Euro Weekly News - Costa de Almeria 3 - 9 March 2016 Issue 1600 by Euro Weekly News Media S.A.

SSUENN 1555 //3 -23 - 29 APRIL 2015 IISSUE OO . .1600 9 March 2016

COSTA DE ALMERÍA

YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION

Summer lovin’ comin’ to you BLISSFUL strolls along the new promenade are the real deal

No tourist tax REJECTION of idea key part of Mojacar A MYRIAD of issues were discussed by tourism experts in Mojacar who said no to the tourist tax and predicted a splendid 2016 for the town. See page 8

Health matters WOMEN’S screenings in Mojacar A MOBILE health unit is available to women in Mojacar for a temporary period only and will be offering screening services for those of a certain age. See page 17

By Adele Land MOJACAR’S new section of promenade is well on schedule for a pre-summer opening, according to the council. Initial works on the project began when the first ‘stone’ was laid by Mayor Rosa Maria Cano at a special ceremony in March last year, and construction began shortly afterwards. During the event, a ‘timecapsule’ was buried, the box contained a selection of the day’s newspapers, coins from the 2015 mint and a letter signed by all attending dignitaries. The €990,000 project will extend the existing promenade by some 880 metres, from the Cueva de Lobo beach, along to the Red Cross building. The new phase will include a pedestrian walkway, cycle path, landscaping, beach access and a parking area. Some residents have expressed their con-

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Who’s your pick? ALBOX mayoral race heats up DESPITE the incumbent being embroiled in a dispute over his court ordered departure, replacements have al-

ready surfaced with a strong chance the town will see its first female in charge. See page 67

Culture vultures VERSATILE community centre on the cards THE old town hall in Albox is set to be transformed into a terrific new cultural centre flush with a museum, library and multimedia room. See page 72 cern about how the new promenade will affect parking in the area. Construction workers have been on site from morning until night, including some weekends, keen to ensure the promenade opens on time. Much of the stone wall at the

edge of the path has been built and work continues on laying paving stones. The final stages will include soft landscaping and installation of lighting. Tourism Councillor and Deputy Mayor, Emmanuel Aguero told the Euro Weekly

News: “The work is well on schedule and we expect the new section to be open by May, June at the latest.” Cheeky locals have, however, reportedly started up a sweepstakes on whether the work really will be finished on time.

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LOCAL NEWS

Bottom of heap ALMERIA Province hotels ended up near the bottom of the heap in a recent online quality ranking. Trivago, a metasearch engine with a spotlight on hotels, tallied

up the feedback it received from customers and assigned an average rating out of 100 to each of the Spanish provinces. Almeria came out with a paltry 77.9.

Book presented A BOOK on various episodes of Cuevas del Almanzora’s past by local history expert Enrique Fernandez Bolea and an exhibition of the original drawings by Francisco Javier Gonzalez Gallego which illustrate it will be presented at the Teatro Echegary on Saturday, March 5. Villaricos cathedral, the discovery of a giant fossil in the Rambla de Cirera and different ceremonies and traditions are some of the things featured.

A place in history SPORTS men and women in Cuevas del Almanzora will stake their place in history by appearing on a series of ‘baseball cards.’ A collection of stickers is to be produced featuring

sporting pupils from neighbourhood schools. The initiative, Cromo Kids, will feature players from Cuevas del Almanzora football club and the stickers will be collectible.

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NEWS

Foreign criminals are expelled from Almeria MAJORITY were from North African countries close to the south coast By John Smith ACCORDING to information released by the Provincial Police in Almeria, a tota l of 142 pe ople of fore ign na tiona lity w e re e xpe lle d from the provinc e during 2015 a fte r e ithe r be ing c onvic te d of c rime s (120) or following release from prison (22). The majority of these criminals were from North Africa including Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia and this is said to be due to the relative proximity of those countries to the south coast of Spain. The report went on to say that the “the percentage of criminal foreigners is a minimal quantity in respect to the total number of foreigners who live in the province” and that whilst several hundre d more pe ople ha d be e n e xpelled, this was due to irregularities in their identity documents rather than

Photo Credit Pablo Enzo Wikimedia

ALMERIA PORT: People refused entry by alert border control officers. any criminal activity. In many cases, people had been re-

fused entry by alert border control officers at the airport and port.

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Featured News 3

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Plans to improve the railway network WORK on the infrastructure is moving at a tortoise’s pace

Finance 33 - 40

Stocks 34

Leapy Lee 41

Our View 42

Colin Bird 42

Letters 50

Daily TV 52

Time Out 56 - 57

Health & Beauty 62 - 63

Social Scene 64 - 66

Albox 67 - 72

Property 75 - 76

Homes & Gardens 78 - 79

Pets 80

Classifieds 81 - 83

Motoring 84 - 85

Sport 86 - 88

By Emily Chettle MEASURES to improve the railway infrastructure have been delayed due to native tortoises in Levante. A new high-speed train route is having to be rethought as the protected area where it was originally planned is, in fact, home to the endangered Spur-thighed tortoise. Almeria senator Eugenio Gonzalvez and national party representative Juan Jose Matari have been in talks with the Infrastructure State Secretary Julio Gomez Pomar, to discuss key issues relating to the railway infrastructures in the province of Almeria. It is in the hope of improving and building extra track between Pulpi and Cuevas del Almanzora, without too much disruption to the ‘at risk’ tortoise population. The Spur-thighed tortoise has only three habitats in its native Spain, two of which are near Almeria and the other in Mallorca. It appears on the cata-

ENDANGERED: Spur-thighed tortoise has its home in Almeria. logue of endangered species. Eugenio Gonzalvez stated that the new demands of the Almeria Railway

Board will be sent to the Development Ministry. Improvements to the level crossing in Gador were also discussed.

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Out of control mozzies ALMERIA’S mosquito population is rapidly ballooning out of control, and municipal experts have sent a report to the Junta de Andalucia regional government demanding something be done. The problem stems mainly from the Andarax River, which has turned into a perfect breeding ground for the loathsome pests due to a few key factors. Chief among them is the stagnant water in the river, which is an ideal environment for mosquitoes. Add to this the lack of rainfall and the presence of weeds in the riverbed, and the situation has quickly transformed from a nuisance into a nightmare for the many Almeria residents who live near the river. In the document sent to the Junta, the experts have petitioned for the elimination of the stagnant water, the clean-up of spillages, and the removal of weeds and vegetation that are clogging up the river.

No party organised in Albox POLITICAL opposition party Partido Popular (PP) in Albox has slammed the socialist (PSOE) council for failing to organise any celebrations to mark Andalucia Day. The group lamented that Albox was one of only a few towns in the province which did not have any official events. Andalucia Day fell on February 28 and towns across the province celebrated with music, dancing, giant paellas and other activities. A PP spokesperson suggested it wasn’t an economic decision and not due to lack of personnel either.

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Mojacar is now the official HQ BELGIAN cyclists arrived for training session

CYCLING SEASON: The area has a fantastic range of challenging routes. MOJACAR has become the official headquarters for the Belgian Cycling Federation as the first groups of Belgian cyclists arrive for the spring training season. Sports travel agency, Kortweg, organises the events which last throughout the winter months. Agency manager and professional cyclist, Jan Almeye, said Mojacar ranked as one of the top destinations for cycling, along with

Mallorca and Calpe. Rabobank trainer, Piet Kuijs, agreed, saying the area had a fantastic range of challenging routes. More than 100 amateur and professional cyclists are currently in situ in the official hotel, the Marina Beach. The hotel provides a range of facilities for the cyclists including mechanical areas, therapy rooms and special early breakfasts.

EWN

Plaza progress at Almeria bullring THE area around Almeria City’s bullring has seen some remarkable remodelling works take place over the past few years and the progress reached a civilian pleasing crescendo with the completion of a new children’s park. Two phases of work have been finished at a total cost of €1.2 million which has also seen the renovation of

€1.2 million has been spent on renovations

infrastructure, new public lighting, pavement improvements and brand new sign posts. These are the highlights of a job well done.

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NEWS EXTRA

Forest flames A HELICOPTER, fire engines, specialists and firefighters were dispatched to tackle a rampant blaze in the Sierra Alhamilla after 20 people reported seeing the flames from as far as the motorway.

Sent down ARMED robbers who launched a violent assault on a pub in Viator were sentenced to five years and three and a half years in prison apiece. Wearing balaclavas and brandishing knives the men stole €1,500 plus phones, wallets and jewellery.

Fire escape TWO people were evacuated and taken to Torrecardenas Hospital following a fire in an Almeria residence. A bedroom burned in the blaze which occurred in the Plaza Mula area.

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Mayor calls for a new water treatment plant FACILITIES are no longer adequate due to the population growth By John Smith ROSMARI CANO, the mayor of Mojacar, has had a meeting in Almeria with the delegate of the environment, Antonio Martinez Rodriguez to request once again, the construction of the new treatment plant in Mojacar. The project will also affect the channelling and cleaning of river waters and watercourses that affect the municipality. The current treatment plant for Mojacar, which is located on the road from Los Gallardos to Garrucha, has facilities that are no longer adequate due to the population growth that Mojacar has seen in recent years. The mayor has held several meetings in order to try to get this project moving since 2007, when an agreement for the construction of new facilities was first signed. As for the channelling and cleaning of the Rio Aguas, the department of the environment has proposed that the Mojacar Council requests the

Photo Credit Digigalos Wikimedia.

RIO AGUAS: Needs to be channelled and cleaned up. Southern Hydrographic Confederation to include those activities within the General Plan of the province for 2016. As for the proposed clean-up of the dry river beds that are in the municipali-

ty, the lack of budget at the agency makes it difficult to afford, however they will try to address it, as far as possible, at the request of the mayor of Mojacar.

NEWS

Making dolls in preparation MEMBERS of the Asprodalba adult occupation centre in Vera have been preparing for the ‘dia de la vieja’ by making mannequins for the event which will be on display in the town centre and some will be sold in shops in the town. Dia de la vieja, or day of the old is celebrated throughout Andalucia, where children make dolls resembling old people, fill them with sweets and then throw stones to break open the dolls. Families throughout the region hold parties in the countryside where the children take part in the tradition and then enjoy a picnic or barbecue. Asprodalba has been making dolls for more than 20 years and local children eagerly await the opportunity to buy them. The dolls come in all shapes and sizes and can be bought for between €5 and €12. Asprodalba is an association which works with people with learning difficulties by helping them into employment and giving general support.

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NEWS EXTRA

Stem centre PLANT health product suppliers are training up 20 unemployed people in Almeria to kick start their careers. They will learn new skills which should be highly adaptable to the homes and gardens market as well as agriculture.

Magic show THE theatre in Vicar put on a magic show to help raise money to assist poor children across the world. Several local elementary schools attended along with the local mayor.

Hard time FOUR men have been sentenced to prison over a violent robbery which saw them injure and rob a man in his Velez Rubio home at knifepoint. They stole his passport, phone and cash.

Marina, marina CURRENT fishing port would have to be rearranged

EWN

Tear building down

By Matthew Elliott THE town of Carboneras has long felt an acute embarrassment at not having a marina. Whether the emotion was felt quite so dramatically among residents as in the bright lights of council offices is unclear, but there has been palpable discontent at the unpalatable situation. For more than 20 years people have been reflecting that it is a very strange state of affairs indeed that a town close to the sea, with a long coast, would not have a marina to call its own, especially w h e n ma ritime p ro x imity is the town’s primary tourist draw. Fortunately those dark days are now over as Carboneras is on the verge of seeing its dream come true with its very own marina. There is now a meeting scheduled between the mayor and the manager of the Andalucia Public Ports Agency for March 4. If the project is completed it will become the eighth town in Almeria to have a marina after Villaricos, Garrucha, San Jose, Roquetas, Almerimar

CARBONERAS: Soon to have its very own marina if plans are approved. and Adra, as well as Almeria City. The process would essentially entail spending €4 million on rearranging the current fishing port so as to enable the docking of leisure boats, the hall-

mark of any marina worth its salt. Around 270 platforms would conceivably become available and the work would also see a great deal of refurbishment.

DEMOLITION plans are afoot after the Spanish Supreme Court decided to order the destruction of the infamous El Algarrobico hotel. The building, considered one of the ugliest in the world, was built on non-developable land in a picturesque natural park near Carboneras. Nigh on a decade of legal wrangling, protest and mayhem culminated in the decision last month to finally destroy the notorious eyesore. Both the court and the Andalucian government agree that the sparks should fly sooner rather than later, and the government has agreed to purchase the land.

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NEWS

Official prettiest village competition OFFICIAL day scheduled for October 1 By Adele Land VOTING is under way in the official ‘most beautiful villages in Spain’ competition. Following on from a recent regional campaign, the race is on to name the prettiest villages

in the country. One official day to mark the event is scheduled for October 1, when the list of villages will be announced. Mojacar currently sits 12th in the voting line-up, with some 18,000 votes, while nearby Lu-

cainena de Las Torres is in sixth. Mojacar or Lucainena-lovers can vote by visiting lospueblos masbonitosdeespana.org. Both villages have already appeared in the list in previous years.

Let the carnival Drugs bust parade continue RESIDENTS of Garrucha will finally be able to enjoy the closing ceremony of the town’s annual carnival. The parade is scheduled to take place on Sunday March 6, starting at 5pm at the esplanade of the port. The original event in February was cancelled due to winds of up to 80 kilometres and organisers feared it would be too dangerous to continue. A number of trees had fallen into the road and it took a number of days for the area to be cleared and made safe.

TWO people have been arrested for possession of large quantities of marihuana, with alleged intent to supply. The individuals aged 35 and 20 were apprehended by Guardia Civil agents in a garage in Antas. Agents reported smelling a strong odour of marihuana and immediately searched the premises. The stash, approximately half a kilogramme, was found in a bin bag in the boot of a car.

Press Release

Mojacar hoteliers predict excellent season approaching MOJACAR Tourism councillor Emmanuel Aguero attended a work meeting on Thursday, February 25, with members of the local hotel sector to discuss the approaching Easter period. These meetings are held periodically with an aim to improving Mojacar’s status as a top tourist destination. This time the meeting was held at Hotel El Puntazo and attended by directors and representatives from all the main local hotels. Items on the agenda included motions presented by the Somos Mojacar opposition party including creation of a tourist tax for people spending the night in Mojacar. This proposal was rejected by the hoteliers,

who unanimously declared the idea was a bad one and countered with a number of arguments against the tax, including the fact a tourist destination like Mojacar should not and cannot charge tourists a tax, no matter how small, as this would damage the town’s image and have serious and negative effects. The Tourism councillor then informed the hoteliers on matters of interest including promotion of the destination, the increase in budgets for tourism related matters for 2016 and current municipal projects to consolidate tourist sectors including culture and sports. Regarding the beach area, they were informed of the extension of lifeguard services,

new cleaning schedules and guidelines for the beaches and other aspects including installation of new walkways, traffic arrangements, creation of more parking spaces and other news of interest to the sector. The hoteliers said their expectations for the upcoming season are excellent as a number of international travel agents have shown increased interest in Spain, especially from the UK, and interest from the national market is also high. They also wished to thank the council, on behalf of their customers, for the excellent state of the town which, due to its cleanliness and maintenance, has been highlighted by many satisfied visitors.

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NEWS

Cruise traffic up ARRIVAL of passengers will be a boost for local tourist sites and businesses Credit: Philip Lange / Shutterstock.com

ALMERIA PORT: Expects more than 30,000 cruise passengers to visit. By Matthew Elliott THE port authority of Almeria has predicted the arrival of more than 30,000 passen-

gers on cruise ships and the council has jumped on the news as a means of boosting local tourist sites and business with all the tools they

need to reap the rewards. Cruise traffic has been steadily increasing over the years and now 36 ships are expected to stop in the capi-

tal throughout 2016. The first to arrive will be the German ship ‘Berlin’ which has the capacity for 412 passengers.

Almeria to the rescue ALTHOUGH mankind has learnt to cope with earthquakes throughout thousands of years of lowly rumbling and spectacular destruction, scientists in Almeria are not content with simply attributing them to angry gods and being done with it. Now researchers at the university are working on ways to anticipate serious tremors and potentially mitigate damages. A key part of their investigations is related to measuring the response of the soil to a quake and extrapolating an effect on different buildings. If successful they will be able to map out future quakes and have some level of anticipation to secure against the horrendous damages caused chiefly by surprise. The emergent science has traditionally lagged behind other fields, with the science of the earth and oceans in their infancy. Researchers know startlingly little about what happens beneath our feet, whether it is the incredible creatures of the ocean floor, or the goings on at the earth’s molten core.

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Speeding up the process THERE are more than 4,000 people in Almeria due dependency allowances who have not yet received them despite a new programme aimed at speeding up the process. At present there are roughly 17,000 people in the province receiving some form of dependency allowance, with the Junta de Andalucian regional government taking care of 72 per cent of the grants and the national authorities the remaining 28 per cent. Procedures have become faster as of late but there are clearly many people still out of the loop and in need of valuable assistance.

Mayor welcomes motorhomers TAKING part in the annual boules tournament

CAMPERS: Play an important part in the town’s economy. By Adele Land HUERCAL-OVERA welcomed a large group of Scandinavian motorhomers which arrived at the municipal camping ground. More than 200 campers from northern Europe travelled to the town to participate in the annual boules tournament. Some travelled directly from their home countries and others from different parts of

Spain where they have holiday homes. Mayor Domingo Fernandez and tourism c ounc illor M onic a N a va rro gre e te d the group and wished them well in the championship. Fernandez said that the campers played an importa nt pa rt in the tow n’s e c onomy, adding that during the winter months such a large group of tourists is quite rare for the town.

