RTN Newspaper - Costa Blanca South 11 – 17 May 2018 Issue 968

FREE! COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

For daily news online www.rtnnewspaper.com 11th - 17th May

Council to demolish local eyesore Photo credit: Google Maps

by Darren Parmenter GUARDAMAR Town Hall is behind the move to get a building on an abandoned campsite demolished. The local eyesore located on the edge of the pine forest is visible to everyone as they pass by on the N-332, and is close to the recently installed new access routes through the sand dunes to the beach. T he building - now covered in graffiti and in a state of total ruin - is on private ground, but is protected as part of the Coastal Protection Plan (PATIVEL). Therefore, no direct action can be taken by the local authority that authorised the campsite for more than 30 years. According to a report in the Spanish media, the mayor of Guardamar Jose Luis

Issue 968

ABANDONED: Former campsite building up for sale last year.

Saez is attempting to get the owner of the property to voluntarily demolish it before taking any formal proceeding that will permit the council to do it themselves. The building, once used as the reception of the previously popular campsite, is now full of rubble and occupies around 600m2 of land. T he surrounding area is made up of concrete paths once used as camping plots and abandoned gardens. With the plot not being fenced in, the area is seen as dangerous for those people who sometimes still make their way to the beach from this zone. Just over a year ago, the property was seen to be up for sale and only a few months ago work began on clearing out the site... work that has now come to a halt.

INSIDE THIS WEEK ... BULLFIGHT DECISION OVERTURNED IN COSTA BLANCA

P3 CONUNDRUM FOR CHARITY SHOPS

P13 U3A LEARN THE BASICS

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11th - 17th May

A FERRY ser vice between Cartagena and the Balearic Islands is becoming closer to being a reality. T his follows the unanimous approval of a motion from the Par tido Popular (PP) in the Murcia Regional Assembly that asks central government to establish a regular route between the two points. The aim is to look at at-

Ferry service from Cartagena requested tracting more tourists and visitors from throughout southern Spain who may have never considered going to the islands... and vice-versa. It would also open up a

sea route for cargo and goods to and from Cartagena , which is the four th busiest port in Spain. PP Deputy Miguel Cascales stressed that any future connection would ‘strengthen’ both the commercial and tourist activity of Cartagena and contribute to the ‘continued growth’ of freight traffic that would also attract businesses from

bordering regions such as Andalucia. “The Murcia Region, and the port of Cartagena in particular, would be the gateway for all those tourists keen on travelling to the Balearic Islands,” added Cascales. The islands currently have regular sea connections with Barcelona, Denia and Valencia. Photo credit: V&A Wikimedia

GROWTH: Regional politicians have asked for extra sea connections from Cartagena.

Bike noise law U-turn DURING the space of only a few days, new laws introduced by the Local Police in Orihuela to ban mopeds from the central area of the city were rescinded by the council. The ban was originally put in place by the Chief of Police, Jose Maria Pomares, following a significant number of complaints made by local residents at the level of noise. However, the measures received even more complaints than the original ones and were subsequently repealed by the councillor responsible for traffic, Mariola Rocamora. A consequence of this U-turn is that the Local Police have been instructed to intensify the controls in the city centre on the noise made by motorbikes.

Old loos get wash and brush up SANTA POLA joins the list of local councils that are preparing for the impending summer season, and among their programme of work is to adapt two of the current 10 public toilets for the use of people with reduced mobility. They will also expand the existing first aid point to include a rest area for the medical personnel that man the posts. The renovated and adapted toilets are at least 50 years old and are located on the Playa Varadero and Playa Levante. Once finished, they will fully comply with the current regulations on accessibility for all when it comes to such public services.

11th - 17th May

Bullfight decision overturned Credit: Robert Nunn flickr

Darren Parmenter ORIHUELA’S bid to ban animals from shows on public land - including bullfights have been dealt a severe blow. The Superior Court of the Valencian Community (TSJCV) has overturned the town hall’s decision made after a motion debated by the council in October 2015, and approved by the Cambiemos, PSOE and the Ciudadanos (Cs). Orihuela Town Council was taken to court by the Fundación Toro de Lidia who claimed that such a decision could only be taken by the

BULLFIGHTING: Has been reprieved in Orihuela. State as bull sports are regarded as cultural heritage and thus protected. The TSJCV rejected the original motion and also ordered

the town council to pay the €3,000 in court costs; an amount that the local bullfighting club believe should be paid directly by the councillors.

No escaping new breath test THANKS to the introduction of a brand new breathalyser which cost €7,000, the Local Police in Redovan will now be able to carry out tests with more reliable results. Paid for out of the municipal budget, the most modern kind of its type was presented to the Local Police by the mayor of Redovan, Emilio Fernandez, and Councillor Ramon Lopez. The new equipment will now be able to give a more exact reading of the levels of alcohol in the blood as laid down by new rules introduced by the European Union.

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11th - 17th May Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Dolores

MAYOR JOAQUIN HERNANDEZ: (far right) Surveys the road about to benefit from major improvements.

Finally... the beginning of the road BOTH the municipalities of Dolores and Catral have been fighting for it for some time, but at long last they’ve secured the funds to carry out improvements on the road that links their two towns. A total subsidy from the Alicante Provincial Government of exactly €239,999.99 will be used to make the route better and safer for the amount of drivers that use it on a daily basis. In addition, the Valencian Government is paying for the inclusion of a cycle lane to add to the many others currently installed in the area. Speaking to the Spanish media, the mayors of both councils have expressed their pleasure that the long awaited works can fi-

nally take place. “In short,” they said, “it’s about people being able to drive safely... the most important consideration for us.” The programme of works will see the roads that have slowly deteriorated over a period of time resurfaced in areas that have previously just seen potholes temporarily filled. Back in 2014, both councils made the initial application to Alicante for this project to take place but it was rejected by the provincial government at the time. Joaquin Hernandez, the mayor of Dolores, said that it was vital to obtain the subsidy as “the municipalities simply don’t have those kinds of funds available to undertake such a major project.”

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Photo credit: Krzysztof Ziarnek, Wikimedia

‘Extinct’ plant rediscovered

SURPRISING: More than 1,200 examples of the rare plant found. A BIOLOGIST from Orihuela has stumbled across a plant in the area that was previously believed to be extinct, the last one being seen some 20 years ago. Therefore, the Orihuela City Council will set in motion the procedures to ensure that an area of the Sierra de Orihuela can get a ‘special reserve’ status from the Valencian Government. The announcement comes shortly after the recent and surprising discovery of 1,200 specimens of the Notoceras bicorne plant that is native to Spain, Africa and parts of Asia. They were found by biologist Gonzalo Escudero in an inaccessible area of the Sierra and it will now be the task to discover who owns the land to put in place protection

procedures. According to Environment Councillor Miguel Angel Fernandez, until now the only known examples of this plant within the Valencian Community were around 300 growing in the Sierra de Callosa. The plant, catalogued as ‘vulnerable’ was located for the first time in Orihuela in 1816, but nothing was really known about it until 170 years later in 1986 when a botanist from the University of Murcia discovered examples in the nearby Sierra Oriolana. Reports in the Spanish media state that as the Notoceras bicorne is classed as a vulnerable species, it is totally forbidden to pick or remove the plant under the terms of a royal decree.

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11th - 17th May Credit: @ bomberosalic

ALICANTE FIRE SERVICE: Explain their case.

‘Missing children’ help in drone request FIREFIGHTERS based in Alicante have formally asked to be able to use drone technology to help them in their increasingly diverse tasks... and not just in fighting fires. The request for two drones follows an exercise which took part to the north of the city at the weekend in the presence of the councillor responsible for security, Jose Ramon Gonzalez. A total of 21 members of the Alicante Fire Service, helped by three volunteers, carried out a search for two children who had been ‘missing’ for more than an hour from a summer camp in the middle of the country. Following a search of several farms, ravines,

We arrange

water-wells and forested areas in the vicinity, specially trained sniffer dogs found one of those who had disappeared. They then called for some aerial help from a drone which was used to inspect the more inaccessible areas, and eventually found the other missing child. Councillor Gonzalez undertook to study the request for drones in the future, which would need cooperation from the police who already use them in certain aspects of their work and to prevent interferences on their frequencies. The six-propeller drones can fly up to 50 metres high and at a top speed of 45kph.

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11th - 17th May

When the cold of the night... THICK banks of fog engulfed most of the coastal areas of the Alicante Province on both Tuesday and Wednesday morning and caught many people by surprise in the process. Warm air entering the upper layers of the atmosphere collided with the still cold temperatures of the Mediterranean Sea, resulting in fog that lasted most of the night and into the early hours of the morning. It had totally disappeared by 8.30am. Despite being relatively close to the sea, there were no problems at the nearby AlicanteElche airport nor was traffic affected, despite the slightly reduced visibility conditions.

A ‘jaws’ dropping discovery LOCAL POLICE based in Elche have opened an investigation into the discover y of a dozen baby sharks found in a palm orchard. It is suspected that the specimens found may have been part of a consignment resulting from some illegal fishing or from an equally illegal hatchery. The fish were discovered by the owner of the palm groves on the May 1 bank holiday on private land located in the Atzavares neighbourhood of Elche.

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Six out of six for Torrevieja TORREVIEJA has proudly announced that it’s been able to recover one of the highly sought after blue flags that it was surprised to lose previously. The f lag will once again f ly high on the

Cabo Cervera and takes the total to six which will flutter across all the beaches in the municipality. They are Cabo Cervera, El Cura, Los Locos, Cala Piteras, La Mata Sur and Los Naufragos.

The town can now boast to being the city in the Valencian Community with the third highest number of blue flag beaches, and it is in no small way thanks to the way the council and its residents’ care for them.

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11th - 17th May

Illegal waste dumpers targeted dents living along the coast. Dumping of garden waste on the streets. Despite there being a bylaw in place that prohibits such rubbish being left on the public highway and would see offenders fined accordingly, it is still accumulating at an unacceptable level. The problem is that it’s been virtually impossible to track the offenders and issue penalties. Not only does the build-up of garden waste look unsightly and project a bad image for the area, it can be a potential health hazard when it ends up rotting and attracting vermin. However, thanks to collaboration between the council and the Local Police, two officers have been monitoring the most affected areas since the beginning of the year to ensure

Photo credit: Ayuntamiento de Orihuela

ORIHUELA Council aims to put a stop, once and for all, to one of the biggest complaints they get from resi-

CONTROL: Councillor Damasco Aparacio announces ‘green rubbish’ crackdown. that any prunings from the Police are only fining those who are leaving massive Orihuela Costa are placed in sealed bags and left in the dediamounts on the streets, with cated containers. the penalties ranging from At the moment, the Local €750 to €3,000.

Local woman gets all fired up NADIA SERRANO, aged 33, and from Torrevieja becomes only the second female firefighter to join the Provincial Fire Brigade. She is the first since Maria Jose Porcel broke the proverbial glass ceiling to make history in 2004. Her appointment is seen as a vital next step in promoting equality between men and women, especially in an organisation that traditionally fails to attract women throughout Spain, not just locally. Nadine has left her previous job as a psychologist to train as a firefighter, and joins 56 other people - all men - who began their careers at the same time last Tuesday.

