La Marina Advertiser August 2026 by Gran Alacant Advertiser

My La Marina

with Joanne Waterson -Lankaster - Jones ...local personality and SATS volunteer

Where are you from?

I´m originally from a small seaside town - Withernsea, about 30 miles from Hull. When I was 16, I went to Hull College of Further Education, to syudy City & Guilds Hairdressing while also working in an award-winning salon in East Yorkshire.

Then came a complete change! At 18, I left Withernsea and headed to America to work as an au pair, living with an American family for a year. I even stayed an extra month to travel around the States, which was an amazing and great fun.

When, and why, did you come to La Marina?

Oooh... it was back in 2002. I was living in Guernsey at the time (that´s another story!) and came over to visit my parents, who had already settled in La Marina. At that stage, I wasn´t quite sure what I wanted to do but was loving being in La Marina...so when I was offered a job with F&C Rentacar, I thought, "why the heck not?" and took the job!

Then, just three months later, I met my future husband in Dos Mas. We got married, bought a house, had two wonderful boys and, well... game, set and match... La Marina became home.

I´ve lived in a few different places over the years, but this is where I´ve stayed the longest—and it´s definitely the place I´ve loved the most!

What have you done, and what are you doing now in La Marina?

Ooof! I´ve done quite a few different things over the years! As I mentioned, my first job here was with F&C Rentacar. After that, I spent ten years as a mobile hairdresser before running my own wedding planning business which was challenging but incredibly rewarding... apart from the occasional Bridezilla!

After Covid, I spent three years back in the UK working in a care home as an Entertainment Coordinator. I enjoyed it, but it involved a lot of travelling, which meant spending too much time away from

my husband and family.

These days, I volunteer at the SATS Animal Rescue Charity Shop, which I love! Life is kept wonderfully busy by my two boys and our three rescue dogs—who are very barky but completely adorable! Mind you... the boys can be quite barky too... bless them!

What are your favourite things about La Marina?

I love it! The location is fantastic—close to Alicante and the airport, and only a hop, skip and a jump away from some beautiful beaches.

What I love most, though, is the community. There are people here from so many different countries, which gives La Marina a lovely atmosphere, along with fantastic bars, cafés and restaurants.

After more than 20 years here, I´ve made so many wonderful friends and connections. This is where my family is, where my heart is, and where I truly feel at home.

What about the future?

Oooh... the future! I´m a great believer in the saying, "never say never," because life has a funny way of surprising you.

I never imagined I´d live in America, Guernsey or Spain or have so many different careers or meet so many wonderful people...life has taken me on some amazing adventures, and if there´s one thing I´ve learned, it´s that you never know what´s around the corner. Hopefully, whatever comes next will be just another wonderful adventure!

THE WRITING GROUP

Y.O.L.O.

By Paddy Christie

Y.O.L.O. we only experience it, just once make it a great life, don´t be a dunce. Live in the moment making every one special putting worries and troubles in the bye-gone vessel.

Take a deep breath, exhale with relief be brave, be positive, build self-belief. Be kind, be caring and sensitive too to yourself, you must always be true.

Do not let negativity encroach in your space grab smiles and happiness in a clasping embrace.

Casting all self-doubt to yesterday’s bin making every moment a win, win, win.

Life is sometimes a merry go round it´s in our interest the exit is found. Choosing the road is sometimes a chance never hold regret as forward we glance.

We get one shot to be the best we can be taking life in our stride without guarantee. Control what we can, what we can´t, don´t worry what happens, happens, no reason to hurry.

YOLO, you only live once leave a positive mark, no reason for stunts. Be true to oneself, being the best you can be the legacy you leave will be for everyone to see.

The Writing Group is a friendly mix of local creatives who meet every second Tuesday at 11am in The Palm Tree Bar, La Marina, to share ideas, write for fun, and enjoy supportive, relaxed company.

For more info, email Paddy at paddychristie7@gmail.com or call/ whatsapp him on 634 343 956

WEATHER

By Sean Mc Seveney

Oh, British weather, fickle and fine

A tapestry woven, with threads of time

Where sun and rain dance hand in hand in a symphony, played across the land.

One moment bright, with skies so clear the next grey clouds drawing near. With rain that falls in gentle showers or lashes down with relentless powers.

