NEW British Consul Sarah-JaneMorris has said front-line support tothe consulate service acrossAlicante will not change and willcontinue to be headed by Vice-Consul Lloyd Milen.

Mrs Morris (pictured with LloydMilen) addressed concerns that theservice was being cut andstreamlined as she will be based inMadrid where she will continue herwork as the Consul-General inMadrid serving Central andNorthern Spain as well asoverseeing Alicante.

She said: “There will be nochange to the front-line service andthe consular team here remainsand is the biggest in Spain. I will bemaking my best efforts to makesure it is unnoticeable to expats.”

The management of Alicante andMadrid consulates by one consulfollows the model already usedelsewhere in Spain, with the nineBritish consulates covering Spainand Andorra now managed bythree British consuls.

Having served as consul inMadrid for the last two years andspending 10 years working in theconsular field, Mrs Morris believesher experience can only aid and

assist the 165,000 expatsregistered.

“I have worked a lot with centralgovernment already on issues suchas residency and healthcare andhave that direct line so rather thanlistening to issues and passingthem on, residents will have aquicker route to the front line,” sheexplained. Logistically, she said shecan also be in Valencia quickerfrom Madrid than the teamtravelling from Alicante.

With a background in the

voluntary sector, having worked inAfrica and Asia and also for the RedCross in Madrid, the new consul iskeen to continue the work of herpredecessor Paul Rodwell andforge stronger relations with localcharities. She already has links withlocal organisations.

“I am on the executivecommittee of Age Concern andhave just been supporting theSamaritans in setting up a branchin Madrid so know them also,” MrsMorris said.

She believes that charities have alot to offer the community and area great way of forging internationalrelations.

“The Spanish culture is not sorich in volunteering but they arethere and we must tap into themand it is a great way to improveyour Spanish,” she added.

Sarah-Jane Morris will be inAlicante regularly and is lookingforward to the challenges that lieahead and in meeting the localcommunity more.

25 - 31 DECEMBER 2014 WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COMISSUE NO. 1538 TRUST WE DO!our advertisers

City in bloomfor ChristmasTHE geraniums thatnormally adorn 150areas in Valencia Cityhave been replacedwith 10,500poinsettias. Themeasure was in linewith sustainability,economising andsocial participation,the city hall said.

Eco-park soonLA NUCIA hasannounced theopening in March2015 of its flagshipproject, the Eco-Park with facilitiescovering more than4,000 squaremetres.

Food run ORGANISATION USAR-13 presented 1,000kilos of food suppliesto Alfaz’s SocialVolunteers. Theywere donated by 300people who ran orwalked with theirdogs up to the Albirlighthouse in the‘Marcha Canicross’.

FRONT EXTRAEWN READERS AND ADVERTISERS A MERRY CHRISTMASEWN WISHES

Consul pledges that front-lineservices will not change

NEWSEWN 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor th www.euroweeklynews.com2

INDEXNews 1 - 20

Finance 21 - 26

Letters 27

Leapy Lee 28

Daily TV 30, 32, 34, 40, 42, 44, 48

Time Out 46 - 47

Health & Beauty 49 - 50

Food 52 - 54

Homes & Gardens 56-57

Property 59

Services 61 - 64

Classifieds 65 - 67

Motoring 68 - 70

Sport 71 - 72

A CHRISTMAS market was held once againin Altea’s Town Hall square with all the stallsthat tradition demands.

The market served a double purpose,explained Culture councillor Marga Riera. Itoffered another leisure option for residentsand visitors and also boosted localbusinesses in adjoining Avenida Jaume I, thetown’s principal shopping street, offering analternative to out-of-town shopping centres.There were free games and activities for thechildren, who also had the chance of leavingtheir Christmas lists with Father Christmas.

Spain’s holiday celebrations are far fromover and the Local Police’s security campaignwhich launched on December 16 continuesuntil January 6 and the arrival of the ThreeKings. The Local Police force will be on handfor any emergencies that could arise,announced Public Safety councillor JaimeSelles while ensuring road safety forpedestrians and drivers and guaranteeingtraffic flow inside the town.

“It’s important to create an atmosphere oftrust over the Christmas holidays,” Sellessaid.

Christmas comesagain to Altea

MARKET: Traditional stalls in the town hall square.

A FRANKING machine at the SanVicente sorting office wakesneighbours at 6.30am everymorning.

This is when Correos employeesstart work and the racket continuesall day, complained the occupantsof the apartments directly abovethe Calle San Jaime premises.

They recently approached thetown hall and Local Police officers

were sent to check noise levels.They found the complaints werenot exaggerated as measuringequipment registered 36.4 decibelsinstead of the permitted maximumdaytime level of 35 decibels. Thelaw stipulates this must drop to 30decibels between 10pm and 8am.

The first-floor occupants alsocomplained that they could hearfurniture - particularly chairs -

being dragged across the floor. Airconditioning in the summer isanother bugbear, as the noise canbe heard in the airshafts of allinterior bathrooms.

Correos has been directed totake steps to reduce the noise,although a sorting office sourcesaid that changing the rollers in thefranking machine might solve theproblem.

Lucky escapeFIREMEN rescued a 24-year-old British climber who fell 20metres from the Penya Rojacliffs near Gandia. No boneswere broken but he wasadmitted to Francesc de Borjahospital for a check-up.

Long waitFAMILY doctors’ Christmasholidays will not be covered,the regional health depart-ment confirmed. The CCOOunion warned appointmentswould be scarce in 11 healthcentres administered byAlicante General Hospital.

First fatalityA WOMAN in her 80s has diedfrom head injuries after beinghit by a car whilst on apedestrian crossing onAvenida Juan Carlos in Ibi. Herdeath is the first fatality in atraffic accident in the town in2014.

All clearCAMPELLO’S Fisherman’sMonument, formerly coveredin graffiti, has been cleaned.The town hall’s maintenancedepartment used a special gelbut had to wait until rainstopped before applying it.

House blazeA MAN has died and awoman, aged 88, treated forsmoke inhalation following afire at a home in CalleMaisonnave in the centre ofAlicante.

Legal actionVALENCIAN COMMUNITYresidents launch 45 lawsuitsfor every 1,000 inhabitantscompared with the nationalaverage of 43.7. Spain’s mostlitigious region is Balearics with58 cases per 1,000 people.

All fired upALICANTE City’s Hogueras firefiestas held each June weredeclared an Intangible CulturalAsset (BIC). This classificationsafeguards the Hoguerastraditions as well as thebonfires themselves.

ewswatchNFrankly, it’s a noisy problem

New YearNEXT week your edition ofEuro Weekly News will be onthe streets the last day of theyear - Wednesday, December31, instead of our usualThursday. Happy New Year.

Adoptive sonENRIQUE OLTRA PERALES,the 79-year-old Franciscanpriest at Denia’s Pare Perechapel, was named thetown’s ‘adoptive son’. Hearrived in Denia as a childand entered the Benissaseminary at nine years old.

Trying it onTWELVE people were arrestedin Elda-Petrel after falselyreporting robberies or loss ofbelongings. All had hoped toreceive compensation fromtheir insurance companies,said National Police sources.

Farfetched storyA CASTALLA man staying withfriends was accused ofattempted rape when thevictim’s husband went to thebathroom. He was looking forthe TV remote, not getting intobed with her, he insisted.

Leaving it lateTHE number of ValenciaCommunity women havingtheir first child at 40 hasdoubled in the last 10 years.Sociologists attributed this toprecarious jobs and changingsociety.

Meter fraudELECTRICITY companiespursued 23,000 ValencianCommunity residents formeter manipulation and illegalhook-ups this year, almost 30per cent more than in 2013.

NEWS 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca North 3EWNTRUST our advertisers WE DO!

CREDITlev radin / Shutterstock.com

PAIN is hardly renowned for its links tofearsome Viking warriors, but a chancediscovery has put a Spanisharchaeologist on the trail of ancient

Scandinavian raiders in her home country.Dr Irene Garcia Losquiño of the University of

Aberdeen is preparing a dig next spring in the GaliciaRegion, where a storm uncovered a set of anchorsfrom Viking longships. Although there are writtenaccounts of Viking raids in Northern Spain,archaeologically speaking, the Iberian pensinsulahas been a barren hunting ground for Vikingexperts. Each year, however, locals in the Galicianarea of Catoira hold a Viking festival where theystage a re-enactment of the Viking raids thatoccurred 1,000 years ago.

Dr Garcia Losquiño thinks that she may be able to

uncover rare archaeological evidence of a Vikingpresence in Spain. “On the beach where the anchorswere found was a big mound which locals thoughtmight have been a motte-and-bailey construction,which was used by the later Vikings in France,” DrGarcia Losquiño told The Herald Scotland. “But withthe help of a geographer using tomography we nowthink this was a ‘longphort’, a Viking constructiononly found in Ireland during the early Viking age,and very similar to English Viking camps, where theywould winter, after taking over the harbour.”

The Spanish archaeologist is planning a spring digin Galicia and also in Sevilla, where a Norse war-band was said to be active in the area for threeyears. Some of the Spanish sites are marshlands,with perfect conditions for preserving ancienttreasures.

S

Quest for answersto Viking past

We can’t send a police squad to watch overa nativity scene, we appeal to people’ssocial conscience,’

said Santiago mayor Agustin Hernandez after astatue of the baby Jesus was stolen from the city’snativity scene for the second time in three years.

‘Quote of the Week

A FUGITIVE wanted in Spain for murder has beensending postcards from the Caribbean to his trialjudges. The Frenchman has been on the run for sixyears for a murder in Huesca in 2006, but despiteadmitting to the crime, prosecutors could not provemotive or premeditation, resulting in the fugitive’stemporary release and subsequent abscondment.

is the number of UKstudents who cannot find

places on nursing courses because the NHS is hiringqualified nurses from countries like Spain andPortugal for a fraction of the cost of training a nursein England.

80,000 And finally...Number of the week

Reut

ers/C

ordo

n Pr

ess

VIKING MARAUDERS: Catoira festival re-enacts Spain’s Viking past.

FIVE employees of anAlicante firm werearrested for using forgedDesignation of Originauthorisations to exportsaffron.

Police estimate that thecompany defrauded atleast €100,000 bysupplying US super-markets with inferiorIranian and Syrian saffronpackaged as though itwere grown in the LaMancha region of Spain.

As well as forging thecertificates authorisingthem to sell DO products,they also obtainedstickers issued by theDesignation of OriginRegulatory Council.

These implied thatpurchasers paying thehigh prices commandedby La Mancha saffronwere acquiring anexclusive product, policesaid.

The investigation began

some weeks back afterthe Regulatory Councilcontacted the police,giving details of thefraud.

A search of the Alicantepremises revealed a largenumber of sales invoicesfor the bogus products aswell as 3,500 stickers.

The five employeesaged between 35 and 60now face charges offraud, forgery andcopyright offences.

EWN4 www.euroweeklynews.com NEWS25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca North

T’S that time of year againwhen a lot (but not all) of uscherish those last few days ofover-indulgence beforeembarking on our well

intended, but often fruitlessjourneys to better ourselves. Be itgiving up smoking, joining a gym orpromising to be a better person,come January 1 life will get that littlebit harder for those full of goodintentions. Yes, it’s time to decide ona dreaded New Year’s resolution.

Every year we know that whateverwe decide to give up, take up, domore of or do less of will takedetermination, willpower, effort andstrength. For those that stick with it,the rewards are plentiful. Giving upsmoking will improve your health, beless of a strain on your finances, andmake your teeth whiter! Joining agym will make you fitter, feel betterand more often than not, look better

too. Learning a new language isunbelievably rewarding. But boy, arethey all hard to stick with! It’s somuch easier to give up whensomething is hard, which is why somany of us soon fall back into oldhabits despite resolving to ridourselves of them.

Setting small attainable goalsthroughout the year instead ofmaking huge, sweeping changes onJanuary 1 can often be the best wayto approach a New Year’s resolution.And by sticking with our resolutionsthrough the difficult times (usuallyat the very start), we will soon findrewards that we may never haveexpected: a happier outlook, pride,the fulfilment felt from overcomingsomething difficult. Whateverresolution you make in the next fewdays - assuming you make one at all- perseverance is the key.

The best of luck to all of you!

I

Our ViewIt’s time for a New

Year resolutionTHE gap betweensalaries in the ValencianCommunity and the restof Spain is increasing.

According to Spain’sStatistics Office (INE), aValencia region workercosts an employer€2,148.89 in wages,social security, plusother benefits andquotas.

This is €301.21 belowthe national averageand €644.84 lower thanthe Basque Region’saverage. Low wages inthe services sectorwhich provides much ofthe region’s jobs are toblame for thediscrepancy, analystshave said.

Overall, each workerin Spain cost theiremployee 0.4 per centless between July andSeptember comparedwith the same period in2014.

Wage gapincreases

Saffron fraudstersarrested in Alicante

NEWS 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca North 5EWNwww.euroweeklynews.com

VOLUNTEERS fromVillajoyosa Yacht Club’sunderwater activitiessection have cleared 200kilos of rubbish from theseabed. They were assistedby the Buceo Trasub centreand the council’s Beachesdepartment, both of whichare collaborating with theyacht club’s marineconservation initiatives.

The club’s principal aim isto raise awarenessamongst everybody whose

leisure pursuits, hobbies orwork bring them intocontact with the sea.

By the end of the cleanupat the first jetty in the club’sZone E the divers hadbrought up 200 kilos ofrubbish, including two1,000-litre containers whichtook 45 minutes to bring tothe surface.

As in previous clearingoperations, plastics made

up the bulk of the refuse,along with the usual haul ofdrinks’ cans, rubber tyresand bottles.

They also found anumber of abandonedcreels containing fish andoctopus, a spokespersonfor the yacht club saidafterwards, adding that thediscarded traps werecatching marine life for nopurpose.

VILLAJOYOSA: Divers regard part of their haul.

Yacht club leadsseabed cleanup

IT is now officially winterbut according to theweathermen, it will bewarm and dry.

This will do nothing toimprove droughtconditions in AlicanteProvince, admittedAEMET, Spain’s metoffice. This autumn wasthe hottest yet known,with an averagetemperature of 19.6degrees, 1.4 degreeshigher than normal.

Not only the autumnbut all 12 months of2014 would makehistory as the ValencianCommunity’s hottestand driest since recordswere first kept in the19th century, saidAEMET’s Jorge Tamayo.

This increase wasnevertheless in line withcurrent studies andpredictions on climatechange, he added.

Official: awarm, dry

winter

IN the traditional season for buying toys,regional consumers’ association UCCV hascomplained about gender stereotyping.

“Hypermarket catalogues and toyshopsare sexist,” maintained the association,

which lodged an official complaint withSpain’s Advertising Standards body.Catalogues consistently infringe twoclauses to the Self-regulatory Children’sAdvertising Code, UCCV claimed.

As Christmas and Reyesapproach, children use thecatalogues to decide whatpresents they will ask for intheir letters to FatherChristmas and the ThreeKings, UCCV pointed out.

“Carrefour’s cataloguedifferentiates betweentoys aimed at boys andgirls,” a spokesmandeclared, “with green forboys and pink for girls.”

The El Corte Inglescatalogue, for instance,maintains the stereotypethat some toys are only forgirls and others for boys.Even packaging is colour-coded, UCCV said.

“This differentiationgives the impression thatthe toys in each sectionare excluding andexclusive to each sex. Itsends the children aninadequate message.”

EWN6 www.euroweeklynews.com NEWS25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca North

CRUISE passengers do not bring business, according tothe regional government’s Tourism chief.

“They consume less than the mess they make,” saidMaximo Buch, during his traditional Christmas meetingwith members of the Costa Blanca hoteliers’ association,Hosbec.

Earlier, Benidorm mayor Agustin Navarro announcedthat if talks with three shipping lines prosper, the resortwill be a port of call for cruise ships in 2016.

“The passengers don’t leave much money becausethey disembark, they have a few beers, they havesomething to eat if you’re lucky and buy a number ofsouvenirs. Six hours and they’ve gone,” Buchcommented

The cruise market is a good shop window forpassengers receiving a first impression of the placesthey visit, the Tourism chief conceded. The importantthing is to make sure that cruise passengers want toreturn, he said.

A pink world…

Where there’s messthere’s no money

EWN8 www.euroweeklynews.com NEWS25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca North

JAVEA will be the locationfor another internationalschool.

The site, in the LasLaderas area, has beenearmarked by theInternational SchoolsPartnership (ISP) and thegroup’s finance director

recently met Javea’s mayorJose Chulvi and other localcouncillors to discuss theproject.

ISP, which acquiredColegios Laude – a chain ofseven private Spanishschools - for €2.8 millionlast June, intends to build

on the 20,000 squaremetre site bought from thedevelopers who built thefirst phase of villas at theLas Laderas urbanisation.

ISP was looking for astrategic location betweenGandia and Benidorm,sources said, and presenceof the Laude Lady ElizabethSchool in Benitachell was adetermining factor.

Asked for his opinion bythe provincial Spanishpress, Chulvi said althoughISP had outlined its plansthere was still no definiteproject. When it was time,the Town Planning depart-ment, amongst others,would make a decision.

Oscar Anton, councillorfor Finance, ForeignResidents and Contractssaid the school would bestrategic for the municip-ality and “an interestinginvestment.”

VILLAJOYOSA Council has taken the first steps towardsacquiring land for future extensions to the localhospital.

Three plots of suitable land totalling 24,832sqm thatadjoin the existing installation will be compulsorilypurchased, said Villajoyosa’s mayor Jaime Lloret.Enlarging the hospital is consistent with the views ofdepartmental heads who propose to form a committeeto study the centre’s needs which include extra space.

“Villajoyosa hospital will not only increase in size butalso quality so it can continue to offer its excellentservices to the area,” the mayor said.

New internationalschool on horizon

La Vila hospital tobe enlarged

EWN 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor th10 NEWSwww.euroweeklynews.com

VETS, veterinary studentsand professors recentlyprotested at proposals formore veterinary schools.

They were calling for ahalt to plans to create ninemore faculties in Alicante,Valencia and otherprovinces.

There are already morevets than posts available

for them, said the presidentof the General Council ofSpanish Veterinarians, JuanJose Badiola, and yet morequalified vets would sinkthe profession, he claimed.

Twelve Spanishuniversities currently offerdegree courses, twice asmany as recommended bythe European Association

of Establishments forVeterinary Education(EAEVE), the Europeanregulatory body.

Esteban Morcillo, rectorof Valencia University, saidhe respected the protests,but added that Valencia’sstate universities do notoffer veterinary courses“despite great demand.”

Vets growlingat schools plan

A STRAIGHT-THROUGH Valencia toAlicante train has yet to become reality.

Mainline trains run between Gandia allthe way to the French border and beyondbut the track stops short in the Valencianseaside resort.

Anyone wanting to continue to Alicantemust either take an inland route or maketheir way to Denia and board the narrow-gauge Line 9 train.

When the long-promised train finallymaterialises, however, Pedreguer in the

Jalon Valley wants the track to runparallel to the A-7 motorway where it willhave minimal impact on the town.

Pedreguer’s PGOU new urbandevelopment plan allowed for this but theregional government has modified thiswith a detour to Denia and its plannedintermodal station.

In the version of the PGOU thatPedreguer town hall intends to approveno allowance is being made either for thedetour or the Denia station, sources said.

Straight track for Pedreguer

NEWS 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca North 11EWNTRUST our advertisers WE DO!

PUPILS from La Malladeta secondaryschool in Villajoyosa have produced 200litres of liquid gold.

The gold in question is olive oilobtained from the 50 or so trees plantedat the school. The pupils are studyingfirst year vocational training in

gardening and the trees weretransplanted during infrastructure workor from sites due for development.

“The best part was collecting theolives. We climbed trees and shook themdown; it was great,” a pupil said. Oncecollected, the olives were taken for

pressing to Relleu andElche.

Further along theMarina Baja, pupils inAltea are working onanother project todevelop drones – El sueñode volar (Dream of flying)– in conjunction with 13other institutes.

As well as learning howto assemble a drone, theAltaia and Bellaguardapupils were set the task ofrelating innovativetechnology to the socialand humanistic field,explained Educationcouncillor Aurelia Alvarez.

Pupils drone onand make oil...

PENSIONERS and low income families in La Nuciareceived €150 and €75 grants on water bills.

The subsidies arrived in time for Christmas, withfamilies on incomes of up to €7,456 getting €150while those earning between €7,456 and €14,910receiving €75.

The measure was announced last August andapplications processed throughout September. Thesubsidy will also be paid in 2015 in order to continueassisting residents and families with few economicresources, the town hall announced.

All income from water rates in La Nucia is routinelyploughed back into the service and not used for anyother purpose, the town hall stated.

