Issuu

ISSUE NO. 1434

27 DECEMBER 2012 - 2 JANUARY 2013

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Happy New Year

Homeless in Spain have little to cheer! CHRISTMAS - and the rapidly approaching New Year - are bringing some added cheer to the estimated 30,000 people living rough on the streets of Spain. Some local shelters over the Christmas period scheduled in special arrangements, providing in some cases hot festive meals, while frequent queues continued to form throughout the month at the soup kitchens where often a little added seasonal cheer was on offer from the volunteer helpers. And this will be ongoing over the New Year and start to 2013. But given the ongoing economic challenges facing the whole of Spain, 2013 will hardly be rung in with much enthusiasm as a joyous

time of hope for those within the local community who have few - if any - close friends, and no home or family to go to each night. In November, Global Aid Network España launched a campaign to collect warm clothes and blankets and other items, including sleeping bags, and these have in recent days been distributed among the homeless in the major cities. The reality of modern life in every community now all too often includes homeless - the vast majority expatriates and men - frequently forlorn-looking, and forced to beg to eek out survival at street level. For them, the roof over their head is all too often an open sky, as

BY RUTH JONES

Time to remember

Briton ‘JR’ Fraser has been homeless for the last two years following a career as a chef in the UK, which he was forced to give up through sickness. After travelling widely he settled in Spain. He survives through occasional money from his mother, food hand-outs and odd coins from passers-by. But for ‘JR’, who chooses not to beg, his closest friend is Patch.

they grab sleep on park benches, in sheltered doorways, in rubbish containers, and others in cardboard boxes in alleyways. None offer much protection, especially during the colder winter

months, though accompanying stray dogs that have fondly become their closest friends, often huddle nearby, providing a little extra warmth and company. Many of Spain’s homeless have serious

mental health problems and infectious diseases. As a result their death rate is four times higher than for the general population. It is estimated one homeless person dies every five days in Spain, 27 per cent of them from attacks, 14 per cent from burns from fires lit to keep them warm, and 8 per cent from hypothermia. Other frequent causes of death are poisoning, drowning, heatstroke, falls, road accidents and being crushed after sleeping in rubbish containers. Only a quarter of the homeless die from natural causes. The average age of the victims is 47 and one in 10 is a woman.

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27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

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MARIANNE

Axarquía - Málaga East

NEWS EXTRA

EASTOFMALAGA.NET,

2 EWN

Small quake in Alcaucin AN earthquake measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale shook Alcaucin, although no injuries or damage was reported .

DUSTED: The Velez trams have been laid up since June.

Destination Sydney for Velez trams

THE Australian city of Sydney could be the next destination for the Velez-Malaga trams. Mayor Francisco Delgado announced that a fleet of up to 10 trams will be leased to Sydney in an effort to cut the €3.2 million losses the town hall clocked up operating the system. He is calling for the Andalucian Government to help fund the town’s loss to prevent the loss of the stock. He said that Andalucia should cover “50 per cent of the deficit derived from

operations. Otherwise it is a dead-end plan. “All we are asking the regional government for is an annual provision of €1.5 million.” “If the town hall does decide to lease the trams – which have been out of operation for more than seven months now – this won’t mean Velez will say goodbye to the service. “It is just a way of taking advantage. If the goods are not used, they get worn and lose value. But if we lease them, we can manage to balance the expenses.”

Second sit-in MEMBERS of the Velez-Malaga IU party have held a second protest sitdown at the town hall in a bid for an employment plan and community kitchens to be set on.

Energy idea A VELEZ businessman has invented a ‘Blue Water Light’ system that generates electricity using the water flow in the public network.

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Fatal accidents A TOTAL of 19 fatal accidents were recorded during 2012 on Malaga province’s roads, the national traffic institute DGT reported.

Food festival MORE than 35,000 people from all over Malaga province visited Torrox for the 31st Fiesta de las Migas. Crumbled bread fried with sausage, and other local recipes were served.

EWN

‘Give us work’ protest A GROUP of long-term unemployed protested in front of Velez-Malaga town hall over the need for work. Backed by representatives and members of the local IU party – who held a parallel sitdown protest – the group pleaded for work to help pay off growing debts. Diana Segura, a 29-year-old single mother of a girl aged five, said she is very worried as

she has not been able to pay her mortgage for three months, guaranteed by her mother. “I could be the next evicted one,” she stated to local newspaper Diario La Axarquia while holding a protest sign along with other Velez-Malaga people in a similar situation. “I was told by the town hall they would give me a job position during the last elections,” she said.

Axarquía - Málaga East

Taking care of her four-yearold boy in a rented flat, Sandra Cortes said: “They always tell me I will get a phone call from EMVIPSA (a town-hall owned real-estate agency) but they just hire whoever they please. “I do not want any more €400 yearly grants. “I want a job for my son and me so we can live as we deserve.”

Business data A TOTAL of 255 small and medium-sized companies have opened and 139 business licences were granted throughout 2012 in Velez-Malaga, the Urban Works Council said.

Clean scheme MARCH 12, 2013, is the deadline for the public-owned cleaning company in Nerja to present the Ministry of the Environment their plans, including a sewage water treatment plan.

CAPITAL CELEBRATION: Puerta del Sol in Madrid, the focus of Spain’s national New Year celebrations.

Ringing in New Year with grapes and red underwear

N the UK the chimes of Big Ben in London ring in the New Year. At the same time millions of British expatriates dotted around the world, including in Spain, tune into UK television and radio - whatever the time difference - for a ‘back home’ touch to the celebrations. Here in Spain the main focus is on the capital Madrid where the chimes of the clock in Puerta del Sol annually see the New Year in, with the event broadcast on television. Nationally it is traditional to eat 12

Quote of the week

‘

THE artistic heritage of Velez-Malaga born painter Antonio Segovia will be moved to Moclinejo, where a dedicated museum will be opened, the Foundation in charge said.

Striking

Civic toys

SIX more officers have joined the Local Police team in VelezMalaga, making a total of 109. “We will be adding more security forces in the next few years,” Mayor Francisco Delgado said.

Art transfer

A CHRISTMAS handmade sweets contest will be held tomorrow (Friday) at Balcon de Europa in Nerja, starting at 5pm. Everyone aged over 14 can apply calling to: 952 520 190.

GIPMTM party spokesman Jesus Perez criticised Velez town hall for “the absence of a Christmas campaign in Torre del Mar,” as the Three Kings parade will not go through suburban areas.

More police

Nwatch ews

So sweet

Xmas claim

STUDENTS in Torrox schools have been taught by members of the Equal Rights Council about buying toys that do not promote sexist or violent behaviour.

What happened with airports and trains also happened to Health Care in Spain. Too many centres were open with no planning, not meeting the real needs.

Jose Maria Valderas, Spanish-born Senior Research Fellow at the London School of Economics and co-ordinator at the Health Services and Policy Research group, University of Oxford.

grapes for good luck to welcome in the New Year, with each one swallowed to the chime of the midnight clock and washed down with a champagne toast. This is believed to have originated in Elche, Alicante, 103 years ago after an excessive grape harvest, and has remained since, although documentation also refers to the event dating back slightly earlier to 1897. Many Spanish men and women - and some longer-term expatriates - also don new red underwear on New Year’s Eve which they later burn for good luck.

Number of the week

days is the average delay time for surgical treatment in Spanish public health centres, the Ministry of Health reported. Latest data corresponds to June 30.

SEVERAL dump containers were burnt and waste was scattered on the floor during the first days of a strike by the public cleaning workers in Rincon de la Victoria.

Lobby group AROUND 12 local associations have joined to found a lobby group against plans by the town hall of turning the Sugar Cane Museum in Torre del Mar into an office building.

In danger TECHNICAL and legal reports by the Almuñecar town hall found potentially dangerous instability in the land hills nearby Carmen del Mar urbanisation.

and finally... SPANISH anchorwoman and actress Pilar Rubio has been fired from Telecinco television channel. When hired in 2010, she was presented as a star, but since then all programmes she was involved in had poor viewing rates or were cancelled.

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20 - 26 December 2012

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Cash grant speeds opening THE new Centre for Community Social Services (welfare) in Nerja will soon open its doors thanks to an €87,000 grant. The town hall has received the money from Malaga provincial government, Mayor Jose Alberto Armijo said. Now the town hall is just waiting for an official opening licence from the Andalucian government which should come soon, Armijo said. The whole project has cost a total of €653,000.

Axarquía - Málaga East

BRITISH

PRESS

Stories making headlines from the United Kingdom

Royal land A SLICE of Antarctica has been named Queen Elizabeth Land. The 169,000-square mile area is twice the size of the UK and is populated by penguins, seals and various bird species.

Famous face THE BECKHAMS’ middle son Romeo is the new face of Burberry. The 10-yearold son of football star David and ex-Spice Girl Victoria has filmed the campaign with Mario Testino, who also shot William and Kate’s official engagement pictures.

Night owls

WELFARE: The building is located in Calle San Miguel.

Public funds slashed by €19m for 2013 AROUND €19 million has been lopped off a planned €40 million worth of grants to Axarquia towns. Originally the Malaga Provincial Government said the towns would get the money in 2013 to help with expenses. But with the crisis those figures have had to be slashed, said PSOE party

spokesman in Malaga, Francisco Conejo, backed up by the Mayors of Torrox, Sedella and Arenas. The spokesman also made a comparison with the Andalucian Government funding for the Axarquia, which will be €83.1 million next year, the same as 2012.

Show you care, help to share food and gifts MEMBERS of a small evangelical church in Puente don Manuel raised more than €650 for families in need in Alcaucin. Expatriates and Spanish from the local community donated food and gifts, and the money raised was used to create 27 large hampers of food and goodies. Liaising with the town hall, families who were most in need were located and were invited to collect their hampers, and choose from a selection of children’s clothes, toys and bedding.

