Costa Cálida Chronicle February 2012

Costa Clida Chronicle
The Longest Established hed FREE Magazine in Murcia
www.costacalidachronicle.com
Date: February 2012
Issue: 3
Volume: XII
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Velocity Racing Spain are looking for volunteers, marshalls, ofcials,re marshals and medical staff,to help with their new Oval racing track in Cartagena. The affordable way of racing, we will be holding meetings every Wednesday 7.30pm at the Meroil Garage off the AP7 Junction 733 towards Callosa de Segura only 10 minutes from Almoradi. Anyone wishing to get involved can come along and see what it is all about. We would also like to announce our open day at the track on 13th May 2012 - we need you help to get the track ready for racing.
Like many people at this time of year I decided to try and get a little tter and shed a few pounds. Almost every health guide or diet book says the same thing. Drink more water! That is ne in the summer, but not so easy to do in the colder weather. We installed a water cooler last year so every time we walk into the kitchen it is easy just to pour a glass, but the cooler needed to be lled with bottled water. This time we have gone one step further by installing a water lter system onto the mains courtesy of Healthy H20. This lter system includes an extra tap on the sink which delivers pure, ltered water, so we should never have to buy bottled water again. I now nd that as it is on tap that I am drinking more, which is not only good for the diet, but also good for the complexion. I am a big fan of the Zoe Harcombe diet, which is simple to follow as it does not allow any processed food. The idea is that you can have fat meals or carbohydrate meals but these foods should not be mixed at the same meal. I would like to thank the staff at Lizs Caf on Camposol for their help and understanding, as they know when I say I need a no carbohydrate breakfast, they will come up with some superb suggestions which have included bacon and eggs (without the toast of course) or
an omelette made with ham off the bone which is lling and simply delicious. I would also like to thank The Steak-Out on Camposol for specially ordering soda water in so Kev can also have the occasional spritzer without breaking his diet. Kev is following the Atkins Diet for a short time and is already seeing the results. Our thanks also go to The Beauty Palace who have offered Kev the use of the toning tables as their contribution to his weight loss sponsorship. We should both be a slimmer, tter couple in a few weeks at this rate! January is always an expensive month for us as many of our insurances are due. One of our vehicles due for renewal was 15% less than last year thanks to John from Nash Warren. It is good to know that not everything has gone up! We are lucky to have such a range of quality customers to choose from when it comes to all aspects of living here. Long may it continue! More next month Teresa
The rst race day will be Sunday 3rd June and every other Sunday after that. Anyone wishing to help, drive or in need of a car to race, please contact us on 674 256 147 or info@velocity-racing.eu
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With most of us having to be really careful with our money at the moment, it is great to see so many local restaurants putting on superb St Valentines Day menus at such reasonable prices. It would be a sad world if we could not spoil ourselves and our loved ones once in a while and what better time to do it than St Valentines Day. The following restaurants have made that special effort for you: Alley Palais, Restaurante Amapola, Chez Zoe, Hotel Mariposa, Las Torres, Leonardos, The New Royal, The SteakOut, and Trevi Bar. If you want to spoil your loved one, there are also many beauticians in the area who will take special, professional care to make sure that their customers are happy with any beauty treatments they try for St Valentines Day, including: Beauty Essentials, Face and Body, Janes Salon, The Beauty Palace, The Fuschia Clinic and The Salon who are offering various beauty treatments and special deals and gift vouchers for that special occasion. At the start of 2012 it is good to see more businesses starting up and advertising and we would like to welcome the following: New advertisers Le Gourmet Wine Cellar & Delicatessen Consulting IT Service AAE Oil student Group Salclean Home Help Services Time for a Change Coloured Concrete Impressions Welcome Back Beauty Essentials Happy Feet Foot Spa Shape and Tone Joy of Spain TJs Bar Park & Fly Best Wishes Sacred Hearts Tonys Building Services Whilst business has been a bit tough for many for the last few months, there is some welcome news from UK Travel Agents who have reported a sudden rise and interest in bookings to Spain. This is a combination of resort prices in Spain being 40% lower than 5 years ago, some political unrest in other previously popular destinations, and the pound v euro is at a 2 year high. Lets all look forward to an increase in visitors this spring and summer! From all at
Camposol Ofce - 968 970 680 Teresa Hicks - Sales & Marketing - 619 199 407 Patti Benn - Editor - 646 005 017 Jo Wrench - Graphic Design and Publishing - 646 610 080 Bob Benn - Finance - 620 582 654 Martine Shindler Customer Services - 968 970 680 To place a business advert please contact Teresa Hicks To discuss editorial content and articles please contact Patti Benn To discuss advert changes please contact Jo Wrench If you would like to place an advertisement or write an article to be included in the Costa Clida Chronicle, then please send it to: Costa Clida Chronicle S.L. 28 Calle Jara Centro Commercial Sector B Camposol 30875 Murcia Email: costacalidachronicle@gmail. com Web: www.costacalidachronicle.com To our advertisers. Please note we have had some recent issues with email. If you have sent an email to the CCC and NOT received any acknowledgement then you can assume that we have not received it. In line with our customer service policy we always reply to every email even it is just a short note to say got it.
The Costa Clida Chronicle.
Contents Page
SPECIAL PAGES Camposol Mar Menor Northwest Murcia What to Do ADITORIAL A Time 4 a Change Celebrations Catering Leonardos Park & Fly Shape & Tone Yorkshire Linen CHARITIES Age Concern Andreas Charity Easy Horse Care Galgos del Sol HAH Mar Menor HELP Mar Menor John Kemp Kevs Weight Loss MABS Mar Menor MABS Mazarrn MAMAS MARA Mazarrn Lions Noahs ARC PALS PAPS Pets in Spain RAD Royal British Legion EDUCATION Jane Cronin ENTERTAINMENT Classic Artistes/Albums Cloud Nine CHILDREN Chatterbox 51-55 27-33 73-76 84-87 31 27 93 30 30 31 68 6 33 33 33+35 27 68 48 28 56 72 75 46 58 18 39 22 95 14 62 20 43 8 FOOD Ma Millbank GROUPS Darwinian Gardeners ESAMD Evolutionists Welcome HEALTH Alternative Therapy Phobias Riding META Sacred Hearts INFORMATION Aledo Ask Jennifer Business Directory Camposol A Clean-up Camposol A Committee Camposol B Gardening Camposol C Greenngers Camposol News Chanuka Charles Dickens Classied Ads CRA Dear Editor Distribution Points FAST Fiestas Camposol General Info/Ad Prices Lemon Life in Spain Olympics Residencias Spanish News FITURA 2012 Interaction with Spanish Los Reyos Mazarrn CD 80 64 95 10 42 12 39 49 22 60 16 96/97 55 52 52 53 51 95 7 97 53 35 94 54 52 92 63 71 66 82 44/45 41 10 22 49 Mazarrn San Anton Subscriptions Teresas Travels Velocity Racing Women of Fire LEISURE Astrology Author Review Gardening Hiking in Moratalla Los Canovas Players Puzzle Page Puzzle Solutions TV News NEST Walks Northwest Murcia WARM PROPERTY Housing Update Property Matters RELIGION Mass in English Puerto Lumbreras Olive Branch St Nicholas Church Wellspring SPORT Golf Tips Fuente Old Guard Los Amigos Supermoto ST VALENTINES Beauty Essentials Face & Body Fuschia Clinic Janes Salon The Beauty Palace The Salon 54 94 4 4 56 40 26 38 76 10 70 92 59 50 74 73 22 36 14 48 93 72 48 90 91 89 88 80 64 18 62 71 68
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This month we had a few minor technical problems with the internet, our website and then our computer and our smart phones went on the blink. These problems are still being sorted now, I hope that its not all connected though.
Anyway, less of the twittering. Jack the rescued Jack Russell went to his new UK home just into the New Year, He travelled under the relaxed immigration laws regarding pet passports, and then a few days later Serena went too. She went through Galgos del Sol. Both have settled into their new family life. I should imagine that they have big fur coats and wellies for that lovely English weather.
Staff at CATAD, the pound in Cartagena, rang the other day and asked if we could take a donkey that they needed to nd a home for. Arrangements were made for our friend to collect it from the pound. He went and found that he was to have a police escort there and back. Still Mateo is now safe in his new home, and has settled well into our family.
Dont forget I am on the car park on B sector every Monday and am available for a chat about animals as well as collecting your unwanted items. Andreas Animal Rescue and The Henrietta Foundation Charity no. 9.980/1 Tel 690906565 www.andreasanimalrescue.com
Please tell our customers where you saw their advertisement in the Costa Clida Chronicle Please tell our customers where you saw their advertisement in the Costa Clida Chronicle Page 6 Page 6
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Charles Dickens is much loved for his great contribution to classic English literature. We celebrate his birth 200 years ago on 7th February. His epic stories, vivid characters and exhaustive depiction of contemporary life are unforgettable. His own story is one of rags to riches. He was born in Portsmouth on 7th February 1812, to John and Elizabeth Dickens. Many of his books are thought to have come from some of his own experiences. He was sent to school at the age of nine, which in those days was regarded as something out of the ordinary, but this was short-lived because his father was imprisoned for bad debt. As was the norm in those days, the entire family, apart from Charles, were sent to Marshalsea. This meant that Charles was forced to leave school and he was sent to work in Warrens blacking factory and endured appalling conditions as well as loneliness and despair. He did manage to return to school, but the experience was never forgotten and became ctionalised in two of his better-known novels David Coppereld and Great Expectations. His father eventually became a reporter and Charles began his literary career with the journals The Mirror of Parliament and The True Sun. He became a parliamentary journalist for The Morning Chronicle and published a series of sketches under the pseudonym Boz. He married Catherine Hogarth, daughter of George Hogarth who edited Sketches by Boz and the success of these sketches was quickly followed by the publication of the highly successful Pickwick Papers.
maintained relations with his mistress, the actress Ellen Ternan. He died of a stroke in 1870 and is buried at Westminster Abbey.
my house in town. Two of his daughters were born there, his sister-in-law Mary died aged 17 and some of his best-loved novels were written there, including Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby. However Dickens required more space for his growing family and moved to 1 Devonshire Terrace in 1839. The house remained a residential property, but was threatened with demolition in 1823, when the Dickens Fellowship acquired it and opened it as a Museum in 1925 where it has become the home of the worlds nest Dickensrelated collection. It holds over 100,000 items including manuscripts, rare editions, personal items, paintings and other visual sources.
8 Doughty Street was an important place in the Charles Dickenss life where he lived from 1837 until 1839. He described it as
Charles wrote autobiographies, travel books and many other ction books. His love of the theatre meant that he wrote plays and even performed in front of Queen Victoria. He even became very involved in the abolition of slavery, lecturing in the United States. He was estranged from his wife in 1858 after the birth of their ten children, but
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Hi its Shannon here again and Im going to tell you about my Christmas. My older sister, Rachel ew over with her baby boy. Arun was only a few months old and this was to be his rst Christmas. Rachel and Gareth were staying over for three days. They arrived on Christmas Eve, just after Matthew and Ben had. When they arrived, Arun was tired so Rachel took him upstairs to bed. We all said hello and we put our presents under the huge tree. Matt and Ben had put a huge box under the tree right in front of all the other presents. We all made a bet on what it would be. Connor said it was an x-box, Nathan said it was a at screen plasma television and I said it was probably a yo-yo wrapped in one hundred layers of bubble wrap.
understood why Rachel called him Little Lord Arun. He seemed interested in lights and strange sounds. I was allowed to feed him. He seemed to like me a lot. He didnt like to burp, though. Hed wail and cry and kick. When he nally fell asleep, we were allowed to relax. All I could think about was the very next day! I couldnt wait to open my presents! I think Arun had the most presents from everyone. Rachel had given him at least twelve. Connor, Nathan and I helped Gareth wrap up Rachels presents. He said we did a good job of it. It was brilliant to see Rachel and Gareth again. Although it seems a bit late, I hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year.
We were all wrong. I wont tell you what it is because Nathan or Connor might in their articles. We had just relaxed when Arun woke up and started to wail. Rachel fetched him and handed him to Mum. He immediately stopped crying. I then
Hello again its Connor here with more news about the past month. This time I am going to write about Christmas. Up until the 18th of December nothing particularly exciting or important happened. On Saturday the 17th we were going to have a Christmas dinner at our house for over 40 people (all Church members). In the morning someone came round for a coffee to help us move the sofas because we had to empty the house to make room for the tables and chairs for everyone to sit down. By 5.00pm, everything was ready and Mum decorated the tables. Marge had made some lovely arrangements for the middle of each table. By 6.00pm it was all done: tablecloths, knives, forks, napkins, crackers and cups. The punch was made and the food was cooking. By 8.00pm everyone was here and already
we were back to normal until the 22nd of December when we went to the airport to pick up our brothers Matt and Ben. After this everyone was getting excited about Christmas. On the 24th of December our sister Rachel and her husband Gareth and their baby boy Arun came to stay for three days. On Christmas Day everyone got loads of presents and had a lot of wine and champagne. We were given a basketball hoop from Mum and Dad and Nathan and I also got a remote control boat each for the swimming pool. Shannon had an art board and drawing pad with a load of different pens. She likes drawing. Everyone had a great Christmas.
halfway though the main course. It was a great night and everyone enjoyed themselves. At about nine 0clock Santa came and gave everyone a present. The house was not empty until 11:30pm and I didnt get to sleep until 1:00am. After this
Hi Nathan here again, and Im here to tell you about Christmas at our house. It was Christmas Eve and my sister Rachel and her husband Gareth and their little boy Arun came over from London, two days previously Matthew and Ben had arrived. As always Arthur and Marge would be joining us on Christmas Day, so there would be twelve of us together. The night passed very slowly because everyone was looking forward to Christmas the next day, but everyone had a good time. Beforehand I rang my best friend David to wish him a happy Christmas. When everyone had put their presents under the tree Gareth called Shannon, Connor and me to help him wrap up his presents for Rachel. When the adults got tired they went to bed. Of course Shannon, Connor and I had already gone to bed, but when we all woke the next day it was
got was a basketball hoop. That was the huge present that Shannon mentioned. Ben and Matthew gave us an inatable boat for the summer, which we took to the beach and put in the sea on Boxing Day. It was great fun.When we had nished eating our dinner of Turkey, we decided to nish Christmas Day off by watching a lm. It was a great day. Brian and Maureen came round on Boxing Day and we played our new Wii game of tennis with them. We had a lot of cats in our Cattery, Cat A Tonic over the Christmas break as many people went back to a very cold UK. All in all we had a very busy and cool holiday break.
Christmas! Rachel dressed Arun up in a Santa outt, and she put the hat on him for about two seconds and he began to cry so she took it off, but we all managed to take photographs! The main present Shannon, Connor and I
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WINTER SOLSTICE 21ST DECEMBER 2011 For all the Earths creatures, including man, nothing is more fundamental as the length of daylight, after all, the sun is the ultimate source of light and warmth for the Earth. The shortest day 21st December is the darkest day and reverses the loss of daylight each year to the beginning of growth and regeneration. We can look forward to longer days. It is believed that the earliest humans knew that the suns path across the sky, the length of daylight and the location of the sunrise and sunset shifted in a regular way throughout the year. They built monuments such as Stonehenge, to follow the suns yearly progress. Today we can measure it and
Majada, with a superb paella from the local restaurant El Puente. The group has seen a substantial growth in their membership and extend a warm welcome to more members. We celebrate life and make the most of what we have, as we believe that this is the only life that we have. We enjoy it by meeting on the 3rd Saturday of each month for a walk either in the Almeria or Mazarrn area. The walks are not strenuous and generally last up to 3 hours. Lunch follows at a local restaurant, so if you are not a walker you will be very welcome to join us for lunch. Please contact us via our website on bolnuevo.com Rhian and John Blakey
see it scientically as from outer space. A group of the Evolutionist of Almeria and Murcia celebrated the Solstice with a party on the beautifully sunny day at La
Have you got a few hours to spare during the week and would like to interact with the Spanish? We are looking for a group of between 20-40 English speaking people to help us with activities at our school in the afternoons from 4-9pm. If you would like to join us then please email us at susangimenez@live.com
The Los Canovas Players are pleased to announce that tickets are now available at 5 each for their next production, Six Aside, the programme comprising six oneact comedies to lighten your hearts. A bar will be available for light refreshments. Performances will be on Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th of February at our theatre in Los Canovas (only 10 minutes from Camposol). Curtain up will be at 8pm for the Friday and Saturday performances and 7pm on the Sunday. Tickets are available from: Legs & Co, Puerto de Mazarrn, The New Royal Bar & Restaurant, El Alamillo Spaniard Inn Bar & Restaurant, Hacienda del Alamo Bar La Manchica, La Manchica Trevis Bar & Restaurant, Camposol B ScotTees Bar & Restaurant, Los Cantareros We look forward to seeing you and hope you enjoy the evening. For further details contact Roger on 968 151149 or email at loscanovasplayers@ gmail.com
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This article has been written and compiled by Body and Mind Therapist, Drew Ryder BSc. Psychol. Hons, IIHHT, MICHT, ThAT Massage This month we look at massage; its origins and benets. Massage is multidimensional. It is simultaneously an art and a science. Massage is also instinctive. It is a natural response to rub our aches and pains, whether or not we are familiar with the medical knowledge behind those actions. It can be described as the systematic and scientic manipulation of the soft tissues of the body. It is therapeutic. Before looking at the therapeutic benets of massage lets rst look at where it stems from.
Archaeologists have determined that before written records were kept (ie prehistoric times), massage was practiced by several groups around the world by uncovering several artifacts depicting this. For example, European cave paintings (c.15000 BC) depict what appears to be the early use of therapeutic touch. In the East, (China), documented records have revealed that the practice of massage goes as far back as 3000 B.C. By 1800 BC, the knowledge of massage had been integrated into and had become a fundamental part of the Hindu tradition known as Ayurveda. Indeed the Father of Western Medicine, Hippocrates, was also a proponent of therapeutic massage and so the growth of massage continued throughout history. Today the many forms of massage
that are now available include, Swedish massage, Thai massage, sports massage, deep tissue massage, neuromuscular massage and reexology to name but a few.
What are the benets of massage? In modern health care, therapeutic massage has taken on an important role. It has been shown to be benecial in reducing stress, enhancing blood circulation, decreasing pain, improving sleep, reducing swelling, enhancing relaxation and increasing the oxygen capacity of the blood. It can also alleviate musculo-skeletal problems such as arthritis and back pain and digestive disorders such as constipation and stress-related abdominal pain. Furthermore, it has been recognized as a non-drug treatment for cancer and postoperative pain. Massage therefore, provides a positive way to demonstrate care and concern and can have profound effects on health and well-being. How does this work? Therapeutic massage has a positive effect on the bodys physiological and psychological functions. This is achieved via the wordless communication between the hand that gives the massage (that of the therapist/practitioner) and the body that receives it. Massage techniques or movements, consist of a wide range of actions from the lightest brush of air above the skin to deeply modulated pressures and from movements intended to rock the body, to those whose purpose is to roll the muscles. Massage is suitable for babies, children, teenagers, adults and the elderly and inrm. Generally it is of enormous benet, however, there are a few occasions when massage is not considered benecial such as open wounds, recent scar tissue, undiagnosed lumps and the second and third stages of pregnancy. It is important therefore, before treatment begins, that your therapist has taken a full medical history. Therapeutic massage can be relaxing, stimulating and is very individual and personal. For these reasons, each massage is geared to each individual. It is certainly powerful and helps with a wide range of conditions as described and more. Of course massage can also be enjoyed purely for relaxation!
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Mass in English is celebrated every Saturday at the Catholic chapel at Pastrana, approximately 10km from Mazarrn Schedule of Masses: Saturday at 4:30pm Schedule of Confession: Saturday from 3:45-4:25pm also on request Bible Study: 1st and 3rd Sunday at 4:30pm Fr. Carlos Prats mobile 628 824 555 Fr. Octavio Carpena mobile 676 219 445 www.pastranaonline.com ST. PETER, PRINCE OF THE APOSTLES The Apostle, St. Peters true and original name was Simon. He was the son of Jona and was born in Bethsaida (John 1:42, 44) and the Apostle Andrew was his brother. Meeting with his brother Simon, Andrew said We have found the Messiah and brought him to Jesus, who looking upon him, said: Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is interpreted Peter. Already, at this rst meeting, the Saviour foretold the change of Simons name to Cephas (Aramaic Rock) a proof that Christ had already special views with regard to Simon. After the rst meeting Peter and the other disciples remained with Jesus for some time and accompanied Jesus to Galilee. Peter resumed his occupation as sherman, but soon received the call from the Saviour to become one of His permanent disciples. Peter and Andrew Jesus met and addressed them: Come ye after me, and I will make you to be shers of men
Among the 12, Peter soon became conspicuous. He clings with the greatest delity, rmness of faith, and inward love to the Saviour; alike in word and act, he if full of zeal and enthusiasm. The more prominent the Apostles become in the Evangelical narrative, the more conspicuous does Peter appear as the rst among them.
The Mojacar Branch of The Royal British Legion in Spain have revealed their 2011 Poppy Appeal Fund to be a staggering 14,206.46, despite the present economic climate. The Chairman Rita Sneddon said that this fantastic amount was due entirely to the stoic efforts of its membership and the generosity of others. We would like to thank the Costa Clida Chronicle and their advertisers for helping with the appeal once again and raising over 500 for this very worthwhile cause. The Branch Annual Dinner Dance held solely in aid of the Poppy Appeal was once again a successful occasion at Hotel Continental in Mojacar and raised 900 which had also contributed to the nal gure raised together with the help from retailers such as Iceland Store & others who had donated prizes for the Grand Draw.
While journeying with His Apostles, Jesus asks them: Whom do men say that the Son of man is? Asking Peter, who said: Thou art Christ, the son of the living God And Jesus answering said Blessed art thou, Peter because esh and blood has not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in Heaven. And I say to thee: That thou Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail it. And I will give to thee the keys of the Kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shalt be bound also in heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.
The Legion provides nancial, social and emotional support for those who have served and are currently serving in the Armed Forces but now nd they have a need themselves. The Royal British Legion in Spain can only continue its work while the Poppy Appeal is supported by the giving of others. The Branch meets the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month and everyone is welcome to become a member of the Legion, while those eligible for support need to have received seven days pay as Regular, Reserve or Auxiliary of the Armed Forces. For further details of membership call 950 473 025. Thank You to All Who Supported this worthy Charity Wherever You Are.
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Dear Readers, With Valentines Day fast approaching, it can bring happiness to some, but to others, it can be a day lled with emptiness and social pressure. Expectations run high as to what constitutes the perfect Valentines Day gift, proposal or date. Once a sacred day, it has fallen prey to commercialism which in many ways debases the occasion. If your Valentines Day doesnt turn out the way you had hoped, dont let it destroy the things that are really important in your life- friendship, love and happiness. Bea and Alicia are not looking forward to Valentines Day and I am sure their respective issues will resonate with many of you. I hope my advice helps them cope with their challenges. Jennifer
Dear Jennifer, I lost my beloved husband, Arthur on Valentines Day last year and I am becoming very anxious about how I will cope on the rst anniversary of his death. I am so worried that I will be overcome with emotions on the day itself and am beginning to feel depressed as the days go by. I dont go out with friends any longer and even though my friends know what I am going through, I still hate it when they bring up the subject. I am trying to cope but it is so hard. Bea Dear Bea, I wont lie to you by saying that Valentines Day will be easy. Obviously you have lost someone dear to you and it is always
difcult emotionally, especially on the rst anniversary of his passing. They say that time heals, but it is the present that hurts. Instead of focusing on the void in your life, try to celebrate the wonderful things, events and experiences that you both shared. When you focus on joy, it takes the edge off your sadness. You could, if you are up to it, share the experience with friends and call it, Arthurs Day and bless the day with laughter and even a few tears. It is good to have friends around to emotionally support you through a difcult time in your life. However, if you are not up to spending the day with friends and if you do feel low, you can always contact a Bereavement or Condential Counsellor or even The Samaritans who will help you get through the day. These are people who are willing to help. All you have to do is to reach out to them. Jennifer Dear Jennifer, I am seventeen years old and I still have not got a date for Valentines Day. All my friends have boyfriends and I am the only one who is single. It has become a constant source of ridicule among my friends and I feel so pressurised that I am willing to ask the rst boy I meet on the street to be my date, which will be disastrous, but at least it will stop my friends from teasing me. I am pretty and selfcondent, but I cant understand why no one wants to date me? What is wrong with me? Alicia Dear Alicia, Firstly, there is nothing wrong with you. Secondly, teasing is cruel, but I dont think your friends are being malicious. The arrival of Valentines Day puts social pressure on everyone, teenagers and adults, singles and couples alike. It is however, a great commercial occasion for manufacturers and wholesalers of Valentines Day paraphernalia. With regards to your situation, it can be awkward, especially with the teasing. Try to let your friends know how uncomfortable you feel about their teasing. You could set a challenge to your friends instead and ask them to nd you the perfect blind date and let the selection process begin now. This way, you will be able to end up with a date that you have something in common with and it could turn out to be an enjoyable evening after all. Alternatively, you could always give a family based excuse to stay home on the day. Either way, make a decision and try not to be so hard on yourself. Remember, if you have to blame something, blame it on this commercial event and not yourself. Jennifer Jennifer Rahman is an international life coach, feature writer and energy therapist. Visit her website at: www. lifemaxxinternational.com
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Photos copyright Mark Stocks. On New Years Day the traditional PALS Sponsored Swim took place at the Bahia Beach with 18 intrepid souls braving the waves. It was a fantastic sunny day enjoyed by the 400 or so spectators. The money is still coming in. Thanks to
everyone who attended, swam or watched. May we also thank those who helped PALS on the day: Amanda, Nyreen, Denise, Alan and Marlene and of course the PALS members steadfast as usual. PALS have this past year to date donated 10,536 to FAST, 1659 to the 112 Service in Mazarrn and have now on that organisations behalf, ordered another emergency tent and rescue stretcher and immobilisers to the value of 5,576. Thats a fairly impressive 17,771 in these hard times. To date, in the 11 years of PALS existence, the total of equipment donated to the local health and emergency services comes to a massive gure of over 175,000. The funds are raised through a variety of events and here is the listing for the early part of the year and an advance notice for an October Cruise:
20th March 3 Night Trip to BENIDORM Full board 125 at Hotel Helios. 18th April Annual Pilgrimage to BEDAR with MOJACAR market & lunch included. 1st May Beach BBQ at Bolnuevo with the annual Boules contest food and drink, sangria all included. 10th June Annual Summer Ball by popular request back at Hotel Costa Costa, Mazarrn with superb menu, wine, beer, coffee and liquor. 27th October 7 Night, 8 Day Cruise from Mazarrn to Valencia, then Malta, Sicily, Italy, Sardinia and Palma de Majorca. All, and we do mean all, drinks and food included, from 600 pp. Bookings already in hand. We will take stage payments on this. Tickets for all these events from Saralaras on a Wednesday 1.30-3pm, or at Trevi Bar, Camposol B on each Saturday morning 111.30pm or call 626 460465. Last year we decided that we should donate all our mobility aids to Age Concern so that there is a common centre to approach. We however still continue to sell Tell the Doctor Books at our ticket sales outlets. We realise that there are other
charities covering specic illnesses and causes. PALS is slightly different in that the equipment we supply is available to everyone regardless of nationality, colour or creed, via the emergency services who are generally the rst to respond to any problems; ably assisted on Camposol by FAST of course. We therefore appreciate your support and donations and our accounts are available for inspection at any time or you can attend our monthly meeting at the Cultural Centre on Camposol on the rst Monday of the month at 11.15am.
