Costa Blanca North 7 – 13 March 2024 Issue 2018

International Residents Day

Anna Akopyan

THE eighth International Day of La Nucia will be held on March 23, with 40 nations uniting to study and celebrate each other’s culture.

Coordinated by the Department of International Residents, the event will take place in the Muixara Pavilion in La Nucia, with a vibrant variety of activities.

This year, Brazil will open the event, followed by the spectacular Parade of Nations. Countries participating include Germany, England, India, Italy, and for the first time, Jamaica and Trinidad.

A cultural exchange of native cuisine, costumes and performances will take place, integrating all nations into La Nucia.

What’s in a date?

MOTHER’S DAY in the UK falls on Sunday, March 10, this year.

Unlike fixed holidays such as Christmas or Valentine’s Day, Mothering Sunday in the UK varies each year.

Rooted in the Christian observance of Lent, Mothering Sunday occurs on the fourth Sunday, precisely three weeks before Easter Sunday.

Originating in the Middle Ages, when domestic service workers were allowed to visit their ‘mother’ church, it evolved into a spring occasion for family reunions, with children picking flowers as gifts for their mothers on the way home.

In the United States, Mother’s Day

MOTHER’S DAY sure knows how to bloom!

While Valentine’s Day may steal the spotlight with its roses, when it comes to flowers and plants, mums reign supreme.

Surpassing even other big holidays like Christmas and Hanukkah, Mother’s Day ranks as the third-highest-selling holiday for floral delights.

It’s a floral frenzy!

was established in 1907 by Anna Jarvis, honouring mothers and their roles.

It’s observed on the second Sunday in May, following Jarvis’s tradition of holding a service to honour her mother.

Despite its commercialisation, Mother’s Day is celebrated globally, with varying dates and traditions.

For example, Nigeria, the UK, and Ireland celebrate on the fourth Sunday of Lent, while most countries, including the US, observe it on the second Sunday in May.

Other countries, like Russia, Vietnam, and Afghanistan, celebrate Mother’s Day on International Women’s Day, March 8.

Floral fiesta

DID you know that Mother’s Day is the day when the most calls are made, with a whopping 122 million calls happening on the second Sunday of May each year?

Mum fun

Image: ArtBackground / Shutterstock.com

Mums reign supreme.

About one-quarter of all flowers sold in a year are destined for Mother’s Day

bouquets.

And let’s not forget the tradition of carnations. Carnations have become synonymous with celebrating mums, with red ones adorning the mums that are still with us, while white ones are placed on the graves of those who have passed.

It’s also the busiest day for restaurants, with around 48 per cent of people choosing to dine out to celebrate.

The tradition of honouring mothers dates back to Ancient Greece, where spring festivals were held in honour of Rhea, the goddess of motherhood.

And, speaking of mo-

thers, the term ‘mum’ likely originates from babies’ first vocalisations, as the ‘ma’ sound is often one of the first things they say. In the United States, the history of Mother’s Day began with Ann Jarvis, who worked to foster friendship and community among mothers on both sides of the Civil War.

Her daughter Anna Reeves Jarvis continued her legacy by establishing an

official day of observance, leading to the first Mother’s Day celebration in 1908.

Woodrow Wilson later signed Mother’s Day into law as a nationwide holiday in 1914. But Mother’s Day isn’t just about mums; on average, people in the UK buy 2.8 Mother’s Day cards, showing that the love extends to grandmothers, sisters, and motherin-laws too.

International Women’s Day is March 8

QUITE often the reason particular dates for international days are chosen is unclear but in the case of March 8 for International Women’s Day it’s down to religion.

Prior to the Revolution, Imperial Russia had not recognised the Gregorian Calendar, choosing instead to follow the Julian Calendar, created before the birth of Christ and as the saying goes it ‘marched to a di erent drum’.

On the last Sunday of February 1917, Russian women began a strike for ‘Bread and Peace’ in response to the death of an estimated two million War and four days later the Czar was forced to abdicate and the provisional government granted women the

ANNA DARWIN’S life took a sudden turn in October 2018 when, at just 39 years old, she received a diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer. What began with discomfort in her right breast evolved into a journey of resilience and survival.

“At first, the signs were brushed off,” Anna recalls. Discomfort during exercise and heat from her breast seemed inconsequential until she felt a lump during a shower. Medical tests confirmed her fears.

Despite her outward health, the diagnosis shook Anna to her core. Twelve rounds of chemotherapy followed by a

The women’s strike commenced on Sunday February 23 which in the

Gregorian Calendar created by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 was actually March 8 and this is why that became the date for the annual International Women’s Day celebrations.

O cially recognised by the United

Nations in 1977, International Women’s Day rst emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the 20th century in North America and across Europe.

For decades in the 20th century, women had to ght to gain the vote and then to obtain the same rights as men and even now, more than 100 years later, there are still di erences in salary based on gender, glass ceilings and an ongoing ght against gender violence around the world.

It has been a long hard struggle but women are monarchs, successful business owners, in uencers and political leaders in the majority of nations although perhaps the greatest achievement will be if a woman ever becomes President of China, Russia or the USA.

Iris Apfel - Life and death

SHE called herself a “geriatric starlet”: a professional model from the age of 97, an iconic interior-designed and entrepreneur, Iris Apfel died March 2, at the age of 102. The celebrity’s representatives con rmed Apfel’s death in her Palm Beach home in Florida. A unique character, Apfel lit up every place she entered and left an unforgettable legacy in the world of fashion and design.

She stated about fashion: “If you study it, you realise

that it is a re ection of politics, of social life, of the economy. That is, our way of life.”

Born Iris Barrel in 1921, she grew up in Queens, New York. She was an art student and began her career as a copywriter for Women’s Wear Daily. In 1950, Apfel founded a textile company with her husband Carl. Their rm restored the White House for nine presidents, including Harry Truman and Bill Clinton.

Resilience and survival

lumpectomy and radiotherapy became her new reality, all while she continued to work in hospitality, refusing to let cancer define her.

Yet, in late November 2019, Anna’s health took another hit.

Initially brushed off as fatigue, her symptoms led to the discovery of B-cell acute lymphatic leukaemia, likely a result of her treatment.

Anna’s battle against leukaemia was gruelling, marked by intensive treatments including chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

Amidst the chaos of the Covid-19 pandemic, she fought on, navigating treatment amidst the global crisis.

The journey to remission culminated in a stem cell transplant in January 2021, during another lockdown.

Against the odds, Anna returned home a month later, though the road to recovery was far from easy, with lingering side effects and health complications.

Throughout it all, Anna found strength in her teenage sons and a newfound appreciation for each day.

Her story highlights the importance of living fully, cherishing moments and holding onto loved ones.

Her journey is a testament to resilience and the enduring spirit of hope in the face of adversity.

115 Wings of Freedom

ACCORDING to the Cuevas del Almanzora Council ‘Equality gives us the wings of freedom’ and this will be the main theme on March 8 in the fight against Gender Violence.

It is International Women’s Day on that date but the Council wants to highlight the fact that women are still being abused around the world.

At 90, she was a teacher at the University of Texas at Austin. At 94, a documentary by Albert Maysles was produced about her life. She became the rst 97-year-old model in the world and modelled for Vogue Italia, Kate Spade and M.A.C.

“Through living her life on her own terms she messaged to women that they don’t need to hide in the shadows as they age, they actually can continue to grow and get better at what they do and look like,” said Alexis Bittar.

“

Councillor for Equality, Melchora Caparrós made her opinion clear as she said “Being a woman today, in many places in the world, is almost a tragedy, because simply by being a woman, her rights and freedom are eliminated.

Whilst accepting that Spain was making major strides towards equality through its 8M programme, she added that “there is still a lot of work to do so that being a woman does not mean enduring machismo and inequality.”

Women are leaders everywhere you look - from the CEO who runs a Fortune 500 company to the housewife who raises her children and heads her household. Our country was built by strong women, and we will continue to break down walls and defy stereotypes.”

Nancy Pelosi

GIVING4GIVING is a non-profit organisation based in Costa Blanca, collecting donations from their charity shops to aid the locals in need.

In February 2024, the group’s donation reached €300,000 with €100 contributed to Anemona Breast Cancer Charity, Corazon Express and Finestrat Social Services.

The heads of the organisations met to celebrate their achievement and contemplate future possibilities.

Giving 4 Giving has given

support to Anemona, who aids women suffering from breast cancer and holds regular fundraising events to develop research and support of cancer patients.

Corazon Express’s donations will be used for

helping those with heart conditions, as they are an emergency relief charity association, always available from their office in Altea.

The Finestrat Social Support group will use the funds to strengthen local families placed in vulnerable situations.

Xaló dog rescue, Facebook

Credit: PAWS

PAWS rescue

PAWS is a dog rescue organisation in Jalon Valley, dedicated to taking care of every local puppy in need of rehabilitation and rehoming.

Fallas for seniors

DENIA Town Council has constructed a Fallas route for seniors, making the festivity easily accessible and entertaining for all community members. Specialised crafts workshops will take place on March 11 at 5.30pm at the La Pedrera Hospital, and on March 12, at 11.00am at the Santa Llucia residence.

tion to make a big change.

PAWS are very active on social media, and help the animals by posting alerts when they see dogs who are missing, as well as posting listings of dogs needing rehoming, to increase their chances of adoption.

Giving4Giving is based in La Nucia, el Pinar de Garita, but has shops in Altea, Vila Joyosa, Albir and Benidorm.

They welcome all donations, including unwanted furniture and clothes.

Founded in 2019, PAWS is a registered charity organisation, run 100 per cent by multi-national volunteers, some experts in animal care and some dog lovers.

PAWS have a charity shop in Jalon Valley where they invite people to contribute to the well-being of local animals. Whether by buying or donating, it takes a small ac-

The organisation also contributes to the community, participating in events and hosting fundraising events. From Bingo nights, to dinners, to festive raffles, the group makes an incredibly pawsitive contribution.

On Thursday March 7, a computer workshop will be held in the Classrooms for the Elderly at the Santa Llucia Residence, familiarising the seniors with tablet and mobile phone devices. March 15 will invite the seniors to follow the Fallas route, experiencing the vibrant celebration of Denia’s Fallas monuments. The route will begin at 4.30pm from Plaza del Consell.

Historic 1st Jet Ski race

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ON March 2, starting at 10.00am, Club Nautical Moraira welcomed the first Jet Ski race in the history of the Valencian Region.

Anchored by Club Nautico Moraira, the innovative competition is supported by Teulada-Moraira’s Town Council and Generalitat Valencia.

Club Nautico Moraira is one of the most recognisable nautical sports

establishments of the Costa Blanca, being founded in 1975, with 750 regular members currently registered.

The Club has played a vital role in the local sports culture, promoting modern activities including water motorcycles and an environmentally-friendly approach to water sports.

The team has 24 expert employees and is visited both by tourists and locals from all over the world.

The first Rally Jet race in Costa Blanca’s history was open for anyone eager to participate who had experience jet skiing and held a passion for the sea and the speed.

Further information on the Club Nautico Moraira website.

Project4All charity work

PROJECT4ALL is a local charity taking direct action to combat homelessness on the Costa Blanca. Volunteers take hot meals to some of the most disadvantaged people in the community. They also bring blankets, sleeping bags, tents and water to people in desperate need.

From simple beginnings, the charity has grown and has developed a women’s refuge, a shelter for men, a food bank and a charity shop.

Homelessness is a complex issue, with affected individuals facing multiple obstacles, but the charity is vocal is its condemnation of rental prices and a lack of affordable housing.

The fact is that anyone can become homeless. Becoming unemployed or experiencing other traumatic life changes such as divorce, or loss of family can cause troubles to snowball and lead very quickly to life on the streets.

Social housing is very limited in Spain and the competition for rented properties is fierce. It can often cost many thousands of euros just to move into a property.

Charity activist and spokesperson, Jonny Elraiz said, “2024 poses many challenges for us

due to the cost of living and housing crisis. We’re in the cold and wet months right now and people are really feeling the consequences of life on the streets.”

The charity’s goal is to open their first Sleeping House. This will provide a safe environment for homeless people to have a hot meal, sleep in safety and use the shower and laundry facilities. From here, people can work to find employment and better their situation.

Project4All also provides guidance which helps to direct people to medi-

cal, social and legal services.

An exciting new venture for the charity is the Project4All Membership Initiative.

For €10 per month, anyone can contribute and help the initiative to continue its good work.

Members will receive a regular newsletter and can benefit from discounts offered by local businesses, cafes and restaurants.

Project4All covers the coastal area from Javea to Benidorm.

Anyone who wants to become a member, a vo-

lunteer or donate is welcome and can find information on: www.project4all.org infoproject4all@gmail. com

Tel. 643 737 584/ 665 142 849

LA CALA EN CALO in Javea is located between the paradisial corners of the Mediterranean Sea and the Alicante coast, reminiscent of the Blue Lagoon beauty: the perfect place for a getaway.

While the majority of visitors absorb themsel -

Javea’s secluded heaven

ves in the beach of the Arenal, la Cala en Calo is a hidden gem, for those seeking a new and unique sea experience.

The reason for fewer tourists is that la Cala en

Calo is truly exclusive: the cove can only be accessed by sea.

One way to encounter the stunning location is by a kayak excursion, which is recommended for those who love being active and is to be experienced on days with good weather conditions.

The kayak excursion starts from Cala Granadella and leads to the cove in approximately 20 minutes.

The possibility of paddle surfing is also possible and has a 9.8 out of

10-star rating: a low-impact, mindful and refreshing experience.

For a more immersive adventure, snorkelling is a good idea, especially

in la Cala en Calo, where Spanish nature is at its purest, with clean, uninhabited water.

For something more relaxing, a beautiful catamaran can be booked with a special BBQ service, creating unforgettable memories of Javea’s secret coast.

