Editor’s Slice Hello, Having survived Valentine’s Day last month, when in my true, traditional way I managed to forget the art of card-giving once more, and with Mother’s Day approaching on April 3, it is a time to think about the women in our lives, especially as International Women’s Day celebrates its centenary on March 8. With this in mind, we have a short story from Ella and a piece from Jo to remind us all why our better halves are so important. Universally, life has changed for females and the first part of our Women Watch series looks back on what it was like to be a woman here in Spain in years gone by. The school children took part in the Dia de Andalucía festivities at the end of last month, and parents and grandparents will have the task of keeping these younger family members busy over the Semana Santa half term. If you want to try something different this spring break, read our Trade Talk on Finca Mariposa on page 36. Many villages are holding their annual carnivals over the next few weeks as a last splurge of colour and feasting before Lent. Having met the very interesting Father David recently, when we discussed everything from pirates and pancakes, it is with pleasure that I am able to publish his words on page 38. With grandparents in mind, many residents here in Andalucía have spoken to me about missing their grandchildren back in the UK, and with increasing financial constraints or worrying health matters, some are considering a return to the UK. Sarah Rogers from Age Concern addresses this in her informative article on page 4. One more thing which people spoke to me about this month is the word ‘towel!’ I could hardly go out without someone shouting the word at me. Of course, this was the answer to last month’s puzzle to win 100€. We had more entries than ever before, the winner can be found on page 51. Until next time,
Mike Special thanks to our writers and contributors: Alice Marriott David Shovelton-Fullick De Cotta McKenna y Santafé Delta Maid Diane Hamer Ella Durham Fr. David Worsley Heather Jones
Jo Shovelton-Fullick Sarah Rogers Scott Creasey Stuart Langley Terry Callister Tricia Johnson Wendy Steeden
Contents Contents
2 4 6
Editor’s Slice
8
Celeb Chat - ‘Outside looking in’ with Delta Maid
33 34
10
Future Focus - Re-kindle a passion with portable prose
36
Trade Talk - Experience the butterfly effect
12
Spotlight - Ghosts, spirits and universal energy
38
Spotlight - From darkness into light: what are you giving up for Lent?
Trade Talk - Lovin’ good vibrations
40
Celeb Chat - Terry Callister - licensed to write
44
Animal Action - Spurring on the walking fossils
46
Alice’s Wonderland - What are you saying?
14 16 18
Back to Britain - is it right for you? Roaming Andalucía - Álora, la bien cercada
Short Story - A handful of freesia Law and Order - The myth of common law marriage
20
Interesting Facts - International Women’s Day - girl power
22 24
Just for Fun
25 26
Lifestyle - Saydo male voice singers
Future Focus - Space - the final frontier or a waste of money?
Spanish Living - turning nightmares into dreams
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28 30
47 48 50 51
Historic Spain - the plague of roses Women Watch - No more suffering in silence Events Health - Respond FAST to the signs of stroke
Reader’s letters Health - Foods which speed up weight loss Classified Adverts Advertising rates
Next deadline: 21 March
Charity News
Back to Britain - is it right for you? by Sarah Rogers, British Consulate/ Age Concern España Getting older is a fact of life, but poverty and isolation do not have to be tolerated We’ve all been affected in one way or another by the current economic situation, especially those people who rely on a fixed income such as a pension. At Age Concern España, we’ve seen more and more elderly people struggling to get by on their pensions and savings, which naturally means they consider their options for the future. Though Spain has come to be home for them, some are taking the difficult decision to return to the UK. My first piece of advice for those having money troubles would be to think about moving to the UK before your lack of funds makes this impossible. You have to ensure you’ve always got enough money saved to buy an airfare, and also enough to take care of moving. This means you will always still have that option if necessary. Of course, going back to Britain might not be the only answer to your worries. In contacting a local Spanish social worker or visiting the social security (INSS) office (or their website www.seg-social.es), you could find out about financial help and care support here in Spain. That said, if you’re set on making the move, it’s important to plan it in as much detail as though you were moving to any other foreign country. In fact, you shouldn’t be surprised if the UK suddenly feels unfamiliar to you – lots of things may have changed since you left; especially those of you who have spent decades in Spain.
Here is my top list of things to bear in mind: Registering When moving back to the UK, you will need to deregister in Spain. This means contacting the Town Hall and INSS office to be taken off the padrón and the Spanish social security system. In the same way as you should have informed the International Pension Centre and HMRC of your move to Spain, it’s very important that you let them know you’ll be back in the UK. Pensions, benefits and housing Be careful not to assume your right to UK benefits or housing as soon as you touch down. If you’ve been out of the UK for more than two years, you may have to pass a Habitual Residence Test in order to be able to claim. For more information on this test, please see the leaflet “Returning to the UK” on the British Consulate website (ukinspain.fco.gov.uk) and let the UK local authority know your new address. Pets Finding a home for your beloved four-legged friend when you move away can be upsetting. Age Concern España Casework Service is trying to find out more about local animal charities across Spain who can help us re-house pets on either a temporary or permanent basis. That way, you’ll know that your pet is being well looked after. If you belong to an organisation which offers these services and feel you could help, please contact us. Support For those of you who have family and friends there, moving back to the UK will connect you to a support network you might not feel you have in Spain. They’ll also be able to give you information and advice about the way things are in the UK at the moment; for example the cost of living and quality of healthcare. Our partner, Age UK, also has organisations throughout the country which can provide local information and advice (www.ageuk.org.uk).
Charity News
With regard to concrete figures and statistics for the repatriation of expats, the picture is vague. In 2009, there were estimated to be around 650,000 British nationals over the age of 50 residing in Spain (FCO figures). Many of those returning to the UK do not contact us for assistance or advice, and so it is difficult to produce accurate figures. With this in mind, we regularly receive enquiries about repatriating back to the UK. As a conservative estimate, I would guess the number of repatriations we have actively been involved in has increased by at least 25 per cent. Of the four new enquiries we receive each week, I would say that all have considered – or are considering – returning to the UK and are reluctant to do so as they consider Spain to be their home. The current economic climate has meant that those receiving a static income are struggling. We are seeing an increase in those at retirement age who are finding it hard to provide for basic essentials such as food and heating. Health problems as well as financial difficulties are the two major factors that contribute to the decision to return to the UK. We are finding that there continues to be a significant increase in the demand for our services, both locally and nationally, and we expect this demand to persist. Therefore, a new charity is due to be launched at the end of March. Developed from a project between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Age UK and the Casework Service of Age Concern España, the new charity, called Age Concern Acción Social y Assistencial (ACASA), is another lifeline for many here in Spain.
experience, while securing a positive role in society for them and providing direct services for those in need. A specialist casework service will be available, which will involve a volunteer caseworker completing a detailed assessment of a client’s needs and, where appropriate, making applications to UK charities for financial help or contacting local Social Services, local governmental institutions and other national government organisations in order to source assistance. Age Concern España can give support to those leaving Spain and, depending on the circumstances, might be able to provide direct assistance for older British nationals returning to the UK. If you would like more information, or to find your nearest Age Concern Organisation visit www. acespana.org or call 902 003838 (calls charged at a local rate).
Qualified English Solicitors & Spanish Abogados Our internationally experienced team of local
With an array of assistance at hand, ACASA will be able to help thousands of older British nationals here in Spain to overcome poverty, combat isolation and assist with integration into Spanish life. Examples include helping older people to gain access to benefits both in Spain and the UK, helping those of any age with military backgrounds and providing social contact and support to source grants from UK charities. The charity’s aims are to ensure the needs of older people are best met, and to help resolve their problems, making life a fulfilling and enjoyable
English solicitors and Spanish abogados are now offering legal consultations across Granada Province, for private and commercial clients.
Property, Land & Conveyancing Criminal, Commercial & Employment Law Wills, Probate, Tax & Estate Planning Family & Divorce Law Timeshare & Seasonal Ownership Civil Litigation & Personal Injury Please call:
952 52 7014
for an appointment or simply email:
granada@decottalaw.net Coín - Mijas Costa - Nerja - Tenerife - Granada
5
Roaming Andalucía
Álora, la bien cercada
by Jo Shovelton-Fullick
The small whitewashed market town of Álora is situated at the top of the Guadalhorce valley and nestles in a privileged location, awash with gloriously fragrant orange and lemon trees. The main part of this picturesque Andalucian town, whose urban streets are of Arabic origin, sits in this most elevated position, but its church and cemetery are sited even higher. The cobbled streets are somewhat steep, so those visitors who find themselves less nimble now than they may have been in their youth should be prepared: it is not for the faint hearted! The community surrounds two main squares. The first, Plaza Fuente Arriba (fountain at the top), owes its name to its location at the higher end of the town and then as Álora slopes away, the older part of the pueblo appears.
Take a gentle stroll along Calle de Parra to admire the older – but well-kept – houses of the locals, and then continue a little further up to see the monument to the Faenera. This is the name given to the women who used to pack the local crops of citrus fruits, plums and almonds, as well as the oil for the farmers of this bustling trading post of eras past. On your descent to the second and lower square, Plaza Baja de la Desedia, you find the main church, the third biggest in the Malaga province. This most emblematic place of worship is Nuestra Senora de la Encarnacion, which took a backbreaking 99 years to build, with construction beginning in 1600. The magnificent and historic interior is divided into three naves, separated by thick stone columns, each crowned with wooden arches. This is most certainly an inspiring 17th century sight. A further example of the religious architecture worthy of your time includes the Iglesia de la Veracruz. This small 16th century temple was erected to commemorate victory over the Moorish rebels. Located approximately two kilometres outside the town is the shrine of Our Lady of the Flowers, or Convento de Flores, from the same era. This Baroque building underwent restoration in the 18th century and is dedicated to the Virgen de las Flores, patron saint of Álora. Close by is the building known confusingly as the Humilladero Cross, which was built to symbolise the relinquishing of the keys of Álora to the Catholic monarchs by the last Arab mayor in 1484. In Roman times, Álora was known as Iluro and was referred to by the Arabs as Alura, It was an important town. , as the archaeological remains of the period found here indicate. A monolith, which today stands in the patio of the parish church, dates back to the time of the emperor Domicianus, and bears the words ‘Municipium Iluritanum’. According to the historian Columela, Álora, linked to the Roman region of Betica, was an important trading centre for locallysourced produce, including wine. Its prosperity was such that Álora even began minting its own coins during its classical heyday.
6
Roaming Andalucía
As with many of the seemingly sleepy Andalucian towns of old, Álora was once dominated by its castle. Sadly, since it was all-but destroyed in the fifth century, and only the decorative steel archway and traditional Arab mirador are all that now remain of this past stronghold. . Gaining a reputation as an impregnable fortress during Moorish occupation, the castle prevented a multitude of sieges by the Christians over the centuries, prior to being finally conquered by troops in 1484. After the Christian conquest, the inhabitants continued to seek safety within the mighty fortress walls, and with the passage of time, the town began to extend towards the foot of the hill. Now, on the site of the old castle, you will find the municipal cemetery which offers stunning panoramic views down the valley and is a true place of peace and tranquillity. It seems ironic that it is this scene of so much past conflict which now provides a sanctuary and final resting place for many generations of townsfolk, affectionately called Aloreños.
Nestled among the tombs of this eternal home you will also find a small Gothic chapel, and it is this same serene site which became the subject of the Ballad of Álora, the words of which can still be seen today. They are carved in a stone tablet embedded within the cemetery walls, and say: ‘Álora, la bien cercada’’ – (Álora, the good surrounded town [sic]). Whether it is well-surrounded as a refuge or purely by its indigenous and impeccable natural beauty is open to debate, but a visit to this appealing whitewashed wonder is certainly worthwhile – though definitely not to be carried out in haste. Just before you say adios to Álora, be sure to experience one of the settlement’s most charming features – the view. As far as the eye can see is the mighty Malaga basin, home to a vast quantity of fruit and vegetable patches, truly inspirational during any season but especially at this time of year when it is draped in a multi-coloured natural blanket of greens, purples and yellows. Perhaps it will be this special charm of Álora which will inspire you to pen your own ballad!
