ISSUE 655 • 5th -11th October 2018
EST 2005
Going strong
By Jose Artur T H E To u r i s t O ff i c e o f Cuevas del Almanzora has been awarded the coveted Q for Quality Tourism honour for the 10th year in a row. The Institute for Spani s h To u r i s m Q u a l i t y (ICTE) awards the gong. It is an official mark of quality that around 137 other towns have been awarded in Spain. Antonio Fernandez, the mayor of Cuevas del Almanzora, said the town’s tourist office was one of the first to be awarded the honour in Almeria Province in 2008. The Q for Quality To u r i s m i s b a c k e d b y the Spanish government’s Tourism and Autonomous Communities Ministry. It is handed out to local areas’ tourism offices on the basis of five main factors. These are prestige, differentiation,
HOTSPOT: Cuevas del Almanzora draws visitors from far and wide.
reliability, rigorousness and promotion. Local tourism bodies are granted the Q for Q u a l i t y To u r i s m w h e n they fulfil conditions including creating man-
agement systems directed towards customer service and continue to improve their offering. Bodies have to pass strict audits to ensure their services guarantee
quality, safety and professionalism with their tourism offering. Marked improvements in customer service are also required, as is ensuring the best possible
Water result A L M E R I A’ S D i p u t a c i o n h a s announced it will invest more than €1 million into Macael’s water system to guarantee supplies all year round. Diputacion officials have tendered the contract for the
works which comes as part of the province’s Galasa Network 2018 plan to improve water infrastructure. The works are set to see more than 5.6 kilometres of pipes in the El Canfornal area
of the town improved after years of neglect, the Diputacion said. The project is expected to improve water access for 2,800 homes and 250 businesses in Macael.
tourist experience. Tourists are drawn to Cuevas del Almanzora for its historic streets, beaches and archaeological sites. The town is also home to a museum on the poet Alvarez de Sotomayor and the Castle of the Marques de los Velez.
House rule changes SEVERAL houses in irregular legal situations in Cantoria will be eligible for council recognition following changes to local planning rules. Homeowners in irregular properties in El Faz will now be able to apply for temporary legal status under the AFO system following a council vote on its town plan. The Abusos Urbanisticos Alamanzora No (AUAN) group campaigns on behalf of those living in irregular homes. The group said the move was brought about by pressure from themselves and members of the local conservative Partido Popular (PP). Maura Hillen, President of AUAN, said the move would now allow people living in such homes to have legal options to resolve their issues. “We are very pleased with this development. It is the only sensible option for town halls wishing to see their residents obtain paperwork in their lifetimes,” she said. The decision follows an earlier council decision to take the areas of Media Legau and Los Garcias off the town plan. Members of the PP on the council objected claiming those who lived in the El Faz area were entitled to equal treatment.
2 NEWS BITES World Bird Day event THE Junta de Andalucia and Almeria Provincial authorities are set to mark World Bird Day on Sunday with a family outing at the Punta Entinas-Sabinar Natural area where attendees can observe different species of waterfowl.
Pipe works WORKS costing €180,000 to connect the sewage collection system of Llano de los Olleres to Albox’s treatment plant were completed last week after beginning in May which Mayor Francisco Torrecillas said was a great move for the environment.
Youth gong A CEREMONY which saw young people from across Almeria Province get recognition for efforts made in their life and work took place in Almeria City yesterday evening, with the 2018 Youth Awards featuring prizes for music, art and sport.
News
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A second chance
Ex-mayor asks to return to post By Jose Artur THE former mayor of Albox has written to the town’s council to request his reinstatement to the post after settling outstanding corruption cases with the courts. Rogelio Mena, of the leftleaning Partido Socialista (PSOE), said he should be allowed to serve the remainder of his term. It comes after he faced criminal charges over alleged corruption while in office. Mena said he was elected with an absolute majority in 2015 and that his term had not yet expired. He was elected with the backing of almost 50 per cent of those who cast their ballots, winning a total of 2,511 votes. Mena added he should not have been brought to trial over the allegations that he improperly spent public money while on official trips during his time in office. “I believe there was a vio-
not confirm this on his social media post which featured pictures of the former’s letter to councillors. The courts also convicted Mena of repeatedly denying information to opposition parties on Albox Council and for hindering transparency.
Don’t miss out!
COMEBACK BID: Mena (inset) said he should be reinstated. lation of my rights to effective judicial protection and the presumption of innocence guaranteed by the Spanish Constitution,” he said. “My case should not have been heard in the criminal courts as recourse to them
must be the last resort,” he added. Mena’s letter said he had been absolved by Almeria’s First Criminal Court in September. He added he still had around eight months of his term to serve.
Francisco Torrecillas, the current mayor of Albox and also from the PSOE, said he had spoken to Mena about his request. Reports in Spanish media said he had backed Mena’s decision but Torrecillas did
DUE to next Friday’s national holiday the October 12 issue of the Sol Times will be coming out a day earlier. So don’t miss out - remember to pick up your favourite local paper from your usual spot on Thursday before they are all snapped up!
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News
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October schedule
MEMBERS of the Mojacar Royal British Legion have announced the programme for this month which includes meetings, a coffee morning and fundraising activities. Below is a full outline of their planned events: October Diary: • Friday 5, 7.30pm: Fish and chips Quiz at Oasis Bar Palomares. Quiz 8:30pm €2 • Thursday 18, 11.15am: Branch Coffee m o r n i n g a t M o c a B a r, M o j a c a r P l a y a (near Indalo apartments) • Saturday 27, 7.00pm: RBL Poppy Appeal Dinner and Dance. Hotel Continental, Mojacar. Three-course meal, Dancing to Driftwood. €35 per person. The branch said anyone wishing to book to attend the above events should contact Barbara on 622 207 774. Past service in the Armed Forces is not needed to join the Royal British Legion. Anyone who would like more information can contact the Chairman, Andrew Richardson, on 682 405 858. For social enquiries contact: rblmojacar.socialevents@gmail.com.
House prices ALMERIA Province has the lowest house prices on average of any in Andalucia, according to industry data. Figures from the Noteges Club showed houses fetched an average of €100,258 in the province up to August 31. The average across Andalucia was €113,242. Cordoba Province had the highest house prices with properties selling for an average of €136,563. It was followed by Sevilla Province with €124,741. The Noteges Club study found that the average gap between the advertised price of homes and their final sale price was a difference of 33 per cent. The largest gap was in Malaga Province with 44 per cent and the lowest was in Sevilla Province with 25 per cent.
Church’s ‘posh Almeria star shoot picnic’ STAR TREATMENT: Almeria’s Bisbal was filming in Marbella.
ALMERIA City native David Bisbal has turned heads and wowed crowds on the Costa del Sol while filming scenes for his new music video. Bisbal was in Marbella for the shoot of Forgiveness, his latest single. The video has been made in collaboration with Colombian artist Greeicy. The Latin and Romantic Pop singer was born in Almeria City
in 1979. He briefly studied at the Goya school but dropped out before a brief stint in forestry. It was while in Almeria’s municipal plant nursery that a collegue recommended he audition with the Expressions Orchestra. The move led to him featuring on the Operation Triumph TV talent show which launched his successful singing career.
A CHURCH serving the Costa Almeria areas has planned a picnic with a posh twist this coming Friday October 19. The Posh Picnic is due to take place from 1pm. The organisers said those wishing to attend should aim to meet at the Llanos Del Peral Church near Cucador. The cost of attending the picnic is €10. Anyone wishing to attend should contact Janet on 671 451 838.
NEWS
Bank fraud trial CREDIT: Google Maps
A
LMERIA’S Fifth Criminal Court has handed down a 21-month prison sentence to a defendant found guilty of defrauding a bank account out of around €3,000 by stealing customer information. The court said while sentencing the 45-year-old woman that she had been motivated by a desire to get illicit benefits when fraudulently withdrawing the money from the bank. The fraud took place at a branch in Almeria City. The defendant admitted to taking a letter she had found in a block of flats on the Puerta de Purchena with a customer’s bank details on it in September 2016. She posed as the account
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JAILED: The case was heard in Almeria’s City of Justice.
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holder and was able to withdraw the roughly €3,000. She tried again a week later but could not withdraw more money because the transaction was declined. The court heard the woman had fraudulently taken money out of an account previously. She took more than €1,100 out of one account and attempted to take out a loan of €10,000 with a forged ID but was unable to. The court has ordered the woman to pay €3,000 in damages to the bank on top of her prison sentence.
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Photography contest A PHOTOGRAPHY group has launched a competition themed on ‘ghost urbanisations’ for the provinces of Almeria, Murcia, Alicante, Valencia and Castellon. The contest has been put on by the Clic Clac Photo Circle of Yecla in collaboration with the Deposit Reclaim Experts company.