Cala en Calo is claimed by the Javea Council as the “secret of Javea”, and reviewed by visitors as a “must-see” place. It is the place to go to experience the true beauty of the Mediterranean eternal coasts.

Gastronomy award

ON February 26, EuroToques awarded the contributors of Costa Blanca’s gastronomy for their exceptional work for the community.

EuroToques is an international association of over 3,000 professionals in gastronomy, with a mission to preserve European gastronomic heritage and innovate the EU’s food and restauration sector.

Held in the city of Benidorm, for the first time since the pandemic, EuroToques awarded Gema Amor, a businesswoman and the director of Alicante Gastronomica Solidaria, with the

Social Commitment Award, recognising both her efforts for exceptional gastronomy and her contributions to the local community.

During the assembly, she spoke out about the importance of gastronomy in Benidorm, stating that gastronomy “pairs very well with the offer of sun and beach in which Benidorm is a leader, “ and has expressed gratitude to the City Council.

“We are committed to excellence and quality, from simplicity to refinement, in a plural destination where the offer is vast and any palate will be satisfied.”

AS the sunny streets of Altea change in visitors and inhabitants, she remains devoted to the town. Introducing Altea’s oldest swan, Paca.

Paca, the swan, is the emblem and phenomenon of Altea’s Villa Blanca.

The members of the Somos Gos animal charity organisation, alongside locals and regularly visiting

Swan devoted to Altea

tourists of Altea, had all noticed the beautiful swan who hadn’t left the town for over 30 years, despite being able to emigrate.

The president of Somos Gos,

Matiola Terrer, stated, “We estimate that Paca is between 31 and 31 years old. We have been taking care of her since 2016 but I’ve lived in Altea for 29 years and I have

Strong women

Anna Akopyan

CURRENTLY living in Altea, Sibylle Schorlemmer is a photographer who has dedicated her life to captivating authentic images of women’s lives worldwide. Schorlemmer was born in Darmstadt, Germany. From a young age, she began studying photography in Munich and entered a photographic career in fashion during the 1970s.

“At that time, photos taken by women began to appear in publications, but the majority were still by men.”

Schorlemmer spent several years living in England and travelling worldwide, including countries like Guatemala, Peru, Brazil, Israel, and Egypt, where she photographed women from all sectors of society.

She recalled an impactful meeting during her travels: “On my trip to Bolivia in 1976 I took a photo of a

woman sitting on some rags selling vegetables. She told me that she had a baby that she wanted to give me because with us he would have a better life.

In Bolivia that year 40 per cent of children died from tuberculosis.”

Schorlemmer’s photographs are often black and white or muted in colour. She presents women in raw states, never posing.

The women are presented in raw, natural states,

never posing.

For the past 19 years, Schorlemmer has resided in Altea and continues to create intricate and matchless images of women, including those in the Costa Blanca.

always known her.”

The locals have now gotten so attached to Paca that in the case of a recent emergency, the swan’s life was saved due to residents’ quick co-

llaboration and care.

One of the members of the Facebook group We Love Albir and Altea had found Paca injured, with a fishing line wrapped around her neck and urged for help nearby. Immediately, the Somos Gos association came to the rescue and saved Paca’s life.

Through her work, she noticed the progress of women’s role in society.

“In the most recent images, the woman is more proud, modern in every sense. She is present, safe, and strong.”

LIVING on the Costa Blanca, means never being far from a beach. However, it can come as bit of a shock to people from other nations that you’re not allowed to take man’s best friend on many Spanish beaches. Local regulations in Spain often reflect

Dog beaches

concerns about fouling and lack of dog control.

But what is more fun for our furry friends then running free along the beach and playing in the waves? A good run on the beach in the mor -

ning can keep a dog fit and happy.

Happily, Costa Blanca does have a few beaches which are dog-friendly.

The canine beach in Altea is a popular area very close to l’Olla. It’s possible to park behind the Villa Gadea hotel where there’s access directly down to the beach.

In nearby Calpe, there is a small beach on the right side of the Puerto Blanco Marina. It’s really only a rock and pebble cove, but it’s not usually too crowded.

Further south there are two beaches to enjoy. El Charco beach in Villajoyosa is a rocky area where dogs can play.

Finally. there are two dog beaches in El Campello.

Playa del Barranc d’Aigues is to the north of the town and Punta del Riu is a small area next to the Seco river.

Aid for Finestrat

Anna Akopyan

THE Finestrat Town Council approved €22 million municipal budget for ‘social and entrepreneurial’ development in 2024.

The mayor, Juanfran Perez Llorca, approved to rise of the municipal budget with a €3 million increase from last year, committing to the educational system, sports facilities and family aid.

“We continue to support people in situations of greater vulnerability and, at the same time, we continue to undertake significant investments, especially in education,” stated the mayor, announcing the development of a new institute and the town’s second-day care centre.

The mayor also emphasised the future bonuses on taxes and fees including the IBI (Council tax), garbage, capital gains,

and circulation tax, aiding the lives of Finestrat’s residents.

Innovative works include a newly developed elevated at Finestrat’s historic centre, Placa de la Unio Europeana, and the modernising of the residential areas.

An environmentally friendly green area is also to be developed across the town.

Regarding sports, the council announced its efforts to advance and expand the sports facilities of the La Foixa complex in the following year.

Llorca expressed his dedication to supporting the local community. “If we have to modify the budget to meet the needs of citizens, we will do it again because it is the most important to provide quality services to all of our residents.”

Hare-raising

A MAN from Wales has broken a world record by getting the most rabbit tattoos on his body. Craig Evans, who is 42 years old, has a total of 69 rabbit tattoos on his arms, legs, and chest. Craig got his rst rabbit tattoo in 2009, and he didn’t expect to end up with so many. But after getting a second one during a trip to New York, he decided to continue with the rabbit theme.

He’s been inked by di erent tattoo artists from the UK, Japan, South Korea, Spain, France, and the USA.

The designs of Craig’s rabbit tattoos vary a lot. He has realistic ones, colourful cartoon-like ones, and even a rabbit holding a pistol

and a robot rabbit.

Craig, who works as a TV camera operator, estimates he’s spent almost £10,000 and around 125 hours getting his tattoos. He thinks it was worth it, especially now that he holds a Guinness World Records title.

Craig’s love for rabbits started in childhood with characters like Bugs Bunny and Roger Rabbit. As he got older, he began collecting rabbit-themed art from all over the world.

He explained, “I love the look of rabbits. They’re so cute, and I like the idea of getting something cute as a tattoo, which is often seen as tough. Unfortunately, I can’t have pet rabbits because I have a dog named Bertie.”

Revolving statue returns

UNVEILED on October 31, 2014, a revolving head of Czech writer Franz Kafka which sits outside the piazza at Quadrio shopping centre in Prague has undergone a complete renovation.

The decision was made to remove the unique sculpture and service the 42 rotating stainless steel parts as well as replacing the rotation mechanism so that it could be returned in time to commemorate the death of the acclaimed writer aged just 40 in 1924.

On Thursday February 29, the statue was brought back to life and rotated in front of sculptor David Cerný, accompanied by a massive sound and light show.

Prague residents and visitors to the metropolis were once again able to look forward to the 15-minute rotation of the statue, which occurs every full hour.

Although he published very little, his most famous

works being Metamorphosis, The Trial and The Castle, Kafka is considered to be one of the literary greats of the 20th century and the word Kafkaesque has been adopted to describe absurd situations like those depic-

ted in his writing. He was a complicated character who viewed the world di erently from most people and although a proli c writer, he is believed to burned some 90 per cent of all that he wrote.

Life with a transplant

Anna Akopyan

IN February, 57-year-old Bert Janssen, became the world’s longest-surviving heart transplant patient.

Bert Janssen grew up in the Netherlands and was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy at the age of 17 - a concerning disease of the heart muscle, impacting everyday life and longevity.

In the 1980s, the Netherlands did not offer heart transplants and Janssen’s future seemed out of the question.

Yet, a cardiologist from his local hospital, Dr Albert Mattart, associated with Harefield Hospital in England, had registered Janssen for a heart transplant abroad.

Only a week after being in England, two hearts of recently deceased adults became available, one of which matched Janssen.

He underwent surgery by the renowned Prof Sir

Women’s Day

Global Heart Foundation, Facebook

Credit: Magdi Yacoub

RECORD-BREAKER: Bert Janssen as a youth.

Magdi Yacoub and returned home.

“From the moment I woke up after surgery, I felt more energy in my body than before,” said Janssen.

Throughout his life, he participated in the European and World Transplant Games and built a home for his family.

“One of my proudest achievements was, along with my wife Petra and both our parents, building our house brick by brick.”

Having lived and worked 39 years with a heart transplant, Janssen is optimistic about the future of medicine: “It feels like an honour to have reached this milestone.”

Olympic equality

THE last time the Summer Olympics were held in Paris in 1924 women made up just 5 per cent of the athletes. 100 years later women will make up 50 per cent of the athletes for the first time.

Sellout crowd

THE Arsenal Women’s Football Team made history recently by selling out the stadium in back-to-back games with 60,050 tickets sold for the London derby against Tottenham. This advocates for all women’s teams and their right to play in the club’s main stadiums.

F1 make-up

BRITISH beauty brand founder Charlotte Tilbury made history as the first female-founded brand to partner with the F1 Academy. The F1 Academy 2024 partnership will see the spotlight on young female drivers to raise awareness about women in the sport.

Grassroots

THE roots of International Women’s Day can be traced back to the early 20th century, amid the growing movements for women’s suffrage. Its first near-similar observance was on February 28, 1909, in New York City, where women rallied for better working conditions and the right to vote.

German advocacy

IN 1910, Clara Zetkin, a prominent German women’s rights advocate, proposed establishing an annual Women’s Day to advocate for women’s rights globally. The proposal was unanimously approved by the attendees, leading to the inaugural celebration.

THE Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) ordered Babboe to cease selling some versions of its popular cargo bike.

The distinctive bicycles’ safety “cannot be sufficiently guaranteed,” the NVWA said, adding that sales can resume once the company has “sufficiently demonstrated” that they are safe, while providing full technical documentation.

Babboe confirmed in February 2024 that there was a manufacturing error in the frame of City models produced between 2010 and 2012. The front section of frames made between

Babboe’s woes

the beginning of 2017 and June 2018 could also have welding defects, the company said.

“Intensive use may possibly cause hairline cracks in the affected frames.”

Although the NVWA had only flagged up certain models, the company decided to halt all sales.

As the name suggests, cargo bikes were originally used to transport goods but

Water and womanhoodMarissa Oosterlee Women’s Day

UNTIL March 31, Javea’s La Casa del Cable is presenting the ultra-realistic works of Marissa Ooster lee, an award-winning artist from the Netherlands.

Marissa, has been passionate about art and nature from early childhood, having now created mesmerising art depicting water, sensuality, and womanhood.

ris to New York.

A former cyclist, Marissa’s life changed after a heavy accident forced her to quit her profession. She had then turned to art.

Today, Marissa is a winner of numerous awards, including the 2020 American Art Collector’s Choice Award and she has exhibited everywhere from Pa-

Marissa’s authenticity lies in her pure reflection of light and the poignant vulnerability of being human. More than lifelike, her oil and airbrush paintings tell captivating and revealing narratives in hyperrealistic portraits.

Marissa’s collection ‘Washing Away My Sorrow’ depicts glimpses of sublimely serene women, flowing in the water.

Not only is her exhibition open to the public, but Marissa is offering an oil painting workshop in Javea from Marchh 22 until March 24.

they are currently enjoying a revival as young families find them cost-effective as well as sustainable and environmentally-friendly.

Babboe is regarded as the world’s principal cargo bike manufacturer

but at present the recall order affects only the Netherlands. Once the preliminary inspections have been completed, the NVWA will decide whether to warn the regulators of other European Union countries.

ring flaws are taking legal action, announced the Birkway law firm, which set up a hotline on February 23 to determine the number of injured parties and their problems.

At least 3,000 Netherlands’ cargo bike owners affected by the manufactu-

Meanwhile, Babboe said on its website that it would continue working with the NVWA and ensure that all relevant safety information

Love’s endurance

THE mayor of Warsaw, Rafał Trzaskowski, recognises and celebrates long-term married couples by awarding them with official Medals for Long Marriage.

Last week, over 90 local couples were honoured during a ceremony, highlighting the city’s commitment to reaffirming family values.

To qualify for the medal, couples must have been married for at least 50 years, symbolising their Golden Anniver -

sary.

The Medal for Long Marriage features a sixray star with a bright inscription ‘for long married life’ on one side and two silver roses on the other.

During the recent ceremony, Mayor Trzaskowski praised the couples for their commitment and dedication to each other, confirming that marriage is a conscious choice rooted in respect and love.

He expressed his joy in witnessing the happiness of the honoured couples

and emphasised the significance of their enduring relationships.

This ceremony marked the first of 2024, with Mayor Trzaskowski having awarded medals to a total of 1,970 couples throughout his term in office, spanning 61 ceremonies.

As he continues his tenure, it remains a heartfelt aspiration for the mayor and his wife to one day join the recipients of this esteemed honour.

What’s in a name?

A CIVIL association in Matera, Italy, has launched a unique programme to preserve the name Eustachio by offering financial incentives to parents who choose it for their newborns.

Eustachio isn’t just any name, it’s also the name of the local patron saint of the UNESCO-protected Italian town.

In the past, naming children after saints was common in Italy, but modern trends favour more contemporary names. The Maria Santissima della Bruna association hopes to encourage the use of Eustachio to uphold the legacy of their patron saint for future generations.

The association aims to foster devotion, continuity, and tradition by honou-

ring both of Matera’s patron saints: the Madonna della Bruna and Sant’Eustachio. Sant’Eustachio is not only a namesake but also revered as the protector of firefighters, hunters, and victims of torture.

