Editor’s Slice
Hello
Well, as I write this and we go to print, the news that the UK is to remain united has just come through — I, for one, am pleased about that; nearly as pleased as I am that (Manchester) United aren’t playing particularly united this season… happy days! I didn’t give the green light to an article on the devolution debate as when I sat down to start my research into the subject, my only concern was how could I, as a proud British individual, try to stay impartial? I decided I couldn’t, so there you go — no heavy political content this month, folks! However, for what it is worth — and I must stress it IS only my personal opinion! — I am English and admit to being very passionate when it comes to being British and supporting the countries which make up the United Kingdom. It would appear that I wasn’t the only one struggling, as there were some quite frankly laughable attempts at trying to show unbiased pro’s and con’s to the question. However, when what appeared to be a costly no-going-backdivorce loomed on the UK’s horizon, I think the Scots made the right choice for themselves, their country and our united nation. With my soapbox tucked away carefully in my cupboard once more,I guess it is back to the business of letting you know about the more light-hearted content we have for you this month. As always, though, I’ve run out of space — so you’ll just have find out for yourself… enjoy! Until next month
Mike
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The Andalucían X5092417D Calle Juanita Romero s/n, Campillos 29320, Malaga Contact us Telephone: +34 952 723075 Mobile: +34 627 683380 info@theandalucian.com www.theandalucian.com Owner: Claire Marriott Editor: Mike Marriott 2
Special thanks to our writers and contributors Alice Marriott Diana Berryman Ella Durham Heather Jones John Sharrock Taylor Kate Smith Sandra Wrightson Sarah Jackson Tricia Johnson
Next deadline: 9 October
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Charity News
Funds needed ASAP
by Kate Smith
The newly formed Alhama Street Animals Protection (ASAP) organisation, which aims to help abandoned animals in the area, hosted a successful dinner dance at Pato Loco restaurant recently to raise much-needed funds. More than 50 people attended the event and enjoyed a superb meal under the stars while experiencing a full evening's excellent entertainment from DJ David Haynes, dancers from Compania de Danza Oriental Benasharif and guitarist Alan Clayton, who all generously gave their time and talents free of charge. In addition, local businesses Dioni, Morenos, Aranzada, Flores para Todes and Solosol kindly donated prizes for the evening's raffle which raised €120. Dawn Harman, chair of ASAP, said: "Thanks to everyone who helped make this event possible – especially the Pato Loco restaurant. We raised a total of €500 and as a result, we can work towards
protecting and rescuing more street animals. However, our task is enormous as there has never been an animal welfare group in this area and we only started work in February. So if anyone would like to help ASAP through donations, membership or in practical ways such as helping with our market stand, fostering dogs or sharing pictures of street animals via Facebook, please contact us." ASAP is now planning its next event at the end of September which will be a relaxed and enjoyable Sunday lunch carvery in the autumn sunshine at Al Dente restaurant in Alhama de Granada. You can find out more from the website http://www. asapgranada.es
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Talking Point
How the 5x50 Challenge
changed me
by Diana Berryman
An incident at Christmas 2012, when my children had to miss out on something because I wasn’t fit enough to take them, made me re-evaluate my life. My good friend Fran Rajewski had been talking to me for a while about 5x50 – which is walking 5km a day (or the equivalent in other exercise) for 50 days. I didn’t think I would be able to do it, as I am very overweight and unfit and wasn’t sure I could walk 5km once, let alone 50 times! At the beginning of 2012 I had come to a point in my life where something had to change. It was the year I was turning 40 and my health could only get worse if I didn’t do something NOW! Walking was difficult for me as I struggled with joint pain and breathing, but I decided to commit myself and registered for 5x50. Fran was my inspiration. She is amazing and not that long ago, she had been as unfit as me. She had turned her life around, so why couldn’t I do that too?
I started my training in January, to get fit enough to walk 5km per day starting at the end of March. It wasn’t easy but I built up slowly and miraculously, it began to get easier. Where once I would walk one kilometre and it would take me half an hour to cool down and breathe normally again, soon I was walking three or four kilometres and it only took me five minutes to recover. I completed 5x50 2013 – by the skin of my teeth, but I did it. It wasn’t easy getting out there every day – especially towards the end as the weather got warmer – but I got there with the help of my husband and kids. When Fran asked me to join 5x50 2014 I was a little reluctant as I knew how hard it was, plus my husband was now working in the UK so he wouldn’t be there to walk with me every day. I did it, though, as I knew I had to keep my fitness up or I would be back where I started. It was a little easier as I was slightly fitter than the year before, but still a struggle. I made it through again (just) and it’s an amazing sense of achievement. A year and a half after I started walking, I am now three stone lighter. It’s not a lot of weight to lose in 18 months and I still have a lot to lose, but down is most definitely better than up! Registration has just opened for 5x50 2015. I have registered and will be walking solo again next year (unless by some miracle my husband can find work in Spain) but I WILL complete it, I will improve my fitness and I will raise money for charity too! I am a 40-something, overweight (extremely), unfit, busy, working mum (single most of the time) of three but I will complete 5x50 2015, so what’s your excuse for not doing it? Register here http://www.5x50.org/ It costs a £5 donation to the Sports Aid charity. You can also join our great team 5x50 Andalucía and beyond for great support and encouragement. We have a Facebook page too https://www.facebook.com/5x50LasSalinas and you can also find us on Twitter https://twitter. com/5x50Andalucia
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Talking Point
Men’s Matters
Are you a man-aper
or man-scaper?
by A Man
I had the great misfortune the other day to be sitting in a beauty parlour – or salon as they are now called – whilst waiting for ‘er indoors’ to get the talons painted. When I looked down at the obligatory coffee table magazines I spotted a brochure for male salon treatments, so feeling justified as a modern man, I had a quick flick through. Having felt safe on picking up the said pamphlet, I was soon feeling very uneasy about the treatments listed within. Of course, there are the usual haircut prices, shaves and shampoo stuff but there’s a whole section on Manscaping! For those of you who don't know, manscaping is the term used for the strategic de-hairying of the male body. Don’t feel bad if you were unaware of the term — I too had never come across such a palaver. Having left the salon with my wife, with her handbag in one hand (apparently after having the claws lacquered she can’t do anything – like open her purse and pay!) and the pamphlet in the other I decided to have a look into this manscaping business when we got home. The ‘art’ has been around for thousands of years, but went out of style from about 1000 AD until recently. Over the past few decades – thanks to you know, 'those types of superstar-paid-a-fortune-fellas' – manscaping has become fashionable again and some women across the globe are breathing a sigh of relief. I’m not too sure that having my body plucked, waxed, shaved or even worse agreeing to electrical currents burning off my bushy bits is the way to go. Are we not in fear of losing “real men” or is the meaning of manhood changing? As a new, less hairy image of manhood takes hold across the world it is still a matter of taste but some followers of this fashion report that being properly manscaped has many benefits: fewer rashes, bigger looking bits and a more defined body, which is something we all want. I’m still not 100 per cent convinced that just by removing my chest carpet, I’m going to look like I’ve spent a week or two in the gym.
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I’m more worried that revealing my man-boobs will have quite the opposite effect! Apparently, the true joys of manscaping are the endless creations of body hair arrangements that can be produced. With a simple razor, some soap and an understanding partner you can turn your hairy Italian Stallion regions into literal canvases of sensuality and manliness! The salon brochure even states… Man Wax as stubble is trouble but your wiener is cleaner for just 35€! I don’t know if I was more shocked at the rhyming portion of this sales pitch or the price! It so happens that while sitting round the local pool the other day, I’d noticed a lot of Spanish men have rather smooth legs — they can’t all be Olympic swimmers; not at our local pool! And, having researched this newish trend a little, I decided to have a chat with the other half about her views on the matter. Her words shocked me… think more of a high-speed train coming out of a tunnel kind of speech rather than words…. “In my opinion a man should never, ever, let any of those hairy areas get out of control,” she said. “It’s just not right – well, unless you’re a lumberjack, an inmate or a Neanderthal you shouldn’t neglect those areas. You shouldn’t be sporting that caveman’s unibrow… actually why don’t you tweeze the area between your eyebrows? Don’t EVER shave it though, love, as it looks bad and you’ll have to do it almost every day and you know what you’re like for not sticking to a routine. Yes, sure, it hurts to pluck, but you’re a man so grow a pair and get the job done. Just make sure you don’t go overboard.” And with that she finally took a breath and left to join the sleek-limbed-señors in the pool.
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Men’s Matters I had no idea after 25 years of marriage that my hairy-caveman-Neanderthal appearance was something she’d ever considered before, let alone had an opinion on. I should have known! So, maybe it was time for some manscaping of my own. The next day, I went back to the salon and booked myself in for a bit of TLC. I thought I had better start off simple – after all, the Mrs had said to just make sure my furry bits were more Clooney than caveman… cleaned up enough so that they’re not noticeable. I opted for a nose hair trim, a chest clip and a ‘high-and-tight’. I wasn’t completely certain what the third option was but I had been forewarned it was my pubic region but nothing severe — in for a penny! The young girl receptionist told me that many men prefer to just go with the high-and-tight; trimming and shaving only the front portion of the pubic area. While this is the easiest and safest manscape, some find it really isn't enough. I got the impression that the high-and-tight is a lot like a cosmopolitan city: it looks good from far away but the closer you get the more dirty homeless people – or, in this case, unsightly long scraggly hairs – you see!