STOP PRESS This September, TJs will be again hosting a sponsored bicycle ride to Madrid and back and PALS have been chosen as the lucky recipients of whatever money is raised. We are seeking the loan of a trani- van to act as support vehicle and of course more Riders Sponsorship forms will be available at TJs and at PALS Any questions call Ken Payne 626 460465
The Fuschia Beauty Clinic Where Luxury comes as Standard Vivienne 439 480 on 630
A treatment journey of absolute relaxation. Its a complete, deep warming massage to relieve muscular tension and stress. For the Girls Full Body Polish - 20 Skin loves this warm, intensive deepcleansing treatment. Starting with a tangerine and sandalwood salt scrub, the skin is then drenched in moisture with custom blended oils and creams to deeply replenish. Its pure pleasure and a real must for out-of-condition dry skin. MD Formulations Facial - 33 A complete luxurious, relaxing facial combines the unique glycolic acid based treatment that removes dead skin cells whilst intense hydration recharges dull lifeless skin with essential moisture, The skin is left instantly smoother, brighter & clearer. Ideal for all skins.
CND Shellac Manicure - 20 A facial for the hands!! Indulge with nail shaping, cuticle tidy, hand & arm exfoliation, tangerine & lime hydration, then nish with nail colour of your choice with or without nail art. It Dries Instantly, Strengthens Nails, Lasts up to 3 weeks! GIFT VOUCHERS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ANY TREATMENT OR AMOUNT. We only use the highest quality products within our treatments and each treatment is tailored to suit your individual needs. For any information or to book an appointment, please call Vivienne on 630 439 480
Vivienne ONeill, A Fully Qualied Beauty, Nail & Massage Therapist of 13yrs. My belief is that my customers needs are of the utmost importance. I am 100% committed to meeting those needs. As a result, a high percentage of my business is from repeat customers and recommendations. Are you in need of St Valentines Day Ideas for both the Girls and the Boys? Hot Stones Neck, Back & Shoulder Massage 20
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Saturday Night Fever: The O r i g i nal Movie Sound Track is the s o u n d t ra c k album from the 1977 lm Saturday Night Fever starring John Travolta. Released on November 15th 1977 on Polydor Records, the album cemented the disco phenomenon which was exploding on both sides of the Atlantic in the mid seventies. In the United States, the album was certied 15x Platinum for shipments of over 15 million copies. The album stayed atop the album charts for 24 straight weeks from January to July 1978, and stayed on Billboards album charts for 120 weeks until March 1980. In the UK, the album spent 18 consecutive weeks at number one. Along with the success of the movie, the soundtrack, composed and performed primarily by The Bee Gees, Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb, it became the bestselling soundtrack album of all time (it was later surpassed by Whitney Houstons
soundtrack to The Bodyguard). The cultural impact of Saturday Night Fever in the United States was tremendous. The Bee Gees had originally written and recorded the ve original songs for the lm, Stayin Alive, Night Fever and How Deep Is Your Love, More Than a Woman (performed in the lm in two different versionsone version by Tavares, and another by The Bee Gees) and If I Cant Have You (performed in the movie by Yvonne Elliman) as part of a regular album. They had no idea at the time they would be making a soundtrack, and say that; basically, they lost an album in the process. Two previously released Bee Gees songs Jive Talkin and You Should Be Dancing were also included on the soundtrack. Other previously released songs from the disco era round out the music in the movie. In addition to The Bee Gees score, additional incidental music was composed and adapted by Producer David Shire. Three of Shires cues Manhattan Skyline, Night on Disco Mountain (based on the classical piece Night on Bald Mountain) and Salsation are included on the soundtrack album as well. The soundtrack also won a Grammy Award for Album of the Year.
In 1994, the soundtrack was re-released on CD through Polydor Records. The album was recently re-released on Reprise Records, as part of The Bee Gees regaining control of their master tapes. In 2003, the album was ranked number 131 on Rolling Stone magazines list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. The soundtrack hit the Number 1 spot on Billboard Music Charts Pop Album and Soul Album Charts. In 2003 the TV network VH1 named it the 57th greatest album of all time. Saturday Night Fever The Original Movie Soundtrack was ranked 80th in a 2005 survey held by British Televisions Channel 4 to determine the 100 greatest albums of all time. Although not a great fan of disco music in general the album is a memorable piece of music history. The tracks are still played at parties, discos etc and will remain to do so for many more years to come. You can listen to Mark Davies on Costa Clida International Radio on Mon, Wed and Fri evenings 7.00-9.00pm and Thursday afternoon 4.15-6.30pm. Mark Davies.
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Guapa was brought to us when someone found her wandering around on La Marina Urb. She is a 5 kilo Griffon Terrier cross, approx 3 years old, good with other dogs and a very friendly, loving dog. She would ideally suit someone who wants a companion, as she doesnt like being left on her own. Guapa is vaccinated and spayed and she must have a
secure garden. Call: 654 027 748 Molly was found on the streets of Murcia in terrible pain. A kind woman found her and rushed her to the emergency vet. It turned out she had 2 dead puppies inside her and if she hadnt been operated on she would certainly have died. Molly is now neutered. She has Leishmaniosis, but is being treated for it and she is a very sweet, submissive dog who loves children. Call: 630 881 560
Sascha is a 2 year old Golden Retriever. She would be very happy being either on her own or with other dogs. She has a very calm nature and loves to be by your side. She has a very low reading of Leishmaniosis and with just a tablet a day will live a long, healthy life. Call: 950 466 055 To view more animals for adoption go to: www.petsinspain.info If you would like to advertise an animal email: info@petsinspain.info
According to the gures produced for the Murcia Region (National Statistics), only 606 properties were sold in October 2011. Around just over half were new builds and the remainder resales. This represents a 30.7% drop compared to the same time last year. The real upside of this is that there are now many real bargains to be had and for those people in for the long term investment now is denitely the time to buy. There are so many deals to be had with developers offering 90% mortgages that with only a small outlay, you can be the owner of a property which, with some effort on your part, could be rented out and see a return almost immediately. If you are interested in investigating this further, please contact us. One of the astounding things to come out of this recession is that you can now buy frontline beach properties from only 120,000! This is a far cry from the heady days of anything front-line beach starting at 300,000 for an apartment and 600,000 + (and maybe even a million in some places) for a villa. The Government has announced that the reduction in VAT on new-build property will remain at 4% (reduction of 3%) to continue to help the property market this has to be good news for those clever investors who are buying up the empty new-build properties at stunningly low prices. We now have a 3 bed apartment on a golf complex for just over 78,000. These were selling off plan for 138,000 - big difference? If you are interested in knowing more, please contact us. We are always looking for properties on Mazarrn Country Club and Puerto de Mazarrn so, if you have a property to sell, please contact us. For more information on buying or selling property contact Jennie or Sue at Best of Spanish Email info@bestofspanish.com or telephone (0034) 635 434 651 or 646 692 471
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LOS REYOS MAGOS spread joy among the young. There was a parade of 6 oats with people in various costumes. This marked the end of the holidays with the arrival of the Magi to the homes of the citizens of Maz-
arrn. The youngest of the municipality enjoyed gifts and toys that the REYES MAGOS brought them during the afternoon and on Friday night. The children enjoyed the ride which was conducted through the streets of Mazarrn and the Port. The parade was opened by the band of trumpets and drums Virgen de las Penas which followed the well-known Bob Esponja accompanied by his companions, friends of the popular cartoon series. In the rst carriage were the three Magi, who looked remarkably similar to the Mayor of Mazarrn, Gins Campillo, and Councillors Isidro Coy and Juan Miguel Muoz. After them came Trinfante the oat of Leiva, rst prize winner of the oats, representing the castle of Los Vlez. Other oats included the one from Caada de Gallego which was a chariot of the Smurfs.
The parade ended with the three kings distributing gifts to children in the Plaza de Abastos of Puerto de Mazarrn and the residents of the retirement home La Purisima.
Welcome 2012 and New Energy Consciousness Welcome 2012, a year of intense energies and major change as Gaia and Humanity have said enough is enough. Our old ways no longer work for us. It is time for something different! Time to go beyond the mind, to trust and love our self, to follow our own rules, to embrace change and release expectations. Time to laugh out loud, follow our hearts and live our dream, knowing that everything is going to be OK! Make this year about YOURSELF, focus on what makes YOU happy and shine, live in the moment, feel into YOUR experiences, create and celebrate YOUR grandest desire. No matter what happens, make a choice to immerse YOURSELF into life, keep things simple and easy and stay out of the drama and fear! Sacred Hearts Retreat is a quiet and sacred space on Mazarrn Country Club for people to come together and share their awakening experiences in the emerging New Energy Consciousness and support one another in a new, exciting and fun way. Our weekly and monthly creative and meditative workshops guide YOU into expanding into the NEW ENERGY CONSCIOUSNESS, loving and balancing YOU and bringing in NEW POTENTIALS that will help you live your grandest dream! We meditate (focus on SELF) in various ways and in every moment when sitting quietly listening to beautiful music, sitting in stillness, breathing, dancing, singing, painting, writing, acting, laughing and shouting out loud! New Energy Consciousness is all about YOU and the integration of your magnicence and all powerful human and divine self All you have to do is choose and allow it all to happen! Come and join Barbara and Anna in their 2012 New Energy Consciousness Workshops and Thursday Morning Meditation Circle we promise YOU a truly enjoyable and magical time... Barbara Franken I AM SACREDNESSI AM
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D a v i d Ferguson Elliott David was born in M a t l o c k Derbyshire in the Peak District and at an early age came to appreciate wild open countryside and many species of wildlife. He failed to complete his education and as
a result he started work in the catering industry; a job which required no higher qualications or a university degree. He ended up as an Area Manager responsible for 8 fast food restaurants. As a young man David suffered a serious accident whilst rock climbing, resulting in a smashed right leg and two compressed vertebrae. After six months in hospital and almost as long in plaster, six operations and a leg brace worn for a year, he took long distance walks as rehabilitation, at rst in Britain then in Morocco, including the ascent of Mount Toubkal. This followed a solo-crossing of the western half of Switzerland. David by then had caught the travel bug and went to Malaysia and Japan where he climbed to the summit of
Fujiyama before he accepted a challenge to walk 100 kilometers in the Himalaya in Nepal and raised four thousand pounds for Cancer Research U.K. David has been married to Sylvia for 41 years and having been made redundant for the fth time in his career he decided it was time to take early retirement and so moved to Spain ve years ago and lives in a village near Fuente Alamo. He has written his second book following his further travels to countries in Europe, Asia and Africa, again liberally sprinkled with wildlife sightings. The book contains over 50 photographs and will be available early in 2012. Travels of an Everyday Man This is David Ferguson Elliots rst book and is well worth a read. It starts with Davids walks on Dartmoor and you can tell straight away that he loves being out in the fresh air and this is evident throughout his book. David has achieved things that most of us would only dream of and it is obvious that he is a very determined character. The book is easy to read and you want to nd out what the next challenge David is prepared to conquer. My only criticism is there are some spelling and grammatical errors throughout the book, but as a proof reader, these stand out to me. Apparently the book was published in the US, so that probably explains the errors. Maybe a map showing the various treks would also have helped for those who are unsure of their geography. I look forward to reading Davids second book. Travels of an Everyday Man is available online from Amazon, Google Books and Barnes and Noble.
Please tell our customers where you saw their advertisement in the Costa Clida Chronicle Please tell our customers where you saw their advertisement in the Costa Clida Chronicle Page 26 Page 26
The car booters got in the festive spirit at the Autocine (LOOP) on the Sunday before Christmas. Their tireless efforts mean that in the region of 300 is raised each week from d o n a t e d clothes and bric-a-brac to support HELP Murcia Mar Menors work in assisting countless people throughout the year with mobility equipment, hospital visiting, do-
nations to good causes and generally providing help and information to people throughout the district of Murcia. 2012 is our Tenth Anniversary and there will be many events to reect this. We started the New Year off on 21st January with an OOMPAH party, at the Don Lorenzo, a German restaurant in Los Urutias where there was German food,
music and the singing of rousing songs. On 24th February there is a Dinner/Dance at the Roblemar Restaurant, Los Alcazares. There will be a grand draw for a remote control reclining chair worth 950 and other prizes to be won, many worth more than 50 each. Dont delay, tell your friends and family, dig out your dancing shoes and join in the fun! Keep an eye out for the many other events that will be taking place to celebrate HELP Murcia Mar Menors Ten Years as a Charity helping people in your region of Murcia. Tickets for events are available from Joan Mitchell on 868185685 or 678135457, or Janice Clarke on 968134355.
A Happy New Year from Celebrations Catering to our Past and any future new clients. If you have a Celebration or would just like to have a simple get together Celebrations Catering can organise, supply and clean away everything for a stress free time for everyone. Enjoy a 3 course dinner party from 10 guests. We have a monthly menu to choose from, or we can organise one to suit you. We have now extended our menu to a 3 course Carvery Meal for Sunday Lunches, but as this is a new adventure for us, we can only supply this for 10-15 guests at the moment. You can choose from 3 differ-
ent joints of meat and a selection of seasonal vegetables and sauces etc. Share a larger function of 50 guests or more with a Hog-Roast, with stufng and apple sauce, or a BBQ for 20 or more guests, choosing from an assortment of plain and avoured meats, selection of home made salads, desserts and much more. Plates, cutlery, serviettes etc. can also be provided and you can also choose your menu to suit your budget. Functions can be arranged in Bars, Street Parties or simply at your home, daytime or evening seven days a week (subject to availability).
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Call Joy now to arrange your party to avoid disappointment. 616352206 or email Celebrations Catering for any questions or queries at contact@celebrations-catering.net www.thejoyofspain.com
Diamantes restaurant does it for MABS At the beginning of 2011, Diamantes Restaurant in El Mojn, launched the Ebony & Ivory Ladies Lunch Club with the aim of raising 1000 for MABS Cancer Support Group by the end of the year. In September, the gure had already reached an amazing 688 and an appeal was made to encourage more ladies to share in the monthly lunches. The December Lunch saw the ladies enjoy a wonderful Christmas meal with entertainment by Viva Quartet. Everyone dug deeply into their pockets to buy those extra rafe tickets and Diamantes owners Terri and Karla, announced that they had exceeded their goal. They proudly presented MABS with the fantastic sum of 1,149. This is a marvellous achievement and Id like to thank Terri, Karla and everyone who attended the lunches for supporting us, said MABS Fundraiser, Janet Bell. Its been an absolute pleasure getting to know everyone during the year and I know we all intend to continue these friendships. The Lunch Club is going to carry on through 2012. The rst lunch will be held on Tuesday 21st February at 1.30 pm for 2.00 pm. The three course lunch and glass of wine is just 10. All ladies are welcome to come along to meet and to make new friends. Book your place with Diamantes on 965 352 947. Photographer: Janet Bell WHAT A TREAT FOR MABS PATIENTS AND CARERS! Going through months of chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment for cancer is a tough assignment. With this in mind, MABS Director, Lyn Baines, decided to arrange a special outing for some of the patients and carers in the Murcia region. Sponsored by Tuxedo Limousines of Mazarrn, Eddie, Monica, Val and Malcolm were treated to an hours ride in a luxury limousine with Cava and canaps. MABS Translator Elvira and her husband, Steve, were also invited along. Elvira is so passionate about helping our cancer patients that nothing is too much trouble for her or for Steve, who does all the driving to and from various hospitals. They work so hard throughout the year to ensure that each of our patients and their partners receive the best attention possible and understand whats happening throughout the treatment.
Another MABS VIP, Care Co-ordinator Jill Chorley, was also included in the party. Jill is on call 24/7, heading up a dedicated care team, providing help and support to everyone affected by cancer in the Murcia region. We are so lucky to have such great volunteers said Lyn. Jill goes beyond the call of duty every day and our patients insisted that she had some fun with them for a change.
cy Castles, Sunshine FM Radio, Viva TV, and the Classic Car Club of Torrevieja who displayed their vintage cars. MABS Volunteers returned to Iceland again in December 2011 to join in the seasonal fun and help pack customers Christmas shopping. This year they were joined by Spangles Ladies Harmony Chorus who, bedecked in tinsel, got everyone in the festive mood entertaining the shoppers with Christmas songs as they sipped the mulled wine and ate mince pies supplied by Iceland. Many chorus members are MABS Volunteers, and the chorus sponsors the charity. It was a lovely, Christmassy atmosphere commented Iceland Manager, Russell Clements I was delighted to announce that we exceeded our original target by 656. MABS Fundraiser, Janet Bell, is equally delighted and said: Its been a wonderful year, working alongside Russell and the Iceland Overseas staff, who have all been so welcoming. Even more exciting is the fact that Russells team has again voted MABS Cancer Support Group as their charity for another year and I know we are all looking forward to working together again throughout 2012. A PRESENT FOR THE TEACHER!! Castelar College tutor, Esther, had the surprise of her life when students, Janet and Geoff Bell, returned to their Spanish classes after the Christmas break. They had brought along a huge Christmas hamper, which Esther had won. Caf Golf Restaurant in San Javier had run a rafe for the hamper all through December, in aid of MABS Cancer Support Group. Geoff had bought a strip of tickets for Esther and when the rafe was drawn, she had the winning ticket. The rafe raised 153 for MABS and Janet Bell, Fundraising Co-ordinator is delighted: Its great to have support from our local bars and restaurants throughout the year, enabling MABS to continue helping anyone affected by cancer in the Murcia region.
The chauffeur, Lord Christopher Vaughan Powney, took his special guests on a tour of San Javier and San Pedro del Pinatar, before returning them to the MABS Centre in San Javier. Its always a pleasure to help MABS and today has been particularly rewarding for us he said. Photographer: Sue Thomason Left to Right: Monica, Eddie, Steve, Lyn, Val, Malcolm and Elvira. ICELAND OVERSEAS EXCEEDS ITS 6,000 FUND-RAISING TARGET FOR MABS When the Iceland Overseas team in San Javier nominated MABS Cancer Support Group as their charity for 2011, they set the 12 month target at 6,000. Not only did they achieve that, but they exceeded it with a nal fundraising total for 2011 of 6,656. Starting out with MABS Murcia Volunteers packing bags for the 2010 Christmas shoppers and a big Christmas rafe, they went on to hold an Easter Fun Day, organised by Sorelle Fox. MABS Volunteers were again on hand during the week to pack customers bags in return for a small donation. There were competitions and a fabulous array of rafe prizes, including a pair of Hugo Boss sunglasses from Specsavers worth 200. Thanks Kathleen for gathering all the prizes. MABS MURCIA is very grateful to the support for this event of several other local businesses including AngloINFO, C&M Boun-
MABS Murcia is a registered charity (No. 7261) offering help and support to local people of all nationalities who have been diagnosed with or are being treated for cancer. If you or someone you know would like some condential help or support call our HELPLINE693 275 779 or visit the website: www. mabsmurcia.com
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Park and Fly (Costa Clida) The Number 1 in Airport Parking We are glad to report PARK and FLY the No1 Parking Specialist is now under new ownership and has moved to their new 50,000 square metre depot, based at the Auto-Cine in San Javier. After months of having to turn people away, PARK and FLY now has the space to park more cars at ease. The new owner is a well known businessman in the area who will welcome old and new customers alike. He has also taken with him the two key staff from the old depot, so that regular clients can see the faces they recognise, and new clients can benet from their experience in the business. At last the Local planners have given the green light for this expansion programme that will also benet existing customers as your contracts now will be fully interchangeable with their new Corvera Service.
Yes! When Corvera comes into operation PARK and FLY are already one step ahead of the competition, ready to accept customers. You will have a choice of leaving your car at one of their secure compounds in San Javier or Corvera with 24 Hour Security at both, giving you the best price and peace of mind. No premium rates for Corvera. PARK and FLY took the airport parking by storm when it opened, offering unbeatable prices with second-to-none service. This remains their goal - to give 1st Class Service at easily affordable prices. You drop your car and you are whisked to the airport only 2 mins away with no delay, (no waiting to ll a bus). On your return, PARK and FLY will be waiting for you with your vehicle. You will also be pleasantly surprised to nd that your car has been valeted INSIDE and OUT ready for your return, so you set off
in a nice fresh car. Please phone the PARK and FLY ofce for a complete list of services available, or come and see their new premises with all cars parked in rows of no more than 2 for easy access and no chance of damage. Why pay elsewhere for a service inferior to ours? Paperwork can be completed in minutes to include the PARK and FLY Corvera Promise. Our staff are here to help you and will make your ight as stress-free as possible whilst you are still on the ground. Remember PARK and FLY guarantee that should your ight change from San Javier to Corvera, your contract still covers you at no extra charge. Come and speak to our friendly staff who will be happy to assist and advise you. Do not miss out when Corvera opens. Phone 616 064 224 to book your place now. PARK and FLY staff speak English, Spanish and French.
What does a more youthful body mean to you? The Power Assisted Exercise people at Shape & Tone feel it means to be more agile, mobile, exible, pain free, to t into our old clothes, to have more energy and stamina, to have an improved social life, to look and feel better. Power Assisted Exercise is the use of motorised exercise equipment suitable for any shape or size of person. Each machine is designed to target different muscles without requiring too much effort by the
user, unless desired. Anyone can use the machines. All you need is 30 minutes two or three times a week. Benets of Power Assisted Exercise include improved joint mobility, posture, circulation, increased energy, muscle strength and muscle tone. Within a few weeks you will experience a reduction in size (inch loss), stress and blood pressure, have better sleep patterns and increased condence, positive attitude and selfesteem.
Shape & Tone Wellness Centre in Los Alcazares is a friendly, social place where improving the quality of your life comes rst. Our main aim is for you to live happier for longer. There are dozens of membership options from a week to a year to suit your lifestyle; you choose the option that suits you best. Annual membership costs a little over 1 a day. If you would like to experience Power Assisted Exercise for yourself, call 661 002 648 for a Free Trial.
A Time 4 A Change, the furniture warehouse in El Algar, is under new ownership. Having run a successful bar for over 2 years, Danny and Kerry wanted to try something different. A Time 4 A Change buys and sells quality second hand furniture, organises house clearances, removals and provides a secure storage facility. As well as furniture, you can nd a selection of English books and greetings cards for all occasions. Internet access is also available. Danny and Kerry have also introduced a comfortable coffee shop where you can enjoy a drink and some homemade fayre, whilst enjoying the friendly atmosphere. Kerry has plans to launch a ladies clothes agency. She says Previously, I organised a very successful clothes agency. We are all feeling the pinch at the moment, so I thought it would be a good idea. Ladies, if you have any clothing in good condition that you no longer wear (lets face it, we all have!) bring it to me and I will sell it for 20% commission. Dannys plan is to provide a range of different spices, such as cumin and ginger, in manageable sized packs. He also makes up curry kits and says Lots of people enjoy curry, but are not sure how to make one,
or dont want to buy lots of spices at once. My kits include a recipe, together with the necessary spices measured into sachets. They are proving very popular, and at 2 are not expensive! A grand re-opening day is on Saturday 11th February from 10am till 2pm. There will be a free rafe and wine and nibbles will be provided whilst you wander around the newly organised premises. 10% discount will be given on any furniture purchased, upon production of this advert. So come along, Danny and Kerry will make you feel most welcome. See advert for more details.
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Yorkshire Linen Co in San Javier are starting off the New Year with a bright, positive attitude in their brand new store, now even better located, directly on the N-332 at the entrance of San Javier South, just before the airport. In this current climate everyone seems to be obsessed with nances, exchange rates and the falling values of property. No such doom and gloom at Yorkshire Linen Co, though! We have fantastic offers on home furnishings and bed linen and at a price to suit every budget. If you are renewing your bedding
to get ready for what is set to be another bumper year for holiday rentals, if you are needing to replenish essential items like mattress protectors, pillows and duvets, or if you just want to give your home a lift with a bright splash of colour, Yorkshire Linen Co, San Javier has the lot. The new store still stocks all of the great quality, great value items you know and love, as well as some new unbeatable bargains to help you start off 2012 with a new look. Beautiful satin-touch cotton bedding, Egyptian
cotton towels, window dressing, and all of the everyday home essentials are all here under one roof and with well-informed, helpful staff always happy to help you with any query you have, you are guaranteed to love Yorkshire Linen Co in San Javier. Yorkshire Linen Co are open from Monday to Saturday, 10.00am-5.00pm. Tel 968 193 924. Yorkshire Linen Co for style, quality, value for money and great service, all under one roof. Go on, you and your home deserves it!!
