Euro Weekly News - Costa Blanca South 24 - 30 December 2020 Issue 1851

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The people’s paper ISSUE NO. 1851

24 - 30 December 2020

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH • WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

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CRESCENDO INTERNATIONAL CHOIR sang carols together on Saturday, December 12 at Rincon de Miguel’s outdoor patio in Los Montesinos. The choir members dressed up in holiday costumes but sat together in a socially-distanced manner and wearing masks. Christmas songs ranged from oldest favourites like The Holly and the Ivy and Away in a Manger to the Little Drummer Boy and Jingle Bell Rock. There had to be a Spanish carol, too, so the choir sang Campana sobre campana, together with Feliz Navidad and White Christmas in both English and Spanish. “Despite performing under the current pandemic restrictions, we still enjoyed our-

selves,” said Crescendo Choir member Nancy Klein. Halfway through the carol concert, choir members paused to bid farewell to founding member, Mary Priddle, who helped to start the Crescendo Choir back in 2004. Mary has now decided that this is a good time to return to her native Britain and received a gift and flowers for the choir, saying Thank You to all the members with much emotion in her voice. Twenty-six of the members stayed on afterwards for a fourcourse meal: “Never in a million years would you get such good value in the US where I am from,” Nancy said. Crescendo plans to start singing again outdoors at the

Photo credit: Crescendo International Choir

A CHRISTMAS CRESCENDO

CRESCENDO CHOIR: (left to right) Mary Priddle, Crescendo President Mary Mitchell and Crescendo member Phyl Webb. same restaurant on Saturday January 23 at 10.45. Readers interested in join-

ing them should visit the Crescendo website at http://www.crescendo-

choir.com/index.html for details. The choir is especially seeking male singers.

As long as pandemic restrictions are in place, members will be singing outdoors with masks and social distancing. The choir, which is made up of sopranos, altos, tenors and basses, sing a wide variety of songs ranging from musicals to spirituals and from pop to classical in English, Spanish, Dutch and Latin. When they give concerts the money they raise goes to local charities. Crescendo lives up to its international name because the singers are English, Dutch, German, Scandinavian and American with a Spanish musical director and pianist. “So please come and join us if you are looking for something to do and like to sing with others,” Nancy said.

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24 - 30 December 2020

Key to the door

ELCHE’S Fiestas councillor Mari­ ola Galiana recently presented Father Christmas with a key to the city. This, she explained, ensured that he would be able to enter every house and home on Christmas Eve to deliver pre­ sents in Elche.

The red­suited gentleman, who wore a facemask at all times, has recently been greet­ ing Elche’s children but plans to leave today, Thursday Decem­ ber 24. Meanwhile a post­box has been installed in Calle Corredora for children to leave their letters

Almoradi has talent ALMORADI town hall has created Almoradiemprende.es, a network that showcases the municipality's talented resi­ dents. The initiative demonstrates the work carried out by Al­ moradi’s active population, encompassing big firms, start­ ups, musicians and artists as well as local initiatives and peo­ ple seeking employment. The www.almoradiemprende.es has been operating since December 5 and already has 80 participants although the town hall is confident will eventually increase to include the town’s entire active population. “We want to use the social media networks and technolo­

Co-ordinator needed AGE CONCERN COSTA CALIDA are looking for an Events Co­ordi­ nator for fundraising events at local restaurants and venues. This is a fun job, with willing support from the rest of the team, liaising with the management of regular venues who are used to hosting events. “If this sounds like you, and you’re interested in contributing a little time each month to this worthwhile cause, why not ring Isabel Stewart on 634 344 589 or send an email to

Different setting

for carols

FOR the first time, the Royal British Legion’s annual Carols in the Square took place in Torrevieja’s Municipal Theatre. Owing to the Covid restrictions the audience was limited to 350, with admittance by ticket only. It was an evening to remember, compered by Keith Nicol with the carol singing led by Rebecca Holt and Shannon Campbell. They were ac­ companied by the Royal British Le­ gion Concert Band under the musical direction of David Last, who played festive favourites that included Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Good King Wenceslas, White Christmas and Jin­ gle Bells which the audience joined in with much enthusiasm. The Asila (Asociacion de Inmi­ gración de Torrevieja) sang the pop­ ular Spanish song, Feliz Navidad and two carols, Fum Fum Fum and Cam­ panas de Belen, to great applause. The well­known Sette Voci Septet sang five numbers including the tra­ ditional Silent Night, once more to hearty applause. The evening was a resounding success and all involved were con­ gratulated afterwards for putting to­ gether the event under very difficult circumstances.

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A smile on children’s faces

THE IRISH ROVER BAR in Torrevieja started col­ lecting presents in No­ vember for the San Jose Obrero orphanage in Ori­ huela. The San Jose Obrero di­ rector has now received 60 selection boxes and 54 shoe boxes of which 10 were made up the Bar Spud Murphy. Most people made up one box, although some made two while others put €15 into a charity box that will go to the or­

SPECIAL DELIVERY: Presents for the children at the San Jose Obrero. phanage at Easter. A big Thank You goes to Viv and Alan of The Irish Rover and their cus­

tomers, who yet again have succeeded in putting a smile on the children’s faces.

Scratch card initiative

SAN FULGENCIO plans to boost local com­ merce over the holiday season with scratch cards. The town hall’s Local Development and Com­ merce departments are distributing more than 6,000 of the cards in return for purchases in lo­ cal shops or spending in San Fulgencio restau­ rants, cafes and bars that are collaborating with the initiative. “All of the cards have a prize that will be available when paying,” explained Local Devel­ opment councillor Ana Maria Villena. These consist of ballpoints, key­rings, t­shirts

and backpacks as well as well as shopping trol­ leys and reusable shopping bags, all of which bear the campaign logo. The scheme, which began last Monday, De­ cember 21 continues until January 5, Villena said. The town hall hopes in this way to support San Fulgencio’s shops and hospitality trade, which have been hit so hard by the pandemic, “It has been very hard for both and as the lo­ cal government it is up to us to do all we can to lend a hand to the worst­affected sectors,” San Fulgencio’s mayor Jose Sampere declared.

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NIBS EXTRA Roof risk FIBROCEMENT roofing containing asbestos has been eliminated from 45 Valencian Community schools, although 28 remain. Education chief Vicent Marza explained these have such large expanses of fibrocement that it will take more than a month to remove them and this can only be carried out in the summer holidays when pupils are absent.

Home grown ALICANTE Province’s agricultural sector helped to compensate for the fall in exports this year, with a 9 per cent increase in international sales. Exports amounted to €4.2 billion between January and October, only 5.8 per cent below last year even though Alicante’s footwear and marble exports plummeted.

Sports elite TWO young Bigastro sportspeople Marc Gutierrez and Mario Sarmiento received municipal scholarships enabling them to continue participating in national and international events. Gutierrez has represented Spain in table-tennis competitions in Hungary and Portugal while Sarmiento has won official taekwondo events in Madrid and other autonomous communities.

Small market REGIONAL regulations now allow open-air markets to return to their original size so long as visitor-capacity is reduced by 50 per cent but Torrevieja still has only 250 stalls instead of 500. Markets councillor Antonio Vidal explained the municipality lacks sufficient personnel to control access to the site.

Be tidy DOLORES Town Hall asked the local population to comply with rubbish collection bylaws following episodes where refuse has been found strewn all over the streets. Not only was it necessary to respect health regulations during the pandemic but this was also essential in preventing vermin and plagues of insects, municipal sources said.

Caged chimp CAMPELLO Town Hall asked the Generalitat to intervene in the case of Suzi, a 48-year-old chimpanzee living in a cage on private property. Its Belgian owner, who inherited Suzi from his father, has no permit and the animal, not microchipped, lacks identity papers and vet records.

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A Carol from Flanders By Frederick Niven ( 1878 - 1944) In Flanders on the Christmas morn The trenched foemen lay, the German and the Briton born, And it was Christmas Day. The red sun rose on fields accurst, The gray fog fled away; But neither cared to fire the first, For it was Christmas Day! They called from each to each across The hideous disarray, For terrible has been their loss: “Oh, this is Christmas Day!” Their rifles all they set aside, One impulse to obey; ‘Twas just the men on either side, Just men - and Christmas Day. They dug the graves for all their dead And over them did pray: And Englishmen and Germans said: “How strange a Christmas Day!” Between the trenches then they met, Shook hands, and e’en did play At games on which their hearts were set On happy Christmas Day. Not all the emperors and kings, Financiers and they Who rule us could prevent these things For it was Christmas Day. Oh ye who read this truthful rime From Flanders, kneel and say: God speed the time when every day Shall be as Christmas Day.

Michel and Steven Euesden would like to wish everyone that reads this message a very Merry Christmas It has been a difficult year for everyone but hopefully as in 1914 - we can all find it in our heart to be festive during this holiday period…

Off to a good start START 2021 with a splash and join Costa Calida Age Concern’s Spon­ sored Swim in Mazarron on New Year’s Day. The Swim has been moved this year from Hotel Bahia to the beach outside Zambuca restaurant in the Puerto and takes place at 1pm. Participants will be expected to stay with water up to their knees for a minimum of one minute. The next diary date is Saturday February 13, Valentine’s weekend, when Zambuca Restaurant in El Puerto hosts a Tribute to Tom Jones featuring Jim McMail from 6pm to 9.30pm. This is a fundraising event with great raffle prizes whose proceeds will go to Age Concern. Tickets costing €5 per person should be

purchased in advance. “Please remember, we are still here for advice and information, e q u i p m e n t l o a n , h e l p w i t h s h o p­ ping and medicine collection. Be­ frienders for our clients are still very active,” Age Concern Costa Calida said. “If you would like a personal chat with one of our team, please telephone the Drop­in Centre on 634 344 589 for an appointment. Our phone lines will still be manned as usual between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.” Enquiries: 634 344 589 Volunteer Coordinator: 634 312 516 Lifeline Puerto de Mazarron Area: 634 325 408 Equipment Loan: 634 306 927

Earliest inhabitants SANTA POLA’S Museo del Mar presented a YouTube video fo­ cusing on the Neanderthals who once inhabited the Mediter­ ranean coast. The video is the result of re­ search by a team of archaeolo­ gists and academics led by Daniel Belmonte. The programme features ob­ jects found in Santa Pola exca­ vations that include a spear­ head, scrapers and saw­toothed tools. The video also demonstrates how Santa Pola offered its ear­ liest inhabitants an ideal habi­ tat with a coastline, sierra and marsh that provided them with substantial resources for sur­ vival.

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More of the same SOME things never change. This was made clearer than ever in a recently­launched book by Joan Cas­ taño, the archivist at Elche’s Santa Maria basilica. Castaño’s book, ‘Ancient and mod­ ern news from the town of Elche 1845,’ is a compilation of different episodes from Elche’s history and the recent launch was attend­ ed by the city’s Cul­ ture councillor Mar­ ga Anton. She stressed Cas­ taño’s “constancy and thoroughness” in his 30 years of professional life, and went on to maintain that it was obvious that no­one could ever partici­ pate fully in a com­ munity without knowing its history. It was equally im­ portant to be aware of their forebears’ actions or the rea­ sons for them, An­ ton said. Castaño’s book could hardly be called a history book in the strictest sense, but instead it is a collection of past events and sit­ uations covering a long period of time. Some go back to Elche’s Roman peri­ od while others, in­ teresting, focus on the area’s constant need for more wa­ ter. One reference refers to a request in 1668 for a water transfer from the River Jucar, fore­ shadowing the Cam­ po de Elche’s con­ tinued insistence on local agriculture’s need for the water supplied by the T a j o ­ S e g u r o pipeline.

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24 - 30 December 2020

Toy story for locals GUARDAMAR Town Hall, together with the local Women’s Asso­ ciation have collaborated to collect toys for local children. Owing to anti­Covid regulation, it was necessary to stipulate that these had to be new, explained Mari Carmen Rastoll Palo­ maar, the association’s president. “Our principal aim was to ensure that no child would be with­ out a toy at Christmas,” she added. “We contacted the town hall’s Social Welfare councillor Jose Maria Hernandez Campillo, explaining our plans and began the campaign via a WhatsApp group,” Mari Carmen explained. Several Guardamar businesses cooperated with the campaign, including The Shamrock bar, which the town hall revealed had contributed a considerable number of toys.

NEWS

Palm forest’s olive oil

ORIHUELA Town Hall has launched oil produced from the olive trees that grow in the town’s palm forest. “This extra virgin olive oil has come from more than 100 of the 229 trees now planted in El Palmeral,” said Orihuela’s Envi­ ronment councillor Damaso Aparicio. By producing the oil, Aparicio explained that the town hall

was publicising the palm forest ­ an officially­protected Asset of Cultural Importance (BIC) ­ and at the same time drawing at­ tention to its produce, alongside the dates for which it is famous. The oil was an exclusive vari­ ety, Aparicio said, who thanked the municipal biologist Gonzalo Escudero, as well as the staff from the Horticultural Employ­ ment Workshop and the Los Ministros olive processing plant, for their input. The councillor disclosed that the oil had not been created for sale, but was produced to pro­ mote Orihuela’s Palmeral for­ est. Nor will the oil be wasted as a ‘large quantity’ is to be donated to associations in the town’s marginalised San Anton neigh­ bourhood and the Caritas chari­ ty.

Photo credit: Orihuela town hall

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PRODUCTIVE: Palm forest’s olive oil and dates.

Province is vaccine-ready ALICANTE Province is all pre­ pared with deep freezes ready and waiting for the first ship­ ments of the Pfizer anti­Covid vaccine. With the first vaccinations due to begin on Sunday, De­ cember 27 in all of Spain’s au­ tonomous regions, the Valen­ cian Community Health department has acquired a spe­ cial deep freeze for the province. This, together with existing deep freezes in hospitals and health centres, will store 190,000 doses of the vaccine, enough to protect 95,000 peo­ ple who will each receive two shots, three weeks apart.