Water cash back

EWN 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor th12 NEWSwww.euroweeklynews.com

BENIDORM shopkeepers are appealingagainst the decision authorising anotheropen-air market in the town.

They have lodged an official complaintwith the Valencia Region’s upper court(TSJ) asking for the regionalgovernment recently-granted permit tobe withdrawn.

AICO, the local association ofindependent shop owners, is ‘roundlyopposed’ to the proposed market on theN-332 near the discotheque zone. Theassociation’s president Rafael Gasentexpressed surprise that the Generalitat

processed the application so rapidly andcriticised the secrecy and‘underhandedness’ of both the Valenciagovernment and Benidorm Council.

Another market would cause seriousharm to local businesses, Gasentpredicted, and also reflect badly onBenidorm’s image.

Benidorm’s councillor for Commerce,Conrado Hernandez, maintained thatthe town hall was working to preventthe initiative from prospering.

He said: “We see it as a grave attackon local trade.”

A thumbs downto new market

TONI MARTI, Red Cross coordinator forGandia (Valencia), is back in Sierra Leone.

As a member of one of theorganisation’s Emergency Response Teamhe travelled to the Ebola-stricken countrylast August with five other volunteers fromValencia, Alicante and Castellonprovinces.

Together with other members of the33-strong Spanish delegation, theyprovided humanitarian aid and helped tobuild an Ebola treatment centre inKenema, Sierra Leone’s third-largest city.

Marti is the first of the Valencia region’svolunteers to return to Sierra Leone andwill be there for a month.

Gandia volunteer

NEWS 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca North 15EWN

DANIEL BERENGUER frominland Monforte asked forthe removal of a fascistinscription on the local warmemorial.

The monument as well

as two other crosses in thetown go back to the 1939-1975 Franco regime.Under the Law of HistoricMemory, all traces of thedictatorship should be

removed from publicplaces, Berenguerreminded Monforte’s mayorAntonia Cervera in awritten request. If theinscriptions cannot beremoved from the threecrosses, they should beremoved entirely, heclaimed.

In her own written reply,Cervera pointed out thatthe war memorial recordedonly the dates of the CivilWar and the inscription‘Glory to the fallen’ withoutany reference to one bandor other.

“Crosses in the streetsreflect our town’s culturaland religious tradition,” shesaid, and added that shewas not obliged to act onBerenguer’s request.

“Even less so when it isneither a priority norbacked by otherresidents.”

ALCOY is advertising for a flock of sheep and goats forthe Font Roja national park.

The animals are wanted less for their eye appeal thantheir value as producers of natural firebreaks.

By cropping grass and undergrowth in the park’sSant Antoni area, fire risk will be reduced while the flockclears the area without damaging the landscape,explained the town’s Environment councillor PacoAgullo. The animals will use a corral built by theregional government five years ago and which is nowmunicipal property.

The chosen flock will receive a year’s contract, withan option of extending to three. The livestock’s ownerwill be expected to graze them for 130 days a year.

Cross words utteredover war memorial

Flock wantedto fight fires...

TRUST our advertisers WE DO!

NEWSEWN 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor th www.euroweeklynews.com16

THE Arnauda riurau in Javea is nowa cultural centre.

The Marina Alta’s riuraus werebuilt to process and dry the area’smuscatel grapes and the Arnaudastructure, built in the mid-19thcentury, was one of the largest inthe Valencian Community.

Five years ago the riurau was inruins, standing on land designatedfor development. The town hallobtained a €90,000 grant to move itstone by stone to Montaner parkwhere it was rebuilt by constructorManuel Olivares.

The riurau still had to be roofed,however, and the same builder hascompleted the €74,000 task.

Now it has returned to its former

glory, with wooden rafters andmore than 2,000 reeds beneath theroof tiles. It was not easy to locatethe traditional materials needed for

the roof, said Javea’s Heritage andTourism councillor Antonio Miragall.To obtain the reeds, for instance, ithad been necessary to spread the

word amongst local families whostill had supplies of them.

After inspecting the new roofJavea’s mayor Jose Chulvithanked the Riuraus Viusassociation for making the publicaware of the importance ofprojects like these.

Raisin’ the roof onhistoric grape shed

ROOF: Jose Chulvi inspected the riurau with local associations.

A fine solution for GreenpeaceSIXTEEN Greenpeace activists were each fined €1,000 for breaking intoCofrentes (Valencia) nuclear power station.

They must also pay a total €2,200 to Iberdrola, which runs theinstallation, ruled a Valencia judge, but spared them from a jail term.

NEWS 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca North 17EWNTRUST our advertisers WE DO!

BENIDORM is reallocating the contractfor running the town’s blue zone paidparking areas.

The town hall decided to withdraw theconcession from ParkControl halfwaythrough 2010 but it was not until lastsummer that it was able to put thecontract out to tender once more.

This was approved in August butsuspended in October by Hacienda’sContract Appeals Tribunal which ruledthat the tender infringed the right to freecompetition. The new contractconditions, approved by the council’sopposition parties, sets parking fees of50 cents an hour, 17 per cent lower than

the present charge.The annual €5,000

concession charge willincrease to €150,000 butcould rise to as much as€500,000 depending onthe new concessionary’sincome and expenses, thetown hall’s Mobilitydepartment revealed.

The price-hike wasjustified, councillor MariaCarmen Martinezexplained, because,unlike its predecessor, thenew concessionary will beresponsible only for bluezone parking and thetowaway-truck.

New contract forBenidorm parking

A wet December ALICANTE province has received half of this year’srainfall in the space of just three weeks.

After a year of drought, the end of November andmuch of this month brought the storms anddownpours that would normally occur in latesummer and early autumn.

Alicante province registered 80 metres per squaremetre of rain during this period, 55 per cent of the152 litres that have fallen so this year, confirmedSpain’s meteorological office, Aemet.

But it is too soon to start rejoicing, theweathermen warned. It will need to continue rainingthroughout the winter before reservoirs begin to filland the province’s growers and farmers can relax.

NEWSEWN 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor th www.euroweeklynews.com18

HOTELES SERVIGROUPhas won an excellenceaward, for the third yearin a row, for the qualityof its hotels during the2013 season by Britishtour operators Jet2Holidays.

The award is no doubttestament to guests’high level of satisfactionwith the servicesprovided by the groupand the quality of itsfacilities.

This year the hotels

awarded by Jet2 wereVenus, Calypso, Orange,Nereo and Pueblo.

In addition, DavidUrquhart Travel grantedits golden award toseven of the Servigroup’shotels – Venus, Calypso,Servigroup Nereo,Pueblo Benidorm, Rialto,Castilla and Orange – fortheir excellentpersonalised attention toclients, the quality oftheir facilities andservices and cuisine,which are common to allServigroup hotels.

Excellence awardfor hotel group

JAVEA’S Loreto church has been asked to reducethe volume of its bells.

Residents in the town’s Duanes district said theyhad been complaining about the noise for years.Decibel readings are double the permitted levelsand the loudspeakers that relay Mass did nothing tomake their Sundays any more restful, they said.

Venus Hotel in Alicante receives its award.

The bells! The bells!

NEWS 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca North 19EWNTRUST our advertisers WE DO!

WE would like to extend a hugethank you and happy Christmas toour valued readers, without whomthe Euro Weekly News (EWN) wouldnot be Spain’s largest, free, localnewspaper, reaching more than halfa million people every week.

We wish you every success in2015 and we look forward tocontinuing to bring you all the newsfrom your communities.

At the EWN we believe in ourcommunity and we never stop strivingto do what we can. We look forgoodness and we emphasise it in our

pages, and we try to helppeople to integrateby making thecommunity

stronger. We believe in

helping others who

are less fortunate, weaker, or older,as one day we know that will be us.In order to move on, we learn fromour mistakes, and our passion,energy and our belief carry usforward.

As Thomas Watson once said: “Tobe successful you have to have yourheart in your business and yourbusiness in your heart.”

We would also like to wish a verymerry Christmas to all ouradvertisers. When you come on boardas an advertiser with the EWN, youbecome part of the EWN family, andyour business is treated like our own.

We put our heart and soul intomaking it work, and each and everyone of our advertisers is treated likea valued family member.

A very big thank you and merryChristmas to you all.

A Christmas message from the

Euro Weekly News

Increasing costsACCORDING to a report drawn up byAndalucia’s Audit Office, the constructionand operating costs - until 2042 - of theMalaga Metro will increase to €2.6billion, 113 per cent more than originallyexpected.

Tornado reportTHE tornado that hit the Costa del Sol inlate November covered approximatelyseven kilometres in 15 minutes, said theState Meteorology Agency. It formed atsea and caused serious damage inTorremolinos, Churriana and nearMalaga airport.

Drivers testedSIX drivers tested positive for drugs andone was caught driving without a licencein just 90 minutes at a police check-pointon the road to Campanillas.

Flights increaseLOW cost airline passengers at Malagaairport increased by 10 per cent up toNovember this year, making it second inSpain for volume of low cost companyusers. Only Barcelona had morepassengers.

Council helps outCOIN Council has approved measures tohelp families with low or non-existentincome by halving their water bills aslong as the property does not use morethan 45 cubic metres every threemonths.

TV magnet MORE than 40 audiovisual productionshave taken place in Nerja during 2014.One of the most important ones was theshooting of the international actionmovie, ‘Pursuit.’

Bank aid LA CAIXA bank has aided Frigiliana’sCaritas foundation with €1,250 to helpthe town’s poorer families during theChristmas season.

Volunteer’s excellenceTHE Spanish Red Cross has awardedvolunteers, associations and institutionsof Axarquia with medals for theirperformance in social issues.

Sport for everyoneTHE Council of Velez-Malaga celebratedthe second Day for Integration throughSports. Launched by the Social Services

department, it was aimed atencouraging people with disabilities topractice light physical activities.

Band anniversary NERJA’S Municipal Music Band markedits 25th anniversary with a Christmasconcert held last Saturday (December20). More than 500 musicians have beenmembers of this band during itstrajectory.

Tobacco salesDATA shows that no Spanishautonomous community has seen asharper increase in tax revenues fromtobacco sales in 2014 than the BalearicIslands (+1.48 per cent).

Domestic violenceTHE Balearic Islands rank first in Spainfor the largest number of complaints

lodged with the police for domesticviolence, followed by Canarias, Valenciaand Murcia.

Runaway horseA RUNAWAY horse that escaped fromthe Son Pardo racetrack was caught bypolice. For reasons unknown, the horsegot scared during a trotting exercise andgalloped out of the racetrack and ontothe motorway.

Fewer foreignersTHE number of foreigners registered inthe Spanish social security on the islandsdropped by 23.52 per cent compared toOctober and now totals 55,316 people,said the Labour Ministry.

Bin lorryA BIN lorry carrying 22 tons ofcompacted rubbish brought from Irelandoverturned at the Palmanyolaroundabout. The rubbish scattered all

over the road and the driver sustainedminor injuries

Documents recoveredMOORISH documents detailingsurrender to the Christian armies duringthe 15th century have been found andrestored. They are currently on displayat the Museo Arqueologico Provincia.

Tabernas helipadTABERNAS has opened the eighthhelipad in the province. The helipads arefor medical use in order to transportpatients direct to the capital’s hospital,saving a lengthy journey by road.

Mining plotsTHE Junta has put 118 mining plots outto tender in Almeria. Almeria is theAndalucian province with the highestnumber of available mineral plots,occupying 88,175 hectares.

Bumper turnoverCOSENTINO, one of Almeria’s largestcompanies has announced that it willclose 2014 having billed a total turnoverof €560 million, an increase of 14.7 percent over 2013.

Family aidMORE than €173,000 has beenearmarked for 26 families in Alhama,Illar, Terque and Santa Cruz deMarchena. The money comes from theJunta and is for home improvements.

Dog shotA MAN has been arrested in Aguilas forallegedly shooting a dog. The animalmay lose the sight in one eye as a resultof his injuries.

Meter fraudELECTRICITY companies pursued23,000 Valencian Community residentsfor meter manipulation and illegal hook-ups this year, almost 30 per cent morethan in 2013.

Citizen’s partyA NEW political party has been formed inTorrevieja ahead of next May’s elections.Ciudadanos (C’s) aims to unite foreignand Spanish voters.

Run overA WOMAN and her daughter wereinjured after being hit by a car in theparking area next to the Martinez Valerostadium in Elche.

COSTA DEL SOL

AXARQUIA

MALLORCA

COSTA DE ALMERÍA

COSTA BLANCA SOUTH

NEWS DESKEWN 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca North www.euroweeklynews.com20

ews from our editionsWith six editions and read by more than half a million people, EWN is Spain’s largest

free local English-language newspaper

N

Piglet racing, but notas you know it

THE third edition of the CarreraCiclista del Cochinillo (piglet cyclingrace) was rescheduled in HuercalOvera.

The race was moved from December18 to December 21 and participated inby professional cyclists including JuanAntonio Sanchez Navarro, JavierChacon Quesada and Manuel MartinezCosta who all compete in Spain.

The race gets a huge amount ofmedia coverage due to its uniqueness,with previous journalists coming fromBritain, China, Denmark, Greece andSouth Africa. The race directed cyclists

through a Huercal Overa street circuitin 16 laps, starting and ending atAvenida Guillermo Reyna.

Councillor for Sports, Alonso Mena,highlighted the good reception,adding: “Carrera Ciclista del Cochinillois already a landmark in the holidaysports programme both for ourprovince and those nearby.” He wenton to encourage everyone to getinvolved in future races. The overallwinner gets a trophy and a live piglet.There are also prizes including hamsand wine for the first three in eachcategory.

2ND EDITION WINNERS: Manuel Molina, who came first, holds his prize piglet aloft.

IAG has increased its lead overRyanair thanks to Iberia andbudget airline Vueling.

“We were in intensive care,now we’re on the ward andsoon we’ll be leaving hospital,”said Iberia president LuisGallego.

BA and Iberia merged in2011 to create IAG, acquiringVueling in 2013. Restructuring

which began in 2012 wasplagued with labour disputes,redundancies and cutting outroutes but now IAG is reapingthe benefits with this year’s32,637,741 passengers.

This is 9.5 per cent morethan in 2013 and the distanceseparating IAG from Ryanair,the second-biggest player inSpain has doubled.

Although Ryanair remainsthe biggest individual airlinewith 25.8 million passengers,this shows a 1.1 per cent dropon 2013’s figures.

The Irish company isfollowed by Vueling whose 17.3million passengers represent a16.8 per cent increase on lastyear and Iberia, with10,148,710 passengers.

BT will not be buyingO2, the UK mobile groupowned by Telefonica.

Instead it has chosenEE, Britain’s largestmobile provider, for£12.5 billion (€15.7billion) and is now intalks with O2’s Germanand French owners,Deutsche Telekom andOrange.

If the deal goesthrough DeutscheTelekom and Orange willtake respective 12 percent and 4 per centstakes in BT.

Negotiations areexpected to last severalweeks and the outcomewill then need theapproval of BTshareholders. Should itnot succeed in pullingoff the EE deal, BT

“remains confident” thatit will still be able todeliver on its plans,sources revealed.

Ironically, BT sold itsown mobile network BTCellnet – now O2 – in2002. It was acquired byTelefonica in 2005 foralmost €23 billion and isnow valued at £9 billion(€11.3 billion). BTreturns to the mobilemarket in order to offerpackages with mobile,landline, internet andtelevision connections.

Telefonica declined tocomment on BT’sdecision, althoughsources revealed thatthe Spanish companycould now seek a UKagreement withHutchison, Sky, VirginMedia or Talk Talk.

REPSOL is buying Talisman Energyfor $8.3 billion (€6,640 billion) andassuming its $4.7 billion (€3,760billion) debt.

The Talisman board unanimouslyapproved the offer, which it hasadvised shareholders to accept. Thetransaction will be financed principallyby the $6.3 billion compensation forthe expropriation of Repsol’sArgentinean subsidiary, YPF.

Losing YPF prompted Repsol toseek alternative markets and theSpanish multinational will now beinvesting approximately half of itsexploration capital in North America,compared with 22 per cent in LatinAmerica. Output will increase by 76per cent, boosting reserves by 55 percent and situating Repsol amongstthe world’s 15 biggest privately-owned oil companies.

Talisman to accept Repsol offer

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca Northwww.euroweeklynews.com 21EWN

inanceA EURO WEEKLY NEWS 6 PAGE SPECIAL SECTION // WWW.EWNBUSINESS.COMF STAT OF WEEK

SIXTY PER CENT of Spain’s fruitand vegetable production is

destined for export. Of this, 95per cent goes to EU countrieswith the remainder going to

notoriously demanding Japan,China and the US.

Dinner dateEXACTLY 32.7 per cent ofSpanish shoppers willshop in Mercadona fortheir traditional ChristmasEve dinner. A further 26per cent use Carrefour.

Jobs safeTHE new Peugeot-Citroen van will be built inVigo and not Trnava(Slovenia), guaranteeingjobs for 7,000 workersand indirect employmentfor another 12,000.

Big spenderMEXICAN telecomsmagnate Carlos Slim isnow principal shareholderin Spanish constructioncompany FCC.

usinessBextra

businesslegal&

IAG reaps the benefits of restructuring

BT not won overby Telefonica

RECOVERY: IAGsees increase.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGALEWN 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca North www.euroweeklynews.com22

British Land Co PLC 771.50 4.00 0.52 94.13

BT Group PLC 408.30 3.70 0.91 384.09

Bunzl PLC 1769.50 10.00 0.57 13.93

Burberry Group PLC 1631.00 9.00 0.56 21.79

Capita PLC 1086.00 10.00 0.93 31.30

Carnival PLC 2825.50 14.00 0.50 28.13

Centrica PLC 274.80 2.10 0.77 1,019.68

Most AdvancedFate Therapeutics, Inc. $ 5.27 1.57 ▲ 42.43%Corium International, Inc. $ 7.85 1.87 ▲ 31.27%Aratana Therapeutics, Inc. $ 16.43 3.36 ▲ 25.71%Security National Financial Corporation $ 5.94 1.10 ▲ 22.73%Omega Flex, Inc. $ 37.94 6.69 ▲ 21.41%UBIC, Inc. $ 13.90 2.45 ▲ 21.40%Immune Design Corp. $ 33.06 5.62 ▲ 20.48%Roka Bioscience, Inc. $ 4.80 0.80 ▲ 20%Approach Resources Inc. $ 6.87 1.01 ▲ 17.24%Minerva Neurosciences, Inc $ 5.67 0.82 ▲ 16.91%Parnell Pharmaceuticals Holdings Ltd $ 4.38 0.60 ▲ 15.87%

Most DeclinedImmunoGen, Inc. $ 6.11 4.74 ▼ 43.69%The Finish Line, Inc. $ 23.35 5.55 ▼ 19.20%Bellicum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. $ 19.77 4.11 ▼ 17.21%Landec Corporation $ 13 1.68 ▼ 11.44%Digimarc Corporation $ 27.23 3.32 ▼ 10.87%Aquinox Pharmaceuticals, Inc. $ 6.64 0.7599 ▼ 10.27%National Research Corporation $ 33.80 3.45 ▼ 9.26%Veritex Holdings, Inc. $ 12.86 1.26 ▼ 8.92%Momo Inc. $ 12.56 1.20 ▼ 8.72%Ubiquiti Networks, Inc. $ 30.82 2.84 ▼ 8.44%Spanish Broadcasting System, Inc. $ 2.62 0.24 ▼ 8.39%

CCOO MM PPAA NN YY PPRR II CC EE (( PP )) CCHH AA NN GG EE (( PP )) %% CCHH GG.. NNEE TT VVOO LL UU MM EE

MMM 3M Co 165.48 +0.18 +0.11% 4.9MAXP American Express Co 92.90 -0.27 -0.29% 7.2MT AT&T Inc 33.54 +0.03 +0.09% 40.2MBA Boeing Co 126.23 +0.56 +0.45% 7.7MCAT Caterpillar Inc 91.71 +0.02 +0.02% 9.7MCVX Chevron Corp 112.93 +3.90 +3.58% 15.7MCSCO Cisco Systems Inc 27.77 +0.12 +0.43% 59.6MKO The Coca-Cola Co 41.95 -0.44 -1.04% 24.0MDIS Walt Disney Co 92.89 +0.28 +0.30% 12.8MDD E I du Pont de Nemours and Co 73.29 +1.06 +1.47% 7.0MXOM Exxon Mobil Corp 93.64 +2.48 +2.72% 38.5MGE General Electric Co 25.62 +0.48 +1.91% 86.7MGS Goldman Sachs Group Inc 193.28 +1.67 +0.87% 4.8MHD Home Depot Inc 101.93 +1.26 +1.25% 12.5MIBM International Business Machine... 158.51 +0.83 +0.53% 8.9MINTC Intel Corp 36.37 -0.65 -1.76% 76.8MJNJ Johnson & Johnson 105.55 -1.26 -1.18% 19.2MJPM JPMorgan Chase and Co 61.93 +0.45 +0.73% 22.8MMCD McDonald's Corp 93.22 -0.45 -0.48% 10.3MMRK Merck & Co Inc 59.58 +0.60 +1.02% 17.4MMSFT Microsoft Corp 47.66 +0.14 +0.29% 64.6MNKE Nike Inc 94.84 -2.24 -2.31% 13.5MPFE Pfizer Inc 31.94 -0.03 -0.09% 44.9MPG Procter & Gamble Co 92.05 +0.05 +0.05% 14.0MTRV Travelers Companies Inc 105.75 -0.20 -0.19% 3.9MUTX United Technologies Corp 115.59 -1.37 -1.17% 7.9MUNH UnitedHealth Group Inc 102.49 +0.25 +0.24% 8.0MVZ Verizon Communications Inc 47.02 -0.03 -0.06% 31.3MV Visa Inc 261.67 -2.49 -0.94% 3.9MWMT Wal-Mart Stores Inc 85.16 -0.78 -0.91% 12.1M

