Issuu

ISSUE NO. 1538

EWN FRONT EXTRA

On your marks... ALMUÑECAR will host the charity San Silvestre Race on December 26. Children will start the race at 7pm and adults at 8pm. Registration is at the municipal sports department or call 958 883 142.

Happy couples SENIOR couples were honoured in Almuñecar in an event at a local restaurant which saw more than 350 attendees.

Carol contest SALOBREÑA’S Colegio Mayor Zaragoza school won the Christmas Carol Contest organised by Radio Salobreña.

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Nativity breaks records SIX THOUSAND visitors turned up last Sunday (December 21) to take a look at the real-life nativity scene at Los Tablones in Motril. The fifth edition of the event this year included new spaces to display traditional professions including the wheat windmill and the pottery workshop. Mayor of the town, Luisa Garcia Chamorro, said that Christmas had officially started with this event, which continues to attract

higher visitor numbers each year. “This event has become one of the tourism

highlights of the year, due to the realistic nature of the scenes and the introduction of new

surprises in every edition,” said the mayor. Head of the residents’ association of Los

The fruity smell of success THE Costa Tropical produces more than 80 million kilos of tropical fruits a year, and the figure could be higher if water was more readily available. The perfect weather conditions along the coasts of Granada and Malaga make the area ideal for growing fruits like avocados, custard apples and mangoes.

The area has also become one of the most important exporters of these products, nationally and internationally. More than 50 million kilos of custard apples are grown on the Costa Tropical, which translates into a staggering 99 per cent of European production. Around 10,000 people on Granada’s coast make

a living out of the tropical crops, with more than 4,000 direct jobs. Production of tropical

fruits has been stable during the economic crisis, registering fewer losses than other sectors.

Tablones, Jose Manuel Maldonado, congratulated the 100 residents who had made the event possible, and emphasised the improvement that it experiences every year. Garcia also thanked the participants for using the Cueva Hornedo and its surroundings as the setting for the play, and said the event could not have been possible without the support of the different council departments and the help of Local Police and Civil Protection.

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INDEX News 1 - 16 Finance 17 - 22 Letters 23 Leapy Lee 24 Daily TV 26 Time Out 28 - 29 Health & Beauty 30 Pets 31 Services 34 - 35 Classifieds 36 - 37 Motoring 39 Sport 40

ON CAMERA: Head of the museum, Maria Dolores Simon, will explain the finds.

TV show features local archaeology FRIGILIANA’S archaeological history is to be the subject of a nationwide television show. The Archaeological Museum of Frigiliana has been chosen as the setting for an episode of popular TV show ‘La aventura del saber’ on channel La 2. The report will be included in a section entitled ‘The time tunnel’, featuring head of

the museum, Maria Dolores Simon, who will show the archaeological remains found in Cerrillo de las Sombras, and explain the history of the funerary urns and ornaments found at this location. Velez-Malaga was also visited by the television crew as it is one of the key points of Spanish Phoenician history in Axarquia.

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Band anniversary NERJA’S Municipal Music Band marked its 25th anniversary with a Christmas concert last Saturday (December 20). More than 500 musicians have been members of the band.

Homes to make way for wall VELEZ-MALAGA COUNCIL is to expropriate homes in order to bring the town’s Arab wall back into public view. The town planning department has launched several legal actions aimed at obtaining through expropriation those homes which hide from sight the town’s medieval wall. Other stretches of the wall

have already been recovered. For instance, the section of wall located in Plaza de la Constitucion, beside the Puerta Real, was restored to public view again after demolishing the old Labour Union building, which was once the Mayor Hall. The stretch that the council wants to reclaim now goes between the Puerta Real of La

Villa and Plaza de la Constitucion, together with the stretch located in Calle Las Tiendas, in front of the senior citizens’ home. The council is looking to sign agreements with the owners with the ultimate intention being to demolish the properties and reinstate the town’s medieval look. Reuters/Cordon Press

Drawing winner TORROX Migas Festival’s drawing competition winner is Claudia Bueno Martin. The sixyear-old received a prize of school supplies and a season ticket for the town’s theatre.

25 - 31 December 2014 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical WE DO!

Bank benevolence LA CAIXA bank has gifted Frigiliana’s Caritas foundation €1,250 to help the town’s poorer families.

Taxing issues A CONFERENCE in English on UK pensions and taxes will be held on December 28 at Nerja Cultural Centre in Calle Granada 45. The event will start at 11am and can be booked at melanie.godfrey@ blacktowerfm.com or call 952 816 443.

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Happy New Year OUR readers will be able to get their news fix a day early again next week as the Euro Weekly News is hitting the streets on Wednesday, December 31.

Sterling effort THE Spanish Red Cross has awarded volunteers, associations and institutions of Axarquia with medals for their work.

VELEZ-MALAGA celebrated the second Day for Integration through Sports. Launched by the Social Services Department, it was aimed at encouraging people with disabilities to practise light physical activities.

Live nativity scene THE children’s live nativity scene in Almuñecar will be held on December 26 in the town hall square. The event will start at 5pm.

Traditional cooking GRANDMAS from Malaga will hold cooking lessons as part of a project called ‘Flavours of the past, flavours of the future’, which is aimed at sharing the traditional recipes of the province.

Sport for all

Health centre funds NERJA Council is to ask the Junta de Andalucia regional government for the funds needed to construct the new health centre.

Lists at the ready THE Three Wise Men’s messenger will collect the gift lists and letters from children in Almuñecar on December 30 at 7pm in the town hall square.

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TV magnet VIKING MARAUDERS: Catoira festival re-enacts Spain’s Viking past.

Quest for answers to Viking past

PAIN is hardly renowned for its links to fearsome Viking warriors, but a chance discovery has put a Spanish archaeologist on the trail of ancient Scandinavian raiders in her home country. Dr Irene Garcia Losquiño of the University of Aberdeen is preparing a dig next spring in the Galicia Region, where a storm uncovered a set of anchors from Viking longships. Although there are written accounts of Viking raids in Northern Spain, archaeologically speaking, the Iberian pensinsula has been a barren hunting ground for Viking experts. Each year, however, locals in the Galician area of Catoira hold a Viking festival where they stage a re-enactment of the Viking raids that occurred 1,000 years ago. Dr Garcia Losquiño thinks that she may be able to

Quote of the Week We can’t send a police squad to watch over a nativity scene, we appeal to people’s social conscience,’

said Santiago mayor Agustin Hernandez after a statue of the baby Jesus was stolen from the city’s nativity scene for the second time in three years.

uncover rare archaeological evidence of a Viking presence in Spain. “On the beach where the anchors were found was a big mound which locals thought might have been a motte-and-bailey construction, which was used by the later Vikings in France,” Dr Garcia Losquiño told The Herald Scotland. “But with the help of a geographer using tomography we now think this was a ‘longphort’, a Viking construction only found in Ireland during the early Viking age, and very similar to English Viking camps, where they would winter, after taking over the harbour.” The Spanish archaeologist is planning a spring dig in Galicia and also in Sevilla, where a Norse warband was said to be active in the area for three years. Some of the Spanish sites are marshlands, with perfect conditions for preserving ancient treasures.

CREDITlev radin / Shutterstock.com

Number of the week

80,000

is the number of UK students who cannot find places on nursing courses because the NHS is hiring qualified nurses from countries like Spain and Portugal for a fraction of the cost of training a nurse in England.

MORE than 40 audiovisual productions have taken place in Nerja during 2014. One of the most important ones was the shooting of the international action movie, Pursuit.

Work done CONSTRUCTION work at the Macharaviaya MA-106 road and Calle Mistral have been completed. With a budget of €1m, work in surrounding streets is expected to be finished by April.

Football aid A CHARITY football match was held on December 23 in Nerja’s Enrique Lopez Cuenca stadium. Entrance was free but visitors were requested to bring with them a donation of a kilo of nonperishable food.

And finally... A FUGITIVE wanted in Spain for murder has been sending postcards from the Caribbean to his trial judges. The Frenchman has been on the run for six years for a murder in Huesca in 2006, but despite admitting to the crime, prosecutors could not prove motive or premeditation, resulting in the fugitive’s temporary release and subsequent abscondment.

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Improvements made to electric power line THE high voltage power line between Rincon de la Victoria and Nerja has been improved. Endesa electrical company carried out work with a budget of more than €60,000 to increase the line’s safety, especially on the stretch at the Mediterraneo Motorway, also known as A-7. The company said the works had been carried under strict safety rules, without the supply being interrupted.

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A Christmas message from the Euro Weekly News

WE would like to extend a huge thank you and happy Christmas to our valued readers, without whom the Euro Weekly News (EWN) would not be Spain’s largest, free, local newspaper, reaching more than half a million people every week. We wish you every success in 2015 and we look forward to continuing to bring you all the news from your communities. At the EWN we believe in our community and we never stop striving to do what we can. We look for goodness and we emphasise it in our pages, and we try to help people to integrate

by making the community stronger. We believe in helping others who are less fortunate, weaker, or older, as one day we know that will be us. In order to move on, we learn from our mistakes, and our passion, energy and our belief carry us forward. As Thomas Watson once said: “To be successful you have to have your heart in your business and your business in your heart.” We would also like to wish a very merry Christmas to all our advertisers. When you come on board as an advertiser with the EWN, you become part of the EWN family, and your business is treated like our own. We put our heart and soul into making it work, and each and every one of our advertisers is treated like a valued family member. A very big thank you and merry Christmas to you all.

Our View

It’s time for a New Year resolution

T’S that time of year again when a lot (but not all) of us cherish those last few days of overindulgence before embarking on our wellintended, but often fruitless journeys to better ourselves. Be it giving up smoking, joining a gym or promising to be a better person, come January 1, life will get that little bit harder for those full of good intentions. Yes, it’s time to decide on a dreaded New Year’s resolution. Every year we know that whatever we decide to give up, take up, do more of or do less of will take determination, willpower, effort and strength. For those that stick with it, the rewards are plentiful. Giving up smoking will improve your health, be less of a strain on your finances, and make your teeth whiter! Joining a gym will make you fitter, feel better and more often than not, look better

too. Learning a new language is unbelievably rewarding. But boy, are they all hard to stick with! It’s so much easier to give up when something is hard, which is why so many of us soon fall back into old habits despite resolving to rid ourselves of them. Setting small, attainable goals throughout the year instead of making huge, sweeping changes on January 1 can often be the best way to approach a New Year’s resolution. And by sticking with our resolutions through the difficult times (usually at the very start), we will soon find rewards that we may never have expected: a happier outlook, pride, the fulfilment felt from overcoming something difficult. Whatever resolution you make in the next few days - assuming you make one at all - perseverance is the key. The best of luck to all of you!

Shopping centre closed to traffic THE Shopping Centre Abierto in Motril will be closed to traffic until Sunday (December 28). According to council representatives, a survey was carried out amongst the 245 centre store owners, of whom 158 expressed their wish to restrict traffic during the week when more customers attend the stores to carry out Christmas shopping. To ensure traffic flow, there will be alternative routes which will remain open, including Calle Nueva, Catalanes, Emilio More, Bustamante, Teatro and Cruz Verde. Local residents and public transport will be allowed access to the centre.

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25 - 31 December 2014 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

Fewer hotels to shut in winter THE Junta de Andalucia regional government has proposed new

measures to combat tourism seasonality on the Costa Tropical. This project is aimed at helping hotel establishments be profitable during the winter months so that they can remain open. “It is a project intended to attract new tourism sectors such as senior citizens, sports, nautical and foreign tourism, so that hotels are not forced to close during the winter,” said head of the Hotel Association PLAYMOBIL: 7.5 cm toys known as clicks. of Costa Tropical, Rafael Lamelas. With a budget of €6.6 million, the scheme is also designed to create and A PLAYMOBIL exhibition has been maintain jobs during 2015 and opened in Torre del Mar. 2016. Called ‘Let’s Play with Clicks,’ it can be Actions involve marketing visited at the exhibition hall of the town’s campaigns, training courses to tourism office. Entrance is free. widen the staff’s professional Each piece consists of more than 2,000 experience and tax incentives Playmobil figures, also known as Clicks, for establishments. some created more than 20 years ago. Click-Clack facebook

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Let’s play with clicks

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School damaged in storms set for repair THE Public Andalucian Agency for Education is to start repair work on a Velez-Malaga school, which was damaged by the rain. Parents associations have

condemned the poor state of the school, Las Naciones, due to the children being forced to take classes in the school gym, the library and the teachers’ room, as

the prefabricated rooms were badly damaged during the storms of November 27. Work is expected to start by the beginning of 2015.

Couple charged with fraud A YOUNG couple from Almuñecar have been charged with defrauding a charity association. The accused man is a 28year-old who already has a criminal record for similar offences.

He used a counterfeit bank statement from a charity association and with the help of his 18-year-old girlfriend, took out three mobile phone contracts. They also made purchases with the fake document.

When the head of the association received a €565 charge for a mobile phone they did not own, he filed a lawsuit at the Guardia Civil station. Officers located the couple and charged them with fraud.

