Club of Gran Canarias and with which she was proclaimed champion of the Challenger Cup, champion of the Guerreras Iberdrola league and champion of the Supercopa of Spain, was designated as best Female athlete of the year. In male the best athlete was the swimmer Moritz Berg, with an impressive curriculum to be winter champion of Spain of 50, 100 and 200 metre free, summer champion of Spain of 50 and 100 metres free and bronze medal in the Mediterranean games in 4 x 200m, also obtaining a minimum mark to participate in the Glasgow European championship.

In the best club of the year section, the Samguk Taekwondo Sports Club was chosen as the best club of the year, achieving several European champions and several podiums in national competitions. It was noted that the club founded in 1999 is since 2016 the Canarian Taekwondo club with the largest number of licences. The sporting entity has, for some editions, been giving a special prize to the club with best practices in gender equality that this year stood out in the Navigators Sailing Club of Arona due to the mix of male and female trainers and monitors and for its adapted sports equipment. Musical performances, acrobats and comedians,

completed the programme of a new edition of this Gala, which aims to bring together all the athletes in a night of partying and conviviality, where the voices of journalists Eva García and Nacho Palacio acted as masters of ceremonies. Juan Sebastián Roque, councillor for Sports Arona said; “We are very happy with the development of this event

in which athletes, coaches, monitors and directors meet for great municipal sports festival and where, for a day, they change the playing fields for an act where they their successes of the season are recognised.” Athletes Rubén Torres (Car Racing), Rafael Mateu and Emilio Lentini (Athletics) were also honoured, together with Ingolf Bossert (Swimming) and María Paz (Tennis).

Granadilla basketball club unveils its latest teams G

MEDAL CEREMONY

RANADILLA Basketball Club celebrated on December 6th the presentation of all its categories for the 2019/2020 season, composed of more than 100 young people, in the pavilion of the Institute of Los Cardones, in the centre of San Isidro.

Those present, in addition to the numerous members of the public, included sportsmen and women, relatives and fans of the sport; the Mayor, José Domingo Regalado; the first deputy mayor and councillor for sports, Marcos González, and other members of the municipal corporation. The teams that make up the club are: benjamín, preminibasket, preinfantil male, infantil feminine, precadete masculine, cadet feminine and masculine, junior masculine and senior. During the day, medals were given to all the players who make up the great family of the CB Granadilla, founded 28 years ago. The Department of Sports of the Granadilla council also received a plaque of thanks for their collaboration and support in the promotion and continuity of this sport in the municipality.

HE seventh edition of the Pinolere Trail, a mountain race organised by the Orotava-Clator Athletics Club and sponsored by the City Council of La Orotava, with the collaboration of the Cabildo de Tenerife, is launched with its usual flavour and with three distances: 42, 27 and 11 kilometres. This veteran trail test will be held on April 26th, 2020. The Pinolere Museum and Ethnographic Park will be, once again, the nerve centre of a sporting event which will attract up to 1,000 people. The queen mode will be the 42-kilometre race, which runs between Pinolere, Cruz del Dornajito, Ramón El Caminero Recreation Area and near Limón Mountain. This demanding mountain marathon, which reaches almost a height of 2,000 metres, was born in 2018, receiving the blessing of the most demanding runners due to the hardness of its route and its spectacular landscapes. The intermediate modality, with 27 kilometres of travel from Pinolere, passes through the Cruz del Dornajito and the Camino de Chasna. This category has been disputed 2014, passing over the Protected Landscape of La Resbala, an important natural centre of Tenerife, and faces the hard climb of the Barranco del Infierno, located a few kilometres away from the finish line. And finally, the little sister will be the test of 11 kilometres,

which runs through Pinolere and the Casa del Agua.. All modalities cross several paths belonging to PR-TF 35, GR 131, part of the Camino de Candelaria and several forest tracks. Registrations are now open and will remain so until April 3rd, 2020 on the official website of the test: www.pinoleretrail.com. The Orotava test promotes an activity in nature that generates an outstanding socio-economic development in the rural areas. This environmental respect translates into the achievement of a more sustainable sports event in each edition, despite the fact that each year it attracts hundreds of runners on the island and many other points of the regional and peninsular geography. Another fundamental pillar for the organisation is the maintenance of some traditional paths. Without the conservation that is done on the occasion of the development of the race, many of them would be buried by vegetation.

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ENTRY SURGE

Fred Olsen Tenerife Bluetrail set for new records in 2020

HE Fred Olsen Tenerife Bluetrail 2020 has exceeded 1,000 entries in just two months.