7
Celeb Chat
‘Outside looking in’ with Delta Maid
by Jo Shovelton-Fullick
"Every now and again, a musician comes along that gets the industry talking. Delta Maid is that musician" – Liverpool Daily Post. A new musical talent which provokes a flurry of excitement amongst the music industry occasionally emerges. Delta Maid is one such, currently taking the music world by storm. The young singer-songwriter, who hails from Liverpool, fuses musical styles to create a gritty and soulful sound way beyond her 25 years. Delta happily spared some time from her incredibly busy schedule to speak to me about her musical journey so far. Jo: Was a musical career always on the cards? Delta: I didn’t actively try and make it as a musician until quite late; I didn’t write my own songs until I was already settled in a career after attending university. Writing songs became the catalyst for me, and after putting them up on MySpace, my career completely turned full circle. By all means, I always dreamt of making it in music from a young age, but I believed it wouldn’t materialise as so many people aspire to ‘make it’; that’s why I focused on finding a decent job and settling down. I’m grateful to MySpace! Jo: By all accounts it would appear that 2011 could be your year. How are you feeling about the future just now? Delta: I don’t take anything for granted – you can’t. It’s an exciting – albeit scary – time for me right now, as the release date gets shorter and shorter. I just hope people warm to the music.
8
Jo: It has been said that some of your musical influence may have transcended the generations from your ancestral history as seafarers. Can you explain? Delta: Many of the males on my mum’s side of the family, going back generations, were seafarers. They brought back many records, namely from the States, introducing them to Hank Williams, the Mills Brothers etc… their love for those records was passed on to the present generations. Jo: Where are your musical roots and who influences you, past and present? Delta: I became obsessed with Roots music from an early age. I grew up listening to a lot of blues and country, like Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Bonnie Raitt and Stevie Ray Vaughan – mainly because my mum and dad had them on in the house a lot. At the age of 14, I got Rory Block’s Best Blues and Originals, which put me on a road to discover all about Delta blues. Presently, I am massively influenced by Eric Bibb; I like the Black Keys and a bit of Cee-Lo Green. I think it’s important to be open; you can learn so much from other artists.
Celeb Chat Jo: You supported Gary Barlow at his GB40 charity 40th birthday bash. How did this partnership come about and how was it? Delta: It came about via the label I am signed to, and Gary asked me to take part. It was great; it was a completely different gigging experience to what I’m used to, and the production was massive! Jo: You have gigged with the likes of Seth Lakeman, Ray LaMontagne, Ellie Goulding and Martha Wainwright; all big names in the music industry. Which was the most memorable gig for you? Delta: I think they’ve all been very memorable in their own way and I have been privileged to open for such credible artistes. I suppose the Seth Lakeman tour was the most memorable because it was such a long run of dates and you almost become family with the whole crew; we had a good laugh! Jo: Is there anyone in particular you would like to collaborate with in the future? Delta: I always say Rory Block, but I’d probably be too scared to if it boiled down to it! Jo: Has your music yet crossed the water to foreign shores? Where outside the UK would you most like to play and why?
Delta: I have played a few gigs in Switzerland, but would absolutely love to travel globally and get the music out there! I quite fancy a European tour; I filmed the music video for the single in Spain [Ronda] and met some amazing and friendly people, so Spain would be on the cards. It’s a dream of mine to play in the States also... but here’s wishing! I’m happy to play anywhere. Jo: For those unfamiliar with your music, how would you describe the sounds of your debut album ‘Outside Looking In’? Delta: I guess I would say very rootsy and soulful. It’s hard to find the words to describe your own music, but I’d say it has come from an honest place. Jo: When is the debut single and album due for release? Delta: The single is out for release 1 May and the album is due out 7 May. Jo: Delta, thank you for taking the time out of what must be a hectic schedule. I wish you the very best of luck with the single and album, and hope to catch you on Spanish soil in the future. Delta: It was a pleasure.
9
Future Focus
Re-kindle a passion with portable prose
by Terry Callister
Good as it is to inherit a library, it is better to collect one. Augustine Birrell First, for those of you who don’t know, an E-Book is simply a book that you can download from thousands of websites on the internet, to read on either your computer or e-reading device (Ereaders) such as Amazon’s Kindle or Apple’s iPad. By just typing ‘ebooks’ into my favourite search engine, more than 67 million sites were found. The range of E-Books is far bigger than that of printed books, which can be purchased in any bookshop. This is because thousands of authors, who have had their work rejected for publication by the conventional route, can upload their tomes to a myriad of services which advertise E-Books. This allows us to gain access to millions of good books which we would never see in our local book store.
Publishers have always been very choosy about what they select for the market. Particularly now, in these difficult financial times, they want as close as they can get to a guaranteed thing. Think back to all the recent Christmas advertising — it was either a well known, long-established author such as Dan Brown, Danielle Steel or another offering from the celebrity market. With the likes of Tony Blair’s book The Journey reportedly attracting an advance payment of £4.5 million, a new author trying to get their book onto your local store’s shelf has little or no chance. Thousands of aspiring writers are therefore now going down the electronic route. As a downloader, you will find fiction and non-fiction, how-to-guides, romance, thrillers, historical and humour - the whole range of genres from which to choose. Established authors also publish their work as E-Books. James Patterson recently became the first author to sell more than a million books in this format. He said: “If E-Books get to people who might otherwise not be reading or picking up a book, then that makes me happy.” Another reason for choosing E-Books is the price. Because there are no printing or material costs, delivery charges, literary agents or publishers’ fees, they are much, much cheaper than their printed equivalents, and of course no trees have to be cut down to keep the printers in paper. Prices range from free – that’s right: absolutely nothing – literally to no upper limit. You can’t always guarantee the quality of the writing, as the vast majority of E-Book writers do not have the benefit of copy writers or editors to check their prose. I have seen some very poor work, but the vast majority of authors do try their best to publish a readable and well-presented production on-line. For those of us here in Spain, there is another compelling reason to choose E-Books and that is simply our problems in accessing bookstores selling English language books. There are some – mostly on the coast and a few inland – plus of course there is the second-hand book market. Otherwise, you can buy your next read on-line through many trusted sites. A quick tip for those who prefer to have a printed book in their hand and need to use Spanish
10
Future Focus bank cards with which to buy it, go to Amazon.fr and in the search box (Rechercher) go to Livres en anglais, then in the second box simply type in the author or title you are looking for. All costs are in euros so there is no currency exchange, and you get cheaper postage, a saving worth mentioning if you’ve previously bought from UK-based on-line stores. Once you’ve decided that you would like to start reading E-Books, the first thing you need to do is decide on which piece of modern technology you would like to use for downloading... Easiest and cheapest is on your laptop or PC. A lot of E-Book suppliers make available a format to download onto an ordinary computer in either RTF (rich text format), which can be read by most word processing software, or in PDF (portable document format). All you need for this is the software – Adobe Reader, which is available as a free download from http://get. adobe.com/uk/reader/ Just follow the instructions when you get there. However, if you like to read in bed, on a plane, train or in a bar, then a desktop PC or a laptop is not the most convenient devices. In their place, many manufacturers have developed e-reading devices or e-readers. The current market-leader, and the one commanding the best reviews, is Amazon’s Kindle.
What can a Kindle do? For starters, it can store up to 3,500 books; a complete library in a handheld device which weighs less than your average paperback. It has a high contrast E-Ink screen which Amazom claims has a 50 per cent better contrast than any other e-reader, allowing you to read it even in bright sunshine. This means you can sit on the beach or terrace whilst reading your favourite author.
books to choose from, including 109 New York Times bestsellers. Plus, there are more than half a million books for less than $9.99. Also for sale are many EBooks by unknown authors, so have a look in your favourite genre and you will be in for a pleasant surprise. You don’t have to buy a well-known author in order to read a good story. Once you finish the book and want another one, you can browse Amazon.com and in under a minute, download a new book, either with wireless connectivity if you are in a WiFi hotspot, or with 3G technology if you’re not. 3G is a worldwide wireless connection which has good coverage here in Spain, and is paid for by Amazon. If you want, the Kindle can even read your latest novel out loud to you, using its text-to-speech facility. There are two versions of Kindle: with WiFi or with WiFi + free 3G. The latter is slightly more expensive at 189$ (approximately 149€) but I would recommend it for the best service here in Spain. So to my first E-Book review. I’m generally a thriller, action or political intrigue type of guy, but in the interest of balance, I’ve chosen an offbeat comedy which seems to be in the vogue at the moment — Counterproductive Man by Jeff Inlo, available on Smashword.com ($0.99). Our protagonist is a government-sponsored superhero whose purpose in life is to slow the pace of progress. He believes in doing things the hard way. To him, waste is just another way to utilise resources. Why make huge jumps when you can just have incremental increases? Can it be true? I found it very funny and can highly recommend it. Terry Callister is himself a published author, so, why not get to know the man behind the article? See our interview with Terry on page 40.
Once you have decided to buy a Kindle, the next logical step is to start buying your EBooks from Amazon.com – it is the biggest and arguably the best site. It’s pretty easy to purchase once you have opened an account with them. On the website, go to the search box, on the drop down arrow click Kindle store and in the next box, type in the name of your favourite author, book title or even the genre if you just want to browse. Amazon has more than 630,000 11
Spotlight
Ghosts, spirits and universal energy
by Scott Creasey
For much of my adult life, I have made my living in the psychic arena, as a performer presenting my one-man psychic show or giving group and private tarot readings. Recently however, I was consulted in a slightly different capacity and this consultation confirmed (to me personally) a theory of my own. The story begins in the early part of 2010 when, after seeing my psychic show, the director of a property management company based on the Costa del Sol (who shall remain anonymous) asked if I would be interested in presenting my show, tarot parties and private readings as part of an entertainment package offered by the company to their clients. Of course I jumped at the chance, and since then have done hundreds of readings up and down the coast. However a few months later, the same company asked me to investigate a claim made by a party of 12 who had stayed at one of their privately-owned villas. It seemed that when their holiday was over, and when asked for their feedback, the unanimous reply was: “We had a great time but the building is haunted so we won’t be booking it again.”
Although I have never professed to hear or see entities from the spirit world, I have always been fascinated by the ability and know a couple of spirit mediums back in the UK. So, with an open mind, I listened enthusiastically to the details of the paranormal phenomena experienced by these holiday guests and agreed to visit the villa. By using whatever psychic intuition I possess, I would try to determine if the building was haunted or not. On arrival, I was escorted directly to the games room in the basement where most of the phenomena were reported to have occurred, but to my surprise – and I have to say disappointment – I neither saw, heard
nor felt anything out of the ordinary there. It wasn’t until I entered the master bedroom that the hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and just for a fraction of a second, I felt and saw what I can only describe as a shadow of something that had once been. This experience was so fleeting that it almost didn’t register at all. I remained in the property for a further half an hour or so, walking from room to room, and concluded that anything that had been there was now completely gone. Later, over coffee whilst discussing my theory of ghosts, spirits, entities – whatever your preferred title – I explained that in my opinion, it is only rarely that this form of energy attaches itself to a building. More often than not, (once again in my opinion), it actually attaches itself to a person or persons in need, almost like a spirit guardian or guide. It was at this stage, and after my colleague had recovered her composure, that she explained the client who had booked the villa had done so in order to bring his family on their last holiday together. It transpired he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and had only a very short time left; it was he who had used the master bedroom. Many people believe that when we are very close to the end of our lives, we are visited by those who went before us, almost as if they are there to guide us on the next leg of our journey. I will leave you with what I know to be true. You and I, and everything we perceive in our universe, consists of energy. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, so the energy that is ‘you’ has always been here and always will be in one form or another. For more information contact Scott on 679 712 700 or email him in confidence at esp@scottcreasey.com Website: www.scottcreasey.com
13
Trade Talk
Lovin’ good vibrations
by Diane Hamer
Today, most of us struggle to follow a regular fitness routine as the ever-increasing commitments in our busy lives compete for our precious time. Fewer of us find we have the luxury of spending hours in our local gym, while others consider the whole gym experience a very daunting thought. However, exercise machines really are a great tool for those of us who want to get in shape. If truth be known, the majority of us would rather spend as little time and effort as possible exercising, ideally finding something that not only works but also something we can fit into our lives, rather than fitting our lives around the exercise. Using vibrating exercise equipment easily solves this problem and with numerous positive weight loss results, they are so much more beneficial than many other machines and gadgets which promise the user a body beautiful.