DAVIDS COACHTRIPS S.L. SUPPORT HAH (HELP AT HOME) HAH Help at Home Mar Menor and Costa Blanca areas are delighted to welcome on board David Malcolm and Coachtrips SL as sponsors for 2012. Well known and very popular for all the trips they organise throughout the Costas, they have worked tirelessly to raise several thousands of euros to help local charities over the past few years. We are so pleased that they have chosen to support us this year said a delighted Lesley Eburne (HAH founder), She added, We help people back on to the road to recovery, and COACHTRIPS S.L. then take them on the road to enjoy-
ment. What a perfect combination. At Davids Coachtrips SL we are always extremely impressed by the large number of people in various charities who give so much of their time and of themselves to help bring some relief and happiness in to the life of others. As a company, we are keen to support this seless effort. It is for this reason that we choose a local charity to support each year. Last year we were privileged to be able, with the help of our passengers, to raise almost 10,000, for the worthy charity
Age Concern. This year we are pleased to offer our support to HAH Help at Home who provide support for anyone, regardless of age, who have need of help. To set the ball rolling we are offering as a prize, a 3 day excursion to Granada plus 100 pocket money. You can enter this prize draw on any excursion of Davids Coachtrips SL, at our ofce or direct with the charity, Help at Home. More prizes will be offered throughout the year and winners will be announced on our website www.coachtripsonline.com and in the local press. I am sure our generous customers will get right behind this effort and enable HAH Help at Home to serve the community as fully as they would like. If you would like information regarding HAH Help at Home, or would like to become involved, please email HAH (Mar Menor) helpathomespain@gmail.com or info@ helpathomecb.org
BREAKING NEWS! A rst for Spain! Galgos del Sol in collaboration with Greyhounds In Need UK have successfully re-homed two dogs in California. This is the rst time that a Galgo and Podenco have been accepted for adoption in the USA. Both Zoe (Galgo) and Luna (Podenco) were naturally nervous for the long international ight ahead of them, but we have received good news that they have both arrived in California safe and sound and looking forward to settling into their new American home.
hope he nds a brother called Luigi!
Animal healing and fund raising Animal healer, Jennifer Rahman, is trying to raise funds for Galgos Del Sol and is donating 50% of prots to the charity. Jennifer is an international Emotional Freedom Techniques Advanced Therapist and is renowned for her animal healing sessions. Distance healing is also available via Skype, email or telephone. For more information, contact Jennifer on mobile: 63 4358 310 or visit her website at: www. lifemaxxinternational.com Galgos del Sol is inspired by these adoptions and are condent that it will pave the way for many other rescued Galgos and Podencos to nd loving homes in America. AND MORE GOOD NEWS! Five Galgos to the UK As a result of the relaxation of rules governing the travel of pets into the UK, Galgos del Sol has successfully re-homed 5, yes 5! rescued Galgos in the UK. It was a sad good-bye at the airport to Serena, Felipe, Julia, Lily and Scmiceal, but with the loving support of our volunteers, their travel to the UK was smooth and stressfree.
One-legged Mario to Isle of Wight Super Mario is his name and losing his leg has not slowed him down. Who can resist that smile? He loves his new home on the Isle of Wight where he will be living with the founder of Greyhounds In Need, Anne Finch. We are honoured that Anne has adopted a galgo from Galgo del Sol and we know he will make a super pet. Lets
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Easy Horse Team Inspired By Trip To USA While most of us were tucking in to our turkey and munching on the mince pies this Christmas, Sue and Rod Weeding from the Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre were across the Atlantic in the USA making an emotional trip to meet with Molly the Pony. It was really all quite emotional, says Sue who nally got to meet with the little pony that had inspired and helped the recovery of Faith, their 3-legged friend at the Rescue Centre. Faith has an articial leg and wants to wear it all day, leading to sore pressure points, so for Sue and Rod, the trip was a road of discovery and information helping them plan the future for Faith. It was so important for us to learn from them and has helped shape our vision and we have seen the long term outcome and reassured us in every way. We learnt so much from the visit. Molly had her amputation 6 years ago and she has her articial leg on for around 5 hours a day, telling her owner when she wants it on! Shes learnt to still get around with 3 legs and that is why we went to Louisiana to see how Molly was coping. Molly was rescued by Kaye and Glenn Harris after Hurricane Katrina. Unfortunately, several months later she was attacked by a pit bull, another animal they rescued after Katrina and although her other numerous wounds healed, her leg did not make it, resulting in an amputation and a prosthesis. Her injuries and situation was almost identical to Faiths and months and months of correspondence with Kaye and Mollys veterinary team was crucial to the survival of Faith and made the visit a very emotional one for Sue and Rod.
more exibility and a new lease of life. Worlds First? Faith is currently back in Barcelona with her surgical team. We visited her before we went to America and she is doing fantastically. She is loved and adored there and is free to wander where she likes. She is preparing for the second part of her surgery as Sue explains, What they are doing now is growing new esh on the bottom of her stump and this is very successful. The team are looking at ways to enable Faith to have her leg on for longer periods and reduce the pressure points she gets. Faith prefers to have her leg on most of the time as she is very active. One way is to carry out a skin graft, a fairly simple procedure that will help control this. The second option, preferred by the team, is to carry out a frog transplant. The frog is the small eshy cushion part of the hoof. Cells can be taken from the leg that is diagonally opposite Faiths missing one, as it has the same genes, and grow and graft this on to the amputation, providing a softer base. Vet Gasper is currently researching the possibility of this procedure. It is believed this operation could be the rst of its kind to be carried out in the world. Our next challenge then is how we support the leg while it is healing so she is not putting too much pressure on it too early, explains Sue who says it will be some time before Faith returns to the Centre in Rojales. We want to make sure she is well on the mend before coming home.
and wishes from children and adults across the Costas. They even had a Liverpool football scarf donated which they also took for Molly. Liverpools slogan is Youll Never Walk Alone, which I thought was very apt for Molly, says Sue who was so impressed with their hosts that she has promised to work together more closely in the future. We are going to interact with Mollys Facebook page and look at doing a joint Molly and Faith book together. Sue cannot speak more highly of Kaye and Glenn, They stayed and risked their lives during Hurricane Katrina to rescue and save animals and they are just normal people, living a very humble existence in a log cabin, giving all the money they can to the animals and we will do all we can to raise awareness for them. When Molly needed her surgery, it was funded by other horse charities. We dont have that here, but what we did have was the amazing generosity and support of people on the Costas. Sue and Rod also met with Prosthetist Dwayne Mara, who made Mollys pioneering prosthesis. He made Faiths rst articial leg and during their visit they took newer, upto-date measurements so he can complete Faiths next prosthesis that will allow her to bend her leg as Molly can. That will be nished in the next few weeks and give Faith
They presented Molly with around 30 Christmas cards that they received through their Christmas Card Campaign with thoughts
Sue has returned ready to face 2012 with a renewed energy and determination to continue the work the Easy Horse Care Rescue does and to make it their best year yet, but they can only do that with support from volunteers and the general public. Anybody can make a difference by sponsoring one of the horses for as little as 5 per month by contacting the centre directly. Throughout the winter they have open days on Sundays and Wednesdays from 1-4pm where they have guided tours and visitors can meet the horses and donkeys and hear their stories. Visitors can also enjoy a light lunch or light refreshments available in the caf garden, and all proceeds go towards the support of the centre. For more information visit www.easyhorsecare.net or call Sue on 652 021 980.
HAH THANK COSTA CALIDA GOLF TOURS A very wet day last week in Rio Nalon, Los Alcazares saw Andy Walsh from Costa Clida Golf tours present a cheque for 283 to Paul Eburne, President of HAH Help at Home. Lots of charities benetted during 2011 from special days organised by the company, and known throughout the golng fraternity as the Costa Clida Golf Challenge, where golfers join one another at various golf courses throughout the area. This has proved such a popular event, that the list of participating courses for 2012 is now available, said Andy. He added We had a special rafe as our end of season event at La Rosa bar in San Cayetano, and it was decided that HAH should receive this money in appreciation for all the hard work they do for our community. We had a Golf Challenge Day for them earlier in the year, but they still keep us informed and are always happy to work alongside us
Thanking Andy and all the participants, Paul Eburne said We are so grateful for the donation. Our thanks to Andy and his team and all the golfers who support us, and looking forward to our next day with the Costa Clida Golf Challenge
Picture: L-r Andy Walsh from Costa Calida Golf and Paul Eburne, president of HAH.
Dear Editor I would like to congratulate the Noahs ARC charity for coming to the immediate aid and rescue of a dog that was run over by a car at the Sunday market/boot fair at Caadas del Romero. The small dog was hit by the car which drove on; the dog however was left screaming in pain and a pool of blood. All the stall holders were horried to see what had occurred, and the suffering the dog was clearly experiencing. Luckily I knew the rescue ofcer who is Paul Fawcett at Noahs ARC. After a short phone call he agreed to meet the dog at the vets where two of the stall holders had agreed to take him. True to form Noahs ARC kept their pledge and attended the dog and took him into their care. Happily the accident was less severe than rst appeared as the leg badly cut and bruised but happily not broken. Since the rescue on in December the dog has now found a home in Germany and is due to travel to his new owner in February. John Kemp Dear Editor We won a voucher for golf for two with a buggy at Hacienda del Alamo, in a rafe at the charity fundraising concert in aid of the Lorca earthquake victims last May. we nally got to use it and the day was perfect, clear blue sky and hardly a hint of a breeze. The lady in the pro-shop was very welcoming, and all we had to pay was 3 each for insurance. The course was almost empty, one group two holes ahead of us, and nobody behind, perfect. Unfortunately the quality of the golf failed
to match the weather and the welcome we got. The course is in superb condition, and deserved scratch golf, but got us instead. We plan to go back for another visit shortly after Christmas when they are offering golf for two with a buggy for 89. Please thank the organisers of the Charity Day, and Hacienda del Alamo Golf Club for us. Jenny & Geoff Bennett
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Liven Up Those Linens One of the most frequent grumbles from owners is the fact that they have to replace their towels, dishtowels and sheets every so often, but Im afraid that cutting corners in this area will inevitably lead to complaints from guests. Sun cream, make-up, constant washing and general wear and tear mean that you should budget to replace larger items such as quilt covers every 2 years and smaller items such as dishtowels annually. Here are some hints to help you get the longest life from your linens! Buy dark coloured towels, such as blue, green, & purples as these dont show the marks as much. White looks lovely... until the rst client uses the towel as a make-up remover! Most commercial laundries wash at lower temperatures these days to be environmentally friendly, so stains can be harder to remove. Buy the best quality you can afford. Items from discount stores may seem a bargain, but you will end up replacing them more often as they wont stand up to the regular washing. Have plenty of tea towels and dont forget to provide oven gloves, or the guests will use the towels as gloves, getting them covered in food and burn marks. If your property manager tells you that things are looking a little grubby, please listen! They are your eyes and ears and should ask you to make the changes BEFORE your guests complain. Providing good quality, pretty linens allows you to make a statement about the property, and many homes are marketed as luxury accommodation, which raises guests expectations that the quality of your furnishings will be of a good standard. Cast a critical eye over your linens before Spring arrives and make sure that bobbly sheets and mucky marks are nowhere to be seen! Liz Edmiston runs OwnersAway Property Rentals & Management offering a full range of rental management services to property owners on the Costa Calda. Contact Liz on 691977107 or info@ownersaway.com for more information or visit the website www.ownersaway.com to view the full range of properties and services.
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LIVING WELL FROM YOUR GARDEN OR APARTMENT T E R RACE By Clodagh and Dick Handscombe Clodagh and Dick have been gardening in Spain for over twenty ve years and over the last fteen years have concentrated on becoming very self sufcient as the agricultural activity of their once self sufcient valley has been largely abandoned. Their ve latest books are the quintet Your Garden in Spain, Growing Healthy Fruit in Spain, Growing healthy Vegetables in Spain, Apartment Gardening in Spain and Living Well from Our Mediterranean Garden.. Each is written to help you have a ower lled and self sufcient garden in harmony. The opportunity is for all Eating well from your garden has two dimensions. Firstly, living healthily and the other gastronomically and there is no-one who cannot grow something thats good for both, whether living in an apartment or villa. As explained in our vegetable and fruit books, much can be grown in less than one square metre, including a selection of the following: sprouting seeds, shitake mushrooms, a wide variety of herbs, young tierno garlic, perpetual spinach (acelga), sprouting broccoli, carrots, strawberries, onions, bright red tomatoes and peppers and a perpetual fruiting lunar lemon. The advantage of growing such things on your apartment terrace or in the open garden is that they can be harvested eaten and cooked when genuinely fresh, without chemical contamination if you grow them ecologically and most importantly, most of the above are recognised as good regular sources of antiaging anti-oxidants, vitamins and minerals. Top class restaurants pay a premium for such vegetables grown ecologically and harvested small, for they ght shy of serving the extra large water-lled lettuces, tomatoes, onions etc that result from forcing with excessive watering, growth stimulators and chemical fertilisers. If you grow your vegetables naturally and buy the seeds of mini varieties, you can live very well very inexpensively. So why not have a go? Having started with a ower garden with edible owers and herbs, we now also enjoy home-grown fresh vegetables, fruit, snails, chicken eggs and healthy rabbit meat 365 days a year and the ower garden looks even better. The compost heap produces enriched organic compost for growing from seed, planting new plants and mulching as a by-product. To ensure that you gain most benet from
your efforts, aim to grow things that you will use regularly, things you like best, perhaps things you miss in Spain, as well as the bounty of things that grow so well in Spain. Thoughts on what is possible Apartment terraces The things we mentioned in the opening paragraph can be grown in containers, window boxes and mini raised beds on wheels. Small garden If you only have a small garden, raised beds and containers are a convenient way of growing fruit, vegetables and herbs. Growing dwarf varieties of vegetables will help you maximise the limited growing area available. Look at seed websites such as Thompson and Morgan and Sutton Seeds to see what is now available. You will be amazed by the inventiveness of todays seedsmen and as long as you avoid English runner beans, many will grow well here, especially during Spains second spring - the Autumn. Unfortunately there are few Spanish mini seeds available. Larger gardens Fruit trees can be grown as an orchard, or in many cases, even better within the ower garden where their blossom, colourful ripening fruits and welcome shade can be enjoyed to the full. The choice is yours. We include over sixty possible fruit trees in our book, ranging from mangoes, avocadoes, apricots and peaches to olives and almonds. Vegetables can be grown in any sized plot, from a few square metres to the several hundred that we have and of course in specially constructed raised beds. We have recently constructed the latter for the time when the large open plot is too much for us. Our book Growing Healthy Vegetables in Spain includes the creative idea of a ten-tub vegetable garden using the large tubs in which palm trees are delivered, or double-sized plastic builders buckets We have also proved just how productive this can be. Ensure that your selected vegetables include those with high levels of benecial natural vitamins and minerals such as acelga, sprouting broccoli, carrots, garlic onions and tomatoes. If you are in the hills, plant up some soft fruit in the garden or in tubs, provided you have the water to keep them damp throughout the summer and are willing to give them some shade during July and August. Alpine strawberries tend to be more drought resistant than cultivated varieties and are rarely available in supermarkets. Edible owers Garden crops do not mean only fruit and veg. Many owers from the colourful garden can be also be eaten raw in salads, used in cooked dishes, or used fresh or dried in infusions. For starters try hibiscus owers and rose petals in a salad and from nasturtium plants grown from the autumn to late
spring, one can add the owers, leaves and seed pods to add zest to salads. Top class Spanish green-grocers regularly sell small boxes of viola owers for salads and courgette/squash owers for steaming or baking stuffed its easy to do the same at much less cost. Great infusions can be prepared from jasmine, passion and hibiscus owers for instance. Proteins Beans can be grown for drying and later use, but also what better use of the cool shade under a large tree where little grows, than a run for a couple of fresh egg-producing hens. Within a few weeks they can become wonderful pets inquisitively following you round the garden for a stroll in the early evening. If one feeds them before letting them loose, they dont eat owering plants! We purchased our rst hens after travelling rst class on the express Cordoba to Barcelona train. Once the ticket collector had passed by, a well dressed lady sitting alongside took a hen out of her travelling basket and fed and watered it! She had taken it on holiday to her daughter and it was now going back to a run on her apartment terrace! The lady grew weekly crops of sprouting seeds in the kitchen which both she and the hen enjoyed and in the autumn had a bag of healthy shitake mushrooms growing in the broom cupboard. We thought if she can, why not us! So where theres a will theres a way. Have a go yourselves. Not only will you have the chance to eat better and healthier, but you will also eat economically, something that will become even more important in Spain in the next few years. * G r o w i n g Healthy fruit in Spain and Growing Healthy vegetables in Spain contain comprehensive details of what, where, when and how a diverse range of fruit and vegetables can be grown on mini and major scales. They are published along with Your Garden in Spain and Apartment Gardening Mediterranean Style by Santana Books and available from book shops or direct from the publisher if more convenient on 952 485 838 or www. santanabooks.com. Autographed copies together with a free copy of Living Well from Our Mediterranean Garden can be obtained from www.gardeninginspain.com. If you are going back to the UK for a few months they can be conveniently obtained from the Royal Horticultural Society bookshop at Wisley Gardens by a visit or by telephone on 0845-2604505. Clodagh and Dick Handscombe January 2012.
This article has been written by Mark Phoenix, Hypnotherapist on the Costa Blanca, Costa Clida and Costa Almeria Standing over the River Styx, Thetis, the mother of Greek hero Achilles, dipped her son into the awesome torrent. Her intent was to make her son invulnerable, and to a point, she succeeded. However, his sole weakness, which eventually led to his death, was his heel. The act of bathing him in the water created his one vulnerability. This awesome hero was felled by an arrow that shot into that weakness and since that day, we refer to Achilles heel as our one principle failing. Unless you live beside the mythological River Styx and can frequently bathe in it, you have a weakness; a fear that in some way affects your life. Be it fear of ying, heights, the darkness, water... small or large, it resonates in some way in your mind. Now, you might say Im being pessimistic, but its the truth. No person, fat or thin, muscle-bound or lanky, tall or small is infallible. The sooner we all realize that, the better well all feel. Having a weakness isnt a crime, but if its detrimental to your life, is stopping you from participating to the full, then you need to take control of it and actively seek help. Hypnotherapy can help, if your fear of ying is stopping you from going on holiday, or a fear of public-speaking is making you palpitate at the thought of an upcoming speech at work. Whether its pervasive or your phobia revolves around an upcoming event, hypnotherapy can really offer you an alternative path; one that really works and fast. For that speech, a course of hypnotherapy allows you to compartmentalize that fear and take control of the situation. You can step back, feeling calm and controlled and work through your fear. The suggestion hypnotherapy can boost your self-condence and self-esteem, whilst relaxing and reducing your stress levels. If your phobia is causing you daily continual strife, then a more intensive course of therapy is recommended. Pure HypnoAnalysis will seek out the root cause of your phobia and deal with it accordingly. Whilst providing you with all the benets or hypnotherapy, it will get down to the nitty-gritty and will nally enable you to live your life to the full without your fears getting you down. Usually a phobia can be resolved within eight to twelve sessions, in which youll face your fear in a calm, controlled and most importantly, safe environment.
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Mazarrn wants to be present at the international tourism fair FITUR 2012, despite the fact that this year the region of Murcia only has a small stand. The Department of Tourism has had various meetings with Europe tourist ofces so that they become the gateway to potential tourists. The Town Hall has been maintaining these meetings and has already had contact with the Tourist Ofce of Copenhagen, London and Helsinki. He is also meeting with the Tourist Ofce of Paris and Oslo, which has been one of the most successful in tourism. The Scandinavian ofces have welcomed the proposals from the Department of Tourism and they consider Mazarrn and the region as a tourist destination very much appreciated by its citizens.
tourists who want to learn about our region. Also, from now on we will work with them to participate in professional meetings that occur from these ofces so that tour operators and travel companies are aware of the offer of rst-hand information about the municipality.
of Municipalities (FEMP) to ensure the municipality is included in the Sistema de Calidad en Destinos (SICTED) giving the maximum exposure to tourism, services and entertainment of Mazarrn. Also underway, so Mazarrn be included by the Observatorio Nacional del Termalismo, is health tourism, with the Balneario of Mazarrn Hotel Sensol being the main attraction, with the purpose of promoting this type of tourism between investors and entrepreneurs. Hopefully this will mean more tourism in the area by putting Mazarrn on the map.
When all of the departments have reached an agreement, information on Mazarrn will be sent to them all to give priority treatment to the municipality when it comes to promoting the Murcian coast to
The Mayor of Mazarrn, Gins Campillo, explained With this new way of approaching the presence of Mazarrn at FITUR we will be able to reach more people in a more direct and professional manner. This new way has led to the presence of Mazarrn at FITUR being much cheaper, but more effective than previously. The Department of Tourism has also been in contact with the Spanish Federation
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Hi there from Bob and Welcome Group. I hope youre settling into the New Year well and enjoying the sunny weather weve had so far this winter. Havent we been lucky! If youre like me, youre always a little bit worried about your family back in UK when the weathers bad back there and wondering if their roofs blown off! Not that you can do much about it anyway, but I nd it a wee bit unnerving, and then count my blessings that we live in a better climate. What a night New Y e a r s Eve was! Singing and dancing to The Beagles and the lovely Donna Glass, a first-class buffet, and we even saw the New Year in twice; rst at midnight here, and again an hour later when it was midnight UK time. Rosemary auctioned two polo shirts donated by the sound engineer of Status Quo, and raised 92, given to Ann Lambert of Age Concern. A fabulous night, and thanks to Rosemary, Haydn and all the helpers. (photos) At our Monthly Meeting on 7th January, the Welcome Group were pleased to present a cheque for 300 to Age Concern. This was raised from money collected at
their Book Club and events. A 50 cent charge is made per person to cover the rent, but it is so well supported that there is always excess money. This is added up three times during the year and donated to a worthy cause. Thank you to all the supporters.
thanks to Rosemary and Haydn. The next Welcome Meeting is on 4th February, when tickets will be on sale for April 18th Dance with Cliff- As- If, coming over from the UK just for us to do his Cliff Richard tribute the only Cliff Tribute endorsed by the great man himself. Appearing alongside will be a Buddy Holly Tribute and special appearance of Hank Marvin. You wont want to miss this one, and at just 10 and 5 for pork and chips, its a steal. Also on sale that day are tickets for the April 25th Race Night, at Trevi Bar, Camposol B in aid of MABS at just 3. Dates for the Book/Jigsaw Swap are February 7th and 21st, held at ICA Clinic, Camposol B. Further details from Jo on 669457985.
Ann Wamsley told us of forthcoming events; Tickets were on sale for St Valentines Night, Ladies Evening and the Treasure Hunt. Tickets for the Rich Bitch Show on 27th March are sold out and our Trip to Benalmadena and the Races at Mijas on 25th-27th February is sold out. Tickets are still available for: St Valentines Night 14th February at 10 with Dan Davy and Lorna Michelle, and 5 for lamb chop and chips. Ladies Evening on 7th March at just 3 March Dance on 14th March with Kevin Tyler and new to Welcome, J.J. Soulman. Just 9 and 5 for chicken and chips. Treasure Hunt on 25th March at 7 including a buffet at our nal destination, wherever that is! We dont nd that out until we get there! Always good fun and so far, no divorces! If youve never done one, give a try you wont be disappointed. The Games Night on 11th January was, as usual, great fun, and well done all the winners, and
Fun Petanca is on the last Wednesday of each month at 1.00pm at Marianos, Camposol A or the following Wednesday in the case of bad weather. Call Les on 968131880 for more details. Welcome is open to everybody there is no membership just come along and meet friends old and new. Further details from Rosemary on 620105179, or email rosemarybeak@hotmail.com or visit www.welcomegroupspain.com
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Bank Charges up 44% in the Last Year The average customer now pays about 276 per year for basic banking services, 21% more than in early 2011. The fee for having a debit card, for example, went from 17.3 to 20.25 per year, 17% more expensive. The rising cost of doing a bank transfer is particularly controversial - it has risen 398% in the past seven years. Customers requesting a mortgage quotation are paying around 132 this year on average; in early 2011, that same service cost 107 on average. The rising commissions mean that the average bank customer now pays in the region of 21% more for maintaining a current account, without taking into account any mortgages or additional loans they may have with the bank. Based on an average of about 12 transactions per year, as well having as a credit card and a debit card, with which the customer makes a least a dozen ATM cash withdrawals in 2010, the average customer paid about 228 in 2010. According to the latest data published by the Bank of Spain, the fees for these same services became notably more expensive last year, with the average commissions totalling about 276. Figures published by the Association of Bank Users (Adicae) suggest that bank fees are in fact considerably higher. Their latest study found that a customer with a current account, a savings account, a debit card and a credit card, who does ve bank transfers per year paid 567 in commission in 2011. Basic nancial services have almost qua-
drupled since 2004, with the increase in charges for a transfer being the most notable. The cost of this operation has risen 398% over the past seven years. Those with lower incomes are once again hardest hit, with banks applying regressive fees with higher rates to those who have lower balances. Bankia, one of the countrys leading banking institutions which received more than 4 billion euros of public money last summer - has announced it will charge 2 per month on accounts whose average balance does not exceed 2,000. Last Surviving Member of Francos Cabinet Dies Manuel Fraga Iribarne - the last surviving senior politician from General Francos era in Spain - has died of heart failure at his home in Madrid, aged 89. He was Information and Tourism Minister under the dictator, but then played a key role in the transition to democracy after the Francos death in 1975. Mr Fraga helped to write the countrys constitution and founded the party that is today the ruling PP Conservative Party. He dominated politics in the north-western Galicia region until 2005 and remained in politics up until September 2011, retiring because of health problems. Speaking at a public event in 2011, Mr Fraga made no apology for being a minister in General Francos cabinet. One cannot choose the period of history in which one lives, he said. A hero to many in Galicia, an authoritarian relic to others, he counted the Cuban leader Fidel Castro among his friends. Mr Fraga married Carmen Estevez in 1948 and they had ve children. She died in 1996. New Ferrari to be Revealed on February 3rd Ferraris head of the Ferrari Formula One
team, Stefano Domenicali, announced that the car to take on the 2012 Formula One World Championship would be revealed at the Ferrari headquarters in Maranello on February 3rd. The single-seater that both Spains Fernando Alonso, twice world champion, and Brazils Felipe Massa will compete in during this years world championship, which kicks off on March 18th in Melbourne (Australia), home of the rst of the 20 races currently programmed, will be ofcially launched on February 3rd. The rst actual test-drive will take place on February 7th in Jerez de la Frontera. Paediatricians push MMR Vaccine as Europe sees Resurgence of Measles Paediatricians now recommend giving the MMR triple vaccine earlier because of the increasing number of cases of measles detected in Spain last year: about 2,000, although it is suspected that this gure could be as high as 3,000, compared to 173 in 2010. The advice was prompted by the discovery of measles cases in children as young as between 12 and 15 months, when their bodies have insufcient antibodies to ght the disease. Paediatricians are also recommending bringing forward the second dose of MMR, which is normally given between the ages of three and four, but as late as six in some regions. They now recommend giving this second dose at the age of two because of the recent resurgence of measles across Europe. Last year, over 30,000 cases were discovered, eight people died of the disease and 25 developed encephalitis, according to the European Centre for the Control of Infectious Diseases. In Spain, according to this organisation, 1,876 cases were ofcially identied between January and October, but they suspect that this gure could actually be as high as 3,000, with 2,000 of them in Seville, where the disease is becoming prolic again amongst populations with low vaccination levels, like gypsy communities and small villages. Many parents have no experience of the disease and have forgotten that It can kill, said Javier Arstegui,
a member of the Advisory Committee on Vaccines. Diesel rise by 3.9%, reaching 2008 highs The year has started with a sharp rise in diesel prices as the average cost of this type of fuel in Spanish service stations reaches 1.336 per litre, a 3.9% rise to take it back up to its historic high in 2008. According to the latest European Union data, the price of petrol has also risen sharply, going up by 4.7% to reach 1.358 per litre, although it is still a long way short of its 2011 high of 1.381 per litre. The new record high price for diesel has exceeded the former record high price set in July 2008, when it was selling for an average of 1.329. The price escalation has been put down to the devaluation of the euro. The Spanish Association of Petroleum Product Providers (AOP) is also warning that tensions over a possible embargo of Iran and its subsequent effects on the supply of crude oil is also affecting the market price of petroleum products. Nevertheless, fuel remains cheaper in Spain than elsewhere in the EU, where lead-free petrol costs on average 1.553 per litre across the EU as a whole, and 1,579 in the eurozone. New Businesses up by 8.4% The number of new businesses created in November increased by 8.4% compared with same month in 2010, reaching 7,245, reported the National Statistics Institute (INE).
