The weekender Issue 18 marina alta (north)

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ISSUE 018 Friday 27th October www.Weekender.News IssueB #151 @TheWeekenderEs @TheWeekenderSpain

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BEST WITCHES FOR A SCARY AND SPOOKY HALLOWEEN

WELCOME TO STAY

By Jack Troughton

BRITISH expats are welcome to stay in Spain even if the UK walks away from the European Union without a Brexit deal, says foreign minister Alfonso Dastis.

Uncertainty has dogged the lives of British residents since the historic ‘leave’ vote in the referendum in June last year.

However, Mr Dastis has pledged the Spanish government would ensure the lives of ordinary Brits are “not disrupted” in the event of a ‘no deal’; although he said he hoped agreement was reached between the UK and the 27 other EU members.

Continued page 2.

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

Pledge ends uncertainty

By Jack Troughton

From Front Page...

Spain is host to the largest population of British expats living in the EU, some 308,805 according to the Office of National Statistics – and more than a third, 101,045 are aged over 65.

And over 17 million British people visit Spain every year; inspiring many to make the country their home.

Negotiations between the UK and the EU have

stalled over three issues: the so-called divorce bill, the rights of British citizens living in Europe and EU nationals in Britain, and the Irish border. Trade talks are said to be on ice until there is progress.

Prime Minister Theresa May is under pressure from members of her own party to leave without forging an agreement; allowing Britain to free itself from EU regulations and avoid a financial settlement in a

clean Brexit.

Mr Dastis appeared on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show to say: “I do hope there will be a deal.

If there is no deal, we will make sure that the lives of ordinary people who are in Spain, the UK people, is not disrupted.

“As you know, the relationship between the UK and Spain is a very close one in terms of economic relations and also social exchanges.

“Over 17 million Brits come to Spain every year and many of them live here or retire here and we want to keep it that way as much as possible.”

Meanwhile, Mrs May has used social media to reassure EU citizens in

Britain they will be allowed to stay after Brexit; underlining their rights “remain a priority”.

She said: “When we started this process, some accused us of treating EU nationals as bargaining chips.

“Nothing could have been further from the truth. EU citizens who have made their lives in the UK have made a huge contribution to our country. And we want them, and their families, to stay. I couldn’t be clearer; EU citizens living lawfully in the UK today will be able to stay.”

And the premier hinted that negotiators were close to reaching a deal on the issue of citizens’ rights, with “a small number of important points to finalise” before being able to end the “real anxiety” of people.

Back to work SPAIN’S jobless queues were again shrinking as the country continued to make hay with a thriving tourist summer season.

Official figures released yesterday (Thursday) show unemployment fell in the third quarter, from July to September, from 17.2% to 16.4%, the National Statistics Institute revealed.

In terms of people, it means those out of work at the end of September was 3.7 million, down from 3.9 million at the end of June. The three months are high season in Spain, and the service sector was able to create an additional 236,400 positions in hotels, restaurants, bars and other businesses linked to tourism.

However, the numbers of temporary contracts signed during the period, some 150,000, was more than half the number of permanent positions.

Spain’s unemployment hit a 26.9% peak in the first months of 2013 and it remains the second worst performer in the Eurozone after Greece.

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

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THE Costa Blanca is still basking in sunshine and it is hard to appreciate the clocks are about to jump back – don’t forget guys – and give us an extra hour in bed on Sunday morning (an optimistic half full glass here).

The sun has also meant plenty of visitors touching down at the region’s airports, especially as it is half term back in the UK and a last boost for the local economy ahead of the short days of winter - so lots of full glasses are being enjoyed along the coast.

Halloween is a big celebration in Spain and whole families frequently become witches, ghosts, ghoulies and other monsters to join in the fun. All Hallows Eve immediately followed by the Christian national holiday of All Saints Day, on November 1st - there are always bags of fiestas in this part of the world.

However, Halloween itself was not always about scary stuff. Ancient cultures believed the spirits of their ancestors returned to walk the earth for one night a year and it was a sort of late night soul party.

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Meanwhile, the shelves of supermarkets are being emptied of goodies needed for a modern Halloween party, and will soon be replaced with essential stuff for the next calendar biggie…Christmas!

Spain, for obvious reasons, skips across Bonfire Night and the infamous Gunpowder Plot. Skipping back hundreds of years to my childhood (rather than the plot to blow up Parliament and James I) it was a happy time of apple bobbing, chestnuts, and naturally fireworks.

“Remember, remember the fifth of November, gunpowder, treason and plot. There’s no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot”. Except it has been overshadowed, losing out in the marketing war to 31st October – I’ll keep busy reading all my Halloween cards while watching a scary new drama, Gunpowder. Happy Halloween!

Jack Troughton

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Simon Russell

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4

FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

Pick up a poppy

By Jack Troughton

POPPIES are on sale across the Costa Blanca and the Royal British Legion hopes people will wear one with pride.

Royal British Legion launches its annual Poppy Appeal in Benidorm today ahead of Remembrance Sunday on 12th November.

The charity has distributed boxes of poppies through a network of businesses and hopes people will support its work.

The Legion spends £1.3 million a week on the Armed Forces community. A spokesman said: “By making a donation for your poppy you are supporting those who have dedicated their lives to serving their country.

“Please wear your poppy with pride and give generously to help the charity’s continuing welfare work.”

And many of the Royal British Legion Branches across the district will be holding Remembrance Services; to find out details of services in the region visit the website www.britishlegion.org.uk/counties/spainnorth and click ‘Remembrance Services 2017’, or call 648 860 251.

Anyone needing assistance or advice can contact the Legion’s Community Support Co-ordinator on 676 451 780 or email assistance.rbl.dns@ gmail.com.

Turning back time

By Simon Russell

AS you are probably aware, the clocks go back this weekend, at 3am on Sunday 29 October to be exact – although in practice everyone except night owls will make the change before going to bed.

For the last couple of years the Valencian government has been lobbying Madrid to keep daylight saving time all year round. They say that the extra hour of light in the evening will be a boost for winter-sun tourism in what is also the most eastern part of mainland Spain; energy consumption would also be reduced on things such as heating. Critics say that the resulting darker mornings if the clocks were not changed would increase accidents and mean that children

would be going to school in the dark.

Scotland trialled this for three years in the late 1960’s but reverted to the current system as record numbers of people were killed on their roads. The debate will doubtless continue but for this year, the clocks go back as normal – and you have an extra hour in bed.

High tech peeping tom arrested By

By Matthew Matthew Richards Richards

A few days after taking her mobile phone into a shop to be repaired a woman from Elche noticed that it was still

not functioning properly. Her phone was inspected and it turned out a spy camera had been installed in it without her knowledge.

National Police spoke to her

and then arrested the employee of the locutorio which had previously “repaired” her phone. The 27-year-old man has been charged with invasion of privacy.

FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

Food fight to apply for heritage status

By Simon Russell

THE annual “Tomatina” festival held in Valencia is to apply for World Heritage Site status. The move was agreed by the Valencian Congress of Deputies on Tuesday and a case for the festival will now be put together and presented to Unesco, who have the

final decision on what is approved.

T h e To m a t i n a started in the small town of Bunol in 1945 and has grown to be an

international event, attracting tourists to the region from all over the world.

This year 160,000 kilos of tomatoes were thrown in the festival, with two thirds of those taking part coming from outside of Spain.

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Vino collapso

By Matthew Richards

WORLDWIDE production of wine has hit a fifty year low in 2017, according to a report by an international wine growing organisation.

The OIV, which represents viticulturists globally, said that overall growth has dropped by 8.2%. The main reason for this is that the top three producers, Italy, France and Spain, all saw steep falls in production, 23% in Italy,

19% in France and 15% over here in Spain.

Fluctuating climate has been blamed for the fall, with extremes of weather hitting many European wine growing regions over the course of the year. Things were better for “new world” wine countries with Australian output actually increasing by 6% and Argentina’s by 25% while the USA has produced roughly the same as the corresponding period in 2016.

Gang behind crime wave apprehended

By Simon Russell

A group thought to be responsible for over a hundred crimes across the province of Valencia have been arrested in the town of Chiva. 21 people were arrested in total, seven women and fourteen men aged between 22 and 44 from Bulgaria and Spain.

Crimes they are being linked with include burglary (both residential

and commercial), theft of fruit, drug trafficking, public order offences, misappropriation of goods, criminal damage, concealment and resisting arrest.

Eleven minors are also thought to have been involved by being sent to targets selected by the gang ringleader for crimes such as shoplifting and break-ins at empty properties. Agents described the group as highly organised with

clear roles for individuals within the gang. They recovered over 300 items including TV’s, DVD players, electronic goods, cameras, computers, mobile phones, jewellery and even a wheelchair.

They also found a cache of weapons such as knives, baseball bats and shotguns. Finally 300 kilos of almonds were recovered although it is believed a total of 2,300 kilos had been stolen in all.

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

Royal's out in force for Sting in the security boss send off tail for some

By Matthew Richards

KING Felipe, Queen Letizia and Queen Mother Sofia all attended the funeral of the palace’s security head who died earlier this month aged 64. The service for Jose Maria Corona Barriuso was held at the chapel in El Pardo Palace on Monday. Barriuso, a colonel in the Guardia Civil, joined the palace staff in 1982 and rose to head up the crucial security role, a job he did until the day of his death.

He was one of only two people who King Felipe asked to accompany him in his car on the day he was crowned King in 2014, proof of the affection and respect he held for him. The other person who accompanied him, his private driver, also passed away two years ago. In the Mass held during the ceremony, prayers were also

said for the two air-force pilots who have been killed in separate plane crashes this month.

Comics to help with bullying

By Simon Russell

THREE Alicante students have designed and published a comic aimed at stopping bullying in schools and helping victims of the problem.

The goal is to help teachers and guardians as well as victims, and “La Oficina Imposible” consists of seven chapters each focusing on

By Simon Russell

IN a new ordinance that may end up being rolled out across the Community, Valencia City is planning to penalise people who fail to take appropriate actions against the spread of tiger mosquitoes. It is estimated that about three quarters of these breed and live in privately owned spaces and many people are failing to control the pests on their private land.

The tigers were first spotted in the city in 2015 and

different aspects of bullying.

Each chapter then has a guide to the best approach to tackle each different type of harassment, as well as raising awareness of the problem. Overall, the aim is to stop the phenomenon of bullying, said the comic’s developers and designers, Victor Aroca, Pedro Oretega and Pablo Fernandez.

have spread rapidly, despite the councils efforts to control and eradicate them. However despite education and awareness programmes, until now they have been largely dependent on private landowners treating the problem themselves. The new move will give the Health Department powers to inspect private property and, where applicable, fine offenders.

The main problem is standing water such as pools, ponds and fountains that need to be kept clean or drained. Even a bucket of water can attract hundreds of mosquitoes their larvae. a n d This year, due to the ongoing warm weather, the bugs have had several extra breeding cycles, adding to an already b a d problem.

Choir’s autumn concert

By Jack Troughton

THE English Choir of Teulada-Moraira performs an autumn concert ‘A Little Light Music’ on Friday 10th November.

Currently in rehearsal for the show at the Pensionista suite, opposite Teulada Town Hall at 7pm, and promises a programme that is a mix of different styles and genres.