Pride event confirmed for June TORREVIEJA Council has announced t h a t t h i s y e a r ’s Pride Day (LGBT) 2018 festivities will be held between June 20 and 23 and will cost €58,158. The big parade will take place on Friday June 22 through the streets o f To r r e v i e j a , a n d will be the major event in a programme full of concerts, shows, workshops and lectures. I t ’s u n d e r s t o o d that €21,000 of the budget will be used to hire the Nancy Rubias, a famous rock group established in Madrid in 2004 and led by Mario Vaquerizo. The remaining money will be spent on security, lighting and sound equipment.

11th - 17th May by John Smith

HAVE YOUR SAY

Popular post on Facebook reaching 7,449 with 53 reactions: Time to hablar more Spanish. Actor claims he was thrown out of a Benidorm bar for being Spanish.

DESPITE the bad news coming from around the world, those of us living in Spain appear to be in a happier situation as the summer is coming and generally there should be enough water to go around. It’s not all gloom and doom as it looks as if North Korea and America will be able to come to some form of mutually acceptable relationship even though the decision by Donald Trump to alienate Iran by pulling out of the 2015 deal isn’t the best of news. What is fairly obvious with international ‘diplomacy’ and even the inexorable move towards Brexit is that there is little that an

Lorraine Spence: Do think it’s bad that basic Spanish isn’t taught to bar owners and staff. You do see some struggle... especially when been there years... About time!

Open your heart individual can achieve so we all basically have to carry on with our lives, accepting that the bigger picture will be just that and we have to watch and wait. Whilst we may not be able to change things across the world, we all have the opportunity to do our bit to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves. The expatriate community in Spain, many of them British, have over the years

Brian Hall: Rowdy place no wonder there’s been so many complaints about the noise. Large groups and all drunk. It’s defo not for me but each person to their own I suppose.

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JUST recently CHUMS (friends of charity) went shopping with the ladies from Benidorm Social Services. They bought just over €500 worth of food for the less fortunate people of Benidorm. CHUMS is a small registered charity who raise funds for local food banks while enjoying coffee mornings, lunches, quizzes etc. Wherever you live, can you become a chum to someone in need?

Most liked posts from this week • Benidorm blogger talks positivity on Cool FM radio • Costa Blanca no bullfight decision overturned in court • €60 million tax scammers caught after three years • Two injured in Costa del Sol gunfight • ‘Envious’ cop jailed for rat poison murder attempt

rtnnewspaper.com Send us your comments on Facebook, Twitter and on our website. Or if you prefer you can email our editor directly: admin@rtnnewspaper.com

years even though the cost of living continues to increase. Food banks are becoming more and more common and there is little doubt that resources for the health service here in Spain have been cut, so that whilst it may be the transplant capital of the world, some hospitals can’t even afford a pair of scissors! There are still an enormous band of expatriates who want to help those

who are in a worse situation than themselves and sometimes it isn’t just money but a friendly greeting or an invitation for a lonely elderly person to join a family for a meal which can make all of the difference. Loneliness is a terrible thing and as we age, so inevitably partners die and if the person remaining doesn’t speak Spanish then they can become isolated and often unable to afford to return to their previous home country. Happily there are charities and help groups all over Spain who want to help those who need it and if we all decided to give up a little of our time to discover what we can do to help, not only would we feel better in ourselves but we could also help others to carry on.

A perfect example of how to be a CHUM

Dawn Winter: We visited last July and there were plenty of Spanish in there drinking !!

In Total 20,400 people reached 8,285 reactions

done a huge amount to support charities especially when children, the elderly or animals are concerned and this is something that has become increasingly more important in the times of austerity since 2007. Although people have become cynical over the years about statistics, it was recently reported that average wages in Malaga Province have actually dropped in the past 10

News & Views from the North & South Costa Blanca & Costa de Sol

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CHUMS: Jack, Rita, Rachel, Marilyn and Peter with the food.

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11th - 17th May by Tony Mayes IF you went to a charity shop would you pay five cents for a second-hand plastic bag, or would you demand a new one for the money? The new plastic bag charge introduced in many countries in Europe is causing a dilemma for charity shops on the Costa and in fact is resulting in the creation of more plastic bags, defeating the object of the exercise. The problem has been highlighted by Esther Tucker, manager at the Help at Home Costa Blanca charity shop in Playa Flamenca. For years people have brought in their unwanted and used plastic bags of all shapes and sizes which have been used at the shop counter for customers’ purchases. But the law now says that shops have to charge at least five cents if a customer wants a bag - but does that apply to recycled bags? No one seems to know. Esther commented: “Some people get cross that they have to pay five cents for a used bag. Some ask for a new bag for the five cents and refuse to have a used one. And that means that every so often I have to go out and buy a new stock of plastic bags, completely negating what the new law is trying to achieve which is reducing the manufacture and use of plastic bags.” She added the shop now has a large stock of second-hand bags which Esther has on occasions had to dispose of - somewhere. But there is no plastic recycling bin near the charity shop to dispose of the unwanted bags, ironically the only bins close by are general waste bins and if Esther wants to be environmentally ‘green’ she has to drive to a plastic recycling bin and pollute the atmos-

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Conundrum for charity shops phere with car fumes in the process. The charity’s president, Carmen Perez said she has tried to get clarification from the town hall and from lawyers but no one can give her a definitive answer as to whether a charity shop has to charge five cents for a recycled plastic bag. She would welcome clarification. “Obviously we don’t want to do anything which would involve us breaking the law and facing the prospect of a fine,” she added. Esther stressed that she still wants people to bring in their unwanted plastic bags staff have found a new purpose for some of them - stuffing handbags so they look more like new. And it worked - when the handbags were put on sale all fluffed up they shot off the shelves! At present the charity shop is charging five cents for a used bag and when staff explain why, most understand, but people do question why the law has to be this way. Perhaps a legal eagle reader can tell them and other charities whether or not a charity shop has to charge for a recycled bag. ESTHER TUCKER: Third from left with some of the shop’s volunteers.

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Murcia sets ambitious energy target by Darren Parmenter TO reduce CO2 emissions by 40 per cent by 2030. T h a t ’s t h e a m b i t i o u s p l a n made public by the Murcia City Council, and the aim is to present it to the European Commission in 2019. Murcia’s Councillor for the E nv i ro n m e n t , A n t o n i o Nav arro Corchon, reported on

the outcome of the first ro u n d t a b l e m e e t i n g at te n d ed by municipal employees to lay the foundation for the new Action Plan for Sustainable Climate and Energ y 2030 (PACES). Around 25 representatives of the main municipal services which have a connection with the consumption of energ y in any form took par t

in the discussion, which Councillor Corchon described as ‘positive, since a plan of t h i s s i z e m u s t h av e t h e p a r ticipation, support and expertise of all the relevant people.’ T he p l a n i s p a r t o f t h e E u ropean initiative of the C o v e n a n t o f M ay o r s fo r C l i mate and Energ y signed in 2016 in the city of Murcia;

an initi ative that fo cuses on both the reduction of g reenhouse gases and the potential impacts of climate change. During the eight years from 2007 to 2015, Murcia achieved a 24.5 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions, a f i g u re w h i c h w a s p l a n n e d to be 20 per cent by 2020... so they ’re ahead of their predic-

tions with three years to spare. Over the next 12 years, M u rc i a w i l l co n t i n u e to p ro mote renewable energies, energ y efficienc y measures in all their municipal buildings and sports facilities, and carr y out a public awareness campaign to encourage ever yone to take responsibility for their day-to-day energ y use.

Lights, traffic, action! THE contract that is currently being prepared for the renewal and t h e m a i n t e n a n c e o f To r r e v i e j a ’s t r a ff i c l i g h t n e t w o r k a m o u n t s t o €549,000. This will be a four-year contract, with the option to extend for a further year, and the successful bid-

der will have to carry out an annual review of all the lights in the c i t y ’s n e t w o r k , i n c l u d i n g w i r i n g systems. For some time, a number of traffic lights in Torrevieja have been known to fail on a regular basis, especially in the rain.

Child phone addiction addressed PRIMARY SCHOOLS in Almoradi have seen

a number of special lectures taking place to warn about the dangers of both drug a b u s e a n d t h e g ro w i n g addiction to the use of mobile phones. Councillor Almudena Albentosa has been working on a number of projects in collaboration with the Municipal Unit for Prevention of Addictive B e h av i o u r s ( U P C C A ) .

In 2017, the UPCCA started a programme called ‘ D Z C N K TA’ (Disconnect) given t h a t a s m a ny a s o n e i n four people confess to being addicted to their phones and social media. Albentosa said: “Cases like this kind of addiction are inc r e a s i n g a n d i t ’s t i m e to invest in the solut i o n s .”

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U3A learn the basics Photo credit: Barry Weston

A SPATE of recent medical incidents up and down the Costa Blanca have once again brought to the forefront the importance for as many people as possible to possess some form of first aid skills. Thanks to an initiative by the Torrevieja branch of the U3A, 16 people recently took part in a series of two, fivehour sessions designed to spread some basic first aid knowledge. It took place in the Centro Civico R amon de Campoamor, Calle Cipres, Lomas de Cabo Roig, which is owned by the Orihuela Costa Town Hall, and was under the direction of a fully qualified first aider with over 30 years experience, Barry Robinson. In the section of the course

LEARNING: Little Anne (third left) was a vital part of the first aid training. that dealt with CPR, Barry was ably assisted by little Anne, and all those who took part said how much they both enjoyed and benefitted from this invaluable experience. This was the first course to be run by the Red Cross in this

location, and it is generally hoped that it will be their permanent home in Orihuela Costa and that they will be able to offer their services to many other organisations to improve the safety facilities on the coast.

Valley Voices entertain TICKETS are now on sale for a special event with Valley Voices entertaining as you picnic in the Lavender Gardens near Jalon, from 5pm on Saturday June 9. The choir has a varied selection of popular songs to celebrate HM Queen Elizabeth’s birthday, and the children’s home in Gandia (El Preventorio) will benefit from monies raised by ticket sales.

Tickets cost just €10, and booking in advance guarantees you a table in the delightful Mediterranean gardens of Finca La Cuta, Jalon. Bring a picnic and listen to the Valley Voices, with Kirsty Glen on keyboard and directed by Aileen Lightfoot. For tickets or enquiries please call 634 301 483, or email valleyvoiceschoircb@gmail.com.

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Mobility scooter fall A 53-YEAR-OLD man has been injured after falling down a three-metre high embankment in his mobility scooter. The incident happened in Correntías Altas in Orihuela close to the Rio Segura, and the reason for the accident is still to be investigated. Neighbours called the emergency services and despite Local Police and an ambulance arriving at the scene within minutes, they were unable to reach the man and so the fire brigade was called to rescue him. He was eventually transferred to hospital and the extent of his injuries is unknown at this stage.

