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COSTA BLANCA NORTH

9th - 15th March

Photo credit: Zarateman Wikimedia

Motorway crash causes major traffic jam HUNDREDS of vehicles were held up after a collision on the A-70 motorway close to the exit for the University of Alicante. The tailbacks stretched for a number of kilometres and the vehicles were stood still for at least 30 minutes until the carriageways were cleared of the resulting crash debris. The accident involving three cars and a delivery van took place at the height of the Spanish rushhour just before 8pm. Even though all sections of the emergency services were called to the scene, there were no injuries reported.

Issue 959

INSIDE THIS WEEK ... Pupils and staff trapped after snowstorm

INTERCONNECTED: New TRAM stop to be connected to Benidorm bus station.

Work begins on Benidorm transport hub By Darren Parmenter THE Valencian Community government has set in motion the timetable for Benidorm to get its major transport hub. The programme of works to build a station that connects the bus and TRAM stations on the outskirts of the city have begun in recent days following an investment of close to €3.2 million by the regional railway authorities, Ferrocarrils de

la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV). A subsidy of 50 per cent of the building works has come from European Union funds, although this is dependent on the new Benidorm station being completed before December 31 if part of the grant isn’t to be lost. Digging has already started on the site and should last for four months. The new station could be operational in midAugust and during the busiest period of the year for Benidorm.

Once the building has been completed, the current stop of ‘Disco Benidorm’ that supplies some of the popular night spots will be closed down. The project also included the electrification of the TRAM route as it passes through a large part of Benidorm. It is understood the planned works will not affect the current TRAM service; a service that continues to see a number of disruptions and replacement bus routes due to ongoing renovation work.

Two hours to get a piggy back!

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9th - 15th March

Benidorm points the finger Photo credit: Zarateman Wikimedia

MODERN technolog y used to register the comings and goings of municipal employees in Benidorm is to undergo a series of further tests. T hree months ago, 27 special fingerprint readers were installed in its locations on a trial period t o a c t a s a c l o c k- i n / clock-out system for the 800 workers... but many still ‘forget’ to register. T he or ig inal plan was to have the system fully operational by Februar y but, apar t from the ‘ human’ issues, the testing period has been extended due to a number of failures in the computer system. I t ’s u n d e r s t o o d t h a t some of them will not be resolved until the middle

TOUCHING: Penalties to be issued for not using the technology.

of this month at least. Following many years of promising to bring in a

system of control, it was brought in last November with an original

timetable of 15 to 30 days of testing , but a number of different technical issues arose and delayed the full implementation of the scheme. During the test period, it’s been discovered that one employee has never once registered their atte n d a n ce , a l t h o u g h i t ’s understood that this isn’t d u e to a ny te c h n i c a l i s sues... just his apparent refusal to use the system.

However, once fully operational, employees not using the fingerprint recognition technology as expected will need to work the ‘missing’ hours o r h av e t h e m d e d u c t e d from their salary. An application is being developed to allow each employee to be sent a week ly e-mail detailing their hours and the times their prints were recorded.

‘Heartless’ fire engine thieves THIEVES have robbed a number of firefighters as they attended a fatal car accident which killed three people and injured five others. The incident took place on the A-7 in Benissa in January, but has only just been made public. According to reports in the Spanish press, the heartless thieves stole a number of tools from the fire engines sent from Denia while the crews were in the process of trying to free the trapped crash victims. It was during the chaos of the crash the thefts took place. The weather conditions were dreadful and five vehicles were involved in the accident. Two of the three people who died were hit by an approaching car as they got out of their car to help one of the occupants of another vehicle. It’s understood the tools stolen are the kind used to break in to properties. Once the thefts were realised, an official complaint was made by Denia Fire Brigade to the Guardia Civil.

9th - 15th March Photo credit: PxHere

PROMOTION: Plaza España is one of the stations that will feature Denia.

Madrid targeted in Denia tourism push by Carol Palmer THE municipality of Denia is doing its very best to promote itself across the countr y in a n e f fo r t to at t ra c t more Spanish tourists. T he i r l ate s t i n i t i a t i ve i s a c a m p a i g n to promote the northern Costa Blanca destination on the Madrid metro across the capital’s principal stations. T h e y s t a r te d t h e promotion at the end o f Fe b r u a r y a n d i s planned to last for one m o n t h . P h o to g ra p h s a n d p o s te r s w i l l b e found in the following s t at i o n s: Ave n i d a America, A to c h a Renfe, Nuevos Ministerios, Plaza Castilla, Bilbao, Alonso Martinez, Goya, Nuñez de Balboa, Diego de Leon, A r g u e l l e s , G re g o r i o Marañon, Plaza de España, Cuzco, Santiago B e r n a b e u , A to c h a , P r í n c i p e d e Ve r g a ra , M a n u e l B e ce r ra , A r turo Soria, Guzman el Bueno, Retiro and Republica Argentina. Three special designs under the heading of ‘ Viva Denia es otra vida’ (Live Denia it’s another life) have been made for the campaign which were first used during a similar exercise last year. The 2018 promotion p ro m i s e s to b e m o re p ro m i n e n t a n d w i l l push Denia as a destination with an excellent quality of life that i s a l w ay s i n co n t a c t w i t h i t s n at u ra l s u r roundings and famous for its gastronomy.

Pupils and staff trapped after snowstorm by Darren Parmenter FORTY-NINE students and four teachers from the IES Historista Chabas in Denia became trapped in their shelter during a visit to the Sierra Nevada thanks to a ver y heavy snowstorm. The blizzard made the road that leads up to their centre impassable and in the process buried a number of cars and other vehicles. Some of the snow even reached the first floor of the building; in fact, up to three metres of snow had fallen and forced the students and staff to get out the shovels and try to dig out the cars. Speaking to the Spanish media, one of the teachers said: “We have plenty of food and drink and everyone is fit and well. The snowfall was impressive!” He went on to

Photo credit: Emilio J Rodriguez Wikimedia

SNOWBOUND: Conditions on the Sierra Nevada described as ‘hellish.’ trip that takes advantage of explain that with the road cut the snow and low temperaoff they don’t know when tures to carry out a number of they’ll be able to leave their exercises and special outwardbase. However, snow ploughs were already on the scene and bound training. with the sun beaming down This year’s storm caught everyone by surprise and was on Wednesday, they hoped to be able to get out in time for described as ‘hellish,’ although a spokesperson said their return to Denia scheduled for today (Friday). that it’s been the best year in The group had travelled to terms of conditions to enable the ski resort in the Granada the various activities to be carried out. Province for their once-a-year

Council introduces ‘traditional’ communication by David Bennett TAKING into account that not everyone has access to the internet or connected to the multitude of social networking, the Teulada-Moraira Council is launching a magazine. The first issue has just been published and will be out and about every month with the aim of reaching every resident and improving communication between the council and the people. Mayor Carlos Linares said the magazine will feature the cultural programmes organised by the council and different local associations, as well as information on council activities and news coming out of the town hall. It is also planned to have articles of interest and regular photographs showing the history of the municipality. The back page will have a list of emergency telephone numbers and other useful contacts.

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Local help for Central American project Photo credit: Javea.com

AS a new year began in January, one of the Spanish residents of Pedreguer saw a new challenge to build on his many fundraising achievements to help those in need. But these people aren’t local... they are thousands of kilometres away in a region of the Central American country of Guatemala. In 2017, and thanks to Jordi and his team, a school was built to cover many of the small towns in this particular region of Guatemala such as Maguey, El Baul, Pinito, and Pirogue. The team of people that travel with Jordi also trek up to the mountain villages to monitor the day-to-day health needs of the people especially the many children and to check the quality of the levels of chlorine in the water supply. Because of what they found, the challenge for 2018 was originally planned to as-

PROJECT: Pedreguer has previously supported the children of Guatemala.

sist with certain specialised medical supplies. However, that all changed when it was discovered that Pedreguer was behind the school project last year and some of the teachers asked for help towards a day nursery.

And so, Jordi and his team have agreed to help with the purchase of building materials, but it would be left to the parents to run the project after its completion. If you would like to contribute to the Guatemala

2018 campaign with a small donation, collection points are available at the Pedreguer health centre, El Bar, Avenida La Musical and El Casal Jaume I. The deadline is on Thursday .

Road safety reviewed OVER the past few weeks, Javea Council has been undertaking a detailed study on how to improve road safety in the municipality. Much of the work has been concentrated on increasing visibility at pedestrian crossings, as well as the areas that have been identified as being the most dangerous. Councillor Kika Mata announced to the Spanish media that “we are studying the possibility of installing floodlights to illuminate the crossings. These will supplement the speed bumps and zebra crossings that have already been installed.” Mata stressed that her department is working on a number of solutions to control the increasing problems of speeding drivers. “We’re looking at whether it will be necessary to carry out a number of public awareness campaigns, since it’s become clear that the speed limits on our roads are not being respected by all drivers.” She accepted that despite all the measures already in force, none of them are effective if people disobey the speed limits. In response to many requests from local residents, the municipality plans to increase the number of speed limit signs that are painted on the road to reinforce the existing roadside signposts.

9th - 15th March

Two hours to get a piggy back! Photo credit: @WLKY Twitter

by Dave Bennett TWELVE members of the Local Police in Alicante were called to an unusual disruption in the city’s cemetery. One of the Vietnamese pigs that are often seen in areas close to the cemeter y appears to have entered via the front gate, strolled around, and began to d i g a ro u n d s o m e o f t h e g rave stones. It took more than two hours for the police to catch the pig and prevent it from doing more damage to the final resting places of many. Even though the Vietnamese pigs are well-known in the surroundings of the Vial de los Cipreses, it is unheard of for them to stray into the nearby cemetery. The alarm was raised when a woman was tending to her family plot when she spotted one of the pigs running between the graves and started to dig the earth around them. The Local Police cars arrived at the scene to catch the animal to stop it doing further damage, especially as some of the graves being attacked had been quite recently laid and contained loose soil. A s the officers tr ied to catch the pig, many visitors to the cemetery at

VISITING: Vietnamese pig caught after two hours on the loose. first believed they were part of a film set, such was the comedy unveiling before their eyes at the various unsuccessful attempts to capture the animal. Alicante City Council has tried to co n t ro l t h e p ro l i fe rat i o n o f V i e t -

n a m e s e p i g s i n t h e a re a w h i c h a re known to be a species that reproduces in vast numbers. Back in December 2017 they rounded up a dozen of all different sizes and took them to the nearby Animal Protectorate in Bacarot.

Successful weekend of drug finds INTENSIVE controls and searches for drugs by the National Police in Alicante have borne fruit with the arrests of four people, aged between 33 and 54. They were detained as part of a concentrated operation by both plain clothed and uniformed branches of the National Police in two of the main bar and leisure areas of the city over the weekend, that have a history of a wide range of narcotic substances being bought and sold. In the first intervention, officers spotted a man behaving suspiciously on a corner between two of the main streets in the city. They suspected that they were about to witness a ‘drug pass’ which sees someone approach the dealer, and after exchanging a few words being given a package in exchange for money. At the point of the exchange, they were surprised by the officers where an amount of cocaine, marihuana and ecstasy pills were discovered on them. There was also a supply of cash made up of €5, €10 and €20 notes. The other arrests came at a traffic control point on one of the main roads that enter Alicante. Ten grams of speed and cocaine, two grams of marihuana and six ecstasy pills - also with a large amount of cash - were uncovered in plastic bags hidden under the passenger seat. Other drugs were eventually found under an insole of a shoe worn by one of those detained.

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Photo credit: Stephen Lilley Flickr

by Dave Bennett ORGANISATIONS representing homeless people in Alicante have announced that there are 195 people sleeping rough on the city’s streets. One of their demands is that local social housing policy is improved in order to provide solutions to the problems of homeless people in general. The report has been made by the Homeless Meet Up campaign, which is part of a European movement aimed at eradicating homelessness by 2020. During three days of campaigning, 182 volunteers toured 33 areas of Alicante City, locating the people who sleep on the street and interviewing them. This is the most exhaustive study that has been done so far on the situation of homeless people in the city and in the opinion of those responsible, the figures are ‘worrying’. They found that 20 per cent have been living on the streets for more than five years. Around 42 per cent of those questioned said they had been the victims of aggressive behaviour, both verbal and physical.

Photo credit: JPOK Wikimedia

Rough sleeping figures ‘worrying’

WORRYING: Difficult for homeless to return to normality.

Fidel Romeo, a spokesperson for the campaign organisers said: “The more time a person spends on the street, the more difficult it is for them to escape from such a lifestyle. If they spend six months without a home, it can be three years to leave the streets. It just makes it harder and harder for people to return to

any form of normal life.” The survey found that 91 per cent of people using Alicante City’s streets as their homes are men and the average age is 47. It was discovered that 30 per cent originate from Alicante, 30 per cent from other parts of Spain and the remaining 40 per cent from other countries.

GROWTH: Alicante City (pictured) leading the demand for property.

House sales boom... but still short of pre-crisis levels SALES of homes in Alicante City centre have grown twice as much as the rest of the province over the past 12 months. The overall total of 5,773 transactions during 2017 was an increase of 26 per cent on year-onyear figures, and published in a report by Solvia, part of the Banco Sabadell. Across the Alicante Province as a whole, the increase in sales was 13 per cent. The increased demand has begun to filter through to an increase in prices, which rose by 4.1 per cent in the city and more than the average across the country. Despite the increases, the average costs per square metre are still a long way away from the maximum achieved before the bubble burst. In fact, the cost is 31.6 per cent lower than it was in 2007.

9th - 15th March Photo credit: Google Maps

BLAST: One worker was slightly injured in the Benidorm restaurant.

Gas explosion rocks tourist zone by Mark Rogers ONE person was injured in Benidorm when several butane gas cylinders exploded in a restaurant.

