Olive Press Newspaper – Issue 232

17 17 17

cial

Education Spe February 3rd

- February 16th

2016

of can be a puzzle right schools the Costa Choosing the for parents on done the algebraic proportions solved - we’ve for you del Sol. But problem homework

School daze

DON’T MISS OUR EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT - FROM PAGE 17

olive press The original and only English-language investigative newspaper in Andalucía

British in tune at the School and (left) Sotogrande International JOY: Girls at (primary schools) JUMPING FOR legios’ or ‘escuelas’ schools). selection will depend School of Marbella and ‘institutos’ (secondary Of course, your advantages to Spandistance from fill, textbooks to There are two big on certain key factors: ENCIL cases to menus to plan, academic standards, ish schools. home, budget, learn Spanish fast buy, packed lunch word-of-mouth recof nail-biting worOne – children will quicker into their teaching style and sleepless nights … the first day of to name just a few. and should integrate ommendations, start? ry during the build-up new home country.in general, thrive in big a deal for parents So where do you your checklist should school can be as Younger children, youngsters under The first item on that as it is for their kids.

– do you opt for state schools, with parent knows up impressive be Public or Private After all, every college or a Spanish steps across a nine normally picking an international (usually far better very those first tentative spoken Spanish with strangers is to state school?

Spanish) within schoolyard filled of passage. easier decision their than their parents’ It’s generally an children, as primary socialising with much a crucial ritethe right school is a a year, just by make for younger Europe are more Making sure it’swant to pass with flyfriends. is free of charge schools throughout test all parents on the Costa del Sol, Two – state schooling or less comparable. three, when children send their chiling colours. But whiteboard from the age of ‘coAround 80% of expats negotiating the interactive schools – called 18 tougher call, as you’ll Turn to Page dren to local state jungle is an even be spoilt for choice.

P

the

FREE UK pensioner fears losing her home after power of attorney mistake led to €100,000 mortgage being taken out in her name EXCLUSIVE

By Rob Horgan A BRITISH pensioner fears losing her home in the UK over a mortgage that was fraudulently taken out in her name in Spain.

Teresa Smith is being ‘harassed’ by bailiffs over the unpaid €100,000 debt that was taken out by a mortgage conman.

The 66-year-old is terrified of opening the door of her home in Coventry for fear of letting in repo men contracted to recoup the Banco Popular debt.

Vol. 10 Issue 232

www.theolivepress.es

February 3rd - February 16th 2016

Careful what you sign away!

CONMAN: Maseda (below) and our original story

Her nightmare began when a mortgage was taken out in her name by notorious Costa del Sol conman Jose Luis Maseda in 2007.

Lawyer Maseda - who conned

over 100 expats out of an estimated €20 million - had opened the mortgage, unbeknown to Smith, after getting her to sign over power of attorney.

VALENTINE’S GETAWAY

Silver route to Porto - Page 36

Via his property investment firm, Eurobrokers, he helped her buy a house in Benalmadena with just a €13,000 deposit.

Told the house would be rented out to pay off a ‘small mortgage’, Maseda convinced mother-of-two Smith that she would not pay any other costs.

“I trusted Maseda which of course was foolish,” parttime secretary Smith told the Olive Press. “Everything moved so fast, he promised to sort everything out and I really had no idea what was happening.”

After completing on the house a few months later, Smith believed rentals would pay off the mortgage.

However, this did not happen

and the house was repossessed in 2008 after sizeable mortgage repayments were not met.

“Next thing I know I’ve got a bailiff on the phone last week demanding I pay up,” Smith continued.

“I am now too scared to open the door and I only answer the phone if I recognise the number.

“Now I am terrified of them forcing a sale of my house here.

“I thought losing my life savings would be the end of this nightmare. It already left me broke once, now I fear it could happen again.”

The Olive Press first exposed the scam in 2009 after various

Continues Page 4

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Brexit beware

EXPATS may be able to vote on a possible EU Brexit.

Anyone on the UK electoral roll in the last 15 years will be able to register to vote in an in/out referendum, insists British ambassador Simon Manley.

“Interest among expats in the EU referendum is high, but awareness that you may be able to vote is low,” he said.

It comes as UK Prime Minister David Cameron unveiled a draft agreement with the EU which would keep the country inside the EU. He claimed he had made great progress in securing ‘ambitious’ changes to the UK’s membership terms, including the power to block ‘unnecessary or unwanted’ EU legislation providing it can find at least 14 allies in Europe.

Brexit Breakdown, P6

CHOSEN ONE KING Felipe has asked PSOE leader Pedro Sanchez to form a government after the party leader declared last night that he was ‘ready to lead’.

Sanchez plans to form a coalition government over the next three to four weeks with Ciudadanos, Podemos or both.

Rajoy revealed he had ‘not been offered the job’ which he described as ‘reasonable’.

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CRIME NEWS

‘a sham!’

Brit girl gang raped

By Tom Powell

PICTURE: Twitter

A BRITISH teenager has reported being gang raped by a group of ‘foreign men’.

The 18-year-old reported the rape to police after she was dragged into a car behind the Mercadona in Sabinillas while walking home from work late at night.

A friend of the victim told the Olive Press that police are now investigating a group of Moroccan men in the area.

“She is absolutely devastated,” the friend said. “I hope the police catch these men and they get what they deserve.

“They are the lowest of the low.”

Walk the bank App alert

ARRIVAL: Corner reportedly came to meet police

A DUTCH fraudster known as the Pirate has had his treasure trove plundered by the tax office.

The aptly-named ‘Davy Jones’ police operation culminated in the arrest of the alleged tax evader, who amassed a €25 million fortune across Europe over the past two decades.

The lavish businessman, who lived in the exclusive La Zagaleta estate and drove a Rolls Royce Phantom, made his millions selling glasses in shops and online The investigation, opened in 2013, found he was hiding his identity to avoid paying tax. All of his assets and 20 banks accounts have now been embargoed.

February 3rd - February 16th 2016

REPORTING crimes has been made a great deal easier thanks to an innovative new app.

AlertCops is now available across Spain and allows users to inform police about a crime or security incident straight from their smartphone, whether they are victims or witnesses.

It has been specifically targeted at foreign residents and tourists as it can also be used in English.

It is hoped to improve response times as well as guarantee access to emergency services for people with speech and hearing disabilities.

AlertCops can be downloaded from Google Play and the Apple store.

THE brother of missing Lisa Brown has claimed that boyfriend Simon Corner’s reported trip to Malaga is a ‘hoax’.

It comes after a legal representative claimed the expat ‘businessman’ had flown back to Spain to answer questions over Lisa’s disappearance in November.

However, brother Craig Douglas believes a photo circulating of Corner, 33, allegedly arriving at Malaga Airport is ‘bogus’.

He says the Liverpool man, who has supposedly been in the Far East pursuing ‘busi-

Mystery deepens over Corner’s visit to Spain with family of missing Lisa claiming it’s just a ‘hoax’

CONCERNED: Brother Craig with Lisa ness interests’, has not set foot in Spain for months.

He told the Olive Press last night: “My family have been told for certain that Simon Corner never came to Spain, it’s all a sham and he’s playing games with the family and the authorities.

“We have proof that he didn’t come, and we don’t know where that photo came from.”

However, when confronted with the exact proof, he remained tight lipped and insisted he was ‘unable’ to reveal it.

The picture in question was sent out on Twitter by legal advisor Jason Coghlan, of JaCogLaw, insisting that his ‘client’ would answer all questions from the police and ‘clear his name’.

However, Coghlan later sent out a cryptic press release adding that he was no longer representing him and they had broken all ties.

The Olive Press has been unable to contact Coghlan despite numerous attempts.

In the picture, allegedly taken at Malaga airport 10 days ago, people in the background are dressed in shirts raising questions over whether the photo was really taken in January.

Algeciras police are refusing to confirm whether or not Corner has turned up for questioning.

They are known to have wanted to question him ever since he vanished to Thailand a week after Lisa was reported missing.

NEWS

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Madge in Malaga THE Queen of pop may have been in the public eye for almost four decades, but the 57-yearold rocker shows no signs of retiring yet.

Short of visiting the Costa del Sol in person, a photography exhibition of Madonna, tracking her transformation as a teenage star to style icon, will appear in Malaga until May 15.

The show, at La Termica, consists of 50 images from photographers Deborah Feingold, George DuBose and Peter Cunningham.

February 3rd - February 16th 2016

Going down a Stormzy HE is bound to cause a massive storm when he descends on the Costa del Sol this Spring.

South London’s hottest new rapper Stormzy is following in the footsteps of Tinie Tempah to play at Aqwa Mist in Puerto Banus, on May 30.

The Croydoner was named as an artist to look out for on BBC’s ‘Influential Sound’ list last year, while hit Shut up reached number 8 in the UK chart.

They’re shelling out for him Heavy-metal hero flies endangered turtle by private plane to the Canary Islands

IRON Maiden rock god Bruce Dickinson has shelled out a small fortune to fly an endangered turtle to Spain.

The heavy metal singer’s personal plane flew Terri the turtle to the Canary Islands after she was washed up on a Jersey beach with a damaged shell and a nasty infection.

His generous offer came after a crowdfunding campaign raised €8,000 to rescue the reptile and fly her to Spain, where a sanctuary had offered to care for her.

SAVIOUR: Bruce (right) She has now been flown to Gran Canaria from the New Era and endangered turtle Veterinary Hospital, via Guernsey company Aeris Aviation, using Dickinson’s plane.

“A jet has become available at a far reduced price and with the donations at the hospital and online we have reached the price we need for the jet,” explained vet Peter Haworth.

“It shows how much one little turtle can bond people together.

We had interest immediately from Dubai, Australia and America.”

Dickinson learned to fly aeroplanes after leaving the legendary metal band, whose hits include JUST SAY YAY: Singer Barei The Number of the Beast and Can I Play with Madness?

We’re tongue tied

TERRY Wogan may be gone, but the legendary Eurovision Song Contest presenter would have appreciated the novelty of Spain’s entry this year.

For the first time in the competition’s 55-year history, Spain’s song will be almost entirely in English.

Singer Barei’s Say Yay features just 19 words sung in Spanish, which were only added after pressure from Spain’s public broadcaster TVE. “We were told to add something in Spanish,” said Barei, 32.

“I’ve got nothing against our language, but my plan was to sing in English - it is much more international than Spanish.”

Say Yay went to number one on Spain’s iTunes charts when it was released on January 25.

Film snub IT’S Spain’s most prestigious film award ceremony, but the movies chosen to compete at the Goyas’ are anything but a hit with cinemagoers.

Incredibly, the five movies in line for the best film award on February 6 make up just 1% of Spain’s total box office in 2015.

Truman, The Girlfriend, Nobody Loves The Night, A Perfect Day and To Change From Nothing attracted just 1.1 million of 94 million cinema visitors, according to FAPAE.

Old Goody’s gone CELEBRITY criminal Gordon Goody has died of a heart attack at his Spanish hideaway.

Great train robber Goody passed away in Mojacar, Almeria, where he ran a bar called Kon Tiki.

The mastermind behind the £2.6 million (€47 million in today’s money) theft from a London to Glasgow mail train in 1963, Goody served 12 years in prison before moving to Spain in 1975.

Arrested in a hotel along with his girlfriend, a former Miss Great

Britain, following the robbery, Goody learned Spanish while he was locked up.

And while his fellow train robbers fell in and out of trouble with the law, Goody became a respected figure in the south of Spain.

“We will forever remember his smile and his generous nature that still was not enough to accommodate the large heart which was open to all who approached him,” a Mojacar town hall spokesman said.

3

Serene Queen SHE has been criticised in the past for being too thin and too ‘serious’.

But glowing Queen Letizia (right and below) was serenity personified and looked healthier than ever at the opening of international tourism fair Fitur in Madrid.

The 43-year-old mother-oftwo later revealed that her new found zen was being helped by her love of yoga.

Talking at a stand for India, she explained she had been an avid Iyengar yoga fanatic for ten years.

And on top of that, she is a fan of meditation and stretching and regularly goes running and does zumba in the palace to keep fit.

The vegetarian newsreaderturned royal looked svelte as ever in a black suit and stilettos.

Penny’s from heaven OSCAR-winner Penelope Cruz is as philanthropic as she is beautiful.

The 41-year-old mother of two has directed a documentary on childhood leukaemia, following her film Ma Ma last year, about a woman fighting breast cancer.

‘Soy uno entre cien mil’ (I am one in one hundred thousand) is Cruz’s first documentary and follows several kids suffering from the disease, as well as their parents and doctors.

4

NEWS

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NEWS IN BRIEF

Sausage fest NATIONAL police have issued a warning that a wave of needle-filled sausages to kill dogs have been put in parks across the country.

Jobless jump SPAIN’S unemployment figure rose in January by 57,247 following the end of the Christmas holiday season to leave the total number of registered jobless at 4,150,755.

Franco falls MADRID Town Hall has started to dismantle the city’s Francoist monuments as Manuela Carmena’s Ahora Madrid party obeys out Spain’s Law of Historic Memory.

Gib 1-0 Spain

By Joe Duggan

GIBRALTAR is celebrating a thumping victory after Spain was forced to overturn a ban on the Rock’s hockey clubs.

It comes after the Olive Press confronted the Spanish government over why Spanish teams had been told not to play games with teams, players or even referees from Gibraltar.

The retreat by the Spanish government’s Consejo Superior De Deportes (CSD) came on Friday after further pressure from the Gibraltarian authorities.

“Everyone is very happy and looking forward to playing again,” Gibraltarian

Hockey Association president Carl Rammage told the Olive Press.

“I have spoken to representatives from Spanish clubs and we are all looking forward to getting on with it.”

A high-profile game between Gibraltar’s Grammarians Hockey Club and Spain’s Club Hockey San Fernando in October is believed to have sparked the dispute.

Following the match, the Royal Federation of Spanish Hockey (RFEH) emailed 6 6

the olive press - April April30th 30th--

OPINION

May May13th 13th2015 2015

Victory for the PP

Safety first

THE way the PP has wriggled out of the Barcenas fraud case scot-free is an escapist act to rival the Despite prosecutors confirming thatgreat Harry Houdini. party used secret accounts to spendthe country’s ruling millions in undeclared money, the party has - somewhat unsurprisingly - been cleared of all tax crimes.

Instead former treasurers Luis Lapuerta have been hung out to Barcenas and Alvaro dry and must shoulder complete responsibility for the party’s Although the pair were no angels, misdoings. been sacrificed to save their party’s they appear to have High-fives all round for Rajoy and skin. his rabble of merry men.

Can’t be too careful

IT is certainly a bitter pill to swallow.

You are gearing up for a long-awaited holiday, desperate to touch down for a week in a dream And then reality hits: You’ve lost Spanish villa. fraudster sat behind a computer. thousands of euros to a The audacity of the con artists holidaymakers is difficult to take. who prey on unwitting And this scam is doubleedged, for the owners are also being cheated out of months’ worth of legitimate bookings.

The prevailing message is a simple one; you cannot be too careful.

Call the property owner before transferring any money, check the name on the bank account, check the email address contacting you, do everything could be a wonderful holiday isn’tyou can to ensure what ruined by a pathetic, cowardly criminal.

WHEN you pack your sunscreen and towel to head off to the beach, you’re rarely considering child will be one of Europe’s 5,000 whether you or your yearly drowning fatalities.

It cannot be denied that for a handful Spain’s beach safety is exemplary of months each year, with all the lifeguards, flags, bells and whistles.

But, as the Olive Press reports this week, much of the year leaves swimmers fending for themselves.

Even though the sun shines 320 out of 365 days a year on the costas, lifeguards will be on duty for only a third of those days.

So, although the placid Mediterranean may seem calm, hardy holidaymakers should always keep their wits about them.

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The cost of guarding lives IT’S an old joke on the Costa del Sol that you can always tell the tourists from the locals by the clothes they wear. s Come the first rays of spring olive pres Brit sunshine, holidaymakers are 3€ boom e stripped almost bare, slathre wer Gs? ered in sun lotion and even whewAr nIn the braving the sea – beer bellies, goose pimples and all – while the less stoic Spanish remain wrapped up in winter clothes.

FC Grinsby You won’t catch Jose Maria dipping so much as a toe in the water until temperatures are YS ANTHON 1 FOR 2 fry-an-egg-on-the- pavement WANTED hot.

And perhaps they are wise to be wary. For the stark truth is that Spanish beach safety laws to 10 long months of the year. rarely coincide with hardy holiAnd that’s no joke when you daymakers’ off-season bathing look at the statistics. habits, leaving many resorts Drowning is the third highwith no lifeguard on duty for up est cause of accidental death WIN WIN WIN

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Vol. 9 Issue

- April 30th

2015

back to are flooding THE Brits that we’re Spain. Fact. to reports Contrary home, the number an all heading expats grew by of British 4% in 2014. docuBBC impressive it scathing While a recently insisted on mentary doom and gloom 276,000 was all in reality on ofwere the Costas, last British residentsin Spain ficial registersrise on 2013. and Romayear, a 3.87% presence Only Moroccans a bigger nians have it also here. comes as The newsthat British tourists holiemerged a third of all Spain have made enquiries in day rental year. so far this been the undisthe They have force behind for increase folputed driving 22% year-on-year rental enquiries, Spanish the French, Dutch lowed by

– Earpiece OLIVE PRESS 29th april 15th april /

rescue as British launched of signs, flags lack Enquiry after drowning hero questions delay and ambulance in Marbella eXCLUsIVe tragedy

horgan slammed By rob afnurse has told A BRITISHemergency services from Luton, was ‘shocked’ tourists drowned Marbella’s for Turkish been left battling Charlemagne, Press she ter three the Olive at least 10 minutes has and there it took and a fourth to arrive duty, nor 24, who that on for his life.Charlemagne, CPR on an ambulance lifeguards Zatytha emergency the time were no in evidence. long it took so performedcriticised both to arrive warning flags shocked services to rethe men, an ambulance La Venus “I was very Press it took for of warnings at the Olive for the emergency she told and a lackMonday. on holi- spond,” beach on nurse, who is certainly last night. did arrive, I couldn’t almost the stu- “When they only one police officer The A&E of that day in Marbella, British believe life of one the sea. saved the two other to pull jumped in lives dents, while risked their tourists from the water. the men

are But why TEAM: out DREAM to find Page 12 Turn to

the La Sala

and Italians.

See Mockumentary

beach At Marbella SCENES: TRAGIC just stood “The others watched.” the there and “When he out She added: was pulled first guy a pulse. didn’t haveinput from him CPR and “I got an recovafter performing him in the I placed then arery position. them “The ambulance I helped rived and CPR on the Zatytha they HEROINE: to perform better prebut sadly others should be an they had died.” eyewitness,Cait, pared.” tourists Another called The British to the situIrish tourist the emerTurkish been alerted another also slammed insisting ation by when his friends the gency services was ‘not student up in the response got caught good enough’. that it was strong currents.were later “It is incredible The deceased other sunbathas a 30-yearleft up to beach to rescue identified ers on the she said.

Page 2 Continues these men,”must know this “Marbella busy beach and is a very

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Rato’s rights

RIO ALEG MA

With the Costa del Sol’s 320-days-a-ye sun, are just 90 days of lifeguard duty ar of beaches enough? As Marbella mournson tragic drowning of three people, Iona the finds some leading hoteliers unhappy Napier with Spain’s beach safety worldwide. A shocking 5,000 under-18s lose their lives off Europe’s coasts annually, 70% of them under six years of age.

It is impossible to tally up the millions of international tourists who are enticed by Spain’s balmy climate to take the plunge, only to find themselves out of their depth with assis-

MAD MATTERID RS

Does disgraced economy minister have grounds for complaint?

PUBLIC fascination with the arrest of former International Monetary Fund (IMF) director Rodrigo on whether his rights as a citizen wereRato is now focused violated during the media frenzy that took place outside his home and office.

Rato, a former economy minister under María Aznar, was detained after it was Prime Minister José reported that he had received a tax amnesty on millions stashed away in overseas accounts.