HALF of British workers are classed as night-owls, only seeing daylight on their lunch break during the winter months. As the sun rises at 8.02am and sets at 3.52pm, many only catch a glimpse of daylight between October and April.

Bank refund NATWEST and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) are set to pay out £10 million (€12.3 million) to 300,000 customers who forgot to take their money from a cash machine. Other banks automatically credit people’s accounts when leaving money behind, but RBS, until recently, diverted the money into its own reserve accounts.

Cereal slang A SCOTTISH slang term for male genitalia has been used on cereal boxes. Weetos packets feature a range of cartoon moustaches with a variety of labels, one of which is Big Baws.

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27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 www.euroweeklynews.com

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HEALTH AND BEAUTY: Live music and dance shows were also performed.

Hairdressers’ gala party STUDENTS from the Hairdressers professional course at El Chaparil Secondary School in Nerja held a gala party. The students posed as models on the

Centro Cultural’s catwalk, showing different hairdressing ideas for parties and weddings. The event was also a way for students to raise funds for their endof-year trip.

It’s all quiet in theatre THERE won’t be a Christmas concert or any event whatsoever at the Municipal Theatre in Torrox to end the year. The latest episode in the theatre saga has seen ‘Vive la musica’ local cultural association cancelling its planned performance, as officially, there seems to be no space available in town for it. Torrox Mayor Francisco Muñoz announced that no

events or performances will be held in the theatre until it is confirmed by experts that the premises meet all safety require-ments. But local PP party spokesman Oscar Medina said: “It is incredible that a nearly €8 million investment like the Municipal Theatre has never been used for any cultural or other matters. And it is now almost two years since it was opened.”

EWN

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27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

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FLICKR, MONTUNO

Axarquía - Málaga East

GERMAN

PRESS

Stories making headlines from Germany

Late post LETTERS posted by German soldiers occupying British island Jersey 71 years ago are finally being delivered.

More buyers

RURAL ROOTS: The flowery costumes are another feature of Verdiales.

Colourful folk dance

CLASSES in Verdiales folk dance and music will start in Velez-Malaga on January 17. The lessons will be free and anyone older than eight can sign up. They will be held every Thursday from 6pm to 9pm at the Colegio Andalucia. Verdiales is a variation of flamenco music originating in Malaga Province. It is performed by ensembles of around 10 people called ‘pandas’. They usually play Spanish guitar, violin, castanets,

tambourines and the lute, which participants in the course will learn how to play. Others will be taught the agile and rhythmical dance in pairs, while a man or a woman sings with a passionate cry, and clicking of fingers. Verdiales, with the women traditionally dressed in colourful flower-themed outfits, are often performed in local festivals around Malaga Province. More information: escueladeverdiales@velez malaga.es

Poppy total THE final total of money raised by Torre del Mar Royal British Legion for 2012’s Poppy Appeal is €10,500. Regarding the funds raised, Graham Brant, the Poppy Appeal Organiser of the local branch, commented: “Once again our members have astounded us by giving so much of their valuable time to help with our Poppy Appeal this year.”

First Ladies raise funds for animals LADIES FIRST CLUB of Nerja raised €600 at their recent charity event. The funds will be donated to the Association for the

Protection of Animals Rincon de la Victoria (A.P.A.Ri.V), all thanks to the 150 people who attended.

PROPERTY firms Accentro, IVG and Engel & Volkers reported a rise in Spanish, Greek and Italian buyers in Berlin, which they linked to putting their money somewhere safe.

Out of prison MORE than 1,000 prison inmates across Germany who have proven good behaviour will get the traditional seasonal amnesty, to spend Christmas with their families.

Pony travels PASSENGERS on a Berlin S-Bahn train were surprised to be travelling alongside a pony named Seppi. The 16-year-old owner said she had taken it on a day-long excursion.

Tax fraud THE German owner of top-visited porn websites YouPorn, Pornhub, Fabian Thylmann, was held for alleged tax fraud after a Cologne court issued a warrant.

Higher fines CAR parking fines for exceeding the time limit could be doubled in Germany, according to Transport Ministry plans, Saarbrücker says Zeitung newspaper.

Firms invest AROUND 70 per cent of those surveyed by the Bertelsmann Foundation said the immigrant community in Germany encourages international firms to invest in the country.

NEWS

8 EWN

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

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Axarquía - Málaga East

FAMILY LINE-UP: Michel and Steven with family members. MALE DOMAIN: Michel with male members of the EWN team.

A grand party night A

S parties go, it was something very special. Hosted by Euro Weekly News Publishers Michel and Steven Euesden, it was held to mark the staff annual Christmas dinner, as well as to celebrate Michel’s 50th birthday, and her parents George and Irene Mole’s earlier Golden Wedding anniversary. And part of the underlying theme to the black-tie event at the Valparaiso Restaurant in Mijas - closed to the public for the night was the local community. The more than 160 people attending the party, which began with a Champagne and canapé reception, included diplomats, top corporate

PRIZE LINE-UP: Michel and Steven with EWN award winners.

EWN Awards 2012 • Exceptional Services Award – Clive Jacques • Most Promising – Gemma Quinn • Best Newcomer – Laura Bruce • Best Design Manager – Beatriz Barroso • Best Department Manager – Amalia Calle • Most Progressive Manager – Marcos Poyastro • Best Media Buyer – Esteban Molina

• Most Competent Accountant – Silvia Gutierrez • Most Loyal (1999-2012) – Jose Valentin • Colleague of the Year – Kim Hermansen • Extraordinary Employee – Fiona Rooney • Employee of the Year – Mary Garden • Best Salesperson – Benjamin Wickham • Platinum Award – Nicki Burgess

clients, family and close friends of Michel and Steven, as well as EWN staff from the various offices including Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Mallorca and Almeria, plus freelance columnists. English soul band The Real Thing topped the entertainment bill during and following the seven-course dinner. Other performers included tenor Stephen Lloyd-Morgan, 2004 X-Factor finalist Rowetta, Pablo the Saxophonist, Magician Al and Dan the Compere. There was also a grand firework display at midnight that lit up the Mijas skyline.

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

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EWN 9 Axarquía - Málaga East

Awards for leaders in community

FEMALE DOMAIN: Steven, with female members of the EWN team.

to remember

DURING an impressive presentation ceremony, several key community figures received EWN recognition for their untiring support and effort on behalf of the local expatriate population. The awards were: • Most Informative Association; British Consul and staff. • Best Foreigners Department; Mijas Town Hall. • Expatriate Agency of the Year; PLC Advertising and Marketing. • Best Fundraiser Recognition; Patti Senker. • Spain’s Expatriate Entertainer of the Year; Rowetta. All winners received an engraved plaque and flowers presented by Michel and Steven. British Consul Steve Jones said he and his team were delighted by the award. “They are dedicated professionals working hard at one of the world’s three busiest British consulates,” he said. The Best Foreigners Department Award was received by Mario Bravo and Anette Skou. “I am pleased that the hard work of all the Mijas staff is publicly recognised through this award,” said Mario, the department’s councillor. Philip Langley, Managing Director of PLC, after receiving, along with staff members, the Expatriate Agency of the Year Award for providing dedicated service to the Costa del Sol for more than 20 years, said: “We were amazed to win considering such strong competition. We work very hard to meet our clients’ objectives, so to be nominated and win this award is the cherry on the cake to our exceptional year.” Patti Senker, who has dedicated more than 20 years to fundraising for charities – many of which need help more now than ever before – said the award was “totally unexpected but gratefully received.” Hours after receiving Spain’s Expatriate Entertainer of the Year Award, Rowetta flew to the UK to support British alternative rock band The Happy Mondays. Presentations to key EWN staff were then made by Michel and Steven, who said their personal thanks went to “not just the award winners, but to all the totally dedicated and hard-working EWN family.” And they ended by adding: "And 2013 will be even more special.”

10 EWN

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

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Axarquía - Málaga East

Health care confusion as cover lost CANCELLATION of health cards to Residents department in the Alicante foreigners is growing around Spain since Provincial Government told EWN they new regulations came into force. are not entitled to provide information on Last week the Euro new health regulations to Weekly News reported foreign residents. 14,000 cases in She said the Valencia Torrevieja, Alicante. On Health Department (Conselltop of that, 52,229 cards eria de Salud) is in charge of have been cancelled in that. Unfortunately for A weekly focus aimed the Canary Islands, and expatriates who do not at keeping expatriate readers 4,810 in Cantabria. speak Spanish, information informed on various aspects of The health authorities in English is not provided. Life in Spain say if you are a taxpayer EU citizens who have lost resident, there is no their right to a regional By Raul Candela reason to worry, everyhealth card will still be thing stays the same. covered, according to EU Most of those losing laws. Residents who are cover are non-EU residents for whom receiving a state pension (or long-term being listed on the municipal register incapacity benefit) from their EU home (padron) is no longer enough. country need to apply for an S1 form. However, there is some confusion For British expatriates, this is done at surrounding it, not only for users but also the UK’s International Pension Centre. Once they have received it, they need in the administration. For example, Esther Ponzola from the Foreign to show it at a Spanish Social Security