As with any keep fit regime, results are even more amazing if you use a vibration machine in conjunction with eating a proper and nutritious diet. With this in mind, one can say that these wobbling wonders really are a great invention for many people and additional endorsements from professional athletes and celebrities have given the method a huge popularity boost. It is a very enjoyable experience and so easy to do. Users often spend their time listening to music or just simply relaxing – this is a ‘no pain but still gain’ concept. There truly is nothing taxing about using the equipment; you simply stand on the platform and let the vibrations do their thing. To enhance your fitness and health benefits further, you can do many other movements whilst on the platform, such as sitting and squatting, bending and stretching. The instructor can help you with this, and many more additional activities. So this may be the breakthrough you have been waiting for, as it will provide you with numerous health benefits. But how does it work? The equipment essentially functions on the basis of vibration therapy and according to which exercise you do on the vibration platform, this smoothly transforms fat to muscle with the release of energy for movement. Hence, vibration therapy burns the fat more effectively. You can measure the noticeable weight loss results after just four weeks of regular use. Additionally, using this method can build the muscle mass faster than a traditional weight-lifting resistance exercise. It also results in an increased muscle tone with better definition, shape, and appearance. Of course, stronger muscles lead to stronger bones and vibration therapy helps here too, by successfully protecting your skeletal health and by providing enough resistance to increase your bone density. As a result of this, it has been proven as a drug-free treatment for osteoporosis (weakening of bones) sufferers.
14
Trade Talk
Using this method of training can result in accurate body flexibility by improving a range of motion in muscles and joints, ultimately giving you better mobility, reducing stiffness and tightness. This happens as the machine recruits 99 per cent of your muscles during exercise with a fast twitch reflex and therefore, simultaneously increases flexibility. Moreover, flexibility will also increase as you get stronger.
So whether it is for health reasons, mental state of mind, diminishing waistline or just plain relaxing ‘me’ time, why not step on board and let the vibrations do the work. You just might be amazed at what stops wobbling!
Exercising is supposed to get your body going as it were, and using this apparatus is no different. Through increasing both your blood and lymph circulation and lowering your blood pressure, it can also significantly reduce inflammation and, yes… it will even help reduce cellulite as your body’s toxins are easily expelled at a cellular level. With the increase in proper oxygenation in all your cells, you can benefit from the promotion of healthy tissue regeneration and boosts in your energy levels. Sessions on the platform can successfully stimulate the neurological system, too. Further internal health enhancements can be had as vibration equipment usage balances the various hormones in your body, and this is ideal for lifting the inner you. With the increased production of human growth hormone, regular usage decreases cortisol (stress hormone) levels in your blood.
To experience the many benefits vibration therapy has to offer, why not visit Diane’s Salon in Fuente de Piedra see her advert below for full details.
So, if stress is a factor for you and often leads to sleepless nights, you will find that these wobbling sessions can help you in the improvement of your sleeping habits. This is especially true of people suffering from insomnia. Another reason some of us are a bit reluctant to jump on the often-daunting gym equipment is the fear of aggravating an old, painful injury, or maybe a current ache or pain is enough to put you off. There is no need to have this worry when using the vibration technique. The machine itself is a gentle exerciser, and can actually relieve you from most chronic pain symptoms quite easily, just by enhancing muscle repair which in turn, assists in speeding up recovery time from certain injuries. Latest scientific research on the effects of vibration equipment has been conducted throughout the world, and recent publication in leading medical research journals suggested that people with debilitating conditions such as arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke benefit from exercise while working within their personal limitations. 15
Short Story
A handful of freesia
by Ella Durham
“Don’t forget it’s Mother’s Day this Sunday, folks! Time to show your wonderful, hardworking mums just how much you love and appreciate them. Why not give her something special this year? A treasure chest of Hardaker’s Quality Choccies will bring pure delight to her face. Order today, don’t delay. Order on line on www.hardakers…” The plastic voice droned out of the radio. I hadn’t forgotten. I never did. I just have to remember to send my brother an e-mail to make sure he does something about it this year. He’s never been very good at sending cards for special occasions. Thinks they’re a waste of money. We discussed it recently, during one of his rare visits. He’s so busy building up his driving school business; working all hours, he said. No time to himself, apparently. I made a face at him then. Seemed a poor excuse to me. He raised his eyebrows and hurriedly changed the subject. So family stuff, like Mother’s Day, gets left to me. “Why should we kow-tow to these marketers?” he moaned, when I reminded him of the date. “I don’t need a special day to tell or show someone that I love them. We can do that for free every day.” “Ah,” I replied, wagging my finger at him as he sat cuddling a coffee. “But do you?” “Do I what?” “Tell or show them every day that you love them?” He looked a bit sheepish and sipped his coffee. Buying time, no doubt. “Well, I…” he stammered. “See? Of course you don’t. None of us do. You shouldn’t blame advertisers for reminding us. Think of the value and not of the cost of it all. Mums are so often taken for granted, so one day a year is not too much to ask, is it, Matthew?” No reply. Then he put his hand over mine and smiled. He must have known how much it meant to me to keep things connected. I’d told him often enough. Family is important. It’s so easy to let daily life get in the way. “No sis, I suppose not,” he said gently. Satisfied, I nodded. I got up from the kitchen table and washed up the coffee mugs. I looked out of the window as I let the hot water run into the bowl, making the detergent bubble. 16
The garden had produced such a riot of spring blooms this year. A kind reward for my husband Charles’ efforts. He had worked so hard; digging the borders, getting them weeded, fed and planted so the bulbs would have an easy birth. The terracotta pots, nestling near the patio wall, already contained purple hyacinths and yellow daffodils nodding their approval to the warm sunshine. Crocuses peeped out between the rising stems of iris and gladioli. Roses were just starting to bud. The pure white snowdrops had led the way but now, were bowing their heads, saying goodbye to the season. I had been sad to see them go. I looked across the lawn as I rinsed the mugs and placed them on the drainer. There, in the sunniest corner of the garden, sat my pride and joy. My tubs of freesia. I’d planted them last year. It was a big gamble. I’ve never had ‘green fingers’. I can kill grass! But these little beauties were special. I had talked to them, nurtured them, taken time over them, given them cold tea – someone told me it kept the bugs away – and now, they were just about to burst open and reveal their fabulous trumpets of lilac, pink, gold and white. Mum’s favourites. I thought it would be a perfect gift for her on Mother’s Day. “I’ve got to go, Jane,” said Matthew, looking at his watch and rising from the chair. “The boys are off on their gap year travels tomorrow. Got to get them a farewell present. Deirdre’s orders! She’ll kill me if I forget.” I half smiled back, and saw my chance “So, you’ll be passing a card shop then?” I enquired, trying to sound not too demanding. Deidre does enough of that for both of us. “I just thought that if I cut the freesias for Mum, then perhaps you could… ” “Yeah, I know… I can get the card,” Matthew chuckled. “All right, yes, I’ll get the card. See you Sunday. The usual time. About four.” He kissed me warmly on the cheek, picked up his coat and headed for the door.
Short Story
He arrived bang on time. Deidre came too. She wore her best dress and matching coat, as befitting a Mothers’ Day gathering. She looked sad, though, but then I remembered the boys had just set off round the world travelling. And on Mothers’ Day weekend, too! What timing! We greeted each other with air kisses. Deidre was never the touchy feely type. Matthew pecked my cheek and shook hands with Charles. “Did you get a nice card, Matthew? Did you write something nice on it?” I whispered as we entered through the gate. He rolled his eyes and nodded. Charles and I led the way. I held the handful of freesias gently. I didn’t want their delicate flowers bruised or flattened. I wanted Mum to have them at their best. “Hello Mum,” I said, bending down to greet her. Matthew came alongside. He handed me the card. He looked at me. I needed him there with me, to share the moment.
He watched as I placed the handful of freesias into the vase on Mum’s grave and put the card he had written from us into the green foliage. Then we stepped back. Ten years ago today. Yet it seems only yesterday that we lost her. I gripped Matthew’s hand as we stood there and I thought of all the happy times we shared with our Mum; the ways she had loved us and how we still loved her. It was Mothers’ Day today but then, as Matthew says, every day can be Mothers’ Day if you show them they are loved.
17
Law & Order
The myth of common law marriage
by Sandra Wrightson, De Cotta McKenna y SantafĂŠ
In England now, 39 per cent of women between the ages of 25 and 29, and 44 per cent of men between the ages of 30 and 34 are co-habiting. These are the bare statistics but with increases in the number of people choosing to live together and not marry, if there is a separation, sadly the legal problems are increasing. Spanish lawyers will often advise couples to register their partnership as a pareja de hecho – couple by fact – so that they can benefit from legal and tax advantages.
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In England, no such concept exists and a couple who have been living together for many years may need to rely on the traditional law of trusts to prove they have rights to property or assets. There is no such thing as a common law marriage! For example, a man or woman may be the legal title holder to property, but their partner may have contributed to the upkeep and mortgage for many years. If they then split up, how does the partner prove their contribution and get any equity they need out of the property? Family lawyers in England are now being advised to await a Supreme Court decision to be made in May, when an appeal in a case called Kernott v Jones will be heard.
Law & Order
This is because previous cases based on trust principles have led to uncertainty about the interpretation of ‘common intention’, when a couple live in a property together and are not married. Put simply, was there an intention to enter into a form of joint enterprise and ownership in respect of the property? The Supreme Court is expected to give guidance on the future interpretation of the law, which will allow lawyers to advise their clients who may have a claim to all or part of a property that is not legally registered in their name. The same trust principles would be applied to a same sex couple who have not entered into a civil partnership in England. As English lawyers working in Spain, we see a number of people who are in this situation with property registered in Spain. Spanish and English lawyers need to work together to see if a solution can be found in this type of case, as the English legal concept of trust is not always recognised in this country. If you are living together, it is sensible to ensure that you do know what the position would be if you separated. Prevention is always better than cure!
Finally, on a happier note, one other statistic: the number of divorces in England is at a 29-year low. Sandra Wrightson is a Barrister Overseas, registered with the Bar Council of England and Wales, and partner at De Cotta McKenna & Santafé, a law firm offering support in all aspects of Spanish Law for English-speaking clients. Sandra heads the team at the firm’s Nerja office. For full contact details please see their advert on page 5.
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Interesing Facts
International Women’s Day - girl power
by Jo Shovelton-Fullick
“We must believe that we are gifted for something, and this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.” Marie Curie Throughout history, gender roles have been changing around the world and for women in particular, these changes are unparalleled. For some, their traditional role has been transformed out of all recognition, yet for others, the fight for equality continues. Women have confronted injustice and discrimination with astonishing spirit and conviction for generations. The first International Women’s Day was held in 1911, though it is only since 1975 that the United Nations has begun celebrating March 8 as International Women’s Day, or Día Internacional de la Mujer. This is an occasion for women throughout the world to be recognised for their achievements, whilst offering an opportunity to commemorate the past struggles and accomplishments of women through the ages. Ordinary women have steadfastly performed acts of courage and determination, playing an extraordinary role in the history of their countries.
strong-willed female changed nursing for forever. In 1883, the renowned nurse was awarded the Royal Red Cross by Queen Victoria and later became the first woman to be awarded the Order of Merit. A later war led to yet more women making their voices heard in order to bring about change. Against the backdrop of WWI, Russian women observed their first International Women’s Day, protesting for ‘Bread and Peace’ on the last Sunday in February. This acted as a true catalyst for early ‘girl power,’ and became a protest mechanism for the peace movement. Women throughout Europe also held rallies, either to protest against the war or to express solidarity with other activists. This led not only to the abdication of the Russian Czar, but more importantly, to women being granted the right to vote by the provisional government. Other early and notable girl power advocates included Rosa Parks, who in 1955 made a courageous stand against white supremacy when she refused to give up her seat whilst travelling on an interstate bus in the USA. Her unprecedented action led her to be referred to as ‘the mother of the freedom movement’ and ‘the first lady of the civil rights movement’.