Road project out to tender THE redevelopment project on Calle Princesa in Torre del Mar will be put out to public tender by next year. The project’s budget will be €683,000, according to Town Planning Councillor, Concepcion Labao, and Velez-Malaga Mayor, Francisco

Delgado Bonilla. Calle Princesa in Torre del Mar is one of the most dynamic shopping areas in the town and the work will involve the pavement and road renovation as well as upgrading lighting, electricity and water systems.

NEWS EXTRA

Singers sought CORAXALIA CHOIR is looking for singers. Those interested can join a rehearsal on January 8 at the Casa de la Cultura in Viñuela, at 5.30pm. More info eucorax@hotmail.es.

Pretty fronts REGISTRATION for Nerja’s third Christmas Façade Contest is open until December 30.

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New association THE new Association of Photography and Video Professionals of Costa Tropical has been officially introduced in Motril. Called APROIMAGEN, it’s comprised of members from Salobreña, Almuñecar, La Herradura and Motril. Its main goals are encouraging collaboration,

adadgasdgasdga fostering the creation of courses to widen knowledge, buying material in

groups to achieve lower prices and improving the service for their clients.

Free translation service THE council of Motril will offer a free translation service to the town’s bars

and restaurants. The project is aimed at translating the

establishment’s menus into English, French and German, in order to grant a better service to tourists. Mayor of the town, Luisa Garcia Chamorro, emphasised that one of the main tourism attractions of the town is the variety of gastronomy and tapas on offer. Those interested can apply at the Tourism office. The service is free and will run until January. In addition, the project will offer intermediate English lessons to restaurant staff members and taxi drivers who already know the language basics in order to improve and offer a better service.

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Poster contest THE Salobreña Film Noir Festival poster contest has attracted huge interest from home and further afield. A total of 189 art pieces have been submitted, from all corners of Spain, as well as countries such as Cuba, Argentina and Bolivia. Representatives of the organising association, Calibre 18seis80, stressed the great quality of the posters. The festival will be held between March 17 and 22, 2015.

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Flying to Russia VUELING AIRLINES has announced a new route to an as yet unnamed Russian city from Malaga next summer. The airline will be the first to offer two direct flights to Russian cities.

Living nativity THE living nativity scene of Los Tablones (Motril) took place last Sunday (December 21) and attracted more than 6,000 visitors.

Road works THE Councils of Polopos and Albuñol (Costa Tropical) have complained about the severe damage caused to several paths by the construction company in charge of works on the A-7 road.

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Cooking lessons for the jobless FIFTEEN unemployed residents from Almuñecar will participate on a

cookery training course. Almuñecar Council, together with the

FUN FAIR: For children in Malaga.

Nerja children’s day out FIFTY children from Nerja will have the chance to attend the 11th edition of Malaga’s Children Fair (MIMA). The event takes place at the Conference Hall of Malaga on December 29, and features an ice rink, crafts and storytelling workshops, magician and clown performances, together with sports and educational activities.

Commonwealth of Costa Tropical municipalities, have opened the registration period for the course which will run until January 9. The course will feature around 16 weeks of theory and practical training, together with internships at local companies. Funded by the council and the European Social Fund, the course is aimed at helping the student’s chance of finding a job and contributing to their employment experience. The course will start in March 2015. Those interested can apply at the Casa de la Juventud in Plaza del Teatro. The chosen candidates will be announced between January 10 and 22.

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Accused of molesting blind girl PROSECUTORS in Granada are seeking a 13-year prison term for a man who allegedly molested a 12-year-old blind girl. The accused, a 22-year-old married man with two children, allegedly abused the young woman during a party at an abandoned cottage in Motril.

The incident took place in August of 2012 when the man forcefully carried the woman in his arms, taking her to an empty room where he forced her into having sexual relations, according to the victim’s version. He admitted they had relations but claims it was consensual.

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EWN works hard but plays hard too! Steven and Amalia.

Dancing begins.

THE newspaper business is a highpressure, deadline-filled occupation, and continues to be so over the Christmas period. At the Euro Weekly News, we work 52 weeks a year and are currently burning the midnight oil at the weekends to continue delivering our high standard publications during the festive season. But all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, so we recently held an impromptu staff party at the beautiful Da Bruno’s restaurant in Mijas Costa, where we let our hair down and enjoyed some delicious food, drink and a bit of dancing in true festive style! The EWN family has worked extremely hard to ensure that our newspapers keep growing in every area, so we took some time to put down the pens and telephones and enjoy a little down-time before returning to work hard during the holidays. Our long-suffering

and tolerant partners know that long hours are part of the job, so we are planning an EWN family party during 2015 as a thank you to them for putting up with us! We’d like to extend a huge thanks to Da Bruno’s for putting on a delicious and memorable spread. As always, the food, service and entertainment were second-to-none. EWN would also like to thank our valued clients at this time of year, clients who reach out to the entire community. We are all part of the expat community in Spain, a community that is strong and keeps growing as a family. At this time of year it is important to remember our neighbours and to reach out to the elderly, infirm and weak. Let’s make it a special Christmas; a Christmas of building bridges. We cannot look forward if we keep looking backwards.

FESTIVE: Da Bruno’s.

Dilip, Beth and Angus.

Kim and Mo.

Eugenia, Marcos and Na talia.

CHEERS! Merry Christmas from all at EWN.

The impromptu staff party.

Esteban and Georgia.

Silvia and Violeta.

E W N 25 - 31 December 2014 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical COSTA DEL SOL

Increasing costs ACCORDING to a report drawn up by Andalucia’s Audit Office, the construction and operating costs - until 2042 - of the Malaga Metro will increase to €2.6 billion, 113 per cent more than originally expected.

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News from our editions With six editions and read by more than half a million people, EWN is Spain’s largest free local English-language newspaper

THE tornado that hit the Costa del Sol in late November covered approximately seven kilometres in 15 minutes, said the State Meteorology Agency. It formed at sea and caused serious damage in Torremolinos, Churriana and near Malaga airport.

LOW cost airline passengers at Malaga airport increased by 10 per cent up to November this year, making it second in Spain for volume of low cost company users. Only Barcelona had more passengers.

Council helps out COIN Council has approved measures to help families with low or non-existent income by halving their water bills as long as the property does not use more than 45 cubic metres every three months.

COSTA BLANCA NORTH

Lucky escape FIREMEN rescued a 24-year-old British climber who fell 20 metres from the Penya Roja cliffs near Gandia. No bones were broken but he was admitted to Francesc de Borja hospital for a thorough check-up.

All clear CAMPELLO’S Fisherman’s Monument, formerly covered in graffiti, has now been cleaned. The town hall’s Maintenance department used a special gel but had to wait until rain stopped before it could be used.

Long wait FAMILY doctors’ Christmas holidays will not be covered, the regional Health department confirmed. The CCOO union warned that appointments would be scarce in 11 health centres administered by Alicante General hospital.

COSTA DE ALMERÍA

Documents recovered

Tabernas helipad TABERNAS has opened the eighth helipad in the province. The helipads are for medical use in order to transport patients direct to the capital’s hospital, saving a lengthy journey by road.

Drivers tested

Flights increase

the Palmanyola roundabout. The rubbish scattered all over the road and the driver sustained minor injuries

MOORISH documents detailing surrender to the Christian armies during the 15th century have been found and restored. They are currently on display at the Museo Arqueologico Provincia.

Tornado report

SIX drivers tested positive for drugs and one was caught driving without a licence in just 90 minutes at a police check-point on the road to Campanillas.

NEWS DESK

2ND EDITION WINNERS: Manuel Molina, who came first, holds his prize piglet aloft.

Piglet racing, but not as you know it THE third edition of the Carrera Ciclista del Cochinillo (piglet cycling race) was rescheduled in Huercal Overa. The race was moved from December 18 to December 21 and participated in by professional cyclists including Juan Antonio Sanchez Navarro, Javier Chacon Quesada and Manuel Martinez Costa who all compete in Spain. The race gets a huge amount of media coverage due to its uniqueness, with previous journalists coming from Britain, China, Denmark, Greece and South Africa. The race directed cyclists

through a Huercal Overa street circuit in 16 laps, starting and ending at Avenida Guillermo Reyna. Councillor for Sports, Alonso Mena, highlighted the good reception, adding: “Carrera Ciclista del Cochinillo is already a landmark in the holiday sports programme both for our province and those nearby.” He went on to encourage everyone to get involved in future races. The overall winner gets a trophy and a live piglet. There are also prizes including hams and wine for the first three in each category.

Mining plots THE Junta has put 118 mining plots out to tender in Almeria. Almeria is the Andalucian province with the highest number of available mineral plots, occupying 88,175 hectares.

Bumper turnover COSENTINO, one of Almeria’s largest companies has announced that it will close 2014 having billed a total turnover of €560 million, an increase of 14.7 per cent over 2013.

Family aid MORE than €173,000 has been earmarked for 26 families in Alhama, Illar, Terque and Santa Cruz de Marchena. The money comes from the Junta and is for home improvements.

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

Legal action

Domestic violence

VALENCIAN community residents launch 45 lawsuits for every 1,000 inhabitants compared with the national average of 43.7. Spain’s most litigious region is Baleares with 58 cases per 1,000 people.

THE Balearic Islands rank first in Spain for the largest number of complaints lodged with the police for domestic violence, followed by Canarias, Valencia and Murcia.

A MAN has been arrested in Aguilas for allegedly shooting a dog. The animal may lose the sight in one eye as a result of his injuries.

Runaway horse

Meter fraud

A RUNAWAY horse that escaped from the Son Pardo racetrack was caught by police. For reasons unknown, the horse got scared during a trotting exercise and galloped out of the racetrack and onto the motorway.

ELECTRICITY companies pursued 23,000 Valencian Community residents for meter manipulation and illegal hook-ups this year, almost 30 per cent more than in 2013.

Food donation USAR-13 presented 1,000 kilos of supplies to Alfaz’s Social Volunteers. They were donated by the 300 people who ran or walked with their dogs up to the Albir lighthouse in the ‘Marcha Canicross.’

MALLORCA

Tobacco sales DATA shows that no Spanish autonomous community has seen a sharper increase in tax revenues from tobacco sales in 2014 than the Balearic Islands (+1.48 per cent).

Fewer foreigners THE number of foreigners registered in the Spanish social security on the islands dropped by 23.52 per cent compared to October and now totals 55,316 people, said the Labour Ministry.

Bin lorry A BIN lorry carrying 22 tons of compacted rubbish brought from Ireland overturned at

Dog shot

Citizen’s party A NEW political party has been formed in Torrevieja ahead of next May’s elections. Ciudadanos (C’s) aims to unite foreign and Spanish voters.

Run over A WOMAN and her daughter were injured after being hit by a car in the parking area next to the Martinez Valero stadium in Elche.

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S CANDINAVIAN P RESS

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Stories making headlines in Europe

BRITISH PRESS Begging problem SWEDEN – Romania’s Social Affairs and Labour Minister Rovana Plumb will visit Stockholm in January to discuss the problem of the increasing number of Roma people begging on Swedish streets.

Search stats DENMARK – Google has revealed that the most searched for subjects by Danes during 2014 were the iPhone 6, the football World Cup, and Robin Williams. Also in the top 10 were the Eurovision Song Contest and the Ebola virus.

Hottest year DENMARK – 2014 was the hottest year on record in Denmark, with an annual average temperature of 10 degrees Celsius. Meteorologists have put it down to climate change.

Comfort food SWEDEN – A new study has revealed that more than one in 10 people living in Stockholm regularly indulge in comfort eating. Reasons include stress, worry and loneliness.

Ban KO’d NORWAY – Norway has ended its ban on boxing after three decades of being outlawed. Norwegian world champ Cecilia Braekhus can now defend her title on home turf.

Oil permits NORWAY – Energy company Statoil has been awarded four new offshore exploration permits in New Zealand, building on its existing position in the country.

No kissing

Hitchhiking Romeo

BRITONS travelling to Dubai for some winter sun have been advised by the British Embassy not to hold hands, avoid Christmas kisses and not to be drunk on the street. Foreigners often fall foul of the UAE’s strict rules.

A BRITISH traveller has hitchhiked across the USA solely by using a dating app to woo women into giving him lifts. He would buy his ‘dates’ a gift as way of thanks.

Nativity clueless

A BRITISH soldier’s letter has revealed that German and British soldiers bonded during the unofficial Christmas truce of 1914 by telling jokes about the French.

NO KISSING: Be careful in Dubai.

RUSSIAN PRESS Online favourites

BRITISH and German soldiers met recently to participate in a game of football – Game of Truce – to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the famous series of impromptu games between opposing soldiers during an unofficial ceasefire on the Western Front during World War I.

Poisonous trees

THE Sochi Olympics was the number one subject Googled by Russians in 2014. Other popular searches included the Ukraine crisis, Eurovision 2014, pop star Zhanna Friske and television show Fizruk.