Entrants have been asked to submit pictures that capture the geographical consequences of the Spanish Levante’s property market crash which left many housing estates partially built and empty. The deadline has been extended to December 30. Rules can be found at: www.depositclaimexperts.com.
WAT-ER EVENT: The Underwater adventure takes place this weekend.
Diving in
THE latest edition of Nijar’s Underwater Adventure is set to begin today (Friday), with several diving centres taking part over the weekend at reduced prices. The Alpha, Isub San Jose and Las Negras centres are among those signed up to the scheme. It has been organised by the Association of Diving Centres of Almeria (ACEBAL), the Diputacion and Nijar Council. Nijar Council said in a statement there were a variety of activities on offer as part of the programme. Everyone from beginners to experienced divers are welcome to take part, the council added. Alexis Pineda, Nijar Council’s tourism
spokesperson, said the Adventure was put on to bolster the town’s activity offering following the end of the holiday season. “Above all it is a weekend to enjoy the Underwater Adventure and take part in an interesting experience with these events and associated workshops,” Pineda said. The councillor added there would also be a concert staged in Nijar’s San Jose Plaza as part of the programme. It is set to feature the music duo Yacunde Reggae. There will also be a travelling exhibition in the plaza running for the whole weekend themed on environmental conservation.
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Activities sessions
A night at the theatre ADRA’S Cultural Centre is set to stage the Spanish play La Ultima Boquea, a comedy which is due to be performed on Saturday October 26. The play comes as part of the town’s annual culture programme which is organised by Adra Council. A council spokesperson said in a statement the play followed three unsatisfied characters who were looking for fulfilment in a bar. “They intend to bury their failures, remember times gone by and reach their dreams. It asks questions including if we should embrace the past or forget it forever, consume life or let it consume us and allow change or stick to routines,” the spokesperson said. Tickets cost €10 or €8 with a spectator card. The show starts at 9pm.
ALMERIA’S 16 Elderly Centres have launched their programme of activities for the 2018 to 2019 programme which features around 15,000 hours of training and leisure in the form of workshops backed by almost €329,650 in funding.
Music call TOWN VISIT: Representatives took in Mojacar’s best sites.
What a beauty MOJACAR has played host to representatives from almost 70 towns across Spain who came to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the Most Beautiful Towns and Villages group. Mojacar and 67 other towns make up the association. Rosmari Cano, Mojacar’s mayor, was on hand to raise the official flag of the group when representatives from the member areas arrived in the town. All those who took part in the visit were given a copy of the official Most Beautiful Towns and Villages in Spain as a
souvenir. Emmanuel Aguero Leclerc, Mojacar Council’s tourism spokesperson, thanked those who visited and gave a talk on the importance of preserving Mojacar’s artistic and cultural heritage. Mojacar Tourism Office director Carmen Garcia Campoy was also on hand to guide visitors through the town’s most famous landmarks. The Most Beautiful Towns and Villages in Spain Association was set up to encourage visits to the 68 areas that make it up.
A MEMBER of the Andalucian Parliament with the conservative Partido Popular (PP) representing Albox has accused regional authorities of ‘punishing’ the town over not moving forward on plans to create a music conservatory there.
Euro-days THE Junta de Andalucia has organised activities to commemorate this year’s European Heritage Days with the first planned for tomorrow in Almeria.
NEWS
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THE Junta de Andalucia’s economy delegate in Almeria Province has visited a school in Zurgena recently renovated and expanded with regional funding. Gracia Fernandez went to see the completed extension at CEIP Juan Andres de Toledo last Wednesday. The Junta de Andalucia backed the project with more than €251,994 in funding. Fernandez said the works came as part of a Junta initiative to remove prefabricated classrooms from all schools in Andalucia. Two structures containing a total of four classrooms were removed from Juan Andres de Toledo. They have been replaced by a new building that features two classrooms, toilets and storage space, with funding also used to make further extensions.
CREDIT: Nijar Council
School works
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Team spirit HUERCAL-OVERA’S council has organised an event which is set to see shopkeepers in the town give gifts to one another. The Invisible Friend, Visible Establishments initiative is set to be a fun event which will see traders become the ‘standard bearers’ of the town, the council said in a statement. M o n i c a N a v a r r o , t h e c o u n c i l ’s t r a d e spokesperson, said: “The project involves merchants in the town uniting to work as a team for their shared and personal interests.” Registration is open until the end of today (Friday).
TOWN TRIP: The students took in spots across Nijar.
Students visit M
ORE than 300 international students on a foreign exchange programme toured areas of Nijar last weekend as part of events organised for new arrivals. The Erasmus students came from a total of 50 different countries including F r a n c e , G e r m a n y, I t a l y, M e x i c o a n d Poland. The visit took place as part of the student’s Integration Week. They took in Rodalquilar, La Isleta, Arrecife de las Sirenas, El Playazo, San Jose, Gen-
ovese, Monsul and Los Escullos while on the visit, Nijar Council said. A i n o h a S a l m e r o n , N i j a r C o u n c i l ’s youth spokesperson, said the student’s time in Almeria would be ‘vital’ for their futures. “The visit gave them the opportunity to get to know interesting natural spaces in Nijar which makes it unique in Europe and surely memorable for those who took part,” Salmeron said. Around 75 per cent of those on the visit were women students.
Fashion show A PET charity in Mojacar has organised a fashion show in the town’s seafront for Wednesday October 24. Paws-Patas Fashion Show is set to feature clothes modelled for attendees to see. There is also due to be an auction, raffle, stalls, buffet lunch and music by Lady Ellen. It is set to take place in the Marama Luz de Luna restaurant in the Mojacar Playa area of the town from 1.30pm. The charity said in a statement anyone wishing to attend could buy tickets priced at €12 from its fundraising outlets in Las Buganvillas, Mojacar and Turre.
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CREDIT: Mojacar Council
Ed. 655
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SIGHTSEERS: Members of the band toured Spanish cities.
M
OJACAR’S council organised visits to cities across Spain for the town’s Municipal Band in recognition of their hard work throughout the year. Madrid, Toledo and the spa of Archena made up this year’s annual outing. The 43 musicians toured the areas over the course of four days. They were joined by the town council’s culture spokesperson and two music teachers. Raquel Belmonte, Mojacar Council’s culture spokesperson, said the trip was more than justified because of the hard work put in by band members. “The council is very satisfied and
Band trips proud of them,” she said. The council said in a statement the atmosphere on the trip was ‘relaxed’ and members of all ages were able to bond. Band members took in the Arab
baths of Caballet and Cenizel, the well of El Salvador, Roman baths and the Jewish Quarter of Toledo. They were shown around by a professional guide. They then headed for Madrid where they saw a drama performance and spent the night. They toured the Spanish capital and saw a production of the musical Billy Elliot. Band members then travelled to Archena spa where they rested for a few days and took part in several activities. Mojacar’s Municipal Band performs around 30 concerts a year at parties, meetings and other gatherings. The age of members ranges from 10 to 30.
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Weekender Jos Biggs’ column Page 12
Keep plants happy Page 18
Property Page 14 - 17
Beds for pets
Fruity forest dessert Page 21
Protein energy products
Page 27
Page 22
BBC1 new series
Jaguar F-Pace test
Page 28
Page 39
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Feature
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Pause to understand HOW often folk ask, almost as a challenge if I consider their particular lifestyle to be ‘sin.’ My usual response is to request first an explanation of their understanding of ‘sin,’ which tends to result in some confusion, for whilst most believe the word has something to do with wrongdoing, few have any idea of its true meaning. For in Spanish of course, ‘sin’ simply means without; and that, in my view is pretty close to the Christian understanding too. You see, centuries back, when folk competed in throwing spears at a target, any throw that missed the dead centre of that target was known as a ‘sin,’ that is, ‘without score,’ an expression that was later similarly used in archery. And it’s this concept, of missing the mark of God’s perfect standard that’s described in Scripture as being ‘Sin,’ whether because we’ve done, said or thought something that isn’t up to God’s standard or because we’ve failed to do something we should have done. Either way we missed the target, so have ‘sinned.’ And the great thing about this understanding of ‘sin’ is that it didn’t matter whether an archer missed the target by a hair’s breadth or by a proverbial mile, the result was exactly the same -
he’d sinned and was without a score, which is exactly how I understand ‘sin’ in God’s terms. However much I try, I still regularly miss God’s standard, so am no better than anyone else, and if at any time I should be tempted to believe myself superior to another, then that attitude of judgemental pride of itself has missed God’s standard for love and mutual respect. So yes, for those who asked, your lifestyle probably does involve sin, as does mine. For we all sin most of the time, as we fail to live according to God’s perfect standard, and since just one such failure is sufficient to separate us from any claim to be good enough for heaven, we all equally have to rely, not on our own efforts, but on His love and mercy. So how great that ‘if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ Duncan Burr is Licensed Lay Reader for the Anglican Chaplaincy of Costa Almeria and Costa Cálida (further detail available at www.mojacarchurch.org) and may be contacted at d.burr@albox-online.net
October 1 - Bear’s bad day #2 By Jos Biggs
THE kitchen table groaned under the weight of nectarines, all of which had ripened at the same moment. There are only so many that I can force upon the neighbours and only so many that I can eat in their natural form even allowing for refrigeration, so the rest have to be cooked and frozen, today - before they start to go soggy. I prepared container after container of nectarines, and Bear cooked them without complaint the Kitchen Team were working as one as container after container was prepared, cooked and consigned to the freezer. Until I ran out of containers. I looked round, and spied a container that had held cakes from the Panadería. It was plastic, so I
thought, it’ll do! I filled it, put it in Bear, turned his timer knob, and off he went, ever willing and without complaint. At the prescribed time he dinged and I opened his door to get the container out. As I opened the door I was met by a river of sticky syrup that oozed out and spread glutinously from the shapeless plastic lump that had been the cake container to cover the kitchen worktop in a seeping sea of red glue. Not just the kitchen worktop, but the inside of Bear was also covered with goo. I now know that (1) those particular containers are not microwaveproof. (2) It takes a lot to remove nectarine syrup from the inside of a microwave, and (3) don’t do it again!
josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk
Feature
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Weekender 13
Travel
Valencia: The old with the new
VALENCIA City sits on the Mediterranean coast and is the capital of the region of the same name. The city and regional like its neighbour Cataluña has preserved many of its traditions including its own language, Valencian, owning to it once being part of the Kingdom of Aragon. Despite boasting some of its own quirks the city is in many ways the site of many of the staples of Spanish culture. Its bullring is now a leading museum and travellers are well advised to try paella which originally hails from the city. Va l e n c i a m a y b e h o m e t o much of what characterises Spain’s rich and vibrant past, but it is also among the cities in the country that has enthusiastically embraced the future. Its main river once flowed through the city centre. A spate of floods resulted in local authorities deciding to drain it and turn it into a park which now snakes its way
OLD AND NEW: Valencia showcases Spain’s past and future.
through the urban landscape. The new park offers visitors a chance to walk from one end of the city to the other. A t t h e e n d l i e s Va l e n c i a ’s
City of Arts and Sciences which is characterised by its cutting edge modern architecture. Those wishing to stay the
evening have the choice of traditional Spanish squares and contemporary haunts visited by the city’s burgeoning student population.
Whether you spend a few hours or several days in Valencia you will not fail to see the mixture of old and new side by side.
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Weekender
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Property
A property that works for you W
HILE many expatriates may have moved to Spain for its sunny skies and slower pace of life, others may be looking for a career change or business opportunity. But whether you need an extra source of income or not, why not make your property work for you and think about investing in a hotel, B&B or campsite? Spain’s tourism trade continues to boom and the country was once again this summer the most popular destination in Europe. Some hotels on the Costa del Sol reported up to 100 per cent occupancy last Easter and the rising popularity of rental websites such as Airbnb and Booking.com is testament to the number of travellers coming to Spain. More alternative forms of accommodation like eco-lodges, ‘glamping’ sites and treetop houses have also gained popularity in northern Europe and are slowly making their way to the south of Spain. This in turn has paved the way for wellness-based and holistic style holidays and increasing numbers of rural properties are now offering yoga, horse riding, hiking or even cooking retreats. And with some properties charging up to €800 per person for a week long yoga retreat on websites like www.bookyogare treats.com, it seems now may be a good time to take advantage of the boom in tourism.
TRADITIONAL: Turn an atmospheric townhouse into a hotel. GLAMPING: Camping, but not as you remember. A look on the internet shows the myriad tourism businesses on offer. From a Nerja hostel for €950,000 to a hotel in Old Town Marbella for €2,590,000, it seems the market is strong. A rural tourism complex for sale in Granada for between €250,000 and €500,000 even offers a net profit of between €50,000
and €100,000 a year. If you want to start smaller, however, and have always fancied the idea of running your own B&B, a converted townhouse in one of the region’s smaller villages may be ideal. Ancient homes make for atmospheric businesses, but if a traditional set up doesn’t appeal, why not consider a glamping site? The new craze for a more glamorous camping experience bears little resemblance to childhood memories of soggy weekends in a leaking tent and is gaining popularity across Europe. Even Glastonbury Festival last year offered glamour-seekers pre-erected bell tents complete with spa and private flushing loos from £2,294 (€2,559) for two people. Now Spain is getting in on the act with one glamping site on offer just off the N340 near Malaga for €990,000 with an annual turnover of between €100,000 and €250,000. So whether you already own a property or are currently looking, why not consider Spain’s seemingly profitable world of tourism businesses and invest in something which could offer dividends for years.
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Property
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Money for nothing - fixing a ruin WE’VE all heard about the fortunate few who bought some of Spain’s many ruins, reforming them and selling on for a healthy profit. And while the thought of buying an older property for almost nothing and restoring it to its former glory may appeal, is it still possible to make money doing so? Spain’s property boom in the 1990’s saw many areas previously untrodden by tourists become popular with expatriates looking for a bargain. And bargains they found with some ruins in mountain villages selling for as little as the price of a second-hand car. A new roof and pool later and the same property could be sold on at a price to compete with some new builds. But while ruins can still be found for rock-bottom prices, recent tightening of planning laws has made it harder than ever to make money from development. A surge in building work, as well as a spate of cases involving illegal development, caused the Junta de Andalucia to declare permission would no longer be granted for new builds - except those with agricultural purpose - or to reform either the outside or inside of any rural property. This ban extends to permission to install tiled terraces or swimming pools, even some above ground ones, although some repair works may still receive the green light.
BARGAIN PROPERTY: Could you turn this into a desirable home? And while some developers were previously willing to take their chances without planning permission, another law, issued in 2012, has made this even more difficult. According to spanishestate.com, for the last six years town halls have begun requiring some owners making changes to a property in the countryside to apply for a Declaracion Asimilado Fuera de Ordinacion (DAFO) certificate. While this certificate is not currently a legal requirement to buy or sell a property, some mountain-based estate agents have begun warning buyers that solicitors could insist on a DAFO being in place to complete a sale. For this reason it is important to use
the services of a reputable and suitably qualified property professional as advertised on these pages - to guide you through the procedures. They will have the local knowledge and expertise needed to make sure you don’t have nasty surprises later, when you may already have spent thousands of euros. If you decide to apply for a certificate, the process involves architect visits, checks to sanitation and other infrastructure and paying town hall tax. According to Spanish law firm Calero y Delgado Asociados: “The important thing, when someone is looking to buy a property on rural land, is for buyers to know what they are buying.”
Second homeowners THE Ministry of Public Works is consulting Spain’s autonomous regions as it prepares the new Housing Law. The consultations will provide a pre-diagnosis, enabling a law which can deal with the problems that hinder access to housing in Spain, Public Works minister Juan Luis Abalos said. Many of the measures centre on rents and the law will include government plans to build 20,000 publiclyowned apartments to rent out. It will also safeguard publicly-owned social housing and prevent councils from selling to private investors as has happened in PLEDGE: Juan Luis Abalos is promising a new law.
some municipalities. Tax breaks will stimulate the rentals market to keep prices down, as these have shot up in the last five years, rising by 47 per cent in Barcelona City and 38 per cent in Madrid. The fiscal concessions are also intended to encourage the owners of Spain’s 2.4 million unoccupied properties to enter the rentals market. The government is toying with the idea of fines and the banks, still sitting on countless properties, developers and promoters would be their principal targets. This measure met with a lukewarm reception in the property sector and the Ministry of Public Works has had to announce that
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Weekender
Lifestyle
5th - 11th October 2018
STURDY: Made of tough stuff, it’s not easy to rid your garden of snails.
Talking greedy gastropods GARDENERS who try to deter snails using natural
methods such as wool pellets or eggshells, are apparently wasting their time. According to a study by the Royal Horticultura l S o c i e t y, g a s t r o p o d s were as destructive towards lettuces which were protected by these and other means, like copper tape, horticultural grit and pine bark mulch, as they were to those left untreated. At a research facility in
the UK, the RHS tested the methods on 108 lettuces with and without, sown in pots and raised beds. After six weeks, the leaves were examined. It was found that the lettuces planted in the ground were found to be more susceptible to snails and slugs, with 5.7 per cent of each eaten on average. Just 0.2 per cent those in pots had been con-
sumed, but in spite of this they yielded less crop. Researchers believe the natural methods were ineffective because gastropods have a thick mucus which allows them to glide over sharp barriers. But while they didn’t deter the ‘pests,’ the wool pellets and pine bark did act as a fertiliser and mulch, helping yield a 50 per cent bigger crop. Dr Hayley Jones of the RHS, recommended using proven formulas like nermatode biological control if the damage caused by snails is too much to bear. These are microscopic parasitic worms that feed upon molluscs but also risk killing non-pest garden species if over applied. Previous research has shown that gardeners who hand pick snails must move them more than 20 metres away, because their homing instinct can help them return. While it’s a time consuming method, Dr Jones claims it is definitely the most environmentally friendly way to clear your garden of snails.