The first concert after a wellearned summer break was on 5th October at Ermita San Jose

and raised €900 for the Costa Blanca Anglican Chaplaincy.

A Little Light Music contains some of the fun numbers from the Mikado; The Pirates of Penzance when the gentlemen will don their policeman’s helmets; and the cachucha from the Gondoliers which will have people longing to join in the dance.

Popular songs by Bizet and Verdi also feature as do excerpts from Fiddler on the Roof, Phantom of the Opera and Salad Days, finishing up with music

by Sting and Lehar’s delightful Merry Widow and lots more in between.

Tapas and wine will be served making it a marvellous evening with something for everybody.

Tickets cost €12 Euros and can be obtained by calling Janet Brown on 96 574 5091 or by email to janetbrowncraft@ gmail.com.

All profits made from the concert will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Day Centre in Teulada.

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

Royal's out in force for Sting in the security boss send off tail for some

By Matthew Richards

KING Felipe, Queen Letizia and Queen Mother Sofia all attended the funeral of the palace’s security head who died earlier this month aged 64. The service for Jose Maria Corona Barriuso was held at the chapel in El Pardo Palace on Monday. Barriuso, a colonel in the Guardia Civil, joined the palace staff in 1982 and rose to head up the crucial security role, a job he did until the day of his death.

He was one of only two people who King Felipe asked to accompany him in his car on the day he was crowned King in 2014, proof of the affection and respect he held for him. The other person who accompanied him, his private driver, also passed away two years ago. In the Mass held during the ceremony, prayers were also

said for the two air-force pilots who have been killed in separate plane crashes this month.

Comics to help with bullying

By Simon Russell

THREE Alicante students have designed and published a comic aimed at stopping bullying in schools and helping victims of the problem.

The goal is to help teachers and guardians as well as victims, and “La Oficina Imposible” consists of seven chapters each focusing on

different aspects of bullying.

Each chapter then has a guide to the best approach to tackle each different type of harassment, as well as raising awareness of the problem. Overall, the aim is to stop the phenomenon of bullying, said the comic’s developers and designers, Victor Aroca, Pedro Oretega and Pablo Fernandez.

By Simon Russell

IN a new ordinance that may end up being rolled out across the Community, Valencia City is planning to penalise people who fail to take appropriate actions against the spread of tiger mosquitoes. It is estimated that about three quarters of these breed and live in privately owned spaces and many people are failing to control the pests on their private land.

The tigers were first spotted in the city in 2015 and have

spread rapidly, despite the councils efforts to control and eradicate them. However despite education and awareness programmes, until now they have been largely dependent on private landowners treating the problem themselves. The new move will give the Health Department powers to inspect private property and, where applicable, fine offenders.

The main problem is standing water such as pools, ponds and fountains that need to be kept clean or drained. Even a bucket of water can attract hundreds of mosquitoes larvae. This and their year, due to the ongoing warm weather, the bugs have had several extra breeding cycles, adding to an already bad problem.

FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

Savings on flu jab

By Simon Russell

AS the flu season gets underway, the Valencian government has purchased 750,000 vaccines at a cost of just over €2million. They brought these from a source other than the central government supply which saved around half a million euros, said Regional Health Minister Carmen Monton.

Ms Monton said that this also speeded up the distribution process to the 1,700 vaccination points that are spread over the Valencian

Community. Last year 60% of the over 65’s in the Community were vaccinated and they remain a key risk group. 48.8% of health workers also received the jab, the best take up rate in Spain.

Last year’s flu outbreak was described as moderate, peaking at 363 cases per 100,000 people, although the worst hit group was 5 to 14 year olds which raised some concerns. The epidemic usually peaks in January or February and the region plans to have 500 extra hospital beds available over that period as well as additional staff.

Pink ladies

By Simon Russell

MORE than a hundred women came to Alicante’s Town Hall square to take part in a Zumba master class to mark World Breast Cancer Day. The event was organised by APAMM, the Alicante association of women with breast cancer and run by Zumba teacher Mili.

Participants, all wearing pink, included town councillors Maria Espuch, Sofia Morales and Julia Angulo; the city’s Department of Equality had also helped arrange the event.

APAMM provides services to breast cancer sufferers such as counselling and hospital visits as well as raising local awareness of the disease.

7

Catalan for Messi’s kids IN what some are interpreting as a subtle message of support for Catalonian independence, Lionel Messi has posted a video on Instagram of his son Mateo singing a traditional Catalan children’s song. Mateo’s version of “Petit quan balla Joan” prompted Messi’s Barcelona teammate – and staunch independence supporter – Gerald Piquet to joke about his children being indoctrinated. Argentine Messi has lived in Barcelona since he was 13 and he and his three kids are all Catalan speakers, although he has kept his council about his views on the recent events in Catalonia.

Unsold housing stock causing concern

By Matthew Richards

THE northern Valencian province of Castellon has an estimated five years’ worth of new houses to be sold according to a recent report. While house prices across Spain have been generally rising, in Castellon this glut of never lived in housing is causing stagnation in the local property market.

Coastal properties and the resale market are healthier but new build properties had their prices reduced by an average of 3% last year and remain difficult to shift.

The excess of new housing also means that the local construction sector can expect to remain quiet for the foreseeable future.

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

Birthday party ends in horror

By Simon Russell

FIVE young children at a birthday party in Alicante were badly injured after falling five metres through a skylight. It is believed that the children were playing on the roof terrace and their combined weight broke the plastic causing the fall. It is also thought that the plastic may have deteriorated due to sun exposure.

The event resulted in a number of emergency services being called to the scene including national and local police, firefighters and five ambulances. Three of the children, aged between five and seven, remain in intensive care while the other two are in stable condition in hospital.

Turtle power

By Matthew Richards

TEN loggerhead turtles that have been cared for by the Oceanographic Institute in Valencia were released back into the wild last week. They were let go at a specially protected stretch of Sueca beach in the province and will be tracked by satellites for at least six months.

Juan Moragues, a government representative at the event, reminded people that they should report any turtles or their nests to the authorities on 112. Many of the creatures choose local beaches to spawn on but, due

to how busy they are, the sands are unsuitable for them to be left to their own devices. This group of ten turtles were hatched in the Oceanographic Foundation after being found on Valencian beaches six months ago.

Children arrested on abuse charges

By Matthew Richards

NINE minors have been arrested in Alicante province on suspicion of bullying as well as verbal and sexual harassment. The charges relate to the continued abuse of a sixteen tear old schoolmate of the group.

The youngster had been on the end of on-going taunts and insults at school which then progressed to online harassment. During the San Juan festival this summer it is alleged that the pupil was trapped and groped by five of the arrested group, leading to the arrest by National Police this week.

FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

Food for thought

By Simon Russell

VALENCIA was the host venue for the third meeting of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP) from 19 to 21 October. As part of the preparations for this, Valencia has been named the world capital of sustainable food in 2017 and a series of events have been organised throughout this year. These included promotion of local produce, the launch of an incubator for agrifood businesses developed

by Valencia Polytechnic and the development of sustainable school canteens across the Community.

At the MUFPP summit itself, mayors and other

delegates from all over the world gathered in the city.

The main focus was once again the issue of obesity, not just a western problem now but one affecting the developing world.

Valencia’s Mayor asked why a sugary soft drink is cheaper to buy in a bar than a fresh orange juice, and should legislation be changing this? It was agreed that the sale of ultraprocessed products high in fat and sugar was at the heart of the problem and that cities needed to take more responsibility for the health of their citizens. One of the best ways to do this was to encourage the sale of local, healthy produce across the globe.

9

Arson attack on cop cars

By Matthew Richards

POLICE in Orihuela Costa have launched an investigation after three of their squad cars were set on fire in what was almost certainly an intentional act. The incident happened overnight last Friday while the vehicles were in a car park near Flamenca Beach. The officers who drove the cars were out on foot patrol at the time and they think the fires were probably started at about 4am.

CCTV cameras in the area are being checked for clues as to the identity of the culprit or culprits.

Although the vehicles were in a public car park no other vehicles were set on fire, leading police to think their cars were specifically targeted.

Spouse held over fatal stabbing

By Matthew Richards

A 30-year-old Bolivian woman has been arrested in connection to the death of her

husband, who was found dead with multiple stab wounds. The victim, also a Bolivian who was 42-years-old, was killed in the early hours of 23 October in

the house the couple shared on Calle Ruben Vela in Valencia.

The woman is likely to be charged with homicide shortly, according to police sources.

10

FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

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Is leaving money in the bank all that safe?

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Senior Partner Chorus Financial

Time flies, and seems to get faster as you get older! How often do you reminisce about the past and then realise it was 10/20/30 years ago!

Let’s take 1997 for example; the year the world mourned the death of Diana, the Princess of Wales, and the UK saw a landslide general election victory for the Labour Party under Tony Blair. Katrina and the waves won the Eurovision

song contest with Love Shine a light and the year that channel 5 was launched. The average price of a house was £68k and a litre of petrol?... 61p.

It’s crazy how live evolves, the people and memories we pick up along the way, the mistakes we make and lessons we learn. Whilst technology is constantly changing and the way we do things is different, there is always one thing that stays the same – inflation.

I cannot tell you how many times I have sat down with clients who haven’t taken inflation seriously. It was only last week that a client walked into the office and during his financial review it was revealed that before moving to Spain, 20 years ago, he sold his UK property and brought a Spanish property and had £70k surplus.

Not knowing what to do with it, he decided to leave it safe and secure in a UK bank account.

The years have passed and my

client has settled into Spanish life and has never looked back.

The £70k he originally put in his UK bank was still there and over-all he was happy with his life decisions. That was until I calculated the effect of inflation on his £70k, in today’s terms his £70k is worth the equivalent of £46k meaning he’d lost £24k in spending power – and people think the bank is the safest place to keep your money!

Over that same period, if my client had placed his money into a cautious investment, returning 4% after fees, that £70k would now be worth £153k beating inflation by £33k.

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

Big take-up for mobile DNI

By Simon Russell

THERE were 103 attendees for the mobile DNI service when it attended La Nucia this week. Visits were by appointment only on Thursday when the appropriate documentation was taken; applicants were also fingerprinted where applicable.

Most appointees will

be returning next Monday to receive their electronic NIE or NIF numbers, a s s u m i n g their earlier documentation was in order.

The travelling DNI office makes the process more accessible in smaller towns that do not have the

facility to issues the numbers from their own town hall or police station.

Islam on the curriculum

By Matthew Richards

THE Valencian government is looking at introducing the teachings of Islam into the religious education lessons in the Community. If agreed this will take effect at the start of the 2018-2019 schools year

and will only be in centres where there is a demand for it.

The request has been made by members of the Muslim community in the area, and would bring Valencia into line with much of the rest of Spain which already teaches Islam as part of its religious studies.

11

Local landmark in video game

By Matthew Richards

THE famous Red Wall of Calpe (Muralla roja de Calpe) is to feature heavily in the new “Monument Valley 2” video game.

Cesar Sanchez, Calpe’s Mayor, attended a presentation with the games designers, Tencent Games and content manager QQ, the largest in China. About the game, designed for mobiles, Sanchez said that this was “a unique

opportunity to expand our tourism market and through the huge video game industry.”

