Euro Weekly News - Mallorca 17 - 23 March 2016 Issue 1602 by Euro Weekly News Media S.A.

ISSUE NO. 1602

17 - 23 March 2016

MALLORCA

YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION

Farewell freedom LOBBYISTS want more restrictions on Mallorca property ownersâ€™ rights By Sandra Galo Property owners who rent out their residences to tourists face even greater restrictions if hotel lobbyists have their way. A powerful group is insisting that a total ban on properties in residential buildings be enacted in a move that could affect thousands of legally obliging expatriates. The Mallorcan Federation of Hoteliers has demanded that the renting of terraced houses to tourists be banned and that those who do lease properties cannot use them for any other purposes. Behind the move is the notion that the rules governing renting be identical to the legal apparatus supervising hotels. The hoteliers suggest that detached houses, for example, which are currently legally rented to tourists should be dedicated solely and exclusively to the purpose of tourist rental.

They argue that they cannot change the use of their hotels and that they want to compete with tourist housing rentals on equal ground saying that it makes no sense to change from a residential house to a tourist rental property depending on

the season of the year. Hoteliers also want restrictions on terraced houses which at the moment can be legally rented to tourists. Balearic President Francina Armengol and vice-president and councillor for Tourism Biel

Barcelo emphasised the idea that the solution can only come out of a social debate involving various parties including neighbourhood groups, business representatives, political leaders and specialists in urban planning and tourism.

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LOCAL NEWS

Solution wanted for caravanners CARAVANNERS filled the city council of Lloret’s plenary session to demand a solution to the likely expulsion of caravans from Sa Comuna. The Sa Comuna natural

space has had a caravan park for more than 35 years. Mayor Antoni Bennassar declared that legalising the caravan park is one of his administration’s top priorities.

Danger of bull-run ban THE PP political party defended the town of Fornalutx’s bullrun which is in danger of being banned. The group has called for the continuation of this 124-yearold tradition with a motion urging the Council and government to dismiss the prohibition of the event in future modifications of the animal protection law was rejected.

Accused of doping THE uncle and trainer of Rafa Nadal refuted allegations made by former French minister Roselyne Bachelot accusing Rafa Nadal of doping. Bachelot claimed that

Nadal’s seven-month absence from tennis in 2012 was due to testing positive for doping. Claims of doping have also been rejected by the International Tennis Federation.

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NEWS

Inca man arrested on drug charges DETAINEE also had an illegal connection to electricity grid By Sandra Galo A MAN has been arrested for having 14 kilos of marihuana in an uninhabited country house in a rural area of Inca. The man was detained by the Guardia Civil for a crime against public health during their drug trafficking crack down. On March 8, officers searched the man’s home, where they confiscated a total of 284 marihuana plants as well as cultivating tools, extractors and water pumps. In a statement, the police said that the detainee is also charged with the crime of theft since he had an illegal connection to the electricity grid. The Guardia Civil accompanied by Local Police also searched an uninhabited house in the countryside where the suspect dried and treated the marihuana plants to prepare them for distribution. They seized a total of 14 kilos of the plants.

flickr by Prensa 420

MARIHUANA: Plants were dried and prepared for distribution in the country house.

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Your papers, your views

Featured News 3

Finance 25 - 30

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Volunteers recognised for their hard work ROLE goes far beyond the visible aspect of feeding the cats By Sandra Galo

Stocks 26

Leapy Lee 31

Legally Speaking 32

Daily TV 34

Letters 36

Vicki McLeod 38

Time Out 39 - 42

Our View 44

Colin Bird 44

Health & Beauty 46 - 47

Social Scene 49 - 51

Property 52 - 53

Homes & Gardens 54

Classifieds 56 - 57

Pets 58

Boats 59

Motoring 60

Sport 62, 64

VOLUNTEERS who have been monitoring feline colonies in the city received special identification cards from the Palma City Council recognising their service. The cards were given during a training day and debate held recently at the Son Reus Animal Protection Shelter. More than 60 people attended the event including volunteers responsible for the feline colonies in the city, members of animal protection associations and other interested parties. According to the City Council, the role of volunteers goes far beyond the visible aspect of feeding the cats. Volunteers also have a fundamental responsibility to monitor the health of the colonies and to collaborate with sterilisation efforts essential to control the population.

flickr by Jeff Laitila

URBAN CATS: Feline colonies are being monitored by volunteers. Head of Son Reus Animal Shelter Pedro Morell said there are currently 49 active colonies with volunteers responsible for

them and last year, 569 cats from the colonies were sterilised. Councillor for Ecology, Agriculture and Animal Welfare Neus

Truyol thanked the volunteers for their work and said the event had been a way to show their gratitude for their efforts.

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Plans to improve Palma’s Paseo A REDUCTION in traffic would be necessary THE Official Architects College of the Balearics presented the Palma City Council with a project aimed at improving the waterfront of the Paseo Maritimo of Palma. The project presented on March 11 to the Palma’s City Council proposes to calm down the Paseo Maritimo area, widen it and open up the city to the sea. The transformation of the waterfront, however, will only be made possible if there is a reduction of traffic which means transforming the motorway into a boulevard with moderate traffic and reduced speed. In the area of Llevant between the Conference Centre and the Moll Vell, a boulevard composed of two three-metre-wide lanes is proposed which would allow the surrounding free space and pavement to be widened. According to the proposal, two buildings would be created next to Gesa and the Parc de la Mar lake would open up to the sea.

flickr by Arno Wesselink

By Sandra Galo

WATERFRONT: Palma’s Paseo Maritimo may be changed.

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Death delays the ferry THE Balearia ferry departing from Alcudia for Menorca was delayed due to the death of one of its on-board passengers. The Balearia ship ‘Martin i Soler’ had to delay its departure on Friday, March 11 due to the death of a passenger who had embarked in Barcelona. The ferry’s crew tried to call the passenger. After several attempts with no response, a crew member entered the cabin and found the lifeless body of a 76-yearold man who had been travelling alone.

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NEWS

Cold weather brings in more patients WAITING time reached more than 77 hours in some cases By Sandra Galo THE arrival of the cold has caused public hospitals on the island to become saturated with patients. Son Espases, Llatzer and Inca hospitals’ emergency areas were saturated on Thursday (March 10) with operations having to be suspended to allow bedspace for patients being admitted. Waiting time to be attended in Son Espases reached more than 77 hours in some cases while in Son Llatzer at least nine patients were being attended in corridors with no privacy. The Health Department reported that in the afternoon, 75 patients were without beds. Hospital sources spoke of

flickr by Antonio Fernandez-Coca

SON ESPASES: Son Espases Hospital was overwhelmed with patients waiting for hours in corridors. 54 patients waiting for beds from the early hours of the morning with two patients

waiting for more than 65 hours and one waiting 77 hours. Son Espases Hospital

had to turn down the hospital of Inca which wanted to send some of its patients there.

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Palma to recover unused land plots

COUNCIL plans to promote city agriculture By Sandra Galo THE Palma City Council plans to recover unused land in rural areas of the municipality to create a bank of plots of land. Councillor of Ecology and Agriculture Neus Truyol confirmed that the city council will act as an intermediary in creating this bank of plots of land similar to what the city is already doing through Palma Habitada which promotes the renting of empty homes at reasonable prices. This land, which could be both privately or publically owned, is part of the Council’s plan to promote agriculture in the city. In this land initiative, Truyol explained, they can be empty plots of land or with houses of public and private o wn e r sh i p . T h e p la n a ls o in cludes locating private plots that can

LAND: Could be used by families or individuals without resources to grow their own food. be temporarily used by the town hall for groups, individuals or families

without resources where food could be cultivated.

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Employees earning less THE average wage of employees in the Balearics for 2015 was a little more than €20,000 a year. According to the Salary Evolution 2007-2015 report prepared by the EADA Business School and the ICSA Group, and compiled from 80,000 surveys, this figure representing average gross salary of employees in 2015 is €2,000 less than the national average. Employees in Navarra are the highest paid in the nation with €25,210 per year followed by Madrid, the Basque Country and Cataluña.

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NEWS

Palma Cathedral supports campaign SYMBOL of fight against climate change By Sandra Galo THE Cathedral of Palma will join with other famous Spanish landmarks across the country in celebrating Earth Hour on March 19 at 8.30pm. The Cathedral along with the Alhambra, the palace of Generalife in Granada, the Royal Palace of Madrid, the Basilica of San Isidoro and the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso in Segovia are some of the emblematic buildings which will turn off their lights for an hour on March 19. According to WWF (Wold Wildlife Fund), some 200 cities have pledged to turn off the lights of hundreds of monuments and buildings as a symbol of the fight against climate change. Cataluña is the Spanish autonomous community with the most participants. Fifty of its towns and cities are signed up in this worldwide initiative. Earth Hour is a grassroots movement or-

flickr by Bill Walsh

LIGHTS OFF: The Palma Cathedral will participate in Earth Hour on March 19. ganised by WWF which was started in 2007 as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia. The annual event unites people

around the world in not only saving energy but to highlight the issues facing the planet and inspire others to live more sustainably.

Vice-Consul thanked for service to community SIMON MANLEY, the British Ambassador, has thanked Gillian Brion, Vice-Consul to the Balearics, on her retirement after 25 years of service to British residents and visitors across the islands. Gillian, who was awarded the MBE in the New Year’s Honours list, retires at the end of March. She worked at the Consulate in Palma de Mallorca between 1980 and 1991 and has again from 2002, becoming Vice-Consul in 2007, thus

spreading her quarter century of service over a period of 36 years. Mr Manley said: “I thank Gillian for her dedication and great contribution. She has selflessly given more than we could probably expect of her and more than we probably realise. The award of an MBE is a great way to mark the transition as she begins a new, exciting phase in her professional and personal life. “She has dealt with her fair share of difficult consular cas-

es and she has built great working relationships with the local authorities who are our valued partners. She has also assisted some special British visitors to the Balearics - helping ensure the Prime Minister enjoyed a relaxing private break, and even meeting The Queen on board the Royal Yacht Britannia. Gillian Brion said: “Before I go, I want to recognise my colleagues and our partners, all of whom have contributed towards making my consular journey a great and memorable experience. It has been a pleasure to work with such a good team and such good contacts who make possible our work of assisting British nationals.” Gillian will be presented with her MBE at Buckingham Palace in May. Her replacement as Vice Consul in Mallorca will be announced in due course.

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NEWS

No taxes buying and selling gold COURT annuls act as being legally non-compliant CASH-FOR-GOLD shops do not have to pay the tax on asset transfers assigned to the region according to a decision of the Superior Court of the Balearics. The decision was made concerning a court case brought by the Gofra Joiers

company which appealed against the claim of the Tax Office of the Balearics (ATIB) arguing that the gold is resold too quickly to be able to apply the tax. For more than two years now, companies buying gold have received notices

from ATIB claiming 4 per cent from gold purchases made in the last five years which would mean a payment of more than â‚Ź100,000. The court annulled the act as non-compliant to the legal system.

Prices fell in February THE annual consumer price index (CPI) for the Balearic Islands was -0.6 per cent in February. According to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), prices fell 0.4 per cent in the Balearics last month compared to the previous month of January. This drop represents two months of negative declines. The decline was mainly due to clothing and footwear prices which fell the most with a drop of 2.9

per cent followed by housing (-1.4 per cent), transport (-0.8 per cent), food and non-alcoholic beverages (-0.7 per cent) and household goods (-0.1 per cent). Other goods and services, however, have registered higher prices including communications (1.5 per cent), leisure and culture (0.7 per cent), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (0.3 per cent), hotels, cafes and restaurants (0.4 per cent) and medicines (0.1 per cent).

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Women’s Day demo in Palma I N T E R N AT I O N A L WOMEN’S DAY was celebrated in Palma with a march of a thousand women and men organised by the Feminist Movement of Mallorca. Some of the slogans being shouted were ‘Without women there will be no revolution!’ and ‘No aggression without an answer!’ Sandra Serra, spokeswoman for the Feminist Moviment of Mallorca, explained that as long as there isn’t effective and real equality between men and women, there will be reason to take to the streets to demand equality. A banner with ‘Free women, fighting women!’ was carried during the march which featured a broad representation of the feminist movement, unions and left-wing political parties. Government officials also participated in the event including the president of the Council of Mallorca Miquel Ensenyat, Councillor for Social Services Fina Santiago, and Councillor for Work Iago Negueruela among others.

NEWS

Solar mega parks face resistance NETWORK plans to send new model

SOLAR PARKS: Like this one in Ukraine face opposition in Mallorca from various groups. By Sandra Galo ECOLOGISTS and environmentalists are opposing the planned Santa Cirga Solar Park. The four entities forming the Network of Sovereign Energy in Mallorca, the GOB (Balearic Ornithology and Defence of Nature Group), Som Energia, ALCAIB (Balearic Association of Students and Graduates in Environmental Sciences), Amics de la Terra (Friends of the

Earth) are in opposition to the large photovoltaic park of Santa Cirga. The network believes that it would mean centralising energy production from a commercial point of view and greatly impact the territorial consumption. The network plans to send a document proposing a new model of production and consumption of electricity in Mallorca, which would not include solar mega parks like

Mass resignation of Calvia’s night patrol unit THE Federation of Public Service has reported that 19 of the 22 Local Police officers forming the Calvia night unit have resigned for working condition ‘discrepancies’. The Federation of Public Service, part of the General Workers Union of Spain (UGT), reported the resignations to the town council on March 7. The decision was trig-

gered by comments made by Calvia’s General Director of Security, the mediator in negotiations for their new working conditions, who stated the night unit would do him a favour if they left. The new organisation of night patrols will be discussed in a meeting with unions and the town hall and later in assemblies which will decide whether demonstrations will be held.

Santa Cirga in Manacor or La Marina of Llucmajor. The entities agree that the controversy caused by the two large parks planned in Mallorca ‘highlights the improvisation in which we operate in terms of energy planning’. The groups want to open a debate to define the necessary policies to ensure environmental criteria as well as territorial, economic and social criteria that are fair and democratic.

Cyclist badly injured A CYCLIST is in critical condition after attempting to overtake a lorry and crashing into a car. The accident occurred about 1.45pm on Friday, March 11, on the road joining the towns of Fornalutx and Soller. The cyclist, a German national, was travelling in the direction of Soller when he tried to overtake a lorry in a part of the road with a lot of curves. Before he could complete the manoeuvre, he was struck by a car coming in the opposite direction. The cyclist was very badly injured and had to be taken by ambulance to Son Espases hospital.

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Advertising Feature

A positive week for the Euro Commentary by Moneycorp

EUR weekly currency update On Monday German factory orders were less weak than expected. On Tuesday German industrial production beat expectations and the revision to fourth quarter €Z growth left it unchanged at 0.3%. None of that mattered to investors: all they cared about was Thursday’s European Central Bank policy announcement. On the day, the scale of the ECB’s measures did not disappoint: it cut the deposit rate to 0.4% and the refinancing rate to 0% as well as offering to pay commercial banks up to 0.4% if they borrowed money to lend on to customers. But the ECB also said further rate cuts, while possible, were unlikely. The euro reacted positively, as it did to the ECB’s failure to mention any overvaluation of the euro. So the euro was the week’s strongest-performing major currency, adding two and a quarter US cents and strengthening by a cent and a half against sterling. USD weekly currency update The dollar got lucky once but its gains on that

occasion were not enough to balance its two unlucky setbacks. Setback one came last Friday, following the US employment report. Whilst the jobs numbers themselves were actually better than forecast, investors were dismayed at a small decline in hourly wages so they punished the dollar. Setback two was on Thursday, when new monetary policy measures announced by the European Central Bank took the euro higher and, with it, the pound. The dollar’s only stroke of luck was on Tuesday, when sterling fell after the Bank of England governor told parliament that Britain’s exit from the EU poses “the biggest domestic risk to financial stability.” The dollar was not the weakest performer among the major currencies but it did not do at all well. It lost one cent to sterling and two and a quarter cents to the week’s leader, the euro. CAD weekly currency update The Canadian dollar was affected by a host of data, events and announcements, most of which were unrelated to the currency itself. Friday’s

Clarisse Musselwhite is Moneycorp’s Account Manager for Mallorca

She can be contacted on Tel: +34 902 887 243 Mobile: +34 687 932 472 Email:mallorca@moneycorp.com

902887243 mallorca@moneycorp.com US employment report, which showed a decline in hourly pay, sent the Loonie higher against the Greenback. On Tuesday it strengthened against sterling after the Bank of England governor told parliament that Britain’s exit from the EU was “the biggest domestic risk to financial stability.” On Wednesday there was no reaction to the Bank of Canada’s decision to keep its benchmark interest rate steady at 0.5% but the Loonie moved ahead on the back of higher oil prices.

Thursday’s announcement that the European Central Bank would cut rates further and print more stimulus money was better for the Loonie than for the pound. Overall, the Loonie was able to strengthen by three quarter of a US cent and by half cent against sterling. It was down by a cent and a quarter against the euro. AUD weekly currency update The Aussie continued to rebound from January’s five-year low against the US dollar and extended the bull run against sterling which began last summer. It gained one and a quarter US cents on the week and was up by a cent and two thirds against the pound. There were no significant Australian economic statistics to affect the currency. Business confidence was steady in February while consumer confidence softened slightly and mortgage lending was down. The biggest influences on the currency were external.

