Euro Weekly News - Costa de Almeria 31 December 2020 - 6 January 2021 Issue 1852

News

The people’s paper ISSUE NO. 1852

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

COSTA DE ALMERIA • WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

FREE • GRATIS

JODIE ESQUER recently con­ tacted the Euro Weekly News to tell us about her very long journey of 500,000 steps. “I decided to do it for Turre Town Hall’s Food Bank so that every child had a present for Christmas,” Jodie said. “I realised that a lot of peo­ ple were really suffering since the pandemic. I have wit­ nessed some very heartbreak­ ing situations and wanted to do something about it,” she explained. The idea of walking 500,000 sponsored steps came from a friend in Ireland who did the same for prostate cancer vic­ tims, prompting Jodie to em­ bark on her own journey.

“I distributed collection tins in many Turre businesses and set up a Go Fund Me page. Then I began my 500,000 steps, some days walking for five or six hours,” Jodie said. “Little did I know that the community, my friends and my family would come togeth­ er as they did. People regular­ ly handed me donations, peo­ ple I didn’t even know, who wanted to help me make a dif­ ference and ensure that Turre children had toys at Christ­ mas.” Jodie went on to say that donations came in from far and wide, including Australia. By December 2 she had raised €1,500 together with another

Photo credit: Jodie Esquer

JODIE STEPS OUT

500,000 STEPS: Jodie raising funds to provide toys for needy Turre children.

A long-established tradition MOJACAR’S Nativity Scene in the Plaza del Parterre is open each day until the Christmas holidays end on January 6. Although so many events have been cancelled due to the pan­ demic, this has not affected one of the town’s longest­established traditions, said Culture councillor Raquel Belmonte de Haro. The figures were donated by Manuel Navio, owner of Restu­ rante La Capilla where for many years they were on display with

other works of art. He acquired them in Puente Tocino (Murcia) where they were made by one of the region’s pres­ tigious artists specialising in mak­

ing Nativity Scene figures. With Mojacar as a background, the tableau’s scenery ­ created by pupils studying art at the Rey Al­ abez high school ­ reproduces

many of the town’s best­known buildings and streets in the Old Quarter, including the Torreon tower, the Fuente and the parish church.

€100 that had been put in her hand, as well as more funds still coming in. “So with more money than I’d ever expected to raise and toy donations, I had enough to buy every child whose family is assisted by the Food Bank not just a toy, but sweets and stocking fillers too.” Each family also received a €10 voucher for either meat or fish at Turre’s Vega super­ market. The children received the toys on December 23 with Santa Claus, Mrs Claus and the Elf also present to make it a truly magical moment. “But what was most magi­ cal was the look on the chil­

dren’s faces when they re­ ceived their gift bags,” Jodie declared. “I would like to thank my mum and dad, Eileen McGill, Ros Daffurn and everybody else who did so much to help and encourage me,” she added. “Together we did this and I’m so proud of our great achievement.”

BEST OF THE YEAR

PAGES 5 - 21

www.euroweeklynews.com

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

Bike raffle ADRIANA VALVERDE, PSOE spokeswoman at Almeria City Hall urged shop­owners and residents to back the party’s campaign sup­ porting local commerce. As last year, the campaign has been named Los Zapatos de Lola. Internet shopping was increas­ ingly important, Valverde said, before going on to highlight the difficulties that the owners of small businesses met when going online. To counter this, the party has transformed its web page into a ‘virtual shop window’ where shop­owners could promote

their businesses, products and services. To encourage visits to the web, the PSOE is raffling a bicycle in a draw that will take place at the end of February. Those wishing to take part in the raffle should register on the www.loszapatosdelola.com web­ site or fill in the coupons available in the Almeria City shops where they have made purchases. Shop­owners wanting to join the scheme can do so via the website or by filling in one of the cards that councillors are distributing in shops.

Prizes for receipts ADRA’S campaign Prizes for your shopping this Christmas is aimed at promoting the newly­renovated Municipal Market. “We are launching this initiative to encourage people to buy at the Adra covered market,” Commerce councillor Elisa Fernandez ex­ plained. She also drew attention to the need to support the town’s tradi­ tional commerce which she said had always been a point of reference throughout the province. The town hall is assisting the revamped market with prizes for cus­ tomers’ receipts which they should hang onto until January 6 and lat­ er exchange for items in the market between January 7 and 9.

Photo credit: Adra town hall

2 EWN

East winds needed DOZENS of dead fish have appeared in the Vera Playa lagoon at the mouth of the River Antas in Puerto Rey. Sources at the town hall’s Environment department said preliminary reports suggested that the fish died owing to lack of oxygen in the water. The Vera incident has no similarity to the episode in Murcia when fish died after nitrates from intensive farming polluted the Mar Menor, Environment department sources explained. Instead, the Vera fish appear to have died from natural causes caused by the absence in recent months of the Levante east winds that habitually sweep fresh, oxygenated seawater into the Laguna, the same sources said.

JOINT COMPLAINT: Nuria Rodriguez and Manuel Cortes sign their letter to Endesa.

Lights go out THE mayors of Balanegra and Adra signed letters complaining to energy company Endesa about power cuts. Nuria Rodriguez and Manuel Cortes, the towns’ respective mayors, formally requested expli­ cations for numerous outages that occurred earlier this month in the neighbouring municipalities. “The cuts put our residents in a vulnerable situation where they were seriously affected, although neither municipality received any kind of justification,” Rodriguez and Cortes maintained. They expressed indignation re­ garding the attention they re­ ceived when asking for explana­ tions, as Endesa offered no

facilities for putting in claims for the inconvenience both towns had suffered. “We are aware that bad weather can be responsible for sporadic cuts and outages in the electricity supply,” the may­ ors said. “But these occur in both municipalities even when the weather is good.” Nor were these one­off episodes they declared, as both urged Endesa to come up with a solution and offer the quality ser­ vice that they believed their towns were entitled to. Rodriguez and Cortes also went the energy company to put for­ ward a plan of action to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.

Nice one for Antas A TICKET for the third prize in the mammoth Christmas Lottery was sold by an administration in Antas. Number 52472 won a total of €500,000 and paid out €50,000 for each ‘decimo’ or one of the tenths in which National Lottery tickets are usually sold. “That’s €50,000 to share out amongst the family,” Juan, one of the Antas winners, told the local Spanish press afterwards. “I’m really happy, and that’s the truth,” he declared, admitting that he’d hoped to win. “Every time you buy a lottery ticket you have to believe you’re going to win, otherwise don’t play,” Juan advised.

NEWS

Selfie competition CUEVAS DEL ALMANZORA’S Tourism department has launched a Selfies competition promoting the municipality. Participants should take photographs in one of the eight Selfie Points that the town hall has set up in differ­ ent parts of the town. These are: Castillo del Marques de Los Velez Town hall building and San­ to Negro Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnacion Canal de Remo y Piraguismo Villa Anito or Palacete de Garcia Alix Paseo de Villaricos and Pata del Muelle Cuartel de Blanquizares Mirador del Litoral. They can, if they wish, sug­ gest another Selfie Point which, if approved by the competition committee, will be included in the Selfie Route. Contestants, who should publish their photos on their Instagram feed or story with the #SelfieCuevas, #Turis­ moCuevas and #CuevasdelAl­ manzora hashtags, should also follow @turismocuevas which should be tagged in their self­ ies. The competition committee will award first prize ­ a book of digital photos and a canvas with one of the images – to the most creative and amus­ ing selfie, explained Cuevas’ Tourism councillor Maria Is­ abel Ponce. Closing date is 1.59pm on February 15.

Nobody to be left behind JAVIER A GARCIA, president of the provincial council, the Diputacion, pledged to help all of the local population. Delivering his Christmas message from Calar Alta, with the Astronomical Centre visible in the distance, Garcia said that 2020 had been one of the hardest times in our lives. “The memory of all the coronavirus victims who have left us will always remain alive deep within our hearts. We shall never forget you,” he declared. Garcia also stressed that “in these difficult moments” the Diputacion would always be at the side of Almeria’s population, “ensuring that nobody is left behind.” It would help the vulnerable, the business­

owners, the self­employed and the agriculture sector and be near to those who were having the worst time so that “between us all” the province could recover, Garcia promised. Meanwhile, the Diputacion would continue to promote the Costa de Almeria and Sabores Almeria initiatives, making the province a fron­ trunner in the fight against depopulation and as a leading filmmaking location. The provincial council would be supporting all sectors while providing equal opportunities for Almeria residents “wherever they live.” Dialogue, teamwork, unity, pride and passion for Almeria and its population would help to overcome any challenges in achieving these goals, Garcia said.

NEWS

www.euroweeklynews.com

NIBS EXTRA Thumbs up ALMERIA’S agricultural growers welcomed the Brexit deal which means that they will not have to pay an annual €198 million in customs duties on their produce. Despite their relief, the FEPEX union warned that they will now face competition in the UK from suppliers outside the EU.

Big treat TORRECARDENAS hospital, which prepares 2,300 meals each day for patients, has been serving up treats over the Christmas period. On January 5, the day before the Three Kings holiday, these will include a special menu of soup, cheeseburger, chips and icecream for children.

Rig departs OIL platform Ocean Confidence has now left Almeria port where the giant structure with its 70-metre crane had been moored since April. After 30 years of service the rig is now being towed to a port in Turkey where it will be broken up for scrap.

More ATMs NATIONAL POLICE officers have verified 39 Unicaja and the Euro network’s automatic cash machines prior to putting them into operation in small towns in the interior of Almeria Province. This is part of a Diputacion project aimed at halting depopulation by providing financial services that include cash withdrawals, bank balance consultations and tax payments.

Working girls THE owner of an El Ejido redlight bar faces a four-year prison term after work inspectors found that although 18 people were working there, only three were registered with Social Security. Thirteen of the remaining 15 employees were women from outside Spain who lacked work and residency permits.

Budget okayed HUERCAL-OVERA’S €17.397 million 2021 Budget was approved with votes from Partido Popular councillors only, as the PSOE and Ciudanos parties voted against it. Of this, €530,000 will be used to minimise the economic effects of the health crisis at a local level with help for the self-employed and shopowners.

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

2020 was definitely the unplanned year for us all. It has been a difficult year with illness loss uncertainty and isolation due to Covid19. However it has been the year where communities have come together like never before - people have reached out to help others less fortunate as we have all learned to live in the moment or the NOW as it has been called. We have all learned that it is the little things that are actually the BIG things that matter - our health - a roof over our head food in our stomach. We have in the main all learned to appreciate everyone and everything as that is what makes up our landscape of life. So as 2020 comes to a close we, Michel, Steven and all of the EWN family, now spread out throughout all of Europe, wish you our valued client and dearest loyal reader a virus free 2021 and hope that you can Enjoy 12 months of success 52 weeks of memory making occasions 365 days of joy 8,760 hours of abundance 525,600 minutes of good luck 31,536,000 seconds of happiness HAPPY NEW YEAR and may 2021 give wings to your dreams, Renewed energy and confidence and an end to these very troubling times. Thank you ALL for your continued support and YOU are the reason we carry on into our third decade ... Cheers to each and every one of you and a special THANK YOU to our EWN family for ensuring the six papers were out every single week - not an easy feat for anyone. God Bless.

Making music STRICT health and safety measures were in place when Mojacar’s Mu­ nicipal Music School offered their traditional Christmas concert. Mojacar’s prize­winning Munici­ pal Band, which is regarded as one of the best in the province, played carols and Christmas songs in Plaza de la Parterre. Pupils also per­ formed under the watchful eye of their teachers. The Music School, to which all members of the Municipal Band belong, opened 25 years ago with just 20 pupils, compared with the present 300 with ages ranging from three to 70. Youth councillor Raquel Bel­ monte who was present at the con­ cert stressed that any person of any age was able to access music at the Mojacar school “easily and in an entertaining and enjoyable way.”

EWN

3

Cantoria toys ‘Breezed’ in

May the road rise to meet you, May the wind Be ever at your back, May the sun shine warm Upon your face And the rains fall soft upon your fields And until we can all meet together again May God hold you in the palm Of his hand Irish blessing

Pig of a problem Parakeet invasion

THE mayor of Arboleas recently forecast that the area’s towns could eventually become ‘pig styes.’ Cristobal Garcia’s warning came during an inter­ view with Cadena SER radio regarding plans for a huge pig farm in neighbouring Cantoria on land ad­ joining the Arboleas boundary. Responding to local opposition to the scheme, Ar­ boleas Town Hall earlier presented its objections to the pig farm to Cantoria Town Hall. When these were rejected, Garcia decided to go a step further, detailing to his interviewer some of the arguments that Arboleas Town Hall would use if the new installation became a problem for residents. “We have a by­law going back 25 years which states that pig farms should be located at least two kilometres away from built­up inhabited areas,” the mayor said. “The law covering intrusive activi­ ties also sets a limit of between one and two kilo­ metres.” Local preoccupation about the proposed pig farm was heightened because it would be 460 metres away from Llanos de Arboleas, Garcia pointed out. “We shall be obliged to take action,” he declared.

ALMERIA City Hall and Almeria University reached a collaboration agreement on carrying out a survey of the city’s green parakeets. The birds, whose native habitat is Argentina and Uruguay, increasingly make themselves seen and heard in the city and the survey will study the best ways of controlling this invasive species. According to Margarita Cobos, Environmental Sustainability, the chosen methods will at all times bear in mind the birds’ well­being.

SANTA dropped by Can­ toria Town Hall just be­ fore Christmas, when Breeze 97.7FM delivered the toys for their Caritas Christmas Appeal. “We have been col­ lecting non­perishable food and children’s clothing since Caritas started helping local families,” Breeze presen­ ter Geoff Feelgood ex­ plained. “And we were sure our listeners would want to become involved with the toy appeal. “Everyone has been incredibly generous,” he added. “I was totally blown away by their kindness.” Bobby Gray, who pre­ sents the lunch time show on Breeze 97.7, never doubted that peo­ ple would rise to the challenge, but even he was overwhelmed by the response. Listeners unable to travel to Albox where the Breeze studio is located, donated via a Go Fund Me page and raised a to­ tal of €626.12. Attending the presen­ tation were Cantoria mayor Purificacion Sanchez Aranega, parish priest Fr Antonio Maria, who is also Caritas presi­ dent in Cantoria and Irene Trequattrini Car­ mona, Caritas’ director in Cantoria. Irene whom George Gon of Cantoria Town Hall described as “a lady with the heart of an an­ gel,” explained that the charity works with about 30 households in the mu­ nicipality. “I would like to thank all our neighbours from the English community who have done so much and given so generously to these families,” Irene said.

4 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

NEWS

902 numbers King Felipe VI Christmas speech THE Spanish government has banned basic service compa­ nies from using high tariff 902 numbers. The Council of Min­ isters has ruled that compa­ nies that provide basic ser­ vices such as water, gas, electricity, financial services and insurance providers must offer a free customer service telephone number. This also applies to postal, air, land and maritime trans­ port companies, health pro­ tection companies, as well as sanitation and waste firms. Other service providers must have a landline or mo­ bile phone number for cus­ tomer service enquiries. “The measure agreed by the Ministry of Consumption will put an end to abuses and

No more high tariffs.

cost overruns in telephone bills caused by calls to cus­ tomer service, which, in the case of 902 numbers, the cost per minute is between 0.12 and 0 .4 euros, according to data from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation,” said head of hte department, Alberto Garzón. The changes are likely to be made mandatory by the summer 2021.

