Euro Weekly News - Costa de Almeria 17 - 23 December 2020 Issue 1850

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The people’s paper ISSUE NO. 1850

17 - 23 December 2020

COSTA DE ALMERIA • WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

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BEACH READY

REGIONAL government, the Junta de Andalucia, allocated €5.1 million for improvements to the beaches of 12 coastal municipalities. Two Almeria Province towns are amongst them and cash is go­ ing to Nijar and Carboneras who will receive €499,876 and €472,300 respectively. Fifty municipalities applied for one of these grants, which even­ tually went to a chosen 12 who met the 20 requirements stipulat­ ed by the Junta. “Our forecasts suggest that re­ covery of the tourism sector will be noticeable by the second half of next year,” announced the Jun­ ta’s vice­president Juan Marin, who also heads the regional gov­ ernment’s department of

ANDALUCIA BEACHES: Ready for the return to normality.

Happy and safe for 3 Kings ADRA is planning a safe Christmas adapted to the pre­ sent health situation. The town hall has reinvent­ ed its programme while guar­ anteeing that the Three Wise men will visit Adra both on­ line and in person, pledged Adra’s mayor, Manuel Cortes. “We have put together a programme with children at its centre, although the cele­ brations will be different ow­ ing to the circumstances,”

the mayor said. “As well as greeting the children the Three Kings will visit Adra and be with us all day on January 5 to receive and greet them.” Cortes explained that there would be no contact with the Baltasar, Melchor and Gaspar to guarantee the children’s safety, but all would talk indi­ vidually to local children on­ line. Schools are currently dis­

tributing QR codes to reserve a date and specific time for videocalls with the Kings. Adults have not been ex­ cluded and on Saturday De­ cember 19 at 8pm in the Cul­ tural Centre there will a performance of Gag Movie by the Yllana Theatre Group, a largely visual story of four people trapped in time and some of the most iconic movie moments. This is followed the next

day, also at the Cultural Cen­ tre with a concert at 1pm by the guitarist Tomatito, one­ time accompanist of Cameron de la Isla.

Tourism, Regeneration and Local Administration. Andalucia wanted to be amongst the first international tourist desti­ nations that were ready to receive tourists, Marin said. “These grants will help us to overtake our competitors and to be leaders once more, as we were in 2019.” The Junta’s Tourism chief pointed out that now was the perfect time to award the grants. “These municipalities will be able to prepare their beaches so they can offer destinations that have been renewed, are modern, sustainable and safe,” Marin said. It was vital that they should be ready to wear their best faces once life returned to normal, he added.

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17 - 23 December 2020

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Parking space disappointment ALBOX councillors rejected a request for two new disabled parking spaces in Calle Diego Granero. One was destined for the family of a 12­year­old with cerebral palsy and councillors from the UCIN party also voted against removing two planters that hinder wheelchair access to the child’s house. “This will continue to be a pedestrian street,” ex­ plained Albox mayor Francisco Torrecillas, maintain­

Another landline prefix LANDLINE telephone numbers in Almeria Province will soon have an 850 prefix in addition to the familiar 950. The central government’s Telecommunications and Digi­ tal Infrastructures department is planning modifications for 15 provinces where 85 per cent of Spain’s stock of prefixes that begin with 9 has been used up. The change also applies to the provinces of Alicante, Cadiz, Cantabria, Ciudad Real, Huelva, Jaen, Lleida, Lugo, Madrid, Malaga, Navarra, Sala­ manca, Sevilla and Valencia. All will retain their existing landline numbers that begin with 9, but for new numbers this will be replaced with an 8.

ing that the family involved were not requesting more disabled parking, but wanted a private space. “Albox more than complies with disabled parking regulations,” he said. Meanwhile opposition Partido Popular and PSOE councillors criticised the decision on their social me­ dia accounts, lamenting the mayor’s “authoritarian­ ism and lack of empathy.”

Quick-thinking cyclist GUARDIA CIVIL officers arrest­ ed an alleged hit­and­run dri­ ver who seriously injured a cy­ clist at the end of October in Nijar. Despite his injuries the cy­ clist managed to write the ve­ hicle’s number plate in the sand where he had fallen on a country road connecting the AL­3106 with the Ramblar Al­ ta. Guardia Civil investigators recently traced the driver to a country property where they found the vehicle hidden and covered up, showing damage compatible with the accident. The car, a Volkswagen Golf, also lacked an ITV inspection certificate and although the owner initially denied that it

was his, he finally admitted that it belonged to him.

Streets turn blue PAID Blue Zone parking has re­ turned to Almeria City. The habitual timetable has re­ sumed after the Junta de Andalu­ cia announced the new hours for shops and the hospitality sector during the Christmas period de­ escalation. Drivers will again have to pay to park from 9am until 2pm and be­ tween 4.30pm­8.30m on week­ days and from 9am to 2pm on Saturday.

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NIBS EXTRA High flyer GUARDIA CIVIL officers rescued a paraglider in Pulpi who was evacuated to Huercal-Overa hospital after he crashed into rocks on the Playa de las Palmeras. According to Local Police and Proteccion Civil sources, he was on the ground but powerless to fight the strong winds that lifted him from the ground.

Fire risk THE 112 emergency number dealt with 245 domestic fires in Almeria Province this year, a similar number to 2019. Most blazes occurred during cold weather in January and October, caused by gas fires, radiators and especially the under-table heaters that frequently set fire to the long tablecloths still seen in Spain.

Pig out ALMANZORA residents are opposing plans to install a huge pig farm inside the town boundaries and are organising a protest although owing to the coronavirus, opponents will voice disapproval from their vehicles. Plans are almost completed but the local population claims the project will bring little money to the town and make life ‘impossible.’

Illicit tip THE PSOE party, in opposition on Vera Council, described an illegal rubbish dump between El Hacho and Calle Virgen del Rocio as “deplorable and inadmissible.” Conceding the problems were caused by antisocial individuals, the party called on the town hall to ensure the dump did not generate public health problems.

Castle facelift WORK began on modernising and improving the Marques de Los Velez castle site in Cuevas del Almanzora. The Ministry of Public Works is paying 30 per cent of the €433,595 cost under its ‘1.5 per cent’ scheme, which allocates this amount from its budget to conserving and restoring Spain’s historic buildings and monuments.

Better water ALMERIA’S provincial council, the Diputacion, has installed a new €34,600 purifying plant to provide drinking water for the Alcubillas and La Estacion districts in Gergal and Alboloduy respectively.

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Padron push by town hall HUERCAL­OVERA is to urge peo­ ple to register on the municipal campaign, bringing the official population up to 20,000. Once this figure has been reached, Huercal­Overa can ex­ pect to receive more money than it does at present from the central government, as alloca­ tions are linked to population. That in turn means more re­ sources to invest in Huercal­ Overa and its residents, the town hall explained. Since the launch of the Padron campaign in October, 250 peo­ ple have registered, Huercal­ Overa’s Finance councillor Adri­ an Ramos told a Cadena SER interviewer. The response had been very

Photo credit: Rhododendrite

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IT’S OFFICIAL: A Huercal-Overa resident with her Welcome Pack.

good, he said, but encouraged residents who had not yet done so to register before the end of the year when the National Sta­ tistics Institute (INE) compiles its population figures. Everybody who registers will receive a Welcome Pack of a t­ shirt and a face mask with Huer­ cal’s Tree of Life emblem, as well as a month’s season ticket for the Centre Deportivo H2O sports centre. The process is easy, requiring only passport, NIE or a DNI ­ Spanish identity card ­ and a copy of a rent contract, simple copy of house deeds or an IBI rates receipt. For further information, ring 950 134 900.

Festivities come to the Alcazaba CHRISTMAS activities organised by the Junta’s Culture and Historic Heritage department centre on Almeria City’s Al­ cazaba and Museum. Eloisa Cabrera, the Junta’s delegate to Almeria, stressed that the health and safety measures required by the pre­ sent health situation would be guaran­ teed at all times. With this in mind, half of the activi­ ties at the Museum are being held on­ line so that the public can safely attend the events, the delegate announced.

At the Alcazaba, conducted tours are limited to nine people per group, while family workshops have been limited to groups of four and nine, Cabrera ex­ plained. “The programme is diverse and dy­ namic and will bring Christmas to adults and children alike,” she said. Alcazaba activities include the Conoce tu Alcazaba (Know your Alcaza­ ba) conducted tours on December 23 and 30 at 10am, which are limited to nine people.

Dramatised tours Sabias Confluencias (Wise Convergences) have been organ­ ised for December 22 and 29 at 11am and 12.30pm which again are limited to nine people. The Villancicos del Mundo (Carols of the World) concert on December 20 will be held at 12 noon in the Alcaza­ ba’s third precinct with a capacity for 150. Reservations are essential and should be made via the alcazabalameria.ccul@ juntadeandalucia.es email address.

Christmas draw deadline extended THE Mojacar contigo (Mo­ jacar with you) campaign has been so well­received that it has been extended to De­ cember 30. Till receipts for €10 or over which has been spent in par­ ticipating shops, restaurants, bars and cafes enter the town hall’s €15,000 Christ­

mas draw of 300 vouchers, each worth €50. The scheme was intro­ duced to encourage residents and visitors to shop and eat out locally and has been so successful that the town hall announced that it was ex­ tending the closing date to December 30.

Good place to end up THE Vuelta a Andalucia cy­ cle race’s first stage will finish in Pulpi. Juan Pedro Garcia, Pulpi’s mayor, the town hall’s Sports councillor Maria del Mar Sanchez and the Vuelta’s organiser Joaquin Reyes, recently signed the agreement to set the finishing line on

February 17 at the Pulpi Geoda. The Vuelta is a top­level sporting event with five stages, finishing on Febru­ ary 21 and attracting lead­ ing national and interna­ tional cyclists and their teams who will be seen in more than 130 million homes in five continents.

The draw will be streamed live on the town hall’s YouTube channel. Listing its reason for using local businesses, Mojacar Town Hall pointed out on so­ cial media that these are owned and run by residents’ neighbours. “They are nearby, they

provide personal and friendly attention and money stays inside the town. There is sup­ port for people who launch new businesses, while local commerce brings life and colour to the streets,” the town said, when announcing the extension to the Mojacar contigo deadline.

Need to know ALMERIA mayors have been urging their local popula­ tions to take part in mass testing for Covid­19. “If we don’t collaborate, we cannot know how or what we should be doing,” said Gabriel Amat in Roque­ tas, one of the towns that the Junta de Andalucia se­ lected for teseting. In contrast, no urging was needed in Alhama de Almeria where 471 people turned up for swabs, al­ though the local Health department had notified only 367 residents.

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Fears for Phoenician city site LAND earmarked for development on the site of the ancient Phoenician city of Baria in Villaricos has changed hands. New Madrid­based proprietors have re­ started work, the lo­ cal Spanish media re­ ported, with diggers operating where work stopped two years ago. Plans for 24 homes are viewed with sus­ picion by residents who fear that the de­ velopment could af­ fect buried archaeo­ logical remains that have been protected since 2005. According to the Asociacion Medioam­ biental Graeca quot­ ed in La Voz de Alme­ ria, archaeologists contracted by the de­ velopers were seen filling plastic bags with objects, includ­ ing the lid and looped handle of a pottery jar, collected from the zone adjoining the Roman fish­pro­ cessing plant. The Graeca associa­ tion asked the region­ al government’s Cul­ ture delegation and the Guardia Civil’s en­ vironment protection unit, Seprona, to visit the site without delay to ensure that the re­ mains are not threat­ ened. When the site was first excavated in 1987, archaeologists found the vestiges of a city first occupied by the Phoenicians and later the Romans. “This is an almost unique location for studying the Phoeni­ cian, Carthaginian and Roman cultures,” said Jose Luis Lopez Castro who took part in the initial excava­ tions.

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17 - 23 December 2020

Junta launches direct Aid for self-employed line to get rid of squatters THE Junta de Andalucia has launched a free phone num­ ber to help people who find squatters on their property to get rid of them immedi­ ately. The phone number, 900 100 112, will be connected to the Provincial Depart­ ments of the Junta in all eight provinces of Andalucia. According to the Junta de Andalucia vice­president, Juan Marin, there have been 1,500 cases of squatters in Andalucia this year, which is an average of six per day. The project was opposed by Adelante Andalucia and the socialist party PSOE ab­ stained from voting on it.

The number will be opera­ tive from next week and will provide property owners with the necessary legal aid and cooperation from lawyers as well as the police to get squatters out of their homes immediately, whether they have entered their usual place of resi­ dence or a second home. The aim, Marin said, is to provide protection for the people of Andalucia against a problem which in many cases is carried out by organ­ ised groups who often at­ tempt to claim money from the legitimate owners of the houses in exchange for leav­ ing.

