Costa Cálida Chronicle April 2014

Costa Clida Chronicle
The Longest Established hed FREE Magazine in Murcia
www.costacalidachronicle.com
Date: April 2014
Issue: 5 Volume: XIII
In association with Costa Clida International Radio and www.angloINFO.com
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Sales Contact Teresa 619 199 407 or for the Editor Contact Patti 646 005 017
email: costacalidachronicle@gmail.com
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It is with great sadness that we heard that Pat Dunne from ADS Locksmith had died. Pat was a well known gure in the area and had advertised with us for many years, giving our readers useful tips and information about essential security. Once again Tony Smith from the English Funeral Director helped the family in his very professional and sympathetic way and organised the funeral. We express our deepest sympathy to Maura and her family during this very sad time. We would like to thank Philip Tulley-Jones for all the hard work he has put in over the last few years compiling the monthly quiz. Philip has not been very well just lately and we all hope that you are feeling a bit better now and look forward to your next project with us. We know that a lot of people will miss this quiz, but we hope that you enjoy the little jokes that we have put in place of the quiz this month. We are delighted to be involved in promoting the fashion show by Dbora Velsquez, which is being held at Eden Hair & Beauty Salon Al Kasar, Condado de Alhama on 19th April. This venture is being sponsored jointly by Eden Hair and Big Gs and is an opportunity to view fashion from a world class designer.
This month we would like to welcome: New Advertisers Casa Claudio German Kchen Studio Luisines Cake Ma Maison En Espagne CB Natural Health Piscinas Piscimar Rodi Services VNBenny.com Welcome Back Big Gs Camposol Properties Castillo Del Pinar D & G Garden Furniture Eden Hair & Beauty Four Legs Dog Grooming Multi Opticas Tropic Anas Restaurante Venta Romero Easter/Semana Santa is towards the end of this month with Good Friday on 18th April. Be aware that this day is the National Holiday in Spain and not Monday 28th! There will be a lot of celebrating during that period and most shops will be shut on the Friday. In Northwest Murcia, this is the time of the Tambores, so if you want to experience something a bit different, visit Mula, Cehegn or Moratalla, but be aware that these drums make an incredible noise, especially in the local bars.
Enjoy your Easter and make the most of the special Easter delights being offered in the many bars and restaurants in the area. From all of us at the Costa Clida Chronicle.
THANK YOU TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Alan Monk TV News Camposol Club de Golf Golf Tips Christine Lawford - Poem Clive & Rosie Palmer Exploring Murcia Dick & Clodagh Handscombe Gardening George Mitchell Never a Dull Moment Jane Cronin Learning Spanish Jennifer Rahman Ask Jennifer Ken Whettall Housing Update Liz Edmison Life in Spain/Food 4 Thought Mark Davies Classic Artistes Sara Millbank Ma Millbanks Kitchen
DISCLAIMER Whilst the CCC are happy to accept monthly reports from the various organizations 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.
SPECIAL PAGES Fashion Show Mar Menor Mazarrn Northwest Murcia Sport Whats On ADVERTORIAL Alpha Pools Corral & Alcaraz Curtain Call German Ktchen La Llana Liberty Seguros Los Belones Laudrette Martinez de la Casa Natural Health Centre Silvente Solicitors CHARITIES ACTIN Andreas Charity Cavalli Foundation Cruz Azul Dogs Looking for Homes Easy Horse Care FAST GOmaD HELP MMM JJs Ladies in Pink Lions MABS Mar Menor MABS Mazarrn MAMAS MARA Noahs ARC PALS Pets in Spain Swap Tears for Smiles CHILDREN Chatterbox
Mazarrn Leos 16 70-75 30-34 50-53 91-95 83-89 20 22 28 18 70 20 71 78 72 64 97 18 67 70 66 74 30 24 71 46 42 27 73 32 36 52 26 10 48 8 28 EDUCATION Jane Cronin ENTERTAINMENT Cloud Nine Country Music Keep Smiling Ruth Lorenzo FOOD & DRINK Food 4 Thought Ma Millbank Menu del Dia Vegetable of the Month GROUPS CRA Darwinians Ex-Servicemen Humanists Ladies Chatterbox Los Palacios MCC Social Club Model Club Parkinsons Friendship Sector C Greenngers Stamp Collecting Team Harmony Welcome HEALTH Fitness Month by Month Forget Me Not Homeopathy for Men INFORMATION Advertisers Directory Animal Matters Ask Jennifer British Embassy Business News Classied Ads
30 58 60 90 40 72 40 76 82 58 30 27 96 42 67 31 32 33 40 32 40 44 56 80 40 46 100/101 14 14 12 6 98
Dear Editor Fuerte de Navidad Mazarrn News Murcia News Northwest Murcia Spanish News Teresas Travels LEISURE Author Review Equimur Gardening News Hiking in Moratalla Murcia Dance NEST Never A Dull Moment Poem Puzzle Page Puzzle Solutions TV News WARM PROPERTY Housing Update Property Matters RELIGION Beacon of Light Mass in English Olive Branch Open Door St Nicholas Church Welcome House Wellspring Victory Church SPORT Camposol Golf Fuente Old Guard Golf Tips Local Sport Los Amigos Mazarrn Straight Down the Middle SAMM
66 38 34 80 40 102 44 24 90 54 51 78 28 69 48 68 98 36 52 99 96 60 7 64 56 8 53 10 94 95 93 92 91 92 95
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If you are an existing customers and you have some Business News that you would like to share with our readers then why not email it to us to be included on our Business News page. Please keep your news to about 50 words and send us an email by 15th of the month, to costacalidachronicle@gmail.com with Business News in the subject box.
Our popular Pension and Investment column written by Premier Pensions is taking a break this month, but they will be back in shortly to provide more interesting articles covering the world of nance.
Yorkshire Linen, Mazarrn Celebrates 9 Years In Business! Pete, Karen, Sue and Janet would like to thank everyone for their support during this time and look forward to serving you in the future. Yorkshire Linen is the areas leading retailer of bedding and soft furnishings and is highly regarded for providing excellent quality, service and value for money. Tel 968 595 946
Are you looking to change your car? Specialist Vehicles in San Javier have a good selection of both left and right hand drive vehicles for sale or part exchange. They also offer a valet service and competitive insurance quotes. Tel 968 146 158
If you do not have the space to store your boat or caravan, give Kwik Fix at Caadas del Romero a call. They have plenty of space in their secure, easily accessed grounds. For only 25 a month, you can have your boat or vehicle stored safely. Tel 968 970 006 Does your kitchen need a re-vamp this year? Call RJB Decor for a quote to brighten up your home. Martin has been working in the Mazarrn area for many years and is a fully qualied painter and decorator and his prices are very competitive. Tel 699 044 742
Have you ever wondered how you would deal with the unexpected, when you go off on a day trip and something happens? Dragontours includes a One-Day Travel Insurance on all their day trips. This ensures that you are covered for repatriation and loss of personal items for the day. So, travel sure! Book your day trips with Dragontours. Tel 968 199 021
With the news that San Javier Airport looks increasingly likely to stay open, why not take advantage of Airpark Murcia Meet & Greet Car Service? This increasingly popular service means no tiring luggage transfers or shuttle services, leaving and collecting your vehicle with us. We will even have your luggage trolley ready for you upon arrival at the airport! See our main advert on page 41. Tel 618 606 989
Come to D & Gs on the Rio Nalon in Los Alcazares for great deals on new spring stock of garden furniture for 2014. The store is open Mon-Fri 10am-4pm and Sat 10am-2pm. Brighten up your patio this summer with a special dining or sofa set. Tel 968 334 773
If you havent visited Castillo del Pinar, then you are missing out on a real dining experience. Tuesday-Sunday you can enjoy a 5 course meal including dessert and coffee; each course accompanied by a wine specially selected to compliment the food for only 15 (16 on Sundays) If you prefer something a little more informal, their 3 course Menu del Dia is available on the terrace for 10 including a drink - only available Tuesday to Saturday. Tel 968 163 138
Due to popular demand, Viggos are now offering Fish and Chips as an option on their Menu del Dia, every Friday between 12-4pm. The price of 9 includes a starter, dessert (or coffee) and a drink. Come and enjoy this new option in a relaxed environment, overlooking the sea in Puerto de Mazarrn. Tel 968 154 554 for reservations
Pampered Paws are now stocking, Scalibor collars, Advacate ee treatments, kongs & other stimulating dog toys, shampoos & perfumes along with the personalised BLING cat & dog collars and harnesses plus matching leads. Tel 634 302 388
Bora Bora in Puerto de Mazarrn are pleased to announce that as from Friday 4th April, they will be open on Friday and Saturday evenings rather than closing at 7pm. Why not try this popular venue for an evening meal and a drink? If you prefer a trip out during the day then do not forget the live music every Saturday at 2.30pm booking essential. Tel Kira on 968 153 111
Freelance web development, programming, design, online marketing, search engine optimisation, consulting, domain research, market research and much more! With a wide knowledge of the online world, VNBenny.com can help your business grow fast! Freelance and available every day, because you are priority number 1! Give Ben a call now and nd out how he can help you! Tel 650 078 846
Mass according to the Extraordinary form (in Latin) is celebrated every 1st Saturday of the month at the Catholic Chapel at Pastrana, approximately 10km from Mazarrn Schedule of Masses 1st Saturday of the month (in Latin, with readings and homily in English): 4:30pm All other Saturdays Mass 4.30pm in English Schedule of Confession: Saturday from 3:15-4:20pm Also on request Fr. Carlos Prats 628 824 555 Fr. Octavio Carpena 676 219 445 www.pastranaonline.com Jesus, Our Lord And Saviour The way that we allow Jesus to live His life within us is through: Prayer, Church, Confession and Communion. People miss being close to God by claiming that they are with God, but never go to Mass. Jesus specically commanded us to celebrate the Eucharist when He said: Do this in remembrance of Me. (Luke 22:19) The proper way to enter into communion with the Blessed Trinity is through the Sacraments of the Church, such as the Eucharist (the Holy Mass) and Confession.
We enter into a relationship with Jesus by making the effort with prayer to be healed and to be loved. Let the Sacrament of the Eucharist touch you deeply by allowing your faith and trust to increase in His tender healing love and He will transform you, as He transforms the bread and wine into His Body and Blood. Grace transforms us all, if we have true faith. Peter was drowning, He held out His hand to him with the words: O, you of little faith, why did you doubt? (Matt 14.31) We should remember Our Lords farewell discourse at the Last Supper: In the world you shall have distress; but have condence, I have overcome the world (John 16:33). This was His nal message to all His followers.
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A woman had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all her money to no avail. She heard about Jesus; she came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His cloak. Immediately her bleeding stopped and she was freed from her suffering and illness. Jesus turned around and asked: Who touched Me? Not only did she touch His garment, but also touched his Heart. We never touch God through our prayers, without Him knowing it. She was healed through her faith because she believed in Him.
Calle Sobrija 2248 Sector D20 Camposol Rev. Maureen Kent Isnt it strange how so many people celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas, but completely ignore what happened at Easter? In wartime and conict, many lives are sacriced for family and comrades, but how many people would be willing to give their lives for strangers; not just the deserving, but criminals, murderers, adulterers, thieves, bullies and so on? In other words, for sinners. This includes all of us. Yes this man, the Son of God, the only pure and innocent person to have ever lived, died for the rest of humanity; not as a punishment, but as the greatest gift of all. He died so that our sins were nailed upon the cross with Him and was raised to life so that we
now have the promise of eternal life with Him in heaven. Makes all those hot cross buns and chocolate eggs seem irrelevant, doesnt it? Why not celebrate Easter this year by attending a church service and nding out more about this wonderful Jesus. God Bless. Services for April Sunday 6th Songs of Praise 10.30am Sunday 13th Palm Sunday Morning Prayer 10.30am Friday 18th Good Friday Holy Communion 10.30am Sunday 20th Easter Sunday Holy Communion 10.30am Sunday 27th Morning Prayer 10.30am As well as these services, we offer those of Wedding Blessings, Holy Baptism, Con-
rmation and Funerals. We have a Pastoral Care Group throughout the year with people to listen, talk and help anyone who is sick or in need. This Pastoral Care is absolutely condential. For further information please contact: Rev Maureen Kent 636 099 679/968 970 637 Rev Deacon Bill Coyle 634 143 260 Rev Eberhard Klute (German Branch) 968 138 764
We are a new charitable group dedicated to assisting families in need within the Mazarrn area. Father Carlos, of Pastrana, has identied these families who, for different reasons, do not always receive help from other organisations. We visit them in their homes every fortnight, delivering food and other essentials like toiletries, clothing and furniture. In November 2013 we started with just a few families and are now supplying the needs of around 50 people. We use all monies donated for the purchase of food and essential items. We do not have any overheads, which means that every donation is used directly towards those in need. Swap Tears for Smiles has started a Table Top Sale on Camposol B every fortnight, on a Friday, selling quality items at reasonable prices. It is also a drop-off point for donations of food. Marion and Lesley at The Dog Bowl in Fuente Alamo have also very kindly offered their services and receive donations on our behalf.
Families always need milk (full milk), cooking oil (vegetable) and dried goods like lentils, rice and pasta. Some of our families are also in desperate need of items such as a fridge freezer, washing machine and used prams. Large families with children nd it difcult to keep food fresh, especially in hot weather. If you are able to help, in any way, please telephone Arthur or Marge on 659 270 885 or email arthurlaws@hotmail.com We look forward to meeting with you at the next Table Top Sale.
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New Years Day Swim The picture shows the boys from Decklid, wearing their PALS support T-shirts handing over the last of the money collected at PALS New Years Day swim. An amazing 3,412 was raised. That is the best ever and thank you again to everybody. Next year can we beat that?!! This is a year of consolidation for PALS after the maximum effort helping to put the CAF ambulance on the road with the able assistance of Costa Clida International Radio and the Lions. It took seven years, but we got there and that made the total contribution
by PALS to a staggering quarter of a million Euros worth of emergency medical life saving equipment donated to the local emergency teams. However its your donations and support that allowed us to complete that task. We are building the fund again to be ready for any requests to be considered. To raise the money, we have our programme of events and tickets are available for: 11th April Trip to Garrucha Market then on to our favourite restaurant in Bedar and a visit to Iceland in Vera on the return 25. 27th April Andalucian Adventure 3 nights, 4 days half board with Cordoba, Seville, Ronda and Granada all on the agenda and all in very centrally located hotels 320pp sharing with pick ups from Puerto de Mazarrn, Mazarrn Country Club and Camposol. 18th/25thOctober Cruise. Coach to Valencia then cruise to Palma de Majorca, Sardinia, Italy for Rome and then Florence, Corsica and back to Valencia. All Inclusive - port taxes,
tips drinks, entertainment and coach from just 690pp sharing. At the time of writing we have only a handful of cabins left and space on our third coach, so if its your rst cruise there will be faces you recognise. This year PALS have given their assistance to the new respite initiative Forget Me Not and agreed to act as nancial managers until they start to ourish. Weekly respite sessions at Camposol Cultural Centre have started each Monday morning and registered nurses and trained volunteers are on hand to look after your loved ones while you have few hours to yourself. More volunteers are needed and training will be given. The support process is costly and therefore Forget Me Not are holding fundraising events and hope that you will support each and every one. Tickets for all the above PALS and Forget Me Not events at Trevi Bar, Camposol Saturday mornings 11am-1.30pm and at Bistro Ratatouille, Pto de Mazarrn on Wednesdays 1-3pm, or call 626 460 465.
Ill never be good enough. It cant be that easy. Ive done too many bad things for God to love me. If I had been given a Euro for every time I have heard comments like those above! Nothing is further from the truth. Sadly, many people today have been birthed in an understanding of God as a judgemental, waiting to catch us out, frowning on everything we do and ready to beat us over the head with a big stick, kind of God. People have grown up and lived their lives with this wrong idea of who God is. No wonder it is hard to accept God into our lives when we know that we are bound to fail; but I have some good news, and that news is encapsulated in one word, Grace, [Gods riches at Christs expense].
Grace is such a wonderful word that can be life-changing if fully understood. You see, it takes everything away from us having to do things to make up for our shortcomings and places all responsibility squarely on the shoulders of Jesus. It takes away the heartache of us working our socks off to make amends for our failures in this life - that is legalism in its truest sense and we could never do enough. So many people believe that they have to earn their way into heaven and life turns into a carousel that turns around and around on an axis of work, which makes their future solely based on what they can achieve and not on what Jesus did for them on that cross at Calvary. It was on that cross over 2000 years ago that Jesus paid, once and for all times, the price for our waywardness. As His hands were stretched and nailed to those timbers, all our shortcomings, past, present
and future were removed from our shoulders. Now that is good news. Gods Grace and love stepped in to take the responsibility off us to try to be good enough and place that responsibility on His precious Son, who was good enough. It reminds me of some of the lyrics of that old hymn There was no other good enough to pay the price of sin. The message has always been there, but we nd it difcult to accept unless WE have done all the work to make it happen. Sadly many in the church are of the opinion, It cant be that easy. Grace is a gift and we need to take hold of it and unwrap the present. In the Bible in Ephesians Chapter 2 verse 8, it says For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. God did not wait for us to get ourselves right. He made the rst move. He always does. His Grace is sufcient for all of us. In 1973 I started work in Licheld, UK and met a guy who became a rm friend. For over 30 years we did business together, played football together and had meals together. He knew my background, my faith in God and was never critical of what I believed. All through his life, my friend had to ght for what he wanted to achieve and against all odds he made it to the top of his tree. You see, he rmly believed that he had to do all the work himself to succeed and he did not need God in the equation. For him it was just too easy to receive Christ into your life and let Him put things right! Amazingly, ve years ago, my friend did receive Christ into his life and he let Gods Grace take away the pressure to make it in life. The recession has wrecked his business and he has struggled with many problems. Coming to Jesus has not been a bed of roses, but he is totally involved in his church and committed to letting Gods Grace take the strain. If life for you is tough and all you are tying to do does not help to ease the situation, can I recommend asking God to pour His Grace into your life. Receive His Grace today.
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Iain Duncan Smith Visited Benet Fraud Team in Spain In a meeting at the British Embassy in Madrid, investigators explained what they are doing to tackle benet fraud such as data sharing with the Spanish authorities, which allows them to trace suspects living in Spain. The team has investigated over 1,200 cases to date and has recovered almost 5million of UK taxpayers money. Iain Duncan Smith said It is important that fraudulent claimants realise that even if they are living in Spain, it doesnt mean they wont be caught. Benet fraud is a crime and we are committed to putting a stop to it whether you live in Spain, the UK or anywhere else in the world. Our investigators are here in Spain to make sure that no fraudster goes undetected. I would urge British residents who suspect someone of committing benet fraud to call the hotline in Spain on 900 554 440. You can help us to ensure that UK taxpayers money is going to those that need it most. More allegations of benet fraud are received in Spain than in any other foreign country. Fraudulent claims for Pension Credit and Income Support are the most frequently investigated. A man who left Britain to set up a catering rm in Spain is one of the latest cases to come to court. Nigel Hadley, 61, from West Wales, has been ordered to sell his Spanish property to pay back more than 25,000 in falsely claimed benets. Hadley moved to Marbella after his marriage broke down in 2000 and bought a shermans cottage two years later. He returned to Britain in 2011 and then claimed employment support allowance from the Benet Agency, as well as housing benet and council tax benet. In all three cases he failed to inform the authorities that he had a property in Spain, despite being asked verbally and on claim forms. He was caught after the Department for Work and Pensions sent him a habitual residency claim form which specically asked whether he had any other property. After he once more failed to reveal his foreign property, investigators discovered his Spanish home. Hadley has been sentenced to nine months
in prison, suspended for 18 months and ordered to pay back 25,960 of claimed benets through the sale of his 90,000 property, his only asset. He was told to repay all the money within six months or face a jail term. If you suspect someone of committing benet fraud you can call Benet Fraud Hotline in Spain on 900 554 440. Lines are open 8am-4pm, Monday to Friday and all calls are free and condential. Spain-Uk Cooperation In Fighting Organised Crime Home Ofce Organised Crime Minister Karen Bradley and Spanish Security Minister Francisco Martinez Vazquez met in Madrid to agree how the two countries could co-operate more closely in recovering nancial assets from fugitive crooks. Criminals are known to move their assets overseas where it is harder for law enforcement agencies to reach them. More UK criminal assets are thought to be in Spain than any other EU country. The two countries committed to working together more closely to enforce conscation orders made against British criminals after they are brought before the courts and convicted. Likewise, both governments have agreed to make every effort to assist the recovery of criminal assets found in their countries. The common effort to seek new avenues for strengthened cooperation follows the success of Operation Captura, a campaign launched in 2006 and run jointly by the National Crime Agency and the UK Crimestoppers charity. It has seen 58 out of 76 named criminals on the run in Spain arrested and brought to justice in the UK. The ministers stated Excellent co-operation between our two countries has led to the arrest in the last ve years of over three-quarters of Britains most wanted in Spain and sent a clear message: There is no hiding place for criminals on the run. Spain and UK will deepen their co-operation still further by working together in the EU to strengthen the sharing of criminal re-
cord data about travelling sex offenders and combat the sexual exploitation of children, including through the European Criminal Records Information Systems (ECRIS). The European Arrest Warrant (EAW) introduced in 2004 has made it easier for European police forces to return criminals to face justice in the country where they are accused of a crime. Recent gures show that between April 2009 and April 2013, 130 criminals were returned to the UK from Spain and 377 from the rest of Europe. These include 27 rapists, 44 murderers and 63 child sex offenders. A number of these suspects would probably have not been extradited back to Britain without the Arrest Warrant. https://www.gov.uk/government/ speeches/home-secretary-oral-statement Organised crime is a threat to the UKs national security and the Government estimates suggest it costs our economy more than 24 billion per year. Crimestoppers and the National Crime Agency have released information about criminals believed to be on the run in Spain in eight batches under Operation Captura since 2006. 58 of the 76 people wanted under Operation Captura have now been arrested and brought to justice. Passport fees for British nationals overseas reduced by 35% The fees for a UK passport for British citizens applying from overseas countries, including Spain, will fall by 35% from next month. James Brokenshire, Immigration and Security Minister, has announced that from 7th April the passport fee for customers applying for a UK passport from overseas will be reduced by 45 for adults and 28.50 for children. The new fees are: Adult 32 page passport 83.00 Child 32 page passport 53.00 Jumbo 48 page passport 91.00 (Adult/Child/Veteran)
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Travel Sickness Motion sickness is very usual among our dogs and this fact can not only be limited to the animal, but also to the owners, making travel by car a traumatic experience. Travel Sickness is caused by a lack of adaptation of the animal to the movement of the vehicle. There can be some other additional factors such as stress or fear of getting into the car which causes anxiety, resulting in symptoms of nervousness, nausea, salivation and vomiting. Some animals can show symptoms before getting into the vehicle once they are aware a trip is going to start. Motion sickness normally affects puppies rather than adult animals, but we have to recall that apart from the pure physical problem, which is concerned with the inner ear and the central nervous system, there may be some anxiety features which make the problem more serious so it is recommended to get the puppy used to travelling by car in order to avoid problems when adult. The usual treatment for this problem until now was to use powerful sedatives for the central nervous system, especially acepromacine, to avoid excessive salivation, nervousness, anxiety and vomiting, but this produced strong sedation which could last many hours and it
meant a risk for older animals or those with renal and/or heart problems. Now we have a medicine specically for dogs that suffer with Travel Sickness which prevents salivation and vomiting, although it does not reduce the levels of anxiety on those animals suffering from it. This new medicine has no adverse effects since it does not cause the sedation of the animal and it has no effect on blood pressure or heart rate. It is easily given by pills from one to ten hours before travelling and its effects last for a long time. This way, pets and owners will be able to enjoy their trips quieter and with no problems. If you are concerned about travelling with your pets because they suffer with Travel Sickness, consult your vet. Clinica Veterinaria Puerto de Mazarrn. Tel 968 153 931 Camposol Sector A Tel 968 199 263
For most of us, the month of April represents the start of spring - the season of new growth, but while we tend to our gardens, clearing the winter undergrowth, perhaps we should also take this opportunity to review the state of our relationships and make the necessary changes to improve friendships and family ties. Nothing will change if we do not make the effort to move forward. Life is too short to let differences and frustrations fester any longer. The smallest of change will have a ripple effect to make our lives better, more positive and fullling. Make spring the month of change. Dear Jennifer CAN OUR MARRIAGE BE SAVED? My husband and I have been married for a year. Before this, we lived together for 3 years. All was well until re-
cently when we seem to bicker almost every week. What concerns me is our different styles of ghting! I come from a large family, so I tend to shout and throw things, but I get over it almost immediately. My husband on the other hand, is an only child and his response is to clam up. Sometimes he will withdraw and give me the silent treatment for a whole week. I dont know what to do? Serena Dear Serena Does it really matter which style is better? An argument is an argument nevertheless and should not be competitive. Instead it should be an opportunity to air differences in opinions and views even if it means just agreeing to disagree. Rather than joining
the Fight Club, why dont you turn down the volume on your tantrums while taking time to listen to his side of the story? Learning to listen, acknowledging different views and moving forward with a reasonable comprise will help both of you to mature as a couple. The reality is that all couples argue, even newlyweds. Learn to nd ways to air your differences more healthily and if this fails, engage a mediator or marriage counsellor. Jennifer Dear Jennifer DO I ACCEPT THIS OLIVE BRANCH? My parents and brother live in the UK and as long as I can remember, they have favoured my brother over me. This was painfully obvious, not only to me, but to friends and family. This was extremely upsetting and ruined my relationship with my brother. Recently, my brother sent me an email acknowledging that he now sees the difference in how we were treated by our parents and wants to establish a closer bond with me. I am confused and I dont want to be hurt any further. Can you give me some suggestions? Mavis Dear Mavis You and your brother share many memories, both good and bad. Now that you are both older and wiser, you have a second chance to share and re-establish a family bond. Leave the bad times in the past if you can and try to start creating some good times and positive feelings. No-one can really predict the outcome, but at least you would have tried to mend fences and accept his offer. If it does not turn out like you expected, then at least your conscience will be clear. As in any relationship, it takes two to make it work. Jennifer If you would like advice on a problem, please send an email to jennifer@lifemaxxinternational.com. Jennifer is an accredited life coach and holistic therapist.