Coca-Cola HBC AG 1245.00 10.00 0.81 42.30Compass Group PLC 1092.50 6.95 0.64 88.21CRH PLC 1536.00 13.00 0.85 45.23Diageo PLC 1838.75 5.00 0.27 127.01Direct Line Insurance ... 290.75 2.00 0.69 103.29Dixons Carphone PLC 458.85 -3.00 -0.65 94.43easyJet PLC 1653.00 3.00 0.18 30.81Experian PLC 1099.00 12.00 1.10 103.40Fresnillo PLC 751.25 12.50 1.69 72.29Friends Life Group Ltd 374.55 1.76 0.47 42.70G4S PLC 277.55 1.50 0.54 27.47GKN PLC 346.35 2.99 0.87 61.38GlaxoSmithKline PLC 1396.75 4.50 0.32 446.34Glencore PLC 303.02 5.10 1.71 1,105.93Hammerson PLC 614.00 3.50 0.57 26.80Hargreaves Lansdown 1013.50 11.10 1.11 17.45HSBC Holdings PLC 613.50 5.90 0.97 968.07IMI PLC 1254.50 10.00 0.80 16.79Imperial Tobacco Group 2861.00 3.00 0.11 97.47InterContinental Hotels 2591.00 10.00 0.39 15.92International Consoldtd ... 470.05 1.20 0.26 388.31Intertek Group PLC 2377.50 22.00 0.93 10.13Intu Properties PLC 333.85 -1.70 -0.51 87.02ITV PLC 211.15 1.10 0.52 155.46Johnson Matthey PLC 3413.50 60.50 1.81 32.73Kingfisher PLC 327.70 3.40 1.05 183.50Land Securities Group PLC1165.00 10.00 0.87 82.51Legal & General Group PLC245.30 2.60 1.07 620.95Lloyds Banking Group PLC 76.54 0.40 0.53 5,273.49London Stock Exchange Group...2231.5023.00 1.04 18.14Marks & Spencer Group PLC476.60 0.60 0.13 261.79Meggitt PLC 515.50 4.00 0.78 20.82Mondi PLC 1070.50 11.00 1.04 104.05Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets PLC177.151.02 0.58 989.65National Grid PLC 918.45 6.86 0.75 345.96Next PLC 6500.00 6.69 0.10 16.05Old Mutual PLC 190.20 1.90 1.01 565.70Pearson PLC 1189.50 8.01 0.68 217.55Persimmon PLC 1576.00 -2.20 -0.14 57.51Petrofac Ltd 731.00 8.50 1.18 274.67Prudential PLC 1525.50 12.00 0.79 120.24Randgold Resources Ltd 4366.50 -66.00 -1.49 49.08Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC5307.50 30.00 0.57 60.27Reed Elsevier PLC 1083.00 5.00 0.46 102.05Rio Tinto PLC 2923.25 52.50 1.83 323.88Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC 879.25 8.50 0.98 385.08Royal Bank of Scotland Grou...391.95 3.40 0.87 220.44Royal Dutch Shell PLC 2290.75 69.00 3.10 349.46Royal Mail PLC 414.40 0.60 0.15 59.09RSA Insurance Group PLC 448.40 -1.10 -0.24 99.56SABMiller PLC 3383.75 9.00 0.27 56.94Sage Group (The) PLC 457.05 -0.62 -0.14 118.81Sainsbury (J) PLC 241.60 1.80 0.75 385.91Schroders PLC 2732.50 39.00 1.45 40.44Severn Trent PLC 2034.50 19.00 0.94 24.45Shire PLC 4662.00 39.00 0.84 62.15Sky PLC 895.00 6.00 0.67 121.81Smith & Nephew PLC 1118.00 29.00 2.66 179.82Smiths Group PLC 1081.50 9.00 0.84 33.95Sports Direct International...696.50 2.50 0.36 40.15SSE PLC 1627.50 4.00 0.25 112.43Standard Chartered PLC 942.90 15.60 1.68 391.45Standard Life PLC 414.15 4.90 1.20 110.62St James's Place PLC 806.25 6.50 0.81 28.12Tesco PLC 186.80 1.45 0.78 2,350.26Travis Perkins PLC 1825.00 0.00 0.00 14.26TUI AG 1071.50 0.00 0.00 21.64Tullow Oil PLC 439.35 14.80 3.49 327.26Unilever PLC 2645.50 15.65 0.60 131.11United Utilities Group PLC 930.75 9.50 1.03 103.28Vodafone Group PLC 224.43 -0.60 -0.27 2,405.78Weir Group PLC 1935.00 31.00 1.63 61.36Whitbread PLC 4695.00 9.62 0.21 15.97Wolseley PLC 3675.00 24.00 0.66 21.66WPP PLC 1345.00 17.50 1.32 114.99

NASDAQCLOSING PRICES DECEMBER 22

DOW JONESCLOSING PRICES DECEMBER 22

3i Group PLC 453.60 5.00 1.11 41.24

Aberdeen Asset PLC 429.70 0.60 0.14 279.62

Admiral Group PLC 1319.50 11.00 0.84 8.17

Aggreko PLC 1551.00 14.00 0.91 8.92

Anglo American PLC 1212.00 19.50 1.63 185.58

Antofagasta PLC 749.75 6.00 0.81 117.70

ARM Holdings PLC 974.50 3.00 0.31 134.20

Ashtead Group PLC 1163.00 5.00 0.43 27.30

Associated Brtsh Foods 3207.00 13.00 0.41 31.10

AstraZeneca PLC 4571.50 6.00 0.13 130.59

Aviva PLC 496.55 1.59 0.32 320.19

Babcock International ... 1070.50 15.00 1.42 67.34

BAE Systems PLC 467.35 4.60 0.99 258.23

Barclays PLC 239.85 1.92 0.81 946.22

BG Group PLC 918.20 16.70 1.85 1,262.29

BHP Billiton PLC 1403.75 25.50 1.85 736.43

BP PLC 425.48 12.40 3.00 2,192.81

British Amrcn Tobacco 3507.50 7.50 0.21 80.05

CCOO MM PPAA NN YY PPRR II CC EE (( PP )) CCHH AA NN GG EE (( PP )) %% CCHH GG.. NNEE TT VVOO LL UU MM EE

LONDON - FTSE 100CLOSING PRICES DECEMBER 22

CCOO MM PPAA NN YY PPRR II CC EE (( PP )) CCHH AA NN GG EE %% CCHH GG.. VVOO LL UU MM EE

CCOO MM PPAA NN YY PPRR II CC EE CCHH AA NN GG EE NNEE TT // %%CCOO MM PPAA NN YY PPRR II CC EE CCHH AA NN GG EE %%CCHH AA NN GG EE VVOO LL UU MM EE

US dollar .................................................................1.22575Japan yen...............................................................146.881Switzerland franc ..............................................1.20356Denmark kroner ................................................7.43845Norway kroner....................................................9.01703

0.78352 1.27628Units per €

MAKE THE MOST OFYOUR MONEY WITH US

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THE Maho-San Miguel groupacquired a 30 per cent stake inUS company Founders Brewing.

Founders is a familyenterprise, based in Michigan,established 17 years ago. Itproduces craft beers, someaged in bourbon barrels andothers with flavours that range

from blackberry to chocolate. Neither company revealed how

much buying into Founders hadcost Mahou but the acquisitionwill help the Spanish firm to tapinto the growing internationalmarket for craft beers. Bothcompanies will boost Founders’growth in the US by increasing

production, focusing oninnovation and intensifying itspresence in its existing markets.

On its website Founders’stressed that Mahou is alsofamily-owned. “It is a 125-year-old, seventh-generation, family-owned brewery based inMadrid,” Founders said.

“Mahou will bring its uniqueexperience and strong networksto build our brand in Spain andbeyond,” the statementcontinued. The Mahou deal wouldalso bring liquidity tolongstanding shareholders,Founders said.

Mahou-San Miguel sells its

brands in more than 50countries although its 10 keymarkets are located in the UK,Germany, Italy, Portugal,Scandinavia, the US, Chile,Equatorial Guinea, China andIndia. International sales nowrepresent 13 per cent of thegroup’s global turnover.

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGAL 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca Northwww.euroweeklynews.com 23EWN

MANY businessmen and women,especially those in retirement, haveacquired much knowledge and expertiseover the years. This reservoir ofexperience is invaluable to newcomerswhose business experience leaves muchto be desired. Why not publish youradvice so others can benefit from it?

Most of us recall periodicals like theExchange and Mart. In its BusinessSection, one would find books andbooklets promising riches by purchasingadvisory books. Much of it was ‘How tobe a Millionaire in 12 Months’ pie in thesky promises. In fairness, there weremany booklet gems from which I, and I

am sure many others, benefited.By buying such help books and

booklets I found my business ventureswere less hassle and more profitable.Each time I forked out £4.95 orwhatever, I received returns with bells

on, thank you very much.Self-publishing business tutors back

then had little choice but to invest in theconsiderable upfront costs of printingand distributing their booklets. Aminimum book order might be 1,000 forwhich one had to wait months fordelivery. If the books failed to sell thenthat was their problem.

Self-publishing is so much easier now.After the book has been written,assisted by an editor cum ghost-writer ifnecessary, the laptop completes thepreparation. When my books are readyI sell them through Amazon andAmazon Kindle.

I complete the online process, whichtakes an hour or so. Within 24-hours Iquickly check the proof and my book isimmediately on sale throughout theworld. I receive royalties each month.

It sounds easy enough and for thosewho can, like everything else, it is easy.Self-publishing has shown remarkableprogress. It makes it easier than everfor those retired to pass theirexperiences on to newcomers. Thebooks ordered online are printed toorder and posted direct to buyer. Nostock to carry and costly mailing isducked. Amazon does it all all. Timeshave indeed changed.

Mike WalshMike Walsh was for 20 years RegionalAssessment Manager for the Guildof Master Craftsmen, Britain’sbiggest quality assurancebody for businesses.

www.michaelwalsh.es • 966 786 932

Talking shop

Modern book business pushes forward

On the ballat Iberdrola

VICENTE DELBOSQUE, manager ofthe Spanish side thatwon the 2010 WorldCup and crashed out ofthis year’s competition,is now on the board ofthe team’s sponsor,energy group Iberdrola.

Del Bosque hascollaborated withIberdrola since 2010when he joined itsAdvisory Council inCastilla y Leon

BUSINESS EXTRA

Mahou turns to US craft beer

Second term as CEOE president for incumbent RosellJUAN ROSELL was relected as presidentof the CEOE, Spain’s federation ofemployers.

It will be the second four-year term atthe head of the CEOE for Rosell, whonegotiated Spain’s labour marketreforms with Mariano Rajoy’sgovernment in 2012. This was a closer-run contest than that of September 2010

when Rosell obtained 444 votescompared to his competitor’s 247.

This time round Rosell obtained 345votes against the 312 that went to hisonly rival, Antonio Garamendi, who ispresident of the small and mediumbusiness-owners’ association, Cepyme.

Much of Rosell’s support came fromSpain’s car and machinery

manufacturers, retailers, buildingcontractors, the chemicals industry,technology, finance, services andcatering.

A former journalist who has beenpresident of several companies, Rosell,who is 57 and married with threechildren, has degrees in civil engineeringand political science.

On learning the results of the ballot,Rosell declared that he would continueto be guided by ethical principles duringhis second and last term as CEOEpresident. Employers must continue theprocess of improving governance andtransparency, he insisted: “We have toregain and demand good practiceswithin the CEOE.”

THIS year toll roads will chalk up increasedtraffic for the first time since 2006.

According to ministry of Public Works figures,they have been used by an average 16,400vehicles a day, approximately 3 per cent morethan 2013’s daily 15,932 average.

Despite this increase, the volume of traffic onSpain’s toll roads is roughly the same as it wasin the late 90s when there were 1,700kilometres of paid motorways compared withthe present 2,560 kilometres.

This is the outcome of an accumulated 33 percent reduction since 2006’s daily average of23,909 vehicles.

The predicted increase by the end of 2014confirms the tendency that was detectible sincethe beginning of the year, with – apart from lastMarch - toll road traffic slowly increasing eachmonth.

Sources in the sector attributed the rise to a“more stable macroeconomic environment,”

boosted by increased tourism and “favourablemeteorological conditions.”

Toll charges will be frozen in 2015 for the firsttime in five years, while the ministry of PublicWorks also plans to reduce charges during off-peak hours on some motorways, followingagreements with concessionary companies.

More trafficon toll roads

INCREASE IN USE: Three per cent more vehicles travelled on toll roads this year.

AIDA

RICC

IARD

IELL

O

‘TIS the season for many latenights out - as our calendars fillup with work parties, holiday get-togethers, happy hours and NewYear and Three Kings festivities.

It’s all go in December andJanuary and oh so much fun atthe time, but the chances are thatat least one morning you’ll wakeup with a throbbing headache, anaching stomach and a deepdesire to hide in bed all day andsleep off that horrible hangover.

But unfortunately for you andfestive mid-week drinking - it’s aworkday. So what can you do?

SWEAT IT OUTIt is so tempting to pass on

exercise when the world is stillspinning once you wake up, but a30-minute run or an active yogaclass is the best thing you can dofor your aching body.

Sweating out all those beersand cocktails is what will actuallyhelp you to feel human again.Ramping up your heart rate will

help jump-start your metabolism,making you feel better faster.

WATER IS LIFERemember this. Drink a glass

of water between alcoholicdrinks while out celebrating, asthis will keep you hydrated andwill also slow you down onconsuming too much booze.

Start drinking water themoment you get up too, andthen don't stop - fluids are thekey to counteracting youralcohol-induced dehydration.

DON’T SKIP BREAKIEEven though your stomach

may be in knots getting a goodbreakfast in is vital. As appetising

as greasy bacon and sausagesmay be to some, a fattybreakfast is not always the bestoption, as it can irritate yourstomach and lead to nausea.

Cook up some eggs instead,which are a good source ofprotein. Served with some toast,this should get you through adifficult morning at the office.

DISTRACT WITH STYLETry to take the attention away

from your puffy red eyes andkiller alcohol breath by scrubbingup nice for work.

Have an extra long shower toget rid of the booze and cigarettestench.

Although you may be temptedto get into all black and throwyour hair in a ponytail - to drawattention away from you,brighten up your appearancewith a nice skirt or colourfuljumper. Cheery clothes will helpdownplay the lack of sleep anddehydration that's likely showingin your face.

BUSINESS EXTRA

Amazonpickups

AMAZON clients will nowbe able to pick up theirorders in 2,400 Correospost offices throughoutSpain. Collecting Ama-zon orders rather thanhaving them delivered isSpaniards’ preferredsystem and the Correosagreement, allied toAmazon’s existingarrangement with 1,200local shops, will provideapproximately 3,600pick-up points.

‘Grey ratio’SPANIARDS aged 65 orover exceed the workingpopulation by 26 percent, a recent studyfound. Despite anageing population andrelatively few births thisis lower than the EU’s 27per cent or Japan’s 40per cent but well aboveIndia, Mexico, Turkey orBrazil’s 10 per centdifference.

How to survive the party season, whilestill holding it together at work

JanePlunkett

A look at finance for females

jane.plunkett@euroweeklynews.com

Loose change

FINANCE, BUSINESS & LEGALEWN 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca North www.euroweeklynews.com24

ROM

BOST

UDIO

DON’T CRASH: Drink water,exercise and eat!

Q. I am president of a large community wherewe need your advice as to the correct lawregarding wheelchair access. Part of ourcommunity does not have wheelchair accessfor owners. One owner has requested that weinstall access. The cost is estimated at €6000.The owner’s annual fees are €1200. This

owner is over 70. Our urbanisation was built in 2005. The owner in fact does not needit himself at the moment but he has a friendin a wheelchair who regularly visits. Whatis the picture?

T.A. (Costa Blanca)

Send your questions for David Searl through lawyers Ubeda-Retana & Associates in Fuengirola atAsk@lawtaxspain.com, or call 952 667 090.

You and theLaw in SpainBy David Searl

Wheelchair access obligatory?

A. The short answer is that an ownerover 70 years of age, whether or not herequires a wheelchair at this time, canrequest the installation of ramps, a lift, orother facilities to ensure wheelchairaccess to his flat. This does not require amajority vote of the Community AGMand the Community as a whole isrequired to pay the costs, as long as theshare of each owner does not exceed hispresent regular payments for a year.

These measures are set out inParagraphs 1 and 2 of the new Article 10of the Law of Horizontal Property, revisedin 2013. Read the Horizontal Law inEnglish in the 2015 edition of my book,You and the Law in Spain. In your case

you estimate the total cost at €6,000. Ifwe suppose 100 flats, then each ownerwill face an extra assessment of €60.

Gib Open Skiesexclusion isnon-starterKINDLY note that contrary toSpanish media reports, Gibraltar’sinclusion remains in place as perthe Cordoba agreement of 2006.

It can only be rescinded withthe full agreement of the UKgovernment, which will not beforthcoming. The UK governmenthas called it a non-starter toexclude Gibraltar from any OpenSkies format.

It is the Spanish governmentthat has to convince all that itwishes to renege on the 2006Agreement signed by them.

Thank you for a very good anduseful newspaper.

Eric Sciacaluga (by email)

Whose fault?I HAVE rarely come across such aparanoiac writer as Mike Walsh.He compulsively interprets eachand every world politicaldevelopment as the result of thedevilish machinations of the US orthe EU.

Any sensible person wouldagree that it is not wise toprovoke Russia, or anyone elsefor that matter. It is also clear thatpolitics in the Ukraine is a verydodgy marshland.

However, the fact remains thatit is Russia, not the EU, which hasalready stolen part of that countryand is making a pretty goodimpression of wanting to stealmore of it.

Mike flings in mentions ofBudapest and Gdansk, etc; is hesaying that the West was wrongto want those movements tosucceed? Does he think thatHungarians and Poles want toreturn to Russian domination?

It may be that the loss of theSouth Stream pipeline will hurtmany in Eastern Europe, but whois doing the hurting? Russia.

If it stays cancelled the pipelinewill be replaced by another,routed through Turkey and thesame Balkan countries.

To call Kiev “a baseball batregime” is to insult the bravepeople who sat out in the cold toprotest against their arbitrarygovernment, something fewwould dare to do in Putin’s Russia.

An “international journalist”

should not be governed byparanoia or throw out loosestatements like this.

Bill Campbell, Mojacar(Almeria)

Real records?ONCE AGAIN we are faced withheadlines claiming that recordnumbers of tourists are coming tothe Costa del Sol.

But there is no indication as tohow these figures are arrived at.They may possibly be too low: weall know that many flat rentals arenever declared to the authorities.Those driving from outside Spainand occupying undeclaredaccommodation won’t show up intourist numbers.

Conversely, they may well beexaggerated, as taking figures ofairport arrivals is highly dubious.Most expat residents fly back totheir country of origin severaltimes a year and many, like thosereceiving medical treatment at‘home’ go much more often.

We all know people whocommute to work weekly in theUK. Are all these coming andgoings recorded as tourists?

It seems that Spain is clutchingat any straw, whether to showrises in property sales or thenumber of tourists. We arereminded of the saying that“there are lies, damned lies, andstatistics.”

David Chown (by email)

Pat on the backI FEEL I ought to say a few kindwords in support of ExclusiveShuttles.

Recently a friend came to visitme from England and booked aflight from Gatwick to Alicantewith a shuttle seat to LosGallardos. The flight left at

8.30am and was due to arrive at10.30pm.

The plane developed a fault sothe passengers had to wait andtransfer to another plane, whicharrived at 10pm and flew out at10.30pm, arriving in Alicante twohours later.