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Tragic death of woman A 19-YEAR-OLD woman was killed on the morning of Friday March 11 allegedly strangled by her boyfriend, age 22. The tragedy took place in the town of Son Servera. According to Guardia Civil sources, the alleged perpetrator Carlos Villegas turned himself in to authorities saying that ‘he believed he had killed his girlfriend.’ Villegas had a history of

domestic violence and had previously been under a restraining order. This is the second death in Mallorca this year related to gender violence and is the 14th in Spain. On Friday, institutions in the Balearics held a moment of silence in memory of the victim Victoria Sard. Son Servera residents held five minutes of silence. Carlos Villegas is being held without bail.

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Bellver Castle in need of reforms HISTORIC monument in danger of collapse By Sandra Galo PARTS of Bellver Castle, an emblematic symbol of Mallorca, are in danger of collapsing. The outer wall of the castle, dating from the 13th century, is especially weak and has had support measures put in place to keep it from falling. The Council of Mallorca has taken the first measures to strengthen the monument visited by around 400,000 people each year. An initial emergency investment of a million euros has been set aside to strengthen the parts of the structure most damaged by time. The total cost to rehabilitate the castle, however, will cost at least €6 million. Councillor of Infrastructures Merce Garrido explained that there is no danger of a significant collapse, but the castle, which is now 700 years old, is beginning to ‘sprawl out’ slowly from the bottom.

Photo by flickr by Cristian Bortes

BELLVER CASTLE: The castle is in need of renovation.

Court decides on TIL decree case THE full Constitutional Court almost entirely rejected the motion filed by the PSOE against the implementation of the Balearic Trilingual Decree. The decree which was made by the prior administration of Jose Ramon Bauza during the 2013/2014 course, received strong opposition by the educational community and the Balearic society in the form of demonstrations and teacher strikes.

The recent court decision considers that the government judged the situation as extraordinary and urgent and were justified in taking the measure through a legislative decree. The court argues that there was a ‘reasonable justification’ for approving the decree of the TIL (Integral Treatment of Languages), an ‘ideal’ measure that was incorporated into the classroom in September 2013 and that did not

regulate essential elements of the rights of education. The decree, according to the court, was purely on a procedural level and its constitutionality was not in question. The court did, however, support the appeal concerning two articles and annulled them. Former Balearic President Bauza whose administration was responsible for the TIL called the decision ‘a triumph in favour of freedom.’

Campos road signs THE PI political party in Campos is demanding that the town hall carry out a plan to renew and improve road signs in the municipality. The party has denounced ‘the bad state of the signs in the municipality’ which they consider ‘very important for the safety of drivers and pedestrians’. In a press release, the party attached several photographs of rusty signs in very bad

condition and explained that they make the area a danger for visitors and residents alike and they also give tourists a bad image of the town. The PI urged the current PP administration to take immediate action to remedy the problem so that both residents and visitors can enjoy the guarantees of moving safely around in the municipality.

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Man chains himself to the court doors COURT employees arriving at work last week could not enter because of a man who had chained himself to the doors of the building. Raul Nicolas Gomez, aged 37, was chained to the entrance of the court on Via Alemania for around half an hour. He wanted to visibly protest the problems he has had with the legal system because he believes that he has been a victim of injustice. Gomez, a resident of Palma, explained that in February 2015 he had a fight with the son of his landlady.

Sometime later, he received a citation for a minor-offence trial which was held without him. He was later informed that he had to pay a €1,200 fine. While he was abroad the court phoned his wife who paid the fine for him. Mr Gomez chained himself to the doors to protest that others have made decisions without consulting him and he is the one who should have decided if he pays the fine, goes to prison or does social service work and that he ‘couldn’t take it anymore.’

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Church lists its many properties MORE than 500 listings have been made By Sandra Galo THE bishopric of Mallorca and the various parishes on the island have made more than 500 listings in the property registry. The listings include churches, chapels, convents and sanctuaries. In two cases, listings were made that were not properties of the church. One was the wall and enclosure of San Salvador in Arta which belongs to the town hall and the other was the oratory of Son Olandis in Andratx which is privately owned. The Podem party plans to present a request to access the complete list of properties owned by the Church to find out if any of the properties correspond to the town halls.

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NEWS EXTRA

Cruise stop THE ports of the Balearics are becoming popular for cruise ships en route in the Mediterranean with almost 800 stops planned for this year bringing around 1.9 million tourists.

Dog days THE Spanish Border Collie Sheepdog Championship began on March 12 in Mallorca at Son Vinater with the first two competitions in preparation for the championship of Spain.

Nordic way

CHURCH: The Church has listed numerous properties in the registry.

ARENAL beach was the scene of a free activity to explain the Nordic Walking technique. The Councillor for Sports and Citizen Participation and Cooperation of Llucmajor explained that they want to promote the sport to all age groups.

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Police imprisoned for torture THE Balearic Supreme Court has upheld the sentences of two National Policemen for torturing a detainee in 2009. The police allegedly tortured the man in the basement of the police headquarters situated in Palma after a fight which had involved several off-duty policemen. The high court confirmed the sentence of the Palma Court of three years imprisonment and nine years disqualification for the crime of serious torture as well as a fine of â‚Ź360 for the police inspector. The sub-inspector received a reduced sentence of two years down from three years imprisonment because the court did not believe that he should receive the same punishment as his superior, the aggressor of the act.

Four arrests for farm burglaries flickr by Sabine

NEWS

COUNTRYSIDE: Burglaries have been committed at various farms around Mallorca. By Sandra Galo FOUR men have been arrested for theft and diverse burglaries of farms in Sa Pobla, Muro, Felanitx, Santa Margarita, Inca and Buger. They are also accused of swindling at a recycling plant and for theft in the village of Porreres. Apart from the four detained suspects, eight more are being investigated.

Guardia Civil officers initiated the investigation after receiving several complaints of theft and burglaries on farms. As a result of the investigation, a motorised bicycle, 90 kilos of almonds, 11 kilos of copper water piping and sandstone rocks have been recovered. The officers havenâ€™t finished the investigation and more suspects may be detained in the next few days.

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EXCLUSIVE

A fugitive or loving son? MICHAEL CLARKE’S side of the story as told to John Smith By John Smith NO matter whether you are a national daily newspaper or in our case a weekly, six-edition English language paper, the freedom of press comes with obligations which need to be recognised. Here at the Euro Weekly News, we published an article two weeks ago about an Englishman and his mother, Michael and Ann Clarke, where we gave some details of what we understood to be their story and asked readers to keep an eye open for them. Within a few days of the publication of the article, we were contacted by Michael himself, who asked that he be given the opportunity to present his side of the case as he believed that he was being placed in an unfavourable light, and in his opinion he had been wronged by both his family and the process of English law. This is where our responsibility to present the other side of the story comes in, and I met both Michael and his mother Ann (who unfortunately is currently in hospital in Spain), to hear exactly what he had to say and after spending several hours in his company, I do agree that his position should be made clear. According to Michael, when the accident occurred in 1995, Ann spent a year in hospital and when she came out, she moved to a care home which she didn’t like so it was agreed between the family that she would stay in her own house. It was also agreed that she would pass it to her daughter who would take over the mortgage and in return would make a payment to her mother (which she allegedly failed to make) and look after her, and that Michael would move in as well. In a relatively short period of time, Michael decided to move out as he had been offered the tenancy of a pub, but within about 10 weeks his sister advised she couldn’t cope with Ann and she would have to go into a home. Neither Ann nor Michael wanted this and although the pub wasn’t really suitable for her needs, she moved in with him and he looked after her on an unpaid basis from 1996 until 2001. During that time he left the pub and ran a student lodging house and rented a bungalow for himself and his mother. His sister moved in after a marital dispute and agreed that if he moved to Tenerife, she would look after Ann. After a few weeks, Ann travelled to Tenerife on holiday and asked that she be allowed to stay with Michael to which he agreed and they stayed on the Island for two years. This

Michael and Ann Clarke exclusive picture

MICHAEL CLARKE: With his mother Ann, who is in hospital in Spain.

1995 was the year when Ann Clarke’s accident occurred

was all prior to any settlement and without any cash, except for the mother’s disability allowance on which they lived. There was a problem with a credit card which I cannot go into detail about, but for a period of time the benefits allowance was suspended whilst an investigation took place and this caused significant financial stress on the pair, although it was eventually resolved and back payments were given to them. At the same time, in the lawsuit there was a change of solicitor and the new solicitor suggested that the matter be settled out of court to which they reluctantly agreed, and a payment of £775,000 was made to the moth-

er, with Michael acting officially on her behalf. At the time of the settlement, Ann and Michael employed two clinical specialists to establish whether she was able to make her own decisions to which they declared she was. Despite this however the whole matter was sent to the Court of Protection and a solicitor was appointed to look after her affairs and manage her funds. In 2001 they moved to Blackpool. According to Michael, and I have not seen documentary evidence of this, (although I don’t doubt that this is his absolute belief), the solicitor was supposed to charge around £2,000 annually to manage this matter, but in the first year released just £10,400 to Ann, whilst charging £26,377 for his services, with a further £14,000 charged the second year. This carried on for two years before Michael found this out, and after they a made a formal complaint their allowance was increased. Michael set up a club by 2003, which was successful. All was well until the recession in 2008, when the club suffered set-

backs and they decided to immigrate to Spain. At that time, in 2008, they had been trying to sell the property in Blackpool, without success as the recession had set in and Michael has been accused of acting improperly by his sister which he completely denied. Whilst living in Spain, Ann tried to exchange her UK property for a Spanish villa, which Michael has accused the deputy solicitor of prevaricating resulting in the loss of two properties. In addition, because so much money has been held in sterling rather than a euro account which they had requested, there was a significant exchange rate loss. In short, they allege that the Court of Protection had overcharged Ann an estimated £150,000, and facilitated an exchange rate loss by not providing a euro account of £100,000, meaning Ann was out of pocket by a total of £250,000. From 2009 to 2013 Michael had written to all known complaint bodies to try and draw attention to this, but all to no avail. The advice received was to serve on the solicitors a Commercial Lien that basically is a statement of truth sworn on oath before a notary. He insists he would return to the UK to have the whole matter aired in front of a court provided there is a jury which will make the decision with regards to his guilt, and he advised me he has been given an undertaking by the court, (which has no right of extradition from Spain) that if he returns to the UK to apologise, and if his mother returns and surrenders her passport then ‘all will be forgiven’. That begs the question of why Ann should give up her passport, what happens about the alleged losses, does Michael have a ‘record’ and will he be chased for court fees? It is up to each and every one of our EWN readers to make their own conclusion on this situation, but as the writer of both stories I do believe that neither the local press nor the general public should play judge and jury in this matter. What is crucial to remember is the whole point of the initial story was to try to ensure the protection and welfare of Ann Clarke, who I have now seen for myself and do believe without question she is more than happy to be here in Spain with her loving son Michael. What do you, our readers think? Is this a case of a fugitive on the run or simply a loving, doting son doing the best he can for his mother? Let us know by visiting www.eur oweeklynews.com.

E W N 17 - 23 March 2016 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

Solidarity campaign proves successful SOLLER SOLIDARI and the Neighbourhood Association

of Canamunt organised a solidarity day to raise funds for

helping refugees arriving in Lesbos. The aim of the initiative was to help the Proem-aid association working on the Greek island of Lesbos to assist and rescue refugees arriving from the sea. The event was held in the Raimundo Clar de Palma square. From the early hours of the morning, stands invited passersby to stop and look at various handmade crafts or sample food. A charity flea market, a zumba activity, folk dancing demonstrations, show cooking and activities for children were also included in the event. One of the initiatives being supported by the event was to help refugee families arriving in Greece carrying babies in their arms through a collection of baby carriers.

NEWS

Licences to be inspected AUTHORITIES plan to take control

PLAYA DE PALMA: Ambitious efforts to control licensing activities. By Sandra Galo THE Balearic authorities plan to put order in Playa de Palma by inspecting licences. At a news conference Deputy Mayor of the City Model, Urban Development and Housing Antoni Noguera and General Director of Planning Biel Horrach explained the content of the inspections calling it â€˜one of the most ambitious plans to

control licensing activities in Palmaâ€™. Antoni Noguera explained the four objectives which include detecting changes made to activities operating under licences or authorisation certificates, checking on-site compliance of the conditions imposed, identifying clandestine activities, and addressing complaints filed by citizens as well as resolving conflicts in accordance with municipal regulations.

NEWS

17 - 23 March 2016 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

Majorica factory site to be decontaminated LAND has inadequate fencing around it By Sandra Galo THE total decontamination of the land previously occupied by the Majorica factory in Manacor is still pending one year after completing clearing of the land. The presence of a deposit that may be contaminated and the refusal of the company which acquired the site to bear the costs of its removal have stalled the process for the site to receive certification that the subsoil has been decontaminated.

Residents near the site are very concerned and have alerted the town hall on numerous occasions to the danger of children entering the property. The land which has inadequate fencing is easily accessible by children and rubbish has also been accumulating on the site. The authorities are taking action to resolve the problem. The land was acquired in 2006 by an estate agent and later passed into the hands of a bank. The town hall acquired a part of the land to use for municipal purposes.

Crowdfunding for Mallorca film VERANO ROJO (Red Summer) is the name of a terrifying new film set in Mallorca that is seeking financial help through a crowdfunding campaign. The film tells the story of

four young people who come to Mallorca to enjoy their summer holidays and get more than they bargained for. The film is directed by Mallorcan Carles Jofre and produced by a recent gradu-

ate from the Catalu単a Cinema and Audiovisial School, Fran Jimenez. Filming has already been done and the project is currently in the important postproduction phase.

EWN

E W N 17 - 23 March 2016 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

NEWS

RUSSIAN P RESS

Military recruiting BIDDING has been invited

DOLPHIN RECRUITS: Must have perfect teeth and no physical impairments.

A DOCUMENT uploaded to the Russian government’s procurement website last week reveals that the country’s defence ministry is looking to recruit five dolphins, two female and three male, for the military. Bidding was invited on a 1.75m ruble (€22,410) contract to deliver the dolphins, which must be aged between three and five and have perfect teeth and no physical impairments, to the Crimean port city of Stevastopol by August 1.

Cold and deep EXPLORERS Maxim Astakhov and Alexander Gubin from the Russian Geographical Society have set a record for the deepest ice dive in the White Sea. The two descended 102 metres below the ice to test new scuba-diving equipment, the Society has reported. During the 80-minute dive, the temperature in the water was a decidedly chilly -1.5ºC. The expedition was part of the Society’s project 13 Seas of Russia.

West to blame FORMER US defence secretary William Perry has declared that Washington’s contemptuous treatment of Moscow’s security concerns in the aftermath of the Cold War could be partly to blame for the current level of hostility in US-Russian relations. “In the last few years, most of the blame can be pointed at the actions that Putin has taken. But in the early years I have to say that the United States deserves much of the blame,” said Perry, who was defence secretary in Bill Clinton’s administration from 1994 to 1997.

Wild and free SIX Przewalski’s horses, of which just a few survive in the wild in the world, are spending the winter rolling in the snow on the Orenburg Reserves, six

CHILLY EXPEDITION: Testing scuba-diving equipment.

strictly protected nature areas along the border with Kazakhstan. The horses were born at a reserve in the south of France and are part of a flagship reintroduction project for the endangered species.

Staying at home OUTBOUND tourism decreased by 31.3 per cent in 2015 compared to the previous year, the largest drop in 18 years, according to Russian Tourism Industry Union spokeswoman Irina Tyurina. Citing Rosstat state statistics data, Tyurina reported that Russians made 12 million international trips in 2015.

The largest previous drop was in 1998, when the number fell 24.4 per cent compared to the year before.

No milk DAIRY companies are threatening to stop supplying milk to shops in Russia unless the government revokes an order demanding additional veterinary-safety documents be provided with each shipment. The Agriculture Ministry order, which was recently sprung on suppliers, would be impossible for most to meet, PepsiCo spokeswoman Marina Zibareva has said.

FINANCE

Mallorca

17 - 23 March 2016

LONDON - FTSE 100

+0.45%

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€70 billion is the amount of estimated tax that member states of the EU will recover when all 28 countries exchange information on the finances of multinational corporations operating within their borders.

STAT OF WEEK

business & legal

EWN

A EURO WEEKLY NEWS 6 PAGE SPECIAL SECTION // WWW.EWNBUSINESS.COM

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Investment money leaves Spain

OECD makes observation

ECONOMISTS appear not to be overly concerned

THE Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Spain has released details of a report in which it notes that Spain’s gradual economic recovery should enable it to start reversing the sharp decline in its development assistance since 2010 and focus more of its aid budget on the neediest countries. Spain has previously had a good record of overseas aid, but the current level of percentage of GDP committed is the lowest since 1988.

By John Smith THE year 2015 saw a significant outflow of investment money from Spain due mainly to uncertainty regarding the future government and whether there will be increased taxation should a left of

is the value of investment funds withdrawn from Spain during 2015

“We see ourselves as an integral part of society.” Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of BMW on increasing annual charity foundation donations to €100 million in its centenary year.

Photo Credit Alfonso de Tomas Shutterstock

Quote of the Week

€70 billion

SUPERMARKET CHAIN: Some staff received bonuses.