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This is a fabulous opportunity to experience the wonders of a top class Fashion Show by one of the best known designers in the world, Dbora Velsquez. It is being sponsored by Eden Hair & Beauty Salon and Big Gs American Diner, Owners Heather & Leeanne from Eden Hair & Beauty Salon are excited and proud to be sponsoring this prestigious event being held at Al Kasar, Condado de Alhama on 19th April at 6.30pm, with the opportunity of booking a table for a meal at Big Gs American Diner. Entrance is free and the Fashion Show starts at 7pm. Dbora Velsquez was born in Buenos Aires. In 2001, she went to Brussels to study fashion design and the creation of hats, with her collections being shown at many fashion shows and exhibitions in Brussels. Dbora has also studied Lectra, software for the design and creation of clothes by computer and she has worked for important Belgian and French names such as Inno, E5
Mode, etc. She has studied the use of colours, redesign and dress style showing the best way in which silk, clothes, forms and colours can be used with the characteristics of her customers. In 2008, Dbora opened her own workshop and showroom, where she designs and creates party, cocktail and wedding dresses. She also advises her customers about the harmony among the colours, the clothes, the style, the make-up and accessories. Dbora Velasquez - Fashion Designer is on Facebook Watch Dbora Velasquez every day on Fashion Express on StarTV Channel @ 6.35pm!
this Fashion Show is a privilege for all of us at Big Gs. Its a great step in boosting the status of Condado de Alhama. We need to raise awareness that the resort is for everyone, not just owners/residents. We would like to say a special thanks to Dbora for letting us be part of this. Call 607 920 914 for reservations Hosting the Fashion Show is the recently opened Eden Hair & Beauty Salon situated in the Al Kasar at Condado de Alhama. Eden Hair & Beauty offers a range of services in its luxurious salon, including ladies hairdressing, beauty treatments and gentlemens barbering. The salon has a friendly professional English and Spanish speaking team, making all customers welcome. This is already a popular place with clientele from the Murcia area, with Hair & Beauty Demonstrations, Themed Events, regular Ladies Nights and a Monthly Newsletter being just a few examples of what customers can expect from this exciting and stylish salon in the heart of Al Kasar. Call 620 072 536 for an appointment
Big Gs American Diner is family run and during its rst year of trading, has rocketed to Trip Advisors number 1 Restaurant in Alhama de Murcia. Spokesman for Big Gs said Sponsoring
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German Kchen Studio - Kitchens, Bedrooms and Bathrooms www.germanKchen.es Kitchen, Bedroom and Bathroom specialist with contemporary chic, German Kchen Studio is based on the Camposol urbanisation, within the Mazarrn municipality. The business specialises in providing contemporary and stylish kitchens, bedrooms and bathroom furniture from top European manufacturers including Schller, Pelipal and Nolte Delbrck. German manufacturers are renowned for their practicality, quality, strength, design and durability, only using top quality materials from recognised
and reputable suppliers, yet also offering extremely good value and total exibility. Every unit is built exactly to client specications from a vast range of colours, nishes and textures and the look is completed with a range of handles, chic design extras and nishing touches which make every kitchen installed unique and personal to the owner of the property and their needs. Appliance packages can also be included if requested, together with all nishing, tiling and painting.
the extensive range of possibilities, discuss their individual requirements and see testimonials from existing clients who have undertaken work in similar properties. British ex-pat, Nick Maltby works from the TJ Electricals (Euronics) store and guarantees personal attention to detail, working through the project with clients to oversee the initial design, installation and after-sales care. Nicks ethos is to ensure that every client gets the kitchen, bathroom or bedroom they always wanted, at a realistic price they can afford. **Free Beko dishwasher worth 299 with every kitchen ordered in April! Full or part transformations can be undertaken. Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm Sat 10am-2pm Sun Closed Get in touch today with German Kchen Studio to see how they can help transform your home. Nick Maltby tel 0034 636 306 711 Email nick@germanKchen.es
German Kchen Studio has a showroom within the TJ Electricals (Euronics) electrical store on Camposol B, where clients can view a number of different options, look at
Last month was another busy month, seeing lots of rescues, particularly with pups, abandonments, trips to the vets, as always and some re-homing too thankfully! Of the six p o i n t e r / p o d e n c o puppies we took in last month, four have been rehomed. We are still looking for that special home for the lovely Poppy and little Dill. Please contact me if you are interested in either or them; they will both make super dogs! Remember little Kira, who was found at the side of the road with an injury from a hit and run accident? Well she was found to have a fractured hip which didnt require surgery and she has been coming on well and has
started walking again! She did need an operation to remove a tumour on her teat which was carried out last month and tests found it to be non-malignant which is fantastic news! She is recovering from her ordeal and will soon be well enough to be re-homed to that lucky someone who is looking for a special companion! We were alerted to an abandoned dog that had just given birth to three puppies in some waste-ground. With some help we managed to locate her and get to the three pups down a ravine, but sadly one was already dead. The two remaining pups needed urgent attention as they were very cold, weak and de-hydrated. We managed to get hold of mum too, who wasnt able to feed the pups, so they all needed our help! Tragically, despite all our attempts the two remaining pups died, but we have managed to help their mum,
Cinders, a Boxer cross. She is about 18mths, medium size and is a beautiful loving dog and will be looking for her forever home once she is fully recovered. Little Tic-Tok was found after a road accident with a broken leg. He is a young Terrier cross dog with the cutest face, not that you could see it as the poor boy was absolutely covered in ticks! He was in such a poor state bless him. After a trip to the vets to discover a hairline fracture of his leg, he was taken home for some much needed de-ticking! He looks a different dog now! All he needs now is some TLC and good food and hell make a super pet. Can someone out there offer him the home and love he so deserves? As always your help and support are much needed in the care of these animals. Any donations of clothing, furniture and household items are greatly appreciated and collections can be arranged. I am always in the car park on Camposol B on Mondays 11.30am-1.30pm for collections, or you can visit one of our shops in Mazarrn Town or Fuente Alamo, where a warm reception awaits! Thanks for all your continued support Andrea xxx
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Free El Corte Ingls Voucher, Fuel Voucher or 50 Cashback, Courtesy of Liberty Seguros If there is something you value, Liberty Seguros will protect it for you. Whether it is your car or your home, with a wide range of products to suit all your insurance needs, you will always be in safe hands.
they will refund 50 Cash Back directly to your bank account to spend however you like! Liberty Seguros Car Insurance is tailor-made with you in mind and really has no competition when it comes to insuring Expats in Spain. It offers total coverage to both the driver and passengers in case of an accident, as well as roadside assistance from kilometre zero. You can select a vehicle repair shop of your choice should you ever need one and good drivers may be rewarded with no-claims discounts of up to 65%. When you take out a new Home Insurance, Liberty Seguros will reward you with a free El Corte Ingls voucher worth 25. Alternatively, you can have 50 Cash Back straight into your bank account if you decide to pay by Direct Debit instead. Liberty Seguros Home Insurance
makes sure that the biggest investment you are likely to ever make is properly protected. Home contents will be insured on a value as new basis and there is a 24 hour home assistance service. It even includes family legal defence, IT assistance and legal defence for internet commerce! There are three easy sign-up options to adjust the product to your exact needs: Basic, Plus and Premium, with additional covers also available. Go to www.libertyexpatriates.es now for the name of your nearest Liberty Seguros broker who can give you expert advice on which cover best suits your familys needs in a friendly face-to-face environment and speak in your own language. Only for insurance taken out and commencing between 1st March and 31st May 2014. Premiums must exceed 425 for Fully Comprehensive Car Insurance and 250 for Home Insurance.
Trust in an expert for the things you care about most and when you take out your new Fully Comprehensive Car Insurance up to 31st May. Liberty Seguros will give you a free 25 fuel voucher; or even better, if you pay by Direct Debit instead,
The Truth About Ordenan 79 And Mosquitoes In Mazarrn!! After seeing several notices in the press regarding the new legislation, I asked a friend of ours who works in the council to set up a meeting with the person responsible for overseeing the new legislation. Following this meeting I was able to ascertain the following facts: 1. During this year and starting in the summer, legal and registered pool and garden companies such as ourselves will be invited to attend a course, probably in Murcia, detailing how to prevent and get rid of mosquitoes and in particular the Tiger Mosquito. 2. Anyone with a pool or garden who is not permanently resident, but starting with communal pools and gardens,
3.
will be required to demonstrate to the council that they have measures in place by way of a contract with a company who has completed the course to certify that all measures have been complied with to prevent or get rid of mosquitoes within their area. Non-compliance can result in nes of up to 3,000.
lay its eggs and the larvae can live and then progress to adults in the smallest amount of standing water. It is imperative to take preventative measures to prevent the Tiger Mosquito from breeding such as making sure water butts etc are covered, childrens toys are emptied of water every day, plant pots and the likes are not allowed to stand with water in them and pool covers are not allowed to accumulate water. Ponds that dont have a pump can be a problem, but taking measures such as using mosquito dunks containing BTi, which prevents the mosquito larvae from developing, but dont have any harmful effects on people, sh or other animals. These can also be used in animal feeding troughs. Mosquito-eating sh can also be useful in ponds etc.
The Tiger Mosquito, which is not indigenous to Spain, has now become established because of its ability to adapt to a wide range of conditions and is a particularly nasty mosquito. Unlike other mosquitoes it does not contain its feeding times to dusk or dawn, but is active during the day. It particularly likes humans and will set up its breeding place next to people (if you are being bitten the source will be less than 200 meters away). It can
Swimming pools essentially, if cared for properly, should not pose a problem as the mosquitoes dont live in moving water and cannot survive without algae. If your pool is properly maintained it should not present a problem. The measures imposed by the Council may at rst seem extreme, however the reaction some people experience from bites by the mosquito can be very painful and it is important to stop plagues of the insect establishing in Mazarrn and other areas. Alpha Pools Tel 968 971 824/686 706 633 alphapools@gmail.com
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Spanish Income Tax For Residents 2014 Spanish Resident tax returns declaring worldwide income received during the 2013 calendar year will need to be submitted during May and June 2014. A Spanish Income Tax return will need to be submitted in your rst year of tax residency, regardless of how low your income is. (For tax purposes you are considered as a resident if you stay in Spain for more than 183 days a year.) This tax is calculated on your worldwide income, including pensions from your home country and interest income from your bank accounts you may have abroad. Note: there are pensions that according to double taxation agreements between both
countries, can be taxed only in your home country and never in the country where you are scal resident (such as government pensions paid to retired civil servants, police, British Army personnel, or medical and nursery staff from the NHS), will be taxed in the UK and not in Spain. The declaration thresholds this year are as follows: * For earned income: 22,000, however it falls to 10,200 when earned from more than one employer or when the income is not taxed at source, such as pensions received from your home country. Property Rental Income: 1,000 Income on your bank savings or other investments: 1,600
Remember that you will have to complete and submit a tax return during your rst year of tax residency. Also, please bear in mind the following: * When selling your property, you will have to provide at the Notary, a scal resident certicate issued by the Tax Ofce. It is very advisable to appoint a scal representative who may apply and receive the certicate on your behalf. Submitting a tax return, regardless of whether you are obligated to or not, is the best way to prove you are a scal resident in Spain. If you do not do this before completion the buyer will have to retain 3% of the sales proceeds on account of your Capital Gains Tax liability. Spanish scal residents of 65 years of age or more are totally exempt for Capital Gains Tax when selling their main dwelling in Spain. Remember you must have lived in that property for 3 years prior to the sale and you will be required to prove it.
* *
Personal allowances for this year are as follows: * Under 65 years old: 5.151 * 65 years and over: 6.069 * 75 years and over 7.191 Tax rate after allowances and deductions, for the Murcia Region are as follows: Tax Rate Between 0 and 17,707.20 24,75% Between 17,707.20 and 33,007.20 30,00% Between 33,007.20 and 53,407.20 40% Between 53,407.20 and 120,000.20 47% Between 120,000.20 and 175,000.20 51% Between 175,000.20 and 300,000.20 54% More than 300,000.20 55% Income from your savings, different tax rates apply: * For the rst 6K Euros: 21% * From 6K to 18K Euros: 25% * From 24K Euros ahead: 27% This will affect mainly: * Your capital gains made on the sale of your properties. * Income on your bank savings or other investments Remember that banks will make a 21% tax retention on interest paid, but you will be able to claim some back by submitting a tax return. At Corral & Alcaraz Law Firm we will always be pleased to assess your personal situation and answer any questions you may have. We wish to make your life easier in Spain. Tel 968 078 754
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Its Chufng Magic! David Lesley Urion was born on the North Wales border in June 1959 and has been living in Murcia since 2001. He has a BA (Hons) degree in Youth and Community Education from the University of Wales and has held a whole host of varied and challenging jobs in a nomadic life since leaving school; some more enjoyable and long-lasting than others obviously, but all providing unique learning experiences that have often come in handy as poem topics; farm hand, engineering draughtsman, police ofcer, forklift truck driver, youth and community worker, garden designer, school book salesman, football coach, translator, tour guide, mystery shopper, mentor, TEFL teacher and ultimately creative writing tutor in two fantastic Siberian universities. This lifestyle and the memories and emotions experienced are reected in the range of his published short stories and poetry which have been translated into Russian and Spanish and have enabled David to gain inspiration from the multitude of environmentally and ethnically different locations where he has lived or felt at home throughout a happy life. Watch out for his next book coming out later in 2014 - Wombat Goes Walkabout, a Gruffalo-style illustrated childrens book set
in Siberia about the adventures of a wombat who accidentally ends up living in the wilds with a slightly eccentric glamorous granny and her yeti friends. Who or what or where will he write about next? In Praise Of Rails is a nostalgic collection of fty railwayrelated poetic gems that will inspire you to nd out more about the memorable locomotives, events, people and places that have shaped our island races unique obsession with all things trains, that began with the starch-shirted days of Stephensons Rocket and still survives today with the sleek and sexy Eurostar. Love em or hate em, you cant get away from trains in the UK. Everywhere you go, from the biggest city to the most solitary spot, youre
sure to nd a new generation of rolling stock or ancient relics to remind you of Britains great railway heritage not too far away if you look hard enough. This is not just an excellent insightful poetry collection; it delves into and celebrates the social fabric and factual history of Britain too. Famous locomotives have been written about; Sir Nigel Gresley, Mallard, Tornado, Flying Scotsman, Northern Belle, Jacobite (undisputed greatest railway journey in the world), plus coal shunters, miniature railways, lost lines, stations, tunnels, secret sidings, boat trains, the importance of the navvies, Woodhams in Barry, a restored signal box, National Railway Museum and STEAM to name but a few. Written by award-winning poet and creative writing tutor David Leslie Urion, this Word Play published book is now available to buy via Amazon and Createspace in traditional print and Kindle formats. If readers/members/subscribers or friends quote code 3XDM69GF when purchasing the book via Createspace.com up to 30th April they will be entitled to a 10% discount off the retail price. Industry discounts are available to museums, bookshops and other retail outlets.
Christian Humanitarian Aid Charity in Mazarrn & the surrounding area helping those in need irrespective of race, creed or status. Matthew 25 v 35 36 When I was hungry you fed me, when I was thirsty you gave me a drink, when I needed clothes you clothed me, when I was a stranger you invited me in, when I
so we would appreciate all the help possible towards this.
Firstly, we would like to thank Cloud Nine Drama Group for their generous donation of 250 which was presented to Tony, our President. Our thanks also go to CEIP Infanta Leonor School, Mazarrn. The children and staff very kindly donated food at the end of the Christmas term. This again was presented to Tony and two other volunteers. We are very grateful for their generosity and the Principle, Antonio, stated that they hope to help us again in the future. A big thank you also goes to all those who donated Christmas presents and to all the knitters for helping to keep our clients children cozy this Christmas. Unfortunately, the shop in Puerto de Mazarrn has had to be closed temporarily due to unforeseen circumstances. However, our volunteers continue to work to enable us to reopen as soon as possible. The Mazarrn shop remains open as normal. We are grateful to everyone who supports the charity, especially as the number of new clients is growing fast. Last year we helped supply children with their school supplies which can cost more than 400 per child, We have containers for toiletries and food donations at The English Butchers, Camposol A, Quicksave, Camposol B and The Teapot, Puerto de Mazarrn. Drop off points Camposol A - Tony Halford (President) C/ Alicante, 6 MAD Van Camposol B Car Park, Tuesdays 11am-1pm Camposol B TJ Electricals Camposol C - Denise Green, Rosa 2583, C/ Castillo Mayorazgo Ascoy. Tel 666 305 780 Mazarrn Shop, C/Carmen, 8. Tel 634 321 161 Puerto de Mazarrn - Ibex Insurance (opposite Lidl) & Costa Clida FM Radio Please call Tony on 634 357 137 to arrange collection of larger items. C/Carmen, 8 Mazarrn 30870 Murcia Tel 634 357 137 CIF NO G30853790
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At the meeting of the Darwinian Gardeners on Saturday March 1st the rst item was a visit to John and Rhians garden where we were entertained to coffee and cakes, followed by a tour of their extensive garden which has a wide range of ornamental plants as well as an olive orchard. Members were interested to hear of the particular growing conditions, which include frequent visits from rabbits and not infrequent overnight frosts and to compare these to other gardens nearby in which conditions can be quite different.
We then adjourned to the nearby Nursery to see the spring bedding plants. These are for sale at very advantageous prices and most people left with their car boots full. Lunch and the rafe followed at the Bar La Puente in Majada (The one with the motorbike in the tree!) The next event is the 4th Annual Garden Party at Cortijo Raja, Morata on Saturday April12th. Further details will shortly be published on the Darwinian Gardeners page at www. bolnuevo.com. For more information see the webpage or telephone Anne on 669 338 885. New members are very welcome.
Events for 2014 April 8th Visit to The Old Mines at La Union followed by opportunity for shopping at Market and Dos Mares. 18pp Depart Camposol A 9am Contact 618 958 816 These historic mines were working until 1960; one of the areas better examples of this arduous work. May 21st Coach Trip To Benidorm Market then onto Guadalest for lunch and free time in town. Depart Camposol A 9am. Leave 6.30pm. 18pp Lions on the web - nd us at www.bolnuevo.com/lions or http://www.lionsmazarron.org
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Hello, Nathan here and this month I am going to talk to you about the family coming over and celebrating Dylans 1st birthday. On Sunday, Rachel, Gareth, Arun, Dylan and the nanny Bibi arrived at 2pm and the boys were very excited and couldnt wait to get inside. Unfortunately lunch, which Dad had prepared, was nearly ready, but Dylan had already eaten, so he went to bed and the rest of us ate. Much to Rachel and Gareths surprise, Arun ate nearly all of his food. After this, people relaxed and explored. There is always something new for visitors to explore because of various projects we have completed, but Dylan missed it all because he was sleeping in his cot. The next day was a very special day because Dylan had his birthday party. His actual birthday was the following day, but we had the party a day early and decided let him open his presents. When everyone arrived we got some food, which we had had bought in Iceland the previous week. Margaret Thorn had
very kindly made an awesome birthday cake for Dylan, which he pointed at and say OOOOO all the time! Then we all migrated down to our relatively new conservatory and watched the whole family open presents because Arun started opening them. Everyone thought it was quite funny and Dylan got some quite loud annoying presents that we would all have to endure later on in the holiday, which we might have guessed when he opened them. After everyone played party games, (those
who wanted to which didnt include me!) the group started to get smaller, but everyone had a good time even Arun and Dylan who had been dressed for the occasion in Tuxedos! After our food had gone down, we went on a bike ride and some played a bit of rugby. The other days we spent just relaxing at home enjoying the company, out for meals or playing on the beach. Rachel and Gareth went to La Manga to a very posh hotel for 2 days and Dad joined on the second day for an 18 hole round of golf with Gareth whilst Rachel had a facial and drank wine. We had the boys and Bibi at home and we went to the beach and relaxed. The boys loved playing on the sand and getting dirty because they dont usually get to do it because they live in England and it is cold. When we had to say goodbye it was hard because we dont usually get to see them, but they enjoyed themselves and so did we. Speak to you next month. Bye!!
Buy well and you only, buy once! Curtain Call started trading in Murcia almost twelve years ago and has always stood for good quality at sensible prices. In everything Curtain Call does, they aim to offer best value for money which is always cheaper in the long run. The real advantage of quality is that it lasts and lasts and looks good and works well for longer.
Curtain Call offers a made-to-measure service for curtains, blinds, interior and exterior upholstery and awnings. There are no shop premises to support (we have a large purpose-built workshop) and we offer home visits so that you can choose the fabric for your new soft furnishings in the situation in which you will be using it.
If you have bought good quality indoor or outdoor furniture, it is well worth re-covering rather than replacing and if you are buying curtains or blinds, choose a quality product backed by an established reliable service your investment will be repaid many times over! Get ready now for those long summer months. If you want to know more, please visit the website www.curtain-call.es or contact Curtain Call at sally@curtain-call.es
NEST Walks Nature Espua Trails - April 2014 - Easy social walks. Friday 25th April Cave Walk 10.30am at El Berro car park (opposite Camping Sierra Espua) An easy 3 hour walk in the mountains where we can see quite an interesting large ancient cave; walking along pine-clad paths with some slopes and on tarmac. Followed by an optional meal in the mountains where we can often see wild boar and their young. Just wear sensible footwear to walk along the rubbly dirt tracks with some slopes and bring water to sip. We will admire views, chat and wait for slower people. The focus is the social side - meeting new people and making friends were not sporty walkers! The walk itself
is 5 and the Menu del Dia meal, including salad, starter, main course, dessert, a drink,
plus coffee and possible wild boar spotting, is optional at 9, although most people couldnt be dragged away by then! Please book in advance (full names and a Spanish contact tel no) and await conrmation to know youre booked in. Places are limited, so book early to get a place. Tel or text message 679 002 147 Email natureespunatrails@gmail.com and to see whats happening or get driving directions, go to www.nestwalks.info You can also choose and book your own walk on any date to suit your group; just ask looking forward to seeing you!
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ABOUT THE CRA The Camposol Residents Association has been in existence for some years. In 2006 the association registered as a voluntary organisation. The Association is managed by a team of committee members, democratically voted in at the Annual General Meeting, all volunteering their time and skills and sharing the same CRA aim: dedicated to the completion, development and well being of all sectors of Camposol. WHY JOIN THE CRA? Why Not? Its free to join!
Membership is open to all homeowners on Camposol. We keep you up-to-date with our monthly e-newsletters, offer a members-only Forum and of course there is the CRA Discount Scheme. Come and see us. A Committee Member is on duty at the CRA Cabin on Mondays and Fridays from 11am to 1pm. Out of these hours you can email info@cracamposol.com, call us on 634 364 739 or write to us at the address below.
NEWS UPDATES Minutes of committee and Town Hall meetings are displayed on the CRA Cabins notice board. All of these and other news items can also be found at www.cracamposol.com Registered Address: AP 1528, Camposol Mazarrn 30875 Murcia Spain Reg No: 7943/1 CIF No: G73369167
WHAT A NIGHT WE HAD! The FAST Fundraisers have done it again! On Saturday 1st March at the Black Bull on Camposol B, an event took place arranged by the FAST Fundraising Team in order to raise funds for FAST. Brenda and Jean as per usual worked hard from start to nish, resulting in yet another successful evening! It was obvious at the time just how much was enjoyed by all, but the numer-
ous phone calls and feedback they received for days afterwards conrmed it! Carol and John, the owners of the Black Bull, together with Ryan the manager and staff, did a magnicent job, not only in making sure everyone was welcomed as they entered the well organized and prepared layout with named places at each table, but also maintaining this service and attention throughout the evening. It was a pleasant, well decorated venue, together with a friendly atmosphere. FAST wishes to thank everyone at the Black Bull for all their hard work and support constantly given. A Rafe was held, with some great prizes. Thank you once again, Carol and John for your kind donation of a bottle of Scotch Port and also wine. Your generosity is very much appreciated. The free table nibbles
were also enjoyed! The entertainment was brilliant! We were extremely lucky to be able to enjoy the duo called WILDCAT. They are already well known by many people and once seen are denitely never forgotten! Their Tribute Show, which contained such a wide variety of great singing, including Amy Winehouse, Lady Gaga and Cher plus many more, together with the musical entertainment throughout the whole evening. You could not avoid getting caught up in the infectious atmosphere. Even those who werent dancing could not resist joining in, carrying out hand-jiving, tapping feet, linking arms, swaying etc. whilst still remaining seated! This duo, Jackie and Jim certainly gave their everything! Superscot (Jim) will certainly never be forgotten following his performance of dancing and singing Jimmy Shows Yir Target whilst circulating amongst the wide eyed audience! It seems that we now know the answer to the question What is worn under a Scotsmans kilt?! A fantastic evening, with a fantastic result: Total amount raised for FAST: 440.42 This money will continue to assist FAST with the costs involved in carrying out this voluntary service to residents and visitors on Camposol. Thank you everyone for your continued support. Paddy & John Snell.
The Mazarrn Bahia Leo Club members joined with family and friends to do the Sponsored Walk or Bike Ride on Sunday 9th March on Camposol B. Everyone enjoyed themselves and all the money raised will go to sending children with Diabetes to a special camp to help them learn how to cope with this illness.
go to Diabcamp for a week. Every year the Mazarrn Lions work hard to sponsor these children to attend the camp. In Spain there were over 1,500 new cases of Diabetes in children diagnosed last year. The Leos say that volunteering trains them to see the world through someone elses eyes, teaching them compassion and responsibility. The Mazarrn Leos are helping to make their community a better place and to be grateful for what they have and not take things for granted. The Lions and Camposol,
where this club is based, are very proud of the Leos and thank them for their wonderful effort. Thanks must also go to the FAST volunteers for being there with their support and lollipops and John a member for taking all the photos. Thank you again Healthy H2O for once again for supplying the water. Many thanks to Maureen & Simon for their help with planning the route and to Leo Leaders Martin & Cressy for their invaluable enthusiasm and support. Lastly our thanks to the many walkers and bike riders and all who sponsored them and of course to the publicity provided by the Costa Clida Chronicle. The Mazarrn Bahia Leo Club meets at 7pm fortnightly on Fridays at the Camposol Cultural Centre and is open to children aged 12 to 18 years. This months meeting will be on Friday April 4th & April 18th.
Many Mazarrn Leos have friends in school who are Diabetic. They were therefore very proud to contribute with sending the children, supported by The Diabetic Association, to
For more information call Gina Barker, Leo Club Advisor on 654 874 563.
After spending several weeks tackling the dreaded caterpillars, clipping dead palm leaves and gaining sponsorship for the April Sweep, Clean & Weed Event, you would think that the Los Palacios Gardening & Community Volunteers would take a well earned break. The answer to that is a denite - NOT LIKELY!!!!! The Bucket Collectors are continuing to raise funds every Thursday morning opposite the market and the Friday Bookstall still makes a substantial contribution to enable the Group to purchase that all important membrane and the gravel to improve the communal areas. The Maintenance Teams are also hard at work and can be seen in their yellow T-shirts, beavering away. At our March meeting we pre-
sented our events line up for 2014 (see website www.lospalacios-gardeners.com & notice board opposite the postroom). Ladies, if you fancy a shopping trip to the Benidorm Wednesday Market on May 21st, check out the website for details. This is a full days visit to the market and you will have plenty of time for a chat and lunch with the girls. The Remembrance Garden and Parque Los Palacios are maintained by our members and will feature as one of our main projects this year. We will meet to form a 2 year plan shortly to enable these prestigious areas to be enhanced and become even more enjoyable to residents. This would not be possible without the very generous contributions from visitors and residents alike, who show their
support with donations and kind words that make it all worth while. Our next Members Meeting is on Tuesday 4th April, in Cats Bar. If you are interested in joining us in improving the environment, why not come along to see what its all about? Our Group is all about sustaining the local environment and having good fun along the way. John Grant - Chairman Glyn Webb - Vice Chairman Pauline Pearson - Treasurer Joce Grant - Group Secretary
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Our only event this month is our Easter Monday Afternoon Fair at 3pm on 21st April. As always we are holding the Fair outside our on-site bar and restaurant, La Taberna and you are all invited. We will have a variety of stalls, a tombola, a guess the number of sweets in the jar, a free Easter egg hunt
for the children, a hot dog stand and a rafe. There is no entry charge, so please join us and enjoy what is always a very pleasant afternoon. Our day Trip to Jumilla on Wednesday 14th May is already fully booked as theres no shortage of people wanting to taste a little
wine, enjoy lunch and not need to drive. If youd like to add your name to our waiting list, please email us at mccsocialclub@yahoo.co.uk and well contact you if we get any late cancellations. More next month Hazel Davison
The joint project between Greenngers, Mazarrn Ayuntamiento and Camposol Golf Club is already looking lovely and will be nished with raised beds and a new seating feature so we can all take a breather on our way to and from the precinct while enjoying the lovely young trees and owers planted nearby.
him! Meanwhile, the missing lid of the butt behind the Welcome wall has mysteriously reappeared. Thanks to anyone who helped this happen, and please keep eyes and ears open to prevent any other losses!
sails for our little windmill. Each bucket or rafe donation, each ticket sold for our social events, each monthly payment into the regular maintenance scheme and each contribution made by local businesses or the Council make us feel part of a larger, integrated and caring community. Its a great benet of living or holidaying in this welcoming country! Tickets are still available at 6 each, for our Social Evening on 11th April, 8pm at The Club House with Karen Noble. It should be a great evening, so come and support us and have fun at the same time! We would like to invite everyone to our Annual General Meeting at The Club House on 23rd April at 3pm. Please come along and put your views forward! New committee members are always welcome, as are new volunteers! Please check the chalkboards and Facebook for any further information or contact John, our Chairman, on 634 325 427 or visit the website www.greenngersgardenandsocialgroup.com/
Every one of these has been bought with your generous donations to our buckets; a huge thank-you to everyone! Another 25 tons of gravel will be paid for by Greenngers and laid by our working parties (adding to the 50 tons already provided by the Council). A huge number of new trees and plants now have to be cared for and this will be a mammoth task for our volunteers as the weather becomes warmer. If you can spare any time and water to help those near your villa it will be much appreciated. We would also be very grateful for any full water containers left behind the Welcome wall. The owner of the Pig Farm on our perimeter road has kindly donated three water butts, so a huge thank-you must go to
Our regular sweeping, weeding and spraying of every street in lower C by the maintenance scheme continues in strict rota; a reminder that the chemical used is pet friendly so no danger to animals and will control re-growth during warmer months. On Wednesday mornings your sterling efforts are rewarded with a free breakfast and refreshments, plus the incentive of making many new friends! There are so many ways you can help us even if you cant afford a monetary donation; our volunteers are always grateful for drinks and we are happy to have your unwanted plants or decorative pots (chipped or broken is ne) to decorate the borders. Particular thanks this month must go to Ron Hacker, who has kindly volunteered to provide a roof and new
Our club was founded about six months ago with the aim of promoting and providing a meeting point for anyone interested in scale models.
model railways. These include Die-cast vehicles, model ships and dolls houses. This diversity has turned out to be a bonus as it provides an opportunity to exchange ideas and swop information between people with different interests, so usually if you have a problem with a project there is someone within the group who can provide a solution. We welcome anyone whatever their area of expertise or skill level to come and join us and add their input to the club. Meetings are normally held on the 3rd Thursday of the month at a convenient location, but everyone is sent a reminder about a week before once a venue has been conrmed. Anyone interested in joining can come along to one of our meetings for an informal chat, or call Colin on 647 259 914 or Richard on 666 186 037.
