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SSUENN 1555 //1023 - 29 APRIL2016 2015 IISSUE OO . .1601 - 16 March

COSTA DE ALMERÍA

YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION

Albox welcomes first lady mayor SWORN in on International Woman’s Day By Adele Land Albox marked International Women’s Day by electing its first female mayor. Sonia Cerdan was sworn in during a special plenary session earlier this week. After months of uncertainty, former mayor, Rogelio Mena, was forced to step down following ongoing corruption charges and a vote took place to elect his replacement. Cerdan, 33, made history by becoming the first female leader of the town and joined the other 21 female mayors throughout Almeria Province. The new mayor spent her first day in office as women around the world celebrated International Women’s Day on Tuesday, March 8. This wasn’t the first time Cerdan had made her mark on the town, last year she was appointed official spokesperson of political group, Socialistas Albojenses.

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Some wise words OLDER citizens paid respect by the young MOJACAR celebrated the ‘Day of the old’ which saw families get together to appreciate the love and wisdom of older generations. See page 18

Mojacar missionary LOCAL woman saving African children A GUARDIAN angel for poor street children in Africa has been found in a Mojacar resident who has devoted three years to her charity feeding and educating children in need. See page 20

Raffle winners revealed RESULTS now in for Albox charity raffle LUCKY Albox residents have been named as the results of the APSA animal charity raffle are made public with all the proceeds going to a fantastic cause. See page 68

Adios Albox CLOSING a black page of history A trained technical architect, she has spent four years working at the town hall in different roles, most recently as urban and planning councillor. In her first address as mayor Cerdan promised to represent all Albox residents and said she was proud to be able to support the housewives, hairdressers and all other working women in the strive

towards gender equality. She went on to say she would not get caught up in partisan struggles and that her main focus would be on the future success of Albox. She continued her speech by thanking her predecessor saying his achievements for the town could not be ignored, while touching on Mena’s corruption charges by adding

that she would make the town a “shining example of transparency.” Cerdan concluded by thanking the opposition and guaranteeing them her cooperation and respect. Opposition group Partido Popular (PP) has said it will oppose the decision to elect Cerdan, citing irregularities in the procedure.

THE NEW female leader of Albox will have a hard time matching the high drama of her predecessor’s protracted

public exit. Rogelio Mena finally quit office, but remains defiant in defeat. See page 70

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LOCAL NEWS

Budget surplus IN an extraordinary plenary session, the Mojacar Council has decided to use a recent budgetary surplus to reduce the town’s debt. The €205,283 surplus that cur-

rently exists will be applied to this end. Additionally €30,000 will be set aside for the maintenance of beaches, just in time for the 2016 tourist season.

Dali-influenced ARTIST, Francisco Javier Moreno, will be displaying his work at the Vera Convento. The artist, from Albacete cites his influence as Dali surrealism and will be displaying some 27 pieces of work. The exhibition will run until March 15 and was organised by the culture councillor, Isabel de Haro.

Women’s names A RECENT study carried out by the Comisiones Obreras Union’s Teaching Federation has indicated that only 28 of the educational centres in the province of Almeria are named

after women. The study was carried out on the occasion of International Women’s Day on March 8, and aims to shed light on inequality in different spheres of society.

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Mojacar Parador’s history on display SOME of its first guests were high-ranking military officers By Adele Land MOJACAR PARADOR takes its place in history this week as an exhibition in its honour is held by the Junta de Andalucia regional government. The Parador celebrated its 50th anniversary earlier this year and various documents and paperwork relating to its opening will be displayed in the Junta archives. Amongst the paperwork is the original decree from the minister of finance when the land was acquired for the government-run establishment. The original plot of land cost the equivalent of some €8,000 and the construction of the building, €148,000. Some of its first guests were highranking military officers sent to the area following the nuclear crash in nearby Palomares. The Mojacar Parador played an important part in the creation of the

50TH ANNIVERSARY: Mojacar Parador history will be on display. province as a tourism destination and its opening was shortly followed in 1968

by the inauguration of the province’s airport.

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Local resident’s group suggests new ideas PARTICIPATED in the drawing up of a new by-law

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 61 - 62

Social Scene 64 - 65

Albox 68 - 72

Property 74 - 75

Homes & Gardens 76 - 77

Pets 78 - 79

Classifieds 81 - 83

Motoring 84 - 85

Sport 87 - 88

By Adele Land A LOCAL resident’s association has urged Vera Council to take on board new suggestions and ideas to form part of the recently announced citizen’s ordinance. The new by-law was announced during a recent council meeting and had been passed without consultation with neighbourhood groups and residents. Veraplayazul, brought to the table a host of ideas of items to add to the by-law and urged the council to take them on board. Included in the list was what the group called, respect for diversity at all levels, this included respect for visitors of all nationalities and for the naturists who frequent the Vera Natura beach resort. The group suggested that Vera become a ‘town of tolerance’ welcoming visitors from all walks of life and called for the creation of a citizen’s councillor, through whom queries and suggestions from residents could be channelled. Veraplayazul also urged the council to

BEACH MAINTENANCE: Resident’s group want beaches kept clean. ensure the beach and coastal areas are kept clean and well maintained. Disputes arose last year after some of the beach was replenished with a gravel type material and not sand, local business owners lamented the period of time it took to resolve the issue affected them financially.

The group raised other issues including the pollution of the sea off the Vera coast, and the lack of effort from the council to have the European Blue Flag status reinstated. A meeting will be held this week in order to finalise the ordinance.

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Kamikaze driver injures two on the A-7 motorway AN 11-year-old boy and an 18-year-old girl were injured on the A-7 motorway on March 5 when a car barrelling in the wrong direction caused an accident. The incident occurred near the municipal boundary

of Almeria City, and both the boy and girl had to be taken to hospital. At the time of going to print, the boy was still in hospital and a 76-year-old man had turned himself into the police.

Making art, not war, in Mojacar bikeriderlondon (shutterstock)

FOUNDATION was created in 1990

YOUNG ARTISTS: Come from all over the world to stay in a calm place.

By Sam Croft CREATIVE types will continue to flock to Mojacar now the council has approved another collaboration with the Valaparaiso Foundation, thus extending a programme that annually awards grants to artists from different disciplines. The Foundation was created in 1990 by Paul and Beatrice Beckett in an old oil mill, which is located at the foot of Mojacar la Vieja, among orange groves, olive trees, and almond trees.

Every month eight artists come from all over the world to stay in a calm place where they can concentrate on their creative work, free from distraction and in a unique environment. By approving the grant programme, the Mojacar Council once again demonstrates its support for the spirit of the foundation, which has allowed hundreds of artists to stay in Mojacar over the course of the last few years. At the same time, the pro-

gramme allows Mojacar to be at the forefront of the creative pulse of society, which in turn helps to inspire young artists.

EWN

Almeria Province near the top for woodland blazes FOREST fires have not been in short supply so far this year in Almeria, with 18 separate incidents already registered in the province. This places Almeria among the three Andalucian provinces with the greatest number of forest fires.

The most serious incident this year destroyed over 28 hectares in the area of Cerro de las Bolinas de Enix. Plan Infoca, a forest fire prevention and control service, has confirmed that the fire was the result of arson.

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NEWS EXTRA

On the beat A NEW officer and squad car is on the beat in Viator as the Local Police strive to improve the quality and scope of their service. The fully equipped car cost €22,000.

Death fall A MAN died on Saturday March 5 after having a paragliding accident in the Sierra Alhamilla National Park, in the municipality of Pechina. Emergency Services received notification from a witness who saw the man falling to his death.

Home theft A YOUNG Spaniard was arrested last week in Cuevas de Almanzora as the presumed perpetrator of a burglary of a local residence. The man allegedly climbed into the home and stole personal items.

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Algarrobico inching towards demolition AN action plan has been written up to set the steps to be followed By Antonio Melgar REPRESENTATIVES from the National Government and the Junta de Andalucia regional government have created a new board that will take care of the necessary procedures for the demolition of the El Algarrobico hotel. In a recent court ruling, the hotel was declared to be in violation of environmental regulations, and was ordered to be knocked down. During the first meeting of the new committee, which took place in Sevilla on March 7, representatives from both governments agreed that the main priority is the definitive demolition of the building and the subsequent restoration of the area. They have written up an action plan, which is expected to include the pertinent legal reports that will set the steps to follow to ensure that the building will be demolished once and for all. The plan is expected to be analysed and approved in the next meeting of the board, which will take place no later than the second week of April.

EL ALGARROBICO: The building is to be demolished once and for all.

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Life saving course in English Photo credit: flickr by Pablo

EXPATRIATES in Mojacar will have the opportunity to learn basic life-saving techniques, taught in English. The short course has been organised by administrators of a community Facebook forum and the first session will take place on Tuesday March 15. The first session, which will include CPR, along with choking and drowning, is already fully booked but further sessions are to be scheduled. The cost of the course is €5 and all monies will go to charity. Courses will be held at Joe Beach bar on Mojacar south beach. O rg a n i s e r, B r a d S w i f t , thanked Steven Howlett and Vicky Venturini of VIP Almeria for their kind donation of the resuscitation dummy and Beverley Price who will teach the course.

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Parade death ruled to be an accident YOUNG man was playing King Baltasar By Sam Croft THE Almeria Court has, at least provisionally, closed the investigation into the death of a 20-year-old man who died during the Campohermoso Three Kings Parade in 2015. The young man was playing King Baltasar and was standing atop one of the floats at the time of the accident,

which has been attributed to the float coming into contact with a slack and drooping cable. The investigator indicated that during the parade the top of the float snagged the cable, which caused a telephone post to fall on the man and kill him. The investigation was being carried out in an attempt

to determine if the accident had been caused by the cable drooping or being out of place in some way. The judge concluded that although the cable was indeed the cause of the accident, it did not appear that there was sufficient evidence of negligence through action or omission to establish criminal liability for the man’s death.

Photo exhibition will give a boost A PHOTOGRAPHY exhibition is on its way to nine municipalities in the province of Almeria. The question is: which ones? The Almeria Provincial Council will select nine different towns as the locations for the photography exhibition ‘Almeria: Land of Cinema’ which is set to take place between May and November.

The show will feature 30 photographs that were selected during the last edition of the International Short Film Competition: Almeria in Short. The photos depict the beautiful landscapes of the province that have been glimpsed in so many cinematic productions, both national and international.

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Justice finally will be served CLAN member was shot in the face By Matthew Elliott THE clan warfare that broke out in Almeria in 2007 will finally see justice done as the main protagonist in a violent shoot-out which left one man dead awaits judgement.

Prosecutors have asked for a minimum 18-year sentence for a member of the Los Antones clan who allegedly shot a Los Sheriff clan member in the face during the incident. The two clans had apparently met in a house in order

to resolve various disputes but the reunion turned bloody when an argument saw one man pull out a gun and shoot another in the leg. One died and several were injured in the ensuing bloodbath.

Doggy doo doo warning issued

Robber arrested

MOJACAR Council has begun a campaign to clean up the streets of dog excrement. A poster appeared on the official Facebook page, with the slogan, ‘bag it and bin it.’ The subject has formed part of heated debates on community forums with members lamenting the mess left on the paseo by irresponsible dog owners. Some suggested hefty fines should be levied and that warning signs should be erected.

A MAN has been arrested in Cuevas del Almanzora accused of a burglary on a property in the town. The 20-year-old allegedly broke into the property after climbing the fire escape and made off with items including two games consoles.

Press Release

Home donated for public use MOJACAR Mayor Rosa M a ria C a no tra ve lle d to Viladecans in Cataluña last week to sign, in the name of the town and before a notary, for a home in the village which has been donated to the municipality. The heirs of JPM, former ow ne r of the home , live permanently in Viladecans and decided to hand over the building on Calle Ruiz in Mojacar Pueblo, in the former Jewish quarter known as El Arrabal, to Mojacar for public use completely free of charge. N ow, onc e re nova tion work is carried out, the council will study the best way to put the property to public use.

Once renovated, the council will study the best way to use the property. Other buildings on streets in the historical centre are also receiving repairs, or their owners tracked down, to avoid safety risks as Easter approaches. Taking art outside MOJACAR Council is to open up the streets of the Pueblo to local artists who wish to work in public and share their talents with passersby.

This initiative, Culture councillor Raquel Belmonte explained, will give artists a place to work, share their creations with the public, start new communications with and attract visitors and consolidate Mojacar’s special relationship with the world of art. To this end, the town hall i s cr eat i ng a m ap of prospective appropriate locations. Initially these will be i n t he Puebl o, wi t h a possibility of extending the initiative to the beach area in the future. Those interested in being awarded space, which must be used all year round, can apply at the Culture Department within the town hall.

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NEWS

Pushing the desert limits IMPORTANT economically for the area Photo by StevanZZ via Shutterstock

TABERNAS DESERT: Important meeeting point for lovers of extreme sport. By Matthew Elliott TABERNAS continues to be an important meeting point for lovers of extreme sport. More than 800 athletes and cyclists coming from different points of Spain participated in the third edition of the Mosa Peugeot Ultra & Trail Tabernas Desert on March 5 and 6. This competition is important on both a national and in-

ternational level. Participants came from many countries, including Argentina, Italy, Denmark, and Mexico. The event is important economically for the municipality of Tabernas. “More than 1,500 people have visited us this weekend, we have a high occupation in lodgings and also it has been noticed in the bars and restaurants, as well as in other busi-

nesses,” said Tabernas Mayor Jose Diaz, who underlined the good organisation and positive atmosphere. In the itinerary of this race, the participants have gone on a course through the desert, passing by important and emblematic places that have been seen in many films and shows, including ‘Exodus,’ ‘Game of Thrones,’ and ‘Death has a Price.’

Fatal shooting in Oria A WOMAN was shot dead in Oria at the weekend. The 19-year-old Moroccan woman, named as Fatima, died from a gunshot wound to the chest. Police and emergency services were called to the scene in Calle San Marcos, at the entrance to the town, where she was pronounced dead. A 28-year-old man, named as Thomas, and said to be a neighbour of the young woman, has been arrested in connection with the incident. According to witnesses, the victim was in the home of an elderly couple where her mother worked as a caregiver. The man allegedly approached the property and banged on the door violently. When the young woman opened the door, she was shot twice with what was described as a hunting rifle.

The incident was witnessed by the victim’s older sister who was on the upper floor of the property. Mayor of Oria, Maros Reche, declared two days of mourning in the town and councillors observed a minute’s silence in the town hall. Speaking in a radio interview he said he was shocked by the incident and that he was not aware of any dispute between the two families. He dismissed any suggestion of gender-based violence. According to neighbours, the two individuals were not said to be in a relationship. The alleged shooter, who is said to have a history of drug related crimes, gave himself up to police without a struggle. The fatal shooting comes in the wake of a similar incident where a man in Albox shot his uncle in what was described as a family feud, the man also died at the scene.

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EWN

Estate Planning – Will You Have Control And Certainty? We all sleep better when we feel confident that our affairs are in order, and as we get older we think more about the legacy we will leave to future generations; specifically, how and to whom our assets will pass on our death. Increasingly, estate planning is a major concern for our clients. You have worked hard to build up your wealth and want to pass it on to your children and grandchildren to help them as they make their way their way through life. However you want to ensure the money is used wisely, and at the time your heirs need it most. But how can you have control over what happens after you are gone? You may also have many years left in retirement yourself, and so need to continue to receive income or take capital in the meantime. For example, you want to leave money to your children but are concerned about how they will handle

By Gerald Turner, Partner, Blevins Franks it at this stage in their life. You would prefer it if they received their inheritance as they reach the end of their working life, to help them enjoy a comfortable retirement. Or you may want to contribute to your grandchildren’s higher education fees.

You may be able to set capital aside now to plan for the above situations, but need to leave other funds available for your and your spouse’s use through retirement. So you need to have full ownership of these funds now, with full withdrawal and income rights, but set up in such a way that they can easily pass to your chosen beneficiaries when you die. And then there is the significant issue of tax. As much as possible you would like all of your hard earned wealth to pass to your chosen heirs, rather than a large part of it going to the taxman. British expatriates in Spain have both UK inheritance tax (which is based on domicile, not residence), and Spanish succession tax to contend with. The two tax regimes work very differently, and you also need to understand how the

Spain/UK double tax treaty works in this case. The solutions you use for your estate planning should therefore be tax favoured ones. And not just for inheritance tax purposes, but also during your lifetime, so that you can enjoy a tax efficient income today. In our experience it is possible to structure your affairs, for both Spain and the UK, so that the right money passes to the right hands at the right time, at the same time as reducing tax during your lifetime and after it. It is important to use arrangements which are compliant in Spain and the UK. As an expatriate you are likely to live in one country, have heirs in another and possibly assets in other countries. Cross-border tax and estate planning has become more complex over recent years, and you need to ensure your arrangements would

stand up to scrutiny by the taxman. Creating and maintaining a good ‘estate plan’ is primarily about ensuring your wishes are carried out in the way you wish, but taking account of relevant legal and tax considerations. The plan needs to be flexible to accommodate events like more grandchildren, or divorce, remarriage within the family. It is vital that you review it on a regular basis, so if you set up your plan years ago it will be time for a review. Cross-border tax and estate planning has become more complex over recent years. This is a very specialist area and professional advice from an experienced wealth manager is essential. To keep in touch with the latest developments in the offshore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevinsfranks.com.

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Grand theft in Almeria BANK robber ran through streets firing a gun By Matthew Elliott A BANK robbery spilled onto the streets of Huercal de Almeria on March 3 with gunfire echoing throughout the neighbourhood as a 63-year-old man desperately tried to flee the police. An unlikely hero of the day was an off-duty Guardia Civil officer who was on his

way to a training course when he saw the chaos unfold. Driving to Benahadux, the officer was passing the bank when he saw the robber leaving with his loot in one hand and a gun in the other. Seeing the policeman he jumped into his car but had trouble starting it and ended up running away, firing his gun to maximise the havoc.

The officer pursued the gunman through the streets as he continued shooting and eventually pulled over a vehicle and threatened the driver with his gun. Luckily the driver was quick witted enough to take his keys with him and the robber was stuck in the car. Guardia Civil officers swarmed him and took him into custody.

Active criminal organisations DATA provided by the Ministry of the Interior has revealed that there are somewhere between 11 and 20 existing criminal organisations in the province of Almeria. Although these numbers may seem alarming, Almeria is actually on the low end of the scale, both on a national level

and in Andalucia. Malaga features towards the top of the list, along with Cadiz, Alicante, and Valencia, although Madrid and Barcelona easily surpass all other areas, with more than 100 criminal groups identified in each of the countryâ€™s two biggest cities.