EWN

Pawning memories A WOMAN has been sentenced to five months in prison and ordered to compensate her sister-in-law with €6,585 for stealing her jewellery. She regularly visited her relative over the years and during that time managed to swipe a serious amount of swag. Later she sold the loot to various pawn shops across the entire province of Almeria.

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A celebration of women all week WORKSHOPS include brooch making and skin care By Adele Land WOMEN in Huercal-Overa can enjoy a week of activities designed with them in mind as the town plans its International Women’s Day celebrations. With the motto ‘think about you,’ this year’s event is bigger than ever with activities to suit everyone.

New exchange programme THE University of Almeria has arranged a new exchange programme to allow students to travel overseas and broaden their studies for periods of between five and six months. Agreements have been signed with 15 universities in Korea, Albania, Jordan, Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Armenia and Moldova under the Erasmus+ programme, and students can present applications until March 19. Various grants will be available.

Women can enjoy spa sessions, massages, dance classes and a range of workshops, covering subjects from brooch making to skin care. All activities are free apart from the trip to Zujar spa which costs €5. Reservations can be made at the women’s centre or by visiting www.huercal-overa.es. Activities are running from March 1 to 11.

Mojacar one of the most popular MOJACAR is one of Spain’s most sought-after destinations according to an online poll. According to the survey undertaken by travel agent, Click Viaja, Mojacar was listed as one of the most popular resorts, alongside Benidorm and Madrid. According to the survey the average duration of a visit during 2015 was 3.2 nights, with visitors spending on average €370. The Costa de Almeria was also highlighted as an area of rapid growth in terms of national tourism.

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EWN

Tabernas extreme race has strengthened

SPORTING event has become a major tourist attraction for Almeria Province By Matthew Elliott ALMERIA Provincial Council will support the third edition of the Ultra Trail & BTT Tabernas Desert race which will take place on March 5 and 6.

A wave of fatal traffic accidents EMERGENCY services were kept busy by a wave of fatal accidents across the province over the last few days. On February 27, a foreign 39-year-old man, and a 59-year-old woman from Vicar, were abruptly killed in a frontal collision of two vehicles on the A-358 motorway in the Dalias municipality. Two elderly women and a 10year-old child were in the other vehicle and were taken to Torrecardenas Hospital with serious injuries. Just days before, a massive four car pile-up caused miles of traffic jams on the A-7 motorway. The Guardia Civil were deployed to the scene to ensure that traffic eventually recovered from the dramatic hiccup which fortunately saw no injuries. Then on February 29 a man overturned his car in the early hours of the morning near Gador. Guardia Civil troops, health workers, maintenance and road operators and firefighters went there to deal with the situation and help release the victim from the car. After overturning, the vehicle had fallen into a ditch leaving the man trapped inside. Unfortunately the rescuers were too late to save the man.

This race has strengthened its hand during the last two years as it was able to gather 800 sportsmen from all over the world. On this occasion, 85 per cent of the competitors come from outside of Spain including countries like Argentina, Italy, Denmark and Mexico.

The event is composed of two different races through the Tabernas Desert. One of them will be a running competition where the participants will be able to choose between different itineraries of 105km, 65km and 25km. On the other hand, there is a bike race

with two itineraries of 70km and 115km. The sports event has become a major tourist attraction for Almeria Province, with the astronomical number of athletes from all over the world filling all of the hotel rooms nearby since last November.

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NEWS

Council drowning in water problems RESIDENTS are desperate for improvement to the quality By Adele Land THE ongoing water situation in Turre is allegedly causing a rift between the political alliance of the socialist PSOE party and left-wing Izquierda Unida (IU). The Turre water supply has been at the centre of debates for many years leaving residents with a sub-standard water supply. The water situation in the town has been a complicated affair with part of the town being supplied by water company Galasa and the remaining part, with water piped from wells located in the mountains. An agreement was reached, despite outstanding debts to the supplier, for the whole area to be supplied by Galasa and for all properties to be connected to individual meters. A vote on whether to transfer the water system to Galasa was scheduled to take place during a council meeting earlier this month but this had to be postponed when a councillor failed to attend the meeting.

MURKY WATER: Residents have suffered with poor quality. The councillor was allegedly in favour of transferring the supply to rival company Codeur and is said to have a relationship with Codeur following his dealings with

joint owner, property developer, Keymare. Any improvement to the water quality will come as some relief for the town’s residents.

Prison sentence looms for two expat robbers TWO expatriates could face up to eight years in prison for allegedly beating up and robbing a retired couple at their home in Partaloa. The defendants, named as PJM and DRM, of Irish and British descent, are accused of befriending an elderly British couple, entering their home, beating them up and locking them in the property. The two individuals allegedly stole €75 in cash, a mobile phone and the landline

phone which they ripped from the wall so that the couple could not call for help after they had left. According to witness reports, before leaving the property, the defendants spent some four hours drinking alcohol which they found in the house, while the victims were locked in another room. In addition to the prison terms, the public prosecutor is seeking for compensation to be paid to the victims.

Childbirth classes for women of Mojacar EXPECTANT mothers in Mojacar can take advantage of parenting and childbirth courses organised by Mojacar Council in collaboration with council colleagues in Garrucha. The courses begin this week and will take place every Thursday at the medical centre in Mojacar Pueblo. Women in their second and third trimester of their pregnancy can find out information relating to childbirth, breastfeeding, care of the new-born baby and their rights as new parents. Healthcare professional Maria Luz Alonso will host the courses.

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Unusual fame for little-known parts FROM the desert to the stars By Eleanor Hawkins TABERNAS and the Sierra de los Filabres have been chosen by a specialist travel magazine, Hola Viajes, as one of Spain’s 52 weekend routes through little-known parts of the country. Whereas in the past the province’s beaches and coastal

areas have been the main attraction for visitors, inland areas are now well on their way to finding fame thanks to features such as the current one, entitled From the Desert to the Stars. ‘Crossing the Tabernas Desert,’ the feature explains, ‘the most unsuspected land-

Breast-screening THE mobile, women’s health unit will be in Mojacar from now until March 13. The unit provides breast-screening for women between 50 and 69 years of age who have received appointments from their medical centre. The unit will be located on Mojacar Playa and will be open mornings and evenings. Women who think they may be due for a screening should contact their doctor for an appointment.

scape of Almeria Province is discovered, with high mountains, pine forests and white Moorish villages. At the top, the best telescope of continental Europe. And on the other side of the Sierra, the green valley of the Almanzora river and the marble quarries of Macael.’

The missing link? AN early candidate for the Darwin Awards from El Ejido decided to hang from the roof of a 105 metre tall building without any safety measures in a bid to appear on a television show. The 14-year-old dangled from the Torre Laguna building in a stunt designed to attract the attention of ‘Discover Max,’ a show depicting people practising risk-taking sports. The video of the teenager performing his audacious feat is making the rounds on social media and Local Police have now opened an investigation into the affair.

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NEWS

WITH the British voting on whether to leave the EU, the Scots looking likelier than ever to escape the UK, Catalonians edging closer to autonomy and all manner of peoples fighting for self determination across the world, it was high time that Almeria got in on the action. While the majority of townsfolk were celebrating Andalucia Day on February 28, a group named Accion por Almeria launched a counter protest arguing that ‘Almeria is not Andalucia’ and demanding autonomy from the region. United under the slogan ‘28F - nothing to celebrate’ the group lamented the 1980 referendum which saw Andalucia become an autonomous region as ‘rigged.’

The group secretary pointed out that votes in favour did not actually reach a majority, but rather a mere plurality. President of the protest movement Jesus Munoz said “every year more Almerienses take the blindfold off their eyes and realise that Almeria is much more than what they have been selling us for decades.” “Almerienses are not second-class citizens and we should shake off once and for all our passivity and our inferiority complex, we don’t want to be any more or any less than any other Spaniard, but we have the right to demand an equal deal, of demanding that our culture doesn’t disappear or the legacy of our ancestors.”

PHOTO EQUINAC.

Freedom for Almeria as it demands an equal deal

DEAD TURTLE: Animal checked for microchip.

First dead turtle for many months VOLUNTEERS from marine rescue attended the scene By Adele Land A DEAD sea turtle was washed up on a beach in Almeria at the weekend. The animal, a loggerhead turtle, was the first of its kind to be found dead in the province for many months. Volunteers from a marine rescue group attended the scene to take photos and register the details of the animal.

The team also checked if the creature had previously been microchipped, an indication that the animal had been attended to in the past, the test proved negative. An Equinac spokesperson thanked the passerby who called the emergency services and reminded the public of the importance of calling 112 in the event of finding a sea mammal on the beach.

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A sad story about a vulnerable pensioner and her fugitive son IF anyone spots the easily recognisable pair in Spain, authorities have asked you to report them to police By John Smith FROM time to time, we come across stories which are so sad they have to be shared, not just because they are newsworthy but because it is necessary to highlight the way in which some people act and who knows, we might even be able to help the elderly lady involved if a reader spots her and her son somewhere in the areas where we publish. The story itself goes back 15 years to when Ann Clarke was awarded £775,000 by a court which found the NHS guilty of failing to help her, despite the fact she was depressed and had tried to commit suicide on more than one occasion, including

throwing herself under a bus. Just two days after winning the compensation, Ann Clarke ran in front of a lorry and suffered incurable brain damage. Whilst some of the money went towards the purchase of a house, her son Michael started to spend some of it on visits to Spain, which became more and more regular, using his mother as the reason for the travel and using her money to pay for it. Her two other children were so upset by the way he was acting they made a formal complaint, and a court deputy was appointed who was required to allow her reasonable amounts of money for living expenses, but these turned out to be £60,000 a year, which was a

MICHAEL CLARKE: Travelling around with his mother. considerable sum for an elderly woman confined to a wheelchair.

By 2012 the money had run out but Michael Clarke continued to enjoy the high life, trav-

elling to Spain and even to Thailand with his mother, who had only the income from the

house (she has left it to Michael in her will), which is rented out and state benefits to live on. Three years ago, he was sentenced to three months imprisonment in absentia for disobeying the orders of the Court of Protection, which has taken a serious interest in the case, and he and his mother have been travelling around without returning to the UK ever since. It is known they were in Benidorm in July 2014 and in Barcelona in July 2015 as he has a habit of posting his whereabouts on Facebook, where he also complains about British justice and the judiciary. So worried is the Court of Protection about the financial situation of 75-year-old Ann, a judge declared on February 24 that the property she still owns may not be sold and he commented: “All that can be said is it is unlikely to be in her best interests to be kept out of her native country. If the property was sold, the proceeds would be spent in whatever way Michael Clarke chose.” Although he boasted in December 2015 they were going to travel to Cambodia, there is every possibility that the easily recognisable pair could still be in Spain or may return, so with the words of the judge ringing in our ears, we hope that if the couple are spotted that readers will report their whereabouts to the Local Police, who would no doubt check with British authorities as to how to proceed. Dial 092 for Local Police, 091 for National Police.

E W N 3 - 9 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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Cheque for the Dog House EVERYONE working hard to find homes for the dogs VOLUNTEERS holding the fort at the Dog House Foundation, following the death of its founder, were delighted to receive much-needed funds to help feed, vaccinate and rehome the remaining dogs. Following the success of a canine photo shoot in Mojacar, organiser, Brad Swift, travelled to Huercal-Overa to hand over a cheque for €335 raised from the event. Volunteer, Shirley Crawford, gratefully received the cheque.

Motor racing event in the Almanzora valley THE fourth edition of the Valley of Almanzora Cup motor racing challenge will feature some changes from previous events. The first stage of the event will be in HuercalOvera instead of Laroya, the date for this event will be March 5 and 6. The next sector will be staged in Somontin on August 6 and 7, followed by

By Adele Land

NEWS

Sierro on November 7. The grand finale and closing ceremony will take place in Cantoria on December 18. During the closing event, competitors and guests will be invited to enjoy local meat and cheese products and the overall winner of the competition will be presented with a new Ford car.

GRATEFUL: Much needed funds handed over to volunteer, Shirley Crawford. Brad toured the centre during his visit and reported that

the rehoming was going well and that everyone was working

hard to find homes for all the animals.

Chancers arrested in air conditioning scam A PAIR of chancers allegedly scammed more than €1,500 in advance payments by pretending to be workers for an electricity company offering generous terms for advanced air conditioning systems. Almeria’s capital court finally issued a warrant for their arrest and the devilish duo are now in custody. Officers had initially become aware of the crime spree when they registered multiple cases of customers being unable to contact similar looking ‘employees’ who had promised to install air conditioning. Six reports were made in all with amounts typically being hundreds of euros.

E W N 3 - 9 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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Rubi rocks as she takes audience through the golden ages of music TAKING the audience on a magical trip through the golden ages of music, renowned singer Ruth Rubi will take to the stage at the Municipal School of Music and Art in

Almeria on Saturday March 5 at 10pm. The local singer has expertise in rock, soul, flamenco and bossa nova and will be accompanied by the band Ul-

timo Rocko. It will be a personal project for the artist who has devoted herself to music since her teens. Tickets are €7.50 in advance, €10 on the night.

NEWS

Color Rain was a sparkling success THOUSANDS of participants took part By Matthew Elliott NO longer merely a sporting event, the annual Color Rain de Almeria is now a momentous party that defines the city. With thousands upon thousands of participants, the popular race, which sees runners painted in colour, smashed all the records for attendance and saw the biggest party in its history. Kicking off at the Recinto Ferial on Sunday, February 28, there were more than 800 people more than last year. The arena was so brim-

ming with paint, flesh and sweat that 500 unlucky souls were declined entry to save space. With a spectacular atmosphere, excellent weather, DJs blaring rambunctious Spanish pop, lotteries, food, and all manner of exciting stalls, it truly was a day to remember. ‘Colour extinguishers’ ensured that everyone was coated in a vibrant rainbow whether they were running or just enjoying the spectacle. This year the race was circular and cannons packed with hundreds of pounds of multicoloured dust blasted the runners.

Bumper quiz for Paws TONY MATTHEWS (EWN/ Spectrum Radio) will be the question-master for a bumper quiz in aid of PAWS to be held at Miraflores, Camping Los Gallardos on Tuesday March 22 at 8pm. Maximum of six members in a team; €2 per person, and meals (including special pies) will be available from 7pm. Please attend - it’s for a good cause. Tel. 650 418 954 (or call in personally) to reserve your table.

NEWS

3 - 9 March 2016 / Costa de AlmerĂa

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Drug-trafficking ring is broken up SMUGGLERS took vessels from Spain to Morocco By Emily Chettle THE Guardia Civil has busted open a large drug smuggling operation between Spain and the African continent with the arrests of 25 people. The drugtrafficking group intended to smuggle marihuana from North Africa into Spain hidden in the hulls of modified boats. The police operation named Batelo/Sol Naciente took place

in Malaga, Melilla and Almeria provinces. Most of the arrested men have Spanish nationality and were responsible for managing the operation, storage, logistics and distribution of the drugs. Charges include several drug-trafficking offences, belonging to a criminal organisation and possession of illegal weapons. The band of smugglers took vessels from Spain to the north

of Morocco where they loaded drugs before returning to Spain. The established procedure saw a network of people involved in the hiding of boats and drugs and the onward distribution. The undercover operation by the Guardia Civil included inspections in Malaga, Almeria and Melilla. The Malaga towns of Frigiliana and Velez-Malaga were where most of the drug cartel was based.

Noise brigade want more police FIGHTING for their right not to party, a broad swathe of Almeriaâ€™s citizen groups have gathered together to demand that police focus their efforts on capturing and punishing noise polluters. Council members have pushed for a greater police presence in sensitive zones, arguing it would have the added bonus of pro-

viding extra neighbourhood security. In a self referential parody worthy of a comic sketch, the meeting of councillors, resident groups and schools has advocated the creation of a technical board to study the problem. They also advised establishing an inventory of existing activities in the noisiest zones.

EWN

E W N 3 - 9 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

NEWS EXTRA

Up in smoke IN a daring swoop on a sweet shop in La Mojonera and a phone shop in Berja, Guardia Civil officers seized 250 packets of cigarettes. The offending articles came from abroad, were of different brands, without seals and naturally had no taxes paid on them.

Child’s play IN a sign of times to come, some children from the Atalaya de la Villa primary school met the mayor of Nijar and pretended to be councillors for the day.

Washed up A FEMALE pilot whale that measured more than four metres and a small striped dolphin were among many sea creatures to have washed up on Almeria’s beaches in recent weeks.

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Hard work pays off as renovations completed BUILDING has been featured in the backdrop of several famous films By Matthew Elliott THE hard work strengthening the bell tower and chapel of the Cortijo del Fraile in Nijar has been completed through the collective effort of local environmental groups. The end product has been described as a radical transformation and the groups have asked that renovation projects be allowed to continue and thrive. The Cortijo is an old building located within the natural park Cabo de Gata which had fallen into a pitiful state of serious dilapidation with the harsh passage of time. Local residents and environmental groups had been protesting against its condition for years and in 2010 it was finally recognised as a place of cultural interest by the Andalucian government. The farmhouse has spread its

NEWS

Cheap shot

Photo by Colin C Wheeler via Wikipedia

AN Almeria man who allegedly murdered 17 protected birds by slyly capturing them with invisible netting could face up to two years in prison after being arrested by officers carrying out a routine inspection of his livestock product business. He is being charged with crimes against fauna for the illegal hunting of the birds and also faces a ban from hunting and a significant fine. The laws are in place to protect endangered species which are being driven to extinction by capitalist hunters and their ilk.

Airport aid CORTIJO DEL FRAILE: Located within the natural park in Cabo de Gata. wings far beyond Almeria, being featured in the backdrop of films including The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly and A Fistful of Dollars. It was also the site of the infamous ‘crime of Nijar’ which inspired the poem

Bodas de Sangre (Blood wedding) by the famous Spanish author Federico Garcia Lorca. In the hot summer of 1928, a woman due to be wed tried to elope with her cousin but the two were found by her family

and the man stabbed three times in the head. The bride was later found wandering around the town with the pallor of a ghost and her white satin gown stained with the blood of her slain love.