The subscribed capital for the new businesses exceeded 387 million euros, 30.7% less than the same month last year, while the average subscribed capital, 53,449 euros, decreased 36.1%. Furthermore, 2,923 limited companies increased their capital in November 2011, a 16.5% increase on the previous year. Region by region, Navarra saw the largest increase in average subscribed capital per company created, with 1,156,211 euros, while Extremadura had the lowest, with 7,796 euros. Cantabria recorded the highest average subscribed capital by companies increasing their capital (6.2 million) and Asturias the lowest (155,364 euros).
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Like many of their charitable contemporaries in the local area, the weeks leading up to Christmas proved to be an even more hectic period for the members of the Lions Club of Mazarrn Baha. OPERATION KILO Op Kilo started during the latter part of November when shopping trolleys were placed outside of the Consum on Camposol B, accompanied by Mazarrn Lions Club members asking shoppers for donations of non-perishable foodstuffs for two welfare organisations in need in this area. A Lions spokesman has asked us to pass on that, Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of members of the public shopping at Consum, we were able to make substantial donations to the Jesus Abandonado Shelter for the Homeless in Murcia and El Hogar de la Infancia orphanage in Cartagena. Neither of these two organisations receive any public funding from local or government sources. The Lions have also asked us to thank everyone who made these donations possible, and to thank the manager and staff of Consum, Camposol, for their active support in the Lions project.
the maintenance of use of the schools very important swimming facility by providing them with a donation of 2,000 to meet an unanticipated, but very critical, need. Mazarrn Lions have been closely involved with the local branch of ASPADEM for some years now, and they intend to continue doing so.
was that they had received, and many of the adults attending were also not a little emotional. Mazarrn Lions would like to thank all those involved in making this project possible, either by helping to coordinate and run the event, or by making and donating presents for the children. LORCA UPDATE Conrming that their Earthquake Relief Appeal for Lorca is still very much an ongoing venture, Mazarrn Lions stated that with other Lions Clubs in Spain and Lions Clubs throughout the world, they have already provided the relief appeal with over 7,000 for immediate support, with around a further 10,000 to be allocated as long term needs continue to arise. LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION Many people, despite often reading of what they do to locally, remain blissfully unaware that the Lions Club of Mazarrn Baha is simply a small cog in the overall machine. Lions Clubs International is recognised by the United Nations as the biggest and best non-governmental relief organisation in the world today. Consisting of over 1.35 million members spread throughout over 45,000 clubs worldwide, LCI have been operating for nearly 100 years and are recognised world leaders in such things as disaster relief, curing preventable blindness and hearing problems, provision of clean water and youth education & guidance programmes. In addition to fund raising and affording aid where appropriate, they also enjoy an active social life. Mazarrn Lions meet on the rst Monday of every month at 5.00pm at the Los Palacios Community and Cultural Centre on Camposol Sector B. If you would like to become involved, or simply want to know more contact the Membership Chairman, Lion Mervyn Booth, on 968 163 082 or mervynbooth1@gmail.com or visit the Lions Clubs International website www. lionsclubs.org/EN
MAZARRN BAHA LIONS CHRISTMAS DRAW Mazarrn Lions held their Annual Christmas Draw, on a beautiful, sunny morning, at the Camposol Market, Sector A, on 22 December. To a background of Christmas music and the provision of some very nice (and free mulled wine to help loosen peoples purses), the lucky winners walked away with such superb prizes as a Flatscreen Colour TV, a Christmas Hamper, a Turkey Voucher and much, much more. Our thanks to everyone involved, either by donating prizes or by simply buying tickets. The project has helped the club to raise in excess of 600 for charity. CARRIERS OF HAPPINESS Friday 23 December brought beaming smiles to the faces of nearly 200 local disadvantaged children in the marquee outside Mazarrns Ayuntamiento, when Papa Noel presented each of them with a Yuletide carrier bag containing gifts selected especially for their ages and gender. Papa Noel said that he was delighted to see the amazed faces of the children when they discovered what it
MAZARRN ASPADEM FACILITY In December, in response to receiving an urgent request for Lions Club assistance, Mazarrn Lions were able to help ensure
Animal Organisations: Andreas Animal Rescue Fuente Alamo 690 906 565 Easy Horse Care Rojales 652 021 980 Galgos del Sol Murcia galgosdelsol@hotmail.com Helping Hands contact@helpinghands.org.es JJs Puppy Rescue Organisation Mazarrn 618 034 921 John Kemps Puppies La Pinilla, Fuente Alamo 646 737 230 K9 Pet Rescue San Fulgencio/La Marina 611 606 001 MARA Dog Rescue Mula 685 311 599 Noahs ARC Mazarrn 699 352 818 (Charity Shop) 968 154 507 PAPS 966 769 137 Charities: Age Concern Spain Mazarrn 634 316 213 Alcoholics Anonymous Mazarrn, Cuevas de Reyllo 646 290 420 Cabo De Palos 968 545 181 Costa Clida Samaritans www.costablancasamaritans.com GO MaD Mazarrn 678 598 677 Help Murcia Mar Menor Santiago de la Ribera, San Javier 968 181 623 Lions Club of Mazarrn Baha Mazarrn 636 746 959 MABS Mar Menor Mar Menor 693 275 779 MABS Mazarrn Mazarrn 620 422 410 MABS NE Murcia 634 362 826 MABS NW Murcia 693 275 779 Mazarrn Baha Lions Mazarrn 636 746 959 PALS (Protection and Life Saving) Mazarrn 968 437 837 Churches: Mass in English Pastrana, Mazarrn 628 824 555 Olive Branch Christian Fellowship Cultural Centre, Camposol B
618 720 181/968 199 622 Pilar Christian Community Church Pilar de la Horidada 966 769 300 or 650 509 606 Puerto Lumbreras Church 619 945 283 St Nicholas Church Camposol, Mazarrn 968 138 952 Wellspring Victory Church Bolnuevo, Mazarrn 620 599 270 Groups: ADAPT San Pedro 966 189 402 Cloud Nine Drama Mula 644 400 123 Darwinian Gardeners Phone 669 338 885 darwiniangardeners@gmail.com Evolutionists of Almeria and Murcia www.bolnuevo.com/social/ Evolutionists Ex-Servicemens Association Mazarrn 968 965 058 Friends & Buddies Camposol, Mazarrn 968 163 758 Greenngers Sector C Gardening Group Camposol, Mazarrn 626 513 842 Help at Home San Javier 633 673 034 Homeowners Sector A Camposol, Mazarrn 608 029 112 Welcome Group Camposol, Mazarrn 620 105 179 If you would like details of your club or organization included on this page, please send an email to costacalidachronicle@ yahoo.es
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Its winter here on the Costa Clida and the sun is shining brightly outside as I write this article; it is actually warmer outside the house than it is inside at the moment. Old Spanish houses like ours seemed to have been built for hot weather only and set a little in the ground to keep the rooms cool during the searing summer heat [and it works]. We have lived here for eight years now and still have not installed air conditioning. During the winter period however, the house does get really cold and uninviting, especially when it is raining and all seems damp to the touch, so out come the rugs and carpets to cover the cold tiled oors, we order a load of logs and light a re in the log burner, out come the candles and suddenly all becomes cheery and cosy again in the house.
Our hearts can be like the weather at times cold and uninviting, perhaps due to the situations that seem to take over our lives on occasions. Maybe because of the loss of a loved one, or illness, or sadness over something we cannot put right ourselves; the glow disappears from us and we carry that frosty attitude towards others and nothing seems to be able to help us through. Just like we light the re in the log burner to warm and cheer us in our natural wintertime, we need to light a re in our hearts.
their annual conference at Hotel Lo Monte, Pilar de Horadada. The speaker this year is International Speaker and Author Jeff Lucas. Jeff is the author of 18 books and broadcasts regularly on radio and through syndicating is heard on over 350 radio stations worldwide. Jeff has titled his four talks There are No Strong Men and will use the life of Samson to expand this. Besides hearing a gifted speaker, a major feature of the day is our times of worship and this year we are privileged to have Noel Richards lead us into Gods presence.
Jesus can set our hearts on re with His love, if we would just invite Him More details can be found on into our lives. He longs for His love to the Men of Vision website www. or phone burn brightly in our lives and wants to give menofvisionespana.com us His joy in exchange for our sadness, Duncan on 607 382 033 take the pain out of our sickness and the sting out of our struggle with death and loss. Dont be alone or lonely this winter; Jesus is holding out His arms of love towards you and you will nd everything you need in His love. Let Him into your heart and life He will set your heart and life ablaze with His love, joy, Update on Kevin Hicks Sponsored peace and lots more beside. Weight Loss for Help for Heroes Charity In the Bible, in the Gospel of John, chapter Charity event no 20120107-9274-7601 10 verse 10, Jesus says I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly. He was speaking about you and me Jesus wants us to have a great life and a life full of His abundance. now that is great news for 2012.
Visit www.bmycharity.com/kevin Hicks Kevin weighed in on Sunday 15th January at 17 stone and 5 lbs, or just over 110 kilos for those of us who understand metric! On the day we collected 53.65 in oneoff donations in a bucket collection. This equated to 45.00 which was sent to the above charity by credit card on Monday 16th Calling all men around the Costa January. Since then the total on the site Calida area is now an amazing 140.00, as others have Every year for the past 5 years there has already donated directly to the charity using been a mens conference held on the Costa the above website. Clida and 2012 is no exception.
On March 12 Men of Vision Espaa hold
As Kevins target was to lose a minimum of 2 stone (circa 15 kilos), we are delighted to be able to say that we have made a cracking start and already have another 280 in pledges when he reaches his target, which he hopes will be before Easter. If you would like to sponsor Kevin and help this wonderful charity, please either drop into the CHM ofce on Camposol B to ll in a sponsor form, or donate directly to the above via the website. Many Thanks and Good Luck Kevin! So far in the rst week Kevin has lost 71lbs - keep up the good work Kevin.
Puerto Lumbreras Christian Fellowship now meets every 1st and 3rd Sunday each month at 11.00am in the premises of the Spanish Evangelical Church Puerto Lumbreras Tel 619453283 Paul and Sandra
Mazarrn, djate querer is the latest work of La Rondalla de Mazarrn comprising 14 tracks which include several dedicated to the municipality and its coast, including Bolero a Mazarrn, Murcia, Costa Clida and Himno a Mazarrn. There are 1,000 copies of the album which can be purchased at various shops and establishments in the municipality at the price of 8. The album was presented in Mazarrn in the presence of the Mayor, Gins Campillo, who praised the Rondalla Conveying to citizens the love for music, as well as keeping alive many songs with which we identify, not only as individuals, but also as people. Those attending the Day Centre enjoyed these live tracks, as well as others in the groups repertoire. Citizens
came to the centre in Puerto de Mazarrn where another presentation took place in the presence of the director-general of elderly people of the Murciano Institute of Social Action (IMAS). Enrique Prez Abelln was also delighted with the music of the Rondalla of Mazarrn. He commented that I am left wanting to be in Mazarrn. I came several times during the last few weeks and it is a pleasure to see the large number of activities that take place here. Also present were the Councillors of culture, tourism and education, Maria Celeste Soria, and Social policy, equality and health, Maria Martinez. Both agreed to emphasize the quality of the new work of the Rondalla with their live performances They are already part of the cultural and social life of our town.
Throughout the history of mankind the horse has played a major role in our evolution. One civilization after the next has survived and thrived thanks to its close relationship with the horse. Man has in turn eaten the horse, ridden him into battle, used him as a beast of burden or for working the land before eventually looking to him as a source of leisure and an inspiration for art and sport. This inter-twining of destinies, that of man and horse, could not be more perfectly illustrated than in the gure of Greek mythology, Quiron, the wise centaur who trained Greek heroes. Or, for that matter, the extravagance of Romes Emperor, Caligula, who made his horse, Incitatus, a senator of the Roman Empire and probably the richest horse ever. Not to mention our own Lady Godiva, recorded in an 11th century legend as having ridden naked through the streets of Coventry in protest against the heavy taxes imposed by her own husband. Apart from the more obvious characteristics of mans association with the horse, our greatest thinkers have referred to the benecial effects that the horse has as regards physical and mental health. Hippocrates himself (460-370 bc) recommended horse-riding in order to maintain good health and ward off certain ailments, particularly benecial in the treatment of insomnia. Many years later Galeno (130-199 ad), personal physician to the Emperor Marcus Aurelius (known to be slow when making decisions) advised him to partake in horse-riding as an aid to speeding up his decision making. Two hundred years ago doctors in Germany were wont to prescribe some gentle horseriding to patients suffering from hysteria and hypochondria and gout was effectively
combated by daily riding during the Victorian era. Then the twentieth century brought us the prime example of Lise Hartel who, despite being gravely affected by polio, left her wheelchair behind to become silver medallist in Dressage at the 1952 Olympics only to repeat her success four years later in Melbourne.
How can horse-riding help us in this modern age of Hi Tech medicine, touch button gymnasiums and sure re diets? On the physical side the mere movement of the horse at a gentle walk tones up our muscles, stimulates circulation, respiration and digestive processes and improves balance and co-ordination. Psychologically, horse-riding or even regular contact with horses can conjure up strong feelings of understanding, determination, affection, patience and well-being. Research shows that horses can help you to become a stronger person, a better worker and can help you to overcome fears and phobias. How can this be so? An easy way to nd out is to give it a try. Visit a yard run by horse-lovers and caring professionals. There you will be sure of a warm welcome and a sincere introduction into the world of this amazing creature, the horse. Article supplied by META
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Friday 24th February A l m o n d Blossom Trail. Meet El Berro car park 10.30am This is one of the most popular walks of the entire year! Its an easy social walk, just like all NEST walks which anyone can do, since NEST specialises in very easy short walks for NON-sporty people. The main feature of this particular walk is its sheer beauty! Almond blossom in whites, creams and pinks of all shades should be at its fullest and most beautiful in the mountains now (climate willing!) and it is truly spectacular to walk surrounded by blossom everywhere. There is just something gorgeous about blossom; it always lls one with a wonderful hopeful, inspired feeling not just the fresh beauty of it, but also the knowledge that spring is here and sizzling summer is just around the corner, not forgetting that beautiful honeylike scent too! We round off the walk with a drive through almond country where well see blossom on all sides as we approach a
different authentic Spanish restaurant for a change, near Mula, which has a really buzzy Spanish atmosphere with fantastic food with many choices in their menu del dia and really friendly service.
very sociable h a p p y occasion! There are d r i v i n g directions and a lot more information including videos and photos on the website at http://www.nestwalks.info (Please bear in mind there are no hyphens whatsoever either in the email or website address, in case the magazine formatting system inserts one!) If you join the mailing list on the website, youll hear about new walks or changes before anyone else. Dogs on leads are also very welcome on all NEST walks, although restaurant arrangements can make it awkward if we eat inside as dogs arent allowed inside as on this occasion. However, the meal is always optional, so the walk itself is always possible. On other occasions we often eat outside in a mountain restaurant and dogs arent a problem there at all. Looking forward to seeing you all! Bring some water and sensible footwear, cameras and a smile!
Come and join us on this spectacular scenic opportunity which comes but once a year! Remember you need to book rst, as places are limited, either by phone or text message to 679002147 or email natureespunatrails@ gmail.com Please supply full names of each person coming along, with contact phone numbers in case of last minute changes. Wait until youve had conrmation back that youre booked in. Unfortunately people cant just turn up as theres a limit and restaurants need booking in advance. The walk is 5 and the (optional) meal is around 9. Most people love to come for the meal though. Its a
Meeting with the Mayor 11th January 2012 Those Present: Gines Campillo Mendez, (Mayor of Mazarrn), Kelly Ensor (Mayor of El Saladillo), For CRA - Bob Owen, Les Crook, Sandy Allison, Ernie Prior, John Daws, Peter Pitt 1. Matters arising from previous meeting. Rambla on D A third plan has been proposed by the Town Hall, MASA, and Hydrographica. It is to build a reservoir and then divert the water away from D.23 so that it travels away from D.23 rather than under it. Demolition order on D.23 This will be discussed later when Town Hall solicitor can join the meeting. Embargos D.32 The Mayor is aware of this problem and it must be handled by solicitors. MASA compound The Town Hall has instructed for it to be removed along with the area used for dumping on Sector C. Increase in IBI It has been reported in local press that there is to be a 30% rise in IBI payment. The Mayor said the proposed rise of 3% not 30%. The Town Hall will be asking for re-valuation of all properties in Mazarrn. The last valuation was in 2007. Les Crook raised the point that his house, for instance, is now worth less than it was in 2007. Does this mean that IBI bills will go down as a result of re-valuation? The Mayor said it was not their intent to raise the IBI bills by re-valuation and that bills should go down as a result. It was conrmed by the Mayor that the Catastral value of a property should go down in line with its re-sale value. Provision of land for a football pitch Peter Pitt raised the question of an area being provided on Camposol. He said a support group already has raised funds and has good local business support for this. They only want a piece of land and any other set up costs will be borne by the support group. The Mayor will look into the provision of some land. Road Problems The CRA would like some sort of priority given to the repair of the worst roads. There are some very bad sections of road to repair, particularly where the adjacent pig farmer is using Camposol roads for deliveries etc. The Mayor said that now that MASA is nearing completion of
A Sector, the council will judge how well they have performed there and if the Council are satised, MASA will then continue onto B, C, and D, then priorities can be set. Bob Owen then asked if the pig farmer has a right to use Camposol roads as he is damaging the surface that MASA has put down. The Mayor said he did not know but he will look into it. The Mayor assured us that the Council will not accept sub-standard road work repairs from MASA. 8. Interpreters Bob Owen said that prior to the elections, Francisco Garcia, leader of the PSOE party in Mazarrn, had promised translators would be provided for the medical centre. The Mayor explained that through lack of money even the 24 hour emergency cover was under threat, so interpreters were not a priority. Police Station on Camposol This was also promised by Francisco Garcia, but this will not now happen either. Start of works on Sector B Bob Owen asked when MASA are expected to start work on Sector B following completion of Sector A. The Mayor said that if all work is acceptable with Sector A then it should be handed over by the end of February. Then MASA will move onto Sector B to start work. Bob asked that when work starts, the CRA would like to be involved in the inspection and acceptance of works as has happened on Sector A with the Sector A Committee. Sandy asked if MASA did not complete Sector A to the councils satisfaction and MASA are subsequently ordered from site,
then would they then be denied any further building on Camposol. The Mayor said that since March 2011 MASA has no licence to build on Camposol, so unless they get A Sector right, they cannot do further building work. 11. Back to agenda, point 2: Demolition orders D23 Juan Carlos, Council Solicitor, joins the meeting. Juan Carlos was told of the problem on D23 and asked to comment with regard to demolition orders. Bob said that the demolition order from the Council instructed MASA to demolish the illegal houses or face a 1.2 million euro ne. Juan Carlos explained that the ne was because MASA had done things wrong and the demolition order was because these houses are not legal yet. Juan Carlos went on to say that he and the Council do not intend to demolish these houses. They are working hard towards legalising everything that is wrong with Camposol including all the services, but we must all co-operate in this endeavour. Bob Owen assured Juan Carlos and the Mayor that this was without question the case and that all parties are working towards the same end, a fully legal Camposol. John Daw asked if the Council could cancel the demolition order, but Juan Carlos explained that until the houses in question are legal, the order must stand, but not to worry about it because the Council have no intention of demolishing any houses. It is more important to work together to get things legal.
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The CRA stressed that it has always been their intention to co-operate fully with the Council for the good of Camposol.
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Well the year ended for Camposol B Clean Gardening Group on a bit of a high. We nally completed the planting of 367 Oleanders on the side of the road from the Cultural Centre down to the roundabout by B9. December saw the Gardening Group Christmas Party held at Sensol Golf, Camposol, with around 60 people enjoying an excellent 4 course Christmas meal and many more enjoying the entertainment provided by Backwater. The proceeds from the function and rafe produced a good nancial start to the New Years funds.
The Gardening Group then took a wellearned few weeks rest and relaxation over the Christmas and New Year period and as from Tuesday 17th January 9am we are preparing ourselves for the continuation of improving the areas around our Sector. Our rst major task for 2012 is the pruning of the Palm trees on the central reservation on the dual carriageway. This could not be done earlier because of the Red Palm Weevil. We were hoping that Masa would complete this task, but as they will not now be on our Sector until later this year we only have a window of opportunity to carry out this work in the next 6 weeks.
The Sector B Gardening Group meets every Tuesday at 9am and some of our lighter duties include clearing rubbish etc from around the Sector. We are seeking some more volunteers, so if there is anyone out there who could spend a little of their time to help us it would be much appreciated. We also hold a meeting on the last Tuesday of every month at 4pm in the Trevi Bar, Camposol B Commercial Centre, to discuss and plan future work around our Sector. Anyone interested in helping or donating monies to our fund for future improvements to our area can contact Helen on 96819506 or Sandy on 676929368.
The Camposol Fiesta is now only an amazing ve months away, but I must rst mention our Christmas carol concerts on Camposol. Once again WELLSPRING VICTORY CHURCH from Puerto de Mazarrn provided the music and singers for all four nights. We give our sincere thanks to Pastor Andrew and his congregation for freely giving their time and braving the cold to make the whole thing possible. We must also thank the Gardening Clubs on Sectors D and C for providing sustenance, for the audience on their Sectors, and the businesses on Sectors A and B who supported the food and drink on those Sectors. A great time was had by all and a suitable entre to Christmas was delivered to all present. We are now fully focused on the Fiesta on 16/17th June. We still urgently need volunteers for the Fiesta, could you help us? At the risk of being boring, we are still
a long way short of our fund raising target to pay for your Fiesta. We need your support either by donations or attendance at our fund raising events, the next of which is a MURDER MYSTERY NIGHT complete with a meal for only 10. The date is 24th Feb at Trevi Bar, Camposol B. Great entertainment and fantastic value. In March we again have a new event for us. A coach trip to the VALOR CHOCOLATE FACTORY, followed by a two course sh and chip lunch with wine. We then go to the SHOW CAVES at Busot. If you have not been before this is a must. Finally we call in at the TURRON FACTORY before returning to Camposol. At only 26 this is a fantastic day out and great value. Tickets for this event are only available at our information table on the Camposol market each Thursday or calling direct to Dickie on 968199967. Please do remember your support is vital if we are to produce the Fiesta you have come to expect.If you would like to sponsor the event, join our team, or simply support our functions you will be made most welcome. ITS YOUR FIESTA - make it happen. Best regards Dickie Davies Chairman Fiestas Camposol Committee
2012 has started well for Sector A. We have had two good meetings with the Mayor; one included Sr Gomez our local councilor who is also a resident of Camposol. Work is progressing in preparing the Sector for adoption by the Ayuntamiento. The Mayor has stated that the committee will be part of the Ayuntamiento decision making process in respect of conrming that MASA have completed all outstanding works. We trust this process will take place before February, but Sr Gomez has said, No matter how long it takes, MASA have to complete the works to an acceptable standard.
The matter of the houses that were not on the Plan Parcial was discussed and the Mayor said that the plan will be modied and hopefully the amendment process will begin in April/May. We raised the matter of Security, as there were a few burglaries over the holiday period. The Mayor has stated that it is not possible for us to have a dedicated Police Station on Camposol, however, it was necessary this week to ring 112 for a suspected burglary and no less than three vehicles arrived within a very short time. Sr Gomez is furthermore investigating security systems for Sector A for approval by the residents. The issue of dissolving the entity arose again and this time it has been left with the council lawyer to nd a solution. The very good news we save for last; the Mayor and the Lawyer said we can go ahead and change the Sector name to Los Palacios. This will NOT change your postal address; just forget Sector A and we just replace Sector A on the road signs. The Committee informed the Mayor that our residents are pleased with the progress that has taken place in such a short time, and we look forward to co-operating and working alongside the Ayuntamiento in the future.