Lifestyle
5th - 11th October 2018
Greenfingered getaways WHILE we may feel healthier and more relaxed after a couple of weeks away, our plants often end up looking worse for wear. But there are ways to keep them happy while you’re on holiday. It’s always best to consider the usual care routine of each type of plant, for example a cactus is happy being watered once every fortnight as long as it gets a daily dose of sunshine. And succulent plants, such as sansevierias and aloe vera, will last longer without a drink as they hold water in their leaves. Low-maintenance indoor plants such as the corn and snake plants are also great choices. Sunny spots will dry your plants’ soil out more quickly, so it’s best to
move them out of bright light before going away. They might prefer to be in bright spaces, but their shadier spot will cause less damage than dry soil. By grouping all your plants together they will create a humid micro-climate around each other, which will reduce the negative effects of infrequent watering. Place them all in the bath, soak their soil through and you’re ready to go. If it’s very hot outside, put a layer of damp newspaper on top of the soil to help it retain its moisture. Alternatively, put one end of a length of cloth in the soil and the other end in a glass of water. The plant will ‘wick’ the water up through the cloth if and when it’s necessary.
SUCCULENT: Hold water in their leaves so can last longer without a drink.
Weekender 19
Storage tips SAVING seeds for future harvest is becoming more and more popular as we aim to be selfsustaining and eco-friendly. And there are tips for success. Collect seeds from the mature fruit and remove any pulp. Some crops require special treatment, for example ferment tomato seeds to remove the gelatinous cover. Discard damaged, undersized or misshapen seed. Only collect seed from heirloom or open-pollinated varieties. Allow them to air dry at room temperature in a shallow layer for at least a couple of weeks in a dry location. Stir occasionally and inspect them periodically for mould or insects. Once dry, store the seed in a sealed plastic, metal or glass container and fill as much as possible. If you are using plastic re-sealable bags, squeeze out as much air as possible. Small quantities of seed can be stored in envelopes, but bundle these together and store them as above in a sealed container. Label the seeds with the crop, variety and date. Store them in a cold, dark, dry space. A freezer is ideal as this slows down metabolic and chemical processes, restricts mould and bacteria growth, and slows down or kills many insects.
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Weekender
Food & Drink
5th - 11th October 2018
Some pointers to a good diet… T
HE Mediterranean diet has been talked about a lot as being why Spaniards generally enjoy good health and a long life.
EAT HEALTHY: Fresh salad in season.
But what is it and why does it help? Here we give you some pointers about the diet : • Use olive oil as your principal additional oil. It is rich in vitamin E, beta-carotene and monounsaturated acids that have cardio protective properties. • Eat plant foods in abundance: fruits, vegetables, legumes, mushrooms and nuts. They are the main source of vitamins, minerals and fibre in our diets and give us at the same time, a lot of water. They can also prevent cardiovascular diseases and some types of cancer. • Bread and food from cereals (pasta and rice) should be part of the daily diet. They are essential for its carbohydrate composition and provide the energy for our daily activities. • The less processed, fresh and seasonal foods are the most appropriate. This allows us to consume them at their best moment,
both in terms of nutrient intakes and for their aroma and taste. • Consume daily milk products, mainly cheese and yogurt. They are a good source of calcium, high quality protein, vitamin B2, retinol and vitamin D. • Red meat should be consumed in moderation and better as part of stews and other recipes. Processed meats only in small amounts as an ingredient in sandwiches. • Eat lots of fish, but eggs in moderation. Oily fish consumption is recommended at least once or twice a week because its fat has properties against cardiovascular diseases. Eggs contain high quality protein, fats and many vitamins and minerals, it is recommended to have three or four eggs a weeks as a substitute to meat. • Fresh fruit should be the usual dessert. Sweets and pastries should be eaten occasionally. • Water is the quintessential drink in the Mediterranean. Wine must be taken in moderation and with meals. • Physical activity every day, because it is as important as eating properly to maintain health.
Boost your energy BEFORE we know it, the nights will be drawing in and the mornings may be cold and damp. But people can keep that fresh summer feeling by boosting their intake of minerals and vitamins. Top five foods to help with energy and make people feel more active: Bananas: An instant energy source and they are a good source of potassium. Lentils: Rich in amino-acids, protein, minerals and vitamins, they can replace rice or pasta in almost any recipe and are rich in fibre. Oatmeal: A primary energy boosting foods, oatmeal is a good complex carbohydrate which helps control blood glucose levels and helps people feel fuller for longer. Eggs: a good source of energy, eggs are rich in protein, amino acids and omega-3 essential fatty acids, which are vital for muscle growth, a powerful immune system and brain power. Walnuts: are usually regarded as ‘brain-food’ due to their high concentration of omega-3 essential fats.
Chocolate heaven SINCE cocoa beans first landed on Catalan shores, and Casa Amatler opened Barcelona’s first chocolate factory in 1797, Catalonia’s love affair with chocolate was sealed. Two centuries later, the city offers everything from old-fashioned little shops to modern emporiums and street stalls specialising in chocolate. If you visit Barcelona, or even if you are living there, you must take a trip down the ‘sweet street’ Petritxol which is in the very centre of Barri Gotic. It is known for the chocolatiers and those that specialise in liquid chocolate.
Food & Drink
5th - 11th October 2018
Maria’s Fruits of the Forest Cheesecake
MARIA’S CHEESECAKE: Spoon a pile of fruits on top allowing the juices to drizzle down.
A
NOTHER busy week here at Olive Tree Farm catching up on jobs before the colder weather moves in, has meant all the family buckling down and helping. There were lots of things to plant in the garden and up at the farm, plus a few important jobs inside the house to work our way through. So as a thank you, I decided a treat was in order, and what better way to say it than with cheesecake! Cheesecake is one of my favourite desserts as well, so it was a pleasure to spend a morning in the kitchen creating a mess, but with a delicious end result. This idea, I got from one of my friends who is a member of my cooking group on Facebook. After having a spell with her leg in plaster, she found herself with lots of time on her hands and cooking had to be done using things that she already had in the kitchen. After seeing her photos, I decided to give it a go… So here you have it, ‘Maria’s Cheesecake.’ Ingredients 10-12 crushed digestive biscuits 25g melted unsalted butter 500ml carton of cream (it was just UHT cream kept in the cupboard but well chilled)
OLIVE TREE FARM was set up about four years ago with the intention of achieving a level of self sufficiency. We have poultry for meat and eggs, goats for milk, rabbits and small pigs for meat and harvest our 70 olive trees each year for oil. We also grow a variety of fruits and vegetables. 300 grams Light Cream Cheese (you don’t feel as guilty having a big slice!) 40g icing sugar ½ teaspoon of vanilla essence Two sheets of gelatine soaked and squeezed out One bag of frozen fruits of the forest (I used the one from Mercadona)
One teaspoon of gelatine powder 25 grams granulated sugar Method Mix the crushed biscuit in a bowl along with the melted butter and add to the base of your mould. Leave in the fridge to set. In a mixing bowl, whisk your chilled cream until it thickens. Make sure the cream is well chilled and do not overbeat or it will split. Add your cream cheese and mix through well. Add your icing sugar and vanilla essence and mix and finally mix through the gelatine. Add this to your moulds on top of the biscuit base. And chill for at least four hours. For the topping. In a saucepan, add your frozen fruits, a splash of water and the granulated sugar and heat through stirring regularly so it doesn’t catch on the bottom of the pan. Leave it to simmer and reduce the liquid a little. Now remove from the heat, add the gelatine powder and stir though. Leave it to cool. When you are ready to serve, remove the cheesecakes from the moulds and carefully spoon a pile of the fruits on top allowing the juices to drizzle down the sides.