GENEROUS DONATION: Pat Milligan, Maggie Morse and Michele Masson.

Pat does it again LOCAL fundraiser Pat Milligan once again organised a grand fundraiser last week for two charities in the area, HELP Vega Baja and Elche Children’s home. Pat presented €522 to both charities following a meal with entertainment by Abba Elite which was held at Frasquitin Restaurant, Callosa de Segura. Michele Masson, President of HELP Vega Baja, collected the donation on behalf of the charity and Michelle Dingle and Maggie Morse ac-

cepted the donation on behalf of Elche Children’s home. Michele Masson said “Pat just never stops! It seems that as soon as one fundraiser is completed, Pat starts to organise the next one. “I know Pat prefers to stay in the background, but it is incredible to see what she achieves, and it is important that people recognise her remarkable achievements. “We are extremely grateful to Pat for her continued support to HELP Vega Baja”.

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11th - 17th May Photo credit: Coolpix Pexels

NUTRITIONAL: Broccoli production has significant role in Murcia’s economy.

Murcia’s green and pleasant land by Ray Chadwick HALF the amount of broccoli grown in Spain is produced in the Murcia Region. T his was the proud statement made by regional president Fer nando

Lopez Miras, as he stated that its production has become an important part of the economy ’s eng ine room, both in financial rewards and generating employment opportunities. President Lopez Miras was speaking at the open-

ing session of the ninth General Assembly of, yes, the Association to Promote the Consumption of Broccoli, held in Torre Pacheco. Dur ing his address, Lopez Miras highlighted that the broccoli grown in the reg ion was around 215,000 tons per year on approximately 27,000 hectares of land. One of the tasks of the association is to encourage

more people within Spain to be aware of the nutritional and health benefits of the popular green vegetable, since it is better known outside of the country’s borders. Considering the effects of the economic cr isis, combined with the significant drought conditions in the region, broccoli production has been maintained.

F i n a l l y, L o p e z M i ra s congratulated the Associat i o n p re s i d e n t , L u i s J i m e n e z Mo ya , fo r t h e continuing achievements o f h i s g ro u p w h i c h w a s created in 2010. He co m m e n te d t h at during those eight years, t h e y h ave m a n a g e d to promote broccoli to such an extent that it is now a growing part of the Spanish diet.

Prison for the ‘dog and bone’ A PRISON sentence that was handed down as a result of a stolen dog being exchanged for a mobile phone has been confirmed. The Provincial Court of Murcia supported the judgement of a Criminal Court in Cartagena that sentenced two local residents to three and a half months in prison. The dog was stolen from a farm in La Aljorra after forcing a lock on the gate, and was later found in a car boot suffering from a number of injuries which needed treatment from a vet. The latest judgement states that the

Cartagena Court proved as fact what had been reported by the dog’s owner after it disappeared in February 2013. Later in the month the dog, a bull terrier, was found by Local Police in the boot of a car owned by one of the two men who were later convicted. According to a report on the case in the Spanish media, the man happily took the dog from another person knowing it had been stolen, and exchanged a mobile phone for it. As well as both men being sentenced to a prison term, they were ordered to pay the owner the €68 in veterinary fees.

Rubbish on an industrial scale CREVILLENTE Council has announced that it will increase the fines imposed on anyone caught dumping rubbish in the municipality’s industrial estates. It’s only at a draft stage at the moment, but the proposed by-law contemplates fines of over €750 for dumping plastic material used for covering deliveries which is often immediately discarded.

The intention is to also create a specific Local Police patrol dedicated to preventing and spotting future breaches, and having the power to impose the on-the-spot penalties. The council is particularly concerned at the amount of boxes that have been found almost embedded in the green areas close to the industrial areas, accompanied by collections of other rubbish that build up close to the nearby N-340.

11th - 17th May Photo credit: Wikimedia

BARRIERS: More stations on TRAM network to get ticket barriers.

TRAM to toughen fraud controls by Darren Parmenter DESPITE a number of crackdowns in the past few months, there will be even more patrols on the Alicante TRAM network to reduce the number of people travelling without a ticket. The times and locations where most of the defrauding takes place will see the monitoring intensified by the antifraud controls. These will also take place in the stations that are mainly

found out in the open, the less crowded ones, and during the early and late hours. The stations located in the centre of Alicante are especially difficult to enter without a valid ticket as they are controlled by electronic scanning barriers. Since April 1, the fine for travelling without a ticket on the TRAM has been increased from â‚Ź50 to â‚Ź100 but it appears not to have deterred a significant number who have continued to beat the system.

As well as fines, other antifraud measures are being developed such as the installation of more ticket validation machines which will stop people accessing the stations. According to data from operators FGV, the Alicante TRAM closed the 2017 financial year with an estimated fraud level of 3.8 per cent of passengers for all of its lines. During the same 12-month period, a total of 1,708 fines were imposed on TRAM travellers.

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11th - 17th May

A plea for help from a reader Credit: Nito Shutterstock

ONE of our readers, Alan Gilchrist, who lives in Belfast but purchased a property in Vilamarina has written in asking for assistance. His email follows and he is using a lawyer to represent him, but is looking to see whether any reader has had a similar experience, especially if their action against their bank was successful. Any response can be sent to admin@r tnne wspaper. com and will be passed on to Alan. We know that mortgages and bank loans attached to f loor clauses have been a major problem for many people in Spain so any positive advice will be welcome. Alan writes: “I wonder if the RTN Newspaper and its readership could possibly help me. “I was one of the ‘victims’ with regards to the swap scandal whereby the banks asked clients to sign a type of insurance polic y with regards to interest rates going up or

APPEAL FOR HELP: Where did the money go? down. “I did this and the outcome was me ending up owing the bank in excess of €20,000 and I had to take

out a personal loan to pay the bank back. “At no stage did we receive any paper work from the bank either

about the swap or the personal loan. “Thousands of people were caught up in this and have lost homes etc because of it. “The reason I’m contacting your excellent newspaper is because I’m also taking my bank to court to have this money refunded and demand compensation. “One of the main issues is that the bank made us pay €15,000 to have the swap contract stopped. “ They are now disputing this amount but they made us sign a loan for this plus the money owed for the swap. “So where did the money go? “ We are still having to pay each month for this ‘illegal’ swap and will for another seven years! “Can you please ask your readers if anyone else has had a similar situation and outcome, particularly regarding the €15,000, and could they contact me via RTN at the email address above to let me know how they coped? “Many thanks.”

No escape for the cats TO R R E V I E J A’ S Councillor for Animal Protection, Carmen Morate, has announced a charity event taking place this Sunday to raise funds to help in the cat castration project for La Mata. Morate, who is behind this particular initiative, said “the event will be something very special because the solution to the overpopulation of the cat colonies is not to destroy them but to castrate them.” The vital fundraising event is due to take place in the Plaza Encarnacion Puchol, the main square in La Mata.

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11th - 17th May

Help at Home – what’s in a name? Photo credit: Bill Hulse HAH

by Bill Hulse AT the recent Annual General Meeting, the members voted to reregister the charity as HAH (Help at Home) Mar Menor. It was believed that the new name better describes their area of activity. At the same time they took the opportunity to bring the statutes up-to-date without altering their aims or ambitions. May is certainly going to be a busy month for HAH. Their priority, as ever, is to help and they are busy completing their preparations for some special events, one of which is a Fashion Show on Wednesday. There is no need to get tickets in advance for this as it’s a pay on the door event. Full details are on their Facebook page: HAH (Help At Home) Mar

HELPING: Members of HAH Mar Menor at one of their recent meetings.

Menor, and on their web page www.helpathome.es. Fundraising is vital. They do not charge for any of the help they give, nor for any of the mobility aids loaned out to residents and visitors alike. HAH can ar range for specialist help, and in exceptional circumstances may make a contribution towards the cost of this. Help in and around the

home is available to any English-speaking people in temporary need following accident or illness. If you or someone you know needs help, call on 633 673 034. If they can help they will. Regular monthly meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at the L as C laras Centre in Los Narejos beginning at 11am.

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Q A

11th - 17th May

legal WHAT is an Enduring Power of Attorney, what are the advantages of signing this and how is this drafted?

AN Enduring Power of Attorney is a notarial document appointing another person, to act on their behalf, if they were to lack the ability to express their own wishes. The biggest advantage of this is for managing the assets of the incapable person, without

resorting to incapacitation judicial proceedings. Drafting and revising it by an attorney / legal advisor / notary clearly specifying what powers are allowed, together with a registered and authorized signature before the notary.

Health, Wealth & Spanish Lifestyle Forum, Seagate Wealth Offices, 101 Avda Federico Garcia Lorca (Next to the Citroen garage), Benijofar Friday May 18 • 11am start. If you have any further questions about this or any other legal matter please do not hesitate to contact us; we have a team of experts standing by to assist you in any way we can. Call 965 480 737 or email info@pellicerheredia.com. Videos at www.pellicerheredia.com

11th - 17th May

money by Darren Parmenter

Fraudsters caught after three years

Tourism bubble remains intact Photo credit: PxHere

THE Spanish tourism bubble continues to expand both year-on-year and month-on-month according to the latest figures released by the National Institute of Statistics (INE). And there is no sign of it bursting just yet... For the first quarter of 2018, more than 13.7 million visitors came to Spain from overseas and boosted local and national economies with a total of €14.7 billion. Compared to the similar period for last year, the numbers of tourists are 6 per cent higher and almost a million more. Even their spending was up by 7.7 per cent on 2017, although the fact that Holy Week fell entirely in March this year has been regarded as having a positive effect on the figures. T he March figures made it the 70th consecutive month to see a rise in tourism spending. The Canary Islands are still the most favoured destination for foreign visitors, with the region welcoming 28.3 per cent (3.4 million people) of the total tourists between January and the end of March 2018. Coming second, and despite the political issues in Barcelona during that per iod, Cataluña saw 3.1 million

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EXPANDING: Tourism spend in Spain shows almost six years of monthly growth. tourists and 22.5 per cent of the total cent during the first quar ter of the for Spain. year. Whilst Spain has traditionally been It would come as no surprise to see seen as attracting visitors purely for British tourists making up the highest the sun and the sand, visits for profespercentage of Spanish visitors (at 20.8 sional and business reasons have per cent) and also accounting for 17.9 shown a significant increase of 16.1 per per cent of the total spending ability.

OFFICERS from both Spanish National Police and the Tax Office have managed to close down the activities of a gang allegedly involved in tax avoidance and money laundering. A total of 58 people have been arrested in Spain, Belgium, Portugal and Germany and are believed to be responsible for a scam amounting to €60 million. The group were caught following ‘Operation Dreams’, set up in 2015 following a report from the Committee for the Prevention of Money Laundering which highlighted €250 million of fake invoices that had been raised during a period of three years. They had been issued by non-existent businesses based across the world in Spain, Italy, Hungary, Romania, Germany, Bulgaria, Portugal, Belgium, Cyprus and the USA, and the majority of

those arrested are Spanish, many already known to the authorities because of their police records. The investigation resulted in searches carried out at 62 separate addresses in Spain which included some in Alicante, Elche and Murcia. According to the Spanish media, the organisation - with its headquarters in Madrid and Elche - was allegedly being managed by two men (a father and son of Indian origin but holding Spanish nationality) for more than nine years. The Spanish tax authorities first showed some interest in their activities back in 2014, so the pair left the country to continue their operation from the USA. The scams revolved around selling electronic devices that undercut major companies as well as importing luxury cars.