The Red Wall was built in 1973 by architect Ricardo Bofill and is located on the Manzanera urbanisation. It is based on a Greek cross and Arabic market and this year was voted the most “instagrammable” building in Spain with its striking lines and colours set against the background of the Ifach Rock.

Back In

12

FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

COMI NG OUT OF HIS SHEL L

By Jack Troughton

JONATHAN the giant tortoise – thought to be the world’s oldest living animal at 186-years-old – has put the tiny British island of St Helena on the map by entering a same-sex relationship.

The famed reptile has been wooing a mate for 26 years and having a good old time enjoying the romance – but it now appears Fredrica is actually a male.

And for the second time in as many weeks, one of the world’s most remote places is back in the headlines, just days after being linked to the outside world with the opening of its first airport.

It seems Jonathan may be leading the way forward.

A bill to allow same-sex marriages was published last year but withdrawn because of public outcry.

Now the authorities are striving to gauge opinion amongst the 4,255 population before a court case challenging current law on grounds of discrimination.

The two tortoises met in 1991; the French consul on the island – guardian of Napoleon’s final home after being exiled following the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 – presented Frederica as a gift, and a mate for the legendary Jonathan.

Experts visiting the South Atlantic island were a little baffled as to why no little ones appeared. The answer came when Frederica became poorly and needed some close attention from vets...she was actually a he.

Every governor of the island apparently suffers the nightmare that Jonathan might die at Plantation House on their watch; he has already outlived the average lifespan of 150 years for the giant tortoise.

Vets pay close attention. Jonathan’s sight is affected by cataracts and his sense of smell has gone.

He is a creature of regular habits and unmoved by the media interest; he eats at regular times, retires for a nap at around 4pm in the afternoon, and gets close to his mate on Sunday mornings.

Back when he was merely in his eighties, Jonathan became a little grumpy and could be absolutely irritating. He would wander over the lawns of Plantation House – the governor’s official residence, a Georgian mansion – and interrupt games of croquet; knocking over garden furniture, flattening hoops and generally becoming a nuisance.

However, he has become something of a star. His image has graced the reverse of St Helena’s coins and he has been photographed with monarchs, princes, statesmen and a succession of governors.

Jonathan arrived on the island in his thirties, a gift from the Seychelles. He was aged six when William IV died – the monarch known as ‘Silly Billy’ and succeeded by Queen Victoria in 1837; fading black and white photographs show him with Boer War prisoners on St Helena, 1,200miles away from the coast of Southern Africa.

Britain

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

TRUMP: A TWEETING “TWERP”

By Edward Graham

TOFFEE BACK ON THE STREET

By Jack Troughton

THE much-loved Toffee Deluxe is making its return to Quality Street in time for Christmas following a mass protest by sweet hearts last year.

Manufacturer Nestle replaced the favourite with Honeycomb Crunch to mark Quality Street’s 80th anniversary 12 months ago but has announced the rover’s return following a public outcry.

And after chewing over the conundrum, Nestle said the sweet was making a return – and will partner the honeycomb rival; taking the assortment from 12 to 13, a baker’s dozen of choice.

Toffee Deluxe is a chocolate covered caramel and its removal proved to be a tad sticky with loyal customers; who were left dismayed when Nestle announced there were too many toffees in the mix.

Nestle justified the change by saying some customers felt there was an overload of toffee.

However, the move triggered a backlash, sweettoothed fans claiming Christmas would never be the same again.

A petition was raised and the manufacturer faced an angry public; one Quality Street loyalist even lobbied Downing Street and appealed to Theresa May with an SOS (Save Our Sweet).

And Nestle has come back with a sweetener.

Not only is Toffee Deluxe restored to the mix, the company said the main tub size would be unchanged and has recommended retail prices are fixed.

Jonathan Swift, senior brand manager for Quality Street, said: “The reaction to Honeycomb Crunch replacing Toffee Deluxe last year was incredible, and, although a lot of the comments were tongue in cheek, it was obvious there is still a great deal of fondness for the Toffee deluxe out there.”

Toffee Deluxe was created in 1918 and was included in the assortment when Quality Street was launched in 1936. The honeycomb is not as heavy as the toffee, so contents were lighter but contained the same number of sweets.

Quality Street itself takes its name from a play penned by JM Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan.

Donald PRESIDENT Trump was accused of being a “twerp” and fuelling racial tensions after using his beloved Twitter account to comment on a rise in UK crime rates.

His social media message directly linked the upward shift in law breaking to Islamic terrorism but was branded “rubbish” back in Britain.

President US The proclaimed: “Just out report: ‘United Kingdom crime rises 13% annually amid spread of Radical Islamic terror’. Not good, we must keep America safe.”

Crime in England and Wales rose in the 12 months to June, partly because of a 26% increase in knife crime and a 19% rise in sexual offences; the numbers of murders and manslaughter offences increased by 46 to 629, excluding the terror casualties in London Manchester and where 35 died.

Labour’s Yvette Cooper,

chair of the Commons Home Affairs Committee, responded by describing Mr Trump’s words as “inflammatory and ignorant”.

And she said in a statement: “Hate crime in the UK has gone up by almost 30% and rubbish like this tweet from Donald Trump is designed to provoke even more of it.

“It is appalling that we have not reached the point where inflammatory and ignorant statements from the United States of America are now seen as normal. If we are to properly tackle hate crime and every other crime, we have to challenge this sort of nonsense.” backbencher Tory Nicholas Soames – grandson of Sir Winston Churchill – responded even more directly and described Mr Trump as a “daft twerp”, who needed to “fix gun control”.

Labour’s Hilary Benn said everyone would appreciate “a reduction in tweets like this” from the US president, the Lib Dem’s Jo Swinson accusing Mr Trump of being and “misleading” “spreading fear”.

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

Local lookout

Javea-Xabia

Gaudi’s Barcelona

By Jack Troughton

HISTORIAN Clyde Binfield will explore the famed Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi’s Barcelona on Thursday 2nd November with the Arts Society Marina Alta.

A Professor Emeritus in history at the University of Sheffield, he is giving a lecture called ‘Gaudi and Barcelona’ at the Parador

Hotel in Javea.

The guest speaker is a Man of Kent, a Cambridge graduate, and cruise lecturer; and described as a “straight-up-and-down historian” returning to some first and last loves – buildings, their creators and their settings.

Gaudi’s distinctive style is characterized by freedom of form, voluptuous colour and texture, and organic unity. He worked almost entirely in or near Barcelona.

This lecture focuses on Gaudi (1852-1926), an outstandingly creative architect. It begins with Barcelona, exploring the myths which have gathered round the architect himself and also concentrates on his major buildings and his remarkable patrons.

And the speaker will discuss whether Gaudi’s his work is kitsch or genius, or both at once.

Doors open at 10am and the meeting itself begins at 11am.

Javea Lodge visits the new Library Corner in Benigembla village school

By WBro William Turney Press Officer

Bro Malcolm March, current Charity Steward of Javea Lodge, visited the village school in Benigembla on Wednesday 18th Oct, to view the newly purchased and recently installed “Library Corner”.

The furniture, books and games for the Library Corner had been purchased with a donation of four hundred and thirty euros, made to the school by Freemasons of Javea Lodge earlier this year following fund raising in memory of recently deceased WBro Keith Hart.

Keith was a Benigembla resident and staunch friend and fund raiser for the school over many years. Bro Malcolm March was accompanied

by Keith’s widow, Mrs Jenny Hart.

Benigembla pre-school and primary school has only ten children up to the age of eleven years old and, in common with small schools in many Spanish villages, suffers from a severe lack of funds. The Headmistress thanked all the Javea Lodge Free-

masons for the several donations they have made in recent years, including one of over one thousand euros made during Keith’s year as Worshipful Master. This had permitted the purchase of sports equipment and a large storage shed, in addition to the recent Library Corner.

Jenny Hart said that Keith would have been so pleased to see what the donations had achieved and also added “we always loved it here in the village. Keith was very happy here and loved the village and the school“.

If you wish to donate to this worthy charity or, if you wish to learn more about Freemasonry, please contact me on the email address given below. prensa@glpvalencia.com

FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

Local lookout

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Javea-Xabia

Learning a new language

By Jack Troughton

RETIRED professor Norman Thayer has to rise to the challenge of learning a new language when looking after a teenager.

Played by Mike Martin in Javea Players production of On Golden Pond, Norman and his wife Ethel (Rosemary Brown) get to look after Billy for the summer, when daughter Chelsea and her fiancé head off abroad.

The play investigates family relationships and missed opportunities, all wrapped up in wit and humour to make an entertaining evening’s viewing.

Billy (Luke Holmes) is not exactly looking forward to spending the summer at a remote lake with a pair of oldies.

However, all three bond and become close friends.

Norman asks what Billy gets up to when not at school and was probably hoping for subtitles when the 13-yearold replies: “Cruise chicks and then suck face”.

The show runs from Tuesday 7th November to Saturday 11th November at the Union Musical de Gata, starting at 8pm each evening.

Tickets are €12.50 and are available online at the ‘booking’ page at www. javeaplayers.com, or by email to boxoffice@javeaplayers.com, or by calling 865 528 551.

Groups of 10 or more will be offered a free drink, rather than a previous discount.

British survivor of death smash allowed home SCOTT Gordon, who was very badly hurt in a horrific incident which killed three of his fellow riders, has finally been allowed to return home after five months.

The accident happened on 7 May when a young woman ploughed her car into the group of cyclists from Javea on the N-332 between Oliva and Denia.

She tested positive for drink and drugs and is in detention awaiting trial for reckless homicide.

Scott spent nearly three weeks in intensive care in Denia Hospital, and still requires further an operation on his leg as well as physiotherapy. The leg operation was due this week, but has been postponed until November so the hospital allowed him to be discharged in the interim period. Now he is home, Scott plans to go swimming frequently to help speed his recovery along.

Scott Gordon with Cedric, one of the ‘physio’ who has been in charge of his recovery, and that of fellow rider Andrés Contreras, while they were in Hospital

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

Local lookout

Benidorm Pay-out for tiger victim

By Simon Russell

TERRA Natura has been ordered to pay €3,818 to the widower of the zookeeper killed by a tiger last year.

The court established that Ainhoa Pariente was being paid below the minimum wage from 2012 to her death in 2016 and the payment compensates this error.

37-year-old Ainhoa was attacked by the animal when she was cleaning out its cage and a door had been left open in error.

Benidorm in Brum

By Simon Russell

THE Benidorm Tourist Foundation has been in Birmingham for the Dive Show, the second biggest diving fair in the UK after one in London. They shared a stand with the Valencian Tourist Industry, promoting the aquatic and other attractions of the resort.

The city has been actively looking to sell itself as a destination for divers and this was an ideal opportunity, stressing the potential as an all year

round diving area due to the gentle climate. The delegation has also been present recently in Dublin, this time at the “Active over 50’s Show”. This is aimed at the older but still active generation and again Benidorm has been promoting itself to this sector, building on the fact that it is already a very popular destination for Irish tourists of all ages. The year round climate, gastronomy and beaches were all key selling points for the city at the event.

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

Local lookout

Benidorm

Paddling to glory Park prize

By Simon Russell

By Simon Russell

THE Terra Mitica group is to be awarded the Best Business prize in the Alicante Association of Tourism Journalists awards on 1 December.