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Costa Blanca Charity

IN the Costa Blanca town of El Campello near Alicante, locals have united to donate the largest ever haul donated to the charity Caritas - over six tonnes of food and hygiene products. “It has been wonderful. Now we will work for a few days to organise batches, and before Christmas all this food and basic necessities will be distributed among the vulnerable families of the municipality,” said those responsible for the humanitarian organisation. From the town, various

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CAMPOVERDE CAROL SINGING

WONDERFUL: More than 100 people volunteered to help sports, cultural and youth groups came together to support the charity’s Christmas appeal and more than 100 people

Santas on wheels ON Saturday December 12 the Rawhiders motorcycle club dressed in Santa outfits with their bikes Christmas trimmed, presented Christmas gifts and a cheque for €400 to the AAN charity who feeds the needy of La Marina and San Fulgencio of all nationalities, with any excess gifts going to a local orphanage. A huge thanks on behalf of the AAN charity for the overwhelming generosity of all concerned. The Strand beauty salon for a collection point for gifts, and local bar Cheers for holding a raffle, and to all our customers who donate items to our AAN charity shop and for their support attending race nights and fashion shows. All your generosity will ensure a great Christmas for many children this year.

volunteered to coordinate the drive, organised by the Department of Citizen Participation of the City Council.

Party bust again POLICE in Valencia bust a 200-strong party at the same university campus that saw an outbreak in September. Early Saturday morning, December 19, National and Local Police broke up a huge gathering of more than 200 students at a residence on the Colegio Mayor Galileo Galilei in Valencia. According to police sources, there was no social distancing and nobody was wearing face masks. In September, there was a massive outbreak with 160 positive cases following a party at the Galileo Galilei Residence Hall on the same campus. This prompted a suspension of face-to-face classes on the entire Vera campus and all training went online.

RUSTY NAIL: Everyone gathered to sing Christmas Carols. ON Sunday December 20, Campoverde village came together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Every year, for the last nine years, Campoverde Church in the Community has joined together with Jimmy from the Rusty Nail to help bring the true meaning of Christmas to the people in the village. Despite, or maybe because of, the difficulties of the past year, we were determined that this year our celebration of Jesus’ birth would continue. Over 60 people gathered on the terrace of the Rusty Nail and across the road outside the health centre and the other bars for this tremendous event. We sung all our favourite Christmas Car-

ols, heard readings from the Bible that told about the birth of Jesus, and rounded off the evening with mulled wine and mince pies, provided courtesy of Jimmy and Clare. It all got quite emotional as we remembered our loved ones unable to be with us and when we considered that this may very well be Jimmy and Clare’s last year in Campoverde. Thanks to everyone who turned up and your amazingly positive attitude of celebration, to Jimmy and Clare and all the staff of the Rusty Nail, to Brian Bennett for letting us use his sound system, and especially to Jesus without whom we would not have this very special time.

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Guitarist’s duet with cat goes viral

Musical cat, Barney. A GUITARIST’S duet with a cat playing the piano has gone viral on TikTok. Russian Mars Gilmanov

has posted several videos of his pet cat Barney playing the piano. T he cat even seems to

know what he’s doing. One of the videos was spotted by another musician, Akiz Guitar, who created a very original duet video of himself playing along with the cat, who he calls a ‘maestro.’ He plays the same notes and pauses with the same flair as the cat, just proving that what the feline is doing, isn’t actually bad (for a cat!) The cute video has been very popular on TikTok.

Vaccine WILL Work THE Minister of Health for Spain, Salvador Illa, assured the public on Monday Decmeber 21 that the coronavirus vaccine “is also effective with the new strain detected in the United Kingdom.” This more contagious strain has so far caused a torrent of flight suspensions against the UK. Several European countries- and the list is growing - have closed their entrances and exits. Spain has not (at the time of going to print), saying it will instead reinforce the PCR tests. The governments of Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Peru have also cancelled their connections with the United Kingdom, as well as Canada in North America.

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Biggest ever job boost for region IN a euphoric and truly elated way, one of the largest job offers has been made in the region. Valencia City Council has announced just over 500 vacancies for firefighters, police, administration, teachers, engineers and more. In an unprecedented move, the council has asked for applications totalling more than 500. This is the largest offer in 15 years. Once again it was noted the decision by all parties, in talks

previous to the offers being made, were in complete unison, a unanimous vote to secure so many jobs in the region. From a piano teacher to 24 admin staff to 50 new Local Police officers, and the document went on to describe in detail the requirements of the council and the need to fill vacancies as soon as possible. A long-awaited positive for Valencia for jobs and the region is how this news can be described.

PM in quarantine

SPANISH PM Pedro Sánchez will be in quarantine until Christmas Eve after being in contact with French President Emmanuel Macron who has tested positive for Covid. The two leaders lunched together on Monday, December 14, just days before the French government made the announcement. Sánchez has suspended all of his activities scheduled for the next few days in compliance with health protocols, and will undergo a diagnostic test. The PM has informed the King Of Spain, Felipe VI that he will quarantine until December 24, to allow 10 days to lapse following his lunch with Macron in Paris.

Warm Winter in Spain is forecast DON’T pack the shorts away just yet as experts predict that Spain is to have a warmer winter than usual this year Following an unseasonably mild autumn the good news keeps coming as experts at the State Meteorological Agency (Aemat) announced on Thursday, December 17 that winter throughout Spain is set to be warmer and drier than in previous years.

According to Aemet’s seasonal forecast, January, February and March 2021 will have less rain and higher temperatures than usual, with some areas such as the Balearic Islands seeing an increase of at least 0.7ºC above normal. Autumn 2020 was also an extraordinary season in Spain, with rainfall at 14 per cent below normal values for the time of year.

Tribute To

Health Workers MADRID leaders received a mixed welcome when they arrived in the capital to pay tribute to health care workers. Head figures in the government converged on the Plaza de los Sagrados Corazones in Madrid on Friday, December 18, to unveil a sculpture in tribute to health care workers who have died in Spain while fighting the Covid pandemic. Minister of Health, Salvador Illa, was met with boos and calls to “get out of the photo,” while Madrid Community President, Isabel Diaz Ayuso, and mayor, Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida, were greeted warmly.

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No to rapid tests THE Spanish government will urge health centres not to prescribe rapid Covid tests amid fears they ‘do not serve to detect the virus.’ Self-diagnostic tests have been sold in pharmacies for the last 15 days, for around €25 and always with a prescription. But Health Minister Salvador Illa has asked for caution before using them. “The tests are not an absolute security passport nor are they a guarantee, they are a caption of a certain moment. It does not exempt us from taking security measures.” And a health source told La Sexta the department will ask doctors to stop prescribing the tests which detect if a person has antibodies against coronavirus in 10 minutes. The test is said to be 90 per cent effective. The Ministry of Health has warned that if you do a test at home, you must get confirmation from a health centre. “We are going to work on protocolising these self-diagnostic tests,” it was added.

False ID arrest A THIRTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD Peru­ vian who used the identity of an 89­year­old woman she was car­ ing for in Petrer to traffic cocaine has been jailed for six years by Alicante court. The woman was convicted of using her client’s name without permission to re­ ceive a shipment of cocaine from Lima on December 9, 2019.

The Customs Surveillance Ser­ vice of the Adolfo Suarez­Madrid Barajas airport intercepted the package, which claimed to con­ tain golf clubs, and used the tele­ phone number provided to track the woman down. She was ar­ rested, held without bail and sen­ tenced on November 30 to six years in prison.

NEWS

McLaren

Mind

M C L A R E N F 1 announced it has raised £285,000 for mental health charity M ind through initiatives from its fans, partners and team members in 2020. T he Formula O ne team, which is the former home of B ritish World Champion driver Lewis Hamilton, has also announced that they will be continuing to support the vital work of Mind into the 2021 Formula 1 season by extending their relationship with the charity. M oney raised by McLaren for F1 charities as part of W e R ace A s O ne campaign brings McLaren’s total fundraising in response to the C ovid-19 pandemic to more than £420,000 since the Austrian Grand Prix.

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Peaky Blinders Brummies Needed Illegal immigration PEAKY BLINDERS is set to start filming season six, and Brummies are needed. Casting is open now, so get your applications in. The Birmingham based show is a major hit around the world, and many were disappointed when season six became delayed due to the global Covid-19 pandemic. The good news though is that the latest season is set to begin filming in Manchester soon. Talent agency LB Casting Ltd took to Facebook to search for Brummies to appear in the show. The casting requirements may rule out hopeful stars though, as requirements are strict. For men, no modern facial

CASTING OPEN: But the requirements are strict.

hair or beards are allowed, no modern haircuts or fades and you must be willing to shave if needed. Other requirements include not having a chest size over 44 inches. The list for women is slightly shorter and requires no dyed

hair or highlights, mid to shoulder length hair is a must and you must fit in a size 12 dress or under. Casting is only open until Friday January 3 and applications can be made via email to ap ply@lbcastingltd.co.uk.

NATIONAL POLICE have dismantled a network which brought hundreds of illegal immigrants from Morocco to Spain in small boats. Nineteen people have been arrested in Lanzarote, Murcia, Cadiz, Almeria, Granada, Huesca, Madrid and Malaga. They are suspected to have brought several hundred illegal immigrants into Spain, earning them more than €75,000. The investigation began when a witness reported the criminal organisation, which brought the immigrants mainly to Lanzarote and Gran Canaria. The National Police and Europol discovered that there were two parts to the network, one in Morocco, which organised the trips and found the passengers, who could book a place on the boats for between €500 and €1,500, and another, in Lanzarote, which organised the logistics side of the operation. If the immigrants failed to pay, the organisation held them against their will until they did. Seventeen of the detainees are Moroccan and two Spanish, who are charged with belonging to a criminal organisation, crimes against the rights of foreign citizens, money laundering and document falsification. Three properties were searched in Lanzarote, and National Police have seized three vehicles, eight mobile phones and computer equipment.

NEWS

Spanish ‘Kitchen Nightmares’

A SPANISH version of hit show ‘Kitchen Nightmares’ has gone viral after producers were forced to call the police because the restaurant was so filthy. Hit Spanish show ‘Are you going to eat it?’ has just had a new boost as a video posted on Twitter by TV chef Alberto Chicote of a disgusting Chinese restaurant in Zaragoza has gone viral. In the video, Chicote is heard calling the restaurant “a s### hole” as he explores the filthy kitchen where there is no refrigeration and fresh food is left out. Several Local Police officers accompanied the chef on his inspection, and after finding cockroaches immediately said “We must close this kitchen now.”

Best Holiday award for Jet2Holidays JET2HOLIDAYS was awarded a silver award in the Best Holiday Company to the Iberian Peninsula category and a bronze award in the Best Holiday Company to East and Southeast Europe category at this year’s virtual ceremony. Over 132,000 holidaymakers cast more than 240,000 votes across the categories to have their say on who they consider the best in travel.

This year, consumers were encouraged to vote for companies who had provided the best customer service during the pandemic whether that was by way of arranging refunds, rebookings or cancellations for customers whose plans have been affected. Jet2.com and Jet2holidays customer-first strategy during the pandemic won them praise from customers, consumer

organisations, media, and independent travel agents for how they have looked after customers who have been affected by any programme changes. Jet2holidays were also named ‘Best Short-Haul Operator’ at The Sun Travel Awards 2020 and emerged as the industry leader for customers for cancelled holidays in a review by Money Mail.

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Wrong anthem for Carlos Sainz THE wrong anthem was played for Spaniard Carlos Sainz after winning the preparatory rally for Dakar, when the Saudi Arabians mistakenly played the one from

the Franco era. The driver stood calmly on the podium, obviously trying not to allow his facial expression to show his surprise on hearing the

PODIUM: Driver tried not to show surprise.

Soldiers Punished THREE Spanish soldiers have been punished after a video leak surfaced from a fascist party at a military base in Paracuellos del Jarama, Madrid. The party was held on December 8, 2019, where the military men can be seen dancing with several others to the rhythm of a Blue Division song and making a fascist salute. The video was broadcast last Wednesday, December 16, by the website La Marea. Sources from the Spanish Army said that those punished were a non-commissioned officer, responsible for organising the party, and two soldiers who behaved ‘inappropriately’ and who could be identified in the video. The three were punished for a minor disciplinary offence after the video shows a group of people, in uniform and in civilian clothes, dancing to a rock version of the song, some of them holding beers and waving. The army learned about the video in January when disciplinary proceedings were opened.

hymn, which was written by Jose Maria Peman in 1928 upon the orders of Miguel Primo de Rivera and used during the Franco dictatorship. The Dakar Rally starts on January 2. Sainz, and his partner Lucas Cruz, won the second Baja Ha’il after Al Attiyah won the first.

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Opticians in Costa Blanca launch Christmas Food Collection SPECSAVERS Ópticas stores across the Costa Blanca have teamed up to collect food dona­ tions for vulnerable people in the region. The teams are collecting items throughout December to be donated to the Alicante Food Bank (Fundación Banco de Ali­ mentos de Alicante) and are en­ couraging their local communi­ ties to give generously and ensure no one in the Alicante Pprovince goes hungry. Lisa James, a store director at Specsavers Ópticas Guardamar, explains: “It’s that time of year where sadly some families will miss out on the festive cheer for various different reasons, but this year in particular the pan­ demic has had a devastating ef­ fect. That’s why the work of our local food banks and charities is such an important lifeline for so many people in our community and we’re delighted to support this incredibly worthy cause. Please come in and bring healthy, non­perishable food with a long shelf life and give families something to look for­ ward to this Christmas and be­ yond.” According to FESBAL (Spanish Federation of Food Banks), de­ mand has increased by more than 40 per cent since the State of Alarm was announced and they are currently helping 1.8m people to feed themselves and their families. Unfortunately, they do not expect this situation to improve in the short or medi­ um term, so are relying on sup­ port from businesses and indi­ viduals to meet the demand. In September a FEBA (Euro­ pean Food Bank Federation) sur­

Visit www.specsavers.es to find your nearest store and contact details. Find out more about the Alicante Food Bank on their website www.bancodealimen tosalicante.org

FOOD DONATIONS: Are desperately needed.

vey revealed that over 85 per cent of food banks in Europe continue to experience growing demand. This is a result of the in­ crease in the total number of people in need, especially of food, due to social and econom­ ic consequences of the Covid­19 pandemic. Specsavers Ópticas is collect­ ing food donations in its Javea, Calpe, Benidorm, Torrevieja, Guardamar and La Zenia stores. The food bank desperately needs donations of the follow­ ing items to respond to demand ­ full fat milk, rice, sugar, oil, drinking chocolate and canned fish such as tuna. You can drop those items off at any Specsavers Ópticas store on the Costa Blanca during opening hours until January 5.

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Fitting farewell to 2020 E L P OZ O K I N G, the youngest and now the most rebellious brand of El Pozo Alimentación, from Murcia sent a special farewell message to 2020 with a powerful statement and humorous goodbye to a long, hard and sad year. In a daring, creative and clear cut message, the banner reads: ‘F**KING YEAR 2020. So long,’ accompanied by a gesture that expresses more than words. T his message has been displayed on a large canvas and can be seen by thou-

sands of residents on the facade of the building located at C alle Z urbarán in Madrid. This action, which will be visible until December 31, is complemented by the different related messages that will be launched through the

SO LONG: To 2020.