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Caterpillars strike HAIRS can do serious damage to young children and dogs By Adele Land CHILDREN from El Alquian, Almeria have been hospitalised with hives as a consequence of contact with the dreaded pine processionary caterpillars which have emerged from winter early this year. PSOE councillor Pedro Diaz has now demanded that the authorities fumigate all of the pine area in the neighbourhood, specifically near the Los Pinos park, del Espanol football pitch and the San Bernardo public school. He also asked the local government to carry out an analysis across the city to determine exacty where the majority of the caterpillars are dwelling and what to do about it. “Residents have warned us about the presence of the processionary caterpillars in areas like la Vega de Aca and in the centre, specifically Calle Jesus de Perceval,” he said. The processionary caterpillar is the scourge of pine trees across southern Europe and its hairs can do serious harm to mammals, particularly dogs and young children. They live in nests high up in the trees and are subject to

PINE TREES: They live high up in nests. a variety of means of control. Symptoms include severe rashes and even breathing difficulties in young children, milder rashes in adults and

quite serious consequences for dogs who may accidentally digest the hairs and should be taken immediately to a vet for treatment.

Velez-Rubio cop sentenced for hiding criminal record A LOCAL POLICE officer from Velez-Rubio has been sentenced to pay a fine of €10 per day for three months after he concealed that he had a criminal record for drunk driving. He was sworn in on June 24, 2011 and according to the sentence he was fully aware that said record would disqualify him from joining the force.

Semi-pro kickboxers arrested over El Zapillo beating THE National Police have arrested two youths for their presumed involvement in the brutal beating of a third young man in the El Zapillo neighbourhood of Almeria last August. The victim had just come out of a bar and was going towards his car when he was attacked, receiving kicks and punches all over his body. His left arm was fractured and he had to go to Torrecardenas Hospital to be treated for his injuries.

Following an outcry on Facebook by the victim’s sister, the investigations eventually led to the two presumed perpetrators, both of whom are semi-professional kickboxers. There may have been others involved, with some witnesses even speculating that several women participated in the attack. The victim had difficulty quantifying the exact number of attackers as he had been hit repeatedly in the face at the time.

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NEWS

Future of wine looks good REGIONâ€™S quality has improved in recent years By Adele Land THE future of wine produced in the Levante and Almanzora areas looks good, according to a local expert and aficionado. In an interview, Miguel Diaz, of the Association of friends of wine from the Levante Almeriense, said wines from the area had improved in recent years and were growing in popularity. More than 70 members form the association, with producers from Antas, Jauro, Cuevas del Almanzora, Huercal Overa and Vera. The group meets regularly and has visited oth-

er vineyards to learn new techniques to improve the quality of the wine. Most of the wine produced in the area is red from grapes such as Tempranillo and Cabernet Auvignon, with a few producers growing the syrah variety. Diaz added that the dry climate is actually ideal for the grapes, explaining that natural rainfall is usually sufficient water for the crops. The expert said the next stage for the producers is to obtain a PGI, (projected geographical indication), an EU regulation ensuring a commitment to quality.

National dance competition VERA hosted the first stage of a national dance championship last weekend. The competition, organised by the Spanish dance association and its counterparts from the French dance federation,

took place in the municipal theatre. Inaugurated in 2005, the event attracts hundreds of people from across Europe and takes place every year during March and April.

The competition includes many different dance disciplines including, modern, hip hop, jazz and flamenco. Competitors travelled from provinces including, Malaga, Sevilla, Badajoz and Castellon.

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NEWS

Mojacar day of the old Boy creates and stars in a video against bullying By Adele Land

FAMILIES in Mojacar and towns across the province took advantage of a glorious sunny day to celebrate Dia de la Vieja (day of the old). In preparation for the annual event, children make effigies from wood and paper and fill them with sweets and goodies. On the day, families go out into the countryside and enjoy a picnic together with friends and neighbours, after which, the children throw stones or use sticks to break open the dolls and

By Clemente Ferrer

OUT WITH THE OLD: Families enjoyed the day. enjoy the contents which spill out. The day loosely signifies the beginning of spring, out

with the old and in with the new and traditionally marked the halfway point of Lent.

HIS name is Luke Culhane, he is an Irishman who at only 13-years-old has created, produced and edited an excellent campaign, where he is also leading actor. The video, which is two and a half minutes long, tells the story of a child, and a tough fight against their harassers through social networks. With the hashtag ‘#CreateNoHate’ Culhane wanted to transform his bad experience into helping other children who are in the same situation. With a clean photograph, a clear message and a clear look, this child does an excellent anti-bullying advertising campaign.

Thus, every insult he received on his mobile or computer becomes a hit, a cut or a scar. Shocking images based on a true story that serves as an example of strength and how social networks can be transformed from a destructive weapon to a platform of great persuasive power. Cyberbullying is the use of electronic information and digital media such as e-mails, social networks, blogs, text messages, mobile phones and defamatory websites to harass a person by personal attacks. The famous actor Tom Cruise is more susceptible than others, since he had a difficult childhood. He went to 15 different schools as his family home changed many

times. Throughout his school years he was beaten and teased by his peers for his dyslexia. In his recent remarks to the magazine Parade he says he suffered harassment from his schoolmates. In recent years we have witnessed a remarkable increase in cases of bullying in schools and out of them among increasingly younger children. This is a social problem of the first order we must tackle through education and social awareness. Although these situations are increasingly being denounced, there are still many who for fear of worse consequences silently endure a constant and permanent humiliation.

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NEWS

Time-warp tourism Helping African felt in Mojacar street children

POLITICAL opposition group Somos Mojacar has

criticised the town council for only ‘telling half the sto-

ry’ regarding a proposition put forward by the group. The group had suggested a number of proposals to increase revenue from tourism including a nightly tourist tax. A meeting was held between the tourism councillor, Emmanuel Aguero, and members of the hospitality sector of the town, during which the tourist tax idea was allegedly deemed ‘crazy’ by the hoteliers. Somos lamented that the hoteliers were not given the full details of the proposals and accused the council of continually dismissing all of the group’s ideas. In a social media statement the group complained that Mojacar tourism was stuck in the 1970s and that the current council was reluctant to listen to new ideas.

WONDER is a regular visitor to Mojacar

DEDICATED: Louis Wonder and Beatriz Garcia with children and volunteers. By Adele Land AN African children’s charity, co-founded by a Mojacar woman has reached a threeyear milestone. The Universal Wonderful Street Academy in Accra, Ghana was set up by Beatriz Garcia, a long-time resident of Mojacar, together with Ghanaian artist and musician, Louis Yeboah Wonder. The idea of the project was to provide education and stability for street children in one of

the poorest areas of Africa. Garcia said: “I grew up seeing the plight of children less privileged than myself and knew I wanted to help.” The pair set up the academy in 2012 and recently celebrated its third anniversary. The centre, run on a day to day basis by Wonder and a team of volunteers, has around 100 pupils. The children, many of whom are orphans, are taught a range of subjects and are provided with a uniform and healthy nutritious meals.

The cost to care for each child per month is €15 and regular donations are needed to keep the centre running. Garcia has a strong network of friends in Mojacar and has recruited them to help, Mojacar vet Inka Labsch and local novelist Sarah Lark are both supporters of the charity. Wonder is a regular visitor to Mojacar, every summer he visits the town and holds colourful music workshops and events to raise funds and create awareness for the cause.

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Antonio Maeso confirms supersport deal MAKING his comeback after almost three years absence due to injuries By Adele Land ALMERIA-BASED motorcycle road-racer, Antonio Maeso, has announced he will be racing the supersport class at the International North West 200 in Northern Ireland in May, after confirming a deal with team, Longshot Racing. Maeso will be making his racing comeback at the triangle circuit after almost three years absence due to injuries sustained in a high speed crash in the superbike race at the 2013 Isle of Man TT Races.

COMEBACK KID: Maeso thought he would never race again.

Maeso has undergone a patient and extensive rehabilitation to ensure the full recovery of his broken knee and will undertake a steady comeback by also using his own less demanding lightweight machine along with this new deal to ride the Longshot’s supersport. Talking about his ambitions and the expectations of the fans in Spain after his long rehabilitation, he commented: “I’ve been in a wheelchair for six months so it is very difficult to predict the future. My intention for this year is just to be able to

get back to where I left it and that would be a victory in itself for me and an incredible achievement for those who have followed and supported me during the three years of recovery.” Antonio Maeso is crowdfunding his comeback with fans’ contributions (www.mae so.eu) whose names will appear in the Spanish flag that he will, once again, have on his fairings as the only Spanish road-racer representing his country at the International road racing events.

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10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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50 fines for alcohol related offences IN a short four day window between Thursday March 3 and Sunday March 6, the Local Police of Almeria City gave out 50 fines for various public offences relating to the consumption of alcohol. PP Representative in Almeria City Maria Vazquez said that among the fines were 20 for ‘botellon’ (large groups of people congregating to drink) and seven for urinating in public.

Race attracts top bike riders THE Mojaquera, Sierra Cabrera extreme mountain bike race is set to be a top event in the Almeria sporting calendar. Champions, Susana Carballo and Pedro Romero have confirmed they will ride and other top riders are expected to register. Inscriptions are now open for entry to the event.

Firefighters ring in San Juan de Dios with mass AFTER the ceremony the Fire Brigade hosted an open door workshop By Sam Croft LEVANTE’S Fire and Emergency Brigade recently paid tribute to its Patron Saint, San Juan de Dios, in an emotive mass that took place on Sunday March 6 in Turre’s La Purisima Concepcion Church. Also in attendance was Mayor of Mojacar Rosa Maria Cano, as well as the mayors of many other nearby municipalities, including Antas, Turre, Pulpi, Huercal-Overa, and Cuevas de Almanzora. Many members of the Guardia Civil and Local Police also appeared at the service. After the ceremony, curious citizens were in for a treat as the Fire Brigade invited the public to have a look inside the station’s facilities, where they hosted a relaxed opendoor workshop. People were able to see the fire en-

CEREMONY: Took place in Turre’s La Purisima Concepcion Church. gines up close and personal, examine the equipment, and chat with the firefighters themselves.

Observatory opens its doors to the public HAD only been open to professionals By Sam Croft THE Calar Alto observatory, often considered to be one of the best astronomic observatories in Europe, is now open for public visits. The observatory, located on

the highest peak in Almeria, Calar Alto, has signed an agreement with the business Azimuth to allow citizens to visit the observatory and access the instruments and installations, which prior to now had

Dole claims have risen THERE are now 69,767 people on the dole in Almeria, as 1,211 more people signed on in the month of February. The service sector continues to be the hardest hit with 41,591 people on the dole. In a distant second place is agriculture, with 8,830, and in third is the construction sector, with 8,716. In Andalucia as a whole, the total number has gone up by 16,265 people, meaning that in the region nearly one million people are currently collecting unemployment, 988,493 to be exact.

only been available to professionals. The activities will begin in March and you can reserve them individually or in a group at http://azimuthspain.com, or by email at visitas@caha.es.

Additionally there was a photo exhibition and videos from the brigade’s past and present were screened.

EWN

Burglars caught red-handed by sleeping homeowner TWO young men were arrested in Almeria City for alleged burglary after the homeowner, who had been sl eepi ng i n t he bedr oom , called the police. Officers went to the residence, where the victim expl ai ned t o t hem t hat he heard noises coming from the living room, so he got up and di scover ed t wo young peopl e he di dn’t know stealing things from his house. The two burglars fled, and t he m an not i ced t hat they had stolen his house keys. The police quickly set up a pr esence t o l ocat e t he thieves, and shortly after they managed to arrest two men for allegedly committing the crime.

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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NEWS

Street art to be on display Traffic tax ARTISTS from across the province participated in the event

TOWNS are reaping the benefits of speeding fines and illegal parking

By Adele Land DOZENS of artists took part in a streetart competition in Huercal-Overa last weekend. Artists from across the province participated in the event with the subject theme ‘corners and landscapes of Huercal-Overa.’ The works will be displayed in the town theatre until March 25, after which, prizes will be given to the top four artists. The winner is set to receive a €1,000 prize, with runners-up prizes of €750 and €500. There is also a special category for artists resident in Huercal-Overa, with a prize of €300. Mayor, Domingo Fernandez, will preside over the judging.

TOWNS across Almeria are reaping the benefits of fines, with Mojacar raking in the most per resident. Speeding fines and illegal parking are the key sources of income for local councils with millions raised throughout the province. A total of €240,000 was collected in Mojacar at a rate of €35.16 per resident, and €1.9 million in Almeria City which reflected €10.20 per resident. Seron and Gergal were notable exceptions to the trend with both raising a mere €100 in 2015, roughly equating to less than one cent per resident.

STREET ARTISTS: A host of talent in Huercal-Overa competition.

False witness A MAN who told judges under oath that he had been commissioned to kill another man in exchange for €130,000, a chalet, and a car, has been convicted of lying. The decision throws into doubt the conviction of the alleged would-be-murderer

who was sentenced to more than three years in prison on the basis of the testimony. The criminal court in Almeria decided that the man was knowingly not telling the truth and has sentenced him to one and a half years in prison for false testimony.

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de AlmerĂa

Hunting negligence is thought to be behind forest fire in Rioja A FOREST fire that occurred on February 26 in the Rioja area of Almeria was caused by negligence related to hunting. Plan Infoca, a forest fire prevention and control service, released the information on its Twitter account.

According to Plan Infoca, which is a branch of the Environmental Council of the Junta de Andalucia regional government, more than 2.14 hectares burned up as a result of the fire.

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NEWS

Agave awareness HAS become an emblematic symbol IN order to soften the blow of the widespread agave cull about to take place in Almeria, the Junta de Andalucia regional government will launch an awareness campaign. Agave plants are originally

from Mexico, but they have become an emblematic symbol of the province of Almeria. However, they are in fact an invasive species and the Junta de Andalucia regional government has decided it is necessary to

exterminate a good chunk of the pesky plants. The first places where they plan to tackle the agave problem, the Board of Environment has concluded it is necessary to inform the citizens.

Crimes solved by arrest of Nijar man A NIJAR resident has been arrested and accused of orchestrating 30 thefts from the cars of fruit and vegetable vendors. The 29-year-old allegedly targeted five businesses in the Poniente area and is also charged with attacking police officers following claims he

resisted arrest by wielding a broken glass bottle. The police carried out a search of his home and found various implements that could be used to break into vehicles. The arrest follows an explosion of car thefts across Almeria Province, with one man arrested for theft from cars and homes.

Seven women injured in car crash A DRAMATI C f our- car crash took place on March 5 near the town of La Mojonera, leaving seven women injured. The women, between the ages of 21 and 60, were all t aken t o t he Hospi t al de Poniente in El Ejido. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries, and they were all checked out by the following day.

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de AlmerĂa

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NEWS

Tapas route for Almeria THE event is becoming more and more popular By Sam Croft THE 9th Annual Tapas Route has kicked off in Almeria, and regulars will be rewarded. For every five tapas dishes consumed, participants will get a free one, and anyone who eats 10 will receive a ceramic handcrafted jug. During the route, tapas lovers can accumulate stamps in the different bars and eateries, so that they can fill out a card which will then

be entered into a lottery. Various prizes will be available, including hotel getaways and spa days. Sixty-eight establishments are set to participate this time around, nine more than the last edition. Council members have expressed satisfaction that the route is becoming more and more popular with each passing year. The route started on March 3 and will go on until March 13.

Clothes make jobs THE Caritas charity has signed an agreement with the mayor of Almeria which will see the council allow the installation of 50 clothes banks across the city. The scheme is part of a project to generate social employment with up to 12 jobs available sifting through and classifying the items. Citizens will be able to donate clothes into the 1,200 litre capacity containers placed strategically around the city and the teams behind the initiative are hoping that the public input is voluminous enough to justify further jobs organising the depots.

Museum is a big hit THE Almeria Museum has broken its own record for number of visitors, with 28 per cent more visitors than in 2014. An impressive 72,200 people went to check out the museum in 2015, as opposed to 42,100 the year before.

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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NEWS FROM OUR FIVE OTHER REGIONS

COSTA DEL SOL

Bulgarian fair comes to Marbella EVENT also included folklore presentations and exhibition of religious icons COSTA DEL SOL

MARBELLA residents got a little taste of Bulgaria on Sunday March 6, thanks to the National Bulgarian Fair, which took place in the Glorieta de la Fontanilla. Visitors feasted on traditional Bulgarian dishes, marvelled at fascinating folklore presentations, explored the exhibition of religious icons or simply browsed the bazaar of typical Bulgarian objects. The fair was made possible thanks to the col l abor at i on of t he t own council and the Marbella-Bulgaria A s s o ci at i on, a non- pr of i t ent i t y which hopes to encourage knowledge of Bulgarian traditions and culture.

MARBELLA: Visitors feasted on traditional Bulgarian dishes.

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

MALLORCA

AXARQUÍA

COSTA BLANCA NORTH

Easter donations

Disability help

Football news

Barely shaken

THE Fountain Bar in Dolores is collecting Easter Eggs for the children at the Elche Children’s Home. Donations into the Easter box are welcomed.

PEOPLE with reduced mobility will have a space reserved during the Easter processions of Inca. A special area located in the Plaza de la Libertad will be fenced off for the processions on Good Friday and Easter Sunday allowing those in wheelchairs to have a front row seat.

YOUNG football cadet Jorge Carrion Hernandez from La Herradura, has been called up by the Granada football selection to take part in the 31st Cadet and Juvenile Championships of Andalucia, held in Chiclana, Jerez and Cadiz province.

BAÑERES recently registered a 2.2 magnitude earth tremor although few were aware of it as it occurred at 4.33am. The epicentre was located halfway between Bañeres and Beneixama at a depth of 14 kilometres.

Language centre

Equal rights

LA HERRADURA’S Las Gaviotas primary school is to become one of 10 new public bilingual education centres for the 2016-2017 school year. The bilingual programmes will form part of the Andalucian multilingual plan’s aim to achieve more than 1,500 bilingual centres.

VALENCIA CITY marked International Women’s Day with its first twogender traffic lights. The walk and don’t walk icons showing both a woman and a man now advise pedestrians in Calle Xativa, near the bullring.