Our core membership at the moment is around fteen people from the immediate area with a wide range of interests besides
For more info take a look at our website which shows typical projects and also has a contact page www.camposolanddistrictmodelclub.webeden.co.uk
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Dive Show Mazarrn attended the 6th Dive Travel Show, the Diving Fair of Madrid. They went under the slogan Mazarrn, Mar y Mas to publicise active tourism in the Town including the cultural attractions and gastronomic heritage which can be enjoyed all year round. Also during the show the II International Underwater Photography Mazarrn Bahia was announced and the Spanish Championship of Underwater Photography and Video that this year will be held in Mazarrn coast. The XXVI Spanish Championship of Underwater Photography Nafosub 2014 and the Championship XVI Spanish Underwater Diving Video Cevisub 2014 will be held 16th 21st September, while the II International Underwater Photography Open, Mazarrn Bahia will be held 22nd 25th September. Alfonso Bachiller has revealed that we have conrmation of attendance from Arturo Telle, 5-times Champion of Spain; Fabian Alvarez, European Champion and 2-times Champion of Spain; Juan Ramon Marcelino, 3-times Champion of Spain; Jorge Candn, World Champion of Underwater video and from Santiago, Jos Mara Abad and Juan ngel Cano, the last champions of the Region of Murcia. Prizes for the II Open International Underwater Photography, Mazarrn Bahia: Top 3 photos 6,000, 3,000 and 1,500 with 4 prizes of 1,000 for Best Picture of Fauna, Best Close Up, Best Photo Scene and Top Model. This year there will be a new prize of 500 for the most imaginative picture and a trophy as well as 1,000 for the Best Representative Photo of Mazarrn seabed. Intercultural Day On Thursday March 6th the Day Centre of Mazarrn hosted the II Intercultural Day which celebrated the Day Centre for people with Intellectual Disabilities. The objective of this conference was to promote the practice of positive attitudes of users in a multicultural environment and share cultural differences. This was carried out in a series of activities such as an exhibition of objects and costumes from different countries including Spain, Morocco, Ecuador, France and England. Questions on a quiz about different cultures and a world map and various diversity Games mural was also held. The cuisine started with tea and tasting different dishes from Spain, Morocco and Ecuador.
Performances took place by the Bugle and Drum Band, Asociacon Mazarrn with dances from Spain, Ecuador and Morocco, as well as performances by Pedro and Antonio, users of the Centre singing and dancing along to the song Los Chicos. Completing the day was a henna workshop, a workshop in sign language and the presentation of medals to the winners in adapted sports. The Petanca winners were Juana G, Immaculada G, Jaime L, Fabian Enrique O and Juan T, Pedro S, Ana Beln C, Andres B, Antonio G and Josefa B. Mujer Mazarronera On Sunday March 9th the central courtyard of Mazarrn Cultural Centre hosted the award ceremony Mujer Mazarronera which this year was awarded to the President of Mazarrn Red Cross and ex-Councillor at City Hall, Carmen Navarro for her caring and selfless work. She said It is an honour to receive this award because all previous women who have received it, some of them of whom are here today, is a clear example of effort, struggle, perseverance and solidarity and they have represented Mazarrn women in their ght to achieve their goals. Exhibition An exhibition has been dedicated to the great painter of Mazarrn, Domingo Valdivieso, which can be seen in the Town Hall until May 9th. The exhibition is composed of important works, some of which are on public display for the rst time. This is the case of a selfportrait belonging to a private collection, on loan for the occasion and this image has been chosen to illustrate the exhibition. Also on display is the recumbent Cristo Yacente de Valdivieso, on loan from the Museo de Bellas Artes de Murcia (MUBAM), Christ Valdivieso and the cloth of La Veronica Salzillo, donated by the Foundation Museo Salzillo in Madrid. The MUBAM has also given the world famous painting Luna de Miel and A maragato, while the Parish of San Andres Apostol and San Antonia de Padua have provided the Virgin con el Nio. A dozen portraits donated by private collectors complete the show in which you can also see the portrait of Valdivieso made by Hernndez Amores and the canvas Sancto Santorum, a work by Murcian Artist Juan Jos Martnez Cnovas. The exhibition can be visited Tuesday-Friday from 9am-2pm and 5pm-8pm and Mondays and Saturdays from 10am-2pm. On Holy Thursday and Good Friday (17th and 18th April) and Thursday May 1st 9am-2pm. Artisan Markets The Department of Trade of the City of Mazarrn and Regional Multiple Crafts Guild held on Saturday March 8th the monthly Artisan Market of Puerto de Mazarrn. This market, as usual, was held 10am-2pm on the Paseo de las Comunidades Autno-
mas located at the beginning of the promenade. The purpose of this market is to offer residents and visitors, the most authentic craftsmanship that takes place in the Region of Murcia. During the event, thirty artisans will demonstrate their crafts as well as display their work for sale. The Guild of Handicraft Regional Multiple takes to the streets every Saturday and Sunday, each time in a different point in the region, to show the skills of its Artisans Association. Exchange Programme 35 students of the institute Colleg Jules Ferry from the French city of Cazouls les Bezier were received in Town Hall of Mazarrn by the Councillor for Education, Maria Celeste Soria. The youngsters belong to the language exchange programme developed by the Secondary School Domingo Valdivieso in Mazarrn and they were happy to spend a few days in the town. Maria Celeste Soria welcomed the students and wished them a pleasant stay in Mazarrn, getting to know the monuments and beaches. The youngsters were given extensive information and the Mayor giving them very striking and colorful promotional bags Mazarrn Mar y Mas as well as brochures on the town and other gifts. This is the eighth year that the French institute has visited to the town. ASPADEM Van The Department of Social Policy has acquired a new accessible van that will be used by users of the Centre for Child Development and Early Intervention (CDIAT) and the Day Centre for People with Intellectual Disabilities. The presentation has been made by the Mayor of Mazarrn, Gins Campillo, the Councilor of the area, Maria Martinez and Manager of CDIAT, Salvador Snchez . It has been fully adapted for people with reduced mobility. It has 8 seats and can transport two people in wheelchairs at the same time. Awards On Friday February 21st in the hall of the Cultural Centre was the presentation of awards and diplomas I for Almazjoven 2013. All young people who attended the event received a diploma for their participation. Winners received vouchers of 300, 200 and 100, redeemable at various establishments in Mazarrn. The purpose of this contest is to foster artistic creativity among our youth and to inform the general public of the diversity, historical, cultural, ethnographic and landscape of Mazarrn through different art forms. In the section of the poetry, rst prize went to Alex Erazo Mendoza, while 2nd and 3rd places went to Alvaro Canovas Moreno and Bryan Erazo Mendoza. In the short story section, the winner was Estefanny Erazo Mendoza, 2nd was Estafania Ortiz Rodriguez and 3rd Joaqun Linares Losa. In photography, Isabel Maria Belmar Snchez was rst, 2nd Maria Hernandez Ruiz and 3rd ngela Garca Guerrero. The Mayor, Gins Campillo, congratulated the young winners and all the participants in general because this event is important for our young people to develop their artistic and creative aspects.
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All is well in the Rainbow home camp. The animals are well as the garden starts to move into spring. We have had so little rain this year. I think I have watered the garden every week. We have a small oasis in the Spanish desert fed by two water wells on the land! The well levels seem to hold up and even with the reduced rain the water table seems as usual. Mums are ne with Matt in the UK at present looking after Rose, but he will soon be back. TV NEWS The big story is still the new satellite that transmits our UK TV. It seems to be settled now, but we have to accept the signals are far weaker than they were on the old satellite. Reception will never be as good as it was, but at least we can still receive UK TV. Down the coast from Almeria and through Portugal there is no signal, so no satellite UK TV. One client did comment that this may have a bearing on house prices here. If you were in the UK looking for a Spanish property and Murcia could get UK TV and Andalusia not, that may well inuence your decision?!! Not the be all and end all, but perhaps some inuence. Local estate agents take note and include UK TV installed in a property listing?!!
To get reliable UK TV we do again (it was the same 5 years ago with the previous satellite) need the larger dishes. Rainbow feel the 1.45 Portuguese Prime Focus is the minimum for reliable TV viewing and a 1.80 is ideal. There are lots of 1.35 offsets around the area and these can be made to bring a signal in provided you do not want specic regional variations and you are happy with some pixcellation at times during the day and denitely poor reception in bad weather, but they are cheaper! If you are buying a property and you want UK TV, get a good TV installation company to survey for a dish before you nally buy. The huge dishes required cannot be mounted on some properties. Internet TV is a reality now, but you do need really good consistent internet. Net TV is not like sending an email when you use the Internet for a millisecond TV requires 24/7 consistent internet and thats not always possible, especially in Murcia! Many Internet suppliers do not like you downloading 2+MB/s continuously. They say they provide you with, say 8MB/S, but that was for short periods. Many of them cannot cope with that gure continuously. However,
where you have good Internet, TV can be really good. Rainbow supply a very reasonable package with Sports, many channels and a latest Movie pack. Ask for details. We have an Internet leaet. Finally some channels news. BBC is to close BBC3 - not a channel I watched often, but there were some innovative things on there. Channel 5 is to open 5+24 - like the +1s which run an hour behind the live transmission, this will just be a repeat of the day before. Another way to catch up on missed viewing if you didnt see it live, on +1, recorded it, or cant get 5OD, you will have 5+24! Will all the other channels follow? Article sponsored by Rainbow Satellites, the company for all your TV needs in the Murcia region. Contact Alan or Matt for free friendly advice on any TV issue. Email rainbowsats@gmail.com Tel (0034) 686 358 475 Website www.rainbowsats.org has some good basic information on TV in Spain, but it does need an update following the new satellite commission. Have a read, but contact us to discuss.
Your Own Peoples Animal Charity We endeavour to provide nancial aid to people who kindly rescue sick, injured, and abandoned animals. We also have a policy of helping with the spaying and castration of feral animals where there is a danger they may overrun the local population and animals that are lost, or discarded by owners with nancial difculties. When you take one in, come to us. We also assist with vets bills such as neutering and other treatments suggested by our own vet. We can also provide food for them initially.
Montys Story Monty had been missing for ve days and when he eventually made it home it was with a badly damaged rear leg. A trip to the
vets showed that the leg had multiple breaks and cuts probably caused by an attack from a wild dog. Fortunately MAMAS were able to help with cost of the operation and he is now on the way to a full recovery.
How Do We Do This and How You Can Assist Us? We need any items you no longer need; items of furniture, clothing, kitchenware and electrical goods. We can sell almost anything. We will clear whole houses and take monetary donations - how about all that small change you have stuck in the back of a drawer? In these difcult times anything you can do will be gratefully felt. You can donate at the shop, Mon to Sat 10am-2pm. We are on the road into Puerto de Mazarrn. Turn left immediately before Consum Supermarket and we are 150mts up on the right. We always have a good selection of second-hand items in the shop at reasonable prices and we now have new showroom where we can display them, so if you need quality items, visit us. You could save yourself time, money and help animals at the same time. Check out our website where there is a link to show furnishings for sale www.mazarronanimalmedi-aid.co.uk Every Tuesday we are on Camposol B Sector car park 10am-1pm, opposite the petrol station. We can collect items or arrange collection if needed. Our 50/50 Scheme This applies to larger items; anything from a single item up to full house contents, including furniture and white goods. We can collect the bulky items free of charge, display them in our shop to ensure that you receive the best possible price and then forward your 50% share to you. Please contact us if you need help Tel 666 186 037 call at the shop Email mazarronanimalmedi-aid@hotmail.com Helping You To Help Animals Registered Charity No 9537/1a
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Fuerte de Navidad (or Christmas Fort) Cartagena is a town with a long naval history and linked to this, have been numerous defensive installations through the ages. One example which we would thoroughly recommend as worth visiting is the Fuerte de Navidad (or Christmas Fort) which is situated a few miles out of Cartagena on the southern side of the harbour bay.
the 17th Century. The new Christmas Fort, together with the Santa Ana Battery could mount a telling crossre at the harbour mouth. Once its usefulness was past, Christmas Fort progressively fell into ruins, before a process of restoration began in 2005. Today it not only acts as a reminder of the nature of such forts in the second half of the 19th Century, but it has also been turned into a more general Interpretation Centre for the Defensive Architecture of Cartagena throughout the ages. The restored rooms in the fort have their own distinct themes. The rst room you will enter is devoted to displays of how the fort was restored. The second room contains a model of the Bay of Cartagena and of the defensive structures which were progressively built through the ages to defend the harbour. This theme is continued in the following room where a display case shows artillery pieces used at various times through the centuries, as well as explaining the need for new defensive batteries along the coastline right up to the massive Vickers guns which were installed in the 20th Century. While all the rooms so far have been extensively restored, the next one, the gunpowder magazine (polvorin) has been left so you can see how the fort originally looked. It used to have 17 cannons and although the next room contains one, this is not from the fort. It is, in fact, rather older, dating from 1812 and having come from the great Carlos III defensive wall in Cartagena itself. The displays here also show you how a cannon was red, with various items of equipment hung on the wall. You can also see how the cannon moved laterally on the curved iron rails and how vertical elevation was altered by using the iron loop in the ceiling. Note also at the back of the room an air vent above the door which was to allow gases to vent. Each cannon would be attended by four soldiers and one ofcer. The last two rooms on the ground oor cover the casement style of construction of the fort, with nine rooms below and eight on the rst oor. The nal room contains a number of relics from the 19th Century. From here you can go up the steps to an intermediate level which houses one of the forts novel features toilets! Believe it or not, the Fuerte de Navidad has the distinction of being the rst Spanish fort to have purpose-built toilets, even if they appear very rudimentary to the modern eye with their direct outlet to the sea. You now have the choice of ascending a steep spiral staircase to the rst oor, or returning to the ground level to go around and up by some easier steps. Once on top, you can fully appreciate the command which the fort offered over the harbour with its two levels of cannon. Also at this top level are the forts kitchens, although naturally these are on the opposite side from the harbour itself, where
defensive purposes took priority and sleeping quarters. It is said that the Spanish Army in the second half of the 19th Century suffered from a lack of food, with the traditional fare being broth with some meat, to which potatoes and pulses were added. This was served with bread which was often hard and old. The soldiers would eat from pewter plates wherever they were able to do so. The kitchen at the Fuerte de Navidad had two woodfuelled heaters for food and marble preparation surfaces which would be easier to clean than wood.
The best way to get to the fort is by the Tourist Boat which departs from the Cartagena seafront almost opposite the Town Hall. You will see a small ticket kiosk where the boat ties up and where you can book your trip. When we went (June 2013) the cost of a ticket to go to the fort, disembark there and visit it, and then return via a very pleasant trip out into the bay before turning back, was 8 (concessions available). The forts opening times were somewhat complicated depending on the time of year, with only prearranged group visits from mid-December to mid-March. It may be as well to check before going but, for the rest of the year, it was open 11am-3pm, Tuesdays to Sundays, except July to mid-September, when it shuts at 2pm, but reopens for an afternoon session from 4pm8pm except on Sundays! Of course, if you go by the Tourist Boat, you will have to coordinate with its sailing times which again are very variable (though mainly departing on the hour) according to the time of year. You can usually count on departures every hour from 11am-2pm with sailings continuing into the later afternoon in the main tourist season. Remember that, if you disembark to look at the fort, you will have to catch the next boat from Cartagena to return! The total round trip to include a visit to the fort will be around two hours.
When you return back to the quayside to await the next Tourist Boat from Cartagena, look back across the entrance to the harbour and you will be able to see the corresponding fort to the Fuerte de Navidad on the other side. The quay has a breakwater protruding into the harbour entrance to give some protection against the elements and there is a red lighthouse at the end. This breakwater, together with another, was designed in the 1860s, following a major storm in 1862 and was designed to defend the bay against such storms.
The journey back to Cartagena in the Tourist Boat is longer than the outward journey as it rst continues out into the wider bay. One of the features which will be pointed out is the naval station which has the dubious distinction of being the point from which the Spanish gold reserves were loaded on to ships to be taken to Russia during the Civil War! Article by Clive and Rosie Palmer, who have written several guide books on towns and regions in Murcia. These can be seen at, and obtained from, www.lulu.com, or contact clive.palmer5@btinternet.com. Clive and Rosies book, Exploring Murcia, Days Out is available to buy from the CHM/Costa Clida Chronicle ofce on Camposol B, Best Wishes (who also stock other of their books including the follow-up Exploring Murcia, More Days Out), or phone Patti on 968 433 978.
Christmas Fort was built in the mid-19th Century (1860) as additional defence for protection of the bay and therefore Cartagena and its naval facilities. However, it was not the rst building on its site being built over the remains of the old Bateria de Navidad of
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Located in the main shopping centre in Cartagenas Espacio Mediterraneo, Cotton Grill offers a mixture of American style Tex Mex food and tempting healthier options. On a recent and unusual child free trip with my Mum to Cartagena, I fancied nothing more than a salad, but also wanted to avoid the fast food atmosphere of some of the budget eateries. Cotton Grill was the ideal solution and as the menu has recently been re-vamped, we decided to give some of the new items a try. With an alleged small appetite (until the dessert trolley arrives!!), Mum did not want a full meal, so she chose the new Salmon Club Sandwich, although with a triple decker sandwich and generous portion of fries and coleslaw, it still proved too much for her. However, it had loads of salmon and prawns and she declared it very tasty.
The salad lover (me) decided to try the new Cripsy salad, which might not sound that exciting, but the name does not do it justice. The very large plate was full of a mixture of fresh salad leaves, topped with crispy bacon pieces, cherry tomatoes and slices of goats cheese with caramelised onion topping. The salad came with a dish of balsamic dressing on the side. I managed to clear the plate it was so delicious. However, it would easily serve 2 or 3 people as a starter. We ate relatively early, but the restaurant was still busy and our servers were pleasant and prompt. The bill for the two of us, including a light cola and beer was only 22.50 and we both felt that it was good value for the quantity and quality of the food. With some lovely new items on the menu, alongside the old favourites such as burritos and burgers, I think Ill be going back for that salad again! Rating: (out of 5) Quality Service Value for Money Location
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In mutual agreement The Stamp Collectors have changed the date of their April meeting; it will not be as usual on the rst Tuesday of the month, but on the second, meaning we will meet on 8th April at the Biblioteca in Puerto de Mazarrn. The meeting will start at 6pm and will carry on until the Bibioteca closes at about 7.30pm. In May, we will be back to our traditional rst Tuesday of the month which will be 6th May at the same time as above. I am happy to report that there are now 10 people meeting regularly and on our last meeting I asked everyone how they felt and everyone went home happy, having found new stamps for their collections. Guenther Ohly guentherohly@web.de
A Parkinsons Friendship Group between Spanish and English speaking people was arranged for Tuesday 4th March. These meetings will now take place every 1st Tuesday of the month from 10 am to 12 pm at Club de Mayores de Isla Plana (behind Pepelino hardware shop), C/Isla Antigua n 5 CP-30868, Isla Plana. Anyone has been diagnosed with Parkinsons and their carers are very welcome to attend. We look forward to seeing you. Choneta chonetag@gmail.coms
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The Humanists Group met on Saturday 8th March to discuss the topic Shall we eat the cabin boy. It was explained at the beginning that this was not a cookery class, but was to be a discussion about the value or values of life and how this will change for different people in different circumstances. We had an hour and half discussion about all the big issues concerning the value of life. Humanists believe that this is the one and only life that we have, and promises of life after death hold no validity. We have to make the most of what we have and live a full and happy life ourselves and make it easier for other people to do the same. Specically we considered situations where there was a moral difference between killing someone and letting someone die. A cost benet analysis of the value of life was demonstrated in considering the Ford Pinto case when they tried to cost the value of life rather than put the problem right. The value of life discussion was then extended to payments made to surrogate mothers and egg donors, to regular Armed Forces, conscription and mercenaries to see if a balance could be reached between the value of honour, patriotism and conscription.
All in all it was a good morning followed by a good lunch at El Puente.
March 3rd saw the opening of the rst Forget Me Not RESPITE DAY at the Cultural Centre on Camposol where carers and their dependents came along and enjoyed the facilities for a few hours. The Forget Me Not Respite Care is available every Monday, so if you are caring 24/7 for a loved one who has a long term illness such as dementia or Alzheimers and need some much needed self time, why not come along on a Monday and allow us to care for your loved one whilst you enjoy some leisure?
The next walk will be on Saturday 19th April in the Calabadina area near Aguilas. Details of the Humanist Group can be founds via our website www.bolnuevo.com The next discussion group will be on 21st June, Solstice Day and the theme will be the problems of establishing secularism in Spain to be led by Ann Bresnihan. John Blakey
Forget Me Not is staffed by qualied nurses and volunteers and is available to all who are suffering any long term illness. For further information on this please contact Liam on 602 427 605 or visit our website www.bolnuevo.com Forget Me Not is a high cost operation and to help raise funds we are holding a Fun Day on St Georges Day, April 23rd at Marianos on Camposol A. Included in the events are six music acts, horse racing, stalls, a rafe and many other attractions. Entrance is only 5 and starts at 3pm and goes on until midnight so please come along and support this community initiative. On May 6th, to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the rst sub-four minute mile we are holding a one mile run (or walk) for all grades of runners and sponsorship forms are available from PALS, Costa Clida Radio and other outlets. Again please support this event and if you need further information please ring Ken Payne on 626 460 465. Also for your diary on June 22nd a Mid Summer Solstice Day will be held at the Mazarrn Country Club with music and fun for all the family. Email forgetmenot@bolnuevo.com
Ladies In Pink Charity Evening, Raising Funds For Women V Cancer Vicki Yoxall, whose parents live on Camposol will take part in the Women V Cancer Cycle Challenge in September, cycling 450km in the Beijing province of China. Women v Cancer ride is a women only event and raises funds to ght, Breast, Cervical and Ovarian Cancer. The cycle challenge is being organized by Action for Charity and Vickis aim is to raise 5,000.
To help her in her quest, a fund raising event is being held at: BLACK BULL on CAMPOSOL B on Saturday 26th April at 7.30 pm. Tickets are 10 each, including buffet. There will be excellent music as well as a rafe, so come along and have a great evening whilst supporting this fantastic cause. Tickets available at Black Bull, Camposol B, Carols Hair Salon or tel Rosemarie on 968 199 350
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I have become more and more impressed over recent months with Black Bull, Camposol B, so decided to try and make one of their main events during March. As Camposol residents, we decided to support the FAST event at Black Bull, with entertainment by Wildcat, a tribute band that I had not seen before. Well they were simply hilarious! One of the acts was an excellent version of Lady Gaga, but her basque was so low cut that we were pleased that at least one FAST responder was on hand, just in case! It was a fantastic night and I have not laughed so much for ages! Like many things, when you have been here for 10 years we were in need of a new patio set for the garden as our old set was looking a bit shabby but we had discounted many of the popular sets as we were a bit concerned about the Rattan style if it was to be out in direct sunlight. After a good look around and a quick chat with Chris at Furniture Plus we settled on a lovely set that has a full 3 year guarantee and I am delighted with it. It was
also excellent value for money. This store has the most enormous and well laid out showroom with absolutely everything from beds to wall cabinets and is really worth a visit. Find them above Mercadona precinct in Puerto de Mazarrn. With my role in the business I do a fair amount of driving and therefore go through new tyres rather quickly. This time I sought the advice of Pedro at Neumaticos El Cea, Totana. In the current climate, they have been very sensible and offer a wider range of tyres than before to accommodate all styles and budgets. There were effectively 3 options with a Pirelli tyre at the top of the range down to an economy option, so I was very pleased with both the service and the price. Pedro speaks good English if you need it and there is a very nice little coffee shop with a lovely sun terrace right next door while you wait. The replacement of my 2 front tyres was completed in less than half an hour - thanks Pedro!
I have never been very lucky with my teeth. Sadly both my parents have rather weak ones and mine are no exception. However I have started to replace some of my 30 year old crowns with new ones, when the need arises. I am delighted with my 2 new front teeth thanks to Oliver De Houdusse, Puerto de Mazarrn, who has been my dentist for the last 6 years. It has inspired me to have them all done over time. As for the experience, it was truly painless and a very easy experience. If we are honest, most of us fear the dentist and with good reason after bad experiences as children, but I can honestly not any more thanks to Olivier. I am looking forward to the live music at Bora Bora, Puerto de Mazarrn this coming Saturday afternoon, but will have to report on that one next month as have now run out of time! More next month Teresa
What can you do to raise money for a charity and help others? Answer Think of something you can do in your own home. Sue Metcalf decided to host a jewellery party in her home to raise money for the MACS cancer charity in memory of her husband Paul. Sue invited jewellery artist Joan Claridge along to display her hand-made jewellery and invited her friends for coffee and a chance to purchase these beautiful unique pieces.
Sue raised 20 which will be added to the money raised for MACS at the Team Harmonys grand event in Aguilas on 21st March. www.teamharmonyspain Chocolate, Cakes, Beauty Treatments, Handbags, Jewellery And A Good Natter. What more could a girl want? Euphoria Hair and Beauty Salon in Esparragal, Puerto Lumbreras, together with helpers from Team Harmony created a blissful Ladies Day and raised 300 in aid of Breast Cancer support, a charity close to all our hearts. Anyone attending could choose a cut-price
beauty treatment provided by Debbie Cooks team: Gill Stephenson, Simone Mima, and Sian Cook.
Team Harmonys hostesses were: Joan Claridge - Jewellery Artist Gillian, Tenny, Jean, Lorraine and Joan - providers of home-made cakes and produce. Everyone worked really hard but thoroughly enjoyed the day. There were also purchasing opportunities of girlie products including handbags and a rafe with gifts generously donated by customers from Euphoria and Team Harmony members, along with the hostess for the day, salon owner Debbie Cook Raft Race at San Juan De Loss Tererros The Great Kon Tiki Raft Race (organised by San Animal) will take place on 15th June from the beach at San Juan de los Terreros from 12pm. Teams of 2, 3 or 4 crew members are invited to make their own craft from non-marine parts and race for the coveted San Animal Kon Tiki Trophy. There will be separate races for Under 17s and seniors. Further details and rules are available from Richard and Elina on 950 466 248 and elina.montepinotaperleg@hotmail.com@ hotmail.co.uk Do not miss out on any more fun events. Check Team Harmonys website regularly at www.teamharmonyspain.com
Costa Clida Chronicle: Please tell our customers where you saw their advertisement Page 44
C Costa Clida Chronicle: Please tell our customers where you saw their advertisement
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What is Homeopathy? Homeopathy is an effective and scientic system of healing which assists the natural tendency of the body/mind to heal itself. It recognizes that all symptoms of ill-health are expressions of disharmony within the whole person and that it is the patient who needs treatment not the disease. In 1796 a German doctor, Samuel Hahnemann, discovered a different approach to the cure of the sick, which he called Homeopathy (from the Greek words meaning similar suffering). Like Hippocrates two thousand years earlier, he realized that there were two ways of treating ill health, the way of opposites and the way of similars. Take for example, a case of allergies. The way of opposites (conventional medicine/allopathy), is to treat this by giving a drug to temporarily dry the nasal discharge & watery eyes and suppress sneezing. This involves regular doses of drugs, which sometimes cause side effects or dependency. The way of similars, or Homeopathic way, is to give the patient a minute dose of a substance, such as onion (Allium Cepa), which when cut up causes the same symptoms in a healthy person. (Perhaps surprisingly, this can help the patient resolve the allergy.).
This triggers the self-healing abilities of the body to act against this substance and overcome the allergy. It is always advisable to be under the care of a qualied Homeopath. She/he will give you a Homeopathic medicine (remedy) that matches you. Homeopathic remedies cannot cause side effects when properly taken and you cannot become addicted to them. They also do not interfere with conventional medications. No Harmful Side Effects A preparation process called potentisation removes all toxicity from each substance. It is safe for all ages and during pregnancy. However it is advised to be under the care of a qualied practitioner. Gentle Healing through homeopathy is a gentle process and results are often powerful and long lasting. Holistic Homeopathy considers and addresses the whole person. Often one or a succession of single remedies resolves all complaints. Inexpensive Remedies usually cost surprisingly less than allopathic prescriptions and most herbs/supplements.
Preventative By boosting the immune system and overall health, Homeopathy improves a persons resistance to infections and possible illnesses. Not Tested On Animals Humans respond differently from medicine than animals. All Homeopathic medication is tested on healthy humans. Easy To Take Homeopathic medicines are given as small pleasant tasting pellets which dissolve in the mouth, through olfaction, or in liquid form. Granules, powders & drops are also available. Patient Involvement A Homeopath will ask many questions, not only about the symptoms which are bothering an individual, but also how they react to the condition and about their general health and lifestyle. Invaluable For First Aid Homeopathic medicines can be safely used anywhere to treat bruises, minor burns, sprains, insect bites, gastric upsets and more. The Medicine Of The Future With over 3000 Homeopathic medicines and new remedies being made all the time, Homeopathy is a growing art.
Registered Charity N 8.714/1 March was another difcult month for our rescuing and re-homing puppies. We rescue puppies abandoned in the Mazarrn area and care for them in foster homes where they can be trained and socialised whilst we are nding them a loving forever home locally or abroad.