Mercadona success THE president of Spain’s largest supermarket chain, Mercadona released figures which show that their profits for 2015 had increased by 12 per cent to €611 million, whilst their workforce had been increased by 1.5 per cent as they had employed a

centre coalition come to power. The exodus of funds is the l a rg e s t s i n c e 2 0 1 2 w h e n o v e r €150 billion moved out of the country. Economists appear not to be overly concerned about this exodus as they expect that much of it

further 1,000 people in fixed posts. Juan Roig was also pleased to announce that the company had paid significant bonuses to some of its staff for meeting targets and had also increased the wages of others.

BUSINESS EXTRA

VW woes NEWS has broken that prosecutors in both France and Germany are widening their investigations into the emissions scandal at Volkswagen and authorities in Paris are reviewing possible charges of ‘aggravated fraud’ over the misleading emissions results. German prosecutors say that the number of VW employees now under investigation has increased from six to 17, whilst the company’s CEO in America has left the company with immediate effect.

Counterfeit goods THE profit margin on counterfeit goods appears to be colossal according to a release issued by the Customs section of the Spanish Tax Authority, which claims that the street value of counterfeit goods seized in 2015 could be as high as €130 million.

Green company red in the face WHATEVER next? An American company, Whole Foods Market, which caters to the organic market and boasts it is ‘America’s Healthiest Supermarket’ has had to admit its mistake and withdraw a range of mandarin oranges which have been peeled and placed in plastic containers.

A customer tweeted an image of stocks of these mandarins, which are specially bred to have soft skins with the comment: ‘If only nature could find a way to cover these oranges so we didn’t need to waste so much plastic on them.’ The company said “Definitely our mistake. These have been pulled.”

will return once a new government is in place and its economic policy has been established. The problem in the meantime is that not only is money flowing out of the country, but there is little coming in from outside to replace it.

E W N 17 - 23 March 2016 / Mallorca

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LONDON - FTSE 100

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

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

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PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) COMPANY 3i Group PLC 445.55 7.50 Aberdeen Asset Mangmnt PLC 274.60 4.30 Admiral Group PLC 1875.50 -40.00 Anglo American PLC 537.20 21.30 Antofagasta PLC 539.25 15.50 ARM Holdings PLC 1000.50 17.00 Ashtead Group PLC 790.25 5.16 Associated British Foods PLC 3349.50 -4.00 AstraZeneca PLC 4060.75 16.50 Aviva PLC 496.00 0.60 Babcock International Grp 955.50 5.50 BAE Systems PLC 501.75 5.00 Barclays PLC 166.40 0.40 Barratt Developments PLC 553.00 9.00 Berkeley Group Holdings 3060.00 82.00 BHP Billiton PLC 838.20 22.30 BP PLC 350.85 2.45 British American Tobacco PLC 4081.25 5.00 British Land Co PLC 699.25 9.50 BT Group PLC 460.53 1.50 Bunzl PLC 1986.00 11.00 Burberry Group PLC 1397.50 20.00 Capita PLC 1040.00 3.00 Carnival PLC 3422.50 9.00 Centrica PLC 229.85 0.20 Coca-Cola HBC AG 1402.50 6.00 Compass Group PLC 1217.00 0.30 CRH PLC 1961.00 21.00 DCC PLC 5790.00 55.00 Diageo PLC 1876.00 3.42 Direct Line Insurance Group 369.65 3.20 Dixons Carphone PLC 428.60 5.00 easyJet PLC 1526.00 5.70 Experian PLC 1215.00 10.00 Fresnillo PLC 929.50 0.50 GKN PLC 286.40 6.74 GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1412.25 14.08 Glencore PLC 147.45 5.80 Hammerson PLC 575.25 7.00 Hargreaves Lansdown PLC 1291.00 18.00 Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC 1735.00 14.39 HSBC Holdings PLC 454.30 3.00 Imperial Brands PLC 3741.50 -10.50 Inmarsat PLC 928.00 9.50 InterContinental Hotels Gro 2739.00 13.00 International Consolidated 545.25 4.00 Intertek Group PLC 3084.00 23.00 Intu Properties PLC 307.75 3.00 ITV PLC 238.70 4.40 Johnson Matthey PLC 2561.50 22.00

% CHG. 1.71 1.59 -2.09 4.13 2.96 1.73 0.66 -0.12 0.41 0.12 0.58 1.01 0.24 1.65 2.75 2.73 0.70 0.12 1.38 0.33 0.56 1.45 0.29 0.26 0.09 0.43 0.02 1.08 0.96 0.18 0.87 1.18 0.37 0.83 0.05 2.41 1.01 4.09 1.23 1.41 0.84 0.66 -0.28 1.03 0.48 0.74 0.75 0.98 1.88 0.87

NET VOL 90.99 313.92 151.67 845.99 433.77 306.46 151.43 59.12 316.01 792.39 28.90 247.78 3,144.85 219.88 109.37 1,422.11 2,962.35 321.35 217.19 857.64 16.34 88.17 76.52 13.14 828.87 8.50 147.74 69.20 5.92 459.42 192.27 52.11 68.55 86.58 102.52 374.66 412.30 8,557.38 160.97 45.70 17.84 3,112.05 240.82 65.71 28.89 602.09 17.46 151.09 2,042.30 17.63

COMPANY PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) Kingfisher PLC 347.10 4.80 Land Securities Group PLC 1070.50 19.10 Legal & General Group PLC 245.25 3.20 Lloyds Banking Group PLC 70.76 0.62 London Stock Exchange Grp 2890.50 22.00 Marks & Spencer Group PLC 403.10 5.00 Merlin Entertainments PLC 453.85 1.90 Mondi PLC 1342.00 7.00 National Grid PLC 968.95 3.50 Next PLC 6617.50 50.00 Old Mutual PLC 186.25 4.30 Pearson PLC 880.50 8.50 Persimmon PLC 2021.50 31.00 Provident Financial PLC 3090.00 -4.00 Prudential PLC 1361.50 2.70 Randgold Resources Ltd 6360.00 35.00 Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC 6587.50 58.00 RELX PLC 1255.50 9.00 REXAM PLC 615.75 3.84 Rio Tinto PLC 2053.50 53.00 Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC 691.75 6.00 Royal Bank of Scotland Gr 230.05 0.40 Royal Dutch Shell PLC 1687.00 11.00 Royal Mail PLC 457.95 6.00 RSA Insurance Group PLC 457.65 4.20 SABMiller PLC 4223.25 3.50 Sage Group (The) PLC 593.25 6.50 Sainsbury (J) PLC 274.05 0.70 Schroders PLC 2704.00 5.00 Severn Trent PLC 2067.50 5.00 Shire PLC 3744.50 -33.00 Sky PLC 1020.50 14.00 Smith & Nephew PLC 1132.50 11.00 Smiths Group PLC 1071.50 15.00 Sports Direct International... 396.15 5.50 SSE PLC 1474.00 12.00 Standard Chartered PLC 479.70 12.15 Standard Life PLC 367.45 3.00 St James's Place PLC 907.50 13.50 Taylor Wimpey PLC 179.95 2.20 Tesco PLC 192.65 0.40 Travis Perkins PLC 1785.50 6.00 TUI AG 1038.50 3.32 Unilever PLC 3114.00 19.50 United Utilities Group PLC 901.25 4.00 Vodafone Group PLC 219.65 2.35 Whitbread PLC 3820.00 24.00 Wolseley PLC 3796.50 43.00 Worldpay Group PLC 284.20 -0.61 WPP PLC 1583.50 18.00

% CHG. 1.40 1.82 1.32 0.88 0.77 1.26 0.42 0.52 0.36 0.76 2.36 0.97 1.56 -0.13 0.20 0.55 0.89 0.72 0.63 2.65 0.87 0.17 0.66 1.33 0.93 0.08 1.11 0.26 0.19 0.24 -0.87 1.39 0.98 1.42 1.41 0.82 2.60 0.82 1.51 1.24 0.21 0.34 0.32 0.63 0.45 1.08 0.63 1.15 -0.21 1.15

NET VOL 204.88 259.26 1,166.27 8,010.83 52.34 617.87 26.86 75.94 343.77 12.16 2,610.40 142.31 58.25 36.37 649.47 28.87 76.89 106.83 31.88 559.37 357.13 1,530.60 415.33 161.98 90.23 47.24 81.98 371.65 43.37 20.91 359.27 147.38 228.55 58.66 61.90 276.50 953.02 171.15 90.80 615.40 983.86 31.92 86.03 195.96 66.02 2,463.51 16.84 16.11 190.16 182.87

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US dollar.......................................................................1.11177 Japan yen .................................................................126.410 Switzerland franc.................................................1.09758 Denmark kroner ...................................................7.45872 Norway kroner......................................................9.40136

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DOW JONES C LOSING P RICES M ARCH 14

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

PRICE CHANGE %CHANGE VOLUME 161.88 +1.99 +1.24% 1.7M 59.46 +0.71 +1.21% 7.8M 102.26 +1.09 +1.08% 27.4M 124.63 +1.69 +1.37% 3.3M 72.80 +1.44 +2.02% 4.8M 94.58 +0.64 +0.68% 14.1M 27.86 +0.48 +1.75% 21.9M 45.20 -0.03 -0.07% 16.1M 97.94 +0.90 +0.93% 5.6M 63.83 +1.67 +2.69% 2.3M 82.19 +0.01 +0.01% 15.4M 30.34 +0.40 +1.34% 32.2M 153.94 +2.92 +1.93% 4.1M 128.46 +2.57 +2.04% 4.6M 142.36 +2.17 +1.55% 4.4M 31.76 +0.51 +1.63% 22.8M 107.71 +0.57 +0.53% 7.8M 59.34 +0.73 +1.25% 21.1M 121.55 +1.57 +1.31% 7.0M 53.20 +0.16 +0.30% 15.5M 53.07 +1.02 +1.96% 32.3M 60.08 +1.20 +2.04% 8.8M 30.50 +0.91 +3.08% 60.4M 81.75 -0.53 -0.64% 11.1M 113.64 +2.11 +1.89% 2.0M 96.75 +0.57 +0.59% 4.0M 125.10 +3.01 +2.47% 3.8M 52.53 +0.21 +0.40% 15.2M 71.63 +1.41 +2.01% 9.5M 67.17 -0.24 -0.36% 8.3M

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES M ARCH 14

COMPANY

PRICE

CHANGE NET / %

Most Advanced Bojangles', Inc. Finisar Corporation Zions Bancorporation Kirkland's, Inc. Legacy Reserves LP The Providence Service Corporation Legacy Reserves LP Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. Editas Medicine, Inc. Flex Pharma, Inc. Surgery Partners, Inc.

$ 18.57 $ 17.15 $ 2.41 $ 17.16 $ 2.71 $ 52.75 $ 2.8001 $ 191.62 $ 31.25 $ 7.62 $ 16

3.54 ▲ 23.55% 2.97 ▲ 20.94% 0.41 ▲ 20.50% 2.86 ▲ 20% 0.45 ▲ 19.91% 8.67 ▲ 19.67% 0.4401 ▲ 18.65% 28.23 ▲ 17.28% 4.51 ▲ 16.87% 1.09 ▲ 16.69% 2.23 ▲ 16.19%

$5 $ 8.37 $ 19.005 $ 6.355 $ 2.24 $ 16.64 $ 17.53 $ 4.76 $ 6.25 $ 7.12 $ 2.78

1.25 ▼ 20% 1.3399 ▼ 13.80% 2.875 ▼ 13.14% 0.795 ▼ 11.12% 0.275 ▼ 10.93% 1.79 ▼ 9.71% 1.81 ▼ 9.36% 0.47 ▼ 8.99% 0.60 ▼ 8.76% 0.68 ▼ 8.72% 0.26 ▼ 8.55%

Most Declined Paragon Shipping Inc. AccuShares Spot CBOE VIX Up Shares Zumiez Inc. Sunrun Inc. HTG Molecular Diagnostics, Inc. Arctic Cat Inc. Citi Trends, Inc. Cara Therapeutics, Inc. region Freshpet, Inc. Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc.

E W N 17 - 23 March 2016 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

Advertising feature

Family issues when living abroad YOU may still be able to use the English Courts, enabling you to understand the advice given

ENGLISH COURTS: Take a sensible and pragmatic approach to child arrangements. whereas the Spanish Court’s approach is if there is no express agreement between the parties, and

no children, the home will be retained by the original owner. This may be the most valuable

asset. The Spanish Court’s approach to children is also different if one parent has custody

of a child they will remain in the property, an English Court may order it to be sold to allow both parties to properly adjust and provide adequately for their housing needs. English Courts take a sensible and pragmatic approach with child arrangements and adopt a ‘no Order principle’ i.e. they trust the parents of the children to make appropriate arrangements for the welfare of the child or children. In Spain a Custody Order is inevitably always made even if the parties have reached agreement. Decisions have to be made as to where the children live and how often the absent parent has contact, also decisions on issues such as your children’s health and education. The English Courts allow you to make a decision as long as it is in the children’s best interests, the Spanish Courts may impose their will. See our advert below.

Overseas health payments Photo Credit StockLite Shutterstock

AT RobinsonMurphy we have a dedicated team of Family Lawyers assisting our expat clients living in Spain with regard to family and divorce matters. Even if you have lived in Spain for many years it is still possible to use the English Courts if you retain your domicile in England. Domicile is in essence the country to which you consider yourself most connected and does not have to be the country of birth (though this is often the case with expats living abroad) or where you currently live. We help our clients to use the English Courts as the Spanish system can be slow, frustrating, costly and not in your language, making it difficult to understand the advice given to enable you to make informed decisions. The advantage of English courts is that they can adjust the terms of legal ownership of a property irrespective of who bought it,

HEALTH COSTS: A shambolic state of affairs. A PARLIAMENTARY question table by Labour MP John Mann received a response which showed that Britain paid out £674 million (€857 million) to European countries for their health costs in 2015 but received only £49 million (€63.7 million) in return. The largest recipient was the Spanish Health Authority which received nearly

€290 million and paid the UK €4.4 million and the next largest recipient and also largest payer was France. There is a somewhat complicated procedure in the calculation of the payments that have to be made by each country with a combination of completed health forms and estimated numbers of pensioners registered in each country.

On receiving this information, Mr Mann commented: “Sorting this scandal out in itself would transform the financial situation of the NHS. This is a shambolic state of affairs and we are being played for fools. “This is money that should directly be going into the NHS and it would make a huge annual difference to its finances.”

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

Having the courage of his convictions By John Smith IT is refreshing to see someone having the courage to resign over a point of principle but this is exactly what John Longworth, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce has done, following his speech regarding a belief that Britain would prosper if it were to leave the European Union. Regardless of which side of the debate one might sit, it is so unusual nowadays for anyone in a position of public recognition to simply resign so that they can have the freedom to promote their belief or understanding on any matter that he deserves recognition. Speaking at the British Chambers of Commerce annual conference in London on March 3, Mr Longworth said: “My first observation is that it has reinforced my long held belief that the very best place for the UK to be is in a reformed European Union. “My second observation is that I have come to the conclusion that the European Union is incapable of meaningful reform, at least in the foreseeable future. “It certainly does not appear capable of the sort of reform necessary to give the UK the breathing space to fulfil its true potential.” Later that same day, he confirmed to

Sky News that he had said far more than would have been expected by the BCC and that this was his personal opinion, not BCC policy. By March 5, he had been suspended and on March 6, the BCC announced his departure from his role. BCC president Nora Senior said the organisation was “non-partisan” and had decided not to campaign for either side in the forthcoming UK referendum on EU membership. She added: “John Longworth and the BCC board recognise that John’s personal view on the referendum is likely to create confusion regarding the BCC’s neutral stance going forward. “In light of this, John has taken the decision to step down as director general and his resignation has been accepted by the board with effect from March 6, 2016.” This apparent joint decision has encouraged pro-Brexit campaigners to accuse the government of managing his exit which claim has been rejected by Defence Secretary Michael Fallon as being yet another bizarre conspiracy theory whilst support for him has come from Boris Johnson and UKIP leader Niger Farage who said “I’ve met John Longworth, who is a thoroughly decent man. He has been treated appallingly for supporting Brexit.”

17 - 23 March 2016 / Mallorca

EWN

IMF world economy fears CHINESE performance was worse than expected in February By John Smith THE Deputy Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) David Lipton has warned that the global economy faces a growing ‘risk of economic derailment’ and has called for urgent steps to boost global demand. “We are clearly at a delicate juncture,” he said in a speech to the National Association for Business Economics in Washington. “The IMF’s latest reading of the global economy shows once again a weakening baseline,” he warned. The poor performance of the Chinese economy during February which was much worse than expected prompted this statement as its downturn is taken to be reflected in the economic position of the world’s major economies and will adversely affect those overseas businesses who have invested in China based on an expectation of continued and dynamic growth. It appears likely that the IMF will be reducing its 2016 forecast for general economic growth in its next round of predictions due to be presented in April. Basically, the organisation wants to see the world improve its position by making economies grow, which is clearly easier said than done. During the latest G20 meeting in Chi-

THE IMF: Will be reducing its 2016 forecast. na in February, representatives of the fund called for co-operation between the leading economies to ensure that not only would they enjoy stronger results, but their actions would in turn help those countries with weaker economies.

In his latest speech, Mr Lipton said “The downside risks are clearly much more pronounced than before, and the case for more forceful and concerted policy action, has become more compelling.”