Even before ‘International Women’s Day’ was recognized in the 1800s, Florence Nightingale rebelled against the role expected of a woman of her upper class, and status of wife and mother. Much to the dismay of her family, she followed what she saw as her calling to nursing. The legacy of this single 20
Since those early actions, International Women's Day has assumed a new dimension for women in developed and developing countries across the globe, as an international women's movement began to grow. Nowadays, thousands of events are organised throughout the world, with some countries marking the day as an official holiday. Unfortunately, Spain isn’t one of them – yet. However, on March 8, spare a thought for those women who have made a difference, and be mindful that the next time you meet a strong-willed young woman… she could be the next one to change the world. www.internationalwomensday.com
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Future Focus
Space - the final frontier or a waste of money?
by David Shovelton-Fullick
It is by far the most expensive object ever made… yet only 196 people from eight countries have ever been inside it. It has just marked its 10th anniversary of constant human occupation and at the time of this milestone, had travelled more than 1.5 billion miles. I am, of course, talking about the International Space Station (ISS). It is easy to forget that miles above us, there are courageous people living and working in space and that they will continue to do so until 2015. However more recently, Barack Obama said he would like to see this extended until at least 2020. Launched in 1998, the station was a joint collaboration between America, Russia, Japan, Canada and the European Space Agency. The ISS is the largest artificial satellite to orbit the earth, and if conditions are correct, it is visible to the naked eye from earth 24 hours a day. Understandably, some people have criticised the costs of this orbiting wonder, saying the money could have been put to better use by funding other scientific and space missions. Others argue that some of the experiments could have been conducted on earth at a fraction of the cost. Numerous advocates of space exploration say the criticism of the ISS is short-sighted, and that manned space research and exploration have produced billions of dollars’ worth of benefits. So what actually happens on board the space station? Information suggests that the astronauts carry out varying research ranging from biological, chemical and medicinal tests to the possibility and examination of different space systems for future
manned and unmanned flights to the moon and Mars. Interesting work, you would think, but before you decide to make your childhood dreams of being a space traveller come true, there is a downside to working in space — the demanding schedule which, for example, sees many of the astronauts having to work a gruelling 160 hour week. Many of us do not realize just how hazardous working in the cosmos can be. Not only is it a very cold and hostile vacuum, but it is also cluttered with a mass of debris, ranging from waste from past space missions, such as now-defunct satellites and tiny, yet highly dangerous, paint flakes, to more natural objects such as micro-meteorites. All of these travel so fast that they can’t always be tracked, and pose a significant danger to both the ISS and space-walking astronauts as they can easily puncture spacesuits or even the station itself. With more planets and galaxies being discovered all the time, one has to question just how important the work carried out in space remains. Is the astronomical amount of funds being spent quantifiable in the value it provides? And, possibly more worryingly; if we continue to exhaust our own planet’s precious resources at the alarming rate at which we are currently doing so, our future could well be destined to be on another planet, as we have seen in so many sci-fi films. Maybe we must find a better way to manage our dwindling assets closer to home, or we could, in the near future, be donning a spacesuit ourselves and stepping out into our own final frontier!
Lifestyle
Saydo male voice singers Eighteen months ago, in the course of conversation, a group of men enjoying a cool beer around the pool discovered that they all enjoyed male voice singing. Over a short period time, the idea of meeting to sing grew into forming a group. The original intention was – and has remained – enjoyment rather than professionalism. We have obviously improved over the ensuing period, and have performed several times at Saydo Hotel in Mollina. We sing a wide range of music: everything from ballads to anthems, Elvis to musicals. In short, anything we enjoy singing. We have recently lost two or three of our stalwarts who, for various reasons, have returned to the UK. We are now looking for others who enjoy singing, to boost our numbers. You don’t have to be a soloist, but if you are, you’re very welcome; just as much as if you just sing in the shower.
We meet at Saydo Hotel on Tuesday afternoons at 2pm. Why not come along, have a beer and join in if you want to? At the moment, we either sing a cappella or to backing tracks, but we do have a keyboard and often stand around wishing someone could play it. The old jokes are always the best, so if you are a pianist or know of one, we would welcome you with open arms! If you need to know more, telephone Ken on 696 600 739 or Bob on 665 025 281.
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Spanish Living
Turning nightmares into dreams
by Jo Shovelton-Fullick
Seduced by sun, sea and sangria, thousands of British property investors have had their dream of a life here shattered by wide-scale corruption within the Spanish property market. Finally, there is a possible light at the end of the proverbial tunnel for the expats who have been affected by the well-documented property scams and abuse of the planning laws to which so much hard-earned money has been lost over the years. The UK government has now appointed an overseas property advisor to examine complaints provided by action groups representing the unfortunate British homeowners. The consultant’s role will be to offer advice and direct those affected to the correct Spanish government authorities. However, this appointment was snubbed by many who believe the web of corruption surrounding such unscrupulous practices is too extensive, laws are too lax and
loopholes too plentiful. Many issues brought to light for further investigation involve properties having been built without first being granted the correct building permits. According to the action group Abusos Urbanisticos Almanzora NO, currently campaigning to legalise thousands of homes situated inland from the popular Almería coastline in the Almanzora Valley, the root cause of the problem is building licences which were granted to constructors by former town hall officials who did so without having the correct authority from the regional government. It is estimated that 60 million euros were paid to unscrupulous developers by trusting expat families and retired couples, all looking forward to a life in the sun. And with approximately 2.4 million euros being recovered from a private Andorran bank account alone, following the arrest of the town hall architect, something has to change. On a more positive note, the Spanish newspaper La Voz de Almería reported last year that local authorities in the Almanzora Valley were seriously reconsidering an amnesty for most of the 11,000 homes categorised as illegal and as a first stage build. The powers-that-be are still auditing all the illegal houses. A spokesman for the British Embassy in Spain said: “The UK government has no authority to interfere in any matters relating to Spanish domestic legislation, whether national, regional or local. However, we continue to express concern at the impact these problems are having on the lives of some of our citizens and Spain’s reputation abroad.”
Spanish Living
It is understood that regional governments are currently working with municipal town halls in the affected areas to collate inventories of irregular properties, and find acceptable solutions. As the overseas advisor continues to do his best to counsel distraught homeowners and direct them to competent concerns and organisations for assistance, the question has to be asked: will the situation ever change for the thousands whose dream of living in the sun has changed in to a nightmare? The British embassy’s website recommends taking advice before buying any property in Spain, and states that it is important to thoroughly research any area to which you are considering a move. Equally important is to vet any companies you may use including developers, estate agents and lawyers. The advice continues to implore you to view a variety of property available and ideally, through different agents, so you can compare prices and ensure that you do not end up paying over the odds.
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Another good tip is to read internet forums for the areas which you may be considering. Here, you can ask fellow expats for advice, recommendations and how to avoid pitfalls. Often, the members of these informative sites give their frank and honest opinions on everything from local tradesmen to beaches and whether to use or avoid them – this experience is priceless, and the views voiced are usually unbiased. Do take into account that sound advice is often passed down through the generations, and remember the saying to err on the side of caution. This is definitely relevant for anyone purchasing property on foreign soil. So, as many more expats still choose this fine country in which to live out their dreams, let us hope for those currently at odds with the system, it will not be too much longer before their dreams become pleasant ones, and that they succeed in recovering from living a Spanish nightmare – remember, your sangria glass is always half full!
Historic Spain
The plague of the roses
by Heather Jones
Throughout the 17th century, Spain fell victim to three aggressive bouts of the bubonic plague. Historians believe that when factoring in normal birth and death rates, plus emigration, the total cost in human lives due to this tragic trio stood at a minimum of almost 1.25 million people. As a result, the Spanish population count scarcely budged between the years 1596 and 1696. The initial and shortest outbreak began just before the turn of the century in 1596, and was all but eradiated by 1602. However the second and more vigorous virus struck the country in 1646. Most prevalent in Andalucía, it soon became known as the Great Plague of Seville, leaving behind it a terrible devastation as captured in a very moving, yet anonymous canvas in the Seville Hospital del Pozo Santo, run by Franciscan nuns. The city's population was soon halved, resulting in an incredible blow for the local economy. With mental and physical depression of the survivors at an all-time low, discontent began to seep into the social fabric of Sevillan life. This agitation eventually came to a head over the scarcity and high price of bread, leading the townsfolk to riot in Calle Feria. The street itself is more famous for its centuries-old flea market, where the passer-by can contemplate the most varied and curious of goods, and these days there is no bread to be found. It has a much more vibrant feel to it than in days of old. The Hospital y Hermandad (Brotherhood) de la Santa Caridad is a charitable institution founded
in 1578, long before the plague arrived in Spain. Originally established to bury paupers and criminals with a modicum of decency, it later extended its activity to sheltering elderly homeless people. Yet, when in the grips of the disease, Santa Caridad soon became a Mecca for the community’s recently deprived citizens and it is here that we pick up the tale of Sevillan Don Miguel de Mañara y Vicentelo de Leca, Knight of the Order of Calatrava. Born into a privileged family, the aristocratic figure of Mañara is believed by some, albeit wrongly, to have inspired Don Juan, Tirso de Molina's most famous character and destined for universal fame in his play El Burlador de Sévilla (the seducer of Seville). The unrepentant seducer Don Juan has inspired many a famous writer and composer throughout history. Numerous plays and even operas have been penned by such talents as Mozart, and Seville has honoured this fictitious libertine with a bust in the Plaza de los Refinadores, in the Barrio de Santa Cruz. Many believe that the playboy Don Juan was only similar to Mañara in his youth. Religion often went hand in hand with the upper classes and Miguel’s upbringing was no different. Both parents were prominent figures in the local parishes of both the Catholic and Jesuits faiths.
goods and pleasures. During this 100-year period, eternal life was seen as man’s main goal, achievable only through charitable work. This attitude to life was captured and given form in the way of a new church, la Iglesia de San Jorge, a Baroque jewel of architecture which Mañara had built and dedicated to St George. Many famous 28
Historic Spain
As the Great Plague began to hold the city of Seville to ransom, and having witnessed his close family circle – including both of his brothers – fall prey to the unforgiving illness, the combined fortune of his parent’s estates was of no comfort to Mañara anymore. The extravagant lifestyle he had once called his own was soon to be curbed through depression. A year after the first signs of the Great Plague in 1648, Miguel married Jerónima Maria Antonia Carrillo de Mendoza y Castrillo by proxy and turned his life around. Devoting himself entirely to public affairs, religion and various charitable work, he committed himself to both his birth city and the church until his life fell apart at the seams once more as tragedy struck. A contemporary chronicler of the time, Ortiz Zúñiga, wrote that after Miguel’s beloved Jerónima became yet another plague statistic, the distraught knight blamed himself for her peril and in turn renounced the pleasures of this world. With this insane guilt eroding his very soul, Mañara dedicated himself to working at the hospital and for the Brotherhood. Surviving the Great Plague himself, Mañara became Brother Superior in 1664. Miguel de Mañara's influence still pervades the Hospital de la Santa Caridad today. He is buried under the high altar of the church, even though his wish was to be buried in the threshold so that all those who entered would walk over him, but not before reading his chilling epitaph - Here lies the dust and bones of the worst man to have lived on God's earth. Please pray for his soul.
contemporary artists collaborated in its construction, but as the third plague hit the nation once more, many of his fellow craftsmen became statistics, all dying before their time. However their skills and talents live on in their masterpieces. Less than a quarter of a century later, the Spanish people found themselves once again in the grips of another furious plague. For the nine years between 1676 and 1685, the disease ebbed and flowed like a great wave raging through the whole country. Just as the region was attempting to get back on its feet, the third outbreak struck again with a vengeance both in Andalucía and Valencia. To add insult to injury, the growing season of 1682 - 1683 brought a very poor harvest to the south and with it came deadly famine conditions, which weakened the exhausted population still further. This last plague of the 17th century, plus the famine that followed in its wake, is estimated to have claimed an additional 250,000 lives, including that of the Brother Superior - Mañara. In 1679, Miguel de Mañara lost his life to the last bout of the deadly demon. Perhaps one of the most touching details of his influences still seen today in the Hospital de la Santa Caridad are the eight rose bushes which, according to local legend, were planted by Mañara himself more than three centuries ago in memory of Jerónima and his devotion to the Brotherhood. Having survived plagues and droughts, these symbols of love and loyalty have not stopped flowering since, and remain a source of inspiration to the Sevillan people of today.