Weekender 21
22
Weekender
Building an
Health & beauty
5th - 11th October 2018
appetite for sports nutrition
N
EW research has revealed that more people than ever are using sports nutrition products. Once used only by athletes, research by Mintel, the world’s leading market intelligence agency, showed that almost threein-10 Brits (27 per cent) use sports nutrition products such as protein bars, protein powders for a drink, energy bars and supplement capsules, tablets and sachets. The number rose to 39 per cent amongst those who regularly exercised more than once a week. It is the UK’s young men who show the strongest use of sports nutrition products, with three-in- five men (61 per cent) aged 16-34 saying they use such products. Over one-in-three men (35 per cent) aged 16-34 said they exercised four times a week or more, compared to 26 per cent of women of the same age. Usage amongst women was increasing with two-in-five (40 per
NUTRITION PRODUCTS: Being used regularly.
cent) aged 16-34 reported using sports nutrition products with a dramatic increase in their use. While only 7 per cent of women aged 1624 used protein powders for drinks in 2015, this has more than doubled in 2017 to 18 per cent. Currently, the top three sports nutrition products are protein bars (11 per cent), protein powders for a drink (10 per cent) and energy bars (9 per cent). The Mintel report states that while usage remains strong, as many as 63 per cent of users admitted they were unable to really tell if they were benefiting from the product and 72 per cent would like to see an industry-wide certification that ensures quality of ingredients showing that consumers’ current scrutiny of food and drink extends to sports nutrition.
Mental health days AFTER a tweet from a web developer about
taking a ‘mental health day’ off work went viral,
Gently does it WOMEN who exercise when they are pregnant can reduce the chance of needing a Caesarean by 10 per cent. Evidence gathered from around 12,500 women in 16 countries found that mothers-to-be who do gentle exercise during their pregnancy such as aerobics, walking or using a bike machine, and eat a healthy diet are more likely to have a natural birth. Currently, around one-in-four births in the UK are by Caesarean which, although regarded as very safe, can carry the risk of complications. Experts added that many women wrongly believe they should be ‘eating for two’ when pregnant.
more are being encouraged to think about their mental health. The American worker praised her boss for being so understanding as she was granted two days leave for mental health purposes and other bosses have been encouraged to follow suit. Experts say more people should be brave enough to take days off for mental health reasons and say it is important to actually embrace feelings of sadness. Taking time out to feel miserable can allow us to better overcome it and it could be the key to happiness. As expecting to be constantly happy can be harmful. It comes as nearly a third of British workers said they are suffering from anxiety, depression or stress, according to a survey by a management consultancy firm.
Health & beauty
5th - 11th October 2018
Are you one of them? MANY adults are turning away from gyms due to back pain. Around two-fifths of adults in the UK said they avoided exercise because of pain in the lower back according to a survey of more than 2,000 adults which was commissioned by the British Chiropractic Association. However they said that the spine is naturally strong and moderate exercise, when done correctly, can help to build and maintain its strength and posture and actually protect you from further pain in the long run. Meanwhile the Association reminds people that changes in lifestyle are also affecting back health, with fashion maybe more a concern than hitting the gym. Current fashions are changing the way women walk and this is having a detrimental impact on their health. Skinny jeans for example, restrict the movement of the knees and hips which puts extra pressure on the back. High heels are also often criticised for the pressure they put on feet and back when walking. Mobile phone use has also recently been highlighted as a cause of back pain with people hunched over looking at their phone screens. Back pain is one of the most common ailments with four in five people expected to suffer at some point in their lifetime. So what can
you do to help prevent aches and pains in your back but still want to work out? Be safe. If you exercise at the gym make use of the professional staff they have. When signing up for the first time, everyone should be shown how to use the equipment efficiently and safely by a qualified instructor. Don’t overdo it. Your body can do a lot and whilst you need to push it at times, remember you are not an Olympic athlete and listen to your body. Take things slowly, particularly when starting out and ask an instructor to advise on a safe way of training to push yourself without going beyond your body’s limitations. Warm up and cool down. Most injuries are caused not from the actual exercise itself but from the body’s muscles not being correctly warmed up and cooled down before and after. Try yoga. Yoga is now being widely recommended by experts to strengthen the back and medical professionals are even ‘prescribing’ it to ease pain rather than handing out painkillers and medication. Good posture. Even if not at the gym, you can practise stronger back health. Try and correct your posture, stand up straight, don’t slump over your desk at work and use a chair that provides firm support for your lower back with knees ideally a little higher than your hips when you sit.
Toxic cocktail awaits retirement
RETIREMENT: Rather than being a fun and frivolous time, can actually be just as stressful as working.
WE are all living longer, but the quality of that life is not as good, as unhealthy lifestyles now mean today’s youth can expect to spend their retirement in poor health. Obesity, lack of exercise and smoking are cited as the main problems leading to what experts are calling a ‘toxic cocktail’ of back pain, diabetes and dementia. With women expected to live to an average age of 83 and men until 79, people can expect to spend those last two decades suffering from poor health. Public Health England
said a report found only 57 per cent of English adults carry out the recommended 150 minutes of weekly exercise and 29 per cent do less than half an hour. Two in every three adults
are now also overweight or obese. A report has also shown that retirement, rather than being a fun and frivolous time, can actually be just as stressful as working.
Weekender 23 BACK PAIN: Try and correct your posture.
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Weekender
Puzzles
5th - 11th October 2018
Wordsearch Algebra Word Search
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.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
TARGET:
CUBIC
TRINOMIAL
CONSTANT
VARIABLE
ZERO
LINEAR
QUADRATIC
DEGREE
ALGEBRA
ROOT
MONOMIAL
EQUATION
Quick
Across 1 Disordered (7) 5 Velocity (5) 8 School year divisions (5) 9 Open and genuine (7) 10 Lacking interest or excitement (4) 11 Free-standing post with hooks for hanging headgear on (8) 13 Portable computer (6) 15 Sex (6) 18 Knitted woollen jacket with buttons up the front (8) 19 Small pieces (4) 22 One more, in addition to a former (7) 23 At or in the front (5) 24 With the subtraction of (5) 25 Excess (7)
Down 1 Fortress in or near a city (7) 2 Fourth month (5) 3 Any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted (4) 4 Relaxed and unconcerned (6) 5 Suggestive of threatened evil (8) 6 Green gemstone (7) 7 Abject fear (5) 12 Makes a surface shiny (8) 14 Make off with belongings of others (7) 16 Lives (7) 17 Large marine mammal with tusks (6) 18 Maintain (5) 20 Perfect (5) 21 Just (4)
• Average: 16
• Very good: 33
• Good: 23
• Excellent: 42
SCORING: • 4 letters: 1 point • 5 letters: 2 points • 6 letters: 3 points • 7 letters: 4 points • 8 or more letters: 11 points
dirk uric urns bovid boric born borne bonk bone bones bosh ivory iron irons ikon ikons rich rose roses ones horn horns hornless honk hone hones hose hoses chid chivy chirk krone knob work nosh nose noses ness sones shorn shone snob chic lens less enrich sensor sensory nelson
Cryptic
Across 1 Fellow approaching US place is a worry-guts (7) 5 Where boats may be seen made of tin and aluminium (5) 8 Wild Australian animal makes rumpus disappear (5) 9 Silver discovered in stylish old US city (7) 10 Pass four middlemen looking really laid-back (7) 11 Found Hydra making an emotional performance (5) 12 She’s as strange as parts of a window (6) 14 In Fermanagh a staff nurse is appalled (6) 17 Congratulate prior to key new start (5) 19 Custodian organises car tour (7) 21 Two requirements for tennis or another sport (7) 22 Flashlight reveals newt or chameleon (5) 24 Look at manuscript, it appears (5)
25 Remainder of new rise now owing (7) Down 1 Passing fancy that is in today and cast off a day later (3) 2 Dan is split between the ship and the beach (5) 3 Write about a side view (7) 4 Watch your heart (6) 5 Shed a few tears while cider brewed (5) 6 Hard core again rises and falls (7) 7 Keep an eye on a new teak floor (4,5) 10 Stops open for a change, then schedules for a later date (9) 13 Milo O’Shea, the Irish actor, reveals cover (7) 15 Butcher gets Ray wheels (7) 16 Don’t start joking, it’s purely visual (6) 18 Approaches broken snare (5) 20 Bored Tim almost a communist (5) 23 Colour seen in Mogadishu evening sky (3)
Puzzles
5th - 11th October 2018
IRREGULAR SUDOKU
Kakuro
SOLTIMES STAR QUIZ : WATCHING THE DETECTIVES 7. What was unusual about the television private detective Marty Hopkirk, played by Kenneth Cope in the original series and Vic Reeves in the re-make? 8. Which British pop group took their name from the two bumbling detectives in Hergé's comic strip The Adventures of Tintin? 9. Which English actor played the Dutch detective Commissaris Simon (Piet) Van der Valk from in the TV series Van der Valk? 10. Which medieval medical examiner, detective, doctor and diplomat was created by linguist-scholar Edith Pargeter under the nom de plume Ellis Peters? Not a lot of people know that… US police detectives have worn suits for more than 100 years. Dressing formally is ‘psychological armour’; it ‘establishes a barrier between them and the messiness’ of police work according to psychologists.
