Costa Blanca Olive Press - Issue 15

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Sick patient to call in police after being overcharged by over three times on mercy cab to the airport EXCLUSIVE

By Joshua Parfitt

A BRITISH pensioner who nearly died from pneumonia is calling in police after a taxi driver ripped her off on an emergency journey to the airport.

Julia Upton, 74, is demanding a refund after she was charged ‘four times the normal fare’ for her ride from Calpe to Alicante airport.

Incredibly, she was charged a shocking €377 for the 50-minute journey that should have cost no more than €120.

“It’s a complete fraud,” she told the Olive Press this week. “The fare is normally €90.

“The driver knew I was ill, and he even asked if I had cards and cash before I got in the car.

“His metre started running, but I

Vol. 1 Issue 15 www.theolivepress.es

was so ill I fell asleep until we arrived, when I saw €377 on it.

“I think he must’ve changed the figures when I was sleeping.

“I was too ill to argue and I didn’t even have the strength to pay him.

“He took the notes carefully out of my purse, and said the extra price was due

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to it being a Sunday.”

The pensioner, who spends half the year at an apartment in Calpe, was rushed to Exeter Hospital by ambulance on her arrival back home in July.

“I was ill with double pneumonia and nearly died,” she said. “I needed oxygen on the plane and was rushed to accident and emergency by a waiting ambulance.”

She was kept in hospital for nine days and has taken eight weeks to make a full recovery.

While she claimed she booked the car through Taxi Calpe, a spokeswoman for the company told the Olive Press that €120 was the maximum rate for an airport transfer on a Sunday.

“This is clear fraud if true,” said a spokeswoman. “The woman should immediately denounce the driver to police.”

While Julia has no receipt of the outrageous fare, she is still set to make a denuncia to Calpe police when she returns to the Costa Blanca next month.

“I am going to do my best to get this driver caught, named and shamed,” she continued.

Have you been ripped off by a taxi firm on the Costa Blanca… contact newsdesk@theolivepress.es

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CRIME

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NEWS IN BRIEF Bad gamble

A MOTHER in Alicante has denounced the casino that allowed her 14-year-son to enter and served him drinks.

Casinos are only open to 18 and overs.

Cold killer

AN evil stepmum who murdered an eightyear-old boy last year has been sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in a Spain first. Ana Julia Quezada was found guilty of murdering Gabriel Cruz, the son of her partner Angel Cruz, by a jury in Almeria last month.

Check out Chik Russian gangster sought by police on the Costa Blanca A WELL-known Russian fugitive is believed to be hiding out on the Costa Blanca.

Aleksandr Chikovani, 43, is

wanted by various Russian law enforcement agencies for a number of financial frauds.

According to Russian media,

100-yearold expat mugged

Liver lies

VALENCIAN courts have jailed a Lebanese family for ‘organ transplant crimes’.

The father had suffered from sclerosis and was illegally offered €40,000 for a liver.

Track chase

A DRAMATIC car chase through the streets and down the tram tracks of Alicante resulted in the vehicle flipping over and the driver later being arrested.

The high-speed pursuit took place October 8.

October 10th - October 23rd 2019

A 100-year-old British woman has been mugged while riding her mobility scooter in Javea.

Betty Guinness was riding home after meeting friends for coffee, when a woman attacked her from behind.

The aggressor tried to pull the expat off her scooter before snatching her bag and running off to a getaway car.

Betty was unhurt, but shaken by the sickening attack in broad daylight.

The centenarian remains ‘determined’ to keep riding her scooter as it is her ‘freedom pass’. A spokesman for Javea U3A, of which Betty was a keen member, described Bet-

But Betty will keep riding her mobility scooter she calls her ‘freedom pass’ ty as ‘much-loved’ and said that on her 100th birthday this year she was awarded a lifetime membership to the organisation.

“It was a heartless attack and we must all be on the lookout for attackers like this,” spokesman Ian Rogerson said. The case has been passed to the Guardia Civil for investigation.

he has defrauded many people via a series of companies including Nord Construction and Gephest Construction..

While Chikovani (right) denied links to the companies, police in Russia proved otherwise by linking his IP addresses of other firms to them.

They also discovered that the domain names of the websites were registered in his name.

Gephest Construction filed for bankruptcy with a loan debt of 50 million rubles, which Moscow Arbitration Court believes was to avoid paying off debts.

The court claims he owes a further 163 million rubles in unpaid tax.

The law enforcement agencies became interested in the activities of Gephest after the company filed for bankruptcy.

The Moscow court investigation then discovered other large fraud schemes he was allegedly involved in.

As he owed over 45 million rubles, it is considered a case of tax evasion on a particularly large scale.

In the course of the investigation, he was put under house arrest, but ignored the ruling and fled abroad to Spain.

Chikovani’s companies have now been declared bankrupt

and he has been placed on the federal wanted list.

A Russian Federation source told the Olive Press he is believed to be currently living in the Alicante area, where he has ‘fled to avoid justice’.

“The Costa Blanca area has become a refuge for many fraudsters and bandits from the post-Soviet era,” said the source. “This is one of the key men we want to find.”

Chikovani is understood to be a member of an ethnic criminal group operating in Russia. He was introduced to the criminal underworld by his relative Georgiy ‘Gogi’ Chikovani, a Georgian, who has served 26 prison sentences for various crimes.

Tiger tale deepens THE owners of a rare Albino tiger kept in a cage at their Alicante villa are now facing charges of drug trafficking and illegal weapons.

Police visiting their home to check out reports of the big cat also unearthed 100 marijuana plants, 120 grams of cocaine, a rifle, shotgun and multiple boxes of ammunition.

As the Olive Press reported last issue, neighbours had their attention drew to the Spanish owners after seeing the tiger locked in a cage by the swimming pool.

There are only 20 Albino tigers in the world.

Beautiful cop THE ‘largest organised crime gang’ on the Costa del Sol has been brought down following a seven-nation investigation.

A total of 81 arrests were made as 800 bank accounts were frozen and the seizure of 4,000kg of cocaine was made during ‘Operation Beautiful’.

The raids came after cooperation between Spain, Colombia, France, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and the UK, supported by Europol.

More than €1 million was found in the panic room of the ringleader’s house, while a total of 42 vehicles, a 25m-long yacht in Denia port and properties worth €20 million were also seized.

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October 10th - October 23rd 2019

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Judy’s final hurrah Lamb’s tragic return EXCLUSIVE

By Robert Firth

ACTOR Larry Lamb failed to show at the Marbella Film Festival, after he had to rush to the bedside of his seriously ill brother, Wesley.

The Gavin & Stacey actor was due to appear on the final day of the festival for the premiere of his new film Brighton.

However Lamb, who is a regular visitor to Spain, had to make a sharp return to the UK before the film, about a working class couple who take a disastrous day trip to the seaside.

The festival’s director, Mac Chakaveh, confirmed that a ‘family tragedy’ had forced the 72-year-old actor to ‘cancel at the last minute.’

Brighton director Stephen Cookson later told the Olive Press: “His brother is on his deathbed.”

Gritty

He had earlier stood in for Lamb during a talk at the festival on Sunday, in which he revealed how the gritty drama almost never was.

“Catastrophically, three days before filming we lost a major financier,” he said. “We we were really in the shit.”

Lamb, who lives in London, has been a regular visitor to Spain for much of his life and even lived for a year here in the 1980s.

“I know the country well but don’t go for beach holidays, I go to get up in the mountains, get out in the country or visit historic places of interest,” he recently revealed.

He also confirmed in 2016 who he had a daughter Vanessa living in Murcia with his former wife Anita.

EXCLUSIVE: As Hollywood’s Judy gets plaudits worldwide, the Olive Press unearths a remarkable little-known trip the star made to Torremolinos months before her death HOTLY-TIPPED for Oscar glory, Judy tells the story of the final months of Judy Garland famous for playing Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Packing out cinemas around the globe, actress Renee Zellweger is said to have played ‘the performance of a lifetime’.

But, oddly, the film doesn’t reveal the sad story of her honeymoon in Torremolinos following her marriage to fifth husband Mickey Deans, a nightclub manager 12 years her junior.

This is despite many believing he was responsible for her death from an overdose 50 years ago in June 1969, just three months later.

The Olive Press has unearthed a series of photos of the actress on her April honeymoon in the resort, which was in the Sixties THE place

REIGN DOWN SPAIN’S king and queen have visited Murcia and Alicante after the devastating flood of last month.

Felipe and Letizia met with residents, as well as members of the emergency services who risked their lives during the rescue efforts.

Residents, many of whom are rebuilding their lives following the flooding, shook hands and took photos of the royal couple. Around 3,500 people were evacuated due to the ‘cold drop’ flooding which wreaked havoc last month.

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HONEYMOON: But Judy was pensive during trip

RENDITION: Zellweger plays ‘performance of life’

By Karen Livermore

to go.

The remarkable set shows her looking pensive despite the splendid sunshine, chic bars and restaurants which attracted Hollywood’s biggest stars including Ava Gardener, Liz Taylor and Antony Quinn.

They were meant to stay for a long weekend at the Hotel Melia, however, it ended up being longer and, as it turns out, it was far from an idyllic

romantic break.

A gruelling comeback tour was taking its toll, with audiences not knowing if they were going to get a virtuoso performance or a shambling chaotic one from the erratic star.

The singer/actress’s battle with drugs, alcohol and eating disorders were well known, of course, and audiences swung between giving her standing ovations and throwing bread rolls.

Ignoring the advice of doctors, Mickey Deans felt a few days relaxing in the sun would do

her more good than being taken to a clinic.

But it didn’t go to plan, as, according to biographer Scott Schecter, she arrived in Torremolinos in a bad way and went straight to bed.

Then, when she finally got up later that evening she slipped in the bathroom, bruising herself. And the next morning she fell asleep on the bathroom floor with Deans having to break down the door to get her out. A doctor was called to the hotel, continued Schecter, who then changed her medication and suggested she should be admitted to hospital.

However, this was overruled by her husband, who insisted she would be better staying in the hotel.

A few days later, she made an

Back to life

PRINCESS Diana returned from the other side during a trip to Malaga at the weekend.

Her lookalike Emma Corrin (right) was recreating her 1983 spring tour of Australia, as part of the fourth series of Netflix hit The Crown.

Dressed in a polkadot pink dress with a garland of flowers around her neck, the actress, 23, appeared alongside Josh O’Connor, 29, who plays Prince Charles.

Olivia Coleman also features in the show as the Queen.

The third series, which features scenes from Sotogrande, meanwhile, launches November 17.

apparent recovery and the couple were spotted at infamous Torremolinos nightclub Tiffany, where Judy signed autographs and seemed in good spirits.

Indeed, she told fans she was determined to get well and enjoy her holiday. Cancelling their planned return they spent a few extra days driving along the coast in a classic Fiat.

While Deans later told friends it was ‘therapeutic’ for her, on the last evening, Judy came crashing down, apparently talking to herself and behaving irrationally.

Yet again, rather than take her to hospital, Deans booked a flight and took her back to London.

Mismanaged

Just three months later Mickey found her dead in the bathroom of their London home.

She was just 47 years old.

Despite having earned millions during her career, years of mismanagement of her financial affairs meant her estate was just US$40,000 (€35,000 in today’s money).

Generous bequests in her will couldn’t be fulfilled as her estate had been in debt for years.

Her daughter Liza Minelli famously worked to pay off her mother’s debts with the help of family friend Frank Sinatra.

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NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

Reporters Simon Wade and Joshua Parfitt

Your reporters, here to help on the Costa Blanca

A YOUNG girl shot and killed for handing out a political pamphlet, a left wing professor dispatched without trial in Alicante - these are just some of the harrowing stories set to resurface following Valencia’s decision to exhume its mass graves.

The Department of Transparency and Cooperation estimates that 500 of these lost souls are buried beneath the soil, victims of the Spanish Civil War, with 77 containing 400 victims in Alicante alone.

The department is to complete the exhumations and ‘create a Community without mass graves’ by 2023, when Alicante goes back to the polls.

JODY’S DAY IN COURT

Justice edges forward in CWM case, but boss skips court THE former boss of a beleaguered wealth management company has once again failed to turn up for a court hearing.

However, two former associates of Continental Wealth Management (CWM) did appear at Denia Court of Instruction No3 last week, the Olive Press can reveal.

Contact them with any stories or news on 951 273 575 or email newsdesk@theolivepress.es (Personal contacts on page 6)

SCAMMED: Brit tourists Ian and Denise Feltham

Jody Smart and Alan Gorringe gave declarations in the case linked to three victims who lost ‘substantial investments’ by the Alicante-based firm.

While former boss Darren Kirby again failed to turn up, the pair answered questions surrounding a trio of British claimants, one of whom

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ROCK STEADY

T

HE average property price in Spain two consecutive years for the first has grown for The national average Prices rise for time house price rose in a decade. two consecutive 3.9% to 8.4%, according from between while years, Along the Mediterranean mortgage values to various However, he added coasts and on sources. continue to grow Spanish ‘at the very least, most foreigners the the data property cording to Tinsa,buy, the average price hike has islands, where Balearic Islands.

Mortgage lendingcontinued to grow last year.’suggests that the been 4.06%, acBut the figures Spain’s leading property appraisal “Prices have been January to 19,390 to home buyers meanwhile company. rising most was up 6.1% new loans, according during the longhave mostly not yet made up for the big drops but nothing like they did in years since the recovery began, Spanish Notaries. six year recession, to the Association in the boom enough with the exception of The of the respectedto claw back the ground lostyears, and nowhere near an average new loan made in January increase of 0.9% in the bust,” analyst Mark Stucklin, in a year. As long had a value of €135,616, of Spanish Propertyexplained residential acquisitions as mortgage Insight. the last few years, the continues to increase, as it lending for has done for Spanish property market is set to grow.

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FACE THE MUSIC

Judge set to take further steps after expat boss of suspect investment company fails to turn up at court

SPAIN’S PP party has cious plans for a powerset out audagrab to take back control from Valencia and the other autonomous regions.

Leader Pablo Casado announced his commitment to strengthen the central government’s role to the national elections in the run up He insisted that such in a fortnight. prevent corruption anda move would lead to a drop in taxes.

EXCLUSIVE Voted It comes as the party attempts

By Joshua Parfitt to see expat off the threat from an REuse paper Voted REduce in Spain REcycle Party, whose leader hasinsurgent Vox expat paper REuse in Spain Govt in REduce autonomous parliamentsdescribed the THE beleaguered boss of REcycle exile a failed as the ‘can- wealth management cer of Spain’. company which allegedly lost Under the plan, the PP wants Confusion to increa- million has expats more than €20 reigns se resources for regional ignored a summons to delegations and paralyse government court. transfer of power to the any further Darren Kirby, of Alicante-based regions.

Continental Wealth (CWM), failed to turn Management Who’s up at Denia paying us?

Supremacy court on March 26.

According to Olive Press Casado insisted the move sources he Spain being administered would see was due to turn up, alongside ‘more effec- business former tively’. partners, who The case involves a trio did turn up.

The election hopeful stated of investors, that his who e Lions Threpub party would carry out Should a sweeping re- moneylost substantial amounts of have Three Lions view of how the regional when the company folded legged it pub authorities in 2017. operate looking at ‘efficiency and equi- Kirby allegedly HOW WE TOLD IT: ty.’ fled to Our 2017 reports llowing the collapse, Australia foSpain’s quasi-federal political finally retur- England.” system ning to Alicante of ‘autonomous states’ last year. former member of staff.

The Olive Press exclusively the constitution in 1978.was added to “Darren has been sent revealed “It was a prestigious place but ter Pedro Sanchez, whosePrime Minis- which he didn’t sign for, soa Burofax how CWM abruptly folded in one 2017, day they just the constitution, strongly party drafted will now have to pursue himthe court losing hundreds of expats’ life shut the door,” she in other vings in the sa- said, asking not plan, insisting the PSOE opposed the ways,” a source said. process. to be would defend “A judge Victims had raised named.

The firm, which ‘tooth and nail’ the principal of regio- it’s under is dealing with this and Marriott Hotel, was based out of the asked to sign blankfears about being nal self-government. legal review,” in Denia, had ‘eight dealing tions and their pensions instruc- NO “We understand he is he added. to ten’ telesales staff and clients SHOW: Darren Kirby being incurrently in ttered sca- vested in high-risk around Europe, revealed a large commissions.assets which paid res. “It is a blank cheque to invest wherever, whenever.

One pensioner based on the Cos- “It ta Blanca told the Olive is very worrying as they were Press he investing lost €210,000 after clients’ money in transferring risky €470,000 despite stating investments as well as highly he had a funds low to medium risk attitude. just because they paiddubious the higher “I was asked, ‘Can you sign this He commissions.” blank form. We will fill added that losses sustained in the detai- investors by ls.’ I did that trusting they would act verable should however, be recoin my best interests,” he as the investments that said. failed to perform, or went “They should have been for me and they were justlooking out linked to life insurance bust, were their own nests. To me feathering When the Olive Presspolicies. what they were doing.” they knew hold of Kirby in Octoberfinally got denied all responsibility. 2017, he Lawyer Antonio Flores, “I have lost Lawbird is representingwhose firm my world,” he said. a number of victims, said signing See pages 26-29 ment sheets was ‘very blank invest- Are you a victim or worrying’. former staff member?

“This negates the very essence of the case? Do you know more about financial advisory services,”said Contact the Olive Press Flo- newsdesk@theolivepress at .es Tel. (+34) 96 649 18 29 info@hispaniahomes.es www.hispaniahomes.co.uk New quality homes since 1958

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What do Fatboy Slim, director Paul Haggis, John Travolta, Dean Norris and Pilou Asbaek have in common? They’ve all had links to the Balearics this week FIND OUT WHY INSIDE

Expats who lost millions rage at ‘unauthorised’ deals involving ‘worrying’ signing of blank sheets

BACKING DOWN:

Pension peril

CATALUNYA’S beleaguered leader has vowed to fight on from abroad.

It came after Carles Puigdemont handed himself in to Belgian police when a European arrest warrant was issued.

He and four other politicians are accused on charges of rebellion, sedition, misuse of public funds, disobedience and breach of trust.

EXCLUSIVE A judge in Belgium now has

By Joe Duggan up to two weeks to decide if they will extradite the group to Spain.