Bournemouth to Bergerac RYANAIR has announced a new Bournemouth to Bergerac (France) route which will see the operation of two weekly flights. The announcement made on Thursday, December 17, will commence on June 2, 2021 as part of Ryanair’s British Summer 2021 schedule and to celebrate they’re offering some cheap seats. Ryanair launched a seat sale with fares available from just £30.99 (€34.46), for travel during the month of June 2021, which must be booked by midnight Saturday, December 19, only on the Ryanair.com website.

brand’s profiles in social networks and that can be shared through WhatsApp.

UNICEF Help UK FOR the first time in its history, UNICEF is set to come to the aid of UK children. According to reports, the United Nations (UN) agency, which has provided humanitarian aid to children around the world since 1946, is now set to fund a project to feed children in the United Kingdom after 900,000 more children have registered for free school meals this year. UNICEF will provide thousands of breakfast boxes, of which each will provide enough food for 10 breakfasts and will be distributed over the Christmas holidays to vulnerable children and families in Southwark, south London by giving £25,000 to the charity School Food Matters.

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Life sentence confirmed

for Gabriel’s killer

T H E S upreme C ourt has confirmed the life sentence handed down to the killer of eight-year-old Gabriel Cruz, Ana Julia Quezada. The boy was murdered on a property in Rodalquilar, Almeria, in February 2018, by his father’s girlfriend, a

former prostitute from the Dominican Republic. The Supreme Court has supported the decisions of the Almeria Provincial Court and the A ndalucia H igh Court of Justice by confirming the maximum sentenced for the murderer and reject-

Interest In Sierra Nevada INTEREST in buying a Sierra Nevada ski lodge is up 107 per cent on last year. The demand for owning a home in Spain’s iconic ski resort has risen exponentially in spite of the coronavirus pandemic and uncertainty over whether the facilities will even open this year, according to a report published by Idealista on Tuesday, December 15. “This situation could be due to the interest of families with medium/high purchasing power in having a second home in a natural environment in the event of a new confinement, but without giving up the services offered by the regions where sports can be enjoyed in winter,” according to the real estate portal. The greatest increase in demand has been in Granada, where searches for houses in Sierra Nevada have grown by 107 per cent compared to last year, closely followed by Madrid, Girona and Lleida.

ing her appeals. O n February 27, 2018, Gabriel went to play with his cousins and his father’s girlfriend convinced him to go with her to the house where she suddenly and intentionally hit him against the wall or floor and covered his nose and mouth until she killed him. T he search for the boy lasted 11 days, during which Quezada pretended to be upset and created false hope for the family by claiming to have found his tshirt. S he was arrested on M arch 11, 2018, upon arrival at her home in Vicar having dug up G abriel’s body and put it in the boot of her car. The investigation had focused on her secretly for several days before her arrest, but officers did not want her to think that they suspected her.

NEWS

Amazon Ex Donates AMAZON founder Jeff Bezos’ ex­wife MacKenzie Scott do­ nated $4bn (€3.4bn) in four months as food banks and emergency relief funds re­ ceived her generous support. Ms Scott, who is the world’s 18th­richest person, said in a blog post that she wanted to support those most affected by the Covid pandemic. The 50­year­old benefited from being married to the world’s richest man and since their divorce has seen her wealth grow from $23.6bn (€19.3bn) this year to $60.7bn (€49.7bn). “This pandemic has been a wrecking ball in the lives of Americans already struggling,” she wrote in a blog post on Tuesday, December 15, adding that she had picked more than 380 charities to donate to hav­ ing considered almost 6,500 organisations. “Economic losses and health outcomes alike have been worse for women, for people of colour and for people living in poverty. Meanwhile, it has

substantially increased the wealth of billionaires.” Last year she signed the Giv­ ing Pledge, promising to give

away the majority of her for­ tune stating that: “I have a dis­ proportionate amount of mon­ ey to share.”

Itinerant thieves arrested in Bilbao

THREE women were arrested in Bilbao charged with belong­ ing to an itinerant criminal gang based in France and re­ sponsible for numerous house robberies. The Basque police, the Ertzaintza, arrested the Croatian women, aged between 35 and 39, who all had extensive crimi­ nal records and used as many as 43 fake identities to escape the police in different European countries. They were located in a car in Irun, Guipuzcoa, with which they travelled to Vitoria and then Bilbao, where they parked. It had been hired in Paris. They kept some distance

from each other, so that police would not realise they were to­ gether, and entered an apart­ ment block. Upon leaving, they were stopped by the police carrying tools for picking and breaking locks, all hidden in socks under their clothes. All of the tools were seized, as well as €2,500 in cash, but police found that they had not entered any homes in the build­ ing or anywhere else in the Basque Country. They travelled from France to nearby areas to break into apartments and within days or just hours, return to their head­ quarters with the stolen goods.

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FEATURE

Advertising Feature

Hospital Quirónsalud Torrevieja is among the Best in Spain according to the TOP 20 Hospital Awards granted by IQVIA Healthcare HOSPITAL QUIRÓNSALUD TORREVIEJA is the only private hospital in the Valencia Community to have received

the award for its general hospital management and in the Nervous System Area. Valencia Community, De-

cember 16, 2020. Hospital Quirónsalud Torrevieja received the TOP 20 Hospital Award for ‘Global Hospital Management’ granted to Regional and National Benchmark hospitals. This acknowledgment highlights the centre’s good practices in general hospital management and the excellence of its professionals. These processes have been evaluated using different quality and efficiency indicators. Likewise, the centre received the award in the Nervous System Area category, singling out

Quirónsalud Torrevieja.

its Neurorehabilitation Unit as one of the best in the country. TOP 20 Hospitals is the benchmark programme in the healthcare field in Spain, and is based on objective indicators, obtained from data that are routinely recorded through the Conjunto Mínimo Básico de Datos (CMBD, or Basic Minimum Data Set). In addition, other Grupo Hospitalario Quirónsalud cen-

tres, including Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz, and Complejo Hospitalario Ruber Juan Bravo, also received the award during the 21st edition of the TOP 20 Awards granted this Tuesday by IQVIA Healthcare. During this edition, 151 hospitals, from 14 autonomous communities, participated voluntarily. Thirty processes, containing over 120 indicators,

were assessed in eight clinical areas (Nervous System, Respiratory, Heart, Digestive, Skeletomuscular, Kidney and Urinary Tract, Women, and Critical Patient Care). In total, 38 hospitals received awards, from seven autonomous communities: Andalucía, Catalonia, Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, La Rioja, Madrid and Valencia. With over 20 years of history, TOP 20 Hospitals is one of the benchmark programmes in the Spanish healthcare field, since it recognises good practices in the sector and, throughout the years, has achieved the participation of over 250 hospitals (public and private). For this edition, the awards were announced during a virtual conference, due to the pandemic.

Zurbarán 28. CP. 28010 Madrid. España / Spain • +34 91 781 06 82 • www.quironsalud.es @quironsalud • www.facebook.com/quironsalud.es • http://www.tucanaldesalud.es

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What Papers To Carry WITH the new restrictions revised for the Christmas period, the latest announcement brings with it a reminder to have all paperwork with you whilst travelling. The usual documents proving who you are, concerning the peo-

ple you are visiting, brother, sister or mother perhaps will always speed up the process of verifying your reason to travel, Driving licence, insurance document, ITV (MOT) papers and sticker, logbook and an accident (blue) form are all legal requirements.

During the Christmas period whilst travelling there are no strict revised rules sent down to the traffic police from authorities, however, there are recommendations, and they relate to medical certificates if travelling for that reason and that they must be current and signed. The rule regarding papers to be carried in a vehicle allows for photocopies, however they must be stamped with a notary mark. The recommendation from authorities is to have basically as much relevant documentation as you can to help explain who you are and why you are visiting a different municipality or province in your region.

NEWS

SEVILLA FERIA OFF

SADLY the Sevilla feria typically planned for April has had to be cancelled. The fair has been going since 1847, and even in the Civil War, it kept trade in livestock going to service demand. This will be the second year in a row it has been cancelled which is unheard of and represents the seriousness of the pandemic. The total loss to Sevilla infrastructure and Andalucia as a whole could be €800 million which is around 3 per cent of the GDP of the whole region. The mayor of Sevilla Juan Espadas has known that a

UNHEARD OF: Cancellation of the feria in April.

delicate decision lay ahead and it’s now been made. September 2021 is the new

April possibly, and this was the suggested month to postpone it to.

Hotels Will Reopen SERVIGROUP are confident that all hotels in Spain will reopen in time for the high season in 2021. At an annual meeting of the Servigroup hotel chain in Benidorm on Thursday morning, December 17, CEO José María Caballé gave a message of hope when he expressed confidence that all of the hotels in Benidorm, La Vila, Orihuela, Castellón, La Manga and Mo-

jacar would be back in business by the time the 2021 high season rolls around. The hotel giant has not taken a back seat while the majority of the venues remain closed during the pandemic. Instead, Servigroup has been working on launching a new website and has just recently unveiled a new corporate logo. This Christmas, Servigroup’s flagship hotel, the Diplomatic in Benidorm, remains open.

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Chefs make dinner for needy FORTY of Spain’s chefs cooked a special Christmas dinner for 1,000 people in need. In the eighth edition of charity campaign ‘Te invito a cenar,’ 40 chefs, including Maria Jimenez, Juan Pozuelo,

Ruben Cordero, Jose Luis Inarejos, Chema de Isidro, Pepe Gorines, Santiago Abad and Nico Rios, Eduardo Cas­ quero, David Rubio and Anita Be Cool, prepared meals which were later given out to families in Madrid.

The dishes were prepared at the Mirador de Cuatro Vientos while more than 400 volunteers prepared the gifts and treats for the families, previously selected by NGOs, and then delivered them to their homes last night, Sun­

day, December 20. The meal had aperitifs, first course, second course and a dessert, but the families also received basic food and other products, as well as toys in the households with children. The beneficiaries are homeless, poor, unemployed immigrants, drug addicts, refugees, minors in care and youths with difficulties, ac­ cording to the organisers, Compañia de las Obras. Whereas other years they have been invited to come to a dinner, this year, it was tak­ en to them, but it included a video connection so they could share the fun with mu­ sic, carols, games, raffles and other surprises. They added that every year, the number of chefs wanting to take part has in­ creased, and highlight that it has also been possible thanks to donations from numerous companies.

NEWS

Illegal Tobacco Gang Busted

FIFTY people were arrested following raids on 40 properties across Romania, with huge amounts of production machin­ ery and illegal tobacco products seized from warehouses, businesses, and homes across the country. The Guardia Civil’s Central Operation Unit assisted Ro­ manian and European authorities in the operation, and the gang reportedly once ran illegal Spanish cigarette factories in Toledo, Sevilla, and Cordoba. Those arrested are of Ro­ manian and Moldovan nationality, though their operation spanned the majority of the continent. The recent series of raids and arrests mark the successful conclusion of a Europe­wide crackdown on the lucrative ille­ gal tobacco trade. Beginning in 2017, the operation has seen 200 arrests across Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Greece, Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, and Belgium. Overall a staggering 95 million illegal cigarettes were seized alongside 300 tonnes of tobacco.

Hospital Waiting Times

PATIENTS attending Torrevieja Hospital in the Costa Blanca have the shortest waiting time for surgery in the area According to official data published by the Ministry of Health on Thursday, December 17, the average wait for surgical intervention in Torrevieja University Hospital ‘is 32 days, a figure four times lower than the average [of the Valencian Community], which is 120 days.’ In nearby Elche, at the Vinalopo University Hospital, the average sur­ gical waiting time is just 35 days, also well below average. Overall, the shortest waiting time in Torrevieja is for general and di­ gestive surgeries, which is only four days, while the longest wait is for urology and cardiac procedures.

‘Bulky’coat fine MOTORISTS face a new winter fine for driving in a ‘bulky’ coat. Similar to the fines for driving in flip flops during the summer months, motorists will be slammed with a fine of up to €200 for wearing ‘bulky’ coats during the winter months. This new penalty refers to the fact ‘a coat that is too large or that is too bulky can interfere

Freedom of movement.

with the functions of the seat belt.’ Article 18 of the General Traffic Regulations says: ‘The dri­ ver of a vehicle is obliged to maintain his own freedom of movement,’ which means it could be down to the traffic po­ lice whether a fine is issued. In short, wearing a chunky coat isn’t strictly prohibited, but drivers can be fined for it.

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EUROPEAN PRESS

EUROPEAN NIBS DENMARK

GERMANY

If Carlsberg

Break through

THE Danish brewery alongside SAB Miller and United Breweries control almost 90 per cent of the beer sold in India and now they have been accused of price fixing and could face enormous fine if the allegations are proven.

IN 2017, thieves stole a huge modern Canadian gold coin valued at €3.75 million from a Berlin museum. Police who believe that it has been melted down and used to make counterfeit coins raided 14 properties and seized gold and cash.

NETHERLANDS

FRANCE

Cash rich

Medal return

ACCORDING to a report in Dutch newspaper Trouw, food banks in the Netherlands have not used a €4 million grant in order to feed their 100,000 clients and now a further €8 million is due to be paid via the European Social Fund.

TWO prominent Italians have returned their French Legion of Honour awards in protest at the decision made by President Macron to give the award to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi who they believe was involved in the death of an Italian student in Cairo.

BELGIUM

NORWAY

Crayonism

Slimmer airline

THE owner of the Café Crayon in Ostend gained a great deal of publicity after jokingly announcing that he would start his own religion and turn his bar into a church which would allow him to serve 15 disciples every Sunday under coronavirus rules.

NORWEGIAN AIR currently still in business due to bankruptcy protection in Ireland looks to the long term and will almost certainly scrap its cheap intercontinental routes which have lost money for years, sell some of its aircraft and concentrate on European travel.

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NEWS

Advertising Feature

Ciudad Patricia commended for its Covid care in lockdown

Ciudad Patricia is nestled in an attractive setting.

