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ISSUENN . 1555 //2123 - 29 APRIL 2015 ISSUE O.O1559 - 27 May 2015

EWN EXCLUSIVE

The lady IS for listening By Linda Hall THE British residents of Mojacar have finally been heard. And a Spanish woman has listened to them. She is the mayor, Rosa Maria Cano (pictured), who recognises that the town’s many foreign residents do not have a voice. To make sure that what they say can be heard where it matters, the town hall has set up a foreign residents’ department like those in Marbella and Mijas. It will be aimed specifically at listening to and helping the town’s expatriate population. Mayor Cano has explained that the aim of the department is not just to listen to foreign residents, but also to help them with a wide range of issues in their own language. What’s more, a dedicated councillor will be available to visit the homes of those who have trouble getting out and about, making the council even more inclusive of the expat population than before. Full story on Page 5

COSTA DE ALMERÍA

YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION

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Major facelift for emblematic tower EU funds will finance restoration NIJAR’S 13th century tower, the Atalaya, is to be restored. The €200,000 project will take five months to complete with funding from the EU’s European ReSee Page 2 gional Development Fund (Feder).

Blue sea, blue flags Flags go to beaches that comply with standards TWENTY-FIVE Almeria Province beaches and one of its marinas have been awarded Blue Flags this year.

The programme is a voluntary eco-label that is awarded to more than 4,000 beaches and marinas. See Page 4

A failed ‘escape’ Investigation will pinpoint failings SEVEN Algerians escaped while being driven from Almeria port to police headquarters. They were amongst 16 Algerians and 24 Sub-Saharan Africans See Page 11 who had crossed from North Africa.

Drug smuggling waters North African drugs groups change tactics SIX Syrian crew members of merchant ship, the San Trela, are now in custody following a drugs operation. Initially

it was feared that all six could subsequently be freed as they were detained in international waters. See Page 18

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LOCAL NEWS

Boudicca in town ALMERIA port will receive visits from more than 700 cruise ships this season. Thanks to the city’s tourist attraction it is an increasingly popular port of

call of medium-size ships like the Boudicca. Due to put in today (Thursday), the Fred Olsen Line ship will spend several hours in the city before continuing its Mediterranean itinerary.

Vaccinations up THE Almeria International Vaccination Centre’s workload rose by 7 per cent in the first quarter of 2015. The centre performed 706 vaccinations in this period. The majority were

for tourists and local African residents returning for family visits although there was an increase in Almeria residents leaving to work elsewhere in Europe, Asia and Africa.

Open for business ALMERIA City’s Alcazaba reopened on schedule following repairs. It closed to restore crumbling stonework on the Moorish citadel’s south wall but the

regional government now intends to restore the entire principal facade to avoid further falls. This will add €60,000 to work currently being carried by restoration firm, Rehabitec.

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Facelift for emblematic tower to take 5 months EU funds will finance restoration By Linda Hall NIJAR’S 13th century tower, the Atalaya, is to be extensively restored. The €200,000 proje c t w ill ta ke five months to c omple te w ith funding from the EU’s European Regional Development Fund (Feder). “We shall recover a Nijar s ymbol,” s a id the ma yor Antonio Jesus Rodriguez. The Atalaya, he said, was probably built in the 13th century and appears to have been restored in the mid14th century during the time of Yusuf I. At present the tower is so deteriorated that this sole reminder of the town’s former fortress is now endangered. Its foundations will be strengthened to prevent

ATALAYA: Symbol of Nijar. more fissures and existing cracks sealed. Lighting and inte rior pa ving a re to be added as well as an access road to encourage visits.

“We have wanted to do this for years,” Rodriguez sai d. “At one t i m e t her e was t al k of f i nanci ng t he project through the ‘Cultur-

al cent ’ but t hat cam e t o nothing. When the possibility of obtaining Feder funds was suggested, we jumped at the chance.”

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FEATURED NEWS

Aromatic markets fuel creativity in kitchen THE HEART of the neighbourhood that inspires you to cook

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Aid for helpers Eight to share THE Almeria Diputacion presented €32,500 to eight provincial non-government organisations and charities. This will be shared between Alcer, Aspodalba, the Food Bank, Caritas, Argar, Centro la Milagrosa, Asperger Almeria and the Verdiblanca association.

Costly game Set fire to car AN Almeria City man received a 12-month prison sentence for setting light to his ex partner’s car in El Toyo and damaging two other cars. He must also pay €1,960 compensation.

Left out 26 still pending

Chimp-ion Award for Brit scientist

FIESTAS DE SAN ISIDRO: Where agriculture and food are high on the agenda.

By Steve Walsh THERE are celebrations and festivals in Spain all year, but one of the largest and most widely celebrated is the May Fiestas de San Isidro, where agriculture, food and local markets are high on everyone’s agenda. Why are the Spanish markets so special? It’s because they are thought of as the heart of their neighbourhoods. A tour of these wonderfully aromatic and colourful streets with their choreographed displays of fresh produce empowers you to cook. If you’re a foodie with an open mind and a shallow pocket, Mercat de la Boqueria in Barcelona could be your new best friend. The Catalan capital is a ver-

108 is the number of stained-glass window panes that run along one end of Malaga’s cathedral of cookery, the Mercado de Ataranzas. The market dates back to the 14th century.

itable cornucopia of beautiful, creative cuisine that celebrates fresh, local Catalan produce. Walking into this 13th century establishment, your senses are teased with a burst of colours and aromas. Madrid’s equivalent would have to be Mercado de San Miguel. The 100year-old, beautiful, iron structured building has a commanding position over the Plaza Mayor. Its multitude of cultural and culinary happenings are extremely popular, especially during San Isidro weekend. Further south in Malaga, Mercado de Ataranzas is best known for its 108 stained-glass window panes that run along one end of the building, and the magnificent Moorish gate entrance.

BRITISH primatologist Jane Goodall has been awarded the XXVII Premi Internacional Catalunya prize for her contribution to science and promotion of solidarity between all living creatures. She is considered the world’s leading expert on chimpanzees and is also a UN Messenger of Peace.

Quote of the Week Many women choose to stay at home with their children and don’t work as long as their husbands do,” said Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy in an attempt to justify the fact that women’s pensions are an average of €400 lower than men’s.

ALMERIMAR parents formed an association to coordinate efforts to enlarge the local state school. Of 78 requests for places for the next school year, 26 are still pending, they said.

It’s growing More residents ALMERIA Province has grown by 18.76 per cent in the last 10 years, revealed Spain’s national statistics office INE. There are now 688,888 residents compared to 580,077 in 2004.

Cyclist dies Found at roadside EMERGENCY service medics could not resuscitate a 43-year-old cyclist found lying at the roadside in Felix. He died shortly afterwards and police are now investigating the circumstances of a possible accident.

Better road

Promoting gazing at the stars in Gergal THE Almeria Diputacion has joined the Amigos del Calar Alto association in promoting the Los Filabres Astronomy programme. A principal feature is the Second Los Filabres Astro-

tourism project on May 29 and 30. The two-day Jornadas include visits to the Gergal’s Astrophysis and Environmental interpretive centre - a modern museum - and the

renowned Calar Alto observatory to observe the night sky. A conducted tour of 13th century Bacares castle and a visit to Tetica de Bacares are also on the agenda.

Almeria residents should be encouraged to learn more about the Calar Alto observatory near Gergal, said Maria Vazquez who heads the Diputacion’s Culture department.

Amigos del Calar Alto deserve all possible institutional backing, Vazquez added, as the association’s sole object is promoting the province from the point of view of astronomy and tourism.

Second phase THE Almeria Diputacion will spend €120,000 on improvements to the AL3412 Paulenca road that links the A-92 with Gador. This is the second phase of a project that stalled years ago.

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Blue sea, skies and flags BEACHES in Almeria earn Blue Flag environmental awards By Linda Hall TWENTY-FIVE Almeria Province beaches and one of its marinas have been awarded Blue Flags this year. Eight Almeria towns are now entitled to fly them for the next 12 months: Pulpi (three), Mojacar (three), Carboneras (one), Nijar (two), Almeria (two), Roquetas de Mar (six), El Ejido (five) and Adra (three). All retained flags they were awarded last year, except Carboneras which lost them for the Los Barquicos-Los Cocones and El Ancon beaches. Roquetas received a flag for its marina as well as its beaches while Adra was also given flags for the Museo del Mar museum and San Nicolas pathway. The flags go to beaches and marinas that comply with stringent standards for hygiene, cleanliness, accessibility and respect for the environment. The programme is a voluntary eco-label that is awarded to more than 4,000 beaches and

AGUA AMARGA: One of Nijar’s blue flag beaches. marinas in 49 countries across Europe, Morocco, Tunisia, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada, the Caribbean and Brazil. The scheme is owned and run by the non-government,

non-profit organisation, Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), of which Spain’s Association for Environmental Education and the Consumer (ADEAC) is a founder member.

Andalucia has 95 blue flags this year – 78 for beaches and 17 for marinas – although it has lost three since 2015. Cadiz, with 31, has the most, followed by Almeria (26), Malaga (22), Huelva (12) and Granada (four).

Homes to be safe from the waves CENTURIES’ old houses close to Adra’s beaches will no longer have to fear the sea. Ten years ago the central government’s Environment department announced its intention of demolishing the town’s his-

toric neighbourhoods. Residents who fought that decision at the time welcomed news that work on the breakwaters should start “within weeks.” These will protect homes from heavy seas during storms and also prevent the

constant erosion of sand from the beaches. “We can’t believe it. We’ve been asking for breakwaters for 15 years because there are houses here with deeds that are 300 years old,” said a jubilant Guainos resident.

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MOJACAR: The mayor cares passionately about all its residents, whether they are Spanish or foreign-born.

Foreign residents councillor will give all expats a voice By Linda Hall MOJACAR has a registered population of 7,745 and a staggering 61.5 per cent were born outside Spain. Figures like that suggest - as the British community has suggested for some time - that a foreign residents’ department is sorely needed at the town hall. Those British voices have been heard and the department will become a reality thanks to Mayor Rosa Maria Cano (who is happiest when known and addressed as Rosmari). The town hall already goes to considerable lengths for its foreign residents, with programmes aimed at providing them with subsidised leisure activities, excursions and holidays alongside Spanish residents. The accent might be on diversion and entertainment but underlying the fun, there is a serious attempt at encouraging integration, too. These attempts have reaped success and Rosmari Cano says that one of the town hall’s wisest moves after the 2011 elections was employing a linguist at the town hall. “We have taken on board what residents describe as their greatest priority by expanding this help,” she told the Euro Weekly News (EWN), and added: “So we intend to have a proper foreigners’ department with an office in the town hall and a designated English-speaking councillor, Maria Luisa Lopez Perez.” The councillor and her department will provide foreign residents with assistance and support in settling themselves into their new homes and new lives in Spain. She can answer their practical questions, explain the health and edu-

cation systems and guide them through the labyrinth of local taxes. Maria Luisa will be available to visit people in their own homes if requested. This will address their needs and ensure that their queries are answered on the spot,” Rosmari has pledged. “This councillor will co-ordinate and further our efforts to reach out to the English-speaking community. Links have already been forged with local groups, clubs and charities as well as the Anglican church to discuss future plans.”

that it was flattering to observe how so many parties are now suggesting proposals that the town hall has already carried out, or intends to. Experience has shown Rosmari that all problems can be solved when a firm hand is enclosed in an unthreatening, velvet glove. Like any mother who knows all about velvet gloves, she has a sense of responsibility towards the voters who have put her at the head of the town hall. She also has kind words, not vitriol, for rival politicians in other parties. Asked about Jessica Simpson of the ‘Somos Mojacar’ party,

We intend to have a proper Foreigners Department with an office in the town hall and a designated Englishspeaking councillor.

The mayor cares passionately about Mojacar and all its residents whether they are Spanish or foreign-born. Over her past four years as mayor she has used this passion allied to know-how to bring the town hall books back to health for their benefit. Rosmari said: “Thanks to efficient management we have been able to cut the council debt from €8 million to €3 million.” The town hall’s need for cost-cutting prompted EWN to ask the mayor for her views on other parties’ proposals. “We do wonder how they Meet Maria Luisa Lopez Perez, Mojacar Town Hall’s will be able to fund their long list of Councillor for Foreign Residents. projects,” she commented, and added

61.5% of Mojacar residents were born outside Spain Rosmari wished her every success. She said: “She has been a councillor for the past four years and in the future there is every likelihood that she can realise her ambition of becoming the first foreign-born female mayor in Spain,” Rosmari said. The integration and wellbeing of the foreign community is a prime concern for Rosmari and she intends to guarantee that noone with something to say in Mojacar - whatever their nationality will be ignored.

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All set for Sunday night election count SWEEPSTAKES, births and tree-hugging By Linda Hall FOR the first time since 2003, Kiosko Amalia in Almeria City organised an election sweepstake. For €2 a wager, compared with €1 in 2003, citizens who like a bet or have a nose for politics pay their money and take their choice. The PSOE party secretary general Pedro Sanchez, campaigning on behalf of the city’s socialist candidates during a stopover on his way to Cartagena (Murcia), made no secret of his preference. He confidently forecast an overall majority for them although the accuracy of his prediction remains to be seen on Sunday night. One person unlikely to be around when the votes are counted is Maria del Mar Mane, Izquierda Unida’s mayoral candidate in Benahadux. She went into labour just as she and party members were about to present their electoral list. Instead she was hurried to hospital

KIOSKO AMALIA: Pedro Sanchez makes a choice. where she gave birth shortly afterwards to a 3.670-kilo baby girl who will receive the name of Paula. Mane is one of 74 women running for mayor in Almeria Province – too few, it has been said, because females account for only 23 per cent of the 300 candidates hoping to head their respective councils. There have been the usual spats between parties over

hogging the available space for posters, whether or not these bear the pictures of women. The Equo party prefers hugging and refuted accusations that it, and other parties, were littering the streets with election literature. On the contrary, argued Manuel Perez Sola, Equo’s Almeria City candidate, “We fix our posters to trees. It is our way of embracing them.”

Illegal home owners put their case to senators FOLLOWING a recent setback when the Spanish Senate’s Justice Commission vetoed proposals to adjust the law to protect owners of property with planning issues, associations are appealing directly to senators. AMA, an association of mostly Spanish home owners from Cantabria, has joined

forces with British associations AUAN in Almeria and SOHA in Axarquia to appeal directly to senators to ignore the Justice Commission’s position and vote in favour of changing the Ley Hipotecaria (Mortgage Law). In an open letter to all the members of Senate to plead for their support, AMA presi-

dent Antonio Vilela Fernandez has stressed the need for legislative change to protect those who purchased in good faith. He explains that the associations want fairer laws to protect citizens from abuse. The Senate is due to vote on whether or not to change article 34 of the Ley Hipotecaria on Monday, May 25.

Former idol misses court ITALIAN actor Fabio Testi failed to show at an Almeria high court hearing recently. The 73-year-old, known for his relationships with Ursula Andress and Charlotte Rampling in the 70s, is accused of fraud. His ex-wife, Almeria-born Maria Dolores Navarro, who divorced

Testi in 1994, lost her city apartment shortly afterwards to Testi’s business partner through a supposed debt jointly shared with her ex. The associate then sold the property for €146,000, allegedly sharing the proceeds with Testi.

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A true Euro woman MARIA is a remarkable, dynamic person

Maria Isabel Fernandez Utges with Michel and Steven. By Dilip Kuner IT is said that behind every successful man is a strong woman. In the case of British Ambassador to Spain, Simon Manley, that truism could well be turned on its head. Mr Manley’s wife Maria Isabel Fernandez Utges stands squarely as his equal in strength and success. Euro Weekly News Publishers Michel and Steven Euesden had the pleasure of meeting and having lunch with Maria at the

Ambassador’s residence in Madrid on Friday, May 15. There they found a remarkable, dynamic person - a genuine high flyer who combines being a mother and wife with a hugely successful career as a partner and director of prestigious London lawyers, Bristows LLP. She is fluent in three languages, Spanish, English and French, and slightly less fluent in German, Italian and Catalan. Maria agreed to be interviewed for a charity book being

produced by the EWN media group. Euro Women will focus on the lives and achievements of some of the more remarkable women in the expat population. This book will come out for Christmas and all proceeds will go to deserving charities. For more details on Euro Women and the exhilarating interview that took place with one of the most dynamic women one could hope to meet, see next week’s Euro Weekly News.

NEWS

Fire put out for 2nd time FOREST firefighting and prevention service Infoca had to be called twice to the same Huercal-Overa fire. The fire, which began on Wednesday of last week (May 13), was initially declared extinguished after destroying 18.5 hectares of brush and young pines. Infoca had to return after the alarm was raised once more the following day when the fire restarted, fanned by the strong Levante winds blowing at the time. Infoca announced that it had the blaze under control by last Friday and had prevented it from advancing any further. Nevertheless firefighters had to wait until Monday morning before confirming that there was no danger of its reigniting. This was the HuercalOvera’s first large-scale fire this year and at its height required three firefighting aircraft, a fire engine and 70 firemen to contain it. Its causes are now under investigation as Infoca suspects that it was started deliberately.

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Disappointing April for Almeria airport APRIL is an unpredictable month for El Alquian By Linda Hall A TOTAL of 61,172 passengers used Almeria airport last month, 12.2 per cent fewer than in April 2014. April is unpredictable for El Alquian as 2013 was considerably worse than 2014 with 55,150 passengers while 2012 had a record 75,172 according to airports authority AENA.

With Easter falling in April this year, the figures could have been expected to rise, but there was a 14.2 per cent reduction in other operations and a 19.2 per cent fall in air cargo transport. Almeria was the only airport in the Andalucia Region to lose passengers in April. The first four months of the year saw the number of passengers fall 1.7 per cent to 169,169 passengers. Other air operations were reduced by 14.2 per cent.

A failed ‘great escape’ SEVEN Algerians escaped while they were being driven from Almeria port to police headquarters. They were amongst 16 recently-arrived Algerians and 24 Sub-Saharan Africans who had crossed from North Africa aboard clandestine boats. Although handcuffed together in pairs, and escorted by five National Police officers, two Algerians smashed and escaped from a plastic skylight that was also an emergency exit. Six more managed to climb out as the remaining

Algerians began to riot, biting and kicking the police guards. Three were detained immediately while another broke his ankle as he jumped from the bus and had to be admitted to Torrecardenas hospital. Two more were found in Calle Reyes Catolicos by the Local Police but the seventh, an elderly man, had not been located at the time of writing. Nevertheless, police know his identity as he was previously deported after irregularly entering Spain. An internal investigation is now under way.

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EWN

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Eviction averted

HARBOUR WANTED: Fishing boat on Cabo de Gata beach.

Fishing for harbour VITAL to have an area where boats can tie up and stow nets By Linda Hall RESIDENTS in Cabo de Gata want a fishing harbour. The area that boats currently use was pronounced “lamentable, unhealthy and dangerous” by the Virgen del Mar resident’s association. They urgently want infrastructure for professional fish-

ing boats and pleasure craft. “Principally this will allow the fishing fleet to work in hygienic surroundings,” an association spokesman said. “But it would be a perfect opportunity to develop an inviting area for Cabo de Gata residents and visitors. “At present fishermen have only a strip of beach with mini-

mal conditions for carrying out their tasks,” the association said. “It was vital to provide an area where boats can tie up, store their nets and stow equipment,” a spokesman continued: “Somewhere clean, without shacks. Somewhere for visitors to watch fisherman working.”

IN 2013 Jose Manuel Martinez leased four hectares of greenhouses in La Cañada de San Urbano. Honouring the wages owed to the owner ’s 20 employees was part of the deal and seven workers stayed on, occupying three properties on the leased land. Now the BBVA bank has repossessed this and intends to clear the site. Last week court and bank officials accompanied by police arrived to evict the families but finally agreed to give Martinez and the bank until today (Thursday) to thrash out an agreement. Martinez hopes to purchase the land, he said. Crops are already planted and the employees have work contracts regularising their immigrant status in Spain.

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NEWS EXTRA

Face paint ONLY 36 of 120 applicants for the ‘Realism and Figuration Course’ in Olula del Rio were accepted. The four-day course beginning on May 25 will be led by royal portraitist Antonio Lopez.

Depot bid GARRUCHA: Port should not have been used for fiestas, the Junta said.

Fine state of affairs COUNCIL may have to pay €30,000 to regional government By Linda Hall USING the port for last year’s fiestas could cost Garrucha €30,000. The town hall intends to appeal against the fine from the regional government’s Environment department. “The port is the only suitable place for the fiestas,” said Garrucha’s mayor Juan Francisco Fernandez. He has now been

waiting for weeks to see the Junta’s Almeria Environment delegate and receive an explanation for the regional government’s reasons for the fine. The fiestas have been held at the port for more than 100 years without problem, Fernandez pointed out. Documents in Garrucha’s municipal archive contain annual applications for permission to hold the fiestas in the port and the Administra-

tion’s corresponding authorisations. “This is completely outrageous and the Junta’s way of rejecting how the local government runs the town,” the mayor said. He called for the Junta to fulfil pending commitments in Garrucha. “The fair site, the bus station and many other projects planned for the port area have all been pushed to the back of the drawer,” Fernandez said.

The light in your eyes BROTHER and sister Ana and Manuel Sanchez Lucas are currently showing their paintings in Huercal-Overa. Entitled ‘La luz en sus pupilas’ (The light in your eyes) the exhibition can be seen at the town’s Teatro Villa de HuercalOvera until June 4. Their pictures reproduce characteristic features of Huercal-Overa that include Calle Arco and the parish church. Views of Cordoba and Sevilla are also featured in the exhibition. “Both Ana and Manuel are well known here,” said Antonio Lazaro, Councillor for Culture at the town hall. “They have taken part in our open-air painting competition for many years

EXHIBITION: Ana Sanchez, Manuel Sanchez and Antonio Lazaro. and now they are showing us our landscapes, emblematic buildings and, of course, our castle.