BRITISH expats who lost up to €20 million in a failed pension advisory firm believe their Fight signatures may have been photocopied onto investment docuGiven the whole extradition ments. process can take up to 60 Around 300 days, it means he may have in Spain, are Brits, most living to run his entire election their funds battling to retrieve after Alicante-based campaign for the Catalan firm Continental European Democratic Party agement (CWM) Wealth Manfolded in Sepfrom Belgium. tember, as His party wants him to fight Olive Press first reported in the for continued leadership of Boss Darrena month ago.

Kirby left for Austhe regional parliament in tralia following the closure of the December 21 elections. the company’s main Javea ofPuigdemont denied he had fices. fled to Brussels to avoid jus- Victims, who are spread across tice but that he left because Spain, as well as in Ibiza, Malthe Spanish government was lorca, Portugal, France and preparing a ‘wave of oppres- Turkey, fear illegal practices sion and violence’ against after being asked to sign blank separatists. dealing instructions.

“I’m absolutely convinced Their pension pots were then that the state was preparing invested in high-risk assets a harsh wave of repression which promised for which we would have all commissions. to pay out large been held responsible,” he One 69-year-old pensioner said yesterday. told the “The Spanish state is com- €210,000 Olive Press he lost mitting a brutal repression… €470,000 after transferring if we don’t battle repression had a ‘low despite stating he BOSS: Kirby now in to medium aversion together, the Spanish state to risk’ attitude Australia to investment. may win this fight.”

“I was asked, In a show of support to the blank form. ‘Can you sign this he said.

We will fill in the “They should have been looking deposed president, around details.’ I Untitled-1.pdf 1 15:36 out for me but they were just 200 Catalan pro-indepen- would act did that trusting they16/06/2017 in my best interests,” feathering their own nests. To dence mayors travelled to Brussels on Tuesday to stage a rally.

me they knew what they were doing.”

He added: “I believe some of the investments were made without my knowledge. I think that is the case because I do not recall signing sheets for all the investments I had.”

An email, seen by the Olive Press, shows CWM asking a client to sign and return a blank dealing instruction.

Another British expat, 55, who is trying to recover around €200,000, said some pensioners ‘have lost everything’.

“My paper work that I sent has been altered, my risk level was changed from ‘medium’ to ‘high’ and my dealing instructions have been photocopied repeatedly for buying and selling assets I didn’t authorise,” he said.

“I still have some money left and I am still young enough to get compensation, but my fund

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rying’.

“This negates the very essence of the service they are meant to offer,” said Flores. “It is a blank cheque to invest wherever, whenever.

“If standard practice, this is has gone down by half and I very worrying. need compensation to get it “Signing blank documents back on track. would be seen “But some people as irregular in a have lost everycourt of law. The thing and don’t problem with have enough to these firms is that live on. One rethey were all intired victim only PENSION vesting in highly has €50,000 left risky investments OUTRAGE without from €480,000.” the cliAndalucia-based ents knowing.” lawyer Antonio He claimed that Flores, whose losses sustained firm Lawbird by investors are representwould hopefully ing some CWM be recoverable victims, said signing blank inas the investments that failed vestment sheets was ‘very worto perform, or went bust, were linked to life insurance policies.

Pension trustees Momentum and Trafalgar are now attempting to recoup CMW clients’ losses.

The Olive Press has so far been unable to discover if CWM was registered to provide investment advice with Spain’s official financial regulator CNMV. New quality homes since 1958

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BACKING DOWN:

Carles

Confusion reigns

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They’ve been getting stoned for centuries.

Now UNESCO is interested in Mallorca walls.

SEE PAGE 6

As Spain celebrates Hispania Day, the Olive Press runs a rule over Columbus

SEE PAGE 10

SPAIN’S prime minister has accused Catalan leader Puigdemont of causing Carles ‘confusion’ after signing a declaration of independence.

Mariano Rajoy demanded he clarify if he had really declared independence following day’s nail biting address Tuesto the Catalan parliament.

If so, Rajoy insisted trigger Article 155 ofhe could Spain’s constitution to allow Madrid to take direct control of Catalunya.

“There is an urgent need to put an end to the situation Catalunya is going through that - to

October 12th - October

REuse REduce REcycle

26th 2017

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As sherry gets big in London, we look at some quirky Jerez cocktails

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Who’s paying us?

EXCLUSIVE

Expats lose millions in life savings

CONFUSION reigns over through failed who should foot the bill for Mallorca investment hotels hit by the collapse of airnational and Momentum line Monarch. scheme Pensions.

Balearic hotels are “People are terribly €10million bill over facing a EXCLUSIVE disthe coltressed,” lapse that saw the emergency Granada-based

By Joe Duggan Brooks told the Olive repatriation of over Press.

110,000 “They have lost large amounts back to the UK, many HUNDREDS of British from are expats of their retirement savings.”

Palma. battling to retrieve She added: “Some Administrator KPMG pensions after losing their people are going to of these Olive Press ‘the debt told the £20 million in a failed up to end up owed by back in Britain on benefits.”

Monarch to hoteliers will investment scheme. pension OFF TO OZ: Boss Kirby “I have nothing but praise as an unsecured claim’ rank Spanish-based financial and (above) team against Tony Barnett [Trafalgar for at March charity bash the defunct airline. sory firm Continental adviMD] and Stewart Davies [Momen“They will have to file a Management (CWM) Wealth One Marbella-based expat remain tum chef executive]. the joint administratorsclaim to last month obliterating folded told the Olive Press he sunk “The anonymous.

It is believed at least They 300 of have for all heartbroken adviser kept telling me, CWM’s many £59,000 through the money they are owed,” CWM, only ‘This is 900 clients have had ing been magnificent in tryBrits’ life savings. said Many guaranteed, it can’t go their pension to recoup people’s money.” a spokesman. of them had transferred realising he had lost £39,000 below a certain pots decimated, The Olive when his pension trustees Press understands it “It has not been determined their private UK with victims shocked sent His money, andlevel’.” to later pensions a statement. that of others discover the value (yet) how much money through the company, of their inacross Spain and France, whose “I couldn’t believe available to creditors.” will be boss Darren Untitled-1.pdf was vestments it. I have put into Kirby has now1al- 16/06/2017 high-risk ‘profession- dramatically.had plummeted lost thousands 15:36 legedly moved to Australia. of pounds,” al investor revealed the victim, asking only’ to been claimed. assets, it has However, a source close to the case insisted: ‘There are still many customers who are is highly possible happy with their pension legal action port- may be taken by some folio.’ parties SPECIALIZING IN: Andalucia-based tax specialist against CWM, based out of headquarters in Alicante, Angie Brooks, a leading and CRIMINAL LAW on pension liberation expert its executives. and the founder of schemes Both the office in Javea and CIVIL LAW Life, has now launchedPension the website have recently shut.

BANKING (FLOOR CLAUSE) to help get victims’ a fight The group were pictured celmoney ebrating at a charity back. ball FAMILY LAW cently as March this year.as reShe is working alongside sion trustees Trafalgar pen- When the Olive Press spoke Inter- to boss Kirby he ‘definitively’ denied responsibility crash. “I have lost myover the world,” he said.

A close associate of said former CWM staffKirby’s were all ‘very upset’.

“It is still quite raw for and they are working outthem, what Find out more on page to do next,” he said.

XX

Three Lions pub pub

e-mail: advocat1@demicco.es mobile number: 636 307 533 WWW.DEMICCO.CH

Best English Pub in Palma Great food Live Music Every Night from 12am

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Best English Pub in Palma Great food Live Music Every Night from 12am

Ave de Gabriel Roca 4, Palma

Opinion Page 6

Opinion Page 6

Ave de Gabriel Roca 4, Palma

Carles

SPAIN’S prime accused Catalan minister has Puigdemont of leader Carles causing ‘confusion’ after signing of independence. a declaration Mariano Rajoy clarify if he had demanded he independence really declared day’s nail bitingfollowing Tuesaddress to the Catalan parliament.

If so, Rajoy insisted he could trigger Article constitution to 155 of Spain’s allow Madrid take direct control to of Catalunya.

“There is an put an end to urgent need to the situation that Catalunya is going through - to Continues on

EXCLUSIVE

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PENSION OUTRAGE SEE PAGE 10

Expats lose millions in life savings

SEE PAGE 20

whose boss It is believed by has nowDarren Kir- 300 at allegedly of CWM’s least moved to Australia.

900 clients have One had their Costa-del-Sol- pension pots decibased expat mated, with Olive Press told the shocked victims he sunk to later to end £59,000 through cover the value of dis- ain on up back in BritCWM, only realising benefits.” their he investments had plum- “I have nothing had lost £39,000 when meted dramatically. but praise for Tony his pension Barnett trustees However, a source [Trafalgar sent a statement. close to the MD] and “I couldn’t case in- Stewart Davies sisted: ‘There [Momentum have lost believe it. I many are customers still tive]. Theychef execuof are pounds,” thousands revealed the have been happy with who magnificent victim, asking their pension portfolio.’ ing to recoup in trymain anonymous.to re- A ndalucia people’s “The adviser - b a s e d money.” tax specialist ing me, ‘This kept tell- Brooks, Angie The Olive Press una leading derstands it teed, it can’t is guaran- pert go below a is highly on pension ex- possible certain level’.” liblegal action eration schemes His money, and may be taken others acrossand that of the founder of Pension parties againstby some CWM, France, was Spain and aLife, has now launched fight to help put into high-risk ‘professional get victims’ money investor only’ back. assets, it She is working has been claimed. alongside pension trustees Trafalgar International and Momentum Pen- based out of headquarsions. ters in Alicante, “People are and its terribly executives. distressed,” Both the office based Brooks Granada- and in Javea told the the website Olive Press. have “They have recently shut. lost large amounts of When the Olive Press their retirement sav- spoke to boss Kirby he ings.” ‘definitively’ She added: responsibility denied these people “Some of crash. over the are going “I lost my world,” hehave said.

A close associate of Kirby’s told the Olive Press former CWM staff were all ‘very upset’.

“It is still for them, andquite raw they are working out what to do Ave de Gabriel Roca next,” he said.

4, Palma

CONFUSION through failed should foot thereigns over who hotels hit by thebill for Mallorca investment line Monarch. collapse of airscheme Balearic hotels €10million bill are facing a EXCLUSIVE lapse that saw over the colthe emergency

By Joe Duggan repatriation back to the of over 110,000 UK, many from Palma.

HUNDREDS Administrator ish expats are of BritOlive Press ‘theKPMG told the to battling retrieve debt owed by Monarch to hoteliers sions after their penwill rank as an unsecured £20 millionlosing up to the defunct airline.claim’ against in a failed pension “They will have investment OFF TO OZ: to file a claim to scheme.

Boss Kirby the joint administrators and (above) Spanish-based for all the money they team at finan- March charity cial advisory a spokesman. are owed,” said bash firm Continental “It has not been determined agement Wealth Man- Many (yet) how much (CWM) folded of money will be last available to creditors.” transferred them had month obliterattheir Untitled-1.pdf

ing many heartbroken private 1 UK 16/06/2017 pensions Brits’ life savings. through15:36 the company,

SPECIALIZING IN: CRIMINAL LAW CIVIL LAW BANKING (FLOOR CLAUSE) FAMILY LAW

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e-mail: advocat1@demicco.es mobile number: 636 307 533 WWW.DEMICCO.CH K

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Pointing the way to two great Easter travel excursions from the hills of Javea to the wilds of Galicia

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NOTORIOUS: Earlier front page and (right) Jody Smart

passed away earlier this year.

Each had been asked to provide a ‘declaracion de investigado’ as evidence in the proceedings.

Solicitors are understood to be deliberating over whether legal grounds exist for charges over a series of investments and house transactions in the Costa Blanca area.

Phantom getaway A BRITISH couple who splashed €11,000 on an Airbnb penthouse were horrified to discover that it didn’t exist when they arrived.

Ian and Denise Feltham, from London, were promised a hot tub, Turkish bath and a dog-friendly room at the VIP penthouse in Ibiza.

However, they were forced to travel 40 miles and pay €200 a night extra for the nearest dog-friendly accommodation after they discovered the five star pad in the Las Boas complex did not exist.

Property developer Ian, 75, said that when they turned up at the complex, a receptionist told them that their penthouse was a scam.

“A gentleman who lived in the building

Property property Malaga’s bestmagazine

No more mass graves

October 10th - October 23rd 2019

said they get tourists turning up all the time and that it's a very big problem,” he added.

The couple immediately contacted Airbnb but, to their great shock, were told that they could only get a refund if they had turned up at the property and were not allowed a room.

Airbnb only backtracked and pulled the listing from the website after the company was contacted by The Times newspaper.

A spokesman for Airbnb said: “Our handling of this issue fell below our usual high standards and we have reached out to the guest to apologise and refund them in full.

“We have suspended the listing while we investigate and are continuing to work with the guest to make things right.”

Jody, 43, who owns the Jody Bell fashion label, insisted that while she was a director she had no involvement in the company’s running.

She broke off a relationship with Kirby, who she lived with, in 2017.

It comes as a separate case involving 17 claimants has been filed against CWM, which collapsed in 2017.

Dubious

The firm, based out of the Marriott Hotel, in Denia, has been accused of alleged fraudulent pension investment schemes that saw hundreds of expats lose tens of thousands of euros.

According to lawyer Antonio Flores, who is representing a number of clients, the firm was investing clients money in ‘highly risky investments as well as dubious funds’.

One pensioner on the Costa Blanca told the Olive Press he had lost €210,000 after transferring €470,000 despite saying he had only a ‘low to medium’ attitude to risk.

The case continues.

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NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

Homing in!

A GERMAN couple have denounced an expat estate agent linked to murky cases in Alicante for failing to return €289,000 for a four-bed apartment on the Costa del Sol. In a denuncia, seen by the Olive Press, the couple claim the money was ‘kept’ after it was sent to the private account of the agent Pandora Homes, in Sotogrande.

In the shocking claim filed with police, the couple, from Berlin, believe she is now shutting her company and intends to leave Spain, ‘predictably to Dubai’.

And former staff of the company - which has closed at least one office and laid off various employees this month - believe there may be many more such cases.

The Olive Press has discovered that the company’s owners Nadine Dijkman and husband Eddy were previously involved in a case involving unlicensed old people’s homes in Calpe.

According to the German paper Costa Blanca Nachrichten, things went wrong for their company Senior Services Costa Blanca, after authorities discovered Dijkman had not obtained the required operating licence.

October 10th - October 23rd 2019

Battling for life Expats rally around Luke as he awaits critical brain surgery after being hit by a reckless driver without a licence EXCLUSIVE

By Joshua Parfitt

A MUCH-LOVED British expat has spent nearly two weeks in an induced coma after he was struck down while trimming his hedge by a reckless unlicensed driver.

Luke Thomas, 38, from Javea, underwent critical brain surgery at Valencia’s Hospital de Manises as doctors stemmed part of a bleed that was causing trauma to his eye.

He remains sedated in a ‘precarious situation’ and is due further surgery to treat a carotid-cavernous fistula.

There is ‘no prognosis for his recovery’, his brother Mark told the Olive Press, while the female driver of the car is facing up to three and a half years in prison for the incident.

The Columbian crashed into him in the Pinosol area of Javea, before careering into another neighbour’s parked car.

She was arrested at the scene, apparently in shock.

Luke, a fitness trainer, based on the Costa Blanca for ten years, suffered ‘extensive fractures’ to the skull when struck on Saturday, September 28.

5

NEWS IN BRIEF Gimme shelter FIVE air raid shelters between the two castles of Alicante are to be opened at a cost of €335k. The mayor of Project Coordination, explained the area, “can be a tourist asset that makes the area more attractive.”

Air time A MOUNTAIN biker had to be airlifted to hospital after breaking his hip in a race on Sunday. After falling off in the Puerto de Garruchal event, the 31-year-old was taken to a Murcia hospital.

Horror: Expat Luke remains in a coma He will require ‘facial reconstruction’ when he comes round from the coma.

“I just want to say thank you to everyone who sent us their wishes and support, there’s too many to name,” Mark told the Olive Press.

Indeed, the local community have rallied around raising €7,000 for his recovery, via a GoFundMe page, as well as various events, including one at the Paris 24 Padel club this Saturday.

Many local professionals have also helped by taking on Luke’s clients for his Fitness Training 24/7 business, which he runs out of his Javea home.

“Luke is one of the most likable

Safeways lads you could wish to meet,” his brother continued, with even teachers at Luke’s former primary school making a financial contribution to his recovery.

It comes as the driver of the car, a middle-aged woman has been released from Denia Court on charges of causing a serious injury through recklessness.

She is also facing a crime against traffic safety for driving without a licence.

A second woman, who lent the car to the defendant, is also under investigation as an accomplice.

The driver will face up to ‘three-and-a-half-years’ in

prison, a spokesman for Valencia High Court of Justice told the Olive Press.

“The sentence will depend on how the criminal case develops, as prosecutors will need to demonstrate a serious injury - defined by loss of an organ, a limb or similar - has been caused.”

Police arrested the woman at the scene, before holding her in a cell until her court appearance the following Monday.

“She had never owned a licence,” the spokeswoman added.

Opinion Page 6

SAFER routes to school for children have been designed in Almoradi. The ‘Camino al Cole’ paths are an initiative designed with the help of local Police.

Club snub ALICANTE Council has announced it will not grant new licenses for any new leisure facilities, pubs or nightclubs to prevent undue noise for sleeping residents. Initiatives also include minimum distances between cafés with terraces and residential areas.

6

www.theolivepress.es Voted top expat paper in Spain

A campaigning, community newspaper, the Olive Press represents the huge expatriate community in Spain with an estimated readership, including the websites, of more than one million people a month.

OPINION Trust issues TRUST is what holds societies together. It would be lovely to leave our front doors unlatched, let children play freely in the park and believe no one will rip us off.

But that’s not reality. The story of a British woman charged €377 for a taxi trip - that on a Sunday should have cost no more than €120 - is a case in point.

Julia Upton told this paper how her driver from Calpe to Alicante airport even took the money out of her purse himself, as she was ‘too weak’ to pay him, let alone argue.