MORE than half of all German Christmas trees tested have been found to contain poisonous chemicals. Friends of the Earth Germany had trees tested for 150 different types of pesticides.

Kim Jong Un invite RUSSIA has invited North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to attend the Victory Day ceremony in May which marks the end of World War II. It is currently unclear whether Kim will accept the invitation.

Politician of the Year

‘PUTIN’S TIGER’ has reportedly returned to Russia after going on a killing spree in China. Ustin the tiger was released into the wild under an animal protection programme and crossed into China where he has been accused of slaughtering chickens and goats.

DAVID HASSELHOFF will be singing in the New Year at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate. He will be the star performer at a five-hour concert set to attract hundreds of thousands of revellers.

Truce remembered

Mobile drunks

Tiger returns

PRESS New Year with Knight Rider

A SUSPECTED former Auschwitz guard will go on trial for murder in spring 2015. The 93-year-old is charged with 300,000 counts of accessory to murder. He worked at the concentration camp in 1944.

Having a laugh

RUSSIANS have voted President Vladimir Putin as ‘Politician of the Year’ 2014 for the 15th consecutive year. A survey showed that 68 per cent of Russians voted for President Putin.

GERMAN

Auschwitz trial

NINETY-NINE per cent of Britons don’t know what the Bible says about the nativity story and five per cent think that Mary and Joseph travelled to Bethlehem because they were moving house, a survey found.

THE NHS has launched a series of mobile ‘drunk tanks’ to take care of boozed-up Brits this Christmas, instead of them being sent to A&E or police stations. The 65-foot vehicles feature state-of-the-art medical facilities.

EUROPEAN PRESS

Road tolls TOXIC: Half contain pesticides.

Train birthday THE fastest train in Russia, the Sapsan, celebrated its fifth birthday in mid-December. The high-speed train covers the 650 kilometre journey from Moscow to St Petersburg in just three hours and forty-five minutes and can reach speeds of up to 300 kilometres per hour. There are plans to upgrade the track to allow 400 kilometres per hour.

FOREIGNERS will be required to pay a road toll to use autobahns from 2016. German drivers will have to buy a sticker to display in their car windows but will be entitled to claim the amount back. Cars without stickers will have to pay a toll.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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business & legal

EWN

STAT OF WEEK SIXTY PER CENT of Spain’s fruit and vegetable production is destined for export. Of this, 95 per cent goes to EU countries with the remainder going to notoriously demanding Japan, China and the US.

IAG reaps the benefits of restructuring IAG has increased its lead over Ryanair thanks to Iberia and budget airline Vueling. “We were in intensive care, now we’re on the ward and soon we’ll be leaving hospital,” said Iberia president Luis Gallego. BA and Iberia merged in 2011 to create IAG, acquiring Vueling in 2013. Restructuring

RECOVERY: IAG sees increase.

BT not won over by Telefonica BT will not be buying O2, the UK mobile group owned by Telefonica. Instead it has chosen EE, Britain’s largest mobile provider, for £12.5 billion (€15.7 billion) and is now in talks with O2’s German and French owners, Deutsche Telekom and Orange. If the deal goes through Deutsche Telekom and Orange will take respective 12 per cent and 4 per cent stakes in BT. Negotiations are expected to last several weeks and the outcome will then need the approval of BT shareholders. Should it not succeed in pulling off the EE deal, BT

“remains confident” that it will still be able to deliver on its plans, sources revealed. Ironically, BT sold its own mobile network BT Cellnet – now O2 – in 2002. It was acquired by Telefonica in 2005 for almost €23 billion and is now valued at £9 billion (€11.3 billion). BT returns to the mobile market in order to offer packages with mobile, landline, internet and television connections. Telefonica declined to comment on BT’s decision, although sources revealed that the Spanish company could now seek a UK agreement with Hutchison, Sky, Virgin Media or Talk Talk.

usiness extra

Dinner date EXACTLY 32.7 per cent of Spanish shoppers will shop in Mercadona for their traditional Christmas Eve dinner. A further 26 per cent use Carrefour.

Jobs safe THE new PeugeotCitroen van will be built in Vigo and not Trnava (Slovenia), guaranteeing jobs for 7,000 workers and indirect employment for another 12,000.

Big spender MEXICAN telecoms magnate Carlos Slim is now principal shareholder in Spanish construction company FCC.

Talisman to accept Repsol offer REPSOL is buying Talisman Energy for $8.3 billion (€6,640 billion) and assuming its $4.7 billion (€3,760 billion) debt. The Talisman board unanimously approved the offer, which it has advised shareholders to accept. The transaction will be financed principally by the $6.3 billion compensation for the expropriation of Repsol’s Argentinean subsidiary, YPF.

Losing YPF prompted Repsol to seek alternative markets and the Spanish multinational will now be investing approximately half of its exploration capital in North America, compared with 22 per cent in Latin America. Output will increase by 76 per cent, boosting reserves by 55 per cent and situating Repsol amongst the world’s 15 biggest privatelyowned oil companies.

which began in 2012 was plagued with labour disputes, redundancies and cutting out routes but now IAG is reaping the benefits with this year’s 32,637,741 passengers. This is 9.5 per cent more than in 2013 and the distance separating IAG from Ryanair, the second-biggest player in Spain has doubled.

Although Ryanair remains the biggest individual airline with 25.8 million passengers, this shows a 1.1 per cent drop on 2013’s figures. The Irish company is followed by Vueling whose 17.3 million passengers represent a 16.8 per cent increase on last year and Iberia, with 10,148,710 passengers.

E W N 25 - 31 December 2014 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

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C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 22

C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) 3i Group PLC 453.60 Aberdeen Asset PLC 429.70 Admiral Group PLC 1319.50 Aggreko PLC 1551.00 Anglo American PLC 1212.00 Antofagasta PLC 749.75 ARM Holdings PLC 974.50 Ashtead Group PLC 1163.00 Associated Brtsh Foods 3207.00 AstraZeneca PLC 4571.50 Aviva PLC 496.55 Babcock International ... 1070.50 BAE Systems PLC 467.35 Barclays PLC 239.85 BG Group PLC 918.20 BHP Billiton PLC 1403.75 BP PLC 425.48 British Amrcn Tobacco 3507.50

C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G. 5.00 1.11 0.60 0.14 11.00 0.84 14.00 0.91 19.50 1.63 6.00 0.81 3.00 0.31 5.00 0.43 13.00 0.41 6.00 0.13 1.59 0.32 15.00 1.42 4.60 0.99 1.92 0.81 16.70 1.85 25.50 1.85 12.40 3.00 7.50 0.21

NET VOLUME 41.24 279.62 8.17 8.92 185.58 117.70 134.20 27.30 31.10 130.59 320.19 67.34 258.23 946.22 1,262.29 736.43 2,192.81 80.05

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0.78352

Units per €

US dollar .................................................................1.22575 Japan yen...............................................................146.881 Switzerland franc ..............................................1.20356 Denmark kroner ................................................7.43845 Norway kroner....................................................9.01703

currenciesdirect.com/marbella • Tel: +34 952 906 581 C O M PA N Y

PRICE(P)

British Land Co PLC BT Group PLC Bunzl PLC Burberry Group PLC Capita PLC Carnival PLC Centrica PLC

771.50 408.30 1769.50 1631.00 1086.00 2825.50 274.80

C H A N G E ( P ) % C H G.

DOW JONES

NASDAQ

C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 22

C O M PA N Y MMM 3M Co AXP American Express Co T AT&T Inc BA Boeing Co CAT Caterpillar Inc CVX Chevron Corp CSCO Cisco Systems Inc KO The Coca-Cola Co DIS Walt Disney Co DD E I du Pont de Nemours and Co XOM Exxon Mobil Corp GE General Electric Co GS Goldman Sachs Group Inc HD Home Depot Inc IBM International Business Machine... INTC Intel Corp JNJ Johnson & Johnson JPM JPMorgan Chase and Co MCD McDonald's Corp MRK Merck & Co Inc MSFT Microsoft Corp NKE Nike Inc PFE Pfizer Inc PG Procter & Gamble Co TRV Travelers Companies Inc UTX United Technologies Corp UNH UnitedHealth Group Inc VZ Verizon Communications Inc V Visa Inc WMT Wal-Mart Stores Inc

PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 165.48 92.90 33.54 126.23 91.71 112.93 27.77 41.95 92.89 73.29 93.64 25.62 193.28 101.93 158.51 36.37 105.55 61.93 93.22 59.58 47.66 94.84 31.94 92.05 105.75 115.59 102.49 47.02 261.67 85.16

+0.18 -0.27 +0.03 +0.56 +0.02 +3.90 +0.12 -0.44 +0.28 +1.06 +2.48 +0.48 +1.67 +1.26 +0.83 -0.65 -1.26 +0.45 -0.45 +0.60 +0.14 -2.24 -0.03 +0.05 -0.20 -1.37 +0.25 -0.03 -2.49 -0.78

+0.11% -0.29% +0.09% +0.45% +0.02% +3.58% +0.43% -1.04% +0.30% +1.47% +2.72% +1.91% +0.87% +1.25% +0.53% -1.76% -1.18% +0.73% -0.48% +1.02% +0.29% -2.31% -0.09% +0.05% -0.19% -1.17% +0.24% -0.06% -0.94% -0.91%

4.9M 7.2M 40.2M 7.7M 9.7M 15.7M 59.6M 24.0M 12.8M 7.0M 38.5M 86.7M 4.8M 12.5M 8.9M 76.8M 19.2M 22.8M 10.3M 17.4M 64.6M 13.5M 44.9M 14.0M 3.9M 7.9M 8.0M 31.3M 3.9M 12.1M

4.00 3.70 10.00 9.00 10.00 14.00 2.10

C O M PA N Y

0.52 0.91 0.57 0.56 0.93 0.50 0.77

NET VOLUME 94.13 384.09 13.93 21.79 31.30 28.13 1,019.68

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

$ 5.27 $ 7.85 $ 16.43 $ 5.94 $ 37.94 $ 13.90 $ 33.06 $ 4.80 $ 6.87 $ 5.67 $ 4.38

1.57 ▲ 42.43% 1.87 ▲ 31.27% 3.36 ▲ 25.71% 1.10 ▲ 22.73% 6.69 ▲ 21.41% 2.45 ▲ 21.40% 5.62 ▲ 20.48% 0.80 ▲ 20% 1.01 ▲ 17.24% 0.82 ▲ 16.91% 0.60 ▲ 15.87%

$ 6.11 $ 23.35 $ 19.77 $ 13 $ 27.23 $ 6.64 $ 33.80 $ 12.86 $ 12.56 $ 30.82 $ 2.62

4.74 ▼ 43.69% 5.55 ▼ 19.20% 4.11 ▼ 17.21% 1.68 ▼ 11.44% 3.32 ▼ 10.87% 0.7599 ▼ 10.27% 3.45 ▼ 9.26% 1.26 ▼ 8.92% 1.20 ▼ 8.72% 2.84 ▼ 8.44% 0.24 ▼ 8.39%

Most Advanced Fate Therapeutics, Inc. Corium International, Inc. Aratana Therapeutics, Inc. Security National Financial Corporation Omega Flex, Inc. UBIC, Inc. Immune Design Corp. Roka Bioscience, Inc. Approach Resources Inc. Minerva Neurosciences, Inc Parnell Pharmaceuticals Holdings Ltd

Most Declined ImmunoGen, Inc. The Finish Line, Inc. Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Landec Corporation Digimarc Corporation Aquinox Pharmaceuticals, Inc. National Research Corporation Veritex Holdings, Inc. Momo Inc. Ubiquiti Networks, Inc. Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