Mañara's thoughts are also evident in his book Discurso de la Verdad, which is a wonderful representation of the century’s disdain for earthly
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Women Watch
No more suffering in silence “It is no longer acceptable to claim that abuse and mistreatment of women is cultural. It should be called what it is - criminal.” Hilary Clinton, addressing the United Nations, International Women’s Day, 4 March 1999 A woman’s role in Spain has altered considerably over the past century, but even more so in the latter half. Yet the treatment of the fairer sex still requires much work, and the only way this is going to continue is for the media to push the fact that women deserve a safer environment in which to live, jobs of equal standing and a general acceptance within society. Laws have changed, recommendations have been made and the number of victims seeking help is rising – so why are the headlines of horror still reporting so many serious cases of violence and murder?
This prompted nervous titters from the audience, and the young woman squirmed slightly. As a quiet ‘well…’ was heard from the girl, the presenter turned to the hapless boyfriend and with mock severity, asked him: You don’t beat her, do you?’ The boyfriend smiled a little shamefacedly and said: ‘Well… beat, as in really beat her up… no.’ The audience burst out laughing, while the presenter beamed contentedly. This, for example, is where the media can play an important role. It would be nice to think that the broadcast cited above was some distant relic of a long-forgotten approach to naive, yet distasteful entertainment, but in 1997, another shocking programme appeared on Spanish television screens.
Traditionally, the Spanish woman’s role was that of a homemaker and perfect wife for her husband, but few women follow this nowadays and most of the nation’s females believe in equality. But although they might believe in it, it still appears to be a long way off. A recent survey found that a massive 70 percent of men do nothing at all around the house, seemingly caring for their offspring in public but not lifting a childcare finger in private. In employment, it is still often the case that a woman gets paid less for doing the same job as her male counterpart. Even in some of the workplaces of today, women risk losing their job when they become pregnant. More important, and definitely more dangerous, is the negative side of female existence: domestic violence.
It took a brave 60 year old lady, Ana Orantes, to bring domestic violence to the masses and allow it to be spoken about openly in public – without the inappropriate laughter. Actually and more correctly, it was when Ana was burned to death in 2003 that people finally sat up and listened. Ana had mustered up the courage to appear on national television and openly talk of the four decades of brutal beatings she had received at the hands of the man who supposedly loved her – her husband. Before her appearance, she had been unable to secure a restraining order, despite dozens of complaints to the police. Nine days after her heartrending smallscreen debut, Ana was dead. Badly beaten for one last time, her husband had then doused her with petrol and lit a match.
Views are changing, but too slowly for some. In 1994, a Spanish reality show called Lo que necesitas es amor (What you need is love), saw the female host trying to reunite a young couple who had recently fallen out with each other. Discussing their problems with them in front of the studio audience, the presenter asked the woman what it was she didn’t like about her boyfriend. She asked: ‘He doesn’t beat you, does he?’
Two years on, a pioneering study in Spain illustrated how fewer men arrested for domestic violence are actually punished, stating that women do not feel safe and should, therefore, be given more support when they do decide to press charges. With such few cases ending with appropriate punishment, is it any wonder that 63.5 percent of women withdraw their initial charge, and continue to place themselves in danger?
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Women Watch
When slaves rebel, the use of violence to subject and dominate them increases The study, conducted by Themis, an association of women lawyers, found that 74 percent of violence against women occurs in their own home, which came as little shock as this is the area of greatest impunity. It is also the scene of 50 percent of violence between separated and divorced couples. The fact that violence occurs even after separation reinforces the direct link between domestic violence and violence based on gender, and the man's need to maintain control and authority over his victim, even after the emotional ties between the couple have been damaged. As recently as November 2007, popular daytime show El diario de Patricia invited Ricardo Navarro as a “surprise” guest on the programme to propose live to Svetlana Orlova. What researchers had failed to find out was that his intended had a court restraining order on Navarro, after he had already been found guilty of abuse. Put under the nation’s spotlight, Svetlana timidly refused his hand in marriage. Five days later, Ricardo murdered her. Almost five years before Svetland’s murder, the laws began to change. With the introduction of the Order for the Protection of Victims of Domestic Violence in 2003, battered women – and men – , now have the option of getting a fast-track restraining order on a violent partner within a maximum of 72 hours – but is this fast enough or are we still only scratching the surface? The Order for Protection is weakened by the lack of enforcement measures, and the 72 hours’ required response time, according to the Lawyers Association, is too long. Three days can be the difference between life and death when a victim lives with her aggressor. As an organization, they would rather see the adoption of the Austrian model which calls for an immediate response. Within its first year, almost 1500 women in Spain did seek protection under the order, and nearly a decade later, this number has almost trebled. An average of 40 women a day request help.
to circumvent restraining orders, because many grandparents can use their allotted time to make grandchildren meet their fathers, irrespective of any court injunction or the mother's wishes. On the plus side, the measures have redefined domestic violence as a crime rather than a misdemeanor, allowing tougher penalties and quicker custody for suspected aggressors than ever before. Economic and employment assistance has also been approved for victims who have to leave their homes. This is in the form of special grants, shelters, re-training of medics and more employers recognising that women can successfully do some jobs previously viewed as being solely a male preserve. The future seemed to be looking a better and safer place, but we’re not quite there yet… Every week, another case is documented in the media, adding another statistic in the surge of fatalities from domestic violence. The Spanish press appears to have become resistant to a lot of the horrific reports, and many deaths at the hands of spouses go unpublished, the subject presumably being thought a bit old hat. The expat press does a great job of giving the subject a voice and keeping domestic violence at the forefront of their readers’ minds – the more the subject is broached, the more women may be saved.
Continued on page 32
However, many of the advances made are quietly being reversed via the back door, with other legislation such as the Grandparents' Act. This, unlike any other in Europe, enshrines visiting rights to grandchildren in the civil code. In a society such as Spain, where family solidarity is strong, this can provide a way for abusive husbands or fathers 31
Women Watch
In order to educate people and bring the subject to the forefront of the world stage, major national surveys have been conducted using available information, but most official data is that of crime statistics, which reveal almost nothing about domestic violence. These figures are seen as the tip of an iceberg, as victims of violence perpetrated by their nearest and dearest do not press charges, or do so only rarely. These "hidden numbers" of domestic violence incidents can only be guessed at. It was nonetheless revealed that domestic violence is fairly commonplace in Spain, and that it crosses all class and cultural boundaries, thus confirming what researchers and campaigners have believed for a long time. Their cautious estimate, based on the survey, is that more than one in five women – between 20 and 25 percent of all women living in the country – have been subjected to physical violence by a partner. The nation holds one of the highest statistics for violent cases, where alcohol and drug use are involved: one out of every five cases of domestic violence. The most worrying fact is that on average, women wait a long time before speaking, taking action, or escaping from violent situations: the average period a victim suffers domestic violence is 7.5 years. Ana Orantes endured decades. After Ana’s untimely and unnecessary death, the national press began to keep count of the death toll. The reporting of immigrant fatalities is on the rise. Many believe that this needless loss of human life is escalating because of household financial stresses in a country in recession – a sobering thought when there is help and advice easily accessible to financially-struggling masses – but can the same be said if someone is being battered or hit by a loved one? Then, most stay silent, often through fear or pride, and this is where the danger lies, as the victim often does not find that important voice which might just save their life.
No one disputes that more has to be done to combat domestic violence, but with quotes such as: ‘What we're witnessing is a total system failure,’ from the Madrid based Themis, and: ‘The government and the politicians don't know how to adopt the right measures to give victims a sense of security,’ one has to wonder what more the powers-that-be will do to help. Remember that the brave Ana Ornates had been a victim of domestic violence for two thirds of her adult life, and still could not find the courage to speak out until long after the reign of Franco. During the 1939 - 1975 dictatorship, wife-beating was technically allowed in the country and many men still hold this thought true. Under his regime, domestic violence was dismissed as a “crime of passion”. Women were classed as ‘angels’ and could not even have a bank account or travel without the permission of their husbands. Sweeping the pavement outside their own front door was the only opportunity many women had to chat to any another married female outside their own family without causing suspicion, so with the pretence to the outside world that life was rosy, there was never a chance to confide in another female. Women finally gained rights in the 1980s, but the rest of society did not move on as quickly. Echoing Orantes’ case, a judge in Barcelona was investigated for ignoring 13 complaints from Ana Maria Fabregas before she was hammered to death by her husband. Another such case, ruled on by an all-male Supreme Court, noted rulings in which a 13-year-old girl's sexual experience was a mitigating factor in the conviction of the rapist, who was a police officer. Another ruling by the all-male Supreme Court cited drunkenness by a sexual assailant as a reason for leniency. And with recent reports such as a37-year-old women being killed after her expartner attacked her with an axe in broad daylight, something more must be done to give these women a voice before they are silenced forever. The helpline for women suffering domestic abuse in Spain is 016, which is available 24/7 and is completely anonymous. The operators speak Spanish, English, French, Catalan, Gallego and Basque.
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Events Royal British Legion
Group Meetings
Alcaucín Meet Thursdays, noon, Bar Atila, Puente Don Manuel. Enjoy social activities, meet new friends always a warm welcome. Regular quiz, bingo, surprise events, presentations and trips. Contacts: Branch 680 491109 Harvey, Welfare 690 310951 Dorothy, Social 636 203135 Barbara
The Informal English Speaking Group of Loja meets at the Hotel Almazara, Rio Frio on the first Tuesday of each month between 12:00 and 2:00 pm. Email: englishinloja@gmail.com Web: www.englishinloja.com
Loja Royal British Legion Loja. Next meeting at the Bar Riconcillo Loja, next to the Tourist Information Centre, at noon. Many social activities and Speakers. Guests and new members most welcome. Mollina We now meet at the Saydo Hotel, from 11am on the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month. We have many interesting events planed this coming year. Contacts: Secretary 952034038, Welfare 951060965, Membership 654472922, Social 6530139932. Trapiche Meetings every Wednesday, El Trapiche restaurant from noon. Branch Gordon Reith 951239366 628785686, Social & bookings Sue Reith 951239366 618585061, Membership Gloria Hollocks 618456056, Welfare from 8am – 10pm 680764130. www.trapicherbl.org.uk
St George with St James, Holy Week and Easter Services are as follows: Palm Sunday: Blessing of the Palms and Holy Eucharist held at 10.45 in Humilladero Monday, Tuesday and Wedsnesday in Holy Week: Eucharist held at 09.00 in Aguadulce Maundy Thursday: Institution of the Mass and Stripping of the Altars held at 19.30 in Aguadulce Good Friday: Ceremonies, Veneration of the Cross and Mass of the pre-sanctified held at 15.00 in Aguadulce Holy Saturday: Easter Ceremonies and First Mass of Easter held at 23.15 in Aguadulce Easter Sunday: Sung Eucharist held at 10.45 in Humilladero Please see the advert on page 37 for full details of venues and contact information.