Disabled centre ADIS has opened the doors of its new centre in Orihuela for the disabled. It will serve 20 people with disabilities and situations of dependency aged from 16 to 65.

New girls LOS MONTESINOS is screening the documentary ‘New Girls, 24 hours’ in the auditorium as part of the events to mark International Women’s Day. The film on trafficking in women was nominated for a Goya award.

Youth re-arrested NATIONAL POLICE have detained a 19-year-old male for stealing a computer from a secondary school in Palma. It was discovered he had escaped from the Es Pinaret juvenile centre and was returned there after appearing in court.

Goggle box TELEVISION viewing time in Spain per person for the month of February was four hours and 11 minutes per day. Baleares is the region with the most viewing done through satellites.

Cervantes city book

A 42-YEAR-OLD man lost his balance and fell off the Sa Reira bridge near Sa Feixina Park in the early hours of Saturday morning (March 5) while with some friends. He suffered a broken leg.

VELEZ-MALAGA was converted into a city-book on March 4 and home to the commemoration of the fourth century of the death of Miguel de Cervantes, whereby some of the streets were transformed into gigantic pages in which quotes appeared which were taken from the book ‘El Quijote.’

Half marathon

Car collision

Nerja museum

LOCAL resident Alberto Gonzalez Conesa and British expat Rachael Rozhdestvenskaya were the overall winners of the 23 Half Marathon of the City of Cartagena. More than 1,800 runners took part.

A CAR making a U-turn in the wrong direction caused a collision at the exit of the tunnel linking the Avenidas with Calle Aragon. Two women passengers were taken to hospital to be treated for injuries.

THE Nerja Museum has unveiled a new exhibition featuring the work of renowned sculptor Luis Manuel Garcia Cruz. The show includes 40 sculptures, modelled in terracotta and bronze, as well as numerous drawings and collages.

Memorial cup FIREFIGHTERS from Valencia won a memorial football match in Orihuela which is held every year in memory of firefighters who were killed in an accident.

Balance lost

NEWS

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

Madrid meeting ESTELA MENACHES, councillor and Compromis spokeswoman at Callosa d’en Sarria Town Hall attended the first 2016 meeting of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) in Madrid. Menaches is the Compromis party’s first FEMP representative.

Online registry IT is now possible to register a birth at Francesc de Borja hospital in Gandia which has introduced an online link to the Civil Register. The parents later receive official confirmation either by email or post.

Estepona fire ON MARCH 5, at the busiest time on a Saturday afternoon, a firm of demolition experts started to pull down the old Cafeteria Real building on Calle Real. Despite all of their precautions, something went wrong and the building caught fire. The fire brigade was called to extinguish the flames.

Theatre news THE Culture department in Marbella Council has prepared a series of activities to celebrate World Theatre Day on March 27. In fact the festivities began on March 5 and will culminate with a performance of Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the Ciudad de Marbella theatre.

Rubbish strike THE streets of Malaga are litter-alley overflowing with waste as the rubbish strike continues into the second week. New fears that this strike could be a repeat of the situation which occurred in December 2013 are mounting like the rubbish.

Cigarette scam A MAN in Malaga City has been reported to be offering sealed cartons of cigarettes after pleading that he needs money at reduced prices. When the cartons are opened, rather than containing packets of cigarettes, they are found to contain polystyrene into which large nails have been inserted to add weight.

Sports success THE sports facilities in Torremolinos have attracted a total of 600 international athletes belonging to 30 teams of different nationalities in February alone. Great quality facilities and good weather have helped raise an impressive €54,000 for the Torremolinos Sports Department.

EWN top for all the news from Spain.

FINANCE

Costa de Almería

10 - 16 March 2016

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3.8 per cent is the drop in GDP for 2015 of Brazil which was worse than any of the other major world economies according to their national statistics agency IBGE.

STAT OF WEEK

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Ortega is the second richest man

Problems at Barclays Bank

ACCORDING to Forbes magazine’s new rich list

DESPITE having divested itself of its Spanish and Portuguese operations, Barclays Bank finds itself with a drop in profits, a need to cut dividend and a very poor position in Africa where it is desperate to sell the bulk of its investments. Shares fell after the bank revealed its 2015 profits, even though they were only down by 2 per cent over 2014 at £5.5 billion (€7 billion), but it also has to make provisions of £1.45 billion (€1.88 billion).

By John Smith EVERY year Forbes magazine produces its list of the richest people in the world and according to them, Amancio Ortega, owner of Inditex which includes the Zara Group, is the second richest man in the world

Quote of the Week

€68 billion is the estimated value of the worth of Bill Gates of Microsoft according to Fortune Magazine.

with a personal fortune estimated at just under €61 billion. He is now catching up with the richest man, Bill Gates of Microsoft. There is then a very long space between the number two spot and number 178, the

There is no such thing as a free lunch. Brexit does not only affect your country but our country.” Steffen Kampeter politician and CEO of the Confederation of German Employers’ Association.

Photo Credit Maly Designer

BUSINESS EXTRA

Airport sale stalls IT is reported that just two offers were received by the deadline for the Ciudad Real Airport of €55 million and €200 million, whilst the estimated cost was in excess of €1 billion.

Pizza profit

EROSKI: Wants to sell 36 of their stores around Spain.

Supermarket sales AS part of its programme of disposing of supermarket properties that do not fit in with its development plans, Basque-based Eroski wants to sell 36 stores around Spain, including two in Mallorca, to Carrefour for €205 million. The stores involved are con-

tinuing to trade whilst awaiting government approval for the deal. Eroski wants to upgrade its remaining stores to become more citycentric, as those to which this has been done have shown a marked increase in return per square metre.

CONSUMERS are gobbling up Domino’s pizzas and the company recorded excellent profits of €91 million in 2015, 18 per cent up on the previous year. The company says that profits were helped by low cheese and fuel prices, and that more and more sales are made via the internet or its app.

Figure rises THE number of unemployed in Spain rose by just over 2,200, which was the highest February rise since 2013, taking the total number to 4.15 million. It is still an enormous reduction from the six million unemployed in the first quarter of 2013.

Qatari investment in Spain CATALAN real estate company Colonial, which already has strong investment from the Qatar Investment Authority, its largest individual shareholder, has announced that the two organisations are discussing the possibility of the Qatari group transferring some of the shares it holds in the

French subsidiary of Colonial. The announcement goes on to confirm that in the event that this possible deal is approved, the Qatar Investment Authority will still hold less than 30 per cent of the shares of the parent group.

next richest person in Spain, his daughter Sandra Ortega Mera who can boast just €5.9 billion. It is interesting to note that the bulk of the wealthiest men in the world come from the USA, but China and India are beginning to spawn more billionaires.

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almeria

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PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) COMPANY 3i Group PLC 444.70 -0.40 Aberdeen Asset Mngmnt PLC 284.30 -1.16 Admiral Group PLC 1957.00 13.00 Anglo American PLC 620.45 28.30 Antofagasta PLC 564.50 14.00 ARM Holdings PLC 999.75 -17.00 Ashtead Group PLC 903.00 1.00 Associated British Foods PLC 3338.00 -3.00 AstraZeneca PLC 4009.00 -12.50 Aviva PLC 466.00 -0.10 Babcock International Group 963.00 4.50 BAE Systems PLC 506.75 -0.50 Barclays PLC 172.07 -2.20 Barratt Developments PLC 559.50 5.00 Berkeley Group Holdings 3056.00 46.00 BHP Billiton PLC 874.70 6.51 BP PLC 365.65 -2.25 British American Tobacco PLC 4057.00 13.00 British Land Co PLC 682.50 -3.50 BT Group PLC 463.22 -6.65 Bunzl PLC 1961.00 -1.00 Burberry Group PLC 1378.50 -1.00 Capita PLC 1023.00 0.00 Carnival PLC 3442.00 -16.00 Centrica PLC 224.60 0.57 Coca-Cola HBC AG 1385.00 0.00 Compass Group PLC 1232.00 -3.00 CRH PLC 1903.00 -2.50 DCC PLC 5702.50 -20.00 Diageo PLC 1873.00 -1.00 Direct Line Insurance Group 400.90 2.30 Dixons Carphone PLC 433.60 -2.40 easyJet PLC 1534.50 -18.00 Experian PLC 1214.00 11.00 Fresnillo PLC 945.50 -13.00 GKN PLC 289.90 -3.80 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1373.75 4.16 Glencore PLC 159.82 -0.15 Hammerson PLC 553.25 -3.40 Hargreaves Lansdown PLC 1262.00 -10.00 Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC 1788.00 -5.00 HSBC Holdings PLC 449.65 -3.85 Imperial Brands PLC 3686.75 11.00 Inmarsat PLC 912.75 -19.00 InterContinental Hotels Grp 2674.50 -61.00 International Consolidated 540.75 -4.00 Intertek Group PLC 3110.00 16.00 Intu Properties PLC 301.35 -0.40 ITV PLC 233.20 2.60 Johnson Matthey PLC 2602.00 -11.00

% CHG. -0.09 -0.41 0.67 4.78 2.54 -1.67 0.11 -0.09 -0.31 -0.02 0.47 -0.10 -1.26 0.90 1.53 0.75 -0.61 0.32 -0.51 -1.41 -0.05 -0.07 0.00 -0.46 0.25 0.00 -0.24 -0.13 -0.35 -0.05 0.58 -0.55 -1.16 0.91 -1.36 -1.29 0.30 -0.09 -0.61 -0.79 -0.28 -0.85 0.30 -2.04 -2.23 -0.73 0.52 -0.13 1.13 -0.42

NET VOL 40.07 308.79 56.02 2,789.08 682.04 308.23 121.15 19.63 161.54 483.14 27.19 174.62 3,306.50 172.46 44.08 1,885.36 4,017.51 183.82 63.30 1,323.67 16.95 35.25 44.34 12.03 757.03 8.48 125.97 51.10 7.21 127.56 348.96 57.00 55.00 180.21 127.88 285.22 536.88 17,545.70 30.43 45.31 26.92 2,435.09 229.12 97.46 99.06 402.23 34.84 136.47 1,220.25 22.40

COMPANY PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) Kingfisher PLC 339.15 -3.10 Land Securities Group PLC 1051.50 -9.00 Legal & General Group PLC 238.60 -0.90 Lloyds Banking Group PLC 72.85 -0.39 London Stock Exchange Grp 2827.00 -26.00 Marks & Spencer Group PLC 420.40 -3.60 Merlin Entertainments PLC 451.70 -4.70 Mondi PLC 1344.00 -9.00 National Grid PLC 948.20 3.70 Next PLC 6602.50 -16.60 Old Mutual PLC 196.00 16.40 Pearson PLC 876.50 4.50 Persimmon PLC 2007.00 16.00 Provident Financial PLC 3263.00 4.00 Prudential PLC 1337.00 -9.00 Randgold Resources Ltd 6427.50 -185.00 Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC 6514.00 -25.00 RELX PLC 1230.50 3.00 REXAM PLC 615.25 -1.00 Rio Tinto PLC 2164.25 34.50 Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC 724.00 2.00 Royal Bank of Scotland Grou... 230.50 -0.10 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 1688.00 3.00 Royal Mail PLC 455.10 -1.96 RSA Insurance Group PLC 448.50 -0.40 SABMiller PLC 4216.00 -9.00 Sage Group (The) PLC 599.50 -1.50 Sainsbury (J) PLC 268.45 1.40 Schroders PLC 2609.50 -14.00 Severn Trent PLC 2103.00 -2.00 Shire PLC 3730.50 -51.00 Sky PLC 1021.00 -3.82 Smith & Nephew PLC 1143.00 -6.00 Smiths Group PLC 1061.00 1.00 Sports Direct International... 405.90 -1.10 SSE PLC 1428.50 -4.64 Standard Chartered PLC 485.02 -1.10 Standard Life PLC 358.30 6.30 St James's Place PLC 896.50 37.50 Taylor Wimpey PLC 178.30 1.50 Tesco PLC 191.05 0.20 Travis Perkins PLC 1767.00 -16.00 TUI AG 1036.00 -6.00 Unilever PLC 3092.00 -17.00 United Utilities Group PLC 912.25 -1.50 Vodafone Group PLC 218.92 -2.30 Whitbread PLC 3743.00 -60.00 Wolseley PLC 3853.00 -34.00 Worldpay Group PLC 296.20 -3.60 WPP PLC 1545.50 14.00

% CHG. -0.91 -0.85 -0.38 -0.53 -0.91 -0.85 -1.03 -0.66 0.39 -0.25 9.13 0.52 0.80 0.12 -0.67 -2.80 -0.38 0.24 -0.16 1.62 0.28 -0.04 0.18 -0.43 -0.09 -0.21 -0.25 0.52 -0.53 -0.10 -1.35 -0.37 -0.52 0.09 -0.27 -0.32 -0.23 1.79 4.37 0.85 0.10 -0.90 -0.58 -0.55 -0.16 -1.04 -1.58 -0.87 -1.20 0.91

NET VOL 403.40 89.03 789.50 7,774.10 98.88 137.05 110.15 81.74 732.13 17.09 4,431.80 91.72 50.77 10.96 433.93 58.43 41.09 169.79 23.33 1,097.57 554.40 1,195.29 489.48 237.56 125.99 75.73 62.27 154.26 28.77 9.15 107.85 206.02 107.04 30.44 89.19 68.64 1,611.22 1,682.79 322.38 641.02 879.90 39.10 42.15 120.48 30.66 2,827.30 53.85 47.35 144.71 522.58

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PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 160.07 +0.69 +0.43% 1.8M 58.29 +0.20 +0.34% 5.4M 103.01 +1.51 +1.49% 46.1M 121.07 +1.46 +1.22% 4.4M 72.84 +1.09 +1.52% 9.5M 87.93 +0.40 +0.46% 9.3M 26.80 -0.07 -0.26% 19.4M 44.11 +0.15 +0.34% 13.7M 98.48 -0.34 -0.34% 6.7M 63.18 +1.27 +2.05% 8.7M 82.29 -0.11 -0.13% 18.4M 30.46 +0.24 +0.79% 33.0M 156.84 +1.51 +0.97% 5.3M 125.56 -1.24 -0.98% 6.4M 137.80 0.00 0.00% 4.0M 30.63 +0.05 +0.16% 20.4M 106.50 -0.15 -0.14% 6.7M 60.05 +0.09 +0.15% 18.5M 117.18 +0.49 +0.42% 5.9M 52.08 -0.02 -0.04% 9.1M 52.03 -0.32 -0.61% 33.0M 61.26 -0.21 -0.34% 7.3M 29.71 -0.18 -0.60% 36.8M 83.49 +0.65 +0.78% 9.4M 110.40 +0.60 +0.55% 1.4M 97.00 +0.89 +0.93% 4.7M 121.80 -0.02 -0.02% 2.9M 51.81 -0.08 -0.15% 14.0M 73.90 -0.01 -0.01% 9.5M 66.78 +0.64 +0.97% 10.0M

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Most Advanced Catabasis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. Vanguard Natural Resources LLC Legacy Reserves LP Memorial Production Partners LP Legacy Reserves LP GlycoMimetics, Inc. Paragon Shipping Inc. Vanguard Natural Resources LLC NantKwest, Inc. Carmike Cinemas, Inc.

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1.97 ▲ 43.88% 0.71 ▲ 37.97% 0.50 ▲ 23.70% 0.39 ▲ 23.64% 0.49 ▲ 21.12% 0.34 ▲ 20.24% 0.81 ▲ 18.54% 0.949 ▲ 17.51% 0.82 ▲ 16.73% 1.27 ▲ 16.71% 4.14 ▲ 16.49%

$ 4.69 $ 19.67 $ 3.02 $ 15.88 $ 5.71 $ 6.65 $ 12.58 $ 9.14 $ 42.11 $ 50.38 $ 9.21

5.11 ▼ 52.14% 3.56 ▼ 15.33% 0.51 ▼ 14.45% 2.42 ▼ 13.22% 0.74 ▼ 11.47% 0.82 ▼ 10.98% 1.35 ▼ 9.69% 0.92 ▼ 9.15% 4.13 ▼ 8.93% 4.90 ▼ 8.86% 0.86 ▼ 8.54%

Most Declined Vitae Pharmaceuticals, Inc. AveXis, Inc. Senomyx, Inc. Atara Biotherapeutics, Inc. Inventure Foods, Inc. IntriCon Corporation Integrated Electrical Services, Inc. Ardelyx, Inc. Ambarella, Inc. Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. Voyager Therapeutics, Inc.

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

Sky’s the limit for Lego profits

STAR WARS: Very shrewd licence deals mean the success of the films has reflected in their sales. 2014 figures, and this is mainly due to the very shrewd licence

deals they have struck meaning that the success of both the latest

Star Wars film and Frozen has reflected in their sales to boys, girls

and not a few adults. Interestingly, there has been a s u d d e n r e s u rg e n c e o f s a l e s i n Asia, an area which had been depressed for a while, and China has become very much a growing market for the company. Apart from making money, the company also has a sense of social conscience. Following a petition which gathered over 20,000 signatures complaining that it was ignoring disability groups and ‘pandering to disability stereotypes’, it has added to its range for release later this year, a young disabled person in a wheel chair accompanied by his own support dog. With the Lego movies, theme parks, Duplo for the very young a n d t h e e v e r- i n c r e a s i n g L e g o range, this is one ‘toy’ that will surely reach its centenary and stay around for long after, earning money for the manufacturers, film studios and retail outlets alike.

Indian and Spanish consortium buys historic London building Photo Credit Robert Cutts flickr

By John Smith WHO would have imagined that a company formed for the manufacture of wooden duck toys would become a multi-billion euro success, following its foundation 84 years ago in Denmark? The word Lego itself came from the Danish words ‘leg godt’ which means ‘play well’, but in an example of serendipity, it was later discovered that in Latin the word Lego comes from the word t o g a t h e r, a n d t h e o w n e r s h a v e taken it to mean ‘put together’. I t w a s n ’t u n t i l 1 9 4 9 t h a t t h e company produced its first plastic brick and as the saying goes, after that, the only way was up and there is no doubt that its products continue to capture the imagination of generations of children worldwide, as well as generating huge revenues for the family firm. They were delighted to reveal that their 2015 turnover of €4.8 billion was 25 per cent up on

Photo Credit Ian Muttoo flickr

THE company, which was founded 84 years ago, is a multi-billion euro success

WAR OFFICE: The old building in Whitehall, Central London has been bought for an undisclosed amount. ALTHOUGH the concept of the deal was first announced in 2014, it wasn’t until March 2 of this year that a consortium between the Hinduja Group of India and OHLD of Spain formally purchased the old War Office building in Whitehall, Central London for an undisclosed amount on a 250-year lease.