AS the nation was plunged in­ to a lockdown and unchar­ tered waters, the physical and mental welfare of residents was, and remains, paramount at Benidorm’s Ciudad Patricia Senior Resort. Nestled in one of the most attractive settings in the re­ gion, the apartment and resi­ dential centre resort prides it­ self on offering all the comfort, safety and services to help resi­ dents enjoy a stress­free retire­ ment. But never in the resort’s 35 years has this been more im­ portant than in 2020, with the arrival of the coronavirus pan­ demic. Management immediately put safety and hygiene proto­ cols in place and did everything possible to ensure the safety and well­being of all residents during such uncertain times. And their commitment and dedication have not gone un­ noticed with mayor of Benidorm Tomi Perez present­ ing Ciudad Patricia with a spe­ cial award on behalf of the town hall in recognition of their

THE TEAM: Were presented with a special award.

efforts during the State of Alarm. The resort, which boasts a beautiful main central building with receptions, restaurant, and communal area, five resi­ dential buildings with 190 apartments, a Residents and Rehabilitation Centre, pools and gymnasium ­ was the only recipient of the award in its sector. To mark the accolade and thank all staff for their ‘incredi­ ble’ efforts, Manager Nadine Sweers, Sales and Quality Manager Elvira Koot and Man­ ager of the Residencia and Re­

habilitation Centre, Barbara Acevedo invited residents and employees to a celebration while respecting all Covid pro­ tocol. Manager Nadine said: “On March 14, 2020, we received news that we had to go into lockdown, something that was completely new for all of us, along with not being aware of what was going on and making new protocol,” she said. “It was a hard and difficult time and we have tried to do our very best to keep everyone as safe as possible. “On the day of the celebra­

tion of the Spanish Constitution on December 6, we were invit­ ed by Benidorm Town Hall, along with many, where we were given an award for all of the work we did in lockdown ­ the only recipient in our sector. “It was an honour to be part of the ceremony. We collected the award but did not do it on our own, we have the whole team behind us.” Nadine thanked the recep­ tion team who were on hand for residents every day, the residents’ committee, caretak­ ers and maintenance staff, restaurant employees who cooked meals and delivered, and Dr Arzuga for his contin­ ued medical support. Elvira added: “This award is for all of the staff here and every part they have played.” Residents Mr and Mrs Fisher have lived at Ciudad Patricia for seven years, having moved from Benitachell. Mr Fisher said: “Staff have looked after us in every way possible, keeping us safe, se­ cure and informed with weekly newsletters.”

FINANCE Bitcoin booty WHEN the crypto currency Bitcoin broke the $20,000 (€16,334) barrier it was expected by many that that would be its limit and the price would drop back, but to their amazement it continues to prosper and recently nearly touched $23,000 (€18,784).

Healthy hydrogen AS hydrogen becomes the latest gas to be considered useful in creating energy without adding carbon, Enagás and Naturgy have announced that they will partner to build the largest hydrogen plant in Spain in La Robla, Leon.

Mortgage rates DUTCH owned bank ING is determined to increase its share of the Spanish mortgage market and is introducing a number of new, highly competitive options in both fixed and mixed rate prices and will now await competitors’ responses.

Palm oil RESEARCH is underway to create a synthetic alternative to palm oil which is used extensively in the beauty and food industries but is said to be responsible for the mass destruction of rainforests throughout the world and the permanent loss of wildlife.

BA cut routes BRITISH AIRWAYS’ owners IAG, desperate to save money after reporting losses of €4 billion in the first six months of 2020 is to cut a number of long-haul destinations from its 2021 schedules. Routes affected include Abu Dhabi, Calgary, Charleston, Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur, Muscat, Osaka, Pittsburgh, Seychelles and Seoul and there are suspensions of summer flights to Bangkok, San Jose and Sydney. According to the BBC, the group has previously indicated that it doesn’t expect passenger numbers to return to normal until 2023.

STAT OF WEEK

€1.5 billion

is the amount of dividend that Spanish banks may be able to pay to shareholders following a decision by the European Central Bank.

Simon Manley and WTO

Inditex in good place AS companies around the world succumb to the downturn in business caused by the international pandemic, one Spanish gi­ ant shines as a beacon of how to not just cope but adjust to the change in the market and benefit. Inditex has just released its third quarter figures and whilst sales have dropped from the previous year, it has taken action to not only increase its online business

but also to reduce costs. It recorded a net profit of €866 million in the third quarter which taking into account losses from the lockdown still sees its nine­ month position as having an overall net profit of €671 million, but equally impor­ tantly it has more cash than ever before. The current cash in hand amounts to €8.3 billion which means that whatever may come along in 2021, it

LEGALLY SPEAKING

Will his Will be valid?

will have enough money to weather any storm no mat­ ter how harsh it may be. Should Covid­19 be con­ trolled successfully with the introduction of the newly developed vaccines then Inditex may well consider acquisitions of brand names that are either suf­ fering or have gone to the wall or introducing new ranges itself. Despite the fact that 21 per cent of the Group’s

shops remain closed, it still has plans to expand into new countries such as Panama and Puerto Rico af­ ter earlier expansion in Chile, Costa Rica, Honduras and Tunisia. For Spain and Portugal as well as other mature mar­ kets, it has launched its lat­ est brand Lefties which is aimed at all types of people of all ages and sexes with clothing and a selection of footwear.

Mini trade deal Credit: @USTRADEREP

BUSINESS EXTRA

www.euroweeklynews.com • 24 - 30 December 2020

28

I am an Engishman living in Spain with Span­ ish Residency. Some time ago I made a Last Will and Testament with my UK solicitor. I have also made a Spanish Will with my Spanish As­ sessor here in Spain. Last year I gave my only son Power of Attorney through his UK solicitor. My question is: On January 1, 2021, will both Wills be applicable or only one of them? Liz Truss in Zoom meeting with Robert Lighthizer.

B J (Costa del Sol)

Brexit will have no ef­ fect on Wills. But YOU AND THE LAW be careful. Does IN SPAIN your English Will specify that it disposes only of your estate in the UK? Does your Spanish Will specify that it disposes only of your property in Spain? If so you should be all right. If not, the Will dated last will take precedence. Be warned that a Power of Attorney dies with its maker. We are assured that UK citizens residing in Spain will continue to enjoy their EU rights after Brexit but you might want to confirm that your inher­ itance tax exemptions still apply. If your Spanish es­ tate is substantial you may face inheritance tax.

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.

WHILST the French are expecting a drop in the sale of Champagne this year, Spanish bodegas in Jerez are cheering up as market research suggests that it’s not just Santa who will be enjoying a glass of sherry this Christmas. Market research company Nielsen has released informa­ tion that shows that sherry sales in the UK are up by more than

REPORTS on Irish TV sug­ gest that the outgoing Trump administration is ready to offer Britain a mini trade deal which could see tariffs on certain products being reduced or removed. Trump’s trade chief Robert Lighthizer reported­ ly told the BBC “I’m talking to (International Trade Sec­ retary) Liz Truss, about try­ ing to work out some kind of a deal... I’m hopeful we can get some kind of an agreement out you know; we don’t have a lot of time left. “We have the advantage in that both the US and the UK ­ particularly the current government of the UK ­ are not big subsidisers, where

some other countries are more inclined to subsidise. So, it would be helpful if we could come to some kind of agreement.” This suggestion comes in response to a British gov­ ernment decision to reduce American tariffs on subsi­ dies currently given to air­ craft manufacturers after December 31 and may see a lifting of high import duties on Scotch whisky. A mini deal would be welcomed by the British government, especially in the event of a no deal Brex­ it and would, it hopes, act as a springboard for a more expansive trade deal with the new Biden administra­ tion.

Sherry isn’t just for Santa 17 per cent in the 12 weeks to December 5 and various super­ market buyers have told the BBC that they are stocking up for the festive season. According to Majestic Wines, the lockdown saw a lot more ex­ perimenting with drinks and

their spokesperson refers to the ‘tapas effect’ which has coincid­ ed with the introduction of dif­ ferent ranges of sherries in the higher price range. Drinkers are becoming more adventurous in their choice of sherries and although the sweet

FORMER British Ambassador to Spain, Simon Manley CMG has been appointed the Unit­ ed Kingdom’s Permanent Rep­ resentative to the World Trade Organisation, United Nations and other Internation­ al Organisations based in Geneva. Speaking about his new ap­ pointment, which takes place in Spring 2021, Mr Manley tweeted “Excited to build on work of Julian Braithwaite CMG (who returns to the Diplomatic Service) to pro­ mote free trade, defend hu­ man rights, and secure effec­ tive multilateral solutions to our shared global challenges.” With Brexit and the need for trade agreements this is an important appointment which is bound to be busy.

OECD 60th SPANISH Prime Minister Pe­ dro Sánchez travelled to Paris to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Organisa­ tion for Economic Coopera­ tion and Development (OECD) alongside French President Emmanuel Macron. The pair co­hosted a num­ ber of Zoom meetings in­ cluding one with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc who sent the best wishes of the Vietnamese people to the organisation. It was upon his return to Spain that Prime Minister Sánchez learnt that he would have to self­isolate until Christmas Eve, as he had attended a meal with President Macron who test­ ed positive for Covid­19. versions are still the most popu­ lar, chilled, light­coloured dry versions are seeing a definite in­ crease in popularity as they are drunk as an aperitif. There will still be room for sherry in a trifle and it won’t be used to fire up the Christmas pudding but it looks as if Spain’s fortified wine is bouncing back with a vengeance.

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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 21

PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) COMPANY 3I Group 1.137,50 1.141,50 Admiral Group 2.972,0 2.974,0 Anglo American 2.455,0 2.456,5 Antofagasta 1.445,00 1.446,50 Ashtead Group 3.324,0 3.324,0 Associated British Foods 2.131,0 2.181,2 AstraZeneca 7.542,0 7.547,0 Auto Trader Group Plc 582,40 583,06 Avast 529,50 529,50 Aveva 3.233,0 3.235,0 Aviva 314,60 316,83 B&M European Value Retail SA504,20 504,80 BAE Systems 487,40 487,90 Barclays 138,54 140,44 Barratt Developments 623,29 628,87 Berkeley 4.266,0 4.280,9 BHP Group 1.980,20 1.981,00 BP 260,29 261,95 British American Tobacco 2.755,5 2.757,0 British Land Company 455,90 468,60 BT Group 130,40 131,95 Bunzl 2.442,0 2.451,0 Burberry Group 1.776,0 1.783,5 Carnival 1.245,0 1.312,0 Centrica 41,49 42,18 Coca Cola HBC AG 2.323,0 2.329,0 Compass 1.362,30 1.374,00 CRH 3.092,9 3.094,0 Croda Intl 6.400,0 6.400,0 DCC 5.368,0 5.414,0 Diageo 2.933,2 2.935,5 DS Smith 377,90 380,80 EasyJet 696,05 700,00 Experian 2.801,0 2.805,0 Ferguson 8.792,0 8.802,0 Flutter Entertainment 14.846,1 14.857,4 Fresnillo 1.174,50 1.174,50 GlaxoSmithKline 1.370,40 1.374,47 Glencore 239,18 239,40 Halma 2.445,0 2.448,0 Hargreaves Lansdown 1.494,40 1.503,00 Hikma Pharma 2.605,00 2.606,00 HSBC 384,00 384,80 IAG 132,74 139,20 Imperial Brands 1.550,88 1.557,50 Informa 514,40 526,00 InterContinental 4.503,0 4.536,0 Intermediate Capital 1.615,00 1.628,00 Intertek 5.836,0 5.836,0 ITV 101,85 103,55 J Sainsbury 221,20 223,10

% CHG. 1.118,50 2.935,0 2.405,5 1.422,50 3.279,2 2.063,0 7.452,5 575,50 524,00 3.156,0 309,30 499,30 479,20 135,46 606,40 4.192,7 1.956,80 252,30 2.734,5 447,90 127,65 2.418,0 1.748,5 1.160,5 40,71 2.290,0 1.334,39 3.063,6 6.294,5 5.316,0 2.899,0 367,70 670,38 2.769,0 8.710,0 14.648,6 1.147,50 1.366,80 236,02 2.423,0 1.466,90 2.553,00 378,90 124,15 1.526,14 504,00 4.427,0 1.578,00 5.779,2 99,48 220,48

NET VOL 24,32K 8,24K 182,02K 42,50K 1,34K 31,94K 19,18K 8,08K 8,82K 13,32K 473,95K 18,81K 106,26K 2,15M 74,48K 4,40K 200,17K 1,24M 21,10K 185,31K 1,57M 20,16K 6,41K 106,19K 345,75K 17,08K 14,58K 3,63K 0,52K 3,10K 21,77K 543,76K 467,25K 44,87K 8,58K 0,38K 192,81K 43,01K 404,56K 22,51K 16,16K 22,80K 222,79K 4,65M 38,91K 70,43K 34,64K 16,85K 0,30K 434,13K 23,60K

COMPANY

PRICE(P)

Johnson Matthey 2.443,0 JSC MMC Norilsk Nickel ADR 31,18 JSC VTB Bank DRC 0,967 Land Securities 639,60 Legal & General 244,78 Lloyds Banking 32,97 London Stock Exchange 8.960,0 Meggitt 414,83 Melrose Industries 161,35 Mondi 1.745,50 National Grid 860,00 NatWest Group 150,52 Next 6.557,6 Ocado 2.274,00 Persimmon 2.623,1 Phoenix 693,00 Prudential 1.301,00 Reckitt Benckiser 6.574,0 Relx 1.802,50 Rentokil 521,80 Rightmove 652,40 Rio Tinto PLC 5.734,0 Rolls-Royce Holdings 104,31 Rosneft 5,79 Royal Dutch Shell A 1.338,00 Royal Dutch Shell A 1.335,6 Royal Dutch Shell B 1.289,8 RSA Insurance 678,60 Sage 583,20 Samsung Electronics DRC 1.640,00 Sberbank 14,47 Schroders 3.245,0 Scottish Mortgage 1.206,54 Segro 912,34 Severn Trent 2.277,0 Smith & Nephew 1.526,00 Smiths Group 1.520,00 Spirax-Sarco Engineering 11.325,0 SSE 1.451,99 St. James’s Place 1.109,50 Standard Chartered 457,85 Standard Life Aberdeen 279,45 Taylor Wimpey 155,89 Tesco 225,00 Tui 372,69 Unilever 4.358,5 United Utilities 897,60 Vodafone Group PLC 122,92 Whitbread 2.921,0 WPP 790,36

CHANGE(P)

% CHG.