OPINION & COMMENT

17 - 23 March 2016 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

EWN

I’ve decided to lighten up a bit Mitch Gunn/Shutterstock.com

THIS week the health and safety brigade finally lost it completely LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

WELL this week the ‘ealth n safety brigade finally lost it completely. They were actually suggesting that for safety’s sake, they wanted a total ban on tackling in the game of rugby! I’ll tell you what, why don’t we take that dangerous ball out of the game altogether? All those lovely big hulking men could then run around for 80 minutes playing tag with each other! You really couldn’t make it up. It was with this ludicrous suggestion in mind I decided this week to lighten up a bit, (I can hear the derisory snorts from here!). Subsequently sniffing through a few internet sites, I managed to come up with some real ‘ealth n safety/PC humdingers. In Canada a Santa was banned from saying Ho Ho Ho, because it was too close to the American slang for prostitute and could be derogatory to women. The word pet must

RUGBY TACKLES: Deemed dangerous by some. be replaced by ‘companion animal’ because it was ‘demeaning to free loving creatures’. Easter eggs should be referred to as ‘spring spheres.’ And my absolute favourite to date.

A ban on advertising for ‘reliable employees,’ because it may discriminate against unreliable applicants. All very funny so far. With all this in mind, I decided to dig a lit-

tle deeper. As I delved into the origins of political correctness in particular, it actually began to take on quite sinister overtones. Political correctness has in fact been around far longer than many of us may actually realise. Previous totalitarian regimes have used it to great effect. It was at one stage referred to as Cultural Marxism. One piece stated that Political Correctness is the principal tool of the political left. Its purpose is to intimidate. It promotes critical theory, separatism and victimology rage. It operates on the premise that ‘victim groups,’ and other minorities are automatically good regardless of what any of them do, and that all bourgeoisie and capital owners are evil. Label any subject politically incorrect and there is no debate. It effectively closes down all opinions, freedom of speech and ultimately freedom of thought. In other words all these PC pushers are not petty, piddling pains in the bum – they’re as dangerous as hell! Keep the faith. Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com

E W N 17 - 23 March 2016 / Mallorca

Why is everything so expensive? Mike Senker

In my opinion Views of a Grumpy Old Man WHY is everything so expensive these days? I saw a book the other day called ‘How to find happiness without money’- it cost €20! I have grey hair and was advised to use a special shampoo. I looked it up online and it was £30 a bottle. Are they mad? My first mortgage was less than that a month and I struggled to pay that! Of course you don’t have to pay that much. You can go down the supermarket and get a bottle for a couple of euros but I think there is just a big keg somewhere and they use the same stuff for shampoo, body wash, dishwashing, carpet cleaning, car wash and flea shampoo for dogs! I was in the airport the other day and had a cheese and tomato baguette which is just a poncey name for a big roll. It was £6.50! I’ve seen more cheese on a mouse trap, and the slice of tomato looked like it had been shaved off and was cleverly hanging out the side to make it look full. And £3 for a bottle of wa-

ter! It’s just a liberty. I remember years ago I was in Dallas and wanted to go out for a steak, so I asked the concierge where a good place to go was. “Do you want a $50 steak or a $100 steak?” he asked. “What’s the difference?” I enquired. “$50,” he said, “the steak’s the same but one place has carpet on the floor the other sawdust.” We went with the sawdust! Get my point? It’s the same here in Spain. I went to a restaurant with some mates and was told it was nouveau cuisine. Not having a clue what that meant at the time, as this was a few years ago, I ordered something with prawns as a starter and up came a lettuce leaf with a prawn on it. I treated it a bit like testing the wine. By the time the waiter had served the other three people I looked up and said, “Very nice, I’ll have a whole portion please.” “That was a whole portion sir.” “Err, no I don’t think so and definitely not at €25 a pop.” Needless to say it went downhill from there. The bill came, it was a few hundred euros and I was starving. I told them, in no uncertain terms what I thought, and told them there was no way their place would last. Sure enough three months later it was gone and now is a very successful ‘eat as much as you can’ wok place. Banged out every night!

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

LEGALLY SPEAKING

Poor conditions TIPS for safe driving in bad weather 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.

AQUAPLANING: Avoid the risks. WEATHER conditions across Spain have taken a turn for the worse in the last week or so with high winds, rain, cooler temperatures and snow fall on high ground. Weather conditions pose the biggest risk to road users, partly due to the inexperience and lack of preparedness by drivers, and partly due to the changing dynamics of the road and driving environment, so the N-332 team have prepared their top tips for safe driving: Slow down It might seem like the most obvious thing to say, but all too often it is advice that is ignored. Speed and adverse weather is a deadly combination. When the road is wet, your vehicle’s tyres cannot grip the road as much as in normal, dry conditions. Cornering and braking are all affected by water on the road, reducing grip and increasing stopping distances considerably, therefore, slowing down allows more time to adapt and deal with the situation. Ease off the accelerator a little and you will see the difference immediately. Avoid violent movements or sharp braking Sudden braking, acceleration or harsh movements of the steering wheel may result

in loss of vehicle control. If the operations are carried out progressively, smoothly and slowly, it also gives other drivers time to react. Avoid driving on road markings Road markings including lane lines, crossings and markers provide less grip than the road surface and can therefore increase braking distances. Riders on two wheels should be particularly aware of this problem. Be seen During rain or reduced visibility make sure you have your lights on. Daytime running lights may not be sufficient, especially during reduced visibility where headlights must be used. The timely use of indicators, including brake lights, is crucial to give other road users advanced warnings of your intentions. Avoid aquaplaning risks Keep a sharp lookout for puddles and pools of water which may reduce the grip of your tyres on the road even more, potentially creating a liquid barrier between the tyre and road surface, commonly referred to as aquaplaning. Don’t carry out any sudden movements to avoid these puddles, slow down, hold the steering wheel firmly and try to keep your vehicle on a straight and level course.

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

Do we owe tax in two countries? WE have been residents in Spain for 14 years and have recently sold a property in the UK. This property was buy-tolet, with taxes paid on the rental income in the UK. We also pay taxes in Spain on income ‘Resident in Spain’ means that you are liable for Spanish tax on your worldwide income. Yes, you must declare your property sale in Spain as well as in the UK. If you have already paid

generated here. There is a capital gain of £50,000 on the rental property we sold, and CGT will have to be paid on this in the UK. Do we also need to declare this gain to Hacienda? We do not want to be liable for double taxation.

David Searl You and the Law in Spain

Capital Gains Tax in the UK, you can deduct this when you make your Span-

ish declaration You should have declared the rental income in Spain as well. If you owned the property last year, you should have filed a Form 720 in Spain, listing your assets outside the country.

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 17 - 23 March 2016 / Mallorca

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TV LISTING

THURSDAY 17 MARCH

7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:45pm 12:45am

FRIDAY 18 MARCH

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SUNDAY 20 MARCH

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TUESDAY 22 MARCH

WEDNESDAY 23 MARCH

BBC London News The One Show EastEnders Room 101 EastEnders Jo Brand's Hell of a Walk for Sport Relief BBC News at Ten BBC London News Question Time This Week

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The TV That Made Me Flog It! Pointless BBC News at Six BBC London News Sport Relief 2016 BBC News at Ten BBC London News Sport Relief 2016 The Celebrity Apprentice USA

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Regional News Weather Pointless Six Nations Rugby Union The National Lottery Live BBC News Weather Match of the Day The Uninvited

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BBC News Regional News Weather Countryfile The Voice UK The Night Manager BBC News Regional News Weather Match of the Day 2 Athletics

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Regional News The One Show EastEnders Holby City The A Word BBC News Regional News Weather The Battle for Christianity Shop Well for Less

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Flog It! Pointless BBC News Regional News The One Show MasterChef Panorama BBC News Regional News Weather A Question of Sport Would I Lie to You?

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Eggheads Too Much TV Big Dreams Small Spaces The Secret History of My Family Murder Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle Newsnight My Family at War Eggheads Too Much TV Mary Berry's Easter Feast Mastermind Gardeners' World Land of Hope and Glory - British Country Life Sport Relief 2016 Newsnight Artsnight Celebrity Antiques Road Trip Made in Britain Dad's Army Michael Jackson's Journey From Motown to Off the Wall Pop Goes BBC2 Athletics Messiah at the Foundling Hospital Made in Britain Gareth Malone's Great Choir Reunion World's Weirdest Events Tribes, Predators and Me Thirteen The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story Line of Duty Too Much TV This Farming Life University Challenge Island Parish The People v OJ Simpson: American Crime Story QI XL Newsnight Weather Antiques Road Trip Eggheads Too Much TV This Farming Life Mary Berry's Easter Feast Inside Obama's White House Scrappers Newsnight Weather Antiques Road Trip Eggheads Too Much TV This Farming Life Horizon Employable Me Live From the BBC Newsnight Weather Inside Obama's White House

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

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Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway You're Back in the Room The Jonathan Ross Show ITV News and Weather Yes Man Jackpot 247 Murder, She Wrote

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Beowulf: Return to the Shieldlands The Story of Cats Doctor Thorne ITV News and

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Rugby Aviva Premiership Rugby Highlights Jackpot 247 Nightscreen

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

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

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ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Big Star's Little Star Grantchester ITV News at Ten and Weather Bear Grylls: Mission Survive On the Road with Richard Wilson

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The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Ugly House to Lovely House with George Clarke Speed with Guy Martin: F1 Special Alan Carr: Chatty Man Tattoo Fixers

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Couples Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Unreported World Grand Designs Formula 1 Gogglebox The Last Leg First Dates

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5 News at 5 Neighbours Home and Away 5 News Tonight The Gadget Show That's So...1984 NCIS: New Orleans NCIS NCIS: Los Angeles True Crimes: The First 72 Hours

Come Dine with Me Come Dine with Me Channel 4 News Includes sport and weather. The World's Weirdest Weather The Day After Tomorrow Kick-Ass 2 Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA

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Five News Update NCIS: New Orleans NCIS 5 News The Championship Goal Rush NCIS Super Casino Law and Order: Special Victims Unit

Sunday Brunch Formula 1 Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters Heston's Dinner in Space Channel 4 News Great Canal Journeys Indian Summers Gogglebox The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3

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

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The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners One Born Every Minute First Dates Million Pound Jewellers

A New Life in the Sun Couples Come Dine with Me The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News The Supervet 24 Hours in A and E Raised by Wolves Gogglebox Plus Sized Wars

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

Now That's Funny Beaver Las Vegas Penn and Teller: Fool Us in Vegas 5 News 5 News Harry Brown Tattoo Disasters UK Super Casino Police Interceptors

6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 11:30pm 11:45pm 12:15am 5:30pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 11:05pm 2:10am 4:45pm 5:00pm 5:15pm 5:30pm 5:45pm 6:00pm 9:00pm 11:00pm 12:30am 4:30pm 7:55pm 8:25pm 10:30pm 11:00pm 11:15pm 11:30pm 12:30am

Home and Away 5 News Weather Terror Police Interceptors The Tube: Going Underground Gotham Person of Interest Person of Interest True Crimes: The First 72 Hours

5:30pm

5 News Police Interceptors Britain's Horror Homes Benefits by the Sea: Jaywick Best of Bad TV: When Comedy Shows Go Wrong Penn and Teller: Fool Us in Vegas

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GPs: Behind Closed Doors Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away! Botched Up Bodies Benefits by the Sea: Jaywick Tattoo Disasters UK Super Casino Trauma Doctors

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2:00pm 2:15pm 2:30pm 2:45pm 3:00pm 3:30pm 4:00pm 2:30am 3:00am 3:30am 4:00am

Sporting Triumphs Barclays Premier League World BPL Legends Darts Gold II Live Premier League Darts Darts Gold II Barclays Premier League World La Liga Show 2015 BPL Legends Game Changers Barclays Premier League World The Fantasy Football Club Football The Fantasy Football Club Barclays Premier League World Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Live Ford Saturday Night Football SNF: Game of the Day SNF: Match Choice SNF: Match Choice Live Ford Super Sunday Sky Sports Originals Football Ronaldo: Real Madrid's Greatest Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Football League Goals Sky Sports Originals Soccer A.M. - The Best Bits Football League Goals Barclays Premier League Review Live Netball Superleague Football League Goals Premier League Barclays Premier League Review Premier League Premier League Barclays Premier League Review La Liga World 2015 Barcelona's 3 Kings The Premier League Years Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs Sporting Triumphs La Liga World 2015 Fantasy Football Club Highlights Live Tennis Sporting Greats Sporting Greats Sporting Rivalries Sporting Rivalries

E W N 17 - 23 March 2016 / Mallorca

LETTERS

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT

YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE - YOUR OPINION

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

I was against it from the start Hi Leapy, YOU should have entitled your latest column in Euroweekly as ‘So much to say and nothing to say.’ The following is a quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln: ‘Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt’ but hey ho ‘keep the faith.’ Frances, via email

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

He’s one of a kind

Quality recognised I LOOK forward to your comments and find myself in agreement with almost all of yours. As you rightly said we were trading throughout the world before the common market came into being, but having joined we were forced to give preferential treatment to those within the market casting aside long established trade. We then found that Australian Passport holders now needed visas to visit, and like-wise, ourselves to visit them. But regarding New Zealand lamb, I saw this in the Mercadona freezer section in Javea, so someone recognises quality! Tony from Alcalali

The best spinners I HAVE read your column since the start and spend about 12 weeks a year in Spain as a holidaymaker, but being of your age group plus a bit, I am fully retired. When you have folk here worrying about Brexit refer them to the Migration Watch website where they will find that they have acquired residential rights under the 1969 Vienna Convention and can’t be deported. Most of Cameron’s scaremongering is spin and some is from the best spinners, the British Civil Service. Clearly Brexit supporters have a lot to do against the odds and, as a trainer of negotiators, I know we could do better than Cameron did with the EU, and better than the EU has done with Turkey. The idea that the EU will not negotiate with us is nonsense. It will be a rich country that refuses us, not one in debt. The idea that all the other trading areas like ASEAN, NAFTA etc would just reject us is laughable, but then the EU is only 7 per cent or so of world trade, so the other 93 per cent may be of interest. Companies like

that she was not happy with the way the EU was going does not mean she supports a Brexit. Even many pro-EU campaigners are unhappy with several aspects of the union, which clearly need reform - but reform, not ‘abandoning.’ The very same paper with its ‘1 in 5 Muslims’ headline which was deliberately aimed at inciting hatred towards race and religious choice was rapped over the knuckles because the title and story were blatant lies. People read these rags and believe them and form judgements based upon them. Why are they allowed to print deliberately misleading and dangerous articles, or headlines which do not reflect the articles? Kally via the website

Dying out as a breed

AS you are aware, a single game of snooker is called a frame... Attached is a photo of our dog (owned by Gerry and Mary Cannon in Manilva). His name is Zodiac, and he is photographed in a frame playing snooker. Notice that he is eyeballing the red ball in line with the left hand side pocket! Gerry, via email

BMW threatening the UK have caveats with words like ‘might’ lose jobs and the media parrot the sensational bits. Dave from Essex

helped everyone enjoy themselves, and most of all the public who came along and supported us and raised such a fantastic amount. Thank you for your support in helping publicise this event this year, and in previous years. Debbie Benham, Secretary Welsh Society - Costa del Sol

Good news on St David’s Faith and Day feminism WE recently emailed you with details of the Welsh Society - Costa del Sol’s St David’s Day celebrations which were held a day early on February 29 at CJ’s Karaoke Bar in Benalmadena. I am writing to you now to let you know that the amount raised for the Cancer Charities (Positively Pink and Positively Blue, and AECC) was €1,700! We are absolutely thrilled with the amount, and would like to thank all the artistes who gave their time, the members who supplied the lovely food, and

WHILE I understand that Spain is a country steeped in religious tradition, it was with dismay that I read the EWN story on a council in the Costa Blanca celebrating International Women’s Day with what was clearly an outdated and insulting text, insinuating that women came from the rib of man. Of course I understand that religion gives many people hope in the darkness of night and a reason to wake up in the morning, but we must recognise that when it begins poisoning our soci-

ety it is time to step in. I remember learning in school about the incredible wonder of stigmata, being told that supernatural forces were at work among certain people, or about visions of the Virgin Mary. Imagine for a second a world where children were told the, far more interesting, truth that human psychology is such a powerful force that people can actually bleed or suffer epileptic attacks simply through the power of their mind. I am certain that such a world would be far superior to the superstitious mischief that still hurts women, and girls from Spain to Somalia. Jennifer from Marbella

The Sun vs the Palace HOW are these right-wing tabloids allowed to publish such glaring mistruths and inflammatory headlines? Journalists are expected to report the facts. The Queen stating five years ago

THE QUEEN should keep herself to herself, regardless of whether she made any pro-Brexit comments there really is little doubt as to her political sentiments. It is time we either did away with this anti-democratic feudal institution or simply use the family to trick wealthy Americans out of their money. For all the swivel eyed royalists out there, it’s time to face up to the fact that Her Majesty and her ilk are finished as an institution. There is a commoner in the bloodstream and the royal groupies are dying out as a breed. The scariest thing, however, is that there is still a tiny per centage of the population who believes that the German-Greek aristocrats really have Britain’s best interests at heart, despite being absolutely fine with living at the taxpayers expense on the basis of nothing but an accident of birth. The sooner we show the Windsors the door the better, oh and while we are at it, let’s do away with the backwards Church of England, with its superstitions and ignorance. It’s time to focus on education and bringing Britain into the 21st century. Alan from Denia