Based in Benidorm, the group, which includes the Aqualandia water park and marine animal park Mundomar as well as the Terra Mitica theme

BENIDORM’S Mayor, Toni Perez, and Sports Councillor Arturo Cabrillo held a reception for a young kayaker who has brought success to the town.

Benidorm resident Lucia Serralta triumphed in the youth Sea Kayak Championship in Villajoyosa last month, a result which means she will be entering the World Championship in Hong Kong in November. Young Lucia is a two time Spanish champion in the K1/K2 Sprinter and Surf Sky categories.

park, was praised for its management and general efforts throughout 2017.

Other awards include the best individual contribution which went to Emilio Cano, manager of Costa Blanca Tour Services and a special posthumous award will be made for Juan Portoles, a founding member of the Spanish Federation of Travel Writers.

White coast weddings BENIDORM is among the Costa Blanca towns that two Russian wedding companies have been guided around this week with a view to bringing wedding parties from their homeland to the area. Bridal tourism is an increasing business in Russia and this part of Spain is seen as ideal for weddings due to

the climate and natural beauty of the area.

Alicante, Altea, and Calpe were all also on the itinerary and the visitors were accompanied by staff from the Valencia Tourist Board who introduced them to local cuisine and shops as well as potential venues such as hotels, restaurants and farmhouses. Foreign weddings are an increasing trend and one any

tourist board is keen to attract, not least because of their high spending power. Many married couples and even their guests will also return to the resort they held their nuptials in for future holidays. Overall there was a 30% increase in Russian tourists to Alicante last year; there are twelve regular flights connecting the province to Russia, increasing to 22 in the summer.

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By Simon Russell

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

Local lookout

Benidorm

Seafront trafďŹ c restricted

Improving connections

By Simon Russell

WORK has started on the project to improve the CV-767 linking Finestrat and Cala Finestrat. Users of the road can expect regular disruption and there are currently diversions on Avenida Granada Balcon

By Simon Russell

TRAFFIC on parts of Paseo de Levante has been restricted or stopped altogether from this week.

The seafront road by Playa Levante has had measures introduced such as

large steel flowerpots to block some roads which also serves as a security measure. The main stretch affected is between Avenida Bilbao and Avenida Europa where the presence of cars will now be minimal, according to Mobility Councillor Jose Gonzalez de

Zarate. Traffic will be diverted where applicable and the new measures are clearly signposted, said Mr Gonzalez de Zarate. Paseo de Levante is the city’s busiest pedestrian area and many people will welcome any restriction on vehicles on the road.

and Calle Alcudia. It is hoped to have the works completed by the end of the year; when it is done driver visibility and traffic circulation should both be significantly improved.

The road crews will be working on stretches of road 300 metres at a time to minimise disruptions.

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

Local lookout

Alfas, Albir & Altea,

Rotary Club welcomed

By Spencer Williams

THE Mayor of L’Alfas del Pi, Vicente Arques, welcomed the president of Rotary Club International as a new association was officially incorporated.

Over 70 people attended the ceremony including representatives from the Town Hall and Rotary Clubs from other Alicante towns and cities.

The Rotary is a non-profit organisation that aims to promote tolerance and talent with various activities all year

round. They are committed to serving the community through education and fund raising. Worldwide there are around 35,000 such clubs with well over a million members, all with similar but locally based aims.

Amateur art boost

By Simon Russell

CARMEN Garcia from Crearte Albir sat down with Alfaz Mayor Vicente Arques this week as he agreed to renew the town’s collaboration with the group. Crearte was founded in 2008 and is for amateur painters in the municipality.

They give lessons, hold discussions and are open to anyone to join regardless of age or painting style.

The Alfaz Department of

Culture subsidises the group with the sum of €500. You can find out more about the group, or get in touch with them on https:// www.facebook.com/Crearte-Albir/

Flood protection

By Edward Grayham

CALLOSA d’en Sarria Town Hall is asking the water authority CHJ to take action to prevent flooding along the banks of the River Algar.

Torrential rain during storms at the beginning of the year caused damage along the margins of the river – farmers are also requesting the river is cleared of vegetation as the plants invade their fields and crops.

The local authority believes the CHJ must take measures to protect a number of stretches of the riverbank which are badly affected by erosion.

Mayor Josep Saval and the Councillor for Agriculture Lumi Puigcerver along with farmers’ representatives met with the CHJ president Angeles Urena to call for action - and for cane to be removed from the Algar.

They said flooding in early 2017 caused a great deal of damage to irrigation and sewage systems running along the banks of the river, as well as the plots and paths adjoining them.

And while repairs have been made, farmers say they cannot meet the costly damage if there is a repeat of the flooding.

Cooking course

By Matthew Richards

THE Red Cross have been running cooking lessons for recipients of food aid in Altea. Run from the towns Municipal Hall kitchens, the course is open to those who have received help from the European Relief Fund.

Food provided by the fund is nutritious but basic, and includes rice, pasta, tuna and vegetables as well as staples such as milk and oil. However with the right tuition these

foods can be turned into tasty meals, said Red Cross co-ordinator Inma Martinez.

The pilot course ran for three days and also included lessons for children.

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Property

FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

Property

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Foreign investors wait and see in Catalonia Thursday at Barcelona Meeting Point (BMP) – one of Spain’s biggest property fairs – I had a chance to talk to several players in the industry about the impact of Catalonia’s constitutional crisis on the housing market. Unsurprisingly, they all report that foreign buyers looking at property in Catalonia are holding back until the situation becomes clearer.

For those of you who don’t know, Catalan separatists with a slim majority in the regional parliament are trying to break away from Spain on the basis of a disputed referendum, and without the support of a majority of Catalans. This has caused a constitutional crisis, conflict between Madrid and Barcelona, poisonous division between Catalans, and lots of uncertainty.

As a result, some 800 companies have announced they are moving

their registered offices away from Catalonia, and the crisis has been widely reported in the international press, especially violent clashes between riot police and people trying to vote in an illegal referendum. Yesterday the national Government in Madrid suspended Catalonia’s autonomy to impose direct rule for six months until regional elections can be held, which Madrid hopes will unblock the situation by denying the separatists of their slim majority in the regional parliament.

My conversations at BMP were mainly focused on Barcelona, but I guess it’s the same story in other parts of Catalonia like the Costa Brava and Costa Dorada. In Barcelona foreign buyers have gone from record levels in September to zero in the first two weeks of October. “It’s a disaster” one

leading agent told me, though another told me that a few buyers were back in the third week, as the crisis seemed to subside or lose the attention of the international press.

Foreign buyers are holding back for reasons that are easy to understand. As far as most people are concerned, this crisis exploded out of nowhere and took the world by surprise. One day Barcelona was this groovy city with a stellar international reputation, the next day it was in the news for violence and political conflict.

Everything has happened so

quickly that foreign buyers are pausing to see what happens next. The sense I get is that most people are putting their decisions on hold for a few weeks, rather than walking away. The crisis might die down as quickly as it flared up, so no harm in playing wait and see. But, if the crisis

drags on, or things get worse, people will start to walk away.

Whatever happens, Catalonia’s reputation as a stable place to invest has already been damaged, and the Spanish Government doesn’t look good either. So far there are no winners in this drama.

www.spanishpropertyinsight.com

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

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Jack talks

By Jack Troughton

TIME is ticking away towards Brexit and clock watchers in the Houses of Parliament are getting a little worried – and it is nothing to do with repairs to the tower housing the famous Big Ben. Parliament is getting a little bolshie about having its say on any deal struck in Brussels and was promised a “meaningful” say in the process.

Timing is everything and Theresa May had to reassure the Commons that she was “confident” there would be a vote before the UK leaves; scheduled for March 2019.

During Prime Monster’s Questions, the premier was pressed about Brexit Secretary David Davis’ earlier comments; he said a vote might not take place ahead of the deadline.

Mr Davis predicted a ‘close run thing’ – an echo of Wellington’s words after the Battle of Waterloo – and said a timing for a vote depended on when the deal was struck, predicting it could be at the “59th minute of the 11th hour”.

However, Mrs May said she believed things would happen “in time for Parliament to have the vote we committed to”.

Downing Street announced earlier in the year that Parliament, both houses, would get its chance to debate and the final outcome of negotiations regarding the UK’s future relationship with the EU, including all important trade.

Talking of battles, back in Brussels there has been talk of Brexit “defeat” should the remaining 27 members not stand united to keep the bloc together.

Mr Davis had appeared before a Commons committee and said it was always the government’s target to stage a vote before counterparts in the European Parliament gave their own verdict on the Brexit deal; possibly in late 2018 or early 2019.

But he said there had to be a deal in place first and believed the EU would continue to drag its feet until the last minute as the “high stress” but “exciting” bargaining continued.

He also confirmed it was true that in line with other EU treaties, a trade deal could not be signed until technically Britain left the union and was a third party. However, this could be “a nano second” after departing.

Mrs May believes it is only right negotiations could continue right up until the 2019 deadline bit hinted it was in everyone’s interest to complete talks and reach an agreement before the date.

“It is not just this Parliament that wants a vote on that deal – there will be ratifications by other Parliaments,” she said.

“I am confident, because it is in the interests of both sides, that we will be able to achieve that agreement and negotiation in time for this Parliament to have the vote we committed to.”

Labour accused the government team of making up policy “on the hoof”; while the Lib Dems announced not to have a vote ahead of Brexit would be “an insult to democracy”.

And former Tory front bencher Nicky Morgan said having a vote after Britain left the EU would be “completely pointless”; adding: “The sovereign Parliament has to have a final meaningful vote”.

Ken Clarke, a former Conservative chancellor, admitted he was not concerned about any Brexit vote as the UK would leave in any case as part of the article 50 process...which he voted against.

Mr Clarke also said there was no point in setting an alarm clock as there would be no trade deal laid down ahead of March 2019. Until that happened, and Parliament approved it, the UK would remain signed up to any transition deal put in place. But that’s another story.

RYANAIR FLYING HIGH

By Jack Troughton

BUDGET airline Ryanair continues to dominate the Spanish market despite its recent staffing crisis and a flood of cancelations.

The low-cost carrier was the leading company bringing passengers to Spanish airports last month; maintaining its dominance of the market despite its shortage of pilots.

Ryanair flew 3.67 million passengers to and from airports in September; 1.2 million more than rival Vueling,

currently second in the rankings, according to Spanish airport authority AENA with 2.46 million customers.

British budget airline easyJet transported 1.46 million passengers in September, well ahead of Air Europa’s 936,828 passengers. Norwegian grew to 741,137 customers in Spain in September, while Air Berlin saw its traffic fall in Spain to 24,324 passengers, following the bankruptcy of the airline.

PUTTING THE BOOT IN

By Jack Troughton

ICONIC footwear brand Dr Martens is enjoying a surge in popularity in the Far East where fans want to walk on air.

The British company opened five new Japanese stores, an outlet in Hong Kong and has seen sales rise in South Korea over its last financial year.

Revenues in the region jumped by 88% to £22 million; and overall, its full-year revenues rose 25% to £290.6m.

Most of Dr Martens’ boots and shoes are now made overseas, although some 70,000 pairs a year are produced at its Northampton factory, a manufacturing base since 1960.