The 74-year-old then fell so ill with double pneumonia she had to be administered with emergency oxygen on the plane before being rushed to Exeter hospital.

To take advantage of someone, a pensioner no less, in such a state is utter heartless, greed and misanthropy.

The issue is that to make a denuncia, Julia needs names, number plates, photographs and receipts.

If you think you’re being scammed, get as much evidence as you can - it could come in handy, even eight weeks down the line.

Damage done LENDING your car to someone without a licence is never worth it.

It’s what licences and lessons are for.

At various times we may have been in a situation with an uninsured or unlicenced friend, insisting they ‘can drive’, or even in situations involving alcohol behind the wheel.

But after British expat Luke Thomas was hospitalised and still needs urgent brain surgery while he remains in an induced coma, the answer should be a firm ‘no’.

A single act of negligence will remain with you for the rest of your life, not to mention damages inflicted upon totally innocent victims.

The amount of people who have rallied round to support Luke and his family at this difficult time is heartwarming, but he should never have been in hospital.

Three and a half years maximum is not enough for the pain inflicted. With both driver and alleged accomplice standing trial, may the sentencing be swift and right.

PUBLISHER / EDITOR

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FEATURE

Is the package holiday ‘screwed’? (so claims Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary)

T

October 10th - October 23rd 2019

TEARFUL: Staff at Thomas Cook headquarters leaving with office possessions in tears

Bad management, Brexit uncertainty - both played a part in the catastrophic downfall of 178-year-old travel firm Thomas Cook ... but what does the future hold for holidaymakers, asks Karen Livermore

his week leading players in the Spanish travel industry gathered, grim faced, to present an emergency plan to Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto in the wake of the Thomas Cook crash.

The head of the Spanish hotel federation, Juan Molas, had already issued a dire warning via the Olive Press that at least 500 hotels face immediate closure due to the collapse of the package holiday giant.

He went on to add that unpaid bills to Spanish businesses would be far in excess of the original €200 million estimate.

At least 100 of these doomed hotels were exclusively dependent on Thomas Cook, while the rest counted on the firm for between 30% and 70% of their clients.

Then there’s the human cost, with a mind-boggling 21,000 people worldwide expected to lose their jobs following the crash. In the UK 9,000 staff are affected and a total of 3,4000 staff lost their jobs, with many thousands more indirect causalties. In Spain, the hardest-hit Canary Islands job loses are thought to be around 13,500.

But it’s not just holidaymakers, employees and business owners who are paying. As well as being a logistical nightmare, the repatriation of stranded travellers - around 150,000 whose relaxing break came to an abrupt end - has cost the British taxpayer a END OF AN ERA: Thomas Cook passengers head home, while (right) an old poster whopping £100 million.

Dubbed Operation Matterhorn, since Sep- to celebrate carrying 150 million passen- words that do not help anyone in the intember 23 more than 130 aircraft have gers in just 12 months, but could not re- dustry’ and believes the Thomas Cook colbeen used to take people back to the UK. sist having his say over the Thomas Cook lapse will not lead to the package holidays In a testament to the efficiency of the larg- nightmare. demise. Instead, they would be booked est peacetime repatriation in British histo- “The whole tour operator model is finished, online rather than through high street outry, an incredibe 94% of clients were flown it’s over,” he said. “Nobody under the age lets. Tui and Jet 2 were already looking to back on the original date of their cancelled of 40 buys a tour holiday or goes to a travel step in and fill the void, he added.

Thomas Cook flight - albeit not to their cho- agency anymore, they do it “What happened to sen airport, in some cases. themselves.’

Thomas Cook was about Richard Moriarty, Chief Executive at the UK He went on to predict that bad management, not a Civil Aviation Authority said “We have been Norwegian Air would be lack of customers wantworking round the clock to bring more than the next to go under (the ing to book holidays,” he 150,000 people back to the UK. At the airline has refuted this). told the Olive Press. same time, we are focussed on refunding However, given that three “Package deals take the the 360,000 ATOL-protected future book- other airlines have gone hassle out of the equaings as quickly as possible.” Shortly after out of business or stopped tion, and many travellers going live, the website set up by the CAA flying since the start of want that assurance. for Thomas Cook customers to apply for September - Aigle Azur, XL Holidaymakers will still refunds crashed citing ‘unprecedented de- Airways (both France) and book.” mand’as the cause. Frustrated customers Adria Airways(Slovenia) - it Fears that other compatook to social media to vent their anger. seems the travel business nies could grasp the opOne Twitter user said tried ten times now is facing its biggest challenge. portunity to raise prices, given such a big and getting the same error The package model was player has gone, appear unfounded. message!’ once an attractive proposi- Meanwhile in a good news boost for its There are now calls for the tion for holiday makers and customers, budget airline Easyjet has angovernment to revisit a rehoteliers alike. nounced it is scrapping the £16 booking view it conducted in May Nobody under the For the customer, every- fee for flights and holidays and isn’t planregarding travel protection. age of 40 buys a thing was laid on. Get off ning on out of the ordinary increases on The report recommended the plane, get a coach to fares and holidays. travel companies add a 50p holiday or goes your hotel, eat, drink, enjoy The company is feeling optimistic about levy to every airfare, allowand then get whisked back the future as it gears up to launch new ing insolvent airlines to op- to a travel agent home. No thinking, no plan- look easyJet holidays. The airline has had erate flights for enough time ning. For hoteliers it guar- a tour operation since 2015, but has until to bring stranded travellers anteed multi-year bookings now not contracted its own hotels. home. without the cost of running Chief Executive Johan Lundgren told travel A similar insurance scheme already exists their own sales operations. industry journal: “We want to get it right. in Germany.

But now there is the worry that the compa- We are in the process of signing a number The repercussions on the industry are ny might collapse while you’re out of the of hotels and progress is good.” colossal, so the billion dollar question is, country, leaving you with no holiday and a The company expects to launch at the end does the collapse of one of the world’s possibly hefty bill. of this year and told Olive Press: “We look oldest travel agencies mean that package If it can happen to the biggest, it can hap- forward to sharing more about our plans holidays are dead and buried? pen to anyone. And if enough hoteliers are with you very soon.”

The ever-outspoken Ryanair boss Michael put out of business, others must be asking Even the controversial Michael O’Leary O’Leary enraged the travel industry once themselves whether they want to embrace has been doing his bit, cutting fares to as again this week by claiming in a news con- such a risk. little as £5.99 - mind you, that was just for ference that the package holiday model is According to a leading hotelier on the four days! ‘screwed’.

Costa del Sol, the situation isn’t quite so Longer term, it seems established low-cost The budget airline boss was announcing clean cut. Wanting to remain anonymous, carriers like O’Leary’s are going to be the a four-day flash sale, Millions In The Air, he criticised Michael O’Leary for his ‘rash winners in the travel game.

FEATURE

www.theolivepress.es

7

CLOCK’S TICKING

7 Olive Press online

October 10th - October 23rd 2019 that’s the

Spain’s best English news website

Driving, residency, passports...this Olive Press guide tells you what you need to know to prepare for Brexit

A

S Brexit looms, the British Consulate have gone into overdrive holding meetings throughout Spain and its islands to try and make sure expats know exact-

HEALTHCARE

A key worry for many British people residing in Spain, healthcare has been used as a bargaining chip by the British and Spanish governments.

Most recently UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock scared everyone by saying that Brits access to healthcare in Spain could end within six months under a ‘nodeal’ Brexit.

And the fear for expats is real.

“Some of our members are already looking at private healthcare,” said Sue Wilson, chair of Bremain in Spain: “I know people who are buying it so of they are protected in the future, despite already being covered by Spanish healthcare.”

How to prepare The most important thing is to register as a resident. If there isn’t a Brexit deal then Brits in Spain can continue to access healthcare in the same way they do now until at least 31 December 31 2020.

This is due to a reciprocal agreement between Spain and the UK, which has not yet been ratified by the British Government.

But even if the agreement is not approved, the Spanish Government has said that British nationals will still get the same access to healthcare they do now thanks to theRoyal Decree-Law 5/2019, of March 1.

EHICs (European Health Insurance Cards) and S1 forms will be both be valid during this period.

DRIVING LICENSE You will need to exchange your British license for a Spanish one ahead of Brexit if you plan to carry on living in Spain.

Using your Spanish license, if you have one, will still be allowed in the UK for short trips and for those taking their test, they can still exchange it for a UK one.

How to prepare After being a resident in Spain for two years you must renew or exchange any old UK license that doesn’t have a 10-year validity period.

Also, if you are in Spain and your UK license is lost, stolen or expires then you will have to apply to the DVLA in Spanish for a ‘certificate of entitlement’.From the day the UK leaves the EU, the Spanish Government has said you will have nine months in which to change your license.

If you still have a UK license, for visits to Spain of up to nine months after the UK leaves the EU you will not need an International Driving Permit (IDP). However for those visiting Spain on longer trips after Brexit you will need a 1949 IDP, which can be accessed from the UK Post Office.

ly what they could be facing in the months to come - despite still not knowing if we are leaving or if there is a deal or no deal.

From formal events requiring a ticket, like last

PASSPORTS One of the hottest Brexit topics since the 2016 referendum. Remember the crazy scramble for Irish passports?

Elena Remigi, founder and director of the In Limbo Project, which looks at the human cost of Brexit, described it as a ‘huge issue for Brits abroad’.

“Lack of freedom of movement is going to create serious problems for Brits abroad and at home,” she told the Olive Press.

How to prepare Check you have enough time on your passport if you are planning on travelling in the near future.

Adults and children will need six months on their passport in order to travel to most European countries not including Ireland.

If you don’t have enough time left on your passport you will need to renew it, and bear in mind that the process can take at least three weeks.

If the UK secures a deal with the EU nothing will change until the end of 2020.

However without a deal any remaining months on your passport will not be carried over to a new one.

So make sure that on your day of travel, your passport has at least six months remaining on it, otherwise you may not be able to enter some Schengen Area countries like Spain.

Eye on BREXIT

week’s event at the Barcelona Princess Hotel to informal pop ups in shopping centres and from bars, reaching out to local community groups where consulate staff are appearing as guest speakers, and hosting Facebook live Q and A’s, consulate staff are being inundated by questions from worried Brits.

Unsurprisingly healthcare - as reported in last week’s Olive Press - remains the biggest worry for the majority of expats.

Sue Wilson, Chair of Bremain in Spain - the biggest forum for British migrants living in Spain - told the Olive Press that above all people need to ‘get the essentials in order’.

“Most important for Brits living in Spain,” she said, “are the standard things like getting the residencia and driving license.”

With a general election on the cards as EU leaders continue to rebuff Boris Johnson’s negotiations, being able to vote in the UK is crucial if you want to have your say.

“Get your UK proxy vote,” Sue urges, “we know what the Spanish postal service is like.”

There are upcoming consulate events around Spain available at the Government website, while La Linea is holding a Brexit protest on October 19 at 12:30pm.

If you haven’t yet got to a consulate meeting, here is a survival guide to get yoou through Brexit.

RESIDENCY Residencia may go by several different names, including the ‘green card’, ‘residency card’, etc. etc.

This must be applied for if you intend to stay in Spain for more than three months and is a must-have before Brexit.

In case the UK leaves the EU without a deal, it is definitely worth registering as a resident. Although even if a deal is not reached over the UK’s withdrawal, Brits will still be ‘considered legally resident’ in Spain for 21 months, regardless of whether they have residency, according to the UK Government.

How to prepare To get this important document you will need a completed EX18 form, which you can get from the same place as the EX15.

The process is similar but not the same as getting your NIE and you will still need to make an appointment at your local office.

You will also need to bring along your passport and copy, proof of address, proof of health insurance, tax form Modelo 790, proof of income and a certificate of empadronamiento.

Users

808.1K ON TOP: Olive Press website traffic for last four weeks

THE PAPER WITH THE REAL NUMBERS WE were recently encouraged to get our website ranking certified by Alexa.com.

While we have been publishing our estimated position on the respected site, owned by Amazon, for years, it was suggested an official rank would help encourage advertisers to enlist.

And the findings were stunning, to say the least.

After a month of analysing our vital statistics and looking under the bonnet, as it were, Alexa ranked www. theolivepress.es at a staggeringly high 11,392th position globally. That is out of billions of websites studied!

Most exciting of all though, was finding ourselves in the TOP 500 SITES IN THE UK and the TOP 1000 SITES IN SPAIN. This means 470th position in the UK and 683rd position in Spain, while we came 630th in Ireland and 84th in Gibraltar.

Our rivals, Sur in English and Euro Weekly News came in at a lowly 178,286 and 30,349 in comparison.

MILLIONS OF VISITORS A MONTH This is all to do with sheer visitor numbers and pages viewed and we had 1.9 MILLION of those last month alone (see Google Analytics graph top), with 1.5 MILLION visits.

Using the research of another respected site Similar Web we discovered that the Euro Weekly News is getting around 400,000 visitors a month (around a quarter of ours) and the Sur in English a fraction of that. Google Analytics cannot lie and, before undertaking any advertising campaign, any savvy business will always ask for the last few months official visitor figures.

WE CAN HELP YOUR BUSINESS Quite simply our 1.4 MILLION visitors a month online, coupled with the 250,000 readers of our printed papers each month can guarantee your business gets the best exposure possible among the expat - as well as - key tourist market coming to Spain. Let your advert stand out to around 50.000 visitors a day online and in 100.000 printed papers a month.

We promise a keen and competitive price and that your business will be seen by millions of potential clients each month in an increasingly competitive and tricky market.

Send us an email today at sales@theolivepress.es or call us at 00 34 951273575 to help your business grow.

The top five most read stories on www.theolivepress.es in the past two weeks are:

1

- British tourists ‘kicked out’ of popular hotel at 1.30am on Spain’s Costa del Sol after it allegedly goes into administration (45,296)

2

- SCORCHER: Temperatures of up to 35C in Spain’s Andalucia and on Costa del Sol this weekend as Malaga to be hottest city in the country TONIGHT (24,897)

3 4

- Up to a BILLION ‘aggressive’ tiger mosquitoes ‘set to swarm Spain’s Costa Blanca’ after devastating gota fria floods create perfect breeding environment (21,970)

5 ANXIOUS: British expats protested against the spectre of Brexit in Malaga a fornight ago

- Woman in Spain who put boyfriend’s head in a box and gave it to friend claiming it was sex toys, ‘baked head to remove smell’ (23,018)

- Temperatures to rise today on Spain’s Costa del Sol as HEATWAVE will set upon Andalucia (21,236)

8

NEWS

www.theolivepress.es

NEWS IN BRIEF Deluge stemmed MIGRATION from Africa has fallen by 39% this year after the EU and Spain granted €170m to Morroco to bolster its security measures.

Spain’s acting prime minister Pedro Sanchez won €140m from Brussels, to which his government added €30m, in a bid to clamp down on migration via the Western Mediterannean route.

It comes after Spain became the largest destination for migrants after Italy closed its ports last year, with an alarming 65,000 entering the country without papers last year.

Spain’s pledge to cut illegal immigration by half before the end of this year may not be far away, with the funding as part of that effort.

The efforts appear to be bearing fruit, as the numbers of migrants reaching Spain fell to 18,018 people arriving without papers from January to August.

The combined funding particularly helped the Moroccan Royal Navy to return migrants to their point of departure, with over 8,000 returned in this way.

October 10th - October 23rd 2019

Living in Limbo British family whose home was devastated by floods are STILL waiting for assessors to survey the damage EXCLUSIVE

By Simon Wade

A BRITISH couple who lost ‘everything’ in the Vega Baja villa during last month’s horrific floods are STILL in limbo as insurance assessors are yet to evaluate their claim.

Ruined furniture, clothes and toys are still piled high on the Harighi family’s patio a month since the deluge devastated their Vega Baja home.

These and other treasured mementos are all that remains of the house they spent 10 years slowly renovating.

Tragically two pet cats, presumed drowned, have not made it home.

“This is a never-ending nightmare and our lives are completely in limbo,” Hannah Harighi, 43, told the Olive Press.

“Our dream of a place in the sun for us and the kids has been shattered.”

Her husband Harry, 46, has

DEVESTATION: The Haighi’s and their flooded home now joined her on mercy leave from his job as a printer in the UK to help try and get his family’s life back on track.

His wife, a marketing consultant, ‘cannot work’ as she is still forced to take care of their two children Darius, 11, and Suri, 6, whose school is still closed.

But despite their obvious financial constraints, not even promised municipal emergency funding up to €4,500 has materialised to help them. They blame this on their local town hall in San Fulgencio which ‘doesn’t fully understand the forms’. While the family, including dog Skip, has been able to stay with friends nearby, the situation is so bad they are considering a move back to the UK. “Everything we worked for, to provide a beautiful and happy

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home for our family, has been snatched from us,” continued Harry, who has now set up an interim GoFundMe page, called ‘Family lost everything in Spanish floods’, to help.

“It will probably take months for the government insurance to come to fruition, and in the meantime we must pay the mortgage and utilities on an uninhabitable property.

“We must also begin the soul destroying task of itemising all of our belongings for the insurance.

“We’d spent 10 years renovating the place, it was beautiful, and now it’s all gone.”

Hannah revealed how they had to ‘run for their lives’ as the home was destroyed in a single weekend following the catastrophic flood in September.

They made it to the local community centre on higher ground just before the villa was ‘destroyed’, when the Segura river burst its banks.

“We’ve had floods before, but rainwater just covered our garden – but we still kept an eye on the storms, just in case,” Hannah told the Olive Press.

“When we got up at 9.30am, we had to run to get the children because floodwater had already got in.

“By 10.30am, we were ankle deep in muddy sludge, and we decided it was time to go.

“It was like a scene from a disaster movie - it was apocalyptic chaos.”

The couple are still missing two cats, presumed drowned, who were birthday presents for the children just a week before the storms.

Donate at: https://uk.gofundme. com/f/family-lost-everything-in-spanish-floods

The Bighearted radio listeners of BIG FM CARING listeners of an English radio station have rallied round to donate furniture, electrical items and cleaning equipment to an urbanization left with just ‘one working kitchen’ following the devastating floods last month.