“They have captured the light and the places that form part of the way we are and feel,” the councillor declared.

RBL jazz night in June THE Mojacar Royal British Legion (RBL) is organising a Black and White Jazz Night on Saturday, June 13. The event in aid of the Poppy Appeal will be held at Bar Restaurant Laguna with a specially-prepared menu. Entertainment will be provided by the Pedro Clemente Quartet, Dominic Doolittle with guest

vocalists Nadine and Lady Ellen. This is a ticketonly event at €29.50 per person. A coach service costing €7 per person leaves Parque Comercial at 7.15pm, returning at 00.30am. For more information contact Eileen on 950 462 376 or 634 321 507 or email socialevents.rblmoj.3485@gmail.com.

FOLLOWING improvements to Adra’s bus station the town hall set aside space for a privately-run kiosk. It has invited tenders for a left-luggage service and sale of newspapers and sweets.

New rector CARMELO RODRIGUEZ was named Rector of Almeria University, replacing Pedro Roque Molina Garcia. He was elected two months ago but the Junta took 23 days to confirm his appointment.

Woman hurt in hotel accident A WOMAN was seriously injured in a Partaloa rural hotel when she was hit by a falling door. The emergency services were called and she was admitted to La Inmaculada hospital in Huercal-Overa. The Guardia Civil are now investigating whether the incident occurred while the woman, who is in her 50s, was working in the hotel at the time as witnesses claimed. If this should prove to be the case, Health and Safety issues could be involved, sources said. No hotel in Partaloa belongs to the Asociacion de Empresarios Turisticos, the business association announced afterwards, and it was uncertain whether any officially-registered rural hotel existed there.

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Powdered milk saves the day after difficult times LOCAL producers selling to markets abroad and in particular China By Linda Hall GOAT’S milk producers in Almeria Province have survived difficult economic moments by turning to powdered milk. The market was practically static at the beginning of the year, explained owners of local flocks of sheep and goats. “This happened because we had some very good years

when goat’s milk fetched unheard-of prices in origin,” explained Andres Aranega, spokesman for the provincial association of goat’s and ewe’s milk cooperatives, FAECA. “Goat and sheep farmers at home and abroad reacted by increasing the size of their flocks, resulting in a 50 per cent rise in milk production here and 7 per cent in Europe. This triggered a glut, exports faltered and the national market was unable to absorb the excess,” Aranega said. Problems were solved thanks to help from the central government’s ministry of Agriculture and the collaboration of agro-food cooperatives and their members. The Caprina de Almeria cooperative has emerged from what Aranega called “a delicate situation” by producing

OVERPRODUCTION: High prices encouraged bigger flocks. powdered milk for markets outside Spain, particularly China. “Thanks to the assistance we

have received in recent months we are now moving forward and are beginning to sell,” Arenega said.

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NEWS

Another big drugs haul off Cabo de Gata NORTH African drugs groups change their tactics By Linda Hall SIX Syrian crew members of merchant ship, the San Trela, are now in custody following a drugs operation. The ship was intercepted 60 nautical miles (approximately 110 kilometres) south-east of Cabo de Gata, carrying five tons of hashish worth €11 million. The ship registered in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was boarded after it was spotted by a Customs helicopter in an area not usual for this type of ship. Their suspicions were confirmed when they saw the San Trela’s derrick being used to load packages into a semiinflatable dinghy which was drawn up alongside it. After previously obtaining the DRC’s authorisation to search the ship, it was boarded by officials from patrol boats based in Almeria and Malaga. By the time it docked in Almeria, police had located a false compartment in the bows where the hashish was stored.

CABO DE GATO: Waters favoured by drug smugglers.

13 maritime operations have netted 115 tons of drugs Investigators believe that North African drugs groups are now using merchant ships and deep-sea fishing boats to

shift large quantities of hashish within the Mediterranean. This was the 13th operation in an ongoing anti-drugs offensive that has netted a total haul of more than 115 tons since May, 2013. According to Port Authority sources, there are currently four impounded ‘narco-ships’ moored in Almeria harbour.

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NEWS

Spring Gala to help Tourist routes for Almanzora animals our local marble THE registered charity fosters strays and abandoned pets

HISTORY shared with Italy, Greece, Portugal and Belgium

By Community Reporter HELPING ANIMALS ALMANZORA holds its Spring Gala on Saturday, May 30. This is a registered charity that fosters strays and abandoned animals until they can be homed. The gala begins in the rear function room and garden of Hostal Meson in Arboleas at 5.30pm, with live music from 6pm and a hot and cold buffet dinner (with vegetarian option) from 7.30pm. The Grand Auction and Raffle, with many quality items, starts at 8.30pm, followed by more live music. Entertainment continues throughout the evening and includes tombola, guess-thecake-weight and name-theteddy, plus a prize for one numbered dinner ticket, drawn on the night.

By Linda Hall MARBLE, an increasingly important tourist attraction, is already included in the Costa de Almeria tourism offer. Its potential in this sector prompted representatives from Macael and the Almanzora Valley municipalities to attend the recent Extra-Expo Project meeting in Toledo.

JEDI: One of HAA’s fostered dogs. The buffet dinner costs €7 and should be booked and paid for beforehand. Tickets from the HAA Shop (Arboleas), Colin the Card (Albox), Inspired Home & Garden (Albox), CAT Services (La Alfoquia) and

Centro Veterinario (HuercalOvera). For more information, ring 634 332 978, email helping.animals.almanzora @gmail.com or see website http://haafundraiser2015.we bs.com.

The gathering centred on understanding how Spain and other countries can use and exploit their existing heritage by regenerating industrial areas for tourist purposes. This, it is hoped, can offset the decline in industry, job losses, depopulation and other social consequences in Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal and Belgium.

These five countries are already linked by their historic and important marble industries. Now the scheme, which is co-funded by the European Commission and has a €259,371 budget, will create and promote international tourist routes that are based on a shared industrial background of marble quarrying.

Turre Dames date for May THE Dames in Turre May meeting will be held at Hostal Rural (Turre) on Monday May 25 at 11am. Now’s the time for getting brains into gear for Sylvia’s famous quiz. Everyone is invited to come along and see how good their memory is, to have a good laugh and enjoy the morning, which is what Dames is all about. After the meeting, enjoy coffee and tapas with friends.

The Dames’ annual general meeting will be held, also at the Hostal Rural, on Monday June 8 at 12.30pm. This is for members only, but is followed by lunch which friends are welcome to join. For more information contact the secretary Pam Smith on her new telephone number 677 543 031, or the president Lesley Barlow on 950 095 980.

NEWS

21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de Almería

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EWN

British expats may have a new champion in Mojacar Town Hall SOMOS MOJACAR’S Jessica Simpson stands for mayor in this weekend’s elections By Lenox Napier SPAIN is stuck in a year of elections. We had the Andalucian ones back in late March – still unresolved and now with the threat of fresh Andalucian elections for September. We face local elections across the country on Sunday, May 24. These are joined on the same day by regional elections in most parts of the country (excepting Andalucia, Catalonia, Galicia and the Basque Country). In September, the Catalonians will be holding their own regional elections, with a view towards independence in the near future. Finally, probably in November, we shall be called to the polls once again for the General Elections. The two major parties, the Partido Popular and the PSOE (the traditional right and left) are joined by not only the usual regional independent parties, some of which are as old-fashioned as the PP and the PSOE themselves, but also by upstarts Ciudadanos (right wing) and Podemos (left wing anti-

austerity). One of the more interesting struggles, however, will be resolved next Sunday, when the small town of Mojacar in Almeria goes to the polls, because one of the leading parties there is headed by an Englishwoman called Jessica Simpson. Thirty-five-year-old Jessica is the candidate for ‘Somos Mojacar’ (We

JESSICA SIMPSON: Has lived locally for most of her life.

are Mojacar) which is a group made up of various different local parties and associations. Jessica, like only a few of the majority British population in the resort, is bilin-

million Europeans live outside of their home country

gual, having lived locally for almost all of her life. She is married to a Spaniard and has two children going through the local school system. Jessica is interesting to the local panorama – a foreigner at last within the town hall to represent integration and

foreign participation in that most hallowed of Spanish institutions, the plenary session of the town hall (she already has four years’ experience as a local councillor). But she could be more interesting still as a champion for the voiceless Britons living in Spain. There are something between 290,000 and 750,000 Britons living in Spain (depending on who one believes) and they have little or no voice in what is going on. Spain to tax them unfairly or to demolish their homes? No one to stick up for them. The UK to leave the EU, causing untold and ill-considered hardship? No one to defend their interests. Europe has a parliament made up of MEPs, but none of them represent either their citizens abroad or the larger group of émigré Europeans – 30 million who live in other European countries, of which two million are Britons. There is, in short, a large group of displaced and voiceless Europeans living within the very cradle of democracy itself. In Europe, we need more Jessica Simpsons, but first, she must win Mojacar.

E W N 21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de Almería

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NEWS

Happy anniversary EWN GETS IT We get it and so should you… In 2014, the Euro Weekly News launched an exciting and innovative product to complement its six weekly newspapers an online business directory EWNGetsIt.com. Since then it has gone from strength to strength and become the latest EWN success story. One year on, we thought we would answer some of the most frequently asked questions from members of the public, and business owners. Why an online directory? The weekly newspapers are hugely successful - half a million readers every week can’t be wrong! - but we live in the age of the Internet, so we wanted to offer an online resource for our readers and the expat community in general. The di-

rectory is filled with reputable companies offering the sort of services that tourists and residents alike need in Spain. And the beauty of it is you find those companies from anywhere in the world, at any time of the day as long as you have a connection to the worldwide web! How does it work? Like our papers, the directory is FREE and easy to use. You can find it at www.ewngetsit.com, or follow the link from the Euro Weekly News website (www.euroweekl ynews.com). You can then search by type of business and by city or town - ensuring you find a local firm that can deal with you in your language. Once you have used the site, bookmark it or save it to your favourites to make it even easier next time. When you have found the ideal

local company in the directory, their contact details are at your fingertips - there is even a Google map to help you find them. If you happen to be browsing out of working hours, then simply use the blue ‘Contact business’ button to send an email with your enquiry - and wait for them to call or email you! Don’t forget to tell the business where you found them! What sort of businesses are in the directory? In a word - all sorts! There are large companies covering all of Spain as well as chandlers in Palma, builders in Benidorm, car rental firms in Torrevieja, schools in Malaga and many many more. Literally local companies that can give you their expertise, on your doorstep.

EWN GET S IT .co

How can I get my business listed? Simply call the office on +34 952 561 234 or email directo ry@ewngetsit.com. One of the team will be happy to help your business to connect with the English-speaking expat community.

The pricing is extremely economical for businesses large or small.

Follow the directory on Facebook - www.facebook.com/ewnget sitbd and on Twitter twitter.com/ewngetsit and become part of our online community.

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NEWS Photo by Antonio Martinez Corral

NEWS EXTRA

Bridge pact HUERCAL-OVERA Town Hall and the central government’s Public Works ministry will collaborate on improvements at the San Isidro bridge. These include two roundabouts at the notorious accident blackspots.

Superchefs CHEFS at Torrecardenas Hospital in Almeria City prepare four meals a day for the centre’s 750 patients. The kitchens are now undergoing extensions that will take two months to complete.

Van bust GUARDIA CIVIL officers who stopped a van with faulty headlights as it left a Roquetas warehouse noticed a strong smell of marijuana. A search inside revealed 24.4 kilos of marijuana buds and an indoor plantation.

NIJAR: Getting ready for the race.

Running for Lucia CHILDREN’S race raises funds for Nijar girl By Linda Hall MORE than 700 children from Nijar schools ran in the Second San Isidro Pupils’ race. It was organised during the fiestas in honour of the town’s patron saint, San Isidro and raised more than €7,000 to help Laura, a local Nijar child with Neurofibromastosis Type 1. This is a medical condition that affects one in 3,000 of the population and is characterised

by changes in skin pigmentation and the growth of tumours along nerves in the skin, brain and other parts of the body. The race was split into different routes adapted to the children’s ages and the children taking part, whose ages ranged from three to 11, each made a voluntary €1 donation. Nijar’s Colegio Atalaya, which was unable to participate, also donated to the fund to help Lucia.

Dalias goes big on hip-hop DALIAS will be hosting its own edition of the BigKulture Festival on Saturday, July 11. The initiative, which has already been successful in other parts of Spain, will bring together young people from all over Almeria Province. The town is going to be a focus of urban culture as graffiti artists from all over Spa in de mons tra te the ir skills at sites preselected by the town hall. Complementary activities

i ncl ude skat eboar di ng, a hip-hop ‘cockfight’ where anyone may perform and a concert with the collaboration of several DJs. Almeria graffiti artist Nauni and Jorge Gutierrez, the town hall’s Youth councillor, intend the festival to be the starting point for a programme of leisure activities for the town’s young. “We want our young people to be healthy and well looked-after with so many activities, concerts and festivals that they do not need

Music school holds birthday celebration ROQUETAS’ municipal music school held a concert and photography exhibition to celebrate its 15th birthday. The exhibition, covering the school’s history, included photos of teachers, pupils and activities held at the centre both in its early years at the El Parador cultural centre and at its current premises. The concert included performances by many of the school’s talented pupils, lead by dedicated teachers who have gradually been taken on over the 15 years. In its first year of life, the school offered just three different classes and had approximately 100 pupils, a far cry from the 1,100 that take lessons there now.

t o go out si de Dal i as,” Gutierrez said. “That’s why we are planning more events that we hope will continue throughout the year.”

Pilgrims set out for Almonte ALMERIA’S El Rocio brotherhood has set out on its annual pilgrimage to Almonte (Huelva). El Roci o i s Andal ucia’s most famous pilgr i m age, wi t h ar ound one million people setting out from all over the region. They wi l l r each Al monte on horseback or in rustic wagons in time for Pentecost Sunday. The pilgrimage dates back to the 13th century when a hunt er di scovered a statue of Our Lady i n a t r ee t r unk i n Donaña where the chapel was later built.

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Location location FILMMAKERS spent some time in Almeria Province recently, invited by the provincial government. The two-day visit by directors Baler Gallart and Julio Torrecillas, plus producer-director Puy Oria was part of the ‘Filming Almeria’ programme, introducing them to emblematic locations including the Tabernas desert and much of the province’s coastal strip.

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NEWS

Almeria hits the road THE province promotes its coast to the tourism industry across Spain By Eleanor Hawkins ALMERIA Coast packed its bags and went on a roadshow this week, travelling all over Spain to

promote tourism in the area. The third edition of the Costa de Almeria roadshow, organised by the provincial government’s tourism department, took a large

group of representatives to main hotel chains and travel agents in Albacete, Valencia, Alicante and Murcia to show just what the area has to offer and why it is be-

coming one of the preferred destinations of both Spanish tourists and those from abroad. The Provincial Tourism Service has designed a work plan to allow the roadshow to highlight everything the coast has to offer for all tastes, with an initial presentation giving a broad view of the area before meetings begin with attention paid to finer details. The shows end with a cocktail session allowing more informal discussions on the area. Tourism delegate Javier Aureliano Garcia explained: “We’re sure these promotional events will really help get Almeria’s excellent coastal destinations the attention they deserve from the national market.”

Credit card theft arrest AN EIGHTEEN-year-old woman has been arrested in Roquetas de Mar suspected of stealing a credit card and withdrawing €950 in cash from the holder’s bank account.

€950 was withdrawn from the victim’s account after his card went missing Investigations began last month when the victim reported to the Guardia Civil that he had lost his credit card and the money had been taken from his account after meeting the young woman while out partying. He said the woman had accompanied him and a relative to a cash machine a few days before the money started to go missing.

Safe home EDUARDO IBERO, the 52-year-old El Ejido mountaineer, is home again. He was climbing Makalu in Nepal when the 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit Kathmandu on April 25 although he and his party were not affected.

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EWN

Unity in the Community - means pulling together to help each other A message from EWN BUSINESSES all round the Costas will agree that it has been a tough few years. But those that have not just survived, but prospered, know we are well on the road to economic recovery. Here at the Euro Weekly News (EWN) we are uniquely placed to see how those many expatriate businesses that find themselves poised to soar to new heights have done it. That’s because with our nine offices around the Spanish Costas and Mallorca we are at the heart of the community. It’s not just us; we have seen other media outlets whether print or radio, follow our lead by keeping pricing keen and in some cases reduced it to a virtual level of cost to maintain volMichel and Steven Euesden, owners of the Euro Weekly News.

close to one another. There is no hidden agenda ume. That has given many expat businesses the - it’s a question of giving readers as wide a oxygen of publicity that has let them grow. choice as possible when it comes to advertising. Healthy competition is the lifeblood of any Those that take exception to appearing alongindustry and companies with a monopoly can side competitors are missing the point. After all, become complacent and let the corporate grass there’s a flipside - how would businesses feel if grow under their feet. the local council passed a ruling that only one There’s room in any commercial market for car rental company was allowed on a cerany number of players as long as they play fair, reHealthy tain main road and one tapas restaurant in spect the rules of business compe- a certain plaza? Instead, they should conand adopt a policy of tition is centrate on making their adverts better friendly rivalry in the lifeblood and more imaginative to really catch the their marketplaces. of any industry. readers’ eye. Do not concentrate on your competitors - respect them but respect It’s all about muyourself and your own brand first. tual respect and what’s needed most is Unity in the Community will build a stronger transparency, plain talking and positive commercial arena for us all to grow and flourish networking between businesses. in. No matter how big or how small the busiNewpapers, of course and EWN being a shinness, the secret of success is hard work and long ing example of a level playing field, don’t dishours, especially in a foreign land. criminate. Its long-established remit and tradiWe should spend that time on being positive tion is to give all businesses that vital oxygen of and not waste it on negativity. Anything else is publicity, through advertising and editorial covdestructive to one’s own business. That is why erage. we are saying: Unity in the Community starts That inevitably means ‘rival’ businesses here today. appearing in the same issues, perhaps even

E W N 21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de Almería

NEWS

IV E

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Benidorm Circus

ce orm Pala The Benid

He’s just magic! DAVID wins a top award By Jan Gamm THE prestigious Merlin Award is acknowledged by world class magicians at the top of their profession as the accolade to beat them all – a lifetime goal, the best of the best. This is an honour bestowed upon some of the finest magicians that ever lived, the latest of whom is the extraordinarily gifted expatriate David Climent Yarwood. David is to be presented with the coveted Merlin Award on June 5 at the Benidorm Palace, one of the youngest magician/illusionists ever to receive the honour, and he still can’t quite believe it! A Merlin is awarded for skills, natural talent and that elusive spark of showmanship that holds audiences spellbound - a gift David shares with the world’s greatest magicians.

David, 34, has been Ring Master at the Benidorm Circus for some years as well as starring as ‘David Climent – Laserman,’ an exceptional training ground that polished David into an all-round entertainer, musician and now star magician, illusionist, escapologist and laser man. David indulges in none of that tired magic-act arm-swirling preamble – he performs six illusions in just a few minutes, after the style of his hero Hans Klock – and casually makes a helicopter appear just for fun! What made David Climent a choice for the Merlin Award? David told the Euro Weekly News: “I think it was the lasers. Very few magicians perform with lasers.”

David and his mother Cristina Climent Yarwood

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E W N 21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de Almería

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No to Susana Diaz for the third time ENTIRE opposition voted against her By Maria Jose Fernandez FOR the third time in nine days, Susana Diaz acting president of Andalucia without majority, was denied the investiture as regional president with the entire opposition voting against it. The 33 members of parliament of the conservative PP party, 15 of independent party Podemos, nine representing Ciudadanos and five from leftwing party Izquierda Unida, voted no against the 47 positive votes of Ms Diaz’s socialist party PSOE. Ever since she was elected back on March 22, two other voting processes have taken place with the same results. If members of the regional parliament do not grant Ms Diaz permission to be invested in a period of two months after the first voting process (which

SUSANA DIAZ: Denied investiture again.

took place on May 5), she will be forced to call new elections. The session, which began at 11am, lasted only about 13 minutes. To be elected, Susana Diaz only needed the simple majority, that is, more positive votes than negative ones. Podemos, Ciudadanos and IU explained that their votes

NEWS

Millions in traffic fines

Flickr by sevilla report.

against the investiture were caused due to Ms Diaz not satisfying any of their requirements which included laying off two members of parliament linked to corruption cases and the commitment of the Junta de Andalucia regional government not to collaborate with banks that carry out home evictions amongst others.

THE Spanish National Traffic Department (DGT) collected in 2014 a total of €129.6 million in fines obtained through infractions detected by radars and helicopters. A report released by the government displaying data between 2011 and March of 2015, shows that €29.5 million have already been collected through fines so far this year. The figures of 2014 translate into a 4.31 per cent increase if compared with those registered in 2013 and 7.27 per cent more than in 2012. Andalucia stands as the autonomous community where the highest amount has been collected with €27 million, followed by Castilla y Leon (€19 million) and Castilla-La Mancha (€15 million). Communities with lowest takings were Cantabria, La Rioja and the Balearic Islands.

E W N 21 - 27 May 2015/ Costa de Almería

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NEWS FROM OUR FIVE OTHER REGIONS

COSTA DEL SOL

Norwegian members celebrate national day in Alfaz del Pi NORWEGIANS mark their national day in the sunshine

COSTA BLANCA NORTH

MALLORCA

MORE than 50,000 Norwegians now call Spain their home. The pretty coastal town of Alfaz del Pi in the Marina Alta put on a superb celebration in recognition of Norway’s Constitution Day, celebrated annually on Sunday May 17 when the Constitution of Norway was signed by the Constituent Assembly in 1814 in Eidsvoll. There are more than 2,500 Norwegian nationals registered officially in L’Alfaz, many of whom joined in Sunday’s festivities in traditional dress, which varied depending on the region. Lisa Uttersrud, president of the local Norwegian Club, met with L’Alfaz Mayor Vicente Arques in the run-up to the celebrations to finalise details. The Norwegian Club of Costa Blanca, currently with over 1,000 members, has provided a Norwegian presence for more than 45 years in the region.