IN the traditional Christmas Eve speech, King Felipe VI focused on the unprecedented crisis which has hit Spain this year, and also mentioned ethical values, which he said, come above anything else, even personal or family situations. He began his speech by highlighting that 2020 has been a “hard and difficult year” in which coronavirus has “altered our way of life” and “paralysed our economy.” He also sent his support and affection to families who have been affected by the virus and to patients still fighting against it at home or in hospital. He also tried to raise optimism that 2021 will be better, saying that in the past Spain has been capable of overcoming hardship, and that this time wasn’t going to be any different. He showed his appreciation

KING’S SPEECH: “My commitment is to all of you and to Spain.”

for science and research being carried out to fight the virus and asked for everyone to be responsible, as it is “one of the most effective weapons for combating the virus,” which is why it is “so important for us to not let our

guard down,” he said. Felipe VI thanked health care professionals once more for their professionalism and humanity and for continuing to fight for us all. While thanking the armed

and security forces for their work, he also spoke of the Constitution, as a guarantee of democracy in the face of the uncertainty caused by the pandemic. Towards the end of his message, King Felipe VI spoke of the years he has been on the throne and made it clear that moral and ethical principles are for everyone without exception and are above any personal or family situations. He ended with a message of hope, saying that it will not be easy to overcome this situation, but “I am sure we will get through it,” he concluded, adding that “as King, I will be there with everyone and for everyone, not only because it’s my duty and my conviction, but also because it is my commitment to all of you, to Spain.”

‘EL NIÑO’ worth €700 million THE ‘little one’ lottery will be drawn on Janu­ ary 6 , and is worth €700 million in total with top prizes of €2 million per series of tickets. The Christmas lotto el Gordo is, of course, the LOTTERY: Drawn on January 6. big one and some of the amounts given away are staggering, but even though this lottery is called el Niño it still carries a €700 million prize fund in total. The draw started in 1868, then in 1941 it developed its own per­ sonality with naming ceremonies and the like. However, it was the year 1966 that this little lotto got its name ‘EL NIÑO’. First prize is €2,000,000, second prize is €750,000, third prize is €250,000, with no less than 20 prizes of €3,500 amongst other lower ‘Premios’ as they are known.

BEST OF THE YEAR

www.euroweeklynews.com

Desperate for donations THE PAWS­PATAS animal chari­ ty has put out a desperate call for donations for its fundrais­ ing outlets in Mojacar, Turre and at Las Buganvillas in Vera. “We would not survive with­ out our fundraising outlets, but our stocks are almost depleted,” the charity’s Chrissie Cremore told the Euro Weekly News. “We are desperate for your kind donations, be it clothes, bric­ a­brac, crockery, bedding, toys, etc. Please have an early spring clean because we really are in dire need!” PAWS­PATAS is also keen to at­ tract new members, and invites anyone interested in doing their bit for the animal charity to go along to its AGM on Saturday February 1 at the Hostal Rural in Turre. Registration is at 10.30am for an 11am start. Chrissie stressed PAWS­PATAS welcomes members and non­ members alike “as we value all your questions and concerns.” Says Chrissie, “Why not come and join us and support our work saving abandoned cats and dogs and finding them ‘forever homes’.”

DIRE NEED: Stock at the PAWS-PATAS fundraising outlets is running low. Last year PAWS­PATAS re­ homed 91 cats and 256 dogs. The aims for 2020 are, according to Chrissie, even “bigger and bolder” especially concerning the charity’s major TNR (trapping, neutering, returning) campaign for local feral cat colonies. Chrissie put out “a massive thank you to all those brave people who swam on New Year’s Day and raised more funds towards the building plot for our much needed quaran­ tine unit. “Ann and Brad Swift very kind­ ly organised several events last year, and these have helped us tremendously.” Explained Chrissie, “We cur­

2020 rently have €30,000 and now re­ quire a further €10,000 to reach our €40,000 target to get the pro­ ject underway and completed be­ fore summer when the deadly parvovirus is at its most prevalent. “The quarantine unit will avoid having to shut the shelter, which causes much disruption and dis­ tress.” For more information see www.paws­patas.org or email: info@paws­patas.org.

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

EWN

5

Hero officer AN off­duty trainee Guardia Civil officer res­ cued a family of four from a burning apart­ ment. The hero, called Alejandro Javier, was in his home when he noticed flames coming from the apartment above his in Torrevieja. He knew the situation was dangerous as he had seen ashes and burning wood falling past his window. Without hesitation, he ran upstairs, bang­ ing on the apartment door and shouting for the family he knew lived there to get out. When he did not get an answer, he broke the door down to check that there was no one inside. Once in, he found a mother and her three children all sound asleep and not aware of what was happening.

MAYOR of Motril, Luisa María García Chamorro, has praised local singer Javi Mo­ ta for his career and love for his roots. She said “No one has ever given anything to Javi, everything he has has been achieved with great effort and determination.” At 15 years old, Mota left his home town to start a

BLAZE: Smoke was a danger to sleeping family. He woke them and escorted them outside to safety then evacuated neighbouring flats and calling 112. No one was hurt in the incident ­ thanks largely to Alejandro’s actions.

Local star successful path after his performances became known throughout Motril. His jump to the national scene led to TV show Menudo and musical groups

Banghra and Gypsy Teens. He has a career in musi­ cals, combining singing, the­ atre and dance and current­ ly enjoys success with his song Iguales.

6 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

Storming Success YET again the annual Big Mac fundraiser for the MACS Mojacar Area Cancer Support association was a storming success. Hundreds flocked to the Turre venue on Sunday afternoon to enjoy a brilliant line-up of live music and to raise money for the charity, which provides invaluable assistance for cancer patients, survivors and carers across the region. A line-up of the some of the best bands and singers from the local music scene kept the crowds entertained from midday until well into the evening. Main stage acts ran from Abba tributes and crooners belting out classic tunes to the beats of The All Skas. DOWN on the acoustic stage there were sets from bands like

the Filabres Mountain Devils and The Happy Pluckers. The blue skies and warm weather helped ensure brisk trade on the stalls selling hand-made crafts, vintage clothes, jewellery, and more, and there were plenty of people tucking into the festivalstyle grub and enjoying the sunshine and the great atmosphere. “It’s been an absolutely amazing turnout once again. In fact we underestimated how many people would turn up and there are more people here than last year. We couldn’t ask for more,” MACS Vice-President Shannon Edwards told the Euro Weekly News on the day. “Obviously we are so grateful for the continued support,” Shannon added.

BEST OF THE YEAR

BBC interview EWN 2020 IN view of Brexit having finally come into action, last Friday Jan­ uary 31, BBC News Europe re­ porter Gavin Lee spoke to Euro Weekly News’ very own Michel Euesden. Euro Weekly News is the lead­ ing free British newspaper pub­ lished in Spain, and has SIX re­ gional editions and a circulation of over 580,600 copies every month. Michel Euesden is the CEO and founder of Euro Weekly News, and works hand­in­hand with her husband Steven Euesden who is joint publisher and sales director. Gavin met up with Michel in Mijas Pueblo and said that the general feeling he got from the lo­ cal British, as quoted by a local bar owner, was that “Nothing is dif­

BBC NEWS INTERVIEW: Gavin Lee spoke with Michel Euesden of the Euro Weekly News in Mijas Pueblo. ferent, but everything has changed.” Michel agreed that she had a similar feeling, as we are yet to see what Brexit really holds for us. Euro Weekly readers are mostly ‘remainers.’ People who are proud to be British, but hap­ pen to have chosen to reside in a different country. For now, the British in Spain have been told that they can con­ tinue as they have been, but by December 31 they will need to

EWN OWNERS: Michel and Steven Euesden. make sure that all their paper­ work including residency must be in order should they want to live and work here.

Despite Brexit not having been everyone’s first choice, many are happy to now at least be out of ‘limbo,’ after three years of un­ certainty. Gavin stated that hav­ ing spoken to local estate agents, there appears to have been a re­ cent decline in British buyers. This is most likely due to people not knowing what the future would hold. Euro Weekly News has also spoken to other channels, and one of them will be doing a post­ Brexitdocumentary which will fol­ low the Euesdens, as well as some of their clients along the coasts of Spain. This documentary will be all about ‘Life as an Expat after Brex­ it.’ They will be following up to see what changes have been made or felt one, six and 12 months after the initial Brexit date of January 31, 2020. Only time will tell what Brexit truly holds for the British, but as Michel said, Boris stated that this would be “The best for Britain.” Only she would have rather he had said that this change will be “The best for the British people.”

8 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

BEST OF THE YEAR

Getting involved GETTING involved in the Vera and District Lions Club has been a great experience for British expats Chris and Ceri Norman. Not only are they making a

valuable contribution to the Li­ on’s work helping local charities and deserving causes, their re­ sponsibilities as the club’s press officers “keep our brains active,”

they told the Euro Weekly News. Chris and Ceri joined the Lions after selling their home in the UK, packing most of their be­ longings into storage and setting

out in a fully loaded car to start a new life in Spain. They eventually settled in Ar­ boleas, bought a house and set about making alterations, in­ cluding the kitchen. That was how they first found out about the Lions and what they do. Explained Ceri, “We tried to sell the old kitchen and were about to scrap it, when the lady who was helping us design the new layout suggested she sell it for us on behalf of Vera and Dis­ trict Lions, of which she is a member. The Lions would then use the money to support local causes. “She also mentioned that the Lions would be happy for us, as they are for any guest, to come to meetings to see if it was something we wanted to join.” Busy getting their house the way they wanted and settling in­ to their new environment, it was a few months before the couple went along to their first meet­ ing. Having had busy working lives, Ceri as a teacher and Chris as a motorsport professional, they had in any case been talk­ ing about doing something to keep their minds occupied while

OFFICIAL: Zone Chairman Guillermo Baragan Bazan presents Ceri and Chris, along with Pat Tomlinson, with Lions membership certificates

2020 helping others at the same time. “This looked like something we could do while allowing Chris to travel with work at times as he is semi­retired,” Ceri told EWN. A few further meetings along they decided to join, and are now active members and the club’s press officers. Vera and District Lions Club was formed in 2011 and re­ ceived its charter in November 2012. There are Lions clubs throughout Spain and in over 200 countries all over the world.

While the Lions Clubs Interna­ tional reaches out across the globe with offers of help, it is the role of Vera and District Lions Club to help local charities and other deserving causes. No member of the Vera and District Lions Club receives payment: they are all volunteers. The next big fundraising event will be Party in the Park on Sun­ day April 26 at the El Palmeral Park in Vera. See the club’s Face­ book page for more details. The club meets on the first Wednesday of the month at 6pm in Hotel Terraza Carmona in Vera. The Facebook page and the club’s website feature infor­ mation on what they do, how to help as volunteers or become a member and sponsorship pack­ ages. For further information email Vera and District Lions Club sec­ retary at veralionssecretary@ gmail.com.

Helping hand for Little Owls group THE Almanzora Group of Friends has given a helping hand to Arboleas­based voluntary support group Little Owls with a generous cash donation. Group of Friends’ representative Di Hiden did the honours of presenting Little Owls founder member Cathie Ringrose with the money. The Almanzora Group of Friends is a membership organisation based in Albox. Every year they donate the proceeds from their Monday charity quiz to a charity or charities of their choice. This year they have given a third of the cash to Little Owls, which provides emotion­ al and practical support to people with phys­ ical or mental needs. The other two thirds are divided between the two Albox branches of Caritas, an organ­

DONATION: Group of Friends’ Di Hiden presents Little Owls founder member Cathie Ringrose with the cash raised. isation belonging to the Catholic Church which is dedicated to fighting poverty, exclu­ sion, intolerance and discrimination. For more information on Little Owls call 648 278 546 or email littleowls@hot mail.es. To con­ tact the Almanzora Group of Friends email al manzorafriends@gmail.com.

10 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

Birthday surprise G U A R D I A C I V I L gave a lovely surprise to a little boy forced to celebrate his sixth birthday stuck at home under coronavirus lockdown in Albox. Patrol cars with their lights flashing pulled up in front of the family home and blasted out a well-known children’s birthday song on their megaphones. The video posted on social media by the father showed the delighted little boy and his family dancing and waving from their balcony. “This is the best thing that could ever happen in the situation we’re in: making children happy. It’s incredible,” the dad exclaims. “Viva the Guardia Civil,” he then shouted as the song came to an end and local residents cheered and clapped, before the Spanish national anthem played and the officers stood in a poignant salute. Junta de Andalucia President Juanma Moreno was among those commenting on the sweet gesture. “A gift that won’t be forgotten,” Moreno said. “I’m proud of our forces and security bodies.”

BEST OF THE YEAR

Donations keep dogs going 2020 THE Albox Animal Protection Society (APSA) has issued a big thank you to all the peo­ ple who have donated bags and tins of dog food to the charity’s kennels since the coronavirus State of Alarm Royal Decree came into force. The APSA charity shop is un­ able to open under the health emergency lockdown restric­ tions and obviously fundraising events are prohibited, meaning the charity has lost both its sources of income. APSA’s Liz Carey told the Euro Weekly News there are still 100 dogs at the shelter to feed every day, as well as water, electricity and vets’ bills to pay.

APPRECIATED: The Albox Animal Protection Society needs food for the 100 dogs still in its shelter. APSA President Dianne Reid said that she realises it is a diffi­ cult time for everyone, but that any dog food donations are hugely appreciated.

Donations can be taken to Harrison’s food store in Avenida Lepanto next to the APSA shop in Albox and to The Hub Com­ munity Centre at Piedra Amaril­

la (the car park there). Cash donations can be sent via Paypal or direct to the bank. The details are on the APSA Facebook page.

12 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

BEST OF THE YEAR

Message of hope Chloe’s new heart 2020

2020

VIRTUAL CHOIR: Each child held up a sign with their name on it. SEVEN­HUNDRED children across the world have come together to form a virtual choir in a bid to spread hope and solidarity amid the coro­ navirus emergency. The choir sang Nessun Dor­ ma, the famous aria from Puccini’s opera Turandot. The initiative was directed by the association Europa In­ Canto, who invited children from Italy, Europe and across the world to participate in

the virtual event. As the group Europa In­ Canto wrote on YouTube, “We have received 700 videos created by girls and boys ­ not only Italian and Eu­ ropean ­ who sing the fa­ mous Puccini aria with great enthusiasm, each with their own personality, their own interpretation, and their own accent.” Each child held up a sign with their name on it, and

the 700 strong group have become the largest virtual choir in the world. The children were accom­ panied by the Europa InCan­ to orchestra, and lead by conductor Germano Neri. Italy’s Culture Minister Dario Franceschini, com­ menting on the moving video said, “From this terrible time a generation better and stronger than ours will emerge.”

HOME WITH FAMILY: Chloe, 22 months old, has had a successful heart transplant during pandemic. TODDLER returned home with a healthy new heart last week. Chloe, 22 months old, was admitted to the Gregorio Marañón Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on December 9, before coronavirus had consumed hospital resources, and now, months later she is back with her family in the town of Pinto. Chloe’s heart transplant is one of 65 organ transplants performed in hospitals in the Community of Madrid since the State of Alarm was declared.

From a ward at the Gregorio Marañón ICU, where Chloe has been since December, her mother told El Mundo she had seen first hand how the coronavirus evolved ‘practically overnight.’ A side from complications from the transplant itself, she admitted she feared the virus ‘very much’ adding: “We’ve been through a lot of fear. When the new heart arrived from Barcelona, they tested it... otherwise it wouldn’t have been possible.”

