ISSUE 660 • 9th - 15TH November 2018
EST 2005
Tour operators keen TOUR operators at this week’s World Travel Market in London are keen to promote Almeria as a holiday destination, according to the provincial government. An administration delegation was at the threeday event, considered one of the most important international tourism fairs, as part of the government Tourist Action Plan. As well as showcasing the province’s beaches, natural parks, cuisine and important role in the movie industry at the Costa Almeria stand in the extensive Andalucia exhibition area, the delegation met with tour operators, online travel agents and airlines, including TUI Netherlands,
CREDIT: Almeria provincial government website
AIMS: The provincial government wants to increase the number of tourists visiting Almeria.
TUI UK, Thomas Cook, Jet2.com and British Airways.
The delegation had already had dealings with a number of the compa-
nies, and said bringing in more tourists to Almeria, with an increase in the holiday offer in the province and by upping the number of connecting flights with European airports, were among the main topics discussed. Government Vice-President Javier A Garcia underlined the importance of the provincial tourism sector in terms of generating wealth and employment, saying his administration would continue working towards “closing new agreements with tour operators inside and outside the European Union and to take our destination increasingly further.” The UK is currently the main overseas market for the Almeria tourism industry.
Young voices against gender-based violence CHILDREN from six towns and cities will come together in Almeria later this month to draw up a manifesto against violence against women. Almeria City Council has organised the first Junior National Congress Against Gender-Based Violence as one of the initiatives in the lead-up to the International Day for the Eradication of Violence Against Women. Around 50 school pupils from Vicar, Vera, Malaga, Murcia and Alcazar de San Juan in Ciudad Real will gather in the provincial capital on November 21 and 23. The mayor
of Almeria will read out the manifesto drawn up by the participating boys and girls, which will then be made available to all interested towns and cities. The aim of the congress is for the children to immerse themselves in the subject over the three days, looking at it from the perspective of education, family, media, social media and public administrations. The children will also create magnetic bracelets with clear messages against gender-based violence, which on Friday, November 23 will be given out in the Rambla and the Paseo de Almeria in the city centre.
A parallel initiative is the seventh Adolescent Views Municipal Competition of audiovisual works created by schoolchildren in the provincial capital. Around 600 pupils from 12 different schools have so far produced some 50 videos aimed at raising awareness among young people about doing away with inequality and violence against women. The competition is also organised by Almeria Council, with the support of the Almeria International Film Festival. The best videos will be screened at the Cervantes Theatre on November 22.
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NEWS BITES
Get out and about
Storm repairs THE Andalucia regional government will give financial assistance to nine Almeria municipalities for repairs to rural roads damaged by storms and flooding: Chirivel, Cuevas del Almanzora, Líjar, María, Oria, Pechina, Vélez Blanco, Vélez Rubio and Vera.
Bakery hit A 57-YEAR-OLD woman suffered minor injuries to her face requiring hospital treatment when robbers wearing Halloween masks to hide their faces targeted the bakery she works in in Almeria City, then made off on foot.
Vintage run SOME 50 vintage vehicles are taking part in the 29th edition of the Almeria Veteran Car Run this weekend, with an exhibition in Almeria City, and visits to Nijar, Cantoria, Fines, Olula del Rio and Macael.
CREDIT: Huercal-Overa council Facebook page
PRETTY: The mayor said the olive trees not only made the area more attractive, they would also provide shade.
Even greener HUERCAL-OVERA Council has made its Green Way walking route even greener, planting 35 olive trees. Huercal-Overa mayor Domingo Fernandez and Infrastructure and Services Maintenance and Conservation Councillor Blas Sanchez
were there to oversee work start on planting the trees in the area near to the Municipal Animal Refuge Centre and the Urcal access roundabout. The mayor commented that the olive trees not only made this area of the walking
route look prettier, they would also provide shade for walkers in the hotter months. Fernandez said the local authority aimed to “improve the environment of our municipality at the same time as we create, regenerate and improve green areas.”
GOING shopping, enjoying tapas in a bar, taking a stroll round the city: all the focus of a new Almeria City Council campaign to boost local trade. The promotions will include billboards, radio advertising, shopping bags and use of social media, revealed City Promotion Councillor Carlina Lafita. “Walking through the centre or your neighbourhood, looking in shop windows, going into shops, asking the advice of the business professional when it comes to buying, ending having a coffee or a tapas with family or friends, is a custom ingrained in Almerians which we want to highlight the importance of,” the councillor explained. She also said the campaign would include the use of professional photographs “in which we will show the way of life, trades and actions of Almerians which make life happier.” She added, “In a city with such an exceptional climate, the open commercial centre of Almeria and trade in the neighbourhoods play a leading role. They offer the attraction of going shopping with the city’s sunshine for company, a very attractive cultural offer, and specialised, experienced traders.” Also present was Almeria Centro Manager Carmen Sánchez, who stressed, “the city is very lively and many businesses open on Saturday afternoon, so we encourage people to enjoy the atmosphere and go shopping in the city centre.” The initiative will be actioned throughout November and December.
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Playtime ADRA Town Hall is creating a new children’s play area for the Bolaños area of the town right in front of the seafront promenade. The playground will have slides and swings, as well as two spring rockers fixed to the ground, one of which will be adapted for children with impaired mobility. There will also be cork flooring and a perimeter
fence in accordance with safety regulations. At the same time the local council is working on clearing and tidying up the nearby dry river bed, and will in the near future replace the wooden fencing running along the watercourse pathway. Adra Council has created three new play areas in the municipality in the last two years.
Baby slips parents’ minds DISTRACTED parents left their one-year-old daughter in a shopping centre car park in Roquetas de Mar by mistake. Guardia Civil went to the assis-
tance of the little girl following a call from a concerned member of the public. When the officers finally managed to track down the parents of the child they
told them they had parked their car and got her out and into her pram, then went off in different directions both thinking the other one was taking her.
Photo club annual show VERA Photo Club inaugurated its annual show last weekend at Mojacar’s municipal La Fuente Art Centre, supported by an impressive crowd of friends, artists, locals, visitors and club members. The yearly exhibition has become known for the consistent quality and originality of the works, as well as for the professional presentation. This year, 20 members are displaying 100 photographs covering various forms, including portraits, landscape, wildlife, mural art, nude and abstract. A prize was awarded to Scottish Howard Dickson who lives in Zurgena, for his ‘dark space,’ which was judged best photograph, while the prize for the best set of photographs went to Marie Savels, a Bedar resident originally from Belgium. Also at the exhibition, there is a chance to see a projection of more than 600 photographs showcasing the best results from the members’ monthly challenges on a variety of different topics, giving an insight into
EXHIBITION: Around 100 works by the photo club’s 20 members are on display. the progress they have made in the exciting world of imagery. Vera Photo Club is the largest and most important forum of its type in the province, pulling together more than photography-lovers - professionals, amateurs and beginners who live in the Levante and northern areas of Almeria. Members are of various different nationalities, including Spanish, Norwegian, Belgian and
Dutch, with a strong British representation. Rod Westwood, a professional photographer from the fashion world, is the group’s president and one of its founders, and always has his camera at the ready to capture his personal vision through his lens. The free exhibition is open to the public until November 30, from Tuesdays to Sundays, from 10am to 2pm.
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Visitors welcome
CLUBS and societies are welcome to visit the dig on the old Vera settlement of Bayra on Holy Spirit Hill. The local council has invited groups of anyone interested in finding out how the excavations are progressing and what has been unearthed to take part in guided tours given by the archaeologists studying the site. The ‘Open for Works’ tours give the public the opportunity to see firsthand the various basic processes of the works and how they are being carried out. The tours for groups of a maximum of 15 people can be pre-arranged by calling 950 393 142. They are being held from 10 to 11.30am and from 12-1.30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, apart from public holidays. This year Vera marks the 5th centenary of the earthquake which destroyed the settlement.
EXCAVATIONS: Tours can be given to the public.
Art and solidarity T
HE seafront promenade in Mojacar was once again transformed into an open-air art gallery last weekend as the Paseo del Arte initiative returned with a show of more than 150 works by numerous artists. The first Paseo del Arte event was staged back in the spring with the help of local artists, residents and regular visitors to Mojacar who, with the collaboration of the local council, decided to keep up the artistic tradition established by so many great artists who have over the years chosen the village as a reference point for their work. Not only does the event serve as a fantastic exhibition, allowing passers-by to admire and purchase the artists’ work, it also brings art and solidarity together, with 20 per cent of the proceeds going to good causes. This edition of Paseo del Arte included a tribute to Elaine Brown, the founder of the local MACS associa-
INVITATION: Passers-by helped create the ‘people’s painting.’ tion, which helps cancer sufferers and their families with all kinds of support. Elaine also suffered with this terrible disease and sadly passed away recently despite her long and brave fight, setting an example for everyone with her commitment and generosity. All the artists involved agreed that the money raised in this relaunch of the event will be used for a bench with a plaque of hon-
our in her name, which will be placed in the exhibition area of the promenade. Featuring again in this autumn edition of Paseo del Arte was the ‘people’s painting.’ Anyone who fancied a dab with a paintbrush was invited to add a touch of their handiwork to a painting set up by the organisers until it was completed. The final work will be auctioned on Facebook, with the proceeds going to charity.