Exclusive Shuttles waited twohours for her. What a fantasticstory! If they had not waited shewould have been in terribletrouble having to get fromAlicante to Los Gallardos, so verywell done!

Mr Barnett, Los Gallardos(Almeria)

BandwagonWITH regard to Bill Cosby, this isall being blown up and made intoanother bandwagon.

Back in 1968 I worked as aplugger for a record company andeach week I was at Top of thePops. All the girls in the audienceshould have been 18 years old ormore but a lot were 15 or 16.

They came with one thing inmind: to s--g a band, DJ or roadcrew and a lot kept a record ofwho they had been with. This lust

was not driven by the males. Ifyou were a DJ at that time withyoung totty lusting after you, thismessed up your mind.

Plus, why did Savile’s case onlycome out when his will waspublished?

Stuart Campbell (by email)

Heartless cheatWE found a recent article abouthomeowners dealing with unpaidtaxes interesting.

We believe many morehomeowners are involved,including owners of holidayhomes that do not as yet know.In my street here in Camposolthere are at least two in the samesituation and the last update fromFacebook gave a number inexcess of 180. A lot of peopleinvolved are, as we were, a littleembarrassed to let the truth out.

We were recommended theperson referred to in the EuroWeekly News article whenpurchasing our retirement home.After signing at the Notary wewere informed that our deeds hadto go to Madrid to be registered.A few months passed and uponinquiring we were informed thatthey were held up in Madrid.

Every time we asked forour Escritura we were givenexcuses that sounded plausibleand this continued for two years.

Checking with the tax office wefound that monies paid to dealwith the purchase had indeed notbeen paid into the tax office, sothe commission and tax moneydisappeared with the personherself.

Our problem including taxesamounted to more than €18,000and ours is not the highest debt.Now we have to sell our home topay off the debt and move backto UK to rent. My wife is sufferinga severe, stress-related illnesswhich, as she is already disabled,causes us a lot of new problems.

A T Barber, Camposol (Murcia)

Bright ideaA READER recently complainedthat a calendar she had purchasedwent through the till, appeared onher supermarket bill and promptlydisappeared. She asked forsuggestions as to its fate, sohere’s mine: it slipped through thegap between the conveyor beltand the counter-top.

Sonia Johnson (by email)

WHEN YOU WRITEAll letters, whether by email orpost, should carry the writer’spostal address, NIE and contactnumber though only the nameand town will be published.

Letters may also be edited. Readers who have missed

earlier correspondence can see allletters posted on:

www.euroweeklynews.com

OPINION & COMMENT 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca Northwww.euroweeklynews.com 27EWN

The views expressed and opinions given in Letters are not necessarily those of the EWN publishers. They accept no responsibility for accuracy of information, errors, omissions or state-ments, and reject claims arising out of any action that a company or individual may take on the basis of information contained therein.

ettersLYOURSAY@EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

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Letters for Your Say should be emailed to yoursay@euroweeklynews.com, posted to Euro Weekly News, C/Moscatel 10,P-62, Polígono Industrial, Arroyo de la Miel, 29631 Benalmadena, Málaga, Spain or faxed to 0034 952 440 887

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LOOK closely at the reeds in the background and you’ll see a Grey Heron with itsback turned. As I put my camera away, it took flight - the ornithological version ofthe one that got away!

Andrew Fields, Altea (Alicante)

11TH DEC 1944.'C' SQDN. Q. BAYS

B.N.A.F.

Y dearest girl,Received today a beautifulletter from you dated the 1stDec. Very quick, eh!

So happy you are both well, as it leavesme, but of course still longing to be withmy dear ones again, whom I love somuch. So happy you got the lemons OK.Were they ripe? As they were green whensent. Should love to be home when ourson starts school but can promisenothing, only live in hope. Was sorry tohear of Joan’s husband being wounded Itrust it’s not too serious. Nothing morehas been heard of my cousin who wasalso wounded.

The weather here has been lovely thislast week, just like the weather we usedto like to go for walks, especially Sundays

when I used to take our son out while mygirl prepared dinner and after dinnergetting ready to go out, perhaps to thepark, sneaking little kisses when wethought no one was looking.

You have made me so happy especiallywith such a dear son to crown all theother happy things. So pleased to hearthe boy is in the pink, for the end couldbe in sight and it could soon be over.

It’s been a long time, dearest, butworth it to rid the world of such an evilrace. Am having a few days’ rest now butnot for long. It’s going to be hot while thislittle lot’s on but when finished will be theend of Hitler.

We are now looking forward toChristmas which under the conditions wetry and make happy. There’s a Christmastree for the local children. They have

never had Christmas, not knowing whatthe word means. Of course they are verypoor. People in England do not realise thereal meaning of poverty.

Sorry I could not send you or our son aChristmas present they are much tooexpensive for me. I went into town lastweek and they wanted three pounds fortwo postcard sized photographs.

The old feet haven’t been too bad thisyear. Expect they are shrivelling up withold age or perhaps it’s the ‘tootsie’powder you sent. Incidentally all the Regiknows about my tootsie powder, as I leftan empty tin around with yourhandwriting on it.

Well, dearest, must close now. A veryhappy Christmas to you and our lovelyboy. Remember me to all. Cheerio.

Yours for always my sweetheartYour loving Bill This letter sent by my Dad from the

front line in Egypt during the SecondWorld War. Dedicated to the millions whogave their lives so we could all be here tocelebrate this Christmas. HappyChristmas, everyone.

Love Leapyleapylee2002@gmail.com

ALL SMILES: Second World War soldiers display their Christmas goodies.

M

A Christmas war letter...LEAPY LEESAYS ITOTHERS THINK IT

OPINION & COMMENTEWN 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor th www.euroweeklynews.com28

S Christmas nears, Ifind myself beingpulled irresistiblyback in time by the

invisible silver cord that bindsus all to our childhood days,and in particular to oneChristmas Eve decades ago.

Like all small boys, ChristmasEve was the one night of theyear when no encouragementwas needed to hit the woodenhill. I would snuggle down intocool sheets, safe and securebeneath layers of coarse, heavyblankets topped off with mymother’s winter coat for goodmeasure. No electric blanketsor duvets then, but with arubber hot water bottle at myback and a stone one at my feet- being ever so careful not tostub my toe - I was soon toastywarm.

The muffled voices of myparents in the tiny living roomdrifted up to me from below.The distinct smell of hot cocoawafted tantalisingly through theopen door of my bedroom,blending in strange harmonywith the faint odour thatemanated from the black Valorheater strategically placed onthe landing between our twosmall bedrooms. That and the

coal fire below were the fullextent of our winter heating.

Nine o-clock on the biground-faced alarm clock besidemy bed. Was I the only child inthe whole world still awake?Everyone knew that FatherChristmas only called whenchildren were fast asleep.

But with visions of a long,woollen sock full of traditionalgoodies and a pillow case

bulging with exciting shapesthat would magically appear onmy bed in the morning, howwas sleep possible?

The glass in the metal framedwindow was blurred with afiligree pattern of frost bothinside and out despite theefforts of the paraffin stove. Butin one pane, an unfrozenaperture perfectly formed as ifthe Christmas Angel had

breathed gently on the glassuntil the thin layer of ice hadretreated to reveal the fullChristmas moon.

It was shining brilliantly downon the world from a clear, star-filled sky as surely it should onthis special night and as Iimagined it had over thatBethlehem hillside. I wastransfixed.

Before finally drifting into adreamless slumber to await theimagined sound of tinklingreindeer bells somewhereabove the eaves and the softtread of fur boots on floor-boards, I gazed in childishwonder, and promised myselfthat I would remember alwaysthis perfect moment - throughevery Christmas and every yearof my life yet to come.

And so it has been.May your Christmas be as full

of magic and may you alwaysremember your own specialnight with joy and hope andlove, holding dear the true spiritof Christmas.

Colin BirdEach week, Colin brings hisslightly off-the-wall view of theworld to the pages of EWN in hisown irreverent style.

JOY AND HOPE: A magical night from childhood.

A

The true spirit of the season

5:25am Malpractice7:05am 25th Hour

Drug-dealer Monty Brogan is going downfor seven years.

9:25am The Fast and the Furious11:25am 2 Fast 2 Furious1:25pm The Fast and the Furious: TokyoDrift3:20pm American Hustle5:45pm Pride and Glory8:00pm The Bone Collector10:00pm American Hustle12:20am Pride and Glory2:40am 25th Hour5:10am Zero Dark Thirty Special5:30am Point Last Seen

Crime

THURSDAY TVwww.euroweeklynews.com30 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca NorthEWN

BBC ONE7:00am Breakfast 10:00am The Gruffalo10:30am On Angel Wings 11:00am Comeand Join the Celebration 12:00pm Only Foolsand Horses 1:00pm Wallace and Gromit: AGrand Day Out 1:25pm Gnomeo and Juliet2:40pm Shaun the Sheep 2:50pm BBC News

BBC TWO ITV CH4 CH5 SKY 1

3pm

7:00am Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas8:15am Short Circuit 9:50am Pollyanna12:00pm Carols from King's 1:15pm To theManor Born 1:45pm The Choir: New MilitaryWives 2:45pm 60 Years of Carols From King's

7:20am Pat and Stan 7:30am Dino Dan: Trek'sAdventures 7:40am Dino Dan 7:55am Sooty8:05am Almost Naked Animals 8:20am AlmostNaked Animals 8:40am Horrid Henry 8:55amHorrid Henry 9:10am Horrid Henry 9:25amWeekend at Christmas 10:25am Valiant11:55am Back to the Future 2:10pm NannyMcPhee

8:55am Prep and Landing 9:20am FatherChristmas 9:55am Animals United 11:45amThe Simpsons 12:15pm The Simpsons12:45pm The Simpsons 1:15pm Ice Age: AMammoth Christmas 1:45pm The Snowman2:20pm The Snowman and the Snowdog2:50pm The Alternative Christmas Message2:55pm Channel 4 News

9:10am Peppa Pig 9:20am Peppa Pig 9:30amToby's Travelling Circus 9:45am Milkshake!Bop Box 9:50am Peppa Pig 10:00am Peppa Pig10:05am Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures10:15am Access 10:20am Andre Rieu:Christmas Around the World 11:20am Scrooge1:35pm The Sound of Music Live!

6pm

9pm

12am

3:00pm Modern Family4:00pm H.M. The Queen's ChristmasMessage4:10pm Modern Family5:30pm Modern Family

6:00pm Modern Family6:30pm Modern Family7:00pm The Simpsons7:30pm The Simpsons8:00pm The Simpsons8:30pm The Simpsons

9:00pm Best Christmas Movies Ever11:00pm Predator

Arnold Schwarzenegger leads a platoon ofmercenaries into jungle carnage against anunseen alien beast. 80s classic from thedirector of Die Hard. Contains violence.

6:00am Stargate Atlantis 7:00am The RealA&E 7:30am The Real A&E 8:00am MooneBoy 8:30am Yonderland 9:00am The Flash10:00am Football's Funniest Moments11:00am Soccer AM - Christmas Special1:00pm Football's Funniest Moments 2:00pmFootball's Funniest Moments

BBC THREE8:00pm Bolt9:30pm The Pig Who Cried Werewolf9:35pm Shrek the Halls10:00pm Shrek Forever After11:25pm Donkey's Caroling Christmas-Tacular11:30pm Bad Education12:00am EastEnders1:00am Family Guy1:25am Family Guy1:45am Family Guy2:05am Family Guy2:25am Family Guy2:50am Cuckoo3:25am Some Girls3:55am Cuckoo

8:00pm The Winter's Tale From the RoyalBallet10:00pm The Lady Vanishes11:30pm Top of the Pops12:30am Top of the Pops

David Jensen and Peter Powell present theChristmas special focusing on 1979's bestchart hits.

1:35am Only Yesterday: The Carpenters'Story2:30am The Fir Tree2:55am The Winter's Tale From the RoyalBallet4:55am This is BBC Four

BBC Four is the BBC channel for people whowant more.

BBC FOUR

SKY MOVIES

Action6:30am Exodus: Gods and Kings Special7:00am The Top Ten Show 20147:20am Romancing the Stone9:10am Man of Steel11:45am White House Down2:05pm 47 Ronin4:10pm Star Trek Into Darkness6:30pm Man of Steel9:00pm White House Down11:15pm Con Air1:15am 47 Ronin

An outcast joins a band of masterlesssamurai to wreak revenge against an evilfeudal ruler.

3:20am Star Trek Into Darkness5:45am The Top Ten Show 2014

Which movies are doing the best businessat home and across the pond?

7:00am Mean Girls8:50am Ernest Saves Christmas10:35am National Lampoon's ChristmasVacation12:15pm The Mask2:00pm The Nutty Professor3:40pm Mean Girls

After 15 years in Africa, home schooledCady knows all about herd instincts.

5:20pm The Internship7:20pm National Lampoon's ChristmasVacation9:00pm We're the Millers11:00pm Last Vegas12:55am Bruce Almighty2:45am American Pie: The Wedding4:35am The Mask

9:35am Home Alone11:25am Best Christmas Movies Ever1:00pm Elf2:40pm Die Hard 24:50pm Love Actually

Romcom following the interconnected livesof a group of loved-up, and lovelorn,Londoners.

7:10pm Home Alone9:00pm Elf10:45pm Die Hard 21:00am Elf2:40am Pete's Christmas4:15am A Very Harold and KumarChristmas5:50am While You Were Sleeping

A woman pretends to be the girlfriend of aman she is attracted to when he falls into acoma.

7:40am What's Up, Doc?9:30am Fiddler on the Roof1:05pm Ben-Hur

The spectacular 20-minute chariot race isjust one of the highlights of thismagnificent epic.

5:10pm Superman7:50pm Tootsie

Michael Dorsey is a desperate unemployedactor until he gets a female role in a soapopera.

10:00pm The Fugitive12:35am National Lampoon's Vacation2:25am The Fugitive4:45am Snowfire

Heart-warming drama about a small girlwho lives out in the countryside on aremote ranch who strikes a strangefriendship with a wild stallion, but is thehorse all that it seems?

Comedy Christmas TCM

ITV27:25am Emmerdale7:50am Coronation Street8:20am Horrid Henry: The Movie10:10am You've Been Framed!10:35am You've Been Framed!11:40am Scooby-Doo1:25pm Emmerdale1:55pm Coronation Street2:25pm All Star Family Fortunes3:30pm Catchphrase4:35pm Jurassic Park7:00pm You've Been Framed!7:30pm The Mummy Returns10:00pm GoldenEye12:35am Celebrity Juice1:20am Celebrity Juice

7:00am Judge Judy7:20am Judge Judy7:40am Judge Judy8:05am A Christmas Carol9:35am Santa Claus11:50am Carry on Screaming1:50pm Carry on Camping3:35pm On the Buses5:25pm Mutiny on the Buses7:15pm Holiday on the Buses9:00pm Carry on Cleo11:00pm Steptoe and Son Ride Again1:05am Up Pompeii3:00am The Best of Royal Variety3:55am The Best of Royal Variety4:45am Santa Claus

ITV3 ITV47:00am World of Sport7:20am Black Gold8:00am Minder8:55am The Professionals10:00am Hornblower12:00pm Pawn Stars12:30pm Pawn Stars12:55pm The Far Country2:55pm The Horse Soldiers5:20pm The Green Berets8:10pm Police Academy 3: Back inTraining10:00pm National Lampoon's Vacation12:05am Sneakers2:30am Carlito's Way5:10am Movies Now

4:30pm The Big Bang Theory5:00pm The Big Bang Theory5:30pm Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas6:00pm The Snowman6:25pm The Snowman and the Snowdog7:00pm The Big Bang Theory7:30pm The Big Bang Theory8:00pm The Big Bang Theory8:30pm The Big Bang Theory9:00pm The Big Bang Theory9:30pm The Big Bang Theory10:00pm The Big Bang Theory10:30pm The Big Bang Theory11:00pm The Inbetweeners11:35pm The Inbetweeners12:10am The Inbetweeners

E4

7:00am The Muppets Sky Movies Special7:30am Muppets Most Wanted9:30am Escape From Planet Earth11:00am Penguins of Madagascar Special11:30am The Lego Movie1:30pm Frozen3:30pm Noah

In the face of apocalyptic floods, one manis chosen to be the world's saviour.

6:00pm The Lego Movie8:00pm Frozen9:45pm Jack the Giant Slayer Special10:00pm Noah

In the face of apocalyptic floods, one manis chosen to be the world's saviour.

12:30am Endless LoveThe life of a shy teen changes overnightwhen a charming but aimless mechanicasks her out.

Premiere

4:25pm Chitty Chitty Bang BangClassic musical fantasy based on the story byIan Fleming about an eccentric inventor whorescues a derelict racing car and takes his twochildren on a memorable outing.

7:10pm Michael Buble's ChristmasSongbook8:05pm Chas and Dave's Xmas Knees Up

The Cockney singers are joined by Eric Claptonand Jim Davidson for this special.

9:00pm Britain's Favourite Christmas SongsA countdown of the nation's favouriteChristmas songs. Artists, producers andpundits unwrap the greatest gifts thatmusicians have given to us for Christmasespast and present.

3:00pm Top of the Pops4:00pm The Queen's ChristmasBroadcast 20144:10pm Puss in Boots5:40pm BBC News

6:00pm Strictly Come DancingChristmas7:15pm Doctor Who8:15pm Miranda8:50pm Call the Midwife

10:00pm EastEnders11:05pm Mrs. Brown's Boys11:40pm Michael McIntyre's VeryChristmassy Christmas Show

12:40am BBC News 12:55am OnChristmas Night 1:00am Not Going Out1:45am Would I Lie to You? 2:15amGeorge Michael at the Palais Garnier,Paris 3:15am The Heartbreak Kid5:05am Skiing Weatherview 5:10amBBC News

12:00am Marvellous 1:30am TheProducers 3:35am This is BBC TwoHighlights of programmes on BBC Two.

12:00am ITV News and Weather 12:15amYou've Got to Love Christmas 1:15amChristmas Carols on ITV 2:15am Murder,She Wrote: The Celtic Riddle 3:45am ITVNightscreen

12:00am 8 Out of 10 Cats 1:00am FatherTed 2:05am Father Ted 2:35am Father Ted3:00am Father Ted 3:30am Crazy Heart5:25am Secret Eaters

12:05am Muriel's Wedding 2:20am SuperCasino 5:00am House Doctor 5:25amHouse Doctor 5:50am Wildlife SOS

1:05am Trollied 2:05am The Flash3:00am Hawaii Five-0 4:00am A Leagueof Their Own 5:00am Hawaii Five-0

4:00pm HM the Queen4:10pm The Queen's Garden5:10pm ITV News and Weather5:20pm Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas

6:20pm You've Been Framed!6:50pm Paul O'Grady: For The Love of Dogs7:50pm ITV News and Weather8:00pm Emmerdale

9:00pm Coronation StreetDoes Kylie stand to lose everything? Stevepulls out all the festive stops.

10:00pm Downton AbbeyFeature-length special of the widely-acclaimedperiod drama.

3:45pm Kiss Me, Kate at the PromsWith Ben Davis, Alexandra Silber, Tony Yazbeck,Louise Dearman, James Doherty, MichaelJibson.

6:00pm The Queen's Christmas Broadcast20146:10pm James May's Toy Stories7:15pm Morecambe and Wise in Pieces8:15pm University Challenge8:45pm Dad's Army

9:15pm Blackadder's Christmas Carol10:00pm Tim Rice - A Life in Song11:30pm QI

Quiz show in which the aim is to be interesting.

3:05pm Scrooged5:00pm Big

Tom Hanks received a best actor Oscarnomination for his role in Penny Marshall'scomedy drama.

7:00pm Arthur ChristmasAnimated festive family fun. JamesMcAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy and JimBroadbent are among the stars providingthe voices for Aardman Animations'second CGI feature.

9:00pm Frozen at ChristmasFrozen at Christmas takes an entertainingand in-depth look at the incredible storyof Disney's Frozen, the most successfulanimated film of all time.

10:00pm Alan Carr: Chatty Man

to be time-apportioned, or the wholegain to be taxed.■ The Annual Exemption will

be available to individuals (£11,000from April 2015) and trustees(£5,500).■ The rate applicable will be

18% or 28% for individuals, 28%for trustees and 20% for companies. ■ Losses can be offset on gains

on other UK residential properties,and carried forward to set againstsimilar gains if unutilised in the

current year.■ Private Residence Relief

(PRR) elections can only be made ifthe non-UK resident spends at least90 days in their UK propertiesduring the relevant year. This mayhave an impact on their UKresidence position, so consider thiscarefully and take advice.

UK residents owning overseasproperty can also now only make anelection for PPR if they spend morethan 90 days in their properties inthat jurisdiction that year.