His story, from an Ancient Roman general to a Christian martyr, holds deep significance for Matera.

While the exact amount offered to parents who choose the name Eustachio hasn’t been disclosed, the initiative has sparked discussion.

Some see it as outdated, while others suggest extending similar rewards for naming daughters Bruna, after the local Madonna.

Women’s Day: the future generation

ON March 8, marking International Women’s Day, the European Union of Women of Marina Alta gathers to capture the ambitions and bright futures of young women.

Starting at 10.30am, in Benitachell Social Centre, young women from around the globe will join to discuss their hopes, fears, and dreams, capturing the joys of the youth and considering the progress of gender roles.

The event will be enlivened by live discussions, picnic refreshments, live music, and dan-

cing, all part of the municipality’s festive calendar.

On this special day, women and girls from diverse backgrounds will gather to exchange advice, share their enthusiasm as well as uncertainties, and develop meaningful relationships.

From a growing specialist in climate change to an aspiring astrophysicist, to a grandmother, women from all stages of life will be attending the event, inspiring and supporting each other, making a positive change to the local community.

Pedal-powered

SINCE February 23, Parisians have found a new way to get around the city streets: Heetch Bike, a taxi service where a driver on a bike pulls a passenger cabin.

Initially, this service will only be available on weekends. Heetch Bike distinguishes itself from traditional car cabs and the trendy tuk-tuks recently seen in Paris.

The company aims to provide a faster and more cost-e ective alternative to traditional cab services, promising to make travel in Paris 40 per cent faster and 20 per cent cheaper than VTC (private hire vehicles) services. The company’s strategy relies on

TRIPADVISOR’S annual ranking of the Travellers’ Choice Awards: Best of the Best Beaches for 2024 has unveiled Europe’s top three coastal destinations, igniting dreams of summer adventures. Based on glowing reviews and opinions from the TripAdvisor community, these beaches promise unforgettable experiences for those seeking sun, sand, and sea. Let’s dive into these coastal gems.

Taking the top spot is

the anticipated implementation of Limited Tra c Zones (ZTLs) in the city centre later this year. With restricted car tra c in these areas, Heetch anticipates that bicycles will become a preferred and quicker mode of transportation in the city of Paris.

To address concerns about comfort, Heetch assures passengers that their cabins are equipped with heated bench seats, protective windscreens and a glass roof.

This ensures a comfortable ride regardless of the weather conditions, allowing passengers to reach their destination in comfort and style.

Top 3

Praia da Falésia, nestled in Olhos de Água in Portugal’s Algarve region. With dramatic red cli s as a backdrop, this beach o ers a picturesque setting for sunbathing, sur ng, and strolls.

Securing the second spot is Spiaggia dei Conigli, also known as Rabbits’ Beach, located on the island of Lampedusa, Italy.

With its pristine white sand and crystal-clear azure waters forming a shell-shaped cove, this beach exudes a Caribbean-like ambience. Rounding out the top three is Playa de la Concha, situated in Spain’s Basque region, near the city of San Sebastian-Donosti.

Renowned for its iconic shell shape and scenic surroundings, this beach o ers a perfect blend of natural beauty and urban charm.

Flying coins

George Cunningham ONCE again, the European mint Mennica Polska has caught attention with a groundbreaking innovation: the world’s first flying coin.

Unveiled at the Technical Forum in Berlin during the World Money Fair 2024, the prototype named UFO MP-1766 is no ordinary currency.

This extraordinary coin seems to defy gravity, hovering in mid-air while spinning like a futuristic alien spacecraft. Its luminescent appearance, achieved through fluorescent paint, adds to its mystique.

The coin’s magic lies in a built-in motor that generates a magnetic field between the

coin and a special base below, keeping it suspended in the air and allowing it to spin freely.

Despite its whimsical nature, the UFO MP1766 holds legal tender status with a value of €2.69, though its collectable value is expected to surpass that amount.

The number 1766 in its name pays homage to

the founding year of the Mint of Poland and also represents the value of 1,766 Cameroonian francs, approximately equivalent to €2.69.

Interestingly, the coin was commissioned by the Bank of Cameroon, as only national central banks have the authority to introduce new currency.

Buying from an heir:

THERE are many reasons that can lead a person to sell a property. Financial problems. Separation or divorce. Employment motives. Relocation to another country. And of course, also, having received the property as an inheritance. In this week’s article, we analyse the latter case. Main aspects that must be considered when buying from an heir.

Ownership in the Spanish Land Registry

In Spain, when buying a property, it is essential to confirm that the seller is the owner in the Land Registry. When someone passes away, the change of ownership is not automatic. It is necessary for the heir to complete a series of steps and formalities in order to appear as the new ow-

ner in the Land Registry. Signing the deed of acceptance of inheritance before a Notary Public. Settling the Inheritance Tax and Plusvalía Tax, etc.

Can a reservation/purchase contract be signed if the property is still in the name of the deceased?

Yes, it is possible. But it is necessary to act with caution to avoid problems and unpleasant surprises. It is highly advisable to make the contract conditional to the registration of the inheritance deed in the Land Registry. It is also advisable to set a time limit for this to occur. So that, if any unforeseen circumstances arise (discussions between the heirs, they do not reach an agreement on the distribution of the assets,

etc) you can terminate the contract and recover your money.

What is the role of the Inheritance Tax paid by the vendors?

When the Land Registry makes a change of ownership due to an inheritance, it automatically generates a ‘tax affectation’ or ‘tax charge’ on the property for five years. In other words, for five years the property will be liable for the Inheritance Tax declared by the heirs. This means that if you buy an inherited property and the vendor did not pay the Inheritance Tax correctly... the Spanish Tax Office could demand that you, as buyer of that property, pay the debt of the heir-seller.

The danger of the deduction

for habitual residence

In relation to the above, the reduction for the acquisition of the habitual residence of the deceased is of particular relevance. In the Valencian Region, heirs can deduct up to €150,000 as long as they do not sell the property within five years. What is so risky about this? Let’s look at an example.

A non-resident British citizen inherits a property in Spain. When settling the Inheritance Tax, the deduction for the main residence of up to €150,000 is applied. After the inheritance (and although the rules do not allow it) the heir sells the property to a third party and returns to his country. As explained, this could turn into a big problem for the bu-

yer. Due to the existence of a ‘tax affectation’ to the property, the Tax Agency could demand that the buyer settles the Inheritance Tax incorrectly declared by the seller. And claim thousands of euros from him.

Conclusions

At White Baos Lawyers we are experts in Inheritance Tax and Real Estate Law. If you are thinking of buying from an heir, do not hesitate to contact us. We will study your case and offer you expert legal advice on the subject.

The information provided in this article is not intended to be legal advice, but simply conveys information related to legal issues.

ADOPTA UN ABUELO works to help elderly people not feel alone, not only in Spain but also in other parts of the world.

They bring them together with volunteers who want to give some of their time so they don’t feel lonely.

You can make donations to support the activities carried

Adopt a grandparent

out by the NGO, and/or become a volunteer, either online (video chat) or in person.

To become a volunteer you take a short ‘course’ (videos and questionnaire) and provide your details to be assigned an ‘abuel@’ near you. If you fail to call or visit them, you

cease being a volunteer and they are assigned someone else.

The ‘course’ is in Spanish and done via their App. However, they ask you what languages you know and obviously in certain areas the care homes have a lot of foreigners,

so you could be assigned to someone who speaks your language.

“I first learned of the NGO through restaurant chain Popeye’s, as when you ordered at one of their booths they asked if you would like to donate to Adopta un Abuel@, so I did and later looked them up.

I also saw they were collaborating with Innocent smoothies (see so mos.innocent Instagram) by getting volunteers to make mini woolly hats which they put on the smoothies and from each sale 20 euro cents goes to the NGO.

I joined (donation and volunteering) at the beginning of this year as seeing my own grandma frequently had been very important for both me and my daughter Myriam as she brought her so much joy. Knowing there are people who are in care homes (so obviously not totally alone) but have no-one to visit them seems awful.

Our ‘abuela’ Antonia was assigned to us at the local Residencia in Arroyo de la Miel (Benalmadena) and we have had our first visit.

It was a really good experience and we’re looking forward to seeing each other again. It was also nice to talk to some of the other ladies in the home, they were all excited with the novelty of seeing us!”

If you would like to find out

Women’s Day

Galloping towards dreams

MEET Sara Berna Honrubia, 24-year-old with a life long passion for horses.

Now running a horse riding school in Sax on the Costa Blanca, Club Hípico El Brujo, Sara discovered her love for riding at just five years old, thanks to her parents’ support.

Initially eyeing a career as a vet, Sara found herself irresistibly drawn into the world of horses.

By the time she graduated, she was already immersed in the equestrian scene, working as an assistant at a riding stables.

When it came time to choose her path, Sara faced a big decision: pursue her veterinary dreams or follow her heart into teaching horse riding.

Opting for the latter, she obtained qualifications to teach alongside becoming a certified veterinary assistant, allowing her to fully commit to her passion.

Reflecting on her journey, Sara has no regrets. Despite the challenges of running her own horse riding school, especially during the tumultuous times of the Covid-19 pandemic,

Galloping towards dreams

Sara remains undeterred.

“I feel like there are never enough hours in the day,” she admits. Balancing the daily demands and stresses of entrepreneurship with her dedication to her students and horses is no easy feat.

For Sara, riding isn’t just a hobby, it’s a way of life.

Though progress may not always be immediate, she believes in the value of patience and perseverance. “When you stop and look back, you realise the strides you’ve made, both as a rider and a person,” she reflects.

As for her future aspirations, Sara refuses to place limits on herself. “I have dreams, not goals,” she asserts. “And I’m determined to make each one a reality.”

With her unwavering passion and relentless drive, there’s no doubt Sara will continue to conquer new horizons in the equestrian world.

Sunny success

Anna Ellis

IN 2023, Spain experienced a remarkable surge in tourism from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, setting new records in both visitor numbers and tourism spending.

Tourists from the GCC region spent over €1,138m in Spain, marking a 64.7 per cent increase compared to 2022 and a staggering 123.7 per cent increase compared to 2019, according to estimates from Turespaña based on data from the INE (Frontur and Egatur).

The total number of visitors from the GCC region to Spain in 2023 reached

434,000, reflecting a 33 per cent increase from 2022 and a 56 per cent growth compared to 2019.

On average, these visitors stayed for 8.6 days.

Saudi Arabia witnessed exceptional growth, with a more than 100 per cent increase compared to 2019 and a 92 per cent increase compared to 2022.

The total number of Saudi tourists reached 182,298, surpassing the United Arab Emirates as Spain’s primary GCC market and reinforcing its position in line with the country’s 2030 vision.

The trend of attraction to

Spain was also observed in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait.

Factors such as favourable weather, a sense of familiarity, and cultural resonance, including Spain’s rich Arab heritage, influenced GCC travellers when choosing Spain as their destination.

Looking ahead to 2024, Spain aims to solidify its position as a preferred destination for Middle Eastern travellers through marketing campaigns, strategic partnerships, and various events organised by Turespaña’s Tourism Department in Abu Dhabi.

Easter Dance of the Dead

THE town of Verges in Catalonia is renowned for its incredible recreation of the last hours of Christ and its very dark Dance of Death on Maundy Thursday.

The event known as the La Processó de Verges which this year takes place on March 28 is based on an 18th century poem by Catalan monk Antoni de Sant-Jeroni which incorporates all of the main events leading to the crucixion.

The performance is split into three parts, beginning at 5pm, 10pm and 12.30am respectively and a large number of residents take part in the re-enactments.

The rst part sees Roman legionaries march along the town streets every hour and whilst very colourful, is repetitive, but many visitors nd it useful to arrive early in order to secure parking and then book themselves in to one of the limited number of restaurants in the town.

Part two sees a theatrical performance on Plaça Major which begins at 10pm and tells the story of the Last Supper, Garden of Gethsemane and culminates in Pontius Pilate washing his hands of responsibility.

Admittance is by ticket only which

be purchased in advance at the Koobin website at €22 per person.

The third part of the evening sees the start of the Holy Cross Procession as a gure dressed as Christ drags a cross through the streets of the town and during the two hour procession, the three falls of Christ take place before he arrives at the church of Sant Julià, where the cruci xion is acted out.

Lights are dimmed and in some parts of the town, the only lighting is from snail shells cemented into walls which contain tiny amounts of oil and a wick which is lit.

It is during the procession and at the cruci xion that the Dance of the Dead takes place with ve ‘skeletons’, two adults and three children appearing to

the solemn beat of spectral drummers.

One of the adult actors holds a black banner, and the other one a scythe. Both the banner and the scythe handle contain two mottoes: in Catalan, Lo temps és breu, or Time is short; and, in Latin, Nemini parco, or I spare no one.

Two of the children carry plates lled with ash, while the third has a clock without hands to imply that anyone can turn to ash at any time and the entire performance ends at about 3am on Good Friday morning.

It is believed only one other town in Spain features the Easter Dance of the Dead and that is in Manresa also in Catalonia but their event is not as exhaustive as that of Verges, it takes place on Good Friday and features 10 skeletons.

Good Neighbour Award

AGE IN SPAIN’S Good Neighbour Award sets out to highlight the best examples of neighbourliness in Spain.

From a strong field of finalists in the 2023/4 award - launched in conjunction with Euro Weekly News - an overall winner has emerged.

She is Alison Brophy, of Corralejo, Fuerteventura, nominated for creating ‘Stronger Together’ an organisation which exists for the benefit of non-Spanish residents, simply ‘to help people, to improve things, to help the nationalities integrate and generally to improve the life of everyone in Fuerteventura’.

Alison has lived in Spain for 27 years and became interested in helping people during the Covid lockdown when “time presented itself and I wanted to do something to help.” Since then, thousands of people have come for advice or support, evidenced by the large number of nominations received for Alison.