English speaking group meeting for fellowship and friendship on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of month from 11am at Black Rose, Calle La Union 18 (up from post office square). All welcome. For information: 625777070 Anglican Church Services and Musical Events – Held in Roman Catholic Chapel, Salinas on the left, just past the right hand turn to Archidona. English services, Holy Communion Saturdays at 10:45, Family Service held every 3rd Saturday of the month. For more information email: tapia@stgeorgemalaga.org Amigas de Casa is a friendly, informal group for English speaking women. They meet on the 2nd Thursday of every month from 11am – 1pm at Talillas bar/restaurant in Villanueva del Trabuco For info on meetings, speakers, demos and outings contact either Jean Preston 952 751424 or Vicky Clark 951 904719. Next meeting 10 March, Anni Ryan is giving a talk entitled Introduction to Reflexology. 14 April The Women of the Sahara with Mari Carmen Suquilbide Colmenar District Social Club meet every Wednesday in the Hotel Arco del Sol at 12.30. All are welcome come & enjoy quizzes, bingo, organised trips and guest speakers. Contact Marjorie 951 163 071
Health
Respond FAST to signs of stroke Do not ignore a mini-stroke – it is a medical emergency and needs to be dealt with immediately. Before the recent televised advertising campaign, many of us were unaware of the signs that a person could be in the first stage of suffering a mini-stroke. Medically called transient ischaemic attacks (TIA), mini-strokes are caused by a temporary interruption of the blood flow to the brain, depriving it of oxygen. Most attacks are usually caused by a blood clot in one of the arteries, causing this pause in supplying blood to the brain. Symptoms are the same as a full blown stroke, but the big difference is that they are fleeting and can occasionally last for only a relatively short period: anything from a few minutes to a day. Our bodies are excellent at letting us know that something is wrong and a mini-stroke is a major warning sign that the full blown version may be on its way. Therefore, never ignore your body talking to you – regardless of how well you feel afterwards. Around one in five people who experience this important alarm call do go on to have a major stroke within a month. Many sufferers just carry on as usual without getting the preventative treatment urgently needed. A very worrying finding from a study conducted by Oxford University found that TIA patients were less likely to visit a doctor if their symptoms didn't last for long, or if they occurred on a Friday, during the weekend or on holiday – ultimately putting their lives in real jeopardy.
Each year, around 65,000 people will have a mini stroke, according to a recent UK stroke audit but despite the rise in awareness, stroke remains the third biggest cause of death in the UK after heart disease and cancer. It is also the leading cause of disability – more often than not – and this can be permanent. For these reasons alone, a mini stroke must never be ignored, no matter how quickly you may recover from one or how slight you think the attack was. None of us would hesitate to dial for an ambulance (112 in Spain) if we thought we or someone we knew was experiencing a heart attack, and it is imperative that you react in the same way if you experience any of the symptoms of a stroke – regardless of the severity.
FAST – stroke warning signs
• Face: facial weakness – can the person smile? Has their mouth or eye drooped? • Arm: does it show weakness? Can the person raise both arms? • Speech: can the person speak clearly and understand what you say? • Time: time to call for help. 112 (Spain)
Other symptoms to be aware of include:
• Weakness, numbness, pins and needles on one side of the body, an arm, leg or face • Blurred or disturbed vision in one or both eyes • Sudden memory loss or confusion • Slurred speech, or difficulty finding words 34
Health
The deadly 10
Nine out of ten cases of stroke are caused by these factors which have been identified through studies held in McMaster University in Canada, and account for 90 per cent of the so-called ‘population attributable risk’ (PAR) of having a stroke: 1. High blood pressure 2. Smoking 3. Waist-to-hip ratio (abdominal obesity) 4. Diet 5. Physical activity 6. Lipids (fats) 7. Diabetes mellitus 8. Alcohol intake 9. Stress and depression 10. Heart disorders
All these factors were also linked to the risk of a ischaemic stroke (caused by a blood clot blocking a blood vessel in the brain), whereas high blood pressure, smoking, waist-to-hip ratio, diet and alcohol intake were all significant risk factors for intracerebral haemorrhagic stroke (bleeding into the brain tissue). When analysed individually, high blood pressure was the most likely cause of a stroke, since it was associated with a third of the risk of all stroke conditions. Smokers are doubling the risk of having a stroke compared with non-smokers, and smoking is associated with one in five strokes. As this is one of the leading causes of adult death in the UK and the rest of the world, taking the first signs of a stroke seriously is imperative. Do not hesitate to call for medical help, even if you are unsure. Remember in this instance, speed can save lives, so learn the signs and act FAST.
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Trade Talk
Experience the butterfly effect Finca Mariposa (butterfly) is the new location for the team previously at the Rancho Guadalteba. Having experienced a very busy winter season, owners Claire and Fiona decided that a move to a more accessible abode was a necessity in order to expand their flourishing business. The team’s intention is to make riding a family fun activity for all ages, and this move could not have come at a better time for Fiona’s children, Dominic and Jake. With the introduction of the Saturday fun pony club, a newly-formed quadrille team plus the hosting of pony parties for children, there is never a dull moment at their new home. Building on their success of recent fun shows and competitions, trekking and monthly demonstrations, there are many more events in the pipeline at Mariposa. And as if that wasn’t enough for anyone’s workload, the Friday coffee mornings, where you can enjoy a hack, brew and cake, are already proving popular. Of course, there are activities for the little ones too. Toddler mornings are the ideal opportunity to get your children out and about, especially as the weather continues to brighten up. Introduce them to new friends as well as help encourage exercise – they are guaranteed to catch the riding bug early. The new premises can be found a mere five minutes from the typically unspoilt Andalucían town of Alhaurín el Grande, and less than 10 minutes from neighbouring Cártama. The area beckons you to explore the Andalucían countryside and experience its inhabitants’s rich culture. Highly recommended is the fantastic trail riding through the beautiful countryside. Perfectly sited
in one of the most picturesque villages in the Guadalhorce river valley, Alhaurín el Grande really is something special and Finca Mariposa’s placing gives you an excellent choice of terrain. Explore the rolling hills, pine forests and wide open spaces to achieve a real feeling of freedom on horseback. A hack out over the plains will reward you with views of this predominantly farming area. Citrus plantations and olive groves, plus the endless vistas over the Hoya de Málaga, are all there to soak in. Feeling that they have picked the ultimate place for their new base, Claire and Fiona can teach you to ride or help improve your existing riding skills. Tailormade programmes are designed to suit you and your experience, be it from a morning’s lesson to a weeklong course. If you are staying at the finca for a break, there’s always something to do and when you are not in the saddle, there is no reason to be bored as you can just relax by the pool with a good book and top up your tan. And with the sights of historic Malaga city and the Costa’s beaches both less than half an hour’s drive away, a respite at the charming cortijo does not always need to be horse-themed – unless, of course, you’d rather it was. As the hot and hazy summer months approach, when temperatures can soar to 40° by lunchtime, all riding and training takes place during the cooler early mornings, and again during the warm late afternoon into evening. These lessons and trails are already getting booked up very quickly, so don’t delay in contacting the girls to make certain you don’t miss out. You’ll be in very safe hands as Claire Holland Hardy is the main instructor on site. She has 25 years experience in everything equine, including BHS exams, NCMH, ANCEBM, Btec in horse management and Equitherapy under her belt. Claire is also a qualified equine veterinary nurse, and worked for an Olympic dressage rider in Switzerland
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Trade Talk and the Irish carriage driving team. She also owned a rehabilitation yard in the UK, and only chooses the best staff for Finca Mariposa. All are BHS-trained and are there to lend a hand whenever necessary as the stables’ popularity increases. Fiona helps on the yard and rides too, but the domestic arrangements are her particular area of expertise. She is Btec-qualified in hotel and restaurant management, and is a fully-qualified chef, so you are guaranteed to be made most welcome and very well dined. Of course, as we’re in Spain, you’ll be well ‘wined’ too! All meals are freshly prepared daily using local produce, and can be eaten in the dining room or ‘al fresco’ on the shady terrace. The area is famous for its quality pork, cured hams, breads and cheeses, and plenty of fresh salads and vegetables, meat and fish, local desserts and treats plus local wines, water and fruit juices are also offered. You can be assured of top class cuisine at Finca Mariposa. If you prefer a vegetarian menu or have any other dietary requirements, this is never a problem as all tastes are very well catered for.
This is a family run and family oriented business where you always feel at home and at ease. With guest rooms available, a large swimming pool and an inviting terrace, Finca Mariposa is a gem at which to book that relaxing break. Guests really can make their stay as full-on or as chilled-out as they like. The social side of this family fun finca provides the perfect setting for anyone wishing to get together or meet new friends. You don’t even have to get on a horse – just enjoy a morning coffee and a chat. Parents and grandparents can take their toddlers too, so don’t leave it too long before you experience the Finca Mariposa effect.
Spotlight
From darkness into light:
what are you giving up for Lent?
by Fr. David Worsley, St George with St James, Aguadulce
A strange title, I think you'll agree, unless you know the traditional services of Salisbury Cathedral! In that context, that service has absolutely nothing to do with Lent or Easter but is, in fact, the Advent carol service which leads into Christmas. However, there's a parallel here in that both Advent and Lent are periods of penitence and preparation. Let's look at Lent in a little more detail, beginning with Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent officially begins.
In my airline days at Manchester Airport, most of the partying that went on did so either at Christmas or New Year. In Swissair (my then-employers) we had a Shrove Tuesday party. When I meet former colleagues still at the airport, mention is still made of the pancake parties we had so, hopefully, we've left an impression. The invitation always read: “Come and be shriven in the Swissair offices between 1130 and 1300.” Not too many understood the word ‘shriven’, but it was a ‘do’ when no-one else was having one. Our caterers provided the pancakes, either filled with Gruyère cheese (savoury) or apple with Calvados sauce (sweet and lethal), washed down with wine, beer or something non-alcoholic. What, then, was Shrove Tuesday all about? It was (and still is) the day prior to Lent when one came to church to receive the Sacrament of Absolution after
confession. The penitential period of Lent followed, during which whatever penances set by the priest were carried out. It was also the day when one ate well to prepare for the fasting and abstinence which would apply during the Lenten period, traditionally 40 days and 40 nights, mirroring Christ's sojourn in the desert prior to embarking on his three years of Ministry leading to His death. As meat was often expensive and beyond the reach of most people, they made pancakes, filling them with whatever they had to hand – not normally Gruyère cheese or apple with Calvados sauce. The word ‘Lent’ comes from the old-German word, ‘Lenz’, which means a blossoming or springing forth – spring, therefore. It was the time when farmers prepared their fields for the summer crops, and the time when one looked forward not just to the warmer weather, but to abundant crops and a fruitful harvest. There was much extra work, too, preparing for the seed-time. You can see why the question arose – and still arises – “What are you giving up for Lent?” It is a good question and still relevant. Fasting and abstinence are fine and important disciplines, and in that context are as useful now as they ever were. But who benefits directly from those actions? We do in terms of discipline and commitment, but unless any financial saving goes to a worthy cause and not merely back into our own pockets, the job is only half done.
Spotlight
We can see from the agricultural work going on around us here in southern Spain that it is also a time of much extra work to prepare the land. ‘Doing something extra’ is as important as fasting or abstinence. In this parish, we are fortunate in having the daily (Mon-Sat) Eucharist in Aguadulce which offers the opportunity for extra time in the presence of Christ. Attending an extra service in the week, as well as the normal Sunday worship, is a good way of ‘doing something extra’. There is also a commitment involved in rising early to get to church for the Mass itself! Preparation, therefore, is an important facet of Lenten worship and living, but preparation for what?