In spring the blossoms bloom with grace Underneath the sun´s warm embrace Then the clouds may quickly gather unleashing storms with winds that holler.

Summer brings it´s golden glow Yet, even then, you never know For rain may come without a warning on a typical British weather morning.

Autumn paints landscapes with hues so bold as leaves turn crimson, orange, gold. Amidst the beauty, there´s often rain a reminder that change is weather´s domain.

Winter chill, wraps land in frost as daylight fades and nights are lost Snow may fall with silent grace turning the world to a wintry embrace.

Oh, British weather ever so grand with all its quirks across the land A constant companion, come what may in this island nation, day by day.

HEARING HEALTH = BRAIN HEALTH!

Last month, members of La Marina’s expat community met at the Senior Friendship Association for a highly anticipated educational seminar, hosted by Emma, Clinical Director of the Auz Audiology hearing clinic. The subject of the seminar was "The Connection: Hearing Health and Cognitive Disorders," and the event was met with an overwhelmingly positive response and a completely full house.

Guided by the clinic’s core philosophy, "We don’t just amplify sound; we retrain your brain," the seminar shattered long-standing myths about age-related hearing decline. Emma captivated the audience with the "strawberry analogy," demonstrating how the brain relies on clear hearing to preserve long-term sensory memories. She also touched hearts by describing the silent, exhausting isolation of the "Empty Table Syndrome"—the severe physical fatigue that comes from trying to "fill in the blanks" and follow conversations in noisy social settings when your hearing isn´t as good as it could be. .

The seminar was anchored in clinical science: untreated hearing loss stands as the number one modifiable risk factor for dementia, contributing up to an 8% to 20% increase in cognitive risk depending on its severity. However, Emma delivered a message of profound hope: clinical studies show that just six months of consistent use of high-fidelity hearing devices can actually restore mental sharpness.

Attendees were amazed to discover that modern hearing aids have evolved into advanced health and safety assistants. These miniature wearable computers feature automatic Fall Detection (Fall Alert) with GPS coordinates, proactive balance training, and direct Bluetooth streaming to be able to hear your loved ones clearly and correctly.

The session concluded with an interactive workshop featuring live video-otoscopy, allowing volunteers to view their own eardrums on screen to check middle ear function and cleanliness and help and advice was givem to members of the audience who had hearing aids This landmark event has set a new standard for healthy aging, leaving San Fulgencio’s residents empowered, connected, and proactive about their brain and auditory health.

A MESSAGE FROM MILLY FROM CAFEINA – WE´RE BACK!

After three and a half weeks behind closed doors, we’re delighted to finally welcome everyone back to Cafeina.

When we first closed for the renovation, we hoped to be back within three weeks. Looking back, that was probably a little optimistic! As with any building project, there were plenty of unexpected challenges along the way, but seeing the finished result has made every extra day worthwhile.

Our vision was never to create a completely different venue. Instead, we wanted to extend what people already loved about Cafeina – keeping the same welcoming atmosphere, friendly service and relaxed feel, while creating a larger, more comfortable space for everyone to enjoy.

The project has allowed us to expand both our coffee and cocktail offering, giving customers more room to meet friends, celebrate special occasions or simply enjoy a drink in a space that feels familiar, just bigger and better.

We couldn’t have achieved any of this without the incredible support of our customers, who were so patient while we were closed, and our amazing team and families, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help make it all happen.

The response since reopening has been overwhelming, and we’re incredibly grateful for every person who has visited, shared kind words and continued to support our small independent business. We can’t wait to welcome both familiar faces and new customers through the doors as we begin this exciting new chapter for Cafeina.

CAFEINA

C/Luis de Gongora 43, Consum Square, La Marina 03177

Tel/Whatsapp: 711 051 358

29 Years in La Marina

Aurea Luxe General Construction has been building, renovating and transforming properties in La Marina and San Fulgencio since 1997. As the company celebrates 29 years of serving the local community, we spoke with owner Reinhard Schäppi about the secret behind its long-standing success.

What has been the key to your success over the past 29 years?

"I believe the answer is simple: reliability, quality workmanship and honest communication. Many property owners tell us they struggle to get builders to respond, so we make it a priority to reply to all enquiries within 24 hours. In most cases, we can arrange a site visit within 1 to 2 days and provide a detailed quotation within 7 days.