El Saladar, in Almoradi, was so badly hit following September’s gota fria that families could not even cook themselves a warm meal, according to BIG FM station manager, Richie Sparks. (above) Sparks immediately started making urgent appeals for help through his station, collecting thousands of euros and truckfulls of furniture and bedding.

He was overwhelmed with the response that has raised €16,500 so far, through concerts and other appeals.

“The generosity of Brits is overwhelming, along with Peter and Chris at the House of Furniture stores who donated thousands of euros of stock,” Sparks told the Olive Press.

10

www.theolivepress.es

Greta fever

STUDENTS from a top British school on the Costa Blanca have marched on their town hall to demand collaboration in tackling environmental issues.

Lady Elizabeth School (LES) pupils were invited to wear green in honour of Greenpeace’s Climate Strike Awareness Campaign, walking to Benitachell Town Hall to deliver a letter of requests last Friday.

“At LES we have always celebrated the importance of the student voice and initiatives,” a spokesperson for LES said.

“This year, following on

Olive Mess THE BRITISH owner of a restaurant in Moraira has claimed Town Hall gardeners dumped olive branches into the yellow ‘envasos’ recycling bin.

The owner, who declined to be named, said he found the olive clippings in the yellow bin for

from the recent Climate Strike led by Greta Thunberg, many of our students were keen to mark this event in their own way.”

Rolser, a local manufacturer specialising in shopping trolleys, donated green trolleys for the students to gather rubbish and refuse on their 45-minute walk.

Everything from bottles, plastic bags, old tyres and even a fridge’ were discovered on the journey as students made every effort to remove what they could.

Students, teachers and parents also fundraised for Marina Alta charities.

plastic, cartons and tin cans on the Carretera Moraira a Calpe.

He said olive trees in the municipal garden before the Playa de l’Ampola had just been trimmed by Town Hall workers, and were the origin of the misplaced waste.

“We are all fed up with bars and restaurants mixing up the recycling in the bins opposite us, and the new low is that the Town Hall trimmed the olive trees in the garden and put all the clippings in the yellow “envase” recycling bin,” the source told the Olive Press.

“All of us who work here see the joke that is recycling every day.”

Teulada-Moraira Town Hall were unable to be reached when contacted by this newspaper.

GREEN

Making waves

October 10th - October 23rd 2019

Eco award

Uni students win Dyson award for amazing microplastics buoy STUDENTS from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) have won a national design award with a buoy that filters microplastics from the ocean, modelled on a sunfish.

Chain reaction

ACTIVISTS in Sevilla chained themselves to the railings outside the Junta’s Palacio de San Telmo HQ this week to protest climate change.

Ten campaigners sat with placards demanding strong action against the global threat which could hit Andalucia particularly hard. The act comes a fornight after the worldwide anti-climate change march held across 4,000 cities.

“Andalucia is especially vulnerable to rising temperatures and sea levels.” said one of the activists.”

Protestors also pointed to the 10% of CO2 emissions coming from tourism, Sevilla being the third most visited city in Spain.

The buoy, dubbed YUNA, was one of 27 nationwide winners of the James Dyson Award and could be among a select few chosen to compete in the international sector of the competition.

The 20 Engineering and Product Development students at UPV, who set up Yu Design in 2017, pocketed €2,200 in prize winnings.

Their prototype features a series of sieves that strain microplastics from the oceans according to their size.

Active carbon filters deal with tiny microplastics particles not picked up by the sieves before all waste is collected and reused.

“YUNA requires little energy to fulfil its function,” said Alice Ville, a UPV student, and member of the Yu Design team.

“Microplastics that travel through ocean currents reach the interior of the buoy, which moves with the currents like a weather vane.”

She added YUNA’s shape is

MENACE: Microplastics and (above) students’ clever solution modelled on a sunfish for ease of movement.

On October 17, Spain’s best designs will be selected to advance to the international stage of the James Dyson Award, where finalists can pocket €33,500.

The ultimate winner will be made known on November 14.

Whether they are selected or not, Alice Ville said her fellow Design Engineering and Product Development classmates at Yu Design have already made plans to commercialise their design.

A BRITISH BBC reporter has been awarded one of Spain’s most prestigious green awards for his environmental journalism.

Matt McGrath, BBC News’s correspondent, has been awarded the Biophilia Award for Environmental Communication at Spain’s 2019 awards for the Conservacion de la Biodiversidad y Biophilia.

The jury said that McGrath showed an ‘extraordinary ability’ to communicate environmental challenges to a global audience.

They also praised his ability to ‘demystify scientific research’ and his ‘innovative use of new communication technologies’ in order to attract a young audience.

HERO: Matt McGrath

Do you have a what’s on?

Send your informa newsdesk@theolive tion to press.es

PLAYWRIGHT PRIZE

A SPANISH playwright who made a name for himself directing classics by Shakespeare and Arthur Miller has won a prestigious Spanish theatre award.

Andres Lima was awarded the 2019 National Theatre Award and a cash prize of €30,000 for his ‘pursuit of new theatrical forms and aesthetics’.

Works he has directed include Shakespeare’s Titus Adronicus (2009), Arthur Miller’s The Witches of Salem and Marat/ Sade (1964).

Lima, who is also an actor, directed his first play in 1997.

He is the founder of Madrid-based theatre company Compania Animalario, which has staged hundreds of plays throughout Spain.

LA CULTURA Castling call Expat duo create website chronicling history of Spanish castles used for blockbuster hits

SPAIN’S history is inextricably entwined with castles.

The very national language, castellano, comes from the historical region of Castile, or ‘the land of castles’, due to fortifications built during the Christian Reconquest from the Moors.

And now Spain’s estimated 2,500 castles have been honoured with a new website by a British-Dutch

ICON: San Servando, the first silverscreen Spanish castle duo detailing the relationship between Hollywood and Spain’s built heritage.

“Spain gets a whole load of tourism, but very few will travel to the castle in Artajona, Navarre, where

Learn the lingo

ORIHUELA Town Hall has announced a 40-hour language course for Brits and other foreign nationals, to aid their integration into Spanish society.

“This responds to the need for high-level courses, since the courses offered by some public and private institutions are of entry level,” Councillor Mayte Sanchez said.

“The program improves the integration of foreign people residing in Orihuela, which is our main goal.”

The course starts on Monday, September 7, from 3:00pm to 5:30pm, in the Carmen Conde Civic Centre.

Audrey Hepburn and Sean Connery starred in Robin and Marian in 1976,” Robert Yareham, a history teacher and author based in Valencia, told the Olive Press.

“A lot of these areas are what expats would call ‘the real Spain’, so the idea is to push tourism out to these areas.”

Closer to home on the Costa Blanca, few would know that Denia castle has appeared in no less than eight feature films, including Java: East of Krakatoa (1969), The Three Musketeers (1973) and Honeymoon Academy (1990).

Yareham wrote a book about Spanish castles in the movie industry, Mov-

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October 10th - October 23rd 2019

TRIUMPHING OVER TABOOS LOSING a parent to suicide is one of life’s greatest tragedies - losing two before your 20th birthday is cataclysmic.

Javea resident Eric Campon, 46, was just four when he lost his mother, and 19 when his father took his own life.

But the French national has now documented his life’s monumental upheavals in a new book dealing with depression, alcohol abuse and bouncing back to a life of love and positivity.

Who the f*ck am I? A journey of self-discovery has received an ‘overwhelming’ response, according to its author.

“Awful experiences don’t define who we are,” Campon told the Olive Press.

“I want to assure readers through the story I tell that we can all transform ourselves and decide the direction of our lives.”

Having left his job as a successful English-language trainer in France, Campon says he is now relishing his public speaking and work with teenagers battling mental health issues. ies made in Spain: 800 English Language Movies Made in Spain, but said that ‘books don’t really sell these days’ and hence the idea to create a webpage.

The site, spanishcastlemovemagic.com, created in collaboration with Dutch entrepreneur Cas

Eggermont, has information on 80 castles across Spain.

“We’re now looking into creating drone images for future film producers and filmmakers to take a look at the wealth of castles, and hopefully get them interested in shooting here,” Yareham said.

Hollywood legends In 1936 Gary Cooper and Marlene Dietrich made the film ‘Desire’, a musical comedy with Spanish scenery as a backdrop. Although the actors never set foot on Spanish soil, some images shot by a crew that visited San

Sebastian and Toledo were recorded, and for this reason, for the first time, not only one but two Spanish film castles made it into a Hollywood film.

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October 10th - October 23rd 2019

LA CULTURA

LIVE AND KICKING

L

IVE cabaret theatre is dying a slow death and nobody is watching - or that's what we are led to believe.

YouTube, Instagram and Facebook videos with millions of views have put outstanding jaw-dropping entertainment at our fingertips until even the best becomes boring after 30 seconds.

Which is why the 16-millionth guest to walk through Benidorm Palace’s glass doors is a fabulous retort to the t-shirt-wearing techies of this modern age.

“We’re the last cabaret theatre hall left in this country,” British co-owner of Benidorm Palace,

Christine Climent, tells me as we watch the hit show, Aqua.

“There used to be huge venues in Barcelona, Madrid and Mallorca. But this was a past era

- by the mid-90s, they were all gone.”

With every passing year, cabaret increasingly appears like an endangered species surviving

16 million milestone

BENIDORM Palace has rolled out the red carpet to celebrate its surprise 16 millionth gues.

Joan Wright, 68, from Hertfordshire was gifted a two-week stay at the Sol Pelícanos hotel in Benidorm and flights by Jet2 to mark the milestone.

Joan and travel partner Anne Moss were treated like celebrities, snapped by the paps alongside Palace owners Christine and Vicente Climent and their son David and daughter Jo. The 16-million figure, equivalent to 9,638 sell-out nights of the 1,660-seater venue, is the first time guest numbers have been calculated since the Palace opened its doors on July 12, 1977.

EVENTS GUIDE Americas - also sometimes known as Día de la Hispanidad, or Hispanic Day

Saturday, October 12

Fundraiser Padel Tournament in aid of the Luke Thomas appeal, organised by Justin Davies Paris 24 Padel & Tenis club, Javea 12pm and 6pm

Sunday, October 13

The Rolling Stones Story is quickly becoming a firm favorite at the fabulous Benidorm Palace mandatory show for all rock n’ roll lovers Benidorm Palace, Benidorm Friday, October 11 La Mar de Tapas food fair, featuring gastro- 8.30pm nomic route through bars and restaurants in Javea port, with events, crafts and many more Sunday, October 13 Opera La Traviata, hosted by Opera 2001 activities, plus live music each night Teulada Auditorium, Teulada-Moraira Javea Port 12.30pm - 3pm, 7.30pm to 11pm, October 11- 6pm 12; 12.30pm - 3pm, October 13 xxxxxxx

Friday, October 11

Eight edition of the Ayora Honey Festival, a gastronomic, touristic, cultural and beekeeping event where visitors can view a live extraction from a live apiary and taste fresh honey Plaza Mayor, Ayora October 11-14

Do you have a what’s on?

Monday, October 14

Last week of the Van Gogh Alive 360º exhibition in Valencia, the most-visited multimedia exhibition in the world Plaza del Ayuntamiento,18, Valencia city 9am - 9pm until October 20

Monday, October 14

Quiz Night in aid of APROP animal shelter in Pego Pedreguer will celebrate its first-ever bous al Club Tenis, Pego carrer in October, accompanied by concerts, 7.15pm DJs and discos Pedreguer Wednesday, October 16 8pm and 12am, October 11; 12pm, 5pm and Optical illusion workshop from British art/well12am, October 12; 12pm and 5pm, October being facilitator, hypnotherapist and fitness 13 professional Nilam Wright, as part of monthlong exhibition titled ‘Your Meaning of Life’ AlteArte, Altea Saturday, October 12 Fira Gata al Carrer - family entertainment in 730pm. Booking essential Gata de Gorgos town centre with music, children’s activities and shows, featuring live out- Friday, October 18 door concert with Soulsplosion The Fira de Tots Sants de Dénia funfair - often From 10am, October 12-13 known as the Day of Boys and Girls - with marSaturday, October 12 kets and rides Columbus Day national holiday, commemorat- Esplanada de Torrecremada, Denia ing the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the October 18, 22, 24, 29 and November 3

Friday, October 11

Want your event to feature in the Olive Press?

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As cabaret theatres have all but disappeared, Benidorm Palace celebrates its 16-millionth customer and counting, writes Joshua Parfitt

only in the reserves of Las Vegas and Moulin Rouge, in Paris.

And yet somehow among all this the palace is not just clinging on, it’s thriving.

Aqua is on four days a week and the 1,660-seater venue was so full there were queues to the gents during the Olive Press’ three recent visits, one to the third-edition of Save My Life that raised €18,043.19 for abandoned dogs in Benidorm.

“You’re too young to understand, but this really takes me back,” expat Brenda, 72, tells me on her sixth visit to the show.

“Burnley nightclub was like this, fantastic acts, scampi and chips in a basket and blokes coming over asking for a slow dance.

“It’s a dead era now. Young ‘uns think a nightclub is just a DJ on a computer, but you’re all missing out.”

When people think of cabaret, they likely imagine women in red, frilly skirts doing the cancan.

But this is indicative of how misunderstood cabaret is in the eyes of society - “It’s nothing to do with Sticky Vicky,” Brenda assures me.

Far from it, the Aqua show displays everything from backflipping BMX bikers to slapstick comedy and breath-taking ballet stars.

The 40 stunning artists use every medium imaginable to take viewers on a journey through Spain, Venice, Egypt and New York.

Yes, there is a can-can, but it’s done satirically by a sculptured male ballet dancer wearing a Hawaiian shirt and with a seagull on his head. (You sort of have to be there.)

It’s like the best of Britain’s Got Talent - except better, more talented.

“With all due respect, we’re too good for Britain’s Got Talent,” Christine tells me, almost taken aback by the comparison.

“They came out here to the Palace last winter, and I said, ‘No, you’re not having anyone’.

“TV can make or break an act, “Vicente and I were at a dinner and I’m not having any one of party when we met the former my acts broken.” owners, who said the place Indeed, Europe’s largest hy- was on its knees and were condraulic stage is reached only sidering bulldozing it. by classically-trained danc- “I said ‘You can’t do that!’ so ers, who must withstand the they replied, ‘Well, would you back-breaking demands of like to take it on?’ world-class choreographers.

“I used to go to Moulin Rouge Every year, Christine and hus- and just drool, thinking we’d band Vicente - who last month never get near. Now they come received a lifetime award for to see what we’re doing.” services to tourism from the Va- The spectacles are good lencian tourist authority - travel enough for millions of views on to Pineapple Studios in London YouTube and Facebook, but I to audition ballet dancers hun- find myself smug that there’s a gry for international success. strict no-filming policy.

“We have a real problem with In any case, a screen can’t recmale dancers, so I go to Rus- reate the atmosphere among sia and Belarus for my boys,” a sea of subdued lighting and Christine says, like she was 1,660 people holding their popping to Masymas for a loaf breath as David pulls a trio of bread. of women from an empty box The calibre of filled with flamacts is perhaps ing torches. best summed You also don’t It’s like the up, however, by get a sense acrobatic ballet best of Britain’s of how Laetiduo Artur & Latia losing her Got Talent etitia who are grip on Artupart of Cirque du ro’s flying foot except better, Soleil and won would see her bronze at the more talented swung into a International Cirplate of chickcus Festival - the en and chips, ‘olympics’ of ballet. and there’s no marvelling at Watching the Argentine Artur how someone puts themself swing his French partner from through this night after night. white aerial silks like choreo- For Christine, who at 18 came graphed doves makes one un- on holiday to the Costa Blanca, derstand why this world-class met husband Vicente and nevduo have a waiting list of over er went back to her hometown a year for bookings. of Widnes, it's a testament to And then there’s Christine’s hard work, creativity, passion own son, David Climent, who and determination. has just been booked by The With son David embarking on Illusionists - an elite class of a gob-smackingly successful magicians - for shows in Saudi career, daughter Jo running the Arabia and Barcelona. ticket office behind the scenes, David was just 10 when his par- and 12-year-old granddaughter ents Christine and Vicente took Laura’s first aerial silk display over in 1990, and he received last month, there’s no question the coveted Merlin Award from the future of cabaret theatre is the International Magicians bright.

Society in 2015 - years before It’s up to the public to rekindle BGT came knocking. a love affair with live entertain“I don’t have ‘no’ in my vo- ment and use their feet, not cabulary,” Christine says as their fingers, to support it. we watch Aqua’s concluding Aqua can be enjoyed every scene featuring a dancer wear- Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and ing a 10ft-high peacock tail de- Saturday until July next year. signed and made in-house.

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The Olive Press (ALL EDITIONS) – 342mm x 256mm

9/10 October

14

LA CULTURA

W

And in comes some STEEL

HEN Jon Clarke strode into our lives I immediately knew that nothing would be the same again.

His initial communiqué arrived in the form of an email stating matter-of–factly that he had picked up a copy of The Olive Press at Granada Airport and, upon reading it, had been overcome by the feeling that we were in desperate need of his help.

He was, he said, a Fleet Street journalist who now lived in Ronda, several hours’ drive to the west of the Alpujarras.

He also informed us that he Physically tall, Jon was wearwould make his way over to ing a crumpled cotton jackus as a matter of urgency to et, blue jeans and scuffed discuss how he could help us. shoes.

It was a warm March day “These bloody roads,” he as we waited for him in the spat, adding: “It’s beautiful shade of an olive tree in the round here, but there’s no car park a few days later. A way my wife would let me live car approached along the val- here, it’s far too remote.” ley and even though it was far It wasn’t long though before off, I had an intuitive feeling he paid us another visit and we sat with him in the town’s that it was Jon. pizzeria, which Marcus began had a splendid to fidget and garden filled grind at the BEAUTY with orange coins in his trees. trouser pockSAVAGED He sat down ets with his

BY BEAST – and - just as he clenched fists had done when like he always VILLAGE IN we first met him did when he - pulled out the SHOCK was nervous. latest copy of Several minThe Olive Press utes passed before the battered Subaru from his leather case, slapswung into the campsite car ping it on the table between park and eased into the only us. available slot, which was I couldn’t fail to notice that – marked ‘Private: No Parking’. once again – it was covered in more red ink and scribbles.