Police say that he had about €27 tured scheme of ghost companies million in a well-strucrun by later gave him back the money through his children, who other firms.

Rato, who served as deputy prime minister, his home where police, acting on a Madrid was arrested at judge’s complaint, searched the property and confiscated records, files and computers.

Hoards of the press were waiting when police arrived – obviously someone had tipped them off.

When police escorted Rato from his television cameras were focused on home to his office, the important global financial decisions.the man who once made At one point, an officer in civilian head in the car so he wouldn’t hit clothes pushed Rato’s door frame – standard practice to himself on the vehicle’s accidentally injure themselves andensure suspects do not blame it on the arresting officers.

Rato’s lawyers are deliberating whether against persons unknown for leaking to file a complaint the media and detaining their client the investigation to so his office could be searched.

So were Rato’s rights violated? Standard law enforcement practice may seem harsh for regular critics of the police in such cases.

If Rato sees fit, he can file a civil would be miniscule compared to lawsuit. But that case his current legal problems.

SPAIN’S Princess Cristina has lost her appeal against tax fraud charges and will testify in court this month.

The Princess is one of 18 defendants charged in a corruption trial, alongside her husband Iñaki Urdangarin.

Cristina’s lawyers said all charges should be thrown out as government officials agreed she had committed no crime.

However the judge rejected the appeal and Cristina, 50, will face two counts of tax fraud, carrying a maximum prison sentence of eight years, for allegedly failing to declare taxes on personal expenses. She will next appear in court on February 9.

Continued from Page 1

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Andalucian clubs declaring a ban on ‘any tournament or friendly game in Gibraltar, in Spain, or anywhere a team from Gibraltar participates.’

When the Olive Press contacted the RFEH about the ban, a spokesman said: “The reason is very simple: Gibraltar is not a state recognised by the United Nations or the International Olympic Committee.

“The rule applies to all federated sports, not only hockey.”

But the ban was soon overturned following a meeting between the RFEH and Spanish government representatives.

Opinion Page 6

- Page 45

English-language and only in Andalucía The original newspaper investigative

April 16th

FREE

UNMANNED: No lifeguards in sight on Costa del Sol beaches and (inset) last issue’s front page story

DESERTED: Marbella beach

tance nowhere to be seen.

But 700 people die from drowning each year in Spain, and a staggering 450,000 die worldwide, according to figures from the 2012 International

Lifeguarding Congress.

And this month the issue has come home to roost, when the temperatures soared into the mid-twenties – summer temperatures in northern Europe – and a Turkish deaf school teacher and two of his students drowned off Marbella’s La Venus beach.

With no warning flag flying, no lifeguards on duty and no signs alerting bathers to the dangerous spring tides and local currents there was unsurprisingly a great deal of outrage.

After all, how could they - and many other swimmers - have known of the hazards.

A third student survived, thanks only to a quick-thinking British A&E nurse who was fortuitously on the beach at the time, and administered CPR. It took up to 20 minutes for an ambulance to arrive, according to British bystanders.

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BEACH safety has just got a lot better in Marbella, in part thanks to an Olive Press camPrice of a life paign.

The town has announced lifeguards will be on the beaches full time from March 20 this year until the end of September.

Olive Press payments Doubling previous schedules, it comes after we highlighted failings in beach safety following the tragic drowning of three Turkish students last April. the olive press The Olive Press launched a campaign following the drownings at La Venus beach, with an in-depth feature The Cost of Guarding Lives, in issue 212.

We found many beaches with inadequate signage, and spoke to several leading hoteliers unhappy with Spain’s beach safety.

FEATURE

RIA

FORMER cyclist Roberto Heras will be awarded €720,000 in damages from the national courts after his two-year suspension for doping in 2006 was reversed.

Princess will talk

Olive Press helps to turn around ridiculous ban on friendlies between Spanish and Gibraltar hockey teams

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Unforgotten debt

victims revealed how Maseda had used their power of attorney to open mortgages and defraud them.

Claiming to be a lawyer, financial consultant and tax advisor, he employed a team of crafty British staff at his Arroyo de la Miel office to help him undertake the scams.

Police eventually caught up with Maseda, who was charged with fraud in Torremolinos in 2011, but after appearing in court, he was bailed and then vanished.

He has not been seen since, with

one legal firm representing over 60 victims, confessing it has ‘no idea’ where he is now.

When the Olive Press paid a visit to his luxury villa on the outskirts of Malaga, his sister-in-law claimed he had ‘gone abroad’.

Debt collectors Gemini Liberto Group are in charge of recouping the debt on behalf of Banco Popular. Both insisted they could not comment on ‘individual’ cases.

Opinion Page 6

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January 20th - February 6th 2016

5

The modelo 720 and Fiscal Residency.

- By Chris Pickering/ International Financial Adviser at Blacktower Financial Management (International) Ltd one way or the other, “residency is a matter of fact, not a matter of choice” as we like to say at Blacktower.

stem from the fact that there are scenarios in which an individual can be deemed a fiscal resident of more than one jurisdiction at the same time. If such The introduction of the modelo 720 a person’s residency was ever looked has brought the issue of residency into by the authorities then where to the forefront of the minds of many a double taxation agreement exists expatriates whom previously hadn’t between the 2 jurisdictions, the 2 fiscal given it too much consideration. As bodies of each jurisdiction will review the a consequence, being correct about individuals’ case and deem that person where you are a fiscal resident is more resident of the jurisdiction in which there important than ever. is a stronger claim.

We are fast approaching the time of year again when any fiscal resident of Spain that meets the criteria for having to submit a modelo 720 is required to do so. To be more specific, they have until the end of March to submit the declaration. Just to recap, the modelo 720 obligates any and all fiscal residents of Spain to disclose the assets they hold outside of Spain that exceed €50,000 in value in any of the 3 designated asset classes – those being bank accounts, investments and property. An overall value in excess of €50,000 across the 3 asset classes but lower than €50,000 in any single asset class doesn’t create the need to submit a modelo 720.

So, now we have established the financial circumstances which give rise to an obligation to submit the modelo 720, let’s have a look at what is most certainly the more contentious part of the criteria – residency. The issue of residency seems to be an area of great uncertainty. Unfortunately for those trying their best to argue their residency

The jurisdiction in which a person is fiscally resident can often be considerably more complicated to establish than might be presumed. In the UK for example there is roughly a 3 step process in which a person is assessed in order to establish whether they should in fact be paying UK tax.

This process starts with the Statutory UK Residence Test which basically sets out the conditions in which a person will automatically be classed as nonresident in the UK. If an individual doesn’t meet any of these conditions then the screening process will move onto a set of conditions that if met will automatically deem the person fiscally resident of the UK. Failing a conclusive result from these first 2 stages, residency is determined according to the sufficient UK Ties Test which in itself is quite complicated but becomes even more complicated due to the fact that the test is applied in different ways depending on the persons residency for the previous 3 years.

The potential for uncertainty over your own residency coupled with the potential for massive taxes and fines for failing to submit a modelo 720 when obligated to do so make taking financial advice absolutely imperative.

Blacktower Financial Management (International) Ltd will be holding a seminar in collaboration with the Citizens Advice Bureau Spain in the Tamisa Golf Hotel on Thursday the 25th of February on the topics of fiscal residency and the modelo 720.

For more information or to book your place then please contact me at chris. pickering@blacktowerfm.com

The parameters which if met deem a person fiscally resident of Spain are simpler than their UK equivalent but still not as straight forward as they may first appear.

The main issues over fiscal residency

Blacktower Financial Management Ltd is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority and is registered with both the DGS and CNMV. Blacktower Financial Management (International) Ltd is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and is registered with both the DGS and CNMV in Spain.

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OPINION

Uncertain times lie ahead as the UK gears up for a referendum on its EU status, possibly as early as June. As business boss Paul Drechsler throws his weight behind the ‘stay in’ campaign, Rob Horgan weighs up what Brexit would mean to European expats

Keep the power WHEN a 66-year-old woman is living in fear, afraid to answer the phone or open the door, something has seriously gone wrong.

But while Teresa Smith’s story is indeed a sad one, the one positive to be taken is the sincere warning to all.

Be careful what you sign for. Be careful who you give power of attorney too.

Don’t let anybody use your money and your life to further their own selfish ambitions.

Jose Luis Masedo vanished, but his mark on this poor woman’s life will not.

Hockey horror show POLITICS and sport don’t mix, the old saying goes.

The ban by Spain’s hockey authorities on Gibraltarian clubs and players was certainly a shocking piece of political foul play that has backfired.

The Spanish government’s edict from on high forbade friendlies at all levels. Ridiculous. Teams from the Rock and Andalucia enjoy a healthy relationship both on and off the field of play.

So to deny these friends and neighbours the opportunity to compete against each other was an outrageous affront to fair play.

If countries with fraught diplomatic relationships - Iran and the USA, or India and Pakistan, for example - are expected to play one another in the sporting arena, how could the Spanish government possibly argue that friendlies in Gibraltar are unacceptable? The overturn of this ban is a victory for common sense.

On the fence

FOR 18 years Susan Ignacio has dedicated her life to ensuring the safety of her disabled son Liam.

Now that she needs help it is sad to see her struggle on without the support she so desperately needs.

Regardless of the ‘aesthetics’ of such a fence, surely the wellbeing of a disabled man should be put first.

And while putting up a fence up may seem to limit Liam’s freedom, it will give him the liberty to enjoy the outdoors without risk of danger, as well as giving his mother the peace of mind she deserves.

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or admin@theolivepress.es or sales@theolivepress.es A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in southern Spain - 200,000 copies distributed monthly (130,000 digitally) with an estimated readership, including the website, of more than 500,000 people a month.

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Brexit breakdown DON’T GO: Drechsler’s warning

I

T has been dubbed the ‘most important issue of a generation’.

But what would Britain leaving the EU better known as a ‘Brexit’ - really mean?

And what would an independent UK mean to expats in Spain?

It all depends on who you listen to and more importantly - who you believe.

Eurosceptics talk about a brave new world with the UK cut adrift from the EU, while Europhiles (EU supporters) warn of a dark and isolated existence should Britain cut ties with Europe.

Now the boss of the UK’s most powerful business body, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has thrown his weight behind the ‘stay in’ campaign, arguing that ‘nothing’ about a Brexit ‘would be better for economic growth’.

In no uncertain terms, Paul Drechsler added there was ‘not one benefit’ to leaving, dealing

a massive blow to those hoping for a Brexit.

“We have to be careful we don’t think there’s a great new world out there for us,” he warned. “Brexit means a significant period of uncertainty.”

And that is exactly it. Drechsler hits the nail firmly on the head when he talks of ‘uncertainty’ as nobody seems to know the true economic or social fall-out should it happen.

The problem is there are so many contradictory theories and opinions in the media, and even the government itself, it is hard to build up a clear picture.

While questions remain unanswered (and they must be answered before a referendum is held), scaremongers have been insisting that a Brexit would be bad news for expats.

According to former attorney general Dominic Grieve, an EU exit could make ‘two million Britons abroad illegal immigrants overnight’.

Gibraltar says stay!

GIBRALTAR is strongly against a Brexit.

The possibility of losing privileged links to a market of halfa-billion people is a major concern to its leader Fabian Picardo.

Plus it could give Spain the opportunity to ramp up its continued claims for sovereignty.

Certainly, it is set to be one of the biggest talking points on the Rock this year, and some have gone so far as to say Britain leaving the EU poses an ‘existential’ threat to Gibraltar.

However, the Chief Minister is not quite that worried. He has stated that Gibraltar would push for a ‘different degree of membership’ should the UK opt to leave the EU. He said: “The only existential threat to our economy is one where we are pulled out of the EU against our will and denied access to the single market.”

A

CTING Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy appears to be the only person in Spain who sees the glass half empty while the rest of the country sees it half full.

Rajoy has been unable to come to terms with the fact that he is the obstacle for a successful coalition government while he remains at the helm.

The Popular Party (PP) did win the December 20 elections, but the acting prime minister believes that he was the galvanising force behind that victory.

He has forgotten that many of the conservative party supporters traditionally vote for the PP, regardless of who is the prime ministerial candidate.

At this point, Rajoy also can’t proudly present his candidacy at the upcoming investiture session now that his image has been further

And it is easy to see what all the fuss is about. But, in reality, it is very unlikely to happen.

While Europhiles claim it could lead to a mass exodus of Europeans from the UK and British expats from Europe, their claims have no legal grounding.

In fact, it is quite the opposite. According to the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties 1969 expats have now ‘acquired rights’ in their home countries, which they should hold onto in the case of a Brexit.

Generally speaking, expats should retain their free movement rights within Europe and will retain all their rights following a withdrawal.

That said, this has not been confirmed in the European Parliament - and will need to be discussed should David Cameron set a referendum date - but precedent suggests that all EU citizens should keep their rights after any Treaty changes.

This, in fact, was the case when Greenland withdrew from the EU in 1985 and it can be safely assumed that the same would apply to a Brexit.

The most obvious problem therefore would not be Brits already living abroad, but Brits wanting to move abroad - which, of course, would have an impact on expat businesses as the steady stream of Brits heading to Spain to live could become in danger of drying up.

Only time will tell the true impact of a Brexit.

If you run a business or just want your say, send your opinion of what a Brexit would mean to you and your business to newsdesk@theolivepress.es

Bad blood Is it over for Mariano Rajoy?

tarnished by the massive antipublic corruption sweep in Valencia that ensnared many of his close PP associates and friends.

Socialist Pedro Sánchez, who appears to be the only viable candidate at this point to form a government, said that he already has a list of points that he will present to the other parties with the hopes of coming up with a coalition.

He has refused to speak to Rajoy, who insists on pushing for the seemingly impossible “great coalition” between the PP, Socialists and Ciudadanos.

Instead, Sánchez has been

open to meet privately with Ciudadanos’ Albert Rivera.

In a poll taken over the weekend by Efe News Agency, more than 53% of those asked said that they didn’t want to see any government formed between the PP and Socialists.

And there are several reasons why a PP-Socialist coalition wouldn’t work.

First, there is too much bad blood that remains between mid-level figures inside both parties.

At the same time, the PP won’t be willing to change its own visions for a Spanish welfare state, which are far more con-

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MADRIDS MATTER

servative than the Socialist view.

And then there is Constitutional reform, which will never get off the ground with the two major parties setting their own separate agendas.

It’s over for Mariano Rajoy.

FEATURE

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EARTH SHATTERING

August 6th - August 19th 2015 www.theolivepress.es February 3rd - February 16th 2016

77 7

Spain was shaking in its boots after Monday’s earthquake, Joe Duggan does a little digging to find out if Mother Nature could strike again?

I

KNEW immediately what was causing my five-storey block of flats to sway. Not the wind. And certainly not the amorous endeavours of energetic neighbours.

‘Oh dear,’ I thought. ‘This is an earthquake. Do I need to get out of bed?’

Turning to Twitter after this rude awakening, I saw that the same reverberations pulsing through my bedroom had been felt by people from Cadiz to Granada and as far inland as Sevilla.

Minutes later a second, less-powerful tremor coursed across the walls.

I met my flatmate in the hallway. “Did you feel that?”

“Yup.” “Ever felt one that strong before?”

“Nope.”

And he’s Estepona born and bred. We laughed nervously. But as I crept back to bed, Spain suddenly felt a lot less safe.

At 5.22am on Monday, January 25, the earth moved for thousands in Spain and didn’t stop for 12 seconds.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, seven large tremors struck in the Alboran Sea, the first and most powerful registering magnitude 6.1. Following this, Spain’s National Geographic Institute estimated the quake at 6.3.

Spain’s north African enclave Melilla was worst-hit, with one 12-year-old boy suffering a fatal heart attack and at least 26 people injured.

Quake Three days earlier, a quake of magnitude 5.1 shook the same area. So what makes the region susceptible to such regular tremors?

Southern Spain is not subject to the planetary convulsions that have laid waste to parts of Japan or Chile. But the convergence of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates means the Mediterranean seabed is seismically active.

As a result, each year the Iberian peninsula experiences 1,200-1,400 tremors, most too small to be felt.

January’s quake was the biggest to hit for half a century, but the Iberian peninsula’s deadliest in recent times occurred in May 2011, when 11 people were killed and more than 400 injured in the Murcian town of Lorca.

The Lorca tremor was of lower magnitude at 5.1, but it struck at a depth of just 3km.

This month’s struck at 33km below sea level, caused by the movement of tectonic plates along the strike-slip fault crossing the Alboran Sea from Cabo de Gato to Al Hoceima in Morocco. That’s the same kind of fault

Spain’s worst earthquakes

5.2 Lorca, Murcia, 2011

Nine people died, including a pregnant women and a child, when this town of 90,000 people was ravaged by a 5.2 magnitude earthquake. Some 324 people were injured and around 20,000 buildings destroyed by the quake, which was felt 350 km away in Madrid.

de Ramos y la Paca, Murcia 2005 4.7 Zarcilla

A 4.7 magnitude quake wrecked 800 buildings and left dozens of families homeless on January 29. Although nobody was killed, five hundred aftershocks caused panic in the days afterwards and locals endured 35 quakes in that year alone.

5.0

Albolote, Granada, 1956

7.0

Durcal, Granada, 1954

6.5

Arenas del Rey, Granada 1884

6.6

Torrevieja, 1829

8.5

Lisbon Earthquake, 1755

Twelve people lost their lives, 70 were injured and five hundred buildings were destroyed in Albolote, Atarfe and Granada when this factor five quake broke.

Up until last Monday, this quake, which measured seven on the Richter Scale, had been the most powerful to strike Malaga in the past 50 years. It’s epicentre was 650km below the town of Durcal and its great depth meant nobody was killed.

On Christmas Day, a 6.5 magnitude quake destroyed this part of Granada province, taking just 10 seconds to kill around 839 people. Over 4,400 buildings were destroyed and 13,000 more damaged.

The popular expat spot, which lies on the Bajo Segura fault line was levelled on May 21, 1829 with 389 people killed, 375 injured and 2,000 homes totally destroyed.

Europe’s worst earthquake wiped out 60,000 people on All Saints Day. Many churchgoers were killed in the disaster, which saw a 15-metre-high tsunami laying waste to Lisbon, Cadiz and Huelva

as California’s San Andreas, although this one, the Trans Alboran Shear Zone just off the Costa del Sol, is not known to have produced anything over a magnitude of 6.3.

Although the aftershocks following this year’s quake caused a degree of panic among the public, experts weren’t alarmed or surprised. And seismologist Marc-André Gutscher

explains that another similar-sized quake is unlikely to hit any time soon.

If it did, he says, it would most likely be 10-40km north of Al Hoceima.

“Alternatively the next segment north, adjacent to Alboran Island (90km from Almeria), might produce an earthquake of comparable magnitude.

“This would be closer to Malaga than January’s earthquake but still suffi-

RISKS: Map shows quake hotspots and (above) Melilla after quake

ciently far away – 80-120km off the Spanish coast – that ground shaking wouldn’t be much stronger.”

Other seismologists agree. “We have had earthquakes like this throughout history,” Juan Vicente Cantavella, a seismologist at Spain’s National Geographic Institute, told the Olive Press.

“When there is a lot of energy released, like in January’s earthquake, it is very unusual to have another of the same size.

“I can’t say for sure that it’s not going to happen, but the probability of this event right now is low.”

Nevertheless, there are those who are unhappy about the measures Spain’s authorities are adopting to guard against further problems.

Following the Lorca tragedy, Luis Suarez, President of Spain’s Ilustre Colegio Oficial de Geólogos (ICOG), sent a list of 10 recommendations to central government and the autonomous regions to improve safety. The majority have not been adopted, which Suarez labels a ‘disgrace’.

“It’s much to our grief that they haven’t been implemented,” he said.

“This isn’t California, Chile or Japan but you have to bear in mind there is a risk. From time to time, there are big earthquakes and it’s important to take preventive measures.”

Brutal The southern Iberian peninsula has certainly felt the brutal power of Mother Nature in the past. On Christmas Day, 1884, some 839 Spaniards perished when an earthquake hit the town of Durcal in Granada.