Its air-cushioned sole was developed

by Munich-based Dr Maertens and Dr

COTTON TRADERS

By Simon Russell

DON Algodon, which sells fashion, textiles and accessories across Spain, has opened the first of its new “Home de Espana” stores in Alicante. Algodon is Spanish for cotton but the firm has moved well beyond just selling textiles since it opened in 1993 and the new 200 square metre store on Calle Pintor Aparicio now

Funck and the UK patent rights were sold to R Griggs Group.

The footwear was initially marketed as a work boot, but was taken up by the early skinhead youth movement of the 1960s.

And the boots were a staple fashion item of punks in the 1970s and enjoyed a resurgence when Britpop emerged in the 1990s.

“Despite a challenging retail environment, we have delivered double-digit growth across all areas of the business and continue to see the investments in our people, structure and operations as an integral part of our aim to deliver long-term sustainable growth,” said Chairman Paul Mason.

The Dr Martens brand is now owned by investment firm Permira Funds, which acquired it for £300m in 2013.

also markets well-known brands such as Dolce, Eden and Karamelo.

Don Algodon said that they wanted to open the first new shop in Alicante as it is a welcoming city that embodies the Mediterranean character. They will continue their commitment to sustainable products manufactured within Spain, using quality natural materials.

FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

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Why savers should worry about inflation rising

By Christina Brady

BLACKTOWER Financial Management

Inflation in the UK is now at 3% - its highest rate for more than 5 years, it is the ‘silent threat’ that eats away at the real value of cash over time.

It means that one pound is now worth less than a third of what it was in 1983. Alistair McQueen, head of savings and retirement at insurer Aviva, says: ‘One pound now has a relative purchasing power of only 31 pence.’

This along with wage

increases averaging just 2.2% and interest rates still at their lowest levels, means that savings left in banks and building societies just aren’t keeping track. Even if the Bank of England raises the base rate for the first time in a decade next month by 0.25%, it is going to make little difference to the interest rate offered to savers.

So what can you do to make your savings work for you?

Firstly always leave yourself enough cash to cover at least 6 months expenses as a contingency fund, and shop around where possible

to get the best (all be it small) interest rate.

After this, the first thing you need to do is to pay off any credit card debts as the rate of interest charged on these debts will be high.

Next if you want your money to have the potential to outperform inflation you need to seriously consider looking at investing. For a more cautious investor or one that is new to investing you should consider funds that have diversified their risk across a mix of shares, bonds and cash as that should have fewer ups and downs than just investing in shares alone.

For investors prepared to take a little more risk, there are a variety of balanced funds that at the moment have returned over 12% this year.

Whilst investing is not the solution to the inflation conundrum it does offer you a way to cushion its impact on your savings and your standard of living.

If you have any questions regarding investing, or would like to arrange an independent, professional and impartial consultation please contact me by email christina. brady@blacktowerfm.com or call me on 658 892 330 .

At Blacktower Financial

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

Management we believe in simplifying the complicated, we will make sure you understand exactly what we are recommending and why, and having been established over 32 years we will be by your side both now and in the future.

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.

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.

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017 Family | Garden | Health | Home | Style | Wellbeing

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017 Family | Garden | Health | Home | Style | Wellbeing

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6 Things You Can Do to Make Halloween Safer for Your Pet 2. Halloween isn’t an ideal time to let your dog or cat wander outside unattended.

While there aren’t any documented reports or statistics to indicate that pet abduction increases on Halloween, be mindful that a prankster or a mean-spirited individual could be inspired to mess with your pet.

Make sure your pet is properly identified (microchip, collar and ID tag) in case s/he escapes through the open door while you’re distracted with trickor-treaters;

1. Candy and chocolate are never good for dogs or cats and on Halloween there is an increased chance that Fluffy and Fido may consume treats meant for tricksters.

Chocolate and xylitol, a sweetener found in many candies, can be extremely toxic to pets. Lollipops and their sticks can be choking hazards and cause a painful obstruction or foreign body ingestion that may require surgery to remove. Candies wrapped in plastic and other types of

wrapping can also lead to chocking or cause an obstruction and upset stomach.

Easy solutions to prevent accidental toxicity or ingestion: - Keep pet-safe treats on hand to satisfy your curious pet.

- Make sure all candies are out of your pet’s reach.

- Consider leaving your pet in another part of the house where exposure to hazards is impossible.

3. If you like to decorate your home in the Halloween spirit, take into consideration what you’re putting on display and where the decorations will be placed. Easy-to-reach decorations — or candles — can be eaten or knocked over, potentially leading to choking, foreign body ingestion, electrical shock and even burns and a household fire. Exercise caution while decorating and choose petsafe products.

4. If you plan to put a costume on your pet, make sure it fits properly and is comfortable, doesn’t have any pieces that can easily be chewed off, and doesn’t interfere with your pet’s sight, hearing, breathing, opening its mouth, or moving.

Take time to get your pet accustomed to the costume before Halloween, and never leave your pet unsupervised while he/she is wearing a costume; 5. Dogs and cats can become skittish and anxiety ridden on Halloween due to the incessant ringing of the doorbell, constant squeals and chatter just outside the door, and small fireworks set off in the street. In addition, the barrage of strangers dressed in unfamiliar and scary costumes can alarm some pets, increasing their anxiety.

Take extra precautions on Halloweenyou may wish to put up a baby gate or leaving your dog or cat in a back room of the house would keep them calmer throughout the evening.

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017 Family | Garden | Health | Home | Style | Wellbeing

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KNEE REPLACEMENT - DO I NEED PHYSIOTHERAPY?

By Family Medical Centre

So you have been putting up with knee pain for months or even years, you have been to the doctor and had multiple tests that confirm your knee cartilage has worn out and a knee replacement surgery is needed. This is a very common situation and I have many patients that have doubts regarding recovery, exercises, pain management… hopefully this article can guide you through the moments before having surgery and the post operative period.

Let’s talk for a moment about the basics of the surgery to help understand the situation is after having the intervention. This surgery (full knee replacement) consists of removal of the articular surfaces of the top and bottom of the knee which are the femur and tibia, and a replacement of these areas with different materials that mimic knee biomechanics. This releases the “rubbing” of bone on bone, therefore relieving your knee pain.

This surgery is very common nowadays, it’s invasive, which means there is swelling and pain after the procedure that can sometimes make beginning exercises and physiotherapy more difficult.

After the surgery, rehabilitation needs to begin

as soon as possible to assure that the knee gains back as much movement as it can, thus allowing it to be functional and asymptomatic in the future. In my opinion, the first 2-3 weeks will mark how fast the knee will recover short and long term, making it the most important part of the recovery period.

So basically, if you start your physiotherapy as soon as possible there shouldn’t be any problem with your replacement in the future and a full recovery will come sooner rather than later. So why is it that not all replacements are successful?

Why do patients continue with pain after surgery?

In many cases the surgery is taken upon by the NHS or the Spanish Seguridad Social, and this can sometimes entail that physiotherapy is offered weeks or months after surgery, or not even offered at all! Sometimes

you are given a sheet of paper with exercises and guidelines to follow that are very helpful, but difficult follow without a trained professional, and difficult to do because of the swelling and pain your knee is in.

It really affects me when patients come into our practice 3 months after surgery, with a very inflamed and stiff knee that is obviously very painful, all because they haven’t had proper guidance before or after the procedure. It is very difficult to treat these situations, the rehabilitation is very painful and it is a lot harder to fully recover.

There are also other things to consider when talking about the recovery period. Depending on the condition of your knee before surgery, the recovery period and overall outcome can be different. For

example, an osteoarthritic knee that has been diagnosed early, has had physiotherapy and exercises before surgery, is more likely to have a positive recovery. We are talking about a knee that has had treatment ensuring the muscles are strong enough after the surgery, and had physiotherapy to maintain maximum articular mobility and flexibility allowing the knee to enter surgery in the best condition possible.

On the other hand, a knee that has had no treatment prior to the surgery, has been diagnosed late on, or surgery has been delayed as long has possible, will always struggle more during the recovery period, affecting the

overall outcome.

In conclusion, having physiotherapy before and after the procedure is going to decrease the recovery period, and therefore the amount of pain.

There are some knees that need more physiotherapy than others, and these are the ones that end up with complications if not assessed from the beginning.

This article was provided by Simon Ratcliffe, Osteopath, Family Medical Centre, 966 865 072 If you need any information prior to surgery or after, please contact us and we will gladly help and advise you.

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

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Keeping an eye on diabetes

Diabetes is the leading cause of vision impairment and blindness among working age adults. There are currently 422 million suffers worldwide. According to WHO, the global prevalence of Diabetes has increased from 4.7% in 1980, to 8.5% in 2014 and it is expected to keep on rising. This is a major problem for eye health now and in the future.

To mark World Diabetes Day on November 14th Specsavers Opticas has put together the following useful information about Diabetic retinopathy to help you to protect your eyes.

What is Diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy, a condition which affects vision, occurs when the blood vessels in the retina are damaged by the changes in blood sugar levels. This leads to blurry vision which can often come and go throughout the day.

How does it cause sight loss?

If untreated, the condition can become more serious, resulting in the network of blood vessels which supply the retina suffering permanent damage. This can result in irreversible vision loss.

How can you avoid sight loss?

It is important that blood sugar level, blood pressure and cholesterol levels are controlled. In many cases this can be achieved through good nutrition and healthy eating rather than medication, so with the right

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information you can get back into control of diabetes and lead a full life.

How can I check if my sight has been effected?

Not all diabetes causes sight loss, but it is important to have regular screenings and eye tests so that any problems or changes can be monitored. Most complications can be treated; however it is vital that they are detected early. Once vision is lost, it cannot be restored.

To see if you have diabetes or prediabetes, take advantage of one of the free testing events taking place for World Diabetes Day. The sooner you know, the better you can take care of your health and protect your sight.

There are Specsavers Opticas stores in Calpe, Javea, Benidorm, Guardamar and Torrevieja on the Costa Blanca. They all offer advanced eye tests using a digital retinal camera, allowing the optician to take a detailed picture of the back of the eye. These comprehensive eye tests are able to detect the signs of Diabetic Retinopathy. If these signs are identified during

an eye test, patients are referred to a doctor for further tests and treatment.

Until the end of the year, Specsavers Opticas are supporting the ONCE Foundation for the Deaf-Blind (La Fundación ONCE para la Atención de Personas con Sordoceguera) and asking patients to donate 1€ to FOAPS after their test. All funds raised will be donated to FOAPS to fund interpreters who are crucial to allow deaf-blind people to lead a full life and communicate. To book your eye test and find your nearest store visit www.specsavers.es

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017 Family | Garden | Health | Home | Style | Wellbeing

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>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> All editions of “Gardening on the Costa Blanca” can be found at www.weekender.news/CBGC or visit www.costablancagardeners.weebly.com for more information.

GARDENING ON THE COSTA BLANCA - Part 13 A recent conversation with a friend has thrown the old problem of the watering of plants up again!

So it’s back to basics again.

The first thing to remember is that plants cannot eat – they can only drink! So, all the food elements mentioned in the last article have to be dissolved in water before they can be used by a plant. It follows, therefore, that plants need sufficient water to grow properly but as they also breathe through their roots, soil that is constantly wet won’t have enough air pockets and the roots can’t breathe. Roots that can’t breathe are stressed roots and stressed plants are more prone to diseases. Over-watered plants are likely to get root diseases,

primarily root rot.