Well, half an hour later – and no, there weren’t any lost tribes in my nether regions – my now-balding bits and pieces were rinsed off and I couldn’t wait to get home and admire the brave beautician’s handiwork. Mmm…. my nose is certainly tidier with no straggly bits, my chest reminds me more of the Pete Stringfellow than Andre look and all I can say about the ‘land down under’ is that I had to sit on a cold towel for an hour after getting home. I haven’t spent too much time admiring the scenery, though, as I feel really, really naked! Manscaping isn't for everyone; I don’t think it will be for me either. I think I shall just let the Mrs tweeze the Dennis Healy if it offends her as my chest will recarpet in time and my privates will become a hidden mystery once more behind my comforting 70s afrostyle-pants-hair do. I may not be a modern man but I am going to remain all man — without parts of me being ripped off on a waxed strip of muslin to get thrown unceremoniously into the bin! Long live the man-aper!
So I thought to myself, how bad can it be? Don't be half-hearted when it comes to manscaping… commit yourself, man! I suggested going for a full deforestation after the receptionist told me that not only should you clean up the front, but get into all those places that haven't been seen since your mum was wiping your backside all those years ago. This, sadly, will require someone I don’t know to look down there. Be strong, I thought, as I had a vision of some beautician screaming ‘Oh my God, there's a whole tropical eco-system tucked between this man’s upper thighs.’
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Health & Beauty
Take steps to solve
a callus problem
by Heather Jones
With the warmer weather now in full swing, your feet are almost always on show. There is nothing more sore or unsightly than a corn. Corns are thick, hardboiled lumps of discoloured dead skin, mostly visible on the feet but also sometimes on hands – especially if they are rubbed against an agitating surface through work etc. There is often an uneasy – if not painful – sensation around the callus itself. However, corns are almost always curable when treated with simple home remedies. The main causes of a corn are the wearing of tightfitting, uncomfortable shoes, such as high-heeled stilettos, or as a result of genetic toe deformities. Any excessive stress on hands or feet can also be responsible for these bumps. Corns can reappear if proper care is not taken. Therefore, once rid of the ailment, try not to wear shoes made of bad quality materials as cheap and poorly-fitting footwear is often the number one cause of callus formation. It is important to choose comfortable footwear with additional padding (if required) to save the feet from further pressure and malformation. Corns can be treated at home with few easy steps: 1. Soak your feet in warm water. Soak the affected area in warm water for 10 - 15 minutes until the hardened skin softens. You can use Epsom salts to speed up this step. 2. Use a pumice stone. Pumice stones help to gently remove dead skin cells. Move the stone gently in a circular motion to exfoliate the rough areas, and then repeat this action until the fresh skin underneath is visible. Do not overdo it — you are not wanting to rub the skin raw! You only need to use a light pressure — rid yourself of the rough lumps. You can get a pumice stone in most supermarkets or chemists; many stones will have a double-sided stone and a handle for ease. 3. Use callus shaver or knife in serious cases. If the corn root is too deep it is unlikely to be removed by a pumice stone alone, so you will need to use a callus shaver or razor. Again, these are available at most supermarkets and chemists.
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These shavers scrape off the layers of dead skin with a sharp blade similar to a razor. However, you need to be careful whilst using one. • Use it only when the corn has been completely softened in warm water, as this can be painful on dried skin and may cause further damage to the skin. • Be careful how you use the callus shaver on the corn. Go slowly and stop as soon as most of the dead skin is removed. It is easy to remove the remaining layers with the help of a pumice stone. • Remember to change the blade for a new one every time you use a callus shaver. 4. Use an antibiotic ointment Your podiatrist or GP may recommend an antibiotic treatment to disinfect the affected area or you can ask your chemist for a salicylic acid cream to do this. While using the cream, make sure you are applying it only over the corn and not on the surrounding area. If you are prone to corns and calluses — prevention is better than cure. • Clean your feet every day with soap, water and a soft nail brush or similar • Dry them properly — apply either a targeted medicated foot cream or a rich moisturising cream • Use a pumice stone daily to shed any build up of dry skin • Wear well-padded and well-fitting shoes so that foot comfort is not compromised • Change socks or tights daily If you are suffering acute pain from a corn or other callus on your feet or hands, proper medical support or the advice of a podiatrist is needed.
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Just for Fun
Try our quick fire game show quiz Can you work out which past and present UK TV game shows these initials belong to? 1. P Y C R 2. T P I R 3. T K F 4. W T A 5. M P D 6. W W T B A M 7. T G G 8. A Y S T A T Y O 9. T W L 10. A T F Each of the following people became well known on a particular TV quiz show – can you name the programme in each case? 1. Susie Dent 2. Jim Bowen 3. Richard Osman 4. Michael Miles 5. Anthea Redfern 6. Ted Rogers 7. Eamonn Andrews 8. Sue Barker 9. Cilla Black 10. Stephen Fry
Name the show which made the slogan 1. C´mon down 2. Is that your final answer? 3. Our survey says… 4. I’d like a P please, Bob 5. You've got the time it takes for the board to revolve... 6. Nice to see you, to see you nice 7. Say what you see 8. Tonight Matthew, I’m going to be… 9. What’s your name, and where do you come from? 10. What do points make? Answer can be found on page 32.
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Talking Point
Register to have your say online If you are a British citizen and you have lived outside the UK for less than 15 years, you can now register to vote in the UK general election next year. If you were too young to vote when you left the UK, you may still be allowed to vote if your parents were eligible as voters when they emigrated. The Electoral Commission has recently unveiled a new online procedure whereby you can register directly online to vote – www.gov.uk/register-to-vote – which makes the process so much easier to do than in previous years. The new online system is a vast improvement on the old administrative approach and much quicker too — without having to rely on the old postal systems. It is very straightforward and as long as you have your National Insurance number, (you will also need your last UK postcode) it will only take around five minutes to do — it is strongly advised that we all start registering to have your say in May 2015.
Remember, you are only registering to vote at this time, as what is now required is the procedure whereby we can all vote directly online! The UK Government requires an overseas constituency of 70,000 - 100,000 voters to show that such an option is taken seriously and get the electronic vote in place. To actually vote, you will still be required to complete a postal voting application, nominate a proxy or turn up in person to vote. You can obtain the postal voting application either by post or by email. If you choose email, you will receive it within seconds of sending your voting registration. Once you’re registered, you’ll need to decide how you want to vote, depending on your personal circumstances. Ballot papers can be sent overseas, but you need to think about whether you have time to receive and return them by polling day. If you don't think you can return them in time, you may want to consider voting by proxy. If you are unable to vote in person, you can apply to have someone else voting on your behalf. For more information go to https://www.gov.uk/browse/ citizenship/voting
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Spotlight
Ella Durham is back... Do you remember back in the day when you had to write a short story for your English teacher? The clock had probably just struck midnight and your written masterpiece was almost certainly due in the next morning! But where were you supposed to get the inspiration from? What were the beginning, middle and end going to be? How were you expected to turn your rather bland opening paragraph into a riveting read when you couldn’t even dream up a suitable title? The fear of putting fountain pen to paper was felt by nearly every student studying our great language.... One such person who never dreaded her English homework is our newly-returned resident short story writer — Ella Durham.
Having published her first novel, Ebony Blood, last year, Ella has been working on her next fictional feast. In between penning her second novel — which is sure to be a fantastic read after the success of Scottish Borders-set murder mystery Ebony Blood — we are delighted to announce that Ella has found time to write for us again here at The Andalucían. Enjoy Ella’s short story ‘Fog’ on page 12.
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Short Story
FOG
by Ella Durham
The lashing rain pours down my face and the wind whips up my hair into hydra tentacles as I sit looking out over the sea. There are dark clouds in my head; a thick mist like freezing fog. One thought occupies my mind. Bill left me on my birthday. I’ve felt like a sick parrot ever since. I didn’t see it coming, of course. How could I? I’d been so wrapped up in my work, the networking, the cocktail parties, the image keeping and everything else which made me — me, that I’d pretty much ignored him for weeks; didn’t see his need, didn’t want to see it. Selfish. Heartless. What a cow! Poor Bill. He was good to me, good for me and I just didn’t see it. Funny how you only notice these things once they are gone and when it’s too late to make a change. Now I’m sorry, feeling lost. So I sit here wondering how I can see my way through this awful haze. The wrought iron bench is soaked from the downpour and it seeps up through my jeans making my backside cold and numb. Huge raindrops hang from my nose, drip onto my raincoat and rush their way to the floor causing puddles to sit at my Jimmi Choo-clad feet. I don’t care. I was not worthy of Bill.