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

www.euroweeklynews.com

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

E W N 17 - 23 March 2016 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

FEATURE

Helping hands needed for supplies IMAGINE you and your family had to leave your country Vicki McLeod

Family Matters I MET a really wonderful lady last week, Antonia Triguero. She’s recently been to the island of Chios to deliver supplies and aid to Syrian and Afghani refugees who have been making their way to Europe in whatever way they can. She told me that the situation over there is pretty terrible, but as spring comes and with it more people trying to make it to Europe despite there being more countries closing their borders to refugees it’s only going to get worse. Regardless of what your political sympathies are there is a genuine human disaster going on right on our doorstep. Since returning she has managed to get a shipping company in Inca to pay for a 40 foot container to be sent over to Greece, and she has until this Friday March 18 to fill it! She is looking for donations of: tents, sleeping bags, blankets (but

DONATIONS WANTED: Collection points are listed below. not heavy), baby carriers, strollers, wheelchairs, comfortable walking shoes, socks, underwear, travel bags, raincoats, nappies, women’s sanitary towels and tampons, soap and shampoo (small 200ml bot-

tles), toothbrushes and toothpaste, sweatpants, summer hats, spring jackets, baby wipes and powdered milk. Collection points where you can leave your donations are: Monkafe,

Ca’n Rovira, Kidz, Cafe Polygon Mercantil, Polygon Bar, Cafe Es Cantó, The Paula Method (i Crist Rei Alcúdia), Ziving Inca Genestra, Bar Ca’n Tomeu, Ca’n Joan White Kids, Paula Travel, Dilo (Avda. de

Advertising feature

Liberty Seguros Insurance are the expats no.1 choice OFFER a professional service at a sensible price OF the many thousands of expatriates living either temporarily or permanently in Spain, Liberty Seguros is the favourite of many who are seeking professional insurance at a sensible price. Currently, Liberty Seguros have around 175,000 expatriate clients just like you, serviced by over 300 brokers and agents who speak your language. It’s so pleasant to have a face-to-face chat with a dedicated expert about all your insurance needs, rather than

an impersonal chat over the telephone with someone you’ll probably never meet. As Ivan Ortego, Expatriate’s Experience Director at Liberty Seguros explains: “We endeavour to provide the best insurance at the best price, so our customers are covered for as many eventualities as possible. “Like every insurer, there is some small print as the saying goes, but we like to keep this to a bare minimum to ensure our customers have not had the ‘wool

pulled over their eyes’ so to speak, and to be as transparent as possible. “Our brokers/agents can explain this type of detail at the time of contracting the policy in their offices.” Liberty Seguros not only covers your main insurance needs for car and home, but also provides life cover, marine, commercial (office and industrial), pet, leisure, like golf and other pastimes and sports, personal and public liability too. Their advertising cam-

paign sums up their philosophy: Better care, better cover, better insurance from the market leader. To contract insurance from Liberty Seguros, you can telephone 902 255 258 for an instant quote and the name of your nearest broker/agent or visit www.lib ertyexpatriates.es. Alternatively, if you know where your nearest broker is, go along and be sure of a great reception and all the help you need.

Lluc), La Caixa (street Bisble Llompart) and Estheticians Inma. Antonia said this to me, “I would like you to imagine for a few seconds, one day it happens in Mallorca that you and your family have to put your whole life into a backpack and leave your country, your home, not knowing where you’ll end up, what will be your destination. People look at you with suspicion, as if you had rabies, when you all you want is to have a decent life. “You lived happily in your town or city, but that circumstances beyond your person have forced you to leave or if you stayed you could die at any time. Reflect and be kind, bring your heart to the situation.” There is no time to waste. Please take your donations as soon as you can or you can contact Antonia at trigueroartesanos@gmail.com.

TIME OUT

17 - 23 March 2016 / Mallorca

www.euroweeklynews.com

Famous quote

This week

MADDOCKS’ VIEW ON LIFE

‘

The old believe everything, the middle-aged suspect everything, the young know everything.” Oscar Wilde

in history 37, The Roman Senate annuls Tiberius’ will and proclaims Caligula emperor. 1413, Henry IV of England is succeed by his son Henry V. 1556, Thomas Cranmer, the Archbishop of Canterbury, is burned at the stake at Oxford. 1657, France and England form an alliance against Spain. 1702, On the death of William III of Orange, Anne Stuart, succeeds to the throne of England. 1776, British forces evacuate from Boston to Nova Scotia. 1891, The British steamer Utopia sinks off the coast of Gibraltar. 1913, Greek King George I is killed by an assassin. Constantine I is to succeed. 1918, The Germans launch the ‘Michael’ offensive, remembered as the First Battle of the Somme. 1922, Mahatma Gandhi is sentenced to six years in prison for civil disobedience in India. 1930, Mob boss Al Capone is released from jail. 1932, The German dirigible, Graf Zepplin, makes the first flight to South America. 1935, Persia is renamed Iran. 1959, The 14th Dalai Lama flees Tibet and goes to India. 1963, Alcatraz Island, the federal penitentiary in San Francisco Bay, California, closes. 1986, Buckingham Palace announces the engagement of Prince Andrew to Sarah Ferguson.

Women’s wit

‘

People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel. Maya Angelou FOTO Credit J Stone / Shutterstock

World of English

‘

Knowledge is knowing it’s a one way street. Wisdom is looking both ways anyway.

‘DADDY - PATRICK’S BEEN AT THE FAIRY LIQUID AGAIN!’

Kakuro

for next 7 days

Mallorca

weather

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

TODAY ALCUDIA

POLLENÇA

CALA MILLOR

INCA

CALVIA

CALA d’OR

PALMA ANDRATX

LLUCMAJOR MAGALLUF

TOMORROW ALCUDIA

POLLENÇA

CALA MILLOR

INCA

CALVIA

CALA d’OR

PALMA ANDRATX

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

LLUCMAJOR MAGALLUF

CLEAR MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

16 11 C 17 11 C 17 11 Sh

Benidorm MAX 16C, MIN 11C Mon - 18 11 Sh Tues - 18 11 C Wed - 19 12 S

SUNNY MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

17 12 C 18 11 C 17 11 Cl

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

Fri Sat Sun -

16 9 C 17 9 S 17 11 C S Sun,

MAX MIN

Mon - 17 7 Sh Tues - 14 6 C Wed - 14 7 C

16 5 Cl 19 7 C 18 7 Sh

Madrid

SHOWERS MAX 13C, MIN 10C MAX MIN

MAX MIN

Mon - 17 11 C Tues - 17 10 C Wed - 17 11 S Cl Clear,

TODAY:

Fog,

TODAY:

CLOUDY MAX 16C, MIN 6C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

17 6 C 17 6 Cl 19 7 Cl

CLEAR

MAX 16C, MIN 4C

15 6 C 15 6 Sh 16 6 Sh C Cloudy,

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 16 5 C Tues - 16 4 Cl Wed - 16 4 S

MAX MIN

Mon - 18 8 Cl Tues - 16 8 Sh Wed - 16 8 Cl

Sh Showers,

CLEAR MAX 18C, MIN 11C MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

18 9 C 19 9 C 19 10 Sh Sn Snow,

UK THUNDERBALL

IRISH LOTTO

Saturday March 12

EURO MILLIONS

LA PRIMITIVA

EL GORDO DE LA PRIMITIVA

MAX MIN

Mon - 19 9 Sh Tues - 21 10 C Wed - 21 11 S

Murcia

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

18 12 C 17 9 Sh 19 9 C

Mallorca SHOWERS MAX 12C, MIN 2C

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

UK NATIONAL LOTTERY

SUNNY MAX 22C, MIN 12C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 16 12 Sh Tues - 16 12 Sh Wed - 17 12 S

15 11 C 16 12 C 16 12 Sh

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Barcelona TODAY:

MAX MIN

Fri Sat Sun -

Bilbao

Almeria TODAY:

Malaga

SUNNY MAX 15C, MIN 11C

TODAY:

MAX MIN

Mon - 21 10 Sh Tues - 21 10 C Wed - 22 11 Cl Th Thunder

LOTTERY

Alicante TODAY:

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Saturday March 12

Friday March 11

9 30

Saturday March 12

Sunday March 13

21 23

BONUS BALL

THUNDERBALL

BONUS BALL

LUCKY STARS

REINTEGRO

E W N 17 - 23 March 2016 / Mallorca

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Funagram

Just Joking

Unscramble the name of a famous city in Canada: LOAN TERM

Director: Tom Hooper Distributor: Focus Features Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Alicia Vikander, Ben Whishaw, Sebastian Koch, Amber Heard and Matthias Schoenaerts.

Unscramble the name of a current Premier League football club: ACCEPT ALL RAYS

Hexagram

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

CARTEL DESIRE DUPLEX JUMBLE MANTIS (10) METEOR NEEDLE NUANCE ORACLE PIGEON

THE remarkable love story inspired by the lives of artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener (portrayed by Academy Award winner Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) and Alicia Vikander (Ex Machina), directed by Academy Award winner Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech and Les Misérables). Lili and Gerda’s marriage and work evolve as they navigate Lili’s ground-breaking journey as a transgender pioneer.

Pablo Espinosa, Actor. March 10 Striker known as El Niño, he became one of the first ever players to win the Champions League, Europa League, World Cup and European League championships; played for Liverpool from 2007 to 2011 before joining Chelsea.

• Kurt Russell, Actor, March 17, 65 Long term partner of Goldie Hawn, and child star who became an actor in action films and comedies, such as Escape From New York, The Thing, and Vanilla Sky. He also played roles in Forrest Gump, Tequila Sunrise, The Thing, and Furious 7. • Charley Pride, Country Singer, March 18, 78 American country singer who is responsible for over 30 number 1 singles, including ‘All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)’ and ‘I’m Just Me.’ • Bruce Willis, Actor, March 19, 61 Movie star who won the People’s Choice Award for his role in the 1999 suspense film The Sixth Sense. His other well-known films include the Die Hard series, Pulp Fiction, and Sin City. • Timothy Dalton, Actor, March 21, 72 He played James Bond in the 1987 film, The Living Daylights, and in the 1989 film, Licence to Kill. His other major role took place in The Tourist, a film that grossed over €270 million. • Andrew Lloyd Webber, Composer, March 22, 68 Legendary showman and musical theatre impresario, known for ‘Cats,’ ‘The Phantom of the Opera,’ and ‘Jesus Christ Superstar.’ He was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and is a fellow of the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. •Mo Farah, Runner, March 23, 33. Long-distance runner who won the 10,000 meter and 5,000 meter races at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

RABIES RELATE RENTAL SEXTON STRING TELLER TIMBRE TWENTY VALUED

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION 1 Cheery 2 Diaper 3 Gyrate 4 Cactus 5 Detent 6 Corral 7 Italic 8 Linear 9 Titian 10 Annual 11 Loaves 12 Allied 13 Bluish 14 Pander 15 Menial 16 Behest 17 Entire 18 Member 19 Teethe

YOUR STARS ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Awkward situations usually bring out the best in you and this week proves that. In the longer term, you will be grateful to those making things difficult now. TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) Get out in the fresh air as much as possible and be kind to your body. You may have neglected yourself because you have been such a busy bee of late. What about a trip to the seaside or a walk in the hills? Maybe a trip to the local cocktail bar is more your style! Whatever puts a spring in your step will be good. GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) A fleeting meeting stirs feelings that you thought were dead. This could be good if it reminds you of how life can be, or bad if it makes you think of missed opportunities. It is never too late to make a fresh start. Why not go on that painting holiday or stamp-collecting weekend? Pole dancing anyone?

PISCES

(February 20 - March 20)

Are things going swimmingly? Good. Maybe you had forgotten how to have real fun. Remember when you were a child? Life was so simple. Relax and be that child again. If some old fogey accuses you of being silly, feel sorry for them. dealt a rough hand? Consider this: there are some who are not dealt a hand at all. Many are missing those few cards that mean they are never really in with a chance. Instead of lurking on the shady side, walk out into the sun. You will soon see the bright side. VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) A chance remark opens a can of worms. Trying to get them back in could turn out to be very messy. We all open our mouth and put our foot in it sometime. However, overreacting won't help. You will need help with something this week.

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) Someone really has rattled your tree, but try to refrain from throwing coconuts on their head. It is much more effective to be charming and get them confused.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) Someone who is usually quite the opposite to you will surprise with an offer. Although you are naturally suspicious, give them the benefit of the doubt. Leopards do not change their spots but they are capable of behaving for the bigger good.

LEO (July 24 - August 23) Are you feeling that you have been

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) An intimate meeting is less exciting

EURO WEEKLY’S SPACE FOR YOU TO TAKE A BREA

10-Star Quiz

I went to the zoo the other day, there was only one dog in it… it was a shitzu.

FUNAGRAM SOLUTION: MONTREAL, CRYSTAL PALACE.

The Danish Girl

TIME

than anticipated. This should not bother you because time could yet change that. You need to be in the right place at the right time, so don't give up hope, just have a little patience. A change of plans will be more beneficial than irksome, at least in the longer term. SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) While counting your pennies, also count your blessings. Money can be a big problem or merely an irritation but the lack of it must be kept in perspective. You are right to think twice about accepting something that seems to be for nothing.

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) The goat in you is keen to find pastures new. It isn't a nibble that is needed at the moment, but a feast. Accepting anything less would be a mistake because someone is watching your reaction to an offer. If you feel unsure of your worth, then ask a few trusted friends. AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) Don't allow an open-ended offer to muddle your mind. There is no need for an immediate decision and this may be too soon for a positive move. A sense of urgency may be put down to practical reasons when, in fact, it is no such thing. A feeling of insecurity is more likely to be the trigger to uncertainty.

ST PATRICK’S DAY 1. Founded in 1936, what is the name of the national flag carrier airline of Ireland? 2. How many times has Ireland won the Eurovision Song Contest? 3. Located in County Kerry, what are Carrauntoohil, Beenkeragh and Caher? 4. What was the Roman/Classical Latin name for the island of Ireland? 5. What was the title of the 1972 Wings’ single that was banned by the BBC, Radio Luxembourg and the Independent Television Authority? 6. Which Dublin-born professional golfer has won three major championships: The Open Championship in 2007 and 2008 and the PGA Championship, also in 2008? 7. Which famous racehorse was kidnapped from the Ballymany Stud, near The Curragh Racecourse in County Kildare by masked gunmen on February 8, 1983 and was never seen again? 8. Which is the largest and southernmost county in Ireland? 9. Who served as the seventh, and first female, president of Ireland from 1990 to 1997? 10. With which branch of the performing arts would you principally associate Dame Ninette de Valois, who was born near the town of Blessington, County Wicklow on June 6, 1898 and christened Edris Stannus? Answers 1. AER LINGUS, 2. SEVEN (1970, 1980, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1996), 3. The highest PEAKS/MOUNTAINS in Ireland, 4. HIBERNIA, 5. GIVE IRELAND BACK TO THE IRISH, 6. PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON, 7. SHERGAR, 8. CORK, 9. MARY ROBINSON, 10. BALLET/DANCE

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

TARGET: • Average: 5 • Good: 6 • Very good: 9 • Excellent: 12

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION agar amir aria carp cart crag cram girt gram grim grip grit marc mart pair para part pram prat prig prim raga ramp rapt rata tarp tram trap trig trim trip acari apart atria atrip carat carpi cigar cramp crimp maria prima raita tapir tiara tramp agaric amrita armpit impart tarmac tragic PRAGMATIC

SOUND OF THE WEEK If I Can Dream by Elvis Presley THIS studio album featuring input from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and duets with Michael Buble was released at the tail end of last year and officially gave The King a 12th UK number one album. It was released to commemorate his 80th birthday and remixes classics including ‘Love Me Tender’ and ‘In the Ghetto.’

OUT Crossword

17 - 23 March 2016 / Mallorca

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

Quick

Cryptic

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

CRYPTIC Across: 1 Lesson, 4 Habits, 9 Glade, 10 Anemone, 11 Operates, 12 Ease, 14 Stable, 16 Census, 19 Scat, 20 Valencia, 23 Agitate, 24 Apart, 25 Seemed, 26 Better.

Across 1 Stands up to corrupt sisters (7) 4 Obscure second class king (5) 7 Vessel from Riga or Tallin (5) 9 Ring around after tea is a disappointment (7) 10 Stark true sea setting (7) 11 A lighter shove (5) 12 Needs rebuilding, being compact (5) 14 Started back in the drainage business (5) 19 Exchange employment (5) 21 Credit a score (7) 23 Daft ideas to get hangers-on (7) 24 Ham in Home Counties is a disgrace (5) 25 Vegetable discovered in packages we delivered (5) 26 Doubt American party leader is in a religious cult (7)

Down: 1 Legions, 2 Scale, 3 Operable, 5 Aden, 6 Isobars, 7 Suede, 8 Cameo, 13 Generate, 15 Avarice, 17 Scatter, 18 Camel, 19 Snaps, 21 Craft, 22 Mate.