AXARQUÍA

Busy airport MALAGA Costa del Sol airport received 11.9 per cent of all low-cost flight passengers coming to Spain in the first four months of this year, the Ministry of Tourism has announced.

Bad language

By Jason Bailey

STREET PARTY: Norwegians in Alfaz celebrate their country’s constitution.

NEWS

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

A MAYORAL candidate for Antequera has been asked to stop tweeting due to his terrible spelling. The UPyD party candidate replied “Everyone is free to express themselves as they like.”

Local history HISTORY fans can now consult local documents dating back to the 17th and 18th century at the Historical Archives in Mijas village, which have been enlarged and prepared for public use.

Speedway victory

Proceeds donation

Participation record Tiger mosquito

Running costs

GANDIA Speedway Rider 22-yearold Oscar Climent stormed to victory at the Ricardo Tormo de Cheste MotoDes Speed Championship on Friday May 15.

THE Hotel Palmira Beach in Palma de Mallorca hosted an event on Saturday (May 16) to hand over proceeds raised at the Miss World Balearic Islands 2015 to association for the disabled, Asdica.

MALAGA’S Materno Infantil children’s hospital has saved €750,000 in electricity and water bills over the last four years thanks to an energy efficiency project.

No more markets

Zoo demo

MORE than 131 carriages participated this year in Nerja’s San Isidro festivities, which translates to 40 per cent more than last year. Local Police reports that 12,000 people took part in the different activities celebrated.

COUNCILLOR Gema Amor has agreed that no more markets will be allowed in Benidorm to help boost trade for local retailers.

AS many as 100 people gathered on Sunday (May 17) at the front door of the Safari Zoo in sa Coma to demand its closure after the controversial death of two of their chimpanzees.

Guided walks JAVEA Council has begun its series of guided walks of the historic landmarks of the town. The first takes visitors through the development of the raisin industry in the 19th century.

Linguistic diversity

Financial aid THE Economy Department of the Balearic Islands regional government will spend €461,815 in aids to encourage self-employment. The project is earmarked at unemployed residents of above 45 years, amongst others.

FIONA PHILLIPS, Head of Secondary at Xabia International College was invited to speak at a conference on multilingualism at the University of Alicante to give the school’s opinions on managing linguistic diversity within the British curriculum.

Suspicious fire

Minute’s silence

Three accused

A MINUTE’S silence has been observed in the towns of Javea, Denia and Benidorm for the latest fatality to gender violence in Denia on Thursday May 14.

THE prosecutor’s office of the Palma Court has requested a total of 10 years and six months in prison for three young men who participated in a fight after a football match in Manacor.

A FIRE with nine different focal points believed to have been started intentionally, was registered in Llucmajor on Sunday (May 17). The firefighters took an hour and a half to extinguish the blaze.

Council award THE Almuñecar Council has been awarded with the label of ‘Institution for youths employment and entrepreneurship,’ by the Spanish Employment and Social Services Ministry, which recognises its support for youth employment policies.

Clean beaches DOZENS of volunteers participated last Sunday (May 17) in a beachcleaning day around Velez-Malaga’s El Cantal area. Environment councillor, Sergio Diaz, said that the project was aimed at raising awareness amongst residents on responsible environmental behaviour.

Axarquia artists THE Axarquia School in VelezMalaga won a prize at the National Drawing Contest on technology, to commemorate the International Internet Day. The awards ceremony will take place in the Spanish Senate in Madrid.

For more local news from our five other regions see www.euroweeklynews.com

TIGER mosquitos have been detected in at least 14 Murcian municipalities by University of Murcia biologists. Presence was not found in three of these areas last year, showing they are spreading.

Immune tomatoes MIGUEL Hernandez University is working to recover traditional varieties of tomato to be grown in the Vega Baja by making them immune to three different viruses.

School grants MURCIA is to receive an extra €7.3 million from the Ministry of Education to support families in need by supplying school supplies and lunches.

Safety first COMPLAINTS have been registered as Santa Pola lighthouse is receiving visitors despite the new viewpoint still being under construction. While the town hall said all safety measures are met, visitors complained that nothing stops youngsters climbing up to peek at the view.

Fires begin A FIRE on the southern bypass in Elche caused traffic to be cut off for three hours as firefighters tackled the blaze. Emergency services are on alert for high fire risk due to recent high temperatures.

Local venue LA LINEA is hosting the final of Cooking Cup, a German TV cooking competition on June 11 at the Aldiana hotel. The competition is sponsored by Eat Smarter magazine and Siemens.

Call to declare THE mayor of San Roque has been called to declare in court on August 3 accused of refusing to allow a council plenary session to be filmed back in 2013.

Violent man A MALAGA man has been arrested for allegedly dragging his partner along the pavement by her hair and stealing €110 from her handbag. The 53-year-old was found to have a record of more than 30 previous offences.

EWN top for all the news from Spain.

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GERMAN

EUROPEAN PRESS SCANDINAVIAN PRESS

Slowed down FINLAND: The country has slipped back into recession after its economic growth slowed down for the second consecutive quarter between January and March of this year.

Ukraine aid NORWAY: The country is to increase its aid to Ukraine to 310 million NOK for 2015 with an additional 70 million NOK.

Property hike FINLAND: House prices in Greater Helsinki in March rose by almost 4 per cent according to data released this month by Statistics Finland.

Gay sign SWEDEN: Peace activists have installed a bizarre underwater sign intended to deter Russian submarines from Swedish waters. It says: ‘This way if you’re gay’ in Morse, depicting a sailor wearing only underpants and a sailor’s hat.

Marriage rights FINLAND: Päivi Räsänen, the chairperson of the Finnish Christian Democrats, has expressed her hopes that the decision to grant marriage rights to same-sex couples is overturned.

PRESS

Egg freezing treatment DEMAND has risen 407 per cent in the past 12 months ACCORDING to research by healthcare comparison website WhatClinic.com, egg freezing is the most popular fertility treatment in the UK, with demand rising 407 per cent in the past 12 months.

BRITISH PRESS

Billboard accident

Educated drinking

A WOMAN in her 30s was seriously injured when she was crushed by a fallen advertising billboard while on her way to work in Tooting, London. The billboard fell onto her from a height of 20 feet.

ACCORDING to a recent survey one in five female graduates in the UK drink excessively compared with one in 10 of lower education.

Asylum seekers THE UK accepted more asylum seekers last year than 17 other European Union countries put together according to latest available data.

ing up overtime pay for working on a Sunday.

No discrimination THE UK’s Boarding Schools Administration has advised that boarding schools in Britain may soon adopt ‘gender-neutral’ uniforms to avoid offending LGBT students.

Botox boys AROUND 10 per cent of Brits who opt for cosmetic procedures such as Botox each year are now male, according to industry experts.

Suitcase find THREE men have been arrested by London police in connection with the death of a woman found stuffed into a suitcase in the Grand Union Canal.

Next accused UK fashion retailer Next, employing 52,000 people, has been accused of bullying 800 shop workers into giv-

One in five female graduates drink excessively.

More trade?

NORWAY: MPs have voted to overturn Paragraph 42 of the Criminal Act against blasphemy that authorised up to six months in jail for offenders.

Coffin scandal PUBLIC health officials in Mainz, Germany, have discovered five dead bodies in caskets at an abandoned supermarket in Germany, where a local undertaker used the premises as storage.

Torgau opens ‘LUTHER and the Princes,’ the first of four exhibitions focusing on political and religious influences and scheduled to run until 2017 to mark the anniversary of the Reformation, is now open in Torgau.

Still violated GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel said the Minsk ceasefire is still being violated, just days after her return from a visit to Russia.

Bye-bye zoo LUDWIG, a 1.6-ton baby elephant, celebrated his fourth birthday by packing his trunk and moving in a special jumbo-sized truck from Munich to Heidelberg Zoo.

Nailing it

LOCATION of Rotterdam will be beneficial

MUNICH’S first nail salon for men, offering manicures and pedicures, is now open for business, complete with a macho décor featuring rough workbenches and motorcycle memorabilia.

Legal cursing

Fake art

NEWS

Tornado hits ICE CAP: Melting.

SWEDEN: Scandinavia’s largest online auction house, Lauritz.com in Sweden, has been accused of selling fake Andy Warhol prints.

ROTTERDAM will benefit from the melting of the Arctic ice cap. The northern sea route between north Asia and Western Europe will open and the location of Rotterdam will mean increased trade.

Benefit cuts

Cancer find

NORWAY: Minister for Labour and Social Affairs has proposed that sickness, unemployment and child benefit should be trimmed for Norwegians on extended stays abroad.

RESEARCHERS at Amsterdam’s VU University has found vaccinating boys against the HPV virus can prevent cancer in later years. The findings show that vaccination has an indirect effect on cancer prevention.

DUTCH PRESS Gangland shooting A GANGLAND shooting at traffic lights on the corner of the De Clercqstraat in the west of Amsterdam left one man dead. Two men were seen shortly before wearing helmets and carrying guns.

A safe place ZUIDHORN in Gronigen Province has been declared the safest place to live in the Netherlands. Consisting of several small villages it has climbed from eighth place last year.

€800m plan A DYKE which links Den Oever in Noord-Holland to Friesland will have an €800 million renovation. The Afsluitsdijk separates the Zuiderzee, a salt water inlet from the freshwater IJsselmeer lake.

A LARGE scale clean-up has begun in the village of Affing. Bavaria, after a tornado swept through the village. Up to 15 construction companies were available for assistance despite the tornado occurring on a public holiday.

Measles cases HEALTH authorities in Berlin have confirmed that the Measles outbreak that began in October 2014 is still not showing signs of abatement, with a total of 1206 cases reported.

NEWS

21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de Almería

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RUSSIAN P RESS

Marital tests MEDICAL testing to reduce children born with disabilities

WEDDED BLISS: As long as you are not related. COUPLES considering marriage in Tajikistan could be required to undergo medical testing to prove they are not related. The move is designed to reduce the number of children born with debilitating illnesses and also control the HIV crisis.

Joint training RUSSIAN sources say the country’s land forces will join troops from Belarus, China, India, and Mongolia in joint military training exercises during the second half of this year.

Parting shot A REPORT by Boris Nemtsov published after his death has recounted how Russia launched the annexation of Crimea and the rebellion in Donbas. Nemtsov was shot dead on a bridge near the Kremlin on February 27.

Russia talks to the US PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin and US Secretary of State John Kerry met for a four-hour talk in Sochi on Tuesday May 12. The talk which took place was seen as progress.

Pint-sized regalia THE town of Rostovon-Don in southern Russia, near the Ukraine border, has held a parade featuring children aged four to 10 in miniature military uniforms.

Ringtone ban A COMMUNIST party MP has proposed a bill detailing the circum-

stances in which Russian state symbols can be used and introduced liability for using the national anthem as a ringtone for advertising purposes.

Riviera resort YALTA, on the Crimean coastline, has es-

tablished itself as the Russian Riviera. It has 250 days of sunshine a year and is well known as a health spa.

Not wanted RUSSIA’S Interior Ministry in Moscow has removed a ‘wanted’ poster from its website after media reports identified the suspect as the Deputy Defence Minister of the separatist Donetsk People’s Republic in eastern Ukraine.

New York spy IT has been confirmed that a state-owned Russian bank is paying for the legal defence of an employee charged with posing as a banker in New York while secretly spying for Moscow.

Russian arms for Egypt A SENIOR Israeli intelligence official has alleged that Egypt is buying Russia’s advanced S-300 air defence system, a deal reported in Russian media but not confirmed by Cairo.

Cutting hours THE Hay Group consultancy has reported that despite the economic crisis, two-thirds of Russian companies are opting for cutting salaries and working hours rather than resorting to redundancy measures. CHILDREN: On parade.

EWN

FINANCE

STAT OF WEEK

business & legal LONDON - FTSE 100 C LOSING P RICES

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Costa de Almería

21 - 27 May 2015

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A EURO WEEKLY NEWS 7 PAGE SPECIAL SECTION // WWW.EWNBUSINESS.COM

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Tourists boost retail economy WITH sterling surging against the euro the retail sector is experiencing a revival in sales, in part due to tourist purchases. The Business Association of Textile Trade and Accessories has revealed figures that show 59 per cent o f a l l p u r c h a se s ma d e b y tourists are in the clothing retail sector.

proportion of tourist retail spending on clothing Jewellery sales are also up 15 per cent, electronics 4 per cent and sports goods 3 per cent, suggest-

SEASONAL: Agriculture workers often on temp contracts.

Temporary contracts AFTER losing three million jobs during the recession, the creation of over one million new positions should be greeted with a positive outlook. However, for many Spanish workers there is little security attached to new job roles. Spain operates a two tier system. People either have indefinite contracts with few rights or permanent ones with all the associated protection. The option for employers is to either employ people temporarily where they can be laid off as required or opt for per-

ing traditional souvenir purchases ha ve be e n re pla c e d by mode rn products. It seems that the development of la rge c omme rc ia l c e ntre s ha s replicated the purchasing environment visitors are accustomed to back home. Where once traditional holiday activities c e ntre d on be a c he s

We can tell our values by looking at our checkbook stubs. Gloria Steinem. Pedro Rufo / Shutterstock.com

Quote of the Week

59%

manent employment where it is very expensive to cancel the contract. In the first quarter of 2015, 90 per cent of contracts were temporary and of those 24 per cent were for seven days or less. The knock-on effect of this is threefold: it hurts productivity as there is little reason to train temporary workers, it keeps wages low as the workers have little bargaining power and it creates a feeling of insecurity which keeps morale very low.

BUSINESS EXTRA

Sales rising TELEFONICA quarterly sales rose as Spain’s economy recovers. The Spanish economy is expected to grow twice as fast as the EU average this year, allowing Telefonica to increase its prices. Telefonica’s sales rose 13 per cent to €11.5 billion.

More traffic ABERTIS Infraestructuras SA said first-quarter profits rose 7 per cent, boosted by its Spanish business, as the country’s economic recovery caused traffic to increase on its toll roads. Net income rose to €133m.

No bailout THE International Monetary Fund is backing away from a potential third Greek bailout package, according to El Mundo. The paper cites a lack of ‘really effective action’ and Athens’ recent rehiring of public employees, previously made redundant.

Eurozone GDP still growing THE Eurozone economy continued its gentle acceleration in the first quarter of the year, led by growth in Spain and France, but the pace of expansion still fell short of economists’ forecasts. The euro area’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded at a 0.4 per cent quarter-onquarter clip in the first three months of the year and by 1.1 per cent in comparison to a year ago.

IBEX companies gained 38 per cent more in the first quarter year on year, earning jointly €9.397 million.

C LOSING P RICES

By Jason Bailey

EWN

The quarterly rate of growth fell short of economists’ forecasts by one tenth of a percentage point. Spanish GDP sped ahead at a 0.9 per cent clip in the first three months of the year and France’s by another 0.6 per cent. Growth in Germany slowed down to 0.3 per cent after registering a blistering pace of expansion of 0.7 per cent in the final stretch of 2014.

a nd the m e par ks, shoppi ng has now been added to the list. Purchasing power due to the weak euro has meant that tourists a re ta king advant age of l ower prices. With the pound’s biggest one day gain against the euro for two years following the election results, the trend is likely to continue.

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Work does not pay! THE crisis in Spain has led to an environment where the wages for a working person are less than they can claim through social security. A third of positions offered currently pay less than the state assisted aid, an InfoJobs survey revealed. The majority of jobseekers rejected low paid employment citing unreasonable hours and travelling distance as well as the low salary. Wages are unlikely to rise in the near future due to the uncertainty of the euro.

E W N 21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de Almería

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LONDON - FTSE 100

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY WITH US See our advert on opposite page

C LOSING P RICES M AY 18

PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) COMPANY 3i Group PLC 534.00 0.00 Aberdeen Asset Mngment 432.10 -1.40 Admiral Group PLC 1468.00 4.00 Aggreko PLC 1620.50 19.00 Anglo American PLC 1093.50 3.00 Antofagasta PLC 796.50 7.50 ARM Holdings PLC 1103.50 3.00 Ashtead Group PLC 1186.00 8.00 Associated British Foods PLC 2928.00 18.00 AstraZeneca PLC 4400.25 33.50 Aviva PLC 540.50 -2.50 Babcock International Grp 1089.50 8.76 BAE Systems PLC 503.50 0.50 Barclays PLC 262.65 1.10 Barratt Developments PLC 581.75 4.85 BG Group PLC 1179.50 2.12 BHP Billiton PLC 1465.25 -68.00 BP PLC 453.78 1.40 British American Tobacco PLC 3609.00 17.00 British Land Co PLC 882.00 4.00 BT Group PLC 465.53 2.55 Bunzl PLC 1895.50 4.00 Burberry Group PLC 1775.00 2.00 Capita PLC 1271.00 8.00 Carnival PLC 3155.50 8.00 Centrica PLC 284.90 3.90 Coca-Cola HBC AG 1382.50 -9.00 Compass Group PLC 1150.50 4.00 CRH PLC 1828.50 13.00 Diageo PLC 1794.00 8.00 Direct Line Insurance Group 324.75 1.70 Dixons Carphone PLC 474.50 3.40 easyJet PLC 1697.50 -1.39 Experian PLC 1228.50 2.00 Fresnillo PLC 777.75 25.50 G4S PLC 295.80 2.30 GKN PLC 359.60 5.70 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1434.50 16.00 Glencore PLC 297.72 4.45 Hammerson PLC 693.75 3.00 Hargreaves Lansdown PLC 1250.00 1.00 Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC 2089.00 -13.00 HSBC Holdings PLC 619.20 2.30 Imperial Tobacco Group PLC 3251.00 13.00 InterContinental Hotels 2783.00 25.00 International Consolidated ... 573.00 6.00 Intertek Group PLC 2672.50 -22.00 Intu Properties PLC 346.35 1.60 ITV PLC 264.05 2.00 Johnson Matthey PLC 3396.50 24.00

% CHG. 0.00 -0.32 0.27 1.19 0.28 0.95 0.27 0.68 0.62 0.77 -0.46 0.81 0.10 0.42 0.84 0.18 -4.44 0.31 0.47 0.46 0.55 0.21 0.11 0.63 0.25 1.39 -0.65 0.35 0.72 0.45 0.53 0.72 -0.08 0.16 3.39 0.78 1.61 1.13 1.52 0.43 0.08 -0.62 0.37 0.40 0.91 1.06 -0.82 0.46 0.76 0.71

NET VOL 129.58 642.52 45.68 26.45 410.49 102.85 378.69 111.61 58.08 276.47 625.78 286.36 681.15 3,669.06 411.53 579.46 2,001.12 3,446.73 234.75 313.90 855.27 11.90 166.94 104.76 30.90 2,064.38 62.82 329.52 36.45 239.03 227.62 198.87 218.43 134.60 382.20 128.18 474.93 930.07 2,960.97 138.57 64.74 39.20 3,173.50 146.59 60.63 765.95 66.29 187.01 833.43 8.79

COMPANY PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) Kingfisher PLC 356.50 2.50 Land Securities Group PLC 1314.50 6.00 Legal & General Group PLC 266.80 0.72 Lloyds Banking Group PLC 88.44 -0.63 London Stock Exchange Grp. 2484.00 21.00 Marks & Spencer Group PLC 578.25 10.18 Meggitt PLC 517.00 4.50 Merlin Entertainments PLC 463.35 0.50 Mondi PLC 1460.50 10.00 Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets 180.50 1.17 National Grid PLC 895.45 1.90 Next PLC 7362.50 15.00 Old Mutual PLC 230.20 0.40 Pearson PLC 1315.00 0.00 Persimmon PLC 1864.00 17.00 Prudential PLC 1641.00 13.50 Randgold Resources Ltd 4957.00 90.00 Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC 5762.00 14.00 Reed Elsevier PLC 1104.50 8.00 Rio Tinto PLC 2953.00 22.50 Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC 1019.00 6.00 Royal Bank of Scotland 352.50 0.80 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 2038.00 13.07 Royal Mail PLC 495.55 10.00 RSA Insurance Group PLC 436.35 2.60 SABMiller PLC 3627.50 5.00 Sage Group (The) PLC 557.25 13.50 Sainsbury (J) PLC 268.50 2.70 Schroders PLC 3394.50 13.00 Severn Trent PLC 2181.50 17.00 Shire PLC 5427.50 40.01 Sky PLC 1079.50 4.00 Smith & Nephew PLC 1126.00 1.00 Smiths Group PLC 1145.00 4.00 Sports Direct International 673.25 7.50 SSE PLC 1665.00 4.00 Standard Chartered PLC 1051.75 0.00 Standard Life PLC 482.75 1.80 St James's Place PLC 947.00 2.50 Taylor Wimpey PLC 187.70 3.00 Tesco PLC 226.40 1.85 Travis Perkins PLC 2162.50 8.00 TUI AG 1216.00 7.00 Unilever PLC 2854.00 9.00 United Utilities Group PLC 1004.50 11.50 Vodafone Group PLC 235.30 0.85 Weir Group PLC 1958.00 61.00 Whitbread PLC 5347.50 28.14 Wolseley PLC 3936.00 8.00 WPP PLC 1553.50 2.00

% CHG. 0.71 0.46 0.27 -0.71 0.85 1.79 0.88 0.11 0.69 0.65 0.21 0.20 0.17 0.00 0.92 0.83 1.85 0.24 0.73 0.77 0.59 0.23 0.65 2.06 0.60 0.14 2.48 1.02 0.38 0.78 0.74 0.37 0.09 0.35 1.13 0.24 0.00 0.37 0.26 1.62 0.82 0.37 0.58 0.32 1.16 0.36 3.21 0.53 0.20 0.13

NET VOL 569.97 195.52 729.78 32,303.94 58.02 1,016.30 130.53 197.05 132.52 406.63 527.35 34.14 1,034.34 151.84 60.60 329.92 114.33 123.17 259.37 504.66 204.25 950.66 483.62 776.36 62.86 158.88 274.23 780.12 44.71 91.49 106.34 161.84 104.06 73.38 41.10 159.50 428.47 143.04 81.68 2,471.39 1,195.71 27.29 15.84 157.81 107.20 6,606.42 195.10 30.87 65.53 377.71

1.37225

0.72634

Units per €

US dollar.......................................................................1.13911 Japan yen................................................................136.402 Switzerland franc ................................................1.04789 Denmark kroner..................................................7.46409 Norway kroner.....................................................8.37069

currenciesdirect.com/mojacar • Tel: +34 950 478 914

DOW JONES C LOSING P RICES M AY 18

COMPANY MMM 3M AXP American Express AAPL Apple BA Boeing CAT Caterpillar CVX Chevron CSCO Cisco KO Coca-Cola DIS Disney DD E I du Pont de Nemours and Co XOM Exxon Mobil GE General Electric GS Goldman Sachs HD Home Depot IBM IBM INTC Intel JNJ Johnson & Johnson JPM JPMorgan Chase MCD McDonald's MRK Merck MSFT Microsoft NKE Nike PFE Pfizer PG Procter & Gamble TRV Travelers Companies Inc UTX United Technologies UNH UnitedHealth VZ Verizon V Visa WMT Wal-Mart

PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 1.9M +0.09% 163.30 +0.15 4.5M -0.66% -0.53 80.22 -0.14% 38.2M -0.18 128.77 3.4M -0.73% -1.08 146.88 3.2M -0.35% -0.31 88.43 5.6M -0.39% -0.42 108.03 +1.72% 37.7M 29.55 +0.50 8.5M +0.05% 41.52 +0.02 5.9M +0.34% 110.30 +0.37 9.8M +0.83% 70.25 +0.58 8.4M +0.44% 87.35 +0.38 -0.51% 35.8M -0.14 27.27 1.7M +0.17% 202.97 +0.35 4.6M +1.26% 113.35 +1.41 2.9M -0.45% -0.79 173.26 +0.06% 17.1M 32.99 +0.02 6.0M +0.46% 102.30 +0.47 -0.26% 11.2M -0.17 65.88 7.6M +0.34% 98.04 +0.33 7.7M +0.75% 60.23 +0.45 -0.87% 28.6M -0.425 48.30 3.9M +1.49% 104.98 +1.54 +0.15% 16.9M 33.99 +0.05 7.5M +0.60% 81.05 +0.48 1.6M -0.07% -0.07 102.68 3.0M -0.55% -0.65 118.49 3.1M +0.67% 119.33 +0.80 -0.36% 14.1M -0.18 49.79 7.1M -0.61% -0.43 69.57 6.6M +0.66% 79.24 +0.52

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES M AY 18

COMPANY

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

Most Advanced BSQUARE Corporation Oncothyreon Inc. China Lodging Group, Limited Ocular Therapeutix, Inc. Proteon Therapeutics, Inc. Upland Software, Inc. TRACON Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Alder BioPharmaceuticals, Inc. Applied Micro Circuits Corporation Affimed N.V. Avis Budget Group, Inc.