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Bullfighting comeback divides opinions By Cathy Elelman
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XPATRIATES were among protestors voicing opposition to bullfighting’s reappearance in Albox for the first time in 15 years, under the slogan ‘This is torture! Not art or culture.’ Demonstrators blew whistles, waved placards, and shouted out messages like ‘this is a national disgrace’ and ‘this is not for children’ at the peaceful, but noisy protest organised by the Antitaurinos Almeria anti-bullfighting association last Saturday afternoon in front of the temporary bullring in La Molata. Antitaurinos Almeria President Luis Cantisani told the Sol Times the association had been prompted to organise a protest in Albox for the first time because of the significant number of people, many of them British, who had expressed strong opposition to the spectacle making a comeback there. Albox mayor Francisco Torrecillas stood by the council’s decision to include bullfighting on the All Saints Day fiesta programme. Openly admitting to the Sol Times he is himself a fan of bullfighting, he made it clear however it had not been a personal decision to bring it back to Albox, but a re-
TORTURE: Protestors chanted that the practice was barbaric and cruel. sponse to requests his administration had received from numerous local bullfighting enthusiasts. He stressed the council puts on different kinds of events to appeal to different people, pointing out bullfighting has ‘national fiesta’ status, and commenting, “while the Junta de Andalucia and the Spanish government don’t prohibit it, well then bullfighting’s legal and
it can be organised in municipalities.” But he added, “I profoundly respect people who are against bullfighting, including all the foreigners who live here with us. It’s their right to express their opinions.” There were certainly plenty of people filling the bullring on the day. Among those happy to see bullfighting back in Albox was
Bernadino, who was there with his wife and young children, commenting, “We’re country people and we like it. It’s a tradition here.” “They don’t understand the fiesta,” said local Manuel Gutierrez of the protestors. “They don’t know about the money it generates.” Working in the ticket office and doing a brisk trade was Joaquin Horta from Granada. Revealing
he is also a ‘mozo de espadas’ (sword page), he said he reckons people who oppose bullfighting don’t take into consideration the privileged life of the bulls before they appear in the ring or the ‘sacrifices’ of the bullfighters. On the other side of the argument was Audrey Bullen, describing it as “unspeakable” and “barbaric” that anyone “enjoys the deliberate torture and suffering of an animal to its inevitable death.” Audrey said she could not understand how in the same country where there are campaigns to improve animal and pet welfare “they can rejoice in killing an animal for money.” “This should be stopped,” said Albox-based animal charity APSA volunteer Vicky Evans, who feels so strongly about bullfighting it had motivated her to take part in this, her first ever protest action. Sandra Smith, was surprised by how many people had brought children along, hoping the protest would help change minds. “There is no tradition, culture or art in something which is the suffering of a living creature”, insisted Amparo Rodriguez, describing it as “perverse” to “rear a living creature to cruelly torture it in the end.” For Amparo the return of bullfighting to Albox was “an enormous step backwards in a civilised society.”
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Documenting town heritage
HERITAGE: Almeria College of Architects Dean Eulogio Diaz, and Vera mayor Felix Lopez shake hands on the agreement.
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GUIDE to the architecture of Vera will not only record the town’s contemporary buildings, but will also feature important historic structures. I n a n o ff i c i a l a c t t o mark the signing of an agreement on producing the guide between the Almeria College of Architects and Vera Council, college Dean Eulogio Diaz said it is “one of the most important actions in the commemoration of the 5th centenary of the earthquake which forced the reconstruction of Vera.”
The dean described the initiative as “a way of raising awareness about and valuing the heritage of a town, as well as helping the necessary conservation actions in order that the heritage survives for following generations.” Ve r a m a y o r F e l i x Lopez echoed the dean’s comments, saying it would mean that “young people from Vera have the historic memory of the town through the buildings which are going to feature in this book, a way of remembering how popular architecture has evolved in our municipality, and will know about the architec-
tural heritage.” The mayor also thanked the college for the agreement, saying this initiative opened the door for future collaborations. “From our point of view, the town of Vera, as well as having magnificent examples of historic and contemporary architecture, has exceptional urban qualities, and we want this guide to bring t o g e t h e r Ve r a ’s u r b a n heritage as a Renaissance town and as a model of a town which was exported and served as the model for the systematic construction of towns in the new world,” commented guide author, architect Luis Cano Rodriguez. Saying Vera had also carried out “noteworthy contemporary model urban planning actions,” a m o n g t h e m t h e Ve r a Playa plan started at the end of the 1980’s with the regional government, the architect continued, “In Ve r a t h e r e a r e h i s t o r i c buildings from the 16th and the 18th centuries, along with avant-garde 20th century architecture with very interesting buildings which will appear in the guide, which aims not only to be an architecture guide from the technical and intellectual point of view, but also a guide so that any visitor who is interested in finding out about the municipality has an easy access reference.”
NEWS
Efficient energy boost THE Almeria Provincial Government is to receive €16.5 million in European Union funding to boost energy efficiency in the province. The administration said the money from the EU European Regional Development Fund sustainable growth programme would help reduce energy consumption, pollution and expenditure on electricity in 32 municipalities. It also said the EU subsidies were the result of three months of work and coordination with the municipalities. The municipalities set to benefit from the funding are: Albanchez, Albox, Antas, Arboleas, Armuña, Bacares, Bayarque, Bédar, Cantoria, Chercos, Chirivel, Cobdar, Huércal-Overa, Líjar, Los Gallardos, Lubrín, Lúcar, Macael, María, Olula del río, Oria, Pulpí, Purchena, Sierro, Somontín, Sorbas, Suflí, Taberno, Urrácal, VélezBlanco, Vélez-Rubio and Zurgena.
9th - 15th November 2018
Shoestring is back
REHEARSALS: The cast of The Ghosts of Hotel La Resistance are preparing for the December performances.
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HOESTRING Productions is back, and with new comfy seating! Due to public demand and the huge success of Hotel La Resistance and The Return of Hotel La Resistance, local writer, producer and director James Dale-Grey delivers his final sequel The Ghosts of Hotel La Resistance. Don’t miss the fun, silliness and zany humour, plus a few new characters -
one with four legs! Performances are at the MontMartre Bar/Restaurant in Mojacar on December 6, 7, 8 and 9 at 7.30pm with a matinee on December 9 at 3.30pm. Tickets are €8 and can be purchased from PAWS-PATAS fundraising outlets in Mojacar and Las Buganvillas or Conn e x i o n s i n Tu r r e . P r o ceeds will go towards vital maintenance at the
PAWS-PATAS shelter. PAWS-PATAS relies completely on donations and also needs volunteer help in many areas of the charity, especially at the premises and at the shelter. They also need help with administration work which can be done from home. For further information visit the PAWS-PATAS website www.pawspatas.org or email: info@paws-patas.org.
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Sell-out fundraiser THE Cruises, Cava and Canapes fundraiser was a sell-out event, raising a wonderful €1,143.90 for Age Support Almanzora. The fashion show, entertainment and dancing proved to be a great evening. The cruise theme meant the audience was welcomed on board by Captain Robert Eskenazi and his good lady wife Cathy. The Smooth FM Entertainments Officer, Jack Savage, provided laughs all night long, supported by Able Seaman (salty old seadog) Bond. Organiser Ellen Green and Age Support Almanzora thank everyone for their support: everyone who went along, the volunteers, the models, the staff at the Unique Bar venue, and all who provided prizes and services for the raffle and auction. Entertainment was provided by singer Melanie Howard-Coles and Miss Dusty, who also modelled some gorgeous outfits. Ladies were able to buy the lovely day and cruise-inspired dresses and accessories having seen them on the models who strutted their stuff between the tables in the terrace area. Age Support Almanzora has a shop and welfare office in Albox, opposite the Peugeot garage. Pop in for a bargain or to offer help, or to find out about the assistance and advice the welfare team offers. The money raised goes to support this welfare work and to purchase much-needed equipment to make lives easier for those in need.
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OTH Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday fall on November 11 this year, a coincidental but moving piece of symmetry to mark 100 years since the end of the First World War. At the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the Allies and Germany signed an agreement to terminate hostilities, and Armistice Day has been celebrated ever since. Remembrance Sunday falls on the second Sunday of November each year, and is a day to honour all those killed in the two world wars, as well as those in the armed forces who have been killed or injured since 1945. With the Royal British Legion hosting, on November 10 the Queen will attend a Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. She will attend a special service at Westminster Abbey the next day, in the company of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and of course will take her place at the Cenotaph commemoration at 11am, along with various other royals, politicians, and also members of the
They shall not grow old
PAYING RESPECTS: This centenary year is particularly poignant. armed forces. In light of this particularly significant year, an extra 10,000 places for the annual march past the Cenotaph will be made available to those with an emotional connection to the Great
By John Redfern MY late Father was a sergeant in the Royal Marine Commando unit. This unit was formed by Winston Churchill and consisted of specially trained troops of the hunter class of men that were trained to butcher and bolt. My father kept a small, partially written diary which we only found June 6 1944 June 7 June 8 June 9 June 12 June 13 June 16 June 17 June 18 June 19 June 20 June 22 June 24 June 25 June 28 June 29 July 1 July 4 August 26 August 27 August 28 August 30 September 17 November 1 November 5
War (in addition to the usual number of 10,000 people). Inspired by the sight of poppies growing in battlescarred fields, in 1915 Canadian doctor Lieutenant Colonel John Mc-
Crae wrote the famous poem ‘In Flanders Fields.’ Before long, poppies made their way to the UK and became the symbol of the Royal British Legion when it was formed in 1921.
We will remember them after his death. The entries most of the time are just scribbled in pencil, which he wrote during odd moments between gunfire, bombs and
great trauma. He was just 17 when he enlisted - a common fib about his age recruiting sergeants were all too willing to believe.