But the worst of all struck 129 years earlier – a quake estimated to have

measured between 8.5 and 9 on the Richter scale.

Under the Straits of Gibraltar there is a unique subduction zone, a zone in which which one tectonic plate moves beneath another with the potential to cause powerful earthquakes.

Although debate still rages among seismologists, it is believed that it was a subduction zone beneath the Gulf of Cadiz and Gibraltar which, In 1755, caused Europe’s deadliest earthquake.

The Great Lisbon Earthquake, as it was called, killed up to 60,000 people in Portugal, Spain and Morocco, triggering a 15-metre-high tsunami that destroyed the Portuguese capital and engulfed parts of Cadiz and Huelva.

‘The size of the unique subduction zone of Gibraltar is very small and its movement is very slow’, wrote Gutscher in a paper that appeared in the earth science magazine, Eos. ‘It is probably the narrowest subduction zone in the world, at 120 miles wide, and it is moving less than a centimetre each year’.

Thankfully, this snail-like pace means any chance of a similarly brutal quake ripping along the southern Spanish coast in the near future is highly unlikely.

“Given the very slow motion of the faults in the area,you need many centuries to build up enough slip to generate such a great earthquake,” explained Gutscher.

“An earthquake of magnitude 8.5 or 9 is pretty much out of the question, since those last such tremendous events happened just 250 years ago.”

So we are safe from another big one.

For now.

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February 3rd - February 16th 2016

‘Colonial’ Corbyn caned DANIEL Feetham has lashed out at the ‘colonial’ attitude of Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.

The opposition leader’s comments came after Corbyn claimed Britain should seek ‘accommodation’ with Argentina over the Falklands.

Feetham dismissed Corbyn’s suggestion as a ‘very muddled and antiquated left-wing view’.

He said: “This is the irony of people who think like Mr Corbyn; their views are as colonial as those of the days of empire which he instinctively so dislikes.

“There is only one principle that matters in these cases and that is the principle of self-determination.”

High-speed cannabis hunt A HIGH-SPEED water chase has resulted in the seizure of 12 bales of cannabis resin worth £1.8 million.

RGP Marine officers pursued a RHIB crewed by four occupants on the Rock’s eastern side in the early hours of Saturday morning.

GIBRALTAR

9 www.theolivepress.es

KEEP HIM SAFE

Mother launches petition to keep disabled son fenced in to stop him ‘hurting someone’

EXCLUSIVE

By Rob Horgan A DESPERATE mother is campaigning to have a fence erected around her property to protect her profoundly disabled son.

Susan Ignacio fears 18-yearold Liam is a danger to himself and others.

Suffering from autism, epilepsy and Parkinson's, Liam also has severe behavioural difficulties which his mother claims could lead to him ‘hurting someone’.

And after having eight operations on her leg, Susan’s own physical disability means she can no longer stop Liam from wandering out of their home.

She has applied to the government to construct a gate and fence for the past five years but the housing department has rejected her application each time.

“Liam tends to go out of the house on his own and I can no longer stop him,” Susan, 45, told the Olive Press. “On a good day he is fine, inquisitive and just wants to talk to neighbours.

“However, on a bad day he is a danger to himself and could end up hurting someone.”

She added: “I am no longer

Somatics comes to Gibraltar!

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DANGER: Mum Susan and dad Ernest feel son Liam is a threat physically able to stop him when he wants to leave, I have to call my husband home from work to deal with Liam.”

Susan and her husband Ernest, 57, have been applying to the housing department for a fence to be installed since they moved into the Mid Harbours Estate five years ago.

Declined every year, letters from the housing department (seen by the Olive Press) state that the work would ‘change the aesthetics of the building’.

In addition it adds that the ‘encroachment of common areas’ could lead to problems with drainage.

The Ignacios however continue to fight the decision on the grounds that neighbours have similar gates to what they are

asking for.

Their most recent application was declined last month, leaving them with ‘no choice’ but to take matters into their own hands.

Yesterday, they launched a change.org petition addressed to the government.

“I do not care if the fence looks ugly,” she told the Olive Press. “I just want to make sure my son is safe.”

On the day the petition was launched nearly 1000 signatures were collected.

A spokesman for the government promised last night that it would look into the case.

Opinion Page 6

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10 10 NEWS IN BRIEF

Forgetting Franco NERJA Town Hall is planning to remove the names of two of Franco’s generals from the town’s streets.

Heli-save EMERGENCY services sprung into action for a search and rescue when a 58-year-old adventurer lost his way in the mountains near Nerja.

Whizz kids BRITISH students from Royal Holloway University visited Nerja for a conference where they quizzed councillors about issues such as tourism, development and unemployment.

Beach barred PLANS for a new beach bar and sunbeds in the La Carraca dunes area of Torrox have been discarded in the town’s new beach plan.

AXARQUIA

February 3rd - February 16th 2016

10

Winter sun

A PLACE in the Sun decamped to the Axarquia in January to help a British woman find her dream home.

Fay Lewis’ budget of €125,575 took her around five properties for an episode in January.

With presenter and former Al-

garve resident Jasmine Harman (left), they visited three Velez-Malaga townhouses, and village houses in Benamargosa near Comares and Algarrobo.

The houses ranged from €119,000 to €149,000 and she chose a Velez-Malaga pad.

The company also filmed further in Casares.

Pumped up Charity cyclist determined to raise animal rights issues

AN Axarquia cyclist is wheeling his way around Spain to raise awareness of animal rights.

Antonio Moreno’s En Ruta Por Los Animales campaign made its way to Almunecar and La Herradura where he spoke with local students.

GEARING UP: Antonio Moreno Moreno, who is president Animals, also gave a conferof the Andalucian Group ence at the Casa de la Cultura Against the Mistreatment of of Almuneca.

During his trip, the Torre del Mar activist aims to hold a talk about animal rights’ issues at 10.30am every day.

Moreno plans to ask for donaTHE hyphen in ‘Velez-Malaga’ has survived controversial tions from people attending calls for its removal. his conferences which will be Councillors voted in favour of keeping the punctuation sent on to animal shelters. mark following a PP campaign to drop it from the town He set off from Torre del Mar name. on January 20 and expects to They argued that Cervantes didn’t use it when writing be gone for between a year about the town in Don Quixote. and two years.

But the ruling leftist coalition outvoted them on the basis Among places he hopes to that the hyphen was now a part of the town’s identity, given visit during the trip are Galiits presence in ID cards and university degrees. cia and the Pyrenees.

Hyphen hero

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Oil over

View from above AN American photographer’s eerie images of Spain’s ravaged industrial landscape are part of a major new art collection in San Francisco.

David Maisel’s The Fall features ashen photographs taken from planes and helicopter of mining, construction and agricultural areas between Madrid and Toledo.

He said: “If anything the message is: The world is a mesmerizingly beautiful place, even when it’s reflecting the toll that we put on it by our existence. It still has this incredible beauty to it.”

Pony’s plight SPAIN’S first three-legged pony to receive a prosthetic leg has passed away.

Faith died in Alicante in October, but a second amputee pony, Iris, is now due to receive the artifical leg.

Five years ago, Faith’s mutilated front forelock was amputated in a life-saving operation and a specially designed prosthetic leg fitted.

She previously underwent months of treatment at the Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre, near Rojales in Alicante.

“No expense was ever spared on Faith and she absolutely loved her prosthetic leg because it gave her freedom,” said Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre co-founder Sue Weeding.

“We gave Faith a good five years, which she deserved.

She had the best and she inspired so many people worldwide.

“Faith has changed all of us a little bit.”

In October last year, Faith’s good front leg began to fail and she was put to sleep on October 29.

The decision was taken to donate the leg to 10-yearold Shetland pony, Iris, in France who had her leg amputated after developing a tumour.

The artifical leg was sent to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the University of Lyon to be fitted for Iris.

Sue said: “We are so happy that Faith’s prosthetic legs are going to help another little pony and that she inspired other surgeons to continue this work to help others out there.”

Green groups fight back against Iranian oil refinery EXCLUSIVE

By Rob Horgan OVER 2,500 people have signed a petition to stop plans for an Iranian oil refinery in Algeciras.

Addressed to Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister Jose Garcia-Margallo (right), green group Destruccion del Medio Ambiente has launched a change.org petition to halt the plan.

And after just two days of launching the petition, over 2,000 people had already signed up.

“People who live in Algeciras are tired of pollution,” a spokesman told the Olive Press. “We already have the highest rate of cancer in this

Let us breathE! country, so is it really worth the money to put more people’s lives at risk.

“Enough is enough, let us breathe.”

The reported deal comes as world leaders lifted sanctions on Iran’s oil in exchange for the regime haul-

ENDANGERED: Zebra shark

Shark tale

A BABY zebra shark has been born on the Costa del Sol, marking a ‘great moment’ for conservationists.

Measuring 40 centimetres, the shark was born at Benalmadena’s Sea Life as part of its conservation project.

“Zebra shark are an endangered species so the importance of this birth cannot be underestimated,” director Maria Morondo said. “We need to be aware of the importance of preserving this species.”

I want to break free ALMOST 40 bearded vultures have been set free in Andalucia’s sierras since 2006.

The Junta’s environmental office has liberated birds across four Sierras in Granada and Jaen to foster an autonomous and stable population of the species in the area.

THE FALL: On display

For the best chance of survival, birds were encouraged to return to their birthplace to feed and reproduce.

Of the 37 that were liberated from Granada’s Sierra de Castril and Jaen’s Sierras de Cazorla, Segura and Las Villas, 18 are still alive and well.

Ten have died and the whereabouts of the final nine is not known.

ing back its nuclear programme.

Iran wants to produce 200,000 barrels a day at the Algeciras site, according to the state-run National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company.

Fellow green group Verd e r m a r Ecologistas en Accion also

slammed the plans to build a refinery in what is already the most polluted part of Spain.

“With the contamination that there already is in the area, these plans are ludicrous. What a disgusting plan,” said spokesperson Joceleyne Kammerer. “I can’t believe it.”

Garcia-Margallo, however, is supporting the plans, saying it will boost the economy and bring jobs to the area.

IT was one of the worst environmental disasters in European history, covering almost 3,000km of coastline in oily sludge.

And now there will be justice for the captain of the Prestige tanker which sank off the coast of Galicia leaving a devastating 63,000 tonne oil spill in 2002.

Spain’s Supreme Court has found the captain, the owner, and the British insurance company guilty of gross negligence.

The court has now sentenced Greek captain Apostolos Mangouras to two years in prison because he sailed in dangerous weather conditions, overturning the original and very controversial acquittal in 2013.

Shipping owner Mare Shipping Inc and insurers The London P&I Club are also liable for the November accident where the ship split in two and sunk after a storm.

The insurers may have to pay up to €920 million.

SUNK: Prestige

12

la cultura 12

February 3rd - February 16th 2016

what’s on TOP UK ACTS BOOKED FOR BARCELONA & MADRID

T

orremolinos, February 4-7 Annual 50s and 60s rock n roll celebration Rockin’ Race Jamboree moves to a new venue but will feature the same old school jiving and jumping. For more info visit www.rockinrace. com

M

alaga, until February 7 Running until Sunday, the celebrations include a children’s carnival on February 6 and a king’s and queen’s parade on the final day.

E

stepona, until February 12 Collection of paintings by Conchi Alvarez of streets in big cities like New York and Malaga held in STOA Galeria. For more info call 951318426

PJ, LCD and Radiohead to Primavera PJ Harvey, Suede, Radiohead and Last Shadow Puppets to top Barcelona festival

Mad-rid cool

M

alaga, until March 23 Exhibition of photographs by Malaga-born Noelia Garcia Banderas at Malaga’s Centro Cultural Provincial Maria Victoria Atencia. For more info call 952 133 798

essentialmagazine

16 years 1999-2016

w w w. e s s e n t i a l m a g a z i n e . c o m

®

ROCKING: Radiohead RADIOHEAD, PJ Harvey, LCD Soundsystem and Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson are the headline acts at this summer’s Primavera Sound.

The Barcelona festival, which draws thousands of British music lovers, will take place from June 2-4.

Other confirmed artists include Sigur Ros, Beach House, the Last Shadow Puppets, Air, Suede and Mudhoney.

Alternative rock legends PJ Harvey and Radiohead, who last performed live in 2012, are due to bring out new albums this year.

Primavera is one of the standout festivals on the summer circuit.

MADRID is fighting back in the battle of Spain’s summer music festivals as Neil Young and the Prodigy head to the capital for Mad Cool.

The festival, in its inaugural year, will also feature Jane’s Addiction, Caribou, Stereophonics and Band of Horses between June 16-18.

Mad Cool Festival will take place on the banks of the Manzanares river where there is space for more than 45,000 people.

The announcement comes a week after Barcelona’s Primavera Sound unveiled its stellar summer line-up, featuring LCD Soundsystem and Radiohead.

The Mad Cool site at Caja Magica will have special five stages installed, three of them covered.

PARTY PEOPLE: Cadiz celebrates annual Carnival

Carnival capers FORGET Christmas and the Three Kings.

They should be a fading memory in the face of Andalucia’s most hedonistic landmark on the calendar: Carnival.

Cadiz Carnival, the biggest and most prestigious in Spain - and one of the biggest in the world - with ten days of wild partying and excessive drinking, will run from February 4 to 14.

Meanwhile, festivities in Malaga kicked off on January 30 and finish with a bang on February 7 with the ‘anchovy burial’, a Spanish tradition symbolising the end HBO plans to battle rival Netflix by of indulgence. launching its own streaming service Dressing up and even cross-dressing in Spain.

The American TV network’s internet are a large part of as well as subscription service is due to arrive Carnival, music all around by the end of 2016 as Spain’s video the city, outlandish on demand viewership booms. theatre and political In October, Netflix introduced its and religious satire. own streaming service in Spain hop- ‘Carnaval’ in Siting to reach one third of all Spanish ges, near Barcelona, is viewers in the next seven years.

Spain’s second biggest.

TV times

Smoking hot A RECENTLY-BUILT museum made out of stacked blocks of glass and terracotta tiles is revolutionising Caceres’ art scene.

Local studio Losada Garcia Arquitectos designed the stunning Cultural Centre La Gota which both exhibits contemporary art and pays tribute to the area’s tobacco heritage.

Tobacco-making equipment and artwork sit side by side in the impressive structure which also hosts a permanent show by artist Sofia Feliu.

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14

the Olive Press November 11th - 25th 2015

The largest ski school in Spain since 1986 A name you can trust

The Official Ski School Sierra Nevada was founded in 1986 with Diploma for Teachers RFEDI (Royal Spanish Winter Sports Federation), to offer winter sports enthusiasts better service and a personalized and appropriate education on each level.

14

la cultura

www.theolivepress.es

Introducing our brand new music columnist

with

There’s more to it than flamenco and Europop

New year, new tunes

A

LTHOUGH I’ve always been interested in music it was a throwaway comment by a friend of my daughter’s that led me to delve into the local music scene.

She dismissed all Andalucian music as either flamenco or Europop and I wanted to see if she was correct.

Fortunately for me, she was wrong, and wrong in a spectacular manner.

For just a light scratching of the surface revealed a wealth of musical talent covering every conceivable genre, from death metal to hip hop.

Another phenomenon that soon became evident is just how many of these bands and

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Tuning in Gary Beaumont

artists have added an Andalucian twist to a variety of genres, creating a sound you just don’t hear outside Spain.

In future issues I will be looking in depth at these bands and their music, as well as bringing you news of forthcoming gigs and festivals.

In the meantime, for all you classic rock’n’roll fans, this year’s Rockin’ Race Jamboree will be held at the Auditorio Principe de Asturias in Torremolinos from Thursday February 4 to Sunday 7, with a packed lineup o f international artists.

Chill to a great selection of local music on Gary Beaumont’s radio show, on Castle Radio 89.2 every Wednesday from 10pm, repeated Saturday at 11pm, or visit www.andaluciamusic.com

Ancient burial tomb reveals how European practices started in Spain

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Tombs with a view

DISCOVERED: Mass grave

A MASS grave in Spain has shed light on how a 6,000-year-old community brought new burial practices to Europe.

The Neolithic tomb near Burgos contains 50 skeletons from a close-knit farming community.

Researchers from the University of Valladolid have discovered that these Stone Age citizens were among the first to use permanent stone memorials to remember their dead forebears.

A researcher said: he later posted a photo of himself as “Where a tomb a child on his father’s shoulders as had once stood, a he fought a bull. monument to the Animal rights group PACMA memory of the ancommented on the ‘shameful’ nacestors was now ture of his actions, and equality erected as a perminister Maria Jose Sanchez said manent reference ‘a fireman wouldn’t dream of takto their presence ing a child to put out a fire’. in the symbolic Animal rights campaigner and coand cultural landmedian Ricky Gervais also tweetscape.” ed the act was ‘mental, dangerous The study also and cruel. With or without a baby.’ found the commuRivera is married to Carmen’s nity probably bred lawyer mother Lourdes Montes, sheep and goats after divorcing the Duchess of and suffered from Alba’s daughter, Eugenia Martidegenerative joint nez de Irujo. diseases.

Take your kid to work

ONE of Spain’s most aristocratic matadors is under scrutiny after he was photographed fighting a bull with his five-month-old daughter under his arm.

The controversial image captures the man dubbed the ‘Beckham of the bullring’ Fran Rivera, 42, and his baby daughter, Carmen, alongside large wounded bull, and was posted on his Instagram with the caption ‘Carmen’s debut’.

When criticised by social security officials for putting the child at risk, the father of two responded that ‘there is no safer place for her to be than in my arms’.

Indeed, it is a family tradition and

15 February 3rd - February 16th 2016

Game on!

T

AKE a rock in the Mediterranean, a vibrant town, excellent transport links and year-round sunshine.

Add a world-class event and what have you got? A winning formula that is steadily propelling Gibraltar onto the global stage, blasting away the traditional ‘Britain in the sun’ stereotype.

From February 11-16, the world’s best backgammon players are primed to do battle on the Rock for a share of an estimated £60,000 pot.

The news was announced last September as the British Territory was accepted as the 24th member of the European Backgammon Federation.

The odds of it becoming a regu-

Flushing out cheats THE chess tournament is now obliged to install cameras in the corridors surrounding the arena and in the entrance to the toilets to deter cheats.

Players have been caught sneaking off to the loo and conspiring to fix a game or agreeing to draw.

Gibraltar is poised to sweep the board with its first European Backgammon Tournament in February, the latest jewel in its international events calendar, writes Tom Powell lar fixture are high. The event will be hosted by the Caleta Hotel, whose annual Tradewise Chess Festival has been a roaring success since 2003.

Named World’s Best Open by the Association of Chess Professionals for the past two years, the event brings 300 players from more than 50 countries in January.

“This is the latest step in a highly successful policy of event-lead tourism,” Sports

Gamechangers

NINETEEN years. That’s how long it took Gibraltar to become a fully-fledged member of European footballing body UEFA. In stark contract, the backgammon equivalent welcomed Gibraltar just six months after it applied.

And becoming the 24th member of the European Backgammon Association is already reaping rewards.

The president himself has been lured to the Rock to become the tournament’s director, bringing a team of five experts with him.

The event is the first of a three-part series, along with Copenhagen and Cyprus, for which there will be a fat cash prize for the overall winner.

Minister Steven Linares told the Olive Press.

“These events bring people and money to Gibraltar and create a real buzz about the place.”

That’s no exaggeration.

Just look at the bullseye scored by the Gibraltar Darts Trophy.

What started off as a small, local fixture has become a major global event, welcoming top pros and bagging hours of international TV coverage.

This year saw Michael Van Gerwen crowned victor after seeing off defending champion James Wade, as well as four Gibraltarian challengers.

The Chess Festival has welcomed a string of world champions over the years, with grandmasters and amateurs representing 59 federations worldwide in 2015. Since 2011, there has also been a junior tournament.