The alarm was raised after the explosion on Avenida de Cuenca at 11.30am on Tuesday morning in the popular ‘Brit bar zone.’ A number of firefighters were

deployed to the scene and on arrival found the front windows of ‘Dave’s Chippy’ blown out. As a precaution the fire brigade from the Benidorm

Fire Station evacuated surrounding premises in a 150-metre radius and cordoned off the area. Traffic was also blocked off until the area was declared safe. According to initial reports in the Spanish press, the gas bottles exploded for unknown reasons when they were being handled by one of the members of staff. It is understood that the worker involved in the explosion has been slightly injured and was treated at the scene without the need to take them to hospital.

International Women’s Day celebrations DOZENS of women gathered in Denia to raise their voices and demand equality. The march was part of a series of advanced events that have been organised to celebrate International Women’s Day yesterday (Thursday) across the Marina Alta / Baixa region and beyond, to fight the wage gap between men and women and the increase in gender violence. The estimated 200 women left the Glorieta del País Valencià and ended up at the Plaça del Convent where they sought as much support as possible for the strike planned for yesterday that encouraged all women wherever they work, even housewives - to stop for the day. The programme of special events to commemorate International Women’s Day continues today (Friday) with a meeting for the women of the Marina Baixa in Finestrat, and next Friday, March 16 the Casa del Cultura in Alfas del Pi will be hosting a presentation by author Francis Deusa. Her latest work features a woman who continually finds herself in relationships full of physical abuse which leads to serious bouts of depression. Friday March 23 - at 8pm - the Espai Cultural Escoles Velles in Alfas del Pi will host a talk on the struggle for equality and the feminist movements of the 20th century by Maria Àngels Frances Díez. Finally, which also coincides with World Consumer Rights Day, a talk takes place at the headquarters of the Association of Housewives, Consumers and Users of Alfas on Wednesday March 28 at 6.30pm.

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Having the wine of their lives BENISSA is currently holding a competition to discover the very best of wines. The contest - Mostra Gastronomica de Benissa is now into its 18th year and Benissa, a town with a great tradition of wine production, is about to find out which is their best wine and who is the best producer. The red wines have to be made from indigenous grape varieties that include bobal, tempranillo, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and pinot noir. The whites are produced from the muscatel, malvasia and marseguerra vines.

Alleged abuse COMPLAINTS have been made to the Marina Alta animal protectors who are ‘outraged’ at the alleged treatment of a number of dogs in Benidoleig. According to reports in the Spanish media, the Podenco hunting dogs were discovered confined in a cage which was full of excrement, and a formal case for possible animal abuse has been put before the courts. It is understood that photographs taken haven’t shown enough evidence to justify disciplinary proceedings, although the owner of the dogs has been given 15 days to provide a vet’s report on the health of his animals.

Rough sleeping figures high O R G A N I S AT I O N S representing homeless people in Alicante have announced that there are 195 people sleeping rough on the city’s streets. One of their demands is that the local social housing policy is improved in order to provide effective solutions to the problems of homeless people in general.

Flat as a fruitcake? A BR I T I SH man who lives in Benidorm has launched an innovative challenge on both his YouTube and Facebook profiles. Howard George Stirrup has offered €10,000 for photographic evidence that the world is round and not, as he believes, flat.

According to a report in the Spanish media , a condition of getting the reward is proof ‘ that we really do live on a sphere’. He has constantly disbelieved the images that NASA produce of Earth and doubts that men ever walked on the moon.

9th - 15th March Photo credit: Nacho Wikimedia

EXTENDED: Correos will continue normal deliveries until October 31.

Famous yellow bikes to be seen less by Dave Bennett SPAIN’S postal service, Correos, has been persuaded to continue with its door-to-door deliveries in parts of Denia... at least until November. Originally the service was due to cease last Monday, but agreement has now been reached between the town hall and Correos to allow more time for the multi-user postboxes to be installed. The affected zones are Les Rotes, Les Marines, Les Deveses, La Pedrera and Montgo. However, people living in the five areas listed will continue to receive registered/certified

letters, urgent mail, parcels, express post, and money orders as the measure only affects what is classed as ‘ordinary mail’. Correos informed the locals that this was going to take effect back in October and November last year - by letter - and that the deadline for the postboxes to be installed was March 5. Similar measures had to be taken in Calpe albeit for slightly different reasons - when 16 urbanisations throughout the municipality were going to suffer disruption to their deliveries as the Correos service informed residents that, because of a lack of properties in certain areas, the day-to-day service wasn’t viable.

Sports facilities facing legal challenge THE future of a sports area in San Vicente del Raspeig is now in doubt following a complaint from a local resident. The complainant has threatened to go to court if the municipality doesn’t reverse the recent work that saw a sports field constructed. San Vicente del Raspeig has already invested €45,800 in the project to adapt the site and use artificial grass in response to demands from many of the local population who want a sporting area. However, the neighbour at the centre of the dispute has stated that the land is ‘educational’ and should be returned to its original state. When the pitch was installed last December by the municipality, the local neighbourhood association also protested that it wasn’t what they wanted, and didn’t expect it to be fitted out with recycled pieces of artificial grass. The matter was raised at a recent plenary council meeting by opposition Councillor Pachi Pascual, who asked why the opinions of the residents were not taken into account before the works were undertaken. In reply, Councillor Marilo Jorda denied that locals had been left on the sidelines and said they knew from the very beginning what was planned by the municipality.

9th - 15th March

Popular post on Facebook reaching 2,258 people with 25 reactions Man stabbed in Torremolinos ‘over political beliefs’ Gill Reynolds In the UK most people don’t care who their friends vote for, but here a certain party treat you like an enemy if you don’t vote for them. I have had tyres slashed, eggs thrown at the house and condoms put in the letter box with the oppositions name printed on them. Yes I do know who did these things and think it is so childish, this is because my ex was involved in politics.

Photo credit: Rhoda Bear Wikimedia

HAVE YOUR SAY

Waiting times for mammograms increase after AECC contract ends by Darren Parmenter WOMEN needing mammograms in the Alicante Province have, for many years, availed themselves of the service offered and organised by the well-known AECC charity. However, the contract with the Valencian Community government finished at the end of last year which had been in operation since 1994 and so since January the screenings will instead by carried out by the Ministry of Health.

@RTNNewspaper Most liked posts from this week • ‘Middle-aged’ man’s body found off the Orihuela coast

• Expat in Marbella to take on Everest for charity • Man stabbed in Torremolinos ‘over political beliefs’ • Farm dog attacker arrested in Costa Blanca

In Total 7,974 people reached 3,975 reactions

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• Benidorm bars reopen after suspected ‘gas leak’ and lockdown

TESTING DELAYS: Some women allegedly waiting up to three months for a mammogram. According to sources, including patients that have spoken to the Spanish media, this has seen the waiting times for mammograms increase to three months. The breast cancer screening programme is aimed at women aged 45 and over, and they are advised to get a mammogram ever y two years by way of regular monitoring. Until January, such tests were carried out in two points in the city of Alicante - in the AECC facility in Avenida Professor Soler and the Breast Cancer Prevention Unit in the Paseo de Campoamor - and annually saw a combined total of 70,000 women living in Alicante and surrounding municipalities. The AECC has always provided the mammogram service for free due to their link up with the Spanish Ministry of Health and thanks to the many thousands of euros raised at a number of various functions over the years and the non-compulsory donations made by people when they had the tests. The AECC has sent a letter to all its patients informing them of the change to the ser vice, and that the Ministry of Health will in future get in touch with the date and time of appointments.

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9th - 15th March

‘O’ dear! Driver caught for number plate change

Crime down in Alicante Province Photo credit: PxHere

by Mark Rogers by Darren Parmenter LOCAL POLICE in Alicante have traced a driver after he tried to disguise his number plate. The detained driver had altered his number plate using a piece of black masking tape to prevent him being caught on the speed cameras along the Avenida Universidad. His deception came to light after he passed through a speed trap back in January 2017 and his registration number was immediately captured on camera. However, once the Local Police tried to trace the vehicle, they discovered that it didn’t correspond to any car. The man’s biggest mistake was in trying to change the letter ‘C’ to an ‘O’. The letter ‘O’ is never used as part of a Spanish number plate under the system in force since 2000, and so quickly roused suspicions of its tampering. They deduced that it was the ‘C’ that had been altered and so checked the revised plate and traced the owner at his address. When the officers arrived, they found the car displaying its original licence plate... but also found a roll of black tape in the car. The defendant is now facing trial at a criminal court in Alicante where an eight-month prison sentence and a fine of €1,400 is being sought.

APART from sex-related issues, crimes across the Alicante Province have red u ce d i n t h e p a s t 1 2 m o n t h s a n d a re a m o n g the lowest across Spain. In general terms, crimes and misdemeanours in t h e p ro v i n ce fe l l b y 1 . 1 per cent - dropping from 91,352 in 2016 to 90,343 l a s t ye a r - a l t h o u g h a c cording to the official figures released by the Spani s h Ho m e O f f i ce , s e x crimes have jumped by almost 10 per cent. Throughout the Valencian Community, that figure was only up by 0.4 per cent, suggesting Alicante is at the centre of such offences. T he repor t shows that 4 6 4 s e x- re l ate d c r i m e s were investigated in 2016, a figure that increased to 510 for last year. T hese

FALLING: Violent robberies among the biggest recorded drops.

co ve r s e x u a l a b u s e , h a rassment, assault, exhibitionism and provocation. R ape cases totalled 54 and an 11.5 per cent fall compared to the previous year’s figures. T here was a reduction in murder cases too in the Alicante Province, with 10 i nve s t i g ate d i n 2 0 1 7 a g a i n s t 1 6 t h e ye a r b e -

fo re , a d ro p o f 3 7 . 5 p e r cent. In other detailed figures, robberies and robberies with violence have also shown significant dec l i n e s o f a ro u n d 1 1 p e r cent in both cases. Vehicle t h e f t s w e re a l s o d o w n 18.3 per cent. For individual municipalities, the overall crime

rate s h ave i n c re a s e d i n Santa Pola (4.9 per cent), D e n i a ( 1 . 9 p e r ce n t ) , Elche (1.5 per cent), and Villajoyosa (1 per cent). At the other end of the scale, crime fell in Torrevieja (-4.9 per cent), Orih u e l a ( - 4 . 6 p e r ce n t ) , Benidorm (-3.1 per cent) a n d S a n V i ce n te d e l Raspeig (-1.1 per cent).

9th - 15th March Photo credit: Zarateman Wikimedia

REPLACED: Spanish and other EU tourists fill void of ‘missing’ Brits in Benidorm.

Hotel stays not affected by drop in UK tourists by Dave Bennett DESPITE popular tourist airline Monarch going out of business and a noticeable drop of 5 per cent of overnight stays by British tourists, Benidorm has increased its February hotel occupation by four points. Figures published by HOSBEC for the month showed a 78 per cent occupancy rate, and much of the rise has been attributed to the pull of more homegrown Spanish tourism. This demographic had seen a decline during 2017 but a change in holiday habits from Spaniards has seen the levels return.

Rubbish price paid for building boom THE fight back against the illegal dumping of rubbish in San Juan de Alicante has begun. The municipality has issued their warning following the increased amount of rubbish generated by an equal rise in the amount of both construction and demolition projects in the area. The residue has found its way onto more illegal dumping grounds or has simply been left around the usual household rubbish containers. San Juan’s mayor, Jaime Albero, said that the areas close to the Rio Seco and near to the cemetery have witnessed the biggest increases.

President of HOSBEC - the hoteliers association - Tony Mayor said that “the experience that goes beyond the sun and the beach make Benidorm one of the most popular winter tourist destinations along with the Canary Islands.” Airport managers AENA have noticed that the drop in the UK market can also be attributed to the resurgence of Turkey and Egypt as holiday destinations after their terrorism issues of recent times. The ‘missing’ British tourists have been compensated by the increase in not only Spanish visitors, but those from Belgium and the Netherlands. The hotel occupancy forecast for March is estimated at 78.9 per cent.

Helicopter rescues in high demand IN the latest of a number of similar incidents in Alicante Province, a 28-year-old man has been rescued after suffering an accident when hiking. This time, it happened in the Cabeco d’Or area of the municipality of Busot, and required the assistance of the San Vicente del Raspeig helicopter service, when it was discovered access by normal means would be impossible.

Pavement renewal gets actioned JAVEA Town Council has put out to tender the programme of works for the renewing of the pavements along Avenida Dels Furs, where the sports centre and the Guardia Civil HQ are found. The budget for the project has been set at €207,101.

9th - 15th March

Marina Alta’s roads paved with euromillions Photo credit: Jesus Huarte Vigo Wikiloc

M ANY of the municipalities in the Marina Alta have seen high deposits of rain - and even snow - over the past few weeks. Now, t h a n k s to a m a j o r i n j e c t i o n o f funds from regional governments, it’s money that is about to rain down on the area’s roads A joint investment from both the Valencian gover nment and t h e A l i c a n t e P ro v i n c e w i l l s e e multimillion road improvements across the re g ion and includes projects that will benefit Benissa , Lliber, B eni arbeig , Ond ara and Orba. These were detailed as part of t h e 2 0 1 8 - 1 9 R o a d S a fe t y P ro g ramme presente d in Valenci a by Minister Maria Jose Salvador, in a 252-page document that established where the highest concentration of accidents are, and thus where the priorities are to act. Ten sections of road have been highlighted in the Marina Alta,

with four of them selected due to their higher than average accident rates. T w o a re o n t h e C V- 7 0 0 , a n d one each on the CV-715 and the CV-724. In detail, the roads to benefit f ro m t h e p ro g ra m m e o f w o r k s are: C V - 7 0 0 ( B e n i r r a m a - L’A t z u bi a), CV-700 (Pe go-E l Verger), CV-715, (Murla-Orba), CV-724 ( Pe d r e g u e r - L a X a r a ) , C V - 7 1 5 (Parcent), the intersection CV720 with CV-750 (Alcalali), CV724 (cro ssing of L a X ara), CV725 (AP-7 exit from Ond ara to Deni a), CV-726 (B enissa), CV750 and the CV-721.

UPGRADES: The CV-715 in Parcent (pictured) is one of the areas to benefit from road millions.