This year ’s Poppy Appeal is unsurprisingly the biggest ever, and the Legion hopes to raise £50 million (€56 million) for service men and women, veterans and their families. Lest we forget.
By the time he stormed the beaches of Normandy he was 20 years of age and had fought in Sicily, Italy and Africa, and had accumulated 10 medals including a King’s Commendation for landing by parachute in occupied countries. Excerpts from my old man’s diary from the D-Day landings. He was in the first wave of troops to land on Sword Beach.
Hell is breaking loose. Landed on French coast, fighting very grim, too many casualties first day to carry on. Still trying to fight but need reinforcements badly. Took stronghold four miles inland with aid of tanks. Got a few more men but still below strength. Made breakthrough, more men lost, also officer. Jerry sniping O O sends me and another sniper to get them, easy shots. Same - kills mounting up but jerry keeps cautious. Could do with good night’s sleep and some grub. TROOPS: The Royal Marine Am in a lot of pain from shrapnel so went to quack. Commando unit. Doc asked me if I could carry on, fool me said yes instead of going to Blighty. Can’t leave trench for shells. Back in trench - made another attack on fort, third one but losing too many men through mines. More shelling and mortaring. Miracle happened. Took fort with one casualty - looted a shop and got drunk on cognac. Terrible night - dive bombed. Out sniping, day OK, but night was grim, more bombing. Men’s spirits very low, trenches flooded , just sitting in water, don’t think I can stand much more. Still standing, new and green officer gives us a pep talk. First rest since D-Day, everyone needed it badly. Promoted, got three stripes and I cease to be a sniper. First haircut since landing, worse than shearing sheep. Finished rest, in line again holding Dunkirk pocket. We don’t have enough men for the job. In Belgium getting ready for another landing. Landed on Waicheren, even worse than D-Day. Never forget today, Guy Fawkes night, lost two very good friends and several good mates, one officer out of four left.
Tower torches light the way THE Tower of London is glowing in the light of 10,000 torches in a tribute to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War. Four years after the enormous display of poppies filled the Tower’s dry moat, the illuminated tribute is a reference to the moment that the lights metaphorically came back on after November 11, 1918. Last Sunday’s opening night began with a Yeoman Warder bringing a flame down from the Tower into the moat, which had been submerged in smoke. Dozens of representatives from the armed forces and volunteers, then used the flame to ignite thousands of other torches staked into, or placed on the ground underneath the Tower, bathing the moat in light. Altogether, the flames take about 45 minutes to light and then will burn for about four hours. The ceremony was accompanied by a sound installation featuring choral music, words from the war poet Mary Borden’s Sonnets to a Soldier, and a minute’s silence. The success of the 2014 Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red, which consisted of 888,246 ceramic poppies representing each British and colonial serviceman and woman killed in the war, meant that the Historic Royal Palaces were keen to mark the centenary of Armistice. The new installation, Beyond the Deepening Shadow: The Tower Remembers, has been designed by the same artist, Tom Piper. Members of the public are able to watch the ceremony free of charge every night, until the final showing on Remembrance Sunday.
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FACE Christmas market date set T
he FACE (Fundraising in Arboleas, Caring for Everyone) Christmas Market 2018 will this year be held on the evening of Friday November 30, and for the fifth year running the market will be held at the Arboleas feria ground in front of Arboleas Town Hall, inside an enormous, specially erected marquee. The market will be opened to the general public at 6pm. There will be a vast variety of stalls with wares including perfume, jewellery, kitchenware and electrical appliances, in addition to the usual traditional Christmas cards and wrapping paper and those last minute Christmas gifts that need to be sent to the UK. Father Christmas has been contacted, and even though it is his busiest time of year, he has agreed to make a visit to the FACE Market. It hoped that a member of the Arboleas Council will be available to conduct an official opening on the night. Members of the 89.8 Smooth FM Radio Station will be present to ensure the night goes with a swing. Entertainment will be provided by the Sue Moretta Choir singing
FUNDRAISER: Money raised from the event will be donated to associations and charities. seasonal music, Carrie’s Dusty Boots performing their very latest theatrical line dance demonstration, and finally Benjamin Bamford will be joining in the fun by bringing his group The Two Of Us to the party. In addition a draw will take
place for the €200 first prize in t h e FA C E G r a n d C h r i s t m a s Raffle. These raffle tickets are already on sale at the price of €1 each or five tickets for €4 and will continue to be sold until only minutes before the draw takes place.
Among other places they can be purchased is at the Los Llanos market on a Saturday morning. The draw for the FACE Christmas Quiz will also take place and there is a super hamper to be won. Refreshments will be avail-
able throughout the evening, including mince pies and sausage rolls. FACE’s famous mulled wine, which is made to a special recipe, will also be available, although this year it is to be made by committee member Nicki Wakeman, as unfortunately Pauline Marshall, who has made the mulled wine for the last 10 years has left FACE due to the fact she has returned to the UK to live. Throughout the evening FACE will be giving Christmas presents in the form of donations to various groups of both national and local organisations. All monies raised by this event will be used to make further donations to associations and charities in future months. Anyone who would like to book a stall at the FACE Market, and there are still a handful of places left, or who would like to make a donation to FACE in the form of a raffle prize or othe r g i f t , c a n c o n t a c t FA C E o n their web page at www.facec h a r i t y. c o m o r a t f a c e . c h a r i ty@hotmail.com or via the FACE Facebook page. Alternatively you can telephone 634 306 727.
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Polishing up for village band Ed. 660
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A JEWELLERY cleaning event in Bedar raised a resounding €416 for the local village Ben-Bedar music band. Hosted by Clare and Shane Purt at Castellon de Bedar last Saturday, the fundraiser attracted a good number of people to their workshop. Clare cleaned and polished jewellery helped by her students Eileen Kilmurry, Tracey Cory and Wendy England. Shane supplied lovely cakes and coffee made by himself with donations from locals Maggi Lake and Jane Breay. Members of the band who pitched up for the fundraiser were thrilled with the generous effort and the money collected on the day.
REMEMBRANCE: Last year’s RBL Mojacar Remembrance Sunday service at St Pascual Church in Mojacar.
Lest we forget T
HE Royal British Legion Mojacar Remembrance Sunday service will take place at the outdoor church in Mojacar Playa at 10.30 on November 11. Before then poppies are still available in various bars, restaurants and shops in Mojacar and at Iceland supermarket in Vera town. There will also be a stall the
Parque Comercial in Mojacar Playa with poppy merchandise tomorrow Saturday November 10. Further RBL Mojacar fundraising activities planned for the near future include a fundraising quiz at Bar Stop in Turre on Friday November 16 from 4-6pm with quizmaster Tony Matthews. There will also be a raffle, and all are welcome. Money raised from the
poppy appeal goes directly to the legion’s welfare work providing care to anyone who currently serves in the British armed forces, who has previously served, and their families. This vital work is entirely dependent on the public’s support, so each year the legion asks that the public give generously and to wear poppies with pride. All money raised in Spain stays in Spain.
Every little helps APSA has issued thanks to all the shops, bars and businesses which support the Albox-based animal charity by having APSA collection tins, and all those who have made donations.
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Volunteers Margaret Ridyard, Pat French and others have been collecting in the money raised from the tins, money that will go directly to help the many dogs in APSA’s care by
helping to pay for food, vets’ bills, homing and transport. As Margaret said, “We would like to thank all those who put some spare change in the collection tins. Every little helps, and this is an important regular donation to help the dogs.” Further ASPA fundraising activities continue this weekend with a charity walk this Sunday November 11. Setting out from Bar La Cinta at 11am, walkers are invited to bring along their own dog or take one of the kennel dogs. The walk is along a
flat area and is expected to take no more than an hourand-a-half to complete. Walkers pay €5 each; children and dogs walk for free. Participants can collect sponsors, just pay €5 to walk, or can sponsor an APSA dog: see the APSA Facebook page to select the dog to sponsor. Sponsor forms are available at the APSA shop in Avenido Lepanto in Albox and at the Los Llanos market stall. Businesses who would like to have an APSA tin can visit the charity’s shop or contact APSA via their Facebook page.
Weekender 9th - 15th November 2018
Jos Biggs’ column Page 14
Room to Rome Page 16
Lifestyle Page 18-20
Who’d be a husband Page 28
Tasty Greek meatballs Page 23
Healthy cooking oil Page 27
Nuka and her ball
Land Rover expands
Page 29
Page 38
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Feature
2nd - 8th November 2018
The Darkness Cometh #2
By Jos Biggs
THE Dog That Is Not Ours had been fed and walked, as had Barbara’s cats (except they hadn’t been walked.) The wherewithal for chicken and chips for supper was assembled and ready to go, just as soon as Francisco had been to fix Barbara’s non-functioning electricity. 5.30, Francisco’s arrival time, came and went. At 5.50 I rang him. “I’m in Lubrin. I’ll be there by.” First Rambla de Oria, now Lubrin why not Limaria? The gloaming had arrived and the darkness cometh, so I took some candles round to Barbara’s house. I felt she might need them. Seven came and went. At 7.30 I rang him. “I’ll come tomorrow.” “No, you must come now. Barbara will be back any minute, and she has
no lights. And her fridge stinks,” I added for extra emphasis. “I’ll come straight away.” I hovered between the window and the front door, afraid that if I turned the telly on I wouldn’t hear either Barbara or Francisco, whoever arrived first. At 8.10 my hovering had reached hummingbird pitch, so I rang him again. “I’ll be there immediately.” At 9.10 he arrived, and we proceeded by torchlight to Barbara’s house. At 9.15 he pushed up the offending orange switch, the one that I had been too cowardly to touch, and there was light! At 9.20 I returned to my house, very much not in the mood for chicken and chips! At 1am Barbara returned, and wondered why I had put candles on the table!
josbiggs@hotmail.co.uk
OUTSTANDING: Cabo de Gata-Nijar.