11th - 17th May

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The swinging 60’s Credit: www.bertweedon.com

by John Redfern

I HAD finally found an instrument that suited me, a bass guitar. Cor blimey, I was chuffed to bits, I found a way of practising on the bass guitar which was unique to me. Put the end of the guitar neck touching a hollow door in my house and it boosted the sound without me plugging into a combo amp and allowed me to practise without annoying my wife and neighbours, Yippee I was on my way to becoming a bass player and started to think about my future in the world of entertainment! Mods and Rockers had arrived in the mid-1960’s and music was changing fast. The British young people were getting fed up with being fed fake news by Harold Wilson. The press at the time used to give these two conflicting groups of young men a bad name and sparked a moral

panic within the establishment. They were called violent, unruly, troublemakers by the hierarchy. The men in double breasted suits, hand-made brogue shoes, kipper ties and haircuts which were called the

POP TRIO: John Redfern, bass, John Clarke, guitar and singer, Alan Harding, drums.

basin cut, were so out of touch with the working class young people. They patronised us and became a figure of contempt. That was a signal to the British youth, an old geezer smoking a pipe

telling us what to do. It was a big mistake Mr Wilson. The young men in the mid-60’s were getting tired of being told what to do! We had gone through 10 years of schooling which had included the dreaded cane and teachers who enjoyed dishing out this punishment. Mods and Rockers had had enough so you needed to make a choice, a mod or a rocker, brother against brother. You had to choose a side, was it a scooter or was it a motorbike? Was it a leather jacket or was it a parka? My bass guitar was starting to become an addiction so I formed a pop trio, drums, guitar and me on the bass and started to play working men’s clubs which I enjoyed for many years. We only played covers of existing bands of the day but I was finally getting a wage. It was tough because in the mid-60’s other groups were starting up so competition was getting tight but we had gained a large following in the Midlands and the bookings kept coming in. We were now on the road and making an impressive wage and I was getting quite snappy on the bass and wanted more!

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11th - 17th May

Racing again at long last THIS year’s high winds had forced the last two SAMM race days to again be cancelled but, at last, on May 6, they were forecast at a steady nine to 10 knots from the east. Racing was possible for the 19 competitors manning 10 boats. For a change the Race Officer set a figure of eight course. The morning race started in only four knots of wind which favoured the smaller, lighter boats and Shoestrings Cuatro, Uno, and Dos plus the Laser Radial and Quba crossed the start line ver y close together. The best of the heavies, Sirocco, started 12 seconds late but her sister Mistral took 12 minutes to cross the start line. The wind had not increased so the race was shortened to three laps, which Dos (Tug Wilson and new member Richard Dopson) completed in 63 minutes 54 seconds. The Quba (John Down) was fourth to finish in 67 minutes 31 seconds but was declared

DOS: Being chased to the mark. the winner once the handicaps were applied. At the start of the afternoon race the wind had increased to eight knots and the start was the best for many months, with the whole fleet jostling for position and starting within a few seconds of each other. The stronger winds soon had the fleet spreading out except for Shoestrings Cuatro

and Dos who battled hard for the whole race, completing lap two just two seconds apart. Dos, the faster boat (Laser 2000) eased out to finish the four-lap race in 53 minutes 57 seconds with Cuatro (Gamba) crewed by Kerry Marlow and Paul Johnson finishing one minute 39 seconds later. Application of the handicaps reversed the positions on corrected time.

FRIDAY 12:00pm A1: Britain's Longest Road 12:45pm The Housing Enforcers 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News at One 2:30pm BBC London News 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm Escape to the Country 4:00pm Garden Rescue 4:45pm Flipping Profit 5:30pm Flog It! 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News at Six 7:30pm BBC London News 8:00pm The One Show 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm The Button 10:00pm Have I Got News for You 10:30pm Home from Home 11:00pm BBC News at Ten

Good Morning Britain Lorraine The Jeremy Kyle Show This Morning Loose Women ITV Lunchtime News ITV News London Judge Rinder Tenable Tipping Point The Chase ITV News London ITV Evening News Emmerdale Coronation Street Love Your Garden Coronation Street Who Wants to be a Millionaire? ITV News at Ten and Weather ITV News London Through the Keyhole

8:35am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:00am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:30am Frasier 10:05am Frasier 11:05am Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA 12:00pm Undercover Boss USA 1:00pm Channel 4 News 1:05pm Coast v Country 2:05pm Posh Pawnbrokers 3:10pm Countdown 4:00pm A Place in the Sun 5:00pm The £100k Drop 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Buy it Now 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:30pm Unreported World 9:00pm Our Wildest Dreams 10:00pm Gogglebox 11:00pm Friday Night Dinner 11:30pm High and Dry

9:40am Digby Dragon 9:55am Nella the Princess Knight 10:05am Mofy 10:15am The Wright Stuff 12:15pm The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door 1:10pm 5 News Lunchtime 1:15pm GPs: Behind Closed Doors 2:15pm Home and Away 2:45pm Neighbours 3:15pm The Yorkshire Vet Casebook 4:15pm Tormenting Abigail 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 Britain's Great Cathedrals, with Tony Robinson 10:00pm Portillo's Hidden History of Britain

7:00am 7:20am

9:30am Beyond Bionic 10:00am Robot Wars 11:00am Astronauts: Do You Have What it Takes? 12:00pm Homes Under the Hammer 1:00pm The World According to Kids 2:00pm Money for Nothing 2:10pm Escape to the Country 2:55pm Finding Neverland 4:30pm Top of the Shop with Tom Kerridge 5:30pm Top of the Shop with Tom Kerridge 6:30pm Love in the Countryside 7:30pm The Forest 8:00pm World's Most Extraordinary Homes 9:00pm Coast Lives 9:30pm Dad's Army 10:00pm The Private Life of the Royal Academy

8:25am The Tom and Jerry Show 8:30am Teen Titans Go! 8:45am Adventure Time 9:00am Thunderbirds are Go 9:25am ITV News 9:30am Zoe Ball on Saturday 10:25am Saturday Morning with James Martin 12:20pm Countrywise 12:50pm ITV Lunchtime News 1:00pm Little Big Shots 2:00pm Midsomer Murders 4:00pm Ninja Warrior UK 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm ITV Evening News 7:15pm Regional News and Weather 7:30pm Ninja Warrior UK 8:30pm Harry Hill's Alien Fun Capsule 9:00pm Britain's Got Talent 10:15pm The Keith and Paddy Picture Show

9:30am Everybody Loves Raymond 10:00am Frasier 10:30am Frasier 11:00am Frasier 11:30am The Big Bang Theory 12:00pm The Big Bang Theory 12:25pm The Big Bang Theory 12:55pm The Simpsons 1:25pm The Simpsons 1:55pm The Simpsons 2:25pm Come Dine with Me 3:30pm A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 4:00pm A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 5:00pm Location, Location, Location 6:00pm Formula 1 7:30pm Channel 4 News 8:00pm When Harry Met Meghan: A Royal Romance 9:00pm Britain's Most Historic Towns

7:00am Milkshake! 11:05am Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 11:30am The Gadget Show 12:25pm Police Interceptors 1:25pm Police Interceptors 2:20pm Police Interceptors 3:20pm The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door 4:20pm The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door 5:15pm Nightmare Tenants 6:15pm Bad Tenants, Rogue Landlords 7:10pm Rich House, Poor House 8:00pm Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away! 9:00pm Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away! 9:55pm 5 News 10:00pm Live Boxing: Fury v Sexton

4:25am Zoology 6:15am Top Ten Show, the 2018 6:30am Avengers: Infinity War Part. 1: Special 7:00am Everything, Everything 8:40am Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul 10:20am Dunkirk 12:15pm Anon: Special 12:45pm Anon 2:30pm Annabelle: Creation 4:30pm Top Ten Show, the 2018 4:50pm Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul 6:40pm Anon: Special 7:10pm Dunkirk 9:00pm Anon 10:45pm Annabelle: Creation 12:40am My Cousin Rachel 2:30am Anon 4:30am Girl Flu

6:00am Football's Greatest 6:30am Football's Greatest Teams 7:00am EFL Play-Off SemiFinal 9:30am EFL Greatest Games 9:45am EFL Greatest Games 10:00am Info not available 10:30am SPFL Matters 11:00am Soccer A.M. 12:30pm SPFL Matters 1:00pm Live EFL Play-Off Semi-Final 3:45pm Live EFL Play-Off Semi-Final 6:00pm Live EFL Play-Off Semi-Final 8:15pm Live EFL Play-Off Semi-Final 11:00pm Info not available 11:30pm Info not available 12:00am Info not available 12:30am Info not available 1:00am La Liga Icons 1:15am La Liga Icons

7:50am Life in a Cottage Garden with Carol Klein 8:20am Gardeners' World 9:20am Countryfile 10:15am The Beechgrove Garden 10:45am Saturday Kitchen Best Bites 12:15pm Spring Kitchen with Tom Kerridge 1:00pm Athletics 2:00pm Triathlon World Series 4:00pm Rugby League Challenge Cup 6:30pm Flog It! 7:00pm Tomorrowland 9:00pm Neanderthals - Meet Your Ancestors 10:00pm Burma with Simon Reeve 11:00pm Atlanta

9:25am 9:30am 10:25am 11:00am 12:00pm 1:15pm

8:30am Everybody Loves Raymond 8:55am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:25am Eat the Week with Iceland 10:30am Sunday Brunch 1:30pm Bake Off: The Professionals 2:30pm The Simpsons 3:00pm The Simpsons 3:30pm Cheaper by the Dozen 5:25pm Extreme Cake Makers 6:30pm Channel 4 News 7:00pm Formula 1 9:00pm Bake Off: The Professionals 10:00pm Eddie the Eagle 12:05am 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown 1:05am Good People

11:30am Dogs Make You Laugh Out Loud 12:00pm Budgies Make You Laugh Out Loud 12:55pm Penguins Make You Laugh Out Loud 1:55pm Puppies Make You Laugh Out Loud 2:55pm Naughty Dogs Make You Laugh Out Loud 3:50pm Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls 5:40pm Garfield 7:10pm Kittens Make You Laugh Out Loud 8:00pm Kitten's Got Talent 9:00pm Psycho Pussies: When Cats Attack 9:55pm 5 News 10:00pm Kylie at 50: Especially for You 11:35pm Muriel's Wedding 1:40am Fail Army

4:30am Girl Flu 6:15am Top Ten Show, the 2018 6:30am Rampage: Special 7:00am Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul 8:50am Everything, Everything 10:40am Dunkirk 12:40pm Anon 2:40pm Anon: Special 3:10pm Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul 5:00pm Annabelle: Creation 7:00pm Dunkirk 9:00pm Anon 11:00pm Rise of the Footsoldier 12:45am Annabelle: Creation 2:45am The Stolen 4:40am Anon