He deserved better than me. But oh, dear God, what will I do without him? The charcoal sky melts into the cauldron sea. It reflects my mood. The storm waves rise up and crash across the promenade like volcanic lava eruptions and I shrink back to avoid the spray. Ha! What a joke as I’m already drenched to the skin. I rub my hands together to unfreeze my fingers, but it doesn’t work. The cold eats into my body and my heart. What have I got now in my life which is worth a bean? If only I could turn back the clock. Maybe I could have prevented Bill from going. I wish he was here. I suddenly notice that an old lady in a worn-out gabardine coat has sat down next to me on the bench. She, too, stares out to the raging sea and blinks as the storm hits her face. Her plastic rain hat is tied tightly in a bow under her wrinkled chin, although the threads of hair which protrude are plastered down to her forehead. A carrier bag at her feet suggests she has been shopping.
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“It is wild today, don’t you agree?” she asks. “Yes. Wild.” “But not too wild, I think,” she adds. “Isn’t it wonderful?” “Huh?” “This weather, it’s wonderful. So much more interesting than boring old sunshine or fog. I don’t care for fog. Fog is an awful thing.” Was she reading my mind? She does not look at me but keeps her eyes fixed far out to sea. Perhaps she, too, is thinking of some unfulfilled dream or lost love. I risk a sideways glance at her out of the corner of my eye. I think she looks sane enough, but these days you can never tell. I decide to humour her. “Oh yes, fog is very dull indeed. And overcast clouds. They can be dull too, especially if there is no-one around to see them.” I am warming to the tease. “But don’t you like the sun? Most people do, especially children here at the beach. Much nicer for their holidays. I mean, fog would never do on a beach holiday!” I try a smile. She doesn’t respond to it. “Oh, yes,” she eventually replies, “but you are teasing me. You’re not very subtle. I don’t mind. I’m used to it. People see what they want to see not what is truly there. You see an old foolish woman who is rambling on about bad weather. Do you know why?” She pauses. I stay quiet. She smiles. “You see, for me the feelings this weather brings are good. I can feel alive, feel what you feel, be part of the world again — not alone or an outsider. It’s exciting.” Her face lights up as she speaks. I’m puzzled. Why would anyone enjoy the sensations of today’s wild elements unless they were some intrepid Arctic explorer or something? I turn to ask her that very question but she beats me to it.
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Continued on page 14
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Short Story “I suppose you think I’m rather mad to enjoy this weather. I can tell by your tone that you do. Well maybe I am a little but at least I am not unhappy. Despite your efforts to hide it, I can tell you are. Whoever or whatever has made you so, you must let it pass. Let me tell you something. Some folk look but never see. I may not have what you have. I have very little; no home, no family, no friends but what I do have is insight. I can feel what others fail to even see. I can touch what others fail to sense and I know that unhappiness is a sensation which is dull — just like fog. It can stop you from seeing clearly; it can make you feel isolated and alone. It is confusing and you can lose your way easily. It can make you afraid to step beyond where you stand now. Be brave. Look inside yourself and be glad for what you have. Rejoice. Do not yearn for that which you do not have. It will come to you if you need it. Look at the world and see what is out there. Do not be sad. I lost something many years ago and I have learned to live without it. I looked beyond the known horizon. I adjusted, changed and made myself believe my life would get better – and it did. You are young, but given time you will learn what I mean.”
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She stood up to go. I reached out and touched her arm. Then she turned and looked at me squarely for the first time. I looked into her eyes. I drew in a silent breath. “Do I shock you, my dear? I hope not.” she asked quietly. “No,” I lied. “I understand now. And thank you. “ “Good bye, dear. Lovely weather isn’t it?” She chuckled and picking up her bag and white cane, she walked slowly away, tapping the stick ahead on the ground as she left.
Get more info on Ella Durham at: www.elladurham.co.uk www.facebook.com/elladurhamauthor @LornaElla If you have enjoyed Ella’s short story why not read her latest novel, Ebony Blood? You can order either the e-book or paperback version though Ella’s website www.elladurham.co.uk
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Talking Point
Too much food of love Many of us are pet owners, and no doubt you adore your companion. One way you show that love is through giving of special treats — including human food — to your pet. As long as you don't over indulge your pampered one into obesity, these little treats can be fun for both pet and ‘parent’. However, it is important to realise that dogs and cats are very different from humans in some very important ways, which can result in tragedies for the uninformed owner. Xylitol One of the newest and most easily available human foods toxic to dogs is xylitol. Xylitol is present in products from chewing gums to sugar-free biscuits. When ingested by a dog, even in relatively small amounts, this sweetener can result in low blood sugar, seizures, liver failure and death. These symptoms can show up as quickly as 30 minutes or as long as 12 hours after ingestion, and treatment must be quick and aggressive or they can be fatal. Grapes and raisins Grapes and raisins have recently been found to induce kidney failure in some animals. This failure can be permanent and life-threatening. It does not seem to relate to the volume ingested, and not all animals seem to be equally susceptible. Although some dogs have been eating grapes for years, the safe course is to avoid grapes and raisins completely. Chocolate Due to articles such as this, many people are now aware of chocolate's toxicity in both dogs and cats.
With the increased popularity of chocolate of 60 and 70 per cent cocoa deemed healthier for humans, the risk to your four-legged friend has become much more serious. Dark chocolate has always been more toxic than milk chocolate, and this newer highercocoa chocolate is even more so. Toxic doses of chocolate can cause abnormal heartbeats, kidney failure and death in your pet. The toxic dose is dependant on weight, so little dogs and cats are at higher risk. However, with the higher levels of cocoa in chocolate products now, even bigger dogs are at risk. Use specially-made pet chocolate treats if you want to give the sweet to your animal. Onions Many pets won’t touch onions, but many dogs and cats do find the vegetable very tasty. Be very cautious, as too much can be incredibly dangerous — high levels of onion ingestion in dogs and cats causes life-threatening anaemia. With any toxic exposure — whatever the cause — minutes count, so knowing what to do can save a life. Most importantly, keep the phone number of your regular vet in your mobile or near at hand to your home phone. It is best to wait until you speak to your vet before you do anything, but usually you will be told to make your pet vomit to get rid of some of the toxic substance. Vomiting can be induced with a teaspoon of peroxide or jarabe de ipecacuana (ipecac) — ask your vet or chemist for the jarabe de ipecacuana or for a medicine for emético (medicine that induces vomiting). Give the medicine as indicated on the package. This is normally by mouth every few minutes so it allows time for your pet to relax as many dogs and cats will refuse to vomit when they are being held. Once vomiting occurs — or if you are unsuccessful within a few minutes — you should then seek further professional help by taking the animal to a qualified veterinarian. Remember, it will always help your vet if you have an idea of how much of the substance your pet ingested and how long ago it happened.
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15
Things to Do
Mixing up a classic Who can forget James Bond’s “shaken, not stirred” Martini, Don Draper’s trusty Old Fashioned or Carrie Bradshaw’s fruity Cosmo? An onscreen cocktail may not only be memorable, but also a key part of a character’s identity. (Just try imaging The Big Lebowski’s The Dude sipping something other than a White Russian. It doesn’t work.) So, it should come as no surprise that some of the most famous and popular drinks in mixological history are tied to fictional characters. Here’s our list of the top on-screen drinkers and their signature tipples…
The Dude — White Russian You can thank the Coen Brothers’ 1998 cult classic, The Big Lebowski, for the revival of creamy guilty pleasure the White Russian. In most scenes, the movie’s lead character, The Dude, played by Jeff Bridges, is mixing one up or sipping one. (In all, he consumes nine during the film!) Even when he’s manhandled into the back of a limo, he never spills a drop of his precious White Russian: “Careful man, there’s a beverage here!” Don Draper — Old Fashioned Cocktails are such a part of Mad Men that they deserve an Emmy. And though Jon Hamm’s Don Draper has enjoyed a variety of classic tipples, he loves the Old Fashioned the most. The historic combination of bitters, sugar, water and spirit is the definition of a cocktail. While Draper prefers his with rye whiskey, it’s tasty with almost any type of liquor. Carrie Bradshaw — Cosmopolitan
James Bond — Vesper and Vodka Martini No matter if it’s original Bond Sean Connery or current leading man Daniel Craig, 007 always drinks with style. For years, Britain’s top secret agent preferred to sip Vodka Martinis — “shaken, not stirred,” of course — but we were happy to see Bond go back to his roots in the 2006 film Casino Royale. Craig orders “three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it over ice and add a thin slice of lemon peel.” This, of course, is the classic Vesper, which was the agent’s first signature order in the 1953 novel that introduced him.