Wild and rugged landscape
S
PANNING some 45,663 hectares in the south eastern corner of Spain, Cabo de Gata-Nijar is Andalucia’s largest coastal protected area and home to some of Europe’s most original geological features. The wild and isolated landscape features dramatic cliffs, small and secluded caves and white sandy beaches, some of the best
in Andalucia. The mountain range is Spain’s largest volcanic rock formation with sharp peaks and crags in ochrehues which drops steeply to the sea creating jagged 100m-high cliffs. Offshore are numerous tiny rocky islands and, underwater, extensive coral reefs teeming with marine life, perfect for underwater photography, sailing,
snorkelling and diving. The park boasts a variety of habitats, from coastal dunes and saltpans to a substantial marine zone and saltmarshes, and shelters an outstanding array of wildlife as rare and endangered fauna. In fact Salinas de Cabo de Gata is one of the country’s most important wetland areas for breeding and overwintering birds.
Feature
Weekender 15
9th - 15th November 2018
Spirit of Dali remains in Figueres THE modern town of Figueres, Girona has a population of 45,000 people and from most angles looks very normal for northern Spain. The area can claim an eclectic history however being the birthplace of Narcis Monturiol, the inventor of the first motor powered submarine, and singer Monica Naranjo. The huge Castell de San Ferran dominates the town but no more than the presence of world famous Catalan surrealist Salvador Dali.
The legacy of Dali can be felt over Figueres, even decades after his death. The Dali Theatre and Museum helps to preserve his heritage and if you have one day in the town this is one of the best places to visit. It is built on the site of a theatre where Dali’s first exhibitions took place which was destroyed by a fire during the Spanish Civil War. In the 1960s Dali decided to rebuild the monument and dedicate it to his works and inspirations.
A visit to his museum will provide a vivid insight into the eccentric imagination of Dali evidenced by the outside of the building which is designed like a Moorish style palace wall but decorated with giant eggs. Dali wanted his museum ‘to be a single block, a labyrinth, a great surrealist object’ and this he certainly achieved. The museum does not feature Dali’s most wellknown
works like ‘The Persistence of Time’ or ‘The Elephants’ as many of these are displayed in museums across the US as well as in Brussels and Madrid or held by private collectors. Instead the museum houses many pieces from Dali’s private collection, which are no less impressive, and together constitute the single largest collection of Dali works in the world by far. To truly understand the
DALI MUSEUM: Designed like
artist, a trip to this museum is essential. Included in the pieces on display are paintings, sculptures, collages, mechanical creations and other items which display Dali’s vivid imaginings. Other artist’s works do feature in the museum. A Frida Kahlo exhibition recently ended and numerous surrealist displays of art by artists in Dali’s private collection are permanent features.
a Moorish palace with egg s on top.
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Weekender
Property
9th - 15th November 2018
WHILE most people are attracted to Spain for its beaches, countryside or cities, some culture vultures may be more interested in a property in one of Spain’s most Roman artefact-rich areas, Extremadura. This autonomous community is the furthest west in Spain, sharing a large border with Portugal and featuring some of Spain’s most impressive Roman ruins. As well as being rich in amphitheatres, ancient bridges, fountains and roads, Extremadura was the birthplace of many of Spain’s most famous conquistadors who later returned, building elaborate palaces and castles which remain today. The area also hosts a variety of wildlife in it’s national park in Monfrague, which features awe-inspiring views, as well as prehistoric caves and cave paintings. Better still, property in Extremadura is very reasonable, as it has no coast line and is still relatively unknown. The region’s capital Merida, was founded by the Romans in the 1st century BC and contains remains of the very wellpreserved and still-used Teatro Romano (Roman theatre). This spectacular double-tiered theatre is now used for operas and plays, and is open for both day and night visits. The city also offers the remains of an amphitheatre originally used for gladiato-
Credit: tourismoextremadura.com
Room to Rome CREDIT: Idealista.com
TRUJILLO CORTIJO: On sale for €698,000.
rial games and animal fights, a hippodrome, an aqueduct, a temple to the goddess Diana and original mosaics and statues in it’s Roman museum. Elsewhere in Extremadura lies a 16th century Renaissance palace restored by famed explorer Juan Pizarro, the conquistador who conquered Peru alongside his three brothers in 1532. On returning home to Spain, he took over a 15th century military fortress, restoring it into a Renaissance palace which still stands today. This impressive building, located in the small town of Trujillo, hosted Don Quixote author, Miguel de Cervantes. If the idea of living amongst this cultural wealth is enough to tempt you away from the beaches and mountains, what
TEATRO ROMANO: Now used for operas and plays.
sort of properties can you expect to find there? For easy access to the sights, why not consider a four-bedroom bolthole in central Merida, for €63,000 with Inmobiliaria Cervantes. The 112 square metre apartment is within walking distance of the city’s main attractions and less than an hour’s drive from Portugal. If you fancy something more in-keeping with the region’s historic heritage, check out an 11-bedroom, 19th century
country house just outside Trujillo. On sale with Idealista for €698,000, this cortijo has its own ancient winery, swimming pool, and six hectares of vineyards and olive groves, only a two-anda-half-hour drive from Madrid. Finally, less than a two-hour drive from Sevilla is a 20-room, 19th century manor house in Burguillos del Cerro. On the market for €475,000 with Housell, this property is chock-full of original features, giving you a taste of the area’s cultural heritage.
Beware of rental pitfalls WHEN it comes to renting property in Spain - whether it be short or long term - it has only been relatively recently that tighter rules have been introduced in the various Autonomous Communities; especially rules connected with holiday rentals. The tougher action was taken when increased places which were advertised for rent, had no basic amenities, such as ceiling fans or air conditioning, both vital pieces of equipment to ensure a comfortable summer stay. Some were even found to have no natural light in bedrooms, with others falling below the accepted health and safety standards. The only issue is that each region has its own rules and regulations, although there are important ones that apply across Spain. Yes, you must declare all rental income to the taxman, and you must have a licence to advertise the
property which will make everything legal and above board. Different rules apply to different types of rental contract on offer, depending if it’s long or short-term or a holiday let. As always, if you’ve any doubts on what you’re offered, or asked to sign on the dotted line, it is best to seek legal advice before committing yourself and to avoid the many pitfalls. If you are looking to receive income from renting out a property which is not your main home, this can be done for a period of three years with an option to renew after a year and thereafter. If you decide not to renew the contract after three years, you need to give the tenant two months advance notice. As a landlord, you are responsible for the maintenance and refurbishment of the property, whereas the tenant is expected to pay for minor work such as a leaking tap.
A tenant with a long-term rental contract in Spain has key rights under the law. This means, if you intend to sell the property, the tenant must be given first refusal before any other buyers, and they have 30 days to confirm whether they wish to purchase it themselves. If the tenant isn’t told by the landlord the property is up for sale, they can take legal action when it is later sold, and if the tenant can come up with the funds within 30 days, they can buy the property outright. As for short-term holiday rentals, apart from being the most popular form of renting, it also has the least rights for the tenants. Not that it is straightforward, as nowadays there are several things that a property owner must do before they can legally rent out to holidaymakers. This has been due to the rise of Airbnb, and as such many local authorities have cracked down on private rentals.
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Weekender
Lifestyle
9th - 15th November 2018
Garden tips to deter burglars
DARK and private, gardens are often where thieves begin their break-ins. They can also reveal a lot about the home owner, especially whether the occupant is in the home or not. Many property owners will be jetting off to see family before or during the festive period, so it’s a good idea to try to make sure your garden is burglar proof. A report written by exoffenders on behalf of online services marketplace Bark.com, has revealed that steps as simple as keeping on top of your gardening can deter potential home invaders. If the lawn is freshly mowed and weed-free, then burglars will question whether a house is in fact vacant. Burglars will apparently watch houses for a few days so ex-offenders advise hiring a gardener to
CUT BACK: Keep hiding spots to a minimum by cutting back hedges, bushes and shrubs. tend to your garden once a week, if you are going away for a while. Litter, long grass and junk mail spilling out of the letterbox are also signs that your house is not occupied, the perfect target for thieves. Ask a friendly neighbour
or friend to clear away your junk mail, or even have your mail directed to a post office or different address while you’re away. Giving the appearance of an occupied house and garden, automatic timers for garden lighting can also be used to deter
thieves, giving the illusion you are still at home. An interior light on timer, which can be seen from your garden will also help burgle-proof your garden and home. If a friend or neighbour is keeping an eye on your property, possibly feeding
your pets, ask them to move blinds up and down to change the exterior appearance of the home. Keeping bushes, trees and shrubbery maintained and cut back will reduce the amount of potential hiding spots, and ladders, chairs and tables should
be secured or removed, to prevent thieves using them to reach second storey windows. In addition, more proactive measures can be put in place to help make your property a thief-free zone. Try planting dense, thorny bushes that are painful to touch, climb over or push through. Garden fences can also be reinforced by adding a spiked or thorny rose bush-adorned trellis to the top of fencing of at least 20cm height. While this is a good deterrent in the back garden, it is better to keep hedges, bushes and fences low at the front, so intruders can be easily spotted by neighbours and passers-by. Invest in padlocks and bolts, and make sure your gate can’t be lifted off its hinges. As for pathways, gravel is noisy and will draw attention to burglars.