“Right now, we have a

membership of 650, among whom 26 nationalities are represented.”

Stronger Together aims to integrate people into Spanish society, for example by providing language lessons, facilitating social activity, and encouraging people to register to vote in local elections; it navigates bureaucracy and helps people with their TIEs, their driving licences, or their business start-ups.

Not content with all of that, Alison has another idea - what she calls her big dream. She’d like to build an

assisted living complex for the island and is in search of a business backer for that.

Commenting on the announcement of the Good Neighbour Award winners, UK Ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliott, said:

“Stronger Together is a respected organisation in Fuerteventura and has worked with Las Palmas Consulate to provide support to the most vulnerable of British people.

Details of those commended will appear in future editions including Alison’s colleague Elaine Berry.

A SURVEY by the European Commission involved over 70,000 people in 83 cities, covering different aspects of daily life including transportation habits.

Surprisingly, only a small percentage of respondents said they use bicycles as their main mode of transport. On average, only 14 per cent of people in all surveyed cities cycle regularly.

Interestingly, cycling rates tend to be lower in larger cities, especially those with populations between one and five million.

Only a few cities, mostly in northern Europe like Groningen, Amsterdam, and Copenhagen, have

Wheels of change

high numbers of people cycling daily.

Various factors influence cycling rates.

For example, men and younger people, especially those aged 15 to 24, are more likely to cycle regularly.

People with higher edu-

cation levels and those who are single also cycle more often, while retired or unemployed individuals tend to cycle less.

Despite the urgent need to tackle climate change and reduce reliance on cars, many city residents still prefer driving, with

THE town council of Sant Julia de Ramis in Catalonia has launched a proactive water-saving campaign called ‘a litre less is a litre more’ (1 litre menys=1 litre més) in response to a water emergency in the region.

With the goal of promoting careful water usage among its 3,461 residents, the council encourages people to use buckets to catch the water that would otherwise go down the drain when the tap is running unnecessarily.

By collecting water from activities like waiting for the shower to heat up, residents can reuse it for tasks like cleaning, watering plants, or flushing toilets.

48 per cent of respondents using cars every day.

However, car use is less common in bigger cities, partly because of good public transportation options and initiatives like congestion charges in places like London, which aim to reduce emissions and traffic.

Drip by drip

In a similar vein, Figueres, a larger town in northern Catalonia, is taking a technological approach to reduce water consumption.

The local government has distributed 2,000 aerators to residents, which add oxygen to the water flow, maintaining quality while reducing the need for higher pressure.

This encourages residents to use less water, helping to keep consumption within the recommended limit of 200 litres per person per day.

Pandas return to China

FIVE pandas have now returned to China to be with the rest of their family, undergoing a 12-hour flight.

The pair of pandas lived in the zoo of Spain’s capital since 2007.

They had a girl born in 2016 and male twins in 2021. The five of them lived in Madrid but had the rest of the family in China, Chendgu, in the Sichuan province.

It was a 12-hour flight but the authorities have confirmed that the animals experienced no health concerns and were

being taken care of in good conditions.

According to the adopted rules, cubs of giant pandas that were born outside of China were returned to the country to avoid inbreeding.

Based on the signed agreement between the two countries, another pair of young pandas will soon be sent to Madrid.

The goal of these actions is to “strengthen the friendship of the two nations through the animals.”

Majority of readers love Spain Charging ahead

THE Euro Weekly News recently asked readers to let us have their thoughts on how their lives have changed when relocating to Spain and whether their quality of life had improved.

The overwhelming response was that the decision had been the right one and with very few exceptions all were delighted by the result.

Many respondents, from a variety of countries of origin but largely from the UK, have lived here for 20 years or more, although there was a fair percentage who had moved over within the last seven years as well as second home owners who were disappointed with their position over the 90/180 day rules post Brexit.

One fact emerged and that was that those who receive a state pension from their home country find that it goes so much further than if they had remained at home.

The main reasons people gave for their positive view of Spain include improved health, a stressfree life, with good fresh food at affordable prices.

The people are welcoming and the weather is great. It’s also lovely to be able to go out and about and feel safe especially at night.

Others felt that the pu-

blic health service is much better in Spain than in their home countries.

Of course, it’s not all plain sailing. Dealing with the mountain of bureau-

cracy without the help of their partner who is more content with living the dream than sharing the workload, can bring its own challenges.

THE challenge of adopting electric vehicles faces a significant hurdle in Spain due to the inability of many households to install electric chargers on their property.

According to a study by idealista, a real estate marketplace in southern Europe, more than half of Spanish homes (55 per cent) lack private parking spaces where they could install these charging systems, making it difficult for them to embrace electric mobility for their daily transportation needs.

However, the availability of charging points at homes varies across different pro-

Strike sparks change

AFTER a six-day strike by SETE workers, the Eiffel Tower is back in action, welcoming visitors once again.

This strike wasn’t your usual fuss over pay and working conditions.

Instead, it aimed to shine a light on the need for more support and protection for this iconic landmark.

The CGT trade union led the strike for the second time in three months.

They pointed out some flaws in how things are run, like the way they predict visitor numbers and budget for upkeep.

They also brought up worries about not keeping up with maintenance tasks, like painting the tower, which was due for a touch-up seven years ago!

But there were some downsides to the strike. The tower being closed for six

days meant losing out on about €1 million to €2 million in earnings.

SETE had to say sorry to around 100,000 folks who missed out on visiting, promising to refund them automatically.

Despite this hiccup, the tower had already taken a hit from being closed during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, losing around €130 million. To settle things down, an agreement was reached.

If the Paris City Council gives it the thumbs up in May, employees will get to keep an eye on how things are run.

They’re planning to bump up ticket prices by 20 per cent, put an extra €145 million into maintenance, and stick to the budget for 2025.

vinces.

For instance, Malaga leads with 64 per cent of homes having parking spaces suitable for installing charging points.

Other provinces with a high likelihood of having such facilities include Pontevedra, Guadalajara, Valladolid, and Lugo, each with over 50 per cent of homes having parking spaces.

On the contrary, provinces like Guipúzcoa, Barcelona, and Vizcaya have significantly fewer homes with parking spaces suitable for installing chargers, ranging from 25 per cent to

30 per cent.

In capital cities, the differences are even more pronounced, with cities like Lugo, Pontevedra, and Murcia having higher percentages of homes with garages, while cities like Cadiz and Barcelona have notably lower percentages.

These findings highlight the uneven distribution of infrastructure that supports electric vehicle adoption across Spain, indicating the need for targeted efforts to improve accessibility to charging facilities, especially in areas with lower availability.

IRELAND

Running wild

IRELAND is one of the world’s most ecologically-denuded countries with less than 2 per cent of native woodland compared with 80 per cent before the introduction of modern agriculture, declared rewilding advocate Eoghan Daltun, He maintained that rewilding would be more successful than ineffective reforestation schemes.

Twinkle toes

DEXTER cows in Galway have been relocated to a coastal headland in the city’s Renmore district for a biodiversity scheme where council officials hope the grazing cattle will clear away long grass from the area. The cows were chosen for the project on the strength of their eating habits and smaller-than-usual hooves.

NORWAY

Jammed up

THE Norwegian Communications Authority (Nkom) revealed that GPS interference reported by pilots has escalated since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Throughout 2019 jamming by Russia occurred on only six days but increased to 122 days in 2022 and by 2023 interference had interrupted GPS on 294 days.

Afternoons only

PARLIAMENT voted to retain the ban that prevents cinema screenings before 1pm on Sundays, with Children and Families minister Kjersti Toppe declaring that Sundays “should be different.” Despite the Sunday ban cinemas nationwide are opening before 1pm on public holidays without encountering official opposition.

Open all hours

RECORDS show that between 2013 and 2022 the Portuguese worked more hours than the Spanish although Spain’s productivity outstripped Portugal’s, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE). On average, Portuguese employees worked a weekly 41.3 hours in 2022 compared with their neighbours’ 40.4 hours.

Mind the gap

ARRONCHES near Portalegre has always had a bridge over the Abrilongo waterway to link Portugal and Spain although the present structure was funded by the European Union.

Just 3.2 metres long and 1.45 metres wide it is classed as an international bridge but can be used only by pedestrians and two-wheeled traffic.

EURO PRESS

DENMARK

Rare jewel

METAL detectorist Lars Niel sen was ‘overwhelmed’ when he unearthed a finely-worked gold ring in Emmerley, he said. According to National Museum of Denmark experts, the 22-carat gold ring with a red semi-precious stone was made around 1,500 years ago and probably worn by a woman from a royal family in the region.

ITALY FRANCE

Home again

JIHADISTAS in Mali released an Italian couple in their 60s and their son who were abducted in Koutila in May 2022, the Italian government announced. The family, all in good health despite the long period in captivity, are Jehovah’s Witnesses who were believed to be preparing to set up a church in the area.

Getting on

ITALY is the European Union’s oldest country with an average age of more than 48, while 24 per cent of residents are over 65, statistics from Eurostat showed. The country’s overall population has grown by 3.4 per cent since 1991 but the number of over-80s has meanwhile increased from 3.3 per cent to 7.7 per cent.

NETHERLANDS

Rescue op

TWO injured harbour porpoises were washed up in Noordwijk and Maasylakte respectively, although both are expected to survive, rescue group SOS Dolfijn said. The first clearly needed medical attention while the second was suffering from a severe respiratory infection following an attack by a grey seal.

No charge

GRID operator Stedin wants to close electric vehicle charging stations each day between 4 and 9pm. The network was so over-burdened at this time that it was “bursting at the seams”, Stedin told broadcaster NOS, and attempts to reduce the power supply when charging during this peak period were not getting results.

Meat treat

THE government has acceded to farmers’ requests to ban the use of names associated with meat for plant-based products created inside France, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said. Misuse of vetoed terms like fillet, sirloin, rump steak, steak, escalope, ham, flank, and chuck could bring fines of between €1,500 and €7,500.

Not clever

SCIENTISTS condemned €10 billion spending cuts that would slash €904 million from research allocations. The National Union of Scientific Research described the cutbacks as “incomprehensible” after Emmanuel Macron had earlier stressed the need to catch up with other countries’ research budgets.

FINLAND

Baltic outrage

ENVIRONMENTALISTS reacted angrily after the South Finland regional authorities provided a Finnish-Chinese joint venture with environmental permit. They warned that the plant, which will produce an annual 60,000 tons of battery chemicals, would be able to discharge the factory’s untreated wastewater into the Baltic.

Job numbers

A REPORT from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment published on February 27 revealed that the number of unemployed foreigners fell from its all-time high of 44,000 in December to 42,400 in January. This was the fifth-highest total in history and the highest- ever for January, the Ministry said.

SWEDEN

Hospital hacked

A CYBER attack by still-unidentified hackers on the night of February 26-27 took out the telephones of the Sophiaemmet private hospital. The hospital shut down all its computers on security grounds but continued patient care as usual although all administrative duties had to be completed with pen and paper.

Gas peril

HUNDREDS were evacuated from the headquarters of Sapo, Sweden’s security service on February 23, and eight people were hospitalised after traces of poison phosgene gas were detected by sensors on the roof of the building. Despite a Stockholm Administrative Board report recording the incident, Sapo insisted that no gas was present.

BELGIUM

Snail mail

ANNIE KNOCKAERT from As recently received a postcard she sent to her parents from Austria in 1980. Knowing that her parents were no longer alive, the local postman took it to Annie’s own address although the postal authorities could not say where the postcard had lain for 44 years or why it finally entered the system.

Broken links

BELGIUM’S Federal Agency for Food Chain Safety (FASFC) handled 450 complaints regarding home-made food and prepared meals bought online between 2022 and 2024. Inspectors found that most of the sellers were unregistered, although an FASFC permit was needed as they were responsible for the safety of their products.

Water war

POLLUTANTS from Tesla’s Grunheide electric car company that are six times over permitted levels are contaminating the Berlin area’s drinking water, the local utility company complained.

It has now asked the mayors of affected municipalities, demanding that the gigafactory is closed until a solution is found.

Friendly fire

A GERMAN frigate taking part in the Red Sea mission to protect international shipping from Iran-backed Houthis opened fire on an apparently hostile drone. Both missiles missed their target and crashed into the sea, narrowly averting a friendly fire incident as the drone turned out to a be a US reconnaissance drone.

SOFAS - CHAIRS - CORNER SUITES - SOFA BEDS - OCCASIONAL PIECES - FIRESIDE CHAIRS - RECLINER CHAIRS - POWER RISER RECLINER CHAIRS

HAVE you ever looked at a drawing or a painting and thought, ‘that’s amazing, I wish I could do something like that, but I just don’t have any talent’. If you have, then maybe all you need is some confidence, practice and guidance.

Drawing and painting classes in Murla are

Art attack

Tuesdays 4.30pm to 5.30pm

Wednesdays 9.30 to 1.30pm

Practice can be in groups, or one-to-one. You supply your own materials.

open to all and complete beginners are welcome at every stage. Anyone can learn to draw and paint. All you need is some enthusiasm and you can start to produce amazing artworks of your own. Art is well known to relieve stress, calm the nerves and support good mental health.

Marisa Arche is offering classes for all with the following choice of times.

You will need a sketch pad of A3 size, HB and 4B pencils, pastels, charcoal or watercolours.

Mondays 5.00pm to 7.00pm

Marisa Arche has been painting for her whole life and has prints available

She works in oils, acrylics, ink and digital art forms and she has a little gallery at home that you can visit by appointment.

THE women artists of Marina Alta unite together in Javea’s Soler Blasco museum to revere their progress and celebrate International Women’s Day.

From March 1 until March 25, the Pobladores d’Art Collective empowers the local women with an art exhibition held in Soler Blasco Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum in

Women’s constructs

Javea.