$ 5.50 $ 2.43 $ 24.75 $ 26.27 $ 16.49 $ 7.41 $ 12.27 $ 39.84 $ 6.11 $ 8.35 $ 56.29

1.41 ▲ 34.47% 0.41 ▲ 20.30% 4.16 ▲ 20.20% 4.31 ▲ 19.63% 2.45 ▲ 17.45% 0.94 ▲ 14.53% 1.41 ▲ 12.98% 4.35 ▲ 12.26% 0.61 ▲ 11.09% 0.81 ▲ 10.74% 5.22 ▲ 10.22%

Most Declined El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. MakeMyTrip Limited Vascular Biogenics Ltd. Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. Cartesian, Inc. Escalera Resources Co. Clovis Oncology, Inc. Moko Social Media Ltd. Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. Celladon Corporation

$ 24.70 $ 17.93 $ 5.76 $ 19.52 $ 94.26 $ 3.66 $ 2.63 $ 92.74 $ 4.7495 $ 24.81 $ 2.18

4.36 ▼ 15.00% 2.14 ▼ 10.66% 0.68 ▼ 10.56% 1.89 ▼ 8.83% 8.815 ▼ 8.55% 0.34 ▼ 8.50% 0.2201 ▼ 7.72% 7.66 ▼ 7.63% 0.3905 ▼ 7.60% 2.02 ▼ 7.53% 0.17 ▼ 7.23%

E W N 21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL BUSINESS EXTRA

Get summer budgeting in mind Loose change Jane Plunkett A look at finance for females jane.plunkett@euroweeklynews.com

THE sun is out, your energy’s up and your social calendar is taking off. At this time of the year there is always so much more going on as we spend more and more time out and about. BBQ lunches, a cold drink on the terrace or long leisurely afternoons with friends enjoying the sunshine. All these extra activities sound as though they could rip through a bigchunk of your earnings, but with a little careful planning it doesn’t have to be that way! First off, don’t rush out and buy a whole load of new summer clothes just yet. Make an effort to pack away all your winter clothes and re-visit what summer clothes you already own. Sometimes our summer clothes are so hidden at the back of the wardrobe that we forget what we have. Spend a free evening trying on skirts, dresses and shorts and try to put

Bonus breach EUROPEAN banks must rewrite contracts for senior staff to comply with new European Union rules banning top-up ‘allowances’ that breach a cap on bonuses. The Bank of England said banks have been giving key staff allowances on a monthly or quarterly basis to bump up their basic pay and soften the impact of the curb on bonuses.

New minister

EATING OUT: Think about how hungry you are and watch what you are ordering for the children. together a few nice outfits for summer. After doing this you’ll know what you have and what you actually need to buy for this summer. The pleasant evenings at the moment are so inviting to eat out and take a break from the hot days. Be smart about how you socialise. Look out for

meal deals and special offers and remember not to over-order, as the heat tends to take away our appetite. In the evenings, if visiting a terrace, think about how hungry you are. It might be more economical to just have a tapa in a bar, but of course this should not stop you going out to a restaurant if

that’s what you want. If you’re taking young kids along with you on a night out, then watch what you are ordering for them. I have yet to meet a child under five who voluntarily eats all of what has been ordered for them - without constant insistence from either parent!

THE economist who coined the term BRICs to describe the world’s leading emerging nations is turning his sights closer to home after he was appointed by British finance minister George Osborne to work for him. Former Goldman Sachs chief economist Jim O’Neill will be commercial secretary to the Treasury,

Back on track IBERIA is firmly back on investors’ radar screens as economic recovery in Spain benefits the real estate sector and the retail market in particular.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de Almería

EWN

Is your reputation on four wheels? Talking shop

None of us are perfect, but it pays to be so when driving your firm’s vehicle.

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

AS with all else your attitude as a driver is your business. We all have our faults, myself included. Although I have since mellowed, there have been occasions when my ‘behind the wheel manners’ left much to be desired. Fortunately, the only clue as to my identity was my number plate. In effect, my anonymity shielded me from swift retribution. There were two occasions when I did allow myself to be goaded by anonymous drivers. These resulted in two madcap road races that might have come from the Steve McQueen movie, Bullitt.

DRIVERS: Be a company ambassador.

Sadly, in both instances, the competing drivers were plain-clothed policeman. Stuff happens. The first time I was complimented on my dexterity at the wheel, the second occasion I was fined 50-sobs. One of my favourite business slogans is, “If we get it right tell the world. If we get it wrong tell us.” None of us are perfect but it pays to be so when you are driving your firm’s vehicle. This

is especially so when the vehicle’s livery includes full contact details of the company you work for. Drive carefully, it might be the company you once worked for. Road rage invariably causes an irate response. The victim might not be satisfied with merely giving you the finger. He might use this finger on his laptop’s keyboard to give your boss the finger too. Furthermore, the last thing you need is to see your failings as a driver discussed on a local social forum. It happens. When driving, it is your golden opportunity to be an ambassador for your company. Impeccable manners behind the wheel might bring you more than a smile. You could be the lucky winner of a complimentary letter to your boss. Better still, a new customer may be keen to know the company whose road manners are deserving of his or her patronage. Mind how you go, sir.

E W N 21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

Spain meets with UAE in bid to strengthen business cooperation

By Steve Walsh SPAIN’S Secretary of State for Trade, Jaime Garcia-Legaz Ponce, has met with Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, from the United Arab Emirates Federal National Council (FNC). The main topic of discussion was how to further cement cooperation and friendship between the UAE and Spain, and the compatible visions and political will of the two states to bolster bilateral relations and promote ways of preserving their interests in areas of common work. Manuel Gomez Acebo, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Joaquim Gay de Montella, of the Madrid Confederation of Employers and Industries (CEIM), were also in attendance, as well as Spanish business leaders and represen-

2014 to reach €1.9 billion. He noted that 40 Spanish registered companies and 73 trade agencies operate in the UAE, with 1,456 trademarks from the European country. “The UAE hopes to forge a strategic economic partnership that reflects the real potential of the economies of the UAE and Spain,” Al Murr said. He added that the “UAE-Spain Joint Economic Committee, which was established in 2010, is a main booster of economic cooperation.”

per cent growth in trade between the countries from 2009 to 2014

tatives of the country’s major companies. Al Murr stressed the UAE’s desire to expand economic and investment cooperation in both the private and public sectors. He noted that trade between the UAE and Spain grew more than 90 per cent between 2009 and

TRADE SECRETARY: Jaime GarciaLegaz Ponce.

Looking back at austerity ECONOMY MINISTER: Luis de Guindos.

Guindos: “Spain is growing at 3.5%” THE Economy Minister, Luis de Guindos, said this week that the Spanish economy was growing in the first half of the year, and on an annualised basis, closer to 3.5 per cent as opposed to the predicted 3 per cent. De Guindos made his statement during a speech at a forum organised by Europa Press, which asked whether the Executive would lower taxes, and said that as expected with the government’s Stability Programme, there was “room” to reduce the tax burden in Spain. A few days ago, the president, Mariano Rajoy, suggested at a rally that he could reduce VAT next year, but later added that he had “betrayed the subconscious” and would “not go into details.”

A PROMINENT think tank on the Eurozone recovery and lessons about austerity, states that, for the first time since 2010, the economies of Germany, France, Italy, and Spain all had a quarter of economic growth. Long-beleaguered Spain led this foursome, growing at a 0.9 per cent rate in the first three months of 2015. Michael W Klein, professor of international economic affairs at Tufts University’s told the Wall

Street Journal that he believed some would attribute this performance to the success of austerity programmes that began five years ago. Outside the Eurozone, the conservative victory in Britain’s elections last week was treated by Prime Minister David Cameron as justification of his austerity programme. But the facts cast doubt on these claims. Austerity did not deliver in Britain, which experienced an even sharper decline in output than

the United States, or the Eurozone as a whole, in the wake of the 2008 crisis. From its lowest point in early 2009, the British economy grew 2 per cent by the time Mr Cameron became prime minister in May 2010. But after that election, growth stalled for the remainder of the year. Only when its austerity policies were reversed did the UK economy start to grow again. And it took more than five years for the economy to reach its pre-crisis level.

Managers ‘justify corruption’ A REPORT by the consultancy EY (formerly Ernst & Young) on 38 countries around the world reveals that 69 per cent of managers in Spain justify bribery and corruption to generate profits. The figure is almost double the average for Western Europe, where 35 per cent of execu-

69 tives perceive this conduct as acceptable in the name of progressive business, and it even surpasses that of emerging economies

per cent of managers in Spain justify bribery and corruption to generate profits

with a result of 61 per cent. Portugal tops the list of most prolifically corrupt countries within the European Union,

followed by Greece and Spain. At the other end of the spectrum is Denmark with a result of only 4 per cent. The report found that 57 per cent of managers are pressured to find new sources of revenue in high risk markets where there is a greater likelihood of corruption becoming a temptation.

BUSINESS EXTRA

Parks follow a theme BY 2020, London will see a film and television theme park costing €3.4 billion, which will twin a similar new feature in Spain. The theme park business, which earns annual revenues of €6.9 billion in Western Europe, is attracting other new entrants. Last July, Cinecitta opened its first theme park near Rome. And a giant theme park with 15,000 hotel rooms, also based on Paramount Pictures’ films, is due to open in Spain next year.

Best school for business Spanish business school Iese, part of the University of Navarra, has topped the Financial Times’ 2015 combined ranking of executive short courses, regaining the position it last held in 2012. The school ousted HEC Paris, which dropped to second place in the combined table.

Employment inspection The employment agency in Spain has released figures that show 2,372 bogus self-employed claims had been detected since their investigation began in 2012. It also highlighted that the inspection uncovered 3,395 full-time jobs that were being disclosed as part-time in order to save on employment costs.

Coin contest launches THE European Commission has decided to issue a special commemorative €2 coin to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the European flag. The design of the new currency will be chosen by the residents of the EU, who can vote on any one of five designs preselected by the Commsion. You can register your vote for your favourite design at: www.coin-competition.eu

E W N 21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

Sour grapes from left-wingers Michaelpuche / Shutterstock.com File photo

SINCE their rout in the election they’ve accused the British public of being stupid LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT WHY are so many left-wingers such an unpleasant bunch? Since their rout in the election they have produced more sour juice than a premature grape harvest. They’ve accused the British public of being stupid and making the wrong decision, invaded Downing Street, dubbed graffiti on the memorials of our brave servicemen and women and, headed by the awful Charlotte Church, displayed disgracefully-worded placards, denigrating the conservatives in ways only surpassed by the hate messages delivered by the militant Muslim brigade. The unions, in a fit of pique, tongues undoubtedly rubbed raw by extensive woundlicking and no doubt anxious to remind their dwindling supporters that they still have a reason to actually exist, have instigated Plan B or C and are intent on punishing as many voters as possible. The threat of disrupting an impending public

LEFTIST RALLY: Protestors invade Downing Street. Like it or not, the world is run by capitalists, it’s a business. To be in with a chance, we need strong, intelligent leaders and an efficient workforce.’

holiday with a transport strike is typical of this uncaring, self-serving bunch of bandits, who are good for nothing but holding the country to ransom to finance their own hypocritical lifestyles. Well, I’ve a message for all of you. You lost,

get used to it. The main bulk of the British public doesn’t want your style or idea of government. Bite the bullet and show a little character for a change. In fact, the reaction of many lefties shows the true reason the public voted as they did. Militancy and negative disruption has no place in the modern world. Unions were fine in the bad old days, when people were paid a pittance in t’mill while their masters reigned supreme on the hill, but those days are gone. To compete and be successful, the machines of modern existence need to work smoothly, with as few diversions as possible. Like it or not, the world is run by capitalists, it’s a business. To be in with a chance, we need strong, intelligent leaders and a willing, efficient workforce. Frankly, running around with placards and coming out on strike simply doesn’t hack it. Buckle down and extend the success achieved in the last five years. The last thing Britain needs are bitter dissenters airing their dirty laundry in public. Oops, sorry, Mr Balls! No puns intended. Keep the faith, Love Leapy, Leapylee2002@gmail.com www.leapylee.co.uk

OPINION & COMMENT

21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

EWN

Banished cancelled by BBC Two and TFI Friday returns for one episode IT’S OFFICIAL Channel 4 has confirmed the return of TFI Friday for a one-off special. Evans had helpfully already let slip the date of the episode, which is airing to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the programme (even though it's not actually the 20th anniversary).

Richard Shanley

Dishing the Dirt OF EUROPA DIGITAL

BANISHED will not be coming back to BBC Two, its star Russell Tovey has revealed. Tovey said that the decision to cancel Jimmy McGovern’s gritty historical series was “a sad day for drama.” Banished offered an uncompromising look at life in 18th century Australia, with tensions high between officers and convicts. Starring Tovey, MyAnna Buring, Rory McCann and Julian Rhind-Tutt, the series opened to overnight audiences of 3.4 million in March. “The natives have got to be introduced - they don’t feature in this series, because Jimmy didn’t want to just make them tokenistic, he wanted them to have their own characters,” Tovey added of talk of a possible second series. “But that’s something I think he would absolutely be

TFI special will celebrate the history of the show with Chris Evans.

RUSSELL TOVEY: Starred in the gritty historical series set in Australia. tempted to explore if it goes again. So this show can just grow and grow and grow there’s no limit to where the story can go.”

It’s official - Channel 4 has confirmed that TFI Friday will be back for a live 90-minute special on June 12. The show’s host Chris

The special will celebrate the history of the show, which originally aired from 1996 to 2000 on Channel 4. The broadcaster has promised a look back at highlights from the series - including segments such as Freak or Unique, Ugly Bloke and Fat Lookalikes - as well as the introduction of new features. The channel also revealed that “once again, music will form a hugely important part of this very special show.” TFI Friday’s live special will air on Friday, June 12 at 10pm (CET) on Channel 4. email richard@europa-digital.com.

E W N 21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de AlmerĂa

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OPINION & COMMENT

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21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de Almería

EWN

Good, bad and almost naked - are the emperor’s new clothes to die for? Nora Johnson

Breaking Views Nora is the author of popular psychological suspense and crime thrillers and a free-lance journalist. To comment on any of the issues raised in her column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/columnists/nora-johnson

DID you catch those ‘naked’ designer dresses sported recently at New York’s Met Gala? Among those who turned up to the annual event - the so-called fashion Oscars - almost completely devoid of clothing were Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian. Now, do these slebs dress for themselves, the men in their lives, to out-Gaga Lady Gaga - or simply for the cameras? I suspect they know only too well that more media space will be given to those revealing the most flesh and they’ll happily wear these jaw-dropping, naked-effect outfits to bolster a flagging image in the hope of maintaining their position in the public

eye. After all, if they dressed ‘normally,’ they’d hardly get papped. But appearance is everything now, isn’t it? Shortly after reading about the Met Gala, I read about 21-year-old student, Eloise Parry, who died in agony after taking banned diet pills bought online. Like most of us, she was concerned about her appearance, a pretty girl probably chasing the size 0 supermodel dream, sadly caused by a multi-billion pound industry which wants us to obsess about our weight rather than our health. I’m reminded here of Protein World’s infamous ‘beach body ready’ weightloss posters that had to be removed from London Underground last month ahead of mass protests. KATIE PRICE: Too much Botox.

Do celebrities dress for themselves, the men in their lives, to outGaga Lady Gaga, or simply for the cameras?

But then, children as young as six begin suffering from body image problems and dangerous dieting a recent study suggests. According to campaigners, a society obsessed with thinness is harming children’s mental health as heavier pupils, dissatisfied with their bodies, start risky, unhealthy diets to compensate. Recently published books on America’s $88bn anti-aging industry conclude, not surprisingly, that millions face seFeatureflash / Shutterstock.com

rious health problems caused by the gurus of unregulated dietary, vitamin supplements and Botox crazes. Now, I’m not sure but I think we’re allowed to get older but we’re not supposed to look as though we are. Is that right? Do the Botoxers and face-filler folk actually know that we know that they’ve been cheating? Everything peeled, exfoliated, filled and polished - the full (late) Joan Rivers, bless her. The problem for people who’ve had excessive Botox, you see, is that they don’t look younger, just weirder. Think Katie Price. Or... someone trapped in a lift for a week with Nicola Sturgeon, George Galloway or any other politician for that matter. 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.

E W N 21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de Almería

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OPINION & COMMENT

It’s just a matter of opinion Cassandra Nash A weekly look - and not entirely impartial reaction to the Spanish political scene

DAVID CAMERON’S win has fired up the PP camp, especially its big guns. The polls got it wrong, just as they did before the Scottish independence referendum so there could be surprises waiting inside those ballot boxes. The Partido Popular and the PSOE are plodding warily along and Ciudadanos seems to be doing nicely although Podemos appears to be backsliding. The truth is that it’s anyone’s guess as to what next Sunday will bring. But the Tory victory should also send a sobering message to parties (are you listening PP, PSOE and Podemos?) that build their policies on the shifting sands of opinion polls.

Not enough time CIUDADANO’s leader Albert Rivera irritated everybody over 40 with his claim that “democratic regeneration should come from those born in democracy.” It must originate with people without Swiss bank accounts and corruption

Sharing the load FORMER Health minister Ana Mato complained of the sexist, machista attitude in attaching some of her former husband’s blame to her. Her ex, one-time mayor of Pozuelo Jesus Sepulveda, is up to his neck in the Gurtel kickbacks-for-contracts case. He allegedly allowed Francisco Correa’s companies to spend more

ANA MATO: She didn’t ask.

than €28,000 on family holidays and their children’s parties. Mato therefore benefited, the courts claim. Not so, she insists: she had no idea who had footed those bills. Did it never occur to her to ask who was paying? Most women show some interest in hubby’s cash-flow.

cases “who only know how to work.” Fine words, but it could also be true that most under-40s have not yet had time to accumulate sufficient dosh to put into a Swiss bank account.

A bad diagnosis PODEMOS strategist Iñigo Errejon has been watering down its message to attract those coveted floating voters of indeterminate views. Errejon, despite his PhD in Political Science, has probably made a bad diagnosis because Podemos is beginning to lose the radical Left without attracting the undecided Centre.

Ana Mato insists that she had no idea who footed the bills for their family holidays or children’s parties.

La Moncloa Gobierno de España

OPINION & COMMENT

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21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de Almería

EWN

Conquering England proved difficult! Ric Polansky Ric Polansky moved to Mojacar in 1969 as a pioneer developer. He reads extensively and has travelled in South America panning gold and looking for El Dorado.

AND so it happened, one sunny less day I decided to go to England, homeland of my clients. It would be a tour de force in that once landed and installed at some cheap tourist hotel, I would begin phoning clients, the ones I knew the longest, first. I started dialling. The unconventional success I was met with twinned that of Rudolph Hess when he parachuted into Scotland for a kipper or two.