To be successful in our work we are always in need of foster carers and we urgently need more foster homes to care for puppies until they are found permanent homes locally or until they are four months old for their rabies vaccinations to travel abroad for re-homing. We pay for all vaccinations and veterinary costs and give you support whenever you need it. If you feel you can offer a place in your home and your heart for one of our rescued puppies short or long term as a family pet or companion please talk to us about our Foster Charter. To help us raise the funds needed for our work we are dependent on public support and
generosity. We have a Charity Shop in Puerto de Mazarrn, staffed entirely by volunteers and we really need all the public help we can get. Any unwanted saleable items that will be gratefully received. We can arrange for donated items to be collected by one of our Association Members. We also need volunteer helpers who can give some of free time to work in our Charity Shop, so if you would like to help come in and have a chat with the staff. We also have a Table Top Stall selling cakes and pastries to raise funds at Bar Palmeras, Puerto de Mazarrn on the rst Saturday of the month and at SaraLaras Bar, Puerto de Mazarrn on the third Saturday of every month, from 11am-2pm. For More Information Or Collection Of Donated Items Give One Of Our Committee Members A Call Tony 618 034 921 Christine 603 127 984 W e D o I t A l l 4T h e P u p p i e s .
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The teacher called me to her desk, I have written out this note. Now give it to your parents please! But I wondered what she wrote? I gave it to my mummy, She showed it to my dad Have I done something wrong? I said. Have I been really bad? She said, Im going to check your hair, She went and got this comb. You might have little lodgers there They make clean heads their home. I said, My little lodger friends Have they come here to stay? And will I have to watch them? In case they run away.
My mummy burst out laughing, She whispered, Come here please. Your little friends, the lodgers Are really nits and eas! I said, My little lodger friends, They must like me the best, Cos when I scratch the back of my head I can feel their little nest. I really like my little friends. Will they stay with me for long? She sprayed my hair with smelly stuff. By morning they were gone! She said That must feel better, Now that your head is clean I sobbed, You killed my lodger friends. Arent mummies sometimes mean!
Zacs owner sadly died last month and he is desperate to nd a new home. He is a Mastin x Labrador, around 6 years old, neutered, chipped and good with other dogs. Call 645 469 253 Toffee is a beautiful wire haired P o d e n c o around 18 months old, good with other dogs and has been sterilised. Call 645 469 253
Chanel was found in a shallow canal with 2 other puppies just outside La Marina. We have no doubt they were thrown in there and were soaked to the skin, covered in eas and ticks and so cold. They have been to the vets and apart from the ticks and eas are in good health and very affectionate. They are now around 10 weeks old and will be medium size when fully grown. Call 645 469 253 Romeo is a Chihuahua cross and was living on the streets for 2 weeks before we managed to rescue him. His age is around 2 years, weighs just 6 kilos and is very good with other dogs and cats. Call 645 469 253 To view more animals for adoption go to www.petsinspain.com To advertise an animal for adoption email info@petsinspain.info
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Cehegn lies between the rivers Argos and Quiper and is a delightful place to visit. Perched on the hilltop called Cerro del Puntarrn, 600 metres above sea level and 65 kilometres northwest of Murcia with around 14,000 inhabitants, the town is so rich in history that it is an amazing historic monument. In fact, the whole of this territory is layer upon layer of all the various cultures that established themselves here and the rst settlers going back to 2400 BC.
day 13th April, Easter week, Friday morning and night 18th April and The Resurrection Sunday on 20th April. On Good Friday 18th April at noon there is a special perfomance called Los Pasodobles del Casino. Different musical bands in the morning procession play a pasodoble in the street outside the Casino in la Calle Mayor in the Old Town. This tradition goes back many years and remembers the joy and happiness felt by the enemies of Jesus after his death. Begastri The Archaeological Site of Begastri is opened for visitors on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-2pm. You will be able to see a video presentation followed by a guided tour to see the remains of the Iberian culture before the IV century BC. Free Nature Walks These are designed for people of all ages who enjoy hiking at fairly easy levels which makes them accesible for the whole family. The walks start at 9am and are usually between 4 and 9km and take 2 to 3 hours. On 26th April we will follow the tourist path Las Maravillas near the districts of Campillo de los Jimnez and Algezares to nd a magical place in Cruz de la Doncella. Distance: 11km Level: Easy Time approx 3hrs Any further enquiries please contact the Cehegn Tourist Ofce in front of the Town Hall on 968 723 550 or visit our tourist website www.turismocehegin.es Santiago Leo Cehegin Tourist Ofce Mains Gas The ofcial opening of the mains gas supply to most of Northwest Murcia took place on 11th March at the Industrial Estate in Bullas. This project cost 16 million euros and was carried out by EDP the energy company based in Bullas. The initial 65km pipeline will serve up to 30,000 homes in the area. There are plans for many more kilometres of pipeline to be laid with further investment. The next areas to receive mains gas are Aguilas and Mazarrn and work should start this year. Mountain Cross Country Run The Club Alpino of Calasparra is organising the annual tribute event the Mountain Cross Country Run, the Travesa Sierra del Molino, tribute to Pepe Chipilin on April 6th. This 20km run starts from the Youth Centre at 8.30am and the cost will be 6. Please register for the run at alpinocalasparra@yahoo.es before Friday April 4th. Due to increased demand, Northwest Murcia Construction have added more Spanish tradesmen to their team. They are now able to offer plumbing and electrical work to their portfolio with the addition of more Spanish workers, who have the expertise in both elds. They also now offer garden clearance, saving you the hard work to make your garden look good for the summer.
a look. The fertile plain is cultivated and in addition to the usual crops grown in this lovely province, Cehegn is famous for its apricots. The old custom of making baskets and other products from the tough esparto grass is upheld and natural stone is also quarried here. There are various marble factories just outside the town and the huge blocks of uncut marble can be seen for miles. This local industry produces many items such as marble tiles, kitchen work surfaces and table tops. Cave paintings at Pea Rubia, a few kilometres outside Cehegn, are proof to the area being settled during pre-historic times. The town of Begastri, now abandoned, was settled in during the later Bronze Age and was an important town during the time that the region was occupied by the Romans and the Visigoths. With the arrival of the Moors, the town centre shifted to its present location at Cehegn. The Via Verde, ideal for walking and cycling, follows the route of the old disused railway line from Murcia to Caravaca de la Cruz. Along this route there is an abundance of natural scenery and a wide variation of touristic sites. Lynda Day Northwest Murcia Properties Tel 634 340 131 www.northwestmurciaproperties.com sales@northwestmurciaproperties.com Cehegn Scene The a craft market known as El Mesoncico is held in the Plaza del Castillo in the old part of Cehegn. 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 and you will be able to taste and enjoy the foods and products most typical to this area. On 27th April we remember the ancient craft work with demonstrations of wood turning, ceramic, wrought-iron, woven grass and enjoy the art of the spinners. It will also be possible to taste free refreshment such as the typical Rin-Ran and other drink including good wine. On Sunday 6th April we will host the XV National Mass Gathering of Drums and Cornet Bands with groups from different towns in Spain. Easter Semana Santa Cehegn celebrates Easter with processions in which hundreds of penitents follow and carry religious and artistic statues. These processions take place on Friday th 11 April, Palm Sun-
Apart from its history and culture, Cehegn has a range of delightful surroundings. The fertile valley viewed from the Plaza de la Constitucin, the Argos Reservoir or the site known as Hoya de Don Gil, even the town itself huddled around the hill, are all well worth
Castillo de Priego and the Almond Blossom Each season has its key lights, and this winter has been especially bright. On Sunday 23rd February, we discovered where the valley opens up from Benizar, Otos and Mazuza. We travelled by car to the village of Otos, where we started the walk, on the road to Benizar. The road opened between terraces awash with millions of almond owers that beautify the landscape. We picked up companions at the entrance to Benizar and arrived at Otos. Many of us came prepared with cameras, trying to capture the beauty of this winter bloom. As we left the narrow streets of this ancient Muslim Daya, the valley showed us the almond, humble throughout the year, but now in all its glory, its white and pink owers glistening in the sun.
of Aleppo pines, entering a completely different landscape with the scent given off by rosemary and thyme. The light varied with the shadows of the pines, creating that atmosphere of chiaroscuro, so typical of the forest. The path lead to a small, shady canyon, where hanging lichen occupied an old pine giving it a new life and making it look the most romantic. The sinuous path turned back to reach a new hillside saturated in almond blossom. We stopped to recharge our batteries while onn the horizon we glimpsed the cenajos guarding the ruins of Pliego and then continued our way in search of the unique stream of Los Frailes, which we crossed by somewhat unstable stepping stones. The picture of the stream and the walk along its banks were a new challenge for our cameras experts to choose where to focus. We saw evidence of badgers, new fossils and many nasturtium ofcinale, better known as water cress. More almond blossom guided us to the base of Calar Incol where we found a young beekeeper who explained the daily working of their hives. The small bees were busy collecting pollen while participating in the vital pollination.
cultivated by the inhabitants of the castle, when a hawk emerged from the thicket. At the remains of Castillo de Priego, we let our imagination ow, reviewing the history of the Muslim occupation of the peninsula and our land. The location of this castle, under Calar of Mazuza and Calar of Incol cannot be more impressive and inviting. This magnicent setting facilitates our imaginary trip to the time when the castle was inhabited by brave warriors and beautiful princesses with medieval battles.
Luis noticed a small orchid, Orphrys fusca, which was hidden in the grass of a slope. We started to see them, some with owers and others still in bud. Down the valley, surrounded by olive and almond blossom some locals were still busy collecting the olives for oil. On the old way to Lomas de Priego our guide told us we were in the living museum of Natural History with the rocks that form the walls with many fossils attracting our attention. These are organisms that lived during the Cretaceous period. In the sky, a Common Buzzard was seen, ying in circles over our heads. After leaving the terraces of almonds, this forgotten road became a path leading into the forest
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We followed a path into the forest, following the route of a family of badgers which led us to his house. They have chosen an impressive limestone layer under which, for generations, they have dug a large hole with multiple entrances. We saw the fascinating and complicated architecture that is created by these carnivorous mammals. The path lead us through the thick forest to the old orchard
We left this and descended from the ancient walls in search of a monumental centenary Acebuche, probably one of the largest in our region. It was than time to return through almond and olive trees. The new view of the valley from the side of the castle was one of the most beautiful sights of the morning. We ascended among owers on the roads that took us back to Otos with the honey smell permeating the air and the scent of almond blossom. At the bottom of the road we found curious deformities in the trunks of a pair of almond trees, which had caused the overow of resin impregnating the bark of these trees, creating a curious work of modernist art! We arrived at Manuels bar, where he had prepared an authentic demonstration of culinary craftsmanship with excellent homemade bread, wines from Tertia Ulea and Otos, chocolate cake and delicious homemade donuts. We also celebrated the birthday of Graham, Junes husband.
MARA, a small animal rescue association based in Mula, tries to help as many animals as their capacity allows. The kennels, which are built on some land donated by the Town Hall, are a work in progress with all of the building work done by volunteers. We urgently need people who would be willing to help at the kennels with feeding and cleaning and walking the dogs. At the moment this task has mainly been left to Keith and Colin, but Keith is now having to
do all the work at home since his wife Marion fell and broke her leg. If you could spare a few hours a week to help at the kennels, please contact Keith on 628 811 188. MARA has a charity shop in Mula on Calle Boticas, where you can donate any unwanted items including small furniture that they can sell to help raise funds in the shop and also at the Cehegin Car Boot Sale. The latest Car Boot Sale was very successful and many thanks to everyone who helped on Sunday 16th March. Your support means so much and helps MARA to rescue some of the many dogs in the area needing help. The new spring/summer collections are now in stock. We are in desperate need of rail and dummies for the shop. For enquires regarding the shop, please contact Marion on 628 811 187.
MARA Lunch Club in Calasparra This Club is a fun way to meet people and raise much-needed money for the dog rescue centre in Mula. They meet every last Friday of the month at Las Lomas just outside Calasparra when they enjoy a home cooked meal for just 12. Spaces are limited, so if you would like to book your space or need more information, please phone Geoffrey on 686 023 262
This time of the year is always busy for the walkers of WARM, with everyone taking advantage of the springtime weather. In the last month we have enjoyed 4 walks. The rst walk was led by Alan, when 21 of us gathered in the car park in Blanca to begin our walk up to the antennae at Almeces. After some two and a half hours steady climbing, we reached the top, some 1,122 metres high. After a quick break for a snack we began our fast descent to the cars in order to reach the restaurant in Abaran for an arranged Men. Many thanks to Alan for his rst WARM led walk. The second walk took place just outside Cehegn, when a group of 14 followed the marked Las Maravillas route of just over 20 kms. This took just over 5 hours, including a break for lunch at a beautiful picnic area.
Afterwards, everyone returned to a bar in Cehegn for a well-deserved glass of beer.
The third walk began after a very windy night, when 15 of us, including 3 Spanish friends, met outside the school in Moratalla. We followed the road up and around
the back of the town and then followed the track around the mountain San Jorge behind the town. Eventually this afforded views over the town on one side and the huertas on the other. From here we began the long steady ascent of Caso Cristo which levelled onto a high plateau, before reaching the Sanctuary and restaurant of La Pastora where we rested for a picnic lunch and admired the panoramic views below us. We then descended a steep tarmac path passing shrines marking the 12 stages of the cross together with two commemorative monuments. One represented the miracle of the farm worker who was given a new hand and the second of a cowboy who was urged to look after the precious water to make fertile the elds below. We passed the enclosure where the bulls were kept prior to the bull runs in July each year. (No Bulls!) We then joined the main road which returned us to our cars. Many thanks to all who came and made this walk so enjoyable.
The nal walk of the month was led by Flemming and Annelise around the Sierra de Burete. 24 people joined the 11 km walk and enjoyed the sight of the almond blossom and the Lavia vineyards. After the walk, a Men del Da was enjoyed at a local restaurant. Many thanks to all the leaders for their hard work this month. If you are interested in joining this group on one of their interesting and varied walks please contact warm2005@gmail.com for a copy of the current programme.
I am often being told that I am a perfectionist and of late it has had me wondering if that is a good or bad thing. I would agree that whenever I am doing something, I have to keep at it until I am reasonably happy with the result - but is that a bad thing? I grew up constantly being told by my grandmother if a things worth doing its worth doing well, especially if I was looking for the quick option. The thing is, I dont see myself as being a perfectionist, although my husband assures me that I am. All too often it seems to me that I will settle for second best, unable to achieve for whatever reason, be it nancial or my own ability, the result I would really like and I have so many different interests. The saying Jack of all trades master of none springs to mind. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 13:11 to Aim for perfection, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be
with you. Perfection, described in the Oxford Dictionary as being the action or the process of improving something until it is faultless. We all fall short. We dont love others the way God just showers His love on us, only His is a perfect love which He showed on the cross, sacricing His son Jesus for our sins. As we think about Easter, why not take a closer look and experience that perfect love? My prayer is that God will work in me, improving me so that one day I will become as He intended me to be, perfect. In the meantime my aim is to carry out the work the Lord has mapped out for me, striving to be cheerful and agreeable and always aiming for perfection. Tel 633 447 937 Lynda.spain@hotmail.co.uk Derek.tycymru@talktalk.co.uk
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Country Gardens by Dick Handscombe holistic gardener author and broadcaster. Last month I concentrated on Camposol type and near coast gardens and this month, as promised to the members of the Darwinian Gardening Club, I am commenting on country gardens. In general, deciding to buy and develop a country garden implies that you prefer a larger and more interesting plot, the chance to do up an old historic building or build something unique with surrounding views of the countryside and mountains; maybe peaceful, perhaps with the chance to be self-sufcient and the willingness further inland to put up with winter and early spring frosts. So with that introduction, lets look at some of the issues involved. Microclimates Once out of the urbanisations, gardens are more exposed unless walled, which defeats one of the reasons for living in the wild, or thick boundary and internal hedges are planted to create less harsh microclimates. A greenhouse or small poly-tunnel will be useful for protecting plants in pots over the winter. We line a circular pagoda with plastic for this purpose.
soil will also vary from a spade depth of rich top soil to just a couple of centimetres over bed rock. Unless you are very lucky, improve the soil before you plant anything, whether owering plants, aromatic herbs, fruit trees or vegetables. If you have little depth of soil build raised beds from day one. Flowering plants In developing your plant lists, do study the descriptions of some 350 garden plants and trees in our book Your Garden in Spain and focus mainly on those that are both drought and frost resistant. Do make the best of the hardy aromatic herbs such as rosemary, lavender, sage and thyme. If you purchased a large plot of land with many olive, walnut or almond trees, do cut out a large glade in the centre for the house and main access, if not too late and develop a network of paths between the trees with occasional glades of garden. Fruit Trees With fruit trees, check on what fruit is, or was, grown commercially in the area. Recognise that citrus trees do not like being continuously exposed to strong winds and that attempts to grow subtropical fruits should only be attempted in the most sheltered of sunny south facing spots. Even with this information, we lost ours in the record-breaking frosts of March 2005. The year before that, we had some large juicy mangoes eaten directly from the tree rather different from many seen in super markets which are hard and resist ripening. The book Growing Healthy Fruit in Spain describes over seventy fruits that can be grown and most are suitable for country areas, except of course in the cold winter areas of inner Murcia which is ideal for growing good walnuts. Growing vegetables One of the joys of growing ones own vegetables, whether grown in the ground, in raised beds, or in builders buckets, is that you know that they are fresh and free of residual chemicals when you eat them. Growing Healthy Vegetables in Spain includes details of some 100 vegetables that we have raised in Spain. Our winter salads do not include tomatoes, but they do include a diverse mix of some forty leaves and edible owers full of
raw energy and natural vitamins minerals and bres. Large pests Being isolated, you will probably get fewer problems with small insects that can hop over the fences in an urbanisation comprising of just holiday makers, letting owners and abandoned gardens as well as enthusiastic residents. However, there is the chance that you will need to protect the garden from rabbits, wild boar and deer. If rabbits are thirsty or looking for some tasty moist eshy plants to eat, they will try and get in unless you do something about it. By the way they even love young prickly pear cactus plants. The best way to keep out rabbits is with a chainlink fence which has the bottom 30 centimetres sunk into the ground, or a sunken two building block wall under the fencing which is the cemented into the top of the wall. Tall strong fences will also keep our deer and wild boar. The second best deterrent is a hunting type dog that has the run of the garden. The third is to plant in raised beds with fencing on top. There is an anti-rabbit product sold by Neudorff, but it would be expensive to protect a large area. If you have developed a wild boar pond, fence off the rest of the garden. Netting bags of human hair from the hairdresser hung on posts near a vegetable plot or along the wires supporting vines and peed on once a month will make boars think that there are humans around and disappear! Walking To Understand How Natural Plants Grow Many inland gardeners also walk the local valleys and mountains, which we do. This gives one the chance to understand how native plants self-seed and ourish in some areas and not in others and the importance of natural shade and mulching. We learned a lot seeing many varied microclimates when doing a long trek from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean beaches. This walk is now written up as a book available from Amazon Books as a soft covered book and as a Kindle book under the title Our 52 Day Retirement Walk Along the Spanish Pyrenees. We are told that both active and armchair walkers are both enjoying the read.
Winter protection for tender plants in pots Soils In country areas soils inherited will vary from very rich, because mules used to be tethered to the trees, to dead soil that has been denuded of nutrients by old fruit trees and vines without organic fertilizing. The depth of
The view beyond the oleander hedge which hides other houses. I hope these thoughts are of interest and reinforce some of the points raised in my talk. There are special chapters in the book Your Garden in Spain focussed on gardens in different types of situations including in inland valleys, on mountainsides, on saline and barren soils and woodland sites. Dick Handscombe www.gardenspain.com
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Hello from Bob with the latest Welcome news. As usual, theres a lot to get through, so Ill go straight in. The Ladies Evening was on March 5th and because I wasnt there, my roving reporter, Fran, has lled me in with a few details. Pat compered the Fashion Show featuring the talents of models Pam, Jean B and Jean R, Brenda, Yvonne and Sandra. Thanks to the stall-holders, who all reported a fantastic night and Woody, who gave yet another fabulous performance.
are just 30 and coach at 5 if required. 2014 Trips Cabins are still available on our St Petersberg and Baltic Capitals Cruise, leaving our area on May 30th, overnight in Madrid, ight to Copenhagen, then 7 nights aboard MSC Poesia. Special discounted prices including all meals and drinks on the ship, all travel, and insurance. Nothing more to pay except personal spending and on-shore trips. September Trip to Galicia is fully booked, but you can put your name on the waiting list as cancellations do sometimes occur. Our Trip to Benalmadena is on April 25th for 2 nights, staying at the 4* Hotel Triton, right on the promenade and close to the Arabianstyle marina. This is a special trip to see the Ricky Levazza Show on the Saturday night. Half board at the hotel, including wine and water at dinner, trip into the mountainside town of Mijas, trip to Malaga and admission to the show at just 150. This is already selling fast, so call Rosemary now. Our 14th May Dance is with a live three-piece band, Done And Dusted. This will be a sellout, so get your tickets now at 8. Wednesday June 11 sees the return of the Welcome Ladies Day at The Club House, Camposol C. Fashion show by Legs and Co, stalls, Bingo, buffet meal and entertainment provided by Woody. Excellent value at 10. June 25th Summer Ball is again at Le Cumbre Hotel in Puerto de Mazarrn. There will be a champagne reception, 6 course meal including all drinks and entertainment by Terry J. If youve already booked, your tickets are available now. If youve also booked a room, please conrm this with Rosemary. Tickets
th
Following the last 2 years successful Christmas Trips to Benidorm, Rosemary has already booked again for this year. Well stay at Hotel Helios, close to all attractions and Levante beach, with full board and gala Christmas day lunch. 240pp. Reserve your place now to avoid disappointment. Book/Jigsaw Swap dates for April are 1st, 15th and 29th, every second Tuesday in the month. For more information, call Jo on 669 457 985. Fun Petanca is on April 30th at the rear of Marianos, Camposol A, starting at 2pm. Just 1 for members and 2 for others. Ring Les for further details on 968 131 880. Welcome is open to everyone; there is no membership. Just come along and meet friends old and new. For tickets and more information about all events, call Rosemary on 620 105 179. Email rosemarybeak@hotmail.com Website www.welcomegroupspain.com
Our March Dance was Show Time, with the voices of Dan Davy and Darren Jones. They kept us entertained all night, singing all our favourites. We had Motown, Bobby Darin ballads, Michael Buble and the ones we all know so well. The dance oor was full and another great night out as always. Thanks to Steve for the disco and to all the helpers who always work so valiantly to make Welcome the place to be. Our 9th April Dance welcomes the return of the big man with the big voice, the ladies favourite, Nick Gold and two lovely young ladies, The Venus Girls. Just 8 a ticket.
Friends who used to work in the brewing industry tell us that it is important to add water
to whisky in order to savour its true taste. For some of us who are partial to a wee dram this might seem like spoiling an otherwise excellent drink. In Scotland recently a brewing company accidently spilt 6600 litres of whisky into the local river and was ned 12,000. Talk about crying over spilt milk! Even at a modest 10 per bottle we are talking about 80,000 in lost whisky. The employee who pulled the wrong lever has never been found; probably because wasting whisky in Scotland is a capital offence. Diluting something can take away its taste or impact. We do this and can often dilute some behaviour by arguing that everyone does it; from theft of ofce stationery, or more seriously, speeding or drink driving, losing our temper and so on. We have diluted the offence to reduce its impact. When Jesus was crucied and his body was put in a tomb, the authorities thought that was the end of it. Easter reminds us that Jesus rose from the dead and the tomb was empty. There was no doubt that the body had gone, but in an attempt to dilute the impact of that fact, the religious leaders spread the story that the disciples had stolen the body. If enough people believed this lie, then the consequences of a person they saw die coming back to life and being raised from the dead
would be diluted. How foolish, but how human. Dont let the trappings of Easter bunnies and eggs and so on dilute the message. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Matthew 28v 6 You can nd us every Sunday evening on Camposol B in the Cultural Centre at 5.30pm. Come and join us. We offer something a bit different each week. Sit around and chat over a cup of tea or coffee and learn about God and what He can do for YOU. We also hold monthly social events in Los Almagros. Look out for the posters or go to our website for details. Further details and other planned get-togethers, please go to http://open-door.wix. com/open-door If you would like to be informed of our events and be added to our mailing list please email opendoorgettogether@gmail.com Find us at Los Almagros, Fuente Alamo, 30320, Murcia. GPS 3745 57.77 North. 115 56.95 West Tel Ken 646 705 403 or Carol 655 141 721
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Tengo que Last month you had some more homework to do, so here are the answers as usual. This time you had to translate into English. Necesito rmar esto para comprar mi casa. I need to sign this in order to buy my house. Voy a volver a casa para ver el ftbol. Im going to return home to watch the football. Quiero aprender espaol para hablar con mi vecino. I want to learn Spanish in order to speak to my neighbour. Notice that sometimes its appropriate to say to and sometimes in order to, as the two have the same meaning. This month were going to look at one more rst person expression, before moving on to pastures new in the next lesson. This time the expression consists of two words: tengo que. Tengo que means I have to, so therefore expresses an obligation. We all have obligations; I know I have plenty, though sometimes I despair when Im teaching students who tell me they left all their obligations behind them when they moved to Spain! I think Ill tell you some of my obligations so you can feel sorry for me as well as learn some more Spanish.
Tengo que levantarme temprano. I have to get up early. Tengo que llevar a mis hijos al instituto. I have to take my children to school. Tengo que ordenar la casa. I have to tidy up the house. Tengo que preparar mis clases. I have to prepare my classes. Tengo que dar de comer a mi gata. I have to feed my cat. Tengo que hablar con mis estudiantes. I have to speak to my students. Tengo que conducir mucho. I have to drive a lot. Tengo que hacer las compras. I have to do the shopping. Tengo que usar el ordenador. I have to use the computer. Tengo que escribir este artculo. I have to write this article. Tengo que .. Now Id like you to rack your brains for things you have to do. There must be something like: Tengo que usar el mando de distancia. (I have to use the remote control). Some people nd it strange that by adding the word que to tengo we can change the meaning from have to have to. This is only strange if we are still expecting to be able to translate word for word between the two languages. Que does not generally translate as to. It usually means that or what. Individual words and especially those small linking words, have to be understood in a context as part of a whole expression.
Most of you know that tengo on its own means I have, and Im sure many are aware that this changes to tienes to make the familiar form you have. Exactly the same change occurs with tengo que, I have to, and tienes que, which therefore means you have to. This form can be useful in questions as well as in giving instructions: Tienes que trabajar hoy? Do you have to work today? Tienes que tomar este medicamento. You have to take this medicine. There are many examples of how this can be used, but what I want to do is give you the general picture of how these simple forms are put together. Your homework this month is to write down all the things you have to do, beginning with tengo que. Remember that the next word is a verb in the innitive (Tengo que estudiar espaol, for example). You can use a dictionary to nd the words you need, but dont get too complicated. Do what I do and keep it simple!! Jane Cronins Step by Step Spanish articles are now available as e-books at www. janecronin.eu where you can also obtain Janes brand new Step by Step Internet Spanish course.
The Carrot zanahoria - is probably one of the most well known vegetable which can be eaten both raw and cooked. The common Carrot is orange in colour and is conical in shape. The most commonly eaten part is the taproot, although the ne green leaves can also be eaten. The Carrot is native to Europe and Southwestern Asia and in early use Carrots were grown for their aromatic leaves and seeds, not their roots. Cultivated Carrots appeared in China in the 14th century and in Japan in the 18th century.
metre tall and owering from June to August. The umbels are claret-coloured or pale pink before they open, then bright white and rounded when in full ower. There are several diseases that can reduce the yield and market value of Carrots. The most devastating Carrot disease is leaf blight, which has been known to eradicate entire crops. Carrots are root vegetables, usually orange in colour, although purple, red, white, and yellow varieties exist and they should have a crisp texture when fresh. Almost half the worlds Carrots are grown in China. Since the late 1980s, Baby Carrots or mini-carrots have been a popular ready-to-eat snack food available in many supermarkets, encouraging youngsters to eat more vegetables. Carotene is responsible for the orange colour of carrots and an excess of Carrots can cause the skin to turn orange. Carrot extracts are often used by poultry producers to improve animal skin and alter the colour of egg yolk. It is often joked that eating Carrots help you to see in the dark, but this appears to stem from World War II when the British gunners managed to shoot many German planes down at night and Carrots were readily available as they were one of the vegetables not rationed. Carrots are incredibly versatile and although can be eaten raw in salads etc, they can be cooked in a variety of ways. Boiled Carrots now seem to be the least popular way of cooking this popular vegetable as
many people now like their vegetables al dente. They can be boiled, fried, steamed and chopped and eaten either on their own or added to soups and stews as well as baby food and pet food. Carrots are used in various cuisines including Indian either as a savoury addition to a meal, or in desserts and cakes. The sweetness of Carrots allows the vegetable to be used in some fruit-like roles. Grated Carrot is used in Carrot Cakes, as well as Carrot Pudding, an old English dish thought to have originated in the early 19th century. Carrots can also be used with fruits in jam and preserves. Carrot Juice is also widely marketed as a health drink, either alone or blended with other fruits and vegetables.