NET VOL

2.462,0 31,45 0,972 647,50 247,70 33,23 8.960,0 415,86 164,45 1.751,50 860,40 151,95 6.578,0 2.336,00 2.650,0 696,20 1.304,00 6.594,0 1.807,50 522,60 655,00 5.738,0 104,50 5,91 1.338,31 1.338,8 1.293,2 681,60 586,00 1.640,00 14,62 3.267,0 1.208,92 919,80 2.280,0 1.526,00 1.523,32 11.360,0 1.452,48 1.112,50 468,12 279,70 155,95 226,30 379,50 4.376,7 899,00 124,44 2.938,3 792,55

2.397,0 31,11 0,967 625,80 239,49 32,01 8.830,5 398,45 156,59 1.718,00 850,00 146,40 6.402,0 2.215,00 2.538,0 683,89 1.286,00 6.434,0 1.792,00 515,60 642,20 5.601,0 95,10 5,78 1.313,40 1.313,0 1.275,2 676,80 574,80 1.620,00 14,28 3.193,0 1.192,00 903,33 2.245,6 1.502,50 1.495,50 11.085,0 1.433,00 1.088,50 449,10 272,10 149,10 223,62 367,00 4.342,6 888,18 122,18 2.830,0 776,60

11,41K 73,33K 89,17K 12,20K 596,00K 26,43M 1,62K 47,32K 329,81K 122,30K 395,52K 2,74M 2,21K 21,44K 12,24K 21,67K 356,07K 62,22K 12,81K 100,31K 95,37K 116,27K 5,55M 671,28K 23,06K 37,08K 153,23K 164,15K 113,80K 2,08K 406,76K 7,16K 177,30K 13,78K 5,59K 6,25K 1,75K 3,68K 35,42K 72,96K 250,87K 67,35K 636,34K 462,38K 194,30K 17,37K 25,44K 1,18M 16,02K 24,65K

0.91694

1.09039 Units per €

US dollar (USD) ......................................1.21915 Japan yen (JPY)......................................126.292 Switzerland franc (CHF) .........................1.08166 Denmark kroner (DKK) ...........................7.44077 Norway kroner (NOK) .............................10.6902

currenciesdirect.com/la-zenia • Tel: +34 965 994 830 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 21

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 176,42 1.731,01 3.201,65 228,49 126,66 219,75 180,96 87,19 45,44 53,74 276,40 242,13 270,45 210,04 125,85 47,46 154,51 119,08 215,08 79,53 218,59 137,28 139,04 227,43 695,00 338,38 60,46 211,31 145,95 172,89

CHANGE 177,46 1.755,11 3.249,42 232,04 129,10 223,46 181,30 88,71 45,57 53,84 278,00 245,39 275,74 212,51 126,40 50,68 155,10 119,88 216,85 80,18 219,69 141,14 140,07 227,82 695,00 342,61 60,78 211,98 147,18 175,84

CHANGE% VOLUME(M) 175,11 4,68M 1.720,22 4,02M 3.171,60 6,00M 227,25 5,89M 126,12 192,54M 218,61 19,09M 177,47 5,26M 86,26 27,43M 44,77 41,03M 52,62 35,48M 271,14 26,69M 240,56 4,09M 270,30 9,82M 208,62 6,69M 124,97 7,55M 47,11 119,30M 151,67 17,14M 118,27 28,95M 213,82 7,93M 78,45 31,64M 216,02 63,35M 137,17 17,97M 137,45 19,99M 224,40 11,85M 628,54 222,13M 334,00 8,74M 59,79 31,91M 209,87 13,30M 145,16 13,79M 172,28 21,17M M - MILLION DOLLARS

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 21

COMPANY

CHANGE NET / %

VOLUME

+2.60% +5.96% +145.00% +2.07% +16.33% +18.67% +9.99% +2.95% +11.92% +8.88% +6.75%

531,934 222.13M 4.22M 9,142 2.73M 2.80M 15.26M 34,063 2.48M 1.24M 132,672

-36.34% -1.06% -0.97% -0.82% -0.65% -36.54% -2.00% -4.32% -6.08% -5.01% -18.39%

1.17M 6.00M 4.02M 4.26M 536,194 1.82M 104,635 466,217 839,008 9,694 2.68M

Most Advanced MercadoLibre Inc. Tesla Inc. 908 Devices Inc. Broadcom Inc. 8% Pfd. Series A CyberArk Software Ltd. Qualys Inc. CrowdStrike Holdings Inc. Cl A Atrion Corp. Proofpoint Inc. Varonis Systems Inc. GRAVITY Co. Ltd. ADR

Most Declined Wunong Net Technology Co. Ltd. Amazon.com Inc. Alphabet Inc. Cl C Alphabet Inc. Cl A Booking Holdings Inc. Scopus BioPharma Inc. First Citizens Bancshares Inc. Cl A LendingTree Inc. Medpace Holdings Inc. Investors Title Co. AlloVir Inc.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

Advertising Feature

Different funerals

FUNERALS around the world and the difference between celebrating a life lived or mourning a lost life? The ways we handle death differs not only from person to person, but also from community to community. Funeral plan expert Haylee from Golden Leaves explained, “The different processes each religion goes through is really very interesting. In my role as a funeral planner, I have had to learn so much about different cultures and their beliefs. Every culture has its own traditions and customs regarding death, funerals, and burials. In some cultures it’s a real celebration of life as opposed to mourning which is totally different from how people in England approach death.” Some religions cremate their dead while others prefer burial. Some faiths go through grieving ritu­ als that last long after the funeral, while others prefer to end the observances when the funeral is complete. Traditions within religions themselves can also be rather diverse, varying from religion to religion and country to country. Vietnamese Buddhist Usually, bodies are cremated in Buddhism, to follow the example of the Buddha, but families might choose to bury their loved ones, too. In either case, there will be a three­day period of worship after the person is buried or cremated, to wish for a peaceful departure for their soul. Memorial services are traditionally held on the third, seventh, 49th, and 100th day after the death and the family will come back to the temple during these days for more services. It’s a long process, but the belief is that the soul needs to pass seven ports before going to heaven. Islam Cremation is forbidden in Islam, so the body is buried as soon as possible from the time of the death. Funeral preparations begin immediately and the body has to be washed for burial. This is usu­ ally done by family members. After that, the body is covered in three pieces of clean white cloth and the body is put into a position of prayer, if possible, with one hand on the chest and the other hand on top of it. Hinduism Traditionally, when a person dies, they are cremated. It’s done as quickly as possible after a person dies so that the soul can find a new body to inhabit. After the cremation, there are no prayers or ritu­ als for the next 13 days, because it is believed that for the first nine days after the cremation, the soul is still connected to the body. Days 10 to 12 are so that the soul has time to leave the body. Then, there is a celebration on the 13th day to mark that the soul has left. Judaism In Judaism, the funeral occurs ideally within 24 hours of one’s passing. Shiva (‘sitting,’ in Hebrew) begins right af­ ter the funeral, lasting for seven days. This practice is really beautiful; it is a time in which mourners refrain from work, receive vis­ its from loved ones, recite mourner’s kaddish (memorial prayer), and simply sit. It is a mitzvah (good deed) to visit mourners and comfort them. Christianity As you can see, funerals around the world are different depending on religious belief and Chris­ tianity is no different. Christians believe that when someone dies, they are judged by God. The right­ eous go to Heaven and the sinners go to Hell. When a Christian dies, it is seen as the end of his/her life on earth. A funeral is held for friends and family to grieve for the person who has died and give thanks for their life. Since 1984, Golden Leaves has helped tens of thousands of customers from both the UK and over­ seas 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 whatever your religion or beliefs. 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.

24 - 30 December 2020

EWN 31

32 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

24 - 30 December 2020

FEATURE

2 million fine Merry Christmas everyone

SEBASTIAN PINERA, the President of Chile, has been fined two million pesos after a photo of him posing for a selfie with no face mask went viral on social media. The photo was taken at the start of December but has only emerged now, causing outcry in Chile with many criticising Pinera for breaking the rules imposed by his own government. He reported himself to health officials on Friday December 18 and was fined two million pesos (roughly €2,800) for ‘non-compliance with the use of a mask in a public

place.’ The now infamous selfie was taken with a member of the public, who recognised the President while he was taking a walk on the beach in Zampallar, a resort town popular with Chile’s political and business elites. In a social media statement, Pinera said that “the walk was quite lonely until some people recognised me and asked me to take a picture,” adding “surely I should have put on the mask, but because of the speed with which the events occurred I did not do so.”

Exodus of Madrid Nurses MADRID is experiencing an exodus of nurses ahead of a possible third wave of Covid­19. In the last few months alone over 100 nurses more than in the same period last year have already left, and more are set to do the same. The ongoing treatment of Covid­19 patients has left nurses exhausted and many fear they are unable to face a third wave of the virus. One nurse Amanda Bielza has headed to Valencia and said, “ I did not see myself capable of facing another wave,” while another nurse has opted for a war zone in Afghanistan over staying in Madrid.

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT ‘THOSE who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.’ So paraphrased Sir Winston Churchill in 1948. As the Germans stand on the brink of losing their third attempt to take over Europe you would have thought they may have just learned something from the errors of past disasters. The irony is of course that it is once again the British who are the instigators of their highly probable downfall. Despite their attempts to make us believe this whole Common Market exercise was intended to unify a European community with equal opportunities for all, its actual goal (however they have tried to disguise it) has always ultimately been the forming of a super state with Germany at the helm. France, with its historical hatred for all things British, has predictably tagged along and ‘Vichy like’ revelled in siding with its German masters in putting down or impeding the UK at every opportunity.

With their forces of occupation this time replaced by its economic ‘troops,’ the Germans have so far managed to keep the member states in line. Now their whole plan is beginning to fall apart, it is imperative, as an example to other countries, for them to make Britain’s departure as difficult as they possibly can. There are a number of highly disillusioned and disgruntled countries out there and if the UK is seen to ‘get out’ too easily, they will be following suit before you can say Drachma, Lira or even Peseta! In my personal opinion, within the next decade we will see the whole antiquated project fall apart, leaving the Germans once again stuck in a bunker vainly trying to prop up their egos, along with the dregs of their under financed and ill equipped ‘ally’ nations that we have all had to subsidise for years. Brussels has now most certainly inherited the dubious title of ‘Sick Man of Europe’ and it is no more than this outdated, obsolete bunch of arrogant wasters deserve. After its third victory in just over 100 years, God bless the UK and

a whole sparkling new beginning. Driving around London of late you find your eyes assaulted by ginormous electric hoardings. Normally used for advertising commodities, these sites are now being freely exploited for black racist propaganda. They now promote messages akin to ­ ‘I want to live in a country that celebrates black history all year round,’ or ‘I want to live in a country where a black person can confidently say, I want to be Prime Minister.’ This last statement is an utter disgrace and implies that certain races cannot reach the highest position in British politics. With at least a half dozen ethnic MPs who could at this moment quite easily qualify for the position, it is a blatant, unacceptable racist slur on the UK’s white populace. I hasten to remind the UK’s black citizens that it is qualifications, quality and votes that elect Prime Ministers. Not the colour of their skin. Sorry Diana Abbott didn’t quite attain the criteria! Merry Christmas everyone. Keep the faith. Love Leapy. Leapylee2002@gmail.com. Expatradioscotland.com Mon. Wed. Fri.

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

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FEATURE

www.euroweeklynews.com

24 - 30 December 2020

EWN 35

Advertising Feature

Avalon Funeral Plans celebrates a year of fundraising EMPLOYEES at Avalon Funeral Plans are celebrating a year of successful fundraising for local charities across the region throughout 2020 ­ a year in which the pandemic’s impacts mean charities and their services are more reliant on fundraising than ever be­ fore. Every year, Avalon employees com­ mit to supporting charities across the regions in which they operate and, de­ spite the challenges 2020 brought to companies and expats alike, this year was no different. Whether it’s making donations or at­ tending and sponsoring local events to raise funds, their employees are dedi­ cated to making a difference to the charities they support. One such chari­ ty is Help at Home, Costa Blanca. Help at Home provide support to vulnerable people in the local expat community in­ cluding advice on accessing benefits and carers and care homes, alongside providing a friendly face to talk to. Avalon also supports selected char­ ities to showcase their great work by supporting the funding of their events

SUPPORTING CHARITY: Avalon employees with Lions La Cala. and charity shops, as they do with Li­ ons La Cala and Lions Diabetic Sup­ port Group who provide important support for the local community in Malaga, including caring for the envi­ ronment, and help for vulnerable people. In addition to this, they have also supported the Samaritans in Spain at a time when the need for access to men­ tal health charities and services are as important as ever. Numerous other charities have been supported by Avalon across the year in­

cluding Easy Horse Care, a rescue cen­ tre for neglected horses, ponies and donkeys; The Royal British Legion who provide support for the armed forces community; and Alzheimer and De­ mentia Support International (ADSI) who support people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia and their carers, to name but a few. This year’s charity fundraising follows a period of success for Avalon in what has been a challenging year for many businesses. They recently took home the coveted title of ‘Best Funeral Plan

Provider’ for the second year running at the 2020 Personal Finance Awards. This award recognises Avalon’s dedica­ tion to its customers, as well as the high standard of its customer service. Speaking about this year’s fundrais­ ing efforts, Avalon’s CEO, Susan Steven­ son, said: “Caring for families is a funda­ mental part of what we do, and this year we have provided peace of mind for thousands of bereaved families through our funeral plans. We have seen first­hand the impact of the pandemic on families and chari­ ties and it was more important than ever this year that we continue to sup­ port charities across the region so they can continue to provide support to the people who need it most. We are so proud to be able to sup­ port a large variety of charities across the region who all provide such impor­

tant services to support their local com­ munities. From charities that provide support to vulnerable people, our armed forces, or animal rescue centres, we are pleased that every penny do­ nated to these charities will go towards helping the communities who need it most.” A spokesperson from Help at Home said “We are delighted with the sup­ port we will receive from Avalon. Aval­ on have donated a stand and various marketing aids to help the team when they are doing events and raising mon­ ey for the charity.” Avalon has over 26 years’ experience providing funeral plans for more than 85,000 customers across the UK and Europe and is the most trusted funeral plan provider.* The company provides specialist expat funeral plans, working in partnership with local funeral direc­ tors, so families always have support close by. Regulated in the UK by the Funeral Planning Authority (FPA), Avalon is based in the UK and Spain and operates across Europe.