SPOTLIGHT ON MORAIRA

9th - 15th March

Grants available to be a good sport

Pilgrimage from France arrives to pay homage A DELEGATION of 44 people are making a pilgrimage from Vannes in France, in honour of San Vicente Ferrer. Celebrating its 600th anniversary, the pilgrims are accompanying the Bishop of Vannes and during eight days are visiting Peñíscola, Valencia, San Antonio de Benageber, La Pobla de Vallbona, Liria and Teulada Moraira, where they are due to arrive today (Friday). They will be welcomed at the town hall and will attend a mass at the church of Santa Catalina Martir where the relict of San Vicente Ferrer is kept.

COUNCILLOR Rosana Caselles has announced the Teulada-Moraira contribution to women’s week that is being celebrated across the world. She described the programme of events as “commemorating the fight of women for integration and equal rights in our society.” It will showcase the work that is accomplished by women and at the same time make more people aware of the other fight for women... that of eradicating gender violence. The programme began yesterday lunchtime (Thursday) with a reading of the manifesto in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento and continued with an award ceremony to recognise the winner of the best poster design competition. The winning design is being used to promote the week of special events. Among a number of other

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Teulada Moraira

TEULADA-MORAIRA Town Council has announced that applications can now be made for grants paid to athletes that plan to compete in a number of different competitions both in and outside of the municipality. The council has put aside €5,000 to support athletes registered in Teulada-Moraira with the objective of encouraging more participation in competitive athletics. To qualify, they must fulfil any of the following categories. They must be a member of a sports federation, have previously competed in official championships of their chosen discipline, achieved a top-five ranking in Alicante Province in their category or have been selected by the Valencian Sports Federation.

Women’s week gets underway

FIGHTING: Rosana Caselles (second from left) at the launch of the programme of events.

events planned is a ‘Solidarity March’ to raise awareness of the AECC in Teulada on Sunday morning. All those taking part are meeting on Plaza VI Centenari at 11am, and

those wishing to register still have time by logging on to www.spmesport.com or in a number of shops in both Teulada and Moraira. Monday March 12 features

a lecture on ‘Women’s Power Today’ and will be held at the Salon de Plenos in Teulada Town Hall. All those attending will be given a free glass of wine.

9th - 15th March

Pilot home help scheme unveiled Photo credit: Public Domain

CLEANER: Just one of the services on offer.

by Carol Palmer MUNICIPALITIES right across the Alicante Province are shortly to benefit from a new pilot home help scheme. Specifically, there will be 17 localities which will be included in the first phase of the project aimed at those that contain between 10,000 and 20,000 inhabitants. The initiative was announced at a conference at the University of Alicante that will see people that need it receive help in their homes in everyday tasks. This would include assistance with cleaning, personal hygiene, administering medication, and even

bed-ridden residents that need to be moved around. Until now, such services have been carried out exclusively by private companies. From now on, it will be offered by the municipality as they will be better able to assess the needs of their own citizens and offer a more personalised service. Those in the Alicante Province to be part of the pilot scheme will be Albatera, Benissa, Callosa de Segura, Calpe, Cocentaina, Guardamar del Segura, Monovar, La Nucia, Rojales, Teulada, Pinoso, Algueña, La Romana, Hondon de los Frailes, Pego, L'Atzuvia and the Valls of Marina Baixa and Mariola.

To park or not to park RESIDENTS and businesses throughout the municipality of El Campello are still in limbo when it comes to parking or otherwise in front of the ‘vado’ signs. Regulations passed back in 2014 gave six months to change and update the existing signs that are dotted around the area. There are an estimated 2,000 and it’s also understood that a further number of business premises especially those lo-

cated on Calle San Ramon and on the El Messell industrial estate - should have them but don’t. Speaking to the Spanish media, mayor of Campello Benjami Soler said that a decision had been taken not to update 90 per cent of the no parking signs in one go, but will be done little by little as additions or modifications are requested by the users. The original plan was to spend €18,000 on the renovation

plan, but the mayor has now confirmed that the municipality has other and more urgent demands that make the renewal of the signs less of a priority. One of the main concerns is that many businesses in El Campello - especially workshops and garages - allegedly do not have the vado signs displayed when the revised 2014 bylaws suggest that a significant number need the official authorisation.

SPOTLIGHT ON CALPE

9th - 15th March

Expensive food thieves caught by the bill Photo credit: Public Domain Pictures

TWO people have been arrested for stealing food from a number of gourmet supermarkets in the municipality. T he pair are both Romanian, aged 40, and were stopped in Avenida Juan Carlos I by the Guardia Civil as they attempted to f lee the scene after committing a number of thefts. They were stopped at a junction when the suspects were recognised by the Guardia C ivil, and a thorough search of their car uncovered numerous bags full of expensive food products. The exclusive shopping list included beef tenderloins, smoked salmon, entrecote steaks, and cuttlefish, all washed down with bottles of liquor. The approximate value of the find was €500. The detained men couldn’t

GOURMET FOOD: Smoked salmon, just for starters, was among stolen products recovered.

produce any receipts for their possessions and so the Guardia Civil carried out a series of checks with supermarkets in the area to verify

the goods had been stolen. Their modus operandi was to go into the shop to buy a cheap food item, only to hide the stolen items un-

der their clothes. It is understood that the products weren’t for their own use but sold on to third parties at a significantly lower price

than they were being retailed for. The men are believed to have committed around 20 similar acts in the past.

Hands across the continent MANOS UNIDAS DE CALPE (Hands United of Calpe) is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a project against malnutrition in Peru. The organisation has recently opened its traditional street market, with the aim of raising funds for a programme to reduce both hunger issues and childhood anaemia in an area of Peru called Palcazu. This is the latest initiative of the Calpe association which has been participating in a number of schemes with developing countries since 1968. It hopes to raise €44,562 and that money will benefit an estimated 1,050 children.

Easter children’s workshop unveiled ONCE again, Calpe’s department of Education has launched an Easter workshop for children, with the objective of allowing their parents to carry on working during the school holidays. It will be held at the Casa del Cultura on April 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9 and runs from 9am to 2pm. The workshops are aimed at chil-

dren aged between four and 12 and parents/guardians have until next Friday to register at the Punt Jove in the Plaza Constitucion. The cost for the five days is €30. To r e g i s t e r, a c o p y o f t h e F a m i l y Book listing the child is required, photocopy of father ’s ID, the child’s health card and proof of bank income.

Mayor announces ‘people’s budget’ CALPE’S town council has finally approved the municipal budget for 2018, a total of €39,566,875. O ut of that fig ure, €4,653,275 will go to extra investments in the area. M ay o r C e s a r S a n c h e z

has described the budget as “balanced, responsible and committed to improving the life of the people living in Calpe.” He then went on to say that there are five main pillars of spending: em-

ployment, culture, sport, environment and education. In addition, the budget will allow for reducing municipal debt and continuing to modernise Calpe.

9th - 15th March

by Barry Duke

A WHILE back I wrote about 1881, a significant year in which the Fray Bentos meat company was formed and the atheist magazine for which I work - The Freethinker - was launched. Well 1881, I’ve just learned, also marked the first meeting of New York’s Thirteen Club. I made the discovery after a friend recently expressed dismay that the tower block in which I live has a 13th floor. “Oh my ears and whiskers,” said Geoff, “Don’t the Spanish know how unlucky that number is? His query immediately prompted some research, and I discovered that the Spanish do have a thing about floor levels; they eschew 17th floors because, according to the Elevatorpedia website, 17 is regarded as ‘the number of disgrace’ in Latin cultures. I rushed off to check our lifts, and sure enough 17 was omitted. In the eight years of my living here this was the first time I’d clocked the omission. Elevatorpedia also lists other ‘unlucky’ floor numbers. In Chinese culture, for example, fourth floors are omitted. I then found a 2015 BBC item that reported the establishment of the Thirteen Club, formed, appropriately, on September 13, 1881. It was ‘a gathering of jolly gents determined to defy all superstitions’.

Please bring back the Thirteen Club BBC’s Trevor Timpson wrote: “They met on the 13th of the month, sat 13 to a table, broke mirrors, spilled salt with exuberance and walked in to dinner under crossed ladders.” It was founded by Captain William Fowler and in April 1882 it adopted a resolution deploring the fact that Friday the 13th had ‘for many centuries past, been considered an unlucky day ... on unreasonable grounds.’ At the December 13, 1886 meeting of the club, a member - one of my favourite early American atheists, lawyer Robert Green Ingersoll - declared: “We have had enough mediocrity, enough policy, enough superstition, enough prejudice, enough provincialism, and the time has come for the American citizen to say: ‘Hereafter I will be represented by men who are worthy, not only of the great Republic, but of the 19th century’.” Earlier, in 1879, Ingersoll said - in words that resonate strongly today, especially in Trump’s America - “It will probably not be long until the churches will divide as sharply upon political, as upon theological questions; and when that day comes, if there are not liberals enough to hold the balance of power, this government will be destroyed. The liberty of man is not safe in the hands of any church. Wherever the Bible and sword are in partnership, man is a slave.”

MISSING: No 17th floor in this building. The horror Geoff expressed over our 13th floor reminded me of another example of superstition - an exceptionally bizarre one. Some years back a Greek neighbour in London asked whether I knew how to get rid of an owl that had taken up residence in a tree in her back garden.

She explained that her mother-in-law, on a short break from her home in Athens, had become aware of the bird, took it as a sign of bad luck, and was flatly refusing to travel back home. “It’s driving me nuts," she groused. “The superstitious old bat won’t budge from our house until the owl leaves.” “Well,” I replied, “it’s a protected species, so you can’t harm it, but I’m told if you shine a red light in its direction it may find itself a new location.” As if it sensed plans were being hatched to scare it off, the bird suddenly vanished, and the old lady was hurriedly bundled into a taxi and sent to Heathrow, a fortnight later than planned! There are a large number of cultures that associate owls with bad luck. The Owl Pages website informs us that superstitious Malayans believe that they ‘eat new-born babies’, that in Ireland ‘an owl that enters the house must be killed at once, for if it flies away it will take the luck of the house with it’ and that some in Poland believe married women turn into owls when they die. Single females become doves. My fervent wish is that a modern-day Captain Fowler will re-establish the Thirteen Club, and set up chapters across this superstitionplagued planet on which we live.

Beach gets extra playground Photo credit: Concepcion Amat Orta Wikimedia

PLAY ZONE: To be installed on the beach in Javea.

COLLABORATION between the Valencian Tourism Agency and the Valencian Community government has installed a children’s play zone on Javea’s Arenal beach. This increases the number of play areas to four, and the new playground has been located

close to the second group of palm trees and now prevents a long walk in between the existing fun areas. The latest addition - designed for children between three and seven-years-old - will have an open slide, hanging bars, and a climbing frame.

9th - 15th March Basic Spanish for everyday needs

by Jane Cronin

I HOPE you enjoyed reading the little text I wrote for you last week. I imagine that you will have been more interested in the actual content of the text rather than all the fiddly points of grammar, which of course is as it should be. However, if you had paid a little attention to the grammar as well, you may have noticed that I kept almost exclusively to the ‘recent past’ tense to talk about my experiences over the past year, for example: Este año he trabajado mucho. This year I have worked a lot. Una de mis hijas ha viajado a Sudamérica. One of my daughters has travelled to South America. Mi madre ha venido España. My mother has come to Spain. Mi gata ha tenido un año muy normal. My cat has had a very normal year. Este año no he visitado Gales. This year I haven’t visited Wales. These are fine as general statements which do not go into detail, but in real conversation it

Going into detail about recent events would be normal to elaborate more in each event, in which case we would almost certainly have to start using other past tenses. For example, I might start by saying something like: “I have been to the street market this week” as a kind of opening gambit, but if I needed to elaborate I would go on to say “I went to the San Pedro street market on Monday and I bought some oranges.” (I know, my conversations are riveting). I am switching from the ‘recent past’ tense (I have been to the market) to the ‘finished past’ tense (I went … I bought). In most Spanish courses you will find that this ‘finished’ past tense (often called the past simple, preterite or past historic tense) is not taught until quite a long way into a course. The reason is because is it one of the more difficult tenses to teach and learn with quite a lot of verb ending changes and a good dose of irregular forms. Therefore it is usual to get people confident using more straightforward and less complex tenses first. However, I think it is a good idea to learn just a few words in the ‘finished past’ tense so

that we can at least say a few basic things about our actions. It doesn’t mean that we are necessarily ready to bite off and chew the whole tense, but one or two basic words would be useful. So, let’s start with ‘I went’ and ‘I bought’. They are ‘I went’ - FUI, and ‘I bought’ - COMPRÉ. If you are unsure how to pronounce these, for FUI I would concentrate on the ‘i’ sound, making it fairly emphasized and close to the ‘ee’ sound in the English word ‘free’. In the case of COMPRÉ, notice there is an accent over the final ‘e’, making that the stronger sound. The ‘e’ in Spanish is pronounced like the English ‘e’ in ‘egg’. Now I can

say “He ido al mercadillo esta semana” (I have been to the street market this week - ‘ido’ is the past participle of ‘ir’, to go). Then I can go on to say “Fui al mercadillo de San Pedro el lunes y compré naranjas” (I went to San Pedro street market on Monday and I bought oranges). Another useful ‘finished past’ word is I saw, which is VI. Now we’re really flying, here’s our extended bit of conversation. “He ido al mercadillo esta semana. Fui al mercadillo de San Pedro el lunes y compré naranjas. Vi a mi amiga Mary y tomamos un café”. “I have been to the street market this week. I went to San Pedro street market on Monday and bought some oranges. I saw my friend Mary and we had a cup of coffee”. Finally, if you prefer to talk about ‘we’ rather than ‘I’, you can say “Hemos ido al mercadillo esta semana. FUIMOS al mercadillo del San Pedro el lunes y COMRAMOS naranjas. VIMOS a nuestra amiga Mary y TOMAMOS un café”. You will have noticed something else now, that the ‘we’ forms of ‘ar’ verbs are the same in the present and the past! One less thing to learn!