Answers
1. Agents from which famous detective agency established in 1850 were hired to track western outlaws Jesse James, the Reno Gang, and the Wild Bunch, including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid? 2. Before being paralysed from the waist down after being shot in the line of duty, police consultant Robert T Ironside (Raymond Burr) had been the Chief of Detectives of the police department of which US city? 3. Sabrina Duncan, Jill Munroe and Kelly Garrett all worked for the Townsend Agency as private detectives in which US crime drama television series? 4. The television detective series Inspector Montalbano is principally set on which Mediterranean island? 5. What is the nationality of the Agatha Christie's famous detective Hercule Poirot? 6. What is the title of the American crime drama television series starring Angela Lansbury as mystery writer and amateur detective Jessica Fletcher, which first aired in 1984?
1. PINKERTON NATIONAL DETECTIVE AGENCY, 2. SAN FRANCISCO, 3. CHARLIE'S ANGELS, 4. SICILY, 5. BELGIAN, 6. MURDER SHE WROTE, 7. HE WAS A GHOST, 8. THOMPSON TWINS (Thomson and Thompson), 9. BARRY FOSTER, 10. BROTHER CADFAEL
SUDOKU
Weekender 25
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.
LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
CrosswordSolutions from last week Quick
Cryptic
Sudoku
Irregular Sudoku
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Weekender
Feature
5th - 11th October 2018
It’s a dog’s life by Sandy Shore
F
OR certain, pet dogs that multiply in our urbanisations are a special species. Scorned is the Hindu veneration of animals, especially the cow, but can Hindus compete with canine worship here in Spain? I have only the one Hindu friend; we have been buddies on and off for 55 years. But, I don’t recall there being framed photographs of pet cows on the walls of his lovely home. A sneer is reserved for the ancient Egyptian veneration of cats. But, surely felines are superior to our grubby bags of fur filled to the brim with germs. Don’t jab your paw at me; I quote a television personality of years gone by. Do you recall that heart-stopping moment in Wuthering Heights when Heathcliff and Catherine lope towards each
other. Their hearts bursting, the love-struck pair flung themselves into each other’s arms as they finally rendezvous on the moors. Arriving home after a few days I sat in the car as my friend’s canine friend bounded down the driveway to greet him. I watched aghast as the pair French kissed and smothered each other with kisses and licks. Throughout, my friend was screaming, ‘I love you, I missed you so terribly.’ Biting my tongue I decided that discretion was the better part of the valour needed to question man’s love for his dog. My colleague did tell me that if he was to see his collie on the rail tracks as a train approached he would have no hesitation in giving his life to save that of his dog. I doubt he is alone in holding such sentiment. One often comes across dog owners who worship their dogs to a point where their canines can do no wrong. The mutt can
howl, yap, bring misery to neighbours, and foul their home with hair, fur and much that is unmentionable in a family newspaper. The mild scolding that follows will be accompanied by cuddles, kisses and endearments usually reserved for one’s newly wedded wife. However, if a human neighbour should behave a fraction as badly as their pet they would be mercilessly harangued. No, I am far from being a doghater. I grew up in rural Wales where working dogs were part of the family too. But, these superb intelligent animals were disciplined, they worked, and lacking neurosis they were quiet, obedient and well-behaved. The insides of family farm barns were ablaze with rosettes won at the sheepdog trials. I wonder what these lovely animals would make of constantly yapping lapdogs that have never been taught ‘to heel’ or ‘stay’ or be disciplined.
MAN’S BEST FRIEND: These grubby bags of fur can often do no wrong.
Behind THE MUSIC
Chas Hodges -
Thanks for the Music V L James | vljcomms@gmail.com | Facebook: @vljamesinfo wanted to play LAST week we the piano like lost one of our most charishis idol and set about teaching matic and himself. unique musiHe joined cians. Chas Heads, Hands Hodges died of pneumonia at and Feet (still playing bass) the age of 74 and supported after seeminghis old Joe ly winning his Meek stable fight with canTHANKS CHAZ: Hodges passed away last mate Ritchie cer. month. Blackmore’s Born and raised in North London Chas started new band Deep Purple. Critical but not out playing the bass. At a young age he commercial success followed. It wasn’t became a trusted session musician for until the late 70’s, after teaming up with the experimental and innovative (and Dave Peacock and forming Chas & Dave that he became a regular in the totally bonkers!) producer Joe Meek. He would play bass for some of his charts and on our TVs and radios. A string of popular hits followed. Fast heroes like Bill Hailey, Gene Vincent and Jerry Lee Lewis. Playing with Jerry paced tongue tying harmonies gave Lewis would change his life. While them a unique sound and and live watching ‘The Killer’ Chas decided he shows were just a big party!
PETS
5th -11th October 2018
Weekender 27
Sponsored by
Shaggy dog story - can you help find the hero WHEN you are away for long holidays your pets can do better at home. New members sometimes join HousesitMatch when they are planning an extended holiday to a destination they have long planned to visit. To make the most of their holiday they book a long trip. The question that arises most often is what should they do with their pets? Our feedback from active members is that the pets are often more comfortable and relaxed if they can stay in their own environment with sitters as company, where the environment and routines are familiar. It helps them feel safer. The water spaniel shown in the picture is still a puppy, so the owners are looking for dog lovers to stay with him while they take their trip of a lifetime to the Far East. Do you know anyone who could help this puppy? How we work HousesitMatch is a housesitting network where new members register online. We ID check everyone to ensure we know who you are, and in addition sitters are police checked. We charge for membership to ensure that there is a commitment from both parties and that we can afford to manage our network online professionally. Our latest review on Trustpilot HousesitMatch has helped us greatly by enabling us to explore house-sitting. They look at ways to fine tune their website to the benefit of others, making it easier to use.
Living in ‘purrfect’ luxury
COMFORTABLE: Spanish pet owners can treat them to a little luxury.
LOVABLE: Could you dog-sit this water spaniel or know someone who can? Lamia the owner is always available to help and will do so as quickly as possible. The yearly membership is value for money and I would recommend this company to anyone. - Review by Jean James, Dog owner, Alicante How you benefit as a home and pet owner Our membership offers access to a secure network helping you find suitable sitters. We hide your contact details and address. You post an advert ahead of your travel dates, we pub-
lish the advert then house-sitters apply. You can view their profiles and chat with them before you accept an applicant. If you join as a Premium member we can also help you at each stage of the process to get you started and manage your account. How you do join? Please register online via our website www.Housesitmatch. com • Choose a membership plan • Standard (DIY option) = £49 pa • Premium (with support at each step) = £79 pa
Do you need a house or pet-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 pet-sitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com To find a house or pet-sitter go to www.HouseSitMatch.com call Lamia on 00 44 (0) 777 214 2742 or email admin@housesitmatch.com
LOOKING for some special ‘furr-niture’ for your pet? Then Ikea is the place for you. They are about to launch their own range of pet furniture in their stores across Spain, and have been created by an animal-loving interior designer located in Valencia. Inma Bermúdez, who says she has lots of pets at home, is the brains behind the Spanish lines of the Lurvig collection which means ‘furry’ or ‘fluffy’ in Swedish - and which will go on sale in stores across the country from today. For both dogs and cats, sofa covers, sofa-style beds, squeezy balls and curry-comb type brushes for long-haired or moulting pets are included. It’s estimated that around 40 per cent of homes in Spain have at least one pet, mostly dogs and cats, although others such as iguanas, rabbits, guinea pigs and ferrets are just as popular.
Veterinary Clinic
Avenida de Almeria 1 Bis Local 2 Edf La Para,04639 Turre Almeria
CliniVet
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Weekender
Leisure
5th - 11th October 2018
Strike will return to BBC One with TV version of JK Rowling’s new novel Lethal White Richard Shanley
Dishing the Dirt OF EUROPA DIGITAL
CORMORAN STRIKE and Robin Ellacott are officially back at work for an all-new BBC One telly series based on the latest novel from Robert Galbraith (aka the pen name of JK Rowling). The Beeb has been developing a small-screen version of Rowling’s most-recent detective novel Lethal White for most of the year, but now it’s official that a four-part series is coming to BBC One very soon. As mentioned, Tom Burke and Holliday Grainger have already signed up to reprise their roles as crack London investigators Cormoran Strike and Robin Ellacott for their most challenging case y e t . H e r e ’s h o w B B C O n e describes the new series: “ W h e n B i l l y, a t r o u b l e d young man, comes to private eye Cormoran Strike’s office to ask for his help investigating a crime he thinks he witnessed as a child, Strike is left deeply unsettled. While
COMEBACK: Grainger (left) and Burke (right) are set to reprise their roles for the adaptation of Galbraith’s (Rowling’s) Lethal White (pictured) Billy is obviously mentally distressed and cannot remember many concrete details, there is something sincere about him and his story.