We also believe in transparency. Our customers receive fixed-price quotations with no hidden costs, and we keep them informed at every stage of the project."

What makes Aurea Luxe different from other construction companies?

"Every project is personally overseen by me from start to finish. As a Swiss-managed construction company with 29 years of local experience, we combine professional Swiss project management with extensive knowledge of local regulations, suppliers and construction methods.

We handle every aspect of a project, from planning and design to obtaining the necessary licences and permissions, construction and final handover. Our customers appreciate having a single, reliable point of contact at all times ."

Many of your customers are international homeowners. How do you support them?

"Many of our clients live abroad and are not permanently in Spain. We understand how important trust and communication are in these situations. We regularly send progress photos and updates so clients can follow their project in real time, even if they´re thousands of kilometres away.

We also work with customers in English, German and Spanish, for stress-free communication."

What types of projects do you undertake?

"Over the past 29 years we´ve completed hundreds of projects, from property

improvements and renovations to complete villa transformations, swimming pool projects and newbuild homes. Every project receives the same attention to detail and commitment to quality, regardless of size.

Our services include luxury villa renovations, extensions, kitchen and bathroom remodelling, roof terraces, garage conversions, swimming pool construction and renovation, pool maintenance, solar panel installations, window and door replacements, and general construction work."

What are you most proud of after 29 years in business?

"Without question, the relationships we´ve built with customers. Many people who contacted us as clients years ago have become personal friends, and we still stay in touch. To me, that says more about our company than any advertisement ever could. We´re also proud of the many 5-star reviews we´ve received on Google, Trustpilot and other platforms — but what matters most is that our commitment doesn´t end when a project does. If an existing client calls with a question or a problem years later, we´re still there for them. That´s the standard we hold ourselves to, and we believe it is one of the reasons why so many of our customers recommend us to friends and neighbours."

AUREA LUXE GENERAL CONSTRUCTION

Trusted by Homeowners in La Marina Since 1997

English • German • Spanish

24-Hour Response Time Site Visits Within 1–2 Days Fixed-Price Quotations • 5-Star Reviews

T. 603 239 028 www.aurea-luxe.pro www.aurea-luxe.pro/de

SPANISH TIPS WITH CHRISTIAN

A monthly feature with useful and effective tips about speaking Spanish and Spanish culture

Hullo! In this month´s Hints and Tips we´re looking at sayings (in Spanish – ´dichos´) that are common in meaning in Spanish and English. To follow you´ll see a Spanish ´dicho´ and it´s exact English translation and then the equivalent ´saying´ in English.

Lo barato sale caro

The cheap one turns out expensive

Save a penny, spend a pound.

Al buen entendedor, pocas palabras

Few words to the one who understands well

A word to the wise

Al que madruga Dios le ayuda

God helps those who get up early God helps those who help themselves.

Un pájaro en la mano vale más que cien volando

A bird in the hand is worth one hundred flying

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Del dicho al hecho hay mucho trecho

There´s a long stretch between words and deeds

I´ll believe it when I see it.

Mas vale prevenir que curar

It´s worth more to prevent than cure Prevention is better than cure.

Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres

Tell me who you walk with and I´ll tell you who you are

A man is known by the company he keeps.

El que anda con lobos a aullar se enseña

He who sleeps with wolves is taught how to howl

If you sleep with dogs you get fleas.

Al mal tiempo buena cara

A happy face to bad weather

Chin up.

No hay peor sordo que el que no quiere oír

There´s no worse deaf person than the one who does not want to hear

There´s none so deaf as those who will not hear.

El que mucho aprieta poco abarca

He who grasps at too much, grasps little Don´t bite off more than you can chew.

Here at La Marina Languages we have been helping many students learning Spanish for the last 4 years. Check out our website and say “hola”.

Christian is based in La Marina and offers one-to-one Spanish lessons at all levels (on-line or face to face). He will also accompany you as a translator for visits to doctors, lawyers, notary – whatever you need!

Tel/Whatsapp: 623 279 074 lamarinalanguages@gmail.com www.lamarinalanguages.com

Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente

Eyes that don´t see, heart that doesn´t feel

What the eyes don´t see, the heart doesn´t yearn for.

Cada loco con su tema

Every madman with his own theme

To each his own.

Perro que ladra no muerde

The dog that barks doesn´t bite

His/her bark is worse than their bite.