BEST OF THE YEAR

www.euroweeklynews.com

Spirit-lifting entertainment A BRITISH expat songbird pen­ sioner has been keeping up her neighbours’ spirits during the long weeks of confinement with weekly concerts from the rooftop of her Los Gallardos home. Anne Anstey, 79, has been singing on stage all her life, so it seemed quite natural to her to put on a free show to bring some cheer at these dark and uncertain coron­ avirus times. Every Saturday at 2pm she has been setting up her PA sys­ tem and belting out tunes for a good hour for the entire Huerta Nueva residential community. “We’re all suffering from stress at the moment, and peo­ ple needed lifting up, especially as a lot of the residents here are elderly,” Anne told the Euro Weekly News.

2020 She does a selection of 18 or 19 songs, publishing a list on fo­ rums in advance so people know what to expect each Sat­ urday. There are just two tunes which are weekly regulars. Viva España, and Best of Friends, “as we’ve all got to be looking out for each other,” Anne stresses. There has certainly been a fantastic response to the un­ usual concerts. Many neigh­ bours join in and sing along,

and even have a bit of a dance. “In these depressing times it’s lovely to have a bit of enter­ tainment to cheer everybody up,” Huerta Nueva resident Al­ lan Trigg told EWN. Originally from Bristol, Anne performed with bands back in the UK, and here in Almeria she regularly sings at fundraising events for the Turre­based Stepping Stones carers’ support group under her ‘entertain­ ment name’ Anne Rogers, a tribute to her husband, who she describes as her “back­ bone.” The coronavirus State of Alarm lockdown has put the fundraising appearances on hold for the moment, but Anne plans to carry on with the rooftop performances, at least until social activities return to some kind of normality.

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

EWN 13

Community Heroes Jorge Gonzalez, Almeria JORGE or George Gon as he is affectionately known to his friends works for the town hall in Cantoria. He has stood out among all the members of his community for all the extra work he has done to help them during the health crisis. “When the State of Alarm started I created a small team of five people to help the old people in the area. We would do their shopping for them and deliver them face masks. We must have handed out between 30,000 and 40,000 masks to the communi­ ty,” said George and added, “We also helped with Caritas food donations, delivering food to around 30 families in need.” George, a positive and cheerful man originally from Mexico moved to Spain with his Scottish wife 19 years ago and brought up their three daughters here. He has not seen any of them since the lock­ down began as they were out of town, but that does not stop him from spreading his positivity He has also recently become the secretary for a cat rescue association Kitty Kat Almanzora Valley. “I helped a couple create this association where they gather up street cats and have them treated, take care of their vet’s bills and I help translate all the pa­ perwork.” Having spoken to George it is clear to see why he received so many nominations, he is both humble and grateful and admits that it is just in his nature to help people and he hopes to continue to help them long after the crisis is over.

2020

14 EWN

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

www.euroweeklynews.com

BEST OF THE YEAR

Tom Moore Knighted SIR TOM: The 100-year-old raised millions for the NHS.

BRITAIN’S favourite fundraising hero got a dream come true when the Queen knighted him during a private ceremony at Windsor Castle on Friday July 17. The ex­serviceman who is a Second World War veteran earned himself the highest ho­ nour by raising around £33 mil­ lion in aid of the NHS as it struggled to cope with the con­ stant battering of the Covid pandemic. Sir Tom challenged himself to walk 100 lengths of his Bed­ fordshire garden before his special 100th birthday this year, an achievement leading to the PM Boris Johnson minis­ ter nominating him for the

2020 award. Guests at the ceremony in­ cluded Sir Tom’s daughter, Hannah Ingram­Moore, son­ in­law Colin Ingram, grandson Benjie and granddaughter Georgia watching. Her Majesty, 94, has been

living in Windsor during the pandemic for her own safety, but bravely chose to carry out the official engagement in per­ son. She thanked Sir Tom person­ ally, saying: “Thank you so much, an amazing amount of money you raised.” Leading up to the event, Sir Tom posted a tweet saying that he was “rar­ ing to go,” for a “very special day” and thanked supporters for their well wishes. “To actually see the Queen in person ­ this is a step in the right direction, a step hopefully back to new normality, but it will be a very slow step,” Sir Tom added.

“Back in the groove” NEIL DIAMOND sang about a ‘Hot August Night,’ but it was a hot Ju­ ly morning when community choir All Aloud got together for the first time since lockdown. The singers met up at Chapman’s in Albox, choir member Gary Mitchell telling the Euro Weekly News it was an opportunity to meet and greet old friends, as well as to sing. “After careful consideration and perusal of the current regulations it had been worked out that if we met outside and observed social distancing then the opportunity was there to restart our stalled campaign,” Gary explained. “Chapman’s kindly agreed to reserve an outside area for us and to set up seats in a shaded part of the patio, two metres apart, and 20 of us got together to resume singing. “Understandably perhaps, we were rusty and some of the timing was off. But after a quick burst of some familiar numbers we were back in the groove!” The impromptu, al fresco entertainment clearly went down well with other customers as it quickly morphed into a request session and the planned hour extended. “All-in-all it was a thoroughly entertaining get-together and reminded us why we do it,” said Gary. All Aloud had planned to hold another session towards the end of the month, but this is now on hold following the Junta de Andalucia’s imposition of a blanket regulation enforcing the wearing of face masks except in some circumstances. “It would appear we have been overtaken by events”, commented Gary. “It may well be that our hot July morning will have to keep us going until we can assemble again, hopefully before a cold winter's morning.”

BEST OF THE YEAR

www.euroweeklynews.com

Walk raises handsome sum

ACHIEVEMENT: The walkers, pictured here with Costa Calida staff, trekked for 10 and a half hours on a very hot day. RICHARD CLARKE of Cali­ da Homes presented Walk for Life with the hand­ some sum of €2,074 raised in sponsorship money from his epic 36.2­ kilometre walk from Ar­ boleas to Los Gallardos. Taking on the walking challenge with him were Dave Lyons, Keith Lazelle, and Tesser and Raymond Roofthoft, all pictured here with Richard and the Calida Homes staff.

2020

The walkers left Ar­ boleas at 4.30am on Satur­ day June 27 and arrived at Los Gallardos at 3pm: a 10 and a half hour trek on a very hot day. Walk for Life Arboleas issued a huge thanks to all those who pledged money and sponsored the group, with special thanks to the Calida Homes walking football team FC Los Ami­ gos and many of the local businesses who con­ tributed so much, among them Sol Supermercados, Sassy Casas, Glad Rags Boutique, Arboleas Panaderia, and Hnos Berbell Oller. Richard also presented the W4L team with a Bushmills tube full of coins donated by Vic and Linda Millward.

Miss World Spain crown ALMERIA law student Ana Garcia Segundo is the new Miss World Spain. The 23­year­old took the 2020 crown at a gala staged in Marina D’Or in Castellon on Saturday night after three elimination rounds which saw the contenders whittled down from 20 to 10 and then five. She was also named Miss Top Model. In the run up to the con­ test Ana spoke about what it meant to her to be representing Almeria. In a meeting with the Almeria Provincial Council president she said she felt excited and proud, and told local Spanish press it was “a great honour.” She also made it clear whatever happened she was determined to continue with her studies. Almeria designer Sergi Regal created the exclusive designs Ana wore for the event.

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

EWN 15

16 EWN

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

www.euroweeklynews.com TRULY inspirational Oscar O’Sheehan, 11, has completed his mammoth fundraising chal­ lenge to raise funds to create a sensory garden on the Costa Blanca in record time. The huge­hearted young boy from Denia has walked the final stages of the Camino de Santia­ go ­ 300 kilometres ­ with ever­ supportive mum Niamh, raising more than €3,000 for the special facility at the La Xara Occupa­ tional and Day Centre. And while the feat was ex­ pected to take 15 days, the pair completed it in 12, walking an average of 25kms every day. Niamh told Euro Weekly News: “We got home on Thurs­ day, August 27 and were ab­ solutely shattered. You just keep going when you’re walking, you can’t let it get to you, but as soon as you stop it hits you. “We’re thrilled to have com­ pleted the walk in 12 days as there’s a lot of difficult terrain, mountains, rocky roads and dirt paths, as well as towns and vil­ lages.” The venture began two years ago when Oscar asked his mum if he could walk the Camino San­ tiago. “That’s not like going for any old walk, it’s a pilgrimage!” said

BEST OF THE YEAR

Inspirational 2020 mum­of­three Niamh, a well­ known singer on the Costa Blan­ ca. In October 2018 and October 2019 determined Oscar covered 470kms of his incredible chal­ lenge. The plan was that in Octo­ ber 2020 Oscar would tackle the final 300­plus kilometres of the camino from Leon to Santiago de Compostela. “However, as we all know, 2020 hasn’t quite gone to plan,” said Niamh. To avoid Oscar missing more school after months of lock­ down, it was decided he would walk his final 300km of Camino Santiago through the tricky tracks and trails of Galicia in the very early mornings of August. The idea to create a sensory

garden came about after a visit to the Occupational & Day Care centre in La Xara where he saw first­hand the “vitality and im­ portance of this place.” Oscar asked Director of the Centre, Ana, “how can I help?” and she explained that they of­ ten dream about installing a sen­ sory garden adapted for special needs. With a budget tighter than ever, practical priorities come first, but Oscar is determined to help ­ and you can still help too. “We now have to build the sensory garden,” said Niamh. “A lot of thought needs to go into that and we need to have exper­ tise. “If there are any architects who can help, tradespeople, garden centres and building sup­ plies companies who could do­ nate their time or materials, that would be fantastic. “We are hoping the whole process will take about a week.” You can help Oscar realise his dream by donating at www.helpof denia.com. Alternatively, contact Niamh O’Sheehan on 676 507 791.

FEATURE

www.euroweeklynews.com

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

EWN 17

Strategic financial planning for the New Year Of course, you can review your financial planning any time to ensure it is on the right path, but the New Year is the perfect prompt to do so if you have not taken a fresh look for a while. Perhaps it’s even more important this year as we navigate a postBrexit world. One key reason to review your wealth management is to ensure it’s up to date - consider whether any tax rules or financial regulations, or personal circumstances, have changed. But an effective review, to ensure it’s suitable for your life in Spain and wishes for the future, needs to go beyond that. Many people only consider segments of their finances at a time. They may have bought shares in companies they like years ago. They may speak to a tax accountant about Spanish taxation, then to a lawyer about setting up a Spanish will. For truly effective financial planning, however, you need to consider the various aspects to-

on your financial and tax planning.

By Gerald Turner, Partner, Blevins Franks

gether. For example, how you hold your investments can make a difference to your tax liabilities. Estate planning in Spain is no simple matter, with its complex succession tax regime and forced heirship rules, and how you own assets can impact on what you can achieve. Here are three key areas to consider in your review. Spanish residency and taxation The fact that you are resident in Spain has a significant impact

First of all, ensure you know where you are resident for tax purposes. The Spanish and UK residency rules are different and more complex than first meets the eye. The double tax treaty determines where you pay tax if you are resident in one country and earn income in another.

be able to plan around them. Succession law in Spain establishes forced heirship rules and protects children over spouses. This can have unwelcome consequences for certain families unless you plan ahead. UK nationals can use the EU succession regulation to distribute their estate under UK law, but research this to confirm it’s the best solution for you.

Regardless of how effective your tax planning in the UK was, you pretty much need to start afresh in Spain. What was tax efficient in the UK is unlikely to be so here. Explore the compliant arrangements available to establish what would work for you as a Spanish resident and how much tax you can save.

Financial structuring for life in Spain Perhaps the key rule for financial planning is that it must be specifically structured around your personal circumstances lifestyle and future plans, family situation, income requirements, objectives, time horizon and risk tolerance.

Estate planning The way you own assets could make a difference to how you can distribute them and what tax your beneficiaries pay, so consider this early on.

If you don’t already have a strategic financial plan in place for Spain, you may need to take a fresh look at your investments and consider if they are suitable for you today. Are they too risky? Do you have adequate diversification? Could you consolidate shares and funds so they are easi-

You need to understand the Spanish succession tax rules to

Your Belgian estate agent at the coast!

er to manage? At the same time, consider whether you could use tax-efficient arrangements to hold your investments and make the inheritance process easier for your family. Every family is different. Your financial planning must be carefully designed for you. The various aspects should work cohesively together to create an overall wealth management plan that provides long-term financial security and achieves your wishes for your heirs. The tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual is advised to seek personalised advice. Keep up to date on the financial issues that may affect you on the Blevins Franks news page at www.blevinsfranks.com.

18 EWN

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

www.euroweeklynews.com

BEST OF THE YEAR

Project Costa - reaching out to those less fortunate DID you realise during the Covid­19 lockdown that you don’t need so much ‘stuff’? If so, there is a fantastic project on the Costa Blanca that could make an incredible difference with your cast­offs. The objective of Pro­ ject Costa, a non­religious and non­ profit organisation, is to dress and feed the less fortunate on the Costa Blanca, as well as offering a rehabili­ tation programme for up to three people at a time in a half way home they are refurbishing in Benitachell. The team want to get alcoholics and drug addicts off the streets and back into society. Baby steps is the name of the game, founder Arne Soeten told Euro Weekly News,acknowledging that while they ­ Arne, Matty, Steve, Inge and Caroline ­ have a dream to help those in need, it will take time and support. “We are renting the property in Benitachell and are currently clean­ ing and painting it to make it a halfway home and a soup kitchen. “We are starting from scratch, pumping a lot of our own money and time into this project,” said

2020 Arne, who together with Matty, has experience of living on the streets and wants to give something back to the community. “We want to start by feeding the homeless, giving out clothes and sleeping bags. As we get to know them, we will be able to see who wants a second chance at life and we will help them get back into soci­ ety. “If we can help one person achieve that, then the project is a success for me.” Matty added: “We have both been in that situation. We are not the only ones out there who want to change their lives. They need someone to reach out a hand.” The initial goal is to start handing

out food and clothing twice a week. The next goal is to select three suitable candidates to work on their life situation today. “We want to offer a free 90 days rehabilitation programme. Our goal is to guide the underprivileged with­ in this time back to society,” said Arne. To get the ball rolling, Arne and the team parked their beloved yel­ low Project ‘Tweety’ van at Javea Port on Sunday morning to take do­ nations. “It was amazing,” Arne told EWN. “Around 30 people came with clean clothes and new under­ wear and we also had donation. It was a great success, thank you to everyone.” Project Costa also need to kit out a professional soup kitchen includ­ ing kitchen tools, chopping boards, catering pots and pans and a large horizontal freezer. You can find Costa­Project in Calle de la Mar, 31, Benitachell, Tel 00 34 643 737 584, email: ar nesoeten@yahoo.com, Facebook, Instagram and at: Project­ costa.org.