Multidisciplinary and international, the exhibition displays the works of women of Marina Alta, ranging from musical pieces to sculptures, marking a celebration of the Women’s Day.

The Valencian poet, Lidia Santacreu Ferran,

presents her poignant free verse composition, exploring the themes of strength and femininity.

The artist, Ella Massanet Olmos, displays revealing self-portraits in a fusion of acrylics and threading.

The local creator, Pau Lopez Anquela, presents artesian works, mixing cotton thread fabric, wood rice straw and photography.

Tasty sandwiches at No-Mad

TASTE a rainbow of fresh fusion with No-Mad restaurant in Albir. Tuck into brunch, lunch or a three-course dinner in this on-trend, innovative venue, only minutes from the beach. Watch the world go by on the terrace on the sunshine, or head inside to enjoy the ambiance of a unique blend of food and fashion.

Centrally located in the beach town of Albir, NoMad restaurant is a bright and airy space with trendy design features. Comfortable seating and decor give rise to a sensation of relaxation and soothing calm. Vibrant, fresh ingredients lend a splash of colour to these colder days, carrying the promise of spring.

Whether you’re popping in to indulge in one of their innovative coffees, meeting friends for a comfortable chat and a bright brunch, or dining in a more intimate environment, No-Mad has it all.

A welcome addition to No-Mad’s up to the minute menu is their tempting choice of afternoon snacks and light lunches. If you’re longing for a substantial sandwich, or maybe even a warming plate of soup for the colder days, the lunch menu, which is available from 11.00am until 4.00pm, has a range of satisfying dishes for you to sink your teeth into.

One such divine offering is the ‘Holy Cow’, which features roast beef, red wine-soaked pear, parmesan cheese and rocket, a combination which elevates the simple sandwich to an explosion of taste experience. Thai soup with prawns, chicken, mus-

hrooms, ginger and coconut can really bring heat to a chilly day too!

The main menu bursts with tantalising options like steak tartar, or grilled octopus on a bed of mashed potato, followed by satisfying main courses, such as a special No-Mad salad with avocado, roast beef, smoked salmon and red fruit vinaigrette.

For carnivores, there’s lamb chops with spring garlic, steak tartar or a selection of fajitas and tender hamburgers, dripping with melted cheese. There are fresh choices from the sea, such as tuna tataki crusted with sesame seeds, Thai

No-Mad

Avenida de L’Albir, 20 03581 L’Albir, Alicante

Tel: 865 815 832

spiced mussels and there are plenty of vegetarian options too.

No-Mad has expanded the existing wine list of favourites to include hearty reds, cool, crisp whites, light roses and a choice of cChampagnes and cavas, all carefully selected to enhance your dining pleasure. For little diners, try the chicken fingers, pasta bolognaise or sausages.

www.no-mad.es

Children can also enjoy ice cream while parents round it all off with a speciality coffee, an elegant brandy or perhaps a decadent dessert. Creamy cheesecake with fresh berries, sweet apple pie, or vanilla ice cream with warm chocolate sauce are just a few of the mouth-watering finales to a wonderful dining experience at No-Mad.

FANCY a fun evening out doing something different? AutoCine El Sur near Alicante is a drivein movie theatre, which shows films in English as well as Spanish. At this time of year, you can watch from the comfort of your car, but you can also choose to put up chairs outside in better weather.

Tickets are currently available for several films, shown as double bills. You can stay for one or both films. The choice is yours and the price is the same. You can bring dinner or snacks too, but there’s also a snack bar on site serving drinks, popcorn, chicken nuggets and wings, sandwiches

DRIVE IN

Night out at the drive-in.

and hamburgers. For more details and to see films in English, check

the website autocineelsur.com and choose ‘original version’.

Universal appeals in Albir

ADVERTISING FEATURE

BETTER than breakfast in bed! Universal café delights with its breakfast options. From 10am, the Universal Lounge Bar in Albir offers a bright and tempting range of meals for a hearty start to your day.

From a light continental plate with Havarti cheese, ham and toast, to fried or scrambled eggs with bacon, or a large full English cooked breakfast, the lounge is open from 9.30am until 9pm, every day except Thursday. If you prefer the Spanish style, there are many ways to top your tostada.

The Universal Lounge Bar has also added their own special twist to breakfast. In Belgian and French tradition, there are also freshly baked butter croissants, flaky chocolate pastry rolls, sweet raisin cake and crunchy breakfast cookies. All washed down with a cup of internationally renowned ‘Illy’ coffee, or range of speciality teas.

Owner Alain has operated the bar for 15 years and delights in providing quality and choice for his clients. Specialising in a range of Belgian beers, there’s

also a selection of wines and soft drinks to suit every palate. Compliments flow in for the beautiful range of ‘croque’, which is a type of toasted sandwich and the daily menu includes fresh salads, tapas, pizza and pasta and a wide choice of main dishes.

Don’t forget the Universal Lounge Bar is open on Sunday morning too. It’s the perfect venue for market morning brunch!

Benidorm Palace dazzles The most spectacular shows on the Costa Blanca!

SPEND an unforgettable evening of glamour and sparkle at the Benidorm Palace.

As the best-known and highly praised venue in the area, Benidorm Palace has been enchanting crowds for decades with its stylish and extravagant shows.

Featuring fabulous musical acts, awe-inspiring dance extravaganzas and musicals to rival Broadway, Benidorm Palace also brings comedy and magic to the stage.

The perfect place to plan a romantic evening, with its captivating atmosphere, intimate surroundings and exciting shows, date night will always be a winner here!

Our astonishing shows are complemented by an elegant and delicious menu, prepared with the finest of ingredients. Along with savoury meat and fresh fish dishes, there are vegetarian options and gluten-free choices can be pre-arranged.

Benidorm Palace isn’t just for lovers in the first flush of romance. Whether you’re celebrating a special

birthday, anniversary, or another important occasion, we have it all. We welcome corporate events and group gatherings!

Highly experienced event planners will organise your special occasion, with special packages available to be customised to your individual requirements.

There are special VIP options too, for your comfort and enjoyment. Premium seating and exclusive access can be added to enhance your experience.

In addition to upcoming shows ‘Just My Imagination’ (March 10), ‘Los Secretos’ (March 17) and ‘Time to Shine’ (March 24), the programme features an exciting new event.

The 10 Tenors and Symphony Orchestra are bringing a unique evening of

musical delight to Benidorm Palace on Sunday, April 7. A musical experience like no other, the 10 Tenors and their Symphony Orchestra will immerse you in an exciting journey of sound, from the intimate warmth of a jazz club to the fervour of a grand concert hall. Each performance is a tribute to the perfect harmony between the human voice and the orchestra, creating a show that goes beyond a traditional concert by fusing different genres.

Tenors from Poland, Ukraine, Georgia and other European countries perform in a unique show.

Visit benidorm-palace. com, or call +34 965 851 660/965 851 661 to book. Follow us on social media, to see what exciting new productions are coming.

Dance classes

A GREAT way to have fun, embrace life in Spain and get fitter for summer is to take up dancing. Cuba bar, on Calle Narciso Yepes in Albir, hosts dance classes on weekday evenings.

From Monday to Thursday, the popular and friendly venue runs a programme of classes for beginners and the more experienced, in Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba and Jive. All ages are welcome, and the patient teachers will help show you the steps.

Salsa is a Latin movement style of dance that originated in Cuba, but which does on influences from around the world. Salsa means ‘sauce’ in Spanish and this expressive dance really is a varied combination of ingredients!

Bachata is a kind of music and dance that originated in the dominion Republic. It’s most commonly danced in couples.

Kizomba originated in Angola and

has a slower, more romantic rhythm.

Jive is probably most familiar to many of us. Originating in the United States, it’s an upbeat and energetic dance. It’s worth considering that dancing typically burns more calories than walking or swimming and it’s so much fun, it won’t feel like exercise.

Beam me up Scotty

LEAPY LEE SAYS IT

OTHERS THINK IT

I BELIEVE that to deny other forms of intelligent life exist in the universe is either breathtakingly arrogant or an almost frightening naivity. The human brain is not actually geared to take in the vast numbers of planets and stars, or even conceive the sheer volume of galaxies that exist in the endless expanses that we refer to as ‘space.’

If you could count the grains of sand on this planet of ours, which includes all the deserts and vast depths of our oceans, you still wouldn’t even be coming close to the sheer magnitude of stars that could be capable of sustaining some form of life in the infinite reaches of the universe.

It stands to reason that these beings could be thousands, possibly millions of years in advance of us in intellect and intelligence. To the manifestations existing in these unknown dimensions, travelling through time and space would be a mere bagatelle.

Distances themselves would have no

meaning and even time, as we perceive it, would have ceased to exist. Is it not then perfectly feasible that these advanced races would welcome some time to chill out, in much the same way as we need to occasionally switch off and relax? Vacations and scientific expeditions would, I think be something of a priority in the worlds of these ancient wonders of creation, and I can truly visualise some holistic ‘Happy Holidays’ brochure informing its customers that you can partake of the ‘Grand Planetary Tour,’ which takes in a selection of other worlds at different stages of their evolution.

Naturally, any set of beings advanced enough to have access to this type of holiday, would be far too intelligent to ‘interfere’ with any other primitive races they would be observing on their galaxy cruise. This is why I believe that most of the thousands of UFO sightings reported over the years have probably been glitches or errors on the part of the organisers. (These cheapo travel companies are all the same!)

The wonders of creation are fully intended to be beyond our wildest imagination; but to maintain we are the only

cluster of beings that exist and there are no other ultra-intelligent manifestations ‘out there’ I actually find totally inconceivable! ‘Where shall we go this year darling? Shall we do the Earth, Pluto, Sun all inclusive? Too passé? Well what about a trip down that newly discovered Black Hole’? ‘Ok, that’s a great idea; just make sure we don’t have to isolate when we get there!’

Can’t quite believe one of the latest leaked government recommendations to resolve the illegal immigrant problem is to introduce a prison sentence for those deemed guilty of this ‘offence’. Already hopelessly overcrowded jails cost £45,000 a year to keep one person incarcerated.

This amount could probably be tripled if you take into account the legal fees and court cases that, due to the UK’s ludicrous ‘uman rights policies, would automatically precede any punishment.

Just what planet do these particular political aliens exist on? ‘Beam me up Scotty’.

Keep the faith.

Street Art award

FROM the relics of El Greco to the groundbreaking surrealism of Salvador Dali, Spain is internationally renowned for its art and this year has won almost all of the top 10 places in the Street Art Cities award.

The Galician artist, Hugo Loma (Sfhir), secured first place in the competition with the award for the best mural painting in the world.

Located at 64 Calle Fraga in Fene, A Coruña,

Sfhir had completed his work in the summer of 2023, painting a young woman playing the cello. He said about his work: “It is the result of the dialogue with the landscape, the area, its people and what I want to capture.”

The Fene councillor for Economic Promotion and Tourism, Angelas Coira, congratulated the artist for having achieved an award that, “places Fene on the world map of urban art.”

My home is here

IT’S been 12 years since Nadia moved to Javea from her motherland, Lithuania. She now refers to herself as ‘Javeana’. When asked where she comes from, she replies without thinking, “Spain. Javea.”

NADIA was married with children and a job in the theatre, when she decided to move to Spain. The family searched for a better climate to improve the health of their little son.

She revealed what made Javea so appealing: “With the harmony of Javea, I felt at home in the first second. I understood the town straight away.”

She took on different jobs but had come back to her passion, by chance. “I was visiting Gandia with my kids when I met an organ player and his wife, a violinist. Being a singer, we began collaborating.”

including working in XIC and Lady Elizabeth School.

In terms of adapting, Nadia said it was ‘easy’. “Coming from another European country, we got the residence straight away. I didn’t need to change my driving licence. Everything was easy, like things were just flowing.”

Since then, Nadia performed across Spain, and then moved on to teaching,

When asked whether she missed her homeland, Nadia replied, “I miss simple thingsthe places of my childhood... If I miss places or family, I go back for a few days. Then I find myself counting the days when I’ll be back in Javea. I go to Lithuania for five days at most now. My home is here.”

FINANCE

BUSINESS EXTRA

Soft touch

NINETY-SEVEN firms bailed out by then-Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s £1.1bn (€1.28bn) pandemic fund set up to provide emergency funding missed repayment deadlines. All were granted extensions to three-year loans as stricter terms could push them, and hundreds of other small companies, into bankruptcy.

Fish fury

SPAIN’S fishing industry joined protests organised by the country’s farmers and agricultural growers. “We want to draw attention to the sector’s complaints, including EU policies obsessed with the environment,” said Javier Garat, secretary general of the Spanish Fishing Confederation (Cepesca) .

Lady at peril

VENERABLE but outdated

magazine The Lady could disappear after HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) issued a winding-up petition against the publication owing to back taxes of £360,000 (€420,844). Owner and publisher Ben Budworth insisted that he had stuck to the agreed HMRC repayment plan “to the penny.”

Glovo respite

FOLLOWING appeals, the National High Court in Madrid has given delivery platform Glovo breathing space by putting on hold fines amounting to more than €67 million. All the sanctions that were imposed between November 2023 and January 2024 were linked to riders’ previous ‘false self-employed’ status.

Shein shoo-in

FAST fashion firm Shein could cancel plans for a $90 billion (€83.2 billion) float in New York and look to London instead. ‘The Chinese retail giant is increasingly drawn to the UK owing to the legal and regulatory challenges of listing in the US’, according to anonymous sources quoted by Bloomberg.

€46.72 billion STAT OF WEEK

in recently-confirmed subsidies from Brussels will be paid to Spain through the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) between 2023 and 2027.

Food inflation dips

FOOD inflation in the UK sank to its lowest in almost two years last February.