I finally detected a pattern, the English were a nation that planned events well ahead.

As I worked my way through the list I was truly amazed how well I could be fobbed off. Every-

LONDON LUNCH: Bob Hurst whisked me off to the Dorchester. one was so polite but firm- no time for visitors. It would appear I needed to give each recipient of a visit some five to six weeks notice! Hmm, these were the same folk that pleaded with me to visit them, each pronouncing to me a detailed list of unique watering holes I would be guided through. But, having suffered the same rebuke some 30 consecutive times

I finally detected a pattern. The English were a nation that planned events well ahead. OK, I can understand that, but wasn’t going to be denied. So being a clever Yank I reversed the order and brazenly called the last client I had sold to and who had only returned to the UK just three days before. “Are you on your own?”he

asked. “How long you here for? well, I got so much to do, chickens to milk, bulls to herd, and plenty of farm work. Besides I don’t live in London but about t wo hour s away. Ok, I’ll pick you up at your hote l a t noon and t ake you f or lunch.” Here was a true English ge ntle m an t hat coul d adj ust a stone carved social schedule for a spontaneous insertion. Since that

moment Bob Hurst was always a good friend and high on my pantheon of star Englishmen. At high noon my friend arrived in the most dilapidated Volvo I had ever seen i n Engl and. Bumpers were falling off, the door was wired shut and the body work appeared as if it had just survived WW II. I jumped into it excitedly. He announced, “never mind the car, it’s what I use when I come to London. Now, let me take you for a nice lunch and off he drove to the Dorchester Hotel. He dropped me off at the front door whereupon I was greeted by what appeared as a General wearing a large top hat, a heavily brocaded uniform and sporting white gloves. He said to Bob, “probably Sir you’d like to Park your car over there (pointing to an empty car park) so your vehicle can’t be banged or scr aped.” Wi t hi n a m i nut e Bob j oi ned m e as we strolled into the restaurant. “Pay no attention to the doorman, I’ve eaten here more times than he’s opened car doors - but the English do get class conscious often, especially the lower ranks.” Bingo, I instantly knew I was gonna like Englishmen on their own turf!

E W N 21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de Almería

LETTERS

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OPINION & COMMENT

YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE - YOUR OPINION

Letters for Your Say should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com or make your comments straight on our website: www.euroweeklynews.com

Take the time to show our nurses your caring side AFTER reading your story about the nursing crisis in Malaga (Costa del Sol Issue 1558) I just wanted to say I think this is appalling and something should be done about it ASAP. I regularly have to go for blood tests at the CARE in Las Lagunas and hear people moaning their heads off about having to wait 10 minutes to be seen and blaming the nurses for being slow. I can’t help wondering what they would be saying if they had their veins hacked about by hurried nurses trying to get the job done quicker. These nurses, mostly women although I have seen a couple of men too, are kind, gentle and receive you with a smile, quite amazing considering how thoroughly overworked they are. I suggest we all take the time next time we have to deal with a nurse to smile, thank him/her for everything they do for us, and maybe even take them a bunch of flowers. They certainly deserve it. Helena Bridges, Las Lagunas (Malaga)

Clean up act LIVING in Alhaurin de la Torre, with the nice and clean roads and streets, makes me feel so sad when I drive into Torremolinos. Half of the shops on the Avda. Palma de Mallorca are empty and for rent, the streets, although being cleaned on a regular basis, look like the full maintenance department of the town hall has been fired some time ago. Graffiti is everywhere, pavements are cracked/smashed and road signs from the 80’s are everywhere. With the elections and all the effort that the mayor has put in to staying in his luxury seat, he seems to have forgotten that Torremolinos is a place that needs to be looked after. Not only plants and trees but also roads and pavements. And whilst

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in the Royal Air Force. I thank God for all the other German folks that I have known. As my Son says... “folks is folks” bless em all. If anyone is really interested in these facts read ‘Dresden’ by Frederick Taylor. Disturbing reading for sure. No excuses just the brutal facts. War is not pretty. Thanks for the best paper in English! Name supplied (by email)

Balcony danger One thing to say for the Spanish, when they hang their laundry out it makes for a colourful sight. John Edwards Cardiff (UK)

making a plan to do so, let the town hall talk to the owners of all these empty shops. Give new tenants a discount on local taxes if they rent in Torremolinos. Please try and be house proud of this town again. Let us smile when we talk about tourism and entrepreneurs in Torremolinos. Not laugh. Wessel Wiersma, Alhaurin de la Torre (Malaga)

Stop and think I HAVE become very concerned about the lack of thinking from the British people. Don’t get me wrong, because I chose to leave the UK and now live in Spain, in theory I shouldn’t give a damn. And I don’t as a rule, but I can’t help thinking of the old land. I see the failure of our schools, compared to the education which I was pleased to have received. I see the young people with nothing to do but paint graffitti and gladly go to a Muslim country to take up arms against us. I am sad about the lack of educa-

tion of the general public regarding the voting in of political leaders. These so called leaders are only looking after their own jobs. They don’t care about what happens, they just want their pennies worth and then off they go. The drug culture in the UK and other countries is a factor, not of the system but the failure of the system. If people have nothing to do then what do they do? These things have been robbed from them and replaced with iPods, iPhones, computers and games consoles. The UK needs a big wakeup call. Get serious about where you want that country to go. Do something about it and get off your backsides and make it happen. Mark Penn (by email)

Blame games CONGRATULATIONS to readers Mrs Fullerton and Mr Thompson on their realistic comments on the current mania for World War blame

games! (Letters, Issue 1558) Now, if only British TV would take a hint and stop making cheap television out of the same World War footage (in colour!) and the psychoanalysis ad nauseum of seemingly every single one of the Nazi membership! Charles Dowling, Orihuela Costa (Alicante)

Over the top? OK Leapy Lee goes over the top sometimes but his column and readers’ letters are the first pages I read and I bet many others do too. Regarding the response to his article on World War Two, I was in London when the buzz bombs were dropping around the time of the Dresden bombing. Dresden WAS a major legitimate military target containing many war industries and being a communications centre. I have heard quite a few ‘Hate the British’ types in the early years of living in Spain, but have never even replied to them, neither did my husband, he was a night fighter

WHEN will the builders and hoteliers learn the tragic lesson? Hardly a week goes by without a tragedy as someone falls from a balcony, as reported in the Euro Weekly News (Mallorca Issue 1558). People are quick to blame the poor victims themselves assuming they were either acting recklessly or blind drunk. While that may be true in some cases, I would say the simple fact of the matter is that the balconies are too low. I was on holiday with my daughter and her young children (aged five and nine) in a hotel in Palma and we could not have a moment’s rest when in our room. Every minute of our time was spent watching over my grandchildren as the balcony wall was so low. They could quite easily have climbed over and fallen, and we were six floors up! The hotel owners should be forced to make their balconies safe, and builders should not be allowed to build such unsafe balconies Jane Stansfield (by email)

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

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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.

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Famous quote

This week

MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

‘

At 68, when you go to sleep at night, all you want to do is wake up in the morning. Sir Alex Ferguson is feeling his age.

in history 1420: Following English victory at Agincourt, Henry V and his heirs would inherit the French throne upon King Charles VI of France’s death. 1455: England’s 30 year War of the Roses began with Richard of York taking St Albans and capturing King Henry Vi. 1859: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was born. Before he began writing, Doyle studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh where he began writing short stories. In 1986 he introduced the world to Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. 1701: Captain Kidd, one of the most famous pirates in history, is executed. 1916: Britain introduces British Summer Time after a campaign by builder William Willett. 1927: Charles Lindbergh lands in Paris after the first solo air crossing of the Atlantic in the Spirit of St Louis. 1936: Aer Lingus is founded by the Irish government as the national airline of the Republic of Ireland. 1946: Jordan gains independence from Britain and Abdullah ibn Hussein becomes the King of Jordan. 1977: Two Boeing 747s by Pan Am and KLM collide in the Canary Islands killing 582 people. 1982: The British ship, Atlantic Conveyor carrying Chinook helicopters and destroyer HMS Coventry were hit in the Falkland war with 39 crew members dying. 1985: Live Aid is born. The first benefit concert which was organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for Ethiopian Famine was held simultaneously in London and Philadelphia. 1986: Margaret Thatcher becomes the first British Prime Minister to visit Israel.

Women’s wit

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Not many people have had as much bad luck as I have, but not many people have had as much good luck, either.” Tig Notaro

World of English

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There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger, neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren’t invented in England, or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren’t sweet, are meat.

‘MY DARLING, HAD I KNOWN THE TORIES WOULD ROMP THE ELECTION I WOULD NEVER HAVE FLOGGED YOUR PICASSO!’

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for next 7 days

Fill all the empty squares using the numbers 1 to 9, so that the sum of each horizontal block equals the ‘clue’ on its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the clue on its top. No number may be used in the same block more than once.

TODAY VELEZ RUBIO

TOMORROW HUERCAL OVERA

ALBOX

VELEZ RUBIO GARRUCHA ALBOX MOJACAR

ALMERIA

HUERCAL OVERA

RETAMAR GARRUCHA ROQUETAS

MOJACAR

RETAMAR

ALMERIA

ROQUETAS

ADRA

Alicante TODAY:

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Benidorm

SUNNY MAX 20C, MIN 13C 22 14 S 23 16 S 24 17 S

MAX MIN

Mon - 24 17 S Tues - 24 18 S Wed - 26 18 S

SUNNY MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

22 15 S 22 16 S 23 17 S

MAX 21C, MIN 15C Mon - 23 17 S Tues - 24 18 S Wed - 24 18 S

CLEAR MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

22 15 S 22 16 S 23 17 S S Sun,

MAX MIN

Mon - 22 12 C Tues - 23 12 S Wed - 23 13 C

17 10 Cl 20 12 Sh 20 11 Sh

Madrid MAX 20C, MIN 14C MAX MIN

Mon - 24 17 S Tues - 24 18 S Wed - 24 17 S Cl Clear,

TODAY:

Fog,

22 16 S 22 17 Cl 23 17 Cl

SUNNY

TODAY:

SHOWERS MAX 19C, MIN 13C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

21 14 S 23 15 S 23 16 S

MAX 22C, MIN 8C

24 10 S 26 12 S 27 13 S C Cloudy,

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 22 16 Cl Tues - 23 16 S Wed - 24 16 Cl

Mon - 28 15 C Tues - 29 16 C Wed - 29 15 S Sh Showers,

SUNNY MAX 22C, MIN 13C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

24 13 S 26 14 S 27 16 S

Sn Snow,

UK THUNDERBALL

IRISH LOTTO

Saturday May 16

EURO MILLIONS

LA PRIMITIVA

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA

MAX MIN

Mon - 22 17 Sh Tues - 23 18 Cl Wed - 25 18 Cl

Murcia

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

MAX 21C, MIN 15C

Mallorca CLEAR MAX 17C, MIN 10C

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

SHOWERS

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 25 18 S Tues - 25 18 S Wed - 26 18 S

22 16 S 23 17 S 24 17 S

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Barcelona TODAY:

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Bilbao

Almeria TODAY:

Malaga

SUNNY MAX 22C, MIN 14C

TODAY:

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

MAX MIN

Mon - 28 17 Cl Tues - 27 17 Cl Wed - 28 17 S Th Thunder

LOTTERY

ADRA

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

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Saturday May 16

Friday May 15

12 15

Saturday May 16

Sunday May 17

35 28

BONUS BALL

THUNDERBALL

BONUS BALL

LUCKY STARS

REINTEGRO

E W N 21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de Almería

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The Rewrite Director: Marc Lawrence and staring Hugh Grant, Marisa Tomei, Bella Heathcote, J.K. Simmons, Chris Elliott, Aja Naomi King, Annie Q, and Allison Janney. A washed-up screenwriter (Hugh Grant) reluctantly takes a college teaching job and meets a single mother (Marisa Tomei) who changes his life in more ways than one. If there’s one certifiable kingpin of the romantic comedy genre, it’s probably Hugh Grant, and this will not disappoint.

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EURO WEEKLY’S SPACE FOR YOU TO TAKE A BREA

Funagram

Just Joking

Unscramble the name of a famous 1989 American drama film starring Robin Williams (three words): DEPOSITED TEA COSY

A man and his wife were sitting in the living room discussing a Living Will, “Just so you know, I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug.” His wife got up, unplugged the TV and threw out all the beer.

Unscramble the name of a famous London landmark (three words): HAS SCULPTED ALTAR

One day a boy asked his grandpa, “grandpa make a frog sound.” The grandfather asked why? The boy said, “Grandma says when you croak we are going to Hawaii.”

FUNAGRAM SOLUTION: DEAD POETS SOCIETY, ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL

NEW ON DVD

Hexagram

The purpose of the Hexagram puzzle is to place the 19 six-letter words into the 19 cells. The letters at the edges of interlocking cells MUST BE THE SAME. The letters in the words must be written CLOCKWISE. The word in cell 10 (ASSERT) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues.

ASSERT (10)

SEARED

DETAIL

STACKS

DINNER

STARRY

FEARED

TENDER

GUESTS

TILTED

LADIES

TITTER

PRINTS

TREATS

REDUCE

TREATY

REGARD

WANTED

RESTED

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 1 Roared, 2 Awaits, 3 Resent, 4 Massed, 5 Rioted, 6 Series, 7 Trades, 8 Menial, 9 Wheels, 10 Admire, 11 Seared, 12 Elders, 13 Railed, 14 Houses, 15 Rather, 16 Steeds, 17 Kisses, 18 Metres, 19 Bushes

Roza Diez is a Spanish politican. She is a former member of the European Parliament for the PSOE. In 2007 she gave up her seat and left the PSOE due to disagreements. She founded a new political party UPyD. She was elected to the Congress of Deputies representing Madrid in 2008 and 2011.

22 May, Novak Djokovic, Tennis Player, 28 The Serbian tennis star achieved No. 1 World ranking in 2011 and the Australian Open was his first major tournament win in 2008. After winning Wimbledon in 2014, he became the 21st player in history to earn seven major titles. He won three Grand Slam titles in 2011. 23 May, Joan Collins, TV Actress, 82 The English actress was well known for playing Alexis Carrington on TV’s Dynasty which was popular in the US in the 80s. She married and divorced four times before marrying her current husband, Percy Gibson in 2002. Prior to TV, she starred in films from the age of 17. 24 May, Bob Dylan, Folk Singer, 74 The legendary singer-songwriter, who was born Robert Zimmerman, revolutionised folk music in the 60s. He renamed himself after the poet Dylan Thomas. He sang a Diet with Johnny Cash in 1969 called ‘Lay Lady Lay.’ 25 May, Ian McKellen, Movie Actor, 76 The talented actor has won many Laurence Oliver Awards and received several nominations for Emmy and Acadamy Awards. He played Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings franchise. He has also appeared in the X-Men movies. 27 May, Jamie Oliver, Chef, 40 Restaurateur Jamie, who is also known as the Naked Chef, has become a well known TV personality and has campaigned for healthier school lunches. He has been married to Juliette since 2000. He prepared lunch for the British PM Tony Blair in 1999.

10-Star Quiz BIG IN JAPAN 1. In Japan, what is the Shinkansen? 2. In terms of population, Tokyo is the largest city in Japan. Which is the second largest city? 3. Name either of the two British long-jumpers who both won gold medals at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games? 4. Two Japanese cities have hosted the Winter Olympic Games (1972 and 1998), name either? 5. What sort of creature is a Japanese tosa? 6. Which extinct/dormant volcano in south central Honshu is the highest peak in Japan? 7. Which huge prehistoric monster that has featured in a series of Japanese films since 1954, is known in Japanese as ‘Gojira,’ which is a combination of two Japanese words meaning ‘half gorilla and half whale’? 8. Which Japanese city is home to the professional football club Grampus Eight? 9. Which long, loose traditional Japanese robe with wide sleeves, is secured with a sash called an ‘obi’? 10. Which Japanese alcoholic drink made from fermented rice is traditionally drunk warm in small porcelain cups? 1. RAILWAY SYSTEM carrying high-speed passenger trains, 2. YOKOHAMA, 3. Lynn DAVIES and Mary RAND (BIGNAL), 4. SAPPORO (1972) and NAGANO (1998), 5. Heavily built, smooth-haired DOG, 6. Mount FUJI (also known as FUJIYAMA), 7. GODZILLA, 8. NAGOYA, 9. KIMONO, 10. SAKE

27 May, Rosa Díez

21 May, Tom Daley, Diver, 21 Daley won two gold medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and in 2012 the Olympic Bronze medal for the 10 metre platform. He reached the finals at the Olympics in Beijing in 2008 at 14 and was the FINA World Champion at 15.

TIME

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Nonagram

YOUR STARS CANCER (June 22 - July 23) There is sensitivity in your chart. It is possible to overlook someone who needs your time and consideration. You are not a mind-reader and they may not directly seek your help. Be aware, then, of how others are faring. LEO (July 24 - August 23) When someone asks you this week where you are going, will you know the answer? You will make progress if you do. If you're not sure, then there is no point in going full steam ahead. This is a week to consider your options on all fronts, particularly in business. VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) A personal decision needs to be made. No major changes are necessary so long as you have a firm plan. It is not so much that caution is required, rather more that you should give yourself time to consider. In the longer term, you may see this week as a turning point. LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) This is a week of planning and making changes. Some things click into place and you realise that you are on your way to completing an ambition. The trick is to manage it without upsetting people on the home front. SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Are you putting off a decision affecting others? This is a good time to take the bull by the horns. Keep an eye on finances involving younger people.

GEMINI

(May 22 - June 21)

A tendency to be emotional because of a setback should be avoided. When you feel the pressure rising, remember that nothing is worth risking your health for. Sound out friends and colleagues to avoid overreacting. It is a week when you realise how someone close is able to be a great help. The question is, can you accept it? Sometimes, you are better able to help in other ways, perhaps by giving encouragement or advice. SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) Your activities this week may seem to be ones best done alone. To a certain extent this is true. However, if you wish to make others feel important and gain their support in the future, you should involve them. You don't have to take advice which is given but be diplomatic when not acting on it. CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Are you feeling less positive than usual? We all do at times. If energy is low get out for a long walk in a relaxing place. Perhaps watch a film that raises your spirits. There is about you a kind of regret and fondness for the past, but there is nothing wrong with sentimentality so long as it does not cloud your picture of the future. That can be bright indeed. AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) Is someone trying to sidetrack you by casting

doubt on a relationship or plan? Something is going on so make sure that you have all the facts. It would be gullible of you to take everything at face value. You have good supportive colleagues and may seek their advice. Be optimistic as the weekend comes and remember your sense of humour. PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Showing confidence means others see you as being very much in control. They need to see that you can be trusted. If a plan is not going in the right direction, be prepared to change tack. Changes should not be made to financial plans until you are sure of your ground. Romantically, you are being admired. ARIES (March 21 - April 20) It is all go for you at the moment. Not only will you be particularly clear-thinking but your intellect will be sharp as a knife. Your enthusiasm spills over from your business life to personal matters, leading to a hectic and eventful time all week. When it comes to romance, a positive and dynamic approach stands you in good stead. . TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) It is now important that you are clear about the person you wish to spend your time with because you may have more than one option. Plans that you started last week are now showing progress. Keeping the pace growing is essential to beat rivals. It is not an easy week by any means but it should not be boring.

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

TARGET: Average: 6 Good: 8 Very good: 12 Excellent: 14

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION abed able bade bald bale bard bare baud bead bear beau bled blue blur boar bode bola bold bole bore brad brae bred burl daub drab drub lobe lube robe verb abler abode above adobe baled baler bared beard blade blare blear blued bluer board bored boule brave bravo bread broad debar labor lobar lobed orbed robed roble ruble adverb albedo balder blared bolder boreal braved burled dauber doable double labour rouble verbal boulder doubler durable labored laboured BOULEVARD

SOUND OF THE WEEK Wilder Mind Released: May 4, 2015. Artist: Mumford & Sons. Produced by James Ford. WILDER MIND cruised to the Number One spot thanks to 249,000 albums sold. The British group’s first studio outing with electric guitars was the band’s second consecutive Number One album and scored the third best debut sales week of 2015.

OUT

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page

AK, BE INFORMED AND ENJOY A CHALLENGE

Enjoy filling in the following puzzles and check the answers in next week’s edition

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

CRYPTIC

Quick

Cryptic

Across: 1 Sable, 3 Acting, 6 Regards, 8 Idaho, 10 Ewe, 11 Sheathe, 12 Famed, 13 Scorn, 18 Agitate, 20 Aga, 21 Torso, 22 Trident, 23 Adders, 24 Table.

Across 1 To soak, use a tart stew (8) 5 Barrow featured in Paul McCartney song (4) 9 A sabre I broke in a military installation (3,4) 10 Noblemen attending court in London? (5) 11 Seam bowling caught 10 in Tests (5) 12 Rival finds dead bird first (7) 13 Good men digest small Scottish candies (6) 15 The SDP made a mess of the Ocean bottoms (6) 18 Rearranges holiday locations (7) 20 Sweet smell, it’s said, of money (5) 22 A byword for a commercial age (5) 23 Dealers starred in play (7) 24 Makes sure you get a grasp of, verbally (4) 25 Practical folks damaged the saltires (8) Down 1 Be curious about rates (5) 2 Some of the master race are hiding in a row of houses (7) 3 Raises backs (5) 4 Some of the message for the subjects (6)

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Crossword

EWN

Down: 1 Surrey, 2 Earlobe, 3 Assist, 4 Twine, 5 Comet, 7 Grenadier, 9 Alternate, 14 Chariot, 15 Haste, 16 Vestas, 17 Battle, 19 Adore.