BEST OF THE YEAR

www.euroweeklynews.com

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

Queens Honours TOURISM Safety Campaigner Georgia Hague and volunteer Ian Warren are among three UK nationals in Spain named in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Georgia Hague, who campaigns to promote safer youth tourism, has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to the British community in the Balearic Islands and Ian Warren, who has brought the Red Arrows to Menorca four times, has been awarded a British Empire medal (BEM) for services to the British Community in Menorca, in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, published on Friday October 9, 2020. Following a tragic fall which killed one of her friends, Georgia instigated a safety awareness campaign aimed at young British tourists visiting the Balearics. Alongside this, Georgia worked closely with the British Embassy in Madrid and Consulate in Palma to become a key spokesperson for the FCO’s ‘Stick with your Mates’ campaign, shar-

Georgia. ing her personal experience in a video that reached almost a million people on Facebook. HMA Hugh Elliott said: “It is wonderful to see someone as young as Georgia being recognised for the work they do in the community. Channelling her personal grief into helping to save the lives of others, she has managed to reach millions of young people through social media - communicating a message of personal safety in a way that was both compelling and relatable. Her work has made a real difference.” Georgia Hague said: “I am extremely grateful and humbled to have been recognised for my efforts in Mallorca. If the campaign

Ian. helped to save just one life, then that means the world to me. Thank you for the positive recognition, I am grateful beyond words!” Ian moved to Menorca in 1988 to set up a car hire business with his family. For the last 10 years he has put his retirement to one side to focus on bringing the Red Arrows to Menorca; building relationships with the local military and aviation community, ensuring that whenever The Red Arrows visit the event forms part of the life of the whole island. In addition, he has put his fundraising and project management skills to use in support of the work of the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal and annual

Poppy Service in the Anglican Church in Menorca. HMA Hugh Elliott said: “Ian is truly a force of nature. Leading the effort to bring the Red Arrows to Menorca, he has created a platform to strengthen bilateral relationships between the UK and Spain and promote the historic links between the UK and Menorca. Ian never seeks publicity for himself, but is everpresent in the life of the British community on the island, selflessly devoting his free time for the benefit of others.” Ian Warren said: “I am very humbled and most honoured to be awarded the British Empire Medal from her Majesty. My journey has taken me in many directions, none of which would have been achieved without the help of many friends. My grateful thanks to you all.”

EWN 19

Forging ahead VERA & District Lions is forging ahead with its fundraising efforts in the ‘new normal.’ “We are now operating in very different times, as meetings and fundraising events have had to be drastically reduced due to the social distancing requirements. “However looking to the future is very important for the club,” explained Vera & District Lions joint press officer, Ceri Norman. “Fundraising is vital to enable the Lions to play their part now and in the future,” Ceri stressed. At the end of July Vera & District Lions opened the club’s first charity shop in Avenida de Almeria in Turre. Despite only opening initially on Friday and Saturdays between 10am and 2pm the shop has “more than exceeded expectations” in its first two months of operation, Ceri reported. “Sales have been good, and the club is very grateful for all the regular donations from the public that have enabled this to be maintained. “Although at present the shop cannot accept donations of larger items of furniture, smaller items that can be dropped off or collected by car continue to be very popular.” Another important fundraising tool for the Lions is public donations. The club is always actively looking for more venues happy to take one of its bright yellow cash collection boxes. Look out for them in your local shops, bars or restaurants. Contact the Club Secretary via email at veralionssecre tary@gmail.com for more details. All monies raised by Vera & District Lions are earmarked to help people in need in the local community, either with direct support or via partner organisations like food banks and charitable support groups.

2020

20 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

BEST OF THE YEAR

Fun fundraiser TURRE’S Fusion Charity Band re­ cently presented local mayor, Martin Morales, with €530. The money was raised one day last week in the afternoon at Bar Restaurant Solare, where the presentation took place, and the money will go directly to Turre Town Hall’s Community Food Bank programme. Marisa Freeman, who works at the town hall was also pre­ sent, as she is responsible for co­ ordinating the Food Bank. The Turre­based Fusion Chari­ ty Band is composed entirely of expats ­ Alan Taylor (singer), Les­ ley Darling (ukulele), Michael Dawson (cajonista and occasion­ al singer), Pamela Taylor (ukulele) and Bob Blackburn (ukulele) ­ who are all retired, with the exception of Lesley who works at the local vets, Clinivet. Until about three years ago they had never played a musical instrument nor been involved in any musical activities, they ad­ mitted. However, when musician

DONATION: Fusion Charity Band members with Martin Morales and Marisa Freeman.

2020

Stephen Gear started a ukulele class, one or two who now be­ long to the Fusion Charity Band went along and became inter­ ested in learning to play the in­ strument. One thing led to another and eventually a band was formed. Members play only for fun and

wherever they play, a collection is taken for local charities. The band explained that the Bar Restaurant Solare staff had been very generous in donating their tips jars, which contained a significant amount of money, while Sami Samran was especial­ ly supportive, they said.

Dames donate WHILE the Dames in Spain (Mojacar) are not meeting due to the Covid pandemic, volunteers have been busy with work continuing behind the scenes. And on Thursday, Novem­ ber 26, donations were made to two worthy causes. The first, a cheque for €700, was presented to the Red Cross, with a further do­ nation of €1,000 handed over to MACS Cancer Sup­ port Group. The Dames in Spain committee normally organises an interesting pro­ gramme of events to pro­ mote friendship and under­ standing of living in Spain, while fundraising for local charities.

2020

BEST OF THE YEAR

www.euroweeklynews.com

‘Kilo x Kilo’ Campaign

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

EWN 21

Advertising Feature

MOTORCYLE SAFETY GEAR

2020 LA MOJONERA became one of the first municipalities to join the ‘Kilo x Kilo’ campaign by EcoVidrio in order to boost donations to food banks and feed the hungry. The Federation of Food Banks has combined forces with Ecovidrio to create the campaign where glass for re­ cycling will be exchanged for food donations. The exciting scheme will roll out to 44 municipalities across Spain and will use over 150 con­ FOOD DONATIONS: Whilst also protecting the environment. tainers to collect the glass from residents. and protecting the environment. Mojonera José Miguel Hernández, mayor of Mojonera has containers located on Avenida de Europa has praised the campaign explaining it has the and Calle Naturaleza. “double objective” of feeding those in need

EUROPEAN NIBS DENMARK

GERMANY

FIFA record

Mini bus

THE gaming world has become a moneymaking profession. One of the world’s top stars, Danish 14-year-old Anders Vejrgang has set a record by winning 300 FIFA games in a row, but can’t turn professional for another two years.

IN an unusual act of co-operation, an Uber type company, ViaVan is working with the local bus company in the town of Gütersloh to offer a service to passengers which complements existing routes on Sundays and other times of restricted service.

NETHERLANDS

FRANCE

Pizza Xmas

No access

RELATIVE newcomer to Holland’s fast-food industry, pizza chain Papa John is teaming up with the Dutch Red Cross to raise money for its food bank. For every €1 donated by customers, it will add another €1 for the charity.

THE French government is considering introducing a new law which will ban access to public transport to anyone who fails to obtain a Covid-19 vaccination, as a poll has suggested that up to 55 per cent of the population will refuse the vaccine.

BELGIUM

NORWAY

Slaughterhouse rules

Imprisoned

THE European Court of Justice has upheld a decision made by the Belgian government to ban the slaughter of animals without prior stunning, which effectively means that meat produced for Halal and Kosher consumption will be affected.

FORMER champion skier Petter Northug appeared in court charged with dangerous driving and has been sentenced to seven months imprisonment and banned from driving for life after posting videos of his erratic driving.

QUALITY GEAR: An investment that will keep you safe and enjoy riding for years. SAFETY is everything, especially when riding your motorbike. Quality motorcycle gear doesn’t come cheap but it’s an investment that will keep you safe and let you enjoy your rides for years to come. HELMETS Helmets should always be worn. There are three main types of helmet to choose from; full helmets, ¾ helmets and ½ helmets. Full-face helmets provide full protection for your face, head and neck. They provide good ventilation and allow you to hear surrounding traffic; ¾ helmets usually come with a flip down visor and provide less protection for your chin and facial area; ½ helmets only cover the top of your head, sides and back, but they don’t cover your face at all. You will need to wear additional eye protection like glasses or goggles. JACKETS AND PANTS A motorcycle jacket is a must. Today’s leather and synthetic materials offer protection, style and function. Jackets should be comfortable without being bulky. And provide good ventilation and protection for all types of weather. Jackets with reflective material will increase visibility especially at night. Jeans are not acceptable riding gear. Riding pants also

come in the latest materials depending on your prevailing weather conditions and the type of bike you ride. TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT COVER Línea Directa provides Technical Equipment cover for your motorcycle gear. Cover is optional, complementary and needs to be specifically added to your existing motorcycle policy. Línea Directa guarantees compensation for total loss or irreparable damage to the helmet, gloves and motorbike jacket, resulting from a road traffic accident, up to a maximum of €430. Compensation will be awarded as follows: Motorbike helmet up to a maximum of €200, motorbike gloves up to a maximum of €30, and motorbike jacket up to a maximum of €200. BIKE INSURANCE SPECIALISTS Línea Directa is dedicated to getting every biker the best value motorcycle insurance. Quick and efficient customer service staff that aim to solve all your queries immediately. And 24/7 emergency assistance services, 365 days a year. TOTAL REASSURANCE Over three million people trust Línea Directa for total peace of mind. They have been providing specialist insurance for British expatriates for over 20 years. A leading insurance company dedicated to keeping motorists on the move. For more information or a really competitive quote, please call 952 147 834.

BEST PRICE. . R E V O C R E T T E B

22 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

FEATURE

GO LOCAL

THE EURO WEEKLY NEWS is urg­ ing its readers to support local businesses in the community by going local through the lock­ down and for your Christmas shopping this year, instead of feeding online giants and super­ stores. This lockdown and festive peri­ od we challenge you to rediscov­ er your local high streets, mar­ kets, butchers, greengrocers and all of the wonderfully quirky inde­ pendent businesses in your area. Due to the Covid­19 pandemic, you may have to support many local businesses by ordering on­ line and making use of any click and collect services they can op­ erate if you are unable to get out due to health reasons or lock­ down restrictions. The joy of shopping local means that independent busi­ nesses can help support the local community. Although it may be a euro or two cheaper elsewhere or online,

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

consider where your money is ac­ tually going. By shopping at an in­ dependent store you’re putting food on a local family’s table, and there is no better time than Christmas to give back to your community by making a small gesture and shopping in this way. Many local stores support local

charities, support and sponsor lo­ cal sports teams and in many cas­ es the small independent stores are actually much more than just a small high street shop, they’re a family’s legacy, often passed down through numerous genera­ tions and support not just the cur­ rent owner, but the generation before. For those stores which are new, that extra couple of euros spent there are supporting some­ one’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 indepen­ dent store and compete with the multi­national and chains. So be sure to pre­order your turkey from a local butcher and

get your spuds from a local green­ grocer, let us revive that commu­ nity spirit and get to know our neighbours again. You could also consider pur­ chasing 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 local studio, a hair cut at a local salon or an online study course for someone looking to change their career path. As people are struggling with fi­ nances thinking about what friends and family may actually need is important too. Whilst it’s nice to give a glamourous gift per­ haps pre­paying a family mem­ ber’s phone bill for the month

FEATURE

www.euroweeklynews.com

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

SPENDING LOCALLY: Will make a difference to the local economy. would actually be a better gift. Helping people alleviate stress and worry, give the gift of peace of mind through these difficult times. Choosing to spend your money locally will really make a difference in the recovery of the local econo­ my. When we buy local, our mon­ ey stays local, and it strengthens the local economy in two ways. First, buying local keeps money circulating within the local econo­ my. Studies have shown that local businesses recirculate a greater share of every euro as they create locally owned supply chains and invest in their employees. Data shows that local retailers

return 52 per cent of their rev­ enue back into the local econo­ my, 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 example, let’s look at a local farmer growing produce. First, they sell to a local restau­ rant, which in turn prepares the fresh produce and sells it to local customers. The farmer pays its lo­ cal employees and the restaurant uses revenue from sales to buy supplies from a neighbourhood hardware store. This example il­ lustrates how the recirculation of money in the local economy leads

to a stronger financial foundation for our neighbours and communi­ ties. Buying local also fuels new em­ ployment and job opportunities for people within our community. Studies show, locally owned busi­ nesses employ more people per unit of sales and retain more em­ ployees over time. While buying local is financially compelling to our communities; the benefits to our environment are equally impressive. Buying lo­ cally reduces the processing of goods, packaging and transporta­ tion waste, which leads to less pollution. There’s a massive cultural shift

underway redefining the way people make buying decisions. We’re seeing more individuals concerned about the environment, about how products are made and sourced, where materials come from, and a company’s overall so­ cial and environmental impact. Many businesses are joining our Go Local campaign by offer­ ing customers special offers and discounts throughout the festive period, more details to follow here soon. Just remember to follow the latest government advice and any guidance businesses have to keep everyone safe.

EWN 23

FINANCE Lifeline STRUGGLING multinational Spanish company Abengoa which is facing disputes amongst shareholders has been offered a €20 million lifeline by Santander after its request for financial assistance from the Junta de Andalucia was turned down.

Third Country status REGARDLESS of the Brexit deal, the British government has told the farming industry that the EU will grant Britain ‘Third Country’ status which will allow almost all plant and animal exports from the UK to EU member states.

Merry Christmas DUE to a computer error, energy supplier E.on took money from direct debit customers on Christmas Eve, in some cases two weeks early and said that refunds would be made on December 29 due to bank holidays and the weekend.

Building reserves INTENT on building cash reserves, Spanish group ACS, through its Australian subsidiary has sold its 50 per cent stake in mining company Thiess for a reported sum of €1.150 billion after ACS earlier reported that it had also sold its Portuguese toll road business.

Carry on working IN a bid to postpone a further drain on the Spanish economy during this time of pandemic, José Luis Escrivá, the Minister for Inclusion and Social Security is encouraging those who are about to reach pensionable age to continue working. By way of a bonus for those who decide to do this, he is offering a 4 per cent increase in the pension to be paid for each year of additional work that is undertaken, provided that those involved have contributed fully to social services during their ca-

STAT OF WEEK

www.euroweeklynews.com • 31 December 2020 - 6 January 2021

€25 billion

of the money granted to Spain from the European Recovery Fund will be spent on Green energy, Transport, Digital upgrading and Health.

Cheaper rents

1,300 jobs saved in Wales MARSTON’S BREWERY has exchanged contracts with Brains Brewery to operate its portfolio of 156 pubs in Wales, on a combination of leased and management contract arrangements. Established in Cardiff in 1882, Brains is an iconic family business, synony­ mous with pubs and brew­ ing in Wales with which Marston’s has had a long­ standing relationship. Brains owns a portfolio of 156 pubs, principally lo­

cated in South and West Wales, as well as the her­ itage beer brand of Wales of the same name. The pub business cur­ rently employs around 1,300 people all of whom will transfer to work for Marston’s. The earlier lockdown and the latest decision to ensure that pubs close by 6pm in Wales meant that Brains had to close its en­ tire pub network on De­ cember 4 and look for

LEGALLY SPEAKING Can he find the other owners? In a recent question you remarked that the name of the president would appear on the property register if he was an owner in the community. I am trying to create some democracy in our urbanisation, but the administrator controls ac­ cess to the foreign addresses of the owners. They are from Belgium and Holland and Madrid. How can I write to them directly? Will the property register contain details of home addresses and is there some easy way to access it? D R (Costa Blanca) First, Spain’s data protec­ tion law prohibits YOU AND THE LAW the administrator IN SPAIN from revealing per­ sonal details of the owners. This includes their foreign ad­ dresses and their e­mails. To obtain a Nota Simple from the property register you need to present some justifica­ tion for it such as a declaration that you intend to buy the property. A lawyer can do this by e­mail. However, the property register only gives the name of the registered owner. Your only recourse is to catch the owners in person when they visit their properties. The problem with democ­ racy is the amount of effort involved to make it work.

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.

FORMER Labour Party leader and now Shadow Business Secretary Ed Miliband has called for the UK government to stand up for busi­ nesses. He wants to see a commitment that those hit by unexpected Tier 4 restrictions have access to the economic support they need to survive through a Hospitality and High Street Fightback Fund.

ways to continue to exist. In a gesture of goodwill to those in need, it com­ mitted to donating all food stock held in its freezers to help feed the vulnerable over the festive period and into the New Year through FareShare Cymru after having made a similar charitable gesture back in March, when they donat­ ed well over £100,000 (€110,000) worth of stock to local charities and key workers.