And like the chess, the backgammon will be live-streamed over the internet to an audi-

CHAMP: World backgammon champion Turkish Ali Cihangir Cetinel is set for the Rock

Risky business?

THERE are some who dismiss backgammon as a game of chance, not of skill.

Why would anyone want to fly hundreds of miles to play a game they could lose on the roll of a dice?

It’s true that if Lady Luck is on your side (and providing you know how to play the game) anyone can beat the world champion.

But that’s why a backgammon match consists of more than one game.

Over a ten-point match, luck balances out and the better player will almost always prevail. ence of millions.

The timeless board game, mentioned in ancient Persian writings, requires skill, experience and extreme concentration.

Some contestants are known to film their matches and analyse them when they get back to their rooms.

While chess tends to attract the studious sort and darts is

represented by a more vocal, beer-swilling crowd, aficionados say backgammon is the sociable experience.

Players often bring a ‘support’ entourage - partners and even families - to urge them on and there is a convivial atmosphere, with spectators milling about and chatting in the arena.

But the tournament is not just about bringing in the world’s best players and showing them the sights. These events depend on grassroots support.

As with the chess and darts, Gibraltarians will have the opportunity to compete in a smaller tournament, with the four best players winning a free place in the main event.

Caleta Hotel Manager Franco Ostuni explains: “All these tournaments need to have the local involvement in order to get Gibraltar enthused and excited. It simply wouldn’t work otherwise.”

It’s a winning formula that has been virtually patented in Gibraltar, and the game plan is about to be applied to ‘four or five more events in the pipeline’, hints Linares, although he won’t be drawn on details.

The only problem will be finding a free ‘window’ in Gibraltar’s busy events calendar, as festivals devoted to music, literature, wine, beer, food and beauty (Miss Gibraltar) have already bagged their dates.

LETTERS

www.theolivepress.es 16 the Olive Press 16 November 11th - 25th 2015

POTTED POINTERS EMERGENCIES Police 199 Medical service 190 Fire 190 EURO EXCHANGE RATES 1 euro is worth 1.09 American dollars 0.76 British pounds 1.53 Canadian dollars 7.46 Danish kroner 8.47 H Kong dollars 9.49 Norwegian kroner 1.55 Singapore dollars ANDALUCIA RESERVOIR LEVELS This week: 60.70% Same week last year: 78.09% Same week in 2005: 57.99% AIRPORTS Gibraltar 00350 22073026 Granada-Jaen 958 245 200 Jerez - 956 150 000 Malaga - 952 048 844* *For English press 9 Sevilla - 954 449 000

Many thanks THANK you SO much for your article about my leg operation nightmare in last week’s paper (Please own up, issue 231). I am delighted to have made the front page and also wanted to say many thanks to your editor for the great opinion on page six (Time to heal).

Finally, I’d love to have the contact details of your bilingual lawyer, to see how much he or she would charge to take on the case.

Thanks again for a great job!

Carolyn Emmett, Montejaque

Hard time I WAS not surprised to read your article of the most unfortunate experience that Carolyn Emmett went through at the Xanit Hospital in Benalmadena.

Early in 2015 I decided on a stem cell operation at the Xanit Hospital to improve circulation in my legs. The cost was €7,000 and involved an epidural anaesthetic.

When I awoke after the operation in the intensive care ward I was told that I’d stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated.

I was in pain and my face was heavily bruised from where I had been resuscitated, I believe.

In my 20 weeks’ recovery, to my knowledge the hospital never contacted me to see how I was getting on.

February 3rd www.theolivepress.es

Jac in the day

DEAR OP,

I KNOW the Olive Press regularly features old photos so I thought this may interest veteran Costa readers.

This photo was taken in the 1980s in Jac’s Bar, Fuengirola, a favourite drinking hole for Brits for many years.

Jac and Eileen Wendell, who ran the bar, are in the foreground.

David Baird, Fuengriola However, circulation in my legs appears to be improving and I can walk further now so, was it worth it? The operation was okay but personally I cannot say the same for the service.

Bob Gaston, La Duquesa

Inspired I ABSOLUTELY loved the article on my brother Reuben (Down in history, issue 231).

The headline is seriously inspired, I love it… it made me cry. Thank you so much.

Manni and Reuben Coe, Torremolinos

Long way to go ONE swallow does not a springtime make. We should expect a backlash against MP Rita Bosaho similar to what we experienced against Barack Obama (Colour blind,

Each print issue of the Olive Press can be read in its entirety on www.theolivepress.es And our site is updated February 16th 2016 daily with the latest news, making it one of Spain’s most visited news websites.

issue 231).

Those of us involved in the civil rights movement since the 1960s naively thought that the election of Barack Obama to the presidency brought us closer to full equality. It did, but not close enough.

Repressed racist attitudes re-emerge with new masks.

I expect a similar flourishing of racism in Spain from, especially, PP, though I would not be surprised if provincial leftist parties will also find excuses for treating African, South American and Asian residents and citizens as novelties rather than bona fide people with equal rights.

Mis-treatment of the ‘other’ has been well structured into Spanish institutions for centuries.

Cheryl Smith, Alhaurin el Grande

SOHA what!

SO another Axarquia mayor has gone to prison, so what?

(Three’s a crowd, issue 231).

It doesn’t solve the long term problem of so called illegal properties in Andalucia does it? I am a member of SOHA but I don’t agree with them on this issue, it is the thin end of a very big wedge and the people who are affected by this are still a long way from having their properties regularised.

Instead of sitting around blaming everyone else for

what has happened, why don’t the Junta de Andalucia try to wipe the slate clean and come up with some meaningful solutions. They knew exactly what the mayors were doing for all those years and did nothing about it while all the money was rolling in. Instead of getting bogged down with inertia, now is the time to regularise the affected properties and then create some new, workable laws and make sure they are properly enforced to thereafter.

Jane Garratt, Axarquia

Police praise I HAVE often heard a lot of negative things about the Spanish policing system.

However, I have to say that I have only ever had good experiences from the Guardia Civil and I feel that they get unfairly criticised.

I’ve been pulled up on many occasions (and sometimes even fined), for having no lights on my motorbike, for not wearing my seatbelt, and one time because my dog was not harnessed in.

Now, I’m not saying I am happy about that, but the officers have always been courteous and professional and in these uncertain times I’m glad they are there doing a good job.

Michael Mansell, Marbella

Digging the dirt

Dirty accusations

THE accusation that Gibraltar has moved a million tonnes of ‘hazardous waste’ into Spain is preposterous (Digging the dirt, issue 231).

This is just a classic case of Spanish bitterness. There is no way the Junta would fail to monitor what Gibraltar is dumping in Spain. No way. I am a great fan of Verdemar and think they do a tremendous job on the whole but I just do not buy this theory at all.

Even if the Junta was failing in its job to monitor the waste, I seriously doubt Verdemar has been checking what has been coming across the border.

Anon, Gibraltar

Green peace IF Gibraltar truly is dumping this amount of waste into Spain then it should be held accountable.

I struggled to believe the accusation at first, but then again Verdemar is a very respectable group and its accusations must be taken seriously.

The lack of a comeback from the Gibraltarian side is as much of a worry. Maybe they don’t even know how much waste they’ve taken into Spain?

Whether or not Verdemar’s claims are completely accurate, a full investigation needs to take place and the Junta need to install stricter checks ASAP.

Stephen Miller, Marbella Letters should be emailed to letters@ theolivepress.es. The writer’s name and address should be provided. Opinions are not necessarily those of the Editor.

olive press online

October 2015

Page views:xxxxxxxxx Spain and Gibraltar’s best Visitors:English xxxxxxxx daily news website Most read this fortnight on www.theolivepress.es  Costa del Sol on weather alert

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October 2015

olivepress Page views:xxxxxxxxx Visitors:olivepressnews xxxxxxxx Most +TheolivepressEs read this fortnight on www.theolivepress.es

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Statistics for: January

 Costa del-Sol on weather 19th February 1stalert

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5- Missing Lisa Brown: Boyfriend Simon Corner cuts ties with his legal advisor (2,623) Download our app now and begin enjoying the best Spanish news on the go.

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Education Special

17 17 17

February 3rd - February 16th 2016

Choosing the right schools can be a puzzle of algebraic proportions for parents on the Costa del Sol. But problem solved - we’ve done the homework for you

School daze

JUMPING FOR JOY: Girls at Sotogrande International School and (left) in tune at the British School of Marbella

P

ENCIL cases to fill, textbooks to buy, packed lunch menus to plan, sleepless nights of nail-biting worry during the build-up … the first day of school can be as big a deal for parents as it is for their kids.

After all, every parent knows that those first tentative steps across a schoolyard filled with strangers is very much a crucial rite of passage.

Making sure it’s the right school is a test all parents want to pass with flying colours. But on the Costa del Sol, negotiating the interactive whiteboard jungle is an even tougher call, as you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Of course, your selection will depend on certain key factors: distance from home, budget, academic standards, teaching style and word-of-mouth recommendations, to name just a few.

So where do you start?

The first item on your checklist should be Public or Private – do you opt for an international college or a Spanish state school?

It’s generally an easier decision to make for younger children, as primary schools throughout Europe are more or less comparable.

Around 80% of expats send their children to local state schools – called ‘co-

legios’ or ‘escuelas’ (primary schools) and ‘institutos’ (secondary schools).

There are two big advantages to Spanish schools.

One – children will learn Spanish fast and should integrate quicker into their new home country.

Younger children, in general, thrive in state schools, with youngsters under nine normally picking up impressive spoken Spanish (usually far better than their parents’ Spanish) within a year, just by socialising with their friends.

Two – state schooling is free of charge from the age of three, when children Turn to Page 18

18

www.theolivepress.es

Education Special

From Page 17

can begin attending ‘infantile’ or ‘pre-escolar’, equivalent to a nursery in the UK. The only costs you’ll have to cover are books, school trips and, if the school has them, uniforms.

There are, however, downsides to Spanish schools. Older, less extrovert kids with limited Spanish can have trouble adjusting. Learning maths and physics in a foreign idiom isn’t for sissies!

It is definitely worth considering extra language tuition outside school hours to help ease the transition. Budget up to €20 per hour for private lessons.

Your child will not only be more able to keep up with lessons but is far more likely to make friends if they can socialise in the same language.

“It is fine if you get the kids into school early, at a young age, but if they are nine or 10 then they will find it harder,” advised one English parent whose two children have been through the local system in Manilva.

“They will almost certainly need some extra tuition and watching carefully. It also helps if the parents get involved in the school and try to get to know the other Spanish parents.

Joining the parents/teachers association certainly helps.”

If you decide against the Spanish state system – either because you fear educational standards will be low (according to reports, Andalucia does indeed come well below average), or because you prefer to

January 20th - February 6th 2016

18 18 18

Learning curve OPPORTUNITIES: At Marbella Design Academy account for two-thirds of the international schools on the coast.

The oldest is Swans International School, established in 1971, and named after its legendary headmistress and founder, Tessa Swan.

Others include Sotogrande – established in 1978 – and Aloha College, which dates back to 1982.

The newest kid on the block is the British School of Marbella, which opened in September LEARN HARD, PLAY HARD: Teacher plays guitar to kids 2010 and has already become a popular and respected addiof international schools after tion to the coast’s school comhave your children educated in larly seeing their pupils getting Madrid and Barcelona. Mala- munity.

English – then you will have no into the top British universities, ga, Mijas, Fuengirola, Benal- Most British schools are memchoice but to go private. including Oxbridge. madena, Estepona, Almunecar bers of the National AssociaBudget is a major consideration International schools have very and Sotogrande all have their tion of British Schools in Spain but many expat parents say an different personalities and phi(NABSS) own options. international school gives their losophies, and it’s very much a and are The rise of interchild a gentler introduction to matter of personal preference.

International inspected national schools education in a foreign country, But with more than two dozen regularly by in Spain can be with smaller classes taught in on the Costa del Sol alone, schools often the group, a traced back to forEnglish. there are more than enough to have a more set-up simimer dictator GenMost international schools choose from. lar to the eral Franco, who even follow a UK curriculum, Marbella – with more than multicultural UK’s Ofsted introduced tourwith GCSE and A-levels, with a 40,000 resident foreigners – environment inspections. ism to the Costa number of local schools regu- has the largest concentration A great addel Sol. Since vantage then, a torrent of foreign visitors settling along for many parents is that interthe coast has turned it into a national schools often have melting pot of cultures, provid- a more multicultural environing endless opportunities for ment than state schools. Most have some 20 different nationeducation start-ups.

British schools are now said to alities attending and offer a bi-

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lingual study programme.

Paul Kelly, an education consultant in Marbella said: “Pupils meet other students from so many different countries.

“This is such a valuable opportunity as it awakens a curiosity for other cultures, languages, traditions, customs and even food from a very early age.”

To tie in with this, many of the top schools are increasingly offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme, as well as the local secondary school qualification, the Bachillerato.

The IB – which may be unknown to some English readers – is the normal route to university for European students.

The main difference is that IB students take six or seven subjects – which often include elements of community work and public-speaking – as opposed to just three or four at A-level.

As well as a more up-to-date, relaxed approach to teaching, international schools are generally considered to offer a better learning environment.

The most obvious downside, of course, is the cost. Schools range from basic to luxurious but, take note, they come at a price.

Fees range from €3,000 a year for primary school to between €6,000 and €17,000 per year for secondary schools. This generally does not include the cost of books, school trips or uniforms.

A further downside is that children may find themselves in something of a Spanish vacuum, unable to integrate with the local community outside the classroom.

But international schools are beginning to fight this effect, with many more Spanish extracurricula activities available, more access to local culture on school trips and after-hours classes such as flamenco dancing.

As consultant Paul Kelly concluded: “Effort and attitude varies considerably from family to family. Some are content never to venture into ‘Spanish’ situations, while others make every effort to integrate, join sports clubs etc. and have much more exposure to the language.”

But there are no rulebooks or easy answers to choosing the right schools in Spain.

It’s as much a personal choice as in any other country, whether your biggest consideration is cost, integration or a smoother transition.

Just one final tip for parents who decide to go with the Spanish system: learn the language yourself. How else will you chat to your kids’ teachers at open days?

And, more importantly for your kids, how will you help them with their homework!

19 February 3rd - February 16th 2016

Write stuff

British Council to celebrate 400th anniversary of Shakespeare and Cervantes’ deaths

ICONS: Cervantes and (above) Shakespeare

Foreign appeal

STUDENTS of Shakespeare and Cervantes are looking forward to a bumper.

The British Council is setting up 40 events in Spain to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the literary giants’ deaths.

Shakespeare Lives in 2016 programme is teaming up with the Royal Opera House and National Theatre to transmit live theatre performances to 100 Spanish cinemas.

On April 14, Coriolanus starring Benedict Cumberbatch will be beamed back and on April 28 As You Like It is the main event.

British Council head Andy Mackay says the programme will ‘celebrate the ties between the two countries’.

Shakespeare and Cervantes both died on April 23, 1616.

SPANISH universities are eager to attract more foreign students.

Education minister Inigo de Vigo has called on university deans to make studying in Spain ‘more attractive’.

Currently, only 2.9% of international students studying in Europe opt for Spanish universities.

The UK, Switzerland and Austria see the largest number of European students, accounting for 51% of all international students.

Dr Carlos Conde, a lecturer in Hispanic Studies at the UniA STUDENT who spoke no Spanish when he versity of Northumbria, UK, joined a Marbella school aged 10 has bagged puts Spain’s unpopularity the highest grade in the world at GCSE Spanish down to three things: ‘lack of Second Language. prestige’, ‘political rigidness Nikita Bedov aced his exams at Swans interof individual universities’ and national school despite speaking no English ‘lack of funds spent on adverwhen he joined. tising’.

Top of the class

For God’s sake A CATHOLIC school teacher who inadvertently projected porn to a class of 12-year-olds has lost an appeal against his dismissal.

The unnamed teacher from Badajoz was sacked last year after he accidently projected the images for an hour during a year 8 exam.

The teacher claims he did not realise that his laptop was connected to the overhead projector and appealed his sacking, claiming his behaviour was due to ‘traumatic childhood experiences’.

However, the high court in Extremadura, rejected his appeal on the grounds that his behaviour was negligent.

“He truly deserves this recognition,” said his Spanish teacher, Sandra.

Meanwhile, fellow student Ella Justh walked away from her GCSE Drama exam with the highest mark in Europe, and was ‘surprised and proud.’

SPANISH STAR: Nikita (left) and teacher Sandra

Spanish steps up MORE than 21 million people worldwide are studying Spanish, new figures reveal.

Data from government-funded body Instituto Cervantes showed pupils from 106 non-Spanish speaking countries studying the language in 2015.

The annual report also showed Spanish is the secondmost spoken language on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.

Finnish first THE best education system in Europe for languages and sciences is the Finnish system, according to the Pisa 2015 study.

And there is a ‘little Helsinki’ on the Costa del Sol at the Finnish International School in Fuengirola, where students do stretches in lessons and have just 20 minutes at lunch.

www.theolivepress.es

January 20th - February 6th 2016

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20 20 20

Education Special www.theolivepress.es

January 20th - February 6th 2016

t e fo r c Se

Former headmaster of three different schools including one in Gibraltar, Alcaidesa-based Stephen Coventry reveals his five secrets of the most-improved students

W

HAT do you need to do to turbo-charge your grades? Perhaps you or your children want to jump from a D to an A* or an E to a B? What better way to find

out than to ask students who’ve done just this what advice they have for others? Here’s five of their secrets, with examples from real student blogs posted online.

1. They think about their strengths and weaknesses

T

eachers spend a lot of time marking and providing comments – good students use them. They contain really important advice about improving work.

And when their work is below their target grade these students find out why and repeat the work or make sure the next piece doesn’t have the same faults.

Student: “I have spoken to my teachers and the same issue keeps cropping up: applying my knowledge in an analytical way. I also tend to panic and have a mind block in exams and this tends to have an impact as I go off topic in the exams.”

TOP OF THE CLASS: Five-step gu

2. They have a plan 3. They use y recoga plan and stick to it. The he best students have be put aside for study and divided nise that time needs to ts and topics. sensibly between subjec work is listed e form of calendar where The plan is usually som nt times. They may create this manuand allocated to differe study planner. ally or use a web based ays allow for ible – they should alw But the plans are flex change. lot. It is a great ision timetable helps a Student: “Creating a rev dy time and boosts your motivation way to organise your stu towards each subject.” ls, you guys r using web based too “I make my study planneyour studying more organised. I print should use it as it makesmorning so I have a plan set for the mine off every Monday whole week.”

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papers and schemes

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o one would take a take a driving test without practising driving a car and no one is likely to be successful in exams without practising some questions from past papers.

Mark schemes for most papers are also available. These are written in examiner language but they do show how examiners mark work and the skills

ADVERTORIAL

Ready to hop to it Y

OU may have the best and most supportive family and friends in the world, but everyone needs an extra helping hand sometimes. Luckily, Kangaroo Carers, a professional company on the Costa del Sol, has an experienced team on standby to meet your every need.

The Kangaroo team offers a wide range of helpful services. They provide babysitting services at homes as well as in hotels, and childcare at corporate events, and can even take the stress out of the big day for couples tying the knot by organising wedding crèches.

The qualified staff also provide homecare for the elderly, covering everything from household chores and shopping, to accompanying people on trips to the doctor or just out for a coffee.

Sometimes they simply provide much-valued company and the kind of help that allows fulltime carers to take a break.

Kangaroo carers pride themselves on going the extra mile. Babysitters always arrive early in order to get to prepare for the evening and check

on any special requirements, and have been known to offer to take on a bit of ironing or cleaning while they are there.

So it’s no surprise that carers often become trusted and reliable extensions of the family.

Trust and reliability is key, of course – all staff have been professionally trained and policechecked, and the management team holds qualifications in the health and social care sector, primarily in social work, youth work and elderly services. The founder of the company has regular meetings and inspections through the Care Quality Commission.

There is growing demand for Kangaroo Carers’ services, and the company is always on the lookout for more exceptional, kind, reliable individuals to join the team. Anyone with time to spare who enjoys working with both the young and elderly should get in touch.