QUICK Across:

6 Vessel seen in Victoria or Tasmania (5) 7 Setters upset the quizzers (7) 8 Deny soldiers an electrical device (6) 13 Go berserk as Spurs go one better (7) 14 Truer form of tank-top or tank top (6) 16 The varied uses of a classical hero (7)

Code Breaker

17 Fly from the smart sets, eventually (6) 19 Theatre gates open (5) 20 Nails tipsy slow mover (5) 21 Team leader requests information about duties (5)

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 6 represents K and 22 represents C, so fill in K every time the figure 6 appears and C every time the figure 22 appears. Now, using your knowledge of the English language, work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you discover the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.

Across 1 Excessively quick (5) 4 Felicitous (5) 9 Low army rank (7) 10 Sporting venue (5) 11 Canines and incisors (5) 12 Implement (7) 14 Posing no difficulty (4) 16 Young, unfledged pigeon (5) 18 Young dog (5) 21 Onion-like plant (4) 24 Bedroom (7) 26 Disturb the balance of (5) 28 Flower part (5) 29 Flight attendant (7) 30 Concise (5) 31 Hold back to a later time (5)

Down 2 Come into existence (5) 3 Windpipe (7) 5 Mindful of (5) 6 Floor exercise (5-2) 7 Roam goddess of love (5) 8 Bird of prey (5) 9 Sympathy (4) 13 Category (4) 15 Competent (4) 17 One of four equal parts (7) 19 Four-stringed instrument (7) 20 Range or extent (5) 22 Rub or scrape out (5) 23 Poker variation (4) 25 Swell slightly (5) 27 No longer fresh (5)

English - Spanish The clues are mixed, some clues are in Spanish and some are in English.

1 Sects, 4 Bottle, 9 Glamour, 10 Egret, 11 Easy, 12 Nastier, 13/18 Big top, 14 Idea, 16 Edge, 20 Abridge, 21 Bare, 24 Avian, 25 Startle, 26 Signal, 27 Terms. Down: 1 Signet, 2 Chaos, 3 Shoe, 5 Overstep, 6 Turning, 7 Entire, 8 Wrong, 13 Bandanna, 15 Darling, 17 Harass, 18 Tease, 19 Recess, 22 Actor, 23 Bait.

ENGLISHSPANISH Across: 1 Tracksuit, 8 Araña, 9 Grain, 11 Lana, 12 Casa, 14 Gato, 16 Lake, 19 Early, 21 Suave, 22 Addresses. Down: 2 Roads, 3 Coal, 4 Sign, 5 Ida, 6 Watches, 7 Encoger, 10 Rag, 13 All, 15 Awake, 17 Ayer, 18 Esos, 20 Red

CODE BREAKER

Across 1 Sureste (5-4) 7 Islas (5) 9 Sour (fruit, flavour) (f) (5) 10 Age (of person, animal, building) (4) 11 Ninth (6) 13 Smooth (skin) (5) 14 Nave (de iglesia) (5) 15 Hearts (organs, symbols of love) (9)

Down 2 Prueba (4) 3 In love (9) 4 Calles (vías públicas) (7) 5 Enfermedad (7) 6 Drawers (in a desk) (7) 8 Called (named) (7) 12 Eyebrow (4)

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BOOKS What She Left

AN experimental crime thriller where the reader is encouraged to become the sleuth. Alice Salmon dies in what appears to be a tragic drowning. Professor Jeremy Cooke tries to get to the bottom of the mystery and the book follows his attempts through traces of Alice online, through tweets, newspaper cuttings, blogs, diaries, letters and emails. Alice was a young journalist when she died and Jeremy long ago had an affair with her mother and knew Alice through university. There follows layers and layers of deceipt and secrets. The police are baffled. A genuinely chilling story, is it accident, murder of suicide? It’s a great read. books@euroweeklynews.com

TOP 10 Iconic pastimes that

made Britain great From golf to bingo, darts to shopping, find out the top 10 ways that Brits spend their free time 1. Golf Once very unfairly described as a “good walk spoilt,” but if your preference is for the crazy variety, that would be a very short walk indeed. The nine-hole and 18-hole versions have been a source of much pleasure for millions around the World over countless decades. Not just a highly skilled sport for professionals, but a demanding, even infuriating and serious hobby for many leisure-time players. The first documented mention of golf in Scotland actually appears in a 1457 Act of the Scottish Parliament. 2. Fishing Hugely popular and coming in many shapes and forms, the skill involved in enticing our piscine friends out of all different kinds of water (sea, river and pond), owes much to skill, an awful lot of patience and, for many men, inventing complex excuses to extend river bank stays away from partners. The intricacies of design and the sheer number of different varieties of rods and flies is enough to baffle all but the serious enthusiast. 3. Football Of course, the national sport in countries across the world. It’s perhaps easy to forget when watching the millionaire mega-stars playing in La Liga and the English Premiership, that parks and pitches around the globe are constantly packed with players of all abilities, and that supporters regularly follow their local teams with a mixture of blind faith, misplaced hope and devotion to the cause. 4. Tennis Anyone for tennis? Most certainly during Wimbledon fortnight when the south London club becomes the focus for the world’s sporting media. With its strawberries and cream, straw boaters and genteel manners, the event is the personification of British fair

Sudoku

play. You don’t have to have played tennis, of course, to be fascinated by the game but those that do play and who have not been to a top professional match before, can only be stunned by the skills of the players. 5. Darts Or ‘arrows’ as the king of indoor sports is sometimes called, has been much maligned over the years, but was officially recognised as a sport some years ago after pressure from the sport’s governing body. Though the leading players have boasted somewhat generous proportions and have hardly appeared examples of clean living and followers of a healthy diet, top dart throwers now attract fanatical followings and can claim huge prize monies. 6 Cricket Explaining to non-English people what a ‘googly’ is, how to position yourself at ‘silly mid off’ or even the complexity of the LBW (Leg Before Wicket) law will probably, to use another cricket term, find yourself on a sticky wicket. Cricket is the kind of sport you either understand without any problems (a public school background will help) or will remain as some kind of unfathomable sporting dark art, played in whites, forever.

7 Rugby The moment some dashing chap decided to be slightly unsporting and pick up a ball and run with it, rather than kick it like his sporting colleagues, a new sport was born and one that has become firmly embedded in numerous sporting nations’ traditions. The real dilemma for sports fans is whether you can be both a football fan and a rugby fan, and indeed if you like rugby league, can you also be a fan of rugby union? It’s as much a cultural clash as a regional clash in the UK. 8 Bingo What would wet and windy afternoons be for hordes of OAPs without bingo? Now apparently attracting a younger following, countless eyes look down for a full house with their dibbers and dabbers ready poised to hopefully scoop top prizes every day of the week across the UK. Regional link-ups between venues mean that serious amounts of cash are up for grabs at certain events and it’s a social sport that’s no longer just attracting those with blue rinses. 9 Sales shopping Everyone likes a bargain - and it appears that a lot of people increasingly like the argy bargy that goes with first day sales scrums. King of them all is the Harrods’ sale guaranteed to be covered by all the TV channels and featuring a wild stampede, the like of which only Richard Attenborough has previously witnessed. Bruise, bashed and disheveled but probably clutching a bargain plasma TV, shoppers emerge with a look of total contentment and sense of pride.

GOLF: A pleasure for millions.

10 Queuing A quintessential British pastime, the skill of being patient while standing in a line in a public place is thought to be fast-disappearing, not least as cultures worldwide become more diversified and, as some say, manners just aren’t what they used to be.

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

App of the Week Camera51 Camera 51 had some good reviews when it debuted on Android, and now the photo-snapping assistant is coming to iOS. Not everyone is a professional photographer that knows what does and doesn’t make a compelling image. That’s where Camera51 steps in and guides your hand to the absolute best shot. So now your bad photos have no excuse to hide behind. And it’s Free!

Play on Words QT

THGIF

Boggled How many English words can you find in the Boggled grid, according to the following rules? The letters must be adjoining in a ‘chain’. They can be adjacent horizontally, vertically or diagonally. Words must contain at least four letters and may include singular and plural or other derived forms. No letter may be used more than once within a single word, unless it appears twice. No vulgarities or proper nouns are permitted.

TARGET: Average: 23 Good: 29 Very good: 42 Excellent: 52

SCORING: 4 letters: 1 point • 5 letters: 2 points 6 letters: 3 points • 7 letters: 4 points 8 or more letters: 11 points

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION atlas narc croak fink fine oink taro trod torn told toad toads rant rods road roan need info inroad oaken load loan lake lads lank lane lass knife knee kneed dolt dank aorta altar alto akin adorn nuke nude nasal salt sake sank sane sans snake sauna sawed anal awed week wane wans duke dunk dune

Word Ladder TOOL

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

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.

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TIME OUT

BAGS BACK

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

TOOL TOOT BOOT BOOS BOGS BAGS

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TOOL WOOL WOOS BOOS BOGS BAGS or

E W N 21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de Almería

Answers: Cutie pie, Fight back

E W N 21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de Almería

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OPINION & COMMENT

Am I just a dumb animal? Colin Bird A weekly look Each week, Colin brings his slightly off-the-wall view of the world to the pages of EWN in his own irreverent style.

WHEN I see the brilliant work that veterinary surgeon Noel Fitzpatrick carries out, as depicted on the Channel 4 programme Super Vet, I am filled with admiration for this wonderful man. Not only because he performs near miracles at times on his non-human patients, but also because of his obvious love and deep respect for each and every animal that is brought to him, and the camaraderie he displays with their owners. I simply do not understand those who cruelly abuse animals or seem to have no affinity with these, our fellow creatures. And particularly whenever I hear some idiot declaring, “It was just a cat,” or something equally dismissive when one is lost, or is mown down on the road by some careless driver. Equally of course for dogs or any other living creature if it comes to that, because all are individual miracles of creation in their own right. Just take the trouble to study them at close quarters. Even the humble sparrow is a masterpiece of creative engi-

WISE FOX: The safest place to be was behind the hunt.

neering and no matter how clever we believe the human race to be, it cannot come within a billion miles of creating anything so complex or extraordinary. The closest we can come to this is to clone. In other words, copy something already crafted, using a living template. Then we are led to believe that most animals operate purely on an instinctive level and not by what we class as intelligence. But I’m not so sure about that. Take the wild bird that has been flashed across the internet recently, gradually manoeuvring some floating bread that has attracted feeding fish, ever nearer to itself in order to spear its own dinner. I once personally witnessed a fox in full daylight, trailing a couple of hundred yards behind the Thurlow hunt. The hounds and riders were some way ahead, but Reynard had figured that the safest place to be was behind the whole lot of them. I stopped my van to watch him; he paused and cocked his head at me as if to say, “Who’s the dumb animal, me or that lot?” before trotting on. We can learn a lot from animals and they enrich our lives. I came to the conclusion a long time ago that bar some notable exceptions, this would indeed be paradise Earth without the presence of man.

The scourge of tribal Europe THE Russians are skilled at creating the myth that triumph was exclusively a Soviet victory Mike Walsh Mike, based in Mediterranean Spain, is an international journalist, author and professional writer.

WITH trepidation I watched Russians celebrate ‘their victory’ over Nazism. Once again the same tiresome exclusivity that fuelled the deaths of an estimated 100 million Europeans during the disastrous 20th Century. Don’t be too quick to accuse Americans for taking the credit for winning the war single-handed. The Russians are as skilled at creating the myth that triumph was exclusively a Soviet victory. Here we go again, I thought: triumphalist British Empire 1900, Germany in the 1930s. The writer, George Bernard Shaw, explained Europe’s fault-line in a few words: ‘Patriotism is your conviction that your country is superior to all other countries be-

Celebrating victory. cause you were born in it.’ Russian President Vladimir Putin, keen to forge international partnerships on a base of peaceful co-existence, must have mixed feelings too. He must pay lip service to Russians nostalgic for the time when Bolshevik Occupied

A jackboot is a jackboot regardless of nationality.

Russia shared world power status. He otherwise condemned Bolshevik socialism as unworkable. Are those who hanker after British Empire and Winston

OUR VIEW

It’s time to vote.

Now is your chance THE day is nearly upon us! This Sunday May 24 is the day we expatriates get the chance to vote in local elections, our chance to influence the town we now call home. The British people that have chosen to embrace the Spanish life form an important part of the local community. Especially in the coastal regions where they contribute greatly to the local economy. Local Ayuntamientos (councils) know and welcome this fact, but need our help and advice as to what would benefit everyone - if they don’t know something, they can’t change it! Simply by voting for the party you feel can help your community the best, you have already helped make everyone’s lives better. We came to Spain because of its culture, let us respect it, embrace it and immerse ourselves in it. We at the EWN are completely impartial, however we do strive for transparency and integration, and in doing so, realise that both of these issues are two way streets. We need to show a little more understanding toward our naturally hospitable neighbours who welcome our input. Spain is not ‘Little Britain.’ It is the beautiful country we chose to live in. If we wish to make it even better, your vote is needed. If you don’t vote, you can’t complain.

Churchill any better? To Russian friends I point out that peoples of the West, especially Germans and Eastern Europeans, fear and detest hammer and sickle symbolism as much as Russians blanch at the sight of a Swastika. They don’t accept this and believe sincerely the Soviets liberated Europe. It is what they were taught. I show photographs of the Reich forces greeted as liberators throughout German Occupied Europe. This is dismissed as propaganda. I concede many Russians, having little choice anyway, resisted the Reich’s onslaught. “Why,” I asked, “don't you salute the peoples of Finland, Eastern Europe, the Baltic States, who as heroically resisted Soviet aggression and Now we occupation?” want to A jackboot is a jackboot rehear your news. gardless of the nationality of the foot in it. Unless EuYOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE ropeans shrug off national - YOUR OPINION tribalism history is doomed www.euroweeklynews.com to repeat itself.

OPINION & COMMENT

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STREET TALK

21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de Almería

EWN

YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE - YOUR OPINION

Dealing with begging on the street IN some parts of Spain police are cracking down on street beggars, mothers sit with children in the heat to beg for money to feed them. Do you think the services are sufficient to help people who are living in this way? RICHARD BROWN, Business Development Executive Currencies Direct doesn’t see it as a huge problem in Mojacar. but added he “has seen beggars in other areas. There are quite a lot in Magaluf where I spent some time, many are organised groups that are professional at what they do. Some get dropped off in cars to designated areas to beg, some outside banks, so in cases like that the streets should be cleaned up. “There are some tha t a r e genuine which I am familiar

Richard Brown.

with, but they are not pushy or demanding like others can be.” Claire Barrett of Girasol Health Food Shop, Albox said: “I think begging with a baby was a done thing about 20 years ago, but I thought that had been outlawed now, I don’t see that here. The main beggars here seem to b e e ld erly men who want mo n e y fo r d rin k a n d

Ann Depovere.

others that are obvious scams. “Some are deaf and dumb and there are genuine cases, here in Albox we don’t really see the bigge r pic ture , but I be lie ve there is a lot more in Malaga or Marbella. I would just rather give to a c ha rity, not into the hand on the street, so that I know it is going to a good cause.” Ann Depovere of Almeria Properties s a id: “ I do s e e the odd beggar, usua lly the s a me faces that sit outside the

supermarket so I have got to know them. I would rather give food than money, sometimes I have bought bread and cheese and given that to one old lady that I see, so that I know the money is spent on food. There are more beggars in big cities i n Bel g i u m where I a m

f r om , but her e does not seem anywhere near as bad.” And Steve and Ann from Way 2 Go said it is wrong to use children as a sympathy factor. “Although we have not witnessed much of this on the streets, we r eal i se t hat t hi s i s a pr obl em worldwide and unfortunately we don’t live in a perfect world and there are those that struggle. “It depends why those who beg are doing so, we need to find out more of where the problem l i es, so i f i t i s genui ne t her e should be help. If there are those that just use begging as a pilgrimage to get to where they are going, then that is wrong. It is also wrong to use children as a sympathy factor to beg, but who are we to judge those who are genuinely poor.” Steve and Ann.

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HEALTH BEAUTY

Pulling rank to get the right scan

15th May

AT the end of the day, it is my health that is at stake

Erica Russell Watson: My journey – and I’m driving

TODAY has been interesting! I went to have my CAT scan. A few days prior to this an oncologist friend of mine who works in the private sector took a look at the appointment I had. She was not impressed. My oncologist had requested a very simple scan of just my torso and without any contrast. She said that it would not do as I needed the contrast which is a type of dye that they inject into your veins which helps the resolution of the scan, highlighting everything more clearly. She also insisted that the scan include my abdomen. She said she was going to try and get the appointment changed. When I arrived today I mentioned to the nurse that perhaps there had been a change to the scan. They checked and said no. So I thought it was now or never. I

pulled a bit of rank and file and mentioned a very well-known oncologist in the hospital and said she had requested the change…which was true. In the end they rang my oncologist and she said she was happy to give me the scan as I had requested. This was great news but we will see what

Before the scan you have to drink a glass of water every 10 minutes. Four glasses in total. This helps the dye circulate around your veins. Then it’s time to get ready and lie very still with your hands above your head.

she says to me at our appointment next week. At the end of the day, it is my health that is at stake and I’m not going to sit quietly and accept a scan that I have been told is not sufficient after the type of chemo I have been

through. Before the scan you have to drink a glass of water every 10 minutes. Four glasses in total. This helps the dye circulate around your veins. Then it’s time to get ready and lie very still with your hands above your head. Once the line is in and the dye starts to enter your system, you will notice a warm feeling. It isn’t unpleasant, just a little strange. You are moved back and forth through the machine which is rather like a giant donut. You receive instructions on when to breathe and when to hold your breath. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes and then the line is taken out and you can go. I felt very relieved that I had been given the proper tests and will look forward to next week when I get an overview of my blood analysis and general state post-chemo. I am still waiting to be called for radiotherapy, which should be imminent. In the meantime, the football matches have to be attended, the sleep-overs organised and a million and one other things, so life goes on. I always think it’s good to keep busy. Let’s see what the next chapter has in store for me!

Health Food Shop & Community Centre Are you looking for inspiration? You’ll be surprised at the range of natural & organic products available to inspire you.

In the Community Centre Kids Karate, kids Gymnastics Art classes, Pilates, Yoga, Tai-Chi, Salsa-size Spanish lessons and health screening

C/Malaga s/n, Albox, Almeria, Tel: 639 089 170 Mon-Fri 10am-6pm Sat 10am-2pm email: alboxgirasol@hotmail.com

FOREIGN OBJECT: Mobile left inside Caesarean patient.

Doctor leaves his phone inside a woman’s stomach By Gemma Quinn

she felt terrible pains in her stomach and her family noticed her belly vibrating. A JORDANIAN woman claims a Being rushed back doctor left his moto hospital, an X-ray bile phone in her revealed there was a abdomen after deforeign object inside livering her baby by her and surgeons Caesarean section. The 36-year-old year-old woman’s family quickly operated to rewas admitted to a noticed that her belly was move the phone. vibrating. The Jordanian private hospital in Health Ministry said Amman, Jordan, for the woman’s story was ‘baseless the operation. She said the birth and fabricated,’ but was following went well and she returned home up her claim. with her new daughter. But later,

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Plant waters are the new health fad of rich and famous DRINKS such as artichoke water could soon be gracing our supermarket shelves By Gemma Quinn IT seems plant waters are the latest health fad. Drinks such as artichoke water and birch tree sap may sound unlikely tipples, but they are already being tasted by the rich and famous and could soon be gracing the shelves of the supermarkets. They follow the success of coconut water, which has been endorsed by celebrities such as Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow and pop star Rihanna for its supposed nutritional properties. Some of the drinks are even marketed as ‘super drinks’ which help battle cancer and heart disease, banish wrinkles or ease upset stomachs. Coconut water Contains vitamin C,

FAD ORIGINATOR: Coconut water.

potassium, traces of iron, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and zinc and is often dubbed nature’s sports drink by enthusiasts as it rehydrates the body quickly. Coconut water, not to be confused with coconut milk, kicked off the plant water craze in the US.

potassium. Aloe vera may be best known as an extract used in cosmetics, but it is also rich in nutrients and has traditionally been used as a constipation cure. Some fans say the drink can help detox the body.

Aloe vera drink Contains vitamins A and C, calcium,

Birch tree water Contains vitamin C, iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium.

People have been drinking tree sap in Scandinavia for centuries, but it has only become globally fashionable as a sports drink in the past couple of years. However, it has little salt to replace the salt you lose when you sweat.

RICH IN NUTRIENTS: Aloe vera drink.

Artichoke water One of the most expensive plant drinks around but does contain vitamins A, E, C, B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, potassium, calcium and iron. Most drinks are made from the whole vegetable, including the stem and outer leaves, and can be drunk hot or cold.

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FOOD D R I N K

It’s Pimm’s o’clock Cava direct PIMM’S No. 1 was created in the mid-18th century by an English man James Pimm. It is an excellent thirst-quenching, supremely summery drink which is why it became popular at cricket matches. James Pimm was a farmer’s son from Kent who became the owner of the Oyster Bar in London. He began to serve up a gin based drink that contained his own secret recipe of herbs and liquers, as this was said to be an aid to digestion. As it was served in a small tankard, the name ‘No 1 Cup’ became its subsequent name. This grew in popularity and so Pimm’s began a large scale production in 1851 as there was a demand for this fashionable drink in other bars. Years later in 1859 the distillery began to sell it commercially and in 1865 Pimm’s decided to sell his business to a man called Frederick Sawyer who was still allowed to use the Pimm’s name. I n 1880 the business was acquired by

the future mayor of London and in 1887 the business boasted a chain of Pimm’s Oyster houses which were franchised. In the 1970s and 1980s Pimm’s was not selling as well as other years so the Oyster chain was sold. Other variations of Pimm’s which were Cup 2 and Cup 5 were phased out through lack of demand. The Distillery Company had ownership of Pimm’s, but then they were bought out by Guinness plc in 1986. Pimm’s then became part of Diageo when The Grand Metropolitan merged with Guinness in 1997. The brand became popular again in later years with advertising campaigns including Hooray Henry (AKA Alexander Armstrong) who humorously quoted ‘It’s Pimm’s o’ clock.’ It was used in programmes such as The Avengers and evolved into a fashionable drink to enjoy a t Wi m bledon, Chelsea Flower Show, and Henley Royal Regatta.

from the cellar PUT some sparkle into your summer By Wendy Ann Cowham

THE word Cava comes from the Catalan word which in Englis h me a ns ‘c a ve s’ or ‘cellar.’ The caves are where the C a ta la n w ine ma ker s used to store and preserve aging wines. Spa nis h s pa rkling wi ne w a s firs t ma de a s e a rly as 1851, although the roots of the c a va indus try c a n be traced back to Josep Raventós’s travels through Europe in the 1860s. Although Josep was heavily into making and promoting still wines, he created his first sparkling wine in 1872 after he had taken a trip to Champagne, France where he was inspired by the

m et hod of sparkling wine.

pr oduci ng

Spanish sparkling wine was first made as early as 1851.