office, along with the Certificate of Residence and the ‘padron’ certificate. They should be given a document that proves their right to a Health Card, which they need to take to their local health centre to register. Temporary residents, or holidaymakers, can use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). It is free of charge and can be applied for online at the NHS website (for British nationals). Although terms of cover may vary depending on the region, some treatments are not covered by the EHIC. The E112, E121, E106 and E109 forms give access to more complete medical assistance, depending on the case. Who can receive a Health Card? According to the Royal Decree 1192/2012, of August 3, 2012, the following EU citizens have the status of an insured person and beneficiary, and COVERED: A pregnant woman in the have the right to apply for a Health Card: Hospital of Torrevieja, Alicante. a) Enrolled in the Social Security: employed or self-employed people paying contributions; Social Security system pensioners; others receiving any other SS benefit (unemployment benefit and allowance); persons WATCH out tomorrow, Friday, a mocking way: who have exhausted their December 28, as it is Spain’s ‘Inocente, inoc- unemployment benefit or Why in December? equivalent to April Fools’ Day. ente!’ (Innocent allowance or other similar Pranks, practical jokes and one, innocent benefits and are unemployed INNOCENTS’ DAY takes place in hoaxes will be carried out one!). and are not able to establish December rather than the Northern between friends, workmates, Another unoffic- their status as insured persons European style April Fool because its schoolmates and relatives. ial tradition is the in any other way. origins are different. ‘Innocents’ Day’ or ‘Holy media hoax. In b) If not enrolled, nationals of The first references to April Fools’ Innocents’ Day’ – as it is called newspapers and the European Union who are Day are found in literary documents here – is held nationwide television news registered with the Central such as The Canterbury Tales, says Wikipedia. within the Christmas programmes there Register of Foreign Nationals Innocents’ Day, however, has its festivities. So, just like during is often a hidden (Certificado de Residencia). roots in a not-so-funny Christian the night of December 24 prank in the shape Only if their annual income is episode, the Massacre of the Innocents. (‘Nochebuena’), children in of a funny, not more than €100,000 and do In this biblical story, King Herod ordered Spain traditionally knock on sarcastic or not have compulsory health care all young male children in Bethlehem to the door, singing Christmas improbable fake coverage by some other means. be executed, so as to prevent Jesus carols and asking for sweets, news item. c) Minors under the care of the Christ from being born. This happened, cookies or a small ‘fee’. For example, authorities will always have the the Catholic Church decided, on But, unlike Christmas Eve, back when David status of insured persons. December 28. Initially a way of honouring the ‘holy they will be carrying bangers, Beckham played d) Beneficiaries: The spouse of innocent’ martyrs, it eventually became eggs, flour and similar for Real Madrid, an insured person, or cohabiting corrupted into a funnier tradition in ‘weapons.’ Unfortunate magazines repor- partner in a registered partnerSpanish-speaking countries. householders who do not give ted he was ship; a divorced or legally anything may end up with participating on a separated spouse who is a their front door being dancing talent- dependant of an insured person; bombarded. show for Spanish television. children, sisters and brothers of A soft and very traditional INNOCENT!: Watch your back or you may find ‘something’ planted. Last year a newspaper said the an insured person or their prank consists of sticking a Spanish Royal Family was spouse (or dependent exwhite man-like paper cut-out longer the victim does not laughs. When he/she finally afraid of being evicted from spouse), even if they are legally on a person’s back. The notice it, the louder the realises, do not forget to say in the Royal Palace. separated.

Life in Spain

December Fools’ Day

Q AND A

AS I understand it, to sign on the municipal register, or ‘padron,’ you need a Certificate of Residence. To have it you must spend more than 182 days a year in Spain. If you spend longer in Spain you are a tax resident and must declare your worldwide income to the Spanish

tax authorities. How can you be on the padron and not be a tax resident? The Certificate of Residence is not actually needed to sign on to the ‘padron’, and the ‘padron’ does not indicate legal residence. In general, town halls advise the ‘padron’ is for

habitual residents, or those owning a property in Spain who regularly visit. But there is no deadline. The December 31 date alluded to is to ensure bigger grants for 2013. Even if that date is missed, individuals will benefit from town hall services as soon as they register.

Send your questions to: raul@euroweeklynews.com

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 www.euroweeklynews.com

Stat of week Electricity bills could increase 5 per cent from January 1 following a request by power companies to the Spanish government.

Finance,

business

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legal

A EURO WEEKLY NEWS 8 PAGE SPECIAL SECTION

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Ringing up most moans Mobile operators head the complaints league MOBILE PHONE operators are the most complained about businesses in Spain. And complaints regarding charges for services which clients have not asked for are on the rise. Forty-seven per cent of mobile phone users claim their company has charged them for a service they have not

Internet links lagging behind THERE are fewer houses in Spain with internet access than the European average. Although internet connections have improved in the past six years, the official EU statistics service, Eurostat, reports that 68 per cent of Spanish homes have internet access, against a European average of 76 per cent. However, while in Holland, 94 per cent of homes are on the internet, in Greece and

Romania, the number is 54 per cent. When it comes to broadband connections, Spain is also below the EU average with 67 per cent compared to 72 for the EU as a whole. In Spain, 74 per cent of internet users mainly read the news, 61 per cent post on social networking sites and 58 per cent book trips and services. Forty-five per cent use online banking and only 12 per cent create blogs or websites.

requested at least once, and 32 per cent claim to have been charged for calls they haven’t made, according to consumer group Facua-Consumidores en Accion. More than 50 per cent of people who have complained to their mobile company have said their problem was not solved.

usiness extra

Job keyword THE most searched-for keyword on Yahoo! search engine in 2012 was Infojobs, one of Spain’s major job search sites, established in 1998.

Work worry FORTY per cent of Spaniards admit that the problem which worries them most is lack of work, according to a survey by the Sociological Research Centre (CIS).

Real Christmas surprise GERMAN supermarket chain Lidl will have to pay €200,000 in Christmas dinners after a generous offer got out of hand. The company offered to hand out tomato soup, chicken vol-auvents with potatoes, ice cream cake and chocolates as a Christmas dinner at soup kitchens in Belgium. It launched the offer on its Twitter page, saying it would give out four servings for each ‘tweet’ mentioning the hashtag

#luxevooriedereen (luxury for all). Lidl had estimated 1,000 servings at €20 each, but the local press got hold of the offer and within 24 hours, 1,500 people had ‘tweeted.’ Lidl had to hand out 7,500 Christmas dinners. However, far from complaining, The company rounded the total up to 10,000 and said the campaign had been a success, although it added it was not sure whether it would repeat the promotion in 2013.

FUMING: Mobile phone companies get most complaints.

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When it is just too late to put new item on agenda Q. IN an earlier column you explained that the Horizontal Law gives property owners the right to request that items be placed on the official agenda of the forthcoming AGM of the Community of Property Owners. This I did by email and confirmed by letter the following day. The request was made more than four weeks before the meeting. My items did not appear on the agenda and I was told that the agenda had already been compiled and my items arrived too late. The agenda was published and distributed three weeks before the meeting so they had a week to fit my items You and the in. I can find no reference in the Horizontal Law to a time Law in Spain By David Searl limit. Perhaps you could comment. R P, Costa del Sol A. YES, Article 16 of the Law of Horizontal Property says that any owner may request that items be placed on the agenda for the Annual General Meeting (AGM). It states clearly that the president shall place such items on the agenda when requested. There is no time limit specified. The only time limit mentioned is that the AGM must be convoked at least six days in advance. So it seems that we have here a borderline case. Perhaps the agenda had been carefully prepared and sent to the printer just before your letter arrived and perhaps it already contained a number of complex items, so the president decided to leave yours out for this time. This is a defensible position. Or perhaps the president preferred not to bring up the points you mention at this time, so he rushed the agenda into final form in order not to include them. This would be an abuse of his powers. In either case you have the right to go to court to claim that you have been deprived of your right to place an item on the agenda. Your letter was in proper form and seemed to be well in time. However, the president can surely claim that it really was too late for changes. David will respond to queries but reserves the right to select letters which will be of interest to the greatest number of readers. You can also consult David through lawyers Ubeda-Retana and Associates in Fuengirola. ask@lawtaxspain.com or call 952 667 090.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 Axarquía - Málaga East

Nissan steers towards bigger future NISSAN is investing £250 million in its Sunderland factory, directly creating 280 jobs. This year the Japanese company has built 500,000 cars at the plant.

£££

BOARDROOMS at science and engineering companies have the lowest proportions of women, a study by the Royal Society of Edinburgh found. Some academic societies have as few female members as one for every 75 men.

ritish usiness riefs £££

TELECOMS regulator Ofcom has said that seven companies have qualified to bid for superfast 4G mobile broadband airwaves. BT, firm MLL Telecom and Hong Kong’s PCCW Limited can enter bids, as

well as EE, Vodafone, O2 owner Telefonica and Hutchison, which owns Three.

£££ THE new boss of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, is to be paid £874,000 (€1 million) a year. A generous £250,000 (€307,000) housing allowance comes on top of £480,000 (€590,000) salary and £144,000 (€177,000) worth of pension contributions.

The killer smog that made politicians clean up city air THERE’S been a lot of reporting lately in the British media concerning the Great Smog of December 1952 which, as a 22-year-old electrician, I experienced first-hand. Dense fogs had long been London’s particular badge of infamy, but the Jim ‘Great’ version Collins was literally, a POLLUTION: Exploiting resources too much is dangerous. killer. Figures vary, Costa Blanca depending upon the source, but all agree smog finally cleared, Unfortunately, this ancient deposits of that the directly taking down those new isn’t quite the case. The petroleum whilst at the attributable deaths were curtains, now with a dense particles of the same time uncovering numbered in thousands. dirty black stain along Great Smog have been huge areas of longIt lasted throughout the tops, to wash them. replaced by invisible, buried and frozen the weekend, bringing But they fell to pieces in but just as deadly, vegetation. traffic to a standstill as her hands, rotted away nitrogen dioxide, As it defrosts, it buses were stuck in their by the chemicals we’d all emitted by the countless decays and releases depots and the drivers been forced to breath. motor vehicles now massive quantities of of London’s black cabs London’s dense fogs clogging the capital’s methane, a greenhouse stayed at home. I’m not had for a century or thoroughfares. gas far worse than CO2. exaggerating when I tell more been a cause for It has been said that, Undersea exploration you that it was concern, but it took if one wishes to breathe is also taking place in impossible to see past thousands of deaths to truly clean air, it can be the Antarctic, destroying one’s knees. It was like force politicians’ hands, found in the frozen fish stocks and the wading through a dense, resulting, in 1956, with wastes of the Arctic and natural habitat of yellow-brown, foul- the passing of the Clean Antarctic, or in the penguins and other tasting vapour-bath that Air Act. depths of the dense birds, whilst Argentina stung one’s eyes and Recognising that the Amazon jungle. again beats its warthroat. killer smog was caused by Would that this were drums. My mother had only smoke from millions of true today, but in these We are not the that week hung new domestic coal fires being modern times, with owners of this planet, curtains in the living- trapped beneath a the Earth’s population merely its custodians. room, the sash window thermal inversion, soft increasing exponentially, We have no right to of which was stuck with coal was prohibited and, latest figures show this exploit its resources as a three-inch gap at the lo! this did the trick. Smog to be only a dream. we do. It’s dangerous top, and a memory that has never returned, and The Arctic permafrost and makes no sense. has remained in my to the eye, London’s air is is being destroyed by oil But who is going to stop mind is of her, when the pure and clean. companies searching for it?