No hay mal que por bien no venga

There is nothing so bad that good can´t come from it

Every cloud has a silver lining.

Keep studying, keep practicing. ¡Bien hecho!

Soul Notes MIND, BODY, SOUL

by Nicola Dunsford

Hello Amazing Soul,

August often arrives with a sense of fullness. Summer is at its peak, nature is abundant, and many of us find ourselves balancing activity with a longing for rest. Amid life’s demands, it can be easy to feel pulled in different directions; mentally busy, physically tired, yet inwardly seeking something more.

When the mind, body, and soul are aligned, life tends to flow with greater ease. We feel more present, grounded, and connected to ourselves. Alignment is not about perfection; it is about creating harmony between how we think, how we care for ourselves, and how we honour our deeper truth.

Listening to the Mind

Our minds are constantly processing information, making decisions, and planning. Beneath this conscious activity, the subconscious mind quietly influences our thoughts, emotions, habits, and perceptions. While the mind serves us in many ways, constant mental activity often drowns out our inner wisdom and deeper awareness.

Creating moments of stillness allows the mind to settle and become clearer. This might be through meditation, mindful breathing, journaling, or simply sitting quietly with a cup of tea. When the mental noise softens, we are better able to hear what truly matters.

Honouring the Body

The body is more than a physical vessel; it is a messenger, continually offering guidance about what we need.

Alignment begins when we listen.

Notice how your body responds to different

Finding Alignment in Everyday Life

situations, environments, and people. Does your energy expand or contract? Do you feel energised or depleted?

Simple practices such as gentle movement, walking in nature, stretching, or conscious breathing can help restore balance and bring you back into connection with yourself.

Nourishing the Soul

The soul speaks through feelings, intuition, creativity, and moments of deep connection. Yet in a busy world, its voice can easily be overlooked.

Ask yourself:

What brings me joy?

What helps me feel most like myself?

When do I feel truly alive?

The answers may be found in music, time in nature, meaningful conversations, creative expression, or quiet reflection. Whatever nourishes your soul deserves a place in your life.

Bringing It All Together

Alignment is not something we achieve once and then forget. It is a practice of returning to ourselves, again and again.

A few minutes of conscious breathing, a mindful walk, or simply checking in with how you feel can help bring the mind, body, and soul back into harmony.

Closing Reflection

When the mind is calm, the body is supported, and the soul is nourished, we naturally move through life with greater balance and ease. Rather than searching outside ourselves for fulfilment, we begin to recognise that much of what we need is already within.

May this month encourage you to slow down, reconnect, and honour the wisdom of your mind, body, and soul. Namaste

Nicola is a Spiritual Life Coach and Energy Healer who leads the Soul Café. The group gathers fortnightly on Wednesday mornings.For more details, please call/message Nicola on 634 199 029 (phone or WhatsApp).

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Community Events at Hope Christian Fellowship

There are a number of events happening at Hope Christian Fellowship this month and September.

First is Cornerstone, ´Helping Hands´... every Thursday from 10am – 1pm you can get free advice on subjects such as TIE´s, care and attendance allowances, disability payments and more!

Then on September 3 rd the Fellowship is launching a new group – A Cup of Joy! If you want to meet new people, make new friends, play card games, have a free bite to eat and just have a good old natter then be there on Thursday 3 rd September from 11am to 1pm. A Cup of Joy will then take place every first Thursday of the month at the same time.

And...on September 11th from 10pm to 12pm its one for the ladies when the WOW group meets...the theme is ´Autumn Gathering´ and it´s about crafts, songs, food and so much more! (The WOW group meets every six weeks).

If you´d like to book a place at any of the above events please message or call/ Whatsapp 631 452 546.

Hope Christian fellowship can be found at Calle Justo Antonio Quesada 19A, 03177 San Fulgencio

Charity Shop Summer Opening Hours

The AAN Charity Shop is open 10am – 1pm, Monday to Saturday, until 17th August, when it will close for a two-week summer break, reopening on 1st September.

CLINICA VETERINARIA

GRAN ALACANT EXOTICS

Calle Holanda 9, MASA Square I T: 966 698 569

Monday - Friday 10:00 -13:00 & 17:00 - 20:00 Saturday 10:00 -13:00

Companion Pets

Positive List

Liliana Aldeguer Cerdán 793

English translation by Sergio Reina Esteban col 747

Ministerio de Derechos Sociales, Consumo y Agenda 2030 (Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development), has started the process of previous public information for developing the positive list of companion pets species.