Carrots grow best in full sun, but they do tolerate some shade. In order to avoid growing deformed Carrots it is better to plant them in loose soil, free from rocks. They thrive in raised garden beds. High nitrogen levels should be avoided, as this will cause the vegetables to become hairy and misshapen. Carrots take around four months to mature and it is suggested that they are sown from mid-February to July. It is a variable biennial plant, usually growing up to 1
Carrots can be stored for several months in the refrigerator or over winter in a moist, cool place. For long term storage, unwashed Carrots can be placed in a bucket between layers of sand, a 50/50 mix of sand and wood shavings, or in soil at a temperature of 0-5C.
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The Beacon of Light meetings are every We d n e s d a y from 7pm which usually nish at approximately 8.30pm with weekly guest mediums. As always the evenings end with a friendly chat and a cup of tea and biscuits. All our meetings are funded by donations given during the evening. Our early healing sessions start at 6pm. Wednesday April 2nd Anna-Marie Wednesday April 9th Marilyn Webb and guest medium Olive Wednesday April 16th Maggi Baird Wednesday April 23rd Marilyn Webb Wednesday April 30th Jimmy McArthur Bring a ower For further information please phone 620 877 326 Email beacon.of.light.murcia@gmail. com Website http://beaconoightmurcia.webs.com Facebook Beacon of Light Murcia
Join Cloud Nine Drama for an evening of fun, frolics, scandal and laughter. We are proud to present two OneAct Comedies on the evening of 22nd, 24th and 25th May at La Molata Social Centre (15mins from Camposol) at 8pm.
Gosforths Fte is a One-Act Play by Sir Alan Ayckbourn. Little Pendons village fte promises to be - and is - a complete disaster! Hardly anything is ready on time, the weather is awful, the band is late, the Wolf Cubs are behaving disgracefully and the eccentricities of the amplication system lead to some embarrassing private matters reaching the widest possible audience. The results are hilarious! The Fat lady Sings in Camposol! Gordon, Margaret, Joyce and Bernard are back to tackle yet another threat to their survival. A rival am-dram group has been set up and is determined to upstage them with an award winning musical. The quartet devises an ingenious military-style plan - with predictable results! This could be the end of their society, but its never over...until the fat lady sings! To reserve tickets please contact rumajordan@hotmail.com. Cloud Nine will also be hosting an evening of MURDER MYSTERY on the high seas, at The New Royal, El Alamillo on Friday 18th April. Make sure you get your seat at the Captains table by contacting Suzi G or Richie at The New Royal.
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Easter Blessing Heavenly Father, may all who read this blessing open their lives to receive Your saving grace. In the name of Jesus, Your Son, we bless those who receive Him and bestow on them the best of all things in these, the worst of economic times. We pronounce; freedom and release, health and healing to their physical bodies. In Jesus name, and by His authority, we proclaim victory over every form of inrmity; sickness or disease; and we declare that these sicknesses and diseases are eradicated and that the
blessing of divine health ows into their lives like streams of living water. Lord, we speak peace to every life that is in torment, for Your name is Jehovah Shalom, the Lord our Peace. We give You praise, Father, that the enemy is defeated, and the peace of God, that surpasses all understanding, is available to heal every broken heart, every sorrow may be lifted right now; every burden and yoke can be destroyed by Your mighty right hand. O Lord our God, You are our Joy in the morning. You, O Lord, are our Strength, our High Tower, our Shield and a Shelter in the time of storm. You are our
Song; You are our Righteousness; You are our Shepherd, our Great Physician and the Giver of life. We magnify Your Holy Name. Let the power of this prophetic blessing rest upon all who have received You into their lives and may they proclaim the Word of God in the authority of Jesus name for Easter is not a memorial of a death, but a celebration of The Resurrection of Your Son and the promise of eternal life to all who believe and put their trust in Him. Pastor Ralph and Margaret Locke 968 199 622
Mortgages With Base Clauses When signing a mortgage to buy a house, consumers rarely consult a nancial expert, in order to be aware of the clauses that are being signed in the mortgage. One of these clauses is called Base Clause in which the bank sets a variable interest rate, generally Euribor index, plus a percentage, adding that any resulting interest may not be less than a certain percentage. On occasion, the Spanish Courts have catalogued these clauses as misleading through lack of transparency, forcing nancial institutions to suppress them for the following reasons: Firstly, providing consent to a Base Clause must be classied as imposed by the entrepreneur when the consumer cannot inuence its suppression or its content, so that the consumer agrees with it and consents to the contract with the mentioned clause or must renounce the contract. Secondly, the Court of Justice of the European Union has consistently held that the system of protection established by the Directive 93/13 is based on the idea that the consumer is in a weak position/position of inferiority with respect to the professional, as regards both the bargaining power and level of information.
This situation leads to the consumer agreeing to the terms drawn up in advance by the professional without being able to inuence the content of these. The article 4.2 of the Directive 93/13/CEE establishes that The appraisal of the unfair nature of the Base Clauses wont relate to the denition of the main object of the contract, provided that these clauses are clear and understandable, that is, that the signer of the mortgage knows both the economic burden it really means by signing the contract; the onerous or patrimonial sacrice made in exchange for the economic benet to be obtained; the clear denition of his legal position in regard to the typical elements that make up the contract to be signed, as in the allocation or distribution of the risks of execution or development of the contract. The Supreme Court, in the Sentence 241/2013 of 9th of May ruled that some Base Clauses that are included in the mortgages of the banks BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA ARGENTARIA (BBVA), CAJA DE AHORRO GALICIA y CAJAMAR RURAL are abusive and has stated that the clauses are invalid, forcing these entities to remove them, since making loans with xed minimum interest hardly benets from the lows of reference rates. The offer as variable interest, not completed with the proper information, even when its lo-
cation provides awareness of its importance, what is revealed is misleading and apt to shift the focus of consumer attention to secondary elements that make it difcult to compare the offers. The clauses did not affect directly the immediate concerns of borrowers, which impacts the lack of clarity of the clause and results in it not being perceived by consumers as relevant to the main object the contract Recently, the Sentence of the Audiencia Provincial of Madrid 242/2013 of 26th of July, ruled likewise about Base Clauses imposed by the Spanish Banco Popular. In conclusion, the analyzed clauses are not transparent because: A) Absence of sufciently clear information that this is a dening element of the main object of the contract. B) They are inserted together with the ceiling clauses and as apparent consideration thereof. If you are in a similar position, we would be happy to answer any queries you might have and to explain the whole process in detail. Silvente Solicitors and Accountants Puerto de Mazarrn Tel 968 332 058
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Dear Editor Recently we have had the need to require the services of Martinez de la Casa to revise our escritura, changing under construction to construction completed and incorporating additional work carried-out on our premises, including swimming pool, terrace extensions, etc. We would have no hesitation in recommending the above company for any type of service. A very helpful pleasant attitude and highly professional manner. Mr & Mrs R Combe Camposol Sector B3 Calle Ermita de la Hornera. Dear Editor On Friday 28th February I went out for my usual walk, around about 10 oclock. As I was crossing the road on my way back home, a vehicle came screaming round the blind corner and knocked me over, ran over my head, dragged me 4 feet up the road and left me
lying there. It was not until Saturday morning I was found. This driver and many others like him/her are a real danger to members of the public. I could have been a mother and child or a complete family, or even a member of the drivers family that was knocked down and killed. I remember my adoptive dad telling a story about his mums uncle who purchased a very fast car. One day he decided to go for a drive in the country to try the car out. As it was a country road there would be no one else on the road. He also screamed round a blind corner and there was a tractor parked while the farmer closed a gate into a eld. Needless to say the tractor was the sturdier of the two and the uncle spent many months in hospital. This is just another example of a dangerous uncaring driver who thinks of nothing but himself. I guess you may have realised that I was just a cat, but I belonged to two people who
loved me and cared for me. On behalf of Gina Dear Editor Our Final Lion Country Goodbye Hi to all our Country and Western friends out there in the Murcia region. Well, we have nally completed the sell off of all assets and by the time you read this we will have handed over the amount of 234.58 to FAST, the charity that this club has donated to this year. Its a worthy cause and we wish them well as we fade off into the sunset for the last time. As you already know, with your help this club raised over 4000 for local charities, of which we can all be proud of. It just remains for me to say on behalf of the management a big Thank You for all your support over the last few years and adios from us all at Lion Country. Also we wish our colleagues at Camposol all the success with their club now at Marianos Restaurant. Finally a big thank you to Costa Clida Chronicle for supporting us over these last 6 years. Jim Underdown MBE (Lion Country)
Dogs Looking For Homes Gracie is being fostered with a family with lots of other dogs and cats, so has got used to being with other animals, although she would be ne on her own. She is only about a year old and is only 25cm high. She has been spayed, chipped and has had her Rabies vaccination and she has also been tested negative for Leishmania. Call 620 582 654
Misca is a very friendly dog, although she is not too keen on cats. She loves her walks and loves to play. She is about 3 years old and has been spayed, chipped and is up to date with all her vaccinations. Please open your heart for her; it will be well rewarded. She is a medium sized dog and is used to being kennelled outside, so would make a brilliant guard dog. Tel 626 583 186
We must give a big thank you to Colin who stepped in literally at the very last second to speak to the group about Forget Me Not the new respite care organisation and what is available to support the carers of family members with dementia. Recognising how important this help is, Ladies Chatterbox have agreed to raise funds for the Forget Me Not group. The next meeting for Ladies Chatterbox will be on Thursday April 10th at 2pm in the Cul-
tural Centre, Camposol B. With spring denitely in the air we will have a speaker from a local garden centre giving us tips and advice for a beautiful garden this year. There will also be details and the chance to book a place on a trip in the early summer to visit Murcia looking at its history and culture nding places not normally visited. Chatterbox Sew and Sew is a group for anyone who would like to meet with other sew-
ing or craft work enthusiasts (not necessarily very experienced!) to work together, chat and enjoy a cuppa! We meet every Monday from 2.30-4.30pm in the Cultural Centre. Ladies Chatterbox group meets on Camposol in the Cultural Centre on the 2nd Thursday of each month. If you would like further information, please contact Rosemary Scott on 619 575 463 or Chris Leiper on 968 199 441.
Weve had amazing weather for the Cavalli events. Our Almond Blossom Walk around the Barrancos de Gebas was very enjoyable with a good turn out of walkers and their dogs. The March Horse Assisted Therapy Course went well and we are nding that more and more people are becoming aware of the good that results from sharing our lives with animals and looking to animal welfare. Two young disabled riders enthralled the crowd at the rst 2014 Regional Dressage Competition held at Murcia Riding Club. Luca and Pablo, both Downs Syndrome riders, showed their true colours and made parents and riding teachers very proud. Alma was picked up by a Cavalli volunteer from the petrol station just outside Librilla. Peludines from Alhama nanced her visits to the vet, Tucan in Alhama, where she is being treated for Leishmania. Shes a lovely dog, very friendly and obedient. She is eating well, full of life and getting better every day. Soon Alma will be looking for a new home. If anyone would like to adopt Alma please contact Cavalli. She will make somebody a wonderful companion.
How would you retire a competition Show Jumper? Were desperately trying to save the life of this exShow Jumper. Two years ago he was winning competitions, but photos taken last week show an animal weakened and out of condition; a horse that lives in his box and has nothing in his life but boredom and loneliness. The only thing that is stopping us from bringing him home is the paperwork. If we cant sort his papers out hes going to be sacriced. In the next issue we hope to tell his whole story and give readers the good news that he has gone to his foster home to be brought back to health. Cavalli Car Boot Sale had to be postponed, so those of you who found you couldnt make it on 19th March will be pleased to here that well be holding one in April. Look on Cavalli Blog for all the information. The biggest event on the April calendar is the Cavalli Foundation Presentation which is to take place during Equimur in
Torre Pacheco. On Saturday 5th April from 12pm-2pm, Veronica will be accompanied by Animal Rights Lawyer, Raquel Lpez Teruel and Equine Tutor of the University of Murcia Veterinary Clinic, Karla Aguirre, to introduce the work of the Cavalli Foundation and to inform people of how to go about helping animals, specically horses, ponies and donkeys, within the context of the Law and how to open peoples minds to the suffering imposed on animals around us. Easter kiddies activities include: Pony Mornings, Easter Camp and Easter Holiday School, not to mention activities for older horse lovers! All the information will be on Cavalli Blog. Email infocavallifoundation@gmail .com Tel 636 172 198 www.fundacioncavallifoundation. Blog blogspot.com
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Two blondes were ying to London from BarOne blonde looked at the other the other Quiz questions on the March 2014 Costa Clida celona. Fifteen minutes into the ight, the blonde and said, If we lose one more engine, Captain announced, One of the engines has well be up here all day. failed and the ight will be an hour longer, but dont worry, we have three engines left. ********************* Once upon a time, a blonde became so sick Thirty minutes later, the Captain announced, of hearing blonde jokes that she had her hair One more engine has failed and the ight cut and dyed brown. A few days later, as will be two hours longer, but dont worry, we she was driving around the countryside, she have two engines left. stopped her car to let a ock of sheep pass. Admiring the cute woolly creatures, she said An hour later the Captain announced, to the shepherd, If I can guess how many One more engine has failed and the sheep you have, can I take one? ight will be three hours longer, but The shepherd, always the gentleman replied, dont worry we have one engine left. Of course.
The blonde thought for a Chronicle no discernible reason said,
moment and for 352. This being the correct number, the shepherd was, understandably, totally amazed and exclaimed, Youre right! OK, Ill keep to my end of the deal. Take your pick of my ock. The blonde carefully considered the entire ock and nally picked one that was by far cuter and more playful than any of the others. When she was done, the shepherd turned to her and said, OK, now I have a proposition for you. If I can guess your true hair colour, can I have my dog back?
ACROSS
1 Tormentor 7 Mongolian desert 11 Chitchat 14 African nation 15 Adjoin 16 Bards before 17 Utopian ideas 18 Straight mark 19 Neithers partner 20 Cokes competitor 22 Insincere 24 Furthest back 27 Pixie 29 Valid 30 Oak 32 List 35 Back talks 37 Giant 38 Digital audio tape 41 Goes in a door 42 Type of angle 44 American Cancer Society (abbr.) 45 Regretted 48 Shade 49 Futile 51 Tack 52 Booty 55 Rent 56 Bro.s sibling 57 Forceful
60 64 65 67 71 72 73 74 75 76
Tall post Queasy Love ower Highest poing Downwind Ids counterparts Need Eastern Time Scottish skirt Scanty
DOWN
1 Thai 2 The __ (nal word) 3 Grow older 4 Day time tv show 5 Womens magazine 6 File 7 Copernican theory prover 8 Kimono sash 9 Tush 10 Detail 11 Literary composition 12 Perfume 13 Transparent gem 21 Put 23 Is 24 Aoat (2 wds.) 25 Shekel 26 Students dreads 28 Madagascar franc
Answers on page 94
(abbr.) 31 Vane direction 32 Make available 33 Clothes pressers 34 Asian humped ox 36 Goofs 38 Sand hills 39 Computer code for characters 40 Adolescents 43 Sticky black substance 46 Building addition 47 Most profound 49 Expression 50 Eye infection 52 Upside-down frown 53 Cunnings 54 Metal tip on the end of a lance 58 Star __ 59 Bear or Berra 61 What dogs sit on 62 Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries 63 One of Columbus ships 66 Suns name 68 Mutt 69 Spark 70 Caustic substance
Kiev, Ukraine 22nd Feb - 1st March I had just arrived, checked into my apartment and was out on the streets within minutes. I walked a hundred yards, turned the corner and was standing in Kievs Independence Square. It looked like the set of a very realistic disaster movie lm, but unlike on the TV news, it felt real; too real. Only forty eight hours before I arrived, gove r n m e n t snipers from high up had been shooting to kill and this on the continent of Europe in the twenty rst century. Then remarkably the government fell; the President vanished and ranks of the armed to the teeth special police, simply melted away. By the time I got there, there were no police in this city; the people were running it, but there was no chaos, no looting, just an eerie calm. Everyone seemed to show tremendous restraint. The streets were black, caked in soot and the smell of burning was everywhere. It got into my skin and I just couldnt wash it away. Burnt out cars and trucks were still visible; buildings with smoke and gun re damage evident. I looked at the peoples faces and right into their eyes. I saw a mixture of elation, fear, resolve, shock and exhaustion. There were people walking about crying, looking hopelessly lost. It was heartbreaking.
cating they were had been used as temporary hospitals. The local currency lost around 10% of its value during my visit and on the Thurs I tried six ATMs, all empty of cash, before I nally found one working. Barricades of tyres, metal and barbed wire that had stood as walls between people and the security forces were now shrines. Mountains of owers lay where people had been mown down; individual shrines with photos and names. On more than one occasion that week I had to go back to my apartment; Id just had enough at that particular moment; I felt numb.
To understand just how bad life is in Ukraine, consider this: Millions of voters in Europe now wish to leave the EU, disenchanted by countless regulations, bureaucracy, unaccountability and a wasting of tax payers money on huge bailouts. All that I totally understand and for us it may make sense, but remember this Ukrainians have just shed their own blood on their own streets in order to move towards the EU. These heroic actions really do go to show just how bad things are over there. I often get very despondent when I return to the UK, because I witness apathy and hear statements such as, Ah, Im not voting in the next election, I cant be bothered. I also hear comments about our terrible roads, failing schools, NHS, police, UK political system.... Well Ill tell you, if there was an Olympic Games for whining, us Brits would win gold every time. I whole heartedly admit the UK is far from perfect, but next time you hear someone randomly slag off the workings of the UK, tell them to get some perspective and spare a thought for Ukraine and her people.
I was in Kiev in 2004 soon after the peaceful Orange Revolution, but over the years little changed as things went back to their corrupt old ways. This time however is different. Blood has been spilt. What now for Ukraine? No-one I talked to really knows, but Ill give you a heads up - keep yer eye on Russia! Out wandering in the tented city I saw numerous soup kitchens that were supplying food and hot tea to the shattered protesters and I got chatting with a guy Id acknowledged previously. I asked Andrei why they felt they still had to stay camped out like this? If we leave now, before new government come, then special police and snipers come back. However, good news came on Wednesday, when to much applause, the infamous Berkut special police squad, responsible for the killings, were disbanded. It was well below minus degrees as Andrei poured me a glug of Vodka into a disposable plastic cup. We solemnly toasted Ukraines future.
In the UK, many of us dont even know were living. For more information on Georges writing, go to georgermitchell.com
Once trendy fashion boutiques, now closed; white sheets with red crosses on them indi-
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Walk On The Barkside For Cruz Azul A cloudless, blue sky greeted owners and pooches on Sunday 16th March, as people gathered to support Cruz Azul Murcias rst major event of the year, a Walk on the Barkside, at the Esplanada Barnuevo in Santiago de la Ribera. There were tall ones, small ones and in between ones and that was just the dogs, who had brought their owners along for a nice stroll along the 3km route on the promenade with water stations provided at various points along the route. The tallest dog was Maddie, who came with her owner Pam Clough and the tiniest (and youngest) was 11 week old rescue puppy, Toms, who brought along his mummy, Karen Rubio Vuckovic. The oldest pooch was Billy, at almost 14 years. Billy cant walk very far, so his owner, Victoria Brook, borrowed a pushchair so that they could take part. First over the nish line was Ella, an enthusiastic Beagle, who ran all the way with her young owner, Liam Taylor.
pet ownership. As a new association, Cruz Azuls priorities will be to: Provide and maintain veterinary services on a stable, sustainable and long-term basis. Expand these services, in line with a clear and controlled Business Plan as funds and circumstances permit. Encourage funding, by raising awareness and developing an understanding of their work. Were delighted to see so many people for our rst major event said Cruz Azul President, Lyn Baines. The success of this annual event is down to the great work by the Cruz Azul team, the help from our Spanish friends, San Javiers Voluntariado BT, and all our lovely supporters. Sponsorship money is still coming in and Cruz Azul anticipates a total fundraising effort of around 750. Deliver pet health initiatives. In addition to fundraising events, the Cruz Azul shop, next door to Yorkshire Linen in San Javier, is open daily and sells clothes, accessories, jewellery, furniture, household goods, bric-a-brac, etc. The shop is open Monday to Saturday 10am-2pm. Manager, Sue Thomason, will be delighted to see new customers and to receive donations for the shop. They are always in need of furniture and Cruz Azul can arrange collection of large items. You can email Sue on shop@cruzazulmurcia.es or call her on 693 017 616. Cruz Azuls Volunteer Co-ordinator, Barbara Burks, would love to hear from anyone who has some time to spare and would like to help with fundraising. You can email Barbara at volunteers@cruzazulmurcia.es or you can call 693 017 616.
Each of the participants received a doggy bag containing treats, dog waste bags, water with bowl and a special medal.
Cruz Azul is run along similar lines to the PDSA in the UK and its mission is to provide veterinary care for the sick and injured pets of people in need and to promote responsible
Cruz Azul Murcia is a registered charity (No. 11.720/1a). If you or someone you know needs help, or you would like to volunteer or donate, please call 693 017 616 or visit the website www. cruzazulmurcia.es
If you are visiting the pretty area of San Pedro del Pinatar, the bar/restaurant La Llana is really worth a visit. Set with a back ter-
race overlooking the boats on the marina, or on the front terrace looking out to sea, you are guaranteed a warm welcome and great views! Their specialities are grilled meat, paellas and stews, but if seafood is your passion try the sh specials. All their sh and meats are cooked on a traditional Brasa and the smell of freshly cooked food is apparent the moment you walk through the door. The La Llana Menu del Dia at just 10, available from Monday to Friday is excellent
value for money as it includes salad, plus 3 courses, coffee and a drink. Whilst in the area, why not make a trip out to see the salt lakes and have a nice relaxing time enjoying a great value lunch at the same time. Tel 968 103 300
HELP Murcia Mar Menor staged a Murder Mystery event on Thursday 27th February at the Olympia in Mil Palmeras. It was attended by 95 people and was a huge success generating 522 for HELP MMM. The mystery was to gure out who killed the Captain. The role of the Captain was played by John Rose, who had been a Purser on board a cruise liner. Unfortunately his part was cut short be-
cause he keeled over and died as he was welcoming people on board the MCS MAGNIFICA. His death was conrmed by the doctor as caused by cyanide poisoning. The next to die was his wife, a very shady character. Before too long the Purser died as well, but that was from natural causes (allegedly!) On each table there were 8 character name tags, Doctor, Personal Trainer, Captains Wife, her Son/Daughter, First Ofcer, the Purser, Detective Inspector and Police Sergeant. The presenter, Chris Cooke, explained the format for the evening and conducted the ships PA system to make several signicant announcements. The Police Inspector and the Sergeant had the job of interviewing the various characters and guring out who killed the Captain. Each person had a comprehensive instruction leaet and was required to act in character as well as to answer honestly any questions by the police.
Conclusion At the conclusion, Chris Cooke, recorded the various decisions from each table. Some got it right, but one table decided that the Police Sergeant was the murderer - perhaps this was inuenced by the bottles of wine consumed. He then read from his script outlining the motive and opportunity of each character and conrmed the murderer as ????. Well, there might be an appeal and a rerun - Who Knows Who Dunnit?
New Business Husband and wife team Les and Sara Millbank, recently expanded their business by purchasing Los Belones Laundrette. Previously known as Bits and Bats, the shop offers on-site laundry service including washing, drying and ironing including same day service.
on! Les and his team run the maintenance department of the business and will be doing the delivery and collection part of the laundrette. Les is also a fully qualied and Spanish registered air conditioning engineer, so summers will be busier than ever this year. On top of the normal washing and ironing service, Los Belones Laundrette out-source any dry cleaning requirements. Collection and deliveries are on Tuesdays and Fridays which includes small rugs and sofa covers. However, if the carpet is too big to move, or the sofa doesnt have a cover, then this service extends to your home. There is also a repair and alteration service for anyone wanting professional sewing done. In fact, all your laundry needs are covered by Los Belones Laundrette and if they cant do it they know someone who can. La Manga 4 U is a family run business with
daughter Nicola running the rental department and website in the UK and daughter-inlaw, Lindsay, supporting Sara and her team with the management side. We have some brilliant people working for us, many of whom have been with us for a long time says Sara. We wouldnt have thought about expanding without such a great team behind us! Los Belones Laundrette can be found just of the high street in Los Belones and offers other small businesses like themselves special rates for regular use. The scheme offers very competitive rates with priority at busy times and use of the new Los Belones Laundrette laundry bags. Several small businesses have already joined the scheme including some local restaurants and management companies! If you would like to know more about Los Belones Laundrette please contact Sara on 699 794 283.
Les and Sara already run a very successful property management company called La Manga 4 U which looks after second homes for owners in the La Manga area. La Manga 4 U offers all aspects of property management service including maintenance, renting, cleaning and of course laundry. We already used the shop for the laundry from all our properties said Les, so when the previous owner mentioned they were retiring, it seemed to make sense to take it
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Ruth Lorenzo was born on November 10, 1982 in Torre Pacheco, Murcia. At a very young age she became a fan of the musical Annie and although she had no idea of what the words meant she would sing along to the songs in English. When she was six years old she discovered music by Montserrat Caball, a Catalan opera singer, and after her mother bought her an album by Caball, Lorenzo began to sing opera, imitating Caballs vocals until she was pitch perfect. At the age of 12, Lorenzos family moved to America and this was the rst time she had the opportunity to be involved in music at school. After much encouragement from her teachers, Lorenzo was entered into competitions and played lead roles in musical productions such as The Phantom of the Opera and My Fair Lady. When Lorenzo turned 16 the family returned to Spain and although having had singing lessons, she had to cancel these lessons due to family nancial difculty and
as a result Lorenzo gave up on her dream of becoming a recording artist. When Lorenzo was 19 she joined a rock band, which was a challenge for her as she had only sung opera music. In 2002, she auditioned for the second series of Operacin Triunfo, the Spanish version of Star Academy, where she was rejected in the rst rounds of auditions. She also made a big decision to quit her job in her familys business in order to pursue her dreams once again, but after three years of touring around Spain the group decided to split up. In 2008, Lorenzo auditioned for the fth series of The X Factor. Lorenzo passed both stages of bootcamp and was sent to St Tropez with the other successful contestants from the over-25s category. By Week 8 Ruth was the last remaining act in her category and she was eliminated after receiving the fewest public votes. Ruth performed at gigs across the UK and Ireland in December 2008 and January 2009 and at the Spirit of Northern Ireland Awards on 20th January. In February and March 2009, she joined the X Factor Live Tour with fellow nalists. She performed in a benet concert at Polaris World in Murcia on 28th August, where she used to work, with all proceeds going to Polaris World Projects in Africa. On 14th November 2009, she performed at the Paisley Christmas Lights Switch On event held in Paisley Town Centre.
Lorenzo was approached by Spanish TV Channel Cuatro and asked to write a song for their new ctional drama Valientes and she composed two songs for the show. Ruth performed Quiero Ser Valiente on Friday 22 January on Spanish talent show Fama a bailar and performed at the Nightingales Club in Birmingham. In July 2010 it was revealed that Lorenzo had been writing songs for Dannii Minogues comeback album.
Eurovision Song Contest In February the song Dancing in the Rain was released as one of the Spanish pre-selection entries for the Eurovision Song Contest 2014. The song was released on February 18 and it became number one on iTunes Spain. Ruth will now represent Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 with the song Dancing in the Rain on 10 May after winning the national nal called Mira quin va a Eurovisin on 22 February.
Despite the wonders of modern medicine, sometimes answers do not always lie with conventional treatments. There are times when Natural Remedies and Healing can provide the solution that doctors cannot.
help people. 1. 2. Kinesiology Testing Hair Analysis which is a tool providing an interesting and important insight into the bodys organs and functions. Bio-age Resonance measures your biological age, as opposed to your chronological age. Stiffening of the arteries is a principal indicator of potential heart problems. This can often simply be addressed by diet and lifestyle changes. Access to top quality Nutritional Supplements such as L-Arginine helps a myriad of health risks and complaints, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, cholesterol and lack of energy.