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Things to Do It’s hard to picture Sarah Jessica Parker’s character Carrie Bradshaw without a Martini glass in her hand. Throughout Sex and the City’s six memorable seasons, Bradshaw and her group of friends sipped dozens of Cosmos across the five boroughs. The vodka, orange, lime and cranberry concoctions came to not only represent the show, but also that entire era in New York. Mix one up and relive the late 90s. Sugar Kane Kowalczyk — Manhattan In Some Like it Hot, Billy Wilder’s classic slapstick cross-dressing comedy, one of the best scenes is when Sugar (Marilyn Monroe), Joe (Tony Curtis) and Jerry (Jack Lemmon) mix up a Manhattan in a hot water bottle on a train. While we prefer to use a mixing glass, it’s good to know a hot water bottle will work at a pinch. Brian Flanagan — Alabama Slammer and Sex on the Beach Cocktail, the 1988 Tom Cruise film, is so bad it’s good — you probably shouldn’t admit it, but you probably watch it any time it’s on TV! The classic
moment is when Cruise’s character, the “world’s last barman poet” Brian Flanagan, climbs on top of the bar in a crowded 80s club and recites a composition about the era’s most popular beverages. So mix up an Alabama Slammer or a Sex on the Beach and watch the scene. Or, as Flanagan says, “If you want to get loaded, why don’t you just order a shot?” If you really want to enjoy a professionally made cocktail, head down to Grumpy’s Steakhouse & Cocktail bar in Mollina — don’t forget, with the coupon on page 47 you can even enjoy a free drink with your dinner reservation. Cheers!
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17
Just for Fun
Useless things you just
don’t need to know about...
Astronauts have a little patch of Velcro inside their helmets so that they can scratch their noses. Beetles taste like apples, wasps resemble pine nuts and worms taste like fried bacon. What is called a "French kiss" in the English-speaking world is known as an "English kiss" in France. In 1386, a pig in France was executed by public hanging for the murder of a child. Your heart beats over 100,000 times a day Admiral Horatio Nelson was never able to find a cure for his sea-sickness. Slugs have four noses.
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Your ribs move about five million times a year. Like fingerprints, everyone's tongue print is different. The first known transfusion of blood was performed as early as 1667, when Jean-Baptiste transfused two pints of blood from a sheep to a young man. Months that begin on a Sunday will always have a Friday 13th. On average, a hedgehog's heart beats 300 times a minute.
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Just for Fun More people are allergic to cow's milk than any other food. The placement of a donkey's eyes in its head enables it to see all four feet at all times. The six official languages of the UN are English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish. Owls are the only birds which can identify the colour blue. It's against the law to burp or sneeze in a church in Nebraska, USA. You're born with 300 bones, but by the time you become an adult, you only have 206.
A man named Charles Osborne had hiccups for 69 years.
Some worms will eat themselves if they can't find any food
A giraffe can clean its ears with its 21-inch tongue.
Queen Elizabeth I regarded herself as a paragon of cleanliness. She declared that she bathed once every three months — whether she needed it or not.
The average person laughs 10 times a day. Earth is the only planet not named after a god.
Inheritance and probate specialists Spanish and English estates Spanish and English wills Multilingual - English, EspaĂąol, Deutsch, Nederlands, Dansk, Francais & Italiano
www.decottalaw.com
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Charity News
Help Andalucían
farmers become
the bees’ knees
In order to defend and promote the development of beekeeping here in Andalucía, the Andalucía Beekeeping Association (ADA) was formed earlier this year. It is now launching a new website — www. apiculturadeandalucia.org to gain more interaction with beekeepers through social networks such as Facebook. The ADA has already gained over 1000 "likes" within a few months.
Using the website and the strength of social networks, the ADA is addressing and answering major problems of the current beekeeping community, including highlighting bee health problems and care. It is discussing problems arising with the use of approved drugs for combating diseases of bees – especially Varroa™ – since the range of such drugs is proving insufficient, some are ineffective and they are not cheap. Also, in Andalucía there are restrictions on the use of the few alternatives which exist. Another major problem is the ever-increasing importation of honey from abroad. Local farmers are experiencing a significant fall in their product profitability. With the absence of any legal requirement for clear labelling — allowing the consumer to identify the origin of honey – farmers can only hope that customers will choose their wares. At present, many labels on the honey jars in our supermarkets fail to indicate what percentage of honey from other countries is included in your jar! The new website will have a significant impact on Andalucían beekeeping, aiming to streamline and modernise farms to make an improvement in the sector, with the goal of making Andalucía more competitive against its rivals. The ADA will work in spreading the benefits of bee products and the environmental role of bees, whose existence is necessary for the good of us all. Sustainable development of beekeeping will be encouraged, as will new techniques, practices and management that will be more respectful towards the environment and landscape for rural, natural and protected areas. It will also work to educate people about the need to actively maintain beekeeping, before this trade and tradition dies a death in Andalucía. The ADA needs support, so if you would like to join, membership is only 5€. Please visit the website for more details www.apiculturadeandalucia.org or ‘Like’ them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ apiculturadeandalucia to show your support.
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Legal Advice
Inheritance tax in Spain is about to change..
by Sandra Wrightson, De Cotta Law
If you have paid inheritance tax in Spain you may be able to reclaim some of it! This month the European court decided that Spain has been discriminating against non residents by charging inheritance tax, where a resident would be exempt from it. The decision in Commission v Spain Case C-127/12 states that this discrimination is unlawful. At present, most inheritance tax allowances in Spain are regional and only apply when both the deceased and the beneficiaries are officially resident in Spain. In the case of residents, the tax rules of that particular region will apply. If either the deceased or the beneficiary is non resident then the State inheritance tax rules apply. Several regions — including the Balearics, Valencia and Murcia — have virtually no inheritance tax between spouses, or between parents and children. Some regions have generous allowances. Andalucía allows a gift to a spouse, child or parent of up to €175,000 tax free. These allowances only apply where the deceased and beneficiaries are residents. If not, the much less generous state rules apply, which simply allow a deduction of just under €16,000 from the gift for tax purposes for spouse, children and parents of the deceased. Some non residents may have paid thousands more than residents.
The European court decision says this is unlawful but stopped short of ordering Spain to pay compensation to those wrongly charged inheritance tax. However, there is an implied right for those who have been wrongly charged to claim this in the Spanish Courts. If you have paid Spanish inheritance tax in respect of a death which occurred in the last four years then you may be able to claim this back if : 1) The amount you paid in tax was more than €4,000 2) You or the person from whom you inherited was a non-resident of Spain 3) You are related to the deceased through marriage or a parent-child relationship 4) You would have paid less tax if you had been a resident of Spain. In Andalucía this would apply if the qualifying beneficiary received assets to the value of less than €175,000. For those who are going through the inheritance procedure at the moment, it is likely you will still need to pay the tax in Madrid as a non-resident. There remains a six-month deadline for the tax to be paid, though this can be extended in certain circumstances. It is quite possible the European decision will tempt Spain — and its regions — to recover more inheritance tax from all residents, but it is very important to get advice now on whether you may have a claim, and how much inheritance tax you will be obliged to pay under the current rules.
Contact tax@decottalaw.net or request a consultation with Jon Sutton or Antonio Diaz by phoning 951 315 161.
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Things to Do
A date for
the dairy
The well-established Artisan Cheese Fair and Market of Teba (Feria-Mercado del Queso Artesano de Teba), now in its 14th year, takes place over the first weekend in October (4th and 5th), when the weather is a tad cooler. Teba will once more welcome the thousands of visitors who flock here year after year. More than 50 companies attended last year — the majority of which were artisan cheese makers from all over Andalucía and other autonomous communities in Spain. The event provides an excellent opportunity to buy top quality products. There are lots of other activities to enjoy too, including supervised cheese, wine, olive oil and honey tasting, cheese making workshops and the Artisan Cheese of Andalucía competition for the "Guadalteba Prize" — the Oscar of the cheese world! The normally tranquil hilltop village of Teba has seen the feria grow year on year. It started as a one-day event, but it soon became obvious to the organisers that an extra day was needed. The feria has truly made its mark and has become the highlight of the national dairy sector. Not only does the number of stalls increase annually, but the number of visitors does too — last year there was a record turnout of just over 10,000. Sunday does tend to be the busier day.
a trip — if only for the view — but perhaps on a day when the village is less busy! This is a weekend not to be missed for lovers of good cheese, hams, wines and honey, so why not try something a bit different and make this the year you attend?
Vehicles are not permitted to enter the village, but there are free shuttle buses, running every 15 – 20 minutes from approximately 10am until 6pm, although they will run later if there is the demand. These will take you to and from the temporary car parks at the bottom of the hill to the fair itself. Not only is this a great free day out, but this unique market highlights the importance of traditional craftsmanship. It also assists with the economic recovery of the Guadalhorce region and, in fact, the entire province, since Malaga is a major player in the production of artisan cheeses. Such an event not only helps with the marketing of these products but is an amazing exhibition which helps to promote the industry and village of Teba from a tourism as well as gastronomic point of view. The castle is well worth
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23
Spotlight
So the Feds have caught up with me at last
by John Sharrock Taylor
Another exciting chapter in the thrilling financial saga of the Taylors but one, alas, which demonstrates how quickly situations can deteriorate at a time of global financial crisis: Last Friday, Mr Martin Smith emails to inform me that an ATM Visa card worth $4,000,000.00 dollars will fall into my eager hands if I will only tip up the paltry sum of $98.00. I know this is 100 per cent genuine because it emanates from Lagos, that renowned centre of financial probity, and the designated agent is a clergyman, the Reverend Dr Emmanuel Scot. (For behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Emmanuel.) On Saturday morning, Mr Micheal Smith (presumably a dyslexic brother of the aforementioned Martin) writes from the same address to inform me that my
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windfall has, well, fallen to $1,500, 000, while the tipup fee has nearly doubled. ‘How are you today?’ he begins chirpily. ‘Not bad, Micheal,’ I reply somewhat morosely, ‘though two and a half million bucks were wiped off my assets overnight.’ And I’m not the only one with troubles. The designated agent appears simply as Dr Emmanuel Scot. It appears that the poor chap has been unfrocked overnight. It also seems that ‘in the quest to cushion the effect of the global financial crisis’ the FBI has abandoned communicating sensitive information by certified mail or face-to-face interview, so this morning I received
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Spotlight an email from Mr J. Edgar Hoover – or I’m sure it would have been from Mr Hoover if that particular gentleman were not currently labouring under the considerable handicap of being dead. That being the case, the message was understandably signed by one of his colleagues at the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Washington DC. Apparently, in spite of the said world crisis, there is a great deal of unclaimed moolah floating around and the Feds’ Global Intelligence Cyber Division have (sic) discovered my name in a list of unpaid beneficiary (sic). All I have to do to claim my USD $10,700,000.00 is reveal my name (something of a surprise that they don’t know it, given that it’s on their list of deserving legatees) together with a few other helpful bits of personal information and, hey presto, I shall be quids – or at least rupees – in. Rupees?