The Tenerife race, which will be held on June 6th, is part of the Spanish Cup, the Skyrunner Spain-Andorra 2020 and the Alpinultras Circuit. The test celebrates its tenth anniversary and has turned into an event of national and international reference. With more than 1,000 entries already, the Fred Olsen Tenerife Bluetrail, the highest mountain race in Spain, already exceeds 225 athletes more than in the same period last year. The organisation has planned a quota of 2,900 runners for this test, which is part of the Spanish Cup of Mountain Racing, Skyrunner Spain-Andorra Series 2020 and is included in the Alpinultras Circuit, the most technical and demanding in the country. The insular director of sports, Laura Castro, highlights the special attraction of this race that crosses a unique environment, the Teide National Park, which is also a World Heritage Site. “The best national and international specialists will be present again in our test, which, precisely, this year celebrates its tenth anniversary, which has already become a benchmark in the mountain racing circuits,” she said. The Tenerife test, which will be held on June 6th of next year, has captured the attention of runners from 23 countries, although most are Spanish, ahead of French, British and German. Fred Olsen Tenerife Bluetrail will also have representatives from Argentina, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates. As for the Canarian presence in the race, especially stand out the 149

Gran Canarians who have already registered for the race. Laura Castro confirms that so far almost 200 women have formalised their participation in

the different modalities of the event, “a figure that confirms an upward trend of athletes in the race that, in all likelihood, will lead us to exceed 476 of

the year past.” Fred. Olsen Tenerife Bluetrail has six modes: the Ultra, 103 kilometres; the Trail, with a distance of 71

kilometres, which also has a relay mode; Marathon, 44; Media, which covers a distance of 20 kilometres, and the Bluetrail Challenge for people with disabilities, which includes three distances of 8, 3.7 and 1.2 kilometres. The Tenerife event will again have points awarded by the International Trail Running Association (ITRA) in all its modalities and that are valid for the UTMB. Thus, the Ultra version (103 kilometres) will have 5 points, while the Trail (71 km) 3 points, the Marathon (44 kilometres), 2 points, and the Media (20 kilometres), 1 point. Two points will also be awarded to each of the participants of the Trail mode by relay. The race is also part of the Alpinultras Circuit and will be scored again for the Skyrunner Spain-Andorra Series 2020. The inclusion of the Trail modality of the

Tenerife test is one of the novelties of the calendar next year, which also includes the Zumaia Flysch Trail (Zumaia, Basque Country); the Montserrat marathon (Collbató, Catalonia); the BUFF® Epic Trail 26K (Barruera, Catalonia); SkyRace Comapedrosa (Arinsal, Andorra) and the Montlude SkyRace (Lleida). The Trail mode, which also scores for the Spanish Cup, is a 71kilometre run of 3,501 metres of positive slope (ascent) and of 4,874 metres of negative slope (descent). The test starts in Vilaflor and concludes at the finish located in Puerto de la Cruz. Fred. Olsen Tenerife Bluetrail is sponsored by Tenerife Tourism, Promotur, Fred. Olsen Express, Hospiten and Cajamar, and with the collaboration of the companies Fonteide, Physiorelax, CocaCola, Libby’s, Donuts and Isola Frutos Secos que Acompañan.

Sportsmen and women get cash aid to help with ambitions CABILDO GRANTS

ENERIFE Cabildo is rewarding the merits of athletes in national and international cham-pionships.

Insular councillor for sports, Concepción Rivero said 55 athletes will receive a global grant of 79,178 euros. The cash aid acknowledges the sporting merits achieved by athletes from Tenerife in absolute championships in Spain, Europe and the World during 2018. Concepción Rivero said the athletes selected have been able to prove the merits they have obtained, either as high-level athletes, scholarships by the Association of Olympic Sports or following their participation in the aforementioned championships in Spain, Europe or the World. Their sports include swimming, athletics, weightlifting, heptathlon, beach volleyball, fighting and sailing. Insular director of sports, Laura Castro, adds that “with these grants, the Cabildo recognises the sports merits of federated athletes competing in individual sport modalities, including those in which the practice of the sport is done individually or in pairs, like padel tennis and beach volleyball, for example. And there is also a recognition of the sports merits of federated athletes, both in individual and collective sports modalities, who participate in the Olympic and / or Paralympic Games.” The requirements to apply for these grants are to have been born in Tenerife or to prove to be registered in a municipality of Tenerife at the time of the call and at least three years in advance of the year of said call; be in possession of a valid federal licence and be 12 years of age in the year of the application.

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Melania surfs the waves with EL BERIL ADEJE TO HOST further success GREAT PROMISE

SWIMMING CHALLENGE

DEJE is closing the year with more sporting activities as the busy programme continues during December and January.