Back in the vineyards of Penedes (the best wine growing region in Spain), there had been a plague that devastated the crops. Thereafter the red grape vi nes wer e r epl aced wi t h white ones and sometime lat-

er the Catalan cava producer s pi oneer ed t he devel opm ent of sparkling wine. The macabeu, parellada and xar el ·l o ar e t he most popular and traditional grape varieties for producing cava. Cava i s pr obabl y t he m ost Cham pagne- l i ke sparkling wine outside of France that uses different gr ape var i et i es t han t he Champagne ones. However, Cava is truly Spanish, and is usually good value for the price - especially given the Método Tradicional used to produce it. Cava can also be appreciated for its own distinctiveness.

PIMM’S: A gin based drink containing a secret receipe of herbs and liquers.

Pata Negra or Serrano THE story of Jamon Iberico ham is steeped in mystery and romance. The ancient oak pastures of Spain, the noble black Ibérico pig, the mountain air which caresses each ham as it magically is transformed into one of the world's most exquisite foods, all play a part in this uniquely Spanish phenomenon. The origin of the Ibérico pig goes back millennia, even to the time of the cavemen who decorated the caves of Spain with their art. The Iberico hog has black hoovesl, which is the source of the phrase ‘pata negra’ This describes the black hoof that remains on the ham throughout the curing process and distinguishes it from a Serrano ham. Jamon Serrano is a cured country ham from white pigs. For hundreds of years in the mountains of Spain, country people have rolled fresh hams in sea salt and hung them from their rafters to cure.

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CAVA: Truly Spanish and good value for money. According t o Sp a n is h l a w, c a v a may be produced in e i g h t wi n e regions, Aragon, Castile and Le o n , C a t a l o n ia , Navarra, the Basque Country, Rioja or Valencia Community and Penedes in Catalonia. Some o f t h e v e ry

p o p u la r p ro d u c e rs a re Codorniu, Freixenet, and Juve y Camps Segura Viudas Codorniu is popular in Spain and has lots of fruity varieties at great value for mo n e y, th e Ca v a Bru t is a ro matic an d y e llo w i n colour, a good choice pre dinner or with tapas. Freixenet is available in most bars and restaurants

a nd offe rs a fa nta s tic choice as the range covers dry, Extra dry, semi sweet, and rose, so it lends itself to mos t s pa rkling w ine fans. Brut Cava Juve y Camps Se gura Viuda s is a more expensive choice, as it is a reserve, but still very good va lue for mone y he re in Spain if you compare it to others.

SPARKLY: First made in 1851.

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FOOD & DRINK

Keeping cool as... a raw cucumber THE height of summer is just a few months away, but you can keep your bodily temperature down by raiding Mother Nature’s fridge. So, the next time you’re eating out at your favourite restaurant, make sure you pick out some of the following - they’ll help keep you cool AND healthy.

MANCHEGO CHEESE: The zig zag pattern on the rind is its trademark.

Eat out, make it cheesy

Watermelon Made up of mostly water and natural sugar, watermelon contains both magnesium and potassium, which are important for regulating fluid in our bodies.

Herbal iced tea Any variety, but none with caffeine in it that has the effect of heating you up.

Mint As well as being famed for keeping you cool, mint is also a

PEACHES: Containing vitamins A and C help to promote healthy skin. good source of vitamin A which promotes eye and immune health, reduces inflammation and promotes digestive health.

Green salads If you frequently eat green salads, you’ll likely have higher blood levels of a host of powerful antioxidants (vitamin C and E, folic acid, lycopene, and alpha and beta-carotene).

MANCHEGO is the true taste of Spain and comes in different varieties By Wendy Ann Cowham

Grapes Grapes are high in water content and good for hydration. High water-content fruits and vegetables are nutrient dense, meaning they provide a large amount of essential nutrients.

Raw cucumbers Cucumbers are naturally hydrating and are often used in skin treatments because they contain around 96 per cent water.

Tzatziki Sink your favourite veggies into this traditional Greek cucumber yogurt dip.

Cooked rice A standard half-cup-serving of boiled white or brown long-grain rice contains approximately 104 calories, or 5 per cent of your daily energy intake on a 2,000-calorie diet.

Peaches Peaches are another popular cool, seasonal choice. They contain vitamins A and C, which promote healthy skin, and at just 35-50 calories each, they also make a dietfriendly dessert.

Gazpacho (cold tomato and cucumber soup).

GRAPES: Good for hydration as high in water content.

MANCHEGO CHEESE gets its name from milk from the manchega breed of sheep and is made in the La Mancha region of Spain. It is one of the most devoured cheeses in Spain and is offered in most bars, cafes and restaurants. The reason why it is so popular is the flavour is well developed but not too strong, so it is appealing to most palates. The consistency is a beautiful buttery texture and colours vary from white to ivory yellow. Manchego is valued so much that Spain’s Denominacion de Origen (DO) is protected by the Designation of Origen (PDO). This is a status conferred by the European Union. To qualify as a true Manchego, the cheese must have been produced in an area that is restricted to designated parts of the provinces of Albacete, Ciudad Real, Cuenca and Toleda as they are within the La Mancha region. The cheese also must have an aging process of no less than 60 days and a maximum of two years. The milk has to

be whole milk from the manchega sheep and be processed by pressing in a cylinder mould that is a maximum height of 12cm and a 22cm diameter. The rind of the cheese is its trademark too and the zig zag pattern was caused by the manchego being pressed into baskets that were traditionally made from grass. Now the cheese is pressed into moulds that give that same decoration. The varieties of manchego are Fresco, which is rich with a mild flavour as it has been aged for only two weeks. Semicurado is a semi-firm cheese that has been aged between three to six months, Curado is also semi-firm and aged between three to six months but has an additional nutty flavour. The strongest flavour and firm in consistency is Viejo that has been aged for one year. Manchego is the true taste of Spain and competes very well alongside other national cheeses, and is perfect with wine as a tapa or with ham dishes. It is one of Spain’s perfect products.

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS Advertising feature

Albox Online ALBOX ONLINE began providing Internet and Telephony services in 2004 when it was formed by Kevin Pitt. Today this English owned and managed company has grown to include a busy team of engineers and customer champions, making it one of the most respected companies in the area. After moving to Spain, communication is vital to retain links with loved ones, or your business customers. Whether you use a telephone, email, Skype or some other form of digital communication, customers need a company that provides these services quickly, efficiently, and at a great price. This thriving business uses transmission equipment located in urban areas but also in high mountain-top locations which enables them to provide broadband and telephone services to urban and rural areas alike. Albox Onlineâ€™s landline telephone service comes with both a Spanish number and a UK number as standard, with great call

BUSY TEAM: Bringing cutting rates around the world. You can call most of Europe for just 1.4 cents per minute. With additional services including voicemail, online billing and telephone top-up, as well as speedy effective customer service channels including phone and e-mail, Albox Online has many long-standing happy customers as well as newer ones joining them all the time.

ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

edge technology to your home. New to the Albox Online range of services is the IPTV box which is a brand new streaming service. Many have moved to Spain to relax and appreciate life, so viewing UK TV shouldnâ€™t be difficult, and watching UK and Irish television right across the world just got easier, thanks to the new IPTV box. Over 80 channels including BBC, ITV, 4, E4, Premi-

um Sports etc are now available to you without the need for a satellite system, dish or even a computer. Albox Online continues to invest in the business to bring cutting edge technology to your home, including next generation broadband with up to 25MB download speeds available. Contact Albox Online today for a free, no obligation site survey. Kevin, Gary, Josh, Paul and Dan are ready to get you online and connected with the outside world. Get connected. Get talking. Get watching. Albox Online Avenida 28 de Febrero, 2 Albox 04800 Tlf: 950 091 111 Email: info@albox-online.net Web: www.albox-online.net

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

What a May scorcher! LOCAL expert puts last week’s record heat down to climatic change By Eleanor Hawkins ALTHOUGH the slightest increase in temperature is often called a heat wave and causes people to say it was hotter than ever, last Thursday, May 14, really did beat May records in Albox. A maximum temperature of 40.7ºC saw the streets of the Almanzora area empty as the highest May temperature since records began in 1972 was registered during the hottest part of the day, leading locals to ask themselves what on earth was going on. The OMAA Albox Weather and Astronomy Observatory, which is notorious for usually getting these things right, had

40.7º

was the record-breaking maximum reached in Albox warned the day before that Thursday would be a scorcher and once again they were spot on. OMAA representative Juan Jesus Maestre put it all down to climatic change. “It’s been this hot here in the past but never in May, climatic change is resulting in hotter, longer summers and colder but shorter winters,” Maestre said.

The expert from the Albox observatory said that it is all down to global air circulation. “The atmosphere works in a similar way to water currents. Climatic changes over recent years have led to unusually hot air being pushed towards us at this time of year and sudden cold blasts appearing in the winter.” Maestre warned that these unusual situations are being seen more and more often and their effects will be felt: “Bird migration patterns, agriculture, everything will be affected. This planet is our home and everything that happens on it affects us, nobody will escape the changes.”

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

Plans for a new music school COUNCIL aware of need for better facilities By Eleanor Hawkins PROJECTS have been presented for a new municipal music school and conservatory in Albox. Mayor Rogelio Mena presented a technical project for the facilities, which his council intends to build during the next term of office. The project includes 800 square metres of space for the music school on one floor with another 730 square metres avail-

able on a lower level, more than ample space to provide fully equipped facilities for the school, the mayor explained. Mena said that the council had been aware of the need for better facilities for the school and had been working on the project for some time. “Our aim is to ensure all pupils have quality, fully equipped facilities to learn in. We’ve worked hard and will continue to do so to make this project a reality,” the mayor said.

Local Police good report THE annual report of the Local Police of Albox has shown positive results. During 2014, a total of 2,232 interventions of different nature were carried out by Albox officers. Local officers have also sent 26 reports to the social services of the council for issues such as domestic violence or discrimination. Head of the Local Police, Casimiro Martinez, explained that citizens’ collaboration has been a key factor to obtain such positive results. The ongoing training of officers, who have participated in eight different courses on gender-based violence, drug additions or English for police purposes, have helped to improve the service. “Albox is a safer town thanks to the excellent work carried out by the police units such as the Local Police and Guardia Civil,” said mayor of the town, Rogelio Mena.

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HOMES GARDEN

Red weather alert stops strimmin and what exactly is TerraCottem?

THE current ban on burning garden rubbish before the end of September suggests another hot su ommended use of TeraCottem as mentioned last week. Readers have asked me to explain more fully what TerraCottem is, what it does, how to use

Dick Handscombe

Gardening Corner By Spainâ€™s best known expatriate gardening author living in Spain for 25 years.

HAD intended to strim foot high grass in the olive grove to reduce the fire risk and allow some final prunings of overladen branches to be collected up, but found out by chance when visiting a local horticultural shop that a red weather warning from the Valencian Government banned temporarily any work in agricultural and wild mountainside areas that could cause a spark, including strimming. This and the ban on burning garden rubbish before the end of September suggests another hot summer and the rec-

TerraCottem raises the moisture holding properties of soils and composts.

and where to buy it.

WHEN PLANTING: Mix a little TerraCottem into the compost.

What is TerraCottem? It is a proprietary product originally developed around 20 years ago by Ghent University in Belgium for use in vegetable

HOMES & GARDENS

Making your new house your home

ng, ?

GET the feel of the property first By Derek Smith

mmer ahead growing and exporting areas of Africa. Since then its use has spread worldwide in creating and maintaining drought tolerant public and private gardens, landscapes and agricultural growing greenhouses and open ground. The main ingredient is a white crystalline granule of an organic copolymer which swells tremendously on contact with water. A tablespoonful can soon fill a sizeable bowl when water is added. What does it do? The main benefit to gardeners is it raises the moisture holding properties of soils and composts and thereby slows down their drying out in hot windy weather conditions and reduces the extent of watering required by up to 70 per cent. How can it be used? There is a handbook available on www.terracottem.com and www.ter ravida.com but here is a précis. 1. By mixing the small recommended amounts into planting composts or new flower beds. 2. In preparing soil for a new lawn as on many Spanish golf courses. 3. By mixing it into the soil or compost at the bottom of planting holes prepared for all sizes and types of plants and trees. 4. By working a little into drills

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made when sowing seeds. 5. By mixing a little into the bottom half of the compost in flower pots, containers and hanging baskets or by using a TerraCottem proprietary gun to inject the product into existing containers. Where can it be bought? The most convenient way of buying the product is to do so direct from the Spanish distributor Terra Vida S.L. which is located at Calle Alameda de Pajares, Fuengirola. One can order a five kilo drum and smaller packs by email on info@terravida.com. © Dick Handscombe www.gardenspain.com May 2015.

PUTTING those final touches that will make your new abode feel really homely is by definition a very personal affair. Some years ago when a friend was selling a flat in London, a potential purchaser said bluntly to his partner, and in full earshot: “We’d have to change a fair bit, it’s not really decorated to our taste is it?.” We’ll it wouldn’t be, would it? A tip given to me by a professional interior designer a while ago is that when moving into a new abode don’t buy anything at all for a while - get the feel of the property and slowly add fixtures, furnishings and everything else bit by bit. It’s tempting to get all overexcited and splash out, but the chances are that a few months down the line,

that new mock leopard print rug might look very out of place in your ultra modern living room. Ultimately, your new ‘nest’ will almost certainly be a reflection of your design tastes, interests and way of life. You’re allowed a few decor disasters along the way, of course, and close friends will probably politely allude to them the next time they drop in for coffee. That’s what real friends are for.

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Travelling with peace of mind By Lamia Walker of HouseSitMatch HouseSit Match (link to http://www.Housesitmatch.com) WHEN planning your next trip away from home whether for work or indeed a holiday have you ever been stuck wondering how to care for your pets and property in your absence? Kennels and catteries can add significantly to the cost of your holiday, and they don’t suit all pets. Many people with very young or mature pets often prefer to have them cared for at home by sitters. Keeping Pets and Property Safe & Secure When you Travel Where do you go to find checked and experienced sitters these days, when urbanisation has created a transient population and you may live far away from your home town or community? We may not know our neighbours and our immediate families may be far away and beyond the request of nipping in twice a day to clear the post and feed the cat. Our Solution That’s where we come in, HouseSitMatch is an online network of home and pet owners and sitters that can help you find an affordable solution to your

travel dilemma. Most of our sitters do not charge, they consider the free accommodation their fair exchange for caring for your pets and managing your property in your absence. And all we charge is a small annual membership fee to join our network. Founded in the UK in 2013 we have already helped people in over 20 countries including Spain to find affordable pet and home care solutions online. Perhaps we can help you? Check us out with our no obligation Free 60 Day Trial today! For More Information GO TO - HouseSit Match.com (link to http://www.HouseSit Match.com)

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Stop the milk! As food allergies can affect pets SKIN problems in cats and dogs can be caused by dietary allergies.

David THE Dogman Listen to David on TRE every Saturday 10am to 11am 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

AT one time fish was thought to be a major cause of skin disease in cats. Now we have come to know that the flea is the main culprit when it comes to skin irritation in cats and dogs. However not many pet owners are aware that our pets suffer food allergies which can cause dermatological discomfort. In fact according to Nigel Taylor the Express vet, 1 per cent of all skin problems in cats and dogs are caused by dietary allergies. Allergen reactions may be triggered in minutes, hours or days. Once an allergy to a protein is established, sensitivity is often lifelong. Dogs are mostly sensitive to beef and milk, while cats often do not get on with beef, milk or fish. Some dogs can digest the lactose in cow’s milk. Give a pet dog or cat milk and the undigested lactose provokes an upset stomach in no time. This is not a true allergy but demonstrates how sensitive to certain food

SCRATCHING: Could indicate an allergic reaction to food. pets can be. Stop the milk and your pet’s life will look up immediately. Most pets will react in some way by incorrect feeding and apart from allergic reactions one can expect flatulence and inconsistent stool quality and large smelly motions. Most animals can be assessed by coat and skin vitality. There is always a possibility the protein is being utilised for energy with a subsequent loss of health and vitality. Many owners give far too many vitamins and one should remember a well-balanced diet should not have to be supplemented.

Scratching and licking could well indicate that there is an allergic reaction to the food and the eating of grass, twigs and roots sometimes is an indication that the food is not being digested properly. Tissue stealing and fibre based destruction could be another indication that there is a craving for fibre to help the digestive process in some way. It is a good idea to speak to your vet about feeding pets and to make things easy for you there are many good commercial dried pet foods with selected proteins like lamb and chicken that are unlikely to cause allergy already in them.

PETS

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Dogs prescribed happy pills By Eleanor Hawkins RESEARCHERS from the University of Lincoln have revealed that dogs with separation anxiety become more optimistic and behave better when given Prozac. The researchers recruited volunteer dogs with anxiety and behavioural problems believed to be caused by separation stress and prescribed them doggie Prozac and behavioural management therapy and devised a way of finding out whether the pets actually felt better after the treatment.

Prozac helps behaviour. A special behaviour test was created to find out whether the dogs were feeling optimistic or pessimistic by teaching them that a bowl held food when placed in one location but was empty if placed in another. The bowl was then placed in other ambiguous areas and the dogsâ€™ response assessed to see whether they expected to find food, showing optimism, or not, displaying pessimism.

The results, published in the BMC Veterinary Research Journal, showed that when treated using fluoxetine (the drug in Prozac) and therapy, they became more likely to expect to find food in the bowls. Yet the issue of giving pets this type of medication is a contentious one, and vets warn that doling out happy pills for pooches is not an excuse to fail to give them proper care.

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First official information on inspections of Energy Performance Certificates (EPC) TH E E c o n o m y d e p artme n t o f Madrid’s Government has recently published results of the first inspections of ‘dubious’ Energy Performance Certificates. The information shows that 40 per cent of the cases to come under scrutiny were due to falsified documents in relation to the Energy Performance Certificate, 40 per cent revealed properties that didn’t have the obligatory EPC

prepared in the process of marketing or leasing the property a n d 2 0 p er ce nt w e re a c tions against the unqualified “technicians” that signed the documents, who did not meet the legal requirements to carry out the necessary surveys. Martinez de la Casa Architects is one of the most prominent and respectable practices in the area, providing all types of certificates

Martinez de la Casa Architects is one of the most respectable practices in the area, providing all types of certificates and licences.

and licences. They are the number one company in EPC Certificates (121€ inc IVA, delivered in 48 hours), Antiquity Certificates/Retrospective Licences for pools (190€+IVA) and building extensions (270€ +IVA). They also offer Habitation Certificates (from 118€ IVA Inc depending on town hall) and superb discounts to professional agents or groups of two clients or

more on the same visit. If your solicitors are studying your case, ask them to contact Martinez de la Casa to provide any of these documents to make the process easier, faster and cheaper. Call 665 810 411 or visit www.martinezdelacasa.com to see a list of over 100 testimonials by clients.

Reasons to rent: freedom v upgrade WEIGHING UP: More people in Spain are choosing to rent.

A RECENT study carried out by property portal, fotocasa.es, and market research company, Netquest, surveyed over 10,000 website users, to reveal major differences between new tenants and home owners in Spain. According to the study, called Profile of the

Tenant in 2014, the main reason given for opting to rent a home was the ability to change workplaces easily, while home owners indicated their main reason for purchasing was to upgrade. The survey reveals that the typical tenant is aged between 35 and 44 years (37 per cent), mar-

ried with a university education, and chooses to rent as it allows freedom, compared to buying, which ties the buyer to a certain place and level of expenditure over a long period of time. The study noted that the preference for renting a home is now gaining considerable ground.

Bargains in Madrid and Barcelona cities THE price per square metre for newly built, luxury and second-hand homes is considerably lower in

Barcelona and Madrid than in other European cities, Coldwell Banker has reported. A study by the real estate group revealed Monaco tops the list for the most expensive new builds, with prices of €80,000 per square metre, followed by London, Milan, Paris and Rome where they ranged from €8,500 to €11,500. Therefore buyers with money to spare and a desire to

experience life in a big European city are advised to look to Madrid, with an average price of €5,600 per square metre, or Barcelona (€5,500) for a relative bargain. Secondhand homes in the two Spanish cities also came within the middle-low price range, with Barcelona giving averages of €4,200 per square metre and €100 less for Madrid.

SECOND-HAND HOMES: Prices per square metre

E W N 21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de Almería

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Building a house is made easy WITH the help of Sigaproyect and manager Escarlata, the building of my house ran like clockwork By Tony Coombs WHENEVER the conversation of building your own home here in Spain comes up, somebody always has a nightmare story to tell you. But I’m singing from a different hymn sheet. With the help of Sigaproyect, my house build ran like clockwork.

All dealings with the local mayor and town council were handled efficiently and diplomatically with great results.