MORE than 44,500 self-employed workers have asked for the €1,000 aid from the Junta de Andalucia. The Junta Council for Employment, Training and Self-employed work, received AUTONOMOS: Are to receive help. thousands of requests for the €1,000 to help ‘autonomos’ whose work had been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, which they say will start to be paid before the end of the year. The total amount expected to be given in aid is €80 million. It will be paid by bank transfer to people whose requests have been approved in the catering sector, small businesses, taxis, hairdressers and fairground workers, travel agents, bookshops, real estate agents, gyms, beauty salons, cinemas, pet shops, jewellery shops, camp sites, hotels, craftspeople, painters, sculptors, plumbers, carpenters, launderettes, florists, removal companies and others.

Two drivers arrested for going the wrong way GUARDIA CIVIL arrested two drivers who were going in the wrong direction on the motorway between Sevilla and Portugal. The first was stopped on the A-49 after driving more than 20 kilometres in the wrong direction and was three times over the legal alcohol limit. He was travelling in a 4x4 vehicle and the 112 emergency services had received three calls about the situation. The vehicle was located on cameras and Guardia Civil caught up with him

and using their lights and sirens, ordered him to stop. The next day another man was arrested for the same reason on the same motorway near Ayamonte, Huelva. He was also three times over the legal alcohol limit. Both drivers have been charged with reckless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol. COSTLY TRIP: Both drivers were charged with reckless driving.

NEWS

CLOSE FRIENDS FOR CHRISTMAS

AFTER initially being against meetings with ‘close friends,’ the Junta de Andalucia’s (BOJA) has had a change of heart. The Junta de Andalucia has admitted that relatives may travel for Christmas to their families and meet with people who are not direct family. The ministry of health has imposed the decision the Junta claims. At the announcement of measures made by Juanma Moreno, the president agreed that defining who is a close friend was impor­ tant, and that it was inevitable that if relatives travel for Christmas, they would eventually meet and be in the ‘social’ area of others who clearly were not direct family. People they met at Christmas who were not direct family, could be regarded as ‘close friends’ in the sense that they interacted as much with them as direct family. The President went on to say the term ‘close friend’ is “too am­ biguous a term” given that the social distancing and contact restric­ tion even in families was vital in the battle to reduce those Covid­19 case numbers. The Junta de Andalucia accepted that family meetings would re­ sult in ‘close friends’ meeting in a family­based gathering and reiter­ ated its call for citizens to be vigilant and exercise safety and care over the festive period.

Sierra Nevada Helicopter Rescue A HELICOPTER rescue was made after a woman fell in the snowy Sierra Guejar in Granada. A 52-year-old woman was rescued after 122 received an emergency call from the woman’s companion, in the snow covered Sierra Nevada. The woman had fallen and injured herself near a refuge.

The Guardia Civil mounted a rescue using their Mountain Rescue and Intervention Section (Sereim), and set out to save the woman with the help of a helicopter. The woman is suspected to have suffered from a broken ankle and was successfully evacuated to the Granada Health Technology Park.

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Residency support for UK Nationals in Spain AS you will be aware, the UK Government has funded three organisations in Spain to pro­ vide practical support for UK Nationals who are having difficulty applying for residency. The coverage provided by the organisations has now been extended to cover the whole of Spain. This map shows which organisation is working in each region. For further information and contact details visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living­in­spain#visas­and­residency

17 - 23 December 2020 SPAIN’S Minister of Health Salvador Illa proposes an early January start for vaccines as he hopes the European Medicines Agency will approve the Covid-19 vaccine on December 29. Illa, who assured people on Sunday, December 13, that 70 per cent of Spain’s population will be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the end of next summer to generate a herd immunity, said that he would look to push for immunisations to begin in Spain “from January 4 or 5.”

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Early Jan Vaccines

In an announcement on Monday, December 14, Illa stressed that the autonomous communities can rest assured about the vaccination process, as “there will be vaccines for everyone and there will be plenty leftover,” responding to some criticism made by leaders of the Community of Madrid, who have questioned whether they will have enough doses. “The arrival of the vaccines

Newborn Covid Giraffe A LONDON Zoo has honoured the first woman in the UK to receive the coronavirus vaccine outside of a trial by naming an endangered baby giraffe after her. Ninety-year-old Margaret Keenan received the Pfizer/BioNTech jab on Tuesday, December 8 right around the time baby Margaret was coming into the world. “The arrival of our precious giraffe calf on the same day, and actually at the same time, as the much-anticipated Covid-19 vaccination was first administered feels like a real moment of hope, and one we are so keen to celebrate and remember,” said Whipsnade Zoo team leader Mark Holden. “We very much hope that Margaret Keenan will be able to come in and visit her namesake one day soon, so we can introduce them in person,” said Holden.

will be progressive,” Illa insisted: “Spain has all the capacities prepared so that as soon as the doses arrive, the population can be immunised with all the necessary guarantees.”

Pandemic Twist Christmas Toys SPANISH toymakers are giving toys a twist to make everything seem a little more normal this festive period. With Christmas drawing closer, the entire world is experiencing a strange festive time as restrictions prevent nor­ mal holiday plans and socialis­ ing, especially for little ones. Dolls in particular are on the shelf wearing masks, and in these difficult times, it is hoped that they will help children ad­ just. The famous Spanish Nancy doll made by Famosa can now be seen sporting a mask, and other dolls come complete with Covid­19 testing kits. So far the toys are popular and it is expected that they will make children more comfort­ able if they need a test, and also more confident with day to day mask wearing.

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17 - 23 December 2020

Fine annulled for Bluetooth

Reduced Speed Limit THE General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has announced its intention to reduce the speed limit on one-way streets to 30km per hour in an attempt to cut down on the number of accidents in Spanish city centres. The reduction from the current

MOTORCYCLIST: Had the €200 fine and points on his licence returned.

A COURT in Madrid has annulled a fine against a motorcyclist who was using a Bluetooth device in his helmet. The motorcyclist had paid €200 and had three points

withdrawn from his licence, all of which have now been returned. The Bluetooth device was on the outside of his helmet, and according to the officers who

fined him, was a violation of Article 18 of the Highway Code, which bans driving while using helmets or headphones connected to sound reproducing devices. He filed an appeal through Pyramid Consulting, a company specialising in appealing traffic fines, claiming that using a single loudspeaker on one side of the helmet is not an offence because the driver can still hear the sounds of the road. The sentence highlights that the punishable act is the use of headphones, not listening to music or talking on the phone using a hands-free device.

NEWS

50km per hour will be implemented on May 11, 2021, six months after it will be published in the BOE. In addition to making the city streets safer, according to a report by the DKV Institute for Healthy Living, noise pollution could be cut by as

SPEED LIMIT: To be cut on one-way streets.

Danish Prince has Covid-19 A SPOKESPERSON for the Danish Royal Family has revealed that HRH Prince Christian aged 15 and second in line for the throne has been diagnosed with Covid-19. He will stay in isolation in Frederik VIII’s Palace at Amalienborg and apart from the Crown Prince’s family, Prince Christian has not been in contact with other members of the royal family in recent times. There are however concerns that heir to the throne, Crown Prince Frederik, if he has been infected, may have passed on the disease at a NATO exercise at Oksbøl Barracks in southwest Jutland last Sunday.

much as 27 per cent. Moreover, NO2 levels would also be greatly lessened.

Starbucks Freebies STARBUCKS are set to say thanks to NHS and rail staff with free coffees being offered to workers this week. The company are making the offer to show their appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the frontline staff during the Covid pandemic. The offer for rail staff, which is for a free tall filter coffee, started on Monday, December 14, and is available to all transport workers carrying a Rail Staff Travel (RST) card. The freebie, which would typically cost from £1.60 (€1.76) each, is also available to NHS staff, first responders and care workers as long as they show their work identity card and are available from any Starbucks branch in England, Scotland or Wales.

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National police charged El Gordo Without Masks THREE National Police officers in Barcelona were charged by the Mossos d’Esquadra for breaching curfew and drunk driving. They were stopped when driving at around 2am on Saturday, December 12. The ARA newspaper reported that they were in a private vehicle but they claimed that they were on duty. The officer who

was driving was given a breathalyser test which was positive. An internal investigation has been opened which could result in disciplinary measures if confirmed that they were not on police business when they breached the curfew and also driving while under the influence of alcohol.

THE El Gordo Spanish Christmas lottery numbers will be sung by the children of San Ildefonso on De­ cember 22 without masks. The draw will be performed at the Teatro Real, and they have been working with the Loterías y Apuestas del Estado to ensure the safety of all in­ volved on the day.

Everyone on stage will have had a Covid­19 anti­ gen test carried out and masks will be mandatory un­ til the numbers are actually sung. Other health mea­ sures include all the children being two metres apart. The general public will be unable to attend this year and the capacity for media presence will low­ ered.

Vaccination not for everyone CERTAIN groups of people in Spain will not be given the Pfiz­ er/BioNTech Covid­19 vaccina­ tion. Vaccination against Covid­ 19 began in the UK on December 8 and despite being safe, has al­ ready shown some side effects, meaning that not everyone will be able to have it, the same as with many other vaccines. According to reports, informa­ tion from the UK Joint Commit­ tee on Vaccination and Immuni­ sation and the US Food and Drug Administration regarding the vac­ cination it will most probably not be given to: Children under 16 years old. Clinical tests did not include chil­ dren under 12, and there were very few aged between 12 and 15, so the risks cannot be prop­

erly evaluated. People with co­ agulation problems. Anyone taking anticoagulants such as Sintrom or with coagulation problems should not have intra­ muscular injections, such is the case of Pfizer. However, individual cases will be evaluated. People with low

immune systems. They are very vulnerable and may not respond well to the vaccination. However, people who live with them, should get the vaccine. Pregnant and breastfeeding women. There is not enough da­ ta to say whether it is safe for them or if it could affect fertility.

Traffic Cameras for Almeria EYES in the sky have become a new feature as traffic cameras ap­ peared all over Almeria City. They are aimed at controlling the traffic in the city and who enters streets with restricted access. The cameras will view areas such as the Paseo de Almería, Calle Jovel­ lanos and Avenida del Mediterráneo. So far 60 per cent of the cameras have been installed. There are a limited number set to control restricted access areas, but they will be advanced. In the future they will be able to track vehicles loading and unloading and how long they remain in an area for.

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Leopard has Covid in the US

A SNOW leopard has tested pos­ itive for Covid at Louisville Zoo in the US. Five­year­old NeeCee has tested positive for SARS­CoV­2, while two others ­ Kimti and Meru ­ have symptoms and staff are awaiting the confirmatory results. “All three snow leopards are

doing well with mild symptoms, and the zoo continues to moni­ tor their health closely. We an­ ticipate continued improvement in the coming days, and all three cats are expected to recover. “No other Zoo animals are showing symptoms at this time,” said Louisville Zoo in a statement.

Royal greetings card released SPAIN’S Royal Family has released a picture of their annual Christmas greetings card. This year, the photograph shows Princesses Leonor and Sofia during a trip to Asturias, more specifically in Somao, from their trip there in October. Like in 2015, King Felipe and Queen Letizia are not in the photograph. On the back, it reads, in red, in Spanish and in English, ‘May this Christmas bring us a specially hopeful New Year 2021,’ followed by a handwritten ‘with our best wishes,’ and then the signature of all four of them. Meanwhile, as has been the case since he abdicated, the former King, Juan Carlos I, and Queen Sofia, have not used a photo for their Christmas greeting and have instead chosen an image, this year, of a Nativity scene by Juan Correa de Vivar which can be seen in the Prado Museum.

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Cinemas In The Red

CINEMAS in Spain are in the red from lost profits on food and beverage sales Alicante cinemas have pleaded with the department of Health to lift the current Covid19 restrictions, set to remain in place until January 15, as November saw the flicks make 10 per cent of the normal income. After being forced to close their doors for months and seeing a shortage of premiers since reopening, local cinemas say that being prohibited from selling food and drinks is crippling them. Javier Caparrós, manager of the Kinépolis cinemas in Alicante, who speaks on be-

LOST PROFITS: As popcorn and drinks are not allowed.

half of the rest of local cinemas, reported to Informacion that popcorn and sodas account for almost half the total profits, and with customers being unable to even buy a bottle of water, the fig-

ures continue to decline. “Fewer people were already coming, now many more customers stop going if they cannot even drink water, because popcorn and drinking is intrinsic to the cinema,W said Caparrós.

‘False Sense of Security’

AS the self-diagnosis Covid-19 tests are now available in Spanish pharmacies, medics have begun to criticise them, saying that they create a ‘false sense of security.’ The arrival of the tests has been long waited for and could give a sense of ease over the Christmas period, as people see family again after a long time apart. The tests are only available on prescription and this brings further potential problems.