C O M PA N Y PRICE(P) CHANGE Coca-Cola HBC AG 1245.00 10.00 Compass Group PLC 1092.50 6.95 CRH PLC 1536.00 13.00 Diageo PLC 1838.75 5.00 Direct Line Insurance ... 290.75 2.00 Dixons Carphone PLC 458.85 -3.00 easyJet PLC 1653.00 3.00 Experian PLC 1099.00 12.00 Fresnillo PLC 751.25 12.50 Friends Life Group Ltd 374.55 1.76 G4S PLC 277.55 1.50 GKN PLC 346.35 2.99 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1396.75 4.50 Glencore PLC 303.02 5.10 Hammerson PLC 614.00 3.50 Hargreaves Lansdown 1013.50 11.10 HSBC Holdings PLC 613.50 5.90 IMI PLC 1254.50 10.00 Imperial Tobacco Group 2861.00 3.00 InterContinental Hotels 2591.00 10.00 International Consoldtd ... 470.05 1.20 Intertek Group PLC 2377.50 22.00 Intu Properties PLC 333.85 -1.70 ITV PLC 211.15 1.10 Johnson Matthey PLC 3413.50 60.50 Kingfisher PLC 327.70 3.40 Land Securities Group PLC1165.00 10.00 Legal & General Group PLC245.30 2.60 Lloyds Banking Group PLC 76.54 0.40 London Stock Exchange Group...2231.5023.00 Marks & Spencer Group PLC476.60 0.60 Meggitt PLC 515.50 4.00 Mondi PLC 1070.50 11.00 Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets PLC177.151.02 National Grid PLC 918.45 6.86 Next PLC 6500.00 6.69 Old Mutual PLC 190.20 1.90 Pearson PLC 1189.50 8.01 Persimmon PLC 1576.00 -2.20 Petrofac Ltd 731.00 8.50 Prudential PLC 1525.50 12.00 Randgold Resources Ltd 4366.50 -66.00 Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC5307.50 30.00 Reed Elsevier PLC 1083.00 5.00 Rio Tinto PLC 2923.25 52.50 Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC 879.25 8.50 Royal Bank of Scotland Grou...391.95 3.40 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 2290.75 69.00 Royal Mail PLC 414.40 0.60 RSA Insurance Group PLC 448.40 -1.10 SABMiller PLC 3383.75 9.00 Sage Group (The) PLC 457.05 -0.62 Sainsbury (J) PLC 241.60 1.80 Schroders PLC 2732.50 39.00 Severn Trent PLC 2034.50 19.00 Shire PLC 4662.00 39.00 Sky PLC 895.00 6.00 Smith & Nephew PLC 1118.00 29.00 Smiths Group PLC 1081.50 9.00 Sports Direct International...696.50 2.50 SSE PLC 1627.50 4.00 Standard Chartered PLC 942.90 15.60 Standard Life PLC 414.15 4.90 St James's Place PLC 806.25 6.50 Tesco PLC 186.80 1.45 Travis Perkins PLC 1825.00 0.00 TUI AG 1071.50 0.00 Tullow Oil PLC 439.35 14.80 Unilever PLC 2645.50 15.65 United Utilities Group PLC 930.75 9.50 Vodafone Group PLC 224.43 -0.60 Weir Group PLC 1935.00 31.00 Whitbread PLC 4695.00 9.62 Wolseley PLC 3675.00 24.00 WPP PLC 1345.00 17.50

% C H G. 0.81 0.64 0.85 0.27 0.69 -0.65 0.18 1.10 1.69 0.47 0.54 0.87 0.32 1.71 0.57 1.11 0.97 0.80 0.11 0.39 0.26 0.93 -0.51 0.52 1.81 1.05 0.87 1.07 0.53 1.04 0.13 0.78 1.04 0.58 0.75 0.10 1.01 0.68 -0.14 1.18 0.79 -1.49 0.57 0.46 1.83 0.98 0.87 3.10 0.15 -0.24 0.27 -0.14 0.75 1.45 0.94 0.84 0.67 2.66 0.84 0.36 0.25 1.68 1.20 0.81 0.78 0.00 0.00 3.49 0.60 1.03 -0.27 1.63 0.21 0.66 1.32

VOLUME 42.30 88.21 45.23 127.01 103.29 94.43 30.81 103.40 72.29 42.70 27.47 61.38 446.34 1,105.93 26.80 17.45 968.07 16.79 97.47 15.92 388.31 10.13 87.02 155.46 32.73 183.50 82.51 620.95 5,273.49 18.14 261.79 20.82 104.05 989.65 345.96 16.05 565.70 217.55 57.51 274.67 120.24 49.08 60.27 102.05 323.88 385.08 220.44 349.46 59.09 99.56 56.94 118.81 385.91 40.44 24.45 62.15 121.81 179.82 33.95 40.15 112.43 391.45 110.62 28.12 2,350.26 14.26 21.64 327.26 131.11 103.28 2,405.78 61.36 15.97 21.66 114.99

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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25 - 31 December 2014 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

EWN

Modern book business pushes forward MANY businessmen and women, especially those in retirement, have acquired much knowledge and expertise over the years. This reservoir of experience is invaluable to newcomers whose business experience leaves much to be desired. Why not publish your advice so others can benefit from it? Most of us recall periodicals like the Exchange and Mart. In its Business Section, one would find books and booklets promising riches by purchasing advisory books. Much of it was ‘How to be a Millionaire in 12 Months’ pie in the sky promises. In fairness, there were many booklet gems from which I, and I

Talking shop Mike Walsh Mike Walsh was for 20 years Regional Assessment Manager for the Guild of Master Craftsmen, Britain’s biggest quality assurance body for businesses.

www.michaelwalsh.es • 966 786 932

am sure many others, benefited. By buying such help books and booklets I found my business ventures were less hassle and more profitable. Each time I forked out £4.95 or whatever, I received returns with bells

on, thank you very much. Self-publishing business tutors back then had little choice but to invest in the considerable upfront costs of printing and distributing their booklets. A minimum book order might be 1,000 for which one had to wait months for delivery. If the books failed to sell then that was their problem. Self-publishing is so much easier now. After the book has been written, assisted by an editor cum ghost-writer if necessary, the laptop completes the preparation. When my books are ready I sell them through Amazon and Amazon Kindle.

I complete the online process, which takes an hour or so. Within 24-hours I quickly check the proof and my book is immediately on sale throughout the world. I receive royalties each month. It sounds easy enough and for those who can, like everything else, it is easy. Self-publishing has shown remarkable progress. It makes it easier than ever for those retired to pass their experiences on to newcomers. The books ordered online are printed to order and posted direct to buyer. No stock to carry and costly mailing is ducked. Amazon does it all all. Times have indeed changed.

Mahou turns to US craft beer THE Maho-San Miguel group acquired a 30 per cent stake in US company Founders Brewing. Founders is a family enterprise, based in Michigan, established 17 years ago. It produces craft beers, some aged in bourbon barrels and others with flavours that range

On the ball at Iberdrola VICENTE DEL BOSQUE, manager of the Spanish side that won the 2010 World Cup and crashed out of this year’s competition, is now on the board of the team’s sponsor, energy group Iberdrola. Del Bosque has collaborated with Iberdrola since 2010 when he joined its Advisory Council in Castilla y Leon

production, focusing on innovation and intensifying its presence in its existing markets. On its website Founders’ stressed that Mahou is also family-owned. “It is a 125-yearold, seventh-generation, familyowned brewery based in Madrid,” Founders said.

“Mahou will bring its unique experience and strong networks to build our brand in Spain and beyond,” the statement continued. The Mahou deal would also bring liquidity to longstanding shareholders, Founders said. Mahou-San Miguel sells its

brands in more than 50 countries although its 10 key markets are located in the UK, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Scandinavia, the US, Chile, Equatorial Guinea, China and India. International sales now represent 13 per cent of the group’s global turnover.

More traffic on toll roads THIS year toll roads will chalk up increased traffic for the first time since 2006. According to ministry of Public Works figures, they have been used by an average 16,400 vehicles a day, approximately 3 per cent more than 2013’s daily 15,932 average. Despite this increase, the volume of traffic on Spain’s toll roads is roughly the same as it was in the late 90s when there were 1,700 kilometres of paid motorways compared with the present 2,560 kilometres. This is the outcome of an accumulated 33 per cent reduction since 2006’s daily average of 23,909 vehicles.

AIDA RICCIARDIELLO

BUSINESS EXTRA

from blackberry to chocolate. Neither company revealed how much buying into Founders had cost Mahou but the acquisition will help the Spanish firm to tap into the growing international market for craft beers. Both companies will boost Founders’ growth in the US by increasing

INCREASE IN USE: Three per cent more vehicles travelled on toll roads this year. The predicted increase by the end of 2014 confirms the tendency that was detectible since the beginning of the year, with – apart from last March - toll road traffic slowly increasing each month. Sources in the sector attributed the rise to a “more stable macroeconomic environment,”

boosted by increased tourism and “favourable meteorological conditions.” Toll charges will be frozen in 2015 for the first time in five years, while the ministry of Public Works also plans to reduce charges during offpeak hours on some motorways, following agreements with concessionary companies.

Second term as CEOE president for incumbent Rosell JUAN ROSELL was relected as president of the CEOE, Spain’s federation of employers. It will be the second four-year term at the head of the CEOE for Rosell, who negotiated Spain’s labour market reforms with Mariano Rajoy’s government in 2012. This was a closerrun contest than that of September 2010

when Rosell obtained 444 votes compared to his competitor’s 247. This time round Rosell obtained 345 votes against the 312 that went to his only rival, Antonio Garamendi, who is president of the small and medium business-owners’ association, Cepyme. Much of Rosell’s support came from Spain’s car and machinery

manufacturers, retailers, building contractors, the chemicals industry, technology, finance, services and catering. A former journalist who has been president of several companies, Rosell, who is 57 and married with three children, has degrees in civil engineering and political science.

On learning the results of the ballot, Rosell declared that he would continue to be guided by ethical principles during his second and last term as CEOE president. Employers must continue the process of improving governance and transparency, he insisted: “We have to regain and demand good practices within the CEOE.”

E W N 25 - 31 December 2014 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

Loose change A look at finance for females

Jane Plunkett

ROMBOSTUDIO

How to survive the party season, while still holding it together at work DON’T CRASH: Drink water, exercise and eat!

jane.plunkett@euroweeklynews.com

‘TIS the season for many late nights out - as our calendars fill up with work parties, holiday gettogethers, happy hours and New Year and Three Kings festivities. It’s all go in December and January and oh so much fun at the time, but the chances are that at least one morning you’ll wake up with a throbbing headache, an aching stomach and a deep desire to hide in bed all day and sleep off that horrible hangover. But unfortunately for you and festive mid-week drinking - it’s a workday. So what can you do? SWEAT IT OUT It is so tempting to pass on

exercise when the world is still spinning once you wake up, but a 30-minute run or an active yoga class is the best thing you can do for your aching body. Sweating out all those beers and cocktails is what will actually help you to feel human again. Ramping up your heart rate will

help jump-start your metabolism, making you feel better faster. WATER IS LIFE Remember this. Drink a glass of water between alcoholic drinks while out celebrating, as this will keep you hydrated and will also slow you down on consuming too much booze.

Start drinking water the moment you get up too, and then don't stop - fluids are the key to counteracting your alcohol-induced dehydration. DON’T SKIP BREAKIE Even though your stomach may be in knots getting a good breakfast in is vital. As appetising

as greasy bacon and sausages may be to some, a fatty breakfast is not always the best option, as it can irritate your stomach and lead to nausea. Cook up some eggs instead, which are a good source of protein. Served with some toast, this should get you through a difficult morning at the office. DISTRACT WITH STYLE Try to take the attention away from your puffy red eyes and killer alcohol breath by scrubbing up nice for work. Have an extra long shower to get rid of the booze and cigarette stench. Although you may be tempted to get into all black and throw your hair in a ponytail - to draw attention away from you, brighten up your appearance with a nice skirt or colourful jumper. Cheery clothes will help downplay the lack of sleep and dehydration that's likely showing in your face.

Wheelchair access obligatory? Q. I am president of a large community where we need your advice as to the correct law You and the regarding wheelchair access. Part of our community does not have wheelchair access Law in Spain for owners. One owner has requested that we By David Searl install access. The cost is estimated at €6000. The owner’s annual fees are €1200. This owner is over 70. Our urbanisation was built in 2005. The owner in fact does not need it himself at the moment but he has a friend in a wheelchair who regularly visits. What is the picture? T.A. (Costa Blanca) A. The short answer is that an owner over 70 years of age, whether or not he requires a wheelchair at this time, can request the installation of ramps, a lift, or other facilities to ensure wheelchair access to his flat. This does not require a majority vote of the Community AGM and the Community as a whole is required to pay the costs, as long as the share of each owner does not exceed his present regular payments for a year. These measures are set out in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the new Article 10 of the Law of Horizontal Property, revised in 2013. Read the Horizontal Law in English in the 2015 edition of my book, You and the Law in Spain. In your case

BUSINESS EXTRA

Amazon pickups AMAZON clients will now be able to pick up their orders in 2,400 Correos post offices throughout Spain. Collecting Amazon orders rather than having them delivered is Spaniards’ preferred system and the Correos agreement, allied to Amazon’s existing arrangement with 1,200 local shops, will provide approximately 3,600 pick-up points.

‘Grey ratio’

you estimate the total cost at €6,000. If we suppose 100 flats, then each owner will face an extra assessment of €60.

Send your questions for David Searl through lawyers Ubeda-Retana & Associates in Fuengirola at Ask@lawtaxspain.com, or call 952 667 090.

SPANIARDS aged 65 or over exceed the working population by 26 per cent, a recent study found. Despite an ageing population and relatively few births this is lower than the EU’s 27 per cent or Japan’s 40 per cent but well above India, Mexico, Turkey or Brazil’s 10 per cent difference.