Lower energy costs and a price war between supermarket chains offered meat, fish, and fruit that rose by 5 per cent in the second month of 2024, compared with 6.1 per cent in February 2023.

Food inflation is still rising, but its present rate is reassuringly lower than the double figures prompted by the energy crisis that has fuelled soaring inflation since 2022.

February’s rate was the lowest since May 2022, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) shop price

index revealed, with a 0.1 per cent monthly reduction that was the first since September 2023.

“This was driven by eased input costs for energy and fertiliser while retailers competed fiercely to

keep prices down,” Helen Dickinson, the BRC’s chief executive said.

Falling wholesale gas prices were reflected in household energy bills as the industry regulator Ofgem said that its price

Naturgy surge

SPANISH power company Naturgy’s net profit rose to €1.99 billion in 2023, outstripping a London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) prediction of €1.94 billion.

The former Gas Natural Fenosa, which is Spain’s principal gas-supply company and its fourth most-important electricity company, submitted figures to the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) that were 20.4 per cent higher than 2023’s.

Bridgwater plum

TATA GROUP, India’s largest conglomerate, confirmed Bridgwater (Somerset) as the location for a £4 billion (€4.68 billion) battery factory.

The plant on land near the M5 would bring approximately 4,000 jobs to the area, said Tom Flack, chief executive of Tata’s battery division, Agratas.

Bridgwater was widely backed for the factory after Tata revealed in July 2023 that it would build a gigafactory in the UK after securing £500 million €584.8 million) in subsidies from the UK government.

Tata Motors and Jaguar Land Rover, which is owned by Tata, would be the first customers for the batteries, Agratas sources said.

Naturgy had just finished one of its best-ever years despite normalised energy prices, chairman Francisco Reynes announced. Nor did the company rule out acquisitions inside Spain and abroad, so long as these did not compromise plans to invest in the energy transition, mainly in Spain.

There would be “a special focus” on renewable electricity generation and developing renewable gases, he said, while strengthening all of Naturgy’s

Grifols fights back

THE National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) is scrutinising recently-submitted information from Grifols.

Since January 2024, the Barcelona-based pharmaceuticals company has been under attack from Gotham City Research, accused of false accounting although CNMV chairman Rodrigo Buenaventura revealed that they were also examining the short-seller’s own operations.

Gotham City’s allegations, first made in January 2024, have been responsible for demolishing Grifols’ market value by billions of euros despite the company’s continued rebuttals.

“We still need a few more weeks to complete our analysis,” Buenaventura announced to the Spanish media when presenting the CNMV’s programme for 2024 at the end of February.

cap - the maximum price which suppliers can charge for each kilowatt hour of energy that customers use – would fall by 12 per cent to £1,690 (€1,975.7) in April.

There was no change to non-food inflation which remained at 1.3 per cent in February, 0.7 per cent down on January, with an increase in the cost of furniture, electronics, health products and cosmetics offset by falling prices for clothes as retailers maintained special promotions.

Overall, February’s 2.5 per cent shop price inflation, compared with 2.9 per cent in January, was the lowest in almost two years, the BRC said.

distribution networks.

At the same time, Reynes avoided providing a 2024 forecast owing to the energy markets’ “extreme volatility” and the possibility of “unexpected weather conditions.”

Doubled up

FERROVIAL reported net profits of €460 million in 2023, compared with €186 million in 2022.

Revenue for the Spanish infrastructure multinational also rose by 13.2 per cent to €8.5 billion last year.

The “very good 2023 performance” was aided by motorway concessions in the US and Canada, Ferrovial’s chief executive Ignacio Madridejos said on February 27.

Texas Managed Lanes and the Ontario Highway 407 in Canada were principal dividend contributors, owing to increased traffic, Madridejos said.

Ferrovial disconcerted the Spanish government and surprised investors with its announcement in March 2022 that it was relocating its headquarters to the Netherlands.

The move, it said, would make it easier to list its shares on the New York stock exchange while expanding its operations and investor base in the US.

That’s rich

THE wealth of Spain’s richest residents increased by 16.1 per cent in 2023 to a total of €320.5 billion, 81 per cent more than in 2013.

According to ‘Spain’s 200 richest people’ compiled by national daily El Mundo, 84 of them watched their fortunes grow by double figures and for 36 the increase topped 20 per cent. Only 30 per cent saw their assets shrink, El Mundo found.

Inevitably, the list was headed by Inditex founder Amancio Ortega, whose fortune soared by 53 per cent to €93.9 billion in 2023.

Game over Bidding war

BRITISH haulier Wincanton is in the sights of both France’s Ceva Logistics and GXO Logistics from the US.

Ceva has upped its original £600 million (€701.2 million) offer to £802 million (€937.2 million) but could be pipped by GXO, although Wincanton’s board allegedly prefer a deal with the French company.

Meanwhile, Wincantonwhich transports groceries for Sainsbury’s and Morrisons - is obliged under the Takeover Code to provide the new suitor with due diligence information, to assist it in deciding whether to make a rival offer.

SONY will dismiss 8 per cent of its PlayStation employees worldwide, affecting 900 jobs.

PlayStation’s London Studio is to close entirely, the company confirmed.

In an email to employees, PlayStation’s chief executive and chairman, Jim Ryan, described the move as “sad news” and said it was “a difficult day” at the company.

The staff cuts follow rival Microsoft’s decision to lay off 1,900 of its gaming division staff, including those at Activision-Blizzard which it acquired in October 2023.

Euro

EUR/GBP: Unchanged at £0.85

EUR/USD: Down from $1.08 to $1.07

A dovish shift by the European Central Bank has acted as a key headwind for the euro in recent weeks. With many ECB policymakers offering their thoughts on when the bank should begin cutting interest rates.

The single currency’s strong negative correlation with the US dollar also applied pressure to EUR exchange rates through February, amid strong demand for the greenback.

Conversely a modest improvement in some eurozone data releases lent some support to the euro.

Looking ahead, EUR investors will be laser focused on the ECB’s next interest rate decision. While no policy changes are expected next month, if the bank hints it is getting closer to

cutting interest rates, the euro is likely to nosedive.

Pound

GBP/EUR: Unchanged at €1.16

GBP/USD: Down from $1.27 to $1.26

The pound fluctuated through February, as the Bank of England’s latest interest rate decision and some mixed economic data infused volatility into the currency.

The BoE’s first policy meeting saw the bank push back against rate cut speculation, but also drop its pretence that its next move could be a rate hike.

In terms of data, Sterling briefly surged in response to an upbeat jobs report, with GBP/ EUR even spiking to an 18-month high. However, these gains were quickly reversed, after a weaker-than-expected inflation print, and confirmation the UK slipped into a recession in the

second half of 2023, stoked BoE rate cut speculation.

The coming month will see Chancellor Jeremy Hunt unveil his Spring Budget. GBP investors will be hoping for growth boosting tax cuts, potentially leaving the pound vulnerable to losses if they do not materialise.

US Dollar

USD/GBP: Up from £0.78 to

£0.79

USD/EUR: Up from €0.91 to €0.92

The US dollar enjoyed strong support over the past month as the Federal Reserve strongly pushed back against interest rate speculation.

The Fed firmly ruled out a rate cut in March following its first policy meeting of the year. While subsequent comments from Fed Chair Jerome Powell

propelled USD exchange rates to new multi-month highs as he further pushed back on rate cut bets.

The US dollar was also supported by upbeat US data. With surprisingly strong payrolls and inflation prints bolstering USD demand.

With a March rate cut no longer on the cards, USD investors will be keeping a close eye on upcoming US data releases as they attempt to gauge when the Fed is likely to start loosening its policy. If US data continues to impress this is likely to price out a May rate cut and underpin the US dollar.

Currencies Direct have helped over 430,000 customers save on their currency transfers since 1996. Just pop into your local Currencies Direct branch or give us a call to find out more about how you can save money on your currency transfers.

Health risks

ULTRA-PROCESSED foods, including biscuits, cakes, and sweets, have become mainstays in diets worldwide, yet their impact on health is increasingly concerning. These items are characterised by high levels of additives, preservatives, and artificial ingredients, undergoing extensive processing that depletes nutritional value while loading them with sugars, fats, and salts. The convenience and irresistible taste of such snacks and desserts mask the significant health risks they pose.

Regular consumption of biscuits, cakes, and sweets, along with other ultra-processed foods, is linked to several health problems. These range from obesity and heart disease to type 2 diabetes, largely due to their high caloric content and poor nutritional quality.

Furthermore, the chemicals and preservatives they contain can contribute to inflammation and elevate cancer risk over time. The minimal presence of fibre and essential nutrients in these foods also adversely affects gut health, disrupting metabolism and weakening immune function.

Restore hormonal balance

BIODENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY (BHRT) is a treatment suitable for men and women to help restore the hormonal balance by mimicking those that the human body produces naturally such as progesterone, estradiol or testosterone.

Many individuals who undergo BHRT report improvements in energy levels, mental clarity, mood stability, and overall vitality, significantly enhancing their ability to enjoy life as they age.

What can BHRT help with?

Energy levels: Help address fatigue and boost energy levels by restoring hormonal balance.

Memory: Positively impact memory and cognitive function.

Sleep: Alleviate symptoms related to abnormal sleep patterns and disturbances such as night sweats.

Bones: BHRT helps maintain bone health by addressing hormonal deficiencies associated with osteoporosis.

Skin: Hormonal changes or deficiencies can impact skin health. BHRT, contributes to healthier skin by restoring normal hormonal balance.

Muscles: Hormones play a major role in muscle health. BHRT potentially supports muscle strength and function.

Mood: Balanced hormones positively influence mood and emotional well-being.

Sex Life: Sexual symptoms related to hormonal imbalances, such as reduced interest in sex. painful intercourse or erectile dysfunction can be rectified.

Appointments Landline: 965 837 553 / 965 837 851 • 24H/365D Emergency Number: (+34) 607 255 755 • Opening Times: Mon - Fri: 9:00am / 5:00pm

Clinica Britannia Calpe

Av. Ejercitos Españoles 16 BIS, 1st Floor, Calpe

Skin streaming

SKIN streaming is the latest trend in the beauty realm, focused on a minimalist approach to skincare. Eschewing the complex multi-step routines that have dominated for years, skin streaming advocates for a pared-down regimen that involves using fewer products that serve multiple purposes.

This concept is not just about decluttering your vanity but is rooted in the belief that using fewer products can actually benefit the skin, allowing it to function naturally without the stress of processing a plethora of ingredients.

The philosophy behind skin streaming is to use versatile, high-quality formulations that deliver more than one benefit, effectively reducing the need for a separate toner, serum, moisturiser, and the like. Proponents argue that this streamlined process can lead to a stronger skin barrier, better hydration, and an overall healthier complexion. By focusing on the essentials, skin streaming is quickly becoming a byword for efficiency and simplicity in skincare, resonating with those who seek both efficacy and ease in their daily routines.

Fewer products can actually benefit the skin.

Bone scan

OSTEOPOROSIS is a ‘silent disease’ that causes bones to weaken, becoming more susceptible to fractures even from minimal impact, occurring gradually over many years without your knowledge. So, the only way to know how strong your bones are is to have a scan known as a bone densitometry scan as until about the age of 30, we produce bone faster than we lose it, but around the age of 40 it tends to plateau.

After this time, the reverse is true and bone mass declines and for women this bone loss is particularly accelerated during the menopause.

status in the heel). The patient will receive the results immediately from the specialist performing the test.

The Achilles bone density test is a non-invasive test that offers a quick and affordable

way for an initial osteoporosis assessment and the risk of bone fractures. The exam is quick and comfortable and is performed with the patient seated with one foot placed on the Footplate. The machine uses high frequency sound waves to evaluate the os calcis (bone

Remember it is never too early to start looking after your bones so book your Achilles

Bone density test here at Clinica Britannia as soon as possible.

Contact us at CLINICA BRITANNIA on 965 837 553 / 965 837 851 to see if this is a viable treatment option for you.

AS spring heralds the awakening of nature, the fragrance world blooms with scents that capture the essence of the season. The best springtime perfumes are those that embody the fresh, floral, and invigorating spirit of these months of renewal. Citrus notes like bergamot and grapefruit offer a zes-

Perfect colour Perfume of spring

ty freshness, reminiscent of the first crisp mornings of the season.

Floral heart notes such as jasmine, rose, and lilac evoke the blossoming gardens and soft petals dusted with dew.

Woody base notes, meanwhile, ground the fragrances with a whisper

of earthiness, hinting at the budding trees and fertile soil.

The ideal spring fragrance is light yet complex, a delicate balance that mirrors the gentle unfolding of spring itself. It’s a scent that lingers like a soft breeze, leaving a trail of anticipation.

Jellyfish haircut

THE TikTok generation has ushered in an era of daring and imaginative haircuts, leaving behind the days when bangs were the height of boldness. Among these avant-garde styles is the jellyfish haircut, a style that visually mimics its namesake with a voluminous top layer and cascading, tentacle-like strands below.

Drawing inspiration from the traditional Japanese hime cut, the jellyfish haircut marries a blunt bob with the rebellious spirit of a mullet. The result is a striking dichotomy: a sharp, blunt cut above gives way to flowing, textured lengths beneath, creating a dramatic and segmented look. This hairstyle has gained momentum on TikTok, following the footsteps of the mixie and shullet, offering a versatile canvas for personal expression. It allows for experimentation with texture, shape, and length, leading to unique interpretations as flaunted by celebrities like Nicole Kidman and Kerry Washington.

CHOOSING the perfect lipstick shade can be a subtle yet powerful statement of personal style, especially for women over 65. The timeless elegance of berry shades comes into play here, offering a spectrum of hues from berry-berry to soft pinkish berry tints. These shades are not only universally flattering but also exude a sophisticated warmth that complements the mature skin beautifully. For those with a warm-toned complexion, berry-colored lipsticks are indispensable. They bring a vibrant yet natural flush of color that enhances the skin’s golden undertones. Plum and berry tones, with their rich depth, are versatile enough to flatter any skin tone, providing a look that’s both classic and captivating.