I’m sorry to have to tell you that I enjoyed the prospect of blazing in the lustre of unaccustomed pocket-money for no more than twenty minutes before my best beloved came down to breakfast and shattered the glittering prospect. Leaving aside certain arguably unlikely practical details in the Feds’ shining scenario, she pointed out that the language used by Mr Hoover’s colleague didn’t quite ring true. The FBI, she said (and how she knows about these things I have no clue: has she told me absolutely everything about her past life before our eyes sparked mutual fire in that fateful Wigan rehearsal of The Gondoliers in 1967?) The FBI, she assured me, does not use such emotive phrases as ‘this depressing recession’ or such miserable clichés as ‘swung into action’. But even though my wife seemed so certain that my sudden windfall was not genuine, I was about to argue the case when I noticed a detail she had not commented on. My message was signed Agent Shawn Henry, Assistant Director, FBI Cyber Division. Shawn? A cross between a sheep and a small deer? Would the Feds employ a man who couldn’t even spell his own name? The case, as they always used to say in the black and white courtroom dramas, rests.
Sorry, I forgot to mention that the spondulicks are unaccountably (there’s a joke in there somewhere) lodged with the Reserve Bank of India and it’s the babus in Delhi who are eagerly awaiting the access details for my paltry life savings with the Walmingtonon-Sea branch of Swallow Bank. There is of course a drawback to this golden prospect of lucre and no, it’s not just the one you’re thinking of. Skulduggery is afoot. A certain Mr Cox-Jialo based in Canada and purporting to be my cousin (thinks: must be one of those wretched Yukon Cox-Jialos. If only Great Uncle Septimus had managed to resist his fatal weakness for Inuit ice-dancers) is also applying for the money ‘on my behalf’ so I need to contact the babus pretty damn sharpish to avoid having my claim jumped.
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Health & Beauty
Fight or flee:
Understanding anxiety by Sarah Jackson
Anxiety is something that we all experience. It is natural and normal and often happens without us really taking much notice of it. Anxiety is not in itself a bad thing — we need a certain degree of stress in our lives to make it interesting, to give us excitement and to ensure that we are motivated to get out of bed in the morning. The stress response — often called the ‘flight or fight’ response — has kept us safe since prehistoric man decided it was a good idea to share the same back garden as a lion. In those situations, when survival depended upon our ability to make a very quick decision about the options available to us — whether to run away or stand our ground and fight —was a response was vital for survival back in the day.
When we perceive a situation to be threatening, our hypothalamus sends a distress signal to our autonomic nervous system causing a whole sequence of events in our nerves and adrenal glands. Adrenaline and noradrenaline production increases and our heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate shoot up.
We know consciously that the threat of a lion meeting us at our cave door is minimal, but these primitive responses remain active in our bodies. So although the real physical need for the flight or fight response has diminished, our bodies continue to prepare in the same way, even when the threat is only imagined. This preparation is experienced as bodily sensations. Once triggered, you may experience flushing of the face as you feel your cheeks becoming hot. Your jaw may become tight, your fists clench or you begin to perspire. Your heart may feel as if it has taken a great lurch in your chest, and your heartbeat increases. You may experience palpitations, butterflies in your stomach, a dry mouth, weak knees, the sudden urge to go to the toilet — or maybe you just freeze completely. These are all very unpleasant reactions and all subconsciously triggered by this primitive flight or fight mechanism. This response was very necessary when we were living side by side with numerous beasts that saw us as dinner, because it allowed our ancestors to change gears literally in the span of a single heartbeat. We still occasionally have need for a sudden burst of energy or tremendous strength — remember the story about the woman who lifted a car off her son? However, we need our subconscious minds to react appropriately and not activate this powerful response unless it is really necessary. Once this stress response has been activated, it can take up to an hour for our body’s sympathetic nervous system to return to its normal level. If the threat is not actually real, or we cannot follow through with the running away or fighting part of the process, there is no outlet for the energy that our body created. The response remains switched on and the stress continues to build. The response
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Health & Beauty can be triggered several times a day, and the outlet for the energy can remain permanently turned off. The stress turns inward and we become distressed. With our bodies ill at ease, we develop dis-ease. At present 40 per cent of disability worldwide is due to depression and anxiety (WHO (2002), The Global Burden of Disease), so if you are feeling stressed, you are not alone.
Hypnotherapy is one of the therapies that tackles your problem at a subconscious level; discovering the hidden cause of your chronic stress and releasing you from it — quickly and simply.
The negative effects of the stress response can result in many seemingly unrelated problems: impotence, digestive problems, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, muscle tension and pain, fatigue, problems with sleeping, urinary problems, restless legs, anger, irritability, depression, phobias, undereating or overeating, lack of motivation, social withdrawal, suppression of the immune system resulting in infections and a susceptibility to catch colds — to name but a few.
A skilled hypnotherapist can give you the key to unlocking the door and undoing the programmes put in place to look after you; programmes that no longer serve you. Once discovered, the subconscious reasons for the symptoms you are experiencing can be quickly identified and brought into your conscious awareness so that you can decide whether or not you want to keep them, giving control back to you over how you react to situations that previously frightened you.
You have all the answers locked inside you.
If you would like to discuss whether hypnotherapy is right for you, please see Sarah’s advert below where you can find her contact details.
You may well be experiencing some of these symptoms yourself but have never given any thought to the connection between chronic stress and the symptoms you are experiencing in and on your body. Why would you? It is all happening at a subconscious level. You have probably become used to your symptoms, putting them down to lifestyle choices, your childhood, getting older, etc. The internet is full of self-help techniques to help you manage the symptoms of stress — you could keep a stress diary for a month to help you discover what causes your stress; you could study the practice of mindfulness, join a yoga class, take more exercise, meditate... the list is endless. All of these practices may help, but as the root cause of the stress is operating at a subconscious level, dealing with it on a conscious level may prove unsatisfactory.
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27
Alice’s Wonderland
My ever-changing world of wonder by Alice Marriott Hello again, it’s me — Alice Well, my summer holidays have come to an end — I’m not too bothered as nearly three months off is a long time to be doing ‘not a lot’! I’m actually looking forward to going back to school to see friends, plus this year I start college — a bit daunting but exciting too. I’ve chosen to study sciences as I’d like to go into the medical side of things when I finish my education. I know it’ll be hard work but I’m willing to try, so hopefully I’ll enjoy it this year. I’ll get a load of new teachers and I get to move into a different block of the school campus. Not a lot else changes with college over here compared to the UK — from what I understand you get a lot more choice and you don’t have to go in all the time in the UK; here’s it’s a bit
Is your advertising not working for you? For just 35€* per month this space can be yours See page 14 for details
more like school ,starting at 8.30am and finishing at 3pm. I have to get the bus at 7.45am so it will mean early rising — something I haven’t been used to for a few months now! My boss’s wife at the stables has just had her little boy, and he is so cute. She was in labour for nearly two days, which seems an awfully long time but luckily everything went well and they are all home safe and sound. In true Spanish fashion they have named the son after his dad — I think that must all get a bit confusing when the post arrives as everyone has the same name! Everything seems to be changing — including the weather — but I love autumn in Spain when the sun’s not quite so hot. The colours start changing and hopefully, a bit of rain appears to freshen the countryside. The leaves start to change too and I love to take photos at this time of year; Mum says I have an eye for capturing a good picture which is so much easier to do these days with the great cameras you can get in your phones — except Mum’s which is still like a brick! Dad’s just happy if he has a torch on his phone. It’s weird to think that a few years ago, the thought of having a phone which took pictures sounded like space age science! I wonder what things will change by the time I become qualified in the sciences? Hopefully Mum’s phone for one! Love Alice x
*plus IVA 28
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Trade Talk
A great time and way
to sell your property
by Sarah and David Rick, Creative Property Marketing
The Spanish property market was hot this summer… Traditionally, the Spanish property market goes very quiet during the height of the summer — but not this year. Our buyers have been very busy, braving the heat and paying the high cost for flights to grab the property bargains before the next buyer turns up. This kind of urgency has not been witnessed for more than eight years. We received record levels of enquiries from buyers during July and August (267 enquiries in nine weeks) and viewing numbers were fantastic. Sales were the best ever for the height of summer — four sales in July and three in August!