This implies Spanish Government will create a list of species we are allowed to have at home. This list will be developed according to scientific, animal welfare, environmental safety and epidemiological criteria. This list is not a Spanish invention, since other EU countries such as France and the Netherlands have already developed their own lists. These lists are also a valuable tool for controlling illegal wildlife traffic.

So, the aim of this Real Decreto would be ensuring animal rights and welfare protection, for protecting environmental safety, health and biodiversity, and also for easing companion pets possession control.

The positive list will include mammals, birds, reptiles, fishes and invertebrates. This list will allow public access and will be permanently updated, and apart from the species list itself, will inform of duties and prohibitions for owners about identification, Veterinary controls, lodging conditions, training courses, etc.

So, what will happen with those species not included at the positive list which won’t be considered as companion pets any longer? Despite the omnipresent junk at the Internet and media, no, the “evil Government” will not break into your home and confiscate them. And, of course, once again forget about fake news: budgies, hamsters, Guinea pigs, etc, will NEVER appear at the list. Except in extreme cases such as apes or Vietnamese pigs (whose possession is already forbidden), the owner can apply for an “exceptional authorisation”. All the owner has to do is to prove the animal is at home BEFORE the date the positive list appears, just showing a purchasing bill, a Veterinary certificate, or any other document from authorities. The document must include a proper identification number of the individual. From that moment, you can keep the animal at home, but you cannot sell, give or make it breed.

The Real Decreto is still in previous public communication period, and it probably will take several months to be approved. Meanwhile we recommend to ask your Vet for some advice if you have a pet different from dog, cat or ferret. But we can tell you in advance that in 99.99% of cases, the answer will be “nothing to worry about”.

• BINNEN- & BUITENZONWERING

• INSECT HOR SYSTEMEN

• ROLLUIKEN

• IN & OUTDOOR SHADING

• INSECT SCREENS

• ROLLER SHUTTERS

Levert maatwerk sinds 2016. Bent u woonachtig of gevestigd aan de Costa Blanca? Dan komen wij graag bij u langs voor een vrijblijvende offerte.

Providing custom solutions since 2016. Do you live or are you located in the Costa Blanca? Then we will be happy to visit you for a no-obligation quote.

Cooking with Sue

Sue has been making us delicious home-made dishes at Sue´s Kitchen, here in La Marina, for over 3 years... and we´ve persuaded her to share some of her secrets with us!

Ingredients

For the pastry:

500g plain flour

120g cold lard

125g cold unsalted butter

1 tsp salt

175ml cold water

For the filling:

400g beef skirt or chuck roast cut into small cubes

400g firm, waxy potatoes, peeled and finely diced

150g swede, finely diced

150g onion, finely chopped

Salt and black pepper to taste

3tbsp unsalted butter cut into small cubes

1 beaten egg (for egg wash)

Sue's Kitchen Centro Comercial

Bahia De Las Dunas, C/Mar Mediterraneo 8, Unit 4, La Marina 03177 | Open Tues to Sat 9am – 4pm

Sue´s Kitchen Homemade CORNISH PASTY

Instructions

Make the pastry:

Combine the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Rub the cold lard and butter into the flour using your finger tips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Slowly pour in the cold water and mix until the dough comes together. Shape into a ball, wrap in cling film and chill in the fridge for 1 hour.

Prepare the filling:

In a large bowl mix the diced beef, potato, swede and onion. Season well with salt and black pepper.

Fold, crimp and bake:

Pre-heat oven to 165C. Divide the chilled dough into 4 equal pieces and rollout each piece into a 20cm circle. Place a good handful of raw filling onto one half of each pastry circle, leaving 2cm border around the edge and top the filling with a few cubes of butter. Fold the empty half of the pastry circle over the filling, pressing the edges firmly together and crimping the edges to form a pasty. Brush the top of each pasty with the beaten egg and make two small knife holes to allow steam to escape. Place in pre-heated oven and bake for 50-55 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Remove, eat and ENJOY!

SUE ALSO DOES OUTSIDE CATERING! FOR MORE INFO POP INTO SUE'S OR CALL/WHATSAPP 660 850 464