“Strike and Robin set off on a twisting trail that leads them through the backstreets of London, into a secretive inner sanctum within
Parliament and to a beautiful but sinister manor house deep in the countryside.”
If you would like me to answer any questions you may have on satellite TV or to expand on anything I have written about please call me on 678 332 815 or email richard@europa-digital.com. I look forward to your comments and questions. Don’t forget to listen to my radio show every weekday from 10am on Spectrum 96.1 and 106.8FM, now covering almost 3,000sq kms of Costa Almeria and Calida or listen online at costaalmeria.spectrumfm.net for the latest news and views from the world of satellite television.
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Weekender
Feature
5th - 11th October 2018
Story of a young musician by John Redfern WHEN I was 13 years of age, a Glasgow musician started to arrive in sound on a simple transistor radio I owned. His name was Lonnie Donegan and he had finally broken the back of music in Britain that was accepted as the norm. The music was called skiffle. Skiffle was adapted from country blues groups in the pre-war American south with improvised instruments. I was just 13 but knew I had to get into this music so made myself a tea chest bass. Tea chests in the 50’s and 60’s were the most common way of transporting materials by sea or land and were lined inside with silver foil which was ripped out and given to various charities. I got hold of a tea chest, painted it red, bought myself a sink plunger and replaced the small handle with a broom stale. Then I drilled a small hole at the top of the broom stale and inserted a length of heavy cord, tied a knot then drilled
Photo Credit: Barry Lewis flickr
MUSIC TO THE EARS: All you need to start your own skiffle group.
in the corner of the tea chest another hole, inserted the other end of the cord and secured it. Got myself a tea chest bass... Yippee. My mate at the time owned a washboard, which his Mum used for washing clothes in the dolly tub. The washboard which was another tool that was used for washing at the end of the 20th century was made of galvanised steel in a wooden frame, but in the early 21st century manufacturers made them of ribbed glass with a rust resistant frame in brass. Anther instrument was born to skiffle. Players of the washboard, with the aid of a thimble, used to skiffle up and down the board to make a percussion sound. With the help of an acoustic guitar player who could play three chords we performed at church halls and community centres. I was just a young lad who wanted to pursue my future in music, the tea chest bass never matched the root note of the chords of the guitarist, but for some reason the audience loved it! I then formed my own folk group but that’s another story.
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CARS WANTED CARS WANTED for Cash. Classic Cars & Land Rovers, Range Rovers, Defenders & Discoveries. Please call: 659 685 133 (253556)
CHARITIES/CHURCHES GIRASOL COMMUNITY CENTRE. Mosaic Classes, Art Classes, Karate, Yoga, Thai Chi, Pilates, Health Screening every 6 weeks. For Hire 5.00€ per hour. Tel 639 089 170
COSTA Almeria and Costa Calida. Mojacar Eucharist Sunday 11am, at San Pascual. Aljambra Chapel, Albox, Eucharist,
second and last Thursday of each month, 11am. Evensong, second Sunday of each month 6pm. Llanos Del Peral, Cucador, Eucharist or morning worship, Sunday 11am. Church Wardens: Pam Carter 667 947 573. Janet Smith 671 451 838. For more information go to their website at www.mojacarchurc h.org
The Spiritualist Centre, Benijofar meets at Hamilton´s Bake House, 62 Calle Vicente, Blasco Ibañez, Benijofar 03178. We hold a Sunday Service at 11.30 a.m., a Tuesday Evening of Mediumship at 7 p.m. Spiritual healing is available every Sunday and Tuesday after the service. Open Circle is every Thursday at 6.30 pm. The Divine Service, with Mediumship on Sunday 14th October with Jackie Kershaw (UK Medium). This is our Harvest Festival when we collect food for rescued animals. If you would like to
ANGLICAN CHURCH SERVICES FOR COSTA ALMERIA & COSTA CALIDA Oct 7 Oct 7 Oct 11 Oct 14 Oct 14 Oct 14 Oct 21 Oct 21 Oct 25
Mojacar Llanos Del Peral Aljambra, Albox Mojacar Llanos Del Peral Aljambra Mojacar Llanos Del Peral Aljambra, Albox
Oct 28 Mojacar Oct 28 Llanos Del Peral
donate dog or cat food or a donation that would be very welcome. The Evening of Mediumship on Tuesday 16th October, will also be taken by Jackie Kershaw. The Divine Service with Mediumship on Sunday, 21st October will also be taken by Jackie Kershaw (UK Medium). welcome. Contact Wendy on 965323028. www.spiritualistcentre -benijofar.com New email is phoenixchurch23@gm ail.com or info@spiritualistcentre -benijofar.com Identificacion Fiscal G54713789..
ZURGENA branch of the Royal British Legion hold Branch Meetings on the 1st Thursday of the month. Coffee morning 3rd Wednesday of the month. Quiz night with a hot and cold buffet last Friday of the month. We also arrange outings to places of interest and have regular lunches together. (253989)
DRAINAGE
11am 11am 11am 11am 11am 6pm 11am 11am 11am
Eucharist Dedication Festival Eucharist Dedication Festival Eucharist Evensong Eucharist Eucharist Dedication Festival followed by Monthly lunch NO SERVICE 11am Licensing Service
BUILDERS ELECTRICS ABBOTT ELECTRICS. From a Light Fitting to a Full Rewire. Tel: 950 137 208 / 638 010 691 (278878)
HEALTH & BEAUTY GIRASOL HEALTH FOOD SHOP, Calle Malaga, Albox. For all your dietary needs, health foods, organic foods, supplements, super food powders, organic eggs and veggie box scheme. Est 2006. Tel 639 089 170
HOME FURNISHING
INSURANCE ALBOX/MOJACAR INSURANCE, Award winning Agent for ALL your insurance needs. ALBOX OFFICE: 950 121 943. Mojacar office: 634 323 399
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)
Classifieds INTERNET
5th - 11th October 2018
REMOVALS/STORAGE
SECOND HAND
GET YOUR business noticed online! Make sure that expats in Spain can find your product, service, restaurant, bar or shop. Contact Spain’s newest and brightest online directory TODAY. Call 951 386 161 or email mark.w@euroweeklyn ews.com for more details.
SOLAR ENERGY /POWER
CHARITY
SOLAR WIND POWER SOLUTIONS. Over 20 years installation experience. Established 17 years in Spain. Call Phil for competitive prices on 636 261 240 or email info@sunergyalmeria. com (276001)
SITUATIONS VACANT MOTORING
SWIMMING POOLS GENECO Pool construction. Tel 950 478 086 for no obligation quote (93401)
TILING
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)
PERSONAL
FULLY Insured UK/Spain Removals & Storage, UK Trading Standards Approved www.indalotransport.c om 634 33 64 68 or Freephone UK 0800 999 33 68 (276002)
FLOOR AND WALL TILING SPECIALIST Not a jack of all trades, just a master of one! Call Steve Holman on 697 678 708 (278887)
ARE YOU selfmotivated and hard working? We are looking for administration/telesales candidates. Experience not essential as full training is given. Applications by email with full CV should be sent to recruitment@euroweekl ynews.com.
SPANISH LESSONS
TRANSPORT FULLY Insured UK/Spain Removals & Storage, UK Trading Standards Approved www.indalotransport. com 634 336 468 or Freephone UK 0800 999 33 68 (279773)
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SERVICES
BUILDERS • CARS WANTED • HEALTH & BEAUTY • DRAINAGE • HOME MAINTENANCE • INSURANCE • SITUATIONS VACANT
If you are reading this it is because we get your attention, try it with your business
TELEPHONE ALBOX OFFICE 950 633 217 or MOBILE 642 454 311 or sales@soltimes.com BABY EQUIPMENT HIRE
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5th - 11th October 2018
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36
Sport
5th - 11th October 2018
CAA Bowling - match report THE following is a match report from the Cabrera Lawn Bowling Club: The CAA Mixed triples were held at Cabrera Lawn Bowling Club at the beginning of September. CAA competitions are for all the clubs in the area and disciplines are held at different venues ensuring that all clubs get an event. There were some excellent rounds with the semi-finals being contested by Cabrera teams. The final was between Karen and Nigel Rushton with Paul Cartwright against Dave Smith with Eddie and Linda Radford. Eddie and Linda have only been bowling for 12 months so this was a great achievement. What a fabulous final with everyone playing to the best of their ability. O n t h e l a s t e n d D a v e ’s team needed three to win the final and were holding three but with the very last bowl of the final Karen came and picked COMING CLOSE: The runners-up. up shot wood to win the final 17-14.