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com The UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, delivered his Autumn Statement (‘mini budget’) on 5th December. The draft Finance Bill for 2013 was then published on 11th December. Our article this week summarises some of the key tax and pension announcements which could affect British expatriates and those returning to live in the UK. Tax rates and allowances UK personal allowances are increasing to a higher level than expected (£9,440 instead of £9,205). However, the top of the basic rate band is being reduced to £32,010 from £34,370, which will offset the increase for higher rate taxpayers. The higher rate band threshold will only increase by 1% in 2014/2015 and 2015/2016, instead of by inflation. Since inflation is expected to exceed 1% (the official target is 2%, though it is often higher), this means that more people will fall into the higher rate band and have higher tax bills. While the capital gains tax rates will remain at 18% for gains falling within the basic rate band and 28% for higher rate bands, the actual annual tax free exemption will only increase by 1% for 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. Therefore, more gains will fall into the higher rate band in future years. The inheritance tax threshold has been frozen at £325,000 since 2009. It is now scheduled to increase in 2015/16, but again only by 1% (rounded up to £329,000) instead of

EWN

Axarquía - Málaga East

UK Pensions And Tax Changes. Will They Affect You? by Bill Blevins, Financia l Correspondent, Blevins Franks

by the rate of inflation as in the past. There is therefore little relief for your heirs. Statutory Residence Test The government confirmed that the new Statutory Residence Test, which will determine whether you are liable for income and capital gains tax in the UK or not, will come into effect on 6th April 2013. This is welcome news for expatriates as it provides more certainty, but you still need to take advice to ensure you have your tax position right. Annual Residential Property Tax The Finance Bill included draft legislation on this new tax. It affects residential properties valued at over £2 million and owned by non-natural persons (so, for example, properties owned through companies). The proposed annual charges start at £15,000, increasing to £140,000 for properties over £20 million.

Pensions If you have UK pension funds you will be affected by many of the changes announced in the Autumn Statement. From April 2014, the lifetime allowance will drop from £1.5 million to £1.25 million. Transitional protection - ‘Fixed Protection 2014’ - will be introduced for those already in excess of this amount or who believe they will be when they choose to take benefits, subject to certain conditions. Another consultation is proposed regarding a personalised protection to enable investors to continue to contribute as well as protect themselves to a certain degree. If you think you may be affected by this lower allowance speak to a wealth management firm like Blevins Franks which specialises in providing pension, investment and tax planning advice to British expatriates. The capped drawdown limit will increase from 100% to 120% of the value of an equivalent annuity. Draft legislation will be published in January 2013. This includes funds held in a

Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS). While this will bring some measure of relief to retirees in need of a higher income, you need to be aware that taking a higher income stream will increase pressure on the underlying investments and in turn increasing the risk of reducing the underlying funds along with future income levels. You should seek advice on your situation before increasing your income. The annual £50,000 allowance is set to drop to £40,000 from April 2014. This includes both personal and employer contributions. Careful planning is required so as not to incur charges. QROPS UK pension transfers made to a QROPS will be reportable indefinitely (as opposed to 10 years), although still not subject to unauthorised payment charges once the member is outside of the five-year non UK residency period. We will not know the effective date until next year, but it could be either 6th April 2013 or backdated to 11th December 2012.

QROPS providers will have to recertify to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) every five years that they still satisfy the QROPS regulations. Tax evasion and avoidance Mr Osborne promised to continue to crack down on tax evasion and unacceptable tax avoidance. Just before the Autumn Statement, HMRC issued a document called ‘Closing in on Tax Evasion’ outlining its approach to tackling tax fraud over the coming years. This is a common theme throughout Europe. We are unlikely to have seen the end of tax rises, and this applies to many European countries, not just to the UK. For peace of mind that you are protecting your wealth from tax as much as possible, wherever you live, speak to an established tax planning and wealth management firm like Blevins Franks which specialises in providing expert tax advice to British expatriates. The tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual must take personalised advice. To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevinsfranks.com

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

EWN www.euroweeklynews.com

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 Axarquía - Málaga East

LONDON - FTSE 100 C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. -4.30 -1.18 -8.00 -0.67 -26.00 -1.49 -14.88 -1.46 -34.50 -1.83 -11.05 -0.82 -11.50 -1.47 -13.00 -0.83 -3.00 -0.10 -1.86 -0.48 -14.00 -1.42 -6.80 -1.95 -5.35 -2.01 -5.10 -0.51 -20.50 -0.95 -5.00 -1.16 1.50 0.05 -3.50 -0.61

NET VOLUME 426.26 17.98 92.73 99.08 233.81 29.28 163.22 46.04 149.87 751.42 35.08 872.08 6,286.36 614.32 523.07 1,345.57 237.47 106.78

CU RR EN CI ES

C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 21

PRICE(P) C O M PA N Y Aberdeen Asset Mngmnt 360.85 Admiral Group PLC 1184.50 Aggreko PLC 1716.00 AMEC PLC 1001.50 Anglo American PLC 1852.50 Antofagasta PLC 1337.50 ARM Holdings PLC 771.75 Associated Brit Foods 1552.00 AstraZeneca PLC 2923.75 Aviva PLC 382.00 Babcock Intnl Group 973.50 BAE Systems PLC 341.10 Barclays PLC 261.45 BG Group PLC 1003.00 BHP Billiton PLC 2129.25 BP PLC 425.12 British Am Tobacco PLC 3111.25 British Land Co PLC 566.75

0.81347

Units per €

United States $......................................................1.32220 Japan Yen ¥ ...........................................................111.290 Switzerland Francs................................................1.20752 Denmark Kroner ....................................................7.46102 Norway Kroner.......................................................7.35710

C O M PA N Y

PRICE(P)

British Sky Broad Gr... BT Group PLC Bunzl PLC Burberry Group PLC Capita PLC Capital Shopping Cntrs Carnival PLC Centrica PLC Compass Group PLC CRH PLC

774.00 240.10 1011.50 1225.00 770.50 361.60 2393.00 338.60 735.75 1237.50

C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. -6.00 -2.30 -3.00 -22.00 -8.39 -0.10 1.00 -1.48 -7.00 -11.00

DOW JONES

NASDAQ

C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 21

C O M PA N Y

PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME

MMM 3M Co 94.13 AA Alcoa Inc 8.70 AXP American Express Co 57.40 T AT&T Inc 34.17 BAC Bank of America Corp 11.52 BA Boeing Co 76.20 CAT Caterpillar Inc 89.50 CVX Chevron Corp 110.38 CSCO Cisco Systems Inc 20.24 DD E. I. du Pont de Nemours and C... 45.33 XOM Exxon Mobil Corp 88.89 GE General Electric Co 21.05 HPQ Hewlett-Packard Co 14.43 HD Home Depot Inc 61.97 INTC Intel Corp 21.03 IBM International Business Machine... 194.77 JNJ Johnson & Johnson 70.75 JPM JPMorgan Chase and Co 44.53 MCD McDonald's Corp 90.04 MRK Merck & Co Inc 42.16 MSFT Microsoft Corp 27.68

+1.11 +0.06 +0.61 +0.26 +0.33 +0.69 -1.29 +0.47 -0.0297 +0.48 +0.4536 +0.04 +0.05 +0.20 -0.0707 -0.31 +0.12 +1.00 +0.33 -1.50 +0.37

+1.19% +0.69% +1.07% +0.77% +2.95% +0.91% -1.42% +0.43% -0.15% +1.07% +0.51% +0.19% +0.35% +0.32% -0.34% -0.16% +0.17% +2.30% +0.37% -3.44% +1.35%

3.3M 14.9M 5.6M 25.4M 184.5M 4.6M 6.9M 5.9M 29.9M 4.6M 15.8M 50.8M 17.4M 8.4M 34.0M 4.2M 11.8M 25.0M 4.3M 33.6M 52.6M

1.22929

C O M PA N Y

Most Advanced Roma Financial Corporation Eloqua, Inc. Atlantic Coast Federal Corporation ReachLocal, Inc. Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Gaiam, Inc. The Hackett Group, Inc. SORL Auto Parts, Inc. PC Mall, Inc.

-0.77 -0.95 -0.30 -1.76 -1.08 -0.03 0.04 -0.44 -0.94 -0.88

PRICE

NET VOLUME 42.86 1,117.66 25.32 53.26 33.55 83.09 231.37 375.60 179.87 150.82

CHANGE NET / %

$ 15.15 5.89 / +63.61% $ 23.66 5.74 / +32.03% $ 2.52 0.5621 / +28.71% $ 12.74 1.55 / +13.85% $ 6.2204 0.7304 / +13.30% $ 3.03 0.30 / +10.99% $ 4.46 0.44 / +10.95% $ 2.51 0.23 / +10.09% $ 6.32 0.52 / +8.97%

Most Declined Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. Optical Cable Corporation Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc. MISONIX, Inc. Bona Film Group Limited Arctic Cat Inc. Durata Therapeutics, Inc. American Railcar Industries, Inc. Mellanox Technologies, Ltd.