The General Council of Nursing’s José Luis Cobos, said the tests, “can create a false sense of security” and comments that taking the test, “is done through a finger prick, which requires having certain expertise. If not enough blood is taken, it can be negative, that is, we could be facing a false negative.” There are also issues surrounding the possible influx of people to health centres in order to get a prescription for the self-tests.

FEATURE

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Advertising Feature

GRUPO PLATINUM ESTATES

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plained in simple language. We pride ourselves on providing a professional, yet personal ser­ vice. We are here for the journey, making sure our clients are happy and settled in their new home. Grupo Platinum Estates is now a family affair with both Caro­ line’s children, Brooke and Drew forming part of the business. Hopefully they will take over the reins one day, but for now Caro­ line’s mantra is…Believing in yourself and your ideas should be the first step, “Do something you’re passionate about!” Thank you to everybody who has helped, supported and become part of the Grupo Platinum Family over the past 10 years. Here’s to more years of making dreams a re­ ality. Happy Anniversary to Grupo Platinum Estates and the team.

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17 - 23 December 2020

Spanish 48 hour Mask SPANISH companies Sanity Health, Bioinicia and CSIC have joined forces to invent a mask that can be worn for 48 hours. The mask, named ‘Ispanna’ can filter out far smaller parti­ cles than standard materials and can capture viruses. Sanity Health expect to produce two million masks each day. The aim was to invent a long lasting mask for the Covid­19 fight, that can be produced in Spain and give people access to an affordable, comfortable mask that is effective for a long time. The mask’s material kills viruses and bacteria.

NEWS

Guardia Civil calendar

THE Minister of the Interior, Fernando GrandeMarlaska, formally launched the sixth edition of the Guardia Civil calendar with profits obtained from its sale to being donated to the Spanish Federation of Food Banks (FESBAL). The presentation of this calendar took place at the headquarters of the General Directorate of the Guardia Civil on December 9 by various officials and many of the officers who

appear in the calendar. Food banks arrived in Spain in 1987 and nine years later FESBAL was created and now operates 54 centres throughout Spain which are currently working at full capacity to satisfy those in need of assistance. The 2021 edition, now on sale priced at €5, includes photographs of members of most of the Guardia Civil units.

Malaya case ‘Sorolla’ POTTER’S work sold at auction potty price A PAINTING by Joaquin Sorolla seized during the Malaya corruption case was sold at auction by Sotheby’s in London for €890,000. The 1898 oil painting, ‘Before the Bullfight,’ received three offers in an auction which lasted a week. The auction went ahead despite a company claiming ownership of the work filing an appeal with Malaga Provincial Court to prevent it. The company, Neira de Rei, claims it owns the painting from when it took over a company previously owned by two men convicted in the Malaya case. The painting, valued at €3 million, was seized last year by Mala-

Before the Bullfight. ga Provincial Court after two attempts to sell it by defendants in the Malaya case. It was recovered in Brussels by National Police. According to the prosecution, it could belong to Juan Antonio Roca whose assets were seized to compensate Marbella City Council.

A FIRST edition Harry Potter book, of which only 500 were published has sold for £50,000. The Philosopher’s Stone publication was nearly sold by its owner for 50 pence in a local car boot sale. After seeing the Antiques Road Show, Charlotte Rumsey and her mum Karen of Blackpool got the edition valued and £50,000 was the result. The book has now been sold and has prompted global interest in the search for special editions of these magical tales by J K Rowling.

NEWS

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EXCLUSIVE

Credit: EWN Media Group

One of the world’s foremost sculptors visits the Costa del Sol

COSTA DEL SOL: Jonathan Wylder recharges his batteries.

WHEN you have been commis­ sioned by HRH The Duke of Edin­ burgh, the Duke of Westmin­ ster, Yasmin le Bon, worked with John Cleese and many more celebrities and can sit over lunch with the likes of Damien Hirst, then you know that you have made it! Unlike many artists and sculp­ tors who came through art school and university, Jonathan Wylder is somewhat different as he started his working career as a carpet cleaner who happened to enjoy painting. What started as a hobby be­ came a way of earning a little ex­ tra money with him selling his work for £25 a time at local fairs until he decided that he should take a chance and make art his full­time profession and he has certainly made a huge success. He spends much of his time in either Thailand or the UK but having lived in Ibiza for some time, working with James Blunt on a major project he decided that now was the time to spend a few days on the Costa del Sol to recharge his creative batteries. Jonathan is a very friendly and outgoing character who kindly gave up some of his time to speak exclusively to Euro Weekly News and proudly shared pho­ tographs of some of his best work which is incredibly diverse. When asked what his dream commission would be, he said “I love working in stone and my ide­ al would be to produce a large group featuring my five children but it would take about three years to complete, so I guess that

won’t be likely as I still have a mortgage to pay!” It is not always skill that sees artists find success but there is al­ so an element of luck which crossed Jonathan’s path as he started producing stone statues for garden centres and came to the attention of a senior official at the Business Design Centre in Is­ lington and was given a shop window to display his work. That’s when the commissions started to arrive and for a period of time, he opened a Gallery in the centre of London which didn’t earn a great deal but brought in some top clients for commissions and Jonathan had his own exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum. It’s not just sculpting in stone, bronze and other materials but Jonathan is also a painter and is getting ready for a new exhibition of his work but as he explained “when I was younger, I could pro­ duce a painting in a few days but now not only does it take longer, but I want it to as I keep scrutinis­ ing what I have done to make sure it’s a perfect representation of my art. “I have got to an age when I’m thinking about leaving a heritage and hope to see even more of my work in museums and in pub­ lic spaces to inspire those who want to become artists and can use my success as an example.” Having enjoyed a short break on the Costa del Sol and definite­ ly finding the experience reward­ ing, Jonathan plans to return in the New Year for a slightly longer sojourn.

17 - 23 December 2020

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NEWS

Game of Thrones Studio Tour

THE world’s first Game of Thrones theme park is due to open in Northern Ire­ land in 2021. The Game of Thrones Studio Tour will offer visi­ tors the chance to enter the real film sets used in the popular television se­ ries. Many scenes have been shot in Northern Ireland, and the studio tour will be located at the Linen Mill recording studios, in the town of Banbridge, near Belfast, and although the coronavirus pandemic will make certain restrictions necessary, managers have assured that it will open sometime next year.

FILM SET: Will be recreated for visitors to enjoy. The medieval fictional universe created by George RR Martin and adapted for the small screen by HBO will be available to its fans through “immersive expe­ riences, original items such as costumes and weapons and various other ele­ ments” used in the filming of the series, Tourism Ire­

land explained in a state­ ment. Some of the most iconic scenes and the adventures of its characters will be recreated on the film sets for visitors to enjoy along­ side an exclusive collection of crafts and artefacts de­ signed by creative teams to bring the fictional world from Martin’s texts to life.

Spanish Underwater Stonehenge

THE Spanish Underwater Stonehenge was redis­ covered last year in the Valdecañas reservoir in Caceres. The first underwater survey is now com­ plete, and a 3D model has been created. Last year after the rediscovery, the General Di­ rectorate of Fine Arts set up a group to ensure the preservation of the unique monument which had been discovered after water was pumped out of the reservoir. After rapid stabilisation work the

Spanish Stonehenge was quickly submerged to keep it intact. Experts have worked hard under the constraints of Covid­19 restrictions and the Institute of Cultural Heritage of Spain, the National Museum of Under­ water Archaeology and the Complutense Universi­ ty of Madrid have completed the first underwater survey of the site. They have mapped over 12 nau­ tical miles to create the first 3D model.

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EUROPEAN PRESS

EUROPEAN NIBS DENMARK

GERMANY

Second place

Unlicensed

DENMARK came runner up to Sweden in this year’s Good Country Index after finishing sixth the last time it was compiled. The index claims that it measures a country’s contribution to ‘the common good of humanity and the planet.’

WHEN German police stopped a 67-year-old delivery driver for an infringement, he produced a fraudulent driving licence saying that his real licence was lodged at another police station. Further enquiries showed that he hadn’t held a licence for 40 years.

NETHERLANDS

FRANCE

Art critics

Hairy situation

THE Dutch Council for Culture has published a report which has been welcomed by the heirs of Jewish people who lost their art collections during the war as it suggests that the Dutch government needs to act with greater ‘humanity and goodwill.’

SINCE French hairdressers were allowed to reopen on November 28, those who are situated near the border with Belgium (where a ban exists) have seen their trade pick up considerably as fashion conscious Belgians have been crossing the border to have their hair styled.

BELGIUM

NORWAY

Pizza patrol

Scooter control

CAROL singers have been banned by the governor of Antwerp who has said that the authorities will be keeping a close eye on gatherings and if, for instance, they see too many pizzas being delivered to a home, they will investigate.

FOLLOWING nearly two years of discussion, Norway’s transport ministry is about to implement some new regulations on electric scooters which will see new parking rules, speed limits on pavements, wearing of helmets and introduction of breathalysers for riders.

Your Belgian estate agent at the coast!

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Basque Santa or Bad Santa? EL OLENTZERO, a Santa Claus with roots in the Basque Country, has said in an online letter that he must give children “a slap on the wrist” for writing their letters to him in Spanish. In an initiative designed to encourage children to interact with Santa electronically this year because of covid restrictions, the Santa hints that children won’t be granted their wishes if he can’t understand their letters. The initiative comes from the Lejona City Council, whose mayor, nationalist Iban Rodríguez, highlights the need to make Christmas ‘special’ for the little ones. His campaign, however, has generated controversy in the municipality, which is part of the Bilbao metropolitan area: “In the letter (from Olentzero) there is a clear and precise manipulation to eliminate Spanish as a language that my son has the right to speak and write,” said one outraged parent.

NEWS

Counterfeit whisky

ILLEGAL PRODUCE: A complete bottling plant discovered.

THE Guardia Civil and the Tax Agency, in a joint operation, have dis­ mantled in La Rioja, Jaen and Ciudad Real, one of the largest crimi­ nal networks dedicated to the illegal production and distribution of whisky discovered in the past few years. If all of the merchandise had been distributed, the fraud commit­ ted by this Spanish­Asian network would have exceeded €800,000 and the damage caused to the whisky brand copied would have amounted to €3,810,000 according to the officers involved. During the proceedings, numerous counterfeit items that the criminal network imported from China to carry out their illegal activity were discovered and amongst the seized merchandise, there were some 300,000 counterfeit whisky bottles, 171,200 counterfeit tax stamps, 18,400 capsules and more than 27,000 cardboard boxes with the logo of a popular brand. In addition, 9,550 litres of bulk alcohol used to produce the fraudu­ lent product, 11,200 litres of whisky prepared and ready to bottle, as well as 36,460 litres of whisky already bottled have been seized. Those involved used a legal entity linked to the distribution of alcoholic beverages in La Rioja. The first base of operations, in Ciudad Real, was run by an Asian businessman who imported from Asia fake tax stamps and large quantities of counterfeit glass bottles, labels and stoppers. The second base was located in La Rioja, where they were in charge of preparing the alcoholic mixture and bottling it before they were sent to Ciudad Real where they added the labels and seals. Fourteen people have been arrested and investigated and these persons, most of whom have criminal records are likely to face multi­ ple charges.

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THE EURO WEEKLY NEWS is urging its readers to support local businesses in the com­ munity by going local through the lockdown and for your Christmas shopping this year, instead of feeding online giants and super­ stores. This lockdown and festive period we challenge you to rediscover your local high streets, markets, butchers, greengrocers and all of the wonderfully quirky indepen­ dent businesses in your area. Due to the Covid­19 pan­ demic, you may have to sup­ port many local businesses by ordering online and making use of any click and collect services they can operate if you are unable to get out due to health reasons or lockdown restrictions. The joy of shopping local means that independent busi­ nesses can help support the local community. Although it may be a euro or two cheaper elsewhere or online, consider where your money is actually going. By shopping at an independent store you’re putting food on a local family’s table, and there is no better time than Christ­

www.euroweeklynews.com

FEATURE

GO LOCAL BUY LOCAL: By shopping locally, independent businesses can help support the local community.

mas to give back to your com­ munity by making a small ges­ ture and shopping in this way. Many local stores support local charities, support and sponsor local sports teams and in many cases the small independent stores are actu­ ally much more than just a small high street shop, they’re a family’s legacy, often passed down through numerous gen­ erations and support not just the current owner, but the generation before. For those stores which are new, that extra couple of eu­ ros spent there are support­ ing someone’s dream and am­ bition, and also the courage it took them to step out alone, which is no easy task. It takes quite a large chunk of money to set up an independent store and compete with the multi­national and chains.