You probably won’t know your plant has root rot until you notice that it is wilted, but the soil is still wet. This is particularly a problem with plants in pots. So, rather than watering on a set schedule, check first to see if your plants need water. Check the surface of the soil in the pot either by looking at it or touching it with your finger. Wet soil will be dark in colour while dry soil will be lighter in colour. For peat based soil mixes (the most common type), this means dark brown to black is wet, while ‘paper bag’ brown is dry. If the surface of the soil is dry to the touch (or looks dry) water your plants. You may need to check your plants twice a day to see if they need water.

Remember just because one pot

needs water that doesn’t mean they all do. Differences in pot and plant sizes will impact on how quickly a pot dries out. When you water be sure to moisten the entire root zone. In other words, water until water comes out of the drainage hole in the bottom of the pot. Do not allow the pot to sit in water. Pots sitting in water will keep the soil in the pot too wet, so allow excess water to drain away. It may be best not to water at night if you are a bit careless where you apply the water! If you water your plants late in the day and splash the foliage, it will tend to stay wet all night. Wet foliage at night makes a great breeding ground for disease. If your plant isn’t wilting because of lack of water and it’s after 6:30 at night, it should be able to wait until morning to water. If the plant has wilted because of lack of water, go ahead and water that evening, its need for water outweighs the chances of catching a disease.

There are additives that can be

added to the soil to help it retain more moisture which can be helpful. Remember the old adage that more pot plants are drowned than die of thirst!

More about what to do if you have allowed plants to dry out, next week.

Three plants which you will find difficult to kill even if neglected:-

We are a friendly group who enjoy gardening and gardens. Our meetings are normally held on the 1st Wednesday in each month from October to June in Meeting Room (Aula) 1 on the 1st floor of La Senieta in Moraira next to the free car park used for the Market on Fridays.

Meetings commence at 2:30 pm and finish at about 4:30pm.Visitors including holiday makers are always welcome – admission is by a donation of 3€ per person.

Our attempts at a regular meeting date are sometimes interrupted by Fiestas etc and it is for this reason that our next meeting is on Wednesday, 8th November at 2.30 in La Senieta.

Google “Costa Blanca Gardeners Circle” will provide you with our website.

Spathiphyllum (Peace Lily / White Sails)

Bromeliad

Orchid

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017 Chat | Travel | Celebrity | Puzzles | TV

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What’s ON TV

Live Rugby League World Cup

Harry Potter: A History of Magic

Australia v England (Kick-off 10.00am) Mark Chapman presents coverage of the opening match of the tournament, a Group A fixture staged at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.

England reached the semi-finals on home soil four years, but fell agonisingly short against eventual

NEW SERIES Episode 1 of 5 Documentary exploring the myths, traditions and everyday artefacts that inspired JK Rowling as she crafted the wizarding world depicted in her celebrated Harry Potter series.

runners-up New Zealand,

Gunpowder

BBC2 10:00am Fri 27 Oct

Travel Man NEW SERIES - 48 Hours in Valencia - Richard Ayoade is joined by comedian Sara Pascoe for a twoday test of the mini break merits of Valencia, Spain’s third largest city..

Channel 4 9:30pm Fri 27 Oct

Horrible Bosses (2011)

A power-crazed bully, a sleazy cocaine addict and a sexual predator each make an employee’s life a misery, but the three workers cannot afford to quit their jobs. They resort to desperate measures by conspiring to murder each other’s bosses, with a little help from an eccentric ex-convict. Comedy, starring Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston and Colin Farrell

ITV2 19:00pm Fri 27 Oct

BBC2 10:00pm Sat 28 Oct

Ep 2 of 3 - The King’s network of spies begins to close the net around the Catholic conspirators, and while Catesby and Wintour seek to recruit more allies to their cause in mainland Europe, Lord Cecil puts the pressure on Lady Anne to reveal her cousin’s whereabouts. On their return to London, the plotters convene for the first time, and decide their moment to strike must be November 5, at the opening of Parliament. However, they must first secure gunpowder.

BBC1 10:10pm Sat 28 Oct

Overboard (1987)

A wealthy heiress suffers amnesia after falling overboard from her yacht. A rough-hewn carpenter and father of four steps in and claims to be her husband - but only to avenge himself for her previous illtreatment of him, which she has no recollection of. Comedy

ITV1 4:25pm Sat 28 Oct

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017 TV | Chat | Travel | Celebrity | Puzzles

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V This Week

All T i Show mes n Ar e Span ish

Blue Planet II

NEW SERIES - ONE OCEAN Footage of marine life in different environments around the north, beginning with a tropical coral reef which has medicinal properties for dolphins, and is used as a tool by tusk fish. In Japan, a shipwreck is home to the Asian sheepshead wrasse, which can change gender, while in the polar north, walruses struggle to find ice floes for their pups to rest on as climate change takes its toll on the environment

BBC1 9:00pm Sun 29 Oct

Great Canal Journeys NEW SERIES - Timothy West and Prunella Scales return to their canal boat for another series of journeys, beginning in the Norfolk Broads.

Channel 4 9:00pm Sun 29 Oct

Louis Theroux: Talking to Anorexia The reporter meets patients at two of London’s largest eating disorder facilities, following them through a daily routine of scheduled eating, weigh-ins and group therapy both on and off the wards.

BBC2 10:00pm Sun 29 Oct

Tenable

NEW SERIES -The return of the

quiz hosted by Warwick Davis in which teams of five compete to answer questions about top 10 lists from the realms of pop culture and general knowledge, then try to score a perfect 10 in the final round to take home the prize money. In the opening edition, a team from York takes up the challenge.

ITV 4:00pm Mon 30 Oct

Nigella: At My Table

NEW SERIES Nigella Lawson celebrates the food she loves to cook for friends and family at home, demonstrating a wide range of recipes that are warming, comforting and inspirational.

In the first edition, she shares new discoveries like her Turkishinspired eggs, old-fashioned favourites including the aptly named Queen of Puddings, as well as her emergency brownies.

BBC2 9:30pm Mon 30 Oct

999: What’s Your Emergency?

NEW SERIES The return of the programme following the emergency services in Wiltshire, with the first edition focusing on the high numbers of crimes of a sexual nature involving women being targeted by predatory males.

Channel 4 10:00pm Mon 30 Oct

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

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Chat | Travel | Celebrity | Puzzles

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QUICK CROSSWORD

Across 1 Coarse rough file (4) 3 First letters (8) 9 Precious stone (7) 10 Data arranged in rows and columns (5) 11 Inexpensive (5) 12 Catlike (6) 14 Whipped (6) 16 Illegible handwriting (6) 19 Opera by Bizet (6) 21 Storehouse (5) 24 Mythological abode of the dead (5) 25 Slanting (7) 26 Yellow cage-birds (8) 27 A smaller amount (4)

Down 1 Deride (8) 2 ‘The final frontier’ (5) 4 Fall asleep (3,3) 5 Aggregate (5) 6 Balkan country (7) 7 Solid fat used in cooking (4) 8 Pair (6) 13 Conspirators (8) 15 Substitute (5-2) 17 Embrace (6) 18 Nap (6) 20 Skinflint (5) 22 Resentment of a slight (5) 23 Elegantly stylish (4)

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1 Diamonds seen by river in partial darkness (4) 3 Colliery boss in a Somerset town (8) 9 Starved in order to get publicity (7) 10 Jeremy the actor performs pressing work (5) 11 Poets start drinking in pubs (5) 12 Curt is moving from the country (6) 14 Copper prohibits islanders (6) 16 Flag seen when queen is captured by bishop and rook (6) 19 Shake a container for arrows (6) 21 Clothing provided initially by social workers (5) 24 Foreign articles below (5) 25 Please do arithmetic in valley (7) 26 It may be deadlier off the tracks (8) 27 Stains on top of dress? That’s right! (4)

Down

1 Recoil from disadvantage (8) 2 Pole always cut off (5) 4 One nurse forced to seek cover (6) 5 Torn veils are bad things (5) 6 Feeling poorly, omit one (7) 7 Run - (4) 8 Quietly Ron is taken off to jail (6) 13 Journalists accepting ten varied gifts (8) 15 He’s no gentleman, perhaps, unrobed (7) 17 A soft-fruit show (6) 18 Scoundrel going after black shoe (6) 20 Opera-lover did hold opera composer (5) 22 An Enid Blyton character would appear strange in New York (5) 23 Regretted sounding coarse (4)

For Crossword & Sudoku answers - See Page 38

Sudoku

Easy

Medium

Hard

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FRIDAY 27H OCT 2017 Chat | Travel | Celebrity | Puzzles

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One will have a Big Mac and fries ARIES (March 21st-April 20th) Your astrological chart this week looks to be a heady mix of drama and excellence as Uranus is activated in your starsign for most of the week. The Sun and Jupiter are set to bring ARIES you some kind of long term opportunity and the more you focus on your long term plans, the more those around you will view you as the strong and successful Aries you are.

LIBRA (Sept 24th-Oct 23rd)

The Sun has been highlighting your chart for the last four weeks and this week moves into Scorpio. This is a great move as far as your personal sense of worth is concerned LIBRA and will continue to make your monetary and emotional areas top of the charts. Fiery planet Mars enters your sign and turns on not only your strength and dynamism but directness too.

TAURUS (April 21st-May 21st)

SCORPIO (Oct 24th-Nov 22nd)

GEMINI (May 22nd-June 21st)

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 23rd-Dec 21st)

CANCER (June 22nd-July 23rd)

CAPRICORN (Dec 22nd-Jan 20th)

You may have decided to do Your chart shows the Suns move one thing, only to make a ninety into Scorpio this week and shifts degree turn and find another your focus to the outside world. way. This can be a reaction to Somewhat shaky yet exciting, the Sun and Jupiter coming the world opens up dramatically TAURUS and offers you chances of SCORPIO into your sign. The Sun will give you a celebratory ‘this is my success. Taurus favours stability and organisation but this week may see others birthday’ feeling and Mars’s move into Libra around you doing things out of step that could bolsters your strength and allows you to tackle any obstacles. You will do this dramatically and in fact turn out to be extremely lucky for you. blatantly or subtly but either way will succeed.

Your horoscope this week Gemini tells you that way out in front is the place you need to be.

The Sun’s move into Scorpio will help you to roll up the sleeves GEMINI and get whatever job is needing SAGITTARIUS to be done accomplished in a focussed fashion. Mars’s move in to your sister now. sign of Libra gives you more energy to be creative, dynamic and ‘out there’.

Your chart is showing you that due to Uranus’s influence, you individuality is coming to the fore. Like Daniel Craig’s Bond, you are shaken but not CANCER stirred that is for sure! The Sun and Jupiter’s get together in your sister sign of Scorpio mid-week is not only helpful but dramatic, making you more creative and somewhat ‘out-there’ in doing things your way.

The lunar high can open up a myriad of new possibilities at this time, and it will certainly speed life up a bit for you.

If you’ve been feeling a bit left behind there are now new incentives and better monetary prospects. Doing more than one job at a time is easy

Uranus stirs up the very base of your chart this week and highlights areas where until now you have needed to be very diligent, strong and CAPRICORN ready to tackle whatever has approached you in your life.