ISAs From 6th April 2015, the ISA (or

NISA) threshold will increase from£15,000 to £15,240. Note that whilenon-UK residents may hold ISAs,they cannot add to them.

From 3rd December 2014, ISAholders will be able to pass on theirISA benefits to their spouse/civilpartner on death, via an additionalISA allowance usable from April2015. The value then becomes liable

to income tax.Pensions For annuities providing ‘death

benefits,’ the 55% tax charge ondeath is abolished. This bringsannuities into line with incomedrawdown plans, which will see theso-called ‘death tax’ removed fromnext April. It will only apply wherethe payment occurs after 6th April2015. If the person who dies is 75 orover, beneficiaries will have to pay taxon the amount received at theirmarginal rate of income tax. Thislevels the playing field betweenpensions and annuities. The changesdo not affect people in final salarypensions.

There is still no clarity on theposition of Qualifying RecognisedOverseas Pension Schemes(QROPS).

Stamp dutyThe ‘slab system’ which operated

under the old rules in respect of thestamp duty charge on property

purchase has been abolished frommidnight 3rd December 2014.

The new system means that buyerswill only pay the rate of tax on thepart of the property price within eachtax band - like income tax.

If any of these changes may affectyou, seek specialist advice relating toyour personal circumstances.Remember you need to take the taxrules of both the UK and Spain intoaccount to determine the bestsolution for you.

Tax rates, scope and reliefs maychange. Any statements concerningtaxation are based upon ourunderstanding of current taxation lawsand practices which are subject tochange. Tax information has beensummarised; an individual is advised toseek personalised advice.

To keep in touch with the latestdevelopments in the offshore world,check out the latest news on ourwebsite www.blevinsfranks.com.

The UK Chancellor of the Exchequer,George Osborne, delivered his AutumnStatement on 3rd December. Therewere a few announcements which mayaffect expatriates, depending on yourcircumstances.

Personal tax allowanceThe personal allowance will increase

from £10,000 to £10,600 from 6thApril 2015.

The Government still believes there isa ‘strong rationale’ for removing it fornon-UK residents, but that this is a‘complex change’ for those affected.Consultation will continue on thismatter.

Capital gains tax charge for non-UKresidents

The Government released adocument to explain how this charge ongains arising on disposal of residentialproperties will work. In summary:■ Gains arising before 6th April

2015 will not be taxed. Individuals canrebase the value of their property to thevalue as at that date, or opt for the gain

By Brett Hanson,Partner,

Blevins Franks

EUROPEAN PRESSFINANCE 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor thwww.euroweeklynews.com 31EWN

The UK Autumn Statement.How Does It Affect You?

7:15am Dangerous Mind of a Hooligan8:45am The Temp10:30am Compulsion12:05pm The Call1:55pm Getaway3:30pm Cellular5:10pm Compulsion6:45pm Cold Comes the Night8:20pm The Call10:00pm Getaway11:35pm Basic Instinct1:55am The Canyons

Drama following the twisted relationshipsof a group of Hollywood hopefuls.

3:45am Death Wish5:30am Sam Churchill

Crime

FRIDAY TVwww.euroweeklynews.com32 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca NorthEWN

BBC ONE7:00am Breakfast 10:00am Pinocchio11:25am Cbeebies Peter Pan 12:05pm Roomon the Broom 12:30pm Cool Runnings2:05pm BBC News at One 2:15pm BBCLondon News 2:25pm The IncredibleAdventures of Professor Branestawm

BBC TWO ITV CH4 CH5 SKY 1

3pm

7:10am The Road to El Dorado 8:30am CollegeRoad Trip 9:50am Natural World 10:50am TenPieces 11:40am 60 Years of Carols From King's12:40pm On the Town 2:15pm Talking Pictures2:50pm Singin' in the Rain

8:20am Almost Naked Animals 8:35am Mr.Bean 8:50am Super 4 9:10am Super 49:25am Weekend at Christmas 10:25amDinner Date Australia 11:25am CelebritySquares 12:25pm Paul O'Grady: For TheLove of Dogs 1:30pm ITV News and Weather1:45pm The Chase: Christmas Special2:45pm Back to the Future Part II

6:20am Small Animal Hospital 6:50amFlicka 8:25am The Bear 8:55am The MorningLine 10:00am The Big Bang Theory 10:25amThe Big Bang Theory 10:55am InspectorGadget 12:30pm Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears aWho 2:15pm Channel 4 Racing

9:20am Toby's Travelling Circus 9:30amBananas in Pajamas 9:45am Tickety Toc10:05am Peppa Pig 10:10am Wanda and theAlien 10:25am Bert and Ernie's GreatAdventures 10:35am The Mr Men Show10:55am Access 11:05am Carry on Constable12:45pm Carry on Teacher 2:30pm Carry onNurse

6pm

9pm

12am

7:00am The Real A&E 7:30am The Real A&E8:00am Moone Boy 8:30am Yonderland9:00am The Flash 10:00am Football's FunniestMoments 11:00am Modern Family 11:30amModern Family 12:00pm Modern Family12:30pm Modern Family 1:00pm ModernFamily 1:30pm Modern Family 2:00pm ModernFamily 2:30pm Modern Family

BBC THREE8:00pm Great Movie Mistakes9:00pm Doctor Who10:00pm Anchorman: The Legend of RonBurgundy11:30pm EastEnders12:00am Family Guy12:25am Family Guy12:45am Family Guy1:10am Family Guy1:30am Cuckoo2:05am Some Girls2:35am Don't Tell the Bride3:30am Bluestone 424:00am Cuckoo4:35am Vodka Diaries

8:00pm Sacred Music8:30pm Carlos Acosta's Cuban Night10:00pm Wallander10:55pm Wallander11:50pm Britain's Most Dangerous Songs:Listen to the Banned12:50am More Dangerous Songs: And theBanned Played on1:50am Frank Sinatra3:25am Proms on Four: Battle of the Bands4:50am This is BBC Four

BBC Four is the BBC channel for people whowant more.

BBC FOUR

SKY MOVIES

Action7:00am The Lord of the Rings: TheFellowship of the Ring10:00am The Lord of the Rings: The TwoTowers1:00pm The Lord of the Rings: The Returnof the King4:30pm The Lord of the Rings: TheFellowship of the Ring

Evil forces threaten the peace of Middle-earth. 7:30pm The Lord of the Rings: The TwoTowers10:30pm The Lord of the Rings: The Returnof the King1:50am Fast and Furious 64:05am I, Frankenstein5:40am Stop! or My Mom Will Shoot

6:30am Turbo: Sky Movies Special7:00am Monsters University Special7:30am The Hangover Part III9:25am The Heat11:30am Grown Ups 21:20pm Home Alone3:15pm Crocodile Dundee5:00pm Crocodile Dundee II7:00pm The World's End9:00pm The Heat11:00pm Grown Ups 212:45am The Hangover Part III

When Doug is kidnapped, pals Alan, Philand Stu become embroiled in a battle tosave him.

2:30am Dumb and Dumber to Special

7:40am Let it Snow9:15am Home Alone 410:45am Black Nativity12:25pm Jingle All the Way2:10pm The Santa Clause3:55pm Night at the Museum: Secret ofthe Tomb Special4:25pm Black Nativity6:05pm Gremlins8:00pm New Year's Eve10:00pm Bad Santa11:45pm Gremlins1:40am Snow Day3:15am Let it Snow4:50am Home Alone 4

7:25am Ben-Hur11:40am Superman2:20pm The Black Stallion4:35pm The Littlest Hobo6:10pm Son of Paleface8:00pm Dial M for Murder10:00pm The Long Kiss Goodnight12:20am St Elmo's Fire

The ultimate 'Brat Pack' movie.2:30am The Long Kiss Goodnight4:35am Sherlock Holmes Faces Death

Basil Rathbone (Holmes) and Nigel Bruce(Watson) return for a sixth adventure.

5:45am TCM ShortsA special look behind the scenes withcomedian, director and actor Ben Miller.

Comedy Christmas TCM

ITV26:55am ITV2 Nightscreen7:00am The Hot Desk7:10am Arthur and the Great Adventure9:05am Emmerdale10:05am Coronation Street11:05am The Xtra Factor: The Winner's Story12:10pm Casper2:05pm Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas3:05pm Emmerdale4:05pm Coronation Street5:10pm Nanny McPhee7:10pm Despicable Me9:00pm Tomorrow Never Dies11:30pm Celebrity Juice12:30am Celebrity Juice

7:00am Movies Now7:10am Rising Damp7:35am Housewife 499:25am Clash of the Santas11:15am Carry on Again, Doctor1:05pm Carry on Cleo3:05pm Carry on Girls4:50pm Carry on Cowboy6:55pm A Touch of Frost9:00pm Lewis11:00pm Come Rain Come Shine1:00am The Portrait of a Lady3:50am Judge Judy4:10am ITV3 Nightscreen4:40am Emmerdale Omnibus

ITV3 ITV48:05am Minder9:00am The Professionals10:00am Hornblower12:05pm Kojak1:10pm Kojak2:15pm The 'Burbs4:20pm Smokey and the Bandit6:10pm Smokey and the Bandit II8:15pm Police Academy 4: Citizens onPatrol10:00pm National Lampoon's EuropeanVacation11:55pm Bowfinger1:50am Cannonball Run II4:00am Movies Now

3:00pm Tooth Fairy5:05pm Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas5:30pm Father Christmas6:05pm Rude(Ish) Tube6:35pm Rude(Ish) Tube7:00pm The Big Bang Theory7:30pm The Big Bang Theory8:00pm Hollyoaks8:30pm The Big Bang Theory9:00pm The Big Bang Theory9:30pm The Big Bang Theory10:00pm The Big Bang Theory10:30pm The Big Bang Theory11:00pm Kick-Ass1:20am The Big Bang Theory

E4

7:10am The Lego Movie9:00am Frozen10:55am Best Christmas Movies Ever12:25pm Captain America: The WinterSoldier2:45pm The Lego Movie4:45pm Frozen6:45pm Captain America: The Winter Soldier9:00pm Toy Story That Time Forgot9:30pm Ride Along11:10pm Captain America: The WinterSoldier1:25am Ironclad: Battle for Blood

Medieval mercenary Guy battles to protect hisfamily's estate from a brutal band of Celts.

3:15am Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa .5

Premiere

4:15pm The LadykillersBlack comedy about a hapless gang of robberswhose plans are upset by a little old lady whoruns a boarding house. This was the last of thegreat Ealing comedies.

6:00pm A Shot in the DarkSecond in the series of Inspector Clouseaucomedies.

8:05pm Rob Brydon Live

9:00pm Morecambe and Wise Live! 197310:25pm Tommy Cooper's Christmas11:25pm Carry on Christmas

Comic adaptation of the Charles Dickens tale 'AChristmas Carol' by the Carry On team, whosemenbers include Sid James, Charles Hawtrey,Barbara Windsor and more.

4:50pm Turner and HoochRoger Spottiswoode's comedy-thriller starsTom Hanks as Detective Scott Turner, who'sabout to move to a better job.

6:50pm Channel 4 NewsIncludes sport and weather.

7:00pm The Simpsons7:30pm Hollyoaks8:00pm Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

9:00pm Bear's Wild Weekend with BenStiller10:00pm The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2014

Join Jimmy Carr as he tests a panel of A-listcelebrities to see who knows the most about2014.

3:00pm Harrow: A Very British School4:00pm The Flash5:00pm The Simpsons5:30pm Treasure Island

7:30pm The Simpsons8:00pm The Simpsons8:30pm The Simpsons

9:00pm The Simpsons9:30pm Agatha Raisin: The Quiche...11:30pm A League of Their Own

Christmas Party and Exclusive.

12:00am Match of the Day 1:35amEastEnders Omnibus 4:30am Weatherfor the Week Ahead 4:35am BBC News

1:15am The Winslow Boy 2:55am This is BBCTwo Highlights of programmes on BBC Two.

1:50am Jackpot247 Join the presenters liveand play roulette on your telly. 4:00am TheJeremy Kyle Show USA 4:45am ITVNightscreen Text-based informationservice.

12:00am Alan Carr: Chatty Man 2:05amLegend 3:45am Butch Cassidy and theSundance Kid 5:35am Small AnimalHospital

12:25am The Greatest Ever Carry on Films1:35am Carry on Spying 3:25am SuperCasino 5:00am Great Scientists 5:25amHouse Doctor 5:45am House Doctor

12:30am Football's Funniest Moments1:00am Britcam: Emergency on Our Streets2:00am The Flash 3:00am Road Wars4:00am Hawaii Five-0 5:00am Hawaii Five-0

3:20pm My Family4:15pm Monsters, Inc.5:40pm The Pirates! In an Adventure withScientists

7:05pm BBC News at Six7:20pm BBC London News7:25pm Still Open All Hours7:55pm The Boy in the Dress

9:00pm EastEnders9:30pm Marvel Avengers Assemble11:40pm BBC News11:50pm BBC London News

The latest news, sport and weather fromLondon.

4:30pm Victoria Wood: That Musical WeMade5:30pm Final Score

6:25pm War Horse at the Proms7:45pm University Challenge8:15pm The Two Ronnies Christmas Show

9:00pm Victoria Wood's Mid-Life Christmas10:00pm That Day We Sang11:30pm Hunky Dory

In the heat of the summer of 1976, a dramateacher tries to put on an end-of-year musicversion of Shakespeare's The Tempest.

4:45pm Off Their Rockers5:15pm Downton Abbey

7:15pm ITV News and Weather7:30pm Emmerdale8:00pm Coronation Street

Will Gary resort to desperate measures? Roystruggles to control his nerves.

9:00pm A Christmas Cracker10:00pm Birds of a Feather10:30pm Through the Keyhole11:30pm ITV News and Weather11:45pm Out of Sight

FEATURE 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca North 33EWNTRUST our advertisers WE DO!

By Iain Dempsey

IT’S a sight that isn’tparticularly commonplacegiven its solitary nature, but itis one that routinely occurs inhundreds of thousands ofhomes across Spain, andforms a multi-billion-euroindustry.

Each night, bathed in thewhite luminous glow ofcomputer screens and tablets,Spanish gamblers will roll thevirtual dice, fold or raise onthe virtual felt, and win or lose‘virtual’ money.

But despite the dangerouslies that a gambler’s mind willtell itself, the money isn’tvirtual. It is real. And mostgamblers are losing theirs. Ifthe house always wins in thelong run (to use a Vegasparlance), then Spanishplayers are paying hand-over-fist to the virtual house.

The online gaming industryin Spain generates more than€5.5 billion each year andattracts around 300,000regular players. It’s a lot ofmoney for a country withnearly a quarter of thepopulation out of work.

According to the Organi-sation of Consumers and Users(OCU), the average Spanishonline gambler is male, agedbetween 25 and 34, andspends €1,765 a month onsports betting, onlinegambling or on poker sites. Toput that into context, thisamount is slightly above theaverage Spanish monthlywage of €1,615.

Gambling on the internet isnow the second biggest formof gambling addiction in Spainbehind fruit machines, buttakes less time to develop: twoyears instead of six or sevenfor more traditional forms ofgambling.

Of course, not everybodywho has an account on anonline poker site is a gamblingaddict. Many players enjoy thethrill of the game while notreally expecting to win. Theydo it for a few hours’recreation. However, there are

others who will consistentlybreak the golden rule ofgambling, ‘never chase yourlosses’, and find themselvesloading more money into anaccount that rarely seems togrow in size.

So what is it about onlinegambling that it only takes twoyears to develop a gamblingaddiction, as opposed to six ifyou frequent the traditional‘bricks and mortar’ establish-ments like casinos or bookies?

It comes down to perception.Like using a credit card (whichthe gambler actually needs tofinance his online account),the user tells themselves thatthe money isn’t real. If youcan’t see it and can’t touch it,it’s just a number on a screenthat can go up or down.

Access to your bank accountis just a simple click away and,who knows, you may pick upthat pair of winning aces onthe next hand.

Onlinegambling sites will also employany number of lures to reelyou in. Poker sites willregularly match your depositwith their own money, purelyto get you to deposit money.“Deposit €100 and we’ll giveyou another €100,” they will

frequently advertise. Mostplayers will find, however, thattheir €200 will slowly depleteand they’ll need to depositmore in order to keep playing.

A quick search aroundinternet forums will throw up asizeable amount of peoplecomplaining that when theyfirst joined an online gamblingsite or poker site, they foundthemselves winning regularlyand seeing their initial depositgrow in size, only for that‘lucky streak’ to come to anabrupt end shortly afterwards.But by then it’s too late,they’re hooked and chasingthe highs of that winningstreak.

A regulated industry, like itis in Spain, at least ensuresthat licensed gambling sitesare above board and playingby the rules (there have beenhigh profile cases in othercountries where some sitesweren’t). And the carrots thatthey dangle to get you in thevirtual door and start spendingmoney are just that: juicyenticements. You don’t haveto take the bait, but manypeople do.

The small percentage ofgamblers – particularly inonline poker – who do win ona regular basis, rely on thefact that most people will lose.They hone their game,memorise the necessary

statistics, and use bestjudgement at the table to

keep their accountsticking upwards. Theonline gambling worldis full of experts andsharks only too willingto take money fromthe recreational or bad

players. It’s a world notto get into too lightly,

and one that must betreated with caution.

If you can afford it, arehaving fun, and not being all-consumed by it, then by allmeans, enjoy. But if youconsistently lose and findyourself pumping more moneyinto that online account whileyou chase your losses, it mightbe time to stop or seek help.

You’ve got to know when to hold’em, know when to fold ’em...

ONLINE GAMBLING: Sites employ lures to reel you in.

The smallpercentage of

gamblers who dowin on a regularbasis rely on the

fact that mostpeople will lose.

7:15am The Transporter9:00am Transporter 210:40am Captain Phillips1:00pm The Mean Machine3:15pm Reasonable Doubt5:00pm The Da Vinci Code7:40pm Captain Phillips10:00pm Lucky Number Slevin

Two New York crime lords think lucklessSlevin owes them money.

12:00am The Transporter1:45am Transporter 23:25am The Mean Machine5:35am Deep Family Secrets

Crime

SATURDAY TVwww.euroweeklynews.com34 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca NorthEWN

BBC ONE7:00am Breakfast 9:25am Match of the Day11:00am Saturday Kitchen 12:30pm NigelSlater's New Year Suppers 1:00pm BBC News1:10pm Football Focus 1:50pm SaturdaySportsday 2:00pm Lewis Hamilton: Duel of theSilver Arrows 2014

BBC TWO ITV CH4 CH5 SKY 1

3pm

7:10am Natural World 8:10am Herbie Goes toMonte Carlo 9:50am Ensign Pulver 11:30amTop of the Pops 2 1:00pm The Hairy Bikers'Asian Adventure 2:00pm The Cheyenne SocialClub

7:50am Dino Dan: Trek's Adventures 8:05amCanimals 8:10am Canimals 8:20am Share aStory 8:25am Sooty 8:35am Mr. Bean 8:50amHulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H 9:10amHorrid Henry 9:25am Weekend at Christmas10:25am Columbo 12:25pm ITV News andWeather 12:30pm Dickinson's Real Deal1:25pm The Cube 2:25pm Tipping Point

8:05am Lost and Found 8:30am Famous Fred9:00am The Morning Line 10:00am Frasier10:30am The Simpsons 11:00am TheSimpsons 11:30am The Simpsons 12:00pmAlaska 2:10pm Channel 4 Racing

8:30am Make Way for Noddy 8:45am PawPatrol 9:00am The Adventures of Bottle TopBill and His Best Friend Corky 9:20amWanda and the Alien 9:35am Zack and Quack9:50am Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom10:05am Jelly Jamm 10:20am Access10:30am World's Strongest Man 201411:30am Pal Joey 1:45pm The Secret Garden

6pm

9pm

12am

6:00am Stargate Atlantis 7:00am The RealA&E 7:30am The Real A&E 8:00am The Flash9:00am The Fantasy Football Club 10:00amModern Family 10:30am Modern Family11:00am Soccer A.M. 1:00pm A League ofTheir Own 1:30pm A League of Their Own2:00pm Modern Family 2:30pm ModernFamily

BBC THREE8:00pm Shrek9:25pm Donkey's Caroling Christmas-Tacular9:30pm Don't Tell the Bride10:30pm Russell Howard's Good News11:00pm Russell Howard's Good News11:30pm Bad Education12:00am Family Guy12:25am Family Guy12:45am Family Guy1:10am Family Guy1:30am Family Guy2:00am Family Guy2:20am Russell Howard's Good News2:50am Bad Education

8:00pm Happy Holidays with Bing andFrank8:30pm Whisky Galore!9:50pm Top of the Pops

A selection of hit Christmas songs fromyesteryear.