9th - 15th March Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force photo/Lt Col Leslie Pratt

by Michael Walsh

keyboardcosmetics@gmail.com MY jet-setting son suggested that he would welcome the onset of pilotless flying. Recoiling in horror, I heatedly replied that nothing would get me to board a computer-managed airliner. In fact, many air disasters result not from mechanical but from pilot error. It is possible to provide multi-backed up computer systems that virtually eliminate inflight failure. Alas, unlike computers, humans are much more likely to get it wrong. The real risk when travelling is our drive to and from the airport. Car and airliner accidents are rarely caused by mechanical failure, but invariably by driver failure. Initial investigations into the February 11 AN-148 air crash near Moscow reveal pilot error. The crash cost the lives of 71 people. It occurred because the pilots overlooked activating the instruments pre-heating procedure. This oversight led to confused speed displays, making a crash inevitable. Computers don’t forget such details. A little research into pilot error air disasters reveals an encyclopaedic list of catastrophes caused directly, or indirectly by

Error terror of air travel pilots making one or more mistakes. Of 275 pages detailing air accidents 200 pages listed those that had occurred as a consequence of pilot error. I fail as a number cruncher, but even I can figure out that four out of five air crashes are caused by stupid pilots. At this point I have decided not to board an airliner if beforehand I see pilots boarding their aircraft. This takes us back to the original question, would I be willing to board a pilotless airliner. There is no longer a need for the

cockpit. Now known as the flight deck it is similar to a superliner’s spare funnel and just for show. Having already experienced the horror of my flight running blindly into air turbulence, I recall the terror of fellow passengers. A lesson in human behaviour; the women shrieked and the children cried. The men, square jawed, gripped their seat’s armrest and closed their eyes in fervent prayer. As we later alighted most of us effusively thanked the pilots for getting us safely to our destinations. What we didn’t realise

MILITARY AIRCRAFT: Are currently pilotless.

was that as we did so the pilots whispered their thanks to the aircraft’s computers. I am still in a quandary and still haven’t answered my own question. ‘Michael, would you board a pilotless aircraft’. Sorry, the jury is still out on this one. Having said that, it is true that you can’t fix stupid as my wife and I have just decided to tour Europe, by car. I have tried the car’s automatic pilot but to be honest, her chattering, interference and misguided advice tends to make driver error much more likely.

Mike Walsh’s opinions are his own and do not necessarily represent the views of the publishers advertisers or sponsors.

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9th - 15th March

This island Earth

by Colin Bird

THE Oxford English Dictionary defines the word ‘progress’ as: ‘Development towards an improved or more advanced condition.’ But when cynics like me express concern about the development of artificial intelligence; the use of toxic pesticides and growth enhancers on our crops; increased usage of drugs in the management of disease, whilst often ignoring the importance of prevention, we stand accused of being enemies of progress. There are already warnings being voiced by worried members of the scientific community about the dangers of developing supercomputers that may well soon have the ability to out-think their creators and pose a real threat to human kind. It seems that the world of Arnie Schwarzenegger’s Terminator could well prove to be prophetic. Then we have the disgraceful but legal use of highly toxic chemicals used in maximising crop yields; poisons that remain in the crop after harvest and are passed down through the food

Photo Credit: Mumemories Shutterstock

The opinions published in Colin’s weekly column are not necessarily representative of those of the publishers, advertisers or newspaper sponsors.

TOXIC DAMAGE: We need to take action to save the planet.

chain, with the residue remaining in the soil for years. We see images of farmers suited up in protective clothing when ‘treating’ the land with this stuff and it does not take a genius to put two and two together and realise that, just maybe,

there is a link with this practice and the terrifying increase of many diseases, including cancers, that were once regarded as rare or even totally unheard of. But that’s alright because the pharmaceutical giants are there with yet an-

other wonder drug to manage the problem. Manage you note, not cure. Not as much profit in curing. And it’s perhaps no coincidence that these conglomerates are often the same businesses that produce the chemicals used to poison our land and rivers. The world’s wildlife has diminished by a staggering 58 per cent in the last 40 years. More than half of our land animals, birds, fish and insects wiped out, and almost entirely due to man’s greed, ignorance and misuse of our small island planet. There are species that have already become just a memory and can only be viewed by virtue of video records or mock-ups in museums, with many more at imminent risk of vanishing forever. Almost 8,500 by informed estimates and if we include plant species, it rises to a frightening 17,000. The real tragedy is that before the human race realises that the inevitable course it has set itself is beyond recovery, it will have systematically destroyed every other living creature on the planet, and not even the lowest form of life will have the benefit of a world without the pestilential presence of Homo sapiens. Photo Credit: Number 10 flickr

Bremain in Spain comments on Theresa May SUE WILSON, Chair of Bremain in Spain, said about T heresa May “While May publicly acknowledged that the UK cannot obtain everything it wants from any deal, she’s still under the delusion that the EU needs us as much as we need it. “She stated that we need to face hard facts and that ‘life is going to be different’. It was noticeable that she chose the word ‘different ’ rather than ‘better’, so she is no longer pretending that leaving the EU will be beneficial to the UK. “May listed five tests for Brexit: that it respects the referendum result; is a lasting solution; protects jobs; maintains an outward-looking, tolerant democracy and protects the unity of the United Kingdom.” Wilson continued: “Brexit itself, or at least May’s hard version of it,

would damage ever y one of her own tests. May’s insistence in respecting the ‘will of the people’ as of June 23, 2016, is no respecter of democracy or the people, if she only considers how they felt at that particular snapshot in time. “So many voters have reconsidered their feelings about leaving the EU, now that the true facts and ramifications are known. The ‘will of the people’ today is demonstrably different to how it was on referendum day and should not be ignored.” T he European Commission’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, tweeted: “I welcome Prime Minister Theresa May’s speech. Clarity about the UK leaving single market and customs union, and recognition of trade-offs, will inform European Council guidelines re future

PRIME MINISTER: Meeting with Guy Verhofstadt at Downing Street. free trade agreement.” The most scathing attack came from Guy Verhofstadt, who said: “Theresa May needed to move beyond vague aspirations. We can only hope that serious proposals have been put in the post. While I welcome the call for a deep and special par tnership, this cannot be achieved by putting a few extra cherries on the Brexit cake.” According to Wilson, “May’s red lines are tur ning pinker by the minute - she needs to wake-up and

accept that the EU has r ules in place to protect the integrity of the single market and its members, and that the UK is not a special case. “When questioned by a German repor ter on whether Brexit was wor th it , May gave her usual fudged non-answer. It is becoming increasingly clear, not least to the British public, that Brexit bears no resemblance to what many thought they were voting towards. “It seems unlikely that whatever

deal May manages to secure will have the support of parliament, so the chances of a referendum on the final deal are increasingly likely.” She then concluded her statement “May ’s latest catchphrase, ‘ambitious but practical,’ is just another meaningless sound bite. I have written to Number 10 with my own suggestion on a replacement, when they have run out of ideas. I think in relation to Brexit, ‘pointless and cancelled’ just about covers it.”

9th - 15th March

legal

My bank in the UK has asked me for my TIN number– what is this and why have they asked me for this?

Your Tax Identification Number (TIN) is your NIE number. Financial companies; including banks, building societies and investment companies ask for this, predominantly in relation to assets that you have outside of your country of residence. This exchange of information is

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3pm - EL CAMPELLO Let’s inform you seminar: Brexit Special Bernie’s Restaurant Reservation necessary

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9th - 15th March

money Airbus jobs threat EUROPEAN aeronautical corporation Airbus has confirmed it is to axe around 3,700 jobs in Europe. The move comes as the company cuts back production of its A380 and A400M planes. Airbus said jobs would be affected in the UK, Spain, France and Germany due to weak demand for the two aircraft. It added that from 2020, production of the A380 superjumbo, the world’s biggest passenger jet, would be slashed from eight to six. And only eight

troop-transporting A400Ms will be built, down from a projected 11 in 2019, with the troubled military project estimated to have built up losses totalling €8 billion. The firm said in a statement: “Airbus is committed to managing any implications for its workforce in a responsible manner, as already successfully demonstrated on various occasions in the past. “The company is confident that it will be able to propose opportunities to most of the affected employees through programmes which are ramping up.”

POOR SELLER : Clouds are gathering over the A380 project.

The A380 and A400M are Europe’s biggest budget civil and military aerospace projects but both have been plagued with issues. The former was almost shut down until a last minute €12.85 billion order for 16 of the jets from Dubai’s Emirates airline saved the project. Airbus said it hoped the order would help drive business with other airlines, which view the double-decker superjumbo as too expensive. The A400M has been hit by chronic delays.

Spain banks new economy minister SPANISH Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has appointed a new economy minister. Roman Escolano, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), is the man chosen to replace the outgoing Luis de Guindos, 58, who recently resigned to take on a new role as Vice-President of the European Central Bank. The 53-year-old from Zaragoza was sworn in to the post yesterday in Spanish capital Madrid, with King Felipe in attendance. He was named on the EIB’s management committee in 2014, before replacing the former socialist minister Magdalena Alvarez as vice-president after the latter was implicated in an Andalucia corruption scandal. Another - currently unnamed - Spaniard is set to fill the EIB role after he chose to accept the Spanish government position, according to the Ministry of Economy. It is the first major appointment of Rajoy’s muchcriticised second term, but has been widely slammed by opposition parties and unions due to the close personal relationship between Escolano and de Guindos. Unai Sordo, secretary general of the CCOO union, said that he fears that Escolano will seek to continue the work of de Guindos, ‘increasing social inequality.’

FRIDAY 12:00pm Wanted Down Under Revisited 12:45pm Caught Red Handed 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News at One 2:30pm BBC London News 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm Shakespeare and Hathaway 4:00pm Escape to the Country 4:45pm Coast and Country Auctions 5:30pm Antiques Road Trip 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm MasterChef 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Room 101 10:00pm Requiem 11:00pm BBC News at Ten 11:25pm BBC London News

8:15am Wanted Down Under Revisited 9:00am Back in Time for Tea 10:00am Victoria Derbyshire 12:00pm BBC Newsroom Live 1:00pm The Daily Politics 2:00pm Perfection 2:45pm Plan it, Build it 3:15pm Yes Chef 4:00pm A Place to Call Home 4:50pm A Place to Call Home 5:40pm More Creatures Great and Small 6:10pm Flog It! 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Great British Railway Journeys Goes to Ireland 8:00pm Saving Lives at Sea 9:00pm Mastermind 9:30pm Gardeners' World 10:00pm Putin: The New Tsar 11:00pm QI 11:30pm Newsnight

7:00am Good Morning Britain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:55pm ITV News London 3:00pm James Martin's American Adventure 4:00pm Tenable 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News London 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Love Your Garden 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Lethal Weapon 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:30pm ITV News London 11:45pm Piers Morgan's Life Stories

10:30am Melissa and Joey 11:00am How I Met Your Mother 11:30am How I Met Your Mother 12:00pm Brooklyn Nine-Nine 12:30pm Brooklyn Nine-Nine 1:00pm The Goldbergs 1:30pm The Goldbergs 2:00pm The Big Bang Theory 2:30pm The Big Bang Theory 3:00pm Melissa and Joey 3:30pm Melissa and Joey 4:00pm Baby Daddy 4:30pm Baby Daddy 5:00pm Brooklyn Nine-Nine 5:30pm Brooklyn Nine-Nine 6:00pm The Goldbergs 6:30pm The Goldbergs 7:00pm The Big Bang Theory 7:30pm The Big Bang Theory 8:00pm Hollyoaks 8:30pm My Hotter Half 9:00pm The Big Bang Theory 9:30pm The Big Bang Theory 10:00pm Identity Thief

9:20am Digby Dragon 9:35am Rusty Rivets 9:55am Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom 10:05am Mofy 10:15am The Wright Stuff 12:15pm Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away! 1:10pm 5 News Lunchtime 1:15pm GPs: Behind Closed Doors 2:15pm Home and Away 2:45pm Neighbours 3:15pm NCIS 4:15pm The Perfect Roommate 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm The Gadget Show 9:00pm The Yorkshire Steam Railway: All Aboard 10:00pm Jane Mcdonald and Friends 11:00pm Will and Grace

7:00am

Monster Family: Special 7:30am Monster Family 9:20am Norman 11:25am Two Down 1:05pm Snatched Fish-out-of-water comedy starring Goldie Hawn and Trainwreck's Amy Schumer as a hapless motherdaughter duo kidnapped while holidaying in Ecuador. 2:45pm Monster Family 4:35pm Wonder Woman 7:00pm Baby Driver 9:00pm Snatched 10:45pm Wonder Woman 1:10am Baby Driver 3:10am Two Down 4:45am In This Corner of the World

9:00am

8:10am The Pets Factor 8:30am Dengineers 9:00am Absolute Genius: Monster Builds 9:30am Beyond Bionic 10:00am Robot Wars 11:00am Gorilla Family and Me 12:00pm Homes Under the Hammer 1:00pm Cats v Dogs: Which is Best? 2:00pm The Caine Mutiny 4:00pm Escape to the Country 4:30pm Me and My Dog 5:30pm Final Score 6:30pm Flog It! 7:00pm Hugh's Wild West 8:00pm Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby 9:00pm David Attenborough's Natural Curiosities 9:30pm Dad's Army

7:00am CITV 10:25am Saturday Morning with James Martin 12:20pm Dancing on Ice 2:15pm ITV News and Weather 2:25pm Six Nations Live 5:30pm Paul O'grady: For the Love of Dogs 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV News and Weather 7:15pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm You've Been Framed! 8:00pm Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway 9:30pm The Voice UK 10:50pm Piers Morgan's Life Stories 11:40pm ITV News and Weather 12:05am 2 Fast 2 Furious

9:40am 10:10am 10:40am 11:10am 11:40am 12:05pm 1:40pm

The Goldbergs The Goldbergs Young Sheldon Brooklyn Nine-Nine Brooklyn Nine-Nine Stuart Little 2 Rude(Ish) Tube Shorts The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer Extreme Cake Makers The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Captain America: The First Avenger Salt Gogglebox