That brings us neatly to Easter itself and the Resurrection. I have to admit that I do not enjoy preaching either at Christmas or Easter because, these days, people expect something ‘clever’ and ‘new’. There is nothing ‘clever’ or ‘new’ about either festival. The truths in the events are so mindblowing and amazing in their own right that they don't need any embellishment from clever clergy. The Resurrection is so intrinsic to the Christian faith that it neither needs being made more ‘relevant’, nor ‘toned down’ to make it more ‘comfortable’.
We have two penitential seasons of preparation; Advent and Lent. The former is to be in readiness for Christmas and also for our future post-resurrection life with Christ. Things change in our services during these times of preparation: the ‘Gloria in excelsis’ is not sung at Sunday services until Christmas or Easter respectively; the Vestments are purple which always indicates ‘preparation’, and all ‘Alleluias are omitted, again until Christmas or Easter. In Lent, this is to be in readiness for Holy Week in order to share with Christ the momentous events which occurred after the Palm Sunday entrance into Jerusalem, leading up to that Resurrection itself on Easter Sunday.
So, as we go from the darkness of winter into spring; from the darkness of penitence into resurrection light, let us do so by putting our hands into the hands of God. By doing that, we pass ‘from darkness into light’.
The truths of Easter and the Day of Resurrection have been called into question from the days of the event itself. The Jews thought then – and still do– that his disciples stole the body of Christ from the tomb to establish the myth of his resurrection. This is quickly and easily refuted by asking ourselves, would we be prepared to die the martyr's death, normally violent and cruel, for a lie? With the exception of St John, all the Apostles died the martyr's death, for which there is either documentary evidence or strong tradition, and therefore died for the faith and primarily the truth of the Resurrection. Good enough for me!
We, in the parish of St. George with St. James, wish you a thoughtful Lent; a meaningful Holy Week and a joyous Easter.
Celeb Chat
Terry Callister licensed to write Author Terry Callister was born, raised and educated in Kent, England, before moving to London when he was 18. He has done a variety of jobs from clearing tables in a restaurant, to senior business management in an offshore financial services company; plus a lot in between. He lived on the Isle of Man with his two sons for 12 years before settling in the beautiful mountains North of Malaga in Southern Spain with his wife and three dogs. Jo: Would it be true to say that the inspiration for your novel ‘The Catalytic Programme’ came from your dislike of banks and the banking system? Terry: Yes and no is my honest answer. I first started writing because I read a lot of books and decided that I could possibly do better than a lot of established writers; to be frank, some of their work is rubbish – particularly true of some writers with long lists of published novels. I began writing this particular book long before the bank’s credit crunch, and picked up the half-finished work after being encouraged to do so by my wife. Regarding banks, I don’t like the system where you must have a bank account in this world to live, and banks take advantage of this necessity to squeeze every bit of money they can out of their customers. Jo: Did this stem from your involvement within the financial services industry in general, and how would you like to see the banking system changed? Terry: My dislike of banks started as soon as I left school and I had to have a bank account to be paid. I’ve had one ever since and been through good times and bad. The banks are your friend when you
have money, but don’t want to know you when times are hard – no matter how many years you have been a loyal customer. My time in the financial services industry did nothing to change my opinion, and the company I worked for sailed as close to the wind as legally possible. Banking needs to separate its investment arm from day to day business, so that the man in the street is protected if another banking crisis ever occurs – which it will. As far as I can see, they are just carrying on as before, sticking two fingers up to all and sundry. The banks always said that they were responsible lenders; that turned out to be the lie of all lies, didn’t it? Jo: I understand you were discouraged at school from writing as a profession, with particularly harsh words from your English language teacher. What feelings do you have towards teachers who often appear to force their own opinions on pupils, rather than encouraging them to fulfil their potential? Terry: When you are at school, I believe very few kids actually know what they want to do when they leave. Let’s face it, they have no experience of work or what it involves. A subject you enjoy at school may prove to be very irksome doing it eight hours a day, five days a week. All teachers should encourage every pupil in every subject, so they are as prepared
Celeb Chat
as possible for the rigours of working life. Teachers should make each subject as interesting as possible, even if that means taking the lesson out of the classroom. But today, Health and Safety regulations would soon put a stop to that. Making exams easier is also failing our children; soon you will need a degree to do the most menial of jobs.
Jo: What made you decide to move with your family to Spain, and why Andalucía? Terry: My wife and I lived on the Isle of Man before moving to Spain, and the last winter there really got us both down. It was cold, wet and windy for most of the time, and I was going to work and returning in the dark: no fun at all. We spent a holiday in Tenerife and both said we could live there. However, we didn’t want to trade one island for another and looked at mainland Spain. We liked what we saw in inland Andalucía. The people are friendly and helpful for the most part, and when summer comes, you can depend on the sun every day.
stories; a bit weird at times but they make you think. Finally, Ken Follett; no two books of his are the same and his research into his subject is excellent. Jo: In a desert island disc type scenario, which book would you take with you? Terry: No question at all, Bomber by Len Deighton. I must have read it about ten times. It paints a complete picture of an RAF bombing raid over Germany during WW II from every aspect imaginable: the RAF crews, the German radar stations on the Dutch coast, the German night fighters and the effects the bombing has on the small market town of Altgarten. An exercise in futility as it turns out – brilliant.
Continued on page 30.
Jo: Your novel has received some encouraging reviews from readers and has been described as ‘James Bond’ in style. How do you feel about this comparison? Terry: Extremely flattered! Ian Fleming was a great writer, with no waffle in his stories and good realistic action. It’s a pity the films don’t follow the novels more closely. Again, it’s all about making money, but I wouldn’t object if my book was made into an action film. Jo: Which authors in particular are you influenced by? Terry: Early Robert Ludlum; his later books were awful and totally unrealistic. Simon Scarrow; his novels about the Roman legions are very entertaining. John Grisham is always enjoyable and his later novels, away from the courtroom, are very good. Lately, I’ve been reading novels by David Baldacci and Robert Crais, both of whom write interesting crime and investigative stories. Dean Koontz writes fascinating 41
Celeb Chat
Jo: How do you think publishing houses and literary agents can do more to help budding authors at the start of their careers? Terry: Until I started writing, I didn’t realize how many people were doing the same thing. There are literally thousands of prospective authors out there, but writing a book and getting it published are two very different things. Just look at the advertising: if you are not an established author or a ‘personality’, then it is very, very hard to get published. Literary agents and publishers talk of their junk pile, where manuscripts are thrown seemingly out of hand. Okay, it’s a very competitive field and all these people are there to make money. They always go after the sure fire thing. To help new authors, they could at the very least spend five minutes writing an email explaining their reasons for rejecting a work. Perhaps the writer would then take that on board and do something about it, as it is, he or she is left totally in the dark. Jo: What is your opinion on the change in publishing now that more books can be read on e-readers, and what are your feelings regarding the possibility of ‘books’ as we know and love them becoming a thing of the past as technology possibly takes over? Terry: I think it’s a rip-off that a few companies are charging almost as much for the e-book as they are for the printed version. This is all done in an effort to maintain profits. In time, though, I expect this will sort itself out as people refuse to pay the high prices for e-books. The electronic version is of course far more environmentally friendly, and with the world as it is, that has got to be a good thing. Printed books I believe will never die out, as too many people enjoy the feel of a book in their hands, but with e-readers becoming cheaper and easier to operate, then there will be a flow away from the printed version. At some time in the future, it will balance itself out.
Jo: Stephen King was reported to write no less than 10 pages a day even whilst on holiday and Thomas Wolfe was said to only write standing up. Do you have any quirks whilst planning and writing your books? Terry: I can’t say I have any particular quirks, but I always have a cup of tea on hand while I’m writing and find I do most of my planning while I’m driving. When an idea pops into my head, I have to get it written down quickly on whatever is at hand – beer mat, serviette or whatever. Sometimes the writing just flows, page after page, and I can’t type fast enough. At other times it’s hard to get started.
Jo: Lastly, do you have any advice for would-be authors out there? Terry: Sit down and give it a go. Supposedly everybody has got a story to tell; you never know, you might send your manuscript to the right person at the right time and become the next J K Rowling. Don’t take rejection to heart; it really is nothing personal, so just keep on trying. One last thing: read, check and edit your book as many times as you can and get your friends to do likewise. It is amazing how many mistakes you can make when you’ve written sixty thousand words or more. Even the best published authors still make mistakes. Finally, if rejection gets you down, you can always self-publish but research it thoroughly before you commit as it can be very expensive. Remember you will have to market the book yourself. Terry, many thanks for your time in talking to us, and good luck with future projects.
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Animal Action
Spurring on the walking fossils As the warmer weather graces Andalucía, so do one of the most interesting creatures on earth – the tortoise. Here in southern Spain, the habitat is ideal for the spur-thighed (visible under their back legs) breed of the species. Many move towards a riverside to bathe and empty a very full bladder – ridding themselves of the toxic waste accumulated during winter hibernation. After replenishing their water supply by drinking, they will eventually stroll out to graze on the succulent plants the nearby terrain has to offer. In the wild, between 20 and 40 of the Mediterranean spur-thigh tortoises can live in each hectare of forest. In 2004, the worst fires seen for many decades raged across the south-east of Spain. Caused by humans and fanned by high temperatures and warm winds, a total of 41,084 hectares (101,000 acres) burnt that year alone, according to the environment ministry.
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As a result, thousands of rare tortoises perished needlessly. Sadly, almost 2500 more tortoises died when a further fire was started by tourists who were camping near a nature reserve in the Murcia region. Nationwide, we are the greatest threat to the native tortoises here in Spain. Two species occur in this country: the spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) and Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni). Although both species have received legal protection for more than 25 years, their numbers continue to decline with illegal collection still taking place. In addition, any changes to their local habitat can take up to two decades to
Animal Action
restore, especially after a fire. A number of these slow-moving marvels are being forced to move into more dangerous living quarters with less food and protection on offer than ever before. Factors such as their natural plains shrinking from more intense farming practices and the building of urbanizations and industrial parks, plus reported extreme changes in weather all place the tortoise’s future in danger. One stable oasis for the population here in Andalucía is the Doñana National Park in Huelva. The endangered western race of Hermann’s tortoise occurs in south eastern Majorca, some parts of Minorca, and in only one remaining locality on mainland Spain: the north eastern corner of the country. Populations which occurred along the Mediterranean coast until the turn of the century have been eradicated in the last 50 years, but you can still find them roaming free in the drier areas of inland Andalucía.
Tortoises will take shelter in the undergrowth from the mid-day sun, but often get caught out as the cool morning turns to hot noon. If you are lucky enough to spot one of these amazing creatures whilst you are out and about, do not take it home. If it appears to be stuck or in danger of being unable to shelter from the heat, place it gently in a safe place – under a bramble or bush – and let the wonderful walking fossil go on its merry way.
Alice’s Wonderland
What are you saying?
by Alice Marriott, aged very nearly 13
Hello, it’s Alice again. Well, everyone seems to be pregnant this month. First there is the mum of one of my best friends, then Naomi’s mum is expecting another little girl. That will be three girls in one house, and I thought it was bad just having one sister – poor Naomi! Mum’s Spanish friend Maria is going to have a baby girl too; then there are our cats. We’re expecting two lots of kittens in the middle of April, which I think will be a lovely Easter and birthday present for Becky and me. It was quite funny when the local farmers’ tomcats all came round. It sent our dogs and Dad mad with all the howling that went on. Charlie and Cookie went all soppy and daft, and Mia, my tomcat, was not amused. He tried to see them off as he’s very protective of his girls. I’ve no idea how he’ll manage with lots of kittens to look after!