The pubs when re­ opened will still be run un­ der the Brains brand and will continue to sell its beer, which is brewed at its recently opened facility in Cardiff Bay. John Rhys, chairman of Brains, said “this transac­ tion enables Brains to re­ capitalise its balance sheet and continue its long her­ itage as an independent entity, preserving this great Welsh business for generations to come.”

Spanish tax dates Credit: Alberto Alvarez-Perea flickr

BUSINESS EXTRA

26

Google tax due in April 2021. WITH the so­called Google Tax due to be introduced in Spain in April of 2021 de­ spite threats of further tar­ iff increases of Spanish goods into the USA, some social media companies are already settling previous year’s debts so that they don’t get penalised with higher future taxes. The most recent example is Facebook Spain which following a formal inspec­ tion of its books by the Spanish Tax Agency has agreed to pay €34.4 million back tax to cover 2013 ­ 2018 but this is a tiny amount when compared to 2019 turnover in Spain of more than €260 million. With a new US President

due to takeover from Don­ ald Trump in January, it seems less likely that America will use tariff in­ creases to protect its major social media companies so having seen the ‘writing on the wall’ the Facebook Eu­ ropean head office based in Ireland is making sure that taxes are up to date. In the long run, when coupled with the Tobin Tax which charges 0.2 per cent tax on all share transac­ tions on companies worth more than €1 billion which takes effect in January, the Spanish government ex­ pects to earn around €960 million (down from its orig­ inal estimate of €1.2 bil­ lion).

High Street Fightback Fund Almost 175,000 businesses in Tier 4 areas across London, the South East and the East of Eng­ land have been rocked by last­ minute instructions to close, in­ cluding more than 13,000 hairdressers,8,600 gyms and more than 45,000 retail busi­

nesses that will have stocked up or taken bookings for the crucial Christmas trading period. Currently the vast majority of businesses are only able to ac­ cess an emergency cash grant worth around half or a third of the support on offer during the

SPANISH Minister of Fi­ nance, Maria Jesus Montero has announced that rents of properties used in the hospi­ tality sector must in certain circumstances be cut by 50 per cent until the national State of Alarm is ended. Landlords with more than 10 properties in town cen­ tres who have not already offered a temporary dis­ count will be affected in or­ der to try to help the strug­ gling hospitality industry which has already seen nu­ merous closures. Bar and restaurant owners will receive tax credits against rent and will be able to hold back certain pay­ ments whilst landlords will receive tax incentives when they lower rents.

Modern technology AS the hospitality industry in Spain crumbles with more than 100,000 bars and restaurants across the coun­ try potentially likely to close, there are some who are turning to digital companies to help save their business­ es. There are a number of niche start­ups which are of­ fering specialist services to bars and restaurants to ei­ ther help them promote themselves on social media, become part of an online community or even join a search App. A perfect example is Fut­ bar which directs those who want to find the nearest member bar screening live football. national lockdown in March. Labour has called for the £2 billion (€2.2 billion) recently re­ turned to the Treasury by super­ markets in unneeded business rates relief to be urgently rede­ ployed into a Hospitality and High Streets Fightback Fund to help struggling businesses on the high street and those excluded from support.

28 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

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

LONDON - FTSE 100

See our advert on previous page

C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 28

PRICE(P) CHANGE(P) COMPANY 3I Group 1.157,00 1.171,00 Admiral Group 2.923,0 2.968,0 Anglo American 2.435,0 2.473,0 Antofagasta 1.440,00 1.448,00 Ashtead Group 3.433,0 3.461,0 Associated British Foods 2.296,0 2.306,0 AstraZeneca 7.223,0 7.325,0 Auto Trader Group Plc 583,60 592,80 Avast 532,50 532,50 Aveva 3.185,0 3.234,0 Aviva 328,00 333,80 B&M European Value Retail SA514,80 517,40 BAE Systems 504,00 507,80 Barclays 154,60 158,14 Barratt Developments 688,00 699,20 Berkeley 4.716,0 4.843,0 BHP Group 1.964,40 1.975,00 BP 263,00 266,95 British American Tobacco 2.730,0 2.748,0 British Land Company 504,00 505,40 BT Group 138,35 140,20 Bunzl 2.408,0 2.435,0 Burberry Group 1.760,0 1.773,0 Carnival 1.355,0 1.445,5 Centrica 44,69 46,20 Coca Cola HBC AG 2.390,0 2.410,0 Compass 1.387,50 1.404,50 CRH 3.136,0 3.136,0 Croda Intl 6.408,0 6.468,0 DCC 5.340,0 5.366,0 Diageo 2.914,0 2.940,0 DS Smith 377,90 382,30 EasyJet 838,20 875,00 Experian 2.791,0 2.791,0 Ferguson 8.802,0 8.850,0 Flutter Entertainment 15.045,0 15.250,0 Fresnillo 1.139,50 1.139,50 GlaxoSmithKline 1.332,60 1.341,40 Glencore 235,00 236,80 Halma 2.398,0 2.419,0 Hargreaves Lansdown 1.552,00 1.556,00 Hikma Pharma 2.551,00 2.560,00 HSBC 386,00 389,60 IAG 163,40 168,50 Imperial Brands 1.544,00 1.549,00 Informa 547,20 550,80 InterContinental 4.627,0 4.730,0 Intermediate Capital 1.726,00 1.748,00 Intertek 5.760,0 5.818,0 ITV 108,95 112,45 J Sainsbury 226,70 227,10

% CHG. 1.156,00 2.918,0 2.418,0 1.423,50 3.409,0 2.240,0 7.217,0 583,60 523,00 3.166,0 326,40 512,80 501,60 153,66 683,40 4.699,0 1.949,40 262,65 2.692,0 495,00 135,80 2.406,0 1.729,5 1.341,5 44,58 2.380,0 1.355,00 3.108,0 6.352,0 5.300,0 2.880,0 374,80 837,20 2.704,0 8.732,0 14.845,0 1.122,00 1.328,80 233,80 2.384,0 1.524,00 2.517,00 384,10 162,55 1.534,50 542,80 4.616,0 1.722,00 5.726,0 108,70 224,30

NET VOL 291,48K 136,06K 699,57K 158,35K 134,10K 346,98K 605,93K 477,33K 356,39K 77,09K 2,70M 274,70K 1,34M 32,44M 1,57M 217,17K 654,89K 13,53M 790,54K 626,33K 7,72M 150,28K 290,23K 603,52K 7,06M 195,66K 1,03M 192,77K 218,81K 34,49K 1,03M 610,75K 2,11M 399,16K 65,88K 58,97K 152,50K 2,49M 4,95M 147,27K 413,81K 59,05K 6,36M 21,47M 363,19K 745,10K 85,43K 69,72K 39,53K 4,22M 1,45M

COMPANY

PRICE(P)

Johnson Matthey 2.470,0 JSC MMC Norilsk Nickel ADR 31,33 JSC VTB Bank DRC 0,982 Land Securities 692,20 Legal & General 266,40 Lloyds Banking 38,60 London Stock Exchange 8.878,0 Meggitt 465,00 Melrose Industries 178,95 Mondi 1.709,00 National Grid 857,20 NatWest Group 168,95 Next 6.928,0 Ocado 2.250,00 Persimmon 2.875,0 Phoenix 717,60 Prudential 1.353,00 Reckitt Benckiser 6.494,0 Relx 1.792,50 Rentokil 508,20 Rightmove 643,00 Rio Tinto PLC 5.574,0 Rolls-Royce Holdings 115,75 Rosneft 5,83 Royal Dutch Shell A 1.330,50 Royal Dutch Shell A 1.327,6 Royal Dutch Shell B 1.285,0 RSA Insurance 677,40 Sage 584,20 Samsung Electronics DRC 1.759,00 Sberbank 14,62 Schroders 3.440,0 Scottish Mortgage 1.182,00 Segro 949,80 Severn Trent 2.276,0 Smith & Nephew 1.525,50 Smiths Group 1.522,50 Spirax-Sarco Engineering 11.155,0 SSE 1.522,00 St. James’s Place 1.150,00 Standard Chartered 472,60 Standard Life Aberdeen 289,70 Taylor Wimpey 167,00 Tesco 232,90 Tui 451,40 Unilever 4.310,0 United Utilities 895,40 Vodafone Group PLC 123,24 Whitbread 3.214,0 WPP 813,00

CHANGE(P)

% CHG.

NET VOL

2.524,0 31,39 1,034 702,90 268,60 39,99 8.960,0 470,00 180,00 1.726,00 868,40 173,70 7.130,0 2.264,00 2.968,0 721,80 1.365,00 6.500,0 1.795,00 510,80 656,00 5.639,0 120,75 5,84 1.344,90 1.345,2 1.304,8 679,00 591,40 1.763,00 14,73 3.464,0 1.195,00 949,80 2.342,0 1.553,00 1.540,00 11.375,0 1.539,50 1.157,50 477,30 297,50 176,20 235,10 452,50 4.324,0 903,40 124,50 3.214,0 819,80

2.460,0 30,91 0,973 679,60 261,70 38,45 8.810,0 452,20 171,95 1.702,00 844,40 168,95 6.928,0 2.203,00 2.850,0 710,40 1.344,50 6.372,0 1.764,00 501,60 643,00 5.554,0 114,65 5,46 1.320,75 1.320,8 1.280,2 675,60 578,00 1.752,00 14,52 3.401,0 1.176,00 931,20 2.275,0 1.510,00 1.517,50 11.150,0 1.515,00 1.137,50 468,00 289,10 164,80 227,20 431,10 4.276,0 894,40 122,90 3.128,0 805,60

85,63K 142,65K 84,76K 450,07K 10,83M 260,03M 69,46K 2,08M 2,80M 202,33K 1,38M 11,61M 246,41K 190,69K 575,54K 545,34K 968,52K 217,19K 536,90K 401,41K 554,91K 304,29K 21,13M 317,22K 1,26M 1,26M 1,77M 426,70K 554,92K 3,90K 565,30K 42,41K 1,18M 552,32K 89,67K 440,93K 86,42K 13,13K 577,99K 184,23K 1,23M 1,26M 9,85M 9,59M 875,60K 555,08K 405,84K 16,50M 190,94K 675,02K

0.8989

1.1115 Units per €

US dollar (USD) ......................................1.21899 Japan yen (JPY)......................................126.299 Switzerland franc (CHF) .........................1.08748 Denmark kroner (DKK) ...........................7.43896 Norway kroner (NOK) .............................10.5409

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

DOW JONES C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 28

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

PRICE 174,52 1.738,85 3.172,69 222,93 131,97 217,15 179,56 85,33 44,54 53,44 267,40 256,16 270,92 209,53 124,69 47,07 152,47 124,52 211,39 80,14 222,75 141,60 137,72 225,78 661,77 340,79 58,84 208,70 143,50 173,73

CHANGE 174,79 1.746,00 3.202,00 224,58 133,46 219,88 179,85 85,93 44,59 53,55 270,40 257,62 271,36 210,70 125,10 47,09 153,04 125,55 212,74 80,43 223,61 142,19 138,13 229,19 666,09 341,41 59,07 208,82 144,39 174,58

CHANGE% VOLUME(M) 173,42 656,18K 1.729,11 346,75K 3.169,00 0 222,29 0 131,10 0 216,05 6,40M 178,35 585,73K 84,81 3,34M 44,23 0 53,02 3,27M 266,20 6,70M 253,75 968,15K 269,40 1,09M 208,60 754,91K 124,21 1,76M 46,34 0 151,82 2,11M 123,57 4,16M 211,14 1,05M 79,87 2,82M 221,20 0 141,10 1,82M 136,20 2,59M 224,83 6,15M 641,00 0 336,44 1,36M 58,66 7,75M 206,60 3,37M 143,18 3,02M 172,38 2,72M M - MILLION DOLLARS

NASDAQ C LOSING P RICES D ECEMBER 28

COMPANY

CHANGE NET / %

VOLUME

+3.51% +2.37% +14.69% +2.30% +2.14% +3.63% +4.67% +5.11% +26.07% +0.81% +19.31%

5.69M 250,990 1.10M 1.38M 1.39M 385,143 887,843 1.04M 41,683 21,106 1.48M

-10.64% -1.58% -6.34% -78.08% -47.13% -4.64% -6.42% -4.07% -8.31% -5.38% -7.22%

2.31M 286,040 9.45M 16.10M 1.32M 4.73M 3.32M 964,241 852,721 859,157 791,601

Most Advanced Amazon.com Inc. Booking Holdings Inc. MicroStrategy Inc. Alphabet Inc. Cl A Alphabet Inc. Cl C CoStar Group Inc. Cintas Corp. Ulta Beauty Inc. Beam Global Wt Broadcom Inc. 8% Pfd. Series A Beam Global

Most Declined Trade Desk Inc. Cl A MercadoLibre Inc. Zoom Video Communications Inc. Aprea Therapeutics Inc. Air T Inc. Roku Inc. Cl A DocuSign Inc. MongoDB Inc. Bandwidth Inc. Cl A Wix.com Ltd. Quidel Corp.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL

www.euroweeklynews.com

Advertising Feature

What to do with the ashes? ONCE a deceased loved one is cremated, there are many different options for what to do with the ashes. Some people choose to bury them in a cemetery, keep them at home in an urn or even turn them into beautiful pieces of cremation jewellery or memorial art. Others decide, whether at the request of the deceased or due to personal reasons, to scatter the cremated remains somewhere. Along with the choice to scatter, however, comes a whole new set of decisions to be made. In particular, where those remains should be disbursed? For this reason, why not consider a pre­planned and pre­paid funeral plan? Then you can make all these decisions yourself and take the strain off your loved ones when the time comes. The choice to be cremated is a really important part of your funeral plan; we spoke with Emma who is a funeral plan expert from Golden Leaves who shared with us some of the most common places and also some new unique ideas for you to include in your plan, after all it should be you who gets to choose where your remains will spend the rest of eternity. 1. Private Property Many folks choose to keep the cremains of their loved one close to them by scattering their ashes on their own private property, like in the garden or around a nearby tree. If you choose to have your ashes scattered on private land that belongs to someone else, however, such as in a field or on a farm, be sure to obtain the landowner’s permission in advance of the ceremony. Another thing to keep in mind when scattering on private property is whether your family will have the right to visit that property in the future. 2. Water Another popular way to scatter cremation ashes is to do so across a body of water, such as a river, stream, lake or ocean. Public bodies of water don’t typically require a licence or any special permissions to scatter cremated remains, however, you should be careful not to do so near an extraction point, or where people fish or swim. (Your local environmental agency should be able to help with this.) Keep in mind, also, that loca­ tions on or near the water can be windy, so be sure to check the conditions beforehand. 3. Mountains/Hilltops Hilltops and mountains can provide a beauti­ ful setting in which to say goodbye. One thing to consider, however, is how ashes can im­ pact plant life. While cremains are non­tox­ ic, it’s still advisable to avoid scattering ash­ es where plant ecosystems are more fragile, such as on mountain peaks. Popular climbing areas can also make it difficult to find privacy. And, like bodies of water, mountains and hill­ tops can be windy, so keep this in mind when planning your ceremony. 4. Scatter Gardens Typically located at a cemetery or crematorium, scatter gar­ dens provide a lovely place for your remains to spend eternity and a serene location for family and friends to visit after. These are areas designated specifically for the scattering of cremated remains. Every facility is different, but some offer additional ways to honour the deceased, including plaques, statues or plants, so that may also be an option. 5. Sporting Venues If you’re an avid sports fan, you may wish to request that the scattering ceremony be held at your favourite stadium, complex or arena. Whether or not this is an option will ultimately depend on the specific policy of the facility in question. Your funeral director may be able to assist you in approaching the venue’s owner to ask permission. One important thing to point out when it comes to scattering ashes is that there are certain rules and regulations surrounding the process. For instance, some locations re­ quire that advanced permission be granted, paperwork be completed and sometimes even licences be obtained. Others may simply request notification in advance. It’s wise to check your local laws prior to making plans to avoid any unexpected and unpleasant surprises.