QUICK Across:

Down 1 President George in new arena (6) 2 Pole is put at risk (5) 3 Small bag of cash excited alien (6) 4 Wander after a bighead to the prickly shrub (7) 5 Cyber-terrorist admits slip-up (5) 6 A flipping tenner for curdle milk (6)

Code Breaker

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8 Is roe is cooked for her? (5) 13 Let sire become unprofitable (7) 15 Girl from German-Italian background (5) 16 Figures losing key reputation (6) 17 Services for the general public (6) 18 Take off rested replacement (6) 20 Saw a US Democrat grow old (5) 22 Scots change prices (5)

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 2 represents J and 14 represents H, so fill in J every time the figure 2 appears and H every time the figure 14 appears. Now, using your knowledge of the English language, work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you discover the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.

Across 1 Serpents (6) 4 Red or green fruits (6) 9 Keen (5) 10 Depository (7) 11 Slide (4) 12 Cellar (8) 13 Deceitful (5) 15 Fox’s tail (5) 18 Cherished desire (8) 21 Containers (4) 24 Real (7) 25 Apart from (5) 26 Leave a post voluntarily (6) 27 Association of teams (6) Down 1 Outbuildings (5)

2 Irritatedly (7) 3 Gain income (4) 5 Early settler (7) 6 Depart (5) 7 Candies (6) 8 Largest continent (4) 12/15 Famous London clock tower and bell (3,3) 14 Not any thing (7) 15 See 12 16 Apportioning (7) 17 Peril (6) 19 Stoops (5) 20 Do what one is told (4) 22 View (5) 23 Sport of any kind (4)

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

1 Scruff, 4 Parted, 7 Enjoyable, 9 Inns, 10 Exit, 11 Cruel, 13 Errors, 14 Richer, 15 Speech, 17 Stings, 19 Keeps, 20 Omit, 22 Hero, 23 Completed, 24 Raised, 25 Dreams. Down: 1 Shrine, 2 Urns, 3 Floors, 4 Prayer, 5 Rule, 6 Doctor, 7 Energetic, 8 Exchanged, 11 Crack, 12 Lifts, 15 Slower, 16 Helped, 17 Spread, 18 Shouts, 21 Toys, 22 Here.

ENGLISHSPANISH Across: 1 Throat, 3 Knot, 7 Yes, 9 Delgado, 10 Tenedores, 13 Cosecha, 14 Tia, 15 Tuna, 16 Harina. Down: 1 Toys, 2 Audience, 4 Nearest, 5 Tool, 6 Almohada, 8 Stepson, 11 Scot, 12 Taza.

CODE BREAKER

Across 1 Vapor (de agua) (5) 4 Cangrejos (de mar) (5) 7 To be born (5) 8 Cream (for face, shoes etc) (5) 9 Hielo (3) 10 Gota (de líquido) (4) 11 Route (4) 13 Gold (metal, commodity, currency) (3) 15 Carreteras (5) 16 Long (dress, hair) (5)

17 Proyectos (5) 18 Sleep (5) Down 1 Arena (tierra) (4) 2 Scarlet (9) 3 Butterflies (insects) (9) 4 Saucepans (9) 5 To have a shave (9) 6 Cicatriz (4) 12 Trampa (para cazar) (4) 14 Well (for water) (4)

E W N 17 - 23 March 2016 / Mallorca

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Playing to the Edge

American Intelligence in the Age of Terror by Michael V. Hayden AN unprecedented high-level master narrative of America’s intelligence wars, from the only person ever to helm both CIA and NSA, at a time of heinous new threats and wrenching change For General Michael Hayden, playing to the edge means playing so close to the line that you get chalk dust on your cleats. Otherwise, by playing back, you may protect yourself, but you will be less successful in protecting America. ‘Play to the edge’ was Hayden’s guiding principle when he ran the National Security Agency, and it remained so when he ran CIA. In his view, many shortsighted and uninformed people are quick to criticise, and this book will give them much to chew on, but little easy comfort; it is an unapologetic insider’s look told from the perspective of the people who faced awesome responsibilities head on, in the moment. books@euroweeklynews.com

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Things you should know about Holy Week

HOLY WEEK in Spain is one of the most important celebrations of the year. It is a religious commemoration for which an enormous range of artistic wealth has been created. The passion of Christ is celebrated intensely throughout the Spanish territory but it is in Andalucia where it takes on a greater meaning. Here are 10 things you should know about Holy Week: 1. The images on the streets The main attraction of Holy Week in Spain is the processions. The images kept by the churches during the year are taken out on a tour, mounted on beautiful floats and accompanied by attractive floral embellishments. Images of Virgins, Christ, crucifixions or Nazarenos, among others, represent the Passion and death of Jesus of Nazareth. 2. ‘Mantilla’ women One of the most widely-seen figures in Holy Week is that of women who wear mantillas during the procession, a traditional Spanish veil which is most-often used on the days of the Passion of Christ to show mourning and pain. A black dress, a sign of respect, is accompanied by a mantilla of the same colour. It consists of a kind of high comb called a peineta which is covered with a lace veil. 3. Nazarenos Nazarenos are adherents of different religious brotherhoods that accompany their images in procession. Their outfit is none other than a robe and cape accompanied by a capirote, a type of conical hat that, in most cases, covers the face. Also known as penitents, they are responsible walking in front of the images holding candles and incense. 4. The saeta Undoubtedly one of the most significant cultural events of Holy Week is the singing of saetas to images that are being paraded. This is a type of traditional religious singing which takes place during these days of Passion and resembles flamenco. The saetero has to have a strong

Sudoku

App of the Week Smartphones can save you money, if you let them. APPS comparing the prices of meals, plane tickets, insurance and more are well established on the app stores now, as are apps with more specific methods of saving you a few pounds, Hotel Tonight on Android and iOS being one. A growing number of frequent travellers are leaving it later and later to book their hotels - in fact, to the day they arrive in a city. Hotel Tonight is one of the apps spurring this behaviour: negotiating discounts for last-minute room bookings.

Play on Words IMAGES: Are taken on a tour of the streets. and powerful voice which is filled with emotion as it is sung without musical accompaniment and is aimed towards the image. The throne stops or slows down during the saeta.

dressing as Romans and others as Jews in the streets. The arrest, trial, scourging, the carrying of the cross and the crucifixion are some of the biblical episodes that take in the street scene.

5. Wax and the smell of incense One of the features which tell us that we are in Holy Week in Spain is the smell of incense and wax residue on the streets. Smaller children especially enjoy this time of year and, during the procession, it is very common to see them walking behind the Nazarenos collecting the falling melted wax, pushing it into large balls.

8. The candle Churches also have an important role within the Spanish Holy Week, especially on Holy Thursday night. This is the moment when ‘the candle’ is lit for the Lord. This is a special wake where the faithful accompany the image of Christ overnight in the temple. During this time there is silence, interrupted only slightly by the murmur of prayers.

6. The bands Every float and procession includes its own musical accompaniment. Throughout the year, bands rehearse the traditional Holy Week melodies giving them a sad sound. Trumpets and drums are the instruments most commonly used. This is very important for all of the processions except those known as ‘silent.’ On those, you will only hear the Nazarenos’ footsteps and the noise of moving floats. They are very solemn processions which demand great respect. 7. Performances Processions are not the only cultural and religious event that takes place during Holy Week. The Passion and death of Christ are also often acted out with some

@66 77

THE BEYOND

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

9. The vigil The Spanish Holy Week is accompanied by another series of demonstrations and religious customs. One is that of the ‘vigil,’ which consists of abstaining from eating meat on Good Friday as a sign of respect for the death of Jesus on the cross. 10. Sweets Easter is closely linked to the preparation of pastries which are different from the rest of the year. Torrijas are one of these traditional sweets, made with toast soaked in milk and honey, dipped in egg and fried. Petiños and buñuelos can be found in every house. If you come to Spain during Holy Week, you simply must try these great-tasting snacks.

TARGET: • Average: 29 • Good: 40 • Very good: 58 • Excellent: 76

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

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION renal real rave raven ravel elan earn learn lean leave leaven lane luau near nave navel unholy eulogy evoke vale value vane vault venal veal vole volt hula hove hovel hole holy home tune tuner tuna tear teal lunar lute levee love oval ovule oven ogle even evener glue glut glen glean glove move mole molt molten meek

Word Ladder SOFT

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

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

TIME OUT

BOWL BACK

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

SOFT SOOT FOOT FOOL FOWL BOWL

TOP 10

BOOKS

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E W N 17 - 23 March 2016 / Mallorca

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OPINION & COMMENT

The illusion of time

OUR VIEW Photo Credit Ollyy Shutterstock

UNTIL we acquired a diminutive drawing some years ago, I had no idea what it meant 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.

IN one of our guest bedrooms, amongst the various framed landscapes and priceless Picassos hanging on the wall, there is a small unprepossessing pencil drawing of an ancient thatched cottage. This was the house that we were fortunate enough to live in for 30 years. I often study the little drawing as I go about my housemaid duties, and as evocative as the unsigned sketch of that chocolate box cottage is, it’s the legend in red ink at the bottom of the picture that invariably captures my imagination. Wickhambrook 27/6/53, it states. June 27 of that year was a Saturday. I checked.

LANDSCAPES: Some people like to capture local scenes in their spare time. An unknown artist decided to plonk himself down across the narrow lane from a cottage known then as ‘Grimwoods’, and sketch away. Perhaps it was a one-

off impulse by a passing amateur enthusiast, or maybe a villager who simply liked to capture local scenes in their spare time. It may even have been one

of the Grimwood clan who were the owners back then. We will never know. But as the artist picked up his pencil, a very young boy, as skinny as a vegetarian’s

toothpick and wearing baggy, short grey trousers, was probably playing in the back garden on a council estate in Berkshire. Totally ignorant even of a place called Wickhambrook, he was oblivious to the artist, as indeed the artist would have been to him, and yet many years later that boy and his wife would be the owners of ‘Cuttbush’ - formerly ‘Grimwoods’ - and would spend three happy decades of their lives there. There is a philosophical school of thought that time is an illusion, but until we acquired this diminutive drawing some years ago from a junk shop many miles away in Stamford, I had no idea what that meant. But as I look at the picture and imagine the pencil strokes being applied, I also think of that grubby little boy and the invisible silver cord that even then linked him and that unknown Suffolk artist.

Tennis player could lose fortune Photo Credit Porsche Motor Company

MARIA SHARAPOVA failed a drug test after the Australian Open John Smith Random thoughts... TENNIS pin-up, Russian-born Maria Sharapova is said to have earned €27 million during 2015 from a combination of prize winnings and endorsements, but now her world has changed dramatically following revelations that she has failed a drug test after the Australian Open championship. Her three biggest sponsors, Nike, Tag Heuer and Porsche have immediately reacted with Nike suspending their relationship, Tag Heuer cancelling theirs and Porsche for whom she became the first female ambassador, considering their situation although their contract with her is due to expire by the end of 2016 and may simply not be renewed. In 2010, the 28-year-old tennis player signed a new eight-year contract with the US sportswear giant Nike, worth €64 million as well as a percentage on sales of her own

MARIA SHARAPOVA: May lose more sponsorship deals. branded clothes and in the case of Porsche, she has access to one of their cars for personal use. She also has contracts with Avon perfume, Luck, and the water company Evian. Ms Sharapova has said she had

been taking the drug meldonium since 2006, on the advice of her family doctor although it was prescribed under a different name and she was not aware that the particular drug had joined a banned list at

VIEWS: Very interesting.

Reader’s comments WE love to hear from our readers, both for the letters page and with comments that appear on the website. What is very interesting is trying to gauge who takes the trouble of posting an opinion, and what topics they are most interested in, using a totally unscientific method, we have come to a conclusion which is probably correct this week and will have changed by the next. Men outnumber women almost exclusively when commenting about matters of a political nature, and they certainly can enter into very long and argumentative tracts between each other with some regulars having almost daily disagreements. What is nice about this, provided they don’t get too personal, is that their opinions often irritate others so much they have to join in, which shows the reach of the website. Turning to women and trying not to be either condescending or promoting stereotypes, it’s animals that inspire comment. A damaged donkey, a bullied bull, a traumatised turkey or any other animal that has been mistreated is guaranteed to bring comments, all understandably in favour of the animal and against humanity’s cruelty to them. Whereas men seem to like entering into sparring matches with each other, women generally appear to be content to make a simple statement of belief and then leave the matter. As we said at the beginning, these are our general findings and we love to see comments of any kind as long as they are legal and decent about the wide range of stories we write, and welcome opinions on any topics our readers might like to see covered in the future.

the beginning of 2016. She has, however, admitted that she was foolish not to realise what she was doing and can blame no one other than herself. She will clearly hope that the matter can be resolved as quickly as possible, and that she receives a warning rather than a lengthy ban, although no doubt she has sufficient funds in reserve to allow her to continue to lead a comfortable life. Whereas in the past, sponsors may have taken a less dramatic view of what could have been a simple if potentially expensive error, the pressures of social media, the speed in which information flows around the world, and the number of recent stories concerning drugs in sport have all conspired to panic them. It does however bring into question whether this type of expenditure by large corporations is money well Now we spent, and in the case of Nike, the want to number of complaints that have been hear your views. received about the poor conditions and pay of third party Asian YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE workers seems to gather less - YOUR OPINION publicity than the suspending of www.euroweeklynews.com one photogenic tennis player.

E W N Mallorca

17 - 23 March 2016

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Endless crunches and sit-ups, yet no results?

BEAUTY

Ask The Doctor

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The problem of shaky hands

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IT doesn’t take long to complete these simple exercises, in or out of the gym

HEALTH

FitFoxy Looking Good, Staying Trim

TIP 1. Beautifully sculpted abs are made in the kitchen – diet is everything. How you go about obtaining an attractive toned midsection is going to determine how successful you are at achieving your desired result. In the past 1,000 situps every morning was supposedly the way to go. However if you are still consuming far too many calories the beautiful sculpted torso you were hoping to create is actually probably there, unfortunately it happens to be buried under too much stomach fat to be visible. TIP 2. There are 100’s of different ways to stimulate your abs & core section Think about incorporating different core exercises into your session.

ed by your hand at the top of the movement. This way the core is dealing with the weight of the legs and also avoiding the doming look of the abdominals that crunches create. Look at it this way, you want to create a flat abdominal look not a domed sticky out abdominal look right?

Flat Ab Lifts I am not a huge fan of traditional crunches, if I do any mat abdominal work, it normally involves straight legs/feet to the floor raising them up alternatively one at a time under control slowly to meet your shoulders guid-

Standing Alternating Knee Raises Stand facing the mirror, get your balance and raise your left knee up to your chest and then out to the side, without allowing it to drop down, now do the other side. Alternate to the other

SPECIALIST: Doctor Luis Perez Belmonte.

CORE EXERCISES: Incorporate different ones into your session. leg and repeat for 30-40 reps.

protect your back. Repeat in the other direction.

Core Rotations One of my favourites and can be done with a dumbbell, a weight plate, a medicine ball or the TRX cable. Facing the mirror, take a dumb-bell or weight plate at a weight you can cope with for up to 20 reps each way. Hold the weight in front of you with bent arms and slowly rotate it to right over your head making a halo shape, bring it back to the front and repeat slowly and under control. Keep your hips facing the mirror and your knees slightly soft to

Four Way Plank Come on.. There had to be a plank in there somewhere!! Drop down onto elbows, ensuring you are in a perfect plank position alternate right and left knee to elbow in a slow controlled movement for 30 reps, rotate onto your right side and hold for 30 seconds, now raise onto your hands straight arms, rotate until chest is to ceiling finger tips face forward and hold for 30 seconds, now go to your left side and finish with 30 seconds.. Repeat Once More.

Increase in antidepressant use THE World Health Organisation (WHO) has said the increase in the number of young people being prescribed antidepressants is ‘concerning.’ Research has shown the number of children being given the drugs increased by more than 50 per cent between 2005 and 2012. Usage in Britain fell in 2004 following a warning antidepressants could lead to suicidal behaviour in young people, but now a study suggests there has been a resurgence in the UK as well

50% is the increase in the number of children being given the drugs

as in the US and across Europe. The study looked at patterns of antidepressant use in children and teenagers

from five western countries between 2005 and 2012. It showed a 54 per cent increase in the number of young people prescribed antidepressants in the UK. Denmark had a 60 per cent rise, 49 per cent in Germany, 26 per cent in the US and 17 per cent in the Netherlands. Some doctors have blamed the long waiting lists for psychological therapies for the increase in drug prescription saying it is sometimes the only option GPs have to support and help patients.

Dear Doctor, For a while now I’ve noticed my hands are shaking quite a lot and am worried. I’m a 62-year-old woman and I had never had this problem before. Why could it be? There are many possible causes of shaky hands including from vitamin and/or mineral deficiencies, joint or nerve problems, depression or anxiety, etc. It’s hard to pinpoint a cause as many illnesses can cause your hands to shake. Could it be something serious? That depends on the cause but it could be a sign of something serious, therefore it should be checked out, especially if other symptoms appear which could help pinpoint the cause. Should I see my doctor, or is it just a normal part of aging? You should see your doctor, who should give you a

complete check-up including blood tests and, depending on other symptoms and how your condition progresses may decide further tests are necessary to make a diagnosis. Is there anything I can do to improve it myself? That will depend on the cause. Generally it is due to a vitamin or iron deficiency, meaning usually a correct diet and supplements can help improve the problem. However sometimes it can be more complicated. Will I need medication? This also depends on the underlying cause. Some illnesses which cause shaky hands require medication to help reduce or eliminate this and other symptoms.