10:00pm Inspector Montalbano11:50pm Country Queens at the BBC12:50am Country Kings at the BBC1:50am Dolly Parton: Platinum Blonde2:55am Sounds of the Eighties3:20am The Heart of Country: HowNashville Became Music City USA4:50am This is BBC Four

BBC FOUR

SKY MOVIES

Action7:10am 47 Ronin9:20am X-Men11:10am X21:30pm Batman Begins3:55pm Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curseof the Black Pearl6:25pm Pirates of the Caribbean: DeadMan's Chest9:00pm 47 Ronin

An outcast joins a band of masterless samuraito wreak revenge against an evil feudal ruler.

11:00pm X-MenAdaptation of the long-running Marvel comicbook series.

12:50am X23:05am Pain and Gain

6:30am The Lone Ranger Unmasked7:00am Elf8:40am Liar Liar10:10am Austin Powers: The Spy WhoShagged Me11:50am Austin Powers in Goldmember1:30pm Elf3:10pm Uncle Buck4:55pm Two Weeks Notice6:40pm Love Actually9:00pm About a Boy10:50pm Four Weddings and a Funeral12:55am About Time3:05am Jackass: The Movie4:50am A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas

6:20am Snow Day8:00am Almost Christmas9:50am Disney's A Christmas Carol11:30am The Heat: Sky Movies Special11:45am National Lampoon's ChristmasVacation1:30pm The Santa Clause 23:20pm The Best Man Holiday5:30pm Disney's A Christmas Carol

An elderly grump is shown the error of hisways by three mysterious spirits.

7:10pm Grumpy Old Men9:00pm National Lampoon's ChristmasVacation10:45pm The Best Man Holiday12:55am Grumpy Old Men

7:30am Tarzan and the Great River9:10am Tarzan and The Huntress10:40am Tarzan and the Mermaids

Tarzan and Jane attempt to protect awoman from being forced to marry a conartist.

12:05pm Tarzan and The Slave Girl1:40pm Tarzan and The Valley of Gold3:20pm Tarzan Finds a Son

Tarzan adopts the infant survivor of a planecrash.

4:55pm Tarzan Goes to India6:40pm Tarzan the Magnificent8:15pm Tarzan's Fight for Life10:00pm No Way Out12:10am The File of the Golden Goose

Comedy Christmas TCM

ITV27:00am You've Been Framed!7:20am Emmerdale Omnibus10:05am Coronation Street Omnibus1:35pm I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!2:35pm You've Been Framed!3:40pm Horrid Henry: The Movie

Grant. Comedy based on the animated seriesabout the fictional anti-hero.

5:35pm The Lost World8:10pm Johnny English10:00pm Fast and Furious12:05am Hostage2:25am Release the Hounds

The horror game show hosted by ReggieYates returns for a full series.

7:00am The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes7:55am A Touch of Frost10:00am Carry on Loving12:05pm Carry on Girls1:55pm Carry on Camping

Farcical comedy set in the great outdoors. 3:40pm Carry on Screaming5:45pm Inspector Morse8:00pm Rosemary and Thyme

Light-hearted drama series about a pair ofsleuthing gardeners.

9:00pm Doc Martin10:00pm Midsomer Murders12:05am A Touch of Frost2:10am Bomb Girls

ITV3 ITV410:30am River Monsters11:25am River Monsters12:25pm River Monsters1:30pm The Green Berets

A guts-and-glory salute to US troops in theVietnam War.

4:20pm Spartacus8:10pm Police Academy 5: AssignmentMiami Beach

Comedy sequel. 10:00pm Renegades12:10am Mcvicar

Crime drama based on the true story ofconvicted armed robber John McVicar.

2:25am Sneakers

2:00pm The Spy Next Door4:00pm The Big Bang Theory4:30pm The Big Bang Theory5:00pm The Big Bang Theory5:30pm The Big Bang Theory6:00pm The Big Bang Theory6:30pm The Big Bang Theory7:00pm The Big Bang Theory7:30pm The Big Bang Theory8:00pm The Big Bang Theory8:30pm The Big Bang Theory9:00pm The Big Bang Theory9:30pm The Big Bang Theory10:00pm Transporter 312:05am The Big Bang Theory

E4

6:30am The Amazing Spider-Man 2Special7:00am Frozen9:00am The Lego Movie10:45am Ride Along12:30pm Noah

In the face of apocalyptic floods, one man ischosen to be the world's saviour.

3:00pm Captain America: The WinterSoldier5:30pm The Lego Movie7:15pm Frozen9:00pm Captain America: The WinterSoldier11:20pm Noah1:45am Ride Along

Premiere

3:45pm Watership Down5:35pm Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

7:35pm World's Strongest Man 20148:35pm Chas and Dave's Xmas Knees Up

The Cockney singers are joined by EricClapton and Jim Davidson for this special.

9:30pm The Dog Rescuers with AlanDavies10:30pm 5 News WeekendNational and international news.10:35pm The Haunting of Radcliffe House

3:30pm Back to the Future Part III5:40pm Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas

Stop-motion animation Christmas specialbased on the film Elf.

6:40pm ITV News London6:50pm ITV News and Weather7:05pm You Saw Them Here First8:00pm Harry Potter and the DeathlyHallows: Part 1

10:50pm Darcy Oake: Edge of Reality11:45pm ITV News and Weather

Julie Etchingham with the latest headlinesfrom around the world.

3:10pm Sport Relief 2014 - The Final Score4:10pm How to Train Your Dragon5:40pm Kung Fu Panda 2

7:00pm BBC News7:10pm BBC London News7:20pm Celebrity Mastermind7:50pm Pointless8:40pm The National Lottery

9:30pm Bruce's Hall of Fame10:40pm Mrs. Brown's Boys11:15pm BBC News11:35pm Live at the Apollo

3:40pm Yes, MinisterSitcom about a British government minister andthe advisers who surround him.

4:45pm The Eagle Has Landed

6:55pm Dad's ArmyFeature-length version of the classic sitcomabout the Home Guard unit of a small seasidetown.

8:30pm Operation Grand Canyon with DanSnow

9:30pm Top Gear10:30pm James May's Toy Stories11:30pm QI XL

Quiz show in which the aim is to be interesting.

4:35pm ZuluBased on an actual historic event, this is thestory of a small group of British soldiersstationed at Rorke's Drift in Africa who are forcedto defend their tiny outpost against an attack bypowerful Zulu warriors.

7:20pm Channel 4 NewsIncludes sport and weather.

7:40pm Guy Martin's Passion for LifeGuy Martin has passion: passion for engines,mechanics and, most of all, speed.

8:10pm Mission: Impossible IIA secret agent must undertake a difficultassignment to capture a rogue erstwhilecolleague who has stolen a deadlygenetically engineered virus.

10:30pm 50 Funniest Moments 2014

3:00pm Modern FamilyThe Dunphys try to reconnect by enjoyingsome time apart from their various electronicdevices.

3:30pm Modern Family

4:00pm Modern Family4:30pm Modern Family5:00pm The Flash

6:00pm Portrait Artist of the Year 20147:30pm Futurama8:00pm The Simpsons8:30pm The Simpsons

12:05am Not Going Out 12:35am Not GoingOut 1:20am The Hot Chick 3:00am Weatherfor the Week Ahead Detailed weatherforecast. 3:05am BBC News

12:15am Harry and Paul's Story of the Twos1:15am I Confess 2:45am CanterburyCathedral 3:45am Wonders of the Monsoon4:45am This is BBC Two Highlights ofprogrammes on BBC Two.

12:05am An Audience with Joan Rivers1:00am Clockwise 2:40am Jackpot2474:00am The Jeremy Kyle Show USA4:40am ITV Nightscreen Text-basedinformation service.

12:35am X-Men: The Last Stand 2:35am TheRaven John Cusack stars in JamesMcTeigue's period thriller. 4:30am HollyoaksOmnibus

12:25am True Crimes: The First 72 Hours12:55am Access 1:00am Super Casino4:10am Kids' Hospital at Christmas5:00am House Doctor 5:25am Make it Big5:50am Make it Big

9:00pm Moonfleet 10:00pm Moonfleet11:00pm Predator 2 1:05am Stella 2:35amTrollied 3:05am Trollied 3:30am The Flash4:20am Hawaii Five-0 5:10am NCIS: LosAngeles

OPINION & COMMENT 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca North 39EWNwww.euroweeklynews.com

WHEN I was last in the UK, Icaught up with an old friendwho’d just been burgled. Shewas livid as she’s mostparticular about security. Nothalf as particular, though, asthe burglar himself. Here are afew of the things he won’t betelling you as you’re about toleave your house for yourChristmas/ New Year holiday...

Of course I look familiar. Iwas here just last weekcleaning your carpets, paintingyour windows or delivering your

new freezer. And hey, when Iwas working in your gardenthanks for letting me use thebathroom, where I unlatchedthe back window to make myreturn a bit easier.

I just love your flowers. Theytell me you have taste. Andtaste means there are nicethings within. In fact, thosetoys your children leave outsidealways make me wonder whattype of electronic games areinside!

It’s raining, you’re fumblingwith your umbrella, and youforget to lock your door -understandable. Butunderstand this: I don’t take aday off because of badweather.

Another point: I always knockfirst. If you answer, I’ll ask fordirections somewhere or offer

to clean your gutters. (Justdon’t take me up on it!) And,remember, a loud TV or radiocan be a better deterrent than

the best alarm system. Sometimes, I carry a

clipboard. Sometimes, I dresslike a gardener and carry a

strimmer. You see, I do my bestnever to look like an old lag.And two things I hate most?Loud dogs and nosyneighbours. I’ll break a windowto get in, even if it makes a littlenoise. If your neighbour hearsone loud sound, he’ll stop whathe’s doing and wait to hear itagain. If he doesn’t, he’ll justreturn to what he was doing.It’s human nature.

To you, leaving that windowopen just a crack during theday is a great way to let in alittle fresh air. To me, it’s aninvitation. And, if you don’tanswer when I knock, I try thedoor. Occasionally, I hit thejackpot and walk right in thehouse. Sorry if it happens to beyours…

But no hard feelings, eh? Justdoing my job. Happy Christmas!

A Costa del Sol resident for anumber of years, Nora is theauthor of psychologicalsuspense and crime thrillers.To comment on any of theissues raised in her column,go towww.euroweeklynews.com/columnists/nora-johnson

Nora JohnsonBreaking Views

Better to look poor and be safe thanlook rich and be a burglar’s victim

Nora Johnson’s thrillers ‘Landscape of Lies,’ ‘Retribution,’ ‘Soul Stealer,’ ‘The De Clerambault Code’ (www.nora-johnson.com) available from Amazon in paperback/eBook (€0.89;£0.79) and iBookstore. Profits to Cudeca.

JACKPOT: The burglar always tries the doors first.

WHEN on December 12, MVMutambala, a ferry operating onLake Tanganyika sank in a stormthere was little news coverage.The disaster claimed the lives ofup to 150 passengers, mostlywomen and children. Strongwinds and overloading are saidto be the cause of the tragedy.It is not uncommon for shipsoperating on Lake Tanganyika tosink, usually for the samereasons.

Still operating on the laketoday is a ship that really doesappear to be unsinkable. Whata remarkable history this ferryhas. The 1,600 ton MV Graf vonGoetzen was built in Germany in1913 but not in a conventionalway. The shipbuilders, MeyerWerft, built the Goetzen inthousands of parts.

After assembling it to make

sure all was as it should be theMV Graf von Goetzen wasdisassembled and its partspacked in 5,000 crates. Theseboxes were shipped to EastAfrica, which was then aGerman Protectorate.

Germany’s economy in 1913was on a high as were Germanspirits. That year, the Kaiser’sdaughter Viktoria Luise, was tomarry a commoner. In commonwith millions of fellowEuropeans, thousands ofGermans emigrated, many to

Germany’s overseas coloniesand protectorates.

On reaching the East Africanport of Dar es Salaam thesethousands of crates, eachcontaining bits and pieces of the234 feet ferry-liner, wereunloaded. These were thenshipped across the junglesavannah to Kigoma, a smalllakeside town 1,300km distant.Teams of master fitters andshipbuilders arrived soonafterward and set aboutrebuilding the liner. Lake

Tanganyika, the second largestlake in the world, borders fourcountries; it is the length ofEngland and is an average 50kmin width.

In 1917, three years after theoutbreak of the Great War,British troops advanced on LakeTanganyika. Scuttled to preventthe ship from falling into Britishhands this fine vessel appearedto have met its Waterloo at thebottom of this fantastic lake.The surrendering Germans weretaken into captivity and were to

remain in concentration campsuntil 1920.

Later raised to the surface, theGraf Goetzen, now namedLiemba, was returned to service.In 1951, it becameinternationally famous. TheLiemba is the gunboat, Luisa, inthe movie, African Queen. Thestars were Katherine Hepburnand Humphrey Bogart.

Today, this proud liner stillcarries passengers fromtownship to township, deliveringproduce to markets, andoffering a vital supply linkage tothe four Central Africanrepublics.

Yes, it was disheartening tolearn of the recent sinking of theMV Mutambala with such terribleloss of life. Somehow, I amrelieved to know that the shipinvolved was not the MV Grafvon Goetzen, sorry, MV Liemba.If this wonderful maritimeadventurer ever reaches itsclimax may it go up in a ball offlames without loss of life asanything less would be toounbearable to think about.

An African Queen to crown allMike WalshMike, based in MediterraneanSpain, is an internationaljournalist, author andprofessional writer.

TROUBLED WATER: Lake Tanganyika is second largest in the World.

7:15am John Q9:20am Courage Under Fire11:30am The Manchurian Candidate

Gulf War hero Raymond is running for vicepresident, backed by his ruthless mother.

1:50pm Inside Man4:10pm The Pelican Brief6:50pm Déjà Vu9:00pm The Bone Collector

A paralysed forensics expert teams up with afresh-faced cop to hunt down a serial killer.

11:05pm Training Day1:15am Inside Man3:30am The Manchurian Candidate

Gulf War hero Raymond is running for vicepresident, backed by his ruthless mother.

Crime

SUNDAY TVwww.euroweeklynews.com40 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca NorthEWN

BBC ONE BBC TWO ITV CH4 CH5 SKY 1

3pm

7:50am Antiques Roadshow 8:50am HerbieGoes Bananas 10:20am Coast Australia11:10am Saturday Kitchen Best Bites12:40pm The Hairy Bikers' Asian Adventure1:40pm Talking Pictures 2:25pm GreatContinental Railway Journeys

8:05am Canimals 8:10am Canimals 8:20amShare a Story 8:25am Sooty 8:35am Mr. Bean8:50am Ultimate Spider-Man 9:10am HorridHenry 9:25am Weekend at Christmas 10:25amColumbo 12:00pm ITV News and Weather12:15pm The Cube 1:15pm Michael Flatley: ANight to Remember 2:15pm Tipping Point

6:45am Small Animal Hospital 7:10am NFL8:10am Little Wolf's Book of Badness 8:35amIvor the Invisible 9:05am Everybody LovesRaymond 9:35am Frasier 10:00am Frasier10:30am Sunday Brunch 1:25pm Imagine That

9:00am The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill andHis Best Friend Corky 9:15am Wanda and theAlien 9:25am Zack and Quack 9:40am Benand Holly's Little Kingdom 9:55am JellyJamm 10:10am Access 10:20am World'sStrongest Man 2014 11:20am Carry onChristmas 12:25pm The Greatest Ever Carryon Films 1:25pm Carry on Spying

6pm

9pm

12am

3:00pm Treasure Island5:00pm The Flash

A muscly metahuman who can transform intometal wreaks havoc in Central City.

6:00pm The Simpsons6:30pm The Simpsons7:00pm The Simpsons7:30pm Futurama8:00pm The Flash

9:00pm Got to Dance10:00pm Modern Family10:30pm Trollied11:00pm Football's Funniest Moments

6:00am Glee 7:00am The Hour of Power 8:00amThe Flash 9:00am Modern Family 9:30amModern Family 10:00am Modern Family10:30am Futurama 11:00am A League of TheirOwn 11:30am A League of Their Own 12:00pmWWE Experience 1:00pm Modern Family1:30pm Modern Family 2:00pm Modern Family2:30pm Modern Family

BBC THREE8:00pm The Gruffalo8:30pm The Gruffalo's Child9:00pm Shrek 210:25pm Live at the Apollo10:55pm Bad Education11:25pm Family Guy11:50pm Family Guy12:10am American Dad!12:35am American Dad!12:55am Cuckoo1:25am Live at the Apollo1:55am Bad Education2:25am Some Girls2:55am Some Girls3:25am Some Girls

8:00pm The Bermuda Triangle: Beneath theWaves9:00pm Return to Betjemanland10:00pm The Good Shepherd12:35am The Kate Bush Story: Running UpThat Hill1:35am Kate Bush at the BBC2:40am Dolly Parton @ Glastonbury 20143:50am John Denver: Country Boy4:50am This is BBC Four

BBC Four is the BBC channel for people whowant more.

BBC FOUR

SKY MOVIES

Action7:00am Mission: Impossible III9:20am R.I.P.D.11:10am Thor: The Dark World1:15pm The Wolverine3:30pm Mission: Impossible III5:45pm R.I.P.D.7:35pm Elysium10:00pm Thor: The Dark World12:00am The Wolverine

An old acquaintance brings the clawedmutant to Japan, where he finds himself ingrave danger.

2:15am Fire with Fire4:05am The Bridge on the River Kwai

6:30am Monsters University Special7:00am Bean8:35am 13 Going on 3010:15am Bad Santa12:00pm Anchorman 2: The LegendContinues2:00pm The Incredible Burt Wonderstone3:45pm Bruce Almighty5:30pm When Harry Met Sally7:15pm Bad Santa9:00pm Anchorman 211:00pm Grudge Match1:05am A Very Harold and KumarChristmas2:50am Jackass: Number Two

More gross-out gags and painful pranks.

6:20am Holy Night!8:00am Coming Home for Christmas9:30am The Heat: Sky Movies Special9:45am Elf11:30am Miracle on 34th Street1:15pm The Santa Clause 3: The EscapeClause2:55pm Night at the Museum: Secret of theTomb Special3:25pm Saving Santa4:55pm Love Actually7:15pm Elf9:00pm Sleepless in Seattle11:00pm Love Actually1:20am Miracle on 34th Street3:05am Sleepless in Seattle

8:10am Tarzan Goes to India9:55am Tarzan and the She-Devil11:25am Tarzan and the Great River1:05pm Tarzan and the Green Goddess2:30pm Tarzan and The Slave Girl4:00pm The Oklahoman5:35pm The Buccaneer7:55pm The Story of Mankind10:00pm Hell on Wheels

Cullen sets out in search for fresh waterwhen his workers are hit by a choleraepidemic.

10:55pm Hell on Wheels11:50pm We are Marshall2:20am Hell on Wheels3:10am Hell on Wheels

Comedy Christmas TCM

ITV27:00am The Hot Desk7:10am Emmerdale Omnibus9:55am Coronation Street Omnibus1:25pm Jurassic Park3:50pm The Mummy Returns6:20pm Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas7:20pm Die Another Day10:00pm The Bourne Identity12:15am Saw II2:10am Release the Hounds3:10am Viral Tap3:45am Crazy Beaches4:10am Crazy Beaches4:35am Educating Joey Essex5:25am Life's Funniest Moments

7:00am Movies Now7:10am Judge Judy7:30am The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes8:25am The Best of Royal Variety9:25am The Best of Royal Variety10:25am Sherlock Holmes - The LastVampyre12:40pm Inspector Morse2:55pm Goodbye, Mr. Chips4:55pm A Touch of Frost6:00pm Lewis8:00pm Inspector Morse10:00pm Lewis12:00am Bird on a Wire2:15am Lewis

ITV3 ITV48:35am Ax Men9:30am British Superbike ChampionshipShow 201411:30am Pawn Stars12:00pm Pawn Stars12:25pm Pawn Stars12:55pm Pawn Stars1:20pm Pawn Stars1:50pm Pawn Stars2:20pm Destry Rides Again4:15pm Shalako6:30pm The Horse Soldiers9:00pm Rugby Highlights10:00pm Born on the Fourth of July12:55am L.A. Confidential

4:30pm The Big Bang Theory5:00pm The Big Bang Theory5:30pm The Big Bang Theory6:00pm The Big Bang Theory6:30pm The Big Bang Theory7:00pm The Big Bang Theory7:30pm The Big Bang Theory8:00pm The Big Bang Theory8:30pm The Big Bang Theory9:00pm The Big Bang Theory9:30pm The Big Bang Theory10:00pm The Big Bang Theory10:30pm The Big Bang Theory11:00pm End of Days1:25am The IT Crowd

E4

7:00am The Lego Movie8:45am Frozen10:45am Captain America: The WinterSoldier1:15pm The Lego Movie3:15pm Frozen5:00pm Best Christmas Movies Ever6:30pm Captain America: The WinterSoldier9:00pm Noah

In the face of apocalyptic floods, one manis chosen to be the world's saviour.