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Happy New Year Health & Happiness. The new legally registered maintenance scheme has started and you will be seeing a difference very soon with the Calles being cleaned and weeds removed. Please if you have not yet committed to join, please do so by seeing your poligono representative or call Bernard 626 513 482. Its only 15 per quarter. Please join the 133 plus that have started paying. Do not let others pay your share. We have several holiday home owners who have joined, so come on and get behind the Community scheme. We are looking for help; Reps wanted for Poligonos C-1 C-3 C-6, also an editor for the Newsletter and the website. If you can
help, please do contact us. The Christmas Party at Trevi was a great night with 64 guests and the Christmas Carol Service on 20th Dec in conjunction with the Fiesta Committee was very well attended with approximately 75 residents from all nationalities - a real community event. Thanks to Margret and Paul and the neighbours round the triangle for helping. The refreshments were provided by Green Fingers. We have had a donation of 200 from D Sector to help provide shrubs along the dual carriageway, which will be completed very soon. New projects coming soon: Trunks of Palms on main road to be trimmed and cleaned; Garden area with
welcome wall feature plus a bench; C-1 top of farm road - some kind of curbing to help prevent soil spillage; Finishing the graveling along Calle Ibiscum; Improving the two corners opposite Sensol Villa Rentals, gardening type areas. Please come and help on the working parties each Wednesday morning from 9am till 11am. We provide a breakfast mid morning and we have fun and good exercise. The January function was on Friday 27th January at the SENSOL Hotel with the fantastic Beagles 5 a ticket with the usual 2 for one on beer and wine 6 per bottle.
After the anticipated pause in activity over the Christmas and New Year period, issues surrounding Camposols progression towards completion, were once again at the forefront when the CRA held their second one on one meeting with Mayor Campillo on January 11th. CRA Chairman Bob Owen raised the question of when MASA are expected to start work on Sector B. The Mayor stated that if all work is acceptable with Sector A, then it should be handed over by the end of February, after which MASA will move onto Sector B. A request was made that the CRA would then be allowed the same facility granted to the Sector A Committee of being involved in the inspection and acceptance of the works on Sector A. The Mayor made assurances that the Council will not accept sub-standard road work repairs from MASA. It was pointed out that there are some particularly bad sections of road needing repair and it was requested that priority would be given to these. The Mayor said that now that MASA is nearing completion of Sector A, the council will judge how well they have performed there and if the Council are satised then MASA will then continue onto B, C, and D, when priorities can be established. Mention was made of the fact there have been reports in the press claiming that there is to be a 30% rise in IBI rates. The Mayor replied that the proposed rise will be 3% not 30% and that the Town Hall will be looking for a re-valuation of all properties in Mazarrn. He went on to convey that it was not their intention to raise the IBI bills by re-valuation and that the consequence of the recent falls in property values would in fact have the effect of reducing Catastral
values and subsequently IBI bills. Whereas requests for the removal of MASAs old facilities on Sectors B and C and the provision of land for a football pitch were met with a certain degree of approval, that of meeting previous undertakings made by Francisco Garca Mndez regarding the establishment of both a police station and interpreters at the health centre proved to be less successful. Website: www.cracamposol.com email: info@cracamposol.com
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FAST EMERGENCY HOME CHECK LIST Always have Spanish medical card / EHIC ready to hand over to the ambulance crew; its the rst thing they ask for. Have a typed or written list in block capitals, of current health conditions and drugs being taken. Have the drugs handy if possible. If there is a neighbour near, talk to them and agree a plan if there is ever a serious problem. Dont be shy; it can work both ways. How will you alert each other? Have a Hi Visibility Jacket or ashing light you can hang on your gate to help recognition. Try it out, where would you put it and is it visible easily? Who will unlock the gate? What will you do with your protective pet?? They need to be shut away to enable us to get to you as it is difcult giving First Aid with Fi the doting Heinz 57 Rottweiller stuck to our bottoms!
Check if you use a mobile that you can get a good signal without climbing the TV Aerial to make that important call. Think about any specic things that may be important for your location or circumstances and plan for it.
phone. Write your address down clearly so it can be easily spelt out, especially if it is a difcult one as there are some real tongue twisters out there, then keep it by the phone, right next to our number! Finally; we have had a number of people who did not call for help when they clearly needed it because they didnt want to bother people. The professionals and ourselves are here to help you at whatever time you need us, but we can only do that if you let us by calling 112 and then FAST on 968 970 626. Happy New Year from all at FAST (The rst and only successful service of its kind in Spain thanks to PALS and all of our supporters!)
All the above may be simple and done quickly but in a difcult situation things can be tricky so practice makes perfect! So with all the plans in place, if something then happens....... CALL 112 and ask for English speaking operator. Give address and landmarks if you are in a difcult to nd area, say with no street name. Call FAST ON 968 Give same 970 626. information as soon as you have nished the 112 call. In both cases up until the repeated by on the other dont hang address is the person end of the The chapel of San Antn, located in San Isidro, Puerto de Mazarrn, has hosted the blessing of the animals which takes place every year to celebrate the feast of San Antn.
At 5.30pm the garden of this popular neighborhood was lled with people wishing to have their pets blessed on this special day. The ceremony was ofciated by the priest of the Church of San Jos, Justo Sanchez, who blessed the pets. There were delicious rolls of San Anton that the women of the San isidro District cooked and distributed for free among the attendees. Among the animals blessed were a large number of dogs, many turtles and birds of various species.
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Processionary Caterpillars Yes, its that time of year again. These little pests, virtually unknown in Britain, are a problem throughout the whole Mediterranean Region. They live in Pine trees, feeding by night and spending the day sheltering in white candy-oss like nests they build in the trees. Each nest could hold 100 caterpillars.
which will probably require medical treatment. People with medical conditions, such as asthma, are particularly at risk. Whilst they are feeding, apart from the odd one that falls out of a tree, there should not be much risk. The problem comes when it is time for them to leave the trees and nd some soft ground to bury themselves. When this happens, they gather together en masse, forming a long line, from which they get their name. Dogs have been known to attack these lines, sometimes with serious consequences. Traditionally in this part of the world, that happens in February. Last year our group spent a 2 week period in January, removing as many nests as possible, doing our best to rid Camposol A of the problem. This year is proving to be more difcult, with some nests forming early, there seem to be more of them, and we have fewer volunteers to work on the problem. The brave people that are, report that some of the caterpillars have started to march already (early January) whilst some nests are only just beginning to form, which would indicate that the problem might continue for longer than usual. We are doing the best that we can, concentrating only on the main walking areas, but again advise that you keep
away from pine tree areas for a while, and try to keep your pets away too. Christmas Plants. We were gifted a few of the traditional red leafed poinsettia plants to brighten up the Christmas period, which we planted into decorative pots and placed in Parque Los Palacios to provide a small festive splash of colour. Unfortunately our festive gesture did not survive the full Christmas period, as all the pots and plants were stolen on the rst market day! Council Workers. I am pleased to report that the council workers have continued to work into the New Year and that they have already made repairs to the pathways in the park opposite the Health Centre. Our volunteers continue the project of planting and gravel laying around the edge of this park. We expect that soon this will be yet another pleasant area to visit. The council are concentrating on repairs. Our group is dedicated to improvement, so we still need more volunteers to help. Please join us in 2012.
Most of the year they are not a problem, but as the caterpillars develop, they become covered in tiny little hairs, similar to those on a nettle leaf, with similar properties. It is then very advisable to stay away from them! Most people coming into contact with one of these caterpillars will suffer little more than a nettle rash, but some could suffer an allergic reaction,
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New Years Day Splash for MABS Mazarrn
trepid four. The dippers werent just in the water and out again, they swam a fair way out to sea before returning to the shore. I thought we were going to reach Africa joked Julie. Sponsorship money is almost all in now and the Market Tavern has raised over 830. We are absolutely delighted that Julie and her team have been so supportive; without people like them, we couldnt carry on with our work and we thank them all for giving up their free time to help us. MABS Mazarrn Co-ordinator, Zue Burgess, said. Local businesses are very supportive and the next MABS fundraising event is the Fun Night at the Alley Palais on Camposol, Sector B, when Terri will have all her head shaved to raise funds for us shes a very brave lady! Tickets are available from Alley Palais or you can call the MABS Enquiry Line: 620 582 418
MAKE 2012 A POSITIVE YEAR WITH WOMEN OF FIRE WOMEN OF FIRE had their very successful Christmas lunch at Stan and Ollies in Guardamar with 30 ladies attending. Not only did they enjoy some great Christmas food, they were entertained by one of their members, Janet Francis of Fab Cattery, who became their Fairy Godmother for the day, granting them their wishes for 2012. They also enjoyed a fun singalong to 12 Days of Christmas. This wonderful lunch was free to members.
Pink tutus were very much in evidence on the beach at Puerto Mazarrn on New Years Day; Julie, Tracy, Freddie and Chris from the Market Tavern bravely turned out for a sponsored splash in the Med to raise funds for MABS Mazarrn. We want to raise money for a cancer charity remarked Julie and we know what great work that MABS Mazarrn does in this area. They came up with the crazy idea of going for a swim on New Years Day a couple of months ago, so they had no idea what the weather would be like. Fortunately, the sun shone and it was a gorgeous day, with more than 80 people, including volunteers from MABS Mazarrn, turning out to support the in-
MABS Mazarrn is a registered charity (No. 7261) offering help and support to local people of all nationalities who have been diagnosed with or are being treated for cancer. If you or someone you know would like some condential help or support call our HELPLINE620 422 410 or visit their website: www. mabsmurcia.com Photographer: Keith Thompson
We are now in 2012 and what a positive year it is going to be for all of us, WOMEN OF FIRE are celebrating their First Anniversary, so all those ladies out there who are Women of Fire are invited to their anniversary lunch on Friday 27th January at Lets Eat Restaurant in Benimar. Whilst you are meeting and networking and enjoying ne dining, you will be entertained by Dolce Vita Stefanie is one of their members so they do their best to support their ladies. WOMEN OF FIRE is a non-prot making ladies networking group that meet on the last Friday of the month at different venues. At a lunch you may nd many things .. new customers, the answer to that business problem or work issue that you have been worrying about, or simply enjoy a great lunch in nice surroundings with like-minded people who could become your friends. You may nd that inspiration you are looking for, improve your client base, or hear of a fabulous business or job opportunity that is just right for you. WOMEN OF FIRE are looking forward to meeting all you ladies who are either working, running your own business, thinking of setting up a business or even wanting to meet and make new friends over ne dining. If you would like to know more about Women of Fire, please look on the website www.womenofre.org contact Christine on christine@womenofre.org or even telephone 966 795 103.
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February is here and havent we had a mild winter so far! Regular readers will know we have a pond with goldsh. In previous years they seem to sink to the bottom and are inactive until spring, but this year they have been feeding everyday just like the summer! The turtles have slowed down and are rarely seen. RAINBOW SATELLITES have been trading down here in this part of Spain for well over 10 years now and during that time we have never taken more than a weeks holiday; several times a year but only a week at most. Well, in March we are going to take a three week break! Just letting you all know that we will not be site-visiting or installing during the rst three weeks of March, so if you want us, get it sorted in February! We are arranging some cover for emergencies, so you can call or preferably email us during this time, but we will NOT be around! TV NEWS All you FORMULA I racing addicts without SKY SPORTS will have been disappointed to hear that half the races have gone to SKY on the pay system. There will still be some free on BBC, but some will not. If you dont want to pay for SKY SPORTS, then you can watch all the races on Spanish TV for FREE - Antenna 3 will be screening. The commentary will be in Spanish, but we can
even get round that as BBC Radio 5 Live will be covering all the races; so Spanish TV pictures and UK radio commentary! Not got your Spanish TV in place, then contact us to install! It neednt be expensive and you never know it may improve your language skills! REAL TV has launched at long last. For those of you who did not read my initial piece on this, its satellite based more channels than FREESAT (be most of the extras hardly watchable!), but with the addition of being able to add an entertainment pack from SKY or a Sports pack from SKY with subscription. The entertainment pack is a years subscription, but the sports pack can be added by the month, so if you are interested in a particular seasonal sport, only you can add the coverage just for the months you want. You sports fanatics that come over here for holidays and bring your SKY box and card with you, can now consider REAL TV and just add the sports when here. The basic TV pack with all mainstream channels is subscription-free, but you must have a REAL TV digibox. There are two types available; a basic or a PLUS recording. We have not yet had a chance to test either, but hope to do so soon - watch this space. One big advantage would seem to be that all the channels ordering etc, is done via computer online so no talking to
SKY-type operators pretending we are in the UK! Spring is coming our way and house sales seem to be on the move. We are getting a few more new installs than this time last year, so maybe the Brits are on their way back. Just remember, if you are considering a purchase, to get UK TV down here requires a HUGE satellite dish that may not be a possibility on some properties. If UK TV is going to be important to you (and the winter nights ARE long, cold and dark down here!), then get us to survey the property for a dish before you make the nal decision to buy. It may be too late once you have bought it. There will be a newsletter for March, but remember we will be away for the rst 3 weeks and maybe for April we will write a brief summary of our break. Article sponsored by RAINBOW SATELLITES, the company for all your TV needs in the Murcia region of Spain. Contact Alan or Matt for free friendly advise by email rainbowsats@gmail.com or call (0034) 686 358 475. Our website www. rainbowsats.org gives some good basic information and remember, we sponsor the TRUDY ANN Sunday afternoon show on Costa Clida Radio.
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ALEDO Aledo is a quite spectacular sight from many points in the valley in which the small town of Totana is situated. Up in the Sierra Espua and beyond Totana, you can see what looks like a castle stuck out on the end of a ridge, with other buildings surrounding it away from the seemingly precipitous drop at the end. This is the small town (or large village) of Aledo. Aledo looks as if it ought to be worth a visit and it certainly is, though you will be hard pressed to spend more than half a day there, if that. Even so, all this masks the enormous importance of the place in medieval times.
medieval times. From here, you climb up a good number of steps (it is a tower!) to the second oor with its ceiling high above you. This is an interesting area with many more displays and remarkable ancient grafti scratched into the north wall. There are representations of horses, archers and a tower. The two upper oors each have four brick vaulted chambers. From the top oor, you can even go out of a door onto a terrace on the open top of the tower which offers (unless you suffer badly from vertigo!) marvellous 360 views down into Aledo, to Totana, across to the Carrascoy Hills, and, of course, of the Sierra Espua. The local landmark of the Statue of Christ on a nearby hill can also be seen. Rain water used to be collected from this roof area and then drained to storage tanks lower down. A description of the tower in the second half of the 15th Century refers to a well with water; a rst oor used for the storage of arms; a second oor with an oven, a hand grinder and four grain storage areas; and a terrace with a hut for the sentries, rewood and stones for use should there be an attack. In medieval times, it appears that the tower was itself surrounded by a wall, with another wall then going around part of the town. There were seven subsidiary towers on these walls, especially on the least defended sides and, of course, at the narrow entry area at the other end of the ridge on which Aledo is sited. There was also a dry ditch to reinforce the defences. You can easily see remnants of the old walls as you walk through the old part of Aledo.
rule. Following the re-conquest of Granada in 1492 and the end of Moorish rule in Spain as a whole, A l e d o c e a s e d being on the front line, leading to a progressive usurpation by the lower lands (remember Aledo is at an altitude of around 2,000 feet) and Totana of the former towns importance. Its role as a fortied settlement with the stronghold of the Tower was quickly becoming superuous. Nevertheless, Totana had to wait until 1793 to assume its separate identity. Even at the height of its importance, in the mid 15th Century, Aledo was said to have a population of only 60 families, a gure which, by the end of the century had still not reached 100. Today, Aledo is in one sense but a shadow of its former self, despite its notable and very visible history. Most recent censuses, give the population of the Aledo district as just making the 1,000 mark, this being something of an improvement over previous years. Certainly, from the 19th Century onwards, there was considerable outmigration from the Aledo area to other more prosperous areas of Spain as well as to southern France. Today, the most notable activity is still agriculture, especially viticulture, although tourism is becoming increasingly important. Nevertheless, it is a fascinating place and well worth going to see. There is also one noted beauty spot nearby just off the road from Aledo to Lorca - a gorge in the rock, known as the estrecho. This gorge is remarkable in that, at times, you feel that you are actually in an elongated cave, with the narrow open top being totally hidden and the narrow sides very close together. You need to be well shod and capable of a rough walk if you want to visit the gorge. The tourist ofce in the tower, or the nearby town hall, will be able to give you further details and directions if you are interested. Part taken from Exploring Murcia A Guide to Totana, Alhama de Murcia, Aledo, Pliego and the Sierra Espua, by Clive and Rosie Palmer which is available from www.lulu.com or contact clive. palmer5@btinternet.com Clive and Rosie Palmer have written several guide books on towns and regions in Murcia. Copies of some of the books may also be available from Cosas y Cosas, Cehegin and Best Wishes, Camposol Urbanizacin.
If you drive to Aledo, you may want to park on the outskirts, very soon after turning off the main road. The road into the town progressively narrows and there can be severe parking problems if you go too far. As you walk toward the old centre of Aledo, very narrow streets go off to the left and the right. Soon, however, you reach the end of the ridge with its fortications. It is here that you fully appreciate just how strong a defensive position the geography made Aledo. The land falls away precipitously from the edge of the ridge and the sturdy metal fence that has been put around the edge to prevent accidents is very necessary! You continue the nal few yards up the incline to the Church and tower where there is a small town square also housing the post ofce (correos) and the town hall. The the buildings hereabouts is the large stone tower at the end of the ridge on which Aledo is built. In recent years it has been quite superbly restored for visitors. There is a small entrance fee. The ground oor is divided into two domed chambers by a dividing wall, along one side of which stairs lead to the next oor. The ground oor also houses the local tourist ofce. On the next oor, there are displays and information about Aledo in most prominent of
The origins of the remarkable tower are in the times of the Moors. However, in 1088, Christian knights took the town and tower with unsuccessful, lengthy sieges following by the Moors in an attempt to recapture it. Its taking by the Christians, and retention for a number of years, hit the headlines throughout the Arab world, where it was regarded as a scandalous occurrence. However, this was a frontier land and there were many skirmishes in the ensuing years before the Christians temporarily abandoned the area during a Moorish offensive. This is not really surprising, for, with Aledo being a Christian wedge, constant struggles between the Christians and Moors were only to be expected. It was only after the Treaty of Alcaraz in 1243, when the Moorish Emirate of Murcia was nally taken under the Crown of Castile that Aledo again came under Christian
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The letter should never be confused with the letter N, under any circumstances. We foreigners are inclined to think of as simply N with a squiggle on the top, but it is in fact a completely separate letter with a distinct sound and which therefore creates completely different words. The is unique to Spanish and is often regarded as a symbol of Spanishness. I have always been amazed at how easily the Spanish have let go of some of its other characteristic symbols in order to comply with the rest of the world, such as the peseta and those great old car number plates which told you where the driver came from. However, the attitude to the has been completely different. There was little short of public outrage when some shining light in the computer world proposed that the should be removed from computer keyboards, to be replaced by a combination of the two letters ny. This might have facilitated trade and world relations from every angle, but there was no way the Spanish would countenance the move and it was abandoned. Despite this historic victory, until very recently is has not been possible to use the in email and website addresses. However, with even more pressure and lobbying, this has also now been resolved. I used to listen to a radio programme containing the word maana and I always felt rather sorry for the presenters as they read their email address to listeners with the banal sounding manana. It felt as though they had been robbed of their dignity in some way. The whole row about the has really coincided in recent years with a recognition of the importance of the Spanish language on the
world stage, so well done them for sticking to their guns, thats what I say! Perhaps this little summary gives you more of an idea as to why the is important, quite apart from the fact that if you get it wrong, you are liable not to be understood, or to be saying something quite different. Not only that, but there are many Spanish names containing the letter, such as the rst name Iigo and the surname Nuez, and you know how fussy people are about their names. It is quite uncommon for a word to start with the letter in Spanish, but out of curiosity I have found a few for you. They are not the most useful words youll ever learn. and means rhea which is a South American ostrich, ato means at-nosed, oo means simple, timid or insecure and u is gnu. If you have ever seen the words am am in a cartoon bubble, it means, and rather sounds like yum, yum, which also happens to be the name of a fast food outlet. According to my dictionary quite a number of words are South American, although Ive no idea why that should be. Apparently over there ao means spoilt or pampered, ata means nose and eque means strong. Ive just noticed that uco means a dehorned animal in Andalucia. The mind boggles. So much for words beginning with , but of course the letter is far more common in the middle of a word, so it seems rather more fruitful to nd some of these examples, and I have concentrated on cases where we might get our and our N confused. Cuna for example means cot or cradle, but cua means a wedge or slot. Cua is also the word used for a space
of radio or TV advertising. Pia means pineapple, whereas pino means pine. Maa means skill or ingenuity, whereas man means manna and mano means hand. Campaa means campaign, whilst campana means bell. Then we have the popular confusion between ao and ano. The rst one means year and is used when we talk about someones age. How old are you? is Cuntos aos tienes? (How many years do you have?), which doesnt sound quite right in English, but perfectly okay in Spanish. Ano on the other hand means anus (I thought Id come right out and say it). I couldnt count the number of times I have told my students not to ask people Cuntos anos tienes? or to congratulate their Spanish friends with Feliz cumpleanos instead of Feliz compleaos, the latter meaning Happy Birthday, and the former something quite untranslatable! Nobody ever listens to me of course until they embarrass themselves in public, which serves them right as far as Im concerned. And so to a couple of sayings with words that contain the letter . Las malas compaas son como la fruta podrida which means bad company is like rotten fruit, presumably because the rot can spread, and not just because it smells. Heres another one which is extremely popular: El mundo es un pauelo - The world is a handkerchief which is the Spanish way of saying Its a small world - something we Brits notice all the time when we meet people from just down the road from our Aunty Mauds sweetshop in Northupsville. You see, I do listen to people! Jane Cronin, Spanish classes and talks. www.janecronin.eu Tel: 968 18 32 58 As there are so few words beginning with , the Wordsearch on page 70 has words containing the letter .
Well its St Valentines Day on February 14th and that time of year when you remind your loved one you care. With times being hard, expensive gifts may be out, so why not make an impression by organising something special at a low cost. Just like
the advert on TV shows, you can have a great time without breaking the bank. Run the bath, light the candles and sprinkle some petals or bubbles for that romantic effect. How about breakfast in bed with a little note on how you care, rather than buying an expensive card and meal? There are many ways to pamper your loved one without spending a fortune. If you are lacking inspiration, then ask a friend for advice, or talk to the staff at Janes Salon
where they could tailor-make a plan or suggest a low-cost package of pampering to give your special someone. His and hers massage is only 20 when you bring this article (selected staff for any of our offers mentioned with article only). On a more adventurous note, you could make a stop at the beach with a picnic or have a tapas lunch at the salon free when you have 2 full body massages. Fashion jewellery is also available from only 2 to add a gift to the occasion without costing a fortune. New Year - New You courses now available to help you get in shape, give you condence with knowledge of health and anatomy to start 2012 with a bang. Talk to Jane personally.
10 uses for a Lemon around the Home The acidity of lemons means that theyre packed full of cleaning power, with the added advantage that theyre free from the chemicals contained in most household cleaning products. Next time you experience one of the following household emergencies, make the fruit bowl your rst port of call! Here in Spain, lemons are so cheap and many of us have a perpetual lemon tree in our gardens, so why not make the most of them? Problem Pans Clean queens Kim and Aggie suggest using lemons to clean copper and brass. Simply take half a lemon, dip it in some salt and get rubbing! The acid within the lemon dissolves the tarnish whilst the salt scrubs away tougher stains. Wooden Wonder Lemon juice can work wonders on wood and many commercial wood polishes contain something called d-limonene, which is extracted from lemons and is especially effective at dissolving grease, so its ideal for wiping away ngerprints and other oily stains. Simply make up a solution of two parts olive oil and one part lemon juice, then dab a rag into the liquid and get polishing. You will be surprised at the results! Skin Saver Do you suffer from dry patches on your elbows? Simply take half a lemon, sprinkle on some baking soda and twist your elbow into the lemon. Give your elbow a quick rinse and you will have super soft skin! Rubbing a slice of lemon on your hands after preparing heavily scented foods such
as curry, garlic, sh or onion will neutralise odours, whilst the vitamin C will help to soften skin. Dirty Dishes? If youre cutting up a lemon, dont throw the leftover sections away. Place them in the dishwasher to give your crockery extra shine and banish any nasty smells. The astringent qualities of lemon also help to cut through grease, which is why its the main ingredient in so many washing up liquids.
suggest using the pithy side of a lemon to shine black and dark brown shoes. The citrus scent will work wonders when it comes to masking sweaty foot odour, too! Rust Removal Rust stains can be a nightmare to remove, but when it comes to rust marks on clothing, a slice of lemon might just save the day. Simply rub the stain with a lemon slice before washing as usual. Ant Eliminator Insects hate the acid within lemon peel, and here in Spain you may well be suffering from a creepy crawly infestation, a few strips could be just the thing to keep bugs at bay. Simply place a few strips of lemon peel near the area in question. The secret of this tip lies in the presence of d-limonene with the peel, which is a natural insect repellent. Bacteria Buster Lemon juice has natural anti-bacterial properties, which means its an ideal disinfectant. Rubbing a slice of lemon on a chopping board wont just help get rid of bacteria but will also fade patches of discolouration and neutralise strong smells. It can also work wonders on graters and other hard-to-clean kitchen utensils. Lemon and Lime Scale The citric acid in lemons can help break down lime scale deposits. Use a slice of lemon to wipe down bathroom taps, or for a deeper clean, use a piece of string to hold a couple of slices of lemon around the base of your taps and remove after an hour, then wipe down for super shiny taps.