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Weekender
Lifestyle
9th - 15th November 2018
Stay warm without breaking the bank THE change in season is apparent all around us, from the leaves on the trees turning colour and falling to the ground, to a drop in temperatures and dark
mornings and nights. But there are ways to battle the dreariness and keep your home warm, and costs down. This is the season in which it is vital to ensure
HEATING: Oil filled and electric radiators can be more effective than heating a whole house.
SERVICE: Good idea to have your boiler checked every year.
your heating system is working effectively, the last thing you want or need is a boiler breakdown as winter sets in. It is not a legal requirement, but it makes good
sense to have your boiler serviced once a year. The weather is still quite mild, and if you and your partner or family tends to only use one main room in the house, it makes more
sense to use spot instead of central heating. There are plenty of options available, from electric or oil filled radiators, to fan or convector heaters and portable gas heaters. The latter offers spot heating from around â‚Ź1 an evening. It will heat a space up quickly and comes with variable heat settings, so you can turn the heat up
or down as required. The smallest changes can help to retain the heat and minimise energy usage. Shut interior doors, as cold air can creep in through the smallest of holes, which can increase heat loss by up to 8 per cent. Old fashioned snake draught excluders work and if colour coordinated, can look stylish and add colour. If you don’t already have heating controls installed, consider adding a programmable thermostat to your heating system for better control over energy usage. If you do have controls, look into some of the new smart heating systems available, which allow you to remotely control the temperature in every room of your home. By turning off heat in rooms you don’t use, you can reduce energy costs significantly.
Turn up the heat OUR outdoor living spaces can be just as important as the inside of our homes. We spend time and money making our gardens and patios comfortable, and perfect for entertaining, so it makes sense to extend their use for all year-round. And as well as well-placed lighting, a patio heater can really change outdoor living space for the better. A great patio heater will make your outdoor living area not only bearable,
but also comfortable for you and your guests. It can provide the same, constant heat as a fire pit, minus the ashes and smoke. They are a brilliant alternative to camp fire, too. Depending on how and when you plan on using your patio heater, they can be powered through propane, electricity, or gas, and can be full-sized like a lamp post, or small.
PATIO HEATER: Ideal for entertaining outside all year round
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Weekender
WIDELY considered the creme de la creme of tomatoes, the Raf is one of the jewels in Almeria’s cultivation crown. This is a highly-prized, meaty tomato with an exquisite, intensely sweet taste thanks to the balance between sugar and acidity. It is small, irregular shaped, with firm, pinkishcoloured pulp, few seeds and little water. There is relatively limited production of the Raf, and it has a relatively short season, making it more expensive than other varieties. It stands out not only for its price though, but also for its ribbed appearance and because the stem end remains green or yellowish, hence it’s ‘green shoulders’ nickname. The Raf is unquestionably a perfect tomato for creating interesting salads of all kinds. Slices of Raf with cold meats or cheese, or eaten alone, and dressed with olive oil, basil and salt, make a tasty, and healthy starter or snack. It is much sought-after by Spain’s top eateries and is used as a garnish to main courses, both roasted and uncooked, and as an ingredient in a whole vari-
Food & Drink
9th - 15th November 2018
Raf, the creme de la creme of tomatoes
VERSATILE: Raf tomatoes can be used in a variety of dishes. ety of dishes, from superior soups to premier pizzas, as well as to create delicious conserves and
sauces. If the plan is to make sauces or stews with this variety of tomatoes, adding a smidgeon of sug-
ar will reduce acidity. Unripe Rafs should be left outside the fridge in a cool, dark spot to mature.
Once ripe, the recommendation is to store them in the least cold part of the fridge.
The Raf is grown in Alicante, Murcia and Almeria, but it is particularly well suited to cultivation in the dry climate and saline soil of this province’s coastal areas, especially in the Cabo de Gata and Vega de Almeria areas. One interesting fact is that its origins and its name date back to the early 1960’s, when a French company crossed the Marmande Clause 27 variety with a variety resistant to fusarium fungus, and registered the result under the trade name RAF (Resistant at Fusarium). Curiously, the Raf is mainly available from the beginning of December until around mid-May, so it will soon be time to start seeking them out.
Get battered
FA N C Y k i c k i n g y o u r b a t t e r recipes up a notch? Why not try adding a little beer to give classics such as fish and chips and onion rings a bit of a kick. Beer batter pairs great with the tipple of the same name. It is easy to make and can be whipped up in no time. Choosing how to make batter comes down to a question of taste. It can be thin, thick, crispy or chewy. Adding beer to batter, along with a little baking powder, gives it the airy feel of a classic chippy fish. To make it you will need one cup of flour, one teaspoon of baking powder, one teaspoon of salt and one and a quarter cups of beer. Be sure to have s o m e s p a r e flour on hand for dredging. If chewy batter as opposed to the crispy variety is
more to your liking then throw in an egg. First put your flour, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl. Then pour in the beer and whisk until smooth. If you’re making fish you will need to dry it with a paper towel and dredge it in flour before battering and deep frying for five to eight minutes. Onion rings require thicker batter. Be sure to keep a little beer aside to enjoy with your chippy-style fish when it’s finished.
CLASSIC: Beer batter adds flavour to chippy classics.
Food & Drink
9th - 15th November 2018
Greek Meatballs (Keftedes)
KEFTEDES: A favourite served with Tzatziki sauce. THESE meatballs are one of our favourites here at Olive Tree Farm. As well as being very easy to make, they are a perfect addition to any buffet style table. Although the recipe I use calls for a mix of beef and pork, I always make them using just pork, and it works perfectly. It sounds unusual to add mint to a meatball, but it does add a really nice flavour. The Tzatziki sauce is the perfect accompaniment, the amount of garlic in it gives it quite a bit of heat, so be prepared! When I serve them, I skewer the meatballs with a cocktail stick to make them easier to dip in the sauce. Greek Meatballs - (Keftedes) • Ingredients 500g minced beef 200g minced pork 1 large red onion, grated 1 clove of garlic, grated 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs 1 egg 1/4 of a cup chopped fresh parsley 6-7 leaves fresh spearmint (chopped) and a pinch of dried (optional) 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 teaspoon oregano salt and pepper oil for frying flour for dredging
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. • Method Put all your ingredients (apart from the last two) into a large bowl and using your hands squeeze it all together for a few minutes so everything is evenly worked through. Cover with cling film and leave to chill for an hour or so. When you are ready, roll into evenly sized balls, dip into the flour and then fry
in batches of about 8-10 at a time, moving them around so they are evenly browned on all sides. You can also bake them in the oven if you prefer at 200 deg C, for about 20 minutes turning them half way through. Tip - Wet your hands when rolling the meatballs, it will help stop the mixture sticking to your palms. Tzatziki Sauce • Ingredients 1/2 English cucumber, peeled, de-seeded and finely chopped and the moisture squeezed out 16 oz (2 cups) Cold plain Greek yoghurt (either full fat or fat free will work) 4 cloves garlic, grated 1/3 cup chopped dill, fresh or frozen (I used parsley) 1 1/2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice (please use a real lemon) 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste 1/8 tsp black pepper • Method Add all your ingredients to a bowl and mix through. Cover with cling film and leave to chill. Tip - Try to remove as much of the moisture as you can from the cucumber, so the sauce doesn’t go watery. I squeezed it well using kitchen roll.
Weekender 23
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Weekender
Puzzles
9th - 15th November 2018
Wordsearch Famous Bands
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:
PSY
ONE DIRECTION
THE WHO
ELBOW
FLEETWOOD MAC TAKE THAT
BUSTED
BLUR
QUEEN
MCFLY
UNION J
OWL CITY
WESTLIFE
LOTTLE MIX
MUSE
PINK
MADNESS
GREEN DAY
LAWSON
WANTED
Quick
Across 1 Not being in a specified place (6) 3 Assistant (6) 8 Velocity (5) 10 Journals (7) 11 Absence of sound (7) 12 Experiments (5) 13 Disturb the balance or stability of (5) 15 Alloy of copper and zinc (5) 20 Watchful (5) 22 Put into a proper or systematic order (7) 24 Ahead (7) 25 Flat (5) 26 Stable (6) 27 Dreaded (6)
Down 1 Be of service (6) 2 Take without the owner’s consent (5) 4 Precise (5) 5 Catholic clerics (7) 6 Strive against (6) 7 Calculated a total (5) 9 Closely compacted in substance (5) 14 Get ready (7) 16 Relating to the countryside (5) 17 Short moral stories (6) 18 Great in size (5) 19 Uttered a sudden loud cry (6) 21 Attempted (5) 23 At no time in the past or future (5)
• Average: 19
• Very good: 37
• Good: 26
• Excellent: 48
SCORING: • 4 letters: 1 point • 5 letters: 2 points • 6 letters: 3 points • 7 letters: 4 points • 8 or more letters: 11 points
lair liar cola coral corp corps corpse corpses cods crate crates cries cite cites docs alit alien aliens arvo arco arcs aril aria irate item amen ament amentia epilate epic epics escolar esprit espial emetic emetics entail hens eaten espies essential enema
Cryptic
Across 1 Weapon seen in some circles as a breakthrough (5) 4 I’m in afterwards as a reformer (7) 8 Tree rat built a hideaway (7) 9 Book space for Heather (5) 10 Ready to destroy red paper (8) 11 Hard time for an Olympian queen (4) 13 One not eating more quickly (6) 14 Gifted characters move restlessly (6) 17 Usually had a friend (4) 19 Blame the salesman and the fish (8) 22 Burning coal in Nuremberg (5) 23 Light metal ignited him outside the university (7) 24 Apparition in Hampton maze (7) 25 Some classicism earned a bad mark (5)
Down 1 Way to strike or flog (5) 2 Baseball players clubs (7) 3 Disorganised Eve’s late, so gets a lift (8) 4 Carpenter’s tools in the flat he’s bought (6) 5 First sign of taking up barmy army instrument (4) 6 Dudley is the new Romeo (5) 7 Men rant about last part (7) 12 Leaves jet and speeds (8) 13 Get angry at a sign of distress (5-2) 15 Stone that comes from Tangier (7) 16 Wrongly blamed for state of uproar (6) 18 Balance parts of Bali, Brazil and Bolivia (5) 20 Pigeon poet? (5) 21 Humour is about right in this court order (4)
Puzzles
9th - 15th November 2018
IRREGULAR SUDOKU
SOLTIMES STAR QUIZ : FANTASY WORLDS 1. Double Fantasy was a 1980 album released by which famous husband and wife duo? 2. First performed at the Paris Conservatoire in December 1830, which French composer wrote Symphonie fantastique? 3. In which decade was the fantasy tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons first published? 4. ‘Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?’ is the first line of which 1975 UK number one hit single? 5. Mr Roarke (Malcolm McDowell) was the enigmatic host and self-proclaimed Master of Ceremonies on which American television series, first broadcast in 1977? 6. The 1983 novel The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett, was the first work in which comic fantasy book series? 7. The 2016 fantasy film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, directed by David Yates, is a spin-off of which film series?