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

EWN 29

30 EWN

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

www.euroweeklynews.com

FEATURE

Happy New Year to all LEAPY LEE SAYS IT OTHERS THINK IT AS we groggily stagger to the end of a year that will go down as one of the most turbulent and life altering epochs in the planet’s history, I can think of only one expression that sums up what most of us must actually feel ­ utterly punch­drunk. It truly is like coming to the end of a brawl with Mike Tyson. I would like to predict, that now we have all effectively sunk to the canvas ­ the only way is up. Well, I think that remains to be seen. Boris’s apparent success in finally sealing a deal with Europe, will, no doubt, still have to go a few more rounds before it is fully accepted by the disgruntled remainers, who will inevitably use every last word of the 1,200 page agreement to gain political points or secure their own future careers. (Keep an eye out for Nicola Sturgeon and her ‘new referendum’ plans in particular).

Plenty of blows still to come for a Prime Minister, who some consider to be something of a buffoon. Well whatever they think, this man is still standing solidly in our corner, after experiencing one of the worst economic and public health disasters of all time. He also became a new parent and survived an illness that put him in intensive care. Through all of this he still managed to achieve the Brexit he promised at his election. Well I personally think to have survived this particular rumble in the political jungle and come out with most of

his teeth places him very much shoulder to shoulder with any number of our historic political champions. The vindictive autocrats of the EU who scoffed and humiliated Theresa May have finally had an opponent step in to their pretentious ring who was more than a worthy match for their self­ opinionated personas. Well done Boris, but don’t drop your guard; you soon need to get back in training to defend the title challengers, who are no doubt lining up to take you on. Personally I think you’re well up for it. This week’s announcement by the creators of Oxford Covid vaccine revealing, among other weak excuses, that they ‘made a mistake’ and their

preparation was actually ‘far more efficient than was originally thought’ absolutely reeks of political conspiracy. Some weeks ago, this British version which, because it could be stored at normal temperatures, appeared to be a superior product, was unexpectedly announced as only being 74 per cent effective, thereby allowing the Giant Pfizer Company to jump the gun and be the first distributor of its own ‘superior’ product and subsequently receive the inevitable billions in profits. Now, after the Pfizer Company has reaped the main harvest, the British vaccine is discovered to be ‘more efficient than originally thought?’ Give us a break. What sort of banana boat do these money manipulators actually think we came over on!? Personally I think it merits a public enquiry. Some chance! Happy New Year. Keep the faith. Love Leapy. leapylee2002@gmail.com expatradioscotland.com Mon. Wed. Fri.

BORIS JOHNSON: Has finally sealed a deal with Europe.

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

THURSDAY 31 DECEMBER

3:20pm 5:20pm 6:20pm 6:40pm 6:45pm 6:50pm 7:40pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

FRIDAY 1 JANUARY

SATURDAY 2 JANUARY

SUNDAY 3 JANUARY

MONDAY 4 JANUARY

TUESDAY 5 JANUARY

WEDNESDAY 6 JANUARY

2:00pm 3:00pm 4:35pm

Beauty and the Beast Top of the Pops BBC News at Six BBC London News Weather The Hit List The Wall Versus Celebrities EastEnders The Great British Sewing Bee

2:15pm 4:30pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

Dynasties How To Train Your How To Train Your 5:00pm BBC News BBC London News Weather Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Doctor Who EastEnders The Serpent

2:20pm 4:10pm 5:00pm 5:45pm

4:00pm 5:30pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:10pm 7:13pm 7:15pm 7:45pm 8:35pm 9:30pm

Big Hero 6 Final Score Money for Nothing BBC News BBC London News Weather Celebrity Mastermind Pointless Celebrities Casualty Michael McIntyre's The Wheel

1:30pm 1:40pm

2:50pm 3:15pm 4:50pm 5:35pm 6:35pm 6:50pm 6:55pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm

Escape to the Country Pete's Dragon Garden Rescue Penguins: Meet the Family BBC News BBC London News Weather Countryfile Antiques Roadshow A Perfect Planet The Serpent

4:45pm

The Farmers' Country Showdown The Bidding Room Pointless BBC News at Six BBC London News The One Show Still Open All Hours EastEnders My Family Traces

4:15pm 4:45pm 5:50pm 6:15pm 7:00pm

The Farmers' Country Showdown The Bidding Room Pointless BBC News at Six BBC London News The One Show EastEnders Holby City The Crash Detectives Traces

4:15pm 4:45pm 5:50pm 6:15pm 7:00pm

The Hairy Bikers' Comfort Food Escape to the Country The Farmers' Country Showdown The Bidding Room Pointless BBC News at Six BBC London News The One Show The Bidding Room The Repair Shop

4:15pm 4:45pm 5:50pm 6:15pm 7:00pm

5:20pm 5:25pm 5:30pm 7:45pm 9:00pm 10:00pm

5:30pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:35pm 9:05pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 4:45pm 5:30pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 8:50pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 3:30pm 4:00pm 4:45pm 5:30pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

7:15pm 7:20pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm

3:35pm 5:55pm 6:55pm 7:55pm 9:30pm 10:55pm 11:25pm 1:35pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

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

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

Rio Bravo Paint Your Wagon Michael Palin: Travels of a Lifetime Inside Monaco: Playground of the Rich Only Connect University Challenge Celebrity: A 21st Century Story Before They Were Famous

2:20pm 2:30pm 4:30pm 5:30pm 6:25pm 6:40pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:30pm 10:00pm

ITV News London Midsomer Murders Tenable Tipping Point ITV Evening News ITV News London The Chase You've Been Framed! Emmerdale Coronation Street Skyfall

12:50pm 3:25pm 3:35pm 4:05pm

Tea with Mussolini As Time Goes By As Time Goes By Michael Palin: Travels of a Lifetime The Archbishop of Mr Holmes Only Connect University Challenge Celebrity: A 21st Century Story

2:00pm 4:30pm 5:35pm 6:35pm 7:35pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm

Royal Recipes Into the Woods: Stage to Screen Ice Station Zebra Inside the Factory John Le Mesurier: It's All Been Rather Lovely Dad's Army Amazing Grace Aretha Franklin: Respect Entebbe

3:20pm 3:50pm 4:50pm 5:55pm 6:05pm 6:15pm

How the West Was Won Wild West: America's Great Frontier The Culture Show Saving Mr. Banks Cornwall: This Fishing Life Dragons' Den Last Woman on Earth with Sara Pascoe A Teacher

2:00pm 4:05pm 5:05pm 6:05pm 6:20pm 6:35pm

The Best Dishes Ever Made in Great Britain Meerkat Manor Flog It! Richard Osman's House of Games Rick Stein's Cornwall Lose Weight and Get Fit with Tom Kerridge Mastermind Only Connect

4:00pm 4:59pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm

The Best Dishes Ever Made in Great Britain Meerkat Manor Flog It! Richard Osman's House of Games Rick Stein's Cornwall Cornwall: This Fishing Life Inside the Factory The Cheetah Family and Me A Teacher

4:00pm 4:59pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm

The Best Dishes Ever Made in Great Britain Meerkat Manor Flog It! Richard Osman's House of Games Rick Stein's Cornwall Cornwall: This Fishing Life This Farming Life The Cheetah Family and Me A Teacher

3:00pm 4:00pm 4:59pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:30pm

11:30pm

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

9:00pm 10:00pm 11:05pm 11:19pm

9:30pm

9:00pm

3:45pm

6:15pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm

The Core Channel 4 News A Place in the Sun Jamie and Jimmy's Friday Night Feast Inside Cadbury: Chocolate Secrets Unwrapped Paddington Britain's Favourite Toys The Crystal Maze The Last Leg

ITV Racing Live Tipping Point Lingo The Chase ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Dancing on Thin Ice with Torvill & Dean ITV News at Ten and Weather

11:50am 12:20pm 12:50pm 1:50pm 2:50pm 3:00pm 4:05pm 6:30pm 8:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm

The Simpsons The Simpsons Junior Bake Off A Place in the Sun Channel 4 News Britain's Favourite Toys Stardust The Greatest Showman Chitty Flies Again with Taskmaster Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2020

1:35pm 1:40pm 3:30pm 4:30pm 4:35pm 5:40pm 6:40pm 8:30pm

You've Been Framed! Tipping Point: Lucky Stars Family Fortunes ITV News and Weather ITV News London Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway Presents Celebrity Catchphrase The Masked Singer The Voice UK ITV News and Weather

1:50pm 2:20pm 2:55pm 3:25pm

Four in a Bed Four in a Bed Four in a Bed Escape to the Chateau: Make Do and Mend Britain's Most Expensive Houses Channel 4 News Britain's Wildest Weather The Terminal Cast Away

2:55pm 3:00pm 5:15pm

Peter Pan Tipping Point: Lucky Stars Lingo ITV News and Weather ITV News London Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Family Fortunes Beat the Chasers ITV News and Weather ITV London Weather

1:50pm 1:59pm 2:00pm 4:05pm 5:05pm 6:05pm 6:20pm 6:35pm

ITV News and Weather ITV London Weather Peter Pan Tipping Point: Lucky Stars Lingo ITV News and Weather ITV News London Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Family Fortunes Beat the Chasers

3:30pm 4:30pm 4:35pm 5:35pm 6:35pm 6:40pm 7:25pm 7:30pm

Lingo ITV London Weather Tipping Point The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Bradley Walsh and Son: Breaking Dad Coronation Street

4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm

A Place in the Sun A New Life in the Sun Four in a Bed The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Food Unwrapped 24 Hours in Police Custody The Man Who Fell from the Sky

3:20pm

Lingo ITV London Weather Tipping Point The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale South Africa with Gregg Wallace Who Wants to Be a 10:00pm Beat the Chasers

3:10pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm

Countdown A Place in the Sun A New Life in the Sun Four in a Bed The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News How to Lose Weight Well 24 Hours in Police Custody Swingers

3:20pm 4:15pm

Dickinson's Real Deal Lingo ITV London Weather Tipping Point The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Cornwall and Devon Walks with Julia Bradbury

3:10pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

Countdown A Place in the Sun A New Life in the Sun Four in a Bed The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News Kirstie and Phil's Love it or List it Grand Designs Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back

2:45pm 3:20pm

5:10pm

4:25pm 5:30pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 9:30pm

9:00pm 10:00pm

11:00pm

11:00pm

10:00pm 11:00pm

4:45pm 6:15pm 7:55pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

10:00pm

6:15pm 6:20pm 8:25pm 8:30pm 9:30pm

9:00pm

4:15pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm

6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

4:15pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm

Cruising with Jane McDonald Cruising with Jane McDonald Cruising with Jane McDonald 5 News Update World's Strongest Man 2020 Britain's Favourite 80s Songs

1:00pm

Access Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Jumanji Access Jumanji Inside... The Battle of Britain: World's Strongest Man 2020 In My Own Words Michael McIntyre

9:00am 10:00am 11:00am 12:00pm 1:00pm

Access A Bridge Too Far The Bridge on the River Kwai 5 News Update The Bridge on the River Kwai 5 News Weekend Around the World by Secrets of the Royal Palaces

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

The Addams Family Access The Addams Family Dirty Dancing Access Dirty Dancing 5 News Weekend We Love Only Fools and Horses Jimmy Tarbuck: The Laughs Are on Me

12:30pm

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

5:00pm 6:00pm 8:30pm 11:30pm 12:00am

11:00pm

Live: Good Morning Football Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Driving Force The Premier League Years Boxing's Best Of 2020 Live NBA: Chicago @ Washington 31.12 Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Live World Darts Championship Sky Sports News Live EFL Live FNF Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Saturday Social Soccer A.M. Scottish Premiership Live Live Premier League Live Premier League Live World Darts Championship Live NBA: Sacramento @ Houston 02.01

10:30pm 1:30am 2:10am

Live Renault Super Sunday Live Renault Super Sunday Live Renault Super Sunday Live World Darts Championship Live NFL Live NBC's FNIA Live NFL

The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door Stalked by the Killer Ex 5 News at 5 Neighbours Home and Away 5 News Tonight The World's Greatest Bridges Police Interceptors A&E After Dark

9:00am 4:30pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 12:00am 1:00am 2:00am 3:00am 4:00am

Live Test Cricket Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Live MNF Sky Sports News Live: Total Access Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Sky Sports News

The Nightmare Killer Mother: Switched at Birth 5 News at 5 Neighbours Home and Away 5 News Tonight How to Lose a Stone in a Month Dogs Behaving (Very) Badly

8:00am 9:00am 4:30pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 11:15pm 12:15am 1:00am

Sky Sports News Live Test Cricket Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Live Carabao Cup Driving Force Sky Sports News Live: Total Access

Neighbours The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door Nanny's Killer Scandal 5 News at 5 Neighbours Home and Away 5 News Tonight Chris Tarrant: Extreme Railway Journeys London's Greatest Bridges With Rob Bell

7:00am 8:00am 9:00am 4:30pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 11:15pm 12:00am 1:00am

Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Live Test Cricket Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Live Carabao Cup Sky Sports News Sky Sports News Sky Sports News

3:00pm 5:15pm 8:30pm

The schedules for the television programme pages are provided by an external company: we regret that any changes or errors are not the responsibility of Euro Weekly News.

34 EWN

www.euroweeklynews.com

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

LEADERSHIP DAVID WORBOYS AS our world slowly disintegrates, morally and physically, we are in urgent need of strong leaders. We need leadership by example. A leader needs to be respected at home and abroad. It means com­ mitment to the country, providing freedom, welfare and justice for all its citizens. It means firm and fair enforcement of human rights, law and order and negotiating sound relationships with other countries for its own security and the betterment of the world. A majority of leaders have not been up to the task. At one ex­ treme, the entire population is subjugated to the whims and per­ sonal benefit of one head of state and his entourage of sycophants. Take a bow, Kim Jong­un. In other

CHINA: Xi Jinping. cases the leader subjugates its neighbouring countries. Step for­ ward, Putin and Netanyahu. Freedom of speech and toler­ ance of dissent, a free press, the rights of women and every kind of minority group should be prerequi­ sites for a civilised country. The army, the police and judiciary must be uncorrupted. In varying degrees, the leaders

RESPECTED: Lee Kwan Yew. of China, Russia and Iran deny hu­ man rights and free speech while threatening other countries with nuclear, military or cyber aggres­ sion. Others are obsessed by pre­ serving their own power and con­ sequent lifestyle with no regard for the people they govern. There are quite a few examples in Africa as well as Syria, Venezuela, the Philip­ pines and, at present, the USA.