All the events are available for consultation on the municipal website www.adeje.es. “Sport is a backbone of our work because it links and complements our tourist destination, Costa Adeje, with a series of events that are likely to have a positive and im-

portant return both in tourism and sports,” said Alonso Ferrera. Still to come is the second edition of the “SWIM SILVESTRE” swim crossing on December 28th at the El Beril Beach in Costa Adeje. The distances will be 500 and 1000

metres with the new “4 X Mixed Relay 100 “and the” Inflatables Challenge “. Registrations can be made until December 22nd on the website www.canaryrun.com The “X Jornadas de Colombofilia de la Villa de Adeje” will be held on Saturday, December 21st, will consist of a social exhibition on the carrier pigeon.

PROJECTS RECOGNISED

A Laguna athlete, Melania Suarez took the victory in the Open LPA Surf 2019, the last appointment of the seven forming the Iberdrola FESurfing League. She finished second in this national circuit despite participating in only three of the tests.

Cabildo wins European Union award for school sports

The best of the Spanish surfers met in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria where the popular wave of the Cicer in Las Canteras put the icing on a calendar that has included stops in Asturias, Andalusia, Cantabria, Galicia and the Canary Islands. Melania could only participate in three of the events due to her busy international agenda: Las Américas (Arona), Valdoviño (Galicia) and Las Palmas. In the first two tests, the competitor of Punta del Hidalgo was second. With this success, the year almost ends for Melania and it has been as intense as the previous ones. Last November, she took part in the Vissla ISA World Junior Surfing Championship held in California, where she finished eighth, then being part of the Spanish team displaced to the United States, which finished as the fourth best country. The athlete from Punta del Hidalgo, champion of Spain in 2018, is one of the great promises of Spanish and world surfing. At 16, she is already a regular of the great encounters throughout the planet: Australia, Portugal, France, Indonesia included. Next January, Melania will travel to Hawaii with her team, the Reef Cool, to carry out a photo report. By 2020, the main objective in sports is to be among the two best European in the World Surf League, which would give them the right to take part in the junior world championship.

HE European Union has rewarded the work developed by the Cabildo de Tenerife in support of school sports.

The Sports Department, which is run by the Minister Concepción Rivero, has won a new recognition for its contribution to the European School Sports Day (ESSD), a competition aimed at schools to promote sports activity and healthy habits. The award ceremony took place in Madrid and was attended by Ana Gaspar technique representing the

sports department. The insular director of Sports, Laura Castro said it was “a ver y important recognition of the work of the entire sports service” . She said the EU had endorsed the work done by the Island Corporation in the school environment “with pioneer programmes such as Active, -in which 77 Secondary Education centers distributed throughout the

island geography participate to integrating healthy living habits into the school environment in a rewarding way for the children to adopt physically active habits.” Laura Castro reiterated that “our commitment is to raise awareness among collabora-ting educational centres so that we all promote a healthier society with a better quality of life because we are convinced that sport is the best tool for boys and girls to develop motor skills and acquire healthy lifestyle habits that will help them cope with life. ”

Santa Cruz Mayor unveils new municipal games

HE Mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Patricia Hernández has presented the XXXIV Municipal Games.

This is the thirty-fourth edition of the tournament which brings together some 2,800 participants from 35 groups in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which represents an increase of two associations with respect to the latest edition of this initiative. Patricia Hernández reaffirmed her “commitment” pointing out that “this City Council fully supports the spirit of these games that combine the practice of sports and leisure activities near people’s home, as well as healthy habits, the encounter with the natural environment and all this giving prominence to the districts.” As usual, registration to take part in any activity is completely free. The calendar is made up of team sports leagues that have been divided into feminine and masculine. Futsal will be played, for both sexes, in the juvenile, children’s, youth, senior and adult categories, while in basketball there will be children’s, youth and adult tournaments. There will also be leagues of leisure and recreational activities, such as petanque, Canarian bowls, domino and padel, whose calendars and matches will be announced soon to the representatives of each of the registered associations. Table tennis, cross country, swimming, athletics and skateboarding are also on the agenda, together with Latin, ballroom and urban dance.

British demand for Spanish property – latest figures analysed (Q3 2019)

HE British have long been the biggest group of foreign buyers of property in Spain, and are key to the fortunes of the second-home market on the Spanish costas. These charts will help you understand the current state of British demand, which has been sent into a spin by Brexit, just like everything

else.

There were 2,193 home sales involving British buyers registered in the Spanish Land Register in the third quarter of the year, according to the latest report from Spain’s Association of Land Registrars. You can see quarterly purchases by British buyers in the chart above. The number of British buyers in Spain was the lowest it has been in the third quarter since 2014, but is still significantly higher than it was in the crisis years between 2009 and 2013, as you can see from the following chart, based on half-year figures from the Association of Spanish Notaries. Looking at the year-on-year change in British demand there were 16% fewer buyers in Q3, following on a 17% decline in Q2. Whereas demand increased steadily between 2010 and the Brexit referendum in 2016, since then the British demand curve has been up and down on a shorter wavelength, rising and falling in shorter periods as illustrated by the next two charts, the first one quarterly from the registrars, and the second half yearly from the notaries.