Mars’s arrival into a strong part of your chart eases the pressure in this area and allows you to direct your energies towards changes to your career or standing in the outside world.

LEO (July 24th-August 23rd)

AQUARIUS (Jan 21st-Feb 19th)

VIRGO (August 24th-Sept 23rd)

PISCES (Feb 20th-March 20th)

You could find yourself showing There is no avoiding the the world a whole new you this signs in your horoscope this week. Still strong and steady, week Aquarius as your ruling however the off the wall side planet Uranus is activated and of your nature will come into prompts you to stand up and be play and open the eyes of those counted. The Sun and Jupiter LEO around you. Mars’s move into AQUARIUS getting together assist you in you chart will speed up the tempo of your life telling the world that you have arrived and so changes will come thick and fast. Fasten your taking the lead this week is the way forward. seat-belt Leo. It’s a great week for learning, with Mars moving into Libra giving you the edge.

For the last six weeks or so, Mars has made your horoscope and star-sign sit up and take notice.

This week sees the planet move into an area which is very much associated with finances and VIRGO personal worth and sees you prove yourself in a forthright and dramatic way.

Your choices will be dramatic this week leaving others to stand back and eagerly await your next move.

Your horoscope chart ripples with delight as Mars makes its move into Libra giving you the edge in looking towards your long term decisions. Whatever PISCES plans you are making with others, especially where money is involved, this week will show you that you are on the right track. You are in a very strong position to know exactly who you are and what you want and need in all areas of your life.

THE Queens latest property portfolio has been revealed – and it includes a Mcdonalds fast food restaurant. The burger bar is located inside the Banbury Shopping Park which Her Majesty owns and is included in her estate along with a Primark and Ed’s Easy Diner, so good to know she’s always be ok for food and clothing.

As you might expect

there are also hotels, castles and even racecourses in the Crown Estate, which technically is owned by the Sovereign as opposed to the Queen herself. The total net worth of this estate has been valued at £2.4 billion, plus some small change - certainly enough for a Happy Meal.

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

Motoring

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Jaguar XF Sportbrake (2017)

The XF Sportbrake is a large and elegant estate, with great practicality and a rewarding drive. However, while undeniably attractive and luxurious, the family friendly Jaguar falls a little short against its German rivals when it comes to diesel refinement and in-car tech.

Like the BMW 5 Series Touring, Audi A6 Avant and Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate, the Jaguar XF Sportbrake is an executive mix of style, luxury and space. At the business end of things, the Jaguar matches most of its rivals on storage, with 565 litres of boot space when the rear seats are in place. It also provides a completely flat floor and 1700 litres when you flatten the rear bench, while accessing the wide boot is easy with a powered tailgate fitted as standard.

As well as a big boot, the swoopystyled XF estate gets an opulent interior, with enough space to transport a family of four in limo-like comfort. Indeed, even entry-level models are kitted out in leather and soft-touch materials, along with smart features such as ambient interior lighting and in-car WiFi. Touchscreen infotainment has also been upgraded, although its useability remains a long way short of the tech found in the latest Audis and BMWs. Like the saloon, the XF Sportbrake is extremely good to drive, with smooth and responsive steering that allows the driver to reach its performance limits with confidence. The self-levelling rear Integral-Link air suspension should ensure effortless towing for those more interested in the practicality of the XF, with it capable of shifting up to 2000kg - more than enough to cope with a standard caravan or horsebox.

Most buyers will choose diesel and the line-up includes three 2.0-litre engines, plus a performance focussed 3.0-litre V6. We’d recommend the 180PS diesel - returning an advertised 60.1 - 61.4mpg. Almost all powertrains are linked to rear-wheel drive and an eight-speed auto as standard, although fourwheel drive can be specified. Petrol buyers might feel a little short-changed, however, with just one option - a 250PS 2.0-litre engine.

Jaguar makes no bones about the fact that the XF

Sportbrake’s designed for those who want a large family car with dynamic handling and a comfortable ride quality. This means, for the most part, it feels very close to the standard XF saloon on the road, with positive steering and excellent composure at motorway speeds. However, a few areas blot the Sportbrake’s report card. The diesels are gruff at start-up and noisy at low speeds, while the engine stop/start system is crude in its operation.

The XF Sportbrake doesn’t get anything dramatically bad, but equally it doesn’t excel in any particular area either. It is comfortable, efficient and luxurious.

And for many family car buyers that will be more than enough for it to be a likeable alternative to the current crop of Germany executive estates.

FRIDAY 13TH OCT 2017

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Motoring

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Benissa - La Nucia

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VOLVO XC90 Year 2005 2400cc, 165 hp Automatic, Diesel 180,000 km

NISSAN Qashqai+2 Tekna Sport Year 2010, 2000cc, 140 hp, Manual, Petrol 135,000 km

MERCEDES-BENZ B180 CDI Year 2011, 2000cc, 110 hp, Manual, Diesel 97,000 km

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MERCEDES-BENZ SLK 200 KOMPRESSOR Year 2004, 1800cc, 165 hp, Automatic 105,000 km

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MERCEDES-BENZ A160 CDI Year 2008 2000cc, 80 hp Manual, Diesel 116,000 km

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CHEVROLET SPARK LS+ Year 2011 1200cc, 80 hp Manual, Petrol 79,000 km

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FIAT PANDA TWIN AIR TURBO Year 2012, 900cc, 85 hp, Manual, Petrol 26,000 km

TOYOTA Avensis Wagon Year 2005 2200cc, 175 hp Manual, Diesel 100,000 km

VOLKSWAGEN Polo Year 2004 1400cc, 75 hp Manual, Petrol 117,000 km

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RENAULT MODUS LUXURY AUTO Year 2005, 1600cc, 110 hp, Automatic, Petrol 113,000 km

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

Motoring

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Bad weekend on the roads

By Matthew Richards

Puzzle Solutions

A motorcyclist was killed while there were several other serious traffic accidents on the southern Alicante roads last weekend. The 37-year-old motorcyclist died instantly near Elche after leaving the road and hitting a tree – the third biking fatality in the area this month.

Of the other incidents the most serious saw

QUICK CROSSWORD

five people sustaining injuries on the CV-91 near Orihuela in a head on collision. One of the injured is fifteen years old and the occupants of both vehicles were fortunate to be able to leave their cars shortly before they caught fire.

In other incidents fire-crews had to cut free a motorist trapped in their car after a crash near Elche, while another motorcyclist was badly hurt in Elche town centre on Saturday night.

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

SUDOKU MEDIUM

SUDOKU HARD

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017 Food | Drink | Leisure | Events

Out & About

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Boats & The Coast

Water Fight Photos from turn of

By Jack Troughton

SAILORS from the Costa Blanca Yacht Association compete against members of the Real Club Nautico de Calpe on the water on Sunday 29th October.

Up for grabs in this annual day’s racing is silverware in the form of the CBYA ‘TOMs Challenge Trophy’.

A mixed crew of teams from both the CBYA and

the RCNC will sail the yacht club’s fleet of elegant TOMs 28 boats.

The fun starts at 10.30am, the two teams are respectively named ‘Lubina’, flying the yellow flag, and ‘Bacalao’, with a blue flag – the latter has been the clear winner for the last three events.

The CBYA donated the trophy and also sponsors the lunch for competing crew members at the close of play.

the century

By Simon Russell

AN exhibition of photographs from a music concert in Benidorm in the year 2000 is currently on display in Altea. This wasn’t a run of the mill concert as it was put together after collaboration

between secondary school pupils from the Communidad Valencia, Catalonia and Balearic Islands, a number of them from Altea. The exhibition will be in the public library until 3 November

and has already been on display in Catalonia and Valencia City.

Waves stop play

By Simon Russell

THE Olympic Triathlon event scheduled for Elche on 22 October had to be suspended due to the weather.

The cycling and running legs

of the event would not have been a problem, but the sea was too rough for the open sea swimming section of the endurance event.

300 people had signed up for the race and the competitors

will be informed this week if the triathlon is to be rearranged or cancelled, in which case full refunds will be made. This is the third Elche Triathlon and the course had been designed by four top local clubs.

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

Out & About

Food | Drink | Leisure | Events

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THE Weekender team was extremely proud to be present at the Country Ribs Restaurant in Albir Playa for a celebration in memory of the life and friendship of the founder and owner Pepe.

He was well known in Albir and Benidorm as lover of country and blues music; and musician friends got together for a tribute performance.

Paco Menchero, singer and songwriter, was joined by Jon the Fiddler, known across the region for years of top performances, playing with Ray Bainbridge, Chris Bentley, Jem Taylor, Craig Sowdon, Grazy Coral, Jim Rhodes and many more.

Pepe’s family welcomed guests for an afternoon of music, food and fun. Ernesto Jose Romero German, his brother

Tania and sister Anibal were delighted to see the musicians jamming away making some incredible numbers from the most famous country, blues and rock music that Pepe adored.

Tania joined in the music to beat the drum with the other musicians and everyone was singing along, dancing and generally being a part of the musical extravaganza.

The whole restaurant was taken over for the afternoon by people gathering to pay their respects to Pepe; it was a wonderful sight as every musician present paid tribute by making a toast to the founder and there was a minute’s silence in respect of Pepe.

He not only loved the music of America but also the food. BBQ, ribs, meats and burgers all took pride of place on the menu when he first opened Country Ribs in April 2001.

The wonderful location at

Albir playa has stunning ocean views across to Calpe and the Rock of Ifach. Country Ribs is a perfect place for the whole family and it is particularly popular with children - the food is just what most kids enjoy – including ribs, burgers, pizza, all designed specifically for the little ones with a choice of meal deals that include a drink and desert.

I ordered a chicken Caeser salad, whilst my partner and son had a pizza to share. Looking around the tables, I was amazed; the portions are huge, so be sure you visit with a healthy appetite.

The menu has so much to offer, plus a selection of specialities with six exciting combo-style sharing options. The variety available is excellent.

Country Ribs is situated in Albir directly on the beach front and also in Benidorm opposite the Riviera Hotel.

The restaurant chain has been impressing clients with the quality of their cuisine for many years

and it has built up a reputation as being the best American diner in the area. Call to make a reservation on 966 865 507. See below advert for addresses.

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017 Food | Drink | Leisure | Events

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TUNNEL OF TERROR DENIA’S Youth Council are organising several Halloween activities, running from 27 to 31 of this month. On the Friday evening (27th) from 8pm to 11pm there is a programme of entertainment at the Youth Club, including music, workshops and a special presentation on Halloween makeup. At the same venue there are a series of short horror films starting on Saturday with a 5pm movie suitable for younger children

and a 10pm screening of a film for the over 14’s.

On 31 October, Halloween itself, there will be a “route of terror” through the tunnel that runs under Denia Castle and then out onto various streets and squares. The tunnel will have a combination of live actors and animation ready to jump out at anyone brave enough to take the trip. This starts at 5pm for under 13’s and then from 10.30pm to 12.30am for older participants.

Clubs & Charity Would you like to see your news here?

Email us Newsroom@Weekender.News

Boost for local kids

By Simon Russell

THE Teulada-Moraira Charity Association has donated the €2,177.50 needed to buy a climbing wall for the pupils of CEIP Sant Vicent Ferrer this month.