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

7:30am A1: Britain's Longest Road 8:15am Flipping Profit 9:00am Antiques Roadshow 10:00am Victoria Derbyshire 12:00pm BBC Newsroom Live 1:00pm The Daily Politics 2:00pm Perfection 2:45pm Home Away From Home 3:30pm Going Back Giving Back 4:15pm Digging for Britain 5:15pm Tudor Monastery Farm 6:15pm Money for Nothing 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Great British Railway Journeys 8:00pm Back to the Land with Kate Humble 9:00pm Gardeners' World 10:00pm The Bridge 11:00pm Episodes 11:30pm Newsnight 12:05am Louis Theroux

7:00am 9:30am 10:25am 11:30am 1:30pm 2:30pm 2:55pm 3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 9:30pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:45pm

9:00am 10:50am 12:30pm 1:00pm 2:50pm 4:50pm 6:40pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:50pm 12:45am 2:40am 4:25am

Lou Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul Anon Everything, Everything Anon: Special Anon Dunkirk The Stolen Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul Anon: Special Anon Dunkirk My Cousin Rachel Girl Flu Zoology

3:35pm

La Liga Greatest Games 3:45pm La Liga Greatest Games 4:00pm To be Announced 4:30pm Football's Greatest Teams 5:00pm Scottish Cup Greatest Games 5:15pm Scottish Cup Greatest Games 5:30pm La Liga Greatest Games 5:45pm La Liga Greatest Games 6:00pm La Liga Preview 7:00pm SPFL Matters 7:30pm SPFL Greatest Games 7:45pm SPFL Greatest Games 8:00pm To be Announced 8:30pm Live EFL Play-Off Semi-Final 11:00pm The Debate - Live

SATURDAY 2:30am BBC News 7:00am Breakfast 11:00am Saturday Kitchen Live 12:30pm Hairy Bikers Asian Adventure 1:00pm Football Focus 2:00pm BBC News 2:10pm Weather 2:15pm Rugby League's Legendary Watersplash Final 3:00pm Rugby League Challenge Cup 5:30pm Doodlebugs 5:45pm Big Hero 6 7:20pm Ready or Not 7:50pm BBC News 8:00pm Regional News 8:05pm Weather 8:10pm Pointless 9:00pm Eurovision Song Contest 2018 12:35am BBC News 12:50am Weather

SUNDAY 2:00pm BBC News 2:10pm Weather for the Week Ahead 2:15pm Britain's Fat Fight with Hugh FearnleyWhittingstall 3:15pm Lifeline 3:25pm Points of View 3:40pm Songs of Praise 4:20pm Britain's Best Home Cook 5:20pm Final Score 6:30pm BBC News 6:45pm Regional News 6:55pm Weather 7:00pm The a-Z of the Rhs Chelsea Flower Show 8:00pm Countryfile 9:00pm British Academy Television Awards 2018

2:15pm 2:30pm 3:30pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 7:45pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 11:00pm

ITV News Zoe Ball on Sunday Love Your Garden Peston on Sunday Britain's Got Talent Britain's Got More Talent ITV Lunchtime News Ninja Warrior UK Paul O'grady: For the Love of Dogs Change Your Tune Tipping Point The Chase: Celebrity Special Harry Hill's Alien Fun Capsule ITV Evening News Regional News and Weather Little Big Shots Midsomer Murders ITV News

1:00pm 4:00pm 6:00pm 9:00pm 10:45pm 12:05am 12:10am 2:15am 2:30am

EFL Greatest Games SPFL Greatest Games SPFL Greatest Games SPFL Greatest Games SPFL Greatest Games SPFL Greatest Games Info not available Info not available Info not available Info not available Sunday Supplement Soccer Special PreMatch Football Live La Liga 2017/18 Live EFL Play-Off Semi-Final Live La Liga 2017/18 Football MLS Greatest Games Football One2eleven SPFL Greatest Games

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.

MONDAY 11:00am Homes Under the Hammer 12:00pm A1: Britain's Longest Road 12:45pm The Housing Enforcers 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News 2:30pm Regional News 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm The Doctor Blake Mysteries 4:15pm Escape to the Country 4:45pm Royal Recipes 5:30pm Hardball 6:15pm Pointless 7:00pm BBC News 7:30pm Regional News 8:00pm The One Show 8:30pm Fake Britain 9:00pm EastEnders 9:30pm Panorama 10:00pm Peter Kay's Car Share 10:30pm Mrs. Brown's Boys 11:00pm BBC News 11:30pm Regional News

7:30am A1: Britain's Longest Road 8:15am Flipping Profit 9:00am Gardeners' World 10:00am Victoria Derbyshire 12:00pm BBC Newsroom Live 12:30pm The Week in Parliament 1:00pm The Daily Politics 2:00pm Perfection 2:45pm Going Back, Giving Back 3:30pm Digging for Britain 4:30pm Tudor Monastery Farm 5:30pm Street Auction 6:15pm Antiques Road Trip 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Great Continental Railway Journeys 8:00pm Back to the Land with Kate Humble 9:00pm Inside the Factory 10:00pm Heart Transplant: A Chance to Live 11:30pm Newsnight

9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy Kyle Show 11:30am This Morning 1:30pm Loose Women 2:30pm ITV Lunchtime News 2:55pm Regional News and Weather 3:00pm Judge Rinder's Crime Stories 4:00pm Dickinson's Real Deal 5:00pm Tipping Point 6:00pm The Chase 7:00pm Regional News and Weather 7:30pm ITV Evening News 8:00pm Emmerdale 8:30pm Coronation Street 9:00pm Give it a Year 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Innocent 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:30pm Regional News and Weather

9:00am

11:30am 1:30pm 2:30pm 2:55pm

9:00am Everybody Loves Raymond 9:30am Frasier 10:00am Frasier 10:35am Frasier 11:05am Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA 12:00pm Undercover Boss USA 1:00pm Channel 4 News 1:05pm Coast v Country 2:05pm Posh Pawnbrokers 3:10pm Countdown 4:00pm A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 5:00pm The £100k Drop 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Buy it Now 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:55pm The Political Slot 9:00pm Holidays Unpacked 9:30pm Tricks of the Restaurant Trade 10:00pm Catching a Killer

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 3:15pm The Yorkshire Vet Casebook 4:20pm Murder, She Baked: A Peach Cobbler Mystery 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News 8:00pm World's Fastest Train 9:00pm Police Interceptors 10:00pm Paddington Station 24/7 11:00pm Cocaine: Addicted Britain 12:05am Criminals Caught on Camera

9:30am 10:00am 10:35am 11:05am

7:00am Milkshake! 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 3:15pm The Yorkshire Vet Casebook 4:15pm Cradle Swapping 6:00pm 5 News 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News 8:00pm Britain by Bike with Larry and George Lamb 9:00pm The Yorkshire Vet 10:00pm Intercity 125: The Train That Saved Britain's Railways

4:40am 6:30am 7:00am 8:40am

10:20am 10:50am 12:50pm 2:45pm 3:00pm 5:00pm 7:00pm 9:00pm 10:45pm 12:40am 2:25am

Anon Avengers: Infinity War Part. 1: Special Everything, Everything Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul Youngster Greg hatches a plot to reroute a family road trip towards a videogame convention. Anon: Special Basmati Blues Anon Top Ten Show, the 2018 Annabelle: Creation The Stolen Basmati Blues Anon Annabelle: Creation Rise of the Footsoldier Anon

9:00am Football's Greatest 9:30am Football's Greatest Teams 10:00am To be Announced 10:30am La Liga Greatest Games 10:45am La Liga Greatest Games 11:00am La Liga 2017/18 1:05pm La Liga 2017/18 3:10pm La Liga 2017/18 5:15pm Scottish Cup Greatest Games 5:30pm La Liga Greatest Games 5:45pm La Liga Greatest Games 6:00pm La Liga Icons 6:15pm La Liga: The Story of Las Palmas 7:30pm Info not available 8:00pm Soccer A.M. 8:30pm Live EFL Play-Off Semi-Final 11:00pm SPFL Round Up 2017/18

The Stolen Basmati Blues All About the Money Anon Annabelle: Creation Young orphan Linda (Ouija: Origin of Evil's Lulu Wilson) finds herself drawn to a creepy porcelain doll that seems to have evil in its cold, dead eyes... Horror prequel. Anon: Special Basmati Blues All About the Money Anon Annabelle: Creation Rise of the Footsoldier Girl Flu Anon: Special Anon

2:00pm La Liga Icons 2:30pm Revista de la Liga 3:00pm SPFL Round Up 2017/18 3:15pm SPFL Greatest Games 3:30pm MLS Round Up Show 4:00pm Info not available 4:30pm Football's Greatest Teams 5:00pm Scottish Cup Greatest Games 5:30pm La Liga Greatest Games 6:00pm Info not available 6:30pm Revista de la Liga 7:00pm SPFL Round Up 2017/18 7:15pm SPFL Greatest Games 7:30pm MLS Round Up Show 8:00pm To be Announced 8:30pm Live EFL Play-Off Semi-Final

TUESDAY 11:00am Homes Under the Hammer 12:00pm A1: Britain's Longest Road 12:45pm The Housing Enforcers 1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pm BBC News 2:30pm Regional News 2:45pm Doctors 3:15pm The Doctor Blake Mysteries 4:15pm Escape to the Country 4:45pm Royal Recipes 5:30pm Hardball 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 The Split 11:00pm BBC News

Top of the Shop with Tom Kerridge 10:00am Victoria Derbyshire 12:00pm BBC Newsroom Live 1:00pm The Daily Politics 2:00pm Perfection 2:45pm Going Back, Giving Back 3:30pm Digging for Britain 4:30pm Tudor Monastery Farm 5:30pm Street Auction 6:15pm Antiques Road Trip 7:00pm Eggheads 7:30pm Great Continental Railway Journeys 8:00pm Back to the Land with Kate Humble 9:00pm Pangolins - The World's Most Wanted Animal 10:00pm Nigeria's Stolen Daughters

3:00pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:30pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 11:45pm

This Morning Loose Women ITV Lunchtime News Regional News and Weather Judge Rinder's Crime Stories Dickinson's Real Deal Tipping Point The Chase Regional News and Weather ITV Evening News Emmerdale Devon and Cornwall Cops This Time Next Year Innocent ITV News at Ten and Weather Regional News and Weather Regional Programmes

12:00pm 1:00pm 1:05pm 2:05pm 3:10pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 12:00am

Frasier Frasier Frasier Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares USA Undercover Boss USA Channel 4 News Coast v Country Posh Pawnbrokers Countdown A Place in the Sun The £100k Drop Four in a Bed Buy it Now The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News The Secret Life of 5 Year Olds The Windsors Royal Wedding Special Meet the Markles First Dates

7:00am 8:50am 10:50am 12:40pm 2:35pm

4:40pm 5:10pm 7:10pm 9:00pm 10:45pm 12:40am 2:25am 4:05am 4:35am

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.