OPINION & COMMENT

Gib Open Skies exclusion is non-starter KINDLY note that contrary to Spanish media reports, Gibraltar’s inclusion remains in place as per the Cordoba agreement of 2006. It can only be rescinded with the full agreement of the UK government, which will not be forthcoming. The UK government has called it a non-starter to exclude Gibraltar from any Open Skies format. It is the Spanish government that has to convince all that it wishes to renege on the 2006 Agreement signed by them. Thank you for a very good and useful newspaper. Eric Sciacaluga (by email)

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Whose fault? I HAVE rarely come across such a paranoiac writer as Mike Walsh. He compulsively interprets each and every world political development as the result of the devilish machinations of the US or the EU. Any sensible person would agree that it is not wise to provoke Russia, or anyone else for that matter. It is also clear that politics in the Ukraine is a very dodgy marshland. However, the fact remains that it is Russia, not the EU, which has already stolen part of that country and is making a pretty good impression of wanting to steal more of it. Mike flings in mentions of Budapest and Gdansk, etc; is he saying that the West was wrong to want those movements to succeed? Does he think that Hungarians and Poles want to return to Russian domination? It may be that the loss of the South Stream pipeline will hurt many in Eastern Europe, but who is doing the hurting? Russia. If it stays cancelled the pipeline will be replaced by another, routed through Turkey and the same Balkan countries. To call Kiev “a baseball bat regime” is to insult the brave people who sat out in the cold to protest against their arbitrary government, something few would dare to do in Putin’s Russia. An “international journalist”

LOOK closely at the reeds in the background and you’ll see a Grey Heron with its back turned. As I put my camera away, it took flight - the ornithological version of the one that got away! Andrew Fields, Altea (Alicante)

should not be governed by paranoia or throw out loose statements like this. Bill Campbell, Mojacar (Almeria)

Real records? ONCE AGAIN we are faced with headlines claiming that record numbers of tourists are coming to the Costa del Sol. But there is no indication as to how these figures are arrived at. They may possibly be too low: we all know that many flat rentals are never declared to the authorities. Those driving from outside Spain and occupying undeclared accommodation won’t show up in tourist numbers. Conversely, they may well be exaggerated, as taking figures of airport arrivals is highly dubious. Most expat residents fly back to their country of origin several times a year and many, like those receiving medical treatment at ‘home’ go much more often. We all know people who commute to work weekly in the UK. Are all these coming and goings recorded as tourists?

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:

www.euroweeklynews.com

It seems that Spain is clutching at any straw, whether to show rises in property sales or the number of tourists. We are reminded of the saying that “there are lies, damned lies, and statistics.” David Chown (by email)

Pat on the back I FEEL I ought to say a few kind words in support of Exclusive Shuttles. Recently a friend came to visit me from England and booked a flight from Gatwick to Alicante with a shuttle seat to Los Gallardos. The flight left at

8.30am and was due to arrive at 10.30pm. The plane developed a fault so the passengers had to wait and transfer to another plane, which arrived at 10pm and flew out at 10.30pm, arriving in Alicante two hours later. Exclusive Shuttles waited two hours for her. What a fantastic story! If they had not waited she would have been in terrible trouble having to get from Alicante to Los Gallardos, so very well done! Mr Barnett, Los Gallardos (Almeria)

Bandwagon WITH regard to Bill Cosby, this is all being blown up and made into another bandwagon. Back in 1968 I worked as a plugger for a record company and each week I was at Top of the Pops. All the girls in the audience should have been 18 years old or more but a lot were 15 or 16. They came with one thing in mind: to s--g a band, DJ or road crew and a lot kept a record of who they had been with. This lust

EWN

was not driven by the males. If you were a DJ at that time with young totty lusting after you, this messed up your mind. Plus, why did Savile’s case only come out when his will was published? Stuart Campbell (by email)

Heartless cheat WE found a recent article about homeowners dealing with unpaid taxes interesting. We believe many more homeowners are involved, including owners of holiday homes that do not as yet know. In my street here in Camposol there are at least two in the same situation and the last update from Facebook gave a number in excess of 180. A lot of people involved are, as we were, a little embarrassed to let the truth out. We were recommended the person referred to in the Euro Weekly News article when purchasing our retirement home. After signing at the Notary we were informed that our deeds had to go to Madrid to be registered. A few months passed and upon inquiring we were informed that they were held up in Madrid. Every time we asked for our Escritura we were given excuses that sounded plausible and this continued for two years. Checking with the tax office we found that monies paid to deal with the purchase had indeed not been paid into the tax office, so the commission and tax money disappeared with the person herself. Our problem including taxes amounted to more than €18,000 and ours is not the highest debt. Now we have to sell our home to pay off the debt and move back to UK to rent. My wife is suffering a severe, stress-related illness which, as she is already disabled, causes us a lot of new problems. A T Barber, Camposol (Murcia)

Bright idea A READER recently complained that a calendar she had purchased went through the till, appeared on her supermarket bill and promptly disappeared. She asked for suggestions as to its fate, so here’s mine: it slipped through the gap between the conveyor belt and the counter-top. Sonia Johnson (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.

E W N 25 - 31 December 2014 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

A Christmas war letter... LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT 11TH DEC 1944. ‘C’ SQDN. Q. BAYS B.N.A.F.

Y dearest girl, Received today a beautiful letter from you dated the 1st Dec. Very quick, eh! So happy you are both well, as it leaves me, but of course still longing to be with my dear ones again, whom I love so much. So happy you got the lemons OK. Were they ripe? As they were green when sent. Should love to be home when our son starts school but can promise nothing, only live in hope. Was sorry to hear of Joan’s husband being wounded I trust it’s not too serious. Nothing more has been heard of my cousin who was also wounded. The weather here has been lovely this last week, just like the weather we used to like to go for walks, especially Sundays

ALL SMILES: Second World War soldiers display their Christmas goodies. when I used to take our son out while my girl prepared dinner and after dinner getting ready to go out, perhaps to the park, sneaking little kisses when we thought no one was looking. You have made me so happy especially with such a dear son to crown all the other happy things. So pleased to hear the boy is in the pink, for the end could be in sight and it could soon be over.

It’s been a long time, dearest, but worth it to rid the world of such an evil race. Am having a few days’ rest now but not for long. It’s going to be hot while this little lot’s on but when finished will be the end of Hitler. We are now looking forward to Christmas which under the conditions we try and make happy. There’s a Christmas tree for the local children. They have

never had Christmas, not knowing what the word means. Of course they are very poor. People in England do not realise the real meaning of poverty. Sorry I could not send you or our son a Christmas present they are much too expensive for me. I went into town last week and they wanted three pounds for two postcard sized photographs. The old feet haven’t been too bad this year. Expect they are shrivelling up with old age or perhaps it’s the ‘tootsie’ powder you sent. Incidentally all the Regi knows about my tootsie powder, as I left an empty tin around with your handwriting on it. Well, dearest, must close now. A very happy Christmas to you and our lovely boy. Remember me to all. Cheerio. Yours for always my sweetheart Your loving Bill This letter sent by my Dad from the front line in Egypt during the Second World War. Dedicated to the millions who gave their lives so we could all be here to celebrate this Christmas. Happy Christmas, everyone. Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com

The true spirit of Christmas... Colin Bird Each week, Colin brings his slightly off-the-wall view of the world to the pages of EWN in his own irreverent style.

S Christmas nears, I find myself being pulled irresistibly back in time by the invisible silver cord that binds us all to our childhood days, and in particular to one Christmas Eve decades ago. Like all small boys, Christmas Eve was the one night of the year when no encouragement was needed to hit the wooden hill. I would snuggle down into cool sheets, safe and secure beneath layers of coarse, heavy blankets topped off with my mother’s winter coat for good measure. No electric blankets or duvets then, but with a rubber hot water bottle at my back and a stone one at my feet - being ever so careful not to stub my toe - I was soon toasty warm.

TOASTY WARM: A magical night from childhood. The muffled voices of my parents in the tiny living room drifted up to me from below. The distinct smell of hot cocoa wafted tantalisingly through the open door of my bedroom, blending in strange harmony with the faint odour that emanated from the black Valor heater strategically placed on the landing between our two small bedrooms. That and the

coal fire below were the full extent of our winter heating. Nine o-clock on the big round faced alarm clock beside my bed. Was I the only child in the whole world still awake? Everyone knew that Father Christmas only called when children were fast asleep. But with visions of a long woollen sock full of traditional goodies and a pillow case

bulging with exciting shapes that would magically appear on my bed in the morning, how was sleep possible? The glass in the metal framed window was blurred with a filigree pattern of frost both inside and out despite the efforts of the paraffin stove, but in one pane, an unfrozen aperture perfectly formed as if the Christmas Angel had

breathed gently on the glass until the thin layer of ice had retreated to reveal the full Christmas moon. It was shining brilliantly down on the world from a clear star filled sky as surely it should on this special night and as I imagined it had over that Bethlehem hillside, I was transfixed. Before finally drifting into a dreamless slumber to await the imagined sound of tinkling reindeer bells somewhere above the eaves and the soft tread of fur boots on floor boards, I gazed in childish wonder, and promised myself that I would remember always this perfect moment - through every Christmas and every year of my life yet to come. And so it has been. May your Christmas be as full of magic and may you always remember your own special night with joy and hope and love, holding dear the true spirit of Christmas.

E W N 25 - 31 December 2014 / AxarquĂa - Costa Tropical

Thursday BBC ONE 3:00pm Top of the Pops 4:00pm The Queen's Christmas Broadcast 2014 4:10pm Puss in Boots 5:40pm BBC News 6:00pm Strictly Come Dancing Christmas 7:15pm Doctor Who 8:15pm Miranda 8:50pm Call the Midwife 10:00pm EastEnders 11:05pm Mrs. Brown's Boys 11:40pm Michael McIntyre's Very Christmassy Christmas Show 12:40am BBC News

BBC TWO 3:45pm Kiss Me, Kate at the Proms 6:00pm The Queen's Christmas Broadcast 2014 6:10pm James May's Toy Stories 7:15pm Morecambe and Wise in Pieces 8:15pm University Challenge 8:45pm Dad's Army 9:15pm Blackadder's Christmas Carol 10:00pm Tim Rice - A Life in Song 11:30pm QI 12:00am Marvellous

ITV 4:00pm HM the Queen 4:10pm The Queen's Garden 5:10pm ITV News and Weather 5:20pm Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas 6:20pm You've Been Framed! 6:50pm Paul O'Grady: For The Love of Dogs 7:50pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 9:00pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Downton Abbey 12:00am ITV News and Weather

CH4 3:05pm Scrooged 5:00pm Big 7:00pm Arthur Christmas 9:00pm Frozen at Christmas 10:00pm Alan Carr: Chatty Man 12:00am 8 Out of 10 Cats 1:00am Father Ted 2:05am Father Ted 2:35am Father Ted 3:00am Father Ted 3:30am Crazy Heart 5:25am Secret Eaters

CH5 4:25pm Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 7:10pm Michael Buble's Christmas Songbook 8:05pm Chas and Dave's Xmas Knees Up 9:00pm Britain's Favourite Christmas Songs 12:05am Muriel's Wedding 2:20am Super Casino 5:00am House Doctor

SKY1 3:00pm Modern Family 4:00pm H.M. The Queen's Christmas Message 4:10pm Modern Family 5:30pm Modern Family 6:00pm Modern Family 6:30pm Modern Family 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Best Christmas Movies Ever 11:00pm Predator 1:05am Trollied 2:05am The Flash

Friday BBC ONE 3:20pm My Family 4:15pm Monsters, Inc. 5:40pm The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists 7:05pm BBC News at Six 7:20pm BBC London News 7:25pm Still Open All Hours 7:55pm The Boy in the Dress 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Marvel Avengers Assemble 11:40pm BBC News 11:50pm BBC London News 12:00am Match of the Day

BBC TWO 4:30pm Victoria Wood: That Musical We Made 5:30pm Final Score 6:25pm War Horse at the Proms 7:45pm University Challenge 8:15pm The Two Ronnies Christmas Show 9:00pm Victoria Wood's Mid-Life Christmas 10:00pm That Day We Sang 11:30pm Hunky Dory 1:15am The Winslow Boy

ITV 4:45pm Off Their Rockers 5:15pm Downton Abbey 7:15pm ITV News and Weather 7:30pm Emmerdale 8:00pm Coronation Street 9:00pm A Christmas Cracker 10:00pm Birds of a Feather 10:30pm Through the Keyhole 11:30pm ITV News and Weather 11:45pm Out of Sight 1:50am Jackpot247 4:00am The Jeremy Kyle Show USA

CH4 4:50pm Turner and Hooch 6:50pm Channel 4 News Includes sport and weather.

7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. 9:00pm Bear's Wild Weekend with Ben Stiller 10:00pm The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2014 12:00am Alan Carr: Chatty Man

CH5 4:15pm The Ladykillers 6:00pm A Shot in the Dark Second in the series of Inspector Clouseau comedies.