Your Belgian Belg estate agent at the coast!

DISABLED passengers were taken care of in their legions by staff at Almeria airport who attended to 7,832 people with reduced mobility in 2015. Helping the physically, visually and mentally impaired is a key responsibility of employees.

E W N 3 - 9 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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A busy meeting for the Dames in Turre ladies LADIES group, The Dames in Tur r e , h e l d a sp e cia l

me e tin g th is w e e k with guest speakers and repre-

sentatives from local charitable groups. The meeting took place in the us ua l ve nue a t the H os ta l R ura l a nd w a s a tte nde d by more tha n 50 members. First on the agenda was the handing over of cheques for funds raised by various events over the past months. The D a me s in Turre group is well-known for its excellent fundraising and has handed over much needed funds to local charities inc luding M A C S, PAW S, the Red Cross and other organisations. Fanny Davies accepted a cheque for €2,000 for her c a re rs group, Ste pping Stones. Fanny also encoura ge d me mbe rs to ge t involved by volunteering at the weekly meetings. Vera Orphanage received

a fa nta s tic dona tion of €5,000, much of which will go to making improvements in the sanitary blocks of the facility. A cheque for €500 was ha nde d to Los G a lla rdos based group ASADAS, and finally, Dames committee member, Doreen Woolton, accepted a cheque for €500 on behalf of the Asprodalba charity in Vera. A big thank you was given to Doreen who will soon be heading off to live in the UK after many years of service on the Dames committee. The morning closed with a meeting of the committee. For more information about the Dames In Turre, please c onta c t, s e c re ta ry Pa m Smith on 677 543 031 or president Lesley Barlow on 950 095 980.

NEWS

Family get together

MEETING UP: Family members and professionals. By Adele Land MOJACAR played host this week to the association of families of people with Down Syndrome. Del egat es f r om t he gr oup al ong wi t h t he Junta de Andalucia dis-

abilities delegate, Gonzal o Ri vas, m et i n t he Marina Beach hotel for what was the 14th meeting since the association began. Representatives from Moj acar Counci l wel comed the group.

NEWS

3 - 9 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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Engine of the labour force EMPLOYMENT is growing at 9 per cent By Matthew Elliott THE Employment and Social Security Minister, Fatima Bañez, has highlighted Almeria as a “motor of recovery in the economy of Spain” and “an example of innovation,” because, as she has explained, its generation of employment “is growing at a rhythm of 9

per cent” which is “three times above the national average.” On February 23 Bañez visited the facilities that the Dutch multinational Rijk Zwaan has in Almeria. She was accompanied by the president of the Provincial Council of Almeria, Gabriel Amat, and the mayor of the

capital, Ramon FernandezPacheco. For the minister, the “future” of the country in economic and work matters is in “the labour force, talent, and well-paid and qualified professionals,” as well as in “innovation” because it is going to be “a fundamental and competitive element.”

PP in Lubrin urges clean-up POLITICAL opposition party Partido Popular (PP) in Lubrin has lambasted the socialist (PSOE) council for what it calls the neglect of the town. PP councillor, Rocio Lopez, referred to reports of rubbish-strewn streets, derelict children’s playgrounds and crumbling roads. Lopez also lamented the “deterioration” of the paddle tennis court and football ground.

The councillor urged mayor, Domingo Ramos, to clean up the town, adding that if the town was improved it could compete in the ‘prettiest village in Spain’ competition, along with neighbouring Mojacar and Lucainena de las Torres. The PP recently proposed a clean-up plan which was rejected by the PSOE council.

EWN

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NEWS FROM OUR FIVE OTHER REGIONS

COSTA DEL SOL

Pigeon population explosion TRAPS have been installed so the birds can be caught alive and removed COSTA BLANCA NORTH

PIGEONS are making pests of themselves, Moraira residents complained. The Environment department at Teulada-Moraira Town Hall has responded by installing traps on top floors where the birds can be caught alive and removed. The public have also been asked not to feed the birds in the streets and public places or to leave out food in their gardens or balconies. Local pigeons enjoy “an excess” of food and wat er, an Envi r onm ent spokesperson said, and the absence of predators is allowing them to breed unchecked.

MALLORCA

AXARQUÍA

Nantes visit

Cyclist dies

GUARDAMAR has been represented at the international tourism fair in Nantes, France. French tourists represent 14 per cent of Guardamar’s foreign visitors every year.

AN 86-year-old cyclist died on Friday (February 26) while riding on the road from Algaida to Sencelles. A car turning right hit the cyclist causing the man to fall and hit his head. He died at the scene.

Neighbours evacuated

New chief DOCTOR Felix Gutierrez has been appointed as new Chief of Internal Medicine at Elche’s General Hospital, following the retirement of Dr Alberto Martin Hidalgo.

Hiker rescued A HIKER was rescued after an accident in the Sierra del Carche, Jumilla. Firefighters and a forestry agent assisted after a rescue helicopter located the man when he fell and dislocated his knee.

Wacky races ENTRANTS are wanted for a Wacky Races event in San Juan de los Terreros. The Wacky Races and Family Fun Day takes place on March 19 when there will be mini petanque, mini golf, prize draws and stalls as well as the kart race.

Improved service ORIHUELA is awaiting approval from the Ministry to provide a regular and improved bus service in Entrenaranjos, to unite buses with the coast and offer a service to Torrevieja Hospital.

Hotel thefts THE Guardia Civil has arrested two men for a wave of thefts in hotels in the area of Calvia. After forcing entry, they stole electronic devices. A third man has been charged with receiving stolen goods.

New ferry TRANSMEDITERRANEA added a new ferry to its fleet. The ship ‘Forza’ can carry around 1,000 passengers and 2,200 linear metres of cargo. The ferry left the Port of Valencia on its maiden voyage to Palma on February 23.

Nobel Prize winner MALLORCA will celebrate the 100 year anniversary of the birth of Nobel Prize winner Camilo Jose Cela who lived on the island for many years. Awarded the Nobel prize for literature in 1989, Cela produced much of his work whilst living in Mallorca.

Park to close SA COMUNA DE LLORET’S caravan area will in all probability be shut down. The news caused a great stir in Lloret which has had caravans staying there for more than 35 years. It is one of only two areas on the island with special facilities.

Chess tournament AN activity programme launched in Estepona will see a chess tournament take place on March 12 at 10am in Real Street. There are 150 spaces available and only players who are members of chess federations can register.

Woman’s touch TONI LEDESMA, the first woman in history to be appointed mayor of Alhaurin el Grande, has vowed to keep the ball rolling and provide residents with all the essential services they need in the aftermath of the former mayor’s resignation.

Halal paella

WELL FED: Too few natural predators for Moraira pigeons.

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

NEWS

TWENTY-FIVE residents of a block of flats in Torrox had to be evacuated for safety reasons after a fire broke out in a fourth floor flat last week. Luckily no personal injuries were reported.

Karate in Frigiliana THE 29th provincial karate circuit, in which locals and competitors from six other Malaga municipalities took part, was hosted by Frigiliana. Thirty people competed in the event, with 20 referees and approximately 500 spectators went along to watch.

Eggs-iting event THERE will be an Easter Bazaar at the Lux Mundi Centre in Torre del Mar running from 11am to 1pm on Friday March 11 where there will be a chance to buy small gifts, preserves, cakes, tasty food, second hand goods, books and local arts and crafts.

Celebrating Andalucia Day BENAJARAFE was just one of the local towns and villages which took Andalucia Day (Sunday February 28) seriously, with music, songs and dancing along with paella for all near the town hall.

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

COSTA BLANCA NORTH

Better late... EARLIER plans to turn Novelda’s San Felipe chapel into a cultural centre shelved by the previous council have been revived. The town hall has asked for €100,000 to restart the project.

Driving force ACQUIRING a driving licence in the Valencian Community costs €723 compared with the national average of €629 if the applicant passes first time. The cheapest place in Spain is La Coruña (Galicia) where it costs €500.

Long arm of law THE National Police, complying with an international arrest warrant, detained a 49-year-old Dutch woman in Altea. She is wanted in Holland for money-laundering, false evidence and belonging to a drug-trafficking group.

Work experience DENIA’S UNED centre and MasymasFornes supermarkets have signed an agreement to allow degree students to obtain work experience within the chain’s management departments.

Mango gin THE group Dianium Wines & Spirits, a Denia business exporting wines and liquors has launched a new gin range to include the world’s first mango gin.

THE mosque in Benalmadena held a benefit event for local disabled people which saw children’s activities, face painting and a bouncy castle all help raise funds for a good cause. An enormous paella was also whipped up for all those in attendance.

Car trouble A MAN had to be rescued by emergency services after somehow managing to trap his leg underneath one of the wheels of his car. After being extracted by firefighters he was taken to a Malaga hospital for treatment.

Human rights AUTHORITIES in Marbella will pioneer a new programme in schools aimed at promoting the equality and welfare of the LGBTQ community. There will also be several conferences on dealing with hate crimes.

Burn out AN arson attack saw three cars and a motorbike set ablaze in the province’s capital. Luckily no one was injured and firefighters were quickly on the scene, evacuating a nearby building as a precaution.

EWN top for all the news from Spain.

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Spanish Treasury boosts economy THEY were successful in their fight against fraud in 2015 By John Smith THE director of the Treasury Santiago Menendez has congratulated his staff on their success in the fight against fraud during 2015, which has seen an increase in the amount recovered by no less than 27 per cent, and the money has been a sig-

is the amount that the Spanish Treasury claims that it has recovered from fighting tax fraud during 2015.

RYANAIR: Carried the largest number of passengers.

AENA a huge success ANYONE who invested in the airport management company AENA when it was privatised in 2015, has made a very good return for the money spent. With its network of 46 airports including London Luton, it has reported that 2015 saw an increase in profit to €833 million, which is an increase

nificant boost for the Spanish economy. He advised that they have been concentrating their resources on large taxpayers who have previously been able to reduce their payments by use of legal loopholes, illegal avoidance and the ‘black

“It is easy for consumers to be lulled into complacency by ample stocks and low prices but they should heed the writing on the wall.” Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency. Photo by Evstafiev Photo Credit Ramon Espelt Photography

Quote of the Week

€15.64 billion

of 74 per cent over 2014 profits. The Spanish government benefitted from receipt of more than €200 million in 2015, and it was revealed that over 207 million passengers travelled through its airports, with Ryanair carrying the largest number at 35 million.

BUSINESS EXTRA

Nissan disables app NISSAN has disabled one of its own apps as it could have been used to hack its Leaf electric cars. Although it has known for some weeks about the flaw in the software, which could have allowed a hacker to run down the battery and review details of recent journeys, the company did not consider this a serious problem, but took action once news of the glitch was posted on social media.

Bimbo strike THIS is not an unusual walk out by ‘flighty’ women, but a strike of bread workers using the slogan ‘without a future there will be stale bread’, in order to try to persuade the owners not to close the Bimbo factory in Palma, Mallorca. There are six strikes planned initially, starting in Palma and rolling out to other bakeries in the group including Madrid.

Airport back on runway THE Ciudad Real airport has still not been sold, despite at least two previous announcements that it was. Now interested parties have been invited to submit new bids for the entire property, with a minimum starting price of €50 million.

€9 billion is the amount that Abengoa SA is said to owe in the US which has resulted in it filing for bankruptcy protection in America.

STAT OF WEEK

business & legal

EWN

They were given just three days to submit their bids to the court, which is controlling the sale, but after all of these months of waiting, it does appear slightly unusual to give such a short deadline.

economy’, where payments are made in cash. Now that there are agreements in place with nearly 80 countries to allow for the exchange of financial information, the director believes that the amount recovered will continue to increase.

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Three Chinese bankers have been bailed THREE directors of the Chinese Bank ICBC, who were arrested in Madrid as part of an investigation into money laundering, have each been released from prison following the payment of €100,000. The bank insists that it is continuing to operate normally within Spain and is cooperating with the Spanish authorities in their investigations.

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% CHG. -1.16 -0.54 -0.34 0.99 1.05 -0.25 0.17 -0.68 -1.21 -0.80 -0.76 -0.39 -1.06 -1.19 -0.63 -0.31 -1.02 -0.05 -0.68 0.06 0.10 -0.24 -1.26 -0.39 -2.13 -0.73 -0.08 -0.33 -0.61 0.19 -0.36 -0.53 -0.87 -0.26 1.16 -0.70 0.14 1.87 -0.82 -1.11 -3.41 -2.58 -0.38 0.31 -0.93 -0.65 -0.14 0.83 -1.27 -0.44

NET VOL 46.43 412.44 28.00 1,170.14 157.33 132.04 119.85 21.27 114.86 478.14 30.25 213.54 2,223.97 88.22 43.64 959.80 2,291.29 135.46 200.76 981.58 37.34 58.60 46.30 14.08 968.68 29.55 170.46 43.80 3.72 221.78 165.89 37.69 38.84 81.35 72.24 95.98 728.93 4,769.51 56.66 30.89 67.54 2,605.37 91.22 68.90 30.84 440.97 19.29 306.85 826.60 8.43

COMPANY PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) Kingfisher PLC 333.05 -3.30 Land Securities Group PLC 999.00 -7.00 Legal & General Group PLC 224.70 -1.40 Lloyds Banking Group PLC 71.28 -0.84 London Stock Exchange Grp 2725.00 -92.00 Marks & Spencer Group PLC 418.00 -4.30 Merlin Entertainments PLC 452.10 3.20 Mondi PLC 1272.00 -9.00 National Grid PLC 959.10 -10.80 Next PLC 6712.50 -55.00 Old Mutual PLC 166.60 -2.30 Pearson PLC 843.25 6.50 Persimmon PLC 2199.00 -19.00 Provident Financial PLC 3219.00 -10.00 Prudential PLC 1239.50 -7.00 Randgold Resources Ltd 6577.50 170.00 Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC 6548.50 -55.00 RELX PLC 1242.50 -6.00 REXAM PLC 607.75 -1.00 Rio Tinto PLC 1864.75 4.50 Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC 675.00 -4.00 Royal Bank of Scotland Grp 222.85 -3.70 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 1628.50 -7.00 Royal Mail PLC 453.45 -4.20 RSA Insurance Group PLC 429.85 -6.00 SABMiller PLC 4161.00 -9.00 Sage Group (The) PLC 587.00 -3.00 Sainsbury (J) PLC 250.85 -1.80 Schroders PLC 2588.00 -54.00 Severn Trent PLC 2109.00 -20.00 Shire PLC 3860.50 -37.00 Sky PLC 1045.50 12.00 Smith & Nephew PLC 1169.50 -7.00 Smiths Group PLC 997.50 -2.00 Sports Direct International 392.55 -5.20 SSE PLC 1377.50 -11.00 Standard Chartered PLC 413.00 -16.45 Standard Life PLC 329.50 -3.40 St James's Place PLC 857.00 -12.50 Taylor Wimpey PLC 184.55 -1.04 Tesco PLC 180.15 -4.05 Travis Perkins PLC 1768.50 -5.00 TUI AG 1069.00 -10.00 Unilever PLC 3066.25 -31.00 United Utilities Group PLC 914.75 -12.00 Vodafone Group PLC 217.45 -1.40 Whitbread PLC 3852.00 -28.00 Wolseley PLC 3672.50 -16.00 Worldpay Group PLC 294.90 2.00 WPP PLC 1506.00 -9.00

% CHG. -0.98 -0.70 -0.62 -1.16 -3.27 -1.02 0.71 -0.70 -1.11 -0.81 -1.36 0.78 -0.86 -0.31 -0.56 2.65 -0.83 -0.48 -0.16 0.24 -0.59 -1.63 -0.43 -0.92 -1.38 -0.22 -0.51 -0.71 -2.05 -0.94 -0.95 1.16 -0.59 -0.20 -1.31 -0.79 -3.83 -1.02 -1.44 -0.56 -2.20 -0.28 -0.93 -1.00 -1.30 -0.64 -0.72 -0.43 0.68 -0.59

NET VOL 157.20 80.61 541.96 7,183.80 98.85 213.76 74.41 78.72 443.82 10.82 463.49 169.25 46.38 19.66 328.68 60.16 53.41 211.72 67.19 491.97 295.32 1,242.73 364.41 59.94 120.09 195.52 61.35 306.49 29.14 18.94 62.02 436.47 51.02 26.90 75.38 123.97 1,005.51 115.95 76.16 367.24 2,146.83 23.03 39.09 218.42 74.70 2,259.45 16.64 16.92 294.78 107.41

Kleinwort Benson Elite PCC Ltd

0.78733

1.27010 Units per €

US dollar..................................................................1.09304 Japan yen ................................................................123.495 Switzerland franc...................................................1.09141 Denmark kroner....................................................7.46216 Norway kroner.....................................................9.50322

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

DOW JONES C LOSING P RICES F EBRUARY 29

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 158.27 -0.72 -0.45% 1.8M 55.38 -0.01 -0.02% 5.9M 96.91 +0.15 +0.16% 29.0M 118.16 +1.34 +1.15% 3.8M 66.87 +0.40 +0.60% 4.1M 84.35 -0.95 -1.11% 9.4M 26.41 -0.19 -0.71% 18.1M 43.14 -1.02 -2.31% 18.4M 95.31 -0.34 -0.36% 5.3M 61.51 +1.09 +1.80% 4.2M 81.75 -0.26 -0.32% 14.3M 29.40 +0.17 +0.58% 29.3M 150.25 +2.00 +1.35% 5.9M 126.26 -0.60 -0.47% 4.6M 132.03 -2.47 -1.84% 4.4M 29.80 +0.18 +0.61% 19.9M 105.78 -0.60 -0.56% 9.0M 57.54 +0.53 +0.93% 20.9M 117.06 -1.31 -1.11% 5.2M 50.64 -0.36 -0.71% 9.3M 51.30 -0.80 -1.54% 36.0M 62.60 +0.22 +0.35% 8.9M 30.23 -0.36 -1.18% 42.9M 81.10 -1.24 -1.51% 9.3M 108.46 -0.81 -0.74% 1.8M 97.69 -0.38 -0.39% 14.7M 121.33 +0.13 +0.11% 2.9M 51.02 -0.09 -0.18% 13.0M 72.73 -0.54 -0.74% 6.7M 66.51 -1.53 -2.25% 11.0M

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES F EBRUARY 29

COMPANY

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

Most Advanced RR Media Ltd. Scientific Games Corp Stamps.com Inc. Histogenics Corporation Presbia PLC Immersion Corporation Tandem Diabetes Care, Inc. 2U, Inc. HTG Molecular Diagnostics, Inc. Editas Medicine, Inc. ATA Inc.