At her home-clinic in Los Urrutias, Sandra Ramsay from the Natural Health Centre has several Natural Health tools at her disposal to
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Kinesiology Techniques are used to identify imbalances in the body by testing muscles for strength and weaknesses. Kinesiology is a way of balancing health. Muscles rely on a good supply of blood and lymph - the uid responsible for cleaning the blood and removing toxins. Stimulating certain pressure points on the body enhances blood ow and lymph to the appropriate muscles, thereby balancing the energy systems within the body. These energy circuits can become blocked in times of stress or illness and we become weak if we use more energy than we generate. Circuits which are out-of-balance can be unblocked. Kinesiology can also be used as a preventive measure. Imbalances can be identied and treated which could lead to problems in months, or even years, ahead if neglected. Kinesiology can help to treat allergies in children and adults, skin complaints, food and chemical intolerances, stress, joint pain, digestive issues and toxins in the system, and many more complaints. Our body talks to us all of the time and sends messages constantly; the secret is to listen, understand what the body is telling us and then act positively upon this information. The sooner you address a problem, the sooner it can be rectied. For further information, contact Sandra on 968 134 953 or 634 312 081 Email sandra.naturalhealth@gmail.com
MABS Mar Menor Opens New Cancer Centre MABS Mar Menor Cancer Support Group opened the doors of their new Cancer Centre on Wednesday 26th February. The opening was attended by Volunteers, Patients and Sponsors. The ribbon was ofcially cut by Maria Angeles Martinez, Principal of the Ofcial School of Languages in San Javier, assisted by Jacqui Phillips MBE, President of MABS and Janet Bell Area Coordinator for MABS Mar Menor. It was through Janet mentioning to Maria that MABS was looking for a bungalow for their Cancer Centre that the premises were found. The purpose of the Centre, which is open 10am-2pm Monday-Friday, is to provide a place for anyone affected by Cancer to drop in for information, a coffee and chat, or just a shoulder to cry on. It also provides a treatment room for lymphatic drainage and a room for counselling or complimentary therapies. On the 3rd Friday of every month there is a Share & Care Group at 11am. Anyone affected by cancer or bereavement is welcome to go along for an informal talk to MABS Volunteers and other people in the same situation. The next meeting is on Friday 18th April. Contact Anne, Share & Care Coordinator, on 693 795 247 for further information. Sponsored Cycle Ride Keith Redgers, aged 67, is limbering up, training to get ready for a Sponsored Cycle Ride from San Javier, to Stroud in the UK, in aid of
MABS Cancer Support. The route, approximately 2,200 kilometres will take in Alicante, Zaragona, Pamplona, Bourdeaux, Nantes, Caen, Portsmouth and Bristol. Keith and his pal George, who is also cycling, will set off on May 31st and will be camping along the route, which they hope to complete within 21 days. MABS Fundraising Coordinator Wendy Grant said We hope that lots of people will support this huge commitment by sponsoring Keith in his enterprise. We will look to make sponsoring easy and convenient for people, collecting donations, sponsorship pledges as well as donations via social media. MABS is completely self funded and relies entirely on donations, sponsorship and fundraising to pay for all the services they provide. The MABS Centre is situated on the main road between San Javier and Santiago de la Ribera, on the corner of Avenida Mar Menor and Calle Cabo de Cresus. Volunteers are always required to continue the support offered by MABS, so if you have a few hours a week to spare and would like to help please contact Sylvia, Volunteer Coordinator on 634 353 575. Cancer does not discriminate and neither does MABS. We help anyone of any nationality affected by Cancer. 24 hour Helpline 693 275 779. Cancer Centre 634 328 401 open 10am2pm Monday-Friday.
Wednesday 2nd April Volunteers Meeting 11am for 11.15am @ Roda Bar, Centro Civico, Roda Village, followed by a social lunch. If you would like to nd out more about how you can help MABS, come along to our meeting. For further information ring Sylvia on 634 353 575 Saturday 5th April Grand National Race Day @ Time Out Bar, 80 Avenida de la Union, San Javier 1.30-5.30pm in aid of MABS. 6 Race Prize Competition, free sandwich buffet and rafe. For more information or to book your table tel 968 192 418 or 610 352 610 Friday 18th April Share and Care Group @ MABS Centre San Javier 11am. An informal get together for anyone affected by cancer. For more information call Anne on 693 795 247, or MABS Cancer care Centre on 634 328 401. Sunday 27th April Cool-Sax in aid of MABS @ The Arches, La Oasis, Los Alcazares 1.3015.30pm. Enjoy some mellow live Sax music, whilst enjoying a drink or Sunday Lunch. No charge for entry, but Cool-Sax will collect donations for MABS. Every Saturday (weather permitting) Book Stall @ The Arches, La Oasis, Los Alcazares 10am to 1pm. Keep watching the press for more events, or you have any fundraising ideas for MABS call Wendy Grant 634 362 826.
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Easy Horse Care Centre (EHCRC) On Standby For Mass Rescue The EHCRC in Rojales are currently working closely with other animal welfare agencies to rescue twenty horses from what has been described as a living hell in Callosa de Segura.
against the owner because of his continuing offences to existing Animal Welfare laws in Valencia. Despite this evidence, a court in Orihuela had deemed to nd no signs of crime and the judge ordered the case to be led. The dealer is alleged to be in violation of Law 4/1994 of July 8th of the Generalitat Valenciana on the Protection of Pets. He has also been repeatedly denounced for abuse and illegal transportation of animals. Reports from the Guardia Civil Seprona and the Department of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Generalitat Valenciana have called for the closure of the business and the immobilisation of the animals.
necessary treatment required to improve their state of health. This whole saga makes us so sad. It shows a lack of awareness on animal welfare still exists in some sectors of Spanish society. There is still much work to be done in this regard and we must continue to work and create awareness and educate people, especially the younger generation that this behaviour is unacceptable in a modern society. Obviously these extra horses are going to place a huge strain on our resources both nancially and space, but we cannot just sit back and do nothing. The Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre would welcome any donations or horse sponsorship to assist in the upkeep of the 63 equines in their care and the extra animals when they arrive. If you are a bar owner or business that would like to hold a charity event to support the centre please get in touch with Sue Weeding on 652 021 980 or email David East on pr@easyhorsecare.net. EHCRC will ensure that your event receives the maximum publicity in the press and on radio, plus coverage on their Facebook and website pages prior to and after the event. Every cent donated or spent in any one of the ve charity shops operated by EHCRC goes towards the upkeep and care of the horses, donkeys and ponies, so if you have any furniture, white goods, clothes or metal for recycling to donate they can collect it from your home. Any large items such as furniture purchased in the shops can also be delivered. Please contact the charity shop hotline on 636 062 000. You can see where your money is spent by visiting EHCRC every Sunday between 1pm and 4pm where refreshments are available in the garden caf. The rst informative horse tour where you can get close to and meet the equine residents starts at 2pm. For more details on how to donate and for directions to EHCRC just outside Rojales Town Centre, visit their website at www.easyhorsecare.net
The National Association for the Defence of Animals (ANDA) were alerted by British MEP Arlene McArthy who herself has contacted the Animal Welfare Intergroup of the European Parliament. El Refugio del Burrito, a major donkey rescue organisation based in Malaga has already rescued nine donkeys from the premises. Two were in such a bad state they were euthanized on the spot and one other died two days later after arriving at the Malaga centre. A spokesperson for El Refugio del Burrito stated This is undoubtedly the largest rescue that we have been involved in since we started our rescue operations in Spain. We are working very closely with our partners Rod and Sue Weeding, Co-Founders of EHCRC to get these horses out of this wretched place. The premises at the centre of the controversy is owned by a dealer who buys and sells horses, donkeys and mules. They are kept in the most appalling condition, tied and locked up 24 hours a day with limited access to food and water, literally starving. El Refugio del Burrito have already placed a criminal complaint
In the latest move regarding this case, El Refugio del Burrito have contacted the EHCRC and advised them that their specialist lawyer has drawn up the necessary paperwork which is currently going through the courts and they are hoping for a positive outcome. Sue Weeding said We are currently monitoring the ongoing developments in this deplorable case and are in daily contact with our partners at Refugio del Burrito. As soon as we are advised that it is legally permissible to move in and rescue these horses we will get these animals out and bring them to EHCRC where they will be examined by Dorothea, our vet, to assess their condition and provide the
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Carrots Following all your lovely comments regarding last months recipes on broccoli, I have looked at Carrots this month to go along side the vegetable of the month. Carrots are one of the brightest vegetables and make any meal look interesting. I developed my Lemon Carrots one day when trying to use up some lemons and my family love them. Just a little bit of butter and lemon gives the Carrots an interesting twist and they go with any meal including a roast. Another ingredient that goes well with Carrots is mint, so why not try the salad recipe? Have you ever wondered how to make a Pakora? Any vegetable goes well in a pakora including cauliower and or course Carrots. Buen Apetito Carrot and Cabbage Casserole 4 cups green cabbage, sliced 4-6 carrots, sliced thinly 2 onions, sliced
2 cups breadcrumbs cup sesame seeds 2tbsp oil 1tsp salt tsp pepper Vegetable stock Steam the carrot slices until crisp-tender. Heat the oil in a large pan and add the onions, cooking for a few minutes. Then add cabbage and cook for 10 minutes more. Remove from heat and stir in the salt, pepper, and carrots. Oil a deep-sided casserole dish, make a pint vegetable stock and pour into dish with all the above. Cook in low heat oven for half an hour. Thicken with cornour if preferred before serving. Carrot and Potato Soup 4 med potatoes peeled 3 med carrots peeled 2 med onions Small amount of olive oil
Pinch salt and pepper I pint boiling water 1 cup of saved water from the cooked vegetables 1 cup of cream or evaporated milk Pinch cayenne Pinch celery salt Dice potatoes, carrots and onions and fry in pan with olive oil. Add salt and boiling water. Cover and cook gently until tender (about 15 minutes). Mash the vegetables thoroughly in their liquid. Combine with cream, heat just to scalding. Add cayenne and celery salt, reheat and serve at once. Add paprika on top of each serving. Carrot and Bean Minted Salad 2 tablespoon mint chopped tsp minced garlic 1tblsp olive oil 2tblsp red wine vinegar Pepper Large carrots Handful green beans, chopped into 1 pieces Whisk together the rst ve ingredients for the dressing. If using a fresh carrot, boil it for about 4 minutes, then drain. Pour dressing over carrots and green beans and serve. Lemon Carrots Several carrots 50g butter 2 fresh lemons Peel and slice carrots and cook until just rm. Melt butter in pan until just runny, add juice from the lemons and stir. Add carrots and stir until coated with sauce. Serve immediately. Carrot Pakora pound chickpea our 1tsp salt 1tsp red chili powder 1tsp coriander seed powder tsp baking soda tsp black pepper 1 medium onion chopped nely 1 large cooked potato cut into cubes Oil for deep-frying Water to make paste Peel carrots and cut into long sticks and cooked until still rm. Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl and add enough water to make a paste. Mix well. Take a spoonful at a time from the bowl of paste, cover the carrot and deep fry it in hot oil till golden brown. Serve with dipping sauces. Carrot Cake 2 cups granulated sugar 1 cups vegetable oil 4 eggs 3 cups grated carrots (about 7) 2 cups all-purpose our 2tsp baking soda 2tsp baking powder 2tsp cinnamon Cup chopped nuts In mixing bowl, combine sugar and oil. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well. Mix in carrots. Sift into bowl, our, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon. Add our mixture to carrot mixture. Mix and add nuts. Pour into greased and oured two round cake tins. Bake in 325F oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until cake test done. Sprinkle chopped nuts over top for garnish.
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How To Change Housing That Is Under Construction In Title Deeds To Completed/Finished In Camposol Many homes in Camposol appear even today as homes Under Construction in the Title Deeds and Land Registry. This defect in the legal documentation of housing is usually caused by the absence of the Final Works Certicate (Final de Obra) and/or absence of Decennial Insurance.
the Land Registry to double check its possible to make the necessary correction. Cost - 0. Preparation Of Technical Documentation Once we know that in your particular case it is possible to make the necessary correction, we arrange a 2nd visit to your home in order to prepare the technical documentation - called an Antiquity Certicate. (Please see article on page 46 in February 2014 Costa Clida Chronicle). This certicate may include pools and all types of buildings; extensions, enclosed terraces, storage rooms, sheds etc., but on condition that they must be more than four years old. The Antiquity Certicate gives an accurate description of the current state of your property. We send the certicate to be ofcially stamped at the College of Architects in Murcia and provide you as the homeowner, three hard copies. Delivery within 7-10 working days. New Title Deeds We then take your Antiquity Certicate to the Notary, along with your Title Deeds, NIE/ Passport and Nota Simple (from the Land Registry) and organise the signing for the new Title Deeds, acting on your behalf as interpreters. As a result you will then have a new Escritura/Title Deed for your property stating it is Completed/Finished and with any additions such as pools, extensions etc. Timescale From obtaining Antiquity Certicate - 10 working days to signing at the Notary. Registration Of Title Deeds With the new Title Deeds, accompanied by Martinez de la Casa Architects (entails visiting Cartagena), we help you settle your
taxes due for the additions/correction to your new Title Deeds, which costs 1.5% of the declared amount and then followed by going with you to the Land Registry in Mazarrn. After registration, Martinez de la Casa Architects will verify that the description of the property has been changed and that it correctly matches its current physical state. At this point your home has reached the highest level of legality, regarding ownership, in the region of Murcia. The cost of the Antiquity Certicate is 353 (+IVA), or for pools/extensions 250 (+IVA). For Martinez de la Casa Architects to manage the whole process for you, we charge 600 (+IVA), which includes the Antiquity Certicate, cost of the ofcial stamping at the College of Architects, arranging the Notary paperwork and signing, accompanying you for the signing acting as interpreters and organising the correct papers to pay your taxes. If you would also like Martnez de la Casa to accompany you through the stages of paying your tax and registration, we will only charge you our time including travel. (This process usually takes a good part of a morning). All services of Martinez de la Casa have no hidden costs. Therefore we always quote before starting any work. For more information, over 80 reviews of our services and all associated costs, please visit our website www. martinezdelacasa.com and contact us on 665 810 411.
To change the description of property under construction for nished home steps taken by Martinez de la Casa Architects are as follows: First Step - Verify Antiquity of Property & Check Documents Meet the Necessary Requirements to Proceed Martinez de la Casa Architects arrange a rst free consultation at your property to review your legal paperwork (only the Title Deeds and your NIE is necessary), to ensure that the property was completed over ten years ago. We then make enquiries through
Murcia Dance 5th Year Celebrations Start with a Bang It has already been an amazing rst 3 months of Murcia Dances 5th year celebrations and once again they were invited to be part of the Mazarrn Town Carnival Celebrations between February 28th and March 1st.
grooves. Both dancers were kindly supported with a lot pampering and superb hair and make-up before the evening took hold by Leeanne and Melissa Croarkin of Eden Hair Beauty Salon on Condado de Alhama. There was a very busy Saturday with a full carnival rehearsal in the streets of Camposol with 31 dancers from the age of 3-60 years old. For the rst time Murcia Dance was supported with a carnival trailer to assist moving through the parade. Ken Sherwood Garage sponsored the trailer and space to create a moving disco for all the mums and tots of Murcia Dance Mini Movers. Working on the trailer for many Sundays before the parade, the moving disco led all the dancers from Murcia Dance down the high street of Mazarrn Town on 2nd March. What an exciting time that was! The weather was warm and the dancers looked fantastic in their outts and theatrical faces by Fiesta Faces team, Kate Stokes, Candice and Sophie Bullock. Murcia Dance are now planning their sum-
mer programme and will be working towards their Annual Performance in June. We are very honoured this month to be supported in our classes by Professional Dancer Jay Markwick and Ann Thompson, Musical Director of the Harlequin Rock Choir. Jay is also Artistic Director of Compania Flamenco JM and has been working with the children on dance technique and teaching part of the companys new repertoire. It is fantastic that the children will have the opportunity to see Jay and his company perform choreography they have learnt at the Torrevieja Municipal Theatre on 1st June when Murcia Dance will be taking a group up to the event. For more information about the performance please visit https:// www.facebook.com/companiaamenco. jm For more details on Murcia Dance, its programme and 5th Year Celebrations please visit our https://www.facebook.com/murcia. dance For Arts & Cultural Association of Murcia please visit https://www.facebook.com/ acam.murcia Murcia Dance is a Cultural Project of The Arts & Cultural Association for Murcia. We are supported by members donations and sponsorship. We would like to thank all the parents and friends of Murcia Dance: Patron Keith Donovan, Ken Sherwood Garage, Fiestas Camposol, Los Amigos Golf Society and Mazarrn Ayuntamiento for supporting our projects over the past 12 months.
Libby Bullock, Murcia Dance Young Dancer of the Year 2013 and Jack Dawson entered the Musa and Muso Competition on Friday 28th February. With an electric atmosphere made up of dancers, feathers, sequins and music, both Libby and Jack danced their hearts out for the Murcia Dance and Mazarrn community. It was a great honour for the second year running for one of the dancers to be awarded the Muso 2014 Award. Jack Dawson, Muso 2014, presented his very rst solo and rocked the judges and audience with his dance skills, moves and
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Violent AP-7 highwaymen Highwaymen who cleared out cars while their drivers were at petrol stations and who caused a woman to have a miscarriage during a mugging attempt have been caught. They targeted service stations and shopping centres in coastal areas of the AP-7 motorway, mostly in the southern Costa Blanca and Mar Menor areas and near El Altet and San Javier airports. The gang were said to be very violent and would attack victims at the slightest sign of resistance. On one occasion, four of the men kicked and punched a 36-yearold Moroccan woman who was pregnant in front of her young daughter while others stole personal items from her van parked at a petrol station in Santomera (Murcia) off the A-7 motorway. She was given medical attention at the scene, but upon arrival in Morocco was once again rushed to hospital as she was bleeding heavily, and was found to have lost the baby. In total, 16 men, mainly Romanian nationals, have been arrested and police recovered a large amount of jewellery, video cameras, computer equipment, photo cameras, etc and around 300 grams of marijuana and various tools used to break into vehicles, plus two cars. Health and Social Care The Governing Council has authorized the Murciano Institute for Social Action (IMAS), to extend the contract with the company to continue with 100 places for older people in the residence in Lorca. The new agreement will run from May 1st this year to April 30th 2016. This means the IMAS in Lorca will con-
tinue to offer a total of 247 residential places The purpose of these actions is to ensure comprehensive care for older people in situations of dependency, who require some care and services in activities of daily living that they cannot receive in their own environment due to socio-family causes. The have also authorized the Ministry of Health and Social Policy to make an investment of 86,000 for 10 places in day centres for people with intellectual disabilities in the town of Puerto Lumbreras. The purpose is to meet the social needs and implement the right of citizens to enjoy basic living standards. An agreement has been approved between the Ministry of Health and Social Policy and the College of Pharmacists of Murcia by which pharmacies can offer a Custom Dispensing System (SPD) of medication to patients, following the instructions of the doctor, to organize the implementation of drug treatment. This agreement will last for two years renewable and will develop a new way for drug delivery which will be optional for the patient, making it much safer. Pharmacists must inform patients of this new venture and may offer a case or pillbox to help patients who have to take several medications daily, with the aim of improving the efciency and safety of their treatment. The regional government has given approval to an agreement between the Ministry of Health and Social Policy and the Murcia Red
Mother Association for the promotion and development of information activities, support, advice and help women, to overcome any conict that arises before an unplanned pregnancy. The Ministry will promote activities in the area through actions such as periodic information in public health and social centres in the region, with the publication of posters and the distribution of leaets. Heritage Protection The Convent and Shrine of Virgen de las Huertas Lorca is now declared of Cultural Interest According to legend transmitted by the Franciscan Order, this is the rst Christian church in Lorca, after the Reconquista. The rst signs were erected in the middle of the garden outside the fortress in the thirteenth century and this was dedicated to Santa Mara de las Huertas. Originally it was a small chapel, but it was a place of pilgrimage of the Spanish troops and a sacred place where they deposited their banners and ags. Over the centuries, left in the care of the sanctuary and adjacent Franciscan monastery and its monks, a baroque church was built, whose murals are considered of great artistic value. The earthquake in 2011 in Lorca seriously affected this monument, one of the best examples of monastic architecture of Spain and it is now being completely renovated. Child Protection Services The Cabinet has approved an allocation to the Ministry of Health and Social Policy the basement and the ground oor of a building in the street Villaleal, Murcia for the Child Protective Services of the Department of Social Policy.
Fitness Regular exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle and everyone can benet from some exercise. Dont be put off by thinking you have got to do a vigorous workout everyday! A little exercise goes a
long way, but you should try to do something every day; even half an hour every day will make a difference. Doing regular exercise can help to prevent health conditions, manage your weight, improve your overall tness and your mental health and general well being.
go to a Doctor or Dentist who wasnt qualied, so why would you go to an exercise class or gym run by someone who doesnt know the safe way to exercise. Class numbers are limited at CDA Fitness so that Ian can keep an eye on everyone and can adapt exercises to suit individuals, especially if they suffer from specic ailments. You should seek medical advice if you do suffer from certain ailments and have not exercised for some time. If you are unsure and would like some advice, please feel free to contact Ian and he can discuss the best exercise for you. There are a variety of classes covering cardio, strength and toning every weekday which cater for all abilities, ages and tness levels. Classes arent just for the ladies out there there is something suitable for everyone. You will not only have a good workout, but will have fun at the same time. Ian will be holding a free class on Wednesday 16th April at 11am for newcomers who would like to take part in regular exercise, but are not sure which classes would suit them. The class will incorporate Step & Tone, Legs Bums & Tums and Kettlebells, giving you an idea of what each class covers. As with all classes, you will be asked to ll out a health questionnaire before taking part. Please call to book your space or to nd out more tel CDA Fitness on 634 304 087
Whether youre just starting to exercise or have always been active, make sure you take steps to stay injury-free and are able to perform to the best of your ability by attending a class or gym run by a qualied and insured professional who understands how the anatomy and physiology work, ensuring a safe and effective exercise routine. It seems easy for people to start running an exercise class or a gym without being checked they are qualied to do so. Dont be afraid to ask to see their credentials - you can also check they have taken professional exams on the reps and ereps websites. You wouldnt
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RED Entertainment GREEN Charity & non-prot making events ORANGE Special menus BLACK Fiestas & important events PURPLE Market, exhibitions, leisure & meetings Please refer to the relevant advert or editorial for more details of events
Every Day All day Breakfast @ Bora Bora, Pto de Mazarrn from 2.50 Anas No Nonsense Breakfast @ Tropic Anas, Camposol A from 3 (9am-12pm) Full English Breafast @ The Vista Bar, Camposol A from 3 (exc Sunday) Special Menu @ Amigos Bar, San Pedro del Pinatar 3.99 (Mon-Thurs) Full English Breakfast (2 of everything) @ Luisines Cake, Los Narejos 4.75 Full English/American Style Breakfast @ Bistro Ratatouille, Pto de Mazarrn (exc Tues) Lunch Menu @ Spice Villa, Camposol A, from 5.95 Any Pizza & a Drink @ Mamma Mia, Pto de Mazarrn 12.30-4.30pm, 8 (exc Sat & Sun) Moroccan Grill inc salad/potatoes/drink @ Restaurante Alhambra, Pto de Mazarrn 8.50 5 Course Meal/5 Wines @ Castillo del Pinar, Perin 15 (Tues-Sat, 16 on Sundays) Happy Hour @ Amigos Bar, San Pedro del Pinatar 6-8pm (Mon-Thurs) Menu del Noche @ Bistro Ratatouille, Pto de Mazarrn 10 (exc Tues & Sun) 3 Course Menu del Noche @ New Royal, Pto de Mazarrn 10 inc btl wine for 2 (Mon-Thurs) Menu del Noche @ Restaurante Avenida, Puerto de Mazarrn 12 inc a drink 3 Course Menu del Noche @ Elliots, Bolnuevo 12 (exc Sun) 3 Course Menu del Noche @ Chez Zoe, Pto de Mazarrn 12 (exc Tues & Sun) Earlybird Menu @ Spice Villa, Camposol A 12.50 inc btl wine per cpl (6-8pm) Menu del Noche @ La Chara, Pto de Mazarrn 15 (Tues-Fri) Chiropody with Phillip Dawe @ Sensol Golf Villa Sales Building, Camposol C Algorfa Chiropractor @ SOS Boutique, Rio Nalon, Los Alczares Mazarrn Bay Bridge Club @ Atrium Hotel, Bolnuevo 9.30am Legs, Bums & Tums with CDA Fitness @ Camposol 10am & 11am Dancercize with Zizi @ The Arches, Los Alczares 12pm Ladies Chatterbox Group Sew & Sew @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B 2.30pm Kettlebells with CDA Fitness @ Camposol 6.30pm Quiz Night @ The Club House, Camposol C 8pm Poker Night @ Amigos Bar, San Pedro del Pinatar from 8pm Bowling League @ Alley Palais, Camposol B Under 12s Eat Free @ Big Gs, Condado de Alhama (with every adult meal purchased) Forget me Not Respite Care @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B Andreas Animal Rescue Collection @ Car Park, Camposol B 11.30am-1.30pm HELP MMM Bingo @ La Zona Bar, Los Alczares 2pm 1/game MABS MM Fun Quiz @ La Rosa Bar, San Cayetano 9pm Every Tue B Clean Working Party @ Commercial Centre, Camposol B 9am Petanca @ Los Balcones, Caadas del Romero 10am-1pm Circuits with CDA Fitness @ Camposol 10am Pilates with CDA Fitness @ Camposol 11am Spanglish Sessions (Exchange Conversation) @ Luisines Cake, Los Narejos 11am-1pm Computer Clinic @ Tropic Anas, Camposol A 1-3pm Petanca @ Condado Club, Condado de Alhma from 4pm Fit 4 Life Weight Loss Support Group @ Janes Salon, Bolnuevo 4-5pm Language Exchange Class @ Miguel Delibes School, Pto de Mazarrn 6pm FREE Football Training Session (ages 4-17) @ El Pareton 6-7pm Learn to Ballroom Dance with Jacqui @ The Arches, Los Alczares 7pm Harlequin Rock Choir Meeting @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B 7.30-9pm
Every Mon