In the second part of a new book serialisation, an overture from a Fleet Street hack takes the Olive Press onto new, BOLDER levels

AUTHOR: Jason Heppenstall who founded the Olive Press “The newspaper is great,” he started out.

“But,” he continued. There was always going to be a but, “you chaps are still not bold enough with your headlines!”

I squinted at the paper to see what he meant.

“Exactly,” he exclaimed.

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“Look, I know a thing or two about what makes a hit and what makes a miss. Tiny headlines and weak captions look like failure to me.

“You see this caption?”

It was a story about a local girl who had been injured by a wild boar during a fiesta.

There was a stock photo of a boar and a caption: “The girl sustained injuries in the attack.”

“That’s weak,” said Jon, pointing at the much-abused newspaper.

“The headline should be ‘BEAUTY SAVAGED BY BEAST – VILLAGE IN SHOCK’ and it would be in bold caps in 90 Times Roman.

“And if they hadn’t caught it, I’d have a close-up of some snarling teeth and ‘WANTED: HELL BEAST ON THE LOOSE’.”

“Hmm,” I said, taking a sip of wine.

We went through the whole newspaper in this way. By the time we’d finished, Jon had

Do you have a what’s on?

Oct 10th - Oct 23rd 2019

15

Send your informa newsdesk@theolive tion to press.es

BATTLING A BLAIR BABE It was a battle between the time-worn rural ways and a puffed up, British MP - of course the Olive Press jumped into action!

EXCLUSIVE STORY: And MP Moran story made global headlines

I NEW BROOM: While Jon Clarke was happy to join the growing Olive Press team his wife Gabriella didn’t fancy the Alpujarras roads demolished The Olive Press, making it seem like the most inept attempt at a newspaper in the history of mankind.

“But don’t mind me,” he finished, “the story’s still great… and it’s up to you whether you use me or not.”

NOW YOU SEE IT NOW YOU DONT: Jon introduced punchier headlines and better captions, while (right) got the team organised to get pics of MP Moran and her house

opened the door and Jake, one of our distributors, burst through it and made for the sofa where he sat panting and groaning like a wounded animal.

I stared at him, not really knowing what to say. He was covered in dirt and looked like he’d been dragged down a barranco backwards.

“What the hell happened?” I asked.

I hoped he hadn’t had some kind of accident while delivering newspapers; insurance was one luxury we couldn’t afford.

He continued breathing heavily for a moment and then, eyes aflame, he let loose.

“That cow!” he said. “She’s out to get me. She thinks she can just walk all over people and get away with it. She’s destroying my life! Everything I’ve worked for is ruined!”

“Whoa,” I said, trying to make sense of what he was saying.

“Who are you talking about?”

Jake began pacing around the office, rigid with anger.

“Five years I spent building that house. Five years! I put everything I had into it. I worked on it day and night and put all my money into it. All my money!” he said practically in tears.

“But what’s happened to your house? Who’s done this?”

Jake fixed me with his red-rimmed eyes, and his voice had dropped almost to a growl.

“Margaret Moran.

Have you heard of her? The bane of my life.”

I confessed that I’d never heard of her.

‘Why should I’, I asked?

“She’s a politician.

A Labour MP. My MP back in England, as it happens. I moved here to Spain to

escape her kind of scum but she’s following me.

“She’s got it in for me, she’s trying to destroy me.”

With that he sank down on the sofa again and began to sob. After a moment he looked up, the dust on his face now muddied by the tracks of his tears.

“She’s cut me off from my house. Stuck a note on my motorbike telling me I can’t access my own land even though it’s a public right of way.”

“So?” I said. “Can’t you just ignore it?

And anyway, what’s a Labour MP doing down here in deepest, darkest Andalucia?”

Jake took a shuddering deep breath and composed himself.

“She’s got heavies down there. A paid mob. That path is a public right of way, has been for centuries. It’s not just me, there are several of us cut off now. She says she doesn’t want anyone walking near her property so she’s building a wall or something to keep us out.”

A dispute between neighbours was what it seemed like. I sympathised with Jake; after all, I knew both him and his wife reasonably well.

They had two children, with another on the way, and we’d been giving him free adverts in the paper for his mini-digger service in return for some distribution work.

A thought occurred to me.

“How do you know it was her that wrote the note? Maybe it was just one of the campesinos, God knows enough of them have got it in for foreigners.”

“Oh yeah?” he said “and where would a peasant get hold of some House of Commons headed notepaper (above right) and learn to write in English?”

This sounded too incredible to be true.

“What, so she’s writing messages ordering you off your own property in a foreign country on House of Commons notepaper?”

“Yep,” replied Jake, dejectedly. he explained he had used the opportuAnother thought occurred to me. “Have nity of being in the area to ‘research’ you got the note?” some restaurants for a new book he “No, no, I didn’t think,” he said. “I’ve was writing on fine dining in Andalucia. been there all night playing cat and When he had sufficiently recovered he mouse with her goons. There’s a bunch looked around the empty office. of us. The rest are down there now, “Where are the others?” he asked. we’ve got her place surrounded and “They’re not avoiding me are they? she’s too afraid to come out. We’ll do What about Marcus?” he asked. whatever’s necessary,” he added, a I explained how the flu had laid our editouch menacingly. tor low and he gave me a hard look.

Jake left, but not before I’d made him “A good journalist should be able to promise to get the note and keep hold work even though he’s sick. What’s his of it. After he’d gone I found myself number?” walking around the office, I explained that Marcus trying to get a grip on the didn’t possess a phone situation. and that he’d have to There’s a I wondered what I was gocall Molly if he wanted standoff going to get in touch with him. ing to do. A sitting Labour MP from Luton South – added that it likely on up near the Iwasn’t here in the Alpujarras! I sat a good idea as down at my computer and it was already late afterhill where I Googled ‘Margaret Moran’. noon, and being at work live A picture of her came up was probably the last on the screen revealing a thing Marcus wanted to short, middle-aged woman think about. with dark brown hair.

“Nonsense,” said Jon. “I need to speak She was mentioned in several newsto him, get him down here and working paper articles which all referred to on that story about the dodgy mayor in her close links with Tony Blair and his Armillo. It’s important.”

New Labour ideology, “Jon,” I said, “something has come meaning she was a up and I think it might be important.

‘Blair babe’.

There’s a standoff going on up near the Glancing at the stohill where I live that I think we should ries, it seemed she follow up on it.” had been the subject “How so?” of a recent tabloid I explained what had happened, how exposé over her asJake had turned up in a mess and who tronomical office stahad done it. tionery expenses. Oh Jon went completely still as I told him boy, I thought. what was occurring.

Right then, as if on It was as if he was stunned. “You mean cue, Jon Clarke rang to tell me Margaret Moran, the Blair the doorbell. I let him Babe, is here?” he stuttered. in and he flopped “Yes,” I replied. “Just up the road near down on the sofa, shedding his journalthe writer Chris Stewart’s house.” istic appendages (laptop, camera, file “Who else knows about this? Have you bursting with papers). told anyone?” he barked.

He looked exhausted and was red in “No, just you,” I said. the face. After he had caught his breath Jon started at me as if in disbelief.

“We’ve got to get onto this immediately, there isn’t a moment to lose.”

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Vol. 4 Issue 106 www.theolivepress.es September 26th - October 9th 2019

THE healthcare costs of hundreds of thousands of British nationals in Spain may only be covered for a matter of

By John Culatto months.

Fabian Picardo Government officials have conMarlene Nahon Hassan Keith Azopardi firmed that in the event of a no- ELECTION fever is taking deal Brexit expats’ unrestricted over the Rock after a snap access to healthcare could end poll was called unexpectedly.

The two main parties are after just six months.

In the nightmare scenario, the joined by a third this year, as often costly treatment would Together Gibraltar muscles in have to be funded by the indi- to be counted on October 17.

The election was called by viduals after that date.

While a British embassy Chief Minister Fabian Picarspokesman insisted the new do last week, just days after a ruling would not be introduced frenetic two weeks of Nationuntil the end of 2020, it is still al celebrations and a music a major jolt for already worried festival.

The surprise announcement expats. was made with none of the Taxes parties having compiled their “Having paid taxes our whole manifestos. working lives, pensioners It comes months before an should be entitled to free expected December date and healthcare whether we choose just two weeks before the UK to retire in Bradford, Bour- is expected to leave the Euronemouth or Barcelona,” said pean Union.

Sue Wilson, of Bremain in The GSLP will be sticking to the experienced of its sevenSpain.

“The UK government is trying strong team from the last two to reassure people with this terms. new announcement, but in- Fabian Picardo leader of the evitably people will ask ‘what GSLP said: “What we are working on is a programme about after six months?’”

The Department of Health has that builds on all the masso-far only pledged £150m to sive steps this community has cover the costs of British na- taken in the last eight years. tionals living in the EU after a “This is a programme that consolidates the legacy of the no-deal.

This would cover pensioners, work we have done to date students, those on disabil- and builds on it to the advan- ger, and more ity benefits and UK workers tage of every generation of Gi- ever before.” confident than “Our vision for Gibraltar is Meanwhile, the current Op- Daniel Feetham different and exciting, proposted to the EU, as well as UK braltarians.” and Damon Progressive position tourists who began their holi- Coalition partners the Lib- tar (TG) wasTogether Gibral- ducing a programme that pri- tar Socialparty, the Gibral- Bossino, he has new faces Democrats (GSD) like Orlando the only party oritises policies eral Party will be without Neil day before the UK’s exit.

Yeats and Jofor sustainto register its slate for the ability, anti corruption, civil chose its candidates on Mon- elle Wahnon-Ladislaus in the Health Secretary Matt Han- Costa, who will not be put- election before day. team. cock said: “Protecting the ting his name forward for this ment was made.the announce- rights and equality,” she said. It includes five candidates One of her fellow candidates, healthcare rights of UK na- election.

Marlene who were MPs till Parliament The Gibraltar Social DemoHassan businessman crats are rallying under the tionals is a priority of this gov- “We are working hard today heads an Nahon interesting mix of chand said Kamlesh Khub- was dissolved last week, as banner ‘Let’s ernment. UK nationals in the to honour our past and to se- young professionals, they ‘wanted get it right’. busi- restore trust in politics in to well as two relative newcom- “We can deliver the future EU’ should nevertheless act cure our future, the future of nesspeople Gi- ers to the political scene. and even an braltar’ and all people deserve,” Gibraltarians,” said Lib- openly now and take the simple steps that TG offered Party leader, gay man for the first something Keith Azopardi, di. “It’s a strong said Azoparneeded to secure their access eral leader Joseph Garcia. ‘fresh’. and diverse “We are shattering the glass time in Gibraltar’s history.

Another, Daniel Ghio said he described the team as one team of people from different to healthcare.” ceiling of Brexit to emerge on The current independent MP hoped the party moved things that combines ‘political ex- backgrounds.”

Opinion Page 6 the other side better, stron- told the Olive Press her party away from the ‘whole tribal perience with freshness and was ‘ready’ for the elections. energy’. system’.

Opinion Page 6 As well as the experience of

Gibraltar parties gear up for

snap election called before the

UK’s EU departure date

LEAVERS: Trio GROUNDED: Thomas Cook planes after the 178-year-old travel giant went bankrupt

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Vol. 3 Issue 64 www.theolivepress.es

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September 27th - October 10th 2019

THE biggest peacetime repatriation folof Britons abroad is in full swing lowing the collapse of Britain’s oldest travel company Thomas Cook.

A shocking 104,000 British holidaymakers are still stranded overseas after the travel giant’s collapse on Monday.

A massive 70,000 of them were stuck in Spain, when the travel giant - which in has 55 hotels and dozens of planes Spain - filed for bankruptcy.

Mallorca is expected to lose 25,000 the tourists in October alone due to

Untitled-1.pdf

By Robert Firth and Gillian Keller

firm’s collapse. in Most holidaymakers had been left the dark about their travel plans. Meanwhile many did not know if their hotels would charge them.

All clients are ATOL protected, meaning they will be provided with flights home. deNonetheless, customers are facing lays of hours, even days, which many cannot afford.

In a new book serialisation, Jason Heppenstall recalls the unique and fascinating genesis of the Olive Press 15:36 16/06/2017 See Page 18

1

Y

CY

September 2019

Your

M

CMY

Issue 33

Lis, y

Growth figures for July make up for sluggish foreign buyers and a drop in June

voice in Spain

C

for Spanish residents

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But which is Spain’s favourite modernist building?

See page III (a clue is in the picture in the middle)

UPS AND DOWNS SPAIN has recorded its best growth. difficult for owners to rent to month for property sales for In total, 11 of Spain’s 17 re- tourists. This 11 years, new government data gions has made propergrew over the last year. ty on the islands less attractive has revealed.

It made up for a 9% year-on- as investment A total of 47,890 transactions year opportunities. were reported in July 2019, gesteddrop in June, which sug- Further negative news saw formarking a 3.8% year-on-year slowingthe market was really eign buyers drop by 7%, with down.

British buyers among those beincrease.

There June 2008 was the last time declineshave also been some big ing put off purchasing in Spain more homes were snapped up eigners in the long time for- (see Slow Down, pg II). It is in Spain, continuing the trend as well favourite the Balearics hoped that the end of the Brexas Madrid, which saw it saga, possibly of steady market growth. next month, drops of 21.9% and 8.1% re- and the long awaited return to The regions of Extremedura spectively.

In the Balearics the political stability (23.4%), La Rioja (22.4%) and slump follows on from the in- perate British can help recuCastilla-La Mancha (21.6%) re- troduction losses while also of strict new rental bringing corded the largest year-on-year laws which have made it more foreign anda boost to both the domestic markets.

MALLORCA

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Contact the Olive Press at newsdesk@theolivepress.es

Casa Castilla Leon

de

months?’” soThe Department of Health has the far only pledged £150m to cover in costs of British nationals living the EU after a no-deal.

This would cover pensioners, students, those on disability benefits and UK workers posted to the EU, as well as UK tourists who began their holiday before the UK’s exit.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Protecting the healthcare rights of UK nationals is a priority in of this government. UK nationals the EU’ should nevertheless act now to and take the simple steps needed secure their access to healthcare.”

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A WOMAN has filmed riding naked been a red Ferrari as itsupon cigar-chomping driver es the streets of Ibiza.cruisFOOT FETISH: Tortoise The woman appears gets stuck in completely oblivious as she dances to reggaeton stairs, Kent, and went to music stay two nights in a blaring from the local slow-moving B&B. supercar.

The incident was filmed “When we picked him from Greece, and has in David Priaulx’s carebeen the owner gave me an up at the Marina Ibiza on the in- Balearic for voice, the last 30 years. saying ‘no one island, and ever stayed for free andhad later widely shared on was “I’ve had so many sohe cial media. pades with him overesca- wasn’t going to be the first’. years,” David, who livesthe “Torte’s like my nemesis, But the driver is now being in but I love Jalon, told the Olive him and so does pursued for reckless drivPress. ing.

“He escaped once in Broad- the whole family.”

A city council spokesperDavid added that Torte an- son said swers to his name. the authorities hope He said, however, that the culpritsto track down the randy tortoise will soon as ‘there are ‘pick not on anyone’ and is known many cars like this in to make a loud ‘shrilling Ibiza’. noise’ when mounting the shoes of his victims.

of

Get me out of here!

“Having paid taxes our whole workening lives, pensioners should be we titled to free healthcare whether choose to retire in Bradford, Bournemouth or Barcelona,” said Sue Wilson, of Bremain in Spain. to “The UK government is tryinganreassure people with this new nouncement, but inevitably peosix ple will ask ‘what about after

CM

that’

Batllo,

Hellcare

THE healthcare costs of hundreds of thousands of British nationalsa in Spain may only be covered for matter of months.

Government officials have confirmed that in the event of a no-deal to Brexit expats’ unrestricted accesssix healthcare could end after just months. ofIn the nightmare scenario, the to ten costly treatment would have be funded by the individuals after that date.

While a British embassy spokesman insisted the new ruling would of not be introduced until the end al2020, it is still a major jolt for ready worried expats.

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Appeal launched for after it escapes from ‘randy’ tortoise British centre

Corrales area of Jalon last Tuesday.

He is understood to come

gine running outside a garage in San Pedro.

All chaos then ensued the minor - who cannot as be held criminally responsible - floored it and crashed into the Laude School.

Casa Barcelona

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A JOY ride has gone shaped after an Irish pearteen smashed through a school wall in his dad’s Audi A4.

The cheeky 13-year-old hopped into the driver’s as his father left the car seat en-

Capricho, El Cantabria

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Testing times A MAN, 26, has been gored repeatedly in his testicles at a bull run in Cuellar, near Valladolid, after he jumped a fence and became tangled.

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Music to our ears ROSALIA has become the first Spaniard to win an MTV Music Award, by bagging ‘Best Latino Video’ for her song Con Altura with J Balvin and El Guincho.

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Some customers said that they had been forced to fork out huge sums of money for quicker replacement flights.

Jamie Marshall, 40, told the Olive Press he had spent €1200 on replacement flights from Mallorca to London for his family of four.

“It’s very disappointing,” he said. “We weren’t told anything. If a pilot I know up hadn’t told me, I’d have just turned at the airport.”

Meanwhile, there have been several reports of hotels threatening to kick to out Thomas Cook guests if they fail cough-up huge sums of money. to Bars in Magaluf clubbed together pay for food, drinks and accommodation for a group of five lads from Manchester, after staff at the BH Malto lorca hotel allegedly threatened kick them out if they didn’t pay €1800 euros.

“I don’t understand why they were kicking those boys out. They hadn’t done anything wrong,” a barman told the Olive Press.

He added: “There is no one in the resort helping out. Why isn’t there someone from the British Consulate here?”

Many others were forced to bed down mamon airport floors as they battle moth queues in airports.

One mum stranded in would she said Almeria runout of vital food supplies for her disabled daughter, unless she is flown home this week.

Demine Warner, 25, from Essex, said she urgently needed medicine for her daughter Aubree, who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy and needs to be tube-fed milk through her stomach if they weren’t flown home in time.

“We still haven’t heard anything. I’m worried about my daughter as she is on medical milk and cannot eat the food here,” she said. “We will

Where Brits were stranded in Spain Palma 9,671 Tenerife 7,216 Lanzarote 4,625 Menorca 4,611 Ibiza 3,399 Fuerteventura 2,565 Reuse 2,467 Gran Canaria 2,115 Almeria 1,549 Girona 685 Alicante 534

STUCK: Palma worst affected soon run out.”