11:20pm Ride Along1:15am Ironclad: Battle for Blood3:15am Ride Along5:00am Oz the Great and Powerful

Premiere

3:10pm Black Beauty4:55pm Out of Africa

Oscar-winning drama based on the remarkablestory of Karen Blixen, who left her nativeDenmark in 1913 to marry a Swedish baronand run a coffee farm in Kenya.

8:00pm World's Strongest Man 20148:55pm 5 News Weekend

National and international news.9:00pm Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away!

Documentary series revealing the work ofbailiffs and repossession agents.

10:00pm Most Shocking CelebrityMoments 2014

This programme takes a light-hearted look atthe most outlandish and outrageousbehaviour by the rich and famous this year,featuring meltdowns, break-ups, booze-upsand punch-up.

7:00am Breakfast 10:00am G-Force 11:20am3 Men and a Little Lady 1:00pm Christmas ofMy Lifetime with Len Goodman 2:00pm BBCNews 2:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:55pm Call theMidwife

3:20pm Catchphrase4:20pm E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

Heartwarming sci-fi fantasy.

6:35pm ITV News London6:45pm ITV News and Weather7:00pm The Queen's Garden8:00pm Unbelievable Moments Caught onCamera

9:00pm All Star Family Fortunes10:00pm All New It'll be Alright on the Night11:00pm ITV News and Weather11:15pm Through the Keyhole

3:35pm The Simpsons4:00pm The Simpsons4:30pm The Simpsons4:55pm The Simpsons5:25pm The Simpsons5:55pm Channel 4 News

6:00pm Celebrity Fifteen to One7:00pm The Golden Compass

Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig and Dakota BlueRichards star in Chris Weitz's family fantasy-adventure, based on the first book in PhilipPullman's His Dark Materials trilogy.

9:00pm The Hotel10:00pm Homeland11:15pm Gogglebox

3:25pm The Heroes of Telemark5:30pm Final Score

Jason Mohammad presents all the day'sfootball results along with reports and reactionfrom the big games on another busy day offootball.

6:30pm Flog It!7:00pm John Carter

Action adventure film. Arizona, 1868.

9:00pm Top Gear10:00pm Racing Legends11:00pm House of Fools11:30pm Never Mind the Buzzcocks

12:55am The Football League Show2:15am Goal II: Living the Dream4:05am Weather for the Week AheadDetailed weather forecast. 4:10am BBCNews

12:00am The Wrong Mans 1:00am HiddenTreasure: The Comedy Vault 2:00amSuspicion 3:40am Countryfile 4:35amHolby City 5:35am This is BBC Two

12:15am Rugby Highlights 1:10am TheStore 3:10am The Jeremy Kyle Show USA4:00am The Jeremy Kyle Show USA 4:45amITV Nightscreen Text-based informationservice.

12:50am Rude Tube Christmas Cracker 20141:45am Father Ted 2:10am NFL 5:55am NFL

12:55am Autopsy: Michael Jackson's LastHours 1:55am Super Casino 4:10amWorld's Strongest Man 2014 5:00am HouseDoctor 5:25am Make it Big 5:50am Make itBig

12:00am A League of Their Own 12:30am 50Ways to Kill Your Mammy 1:30am Trollied2:00am Trollied 2:30am The Flash 3:30amMicky Flanagan's Detour De France 4:30amNCIS: Los Angeles 5:20am Hawaii Five-0

4:10pm Songs of Praise4:45pm Raiders of the Lost Ark

Action-packed adventure epic in which anintrepid archaeologist tries to beat a band ofNazis to a unique religious relic which iscentral to their plans for world domination.

6:35pm BBC News6:50pm BBC London News7:00pm Celebrity Mastermind7:30pm Countryfile8:30pm Still Open All Hours

9:00pm Antiques Roadshow10:00pm Last Tango in Halifax11:00pm BBC News11:15pm Regional News and Weather11:20pm BBC London News11:30pm Match of the Day

7:30am Captain Phillips: Sky MoviesSpecial7:50am Proof of Life10:15am Blood Work12:20pm Runner Runner2:05pm The Call3:55pm Proof of Life

Engineer Peter Bowden is snatched byprofessional terrorists in the SouthAmerican jungle.

6:20pm Blood Work8:20pm Runner Runner10:00pm The Call11:40pm Oldboy1:35am Basic Instinct3:55am City of God

Crime

MONDAY TVwww.euroweeklynews.com42 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor thEWN

BBC ONE7:00am Breakfast 9:00am Match of the Day10:30am Flushed Away 11:50am Megamind1:15pm Bargain Hunt 2:15pm BBC News at One2:30pm BBC London News 2:40pm Bedknobsand Broomsticks

BBC TWO ITV CH4 CH5 SKY 1

3pm

7:10am Tom Kerridge's Best Ever Dishes7:40am The Football League Show 9:00amNatural World 10:00am Coast Australia10:50am Celebrity Antiques Road Trip11:50am Great Continental RailwayJourneys 12:50pm The Hairy Bikers' AsianAdventure 1:50pm Talking Pictures 2:40pmAround the World in 80 Days

6:05am The Jeremy Kyle Show 7:00amDinner Date 8:00am Good Morning Britain9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The Jeremy KyleShow 11:30am Judge Rinder 12:30pm Who'sDoing the Dishes? 1:30pm All Star FamilyFortunes 2:15pm ITV News and Weather2:30pm Secret Dealers

8:20am Everybody Loves Raymond 8:45amEverybody Loves Raymond 9:10am Frasier9:40am Frasier 10:10am The Big Bang Theory10:40am The Big Bang Theory 11:05am The BigBang Theory 11:30am The Simpsons 12:00pmThe Simpsons 12:30pm The Simpsons 1:00pmHachi: A Dog's Tale 2:50pm Deal or No Deal

9:35am Bananas in Pajamas 9:50am TicketyToc 10:00am Milkshake! Bop Box 10:05amPeppa Pig 10:10am Peppa Pig 10:20am Wandaand the Alien 10:35am Bert and Ernie's GreatAdventures 10:45am The Mr. Men Show11:00am World's Strongest Man 2014 12:00pmCarry on Sergeant 1:50pm The Glenn MillerStory

6pm

9pm

12am

BBC THREE8:00pm Bolt9:30pm Shrek The Third10:55pm Hammy's Boomerang Adventure11:00pm Bad Education11:30pm EastEnders12:05am Family Guy12:30am Family Guy12:50am American Dad!1:15am Family Guy1:35am Him and Her2:05am Him and Her2:30am Him and Her3:00am Him and Her3:30am Him and Her4:00am Don't Tell the Bride

8:00pm Pompeii: The Mystery of the PeopleFrozen in Time9:00pm RI Lectures: Sparks Will Fly - How toHack Your Home10:00pm Al Murray's Great British SpyMovies11:00pm The Ipcress File12:45am The Joy of the Guitar Riff1:45am Johnny Cash: The Man, His World,His Music2:45am Glen Campbell3:45am Al Murray's Great British Spy Movies4:45am This is BBC Four

BBC FOUR

SKY MOVIES

Action7:00am Lone Survivor9:10am Night at the Museum: Secret of theTomb Special9:40am Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit11:30am King Arthur1:45pm Pirates of the Caribbean: TheCurse of the Black Pearl4:15pm Pirates of the Caribbean: DeadMan's Chest6:50pm Lone Survivor9:00pm Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit11:00pm Con Air1:00am Bad Boys II3:30am Crank5:15am Angel Flight Down

6:30am Despicable Me 2 Special7:00am National Lampoon's ChristmasVacation8:40am The Internship10:45am Groundhog Day12:35pm Employee of the Month2:30pm The Harry Hill Movie4:10pm Identity Thief6:10pm National Lampoon's ChristmasVacation7:55pm The Internship10:00pm American Pie11:40pm American Pie 21:30am American Pie: The Wedding3:10am Identity Thief5:10am Little Shop of Horrors

7:00am Jingle All the Way8:45am Snowmen10:15am Miracle on 34th Street12:15pm Best Christmas Movies Ever1:45pm New Year's Eve3:45pm Black Nativity5:25pm Miracle on 34th Street7:25pm Pete's Christmas9:00pm New Year's Eve11:00pm Black Nativity12:40am Black Christmas2:10am Pete's Christmas3:45am Holiday Inn5:30am Snowmen

Three youngsters try to break the world recordfor building the biggest number of snowmen.

7:30am The Oklahoman9:05am The Buccaneer11:25am The Story of Mankind1:30pm Darby's Rangers4:00pm The Command5:50pm Romance of a Horse Thief7:55pm Hotel Paradiso10:00pm The Illusionist

Edward Norton, and Jessica Biel star in thisdrama set in Vienna, 1889.

12:05am Raging Bull2:20am The Illusionist4:10am The Iron Sheriff5:30am Off Set

TCM presents a special on the acclaimedEnglish jazz-pop singer-songwriter.

Comedy Christmas TCM

ITV27:50am Emmerdale8:15am Coronation Street9:15am Wonderful World of the X Factor10:10am The X Factor: Your Top Ten11:10am Beethoven12:55pm Emmerdale1:25pm Coronation Street2:25pm The Jeremy Kyle Show3:30pm The Jeremy Kyle Show4:35pm The Jeremy Kyle Show5:40pm Catchphrase6:40pm A Night in with Olly Murs7:45pm Back to the Future10:00pm The Bourne Ultimatum12:20am Celebrity Juice

7:00am Judge Judy7:20am Judge Judy7:40am Judge Judy8:05am Second Thoughts8:30am Inspector Morse10:50am A Touch of Frost12:45pm The Young Ones3:00pm Agatha Christie's Marple5:00pm Carry on Cruising6:55pm A Touch of Frost9:00pm Doc Martin11:00pm Lewis1:05am Bomb Girls: The Movie2:50am Inspector Morse4:35am Inspector Morse

ITV3 ITV411:00am Magnum, P.I.12:00pm Goodwood: Cars of the Future1:00pm British Touring Car Championship2014 Review3:05pm The Professionals4:05pm The 'Burbs6:10pm Police Academy 2: Their FirstAssignment8:00pm Pawn Stars8:30pm Pawn Stars9:00pm Storage Wars10:00pm Storage Wars10:30pm Storage Wars11:00pm Natural Born Killers1:25am Rugby Highlights

4:30pm Bad(Ish) Robots5:00pm Troy5:30pm The Big Bang Theory6:00pm How I Met Your Mother6:30pm How I Met Your Mother7:00pm Hollyoaks7:30pm The Big Bang Theory8:00pm The Big Bang Theory8:30pm The Big Bang Theory9:00pm The Big Bang Theory9:30pm The Big Bang Theory10:00pm Made in Chelsea11:00pm Rude Tube Christmas Cracker201412:05am The Big Bang Theory

E4

7:00am The Lego Movie8:45am Frozen10:30am Ride Along12:15pm The Top Ten Show 2014

Which movies are doing the best business athome and across the pond?

12:35pm Captain America: The WinterSoldier3:00pm Frozen4:55pm Noah7:15pm The Lego Movie9:00pm Captain America: The WinterSoldier11:20pm Noah1:40am Ride Along3:30am Ironclad: Battle for Blood

Premiere

7:30am The Real A&E 8:00am Moone Boy8:30am Yonderland 9:00am The Flash10:00am Futurama 10:30am Futurama11:00am Futurama 11:30am Futurama12:00pm Futurama 12:30pm Futurama1:00pm Modern Family 1:30pm ModernFamily 2:00pm Greggs: More Than Meats thePie

3:00pm Greggs: More Than Meats the Pie4:00pm Futurama4:30pm Futurama5:00pm The Flash

6:00pm The Simpsons6:30pm Modern Family7:00pm Modern Family7:30pm The Simpsons8:00pm The Simpsons8:30pm The Simpsons

9:00pm Modern Family9:30pm Modern Family10:00pm An Idiot Abroad11:00pm Micky Flanagan's Detour DeFrance

4:35pm Wallace and Gromit: A CloseShave5:05pm Indiana Jones and the Temple ofDoom

6:55pm BBC News at Six7:10pm BBC London News7:20pm The Muppets

9:00pm EastEnders9:30pm Miranda10:05pm Mapp and Lucia11:05pm BBC News at Ten11:20pm BBC London News11:30pm Darcey Bussell's Looking forAudrey

3:30pm Surprise Surprise4:30pm Dr. No

The first James Bond film. Secret Serviceagent 007 goes to Jamaica to look into thedeath of a British operative.

6:35pm The Chase7:30pm ITV News London7:45pm ITV News and Weather8:00pm Emmerdale8:30pm Coronation Street

9:00pm Countrywise9:30pm Coronation Street10:00pm Christmas Epic Fails11:00pm ITV News at Ten and Weather11:15pm Atonement

5:30pm Big Dreams Small SpacesMonty Don works with amateur gardenersup and down the country to help them createthe garden of their dreams.

6:30pm Wild Brazil7:30pm Nature's Weirdest Events8:30pm Operation Grand Canyon with DanSnow

9:30pm University Challenge10:00pm Snow Wolf Family and Me11:00pm Dave Allen: God's Own Comedian

Told by family and friends, with rare unseenarchive, this documentary reflects on thecareer of Dave Allen, who became a TV star inAustralia in his twenties, before returninghome to dominate the schedules in Britain.

3:50pm Brewster's Millions5:50pm Channel 4 News

Includes sport and weather.

6:30pm Hollyoaks7:00pm The Italian Job

Classic comedy crime caper.

9:00pm Mini Cooper: For the Love of Cars10:00pm 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown11:00pm The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2014

4:05pm The Dam BustersClassic war film with one of the best-knowntheme tunes of all time.

6:35pm What the Dambusters Did Next8:00pm Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away!

Documentary series revealing the work ofbailiffs and repossession agents.

9:00pm World's Strongest Man 2014The third heat of the 2014 'World'sStrongest Man' competition.

10:00pm The Rock

12:35am Sport Relief 2014 - The FinalScore 1:35am Eurotrip 3:05am Weather forthe Week Ahead Detailed weather forecast.3:10am BBC News

12:00am The Wrong Mans 1:00amNotorious 2:40am The Apprentice 4:40amThe Mekong River with Sue Perkins5:40am This is BBC Two

1:25am Jackpot247 Join the presenters liveand play roulette on your telly. 4:00am ITVNightscreen Text-based informationservice.

1:00am NFL 2:00am The Omen 3:55amFlight of the Phoenix 5:45am Kirstie'sHandmade Treasures

12:50am Reservoir Dogs 2:50am SuperCasino 4:10am World's Strongest Man 20145:00am Great Scientists 5:25am HouseDoctor 5:50am House Doctor

12:00am Trollied 12:30am Trollied1:00am The Flash 2:00am Hawaii Five-03:00am Hawaii Five-0 4:00am A League ofTheir Own 5:00am Airline USA 5:30amAirline USA

OPINION & COMMENT 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca North 43EWNwww.euroweeklynews.com

ULIAN from English Steps in SanPedro de Alcantara says that hisfavourite Christmas memory isfrom when he was very young and

having Christmas dinner at his granny’shouse, eating sherry trifle. His grannywould wrap a 20p coin in silver foil and hideit inside the trifle and Julian would keepeating and eating until he found the coin.His granny was heavy-handed with thesherry in the trifle, so Julian became verydrunk!

Mark from The Sky Doctor in San Pedrode Alcantara says there should be gooddrunken memories: “You always knowwhen you’ve had a good Christmas whenyou’re hungover on Boxing Day!”

Conor at Charlie’s Property Angels inMarbella and Torrequebrada said that sixyears ago he volunteered to help at TheCrisis Shelter for the homeless, which thatyear was in the old BBC building inIsleworth, London. He found it a veryfulfilling and rewarding time helping othersover Christmas, when they feel the mostalone. In his eyes it’s what Christmasshould really be about.

Alicia and Cati, of Eat Away, a brand

new, outside catering and events companyin the Calvia region of Mallorca, are hopingthat this Christmas will be the mostmemorable one.

Alicia said: “We have opened the newbusiness, with great hopes for the NewYear, but I have many memories of thefiestas of recent years. I have always runbars and cafes, so the holiday time is abusy time for me. But the best thing isseeing happy customers, which in turnmakes me happy.”

Cati said: “We are very excited about thenew venture, but my favourite memory ofChristmas was when I played my first soloconcert, with acoustic guitar, here inMallorca. That was a night I will alwaysremember.”

Paula Read Kenny, from SophiaWellness Centre, Arboleas, said:

“My favourite Christmas memory has tobe as a child. At seven years old I got my

first bike, a yellowTomahawk, and wasthe proudest girl in theworld.

“I only got this greatpresentfrom

Santa because I must have been such agood girl all year.”

HACO MUEBLE’S Mark Strien, in Altea,said family Christmas dinners are always

his favourite memories ofChristmas back home in Holland:“It has been about eight yearssince I was back in Holland forChristmas so those memoriesare always special, the usualtraditions and drinks around thetree. I think for most peoplewhen they move away fromtheir home country, thosefamily memories are alwaysthe best.”

Samantha Biddles,from Algorfa Town Hall,said her favouriteChristmas memory wasjust last year: “We raisedmoney locally for foodhampers and stood thereon Christmas Eve all daygiving them to needyfamilies. The look on thefaces of all the people wasjust lovely.”

STREET TALK

What is your favourite Christmasmemory or experience?

J

Alicia and Cati

Mark. Samantha Biddles

8:00am The Bravados9:50am To Kill a Mockingbird

Deep South tale of racism and courageseen through the eyes of little Scout Finch.

12:10pm Thelma and Louise2:30pm Getaway4:15pm Reasonable Doubt6:00pm Pride and Glory8:20pm Getaway10:00pm 25th Hour

Drug-dealer Monty Brogan is going downfor seven years.

12:20am Pride and Glory2:35am Sharky's Machine4:40am The Canyons

Drama following the twisted relationshipsof a group of Hollywood hopefuls.

Crime

TUESDAY TVwww.euroweeklynews.com44 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor thEWN

BBC ONE7:00am Breakfast 10:00am Shark Tale 11:25amHotel for Dogs 1:00pm Bargain Hunt 2:00pmBBC News at One 2:15pm BBC London News2:25pm Father Brown

BBC TWO ITV CH4 CH5 SKY 1

3pm

7:15am Secrets of the Castle with Ruth, Peterand Tom 8:15am When Dinosaurs Ruled theEarth 9:50am Coast Australia 10:40amCelebrity Antiques Road Trip 11:40am GreatContinental Railway Journeys 12:40pm TheHairy Bikers' Asian Adventure 1:40pm TalkingPictures 2:20pm The Horse Whisperer

7:00am Dinner Date 8:00am Good MorningBritain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The JeremyKyle Show 11:30am Judge Rinder 12:30pmWho's Doing the Dishes? 1:25pm All StarFamily Fortunes 2:10pm ITV News andWeather 2:20pm Secret Dealers

8:45am Freaky Friday 10:30am The Big BangTheory 11:00am The Big Bang Theory11:25am The Big Bang Theory Amy getscaught in the middle of a battle of wills betweenSheldon and Penny. 11:55am Space Chimps2: Zartog Strikes Back 1:30pm The Simpsons2:00pm The Simpsons 2:25pm The Simpsons2:55pm The Simpsons

9:50am Tickety Toc 10:00am Milkshake! BopBox 10:05am Peppa Pig 10:15am Peppa Pig10:25am Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures10:35am World's Strongest Man 2014 11:35amThe Dog Rescuers with Alan Davies 12:35pmFun in Acapulco 2:35pm Close Encounters ofthe Third Kind

6pm

9pm

12am

3:00pm Greggs: More Than Meats the Pie4:00pm The Flash5:00pm The Flash

6:00pm The Simpsons6:30pm Modern Family7:00pm Modern Family7:30pm The Simpsons8:00pm The Simpsons8:30pm The Simpsons

9:00pm Modern Family9:30pm Modern Family10:00pm 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy11:00pm Britcam: Emergency on Our Streets

6:00am Stargate Atlantis 7:00am The RealA&E 7:30am The Real A&E 8:00am Moone Boy8:30am Yonderland 9:00am The Flash10:00am Futurama 10:30am Futurama11:00am Futurama 11:30am Futurama12:00pm Futurama 12:30pm Futurama1:00pm Futurama 1:30pm Futurama 2:00pmGreggs: More Than Meats the Pie

BBC THREE8:00pm Pop's Greatest Dance Crazes8:25pm Streetdance10:00pm Shrek Forever After11:25pm The Pig Who Cried Werewolf11:30pm EastEnders12:00am Family Guy12:25am Family Guy12:50am American Dad!1:10am Family Guy1:35am Bad Education2:05am Russell Howard's Good News2:35am Don't Tell the Bride3:35am Jenny Bede: AAA3:55am Festivals, Sex and SuspiciousParents4:55am This is BBC Three

8:00pm Genghis Khan9:00pm RI Lectures: Sparks Will Fly - Howto Hack Your Home10:00pm Narnia's Lost Poet: The SecretLives and Loves of CS Lewis11:00pm The 39 Steps

Classic Hitchcock mystery based on JohnBuchan's novel.