10:50am Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 11:25am The Gadget Show 12:15pm Police Interceptors 1:15pm Police Interceptors 2:15pm Police Interceptors 3:15pm Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away! 4:10pm Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away! 5:05pm Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away! 6:00pm The Secret Life of Kittens 7:00pm Cruising with Jane McDonald 8:00pm Brunel's Britain: Master of Bridges 9:00pm Brunel's Britain: King of the Sea 9:55pm 5 News 10:00pm Football on 5 11:00pm Football on 5 11:30pm Jane Mcdonald and Friends

7:00am 9:10am 11:00am 12:45pm 3:15pm

Norman Monster Family Snatched Wonder Woman City of Tiny Lights London-set crime thriller about a harddrinking private detective searching for a missing sex worker. Baby Driver Snatched Wonder Woman City of Tiny Lights Baby Driver The Levelling Two Down

9:30am Football's Greatest Teams 10:00am EFL Greatest Games 10:15am EFL Greatest Games 10:30am SPFL Matters 11:00am Soccer A.M. 12:30pm SPFL Matters 12:55pm Football 3:00pm Gillette Soccer Saturday 4:15pm Gillette Soccer Saturday 6:15pm Football 8:40pm Football 10:45pm EFL Goals: Championship 11:15pm La Liga Highlights: Real Madrid 11:30pm La Liga Icons 11:45pm La Liga Icons 12:00am Football 2:10am EFL Goals: Championship 2:40am La Liga Greatest Games

8:15am 9:05am 9:35am 10:30am

7:00am 10:25am 10:30am 11:00am 12:00pm 1:20pm

9:25am 9:55am 10:25am 10:50am 11:20am

The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory The Goldbergs Brooklyn Nine-Nine Brooklyn Nine-Nine Young Sheldon The Big Bang Theory I, Robot Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

11:05am Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 11:40am Football on 5 The Championship. 12:30pm Football on 5 Goal Rush. 1:00pm Britain's Greatest Bridges 1:15pm Police Interceptors 2:15pm Police Interceptors 3:15pm Open Season 2 4:45pm Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 6:25pm Journey 2: The Mysterious Island 8:15pm Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away! 9:00pm Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away! 9:55pm 5 News 10:00pm Olympus Has Fallen 12:15am Rise of the Krays

7:00am 9:15am 11:05am 12:50pm 3:20pm 5:25pm 7:25pm

Norman Monster Family Snatched Wonder Woman Baby Driver City of Tiny Lights Snatched Fish-out-of-water comedy about a hapless motherdaughter duo kidnapped while holidaying in Ecuador. Wonder Woman Info not available Baby Driver City of Tiny Lights The Levelling

9:00am La Liga Highlights: Real Madrid 9:15am La Liga Highlights: Barcelona 9:30am EFL Goals: Championship 10:00am EFL Goals: League One and League Two 10:30am Sunday Supplement 12:00pm SPFL Greatest Games 12:15pm Football 3:15pm Football 6:00pm La Liga Highlights: Barcelona 6:15pm La Liga Greatest Games 6:25pm Football 8:30pm La Liga Greatest Games 8:40pm Football 10:45pm La Liga Highlights: Barcelona 11:00pm EFL Goals: Championship

10:00am 11:00am 11:30am 12:00pm 1:00pm 1:30pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 3:30pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:15pm 8:30pm 11:00pm 12:00am 12:15am

SPFL Greatest Games Celtic's Invincibles La Liga Show EFL Matters SPFL Greatest Games La Liga Show EFL Matters SPFL Greatest La Liga Show EFL Matters Celtics Invincibles SPFL Greatest Games La Liga Preview SPFL Matters EFL Matters SPFL Greatest Games SPFL Greatest Games Football The Debate - Live La Liga Icons La Liga Icons

SATURDAY 7:00am Breakfast 11:00am Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30pm Classic Mary Berry 1:00pm Football Focus 2:00pm BBC News 2:10pm Weather 2:15pm MasterChef 3:15pm MasterChef 4:15pm Coast and Country Auctions 5:00pm Six Nations Rugby Union 8:00pm BBC News 8:10pm Regional News 8:15pm Weather 8:20pm Pointless 9:10pm Casualty 10:00pm Troy: Fall of a City 11:00pm BBC News 11:15pm Weather 11:20pm Match of the Day 12:45am A Few Best Men 2:15am Weather for the Week Ahead

2:00pm 2:30pm 3:00pm 3:30pm 4:00pm 4:30pm 5:00pm 6:15pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 10:00pm 12:05am

5:15pm 7:15pm 9:00pm 11:25pm 1:20am 3:20am 4:50am

SUNDAY 10:00am The Andrew Marr Show 11:00am The Big Questions 12:00pm Sunday Politics 1:15pm BBC News 1:25pm Weather for the Week Ahead 1:30pm MasterChef 2:00pm Homes Under the Hammer 2:55pm Songs of Praise 3:30pm Six Nations Rugby Union 6:05pm Earth's Natural Wonders 7:05pm BBC News 7:20pm Regional News 7:25pm Weather 7:30pm Countryfile 8:30pm Hold the Sunset 9:00pm Call the Midwife 10:00pm Sir Bruce Forsyth: A Celebration

12:00pm 12:45pm 1:15pm 2:00pm 3:00pm 3:45pm 5:10pm 6:10pm 7:10pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:20pm 11:50pm

The Instant Gardener Gardeners' World Countryfile Saturday Kitchen Best Bites Spring Kitchen with Tom Kerridge Lorraine Pascale: How to be a Better Cook MOTD2 Extra The Ladykillers: Pest Detectives Money for Nothing Laura Back in Time for Tea World's Most Extraordinary Homes Deep Impact Top Gear Life and Death Row The Mash Report Top Gear Extra Gear

1:30pm 3:00pm 3:30pm 4:30pm 5:30pm 5:45pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 9:00pm 11:00pm

CITV ITV News Love Your Garden Peston on Sunday The Voice UK ITV News and Weather Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway Britain's Brightest Family Catchphrase Tipping Point ITV News and Weather Local News and Weather The Chase Dancing on Ice Endeavour ITV News and Weather

1:00pm 1:30pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 3:00pm 3:30pm 4:00pm 4:30pm 5:00pm 5:30pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 7:55pm 10:00pm

9:00pm 11:25pm 1:00am 3:00am 4:55am

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

9th - 15th March

RTN Life Comments from readers Many thanks for all the new puzzles in RTN. Great! Annie Dear Friends, I would like to thank you for putting our little piece in the RTN last week and for showing such imagination with the titles you think up. We at CHUMS (friends of charity) really enjoy the RTN, it is a very good read and we always get the paper every Friday when it comes out. Thank you once again to your fantastic journalists. Warmest regards Marilyn Rogers President Editor’s note: Many thanks to you both. At RTN we are doing all we can to produce newspapers that contain articles of interest to the community and all feedback is appreciated.

Hepburns in the Jalon helps OVER the last four years Hepburns Bar in Jalon has raised more than €4,000 to support the Preventorio Infantil orphanage in Gandia. Their latest fundraising effort includes the late Jan Phillips’ last wish which was to give all donations from her last service to the orphanage.

Ramon Howard from Grant a Wish went along to Hepburns to collect a cheque for €1,200 from landlords Hazel and Sid and Jan’s partner Kathleen, all of whom are included in the picture. In the event however, Ramon was delighted to discover that the value of the donation had in-

creased to €1,490. The money is going to be spent on new trainers and t-shirts for the children, as well as refurbishing a study for the older children. The next project is to take them all to a flamenco show so the fundraising begins again.

JVH donate to ADADEM MEMBERS of the Jalon Valley Help charity, whilst spending a very enjoyable afternoon at AMADEM’s Fifth Solidarity Calcotada in Pedreguer, were pleased to present the organisation with €2,000. These monies were given in order to

assist AMADEM’s work to improve the quality of life for those with mental health problems and their families. The sun shone, bands played, the food was great and everyone had a wonderful time.

CHARITY DONATION: Presentation of the latest cheque.

MONDAY 7:00am Breakfast 10:15am Holding Back the Years 11:00am Homes Under the Hammer 12:00pm The Sheriffs are Coming 12:45pm Caught Red Handed 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News 2:30pm Regional News 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm Escape to the Country 3:45pm Commonwealth Observance Day 5:15pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm Inside Out 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Classic Mary Berry 10:00pm MasterChef

7:30am Coast and Country Auctions 8:15am Wanted Down Under Revisited 9:00am Hugh's Wild West 10:00am Victoria Derbyshire 12:00pm BBC Newsroom Live 12:30pm The Week in Parliament 1:00pm The Daily Politics 2:00pm Women's Six Nations Highlights 2:30pm Yes Chef 3:15pm Your Home in Their Hands 4:15pm Planet Earth I 5:15pm Into the Wild with Gordon Buchanan 6:15pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm The Repair Shop 8:00pm Top Gear 9:00pm Only Connect 9:30pm University Challenge 10:00pm Being Blacker

9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 3:00pm Judge Rinder 4:00pm Tenable 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm The Kyle Files 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Marcella 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:45pm Rachel Nickell: The Untold Story 12:50am The Kyle Files 1:15am 100 Years Younger in 21 Days 2:05am Jackpot247

9:00am Baby Daddy 10:00am Melissa and Joey 11:00am How I Met Your Mother 12:00pm Brooklyn Nine-Nine 12:30pm Brooklyn Nine-Nine 1:00pm The Goldbergs 1:30pm The Goldbergs 2:00pm The Big Bang Theory 2:30pm The Big Bang Theory 3:00pm How I Met Your Mother 3:30pm How I Met Your Mother 4:00pm New Girl 5:00pm Brooklyn Nine-Nine 5:30pm Brooklyn Nine-Nine 6:00pm The Goldbergs 7:00pm The Big Bang Theory 7:30pm The Big Bang Theory 8:00pm Hollyoaks 8:30pm My Hotter Half 9:00pm The Big Bang Theory 9:30pm Young Sheldon 10:00pm Made in Chelsea 11:00pm Five Star Hotel

7:00am Milkshake! 10:15am The Wright Stuff 12:15pm Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away! 1:10pm 5 News 1:15pm The Gadget Show 2:10pm Access 2:15pm Home and Away 2:45pm Neighbours 3:20pm NCIS 4:20pm Deadly Daycare 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News 8:00pm Anglo Welsh Cup Highlights 9:00pm Extreme Winter Road Rescue 10:00pm Terror in the Air: Flights Out of Control 11:00pm Police 24/7 12:00am The X Files 12:55am Traffic Cops 1:55am Britain's Greatest Bridges

7:00am 8:45am

Two Down Top Ten Show, the 2018 9:00am Wheeler 10:45am Wonder Woman 1:10pm Snatched 2:55pm City of Tiny Lights London-set crime thriller about a hard-drinking private detective searching for a missing sex worker. 5:00pm Baby Driver 7:10pm Wheeler Faux documentary blurring the line between reality and fiction as Stephen Dorff plays charismatic country singer Wheeler Bryson, out to make it big in Nashville. 9:00pm Wonder Woman 11:25pm Snatched

8:30am Football Countdowns 9:00am Football's Greatest 9:30am Football's Greatest Teams 10:00am La Liga Highlights: Real Madrid 10:15am La Liga Highlights: Barcelona 10:30am La Liga Greatest Games 10:45am La Liga Greatest Games 11:00am Football 5:15pm La Liga Greatest Games 6:00pm Football Years 6:30pm Football Countdowns 7:00pm Football Years 7:30pm Football Countdowns 8:00pm Soccer A.M. 8:30pm La Liga Icons: Falcao 8:45pm La Liga Greatest Games 8:55pm Football 11:00pm SPFL Round Up 2017/18

8:15am

7:00am Good Morning Britain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 1:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:00pm Cheltenham Festival ITV Racing. 5:30pm Best Walks with a View with Julia Bradbury 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm Local News and Weather 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 9:00pm What Would Your Kid Do? 10:00pm 100 Years Younger in 21 Days 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:45pm The Cruise: Voyage to Alaska

9:30am 10:00am 10:30am 11:00am

10:15am The Wright Stuff 12:15pm Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away! 1:10pm 5 News 1:15pm GPs: Behind Closed Doors 2:10pm Access 2:15pm Home and Away 2:45pm Neighbours 3:20pm NCIS Naval Killer. 4:20pm Missing Daughter 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News 8:00pm World Rally 9:00pm Secrets of the National Trust with Alan Titchmarsh 10:00pm Wild Britain with Ray Mears 11:00pm The Crown in Crisis: Elizabeth-Our Queen

7:00am 8:40am 10:45am 12:45pm 3:20pm 5:15pm 7:00pm

1:15pm SPFL Greatest Games 1:30pm Soccer A.M. - The Best Bits 2:00pm MLS Round Up Show 2:30pm La Liga Icons 3:00pm Eredivisie 4:00pm Football's Greatest 4:30pm Football's Greatest Teams 5:00pm Scottish Cup Greatest Games 5:30pm La Liga Greatest Games 6:00pm MLS Round Up Show 6:30pm Football Countdowns 7:00pm SPFL Round Up 2017/18 7:15pm SPFL Greatest Games 7:30pm Soccer A.M. - The Best Bits 8:00pm MLS Round Up Show 8:30pm Football Years

TUESDAY 11:00am Homes Under the Hammer 12:00pm The Sheriffs are Coming 12:45pm Caught Red Handed 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News 2:30pm Regional News 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm A Place to Call Home 4:10pm Escape to the Country 4:45pm Coast and Country Auctions 5:30pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm EastEnders 9:00pm Holby City 10:00pm Shetland

The Sheriffs are Coming 9:00am Celebrity Antiques Road Trip 10:00am Victoria Derbyshire 12:00pm BBC Newsroom Live 1:00pm The Daily Politics 2:00pm The Super League Show 2:45pm Yes Chef 3:30pm Your Home in Their Hands 4:30pm Planet Earth I 5:30pm Into the Wild with Gordon Buchanan 6:30pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm The Repair Shop 8:00pm Saving Lives at Sea 9:00pm Back in Time for Tea 10:00pm Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby

11:30am 12:00pm 12:30pm 1:00pm 1:30pm 2:00pm 2:30pm 3:00pm 3:30pm 4:00pm 4:30pm 5:00pm 5:30pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm

Baby Daddy Melissa and Joey Melissa and Joey How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother Brooklyn Nine-Nine Brooklyn Nine-Nine The Goldbergs The Goldbergs The Big Bang Theory The Big Bang Theory How I Met Your Mother How I Met Your Mother New Girl New Girl Brooklyn Nine-Nine Brooklyn Nine-Nine The Goldbergs The Goldbergs The Big Bang Theory

9:00pm 11:25pm 1:20am 3:00am 4:40am

The Levelling City of Tiny Lights Custody Wonder Woman Wheeler Snatched Custody Courtroom drama focusing on three women brought together when a hard-working single mother has her children taken away from her. Wonder Woman City of Tiny Lights Snatched Info not available Two Down

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

9th - 15th March

RTN Feature

RTN congratulates Euro Weekly News AS part of the EWN Media Group (EWNMG), we at RTN are delighted to learn that our sister newspaper Euro Weekly News has won yet another prestigious press award. After taking the title of Best Free Publication in Spain at the Spanish Periodic a l A s s o c i a t i o n ( A E E P P ) Aw a r d s i n Madrid last year, it was back to the capital to collect the 2018 Professional Trajectory title. According to the organisers, the award is won by a company ‘for its successes and outstanding professional journey’. And the EWNMG is understandably excited and proud to be recognised yet again by an international panel of judges from the upper echelons of European business and media. Having started life in a tiny Fuengirola flat more than 20 years ago, the group now produces 10 newspapers per week from its modern headquarters on the Costa del Sol, with readership thought to be close to one million.