$ 3.06 $ 3.68 $ 9.14 $ 7.62 $ 4.28 $ 33.36 $ 8.46 $ 33.11 $ 58.6103

2.71 / -46.97% 0.70 / -15.98% 1.54 / -14.42% 1.22 / -13.80% 0.62 / -12.65% 4.82 / -12.62% 0.90 / -9.62% 2.89 / -8.03% 4.7897 / -7.55%

C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) CHANGE Croda International PLC 2368.50 -27.00 Diageo PLC 1809.50 -38.50 Eurasian Nat Resources ... 273.35 -7.10 EVRAZ PLC 259.70 -7.40 Experian PLC 990.50 -8.50 Fresnillo PLC 1847.50 -31.00 G4S PLC 258.80 -1.50 GKN PLC 228.20 -1.10 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1346.00 -6.50 Glencore Intnal PLC 348.02 -1.69 Hammerson PLC 494.55 -0.30 Hargreaves Lansdown PLC 687.75 -5.04 HSBC Holdings PLC 644.30 -6.00 IMI PLC 1088.00 -12.00 Imperial Tobacco Gr PLC 2376.00 -20.25 InterContinental Hotels 1701.50 -9.00 International Consldtd 184.85 -1.17 Intertek Group PLC 3130.00 -6.00 ITV PLC 106.35 -0.70 Johnson Matthey PLC 2374.00 -33.00 Kazakhmys PLC 757.00 -9.50 Kingfisher PLC 282.55 -0.50 Land Securities Gr PLC 822.00 -1.50 Legal & General Gr PLC 147.10 -0.80 Lloyds Banking Gr PLC 48.89 -0.39 Marks & Spencer Gr PLC 392.75 -3.66 Meggitt PLC 387.60 -6.00 Melrose Industries PLC 228.55 -2.90 National Grid PLC 703.00 1.00 Next PLC 3711.50 -19.00 Old Mutual PLC 177.75 -1.80 Pearson PLC 1195.00 -5.00 Pennon Group PLC 650.00 13.62 Petrofac Ltd 1652.50 -12.00 Polymetal Intnl PLC 1153.50 -6.00 Prudential PLC 886.25 -9.00 Randgold Resources Ltd 6017.50 54.22 Reckitt Benckiser Gr PLC 3897.00 -12.00 Reed Elsevier PLC 639.75 -4.00 Resolution Ltd 254.15 -2.70 REXAM PLC 438.65 -3.60 Rio Tinto PLC 3460.50 -34.00 Rolls-Royce Holdings 882.00 -1.00 Royal Bank of Scotland 314.40 -3.14 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 2184.50 -15.00 RSA Insurance Grp PLC 126.60 -0.82 SABMiller PLC 2843.00 -2.50 Sage Group (The) PLC 293.20 -2.90 Sainsbury (J) PLC 351.45 -1.32 Schroders PLC 1696.50 -15.00 Serco Group PLC 539.50 -5.00 Severn Trent PLC 1587.50 17.90 Shire PLC 1914.00 -11.00 Smith & Nephew PLC 682.50 -1.38 Smiths Group PLC 1179.50 -1.00 SSE PLC 1449.50 -3.00 Standard Chartered PLC 1572.50 -11.00 Standard Life PLC 336.10 -2.02 Tate & Lyle PLC 770.50 -6.50 Tesco PLC 339.18 0.52 Tullow Oil PLC 1233.50 -12.75 Unilever PLC 2410.00 -11.00 United Utilities Grp PLC 686.25 12.00 Vedanta Resources PLC 1132.50 -22.00 Vodafone Grp PLC 155.38 -0.45 Weir Group PLC 1861.50 -1.00 Whitbread PLC 2481.50 -40.00 Wm Morrison Suprmrkts 264.65 0.00 Wolseley PLC 2891.50 -12.00 Wood Group (John) PLC 733.75 -13.00 WPP PLC 887.25 -4.50 Xstrata PLC 1037.50 -5.50

% C H G. -1.13 -2.08 -2.53 -2.77 -0.85 -1.65 -0.58 -0.48 -0.48 -0.48 -0.06 -0.73 -0.92 -1.09 -0.84 -0.53 -0.63 -0.19 -0.65 -1.37 -1.24 -0.18 -0.18 -0.54 -0.79 -0.92 -1.52 -1.25 0.14 -0.51 -1.00 -0.42 2.14 -0.72 -0.52 -1.01 0.91 -0.31 -0.62 -1.05 -0.81 -0.97 -0.11 -0.99 -0.68 -0.64 -0.09 -0.98 -0.37 -0.88 -0.92 1.14 -0.57 -0.20 -0.08 -0.21 -0.69 -0.60 -0.84 0.15 -1.02 -0.45 1.78 -1.90 -0.29 -0.05 -1.59 0.00 -0.41 -1.74 -0.50 -0.53

VOLUME 18.91 1,063.32 317.30 357.55 64.32 119.89 107.33 135.68 631.29 656.53 42.80 18.15 1,947.08 26.49 152.69 109.91 433.63 12.27 957.05 16.44 31.76 257.48 77.72 453.82 14,202.44 169.81 70.37 111.56 564.51 13.14 386.86 57.36 386.70 61.79 18.13 274.04 26.11 40.83 170.26 107.47 75.16 406.27 140.69 1,613.87 276.94 1,478.20 283.45 58.25 164.56 13.36 35.96 64.63 52.96 48.94 33.15 75.19 296.78 237.20 38.51 666.64 173.96 88.61 579.28 42.08 5,685.92 45.66 63.49 247.69 55.64 83.92 351.74 253.15

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

EWN

Axarquía - Málaga East

www.euroweeklynews.com

‘Spain for us’ - Mercadona

FRUIT AND VEG: Mercadona spends €15 bn a year on Spanish produce.

Gun move US GUN retailer Dick’s Sporting Goods, one of the biggest in America, has suspended the sale of militarystyle semiautomatic rifles similar to the one used in the Newtown school massacre.

SPANISH supermarket chain Mercadona has come forward to dispel rumours that it was selling produce marked as Spanish but which had been sourced abroad. The group Boicotmercadona published an extensive report claiming that Mercadona imported oranges from Argentina all year, but claimed they were from Valencia. It also complained that

Instagram worries mount CONCERNS have been mounting on social networks since Facebook announced changes to the terms of the photosharing service known as Instagram. Facebook provided few details about the changes, but users of Instagram, which was introduced in 2010 and bought by Facebook last

year, are concerned that their photos could end up being used as advertisements. Kevin Systrom, cofounder of Instagram, wrote a blog post saying the company would change the new terms of service to make it clearer what would happen to users’ pictures. Instagram offers a free

online service, but Facebook wants to make a profit from it, and has said it will introduce the changes from January 16. They added that this would not affect any photographs previously uploaded. However, users are threatening to take their photos elsewhere, including to Yahoo’s Flickr.

Mercadona’s Hacendado brand olive oil is of poor quality and comes from Portugal, the same, it claimed, as their milk. Mercadona published a press release denying each of the accusations. The company says it only imports oranges from the end of July to November, and pointed out that it bought 110 million kilos of Spanish oranges in 2011. It also claimed that the milk is sourced from 1,400 national farms. Against accusations that it doesn’t spend enough money in Spain, Mercadona said that in 2011 it spent €15 billion on Spanish produce, making it the company which spent the most. The company, owned by Juan Roig, has become Spain’s most profitable retailer, beating El Corte Ingles this year.

LOBAL IZ

Game of brews TV SHOW Game of Thrones, shown on Sky, has had a beer named after it. The Ommegang Brewery, New York, USA, has come up with the Belgian style brew as part of a series inspired by the Home Box Office channel.

Poles to join DESPITE the Euro crisis Poland could adopt the currency in January 2016, says Roman Kuznar. The governmental advisor stressed President Bronislaw Komorowski was a “strong supporter of Poland’s accession to the economic and monetary union.”

THREE WAYS TO MAKE MORE OF YOUR MONEY. Fixe Fi xe ed Ra Rate te e 11 Mon 11 nth t Dep epos osit os i it

F xe Fi ed Ra R te t 20 00 Da ay De Depo p ssiit po

Premier Current Account

3.50%

3.25%

3.00%

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availabl avai labl lable b e in Eur Euros os un l 31 unti 3 st Decem Decem ecember ber e 2012 2

during the ﬁrst three months ***

T.A.E.*

T.A.E.**

T.A.E.***

You choose… whether… you’re looking for a current account with a world of benefits, or a fixed term deposit to see your savings grow. For other options about our Pounds Sterling and Dollars(1)) fixed term deposits, please visit your local branch at:

Sotogrande, Guadalmina, Puerto Banús, Marbella, Calahonda, Fuengirola, Benalmádena, Málaga or Torrox. 902 024 365 or +34 91 484 81 81 lloydsbankinternational.es (1) There is a potential risk arising from fluctuations in foreign exchange rates between the acquisition date and the subsequent sale or maturity date of the deposit or investment. * T.A.E. (Tasa Anual Equivalente) corresponds to Annual Interest Rate. Effective Interest Rate: 3.494%. From €6,000 to €200,000. Interest paid at maturity. Available until the 31st December 2012. For funds coming from other financial entities, credited to the account from 1st October 2012 onwards and that represent a balance increase from the aforementioned date. ** T.A.E. (Tasa Anual Equivalente) corresponds to Annual Interest Rate. Effective Interest Rate: 3.226%. From €6,000 to €200,000. Interest paid at maturity. Available until the 31st December 2012. For funds coming from other financial entities, credited to the account from 1st October 2012 onwards and that represent a balance increase from the aforementioned date. *** T.A.E. (Tasa Anual Equivalente) corresponds to Annual Interest Rate. Effective Interest Rate 2.9596% for the first three months, on balances up to a maximum of €500,000, with all amounts above said limit accruing no interest. From the fourth month remuneration will be based on tired rates depending on the balance you hold. As of today these rates are from 0% to 1.50% T.A.E. (1.4898% Effective Interest Rate). The applicable rates for each tier are available on www.lloydsbankinternational.es. Interest paid monthly. Lloyds Bank International, S.A.U., with registered offices at Serrano 90, 5ª planta, 28006, Madrid, Spain, Trade Registry of Madrid, T. 6799, Book 0, Folio. 108, Sec. 8, Page M-110714, 1st Entry, N.I.F. (Tax Identification Number) A-80481765.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