Messy Microwaves The average microwave oven can quickly take on a resemblance to some kind of crime scene if left neglected. To help loosen burnt-on stains, place a chopped lemon in a bowl of hot water and switch the microwave onto full power for three minutes. Afterwards, youll be able to wipe away those hard-to-remove stains with ease, and your microwave will smell much better! Stained Shoes All out of shoe polish? Kim and Aggie
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Pamper Parties for Ladies Relax Rejuvenate Unwind Now that the Christmas and New Years festivities are over, why not enjoy a day of pampering in your own home with a few friends to help you recover. You could have a destressing massage, or a relaxing facial to restore the moisture levels in your skin, or maybe a manicure to treat your hands after all that washing up! Try Shellac on your nger nails for a long-lasting manicure, or choose from any of the other treatments listed on my website www.fabbeautywithlorraine. moonfruit.com While your guests are waiting for their treatments, they can have a Tarot Card or Palm Reading with Sue nd out what the New Year holds for you.
As the host you will receive discount on your own treatments, depending on the number of treatments being given on the day more details on the website, or give me a call - 676545436 SPECIAL OFFER FOR CHRONICLE READ- On January 14th, 45 members travelled by coach to Viveros Hoya near Torre Pacheco. We ERS DURING February and March 2012 were given two very interesting demonstrations St Valentines Day 14th February and of tree pruning, one of fruit trees, and the second of jacarandas and other leafy trees Mothers Day 18th March which are grown for shade. These included full If you would like to book a beauty treatment explanations of grafting, appropriate timing for either of the above occasions, call me and of pruning, the difference between shaping a quote the code CVMD and you will receive decorative fruit tree for the domestic garden 20% discount on the cost of ALL treatments. and that needed for commercial fruit growing. If you want to surprise someone, I can Members had many questions regarding supply you with a personalised gift planting, watering, pests etc. all of which were voucher for any amount, or for specic answered fully, with translation as needed. treatments. Please give me a call to discuss on 676545436 The third demo was the propagation of bedding and border plants, again with a most interesting commentary.
Everyone was able to investigate the very extensive greenhouses and the hold of the coach was eventually lled with a wide variety of plant purchases. There were very many plants which are not generally available locally. We then drove into Los Alcazares for lunch then back onto the coach where three lucky members won rafe prizes The outing was voted a great success and we are now looking forward to our next meeting on February 11th. The Darwinian Gardeners is a group of amateur gardeners who get together once a month for visits, demonstrations and talks related to gardening in the Mazarrn area. Our aim is to socialise and learn something, and we usually follow our meetings by lunching together. Future Events: February 11th 11:30am Talk on plant propagation by Andrew Brown at the Puente Restaurant in La Majada, with members question and answer session followed by lunch. Plant sales, rafe, and plant and seed swaps March 3rd 11:00am, Nature ramble in the lower slopes of the Sierra Las Moreras guided by Spanish naturalist followed by lunch at La Siena Restaurant in Mazarron. April 14th 2:0- 5:00pm Garden Party at Cortijo Raja Refreshments, sales. demos .
Morata.
May 5th Visit to Elche, Huerta del Cura and Museum. Coach picking up in Puerto de Mazarrn, 9:30am and Camposol 9:45am, 10. June 16th Barbecue/paella lunch at Joses nursery in La Majada. Tour of greenhouses and plant sales. email: darwiniangardeners@gmail.com or phone 669 338 885 for further details or to book outings.
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The 2012 S u m m e r O l y m p i c Games, ofcially known as the Games of the XXX Olympiad or London 2012 Olympic Games are scheduled to take place in London, from 27 July to 12 August 2012. London will become the rst city to ofcially host the modern Olympic Games three times, having previously done so in 1908 and in 1948. There was a huge demand for tickets as 20 million tickets were bought by 1.8 million people. Many athletes and ex-Olympians questioned the way the tickets were sold, with Triple Olympic Champion Bradley Wiggins labelling the process a shambles. However, Lord Coe and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) insisted that the process was fair, and that there was no perfect system. Free tickets were given to military personnel and children were invited to win tickets. Free tickets were also given to the survivors and families of those who died during 7 July 2005 London bombings.
et Ground, The O2 Arena, Earls Court Exhibition Centre, Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, and the Excel Centre. There will be a mixture of new venues, existing and historic facilities, and temporary facilities, some of them in well-known locations such as Hyde Park and Horse Guards Parade. Some of the new facilities will be reused in their Olympic form, while others, will be resized or relocated. The majority of venues have been divided into three zones within Greater London: the Olympic Zone, the River Zone and the Central Zone. In addition to these are those venues that, by necessity, are outside the boundaries of Greater London, such as the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy on the Isle of Portland in Dorset, which will host the sailing events. The football tournament will be staged at several grounds around the UK. The athletes village in Portland was completed in September 2011. Concerns have been expressed at the logistics of spectators traveling to the events scheduled for outside of London. In particular, the sailing events at Portland are in an area with no direct motorway connection, and with local roads that are heavily congested by existing tourist trafc in the summer. However the Weymouth area did undergo a major upgrade on its road infrastructure with a 77 million relief road connecting Weymouth to Dorchester being opened in 2011. The costs for staging the 2012 Olympic Games (2 billion) has been funded by the private sector by a combination of sponsorship, merchandising, ticketing and broadcast rights. This budget is raised and managed by the London 2012 Organising Committee. According to Games organisers, the funding for this budget broadly breaks down as: 64% from Central Government; 23% from National Lottery 13% from the Mayor of London and the London Development Agency Some representatives of countries which are majority Muslim have complained that the 2012 Olympic Games will take place during the month of Ramadan, which in 2012 occurs from 20 July to 19 August. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, which may put Muslim athletes at a disadvantage during the games. The security for the Olympics has always been a priority and the British government announced in December 2011 that 13,500 members of the armed forces will be in place, as well as 10,000 police. Naval and air assets, including ships will be situated in the Thames, Euroghter jets and surface-to-air missiles will also be de-
ployed as part of the security operation. The cost of security will come to 553m pounds. This will be the biggest security operation Britain has faced for decades. The Royal Mint will produce around 4,700 medals for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The medals are 7mm thick and weigh between 375-400g and are designed by David Watkins.
Each medal will have the sport and the discipline engraved on the rim and will have the Greek goddess of victory, Nike, stepping from Parthenon on one side with the Games logo, and a ribbon depicting the River Thames with a grid symbolising pulling together and radiating energy on the reverse side. The medals will have a purple ribbon attached to them which symbolises Royalty and protocol. The Royal Mail has announced that it will produce special stamps celebrating every gold medal won by a British athlete.
A digital clock, located in Trafalgar Square, commenced a countdown to the opening ceremony on 14 March 2011. However, less than 24 hours after it was switched on, it suffered a technical failure, and stopped. It has since been repaired. The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games prompted a redevelopment of many of the areas of London in which the games are to be held. The Games will make use of many venues which were already in place before the bid, including Wembley Stadium, Wembley Arena, Wimbledon All England Club, Lords Crick-
145 nations have qualied at least one athlete. The 2012 Summer Olympic programme features 26 sports and a total of 39 disciplines. The 2012 Paralympic Games programme has 20 sports and 21 disciplines. There are various sites on the Internet to nd out more details of venues and the ofcial programme for the Olympics.
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Age Concern has its Christmas functions 55 people packed into the Avenida Restaurant on the Paseo in Puerto de Mazarrn for a Menu del Dia on 30th November - salad, a choice of chicken or sea bass for main course, with a selection of sweets and coffee. Zoe Barnes provided a tuneful cabaret, entertainment which hit all the right notes! These monthly outings on the last Wednesday of the month are rapidly becoming booked out, which at 10 is understandable.. The next one is on the 25th January at the Da fu Hau in Puerto de Mazarrn with Christine providing the entertainment. Saturday 3rd December saw an excellent Christmas Fair in Puerto de Mazarrn. For the second year it was at Lagarto Verde
on the Via Axial. Nearly 400 visitors piled through the doors to be greeted by Santa and 36 stalls full of goodies. The choir of St Nicholas Church provided a highlight for an hour at noon, with a mixture of Christmas carols and songs. It certainly proved that there is room at the inn, or rather room in Mazarrn for more than one fair. A rafe prize of 75 worth of meat from Peter the English Butcher on Camposol A proved a popular prize draw and was won by a couple from Puerto de Mazarrn. There was a great selection of merchandise, even including next years calendars by Mark Stocks! The weather was cold but bright, which considering the downpour the previous night was nothing short of miraculous.
A bus full of passengers on Monday 12th December visited Murcia for Christmas shopping at the two big condominiums in the city. Given how cheap this can be, 10 a ticket, perhaps the charities could get together and turn this into a regular event. Certainly the sales after Christmas beckon here and in Cartagena. Age Concern runs a free monthly social at the Cultural Centre, Los Palacios, Camposol B 1.30-3.30pm on the rst Wednesday in the month. The Christmas one was held on the 14th December and started at noon. It was a highly successful venture, with Age Concerns own Land Girls, Maggie and Co, hitting the high spots in a short, denitely ever so slightly risqu panto, all in the best taste of course. Everyone brought some food, and with wine and hot drinks on tap, a convivial atmosphere was soon very apparent. A Christmas Quiz was followed by the new choir which has recently formed, singing Christmas carols and songs, including many old favourites. Unless you are a bar person, there are few opportunities to socialize on Camposol and these socials are proving increasingly popular. Tickets are available on a Wednesday morning at the Cultural Centre, Los Palocios, Camposol B, or Friday mornings outside Salud Bar on Sector B. In the New Year it is hoped to introduce further sales points including one in Puerto de Mazarrn. Rod Sawyer
The Salons St Valentines Day Pamper Packages Why not spoil the one you love by buying a special Pamper Package for her? These Pamper Packages are available all year, but what better present for St Valentines? No1 Full body massage & Shellac manicure 25 1 hour 3/4 No2 Mini-manicure, mini-pedicure, mini-facial & back & shoulder massage 30 2 hours No3 Shellac manicure, specialised Collagen facial & Aromatherapy full body massage 45 2 1/2 hours No4 Parafn wax hands & feet treatment inc mini massage, full body massage & wash, cut & blow dry 40 2 hours No5 Specialised collagen facial, Shellac manicure, pedicure, back & shoulder massage & cut & blow-dry 65 3 1/2 hours
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Translate the English words below into Spanish
Wordsearch
Suduko
Do-Able
Difcult
SLEEP TO DREAM TO ACCOMPANY TO SEASON LONG AGO ADDITION SPIDER BATH
CONSTIPATED FIREWOOD TOMORROW LITTLE FINGER BUN HANDKERCHIEF ROCK PINEAPPLE FIST DAGGER TO SCOLD FILTHY
SMALL BEER RAVINE FROWN DESIGN
Answers on page 98
Monthly Quiz
February Quiz Questions on the January 2012 Costa Clida Chronicle
1. Who ts ue less gas res? 2. What does Philip Dawe offer you? 3. Who had their rst walk on the 11th of January? 4. Who claims to have the 5. best prices in town? When is paramount studios theme park expected to start being built? Who held sales of sales last month? Who claims to provide the The best service at the best price? 8. What do Colin and Mark offer you? 9. Who wrote the Horse Whisperer? 10. The next production by Cloud Nine Drama is?
6. 7.
5 or contact Teresa 619 199 407 To place an advertisement with us please see page 98 or contact Brian 628 606 740
Time Flies Should I meet Albert Einstein in the afterlife, Id really like to know why time seems to pass much more quickly as you get older. When I was a child, the summers seemed endless as we roamed around the riverbank in Irlam catching sticklebacks! Fast forward 40 years to my boys childhood and time seems to be moving rather more rapidly and I only have to blink to nd that the children are another year older. Maybe the confusion has something to do with the strange numerical system used in the Edmiston household? When the kids were younger, Id try and encourage them to tidy up & clean their rooms by saying
Come on Cameron, youre old enough to do this now, after all youre nearly 11! Mum, Im not nine until next May Well, thats nearly 11 pick that mess up! The trouble is that the tables have now been turned. Cameron recently wanted a game for the Wii that was a certicate 15. Come on Mum, Im nearly 15! No way, youre not even 12 yet. Thats impossible. 3 years ago I was nearly 11! Oh well, serves me right I suppose. Its a tough age to be; no longer a child but not yet a teenager. Cameron professes not
to like girls, but wishes Pixie Lott was in his class (so do the Dads probably!) and although at times he seems really grown up, he can still be tempted by his younger brother to play with the massive box of Lego in a heartbeat. Liz Edmiston runs OwnersAway Property Rentals & Management offering a full range of services to property owners on the Costa Clda. Contact Liz on 691977107 or info@ownersaway.com for more information or visit the website www.ownersaway.com to view the full range of properties and services.
The Beauty Palace on Camposol B have Gift Vouchers and Packages available for your loved ones. Give her something special this St Valentines Day: Package one: Aloe Therapy (Detox and Inch-loss) Session, Mini Manicure & Wash & Blow-dry
Package two: Indian Head Massage, Conditioning Treatment & Blow-dry Other packages are available on request, or maybe you would prefer to design your own package. All packages include a glass of Bubbly and a Rose. We will even print your loved
ones name on her Rose (Name must be supplied at time of purchasing the voucher) Call 968 971 828 for details or call into The Beauty Palace on Camposol B Commercial Centre.
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Another Year of H a r d Work and Success Thanks to the hard work of all our volunteers (all unpaid) and the generosity of local people in the Mazarrn a n d Camposol area. 2011 has been a good year for MAMAS. We managed to raise sufcient funds to be able to help with all the requests for help with animals that we received, which meant that no-one was turned away without assistance. In the last month alone we helped with cats Bonnie and Millie and dogs Winston, Tilly, Chico and Muttley along with many others.
Can we help you and your pet? Have you provided a home for an animal from a rescue centre or shelter for a stray dog or cat? Are you worried about the patter of tiny paws in the future (if not at your house maybe at your neighbours?) We are here to help you. We can provide nancial assistance towards the cost of spaying or castrating your new pet and also with those unexpected vet bills, if funds are available. Please contact us if you need help:Tel 666 186 037 or call at the shop Email mazarronanimalmedi-aid@ hotmail.com To do this we need your donations and would be grateful for any items such as clothes, bric-a-brac, furniture and white goods. You can donate at the shop, MonSat 10.00-2.00pm. (Take the third left after Barclays Bank on your way into Puerto de Mazarrn) Dont Forget our Drop-Off Point Every Tuesday we are on Camposol B Sector car park 10.00-1.00pm, opposite the petrol station. We will take any saleable items no matter how large or small, you might not need it but we can sell it to raise money in order to help other people with the medical expenses for their cats and dogs Turn Your Unwanted Furniture Into Cash If you have large items of furniture that are no longer needed why not try selling them on our 50/50 scheme? We will collect the items from your house (free of charge) and display them in the shop until sold. You will then receive 50% of the selling price with the remainder going to the charity. Helping You Helping Animals Email mazarronanimalmedi-aid@ hotmail.com
St Nicholas Ecumenical Church Calle Sobrija 2248 Sector D20 Camposol By Rev Len Eaton MBE www.stnicholaschurchspain.com This time last year there was great excitement in our Church. We had just put a holding deposit on the house which has since become a permanent home of the Church here in Camposol. I am sure you all know the alterations from house to Church were completed speedily and we held our rst service there on Easter Sunday. This year Easter Day is 8th April when we hope to hold a celebratory lunch for the Church congregation after the service. The move to the new premises and the purchase of the same has caused us to look ahead and a group of the Church Council have been beavering away formulating the way ahead for the next ve years. All will be revealed at our Annual General Meeting on February 22nd which will be preceded by an Ash Wednesday service at 10.00am. The ve year plan, as we call it, is to give us some rm and demanding goals to aim for as we strive, as always, to serve the Lord and to spread His Word in Camposol and the surrounding area. Ours is an Ecumenical Ministry and Christians of all Denominations and Nationalities are welcome to join us in Worship and fellowship. It is governed by elected Church Members following the Constitution and is chaired by the Minister in Charge. Services for February 2012 Sunday 5th Songs of Praise 10.30am Sunday 12th Holy Communion 10.30am German Service 4.00pm Sunday 19th Morning Prayer 10.30am Wednesday 22nd Ash Wednesday 10.00am Sunday 26th Holy Communion 10.30am German Service 4.00pm All services take place at Calle Sobrija 2248, D20 Camposol, where a warm welcome awaits you. Services offered by the Church are Wedding Blessings, Holy Baptism, Conrmation and Funerals. We have a Pastoral Service throughout the year; people who listen and talk and are there to help anyone who is sick or in need. The Pastoral care is absolutely condential. For any of the Church Services offered, or other information, please call Rev Len Eaton on 968 138 952, Rev Deacon Maureen Kent on 636 099 679, or Rev Bro Konrad 679 927 268
Once thanks to everyone that has helped us and lets hope that we can keep up the good work in 2012.
On the Saturday before Christmas the walkers of WARM set off to have their special Christmas celebration on top of Cerro del Castellar, the mountain in Bullas. This has become an annual Christmas event and we all enjoyed some delicious homemade cake, mince pies and sausage rolls washed down by a few glasses of cava.
very pleased to welcome two special guests on this walk. The rst was an English man, aged 75 years old, who had never walked this distance before, but who managed to nish amongst the leaders. The second was a famous prize-winning Spanish author called Luis Leante. The weather was very kind to us and Tony found us a beautiful spot in the sun to have our lunch with fantastic views over the countryside of Moratalla and its surroundings. With many
thanks to Tony for a most enjoyable day. Our rst walk in January was on the 11th in Cehegn and then there at least two walks a month until June. If you are interested in joining a group of dedicated walkers who like to walk in the region of Murcia please contact warm2005@gmail.com for further information.
After the very fast descent we made our way to the local Chinese restaurant and enjoyed an excellent lunch.
Our post Christmas walk was on 29th December when we walked from the dam at La Risca to Casa de Cristo in Moratalla. This walk of 22 kilometres was ably led by Tony who obviously thought we needed to lose a few of the kilos we had gained over the previous weekend! As well as a couple of our Spanish friends we were also
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The wonderful weather we have been experiencing for weeks has now taken a turn for the worse, but no doubt the farmers and anyone with trees and plants will appreciate the wetter weather. The olive crop was not very good this year a lot of work and money for not a lot of return. The almond blossom is already beginning to show, which could be a bad thing if we are going to get colder weather with frost and snow. Gone are the days when buyers wanted acres of land with their houses. Most people now want a manageable garden with possibly a pool and even the Spanish are nding that the youngsters dont want to live in the campo with lots of trees to maintain. In some areas you still need to have 10 or 20,000 square metres of land before you are granted a licence to build, although in Moratalla, you only need 2,500 square metres much more sensible and it is good to see that there are still new houses being built in the huerta, rather than large groups of houses that look totally incongruous out of the town. If you are looking for a day out, why not visit Los Alcazares where you can nd some good shops such as Legs & Co and Big Breakfast Butcher. In San Javier you will nd DFS Furniture Store, just along the road from Iceland and if it is a new kitchen that you want, or you just want to update your old one, Kitchens Plus 1 are at San Pedro del Pinatar. The beaches along the Mar Menor are beautiful and we spent a lovely Sunday morning visiting the market at the Auto Cine in Los Alcazares and booked Sunday lunch at La Vista Caf/Bar. What an amazing setting this bar is with stunning views across the Mar Menor! We had the traditional Sunday Roast, which was one of the best we have ever had, with a good choice of starters, roast beef with all the trimmings and naughty but nice steamed pudding
and custard. Brilliant value at 9.95! We will certainly be taking our visitors there for a good day out. CEHEGN SCENE On the last Sunday of every month from October to June in the Plaza del Castillo the highest point in the old town of Cehegin (Casco Antiguo) there is a craft market known as El Mesoncico. There you will nd more than 50 craftsmen of the area with stalls displaying such products as cured meats, hams, pottery, cakes, wines, cheeses, etc. Each of the monthly markets has a different theme showing traditional and local crafts. You will be able to taste and enjoy the foods and products most typical to this area. On Sunday the 26th of February we are having the Craft Work. Lets remember the ancient craft work with demonstrations of wood turning, ceramic, wrought-iron, woven grass and enjoy the art of the spinners. Cehegin Council is providing free refreshment such as the typical Rin-ran and other things including good wine. All this is accompanied by a traditional group of musicians Animeros del Campillo de los Jimnez. Free parking is available at the Marble Technology Centre situated in Carretera Murcia, approached from the West. A free bus service is operated to the market place every 20 minutes. At the weekends from 26th February to 25th March is the 4th Tapas Route in Cehegn. This is organised by the Association of Restauranteurs and the Department of Tourism and involves bars, restaurants, pubs and cafs. From 1-5pm & 8-midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and 1-5pm and 8-11pm on Sundays, various bars and pubs will be involved in this event and each
establishment will serve a glass of beer or wine, together with a special tapas for only 2. There will be a free mini bus running along the route. You can obtain your special route card from either the Tourist Ofce, or one of the participating bars. There are prizes to be won if you complete your card, marking each bar from 1-5. The Carnival of the Northwest will be held from 18th to 25th February with many activities programmed during these days. Cehegn Carnival, El Carnaval del Noroeste, is the most famous of the entire Northwest region of Murcia and one of the most entertaining and patronised in the region of Murcia. Every year thousands of people participate in the parades and go to Cehegin to enjoy them. CAR BOOT SALE. A boot sale has been suggested for Cehegn on a lovely at site with plenty of room for stalls and parking. Stalls will be provided by the Town Hall free of charge for the trial run, which will take place in March. Anyone interested in booking a stall contact the Cehegn Tourist Ofce. All are welcome. Every weekend you can visit the Ecological Park opened to visitors from 10am6.00pm at weekends, everybody is welcome. For visits during the week however, a reservation is required by telephone to 696 775 783. If there are any further enquiries please contact the Cehegin Tourist Ofce at 968 723 550 or visit our tourist website www.turismocehegin.es Santiago Leo Cehegin Tourist Ofce Bullas The Bullas Wine Route is a denite for those who want to learn more about the traditions and industry of the local area. This route will take you through all the districts tourist attractions, not just those directly related to the wine industry. You will see the Wine Museum, many of the old and new bodegas, the extensive vineyards and many of the local monuments. Many of these are in the town of Bullas and it is amazing to see stunning buildings such as the baroque Church of Nuestra Seora del Rosario (18th century) and the D. Pepe Marsilla Bullas 1900 House and Museum. Much of this shows local life of the period. The Wine Route also takes you to Casa de los Melgares (Cultural Centre), the Clock Tower and colourful surroundings of the Plaza Vieja and Plaza del Castillo, along the natural landscapes such as the Salto del Usero waterfall and the spring at La Rafa. The town of Bullas of course is famous for its wines and the Medieval Market held on the rst Sunday of every month enables visitors to see many of the local food, wine and crafts.
MARA is overcrowded with animals at the moment having had ve German Shepherds abandoned and many more other dogs, the calls are now becoming daily and for that reason we have included the details of three boys in need of urgent homes. Connor is a pedigree Sharpei who was abandoned l a s t s u m m e r. He is very good with p e o p l e a very friendly boy but does not like cats. He is about 2 years old.
Max is a pedigree German Shepherd of about 18 months, a beautiful boy who is very obedient, v e r y friendly and will make a fantastic pet. He is willing to learn new commands all the
time. Butus is a pedigree German Shepherd of just under 1 year old; another friendly boy who would benet from someone willing to spend time training him. He is eager to please. For more information on any of these boys please ring Keith on 628811187/8 or Marion on 968979865.
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ROUTE. 8 The excursion PUERTO ALTO - CUERDA DE LA GITANA Discovering Moratalla season reached the nal.
when they are not eaten by herbivores. We passed along a strange place of cypresses where we could already see in la pirmide del Cerro de los Cocorotes. We arrived at a curve of the road and took a track where goats normally go. The landscape opens out and the horizon expands to the eld of Campo de San Juan, S del Buitre, S Espua, La Pila, with the middle province of Murcia at our feet.
Once again, good weather accompanied hikers while in the days before it was really windy. Port Alto was the start of the route that we had agreed with other hikers. We headed towards the rocky escarpments located east of Molata de Puerto Alto which is of great interest for its historical remains, the ruins of the ancient Portazgo de la Caada del Conejo and a few rock which were all that were left of a prehistoric village. We crossed an area of restocked with pines and passed some vegetation which is being controlled to learn how to evolve the plants
We arrived at an almost enclosed gulley, but here the walkers discovered a small stone wall showing evidence of human occupation for several thousands of years; the absence of any ceramic surface prevents the identication of any culture; we must wait for the visit of an archaeologist. We slowly continue the ascent and arrived at the mouth of a chasm where some hikers discovered how hot and humid air comes from the interior of the Earth. We nally reached CUERDA DE LA GITANA. The vegetation here is a little rocky and the ground dominates the landscape from the Jurassic Age. Strange pine mushroom (laricios de copa aplanada), stand out at this altitude. We are on the divide between the town of Moratalla
and Nerpio and the density of the pine f o r e s t radically c h a n g e s w h e r e the forest is much t h i c k e r. Wa l k i n g towards the Cerro de la Carrasca, are creeping junipers (Juniperus comunis). At a Cairn of stones, was a false Summit, we found a card in a plastic container left several years ago by a hiking group. We arrived at the desolate Summit at 1.856mtrs after having encountered a wild goat skull trapped in wire. The poor animal had obviously died of hunger after catching his horns in the treacherous wires.
We began the descent into Molata, the wind gone completely. We had to avoid large stones, before crossing an old wall one meter thick. In doing so, we saw the remains of a young male Ibex. To all those who have accompanied us we wish you a Happy New Year and to say that we are already preparing the new season when we will discover other corners of Moratalla and will return to some of those already visited.