In the biggest travel company collapse left in history, 600,000 people were stranded worldwide after the UK government denied an eleventh-hour bailout of £250 million.

The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority 45 (CAA) has commandeered a fleet of to aircraft from as far away as Malaysia support the massive rescue operation.17 They will fly from 53 destinations in

Costa Blanca Issue 14 XX 1, Santa pagePonca Jaime on Rey more Avenida Find out 0034 871 510 277

countries.

By the end of Wednesday almost 46,000 passengers had been flown back home to the UK on 206 planes, the third day of the mammoth rescue operation.

Continues on Page 8

Opinion Page 6

The Taxes

“Having paid taxes our whole work-

ing lives, pensioners should be entitled to free healthcare whether we choose to retire in Bradford, Bournemouth or Barcelona,” said Sue Wilson, of Bremain in Spain.

“The UK government is trying to reassure people with this new announcement, but inevitably people will ask ‘what about after six months?’”

The Department of Health has sofar only pledged £150m to cover the costs of British nationals living in the EU after a no-deal.

This would cover pensioners, students, those on disability benefits and UK workers posted to the EU, as well as UK tourists who began their holiday before the UK’s exit.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Protecting the healthcare rights of UK nationals is a priority of this government. UK nationals in the EU’ should nevertheless act now and take the simple steps needed to secure their access to healthcare.”

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MISSING:

Torte

Modern masterpieces

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September

Have you seen a toise around torContact the OliveJalon? at newsdesk@theolivePress press.es

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2019

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Lis, y Casa Castilla Leon

UPS AND DOWNS

FREE INSIDE

Growth figures buyers and a for July make up for drop in June sluggish foreign

SPAIN has recorded its month for property best growth. sales for In 11 years, new total, 11 of has revealed. government data gions Spain’s 17 re- difficult for owners to rent to grew over the tourists. This A total of 47,890 last year. has made property on the islands transactions It made up for a 9% year-onwere reported year less attractive marking a 3.8%in July 2019, gesteddrop in June, which sug- as investment opportunities. the market was Further negative year-on-year increase. slowing down. really eign news saw forbuyers June 2008 was There have also the last British buyersdrop by 7%, with more homes been among those were snappedtime declines in the long some big ing put off in Spain, continuing up eigners purchasing in betime for- (see favourite Spain the trend as Slow of steady market well as Madrid,the Balearics hoped that Down, pg II). It is growth.

The regions of Extremedura drops of 21.9% andwhich saw it saga, the end of the Brex(23.4%), La Rioja possibly next 8.1% month, (22.4%) and spectively. In the Balearics re- and the long awaited Castilla-La Mancha slump follows the political return to on from corded the largest (21.6%) re- troduction stability can help year-on-year recuof strict newthe in- perate British losses rental laws which have made it more bringing a boost to while also foreign and domestic both the markets.

DECLINE: Mallorca’s

property market

has dramatically

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following new

rental laws

Your expat

voice in Spain

September 26th - October 9th 2019

Replacement flight rip offs, evictions from hotels, anxiety among thousands tourists as Thomas Cook folds of after 178 years

Get me out of here!

THE biggest peacetime repatriation of Britons abroad is in full swing following the collapse of Britain’s oldest travel company Thomas Cook.

A shocking 120,000 British holidaymakers are still stranded overseas following the travel giant’s collapse on Monday.

A massive 70,000 of them were stuck in Spain, when the massive firm which has 55 hotels and dozens of planes in Spain - filed for bankruptcy.

Most of them were left in the dark

By Robert Firth and Joshua Parfitt in Alicante

about their travel plans and even if their hotels would be paid.

While all clients are ATOL protected, meaning they would be provided with flights home, many could not afford the expected wait for many hours, even days. Some customers told the Olive Press how they had been forced to fork out huge sums of money for quicker replacement

IT’S SPAIN vs FRANCE: Which country comes out top for World Tourism Day on September 27? Find out on Page 27

flights.

Jamie Marshall, 40, told the Olive Bars in Magaluf clubbed together to pay for food, drinks and accommoPress he had spent €1200 euros on dation for a group of five lads replacement flights from Mallorca from Manchester. It came after staff at to London for his family of four. the “It’s very disappointing,” he said. BH Mallorca hotel allegedly threat“We weren’t told anything. If a pilot ened to kick them out if they didn’t I know hadn’t told me, I’d have just cough up €1800.

“I don’t understand why they were turned up at the airport.”

Many others were forced to bed kicking those boys out. They hadn’t down on airport floors as they bat- done anything wrong,” a barman told the Olive Press. tled mammoth queues in airports.

One mum, stranded in Almeria, in- In the biggest travel company colsisted she will run out of vital food lapse in history, 600,000 people supplies for her disabled daughter were left stranded worldwide after the UK government denied an elevunless she is flown home this week.

Demine Warner, 25, from Essex, enth-hour bailout of £250 million.

The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority will urgently need medicine for Aubree, who has cerebral palsy and ep- (CAA) has commandeered a fleet of ilepsy and needs to be tube-fed milk 45 aircraft from as far away as Mathrough her stomach, if they don’t laysia to support the massive rescue get to fly out as scheduled by this operation. They will fly from 53 destinations in 17 countries. By the Wednesday (today). end “We still haven’t heard anything. of Tuesday, 30,000 out of 150,000 passengers had been flown I’m worried about my daughter as with around 5% having to home, she is on medical milk and cannot spend a eat the food here,” she said. “We will day longer in Spain.

A massive 21,000 people (thousoon run out.”

Thomas Cook customers at some sands in Spain) have been left hotels meanwhile, reported staff jobless by the travel firm’s sudthreatening to kick them out if they den collapse, with 9,000 in the didn’t pay huge amounts of money.

Continues on Page 8

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Hellcare

THE healthcare costs of hundreds of thousands of British nationals in Spain may only be covered for a matter of months.

Government officials have confirmed that in the event of a nodeal Brexit expats’ unrestricted access to healthcare could end after just six months.

In the nightmare scenario, the often costly treatment would have to be funded by the individuals after that date.

While a British embassy spokesman insisted the new ruling would not be introduced until the end of 2020, it is still a major jolt for already worried expats.

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TANTRIC TORTOISE

A WOMAN filmed riding has been A RANDY a red Ferrari naked upon missing tortoise has gone from his gar-chomping as its ciBlanca home Costa Appeal launched FOOT FETISH: while his es the streets driver cruisowner is urgently Brit Tortoise for ‘randy’ of Ibiza. gets The appealing after it escapes to the public woman from British tortoise stairs, Kent, stuck in completely appears ‘Torte’ the for help.

Corrales oblivious and she centre peared fromtortoise disap- Tuesday. area of Jalon stay two as nights in went to musicdances to reggaeton last from the Camino B&B. a local blaring Greece, and He is understood from the slow-moving to come in David Priaulx’s has been “When we picked him up The incident supercar. the last 30 care for the owner gave me an in- at the Marina was filmed voice, saying “I’ve had years.

Ibiza ‘no one had Balearic pades with so many esca- ever stayed island, andon the years,” David,him over the wasn’t goingfor free and he later widely shared on was to be who lives cial Jalon, told soin “Torte’s like my the first’. But media. but I love nemesis, “He escapedthe Olive Press. the driver him and once in Broad- the whole pursued for is now being family.” so does ing. reckless drivDavid added swers to his that Torte an- A city council name. spokesperson said He said, however, the randy tortoise that the hope to track authorities down will ‘pick culprits soon on anyone’ as ‘there the and is known not many to make are cars like a loud ‘shrilling Ibiza’. noise’ when this in shoes of his mounting the victims.

A JOY ride shaped after has gone peargine an Irish smashed teen rage running outside a gain San wall in his through a school dad’s Audi All chaos Pedro.

The cheeky A4. the minor then ensued as 13-year-old hopped into - who cannot held criminally as his father the driver’s seat be responsible - floored it left the car and en- the Laude School.crashed into

Capricho, El Cantabria

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Advertise here as as €80 for as little per issue

Music to our ears ROSALIA the first has become Spaniard win an MTV to Music Award, by bagging ‘Best Latino for her song Video’ Con Altura with J Balvin and El Guincho.

Testing times

A MAN, been gored26, has repeatedly in cles at a his testibull run in Cuellar, near Valladolid, jumped a after he fence and became tangled.

Yeh Wright TOWIE star Mark Wright has discovered he is Andalucian related to swordsmen on Who Do BBC show You Are? You Think

Spain’s property go-tomagazine

The old and the new and the downright, bizarre.

Find out what’s hot in our Property Magazine

COSTA BLANCA

Dear the Olive Press, 14, , Issue me (Hellcare confuses really the this sees political know, You lly, as a EU, essentia Moore Rose 1).

The pg 7). pg 325, Issue proud, dictatorship (Leave and ntly permane moved (i.e., have an immigran you are Ifreality states, sovereign are 28 opposite. tThere is the resihave lytaken e) and live/retir Spain tothe to to become choseSpanish voluntari UK, which including worldwide on your in Spainthat taxesbelieves and pay your dency, UK would the Dunne associated. Steveare and as such a Spanish resident assets, thenonyou going to not I’m so.

Not terms.

WTO healthcare. better to Spanish fair entitled are and chapter quoting by page letters your down weigh No problem, Brexit or no Brexit. the into looks Steve that nd recomme I but s of verse, thousand to However, (and of course this applies That Trump knows. that industry anyhave e, but specificsifofyou to retire/liv Spain to he moved people), should an EU-free deal with etc. taxes get a trade pay yourUK is trying y, i.e., full residenc NOTtotaken have deals trade Trump’s 183 than to know: want for more youdo in Spain you tellthe not live UK,allBUT in for care, when healthspeaks to UKMahler entitledBrent US-first you areFinally, haveper year, labels. days number UK. of UK citizens wary of an EU armed force a the in resi(non ideas twoare , these for method optedHowever haveunion. closer however, an everyou Ifand in Spain, I am of the or allnot policy.

EU year for mostand living people dency) specific by are floatedbut and to Spanish years ofreproentitled 40-plushealthca are NOT insidious then at the worried moreyou h, be.

Telegrap you Mail, should the by why EEC/EU the against paganda You way. did in anyWhat the system contribut are not You The Sun. course, of to and,ing Times Express, the toantherefore a UK resident are was so hetravel why to askedhave he was say whenand Murdoch in Spain. or pay for healthca UK I go into of: “When linesprivately along the Somethinreg needs, ti-EU? PJ Biddulph, London No. 10 they do what I say: when I go to the EU.” The Pleaseent! letter. your for you an appointm thank for PJ, ask Hi to Ed: had implication is that he see page 7 of this issue for our Brexit survivissues. biggest al guide, covering all theKate Altea Ferry,

One thing that isn’t Brexit’s fault It’s nothing to do with Brexit or British tourists. These hotels also market to other European countries. Thomas Cook blocked a number of rooms in advance and the hotels have put them up and now not been paid. Next year if they survive they will fill the hotels with other nationalities. Tour operators...for goodness sake.

Fiona Gilmore, Edinburgh

Time for change Clearly the process needs to change. Hotels should either be paid upfront or the money held in a trust account. Hotels should not have to wait weeks/months to be paid. If it’s held back to make sure customers are happy with the hotel then it should be held in trust and not the normal bank account. For any company that goes bust, the money should be paid to its hotels.

John King, Moraira

Payback Maybe the CEO and his cronies should pay back the bonuses they received just before the company went bust after years of mismanagement.

Tina Williams, Denia

Thatcher would have sorted it It’s an error to allow two (now one) tour operators to dominate the British and German Markets. It’s an impediment to entry for new smaller companies. But this is a lesson for the economy in general. Thatcher would never have allowed such large dominant companies to develop.

Mark Watson Clifford, Marbella

Well done that man. (Safe keeping, Issue 14, pg 31). It’s a pity more people don’t put their hands in their pockets.

Carl Johnson, Stoke-on-Trent

BACK IN THE DAY Though it was early days, the Olive Press was a great newspaper (Jason Heppenstall recounts the strange, bizarre and quite frankly shocking genesis of the Olive Press newspaper, Issue 14, pg 20). There was not much of a design, it was up and down like a shithouse door, as we used to say in the trade.

Andrew Trimbee, Granada

Scot free Is it possibly something to do with the very light sentencing for those found guilty I wonder (Let’s talk about porn, Issue 14, pg 7)?

Helen Doig, Arthog

Too common

This happens too often (House arrest, Issue 14, pg 13). Nearly every week I see somebody running across the A7. It’s the drivers who have to live with the tragedy, through no fault of their own.

Sean Peck, Madrid

Has anything piqued your interest in this week’s Olive Press? Have your say on the matter by emailing letters@ theolivepress.es or message us on at www.facebook.com/OlivePressNewspaper or Twitter @olivepress

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Growth figures buyers and for July make a

drop in up for sluggish SPAIN June month has recorded its best foreign 11 years,for property sales new government for growth. has revealed.

In total, data gions 11 of Spain’s A total of 47,890 difficult grew were reported transactions It made over the last 17 re- tourists. for owners up for a year. to marking in July 9% year-on- ty on theThis has made rent to 2019, year drop in June, increase. a 3.8% year-on-year islands less propergested as investment which attractive June 2008 slowing the market was sug- Further opportunities. really more homeswas the last negative There down. eign buyers news saw were snappedtime declineshave also been in Spain, some big British buyersdrop by 7%, forin the up of steady continuing the with among market growth. trend eigners favouritelong time for- ing put off The regions as well purchasingthose beas Madrid,the Balearics (see Slow Down, of (23.4%), in Spain hoped La Rioja Extremedura drops of 21.9% which pg Castilla-La (22.4%) spectively. and 8.1% saw it saga,that the end of II). It is the BrexIn the Balearics corded the Mancha (21.6%) and slump possibly re- and follows largest year-on-year next the long re- troduction the political on from awaited month, laws which of strict new the in- perate stability can return to British losses help recuhave made rental bringing it more while foreign anda boost to both also domestic the markets.

ON YOUR MARKS

BREXIT NIGHTMARE

IDEAL FOR STREAMING TV

Readers react to Thomas Cook going bust, prompting hotel closures and the biggest peacetime repatriation of stranded Brits (Get me out of here!, Issue 14, pg 1)

From pet passports to dodgy removal men, one British family’s and lowshighs they set as up in Spain before Brexit strikes...

See page X

www.theolivepress.com

Modern masterpieces

that’

Capricho, Cantabria

OLIVE PRESS

Your

www.theolivepress.es

‘Audid you manage

INSIDE

GIBRALTAR

The

Vol. 13

A RANDY missing tortoise has from Blanca his gone A WOMAN owner home while Costa Appeal filmed to the is urgently his Brit after launched has appealing a red riding naked been ‘Torte’ public for help. it escapes for ‘randy’ FOOT FETISH: Ferrari upon gar-chomping peared the tortoise as Tortoise Corrales from from es the disapdriver its cigets stuck the Camino British tortoise stairs, Tuesday. area of The streets of Ibiza.cruisJalon in centre He is last woman completely stay twoKent, and understood from Greece, appears went nights B&B. in David to come to she dances oblivious and in a local music to reggaeton as the last Priaulx’s has been “When blaring we 30 years. care for the slow-moving “I’ve owner picked him from gave me voice, supercar. the pades had so many up The saying an in- at theincident was esca- ever stayed years,” with him ‘no Marina filmed Jalon, David, whoover the wasn’t going for freeone had Balearic Ibiza on told the island, lives in “Torte’s the “He escaped to be and he later widely Olive and was but I lovelike my the first’. cial media. shared once in Press. on soBroad- the whole him andnemesis, But the family.” so does pursued driver is now David for reckless being ing. swers added that to his drivHe said, name.Torte an- A city council however, son randy tortoise that the hope said the spokesperon anyone’ authorities will ‘pick culpritsto track down to make and a loud is known not manysoon as ‘there the noise’ ‘shrilling Ibiza’. cars like are shoes when mounting of his this in victims. the Have toise you seen a torMISSING: Contactaround the OliveJalon?

Torte at newsdesk@theolivePress press.es

A JOY shaped ride has gone smashed after an Irish peargine running through teen wall in rage in outside The his dad’s Audia school San Pedro. a gaAll chaos A4. hopped cheeky 13-year-old the minor then ensued as his into the driver’s - who father held criminally seat left the cannot as - floored be car enresponsible the Laudeit and crashed School. into

El

FREE

FREE

TANTRIC TORTOISE

Spain’s property go-tomagazine

Music to our ears ROSALIA the first has become win an Spaniard to Award, MTV Music by bagging ‘Best for her Latino Video’ tura withsong Con J Balvin AlEl Guincho. and

Testing

A MAN, been 26, has edly gored repeatcles atin his testia bull in Cuellar, run Valladolid, near jumped after he became a fence and tangled.

Yeh Wright

TOWIE Wright star Mark ered he has discovis related Andalucian to men swordsWho on BBC show Do You You Are? Think

The old and the new and the downright, bizarre. Find out what’s hot in our Property Magazine FREE

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15 Zebra-like (6) 17 Warm ocean current (2,4) 18 Bloodsucking insect (4) 20 Charged particles (4) 21 Young cow (4)

All solutions are on page 23

BUSINESS

It's not just the UK that’s suffering economic turbulence thanks to Brexit

THE manufacturing sector in Spain has shrunk at its quickest pace since 2013, according to a survey of industry executives.

September has seen the country’s factory dramatically decline, with the IHS Markit Spain Manufacturing PMI falling to 47.7.

It was at 48.8 in August, making that a fourth month it has consecutively declined, the worst drop in over six years, since in January 2013 when it reached similar territory.

Paul Smith, economics director at IHS Markit, believes that Brexit is the reason for the fall:

17

Oct 10th - Oct 23rd 2019

GROWTH SPUTTER “Political and economic uncertainties across Europe and around the world are clearly weighing on the country’s manufacturing economy.

“There also seems little hope of a fast turnaround — confidence about the future has slumped to its lowest level in over six-and-a-half

Spain’s dirty secret

SPAIN has made it into the top 20 countries which censor online data the most.