So be sure to pre­order your turkey from a local butcher and get your spuds from a local greengrocer, let us revive that community spirit and get to know our neighbours again. You could also consider purchasing gift vouchers from local businesses to help them over the coming weeks, think­ ing outside the box can often lead to some fantastic ideas. Why not buy a meal for two, an hour’s tattoo time at a lo­ cal studio, a hair cut at a local salon or an online study course for someone looking to change their career path. As people are struggling with finances thinking about what friends and family may actually need is important too. Whilst it’s nice to give a glamourous gift perhaps pre­ paying a family member’s

FEATURE

www.euroweeklynews.com

17 - 23 December 2020

SPENDING LOCALLY: Will make a difference to the local economy. phone bill for the month would actually be a better gift. Helping people alleviate stress and worry, give the gift of peace of mind through these difficult times. Choosing to spend your money locally will really make a difference in the recovery of the local economy. When we buy local, our money stays local, and it strengthens the local economy in two ways. First, buying local keeps money circulating within the local economy. Studies have shown that local businesses recirculate a greater share of every euro as they create lo­ cally owned supply chains and invest in their employees. Data shows that local retail­ ers return 52 per cent of their revenue back into the local economy, compared to just 14 per cent for national chain retailers. Money circulating through the local economy benefits everyone who is a part of each transaction. For exam­ ple, let’s look at a local farmer

growing produce. First, they sell to a local restaurant, which in turn pre­ pares the fresh produce and sells it to local customers. The farmer pays its local employ­ ees and the restaurant uses revenue from sales to buy supplies from a neighbour­ hood hardware store. This ex­ ample illustrates how the re­ circulation of money in the local economy leads to a stronger financial foundation for our neighbours and com­ munities.

Buying local also fuels new employment and job opportu­ nities for people within our community. Studies show, lo­ cally owned businesses em­ ploy more people per unit of sales and retain more employ­ ees over time. While buying local is finan­ cially compelling to our com­ munities; the benefits to our environment are equally im­ pressive. Buying locally re­ duces the processing of goods, packaging and trans­ portation waste, which leads to less pollution. There’s a massive cultural shift underway redefining the

way peo­ ple make buying decisions. We’re seeing more individuals concerned about the environ­ ment, about how products are made and sourced, where materials come from, and a company’s overall social and environmental impact. Many businesses are join­ ing our Go Local campaign by offering customers special of­ fers and discounts throughout the festive period, more de­ tails to follow here soon. Just remember to follow the latest government advice and any guidance businesses have to keep everyone safe.

EWN 23

FINANCE Increased debt THE Bank of Spain has announced that the Spanish government’s debt rose to 114.1 per cent of gross domestic product in the third quarter of 2020, a rise of 3.9 per cent over the second quarter figure due to continued spending and drop in economic output.

Full investigation THE UK competition regulator worried about the possible impact on competitiveness in the telecommunications market is launching a full investigation into the proposed £31bn (€34bn) merger between Virgin Media and O2.

Terminal 4 THE operator of Heathrow Airport has announced that it will keep Terminal 4 closed until the end of next year as it does not expect passenger numbers to rise significantly over the next 12 months due to the continued effects of the pandemic.

Positive discrimination LLOYDS Bank has revealed that it plans to employ more black workers and to encourage promotions to more senior levels as currently those workers earn on average 20 per cent less than white colleagues as so few are in top jobs.

ECB rescue expands THE European Central Bank (ECB) has kept its word at the last meeting of the year by adding another €500 billion to the purchase programme against the pandemic (PEPP), which is now up to €1.85 trillion in total. The announcement made by ECB President Christine Lagarde on Thursday, December 10, also states it has extended it until March 2022, with the bank further announcing new long-term liquidity auctions for banks (TLTRO) with favourable conditions for the sector. Interest rates have also remained unchanged and at an all-time low.

STAT OF WEEK

€1.308 trillion

is the total of Spanish government debt at the end of September 2020 according to figures published by the Bank of Spain.

£500 million

e-Christmas in UK

EVERY year since 2000 when the original ‘dot­com boom’ was in full effect, ecommerce providers have talked of De­ cember 25 bringing the ‘first real e­Christmas.’ Britain’s Royal Mail is banking on a bumper haul through increased online shopping, and plans to create a record number of tempo­ rary jobs this year to handle the anticipated surge in par­ cel deliveries from UK con­ sumers who were stuck in

lockdown due to the second wave of Covid­19. The Covid­19 pandemic has transformed shopper habits and upended Yuletide norms, raising questions about what the 2020 festive shopping season will look like for consumers and retailers alike. Against this backdrop, Lo­ gate, a specialist software so­ lutions company, has polled 1,000 UK consumers about their Christmas shopping

LEGALLY SPEAKING

and shipping intentions and has come to the conclusion that for consumers and com­ mercial enterprise alike, this will be a Christmas like no other. A large number of shop­ pers say they have already started buying Christmas gifts and only a minority will leave it late which tallies with re­ search from eBay, which found more than a quarter of consumers expected to begin Christmas shopping earlier in

2020 than previous years. Some 40 per cent of those surveyed told Logate that they would be spending less this Christmas than in 2019 although 49 per cent said that they would spend roughly the same. Tellingly, it has recently been reported that three­ quarters of shoppers will be put off by physical shopping due to the Covid­19 restric­ tions and will make their pur­ chases online.

British banks stable

Why do they pay more? I own a townhouse in a development with 24 houses at one end and 53 apartments in a block at the other. I pay my community charge as per the co­efficient. The problem is that the townhouse holders pay a higher community fee because they have more communal areas, although this has been adjusted over the years. Now we have a big rehabilitation project of a substantial cost and this disparity is even greater. I got the architect’s percentage breakdown of costs, which was 60 per cent apartments and 40 per cent townhouses. This is a significant difference. Why do the townhouse owners have to contribute to their repairs? B H (Costa del Sol) Because you are all in it together in YOU AND THE LAW one community. If IN SPAIN there was a prob­ lem which affected only the townhouses, the apart­ ment owners would have to pay their share. When the community has both villas or townhouses and an apartment block, one solution is to make two sub­ communities or split into two completely separate communities because they have differing problems. Or perhaps you could simply vote at the AGM to make an adjustment.

DAVID SEARL

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

MUCH has been said about cryptocurrency over the years with Bitcoin in particular be­ coming hugely valuable, but other currencies can come and go with little in the way of offi­ cial support. Now, one of the oldest banks in Europe, Bankhaus von der Heydt (BVDH) has collaborated with the German blockchain

Credit: Bank of England flickr

BUSINESS EXTRA

www.euroweeklynews.com • 17 - 23 December 2020

26

UPBEAT: The Bank of England Gold Vaults. THE Bank of England’s latest stability report is upbeat about the ability of UK banks to deal with any unexpected yet serious economic surpris­ es and says they will be able to continue to lend during the pandemic. Since the major economic crisis more than 10 years ago, British banks have re­ covered significantly and have built up good capital re­ serves which means that they should be able to con­ tinue to trade successfully. There appears to be no fear from the banks now in the event of a no­deal Brexit and the Bank of England says that the UK’s financial stabili­ ty is safe due to actions al­ ready taken to cope with any

Brexit problems. It does warn however that there may be some disrup­ tion to financial services in the short term, but it should be within the banks’ powers to deal with such problems. The government has helped the situation with the creation of guarantees which underwrite business loans currently standing at €80 bil­ lion (€88 billion). The review concludes that there would have to be some significant yet highly unlikely damage to the econ­ omy with unemployment rising to 15 per cent and house prices dropping by 30 per cent before the banks could be considered to be in trouble.

Cryptocurrency technology provider, Bitbond to launch the first­ever Euro sta­ blecoin and this cryptocurrency is now available for trading. The Stellar Development Foundation played a key role in the development of EURB. The

organisation provided support in consultation and the techni­ cal integration of EURB. This ‘virtual’ currency which is fully regulated and backed one­for­one with Euros, will not be openly traded on exchanges

THANKS to the fact that the UK government has agreed to underwrite any Gibraltar government borrowing up to a total of £500 million, it has now been announced that a facility for that amount has been made available by NatWest Bank. The actual sum will be split equally between NatWest in the UK and NatWest International Gibraltar and the govern­ ment will be drawing down £150 million to repay a loan of that amount made by the Gibraltar International Bank. It is estimated that deal­ ing with Covid­19 has so far cost Gibraltar in excess of £125 million with Brexit still to be tackled.

Spain and Morocco THE Spanish Minister of For­ eign Affairs Arancha Gonza­ lez Laya has confirmed that Spain and Morocco are to work together to ensure their economic recovery. In an interview with Spanish radio station Cade­ na Ser, Gonzalez Laya said that Spain and Morocco are “fully committed bilaterally to promote the post­Covid economic recovery.” She added that the up­ coming meeting between the two countries will serve as an opportunity to “make the commitment a reality.” The meeting, which will take place on December 17 in Rabat, will prioritise ar­ eas where Spain and Moroc­ co have bilateral agree­ ments. due to German regulatory con­ trols. There is an established proce­ dure whereby if a customer wants to acquire the stablecoin, a payment may be made to the bank and the equivalent value of cryptocoins will be held by the bank until such time as the customer wishes to make a pay­ ment or asset transfer.

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FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR MONEY WITH US

LONDON - FTSE 100

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C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 14

PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) COMPANY 3I Group 1.138,00 +5,00 Admiral Group 2.857,0 -13,0 Anglo American 2.452,5 +9,5 Antofagasta 1.429,50 +18,50 Ashtead Group 3.310,0 +10,0 Associated British Foods 2.283,0 +40,0 AstraZeneca 7.721,0 -482,0 Auto Trader Group Plc 560,80 +1,80 Avast 494,59 +1,60 Aveva 3.162,0 -33,0 Aviva 325,30 +9,30 B&M European Value Retail SA492,10 -2,00 BAE Systems 509,40 +6,80 Barclays 142,44 +6,38 Barratt Developments 607,88 +24,48 Berkeley 4.359,0 +158,0 BHP Group 1.968,43 -20,40 BP 281,60 +6,35 British American Tobacco 2.911,5 -5,5 British Land Company 488,30 +12,70 BT Group 135,30 +4,05 Bunzl 2.435,0 -27,0 Burberry Group 1.840,0 +25,0 Carnival 1.436,8 +17,8 Centrica 42,27 -1,19 Coca Cola HBC AG 2.335,0 +33,0 Compass 1.460,00 +10,00 CRH 3.005,0 +39,0 Croda Intl 6.360,0 -24,0 DCC 5.492,0 +78,0 Diageo 2.993,5 -15,0 DS Smith 363,30 +2,00 EasyJet 858,00 +39,80 Experian 2.739,0 -24,0 Ferguson 8.674,0 +36,0 Flutter Entertainment 14.830,0 -70,0 Fresnillo 1.086,21 -39,79 GlaxoSmithKline 1.404,20 -9,00 Glencore 238,25 +1,00 Halma 2.337,0 -2,0 Hargreaves Lansdown 1.481,50 +19,00 Hikma Pharma 2.484,00 -36,00 HSBC 405,25 +4,65 IAG 161,99 +5,75 Imperial Brands 1.578,50 +1,00 Informa 561,40 +5,60 InterContinental 4.790,0 +12,0 Intermediate Capital 1.613,00 +19,00 Intertek 5.794,0 -30,0 ITV 100,76 +3,46 J Sainsbury 222,10 +3,90

% CHG. +0,44% -0,45% +0,39% +1,31% +0,30% +1,78% -5,91% +0,32% +0,32% -1,03% +2,94% -0,41% +1,35% +4,69% +4,20% +3,76% -1,03% +2,31% -0,19% +2,67% +3,09% -1,10% +1,38% +1,25% -2,74% +1,43% +0,69% +1,31% -0,38% +1,44% -0,50% +0,55% +4,86% -0,87% +0,42% -0,47% -3,53% -0,64% +0,42% -0,09% +1,30% -1,43% +1,16% +3,68% +0,06% +1,01% +0,25% +1,19% -0,52% +3,55% +1,79%

NET VOL 4,18K 1,02K 218,85K 41,08K 36,16K 12,38K 1,37M 44,07K 157,75K 1,34K 335,33K 205,92K 35,28K 7,57M 69,35K 4,66K 259,40K 1,06M 185,93K 25,62K 1,76M 31,54K 6,20K 55,04K 1,65M 21,14K 174,10K 36,15K 7,76K 8,19K 26,20K 325,98K 185,15K 67,68K 16,38K 29,93K 55,68K 1,06M 1,09M 26,59K 43,12K 2,73K 3,26M 3,23M 91,69K 177,70K 12,48K 99,82K 12,18K 1,30M 172,28K

COMPANY

PRICE(P)

Johnson Matthey 2.425,0 JSC MMC Norilsk Nickel ADR 33,09 JSC VTB Bank DRC 1,028 Land Securities 709,40 Legal & General 253,20 Lloyds Banking 35,89 London Stock Exchange 8.560,0 Meggitt 442,20 Melrose Industries 158,75 Mondi 1.746,00 National Grid 876,40 NatWest Group 157,75 Next 6.550,0 Ocado 2.150,00 Persimmon 2.588,6 Phoenix 720,60 Prudential 1.319,31 Reckitt Benckiser 6.562,0 Relx 1.811,00 Rentokil 493,60 Rightmove 645,20 Rio Tinto PLC 5.560,0 Rolls-Royce Holdings 121,10 Rosneft 6,19 Royal Dutch Shell A 1.407,4 Royal Dutch Shell A 1.409,81 Royal Dutch Shell B 1.356,6 RSA Insurance 676,00 Sage 574,79 Samsung Electronics DRC 1.682,00 Sberbank 16,09 Schroders 3.232,0 Scottish Mortgage 1.136,65 Segro 906,40 Severn Trent 2.299,0 Smith & Nephew 1.529,50 Smiths Group 1.581,50 Spirax-Sarco Engineering 11.405,0 SSE 1.417,50 St. James’s Place 1.107,50 Standard Chartered 483,00 Standard Life Aberdeen 280,90 Taylor Wimpey 158,04 Tesco 228,10 Tui 401,38 Unilever 4.391,0 United Utilities 923,20 Vodafone Group PLC 132,18 Whitbread 3.114,0 WPP 792,10

CHANGE(P) +35,0 +0,18 +0,015 +19,40 +8,90 +1,82 +34,0 +10,60 +3,90 +6,00 +1,60 +7,40 +164,0 -24,00 +125,6 +17,20 +20,31 -72,0 -9,50 -2,10 +1,20 +14,0 +4,10 +0,06 +12,6 +10,31 +19,2 +0,40 -2,01 +12,00 +0,21 +62,0 -8,35 +1,80 +15,0 +13,50 +20,00 -80,0 +17,00 +22,50 +7,70 +6,00 +7,49 +4,30 -2,02 -29,0 +5,80 +1,20 +33,0 +13,10

% CHG.