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Poker Night @ Black Bull, Camposol B 8pm Karaoke with Lynden B @ The Arches, Los Alczares MABS Mazarrn Coffee Morning @ MABS Centre, Camposol B 10am-1pm MAMAS Collection/Book Stall @ Camposol B Car Park 10am-1pm MABS Mazarrn Craft Workshop @ MABS Centre, Camposol B 2.30-4.30pm Every Wed C Gardening Group Clean Up @ Camposol C 9am Camposol Bridge Club, Duplicate Bridge @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B 9.30am Aerobic Body Tone with CDA Fitness @ Camposol 10am (exc 2 April & 7 May) Dancercize with Zizi @ The Arches, Los Alczares 11am Magenta Harmony Group. 11.30am (Tel for venue) Ladies Coffee Afternoon @ Marianos, Camposol A 2.30-4.30pm Line Dancing with Lyn @ The Arches, Los Alczares 3pm Mar Menor Golf Society Competition Chiropodist Available @ Janes Salon, Bolnuevo Pool League @ Alley Palais, Camposol B Mazarrn AA Group @ Meeting Room adjacent to Caada de Gallego Church 5.30pm Pizza Day @ Mamma Mia, Pto de Mazarrn 6 for any pizza with purchase of drink & coffee Fish & Chip Day @ The Wishing Well, Valladolises from 5.95 (from 1pm) Happy Wednesday, 2 x 1 @ Amapola Restaurante, Bolnuevo 26 per cpl inc btl wine 3 Course Route 66 Big Bite American Night @ Bistro Ratatouille, Pto de Mazarrn 15 Age Concern booking events etc @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B 10am-1pm MABS MMM Art Workshop @ Caf Golf, San Javier, 10am-12pm 2 PALS for booking events etc @ Bistro Ratatouille, Pto de Mazarrn 1-3pm HAH Book & DVD Club @ La Zona Bar, Los Narejos 2.30-4.30pm Every Thu Camposol Market @ Camposol A Kettlebells with CDA Fitness @ Camposol 10am Step n Tone with CDA Fitness @ Camposol 11am Bingo @ The Club House, Camposol C 1-3pm Mazarrn Ladies Circle @ Hotel Playa Grande, Pto de Mazarrn 1.30pm Skin Analysis Machine/Facial @ Janes Salon, Condado de Alhama 4pm Los Amigos de Mazarrn FC Meeting @ The Club House, Camposol C 4pm Fun Quiz @ The Vista Bar, Camposol A from 6pm (opt curry/rice/naan 3) Circuits with CDA Fitness @ Camposol 6.30pm Quiz Night with Eddie B @ Black Bull, Camposol B 8pm (food avail from 3) Bingo @ Alandalus, Calasparra from 8pm Fish & Chips @ Luisines Cake, Los Narejos 4.75 (from midday) 3 Course Lunch @ Amapola Restaurante, Bolnuevo 10 inc a drink 3 Course Mexican Night @ Condado Club, Condado de Alhma 12 from 6pm 4 Course Surprise Menu @ Bistro Ratatouille, Pto de Mazarrn 25 for 2 3 Course Steak & Rib Night @ Big Gs, Condado de Alhama 15 Jam Night @ The Club House, Camposol C
Age Concern booking events etc @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B 10am-1pm Andreas Animal Rescue Collection @ Mazarrn Country Club 11.30am-1pm Every Fri Camposol Bridge Club/Duplicate Bridge @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B 9.30am Friday Art Group @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B 9.45am-12.30pm Legs, Bums & Tums with CDA Fitness @ Los Balcones, Caadas del Romero 10am Pilates with CDA Fitness @ Los Balcones, Caadas del Romero 11am Book Stall/Camposol A Gardening @ Car Park Camposol A 10.30am-12.30pm 10 Pin Bowling/Camposol C Greenngers Garden Group @ Totana 4pm Find the Joker @ Black Bull, Camposol B 7pm Poker @ Alandalus, Calasparra from 8pm Chip Shop Day Menu @ Amigos Bar, San Pedro del Pinatar from 4.50 Fish & Chip Day @ The Wishing Well, Valladolises from 5.95 from 1pm
Fish & Chip Night @ New Royal, Pto de Mazarrn 6 Fish & Chips @ The AP Grill, Camposol B 6.50 Fish & Chips @ Black Bull, Camposol B 6.50 (11-4 & 6-9) Bkg advisable Fish & Chips @ The Vista Bar, Camposol A 6.50 (2-7.30pm) Fish & Chip Night @ Condado Club, Condado de Alhma 7.95 from 6pm Fish & Chips @ Viggos, Pto de Mazarrn 2 Course Italian Night @ Bistro Ratatouille, Pto de Mazarrn 8.50 (exc 4 & 18 April) 2 Course Surf/Turf Night @ New Royal, Pto de Mazarrn 10 inc btl wine for 2 Mixed Grill Night @ Tropic Anas, Camposol A 10 Romantic Dinner @ Amapola Restaurante, Bolnuevo 19 inc btl wine for 2 Disco & Karaoke @ Alley Palais, Camposol B 9pm-late Lisa B @ Black Bull, Camposol B Noahs ARC Book Sale/Bric-a-Brac @ Camposol B 9.30am-2pm Lions Mazarrn booking events etc outside Compusurf, Camposol B 11am GOmaD Donations @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B/Costa Calida Radio 12.30-2pm Age Concern booking events etc @ Commercial Centre, Camposol B 11am-1pm Every Sat Harlequin Rock Choir Meeting @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B 2-4pm Gourmet Dinner @ Amapola Restaurante, Bolnuevo 22 inc btl wine for 2 Mixed Grill Menu @ Condado Club, Condado de Alhma Karaoke & Disco @ Alley Palais, Camposol B 9pm-late MABS MM Book Sale @ The Arches Bar, Los Alczares 10am-1pm HELP MMM up-market clothes @ The Arches Bar, Los Alczares 10am-1pm PALS for booking events @ Trevis Bar, Camposol B 11am-1.30pm Every Sun Car Boot Sale @ Caadas del Romero Social Centre 8.30am Car Boot Sale @ Venta Romero, Cuevas de Reyllo. 9am-2pm Spanish Conversation Group @ Condado Club, Condado de Alhama 7-8pm Fun Quiz @ Condado Club, Condado de Alhama 8pm Sunday Lunch @ The Wishing Well, Valladolises from 5.95 Sunday Roast @ Amigos Bar, San Pedro del Pinatar from 5.99 Sunday Lunch @ The Vista Bar, Camposol A from 6.50 Sunday Roast @ AP Grill, Camposol B, 6.95 Sunday Lunch @ Condado Club, Condado de Alhama from 6.95 Sunday Roast @ New Royal, Pto de Mazarrn 8.50 inc a drink Sunday Carvery @ The Club House Bistro, Camposol C from 9 3 Course Sunday Lunch @ Elliots, Bolnuevo 10 Sunday Roast @ Lizs Cafe, Camposol B 10 inc a drink 3 Course Sunday Lunch @ Bistro Ratatouille, Pto de Mazarrn 10 Meat Carvery/Vegetable Buffet @ La Mariposa, Gebas from 10.50 inc glass wine/beer 3 Course Sunday Roast (night) @ Bistro Ratatouille, Pto de Mazarrn 10 Sunday Roast @ Bora Bora, Pto de Mazarrn Sunday Special @ Amapola Restaurante, Bolnuevo Chilli Night @ Big Gs, Condado de Alhama 5 inc a drink HELP MMM Car Boot @ Autocine, Los Narejos 8.30am-12.30 Open Day @ Easy Horse Care Rescue Centre, Rojales 1-4pm APRIL Tuesday 1 National Pet Month Exhibition by Painter Domingo Vadivieso @ Mazarrn Town Hall (until 9 May) Welcome Book Swap @ ICA Medical Centre, Camposol B 10am-12pm Stamp Collectors Meeting @ Biblioteca, Pto de Mazarrn 6pm Parkinsons Friendship Group @ Club de Mayores (behind Pepelinos), Isla Plana 10am-12pm
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HAH Volunteers Meeting @ Bacchus Restaurant, Urb Oasis, Los Narejos 11.15am Wednesday 2 Beach Boot Camp with CDA Fitness @ Pto de Mazarrn Mazarrn Classic & Sports Car Group Meeting 4pm MABS MM Volunteers Meeting/Lunch @ Roda Bar, Centro Civico, Roda Village 11am Age Concern Talking Shop Social @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B 1.30-3.30pm Thursday 3 River Rafting Tour & 4 course Lunch @ La Mariposa, Gebas 65 Equimur (3rd 6th) @ IFEPA, Torre Pacheco Country Music Night @ Marianos, Camposol A 4 7.45pm 1st Anniversary with Live Music/Finger Buffet @ Bistro Ratatouille, Pto de Mazarrn 7pm The CAS Band @ The Vista Bar, Camposol A MABS Murcia NW Outdoor Market Stall @ Calle Segura, Calasparra 9am-1pm MABS Mazarrn Jigsaw Bereavement Group @ Cats Bar, Camposol A 12pm Mazarrn Bahia Leo Club @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B 7-9pm (12-18 year olds) FAST Beat the Buzzer Quiz @ The Club House, Camposol C Saturday 5 Artisan Market @ Paseo de las Comunidades Autnomas, Pto de Mazarrn 10am-2pm ADAPT Meeting @ Pensionista de Hogar, San Pedro 10.30am Welcome Meeting @ Marianos, Camposol A 2pm Murder Mystery Weekend/Dinner/Bfast/Lunch @ La Mariposa, Gebas 99 per cpl inc accomm Cavalli Foundation Presentation @ Equimur, Torre Pacheco 12-2pm U2 Tribute @ Bora Bora, Pto de Mazarrn from 2.30pm The CAS Band @ La Proa, Pto de Mazarrn Dee @ New Royal, Pto de Mazarrn Shani Ormiston @ The Clover, Condado de Alhama from 9.30pm MABS MM Grand National Race Day @ Time Out Bar, San Javier, 1.30-5.30pm Sunday 6 Artisan Market @ Bullas Trip to Bullas Market & Wine Museum with Viajes Dragontours Mazarrn FC v CD Lumbreras (away) XV National Mass Gathering of Drums and Cornet Bands in Cehegn Quiz Night @ Luisines Cake, Los Narejos 8pm Mountain Cross Country Run from Youth Centre in Calasparra 6 8.30am PALS Monthly Meeting @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B 11.15am Downhill Biking/4 course Lunch @ La Mariposa, Gebas 35 Stamp Collectors Meeting @ Biblioteca, Pto de Mazarrn 6pm Los Palacios Meeting @ Cats Bar, Camposol A LIONS Day Trip to Mines at La Union/Market/Dos Mares Shopping Centre 18 HAH Table Top Sale @ La Zona Bar, Los Alccares 10am-2pm HELP MMM Charity Market @ La Zona Bar, Los Alcazres 11am-1pm Wednesday 9 General Meeting of SAMM @ CAR Infanta Cristina, Los Narejos 11am Welcome Dance feat Nick Gold @ Marianos, Camposol A 7.45pm 8 (opt food at 5) 3 Course Surf & Turf Night @ The Club House, Camposol C 15 MABS Murcia NW Volunteers Meeting @ 5pm Thursday 10 Bando de la Huerta, Murcia Fiestas de Primavera, Blanca World Homeopathy Week (until 16th)
Friday 4
Monday 7 Tuesday 8
Ladies Chatterbox Group @ The Cultural Centre, Camposol B 2pm HELP MMM Spring Fayre @ The Arches, Los Alczares Friday 11 Indoor Market with fashion/bling/DVDs etc @ Alley Palais, Camposol B Latin American Night feat Grupo Caf/Meal @ Los Balcones, Caadas del Romero 15 Dave Rawson (Hypnotist) @ Condado Club, Condado de Alhama from 8pm Camposol Greennger Social/Karen Noble @ The Club House, Camposol C 6 8pm PALS Day Trip to Garrucha Market/Bedar Restaurant/Iceland in Vera 25 MABS Mazarrn Book Sale Commercial Centre, Camposol B 9am-1pm GOmAD Table Top Sale @ Commercial Centre, Camposol B 10am2pm FAST Book Stall @ Commercial Centre, Camposol B Saturday 12 Artisan Market @ Paseo de las Comunidades Autnomos, Pto de Mazarrn 10am-2pm The Dave Rawson Buzz Quiz @ The Clover, Condado de Alhama from 8pm Darwinians 4th Annual Garden Party @ Cortijo Raja, Morata Turkish Night @ Tropic Anas, Camposol A The CAS Band @ Bora Bora, Pto de Mazarrn from 2.30pm Bus Stop @ La Proa, Pto de Mazarrn Michelle @ New Royal, Pto de Mazarrn Sunday 13 Palm Sunday London Marathon Artisan Market @ Mula Hiking in Moratalla Cantalar-Cuva Negra SAMM Race Day @ CAR Infanta Cristina, Los Narejos 11am
Monday 14
Guided Walk/4 Course Lunch inc beer/wine @ La Mariposa, Gebas 12 GOmaD Fashion Show @ Marianos, Camposol A 1 entry 3pm
Tuesday 15
Welcome Book Swap @ ICA Medical Centre, Camposol B 10am-12pm ESAMD Visit to Cartagena Military Museum/Lunch HELP MMM General Meeting @ Las Claras, Los Narejos 11.30am
Wednesday 16 Free Exercise Class for Newcomers with CDA Fitness @ Camposol 11am Camposol Camera Club @ The Club House, Camposol C 4pm HAH Chatters @ Bacchus Restaurant, Urb Oasis, Los Narejos 11.30am Thursday 17 Downhill Biking/4 course Lunch @ La Mariposa, Gebas 35 Camposol & District Model Club Meeting Good Friday Cloud Nine Drama Murder Mystery Evening @ New Royal, Pto de Mazarrn 3 Course Fish & Chip Special @ The Club House, Camposol C 12.50 3 Course Good Friday Special @ Bistro Ratatouille, Pto de Mazarrn 15 from 7pm Karaoke @ Luisines Cake, Los Narejos Woody @ Condado Club, Condado de Alhama from 8pm MABS Mazarrn Book Sale @ Commercial Centre, Camposol B 9am-1pm MABS Murcia NW Outdoor Market Stall @ Calle Segura, Calasparra 9am-1pm
Friday 18
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MABS MMM Share & Care Group @ MABS Centre, San Javier 11am Mazarrn Bahia Leo Club @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B 7-9pm (12-18 year olds). Saturday 19 Fashion Show @ Eden Hair & Beauty, Condado de Alhama 6.30pm Humanists Walk near Aguilas Lunchtime Special/Mussel Extravaganza @ The Club House, Camposol A 10 Paella Night @ Tropic Anas, Camposol A The Blues Brothers Experience @ Bora Bora, Pto de Mazarrn from 2.30pm Gemma Bennett @ The Clover, Condado de Alhama from 9.30pm Pitu @ La Proa, Pto de Mazarrn Itchy Fingers @ New Royal, Pto de Mazarrn MABS Mazarrn Easter Fayre @ MABS Centre, Camposol B from 11am Sunday 20 Easter Sunday Artisan Market @ Caravaca Artisan Market @ Sanctuary de la Esperanza, Calasparra 10am-6pm Ruta del Ferrocarril (Railway Route) with Aguilas Tourist Information Centre Quiz Night @ Luisines Cake, Los Narejos 8pm Easter Roast Lunch @ Elliots, Bolnuevo Roast lunch am / pm @ Bistro Ratatouille, Pto de Mazarrn Easter Sunday Fun Day @ Condado Club, Condado de Alhama 1-5pm Elvis Tribute @ Black Bull, Camposol B Monday 21 Humanists Discussion Group Easter Roast Lunch @ Elliots, Bolnuevo Roast lunch am / pm @ Bistro Ratatouille, Pto de Mazarrn Tuesday 22 Trip to Bando de la Huerta with Viajes Dragontours
Wednesday 23 St Georges Day Dan Davy @ The Clover, Condado de Alhama from 9pm Camposol Greenngers AGM @ The Club House 3pm Forget Me Not Fun Day/live entertainment/stalls/rafes @ Marianos, Camposol A 5 3-12pm Thursday 24 Cosmetic Doctor @ Janes Salon, Bolnuevo Open Door Chill & Grill feat Patrick & Christine @ Los Almagros 6pm (bring your own food) San Marcos, Bullas Indoor Market with fashion/bling/DVDs etc @ Alley Palais, Camposol B Camposol Golf Competition NEST Cave Walk El Berro car park 10.30am 5 2 Course Fish & Chip Night @ The Club House, Camposol C 10 Disco & Karaoke with Byron @ The Clover, Condado de Alhama from 9.30pm Classic Rock Band @ New Royal, Pto de Mazarrn GOmAD Table Top Sale @ Commercial Centre, Camposol B 10am2pm FAST Book Stall @ Commercial Centre, Camposol B Age Concern Table Top Sale @ Commercial Centre, Camposol B MARA Lunch Club @ Las Lomas, Calasparra 12 2pm
Friday 25
Saturday 26
Free Nature Walk in Cehegn - Las Maravillas 9am Turkish Night @ Tropic Anas, Camposol A Martin Ross @ Bora Bora, Pto de Mazarrn from 2.30pm Pitu @ La Mariposa, Gebas Secreto Flamenco @ La Proa, Pto de Mazarrn The CAS Band @ The Clover, Condado de Alhama from 9.30pm HELP MMM Fashion Show In the Pink @ Rio Nalon, Los Alczares Ladies in Pink Charity Evening @ Black Bull, Camposol B 7.30pm
Sunday 27
Artisan Market @ Plaza del Castillo, Cehegin 10am SAMM Race Day @ CAR Infanta Cristina, Los Narejos 11am Hiking in Moratalla Bajie-Carrascal de Bajie-Cerro de la Viboras PALS Trip to Cordoba, Seville, Ronda, Granada. 3 nights/4 days 320 MABS MMM Sunday Lunch feat Cool-Sax @ The Arches, Los Alczares 1.30-3.30pm
Monday 28
Fiestas del Escudo - La Invasin, Cieza Guided Walk followed/4 Course Lunch inc beer/wine @ La Mariposa, Gebas 12 Costa Clida Ladies Golf League Competition
Tuesday 29
Welcome Book Swap @ ICA Medical Centre, Camposol B 10am-12pm Monthly B Clean Meeting @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B 4pm MABS Mazarrn Volunteer Meeting @ Trevi Bar, Camposol B 11.30am
Wednesday 30 Fiestas del Barrio San Jos Obrero, Cieza (until 2nd) Welcome Petanca @ Marianos, Camposol A 1pm Market @ Bora Bora, Pto de Mazarrn 11am-3pm 5 Course Moroccan Tasting Menu @ The Club House, Camposol C 20 MAY Thursday 1 May Day Fiestas del Barrio de San Jos Obrero, Alcantarilla HELP MMM Carnival @ La Zona, Los Alczares from 4pm
Friday 2
Trip to Wine Horses of Caravaca with Viajes Dragontours MABS Murcia NW Outdoor Market Stall @ Calle Segura, Calasparra 9am-1pm MABS Mazarrn Jigsaw Bereavement Group @ Cats Bar, Camposol A 12pm Mazarrn Bahia Leo Club @ Cultural Centre, Camposol B 7-9pm (12-18 year olds).
Saturday 3
Santsima y Vera Cruz, Caravaca de la Cruz Santa Cruz, Abanilla Los Mayos, Alhama de Murcia Fiestas de la Santa Cruz en El Estrecho, Fuente lamo Santa Cruz, Ulea Artisan Market @ Paseo de las Comunidades Autnomas, Pto de Mazarrn 10am-2pm ADAPT Meeting @ Pensionista de Hogar, San Pedro 10.30am Welcome Meeting @ Marianos, Camposol A 2pm USA Big Stack Burger Theme Night @ Tropic Anas, Camposol A
Sunday 4
Artisan Market @ Bullas
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Country Music Nights in Camposol Our nal night at The Club House was our See all you country stars on screen. This must have been a success, as several people have asked for a repeat! Country Music Nights have now moved to Marianos, Camposol A. The rst night - our 1st birthday - was well attended. The live music was provided by The Beagles. They dont normally do country, so we do appreciate the time and effort they must have spent beforehand to prepare. Many thanks Martin and Stuart.
Our next night at Marianos is on Friday 4th April with the normal starting time of 7.45pm. From then until 9pm, requests will be played. Tom and Helen will teach a partner dance and Ann will teach a line dance. The line dance she taught on the Beagles night tted like a glove to the Tanya Tucker song used. From 9 pm live music will be provided by Interactive Murcia. Entry is only 4. If you like Country Music and also like to dance, we meet at Marianos on the 1st Friday of each month. See you there. Further information email thw35@yahoo. co.uk or phone 610 632 152
Equimur at IFEPA, Institucin Ferial Villa in Torre Pacheco is a show where Spains companies and professionals related to the equestrian world gather to showcase their latest products and services. Equestrian clothing, and food and equipment for horses are exhibited from 3rd 6th April.
the riders involved. There will also be a major shopping arcade with over a hundred companies showing an attractive range of products and services such as saddlery, riding clothing, vehicles, trailers, equine nutrition, veterinary services, boots, hats, amenco dresses and equestrian facilities, among others. There will be an area dedicated to the livestock sector with a meeting place for livestock professionals, who will represent riding clubs etc. The fair will occupy 25,000 square meters.
participants and events. The trade fair town of Torre Pacheco has prepared well for this event, which will host the Morphological Competition of Purebred Spanish Horses as the main part of the show. We must not forget the art and fun part of Equimur, which includes contests such as Doma Vaquera, Driving, Marathon and Dressage, as well as interesting lectures on current topics in the equine sector and its famous equestrian shows and exhibitions. There is a very loyal audience for this event, who live with passion for this noble animal and also
One of the biggest events on the calendar for this years Equimur are the Pure Race Horses. Despite the difcult economic climate, Equimur has maintained a high level in the ranking of equestrian shows and other Spanish competitions. Torre Pacheco is one of the most important and signicant on the national scene with the number and quality of
Opening Hours Thurs 3rd April -Sun 6th April 10am-10pm
Mazarrn FCs disastrous start to 2014 had the inevitable consequences with the dismissal of Coach Antonio Lorente in mid March. After a run of 9 games in which only 5 points were gained, President Jose Rodriguez terminated Lorentes contract and appointed Javi, the manager of the Clubs Cadetes team, as coach until the end of the season. Hopefully, Mazarrn gained enough points in the rst half of the season to avoid the disastrous prospect of relegation to the Segunda Autonomica. Mazarron FCs home games are normally played on Sundays with varying kick off times. Admission is just 4 with juveniles free. Los Amigos de Mazarrn FC organise a supporters coach to each away game at 8 for members and 10 for non-members. Full details of all games are normally not announced until the Wednesday before the weekend on which the game is to be played and advertised in the local media, on www. mazarronfc.es and on posters at various points throughout Camposol and Mazarron. Forthcoming xtures: Sunday 6th April CD Lumbreras (away) Sunday 13th April CD Esparragal (home) Sunday 20th April no game Sunday 27th April Gesa Seguros Churra (away) th Sunday 4 May Santiago de la Ribera (away) March was a busy month for Los Amigos de Mazarrn FC. Sporting celebrities Joe Royle, John H Stracey and Tony Currie ew into Spain to join in with the various activities planned around the Los Amigos de Mazarrn FC 5th Gala Evening and Dinner.
ing together for the very last time. It was after 2.15 am when the music nally ended and the remaining guests returned tired but happy to their rooms.
ta Caf, The Salon Camposol, Cats Bar, UK Specialist Cleaning Services Ltd, Los Amigos Golf Society, Clinica Rover and the Clover Bar, Condado de Alhama. Later that evening the celebrities were back at The Club House, Camposol for a Sporting Legends evening hosted by Steve Tucker of Costa Clida International Radio. John H Stracey and Tony Currie answered questions about their respective careers in a lively question and answer session and John H Stracey rounded off a memorable evening off by singing ve songs from his repertoire as a cabaret entertainer.
Before returning to the UK, the celebrities called in to the weekly meeting of Los Amigos at Camposol Club de Golf to thank members for inviting them to Mazarrn. Without exception they said that they had enjoyed a fabulous few days meeting new and old friends and all expressed a desire to return in the future. The second Luncheon Club outing on 25th March was to the Lamb Chop, El Pareton when 40 members enjoyed another great day out with good food, good wine and excellent company. Details of the April Luncheon Club will be announced very shortly. Forthcoming events include a Quiz Night and Social Evening at the Black Bull on 9th May and the end of season Player of the Year Social Evening on 3rd June at The Club House, Camposol C. Tickets 10 including a buffet supper. Tickets for both events can be obtained at the weekly Los Amigos meetings or email Barbara at pamada.1130@yahoo.co.uk. Los Amigos de Mazarrn FC hold weekly meetings at The Club House, Camposol C at 4 pm. Social meetings, which are open to anyone, are held every Thursday with the exception of the last Thursday of each month which is reserved for the Members Business Meeting and open to members only. If you are interested in football or just want to meet new friends in pleasant surroundings please come along and join us.
John H and Tony took part in a golf competition along with Shefeld Wednesday Commercial Director Andy Daykin and former Charlton Athletic midelder Peter Reeves at the Camposol Club de Golf. Nine teams contested a Texas Scramble tournament which was won by the Condado de Alhama B team captained by Peter Reeves. After an excellent lunch Joe Royle presented trophies and medals to the winning team and to the winners of the Longest Drive and Nearest The Pin competitions. We would like to thank all our Golf Sponsors: TJ Electricals, Healthy H20, D & T Business Solutions, Dave Perks, Ian Field CDA Fitness, 2Let2Sell2Buy.com, Oscars Bar, Tropic Anas Bar/Caf, Misterprint, Branded Fashion, Cos-
On Wednesday the splendid Hotel la Cumbre in Puerto de Mazarrn hosted the main event of the week, the Los Amigos de Mazarron FC 5th Annual Gala Evening and Dinner. The event was a complete sell out and proved to be an unforgettable evening. After an excellent ve course meal including beer, wine and soft drinks, former Everton and Manchester City legend Joe Royle delighted the audience with tales of his career as a player and manager. The event was jointly sponsored by New Images, Camposol B and Ibex Insurance of Puerto de Mazarrn. John H Stracey sang more songs from his repertoire and conducted the auction of sporting memorabilia helping to swell the proceeds of the various events to over 3000. MC was comedian Mickey Lewis and the evening was rounded off with dancing to the fabulous sounds of the Beagles who were, sadly, perform-
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Straight Down The Middle Golf Society Spring Into Action The society gathered at Camposol on 26th February with over 30 members and guests playing what is becoming a very good course. Congratulations to all who work there, for the work that is going on to provide a good test for players of all levels. Players teed off from numbers 1 and 10, which allowed us to get round the course in a faster time than usual when we all tee off from the rst. Several members are still trying to get used to using the new clubs obtained at Christmas and since and remarked that this had a bearing on the resultant score. This does not however wash with the Handicap Secretary who gets more delight as time goes
on in lowering the individual handicaps. He took the greatest delight in telling Clive (see photo) that his was about to go down by 4, which will push him back into the teens. Clive had carved his way around
the course and returned an excellent score of 38 points. He was followed home by Phil Clayton and Jeff Perry, both with a very creditable 31 points. Nearest The Pin Winners this time were Jim Booth and Clive Fowler. We will have played our next game at Corvera by the time this report is published and to date no arrangements have been made for April. All details will appear on the society web page as soon as they are available. Geoff Sharp hatters45@msn.com
Cycling The Cultural Centre, Mazarrn recently hosted the presentation of the different cycling events taking place this year in the town. The President of the FCRM will be touring major sporting events in the Agenda Ciclista 2014, especially the Spanish Road Cycling Championship which runs from 3rd to 7th September and will bring leading gures of the sport to Mazarrn. Events began on Saturday, March 8th with I Open Rally BTT Murcia, with the VI Marcha Nacional BTT Mazarrn on Sunday when there were over 100 prizes and awards for participants. The day was buzzing with athletes as the rst of four sets of BMR League BMX took place on the newly opened circuit. Also debuting was the circuit dedicated to Trial Bike with I Torneo Trial Bici Mediterrneo. On 1st June Mazarrn will host the II Marcha Cicloturista Regin de Murcia en Carretera and on 15th June the Escuelas de Ciclismo en Carretera will be held.
On Sunday, November 9th for the 19th year the Marcha BTT Mazarron Bahia will take place. President of Club Fenicios 2.0, Gins Moreno, announced the 12 cycle routes that the club has planned for this year. To complete the dozen activities, 2 tours will be held in November and 2 in December, coinciding with the latter two days of La Purisima, Patroness of the Town and with the end of the year San Silvestre BTT. Finally, the President of the Hiking Club Amigos de Naturaleza, Jesus Maestra, talked about the last event that they are organizing; the I Carrera de Montaa in conjunction with the Club Ciclista Mazarrn. Walks Titled Mazarrn, Sierra y Mar, the Hiking Club Amigos de la Naturaleza and the Department of Sports City of Mazarrn have scheduled a series of 6 tours, which have the cooperation of the Mountaineering Federation Region of Murcia. The programme began on March 2nd with the walk El Parrillar y el Caar, followed by a tour of the sites of Tallante and Garbancillo on March 16th. Sunday March 23rd saw a route taking in La Azohia and
the Rambla of Bocaoria which was aimed at youngsters. The 4th walk on March 30th was in Sierra de las Moreras. On Sunday 6th April, walkers will travel to Totana for an archaeological route La Bastide which will include a guided tour. Finally, on Sunday April 27th the route is along the promenade of Los Lorentes, a circular route of 14km and medium difculty. For all routes you will need to start in your own car. It is advised to bring appropriate clothing and footwear, food and water. For non-federated members the price is 5 which includes the cost of a federal license for the day and liability insurance. For more information and registration, which closes the Thursday prior to each walk, you should call 680 531 529 and ask for Rafael Peral. 8 Medals For Athletic Club Mazarrn at San Javier & Caravaca This event was in the San Javier Regional Championship Winter Athletics Junior category with Athletics Club Mazarrn gaining 7 medals: Ismael Belhaki Rivas, 2 golds and regional champion in 60 and 200 metre dash; Jaime Sleeps Garca, gold in the high jump and bronze in 60 metre hurdles; Valls Sara Meseguer, silver in 60 and 200 metre dash and a silver for Raja Jaime Aparicio, who was regional runner-up in shot put. Ernesto Garca Segura was 7th in the long jump and 4th in the shot put. At the Individual Cross Regional Championship at the beautiful setting of the Fuentes del Marqus, Caravaca de la Cruz, Marta Navarro Caballero gained a well deserved bronze medal; Alejandro Navarro Rodrguez, 6th in the juniors; Mustapha Maarouf 13th in cadets and Thomas Zamora Ballesta 18th in the childrens. End of School Sport Petanca At the meeting, a total of 80 children came from different schools in the Region of Murcia. The CEIP Francisco Caparros were regional champions in Category Alevn. Santa Eulalia Totana, were regional runners-up and Narwhal Cartagena came 3rd. In the Open category, the regional champion was the IES Reina Soa Totana, the runnerup school Juan de la Cierva also from Totana, with the IES Philip II Mazarrn, 3rd. The Department of Sports gave each participant a gift bag and thanked Petanque Club of Puerto de Mazarrn for helping in this event.
The Sprightly Crew Tip of the Month Provided by Camposol Club De Golf How To Hit Better Drives!! We should all be able to hit a perfect drive every time, right? We get to tee up the ball exactly, as desired on a at area - or tee box - positioned above the fairway. Modern drivers have a bigger club head than ever before and therefore the face has a bigger sweet spot than ever before.
1. Think of your drive as a shot, not a performance. The tee box can feel like a stage and your playing partners can resemble an audience. However, viewing the drive as a performance creates performance anxiety which causes the muscles to tighten and the brain to cramp. Your goal is not to entertain, but to put the ball in to play in a good position for your second shot. 2. Adjust the ball placement in relation to your stance. The ball should be placed further forward in your stance than is the case with iron shots. For most golfers, a good placement corresponds to the position of your left heel (for a right-handed swing). The result of this ball placement is that you make contact with the ball further along your swing. In fact, contact, should occur just as the club head begins to ascend. This placement takes little away from the velocity while providing extra lift to ensure that the ball rises high enough to y a comfortable distance. 3. Ensure that your club head face has a degree of loft that is appropriate for your skill and power. Most non-competitive golfers should look for a driver with loft closer to 10-12 degrees than to 7-8 degrees. Greater loft helps you in two ways. Firstly, increasing the loft increases the height of your drives, which is normally a good thing. Secondly, higher drives curve less, which is always a good thing.