8. What is the name of the fictional character created by James Thurber in 1939 who fantasises about a life much more exciting and glamorous than his own? 9. Who was the author of The Dark Tower, a series of eight books that incorporates themes from multiple genres, including dark fantasy, science fantasy, horror and Western? 10. With which famous perfume would you principally associate the advertising slogan Share the Fantasy? Not a lot of people know that… although pre-dated by John Ruskin's The King of the Golden River (1841), the history of modern fantasy literature is usually said to begin with George MacDonald, the Scottish author of such novels as The Princess and the Goblin and Phantastes (1858), the latter of which is widely considered to be the first fantasy novel ever written for adults
Kakuro
Answers 1. JOHN LENNON AND YOKO ONO, 2. HECTOR BERLIOZ, 3. 1970s (1974), 4. BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY, 5. FANTASY ISLAND, 6. DISCWORLD, 7. HARRYPOTTER, 8. WALTER MITTY, 9. STEPHEN KING, 10. CHANEL NO 5
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
Health & beauty
9th - 15th November 2018
Sleeping the night away SLEEP is essential for our mental and physical well-being, and struggling to drift off at night can be incredibly frustrating. Seven to eight hours of sleep is ideal for adults, although many people struggle to fit this much into their busy schedules. However, what do you do if you’ve set these hours aside and you still spend the night tossing and turning? There are several simple methods you can use which could make all the difference and help you get a good night’s rest. First things first, make sure you keep hydrated. Drinking lots of water keeps the body temperature down, which will help if you find yourself overheating between the sheets. Try to keep your water intake regular throughout the day
however, you don’t want a trip to the toilet to break your sleep cycle! It’s also wise not to eat anything too heavy in the hours before you go to sleep. Eating a meal heavy in carbohydrates, for example, will mean your stomach is going to be digesting them for hours afterwards, which may make it harder for you to go to sleep. Salads, fruit and soup are all good alternatives. Keep calm. If you feel yourself getting frustrated, this will only exacerbate the situation. Sprinkling a few drops of lavender oil on your pillow or making a cup of hot milk with honey will help you to unwind. Switch off all your devices at least 30 minutes before you tuck in, and keep them out of the bedroom. Phones, tele-
SLEEP: Are you getting enough Zzzs? Seven hours is ideal.
visions and tablets emit an artificial light which inhibits the production of the sleep hormone melatonin. Your brain should associate the bedroom with sleep, so having a digital detox in the evening will help programme it to switch off as soon as you lie down.
All you need to know about Aloe Vera DUE to its many medicinal properties, Aloe Vera is a firm favourite among both health and beauty experts. The plant has been shown to produce significant improvements when used on skin, hair and even to help control body weight. It can also be used to treat injuries or minor health issues. So, if you have an overlooked aloe plant in the back garden, now is the time to start making the most of it. Aloe Vera is a common ingredient in beauty treatments, as it contains Vitamin C and E which have nourishing and anti-ageing effects on the skin. It is also widely used to treat sunburn and stretch marks, and it is often as efALOE VERA: Used in beauty treatments.
fective to rub the plant directly onto the skin, as it is to use one of the highstreet products. The spiky succulent plant also contains the ingredient aproteolyptic, which has been proven to work wonders for hair. It repairs the dead cells on the scalp and can be added to conditioner to make your locks look smoother and shiner. To reap the rewards of this incredible plant, break off a leaf as close to the stem as possible and slice off the ends. This should enable you to see the gel encased inside the tough skin. Carefully remove the skin with a knife until you’re left with just the gel,
which you can then blend to make into a face or hair mask. You can also rub the moist side of the skin directly onto sunburn. Another great Aloe Vera remedy, is to boil the stems in hot water, and drink. As it contains many anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties, it improves digestion and helps to increase the body’s metabolism. Make the tea on a regular basis to get the best results.
Health & beauty
9th - 15th November 2018
Weekender 27
Making oil the difference IF you want to lower your blood pressure and improve your heart health, substituting foods full of ‘bad’ fats (saturated and trans) for healthier alternatives is a good way to start.
sunflower. Blends of these oils are often sold under the name ‘vegetable oil.’ If you want to be sure you’re making the right choice, check that the oil contains no partially hydrogenated oils or trans fats and that it has less than four grams of saturated fat per tablespoon. Speciality oil such as avocado, grape seed and rice bran are becoming increasingly popular but may be more expensive and harder to find.
An easy way to do this is to make a simple change in the kitchen and switch up your cooking methods. Using an oil high in ‘good’ fats instead of butter or margarine will help you cut down on your consumption of saturated fat and feel healthier in the process. There are many variations of healthy cooking oil on the market these days, but some of the most common include canola, olive and
OLIVE OIL: A healthy alternative to butter.
Have a perfume allergy? THROUGHOUT the year, it’s common to suffer from runny noses, watery eyes and relentless sneezing but many people put it down to a winter cold or pollen allergy. When the symptoms persist year-round; however, it may be worth considering that the trigger is not seasonal. There are a growing number of people who suffer from perfume allergies or sensitivities that can cause mild to severe symptoms - from the occasional sneezing fit to rashes, headaches and respiratory issues. As the world now smells sweeter than ever, the ability to escape from heavily scented scenarios is growing increasingly difficult. Many companies realised that fragrance sells, so have inundated the market with perfumed products. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), over 5,000 different scents are used across a
wide range of goods today. As most fragrances aren’t actually allergens they’re irritants - it can be difficult to treat the problem. A good place to start is
to use fragrance-free products and you can also get tested to see if a specific ingredient used in scented products is causing the reaction.
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Weekender
Feature
9th - 15th November 2018
Who’d be a husband? by Sandy Shore
WITH some amusement, I recall our ship rolling to the ocean wave and the tilting mess room table emptying our breakfasts on the deck. Despite water lapping around our ankles we were a good humoured bunch. Such upsets were treated as storms in a teacup, which of course they were. More recently, before the break of dawn, I reached for my bedside glass and a little drink was spilled. Oh, the counterblast from my awakened wife was a sight to be heard. What followed was a stream of oaths that would have brought a blush to a sailor ’s face; toxic invective accompanied the mopping up process. Now you know why women are not welcome as sailors. Forget the nonsense about their presence on a vessel being a bad omen. Such socalled superstition was a ruse dreamed up by a Jack Tar who, having suffered his wife’s
HAPPINESS: Does true bliss lie in marriage or in singledom? hysteria over a glass of spilled milk put that rumour around. Wives often complain that they are not loved enough. The usual mantra is, ‘you never say you love me any more’ or ‘you don’t cuddle me like you used to do.’
Well, perhaps if women were more cuddlesome they might be. I recall a friend who as a husband ticked every box. Yet, he was often left desolate by his being treated like he was something his spouse had discovered on the sole of her
shoe. Later, he did find solace in a girlfriend and of course that too was his fault. A wife, being human, will occasionally err. She forgets things and on occasion either loses utensils or breaks objects d’art. The husband’s re-
sponse is usually, ‘It’s alright, love. It is hardly the end of the world.’ But, it is the end of the world if we do it and the minor sin will stigmatise our characters for evermore and a day. On occasion, our friends drive whilst we two take a backseat. The seatbelts are on and the scold’s tongue is trussed too and during the drive there isn’t a word of instruction or criticism uttered. This is when I think to myself, ‘Would my driving friend enjoy such peace if he instead of me was married to my wife?’ I very much doubt it. Darn! I should have taken my dad’s belated advice: ‘Son, why get married and make one woman unhappy when you can stay single and make them all happy.’ To all those henpecked husbands out there, ‘cheer up, mate’; you’re not on your own by a long whisky shot. Grin and bear it until you’re the one whom she bears - with five other good men and true.