NET VOL

+1,46% +0,55% +1,48% +2,81% +3,64% +5,34% +0,40% +2,46% +2,52% +0,34% +0,18% +4,92% +2,57% -1,10% +5,10% +2,44% +1,56% -1,08% -0,52% -0,42% +0,19% +0,25% +3,50% +0,91% +0,90% +0,74% +1,44% +0,06% -0,35% +0,72% +1,35% +1,96% -0,73% +0,20% +0,66% +0,89% +1,28% -0,70% +1,21% +2,07% +1,62% +2,18% +4,98% +1,92% -0,50% -0,66% +0,63% +0,92% +1,07% +1,68%

2,01K 149,02K 47,76K 64,54K 644,99K 28,81M 14,94K 67,61K 346,33K 42,11K 534,36K 2,15M 1,96K 105,14K 26,70K 67,93K 42,83K 53,79K 99,45K 152,48K 8,75K 8,62K 6,69M 119,66K 19,37K 18,90K 131,53K 433,15K 57,51K 2,57K 520,59K 15,61K 358,26K 42,83K 3,43K 96,98K 18,16K 2,10K 81,90K 46,18K 30,22K 300,76K 696,23K 1,15M 330,69K 342,22K 57,81K 1,33M 23,23K 55,96K

0.90747

1.10313 Units per €

US dollar (USD) ......................................1.20922 Japan yen (JPY)......................................126.215 Switzerland franc (CHF) .........................1.07807 Denmark kroner (DKK) ...........................7.44233 Norway kroner (NOK) .............................10.5882

currenciesdirect.com/mojacar • Tel: +34 950 478 914 THE ABOVE TABLE USES THE CURRENT INTERBANK EXCHANGE RATES, WHICH AREN’T REPRESENTATIVE OF THE RATE WE OFFER

DOW JONES C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 14

COMPANY 3M Alphabet C Amazon.com Amgen Apple Boeing Caterpillar Chevron Cisco Coca-Cola Facebook Goldman Sachs Home Depot Honeywell IBM Intel J&J JPMorgan McDonald’s Merck&Co Microsoft Nike Procter&Gamble Salesforce.com Tesla UnitedHealth Verizon Visa A Walmart Walt Disney

PRICE 174,02 1.781,77 3.116,42 227,40 122,41 230,33 179,29 92,45 44,32 53,35 273,55 239,99 264,55 214,63 124,27 49,73 152,95 119,56 207,76 82,96 213,26 137,41 136,51 222,42 609,99 337,07 60,35 206,24 147,00 175,72

CHANGE +0,53 +6,44 +14,93 -0,76 -0,83 -4,10 +0,44 -0,90 0,00 +0,30 -3,57 -4,41 -0,26 +2,66 -0,69 -0,53 +0,70 -0,71 -0,28 -0,03 +2,74 -0,17 +1,00 -0,50 -17,08 -2,58 -0,16 -1,37 -0,04 +21,03

CHANGE% VOLUME(M) +0,31% 1,88M +0,36% 1,22M +0,48% 3,06M -0,33% 2,02M -0,67% 86,94M -1,75% 17,31M +0,25% 2,67M -0,96% 9,58M 0,00% 14,58M +0,57% 10,64M -1,29% 14,39M -1,80% 2,08M -0,10% 3,45M +1,25% 3,12M -0,55% 4,48M -1,05% 29,40M +0,46% 5,97M -0,59% 9,98M -0,13% 2,77M -0,04% 7,61M +1,30% 30,98M -0,12% 4,17M +0,74% 6,55M -0,22% 8,21M -2,72% 46,47M -0,76% 3,07M -0,26% 13,67M -0,66% 9,23M -0,03% 5,62M +13,59% 87,41M M - MILLION DOLLARS

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 14

COMPANY

CHANGE NET / %

VOLUME

+194.50% +6.56% +6.59% +76.09% +1.08% +65.57% +0.48% +8.01% +3.73% +8.51% +5.40%

9.25M 2.57M 2.05M 3.65M 479,293 20.15M 3.06M 540,884 124,343 6.06M 44,811

-28.38% -6.71% -1.57% -2.72% -22.46% -0.74% -7.86% -7.36% -8.43% -6.93% -3.54%

890,630 6.44M 0 46.47M 3.77M 354,474 2,493 25.92M 830,320 714,839 383,059

Most Advanced AbCellera Biologics Inc. MongoDB Inc. SolarEdge Technologies Inc. 4D Molecular Therapeutics Inc. MercadoLibre Inc. Certara Inc. Amazon.com Inc. Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. arGEN-X SE ADR Novavax Inc. GRAVITY Co. Ltd. ADR

Most Declined ALX Oncology Holdings Inc. lululemon athletica inc. Broadcom Inc. 8% Pfd. Series A Tesla Inc. Greenwich LifeSciences Inc. Booking Holdings Inc. Sabre Corp. 6.5% Pfd. Qualcomm Inc. CureVac N.V. Twist Bioscience Corp. Abiomed Inc.

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Final Fond Farewells

FUNERALS are no easy task, which is why pre­planning and pre­paying for your own funeral is such a considerate gift to your family and loved ones. Have you got a song in mind for your final farewell? There are numerous considerations to factor in, including logistics, food and drink, casket pur­ chase, and burial grounds, however, in most people’s opinion your farewell song of choice is what stays with people for the rest of their life when they think of you. It’s also something personal to you and I honestly think it’s the one thing no one else can decide for you. For me it has to be ‘John Mayer ­ Stop this train’ but I have heard some weird and wonderful farewell songs over the years from traditional hymns to very unconventional rave music, it’s your last chance to show a bit of yourself to your loved ones. When planning your funeral with Golden Leaves why not start with your farewell song to get things going, it’s a fantastic start in opening up a little bit to your funeral plan designer giving them an idea of who you are as a person. Here is a list of the 10 most popular song choices in case you’re struggling for some inspiration. 1. Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole 2. Amazing Grace by John Newton 3. My Way by Frank Sinatra 4. Time To Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman 5. I Can Only Imagine by Mercy Me 6. Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley 7. Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton 8. In the Arms of an Angel by Sarah McLachlan 9. Ave Maria by Franz Schubert 10. You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban Along with music, clothing is something people often include in their funeral plan, a dress code for guests is not unusual for those wishing to add a touch of personality to the day. The colours of mourning have long varied from cul­ ture to culture across the globe, for example, in our search for the use and symbolism of colours of mourning, black and white found common threads across cultures. We can learn much from looking at the funeral clothing and mourning traditions of other cultures. We could potentially even incorporate some of these beautiful customs into our own funeral cele­ brations. This would be especially appropriate to cele­ brate the beautiful life of a loved one who enjoyed trav­ elling, or reading and learning about other cultures. White has long played a role in the history of mourning. White has been representative of purity through many centuries and in many parts of the world. The presence of youth at a funeral, whether as the deceased, a mourner, or in a participatory capacity, is often distinguished by white as a symbol of innocence and purity. Additionally, yellow has long been a colour of mourning in Egypt as it is associated with both the sun and the gold used with so many mummies and sarcophagi. Red is a common funeral colour in Ghana among native cultures. The Catholic Church has introduced the use of purple in mourning in many countries influenced by the religion. Whatever your wishes for attire on what is in effect your last life event here on earth why not in­ clude a dress code for your funeral in your funeral plan? Since 1984, Golden Leaves have helped tens of thousands of customers from both the UK and overseas to plan ahead and purchase a funeral plan. By erasing concerns about the arrangement and costs of your funeral, pre­planning your funeral can deliver peace of mind for you and your family. You really can’t put a price on peace of mind, but to help reduce costs in the last few weeks before Brexit, Golden Leaves are offering a fabulous €150 off all pre­paid Funeral Plans throughout the month of December.

17 - 23 December 2020

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17 - 23 December 2020

Naked man rescued FIREMEN in Granada City had to rescue a naked man who had climbed up the cathedral at around 3pm, Wednesday, December 9. According to reports, he is a middle­aged former businessman, identified as OG, who is known for this type of behaviour. A few months ago, he was caught running naked through the Alhambra Palace.

He remained sitting in an alcove, while passers­ by watched or took videos on their phones. He was in no way dis­ tressed, but locals called the National Police, who watched him and request­ ed firemen to help him down. As he had not exposed himself, he had not com­ mitted a crime so was free to go.

Argentinian fugitive arrested A MAN wanted by Interpol for the abuse of his two young nieces has been arrested in Madrid. He was wanted by the Argentinian authorities for the alleged repeated sexual abuse of his two nieces when he was looking after them in their home in Buenos Aires in 2011. His home was put under surveillance in Novem­ ber with the collaboration of Interpol. His arrest was captured on national TV, as an Antena 3 team of journalists was shadowing the National Police unit for fugitives at the time.

FEATURE

Silent majority are winning LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT WELL well, what a week that was. I’m scribing this from the UK, where I am self­ isolating for the recently reduced legal period of 10 days. The first changes that I was delighted to observe on my journey from the airport were ­ in contrast to last year’s visit ­ just how many messages and reminders of Christmas there are on display. It truly appears that the silent majority have at long last begun to assert their authority and return to the ancient traditions of displaying the fact that the UK is predominately a Christian country and that the ‘happy holiday’ appeasers have no actual rights whatsoever to interfere with its Nativity celebrations. The second event that fairly warmed the ol’ boys’ heart was the suspension of the Sky news presenter Kay Burley. Regular readers will be fully aware that I have always viewed this spiteful egotist as an automatic turn off and have, on a number of occasions voiced this very

opinion. What truly warmed the ‘cockles’ were the reactions by most of the British National press. Far more eloquent scribers than me, now without fear of retribution, published their own opinions of this obnoxious individual and duly echoed my previous sentiments. Hopefully her suspension will become a permanent arrangement and we have finally seen the last of this pernicious hypocrite. Nicola Sturgeon also managed to reveal more of her true colours with her un­statesman­like and painfully obvious ‘anti’ reaction to the goodwill visit to Scotland by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall. This trip was a sincere, non­political and heartfelt attempt to raise UK spirits and thank the health, care workers and general population for the unceasing efforts and sacrifices they have made during this devastating pandemic. Despite her attempt to convince others she was merely upset because the visit was an ‘infringement of Covid rules’, Ms Sturgeon could barely disguise the fact that she actually considered it an unwelcome intrusion into her own personal domain. This highly immature attitude did nothing to change my opinion

that this single minded leader’s main priority is not the well­being of the Scottish population at all, but independence at ANY cost. I am convinced she is a manipulating hegemonist who will stop at nothing, until she avenges the outcome of the Battle of Bannockburn or Carham, or any other primitive and ancient battle waged by ancestors who clad themselves in loin cloths and war paint to settle their differences. Dividing this great modern country is not the formula required to enjoy the prosperity and success which now beckons from the four corners of our abundant planet. Do our proud Scottish partners really want to go ‘Tam o’Shanter’s in hand’ to the likes of Barnier and Macron? The spoils of courage are now all out there for the taking. Once the EU have picked up all their toys and ceased their petty retributions, the UK’s magnificent alliance can forge ahead to enjoy the rewards that undoubtedly await its unbreakable, oft envied, unique and forever UNITED quartet of Nations. Keep the faith Love Leapy leapylee2002@gmail.com expatradioscotland.com.

