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Sierra Nevada sierranevada.es
2022- 2023
WINTER WONDERLAND Photos by Jon Clarke
The Sierra Nevada is the true icing on the cake of living in southern Spain, writes Jon Clarke
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T was two decades side near Ronda andago that I looked out from a hillof the Sierra Nevada spotted the distant snowy peaks inches closer to Christmas. By mid-December Like a giant white over 150 kilometres away. magnet I was immediately normally fallen andthe first heavy snows of the year have in, seduced by the slopes are usually pulled warm during on our doorstep. the thrills of winter sports, right here the day and with a fair few regulars t-shirts. actually skiing in None of the hassle coach trip, or bravingof flying to Geneva and a four-hour Yes, while most winter sports fanatics land, most of us on the big freeze in Glencoe, in Scot- the Alps at Christmas or struggling will be shivering in drive to the winter the costas are under a three-hour the Pyrenees, visitors to the Sierra to see through fog in wonderland of the Nevada will be sinking canas in the sunshine… While entirely possible Sierra Nevada. and del Sol, take it from to do in a day trip from the Costa €2 a throw (or well under half thebest of all at little over price of the Alps). fun if you don’t stay me you are missing out half of the “This is the nicest place in the world at least one night. to ski,” explains Luis Casanove, of Telemark This is rightly dubbed ‘southern Europe’s ing here for 35 years. ski school, who has been wintersort’ and naturally top skiing “We offer reusual dollop of fun - it being Spain - with it comes the the prices have hardly gone up the best weather and in years.” and excellent culinary And mention usually clement fare, not to the if you’re looking for something else weather. magical architecture to do en route, Something of a rite of Spain’s most visited of passage since the Alps as a teenager, monua school trip to my itchy feet to strap more and more apparent on skis get Continues on page EXCITEMENT AND as the month of 2 SURPRISES: View December ga, while a dog goes approaching the for a slide with his Sierra Nevada slopes owner from Mala-
INTREPID: Olive Press
OLIVE PRESS NIGHTMARE AT CHRISTMAS The
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Vol. 6 Issue 188 www.theolivepress.es December 14th 2022 - January 11th 2023
Expat denied pension despite paying ‘over half a million euros’ in tax over three decades for legal reasons, originally moved from London to Marbella in 1986, as a hospitality consultant. Having studied hotel management I’ve already had to move to a much and launched his own consultancy smaller flat in a cheaper area to save business in the UK, he was quickly in money. demand. “I really fear for the future.” As well as working with the five-star The former hotel and restaurant man- Guadalpin hotel, he was a consultant ager continued: “I’ve probably paid at the leading La Sala group and ran over half a million euros to the state in his own restaurants, including La tax while working here and this is how Campana. they treat me.” “I have been involved in hotels, Wayne, whose name we have changed restaurants, golf clubs and generally the finer things of life that this wonderful country has to offer,” explained Wayne. His problems beALL AREAS gan though as he COVERED approached his 65th birthday in 4G UNLIMITED 2017 when he got a gestor to help INTERNET him apply for his pension. IDEAL FOR But due to a techSTREAMING TV nicality, in which he allegedly ALSO owed a few thouIPTV, sand euros in EXCLUSIVE By Anthony Piovesan
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A BRITISH expat is pleading for help after waiting nearly six years to get his Spanish pension. The Marbella-based 70-year-old faces bankruptcy and potential homelessness in the new year if the authorities don’t step in and help. It comes after Jerry Wayne was turned down by Spain’s Social Security department despite paying tax for 35 years here. Describing it as a ‘nightmare’, he told the Olive Press: “I have worked here for well over three decades and paid my taxes, I've done everything in line with the law yet here I am being forced to deal with this awful ongoing saga.” He added: “I’ve only got enough money to see me through to February and
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unpaid autonomo (self employed) payments, his claim was denied. Despite then getting a lawyer involved, as well as having countless calls and meetings with ‘uncaring’ civil servants, he is still no closer to solving the problem five years on. “I’m desperate and really hope a campaigning paper like yours can somehow help to get what’s rightfully mine,” he pleaded. While reaching out to the authorities we have found other expat pensioners in a similar position and plan to launch a campaign in the new year. The British consulate explained this week that expats struggling to claim their Spanish pension needed to ‘deal directly’ with the social security office. However, organisation Brexpats in Spain pledged to help as best it could.
Horror
Its founder Anne Fernandez, added: “It sounds like a horror story, we will put this out to our members to see if anyone else can help or has similar problems.” Spain’s Ministry of Social Security has been contacted for comment on various occasions, with no reply.
editor Jon Clarke
Batten down the hatches! GUSTS rising to 67 km/h, torrential rain of 113 mm/h, thunder and lightning have lashed Gibraltar as the average December rainfall was dumped on the Rock in just 10 days. And weather forecasters claim 30-50mm of rain could fall from 3am to 6pm today (Wednesday), possibly leading to flooding. They warned that the storm will rage all the way through to Friday. The freak weather, possibly related to climate change, has been caused by a huge southwesterly storm moving in from the Atlantic Ocean. The Gibraltar Government gave warnings of winds from 28-32 knots throughout last Friday, with isolated gusts of 40-45 knots around Europa Point.
Thunderstorms
They came with heavy rain and thunderstorms. The Rock’s meteorological service tweeted: “Squall line approaching – torrential rain with thunder & very squally winds – peak instantaneous rate so far to 82.8 mm/h!” It later updated that ‘rain intensity peaked at 113mm/h on the MeteoGib Weather Station with gusts to 36 knots or 67 km/h so far’. In an earlier tweet, Meteo Gib warned drivers to slow down, increase braking distances and avoid unnecessary journeys. The Ministry of Defence added: “Due to the strong winds and heavy rainfall, please take extra care when crossing the runway.
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Snow
“Consider not cycling or using an electric scooter whilst crossing.” The story has battered large parts of the surrounding region. In Cadiz, a stunning video showed a bolt of lightning strike the tiny village of Benamahoma in the Grazalema National Park. The only people who were rejoicing on Friday were skiers and snowboarders. Snow blanketed the Sierra Nevada on Friday, opening up Granada’s famous resort just in time for Christmas. Monachil’s Civil Protection Service tweeted a video showing the white stuff coming down in huge flakes around its HQ in the mountains.