For more information, visit www.avalonfuneralplans.com or call +34 966 799 070 • *Based on over 2,500 TrustPilot reviews

36 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

24 - 30 December 2020

FEATURE

Lottery seller HOW TO SURVIVE A (POLITICALLY) hides tickets BOASTFUL CHRISTMAS

A LOTTERY administration in Almeria has hidden 10 tickets in its neighbourhood in an aim to encourage local shopping. Lottery administration num­ ber 13 in Almeria, better known as La Trece, is run by Jesus Ibañez who told the press that when work was going on last year in the Oliveros area of Almeria City, it made it hard for people to access so they had to go elsewhere. He then thought it would be a good idea to do something to encourage peo­ ple to visit the area. He didn’t plan to do it again this year, but as businesses in the area are suffering due to Covid­19 restrictions, he decid­ ed to hide the tickets. The idea has been very pop­ ular with residents in the area,

and is also attracting visitors from other neighbourhoods, with two people having already found the tickets. The numbers of the hidden tenths of tickets are 90612, for El Gordo Christmas lottery, which will be drawn on Decem­ ber 22. People have been calling for clues about where the tickets will be hidden. On its website and social net­ work, the lottery administration will be giving clues about where the envelopes are located. They contain a slip which can be ex­ changed for a lottery ticket at La Trece, as well as instructions. The lottery seller is hopeful the number might earn some­ one a prize in the Christmas lot­ tery.

Outbreak after Wedding A WEDDING in Adra, which lasted several days is the possible cause of a new outbreak in Almeria. The wedding took place over the Constitution Bridge long weekend and the first cases started to show on December 11. An investigation has begun and it is currently thought that the wedding contra­ vened the Covid­19 restric­

tions that were in place at that time. So far 29 cases have been identified and tracing is still ongoing. This outbreak comes amidst fears that a third wave of the Coron­ avirus will soon be seen. Juan de la Cruz Belmonte the delegate of Health for Almeria, has said people must act responsibly over the Christmas period.

Hotels to sue Spanish state THE hospitality sector in Spain has finally had enough, with an esti­ mated 85,000 establishments already gone under, representing a third of the total number of bars and restaurants that were open for business before the coronavirus pandemic. President of Hostelería de España, José Luis Yzuel, told ABC that thousands of lawsuits will be brought against the Spanish government. “Hundreds of thousands of businesses will claim against the state. And we are going to create tools so that no one is left unclaimed,” Yzuel to ABC. According to the most recent figures from the sector, end of year da­ ta shows that turnover in 2020 fell by €67 million with 670,000 jobs at risk in the industry, and 226,000 working in the food and drinks sector were on ERTE at the end of November.

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

JEFFREY ARCHER has something of a ‘reputation’ but sometimes it helps to have someone with a reputation on your side. Many years ago, I was a minor participant in a disastrous attempt to put on the world’s biggest carol concert in, if memory serves, Central Hall, London. Jeffrey was the MC, with the BBC doing a live radio broadcast of the vast, as­ sembled throng singing en masse. But practically no­one turned up! It was utterly humiliating and dispir­ iting for everyone. Except Jeffrey. As the radio broadcast was about to begin, he turned to the few hun­ dred of us there, gave us an encour­ aging grin and, speaking into the live

mic, proclaimed in awe, “Ladies and gentlemen, you wouldn’t believe the spectacle I see all around me tonight...,” going on to describe the huge crowd and the incredible at­ mosphere. Electrified by his enthusi­ asm and drawn into the conspiracy by sheer admiration for his bravado, we yelled our hearts out and got away with it. Heck! Almost sounds like Boris and Trump have taken a leaf out of Archer’s playbook. Remember Boris’s boasts that post­Brexit Britain will soar like Superman? His oven­ready Brexit deal? His flawed ‘world­ beating’ Test and Trace sys­ tem? Or The Donald’s biggest boasts? On his 2012 maybe­presidential can­ didacy: “I was leading in every poll. I was doing great.” Or this: “I have millions of followers. Millions. I don’t do press releases any more. If I want a press release, I put it out on Twitter. It’s like owning the New York Times without the losses.” Or

this: “I happen to be, in my own way, an environmentalist. I’ve won many awards.” Or, finally, this: “I have great feelings of compassion and helping people.” Is this man trustworthy? No. Would I buy a second­hand car from him? No. Am I glad he’s (almost) gone? Absolutely. Have I started talking to myself? Apologies, it’s this damn virtual lockdown. Let’s leave it at this: A HAPPY, HEALTHY XMAS to all readers ­ this message coming to you through the Inter­National ’Elf Service! Nora Johnson’s psychological crime thrillers ‘No Safe Place’, ‘Be­ trayal’, ‘The Girl in the Woods’, ‘The Girl in the Red Dress’, ‘No Way Back’, ‘Landscape of Lies’, ‘Retribu­ tion’, ‘Soul Stealer’, ‘The De Cleram­ bault Code’ (www.nora­johnson.net) available online as eBook (€0.99; £0.99), Apple Books, paperback and audiobook.vAll profits to Costa del Sol Cudeca cancer charity.

A FRUSTRATING DAY DAVID WORBOYS SOME days are better than others. A sunny spring morning heralds a day of enjoyment, achievement and fulfil­ ment. It’s good to be alive! And then there are days like Thursday, October 22. I was awakened by heavy rain and a howling wind at about three in the morning. I had to get out of bed and close the window to subdue the sound and eliminate the draught. I failed to get any more sleep and was tossing and turning until half past six. It’s time to get up. I remembered I had planned to meet friends for lunch at a seafood beach restaurant in Rincon de la Victo­ ria. This was not going to happen in weather like this. I stumbled out of bed and headed for the bathroom. There was not enough toothpaste in the tube, so I had to hunt for the new one; I found it in a kitchen cupboard. After I finished shaving, I realised I had forgotten to

Heavy rain and howling winds. remove the dust­cap from the Philishave. So I repeated the opera­ tion without the dust­cap and this time it was more effective. Then it was time for the daily ride on the porcelain pony. Oh, dear! The last thing I needed at this stage was a five­minute battle with a stubborn floater. Three more flushes later and the problem solved, I headed for a hot shower. But while it was pouring with rain outside, the water had been cut off. I started shivering. I returned to the bedroom and put my socks on inside out. After eventu­ ally dressing, I felt ready for breakfast. As there was no water, coffee was out of the question. Then I realised I had not taken the unwrapped butter from the fridge over night. It was as hard as

a brick. A cherry jam baguette with butter would have been nice.... I had no intention of going out in this weather, so I decided to review the investments and switched on the television. The stock markets had been going up and down like a bride’s nightie. But now, thanks to conflicting news about Covid 19, the world’s economies, and Trump’s threats to disrupt the election and impose more sanctions, they were heading south again. I had no idea whether to buy, sell or let it be. I switched on the TV for the Simpsons. Once the programme was over I de­ cided to go back to bed. The last thing I was aware of before falling asleep was the rain splattering on the bed­ room window.

FEATURE

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24 - 30 December 2020

GO LOCAL

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 lock­ down restrictions. The joy of shopping local means that independent businesses can help support

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

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 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

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24 - 30 December 2020

SPENDING LOCALLY: Will make a difference to the local economy.

small high street shop, they’re a family’s legacy, of­ ten passed down through nu­ merous generations and sup­ port 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 ambition, 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 com­ pete 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,

thinking 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

FEATURE

www.euroweeklynews.com

with finances thinking about what friends and family may actually need is important too. Whilst it’s nice to give a glam­ ourous gift perhaps pre­paying a family member’s phone bill for the month would actually be a better gift. Helping peo­ ple 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 lo­ cal, and it strengthens the lo­ cal economy in two ways. First, buying local keeps mon­ ey circulating within the local economy. Studies have shown that local businesses recircu­ late a greater share of every euro as they create locally owned supply chains and in­ vest in their employees. Data shows that local re­ tailers 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

24 - 30 December 2020

sells it to local customers. The farmer pays its local employees and the restaurant uses rev­ enue from sales to buy supplies from a neighbourhood hard­ ware store. This example illus­ trates how the recirculation of money in the local economy leads to a stronger financial foundation for our neighbours and communities. Buying local also fuels new employment and job oppor­

EWN 39

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24 - 30 December 2020

tunities for people within our community. Studies show, lo­ cally owned businesses em­ ploy more people per unit of sales and retain more em­ ployees over time. While buying local is fi­ nancially compelling to our communities; the benefits to our environment are equally impressive. Buying locally reduces the process­ ing of goods, packaging and

transportation waste, which leads to less pollu­ tion. There’s a massive cultural shift underway redefining the way people make buying de­ cisions. We’re seeing more in­ dividuals concerned about the environment, about how products are made and sourced, where materials come from, and a company’s overall social and environ­

mental impact. Many businesses are join­ ing our Go Local campaign by offering customers spe­ cial offers and discounts throughout the festive peri­ od, more details to follow here soon. Just remember to follow the latest government ad­ vice and any guidance busi­ nesses have to keep every­ one safe.

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YOUR STARS FOR NEXT 7 DAYS ARIES (March 21 - April 20) Awkward situations usually bring out the best in you and this week proves that. In the longer term, you will be grateful to those making things difficult now.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) Get out in the fresh air as much as possible and be kind to your body. You may have neglected yourself because you have been such a busy bee of late. What about a trip to the seaside or a walk in the hills? Maybe a trip to the local cocktail bar is more your style! Whatever puts a spring in your step will be good.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) A fleeting meeting stirs feelings that you thought were dead. This could be good if it reminds you of how life can be, or bad if it makes you think of missed opportunities. It is never too late to make a fresh start. Why not go on that painting holiday or stampcollecting weekend? Pole dancing anyone?

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

LEO (July 24 - August 23) Are you feeling that you have been dealt a rough hand? Consider this: there are some who are not dealt a hand at all. Many are missing those few cards that mean they are never really in with a chance. Instead of lurking on the shady side, walk out into the sun. You will soon see the bright side.

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) A chance remark opens a can of worms. Trying to get them back in could turn out to be very messy. We all open our mouth and put our foot in it sometime. However, overreacting won't help. You will need help with something this week.

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

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) An intimate meeting is less exciting than anticipated. This should not bother you because time could yet change that. You need to be in the right place at the right time, so don't give up hope, just have a little patience. A change of plans will be more beneficial than irksome, at least in the longer term.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) While counting your pennies, also count your blessings. Money can be a big problem or merely an irritation but the lack of it must be kept in perspective. You are right to think twice about accepting something that seems to be for nothing.

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

AGREES ALLEGE ALLELE ASSAIL BEHEST CAROLS (10) CEREAL CHOOSY ENSURE ESCORT GARISH HEREBY INTUIT MILIEU SOCIAL TALENT TALLOW UNLOAD WIDGET

LOTTERY UK NATIONAL LOTTERY Sat 19 December

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) The goat in you is keen to find pastures new. It isn't a nibble that is needed at the moment, but a feast. Accepting anything less would be a mistake because someone is watching your reaction to an offer. If you feel unsure of your worth, then ask a few trusted friends. It is so hard to see ourselves. Heed their words.

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) Don't allow an open-ended offer to muddle your mind. There is no need for an immediate decision and this may be too soon for a positive move. A sense of urgency may be put down to practical reasons when, in fact, it is no such thing. A feeling of insecurity is more likely to be the trigger to uncertainty.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Are things going swimmingly? Good. Maybe you had forgotten how to have real fun. Remember when you were a child? Life was so simple. Relax and be that child again. If some old fogey accuses you of being silly, feel sorry for them.

TIME OUT

4-10-14 21-27-28

BONUS BALL

23

IRISH LOTTO Sat 19 December

9-14-16 28-33-38

BONUS BALL

22

EURO MILLIONS Tue 15 December

BONUS BALL

1

9-13-21 29-35

2

Fri 18 December

BONUS BALL

2-3-13 17-21

7 8

EL MILLON: JBR42859 LA PRIMITIVA Thurs 17 December

BONUS BALL

3-11-24 38-40-43

8 6

JOKER: 8188800 Sat 19 December

BONUS BALL

4-6-9 11-19-23

10

JOKER: 7039088

4

TIME OUT

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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, 2 represents N and 17 represents V, so fill in N every time the figure 2 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 Sacred (art, musical) (5) 3 Bañera (7) 6 Marido (7) 8 Pencil (5) 10 Opal (5) 11 Del este (7) 14 Raffle (draw) (6) 15 Detalle (6) 17 Bufandas (7) 20 Salmo (5) 21 Verde (5) 22 Farol (7) 23 Delay (hold-up) (7) 24 Broad beans (5)

Down 1 Colegios (7) 2 Sunset (5) 3 Insignia (distintivo) (5) 4 Tejas (5) 5 Letterbox (5) 7 Escalera (9) 9 To get ready (9) 12 Añade (4) 13 Twelve (4) 16 Lemons (7) 17 Azúcar (5) 18 Sale (commerce) (5) 19 Stamp (postage) (5) 20 Ponche (5)

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION • LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION • LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION QUICK Across: 1 Cerebral, 7 Spoon, 8 Sitar, 9 Answer, 10 Wren, 12 Leak, 14 Cattle, 17 Spear, 18 Scald, 19 Stumbles. Down: 1 Cross, 2 Runner, 3/16 Bass drum, 4 Actor, 5 Establish, 6 Orangeade, 11 Damsel, 13 Adept, 15 Tears.

BOGGLED

ENGLISH-SPANISH

sand sands safe safer safes iffy jiff jiffy nays naff fays fret fern ferny feta fetal felt feat cyan oxter oxters recto recti recta rectal real reals exit tern tesla teal teals tael taels tale tales iota sect sexy sext serf seta seat seal slat slate slater slaw late latex later alec ales alto alter altern alters water waters wait waiter waiters wale waler

Across: 1 Inside, 3 Pepper, 8 Stapler, 10 Hielo, 11 Salad, 12 Airline, 13 Every, 15 Frase, 20 Esquina, 22 Gifts, 24 Hueso, 25 Charlar, 26 Drowsy, 27 Straws. Down: 1 Insist, 2 Snail, 4 Echar, 5 Precios, 6 Reopen, 7 Broad, 9 Lider, 14 Vaquero, 16 Regla, 17 Method, 18 Catch, 19 Ostras, 21 Irons, 23 Falda.

NONAGRAM

CRYPTIC

Across: 1 Debated, 5 Split, 8 Idaho, 9 Granted, 10 Tubas, 11 Tardy, 12 Elated, 14 Ballet, 18 Mitre, 20 Amour, 22 Nonstop, 23 Haifa, 24 Mason, 25 Nursery. Down: 1 Dwindle, 2 Beast, 3 Trouble, 4 Digest, 5 Scant, 6 Lateral, 7 Today, 13 Attends, 15 Another, 16 Tiffany, 17 Sampan, 18 Minim, 19 Eaten, 21 Rhine.