During the last 12 months, the company has assimilated two new brands, given away a car to one lucky reader as part of a survey and prize draw, raised money for two major appeals, sponsored a motor racing team and moved into its state-of-the art new offices in Fuengirola. From editorial to design, sales to production, accounts to HR, every single member of the EWNMG team has performed above and beyond the call of duty - often under extreme pressure over the last 12 months. The proprietors of EWNMG Michel and Steven Euesden have collected numerous awards during their careers, but there is something extra special for an English language newspaper to be chosen for praise by a mainly Spanish professional association. The whole group is committed to maintaining this high standard, not just for themselves but for all of our readers and advertisers without whom the newspapers would not exist.

Official praise UK In Spain/Flickr MR MANLEY: Adding to the congratulations.

“

Many congratulations to Euro Weekly News for this fresh recognition of their work and achievements. It is fantastic to see an English language newspaper thriving in the Spanish media landscape. Simon Manley British Ambassador to Spain

RECEIVING THE AWARD: Proprietors Michel and Steven Euesden.

‘ Biggest and most popular’ EWN clients salute national accolade Congratulations to the Euro Weekly News for winning this prestigious award. It goes someway to recognise the hard work and commitment by all the team at EWN to produce a paper which is enjoyed every week by many thousands of expatriates and a good number of Spanish readers keen to improve their English. May your success continue even as the world of journalism evolves in this more digital age. Best wishes from all at Currencies Direct as you continue on your ‘trajectory.’ Peter Loveday Director Currencies Direct Southern Europe A just deserved award for the biggest and most popular expatriate newspaper in the Spanish islands for the second year running. It is an absolute pleasure to both work and advertise with you and your team. Congratulations and here’s to the third year in a row... Emma Quantrill Operations Director Golden Leaves International As a regular and long term advertiser in Euro Weekly News, Sala Group are not surprised that the newspaper has received yet another award from the Spanish Press Association. Congratulations to the Euesdens and all of the hard-working staff connected with this

excellent English language newspaper in Spain. It works for us! Ian Radford Chairman Sala Group

I am not surprised by the success of the EWN winning a prestigious national award for the second year running. The owners Steven and Michel and the whole team are hard-working, inventive and creative and are good to their clients. I am enjoying writing for them each week. In my opinion this is THE paper with everything you need and with everybody in it! My warmest congratulations to all at EWN, you deserve it! Steven Saunders Master Chef, restaurateur and food writer for the RTN newspaper Costa Women are delighted to be adding our congratulations to EWN Media Group for their latest award - what a journey the group have been on over the last few years. The papers are not only a recourse, but the integrity of their journalism helps support the foreign community in Spain with up to the minute news and information. Costa Women wish to thank Michel and Steven for their continued support. Let the news and stories continue! Ali Meehan Founder of costawomen.com

9th - 15th March

WEDNESDAY 4:45pm 5:30pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:40pm 11:45pm

Coast and Country Auctions Flog It! Pointless BBC News Regional News The One Show Panorama DIY SOS the Big Build Saving the British Bulldog BBC News Regional News Weather A Question of Sport

5:15pm

Into the Wild with Gordon Buchanan 6:15pm Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm The Repair Shop 8:00pm Saving Lives at Sea 9:00pm World's Most Extraordinary Homes 10:00pm The Assassination of Gianni Versace American Crime Story 10:50pm Live at the Apollo 11:30pm Newsnight

6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:45pm 12:45am 1:40am 4:00am

The Chase Local News and Weather ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Britain's Brightest Family Coronation Street Benidorm ITV News at Ten and Weather UEFA Champions League Highlights Play to the Whistle Jackpot247 Tenable

3:00pm

How I Met Your Mother 4:00pm New Girl 4:30pm New Girl 5:00pm Brooklyn Nine-Nine 5:30pm Brooklyn Nine-Nine 6:00pm The Goldbergs 6:30pm The Goldbergs 7:00pm The Big Bang Theory 7:30pm The Big Bang Theory 8:00pm Hollyoaks 8:30pm My Hotter Half 9:00pm The Goldbergs 9:30pm The Big Bang Theory 10:00pm Don't Tell the Bride 11:00pm Five Star Hotel 12:05am The Big Bang Theory

3:15pm

NCIS Naval Killer. 4:15pm Framed for Murder 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News 8:00pm Extreme Winter Road Rescue 9:00pm GPs: Behind Closed Doors 10:00pm Violent Child, Desperate Parents 11:00pm When Talent Shows Go Horribly Wrong 2:00am Super Casino 4:10am Cowboy Builders

6:30am

ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Undercover: Rough Sleeper - Tonight Emmerdale The Cruise: Voyage to Alaska Four Days That Shook Britain ITV News at Ten and Weather ITV News London The Late Debate UEFA Europa League Highlights

3:00pm How I Met Your Mother 4:00pm New Girl 5:00pm Brooklyn Nine-Nine 5:30pm Brooklyn Nine-Nine 6:00pm The Goldbergs 6:30pm The Goldbergs 7:00pm The Big Bang Theory 7:30pm The Big Bang Theory 8:00pm Hollyoaks 8:30pm My Hotter Half 9:00pm The Big Bang Theory 9:30pm Young Sheldon 10:00pm Brooklyn Nine-Nine 10:30pm Brooklyn Nine-Nine 11:00pm Five Star Hotel

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

7:00am Black Panther: Special 7:30am City of Tiny Lights 9:30am Custody 11:25am Snatched 1:10pm Wonder Woman 3:35pm Numb 5:20pm Wheeler 7:15pm Snatched 9:00pm Wonder Woman 11:25pm Numb 1:00am City of Tiny Lights 2:55am Cult of Chucky 4:45am Scribe

7:00am 8:30am 10:25am 12:10pm 2:35pm 4:10pm 6:00pm 8:00pm 10:25pm 12:00am 1:35am 3:10am 5:05am

Monster Family: Special The Levelling City of Tiny Lights Wheeler Wonder Woman Snatched Custody City of Tiny Lights Wonder Woman Snatched Scribe Info Not Available Custody Wheeler

5:00pm

Scottish Cup Greatest Games 5:30pm La Liga Greatest Games 6:00pm Football Years 6:30pm Football Countdowns 7:00pm Revista de la Liga 7:30pm La Liga World 8:00pm Football Years 8:30pm Football Years 9:00pm Revista de la Liga 9:30pm La Liga World 10:00pm League Cup Final Highlights 11:00pm Eredivisie 12:00am La Liga Icons

THURSDAY 4:45pm 5:30pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 10:30pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:45pm

Coast and Country Auctions Flog It! Pointless BBC News at Six BBC London News The One Show EastEnders MasterChef Not Going Out Still Game BBC News at Ten BBC London News Question Time

5:15pm 6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:15am 1:15am 1:45am

Into the Wild with Gordon Buchanan Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Eggheads The Repair Shop Saving Lives at Sea Great Continental Railway Journeys Civilisations Match of the Day Newsnight Top Gear MasterChef Nigel Slater's Middle East: Iran

7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:30pm 12:00am 12:15am 12:45am

Fatal Defense 5 News at 5 Neighbours Home and Away 5 News Tonight The Secret Life of Kittens 9:00pm Bargain Loving Brits in the Sun 10:00pm Do the Right Thing with Eamonn and Ruth 11:00pm Hunted and Confronted: Cowboys, Crooks and Chancers

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

RTN welcomes Readers’ views for publication in its Letters to the Editor section. All letters by email or post should carry the writer’́s address, and contact number, though only the name and town will be published.

Email letters to admin@rtnnewspaper.com with your full name and address

this week weather FRI

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March 9 March 10 March 11 March 12 March 13 March 14 March 15

20º/13ºC 19º/11ºC 18º/9ºC 20º/9ºC 18º/10ºC 16º/8ºC 17º/10ºC Partly sunny

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9th - 15th March

IS there such a thing? Very doubtful, just a stubborn refusal to accept the age they are and the limitations that may go with it. So how many ages of man are there; let us see. First of all there is boyhood, which covers the period of our school days when we are too busy to think of anything else, except perhaps, a growing awareness that there are other people about, called girls. Then comes your first job, and you aresometimes referred to as ‘boy’. This period can last until you are now called a ‘young man’, you are ‘going out’ and maybe contemplating marriage and children. A few years pass and one day you notice the receding hairline, or, perhaps that bald patch on the back of your head. This period finishes when you have exhausted all available remedies (none of which work) to restore your hair. This is young ‘middle age’, which gradually passes into ‘middle age’. You stay there a long time, putting off as long as possible the morphing of late ‘middle age’ into the next category when you realise that you are 'getting on a bit’, but, chose to ignore the fact that you can’t work all day in the garden without some protest from your back muscles. Also, if there are Grandchildren by now, a whole day having them dumped on you is very exhausting. Visits to the ‘local’ are becoming more fre-

The male menopause quent and necessary at the end of the day. Early ‘old age’ is now setting in, but you still haven’t accepted the fact that you are unable to do what you easily did 20, or even 10 years before. You are now an ‘elderly man’ and how long that lasts depends on how well you have looked after yourself, your figure, your diet, your whole way of life; you may be looked upon as a ‘spritely’ old man. Then, one day, something happens that changes everything and you realise that you are now an ‘old man’ and have to accept all the limitations, frustrations and problems that, in most cases men never even contemplate during their life. It happened to me (85 next birthday) one very windy day at the end of November last year. I was hurrying back to my new apartment on the beach when I realised that the wind was blowing me faster than I could walk, and I looked for something to hold onto. I made a mad grab for the railings in front of me and missed by a couple of inches. The wind picked me up, bounced me off the railings and slammed me hard down on my back. The pain in my spine and hips was paralysing, and for a few seconds I really thought that I could be a paraplegic and never walk again. Thankfully, (late February,) I am slowly recovering from a fractured vertebra, but now I’m much more aware and sympathetic towards people I see in wheelchairs and of how lucky I am to be able to regain most of my independence.

Albir celebrates World Day of Prayer

CELEBRATING: World Day of Prayer in Albir.

IN Albir although not hampered by the terrible snow that affected the UK services, a few days of heavy rain and very cold wind weren’t helpful. Friday March 2 was no exception as Albir was part of the worldwide Day of Prayer. Last year there were 22,415 services in 95 languages including Braille. Numbers were slightly down on last year but 41 people attended, took part and afterwards enjoyed a friendly get together plus a snack. The seven women taking part, all dressed in colours to replicate the colours of the women they were representing, and all had A3 pictures in front of them. The ladies and one small child with the prayer objects all carried out their role with

reference and thought. Comments after the ser vice were all favourable, the singing was great - even the Suriname words sounded as if the congregation was totally used to the language! The group has a service of Holy Communion in Albir every Sunday at 9.45am at the Norwegian Seaman’s Church and a further Communion is celebrated every Thursday at 11am at the Forum Mare Nostrum, Alfaz del Pi. If you need any further information please telephone Local Church Warden, Elaine Mitchell on 966 864 962 or mobile 636 164 467. Albir is one of eight congregations in the Chaplaincy which runs from Gandia to El Campello.

Photo Credit: Lonpicman Wikimedia

by Peter F. Purvey

THE SEVEN AGES OF MAN: Sculpture in London.

9th - 15th March

Puzzles Code Breaker Kenny Corris I For Readings, Consultations and Castings email: kennycorris@hotmailcom / www.kennycorris.net Mobile: 686 361 594 / Tel: 965 878 424

Play on Words

Answers: Lost for words. Nine and a half weeks.

The World may be your oyster right now, but what’s chiefly needed in your life is some much needed rest and relaxation. You seem to have been burning the candle at both ends just lately, but some downtime is called for to re-establish your inner peace. Mercury trines Ceres which is a call for a new routine, bringing balance and stability.

Word Wheel The goal of a word wheel puzzle is to create as many words possible with the letters in the word wheel. You can only use each letter once and every word must have the letter in the centre of the wheel. Can you find the 9 letter word?