EWN www.euroweeklynews.com

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013 Axarquía - Málaga East

Cardboard cut-out groom shows ways in which money is wasted HAVE you ever wondered where your money goes? Well for some girls in the US, part of their savings have gone on helping to raise money for a woman to marry a cardboard cutout of Twilight movie star Robert Pattinson. The lucky bride-to-be of a cardboard Pattinson raised over $1,000 (€756) from the public. The money will be spent on the ceremony, dress, invitations, a cake and all the other frills needed for the wedding on January 23, 2013 in Las Vegas. Those who donated more than $35 (€26.50) to the bride and groom will even receive a custommade postcard from their honeymoon. Sounds crazy? That’s because it is. But it does highlight just how stupid

Loose change A look at finance for females Jane Plunkett jane.plunkett@euroweeklynews. com

REAL THING: Would you pay towards cost of marrying cut-out figure? we can be with our money. On a slightly less insane basis, let’s talk about other unnecessary things we spend money on. My guilt lies with lip balm. I am addicted. From lip balms to lip-gloss, lipstick, lip shine, lip matt,

lip repair or lip rescue. I have bundles of these little containers or tubes lurking around the bottom of my handbags. I buy them, love them, use them a few times and then move onto the next on the market.

A senseless waste of money I know. So I have decided to reform my ways. Pick one and stick to it. Another crazy waste of cash is a gossip magazine.

They may only cost €1.50 and it takes all of two minutes to flick through them, but the consequences of reading these glossy pages can be fatal for our finances, not to mention our intellect. We see a snap of Sara Carbonero in new ankle boots or an expensive top, and even though we don’t earn her salary we suddenly need these items. Better for our wallets and for the sake of forests to leave these magazines on the shelf. So in the run up to New Year, over a glass of mulled wine or a stroll in the chilly sunshine, maybe it’s time to reflect on the stupidity of our spending and make a New Year’s Resolution to change our ways in 2013.

Crisis adds up to meat off the menu THE eating habits of the Spanish have changed due to the financial crisis. People are now buying cheaper products, which is affecting their diet, doctors say. Money is tighter than ever in many households with 25 per cent of the population unemployed, and many families buying only the necessary products to survive. More chicken is being bought, with sales rising 3 per cent a year, while many can’t afford beef or pork, which have seen sales drop as much as 15 per cent from 2008. More dairy products, fruit and vegetables are consumed, while sales of fish are dropping. The Spanish Consumer Union reveals that

USINESS IZ

Fees rise DRIVERS will have to pay 2.4 per cent more to use Spain’s toll roads from January 1. This will not apply to the Soller tunnel in Palma de Mallorca.

Roca closure SPANISH bathroom fittings manufacturer Roca has announced the closure of its factory in Alcala de Guadaira, in Sevilla, which will see 228 people lose their jobs.

Talks halted CYPRUS has halted talks for offshore natural gas drilling rights with a FrenchRussian consortium. Government spokesman Stefanos Stefanou claimed progress had been unsatisfactory.

Share buy AMERICAN car giants General Motors, will spend $5.5 billion (€4.15 billion) to buy back 200 million shares from the US treasury.

More help

RAW DEAL: Meat consumption falling as Spain faces tough economic times. meats are one of the first products to be cut out of the diet in times of hardship. The total spend on food throughout Spain amounted to €67.5 million between October 2011 and September 2012.

Five years ago, an average family spent €4,300 per year on food. However figures now show that they are spending €100 less than in 2007 and mainly on own brand products, which account for 40 per cent of sales.

CATHOLIC charity Caritas has handed out €1 million in aid this year in the region of Aragon alone. This is 35 per cent more than was donated during last year.

Blackberry missing Whatsapp FREE messaging service Whatsapp has confirmed it will not be available on the new RIM Blackberry 10 phone. The Blackberry 10 is due to be launched in January 2013 and is aimed at regaining users who had, in recent years, opted for iPhones and other

Android phones. However, the fact that Whatsapp will be unavailable on the new phone may put many people off, and buyers will have to find an alternative way of sending messages, photos, videos and calls for free.

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

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www.euroweeklynews.com

W EEKLY

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ROUND - UP OF REGULAR AND OCCASIONAL TOPICS

E XPAT EXTRA

LETTERS LEAPY HEALTH & BEAUTY

FOOD TIME OUT HOMES & GARDENS

PETS TV

Cristal and walnut whips for Xmas

SO, Christmas Day didn’t exactly turn out as planned, with Crispin turning down my request for a truly romantic time of festive togetherness. Turns out his mother and father were over for the holidays and so he spent it with them.

COMMENT

As I see it... Ana Jefferson-Smith takes an irreverent look at life as a singleton expat in Spain Having not struck me as coming from a particularly close family, wanting to spend

MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

Christmas with his parents did come as a bit of a shock. But wishing to enjoy their

company was actually a really sweet thought, even though I just wanted him for myself! Selfish, but that’s truly how I feel. I had earlier visions... in fact in truth lusting fantasies... of us enjoying a Champagne breakfast in bed, opening presents

TV satellite changes planned in 2013 set to hit some UK channels received free by thousands of British expats.

No miracleworker “THE Spanish did not vote for us for everything to continue as it was,” said Mariano Rajoy. “They wanted a profound change.” Spanish voters wanted a miracle and a reversal of the crisis but instead got austerity, rising unemployment, evictions and millions threatened by poverty. In fact, the story would be the same whoever was in government, but that is little consolation to voters or to Rajoy himself.

Taxpayers who don’t pay FINANCE MINISTER Cristobal Montoro is threatening to name and shame tax evaders, avoiders and late payers. “It’s a matter of making people pay,” he announced. The list will make no allowance for social prominence, he promised, although this is something of a joke. Hacienda regularly does just that, and the only taxpayers who pay up, grin and bear it are those on modest incomes who can least afford to.

Police hunt after driveway stolen US police have appealed for witnesses after a 300square-foot driveway was stolen from outside a house in Florida one morning, with the brick slabs dug up while the householder was at work. *** A JAPANESE waste disposal worker found $120,000 (€91,000) in unscathed notes in a stream of pulverised rubbish. There were also 2,300 fragments of destroyed banknotes. ***

JUST FANCY THAT... TWO US bank robbers have escaped from a Chicago prison after scaling a 200-foot wall with makeshift ropes and stuffing their beds with sheets to resemble bodies. *** A GOLDEN EAGLE swooped down on a small child it mistook for prey and carried him a few feet before releasing him only slightly injured.

***

A MISS USA contestant has been ordered to pay $5 million (€3.8 million) for defamation after falsely and maliciously claiming the event headed by billionaire Donald Trump’s pageant was rigged. *** A DANISH church now allows couples to marry dressed however they wish with any music of their choice.

*** BRAZIL football great Ronaldo has lost 38 pounds in three months as part of a television reality show, with the former striker facing gruelling exercises and dietary re-education on the Ideal Measurements show. *** FIVE Japanese highschool girls have been wrestled to the ground and had their left sock ripped off over the last three months by a mystery attacker.

together, struggling to cook a decent turkey lunch as we fumbled around the kitchen – tipsy of course after our morning tipple – watching Christmas films, kissing underneath mistletoe and falling asleep on the sofa in each other’s arms. My Christmas fantasy was, however, sadly all too premature. So how was Christmas Day for me? Well I spent the entire day in my pyjamas, watching the Queen’s Speech and later the Downton Abbey special. But the day was not without a highlight, consuming the bottle of Cristal I had bought for our boozy breakfast, as I devoured walnut whips. My thoughts have now turned to asking Crispin to spend New Year’s Eve with me, but what if he thinks I am getting too keen... especially after once being pushed aside for his parents? I actually found myself sitting there on Christmas night wondering if perhaps ‘spending the day with my family’ was even all a ruse. Is there really an ‘us’ or am I seeing Ana and Crispin as more than we really are? I need to take it one step at a time, and not push it even though things were so dreamy, especially after our romantic previous weekend twosome in the snowy Sierra Nevada. I don’t normally rush into things, but these last few weeks have been romantically perfect. Anyway, I really just need to be brave and ask him to share New Year’s Eve with me... to see in 2013, one of the biggest nights of the year. Let’s just hope he says yes... and we can even make our New Year resolutions together! How romantic...

L etters OPINION & COMMENT

22 EWN

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Letters for Your Say should be emailed to yoursay@ euroweekly news.com, posted to Euro Weekly News, C/Moscatel 10, P-62, Polígono Industrial, Arroyo de la Miel, 29630 Benalmadena, Málaga, Spain or faxed to 0034 952 440 887

Electricity bill adjustments are a total mystery WE have all probably suffered price adjustments from electricity suppliers, but has anyone been able to fathom how these adjustments have been calculated? I asked customer services at Iberdrola and sent them figures relating to what I thought the calculation should be. At various offices I was repeatedly referred to the reverse of my invoice. I can find no relation to the rates I paid and pay nor to any formula by which they calculate the price adjustments. With my simplistic but logical calculations I believe that at present levels I will have been charged almost three times what I think I should be. Do any of your readers know how the calculations were made and do any think that they are being overcharged? Richard Oats (by email)

Cycle menace I WELCOME the decision to grant restaurants and bars in Javea a four-month breathing space before having to comply with new terrace laws. But I disagree that tables and chairs on the Paseo de la Marina Espanola are making life difficult for pedestrians. To make it a more pleasant area for pedestrians, the town hall should take action against the cyclists who

Snapped! By John Weatherer of Alicante

27 December 2012- 2 Jauary 2013

P pub hotog r l em icati aphs pho ail w on sh for p o ton ews ith a f uld b ossibl e es @e ull e c uro wee aptio nt by klyn n to ews : .com

AT this time of year many of the sunrises and sunsets are particularly colourful. Reader John Weatherer of Cabo Roig sent this in, with the admission that when he took this sunset photograph, just one word sprang to mind... ‘inferno’.