Leapy Lee’s opinions are his own and are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or sponsors.

THURSDAY 17 DECEMBER

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Countdown Find it, Fix it, Flog it A Place in the Sun Come Dine with Me Chef vs Corner Shop The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Snackmasters Taskmaster The Crystal Maze

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Minions The Masked Singer ITV News and Weather ITV News London Celebrity Supermarket Sweep The Chase: Celebrity Special It'll Be Alright on the Night The Jonathan Ross Show

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Jamie's Easy Christmas Countdown Christmas at Chatsworth House Jungle Mystery: Lost Kingdoms of the Amazon Channel 4 News Barenboim on Beethoven Britain's Most Historic Towns Forrest Gump

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Hairy Bakers The Importance of Being Earnest The Polar Bear Family and Me Flog It! Strictly: It Takes Two Simply Nigella Waterhole: Africa's Animal Oasis The Happy Prince

Impossible Escape to the Country Money for Nothing Antiques Road Trip Pointless BBC News at Six BBC London News The One Show A Question of Sport Richard Osman's House of Games Night

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Wreck-it Ralph Final Score BBC News BBC London News Weather Celebrity Mastermind Strictly Come Dancing Michael McIntyre's The Wheel Idris Elba meets Paul McCartney

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Maleficent Blue Planet II BBC News BBC London News Weather Countryfile Antiques Roadshow His Dark Materials Sports Personality of the Year BBC News

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Oz: The Great and Powerful Worzel Gummidge Wallace & Gromit: A Grand Day Out Pointless Celebrities BBC News at Six BBC London News Marcus Rashford EastEnders The Vicar of Dibley The Vicar of Dibley

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Bargain Hunt Nature's Weirdest Events Doctor Zhivago A Very Country Christmas Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em Butterflies Inside the Factory Mastermind Only Connect University Challenge Upstart Crow

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Dickinson's Real Deal Tenable All Stars ITV London Weather Tipping Point: Lucky Stars The Chase: Celebrity Special ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Ainsley's Food We Love Coronation Street

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Clash of the Titans Worzel Gummidge Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers Pointless Celebrities BBC News at Six BBC London News The Goes Wrong Show EastEnders Spider-Man: Homecoming BBC News at Ten

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Rick Stein's Spain The Searchers A Very Country Christmas Keeping Up Appearances The Good Life All About the Good Life University Challenge Nigella: Cook, Eat, Repeat Being Bridget Jones I'll Get This Industry

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The Neverending Story Merry Madagascar Finding Dory Pointless Celebrities BBC News at Six BBC London News Mary Berry Saves Christmas The Repair Shop Ghosts Celebrity MasterChef King Gary

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Nigella: Cook, Eat, Repeat Casablanca A Very Country Christmas Are You Being Served? Dad's Army Gone Fishing: Mortimer & Whitehouse The Gruffalo & Me: The Magical World of Julia Donaldson University Challenge Motherland

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Christmas in London 5 News at 5 Neighbours Friends 5 News Tonight Inside the Steam Train Museum Walking Britain's Lost Railways Cruising with Jane McDonald

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17 - 23 December 2020

Madrid teen missing A TEENAGER has been reported missing from her home in Madrid since November 23. Saray Carrasco, 16, is 1.65m tall and thin. She weighs around 50 kilos, has brown eyes and long, straight, brown hair. She has tattoos and a nose piercing. Any details about her whereabouts can be communicated to SOS Desaparecidos, email sosdesapareci dos@sosdesa parecidos.es. Guardia Civil are investigating her disappearance and say that information is needed urgently.

Man caught stealing lobster and oysters A MAN, 48, was arrested in Marbella on the Costa del Sol when National Police caught him minutes after stealing a live lobster and a bag full of oysters from a restaurant. He had forced open the awning and railings of the ter­ race on the premises in order to steal the seafood, and then fled the scene. However, he had already set off the alarms, and police were on their way to the fish restau­ rant. When they arrived, the officers saw there was water on the floor around the fish tank. They searched the surrounding area and found the man carrying a shoulder bag, the bottom of which was obviously wet. Inside it, they found the live lobster and a net bag with 24 oysters.

FEATURE

TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF IS A NOVEL IDEA NORA JOHNSON BREAKING VIEWS Nora is the author of popular psychological suspense and crime thrillers and a freelance journalist. To comment on any of the issues raised in her column, go to www.euroweeklynews.com/3.0.15/nora-johnson

THE literary world has finally realised that crime novelists are ‘not idiots’, according to Jack Reacher creator, Lee Child, who says that popular fiction is as valuable as ‘literary’ fiction (such as reading Proust in French). Too often, I think, ‘literary fiction’ is code for ‘fiction without plot or inter­ est’ just as ‘conceptual art’ is code for ‘art without skill or effort.’ I like ‘Frankenstein’ by Mary Shelley, for ex­ ample, but I admit it’s got gaping plot holes which would attract ridicule in a Stephen King or Lee Child novel. A good crime novel is really hard to write. The plot has to have enough

credibility to strike the ‘this could real­ ly happen’ note and keep the reader on the edge of their seat, even scare them. The characters also must be believ­ able. No shouting or screaming, posing or pouting; or coming with more bag­ gage (of the emotional kind) than the Kardashians trying to get away to a pri­ vate island for a mini­break. It has to have pace, even urgency and, above all, the structure has to be meticulous. Not as easy as you’d think... But why have ‘genres’ or the elitist term ‘literary’ fiction? A book is a book and the only test is: ‘did you enjoy it?’ I’ve learnt more about the human con­ dition from Agatha Christie than from so­called ‘literary’ novels. Consequent­ ly, I never accept invitations to islands, sleep on trains, visit very hot countries or stay in country houses. Haha! And anything’s better than reading Proust in French! Frankly, though, what I like reading

best of all is exactly what I like writing ­ psychological, suspense and crime thrillers ­ the grittier the better. And what makes me happy? Seeing them sell well around the world (as you know, all profits to Costa del Sol Cude­ ca cancer charity). Finally, on a really positive note, I’d like to thank all those readers who’ve left great comments on my website about this column (that many of you have followed now for over 11 years!) and my latest audiobooks (listen your­ self to the free audio samples on Ama­ zon!) Happy listening! Nora Johnson’s psychological crime thrillers ‘No Safe Place’, ‘Betrayal’, ‘The Girl in the Woods’, ‘The Girl in the Red Dress’, ‘No Way Back’, ‘Landscape of Lies’, ‘Retribution’, ‘Soul Stealer’, ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.no ra­johnson.net) available online as eBook (€0.99;£0.99), Apple Books, pa­ perback and audiobook.

My last grump of the year MIKE SENKER IN MY OPINION Views of a Grumpy Old Man DONALD TRUMP is like the boyfriend you never wanted your daughter to have be­ cause you knew he was a no good low life and she finally dumped him only for him to then turn into a stalker and sit outside her house with a telephoto lens, go to her workplace and follow her every­ where, then slagging off her new boyfriend on social media with nonsense and lies. By now even his ‘friends’ think he has gone too far, telling him to leave it be­ cause it’s done. But because he is a narc­ cisitic ego­maniac he just won’t listen. He’ll probably carry on ‘til law enforce­ ment take him away and lock him up. Another thing bothering me is this whole fake news thing. I watch lots of dif­ ferent news stations and it fascinates me how they show something, and I can see with my own eyes what’s happening. They then go back to the studio and there are four people, who have just seen the same thing, and each of them has a completely different opinion on what just happened. So now there are six versions ­

their four, mine and what really hap­ pened before some clever editing be­ cause I’ve just switched channels and seen the same video pre­edit and also from two different angles. These news stations are no longer re­ porting the news. They are now selling their biased versions of events. So now I don’t believe anything I hear or read and have started doubting what I see too. My life is totally run by women. My wife, my daughter, both of whom I don’t have a problem with. Nearly all my doc­ tors I see or at the moment speak to by ‘phone are women and they are all great. The three I have a real problem with are Siri, Alexa and my sat nav. My sat nav is continually telling me to go here, go there, make a U­turn as soon as possible and then declaring I’ve reached my destination when I can see I obviously haven’t! Siri just keeps telling me she can’t help with that and Alexa just pipes up every now and again for ab­ solutely no reason whatsoever. But she does make me laugh when I ask her to fart. If you have a childish sense of hu­ mour, try it! This is my last grump ‘til the New Year so Happy Holidays and we’ll talk about Covid then! Email: mikesenker@gmail.com

EW YOUR PAPER - YOUR VOICE - YOUR OPINION Letters should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com or make your comments on our website: www.euroweeklynews.com Views expressed and opinions given are not necessarily those of the EWN publishers. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of information, errors, omissions or statements.

BEAUTIFUL SIGHT

COMMENTS FROM FACEBOOK Spain registers more than 20,000 new Covid cases over the weekend

DEAR Sirs, Thought your readers might like this photo of a Golden Eagle which landed in an almond tree by my house in the Rambla Nogalte. It was immediately mobbed by the local magpie population! D Kampesan, Puerto Lumbreras

Infection rates will be high in Jan after Xmas but as long as the death rate is low then it’s not a bad thing people getting it. With people had it and ones vaccinated, hopefully it will have faded out by May.

Retire in the Sun

Hope they were FINED.

Hello Leapy If retired pensioners living in the Costa Del Sol, in fact throughout Spain enjoying the winter sunshine are forced to leave our purchased villas and apartments, then Spain will have even more loss of revenue. We have pensions and income to spend. Private Medical. Spanish Reg Cars. Golf Annual Membership. We support Shops, Restaurants, Bars, Travel and Entertainment. We want Boris to make a deal that we can stay as long as we want - not 90 days. Any ideas how we can campaign this? Kind regards P Colley

OUR VIEW Lockdown on alcoholism THIS year has been trying for most, to say the least, and in times of stress, sadness, anxiety and also boredom many of us are tempted to turn to alcohol. Since March I think it’s safe to say, drinking at home has increased considerably. Alcoholchange UK claims that they saw a 242 per cent rise in visits to the advice and support pages on their website between March 23 and June 23 compared to the same period in 2019, suggesting that not everyone has felt comfortable with their drinking during lockdown, and many have needed help. In a survey of 2,000 people, one in five (19 per cent) of those surveyed have drunk alcohol as a way to handle stress or anxiety during lockdown. Parents of under 18s were more likely to say that they had done so (30 per cent) than non-parents (17 per cent) and parents of adult children (11 per cent). Of those who drank more heavily during lockdown (nine plus units on each drinking day), 40 per cent had drunk as a response to stress or anxiety. Many of us created ‘virtual pubs’ as we tried to socialise with friends on Zoom calls, but research shows that not drinking when others are, can come with negative consequences such as the judgement of others, feelings of missing out and social exclusion. Some have gone the opposite way though and have used lockdown to cut back. A considerable number of current and former drinkers (7 per cent) stopped drinking completely during lockdown, that would equate to over three million people across the UK. This was surprisingly among younger people, with 11 per cent of 18-34-year-olds saying they have stopped drinking during lockdown. This year as Christmas approaches if you think you are already struggling with alcohol consumption since lockdown, perhaps now is the time to speak to someone.

CORRECTIONS

PB

Police Evict 300 Guests HW Mobbed by the magpie.

BBC Leapy, You are so right about the left wing BBC! It’s to be hoped they will one day disappear from our screens! WR

Pensioner suffers with ‘paranoia and phobias’ after being ‘tormented’ for nine years with pizza deliveries he never ordered If they had sent along good Belgian beer with them I’ll bet he wouldn’t have complained. I wonder, was he being asked to pay for the pizzas or did someone else pay for them? Sounds like a mystery that should have been easy to solve.

ER

What about positive praise Dear Leapy, You mirror both myself and my wife’s views consistently well each week. No more so than last week’s December 3-9 (Issue 1848) Euro Weekly. I wouldn't want to impose the current responsibilities on any government. It’s just a pity that the media cannot bring themselves to be more supportive instead of consistently trying to undermine every government directive. It was so good to see you attracted so much support in Euro Weekly’s recent survey of your articles. Keep yourself pure, Kind regards and the best for Christmas, Mike Trainor, Javea

Breaking - New, faster-spreading strain of Covid confirmed in the UK Best place is home, not going to chance travelling very far, sooner be safe than sorry, then be here for 2021 and hope for big improvements.