In 2009, Google started recording the amount of content removal requests it received from governments and courts across the globe.

Several other major media companies then followed suit, such as Twitter, Facebook and Microsoft.

Pro-consumer site Com-

paritech then used the data to analyse which countries were the most concerned with online data.

India dominated the top spot with 77,620 requests, Russia was second with 77,162, the United Kingdom came in tenth with 6,402.

Spain, meanwhile, came in 12th place, with 1,592 removal requests since 2009.

years as domestic and international political problems such as Brexit show little sign of being resolved.”

Despite hopes that Spain would receive 20% of its GDP through manufacturing, multiple reports this year are indicating that it is in retreat.

Now as the Brexit deadline looms, the precariousness of the situation is seemingly not only impacting on the UK, but also other nations in the EU which rely on the country for trade.

There is a clear concern, too, in the La Linea and Gibraltar region, where possible restriction of freedom of movement may impact on the livelihoods of residents in the area, particularly those who need to cross the border to work, adding further to the economic downfall.

17

AGONY Property ANT

September 25th - October 8, 2019

YOUR LEGAL PROBLEMS ADDRESSED BY ANTONIO FLORES

WHAT’S APP YOUR HONOUR? Antonio Flores explains the legal ins and outs of using WhatsApp messages as evidence in court SINCE the advent of popular instant messenger services, it is becoming increasingly frequent to hear - in a legal conversation typically - that someone has irrefutable evidence in the form of ‘WhatsApps’ to build a solid court case.

And often, this someone will grab his phone with two fingers and proclaim, in a pseudo-ceremonial manner: “IT’S ALL HERE!” Life is full of surprises as we know, and the law is no exception.

The typical street lawyer would have probably overheard the same nonsense and, just by conversational repetition - as with the infamous 11-month rental contract imagined it had made it all the way into the Spanish Civil Code.

The reality is more complex. For WhatsApps to be admissible evidence in a court of law the bearer of those messages will have to go through a verification process that’s challenging to say the least.

For the avoidance of doubt, a screenshot will not be acceptable unless the sender confirms he/she sent it (wishful thinking most of the time).

So, what’s law/case law saying in these situations? The following bullet points offer some interesting information: According to WhatsApp Inc., […] the contents of any delivered messages are not kept or retained by WhatsApp - the only records of the content of any delivered messages reside directly on the sender’s and recipient’s mobile devices (and may be deleted at the user’s option). This rules out a

business records affidavit from the service provider.

The Spanish Supreme Court, aware of this limitation, established some guidelines in respect to the admissibility of a WhatsApp conversation in a court of law and, with the only exception a full acknowledgement by both parties of that ‘chat’, ruled that ‘the possibility of manipulating digital files through which this exchange of ideas materialises is part of the reality of things… it’s perfectly possible to create a communication in which a single user writes to himself’.

Case law has therefore established that for these types of messages to be admissible, the claimant will need to submit a technical expert report ‘confirming the true origin of that communication, the identity of the parties and, finally, the’ integrity of its content’.

The defendant will in turn need to provide a counter report challenging it after which, based on this and all other evidence, judgement may be passed.

Email Antonio at aflores@lawbird.com

THE KEYS TO SUCCESS

THE suspension of the Woodford Equity Income Fund and its continued suspension have caused the biggest controversy in UK fund management for a decade, and with hundreds of thousands of retail investors unable to access their investments, there are some important lessons that can be learned for the future.

Whether it’s reviewing your current investment portfolio or using this checklist next time you’re planning to invest in a new fund, the Woodford situation highlights the main areas investors need to check before investing.

Diversification of Risk is key You don’t want to put all your eggs in one basket, diversify, diversify! Check that you have a good spread across different funds, sectors, countries etc. etc. and review your investments each year and rebalance if needed, so that you don’t end up too concentrated in one area. If you are invested in a portfolio the Portfolio manager should do this for you.

Diversification is just common sense, as a reasonable spread of assets can potential-

Following the Woodford saga, here are the main things to check before investing BY CHRISTINA BRADY

ly limit exposure to market downturns, fund suspensions, volatility etc.

Make sure you understand what you are investing in This is especially true if you are self-investing - the guiding principle of the Warren Buffett school of investment. Buy blue-chips and brand names you know. Anything else, avoid.

Know the difference between best buy tables and actual advice.

This could perhaps be the biggest lesson learned from the Woodford saga. Mr Woodford was a firm favourite of fund ‘best buy’ lists. Hargreaves Lansdown, one of the most influential financial intermediaries, has received major criticism since the fund’s suspension for this reason.

Understand liquidity This is how quickly you can buy/sell an asset and as investors have found, investing in unquoted smaller companies via an open-ended fund can create a liquidity mismatch. Just because a fund says it offers daily dealing, doesn’t mean it always will.

There is the argument that a crackdown is needed on open-ended funds investing in

illiquid assets. However, it does allow customers to invest in a diversity of fund options.

www.theblacktowergroup.com

Following a ‘Star’ No one fund manager has the secret to outperforming the market in all conditions and therefore you should expect everyone at some point to have a bad performance. If someone has a good long-term track record, don’t just assume it will continue. Don’t have the herd mentality and just follow everyone else and a best buy list.

Don’t be greedy We would all love our investments to grow year on year, but that is not how it is in the real world, markets go down as well as up. If an investment offers you consistently good or above average returns no matter what the market conditions are, it will end in tears and you will lose money (usually all your money invested) in the long run.

Beware: scammers and fraudsters love greed and people’s desire for unrealistic returns on an investment is music to their ears. It’s the way they make money. You lose, They win.

If it seems too good to be true IT IS! If you are unsure if your current investments are diversified enough, or are being offered an investment with terms that seem too good to be true, or you are new to investing, getting advice from a financial advice company that has weathered more than one or two

BAN: Neil Woodford’s fund Woodford Equity Income Fund suspended financial downturns is essential for your financial well-being and peace of mind.

Blacktower Financial Management has been established for over 32 years and has worked with its clients through the good and the bad times, offering sound financial advice.

This article is based on the opinion of the financial adviser and author, and does not reflect the views of Blacktower. The above information was correct at the time of preparation and does not constitute investment advice and you should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity.

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 (Int) Ltd is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and is registered with both the DGS and CNMV in Spain

18

Oct 10th - Oct 23rd 2019

PROPERTY

Stadium arcadian €220 million mega-venue confirmed for Costa Blanca

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SPAIN’S largest concert hall, dubbed Arena, is set to be built in Valencia with space for up to 18,600 people.

Construction of the €220 million venue is scheduled to begin next summer and completed by 2023.

Once built, the Arena will be the largest of its kind in Spain, surpassing Barcelona’s Palau Sant Jordi which has room for 17,000 people.

The venue will also be bigger than Madrid’s 15,500 capacity WiZink Center, which has seen the likes of Elton John, Beyonce and Ed Sheeran perform there over the

years.

Upcoming shows at the Madrid arena include Nicky Jam, the Lumineers, Enrique Iglesias, Rosalia, Bryan Adams and Halsey.

The Arena is expected to create 300 jobs and bring in over €10 million each year, while plans will see a public park and improved infrastructure for nearby college Les Arts.

Sky’s the limit BENIDORM could handle a 15% increase in the number of its hotels - equivalent to seven Wembley football pitches - a top developer has said.

The potential development in the Ensanche Levante sector, formerly known as the Armanello Plan, could mean even more vertical development in a resort already renowned for its skyscrapers.

The Urban Interest Group (AIU) has said another 15-20 new hotel complexes spanning 60,000 square metres are feasible.

Its research into the need for hotel accommodation over the next 20 years found that hotel numbers could rise from the current 131 to 151.

Town Hall bosses have already earmarked this sector for residential-hotel use, with a medium-high intensity, where building plots are limited to 30%, with at least 50% being permeable soil.

The project has received an injection of cash from Juan Roig, president of Mercadona, Spain’s most popular supermarket, to make it the largest venue of its kind in the country.

The construction itself is being led by his holding company Licampa 1617.

The project is understood to be a ‘personal and altruistic initiative’ for Roig.

He said the aim was ‘to give Valencia a multi-use space that will position the city and the wider region as a world-class destination for national and international sporting, cultural and entertainment events’.

Construction plans, approved unanimously by Valencia’s Town Hall, will see the space have multi uses for cultural, sporting and artistic events.

The Valencia Basket Club is also expected to relocate their headquarters to the site.

The Arena is to be built between the streets of Ángel Villena, Bomber Ramon Duart and Antonio Ferrandis.

White Isle rises

IBIZA Town has been named the most expensive city to buy a house in Spain.

The price per square metre in the Balearic island’s capital now stands at €3,709 for the second quarter of 2019, according to Government data.

It comes after property prices across the White Isle have surged by 56.5% over the last five years.

The next most expensive towns and cities are San Sebastian, Ibiza’s Santa Eularia des Riu, Barcelona’s Sant Cugat del Valles, Barcelona and Madrid.

IS THERE A NEW RECESSION COMING? Learn from Steen Jakobsen, Chief Economist & CIO at Saxo Bank, who gives his vision on the global economy and his thoughts regarding the possibility of a new recession.

SEMINAR OCT 24 15:30-17:00 | Free Entrance Marbella, Investment Academy Register your seat today at BinckBank.com/seminars

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FOOD,DRINK & TRAVEL

19

Oct 10th - Oct 23rd 2019

THIRSTY WORK Here’s a quick quiz...which drink is best for hydration?

Hint: It isn’t water!

Summer lovin’ RYANAIR has increased its number of routes into Spain to 550 while still claiming to be the greenest airline in Europe, with the lowest CO2 emission rates.

A total of 20 new routes for 2020 have been announced, with 17 new summer services and three new internal connections within Spain.

The Dublin-based firm plans to transport 50.8 million passengers per year, employing 38,000 people at the 26 Spanish airports where Ryanair operates.

However, only two of the 17 new international routes are from UK airports, with flights from Exeter into Alicante and London Luton to Sevilla.

Kenny Jacobs of Ryanair said: “We are delighted to continue bringing the lowest rates and emissions to Spain with our 2020 summer calendar”.

Flying into trouble A BRITISH Airways flight has left passengers furious after it diverted its destination from Malaga to Barcelona and offered no assistance to its stranded customers.

The Airbus A320 left Gatwick at 4pm before it detoured to Barcelona, some 500 miles away.

Passengers were left raging at BA’s lack of information and help as they were left roaming around the Catalan airport.

IF you’re feeling thirsty, you should swap a glass of water for a glass of milk scientists reckon.

A study by the University of St. Andrews has found that water, despite its reputation, is not the most hydrating drink.

Researchers discovered that drinks with a little sugar, fat or protein help keep the

body hydrated for longer.

Milk contains sugar, proteins and some fat which help slow the emptying of fluid from the stomach, which in turn keeps the body hydrated for a longer period.

It also contains salt, which acts as a sponge, allowing the body to retain more water.

They just keep coming Spain is still THE place to go - after all, 78 million tourists can’t be wrong!

SPAIN pocketed over €40 million from the travel and tourism industry during the first seven months of 2019, an increase of 3.6% on the same period the previous year.

It means that the Spanish tourism sector is on course for the tenth consecutive year of growth, since the 2008 global recession.

Income from tourism increased by €1.39 million, meaning that Spain earnt a massive €40,134,000 from tourism between January and July.

But challenges to the sector lie ahead.

The collapse of travel giant Thomas Cook is expected to cause the immediate closure of 500 hotels, according to the Spanish Confederation of Hotels.

That said, some 29.6 million foreign tourists are expected to set foot on Spanish shores in the third quarter of 2019, an increase of almost 2% on the previous year.

Meanwhile, 48 million in-

ternational tourists last year arrived in Spain during the first seven months of the year, a 2% increase on the same period last year.

Even better for Spain, the amount of money these tourists are spending is increasing. Total tourist expenditure reached €52.36 million euros between January and July 2019.

Tourists in July were on average spending €150 a day, 4.9% more than they were at the same time last year.

Turning on the Tapas TORREVIEJA celebrated International Tapas Day in style this weekend with nearly 30 bars and restaurants showing off their culinary kudos.

Like many other food festivals, those involved compete to see who is the best in their area in an intense contest.

Great value is guaranteed, as anyone can sample one of two or three specially-chosen dishes and a drink for only €2.50.

The organisers, Torrevieja gastronomica, want to ‘promote value and offer our know-how, dedication and affection with the hope you will live and feel authentic gastronomic experiences’.

The Olive Press spoke with three County Durham visitors making the most of the hospitality.

Anne Muldoon, 50, who has been living between Torrevieja and her native Consett for 16 years, said: “I’m very gregarious, so love anything that gets people together.

“I’ve been introduced to some of my favourite restaurants here through the regular tapas festivals.”

Sue Smith, 60, from Rowley, added, “It’s perfect for introducing people to Spain and to tapas, without any risk or expense – if you don’t like a dish, move on!”

And Sarah Barker, 49, from Lanchester commented: “It’s a great way to see the city and sample different dishes – and it takes you out of your comfort zone.”

The ladies (right) enjoyed dishes as diverse as Tosta de salmon (salmon on toast) from La Cantina and Saltedo del solomillo (sautéed sir-

By Simon Wade

loin) from Taparia los Zamaranos.

With 27 other bars and restaurants taking part, there was a lot more to choose from.

If you attended the festival, please share your experiences by emailing newsdesk@theolivepress.es

19

September 26th - October 9th 2019

HEALTH

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Oct 10th - Oct 23rd 2019

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What’s more, truSculpt iD produces an average fat reduction of 24 percent, and visible improvements are seen in 6 to 12 weeks following the first treatment. Multiple areas can be treated in one session,

but additional treatments may be required for optimal sculpting results.

“TruSculpt iD is a very exciting new development in non-surgical body contouring.

The lower abdomen and love handles can be treated in just a single 15-minute comfortable treatment session. Our patients have been very pleased with the body sculpting results they can achieve with this innovative system,” says Dermatologist Jeffrey S. Dover, MD, FRCPC of Skincare Physicians in Chestnut Hill, MA. By and large, people are

By Jeremy Kenton

Javea-based Osteopath Jeremy Kenton explains how correct posture can avoid a costly trip to the doctor

Look better in the buff: Get your s without giving up everything yo

loving their truSculpt iD results. In ao, separate let’s think study about ourselves for ahad moment. of individuals who the Let’s percent imagine said we have procedure, 100 bought a new car or gadthey were satisfi ed,spend would getporing get: we may time it doneover again would refer theand instruction manual, a friend for truSculpt iD. And eagerly discovering how our new toy works and what it’sout capable everyone felt better in - or of. clothes. of - their to say, this doesn’t So, Needless if you’re thinking about apply to building any type of flatlookingpack into a new kind of furniture from a well known personalized Swedish body store, assculpting we never ever the instructions, which is withoutreadresorting to drastic why fi our often measures, nd bookcase a truSculpt iD looks likenear a passable impersonation provider you by searching of the leaning tower of Pisa, but https://trusculpt.com/find-athat’s another story. provider.

Once we have read the hand-

S

HEALTH APPOINTMENT

book, only then do we start to press buttons and discover how things work.

Yet what about our bodies?

How many of you truly understand how your bodies work and how they function?

Everyday, people see professionals, such as myself, for diagnosis and treatment of self-induced injuries that could’ve been avoided if only they knew how.

Perhaps they are looking for their instruction manual that does exist, if they took the time

to look for good information on the web or even in a bookshop.

Take the way we sit, for example.

There is little we can do to alter it if we are stuck in an airline seat, especially on a budget airline, but what about at home or work when you are using your computer?

How many of you will ensure that at work you are sitting in a supportive chair with your computer placed correctly in front of you, but when you get home and are spending just as many hours on a laptop - perched on the dining table or your lap - you are possibly causing postural problems that will lead to pain.

If you sat slumped just once it would cause no harm, but constant repetition of incorrect posture can lead to real problems in your spine.

Also, modern handheld tablet computers are producing shoulder, neck, elbow and wrist injuries from the positions they are held in. As you sit there at your computer screen, slumped forward, think of the word COMPUTERS (see right)

Think:

Correct chair Optimum position

for desk, screen and chair - never twisted but with the screen directly in front of you and positioned with the middle of the screen Looking sexy, svelte or built with your eyesby BPT in your level clothing is one thing.

Looking better in the buff is a runners and yoga enthusiasts Mouse and monitor use a toppingposition, the list. whole other ballgame.

Clothing wrist necklines, supportshortfor yourAccording mouse to board- even low-cut plastic surgeon shorts or tight-fitting tees - can certified Posture position WalterforL.prevention Bernacki, of MD hide your flaws and and accentuate problems painof Ohio Plastic Surgery in your assets, but whenand you are nude, there’s nowhere - or way Central Ohio, “The newest ncomfortable positions to non-surgicalwill bodylead contouring - to hideU anything. back, elbow pain truSculpt system is Cutera’s If you want neck, to look wrist better and iD that uses radiofrequency naked, you are not alone.too Far long Time, spent without a break, from it. More and more people (RF) technology to target and lead living to pain are intowill healthy and permanently destroy fat in your troubleyour spots (think muffin tops getting fiEt these days. The good rgonomics - position equipment news is that there is finally and love handles) - in just 15 andyouuse wisely something canitdo about comfortable minutes with no downtime.

We have found that it that doesn’t involve giving R est regularly from repetitive tasks up carbs and sweets, doing the treatment works on all skin sizes your and mouse physiques, excessive crunches for or having Support wrists,types, feet and including individuals who invasivehand cosmetic surgery. were previously not considered

but additional t may be required fo sculpting results.

“TruSculpt iD is exciting new develo non-surgical body co The lower abdomen handles can be treate single 15-minute co treatment session. Ou have been very please body sculpting result achieve with this i system,” says Derm Jeffrey S. Dover, MD of Skincare Physi Chestnut Hill, MA. By and large, p

Fully one-third of Americans opt for minimally candidates for body contouring advert goes: “Simples……….” procedures.” invasiveAs fat the reduction or body What’s more, and truSculpt sculpting treatments toprevention look Remember is better better incheaper the buff, according to iD produces an average fat than cure. a new survey of 500 men and reduction of 24 percent, and women from Cutera, Inc. And visible improvements are seen those who exercise regularly in 6 to 12 weeks following the are most likely to have a first treatment. Multiple areas body-sculpting treatment, with can be treated in one session,

SAPHEON VENASEAL CLOSURE SYSTEM

T

he Sapheon V e n a S e a l closure system is a unique and minimally invasive treatment that uses a medical adhesive specially designed to treat varicose veins quickly and effectively.