$ 13.07 $ 8.50 $ 116.51 $ 2.56 $5 $ 9.03 $ 9.17 $ 21.83 $ 3.09 $ 27.49 $ 4.89

4.37 ▲ 50.23% 2.19 ▲ 34.71% 20.26 ▲ 21.05% 0.37 ▲ 16.89% 0.71 ▲ 16.55% 1.27 ▲ 16.37% 1.28 ▲ 16.22% 2.93 ▲ 15.50% 0.41 ▲ 15.30% 3.54 ▲ 14.78% 0.62 ▲ 14.52%

$ 4.76 $ 7.99 $ 2.98 $ 22.63 $ 3.75 $ 5.12 $ 20.77 $ 43.99 $ 5.74 $ 5.76 $ 11.41

2.15 ▼ 31.11% 3.33 ▼ 29.42% 0.80 ▼ 21.16% 4.26 ▼ 15.84% 0.62 ▼ 14.19% 0.83 ▼ 13.95% 3.05 ▼ 12.80% 5.69 ▼ 11.45% 0.68 ▼ 10.59% 0.63 ▼ 9.86% 1.06 ▼ 8.50%

Most Declined Cara Therapeutics, Inc. PTC Therapeutics, Inc. Acacia Research Corporation PRA Group, Inc. Pershing Gold Corporation Ovascience Inc. NutriSystem Inc Universal Display Corporation MediciNova, Inc. EnerNOC, Inc. region

E W N 3 - 9 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

A Bank of Spain warning

LATEST REPORT: Indicates its belief that 2016 is likely to be difficult. ment but is ready to raise its head again at any point, it can be seen that the putative recovery in Spain could well come to a halt

quite quickly, although Spain did manage to sell a large volume of bonds during February. Finally, to add to the financial

woes, the European Union is insisting that the 2016 budget be reviewed and resubmitted by April of this year, even if there is to be

a new election, which could result in a new government who would be likely to amend the previous budget anyway.

Ciudadanos upset the British Photo by flickr by UK in Spain

By John Smith THE latest economic report from the Banco de España (Bank of Spain) indicates its belief that 2016 is likely to be difficult, and in its words ‘complex for the volatility and uncertainty in the markets’. It forecasts a tightening of credit to business as well as an increase in debt, which will be made worse if the price of crude o i l d o e s n o t r e c o v e r, a s l o s s e s from the energy companies will h a v e a k n o c k - o n e ff e c t o n t h e banks. When these factors are coupled with the fact that global stock markets are performing as poorly as they have done for years, then the recipe for 2016 is not encouraging. Add to this the continued wariness of foreign investors, whilst both the matter of the establishment of a stable government and the Catalan ‘difficulty’ remain, which is low profile at the mo-

Photo Credit Jorge Lascar Wikimedia

IT forecasts a tightening of credit to business and an increase in debt

ALBERT RIVERA: Was invited to visit the British ambassador to Spain. IN a very unusual move, it is reported that the leader of Ciudadanos, Albert Rivera, was invited to visit the British Ambassador to Spain, following an attack on the agreement reached between Great Britain and the other 27 Heads of State in the EU, which he made in a radio interview.

In his direct manner of speaking, he claimed in the interview that the EU had ‘dropped its trousers before Cameron’, and that he was very sorry that the Spanish government had publicly supported the concessions granted to the United Kingdom. With the fact that he may one day be-

come part of a ruling coalition in Spain, and in the assumption that Britain will remain within the Union, it would appear that Ambassador Manley wanted to take the opportunity to clarify Britain’s position, and remind Mr Rivera of the value of British investment in Spain, and of course vice versa.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

3 - 9 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

EWN

Google now in trouble with France By John Smith THE tax arrangement that the British government was so happy to boast about, whereby the Exchequer received £130 million (€165 m i l l i o n ) t o c o v e r a p e r i o d o f 11 years during which the internet search engine earned £24 billion (€30 billion), has not only been criticised by Parliament, but is looking more of a joke when compared to what the French authorities are now demanding. Following investigations into the companies’ activities in France, the government there is asking that Google pay €1.6 billion in back taxes, and this will no doubt be the matter of some discussion between company CEO Sundar Pichai who is visiting France and will be meeting the French economy minister Emmanuel Macron. It is not known whether this is a negotiating ploy by the French government, which would be content to accept a lesser payment, but it was only earlier in February that Finance Minister Michel Sapin stated that he would not enter a deal with any global company that owed back taxes. As has been previously an-

Photo Credit Maurizio Pesce Wikimedia

FINANCE MINISTER stated he would not enter a deal with any global company that owed back taxes

GOOGLE: French government have asked the company to pay €1.6 billion in back taxes. nounced, Brussels is also scrutinising the way in which these large, mainly American companies are

able to siphon money off to legitimate EU-based ‘tax havens’, to the detriment of the countries in which

these goliaths are trading. Starbucks and Fiat Chrysler were told they must pay back up to €30

million in taxes, but even this relatively small amount is being disputed, and Starbucks has declared that it will appeal the decision, whilst other investigations into tax deals with companies like Amazon and Apple, continue.

Starbucks and Fiat Chrysler were told they must pay back up to €30 million in taxes, but even this relatively small amount is being disputed It is to be wondered whether the relatively low-key announcement of the appointment of new senior officers at HMRC has anything to do with the criticism that the British government has received over the Google deal, and it remains to be seen whether these new appointees will take more stringent action against other companies. In the meantime, Spain appears to be biding its time, waiting for a stable government and watching the results of other members’ actions.

E W N 3 - 9 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

Uncertainty is draining the value of sterling

THE POUND: Has demonstrated an overall weak trend.

Ask the expert Peter Loveday Contact me at euroweekly@currenciesdirect.com

AT the turn of the year it seems like the Great British Pound made a New Year’s resolution to move lower. The heady levels of GBP/EUR over 1.40 seen late 2015 now seem like a distant memory. The pound has also tumbled against a basket of other currencies demonstrating an overall weak trend. So what is behind such a sharp move lower given we now see GBP/EUR in the mid 1.20s? As normally is the case with the currency markets we have a few independent drivers that have together created a perfect storm for the pound. Firstly the significant fallout in the global economy, particularly from China and falling oil prices has created a ripple of fear that has permeated the markets. In an environment of fear the pound tends to get sold and we have seen this selling pressure almost constantly in 2016 due to volatile and negative global conditions. To add to this we have also had clarification on the EU referendum vote which is set for June 23. The uncertainty behind this vote has already started to undermine appetite for the pound. A potential Brexit may or may not be a good thing for the UK economy and that is the point - we just do not know and this

uncertainty is draining value from the pound. This week we received news that London Mayor Boris Johnson is backing the call for a Brexit and this support increases the chance of a Brexit vote, the pound has dropped sharply this week after this news. The final reason for a lower pound is down to sentiment from the Bank of England, who have hammered home the point that interest rates are not set to move higher any time soon. You could argue that the pound was overvalued anyway in late 2015, and this move lower is a welcome correction which will support exports and help drive the UK economy and reduce the deficit. GBP/EUR in particular has also fallen due to a stronger euro. The euro has gained an appetite as a funding currency, and it has also emerged as a safe haven currency of choice along with the US dollar, Japanese Yen and Swiss Franc. Looking ahead we are set for a very interesting few months. We have the run up to the referendum vote and the markets will look to get an idea of how polling is leaning. However confidence in polling will be lower due to the fact that polls were completely wrong in forecasting the UK general election. We also have the prospect of further easing by the European Central Bank (ECB) in March to curb falling inflation. The ECB will be keen to defend against a stronger euro and will be keen to push the euro lower. Throw into the mix the activity of the US Federal Reserve and ongoing market volatility and it is set to be a bumpy ride ahead!

Visit us at our Spanish offices in Costa del Sol, Costa Almeria, North Costa Blanca and South Costa Blanca. Telephone: UK +44 (0) 207 847 9400 SPAIN +34 950 478 914 Email: euroweekly@currenciesdirect.com • www.currenciesdirect.com

OPINION & COMMENT

3 - 9 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

EWN

So much to say this week THE USA election, political correctness gone mad and Tony Blackburn’s witch-hunt LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

SO much to say and so little space to say it in. Not generally a problem with the old boy’s scribbles, but a definite drawback in this issue. Column content has to stretch from this week’s CND demonstration, an event attended by Corbyn, where in defence of their views, one couple arrogantly remarked that ‘some countries at war at the moment had nuclear weapons, but weren’t using them anyway’! Well of course they weren’t. That’s the whole idea. Nuclear weapons are… A deterrent! Do you think America would have atomic bombed Hiroshima or Nagasaki had Japan also been a nuclear power? On to the subject of America’s next president, which looks increasingly like being Trump or Clinton. The USA’s choice between a somewhat unhinged business tycoon, whose extreme ideas could just possibly be the answer. Or a power mad, proven liar, with more

DONALD TRUMP: A somewhat unhinged business tycoon. skeletons in the cupboard than Winnie Mandela. An individual who apparently, when she was first lady, ordered White House employees to make no eye contact with her, and was so

unpleasant, that staff renamed the presidential 747, ‘broomstick one’! (Devils and deep blue seas come to mind). To the subject of more political correctness

gone mad. Apparently, among other insanities, you can no longer advertise for barmaids, handymen or paper boys as it may be considered sexist! Moving smoothly on to the increasingly boring subject of Brexit. Irrespective of the difficulties that could ensue for us expats, I am, nevertheless a proud Brit who truly believes that our great country may just be able to retain that hard won distinction, should it free itself from the ever increasing, arrogant shackles of the EU. And finally squeezing in, and making no comments whatsoever, on Tony Blackburn’s witch-hunt. Fat cat charity bosses, Tony Blair’s immigrant welcome mat and the woman who tripped in a pub, broke her wrist, and could receive 4.2 million pounds in compensation! Etc. Etc. Sorry no more space. (I can hear the sighs of relief from here!) Lost two dear and wonderful entertainers this week. Richard (Dicky) Fox and Vinnie Scott. RIP old friends. Sadly missed. Keep the faith. Love Leapy. Leapylee2002@gmail.com

E W N 3 - 9 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

Little white lies don’t hurt

OUR VIEW

TALKING about an ingrown toe nail is not the best chat up line in the world Colin Bird A weekly look Each week, Colin brings his slightly off-thewall view of the world to the pages of EWN in his own irreverent style.

THE Princess and I celebrated our wedding anniversary recently, and it brought back the day that I first met her on a beautiful Bermuda beach. She had remarked upon a number of discernible scars on my abdomen, and having shown some false reluctance to talk about the subject, I eventually gave in and recounted the story of how they had been received. Some years before in my home town of Reading, I was passing a Building Society branch when two masked armed robbers burst out of the door. Stupidly and without giving too much thought to my actions, I gave chase and received a shotgun blast to my stomach for my troubles.

MEMORIES: Of that first meeting on a beautiful Bermuda beach. But I somehow still managed to wrestle one of the robbers to the ground and with the help of other passersby, we managed to subdue him and his accom-

plice until the police arrived. Being a modest kind of a bloke I don’t talk about it much, but the shotgun pellet marks are still visible. Bet you’re impressed.

My wife certainly was when I originally spun the tale to her many years ago in my efforts to win her affections. But the truth is, I had

surgery years before for a scary ingrown toe nail which was removed along with a significant chunk of my big toe. Grafting was deemed necessary before I was allowed to go home and a dozen or so pinch-grafts were taken from my abdomen. A routine procedure under local anaesthetic, but one that had me chewing the bed pan in agony once the effect of the drugs had worn off. I left the hospital two days later with a throbbing midsection; limping and chastened with lectures about the perils of wearing winkle picker shoes ringing in my ears. I was 18 years old. My good lady was a tad unhappy when I eventually told her the real story, but let’s face it; talking about a manky ingrown toe nail is not the best chat up line in the world. And I did get the girl.

Quo Vadis UKIP and Nigel Farage POLLS at present are running neck and neck

Random thoughts... THERE is supposedly an old Chinese proverb which says ‘be careful what you wish for. You just might get it’ and this seems to apply to Nigel Farage and UKIP. Really, what is going to happen to UKIP after the June referendum? If the result sees a withdrawal from the European Union, then they can hang around for a while giving sound bites about what the exit agreements should consist of. But, if the decision is to remain within the Union, then their day will have come and gone and their ideas will have been rejected, so unless they want to act like a pack of dogs snapping at the ankles of the victorious government then once again they become a spent force. Those in the conservative party who campaign for an exit are play-

Nigel Farage MEP

Photo Credit David Muscroft Shutterstock

John Smith

ing roulette with their political futures and if the ball falls on the right colour, their futures are assured and all they will have to do is agree which of them will take the roll of prime minister and who will take the other top jobs in cabinet. If the ball falls into the losing slot, then they won’t even have a viable UKIP to join and will have to set up their own party, which is likely to have few members as those on the back benches who secretly supported them, are likely to see a sinking ship and jump it. A lot is going to happen between now and June and with limited budgets, both the for and against exit parties are going to have to be very careful with their funds and very clever with their propaganda if they hope to in-

CALAIS: Clean-up.

Photo Credit Malachybrowne flickr

What will happen? THIS probably won’t be an immediate worry to many expats living in Spain, as the first and most likely effect will be that the French, who took literally years to put in to place relatively effective measures to control the border at Calais, will smile and with a typical Gallic shrug of the shoulders, simply walk away leaving Britain to its just desserts. They don’t want thousands of scruffy, unemployed foreigners camping in Calais and causing so much irritation to the French, who regularly have to spend a lot of euros on dismantling the camps or looking after these often destitute people, but whilst we both belong to the same club, then they will have to be seen to pay more than lip service to the borders. Britain is not part of the crumbling Schengen agreement and under European law is entitled to keep its borders guarded. The French have said that in the event of Britain leaving the EU, they will not relax their position and will still allow British border posts on French territory, but it will be a lot easier for them to wash their hands of the whole problem and let ‘les rosbifs’ cope with the migrants without French interference if Britain leaves. That’s the immediate problem, but what happens if Scotland decides to leave the UK in the event of the Brexit going through? Will we have a second front on the border between England and Scotland, as Hadrian’s Wall certainly won’t be too effective. Many people in Spain have the opportunity to vote in the referendum and hopefully everyone who can, will register to vote and will vote wisely.

fluence the media and the electorate. At the moment, the polls seem to be running neck and neck and for once the overseas vote may have a role to play. There are plenty of people living outside of the UK, both in and out of the EU who will have their own decisions to make, provided that they can be bothered or are allowed to vote. Will they be selfish and think only of their own futures or selfless and think of their children and grandchildren, as any decision is likely to last for a number of generations but one thing is certain, if the vote goes for an exit, it will take years for the actual exit to be completed and there will be a lot of Now we changes for expats all through the want to Union as well as Europeans workhear your views. ing and living in the UK. It is very easy to register to YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE vote and costs nothing, so - YOUR OPINION don’t give up the chance to help www.euroweeklynews.com make the decision.

OPINION & COMMENT

3 - 9 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

EWN

Slaughterhouse tactics US Department of State on Wikimedia commons

AL ASSAD is a butcher but he’s a supermarket assistant compared with the Daesh killers Cassandra Nash A weekly look - and not entirely impartial reaction to the Spanish political scene

ACTING foreign minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo claimed recently that Bashar Al Assad should have a role in Syria peace plans. Mentioning Syria and peace in the same sentence is optimistically oxymoronic but Margallo has a point. Al Assad is a butcher but he’s a supermarket assistant compared with the Daesh killers, who initially received encouragement and arms from the West. The West is as responsible as Al Assad not only for the rise and consolidation of Daesh, but also the thousands of refugees hammering at Europe’s door.

Mind the gap!

Born to it RODRIGO RATO is a former cabi-

net minister and government vicepresident, bank president and president of the International Monetary Fund. He is also up to his neck in corruption, embezzlement and money-laundering allegations, and faces four-and-a-half years in prison. Rato’s own father was jailed for fraud in 1967, at a time when few paid for monetary sins. Rato junior would be an unsatisfactory example in the nature or nurture debate because he is clearly a case of 50-50.

GARCIA-MARGALLO: He has a point.

AS it does each year, Spain remembered with a shiver the attempted coup of February 23, 1981. Beleaguered Adolfo Suarez had thrown in the towel on January 29 after five years as president. Lt Colonel Antonio Tejero and his men stormed parliament 25 days later to save Spain from ‘a vacuum of power’.