8:05pm Rob Brydon Live 9:00pm Morecambe and Wise Live! 1973 10:25pm Tommy Cooper's Christmas 11:25pm Carry on Christmas 12:25am The Greatest Ever Carry on Films

SKY1 3:00pm Harrow: A Very British School 4:00pm The Flash 5:00pm The Simpsons 5:30pm Treasure Island 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm The Simpsons 9:30pm Agatha Raisin: The Quiche... 11:30pm A League of Their Own 12:30am Football's Funniest Moments

Saturday BBC ONE 3:10pm Sport Relief 2014 - The Final Score 4:10pm How to Train Your Dragon 5:40pm Kung Fu Panda 2 7:00pm BBC News 7:10pm BBC London News 7:20pm Celebrity Mastermind 7:50pm Pointless 8:40pm The National Lottery 9:30pm Bruce's Hall of Fame 10:40pm Mrs. Brown's Boys 11:15pm BBC News 11:35pm Live at the Apollo 12:05am Not Going Out

BBC TWO 3:40pm Yes, Minister 4:45pm The Eagle Has Landed 6:55pm Dad's Army 8:30pm Operation Grand Canyon with Dan Snow 9:30pm Top Gear 10:30pm James May's Toy Stories 11:30pm QI XL 12:15am Harry and Paul's Story of the Twos

ITV 3:30pm Back to the Future Part III 5:40pm Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas 6:40pm ITV News London 6:50pm ITV News and Weather 7:05pm You Saw Them Here First 8:00pm Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 10:50pm Darcy Oake: Edge of Reality 11:45pm ITV News and Weather 12:05am An Audience with Joan Rivers

CH4 4:35pm Zulu 7:20pm Channel 4 News 7:40pm Guy Martin's Passion for Life 8:10pm Mission: Impossible II 10:30pm 50 Funniest Moments 2014 12:35am X-Men: The Last Stand 2:35am The Raven 4:30am Hollyoaks Omnibus

CH5 3:45pm Watership Down 5:35pm Seven Brides for Seven Brothers 7:35pm World's Strongest Man 2014 8:35pm Chas and Dave's Xmas Knees Up 9:30pm The Dog Rescuers with Alan Davies 10:30pm 5 News Weekend National and international news. 10:35pm The Haunting of Radcliffe House 12:25am True Crimes: The First 72 Hours 12:55am Access 1:00am Super Casino 4:10am Kids' Hospital at Christmas

SKY1 3:00pm Modern Family 3:30pm Modern Family 4:00pm Modern Family 4:30pm Modern Family 5:00pm The Flash 6:00pm Portrait Artist of the Year 2014 7:30pm Futurama 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Moonfleet

TV LISTING

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Sunday

Monday BBC ONE

BBC ONE 4:45pm Raiders of the Lost Ark 6:35pm BBC News 6:50pm BBC London News 7:00pm Celebrity Mastermind 7:30pm Countryfile 8:30pm Still Open All Hours 9:00pm Antiques Roadshow 10:00pm Last Tango in Halifax 11:00pm BBC News 11:15pm Regional News and Weather 11:20pm BBC London News 11:30pm Match of the Day 12:55am The Football League Show

BBC TWO 5:30pm Final Score 6:30pm Flog It! 7:00pm John Carter 9:00pm Top Gear 10:00pm Racing Legends 11:00pm House of Fools 11:30pm Never Mind Buzzcocks 12:00am The Wrong Mans

the

ITV 3:20pm Catchphrase 4:20pm E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial 6:35pm ITV News London 6:45pm ITV News and Weather 7:00pm The Queen's Garden 8:00pm Unbelievable Moments Caught on Camera 9:00pm All Star Family Fortunes 10:00pm All New It'll be Alright on the Night 11:00pm ITV News and Weather 11:15pm Through the Keyhole 12:15am Rugby Highlights 1:10am The Store

CH4 3:35pm The Simpsons 4:00pm The Simpsons 4:30pm The Simpsons 4:55pm The Simpsons 5:25pm The Simpsons 5:55pm Channel 4 News 6:00pm Celebrity Fifteen to One 7:00pm The Golden Compass 9:00pm The Hotel 10:00pm Homeland 11:15pm Gogglebox 12:50am Rude Tube Christmas Cracker 2014 1:45am Father Ted

CH5 3:10pm Black Beauty 4:55pm Out of Africa 8:00pm World's Strongest Man 2014 8:55pm 5 News Weekend 9:00pm Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away! 10:00pm Most Shocking Celebrity Moments 2014 12:55am Autopsy: Michael Jackson's Last Hours

SKY1 3:00pm Treasure Island 5:00pm The Flash 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm The Simpsons 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Futurama 8:00pm The Flash 9:00pm Got to Dance 10:00pm Modern Family 10:30pm Trollied 11:00pm Football's Funniest Moments 12:00am A League of Their Own

5:05pm Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom 6:55pm BBC News at Six 7:10pm BBC London News 7:20pm The Muppets 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Miranda 10:05pm Mapp and Lucia 11:05pm BBC News at Ten 11:20pm BBC London News 11:30pm Darcey Bussell's Looking for Audrey 12:35am Sport Relief 2014 - The Final Score

BBC TWO 5:30pm Big Dreams Small Spaces 6:30pm Wild Brazil 7:30pm Nature's Weirdest Events 8:30pm Operation Grand Canyon with Dan Snow 9:30pm University Challenge 10:00pm Snow Wolf Family and Me 11:00pm Dave Allen: God's Own Comedian 12:00am The Wrong Mans 1:00am Notorious 2:40am The Apprentice 4:40am The Mekong River with Sue Perkins

ITV 6:35pm The Chase 7:30pm ITV News London 7:45pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Countrywise 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Christmas Epic Fails 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:15pm Atonement 1:25am Jackpot247

CH4 3:50pm Brewster's Millions 5:50pm Channel 4 News Includes sport and weather.

6:30pm Hollyoaks 7:00pm The Italian Job Classic comedy crime caper.

9:00pm Mini Cooper: For the Love of Cars 10:00pm 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 11:00pm The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2014 1:00am NFL 2:00am The Omen

CH5 6:35pm What the Dambusters Did Next 8:00pm Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away! 9:00pm World's Strongest Man 2014 10:00pm The Rock 12:50am Reservoir Dogs

SKY1 5:00pm The Flash 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Modern Family 7:00pm Modern Family 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Modern Family 9:30pm Modern Family 10:00pm An Idiot Abroad 11:00pm Micky Flanagan's Detour De France 12:00am Trollied

Tuesday BBC ONE 3:10pm George of the Jungle 4:35pm Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade 6:35pm BBC News at Six 6:50pm BBC London News 7:05pm Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Holby City 10:00pm Mapp and Lucia 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:15pm BBC London News 11:25pm Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End 2:00am The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

BBC TWO 5:00pm Big Dreams Small Spaces 6:00pm Wild Brazil 7:00pm Flog It! 7:30pm Nature's Weirdest Events 8:30pm University Challenge 9:00pm Sacred Wonders of Britain 10:00pm Snow Wolf Family and Me 11:00pm Charlie Brooker's 2014 Wipe 12:00am Dave Allen: the Immaculate Selection

ITV 4:20pm From Russia with Love 6:35pm The Chase 7:30pm ITV News London 7:40pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Wilderness Walks with Ray Mears 9:00pm Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 11:30pm ITV News and Weather 11:45pm Birds of a Feather 12:15am American Gangster

CH4 3:25pm Deal or No Deal 4:25pm The Parent Trap 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:05pm Come Dine with Me 9:00pm Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 10:00pm David Blaine 11:20pm The Look of Love 1:20am Damien: Omen II

CH5 5:15pm Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 8:00pm Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away! 9:00pm World's Strongest Man 2014 10:00pm Elvis by the Presleys Uncut 12:00am Elvis '68 Comeback Special

SKY1 3:00pm Greggs: More Than Meats the Pie 4:00pm The Flash 5:00pm The Flash 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Modern Family 7:00pm Modern Family 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Modern Family 9:30pm Modern Family 10:00pm 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy 11:00pm Britcam: Emergency on Our Streets 12:00am An Idiot Abroad

Wednesday BBC ONE 5:15pm Top of the Pops 6:20pm Pointless 7:05pm BBC News at Six 7:20pm BBC London News 7:35pm Celebrity Mastermind 8:05pm Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull 10:00pm Mapp and Lucia 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:15pm The Graham Norton Show 12:15am Queen and Adam Lambert Rock Big Ben Live

BBC TWO 4:10pm Coast Australia 5:00pm Big Dreams Small Spaces 6:00pm Wild Brazil 7:00pm Flog It! 8:00pm Tigers About the House: What Happened Next 9:00pm University Challenge 9:30pm The Help 11:50pm Mock the Week 12:20am Jools's Annual Hootenanny 2014

ITV 3:20pm The Queen's Garden 4:25pm Goldfinger 6:35pm The Chase 7:30pm ITV News London 7:45pm ITV News and Weather 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Rita and Me 10:00pm A Funny Old Year 2014 11:00pm Tommy Cooper: Not Like That, Like This 12:55am ITV News and Weather 1:10am Carry on Camping

CH4 3:15pm Home Alone 3 5:20pm Fantastic Mr. Fox 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:30pm Channel 4 News 9:00pm Frozen at Christmas 10:00pm Alan Carr's New Year Specstacular 12:05am 50 Funniest Moments 2014

CH5 4:10pm The Dirty Dozen 7:05pm Tommy Cooper's Christmas 8:00pm Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away! 9:00pm World's Strongest Man 2014 10:00pm Britain's Favourite Sitcoms 1:00am The ABBA Years

SKY1 3:00pm Greggs: More Than Meats the Pie 4:00pm Football's Funniest Moments 5:00pm Modern Family 5:30pm Modern Family 6:00pm The Simpsons 6:30pm Modern Family 7:00pm Modern Family 7:30pm The Simpsons 8:00pm The Simpsons 8:30pm The Simpsons 9:00pm Football's Funniest Moments 10:00pm An Idiot Abroad 11:00pm Karl Pilkington: The Moaning of Life 11:55pm A League of Their Own 12:55am New Year Fireworks Live

OPINION & COMMENT

www.euroweeklynews.com

25 - 31 December 2014 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

EWN

What is your favourite Christmas memory or experience? J STREET TALK

ULIAN from English Steps in San Pedro de Alcantara says that his favourite Christmas memory is from when he was very young and having Christmas dinner at his granny’s house, eating sherry trifle. His granny would wrap a 20p coin in silver foil and hide it inside the trifle and Julian would keep eating and eating until he found the coin. His granny was heavy-handed with the sherry in the trifle, so Julian became very drunk! Mark from The Sky Doctor in San Pedro de Alcantara says there should be good drunken memories: “You always know when you’ve had a good Christmas when you’re hungover on Boxing Day!” Conor at Charlie’s Property Angels in Marbella and Torrequebrada said that six years ago he volunteered to help at The Crisis Shelter for the homeless, which that year was in the old BBC building in Isleworth, London. He found it a very fulfilling and rewarding time helping others over Christmas, when they feel the most alone. In his eyes it’s what Christmas should really be about. Alicia and Cati, of Eat Away, a brand

new, outside catering and events company in the Calvia region of Mallorca, are hoping that this Christmas will be the most memorable one. Alicia said: “We have opened the new business, with great hopes for the New Year, but I have many memories of the fiestas of recent years. I have always run bars and cafes, so the holiday time is a busy time for me. But the best thing is seeing happy customers, which in turn makes me happy.” Cati said: “We are very excited about the new venture, but my favourite memory of Christmas was when I played my first solo concert, with acoustic guitar, here in Mallorca. That was a night I will always remember.” Paula Read Kenny, from Sophia Wellness Centre, Arboleas, said: “My favourite Christmas memory has to be as a child. At seven years old I got my

first bike, a yellow Tomahawk, and was the proudest girl in the world. “I only got this great present from

Mark.

Santa because I must have been such a good girl all year.” HACO MUEBLE’S Mark Strien, in Altea, said family Christmas dinners are always his favourite memories of Christmas back home in Holland: “It has been about eight years since I was back in Holland for Christmas so those memories are always special, the usual traditions and drinks around the tree. I think for most people when they move away from their home country, those family memories are always Alicia and Cati the best.” Samantha Biddles, from Algorfa Town Hall, said her favourite Christmas memory was just last year: “We raised money locally for food hampers and stood there on Christmas Eve all day giving them to needy families. The look on the Samantha Biddles faces of all the people was just lovely.”

E W N 25 - 31 December 2014 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

CROSSWORDS

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EURO WEEKLY’S SPACE FOR YOU TO TAKE A BREAK, BE INFORMED AND ENJOY A CHALLENGE

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NEW ON DVD

for next 7 days

MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

This Is Where I Leave You This comedy-drama based on the book of the same name by Jonathan Tropper tells the story of four siblings returning to the family home upon the death of their father. Requested to stay a week, they and their free-speaking mother – along with a collection of exes, spouses and might-have-beens – must come to terms with emotional and tattered relationships and re-evaluate their shared history. You can choose your friends but you certainly can’t choose your family. Directed by Shawn Levy and starring Jason Bateman, Tina Fey and Jane Fonda. Run time 103 minutes. Rated R.