For more information on the services Kangaroo Carers provides call 952 797 213 or visit us at www.kangaroocarers.com

www.theolivepress.es

January 20th - February 6th 2016

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February 3rd - February 16th 2016

ormula...

WORK EXPERIENCE WORKS

4. They know how to make (really) useful notes

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hat’s the point of notes? Students keep makin and teachers keep expecting them but they areg them useless without a clear idea of their purpose. pretty

Just copying isn’t usually very helpful, nor is highlighting more of a comfort blanket than a method of learni ng.

Top students personalise their notes by annot colours and being careful about headings and ating, using subheadings, always filing them away carefully.

uide to aceing exams

e past d mark

Good notes have double value: you learn from and then you learn more by reviewing them as making them proach, maybe creating flashcards or sets of the exams apquestions from them.

Student: “Re-read Biology notes, make sure I have got tant information, complete Physics notes and all the imporannotate.

- Re-read and annotate Chemistry notes.

- Practise Romeo and Juliet lines for English the next day.

- Pack my backpack with all the things I need such ogy notes, which I will look through again and as my Bioldo summary questions.”

5. They’re flexible

D and knowledge they’re looking for.

The best students use mark schemes and past papers to identify their strong and weak areas, focusing their attention on improving their weaknesses.

The blog extract below is a great example of using past papers and mark schemes Student: “1. Complete exam papers and mark using the mark scheme. Did I get an A? If yes, go to step 2, if not, read over notes.

2. Identify weak areas from mark scheme. Note how questions are marked for that part of the specification.

3. Read over weak areas, do practice questions.

4. Complete exam papers and check improvement.

5. Have any weak areas persisted? If yes, go back to step 1, if not, go on to another area.”

ifferent subjects need different kinds of knowledge and skills.

The content is different and exam papers, coursework and assessment vary. There is no one way of working that will suit every course and every subject.

At the same time people learn in different ways. Some like to make notes of their notes then make flashcards while others prefer big, colourful mindmaps.

The best students know how they work best but are able to adapt their working methods to suit different subjects and assessment methods. They use different approaches in Maths and History for example.

Student: “I use different methods of revising. Mostly, I just read what I’m trying to remember and memorise it. In Maths I answer questions on what I’ve just learnt, as memorising won’t help.

Practising hard, by revising past papers also helps as I get used to the style of questions.

“I also like to collaborate - helping others will always help you in some way. This is because no one is flawless, everyone has weak areas that other people have as strengths. Usually, I help people in Maths and they help me back with English.”

“Also, taking study breaks helps me as constant revision makes me forget what I just revised - my brain just can’t take all that information.”

SUMMER LOVIN’: Princeton interns with OP reporters

The Princeton diaries Two students from one of America’s top universities recall their newsdesk education at the Olive Press

I

T’S a far cry from the pomp and decorum of Princeton University, but every summer two students swap their New Jersey campus for the Olive Press’ Costa del Sol newsroom.

The two-month training scheme - now in its sixth year - is part of Princeton’s International Internship programme, allowing budding hacks the chance to experience a real newspaper, working alongside trained journalists while also practising Spanish.

The Olive Press is always a popular destination with the Princeton students and up to a dozen normally apply. The tricky part is selecting just two!

In recent years their tasks have included visiting the poorest and richest places in the country, reliving Hemingway’s experiences of Pamplona and tracking down criminals in Marbella.

What more could you want from a summer holiday!

Here, the 2015 interns discuss their Olive Press experience.

Caitlin Quinn, San Antonio, Texas SUMMER in southern Spain: the perfect mixture of sun, sand, sea, and…investigative journalism?

The job description promised lots of journalism experience and plenty of after-hours time on the beach — right up my street.

In the end, the experience turned out to be every bit as exciting, challenging, and fulfilling as I’d hoped.

When I wasn’t out on assignment, I spent my days at the Olive Press office, where I worked closely with the other journalists and staff.

I quickly picked up the tools of the trade: ‘Write in the active, not the passive, voice’, the boss kept telling me. ‘Always ask an interviewee’s age’.

Use the British spelling for words like ‘favour’ and ‘programme’ etc.

Besides honing my journalism skills, I improved my Spanish, learned to navigate a foreign cul-

Learn an Instrument.

Get involved in Acting and Singing.

Let your creativity flow.

For students of all ages.

63 Flat Bastion Road, Gibraltar · Tel: (+350) 200 71622 · Email: info@gampa.gi · www.gampa.gi

ture, and made some truly marvelous friends.

It was the experience of a lifetime, and now that I’m back in snowy New Jersey, I cherish my memories of last summer all the more.

There is no doubt a work experience placement like this is invaluable for any student considering journalism, but also to help you develop important life skills in general.

I had an incredible experience.

Nina Chausow, New York City THE original, tongue-in-cheek job description for interning at the Olive Press was, I quote: “Occasionally fanning senior members of staff on particularly hot days... and sharpening the pencils on a Monday morning.” To my dismay, I discovered neither pencils nor fans upon arriving, and realised I would actually be responsible for the work, thought and dedication expected of a reporter.

Working abroad is a much more complicated process for American citizens compared to those fortunate enough to hold an EU passport, as the work visa process can be long and arduous.

Therefore, coming to the Olive Press as a student offered a unique on-the-spot learning experience that never could have been taught inside a classroom.

My experience working at the Olive Press provided me with the most important skill set I utilized in my following university semester: Enrolled in the University of Granada, I took a class on newspaper translation. Not only did my new knowledge of British spelling keep me out of trouble with my professor, but my understanding of the structure and tone of British news articles really helped me succeed in the class. Furthermore, we actually ended up using an Olive Press article as background for an assignment we did.

22 22 the Olive Press November 11th - 25th 2015

www.theolivepress.es

Education Special

22 22 January 20th - www.theolivepress.es February 6th 2016 22

A school for Gibraltar Preparations underway and registrations pour in for the Rock’s first Independent mixed-gender secondary school, writes Iona Napier

I

T is a hive of activity in the airy offices of Prior Park School Gibraltar, overlooking Main Street.

The first day of term is not until this September – but headmaster Peter Watts has plenty to prepare for Gibraltar’s first ever independent co-educational secondary school.

The faith school, in the beautiful old Sacred Heart campus, will cater for 240 boys and girls at capacity, starting with Years 8, 9 and 10 this year and sixth form twelve months later.

Some 30 teachers will be employed, roughly a ten-to-one student-to-staff ratio, and an online classroom will video-link some classes from Prior Park College in Bath.

When we meet, Peter has spent the morning negotiating school lunch options with caterers and studying some of the 260 staff job applications which have flooded his mailbox.

“I’m enjoying the preparations, but I can’t wait for the school to open,” the 47-year-old Physics teacher explains.

“It won’t feel real to me until I have to

tell the first child off for running down the corridor!” he jokes.

Although discipline will be important, Peter is adamant pastoral care and balance are key to a great education and that ‘valuable homework doesn’t have to take forever to do’.

On popular parental demand, a homework club will mean children can enjoy quality family time at home, and Peter also wants student action in the community.

There may well also be English language support for interested parents.

“A big element of what a Prior Park student will be what they do for other people,” he continues.

It is the first big adventure for Peter since he and his wife, Diana, ‘very irresponsibly’ took their children out of school for a term for a round-the-

world-sabbatical-trip in 2010.

The ‘amazing, eye-opening’ trip started in New York and finished in Calcutta, via Zealand, Australia and India, seeing them travel parts of India on public transport with their children, ten and eight at the time.

“I still maintain that they learnt more at their age than they would have learnt in ten weeks of school,” he says.

It is this lateral approach to education that indicates Peter will be an excellent headmaster.

That, and the fact that he was a housemaster for 11 years and more recently Deputy Head at top UK school Sherborne, in Dorset, taking the wishes and ambitions of the children under his care seriously.

Until now, Gibraltarians wishing to educate their children on their Rock have not had the option of a mixed gender secondary school.

And expats wishing for a tradi-

STUNNING: School building and (inset) Watts family tional British education had to ship their children away to the UK or try one of the schools on the coast.

But thanks to a Gibraltar parents’ organisation that collided with a Prior Park alumni jaunt, the idea for the school was born and there are now over 100 children registered, and many more planning to attend.

“Registration is not nearly as ‘done’ here as it is in the UK, but parents wishing for their children to come here should register for their own peace of mind, and it also helps us plan.”

He will be joined by his local government officer wife, Diana, and children William, 15, and Emily, 13, who will move out following William’s GCSEs this summer.

They will live in Gibraltar’s old town, just three minutes’ walk from the school, and they desperately hope their four-year-old border collie, Lottie, will join them.

Opening September 2016 Prior Park School, Gibraltar will be the fourth school to join the Prior Park Schools community and the first Independent, Catholic senior school in Gibraltar.

Our aim is to inspire and challenge every child by offering stimulating educational opportunities and to build a school of which all of Gibraltar can be proud.

To find out more, including details of how to register your child, please visit our website www.priorparkgibraltar.com

We look forward to welcoming your child to the Prior Park family.

An Education for Life

www.priorparkgibraltar.com Find us on social media: priorparkschoolgibraltar

www.theolivepress.es

the Olive Press November 11th - 25th www.theolivepress.es January 20th - February 6th2015 2016

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February 3rd - February 16th 2016

T

HE blue skies of Andalucia aren’t just a magnet for the thousands of British expats who relocate here, year on year.

One of Europe’s largest pilot training schools also made the move from Scotland to the south of Spain, swapping Prestwick for Jerez in 1999.

And it’s not hard to see why FTEJerez – formerly called British Aerospace Flying College – has been turbocharged by the change of location.

Its new home, a 45,000m2 former military base 2km outside the city centre, trains pilots for many commercial airlines including Fly Emirates, British Airways and Aer Lingus, among others.

If you judge a school by the success of its students, FTEJerez gets full marks.

Next time you take off with Flybe, Qatar Airways or Vueling,

FTEJerez flight school is one of the biggest names in aviation, training pilots for top airlines

Reach for the sky

there’s a good chance your captain was trained in Jerez.

But there is a reason FTEJerez has built up such a strong network of airline partners, providing excellent postgraduate opportunities for trainees.

One of its USPs is the fact that all training takes place on the same site.

Take a pilot school in England, for example, and the flying stage of the training is always held elsewhere, such as Florida.

TAKING OFF: Flight school in Jerez and (above) one of the many female students

But in Jerez, the excellent conditions and campus accommodation means no jetting around is required.

That’s not to say students don’t escape at weekends into Jerez, Andalucia’s sherry capital, and further afield on exploratory road trips.

But the clear benefit is that ground school and flight training can be combined, rather than tackled in separate stages.

FTE Brand Manager Alex Padina explains: “We can integrate the different phases easily which can really help training. Our location has helped us become one of the biggest names in Europe.”

“It is important for the quality of training, but the lovely area is also a great factor,” he added.

Pilot training typically lasts an intensive 62 weeks, starting with ground school and progressing to single and multi-engine flying. The last month is spent in a Boeing 737 simulator before obtaining a licence and beginning a career.

About 50-60% of students are cadets being funded by an airline, while the rest are self-funded.

FTEJerez has one of the most even ratios of male to female trainees in the industry.

For more info visit www.ftejerez.com

TOP MARKS: Graduation day at BSM

Fun and games The emphasis is not just on education at the British School of Marbella… it is also on health and fitness

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HERE are few schools in Spain that have such a wonderful family feel… and put such an emphasis on health and fitness.

At the British School of Marbella (BSM) teachers work hard to get their pupils at least an hour of exercise a day and often more.

Part of the British Schools Foundation - which has 10 schools around the world - the emphasis is on raising healthy, rounded children with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in life.

“The benefits of daily exercise are incredibly far reaching and go well beyond developing cardiovascular fitness,” explains headteacher Sian Kirkham, who previously ran the group’s school in Moscow.

“A big part of being healthy for children is getting the recommended level of physical activity—at least 60 minutes daily. Studies show that physical activity not only helps children stay active and healthy, but it can enhance important skills like concentration and problem solving, which can improve academic performance.”

The school set up in 2010 has a daily sports programme that includes swimming, horse riding, tennis and team games and helps the children learn values of teamwork and sportsmanship.

“Though traditional and formal in style, we are also progressive, dynamic and have a modern approach to teaching and learning.

“We combine the rigours of classroom work with a welcoming learning environment. Children are encouraged to do their best at whatever they attempt, and to achieve their full potential in all areas.

“Our staff set the very highest standards, not only academically, but also in terms of behaviour and social skills.

“We aim to instil, from the very youngest age, the ability for critical thinking and reasoning, while gaining essential social and learning skills, which will be integral to their school life.”

For more information visit www.bsm.org.es

24

the Olive Press November 11th - 25th 2015

www.theolivepress.es

Property

25

25

the Olive Press June 25th - July 9th 2015

February 3rd - February 16th 2016

Shy Sean’s pants of shame

Romano ruin Hundreds fear losing their homes after controversial roadworks begin following a 20-year stand-off with the town hall

SEAN Connery fled his luxury Costa del Sol pad because he didn’t want neighbours to see him in his pants.

The revelation emerged during a trial into tax fraud at a 72-unit Marbella complex that went

NEWS

VULNERABLE Estepona residents fear they will be thrown out of their homes for not being able to cover ‘enormous’ infrastructure charges.

After a 20-year battle with homeowners - many of them expats - Estepona Town Hall has given the green light for a €6 million roadwork project to begin at the Valle Romano urbanisation.

Some 200 residents have long been protesting the project for which they will be charged up to €45,000 each, a fee many insist they simply

5 Estepona reside infrastructure nts fired up over ‘unfair’ charges

EXCLUSIVE

By Rob Horgan ‘cannot afford’.

And while the town hall claims to have reached an agreement with residents to ‘unlock issues blocking the works’, Valle Romano homeowners insist no such deal has been brokered.

“We have been told absolutely nothing,” one resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the Olive Press. “No agreement has been reached and nothing

Catalunya calling SPAIN’S house prices increased the most in Catalunya last year.

In the first national increase since 2008, prices jumped exceptionally in the Gerona, Barcelona and Lleida areas, with 10%, 5% and 5% raises respectively. in fact, Tarragona was the region’s only province which registered a decline (-1.7%).

Other areas which saw significant increases were Albacete (4.5%), Madrid (3.3%), Avila (2.4%) and the Balearic Islands (2.7%).

DISGRUNTLED Estepona residents are taking pute with the town a disthe European Court hall to of Justice after being to €45,000 each charged up for ‘unfair’ road improvements.

Members of the mano urbanisa Valle Rohappy at being tion are unso much for theasked to pay ‘enormous’ infrastructure charges.

After a petition was ignored by the town hall, the Estepona Expats Resident sociation contacted s Asthe EU courts to step in.

C

NEWS IN BRIEF Cancer watch

EIGHT in 10 women in Spain with are diagnosed too late, according toovarian cancer three oncology institute reports by s. Around 4,100 diagnosed every women are year.

Flocking Fins

THE number of Finnish national residence in Spain s with has nearly doubled permanent 16,000 over the from 7,500 to past decade.

Minister aborts

Dodd

Marbella resid sex cards beingents furious after being plagu ed by attached to their cars

RESIDENTS and

By Jacqueline demanding action holidaymakers are Fanchini with a deluge of after being ‘plagued’ must be done after cars Paula Silver told and brothel flyersprostitute calling cards ‘littered’ were continual the Olive Press: “I only Nueva Andalucia. in Puerto Banus and ments. with the provocative advertisely went to the hairdress ers by the H10 ho- tel, in Nueva Olive Press readers Andaluci Many are concerne insist somethin out my car had been a, but when I came d about their g being exposed targeted. to blatant sexual children “My kids collected imagery. window and dozensthe cards off my side on the floor.”

H10 Hotel assistant SPAIN is building ager Ricardo Acevedo, manthe second most system in the world, extensive bullet firmed: “It is a problem contrain despite spending An extra 1,000 and km of track plannedcuts to the AVE. our security guards Spain’s high speed for 2015 will see sometimes ask people network stretch across only China operating ers on windshie putting flya more extensive 4,000 km, with will be focused on lds to stop system. doing it and remove lines into Leon, Work and Zamora.

Gijon, Burgos, Murcia them.”

An employee at nearby worx, added: “I’ve Hairfound flyers on my car nothing you canbut there’s about it, they’re really do not going to Continues from stop.” front page of Wells’ of 14 Expat Michael years - who Watson wife Emma, from has also now who also had cards furious that Wells Coin, are against her, filed a denuncia his car while parkedput on buy the couple’s agreed to understands. the Olive Press

by El Corte Ingles in while posing as Coin home, Hall meanwhi nus - said: “It’s Puerto Baan ‘indepenle easy for the dent’ estate agent. €13,000 out of is more than police to look into this as the A price was agreed rent, deposit, pocket – for names of the clubs couple moved out and the fees and moving estate agent are on the cards.” to a new rental property.

“All I want is forcosts.

In 2008 Malaga province inIn a goodwill gesture, an to be stopped. this wom- A DOCTOR has accused troduced a law against they We have Guardia a then gave her a key to the been through months of hell phyxiatin Civil officer of as- leting on car windshie leafgarden so she lds for because of her g a former rugby which fines and her messing two can reach up to young children could us league player who around,” he said. died on €750. holiday in Ibiza. and ‘use the pool’ come in Samanta Fuster, However, a Marbella a local Span- Doctor Santiago was going through while she iard who Town Akoskin said Hall spokesperson posted the buying process. said: “We about the scams a warning the officer refused to remove have not been made on Facebook, his baton But after more than aware from the throat four can- said she had received an ‘in- Luke Rhoden of of this issue. celled payment credible amount (above), despite done we wouldIf anyone had of feedback’ being have acted.” came clear that dates it be- from people Wells had no who had also times. asked by him three She added: “Police will intention of paying. been tricked. fine anyone they spot Officers were called doing it.”

Shockingly, a neighbou Last night, the However to Ibiza Olive Press Rocks Hotel r later was another told him she had unable in San Tom Tomas insistsresident ‘showing prospectiseen Wells Both of herto contact Wells. after the 25-year-o Antonio actually police ld fell mobile ve from clients appear to turn around the garden’. have been switched phones a first-floor balcony following blind eye to the problem. a off, as a suspected drink One of those she showed well as that of her Spanish binge. and drugs “I have seen people around the house distribboyfriend. uting the flyers Rhoden in front of Helle Munksgaard was expat Do you know Wells? Contact as he had to be restrained the police around the - a friend port,” ranted at newsdesk@theoliv he said. “It needs epress.es guests, according other hotel stopped.” to be to Guardia

Bullet train take

SPAIN’S Justice Minister, Alberto has resigned from Ruiz-Gallardon, tion reforms was his post after his bill for aborabandoned by ment. central govern-

Election delay

SPAIN’S deputy prime minister next year’s general is investigating 2016, in the hope elections could be delayed to whether February that unemployment will be lower.

Catalan outbreak

AN eighth person infection Legionn has died from the lung where two separataire’s disease in Catalun ya, e outbreaks have month. struck this

s a hit Officer WORK BEGINS: At Valle Romano and (inset) accused of rugby our previous story death Find rental frau dster! has changed.

OHL has begun work and “Most of the people who live residents are expected to pay here are elderly and have very up before the next phase of little money. They are scared construction begins in March. their homes will be embar- Contrary to what residents goed and they will be out on say, a spokesman for the town the street.” hall confirmed everything ‘had Fellow resident Chris Gentle been agreed and finalised’ for added: “The place already the work to go ahead. looks like a bomb site.

“The town hall has been re“Several residents have con- sponsible for developing the tacted the ombudsman in ground, drafting the plans and Madrid but nothing has ever agreeing terms with the homecome to fruition.” owners to unlock an issue that In fact, the Estepona Expat had dragged on for more than Association even appealed to two decades,” he said. the European Union to inter- “It is a major project that afvene, as reported in the Olive fects about two hundred resiPress in October 2014. dents who are obliged to bear However, construction firm the costs of these works.”