Four-way stretch MARIANO RAJOY and Pablo Iglesias have both manoeuvred for another general election. Rajoy wants to believe that he, and only he, can improve t he PP’s showi ng i n anot her election. Iglesias is confident that Podemos would overtake the PSOE given a second try. Gamesmanship doesn’t always win games and both could lose votes. Rajoy for becoming the PP’s problem and not its solution. Iglesias for revealing himself as petulant and arrogant. Between them they make Pedr o Sanchez and Al ber t Rivera look like emerging leaders.

E W N 3 - 9 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

How can a company work like that? Mike Senker

In my opinion Views of a Grumpy Old Man LAST week I was ranting about a well-known car rental company and a toll charge. You will be pleased to know that it has been concluded. I phoned the Gov.uk helpline and they were useless. They wanted a copy of the prosecution notice which I didn’t have, as it had been sent to the car rental company. So, I phoned the company again and this time I got someone who actually understood the problem. I told her I had a copy of my bank statement with the payment on it. She told me to send her it, so I did, and I got an email back saying they would refund the charge. The interesting thing was the toll people told me there was no fine. What they sent the car company wasn’t a penalty notice, just a reminder that it hadn’t been paid (even though it had) so it wasn’t a fine at all. It was a charge of £2.50. The £40 was an admin charge from the car company! A liberty but now sorted. I decided to upgrade my phone (again). My first port of call was one of my phone

company’s stores. No problem, I’m a diamond customer so apparently I get special service. Yeah righto! I find my phone of choice and of course it’s not in stock but if I’d like to leave a €200 deposit it will be there on Wednesday. It was Friday. No problem, so I paid. Wednesday comes - no phone. Same on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Monday. I ask for my deposit back which they give me. I go home and phone the operator and ask if I can order over the phone. No problem, I just have to pay €35 up front and the rest is paid over a two-year contract and the phone will be delivered in three days. It was delivered, but here is the dumbest thing. Bear in mind I’ve been with this company for 12 years with a direct debit for payments. The phone arrives by courier. I’m not home and they leave it with my security guard at the gate, but not until he gives the driver €35! The guard only has a €50 note and the driver hasn’t got the right change so it costs me €38 instead of 35, no big deal but how ridiculous that I have to give cash to a delivery driver, who then has to pay the phone company that I’ve had a direct debit with for years! How can a multi-million pound company work like that? If anyone knows please let me know.

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

LEGALLY SPEAKING

New PIVE plan ENCOURAGES drivers to trade in for newer vehicles AS part of a new series, we answer some common driving questions, kindly provided by members of the Guardia Civil based in Torrevieja, Costa Blanca, who set up the N332 website and Facebook page to help break down barriers.

CARS IN SPAIN: Are found to be older than average. ACCORDING to information published in a survey conducted on behalf of the motor manufacturing industry, the average age of a car on the roads of Spain is 11.5 years, far older than the European average, and older than what is considered to offer the optimum in safety, performance and efficiency. The data reveals that 29 per cent of all cars on the roads of Spain are between 11 and 15 years, and 24 per cent are over 15 years of age. There are more than 11 million drivers in Spain who have vehicles older than 10 years, a figure which places Spain as the country with the oldest fleet in the five major European markets of Germany, UK, France and Italy. To encourage drivers to trade in for newer vehicles, the Spanish government introduced the Plan PIVE. Now in its eighth incarnation, Plan PIVE 8 offers attractive subsidies for new vehicles

and was launched last March with a total of €175 million allocated. Not only is the aim to ensure improvements in safety, as newer cars have evolved to include features which offer more protection, they are also more fuel efficient, and so emissions and pollution are also reduced. For example, if the objective of 885,000 old vehicles are replaced with new and more efficient models, the drivers will save around 308 million litres of fuel annually, preventing the importation of 1,961,542 barrels of oil per year. In order to satisfy the requirements, your choice of car will have to be new and registered in Spain, and of the M1 category, which is a passenger car with up to nine seats, including the driver. There are other restrictions applicable too, including a maximum price of the new car, but the majority of normal, everyday vehicles will be eligible.

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

Can we change our ‘cuotas’? WE are proposing to change the way we divide our community fees. Our ‘cuotas’ are not the ones recorded in our ‘escrituras’. Our fees have been changed three times without unanimity. The current fees have never been registered in the Property Registry or our Book of Minutes, and some are paying much more The short answer is yes. In your unusual circumstances, you may change your system by majority vote, as you apparently have already done. Properly, the percentage

per square metre than others. All 144 properties have been remeasured by a qualified architect. We will vote for the changes at our AGM. The proposal is that we base the fees on the area of the property. If we do not get a unanimous vote but only a simple majority, can we proceed with the change? A.W. (Costa Blanca)

David Searl You and the Law in Spain

of community fees assigned to each property should be established in the original

charter document of the community, registered in a special section of the Property Registry. These would be the ‘cuotas’ which appear in your ‘escritura’ or title deed.

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

E W N 3 - 9 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

LETTERS

OPINION & COMMENT

www.euroweeklynews.com

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

Local heroes came to our rescue, so thank you to all

Help please! ON one of your letters pages in December, Anne Lee wrote in from Malaga asking where she could take her ever-growing collection of plastic bottle tops. I was unable to find a copy of EWN for the following two or three weeks so didn’t see any reply. I too, have a large collection of bottle tops and am in the same position as Anne. J B of Quesada

Definitely not illegal I AM sick and tired of reading in the

Tough talk

Photographs for possible publication should be sent by email with a full caption to: photonews@euroweeklynews.com

Beware the Dog! Photo Credit C.M. Coolidge Wikimedia

WE are in Teulada for a short while to see our bank and on our first day here after arriving the night before we went to the supermarket. On leaving the supermarket our Spanish car would not start. Firstly a kind, elderly Spanish gentleman helped me push it for a bump start. No joy! I then decided to try and run down the hill to bump start it again no joy. There we are stuck at the side of the road on a hill, in the way of traffic etc. Firstly a Dutch lady stopped and tried to help then another gentleman arrived. Before I knew it we were surrounded by five different cars all willing to help. With their assistance we managed to move the car to a side street and then another gentlemen assisted further by taking us back to Teulada. I do not know how I could thank them enough each one of them was a star. One Dutch, one German, one English and two Spanish. This sort of behaviour must be highlighted as we do not live in a world entirely occupied by selfish people. I just wish I could thank each and every one who assisted me outside Pepe le Sal supermarket on the Moraira to Calpe road on Saturday afternoon (February 27). We are so grateful to each and every one of them. Faith in human beings restored. Love to them all. Derek and Olive via email

ANYONE who has the right to vote who does NOT use it here in Spain or indeed anywhere in Europe should be deported back to live in Britain and stripped of all of their benefits and entitlements. Britain will NEVER be allowed to leave Europe as the ramifications for so many are so huge. However we cannot afford one gram of apathy to filter through here - we ALL need to vote with our feet. As once this craziness begins we will never be able to stop the descent. Hannah via the website

Don’t believe the hype I have a theory that the real threat from within Spain and the UK is the ever increasing number of our canine species, dogs! They are everywhere, running wild, on leads, in pushchairs, in baskets, on bikes, driving articulated lorries, on scooters, mopeds, being carried, up peoples’ jumpers, in handbags, shopping baskets. Why, I even saw one directing traffic the other day. Late reports suggest they are now stroking humans and owners are sleeping with them in baskets. Makes you wonder how they came to have four legs. I hear several secret training camps are already thriving in Almeria. The majority seem to wear designer gear, hats, cardigans, socks, hats, sun shades, blouses, hobnail boots, wellingtons, evening gowns, tuxedos. Not to mention the scouse brow and back combed barnet! They crap where they stand and decorate endless walls, trees and sometimes people with urine. A great many owners don’t bother picking up the mess; they leave it for some poor sod to do that. Beware The Dog! Philip from San Fulgencio via e-mail

Euro Weekly News that if the UK leaves the EU we will become illegal immigrants. My family and I moved to Spain in 2004 and six months later complied with the regulations and went to the National Police office and applied for residency, which was granted. Dominic Grieve is a politician so we have to be very careful about anything he says. It is my understanding that an illegal immigrant is a person who enters a country illegally, are we saying that the Chinese, Americans, Australians and other non EU people

are here illegally, I think not. Let’s grow up and accept that we chose Spain and we are here legally. Philip Whale, Almuñecar

of the EU. The word hypocrisy comes to mind. Jim by e-mail

Hypocrisy?

Dear Jim, Thank you for your comment and of course you are entitled to your opinion. In our opinion however, there is one major difference between the two matters and that is as British citizens living in Spain or any other EU country, we will be directly affected and therefore should have the right to be able to indicate our wishes in a UK referendum which will decide our future.

I WAS interested to read your article on the banning of bull fighting, in particular your comment ‘should expatriates have a say in the affairs of a foreign country.’ What a pity you do not apply the same measure to voting in the British referendum on membership

Editor’s note

YOUR average Joe Public doesn’t understand what the EU does, and doesn’t, do for UK citizens and the country’s non-British residents. I firmly believe that, although democracy is essential as a human right, there are issues which should not be left in the hands of the general public. Most don’t have either the specialist knowledge, or the first-hand experience, needed to make an informed decision, and few realise how much the UK tabloids are spreading falsehoods or, at least, exaggerations that border on (and sometimes enter the territory of) unethical... nor who actually owns and controls said tabloids. And there’s no democracy in those who would be the MOST affected being denied a vote; which includes EU nationals living in the UK as well as us expats in the EU. Kally via the website

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

www.euroweeklynews.com

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

E W N 3 - 9 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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Coronation Street Further Tales From Northumberland Coronation Street Davina Mccall: Life at the Extreme ITV News at Ten and Weather The Agenda The Jonathan Ross Show

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OPINION & COMMENT

Mojacar’s Garcilaso de la Vega writes his name into history again! A FEARLESS adventurer, his name is carved at the bottom of Granada’s most central memorial 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.

IN the centre of Granada City is an important statue with none other than Mojacar’s same Garcilaso name carved at the bottom of this most central memorial. Local historians will tell you that the statue is to serve notice where Colon was stopped leaving town after the queen had rejected his offer to find the new worlds. Queen Isabel had changed her mind and had Colon called back. Who was this fearless adventurer whose name is embossed forever on the tablets of history of both Granada and Mojacar? In the year 1490 King Ferdinand was encamped just outside Granada’s Alhambra Palace preparing his

IMPORTANT STATUE: Memorial in the centre of Granada City. final siege. His queen had recently arrived from Cordoba bringing money and reinforcements, a signal to the Arabs that the Christians would stay

until Granada had fallen. After a few days the Queen asked to be taken across the plains (vega) to a vantage point near the fortress so that

she might view the famed citadel. “The Reverend Prelates and Holy Friars, who always surrounded the queen, looked with serene satisfaction,” wrote Fray Antonio Agapida. “However the Moors were appalled by the colourful scene of pageantry and poured forth from their gates their soldiers and cavalry. Time and time again the Moorish cavalry charged and brandished their lances and scimitars defying the cavaliers to single combat, but not a soldier budged nor transgressed his orders.” One such Muslim was more insolent than the rest. This was none other than ‘El Tarfe the terrible’ a vicious man who hated the Christians and never took prisoners. Tied to the tail of his stallion and trailing in the dust was the variant inscription ‘AVE MARIA’. “One young captain was embarrassed by the insolence and spurred his horse to the king. He threw himself upon his knees and sought permission to

accept the defiant and insolent infidel. Garcilaso remounted his steed, closed his helmet graced by four silver plumes, grasped his buckler of Flemish workmanship and his lance of matchless temper and defied the Moor.” The fight was vicious. Both wasted two different set of lances before they fell upon each other with swords. The Moor, even though exhausted, appeared as the superior force and slashed with his Damascan Scimitar at the Christian on the ground. As El Tarfe had raised his arm to strike, Garcilaso, using a shorten sword pierced his adversary in the heart. The gallant knight then mounted his steed and with the banner of Ave Maria tied to his sword he bored off a single triumph amidst the rapturous shouts of the Christian army. There upon the plains (Vega) of Granada his name and history were changed forever. He became Garcilaso de la Vega.

E W N 3 - 9 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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EURO WEEKLY’S SPACE FOR YOU TO TAKE A BREA

Word Ladder SEND

TIME

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MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

Almería

for next 7 days

weather

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

TOMORROW

TODAY VELEZ RUBIO

HUERCAL OVERA

ALBOX

VELEZ RUBIO GARRUCHA ALBOX MOJACAR

YOUR STARS

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Outside influences and pressures make it hard to concentrate. However, finances in particular need attention, so do not be distracted by others trying to put

TARGET: Average: 10 Good: 14 Very good: 20 Excellent: 26

aced acid adit aide cedi coda code cued dace date dean deco dent dice diet dine dint done dote duce duct duet dune edit iced idea node nude tend tide tied toad toed undo acted adieu anode anted audio udit cadet caned canid cited coned dance daunt dicot dicta donut douce ducat dunce edict educt indue nicad noted octad outed tined toned tuned anodic atoned cadent canoed canted coated coined dacoit deacon decant detain docent donate induce induct iodate united untied conduit counted noticed actioned eduction uncoated AUCTIONED CAUTIONED EDUCATION

Alicante TODAY:

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) Petty arguments should be forgotten. More important things are afoot. This may be you at the moment. Avoid wasting time with certain individuals and projects.

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) You are holding a good hand. Deal with the right people and the rewards are high. There is potential for being cheated out of something that is yours, so it may be necessary to be ‘difficult’ to get what you deserve.

ROQUETAS

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX 18C, MIN 11C MAX MIN

22 12 S 21 10 Cl 17 8 C

Mon - 17 8 Cl Tues - 16 8 Cl Wed - 16 8 S MAX 19C, MIN 12C

19 10 C 17 9 C 14 8 Sh

19 11 S 18 9 Cl 16 8 Th

S Sun,

Cl Clear,

Sh Showers,

8-Star Quiz

EURO MILLIONS

LA PRIMITIVA

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA

Saturday February 27

Friday February 26

Saturday February 27

Sunday February 28

29 36

BONUS BALL

THUNDERBALL

BONUS BALL

13 33

15 50

LUCKY STARS

REINTEGRO

MAX MIN

17 10 C 16 7 S 14 6 C

Mon - 14 6 C Tues - 16 5 Cl Wed - 15 6 C

17 36

25 38

REINTEGRO

SUNNY MAX 24C, MIN 10C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 17 7 C Tues - 16 8 S Wed - 16 8 S

IRISH LOTTO

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

UK THUNDERBALL

CLOUDY MAX 16C, MIN 9C

Murcia

CLEAR MAX 17C, MIN 11C

UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

MAX MIN

Mon - 17 8 S Tues - 18 8 S Wed - 18 9 S

MAX MIN

Mon - 15 8 C Tues - 15 8 C Wed - 15 8 Cl

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.

SUNNY MAX 22C, MIN 12C 21 12 S 18 9 Cl 18 8 Cl

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Sudoku

Fri Sat Sun -

Mallorca

CLOUDY MAX 17C, MIN 10C

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 12 1 C Tues - 12 1 S Wed - 12 1 Cl

MAX MIN

Mon - 16 9 S Tues - 16 9 S Wed - 16 9 Cl

Benidorm TODAY:

MAX MIN

16 5 Cl 12 2 C 12 2 C

MAX MIN

19 12 S 19 11 Cl 17 9 C

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Fri Sat Sun TODAY:

Barcelona TODAY:

MAX MIN

Malaga

SUNNY MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

CLOUDY MAX 15C, MIN 3C

TODAY:

Almeria TODAY:

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) In your heart of hearts you know what you want out of life. It is a little timidity of spirit that is now stopping you. I know that recent experiences have sapped your confidence, but now is the time that you are most likely to make progress in your chosen field.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) Hidden forces are working away in the background. These give good and bad influences but life will not be dull this week. Some-

Madrid

SUNNY MAX MIN

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Avoiding a decision will not help this week. Who will deal with this matter but you? A relationship is threatened if you do not make a move. Will loved ones always be there for us no matter how much we neglect them?

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Being a brave and forthright soul, it is easy this week to dispel the negative thoughts of others. A relationship that makes you hesitate could be beneficial.

LEO (July 24 - August 23) Some loss of control over a project is irksome. A new start that seemed so promising seems to be going off course. A real injection of time and effort will make all the difference, however. Midweek, you see things going in the right direction again.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

RETAMAR

ALMERIA

times you wish others would leave you alone. Not that you are being anti-social.

(February 20 - March 20)

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) Being unusually uncertain of yourself this week could throw confusion into your ordered life. There is a partnership problem to be sorted out.

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

MOJACAR

ADRA

a finger into your ‘pie.’ Do not be concerned about making changes in your social life because this will sort out some problems.

Nonagram

ROQUETAS

OUR MARRIAGE IS LIKE THE EU REFERENDUM - MY BORIS HE WANTS OUT - BUT HE KNOWS I HOLD THE PURSE STRINGS!

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) Be determined not to be intimidated by someone who thinks that they are superior. Decide who you will take advice (or orders) from and stick to it.

GARRUCHA

LOTTERY

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Awkward situations usually bring out the best in you and this week proves that. In the longer term, you will be grateful to those making things difficult now. Midweek sees you turning the tables, which gives much satisfaction.

RETAMAR

ADRA

Let others whinge if they will. Being determined to get your own way, they will stand little chance. Recent disagreements have left a sour taste. In the best of worlds, things will not always go your way. Life would be boring if that were the case. Be likeable and you will be liked. Simple, isn’t it?