Volounteers Pat Bramah, Julia Lowe and Marcia Noble went along to the school to officially hand over the new equipment to head teacher Ariceli Ribes Riera. The association strives to help a variety of good causes in the area and this donation follows recent gifts given to an Alzheimer’s group and the local civil defence unit.

If you would like to donate any goods or just have a look around the shop you can find it on Avenida Mediterraneo 183 in Teulada. You can also visit their Facebook page or the website on www. charityshopteulada. com

Increased variety on local roads

By Matthew Richards

A report has shown that the Marina Alta’s roads are becoming thoroughfares for an increasing variety of activities.

Along with the usual cars, pedestrians and cyclists, horses, skates, joggers and even Segway’s are becoming increasingly common sites on the public highways.

Groups of horse riders,

for example, regularly use the route between Moraira and Benitatchell to pursue their equestrian hobby.

Tax break for green cars

By Simon Russell

CALPE Town Hall has passed a proposal to dramatically cut the tax payable on electric and hybrid vehicles in the town.

The cuts, 75% for electric and 50%

for hybrid vehicles, is intended to cut CO2 emissions in Calpe by encouraging residents to purchase greener cars.

In the same session, the council also approved transport aid for schools as well as financial help with purchasing some pupils textbooks.

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

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Rugby La Vila go down fighting 24-35 to Ordizia

By Tony Fox

To coin a football expression this was a game of two half’s.

La Vila, in front of a good home crowd, began as they have done all season disastrously. They lost two early line-outs resulting in two converted tries for their Basque opponents scored by Lopez and their Captain Goia both Spanish Internationals. They were always going to be hard pressed to win any line-out with Ordizia’s giant (about 6ft.5ins) number 5 dominating. In this first half the home side only managed to win one of their own. The third converted try came by way of some sloppy defence from La Vila, which gave Lasa for the Basques an easy opportunity. So it was 0-21 at half time and a whitewash looked on the cards.

I don’t know what coach Quirelli said to his players in the interval but whatever it was he should do it prior to the match in future. It was a totally

different La Vila from the whistle and their relentless attacking eventually paid off against a well ordered Basque defence with two unconverted tries by Picheco and Vinaches. 10-21 and just as we thought La Vila had the upper hand tries by Alberdi and Goia, the latter after a great interception running the full length of the pitch to score, Ordizia stretched their lead to 10-35. La Vila did not give up and ended in a flourish with two converted tries first by Perez and then Carrion in the very last minute.

The team can take heart from gaining 1 bonus point and winning the second half 25-14 which just goes to show how costly their first half line-outs proved to be, having only lost just one in the second half. Their next match is away to Bizkaia Gernika three places and 7 points to the better in the league so a win here would give them a terrific boost…….go to it coach Quirelli the players obviously have the ability.

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

Local Sport

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Galaxy Radio in tune with bowlers

By Jack Troughton

GALAXY Radio ensured there was a party spirit at the Benitachell Bowls Club’s Autumn Fair on Sunday – the Costa Blanca station’s first ever outside broadcast.

DJ Mick Dennison hosted the event and the

traditional stalls - run by club members and visiting businesses - did a thriving business, helping raise money for the club.

There was a fun bowls competition and club sponsors Vives-Pons were out on the green having a go with their families.

Mick said: “There was a real party

Mick is pictured presenting the competition winner Jackie Munt with her prize, a delicious cake.

ELCHE INTERNATIONAL 7’S TOURNAMENT

By Garry Dutch

Elche RFC are holding their 2nd international 7’s rugby tournament on 13 and 14 November in Elche with teams that will be participating in the 2016 Olympic Games in Brasil.

The teams taking part for the men are:- France, Ireland, Spain and Portugal Women teams:- Great Britain, France, Ireland, Spain, Portugal and the Valencian regional team.

On Friday the matches start at

16.00 and finish at around 20.00, and on Saturday from 10.00 to around 15.00.

The tickets for Friday are 8€, Saturday 12€ or for both days 15€.

So come along and watch some rare live international rugby in the area.

For more information and tickets contact Garry on 692 767 242, or on whatsapp, or at Costa Cobras training on Monday and Wednesday at Daya Vieja or at Zoco Market.

atmosphere and it was really great that Galaxy Radio could help make it a success and get out and about with our listeners.

“I actually came second in the bowls competition, employing the same tactics used

by Francis Drake all those years ago.”

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

Sport

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Hammy aims for title in Mexico

Lewis Hamilton, who is leading the Formula 1 racing championship for 2017, said he does not want to settle for anything less than a win at the upcoming Mexico Grand Prix, which would also seal his fourth F1 title.

If his closest contender, Germany’s Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), wins Sunday’s race, Hamilton will need to finish fifth or higher to clinch the 2017 F1 title, reports Efe. However, if Vettel loses, Hamilton can win the title by just securing the ninth position.

Speaking to reporters in Mexico City, Hamilton said he would prefer to win the race and lift the championship.

He admitted it could be a close race with Ferrari and Red Bull, but added if he could repeat his performance at last week’s race in the United

States, the team would definitely win.

The three-time champion added he had worked really hard since losing the title to Nico Rosberg last year, adding that he was very proud of this season where he was more consistent and communicated better with his team.

Hamilton, who hosted athletes Mo Farah and Usain Bolt as guests in his last two races, said this weekend he has invited two Mexicans as special guests, without revealing their names.

Lewis also signed a helmet like the one used by legendary Brazilian racer Ayrton Senna, which will be donated to the Red Cross for an auction, and the proceeds will be used to help those affected in the September 19 earthquake in Mexico

McGinley impressed by Dunne’s strong start to Ryder Cup race With the Ryder Cup in France less than a year away, and with Europe’s Ryder Cup qualifying campaign under way to find the eight automatic qualifiers before captain Thomas Bjorn completes his 12-man team with four ‘wild card’ picks, McGinley doesn’t fudge about when the topic of Paul Dunne comes his way.

Dunne, you see, has flown out of the traps like a finely toned greyhound.

There’s a long journey yet to travel, but as of now the 24-year-old Greystones player – who this week makes his WGC debut in the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai – is third on the European points table and fourth off the world points list in that race to make Europe’s team for Le Golf National, outside Paris.

From what he has seen and observed

from Dunne’s time on tour, in what is just his second season, McGinley said: “He seems to be very well adjusted mentally, he has a real sense of calm around him and it is important that he stays being Paul Dunne and just lets himself improve along those lines.

“It is important not to be thinking, ‘Oh my God, I want to make the Ryder Cup’ and ‘Oh my God, I want to do this’ and lose track about what he is doing.

So retaining his focus is going to be key to what he is doing.”

McGinley – a threetime Ryder Cup player, all on winning teams, and of course a hugely successful captain at Gleneagles in 2014 – claimed to be very impressed with what Dunne has achieved so far in what remains a fledgling career path.

Read Online

Del Potro keeps

London dream

Juan Martin del Potro’s quest for an unlikely spot in the ATP World Tour Finals gathered pace as he beat Portugal’s Joao Sousa in his Basel opener.

The fourth seed defeated Sousa 6-1 4-6 6-1 and has his eyes on a third title at the Swiss event.

Del Potro previously lifted the Basel trophy in 2012 and 2013 beating home favourite and eighttime winner Roger Federer in both of those finals.

The fourth seed defeated Sousa 6-1 4-6 6-1 and has his eyes on a third title at the Swiss event.

Del Potro previously lifted the Basel trophy in 2012 and 2013 beating home favourite and eighttime winner Roger Federer in both of those finals.

He next faces Julien Benneteau of France, who saw off American Donald Young 6-4 6-2.

“Tomorrow I need to play better for sure if I want to stay here longer,” said World No 19 Del Potro.

“But, after all of my wrist problems, this is good for me.

“I have to manage my body after all of my matches. But, over the last few weeks, I feel I have the power to play a lot.

“I have a tough match against Benneteau but I really want to play Federer again in his hometown, that is always a great moment for me.

www.Weekender.News

Alive

“Against Benneteau, I need to return well, serve better, hit my forehand hard and keep the ball in the court - all that will give me a chance to win.”KYLE EDMUND TO WIN THE CURRENT SET 6-3 (2ND SET) Was 10/1Now 12/1 £10 Free Bet, No Deposit Needed And Del Potro, who only started his 2017 season in late February after a wrist injury, is making a late charge for a spot at next month’s ATP Finals in London, having won the Stockholm Open last weekend.

If Pablo Carreno Busta loses his second-round match in Vienna on Friday against Del Potro’s fellow Argentine Diego Schwartzman, the South American would move into the eighth and final qualifying spot for the year-end tournament.

Del Potro wasted no time in getting on top of the 60th-ranked Sousa, winning the first six points and breaking three times en route to winning the opening set.

Sousa was much-improved in the second as he started a comeback, finally breaking Del Potro before serving out the set to force a decider.

But Del Potro again found top form in the final set, cruising to victory by firing a trademark forehand winner on his second match point.

Mention The Weekender for preferential exchange rates!

SPORT Week Saturday 28th October Alavés 13:00 Alavés v Valencia La Liga 13:30 Man Utd v Tottenham EPL

Fixtures

16:00 West Brom v Man City EPL 16:00 Watford v Stoke EPL 16:00 Crystal Palace v West Ham EPL 16:00 Liverpool v Huddersfield EPL 16:00 Arsenal v Swansea City EPL 18:30 Bournemouth v Chelsea EPL 18:30 Athletico Madrid v Villareal LaL iga 20:45 Ath. Bilbao v Barcelona La Liga

Sunday 29th October 14:30 Brighton v Southampton EPL 14:30 Leicester City v Everton EPL 16:15 Girona v Real Madrid La Liga

Tuesday 31st October 20:45 Roma v Chelsea Champions League 20:45 Athletico Madrid v Qarabag FK Champions League 20:45 Celtic v Bayern Munich Champions League 20:45 Olympiacos v Barcelona Champions League 20:45 PSG v Anderlect Champions League 20:45 Manchester Utd v Benfica Champions League 20:45 Sporting Lisbon v Juventus Champions League 20:45 FC Basel v CSKA Moscow Champions League

Wednesday 1st November 20:45 Brighton v Southampton EPL 20:45 Leicester City v Everton EPL

FORMULA ONE r Sunday 29th Octobe Mexico

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FRIDAY 27TH OCT 2017

Weekender Sport

SPURS GET HAMMERED OUT OF CUP West Ham produced the most unlikely of second-half comebacks to beat Tottenham 3-2 at Wembley and book their place in the EFL Cup quarterfinals.

A dominant Spurs, without the rested Harry Kane, raced in to a two-goal half-time lead thanks to strikes from Moussa Sissoko and Dele Alli to seemingly leave Slaven

Bilic’s position hanging by a thread.

Bilic’s players, though, produced a stirring secondhalf fightback, scoring three times in a stunning 15-minute spell to complete a remarkable turnaround.

Two quick-fire goals from Andre Ayew pulled the Hammers level before Angelo Ogbonna crashed a header

in to seal a memorable win that provides their under-fire manager with a timely boost.

Bilic will now go into the Saturday’s pivotal away clash with Crystal Palace full of confidence, while Tottenham will need to pick themselves up for a mouth-watering clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford, with one of their routes to silverware now gone.