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11th - 17th May

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

Pointless BBC News Regional News The One Show Watchdog Live Panorama BBC News Regional News Weather A Question of Sport 12:15am F.A. Cup 12:45am Ambulance 1:45am Weather for the Week Ahead 1:50am BBC News

6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:10am 12:15am 12:40am 1:05am

Antiques Road Trip Eggheads Great Continental Railway Journeys Back to the Land with Kate Humble World's Most Extraordinary Homes Love in the Countryside Detectorists Newsnight Weather Atlanta Atlanta Versailles

4:00pm

Dickinson's Real Deal 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 Britain's Busiest Airport - Heathrow 9:30pm Coronation Street 10:00pm Innocent 11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather 11:30pm Local News and Weather

Antiques Road Trip Eggheads Great Continental Railway Journeys Back to the Land with Kate Humble Amazing Hotels: Life Beyond the Lobby Million Pound Menu The League of Gentlemen Newsnight Dara and Ed's Great Big Adventure The Bridge Versailles

6:00pm 7:00pm

1:00pm 1:05pm 2:05pm 3:10pm 4:00pm 5:00pm 6:00pm 6:30pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 8:55pm 9:00pm

Channel 4 News Coast v Country Posh Pawnbrokers Countdown A Place in the Sun The £100k Drop Four in a Bed Buy it Now The Simpsons Hollyoaks Channel 4 News The Political Slot The Secret Life of the Zoo 10:00pm 24 Hours in a and e 11:00pm What Makes a Woman?

2:15pm 2:45pm 3:15pm

Home and Away Neighbours The Yorkshire Vet Casebook 4:15pm Manic Mom 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm Police Interceptors 9:00pm GPs: Behind Closed Doors 10:00pm Rich House, Poor House 11:00pm When Kids TV Goes Horribly Wrong 2:00am Super Casino

4:35am 6:30am

3:15pm

6:00am 6:30am 7:00am 8:50am 10:50am 12:45pm 1:15pm 3:10pm 5:00pm 7:00pm 9:00pm 10:45pm 12:30am 2:25am

Anon Avengers: Infinity War Special Basmati Blues All About the Money The Stolen Anon Annabelle: Creation Basmati Blues All About the Money Anon Annabelle: Creation Miss Hokusai Rise of the Footsoldier 3

Scottish Cup Greatest Games 5:30pm La Liga Greatest Games 5:45pm La Liga Greatest Games 6:00pm Info not available 6:30pm SPFL Round Up 2017/18 6:45pm SPFL Greatest Games 7:00pm Revista de la Liga 7:30pm La Liga World 8:00pm Info not available 8:30pm Live EFL Play-Off Semi-Final 11:00pm Revista de la Liga

Anon: Special Rampage: Special The Stolen Basmati Blues Anon Anon: Special Walking Out All About the Money Annabelle: Creation Basmati Blues Anon Walking Out Annabelle: Creation Rise of the Footsoldier 3

5:00pm Scottish Cup Greatest Games 5:30pm La Liga Greatest Games 6:00pm Info not available 6:30pm La Liga Files 7:15pm La Liga Icons 7:30pm Football's Greatest Teams 8:00pm Info not available 8:30pm Live EFL Play-Off Semi-Final 11:00pm La Liga Show 11:30pm Football's Greatest Teams 12:00am Info not available

7:00am 9:00am 10:45am 12:35pm 2:25pm 4:20pm 6:15pm 8:00pm 10:00pm 12:00am 1:40am

5:15pm

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

Pointless BBC News at Six BBC London News The One Show EastEnders Britain's Best Home Cook Ambulance BBC News at Ten BBC London News Question Time This Week Weather for the Week Ahead

6:15pm 7:00pm 7:30pm 8:00pm 9:00pm 10:00pm 11:00pm 11:30pm 12:15am 1:15am 2:15am

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

The Chase Local News and Weather ITV Evening News Emmerdale Tonight Emmerdale Paul O'grady: For the Love of Dogs Innocent ITV News at Ten and Weather Local News and Weather Great Art Give it a Year

2:05pm 3:10pm 4:00pm

Posh Pawnbrokers Countdown A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun 5:00pm The £100k Drop 6:00pm Four in a Bed 6:30pm Buy it Now 7:00pm The Simpsons 7:30pm Hollyoaks 8:00pm Channel 4 News 8:55pm The Political Slot 9:00pm Cruises from Hell 10:00pm Humans 11:00pm First Dates 12:05am 24 Hours in a and e 1:10am Catching a Killer

The Yorkshire Vet Casebook 4:15pm Fatal Close-Up 6:00pm 5 News at 5 6:30pm Neighbours 7:00pm Home and Away 7:30pm 5 News Tonight 8:00pm The Nightmare Neighbour Next Door 9:00pm Bad Tenants, Rogue Landlords 10:00pm Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away! 11:00pm Me... And My Mental Illness 2

this week weather FRI

SAT

SUN

MON

TUE

WED

THU

May 11

May 12

May 13

May 14

May 15

May 16

May 17

23º/14ºC 26º/13ºC 25º/12ºC 24º/13ºC 22º/14ºC 22º/13ºC 22º/13ºC Partly sunny

Partly sunny

Brilliant sunshine

Partly sunny

Partly sunny

Clouds and sun

Cloudy and a little rain

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.

34

11th - 17th May Across

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?

1 2 3 4

Cryptic

Down 1 Make up building pick list (8) 2 Wash thoroughly inside disc rubber (5) 4 Fruit is the result of an afterthought plea (6) 5 Written about in blog, I'm another Spanish friend (5) 6 French chemist tears up design (7) 7 Good lookers get the favourable votes it's said (4) 8 Teach where the pupils are? (6) 13 Take care of confused brief at the end (8) 15 Unsuspecting, a French female hides a conflict (7) 17 Isle that includes central Kent, oddly enough (6) 18 Was confused in her cable (6) 20 The newspaper items are poorly written (5) 22 Bird with the French name (5) 23 Insect that used to be quiet (4)

RACE Weekly Stars

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

Aries. Mercury squares up to an ebullient Mars and though you are awaiting a response that is just and favourable, this may not be as forthcoming as you anticipate. Mercury ensures that workable channels of communication are tuned and ready, whereas the energy of Mars is focused on getting a good result for you, any which way!

Libra. Balance is truly an illusion, though you instinctively make it into an art. Conflicts this week fly out of the window as you discover that quarrels are truly an anathema to you now that you have other fish to fry. Change for changes sake brings a drama into a crisis so have an escape route planned; as Uranus trysts in your sibling planet Taurus.

Taurus. The entry of Mercury greatly simplifies what has to come next in a situation that is close to veering completely out of control. Whoever changed the goalposts actually did you a favour in disguise, since actions now truly will speak louder than words ever could, and resolve will see to it that history cannot be allowed to repeat itself.

Scorpio. Squaring up to Uranus, Mars greatly intensifies what is really going on right now. Uranus is inventive and geared towards enterprise and satisfaction whilst you may have already smelt the vibration of the pastures green that are beckoning you onwards and upwards. You can run, but you surely cannot hide, even if you want to!

Gemini. The midweek conjunction between Mercury and Uranus sees some positive focus on long term plans bringing fruition to back up the gambit. You will feel enterprising but not vulnerable and should be aiming high, whilst you still have some plausible options to take into consideration. Strike while that iron is appropriately hot.

Sagitarius. Somebody needs your love and attention right now, but they are afraid to ask for what they think should be instinctive; and they greatly fear your rejection. You have been very distant, moody and standoffish lately, but that’s because you crave the attention that they are currently unable to give to you. Above all, end this charade!

Cancer. Moon magic cannot replace logic in the current journey of discovery. You are far more than you think that you are, and should be having a great time, right now, discovering that inner you. Forget the temptation to plan some nasty nips and look closer to your heart whereby your Sanctuary calls for the attention it deserves.

Capricorn. You’ll get what you want right now if you just persevere and see your way through. Trials and tribulations have seen to it that you are at sixes and sevens, but your feet are on the ground and whatever has hurt you has made you stronger. Venus sextiles Kora and dramatic results allow you to have your share of the cake and eat it too.

Leo. The Sun trines with Pluto, so expect some illumination into the true heart of the matter right now, whilst future plans teeter on the brink of rescheduling, re-planning and cancellation. Pluto is stalling for time and making you feel that maybe there is something that you should be doing, but that you almost certainly are not actually doing.

Aquarius. Mars enters by stealth and vigour, and though it takes no prisoners does ensure that Direct in Aquarius is the right place to be. Considering what is on offer to you right now you would be hedging your bet if you saw that any other direction would cater for your every need; whilst allowing you the freedom to follow your natural instincts.

Virgo. The Mercury ingress allows you to see things from a very different angle this week. So much has already changed, of late, but there is more to what you are about to do than meets the eye. Take time to sort things and come up with the intuitive energy that you need to take things to a new height. But remember pride comes before a fall.

Pisces. See to it that your needs are met, and leave no stone unturned this week in achieving that which you know that you must. Whilst others are playing at being Devil’s Advocate see the error of their ways as this puts you where you belong, in pole position. Venus brushes up to Pluto to make the difference that a new start merits.

Sponsored by

Code Breaker

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 23 represents G and 24 represents D, so fill in G every time the figure 23 appears and D every time the figure 24 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.

Play on Words

Answers: Me and my shadow. To be honest with you.

Puzzles Page

HUNT

1 Luxuriant drinker (4) 3 Plant organised my appeal (3,5) 9 The root vegetable's a standard crop (7) 10 Publication for children (5) 11 Forbidden love in abandoned boat (5) 12 Wears down queen with poems (6) 14 Could start card game, it’s cheap (6) 16 Withhold food from pop star vegetarian's diet (6) 19 Repeated words from Brahman tradition (6) 21 Al meets Jack at the table (5) 24 Fear some Territorial Army recruits (5) 25 For a change, respect the royal staff (7) 26 Dotty, Sue, Pearl, Joy (8) 27 Soundly study the plant (4)

11th - 17th May

35

Across 1 Hobby (7) 5 Flashy, ostentatious jewellery (5) 8 Devoutly religious (5) 9 Traveller's luggage (7) 10 Lean back (7) 11 Appears (5) 12 Feel pain (6) 14 Deep gorge or ravine (6) 18 Small carnivorous mammal of the weasel family (5) 20 Break into many pieces (7) 22 Building (7) 23 Be in accord (5) 24 Garment worn around the head, neck or shoulders for warmth or decoration (5) 25 Meet the requirements or expectations of (7)

Quick

Down 1 Ancient writing material (7) 2 Unemotional person (5) 3 Heighten or intensify (7) 4 Symbol device or badge (6) 5 Fraudulent (5) 6 Mental pictures (7) 7 Expect to be true (5) 13 State in southeastern US between the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico (7) 15 Refusing to be persuaded or to change one's mind (7) 16 Room in a house for children (7) 17 Evaluate (6) 18 Garden buildings (5) 19 Stealer (5) 21 Revolves (5)

Across

1/4 Borrar (3,3) 3 Tail (of dog, bull, ox) (4) 5 This (4) 6 Blando (madera, droga, agua) (4) 8 Laugh (4) 11 Cama (3) 12 Classroom (4) 15 Una vez (4) 16 Loyal (4) 17 Wave (4) 18 Sí (3)

Down

1 To gnaw (4) 2 Abejas (4) 3 Pink (6) 4 See 1 Across 7 Caída (4) 9 Plancha (utensilio) (4) 10 Grandmother (6) 13 Feo (4) 14 Brazos (4) 15 Gold (metal, commodity, currency) (3)

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

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.