The good news is, this urgency to buy continues for us with the same level of interest continuing into September. We predict a very busy and productive autumn.
It’s a great time to sell property this autumn! What makes this all the more exciting is the fact that our sellers pay NO COMMISSION! This has led to their ability to negotiate further with buyers to ‘seal the deal’ and they have also walked away with more money in their pocket — a win-win scenario for all. It costs our sellers just €296.45 to sell their properties and we have some very happy clients. Word is spreading about our success, with many clients recommending us to others. Our method is simple, successful, very affordable and the way forward in these modern times… There is no longer a need to pay estate agency commission, which seems to be climbing in percentage month-on-month right now. Sellers have told us of recent quotes of between five and seven per cent — in one case 10 per cent — commission to sell. This is crazy and unnecessary. Would you prefer to sell your property privately to avoid these high fees, but as yet have not found a secure, affordable, successful and supported way to achieve this? You don’t need to look any further. We are helping private sellers of cottages, farmhouses, villas, mobile homes, apartments, cortijos, building plots and businesses find buyers from all over the world. We use the internet extensively and proactively to get properties for sale in Spain in front of millions of buyers globally — advertising on prestigious websites such as Prime Location, Zoopla, Kyero, Think Spain, The Move channel etc. We create interesting, informative and professional property details that appeal to a wide audience of buyers.
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Trade Talk We support the seller as an individual, working with you as a team and offering a bespoke service, tailored to your needs. We offer valuations — backed up with comparable evidence so you know you are selling at the right price to attract a buyer — legal paperwork checks, advice and guidance on selling generally. We receive the buyer’s enquiries in the first instance, and pass these on to the seller. We send out an Overview every month, and are available to assist at any time. We will even help with negotiations/closing a deal if required. Just €296.45 (inc IVA) buys our sellers an exceptional service and 12 months advertising on over 20 property sales websites that target different nationalities around the world. Buyers can look at your property on their smart phone, tablet, laptop or computer at home, 24 hours per day — it is the modern way. Most estate agents cannot afford to use these websites and methods of advertising, but by charging a small amount for advertising, we can get our sellers in front of today’s busy buyers. All the seller has to do is: • Provide us with photos (or we will come and take imaginative photographs for you at an additional cost of €50 plus IVA subject to location).
• Communicate with us, answering questions about the property for sale so we can create the best and most comprehensive property details possible. • Open the house for viewings and meet the buyer, either personally or with the help of a friend or neighbour (if not in the property at the time of the viewing). So, if you are looking for help to sell your property by people who care and who will advise you and keep in touch, never leaving you behind, please give Creative Property Marketing a call. Advertising your property for sale extensively on the internet is the modern way — it is what serious buyers expect. Can you afford not to give it a go?
Please call us, Sarah and David Rick, on 951 400 228 or send an email to info@ creativepropertymarketing.com to discuss the first steps of getting your property proactively sold. Visit www.creativepropertymarketing.com to view our website and see our advert on the back cover for more details.
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Charity News
T.O.P.S. sweethearts wow the audience The recent Sweethearts and Stolen Kisses 50s and 60s show, devised and performed by T.O.P.S, was a great success, and was enjoyed by more than 140 guests.
After enjoying a super home-cooked three-course meal, the enthusiastic audience was kept entertained with a selection of songs from artistes such as Petula Clark, Judy Collins, Patsy Cline, The Seekers, The Monkees, Elvis Presley, Tom Jones, The Supremes and many more. Clad in vintage clothing from the era, the T.O.P.S. singers created an authentic atmosphere under the stars with their wonderful cabaret-style performances. Proceeds from this – and other shows held during 2014 – will be shared equally between local charities at the end of the year.
The photographs are reproduced by courtesy of Monique Tovey-Mansfield.
UK TV game shows
from page 9
Initials
1. Play Your Cards Right 2. The Price Is Right 3. The Krypton Factor 4. Winner Takes All 5. Million Pound Drop 6. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? 7. The Generation Game 8. Are You Smarter Than A Ten Year Old? 9. The Weakest Link 10. Ask The Family
People
1. Countdown 2. Bullseye 3. Pointless 4. Take Your Pick 5. The Generation Game 6. 3-2-1 7. What’s My Line?
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8. A Question Of Sport 9. Blind Date 10. QI
Slogans
1. The Price Is Right 2. Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? 3. Family Fortunes 4. Blockbusters 5. Bullseye 6. The Generation Game 7. Catchphrase 8. Stars In Your Eyes 9. Blind Date 10. Play Your Cards Right
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Health & Beauty
Let down
your hair...
by Heather Jones
As a young girl, I was convinced that my hair never grew and I would never have Rapunzel-style locks. I used to dread a trip to the hairdressers as cutting even the slightest bit off the length I thought would hamper my growing mane. So, although it appears to be a mystery, you’ll be pleased to read that growing luscious length is very attainable. In fact, growing long hair can be achieved by following specific length retention strategies. The Science of Hair Growth First, you must understand that we cannot beat science. Science is governed by facts and hair is not exempt. The rate of growth is pretty consistent for each individual. Hair grows at the rate of half an inch per month. Without factoring in a regular trim of the ends, this means your hair will grow approximately six inches per year. Many of us would like to think that our hair is "just not growing" but that is not so. If you find that your hair is not growing it is more than likely due to the fact that it is breaking, unless you have been ill which will often affect the growth rate. What You Can Do While you have no control of the speed your body produces hair, your part of the job is making sure you get to keep all the new hair that you grow. To give your hair a fighting chance at a long life, feed your body with healthy nutrients for strong hair. These nutrients will feed the new hair growth that springs from your scalp… a great healthy beginning for your strands. When you do not eat healthily, you produce weak hair that doesn't have a fighting chance against the friction of the elements of daily life. Feed your hair from the inside out. After the hair has grown from your scalp, the only way to keep it strong is through topical products like conditioners and other nourishing products After you get the hang of eating healthily to produce strong hair from the root, be sure to take care of the new and old hair by protecting it. The opening to your hair is through the ends – the most delicate section of your strands. The art of protecting your hair is the art of growing it; they are one and the same. When protecting your ends, be sure to:
Coat them in treatment-rich oil. Choose your oil based on the density of your hair – thicker hair requires heavier oil while thinner hair requires light oil. Many can be used every night – or every other night – or in the morning for restyling. Styling products (as well as air pollution) can leave a film that both saps moisture and dulls shine, but dairy products such as sour cream and plain yogurt can help reverse this damage. Lactic acid gently strips away dirt while the milk fat moisturises, so if you prefer to do a home-made treatment, why not try seeing which one of these suits your hair type? For dull hair: massage half a cup of sour cream or plain yogurt into damp hair and let it sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water, followed by cool water, then shampoo hair as you normally would. Treatment can be applied every other week. For normal hair, raw egg is really the best of all worlds, as the yolk is rich in fats and proteins, so it is naturally moisturising. The white, which contains bacteria-eating enzymes, removes unwanted oils. Use the entire egg to condition hair; use egg whites only to treat oily hair and yolks only to moisturise dry, brittle hair. Use half a cup of whichever egg mixture is appropriate for you and apply to clean, damp hair. If there isn’t enough egg to coat scalp and hair, use more as needed. Leave on for 20 minutes, rinse with cool water (to prevent egg from “cooking”) and shampoo hair as normal. Whole egg and yolks-only treatments can be applied once a month; whites-only treatment can be applied every two weeks.
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Continued on page 34
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Health & Beauty To fight flakes — normally brought on by poor diet, stress and climate, among other factors — try a lemon juice and olive oil mixture in your hair. The acidity in lemon juice helps rid your scalp of any loose, dry flakes of skin, while the olive oil moisturizes the [newly exposed] skin on your head. Simply mix two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, two tablespoons of olive oil and two more tablespoons of water. Massage the mixture into your damp scalp. Let the mixture sit for 20 minutes, then rinse and shampoo your hair as normal. Treatment can be applied every other week.
To add body to hair, reach for an unlikely beauty beverage: beer! The fermented drink contains generous supplies of yeast, which works to plump tired tresses. Mix half a cup of flat beer (pour beer into a container and let it sit out for a couple of hours to diminish carbonation) with a teaspoon of light oil (sunflower or canola) and a raw egg. Apply to clean, damp hair, let sit for 15 minutes, then rinse with cool water. Or add flat beer only to a spray bottle and spritz onto dry hair. When the liquid evaporates, the remaining protein residue (from the wheat, malt or hops) continues to strengthen and structure hair. Treatments can be applied every other week. Whatever your hair-dehydrating demon—hard water, sun overexposure, your trusty straighteners — nature's sweetener can help. Honey is a natural humectant, which means it attracts and locks in moisture. Massage approximately half a cup of honey into clean, damp hair, let it sit for 20 minutes then rinse with warm water. You can also add 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil to loosen the honey for easier application.