CM

Tribute to late nurse who campaigned for tablets and mobile phones so that hospitalised Covid patients can stay in touch with loved ones at home So very sad. Condolences to his family x

LB

Another conspiracy theory Hi Leapy, from a miserable foggy England, hope you are well. You missed a bit about Black Rock. Black Rock is the biggest shareholder in Serco. Serco runs ‘test and trace for the NHS. They use a US company called Transunion, which is a credit reference agency, to verify people’s details. Guess who owns Transunion? Black Rock. It all gets a bit muddy! Cheers, Alan

Boris - Covid - Brexit A great big, hear hear, again Leapy! Keep up the good work! J Ramos

HAVE YOUR SAY All letters by email or post should carry the writer’s address, NIE and contact number though only the name and town will be published. Readers who have missed correspondence can see all letters - which can be edited before publication - posted on: www.euroweeklynews.com.

Breaking News - London is moving into Tier 3 Covid restrictions What I don’t understand is why countries are throwing themselves open for Xmas and people travelling everywhere when the numbers are getting worse. Not just the UK.

VK

Donald Trump has had his say... Do you think the Cleveland Indians should change their name? Absolutely not. Where do you stop? How politically correct is this world to become?

TV

Quick-Thinking Tech-Savvy Toddler Saves His Mum’s Life Well done little lad.

NB

At the EWN, we pride ourselves that reports are accurate and fair. If we do slip up, we promise to set the record straight in a clear, no-nonsense manner. To ask for an inaccuracy to be corrected. Email: editorial@euroweeklynews.com

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YOUR STARS FOR NEXT 7 DAYS ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Hassles and battles are on the cards. If things don’t happen as fast as you’d expected, or domestic and workaday blips assail your patience, transform them into an opportunity to show your special qualities. Potent planetary influences urge you to look, listen, learn and refuse to allow petty stumbling blocks to undermine your confidence on Tuesday and Thursday.

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

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Punchy Mars and the heady Sun are set for a scramble with touchy Pluto. You’ve been there before, so despite any administrative bumps, gossipy whirls or curious rejections, don’t be too sensitive. Add up what you’ve achieved, subtract your fears and keep your emotions under control.

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) Upfront Mars and the upbeat Sun will be at loggerheads with powerful Pluto. You might not appreciate some of Friday or Saturday’s antics, so be ready to use your charm, or perhaps your equally wicked sense of humour will do the trick. Whatever comes up for review, a cool rethink could inspire you with some useful tactics.

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

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

find the easiest way to move forward without losing your healing sense of humour.

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

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) You will need bucketloads of humour and understanding as impatient Mars and the sprightly Sun engage with touchy Pluto. Stay well clear if you want to escape potential power struggles.

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

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

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

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

ANNULI ARCTIC ATTAIN AVERSE BECALM CANCEL (10) CINDER CLERGY FARINA INTENT INTERN NETTLE RENTAL RETAIL SENIOR SQUEAL TANNED TINDER VENIAL

LOTTERY UK NATIONAL LOTTERY Sat 12 December

13-38-39 49-53-56

BONUS BALL

59

IRISH LOTTO Sat 12 December

3-10-18 22-30

BONUS BALL

31

EURO MILLIONS Tue 8 December

BONUS BALL

2

1-4-21 24-46

12

Fri 11 December

BONUS BALL

6-9-13 24-41

3 12

EL MILLON: HWZ24630 LA PRIMITIVA

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Feisty Mars and the fiery Sun are warring with changeable Pluto, so avoid any tearaway temptations on Thursday or Friday. You could be emotionally vulnerable, or even lulled into a false sense of security. However confusing the planets may seem, even out the odds as best you can by ensuring your worries take second place.

TIME OUT

Thurs 10 December

BONUS BALL

9-12-13 18-22-36

2 7

JOKER: 8284220 Sat 12 December

BONUS BALL

11-16-26 27-40-44

18

JOKER: 8155390

0

TIME OUT

38

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CODE BREAKER

ENGLISH-SPANISH

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

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 15 represents T and 17 represents V, so fill in T every time the figure 15 appears and V every time the figure 17 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 Dentro de (6) 3 Pimienta (6) 8 Grapadora (7) 10 Ice (5) 11 Ensalada (5) 12 Línea aérea (7) 13 Cada (5) 15 Sentence (5) 20 Corner (outer) (7) 22 Regalos (5) 24 Bone (of human, animal) (5) 25 To chat (7) 26 Somnoliento (6) 27 Pajitas (6)

Down 1 Insistir (6) 2 Caracol (5) 4 To throw (5) 5 Prices (7) 6 Reabrir (6) 7 Ancho (5) 9 Leader (of group, party) (5) 14 Cowboy (7) 16 Ruler (measuring tool) (5) 17 Método (6) 18 Coger (5) 19 Oysters (6) 21 Planchas (utensilios) (5) 23 Skirt (5)

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION • LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION • LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION QUICK Across: 1 Fast, 3 Shops, 8 Exchanged, 9 Stare, 10 Yell, 14 Hard, 15 Baked, 18 Prominent, 20 Stamp, 21 Idle. Down: 1 Fact, 2 Shelter, 4 Heal, 5/19 Pig out, 6 Scary, 7 Adult, 11 Elected, 12 Chips, 13 Later, 16 Film, 17 Safe.

BOGGLED

ENGLISH-SPANISH

trey trek goffer goer gofer grey guff ogre offer fogey four fear fare faro farm ergo euro urea frug from arvo prey pert puff puffer pure pyre poke poker pokey pork porker pore kepi koan huff refuge revoke rope roper ropey ropy robin rove roan evoke byre bora bore okra over naive above mope moper mopey mopy moke more move mover moan

Across: 1 Praises, 5 Poles, 8 Botón, 9 Bisonte, 10 Spine, 11 Aquel, 12 Aleman, 14 Fresas, 18 Press, 20 Lagos, 22 Drivers, 23 Milla, 24 Eagle, 25 Dancers. Down: 1 Pobreza, 2 Antes, 3 Sonrisa, 4 Sobres, 5 Pesca, 6 Lenguas, 7 Shell, 13 Evening, 15 Regimen, 16 Signals, 17 Closed, 18 Padre, 19 Scene, 21 Solve.

NONAGRAM

CRYPTIC

Across: 1 Bobcats, 4 Chats, 7 Axles, 9 Starter, 10 Hostage, 11 Knife, 12 Shaped, 14 Aspens, 18 Addle, 20 Braised, 22 Immerse, 23 Keats, 24 Money, 25 Tempers. Down: 1 Beaches, 2 Belts, 3 System, 4 Chalk, 5 Astride, 6 Spree, 8 Slate, 13 Abdomen, 15 Stark, 16 Sadists, 17 Absent, 18 Axiom, 19 Early, 21 Spate.

CODE BREAKER

FUTOSHIKI

abet able abut bail bait bale bare bate bear beat beau belt beta bier bile bite blat blue blur brae brat brit brut burl carb club crab crib cube curb lube rube tabu tuba tube abler acerb baler balti baric beaut biter blare blear bleat bluer blurt brace bract brail bruit brute built buret caber cable cubit rebut ruble table tribe tubal tuber albeit bailer barite brutal burial butler tribal caliber calibre cubital curable librate rebuilt triable LUBRICATE

HEXAGRAM

WORD LADDER

1 RAISED 2 ASTUTE 3 CRADLE 4 TIPTOE 5 ENTIRE 6 ANTHEM 7 ABOUND 8 CHASTE 9 BEETLE 10 DETAIL 11 CATSUP 12 WEALTH 13 RASCAL 14 NEWTON 15 RETIRE 16 BURLAP 17 THEORY 18 TELLER 19 WORTHY

WRAP TRAP TRAM TEAM TERM GERM

KAKURO

SUDOKU

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Almería TODAY VELEZ RUBIO ALBOX

HUERCAL OVERA GARRUCHA

WEATHER

MOJACAR ALMERIA RETAMAR ROQUETAS

ADRA

TOMORROW VELEZ RUBIO ALBOX

HUERCAL OVERA GARRUCHA MOJACAR

ALMERIA RETAMAR ROQUETAS

ADRA

SATURDAY VELEZ RUBIO ALBOX

HUERCAL OVERA GARRUCHA MOJACAR

ALMERIA RETAMAR ADRA

S: Sun

C: Cloudy

Th: Thunder

ROQUETAS

Cl: Clear

Sh: Showers

Sn: Snow

Malaga TODAY: MAX 17 MIN 6 Fri 15 7 Sat 12 8 Sun 12 7 Mon 11 9 Tues - 13 9 Wed 15 9

Alicante TODAY: MAX 17, MIN 8 Fri 16 7 Sat 17 7 Sun 16 8 Mon 16 9 Tues - 19 8 Wed 19 7

Almeria TODAY: MAX 17, MIN 6 Fri 17 9 Sat 15 7 Sun 13 8 Mon 15 8 Tues - 16 9 Wed 17 8

Benidorm TODAY: MAX 19, MIN 9 Fri 19 9 Sat 18 9 Sun 17 8 Mon 19 8 Tues - 17 10 Wed 17 8 Mallorca TODAY: MAX 17, MIN 7 Fri 16 7 Sat 17 8 Sun 17 8 Mon 18 9 Tues 17 7 Wed 16 8

Bilbao TODAY: MAX 18, MIN 5 Fri 17 9 Sat 14 9 Sun 14 8 Mon 13 8 Tues 16 9 Wed 15 8 Madrid TODAY: MAX 13, MIN 8 Fri 16 8 Sat 15 7 Sun 14 7 Mon 16 8 Tues 17 9 Wed 17 10

39

TIME OUT

FUTOSHIKI Fill in the squares so that each digit from 1 to 6 occurs exactly once in each row and column. Greater-than and less-than signs indicate the relationship of the two adjacent squares. There is only one solution, and you can find it without guessing.

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.

Barcelona TODAY: MAX 16, MIN 9 Fri 17 9 Sat 16 9 Sun 15 11 Mon 16 11 Tues 18 9 Wed 19 10

Euro Weekly News strives for accuracy, but cannot be held responsible for any errors in published forecasts

TARGET:

SCORING:

Average: 19 Good: 26 Very good: 37 Excellent: 48

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

KAKURO 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.

CRYPTIC Across 1 Action involving night flier may be argued (7) 5 Rent holiday place on the Adriatic (5) 8 I did have a gardening implement, by the sound of it, in a state (5) 9 Given name of boy with elderly relative (7) 10 VAT, as for instruments (5) 11 Running late? Drat! Upset youth leader (5) 12 Story about editor makes you delighted (6) 14 Wager everyone's in Swan Lake, for example (6) 18 Might a quote refer to woodworking joint? (5) 20 Our ma changed her lover (5) 22 Persistent Parisian's negative post changed (7) 23 From Shanghai father arrives at Israeli city (5) 24 Chiseller, married, with a child (5) 25 Creche in North Surrey moved (7) Down 1 In headwind, leaders gradually decline (7) 2 Creature spotted in the Danube? A stag perhaps (5) 3 Torment Tory leader with Russian money (7) 4 Remove earth on time for a compression (6) 5 Read start of testimony that is barely sufficient (5) 6 Afterwards a learner gets in the side (7) 7 At present, a terrible toady (5) 13 Is present as a motorcycle race finishes (7) 15 Someone else embraced by Diana, not Hercules (7) 16 Petty quarrel with a New York glass-maker (7) 17 Maps taken out on an Asian boat (6) 18 Note going backwards and forwards (5) 19 Taken food from downbeat Englishmen (5) 21 Shoving her about in river (5)

TIME OUT

40

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SUDOKU

QUICK

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.

Across

Down

1 Relating to the brain (8)

1 Meet at a point (5)

7 Eating utensil (5)

2 Jogger (6)

8 Indian stringed instrument (5)

3/16 Large percussion instrument (4,4)

9 React verbally (6)

4 Thespian (5)

10 Avian warbler (4)

5 Set up (9)

12 Breach of secrecy (4)

6 Citrus drink (9)

14 Cows and bulls (6)

11 Young, unmarried woman (6)

17 Pointed weapon (5)

13 Skilled or proficient at something (5)

18 Burn caused by hot liquid (5)

15 Pulls something apart or to pieces (5)

19 Walks unsteadily (8)

16 See 3

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

DIVE

QUIZ BACK PAST

KISS AND TELL 1. Born in Michigan in 1925, which pioneer of American rock and roll music was famous for his kiss curl? 2. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus was the first UK Top 10 hit single for which female vocal trio in 1953? 3. In which Olympic sport would a competitor use a kisser button? 4. In which year did the Brotherhood of Man win the Eurovision Song Contest with the song Save Your Kisses for Me? 5. Said to impart the ‘gift of the gab’ to anyone who kisses it, in which county of Ireland is the Blarney Stone located? 6. The 1948 Cole Porter musical Kiss Me, Kate is principally based on which play by William Shakespeare? 7. The Kiss (Le Baiser) is an 1882 marble sculpture by which French sculptor? 8. What is the (stage) name of the Israeli-American bass player/singer, who, along with singer/guitarist Paul Stanley, co-founded the rock band Kiss in the early 1970s? 9. What type of creature is a kissing ghourami? 10. Who, in October 1988 had a UK Top Five hit single with a cover version of the Artist Formerly Known as Prince’s hit Kiss? Not a lot of people know that… Broadway stage actor John C Rice is credited with performing the first on-screen kiss with Canadian actress May Irwin in 1896 for the Thomas Edison film company film ‘The Kiss’. The film was a 47-second recreation of a scene from the Broadway play ‘The Widow Jones’ starring Irwin and Rice.