All is fair in love and war this week, and like it or hate it, you are implicated in something that takes you way out of your depth. Mars trines Uranus, and there has to be something positive in all this to enable you to come up smelling of roses. In future, look before you leap; it was a long shot but next time, turn a blind eye! You have started to get itchy feet, as not only are things not turning out the way you had hoped, but, so too, because you have other fish to fry! Your energy and commitment are being compromised and for whatever reason, get out now and don’t look back. Mercury squares on Saturn, and you have better prospects elsewhere! Storing up anger within neither suits you, nor does it achieve anything at all. You are in a highly creative phase and even though you know your limits, the current boundaries are a constraint that makes it hard to thrive. The Sun sextiles Pluto midweek, and for you, this time around, the grass really is greener on the other side. The sextile with Pluto is a sign to delay something and to hold back and stall if you have to. Initially you will think that this is just not on, but wait and see, there is someone who is feeding you enough rope to hang yourself! You will get through this with little more than a bruised ego, but don’t let anything get you down, you’ll bounce right back! For you just now it is a matter of one step forward and two steps back. Since you are so uncertain, make sure that this week nothing whatsoever is written in stone. Venus squares on Saturn, and please whatever you do, do not let your heart rule your head. Some things do not add up, and meanwhile make no immediate plans or contracts. The scales are jangled and quivering, but you will make a point of the great need for an equilibrium right now. Things appear to be going against the grain, and you will need to put your foot down before things go too far; and you are powerless to make amends. Venus trines Ceres and squares on Saturn urging a short sharp retaliation. A week in which your scheduled appointments are shelved and your routines re- routed. A surprise meeting sees an acquaintance becoming a friend, albeit a friend in need. There are two sides to every story but your calm and yet strong energy is sought after to get to the bottom of whatever is really going on right now, and why? Be open and frank in financial matters. When push comes to shove you have always done things the right way, and face to face confrontation is needed to get the result that you both want and need right now. The all seeing Sun sextiles a persistent Pluto, and one way or another the truth will triumph and come up trumps for you this week. Saturn squares on Venus and this brings you a whiff of nostalgia as the past comes back big time this week. Just remember that you have come a long way, and have successfully turned a corner recently. You can be very hard on yourself sometimes. You did what you had to and it was your only way out, no more blame, it’s not warranted. Be enterprising and inspiring, you are truly multi-talented, but seem to hide your light under a bushel…… for what reason? This week you bring resolve to a situation, as somebody finally realises that they have truly bitten off far more than they can chew. Your non-judgmental attitude sees you through all the way to save the day, yet again. Work, rest and play this week. This is a great time to have a clear out, and to bring back some of your favourite hobbies to boot. There is a spring in your step, and somehow your creative forces are at work to see that you get the time to relax and to connect with your psychic centres, bringing you a showcase of your own inimitable talent.

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 9 represents B and 13 represents N, so fill in B every time the figure 9 appears and N every time the figure 13 appears. Now, using your knowledge of the English language, work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you discover the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.

Kenny’s Postbag Kenny, This May sound like I am crazy, but I sometimes see things out of the corner of my eyes. It’s just a flicker but I do not know what it is, and my daughter says it could be my Spirit Guide. Sophie A. Sophie, you are certainly not crazy! Many people start to see things as you have described, and it is a stage of consciousness. Spirit is told not to contact us here on Earth while we are conscious. That’s why they come in dream state very often. However spiritually enlightened people start to see things when they are conscious, and Spirit connection is fleeting and usually manifests in the corner of the eyes. Your daughter is right, it could be a Spirit Guide.

Kenny Corris Don't forget to email or message me with your Postbag Questions!. Check out my new website: www.kennycorris.net

For Birthday Celebrants Astrologically you are at the right time to take on aspects that meant little to you before. Making something out of nothing involves a true belief in yourself and a trust in the future ahead. Go for It!

The 9 letter word is:

Kakuro Fill all the empty squares using the numbers 1 to 9, so that the sum of each horizontal block equals the ‘clue’ on its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the clue on its top. No number may be used in the same block more than once.

9th - 15th March

More Puzzles Cryptic

Across 1 Wayward agent returns with a piece of poetry (8) 7 Big farm located in Lutheran church (5) 8 A clergies' mix-up results in blasphemy (9) 9 Large cask turning the head (3) 10 Authentic old coin (4) 11 It's horrible having nothing and 500 debts (6) 13 Oriental vessel is a mile in length (6) 14 Price fixing ring ruined claret (6) 17 Take no notice of ogre in trouble (6) 18 US possession of Antigua, maybe (4) 20 Meeting place in the old encampment (3) 22 Working exercise into speech (9) 23 Permit everyone to be in debt endlessly (5) 24 I let tots out to find a dagger (8)

English - Spanish

Futoshiki

Down 1 Model answer to a tricky question (5) 2 Get back to work miracle (7) 3 Produce Time Out (4) 4 Firm dates set next year (6) 5 They secure the normal shipping rate (5) 6 Risk 50 in part of the church (7) 7 There's nothing to marvel about in a change of home (7) 12 Heavenly arch for artist in East London (7) 13 Athens and Baghdad contain ballast (7) 15 Sightseer in amongst our Istanbul visit (7) 16 Man of the cloth's a pain in the neck taking religious instruction (6) 17 Fireplace in middle part of King Lear (5) 19 Chap to leave with fruit (5) 21 Armour in the post (4)

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

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

Across 2 To take out (5) 6 Luxury (4) 7 Yesterday (4) 8 Seas (5) 9 Topo (4) 10 Ă rbol (4) 11 To bring (5) 12 Con (4)

13 Island (4) 14 In the same way (5) 15 Aturdir (4) 16 Parrot (4) 17 Greasy (skin, complexion) (5)

Down 1 Motorway (9) 2 Algo (9) 3 Lock (on door, box, safe) (9) 4 Rake (9) 5 Joyas (9)

Quick

Across 1 Boring (4) 3 Female descendant (8) 9 Mythical being that is half man and half horse (7) 10 Leaves out (5) 11 White heron (5) 12 Cause to start burning (6) 14 Evening meal (6) 16 Calm (6) 19 Annoy persistently (6) 21 Drive off or back (5) 24 Once more (5) 25 Small pickled cucumber (7) 26 Egg dish (8) 27 Coloured eye part (4) Down 1 Make smaller (8) 2 Pertaining to the moon (5) 4 Filled with fear or apprehension (6) 5 Indicate pain, discomfort or displeasure (5) 6 National flower of Scotland (7) 7 Move fast (4) 8 Armed engagement (6) 13 Leans in a recumbent position on back or side (8) 15 Make or get ready (7) 17 Gained by labour (6) 18 Giving out or reflecting much light (6) 20 Stretched tight (5) 22 Card game (5) 23 Lower part of a wall (4)

Word Ladder Can you by changing 1 letter at a time, get from the first word to the last word in the given number of moves?

LIVE 1 2 3 4

FAST

Sudoku

Fill the grid so every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1-9

9th - 15th March

health

Can we make pigmentation spots go away? MANY of us have darker areas in the skin, also called pigmentation spots. Over the years, these spots appear in the skin, and the older we get, the more they come. Hyperpigmentation results from the increased deposition of melanin, which causes the skin to become darker in patches. Melanin is part of the skin barrier defence system in that it protects against exposure to UVR, and pigmented blemishes are almost always the result of excessive stimulation by sunlight. The pigmentation should be considered to be a warning sign from the body that the affected area has received too much sun damage. There are several ways to treat this problem in the skin. As the face is representing you as a person, we don’t want to leave any scars. Each case depends on how many spots there are, and where they are placed. Some spots can easily be removed with a laser, without making any scars. The jet plasma lift laser works superficially and is effective. Further on, the chemical peel is a very popular treatment at the time. You might have to do several chemical peelings to get a good result. The best option for those with many spots, is to do a medical depigmentation treatment that works with advanced medicine. The treatment is the most effective on the market, and has become very popular. The opposite of a chemical peel, this treatment can be done all year round. This month at Derma Clinic Spain, we have an offer on chemical peels, where you can have two and onlypay for one. Derma Clinic Spain are located at Camino del Pincho 2,1, 03580, L’Alfaz del Pi, Alicante. For more information call 674 255 579 or email info@dermaclinicspain.com . Alternatively see their Facebook page facebook.com/DermaClinicSpain.

Health benefits of a swim in the sea SWIMMING has long been heralded as the best form of exercise, and swimming in the sea has been linked to improving your mood as well as your health. Immune system booster Seawater contains vital elements, mineral salts, vitamins, and living microorganisms, all of which can promote a healthy immune system. Well-being Swimming in seawater is

reported to activate the body’s healing mechanisms and the magnesium rich waters also relax your muscles and reduce stress. Circulation By restoring essential minerals depleted by everyday life, seawater swimming can improve blood circulation. Skin The magnesium in seawater may hydrate and improve the appearance of your skin.

Look young and feel healthier THE life expectancy in England has risen 10 years for men since 1960 and eight years for women, so it seems we are getting better at living longer, but how can we stay looking young and remain healthy for as long as possible? Change mealtimes Some say the key to a longer, healthier life is constant change and avoiding routine, as the brain thrives on uncertainty. The disruption stimulates body and mind and may help to ward off ageing and disability, as when brain cells are stimulated, they function better and last longer. Avoid old lady clothes No one wants to look like mutton dressed as lamb, but equally, dressing younger can help you look and, more importantly, feel younger. If you resist the temptation to behave in a certain way and refuse to assume certain stereotypes merely because you are old, it can improve your quality of life. Eat berries Researchers have found that eating antioxidant foods such as berries and tomatoes can reduce the damage caused by free radical molecules in the blood that are linked to ageing. Work standing up Too many of us live very sedentary lifestyles and now a number of employers are introducing desks for workers to be able to stand up at. Being able to move around isn’t just good from a physical perspective, it’s also good for your emotional well-being. However, a senior lecturer at the Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease at the University of Liverpool believes everyone must find a healthy balance to suit their own lifestyle.

Looking after your gums WHAT’S the most common disease you can think of? Heart disease, stroke, diabetes? But actually gum disease is the single most prevalent disease today and in fact recent research has shown that gum disease has a direct link to increased risk of these major health problems. Early detection is key that’s why our periodontal therapist does so much more than just clean your teeth. She carefully evaluates and diagnoses the health of your mouth and gums. If infection is present she can provide state of the art management for all levels of gum disease, such as the placement of antibacterial agents and laser gum therapy. Dentomycin Dentomycin was launched in 1993

and has been successfully used in more than 1.3 million patients worldwide. It is a gel that contains an antibiotic (minocycline) which is active against the bacteria that cause gum disease. It’s applied directly into the pockets where bacteria are growing. This means we can get effective concentrations at the disease site. Diode laser Combined with comprehensive periodontal therapy, a diode laser for soft tissue procedures can remove and reduce periodontal infection. This type of treatment also promotes reattachment of the gum tissue to the teeth. Laser dentistry is precise and conservative in comparison to traditional therapies. Some patients do not even need anaesthesia during laser therapy.

Email them on britannia.calpe@gmail.com, call 965 837 553 or visit Avenida Ejercitos Españoles 16 BIS, 1st Floor, (Not Ground Floor) Piso 1D, E-03710 Calpe (Alicante).

9th - 15th March

food & drink This week Celebrity Chef from Ready Steady Cook & Master Chef Steven Saunders, proprietor of The Little Geranium in La Cala shows us how to cook Sunday lunch for a perfect Mother’s Day roast.

Just like Mother used to make!

Steven Saunders FMCGB The Little Geranium La Cala de Mijas & Marbella

www.thelittlegeranium.com I’VE been cooking Sunday lunch for over 40 years and when we close Sundays (winter time) I always look forward to going out and having a great British Sunday roast. Quality beef, home-made Yorkshire pudding, crispy fluffy roasts, beefy gravy, hot home-made horseradish, lots of green and root veggies. But I never get it… why is that? Generally Sunday lunch on the coast is at best, average and at worst terrible. There are places to go for a fantastic day out, live music and atmosphere but generally the focus is on the atmosphere and not on the food.

So due to my pent up frustration over Sundays I am going to be opening on Sundays from May onwards. However Mother’s Day is coming up and I am opening for that day in advance of May, a special day for all of us and fond memories of my Mum, I used to love to spend Mother’s Days by her side. So why is Sunday lunch not so great on the Costa del Sol? Firstly the beef. The beef has to be of good quality, by that I mean rib or sirloin (although fillet is tender it doesn’t have much flavour). Quality means taking a bit of time to source your beef. Look for some age, some providence (eg where is it from) look for nice grains of fat running through it, don’t just opt for topside because its cheap, it will be chewy and tasteless unless you slow cook it and that’s not really Sunday lunch. Try the Merca Central market in Fuengirola by the train station for meat. Secondly the Yorkshire puds. Why do so many restaurants buy them in? It’s the easiest thing in the world to make and far better. Third the roasts. These should be crisp on the outside and light and fluffy in the middle. So many restaurants cook them hours beforehand and they taste reheated, soggy and caramelized by having been kept warm so long!

Next is the horseradish. There is nothing wrong with using a bottled sauce but don’t just take it from the jar, add whipped cream, spices, herbs and black pepper and it changes it completely. Better still is freshly grated horseradish with cream and spices, but fresh horseradish is difficult to get over here. Last but not least are the vegetables. The green veg should be green! (not brown or mushy) and slightly crisp (al dente) the root vegetables should be soft and tender, packed with flavour, not just boiled! All of this is basic cooking, why it is so difficult to find is beyond me. For some reason we feel that Sunday roast should be a bargain, it shouldn’t be, it should be an experience! As for the beef take the best beef sirloin (entrecote), seal first in a hot pan and roast until 57ºC in the centre. Allow to rest then reroast for 10 minutes, then carve. A few famous people I’ve cooked Sunday roast for… Pierce Brosnan at The Pink Geranium, Margaret Thatcher at The

Pink Geranium with Betty Boothroyd, John Major at The Pink Geranium, Chris Martin and Denise Van Outen at Sheene Mill, Paul Gascoigne at Sheene Mill, Princes Harry and William at Silverstone, Hugh Grant at Silverstone, Lord Brocket and Rory McIlroy at Brocket hall, David Beckham and Ryan Giggs at The Lowry, none of them complained! Enjoy Mother’s Day lunch and cherish the time with your Mother.