PICSES

HUERCAL OVERA

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

25 11 S 21 10 Cl 18 8 C

F Fog, Sn Snow,

Mon - 19 9 S Tues - 17 8 Cl Wed - 18 7 S

C Cloudy, Th Thunder

MOTHER’S DAY 1. By what name was the Roman Catholic religious sister, born in Skopje in August 1910 and christened Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, better known? 2. From the Latin for ‘generous mother,’ what name is given to the university, school or college that one formerly attended? 3. The Mothers of Invention were an American rock band from California that served as the backing musicians for which musician, songwriter, composer, record producer, actor and filmmaker? 4. The painting in oils on canvas created by the American-born painter James McNeill Whistler in 1871 ‘Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1’, is better known by what other name? 5. Used in ornamentation, what is the name of the smooth shining iridescent substance forming the inner layer of the shell of some molluscs, especially oysters and abalones? 6. What was the name of the wimpish, smiling character played by Michael Crawford in the BBC sitcom ‘Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em’? 7. Which alcoholic drink was formerly referred to as ‘mother’s ruin’? 8. Which small seabird of the open ocean is sometimes referred to as Mother Carey’s chicken? Not a lot of people know that… in the vast majority of the world’s languages, the word for ‘mother’ begins with the letter ‘M’ 1. MOTHER TERESA (also known as BLESSED TERESA OF CALCUTTA), 2. ALMA MATER, 3. FRANK ZAPPA, 4. WHISTLER'S MOTHER, 5. MOTHER OF PEARL, 6. FRANK SPENCER, 7. GIN, 8, STORM PETREL

SEND SAND SAID RAID RAIN GAIN

GAIN BACK

ALMERIA

OUT

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3 - 9 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

page

AK, BE INFORMED AND ENJOY A CHALLENGE

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

Quick Across 1 Real (6) 4 Grate (6) 8 Frightening (5) 10 Nimble or active (5) 11 Makes better (5) 12 Vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment (5) 13 Make brown and crisp by heating (5) 14 Snow coloured (5) 17 Hit with something flat (4) 19 Payments for services (4) 21 Comes to an end (5) 24 Boggy area (5) 25 Bet (5) 27 Concur (5) 28 Monk (5) 29 Lift up (5) 30 Fisherman (6) 31 Conquer (6) Down 1 Allocates jobs or duties (7) 2 Snares (5) 3 No matter what (6) 5 Morally pure (6) 6 Try to stir up public opinion (7) 7 Choose by a vote (5)

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Crossword

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Code Breaker Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 9 represents C and 18 represents N, so fill in C every time the figure 9 appears and N every time the figure 18 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.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS CRYPTIC Across: 1 Lindisfarne, 9 Nothing, 10 Stale, 11 Ague, 12 Lacrosse, 14 Meats, 15 Keats, 20 Entreaty, 22 Brie, 24 Therm, 25 Against, 26 George Cross.

Down: 2 Intrude, 3 Dais, 4 Signal, 5 Absorbed, 6 Nears, 7 Knead, 8 Defer, 13 Streamer, 16 Thrones, 17 Testy, 18 At ease, 19 Belts, 21 Theme, 23 Fair.

QUICK Across:

9 Asian dress (4) 15 See 16 16/15 Formal headwear (3,3) 18 Remarkable (7) 20 Snake (7)

English - Spanish

21 Scarce (6) 22 Man-eating monster (4) 23 Turn sharply (6) 24 Bulgarian capital (5) 26 Handbook (5)

Down: 2 Alike, 3 Example, 5 Heats, 6 Plateau, 7 Seems, 8 Stays, 9 Push, 13 Year, 15 Once, 17 Forgive, 19 Restore, 20 Chase, 22 Adapt, 23 Best, 25 Issue, 27 Ideal.

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

Across 1 Azulejos (ladrillos vidriados) (5) 4 Desván (5) 7 Hombros (9) 8 Strange (person, event, behaviour, feeling) (4) 9 Here (in this place) (4) 13 Traducir (9) 15 Rebajas (5) 16 Asses (donkeys) (5) Down 1 Stools (seats) (9) 2 Perdedor (5) 3 Nieve (4) 4 Over there (4) 5 Corbata (3) 6 Castles (buildings) (9) 10 Reina (5) 11 Pregunta (4) 12 Cow (4) 14 Todo (en su totalidad) (3)

Hexagram

1 Eager, 4 Chips, 9 Private, 10 Apart, 11 Sleep, 12 Mystery, 14 Lose, 16 Often, 18 Argue, 21 Care, 24 Hurried, 26 Seize, 28 Slips, 29 Protect, 30 Fewer, 31 Heals.

ENGLISH-SPANISH Across:

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

1 Elbow, 3 Salud, 6 Very, 7 Imagen, 9 Lento, 10 Norte, 11 Puerta, 12 Higo, 13 Shade, 14 Brass.

Down: 1 Envelopes, 2 Berenjena, 3 Semana, 4 Lagartija, 5 Dangerous, 8 Bottle.

Cryptic 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 (TACKLE) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues.

ANTLER ARREAR BAUBLE CAREEN CLUTCH DUGOUT EXTENT FEEBLE GALAXY GARBLE

GLOBAL KINDLE RECODE RESORT RUSTIC SODDEN TACKLE (10) TARGET TRANCE

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 1 Brandy, 2 Diesel, 3 Landau, 4 Spleen, 5 Indoor, 6 Afraid, 7 Jasper, 8 Beyond, 9 Serial, 10 Joyful, 11 Rabies, 12 Allele, 13 Defeat, 14 Lumber, 15 Fluent, 16 Astray, 17 Rueful, 18 Strand, 19 Mutate

Across 1 Block second best (4) 4 Car Erasure made a prize (8) 8 Dip in Eurocrat error rate (6) 9 Chef Jamie is musical (6) 10 Brigadier hid capital (4) 11 Mrs Hales turned out to be innocent (8) 13 Ethical oil Polish chap concocted (13) 16 Climb up and over damaged lead case (8) 19 Start supping beer, it’s a deal (4) 20 Order from top to carry high explosive (6) 22 Eat in, he’d be angry (6) 23 Others not more fidgety (8) 24 Expression used for part of school year (4) Down 2 Spots she’s after diverted train (9) 3 Mine’s on decrease, that’s the drawback (7)

4 Set fire to a bit of toast or charcoal (5) 5 Money after, for example, trio organised exhibition of selfishness (3,4) 6 Facility in Catskills (5) 7 Soldier ate duck eggs (3) 12 Half a can of lager is trifling (5,4) 14 Famous person let make-

up frighten (7) 15 Quick coffee on the spot (7) 17 On the lookout for later novel (5) 18 Distinctive character began education to help overseas students (5) 21 Female sheep, says you (3)

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OPINION & COMMENT

Legal or ludicrous? - obscure laws you didn’t know you were breaking MAKES you wonder why all these daft obsolete laws haven’t been repealed, but the government is probably far too busy Nora Johnson

Breaking Views Nora is the author of popular psychological suspense and crime thrillers and a freelance journalist. To comment on any of the issues raised in her column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/3.0.15/nora-johnson

DID you know Prince Charles couldn’t be charged for setting off a nuclear bomb? Well, according to a recent study, he’s exempt from sanction over a range of laws - and also has special rights over certain ‘crown roads.’ Problem is, nobody knows where those roads are! It’s all down, apparently, to the arcane constitutional position of the Duchy of Cornwall. This 700-year-old landowning estate, which provides the heir to the throne with an income, can’t be made criminally liable for contraventions of certain laws which include the Data Protection Act 1998 and the Nuclear Explosions (Prohibition & Inspections) Act 1998. Well, this started me thinking about ancient UK laws that have never been repealed (even though statutes may have rendered some obsolete).

ARCANE LAW: Bans eating mince pies on Christmas Day. Among the weirdest are the ones banning you from eating mince pies on Christmas Day. Guilty as charged, m’lud! But if you lock me up, you’d have to imprison at least half the UK population too... Did you also know it’s illegal to die while in

the Houses of Parliament? Which prompts the question: ‘How would they tell?’ if certain excessively low profile MPs broke this particular law. It’s illegal too to enter the Houses of Parliament wearing a suit of armour (and if you then sit down and die, you’ve REALLY blown it.)

Other bizarre laws still in existence include a ban on firing a cannon close to a house, the use of any slide upon ice or snow, or driving cattle through the streets of London. But a pregnant woman is legally entitled to relieve herself anywhere she wants! And it’s illegal not to tell the tax man anything you don’t want him to know, but it’s perfectly legal not to give him information you don’t mind him knowing (umm, yeah. I think I’ve got that). Finally, anyone who sticks a postage stamp on a letter upside-down is guilty of treason. And the head of any dead whale found on the British coast automatically becomes the property of the King, and the tail of the Queen. Legal or ludicrous? Makes you wonder why all these daft obsolete laws haven’t been repealed. But then, the Government’s probably far too busy dealing with all the endless new EU laws... and fraught upcoming referendum. 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. All profits to Cudeca charity.

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Meditate your way to a healthier brain and memory By Emily Chettle JUGGLING family life, work, shopping and bills are a few of the daily tasks that can make us feel overwhelmed. When there are so many tasks landing on our plates every day, pushing ourselves to achieve as much as possible isn’t always easy when anxiety or stress start creeping in. Sit down, close your eyes. Feel your chest rise and fall with every inhaled and exhaled breath. Meditate. Meditation can help ease stress, but it comes with another benefit too. New research shows regular meditation may be able to physically change your brain for the better. Yoga instructor Joy Hmielewski said: “Our culture is very go-go all the time. It can be very demanding. “People don’t rest, they don’t know how to take care of themselves.” Whether you are practising yoga, meditation or just taking an hour a day to be with yourself and concentrate on your thoughts and breathing, studies are increasingly showing that meditation may boost brain function. In a recent American study from the Massachusetts General Hospital, volunteers new to meditation took part in a weekly class and also spent half an hour a day at home meditating alone. When looking at how the volunteers’ brains had changed, researchers found through regular scans, that there was an increase in the grey matter. Grey matter contains most of the brain’s neuron cells. It is a region of the brain involved in muscle control, and sensory perception such as seeing and hearing, memory, emotions, speech, decision making, and self-control. Brains tend to shrink with age but other studies have shown that regular meditation keeps the brain looking younger. One study showed regular meditators at the age of 50 had brains that resembled those of people half their age, especially when looking at the frontal cortex, responsible for tasks such as memory.

Credit Jack Frog

MEDITATION can improve memory

IN ORDER to become the best we can be, we must spring around the corner, there’s no better time to cle BODY lifestyle and Investing in our bodies, means investing in a rent for each diffe developing a personal culture that will look tains. moun of us. Some of us jog, practise yoga, or climb matter not does It Others may walk, swim, or go to the gym. it. , enjoy what we do as long as we connect with, and look after it. We have only one body, and it is imperative we

MIND A major part of mindfulness is being present - paying attention to what is in front of us. Living in the moment and awakening ourselves to experience encourages positivity, and ensures that our minds are active and focused. Our energy goes where we set our focus, and the more we cultivate our focus the more we can achieve. Accomplishments increase our opinion of our own selfworth, further increasing joy and contentment. This serves as a reminder that happiness comes from within and not from others.

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The benefits of a good night’s sleep By Emily Chettle

t nurture every part of our well-being, and with eanse, renew and rejuvenate ourselves.

1) Sleep improves the capacity for learning. Whether it’s a language or a new board game, sleep re-enforces memories and learning patterns. 2) Creativity is boosted after a good night’s sleep. It strengthens emotional components in memory which is linked to improved creativity. 3) Sharpen attention - especially in children, a lack of sleep can be detrimental to learning and the school environment. Unlike in adults, where symptoms might include sleepiness or anger, children can suffer from hyperactivity. 4) Sleep can help with weight-loss. Research has shown that dieters who are well rested lose more fat. Well slept dieters felt less hungry than tired dieters. So if you’re thinking of starting a diet, consider an earlier bed time. 5) A good night’s sleep can lower blood pressure. Stress and sleep are powerfully connected and both have a bearing on cardiovascular health.

WaveBreakMedia / Shutterstock

SPIRIT The spi rit is our per son al exp erie nce of how we con nec t with the transpersonal, to go bey ond the individual. For som e, this me ans me dita tion , reli gio us or spi ritu al ritu als, and oth ers find the ir hap py pla ce wh en gar den ing , knitting, or reading. When we live the life we wan t, we live our lives with passion, gratitude, and love, which makes life worth living. We stre ngt hen the bod y to cal m the min d, and we cal m the mind to liberate the spirit.

ON average humans sleep for about one third of their lives and it may seem obvious that sleep is valuable, but the full benefits are not always examined. All we know is when we’ve slept well we are ready to take on the world as opposed to sleepless nights where we feel like hiding under the nearest rock. Scientists have spent decades going to great lengths to fully understand the benefits of sleep. Studies on humans and animals alike have disclosed that sleep is important in immune function, metabolism, memory, learning, and other vital brain functions. Our minds are surprisingly busy when we sleep. Memories can be strengthened, and learnt skills cemented in place, a process called consolidation. Sleep is a key part of a healthy lifestyle, and has multiple benefits to the heart, weight and mind. Here are some other key benefits -

We sleep for on average a third of our lives

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Nutrients help to protect against heart disease TRY eating more pumpkin seeds, nuts, seeds and shellfish

HEALTH BEAUTY

Ask The Doctor

Brought to you by

Migraines

By Gemma Quinn HEART disease is one of the leading causes of death in the UK and US, yet it is believed everyone can do more to help prevent it, simply by a better choice in the foods you eat. So what should you eat? Omega 3 essential fatty acids Easy for us lucky enough to live in Spain. Eat more oily fish, nuts and seeds and seed oil to help prevent bad cholesterol. Magnesium It plays a vital role in the production of a type of energy called ATP, needed by muscles, including the heart, to relax. It can be found in nuts, seeds, leafy vegetables and pulses. Co-Enzyme Q10 Known for helping with energy production alongside

SPECIALIST: Doctor Luis Perez Belmonte. This week a reader asked the doctor about migraines:

MEDITERRANEAN DIET: Full of fresh fruit and vegetables. Magnesium, Co-Q10 is also a powerful antioxidant to help protect arteries from damage. It is found in meat, eggs and fish.

Vitamin D Research has shown when you are deficient of vitamin D there can be a 40 per cent high-

er risk of heart disease. The best source is sunshine, but small doses are also found in fish, some mushrooms and eggs. Zinc Just like Omega 3 oils, zinc can help prevent inflammation and it has been shown to have protective properties, particularly for coronary artery disease. Try eating more pumpkin seeds, nuts and seeds, shellfish. Vitamin C Helps protect you from cardiovascular disease. stock up on fruit, parsley and red onions.

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

Dear Doctor, I recently had what I can only describe as a migraine attack. I was driving and suddenly my vision became blurred. About five minutes later I felt so bad I had to go home. Once there the migraine started, the pain was almost unbearable and I had to take painkillers and wait for it to pass. My GP told me it was a migraine. I’ve had a couple more attacks since and am very worried. -Is this normal? Do I need tests? Migraines are a frecuent cause of headaches but not all headaches are migraines. They can be intense and cause pulsating pain to one or both sides of the head. If you have these symptoms you should be evaluated by a specialist, who will carry out tests including a blood test and an MRI. -What is the difference between a normal headache and a migraine? Migraines tend to affect specific areas of the head and can be associated to neuralgic symptoms including visual alterations, numb-

ness or tingling sensation in the face or hands and even, although this is rare, temporary paralysis of the face or other parts of the body. They usually last between 24 and 72 hours and wear off gradually. Patients usually identify their symptoms quite quickly and as time goes by can learn to prevent or reduce attacks by taking certain measures. -How can I control these attacks? When they happen I have to stop what I’m doing and if I’m driving it could be dangerous. Attacks can be hard to control but usually if caught early they can be kept in check. Stressful situations should be avoided and those prone to migraines should get plenty of sleep at night and avoid anything they suspect sparks their attacks. -What causes them? The causes are unknown, but genetics, hormonal changes and certain medicines are believed to be involved. Some patients also relate their attacks to certain foods or drinks including alcohol, chocolate or caffeine.

If you have any questions for Dr Perez Belmonte, please send them to: jefemedico@helicopterossanitarios.com The Coast’s Home GP service - wherever you are - at home - in the office - in the car - on the golf course your GP will get to see you any time, anywhere. A priceless service at an affordable price.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

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So you’ve taken up running then? Wear the correct shoes! THERE is no need for a trainer, just the motivation to get out there

FitFoxy Looking Good, Staying Trim

RUNNING is the fitness choice selected by many, due to the fact it is so convenient and practically free to do, if you discount the fitness kit and trainers. You get to train outdoors, which is always a bonus, you don’t necessarily need a trainer or anyone else to train with you, just the motivation to get out there and enjoy yourself. However one of the important and often overlooked things to consider when you are taking up running is the condition your body is in when you start, and the condition it needs to be kept in to keep you from injury. There is a huge difference between a conditioned gym goer and a complete beginner.

FOOTWEAR: You need to have your feet measured in a professional running shop. • The first basic thing you need to make sure you get right is your FOOTWEAR. You may think this is obvious, but believe me I have seen people running in Converse All Stars, fashion pumps and worse. If you are to take your new sport

completely seriously you need to have your feet measured and your gait assessed in a professional running shop. This way you will get the exact style and fit of running shoe that is going to one day take you through a 5km to 26.2 mile race.

In the past I have trained clients that have suffered from shin splints from running and high impact exercises. After making a podiatrist appointment and correct inserts were put in their training shoes they recovered and were able to continue running without pain.

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Meningitis jab petition MPs in the UK are to debate the introduction of meningitis jabs for children under the age of 11, after more than 700,000 people signed a petition calling for action. The petition was launched after parents shared photos of their infants who died from the infection. Former England rugby player Matt Dawson also joined the campaign after he tweeted images of his youngest son, who had been battling with meningitis. The Petitions Committee agreed to schedule a debate but said it would like the House of Commons to hear from some of the families who have been affected by meningitis B as well as relevant medical experts. A vaccine to protect against Meningitis B has been available on the NHS for babies aged two months since September.