Written by Mark Stücklin Mark Stücklin is a Barcelona-based property market analyst and consultant, and author of the 'Spanish Property Doctor' column in the Sunday Times (2005 - 2008). He can be reached by email on: ms@spanishpropertyinsight.com. Continued on page 42

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UK market share of foreign property demand Although the number of British buyers declined in Q3, the UK market share of the foreign market actually increased from 13% to 14%, because overall foreign demand fell more. As things stand the British are still the biggest group of foreign buyers by a long stretch, and continue to be vital to the second-home market on the Spanish costas.

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The Pound is currently the strongest it has been in almost three years on hopes of a Conservative majority in the pending General Election, and an orderly exit from the EU. But the pound is still much weaker than it was before the referendum, and there’s no reason to think the current exchange rate with the Euro will boost British demand for property in Spain.

Insight from the market front line

British demand is on the slide overall, but the requirements of buyers are also changing. “We have seen UK interest in Q3 decrease in general, but the decline was most acute in some segments like detached houses under €500,000, which had a dismal quarter,” explains Conor Wilde, boss of Found Valencia, one of the leading real estate companies in the Valencian region. “On the other hand we have seen a slight increase in UK demand for Valencia city apartments under €500,000. People are just moving on with their plans while this Brexit plays out. We are also seeing an increase in interest in buyers from the UK looking for the Spanish Golden Visa. Some of them are already buying, whilst a considerable number are waiting to see the Brexit outcome.”

Where is British demand for Spanish property heading?

The strength of the Pound is one of the key drivers of British demand, as a strong Pound increases the spending power of British buyers in Spain. British demand clearly rose with a strong Pound up to the Brexit referendum, but then didn’t fall as much as I expected when the Pound crashed towards parity after the referendum.

When trying to understand where the market is heading I like to think in terms of headwinds and tailwinds that lift or hold back the market. I recently did a headwinds/tailwinds analysis on foreign demand in general, which also applies to British demand. But every market has its individual factors, and in the UK the outcome of the General Election next Thursday could have a big impact on demand for property in Spain. With a choice between bonking Boris and Comrade Corbyn on the ballot I can see how a Conservative victory would be better for the economy, and might increase demand from Remainers looking to stay in Europe as individuals, if not as a country, perhaps taking advantage of the Spanish Golden Visa budget permitting. On the other hand a result that puts Corbyn in number 10 would see Marxists in power for the first time in British history, which I would expect to be bad news for the British economy and UK spending power in Spain. That might lead to capital flight, and perhaps an increase in the number of people deciding to leave what they see as a sinking ship. So both results might increase British demand for Spanish property for different reasons though, on balance, I would expect a Conservative victory to be better for the Spanish property market than a Labour victory.

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Just 10pc of Spanish properties sell for their asking price, compared to 35pc in the USA

CCORDING to data from the NAR (National Association of Realtors), 35% of home sales in the US are closed without any meaningful discount extracted from the vendor. The same cannot be said of Spain, where an estimated 90% of vendors give ground on price before the sale is closed. Research of the Spanish market by an outfit called the Spanish International Realty Alliance (SIRA) in collaboration with the NAR, finds that a large majority of vendors in Spain admit to having negotiated a significant discount with the buyers. Talking of inflated asking prices, “It’s almost standard practise,” explains Francisco Fernández, a director of SIRA, quoted in the Spanish press. “Vendors take it for granted that they will get a counter offer and start off with an asking price that leaves them room for manoeuvre, in some cases as much as 20% higher.” If hitting the market with an inflated asking price is common practise in Spain, it comes at a cost to both buyers and sellers, argue the SIRA. “Many house hunters have a budget limit that includes both the property and all the additional costs of the operation.” explains Fernández. “For them, an inflated asking price gets a property excluded from the list of homes to visit on the basis of price.” The result is that inflated asking prices prevent potential deals being done, which is bad for both sides. Fernández uses the findings to argue for a greater role for estate agents on the sales process. “From our point of view, the greatest transparency in the market is achieved when, as happens in a high percentage in the US market, both buyer and seller accept the target price proposed by their real estate agent, who is the one who definitely knows the sales prices of similar properties.” But many estate agents don’t want more transparency, as the lack of transparency gives them greater control over price expectations on both sides, and allows get away with higher commissions. The real problem, as I’ve said many times, is the lack of reliable, independent pricing information available to both buyers and vendors in Spain, where actual sales prices are not published online as they are for free in other countries like the USA. When both buyers and vendors know the actual sales prices of similar properties, price expectations are much more aligned, and there is no reason to inflate asking prices.

Calle Flor de Pascua 33 , Los Gigantes I Tel.: 922 862 901 I www.delmargigantes.net

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