Once the workplace of Sir Winston Churchill during the Second World War, the 1,100 room building, which is literally a stone’s throw away from Downing Street and a short walk from the Houses of Parliament, has been the home of the Ministry of Defence since 1964, which has now had to find ac-

commodation elsewhere. The building will now be restored and redeveloped into a five-star hotel, private function rooms, a spa and fitness centre and a number of prestigious apartments. Although the historic building passes from government ownership, its facade will be preserved.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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EWN

Car manufacturers and Brexit BMW and Nissan have made their feelings on Britain leaving the EU clear, and they’re obviously worried SO far, two car manufacturers have made their positions clear on the Brexit, BMW and Nissan, both of which are obviously worried about the effect on their bottom lines in the event that Britain does decide to leave the EU, whilst the association representing car manufacturers has also made its own comments on behalf of its members. The management of BMW has written to workers in the Rolls-Royce and Mini UK operations which employ 8,000 staff, explaining that whilst the decision is a British affair, the company believes that any decision to exit would be bad for its trading position, and could very possibly hurt the jobs of those working for BMW. Their message, which was delivered via email, effectively suggests its employees would be better off to vote in favour of staying within the EU. “Free trade is important for international business. Tariff barriers would mean higher costs and higher prices, and we cannot assume that the UK would be granted free trade with Europe from outside the EU.” It also said: “For BMW Group,

Nissan Motor Company

By John Smith

NISSAN: Employs 8,000 staff directly and 32,000 indirectly in the UK. more than half of Minis built, and virtually all the engines and components made in the UK are exported to the

EU, with over 150,000 new cars and many hundreds of thousands of parts imported from Europe each year.”

To a lesser extent, the same is true for Rolls Royce, which does export a good percentage of its cars to the EU.

Earlier, Nissan, which also employs 8,000 staff directly and 32,000 indirectly in the UK, released a statement regarding its position on the same matter and basically said the same as BMW, stating: “Last year we produced more than 475,000 vehicles in the UK, 80 per cent of which are exported.” The company’s CEO went on to say: “Our preference as a business is, of course, that the UK stays within Europe. It makes the most sense for jobs, trade and costs. For us, a position of stability is more positive than a collection of unknowns.” The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which represents more than 30 manufacturers in the UK, released the results of a survey that it had undertaken, which was also in favour of remaining within the Union because of the volume of vehicles exported from the UK to European destinations. Whilst it is quite reasonable for these companies to take a view and make that view known, some comments have been raised as to whether BMW in particular had gone too far in contacting all of its UK employees, and effectively encouraging the way in which they should cast their vote.

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

Morgan Stanley to raise €1 billion for El Corte Ingles THE group plans to sell up to 200 properties which it owns THE strangely named Operation Batman, is not a new film or computer game, but the title of an operation being undertaken by international financial group Morgan Stanley to raise €1 billion for El Corte Ingles, by selling up to 200 properties which it owns. It will not be selling any of its main El Corte Ingles stores, its Torre Titania skyscraper in Madrid, nor its headquarters building, but everything else seems to be available at a price. A formal valuation of the portfolio, which is said to include supermarkets, operational buildings, plots of land, office buildings and high street outlets, is due to take place shortly which will then allow

Photo Credit Feranza Wikimedia

By John Smith

UK life insurance review is now underway

Photo Credit Ewan Munro Wikimedia

SPORTS DIRECT: Is being dropped to the FTSE 250 group.

for bidders to offer to purchase the entire range of properties, or to make selective bids for perhaps the office buildings or supermarkets. The plan, if successful, should see the completion of the sale by the end of August and it is suspected that there will be a great deal of interest from investment funds and insurance companies.

TORRE TITANIA: Is under construction.

Recent additions and subtractions in the FTSE WITH a review every three months as to which companies should remain in the FTSE 100, it must be very difficult in these financially volatile times to invest in just the top 100 companies, which is a service offered by some financial organisations. In the latest review, to be implemented on March 21, Morrisons supermarkets return to the ‘club’, and amongst others are joined by the new betting group Paddy Power Betfair. Sports Direct, whose owner is the chairman of Newcastle United football club (also possibly to drop out of the Premier League), join technology company Smiths Group as well as a pharmaceutical company and an asset manager, in being dropped to the FTSE 250 group. Once a company enters the list, its share price can benefit from index tracker investment, which has to include all the shares in the top 100.

billion euros is the amount of money Morgan Stanley hope to raise

THE Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), has announced it fears a number of customers of some of the main life insurance companies, may not have had details of the penalties that may be charged in the event they wished to move to another company properly explained when they took out the policies. Whilst current policies do contain very clear information, these ironically named zombie policies, which were sold several years ago, may contain nasty surprises for many customers, even if they have paid the full amount agreed into the policies. Having come to the conclusion that a number of individuals may be adversely affected, the FCA has decided to review the situation in greater depth, and may decide to recommend a capping of any exit fees that could be charged. This whole matter has caused some headaches as when the decision was first taken to consider the situation of these policies, one newspaper was given advance information which resulted in a fall in the value of insurance company shares generally, and the FCA was reprimanded following an independent enquiry.

OPINION & COMMENT

10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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EWN

I was against it from the start THE decision to join with Europe was political, not economic LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

I, OF course, am old enough to remember a United Kingdom without the leaden yolk of the European Union hanging from its neck. A time when our Commonwealth partners were the integral centre of our trade and commerce. Who could forget the succulent New Zealand lamb, the delicious fruits and prime beef from Australia? The colourful high quality clothing from Canada and much, much more. We never in fact needed the common market. I was against it from the start. Frankly I couldn’t see the point. We had complete control of our borders and trade outlets and were barreling along very nicely thank you. The decision to join with Europe was political not economic. They needed us far more than we needed them. When we joined up and dropped our ties with our Commonwealth partners, they felt betrayed and indeed, in some quarters our

NEW ZEALAND LAMB: I still remember it. changes of direction lead to a great deal of hardship and job losses in the countries concerned. I sometimes doubt whether we’ve actually been truly forgiven to this day.

This bunch of power-mad politicians and their ideas of free trade have restricted our fishing rights, led to mountains of wasted fruit and vegetables, created ludicrous food regula-

tions. (A 27,000 word directive on the growth and sale of cabbages is a case in point!) And an open border policy which threatens our very existence. I simply find it hard to believe that so called intellectuals can actually be that stupid. I can’t help but feel there is some other, more sinister objective to their actions. Turkey, I find particularly unsettling. Who in their right mind would want to make a country with a 67,000,000 population, of which 99 per cent are Muslim, a part of the European Union? Millions of Muslims swarming into Europe with no restrictions whatsoever. No, I’m afraid something is severely amiss somewhere and the sooner the UK gets out and takes control of its own future the better. I still maintain they need us more than we need them, and rely heavily on the amount of trade and business that stems from British firms and institutions. Cameron’s scaremongering to the contrary is utter rubbish. Keep the faith. Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com.

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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OPINION & COMMENT

This team takes the biscuit

OUR VIEW three rocks images shutterstock

FANS of the Royals have had good reason to celebrate recently 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.

I HAVE had good reason to celebrate recently. My football team, Reading FC, have not only reached the quarter finals of the FA Cup, but managed two consecutive wins in the league, a bewildering experience for the fans this season. “Why are they called the Royals?” a friend asked me. “I remember them as The Biscuit Men.” So I explained that it was because Berkshire is known as The Royal County, and the once world renowned Huntley & Palmers biscuit manufacturer was based in the town. But it took me back. I come from a biscuit family, who all originate from the biscuit town. My mother worked for years at the Huntley & Palmers

ICED GEMS: One of the few that are still around. factory in Reading, then the largest biscuit manufacturer in the world, and my father helped make the tins at Huntley Bourne & Stevens. Both worked long hours and

I can remember them coming home from work completely cream crackered. That was a joke by the way. At their height, H&P were producing a staggering 400 va-

rieties of biscuit, and I remember with great affection such goodies as Suncake, a round shortbread biscuit, which I would scoff hamster

like by nibbling around the outside working inwards, making a mess in the process. Banana Creams which looked like the present day Custard Cream, but with a flavoured cream and a banana shape cut out so that the filling was on display. Obviously a visual reminder for people whose taste buds were shot. Then there were Chocolate Wafers that were a natural tan colour, not like their insipid pink successors. And Iced Gem, little round bite sized biscuits topped with a swirl of hard icing, and one of the few that are still around. With generous price concessions given to employees, there was never a shortage of biscuits in our house, and I can remember being taken down to the factory shop in the 50s for our weekly supply. Cream Crackered... Biscuit? Oh forget it. Come on the Royals!

How the scales fell from my eyes Photo Credit World Economic Forum Remy Steinegger flickr

WHEN I was younger I naively thought you could trust a politician John Smith Random thoughts... IN issue 1600 of the Euro Weekly News, the Our View section on page 98 looked at the situation with regards to France and their commitment to keep migrants out of the UK by allowing the British to continue to keep customs and immigration posts in Calais. No sooner had this been printed than both French economy minister Emmanuel Macron and then premier Francoise Hollande made public statements, to the effect that in the event of Britain leaving the European Union, France would ask the British to take their customs and immigrations posts and stick them back in the UK. When I was very much younger, I naively thought you could trust a politician as there would be hell to pay if they backed down from what they had promised, but in retrospect I can see how stupid I was.

TONY BLAIR: Addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos. They all say that they go into public office in order to help their fellow citizens and to make sure that there is a fair and equitable society, but I have now come to the conclusion that the honest and well-meaning

politician is that one who ‘tests’ the rule. It seems that it’s becoming more ridiculous as well. In Britain there were the politicians who became ‘troughiteers’, taking as much as they

Helping to get in touch.

Missing people RECEIVING a request from a family in Manchester who are trying to find a relative who they believe moved to Spain about four years ago has made us think about the number of people of so many different ages and sexes who literally disappear and in many cases are never heard of again. There are a number of reasons for this which depend very much upon the area in the world in which a person lives and with the terrible problems in North Africa and the Middle East at the moment, the numbers must be rising disproportionally. There are still cases of people trafficking for both prostitution and cheap labour and when someone appears in either category in Spain, it almost certainly means there is a family missing a person in their country of origin with little possibility of ever finding them again. What doesn’t quite make sense is the fact there are so many unaccompanied children arriving in Europe as refugees and one wonders what has happened to their parents and how they managed to travel literally thousands of miles to reach their destination. For Europeans, the reasons for disappearance are easier to fathom as many teenagers run away because of disagreements with parents over sexuality, abuse or sheer dislike whilst children can disappear when taken by one of their parents. It is sad, but a fact of life, so if anybody can help to put families in touch with each other, then they will have done a great service to the individuals concerned and the community at large.

could from the system whilst some of the Lords were quite content to sell their influence. The record album by Generis entitled ‘Selling England by the pound’ seems to describe the way in which many were seen to act. We went into a war in Iraq against the wishes of millions, which ended up making the situation worse, except of course for American business. Then the EU appointed one of the chief instigators, our very own former PM as Middle East peace envoy - makes you think of Turkeys voting for Christmas! Luckily for him and every other previous and subsequent PM, he is able to earn millions on lecturing wealthy people about how good he and they all are. There is a conspiracy theory that the whole Daesh problem and the movement of hundreds of thousands of people into Europe has been orNow we ganised by a shadowy group of alien want to infiltrators working with the shadhear your views. owy Illuminati, who meet annually in Davos (very close to the YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE name of head Dalek Davros) - YOUR OPINION which I used to laugh at but now www.euroweeklynews.com I’m not so sure!

OPINION & COMMENT

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10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

No shining example RATHER than a cynical crook, Iñaki Urdangarin merely comes across as not particularly bright Cassandra Nash A weekly look - and not entirely impartial reaction to the Spanish political scene

IÑAKI URDANGARIN told the Palma High Court that he had no part in defrauding €6.2 million of public money and had no idea of what his companies or his colleagues were doing. “I just did what I did,” he told the court, namely he swanned around as Duke of Palma de Mallorca. He apparently believed that as son-in-law to one king and brother-in-law to his successor, he could let everyone else do the work and presumably get away with siphoning off public funds. Rather than a cynical crook Urdangarin merely comes across as someone who is not particularly bright.

Spoilt for choice SINCE the December 20 general elections, Spain’s acting president Mariano Rajoy has resented rivals’ refusal to accept that he is enti-

News in brief MARIANO RAJOY inadvertently said: “What we’ve done and you haven’t is deceive people,” during the investiture debate. Albert Rivera began his speech in Catalan, Pablo Iglesias tried to address the speaker, Patxi Lopez, by his first name and Pedro Sanchez got nowhere at all. tled to form a government. His was the most-voted party, but the PP received those votes because it is the only rightwing option. The left are spoilt for choice, hence a fractioned vote totalling more than the PP’s votes. Unfortunately for Spain’s leftwing voters, the pre-election red lines drawn by the PSOE, Podemos and Ciudadanos led them not to victory, but a one-way street leading to more elections.

Separate ambitions ARNALDO OTEGI emerged from prison after serving six years and four months for attempt-

ing to rebuild Batasuna, the political arm of the ETA terrorist group. Otegi said on leaving Logroño jail that he was more committed to independence than ever. So, presumably were the 200 or so people waiting outside to hail Otegi, but where were the rest of the 2.189 million people living in the Basque Region? As both Basque and Catalan polls demonstrate, nationalism is not automatically synonymous with separatism. The only people reluctant to absorb this fact are those who make the loudest noise about independence: the politicians. IÑAKI URDANGARIN: Said he had no idea what his colleagues were doing. Natursports / shutterstock.com

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

Small things keep a grumpy man happy Mike Senker

In my opinion Views of a Grumpy Old Man ANOTHER update for my avid reader - I must have one. After my successful refund from the car rental company, the phone company have refunded my €3, and have informed me that they are reviewing their policy of customers having to give van drivers cash when they deliver phones... Result! I’m off to the USA soon and, as usual, all the companies I’m using for my arrangements are companies I have used for many years, and therefore I belong to their frequent flyers or whatever they call their scheme. So I get an email about a ‘points upgrade sale’, therefore I get on the phone and ask for one. “Sorry, you don’t qualify with your code number.” “So why send me the email?” “We send them to everyone who is a member.” Great idea - pee off your regular punters! The next call is to the hotel in Houston to tell them that looking online the room price has gone down. They can’t reduce the price and suggest I cancel the booking and rebook

online, which I do and save $300. The next email I get is from the hotel I’m staying at in Las Vegas with a great offer. Have your breakfast delivered to your room for an extra $12 a night. This is a great deal as I hate going down to breakfast. I get on the phone and tell them I’d like to upgrade my room. “Sorry sir we can’t.” Why? “Because we don’t do the offer if the hotel is full and there are no rooms available.” I explain I already have a room, I just want some eggs and bacon. I gave up after 10 minutes but I’ll retry when I’m checking in and let you know! Last but not least, another airline I’m using for internal flights sent me some offers. So I gave them a try. “Hi, I’d like to upgrade to first class using my air miles and cash.” “I’ll check...Yes sir, that’s no problem. It’s $75 for the change and $75 for admin.” “OK, I’ll do that.” “Sorry sir, can you hold we are having a problem with the computer.” They came back on 55 minutes later and said, “That’s all done. Do you want to use your credit card on file to pay the $75?” “You mean the $150?” “No, we appreciate how long you have had to wait so we won’t be making that charge.” YES, YES, at last a person that understands about how a small gesture can keep a grumpy old man happy!

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

LEGALLY SPEAKING

Child restraints CLARIFICATION of the current legislation 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.

LEGISLATION: All children 135cm or less in height must ride in the rear of a vehicle. FOLLOWING confusion over recent statements that ‘a child from four to 12 years old and under 1.5 metres tall may ride in the front seat using either a child booster seat or a special system of belt restraints’, the N-332 Guardia Civil say this is incorrect. They clarify the current legislation, which came into force October 1, 2015, which states all children measuring 135cm in height or less must ride in the rear seats, irrespective of their age, and in addition to the requirements of the correct seat being provided. There are a number of exceptions to the rule, for example, when the vehicle does not have rear seats, when all rear seats are already occupied by others under the same characteristics, and where it is not possible to install approved child restraints in those rear seats. These are the only occasions when children may occupy a front seat, but they must always use the restraint system ap-

proved for their height and weight. The rule stipulates that child restraints must be installed in the vehicle in accordance with the instructions provided by the manufacturer. The modification of the law also reflects the scientific evidence from numerous studies that demonstrate the benefit of children travelling in the rear seats of vehicles, in order to strengthen their protection in the case of an accident. A study in the United States looked at 5,751 vehicle occupants under the age of 15 who had suffered a serious car accident. The report shows sitting in the back seat had a protective effect with respect to serious injury or death. A further study in Australia concluded the risk of death in children under four years of age involved in an incident whilst travelling in a car was doubled if they sat in the front.

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

Can we buy a building? IS a Community of Owners legally allowed to purchase and manage a commercial building? Our original developer has been liquidated and his remaining property is being sold at auction. An office building with 30 units is going cheap. Our president is proposing the community buy this office building from our acFirst, I would like to congratulate your president on a creative idea. Just imagine, a community that makes money. In fact, no law prohibits this. The community already owns

cumulated funds. It has only two tenants. The idea was dropped because he had not allowed for the excess sales tax on the cadastral value, and did not know there was €30,000 owing on the rates. The president insists the community is allowed to buy such a building.What is the position? SJ (Costa Blanca)

David Searl You and the Law in Spain

property, such as lifts, gardens, pools and so on. However, the property

administrators I spoke with threw up their hands in horror. What if it loses money? What happens when one owner sells his flat? Even if it is legal, they advise against the venture.