TODAY

ARCHIDONA

CASABERMEJA NERJA

VELEZ-MALAGA MALAGA R DE LA VICTORIA

ARCHIDONA

CASABERMEJA NERJA

VELEZ-MALAGA

TOMORROW MALAGA

R DE LA VICTORIA

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) This being a family oriented week, much of it may be spent getting together with relatives and going over old times. Perhaps you are compiling a photo album for older members of the family or vice versa.

less visible. However, don't think of the hard work involved but rather the brilliant outcome. You will be popular.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) An exciting invitation may set tongues wagging and make a loved one jealous. You, meanwhile, are quite bemused by the whole thing. What comes out of this week is that you are of considerable value to others.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) An interest in technology is not something new to you. What is great, though, is that the penny has suddenly dropped. This week sees you understanding more and wanting to know more.

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Being asked to take on a new and demanding task this week may see you wishing that you had been

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) An urge to get moving must mean that spring is round the corner.

7-Star Quiz FESTIVE FUN 1. Band Aid’s single Do They Know It’s Christmas? was originally released to raise money for relief of the 1983–1985 famine in which African country? 2. What is the surname of the Scottish musician who co-wrote Do They Know It’s Christmas? with Bob Geldof? 3. In which country is ‘sochivo’, a porridge made from wheat, barley, rye or rice, often the first dish in the traditional 12-dish Christmas Eve supper (Svyatah Vecherya)? 4. Adeste Fideles is a Christmas carol that has been attributed to various authors, including the 18th century hymnist John Francis Wade. What title did the English Catholic priest Frederick Oakeley give it when he translated it into English in 1841? 5. Which part of the festive turkey is also known as the merrythought or furcula? 6. First broadcast on Christmas Day, 1986, an episode of which programme was the most watched UK television programme of all time, with 30.1 million viewers? 7. Which mechanical drawing toy invented by Frenchman André Cassagnes was the best-selling Christmas toy in 1960?

December 26, Pablo Puyol, dancer and singer. Malaga-born Puyol began studying biology before switching to drama and started his professional acting career in Madrid with the musical Grease. He has appeared in numerous TV shows and short films.

EL HORMIGUERO

Certainly, you are questioning where you want to be in the months ahead. A house move or work placement may be on your mind. CANCER (June 22 - July 23) Be aware that not everyone is willing to work as hard as you. When approached by someone wanting you to trust them, be sure of their motives. Do what you feel is right but remain firmly in control, especially financially. LEO (July 24 - August 23) Social demands are made, but

TODAY:

SCORPIO (October 24 November 22) Someone with a largerthan-life imagination makes you smile but that was not their intention. Try to be diplomatic and steer them in a different direction.

LOTTERY UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

UK THUNDERBALL

IRISH LOTTO

EURO MILLIONS

Saturday December 20

Friday December 19

2 29

12 32

BONUS BALL

THUNDERBALL

BONUS BALL

29 39

LUCKY STARS 5

Saturday December 20

31 44

LA PRIMITIVA

REINTEGRO 16

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA

MAX MIN

SUNNY

20 32

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

Mon - 18 9 Cl Tues - 18 9 S Wed - 17 9 C

Madrid

18 10 S 16 11 C 17 11 Cl

Fri Sat Sun -

12 1 S 11 4 C 13 4 Sh

MAX 12C, MIN 3C MAX MIN

Mon - 13 6 C Tues - 11 5 C Wed - 12 4 C

Murcia

MAX MIN

15 8 Cl 14 9 C 16 10 Sh

SUNNY MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Mon - 17 11 Cl Tues - 17 11 C Wed - 17 11 Sh

CLOUDY MAX 17C, MIN 8C

S Sun,

17 8 Cl 17 9 Cl 18 9 Cl

TODAY:

MAX 18C, MIN 8C

Mallorca Fri Sat Sun -

CLEAR MAX 17C, MIN 8C MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Mon - 14 9 Cl Tues - 14 9 S Wed - 14 9 S

MAX MIN

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 19 12 Cl Tues - 18 12 Cl Wed - 18 12 Sh

Benidorm

Malaga Fri Sat Sun -

17 10 Cl 17 12 C 18 12 Cl

TODAY:

MAX 16C, MIN 8C

13 6 C 12 8 C 15 8 C

SUNNY

CLOUDY MAX 18C, MIN 10C MAX MIN

Mon - 17 9 C Tues - 18 9 S Wed - 16 9 C

17 8 Cl 17 9 Cl 17 10 C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 16 9 S Tues - 15 9 Cl Wed - 16 9 C Cl Clear,

CLEAR MAX 17C, MIN 7C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun Fog,

Sn Snow,

MAX MIN

17 6 Cl 17 8 Cl 20 9 C

Mon - 19 9 S Tues - 18 8 Cl Wed - 18 9 C

C Cloud,

Sh Showers,

Th Thunder

Nonagram 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 T) and there must be AT LEAST ONE NINE LETTER WORD. Plurals, vulgarities or proper nouns are not allowed.

TARGET:

Average: 18

Very good: 33

Good: 23

Excellent: 40

agin, gain, gale, gave, gean, gear, gene, girl, girn, give, glee, glen, gran, grin, ling, rage, rang, ring, agile, agree, align, align, angel, anger, angle, eager, eagle, eager, gavel, genie, genre, given, giver, glare, glean, gnarl, grail, grain, grave, green, ingle, lager, large, leger, liege, liger, range, regal, reign, vegan, verge, angler, avenge, earing, enrage, gainer, genera, Geneva, genial, glaive, gravel, graven, greave, grieve, laving, linage, linger, raving, regain, regale, regnal, avenger, engrave, enlarge, evangel, general, gleaner, leaving, leering, lineage, realign, reeling, reeving, veering, vinegar, levering, ravelling, reveling, REVEALING

Word Ladder SLED

Sunday December 21

TODAY:

Barcelona TODAY:

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Be aware that leopards do not change their spots, they merely hide them. Those who demand your trust need a cool checking out and don't be afraid to say 'no' as and when necessary.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 December 21) Sometimes, you find it hard to do things just for the pure enjoyment of it. Realise that not everything has to have a purpose or a profit. Look round this week and seek out something that will please your senses and bring a smile to your lips.

Fri Sat Sun -

try to shuffle them to the weekend. Be diplomatic or someone close could become irritated. Keep an eye on the small print because something fundamental may have changed in a long-standing arrangement.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Career and home are in disharmony but a bit of compromise soon sorts things out. You don't like playing the 'bad guy', but honesty is also important to you. Speaking your mind can be liberating although, initially, you may see it as a nuisance and embarrassing.

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.

Almeria

CLOUDY MAX 17C, MIN 7C

MAX MIN

Sudoku

Alicante TODAY:

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

21 37

REINTEGRO 0

DOGS

DUES DOES DOGS

Your Stars

IF IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK: This will be a super year for romance in all its guises. Physical relationships can be important to you and this year is all about getting a balance.

SLED SUED SUES

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Contact with a less than ideal situation makes you realise just how lucky you are. It has been clear that the weeks are changeable and your situation at the moment far from settled.

1. ETHIOPIA, 2. URE (Midge Ure), 3. RUSSIA, 4. O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL, 5. WISHBONE, 6. EASTENDERS (when Den Watts handed over divorce papers to his wife Angie), 7. ETCH-A-SKETCH

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CROSSWORDS

Crosswords

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Donkey dies after 150-kilo man takes ride

PLATERO, a five-month-old donkey taking part in a nativity scene in Lucena, Cordoba, died after a 150kilo man climbed onto its back. No policemen or guards were about to stop the man climbing over the fence to the scene outside the town hall, pushing the delicate animal about then clambering on top of it. Two days later locals notified the council that little Platero was obviously ill and could hardly stand up and a vet was called. After examining the donkey the vet decided to take Platero to an animal hospital to try and treat extensive internal injuries but the young animal died the following morning. Photos of a man apparently on the back of Platero are doing the rounds of the town by WhatsApp while the council awaits an official vet’s report before searching for the suspect. If the report proves that Platero was killed by the man’s impromptu ride, police will identify him and start legal action. The Donkey Defence Association and Circulo Podemos Animalista Lucena group representatives declared: “We will move heaven and earth to ensure that the council pays for its negligence and the culprit pays for his repulsive crime.”

How to clean up cat urine

IF you have a cat that has urinated or made a mess where it shouldn’t it is important to clean up properly. If not it is likely to return to relieve itself in the same spot. Here are a few tips: • One should clean up when the cat is not in the room, otherwise the cat thinks its mark gets attention. • Consider redecorating after cleaning up if the spraying has been going on for a long time. • Never use bleaches or disinfectants. They smell like urine to a cat, as does anything pine, rose or lemon scented. • Disinfectants that go cloudy are poisonous to cats. • Use warm water with 10 per cent solution of biological washing liquid or powder. • Alternatively use one tablespoon of Napisan and

David THE Dogman

Listen to David on TRE every Saturday 10 thru 11. Costa del Sol (Gibraltar/Sotogrande) 98.7fm (San Roque to Calahonda) 91.9fm (Calahonda to Motril) 88.9, Costa Calida 92.7fm Costa Blanca (Torrevieja to Elche) 105.1fm (Elche to Calpe) 88.2fm, (Calpe to Gandia & Ibiza) 104.6fm, (Denia to Valencia) 95.3fm Mallorca 103.9fm

one tablespoon of biological washing powder to one pint of water. Then rinse the area thoroughly in cold water and let it dry or dry it with a hair dryer if time presses. • Next spray surgical spirit. Use a nail brush to get this into fabric and crevices. This gets rid of the fatty residues that prompt a cat to top up his own marks. Dry this off completely. • Any curtains that have been sprayed with urine should be sent to the dry cleaners and linen machine washed. • With moveable mats

For professional petsitters, ask this mum and son couple of explorers By Lamia Walker of HousesitMatch AN AUSTRALIAN mother and her son have been travelling around the world for three years. In that time Ruth and Louis have been house and petsitting in over 30 countries. Ruth is a travel writer, and reviews hotels for a living. They are digital nomads. Because of the vast distances between cities in some

parts of Oz, Australians are used to home schooling, connecting with teachers by phone or radio. Now the internet enables home-schooling from anywhere! As a travel writer Ruth has been fortunate in that she can take her work and her son with her. They write a blog about their experiences. On their travels they’ve cared for a wide variety of pets and farm animals. There were

cats and dogs in Australia, geese and hens in France, dogs and horses in Spain, turkeys in Turkey, parrots and goats in Fiji! In Australia Ruth was a professional gardener. She can care for fruit orchards and vegetable gardens in domestic plots. Louis has been brought up to respect whichever host home they are caring for, and is equally happy helping his mum with the domestic duties, and he

especially loves caring for the animals. They are currently touring Europe, and are a great example of the professional housesitters and petsitters available on HouseSitMatch.com. Download your Free Easy Guide to Housesitting from here www.bit.ly/eurown001 To find a petsitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com or call Lamia on +44 (0)1865 521 508

REPEAT OFFENDER: Cats return to the spot. and small carpets get these cleaned somehow if you can or throw away. • Do not try to save money on cleaning because in the long run the more thorough one is the

cheaper it all will be. A spraying/middening cat can cause a lot of grief and nothing is too much to stop it early on. • The edge where the skirting board meets laminated flooring will have a pool of spray urine if the site has been used repeatedly. Use a silicon sealant between the two. Then cover with heavy varnish of the sort used to varnish boats to make a barrier between the sprayed urine pool area and the outside world. • The intersection between tiles collects a pool. Clean the tiles - scrub in the intersection - then put the heavy boat varnish in the intersection or even over all the tile surface as well.

E W N 25 - 31 December 2014 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

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OPINION & COMMENT

Better to look poor and be safe than look rich and be a burglar’s victim Nora Johnson

Breaking Views A Costa del Sol resident for a number of years, Nora is the author of psychological suspense and crime thrillers. To comment on any of the issues raised in her column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/columnists/nora-johnson

WHEN I was last in the UK, I caught up with an old friend who’d just been burgled. She was livid as she’s most particular about security. Not half as particular, though, as the burglar himself. Here are a few of the things he won’t be telling you as you’re about to leave your house for your Christmas/ New Year holiday... Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your windows or delivering your

new freezer. And hey, when I was working in your garden thanks for letting me use the bathroom, where I unlatched the back window to make my return a bit easier. I just love your flowers. They tell me you have taste. And taste means there are nice things within. In fact, those toys your children leave outside always make me wonder what type of electronic games are inside! It’s raining, you’re fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door understandable. But understand this: I don’t take a day off because of bad weather. Another point: I always knock first. If you answer, I’ll ask for directions somewhere or offer

JACKPOT: The burglar always tries the doors first. to clean your gutters. (Just don’t take me up on it!) And, remember, a loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than

the best alarm system. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a gardener and carry a

strimmer. You see, I do my best never to look like an old lag. And two things I hate most? Loud dogs and nosy neighbours. I’ll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbour hears one loud sound, he’ll stop what he’s doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn’t, he’ll just return to what he was doing. It’s human nature. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a great way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it’s an invitation. And, if you don’t answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in the house. Sorry if it happens to be yours… But no hard feelings, eh? Just doing my job. Happy Christmas!