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SCENE

OCIAL Photo alex lawson.

Wacky races for animal charity Photo by Rhino Neal, Flickr.

MUST be a home-made vehicle with four wheels

WACKY RACES: Entrants wanted.

By Gemma Quinn ENTRANTS are wanted for a Wacky Races event in San Juan de los Terreros. The Wacky Races and Family Fun Day takes place on March 19 where there will be mini petanque, mini golf, prize draws and stalls as well as the kart race. To enter, you must have a home-made vehicle with one person per kart. It must have four wheels but no engine and the driver must be at least 14 years of age and be wearing a helmet. Registration costs €5 from 10.30am and the first heat commences at 11am on the corner of Calle Marte and Calle Discovery with prizes for the winner. The fun day is in aid of San Animal Santuario charity and has been organised with help from the Pulpi Town Hall. San Animal Santuario is a registered charity set up by a group of animal lovers who share the desire to make a difference to abandoned cats and dogs in the Aguilas, Lorca and surrounding areas. For more information or to register, contact Pete 630 528 464 or email pete@sananimal.org.

GIANT PAELLA: Was enjoyed by residents and visitors to the village.

Andalucia Day celebrated in style in Mojacar A CHILLY wind did not prevent people turning out in their dozens for the Andalucia Day celebrations in Mojacar. The crowds enjoyed the music and dancing of a local group singing typical songs of the region, including the hymn of the region, in the town hall square. Mayor, Rosa Maria Cano, raised the flag of Andalucia high above the building and balloons in the typical green and white colours of the re-

gion were released to float away on the breeze. A giant paella was prepared in the square with the mouth-watering smells drifting around the village, council members served up plates of the delicious dish and distributed them to the waiting crowd. The celebrations closed with a music and dance display at the Artisan, multi-use centre, including a display from the Nicky Maidstone, children’s dance school.

SOCIAL SCENE

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Fat Lizards’s debut rocked the house BAND are no strangers to playing the Mojacar circuit By Adele Land

HOMELESS: Many dogs are still looking for homes.

ACRAA helping out The Dog House ACRAA fundraising group, is holding its annual fun dog show on Sunday April 3 at the town hall square in Arboleas. The event has been brought forward this year due to the loss of Paul, founder of The Dog House Foundation. The aim of the event is to raise much needed funds as there are still dogs in need of veterinary attention prior to rehoming. The event will begin with booking in at 10.30am followed by a short display at 11am.

There will be 12 different classes, so something for everyone. Refreshments will be available and The Colmena bar will be open. There will be various stalls, a raffle, display of line dancing by Dusty Boots and music and MC courtesy of Smooth FM Radio Station. Anyone interested in holding a stall please contact Christine on 627 613 351 or Dawn on 629 075 824. Bring your dogs or just come along for a family fun day out in aid of a good cause.

THE Fat Lizard Band’s Pura Vida debut went down a storm at the weekend. The bar/restaurant was packed out as the band’s followers flocked to enjoy a meal and an evening of rock and roll. The band are no strangers to the Mojacar circuit, having played in many other venues, but this was the first time in the high-end establishment.

Phil and the guys had the place rocking with classic tunes. Phil and the guys had the place rocking with classic tunes from The Beatles to The Rolling Stones along with a handful of tributes to the late David Bowie. The band is Phil Jones on

lead vocals, Colsten Pils on drums, with Mario Moriche and Pedro Clemete on guitar. The audience were eased into the evening with some soulful rock classics, then in the second half the party really got started with stomping tunes which soon had everyone up dancing. Check out the Euro Weekly News social scene for the band’s forthcoming gigs and other music events in the area.

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Meet the potential mayor candidates RACE for office as Mena ordered to step down By Adele Land THE race is hotting up for who will replace Albox mayor, Rogelio Mena in the coming weeks. Mena was ordered to step down in the midst of an ongoing corruption case in which he is accused of a number of misdemeanours including mismanagement of public funds. A number of names have surfaced as potential candidates to replace Mena when he finally leaves public office. Leading the pack is 33-yearold Sonia Cerdan, urban planning councillor and spokesperson for the ‘Socialist Albojenses’ group. Cerdan is heavily tipped as the next mayor and if successful will be the first female mayor in Albox history.

IN WAITING: Sonia Cerdan one of the candidates. Other names who have also shown an interest include sports councillor Mario Torregrosa and Paco Perez, health and security councillor.

Tourism councillor, Irishborn Maura Hillen has said she will not run as a candidate. A replacement is expected to be announced soon.

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

Investing monies in Zurgena THE town of Zurgena is to undergo a number of improvements following the announcement of the annual budget set for 2016. The municipal budget in Zurgena has increased by almost half a million euros from the previous year. Mayor Luis Diaz explained that a large part of the monies will be spent on important infrastructure investments including the improvement of green spaces and parks as well as the access roads to the town. Diaz also pointed out the importance of shoring

up hillsides, following the Cerro de las Lomas landslide which forced a number of families and businesses from their premises in 2013. To encourage citizen participation, a mobile phone application will be launched to enable residents to report any problems relating to roads and other municipal facilities. Part of the budget will be set aside to improve facilities for the Local Police force along with a financial assistance fund for senior citizens and the farming community.

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

2 arrested for fatal shooting in Albox MEN were seen arguing in the street TWO men have been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting in Albox. Emergency services attended the scene in Calle Ramon y Cajal, near the conservatorio, following a call from a nearby resident who heard gunshots and found a man lying on the ground. The 51-year-old victim was taken to the nearby medical centre where he later died from his injuries. Shortly after, a man, named as JATG, said to be the victim’s nephew, was arrested.

Officers also recovered a gun, allegedly used during the incident. The next day, following interviews with witnesses, a second man, PTG, aged 21, also a nephew of the deceased, was arrested. According to witnesses the men were having an argument in the street when shots were fired, neighbours of the family said that they were aware of previous arguments between the men. The judicial police in Huercal-Overa have taken charge of the investigation which continues.

Residents’ solidarity against violence DOZENS of Albox residents took part in a minute of silence at the town hall last week. Council members and staff, along with local residents held the period of reflection to show solidarity against all forms of violence, following the fatal shooting of a man in the town.

ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

Sponsor APSA skydive WITH just a few months to go before her charity challenge, daredevil teen, Shannon Cross is desperate for people to sponsor her. In June, Shannon will jump from a plane, high above the plains of Sevilla in aid of Albox dog charity APSA. As a volunteer for the rescue centre, Shannon knows first-hand how hard everyone works, taking care of and rehoming the many stray and abandoned dogs. You can follow APSA on the Facebook page APSA animal rescue and sponsor Shannon via Paypal apsaskydive fundraising@hotmail.co m.

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Football coaching BUDDING football coaches in Albox have the opportunity to fasttrack into their dream job with a coaching course. The sports department of Albox Town Council are collaborating with the Spanish Football Federation organising a course beginning in April. The sessions will take place Mondays and Wednesdays from 7pm to 11pm, for more information call 647 081 346.

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

A Casa de Cultura is to be built for Albox EXPECTED to open in a few months By Adele Land THE old town hall building is to be reformed and converted into a ‘Casa de Cultura.’ The ground floor will be home to an ethnographic museum, studying people and cultures, while the first

floor will house a library and a multimedia centre. The building will also have a number of study rooms and the historical archives of the town will be displayed. The first phase of the project is already underway with work taking

place on the roof and electrics. The next phase will include reformation of the first floor. The full construction works will begin as soon as the Local Police force has moved to its new premises. The cultural centre is expected to open within the next few months.

Rural tourism riding high in Almanzora over holiday weekend THE Almanzora valley was filled to the brim with tourists over Andalucia Day weekend, even if many of them didn’t travel too far to get there. Rural accommodation in Almanzora was completely booked over the holiday, with

the majority of the visitors coming from Almeria, Murcia, and Granada. Ramon Medina, President of Touristic Entrepreneurs, expressed his satisfaction over the high occupancy rates, which represent that the tourism and

hospitality sector is continuing on its steady road to recovery. Medina noted the many visitors over the long weekend had a wide array of cultural and touristic options on hand, with Almanzora being able to offer everything from hiking and

tapas routes, to the marble quarries of Macael, to the Museum Casa Ibañez in Olula del Rio. He further observed some holiday-goers even stayed for a complete week in their chosen place of lodging, as an alternative to the busy city life.

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V I S I T O U R W E B S I T E W W W . E U R O W E E K LY N E W S . C O M

Advertising feature

Bargain villa in walking distance to amenities

Property of the week Brought to you by Voss Homes

WELL-PRESENTED and spacious two bed, two bath villa with established gardens on the edge of a village

The cost of student digs in cities CITIES with a large number of university students are a good place to rent out a house. But how much does it cost to rent a room in one of these cities? Madrid is the most expensive as students, according to Uniplaces website, can even pay €1,000 a month for a room in the capital of Spain. The study shows that Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Granada and Valencia are the most expensive university cities in terms of renting rooms. Madrid average prices for renting a room are €400 per month, followed by Barcelona (€380), Sevilla (€272), Valencia (€233) and Granada (€197).

€104,950

MATURE GARDENS: Mainly gravel for easy maintenance. phone are connected. Hot and cold air con is in the bedrooms and living room. For more information about Villa Christine VH687 or a viewing please contact Voss Homes on 0034 950 616 827 or email us at info@vosshomesspain.com or visit our office in Huercal-Overa. We are 1km off exit 553 of the A7 E15 motorway, 100m from LIDL.

ROOMS: Madrid is the most expensive.

WELL-PRESENTED: With feature fireplace and log burning stove.

Photographee.eu via Shutterstock

VILLA CHRISTINE is a well-presented and spacious two bed, two bath villa with air con and sun roof on a garden of 425m2 with established gardens on the edge of a village, walking distance to a shop, restaurant, bar, doctors, chemist and school. Just eight minutes drive to the major market town of Huercal-Overa and 35 minutes drive to the coast at San Juan or Mojacar. Located on the edge of a small group of villas it consists of a good-sized living room with feature fireplace and log burning stove, dining room, fully fitted kitchen and a large conservatory which makes a very nice extra dining room / living room. The larger than average master bedroom has an en suite shower room and a walk in wardrobe, the second double bedroom has built-in wardrobes, plus there is the family bathroom. Leading from the living room is also a fly free porch which makes another ideal outdoor eating / relaxation area. Outside the private mature gardens are mainly laid to gravel for easy maintenance with a built-in BBQ, tool shed and log store plus off-road parking for two cars. There is room for a pool. In the HuercalOvera area you can get permission for a pool. External stairs lead up to the sun terrace to enjoy the views. Mains electricity, water, internet and

A post crisis boon AFTER eight years of decline the price of housing in Spain has finally risen. The square metre of private housing stood at €1,490 in the fourth quarter of 2015, representing an increase of 1.8 per cent over the same period last year, according to a report from the Ministry of Development. There is a stark difference between private housing at €1,738 per square metre, and social housing at €1,095. San Sebastian registered the highest average price at €3,133 per square metre.

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PROPERTY

Forecast shows an impressive year and further improvement A BANK report on the year ahead for the Spanish property market has forecast an impressive year that will see continued improvement on the success of 2015. An estimated 420,000 sales will be made in 2016 according to Bankinter, which would represent an increase of 53,000. The following year is expected to continue the trend with 450,000 sales anticipated. Meanwhile house prices will rise by 3 per cent on average and by 5 per cent in prime locations. The report identifies higher employment, better financing and property becoming a more valuable asset for investors, as the key reasons the market will continue going from strength to strength. Property is regaining its lofty status as the go to investment for financial players, both small time and multinational, who are looking for a safe bet away from the uncertainty of the financial markets. A large number of planning approvals given the green light in 2015 will also make their presence felt as construction begins on thousands of new homes. Though positive, the report has an overall real-

Grisha Bruev via Shutterstock

By Matthew Elliott

HOUSE PRICES: Will rise in prime locations. istic tone, with none of the rampant optimism of the boom years before the financial crash in 2008.

A declining population and the realisation that property prices are subject to fluctuation were

highlighted as other reasons for the relatively modest forecast.

It’s a dream come true in the sun SPAIN is now a must have location for a property portfolio for funds from around the world John Graham The property expert

I’M on the Spanish Costas sitting on the terrace of the golf club, it’s late morning and the sun is hot, I’m wearing my sunglasses and golfers are playing in short sleeve polo shirts. Oh did I mention it’s mid February. I’m with my customers who have just bought their first home in the sun and naturally they are feeling very happy, it’s a dream come true. There’s something special about buying a home in the sun, it doesn’t matter if you’re buying a small apartment or a luxury villa, it’s a bit like when you bought your first car, it didn’t matter what type of car it was, all that mattered was that it was yours, to enjoy as often as possible. According to the official figures from the Spanish National Statis-

GOOD NEWS: Property prices are expected to increase by 6 per cent on average by 2017. tics In s titu te th ere w e re ove r 3 5 4 , 0 0 0 h o u s e tr a ns a c tions in 2015, that’s a lot of happy new home owners and 2016 is looking good for similar or even more property sales. What makes my customers even happier is knowing that they have

bought their dream home for an excellent price, around 40 per cent low e r tha n the pric e s ba c k in 2007. There’s more good news for property buyers this year from the European Commission, their economic forecast indicates that prop-

erty prices in Spain are expected to increase by 6 per cent on average by 2017. This is especially good news when compared to the European Commission economic forecast for other countries such as France, Belgium and Greece etc where they are forecasting a fur-

ther fall in house prices. The European Commission forecast is important news for property investors, who now see Spain as the country that will generate sustainable profits on property investments. In fact Spain is now a must have location for a property portfolio for funds from around the world. The i ncr ease i n pr i vat e and funds buying property in Spain will further increase the prices of property in 2016, for example we are negotiating on several large property portfolios and we see that property valuations are increasing every month. My customers have just ordered a bottle of Cava with a bucket of ice to celebrate buying their dream home and I’ve asked the waiter to pl ace an um br el l a next t o our table. No it’s not raining it’s just t hat m y cust om er s need som e shade, they are not used to the sun but that’s all about to change. If you are selling your property please contact me we have buyers especially for Mallorca. gk.ipad@me.com

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HOMES

GARDENS

Don’t just put flowers in vases or let them die, eat them too! ROSE petals can be added to salads and elderflowers used to make home-made wine Dick Handscombe

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

I HAVE had a garden since the age of five. That means that for 73 years I could

h av e b ee n ea tin g mo stly h o me g ro w n e c o lo g i c a l food for every meal every d ay o f th e y ea r. Bu t p oor school food, poor cooking by a busy mother, snacks on the run during a busy busin es s life d iv erte d me a t times from maximising my

e a ting of the fre e he a lth foods from the garden. W he n I re tire d in 1994 following two cancer operations, I followed the surge on’s a dvic e of e a ting a healthy Mediterranean diet. Fortunately our then holiday home was in a self-suf-

ficient valley that ate and exported fresh produce daily and the older folks gathered wild herbs and flowers for culinary and medicinal purposes. For decades we had eaten globe artichokes, the flower bud of the plant, and when

har vest i ng nast ur t i um leaves to add zest to salads we added a few flowers for decoration and their subtle taste. Likewise rose petals were added to salads and elderflowers were used to make a home-made wine in the kitchen. When we walked the local mountains we chewed the flowering tips of rosemary stems for the energy giving oil and Romanesque and cauliflowers were often eaten as vegetables. Then within five years of living full time in Spain the village and valley lost its self sufficiency as families moved off the land to work

in the construction industry during the boom. So we started to grow all we could ourselves to the state of being self-sufficient in vegetables, herbs, fruit, meat and beneficial edible flowers. We began to research what other beneficial flowers we had in our garden and what we could start to grow and eat. The following are extracted from a longer list mentioned in ‘Living well from our garden Mediterranean style’. Chive, broccoli, borage, citrus and courgette flowers for adding to salads. Marigold petals, nasturtiums and rose petals are also good in salads. Rosemary flowers for taste and oil content. Passion flower infusions can be r el axi ng. Rocket f l ower s add spiciness. Sunflower seeds can be dr i ed and chewed as a snack. (c) Dick Handscombe www.gardeninspain.com

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Advertising feature

In the first quarter of 2016, the sun comes out on the real estate trade WITH new perspectives, TM Grupo Inmobiliario adapt their offers to suit their clients’ needs tial estates. TM gives all its products a series of installations like those of luxury resorts, such as heated pools, gyms, spas, sports areas and large relaxation and chill-out zones replete with vegetation, and an atmosphere of pure Mediterranean enjoyment. Proof of this is the star product of the firm, Mar de Pulpí Pueblo Mediterraneo, located in San TM: Promoting Juan de los Terreros, a village five-star near the town that gives it its residential name, Pulpí. This resort has an estates. exceptional location on the beachfront and has good links to the nearby shopping town of Aguilas. Mar de Pulpí has witnessed this transformation, and adapted its offerings since construction and sales began in 2010 – probably one of the worst years of the property crisis in Spain. At the start of the development, there was only one phase of homes available in its typically Andalucian design, with ample green

NOW that it looks like the real estate trade is getting back to normal, after 15 consecutive months in which the number of purchase-sales agreements has grown, according to the Spanish National Institute of Statistics (INE), it’s time to look back and see what may have changed. In the years leading up to the crisis it was normal to see real estate products whose design, construction and sales processes were fully optimised to get the maximum number of units on the market in the shortest time. Today, however, the few companies that are actually brave enough to undertake new developments have to adapt their offers to customer needs if they want to be competitive in a market, that is very different from the one we had in Spain in 2008. In the case of the Alicante-based developer TM Grupo Inmobiliario, this adaptation has been translated into the promotion of five-star residen-

Home appliances of the near future

Buyers should be wary

INTELLIGENT technology is on its way THERE will come a point with technology where it begins to increase at such a rate that, rather than doubling in capacity every two years or so, it will happen within seconds and before we know it there will be an intelligence explosion that will mark the end of our current human experience. Until then we do have some idea of what technology will bring us and it’s an exciting time for home appliances. Consider the smart toilet, already in use in Japan and a home security system that embraces facial recognition software allowing you to permanently throw away your key. Things you’ll likely take for granted in the near future will be ordering your fridge to prepare you a cool glass of water. This technology is on its way.