• GRAPHIC DESI GN • INTERIOR ARCH • FASHION DESI ITECTURE GN

With more people looking for building plots to develop on the Costa del Sol, here’s the first article in a series about buyers’ taxes depending on the seller’s status In the case of a building plot that is classified as urban land – the only type you can legally build on in Spain – Adolfo says VAT is levied, in addition to the sale price, when the seller is a Spanish company or professional who is acting within the scope of their business activities.

If this is not the case, urban land sales are not subject to VAT, but to transfer tax (ITPO).

When the seller is a Spanish business or professional, VAT is levied at a flat rate of 21% on top of the sale price. But that’s not all, Ad-

The chairman ciation, Tony of the assoDodd, said: "These people are being totally ripped off. treat one groupYou cannot one way and then of people other group totallytreat andifferently.”

Residents are said to be so worried about making the payments that they are ‘getting ill’.

Xavier Lazaro, 64, cannot afford this.said: “We We are

middle-class people who don’t have lots of money. I receive €340 disability allowance a month being asked to pay and I’m €14,000.

It’s crazy.

"People are asking if they are going to be into the streets. chucked out worried they areThey are so some people are getting ill, on medication even going to deal with the stress."

Another British resident said: “We have on our own until fought this are simply being now and we CAMPA ignored.”

IGN: Tony

Welcome to Sex City!

Know your taxes

LIENTS often ask me when VAT (IVA) is due on the purchase of building land in Spain.

This is especially important for those acting as developers because, in some cases, the VAT paid when purchasing land can be offset during the building process.

But it is also relevant to those who are liable for transfer tax, a significantly lower fiscal burden than VAT. To make sure I provide the best possible answer to the next client who asks me, I talked to a lawyer – Adolfo Martos Gross, a partner in Costa del Sol law firm GAM Abogados – and put the very same question to him.

EXCLUSIVE

By Rob Horgan

olfo notes. Another tax is also due – stamp duty (AJD) – charged at an additional 1.5%. Which makes a whopping 22.5% extra, in total.

Whereas, when the seller is a private individual who is a tax resident in Spain, ITPO is levied on a sliding scale in accordance with the sale price: 8% up to €400,000, 9% from €400,000.01 to €700,000, and 10% over €700,000.01. Joint owners, Adolfo adds, can benefit from a discount because, while the same rates apply, the taxable base of the sale price is calculated in proportion to their ownership share.

Let’s look at a few examples: 1.Antonio García owns a building plot (which he may have inherited or have bought to build on) and which he wants to sell. Because he is a private individual, not a company or professional, and did not buy the land to develop for business purposes or to sell for a profit, he cannot charge VAT and AJD. The buyer will have to pay ITPO. 2.María del Carmen García is a property professional, who is registered as such, pays her taxes, has an office, and sells property

International Design

School

The Property Insider

by Adam Neale

on a regular basis. She buys a building plot, which she wants to sell for profit. The buyer will have to pay VAT and AJD. 3.John Smith is in the same position as Mari Carmen García. He’s a property developer, who should also, by law, charge VAT and AJD. But, Adolfo says, the Junta may not believe John is what he says.

As a result, the Junta may try to apply ITPO instead and John will have to prove his professional status to the Junta’s satisfaction. In either case, the buyer has to pay the respective taxes.

4. Venta de Parcelas y Propiedades, S.L. is, as it’s name suggests, a Spanish limited liability company that sells building plots and property. It is registered as such, pays taxes, has an office, and has a track record of selling both. On land sales, it has to charge VAT and AJD, which the buyer has to pay.

What matters, Adolfo points out, in all of these scenarios is the status of the seller, not the buyer. Whether the buyer is a company or an individual makes no difference.

The seller is responsible for determining which type of tax – VAT and AJD, or ITPO – must be charged. If the buyer does not agree, the case may be reviewed by the tax authorities.

But the buyer is always liable for payment, whatever tax is due.

Terra Meridiana. 77 Calle Caridad, 29680 Estepona. Tel: +34 951 318480.

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up in place of Connery’s Casa Malibu property during the 90s.

The James Bond star apparently became irritated at people gawking while he was getting changed, and left for the Bahamas with his wife, Micheline.

“These people are not going to see me in my underpants. I am leaving Marbella,” Connery said, according to Juan Antonio Roca, the shamed ex-Marbella city planning svengali.

Neither Connery nor his wife have been charged in the ongoing case, but Micheline faces two and a half years in prison in connection with a different charge.

Property

www.theolivepress.es 26

Price is right HOUSING prices in Spain shot up 4.5% in the third quarter of 2015.

The increase was the biggest year-on-year jump since the first quarter of 2008, according to Eurostat figures.

Sweden saw the biggest year-on-year growth, with prices up 13.7%.

UK prices rose 5.6% in the same period.

Billioneuro bid ONE of Spain’s biggest banks is preparing to sell a property portfolio worth up to €8 billion.

Banco Popular is looking to reduce its property assets by 30% through sales in 2016, according to reports in the Spanish press.

The bank is currently the most exposed to the property market of any in Spain.

The proposal comes as Spain’s property market continues to improve, with growth driven by price increases in Madrid and Barcelona.

the Olive Press June 25th - July 9th 2015 February 3rd - February 16th 2016

Luxury getaways World’s top-rated hotels named

THE most popular hotels in the world have been unveiled by TripAdvisor.

The user-generated site has listed its top 25 hotels for 2016, based on user ratings and reviews.

Hotel Abadia Retuerta Le Domaine in Valladolid is the only Spanish entry on the list, coming in at number 21.

The Hotel Abadia Retuerta Le Domaine boasts a 12th century abbey and the remaining walls of a Roman monastery as well as the mod cons of spa, bar and gym.

In fact, it recently underwent a €30 million renovation, and is surrounded by an award-winning winery.

Meanwhile, Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur in India ranked best of the best, closely followed by the Shinta Mani Resort in Cambodia.

Two UK hotels made the list: the Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Great Milton (at number 6) and The Milestone Hotel in London (15).

A night at the best hotel in the world as rated by TripAdvisor users will set you back around €500 a night, while a trip to the highest rated Spanish hotel is a steal at just over €400.

CREAM OF THE CROP: Hotel Abadia Retuerta Le Domanine and (left) Palace Jodhpur

Five star hotel sets sights on Doha Marbella Real Estate Photos SPAIN’S leading hotel group is setting up a foothold in the Middle East.

Doha in Qatar will be the proud destination of a new

NEW on the Costa Del Sol Prices from EUR 90 + IVA Get those all important viewings with good pictures

www.marbellarealestatephotos.com

Melia Hotels International ‘Innside’ hotel.

The luxury hotel, set to open in 2017, will be the chain’s third investment in

the country, and will be located close to Doha’s airport and the Qatar National Museum.

Melia Hotels International

De-railing!

11+

Rumour and abandoned proposals can also have an effect upon the value of a property

W

E’VE all seen the battles in the Wild West films over which direction the railroad was going.

It could make the landowner a fortune in increased value or leave him with empty scrub land as he watched the smoke trail passing through the parallel valley.

These were days when no action was too bad to satisfy men’s ambition, pride and greed.

In Spain I’m sure that there were similarities regarding where motorways were built or the AVE station was to be placed, with some not being decided purely on technical engineering matters.

Whilst in the Costa del Sol the major road routes are largely decided - except perhaps for the daft Ronda motorway, proposed to go through some of the most beautiful scenery in the area and then what?

Parking is a chronic problem in Ronda as it is, so whilst the trip there will be 20 mins shorter, that time then will be spent circling the town trying

to find a legal space!

But I’ve gone off track(!).

There are two major proposals that could radically affect the area.

One is the goods line proposed from Algeciras to join with the national network near Antequera; and the other is the coastal rail line extension westwards from the existing terminus at Fuengirola to Estepona and eventually San Roque to link with the Algeciras line.

(Originally proposed in 1871 – now that’s a long wait for a train!).

Both could substantially affect the value of the land they pass through (or under).

Recently, I looked at a property near Ronda and only at the last moment remembered the goods rail proposal.

One favoured route would have had heavy trains passing within 200 m of the house. Not ideal for somebody wanting an oasis of peace and beauty in the country.

So this proposal, if it ever comes to pass, is an example of where the good of the country as a whole (and

was founded in 1956 in Mallorca and operates more than 350 hotels, 163 in Spain, across 35 countries.

years experience in

ALL PROPERTY MATTERS

RICS SURVEYORS & VALUERS BYBUILDING CAMPBELL FERGUSON

For businesses!) peace of mind no doubt a few hasfollow to buying sacrifice thethese peaceproperty and value of the rules few.

The Coastal Rail Link seems much more identifiably beneficial to the Find Your Property general public as individuals, but with the country as a whole swithering over the cost.

It’s proposed to build the bulk of it underground, with Instruct stations poppingInstruct up Building Surveyor Lawyer every few kilometres.

The locations of these will be important as they will generate traffic, commercial use and raise the values of the homes that are within walking distance, but with Knowledge far enough away orBuy blocked from the & Confidence disturbance both of building and operation.

And just by these schemes being publicised, no matter how loco(!), +34 952 923 520 Connect with us! remember that rumour, hearsay and admin@surveyspain.com abandoned surveyspain.com proposals can also have an effect upon the value of a property.

So keep your ear to the ground for anything locally that might affect your environment and thus the value of your property.

Contact Campbell and the team on +34 952 923 520 or email info@surveyspain.com

Top Dollar

www.theolivepress.es

27 27 the Olive Press November 11th - 25th 2015

December 10th - 22nd 2015 February 3rd - February 16th 2016

Back from the brink EXCLUSIVE

By Rob Horgan

A COSTA del Sol marketing firm has overcome adversity to become a key innovator for Google.

Plush Global Media has become the first ‘Google Trusted Agency’ to use new technology for the international search engine’s Maps service.

In fact, over 3,000 businesses on the Costa del Sol have been added to Google’s Business Streetview by Plush Global Media in the last two years.

However, it has not always been plain sailing for the San Pedro-based company which was pushed to the brink of bankruptcy just a year ago because of a ‘top-secret’ deal

Costa del Sol media group fights smear-tactics from photographers to become Google innovator with Google.

Working alongside British company NCTech, it was contracted to upload virtual photography tours of businesses in southern Spain to Google.

However, the terms of the contract prevented the company from saying anything about what they were doing.

This drew a ‘backlash’ from Google Trusted Photographers on the Costa del Sol who ‘set out to tarnish’ Plush Global Media’s reputation.

“Plush Global Media’s journey hasn’t exactly been easy,”

Top gong A LAW firm which advises people in Spain and worldwide has won a prestigious award.

Paradigm Family Law was voted ‘Best Specialist Family Law Firm UK 2015′ by corporate finance company Acquisition International.

Nominated by clients, peers and fellow professionals, Paradigm Family Law was voted cream of the crop to the delight of managing partners, James Thornton and Frank Arndt.

“It is great to be recognised by our peers in this way, so soon after having set up Paradigm Family Law,” Arndt said.

said its director, Lee Collins.

“Needless to say, Google was very impressed with our work.

“However, we faced a backlash and harassment from the current Google Trusted Photographers here on the Costa del Sol.” He added: “Because we were contractually obligated to NCTech, we were unable to claim any sort of business relationship with NCTech or Google.

“As a result, our company name was defamed across the internet, photographers would harass us at business meetings and in the street and we were helpless to stop it.

“The damage control almost bankrupted us, but thankfully it has all paid off in the long run.”

As a consequence of the work done by Plush Global Media on the Costa del Sol, Google and NCTech have reached a multi-million euro deal.

Plush Global Media has also been rewarded by becoming the first company to use the new Google-approved iris360 camera.

AGONY ANT YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES

Going solo

Seven things you should know about starting a business in Spain

T

HE one-man band company: If you are a singer, a real estate agent with no employees or a dentist and you set up a limited company to pay less tax, you have a problem.

The Directorate General of Taxes has stated that a company – consisting of a single shareholder who also is the director - that is unable to trade without the direct participation of owner/director, is in fact a shell or ‘simulated’ company.

The main consequence is that the Tax Office will deem the person acting through the company as self-employed, for tax purposes. To avoid this, a company must have enough human and material resources to operate irrespective of owner/ director. In 2014, the Tax Office initiated 1.919 full enquiries in connection to this type of fraud.

Limited vs personal liability: The acro-

nym S.L. stands for ‘Sociedad Limited’, which suggests companies will protect the entrepreneur should things go wrong (save for fraud).

Self-employed do not enjoy such protection and are personally liable with present and future assets for losses incurred in the course of the business activity.

Growth expectations: An entrepreneur who intends to grow cannot operate as a sole trader. As the business increases its turnover,

so do the associated risks. Self-employed people without corporate protection risk less and, as a consequence, expand at a slower pace (which may not be a bad thing after all).

Dealing with monies: Sole traders will

have direct access to the proceeds of the business whereas in a company, the director (or the shareholders) cannot just dip into the account when in need of cash. In the latter case, it is important to note that any money received by the company belongs to the company and legally, to draw cash out, the director will have to have a salary (“nomina”) or take out a dividend, both of which are taxable.

Costs: Setting up as a sole trader will not at-

tract cost whereas a company will cost anything from €600 to €1,400, depending on various variables: share capital, legal assistance, choice of Notary Public etc.

Professional Image: In some businesses and industries, having a limited company will provide a more professional image. If you are doing business with larger companies, you may find that they prefer to deal only with limited companies rather than sole traders or partnerships.

Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.es

NEWS IN BRIEF

Recruitment drive TECHNOLOGY giant Oracle is looking to recruit 1,400 new members of staff with 100 professionals needed to join their Malaga office.

Cash in SPAIN’S largest nationalised bank Bankia recorded a €185 million fourth-quarter profit in 2015, boosted by an asset sale to improve capital.

Smoked out SPAIN’S last remaining cigarette factory is to be stubbed out.

The closure of the Altadis tobacco factory in Logrono will result in the loss of 471 jobs when it closes in June.

Bank’s accounts CAIXABANK recorded a €182 million loss in the fourth quarter of 2015, after its shares in energy company Repsol plummeted in value.

27

Top Dollar

28 28 the Olive Press November 11th - 25th 2015

www.theolivepress.es February 3rd - February 16th 2016

The way we consume news is changing... especially in a country where everyone is interested in the news, but very few actually trust it, writes Tom Powell

Read all about it!

S

NEWS JUNKIES: In Spain

PANIARDS may be the first to check out the morning news but they’re among the last people in the world to trust it.

In fact while 85% of the country sucks it up, a meagre 34% actually believe what they are reading, watching or listening to.

The revelation comes from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism in its 2015 report, which looked at the media scene in 12 countries.

Of those dozen, Spain is top for interest in news but beaten only by the USA for lack of trust. Clearly, Spanish media is getting it right commercially but not journalistically.

Of course, that increased interest is largely due to the landmark elections

which saw the PP and PSOE wave goodbye to the old two-party system.

The report also confirms what most of us have known for some time: that sales of proper printed newspapers are on a downward spiral worldwide, and Spain is not immune.

Smart phones are largely to blame as audiences guzzle up articles and videos shared through social media without having to hand over one centimo at a news stand.

The big two Spanish newspapers – El Pais and El Mundo – bore the brunt, losing 11% and 13% of print sales respectively last year.

That said, both continue to attract audiences three times the size of even

The Olive Press by numbers AS newspapers struggle to stay afloat, cutting back on newsdesks and switching to digital, the Olive Press is heading in the other direction. In 2015 we launched a second edition dedicated to Gibraltar, with 10,000 papers hitting the Rock per fortnight, and continued to expand in every department. Meanwhile, it’s hard to argue with the soaring growth of www. theolivepress.es throughout 2015. And now we have a whole new website to ring in the new year too, in the shape of www. gibraltarolivepress.com.

their most successful online rivals.

The most notable of these, El Confidencial, still had a fantastic year. It is now the most read online-only newspaper in Spain, followed by Publico.es.

El Confidencial’s new-found popularity stems from its investigative and original reporting. In November, one of its journalists worked with the Olive Press on a story about infamous fraudster Nigel Goldman.

The article exposed the incredible delay by Fuengirola Court in processing victims’ claims against the elusive conman. Lo and behold, two weeks later Goldman received a court summons.

Where global publishers are concerned, BBC, CNN and the New York

Top online stories: VIDEO: Hell and high water shocking floods leave deaths in Andalucia pageviews

3,145 (8.6 per day) 92,022 British tourist claims Gibraltar’s apes sexually assaulted her 88,155 Comments posted - 5,771 (15.6 per day)

Online stories posted -

Web users -

1,126,437 up 18%

Page views -

6,450,519 up 35% 3.26% down 75.11%

Bounce rate - ­

Baron Rothschild indicted in France over fraud case -

59,350

Strikes to hit Spanish airports during peak summer holiday season -

27,628

VIDEO: Shark spotted in Fuengirola -

27,242

Times are the most widely read in Spain.

Regional newspapers remain ‘moderately healthy’, although many are still way behind in terms of their online presence and reach.

It has long been the golden question in journalism: how does a newspaper make money from its website?

In the UK, only The Times now has a paywall after the Sun recently ditched its own. In Spain, nothing of the sort is yet in place.

El Mundo has flirted with the idea and currently operates a couple of paid subscription services for enriched content and e-paper downloads.

But for the most part, publishers have kept their online content free for all and funded by advertising.

Of course, news is not solely the domain of newspapers. In terms of television audiences, La Sexta showed the biggest increase thanks to its broad range of news and current affairs programmes.

The leading radio network – online and offline – is Cadena SER. One major change Spain saw in its media scene last year was an increase in news sharing, due to the growth in mobile device usage as well as keen public interest in the volatile political spectrum Television is the key driver of debate, however, with current affairs programmes widely discussed on Twitter and Facebook.

www.theolivepress.es

29

the Olive Press November 11th - 25th 2015

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the Olive Press November 11th - 25th 2015

31

February 3rd - February 16th 2016

Life on Malbs Barbour jackets and chocolate labradors almost tempt Giles to move to Malborough

I

TOOK a trip back to the UK last month, my first for a couple of years. Not having flown for two years I was a bit like an excited puppy on the plane going over, and even more when I discovered that the flight had free Wifi.

Unfortunately all the fun went out of that when I turned on social media to discover that David Bowie had died, and I glanced out of the plane’s window to see if I could spot the Starman ascending past 33,000ft.

On this trip I was helping a friend move house – she was the brains and the beauty, so I was obviously the brawn. My friend moved to Malborough, situated in an exceptionally beautiful part of the UK. (Since returning I have had

MARBELLA TO MARLBOROUGH: But Giles is left pining for Spanish supermarkets

to explain to Spanish friends that it is not spelled Malboro, and it’s not where the ciga-

rettes come from).

It didn’t rain while I was over there (news reports gave

Indecent proposals ty If you thought Valentine’s cards were getting frui you haven’t been propositioned by a piropo

‘Y

our eyes are like grapes, your mouth like an apple, what a great fruit cocktail we’d make with my banana.’

Let’s face it, if a guy shouted that out to a woman in the street these days he’d be had up for sexual harassment.

And that’s one of the tamer piropos – chatup lines rooted in Hispanic courtship culture but still bandied about in Spain today.

Derived from the Greek ‘pyro’ meaning fire, in centuries past they allowed a young swain to express admiration for a member of the opposite sex. But if you’re thinking of trying one out on Tracy in accounts this Valentine’s Day to show her what a cultured romantic you are, don’t. The only flames you’re likely to ignite will be the ones you’re shot down in as you crash and burn.

The dictionary definition of ‘piropear’ is ‘to pay a compliment’ but in these PC times I’m not so sure. I wouldn’t want to guarantee the public safety of any man who was to shout ‘¡Eso son carnes y no lo que echaba mi suegra al cocido!’ (loose translation, ‘That’s real meat and not the kind my mother-in-law cooks…’) … or ‘De qué jugueteria te sacaron, muñeca?’ (‘What toy store did they get you from, doll face?’)