Sudoku

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?

The 9 letter word is:

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

Kenny’s Postbag Kenny, I have always thought that my Grandmother was my Spiritual Guide, but I have been told recently that that isn’t possible. Who is my Guide? Wenke G. That’s right Wenke, your Guide has lived at least one life here on Earth, but they are never a member of your family, without exception. Since a Guide is especially connected to you only you can share with their information. Guides often are hesitant to give actual names until they know you better. If you have problems in connecting with your Guide, let me know!

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

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11th - 17th May

by Barry Duke

Credit: Barry Duke/Benigrafica/Zarateman Wikimedia

WHEN I tell folk that I live on the 31st floor of a tower block on the outskirts of Benidorm, they generally react with horror. “Oooh, I could never live that high”, they exclaim, adding “what happens when the lifts break down?” So far this has never happened in the almost eight years that we have lived in a spacious two-bedroomed apartment in Sol de Poniente II, but when we chose our apartment it didn’t enter our mind that living in the clouds would expose us at times to really scary weather conditions. High winds are the worst. Last week I wrote of how our utility room door was blown open with such force that a six-litre bottle of water was propelled into the back of my knees and sent me crashing to the floor, but this was nothing compared to the terror we felt when the wind blew one of two two-metre high glass patio doors off its tracks late one night. We were watching TV when there was a loud crash and a gale tore through our living room, sending the pooches, pot plants, papers and pictures flying. Fortunately, we were able to lower the outside shutter which broke the wind’s force. But we weren’t able to get the door back on its sliders until the next day. Another heart-stopping moment occurred when I stepped out onto the patio to clean the doors. To do so I had to slide them shut. Job

Living the high life

TOWER BLOCK: Sitting on top of the world. done, I tried to get back indoors - and couldn’t. A wind had sprung up, and was blowing with such force against the doors they wouldn’t open and I had to remain on the patio for 45 minutes until the gale subsided. I should point out at this stage that there is a serious design fault with the patio doors in this tower block. They have automatic locks. When a friend of mine, who once lived in the building, heard I was moving into Sol de Poniente II, he advised me to disable the locks immediately. “If you close the doors while you’re on the patio there is absolutely

no way that you can get back in because there are no handles on the outside. “And you can’t climb over onto a neighbour’s patio because the building, being fanshaped, has no adjacent balconies.” There’s another problem with high-rise buildings and wind, one that was noted as far back as 1902 when the Flatiron Building was completed on a site in Manhattan where 23rd Street, Fifth Avenue and Broadway converge. Gusts would ricochet off the building and blow women’s long skirts above their ankles. Multitudes of young men would position them-

selves on 23rd Street at the base of the building in the hope of glimpsing a comely bit of stocking, and ‘plods’ had to yell at them to move on. In 1905 a risque movie entitled The Flatiron Building on a Windy Day that ‘gives one a general idea of what women experience on a windy day around this noted corner’ was released. Another troublesome building was the 32storey Bridgewater Place in Leeds, completed in 2007. This channelled fierce air currents straight down to the ground, creating galeforce winds of up to 80 mph at street level and it caused a great deal more grief than lifting women’s skirts. In 2011, particularly strong winds led to the tragic incident of a lorry being blown over, crushing a pedestrian to death. The problem was solved by an architect firm. The Guardian, in 2014, reported that, ‘in a proposal that has all the elegance of strapping leg splints on a Dalek, they have resolved to erect a cumbersome series of frames around the base of the building, from which screens and canopies will be hung in an attempt to mitigate the wind.’ Will periodic bouts of wild weather - few and far between - drive us from our concrete nest? Not a chance. Our monthly rental is ridiculously low, our Spanish neighbours are as quiet as mice and extraordinarily friendly and the views are incredible. So, unless we’re given our marching orders by the landlord, we’re here to stay.

11th - 17th May

37

-ER verb endings in the present simple Basic Spanish for everyday needs

by Jane Cronin

WE are still at the early stages of our mission to learn about the present simple tense and how it is formed. Remember that verbs in the present simple are divided into three categories standard, root-changing and irregular. We are looking at standard verbs and last week we saw what happened to them when they belong to the group with an ‘-ar’ ending on the infinitive. So now we need to look at standard verbs that end in ‘-er’.

an example: COMER meaning of course ‘to eat’. Our ending is ‘-er’ so our root is ‘com’ and this is the part that expresses the idea of eating. The changes we make to the ending are what give us the information about who does the eating and when they do it.

wherever there was an ‘a’ before there is now an ‘e’. This gives us: Como Comes Come

Comemos Coméis Comen

This means that the three letters ‘com’ are repeated for the six versions of the verb when we conjugate in the present simple, that is when we change the forms to express first, second and third persons singular and plural.

I am not going to keep repeating the translations of each of these forms because they are difficult to fit onto the page and take away from the clarity of the Spanish. However, if you are unsure you can refer to the previous article about ‘-ar’ verbs to see what each change means.

The endings of ‘-er’ verbs are similar to those of the ‘-ar’ verbs except that

When we are saying these out loud it is important to get the emphasis in the

There are many standard ‘-er’ verbs, all of which behave in exactly the same way. For example: aprender (to learn), beber (to drink), correr (to run), leer (to read) to name but a few. Leer usually raises a few eyebrows because English speakers find it odd to accept that if the ending of the verb is ‘-er’ then the root must be ‘le’, with both letter e’s pronounced independently. This gives us: Leo Lees Lee

Our single most important principle remains exactly the same, which is that we must first look at our infinitive verb and split it into its two component parts - the ending and the root. The ending only ever has two letters, in this case ‘-er’, so whatever is left is the root, be it one letter or 10. Let’s take a very well-known verb as

right place. On the first, second and third persons singular and third person plural the beat goes on the root - ‘com’, whereas on the first and second persons plural the beat falls on the ending. You should try to get this right straight away as it is an important principle and can affect understanding when we are speaking.

STANDARD VERBS: In the present tense.

Leemos Leéis Leen

There are other standard ‘-er’ verbs which make a minor change in the first person singular - some examples are: caer (to fall), coger (to pick up), hacer (to make, to do), ver (to see, to match). We will talk about these next week before moving on to ‘-ir’ verbs. Hopefully that’s given you some food for thought for a while. See you next week!

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11th - 17th May

health

Raising the level of men’s testosterone TESTOSTERONE has something of a bad reputation. Blamed for violence and war the very word has connotations with our prehistoric cavemen days, and nobody except the occasional jihadi is calling for a return to the Stone Age. But low testosterone levels are hugely detrimental to men’s health. Men need optimum testosterone levels to properly function (as do women). The levels of the hormone in the blood begin to decline when a man reaches his 30’s and environmental pollution has also caused a concerning drop. So what can be done to increase testosterone? Firstly, if you’re overweight, lose weight, cut out all sugars and refined carbohydrates. Fat is your friend. Not deep-fried pizza but healthy fats including nuts, coconut oil, salmon, olives and avocados. Begin exercising differently. No more long ambling runs for countless miles,

VITAL HORMONE: Low levels of testosterone are detrimental to men’s health. or hour-long stints on the bike. Fast explosive exercise that pushes you to your limit in 30 seconds alongside weight training. Vitamin D deficiency really shouldn’t be a problem in Spain but try to get outside at least once a day, or take supplements if you’re working the night shift or are allergic to garlic

and crucifixes. Finally try to reduce your stress levels. Psychological tinkering is much harder than making physical changes but has a greater pay off. Chronic stress releases cortisol which blocks the good effects of testosterone. Try yoga, meditation, or deep breathing to calm down and relax.

Digestive matters under the spotlight THE number of patients going to see specialists in search of treatment for digestive problems has increased almost 40 per cent over the last decade, the Spanish Group of Digestive Motility (GEMD) has reported. More than 200 gastroenterologists have taken part this week in the GEMD’s annual meeting in Barcelona, where the marked increase was noted and discussed. Around seven million people in Spain are affected by some sort of digestive problem caused by alterations to digestive motility or other functional disorders such as irritable intestine syndrome or chronic constipation, doctors have said. “Over the last 10 years we’ve seen a progressive increase in the number of visits to specialists for this type of problem,” said Dr Fernando Canga, GEMD secretary and gastroenterologist at Madrid’s 12 de Octubre hospital. “The marked increase shows people are becoming more concerned about this type of problem, which stops them leading a completely satisfactory life and can cause depression,” Canga explained. Specialists believe that cases could be increasing due to more food allergies and intolerances, which were in the past not taken as seriously as they are today by sufferers.

Is a fix room the answer to drug problem? THE UK has approved in principle the idea of a special facility to allow drug addicts to inject in a safe and controlled environment. Discussions and debates are still underway but Glasgow could be the city to house the UK’s first such supervised injection facility, which is often named the ‘fix room.’ In Glasgow it’s believed there are about 500 drug users. The centre would give some users access to medical grade heroin on the NHS and a supervised place in a bid to reduce drug-related deaths and spread of infection. However the plans have caused controversy and opponents of the idea say drug taking in any form should never be condoned and more should be done in prevention work and getting people off drugs. Similar places already operate in cities across Europe.

11th - 17th May

39

health

Will cocoa keep hearts healthy? IT’S the news chocolate lovers w i l l b e w a i t i n g t o h e a r, c o u l d chocolate help protect the heart? Cocoa in its natural form, unfortunately not milk, white or in a box of treats, can help to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It is made up of hundreds of known compounds and many have antioxidant properties. These protect the body from destroying cells and causing premature ageing. It is also high in polyphenols, which, as well as being an antioxidant, also have anti-inflammatory properties that can main-

tain the elasticity of blood vessels and promote circulation, as well as reducing the so-called bad cholesterol; all factors in keeping a healthy heart. Studies also suggest that cocoa has antidepressant benefits and can boost t h e b o d y ’s e n d o r p h i n s and serotonin, known to give natural highs and the feeling of happiness. So next time you fancy something sweet, go for natural cocoa for a healthier treat. SWEET TREAT: Natural cocoa is made up of compounds, many of which contain antioxidant properties that protect the body.