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 10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

LETTERS

OPINION & COMMENT

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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

Calais calamity - but what exactly is going on there? Zebra fighting

Not quite so welcome ACTUALLY there were scores of photos in the news of Germans holdin g u p b a n n e r s re a d in g ‘refugees welcome.’ Merkel had her country’s support in the beginning. It wasn’t until the NYE attacks that things changed, because the offenders were erroneously described as ‘refugees’ (only three in 58 were. At least one was German. Just as I’ve had to fend off feral men who were British...) With Pegida inflaming the situation further, it’s all gone into meltdown. But Germany needs immigration (most countries do, actually). As for giving my jobs to them... luckily, my job couldn’t easily be done by a Syrian. Or a Spaniard. Or quite a few Brits. But immigrants t e n d t o b e e n t e rp ris in g wherever they come from (just look at Brits, Germans, Dutch, Moroccans, Latin Americans, etc, in S pai n , a n d t h e c o n trib u tio n they’ve made to society and the economy). Kally via the website

Sorry Sanchez SANCHEZ is the wrong person anyway, but I don’t think the PP has an y o n e t o d o t h e jo b . T h e Spanish people, as lovely as they are, seem to ignore or forget the

created this awful tragedy with their bombs and their foolishness will give way at some point. Nothing lasts forever. The dam will burst. It’s bursting already. Brian via the website

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Aperture Untamed via Shutterstock

DON’T understand what is going on with this. The people in the camp are already in Europe and it seems that they are not happy with the social services offered by the French, they just want a better deal, which they think they will get in the UK. So technically they have been offered refuge in France and they refused, so basically they can no longer claim refugee status. Barbara via facebook

With the popularity of bullfighting being under scrutiny, it seems that the Spanish have invented a brand new game. It’s played all over towns and cities in particular but variations are common in rural parts also. The rules are complicated but it’s played by all ages, in fact the older players are more adept than the young ones. The Spanish name for this rapidly growing sport eludes me but in English it’s roughly translated as; “Let’s jump out on to zebra crossings without looking, scaring oncoming drivers out of their wits!” With indicators not being fitted on Spanish cars, this is another extension of Spanish ingenuity. I have involuntarily played this game several times, but failed to hit the opposition once. My biggest success was when I was actually on the crossing when a gaggle of locals decided to tee off right in front of me, thus giving me a Spanish rollicking in quadruple for having the audacity to be on the crossing, driving, and for being born. On another occasion I got several points for having to brake hard, causing the opposition female to almost fall over and die from a heart attack brought on by the screeching of tyres and my bumper kissing her thigh! With obvious fatal consequences being certain (unable to find out how many points for that). When’s the next bullfight in Alicante? Philip from San Fulgencio

great job Rajoy has done before the elections. We were all surprised at the election results, to be h o n es t, as n o t only ha s R a joy changed many things for the better in Spain, but he got us through the financial crisis extremely well even better than most other countries, ridding Spaniards of austerity and hardships, and he did it in a big way. What the Spanish people are thinking of beats me. Neil via the website

Learn from the past WE should learn from the past and use it to shape the future. My family left the rubble of their homes and fled to other countries. My uncles and aunts who did that are no longer alive but their descendants, my cousins and their families are. They are no longer Scottish.

They are now Americans, Canadians, Australians. They have given birth to other Americans, Canadians, Australians and more. So it will be in due course with Syria’s people - just on a bigger scale - but it is only one country. The world has many countries. They will no longer be Syrians. They will become other nationalities. This terrible paralysis that is gripping the world’s leaders - who

Apathy over Brexit would be a tragedy I WOULD like to encourage all those readers who are able to please register to vote in the upcoming referendum. Of course I understand that it’s a difficult decision, and even the process of registering can be offputting to some. Others might think that since we’re here in Spain it might not make such a difference, especially if they aren’t drawing UK pensions or are not dependent on some form of health care or treatment. It’s much easier not to care sometimes, silly as it might sound. But I think the greatest tragedy would be allowing this opportunity to slip through our fingers. Whether you are determined to see the UK leave Europe, or the opposite, or whether you don’t indeed care for politics at all, I sincerely hope the historians of the future don’t wonder how we managed to sleepwalk into our own demise, whichever road that might take. One thing is certain, a population that doesn’t care what happens doesn’t deserve the benefits either Brexit or Bremain might offer. We would see only the negative impacts of either and this would be our just desserts. Archibald from Marbella

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

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

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TUESDAY 15 MARCH

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The One Show Fake Britain EastEnders Panorama Behind Closed Doors BBC News Regional News Weather Cuckoo Have I Got Old News for You

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BBC News Regional News The One Show EastEnders Holby City Happy Valley BBC News Regional News Weather The Estate We're in Shop Well for Less

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Too Much TV The Great Interior Design Challenge Mastermind Gardeners' World Land of Hope and Glory - British Country Life Britain's Secret Slavery Business Newsnight Artsnight Gardeners World Queen Victoria's Children Back in Time for the Weekend Dad's Army Stag The Talented Mr. Ripley Line of Duty

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Regional News Weather Countryfile Antiques Roadshow The Night Manager BBC News Regional News Weather Match of the Day 2 Match of the Day: FA Cup Highlights

7:50pm 7:55pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:20pm 11:25pm 11:30pm 12:00am

Bargain Hunt Eggheads Too Much TV Big Dreams Small Spaces The Secret History of My Family Murder Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle Newsnight Dunblane: Our Story

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Flog It! Who's the Boss? Steve Backshall's Extreme Mountain Challenge Let's Play Darts for Sports Relief 2016 Thirteen The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story Eggheads Too Much TV This Farming Life University Challenge Only Connect The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story QI XL Newsnight Weather Eggheads Too Much TV This Farming Life Mary Berry's Easter Feast Inside Obama's White House: 100 Days Scrappers Newsnight Weather Terry and Mason's Great Food Trip Bargain Hunt Eggheads Too Much TV This Farming Life Horizon Brendan O'Carroll's Family at War Live From the BBC Newsnight Weather

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Emmerdale Tonight Emmerdale The Cruise Bear Grylls: Mission Survive ITV News at Ten and Weather UEFA Europa League Highlights Frustrated Britain

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Hollyoaks Channel 4 News The Political Slot Ugly House to Lovely House with George Clarke 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown Alan Carr: Chatty Man Tattoo Fixers

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ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Best Walks with a View with Julia Bradbury Coronation Street Mr Selfridge ITV News at Ten and Weather Benidorm The Spy Who Loved Me

4:10pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:10am

Countdown A New Life in the Sun Couples Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Crufts 2016 Gogglebox The Last Leg Raised by Wolves

4:15pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:55pm 12:55am

Killer Date 5 News at 5 Neighbours Home and Away 5 News Tonight The Gadget Show Kitten Impossible NCIS: New Orleans NCIS NCIS: Los Angeles Access

ITV News and Weather Saturday Night Takeaway You're Back in the Room The Jonathan Ross Show ITV News and Weather Moonraker

2:30pm 5:10pm 5:40pm 6:10pm 6:45pm 7:15pm 7:40pm 8:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 1:20am

Channel 4 Racing Come Dine with Me Come Dine with Me Come Dine with Me Come Dine with Me Come Dine with Me Channel 4 News Crufts 2016 Lee Evans Riddick Kick-Ass

8:00pm

World War II in Colour The Gadget Show 5 News The Championship Goal Rush Law and Order: Special Victims Unit Law and Order: Special Victims Unit

Local News and Weather ITV News and Weather Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands The Story of Cats Doctor Thorne ITV News and Weather Houdini and Doyle Rugby

6:45pm 7:00pm

Channel 4 News The Secret Life of the Zoo Crufts 2016 Indian Summers Drama set in 1932 following the final years of British colonial rule in India. Slumdog Millionaire The Last Leg

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9:55pm 10:00pm 11:20pm 1:50am 2:15am

Flubber Now That's Funny Budgies Make You Laugh Out Loud Penn and Teller: Fool Us in Vegas 5 News Weekend Jonah Hex Angels and Demos Tattoo Disasters: UK Super Casino

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

7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:50pm

The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Dispatches Food Unwrapped Royal Navy School Fresh Meat 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 24 Hours in A and E

4:15pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:55pm 12:55am

Mother Betrayed 5 News Neighbours Home and Away 5 News Weather Terror Police Interceptors The X Files Gotham NCIS NCIS

Emmerdale The Inspectors are Coming It's Not Rocket Science Speeding Wars ITV News at Ten and Weather Davina Mccall: Life at the Extreme The Cube

5:30pm 6:00pm

Three in a Bed Couples Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners First Dates Gogglebox Very British Problems

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5 News Police Interceptors Britain's Horror Homes Benefits by the Sea: Jaywick Best of Bad TV: Classic CultAstrophes Penn and Teller: Fool Us in Vegas

ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Big Star's Little Star Grantchester ITV News at Ten and Weather UEFA Champions League Highlights Bear Grylls: Mission Survive

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The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Scruffts: Britain's Favourite Dog 24 Hours in A and E Raised by Wolves How to Get a Council House My Big Fat Asian Wedding

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Home and Away 5 News Tonight Ben Fogle: New Lives in the Wild The Secret Life of the Family Trauma Doctors The Moors Murders: Britain's Worst Crimes Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away!

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6:00pm 6:15pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 11:30pm 11:45pm 5:00pm 5:30pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 11:15pm 12:15am 5:00pm 5:15pm 5:30pm 5:45pm 6:00pm 9:00pm 11:00pm 12:30am

2:00pm 4:30pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 8:15pm 10:30pm 11:30pm 1:00am 5:00pm 5:30pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 12:00am 1:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 5:00am

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Football Football Football League Goals Spanish Football Gold Football Goals on Sunday The Sunday Supplement Premier League Game Changers Fantasy Football Club Highlights Soccer A.M. - The Best Bits Football League Goals Live Ford Monday Night Football Football League Goals Ford Monday Night Football Football League Goals Barclays Premier League Review Tennis: Indian Wells Masters Live Tennis: Indian Wells Masters Premier League 100 Club Football Gold Football Gold Football Gold Football Gold La Liga World 2015 Fantasy Football Club Highlights Tennis: Indian Wells Masters Live Tennis: Indian Wells Masters Sporting Triumphs

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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OPINION & COMMENT

Manners maketh the man, break your home rules for a better life here THE Spanish open cafe society vs the English closed pub encounters 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.

PEOPLE I’ve known for more than 10 years approached me and asked for the simplest secret to achieve the easiest lifestyle possible for living in Spain. That’s cruel! Breaking down an ancient culture to a seed of a few catch words is difficult. I insisted I needed more time. Truth in a nutshell is difficult if you’re not a poet. But, there is a golden key that opens doors and the minds of those around you here in Spain. It truly is so straightforward you’ll be embarrassed by the simplicity. To arrive at such divine guidance we must study our circumstances. Keenly inspect all about in its obvious novelty, and then like Sherlock Holmes make

FAILING TO GREET: Is as bad as demanding a G&T from the Queen’s Butler instead of the tea. an observed and calculated deductive reasoning. Being observant is the first rule, not just how Spaniards interact

with you but how they liaise with their peers, and therein is the key. Whether you are sitting in a medical

centre or a bar when someone new enters the room he chirps forth a salutation, and all respond with a likewise mumbled or politely spoken “Buenos Dias”. Therein recognising you as someone there before, and requiring the common courtesy of customary greeting and acknowledgment. In that nanosecond of time civilisation is germinated and can therefore grow and prosper. Of course, just sitting is a nothing effort. But your presence being recognised and accredited takes you both to a new level of mutual existence. That ephemeral greeting is an essential pinnacle moment in the unfurlment of ancient tradition and respect. If you were born English no incident could be further from your mind than greeting someone you don’t possibly know, or have never seen before and therein lies one of the worst, almost criminal courtesies not adhered to, amongst many of the newest visitors to

this land of sun and fiesta. Something similar to showing up at the Queen’s garden party in shorts and a t shirt and asking the butler for a G&T and foregoing the tea. If you find the Spanish raucous and noisy nothing could be further from the sublime truth of the matter when it comes to manners, especially where greetings are concerned. “Buenos Dias”, there, you’ve said it, let the magic develop as it may. And if you’re willing to make that effort of saying anything else you are gaining a friend for life which, again, being English is as far from your imagination as culturally possible. Time to realise you’re not Dorothy from Kansas anymore nor John Bull from Sussex, but in Tierra incognita - Spain. A place full of passion and expression on an everyday level that well deserves acknowledging and sharing. Break your home rules for a better life here.

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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EURO WEEKLY’S SPACE FOR YOU TO TAKE A BREA

Word Ladder

MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

LAZY LAZE DAZE DOZE DOGE DOGS

YOUR STARS

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) Astrologically, it’s not unreasonable to assume that when sparky Mars and the zesty Sun conflict with restless Pluto, life could become a tad frustrating. You might find it hard to tolerate hypocrisy and setbacks, but fortunately, it’s all just a passing cloud. Regardless of any lack of continuity, concentrate on keeping going and prepare for next week’s brighter outlook. GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Punchy Mars and the heady Sun are

Average: 8 Good: 11 Very good: 15 Excellent: 20

VELEZ RUBIO GARRUCHA ALBOX MOJACAR

ALMERIA

GARRUCHA

arvo aver cave cove derv deva dove ever over rave rove veer vert veto vote avert carve caved caver cover covet crave drove evade evert ovate overt raved reave revet roved trave trove voted voter advert avocet carved cavort covert craved devote evader octave vector vetoed vetoer averted covered coveted evocate overact overate overeat cavorted OVERACTED

MOJACAR

RETAMAR

ALMERIA

ROQUETAS

ADRA

touchy Pluto. Stay well clear if you want to escape potential power struggles.

(February 20 - March 20)

Alicante

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) If you suspect that some things are not what they seem, you could be right. Repel doubts, ban anxieties and stick to facts and tact. If certain individuals or situations continue to conspire against you, change course and do something entirely different. What goes around will come around quicker than you think.

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) Quirky planetary niggles will surface without warning. A variety of talks, news and last-minute changes surround your family members, friends or colleagues. No matter what affects your personal or occupational activities, stay focused, decide what your goals are and, just as importantly, find the easiest way to move forward without losing your healing sense of humour.

TODAY: Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

18 9 S 19 10 S 19 10 S

Mon - 20 11 S Tues - 21 12 S Wed - 22 12 Cl

Mon - 18 11 S Tues - 21 12 S Wed - 21 12 Cl MAX 17C, MIN 8C

16 9 S 17 9 Cl 18 11 S

17 11 S 18 12 S 18 12 S

S Sun,

Cl Clear,

Sh Showers,

8-Star Quiz

IRISH LOTTO

EURO MILLIONS

LA PRIMITIVA

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA

Saturday March 5

Friday March 4

Saturday March 5

Sunday March 6

29 34

31 35

BONUS BALL

THUNDERBALL

BONUS BALL

14 23

16 40

LUCKY STARS

REINTEGRO

SHOWERS MAX 14C, MIN 8C MAX MIN

16 8 C 17 8 C 18 8 S

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

12 31

30 48

REINTEGRO

CLOUDY MAX 20C, MIN 9C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 19 13 S Tues - 19 12 S Wed - 20 12 S

UK THUNDERBALL

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

MAX MIN

Mon - 20 10 S Tues - 22 12 S Wed - 23 12 Cl

Murcia

CLOUDY MAX 17C, MIN 9C

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.

CLOUDY MAX 21C, MIN 9C 18 8 S 19 8 S 19 9 S

MAX MIN

Mon - 20 11 S Tues - 20 11 S Wed - 19 11 C

Sudoku

Fri Sat Sun TODAY:

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Mon - 21 4 S Tues - 21 4 S Wed - 21 5 S

Mallorca

CLEAR

Benidorm TODAY:

MAX MIN

16 2 Cl 18 3 S 21 3 S

MAX MIN

16 11 Cl 18 11 S 19 11 S

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Fri Sat Sun TODAY:

Barcelona TODAY:

MAX MIN

Malaga

CLOUDY MAX 18C, MIN 11C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

CLOUDY MAX 13C, MIN 2C

TODAY:

Almeria TODAY:

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) You are about to tackle some tough tests. Work and personal hurdles could preoccupy you, but after the weekend you’ll be able to sort out the ice from the cream. No matter how awkward things seem on Monday or Wednesday, trust your ability to wait for the right moment, rather than risk spoiling your plans.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) You will need bucketloads of humour and understanding as impatient Mars and the sprightly Sun engage with

Madrid

CLOUDY MAX 17C, MIN 8C MAX MIN

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) Storms in tea-cups need loads of sweettalking. Of course, if you can’t be bothered with it all, fair enough; keeping quiet could be the best way to deal with problems, glitches or sudden backfires. If you can’t take a break, at least chill out with whatever or whoever brings you the greatest pleasure.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Even the best-made plans can suddenly sink without a trace. Your dreams for a fresh start in one particular direction still need tender, cautious care, and you may equally need to be wary of overstepping the mark where money’s concerned.

LEO (July 24 - August 23) This is an intense week, and if you get stuck with a particular issue, jumble your words, or just can’t seem to do anything right, it might be worth finding out if the grass is greener on the other side.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

ROQUETAS

‘ NOTHING TO DO WITH THE REFERENDUM - THEY ARE CELEBRATING THE LAUNCH OF VIAGRA FOR WOMEN!’

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) Upfront Mars and the upbeat Sun will be at loggerheads with powerful Pluto. You might not appreciate some of Friday or Saturday’s antics, so be ready to use your charm, or perhaps your equally wicked sense of humour will do the trick.

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

HUERCAL OVERA

RETAMAR

ADRA

set for a scramble with touchy Pluto. You’ve been there before, so despite any administrative bumps, gossipy whirls or curious rejections, don’t be too sensitive. Add up what you’ve achieved, subtract your fears and keep your emotions under control.

Nonagram

HUERCAL OVERA

ALBOX

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Hassles and battles are on the cards. If things don’t happen as fast as you’d expected, or domestic and workaday blips assail your patience, transform them into an opportunity to show your special qualities. Potent planetary influences urge you to look, listen, learn and refuse to allow petty stumbling blocks to undermine your confidence on Tuesday and Thursday.

TOMORROW VELEZ RUBIO

Feisty Mars and the fiery Sun are warring with changeable Pluto, so avoid any tearaway temptations on Thursday or Friday. You could be emotionally vulnerable, or even lulled into a false sense of security. However confusing the planets may seem, even out the odds as best you can by ensuring your worries take second place.