Dental Insurance plan

DENTISTRY in the UK has become almost non existent, impossible to get an appointment. We have so many patients travel here to get treatment.

They all have a similar fear that they may lose their registration, as our database of patients is phenomenal.

So we have decided to introduce a monthly insurance plan for peace of mind, similar to those in the UK such as Denplan.

Our scheme will be a monthly payment of €14 per person.

This will entitle the holder of the policy to have priority treatment including two exams, two scale and polishes and routine X-rays a year. When we all worked in the UK, we found these plans work very well as it encourages patients to maintain their check-ups and cleans due to

the fact they are paying monthly, and it’s such a low cost amount you don’t even notice it.

We will develop more comprehensive plans in the future which will include discounts on fillings, crowns and bridges.

‘WORK from Ollolai’ is an exciting initiative from the tiny town of Sardinia, Italy.

Ollolai, hidden in the beautiful Mediterranean landscape, is home to fewer than 1,300 people and is known for its innovative approach.

Unlike the famous 1 Euro Houses programme, ‘Work from Ollolai’ invites remote workers to stay in one or two-bedroom apartments in local homes for just €1.

Ollolai oasis

Originally planned for a month, the programme can now be extended by agreement.

But it’s not just about affordable housing. The

Pint-sized pathway

DESPITE its grand name, the Marco International Bridge is actually the world’s smallest international bridge.

It stretches over the Abrilongo stream, which marks the border between Portugal and Spain, in the village of Marco, also called El Marco in Spanish. This tiny bridge is only six metres long and 1.45 metres wide, meant for pedestrians and cyclists only. Its small size allows for quick crossings, especially because there are no passport checks due to both countries being in the Schengen Area.

Whether it’s a footbridge or not, this border has never truly separated the two villages.

Even before the Schengen Agreement, locals from both sides crossed the river using a makeshift bridge made of planks.

Smuggling between Portugal and Spain was common practice: the Portuguese sold coffee and towels to the Spanish, who in turn sold knives and wine. When border checks were removed, the makeshift bridge became official. In the 1990s, handrails were added to make it safer.

ADVERTISING FEATURE

town council wants to create a lively exchange between remote workers and locals.

Professionals and entrepreneurs with multiple years of experience, in professional services such as in the field of technology, media, finance, real estate, architecture, etc, are strongly encouraged to apply.

Professional artists, writers, musicians, scientists, and academics in general are also encouraged to apply.

The goal of this programme is to bring high professionals to live and experience the way of life of Sardinia, in exchange for a knowledge share in the form of contributions from the guests offering lectures, presentations, or projects.

For more information or to apply, head to the website: workfromollolai. com.

Women’s Day

Women’s Week

THE European Union of Women collaborates with the town council of Benitachell to celebrate International Women’s Day.

The EUOW is an organisation aimed at empowering women across the EU.

Programme of the week

March 4

Dance Exhibition by Pam Small, followed by the inauguration of the exhibitions ‘Fotodona 2024’ and ‘Retrospectiva 2014-2024’ by the artist Teresa Fons.

March 5

At the Social Centre, walk through the Les Fonts park with the Associacion de Dones (Women’s Association).

March 6

A poetry recital by Magdalena Sanchez Blesa, accompanied by the music of Anna Bas i Cruanyes and Vicent Mut Abellan.

March 7

4.30pm, Social Centre. Games and dancing with the Associacion de Dones.

March 8

10 am, the Social Centre.

A talk by the EUOW Marina Alta - ‘Stories of young women of different ages and nationalities’.

5.30 pm - A screening of three short films for children and young people.

10pm, the Pesqueres Square Tent - a theatre play, ‘Nora. Casa de Muñecas’ by Melpomene Teatro.

March 9

11.30am, Municipal Library.

A storytelling session, ‘Adventa Valenta’.

2pm, the Pesqueres Square Tent - Sisterhood lunch with Associacion de Dones.

7pm, the Church SquareWomen and Music Concert for Women performed by El Poble Nou de Benitachell.

March 10

5pm, Pesqueres Square Tent.

Dance Exhibition of ballet and contemporary dance by the sports schools of El Poble Nou de Benitachell.

• News Across The Regions •

Costa del Sol Going viral

COSTA DEL SOL Tourism’s ‘Shout my name’ campaign has gone viral and reached over 40 million people in only two weeks.

The campaign, aimed mainly at young people, especially the Z generation, has a very prominent presence in digital media and social networks. According to Costa del Sol Tourism data, the campaign has reached this impressive figure in just two weeksand equates to an advertising value of €500,000. In addition, the social paid strategy has reached more than 400,000 users plus almost 40,000 plays on Spotify.

In the video that focuses on a ‘road trip’ of experiences through the province: the emblematic tourism of Torremolinos and the symbolic Pez Espada hotel, a starry night in the Torcal de Antequera, the caves of El Gato and El Tesoro and passing under the arch of Marbella in a convertible.

Axarquia Donation to Cudeca

THE current Chairman of 41 Club Nerja, Dr Brian Karet, a retired GP from Yorkshire, this year nominated Cudeca as the Club’s charity.

Cudeca, formed from the Spanish words CUidados DE CAncer, (Carers for Cancer) or the Palliative Care Centre in Benalmadena, have fundraising shops along the Costa and inland, including one in Nerja.

Dr Karet, regional manager of Cudeca shops said “41 Clubs have a long tradition of supporting smaller local charities which benefit local people.”

Lesley Karet said “I work in the Nerja shop and we are always grateful to people who donate things that we can sell for charity.”

Cudeca was founded in 1991 by Joan Hunt and by 1993 the first Cudeca centre was opened.

Contact: 41@41clubnerja.org

Mallorca Stride forward

REGISTRATION for the 2024 Walk Against Cancer is now officially open, offering an opportunity for individuals across Mallorca to unite in the fight against cancer. Organised by Cancer Support Mallorca, participants have until March 31 to sign up, with the first 150 adults and 50 children receiving a complimentary t-shirt and a choice of a bag or bottle.

This year, the event champions personal fitness goals, encouraging participants to walk, run, cycle, or swim according to their own targets, whether it’s 10,000 steps daily or a cumulative 100,000 steps within the month. By signing up on the Cancer Support Mallorca website, participants will also receive guidance on fundraising to further support cancer research and aid.

Almeria Mojacar celebrates

MOJACAR celebrated Andalucia Day 2024 with the raising of the Andalucian flag in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento in the presence of councillors and many members of the public.

Mayor Francisco García Cerdá had the honour of undertaking the official flag raising while the Municipal Band performed the Andalucian anthem on February 28.

The council arranged for the preparation of a huge paella and all present were invited to enjoy a free plateful as part of the celebration. The day was completed with a performance of ‘Sangre Flamenca’ and many considered that the celebration in Mojacar hit all of the right notes.

Prior to this on February 27, some 350 local schoolchildren were invited to enjoy a typical ‘Andalucian Breakfast’ of bread, tomato and olive oil whilst dressed in typical Andalucian costume.

Costa Blanca South Torrevieja’s winner

IN honour of International Women’s Day on March 8, Torrevieja is proud to announce Josefa Carmona Melgarejo as the recipient of the City’s Award 2024.

This prestigious accolade recognises her remarkable personal and professional journey, spanning a lifetime of dedication and commitment.

Josefa is not only deeply cherished and admired by her community but also continues to make significant contributions to the city.

The Women’s Award is bestowed upon outstanding local women who exemplify excellence in their personal and professional endeavours, demonstrating exceptional effort, social engagement, and positive impact on the community.

The awards ceremony on Friday, March 8, at 8.00pm will be held at the Virgen del Carmen Cultural Centre.

Costa Calida Snow at last

ON March 2, a cold front left the northwest region of Murcia covered in a snowy blanket. Several towns woke up to a winter wonderland after overnight precipitation, accompanied by a sharp drop in temperatures.

Local businesses that rely on snowfall during the winter to attract tourists have faced challenges this year due to unseasonably high temperatures. The cold weather is expected to attract visitors eager to experience the snowfall.

Temperatures in the northwest dipped close to 0 degrees Celsius early in the morning, with Moratalla recording the lowest temperature at 1.4ºC and Caravaca de la Cruz at 2.1ºC. The chill also reached Murcia and the Vega del Segura, where, after surpassing 20 degrees during the day, temperatures plummeted to below 10 degrees at midnight.

Beniconnect gears up for a busy summer

ONE well-known local business is anticipating a bumper holiday season in 2024!

Beniconnect is a family-run business that just gets more and more popular. With a wealth of experience in getting people where they’re going, and offering a wide range of services, it’s no wonder Beniconnect is the name everyone knows.

With airport and train station transfers, the company operates a number of routes connecting customers with multiple destinations.

A smart fleet of Mercedes people carriers make for a safe and comfortable journey. Beniconnect’s extensive fleet of vehicles cater for groups of all sizes and their offices are open seven days a week, all year round.

No matter from where, or what time you’re arriving, Beniconnect will have a service to safely and comfortably meet your needs. The

uniformed staff at the meet and greet desks at Alicante airport are easily recognisable and the services are all clearly signposted, so there’s no need to worry about wandering around trying to find your connection.

Many of the company’s vehicles include adaptations and hoisting platforms for customers who may struggle with mobility. Drivers are trained and experienced in assisting customers with multiple and complex needs. Child se-

curity is not overlooked either, with all buses now fitted with the Kidy Bus Harness system, for children from 15 to 25kg. There is no need to worry about getting in touch with friends and family either, or making arrangements on the go, as all vehicles have

free Wi-Fi available for passengers.

In addition to their specialist training, drivers are smartly turned out and the vehicles themselves are spotlessly clean and regularly maintained with an eye to safety as standard. They are the only company currently offering airport transfers to and from the Marina Alta and Marina Baja areas in the Costa Blanca too, making everything run easily and smoothly.

In addition to all this, private tranfers can be organised upon request and late bookings can be accommodated. Beniconnect are able to design transfers to customers’ requirements and there are special offers available for those booking on line at the website below. The best known and most recommended service for your transport needs all over the Costa Blanca!

www.beniconnect.com

Tel. (+34) 965 850 790

UK: 012 730 379 52

Beniconnect routes are as follows: The ALITREN Connect, which collects customers from and delivers them to Alicante Train Station. Serving Benidorm, Albir, Altea and Calpe.

From Alicante Airport: The EXPRESS 4 Connect (4 stops maximum), serving La Cala de Finestrat, , Villajoyosa, Benidorm and Albir.

The EXPRESS 6 Connect (6 stops maximum), connecting Alfas del Pi, Altea and La Nucia.

The ECONOMY Connect, stopping in La Cala de Finestrat, Benidorm and Albir.

The COSTA Connect, covers Calpe, Benissa Costa, Moraira, Benitachell, Javea, La Xara and Denia.

PETS

Dog poisoned by a diffuser

DOG owner Debra Lansdowne has discovered a potential source of poisoning for dogs which neither she nor many others were aware of and so, she has shared her story.

“One night I returned home late and my dog didn’t seem to recognise me but I thought that perhaps I had woken him up and he was having a night terror.

The following day he was still acting weirdly and remembered that I had been running my new diffuser and decided to turn it off and happily by the afternoon he seemed to be much better.

Then the next day, my dog sitter contacted me at work to say that he wouldn’t come out from under the bed which was very odd as he is generally a very happy dog.

I came home from work early and once again he seemed very confused about who I was so I took him to an emergency vet.

It turns out that the tea tree oil I was using in the diffuser is toxic for dogs.

Fortunately the test showed that his liver was ok but we weren’t out of the woods yet and he was

Meet Bennie the Corgi

KEEPING your pets at home when you travel can give you real peace of mind. Our house and pet-sitters can also entertain your pets and keep them company while you are away. And they pet-sit for free. Rated 4.9 / 5.0 on TrustPilot.

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given fluids under his skin to get the toxins out. The vet and the poison control are saying that they see these cases often now that the popularity of essential oil is growing so please make sure that the essential oils you are burning are not toxic for your pets.”

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Here is a long list of essential oils not to use if you have a dog at home:

Anise (Pimpinella anisum)

Birch (Betula)

Bitter Almond (Prunus dulcis)

Boldo (Peumus boldus)

Calamus (Acorus calamus)

Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora)

Cassia (Cassia fistula)

Chenopodium (Chenopodium album)

Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum)

Garlic (Allium sativum)

Goosefoot (Chenopodium murale)

Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana)

Hyssop (Hyssopus sp. with the exception of Decumbens)

Juniper (Juniperus sp. with the exception of Juniper Berry)

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)

Mustard (Brassica juncea)

Oregano (Origanum vulgare)

Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)

Red or White Thyme

Rue (Ruta graveolens)

Santolina (Santolina chamaecyparissus)

Sassafras (Sassafras albidum)

Savory (Satureja)

Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)

Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia)

Terebinth (Pistacia palaestina)

Thuja (Thuja occidentalis)

Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens)

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

CLASSIFIEDS

APPLIANCE REPAIRS

WASHING MACHINE

BROKEN? Call Bluesky Repairs for ALL your domestic appliance repairs. 626 430 671 (WhatsApp) (305215)

ARCHITECTS

BUGGY TOURS

BUY & SELL

PRIVATE collector will buy your Gold, Rolex & Patek

Philippe Watches Tel - 678 716 693 (288662)

I BUY RECORDS 50s to the 90s. Best prices for good records. Tel: 622 750 117 / 962 851 809 (304500)

CARE HOME

PRIVATE CARE HOME

Full Board and Care. Also, Dementia care. British Owned near Alicante. Luxurious Villa. €1,200 per month. Call 747 438 225 (305146)

CHARITY

EL CAMPELLO CHRISTIAN

COMMUNITY – Life and Family Sunday Service at 11 a.m. Bilingual (English and Spanish) at San Bartolome, 35 (Bajo No. 6), El Campello.