CODE BREAKER

FUTOSHIKI

alar area aria aril earl lair leer liar lira lire rail rale rata rate real reel rete rial riel rile rite tare tart tear tier tire tree aerie alert altar alter areal atria attar eater irate later liter litre raita ratel relit retie tater tetra tiara tiler titer titre trail trait treat trial trite aerate aerial atrial attire elater lariat latria latter letter litter rattle relate retail tilter atelier iterate rattail retitle laterite literate RETALIATE

HEXAGRAM

WORD LADDER

1 RETAIL 2 INTERN 3 NETTLE 4 BECALM 5 ATTAIN 6 TANNED 7 ARCTIC 8 INTENT 9 FARINA 10 CANCEL 11 RENTAL 12 VENIAL 13 CINDER 14 ANNULI 15 AVERSE 16 TINDER 17 SQUEAL 18 SENIOR 19 CLERGY

DIVE DIRE DIRT DART PART PAST

KAKURO

SUDOKU

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Costa Blanca TODAY

DENIA JAVEA CALPE ALTEA

WEATHER

BENIDORM ALICANTE

ORIHUELA TORREVIEJA

TOMORROW

DENIA JAVEA CALPE

Malaga TODAY: MAX 17 MIN 8 Fri 15 10 Sat 12 10 Sun 12 9 Mon 11 8 Tues - 13 9 Wed 15 9

Alicante TODAY: MAX 19, MIN 12 Fri 16 10 Sat 17 13 Sun 16 12 Mon 16 11 Tues - 19 11 Wed 19 12

Almeria TODAY: MAX 18, MIN 7 Fri 17 9 Sat 15 8 Sun 13 10 Mon 15 11 Tues - 16 12 Wed 17 11

Benidorm TODAY: MAX 19, MIN 9 Fri 19 9 Sat 18 8 Sun 17 8 Mon 19 9 Tues - 17 9 Wed 17 9 Mallorca TODAY: MAX 17, MIN 11 Fri 19 13 Sat 17 12 Sun 17 11 Mon 18 11 Tues 17 12 Wed 19 11

43

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.

ALTEA BENIDORM ALICANTE

ORIHUELA TORREVIEJA

SATURDAY

DENIA JAVEA CALPE ALTEA BENIDORM ALICANTE

ORIHUELA TORREVIEJA

S: Sun

C: Cloudy

Th: Thunder

Cl: Clear

Sh: Showers

Sn: Snow

Bilbao TODAY: MAX 18, MIN 10 Fri 17 9 Sat 14 11 Sun 14 11 Mon 13 10 Tues 16 13 Wed 15 15 Madrid TODAY: MAX 17, MIN 13 Fri 16 15 Sat 15 12 Sun 14 12 Mon 16 13 Tues 17 14 Wed 17 16

Barcelona TODAY: MAX 19, MIN 7 Fri 17 7 Sat 16 8 Sun 15 8 Mon 16 9 Tues 18 9 Wed 19 7

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

TARGET:

SCORING:

Average: 24 Good: 34 Very good: 48 Excellent: 62

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 Clap a very quiet boy going round university (7) 4 Wrote about part of a castle (5) 7 Calls for some jewellery (5) 9 Accounts signed initially by Conservatives (7) 10 Firm must order Eastern outfit (7) 11 Open ended attempt at the doorway (5) 12 Voucher for new kit etc (6) 14 Churchman a nuisance about religious instruction (6) 18 Have Charles informally round in pandemonium (5) 20 Give a foolish archer a guinea and you will receive a horse (7) 22 Greedy for cooked caviare (7) 23 Brave group from Mount Ribense (5) 24 Laid out, exhausted (5) 25 Such places of worship go to my head! (7) Down 1 Fruit transported to Capri (7) 2 Doesn't find breathing easy, covering legs (5) 3 Cleaning item badly rusted (6) 4 Treasure discovered in a controversial place (5) 5 Produce a shrill sound with Les in trouble (7) 6 After religious instruction, heaven appears unsafe (5) 8 Dressing required impudence (5) 13 Race had degenerated into farce (7) 15 Severe criticism will warm (5) 16 Really bad films or The Birds seen in a farmyard? (7) 17 Admit there's a metric measure in tangled tape (6) 18 Chews the fat in a church at suppertime (5) 19 Garment Trish repaired (5) 21 Question the fence (5)

TIME OUT

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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 1 Sugary (5) 4 Army officer (5) 7 Ready for use (9) 8 Earth (4) 9 Makes fit or suitable (6) 12 Mentally quick and resourceful (6) 13 Bakery product (4) 16 Magnifier of images of distant objects (9) 18 Inn (5) 19 Revolves (5)

Down 1 Rescues (5) 2 Check closely (7) 3 Squad (4) 4 Song feature (6) 5/17 Miscellaneous collection of things sold together (3,3) 6 Tall woody perennial grasses with hollow slender stems (5) 10 Trailblazer (7) 11 Utensil for holding something (6) 12 Take hold of, especially something in motion (5) 14 Movies (5) 15 Ship (4) 17 See 5

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

SOCK

QUIZ BACK DATE

Christmas cheer 1. ‘“Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents,” grumbled Jo, lying on the rug’ is the opening line of which famous novel, which was originally published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869? 2. In which fantasy novel, first published in 1950 (the best known in a series of seven works), is there ‘a century of perpetual winter with no Christmas’? 3. In which US city was Kevin M0cCallister (Macaulay Culkin) accidentally left home alone in the 1990 Christmas comedy film Home Alone? 4. What is the name of the rich Italian bread made made with eggs, butter, sultanas and candied peel, traditionally eaten at Christmas? 5. Which 1999 film James Bond film features model-turned-actress Denise Richards as nuclear physicist Dr Christmas Jones? 6. Which celebrated English journalist, short-story writer, poet and novelist wrote the first Royal Christmas Message, a radio broadcast by King George V on the British Broadcasting Corporation's Empire Service in 1932? 7. Which cricketer, born in Gloucester on Christmas Day in 1984, is England’s most-capped player and has captained the team in an English record 59 Tests and 69 ODIs? 8. Which famous actor played the part of Ebenezer Scrooge in the 1992 film The Muppet Christmas Carol? 9. Which Tamla Motown superstar appeared on the 1993 album Christmas in Vienna, alongside the Spanish tenors Plácido Domingo and José Carreras? 10. Which television cartoon family owns a pet dog named Santa’s Little Helper?

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.

Not a lot of people know that… US scientists calculated that Santa Claus would have to visit 822 homes a second to deliver all the world’s presents on Christmas Eve, travelling at 650 miles a second

TARGET:

audreyquinton99@gmail.com

Average: 11 Good: 15 Very good: 22 Excellent: 28

Answers 1. LITTLE WOMEN (Louisa May Alcott), 2. THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE (part of The Chronicles of Narnia), 3. CHICAGO, 4. PANETTONE, 5. THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH, 6. RUDYARD KIPLING, 7. (Sir) ALASTAIR COOK, 8. (Sir) MICHAEL CAINE, 9. DIANA ROSS, 10. THE SIMPSONS

24 - 30 December 2020

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Stumble’Inn NYE STUMBLE into the Stumble Inn in Playa Flamenca to celebrate a socially distanced New Year’s Eve in style. The event promises to be a classy celebration as guests look to leave the chaos of 2020 behind and bring in the new year with some fun and laughter. The awesome Fresh Radio presenter Stacey Lee will be en­ tertaining the crowd from 5pm to late on December 31 at the venue in CC Citrus, Playa Flamenca. Booking is essential, so please head to the bar before the event to secure your place and have a wonderful time before you stumble out of the Stumble Inn.

Big band tributes GREEN COVERS will pay trib­ ute to U2, The Cure, De­ peche Mode, Muse, Cold­ play and other huge bands in a not­to­be­missed per­ formance at The One Room in San Vicente del Raspeig. “Green Covers has two as­ pects that work in parallel: on the one hand, the basic sound of the band and on the other, the production of the show,” said the band. “In order to perfect the first one, we carefully observe many live shows and create dif­

ferent versions of the same song, arrangements, etc. “Later, in the studio and at home, we work together with our technicians for the prepa­ ration of sequences, sound sampling, video construction, metronomes, rhythmic oscilla­ tion, etc. “We recreate everything that can be seen and heard note by note.” Green Covers will be in Ali­ cante on January 22, 2021. To find out more visit we gow.com.

Update on food, drink, entertainments, what’s on and weekly happenings

SOCIAL SCENE

Virtual Christmas Gala

VIRTUAL GALA: Will be broadcast live on TV and Facebook. ELCHE celebrates Christmas with a virtual Gala for its elderly resi­ dents with live performances from the Congress centre on December 30. The event will take place virtually from 6pm to 8pm and will be broadcast live on Teleelx, Elche TV and the official City of Elche Face­ book. The head of Elche’s Department of Senior Policy, Puri Vives, has listed some of the shows that will take place during this day, which includes two­time Spanish Magic Champion, Adrián Carratalá, who will impress viewers with his tricks. There will also be live music by Elche singer­songwriter Moisés Ur­ ban, as well as dancing by the Beatriz Arin School and live painting by Antonia Soler, who is well­known in Elche for her 40­year career. Puri Vives says residents will be able to enjoy an entertaining after­ noon of laughter with the monologist Carlos Ortíz Caoz from the comfort of their homes, while some elderly residents will be inter­ viewed prior to the event in order to share their experiences from the year. Vives has also announced that there will be some Christmas cook­ ing advice from Elche’s best chefs.

HEALTH & BEAUTY Poor fitting footwear can lead to injuries RUNNING may not be as good for your health as you think. Research by the Col­ lege of Podiatry found that running typically leaves peo­ ple nursing injuries for around 26 days each year. Their study found that ig­ noring foot or leg pain meant 13 per cent were forced to give up sport or running completely because it got worse and half of peo­ ple who take up a new sport or running get injured by wearing the wrong footwear. Two thirds of those asked admitted they do not replace trainers or running shoes un­ til they fall apart and 43 per cent confessed they’ve car­ ried on using uncomfortable footwear, because they look good, despite the pain. Wearing the wrong shoes for running can lead to in­

FIT FOR PURPOSE: Shoes should be properly fitted before buying to avoid injury. juries such as shin splints, calf problems, lower back pain and hamstring strains. One in four had to get hospi­ tal treatment for their injury which also then puts people off their good intentions to run and exercise. The average Brit has two pairs of trainers, but only 19 per cent had a proper fitting

before buying and 33 per cent never tried them on having bought online. The College of Podiatry recommends shoes are pro­ fessionally fitted, should be at least 1cm longer than the longest toe and should be fitted in the afternoon or evening when feet are at their longest.

24 - 30 December 2020

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Tips to keep young looking and live healthier for longer THE life expectancy in England has risen 10 years for men since 1960 and eight years for women so it seems we are getting better at living longer, but how can we stay looking young and remain healthy for as long as possible? Change your mealtimes Some say the key to a longer, healthier life is constant change and avoiding routine as the brain thrives on uncertainty. The disruption stimulates body and mind and may help to ward off ageing and disability as when brain cells are stimulated, they function better and last longer.

Avoid old lady clothes No one wants to look like mutton dressed as lamb, but equally, dressing younger can help you look and, more impor­ tantly, feel younger. If you resist the temptation to behave in a certain way and refuse to as­ sume certain stereotypes mere­ ly because you are old, it can im­ prove your quality of life. Eat berries Researchers have found that eating antioxidant foods such as berries and tomatoes can re­ duce the damage caused

by free radical molecules in the blood that are linked to ageing. Work standing up Too many of us live very sedentary lifestyles and now a number of employers are intro­ ducing desks for workers to be able to stand up at. Being able to move around isn’t just good from a physical perspective, it’s also good for your emotional well­being. However, a senior lecturer in the Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease at the University of Liverpool believes everyone must find their balance between a healthy lifestyle and the pleasures from indulging in the occasional unhealthy habits as being happy can ultimately help you live a longer and healthier life.

BERRIES: Delicious to eat and rich in antioxidants.

Bus it to lose weight DRIVING for more than an hour a day can make you larger than those who drive less than 15 minutes. Researchers from the Australian Catholic University found that more than an hour behind the wheel can lead to a weight gain of around 5lbs more than someone who spends less than 15 minutes in a car and add 1.5cm of fat to your waistline. Men are most at risk because they spend the most time behind the wheel. Elsewhere, scientists noted 64 per cent of people from the UK used a car as their main form of transport. For years governments have been promoting public transport for environ­ mental reasons but it could be healthier for you too. A study of more than 150,000 British people aged 40 to 69, those who walk, cycle, or use public transport have less body fat and lower BMI than motorists.

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PERFECT DOESN’T MEAN PRISTINE MS BIPOLAR UP AND DOWN WITH BALANCE UNEDITED HOW can I, someone with Bipolar have a column and not go completely insane? I know that whenever I write something down, even my shopping list, I have to write it out four times before it’s right, even tear the pages out and start again! Crossing it out makes it stand out, so that’s not an option writing over the error makes the mistake even more obvious.. I’m not catastrophising... this is a real curse! So just like this column, I sometimes worry that I may come across as being self absorbed, selfish or full of myself. Whether people find me annoying or simply are just not bothered about reading my column. However, I am learning that my lists are just like my life… it’s okay to make mistakes, cross them out, scribble with a different colour and even make a mess of it. Not everything has to be perfect. You can take that mistake or messiness and find the lesson and move on. You have to move on because it can’t be undone, but if you sit

with the error and let it become part of you, it’s then that you find the reason it happened and you can move on from it. I write everything down, things I need to do, things I need to buy, list of things I’d like to do but most likely won’t ever do, absolutely everything! It helps me keep on track... I don’t always get around to all of my to dos, but it helps me focus. I tend to get side tracked quite a lot (who would have thought!). I actually breathe more and stress less because my day is planned and my lists are made, I even make adjustments. I’m beginning to not care about the scribbles and see past the messiness. It didn’t make me less of a person. I didn’t feel out of control. There hasn’t been a major life threatening event because I spelt something incorrectly. It feels like freedom. So here I am, throwing myself to this week’s column. I’ve spilt my drink over me, I’ve worried about what to write and what not to write. So for god’s sake - if you make a mistake, make it big cross that sh*t out and move on! Love Ms Bipolar X

msbipolar@euroweeklynews.com

24 - 30 December 2020

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Happy holidays from all of us at HouseSitMatch AS we look back to a unique year with all kinds of global chal­ lenges because of Covid­19, to say nothing of the travel restric­ tions, we at HouseSitMatch are looking forward to 2021 with great optimism. Hope is very much on the hori­ zon. We read daily about new vaccines, automated fever scan­ ners being added to airports and public buildings, and general awareness of how the virus can be managed. All these initiatives will help us all to get back to our normal routines. In that spirit we’d like to take a moment to wish all our members and followers the very best of health and good fortune in the

Jackson is looking forward to a quiet time.

coming year. Stay well and keep in touch. We look forward to

helping you find house and pet­ sitters again soon!