Behind THE MUSIC
Adam and the Ants Kings of the Wild V L James | vljcomms@gmail.com | Facebook: @vljamesinfo ning of 1981 the alIN November 1980 Adam and bum was becoming massive and would the Ants released their go on to be that year ’s biggest sellsecond album. ing album. Kings of the Wild Frontier Adam Ant (real name Stuart Goddard) was shocked audiences with a totala well known face on WILD FRONTIERS: Adam and the the early London ly original sound. Ants were hugely successful. punk scene, starring The previous alCredit: WIkimedia bum, the indie cult i n D e r e k J a r m a n ’s cult punk film Jubilee h i t D i r k We a r s White Sox, gave no clue as to what i n 1 9 7 7 . M a l c o l m M c L a r e n w o u l d ‘steal’ all the Ants who played on Dirk was coming with the follow up. Two drummers were used to create Wears White Sox to create Bow Wow a ‘Burundi beat.’ Guitarist Marco Pir- Wow with Annabella Lwin. So, Adam roni’s Link Wray-inspired twangy gui- recruited Pirroni and the rest of the t a r w a s a l s o d i ff e r e n t t o w h a t w a s band that would go on to make histoaround at the time. ry. The album spawned three hit sinTwo years of massive commercial gles, Kings of the Wild Frontier, Dog success followed, including two numEat Dog and Ant Music. By the begin- ber one singles.
PETS
9th - 15th November 2018
Weekender 29
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Time wise PET owners may have wondered why their cat is already waiting at its food bowl when it’s time for dinner or if their dog knows when it is usually walked. Well pets do indeed have a fairly accurate sense of time, according to a new study by Northwestern University in the US, published in Nature Neuroscience. Daniel Dombeck, the associate professor of neurobiology at Northwestern’s Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, who led the study, said they had concluded that ‘animals have an explicit representation of time in their brains when they are challenged to measure a time interval.’ The researchers uncovered a set of neurons in the medial entorhinal cortex of a mouse’s brain
Veterinary Clinic
Avenida de Almeria 1 Bis Local 2 Edf La Para,04639 Turre Almeria
‘that turn on like a clock when an animal is waiting.’ The team focused on this part of the brain because it is the area connected to memory and navigation. The investigators came up with what they called the ‘door stop task’ to put their hypotheses to the test. The mouse subject had to run on a real treadmill in a virtual environment of a passage with a door at the end. The rodent worked out that when it went down the passage the door opened after six seconds, allowing it to continue running to receive a food reward. The door was made invisible, but the mouse still knew to stop where the door had been and wait six seconds, then go and get its treat.
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Weekender
Leisure
9th - 15th November 2018
Will Bryan Cranston return for Breaking Bad film? Richard Shanley
Dishing the Dirt OF EUROPA DIGITAL
BRYAN CRANSTON says he is keen to star in the recently announced Breaking Bad movie spin-off but hasn’t been asked - yet. Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan is about to start production on a film based on the hit AMC series. But Cranston told The Dan Patrick Show: “I have not gotten the script... so there’s a question of whether we’d even see Walter White in this movie.” If Vince Gilligan asked me to do it, sure, absolutely. He’s a genius.” And it’s not yet known whether the film version will be a prequel or sequel, or even if it’s heading for the cinema or TV. But Cranston did say that Gilligan had given him a heads-up on the project. “It’s a
TOO BAD: It would be a loss if Cranston wasn’t to star in the upcoming film.
great story, and there’s a lot of people who felt that they wanted to see some sort of completion to some of these story-
lines that were left open.” The original Breaking Bad series starred Cranston as a chemistry teacher turned meth
dealer. The gritty drama pulled no punches, killing off key players and charting the moral tailspin of Cranston’s charac-
ter, Walter White. It won numerous Emmy awards and was also a hit in the UK on Netflix.
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.
Feature
9th - 15th November 2018
Weekender 31
The swinging 60’s by John Redfern HAD finally found an instrument that suited me, a bass guitar. Cor blimey, I was chuffed to bits, I found a way of practising on the bass guitar which was unique to me. Put the end of the guitar neck touching a hollow door in my house and it boosted the sound without me plugging into a combo amp and allowed me to practise without annoying my wife and neighbours, Yippee I was on my way to becoming a bass player and started to think about my future in the world of entertainment! Mods and Rockers had arrived in the mid-1960’s and music was changing fast. The British young people were getting fed up with being fed fake
news by Harold Wilson. The press at the time used to give these two conflicting groups of young men a bad name and sparked a moral panic within the establishment. They were called violent, unruly, troublemakers by the hierarchy. The men in double breasted suits, hand-made brogue shoes, kipper ties and haircuts which were called the basin cut, were so out of touch with the working class young people. They patronised us and became a figure of contempt. That was a signal to the British youth, an old geezer smoking a pipe telling us what to do. It was a big mistake Mr Wilson. The young men in the mid-60’s were getting tired of being told what to do! We had gone through 10 years of schooling which had included the dreaded cane and teachers who enjoyed dishing
out this punishment. Mods and Rockers had had enough so you needed to make a choice, a mod or a rocker, brother against brother. You had to choose a side, was it a scooter or was it a motorbike? Was it a leather jacket or was it a parka? My bass guitar was starting to become an addiction so I formed a pop trio, drums, guitar and me on the bass and started to play working men’s clubs which I enjoyed for many years. We only played covers of existing bands of the day but I was finally getting a wage. It was tough because in the mid-60’s other groups were starting up so competition was getting tight but we had gained a large following in the Midlands and the bookings kept coming in. We were now on the road and making an impressive wage and I was getting quite snappy on the bass and wanted more!
POP TRIO: John Redfern, bass, John Clarke, guitar and singer, Alan Harding, drums.
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BUILDERS ALMERIA BUILDERS: Fully Legal, Fully Insured, All Work Guaranteed. 659 685 133 www.almeriabuilders.c om (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
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)
DAMP PROOFINGS
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES MOBILE APP COMPANY LOOKING FOR INVESTORS. Our existing mobile app service is looking to expand into Europe. Invest from as little as €3,000. Please call 626 426 642 for further information. (279049).
CARS WANTED CARS WANTED for Cash. Classic Cars & Land Rovers, Range Rovers, Defenders & Discoveries. Please call: 659 685 133 (253556)
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
ZURGENA branch of the Royal British Legion hold Branch Meetings on the 1st Thursday of the month. Coffee morning 3rd
DAMP PROOFING. www.electro-os.com. in fo@electro-os.com. 958 656 560 / 619 666 363 (281216)
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ELECTRICS ABBOTT ELECTRICS. From a Light Fitting to a Full Rewire. Tel: 950 137 208 / 638 010 691 (278878)
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VOSS HOMES are a professional, British family-run Estate Agents with an office in Huercal-Overa town. They specialize 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 (279615)
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)
INTERNET 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@euroweekly news.com for more details.
LEGAL SERVICES PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR Debt Collection, evictions, solicitor. Professional & discreet. 697 834 934 (277632)
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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)
NAUTICAL COURSES INTERNATIONAL SKIPPER LICENCE: Courses held in English and starts soon. RYA VHF and Radar Courses. 636 444 929
PETS THE FIVE BONE HOTEL, TURRE. Little dogs 6 euros, medium dogs 6.75 euros, big dogs 7.50 euros, cats from 5.25 euros a day. 630 234 556 / the5boneho telturre@gmail.com. New opening hours Mon-Sat 9.30-12.30 and 18.00 – 19.00 Sundays 9.3010.30
PLUMBING SERVICES KNOWLES PLUMBING. No1 for plumbing! Central heating, solar hot water and water deposits. Tel: 950 137 197 or
SITUATIONS VACANT ARE YOU selfmotivated and hard working? We are looking for administration/telesal es candidates. Experience not essential as full training is given. Applications by email with full CV should be sent to recruitment@eurowee klynews.com.
TILING FLOOR AND WALL TILING SPECIALIST Not a jack of all trades, just a master of one! Call Steve Holman on 697 678 708 (278887)
TRANSPORT SOLAR ENERGY /POWER 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.c om (276001)
FULLY Insured UK/Spain Removals & Storage, UK Trading Standards Approved www.indalotransport.c om 634 336 468 or Freephone UK 0800 999 33 68 (279773)
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MOBILE APP COMPANY LOOKING FOR INVESTORS Our existing mobile app service is looking to expand into Europe Invest from as little as €3,000 Please call +34 626 426 642 for further information (279051)
EARN 75€-400€ weekly, flexible hours from home working with a leading Swedish health & beauty brand. No selling required or experience needed as full training given. Apply now at www.the-vistagroup.com (277919)
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GENECO Pool construction. Tel 950 478 086 for a no obligation quote (93401)
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)
www.ukspainuk.com We’ve 18+ years’ experience. New Clean Vehicles running 2/3 times monthly. ONLINE QUOTES. Insured with RSA. ANY size move. Worried who to use? We’ll look after you. Call BMC European free on Spain 900 984 960 or UK 0800 612 4677 (WhatsApp +34 622 588 222) (279154)
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Sport
9th - 15th November 2018
Almeria Bowling Club news
THE Almeria Bowling Club Mixed Pairs is a new competition replacing the ALBC Fours, which was never really supported in terms of numbers taking part. Proving it was a successful decision, 20 pairs entered. The competition started on Tuesday October 23 with the preliminary round, ending on Saturday 27 with the final. Wa y n e and Carol Roberts emerged winners against another very competitive team, Ken and Viv Sykes. To r e a c h t h i s s t a g e , Ken and Viv beat a very good team in a close game against Sandra and Keith Minnett. Wa y n e a n d C a r o l w e r e successful over Graham and Catherine Patrick. Both games were played at a very good level.