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The Perfect Egg This month we look at eggs and no cooking article in Spain would be complete without the Spanish Tortilla which I have shown before, but well worth repeating, especially if you missed it. This recipe is slightly different, using aubergines which make a great change and a very healthy option. Eggs are healthy, full of protein, iron, vitamin A and D and they are also inexpensive. The yolk of an egg contains all the eggs fat, which is why anyone on a diet usually eats only the white. It also contains a good amount of protein, iron, vitamin A and D, choline and phosphorous. The white of the egg is an excellent source of riboavin, but also contains protein. To test the freshness of the egg simply place it in a tumbler of cold water. If the egg oats to the surface it is likely to be bad or even rotten. However, if it lies at in the bottom of the glass it is fresh, but beware; if it starts to tilt, it is becoming old. You can keep eggs in a fridge for up to a month and they should be stored in their original box as transferring them to an egg container on the fridge door can expose them to odour and damage. Also, never store them near strong smelling food like onions as they absorb odours very quickly. When eggs are stored at room temperature outside the fridge they lose more quality in one day than a week in the fridge. Aubergine Tortilla 700g aubergines bunch parsley 2 onions 2 tbsp olive oil Salt and pepper 6 eggs Wash and dice aubergines. Finely chop parsley and peel and dice onions. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large frying pan. Add onions and cook slowly for 5 minutes until transparent. Remove onions and add remaining oil and cook aubergine cubes for 5 minutes and season with salt and pepper.
Beat the eggs for two minutes, add onions to the aubergines and stir gently. Pour the egg evenly over the vegetables. Cook the tortilla on a very low heat for 5 minutes or until underneath is golden brown. Place a plate the size of the frying pan over the mixture and turn over, sliding the tortilla back into the frying pan to cook the other side. Slide onto a plate and sprinkle with parsley. Serve hot or cold. Eggs Benedict 4 slices of bread 8 slices of smoked salmon Salt 1-2 tbsp vinegar 4 eggs Hollandaise Sauce 100g butter 2 egg yolks 2-4 tsp lemon juice 2 tsp white vinegar Pinch cayenne pepper Salt and pepper To make the hollandaise sauce, take a large bowl, mix egg yolks, half the lemon juice and vinegar. Place over a pan of hot water which is just simmering. Beat mixture until frothy with a whisk. Add butter gradually and then add seasoning. As sauce thickens add the remaining lemon juice. Add vinegar to water and poach eggs in simmering water. Toast bread and cut into circles. Spread a small amount of hollandaise sauce on the toast and then lay 2 slices of smoked salmon on each slice. Carefully lift poached eggs out of water on lay on top of salmon. Pour remaining sauce on top of eggs. Vegetable Omelette 2 courgettes 1 small red pepper 1 small green pepper 3 shallots of small onions 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp cornour 4 tbsp milk
6 eggs Salt and pepper Grated nutmeg Trim and cut courgettes, peppers and onions into small cubes. Heat the oil and saut the onions and peppers for 5 minutes. Add the courgettes and saut for a further 2 minutes. Spoon mixture into an oven dish. Mix together the cornour with some of the milk to make a paste. Beat the eggs and the remaining milk and season. Pour over vegetables and sprinkle nutmeg on top. Bake in the centre of the oven for 30 minutes and then allow to cool. Egg Fried Rice 225g long grain rice 1 clove garlic 2 eggs 2 tbsp sunower oil 2 tbsp light soy sauce Cook the rice in a large saucepan of boiling salted water for 10 minutes. Drain, rinse with boiling water, then drain again and set aside. Beat the eggs and set aside. Heat oil in a non-stick wok or large frying pan. Crush garlic and stir-fry for 1 minute, add rice and cook for a further minute. Pour in eggs and stir fry for about 2 minutes or until eggs are almost set. Add Soy sauce to taste and salt and pepper. Serve while hot. Scrambled Eggs Whisk the eggs until frothy and season with salt and pepper (allow 2-3 eggs per person). Melt a teaspoon of butter in a saucepan. The best scrambled eggs are cooked slowly on a very low heat. For some reason I always nd that the best scrambled eggs are cooked stirred with a wooden spoon. Do not add milk to the mixture. Once the butter has melted, slide the whisked eggs into the pan and cook gently, stirring. Once the eggs are lightly set, remove from heat as they will continue to cook in the heat of the pan but you must stir until thickened. Serve immediately.
Flash those Baby Blues at your Valentine! By Yvonne Johnson of Beauty Essentials.
There are several ways to make the best of your eyes. The quickest and cheapest option is to have your eyebrows shaped. Shaping the brows can do more to improve the appearance than most other beauty treatments. This simple procedure lifts and opens up the eye area giving a more youthful appearance. For how the lashes; about semi-
permanent eyelash extensions? Single lashes are attached to your own individual lashes to give length and volume. The bond is designed to last until your lashes fall out naturally. See Beauty Essential advert for this months special offer. Another option is semi-permanent makeup (or cosmetic tattooing). Look and feel great from dawn till dusk with perfectly applied eyebrows, eye liner and lip colour. The procedure is professionally carried out at the Beauty Essentials Salon by June Hutchinson, who is fully qualied and has many years of experience. Next clinic dates - 2 February & 1 March.
www.olivebranchfellowship.com An Evangelical, lively and friendly place to discover the love of Jesus. Now I am not a soppy type of person; I dont cry at lms with sad endings and I dont like singing sentimental or romantic songs. Away in a Manger...yuck! I also nd it difcult to understand why some people dont know which way to turn a screw or saw in a straight line. we were taught to wire a plug in Primary School! Now I know we are all different; unique DNA probably has something to do with it, but there are times when we just dont understand why someone does what they do. It seems obvious to us that it was the wrong reaction or decision and yet our
friend or family member plunges into the abyss apparently oblivious to the likely disastrous results. In reality though, we all make a mess of things at times. None of us are perfect and we all need guidance and support in our lives, not because we are
useless, but because we are unskilled or inexperienced in certain situations. The book of Proverbs tells us that Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many counsellors bring success Proverbs 15 v 22 and People who accept correction are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore it will lead others astray Proverbs 10 v 17. This is all good advice and Proverbs is full of it. Take time to read it. Our Sunday morning service is at the Community Centre on Camposol B starts at 10.30am each week and offers a variety of music and styles, both traditional and modern. You are invited to join us.
Looking for a dining experience with a difference? Then look no further than Leonardos in Puerto de Mazarrn. You wont nd a pre-planned menu del dia of starter, main course and dessert here at Leonardos youll be offered plate after plate of home-made Sicilian food. No two days offer the same dishes, as the food changes depending on availability of the best quality seasonal produce, and remember their pizzas and bread are cooked on their wood burning oven and pasta is freshly prepared. On our most recent visit we enjoyed a salad and warm bread, meat and vegetables wrapped in atbread, bruchettas topped with various ingredients, meat and vegetables in breadcrumbs and deep fried, individual portions of lasagne and an aubergine and tomato bake with parmesan. There was more to come, but we only had room to nish with a caf con leche! A vegetarian selection of the above was available for the non-meat eaters amongst us. Inside Leonardos youll nd a warm and relaxing ambience with a cosy seating area where you can enjoy one of their delicious cocktails before you decide to choose from their menu del dia at 10, menu de degustacion at 18 or their a la carte menu. Theres also a covered seating area outside for those nice warm sunny days. Ideal for both an informal get together with friends, or a more intimate meal for two, Leonardos also cater for private parties and functions. If you havent discovered this little taste of Italy in the area, why not book now for St Valentines Night. A 4 course meal with a glass of Italian champagne on arrival as well as a glass of wine/beer or soft drink equivalent, is only 20 per person. Call 968 153 810 or 628 682 303 (English speaking) now for your reservation.
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The right of a person to live and work in Spain depends on their citizenship as follows: 1. European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) Citizens: All EU and EEA citizens and their family members have the right to live and work in Spain. However, if remaining in Spain longer than three months, a registration certicate as an EU resident is required. 2. Non-EU/EEA Spouse and Dependent Family Members: The legally registered partner and dependent family of an EU citizen in Spain are entitled to the same rights as an EU citizen to live in the country, however within three months of arrival, application must be made for an EU Family-member Residence Card (Tarjeta de Residencia de Familiar de Cuidadano de la Union). 3. Non-EU/EEA Citizens: Any nonEuropean Union citizen staying in Spain for a period longer than three months requires a Residence Card (Tarjeta de Residencia) residency permit. European Union Citizens Moving to Spain The EU Residence Card As of March 2007 EU citizens no longer require an EU Residence Card. EU citizens who already hold an EU Residence Card do not need to reregister until the card expires, at which point they should follow the process laid out below. Any EU citizen intending to stay in Spain for more than three months is obliged to register to be added to the Central Register of Foreign Nationals (Registro Central de Extranjeros) at a Foreigners Ofce (Ocina de Extranjero) or local police station (Policia Nacional) if there is no foreigners ofce in the area in which they intend to reside. A Registration Certicate as an EU Resident (Certicado de registro como residente comunitario) is issued. This document certies residence in Spain and includes the holders name, address, nationality, and foreigners tax identication number (Nmero de Identicacin de Extranjero - NIE) along with the date of registration. The following documents are required in order to apply for a Residency Certicate: Valid passport or national identity card Signed application form EX18 (Solicitud de certicado de registro de residencia comunitaria) Proof that payment has been made
(a bank-stamped Modelo 790 payment form). If an NIE number has previously been assigned, take the certicate as proof of payment. If all paperwork is in order, the residence certicate is issued immediately and is valid indenitely. However, the relevant police or foreigners ofce should be notied of any change to personal status (marriage, divorce, change of address) using the same form EX18 and following the same process. The residence certicate is a piece of paper which contains the NIE number. It is not an identity document and the certicate should be carried with identication (such as a passport) at all times Family Members of EU Citizens The rights of the EU citizen are extended to their family members (irrespective of nationality). This includes the spouse by marriage, a partner by civil partnership (or marriage equivalent), dependent children under 21 and dependent grown children and parents. Application should be made for a Residency Card for EU Citizen Family Members (Tarjeta de residencia de familiar de ciudadano de la Unin) at the Foreigners Ofce (Ocina de Extranjeros) or local police station in the province of intended residence. The following documents are required in order to apply for a Residency Card for EU Citizen Family Members (others may also be requested): Valid passport (or a copy of a renewal application) Signed application form EX19 (Solicitud de tarjeta de residencia de familiar de ciudadano comunitario) Proof of family relationship with the EU citizen (such as a marriage certificate, proof of partnership registration, birth certicates for children) Identication (passport) or DNI (Spanish citizen) of the EU family member Three recent colour passport photographs Divorce, Separation or Death The MAP website has information regarding what procedures must be followed in the case of divorce, legal separation or the death of the EU citizen. Renewal of the Residency Card The following documents must be presented: Valid passport (if expired, present a copy of the renewal application) Proof of valid marriage/proof of an on-going marriage with an authenti-
cation of marriage certicate issued no more than three months prior to renewal application. If not in Spanish, it must be ofcially translated EU-family members registration certicate, valid passport or photo ID (or DNI of a Spanish family member) Dependent children under 21 and dependent adult: proof of family relationship or dependency Three recent colour passport-size photographs (on white background) Proof of payment of the fee for issuing the card (a bank-stamped Modelo 790 payment form)
The NIE Number All foreigners must have a foreigners tax identication number (Numero de Identicatin de Extranjero - NIE), regardless of whether they are obliged to have a residency permit or not. Applications for an NIE can be made at a local police station which has a foreigners department, or by contacting the local regional government; either in person or through a representative. The number appears on all documents issued in Spain. An NIE is required by anyone with nancial, professional or social interests in Spain. It is also essential when buying property, opening a bank account, starting a business, using short-term employment agencies or arranging receipt of social security benets. See also AngloINFO INFOrmation page, NIE (Numero de Identication de Extranjeros) Advice and Information The citizens advice unit of the Directorate General for Immigration Tel: 913 639 071, 913 639 069 or 913 637 108 Related Information Information from the UK government for UK citizens moving to Spain (http:// ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-britishnationals/living-in-spain/residence-req) Information about living in Spain from the British Embassy in Spain (http:// ukinspain.fco.gov.uk/en/) Age Concern Espana website (in English) which provides advice and support for pensioners in Spain. (http://www. acespana.org/) The Spanish Ministerio del Interior (http://www.mir.es/) The website of the European Union, Europa (http://ec.europa.eu/youreurope/index. htm ) Information supplied by Angloinfo www.costacalida.angloinfo.com
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Every Mon
Watch Your Weight Club, 2 to MABS @ Janes Salon, Bolnuevo, 10.30am Yoga with Mar Carmen @ Bolnuevo, 10.00am Slimming Club @ Cats Bar, Camposol A, 11.00am Andreas Animal Rescue, Shop Collection @ Car Park, Camposol B, 11.30-1.30pm GO mad Available for Donations @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B Costa Calida Radio (Pto), 3.00-5.00pm Zumba with Louise @ Sensol Hotel, Camposol C, 7.30pm Fun Quiz and Bingo @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B, 8.00pm Bingo @ Bar La Manchica, La Manchica Pensionista Day 1 discount @ Cats Bar, Camposol A Weekly B Clean Working Party @ Camposol B, 9.00am MAMAS Collection /Book Stall @ 10.00-1.00pm Camposol B Car Park, opp garage Dance Fitness to Music/Annette @ Hotel Sensol, Camposol C, 11.00am Creative & Meditation Workshop with lunch Mazarrn Country Club, 11.00-6.00pm, 15 Poker Night @ Alley Palais, Camposol B Live Pub Poker League @ TJs, Camposol B, 8.00pm Gardening Group Clean Up @ Camposol C, 9.00am Bridge, New Players Welcome @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B, 9.45am Yoga with Mar Carmen @
Every Tue
Bolnuevo, 10.00am Age Concern booking events etc @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B, 10.00-12.00pm Art Workshop with MABS MMM Caf Golf, San Javier, 11.00-1.00pm, 2 Zumba with Louise @ Hotel Sensol, Camposol C, 11.30am PALS for booking events etc @ Saralaras, Pto de Mazarrn, 1.00-3.00pm Creative Writing Group/Annette @ Camposol, 2.00-3.30pm Book/DVD Club with HAH @ La Zona Bar, Los Narejos. 2.30-4.30pm Zumba with Louise @ Taras Casa, 5.00pm Fish and Chip Night @ Cats Bar, Camposol A, 6.50 Quiz with Kev @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B, 8.30pm Mens Darts In the Evening @ Cats Bar, Camposol A Pool and Darts Night @ Bar La Manchica, La Manchica Karaoke/Disco with Lisa B @ Alley Palais, Camposol B, 9.00pm Every Thu Camposol Market @ Camposol A Slimming Club @ Cats Bar, Camposol A, 11.00am Sacred Hearts Meditation Circle (from 8 March) Mazarrn Country Club, 11.00-1.00pm PALS for booking events etc @ Tels Bar, Camposol B, from 11-1.30pm Zumba with Louise @ Hotel Sensol, Camposol C, 11.30am Latin Beats/Annette @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B, 11.30-12.30pm Andreas Animal Rescue Collection @ Mazarrn Country Club Bar, 11.30-1.00pm Quiz Night @ TJs, Camposol B, 8.30pm Karaoke with Bernie Mac @ Cats Bar, Camposol A, 9.00pm Ladies Darts in the evening @ Cats Bar, Camposol A Music Quiz with John @ Alley Palais, Camposol B Fun Quiz Night @ Bar La Manchica, La Manchica Bridge, New Players Welcome @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B, 9.45am Book Sale/Bric-a-Brac/Noahs ARC @ Camposol B, 10.00-2.00pm Book Stall. Camposol A Gardening Group @ Car Park Camposol A. 10.30-12.30pm Lions Bahia Mazarrn booking events etc @Kennellys, Camposol B, 11.00-1.00pm Age Concern booking events etc @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B 11.00-1.00pm GoMadDonations @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B Costa Calida Radio (Pto), 12.30-2.00pm 10 pin Bowling/Camposol C Garden Group @ Totana, 4.00pm Mark Phoenix Hypnotheraphy @ Dental Care, Camposol B Fish & Chips 5 @ New Royal, Pto de Mazarrn
Every Wed
Every Fri
Joker Jackpot @ TJs, Camposol B, 6.00pm Bingo @ Cats Bar, Camposol A, 7.30pm Steak Night, 19.95 for 2 @ The Spaniard, Hacienda del lamo Fish and Chip Night @ Bar La Manchica, La Manchica Cod and Chips @ New Royal, Pto de Mazarrn, 6 Disco @ Alley Palais, Camposol B, 9.00pm-3.00am Every Sat Book Sale/MABS Murcia MM @ The Arches Bar, Los Alczares 10.00-1.00pm (weather permitting) PALS for booking events etc @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B, 11-1.30pm Karaoke/Disco with Bernie Mac @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B. 9.00pmlate Car Boot Sale, 8.30am @ Caadas del Romero Social Centre Car Boot Sale, 9.00-2.00pm @ El Romero, Cuevas de Reyllo HELP MMM Car Boot @ Autocine, Los Narejos, Los Alczares Sunday Lunch @ Cats Bar, Camposol A, from 4.50 Sunday Lunch @ The Spaniard, Hacienda deAlamo Sunday Roast @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B Sunday Roast @ La Vista, Los Alczares, from 7.95 Karaoke/Disco with Bernie Mac @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B, From 7.00pm Fun Quiz @ Cats Bar, Camposol A, 8.30pm Ladies Fair, Handbags/shoes etc @ Janes Salon, Bolnuevo, 11.00-3.00pm Volunteer Meeting/MABS MMM @ Las Claras, Los Alczares, 11.00am Talking Shop Social/Age Concern @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B, 1.30-3.30pm Lions Meeting @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B, 5.00pm Semi Permanent Make Up Clinic @ Beauty Essentials, Camposol D Unicef Day Outdoor Market Stall/MABS Murcia NW @ Calle Segura, Calasparra, 9.00-1.00pm Grand Auction/Age Concern @ Marianos, Camposol A, From 10am Steve Spit & Nikki G/Posh Fish & Chips @ New Royal, Pto de Mazarrn Six Aside, Comedies/Los Canovas Players @ Los Canovas Theatre, 8.00pm, 5 Clida Country Music Club Night (CAF) @ La Molata, Caadas de Alhama, 8.00pm World Cancer Day Adapt Meeting @ Pensionista Club, San Pedro, 10.30am Welcome Meeting @ Marianos, Camposol A, 2.00pm Steve Dale @ New Royal, Pto de Mazarrn CAS Band @ Las Torres, Pto de Mazarrn Six Aside, Comedies/Los Canovas Players @ Los Canovas Theatre, 8.00pm, 5 Six Aside, Comedies/Los Canovas Players @ Los Canovas Theatre, 7.00pm, 5 WOW (World Orphan Week) Until 12th
February Wellbeing Clinic/Calida Caring Agency @ Janes Salon, Bolnuevo, afternoon Tuesday 7 Book & Jigsaw Swap/Welcome @ ICA Medical Centre, Camposol B, 10.0012.00pm, 50c Wellbeing Clinic/Calida Caring Agency @ Dental Care, Camposol B Crib Night/Welcome @ Marianos, Camposol A, 7.30pm, 1 Friends & Buddies Evening @ Cats Bar, Camposol A, 8.00pm Volunteer Meeting/MABS Murcia NW @ Hotel Argos (between Calasparra & Cehegin), 5.00pm Cloud Nine AGM 3pm Anita Arnao School, Mula Indoor Market/fashion/bling/DVDs etc @ Alley Palais, Camposol B Indoor Market @ Kennellys, Camposol B Christine @ New Royal, Pto de Mazarrn, Fish & Chips Fun Race Night/MABS Murcia MM, 6 inc meal @ Luis Lounge, San Javier Mobile Home Park, 6.30pm Valentines Party with the Beagles/Noahs ARC @ Sensol Golf, Camposol C, Rafe/Bingo etc, 5 Darwinian Gardeners Meeting/Discussion @ Puente Restaurant, La Majada, 11.30am Market/clothing, jewellery/shoes etc @ Las Torres, Pto de Mazarrn, 11.00-3.00pm Valentines Party/Clifford Jay & Julia @ Las Torres, Pto de Mazarrn The CAS Band @ New Royal, Pto de Mazarrn Grand Re-Opening at A Time 4 A Change, 10.00-2.00pm, Free Rafe/Wine/Nibbles Walk in Moratalla Casicas del Portal/Bco. Hondares/Cueva de
Wednesday 8
Thursday 9
Every Sun
Friday 10
Saturday 11
FEBRUARY Wednesday 1
Sunday 12
Thursday 2
Friday 3
Saturday 4
Sunday 5
Monday 6
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la Lobera Monday 13 Guided Walk & 4 course meal/drinks @ Hotel Mariposa, Gebas, 12 St Valentines Day General Meeting of HELP MMM @ Las Claras, Los Alczares, 12.00pm Valentines Dance/Welcome @ Marianos, Camposol A, 7.30pm, 10, food 5 Valentines 3 Course Dinner @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B, 14.95 Grand Re-Opening/Valentines Meal & Disco @ Alley Palais Bistro, Camposol B, 15 Valentines 3 Course Dinner & Disco @ The Steak Out, Camposol B, 16.95 3 Course Valentines Meal @ Leonardos, Pto de Mazarrn, 20 Valentines Romantic Evening/ Entertainment @ New Royal, Pto de Mazarrn, 25.95 Valentines Evening @ Chez Zoe, Pto de Mazarrn Valentines Evening/Live Music @ Amapola Restaurante, Bolnuevo 4 Course Valentines Meal/Live Music @ Hotel Mariposa, Gebas 99 inc b&b
Tuesday 14
Check Mazarrn Tourist Ofce for details Carnaval of Northwest Commences (until 25th) Cehegin, many activities programmed for the week 4th Birthday Party, Motown Night @ TJs, Camposol B, FREE ENTRY, 8.00pm Curry Buffet Night @ Hotel Mariposa, Gebas, 15 (30 inc b&b) Suzie G @ New Royal, Pto de Mazarrn Fancy Dress/Carnival Night/Martin Ross @ Las Torres, Pto de Mazarrn Sunday 19 Trip to Aguilas Carnival/Viajes Dragontours 26 incl coach & reserved seat Shrove Tuesday Walk with Evolutionists of Murcia Book & Jigsaw Swap/Welcome @ ICA Medical Centre, Camposol B, 10.0012.00pm, 50c Ebony/Ivory Ladies Lunch Club/MABS Murcia MM @ Diamantes Restaurant, El Mojon, 1.30pm, 3 courses 10 Friends & Buddies Evening @ Cats Bar, Camposol A, 8.00pm
Tuesday 21
Wednesday 15 International Childhood Cancer Day Thursday 16 Coach Trip/Lions of Mazarron Bahia Visit to Velez Rubio/Velez Blanco/Tour Guide Lunch & Free Serrano Ham per couple, 55 Outdoor Market Stall/MABS Murcia NW @ Calle Segura, Calasparra, 9.00am-1.00pm Share & Care Group/MABS Murcia MM @ MABS Cancer Centre, San Javier, 11.00am Red Strokes @ New Royal, Pto de Mazarrn, Fish and Chips Clida Country Music Club Night/JP Vincent @ La Molata, Caada sde Alhama, 8.00pm (CAF) Valentines Party with Noahs Arc @ Sensol Golf Club, Camposol C, 5 Carnaval in Mazarrn (until 21st )
Wednesday 22 Ash Wednesday World Thinking Day (Girl Guides & Girl Scouts around the World remember each other & re-afrm their commitment to International Friendship & Understanding) Friday 24 Indoor Market/fashion/bling/DVDs etc @ Alley Palais, Camposol B Indoor Market @ Kennellys, Camposol B Booksale/MABS Mazarrn Trevi Bar, Camposol B, 9.00am-1.00pm Table Top Sale/GO maD @ Camposol B, 10.00am 2.00pm Almond Blossom Trail/NEST, 10.30am Meet El Berro Cark Park, Sierra Espua Booksale/MABS Murcia NW 11.00-2.00pm Trevol Bar, Urb Tierra del Sol, Calasparra, 24 Hour Stay Over/Meta Riding Centre Off MU603 Mazarrn-El Palmar, from 6.00pm Murder Mystery Night @ New Royal, Pto de Mazarrn The Beagles @ Hotel Mariposa, Gebas Murder Mystery Night/Camposol Fiestas @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B, 10 inc meal Dinner/Dance/HELP MMM @ Roblemar Restaurant, Los Alczares, 38 Country/Western Night/Age Concern @ Marianos, Camposol A, 5, Food optional 5 3 Day Trip to Mijas/Welcome Group 4 Star Hotel Triton, Benalmadena, Half Board, 145 Lenny Mitchell @ Las Torres, Pto de Mazarrn Soul Night @ New Royal, Pto de Mazarrn Artisan Market/Craftwork/free refreshments/music Plaza del Castillo, Cehegin, 10.00am 4th Tapas Route Commences Cehegin St Valentines Carnival Show/Meta Riding Centre Off MU603 Mazarrn-El Palmar, 11.00am, 1 Sevillanas Social Meeting @ Asturias Restaurant
Friday 17
Saturday 18
Saturday 25
Sunday 26
Walk in Moratalla Ascension a la Sierra del Buitre desde el Rio Benamor Monday 27 Tuesday 28 Guided Walk followed by 4 course meal @ Hotel Mariposa, Gebas, 12 MABS Mazarrn Volunteer Meeting @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B, 11.30am Monthly B Clean Meeting @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B, 4.00pm Friends & Buddies Evening @ Cats Bar, Camposol A, 8.00pm
Beauty Essentials, Camposol D Friday 2 Clida Country Music Club Night (CAF) La Molata, Caadas de Alhama, 8.00pm Nature Ramble/Darwinian Gardeners & Lunch at La Siena, Mazarrn, 11.00am Karen Noble @ Las Torres, Pto de Mazarrn
Saturday 3
Wednesday 29 Fun Petanca/Welcome @ Marianos, Camposol A, 1.00pm Menu del Dia/Age Concern/music @ Restaurante Barraca, Pto de Mazarrn, 10 MARCH Thursday 1 Semi Permanent Make Up Clinic @
Colour coding guide: Entertainment and special menu nights are Red Markets,exhibitions,leisure,activities and meetings are purple Charity and non prot making organisations are green National events are orange Fiestas are pink Important dates are blue
The Aguilas Carnival 16-25th February Photos: Eileen Jenkins
times of crisis, a good laugh works wonders. When you go to the Carnival in Aguilas, you are sure to have a wonderful time. Lights, colours, music and excitement combine to guarantee an unforgettable experience.