Even at their least offensive – ‘I wish I was cross-eyed so I could see you twice!’ – the object of your affection will be searching for the sick bag.

While at their tackiest – ‘I wish I was a pirate so I could plunder the treasure between your legs’– you’ll be lucky to get away with your own family jewels intact. It’s no surprise there’s pressure from womens’ movements to criminalise the practice.

Most piropos use metaphor and food is a popular motif for flattering a hot woman, as in the popular Andalucian saying: ‘Pepper is small and spicy and seasons stews; you are small and spicy and my body is unseasoned’. Although I’m not sure what the ra-

cial equality lobby would have to say about the Mexican piropo: ‘Hey black woman, if you shake it as you move it, what a chocolate!’

Perhaps to be expected from a nation where ‘me caga en la hostia’ (‘I shit on the communion wafer’) is a curse still in common usage, scatological humour is another strong theme of the piropo. In the interests of not grossing out OP readers I will quote the following example in the vernacular: ‘Estás tan buena que te comería todo y me cosería el culo pa no cagar te.’

Even if you say it in Spanish, you feel the need to wash your mouth out with soap.

As for ¡Ay, hija mía, si fueras lavadora, cuántos polvos te echaría!’ – safe to say, it has nothing to do with washing powder.

Spain’s President of the Observatory against Gender Violence, Maria Angeles Carmona, has declared the piropo ‘an invasion of a woman’s privacy’.

“The piropo has always been permitted and assumed to be normal but no one has the right to make a comment on the appearance of women and it must be eradicated,” she says.

She may have a point. Mind you, she hasn’t seen this season’s crop of English Valentine’s cards, beside which even piropos seems tame.

With apologies to this paper’s esteemed editor, it’s amazing what you can still get away with in print!

the impression that certain parts of England were sinking) and, being the middle of Wiltshire, I didn’t spot hordes of migrants (as again, news reports gave the impression that the sheer weight of migrant numbers were causing the aforementioned areas to sink).

The town was looking particularly beautiful on the Saturday morning when I popped into the shops. Everyone seemed to be driving a Land Rover Defender, wore Barbour jackets and Wellington Boots and had at least one Chocolate Labrador in tow.

I found myself musing that if I did ever decide to move back to the UK, then this was the kind of town that I could see myself settling down in.

Miracle

And then I went shopping.

At the local upmarket supermarket, I picked up four items and strode up to the queue.

There was an elderly gentleman, resplendent in Barbour Jacket (probably with a Land Rover Defender complete with Chocolate Lab in the car park) in front of me. As he was loading up his weekly shopping at the till, I did what I always do in Spain and asked (very politely) if I could hop in front of him as I only had four items.

I was unprepared for his reaction.

“What! WHAT!” he bellowed, “The shopping basket till is over there you fool!”

I was so stunned by his reply that I meekly said ‘Thank you’ and shuffled off.

But as I stood in the shopping basket queue, my anger began to rise. It was, perhaps, a minor miracle that he drove off before me, or Malborough might have been treated to some of my choicest Andaluz swear words!

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Top Salud Milking it 32

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February 3rd - February 16th 2016

World’s oldest man is a Spanish farmer

THE oldest man in the world is attributing his long life to a classic Spanish diet - and milk.

Francisco Nunez Olivera, who lost all his teeth four decades ago, claims milk, sponge cake and Actimel have kept him sprightly.

ANCIENT: Olivera The former farmer from near Badajoz celebrated his 111th birthday on December 11.

Asking the optician for eyecare “It’s essential to eat well. If on the slopes by Amrik Sappal, you don’t, you are going to die of hunger,” said Francisco, Store Director from Specsavers whose wife died in 1988.

Opticas Fuengirola “I worked in the fields all my life. The secret is to work T’S finally snowing in the Sierra Nevada and aware while out on the snow, as the effects hard. Not to be weak and stay after a very slow start to the season they are can take 6-12 hours to develop. Long-term exin the house.” able to start opening more runs at last. As posure to UVB can cause cataracts and even In the 1920s, he fought in the we’re only two hours away from the slopes, it’s ocular tumours.

Rif War between Spain and important that your eyes are protected when

Morocco. you head up to the mountains, so I’ve put to- Q. How can I protect my He is currently waiting to gether the most commonly asked questions to hear if Guinness will accept eyes while out on the slopallow everyone to enjoy the sun safely on the his birth certificate to prove piste this season. he is the world’s oldest man. es?

A. All you need is good sunglasses, but make sure you choose the right ones. Always read Q. Why are my eyes more at the label carefully and choose the maximum risk when I’m skiing? protection factor available. Remember that A. The atmosphere on the slopes is very clear eyes will be exposed to high levels of UV even AN 11-month-old baby in and the reflection of sunlight on the slopes is if it’s not sunny. Choosing sunglasses without Spain has been diagnosed very strong. These two factors combine to be the right protection could damage the eye with scurvy. potentially damaging to the eyes and could by causing the pupil to dilate, increasing the Doctors have linked the rare lead to long term problems. amount of UV light filtering into the eyes, so disease to the baby’s almond always keep this in mind when selecting your milk-only diet.

Q. How does this affect my eyewear.

Currently under observation eyes? at the Universitari i PolitecSpecsavers Opticas is currently offering A. Although people know how important it is to nic La Fe hospital in Valencia, free eye tests.

There are Specsavers Optikeep skin protected from the sun, few realise doctors expect the baby to cas stores in Marbella and Fuengirola on how damaging UV rays can be to the eyes. The make a full recovery. the Costa del Sol, visit www.specsavers.es UVB rays can irritate the surface of the eye, Scurvy can be caused by a lack to find your nearest store and book an apcausing a painful form of sunburn of the eye of vitamin C, it is often found (called photokeratitis). You may not even be pointment. in children with restrictive diets such as those with autism.

Let it snow!

I

Baby blues

Your life is what you decide to see in it…

Change your filter H

OW is it that for some people the world seems bright and sunny and for others doom and gloom, given both live in almost an identical environment, door to door or even in the same household?

Our brains are registering 40 million bits of sensory information per second.

However, the brain can only process consciously (known to us) 8,000 bits of that sensory input per second. Meaning we only really register consciously 2/100ths of 1% of all the sensory imputes around us.

The other 99% gets processed unconsciously or just gets filtered out and/or falls by the wayside.

What we register consciously of this 1% of our environment around us and how perceive therefore our world around us is governed by the filter we have set.

If the filter is set to, ‘my life is hopeless, there is no sun shine, the people around me are bad’ etc., then this is what we will perceive.

Even so it is not the only reality we we could pick from. Somewhere in this 99% of the rest we do not perceive there is lots of sunshine, great people and lots of opportunities around us.

Basically all we need to do is change our filter to see those good things and people in our life. Hence you will hear so often ‘focus on the good things in our life’, ‘write gratitude lists’, ‘fake it till you make it’, and so on and your life will become brighter and good things will happen in your life.

Because by focusing on the good things in our life we retrain our brain to set a different filter. A filter that looks out for the 1% that is positive and bright around us.

In general this sounds all very easy and as a matter of fact, it actually is if we become aware of our underlying subconscious emotions/thoughts that govern our life/set the tone of our life with the corresponding filter.

Hence becoming aware consciously of the filter you have set gives you the power to change your life.

As a matter of fact, it is already all there, around us.

All the good things we always wanted. We just cannot see it as our emotions based on experiences hinder us to see them.

This is where a coach or therapist comes in handy.

They help us to reshape our perspective and the underlying emotions to see the goods things in life and set a ‘positive’ filter.

Landline: +34 951 20 43 06 Mobile: +34 673 293 333 www.thesourceofwellbeing.com martina@thesourceofwellbeing.com

Top Salud 33

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www.theolivepress.es February 3rd - February 16th 2016

Chamber of secrets Championed by athletes the world over, Rob Horgan takes a trip to Estepona’s Centro Medico Hiperbarico to find out more about hyperbaric chamber therapy

L

YING on his back a 93-year-old Canadian expat is wheeled into a seven foot glass chamber and the door is locked behind him.

With a smile stretched across his face, the retired expat settles in to watch Gangster Squad on the TV above his human-sized goldfish bowl.

Now on his sixth hyperbaric chamber treatment session in a series of ten, he tells me he already feel ‘totally re-energised’.

“At first I wasn’t sure,” he says. “I didn’t notice too much after the first two sessions but now I can’t get enough of it.”

His Danish wife is equally excited about the procedure and jumps into the chamber following her husband.

This - therapist Jesus explains to me - adds a level of ‘romanticism’ to hyperbaric therapy that staff at the Centro Medico Hiperbarico in Estepona didn’t know existed.

Usually patients enter the chamber alone. In fact the Centro Medico is home to the only stand alone hyperbaric chamber in Andalucia, giving patients more privacy and comfort compared to larger (shared) chambers.

The treatment involves providing 100% oxygen to a person inside the chamber. Through this therapy, oxygen enters di-

rectly into the lymph, bone, plasma and central nervous system in order to stimulate damaged tissue to recover quicker. You simply sit there, choose a film of your choice (or listen to music), sit back and let the oxygen do the rest.

Used to treat everything from stress and fatigue to diabetes and autism, hyperbaric chamber therapy is growing in popularity. In fact at the Centro Medico, eight to ten patients visit every day.

Opened in July 2014, boss Alejandra Licintuna (pictured) now has a team of four professionals dedicated to promoting the therapy.

Working alongside Dr Rafael Sanchez, who is also the official doctor to Malaga’s firefighters, the centre treats patients from five years old to those in their nineties.

Sportsmen have enhanced the therapy’s reputation, with the likes of Spanish tennis player Rafa Nadal and MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi championing the treatment following serious injuries.

RELAXED: Therapist Jesus and patient

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And the Centro Medico has also nursed some of Spain’s professional athletes back to full fitness.

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35 Wine Experience!

the Olive Press NovemberThe 11thComplete - 25th 2015

35 The only English newspaper in Spain with a dedicated 4-page food and drink section every issue

www.bodegasbentomiz.com

SAYALONGA

Jamon hosts

FEELING FISHY: Gallegos

Sturgeon surgeon EXCLUSIVE

By Joe Duggan

Diego to install new fish tank at Michelin-starwinning El Sollo restaurant

MICHELIN-STAR winning chef Diego Gallegos has come up with yet another fishy tale.

The Fuengirola-based maestro, whose El Sollo won its first Michelin star in November, is installing fish tanks in his Hilton restaurant at the end of April.

The four 2,000-litre tanks, with space for 30 kilos of fish, will each hold a different spe-

cies.

The tanks will allow the Brazilian chef to cultivate fish like carp, catfish and trout that can’t be bought at local markets due to excessive river pollution.

Gallegos, who wowed audiences at this month’s Madrid Fusion, is known as the ‘caviar king’ and works solely with ecologically-reared river fish.

At the Madrid conference, 32-year-old Gallegos demonstrated how to make caviar and used a sturgeon’s bladder to make ‘river cheese’.

Gallegos came to prominence at last year’s Madrid Fusion where he won the ‘most revolutionary chef’ award.

“Fantastic Food & Wine in a

THE Costa del Sol is set to hold one of the world’s biggest jamon festivals for the third consecutive year.

Spain’s finest jamon producers will take part in the Certamen Mundial de Jamon ‘Popi-Ciudad in Estepona from August 10-15.

Estepona’s Paseo Marítimo will be the market’s main thoroughfare.

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Tomato row SPAIN’S fruit and veg sellers have blasted Morocco for flooding Europe with cheap tomatoes.

Trade export body FEPEX denounced Morocco at the European Commission for not respecting EU trade agreement limits.

According to EC data, Morocco exported 25,471 tonnes of tomatoes to the EU in the first two weeks of January, a 75% increase on the same period last year.

A FEPEX statement said: “This is causing serious damage to the sector and an irretrievable loss of income to tomato producers.”

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From rags to dishes COOKING UP A STORM: From Chicago to Madrid

Three star wonder EXPERIMENTAL American chef Grant Achatz has moved his restaurant across the pond to kick off a tasty 2016.

The three-Michelin-starred restaurant, Alinea, and its entire staff have swapped Chicago for Madrid’s NH Hotel Eurobuilding until February 6.

The ‘degustacion’ menu of 13 intricate courses, including dry ice, black truffle and ‘parsley graffiti’, starts at a cool €275 per head.

The chef who previously interned at elBulli in Catalunya is passionate about Spanish cuisine and ‘loves the long-standing food traditions and strong regionalism in Spain that the USA doesn’t have’.

ONE of Spain’s top chefs - who started out mopping the floor of Madrid’s Club Allard - has won the most prestigious prize in Spanish food.

The meteoric journey of Dominican immigrant Maria Marte, who arrived in the Spanish capital in 2003 with the dream of becoming a chef, culminated last year.

She won Spain’s national gastronomy prize for 2015 and, as Club Allard’s head chef, oversees around 1,000 plates as they leave the kitchen.

“Mopping the floor was a very important step I had to go through to get where I am now,” the 37-year-old said.

The perfect winter escape.

Cereal offenders SUGARY breakfast cereals have been named and shamed as part of a campaign to improve children’s diets.

Nutritionist Claire White has identified the ‘worst-offending’ cereals in her Sugar Snub food guide.

Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut Chocolate Curls are the worst of the worst, containing

three teaspoons of sugar per serving.

Morrisons Ice Flakes and Kellogg’s Frosties are also high in sugars.

Latest UK government figures suggests children in the developed world are eating their body weight in sugar every year - the equivalent of 5,500 sugar cubes.

· Plaza de España, 16 . Vejer de la Frontera · Tel. 34 956 447 730

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36 36 the Olive Press November 11th - 25th 2015

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Silver route to Wine, olive oil and scenery…Jon Clarke heads on a romantic trip to Porto taking in the best of the western part of Spain en route

PORTSIDE: The old docks in Porto and historic bridge

A

GLASS of chilled Alvarinho sipped overlooking the Douro River was the treasure at the end of an adventure that spanned some of the wildest, most alluring scenery of Spain and Portugal.

After a morning of sightseeing around the cobbled streets of Unesco-protected Porto, we were certainly ready for an aperitif before lunch.

It could have been a glass of the city’s famed port wine, but somehow Alvarinho – from the nearby Vinho

Verde region and known as Albarino across the border in Spain – seemed more appropriate at this time of day; its bone-dry, yet honeyed consistency matching the scenery, but not muddling the senses.

A magical place, steeped in history and not dissimilar to Jerez or Bordeaux, Porto’s wines may define the city, yet they go nowhere near doing it justice.

Porto is indeed a lot more than its rather cloying, over-sweet famous vino. A grand, yet easily manageable metropolis that spans one of Europe’s most famous rivers, it is hilly and historic, and civilised and rough-roundthe-edges in equal proportions.

Its geography beside the swift-moving Douro river, as it approaches the sea, conjures up a mesmerising possibility of walks and scenery that combine both urban chic and seaside vistas.

Above all, its people are urbane and hard-working (said to be the true grafters of Portugal), and take great pride in offering up the best their city has to offer.

The destination had continually come up as I looked for a romantic escape, not too far to drive from the Costa del Sol, but far enough away - and exotic enough - to offer up a sufficient wow factor.

Exciting in both name and spirit, SPLENDOUR: A Porto church Google Maps revealed - somewhat surprisingly - that it was just over six hours by car.

I was sold.

Not only would this combine the concept of a foreign holiday, but it would take in a famous city and offer up some of Spain’s most stunning scenery en route.

Taking our time and looking for the most interesting drive possible, the majority of the journey followed the celebrated ‘silver route’ that winds its way up from Sevilla through Extremadura, Castilla y Leon and finally Galicia.

This was the ancient highway that got its name from the wealthy conquistadores who, having conquered parts of the COBBLES AND DECAY: Atmospheric Porto backNew World, returned street

PLOT OF COLOURS: Fisherman’s cottages to Sevilla by boat bestowed with impossible wealth.

From here, they returned to their towns and villages - mostly to the poor northern region of Extremadura - with their bags of silver to build grand and lavish mansions.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in Trujillo or Caceres, but equally in the more easily-reached Zafra, where we were to spend our first night.

We had arrived in Zafra mid-afternoon after a straightforward three hour drive from the Costa del Sol. A magical town of just 16,000 inhabitants it tilts around its fairytale castle (now a Parador) and a walled city core that yields up two of the prettiest, Medieval squares in Spain. Anything but grand, their romantic colonnades, arches and palm trees were conveniently lined with craft shops and tapas bars. The best, La Queseria, served up a fantastic mix of goats and sheep cheeses, some hot, some cold, with, appropriately, a good mix of Portuguese wines, to get us in the mood.

Our hotel also stuck to the script, the historic (and aptly sounding) Casa Palacio Conde de la Corte, went back to the 19th century and sat on its own lovely square.

Full of antique furniture and bullfighting memorabilia, its pretty garden and stunning wrought iron balconies gave a flavour

MEDIEVAL: Zafra square

www.theolivepress.es

Porto

www.theolivepress.es the Olive Press November 11th - 25th 2015 VALENTINE’S ESCAPE February 3rd - February 16th 2016

37 37

A real sense of place

LUXURY AND STYLE: From the food to the decor

F line the quay

TIMELESS: Yuste monastery of the days of the conquistadores.

From here it was an easy three hour drive to Porto, stopping only for a rather bizarre lunch in a strange town not far from the border.

Our return journey got better for scenery as we headed up the Douro river, through the breathtaking inland region of Tras-osMontes in the direction of Braganza.

Ostensibly to run a rule over Europe’s first hotel opened by the Six Senses chain (see panel right), it meant visiting the Douro region that produces Portugal’s best wine.

A series of excellent roads led us through rolling green hills and finally mountains, as we approached the Spanish border.

Crossing at Ciudad Rodrigo, we headed south on the wonderfully empty CL-526 through classic Salamanca province countryside with hardly a car on the road.

Dipping at random off the main road towards a clutch of villages to the east, we eventually found the perfect lunch spot, Bar Reja, in La Encina, which at first gave the sensation that we might have been on the menu.

Tumbling through a wooden door we were met by a packed bar full of 30 men and what may have been two women, all of whom stopped talking and stared at us as

WARM HOSTS: Soledad and Yago at Canta el Gallo we attempted to procure a meal.

Entirely ignored by the barman and his wife, a sullen old crow, we were eventually told that 3.15 was ‘very late’ for lunch, but they would ‘see’ if anything could be arranged.

A full five minutes later, with not a sniff of a cana nor croquette, we were suddenly bundled through a side door into a sizeable meson of a dozen tables and a handful of families merrily eating lunch.

Our table was set and on it were two bottles of Estrella Galicia, a massive hunk of bread and within a minute a flurry of dishes began to arrive and by 4pm I had eaten possibly the freshest, most authentic venta lunch in my entire two decades in Spain.

Original (free range egg in tuna with melted cheese), heart-warming (a cabbage broth), carnivorous (lamb chops,

EW places in Europe have such an exacting sense of place.

Nestled in a vineyard and beside acres of woodland, there is nothing unnatural about the Six Senses Douro Valley Resort.

Slowly developing over two centuries, this 19th century chateau sits on a gentle meander of the Douro river, some 90 minutes inland from Porto.

Counting on a sizeable vegetable garden, orchards and even orange groves, it is the sort of place where, throw in a pig and a couple of goats, one could have a stab at the good life and angle for self sufficiency.

So it is entirely appropriate that one of the world’s most exclusive hotel chains has recently opened its first European hotel here.

Launched in Asia, the Six Senses chain, that now stretches from Oman to Vietnam, is known for its approach to sustainability and is a keen supporter of organic agriculture and initiatives, such as the Slow Food movement.

This is quickly apparent with its new resort which puts a big emphasis on its produce, counting on two organic gardens, fabulous herb beds and a big composting facility.

Banning all pesticides and big on mulching, its gardeners use aromatic plants, such as calendula and lemongrass, to keep the pests at bay.

“We aim to be self sufficient one day and local, seasonal produce is a major focus in our restaurants,” explains manager Nick Yarnell, who previously worked at the Four Seasons in Marrakech.