Many leaders are corrupt, mis­ using taxpayers’ money either for personal gain or to cover up trea­ sury mismanagement. Others are simply incompetent or lacking in judgement. The world would be a better place if certain countries could fol­ low the lead of the US and dump their leaders. At the front of the list, we have Xi Jinping, Putin, Khamenei, Kim Jong­un, Assad, Ne­ tanyahu and Mohammad bin Salman, followed by Dutarte (the Philippines), Maduro (Venezuela), Bolsonaro (Brazil), Mnangagwa (Zimbabwe), Lukashenko (Belarus), Erdogan (Turkey), and Orban (Hun­ gary). There are many more un­ qualified demagogues, especially in Africa and much more incompe­ tence and negligence worldwide. With the most charitable of in­ tentions, Angela Merkel misjudged the social repercussions of allow­ ing mass immigration. Apart from that, she remains about the only

FEATURE

leader of any major nation who has displayed leadership qualities. Unfortunately, such qualities are rare. The last truly successful statesman was probably the uni­ versally respected Lee Kwan Yew who liberated Singapore from British colonialism and trans­ formed his country from an impov­ erished backwater into one of the most stable, disciplined, prosper­ ous and influential countries on Earth. If the planet is to be saved, it must be through a rapid increase in education. Leaders can set the example by governing with hon­ esty, compassion, integrity and sound judgement. Regardless of in­ dividual or national creeds, the teachings of Christ should be the inspiration of leaders. The simple message of ‘love thy God’ and ‘love thy neighbour,’ if applied with resolve, would reduce many of the world’s problems very quickly.

IT’S ONLY FAKE-BELIEVE: FAKE NEWS THAT LEAVES EVERYONE LOST FOR WORDS 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

FISCHER V SPASSKY. Newton v Leibniz. Freud v Jung. To the great intellectual clashes of history can be added Trump v Biden (the Trump vs Biden show a welcome distraction from our own crisis). Admittedly, on this occasion, the standards were considerably lower with the walls inexorably closing in on Trump methodical­ ly sawing through the branch he’s sitting on. The Donald. Yes, him. When the final analysis of Trump lies is published it’ll run into volumes. First, Trump said he had a ‘hunch’ the World Health Organisation’s 3.4 per cent Covid mortality rate was a ‘false number’ and suggested people with coronavirus could go to work and get better. “A lot of people will have this and it’s very mild,” he said in an interview on Fox News. “They’ll get better very rapidly. They don’t even see a doctor. They don’t even call a doctor.” Later Trump called the coronavirus a ‘horrible infection,’ radically altering his public stance on the pandemic. A day earlier he declared: “It will go

away, just stay calm, it will go away.” Just as Trump would undoubtedly say: “Don’t believe Monday follows Sunday (or the sun rises in the east). That’s just fake news from the lying media.” Trump was prominent, too, in spreading the false idea that vaccines cause autism, but then changed his tune, urging people ‘to get the shots.’ Would an embittered Trump, eager to spite his successor and win attention for his future media or political career, become a prominent ‘anti­ vaxxer’ campaigner again? To ask the question is to answer it. Additionally, there are all his unfounded con­ spiracy theories about voting fraud, claiming Mr Biden’s win in Arizona was ‘impossible,’ the results in Nevada ‘fake’ and ‘We won Michigan bigly!’ Have we heard the last of Trump? No. Is the world a safer (and saner) place now he’s (almost) gone? Absolutely. Am I glad? Yes? Am I still talking to myself? Stop looking at me like that ­ it’s been a long year! So, let’s leave it at this: Happy New Year! Nora Johnson’s psychological crime thrillers ‘No Safe Place’, ‘Betrayal’, ‘The Girl in the Woods’, ‘The Girl in the Red Dress’, ‘No Way Back’, ‘Landscape of Lies’, ‘Retribution’, ‘Soul Stealer’, ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.nora­ john son.net) available online as ebook (€0.99; £0.99), ibook, paperback and audiobook. All profits to Costa del Sol Cudeca cancer charity.

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

A FABULOUS COLUMN HI Leapy, Another fabulous column where you ‘tell it like it is.’ I’m particularly peeved that Kay Burley, having been ‘grassed up’' by her colleagues (well done them!!), has been suspended on full pay and given a free holiday to boot!! She should be sacked, as she suggested should happen when Dominic Cummings broke the Covid restrictions!! Merry Christmas Leapy and a very Happy (and safe) New Year.

Doug Allen Christmas lunch at Carmens with chef Phil in his christmas outfit showing off his svelte figure!!!!

Kind regards, S Spencer

The Spectator Dear Sir or Madam The World is at a crossroads made more uncertain by the Covid-19 pandemic. I would like to recommend my book as the perfect read over the Christmas and New Year break when, due to the restrictions, so many of us are spending the holiday at home. Published in 2018 and aimed at the general public, it deals with and analyses the major issues facing the planet including Brexit and the future of the EU. I am personally affected by Brexit as I have been living and working in the EU for more than 30 years. As I do not accept the idea of changing nationality, I have

OUR VIEW Keep carrying on IN many ways it should have been a Christmas to forget with so many restrictions and the continued threat of infection preying on people’s minds, but human beings are remarkably resilient. No matter your view of the current coalition government and its politics here in Spain, it does seem that we have been remarkably lucky to have come through when you compare the situation to the UK. It is easy to suggest that we have weathered the storm, but this should not detract from the fact that so many people in Spain have been ill and sadly thousands have died either directly or indirectly from the hateful Covid-19. Looking forward, the vaccine is already being rolled out, albeit in small batches, but it does seem as if there is a genuine light at the end of the tunnel provided that in the meantime, people don’t become complacent and let their social distancing and strict attention to hygiene lapse. Life will not return to normal for some time yet, but somehow, the economy has to be rescued and those who are suffering financially are found jobs and ways to cope with the fact that they may have been forced to look to charity for their continued existence. In the main, Brits in Spain can be satisfied in the way they have carried on regardless with so many doing their bit for so many charities and we at Euro Weekly News have been proud to be part of a wide community that clearly cares.

CORRECTIONS

CHRISTMAS COMMENTS FROM FACEBOOK

Adam Sattar

Kay Burley.

requested a permanent French resident document. Since the outset of the pandemic, I have been pleasantly surprised that academics, historians and economists seem to have adopted many of my views and opinions. I hope you might find the time to check it out. I would like to wish you a safe and happy New Year. Yours

Special Branch

Peter Fieldman Author of ‘The World at a Crossroads’

Residence problems My family and I have been treated unfairly by Spanish immigrantion as British citizens. I made an appointment to submit our application in person at the Malaga office. I was only able to get three appointments so I attended and submitted the forms and proofs but, they requested my daughter’s birth certificate and proof that our children were at school. I submitted the requested documents. Then a month later my partner and I received a notification that we needed to provide proof that we reside in Spain, but we did not receive the notification until after the 10-day time limit. I decided to use SpainTIE to submit my partner’s application but, it appears that the company that we paid is no longer in business. A few weeks later I was notified that my 14-yearold daughter’s application had been accepted. Fortunately I also hold an Irish passport and decided to apply for my residencia that was issued within five minutes without the need to provide proof that I reside in Spain. I will now have to apply for my son and partner as a relative of an EU citizen to secure my family’s residencia. I Kent

HAVE YOUR SAY

Joanne Kenworthy

Adam Sattar

Wendy Young Ho ho ho

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

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

37

www.euroweeklynews.com • 31 December 2020 - 6 January 2021

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR GO TO WWW.LINEADIRECTA.COM

YOUR STARS FOR NEXT 7 DAYS ARIES (March 21 - April 20) A friend of long standing comes up with some bright ideas to get you out of a tricky situation. Don’t be surprised. You have for a long time now underestimated their worth. Your friend will be surprised when you show your gratitude in an immediate and physical way, but if there is anything better than finding a new friend it is finding an old friend has hidden talents.

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) The urge to get ahead at as fast a pace as possible is apparent this week. Some would say not before time. However, you know the art of choosing the moment and it has not been until now that you have felt the time was right. This is a truly expansive week and one in which your powers of imagination are given full rein. No wonder you are being admired.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) The company is so interesting that you can hardly tear yourself away and new experiences are arriving every day. You could be forgiven for getting a little overexcited. When travel brings you face to face with a stranger, you find that a bit of information you hear has to be acted upon.

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) Someone close gets a real stroke of luck this week and no doubt the benefits will rub off on you. It seems that some fortune will come your way by the end of the month and lead you to see a situation in quite a different light. Any travel should be left until the beginning of next month if possible because there are likely to be delays and irritations.

LEO (July 24 - August 23) Someone you have been holding at arm's length recently is insisting on getting closer. Charm and tact alone may not save the day, but enlisting the help of a friend could. Travel and career are well-aspected and, if you are expecting a financial windfall, you may have a bit longer to wait.

VIRGO (August 24 - September 23) The hard work you have been putting in recently has left you tired and, at times, quite tetchy. This week you will start to see the

rewards of your efforts which will undoubtedly help you to keep up the momentum. There is a lot of both passion and travel this week, which is set to continue.

LIBRA (September 24 - October 23) This is a highly sociable week, and you could meet some new faces that not only attract but inspire you. You are a social butterfly, and this brings out your Libran flutteriness. You will have to draw on all your powers of concentration to keep ahead of practical matters such as paperwork.

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) You dominate the scene this week and no one is in any doubt about what you are aiming for. If you want to impress someone new to your circle, however, try a bit of cunning as opposed to brow-beating.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) Communication and selfexpression are what it’s all about this week. Although you may feel that indulging yourself is in some ways selfish, you should realise that you are entitled to some fun.

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) The call of romance is strong but so is that of your business life. The two will clash to the detriment of each other if you do not plan ahead and pace yourself. Do not be at the beck and call of others when you need all your time and energy for yourself.

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) Such is your popularity this week that you can be assured of success in many things. Remember that first impressions can be the most accurate and don’t be tempted to make too many allowances for others.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) For some time you have been trying to settle a certain matter. Although it is in your nature to get things out of the way quickly, this has not been possible. The chance to make progress this week is welcome but be sure that all is not what it seems.

TIME OUT

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

CARTEL COLEUS DETOUR FRIEND INGEST INTENT MATURE MORTAR MUSLIN PRESTO REASON SORTIE SQUINT STEREO STUPOR THEORY UNSURER VIOLIN (10) VISION

LOTTERY UK NATIONAL LOTTERY Sat 26 December

26-43-44 46-52-55

BONUS BALL

6

IRISH LOTTO Sat 26 December

22-23-24 28-32-41

BONUS BALL

44

EURO MILLIONS Tue 22 December

BONUS BALL

4

2-10-16 42-50

11

Fri 25 December

BONUS BALL

16-21-27 30-32

3 5

EL MILLON: JDQ81557 LA PRIMITIVA Thurs 24 December

BONUS BALL

4-6-11 32-36-43

1 4

JOKER: 8 658 600 Sat 26 December

BONUS BALL

16-20-23 31-38-43

27

JOKER: 4 376 608

5

TIME OUT

38

www.euroweeklynews.com • 31 December 2020 - 6 January 2021

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR GO TO WWW.LINEADIRECTA.COM

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, 18 represents L and 25 represents J, so fill in L every time the figure 18 appears and J every time the figure 25 appears. Now, using your knowledge of the English language, work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you discover the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.

Across 1 Right (not left) (7) 5 Muñecas (juguetes) (5) 8 To rub (5) 9 To vaccinate (7) 10 Burros (7) 11 Loncha (5) 12 Hablar (5) 14 Blouse (5) 19 Evocar (5) 21 Acostarse (2,2,3) 23 Acuático (7) 24 Igual (5) 25 Mushrooms (flat-topped) (5) 26 Fish (culinary) (7)

Down 1 Golden (6) 2 Reason (5) 3 Beer (7) 4 Aconsejar (6) 5 Patos (5) 6 Lentejas (7) 7 Calle (6) 13 Producto (7) 15 Cartas (Correos) (7) 16 Pétalos (6) 17 Huevera (6) 18 Adult (6) 20 These (5) 22 Witch (5)

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION • LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION • LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION QUICK Across: 1 Sweet, 4 Major, 7 Available, 8 Soil, 9 Adapts, 12 Clever, 13 Loaf, 16 Telescope, 18 Hotel, 19 Turns. Down: 1 Saves, 2 Examine, 3 Team, 4 Melody, 5/17 Job lot, 6 Reeds, 10 Pioneer, 11 Vessel, 12 Catch, 14 Films, 15 Boat.

CRYPTIC

Across: 1 Applaud, 4 Tower, 7 Rings, 9 Stories, 10 Costume, 11 Entry, 12 Ticket, 14 Priest, 18 Chaos, 20 Charger, 22 Avarice, 23 Tribe, 24 Spent, 25 Temples. Down: 1 Apricot, 2 Pants, 3 Duster, 4 Trove, 5 Whistle, 6 Risky, 8 Sauce, 13 Charade, 15 Roast, 16 Turkeys, 17 Accept, 18 Chats, 19 Shirt, 21 Grill.

ENGLISH-SPANISH Across: 1 Sacro, 3 Bathtub, 6 Husband, 8 Lapiz, 10 Opalo, 11 Eastern, 14 Sorteo, 15 Detail, 17 Scarves, 20 Psalm, 21 Green, 22 Lantern, 23 Retraso, 24 Habas. Down: 1 Schools, 2 Ocaso, 3 Badge, 4 Tiles, 5 Buzón, 7 Staircase, 9 Preparase, 12 Adds, 13 Doce, 16 Limones, 17 Sugar, 18 Venta, 19 Sello, 20 Punch.

CODE BREAKER

BOGGLED

FUTOSHIKI

ecru ices iguana otic scud scrub surge citrus cuds curt cruse crud cruds gift guru gurn grub grunt gurus ties tics truce truces trug truant tuba turn tuna tune tabu taurus taunt tanh butane burg burn burnt bunt bane duce duces dune urge urges ruse rune rubato runt rhea unhurt abut augur auto aunt ante huge hurt hunt ends etna thus thug thud thuds thru then tend tends tenuto enatic enthuse intend intends

NONAGRAM arid darn dart dirt drat iron nard noir raid rain rand rani rant rind riot road roan rota tarn taro tart tiro tori torn tort trad trio trod trot adorn dinar drain droit indri intro nadir nitro noria radii radio radon ratio tarot torii train trait triad adroit aroint inroad ordain ration triton introit TRADITION

HEXAGRAM

WORD LADDER

1 CHOOSY 2 ASSAIL 3 ESCORT 4 MILIEU 5 SOCIAL 6 BEHEST 7 CEREAL 8 GARISH 9 ENSURE 10 CAROLS 11 WIDGET 12 AGREES 13 UNLOAD 14 HEREBY 15 ALLELE 16 INTUIT 17 ALLEGE 18 TALENT 19 TALLOW

SOCK LOCK LACK LACE LATE DATE

KAKURO

SUDOKU

www.euroweeklynews.com • 31 December 2020 - 6 January 2021

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR GO TO WWW.LINEADIRECTA.COM

Almería TODAY VELEZ RUBIO ALBOX

HUERCAL OVERA GARRUCHA

WEATHER

MOJACAR ALMERIA RETAMAR ROQUETAS

ADRA

TOMORROW VELEZ RUBIO ALBOX

HUERCAL OVERA GARRUCHA MOJACAR

ALMERIA RETAMAR ROQUETAS

ADRA

SATURDAY VELEZ RUBIO ALBOX

HUERCAL OVERA GARRUCHA MOJACAR

ALMERIA RETAMAR ADRA

S: Sun

C: Cloudy

Th: Thunder

ROQUETAS

Cl: Clear

Sh: Showers

Sn: Snow

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

Alicante TODAY: MAX 14, MIN 8 Fri 13 7 Sat 13 7 Sun 14 8 Mon 13 9 Tues - 14 8 Wed 14 7

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

Benidorm TODAY: MAX 17, MIN 7 Fri 16 9 Sat 14 9 Sun 13 8 Mon 12 8 Tues - 12 7 Wed 12 8 Mallorca TODAY: MAX 17, MIN 7 Fri 16 7 Sat 17 8 Sun 17 8 Mon 18 9 Tues 17 7 Wed 16 8