NONAGRAM

RACHEL AND FRIENDS

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

TARGET:

audreyquinton99@gmail.com

Average: 13 Good: 18 Very good: 26 Excellent: 34

Answers 1. BILL HALEY, 2. BEVERLEY SISTERS, 3. ARCHERY (a small plastic device attached to the string for alignment with mouth at full draw), 4. 1976, 5. COUNTY CORK, 6. THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, 7. AUGUSTE RODIN, 8. GENE SIMMONS also known as GENE KLEIN (born Chaim Witz), 9. Tropical freshwater FISH, 10. THE ART OF NOISE FEATURING TOM JONES

HEALTH & BEAUTY

17 - 23 December 2020

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www.euroweeklynews.com

Not enough water being drunk in Spain

SEVENTY­FIVE per cent of people in Spain drink less water than is recommend­

ed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), a new survey has revealed.

The EFSA guidelines rec­ ommend men drink 2.5 litres of water a day and women two litres, yet the average amount con­ sumed by those ques­ tioned for the survey by the Spanish Nutrition Foundation (FEN) was 1.7 litres for men and 1.6 litres for women. The survey was done all over Spain with people aged between nine and 75 questioned about their eating and drinking habits. Water was the most consumed drink by both sexes, followed by milk. However for men alco­ holic drinks came third on the list, followed by sug­ ary drinks and hot drinks while for women it was the other way round (hot drinks, sugary drinks, al­ cohol).

PETS

SOME pets need more care than others, and not because they are difficult or spoilt. You may have several pets at home who simply need someone to care for them and cherish them when you are away. Meet Petey, Shane and Scrut, all brothers who live in Almeria. Their owner usually gets in touch about two to three months before a planned trip to post an advert. She tells us about her bunch of shaggy boys and we find her dog loving pet­sitters. It’s as simple as that. Take a moment to plan ahead for pet and house­sitters if you have trips planned next year, to see family and friends or just to get away. Now is the time to get ready. We will help you as much as we can. Our philosophy is that we are all in this together. These

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Shaggy dog story are the steps to take: 1. Register as a homeowner on HouseSitMatch.com 2. Choose a Premium ac­ count (£89 per year) to ensure you can help online when needed 3. Create a profile with pho­ tos of your pet and the house 4. Post a house­sit advert stating your plans for next year’s holiday Covid permitting. Do you need a pet sitter in 2021? Then get started right now.

What do you do with your furry friends when you plan trips away?

How does it work? HouseSitMatch can help you find suitable sitters. Join our net­ work for a small annual fee. You get ID checked for safety and then build your advert saying when you are going on holiday. House­sitters see your advert, they respond and you choose the sitter who’ll care for your pets. Trustpilot Testimonials ­ 4.8 / 5 Excellent rating (New Trustpilot rating scale) Here’s what members have said about us ­ HouseSitMatch found us a perfect house­sitter… HouseSitMatch found us a per­

fect house­sitter while we were away in Canada and we were de­ lighted with the care and atten­ tion that HouseSitMatch took in helping us find the right person. Ros Morris ­ Dog owner How do you join? Please register online via our website www.Housesitmatch. com ­ Choose a membership plan ­ Please note prices go up soon so sign up now on subscrip­ tion to secure these prices: o Standard (DIY option) = £69 pa o Premium (with support at each step) = £89 pa

Do you need a house-sitter? Get in touch. House-sitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and pet-sitting, and the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation! Register as either house-sitter or homeowner with a 20 per cent discount using coupon code P2020 - an exclusive offer for readers. To find a house or pet-sitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com.

The debate on mogs or dogs WHETHER dogs or cats are smarter has been a common debate among animal lovers for years, and looks set to remain so for many years to come.

Although scientists are mak­ ing many new discoveries re­ garding animals and their be­ haviour and they are one step closer to answering the ques­ tion every day, there is still no definite result to the debate. If we go by size, dogs are clearly in the lead as their brains make up 1.2 per cent of their total body weight, com­ pared to 0.9 per cent for cats. Yet scientists claim that size doesn’t matter and what counts is the number of brain cells. In this case, cats are well in the lead with around 300 million compared to dogs’ 160 million. Investigations carried out at the Cancog Technologies Insti­ tute in Toronto, Canada, led to the conclusion that dogs are more eager and able to learn and understand tasks and or­ ders and obtain better results than cats in memory tests. Other studies have proved that dogs are able to classify objects in different categories. While both animals are able to solve simple puzzles to obtain food, when things get more complicated dogs are more likely to look to humans for help while cats will keep trying to solve them themselves. Many scientists, though, have said that felines are more difficult to work with than ca­ nines meaning results of the many studies carried out so far can never be completely trust­ worthy.

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CHURCHES LOCAL ANGLICAN (C of E) Church Services Mojacar, Sundays at 11am Llanos Del Peral, Sundays at 11am Aljambra Chapel, 1st Thursday monthly at 11am Priest in Charge, Rev. Vincent Oram 603 659 139. For directions, details and to find out more about our church activities please see our website http://www.almeria-an glican.com (10002) ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Why not make this year the year you volunteer? Call and see how you can help either as a caseworker (with full training) or as a Telephone Buddy. We also visit beneficiaries who are housebound or in hospital. If you feel you could support us here in Spain, and you have a Spanish phone number then why not email us for more info tbuddyhhvisits@gmail.com . If you or your partner served or are serving, and you feel you need help or support then contact us using the details on the card, we are here for the small things as well as the big, sometimes talking to someone is the first step to feeling more in control. It can be a personal need or some help with your home or information on what or who to speak to on a medical issue, we help with signposting if we cannot help directly, just call and have a chat with Pam who will try to guide you to where you need to be. If you would like to go to a branch meeting then find your nearest one at, www.britishlegion.org.uk/counties/spainnorth ZURGENA Branch meeting on the first Thursday, Coffee Morning on the third Thursday and Buffet & Quiz Night on the last Tuesday of the month all at The Heathers La Alfoquia, for further details please email zurgenarblsecre tary@yahoo.co.uk - (253989)

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DRAINAGE

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PAINTERS

PETS

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SOLAR ENERGY MISCELLANEOUS GOLD & SILVER Bought & Sold, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel – 678 716 693 (288662)

THE FIVE BONE HOTEL, TURRE. We are still here and would love to discuss your future requirements. 630 234 556 / the5bonehotelturre@ gmail.com (279669)

MOTORING PLUMBERS KNOWLES PLUMBING No 1 for all plumbing jobs big or small. Central heating, solar hot water and water deposits. Tel: 606 807 797 or 684 143 560 (283894)

REMOVALS/STORAGE

FOR SALE/WANTED WANTED Gold, Silver, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel – 678 716 693 (288662)

BUILDERS

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

PLUMBING

Please note that in Spain there is NO legislation banning adverts in this section. Neither regional nor national governments are able to pass such a law due to rules governing freedom of publication and printing.

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NAUTICAL

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XXX RELAXATION

READERS OF A SENSITIVE DISPOSITION MAY FIND SOME OF THE ADVERTISEMENTS IN THIS SECTION OFFENSIVE.

FOR SALE

INTERNATIONAL SKIPPER LICENCE: Courses held in English and starts soon. RYA VHF and Radar Courses. 626 245 098 (290545)

SOLAR WIND POWER SOLUTIONS. Over 20 years installation experience. Established 17 years in Spain. Call Phil for competitive prices on 636 261 240 or email info@sunergyalmeria.com (283080)

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PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

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47

17 - 23 December 2020

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Peugeot 3008 HYbrid4

THERE was a time when cars touching €44k (£40k) bore premi­ um badges from the likes of BMW and Mercedes Benz. Well no longer! Premium manufactur­ ers have tried to attract aspiring buyers from the lower price ranges, and other manufacturers have tried to move into the pre­ mium sector. One example of the latter is Peugeot. Their models have improved in looks and build quality over the last few years and the 3008 is a perfect demonstration. Prices start at €30,113 (£27,160) and peak at €52,344 (£47,210). The engines options are a 1.2­litre, three­cylinder turbo petrol, four­ cylinder 1.6­litre turbo petrol, 1.5­ litre diesel and two plug­in hy­ brids with a 1.6­litre petrol unit and either one or two electric motors. It’s the plug­in hybrids that drew my interest given the direction we’re motoring. Two 3008 hybrids are offered with an effective 180hp in two­ wheel drive form and 200hp in four­wheel drive form. The latter uses two electric motors, one on each axle, and boosts the power to 300hp. You’ll get around 40

miles on pure electric and a home charger helps the practical­ ities. It reaches 60 mph in just un­ der six seconds. Mated to an eight­speed automatic gearbox the whole 3008 experience is a relaxed and refined affair. Switchable drive modes offer all electric, hybrid, sport and all­ wheel­drive by a twist of a rotary control. The four­ wheel drive of­ fers additional grip all the time but in winter, especially in more rural areas, it would certainly pro­ vide an added boost of confi­ dence. The low set and rather small steering wheel divides opinion as you see the instru­ ments above rather than through the wheel. The interior is a delight, radiat­ ing a quality and modern feel it’s a very nice place to be on any journey. Comfortable seats and good space ­ although the boot is smaller than you might expect because of those batteries ­ help matters along too. Having arguably led the drive for digital cockpits the 3008 con­ tinues the theme, a direction I’m not convinced by but the Peu­ geot’s controls are very intuitive.

Other manufacturers would do well to take note. Priced at €49,683 (£44,810) for my GT model, I’m not convinced the four wheel drive version is worth the hefty chunk of extra cash over the €44,139 (£39,810) two­wheel drive version.

MOTORING

SPORT

48

17 - 23 December 2020

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Arsenal Worst Run For 61 Years

MIKEL ARTETA: The pressure is now on. ARSENAL’S terrible season continued on Sunday, De­ cember 13, as they lost 0­1 at The Emirates, to Burnley, in a match that saw Arsenal’s Swiss midfielder Granit Xha­ ka, already on a yellow card, red­carded in the second half for violent conduct, as he grabbed Ashley Westwood by the throat, and VAR giving the referee no option but to send him off. After eight matches with­

out scoring, Pierre­Emerick Aubameyang finally had the ball in the net, unfortunately, he put it into his own net, for an own­goal that sealed the game, although, to be fair to him, he seems to be lacking the right service to produce any goals at the moment. The pressure is really rising now on Mikel Arteta to try to turn things around, while he still has time, with many fans calling for the return of

£350,000 a­week Mesut Ozil, with the German interna­ tional not even in the 25­ man squad, as his contract runs down to next summer. In his pre­match inter­ view, Arteta did hint at the possibility of Ozil featuring at some point soon, maybe the type of player who can inspire the ‘Gabonese goal machine,’ Aubameyang, to start knocking the goals in again.

Champions League 2021 THE UEFA Champions League 2021, last 16 draw took place on Monday, December 14, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzer­ land, with 16 of Europe’s top football clubs looking to make it to the final in Istanbul, on May 29, 2021. With three Premiership teams in the draw, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea, unable to be drawn against each other, the draw was officiated by Giorgio Marchetti, the Deputy General Secretary of UEFA. Here is the full draw and the dates of the matches: 16 February and 10 March Leipzig (GER) vs Liverpool (ENG) Barcelona (ESP) vs Paris (FRA) 17 February and 9 March Porto (POR) vs Juventus (ITA) Sevilla (ESP) vs Borussia Dortmund (GER) 23 February and 17 March Lazio (ITA) vs Bayern (GER) Atlético (ESP) vs Chelsea (ENG) 24 February and 16 March Borussia Mönchengladbach (GER) vs Man­ chester City (ENG) Atalanta (ITA) vs Real Madrid (ESP) There you have it, some interesting ties, with PSG, last season’s beaten finalists, ver­ sus Barcelona, one of the most exciting ties,

OFFICIAL DRAW: Was made by Giorgio Marchetti of UEFA. pitting Neymar against Messi, and seeing Messi return to the camp Nou for the first time since his transfer to Paris in 2017. Chelsea will not be looking forward to playing Atletico, who currently top La Liga in Spain, a tie that brings former player, Diego Costa, back to Stamford Bridge. Manchester City get probably one of the easier ties for the British teams, against Germany’s Borussia Monchengladbach, into the last 16 for the first time. Liverpool have a tricky tie against RB Leipzig as well, a team that is growing in strength in European competitions.