For more information visit www.elcampellochristian community.org, email campellocc@gmail.com or call Juan Zúñiga –686203183 (Spanish) or Jim Eaton - 680594134 (English). (233602)

THE SALVATION ARMY

English Speaking Church of Denia Worship Service. Sunday 10.30am followed by a time of Fellowship. Everyone is welcome. Come as you are! For more information: Dieter Zimmerer +34 698 609 658 or Barbara Zimmerer +34 652 319 810 Email dieterzimmerer@hotmail. com, www.centrosaron.com (10008) ww.helpbenidorm. org and on Facebook VOLUNTEERS NEEDED, particularly if you speak Spanish, and have a car (although this is not essential). Tel President 607 387 040. We are an English-speaking charity that assists residents and tourists of all nationalities in times of crisis. We meet every Thursday at 11am in Jose Llorca Social Centre C. Goya s/n. Benidorm. We loan out mobility and medical equipment including oxygen concentrators on a short-term basis. (288658)

THE AIRCREW ASSOCIA

TION COSTA BLANCA

This association, formed in 1988, exists to foster comradeship amongst those who, having been awarded an official flying badge, have qualified to operate military aircraft and are serving or have served, as military aircrew in the armed forces of the United Kingdom or those nations which are allies of the United Kingdom or the Commonwealth. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN JOINING THIS POPULAR ASSOCIATION, CALL the Secretary on 966 495 228. (295990)

52

THE ALFAZ SPIRITUAL FRIENDS CENTRE OFFER A WARM WELCOME AT ‘THE COMM’ - (EX THE FORUM/ MARE NOSTRUM) CAMINO DEL PINCHO 2, L’ALFAZ DEL PI, 03580 ALICANTE. VISITING MEDIUM EVERY WEEK - SERVICE STARTS 6.30PM EVERY THURSDAY. CONTACT DOT 634 320 013. EMAIL  dorothydorothy 608@gmail. com (295995)

ELECTRICIAN

MB ELECTRICS. Appro ved electrician. Any electrical repair. Iberdrola paperwork. Affordable prices. Miquel 655 282 175 www.mbelectrics.es (302561)

GENERAL MAINTENANCE

ALL METAL WORK AND MOBILE WELDING. +44 7787 585 714 (302963)

GOLD WANTED

HEALTH & BEAUTY

WIGS

WWW.WIGS-R-US.ES Iindoor market, Rincon De Loix Benidorm. Monday to Friday 10 -4pm Sat 10 –3pm scrunchies, ponytails, toppers, fascinators, headwear etc. Private appts after 3 pm 681 049 502 (304723)

INSURANCE

FED UP OF NOT BEING SENT YOUR RENEWAL? CUT YOUR INSURANCE

COSTS AND STILL HAVE 100% COVER. YOU HAVE TRIED THE REST NOW TRY THE BEST WITH SOS INSURANCE. WE CAN EVEN INSURE YOU FOR UP TO A €1,000 OF WATERLOSS. CALL 686 116 297 (WHATSAPP TOO) OR VISIT www. sosinsuranceinspain. com or email tracey@ sosinsuranceinspain. com (305189)

BENEFICIAL INSURANCE SERVICES. Car, Home, Business, Travel, Life, Funeral, all insurances available. Policies in English. BEST rates, covers & service. Immediate quotes. Tel 961 129 215 / 622 275 561, (WhatsApp) info@be neficialinsuranceinspain. com or visit www.benefi cialinsuranceinspain.com for online quote. (304738)

MOTOR INSURANCE

For the most competitive quotes in English call Linea Directa on 952 147 834, you could save as much as 30% and you can transfer your existing no claims bonus. Call Linea Directa on 952 147 834 for motor insurance with a human voice in English from Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm and save money now! (200726)

STAY SAFE! Abbeygate Insurance Call 971 277 455 For your security www. abbeygateinsure.com

MASSAGE

FRENCH, ELÉGANTE, SLIM SOPHIE, 3 languages spoken. Experienced in a large variety of full body massages. Villamartin apartment or can travel to all areas. 693 357 526 (302810)

RELAX CENTRE in BENIDORM - Excellent atmosphere. Expert Masseuses. 24/7 Outcalls - Telephone: 603 324 564 (305206)

7 - 13 March 2024

NATURIST male gives relaxing massage. Half price 1st time offer €25. For men and women. Private premises in Jávea, WhatsApp Rob on 613 831 380 (305161)

RELAXING Massage for Men & Couples. Feel free from tension & stress Call Dany 603 202 758 (305384)

METALWORK

AUTO BASTIAN mobile mechanic. Tel 608 860 725. (301489)

WE are currently the market leader in our country in the sale of direct car, motorbike, home and company fleet insurance. Since we started out in 1995, our philosophy has always been to offer an excellent service with the best prices in the market. For the most competitive quotes in English, call Linea Directa on 952 147 834. (200726)

NURSING

MISCELLANEOUS

GOLD & SILVER Bought & Sold, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches Tel - 678 716 693 (288662)

MOTORBIKES

PETER ZWAAN MOTOR BIKES, A+ Occasions Showroom, Suzuki Burgman 400 (cc) ABS , yr. 2016, 12.000 kms, E 4.900,= CostaBlancaMotorbikes. com (304978)

MOTORING

OTHERS

VIAGRA / KAMAGRA / CIALIS. BEST PRICES. FREE DISCREET DELIVERY. ALL AREAS COVERED. TEL: PETER 644 139 274 (305142)

EDS?  We have the solution Kamagra pills & jells, Cialis , Sidenafil, over 7 products for men & ladies, mixed trial packs. Available by mail-order. WhatsApp or call 603 117 394

PAINTERS/DECORATORS

DECORATORS W.D. GILMOUR. Painter & Decorator. Established 35 years in Moraira. ESTIMATES FREE. Call William on 609 691 776 or 966 490 602 (304180)

PETS

NEED YOUR PETS TAKEN CARE OF? Not kennels, just a friendly home. Large fenced area. 699 790 080 Altea

BEAUTIFUL & Healthy

BICHON FRISE puppy available from responsible breeder. Contact 653 757 768 (305310)

Wags & Whiskers professional dog groomer. Studio in Calpe but can collect and drop off your pet. Areas cover Calpe, Benissa, Moraira, Altea. Prices from 25 euros . Call telephone: 633 518 685. Or find us on Facebook wags & whiskers grooming. (305148)

PROPERTY

WHITE SAND HOMES

REAL ESTATE. Trusted professional property services for buyers and sellers: 673 557 824 (304326)

PROPERTY WANTED

RETIRED couple looking for long term rental in La Marina Baixa - prefer two beds. Needed urgently - call Janice on 0044 7736 251 800 (279523)

REMOVALS/STORAGE

BENIDORM and surrounding areas. Two-man removal. 622 658 992 (303512)

MAN & VAN for hire, cheap & reliable. Jalon Valley & surrounding area. Call/Whatsapp 636 100 873 (305139)

ROLLER SHUTTERS

ROLLER SHUTTER RE PAIRS, awnings, motors, mosquito blinds. Calpe + 50 kms. 659 464 992 www. toldosalchemy.com (303757)

SITUATIONS VACANT

BLUE SQUARE REAL ESTATE is currently searching for Sales Executives to work in the Denia / Oliva area. A training package is provided and excellent incentives. Multilingual candidates, Spanish, French, Dutch and German are sought after. Please email hr@ blue-square.com your CV

STRUCTURAL SURVEYS

MARK PADDON BSc Hons. MCIOB, CAAT – for buyer’s survey & defects advice. Tel: 653 733 066 / 962 807 247 www.costablancasurveyors. com (294251)

WANTED

WANTED Gold, Silver, Rolex & Patek Philippe Watches

Tel - 678 716 693 (288662)

BROKEN or unwanted gold jewellery, watches or coins. IMMEDIATE Cash Payment. Call Peter 617 550 016 (303567)

If you can read it, so can your clients. Contact us and have your business grow at + 34 951 386 161

INSURANCE

EMBARKING on the journey of car repair can often seem daunting, but being armed with the right knowledge can transform this into a smooth and transparent process. Firstly, it’s paramount to choose a reputable garage.

Recommendations from friends or family, coupled with online reviews, can guide you to a trustworthy service provider. Ensure the garage is certified, indicating that mechanics have met specified standards of training and professionalism.

Before handing over your keys, clearly communicate your car’s issues and your expectations.

A detailed conversation can prevent misunderstandings and ensure the diagnosis aligns with your observations. It’s also wise to request a written estimate, outlining the proposed repairs and their costs.

This not only keeps surprises at bay but

The right garage

also facilitates comparing quotes if you wish to shop around. Inquire about warranties on the repairs to understand the assurance on the work and parts used.

Transparency is key; a reputable garage should

willingly explain the necessity of each repair and the process involved.

Lastly, understand your rights as a consumer.

This includes agreeing on the scope of work

before commencement and knowing the policy on unexpected repairs. Being informed empowers you to make decisions that are best for you and your vehicle, ensuring a fair and satisfactory garage experience.

Skoda adds luxurious edge to Enyaq range

TEST

SKODA is expanding its Enyaq range with the addition of a new L&K model. Introduced as part of a wide-ranging model year update the new variant becomes the first L&K mo del to be powered solely by electric.

Before we delve into this latest Enyaq have you ever won dered where Skoda get the L&K de signation for their top mo dels? With 120 years of history, SKODA is one of the oldest auto motive manufacturers in the world. The original factory in Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic is still at the centre of the company.

company to the Laurin & Klement Co. Then the pair started experimenting with a new phenomenon - the motor car.

The Skoda story began in 1895, when cycling fanatics

Václav Laurin (a mechanic) and Václav Klement (a bookseller) started designing and manufacturing bicycles under

the name Slavia. The bicycles sold well, so they started making motorbikes in 1899, and changed the name of their

During the early 1900s their first car was a huge success but they needed an industrial partner to strengthen and modernise their company. They merged with engineering firm Pizen Skodovka Co in 1925 and became ŠKO-

Back to the Enyaq L&K. Available in both SUV and Coupé guise the new L&K model offers a luxury interior, bespoke exterior styling to set it apart from the rest of the range. Priced from €59,942/£51,340 for the SUV and €62,159/£53,240 for the Coupé variant, the Enyaq L&K features a 77 kWh battery, a 286 PS motor mounted on the rear axle and a promised combined driving range of up to 555km/345 miles. The new

model can reach the benchmark 100kph/62mph in just 6.7 seconds and has a maximum speed is 178kph/111mph.

The design of the Enyaq L&K features exclusive Platinum Grey detailing on its model-specific bumpers, rear diffuser and exterior mirrors. Full LED matrix headlights, which can avoid dazzling oncoming cars, are also fitted as standard. Both Enyaq L&K models are equipped with anthracite metallic alloy wheels, privacy glass and L&K badging on the front wings.

Inside, customers can choose between two bespoke Design Selections; L&K Shell and L&K Black. The former features beige leather upholstery as standard, while the latter comes with black leather. Both feature front seats with ventilation and massage functions – which are exclusive to the L&K version. L&K models also come with heated rear seats, a head-up display and CANTON sound system as standard, along with heated windscreen and L&K logos on the seats.

Ryder Cup dilemma

IN June 2022, Sergio Garcia made the controversial decision to join the emerging LIV Golf league. This move has now led to a substantial financial penalty exceeding £800k (approximately €934,282) if he wishes to re-enter the DP World Tour and vie for a spot in the Ryder Cup again.

The DP World Tour’s victory in a significant legal battle has empowered it to levy fines and impose bans on players participating in LIV events.

Garcia, in an attempt to sidestep further sanctions, opted out of the DP World Tour. This decision effectively forfeited his opportunity to compete in the Ryder Cup, a tournament where he holds the record for most points scored.

During an appearance on the Rick Shiels Golf Show, Garcia expressed his intent to rejoin the European Tour. “I am going to be a member again of the Euro-

pean Tour,” he stated.

Despite the challenges posed by the DP World Tour, Garcia’s ambition is clear: he aims to secure a position in the 2025 Ryder Cup.

The Telegraph reports that Garcia must first clear his outstanding fines to stand any chance of joining Luke Donald’s European team at Bethpage Black in 2025.

Notably, he is the last LIV Golf participant who hasn’t settled the initial £100,000 fine. A source disclosed that Garcia would only consider paying the fines if his Ryder Cup participation in 2025 was guaranteed. This stance has sparked debate, especially since he resigned rather than pay the initial penalty.

As negotiations continue, the golfing community watches closely, pondering the true cost of returning to its most prestigious team event.

Formula 1 season has started

John Smith

TRADITIONALLY all Formula 1 Grand Prix races take place on a Sunday but for religious reasons, the first two of the 2024 season will take place on a Saturday.

The second Grand Prix takes place in Saudi Arabia at 6.174 kilometre Jeddah Corniche Circuit on Saturday, March 9.

This is because the Islamic holy month of Ramadan is due to start on Sunday March 10, the day the Saudi Arabian race

would normally have taken place so qualifying and actual race had to take place one day earlier.

Because FIA rules state that there should be a full seven days between Grands Prix then the first race of the new season at the 5.412 kilometre Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir was moved to Saturday March 2, with Max Verstappen being the winner.

The Bahrain race covered 57 laps whilst the Saudi race is

due to take up just 50 laps and the number of laps varies by circuit depending on the length of the track with the intention that each race will cover just over 300 kilometres (except Monaco which is shorter and a much slower race) and last roughly the same amount of time.

There will be 24 races in all this season with no new circuits, but Belgium, China and The Netherlands are returning this season.