WHEN YOU WRITE

All letters, whether by email or post, should carry the writer’s postal address, NIE and contact number though only the name and town will be published. Letters may also be edited. Readers who have missed earlier correspondence can see all letters posted on:

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consistently ride at speed and ring their bells loudly in order to intimidate you and order pedestrians out of their way. Nancy Elliott, Pedreguer (Alicante)

Money matter FOLLOWING queries over where monies raised in Spain go to for the Poppy Appeal, I received the following confirmation from Chris Wyatt, Chairman, The Royal British Legion in Spain, District North. Dear Ian, All the monies raised in Spain are used here for our beneficiaries. At the end of each year, whatever surplus is left in our Welfare Fund is returned to the UK as it earns much higher interest there. This is the same for all Overseas Branches around the world, however, that money is always available for us should we need it. Obviously, it

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would not make sense to keep building up a huge surplus here. For instance, last year we raised over €134,000.00 and to date have given out around €80,000.00 so when this year’s collection is added in, the surplus from last year is returned to the UK. Although the majority of beneficiaries here are elderly, there have been a sprinkling of younger claimants. Please thank your members for all their hard work and efforts in collecting for the Poppy Appeal this year. I will be announcing the Poppy total in January but it already looks like another record-breaker. Chris Wyatt Thank you in anticipation. Ian C Wilson, President, Ex Servicemen’s Association of Mazarrón District (ESAMD).

Power alert A MAN who said he was from Eiffage Energia claimed he needed to update and replace the electricity meter outside with a digital meter. He said the ICP was no longer needed, removed it, and took it away. The man did not leave any receipt or information. Our Spanish advisors think we have been conned and will have to have the ICP replaced. We are in the process of switching to Iberswitch and they do not know anything either. Should I go to the police? Dorothy, Moraira (Alicante) Editor’s note: It is important to always seek proof of identification from visiting tradesmen and officials from companies.

David Petrie’s letter (Issue1432) about winter fuel payments to British pensioners drew a chilly response from our readers…

Justice ruling

Fair share

IF David Petrie rather admirably refuses to claim his winter fuel allowance (Issue 1432), then he is refuting the recent European Courts of Justice ruling that we are all entitled to claim what is and always has been rightfully ours as British pensioners. Furthermore, some pensioners in Spain already receive the allowance and some do not, which is ridiculous! Brian Johnston (by email)

THE winter fuel allowance is a payment to help pensioners with the ever-rising fuel costs and not taken from the pension contributions but from the chancellor’s tax collections. I have certainly paid in my fair share of taxes in my working life. If Mr Petrie feels that his finances are so adequate that he doesn’t need the payment, he can always give it to one of the organisations in the UK that collects such payments to redistribute to very

poor pensioners. If I was still living in the UK I would be claiming tax credits, which we don’t get here. John Dale, Torrevieja (Alicante)

Not guilty MY husband has claimed his allowance this year for the first time and I am very glad he did so. I will certainly be claiming mine next year. There are people in the UK that have never contributed a penny to the system and claim whatever is

going. I will not feel guilty about claiming the allowance. Maggie, Orihuela Costa (Alicante)

Send it back IF David Petrie is not happy receiving the fuel allowance, then reject it, send it back. I have a friend in France who is of a similar mind and some years ago, under the cover of a polite letter to the relevant department, they returned their allowance and they haven’t been bothered

since. Simple! Dave Pollard, Torrevieja (Alicante)

First payment I THOUGHT you might like to know that I have just received my first winter fuel payment from the UK. This letter is just to give other expatriates hope. Next stop is to try to and get back-payments from my entitlement age of 60. I am just about to order some logs! Phil Walker (by email)

The views expressed and opinions given in Letters are not necessarily those of the EWN publishers. They accept no responsibility for accuracy of information, errors, omissions or statements, and reject claims arising out of any action that a company or individual may take on the basis of information contained therein.

OPINION & COMMENT

24 EWN

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

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Poll results are light at end of the tunnel L L UKIP is an intelligent, utterly lawful, competentlyled party, which is not afraid to voice its opinions on a whole spectrum of policies that worry the British people. It is in fact the voice of reason. Stricter border control and a freeze on all immigration. It’s not rocket science to see that this ‘all welcome’ policy is destroying the NHS and bankrupting our Social Services. It’s not the colour of skin, it’s the colour of money doing the damage.

Slithering surprise A BOX of deadly snakes has been found in a child’s wardrobe in Australia. Three-year old Kyle Cummins found eggs in his garden and left them in the warm confines of his cupboard.

Psy oh Psy?

EAPY EE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT Out of Europe We never needed Europe. We had a Commonwealth market remember that mouthwatering NZ lamb and Australian fruit we enjoyed so much? How jealous was the EU as it saw us gathering the harvest of our considerable endeavours. Our Commonwealth cousins were bewildered when we

POLL RESULTS: Gains for UKIP.

betrayed them and moved all our purchasing power to the Europeans, many of whom were only interested in the late fruition of Adolf Hitler’s ambitions. We should put our caps in our hands, admit we made a mistake and beg forgiveness of all our war and peace allies. Although I know this sounds a bit like a party political broadcast, I can assure you it is not.

I only know something has to change, before our children are left holding a baby that is so controlled by a ‘big brother’ that sheer bewilderment will either put them in early graves or in lines of robots akin to the brain-dead citizens of North Korea. A very happy New Year to you all. Keep the faith Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com

GANGNAM STYLE has been chosen as one of Collins Dictionary words of the year. It is the title of Korean singer Psy’s signature song.

END COLUMN

WONDERFUL, wonderful UKIP! At last a party which echoes the thoughts and aspirations of the majority of the British public is finally getting some of the recognition it deserves. This week’s great party poll results were, to my mind, the first pinpoint of light at the end of an extremely long tunnel. A tunnel crammed with denials, dithering, downright subversives and politicians petrified to speak out in case they lose their positions of pontificating privilege. Prior to UKIP there was only the BNP. The problem with the BNP is that despite echoing the thoughts of many Brits, its past record was always against it. Although many of its policies are in complete accord with the majority of the British public, there has always been the - often to my mind unjustified - stigma of thuggery and racism in their political representations. Well, UKIP doesn’t wear this mantle of menace.

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Sister act AN Argentine woman has married the convicted killer of her twin sister. Victor Cingolani is serving a 13year sentence for murdering girlfriend Johana Casas in 2010.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

27 December 2012- 2 January 2013

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Monday morning blues WANT a last-minute doctor’s appointment? Well try the start of the week. A study has found this is when patients are most likely to miss their consultations due to Monday morning blues, so there may be a few last-minute spaces. The study speculated that people find it harder to drag themselves out to an appointment straight after the weekend and would be less able to

cope with the prospect of being given bad news or having an unpleasant treatment. By Friday, the psychological boost of it being the end of the week increased their resilience and so improved attendance. The team from Glasgow University analysed the atten-dance records for more than four-and-a-half million outpatient hospital appointments across Scotland between January 1, 2008 and December 3, 2010 and found that missed appointments steadily decrease as the week progresses.

REDHEAD: Forty per cent of British people carry the red-hair gene.

Are you really a secret redhead? MILLIONS of Britons could be secret redheads carrying ‘silent’ genes. A study of more than 5,000 British people’s DNA indicates that around four in 10 of us carry the gene that makes hair red, but the recessive gene is

not switched on to affect hair colour. However, the gene means that you could have the increased health risks that afflict redheads, including increased sensitivity to pain, skin cancer, Parkinson’s disease and

even Tourette’s syndrome. People with Scottish or Northern England ancestry are more likely to be ‘secret’ redheads. The project was led by Dr James Wilson, a geneticist who studies the genetic roots of disease.

Anti-aging cream is out of this world THE latest beauty treatment on offer is literally out of this world. New anti-aging cream, Celestial Secret, was developed in Spain and contains powdered meteorite. The dust is said to

be full of calcium, iron and magnesium, which are supposed to help benefit skin. The moisturiser also contains extracts of semi-precious stones as well as botanicals. The cream sells for almost €300.

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HEALTH & BEAUTY

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Advertising Feature

Cambridge 800 consultants in Spain rewarded for their excellent work THE staff and a number of Cambridge 800 consultants from Spain were flown over to attend the annual Cambridge Weight Plan, UK Conference, in November, which was held to celebrate the successes of dieters and consultants alike. The theme this year was ‘your time to shine’ in the spirit of the Olympic torch. As ever Cambridge rewarded slimmers who had lost significant amounts of weight in the face of adversity and consultants who had gone above and beyond the call of duty to support their customers. Not only did Cambridge throw a great party, but there were many interviews with

slimmers with both before and after photos and it was difficult to hold back the tears when they told their stories about the monumental challenges they had managed to overcome, and how their life had changed for the better after they had lost their weight and had managed to maintain it. Every customer and consultant is a winner in the eyes of Cambridge and the party after the conference was a well deserved reward to all those who had made life changes to themselves or someone else. The consistent comments from all the customers of Cambridge, was that without the vital support of their Cambridge consultants

From left to right: Some of the members of the Spanish team Gilly Speleers Spain Consultant, Torrevieja, Alicante; Lynda Gibson Spain Consultant, Orihuela Costa, Alicante; Sarah Hawes, Director Cambridge 800 Spain; Ann Bridges Spain Consultant, Mojacar, Almeria; Lauren Shakespeare Spain joint Consultant with mum Lynda Gibson. At the front: Vicky Anderson, Support Administrator for Cambridge 800 Spain. this would not have been possible. If you would like to get in contact with your

NEW PROCEDURE: Means an end to taking pills.