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For extremely sun-damaged hair, trying mixing honey with 1 to 2 tablespoons of a protein-rich ingredient, such as avocado or egg yolk, which will help replenish the keratin protein bonds that UV rays attack. Treatment can be applied once a month. If your hair is at the other extreme — greasy – then used properly, cornmeal/cornstarch or cornflour is an inexpensive way to remove oil and grease. Pour 1 tablespoon of cornmeal/starch/flour into an empty salt or pepper shaker and sprinkle onto dry hair and scalp until you’ve used it all. After 10 minutes, use a paddle hairbrush to brush it out completely. Treatment can be applied every other day. Home beauty experts swear by avocado — and not just to repair damaged hair. Its oils (which are light and moist like our own natural skin secretions) and proteins boast the best combination of nutrients for smoothing and weighing down unruly hair. So to rid your hair of frizz, just mash up half an avocado and massage it into clean, damp hair. Let it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing with water. Ramp up moisturising power by combining a mashed avocado with 1 to 2 tablespoons of a hydrating ingredient such as sour cream, egg yolks or mayonnaise. Treatment can be applied every two weeks. For residue-ridden locks, nothing eats through product build-up like baking soda as sodium bicarbonate essentially breaks down anything acidic. Mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of baking soda with small amounts of water until a thick paste forms. Massage into damp hair and let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse with water, then simply shampoo your hair as normal. Treatment can be applied every two weeks. Take care of your hair at home without the necessity of spending a fortune on salon products and you’ll soon see your locks start growing in front of your eyes… then it’s time to go to the hairdressers for a trim!
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Just for Fun
Twenty teasers - mixed bag of mind-blowing questions 1. Stalingrad was renamed in 1961 — what is it now called? 2. The Apollo 11 mission, the first to land on the moon, involved 3 astronauts – can you name all three? 3. Which BBC Radio 1 DJ and presenter found himself becoming a common phrase in cockney rhyming slang from 2004 onwards?
12. On which continent is the Atacama Desert? 13. What is the German word for ‘sausage’? 14. How many legs does a butterfly have? 15. How many people play in one polo team? 16. How many presidents of the U.S.A. have been called George?
4. Who sang the James Bond theme tune for ‘For Your Eyes Only’ in 1981? 5. Della Street is associated with which fictional detective? 6. Which was Stephen King’s first novel, published in 1974? 7. How much money is a ‘monkey’? 8. What nationality was Alfred Nobel, after whom the Nobel prizes are named? 9. In which U.S. state is Pearl Harbor? 10. Which actress plays Madge in ‘Benidorm’? 11. In which year was the Wall Street Crash?
17. On which island would you find Carisbrooke Castle? 18. Who hosted ‘It’ll Be Alright On The Night’ from 1977 until 2006? 19. In which year did the Queen celebrate her Silver Jubilee? 20. ‘Otology’ is a branch of medicine dealing with which part of the body? Answers can be found on page 46
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Spotlight
Seeing in the start of the school year Are your child’s eyes prepared to go back to school? Did you know that during the first 12 years of our lives, as much as 80 per cent of learning is accomplished through our vision? Yet one out of every four children has an undetected vision problem that may inhibit their progress. Once children go to school, good eyesight is crucial in order to keep up with their studies. Experts believe that many learning disabilities could be vision-related, as the children may not be able to read the blackboard or text books. Specsavers Opticas suggests that a child should have their first eye examination at around three years old, as the earlier things are detected, the easier they are to rectify without delaying the child’s development. This September they are advising all parents to incorporate a thorough eye test into their back-to-school routine so they can be prepared if their child does need glasses. The process of taking an eye test for a child is simple. Firstly, the optometrist will ask the parent or guardian about any relevant family history and any problems their child may be experiencing. Then, several childfriendly tests will be undertaken using special charts and other materials to help children indicate what they can see and how clearly.
The optometrist will test the vision of each eye and check whether they work properly together. They will also measure the child’s focusing ability and the health of the eyes before discussing the results with the parents. If a child does need glasses, there are some great ranges which tick all the boxes of fashion and durability. Kids who wear glasses can now be the envy of all their friends, with fun frames in bright colours sporting their favourite character or toy. Popular ranges include Disney, Hello Kitty, Gruffalo, Star Wars™, Simpsons, Marvel Heroes and SpiderMan, and Specsavers has its own kids’ and teen ranges. Until the end of November 2014 Specsavers Opticas is offering free eye tests for children and adults. Specsavers Opticas currently has eight stores in Spain: Marbella and Fuengirola on the Costa del Sol, and Santa Ponça Mallorca, Calpe, Javea, Benidorm, Guardamar del Segura and Torrevieja on the Costa Blanca. Visit www.specsavers.es to find your nearest store.
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Talking Point
Inside the Spanish
household... food
Whatever your nationality, eating and drinking often plays a large part in many households, and nowhere more so than in the traditional Spanish casa. With the change in many British lifestyles, mealtime family gatherings are on a decline. However, the Spanish household still puts great emphasis on this dying ritual. With a diet which is rooted in the products of an agrarian, pastoral and horticultural society, there are many principal staples which are often region orientated. However the most traditional ones for the AndalucĂan family are often bread, legumes, rice, cured meat products, chicken or rabbit. Whatever the meal made with these ingredients, you can be assured that it will be enhanced with locally-available wild herbs and vegetables, olives and olive oil, fruit and of course, wine! Fish and shellfish, salt-fish (especially cod and conger eel) also play a large part in the diet of a Spanish family, as well as the abundance of sheep or goat produce. The Spanish have always used locally-grown condiments to flavour dishes and it is this practice which gives the more regional fare a unique taste. The day normally starts with a light breakfast (desayuno) consisting of coffee or hot chocolate with toast or breakfast cakes, packaged cookies or dough fritters (churros). Family members may breakfast at different times. A mid-morning snack (almuerzo) is a more substantial meal and often enjoyed by field workers or physical labourers, taken around 10am and on a more individual basis or with colleagues rather than with family. It is often consumed at the local bar so the meal can be washed down with a tot of Anis!
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Many foreigners are under the illusion that locals do not consume a great amount of vegetables. This is understandable, as they are very rarely seen as a complementary item on a dinner plate. However, the Spanish use a vast array of veg to make their stews, sauces and soups. Most meals actual consist of several vegetables — often blitzed beyond recognition in a stew. This is the most popular midday meal. Every region has at least one local version of this bowl of broth, made from legumes with potatoes and condimented with a small amount of cured pork products or fresh meat; always packed with seasonal vegetables. This is known as cocido or olla (or olla podrida). In many households it is eaten daily with lashings of bread. In more religious households, days of abstinence from meat mean the cocido will be made with salt cod (bacalao) or salted conger eel (cóngrio) instead. In the Eastern rice-producing areas around Valencia and Murcia, the midday meal tends to be paella. This dish, synonymous with Spain, is enjoyed countrywide but in certain areas, the treat is often reserved just for Sundays when the whole family will assemble, throw all the ingredients into a large paella pan and enjoy the get-together.
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Continued on page 40
Spotlight Whatever is on the menu, lunch (comida) is served around 2pm — this is the day's principal meal, usually taken by families together at home. To complement the average Spaniard’s ‘five-a-day’, fruit is often consumed as a dessert. The healthier option of nibbling on almonds, walnuts and, of course, sunflower seeds, is not an uncommon practice in most of the country. Between 6pm and 8pm, people may eat a more substantial snack, called merienda; this can be at — or away from — home. A lighter version is tapas (appetisers) with a drink at a bar; for some families the merienda replaces the later supper — cena. When taken, the cena is a light meal, often of soup, eggs, fish or cold meats, and is eaten by families together around 10pm. This meal pattern is fairly national except that in the Catalan area, main meal hours are earlier — rather like France — at 1pm and 8pm.
As in many cultures, the main meals are seen as important gathering times — perhaps more so here in Spain. When you think of the ‘eat-on-the-go’ lunches or even the skipping of breakfast that occurs in the UK, it is nice to know that Spain still honours the tradition of coming together to eat. Even in the congested urban areas, most working people travel home for their comida and return to work afterwards. Commercial and office hours are designed around the lunch hours: most businesses are closed by 1pm or 2pm and may not re-open until 4pm or even 5pm at the earliest, depending upon the season. Banks and many offices have no afternoon hours at all. Other stores, such as butchers and fishmongers, may remain open longer in the mornings and not re-open their doors until at least 6pm (if at all) and
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then stay open until around 9pm to accommodate late shoppers. Virtually all commerce is closed by the family supper hour of 10pm except, of course, the bars and restaurants. Restaurant dining is becoming more common and these eateries have made an impact on the home meals of some families. However in general, comida and cena hours remain crucial aspects of national family life. Restaurants in urban areas date only from the mid-19th century when a Swiss restaurateur opened his eponymous Lhardy in Madrid in 1839. Other establishments found in more traditional villages include designation houses specialising in specific kinds of drinks (such as chocolate), and inns (fondas) which offer meals to weary travellers. Sadly, these are a dying breed as more and more convenience food outlets spawn across Spain.