I’m also not sure I get the saying ‘your face will stay like that if the wind changes,’ which is one of Mum’s little bits of advice. I’ve tried and nothing happened. Sayings are funny things, really, as they don’t make much sense; it’s a bit like Dad’s favourite: ‘put the kettle on.’ Nothing happens then either! Well, our Becky’s about to turn 17 and I’m nearly a teenager. I’m not sure what will change, but I am looking forward to it. I wonder if I’ll get more cards which say ‘13’ on them or ‘teenager’. I’ll just have to wait and see, I guess. That’s another one of my Mum’s sayings too! Love, Alice xx
I’ve started riding three nights a week now to get ready for the beginning of the dressage season. I’m nervous this year, as the things Jasper and I have to do are a lot more complicated. He’s such a good horse and a real love to ride, so I hope I don’t let him down. I went to the local carnival which was fun, but it was very cold at night. I stayed over at Selena’s house for the weekend which was handy, as she only lives a stone’s throw from where the carnival was held. That’s a strange saying, as you always get told off for throwing stones! Exactly who decides how far you can throw a stone to measure a distance?
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Brainteaser Solutions Answer: 14.
Add the two digits of each top number together then add the centre number to get the number opposite.
Wuzzles - Say what you see 1. Foreign Policy 2. Party line 4. Back to the Future 5. Midwife Crossword - Answers
Reader’s Letters
The Post bag Dear Mike It is with great gratitude that I am writing to thank The Andalucian, my client, ‘Anne,’ and your wonderful writer, Tricia Johnson, for what has turned out to be a flood of calls and emails. Not only were there messages of kindness, but so many people want to come for a personal one to one psychic reading. I couldn’t believe you wanted to write about me and I was blown away when I read the piece on me and Pat Jay. Thank you so much! May all your wonderful readers have a magical year filled with love and abundance. Mark Bajerski, International Psychic Medium Hello Mark Thank you for your kind words. We are so pleased that you have received so much positive feedback from the article. We all read with amazement about both Pat’s and your skills and talents; it just might have to be something I try myself in the near future. Regards Mike I read your recent article, ‘Crossing your palm with weevils’ and found it very interesting. We visit Andalucía on a regular basis throughout the year and were horrified to see the palm trees near the airport this time round. I hope any palm owners who are of the more permanent type than my family takes action to rid Andalucía of this little pest. Please thank Peter Wilkings for the most informative of articles. The Martin family You are right. It is such a shame to see these trees under attack, yet reassuring to know that you can combat the little critters if you know what you are doing. Don’t forget – permanent or semi-resident to contact Peter at Costa y Campo for any gardening advice 691 079739.
Hi Mike What a great little mag you and your team produce. I really enjoy the articles, but I must confess Alice’s Wonderland is my favourite. I chuckle every month at her antics and words. What a charming way to capture the innocence of youth – long may she continue and do wish her luck in her dressage competitions this year. Cath in Pizarra Thanks Cath – I’m now going to have one very proud daughter on my hands. It’s lovely to see and enjoy children’s writing, especially when there is so much negativity in the world press these days. It does help her to keep her English up too. My family do cringe when the articles are handed in for checking; we wonder just what Alice is going to write about us! In fact, when Becky, my eldest daughter, sees the magazine for the first time, she checks if Alice has said anything about her – normally followed by a ‘phew! I’m not mentioned this month’. I will pass on your message of luck for the dressage competitions – thank you. Mike If you have something you would like to write to
us about or an article for our consideration, then send an email to: readers@theandalucian.com
Health
Foods which speed up weight loss Once again, many of us made our New Year’s resolution to lose a little weight and become healthier and fitter. Recent studies have shown that whilst we may manage to be good throughout the month of January, February is likely to have been a struggle for most and by the time March arrives, a dismal 80 percent of us will have failed to stick to our well-intentioned resolution. This is the month in which we are all in need of a boost to keep us going down the right track. Anyone can tell you that it is very difficult to keep to a healthy diet when you may have been used to years of unhealthy food choices, but losing weight is not just about reducing your daily food intake and completely eliminating things from your diet. In fact, there are a few additions that you can make to your eating habits which can help shift those extra pounds.
We've found seven things which are all easy to source here in Spain, and are really easy to incorporate into your new healthy eating approach. They will definitely help you in speeding up your weight loss, or can act as a very good boost if you’re start to flag a little. Grapefruit Everyone has heard of the grapefruit diet, but you don't have to live on a boring regime of just this fruit alone to shed those love handles. It has been found that by eating just half a grapefruit before each meal, or drinking three servings of the vitamin juice a day, can help you drop the extra weight. The magic ingredient is the fruit’s natural phytochemicals and their effect in reducing insulin levels. This stimulates your body to convert calories into energy, rather than storing them as flabby fat. Chilli peppers Adding a bit of heat to your diet can really assist in giving you a dietary boost. Reports have shown that having a spicy start to your morning, for example eating chillies as a part of your breakfast, can make you opt for a smaller lunch. Apparently, it’s thanks to capsaicin, which is found in chillies and red peppers, as it acts as an appetite suppresser. Granted, chillies aren’t the easiest of items to face for your morning meal, but how about as a part of a spicy egg-white omelette, or stirred into scrambled eggs for a fiery belly-budging kick? If all else fails and you really can’t face the hot stuff that early in the day, sneak some into your lunchtime sandwich, or scatter on a salad bowl as a snack. Cinnamon Cinnamon is a super spice when it comes to boosting your wellbeing, as it has many health-giving properties. In terms of weight loss, it is all to do with controlling those after-meal insulin spikes, which are what make you feel peckish. And you don't need to eat much of this tasty topping to get the benefits; studies have shown that just a quarter of a teaspoon of cinnamon a day can lower blood sugar, cholesterol and triglyceride levels. There are so many ways to up your cinnamon intake, from sprinkling it onto your breakfast cereal or over fruit, to mixing it into your morning coffee instead of sugar.
Health Salad Eating a low-calorie salad starter before your main meal can help too, plus it is a great way to increase the chances of getting your recommended five-a-day intake of veggies. The key to using salad as your secret weapon is the sheer volume of the stuff you eat, as it assists in making you feel too full to indulge yourself when it comes to the main course. You need to make sure you don't drown it in a fatty dressing though — a little drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar make the perfect healthy accompaniment for a fresh salad. Psychologically, salad is one of those fantastic foods which makes you feel better about yourself too; when you eat it, remind yourself of the goodness you’re packing in and then decide if you really need that dessert at the end of the meal.
Lentils Lentils are another great food for aiding all healthy eaters, as they have the power to really satisfy your hunger without packing your body with loads of calories and fat. Lentils often feature heavily as a meat substitute, as they can make you feel as though you've had a meaty dish, without piling on the pounds and saturated fat which come with eating a lot of meat. Lentils, like celery, are full of fibre and foliate, so as well as giving you that full feeling, they are great for digestion and healthy cell growth. With the added attraction of being a low cost item, lentils are a good way to watch your purse as well as your waistline. They are especially great for throwing in soups and stews while the weather can still be unpredictable.
Chocolate If only... granted, chocolate is not low in calories or fat, but dark chocolate has two major dietary positives that can lead to long-term weight loss. First, it’s quite difficult to actually pig out on massive quantities of high-quality dark chocolate, compared to the milk stuff, without feeling incredibly ill and regretting it quite quickly. Secondly, dark chocolate is very high in health-promoting anti-oxidants. In terms of a weapon in your weight-loss armoury, you can use dark chocolate as a way to curb any sweet cravings that may tempt you. Just a few small squares to quell a full-on chocolate craving are well worth the modest calorie intake. Remember to ask for dark chocolate Easter eggs this year.
Try to stick to your healthier eating regimes. It can be hard at times, especially with all the wonderful dishes and desserts available here in Andalucía. Try to remind yourself that if you wanted to lose weight on New Year’s Day, the chances are you have been thinking about doing so for quite a while beforehand. So don’t be disheartened… keep up the good work and if at first…
Celery If you can’t face a whole salad or possibly haven’t the time, try celery as it’s one of the top secrets around. You can actually end up burning more calories eating it than your body will take on consuming it. But it is by no means low in nutritional value. In fact, it's superpacked with fibre, which is great for digestion and contains foliate which is the essential nutrient for the care and production of new cells within the body. Get your celery fix by making sure it's either featured in your pre-meal salad, or try it as an accompaniment to your lunch – fantastic instead of bread sticks, and if you are really struggling, celery is a great healthy snack. A good tip is to keep an airtight container of this green magic in the car in case the munchies attack.
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Property Wanted Properties wanted, we have buyers waiting and we are looking for sensibly priced country properties in the Antequera, Estepa and Marchena areas. Village properties with good outside space also considered. Helping buyers and sellers since 2005, Antequera Inland, a fully registered company. 952-84-46-46 or 606-192-873 info@antequera-inland.com
Items for Sale Merceres Vito 110 diesel 7 seater, Spanish reg. New ITV service history 238000km, GC, excellent engine €4000 Call 955951017 / 658181 038 Private sale. Frister and Rossman electric sewing machine. 1970s treasure, but in PERFECT working order and easy to use! Complete with instructions and all original accessories, spare needles etc. 50e ono Tel 661 223 387 or email tjtops@hotmail.com
Property for Sale 3 bed, 2 bath villa with pool, stables, garage & land in Marchena €250,000. Call for more details or view 955 951017 or 658 181038 – private sale.
Services Offered Electrician all areas covered. Call Tom for a quote on 606 694 536 Gardening – all aspects undertaken. Free quotes. No job to small. Call 952 737643 General handyman and pool cleaner. Reliable and experienced call 680 323649
Instant shade! 3m x 3m Super Gazebo (as advertised on TV). Portable gazebo, easily erected by one person in minutes and folds away into handy carry bag. Navy blue, complete with all four (detachable) sides, including ‘windows’ and zip-up ‘door.’ (see more info at: www.bamixuk.com/html/ products.asp?sid=17) Little used, price new over £250, accept 100e ono. Tel 661 223 387 or email tjtops@hotmail.com Chainsaw, Sears Craftsman petrol model, 16” bar. C/W instruction/maintenance manual. Few hours’ use only, but needs service, hence 50e. Tel 661 223 387 or email tjtops@hotmail.com Calling all horse owners! Wooden tack chest (90 x 46 x 59cm, vermin-proof, on castors) containing: 1 x set top-of-the-range LISTER Stablemate electric clippers, very lightly used, complete with 2 sets blades (one new), excellent condition and full working order; closed circuit TV low-light camera and wiring (ideal for foaling or outside surveillance at night), complete with Scart lead etc for TV; 1 x quilted dressage numnah (black, 16/17” saddle); 1 x brown quilted GP numnah; 3 x Cottage Craft brown padded girths: 46” 51” 52”; I x 6’ ‘Classic’ cotton cooler rug, red, white and blue check; 2 x string girths 46” 48”; 1 pr NEW Worldbeater black neoprene tendon boots, full size; 1 x navy quilted nylon stable rug, 6’ 3” medium weight; 1 x full-size nylon adjustable headcollar; 1 x wooden traditional twitch; 1 x ‘humane’ twitch; 1 x thick, soft, extra long lead rope with ‘Hamilton’ clip; fly fringe; 2 x bit chains (for leading) – 1 nylon, 1 brass; complete set (4) Woof black neoprene brushing boots, full size, almost new; 1 pr neoprene brushing boots with reflective strips. 170e ono the lot, or may consider separate offers (clippers alone are worth 100e!) Tel 661 223 387 or email tjtops@hotmail.com
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Classes WOOD TURNING LESSONS FOR BEGINNERS. PLEASE TELEPHONE 600 655234 FOR MORE INFORMATION
Vacancies Vacancies for builders, roofers, bricklayers etc. General reforms Antequera area. 952 711 377
February’s Prize Competition Solution Winner: Mrs Marston, Ronda The answer it what becomes wetter and wetter as it dries is a towel or a similar item. For your chance to win 100€ try our competion on page 21.
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