I took on a large derelict Moors house to refurbish in a small vil-

changed from one single house, into three individual terraced homes. Now with one of the houses already finished, I am looking forward to the completion of the other two which are at second fix stage. The project could have been far more difficult and lengthy if I had done it on my own. Even the tiniest of problems could have held up the build for ages. Escarlata and S i g a PROJECT: Could have been more lengthy if I had done it on my own. proyect have made my project bours were voicing their concerns lage in Almeria, Spain, called SusI am looking forward to completion of the houses. far easier as to the impact this project may li. Due to the fact that the tiny than it could have on their lives. streets were only accessible on foot have been. in a truly professional I needn’t have worried, Escarlaor by donkey, I realised there may If you have a project manner. ta, (the manager,) and the Sigbe some problems on the horizon. of any size coming up then you All dealings with the local mayproyect team were wonderful. That’s when I decided to employ need this team, or at least, whoever or and town council were handled They eased everybody’s concerns a reputable local builder and a you employ needs to be modelled efficiently and diplomatically with and set to work executing all the qualified project manager. Not on this one. Call 615 426 689. great results. Even after the project build stages with real expertise and least because the very close neigh-

Increase value and help save the planet IF YOU live in a coastal area, fit glass that greatly reduces condensation. John Graham The property expert

IN last week’s top tip we talked about maximising the curb side appeal of your home and this week we will talk about my Top Tip No 2. Carbon Foot Print. Most Spanish villas and apartments built over 15 years ago have traditional style single glazed windows and in some cases recently built properties have had poor quality d /glazed windows fitted. These windows are inefficient, increase energy bills, let in draughts and ultraviolet rays which destroy furniture, curtains and carpets, so they need upgrading. You will automatically increase the value of your home by installing new generation d/glazed windows and doors, your home will look modern and dramatically reduce your home’s carbon foot print. Where possible, I recommend you convert your windows to patio doors which will double the amount of light into your rooms and give you easy access to your garden or terrace. The window energy ratings scale runs from A

MODERN LOOK: With new generation double glazed windows and doors.

to G and the majority of homes in Spain don’t even reach D rating, which means higher energy bills.

To reach A rating, the highest performing energy rating, you should fit low E windows and doors throughout your home. E windows and

doors have argon gas filled cavities, warm edge space bars within an hermetically sealed unit with frames made from aluminum, wood and PVC. Fit solar control glass to south facing windows and doors, the glass reflects the sun rays allowing natural daylight into the rooms without uncomfortable visual glare and your rooms will be kept cooler in the summer months, reducing your air conditioning bills. If you live in a busy area with heavy traffic you could be suffering from noise pollution in which case fit noise insulation glass which can reduce noise levels by as much as 35 decibels. Those of you living in coastal areas, fit glass that greatly reduces condensation, heat will be reflected back into the room. For maximum effect of the windows, ensure seals and frames are properly insulated. It is important that all installations are carried out professionally and checked by an independent surveyor, up to 30 per cent of the insulation quality can be lost if fitted badly. Enjoy giving your home a modern look, lowering energy bills and help save the planet. John Graham FGIS 020 32 900 983 / +34 657 337 477 gk.ipad@me.com

OPINION & COMMENT

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LEGALLY SPEAKING

Driving in flip flops or high heels WE feature some common driving questions, the answers to which are kindly provided by the Guardia Civil based in Torrevieja, Costa Blanca, who set up the N332 website and Facebook page to help break down barriers. ARTICLE 3.1 of the Reglamento General de Circulacion states: “You have to drive properly avoiding damage to people or things. It is forbidden to drive in a negligent or reckless way.” When you drive in flip flops or high heels you can have an accident and when you drive back home from the beach, your flip flops are usually wet and covered in sand and therefore you have a high risk of losing your flip flops whilst driving and using the car pedals. With flip flops you cannot brake or accelerate properly and all these factors can end in

HIGH HEELS: Driving hazard.

a traffic accident, and it could be taken that you were driving in a negligent way. In these cases you can be fined for driving in inappropriate footwear. There have been many cases of people driving in flip flops or high heels who have had an accident caused by the use of this footwear. So whilst wearing them is not recommended, there is no article that actually prohibits wearing flip flops or high heels during driving, although Article 3.1 can be applied to those drivers who have an accident as a consequence of this or if they do not drive properly.

For more news and articles visit www.n332.es or search N332 on Facebook

Can we replace the president? MANY members of our community feel that our president has put himself in a situation of conflict of interest by awarding contracts to his own construction company. He has underestimated costs and paid out money without informing the members or the committee in advance. Now some of us are trying to get him out but he insists that he

An auditor’s report shows that contracts were awarded to a company apparently operated by the president without any competitive bidding and that the expenses are much higher than the estimates given. Conflict of interest is a general term, not a legal matter, unless the statutes specifically forbid it, as suggested by your auditor. That is, a community president who awards a contract to his own company might be acting in the best interests of the members.

was elected in 2014 for two years. He himself had new statutes voted on at an AGM which specify the two-year period: The general meeting at which the changes were made had an attendance of just over 18 per cent of the owners and I always thought that 100 per cent approval was required to change the statutes. J H (Costa del Sol)

David Searl You and the Law in Spain

The way to replace a sitting president is to call an EGM’

However, it is certainly irregular. Yes, revising the statutes requires a unanimous vote of the members, but if only 18 per cent of them attend

and vote in favour, and the remaining members do not protest within 30 days of being informed of the decision, it is regarded as unanimous. The way to replace a sitting president is to call an Extraordinary General Meeting with this item on the agenda. If 25 per cent of the members agree, the EGM must be held. Finally, there is the possibility of a lawsuit brought by any member against the president to recover community funds paid without authorisation.

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FOR BEST RATES IN MOTOR INSURANCE CALL: 952 89 33 80

G-Class is even better, if that’s possible! MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS: Exterior and interior makeover for an off-road icon THOSE very smart guys from Stuttgart have done it again. All Mercedes-Benz G-Class models will in future offer up to 16 per cent more power as well as lower fuel consumption. The range includes the G 500, with a new, powerful 4.0litre V8 bi-turbo engine, which are all compliant with the latest Euro 6 emissions standard. A new suspension setup and more sensitive ESP® control results in increased driving stability, and safety and road comfort improvements. The exterior and interior have also been given an upgrade. At the same time, an exclusive AMG special edition will be available. Mercedes-Benz’s classic offroader is beginning a new chapter of its success story which spans more than 35 years. With its continuously improved technology and highclass equipment specification, this cult all-terrain vehicle has consistently satisfied the highest expectations of off-road fans. True to this tradition, a new 4.0-litre directly injected V8 biturbo engine already unveiled in the G 500 4x4 show car, is now celebrating its world premiere in the G-Class. The new 8-cylinder power plant in the G 500 is based on the new generation of Mercedes-AMG V8 engines that have already coaxed exceptional levels of performance out of the Mercedes-AMG GT and

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With its continuously improved technology, this cult all-terrain vehicle has consistently satisfied the highest expections of off-road fans. Mercedes-AMG C 63. For use in the G-Class, the V8 has been modified to deliver 310kW (422 horse power) with torque of 610Nm. Other standout attributes include a spontaneous response and high tractive power which are made possible, for example, by two turbochargers, which instead of being configured on the outside of the cylinder banks are arranged between them in the V - the so-called ‘hot inside V.’ This layout allows a compact design, optimal response and low exhaust emissions.

POWERFUL: The range includes the G 500 with a new 4.0 litre V8 bi-turbo engine.

E W N 21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de AlmerĂa

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MOTORING

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Massive recall By Steve Walsh JAPANESE auto giants Toyota and Nissan have said they are recalling 6.5 million vehicles globally in the latest chapter of an exploding airbag crisis linked to several deaths. The world’s biggest automaker said its recall of five million vehicles affected 35 models globally produced between 2003 and 2007, while Nissan said it was calling back 1.56 million vehicles also due to faulty airbags made by embattled supplier Takata. “This will affect many of our markets, including Japan, Europe and North America,” a Nissan spokesman announced, adding that the explosion risk was among a range of problems seen in the defective airbags. To allay the fears and concerns of their customers, they stated that everyone that has cars in the range of concern, has already been contacted with a view to repairing the affected parts. However, if people feel they may be affected, they should visit their respective websites for details.

21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de Almería

Clarkson Quote of theWeek

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Koenigsegg are saying that the new CCX is more comfortable. More comfortable than what…BEING STABBED? Some might say...

Once seen, the Citroen Cactus is certainly never forgotten TAKING a spin in Spain with the funky Cactus By Steve Walsh IF you have ever stood open-mouthed at the side of the road or found yourself sitting in a traffic jam starin g a t a p as s in g c a r a nd th in k in g : “G o o d g ri e f, what’s that?” the odds are you’ve met a Citroen Cactus. Goodness knows how this funky version of the Citroen C 4 g o t its n a me . M a ybe cactus is French for bonkers. First unveiled as a conc e p t c a r b a c k in 2 0 1 3 a t Geneva, the released model, unlike a lot of production cars that bear very little resemblance to the original c o n c e p t, is v irtu a lly t he same. With its distinctive alloys, roof rails that give the illusion of a floating roof, and chunky ‘air bump’ plastic panels on the doors, it really stands out from the crowd. The interior carries on the distinctive styling, with a s ma rt, min imalis t d a s hboard, door handles modelled on luggage straps and a glove box styled like cabin trunk luggage.

STANDING OUT: The new Citroen C4.

Fortuna te ly it doe s n’t quite emulate The Luggage, as envisioned by Sir Terry Pratchett. The Cactus we drove was powered by a very capable 1.5 litre diesel engine. It may not be the most sophis tic a te d die s e l on the planet, but it is already winning awards, and is the very opposite of thirsty. It can achieve an amazing 250 kilometres on just 10 litres of smelly stuff, with CO2 emissions of only 92g/km. And that puts it in Band A for tax in the UK, and the low e s t bra c ke t he re in

250 kilometres on just 10 litres of fuel with CO2 emissions of only 92g/km

Spain. Acceleration is a respectable 10.6 seconds from 0-100km/h, and a top speed of 180km/h is more tha n you’ll ne e d in the re a l world. It also comes with a generous array of useful gadgetry, including ABS, EBD

and the like, hill start assist and cruise control, plus rear parking sensors with a rear camera, digital radio, MP3 player and Bluetooth. St ar t i ng ar ound t he €16,550 mark for the base model it’s not the most expensive quirky town toy on the market.

However, you coul d be shelling out up to €26,000 if you need all the bells and whistles to ‘cactus’ you around the countryside. If you want to see more of the countryside, you can even have an i nsul at ed panor am i c sunr oof , at an extra €590.

E W N 21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de Almería

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OPINION & COMMENT

The Spanish spy who came in from the heat SPANIARD who was a hero to both the British and the Germans in World War Two Peter Fieldman London-born journalist and author, Peter spends his time between Paris and Madrid. His novel ‘1066 The Conquest’ available on Amazon or www.1066TheConquest.com

www.pfieldman.blogspot.com

-Day 1944: the largest invasion force in history successfully landed on the shores of Normandy to end the Nazi domination of Europe. But without the contribution of a self-made, Spanish double agent, the outcome of the Second World War might have been different. Juan Pujol Garcia was born in Barcelona in 1912. He first experienced conflict during the Spanish Civil War joining the Republican cause. Rejecting Communism, he defected to the Nationalists during the battle for the Ebro in 1938. However, he lost faith with the Fascist regime and ended the war in prison. He was proud to have fought for both sides without firing a shot and at the outbreak of the Second World War with Spain neutral, decided to help the Allies. He walked into the British Embassy in Madrid offering his services but was turned down. Not deterred, he conjured up the idea of becoming a German agent. Impressed by a fascist Spaniard with a diplomatic passport, able to travel to and from the UK, the German intelligence service in Madrid jumped at the opportunity to use his services. Freidrich Knappe-Ratey, the German intelligence officer, gave him a rudimentary course in spying with code-books, invisible ink, etc, expenses, a code-name – Arabel – and instructed him to go to London and recruit a network of spies. The truth was that Juan Pujol was no fascist, carried a false diplomatic passport, had never been to England and spoke no English. He established himself in Lisbon and at the public library, from maps, tourist guides, timetables and cinema newsreels, learnt as much as he could about England. He started to feed the Madrid embassy with all manner of information, most of it factual but irrelevant. Having managed to break the German Enigma cipher machine, the code-breakers at Bletchley Park became intrigued by a mass of false reports being passed to the Germans. One about a non-existent convoy en route to the Mediterranean led them to track down the mysterious person sending this data. Pujol was eventually located in Lisbon and this time he was not turned down.

NORMANDY LANDINGS: Pujol (right) played a major role in convincing the Germans that the Allied invasion would take place in the Dover Strait, the shortest channel crossing.

He travelled to London, where, given the code-name Garbo, after the actress, he began to work with Tomas Harris, a Spanish-speaking British intelligence officer. Together they sent hundreds of letters to a post office box in Lisbon where the Germans were overjoyed at having such a reliable spy in England. And it was not just one spy. Pujol had established a network of spies scattered across the country, only they never existed. To ensure credibility the messages sent were a mix of correct but unimportant data and occasionally important military details which were deliberately delayed and sent too late for the Germans to act. With his imaginary network of spies, Pujol could always blame one of his operators for delays or errors. The Germans were so impressed that Pujol was provided with the latest code- ciphering devices, which were gratefully passed on to Bletchley Park. At the beginning of 1944, the Germans needed Arabel - Pujol - to give them whatever information he could about the invasion they believed was being planned. Meanwhile ‘Operation Fortitude’, the code-name for the plan to deceive the German High Command, was already in operation and Pujol played a major role in convincing them that the invasion

would take place in the Dover Strait, the shortest channel crossing. He and Harris were sending a stream of radio and written messages giving the Germans details about the army being massed in Kent.

Pujol is believed to be the only person to have been awarded medals by both the Germans and the British

As part of the deception plan, realistic dummy inflatable tanks, artillery, jeeps, landing craft and armoured cars had been made and scattered across the countryside throughout Southeast England. German reconnaissance planes would detect a vast array of military equipment near Dover. To add to the deception the Allies arranged for General Patton, known to the Germans as a key military

figure, to tour the region. To ensure that the Germans would not realise they were being duped, messages were sent warning of the Normandy invasion but told that it was a diversion with the real invasion taking place in July or August. Hitler was convinced and despite General Rommel’s opposition, ordered that the major armoured divisions and troops be sent to the Pas de Calais where they remained for two months after the June 6 landings, allowing the invasion to succeed. After the war, concerned for his safety, Pujol faked his own death in Africa before moving to Venezuela, where he opened a bookshop in Caracas and having divorced his first wife, remarried and had three children. Pujol’s vital role in the success of the D-Day landings was recognised and in November 1944 he received an MBE from King George VI. Six months earlier he had been awarded the Iron Cross for his services to the Reich, still convinced of his loyalty. He is believed to be the only person to have been awarded medals by both the Germans and the British. Four years prior to his death in Venezuela in 1988, Pujol journeyed to France on June 6, 1984, to visit the Normandy beaches and cemeteries to pay his respects to the fallen.

SPORTS

21 - 27 May 2015 / Costa de Almería

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Saints alive, Barcelona are champions and Lorenzo wins French MotoGP Costa de Almeria

WHO WILL STAY UP? On Sunday, Hull City (34 points), Newcastle (36) or Sunderland (37... if they didn’t get anything at Arsenal last night) will be relegated from the Premiership, along with QPR and Burnley. The Tigers MUST beat Manchester United at home to stand any chance of avoiding the drop; Newcastle play West Ham while Sunderland visit Chelsea. The other seven end-of-season PL games (all kicking off at the same time on Sunday) are: Arsenal v WBA, Aston Villa v Burnley, Crystal Palace v Swansea, Everton v Spurs, Leicester v QPR, Manchester City v Southampton and Stoke v Liverpool for whom Steven Gerrard will make his 710th and final appearance. Next Wednesday evening holders Sevilla play Dnipro in the Europa Cup final in Berlin. And by the way qualification for next season’s Europa League starts on July 2! Changing sport - and today England play New Zealand in

ERSTO CK

SOCCER SURVEY * Last Sunday Barcelona clinched their 23rd La Liga title with a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid (Lionel Messi the scorer). Real Madrid (2nd) beat Espanyol 4-1 with another Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick. Messi has now netted 419 goals in 511 club games; Ronaldo 433 in 622. * A crowd of 33,266 - the biggest at the Riverside for six years - saw Middlesbrough beat Brentford 3-0 in their Championship Play-off semifinal 2nd leg. ‘Boro (winners overall) meet Norwich, 4-2 aggregate victors over their East Anglia rivals Ipswich in the other semi, for a place in the Premiership this coming Monday. Before that, Preston play Swindon and Southend meet Wycombe Wanderers in the FL1 and FL2 Play-off finals, also at Wembley, on Saturday and Sunday respectively. Around 180,000 fans will

DID YOU KNOW? The fastest-ever hat-trick in League football was scored by substitute James Hayter of Bournemouth in just 140 seconds in a 60 win over Wrexham in 2004. Blackburn centre-forward John McIntyre scored four goals in five minutes against Everton in 1922 and WBA’s W.G. Richardson did likewise against West Ham in 1931.

* Spain’s Jorge Lorenzo won last Sunday’s French MotoGP at Le Mans. Valentino Rossi was second, Andrea Dovizioso third and Marc Marquez fourth.

GENERAL ROUND UP

RIGG / SHUTT

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.

the first cricket Test at Lords... this weekend we have the Monaco Grand Prix... followed next week by the French Open tennis championship from Roland Garos.

LESLEY

Tony Matthews

* In Russia, Bianca Walkden has become only the second Brit to win a World Taekwondo gold medal. * GB triathlon champion Jonathan Brownlee was also defeated - in a World Series event in Japan. * In tennis, Novak Djokovic and Maria Sharapova won their respective singles titles in the Italian Open in Rome while GB star James Morrison won the Spanish Open in Madrid. * Rory McIlroy, with a record 7 under par, won the Wells Fargo golf championship... his 11th PGA tour victory.

CRICKET: England now set to play New Zealand at the first Test at Lords which will keep fans entertained. converge on the national stadium in 72 hours! *Three of Southampton’s goals in their 6-1 battering of FA Cup finalists Aston Villa last Saturday were scored by Sadio Mane in just two minutes and 56 seconds: the fastest-ever PL hat-trick beating Robbie Fowler’s 4½ minute treble for Liverpool v Arsenal in 1994.

* Looking down and out of the PL six weeks ago, Leicester completed the ‘Great Escape’ with a point at Sunderland. * Manchester City won 4-2 at Swansea to conform their place in next season’s Champions League. * Crystal Palace spoiled Steven Gerrard’s farewell An-

field party with a 3-1 win over Liverpool. * Manchester United were held 1-1 by Arsenal who didn’t have a shot at goal for 50 minutes... something that hadn’t happened in a Premier League for 10 years! And ‘keeper David de Gea will, it seems, be leaving Old Trafford for Real Madrid this summer.

* Bristol Rovers are back in the FL after beating Grimsby Town 5-3 on penalties in the Conference Play-off final before a record 47,029 crowd at Wembley.

FOOTBALL QUIZ ... don’t forget my FA Cup final day footy quiz at The Loft, Mojacar playa on 30 May at 5pm.

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Spain’s Jorge Lorenzo won last Sunday’s French MotoGP at Le Mans. Valentino Rossi was second, Andrea Dovizioso third and Marc Marquez fourth.

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Valle del Este well attended CAPTAIN’S Day at Valle del Este golf society was attended by 36 players and 60 guests for the presentation and BBQ that followed the game. The day went like clockwork with perfect weather and a welcome lunch bag supplied by captain for 2015, Sue Hull. The presentation following the game included thanks to sponsors for the day which included Valle del Este golf hotel and spa, Kevin from Liberty Seguros, Wavelengths Albox, Aguilon Golf, Lorca golf, la Envia golf. On the day €200 was collected for the Asprodalba charity with more contributions being put into the captain’s jar, which will be emptied at the end of the year. Winner of the Captain’s Trophy with an excellent 41 stableford points was Lawson Langley. The BBQ prepared by Valle del Este restaurant staff was excellent and was followed by a huge birthday cake for Dick Hull, which everyone enjoyed.

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Local Police cycle team aiming even higher NOW the whole town of Vera is behind them By Steve Walsh BECAUSE of a bet between friends Luis Felipe Vico, and Daniel Clemente, last year over whether or not their pal Juan Lopez would accompany them to Huesca to compete in a 200 kilometre bicycle race, the town of Vera now has a new tourist promotion team. The Local Police buddies from Vera, Almeria, Luis, Daniel and Juan, didn’t realise they were starting something big when they began entering cycle races for fun in Andalucia. But when a local councilman Mariano Estecha Diego, saw an opportunity to promote the town around Andalucia, things began to grow. Initially, he just encouraged them and managed to get them some transport. But as support from the town, and the number of riders grew, sponsors from Vera helped with signwriting of the van, and now

POLICE TEAM: Didn’t realise they were starting something so big. even a team strip. Now the whole town is behind them as next week they will appear in the city of Moratalla, Murcia. They say, once the great challenge has finished, they will go

around the area promoting Vera’s tourism with our team van. Their dream is to have an institutionally supported cycling club of national status such as exist in some of the larger neighbouring municipalities.

Captain’s Day for Los Amigos LOS Amigos Golf Society captain, Dave Perry, chose Aguilon golf course for his Captain’s Day. On a beautiful May morning, 42 Los Amigos GS members and guests departed by l uxur y coach f r om Camposol to the picturesque Aguilon golf course. A fantastic fun day resulted and enormous gratitude goes t o al l t he t eam at Aguilon for making this a memorable Captain’s Day. As usual there were some exceptional performances although one or two were exceptionally poor! Pairs competition: In first place were Len Whalen and Arthur Anthoney with 32 points, and in second were John Dunbar and Roger Olorenshaw with 31 points, nar r owl y beat i ng Ray Reynolds and Gordon Neilson on count back.