PICSES

for next 7 days

weather

TODAY

LOTTERY

DOGS BACK

TARGET:

Almería

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

LAZY LADY LADS LAGS LOGS DOGS or

LAZY

TIME

www.euroweeklynews.com

Fri Sat Sun -

F Fog, Sn Snow,

MAX MIN

20 8 S 20 8 S 21 9 S

Mon - 23 11 S Tues - 24 10 S Wed - 26 12 Cl

C Cloudy, Th Thunder

SQUARE DEALS 1. How many square inches are there in a square foot? 2. How many squares are there on a chess board? 3. In which European capital city is Wenceslas Square to be found? 4. Muhammad Ali’s first professional defeat was at the hands of Joe Frazier on March 8, 1971, at which famous New York venue? 5. Unsquare Dance was a 1962 UK Top 20 hit single for which American jazz pianist? 6. What is the name of the large city square in the centre of Beijing that was the focal point of student-led popular demonstrations in the spring of 1989? 7. Where did the inexperienced amateur pilot Matthias Rust illegal land his light aircraft on May 28, 1987? 8. Which American animated television series created in 1999 by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon, chronicles the adventures and endeavours of the title character and his various friends in the fictional underwater city of Bikini Bottom? Not a lot of people know that... Arsenal Football Club were formed as Dial Square in 1886 by workers at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, southeast London

Answers 1. 144, 2. 64, 3. PRAGUE, 4. MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, 5. DAVE BRUBECK (QUARTET), 6. TIANANMEN SQUARE, 7. RED SQUARE, 8. SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS,

OUT

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10 - 16 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

Code Breaker

Across 1 Back of the neck (6) 4 Separated (6) 7 Pleasurable (9) 9 Small hotels (4) 10 Departure (4) 11 Brutal (5) 13 Mistakes (6) 14 Wealthier (6) 15 Talk (6) 17 Smarts (6) 19 Retains (5) 20 Leave out (4) 22 Protagonist (4) 23 Finished (9) 24 Elevated (6) 25 Visions (6) Down 1 Holy sanctuary (6) 2 Large coffee or tea pots (4) 3 Flattens (6) 4 Devout request (6) 5 Regulation (4) 6 Medic (6) 7 Full of vim and vigour (9)

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Crossword

EWN

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 8 represents W and 25 represents Z, so fill in W every time the figure 8 appears and Z every time the figure 25 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 Stop, 4 Treasure, 8 Crater, 9 Oliver, 10 Riga, 11 Harmless, 13 Philosophical, 16 Escalade, 19 Sale, 20 Behest, 22 Heated, 23 Restless, 24 Term.

Down: 2 Tarnishes, 3 Pitfall, 4 Torch, 5 Ego trip, 6 Skill, 7 Roe, 12 Small beer, 14 Startle, 15 Instant, 17 Alert, 18 Ethos, 21 Ewe.

QUICK Across:

8 Swapped (9) 11 Become fractured (5) 12 Elevates (5) 15 Not as fast (6) 16 Assisted (6)

English - Spanish

17 Stretch (6) 18 Yells (6) 21 Playthings (4) 22 In this place (4)

Down: 1 Assigns, 2 Traps, 3 Anyhow, 5 Chaste, 6 Agitate, 7 Elect, 9 Sari, 16/15 Top hat, 18 Amazing, 20 Serpent, 21 Sparse, 22 Ogre, 23 Swerve, 24 Sofia, 26 Guide.

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

Across 1 Garganta (6) 3 Nudo (en hilo, cuerda) (4) 7 Sí (3) 9 Slim (figure, person) (7) 10 Forks (cutlery) (9) 13 Harvest (7) 14 Aunt (3) 15 Atún (4) 16 Flour (6)

ENGLISH-SPANISH Across: 1 Tiles, 4 Attic, 7 Shoulders, 8 Raro, 9 Aqui, 13 Translate, 15 Sales, 16 Asnos.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Down: 1 Taburetes, 2 Loser, 3 Snow, 4 Alla, 5 Tie, 6 Castillos, 10 Queen, 11 Asks, 12 Vaca, 14 All.

Down 1 Juguetes (4) 2 Público (teatro) (8) 4 El más cercano (7) 5 Herramienta (4) 6 Pillow (8) 8 Hijastro (7) 11 Escocés (4) 12 Cup (vessel, amount) (4)

Hexagram

1 Actual, 4 Scrape, 8 Scary, 10 Agile, 11 Heals, 12 Gusto, 13 Toast, 14 White, 17 Slap, 19 Fees, 21 Stops, 24 Swamp, 25 Wager, 27 Agree, 28 Friar, 29 Raise, 30 Angler, 31 Defeat.

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

ALLIED ANNUAL (10) BEHEST BLUISH CACTUS CHEERY CORRAL DETENT DIAPER ENTIRE

GYRATE ITALIC LINEAR LOAVES MEMBER MENIAL PANDER TEETHE TITIAN

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 1 Sodden 2 Careen 3 Dugout 4 Arrear 5 Trance 6 Resort 7 Antler 8 Rustic 9 Feeble 10 Tackle 11 Extent 12 Bauble 13 Kindle 14 Clutch 15 Garble 16 Recode 17 Target 18 Global 19 Galaxy

Across 1 Instruction for the French boy (6) 4 Established customs in religious attire (6) 9 Note lad has boat clearing (5) 10 Middle class men return single flower (7) 11 Opera set is changed but works (8) 12 Discovered tea secret luxury (4) 14 Long standing horse barn (6) 16 Back in the news, US neckline poll (6) 19 Tipsy cast are singing jazz (4) 20 Via clean, new Spanish city (8) 23 Worry it’s set in ornamental stone (7) 24 Isolated a character (5) 25 Looked to be soundly joined (6) 26 Gambler is recovering (6) Down 1 Sloe gin is made for hordes of soldiers (7) 2 Measure untied laces (5)

3 Drunk pale Boer is ready to run (8) 5 Middle Eastern port, a refuge for animals (4) 6 Air boss redesigned map lines (7) 7 Convinced by soft leather we hear (5) 8 Arrived with nothing for a small role in a play (5) 13 Create teenager’s problem (8)

15 Greedy girl and a grass (7) 17 Act, rest, rebel then disperse (7) 18 Am in endless cell, it’s a beast (5) 19 Bites at ginger biscuits (5) 21 Connecticut service admitted talent (5) 22 It’s the end of the board game, buddy (4)

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

When are the kids going to stop throwing their toys out of the pram? THE Brexit debate has really unleashed open warfare amongst the Conservative party 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

GOOD grief! When are the kids going to stop throwing their toys out of the pram? The Brexit debate has really unleashed open warfare amongst the Conservatives with pro-Brexit London mayor Boris Johnson dismissing as “baloney” the attempt by David Cameron styling himself the leader of ‘Project Fact’ - to talk up the case for staying in the EU. This, then, after a run of headlines in the press as part of the so-called ‘Project Fear’ (sounds like some low-key porn movie, doesn’t it?). According to Government reports (dismissed as ‘dodgy dossiers’ by Brexiteers), Brexit would mean Brits won’t be able to live abroad in countries like France and Spain, access to the single market would be questionable and it could take Britain up to 10 years to negotiate new trade deals. And all this amid claims Mr Cameron’s new

EU MEMBERSHIP: The Tory party is split from top to bottom on Europe. EU membership deal could actually extend the powers of the EU, and end up being a ‘Trojan horse’ that allows it to intervene over any domestic financial crisis! Well, I’ve got a few questions for Mr Cameron.

If the Government truly expects it to take 10 years to negotiate new trade deals and the referendum is intended to cover either outcome, then why didn’t he start preparing ages ago? I don’t understand either Mr Cameron’s fre-

quently repeated warning that Brexit is a “leap in the dark.” Does he really believe that it’s a greater ‘leap’ than remaining in an organisation whose idea of financial probity consists of 21 consecutive years of failure to have its accounts approved by its auditors; whose knowledge of economic theory results in the belief that a common currency can be effective without a common fiscal policy and whose grasp of good housekeeping is to move its central parliament/administrative entourage from Brussels to Strasbourg 12 times a year for no practical reason other than to satisfy France’s ego? Those who campaigned to remain in the 1975 referendum will know only too well what a ‘leap’ that turned out to be. I’d say the only real difference between the two leaps into the darkness is who operates the light switch. What a mess. This only reinforces what we have known for years. The Tory party is split from top to bottom on Europe. Always will be. 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.

HEALTH BEAUTY

Costa de Almería

10 - 16 March 2016

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EWN

VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.EWNLIFESTYLE.COM

Are you comfort eating? Surge of happiness IT’S important to recognise and acknowledge the signs that lead you to it

FitFoxy Looking Good, Staying Trim

THERE was a survey compiled on women some time back that revealed that those unhappy in their job were more likely to comfort eat. I would take it one step further and say that women unhappy with many things in their life would be more likely to comfort eat. I may even go another step further and say that I know men that comfort eat. We all comfort eat from time to time, it’s nice to indulge, food should be a pleasure right? However the fine line is crossed when it starts to become an every day habit that you are finding hard to control. When it starts to affect your weight and your health, it no

COMFORT EATING: Food should be a pleasure. longer feels good. You end up feeling awful, guilty and frustrated that you cannot find the discipline to get back on track. It’s incredibly important to recognise and acknowledge the signs that are leading you

to comfort eat, or even comfort drink for that matter. Alcohol is also a huge contributor to weight gain as far as I’m concerned, wine is a huge culprit. Some of the clients I have dealt with in the past have had

psychological obstacles in their path that have led them to require my service. They have sought help with diet and food etc, but after drilling down and getting to know exactly what makes them tick, I see it is often something deep they are not dealing with which is continuing to sabotage their weight, health and well-being. Comfort eating will release feel good endorphins and make you feel great for a short time, but then what? You will feel awful again, your weight will fluctuate. You will feel like you are going around in circles and never getting where you need to go. There is no simple solution, there never is, but you only get one you. It really is up to you to decide what is more important to you in the long term, and go with it.

BEING too happy could kill you. A major research project has found that joyful events causing a sudden surge of adrenaline, can lead to heart failure. Known officially as Takotsubo syndrome, it was originally detected and known as ‘broken heart syndrome’ caused when extreme emotional stress causes the heart to shut down. But the authors of the new study, led by researchers in Switzerland, suggest that a small number of cases would be better known as ‘happy heart syndrome.’ Their study was based on 1,750 patients in nine different countries. Of 485 patients who researchers identified as having an emotional trigger, 96 per cent had suffered sad and stressful events such as the loss of a loved one or attending a funeral. However, in 20 individuals, heart damage appeared to have been triggered by happy occasions including a birthday party, a wedding, a surprise celebration, the birth of a grandchild, or even a rugby team winning a game. The condition, which strikes suddenly, causes the heart chamber to balloon out at the bottom while the neck remains narrow. In the UK, around 5 per cent of patients die after suffering from the syndrome.

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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Finding the right balance to make the most of siesta time A QUICK recharge of 10 to 20 minutes is sufficient to improve brain capacity

HEALTH & BEAUTY

Ask The Doctor

Brought to you by

The side effects of medication

SPECIALIST: Doctor Luis Perez Belmonte. QUICK SIESTA: Can be refreshing. By Gemma Quinn WHAT is the perfect siesta time?

Occupational therapist and acupuncturist, Henar de Frutos Gamero, said that 30 minutes is the ideal amount of sleep rec-

ommended to wake up refreshed, but between 10 and 60 minutes is ok. “In general terms, for a quick

recharge it is sufficient with 10 or 20 minutes to improve brain capacity and up to 60 minutes to increase creativity.” The expert said advantages of having a quick siesta are that it improves performance and digestion, helps reduce the risk of heart attacks, improves overall well-being, lowers blood pressure and stress, and helps maintain cognitive functions. However, Frutos Gamero also warned that sleeping for too long; over an hour, or too close to night time sleep, can have an adverse effect.

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

This week the doctor answers a reader’s questions regarding the side effects of her blood pressure medication:

Dear Dr Perez Belmonte, Further to your article in the Euro Weekly, I have a problem which my doctor cannot solve. I do hope you can. I am a 77-year-old female and for several months I have been taking Amlodipino Normon 5mg Comprimidos EFG (previously I took Valsartan Normon 80mg with similar results). My current side effects are dry mouth two hours after I take my pill at breakfast time. Two hours later I get a tightening of the skin both sides of my throat, behind my tongue. This lasts for several hours and is very uncomfortable as this feeling is like blisters and sore. Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Yours sincerely, Pearl

Dear Pearl, The medication you are taking to keep your blood pressure under control, Amlodipindo, and the one you took previously, Valsartan, can have some adverse effects. In the case of Amlodipino, these can include hot flushes, a red face, leg swelling, dizziness, dry mouth and dermatitis among others. The severity of these reactions can vary. If you have been suffering side effects since you started taking the medication, a specialist doctor should change your medication to another type which could suit you better and not cause these problems. Luckily today there are many different types of blood pressure medications available.

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.

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OCIAL

Food on the go in Huercal-Overa RESIDENTS of the town enjoyed a wide range of dishes By Adele Land

TAKEAWAY: Delicious food served in the open air.

HUERCAL-OVERA town centre was filled with flavour at the weekend as the Food Truck event rolled into town. Numerous mobile food-outlets lined the Plaza de Constitucion for a three-day food fest which attracted visitors from far and wide. The sun shone down on the square as residents and visitors enjoyed a range of dishes served from the trucks. The delicious offerings included five varieties

of paella, gourmet tapas, freshly cooked fish and meat along with traditional mobile-food offerings such as burgers and hot dogs. A selections of drinks were available as well as sweet dishes to round off the al-fresco meal. Later in the day a band took centre stage and a large crowd gathered to enjoy the party atmosphere. Mayor, Domingo Fernandez said it was a unique event for the town and he hoped the residents and visitors enjoyed it.

Spreading our motherly love RESTAURANTS and bars pulled out all the stops to entertain the lovely ladies on Mother’s Day BRITISH Mother’s Day was celebrated across the province on Sunday (March 6). Mothers, aunties, grandmas and mums of four-legged babies were treated to breakfasts, lunches and dinners at venues on the coast and

inland. Restaurants and bars pulled out all the stops and vied to book top acts from around the area to serenade and entertain the lovely ladies. Rock and roll bands, balladeers and crooners took to the stage to make the day extra special.

Afternoon of fashion and glamour in aid of charity AN afternoon of glamour and giving is set to be a popular spring event as charitable group Team Harmo n y a n d Mo j a c a r boutiq u e Oa si s, j o in forces for a fashion show and lunch afternoon next month. The v e n u e f o r t h e much anticipated event is Me so n Pe p e i n S a n Juan de los Terreros and the d a t e i s We d n e sd ay April 13. O asi s c o - o wn e r A n n Webber told Euro Weekly News: “ T h e a f t e r n o o n will include a workshop explaining how to put together that all important capsule wardrobe, followed by a fashion show showcasing the spring collection.” Local ladies have been recruited as models and proceeds from the event will go to Alzheimer ’s Spain. Ent r a n c e i s € 1 5 a n d includes a three-course lunch. Tickets are on sale at Oasis Fashions Mojacar and from Team Harmony by calling 650 077 882.

10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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EWN

Date now set for peace and love at annual hippy party GET dressed in your 70’s gear complete with wigs and wedges By Adele Land A DATE has been set for the annual hippy party. Siobhan Tattan organises the annual event and this year will be the 10th edition of the popular party. People travel from all around the Levante to enjoy the event, all getting into the spirit by dressing in 70’s hippy gear complete with wigs and wedges! The venue is yet to be confirmed, but the date is set for June 18. Buses will be available from Mojacar and Turre and more information will be available soon. Siobhan would like to get an idea of numbers and she can be contacted via her Facebook page.

Credit: Antigoni Goni / Shutterstock.com

SOCIAL SCENE

HIPPY GEAR: People travel from all over to take part in the event.

Vicar of Dibley - a new play THE LUVVIES theatre group is staging a new production at the Pedro Gilabert theatre in Arboleas. The performances will be on March, 11, 12 and 13. Here is a summary to entice you to see the performance. The arrival, to take up prime position in the village is eagerly

anticipated by the disparate characters, all of whom have their own hopes and expectations of the newcomer. The job is to spread harmony, while encouraging the growth and development of the rural backwater. Vicar Geraldine certainly has a task on her hands, can she manage to save

the village of Dibley. Will she manage to avoid the amorous advances of Owen and can she galvanise the shy, innocent Hugo into proposing marriage to love-struck verger Alice? Find out and rush to get your tickets for the play. See advert for more details.

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OPINION & COMMENT

Michael Crawford is to reprise Frank Spencer for Sport Relief Richard Shanley

Dishing the Dirt OF EUROPA DIGITAL

MICHAEL CRAWFORD is set to reprise the role of Frank Spencer in a one-off special of Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em. The BBC comedy last aired on Christmas Day in 1978. The sketch reunites Crawford, 74, with on-screen wife Betty (Michele Dotrice), and features an appearance from Olympic cyclist Sir Bradley Wiggins, leading to one of Frank’s typical disasters. “I am thrilled and delighted to have been asked to bring Frank back,” he said. Dotrice said it would be an “absolute joy to be reunited again with Frank” and that it was fitting “for it is such a wonderful cause.” Sir Bradley added: “I am a huge fan of Michael so it’s an absolute honour to be asked to be involved alongside such an icon of British television...

Michael Crawford & Sir Bradley Wiggins

TCHÉKY KARYO: Will return as detective Julien Baptiste. and all for a great cause.” Sport Relief Night airs on BBC One on March 18 from 20:00 CET. The Missing was the most talkedabout drama series of 2014 - and now a second series is officially un-

der way. Tchéky Karyo will return as charismatic detective Julien Baptiste for the new episodes, again written by Harry and Jack Williams. New to the show are David

Morrissey and Keeley Hawes - cast as Sam and Gemma, a couple whose daughter went missing in 2003. Their lives are turned upside down when Alice - played by Nina Forever’s Abigail Hardingham resurfaces after 11 years. Series two will again be split across two timelines - 2014 and the present - as Alice’s family are thrown back into a turmoil that threatens to tear them apart at the seams. If you would like me to answer any questions you may have on satellite TV or on anything I have written about please call me on 678 332 815 or email richard@europadigital.com. I look forward to your comments and questions. Don’t forget to listen to my radio show every weekday from 10am on Spectrum 96.1 & 106.8FM.

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

Raffle winners for February MANY thanks to all for their continued support APSA animal rescue in Albox is delighted to announce the raffle winners from the February draw. Lynda McAllister was the lucky winner of a meal at Amigos Bowling Centre with a choice of a two-course Sunday lunch for two people or fish and chips with dessert any day of the week (closed Mondays). A €10 voucher for Colin The Card went to Jean and Mac MacDonald, Jean won a voucher to spend in Eurowise, worth €15 and Julie and Barry won a €15 voucher for Pricebusters.