Radio blood pressure treatment MILLIONS of people with high blood pressure could benefit from a new type of surgery, meaning an end to taking pills. The simple 30-minute procedure uses radio waves to destroy overactive nerves around the kidneys,

and it was found to help patients whose condition could not be maintained using medication. The patients in the study all had blood pressure readings of 160 or higher, and had taken three or more types of medication

to normalise their blood pressure. The findings showed that six months after treatment blood pressure was reduced and almost 79 per cent of the same group were able to maintain their lower rates for a year.

local Cambridge 800 consultant in Spain and find out how you can get your life and health

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FOOD

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27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

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Blue cheese

OVER-INDULGED this Christmas? Try not to feel too bad, particularly if it’s cheese that has taken your fancy, as some cheeses could be good for your heart. Scientists have found that Roquefort has antiinflammatory properties which could help protect against heart disease.

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Counting the calories at Christmas THE average woman gains five pounds over Christmas. But rather than denying yourself all those festive treats, there are some ways to cut the calories and ensure you can still fit in your jeans come January. Here are five tips: 1. If at a party try and ensure you eat before you go so you don’t arrive at the buffet table hungry and fill up with high-fat foods. 2. Christmas lunch is, in theory, very healthy, with lean protein from the turkey and vegetables. It’s the additional extras you need to be careful with. Mini sausages add 60 calories, more if wrapped in bacon, Yorkshire puddings add around 100 calories and stuffing 231 calories. 3. Grazing is often the biggest downfall; a mince pie alone can contain 240 calories. But you can

save calories with a few clever swaps. A couple of handfuls of Twiglets contain 192 calories, compared to a handful of Pringles that contain 279. Say no to cream on your pudding and you’ll save hundreds of calories. 4. When it comes to leftovers, leave the roast potatoes alone and pick at Top tips for keeping weight gain at bay. the turkey as it is full of lean protein and fills you up more helps reduce your hangover and quickly than carbs. weight gain. 5. With New Year upon us it is Steer clear of creamy liquors, easy to rack up the calories such as Baileys which has 180 consuming alcoholic beverages. calories and eight grammes of fat Drinking a glass of tap water per glass, and stick to champagne; between every alcoholic drink 111 calories and zero fat per glass.

HEALTHIER: Diners prefer to know how many miles they have to walk rather than carolie intake.

Walk to burn off calories RESTAURANTS that state how far you will have to walk to burn off the calories consumed in the meal could help in the battle of the bulge. Researchers from the University of North Carolina in the US found diners are more likely to choose a healthier fast food snack if the menu states how many miles they have to walk to get rid of it than if it just has details on calorie intake.

They recruited 800 volunteers and split them into four groups testing their meal choices giving no nutritional information at all, details of calorie content, the number of minutes walking needed to burn those calories off or number of miles needed to walk to achieve the same outcome. Eighty two per cent said they preferred physical activity-based menu labels.

30 EWN

27 December 2012 - 2 January 2013

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For solutions: http://www.euroweeklynews.com/puzzle-answers.html

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Time Out

It's a better week for travel with less likelihood of delays. Should you be feeling a little lethargic and sorry about recent events, just count your blessings. Consider raising some money and having fun by indulging in a garage or car boot sale.

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) Spirituality seeps right through the week. As you are feeling particularly sensuous, invite someone special to dinner or on a trip. Visit garden centres and plan ahead. The colours and perfumes will be particularly pleasing.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20)

Satisfaction with your love life is paramount this week, and the opinion of others seems important to you. Perhaps you are looking for an excuse to

Expat writer Michael Walsh’s poetry is unique; people actually like, understand and draw inspiration from it; a sentiment that crosses continents and social status. Diamonds Last Forever is the third in a trilogy of his poetry and is typical of his work. The collection includes verse that will appeal to all ages and social groups. In fact, it is two collections in one; the second is

IF ITʼS YOUR BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK Possibly you did not imagine how active the New Year would be. You are already needing to pull in the reins. Be careful what you wish for because this year it could come true.

Y our S tars

colleague brings insights into how others live and it is quite an eye-opener. Friendships are particularly important this week.

ARIES (March 21 - April 20)

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21)

A conversation with a

HOW TO PLAY Fill the grid so that every row, every column and every 3X3 box contains the digits 1-9. There’s no maths involved. You solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic.

There is something in you that

Joan Manuel Serrat, born December 27, 1943. He is a Spanish singer and songwriter, considered by society and musicians as one of the most influential figures in popular Spanish and Catalonian music, with a discography of more than 30 albums. He is currently on tour with another popular singer, Joaquin Sabina.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Being very much in demand for your talents this week means less time to spend socially, so it's important to make time for loved ones at the weekend. Someone seeking your advice may simply be seeking your approval for an action they are going to take anyway. .

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) There may be some opposition to your ideas as Pluto turns this week. Perhaps your natural charm just doesn't seem to be working. As you have helped others in the past, make it clear that you expect a bit of co-operation.

LEO (July 24 - August 23)

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Although you have perhaps been looking to money-making ideas to progress finances, think also of alternatives. Perhaps there are areas of your lifestyle where money could be saved. Items that are not used could be sold for a profit and rid you of clutter.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Having suffered a bit of a setback last week, you may be feeling less confident. Revving up your social life will certainly help to bring spirits up again. Be with people who liven or inspire you in some way.

AND THE WINNER IS THE winning number of this year’s El Gordo lottery was drawn at 10.07am and the majority of winning ‘decimos’ (tenths) had been sold in Alcala de Henares, Madrid, although there were winners throughout Spain.

Identify the original ‘sources’ of the following famous/infamous ‘political’ quotations. The year that they were first used has been given in brackets as a clue.

1. ‘A week is a long time in politics’ (1964) 2. ‘I did not have sexual relations with that woman’ (1998) 3. ‘I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed’ (1963) 4. ‘I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman, but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a King of England too’ (1588) 5. ‘Indeed, let us be frank about it. Most of our people have never had it so good’ (1957) 6. ‘Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. but it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning’ (1942) 7. ‘Read my lips: no new taxes’ (1998) 8. ‘There can be no whitewash at the White House’ (1973) 9. ‘To those waiting with bated breath for that favourite media catchphrase, the U-turn, I have only one thing to say: You turn if you want to. The lady's not for turning!’ (1980) 10. ‘Today, in the world of freedom, the proudest boast is Ich bin ein Berliner!’ (1963)

needs a creative outlet. Perhaps you would like to write a book: memoirs, for instance, take up a craft or paint.

This is a week when progress is fast and plans run ahead. Try new ideas and seek information to hone your knowledge. An organisation that is new to you offers insight and social involvement. An offer that thrusts you into the limelight might be avoided at first but would be to your advantage.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Just joking

beautifully illustrated. Expect intense romantic feelings, along with verse that lovers of nature will find enchanting. Don’t be surprised to find his personal favourites, ‘The Cattle in the Lea’ and ‘Where Skylarks Sing’ sharing company with ‘Homage to the

make a change. It is possible that a change is not required so much as a different approach. It is not essential to put all your eggs in one basket.

SU DOKU

A man asks his friend for a cigarette. His friend says ‘I thought you made a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking?’ The man says ‘I’m in the process of quitting. Right now I’m in the middle of phase one.’ ‘What's phase one?’ asked his friend. ‘I've quit buying,’ he replied.

books@euroweeklynews.com

POLITICALLY CORRECT

Nonagram

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20)

BOOKS

Female Tummy.’ Another favourite was his thought provoking; ‘I Gave my Son Away Today’ and perhaps drawing on his own experiences, ‘I Saw a Tall Ship Sailing By.’ Those who love Spain will like ‘It Was Christmas Day in the Casa.’ Available on Amazon Kindle £2.59.

TARGET: Average: 10 Good: 13

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

ante, anti, cant, cent, cite, emit, etna (gas burner), item, mate, meat, meet, mete, mint, mite, neat, tame, team, teem, teen, time, tine, actin, ament, antic, eaten, emmet, enact, enate, matin, meant, tinea, cement, emetic, enatic, entice, inmate,mantic, centime, matinee, MINCEMEAT

How many English words of four letters or more can you make from the nine letters in our Nonagram puzzle? Each letter may be used only once (unless the letter appears twice). Each word MUST CONTAIN THE CENTRE LETTER (in this case B) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed.

Word ladder COAL

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Thoughts come to you, perhaps in dreams, that are creative and energy boosting. Someone who recently moved out of your sphere is sadly missed but is in some ways still a part of you. A person at work who has been causing you concern needs investigation.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) A strong and exciting romantic feeling flows through the week, which is fitting as Valentine's Day comes round again next month. Someone returning from a trip makes you smile and boosts your spirit. People who have been a little bossy finally

Very good: 19 Excellent: 23

SEAM

Move from the start word (COAL) to the end word (SEAM) in the same number of steps as there are rungs on the Word Ladder. You must only change one letter at a time.

COAL COAT CHAT CHAM SHAM SEAM

It has been eight years since Batman vanished into the night, turning, in that instant, from hero to fugitive. Assuming the blame for the death of D.A. Harvey Dent, the Dark Knight sacrificed everything for what he and Commissioner Gordon both hoped was the greater good. For a time the lie worked, as criminal activity in Gotham City was crushed under the weight of the anti-crime Dent Act. But everything will change with the arrival of a cunning cat burglar with a mysterious agenda. 2h45 Director: Christopher Nolan Starring: Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Joseph Gordon-Levitt

10-star quiz

COAL FOAL FOAM ROAM REAM SEAM

Harmonising heart, mind and

The Dark Knight Rises

1. Harold WILSON, 2. Bill CLINTON, 3. Martin Luther KING, 4. ELIZABETH I, 5. Harold MACMILLAN, 6. Winston CHURCHILL, 7. George H W BUSH, 8. Richard NIXON, 9. Margaret THATCHER, 10. John F KENNEDY

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