Nora Johnson’s thrillers ‘Landscape of Lies,’ ‘Retribution,’ ‘Soul Stealer,’ ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.nora-johnson.com) available from Amazon in paperback/eBook (€0.89;£0.79) and iBookstore. Profits to Cudeca.

Trying not to fall into an age old trap economy. As so depressingly often, the Bundesbank is right, but Podemos’s dislike of banks and hints of defaulting on Spain’s debt are likely to win more voters than they repel. Podemos wants to substitute Alice in Wonderland’s “jam yesterday and jam tomorrow but never today” with lots of jam today although this invariably augurs hunger tomorrow.

Cassandra Nash

A weekly look - and not entirely impartial reaction to the Spanish political scene

HE PSOE can’t afford to fall into its old trap of imposing party preferences on the public. Susana Diaz, the PSOE’s Number Two and president of the Andalucia region, was Alfredo Rubalcaba’s choice to follow him as party secretary general. Many - and possibly Diaz herself - were disappointed when this internal decision was challenged. The leadership race was thrown open and Pedro Sanchez took over. Now Andalucia has said support for Sanchez will be conditioned by the results of May’s municipal and regional elections. If he does well, then Sanchez will have 100 per cent backing, and that backing is important because Andalucia is where so many PSOE votes

Ancient history SUSANA DIAZ: overtaken in the leadership race. come from. But a Sanchez success will have little to do with ideology and more to do with image. If his showing is poor because the appeal of Pablo Iglesias and Podemos is stronger, then Sanchez won’t be the PSOE’s presidential candidate for the November general elections. Diaz could be jockeying for position but despite her

popularity within the party she has less national appeal than Sanchez. If the party does not stick with him, the PSOE could be in for another beating on the road to nowhere.

Jammy dodgers GERMANY’S Bundesbank believes fledgling party Podemos will threaten the EU

SPAIN’S Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy behaves like Eeyore but makes pronouncements like Tigger. He sounded very Tigger when he declared in a speech to Spanish businessmen that the economic crisis was “ancient history” and this is “the Christmas of the recovery.” On paper the country is out of recession and the economy is slowly recuperating but as yet few are feeling the benefits. They did not hesitate to say

so and Rajoy later qualified his exultant claims. “Recovery has not reached everyone or reached everyone to the same degree,” he admitted a few days later. Rajoy was wise to tone down the triumphalism. The speech was reminiscent of George W Bush’s elated “Mission accomplished!” exclaimed in May 2003. He said that two months after the invasion and occupation of Iraq and 11 years before its invasion and partoccupation by ISIS. There are times when it is preferable to emulate Eeyore.

Only answer THE government’s reform of the Penal Code contains a ‘life means life’ clause. This is new to Spain and causes concern in some legal circles although there are fewer misgivings outside them. But it is the only answer to some crimes and saves the state from contaminating its hands with capital punishment.

HOMES & GARDENS

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omes&gardens

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HA very Happy Christmas to SPONSORED BY

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gardeners throughout Spain Dick Handscombe

FESTIVE FLOWERS: Brighten up window sills with poinsettias.

Gardening Corner

cacti and succulent gardens on various levels of the flat roofs of the Hotel Reina Isabel in La Palma Gran Canaria. Temporary or permanent exhibitions of colourful cheerful sculptures in the patios, on roof tops or waiting rooms. Temporary or permanent exhibitions of paintings and photographs in public areas and corridors I thought that most of our readers will not be ready to think about garden related New Year Resolutions so held them back until next week. So until then enjoy your well-earned seasonal rest from gardening.

By Spain’s best known expatriate gardening author living in Spain for 25 years.

HOW fast the gardening and social years go round and earlier writing deadlines creep up on one. Am writing this early morning with a fusty head as only came out of hospital last evening after a rough week and health scare. Somehow half the words get typed looking like Latin Plant Botanical names, but let’s persevere. First Christmas Best Wishes to our friendly EWN team, who have been keeping the compiling of the EWN running smoothly this week, plus all EWN gardening readers whether seasoned or newcomer gardeners. Fortunately temperatures are keeping warm and there is little rain forecast at the time of writing, so Christmas Day can start with a traditional leisurely beach or country walk followed by tostadas coated with tomato, garlic and olive oil with a festive coffee and brandy. Over lunch let’s raise a glass to those readers unfortunate to be in hospital over Christmas. Having just survived five days of a modern prisonlike medical environment with no thought given to the mental and motivational sides of survival and recovery, I would like to raise a Christmas Challenge. I experienced kilometres of bare white walls and

ceilings with black speckled floors. Many windows were difficult to look through, but where you could you could see large areas of lower stone chipping covered flat roofs and bare patio areas just waiting to be brightened up to cheer staff, patients and visitors. How wonderful it would be if the many expat gardening, sculpture, painting, photography, tapestry clubs, often coordinated within the umbrellas of local U3A Groups organised to offer install and maintain such things as the following, as a united Mediterranean coastal Christmas present. Low maintenance patio and roof top gardens. I am reminded of the

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OPINION & COMMENT

An African Queen to crown all Mike Walsh Mike, based in Mediterranean Spain, is an international journalist, author and professional writer.

WHEN on December 12, MV Mutambala, a ferry operating on Lake Tanganyika sank in a storm there was little news coverage. The disaster claimed the lives of up to 150 passengers, mostly women and children. Strong winds and overloading are said to be the cause of the tragedy. It is not uncommon for ships operating on Lake Tanganyika to sink, usually for the same reasons. Still operating on the lake today is a ship that really does appear to be unsinkable. What a remarkable history this ferry has. The 1,600 ton MV Graf von Goetzen was built in Germany in 1913 but not in a conventional way. The shipbuilders, Meyer Werft, built the Goetzen in thousands of parts. After assembling it to make

TROUBLED WATER: Lake Tanganyika is second largest in the World. sure all was as it should be the MV Graf von Goetzen was disassembled and its parts packed in 5,000 crates. These boxes were shipped to East Africa, which was then a German Protectorate. Germany’s economy in 1913 was on a high as were German spirits. That year, the Kaiser’s daughter Viktoria Luise, was to marry a commoner. In common with millions of fellow Europeans, thousands of Germans emigrated, many to

Germany’s overseas colonies and protectorates. On reaching the East African port of Dar es Salaam these thousands of crates, each containing bits and pieces of the 234 feet ferry-liner, were unloaded. These were then shipped across the jungle savannah to Kigoma, a small lakeside town 1,300km distant. Teams of master fitters and shipbuilders arrived soon afterward and set about rebuilding the liner.

Lake Tanganyika, the second largest lake in the world, borders four countries; it is the length of England and is an average 50km in width. In 1917, three years after the outbreak of the Great War, British troops advanced on Lake Tanganyika. Scuttled to prevent the ship from falling into British hands this fine vessel appeared to have met its Waterloo at the bottom of this fantastic lake. The surrendering Germans were

taken into captivity and were to remain in concentration camps until 1920. Later raised to the surface, the Graf Goetzen, now named Liemba, was returned to service. In 1951, it became internationally famous. The Liemba is the gunboat, Luisa, in the movie, African Queen. The stars were Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart. Today, this proud liner still carries passengers from township to township, delivering produce to markets, and offering a vital supply linkage to the four Central African republics. Yes, it was disheartening to learn of the recent sinking of the MV Mutambala with such terrible loss of life. Somehow, I am relieved to know that the ship involved was not the MV Graf von Goetzen, sorry, MV Liemba. If this wonderful maritime adventurer ever reaches its climax may it go up in a ball of flames without loss of life as anything less would be too unbearable to think about.

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Mazda puts safety first in new models

REUNITED: The King is presented with his first car.

King meets up with an old friend HE visited most of the SEAT facilities in Martorell, he got close up to the assembly lines and was given an insight into some of the car company’s bestkept secrets – its future models. But the biggest smile on the face of Felipe VI during his entire visit came from a surprise. The King once more came face-to-face with his first-ever car – a 1.5 litre, metallic gold Ibiza which his father, King Juan Carlos, gave him for his 18th birthday in 1986. The King let out an emotional laugh on seeing the car. “I imagine he recalled his first car, his student days, his 18 years,” said Isidre Lopez, head of Classic Cars at SEAT, and whose team carried out the painstaking work of restoring it, with 152,000 kilometres on the

clock and not having been started up for more than 16 years. When it was built, the car was very much ahead of its time, being equipped with an injection engine and air conditioning, two full years before these items were introduced on series production cars. For the technical team in charge of the process of restoration, the most difficult part was getting the fuel feed and injection system up and running, since the car had not been on the road for many years. Other work was also done on the integrated paintwork, upholstery, tyres and wheels. In fact, “it is a unique, special, custom-built Ibiza,” added Lopez. One example of this is that the seats are tailored to the height of Felipe VI.

MORE advanced safety technology, more powertrain choices and a new, more refined interior are in store for the 2015 Mazda 6 and 2015 Mazda CX-5, which make their European motor show debuts in March in Geneva. They are the first Mazdas with the company’s new Adaptive LED Headlights (ALH), an autonomous high-beam system with four independently controll-able blocks of LEDs per headlamp. To avoid impairing other motorists’ vision, it shuts off only the high-beam block, shining in the specific direction of an oncoming or preceding vehicle, leaving the remaining LEDs on for better night-time visibility. ALH, which also features widened low-beam coverage and automatic levelling, includes the functionality of High Beam Control and the Adaptive Front-lighting System, two systems currently available from Mazda. The 2015 Mazda 6 and 2015 Mazda CX-5 are also equipped with several other new safety systems. Blind Spot Monitoring extends the existing Rear Vehicle Monitoring (RVM) system’s range while also adding Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), which warns the driver of approaching vehicles when reversing. Lane-keep Assist System provides steering torque assistance (among other things) to help prevent unintentional lane changes, thus complementing the Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS). A first for Mazda, Driver

NEW: The 2015 Mazda 6.

Attention Alerts (DAA) monitors the driver’s condition and recommends a break if it detects a change in behaviour. Smart City Brake Support Forward/Reverse (SCBS F/R), meanwhile, adds reverse gear functionality to the current SCBS system, which automatically applies the brakes if there is an increased collision risk. The CX-5 also gets Smart Brake Support and Mazda Radar Cruise Control, both of which debuted in Europe on the Mazda 6. As for powertrains, the 2015 Mazda6 wagon with SKYACTIV-D 2.2 clean diesel is available with Mazda’s new-generation all-wheel drive system. Already used on the CX5, it features the world’s first front wheel slip warning detection system and now employs a specially developed lowviscosity oil to further improve fuel economy. The 2015 CX-5, in turn, is now offered in Europe with the SKYACTIV-G 2.5 petrol engine in conjunction with i-ELOOP, Mazda’s brake energy regeneration system, and Drive Selection, which enables a choice of drive

modes for added responsiveness on demand. Inside, the remarkably ergonomic heads-up cabin introduced on the new Mazda3 has arrived on these two models, including the newgeneration humanmachine interface. Both get the MZD Connect in-car smartphone connectivity system as well as a seveninch touchscreen display and added infotainment features, while the 2015

Mazda 6 also comes with a head-up display. Nicely suited to the overall cabin material quality and coordination, a switch-activated electric parking brake – Mazda’s first – replaces the handbrake lever on the 2015 CX-5 and 2015 Mazda 6 for a cleaner centre console. Finally, suspension upgrades and advanced sound insulation improve ride comfort while significantly reducing cabin noise.

E W N 25 - 31 December 2014 / Axarquía - Costa Tropical

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Rory McIlroy with the US PGA trophy Will 2015 bring even more rewards for the No. 1 golfer? TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

A hectic festive season of top sport Tony Matthews

International Sports A former football player and the world’s most prolific author of football books (more than 100 published), Tony is also the sports reporter for Spectrum Radio and lives in the Cabrera mountains.

Costa de Almeria

Preview AS always there is a full programme of football matches on Boxing Day, as

well as on 28/29 December, while there are also 10 Premiership games scheduled for New Year’s Day before 64 teams compete in the third round of the FA Cup between January 3 - 6. This is why clubs have such big squads! On Boxing Day, there are two London derbies in the Premiership - Arsenal against QPR at The Emirates and Chelsea v West Ham United at Stamford Bridge.

LEWIS HAMILTON: Hopes for a third championship. Manchester United play Newcastle United and West

Bromwich Albion entertain the reigning champions

Manchester City. Away from football, and right now, running through until early January, we have the William Hill World Darts Championship from London which will be followed by the BDO World Championship from Lakeside. For horse racing fans, there is the King George VI

Chase meeting from Kempton Park (starting on Boxing Day) and on December 27 it’s the Coralsponsored Welsh Grand National from Chepstow. And we have the Women’s European Handball championships from Croatia and Hungary. Looking into my 2015 ‘Golden Globe,’ wouldn’t it be great to see: England’s cricketers win every Test Match they play in 2015; Rory McIlroy triumph in every golf competition he takes part in; Lewis Hamilton repeat his Formula 1 Grand Prix exploits by winning the driver’s championship for a third time; and Amir Khan continue beating his opponents in the ring.