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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Half of women have dieted in last year says research RESEARCHERS found that when dieting women ate an average of 944 calories compared to 660 after exercise

OVER half of all women have tried to lose weight over the past year. Research by retail analysts Mintel found that 57 per cent of women admitted to dieting, compared to 39 per cent of men. The survey found that one in three women are unaware of how many calories they eat. Among those who do know, a third said they ate more than the recommended 2,000 a day. However, denying yourself food may not be the best thing to try and lose weight. Scientists at Loughborough University (UK) found that women who created an ‘energy deficit’ through calorie restriction, rather than by working out, ate around 40 per cent more at a buffet dinner than those who exercised. The team discovered that levels of the ‘hunger hormone’ increase in women who

Photo by Shutterstock

By Gemma Quinn

DENYING YOURSELF: May not be the best way to try and lose weight.

Photo by Shutterstock

Make-up dangers

TEENAGE GIRLS: Certain make-up products can disrupt hormone levels. CHEMICALS found in certain make-up products, shampoos and lotions could disrupt hormone levels in teenage girls. Scientists have warned that this disruption increases the risks of cancer and other illnesses later in life. Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, (USA) focused their study on teenage girls as they ‘use more personal care products per day than the average adult woman.’ For three days, the study’s 100 teenage participants stopped using their regular cosmetics and were provided with cosmet-

ics labelled free of chemicals; including phthalates, parabens, triclosan and oxybenzone; all chemicals thought to affect changes of hormone levels within young women. After just three days of not using their regular products, their dangerous chemical levels dropped by 45 per cent. Study co-author Maritza Cardenas, said: “One of the goals of our study was to create awareness among the participants of the chemicals found in everyday products, to help make people more conscious about what they’re using.”

Good news for hayfever sufferers THIS spring is expected to have lower pollen levels than normal due to the lack of rain and constant changes in climate, with warm and cold periods. Head of the Clinical Management Unit of Allergies of the Regional Hospital of Malaga, Maria Jose Torres, said they were not expected to have much pollen “unless it starts raining” although it was possible there may be some “isolated cases.” The hay fever and allergies period begins with spring when temperatures rise, but this year, due to the changes in climate and warmer than normal winter, Torres admits: “It is difficult to know when the period of allergies will start.”

Level of ‘hunger hormone’ increased in women who denied themselves food. deny themselves food, making it harder not to give in to temptation and turn down that slice of cake. The study looked at 12 women who restricted their diets by around 836 calories before being presented with a buffet dinner. On another occasion, they burnt the same energy on a treadmill before having the buffet. Researchers found that when they were dieting, the women ate an average of 944 calories, compared with only 660 after exercise. These findings contradict previous studies suggesting that exercise makes people more hungry.

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MARIANO RAJOY: His vocabulary had an aroma of mothballs no longer appreciated even inside his own party.

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OPINION & COMMENT

Plain speaking RAJOY’S investiture speak was practically unintelligible to the under-60s Cassandra Nash A weekly look - and not entirely impartial reaction to the Spanish political scene

ACTING President Mariano Rajoy’s vocabulary in his investiture speeches was practically unintelligible to the under-60s. The young speak a different language and Rajoy’s vocabulary had an aroma of mothballs no longer appreciated even inside his own party. According to Metroscopia’s post-investiture poll, 47 per cent of Partido Popular voters believe that Rajoy’s day is over at the head of the party. So, doubtless, do the party decision-makers, who hesitate to spell out what is now obvious to everyone except Rajoy. Kiko Jimenez / Shutterstock.com

Ego-tripper trips up PODEMOS has external problems. Fifty per cent of Podemos voters disapproved of Pablo Iglesias’ refusal to at least abstain during Pedro Sanchez’s second investiture vote. If called to vote in another election, the countless Podemos supporters who have been poached from the PSOE might find it hard to forgive Iglesias for short-circuiting the opportunity of evicting Rajoy.

Out of order PODEMOS has internal problems too, that could turn out to require surgery. Nine party highrankers resigned in Madrid and others are jockeying for power in the Basque Region, La Rioja, Galicia and Cantabria. If the nomenclature - dare we label them with that old Soviet term

for the political caste? - are proving unruly, Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias has an even greater problem with Ada Colau. The mayor of Barcelona has plans for her own party outside the Podemos structure, and would presumably scoop up Podemos votes in Cataluña. If Iglesias wants a second general election, as he appeared to demonstrate by rejecting all PSOE and CS inducements to dialogue, he’d better get his troops in line.

Miles apart WHEN referring to Pablo Iglesias in the media, PSOE commentators have taken to calling him Pablo Manuel Iglesias to differentiate between him and the Pablo Iglesias who founded the PSOE in 1879. This self-taught printer lacked the Podemos leader’s academic background, but his aspirations and hopes were for others. The same cannot be said of Iglesias, whose crocodile smile does not mask his ambition for personal power.

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Nomads Theatre group are looking for suggestions and ideas for venues Credit: photos by Benjamin Grimley

NOMADS would like to extend a big thank you to all of the members and audiences who have supported the group By Sandra Galo ON April 4, NOMADS Theatre group in Alcudia will celebrate 15 years of bringing entertaining shows to the island of Mallorca. The group which tries to produce at least one show per year (usually a pantomime at Christmas time), has also staged various other productions over the years including The Killing of Sister George, Educating Rita and a very dark and brilliant version of A Christmas Carol. Last year, the group performed Come Dine with Me, a series of party pieces which proved to be very funny. Over the years, NOMADS has gradually become a Panto group mounting Christmas shows for the past 10 years. The group, however, would like to be able to continue with more plays and

SHOW TIME: Giving enjoyable and fun performances. CAST: NOMADS keep audiences entertained. revues to raise more funds to help those less fortunate as all profits from the productions go to local or national charities.

Last year’s panto was a very successful adaptation of The Wizard of Oz entitled Over the Rainbow and last month’s production of The Sound of Nomads managed to surpass all expectations.

The great comments and reviews received have given the group the idea to try and put on a production of The Sound of Nomads in the south of the island. The group would appreciate any suggestions and ideas of venues. NOMADS would like to extend a big thank you to all of the members and audiences who have supported the

group so well over the years and hopes they have enjoyed the hard work that the cast and backstage crew have done to give such enjoyable and fun performances. For any queries or offers of advice, suggestions or for donations, please contact the group’s secretary, Jan Shrimpton at 627 293 273.

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SOCIAL SCENE

Moscow Ballet at Palma Auditorium THE ballet and Tchaikovsky’s spectacular music is sure to please audiences of all ages in this performance

PALMA AUDITORIUM: The Moscow Ballet will perform Swan Lake and Giselle in April.

Archaeological Museum free day on the last Sunday of each month THE Archaeological Museum of Son Fornes in Montuiri holds an open day on the last Sunday of each month from 10am to 2pm. The museum is located in an 18th-century flour mill and exhibits findings from the archaeological site a little more than two miles from the town. The exhibition covers the talayotic, post-talayotic, classic and medieval time periods. The Museum of Son Fornes is located at Moli d’en Fraret, C/Emili Pou in Montuiri. Visit the website at www.son fornes.mallorca.museum.

Flickr by HugoFrings

SWAN LAKE and Giselle will be performed by the Moscow Ballet at the Palma Auditorium on April 16 and 17 respectively. One of the most spellbinding ballets of all time, Swan Lake can be enjoyed at the Auditorium on the evening of April 16 starting at 9pm. The ballet and Tchaikovsky’s spectacular music is sure to please audiences of all ages in this performance of the most celebrated ballets in the history of dance. Giselle, a masterpiece of romantic ballet that exhibits the best pieces of classical ballet, has been seen around the world. Giselle is considered a masterpiece of romanticism and will be performed in Mallorca for the first time by the Moscow Ballet at 6pm on April 17.

Flickr by WCities

By Sandra Galo

MONTUIRI: The Son Fornes Archaeological Museum is located on the outskirts of the village of Montuiri.

€1 Sale at charity shop THE Big Finale of the Spring Sale at Calanova Cancer Care Charity Shop is starting on March 21. All clothes, shoes, scarves, belts, bags, coats and jackets for men, women and children are only €1. This is a not-tomiss opportunity for great deals on really good items. Purchases also help to clear away the winter items and make room for the new. Support is very much appreciated. Proceeds will go to DIME (The Paliativo Care Association) so they can put up special expensive awnings on the terrace of the Hospital General to benefit patients.

Organ concerts in Alaro EVERY Saturday of the year, the Sa i n t Bartholomew church in Alaro will host a series of ‘organ morning’ concerts. The concerts will take place during the weekly market in Alaro under the artistic direction of Miquel B e n n a ssa r. They are organised by the Matins de l’Orgue d’Alaro Association and spons o r e d by the Culture Committee of the Cit y C o u n c i l o f Alaro. The organ mornings start at 11.30am.

The Fira del Ram THE annual spring funfair po p u l a r l y k n o wn as the ‘ Fi r a d e l R a m’ (the Bouquet fair) has once again come to Palma. The funfair located at the So n Fu st e r e t f a i rground s wi l l b e o p e n afterno o n s a n d a ll day on Su n d a y s a n d holidays and includes a vari e t y o f r i d e s , stalls, games, food and activities for all of the family.

Passion of the Christ to celebrate Easter IN celebration of Easter, the cultural group Foganya from Porreres will stage the Passion of the Christ. The event will have more than 70 characters involved and also features the Porreres Philharmonic orchestra and the Porreres Choir. The re-enactment will be held in the Municipal Auditorium of Porreres on March 27 and 28 starting at 7pm. For more information, visit www.auditoripor reres.cat

17 - 23 March 2016 / Mallorca

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A special benefit party for charity VISITORS will be able to enjoy a delicious paella Photos provided by Port Adriano.

SOCIAL SCENE

By Sandra Galo P O RT A D R IA N O w ill be welcoming springtime with a special benefit party for the ‘Sonrisa Medica’ charity. The party to be held on S u n d ay M a rc h 2 0 at t he main square will feature a variety of children’s activities including bouncy castles, face painting, singing games, and a performance b y th e ‘S o n ris a M e d i c a ’ clowns. Visitors will also be a b le to en jo y a d e lic ious paella courtesy of la Falla d e E l To ro as w ell a s scrumptious cakes. Admission is €3 with all proceeds being donated to ‘Sonrisa Medica.’ Collaborating in the event are the Balearic armed forces, Coca Cola Iberia, Mallorca Big Party, Mallorca Fiesta, Im-

FACE PAINTING: The Port Adriano spring party will include face painting. pre s ra pit a nd Fa lla de El Toro. Activities start at 11am

Exhibitions at the Cultural Centre LA MISERICORDIA CULTURAL CENTRE is hosting two exhibitions that include 3D historical photos and varied graphic work. Emili Juncadella. 3D Adventures of a Mountaineer and Explorer (1910-1927) exposition shows 3D photos of the mountaineer Emili Juncadella in the Pyrenees and Picos de Europa Mountains between the years 1910 and 1927. The exhibition can be found on the ground floor of the La Misericordia Cultural Centre and will be on display until March 24. Another exhibition entitled Coordinates 2.0 lo-

cated on the third floor of the building entering from Plaça Hospital 4, shows off the graphic work of 15 different artists including Julio Leon from the village of Algaida. This exhibition will be open until March 26. Inaugurated on International Women’s Day, the exhibition called ‘Ecce Mulier’ or ‘Behold the Woman’ shows a collection of different perspectives of the woman by 14 artists from different generations. The centre is open from Tuesday to Friday from 11am to 2pm and 4.30 to 8.30pm and on Saturdays from 11am to 2pm.

and continue until 7pm. For more informa tion, vis it www.portadriano.com.

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The British are back! UK buyers now represent the biggest number of foreign property buyers John Graham The property expert

IT’S official! Brits are the Number One foreign property buyers in Spain! I’m sitting on the cafe terrace in the marina, writing this week’s article for Euro Weekly News, the morning sun is bouncing off the blue Mediterranean Sea as boats come and go and the rest of the boats are bobbing up and down on their moorings. As I drink my coffee two couples sitting at the next table are chatting away in English about how wonderful it would be to own a holiday home in the area and how affordable the prices are compared to property prices back home in London. I have arranged to meet my Ar-

chitect and construction associates for a coffee later on this morning to briefly discuss the specifications of the new luxury villas that we will be building for a UK property investor. I’m surrounded by well-off Brits in the marina cafe talking about buying a place in the sun and I am meeting my associates to discuss building luxury villas for a UK property investor, who also wants the retail side of my company to sell the villas to buyers in the UK. You may be thinking that this is all a bit of a coincidence, are there more UK property buyers coming to Spain than in previous years and if so, is it the same story for other nationalities, the answer might surprise you. The Brits are back! The fact is that UK buyers now represent the biggest foreign property buyers in Spain and dominate the market, so let’s take a look at the official statistics.

Property sales to UK buyers increased by around a n inc re dible 81 per cent last year compared to 2014 sales figures. Foreigners bought around 46,000 properties in Spain last year and as a percentage of foreign property buyers, UK buyers represent 24 per cent followed by French buyers at 9 per cent, German buyers 7 per cent with buyers from Sweden 6 per cent and Norway 3 per cent. The big surprise is how the Russian demand for property has droppe d dra ma tic a lly in Spain. Last year property sales by Russians were down by a staggering 43 per cent, caused in part by the serious domestic economic problems, the drop in the value of the Ruble and strict controls on the movement of money. Unfortunately the trend will con-

RUSSIANS: Are leaving in their droves. tinue to fall in 2016. Now you know it’s not a coincidence, don’t be surprised when you’re sitting in a cafe and you overhear UK buyers talking at the next table about their new home in Spain, get used to it, The Brits are back! My associates have now arrived so I must leave you now and get back to work and I look forward to writing something in-

teresting for you in next week’s edition. If you are selling your property, we have UK buyers and if you are looking to buy property we have an excellent selection for you. Contact John Graham Fellow of The Architecture & Surveyors Institute Email me at gk.ipad@me.com

PROPERTY

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Crisis bites the dust THE housing market is experiencing an extremely positive outlook By Matthew Elliott

HOUSE prices in Spain rose by 3.6 per cent throughout 2015 according to the latest figures from the National Statistics Institute. The figures represent the largest increase since 2007 and a marked departure from the years of double digit decline during the crisis. Despite the fact that the housing market as a whole has fallen significantly in value, observers agree that it has officially pushed past the dark ages of recession. This is the second consecutive year prices have risen and is a serious escalation compared to the meek 0.4 per cent rise seen in 2014. The final quarter of the year saw the biggest year on year increase meaning the outlook for 2016 is extremely positive. New housing developments in urban strongholds including Madrid and Barcelona, as well as a significant rise in used home prices, contributed to the marketâ€™s long overdue normalisation. There was, as ever, wide regional variety, with the Valencian community for example performing much

UNDER CONSTRUCTION: Things are looking up as new housing developments take shape. stronger than more rural outposts in Asturias and Cantabria. Experts now be-

lieve that the country is adapting to a two speed industry and have begun mak-

Taxed from above

PLANNING PERMISSION: Aerial inspections are targeting illegal constructions. DRONES are being used by authorities in Menorca to uncover properties which have engaged in construction without

legal planning permission, with other parts of Spain likely to follow suit in the future. Aerial inspections are target-

ing swimming pools, extensions and new buildings in a bid to tackle illegal constructions more effectively.

ing crucial distinctions within the wider housing marketplace.

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Get back in the garden with nature WINTER period is coming to an end Dick Handscombe

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

THIS winter has been amazing. Hardly any rain or cold winds to burn succulent flowers on the rockery, so plenty of sunny days to work, siesta, eat and entertain friends. Yesterday was the anniversary of the devastating frosts and freezing winds of March 5 in 2005, when gardens suffered from the Pyrenees to Gibraltar, while people and pets cocooned themselves indoors for a week. Our pond froze for 10 days and many local orange groves and 1,000- year-old olive trees were wiped out, where the windchill factor was reported as minus 40 degrees centigrade one night. Luckily there has been no sign of another such disaster for gardens, and the 2005 experience has not happened since the 1950’s. Since then many new houses have been built and the population has become a third expatriate, but is now drifting downwards as Brits return to the delights of Brexit Britain, and a winter guaranteed to be largely indoors except for building up the line of sandbags to prevent yet more days of potential flooding. But getting back to the Spanish gardens. It is time to get out or draw back the glass panels of the covered terrace to enjoy the unpolluted air and hear the

SPRING VEGETABLES: Came early this year. bird song and croaking of frogs, both of which started early this year, the tadpoles being at least a month old already. The only negative is that the pond has had to be protected, as a hungry heron started to come and poach fish a month early because all local rivers and lakes are almost dried up and fishless. With the winter ‘cut-back’ finished early, one can now wander doing a final leaf and weed clearance, enjoy the daily increasing display of flowering bulbs, succulents and early flowering

perennials, shrubs and trees and check which of the new bird boxes have become occupied. In the aviary that envelopes most of an apricot tree, the various species of birds are actively mating and nesting. As shown in today’s photo, of a part of my Slow Food style, zero kilometre (in fact it’s zero metre) vegetable supply in builders buckets, the spring salad vegetables are flourishing. Indeed it is impossible to eat all while at its best, so two young Flemish giant rabbits are enjoying extra titbits to their natural

herb diet of hay and alfalfa. Fortunately the wild boar that dig nightly at the edge of the urbanisations and village don’t include dandelions and wild chicory in their diet. With such a warm spring it’s also been possible to safely build up early tans and vitamin D reserves without resorting to tinted creams or artificial vitamin supplements. If you are interested in knowing what other natural vitamins or vitamin

boosters lurk in your garden, or could do with spring plantings, think about obtaining a copy of ‘Living well from our garden Mediterranean style’ from Amazon or The Book Depository. By the way, if garden, social or health related clubs would like a talk on this subject, there are dates free in the diary. © Dick Handscombe www.gardenspain.com

Passion for pomegranates POMEGRANATES are sweetly succulent treats that al so happen t o be j am packed with disease-fighting antioxidants. Many parts of Spain have ideal geographical conditions for the cultivation of these little red treasures, which have been part of the Mediterranean diet for centuries, as they thrive in arid landscapes and need limited care. If you want pomegranates to be a part of your garden,

the ideal time to plant them is between February and March. A fully grown pomegranate tree is on average about f our m et r es t al l and t hey shoul d be pl aced sever al metres apart. Between April and Sept em ber, wat er t he t r ees twice monthly and begin to har vest t hem i n Oct ober. You’ll have plenty of tasty pom egr anat es t o l ast you through those cold winter months!