Using ultrasound, the doctor guides a small catheter through a small access site in the skin to the diseased vein.

Next, the VenaSeal dispenser delivers a very small amount of medical glue to close the vein.

Once the diseased vein closes, the blood is immediately redirected to the other healthy veins in the leg.

Unlike other treatments: – VenaSeal does NOT require tumescent anesthesia (which is injected into the leg through multiple needle punctures).

– NO anesthetic sedation, whereby patients can return to their normal activities immediately after treatment.

– Unlike heat-based procedures, with VenaSeal there is NO risk of skin burns or nerve damage.

– VenaSeal usually does NOT require any medication for post-treatment pain, or uncomfortable compression stockings.

Come and visit us. We will inform you.

CLINICA BRITANNIA, 16 BIS (next to 16) FIRST (not Ground) Floor, Ejercitos Españoles Av TEL 965 837 553 - 24H 607 255 755

HEALTH

Mozzie meltdown Over a dozen authorities call for instant action against mosquito plagues in Spain

PLAGUES of mosquitoes are causing havoc across the Costa Blanca and Costa Calida, from Alicante down to Cartagena.

Council representatives right across the region have met with pest control experts looking for additional measures that can combat the current plagues of mosquitoes.

In total, 13 municipalities have joined together to request exceptional measures such as fumigating high-risk

areas at the same time.

Elche, Alicante, Santa Pola, Daya Vieja, Crevillent, Rojales, Guardamar, Almoradí, Monforte del Cid, Catral, Dolores, San Fulgencio and Aspe are all looking to establish more effective actions against the pest.

Large areas of standing and stagnant water, left after the gota fria floods of mid-September, have proven to be fertile breeding ground for mosquito larvae.

TABLE HEALTH RISK: Experts demand cigarette-style warnings on salt

With salt causing three million deaths a year, warnings are vital for packaging SALT sold in supermarkets should carry graphic health warnings, such as those on

tobacco packets, medical experts warn.

The move is vital with as many as 85% of Spanish children eating too much salt, according to research.

Scientists from The World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Hypertension League (WHL) believe that many countries, including Spain, are not aware of the dangers.

While most countries have sodium information on the labels of processed food, these are often ‘difficult for people to interpret and do not warn of any health risk.’

Bugged out Food experts offered up half a pound of insects in quest for ‘new edibles’

INSECTS, crickets and mealworms were ‘on the menu’ when the Spanish Society for Food Safety and Quality met last week in Alicante to discuss new foods made from alternative sources.

Boxes containing 250g (over 8 ounces) of durum wheat and ground crickets were dis-

tributed among delegates to, “help discover the nutritional and environmental benefits of consuming insects … an excellent source of nutrients.

It is claimed that the ratio of protein produced against the weight of worms and crickets is higher than that of cows, chickens or pigs.

IT Excess salt consumption is estimated to have caused more than three million deaths a year, from strokes and heart disease.

The WHO has now set countries a goal of reducing sodium intake by 30% by 2025.

Dr. Norm Campbell, of the WHL, said: “Governments and the food industry have been working together to reduce salt in processed foods.

“However, urgent measures must now be taken to sensitize consumers to these dangers.”

He continued: “Although many countries have begun to consider a variety of public health measures to encourage people to eat less salt, we do not know of any that have required salt containers to have warning labels.”

Jacqui Webster of the WHO added: "Eating too much salt increases people's blood pressure, which is one of the main contributors to premature death.”

Research published in the European Journal of Nutrition found that 85% of Spanish children eat too much salt.

The majority of this is from processed and fast food, with only 20 to 25% coming from table salt.

Oct 10th - Oct 23rd 2019

21

THE WOBBLES You may think that loose teeth can only be solved by dentures, but Karan Sud Dental’s fibrebond technology can save you the time, effort, pain and cost

SUFFERING with loose teeth?

You may have been told you will now need dentures or implants.

But this is not actually the case, especially with regards to the front teeth.

At Karan Sud Dental, in Calpe, we use fibrebond technology to splint loose teeth together and replace missing teeth.

This innovation uses a resin-based fibre, placed behind the affected teeth, that can strengthen them without having to pull them out.

This allows you to keep your teeth for much longer.

Dentures are bulky, and affect both taste and function. They also can jeopardise the health of remaining teeth.

Dental implants in the anterior region - or front teeth - are also very complicated.

They involve surgery, and take a lot of time, effort and expense.

With fibrebond technology, however, you can save on all of these thing, as well as pain.

If you have mobile or missing teeth, please call us to see if you’re a suitable candidate for this innovative treatment.

British dentist Calpe Karan Sud

Dr Karan Sud

“Very pleased with my new dental treatment from Karan and the team. My teeth were loose, but this treatment solved the problem completely. I am usually very nervous around the dentist, but the procedure was pain-free and the aftercare was easy and exceptional. Well done.”

Glenys Cook

For more information visit www.ksuddental.com Tel: (+34) 965 837 553 - 24h emergency: (+34) 602 612 688 Clinica Britannia, Avda Ejercitos Españoles 16, first floor, Calpe

COLUMNISTS

22

Oct 10th - Oct 23rd 2019

Happy Columbus Day

BACK TO ‘NORMAL’

GETTING CONNECTED By Loraine Gostling

their coffers and send him swanning off to find a westerly route to China.

They were concerned that the Spanish were lacking some spice in their lives, because the other rotten Europeans next door were beating them to all that coriander, nutmeg, saffron and chilli powder!

So, in 1492, just as he was hitting the male menopause, Chris packed up his maps, a barrel of sangria, a few salty sardines and a ton of rice and declared that he was nipping off to find Japan.

Just over two months later, Columbus, having studied enough Japanese en route to greet the locals and order a large glass of

sake, a hot bowl of miso soup, tempura prawns and sushi, found himself on an island in the Bahamas. No sushi here, but the burgers were just great!

Later that month, the wandering Genoan stumbled upon Cuba, which he thought was mainland China and in December he landed on Hispaniola, that he thought must be Japan! And yet we all have a day off to celebrate this dodo… sigh… though they should have stuck with Magellan!

But, seriously, Columbus died in 1506 without realising exactly what he had achieved.

He had discovered the New World and its riches, which went on to make Spain the wealthiest and most powerful country on earth over the following century.

And the moral of this story? Meander a lot, go with your instincts wherever they may take you, and never, ever, ask for money from the King of Portugal!

Email Loraine: nect@gmail.com

Javeacon-

AS ALWAYS, it’s been another roller-coaster week here at the Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre.

Amazingly, we’ve caused quite an international stir.

We have even more German farmers involved in supplying hay to us, after last issue’s horrible story about the devastation of forage crops in the Vega Baja after the gota fría.

We were left with just six weeks’ of feed, with nothing in sight until next summer, and 140 horses and donkeys facing a colic epidemic.

This has all come about by a chap that lives locally, part of the German Golf Society, who contacted a German farmer with his own transport company.

He’s going to transport hay all the way to Spain at a cheaper rate, charging only €3,200 per trip, which saves us about €200 euros.

This particular farmer is based in East Germany, where they have a lot more land to grow hay.

He is also bringing a mega-lorry-full of his own hay, and that of the kind-hearted Norwegian who drove all over Europe to help us.

Also, our Norwegian superhero has been in touch with animal welfare associations, one of which has already donated €1,000 and an ultrasound machine, which will come in very handy here.

All these amazing things are happening because of people that we’ve never even met.

I do find it quite incredible that total strangers

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Our plans start from only €12 a month Join Lobster today at lobster.es or call free on 1661 *Thumbs up: English for ‘that’s amazing’. †Promotion valid until October 31st 2019, for customers who register with Lobster through any of its commercial channels. On service activation the customer will enjoy their plan with the first month’s plan payment for free. Any extra chargeable items outside the plan are not included. Promotion limited to the first 5,000 customers. Promotion limited to one plan per customer and is not compatible with other offers or discounts. For conditions, visit lobster.es ‡Unlimited calls & texts in and between most countries in Europe plus you can use your data there too. Calls & texts to the US from Spain are also included! Go to lobster.es/countries for more information

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from other countries show such kindness and go out of their way to help us for nothing but the shared love of animals.

It really gives us strength, knowing that what we’re doing means so much to people out there.

On another note, I went to feed our three famous pigs, calling out their names - Rupert, who ran away from a despicable slaughterhouse and turned up at our farm without warning in June, was the first to come.

But Penelope, who ran into our farm from out of nowhere just weeks after Rupert, was missing..

Eventually I found her in her dark shed, and all I could see was a pig with two tiny little things crawling all over her.

As first, I thought, ‘Oh no, she‘s died and she’s got rats crawling over her’.

I put the light on, lo and behold, Penelope had just given birth to two tiny piglets!

Obviously, I called Rod and we just stood there gobsmacked. We really didn’t see that coming.

Unusually, she’s only given birth to two (they can have up to 12) so we’re counting our blessings!

It will be a tight squeeze when they grow up, but they’re all happy and healthy, and already running around.

The piglets can see now, so mum is bringing them out into the fresh air. After last issue’s hay famine disaster, at the moment everything is (dare I say it) seems okay as it possibly can be.

FR

Unlimited calls and texts and to

By Susan Weeding

As farmers as far as Germany chip in to save the rescue centre from famine, life begins again in Rojales, writes Susan Weeding

Loraine Gostling’s hysterical histories on how ‘Chris’ Columbus thought he found Japan GREETINGS! And to those who have managed to pick up a copy of this edition hot off the press, Happy Columbus Day! This chap Columbus was clearly a meanderer, a bit like myself really.

Born in Italy on Halloween in 1451, he worked for a while as a seaman and was clearly itching to go on an expedition.

He pondered a lot, and finally decided to ask King John II of Portugal if he would cough up some escudos, explaining to ‘Johnny’ that with only the Atlantic Ocean (as he thought) lying between Europe and the East Indies, it would be a real get rich quick project for Portugal.

However, King Johnny was not in a particularly good mood that day, having lost 6-0 to Barcelona and so ‘Chris’ popped next door and banged on the doors of the Spanish monarchy.

Well dear old ‘Bella and Ferdy pricked their ears right up and being a couple who liked to live life on the edge, they agreed, after one or two drinks, to dig deep in

FARM FLASH

SPORT SPORT Bowling bonanza

THE 22nd Iberian Open bowls tournament hosted at Inn on the Green, in Javea, has ended following a riveting nine days with 20,000 bowls bowled.

The competition has become the biggest of its kind in Spain.

Teams from across Alicante competed in 100 matches in singles, pairs and rinks (five players) disciplines - while in the past teams have been known to fly in from the UK. Following competitive games in temperatures reaching 30 °C, the heats reached their last five matches on September 24.

John Coats, Tony Walker, Keith Hamilton and David Bell took the men’s rinks final, while Chris Evans, Linda Warnes, Yvonne Browne and Penny Pym took the women’s rinks.

Dudley Davies and Annie Jones from Benitachell Bowls Club won the Aussie pairs, while Mary Cockell won the ladies’ singles and Greg Sperring won the men’s.

Player of the tournament was awarded to Dudley Davies, who was awarded a personalised bowling shirt.

If you have a sports story, newsdesk@theolivepress.es or call 0034 951 273 575

Oct 10th - Oct 23rd 2019

Dina takes it all UK triumphs as Spain stalls at controversial World Athletics Championships in Doha

DINA Asher-Smith has made history for Britain, winning the 200m Gold at the World Athletics Championships and becoming the first Briton to scoop three medals at a major global athletics event.

The 23-year-old sprinter picked up three out of Britain’s five medals at the event in Qatar and broke a national record in the 200m, finishing in 21.88 seconds.

She also earned a silver medal in the 100m sprint and was part of Britain’s silver medal winning 4x100m relay team.

“Normally I am so chatty and full of energy, but I am lost for words,” said the 23-year-old after storming to victory in the 200m race.

The World Championships in the Qatari capital of Doha has

Muguruza withdraws FORMER world tennis number number one Garbine Muguruza will end her 2019 season early and ‘go back to the drawing board.’

The two-time Grand Slam winner has tumbled 27 places to world number 28 since her peak as world number one in 2017.

The 25-year-old Spaniard has endured a terrible season, losing seven

23

of her last eight matches since the French Open in June.

She has also split with coach Sam Sumyk, who helped her win Wimbledon in 2017 and climb to the top of the tennis leaderboard.

Asked last month about her struggles, she said: “I am simply in different circumstances, challenges, but I feel super motivated.”

HISTORIC ACHIEVEMENT: AsherSmith bags gold, while (right) Spain’s Ortega leaps to victory been less kind to Spain, whose Orlando Ortega was initially robbed of the nation’s only medal in the 110m hurdles, after Jamaican sprinter Omar McLeod fell into his lane.

Ortega was in third place when McLeod clipped a hurdle and flung his arm towards the Spaniard, forcing Ortega to dodge him.

Spain appealed the obstruction and at first the jury denied the appeal, arguing such incidents weren’t ‘unusual’ at hurdle events.

The International Association of Athletics Federations later backtracked and awarded Ortega a bronze medal.

The 2019 World Championships has been marred by controversy since it began, with French Decathlon medalist Kevin Mayer branding it ‘a disaster’.

“There is no one in the stands and you can’t get used to the heat,” he said.

The IAFF, which organises the event, has been accused of treating athletes as guinea pigs, forcing marathon runners and race walkers to compete in 31C heat.

OP Puzzle solutions

Across: 7 Incommunicado, 9 Smarten, 10 Discs, 11 Lobe, 12 Slander, 15 Sherbet, 16 Acne, 19 Raise, 21 Colleen, 22 Pennsylvanian.

Down: 1 Diesel, 2 Scramble, 3 Burn, 4 Giddyap, 5 Eats, 6 Mouser, 8 Mate, 12 Set, 13 Decrepit, 14 Abreast, 15 Stripy, 17 El Nino, 18 Flea, 20 Ions, 21 Calf.

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Ham fisted PRIME Minister Sanchez has outraged farmers after confusing the delicacy Jamon Iberico with the cheaper Jamon Serrano.

FINAL WORDS

Parakeet palava MADRID Council has ordered thousands of parakeets to be ‘humanely slaughtered’ using ‘egg sterilisation’ and nest removal after populations exploded.

ITV win BRITISH broadcaster ITV has won a nine-year court case after its 90s show Alphabetical was ‘ripped off’ by Telecinco’s Pasapalabra, which has since been axed.

Sinning sisters FEMINISTS appearing in court for parading a huge plastic vagina through Sevilla during Semana Santa have denied they intended to ‘insult Christians’.

OLIVE PRESS

The

NEWS IN BRIEF

FREE

COSTA BLANCA

Vol. 1 Issue 15 www.theolivepress.es

Shoeshank redemption

A PRISON inmate has escaped from the City of Justice court in Valencia by using nothing more than his shoelace.

Pablo Antonio, 48, was serving a four-month jail sentence for breaking a judicial measure relating to sexual violence, when he appeared in a separate trial for drug trafficking.

After returning to a court cell he made his lace into a bow and pushed it through the bars to undo the latch on the outside of the door. A manhunt is now underway after CCTV captured him walking out of the court’s front doors unnoticed.

Tasting his medicine

Your expat

voice in Spain

October 10th - October 23rd 2019

Happy hamsters

BUSH BASHER TV star Tyger Drew-Honey confronts beach pervert

EXCLUSIVE

By Joshua Parfitt

BRITISH TV star Tyger Drew-Honey has filmed a confrontation with a man who ‘flashed’ at him on a Costa Blanca beach.

The Outnumbered star, 23, was relaxing in Denia when he spotted the pervert ‘licking his lips’ and playing with himself in nearby bushes.

Drew-Honey tells the camera: ‘I’ve just been flashed

HONEYS: Tyger and dad by this guy on the beach’.

The man, believed to be ‘in his 60s’, asks Drew-Honey to stop filming before he retaliates: “Yeah mate, well

A VALENCIAN doctor specialising in facial surgery has been charged with a crime against public health after being caught with half a kilo of cocaine in his backpack.

Police arrested renowned maxillofacial surgeon Dr Luis Senís as he was leaving the house of a suspected cocaine dealer in the Saïda district of Valencia city.

He was granted €50,000 bail while the courts continue their prosecution.

Maxillofacial surgeons are, ironically, specialists in reconstructing the features of cocaine addicts, who can suffer devastating midfacial deterioration as a result of snorting the stimulant.

According to police reports, the cocaine was of high purity, and compressed into a so-called brick.

you need to stop walking around on the beach flashing young men.”

Drew-Honey had been walking near where his expat father Lindsey Honey was playing drums for his band the Soggy Bottoms.

“I was just about to go for a dip when this man started circling me,” he told the Olive Press.

“It seemed like flasher behaviour and then I turned around and caught him licking his lips at me.

“I hurled abuse at him as he whipped his private parts away and then it occurred to me that I should shame him, so I filmed him.”

Drew-Honey said he is planning to go to the police, but will have to do it on his return as he is currently touring the UK in a play called Posh, by Laura Wade.

FOUR tiny hamsters found dumped in a cage next to rubbish bins in Benitachell have been given a new lease of life.

The white-coated creatures were spotted in a pink plastic cage unceremoniously ditched on the side of the road in Lirios, on the Cumbre del Sol. Jacqueline Mellis took the quartet home to give them TLC, clean their cages and find new owners.

“How cruel some people are,” Jacqueline told the Olive Press.

After making a plea through the Javea Connect Facebook group, by Tuesday one kind person had already come forwards to rehome the hamsters. Another kind-hearted Facebook user also donated three cages to the cause.

“I was blown away by all the comments I received regarding the four little hamsters I found at the bins,” Jacqueline said.

“It’s so lovely that many people care for animals as much as I do.

“The little loves are now in a nice home in nice cages.

“I’m over the moon there was a happy ending.”

The hamsters were adopted

by Rebecca Brown, who lives in Benitachell with her family.