WIINNERS: Wayne and Carol Roberts won the cup. Good quality bowls from all players produced an exciting afternoon final, with Ken and
19th Hole Golf Society Match Report AN Aguilon course in great condition greeted the 19th Hole Golf Society as they played a two Division Stableford competition, the fast greens proving a major obstacle for many players. Three and even four putts were not uncommon as many struggled to read the borrows and the pace on the ‘dance floor.’ There are always exceptions, and a very inform Bernie Obrien mastered the course to claim the 1st Division, recording an amazing 44 points, and earning a major handicap cut. Second place went to a returning Sharon Stevens with an outstanding 38 points, relegating her playing partner Malcolm Chalmers to third with a score of 35 points. The 2nd Division was a tighter affair with Vance Gamble (33 points), overcoming Pat Odwyer and Karyn Esposito (both 31 points), with Pat taking second spot on count-back. There were six two’s recorded by Bernie Obrien (3rd and 17th), Terry Ayling (8th), Malcolm Chalmers (12th), Syd Walker and Alan Brigden (both 14th).
Nearest the pins: 3rd 8th 12th 14th 15th in 2 17th
Alan Brigden. Terry Ayling. Malcolm Chalmers. Alan Brigden. Chris Heed. Bernie Obrien.
The 19th Hole Golf Society play every week on local courses. Contact mikeesposito54@yahoo.com for information.
Vi v g o i n g a h e a d i n t h e early ends until Wayne and Carol scored four shots on the sixth end
RUNNERS-UP: Ken and Viv Sykes came in second place. with the score at 8-6 and continued, not letting Ken and Viv get in front, but also not getting too
far ahead. On the 17th e n d Wa y n e a n d C a r o l were three shots ahead 17-14.
Supporters were rooted to their seats for the last end when Ken and Viv needed three to draw a n d f o u r t o w i n . Vi v played an excellent end holding the four shots required. Then Carol with her last wood scored the wood to take second place. Ken tried hard to move it, but was unsuccessful. Wayne then wisely didn’t need to bowl his last wood giving Wayne and Carol a well-deserved championship. Captain Reg Birmingham thanked the players who had taken part in the competition, all the spectators who had c o m e t o w a t c h , To n y Lear for running the competition, and Bryan Hughes and John Fitzgerald for the upkeep and management of the carpet and equipment.
Almeria Bowling Club Avalon 3-2-1 Challenge Cup THE competition was open to Cabrera, Indalo, Mojacar, Almeria and Zurgena bowling clubs, and Almeria Bowling Club was disappointed only three teams from Indalo Bowling Club made up the total 12 teams in the draw. This year held on October 28 and 29, the competition is played with a 3-2-1 round-robin format, teams of three players playing six ends of triples, six of pairs and finally six ends of singles over a set period of two hours, the players drawn into two groups. The winners of each group play each other in the final and the runners-up play for third and fourth place. The winners were a mixed team from Almeria Bowling Club (ALBC) and Cabrera. Keith Minnett, Eileen Ritson
A N E W LY f o r m e d r u n ning group is calling on active people to join them. El Bandido Runners was formed a few months ago by Mojacar resident Kevin Rowe, who describes himself as a 60+ year old into triathlon and other similar sports. Kevin says the aim of the group is to bring together like-minded active people every Saturday morning for a free 5km
WINNERS: Austin Crilly, Eileen Ritson and Keith Minnett
(ALBC ) and former Almeria player Austin Crilly from Cabrera against an Indalo team of John Henworth, Richard and Lois Swaine. This game went to the wire when scores were level as they were at 1414. A triple was played to determine the winners in the third and fourth play-off Sylvia Pritchard, Colin Wright and Reg Birmingham lost by two points to Cath and Graham Patrick with Wayne Roberts. Almeria Bowling Club Captain Reg Birmingham thanked Roy Ritson for his excellent scoring software, Jenny Birmingham for helping with collating scores, Tony Lear for running the competition, all the players plus the many spectators.
El Bandido Runners calling active people
ACTIVE: A group from El Bandido Runners will be taking part in a 7km race next Sunday in Mojacar.
run, jog or walk along Mojacar Playa’s seafront promenade. Kevin says El Bandido Runners is growing as a group and aims to create in Mojacar the first ParkRun, a UK and worldwide free community event for all runners, joggers and walkers. Members of the group will also be putting their best running feet forward next Sunday in the City of Mojacar 7th Half Marathon and 7km race.
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Motoring
9th - 15th November 2018
Jaguar Land Rover expands to Slovakia J
AGUAR Land Rover has this week opened its state-of-the-art €1.4bn (£1bn) manufacturing facility in Nitra, Slovakia, the first time a UK automotive company has opened a plant in this country. With the heart and soul of its business in the UK, Jaguar Land Rover ’s investment in Nitra marks the latest step in the company’s global expansion strategy, following the opening of its Chinese joint venture in 2014 and Brazilian plant in 2016, supported by contract manufacturing in India
from 2011 and Austria from 2017. The creation of new international factories allows them to offer its customers even more exciting new models, protect against currency fluctuations and support a globally competitive business. On the opening, Professor Ralf Speth, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover said: “Global businesses require global operational footprints. While J a g u a r L a n d R o v e r ’s heart and soul remain firmly anchored in the UK, expanding internationally enriches and strengthens our UK
Photo credit: Jaguar Press Room
STATE-OF-THE-ART: The new Jaguar Land Rover plant in Nitra.
business. “The opening of our next generation manufacturing plant in Nitra, Slovakia, represents the start of a new era in manufacturing for Jaguar Land Rover. “It is the latest milestone in our long-term globalisation programme and the culmination of four years planning. “As with our
existing manufacturing facilities located in the UK, China, Brazil, India and Austria, this hightech plant in Slovakia will complement and support our corporate, R&D and engineering functions currently based in the UK.” Jaguar Land Rover currently employ around 1,500 people in STRIKING a balance between long-distance comfort and good oldfashioned driving enjoyment is difficult, so most manufacturers aim somewhere in the middle. The Jaguar F-Type is a conventional two-seater, available with a four-cylinder, six-cylinder, or eight-
Nitra, 98 per cent are Slovak nationals and 30 per cent are women. It will launch a second phase of local recruitment in November for an additional 850 people to join the worldclass team in Nitra. All manufacturing employees have taken part in a bes pok e 12- week training programme in
the first overseas academy, representing an investment of €7.5 million. Europe has the largest number of Jaguar Land Rover retailers with almost 800 outlets in 42 countries. Since the beginning of 2018, they have sold more than 94,000 vehicles in Europe.
Jaguar F-Type: Bold and beautiful cylinder engine, and with a hard or convertible roof. It comes with either rear-wheel drive or all-
wheel drive and, if you opt for the range-topping SVR versions, it reaches supercar levels of performance. Prices start at around €56,000 and soar to €147,000, but Jaguar sells about 10,000 of these cars every year. The P380 soft top has a limited-slip differential and adaptive dampers, alongside the turbocharged V6 that gives it 375bhp and 460Nm of thrust. It costs around €81,000 in this form, the R-Dynamic trim, and comes with beefy brakes and a range of visual adornments to let everybody know it’s a high-spec model. It is a beautiful car to drive and is arguably the best-handling convertible on the market. Overall, this Jaguar is a jack-of-all-trades which strikes a balance between sports car, grand tourer and boulevardier.
Motoring
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9th - 15th November 2018
The fastest McLaren ever built MCLAREN Automotive has revealed the stunning, streamlined form and sensational specification of the McLaren Speedtail.
T
he next chapter in McLaren’s Ultimate Series, the Speedtail is the first ‘HyperGT’ from the pioneering B r i t i s h company recognised for producing luxury sportscars and supercars that deliver extraordinary driving experiences. The Speedtail can achieve the highest maximum speed of any McLaren to date, reaching 403 km/h (250mph), and will deliver an unprecedented blend of contemporary craftsmanship, materials, innovation and bespoke personalisation. Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Automotive said: “McLaren has never built a vehicle like the Speedtail before. As our first ‘Hyper-GT’, the Speedtail is the ultimate McLaren road car; a fusion of art and science that com-
Photo credit: McLaren Press Room
AERODYNAMIC: The new McLaren Speedtail has been unveiled.
bines an astonishing maximum speed with an iconic central-driving position and a truly pioneering approach to bespoke personalisation. “A ground-breaking hybrid powertrain sits within a lightweight carbon fibre body reminiscent of sleek ‘streamliners’ that once set world speed records, while the luxurious three-seat cockpit offers a sublime combination of an incredible driving experience, unmatched individualism and innovative materi-
als never seen before in a road-going vehicle.” As the most powerful and most aerodynamically drag efficient McLaren, the Speedtail can exceed the 243mph record peak speed of the legendary McLaren F1, made possible by intense collaboration between McLaren’s design and engineering teams to deliver a peerless blend of aerodynamic, powertrain and dynamic excellence.
It is also significant that this is the first of 18 new cars that McLaren will introduce a s p a r t o f i t s Tr a c k 2 5 business plan. A speed of 403km/h (250mph) is achieved i n a u n i q u e Ve l o c i t y mode, developed specifically for the Speedtail. Ve l o c i t y m o d e o p t i mises the hybrid powertrain for high-speed running, whilst tailoring the angle of the active rear ailerons. Additionally, the digi-
tal rear-view cameras can be retracted to further improve drag. Furthermore, the Velocity Active Chassis Control can lower the Speedtail by 35mm, leaving the highest
point of the vehicle just 1,120mm from the road surface. Just 106 will be created and are already reserved, at a price of from £1.75 million plus tax.