4. Dont focus on hazards, but instead focus on the fairway. In other words, dont think about where you dont want to hit the ball! The tendency while standing on the tee box preparing to swing is to worry about hitting the ball into the rough, or into a water hazard, or into another disadvantageous position. Instead, you should pick out an area in the centre of the fairway and comfortably within your range. Focusing on your target area increases the likelihood that youll hit the ball there. 5. Dont gamble. Unless your handicap is very low, you should probably not attempt to clear a bunker 200 yards away or cut the corner off a dogleg. The risk is too great. Your goal should be to put the ball into play, setting yourself up to make par on a hole. The driver is just one stroke, but it is the stroke that sets the tone for your play on the hole. Make the most of it while not veering into performance or taking unnecessary risks. Keeping these tips in mind will help you avoid some common driving problems.
Well, despite all of these advantages, some of us regularly hit drives that are somewhat less than perfect! Here are ve tips designed to help any golfer deliver a drive that is - if not perfect - a good beginning to the holes play:
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Annual General Meeting The AGM will take place on Tuesday 1st April at 3pm at The Club House. It was originally planned for Sunday 30th March until it was realised that was Mothers Day. Charity Race Night On Friday 7th March the CGA held a Race Night with proceeds to FAST, MABS and CRUZ ROJA. This was an extremely popular night with 98 people attending, 60 of whom had a super snack meal for 6. At the end of the evening the Lady Captain announced we had made a prot of 685! Thank you everyone for coming along and for making it such a successful night. The photos show some of the hard working team of F.A.S.T. who brought several people along to help swell the funds, the other photo is of the Lady Captain Marilyn Jones, CGA Mens Captain Trevor Andrew and Betty Roberts Social Secretary.
Captains Farewell The last Social Function of the CGA year was the Captains Farewell at La Rata in Totana on the 21st March with entertainment from Sunower Valley. Prior to the Dinner Dance there was a Mixed Golf Competition at Camposol Club de Golf. CLUB de GOLF CAMPOSOL by Norman Morgan Preet adds some spice to The Club de Golf Camposol A beautiful morning greeted the players on 20th February as they arrived for the monthly Stableford Competition. 72 golfers from many nationalities lled the course for a shotgun start. Not everyone is keen on the shotgun start, but socially everyone returns to The Club House at the same time. Once again the Camposol Course came out on top with only 2 of the 72 golfers breaking par. The course continues to improve helped by the enthusiasm of the Club Directors & Staff. The competition was sponsored by The Spice Villa Restaurant, Camposol, Director of The Spice Villa, Preet, and his partner Georgia, attended the prize-giving. Preet presented prizes to the following: Overall Main Prizes: 1st Jeronimo Lopez 38pts 2nd Mike Dawson 37pts 3rd Ernst Knaller 35pts Ladies Category 1st Anne Busch 35pts 2nd Vron Porter 32pts Gents (0-15) 1st Mal Lee 34pts 2nd Eugene Toye 34pts Gents (16-19) 1st Eddie Williams 35pts 2nd Brian Tape 35pts Gents (20-28) 1st Billy Prest 35pts 2nd Len Craig 32pts
All cards that were not in the golf prizes were put into a Lucky Dip draw for 6 further prizes. Many golfers stayed on to socialise & most of the bad shots were quickly forgotten. The next Monthly Competition will be on Friday 25th April. The Costa Calida Ladies League The Ladies League will play on 28th April. If you are group of Lady Golfers who would like to be part of our group, you are very welcome to join us. We play at reciprocal golf courses on a home and away basis and most courses at reduced green fees. To participate in the League you only need a group of 6 ladies, so if you are interested or would like more information please contact Betty Roberts on bettylloyd1560@hotmail.com.
February 27th saw Fuente Old Guard make a return trip to the much improved and reinvigorated course at Camposol. With a warm welcome from all the staff and with a bacon roll and coffee consumed, our members then moved out to do battle with the challenging course ahead. Our Overall Winner and winner of Division One was Danny Lewis with 32 points with Lee Fisher and his 30 points total coming in Second Overall and taking top spot in
Division Two. Runner-Up In Division One Was Dave Simpson with 28 points while Phil Carter secured Second Place in Division Two with 29 points.
shaw while Lenny Whalen took the prize for longest drive.
First Place in Division Three with 23 points was Derek Hayward with Gavin Elbourne a close second with 21 points. The Nearest The Pin awards went to new member Chris Andrews and Roger Oloren-
Finally, the TwoS Money was deservedly won by Steve Channon, playing his rst game after a long layoff through illness. Well done Steve. Should anyone wish to join FOGS or just play as a guest, please contact Dave on 868 082 013.
The rst race got under way with a wind speed of 8-10 knots in a south westerly direction enabling four laps to be completed; all boats coming home in just under 90 minutes. Once the handicaps were applied The Hartley with Don Clarke came rst with Mistral, Rob Hudson, Terry Chapman, and Carole Sibson in second place, putting Tug Wilson and Vernon OByrne in 3rd place. The second race saw a slight increase in wind speed to 10-12 knots south, south west and four laps later a change in fortune for some, but not for Don Clarke, taking another rst. However a disappointment for Mistral only making 5th, allowing Tug Wilson and Vernon OByrne to take
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Blue skies and sufcient wind to make for interesting racing greeted the opening of the Spring Series Racing Calendar. Shoestring entered three of their boats. The Gamba with John Down and a crew of Alan Darby and Andy Barke, The two Laser 2000 having their own race within a race; one with Tug Wilson and Vernon OByrne and the other with Tim Clarke and Ingo Wilson. It was good to welcome back David Belcher in his Faversham 14 with his daughter Chloe crewing, For the Balaton Group, Mistral signed on with Rob Hudson, Terry Chapman and Carole Sibson. The Hartley, the only single hander, had Don Clarke at the helm, hoping to emulate some of the success of last season.
2nd and John Down with Alan Darby and Andy Barke to come in third. Everything is being kept crossed that the next race day on 30th March provides equally good weather and enjoyment. Our race dates for the Spring Series are Sundays 13th April, 27th April, 11th May, 25th May, 8th June and 22nd June. If anyone is interested in racing their own dinghy or bigger boat they are welcome to join us down at CAR, Los Narejos on any of the above dates. SAMM welcomes enquiries and further information can be obtained from the website www.sailingmarmenor.com
Ex-Servicemens Association of Mazarrn District (ESAMD) Presents Cheque To New Charity. The ESAMD presented a cheque to Mr Ken Payne, to the value of 500, for the newly formed Forget-MeNot charity. The presentation took place at the inaugural meeting of the charity on Monday 17th February at the Cultural Centre on Campo-
sol B. The meeting was attended by organisers and volunteers and representatives from ESAMD and Age Concern Costa Calida (ACCC). Events Tuesday 15th April Visit to Military Museum in Cartagena & Menu-deldia Wednesday 7th May AGM & Dinner and Dance (Music by Itchy Fingers) at Playasol Hotel, Bolnuevo Membership enquiries to Ian on 629 818 611 esamd_espana@yahoo.co.uk
Booking Trends The holiday business, like any business, has its own patterns and trends, meaning that we can make some predictions based on past performance, but like any market sector, the patterns we experience year on year do change and evolve. Here is some of the latest insider information regarding rentals for 2014! * Spanish clients are booking earlier in the year. Many Spanish clients in the 30-50 age group now book their summer break in February or March to make sure that they secure the property they want. In the past we rarely saw Spanish clients make a reservation until well after Easter! Spanish clients increasingly use the internet to search for properties and contacting us via the website, as well as the tried and tested rental boards. The must have item for many renters this year is WiFi. In the past, renters rarely specied this, but for the rst time this year, all our mobile WiFi bases are already booked out for the summer and clients are starting to use this as a search criteria for narrowing down property rentals. Position of the sun. This might seem strange, but again this year we have been asked on many occasions to state where the sun rises and sets for a property, as holidaymakers try to gain maximum exposure to those rays! Increase in clients with larger holiday budgets. In 2014, we are seeing a denite increase in demand for high end rental villas. In 2013, the majority of our clients let in the 350 to 450 per week price band and we had very few enquiries at 600 + per week. In 2014 we have already secured several reservations in the 800 to 1200 per week sector and clients do seem prepared to spend more on their summer holidays. Increase in mid-term Winter stays. In Winter 2013-14 we saw a distinct increase in this market, mainly with German, French and Scandinavian clients. Already we have over a dozen units booked out for Winter 2015. Some people really like to plan ahead!! Well, with an unbeatable climate here on the Costa Clida, why not?
It looks like another very busy year for OwnersAway! Liz Edmiston OwnersAway Property Rentals & Management Tel 691 977 107 info@ownersaway.com www.ownersaway.com
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FOR SALE Gas Fridge Freezer 150 Tel 672 898 523 Mont Blanc Roof Box 540 litres. Cost new 275 now 75 Thule Roof Bars for Citron Picasso 2000 35 Tel 654 697 474 Full set mens rh golf clubs. Ping i 2. Callaway driver/4 wood/putter and bag 80 Tel 602 548 076 Fan assisted oven for hardly used 100 ono Tel 634 33 8674 Dark Blue Leather 3 Seater/Two Seater Sofas/Footstool 225 Tel 968 130 787 1.35m satellite dish & Sky digi box with remote, will sell separately 140 Professional hairdressing chair 45 Makita Router 3/8 inch 110v professional 95 Fly shing rod new/10.6 length/carbon bre/in case 45 Tel 681 217 335 Liteon External 20x DVD/CD er/rewriter. New, still in box Tel 664 757 094 writ15
Yamaha Electric guitar (Pacica) Alder wood body/with case. Mint cond 150 no offers Koch chromatic harmonica (Hohner German). Unwanted gift 40 ono Stage semi acoustic lh guitar gure of 8 shape. Mint cond with ight case 150 ono Mr Riley 634 335 626 Ikea Ofce Desk/beech top/grey metal frame 140x73x73H pull out keyboard shelf. Exc cond Buyer collects 40 Tel 634 337 359 Totana New unopened Samsung inkjet telephone/ fax/answering machine & unopened SPC cordless telephone 170 ono Full set Pinseeker golf clubs and bag, used once. 120 ono Tel 667 395 746 Librilla 4 Metre Boat/Dinghy Trailer [galvanised]. Little use. Detachable light board, spare wheel, winch, rollers [front and rear] 475 ono Tel 966 676 3081 Computer desk. Please call for details. Tel 649 742 555 Cehegin PETS 2 female goats. Both black and white. One 3yrs old. Other 1yr old. Lovely temperaments. Very friendly. Tel 636 505 345 Cehegin 2 female kittens; 1 pale tabby & 1 dark tortie. Both spayed, vaccinated and litter trained. Tel 620 582 654
GROUPS
Electric Mosquito killer 15 5 x electric garden wall lights/boxed 70 Bookcase/Display Cabinet/2 shelves/glass doors 70 Ladies Graphite Golf Clubs/woods/ putter/bag/travel bag/trolley 150 Tel 646 444 942/968 199 913 March 2014 Quiz Answers
CLASSIFIED ADS ARE AVAILABLE FREE FOR ITEMS UNDER 500 OR FOR WANTED/LOST ITEMS. (FOR NON-COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES ONLY AND EXCLUDING PROPERTIES, VEHICLES AND BOATS) Maximum 20 words and 3 classied ads per customer. To Place a Classied Advert: Please go to our Contact Us page at www. costacalidachronicle.com and put Classied advert in the Subject line, email costacalidachronicle@gmail.com or call 968 970 680 10-2pm Mon-Fri
8. Who claims for their four course menu del dia everything is homemade? Antipodas Tavern P63 9. Who claims valentines cuddles get cheeky with new sofas or beds! Furniture Plus back page 10. Who claims they understand the importance of great service? Ibex Insurance p3
1.
Who is giving a Special offer on three models? Eurospas Inside front Cover 2. Who is the author under review in February? Jodi Picoult p12 3. Who claimed February was the month for love? Ask Jennifer p16 4. Which rm claims tobe your local
provider for Broadband and Telephone lines? Compusurf p39 5. Which vegetable was vegetable of the month? Globe Artichoke and Artichokes p14 6. What does Brian Jones offer you? Property maintenance p33 7. Where will you nd El Hombre Del Velero? Puerto de San Pedro p51
So far, the rst quarter of 2014 has been a record breaking time since the crash of 2008. Compared to the same period last year, we are 250% up on sales and as I write, March still isnt over. So what has driven this rise? There are several contributing factors coming together, such as currency exchange and an upturn in the UK/ EU economy, but by far the most signicant is the value of property in Murcia. Compared to the Costa Blanca, Murcia/Costa Clida property values have been slow in coming into line with current market demands, essentially because there is less of a property oversupply here than in the Valencia province. Our associate ofces in the Costa Blanca outsell us by 3 to 1; this despite the competition being noticeably ercer than in our region. It is also easy to overlook the fact that the Costa Blanca benets from an airport to its north and south, many more shopping centres and a vastly larger tourist industry. By contrast, we in the Costa Clida have always seen ourselves as traditional Spain, less commercialised and over-developed. On average across our 1200 group-property listings; 3 bed 2 bath villas in the Costa Blanca is around 20% less expensive than in the Murcia region. Our property prices didnt crash like our neighbours to the north; instead, there has been a drip, drip, drip effect, which accounts for our slower growth trend. As our market returns, we must analyse and understand why, so that it can be nurtured and built upon. The most popular price band is between 40,000 & 150,000 with sales above 200,000 few and far between. By keeping our price expectations reasonable, well keep the buyers here in Murcia. A sudden jump in prices will send them looking for better value in the Costa Blanca and Almeria. We never know whats around the corner. A sudden drop in exchange rates and a few poor GDP gures in the UK could bring it all to a sudden halt. Kenneth Whettall Commercial Director Fuente Alamo Real Estate/Murcia Coast & Country Info@fuentealamorealestate.com Tel 0034 968 598 173
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Accomodation La Mariposa Accountants: Corral & Alcaraz Silvente Airport Parking: Airpark Murcia
968 631 008 968 078 754 968 332 058 618 806 909 978 328 650 955 150 594 103 920 155 374 153 705 486 364 163 691 158 154 595 152 631 153 152 682 724 323 039 682 199 155 199 081 082 978 082 595 219 060 151 154 869 092 893 942 053 055 300 914 887 381 111 406 908 379 138 324 499 102 337 016 008 138 530 303 123 808 400 303 198 855 226 341 057 855 058 864 270 472 437 554
Builders: C M Constructions Fuente Building Services North West Murcia Const Tonys Building Services
659 696 649 647
159 744 742 119
948 982 555 952 733 021 142 994 411 202 016
Entertainment Graham Cooper Funeral Plans: ASSSA Ibex Insurance The Funeral Director
657 596 638 968 153 396 958 595 945 650 631 719 136 334 334 482 501 773 194 456
Bars, Cafs & Restaurants: Alley Palais 968 Amapola 660 Amigos Bar San Pedro 960 Alandalus 968 Antipodas Tavern 968 Avenida 968 Bar/Restaurante La Llana 968 Big G`s 607 Bistro Ratatouille 968 Black Bull 634 Bora Bora 968 Cafeteria Plaza 968 Casa Claudio 630 Casa Monca 619 Castillo Del Pinar 968 Chez Zoe 676 Elliots Bolnuevo 968 Gula Gula 968 La Bretanita 968 La Chara 968 La Mariposa 968 La Proa 968 La Taberna Juan Chara 968 Leonardos 628 Lizs Cafe 696 Los Balcones 639 Luisines Cake 637 Mamma Mia 628 Quality Indian 968 Rest. Teteria Alhanbra 968 Spice Villa 968 The Arches 653 The Clover 868 The Clubhouse Bistro 968 The Condado Club 868 The New Royal 968 The Vista Bar 649 Tropic Ana`s 699 Venta Romero 968 Viggos 968
Building Services: A1 Garden & Ground Serv 628 505 Brian Jones & Co 646 705 Crystal Conservatories 680 386 JD Roong & Building 630 269 Martinez Del La Casa (Architects) 665 810 Rodi Services 639 489 Woodworks Direct 649 540 Carpentry: Philip Carpenter/Joiner Car Hire: Bolnuevo Cars F & C Rent a Car Cars & Transport: Specialist Vehicles SL Catering La Bretanita The Roving Diner Chimney Sweeps: Sooty & Son Chiropodists: Phillip Dawe Cleaning Services: Limpieza Rosa
Furniture: (home & Garden) A Time 4 A Change 968 D & G Garden Furniture 968 DFS 968 Furniture Plus 968
Garden Centres, & Garden Services A1 Garden & Ground Serv 628 505 733 Garden Centre 2003 669 565 402 Hairdressers & Barbers Eden Hair & Beauty Janes Salon Janes Salon CDA The Beauty Palace The Salon The Salon 2 620 968 666 968 691 686 072 158 144 971 916 354 536 433 287 828 717 232
680 443 219 968 150 979 968 199 156 968 146 158 968 595 337 676 217 059
660 478 881 968 150 244 619 199 407
Computer Repairs & Sales: Camposol Computers 968 199 191 Loco Murcia 968 971 893 Dentists Dental Care Olivier Houdusse 968 199 111 968 153 645
Health & Beauty: Algorfa Chiropractor Clinic 618 337 616 Clinical Complimentary Therapies 634 327 241 Eden Hair & Beauty 620 072 536 Freedom Mobility 638 893 357 Helping Hands 965 323 667 Janes Salon 968 158 433 Janes Salon CDA 666 144 287 Natural Health Centre 634 312 081 The Beauty Palace 968 971 828 The Care Agency 0044 1455 559988 The Fuschia Beauty Clinic 630 439 480 The Salon 691 916 717 The Salon 2 686 354 232 Heating and Aircon: Calida Gas & Oil 659 761 771 Camposol Heating & Maintenance (CHM) 968 199 184 Crystal Design 680 386 142 ECO Tech 665 350 056 Llamas Chimeneas 968 591 030 Louis Harris 619 712 821 Rodi Services 639 489 202 Sol Pellet 697 949 519 T J Electricals 868 181 121
Electricians & Electricals ECO Tech 665 350 056 Louis Harris 619 712 821 Rodi Services 639 489 202 T J Electricals 868 181 121
Home Furnishings: Curtain Call 616 240 171 Yorkshire Linen, Pto Maz 968 595 946 Yorkshire Linen, San Javier 968 193 912 Insurance: ASSSA Ibex Liberty Seguros Nash Warren 968 968 902 968 153 595 255 156 396 945 258 583
Removals & Storage Advance Moves Costa Calida Transport Lords Removals & Storage Mar Menor Removals Retail Outlets: A Time 4 A Change German Kitchen Studio Kitchens Plus 1 T J Electricals Security Eriks Metal Works Protech Surveillance The Forge
968 660 608 968 968 636 968 868
654 359 061 564 136 306 184 181
667 956 872 298 501 711 235 121
Internet Cafs & Technical Services Alley Palais 968 978 869 VNBenny.com 650 078 846 Camposol Computers 968 199 191 Compusurf 968 971 828 Kennels, Catteries and Pet Care Catatonic 646 705 Cartwheel Cattery & Kennel 620 582 Colina Kennels 968 431 Four Legs Dog Grooming 608 712 Pampered Paws 634 302 403 654 941 599 388
636 050 008 667 196 366 618 963 958 666 270 411 361
Services: Compusurf 968 970 Healthy H20 968 437 Martinez Del La Casa (Architects) 665 810 Mas Movil 1473* Multi Opticas 968 199 Solar Power: Freesol Solar Directa SolPellet
Kitchen Fitters/Suppliers German Kitchen Studio 636 306 711 Kitchens Plus 1 968 184 235 Laundrettes: Los Belones 968 569 096 078 754 199 251 595 826 332 058 796 678 424 646 972 161 422 149 840 605 859 006 129 015
659 232 507 659 315 130 697 949 519 078 754 595 826 332 058 722 905 978 978 304 595 631 172 869 886 087 862 008 198
Legal Services: Corral & Alcaraz 968 Costa Calida Property Serv 968 Professional & Legal Solutions 968 Silvente Accountant/Lawyer 968 Mechanics: Colair Decklid Auto Services Euro Tyre Totana Ken Sherwood Mechanic Kwik Fix English Mechanic Mobile Car Mechanic Peter Neumticos El Cea Mobility Products Freedom Mobility Outdoor Living: D & G Garden Furniture DFS Furniture Plus Woodworks Direct 626 626 968 679 968 666 968
Solicitors: Corral & Alcaraz 968 Professional & Legal Solutions 968 Silvente Accountant/Lawyer 968 Spas & Hottubs: Eurospas 650 Sport & Leisure: Alley Palais Camposol Golf Course CDA Fitness Costa Clida Radio Espua Adventure Horse Riding META 968 968 634 968 968 636
638 893 357 968 968 968 649 334 334 482 540 773 194 456 016
Swimming Pool Construction, Cleaning & Maintenance: Alpha Pools 968 971 824 Camposol Properties 968 592 679 Garden Centre 2003 669 565 402 Jorge Pools 674 168 000 Khn Pool Service 968 138 638 Piscinas Piscimar 965 320 379 Watermaid 646 705 088
Painting and Decorating: RJB Dcor Painting 699 044 742 Plumbers: Apache 24/7 Plumbing 674 788 Brian Jones 646 705 Camposol Heating & Maintenance 968 199 Rodi Services 639 489 Printing & Design: Entorno Graco Mister Print 693 021 184 202
Translation: Costa Calida Property Serv 968 199 251 Travel Agents Dragon Tours 968 199 021
968 654 007 638 893 357
TV & Satellite: CTV Aerial & Satellite Systems 600 Compusurf 968 ISS 655 Loco Murcia 968 Rainbow Satellites 686 T J Electricals 868 YPM Satellites 628 Veterinary Clinics: Clinica Veterinaria Pto Maz Emerg Clinica Veterinaria SurEste Veterinary Clinic Maskota Emerg 968 608 965 968 619
218 971 480 971 358 181 234 153 466 352 597 378
046 828 543 893 475 121 045 931 553 438 929 473
Property Maintenance Brian Jones Property Maint 646 705 021 Property Rentals: La Manga 4 U 0044 7921 351298 Owners Away 691 977 107 Paramount Resort Villa Rentals 968 970 614 Property Sales: Best of Spanish Fuente Alamo Real Estate Holmes & Pegg Ma Maison En Espagne CB N W Murcia Properties Old Farmhouses Prime Property Murcia 635 968 968 648 434 598 199 609 651 173 290 438
634 340 130 968 159 264 646 692 471
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Bogus Gas Men Swindled Thousands Out Of People At least 2,000 residents throughout Spain have been swindled out of hundreds or thousands of euros by bogus gas men. 60 gas inspection companies have been uncovered and 12 people arrested. The men would turn up on spec at peoples houses mostly those they felt would be a soft target such as expats, the elderly or disabled and said they were there to carry out the regular mandatory inspection on their gas bottle connections. If the homeowner refused, the suspects would threaten them with huge nes. They charged anything from 50 to 390. Rubber pipes sometimes need to be replaced at a cost of a few cents but never more than 5. The culprits lived a very wealthy lifestyle and investigations have led to the conscation of at least 10 top-of-the-range cars and the freezing of 227 bank accounts. Their activities were totally illegal and the certicates they issued following installations such as tting new rubber pipes and for inspections were completely invalid. Some of the suspects purported to be from gas companies such as REPSOL, carried fake company ID and wore orange and black overalls which appeared to be the rms uniform. All legitimate gas engineers will show their company ID at the door. No maintenance engineers will call at the door or by telephone and the homeowner should approach a recommended and qualied company to carry out the works. Anyone having a gas inspection carried out should agree a price before the maintenance person starts work. Olive Oil in Restaurants From 1st March, all containers for olive oil in bars/restaurants must be sealed, either in sachets or in bottles. This means that many restaurant owners, who also produce olive oil from their own trees, face heavy nes if they do not comply with the new law and this in turn will result in huge wastage of this popular product. Once again the EU Commission is involved, making restaurant owners pay more for sealed bottles that will be fully labelled with origin, date of bottling and best before date. Gone will be the traditional cruet sets that contain salt, pepper, oil and vinegar and are seen in every bar and restaurant in Spain. Wi-Fi With Constant Connection On HighSpeed European Trains Broadband Wi-Fi on high-speed trains throughout Europe could soon be a reality thanks to a Spanish satellite company, Hispasat. Head of engineering at the rm, Ins Saz says A satellite dish has been placed on top of one carriage of two trains although as yet none in Spain which links up to a receiver 36,000 kilometres out into space and pro-
vides an unbroken, fast signal throughout the entire train journey. It has been installed on the Thals line connecting Paris and Cologne via Brussels, and on the Italo line, part of the company NTV in Italy. Spanish mortgages remain at all-time low The European Central Bank (BCE) has decided to leave interest rates at 0.25% bad news for savers, but a great relief for anyone with loans, mortgages or credit card balances. Spanish mortgages have already gone down slightly this year with the Euribor dropping to 0.54% and the BCE says it has no intention of increasing rates of interest in the near future in a bid to increase the ow of credit in the Eurozone and help the collective economy recover. Variable-rate mortgages in Spain are re-valued once a year, meaning month-on-month uctuations do not create any real uncertainty for the homeowner. Illegal Organ Transplant Racket Spains rst-ever organ sale racket has been uncovered by police after a wealthy Lebanese man travelled to the country to buy a new liver. The illegal organisation was convincing strapped-for-cash immigrants in Spain to part with their organs, or parts of them, for as much as 40,000 a time. Whilst in Spain, the patient paid for tests on 9 potential live donors and for his own medical care, and ironically ended up receiving a donated part of a liver from his own son. He then left the country, but upon returning for a check-up at the private hospital in Manises, Valencia, was arrested for collaborating with the donor racket. Four others arrested were two people who acted as agents between donors and patients and accompanied candidates to hospitals for compatibility testing and two owners of the illicit company who were responsible for billing for the procedures. Pneumonia Caused By E-Cigarettes The rst-ever case of pneumonia in Spain and the second in the world caused by electronic or E-cigarettes has been diagnosed in Galicia. The patient, aged 50, was smoking up to ve cartridges a day; equivalent to about ve packets of cigarettes. They believe the condition is caused by vegetable-based glycerine, an essential ingredient for the nicotine in Ecigarettes to vaporise. The socialists have called for a ban on smoking E-cigarettes in public places and the PP government intends to prohibit smoking them near or in schools, childrens educational or play centres, hospitals and health centres. The World Health Organisation has placed a ban on advertising E-cigarettes as a way of giving up smoking and the PP government intends to prevent publicity for them before
the TV watershed or in any way that may be considered as directed at the under-18s. 96% Of Motorists Do Not Know How To Complete An Accident Report Form The claims-handling agency ARAG and the motor insurer Pons Foundation found that 60% thought they still needed to carry a receipt from their bank in their car showing their insurance premium was paid up to date, when this has not been a legal requirement for three years. 74% thought they had to complete the claim form at the scene of the crash, when in fact they have seven days by law to report it to their insurance company. Six in 10 thought they only had to complete the section on victims if the accident involved serious injuries that involved the emergency services. 15% of respondents would not think twice about changing the name of the driver if that person was not covered by the policy. If the going gets tough, well open on Sundays Mercadonas founder and chairman says 2014 is set to be a rough year for the popular supermarket chain and a second consecutive year when no new staff are taken on despite 60 new stores due to be opened. We dont want to have to open, but if need be, well do so, said Roig, who has always been against Mercadona shops trading on bank holidays. Customers have noticed a sudden proliferation of special offers and reduced prices just a few months after all goods went up by an average of 5-10%. Prince George Gets Spanish Nanny Baby Prince George has a new Spanish nanny, according to British glossy magazine Hello. It is said that HRHs Kate and William, hope their son will grow up bilingual and will speak both English and Spanish as a result of having a nanny from Spain. Yoko Ono Opens Exhibition at Bilbao Guggenheim The wife of the late John Lennon will perform Sky Piece To Jesus Christ and Promised Piece, plus her recent Action Painting, a new version created specically for the Guggenheim. For the rst of these, a series of volunteers will wrap members of a chamber orchestra in bandages whilst they play a piece of music chosen for the occasion the idea being that they carry on playing until they are so wrapped up that they can no longer do so. In Action Painting, Yoko will paint 11 canvases with Sumi dye and Promised Piece, rst shown in London in 1966, shows her breaking a jar on stage and asking the audience to pick up the pieces, promising to come back and meet them again in 10 years time to put the jar back together.
Page 103

Costa Cálida Chronicle April 2014

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Costa Cálida Chronicle April 2014

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Costa Clida Chronicle

The Longest Established hed FREE Magazine in Murcia

Date: April 2014

Issue: 5 Volume: XIII

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THANK YOU TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS

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so we would appreciate all the help possible towards this.

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All in all it was a good morning followed by a good lunch at El Puente.

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Afterwards, everyone returned to a bar in Cehegn for a well-deserved glass of beer.

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