The menu certainly reflects this, focussing heavily on vegetables and broths, and winter flavours: A leek and persimmon salad with pine nuts and rocket is assembled entirely from the grounds, while truffled mushrooms with free range egg is straight from the nearby hills.

The food was perfectly matched by the ambience of the dining room; with its flagstone

Olive Press reviews Europe’s first Six Senses resort on the Douro river floors, ancient wooden doors and original selection of family photos and curios.

This look spreads throughout the hotel, which unfolds like a sultan’s palace, and includes a breathtaking spa, amazing ‘wine library’ and stylish bar area, replete with pool table and a huge trunk full of games for children.

But really nothing has been left to the imagination and guests are offered a choice of activities during the day - many free - including ‘tree climbing’, yoga and guided walks around the grounds, vineyard and herb garden.

My favourite part - with the exception of the stunning views along the river from the bedroom - was a complimentary wine tasting session, including the hotel’s very own coupage.

It couldn’t have better summed up the hotel’s very existence and sense of place.

To sum up; as luxury goes this new resort creates a definite destination in one of Portugal’s poorest regions and its success will hopefully inspire the chain to open more around the Iberian Peninsula over the next few years.

followed by solomillo) and sweet (an Vaqueria Cantaelgallo was the perodd take on flan), we even had the fect spot for a winter break with logowners sat down with us by the end, burning stoves in every room and thick woolen throws on the beds. telling us stories of local folklore.

Sad to leave, we ploughed on down Atmospheric in the extreme, the olive into Extremadura, God’s own country, estate couldn’t have felt more romantic with seductive lightwhere you are as ing, candles in every likely to see eagles ‘Romantic in the room and countless anand vultures as and furniture. people. extreme, the olive tiques Renovated slowly, nothOstensibly one big estate was filled ing had been left to the nature reserve and by owners, comprising a larger with candles and imagination interior designer Soleconcentration of proantiques’ dad and Jago, who is tected areas than part of the important anywhere else in NH hotel group in MaSpain, it is always a drid. delight to travel around.

For the last leg of our trip we had opt- The couple are very much the life and ed for a romantic two-night stop in the soul of this place and have their own hilly Vera region of inland Casares, in chickens, geese and even a trio of donkeys, who are a big hit with chilthe foothills of the Sierra de Gredos.

dren.

You can eat dinner here and, best of all, have a bespoke tasting of the finca’s own varieties of olive oil, which come from ancient trees, many hundreds of years old.

It is a lovely region and the local towns of Jaraiz and Jarandilla de la Vera are worth a poke about, as is the fabulously sited monastery of Yuste, where Holy Roman Emperor, King Charles V, famously spent the last month of his life.

We were sad to have to leave on the long journey south… to be exact five hours, but hey, this was a week of adventure taking in both rural and urban and plenty of good food and wine to boot and the total driving time had been little over 15 hours.

Visit www.vaqueriacantaelgallo.com

FOOD & DRINK with DINING SECRETS of ANDALUCIA.com

38 38

Traders of the Los Arcos A STALWART of the Costa del Sol has been given a makeover that the whole family can enjoy.

A giant play area, cinema room, bar and restaurant - not to mention five big screens to watch the football and a five-a-side pitch to play - are just some of the new attractions at Los Arcos.

Unveiled after a two-month r e f u r b i s h m e n t the bar-cum-restaurant in Benavista, Estepona, really does have something for everyone all year round.

“We took over the bar in May and our main aim was to make it appeal to everyone,” says boss Andy Ban-

Carvery available from 7th February Every Wednesday and Sunday Buy 1 main course and your child eats for free 4pm to 7pm Monday to Thursday Take Away service available All major sporting events shown on our 5 large screens “Special Valentines Menu”14th February 2016

We kut the mustard...

non. “The first thing we did was install a kids play area. And I’m proud to say we have the biggest children’s area from Fuengirola to Gibraltar.”

He added: “But we didn’t forget about mums and dads. We have installed a huge decking area so parents can watch their kids play, and for the dads we have five big screens capable of streaming three different games at any one time.”

Los Arcos will also be launching its Sunday and Wednesday carvery from February 7 with all produce locally sourced.

For more information call 670 83 53 55.

I should Kokomo

Leading expat restaurant Cocomo takes on new name and upscales to keep more customers happy ONE of the Costa del Sol’s most loved restaurants has a new stomping ground.

Expat-run eatery Kokomo has more than doubled in size by swapping its established Benamara location for a 250-capacity restaurant in Nueva Atalaya, Estepona.

And regulars need not fear, as the menu, chef and staff are all the same and the new location is just 1km away.

“We want to keep the same theme going in the new place,” British owner Simon Taylor-Lane says. “The restaurant is far enough from the main road for a tranquil, secluded experience and yet it is not a million miles away to get to.”

He added: “The move has gone well, everybody’s settled in and we’ve already seen well over 200 bookings for Sunday lunches which proves the move was worthwhile.”

“As we grew more popular it became apparent that we needed a bigger space. We were turning away 50 or 60 bookings a night.”

As well as having a brandspanking new restaurant, fit with terrace area, Kokomo has also introduced a €6 and €7 lunch menu offer to go alongside the ever-popular

NEW HOME: Simon (inset) is now cooking in Nueva Atalaya included. But you’ll have to €5 lunch deal. The restaurant move fast as half the tables will also be hosting live music have already been snapped at least twice a week. up by loved-up couples.

And for romantics on the coast, Kokomo is putting on For more information call a meal for two for as little as 685218054. €54.95 with a bottle of wine

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SPAIN’S most decorated chef is backing a campaign to save a town’s vineyards.

Martin Berastegui is sponsoring the Nilva winery in Manilva and hopes to encourage farmers in the traditional vine-growing region to preserve the plants.

The Centro de Interpretación Las Viñas (CIVIMA) and Nilva Etnoturism approached the Michelin-star winning chef after starting the campaign to protect the vineyards.

More than 70% of Manilva’s original vineyards have been destroyed after being built on, according to Argimiro Martinez, director of Nilva Etnoturismo.

A WAR is raging in Spain’s Rioja bodegas.

The quality control board, run by the Government of La Rioja, has caused controversy by opening the door to 60 new producers in Alava.

Existing bodegas, frustrated by the fact more producers have been approved, are fighting the decision with the Basque government.

There are more than 500 wineries in the north of Spain, and the Rioja industry generates over €12 million euros a year.

sport

39

February 3rd - February 16th 2016

City’s Pep talk

Nervy Neville

PEP Guardiola is preparing a sensational swoop for Lionel Messi when he replaces Manuel Pellegrini as Manchester City manager in June.

Reports suggest City have contacted the Barcelona star’s representatives about a possible €160 million deal.

Guardiola is also rumoured to be preparing a €105 million double bid for Juventus’ Paul Pogba and Everton defender John Stones.

The former Barcelona boss is making the move to City after three seasons at Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

Marbella marvels TROCADERO Marbella rugby club beat C.A.R Sevilla 24-38 in the first leg of the AON de Primera Division Andaluza.

Tries from Valentin Bianchi, Chicho Mazzuco, Kike González (2) and Toby Francis were all converted

by Andres Marolla.

The return leg will be played in Marbella.

Caine-ing it!

Teenage strongman pumps iron with classmate who has Down Syndrome

HE may be the strongest boy in the world but he also has a huge heart.

At just 16, Gibraltarian strongman Leon de Roeck has been teaching a classmate with Down Syndrome how to lift weights.

And Leon has been nothing but impressed since he started working alongside Caine McTurn off Slide William, 15, in his school gym away at Bayside Comprehensive.

“He continues to blow me away,” Leon told the Olive “He is always in the gym lid Press. o s k training hard, his squat form is c e o R e D impeccable, it is flawless.

“All respect to him.”

He added: “I am always helping stuff out whoever I can.

Hot “Bettering people gives me the same satisfaction as betTOWN ROYALS IN That tering AB myself LE does.” stinks!

BER- meanwhile, UN-BELIE Caine is clearly benefiting from the support of his classmate.

“Leon has been a great inspiration to me,” said Caine.

“He deserves all the praise in the world.”

IN THE GYM: Caine and Leon and (inset) our story NEWS

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ress. www.theolivep

EXCLUSIVE

ives from housew EVERYONE will be crying to football fans g after TV into their stockin Shepherd preheartthrob Ben ced a Christmaturely announ Rock. mas visit to the caused havoc The presenterviewers on ITV’s when he told that he was set This Morning Christmas lights to turn on the year. in Gibraltar this er, who also In fact, the present Sports, jumped works for Sky ng a caller’s inthe gun, mistaki request. vite as a genuine government and The Gibraltar have both conShepherd’s agent Press that no firmed to the Olivebeen made. had invite official

LA CALA

over-worked Holiday time for Elliott Wright

ICE COOL DAD:

Elliott with

kids

November 12th

- 25th 2015

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of me living it the odd photo YOU may see and beautiful women and up with celebsone long holiday. think my life’s are having an exclusive inBut although weBond dinner on November vite-only Jameswith a few celeb guests - my 19 - hopefully more of a grind. real life is much I have spent every hour spring is the Since at Olivia’s, which I have had workingmy first real holiwhy I have taken– to a spa hotel day in four yearswith girlfriend in the Gambia Sadie. en route to I stopped off with the spend some QT and took kids in Dublin some them to throw local shapes on the to ice rink. It’s fair pretsay they were no ty impressed, outs serious wipe limbs! broken or

shes cleman sma Teenage mus world records

EXCLUSIVE

By Rob Horgan Leon - who trains in Los Barrios with Spain’s strongest man Juan Heredia rose to fame last year after smashing six weightlifting world records at the World Championships in Portugal.

He is now preparing for the European Championships in Manchester, UK, in June and then will compete at the World Championships in Louisiana, USA, in November.

EXCLUSIVE n -olds are accusMOST 15-year up PlayStation

By Rob Horga tomed to liftingsmart phones… controllers or Roeck. an option’. ‘failure was never I am but not Leon de the moon that but muscleman has The teenage records at the “I am over breaking records been smashinglifting World not justng them,” he added. smashi Cyrus WPC Weight s in Portugal. hile mentor Press ionship Meanw Champ bench press told the Olive Breaking the for his age by Licudi expects de Roeck to world record arian de Roeck that he world records in the more es 15kg, Gibralt as he compet ble 155kg set coming days benched an incredi Maia. the in more events. at the event in lifted 235kg “No one can believe boy va-vafor a Later on, de Roeck event, again set- strength and ability the Olive reclaimed her ni the deadlift appears to have reord. ign after a string 15,” he told ELSA Pataky de of only “Leon continues to ting a new world y lingerie campa at 103.6kg, feels sexy’. who is voom in a skimp Weighing in Olive Press that Press. new records. He sure is saying she ‘rarely model, break of interviews Spanish actress and Hemsworth, Roeck told the ar proud.”

Gibralt ps y, making ionshi The stunningHollywood star Chris good compan lace underwear World Champ Brought up in in Palmones married to in barely-there black Leon at the for her new hair dered STRONG LAD: st de Roeck trains blonde smoul stronge of tousled alongside Spain’sHeredia. and a mane campaign. mother-ofman, Juan Carlos the 39-year-old Women’s Secret also regularly TV advert, In addition he In the new d off her trim figure. wowed Male Mr OlymQUEEN Letizia trains with six-timat his Marvisit. three showe aga during a royal pia Dorian Yates and King FeThe monarchthe capital for bella gym. lipe were in Awards for Inthe National Design. and n has novatio as Letizia ANTONIO Bander Mother-of-two regal best in ersy by rew courted controv us-soundlooked at her blouse and d Madrid intervie of an awkwar leasing a ridiculosupporting a cream bowedwith slashed marched out adJUSTIN Bieber a black top ing perfume and y, all in the d as interviewers 40 minutes late. after arriving wild child seemed irritate sleeves. the Israel militar hair in a braid, ating The Canadian Spanish.

Wearing her main attracspace of a week. r-old acafter the excruci dressed him in ersial star got up and left Letizia was the First, the 55-yea gathered his own peringly restAnd the controv and did not return. tion for crowds ge Cerincreas tor released cringeworthy exchan Teatro getting eight-minute interview shows Bieber outside the fume with the of Seduction the questions. to come back, : Bieber A video of the vantes. translation of King FeBieber name, King RADIO RANT attending less at the broken ales hosts called for Purpose.

During his speech, as a ‘city Absolute, before new single The Los 40 Princip the Israel Delipe praised Malaga t performing innovation’. a Friends of (IDF) gala in but he left withou of science and fence Force which helped In Malaga Los Angeles, million for the ROYAL VISIT: Harding

MEMBERS of the Costa Gaels and Eire og Seville have been teaching disadvantaged children how to play Gaelic football.

Children from San Telmo school in Jerez and Elcano in Cadiz were treated to a masterclass in Gaelic football by senior members of both clubs.

The schools had both recently introduced the Irish sport as a way of tackling gender stereotypes attached to sport.

Captain of the Costa Gaels Tom Marray said he couldn’t have been more impressed with the response from the kids.

“It is great to see 36 kids out here enjoying the sport,” he said.

“There are certainly some future Gaelic stars out there.

“The adult game is stronger than ever in Andalucia, now it is about getting the kids involved and also promoting the girls teams.”

Photo by Geoff

Kick about

GARY Neville has branded claims Valencia’s fans want him out as ‘ridiculous’.

The former Manchester United defender is yet to win in eight La Liga matches.

His side were booed off at the Mestalla on Sunday following a 1-0 defeat to Sporting Gijon, with 150 fans protesting after the game.

“You’re asking me about my position,” said Neville. “I find this question ridiculous. It’s from you. Don’t put this on to the fans.”

Valencia play Barcelona at Camp Nou in the Copa Del Rey semi-final today, February 3, with the return leg a week later.

to raise €35 military.

Driving Miss Dozy SIX professional cyclists were airlifted to hospital after being run over by a British holidaymaker.

The Giant-Alpecin riders sustained a number of broken bones after the British woman collided with them after driving on the wrong side of a road in Alicante.

German rider John Degenkolb came off the

worst, suffering a partially detached finger and a broken arm.

Teammates Warren Barguil, Chad Haga and Max Walscheid also suffered bone fractures and they are all in need of operations.

The other riders were identified as Frederk Ludvigsson and Ramon Sinkeldam, who escaped only with cuts and bruises.

THE SUN IS STILL SHINING, THE TEMPERATURE HAS BEEN A STEADY 21C DURING THE DAY FOR ALMOST THE WHOLE OF JANUARY. WHY NOT COME ALONG TO THE GREEN BAR, HAVE LUNCH IN THE SUN, A SNACK OR A FEW DRINKS. WATCH THE BOWLING, LEARN HOW TO BOWL JOIN THE CLUB AND PLAY BOWLS!! WHY SIT AT

HOME WATCHING TV OR THE WALLS, WHEN YOU CAN BE OUT IN THE FRESH AIR WITH FRIENDS, HAVING A BIT OF GENTLE EXERCISE. THE SOCIAL LIFE IS GOOD TOO!!

TO FIND MORE ABOUT BENAVISTA LAWN BOWLS CLUB AND THE GREEN BAR TELEPHONE 952885148 OR E-MAIL US AT doreen fate.co.uk

SHAPING UP: Caine

Basket case A SPANISH court is investigating two American basketball players for allegedly using fake passports.

Marcus Slaughter and Andy Panko played for Real Madrid and Fuenlabrada respectively.

The duo allegedly used fake passports issued by Equatorial Guinea in order to free up an extra non-European place on their teams.

Rules state that players from African, Caribbean and Pacific countries count as European.

Real Madrid won the Spanish league, and the Euroleague title last season.

the

Covering Andalucia in 2016 with over 200,000 papers (130,000 digital) and around 500,000 visits to the website each month… The Olive Press just keeps growing!

E RE

olive press F

Telephone: 951 273 575

February 3rd - February 16th 2016

www.theolivepress.es

DREAMER: Messi fan

The law is blind Plastic bag to Barca Poop plan

FINAL WORDS

THE Spanish city of Guadalajara is planning to create a database of dogs’ DNA in order to punish owners who don’t pick up after their pets.

3D Dali A FLORIDA museum dedicated to Spanish artist Salvador Dali has launched a virtual reality experience of his works.

OPEN YOUR EYES: Clear numberplate and (inset) Moreno

Here’s johnny A FAMOUS hypnotist has slammed a car hire firm for leaving an unsavoury extra

EXCLUSIVE

By Tom Powell

To us it’s not just a box...

it’s Your Life FRANCE - ITALY - PORTUGAL

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DEFRA AUTHORISED ANIMAL TRANSPORTATION Whether you need long or short term storage our alarmed premises are available from as little as 10€ per week. All your items will be housed in a container especially for you to ensure a safe and secure stay.

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Just Call Jack (+34) 902 109 560

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only easy to read but how was I supposed to replace it after someone just went into it.”

It is a legal requirement to have a completely legible number plate in Spain, as it is in the UK. In the UK, however, you would likely be given a warning - or ‘producer’ - to get it fixed within a week or two.

Worse, if you appeal a traffic infraction and lose in Spain you have to pay a bigger fine.

Therefore very few Spaniards appeal their penalties - just 1.2%.

Holidaying hypnotist finds used condom in rental car

Jealous jibe SPANISH newspaper Marca bemoaned Stoke City for spending over €20 million in the January transfer window while the biggest La Liga deal was just €6 million.

A FURIOUS mother-of-two is in shock after Spanish police handed her a €200 fine claiming they couldn’t read her number plate.

The Guardia Civil stopped Olive Press office manager Mirian Moreno, 31, at a Sabinillas roundabout and fined her on the spot.

This was despite the plate being only slightly bent and Moreno not even realising it.

“I am absolutely livid,” said out-ofpocket Moreno. “I am appealing the fine, as it is not

info@unionjackremovals.co.uk

www.unionjackremovals.co.uk

on the back seat.

Brit Ken Webster, 51, received the shock of a lifetime when his three-year-old daughter discovered a used condom in the vehicle, rented from Brian’s rentacar, in Benalmadena.

TV hypnotist Webster, who has a show at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, picked up the white Seat in January from the company’s very own boss David Ballard.

“He claimed it had been valeted but there is just no way it had been cleaned at all, it was disgusting!” stormed Webster, who has appeared on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway.

“The last thing I wanted was my three-year-old coming out with someone’s pubic hair on her skirt.”

Upon finding the used Durex and open-pack next to it, Webster immediately called Ballard to demand he refund the €150 payment.

However, Ballard initially refused, offering instead to personally remove the condom ‘with a tissue’, before agreeing to swap the Seat for a ‘slightly cleaner’ Fiat Panda.

SHOCKED: Webster

AN Afghan lad pictured wearing a Messi shirt made from a plastic bag is set to meet his hero.

Murtaza Ahmadi, 5, has been invited over to Barcelona by the footballer, after he was snapped wearing the blueand-white makeshift jersey in the troubled province of Ghazni.

Money back A FURIOUS father has won €800 after he sent bailiffs to Ryanair’s HQ over being charged a fortune for checking in.

Lucas Marshall, 34, was billed €420 to check in to his family’s flight back from the Canary Islands, despite not being able to print his boarding passes due to a booking reference problem.

With just minutes before the flight was leaving Fuerteventura, Marshall paid up to get his wife Michelle, and kids aged four, seven, 13 and 16 home.

Marshall later took Ryanair to court and won €805 in compensation.

Every little helps THEY may only be small, but the money collected in charity tin cans can go a seriously long way.

Last year Cudeca Hospice raised a phenomenal €50,000 through its tins, €1,500 more than 2014, it has been announced.

The tins can be found in bars, restaurants, shops from Nerja to Sotogrande, as well as the departure exits at Malaga Airport.

This year’s target is €60,000. For information about the tins contact huchas@cudeca.org

Mon-Sat 19.00h to 24.00h Calle Pintada 23, 29780 Nerja, Malaga

tel: 653 689 452 www.sollunrestaurante.com