Iurii via Shutterstock

By Matthew Elliott

FUTURISTIC HOMES: Nearer than we think.

zones and an incipient beachfront park located in front of it. In 2016, Mar de Pulpí Pueblo Mediterraneo has become a benchmark destination along the Almeria coast in Spain. TM Grupo Inmobiliario has designed its ‘Happy Homes Experience’ here. This experience, focusing on full enjoyment of the Mediterranean lifestyle, is based on a totally ‘worry-free’ concept. Currently, over 300 families are already enjoying their new home in front of the sea. They purchased a real estate product in the midst of a crisis. How was this possible? At TM, we think it is because our products are adapted to demand. This is surely an example of adaptation to our clients, and that is what has brought about the revolution in Spanish real estate, making the sun shine once again. For more information call 950 529 944 or visit www.tmrealestategroup. com.

A CONTROVERSIAL weedkiller that was declared ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’ by the World Health Organisation has been ruled legal and fit for sale by the European Commission, meaning many

consumers, gardeners and growers in Britain and Spain could unwittingly be using it. The substance is known as Glyphosate and is found in many popular herbicides, indeed it is so widely used that

residues have been found in British high street bread. The European Food Safety Authority ruled it was ‘unlikely to be carcinogenic.’ This decision was welcomed by the agricultural lobby.

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PETS PAGE www.euroweeklynews.com

Group or private training for dogs MAKE sure that the class you choose is appropriate to your dog’s skill level

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

ONCE you have chosen your method of training, you will then have to decide if you want to attend group classes or if you want to train your dog in private. I recommend group classes to enable your pet to socialise with other people and dogs. Group training usually consists of a group of dogs, all roughly the same age, all learning the same basic commands at the same time. Make sure the

an instructor familiar with all breeds of dogs who will teach more than just the basic commands. Knowledge of behavioural issues is extremely important, and the class must be structured in such a way that it is fun for you and your puppy. If there are children in your home, having them attend the classes is also important. If there are no classes in your area, or none that you find suit-

able, private training is another option. It is individualised to suit your needs. Private training is also good for dogs that have behavioural issues, aggression towards strangers or other dogs. However your trainer will want you to attend a training club which

has dog socialisation. Whether you are looking for private training or group classes, ensure the trainer teaches you how to teach your dog. Another sign of a good trainer is that he/she has the ability to acknowledge that some situations are beyond his/her knowl-

GROUP CLASSES: Enables pets to socialise. class you choose is appropriate for your puppy’s skill level, as well as his age. A good group class will have no more than 10 dogs in it, and

edge, and tells you as such. Inappropriate training techniques can lead to bigger problems. Unfortunately there are a number of people who call themselves trainers who really are fakes. Safest bet is to go to a school that has been established and known for years.

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WE ARE currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 902 123 309. (200726)

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Motoring shorts

Into the future BMW will use this year’s Geneva International Motor Show, taking place on March 3 - 13, to present the world premiere of the new BMW M760Li xDrive. Also making its debut appearance will be the iPerformance model designation which will identify the transfer of technology from BMW i to the BMW core brand in all BMW plug-in hybrid vehicles. The new BMW M760Li xDrive will raise the bar in the sporting luxury sedan segment as the flagship variant of the BMW 7 Series model range. The first-ever M Performance TwinPower Turbo 12cylinder petrol engine generates 441 kW/600 hp and sprints from 0 to 100 km/h / 62 mph in 3.9 seconds (fuel consumption combined: 12.6 l/100 km [22.4 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions combined: 294 g/km).

Clarkson Quote of theWeek

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“In Italy, you sometimes get the impression they'd be happier to lose the Pope than lose their right to drive like maniacs.”

Some might say...

Happy birthday Scenic CELEBRATING it’s 20th anniversary this year THE Renault Scenic, which was the European automobile industry’s first compact MPV, is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2016. Like the original, the fourth generation Renault Scenic will share its underpinnings with the Renault Megane. It will be based on the C/d version of the Renault-Nissan Alliance’ CMF platform, as is the c a s e w ith th e R en au l t Megane and the Renault Kadjar crossover. The compact MPV’s design will be in line with th e co mp a n y ’s n e w la ng u a g e, th a t w as in tro duced on the fifth generation Espace and later seen on the Kadjar, Talisman as well as the Megane. The interior, especially the dash-

SCENIC: Will be unveiled on March 1.

boa rd a nd centre console layout, will be very

i dent i cal t o t hese models. The new three-spoke steering wheel, colour head-up display

and R-Link two infotainment system with an 8.7-inch vertical touchscreen display flanked by vertical HVAC vents will likely be a few familiar interior elements.

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Self-driving cars just got the green light JUST last week, Google scored a major regulatory coup in the USA, when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) declared that you don’t need to be human to be a driver. In a letter to Google supporting the company’s driverless car sys-

tem, the NHTSA said that a driverless car does technically count as a driver. One of the major benefits of the revolution will be the safety advantages, not least by taking the ‘human element’ out of the equation. The American National Safety

Council estimates that in 2013, at least 341,000 crashes (and possibly up to 910,000 crashes) were attributable to drivers who were texting. A staggering 49 per cent of drivers admit to texting and driving, even though they know the practice is unsafe.

Last month US Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx, announced that they’ll have driverless car guidelines ready by June. Tech experts anticipate that driverless cars will eventually be viewed as simply another accessory, much like a smartphone.

RE-PLATE MATE Don’t take a chance! Don’t break the law! Take the hassle out of re-registering your vehicle onto Spanish plates We endeavour to better any genuine quotation 490 Euro + Road Tax + CO2 emission tax if applicable

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SPORT

City wins League Cup, 4 goals for Marcus, England rugby favourites BARCELONA are heading for their 24th La Liga title Tony Matthews International Sports A former player and now the world’s most prolific author of football books with almost 150 published since 1975, Tony is also the sports correspondent for Spectrum Radio and lives on La Pilica in the Sierra Cabrera Mountains overlooking Turre. Costa de Almeria

FOOTBALL • After a 1-1 draw, Manchester City beat Liverpool 3-1 on penalties to win the League C u p l a st Su n d ay. City’s ‘Man of the Match’ was their former Elche and Malaga goalkeeper Willy Caballero who saved spotkicks from Lucas, Coutinho and Lallana. This was the first time two brothers (Kolo and Ya y a To u r e ) h ad played against each other in a Wembley final. • Leicester City, with Leonardo Ulloa’s 89th minute g o a l , beat Norwich 1-0 to stay t wo points clear

of Tottenham, 2-1 winners over Swansea, at the top of the Premiership as Arsenal (third) lost 3-2 at Old Trafford. • There were also PL wins last weekend for Chelsea (2-1 at Southampton), Stoke (2 -1 v b o tto m c lu b A s ton Villa), WB A (3 -1 o v e r Crystal Palace) and West Ham (1-0 v. Sunderland). • Burnley (2-1 winners at lo w ly B o lto n ) le a d the Ch amp io n s h ip w ith 65 p o in ts to H u ll City ’s 6 4; Burton Albion (after a 0-0 draw with Walsall) are two points clear of Wigan (6462) in FL1 while Northampton Town, unbeaten in 11, head FL2 by 10 points from Plymouth. • After Celtic drew 1-1 at H a milto n an d A b erd ee n likewise with St Johnstone, six points still separate the Bhoys and the Dons at the top of the SPL. • Barcelona (unbeaten in 34 games) are heading for their 24th La Liga title after beating Sevilla 2 -1 . S ec o n d-

ANTOINE GRIEZMANN: Scored for Atletico Madrid.

DID YOU KNOW? Sixty-nine years ago this week, in March 1947, Oldham’s player-manager Neil McBain kept goal against Hartlepool in a Division 3 (N) game, aged 52.

placed Atletico Madrid won 1-0 at Real Madrid (third) in the ‘capital city’ derby. • Juventus (Italy), PSG (France) and Bayern Munich (Germany) are on course to win their respective League titles. • In the C ha mpions League, Manchester City beat Dynamo Kiev 3-1 in the Ukraine and Arsenal lost 2-0 at home to Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona. • In the Europa League round of 32, Manchester United, with two goals from teenage debutant Marcus Rashford who repeated the act in last Sunday’s PL win over Arsenal, whipped Midtjylland 5-1 (6-3 on aggregate); Liverpool edged out Augsburg 1-0 thanks to James Milner’s penalty and Tottenham ousted Fiorentina 3-0 (4-1 overall). Next up, it’s Liverpool v Manchester United and Spurs v Borussia Dortmund while holders Sevilla play Basle. The two-legged ties are on March 10 and 17. • There have been full progra mme s during this mid-week in the Premiership (including Liverpool v Manchester City again) and Leagues 1 and 2 while coming up this w e e ke nd, it’s Manchester City-Villa, Tottenham-Arsenal, WatfordLeicester and WBA-Manchester United, while Birmingham play Hull and Burnley meet Blackburn in the Championship. • And for the record, Gianni Infantino (Who?) is the new FIFA President. RUGBY • Undefeated England are bang on course to complete the Grand Slam after beating Ireland 21-10 in their third Six Nations encounter of 2016. Sc otla nd w on for the first time in two years, 36-20 over Italy in Rome and Wales eclipsed France 19-10 in a bruising a nd untidy c onte s t in Cardiff where 21 minutes were ‘lost’ due to scrum-

WILLY CABALLERO: City’s ‘Man of the Match.’

mages! • It’s Saracens first and Exeter Chiefs second in the Aviva PL. • And Warrington Wolves lead the Super League w hile Le e ds R hinos , without a win, are currently bottom. BOXING • Carl Frampton is the undis pute d s upe r ba ntamweight champion of the world after last Saturday’s comfortable points win over Scott Quigg. SHORTS • GB’s fencing team have qualified for Rio this summer - the first time they will c ompe te in the O lympic Games since 1964. • For the second year running, golfer Rory McIlroy missed the cut in the Honda Classic which was won by A da m Sc ott w hile England’s Holly Clyburn finished second in the RACV Ladies Masters in Australia. • The World Track Cyc ling C ha mpions hips are under way in London. • Tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday, GB’s tennis stars play their first round Davis Cup match against Japan

in Birmingham. • England’s cricketers fly out to India this weekend ahead of the T20 World Cup which starts on March 11. • And Lewis Hamilton sai d, af t er t est i ng i n Barcelona, ahead of the F1 season “My Mercedes car is awesome.”

WALKING FOOTBALL… is for players 55 years and over and takes place on the Camping Los Gallardos bowling green ever y Sunday m or ni ng weather permitting between 10.15 and 12 noon. Games are on a five-a-side basis, depending on numbers. • For further information, contact Fred Lawton on 950 469 771.

GIANNI INFANTINO: The new FIFA President.

SPORT

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19th Hole Golf Society play Lorca Golf Resort GREENS could not be better THURSDAY February 25 saw 40 members and guests make their way to the Lorca Golf Resort to play a Three Division Stableford competition. It must be said that the course really is in a very acceptable condition with greens that cannot be bettered. Tommy Seed in the Men’s first division romped home an easy winner with a superb 41 points leaving Doug Birrell and Lee Coxon with 38 and 36 respectively in his wake. It should be pointed out that Doug’s effort was not helped by his odd ‘Air Shot,’ not with a long iron or driver, but with his putter when deciding to take the safe option from off the green by some eight metres - oops. In the Men’s second division Jerry Edwards with 32 points playing from the Blue tees just scraped home to beat Pat O Dwyer and John Kennedy, both on 31 points. Chrissie Dow easily took the Ladies prize with 36 points from Zeta Denyer with 30 points. Good day for Pete Kelly who took a couple of Nearest the Pins in spite of nursing a damaged nose and eye sustained from contacting the floor at home. Results: Men’s Division 1 1st Tommy Seed 2nd Doug Birrell 3rd Lee Coxon

41 points (17) 38 points (21) 36 points (12)

Men’s Division 2 1st Jerry Edwards 2nd Pat ODwyer 3rd John Kennedy

32 points (28) 31 points (25) on countback 31 points (28)

Ladies’ Division. 1st Chrissie Dow 2nd Zeta Denyer

36 points (34) 30 points (36)

Nearest the Pins 4th Bernie O’Brien 6th Jerry Edwards 8th Pete Kelly 10th Peter Kelly 12th Lee Coxon 18th (in Two) Brian Bodell Twos 4th Bernie O Brien and Bob Tagg 8th Terry Caddick 10th Doug Birrell The 19th Hole Golf Society arranges weekly games around the area playing Aguilon every other week. For more information ring 610 340 653 or email gs19thhole@hotmail.co.uk.

MARINA PHOENIX: Members played for the Padfield Putter Greensome Pairs Trophy.

The first annual trophy THURSDAY February 25 saw the first of the annual trophies to be played for at Marina Phoenix this year. It was the Padfield Putter Greensome Pairs Trophy where the best drive is chosen, then alternate shots for a stableford score. Pairs are made up of a low and a high handicapper with ability to gel important.

José Urroz and Alan Morris combined well to take the trophy with a score of 38 points, including three birdies. John Meagher and Joanna Artenieff were second (37) on countback from Don Atkins and John Park (37). There were nearest the pin prizes for José Urroz (2nd), Rosalie Fardon (5th), Alan

Morris (14th) and Kathy Morris (17th). Longest drive winners were Isobel Jones and Jim Budd. Monday’s individual stableford saw Jeff Williams (40) win his first competition since joining the club at the start of the year. Tony Wells (35) was second followed by Ali Mahmud (34) in third.

The Ladies division was won by Isobel Jones (37), followed by Linda King (34) in second with third prize going to Kathy Morris (33). Marina Phoenix play Mondays (individual) and Thursdays (team game). To join for a €25 green fee. Jim on 950 162 727 / 600 353 670 or Rosalie 950 397 117 / 697 512 882.

11 Taekwondo warriers IT was cold, it was wet, it was Saturday morning but that didn’t stop 11 brave warriors who fought their way through the weather conditions and the intense traffic to prove themselves to the world (and to the black belt instructors Ms Laura Linschoten and Mr Serge Dewrée). Our most profound respect and admiration to Nicolas, Oliver, Charlie, Jack, Mi-

la, Harrison, Talia, Adam, Sophia, Thomas, and Havana. Wear your new belt with pride. A medal was granted to Nicolas, Mila, Sophia and Havana for their fighting spirit, the award to the Best Warrior was given to Jack and the trophy to the Best Patterns went to Harrison. Not to forget Osaia who also graduated

and got a medal for her fighting spirit two weeks ago as she is now on her way to Tarifa to compete in a European Championship of Kitesurfing. Taekwondo Mojacar trains at Indigo Gym on Mojacar Playa Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Visit the Facebook page ‘GTF Spain - Global Taekwon do Federation’ or call on 646 844 708.

E W N Costa de Almería

3 - 9 March 2016 LOUIS VAN GAAL inflamed the fans’ passion when he collapsed to the ground mocking an Arsenal dive.

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Blatter and UFC champion pulls out Platini saga By Matthew Elliott

A FIFA appeal committee has decided that the eightyear ban from football related activity handed down to the disgraced duo of Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini was too onerous, and has made it six instead. While unlikely to make any real difference to the f o r m e r F I FA a n d U E FA presidents’ futures, the ruling is being denounced as an embarrassment at a time when the governing body is desperately trying to reclaim some sense of honour. The committee justified its decision, ahead of the key vote for Blatter ’s successor on February 26, by arguing: “Mr Platini’s and Mr Blatter ’s activities and the services they had ren-

dered to FIFA, UEFA and football in general over the years, should deserve appropriate recognition as a mitigating factor.” It represents a startling about-face, especially as the investigatory arm of the inquiry had actually challenged the original eightyear ban as insufficient and demanded a lifetime dismissal from the game. Seemingly unaware of the broad public disgust for their activities, regardless of their legality, the egotistical Swiss and his French protégé have already complained about the new sixyear ban. Blatter described his treatment as ‘shameful’ and ‘insulting’, while Platini proclaimed his innocence a n d s a i d t h e c h a rg e s a r e baseless.

IRISH fighting phenomenon Conor McGregor’s historymaking career suffered a s light blow a s B ra z ilia n UFC lightweight champion Rafael dos Anjos pulled out of their highly anticipated M a rc h ma tc hup due to a broken foot. The lightweight title was on the line for their March 5 bout in Las Vegas and instead McGregor will face arguably the tougher challenge in moving up to the w e lte rw e ight divis ion to face Nate Diaz. The bout will take place at 170lbs, almost two stone above the Irishman’s previous fighting pounda ge in the featherweight division, but designed to prevent Dia z from ha ving to c ut weight at such short notice. Still in possession of the featherweight strap, McGregor has taken the UFC by storm with a wave of pub-

CONOR MCGREGOR: Will face a tougher challenge in moving up to welterweight. licity coming to a dramatic conclusion with his 13 second knockout of Brazilian legend Jose Aldo in December last year. Just like Donald Trump, the charismatic redhead has

his idolising fans but also hi s det r act or s, m any of whom predict that a move towards his more natural fighting weight will see him eventually fall. On the same card, Holly

Holm, who destroyed the widely acclaimed poster girl of the sport Ronda Rousey last year, will take on fellow American Miesha Tate for the women’s bantamweight title.