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Eating chocolate is a danger to dogs THEY are sensitive to the chemicals

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ISCO AND LILO: Are happy with a house-sitter. WHEN Marie leaves home in Marbella for a holiday abroad or a work trip, she always worries about Isco and Lilo, her pet chihuahuas. Even though they have each other for company, they obviously miss her whenever she goes away. They are much happier with a house-sitter living with them to care for and cherish them while she’s not there. She has tried alternative pet care arrangements but historically the dogs tend to stop eating and become sorrowful. It takes them a few days to pick up and get back to their chirpy

selves even after her return. A friend recently introduced her to HouseSitMatch and one of the regular sitters in that network. Now, Marie plans to use house-sitters each time she goes away. She has peace of mind knowing the dogs have an experienced and constant companion, and they can stay at home where they feel safe and routines can stay unchanged. The house-sitter lives with the dogs in their own home so they have constant care and companionship.

CHOCOLATE made for human consumption can cause death in dogs. Dogs are sensitive to a class of chemicals called methylxanthines. Caffeine and theobromine are members of that family. Dogs simply cannot metabolise and excrete methylxanthines as efficiently as humans. The half-life of those compounds in the human body is in the order of two to three hours, in the dog it is more like 18 hours. In a dog the compounds are taken up by the liver and transmitted via the bile into the intestine. They are then converted back into the original methylxanthines for another circuit through the animal. This repeats a number of times and instead of getting rid of the substances, the dog keeps poisoning itself. There are many formulations of

SYMPTOMS: Include vomiting, hyperactivity and restlessness.

chocolate with varying amounts of caffeine and theobromine. The lethal dose of sweet milk chocolate for a dog is two oz per kg of bodyweight. For a five kg dog this would be about 280 grams. A lethal dose of milk chocolate for a 25 kg would be about 1.4 kgs. Dark chocolate is at least 10 times as lethal. A 25 kg dog could die from the methylxanthines in just five ounces. Symptoms include vomiting, hyperactivity, restlessness, hypersensitivity to

touch (a dog will jump when touched), very rapid heartbeat and rapid breathing rate. A loss of control of leg muscles, muscle tremor seizures, general weakness, coma and finally death follow. In my opinion it would be a tragic mistake to encourage a dog to develop a taste for chocolate. A small dog left alone in a house with a box of chocolates might well follow his nose to the goodies and commit suicide by poisoning.

Labradors are the most popular AN American study has revealed what Labrador Retriever owners have known for a long time, namely that they are top dogs! For the 25th year in a row the intelligent, family-friendly breed took the number one spot in a list of the most popular breeds drawn up each year by the American Kennel Club (AKC), the country’s largest purebred dog registry. Labs hold the record for the longest reign as America’s favourite breed in the history of the AKC list. Yet there could be a battle soon as the French Bulldog seems to be planning a takeover, having jumped three spots to sixth place in 2015. “The versatile, loveable Lab has firmly planted its paw print in AKC’s history, celebrating a quarter of a century as America’s most popular dog, but keep your eye on the French Bulldog. The Frenchie has risen 32

LABRADORS: Took the number one spot for the 25th year in a row. spots over the past decade and shows no signs of stopping,” said AKC Vice President Gina DiNardo. Second place on the 2015 list went to the German Shepherd, with Golden Retrievers

in third place followed by Bulldogs in fourth and Beagles in fifth. Yorkshire Terriers, which held sixth place in 2014, were knocked down a slot by French Bulldogs.

BOATS

17 - 23 March 2016 / Mallorca

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Tui choose Palma as an important calling point Marc Ryckaert Wikimedia

A BULGARIAN crewmember of the superyacht Ocean Victory died after the anchor chain which he was said to be lowering wrapped around his legs causing him to lose a great deal of blood. Fellow crew members attempted to assist the man, but by the time that emergency services arrived after the mooring in the Mu Ko Similan National Park in Thailand, he had already

CRUISE SHIP: Mein Schiffe line will be welcomed at the port of Palma.

ARGUABLY the worldâ€™s largest travel business the Anglo-German company which owns a number of airlines as well as cruise ships and hotels, indicated earlier

this year that a lot of its business was diverting from Turkey to Spain. This is now followed up with the news that in 2016, Palma will be the only port in the world to welcome all five of its Mein Schiffe

cruise ships. The latest in the chain of originally named Mein Schiffe ships, which is number 5, should be completed and launched at the Meyer yard in Finland in time for the summer and its maiden

Superyacht claims victim

A LOT of business has been diverted from Turkey to Spain

By John Smith

EWN

voyage is tentatively scheduled for July. In all, it is anticipated that there will be a total of 53 visits from ships of the Tui line during 2016 and this will bring over 100,000 tourists to Mallorca.

xx xxxx

140 foot luxury yacht is said to be owned by a Russian slipped into a coma and had died. The 140-foot luxury vessel is said to be owned by a Russian steel magnate Viktor Rashnikov, but it is not known whether he was on board at the time.

E W N 17 - 23 March 2016

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A classic touch up AN age suit has been developed by an innovative insurance company with the purpose of demonstrating to younger generations just what it is like trying to get behind the wheel with a variety of different ailments. Weights are tied to the hands and feet, fingers tightened with velcro, the neck and legs braced, a large fake stomach planted and shoulders tied to the waist to prevent the wearer standing up straight. Now imagine yourself turning to look out the rear mirror, adjusting quickly to an emergency, or trying to escape from an accident. Whether gimmicky or not, the age suit does serve a purpose in vividly illustrating the problems faced. The idea behind the suit is encouraging aging drivers to give up the habit before it’s too late and they’re involved in an accident due to wear and tear.

Clarkson Quote of theWeek

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“Hollywood movies are designed for 15-year-old youths from North Dakota who, intellectually speaking, are on equal terms with a British zoo animal.”

Some might say...

Dreams of electric sheep MAY soon make financial sense By Matthew Elliott DESPITE international pressure to clamp down on air pollution and carbon emissions, electric cars have remained something of an unfulfilled promise much like hoverboards in the 1970s. Although we’ve been hearing these reports for what seems like ages, it does now look as though electric cars may soon make financial sense for the average consumer outside Hollywood and Bangkok traffic jams. A new report issued by Bloomberg New Energy Finance indicates that, as efficiency increases and battery prices drop dramatically, electric cars will be cheaper to own

and run than their petrol counterparts by as early as 2022. The news indicates a coming wave for an industry that has long remained dormant due to technological and market hurdles. At present roughly 1 per cent of new cars sold are electric but this is accounted for largely by battery price and strength. Forecasts for battery prices, the length of time they can run, and world gasoline prices, all indicate that the internal combustion engine will be an ineffectual and costly means of individual transport in the next decade or so.

CHEAPER: By 2022. Various governments are already ploughing resources into electric infrastructure, including public charging points,

with the UK setting itself a lofty target of the majority of new car sales being electric by 2030.

As prices continue to fall, however, consumers likely won’t need any extra encouragement.

Porsche 911 R and new Macan CAR company will be stealing the limelight once again as it debuts three new cars NEVER one to shy away from publicity, a fool’s errand given their stellar reputation, Porsche will be stealing the limelight once again as it debuts three cars on the North American circuit. First up will be the 911 R, described as a pure, unadulterated driving machine, which features a naturallyaspirated, 500 horsepower engine mounted in the rear. Next up is the 718 Boxster, which boasts extensive chassis enhancements and an all-new turbocharged, mid-mounted flat four-cylinder engine. Following protocol the 718 Boxster is powered by a 2.0 litre engine with 300 horsepower and the Boxster S has a 2.5 litre engine putting 350 horsepower at its disposal. The third car to make its debut is the Macan, featuring a highly efficient and sporty turbocharged 2.0 litre inline four-cylinder engine. The exclusive German brand is also increasing its

range of compact SUVs with a new twist on the Macan. This follows the introduction of the recent Macan GTS, as well as the Macan S and Macan Turbo. As is standard among Porsche models, the Macan can transform its engine power into exquisite driving dynamics simply by using the active all-wheel drive with Porsche Traction Management (PTM), combined with agile suspension and precise steering. Optional features include air suspension with loadlevelling control and the PASM system with adaptive dampeners. The Macan is also the lightest SUV manufactured by Porsche weighing in at just 3,902 pounds. This enables especially agile handling. The inline-four engine operates with up to 14 PSI of boost pressure, direct injection, variable valve timing and

charge-air cooling. It is especially geared towards being both fast and efficient. Overtaking has never been made easier courtesy of 252 hp from 5,000 to 6,800 rpm and 273 pound-feet of torque available between 1,600 rpm and 4,500 rpm. Meanwhile, the VarioCam Plus technology ensures the intake and exhaust camshaft is adapted continually. The Macan’s turbocharged 2.0 litre engine is connected to a standard seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission boasting Auto Start Stop technology. The

optional Sport Chrono Package allows an acceleration from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.1 seconds. Fuel consumption is very efficient with a rough improvement of up to 18 per cent over the Macan S. Top track speed is 142 mph. PORSCHE 911 R: Has been described as a pure, unadulterated driving machine.

E W N 17 - 23 March 2016 / Mallorca

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England clinch the Triple Crown and Six Nations titles AND the Hornets sting Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals 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 • The FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley on Saturday April 23 and Sunday April 24 will be between Crystal Palace and Watford and Everton will play West Ham or Manchester United. • Last weekend Crystal Palace won 2-0 at Reading, Everton beat Chelsea 2-0, Watford humbled holders Arsenal 2-1 and Manchester United drew with West Ham. Gareth Barry (Everton) and Diego Costa (Chelsea) were red-carded at Goodison Park. • Arsenal, aiming to be the first club since Blackburn in the mid-1880s, to win the Cup three seasons in succession, were ‘hopeless’ for 85 minutes. Why? But all credit to the Hornets. • And Chelsea’s season is over! Dumped out of the Champions League by PSG and eliminated from FA Cup four days later, they have no chance of winning the PL title and therefore there’ll be no European football next season for the first time since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003. • Ross County won their first-ever trophy by beating Hibs 2-1 to win the Scottish

League Cup final. This was Hibs’ 18th defeat in a major final. • Leicester City lead the Premiership by five points after grinding out a 1-0 home win Newcastle, now under Rafael Benitez after Steve McClaren’s dismissal. Second-placed Tottenham won 2-0 at Aston Villa, and there were also excellent wins for Bournemouth over Swansea and Southampton at Stoke, while battling Norwich held lack-lustre Manchester City. • Burnley (74 points), trouble-torn Middlesbrough (67), Hull (65), Brighton (65), Derby (61) and Sheffield Wednesday (59) are the top six in the Championship while bottom club Bolton are 11 points shy of safety! • Burton Albion (FL1), Northampton (FL2), Celtic (SPL), Barcelona, recent 6-0 winners over Getafe (La Liga), Bayern Munich (Bundesliga) and Juventus (Serie ‘A’) are all closing in on their respective League titles, while PSG walloped Troyes 9-0 to clinch the top prize in France. • In the Champions League this week, Arsenal who were 20 down had it all in Barcelona (37 games unbeaten), but Manchester City, 3-1 up on Dynamo Kiev, should be in the quarter finals! • Tonight Liverpool (leading 2-0) visit Manchester United and Tottenham (trailing 3-0) to Borussia Dortmund, play the return legs of their last 16 Europa League ties.

DID YOU KNOW? Since Sir Alex Ferguson quit as manager in May 2013, Manchester United have spent £320 million on new players!

WATFORD: Beat Arsenal to make the FA Cup semi-final.

• This weekend’s PL fixtures include: Chelsea-West Ham, Crystal Palace-Leicester, Everton-Arsenal, the Manchester and Tyne-Wear derbies, Spurs-Bournemouth and WBANorwich. In the Championship promotion race, it’s BurnleyWolves, Derby-Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough (whose Spanish manager Aitor Karanka recently stormed out of the club and missed last Sun-

day’s defeat at Charlton) v Hull, MK Dons-Brighton and Sheffield Wednesday-Charlton. RUGBY UNION • Last Saturday England clinched the Triple Crown with a tense but deserved 25-21 points victory

over Wales, and were then handed the Six Nations title as Scotland beat France 26-19 in Edinburgh. England will complete the Grand Slam for the first time since 2003 with victory in Paris on Saturday (9pm). • Leaders Saracens beat London Irish 26-16 in the first Premiership game to be played outside Europe – in front of 25,000 fans at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey, USA. Second-placed Exeter beat Newcastle 32-17 in Devon! CRICKET • Last week, Ireland and Scotland crashed out of the T20 World Cup. England began their programme yesterday against the West Indies and play South Africa on Saturday. Australia meet New Zealand on the same day while it’s the hosts India against Pakistan on Sunday. HORSE RACING • The Cheltenham Festival started on Tuesday with the Champion Hurdle the big race. Cole Harden and Thistlecrack will to do well in today’s World Hurdle and watch Silviniaco Conti in tomorrow’s Gold Cup, while ex-Olympic cycling

champion Victoria Pendleton rides Pacha Du Polder in the Foxhunter Chase, also tomorrow. ROUND-UP • Wigan Warriors gained sweet revenge by thrashing reigning champions Leeds Rhinos 28-6 in the re-run of Rugby League’s 2015 Grand final. Widnes still lead the table from Warrington while bottom club Hull KR (without a win) lost their latest game 38-6 at Huddersfield. • Brits Chris and Gabby Adcock lost in the semi-finals of the All-England Badminton championships to the Danish duo of Nielsen and Pedersen. • Geraint Thomas has become only the third Brit to win the Paris-Nice cycle race. Bradley Wiggins won the event in 2012. • Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) beat Bill Haas (USA) in a play-off to win golf’s Valspar Championship. Current tournaments underway are the Founders Cup in Phoenix and the Champions Tour in Tucson, both in Arizona. • And tomorrow night, on the BBC, it’s celebrity Sports Relief… watch and enjoy. ENGLAND: Were double winners.

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17 - 23 March 2016

DIEGO COSTA: Could be punished when FA officials review a tape that appears to suggest he bit Everton’s Gareth Barry. Mallorca’s best guide to local sport

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Successful promotional event RUGBY Day in Inca A successful Rugby Day was organised by Mallorca Bocs for the younger players in the local clubs and the next leg of the U14 league. Spectators saw plenty of competitive play as the youngsters put all their energy into the short matches. All the players joined together in the customary ‘tercer tiempo’ with food and drink which took place after the competition. Around 100 girls and women took part in the Girls’ Rugby Promotion event organised by the Baleares Rugby Federation and with the skills of Marta Lliteras and Míkel Mendizábal who were in charge of the games. The idea behind the event was to encourage and promote the role of women in sport and members of the girls’ rugby teams from local clubs El Toro RC, Shamrock RC, Corsaris RC, Mallorca Bocs, Volley Soller players, water polo players and other sportswomen from various disciplines turned out to support the morning’s activities. Baleares Senior League In a weekend of ‘catch-up’ matches RC Ponent finally returned to their home pitch of Principes de España in

EL TORO RC U6: Youngsters in action at the Rugby Day. Palma to play the postponed match against the combined Corsaris/Dimonis team. The home team always play well on their home turf and Saturdays

match was no exception. An early try for RC Ponent and a quick drop goal gave them the first points and they were determined to hold on to the lead.

Frequent kicking from both teams to clear the ball away from the try line and some hard defensive play was the name of the game until Corsaris/Dimo-

nis scored a try that put them back in the running. RC Ponent found the space to score a second try in the corner taking the final score to 13 points to five and denying a defensive bonus point to the visitors. A win would have given the combined team the League championship with a match in hand but now they will have to wait as second placed El Toro RC are still in with a slight chance. Bahia RC was awarded an offensive bonus point and Ibiza RC sanctioned two points as they didn’t turn up for their match in S’Arraco due to a shortage of players. Coming up next week A rare midweek game is due to be played in Son Caliu in an effort to fit in the remaining matches before the FBR deadline for the season. This will be between El Toro RC and RC Ponent. Kickoff is at 20.30. Son Caliu is the location for the final deciding matches in the Baleares Girls Sevens Series on Saturday March 19 with the action beginning at 12:00. This important afternoon will determine which of the girls’ teams will be crowned champions.