Bilbao TODAY: MAX 13, MIN 5 Fri 13 4 Sat 12 3 Sun 12 4 Mon 13 4 Tues 11 3 Wed 10 4 Madrid TODAY: MAX 13, MIN 3 Fri 13 3 Sat 12 4 Sun 12 5 Mon 13 5 Tues 12 5 Wed 13 4

39

TIME OUT

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

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

Barcelona TODAY: MAX 14, MIN 5 Fri 14 6 Sat 13 5 Sun 13 6 Mon 14 6 Tues 14 6 Wed 14 7

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

TARGET:

SCORING:

Average: 15 Good: 21 Very good: 31 Excellent: 40

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 Some of the feudal lassies found in Texas (6) 4 Pitch tent by American school grounds (6) 9 Turning up with mice primarily, like cats (5) 10 Loving a party call (7) 11 Noticed old boy was in the armed forces (8) 12 Sound your horn both ways (4) 14 Escapes from crazy, sad Eve (6) 16 Hesitates to use spa turbulence (6) 19 Search thoroughly for a hairdressing tool (4) 20 A veil can hide a Spanish city (8) 23 Turn a blind eye to trick that's performed (7) 24 Canines, for example, restrained by devotee thus? (5) 25 He's far out, in a new way (6) 26 Senior journalist getting to ride around (6) Down 1 Strongly disapprove of silly old peer (7) 2 Pounds containing a thousand young sheep (5) 3 A desert’s transformation is maintained (8) 5 A victory on a river (4) 6 Toxins, is spoon bent? (7) 7 Groan joining Tory leader's vision (5) 8 Get thinner and lighter (5) 13 Thanks to a 40-day period, Edward is skilful (8) 15 Role man created as medical social worker (7) 17 Sam's out to get her - she's a beauty (7) 18 Funny fellows holding note for payment (5) 19 Old clown needs a drink (5) 21 Box put in porches typically (5) 22 Closely follows boxers, for example (4)

TIME OUT

40

www.euroweeklynews.com • 31 December 2020 - 6 January 2021

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SPONSOR GO TO WWW.LINEADIRECTA.COM

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 Bring into existence (6) 4 Two items of the same kind (4) 8 Small fragment (5) 9 Assists (5) 10 Finds fault with (10) 13 Not brought to an end or conclusion (10) 17 Tall mechanical lifting device (5) 18 Keyboard instrument (5) 19 Exchange for money (4) 20 Act upon (6)

Down 1 Coins or paper money (4) 2 Mistake (5) 3/18 Inside information (3,3) 5 Book of maps (5) 6 Strive against, oppose (6) 7 Examines (6) 11 Easily chewed, not tough (6) 12 Sounds made by a duck (6) 14 Physically weak (5) 15 Large bird of prey (5) 16 Nautical unit of speed (4) 18 See 3

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

CATS

QUIZ BACK HERO

SMART CARDS 1. First broadcast by the BBC in the 1990s, what was the title of the four-part political thriller, set after the end of Margaret Thatcher’s tenure as prime minister that starred Ian Richardson as Francis Urquhart, a fictional chief whip of the Conservative party? 2. How many decks of cards are used in a game of canasta? 3. In which card game do you score one for his nob and two for his heels? 4. In which decade were yellow and red cards introduced into the English Football League? 1970s 5. Mr Bun the Baker and Mr Bones the Butcher were two of the original 11 sets of characters in which popular children’s card game? 6. Originally a hit for Wink Martindale in 1959, 1960 and 1963, which famous British variety entertainer had a UK hit single in 1973 with Deck of Cards? 7. Said to have been named after an Earl of Yarborough, who bet 1,000 to 1 against the occurrence of such a hand, in bridge and whist, what is a yarborough? 8. The name of which card game, a variety of baccarat, is the French for ‘railway’? 9. Which gambling card game shares its name with a floating structure (as a flat-bottomed boat) that serves as a dock or to support a bridge? 10. Which playing card is nicknamed the ‘curse of Scotland’?

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 D) 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… specially doctored playing cards were issued to British pilots in the Second World War. If the airmen were captured, the cards could be peeled apart when wet to reveal snippets of maps to assist with escapes

TARGET:

audreyquinton99@gmail.com

Average: 11 Good: 15 Very good: 21 Excellent: 27

Answers 1. HOUSE OF CARDS, 2. TWO, 3. CRIBBAGE, 4. 1970s (1976), 5. HAPPY FAMILIES, 6. MAX BYGRAVES, 7. HAND CONTAINING NO CARD ABOVE A NINE, 8. CHEMIN DE FER, 9. PONTOON, 10. NINE OF DIAMONDS

HEALTH & BEAUTY

31 December 2020 - 6 Janaury 2021

42 to read more visit

JUST a brief, brisk walk, can add years to your life. Experts say that 15 minutes of daily exercise is enough for older adults to see big benefits to their health with this activity being linked to a 22 per cent lower risk of an early death. Researchers carried out a study on two groups of people

www.euroweeklynews.com

Go for a walk to lengthen your life to see if lower levels of exer­ cise could be as beneficial as the recommended 150 min­ utes each week.

One group of 1,011 French people aged 65 in 2001, were followed over a period of 12 years while the second, an in­ ternational group, of 122,417 people aged 60, was followed over 10 years. Participants’ activity was measured in Metabolic Equiv­ alent of Task (MET) minutes each week, assessing the amount of calories used per minute of physical activity. The recommended levels of exercise equate to between 500 and 1,000 MET minutes every week. Researchers found that the risk of death fell as the level of exercise increased and com­ pared to those people who were inactive, older adults with low, medium and high ac­ tivity levels had a 22 per cent, 28 and 35 per cent lower risk of death, respectively, showing that even smaller amounts of exercise can boost life ex­ pectancy and improve health

PETS

44

www.euroweeklynews.com • 31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021

SPONSORED BY

Cat and Dog Story IF you have pets you may actual­ ly have more than one pet at a time. If like me, you have two pets at a time so they keep each other company you may find that no matter what type of ani­ mal they are the two bond quickly. They become best friends. Our two, a cat and a dog, were inseparable. It became a natural step that wherever we went away, they would need to stay together in the company of a caring pet­sitter. They obvious­ ly needed to be together and if it made them happier and more comfortable it made sense to me. Take a moment to plan ahead for pet and house­sitters if you have trips planned next year, to see family and friends or just to get away. Now is the time to get ready. We will help you as much as we can. Our philosophy is that we are all in this together. These are the steps to take: 1. Register as a homeowner on HouseSitMatch.com 2. Choose a Premium ac­ count (£89 per year) to ensure you can help online when needed 3. Create a profile with pho­ tos of your pet and the house

BEST FRIENDS: Jules and Jim hate being apart. 4. Post a house­sit advert stating your plans for next year’s holiday Covid permitting. Do you need a pet­sitter in 2021? Then get started right now. How does it work? HouseSitMatch can help you find suitable sitters. Join our net­ work for a small annual fee. You get ID checked for safety and then build your advert saying when you are going on holiday. House­sitters see your advert, they respond and you choose

the sitter who’ll care for your pets. Trustpilot Testimonials ­ 4.8 / 5 Excellent rating (New Trustpilot rating scale) Here’s what members have said about us ­ HouseSitMatch found us a perfect house­sitter… HouseSitMatch found us a per­ fect house­sitter while we were away in Canada and we were de­ lighted with the care and atten­ tion that HouseSitMatch took in

helping us find the right person. Ros Morris ­ Dog owner How do you join? Please register online via our website www.Housesitmatch. com ­ Choose a membership plan ­ Please note prices go up soon so sign up now on subscrip­ tion to secure these prices: • Standard (DIY option) = £69 pa • Premium (with support at each step) = £89 pa

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

Baby talk works... for puppies A STUDY published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B biology journal has explained that humans talk to dogs in a similar way to babies be­ cause puppies in particular are more responsive to the short phrases and high tone. People were recorded saying cer­ tain phrases such as ‘good boy’ and ‘come here’ while looking at photos of dogs of different ages, human beings and while not looking at anything.

Not only were the subjects found to employ what we refer to as baby talk when addressing the dog photos, but when the recordings were played back to dogs of different ages puppies paid far more attention to it. Older dogs, however, appeared not to be as attentive to baby talk, possi­ bly because as they grow older they are less interested in understanding strangers, scientists suggested. Dogs are believed to have evolved

over more than 30,000 years of close interaction with humans to under­ stand them better. This, researchers claim, has led them to develop com­ munication skills similar to those of small children. Dogs react to gestures such as pointing in a way which no other ani­ mals do, studies have found. Unlike children, though, dogs take these ges­ tures as a mild order rather than a way of passing on information.

CLASSIFIEDS AIR CONDITIONING

BUILDERS ALMERIA BUILDERS: Fully Legal, Fully Insured, All Work Guaranteed. 659 685 133 www.almeria builders.com (253556)

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)

CHURCHES LOCAL ANGLICAN (C of E) Church Services Mojacar, Sundays at 11am Llanos Del Peral, Sundays at 11am Aljambra Chapel, 1st Thursday monthly at 11am Priest

BUILDERS

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

46

DAMP PROOFING RISING DAMP / ROOFING REPAIRS www.elec tro-os.com info@electroos.com 619 666 363 (287819)

DRAINAGE

31 Dec 2020 - 6 Jan 2021 • www.euroweeklynews.com SPONSORED BY

INSURANCE AWARD-WINNING AGENT for ALL your insurance needs. LIBERTY SEGUROS ALBOX/MOJACAR INSURANCE, ALBOX OFFICE: 950 121 943. Mojacar office: 634 323 399 (10003) MOTOR INSURANCE. For the most competitive quotes in English call Linea Directa on 902 123 309, you could save as much as 30% and you can transfer your existing no claims bonus. Call Linea Directa on 902 123 309 for motor insurance with a human voice in English from Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and save money now! (200726) STAY SAFE! Abbeygate Insurance Call 971 277 455 For your security www.abbeygateinsure.com (2887610)

MISCELLANEOUS ELECTRICAL ABBOTT ELECTRICS. From a Light Fitting to a Full Rewire. Tel: 950 137 208 / 638 010 691 (277829)

ESTATE AGENT VOSS HOMES are a professional, British family-run Estate Agents with an office in Huercal-Overa town. They specialise in selling and renting properties in the Huercal-Overa, La Alfoquia, Zurgena & Taberno area. Andy, Anna, Jess, Adele, Hannah, Amy & Karen look forward to helping you buy, sell or rent your ideal property. Please call 678 002 006 for more information (283824)

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

PETS

THE FIVE BONE HOTEL, TURRE. We are still here and would love to discuss your future requirements. 630 234 556 / the5bone hotelturre@gmail.com (279669)

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

REMOVALS/STORAGE

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

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

MOTORING

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

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

XXX VARIOUS Male/Female viagra, cialis, kamagra jelly, mixed trial packs available, all areas mail order. 604 385 476. viagra4you19@ gmail.com

NAUTICAL INTERNATIONAL SKIPPER LICENCE: Courses held in English and starts soon. RYA VHF and Radar Courses. 626 245 098 (290964)

EuroWeekly News Conctact us on:

951 386 161

www.euroweeklynews.com

PLUMBING

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

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

47

31 December 2020 - 6 January 2021

to read more visit

www.euroweeklynews.com

MINI Electric is a fun EV THE inexorable EV march contin­ ues as new ways of greener mo­ toring are explored, a fragmented charging network apart the other ‘problem’ levelled at EVs is they lack character, they don’t set your driving senses alight. However, not all EVs are equal and I have been driving one that offers all the fun and character of a hot hatch. The MINI Electric 3 is not cheap, €34,024 (£31,000) even with the €3,292 (£3,000) UK gov­ ernment grant, prices start from €27,563 (£25,100) for the MINI Electric 1, so you really have to want a car that will realistically only ever be a commuter car, probably secondary to a traditionally pow­ ered vehicle. The reason? Range, or rather lack of it. MINI quote a 144 mile range but this is ideal world, not real world. Even driving carefully, to maximise the MINI’s clever energy regeneration, I would think about 110 miles is going to be your limit, possibly slightly less if range anxiety kicks in. Now if this seems like a bad start lets redress the balance, there are so many positives to the MINI Electric. Unlike the some­

times anodyne driving experience of many modern cars the MINI is huge fun to drive. The instant throttle response produces instant power that charges the MINI to 62 mph in 7.3 seconds. But that really doesn’t do justice to the sense of speed, the instant power leaves many more powerful cars struggling to catch­ up. It charges quickly from a fast public charger, or a home charger (and you really do need a home charger), admittedly it has a small battery but nonetheless charging is surprisingly quick. Another surprise was how using the plethora of standard goodies, including heated seats, didn’t seem to unduly dent the battery’s charge level any more than would normally be the case. Nicely bolted together and with a quality feel, the MINI has a reas­ suringly solid ambience. A firmish ride still soaks up the bumps and comforts the posterior. Space is at somewhat of a premium in the luggage department thanks to those batteries, but inside two people are amply catered for and an additional two certainly would­

n’t complain on shorter journeys. I suspect even the most ardent car fan, if their motoring require­ ments were suited to an EV, would find the MINI Electric a very wel­ come addition to their garage. I certainly did… even though, sadly, I had to give it back!

MOTORING

SPORT

48

31 December 2020 - 6 January 2021

to read more visit www.euroweeklynews.com

Zaha Inspires Palace Ghazi Stops Chelsea

Leicester City drew against Crystal Palace. TRANSFER target Wilfried Zaha inspired Crystal Palace’s draw against high­flying Leicester City who dropped points for the sec­ ond game in a row. AC Milan target Wilfried Za­ ha’s strike in the 58th minute put the home side ahead after the Foxes spurned a number of first­ half opportunities before the visi­ tors were finally rescued by a late Harvey Barnes strike. Palace suffered two defeats over Christmas including a 7­0 thrashing from Liverpool and

must have feared the worst when Kelechi Iheanacho stepped up to take a penalty on 18 min­ utes after Tomkins caught Thomas in the area. However, with main penalty takers, Vardy and Tielemans on the bench, Iheanacho stepped up but lacked the confidence of his teammates and Guaita made a comfortable save. Zaha started and finished a wonderful counter­attack before the hour mark and Palace looked good to hang on for the win,

however, the visitors pressed and Harvey Barnes scored for the sec­ ond game in a row, after making his way along the top of the area before sending a low shot home on 83 minutes to rescue the Fox­ es. The result sends Leicester back into second and face Newcastle United on Sunday January 3, while Palace are next in Premier League action on Saturday Janu­ ary 2 at home against Sheffield United after moving up one place into 13th following this result.

ANWAR EL GHAZI: Continues his goalscorer form. ANWAR EL GHAZI’S goal caused a major headache for Chelsea manager Frank Lampard after his side dropped points again for the fourth time in five Premier League games. Chelsea ended the year with just one win in five after Aston Villa earned a 1­1 draw at Stamford Bridge, thanks to El Ghazi’s contin­ ued goalscorer form. Lampard’s side, who lost 3­1 to Arsenal in their last Premier League outing, took the lead thanks to in­form Olivier Giroud who scored for the seventh successive game against the Villans in the Premier League on 34 minutes. However, Anwar El Ghazi scored his fifth

goal in as many games to level the match on 50 minutes to help seal a point for the visitors in a result that sees Villa move up to fifth, six points off leaders Liverpool with a game in hand. The Stamford Bridge team, on the other hand, are in sixth on the same points as Villa, but having played two more games and on a dismal run of results. Next up for Chelsea is a tough game at home against Manchester City on Sunday January 3 vwhile Aston Villa take on the other Manches­ ter club travelling to Old Trafford to face Man­ chester United on New Year’s Day.