Winning tickets were drawn by Ray Swain. A total of €13 was raised. APSA is grateful to the Amigos Bowling Centre, Colin The Card, Eurowise, and Pricebusters for their monthly prizes and to all who purchase raffle tickets, the proceeds of which will go towards helping the many animals in the care of APSA. Many thanks for your continued support and a special thank you to Rachel Scott who last month donated her Eurowise voucher to APSA.

For children THE younger residents of Albox enjoyed their own special event last weekend. The inaugural event, organised by the town council took place over three days in the Plaza de San Francisco. The event included games, a children’s market, music and the official opening of the new ‘Fofo the clown’ children’s playground.

Bullet-proofed POLICE in Cuevas del Almanzora have received 21 bullet-proof jackets to wear for protection. Mayor, Antonio Fernandez, delivered the vests to police chief, Juan Javier Castro, and said safety was paramount.

ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

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Catering course for the unemployed in order to help them to find work ALL the delegates received their official food handlers certificate By Adele Land A GROUP of 30 students from the Almanzora area have completed a week-long course in food handling.

The course, organised by the provincial government gave the group of unemployed people an opportunity to learn about the catering and hospitality industry in order to help them into work.

The course took place in Zurgena and is expected to be rolled out into other municipalities. Employment deputy, Carmen Lopez, said the council was committed to help people secure employ-

ment, adding there were excellent opportunities in the catering industry. At the close of the course, the delegates all received their official food handlers certificate.

Charity event for canine rescue A FABULOUS fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday March 19 at Maloan’s bar in Albox. A fun-packed night will include music from top local artists including, Roadrunner,

an Abba tribute, Geoff Thomas, Dave A and sounds from Smooth FM DJs Rod Oxley, Jack Savage and Ray Peters. Chicken and chips will be available and a full bar. Tickets

are €5, from Scrumptious in Albox or from Smooth FM. The fun begins at 7pm. All proceeds will go to Maz’s canine rescue to help feed, vaccinate and rehome the dogs.

10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

Mena has lef vowed that h EX-MAYOR will continue to app By Adele Land BELEAGUERED Albox mayor, Rogelio Mena, finally quit office last week, bringing to a close an almost two-year battle to clear his name and remain in the job. Back in 2014, Mena was banned from public office for a period of two-and-a-half years by a court in Almeria following accusations of withholding information from the opposition. Despite being dismissed from the socialist (PSOE) party in June last year, Mena remained as mayor of Albox having run in the local elections as an independent for the newly created Socialistas Albojenses party. He also faces charges of financial mismanagement having been

accused of dipping into the public coffers to pay for expensive trips and dinners. Further charges include cronyism after opposition group Partido Popular (PP), accused him of awarding public works contracts to friends and former collegues. Mena initially refused to resign and appealed the case, the charges were held up at the court of appeal and at 10.30 on Friday morning in a hastily organised plenary meeting, he finally stepped down. During the session, the ever-defiant, now ex-mayor said: “I am leaving, but I will be back.” He added he was leaving with the satisfaction of knowing during his tenure he resolved the town’s most serious issues including public safety and water problems.

ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

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ft the building, but has he will be back eal charges against him in the European court of human rights

ALBOX SAFER: Mayor claimed he had resolved the town’s most serious issues. The former mayor went on to thank his councillors and those

from the opposition and expressed his affection for Albox

residents, thanking them for their support during the municipal

elections. Mena’s critics called the situation “a black page in the history of Albox.” Mena maintains his innocence, insisting that his human rights have been breached during the process and said he intends to appeal the ruling in the European court of human rights and the constitutional court in Spain. With problems seemingly following him, his departure wasn’t without controversy as members of the Partido Popular (PP), questioned the appearance of the mayor’s official car parked outside the PSOE headquarters the day before. The group posted photos of the car being loaded with what appeared to be archive boxes.

10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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ALBOX & SURROUNDING AREAS

Oria’s Almond Gala honours town’s best AMONG those awarded were two mountain bikers By Sam Croft ORIA recently celebrated its first Almond Gala, an event designed to pay tribute to those residents who have had a positive impact on the promotion and development of the community. In spite of bad weather, expectant visitors showed up in droves to the El Posito Cultural Centre, where Culture councillor Antonio Torrente was the host for an evening full of warmth, laughter and community spirit.

Among those awarded were Miguel Angel Simon Martinez and Antonio Javier Simon Montoya, two mountain bikers who brought the name of Oria to northern Spain when they completed the Camino de Santiago in 2015, and Bruce Cameron, a British artist who lives in Oria. Perhaps most beloved of all was Jose Ramon Sanchez Martinez, a local resident and business owner with an incredible love of sports and an enormous commitment to the community of Oria.

Rural improvements and job creation in Fines WIDESPREAD maintenance and remodelling work is underway in the town of Fines, something which has served to both beautify the town and create much-needed employment opportunities. The work has had an

overall budget of €81,621. The project has been made possible thanks to the Rural Employment Development Plan, an initiative launched by the Almeria Provincial Council. Representatives from the em-

ployment plan recently went to Fines to see firsthand how the work was progressing, and to remind the workers of the importance of labour risk prevention. The repaving and remodelling project is about 50 per cent done.

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10 - 16 March 2016

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

UK housing mini boom ADVANCE MOVES international removals have reported on a 2016 first quarter mini boom in the UK housing market that has resulted in a significant increase in their UK to Spain Removals services. The surge in demand for removals services has been put down to a number of factors that have all resulted in a very busy period in what is traditionally a quieter time of year for the removals industry during January to March. The prime influence appears to be the British chancellor’s increase in stamp duty on buy to let homes that comes into effect in April and has therefore resulted in a rush to buy before the new higher levels of stamp duty come into effect. With more properties suddenly being sold in the UK and combined with the terrible weather conditions that the UK has experienced this winter, many UK residents are selling up and contacting Advance Moves to undertake their relocation to Spain at the earliest convenience.

Many of their clients are making the most of the free of charge storage period they offer so they know that their effects are safe whilst they wait to complete on their new home. Advance Moves has also been investing heavily in their new mobile friendly website that offers a quick quote facility so a client can enter minimal information to obtain a quotation for their removal. The new site at www.advancemoves.com has been well received by the public as it offers a lot of information on the removals process and why it is so important to choose the right remover for an international removal. The UK housing market mini boom has also had a positive effect on properties being sold in Spain, with more UK buyers entering Spain with money in their pockets, and keen for a quick purchase. Once again Advance Moves has seen an increase in clients moving from Spain to the UK and are looking forward to a busy year.

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PROPERTY www.euroweeklynews.com

Approval of building licences for new homes has increased GROWTH supported by improvements in employment in construction

NEW BUILDS: Number of licences has increased. A TOTAL of 49,695 building licences for new homes were approved in Spain in 2015, an increase of 42.5 per cent compared to the year before, according to the latest report from the Ministry of Public Works and Development. This was the second year in a row to reflect positive results, and the vast majority

of the permits granted, approximately 35,000, were for flats, the report revealed. A seven-year run of drops in licences for new builds applied for and granted was broken in 2014, when an increase of 1.7 per cent on the 2013 historical low brought the total to 34,873. Yet the total is still a far cry from the

peak levels of 2006, when 865,561 licences were approved. BBVA Research reported that the 2015 increase was ‘the end of a successful year for construction activity,’ and said the growth is supported by improvements in employment within the construction sector.

Two out of 10 homes have more electric power than they need TW O out of 10 home s in Spain have more contracted electric power than they actua lly ne e d. A s a c ons e que nc e , the ir e le c tric ity

bills are much higher. According to the Spanish Electric Network (REE), the pow e r c ontra c te d by the majority of the consumers is

175,000 megawatts, whereas the average capacity held by the electricity network in Spai n i s 108,000 m egawatts. The difference between the contracted power and the actual consumption is around €7 billion. That’s what Spaniards pay for the electricity they do not use. I n f act , a st udy by Mirubee’s electricity webpage shows that more than 3.6 million houses - two out of 10 - in Spain have hired more electric power than they need.

An average family usually consumes 1.1 extra kilowatts in their house. If each of these families reduced their power, they could save around €52 per year. According to specialists, it is easy to know whether t he cont r act ed power i s enough or not and if there is enough of a margin to adj ust i t . Ther e ar e m obi l e apps f or cal cul at i ng t he power that a house should have and some electric energy companies also offer simulators on their own websites.

PROPERTY

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10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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New cutting edge designed homes in Spain truly stunning SPAIN offers homes that are good quality, but many are actually excellent! John Graham The property expert

IT’S March, a time of the year when international buyers start seriously looking at where to buy their holiday home or permanent home in the sun and I’m seeing an increase in buyers looking to buy in Spain, or to be more precise, along the Costas and Balearics. An interesting report came out recently and the report states that around 73 per cent of all property for sale in Spain is good quality. I would go a lot further and say that in my experience there is now a much higher percentage of properties for sale in Spain that are not just good, but are excellent quality. Pushing the excellent quality levels to new highs today are the architects and builders of

LUXURY LIVING: Architects and builders are pushing the quality to new highs. new luxury villas and apartments, all along the Costas and Balearics. The cutting edge designs of many architects are truly stunning and their properties are being snapped up by buyers from around the world, in many cases, even before being built.

The interior designs are modern and open plan, making the most of natural Mediterranean light, giving the feeling of space and comfort. Many of the building materials used today are sourced from all over Europe to give buyers the best in quality and value.

Energy efficiency is now as good as it gets, underfloor heating, hot and cold air conditioning, high tech insulation, high quality double glazing, the latest hot water systems, solar panels and much more, are delivering new luxury homes with excellent green credentials, which can be seen on the Energy Certificate. Top architects plan for appliances and fittings of the highest technical standards, from kit-chen appliances to bathroom fittings to the bedroom furnishings, nothing is overlooked. Low maintenance materials are used by architects and builders to ensure the annual running cost is kept to the minimum. Several of the deluxe villas my customers are buying also include many extra luxuries, such as, spa bathrooms with hydromassage baths, saunas, gym, home cinemas, private lift, roof solarium with jacuzzi and a heated indoor pool to match their outdoor pool. John Graham email. gk.ipad@me.com

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HOMES

GARDENS

It’s time to watch out for unexpected low temperatures in the garden! HARD soils can be hard on wrists and elbows when digging holes, so use a mattock Dick Handscombe

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

TRADITIONALLY March is a month of strong winds and unexpected low temperatures, so do watch out for the following possible prob-

lems in the garden and take timely precautionary or corrective actions. 1. B ro k en b ra n ch es of all types of plants, shrubs and trees. Cut them off to prevent further damage and remove eyesores. 2. Tig h t ties h o ld ing trunks and branches that are

starting to cut into the bark. Carefully loosen them and replace. 3. The c ha ffing of trunks and branches from loose ties. Tighten but leave space for the thickening of the branch. 4. Wind factor burning e ve n if the the rmome te r

does not actually fall below zero. 5. Fleece placed over vulnerable plants being ripped off by the winds. Fix more securely. 6. Already dry soils being further dried out by strong winds. Water so as to not lose early blossom and pre-

vent bulbs dying off quickly. 7. Nest i ng bi r ds can be disturbed if too many peopl e wal k near t hem so be careful. 8 . If there are no signs of forthcoming frosts that norm al l y ki l l off t he yel l ow flowered oxalis flowers in your garden weed them out. 9. On windy days fires can soon get out of control or create new fires from flying sparks so ensure you obtain a licence, burn early, finish early, and dampen the cinders before you leave. 10. Cover seed beds with wire mesh to make it difficult for cats or birds to dig. 11. Hard soils can be hard on wrists and elbows when

digging planting holes so use a mattock or spade even for small holes rather than a trowel. 12. Put a heat er i n a greenhouse if frosts could damage young seedlings or mature specimens. 13. Keep bird baths filled with water as it is important birds do not become thirsty as the nesting season starts. 14. Give fruit trees a spring neem insecticide and propolis fungicide spray. 15. Attend one of the local spraying courses so you are legal when you use insecticides, fungicides and weed killers. 16. For many there is no sign of this year being any wetter than recent years so rethink your gardens before going out and buying new plants. Ideas for reducing the watering needs of your gar den ar e i n t he book ‘How to use less water in your garden.’ © Dick Handscombe / www.gardenspain.com March 2016

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Getting your garden into mint condition A TOUGH plant can take over the garden By Sam Croft MINT is a garden superstar. It can add a bit of a kick to a fruit salad, can make a mean mint tea if you’re feeling under the weather, and of course it is a key ingredient in all of your favourite indulgences, from mint ice cream to mint chocolate. And who doesn’t love a good mint julep or mojito? Once you plant it, mint will stick with you. It is a very tough plant and can even be invasive and take over your garden if you don’t keep an eye on it. Mint should be planted in full sun or partial shade, in moist soil that has been thoroughly drained. It can fall victim to various unpleasant garden beasties, including spider mites, flea beetles, and weevils. It should be hosed down often to prevent this from happening. Harvesting mint is easy peasy lemon squeezy.

Once the plants begin to bloom, just cut the leaves and tops off, and voila! Your mint tea, mint julep, or fresh bowl of after-eight ice cream is waiting for you just around the corner.

10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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Planting out with purple PURPLE is the second most common flower colour, after yellow, but we often fail to get the most out of it. It is an incredibly versatile colour, which can either be vibrant or subdued, so it really depends on what kind of statement you’re trying to make with your particular flower garden. If you’re going for a pale purple, lilac and lavender can be a lovely choice. The contrasting colour for violet and purple is yellow. The paler shades offered up by lilac and mauve look very nice next to creamy yellows, such as common primroses. When purples are placed alongside whites, silvers and greys, they look darker and more vibrant than they really are.

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What have I done? SOME thoughts from our feline friends 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

A Cat’s Prayer Now I lay me down to sleep, deep... The king-size bed is soft and ove gro tre I sleep right in the cen My human can hardly move!

ed in tight I’ve trapped her legs, she’s tuck ht nig the s pas I re And here is whe ude intr es dar or me s urb No one dist t food!” wan “I and es com g rnin mo Till I sneak up slowly to begin chin. My nibbles on my human’s e sharp teeth hav I , She wakes up quickly the hea uns l wil I s And my claw it’s time to play For the morning’s here and . way my get to I always seem me ing giv for d Lor you k So than . This human person that I see ds me tight The one who hugs me and hol ht. And sacrifices her bed at nig ~ Author Unknown ~

PETS PAGE www.euroweeklynews.com

Esmerelda is a Rum Tum Tugger Housesitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and petsitting and the experience and checked sitters get free accommodation! To find a pet-sitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com or call Lamia on +44 (0)1865521508

A Lonely Cat I w is h s o meone w o u ld te ll wrong. me what it is th a t I’ v e d o n e Why do I have to sta y o u tside in th long? e rain and be left alo They seem ne so ed so glad to have m ten. e when I c ame here as a kitThere were so many th ings we’d do while I was growin g up. The maste r said he’d lo ve me as a The mistre companio ss said she n and a frie ’d never fe nd. The childre a r to be left alo n said they n e ’d a g a fe in ed me and . They’d pla brush me y with me every day. and walk m e if I would only stay. But now th e master h asn’t time She doesn , the mistr ’t want me ess says I in shed. the house, The childre not even to n never pe b e fe t m d . e , they alw I wish tha ays say, “N t I could p ot now” lease them . Won’t so meone tell me how? All I had, you see, w as love. I wish the y would e xplain Why they said they w anted min And then e, left it outs ide in the rain. Author: J

odi Riker

Yap

ESMERELDA: Performs for an introductory period. IT never fails to surprise Esmerelda’s family just how mature and regal she looks when her long coat is groomed and brushed beautifully, raised around her like a virtual crown. In this poise she lives up to her ‘sensible everyday name’, as Old Possum would have it. But she only has to hear one bird sound from outside and she is off, scattering any royal

illusions about her as she tears around the house and garden like a Rum Tum Tugger. TS Eliot’s cats famously named for their hidden and sometimes not-so-hidden personalities brought about her nickname, and how truly she lives up to her multiple personalities! When catsitters come to care for her in her home, as requested by the family while they are on holiday, Esmerelda performs for an introductory period. The house-sitters have been warned, it takes just one bird and you may not see her for the rest of the day as she chases the offender all over. The house-sitters have been prepared for her special ways and her routines. The owners leave a list of daily routine instructions for her care, and telephone numbers just in case.

PETS

10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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Taking your furry friend with you when you go on holiday THERE are plenty of options nowadays THERE is a growing trend in owners taking their beloved pets o n h o l i d a y with

them. For those who can’t imagine leaving their furry friend behind while they relax on holiday, then there a re p le n ty o f o ptions nowadays to include

PETS: Can even travel on international flights.

them in getaways. Be it by train, car or now even aeroplane, pet travel is becoming more a nd more c ommon. M a ny pe ople fe e l tha t their dog is a true member of the family and dogs, being pack animals, probably feel the same way. Research has shown that it can be unsettling for domestic animals to be left for long periods while owners go away. N ow a da ys , inc re a s ing numbers of destinations are w illing to a c c ommoda te people holidaying with their pets, and with just a little extra planning there is no need for a dog walker or to stay in the kennels. Pets can even travel with ow ne rs on inte rna tiona l flights but the paperwork must be in order.

For international travel from Spain, pets must have the correct microchip inserted, be vaccinated for rabies and various other diseases a t le a s t 21 da ys prior to tra ve l a nd not more tha n one ye a r prior to tra ve l. Consult your vet for the full information. Purchasing the correct authorised pet carrier for the a e ropla ne c a n be a mine field for owners so research into the correct carrier is essential. It must be IATA registered. By choosing the right acc ommoda tion, ta king the dog’s favourite toy, familiar bedding and paying attention to your dog’s he a lth whilst you are away, holidays can be fun and a stress free experience for everyone w ith lots of w a gging tails.

EWN

From wolves to an accessory: The evolution of dogs DOGS first became man’s best friend following the association between wolves scavenging alongside early humans some 33,000 years ago. Very slowly, some wolves became domesticated and evolved into dogs. Today’s pet dogs originate from Asia and migrated to Europe with humans, new researched has confirmed. Scientists have spent years researching, looking at different types of breed and sequencing their DNA. It has been proven that dogs in South East Asia have the highest genetic diversity and are more closely related to the Asian grey wolf, from which our pet dogs descend. Professor Savolainen, who is an expert on dog

gene sequencing said: “The history of dogs may involve three major stages including loosely engaged pre-domesticated scavengers, domesticated non-breed dogs with close human-dog interactions and breed formation following intense human selection for a diverse set of traits.” In recent years, controversial pedigree dog breeding has been in the spotlight for excessive inbreeding causing pain, defects and health issues for some highly bred and desirable breeds. Now with the ever advancing world of science at our fingertips, gene sequencing and cloning in pet dogs is becoming more commonplace.