You can email Steven your questions or enquiries to: steven@thelittlegeranium.com • Steven Saunders FMCGB - The Little Geranium La Cala de Mijas & Marbella • www.thelittlegeranium.com.

9th - 15th March

home & garden Advertising Feature SET in the town of Ondara, BricoMaderWood has been in business for more than 10 years supplying wood for various construction needs. This is a truly European company offering a great choice of wood product at the best prices and with the knowledge of Dutch, English, French, German and Spanish, they are more than happy to advise on all aspects of construction. The company holds a wide stock of different wood products as well as solid timber lengths and all of the screws and fittings that you would need in order to construct your home or commercial project. Details of the stock with prices can be found on the www.brico maderwood.com website and BricoMaderWood is able to arrange delivery all across Spain. Whatever you need, it is more than likely that they can assist and their wide range of services include free cutting to size, professional advice, mounting and fixing service at sensible and economic prices. They can measure and produce carports, gazebos and other coverings as well as decking and external stairs.

BricoMaderWood for all of your construction needs

EXAMPLES: Some of BricoMaderWoodâ€™s previous work. In addition, BricoMaderWood is expert in the production and mounting of ceiling, wall and floor boards.

In actual fact, most requirements can either be supplied from stock or can be made to customer order.

You can visit BricoMaderWood at Av Alacant, 67, 03760 Ondara, Alicante where they are open 10am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 1pm on Saturday. Alternatively visit www.bricomaderwood.com or email info@bricomaderwood.com to find out how they can help you.

9th - 15th March

pets Who will cherish your pets when you’re on holiday? HOW can you find pet-sitters to cherish your pets when you travel? It is perfectly natural to want a caring pet-sitter to look after your animals when you go away. How do some people manage to find experienced police-checked sitters to cherish their pets while they are away on holiday? Join a managed house-sitting and pet-sitting network. By joining a managed network that offers free pet-sitting in exchange for free accommodation, you enter into a collaborative relationship with the sitter. Most of the sitters on the HouseSitMatch.com network are animal lovers, experienced in domestic pet care and police checked with reviews. ID and police checks are

visible on their profiles. Free petcare! It is true! You can eliminate the cost of petcare completely! By joining a house-sitting network like HouseSitMatch.com you can meet suitable pet-sitters and house-sitters securely online. If, like many pet owners, you find yourself completely shocked at the end of a holiday when you realise the full extent of the pet care costs in addition to the cost of your trip, you might find it worth your while to check out this website a d d r e s s , w w w. h o u s e s i t match.com. HouseSitMatch is a housesitting network that allows you to meet suitable sitters who are interested in collaborating by offering home and pet care

AN IDEAL ARRANGEMENT: A caring pet-sitter.

in exchange for free accommodation. Are the pet-sitters and house-sitters checked? Yes they are! HouseSitMatch is a safe alternative to paying house and pet-sitters, that enables you to meet sitters with police and background checks already in place, so you can go on holiday with peace of mind, knowing that the experienced person you have chosen is looking after everything at home while you are away. Are there any costs? Yes, there is a small membership fee starting as low as £49 per year. By joining this

house-sitting network you can secure access to checked, free pet-sitters all year round. By joining as a Premium member for £79 per year the HouseSitMatch admin staff can help you at every step. Who are these pet-sitters and why will they want to house-sit for free? Most of the pet-sitters who join HouseSitMatch are looking to spend time in a new location and to exchange their experience for free accommodation. Many of the pet-sitters are retired professionals wanting to travel on a fixed income. For them, your pet-sitting assignment is a working holiday.

Do you need a house or pet-sitter? Get in touch. House-sitting can be a win-win for both parties, free house and pet-sitting, and the experienced and checked sitters get free accommodation! Register as either house-sitter or homeowner now with a 20% off introductory offer using coupon code PERFECT20.

To find a house or pet-sitter go to www.HousesitMatch.com.

Pets of the future

MANY future predictions often leave us shaking our heads in disbelief, and the prospect of humans relying on robotic animals for company and comfort must surely be one. Experts are, however, suggesting that the next 10-15 years could see a robot revolution in the pet world. The issue stems from overpopulation as there will likely be 10 billion humans on the planet and, with livestock and climate prob-

lems, the idea that billions of us will have the space, money or resources to feed, clothe and bathe animals might be unrealistic. In Japan researchers have shown people easily form strong emotional attachments with robotic dogs. Some have even gone so far as to hold funerals. Meanwhile, engineers are already working on artificial intelligence which could see their creations think and act by themselves.

9th - 15th March

AIRPORT PARKING

INSURANCE

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WATCH REPAIRS WATCH 24 â€“ Watch & Clock repair. 12 month warranty. Free Service & Estimates. Home Collection. 602 457 316 (259355)

BUILDERS

POOLS

BUILDING SERVICES www.dragonreforms.com Tel 966 807 098. Free quotes given. (256718)

CARPENTRY www.dragonreforms.com Tel 966 807 098. Free quotes given. (256718)

DAMP www.dragonreforms.com Tel 966 807 098. Free quotes given. (246718)

ELECTRICIAN

METAL WORKS

HOME & GARDEN

MOBILE WELDING SERVICE Gates, rejas, railings etx. Made to measure or repaired. Free quotes. No job too small. Calpe. Made to measure or repaired onsite. Call Dave 965 834 869 or 616 173 699 (257061)

PLUMBING www.dragonreforms.com Tel 966 807 098. Free quotes given. (256718)

www.dragonreforms.com Tel 966 807 098. Free quotes given. (256718)

COLUMNIST

PLUMBING

SPANISH COURSES

9th - 15th March TV & SATELLITE

REMOVALS & STORAGE

SITUATIONS VACANT

XXX RELAX

Puzzle answers Puzzle answers Puzzle answers Puzzle answers Puzzle answers Wordwheel ad ae ai at ta va ace act aid ait ate ave

Cryptic

Codebreaker cad cat eat eta jat tad tae tai taj tav tea vac

vat via aced acid adit aide ajee avid cade cadi caid cate

Quick

cave dace date deva dita diva eave idea jade tace veda vita

acted cadet caved cavie davit deave dicta eaved evade vatic vitae active

advect advice dacite dative ejecta ideate dejecta deviate jadeite adjective

Kakuro

Word Ladder CHOP COOP HOOP (COOK) HOOK HOCK HACK

Sudoku

English-Spanish

Futoshiki

9th - 15th March

motoring

Hyundai Ioniq TEST DRIVE BY TIM SAUNDERS UNTIL I drove the Hyundai Ioniq my experience of hybrids was that they were dull, inefficient and slow. My opinion has changed. During a week-long test I drive the Ioniq to London and Chichester, as well as pottering about locally. And not once do I break into a sweat fretting about where the nearest petrol station can be found. For those unfamiliar with hybrids they couple a petrol engine to an electric motor. The electric motor kicks in at low speeds making them more environmentally friendly than petrol or diesel vehicles. The electric motor is charged when the petrol engine is running. A very light right foot and speeds typically of 30mph and under, generally results in electric mode (EV) being engaged. However, there are occasions when EV mode fails to kick in and there is no rhyme nor reason why. One such occasion is in heavy traffic in the capital, when we all slow down to a crawl yet we are still running on petrol. This really shouldn’t be the case and is frustrating. Even when reversing off the driveway it is the petrol engine that is

reserves are rapidly depleting. It will easily travel over 550 miles on a full tank of petrol. Two years ago I drove both the Nissan and Toyota equivalents and this was never the case for me then, the driver was lucky to achieve 300 miles on a full tank. And the Toyota Prius is fitted with a 45-litre fuel tank just like the Hyundai Ioniq. However, the Prius is a 1.8-litre petrol compared to the Hyundai’s 1.6litre unit. At the traffic lights the Ioniq swiftly pulls away. Glancing at reviews of this car I am surprised that I cannot find a single complimentary one. They all complain about lack of speed and a general lacklustre appeal of this vehicle. My experience is an utter contrast. I find the design interesting and it is a well constructed five-door hatchback. Its ideal family transport easily accommodating three car seats in the back. HYUNDAI My only qualm is that the seat belt buckles in Hyundai Ioniq 1.6GDi SE Hybrid LONIQ: The the rear fall too low into the seats, making it realPrice: From €22,500 hybrid is an ly really difficult to insert or remove a seat belt 0-60mph: 10.9secs economical when there are three children’s car seats and Top speed: 115mph choice with space is tight. Economy: 58mpg luxury extras. But there is luxury; even the rear occupants Watch the video at enjoy heated seats, while the driver gets a heatwww.testdrives.biz. ed steering wheel and even an air heated/cooled seat, as does their passenger. The seats are comfortable and supportive and called on most of the time. Yet when I shoot my video, the driver enjoys a relaxed experience thanks to the as you can see at www.testdrives.biz, EV mode is enautomatic gearbox. gaged while I reverse. In terms of boot space there is enough room to There is a push button start and the driver must retransport little Henry’s folding pushchair and on our remember to unlock the foot operated parking brake, turn from London we are able to make room for a couwhich takes a little getting used to. ple of antique dining chairs, too. Despite the Ioniq’s reliance on its petrol engine it is Overall, the Ioniq is a welcome addition to the hybrid surprisingly economical. It can be driven at a good line up and it surpasses expectations, setting a new speed on the motorway without the worry that the fuel standard.

9th - 15th March

sport

The Mirador Challenge returns THE seventh javeamigos.com Mirador Challenge will take place on Sunday April 8, a 29kilometre endurance test for walkers, which covers all the official viewpoints along the spectacular coastline of Javea. It has become a renowned event in the town’s sporting calendar and its popularity means that the organisers have achieved one of their primary objectives, which was to open up these stunning spots to more people. The challenge is simple. Thirty teams of five depart from Mirador La Granadella in the early morning and pass through a series of checkpoints along a defined route to the finish line amongst the old windmills of Mirador Els Molins, located high above the Marina Alta town. The route crosses through the wonderful open spaces of Granadella and La Plana whilst also clinging to the cliff-edge through Ambolo, Costa Nova and Portitxol. For more information about the Mirador Challenge, go to the website www.javeamigos.com.

CADENA SUNRISE 10 PIN BOWLING LEAGUE 7th MARCH 2018 (WEEK 19) RESULTS STRIKE FORCE PIN PALS GI GI’S HOOKERS PIN PUSHERS SOL AMIGOS ALLEY CATS

1 8 4 8 8 2

7 0 4 0 0 6

ALLEY GATORS THE PHANTOMS 999’s THE BANDITS S***T HAPPENS SUNRISE COLEGAS

THIS WEEK´S TOP PERFORMERS HI/GAME HI/GAME+H/CAP HI/SERIES HI/SERIES+H/CAP Pos TEAM 1 SOL AMIGOS 2 PIN PUSHERS 3 GI GI'S HOOKERS 4 STRIKE FORCE 5 PIN PALS 6 S***T HAPPENS 7 SUNRISE COLEGAS 8 ALLEY GATORS 9 999’s 10 ALLEY CATS 11 THE BANDITS 12 THE PHANTOMS

LADIES JANETTE HURST JANETTE HURST JANETTE HURST JANETTE HURST PLD 57 57 57 57 57 57 57 57 57 57 57 57

W 50 48 47 45 44 41 40 36 36 34 33 0

D 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0

GENTS PAUL KUNDISS PAUL KUNDISS TERRY CAPON TERRY CAPON

234 249 547 592 L 26 27 28 30 32 35 36 39 40 42 43 76

TOTAL 39655 38894 39665 39655 39339 40080 39810 39204 38460 38969 38757 29670

GMS 57 57 57 57 57 57 57 57 57 57 57 57

AVE. 695 682 695 695 690 703 698 687 674 683 679 520

211 231 595 604 HI-G 829 831 822 824 846 851 785 790 778 778 827 550

HI-S 2319 2234 2359 2269 2337 2418 2259 2173 2142 2178 2245 1590

PTS 100 97 95 91 88 82 80 73 72 68 66 0

The Easter Egg Shoot, sponsored by Gary The Painter, will continue on Monday. Good luck to all.

Bowling results

BRIAN TAYLOR: Celebrating his 80th birthday.

Brian’s birthday bash

THE TEAM: A group shot taken at the BBC. St Valentine’s Massacre Ladies v Gents THE annual match between the ‘boys and girls’ took place on a beautiful sunny Sunday. Red and yellow cards were awarded to the boys for gross infringements, but they still managed to narrowly beat the girls (once again). After the presentation, drinks and snacks were served on the terrace. Thanks go to Dave Boutell and Sheila Fair-

burn as the team captains. Northern league BBC Jaguars v Calpe Thankfully, the sun shone for the Jaguars game at home against Calpe, in what promised to be a tough game, as they are close behind the BBC Lions with a real chance of winning the league. Some solid bowling from a determined Jaguars team saw them win on three rinks, and also taking the shot differ-

ence by nine points, so a final score of 8-2 to the Jaguars. Winter League BBC v San Luis The game at San Luis was always going to be difficult, they are the only side to have beaten BBC at home this season! So it proved to be, BBC could only manage one winning rink and lost by 67-116, two points to 10. The Berleen team also had a tough game and lost by a single shot, 15-16.

JAVEA GREEN bowls club celebrated Brian’s birthday bash. The invitation called for brightly coloured clothes and everyone took this on board as they turned up for a fun day of bowling to celebrate owner and fellow bowler Brian Taylor’s 80th birthday. Drawn teams of three played two games of six ends, but this was bowling with a difference, as each end challenged players to bowls to the left of the jack, short of the jack, behind the jack and even bowling with their opposite hand. This last instruction produced some

hilarious results, with a few wondering if they had been bowling with the wrong hand for years! The fun format made for a level playing field for top bowlers and novices alike. The overall winning triple with a score of 21 was Keith Beaman, Bob Johnson and Pete Shaw. The Spider was won by Heather Stephens. Afterwards a buffet was served with a glass of well-deserved wine. Brian was presented with vouchers to spend at his leisure and a disco provided more exercise for those with energy still to spare.