To find a house pet­sitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com.

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.

Pocket-pet care

SMALL and relatively cheap and easy to keep, hamsters have been a popular pet for many years. Unlike mice, hamsters are not particularly interested in hav­ ing company apart from making more hamsters, so can be kept individually without any major problems. They are nocturnal and tend to sleep most of the day before racing about at night. Essential equipment for hamster owners consists of a cage, exercise wheel, water bottle, food dish and bedding. While snazzy cages with mazes of plastic tubes look cool and are loved by children, they are not the best bet as they are diffi­ cult to keep clean and can also cause problems if a chubby ham­ my gets stuck in a narrow tube. Exercise wheels should be made of solid plastic, rather than old­fashioned wire ones which can easily cause injury. Grass hay, hamster pellets and fresh veg are all a hamster needs to stay well­fed and healthy. Beware, however, that they love to stash food away which can quickly lead to rotting veg­ etables, so take care to search out and remove these stashes frequently. Sticks or chew toys are vital as the rodents’ teeth grow constantly and need wearing down and, like all pets, a constant supply of fresh water is vital. There are many different types of bedding available but be aware that litters which clump can cause digestive problems and softwood shavings can cause respiratory disease. As ham­ sters do not tend to be smelly animals, shredded paper is the best option for bedding. Hamsters generally keep themselves well­groomed so only those with long hair will need occasional grooming with a soft brush. Gentle handling from an early age will be enough to train a hamster as an affectionate pet, but avoid waking them up dur­ ing the day to stop them from getting grumpy.

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10 causes of lameness in dogs Remember that the vet is the on­ ly one trained to diagnose and treat your dog's lameness. 1. Injury to the paw or broken nails a simple laceration on the paw pad can be the cause of the dog not resting 2. Foreign body: a foreign body

stuck or stuck in the leg. 3. Excessive exercise: if your dog has done excessive exercise, he can, like any athlete, have muscle damage. 4. Dermatitis on the legs: in­ flammation of the skin on the sole of the foot or palm of the

hand may be sufficient reason. 5. Insect or animal bites: A spi­ der bite can cause local inflam­ mation. Snake or other dog bites are another reason for lameness. 6. Orthopedic problems: There are many muscle, joint or bone injuries that can cause lameness. Osteoarthritis is the main ortho­ pedic cause. 7. Fractures and dislocations from trauma 8. Damage to a nerve / s or spinal cord: Some neurological in­ juries are not well distinguished from orthopedic lameness. 9. Malformations: congenital / hereditary deformities. There are patients who are born with de­ fects in their limbs that cause lameness. 10.Tumors: bone tumors and other tumors affecting the joint or muscles can be the cause of lameness especially in older dogs. Centro Veterinario de Diagnóstico por Imagen de Levante. Los arcos 23 Cuidad Quesada Rojales Tel: 966 716 176 • www.resonanciaveteri naria.es

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BUILDING SERVICES J & J PAINTERS. Inside - outside - clean - fast low cost. Torrevieja Orihuela Costa and surrounding areas. Tel: 650 363 159 (287797)

BUY & SELL BUY FUR Coats & Jackets, handbags, designer bags, oriental & Persian carpets, jewellery & watches. All kind of Silver, sliver plated 90/100/800. Cutlery, tin, amber, coral, coins, medals, porcelain. Radio, musical instruments. Military items until 1945, photos, medals etc. Fair price paid in CASH. Phone 688 335 497 (290436) BUY vinyl records, record players, CD’s & Radios. 688 335 497 (290436) PRIVATE collector will buy your Gold, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel – 678 716 693 (288662)

CHARITY ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS IS ALCOHOL COSTING YOU MORE THAN MONEY? Drinking to excess not only affects your health it can spill over into every other aspect of your

life – damaging everything that is important to you. English-speaking AA meetings are held throughout the Costa Blanca from Valencia City to Murcia. Anyone wishing to attend a meeting or discuss a possible drinking problem contact Costa Blanca North: 648 169 045 or Costa Blanca South: 625 912 078 or Costa Calida 679 385 105 All calls are treated in the strictest confidence. AA in German: 645 456 075; Spanish: 679 212 535; Flemish: 635 047 053; and Scandinavian: 659 779 222. www.aacostablanca.org (93323)

Emergency help-line which is available to both members and nonmembers on 966 723 733 (95456)

CAMPELLO CONTRA CANCER in conjunction with AECC Association Español Contra Cancer. Please support your local Cancer charity and if you wish to obtain literature or simply talk to someone. Please contact Mina or Trisha. Tel 650 071 278 or 610 921 413 e-mail aecc_campel lo@hotmail.com (95475)

LA SIESTA EVANGELICAL CHURCH on Urbanisation La Siesta, Torrevieja is a friendly, English speaking church. For more information see our website w w w. l a s i e s t a e va n g e l i calchurch.org (10005)

CANCER SUPPORT GROUP (MABS) MURCIA / MAR MENOR Help and support is just a phone call away, Avda Rio Nalón, Tel: 693 275 779 (95462) CHURCH SERVICE IN ENGLISH Tel: 950 617 549 www.givinglight.com.(1000 6) FREEMASONRY. Are you aware that Freemasonry is thriving on the Costa Blanca? There are various lodges meeting up throughout the Valencia region. If you already are a Mason or simply wish to know more about Freemasonry in Spain please contact Harry Palmer Membership Committee. Tel: 966 712 326 or email: 2palmers.quesada@gmail. com (95477) HELP VEGA BAJA. We are a non-profit making organisation that helps and supports anyone, without prejudice, in times of need or crisis within the Vega Baja area. Our offices are based in San Miguel at Calle Lope de Vega 46 (Tel 966 723 733), Torrevieja at Rambla Juan Mateo Garcia 4 (Tel 965 704 282). We are online at www.helpvegaba ja.com and also on Facebook. You can email the San Miguel Centre at office@helpvegabaja.com. We also have a 24-hour

INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN ASSEMBLY, TORREVIEJA Calle Urbano Arregui, 23, Torrevieja 03185, Alicante Evangelical non-denominational church. Sunday morning Sevices at 10am and 11:30am. All nationalities welcome - Contact 966 752 543 / 966 799 273. For other church matters phone: 966 799 273 / /617 215 463 www.icatorrevie ja.org (95476)

PHILIP SCOTT LODGE No 10671 of the RAOB. Please call the secretary, Colin Bird on 693 287 614 for further information. (95459) PILAR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY CHURCH. All welcome from any church background or none. For further information, www.pilarchurch.org Reg No: 2009-SG/A (95463) ROYAL AIR FORCES ASSOCIATION COSTA BLANCA BRANCH 1359. The association supports the welfare needs of ex-members of the RAF and their dependents. Due to covid19 restrictions we cannot hold General Meetings at the moment however, we were able to comply with regulations and hold a Battle of Britain Service and a Dinner Dance (without dancing)! We also provide a social hub for members and hold lunches every month. To fund Welfare we raise money through the Wings Appeal. To find out more contact Chairman Tony

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at tony.elaine.cuenta@gma il.com. For Welfare contact David on 615 048 892. For general information on RAFA visit www.rafa.org.uk. (238593) ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Why not make this year the year you volunteer? 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, http://branches.britishle gion.org.uk/branches/ori huela-costa - covering from Punta Prima to San Javier. More info can be found on branch website www.orihuelacostarbl.co. uk. (95457)

ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Gran Alacant & La Marina Branch. For info, contact the branch Secretary at granalacant.secretary@rbl. community ROYAL MARINES ASSOCIATION (Costa Blanca) The aim of the Association is to bring together not just ex Royal Marines, but ex Service personnel with an affinity to the Royal Marines. For further details Hon Sec 692 938 664.(10004)

The Baker Foundation Spiritual Centre Playa Flamenca. Calle Luis Gordillo, 1 Playa Flamenca Alicante 03189. You can join us on Facebook, The Baker Foundation spiritual centre. Or contact Linda Schug Tel. 606 990 665 for more details (95458) THE PATIENCE LODGE No 2177 of the R.A.O.B Please call Secretary Dave Tonge on 688 704 091 for further information. (253807)

ROYAL NAVAL ASSOCIATION For information please contact Chairman Paul Edwards on 618 644 934, Vice Chairman Danny Kay on 966 716 274 or Secretary Margaret Forshaw on 966 921 996. (95455)

THE SPIRITUALIST CENTRE, Benijofar will be closed for the immediate future due to COVID-19. Identification Fiscal G54713789 (95454)

STROKE ASSOCIATION Spain (formally known as Torrevieja stroke support) Our aim is to help and support stroke survivors and their carers. With rehabilitation, speech therapy, OC therapy and a very active social group. For info please contact 654 801 260 or email strokesupportgroup@hotmail.com, website: torreviejastrokesupport.org. We are always looking for volunteers who have the skills and knowledge to support. (95473)

QUALIFIED TEACHER of languages, including Spanish & English as a foreign language, can provide one to one lessons – reasonable hourly rates. 711 096 752 or +447891043768 (290359)

THE AIRCREW ASSOCIATION COSTA BLANCA BRANCH. Former & serving aircrews of the UK or Allied Armed Forces are welcome to join this convivial & friendly organisation, now in its 21st year. www.aca costablanca.org or call the Secretary on: 966 495 042 (95465) THE ANGLICAN CHURCH, La Fustera. For more info: contact Frank Bentley on 966 495 188. (95461)

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GATAMI ORGANISATION, to help kittens and cats, looking for good homes, also spaying wild cats in the community. Kittens require adoption, fully vaccinated, de-wormed, deflead. volunteers to Tel Anna: 966 806 976 / 654 729 977 (95709) P.E.P.A. VOLUNTEERS & FOSTER HOMES URGENTLY NEEDED. By fostering an abandoned dog or spending a few hours each week on our telephone helpline, you could help save the lives of many animals. Please call: 650 304 746. For more information browse our website: www.pepaspain.com (95708) SPAMA GANDIA SHELTER. Dog and cat rescue registered charity, La Safor area. 500 animals awaiting re-homing. Phone Gail 962 896 118. Visit our website for directions. www.spa ma.org and view our new blog at www.spamasafor.blog.com.es PLEASE HELP US TO HELP THEM (95707)

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MOTORING

BMW M135i - not worse, just different to the outgoing M140i ROAD TEST by Mark Slack BMW are famed for rear wheel drive cars that have enthused keen drivers for many years. So you can imagine the howls of BMW devotees, matched only by the howl of the famed BMW straight six under full throttle, when an M car emerged with a four­cylinder engine and essen­ tially front wheel drive. The M135i is actually all­ wheel­drive, but unless addi­ tional traction is required it’s pulled rather than pushed along

the road. It loses some of its character compared to the pre­ vious car which had a straight six and rear wheel drive. So it’s a different car but most drivers wanting a comfortable, fast and premium badged performance car will love it. Priced from €38,217 (£34,995), as ever with German cars the price is prone to escala­ tion once you tick a few option boxes. My test car came very well loaded with three option packs at €1,638 (£1,500 each, including larger alloys, en­ hanced Harmon Kardon sound system, keyless entry, park as­ sist, wireless charging, head­up display,

BMW M135i: Takes fast corners with considerable ease.

adaptive LED headlamps and high beam assist. Other options included a panoramic roof €1,092 (£1,000), adaptive sus­ pension €546 (£500), gesture control €327 (£300), front seats lumber support €164 (£150) and through loading aperture in the rear seat €164 (£150). Phew! That brings the total cost to €46,724 (£42,785). A lot of money for a five­door hot hatch, but it’s something a bit more than a normal hot hatch. It has quicker steering, tweaked suspension and sits lower than the standard 1­Series. On the road it rides very well on even the firmest suspension setting from the op­ tional adaptive ride settings. This compliant ride isn’t at the expense of handling though as through the most twisting cross country roads it has plenty of grip and ex­ cellent steering. It takes fast corners with considerable ease and a confident feel. Seating is com­

fortable and there’s decent space for people and luggage. Build quality seems good with quite tactile materials that I think would prove durable in use. Externally the dominating

factor is that grille. It looks bet­ ter in darker colours rather than chrome effect where it’s far too Kardashian. This latest incarna­ tion of the famous kidney shaped grille is a bit too in your

face for me. That and the loss of the straight­six rear drive set­up shouldn’t detract from what is a great performance car. It’s no worse than the outgoing 135i/140i, it’s just different.

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Brilliant Benzema

Return Ruined

BENZEMA: Continues his goalscoring run. REAL MADRID bullied their way past Eibar and move up into second in the La Liga table as Karim Benzema con­ tinues his goalscoring run. Real Madrid forward Ben­ zema also provided two as­ sists as Zinedine Zidane’s side extended their winning league run to four games in the Basque Country following

a 3­1 away victory on Sun­ day, December 20. It wasn’t all plain sailing for the Madrid side though de­ spite early goals from Benze­ ma and Luka Modric as a spectacular Kike Garcia strike before the break made victo­ ry less certain. However Real, who are now level on points with La

Liga leaders Atletico Madrid, wrapped up the game with a late goal from Lucas Vazquez. The result was their fifth win on the bounce across all competitions easing the pres­ sure on Zinedine Zidane who had been under intense scrutiny at the start of De­ cember due to a run of poor results.

ASTON VILLA: Took an early lead over West Brom.

ASTON VILLA’S victory spoils Sam Allardyce’s re­ turn to management after his West Brom side struggled with 10 men. Big Sam suffered defeat in his first game in charge of West Brom after the Baggies lost 3­0 at home on Sunday, December 20. The Villans took the lead early on through An­ war El Ghazi with five minutes on the clock be­ fore matters got worse for the home side when Jake Livermore was sent off after a VAR review

upgraded his yellow card for his challenge on Jack Grealish. Although Dean Smith’s side pro­ vided an attacking onslaught they had to wait until six minutes from time before notching their second after Bertrand Traore provided a sublime finish to secure the game. Anwar El Ghazi scored his second from the penalty spot in a comfortable result that meant Villa climbed up to ninth and left West Brom sec­ ond bottom.