The onslaught of restaurants represented a new kind of social activity for those who could afford it. After the Franco era, when you could have been arrested for forming large groups, Spaniards who ate in restaurants began to do so mostly in large family groups purely as a get-together — not to try new foods. Menus, therefore, mostly consisted of Spanish dishes similar to those produced by home cooks; many locals would not dream of eating a new dish from far-flung China! Eating and drinking together have always been a Spaniard’s principal way of spending time with friends or family, either at leisure moments such as fiestas, weekly on Sundays or on special occasions such as religious feast days. More families are now opting to eat out for birthday celebrations or personal Saints' days. A lot of these celebratory congregations involve inviting guests and even today in small villages, there may be at least token food offerings to the whole populace if a wedding is being celebrated. After all, whether it is a bag of home-grown peppers
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Spotlight or an impromptu invitation to a family meal, food remains the principal currency of social exchange to a Spaniard! Throughout the country, organised social groups often meet — their main purpose is the periodic enjoyment together of food and drink. These groups of like-minded diners are called cuadrillas or peñas.
on the sofa watching the TV, and another 18 per cent make phone calls or send messages on their mobile whilst eating one-handed! Sixteen per cent read a book or magazine instead of having a conversation with their loved ones, while nine per cent admitted to playing computer games with a plate at the side of the PC. So whatever you have on the menu tonight, from porra to Pot Noodle, let’s take a leaf out of the Spanish household’s recipe book and sit down, turn off the electronic gadgets and enjoy our mealtime. Make mealtimes a priority — with a little bit of effort, it's definitely achievable. Bond with your loved ones or arrange a BBQ party with friends — embrace the traditional Spanish household get-togethers with friends, family and food. Next month in our Spanish household series… the role of the genders.
The last two decades have led to many households changing their mealtime routines. One in ten British families never sits down to an evening meal together and sadly, this is starting to be a trend which is sweeping across our adopted country here too, particularly in the larger cities. Hectic social schedules and hefty workloads mean millions of families are unable to enjoy each others' company at the dinner table any more. A Bisto™ study worryingly reported that of the few British families who do manage to sit down together, one in five spends less than ten minutes at the table! For many households, the evening meal remains the one part of the day where we could all get together and catch up. With this in mind, maybe Britain should follow the Spanish lead, partaking in a later meal so all family members can sit down together, as it seems from the study that many are letting pressures of work and school lives get in the way of this important interaction. Modern technology is often to blame too, as the modern family opts for dining from a tray in front of the TV, rather than sitting down together to eat and chat. But even those who do manage to sit at the table together don't always have quality time there, thanks to mobile phones, television and computer games. The study reported that more than a third of all British households have their meal whilst sitting
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Spotlight
The art of painting
and growing blossoms
at Cactus Centre
By Robin Savory
The skills of horticulture and painting are being brought together as a group of local artists have teamed up with the management of Spain’s largest cactus garden to put on a show that will complement both organisations’ talents.
“It will be quite a challenge,” says Julia. “Some of my members are not used to working to deadlines, but I believe it will add a good focus to the group and we are sure that we can produce work that visitors to the centre will value for the rest of their lives.”
Mariano Carrasco and Tania Doblas have turned over all the walls in their bar/restaurant area of the Cactus Centre in Casarabonela to members of the Marbella and Inland U3A art group for them to use as a permanent gallery so visitors can purchase an original painting.
Mariano added that he felt the skill and effort of producing and caring for plants would be mirrored by the skill and effort of producing original paintings. “It is truly a case of art reflecting nature,” he said. “It means we will be able to offer our visitors not only original plants, but original artistic interpretations of them as well.
This venture follows hard on the heels of the Art Group’s recent successful exhibition at the Cortijo del Arte at Pizarra. “But we have imposed upon ourselves certain very strict conditions,” explains Julia Holley, the leader of the art group. “At least a quarter of the paintings will have to be of the plants that are actually grown in the gardens or greenhouse, and all the rest will have to relate to scenes or activities that are local and relevant to this particular area. Plus, all the paintings must be reasonably priced.”
“We are absolutely delighted that Julia and her group have joined forces with us, and already more than 20 paintings are hanging on the walls — one of which was sold within a week of it being hung.” To visit the Cactus Centre in Casarabonela see the informative website at www.cactuscasarabonela. uma.es for opening hours and directions. The website is available in English.
Julia has specialised in painting flowers and landscapes for over 40 years, but this is the first time she has ever painted cactus flowers. “I was amazed at the beauty of these flowers,” she continued. “Some of them only last for a day, so it is my intention to capture as many of them as I can so that a visitor can see a plant, and maybe buy a specimen of it. They will also be able to buy an original painting of that very same plant as a reminder of a special day out.” When the gallery is complete, more than 50 paintings will be on display, and when a picture has been sold, participating members of the group will also have to produce a replacement.
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Around AndalucĂa
Spotlight
Ending the emotional suffering behind closed doors So many people endure in silence while the most precious relationship in their lives suffers death by a thousand cuts. The pressures of life slowly replace love and passion with petty resentments, blame and disagreement. After years of feeling unappreciated and misunderstood, one or both partners drift away, and a relationship breakdown is suddenly upon them. Only then do they realise just how much they have lost. But staying in an unhappy relationship is a source of chronic stress which in turn can lead to physical and mental health issues. To help solve this problem, three counselling professionals based on the Costa Del Sol have created a unique Couples’ Rediscovery Weekend. It's developed from the latest evidence-based research about successful relationships. The first weekend will be November 6 to 9, at the beautiful Shanti Som at Monda. Rooms are available for those who want to fully relax and stay.
Mythbusting
It’s common knowledge that it is better to talk – to really listen to each other and resolve conflicts. But is that really right? Research shows these are not the key determining factors. Plenty of happily married couples have unresolved issues, argue a lot and sweep things under the carpet. There are other aspects that are far more important.
Why men dread hearing the words “we need to talk.” To a woman it seems natural that it’s best to get everything out in the open. To a man, these four words can bring feelings of shame, helplessness and maybe even guilt. And while talking is important, the ‘we need to talk’ discussion can be counterproductive. The workshop will show there are other ways to rebuild and reconnect. The time investment is a long weekend; the benefits will last for a lifetime. The three professionals are Sara Neil, Finola Harrington and Joanna Chrzanowska. For more information please visit www.sunandmoon. eu or contact Sara Neil by email saraneil@hotmail. com or call on 637 157610.
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Classified Adverts Services Offered Electrician all areas covered. Call Tom for a quote on 606 694 536 Wanted — sensibly priced country properties, villas and village houses for sale. Contact us in confidence, no obligation. Email info@aapropertyforsalespain.com Tel no: 649520396. We are asking for people out there who took out a mortgage in 2004 with Cajasur in Antequera to get in contact with us. We believe we have a case relating to the amount you could be paying on your mortgage. This may be too much because of a fixed rate policy, meaning that the percentage rate would not go lower than 4.59 per cent. We would be interested in forming a group to consolidate on this issue. Your personal details will be treated as strictly confidential, please email your contact details only to info@theandalucian.com we will forward them on to private advertiser who wishes to remain anonymous. Responsible Spanish married couple with children available immediately for live-in work — cleaning and maintenance jobs including general labouring, painting, gardening, pruning olive and fruit trees etc. Holders of a Phytosanitary certificate and current driving licences with own car. Will consider all areas. Please contact 649 169937 or 627 433683 for details (Spanish/French speaking). Do you need a cheap alternative advertising your business or service?
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Deposito Legal MA-1110-2004 Copyright © 2004 - 2014. All rights reserved All advertisements are published in good faith and are for information purposes. We do not under any circumstances accept responsibility for the accuracy of such advertisements, nor is any kind of warranty or endorsement expressed or implied by such publication. The editorials are not a substitute for legal advice, and not intended or offered as such. The Andalucían does not therefore accept any duty of care to anyone who makes use of, or seeks to rely on, material in this publication. No part of this or any previous Local Connections or The Andalucían publications may be used or reproduced without the prior written consent of the owner.
Vehicles for Sale Matador Aerovan trailer, perfect condition, full Spanish registration. 1995€ ono transfer included. Cargo 2000 kg Tara 1210 kg. Altura 2.216 mts Longitud 4.100 mts. Call 670598600 or 955142996
Advertise your vehicle for only €5 a month or €20 for six months (prices exclude IVA at 21%). Call 952 723075 or email us with a photo and details info@theandalucian. com
Property for Sale
Are you struggling to sell or rent your home? Place a Classified Advert for only €5 a month or €20 for six months (excludes IVA). Email the details to us (remember to send a photo for vehicles or properties) to info@theandalucian.com
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Twenty teasers answers from page 36 1 Volgograd 2 Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins 3 Pete Tong 4 Sheena Easton 5 Perry Mason 6 Carrie 7 £500 8 Swedish 9 Hawaii 10 Sheila Reid 11 1929 12 South America 13 Wurst 14 Six 15 Four 16 Three — George Washington, George Bush and George W Bush
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17 Isle of Wight 18 Denis Norden 19 1977 20 The ear
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