Give your self-esteem a boost SELF-ESTEEM is maybe something you don’t think about much on a daily basis, but this level of how you perceive yourself and value your own self-worth is fundamental to a person’s emotional stability. For some, self-esteem comes easier than it does for others. It is about having love, self respect and recognition for yourself, but for those suffering how can you give yourself a boost? Appearance is often paramount to how people perceive themselves. Few of us are lucky enough to be blessed with model looks, but you can do something about it. Do more sport and become more active. It will get you on track to the physical appearance you want, but exercise also releases endorphins, also known as the happy hormones, which give a feeling of well-being. But also accept your flaws, no one is perfect

and you have to have a certain level of realism as to what you can obtain. Stop seeking approval from others. The opinion of others is valued, but do not get caught up in dressing or speaking to please others or seeking their praise and attention. Do what makes you happy and what you believe in. Sur r ound your self by niceness. Some people are negative and these bad vibes can influence you even on a sub-conscious level and bring you down. Free yourself from these toxic people and socialise in different circles to see how surrounding yourself with positivity can also boost your positive attitude. Don’t be too harsh on yourself. Stop listening to your inner critic too much and refocus on positive thoughts, taking time out of each day to appreciate what you have.

40

11th - 17th May

Who really rules over us

by Michael Walsh

Credit: Kremlin.ru

keyboardcosmetics@gmail.com VOTERS are bewildered by politicians who ignore their promises as soon as they are elected. Winston Churchill explained why: “the best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.” This may be cynicism but we all know there’s many a true word said in jest. Vladimir Putin wasn’t in joking mood when interviewed by France’s oldest daily newspaper, Le Figaro. Probed on his frustration with trying to nail American policy jelly to the wall the Russian president was to the point. US presidents serve as little more than puppets of an unseen ruling oligarchy. The overview applies equally to Prime Minister Theresa May. May constantly commits herself to policies that serve not the interests of the British people but the interests of what the Russian leader describes as the unseen ruling oligarchy. Putin condemned the deep state bureaucracy that controls US for-

PRESIDENTS: Putin and Trump. eign policy. “A certain person may be elected by the public on the basis of his merit and ideals, but rarely is this person able to formulate policy.” He then noted that the bureaucracy in the US, known as the Deep

State, is very powerful and as such does not allow any meaningful change in policy direction. ‘Presidents come and go, but the politics remain the same. In effect, individuals, who may have their own genuine ideas about reforming

US policy, are elected to the White House only to satisfy the illusion of a free and fair democratic process taking place, truly a façade of reality.’ Putin noted that ‘men in dark suits’, who remain unknown to the

voting public, continue to pursue the interests of the ruling elite with each incoming administration. “You know, I’ve communicated with one US president, and a second, and a third, presidents come and go but the politics remain the same,” the Russian president said. “Do you know why that is? So a person is elected, he comes with ideas. Then people with briefcases come visit him, well-dressed, in dark suits.” The Russian leader explained that when these ‘men in black’ show up they essentially instruct the president on what he’s going to do, which is why you often see such abruptly differing policy enacted from that which the candidate ran upon to get elected. Putin went on to identify U-turns on Middle East policy, the economy, NATO, Syria, international trade and improving the nation’s archaic transport infrastructure. An American commentator says “It’s truly disheartening to have to turn to Russia to get a more accurate picture of what is transpiring in the United States. The US corporate media operates as propagandists for the Deep State agenda, acting as information gatekeepers.”

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

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BENEFICIAL INSURANCE SERVICES. Car, Home, Business, Travel, Life, Funeral, all insurances available. Policies in English. BEST rates, covers & service. Immediate quotes. Tel 961 129 215 / 622 275 561, (whatsapp) info@beneficialinsur anceinspain.com or visit www.beneficialinsurancein spain.com for online quote.

UK MOT. All legal and on line. Arrangements made for collection and delivery £400. Email carsinspain@hotmail.com Tel. 0044 7553367285 (246860)

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POOL MAINTENANCE Repairs, Spares and Leak Testing. Call 965 725 565 / 676 945 360 www.pooltech spain.com (259394)

REMOVALS/STORAGE

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MOTORING

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

SPANISH COURSES

MAN AND VAN UK Spain. 2 vans travelling twice a month, Murcia – North / South UK. Storage in Spain Tel 610 846 260 or 0044 751 918 6355 email van.man@hotmail.co.uk (250809)

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11th - 17th May PETS

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

Readers of a sensitive disposition may find some of the advertisements in this section offensive.

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11th - 17th May

motoring KAROLINA PLISKOVA is not yet in possession of a driver’s licence - but she does have a dream car. By winning the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, the 26-year-old Czech received, alongside the prize money and world ranking points, a 718 Boxster GTS as the main prize. In the high-class and thrilling final at the long-standing Stuttgart tournament on Sunday, she defeated the impressive Coco Vandeweghe 7-6 (2), 6-4 in front of a capacity 4,500 crowd in the once again sold-out Porsche Arena. The evenly-matched first set was sewn up by the world No 6 on a tiebreak. After going a break and then 52 down in the second, it seemed as if the match was virtually over but Coco Vandeweghe dug deep in an effort to ward off defeat. She fought her way back to 5-4 but then Karolina Pliskova, whose threeset quarter final match against the French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko lasted until past midnight, had no desire to put in any more overtime and wrapped up the match and her 10th career WTA title with her first match point after one hour 56 minutes. According to the new champion, the thought of winning the new car was an added spur to her determination.

Game, set and Porsche KAROLINA PLISKOVA: With her two trophies.

Credit: Porsche Germany

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motoring

MINI hatches plan for royal wedding MINI is to celebrate the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with a one-off MINI Hatch, designed specifically for the special occasion and to be donated to one of the couple’s chosen charities. After the big day on May 19, this commemorative MINI will be handed over to the Children’s HIV Association (CHIVA) for public auction.

Credit: BMW Group

“As an iconic British brand with almost 60 years of history in the UK, we are pleased to mark the royal wedding with this special charitable gift,” explained Oliver Heilmer, head of MINI design. “Its specially designed roof graphic combines with 3D-printed personalised interior and exterior details, as well as special embroidery making this a MINI like no other.”

The unique car is finished in crystal white with silver-blue accent strips, with a black band that wraps around the car. Recognisable MINI design features are still present and correct, like the hexagonal radiator grille, the door handles and the headlight rims. The roof’s painted finish uses multiple colours and is applied meticulously by hand to bring together elements of Prince Harry

and Meghan Markle’s national flags: the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes. Special MINI indicators have been 3Dprinted and embellished with the initials M and H with a heart and rings. The first names of the bride and groom, plus the wedding date and good wishes to the newlyweds have been added to the large trim strip near the front passenger seat.

ROYAL RIDE: MINI has celebrated the special relationship in style with its blend of UK-US branding.

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motoring

BMW calls in 300,000 cars amid engine stalling calamity BMW is recalling more than 300,000 cars in the UK because of an electrical fault that has caused some vehicles to suddenly cut out. The German carmaker had issued a safety call covering approximately 36,000 petrol-fuelled cars last year, but has extended it after acknowledging the fault may well be a wider problem. The company is expected to directly contact those customers affected by the recall of the BMW 1 Series, 3 Series, Z4 and X1 petrol and diesel models made between March 2007 and August 2011. A BBC Watchdog Live investigation discovered that vehicles could cut out while being driven, which has led to the latest embarrassing recall. “We now recognise that there may have been some cases of similar power supply issues in vehicles not covered by the original recall,” BMW said. “In order to reassure customers with concerns about the safety of their vehicles, we are voluntarily extending the recall.”

SPANISH car maker SEAT sold around 50,100 cars in April, breaking company records to achieve its best figures for that month. The firm saw an increase of about 21 per cent compared to the same month in 2017 when around 41,400 vehicles were

IN DEEP WATER: The recall is a blow to BMW’s reputation. CREDIT: SEAT

Sales speed ahead

Mwape Kambafwile told the BBC he stopped driving his BMW 3 Series car after it cut out while he was driving in December 2016. He said: “I just thought to myself, if I was driving on the motorway with my family in the car, that could have been very dangerous. “I walked to work, it was a nightmare.” Labour MP for Middlesborough and shadow transport secretary, Andy McDonald, described BMW’s conduct as ‘deeply concerning.’ “The company was aware of the potential for their vehicles to endanger the public for some time but delayed withdrawing them from our roads. “It shouldn’t take a BBC investigation to provoke the action to keep our roads safe.” As things stand BMW has no plans to recall cars in Spain.

RACING AWAY: Sales for April broke company records.

sold. This month’s figures break the record for April of 45,100 which was set in 2000. SEAT said in a statement the total number of sales so far this year numbered 189,300 worldwide. It marked a 19.3 per cent increase on the same period in 2017 when sales stood at 158,700 and surpasses the previous record of 181,300 posted in 2000. Wayne Griffiths, the company’s Vice President for Sales and Marketing, said SEAT had expanded over the market trend in Europe. “Our growth beyond Europe is even stronger thanks to a positive performance in Algeria. “SEAT’s globalisation strategy is already delivering results.

Likewise, we continue to innovate with new projects such as the eCommerce platform we have implemented to lauch sales in Norway,” he said. Algeria, Britain, Germany and Spain were the four fastest growing countries in sales compared to the same time last year. Sales in Spain, the company’s leading market, grew by 15.9 per cent with about 39,200 cars sold. Germany followed with an increase of 19 per cent and 35,300 sales while Britain saw a 13.8 per cent rate of growth and 23,700 cars sold. S E AT s a i d t h e f i g u r e s a n d the success of its Martorell factory would allow them to hire 250 new workers from June 1.

Audi R8 RWS: Cheaper, lighter, more fun THE first thing you notice about the new rear-wheel-drive Audi R8 RWS is that you don’t notice it’s the new rear-wheel drive Audi R8 RWS. Externally there is not a badge or spoiler that’s significantly different to the Quattro all-wheel drive R8, while inside it’s only a small plaque above the glovebox that gives the game away. That plaque reads ‘1 of 999’ regardless of whether you are the first of the 999 R8s to emerge from Audi’s Bollinger Hofe production facility, or the last. The thinking is presumably so that Audi can just order a batch of identical badges rather than ones that are bespoke to each car. More cash has been saved by not having to equip the R8 with its usual front driveshafts, multi-plate clutch and propshaft, thereby creating the first of its Rear Wheel Series, a name that suggests there will surely be others. What’s unusual is that in an age of seemingly endless premium-priced special or limited edition supercars, you can walk into an Audi showroom and pick up a limited edition R8 RWS Coupe for ‘only’ €127,000. Moreover, the RWS is around 50kg lighter than a Quattro R8, and uses the same 5.2 litre V10 engine. While it may lack the ultimate torque of its turbocharged rivals, with a redline set at a giddy 8,700 rpm and a peak power output of 533 bph at 7,800 rpm, it still has plenty of bark and bite. Bespoke features include a hybrid aluminium and carbon fibre reinforced polymer spaceframe, and hand-built, dry-sumped V10. The R8 has a 0-62mph time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 198 mph, with stop-start technology to kill the engine when the car is stationary. Ultimately, just like other R8s, the RWS is addictively brilliant to drive and hearing that engine scream through its seemingly never-ending rev range while revelling in the balance of its mid-engine layout, is one of the great motoring experiences.