Every year in February, Aguilas comes alive with fancy dress, feathers, music and oats. For the other 11 months of the year, preparations continue, as the nearly 40 peas carnival groups design and put together their costumes and work on their choreography in order to attain the perfection exhibited during the parades.
Dragontours have organised a trip to Alguilas on Feb 19th, with a bus from the Mazarrn area, and a reserved seat for the parade - so BOOK with Dragontours! Phone: 968199021 or email info@dragontours.net
For the rst parade, this year on Sunday, February 19th, every costume is new and everyone participating is full of enthusiasm and energy. The Carnival was declared to be of National Touristic Interest in 1997. Grandstands are set up along the parade route for the hundreds of visitors who come every year to watch this beautiful parade. There is also a sense of nearness not to be found in larger cities, or in the internationally famous Rio de Janeiro carnival parades. Parade watchers are encouraged to come down from their seats to dance in the streets along with the paraders, and to have a taste of cuerva the wicked and delicious special Aguilas Carnival drink. Humour is a big part of carnival, as is social criticism; in these
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The Supermotoland Race Team based in Murcia, Spain has decided to focus its efforts on the Spanish, the Catalan, and the Valencian Supermoto Championships for 2012. Anthony Ford-Dunn will be racing in the Elite class with the goal of winning the Spanish Championship, whilst his brother
Mat Ford-Dunn will be competing in the SM30 class at the same race meetings.
Anthony will also be competing in selected rounds of the British and French Supermoto Championships to promote the team and its sponsors throughout Europe and to prepare him for an assault on the Supermoto world championship Grand Prixs in 2013. Both riders have been training hard over the Christmas holidays and are currently testing and evaluating new engine and suspension parts on last years bikes, before the new 2012 Honda CRF450Rs arrive to be built up into this seasons race bikes.
The team will once again be sponsored by Advance Moves, the Expat removal company based in Murcia, as well as increased support from Mr Shane Stratton of Stratton Motorsports who continues his involvement from last year. In addition, there are many new sponsors that are joining the team to back Anthonys efforts including:- Honda Spain, Shiro Helmets, Rip n Roll Goggles, Acerbis, Michelin, Silkolene Lubricants, Sidi Boots, and many others who will be conrmed in the coming weeks. The www.supermotoland.com website now has a video gallery on its home page that currently features some videos of the riders training in Spain, and will be updated with new videos throughout the season.
We are delighted to announce that the 3rd Los Amigos de Mazarrn Gala Evening and Dinner with Duncan McKenzie to be held at the Hotel la Cumbre on Wednesday 8th February is a complete sell out. With the change of venue we were able to accommodate even more people this year, but the capacity has now been reached. Thank you to everyone who has supported us in such great numbers
International Radio. At the time of going to press, Mazarrn have accumulated just 9 points from the 18 games played so far and are 10 points adrift of a safety position. It will be a fantastic achievement if relegation can be avoided, but if the team performs in the second half of the season as last years team performed, there may still be some hope. What has not changed is the enthusiasm and support shown by members of Los Amigos de Mazarrn FC. Even though the numbers of local Spanish supporters has diminished, the ex-pats continue to follow their adopted team with fervour and retain the excellent atmosphere which has been built up over the years. Los Amigos members somehow still manage to have a good day out and a good laugh despite the results on the eld of play. Mazarrn games are normally played on Sundays with varying kick-off times. Full details of all games, both home and away, are announced on the Tuesday before the weekend on which the game is to be played and advertised via the Costa Clida Chronicle blogspot, other local media, our website www.losamigosdemazarron.es and on posters at various points throughout Camposol and Mazarrn. Provisional xtures for February 2012: Sunday 5th February Montecasillas FC (AWAY) Sunday 12th February CD Pozo Estrecho (HOME) Sunday 19th February El Palmar CF (AWAY) Sunday 26th February C F Huercal-Overa (HOME) Admission to home games is just 5. Los Amigos de Mazarrn FC organise coaches to all away games and the cost of a coach ticket is 7. Coach tickets can be purchased at our weekly meetings which are held at the Trevi Bar, Camposol B, every Thursday at 4pm.
Both the Juveniles (17-20) and the Cadetes (15-16) teams are having extremely successful seasons, so the future is obviously bright in that respect. In midJanuary, the Juveniles were in third place in the league, just one point off the top, while the Cadets are second in their league. Many of the Juveniles have been pressed into action for the rst team through injuries and suspension, including Mazarrns rst English player, Matt Clarke, who has acquitted himself very well and won the Man of the Match award in one game.
The dinner will be also be attended by former Shefeld United, Leeds United, Queens Park Rangers and England International, Tony Currie and former Everton, Manchester United and Stoke City centre half, Mark Higgins. Duncan and Tony will be attending a VIP Reception for the joint sponsors, New Images and Ibex Insurance, and other VIP guests at Don Ricardos, Puerto de Mazarrn on Monday 6th February.
If you are interested in football and would like to take part in Los Amigos de Mazarrn FC activities, please join us for our weekly meetings, every Thursday at the Trevi Bar, Camposol B at 4 pm. Membership of Los Amigos is just 10 and all funds raised are in support of Mazarrn Football Club. You can also take part in our very successful Key in the Box Competition with the cash prize often rising to 1000; a great gamble for just 1.
They will also be playing in the Los Amigos de Mazarrn FC Golf Society monthly tournament at Hacienda del Alamo on Tuesday 7th February, so our visiting celebrities will have a busy time during their stay in the Mazarrn area. You will be able to listen to both Duncan and Tony speaking about their experiences when they are interviewed by Steve Tucker on Costa Clida
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Three tips to increase your distance by David Gay PGA Professional If you struggle with a lack of power in your golf swing, one of the rst areas to check is the width of your backswing. The greater width you have in your backswing, the bigger your swing arc will be. This increased swing arc will give your swing more time to increase your
club-head speed as you strike the ball. More speed means more power, which equates to increased distance. To increase width, you need to increase the spacing between your right hand and right s h o u l d e r (right-handed golfers) during your backswing. Practice taking a backswing holding the golf club with just your right hand. Keep your right hand as far away from
your body as possible during these practice swings. During this drill, reach your right hand toward the sky at the top of the backswing. Other tips to increase power in your golf swing: Flex the back knee during the backswing: Keeping your back knee exed during the backswing does two things. First, it restricts your hip turn so you can coil your upper body (the upper body continues to turn against your hips), this builds energy in the backswing. Next, it allows you to drive your weight off your back foot during the down swing so you can release the club head through the impact area. Keep your swing connected: A common swing fought for many golfers is to have their hands and arms get disconnected from their body during the golf swing. Hands too far ahead cause a hook or pull; hands too far behind cause a slice or push. Both moves result in a major loss of power. The proper golf swing has the hands and arms in front of the chest throughout the swing. A good drill to help keep these parts in unison is to hit balls with your elbows as close together as possible during the entire swing. As you address the ball, push your elbows together in front of your chest and have them touch. On your backswing, turn your chest back keeping your elbows together as long as possible. On the downswing, turn your chest back to the ball, and keep it turning through the follow through. (Again, try and keep the elbows together as much as possible. When rst trying this drill, use half to three quarter swings so you can get the feel of the swing down. As it begins to feel more comfortable, lengthen the swing out. For more information on lessons and club repairs you will nd David at Roda Golf Academy on contact on 670083939 or email davidgaypga@mac.com
The Old Guard travelled to the newly opened golf resort of Lorca in Almeria for its December competition.
Kinniburgh collected the Plonker Trophy. The clubhouse automatic, sliding glass door provided some painful entertainment after the match. Its delayed action and poor visibility gave our Treasurer Derek Hayward a black eye and a Spanish golfer a cut and broken nose that needed hospital treatment. Best get it sorted soon Lorca or face some expensive insurance claims. After the success last year the Christmas Presentation Evening was again held at Hotel La Cumbre in Puerto de Mazarrn with the duo Protocol providing the after dinner entertainment. The proceeds of the golf societys charitable donations throughout the year resulted in a cheque for 700 being presented to the Aspaden School for Children with Disabilities in Mazarrn. Mika, one of the students at the school was present with her dad Juan to receive the cheque. Congratulations to Peter Court for winning the 2011 Order of Merit Trophy, Gavin Elbourne for winning the trophy for Most Improved Golfer and Jim Kinniburgh for winning the Most Honest Golfer Cup. Many thanks to hotel staff Alvero and Manuel for their help with the arrangements. A super
society members, families and friends. Lets look forward to some great golng in 2012. If anyone is interested in becoming a member of Fuente Old Guard Golf Society or just wants to nd out more about us (lady members always welcome) please contact the Secretary, Bob Daffon Tel: 968598540 or email chrisandbobinspain@hotmail.com
Time for a photo opportunity on the rst tee. Lorca is not a long course, but it is very picturesque with some testing holes. Barrancos and water pose the major hazards and some long carries off the tees could be a problem for the higher handicap golfers. Perhaps the course has opened a little too early because two temporary greens were in operation (the rst time the writer has ever experienced on any course in nine years of playing golf in Spain) and some of the other greens clearly needed time and effort to improve. This niggle did not upset the standard of golf however, as some of the highest Stapleford scores ever for the society were recorded. With a total of 42 points, the Overall Winner and Winner of Division two Roger Olorenshaw had a double claim to fame by not only scoring the best Stapleford points on society record, but also felling the secretary with a wayward tee shot! Thanks Roger, I still have the bruise but you will have ve shots cut from your handicap. Overall Runner-Up and Division One Winner scoring 37 points was Peter Court who narrowly beat Captain Barry Martin on count-back. Gavin Elbourne was the Division Three Winner with a very creditable score of 31 points.
A delighted Gavin Elbourne receives his 2011 Most Improved Golfer award. night and great venue. A Very Happy and Healthy New Year to all
Captain Barry Martin presents a cheque for 700 to Mika, one of the students at the Aspaden School in Mazarron.
Nearest the Pin Prizes at holes eight and twelve were won by Bob Daffon and Keith Dyball. Dave Simpson took the prize for Nearest the Pin (2nd shot) at the short par four eighteenth. Howard Wright won the Twos Competition Money outright and Jim
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Please limit all reports to 300 words. We reserve the right to amend all articles for publication. CLASSIFIEDS ARE AVAILABLE FREE FOR ITEMS UP TO THE VALUE OF 500 OR FOR WANTED/LOST ITEMS, FOR NON-COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES ONLY. CARS AND BOATS ARE NOT INCLUDED FOR FREE. Max 20 words. Max 3 classieds How to Place a Classied Ad Please go to www.costacalidachronicle. com and click on classied, or email costacalidachronicle@gmail.com or phone 968 970 680 between 10-2pm
We will include inserts and yers provided by you at a cost of 10 cents per yer, max size A5. All adverts must be paid for before 15th of the month prior to publication. Please make cheques payable to Costa Calda Chronicle S.L. (Minimum amount for cheques is 50). The closing date for adverts is the 15th of the month prior to publication. If you would like to meet someone to discuss your advert then please contact Teresa on 619 199 407 to arrange an appointment, or visit Teresa in the mornings in CHM / Costa Clida Chronicle Ofce (inside Nicky G Translation Services), Camposol Sector B.
If you wish to design your own advert, please send through a hard copy and a copy on disk (please label the disk with your name and telephone number), if possible. Please use Microsoft Word or save advert as JPEG le (300 dpi). Please do NOT send in adverts in Powerpoint as they are not good enough quality for printing. DUE TO PROBLEMS OPENING FILES ON FLOPPY DISK, WE WOULD ASK THAT ALL ADVERTS ARE EITHER EMAILED OR SENT IN ON CDS. WE ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADVERTS THAT HAVE TO BE SCANNED IN.
January 2012 quiz answers 1. Who wrote the Inspector Morse novels? Norman Colin Dexter 2. Who offers just new doors or a complete new kitchen? Kitchen Plus1 3. Who moved 6 doors higher up the street? Hombre
4.
Who is offering a 9 Acre Estate and claims it is Superb Value Villa? Fuente Alamo Real Estate 5. Name the authentic Spanish restaurant in Tallante Restaurante Buen Descanso 6. Who is The expats favourite insurer? Knights Insurance Brokers 7. Where would you nd the Laundry Shop?
Calle Atarfe sector D15 Camposol p49 8. What does Louisa Livingstone forecast? Star Signs 9. Where would you nd TJ Electricals? Campasol B Mazarron 10. Who gave Spanish Gift Ideas? Tina Tait
DISCLAIMER Whilst the CCC are happy to accept monthly reports from the various organisations in the area, the articles printed are not necessarily the opinions of the editor or publisher and the contents should be viewed as a guideline only. Professional advice should be sought to cover any information printed therein. Advertisements and reports are not formally endorsed by the CCC. We cannot accept responsibility for advertisers works, service or goods. The publishers endeavour to ensure the contents are correct, but cannot accept responsibility for the effects of errors or omissions.
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Although it is not the season for Processionary Caterpillars to drop from the trees, its a good idea to look for their cocoons now. These horrible creatures look harmless, like fuzzy, hairy, striped, cute little caterpillars. They generally live in smaller pine trees. They can seriously harm your animals (and children) once they do fall to the ground. If a dog or cat bites them or even sniffs too closely, the ne-spun hairs, which are poisonous, will insidiously infect their mouths or skin areas. It causes pain, distress, possible amputation or even death and the poison can be infectious for several days. Protect your pets now. Check your trees for white web-type nests. If you nd them, the only thing to do is cautiously cut the entire branch they are living on, avoiding getting too close, and then burn them. Gathering them in bin bags or otherwise will shed the hairs causing them to be airborne and expose you as well. Another option is to call a fumigator to come and treat your pine trees in and around your property on a yearly basis. ANIMALS UP FOR ADOPTION: RAGS desp e ra t e l y needs a home. Our refuge is full and he is running out of time staying at his foster home. Although he has Leishmania, Rags has now made a full recovery since his rescue 4 months ago. He is a beautiful, loyal, friendly, pure breed German Shepherd who would make a wonderful pet and guardian in his forever home. He is neutered, inoculated, wormed and ready to go. After what he has been though, he deserves a loving home. NOELIA and RUDY: Two kittens rescued on Christmas day, found in the campo, aban-
The Ex-Servicemens Association of Mazarrn District (ESAMD) are meeting on 8th February for our next function. This will be held at The New Royal Restaurant, El Alamillo, Puerto de Mazarrn 7.30 for 8pm. The function is open to all Members of ESAMD [11] and their invited guests [13]. For more information contact by email [esamd_espana@yahoo.co.uk] or the Social Secretary on 968956058 or 690780429.
doned, half dead on the point of starvation. They were half frozen and lethargic. They were estimated to be about 4 months old, both the same age, and believed to be brother and sister. NOELIA was 2 kilos and RUDY was only 0.9 of a kilo. He is on the small side and probably wont grow very big, hence we have dubbed him the micro kitty. They have both been treated with antibiotics for kitty u, wormed and fattened up, and are now ready to be adopted. They survived together, and now they are inseparable. We would like to see them adopted together as they would surely be lost without each other. Very social, friendly, not at all skittish, male and female, both fully inoculated and will be neutered when old enough. If you are looking for sweet, affectionate, loving pets who just want a warm lap to cuddle, these are your kittens.
On Wednesday 28th December, more than 150 people attended the lighting of the Menorah at Playa Flamenca Beach to celebrate the Jewish Festival of Lights Chanukah. This was the rst time in 500 years that a Menorah has been publicly lit between the south of Alicante and Marbella.
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The ceremony was organized by the Southern Costa Blanca Jewish Community and was attended by people of all faiths. In his opening address, Alan Harris, community representative, explained the meaning of For more information visit our website Chanukah and thanked King Juan Carlos and at www.verdemurcia.com or phone the Orihuela Costa council for allowing Jews to openly practice their religion in Spain. 655027676 Following the ceremony, doughnuts and wine were enjoyed by all.
Accommodation: Hotel La Mariposa Accountants: Silvente Airport Parking: Park and Fly Seguro Parking
- 968 631 008
- 968 332 058
Building Services: Coloured Concrete Impressions - 691 083 330 - 608 716 111 Inside Out P&P Services - 659 732 962 Sallu Plastics (Salglaze) - 968 978 836 Woodworks Direct - 649 540 016 Butchers: Big Breakfast Butchers Carpentry: Philip Carpenter / Joiner Car Hire: Bolnuevo Cars F&C Rent a Car Cars & Transport: P&P Services Specialist Vehicles SL
- 616 064 224 - 622 062 115
Computer Repairs & Sales: Beep - 968 Camposol Computers - 968 LocoPC - 968 Shop at Camposol Computers - 968 Dentist: Dental Care - 968 Olivier Houdusse - 968 Education: Creative Writing Lets Talk Spanish
155 710 199 191 971 893 154 477 199 111 153 645
- 968 170 553 - 649 647 467 - 630 939 626
Banking & Finance Kennedy Financial Services - 678 035 992 Lloyds Bank International - 902 024 365 Bars, Cafs & Restaurants: Alley Palais - 968 Amapola Restaurante -660 Bar La Manchica - 685 Cafeteria Plaza - 968 Cats Bar - 666 Chez Zoe - 676 Hotel La Mariposa - 968 Le Gourmet - 968 La Vista Caf Bar - 868 Las Torres - 607 Leonardos - 628 Lizs Cafe - 696 Restaurant La Marina - 619 The New Royal - 968 The Spaniard - 608 The Steak Out - 968 TJs - 653 Trevi Bar & Restaurant - 669 Builders: Amigos CM Constructions Fuente Building Services JD Construction Tonys Building Services
- 680 443 219
978 328 869 705 188 691 631 154 186 013 682 724 500 595 963 199 088 026
869 092 324 406 353 324 008 315 727 423 303 123 555 864 052 192 866 544
- 968 150 979 - 968 199 156
Electricians: Amigos CHM Meters Louis Harris Entertainment: Retro Disco Services Funeral Plans: ASSSA The Funeral Director Furniture: DFS Furniture Plus - Purias Time for a Change Garden Centres Jardilar 2003 The Tree Surgeon
- 619 025 160 - 646 965 082 - 619 712 821
- 659 732 962 - 968 146 158
- 608 893 944
Chimney Sweeps: Home from Home Chimney Sweep - 660 478 881 Tony Chimney Sweep - 646 438 694 Chiropodists: Chiropody - Philip Dawe
- 968 153 396 650 631 719
- 968 150 244
Cleaning Services: Limpieza Rosa - 619 199 407 Salglaze Home Help Service - 968 978 836 Clothes Shops: Legs & Co.
- 968 334 194 - 968 482 456 - 968 136 501
- 669 565 402 - 650 911 755
619 659 696 630 647
025 159 744 269 119
160 948 982 994 952
- 660 792 513
Computer Accessories: Beep - 968 155 710 Consulting IT Services - 691 993 219 Shop at Camposol Computers - 968 154 477
Hairdressing: Janes Salon - 968 The Beauty Palace -968 The Salon Melissa & Tanya - 691 The Salon 2 - 686 Health & Beauty: Anti-Ageing Clinic Beauty Essentials The Beauty Palace Calida Care Agency Drew Ryder Therapist Face and Body Freedom Mobility The Fuschia Beauty Clinic Janes Salon Happy Feet Foot Spa Mark Phoenix Rosies Toesies Sacred Hearts The Salon Shape & Tone
158 433 971 828 916 717 354 232
691 663 968 968 660 676 638 630 968 661 654 639 650 691 661
916 176 971 150 326 545 893 439 158 002 202 171 796 916 002
717 233 828 658 194 436 357 480 433 648 996 835 579 717 648
Heating and Aircon: Camposol Heating & Maintenance - 968 199 Calida Gas & Oil - 659 761 LLamas Chimeneas - 968 591 Louis Harris - 619 712 Home Furnishings: Curtain Call Yorkshire Linen (Puerto)
184 771 030 821
- 616 240 171 - 968 595 946
Yorkshire Linen San Javier - 968 193 912 Insurance: ASSSA Ibex Insurance Nash Warren Internet Cafs Alley Palais Camposol Computers Property Sales: Another World Properties Best of Spanish Fuente Alamo Real Estate Old Farmhouses Sensol Golf Sales 968 635 968 968 968 592 434 598 159 970 679 651 173 264 614
- 968 153 396 - 968 595 945 - 968 156 583
- 968 978 869 - 968 199 191
Kennels and Catteries: Catatonic - 646 705 403 Colina Kennels - 639 012 342 El Carro Kennels - 620 582 654 Laundrettes: Rainbow Laundrette
Removals: Advance Moves - 968 Daintons - 653 Lords Removals and Storage - 608 Mar Menor Removals - 968 Retail Outlets: Best Wishes Kitchens Plus 1 Kennellys Sale T J Electricals Services: B P Oil Compusurf Healthy H20 No More Mould Solar Power: Freesol Solar Directa Spas & Hottubs: Eurospas
654 667 529 243 061 872 564 298
- 634 309 603
Legal Services: Nicky G Translation Services - 968 P&P Services - 659 Professional and Legal Solutions - 968 Silvente Accountant/lawyer - 968 Locksmiths: ADS Locksmith Mechanics: Colair Decklid Auto Services English Garage Services Eurotyre Ford Marcosta Ken Sherwood Mechanic Lpez Milan Mobile Car Mechanic Neumticos El Cea Metalwork: Eriks Mobility Products: Freedom Mobility Outdoor Catering: Celebrations Catering Pig Out The Roving Diner Outdoor Living: Furniture Plus - Purias
968 968 663 868
199 184 083 181
295 235 811 121
199 245 732 962 595 826 332 058
626 968 968 672
091 970 437 795
885 666 270 574
- 600 255 250
- 659 232 507 - 659 315 130
626 626 968 968 968 679 968 666 968
796 678 743 424 424 646 429 161 422
149 840 350 605 636 859 216 129 015
- 650 722 905
Sport & leisure: Alley Palais - 968 Costa Clida Radio - 902 Dance Zone - 649 Horse riding META - 636 Hotel La Mariposa - 968 Murcia Dance - Zumba Classes - 655 Yogamayga - 968 Swimming Pool Cleaning & Maintenance: Alpha Pools - 968 Jorge Pools - 674 Khn Pool Service - 968 Watermaid - 646
978 903 647 172 631
869 783 467 198 008
421 120 150 755
- 636 050 008
- 638 893 357
- 968 482 456
Painting and Decorating: Interior Elegance - 968 482 456 RJB Dcor Painting - 699 044 742 Trevor Smith - 968 163 298 Plumbers: Apache 24/7 Plumbing Services - 968 970 614 Camposol Heating & Maintenance - 968 199 184 Calida Gas & Oil - 659 761 771 Printing & Design: Mister Print
Translation: Carlos Interpreting Services - 630 187 041 Nicky G Translation Services - 968 199 245 P&P Services - 659 732 962 Travel Agents: Viajes Dragontours
- 968 199 021
TV & Satellite: CTV Aerial & Satellite Systems - 600 ISS - 655 LocoSat - 968 Rainbow Satellites - 686 T J Electricals - 868 YPM Satellites - 628 Veterinary Clinics: Veterinary Clinic Maskota Emerg Clinica Veterinaria Puerto Emerg
218 480 971 358 181 234
046 543 893 475 121 045
- 638 893 357 968 619 968 608 597 378 153 466 929 473 931 553
Property Maintenance: Trevor Smith - 968 163 298 Property Management: La Manga 4 U - 0044 7921 351298 Owners Away - 691 977 107 Sensol Golf Villa Rentals - 968 970 614
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- 616 352 206 - 644 569 693 - 699 223 112
971 168 138 705
824 000 638 088
FOR SALE
Two glass chandeliers, gold coloured trim at the top, deep bowl shaped, drop from ceiling 42cm, top 45cm.diameter. Each cost 120 new. Pristine Cond. Bargain 60 each. Tel: 649296658 (Camposol) Computer 24 Inniti dual layer 8x, 8.5Gb DVD RW disks. 15. Computer Belkin uninterrupted power supply for desktop computer, with cables. 20. Tel: 625797461 Steel framed bunk beds with mattresses/ top covers/matching cushions. Exc cond. 200 ono. Retractable awning 3.5meters 150 ono. Richard or Anne 968970681 or 677829434 WANTED Im looking for someone to play/learn magic card tricks with. Im a retired n/s male. Camposol area. David 618423025 BUSINESS
Rotovator 150 Tel 617987032 Mazarrn Hospital bed - not electric 450. Mobile Scooter battery possibly needs attention Tel: 968150918 (Bolnuevo) Welder Murex Tradesarc 130i up to 130amp with mask. 180 without welding rods 250 with welding rods. Buyer collects Tel Sharon 619180833 Generator Menerator hardly used. Like new. 85. Suzuki 5kw petrol 350 iphone 3g as new. wi all singing and dancing 110 denisculshaw@msmn.com Tel 630441963
GROUP INFORMATION Ladys bike, 26 inch wheel, red, with gel seat. 50. Tel: 695877041. Cehegn area. Attractive blue cane oval shaped dresser 5ft wide x 6ft high (not MASA) gd cond cost 290 bargain at 60. Tel 968199403 or 636596646 (Camposol)
CLASSIFIED ARE AVAILABLE FREE FOR ITEMS UNDER 500 OR FOR WANTED/ LOST ITEMS, FOR NON-COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES ONLY AND EXCLUDING VEHICLES AND BOATS. Maximum 20 words and 3 classieds per customer. How to Place a Classied Advert Please go to www.costacalidachronicle. com and click on classied or email costacalidachronicle@gmail.com or call 968 970 680 between 10.2pm Mon-Fri
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Costa Clida Chronicle

The Longest Established hed FREE Magazine in Murcia

Date: February 2012

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The Costa Clida Chronicle.

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hope he nds a brother called Luigi!

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On March 12 Men of Vision Espaa hold

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New Years Day Splash for MABS Mazarrn

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