Mojacar teen in world surfing comp A TEENAGE kite surfer from Mojacar has taken part in the adult category of the sport’s World Championship, coming fifth. Osaia Reding, who lives in the town and comes from France, finished fifth in the World Kite Surfing Championship. She is 14 years old. Reding was the youngest athlete to enter the competition, organised by the Global Kite Air Games Association. She travelled to the Dominican Republic, Germany, Spain and her home country to compete. Reding said she wanted to spend the rest of this year training and gaining more
Petanque tournament THE National Petaque Championship is set to be held in Cuevas del Almanzora, with the contest due to kick off today. Events are set to begin with a presentation at the Casa Torcuato Soler Bolea from 12pm. Antonio Fernandez Liria, the town’s mayor, as well as council sports spokesperson Miriam Quintana and Almeria Province’s petanque representative are all set to be on hand for its launch.The tournament is the 10th National Tournament for the sport.
experience ahead of more competitions in the future. “I also want to have fun and just do my best against all these awesome adult riders,” she said’ One of Reding’s sponsors is Mojacar Council. The 14-year-old’s board, which she takes across the world as she competes, bears the town’s shield. Mojacar Council said in a statement: ‘There could be no better representative for the town’s younger generation.’ Reding’s parents run a surfing school in the town near to the Hotel Indalo and the beach. Reding generally spends her summers in Mojacar where she practises for her competitions. Reding became the world champion of kite surfing in a junior category in 2016. She also came runner-up in the European Championship. Reding also became France’s junior champion recently and is set to travel to Brazil and Morocco to compete in two freestyle events at the World Kiteboarding Championship. She is set to travel to competitions across the world for the 2019 season. Kite surfing involves riding a surfboard while holding onto a parachute that allows them to perform jumps and manoeuvres while in mid air.
CHAMPIONS: The winning team.
Aguilon Golf - members’ report THE following is a members’ report from Aguilon Golf: Early September saw the Aguilon course host this year ’s ‘Plas-Tech Challenge’ in which players from most of the areas societies took part on a lovely day. Our members performed well, taking 1st place with Bob Tagg and 3rd place through Chris Tyler. Wednesday September 19 - Individual Stableford. It seems that to win a competition lately you need 40 pts or more to take first prize and so it proved again today in conditions that were conducive to good scoring. 1st Dave Wilson 41pts 2nd Sue ParminterPhillips 38 pts 3rd Jim Laing 37pts Two’s: Roy Bishop 3rd, Geoff Ashton, Roy Lewis 12th, Chris Baker 14th, Bernie O’Brien, Sue Parminter-Phillips 17th. Wednesday September 26 - Campbell Lamont Qualifier. For the first time in some months the players were
STAB WINNER: Dave Wilson
QUALIFIER WINNER: Bob Tagg
presented with a challenge in a shape of a strong wind on a warm day, however the members were up for it, with the first seven all beating par. 1st-Bernie O’Brien 40 pts
2nd-Peter Death 39 pts 3rd-Paul Mailly 38 pts Two’s: Peter Death, Dave Sharp 3rd, Bernie O’Brien 8th, Bob Tagg 12th, Phil Miles 14th For further information aguilonmembersclub.com.
38
Motoring
5th - 11th October 2018
Still Smart after 20 years SMART celebrates its 20th anniversary at the Paris Motor Show with a show car that interprets and embodies urban driving fun in a refreshing way. The Smart forease is extroverted and offers an uncomplicated solution for urban mobility. Seated under the open sky, the driver is at the centre of the hustle and bustle of the c i t y, i n w h i c h , t h a n k s t o t h e electric drive, they can freely participate. The openness and minimalistic style are a tribute to the pioneering smart concept vehicles ‘crossblade’(2001) and ‘forspeed’ (2011). Everyone knows that Smart is practical. Reduced to the essential, it is uncompromisingly open, pays no heed to convention and is, of course, powered by an electric powertrain. It takes up the original motto of Smart, reduce to the max, with a twinkle in its eye, standing for the authentic urban mobility that continues to be the underlying concept behind the brand. Both the Smart brand and the Smart forease stand for
DRIVING EXPERIENCE: Open to the hustle and bustle of the city.
emotionality, lifestyle and attitude. The vehicle owes its unconventional beauty to the opening of the interior to its environment, the absence of a roof and the shorter windscreen. With its radiant, dramatic metallic-white and colour accents in ‘stream
green’, the smart forease promises a carefree driving experience, freed from convention, yet in harmony with its surroundings. “The Smart forease embodies a refreshingly simple form of driving fun in the city, standing for urban electric mobility
By Tim Saunders THINK of a standard Jaguar XF saloon, raise it to the height of a Land Rover add a slightly revised backend and All Wheel Drive. The Jaguar F-Pace is a crossover in more than one sense of the word. Head on it is striking thanks mainly to its massive grille. It is a good looking wellrounded, futuristic vehicle and there are some neat touches, shared with other Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) siblings including the rising dial of the eight-speed automatic gearbox and the electrically operated tow bar. Inside it is fitted with cream leather and brown wood effect making for pleasant surroundings. An electric cover reveals the
without compromise - because, if in doubt, smart always opts for a consistent approach. The result is a sustainable driving experience built on freedom,” says Katrin Adt, new Head of smart from this month. “The Smart forease is proof that Smart thinks unconven-
tionally. Its design is reduced and pure," says Gorden Wag e n e r, C h i e f D e s i g n O ff i c e r, Daimler AG. “The Smart forease is a statement of urbanity and individual style. It has the coolness of the metropolis and demonstrates a truly free spirit.”
Jaguar F-Pace
panoramic tilting glass roof, which lets huge amounts of light into the cabin; a real difference on a dull day. The model tested is the two-litre diesel which is delivering around 38mpg. It costs a shade under €57,000. There is plenty of space throughout including a very well sized boot making it a practical proposition for executives and their families. The layout of the electronic speedometer and rev counter is confusing with the rev counter generally taking centre stage - it seems to change places with the speedo - not sure if my children are to blame for this - I feel as if I’m
losing my marbles. A qualm I have, in common with the Nissan Qashqai, is the heated front windscreen which includes thin black electrical wires throughout, more visible on a
dull day, I find. It seems that this is the only way to manufacture a heated screen and it does clear mist very quickly. However, my preference is a simple unheated windscreen because for me
CROSSOVER: The F-Pace is a mixture of saloon and 4X4.
Motoring
39
5th -12th October 2018
Three-way alliance looks to the future AS part of its plan to electrify its portfolio from 2021 onward, Infiniti will reveal a new Project Black S prototype in Paris, showcasing how Formula One dual-hybrid electric powertrain technology can be deployed in a road car. Following the 2017 Infiniti Project Black S design study, the new hybrid electric prototype illustrates the brand’s commitment to developing exciting high-performance electrified powertrains, drawing on expertise from across the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance. The Project Black S prototype fuses high-performance dual-hybrid technology with Infiniti’s award-win-
ning VR30 3.0litre V6 twin-turbo engine. Its unique energy recovery system (ERS) contributes to greater power and torque than the engine upon which it is based. The dual-hybrid powertrain prototype generates 420 kw - equivalent to 563 hp or 571 ps, whereas the conventional VR30 engine produces 298 kw (400 hp / 405 ps). The power to weight ratio is estimated to be 235w/kg, achieving 0-100 km acceleration under four seconds. The Black S designation represents the highest level of performance, dynamic capability, effective
test drive these wires are distracting and uncomfortable to look through over a long period. In common with other automatics there is a slight delay between kicking down on the accelerator and the vehi-
cle actually moving, even with sports mode. Then on the last day of my test Heidi (five) is fiddling about with the various switches and buttons to reveal that there is one that actually improves
the torque on pulling away and it is very effective. Highways England parks a van on a bend as operatives unload it, causing long tailbacks. When it is finally clear sports mode is selected and the accelerator pushed right down. Nought to 60 in just over eight seconds, just enough to get round the bend in safety.
aerodynamics and intelligent energy management offered by Infiniti. The prototype is based on the Q60 RED S P O RT 4 0 0 s p o r t s c o u p e a n d h a s been developed together with the Renault Sport Formula One Team. R o l a n d K r u e g e r, C h a i r m a n a n d Global President at Infiniti, comments: “Infiniti has reached another milestone on its road to electrificaBearing in mind it is only a two-litre diesel, this is pretty impressive. But sports mode makes less difference than anticipated. For street cred there are few vehicles that have as much cache as this big cat. It is nice to see that Porsche Cayenne drivers can’t resist double taking as they savour its more attractive looks.
DEBUT: Prototype shows Formula One technology in a road car.
tion. Building on the strength and success of the electric vehicle expertise of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance, Infiniti is showing the Project Black S, a high-performance prototype with F1 technology resulting from collaboration within the Alliance.”
Facts at a glance F-PACE Portfolio 2.0D AWD Price: £47,115 On The Road Top speed: 129mph 0-60mph: 8.2secs Power: 180bhp Economy: 38mpg
Watch the videos at www.testdrives.biz