E W N 10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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SPOTLIGHT

Advertising feature

Neater Heater, introducing the Adax Neo SINCE discovering the benefits of Norwegian designed convector heaters seven years ago, Richard and Tony have been striving to give their customers more choice by adding variety to their range of Neater Heaters. “The choice we can now offer through our website’s online shop is quite staggering,” says Richard. “We can offer the cheaper basic Adax VP range, glass fronted heaters in a variety of colours, our original Beha panel heater, the quirky Glamox heater and the contempory Neo Heater with digital controls. They all function using the same Norwegian technology, but they offer a variety of style choices and can, in the case of the Neo, offer a whole lot more.” “We have had Neos for a couple of years now and they have proved to be

very popular,” Tony informs us. “First of all, they come with a choice of colours, white, silver, black, red, light blue and pink. They have a stylish contemporary modern look to them with a small digital LED display next to hidden, but easy-to-use, control buttons. Using these, you can pre-set the Neo heaters to turn on at certain times to your desired comfort temperature, and to then turn down to a set temperature when you expect to be asleep, or out of the house. This reduced temperature, the cutback temperature, could be a reduction to keep the chill off at night in a child’s bedroom, or you could reduce it to a temperature that effectively turns the heater off if you are out at work all day. The choices are yours. However, if the programmed tem-

perature is not what you want, you can either temporarily override it for that specific period, or reprogramme it, if you want a permanent change.” Neater Heaters are available as panel or skirting heaters. They can also all be supplied with feet to provide a stand-alone option. There is now a network of agents and outlets throughout southern Spain. If your area is not covered, then the website’s online shop will allow you to select and pay for your heater, which if in stock will be delivered to you by courier free of charge within a couple of days of purchase.

NEO HEATER: Contemporary with digital controls.

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Matthew’s Elite Bike Shop in Garrucha for everything on two wheels Egea of the Primaflor Orbea team. Francisco competes throughout Spain and Matthew provides assistance with service and repairs to the young rider’s bike. Visit his website matthewselitebike.com or call in to see for yourself.

By Adele Land BICYCLE enthusiasts in the Levante area have a brand new location for everything they need to pursue their hobby or sport. Matthew’s Elite Bike Shop, in Garrucha, is a one-stop-shop for all things bike. From tools to accessories, cycle-wear to helmets, this conveniently located outlet has everything you need to keep your bike maintained, stay safe and look good on two-wheels. The modern, spacious premises showcase a wide selection of road and mountain bikes as well as electric bikes and a range of children’s bikes. Bicycles are also available to rent. All top brands are represented, including the popular, Giant, Colver and Orbea. Owner, Matthew Shatford, said he was excited to be able to offer such a broad range of cycles with entry-level prices below €500 along with top-of-the-range bikes for the keen cyclist. The shop has a high-tech service centre where repairs and fine-tuning can be undertaken, this, along with a jet-wash facility,

GET READY: Matthew’s modern shop has everything under one roof. Matthew’s Elite Bike Shop is fast-becoming the go-to place for all bike owners in the area. Himself a highly successful competitor throughout Spain, Matthew is keen to help young cyclists break into racing and is currently sponsoring 23-year-old, Francisco Chacon

RACING: Young rider Francisco Chacon Egea is sponsored by the shop.

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AIR CONDITIONING

Costa de Almería

10 - 16 March 2016

COMPUTERS

INSURANCE

MOTOR INSURANCE. For the most competitive quotes in English call Linea Directa on 902 123 309, you could save as much as 30% and you can transfer your existing no claims bonus. Call Linea Directa on 902 123 309 for motor insurance with a human voice in English from Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and save money now! (200726)

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THE FIVE BONE HOTEL, TURRE. Still at 2010 prices! Cats 5€, Big dogs 7.25€, med dogs 6.50€, little dogs 5.75€, per day. 630 234 556 / the5bonehotelturre@gmail. com (237845) THE FIVE BONE HOTEL TURRE Special offer - bookings made between Jan 7th – Mar 31st dogs over a 7 night stay get a free doggy bag or free wash, depending on availability. Cats over 7 nights stay get free pen upgrade (if available) 630 234 556 or the5bonehotelturre@gmail.com

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www.euroweeklynews.com ARE you self motivated and hard working? We are looking for administration/telesales candidates. Experience not essential as full training is given. Applications by email with full CV should be sent to recruitment@euroweek lynews.com WRITER required for Almeria region. Applications by email with full CV should be sent to recruitment@eu roweeklynews.com

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Motoring shorts

Fiat are over the legal limit A GERMAN environmental group called Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) recently tested the emissions of the popular Fiat 500X SUV, to see how they matched up to the company’s own claims. Not only did the 500X produce more emissions than Fiat-Chrysler claimed, it produced between 11 and 22 times the harmful emissions expected! That’s up to 2,200 per cent more harmful emissions than the company stated. Following the highly damaging VW emissions scandal that led to the brand all but abandoning diesel vehicle sales in the US, the DUH has begun testing other carmakers’ products to see how they stack up. The resulting tests have caught a few more cheaters, but few have racked up scores as high as the Fiat’s.

Clarkson Quote of theWeek

MOTORING www.euroweeklynews.com

It doesn’t matter whether you drive a McLaren or a McDonald’s delivery van, you are still relying on exactly the same technology that was dreamed up more than 100 years ago.

Some might say...

Viva the Vauxhall Viva THE new model still offers the same practical and economical motoring IT’S been nearly 40 years since the Vauxhall Viva was launched, and the new model still offers the same practical, economical motoring. For some time back in the 70s, family transport typically came in the shape of a Vauxhall Viva, which was available in a particularly unattractive pale green or mud brown paint job. Boyhood recollections of this particular car are somewhat limited, the huge Ford Cortina Mk I which preceded it, and the much more exciting looking Triumph Herald which came later, both made more lasting impressions. Other than that, to a young child with more of an interest in cars of the Matchbox variety, it was a pretty unremarkable car. Google informs us that there were three generations of Viva that Vauxhall produced, the first having appeared in 1963, and it was the last of the compa-

ny’s cars to be totally designed in the United Kingdom. Four decades later, though, the Viva name is back on Britain’s roads – reincarnated to replace the Agila as the entry-level model in the Vauxhall range. Of course, the new Viva is a different car for a different age. In 2016 the new version lends itself more to the role of a second car for family buyers, but will also appeal to city dwellers

VIVA: Back on Britain’s roads.

and older folk, perhaps looking to downsize after the family have fled the nest. It comes in two trim levels, SE and the SL, and power coming from just one engine - a 1.0 litre, three-cylinder petrol unit which kicks out a modest 75bhp and boasts impressive

average fuel economy of 62.8 miles per gallon. As you’d expect, performance is steady rather than sporty but is perky enough in town traffic, and with a UK entry price of £9,495 (€12,000), it will hardly break the bank.

MOTORING

10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almeria E W N

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Do you own a Tesla or does a Tesla own you? COMPANY will not give you the tools or data to fix your car CONSUMER reports say Tesla drivers are more satisfied with their car than the drivers of any other car. Nonetheless, Consumer Reports gave only an average rating for the cars’ reliability, despite worshipping the Model S P85D just a few months ago. Regardless of the raving reviews, and how great Tesla cars are when they are functioning, what happens when your Tesla needs to be fixed? Where can you take it? There aren’t any local Tesla dealers, and you can’t arrange for your neighbourhood garage to repair the problem. Why? According to Yahoo, Tesla will not give you the information or tools required to fix your car, irrespective of whether you’re an individual car owner, a local car repair facility, or a nationally franchised chain. Currently, Tesla’s share of the American car market is less than a 20th of 1 per cent, and their refusal to share information may not seem to be a major concern right now. Plus, the company has been rather generous with free repairs and upgrades. However, their continuing pursuit of reaching their ambitious goal by selling 500,000 cars by 2020, and older cars accumulating more miles, means the company could gain considerable wealth by eliminating repairs competition.

CONSUMER REPORT: Says Tesla drivers are more satisfied with their cars than any other drivers on the road. Right now, Tesla America charges the following service costs for their vehicles: €550 - Annual inspection (every year or 12,500 miles) €1,700 - Four years of prepaid service (one inspection every year or 50,000 miles) €3,450 - Eight years of prepaid service (one inspection every year or 100,000 miles) Tesla would be set to benefit almost

€1 billion in extra revenue if all of their current customers opted for the fouryear programme. This plan, however, only covers simple wear and tear items, such as windscreen wipers, wheel alignments, tyre rotations, and software upgrades. If you have a major issue after the eight-year warranty expires, you have no other option but to pay Tesla to repair your car, and Tesla is free to set the charges for parts and labour.

Increasingly complex software, such as collision avoidance, lane keeping and self-steering technology, are becoming common to all new cars. Manufacturers believe this software is their property, even though it is installed on your car, and thus owners are not allowed to access or alter the software at all. They claim their ownership of the software is guarded by the same laws that protect digital media. Taking it one step further, all of Tesla’s cars are constantly connected to the cloud. Self-reporting means Tesla can detect tampering or unauthorised access to the car’s software or hardware. In some cases, Tesla can remotely deactivate a car if it feels the car is no longer safe to drive. Tesla has been staffing service locations and has begun certifying independent body shops to conduct structural repairs on its aluminium bodied vehicles. Audi, Jaguar, BMW and other premium car makers all use a very similar system. To achieve certification, the shop is required to spend approximately €36,000 in tools and invest in training specified by Tesla. Those costs will be reflected in the repair prices charged.

A word to the wise driver THE Spanish Insurance agency Wiquot.com has put together the following top 5 list of the strangest things that drivers have been fined for. 1. Driving with one hand or arm out of the vehicle can lead to a fine of €100. 2. Driving without wearing a t-shirt or shirt, barefoot or wearing flip-flops comes with a fine of €200. 3. You have to be careful when parking on sand at the beach because if the area is classified as ‘protected’, you could be fined €6,000. 4. Touching up your make-up or eating something at a red light could cost you €200 and two points off your licence. 5. Driving with music blasting in an area where quiet is required, like a hospital, you will be fined €80100.

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

10 - 16 March 2016 / Costa de Almería

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EWN

Foxes on the run… so too are GB in Davis Cup ONLY a handful of points cover the top four 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 • With nine games remaining in the PL title race, Leicester City, 1-0 winners at Watford, are five points clear of Spurs who drew 2-2 with third-placed Arsenal. Despite Aguero’s penalty miss, Manchester City (4th) hammered ‘dire’ Aston Villa 4-0; West Ham came back from two down to beat 10-man Everton 3-2; LiverJAMIE VARDY: Leicester City top.

pool’s 10 (Milner saw red) beat Crystal Palace 2-1 with a 94th minute Benteke penalty and WBA edged Manchester United’s 10 (Mata dismissed)1-0 their first ever home PL win over the Reds as United manager ‘LVG’ moaned and mumbled again! At the foot of the table, there were vital wins for Bournemouth 3-1 at Newcastle and Swansea 1-0 over Norwich, while Sunderland drew at Southampton and Stoke at Chelsea, both 1-1. • A handful of points cover the top four in the Championship with Middlesbrough, Burnley, Hull and Brighton all chasing automatic promotion, while bottom club Bolton are 10 points from safety. Burton Albion lead FL1; Northampton (unbeaten in 12) are 13 points clear of Oxford at the top of FL2 and Celtic are still the SPL leaders. • Barcelona, on course to win La Liga (again) set a new Spanish record of 36 games without defeat by beating Eibar 4-0. Messi netted twice to take his goal-tally for club and country to 525. And last Saturday, Cristiano Ronaldo bagged his 530th career goal (in 771 games) with a four-timer in Real Madrid’s 7-1 La Liga win over

DID YOU KNOW? Eighty years ago, in 1936, two founder members of the Football League, Aston Villa and Blackburn, were relegated from Division One for the very first time.

EVENTS My PAWS Charity Quiz at Miraflores on Tuesday March 22 and my Community Quiz at Riad Restaurant, Cabrera on April 8; there’s a vintage golf day via the Turre Golf Society on April 23 and don’t’ forget WALKING FOOTBALL at Camping Los Gallardos on Sunday morning (10.15-noon). Information from Fred Lawton: 950 469 771.

Celta Vigo. • Bayern Munich lead the Bundesliga by five points from Borussia Dortmund and Juventus have edged clear of Napoli in Serie ‘A.’ • The 2016 Italian Cup final will be between AC Milan and Juventus. • In the Champions League on Tuesday, Real Madrid (2-0 up) met Roma while last night, Chelsea, trailing 2-1, played PSG at the ‘Bridge.’ This evening, Spurs visit Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool play Manchester United in the Europa League. • There are threeFA Cup quarter-finals coming up: Reading v Crystal Palace (tomorrow), Everton v Chelsea (Saturday) and Manchester United v West Ham (Sunday). The winners of Tueday’s Arsenal/Hull fifth round replay will meet Watford on a date yet to be arranged. • Also on Sunday, it’s Hibs v Ross County in the Scottish League Cup final and later this month, Celtic play Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final. • The MLS season kicked off last Sunday with New York City beating Chicago Fire 4-3 in the opening fixture. • And Walsall have sacked manager Sean O’Driscoll.

RUGBY UNION • The Six Nations continues on Saturday with Ireland-Italy, followed on Sunday by EnglandWales (both unbeaten) and Scotland-France. In the domestic game, it’s Saracens and Exeter first and second in the Aviva PL and Connacht and Leinster 1-2 in the Pro12 League. TENNIS • Holders GB beat Japan to reach ANDY MURRAY: Star of the show with two singles victories. the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup in BirmJon Dibben, Mark Cavendish as Adam Scott went on to win ingham. And once again ‘Man and Sir Bradley Wiggins win the WGC Cadillac Classic in of Steel’ Andy Murray was star gold medals for GB. Miami. And 11-year-old Taylor of the show with two singles ROUND-UP Crozier recorded a hole-in-one victories (his second lasted al• The All-England badoff the first tee, on the opening most five hours) and a doubles minton championships are unday of the new Bluejack Nawin with brother Jamie. Next der way in Birmingham. tional Park course in Texas. up - Novak Djokovic and Ser• Widnes, Warrington and CRICKET bia. Meanwhile, GB’s Heather Wigan are locked together at • The T20 World Cup started Watson beat Kirsten Flipkens the top of Rugby’s Super on Tuesday in India. Ireland (Belgium) to win the MonterLeague. and Scotland were in action imrey Open - her third WTA ca• Ex-GB Olympic cyclist mediately while England’s first reer title. Victoria Pendleton will ride at match is against the West Indies The ATP/WTA Paribas Open the Cheltenham NH Festival next Wednesday. in Indian Wells, USA, is now which starts next Tuesday. CYCLING under way and ends on March • And McLaren’s F1 drivers • In the World Indoor Track 20. this season will be Fernando Championships at Lee Valley GOLF Alonso and Jensen Button with Velopark, 8,000 fans a day saw • Rory McIlroy ‘blew’ a a Honda engine. Laura Trott (two), Jason Kenny, three-shot lead on the final day

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10 - 16 March 2016

MARIA SHARAPOVA: Nike has suspended its relationship with the Russian star after she admitted testing positive for a banned substance.

TO READ MORE

Costa de Almería’s best guide to local sport

Return to form for champion ON March 4 Forum Golf Society members contested an individual stableford competition at Aguilon. On the day the draw was made for the society’s knockout competitions it was somewhat fitting the leading two players by some margin were 2015 winner Phil Elam, whose score of 38 points was just enough to edge out 2014 winner Brian Gyer by one point. Nearest the pin prizes went to Brian Gyer, Terry Davies and Phil Elam, with Jim Barclay claiming the longest drive on the notoriously difficult 18th hole. These results led to a change in the top of the leader board of Forum’s Claret Jug League, with Richard Price (58 points), Geoff Hebb (57 points) and Max Gonzalez (50 points) all leapfrogging former leader and photographic model Pat Garrigan, who is now tied fourth with Brian Gyer on 48 points.

Marina Phoenix

TEAM GAME: The clear winners had a 10 better than par score of 92. THE team game at Marina Phoenix on Thursday March 3 was in fourball teams with the best three scores to count on par threes and the best two on the rest. The clear winners with a 10 better than par score of 92 were Brian Watts, Don Atkins, Vincent Guilhem and Chantal France. In second place, on countback, were Les Armfield, Alan Morris, José Urroz and

Marcos Caparros (89), followed in third by John Park, Eddie Vaughan, Carole Taylor and Tony King (89). There were nearest the pin prizes for Sheila Watts (2nd) and NadieWass (5th). Monday’s individual stableford was a second consecutive win for Jeff Williams on 37 points, followed, in second by Alan Morris (35) and Tony Wells

(33) third. The ladies division was won by Geraldine Goodman (32). Second place went to Sheila Watts (29) followed, in third, by June Nicol (28). Marina Phoenix play Mondays (individual) and Thursdays (team game). To join for a €25 green fee, ring Jim on 950 162 727 / 600 353 670 or Rosalie 950 397 117 / 697 512 882.

SPORT www.euroweeklynews.com

Mojacar Bowls Club WHERE has the past year gone to? On Monday March 7 Mojacar held their second Anniversary Triples competition. Competitors from Mojacar, Cabrera and Almeria Bowling Clubs took part in a well organised competition and enjoyed a good lunch with paella, calamari and tortilla and an anniversary gateaux provided by the Servi Group Marina Playa hotel and also various sandwiches and quiches provided by Club members. During the competition the Deputy Mayor and the Sports Councillor attended and the anniversary cake was cut. After a thrilling final the winners of the competition were: Linda and Rod Band, and Malcolm Smallwood, from Cabrera who just beat Janet Jackson (Cabrera) and Derek Leary, and Roy Savage (Mojacar). Third place went to Vivienne and Ken Sykes and Colin Wright (Almeria) who were last year’s winners. The cup and prizes were presented by Senor Ricardo Escudero Director Zona Mojacar Servi Group Hotels, who also presented each of the winners with a day at the Marina Playa Spa, a prize which the ladies were very pleased about! Well done to all the competitors and we at Mojacar are looking forward to next year already.