12:25am Kenny Rogers1:25am Country Kings at the BBC2:25am Synth Britannia3:55am Narnia's Lost Poet: The SecretLives and Loves of CS Lewis4:55am This is BBC Four

BBC Four is the BBC channel for people whowant more.

BBC FOUR

SKY MOVIES

Action7:00am Iron Man 39:15am The Patriot12:05pm The Mask of Zorro2:30pm Kick-Ass 24:20pm Prince of Persia: The Sands ofTime6:25pm The Lone Ranger

A lawman and his Comanche Indiansidekick embark upon a quest for justiceacross the American West.

9:00pm Iron Man 311:15pm White House Down1:30am Kick-Ass 23:20am Prince of Persia: The Sands ofTime5:25am Volcano: Fire on the Mountain

The Angel Summit ski resort has beenblessed with early snows.

7:00am The World's End9:05am We're the Millers11:10am Crocodile Dundee1:00pm Crocodile Dundee II3:05pm Ghostbusters5:00pm Ghostbusters II7:00pm The World's End9:00pm We're the Millers11:00pm This is the End1:00am Bad Santa2:45am A Very Harold and KumarChristmas4:25am There's Something About Mary

Hilarious slapstick comedy about a man sotormented by memories of a missed highschool date with a beautiful girl that hehires a detective to trace her several yearslater.

7:00am Christmas in Wonderland8:45am Snow Day10:25am Let it Snow12:05pm Home Alone2:00pm Millions3:45pm Look Who's Talking Now!5:25pm Home Alone7:15pm Millions

When a bag of cash lands in youngDamian's lap, he takes it as a sign fromGod to help the poor.

9:00pm Love Actually11:20pm The Best Man Holiday1:30am Snow Day

A school in upstate New York is closed by anunexpected snowfall.

3:15am Look Who's Talking Now!5:00am Christmas in Wonderland

7:50am Darby's Rangers10:05am Romance of a Horse Thief12:20pm Hotel Paradiso2:20pm Canyon River4:00pm The Stranger Wore a Gun5:40pm Battle Zone7:20pm King Rat10:00pm The Silence of the Lambs

Enthralling psychological thriller with JodieFoster and Anthony Hopkins.

12:15am Spawn2:05am The Silence of the Lambs

Enthralling psychological thriller with JodieFoster and Anthony Hopkins.

4:05am Heaven Can Wait

Comedy Christmas TCM

ITV210:10am The X Factor11:15am Beethoven's 2nd1:05pm Emmerdale1:30pm Coronation Street2:05pm Coronation Street2:30pm The Jeremy Kyle Show3:40pm The Jeremy Kyle Show4:40pm The Jeremy Kyle Show5:45pm Catchphrase6:45pm Darcy Oake: Edge of Reality7:45pm You've Been Framed and Famous!8:50pm Miss Congeniality11:00pm Unseen Celebrity Juice Tit Bits11:50pm Celebrity Juice12:35am Two and a Half Men1:00am Two and a Half Men

7:00am Up Pompeii8:20am Inspector Morse10:25am Inspector Morse12:35pm A Touch of Frost2:30pm Goodnight Mister Tom4:35pm Jane Eyre6:50pm A Touch of Frost

A man who has Down's syndrome isaccused of the murder of a young girl.

9:00pm Foyle's War11:00pm Lewis1:00am A Touch of Frost3:00am Sparkling Cyanide4:40am Inspector Morse

Detective drama series.

ITV3 ITV48:10am Minder9:10am The Professionals10:15am Kojak11:15am Magnum, P.I.12:20pm Pawn Stars12:50pm Pawn Stars1:15pm Classic TT 20142:15pm Minder3:20pm The Professionals4:25pm The Vicious Circle6:05pm Guns of a Stranger8:00pm Pawn Stars8:30pm Pawn Stars9:00pm The Chase: Celebrity Special10:00pm Bowfinger12:00am National Lampoon's Vacation

3:00pm The Big Bang Theory3:30pm The Big Bang Theory4:00pm Rude(Ish) Tube4:30pm Bad(Ish) Robots5:00pm Troy5:30pm The Big Bang Theory6:00pm How I Met Your Mother6:30pm How I Met Your Mother7:00pm The Big Bang Theory7:30pm The Big Bang Theory8:00pm Hollyoaks9:00pm The Big Bang Theory9:30pm The Big Bang Theory10:00pm Rude Tube11:00pm Wanted1:15am The Big Bang Theory

E4

9:00am Noah11:20am The Lego Movie1:05pm Captain America: The WinterSoldier3:25pm Ride Along5:15pm The Lego Movie7:00pm Frozen9:00pm Noah

In the face of apocalyptic floods, one manis chosen to be the world's saviour.

11:20pm Captain America: The WinterSoldier1:40am Ironclad: Battle for Blood

Medieval mercenary Guy battles to protect hisfamily's estate from a brutal band of Celts.

3:35am Ride Along5:30am Oz the Great and Powerful:Premiere Special

Premiere

3:20pm The Queen's Garden4:20pm From Russia with Love

6:35pm The Chase7:30pm ITV News London7:40pm ITV News and Weather8:00pm Emmerdale8:30pm Wilderness Walks with Ray Mears

9:00pm Harry Potter and the DeathlyHallows: Part 211:30pm ITV News and Weather11:45pm Birds of a Feather

5:15pm Chitty Chitty Bang BangThe classic musical fantasy, based on the storyby Ian Fleming, about an eccentric inventor whorescues a derelict racing car and takes his twochildren on a series of memorable adventures.

8:00pm Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away!Documentary series revealing the work ofbailiffs and repossession agents.

9:00pm World's Strongest Man 2014The fourth heat of the 2014 'World's StrongestMan' competition.

10:00pm Elvis by the Presleys UncutThis is the story of Elvis's life and career toldby those who knew him best, his family.

3:10pm George of the Jungle4:35pm Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

6:35pm BBC News at Six6:50pm BBC London News7:05pm Madagascar 3: Europe's MostWanted8:30pm EastEnders

9:00pm Holby City10:00pm Mapp and Lucia11:00pm BBC News at Ten11:15pm BBC London News11:25pm Pirates of the Caribbean: AtWorld's End

5:00pm Big Dreams Small SpacesMonty Don works with amateur gardeners upand down the country to help them create thegarden of their dreams.

6:00pm Wild Brazil7:00pm Flog It!7:30pm Nature's Weirdest Events8:30pm University Challenge

9:00pm Sacred Wonders of Britain10:00pm Snow Wolf Family and Me11:00pm Charlie Brooker's 2014 Wipe

3:25pm Deal or No Deal4:25pm The Parent Trap

Family comedy about identical twin sisters whoare separated at birth when their parentsdivorce.

7:00pm The Simpsons7:30pm Hollyoaks8:00pm Channel 4 News8:05pm Come Dine with Me

9:00pm Phil Spencer: Secret Agent10:00pm David Blaine11:20pm The Look of Love

2:00am The Hand That Rocks the Cradle3:45am Weather for the Week Ahead Detailedweather forecast. 3:50am BBC News

12:00am An Idiot Abroad 1:00am Trollied1:30am Trollied 2:00am Hawaii Five-03:00am Hawaii Five-0 4:00am Chickens4:30am Chickens 5:00am Airline USA5:30am Airline USA

12:00am Elvis '68 Comeback Special1:00am The Last Hours of Elvis Presley2:00am Super Casino 4:10am World'sStrongest Man 2014 5:00am Nick's Quest5:20am House Doctor 5:45am House Doctor

1:20am Damien: Omen II 3:10am If...5:05am Phil Spencer: Secret Agent Philvisits Shoreham-by-Sea, where Ben andKate have lived in their Grade II listed cottagefor five years.

12:15am American Gangster 2:55amJackpot247 4:00am The Jeremy Kyle ShowUSA Jeremy Kyle presents the Americanversion of his daytime talk show. 4:40am ITVNightscreen Text-based information service.

12:00am Dave Allen: the ImmaculateSelection 1:00am Backchat with JackWhitehall and His Dad 1:45am Spellbound3:35am World's Greatest Food Markets4:35am Doctor Who 5:35am This is BBCTwo

CAPRICORN(December 22 - January 20)Contact with a less than idealsituation makes you realise just howlucky you are. It has been clear that theweeks are changeable and your situationat the moment far from settled.

AQUARIUS(January 21 - February 19)This being a family oriented week,much of it may be spent gettingtogether with relatives and going over oldtimes. Perhaps you are compiling a photoalbum for older members of the family orvice versa.

PISCES(February 20 - March 20)An exciting invitation may settongues wagging and make aloved one jealous. You, meanwhile,are quite bemused by the whole thing.What comes out of this week is that youare of considerable value to others.

ARIES(March 21 - April 20)Being asked to take on a new anddemanding task this week maysee you wishing that you had been

less visible. However, don't think of thehard work involved but rather the brilliantoutcome. You will be popular.

TAURUS(April 21 - May 21)An interest in technology is notsomething new to you. What isgreat, though, is that the penny hassuddenly dropped. This week sees youunderstanding more and wanting to knowmore.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21)An urge to get moving must meanthat spring is round the corner.

Certainly, you are questioning where youwant to be in the months ahead. A housemove or work placement may be on yourmind.

CANCER(June 22 - July 23)Be aware that not everyone iswilling to work as hard as you. Whenapproached by someone wanting you totrust them, be sure of their motives. Do whatyou feel is right but remain firmly in control,especially financially.

LEO(July 24 - August 23)Social demands are made, but

try to shuffle them to the weekend. Bediplomatic or someone close could becomeirritated. Keep an eye on the small printbecause something fundamental may havechanged in a long-standing arrangement.

VIRGO(August 24 - September 23)Be aware that leopards do notchange their spots, they merelyhide them. Those who demand your trustneed a cool checking out and don't beafraid to say 'no' as and when necessary.

LIBRA(September 24 - October 23)Career and home are in

disharmony but a bit ofcompromise soon sortsthings out. You don't like playingthe 'bad guy', but honesty isalso important to you. Speakingyour mind can be liberatingalthough, initially, you may seeit as a nuisance andembarrassing.

SCORPIO(October 24 -November 22)Someone with a larger-than-life imagination makes yousmile but that was not theirintention. Try to be diplomaticand steer them in a differentdirection.

SAGITTARIUS(November 23 -December 21)Sometimes, you find ithard to do things just for thepure enjoyment of it. Realisethat not everything has to havea purpose or a profit. Lookround this week and seek outsomething that will please yoursenses and bring a smile toyour lips.

Move from the start word (SLED) to theend word (DOGS) in the same number ofsteps as there are rungs on the Word Lad-der. You must only change one letter at atime.

DOGS SLEDSUEDSUES

DUESDOESDOGS

Average: 18Good: 23

Very good: 33Excellent: 40

How many English words of fourletters or more can you makefrom the nine letters in our

Nonagram puzzle? Each lettermay be used only once (unlessthe letter appears twice). Each

word MUST CONTAIN THECENTRE LETTER (in this case T)

and there must be AT LEAST ONENINE LETTER WORD. Plurals,

vulgarities or proper nouns arenot allowed.

TARGET:

S Sun, Cl Clear, Fog, C Cloud, Sh Showers,

Sn Snow, Th Thunder

Time OutEURO WEEKLY’S SPACE FOR YOU TO TAKE A BREAK, BE INFORMED AND ENJOY A CHALLENGE

CROSSWORDSEWN 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor th www.euroweeklynews.com46

Word Ladder

Nonagram

Costa Blanca weatherfor next 7 days

agin, gain, gale, gave, gean, gear, gene, girl, girn, give, glee, glen, gran, grin, ling, rage, rang, ring, agile, agree, align,align, angel, anger, angle, eager, eagle, eager, gavel, genie, genre, given, giver, glare, glean, gnarl, grail, grain, grave,green, ingle, lager, large, leger, liege, liger, range, regal, reign, vegan, verge, angler, avenge, earing, enrage, gainer,genera, Geneva, genial, glaive, gravel, graven, greave, grieve, laving, linage, linger, raving, regain, regale, regnal,avenger, engrave, enlarge, evangel, general, gleaner, leaving, leering, lineage, realign, reeling, reeving, veering, vinegar,levering, ravelling, reveling, REVEALING

SLED

1. Band Aid’s single Do They KnowIt’s Christmas? was originallyreleased to raise money for relief ofthe 1983–1985 famine in whichAfrican country?2. What is the surname of theScottish musician who co-wrote DoThey Know It’s Christmas? with BobGeldof? 3. In which country is ‘sochivo’, aporridge made from wheat, barley,rye or rice, often the first dish in thetraditional 12-dish Christmas Evesupper (Svyatah Vecherya)?4. Adeste Fideles is a Christmascarol that has been attributed tovarious authors, including the 18thcentury hymnist John FrancisWade. What title did the EnglishCatholic priest Frederick Oakeleygive it when he translated it intoEnglish in 1841?5. Which part of the festive turkey isalso known as the merrythought orfurcula?6. First broadcast on ChristmasDay, 1986, an episode of whichprogramme was the most watchedUK television programme of alltime, with 30.1 million viewers?7. Which mechanical drawing toyinvented by Frenchman AndréCassagnes was the best-sellingChristmas toy in 1960?

1. ETHIOPIA, 2. URE (Midge Ure), 3. RUSSIA,4. O COME ALL YE FAITHFUL, 5. WISHBONE,6. EASTENDERS (when Den Watts handedover divorce papers to his wife Angie), 7.ETCH-A-SKETCH

Sudoku

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Fill the grid so that every row,every column and every 3X3 boxcontains the digits 1-9. There’sno maths involved. You solve thepuzzle with reasoning and logic.

7-Star Quiz

Saturday December 20 Friday December 19 Saturday December 20 Sunday December 21Saturday December 20 Saturday December 20

18 23

BONUS BALL THUNDERBALL BONUS BALL LUCKY STARS REINTEGRO REINTEGRO

40

22

32 42

28

IRISH LOTTO LA PRIMITIVAEL GORDO DELA PRIMITIVA

UK THUNDERBALL

UK NATIONAL LOTTERY EURO MILLIONS

LOTTERY

1 12

23

6

21 45

17

12 22

34

20

26 40

16 2

1 122

3229

3

16 2120

3732

0

23 3129

4439

5 8

TRUSTWE DO!

our advertisers

FESTIVE FUN

December 26, PabloPuyol, dancer and

singer. Malaga-bornPuyol began studying biologybefore switching to drama andstarted his professional acting

career in Madrid with themusical Grease. He has

appeared in numerous TVshows and short films.

IF IT’S YOURBIRTHDAY

THIS WEEK:This will be a super

year for romance in allits guises. Physicalrelationships can beimportant to you andthis year is all about

getting a balance. SYour

tars39

TODAY TOMORROW

ORIHUELA

TORREVIEJA

ALICANTE

BENIDORM

CALPE

DENIA JAVEA

ALTEA

DENIAJAVEA

CALPE

ALTEA

BENIDORM

ALICANTE

TORREVIEJA

ORIHUELA

Fri -Sat -Sun -

17 8 Cl17 9 Cl17 10 C

MAX MIN

Mon -Tues -Wed -

17 9 C18 9 S16 9 C

MAX MIN

Alicante TODAY: CLOUDY MAX 17C, MIN 7C

MAX MIN MAX MIN

Fri -Sat -Sun -

17 10 Cl17 12 C18 12 Cl

Mon -Tues -Wed -

19 12 Cl18 12 Cl18 12 Sh

Almeria TODAY: CLOUDY MAX 18C, MIN 10C

MAX MIN MAX MIN

Fri -Sat -Sun -

13 6 C12 8 C15 8 C

Mon -Tues -Wed -

14 9 Cl14 9 S14 9 S

BarcelonaTODAY: SUNNY MAX 16C, MIN 8C

MAX MIN MAX MIN

Fri -Sat -Sun -

17 8 Cl17 9 Cl18 9 Cl

Mon -Tues -Wed -

18 9 Cl18 9 S17 9 C

Benidorm TODAY: CLEAR MAX 17C, MIN 8C

MAX MIN MAX MIN

Fri -Sat -Sun -

12 1 S11 4 C13 4 Sh

Mon -Tues -Wed -

13 6 C11 5 C12 4 C

Madrid TODAY: SUNNY MAX 12C, MIN 3C

MAX MIN MAX MIN

Fri -Sat -Sun -

18 10 S16 11 C17 11 Cl

Mon -Tues -Wed -

17 11 Cl17 11 C17 11 Sh

MalagaTODAY: SUNNY MAX 18C, MIN 8C

MAX MIN MAX MIN

Fri -Sat -Sun -

15 8 Cl14 9 C16 10 Sh

Mon -Tues -Wed -

16 9 S15 9 Cl16 9 C

MallorcaTODAY: CLOUDY MAX 17C, MIN 8C

MAX MIN MAX MIN

Fri -Sat -Sun -

17 6 Cl17 8 Cl20 9 C

Mon -Tues -Wed -

19 9 S18 8 Cl18 9 C

Murcia TODAY: CLEAR MAX 17C, MIN 7C

This Is WhereI Leave You

NEW ONDVD

This comedy-dramabased on the book of the same nameby Jonathan Tropper tells the story of foursiblings returning to the family home uponthe death of their father. Requested to staya week, they and their free-speakingmother – along with a collection of exes,spouses and might-have-beens – mustcome to terms with emotional and tatteredrelationships and re-evaluate their sharedhistory. You can choose your friends butyou certainly can’t choose your family.Directed by Shawn Levy and starringJason Bateman, Tina Fey and JaneFonda. Run time 103 minutes. Rated R.

MAD

DOCK

S’ V

IEW

ONLI

FE

ELHO

RMIG

UERO

Across1 Bottle material (5)4 Father or mother (6)9 Put in order (7)10 Prickly shrub (5)11 Large water pitcher (4)12 Exterior (7)13 Play on words (3)14 Appeal (4)16 Cooker (4)18 Be victorious (3)20 Check closely (7)21 Counterfeit (4)24 Fact of being elsewhere

(5)25 Put back (7)26 Large wild cats (6)27 Live in (5

Down1 Small beard (6)2 Concur with (5)3 Dispatched (4)5 Cherished desire (8)6 Building (7)7 Large domesticated bird (6)8 Juicy fruit of the gourd

family (5)13 US name for dummy (8)15 Ahead (7)17 Go away (6)18 Physically and mentally

fatigued (5)

19 Disclose (6)

22 Fill with wonder (5)

23 Potato (4)

Each number in the Code Breaker grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. In this week’s puzzle, 2 representsG and 5 represents D, so fill in G every time the figure 2 appears and D every time the figure 5 appears. Now, using

your knowledge of the English language, work out which letters should go in the missing squares. As you discover theletters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and the control grid.

Code Breaker

Crosswords SPONSORED BYF o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e s p o n s o r g o t o w w w . l i n e a d i r e c t a . c o m

CROSSWORDS 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor thwww.euroweeklynews.com 47EWN

Across1 Speechless like the crossword

solver sometimes (4,3,5)7 Girl with an article for the fete

(4)8 Change of diet not a remedy (8)9 Upset baby's plaything (6)10 It is why one has intelligence

(6)11 Catch some wine tasters (3)12 Hilaire Belloc uncovered

protestor (5)14 Like the female bird, anaemic

looking (5)16 Insincerity conceals an evil act!

(3)18 Understand a luxury car is kept

in the attic (6)20 Shrewd sort of statue (6)22 On watch when living at sea

(8)23 It's a method, but not here (4)24 This stranger is disturbed by

such personal emotionsusceptibilities (12)

Down1 Escape from can? (7)2 It’s clever to start some more art

(5)3 Marshland shelters careless

blonde (6)4 About to right a counter (6)5 Tests or distributes (7)6 Letter of credit to me contains

more of the same (5)13 Nobleman that is king

previously (7)15 Sets up careless parents (7)16 Purloins duck between

beginning and end of shifts (6)17 Chew the fat about ‘Net art (6)19 Put up with a sailor, one of the

French (5)21 Coach for bride’s retinue (5)

LAST WEEK’SSOLUTIONSCRYPTICAcross: 1 Rococo, 4 Canals, 9 Cargo, 10 Plato, 11 Arena, 12 Sterile, 13 Tacked, 15 Crisis, 19 Amnesia,21 Cured, 23 Serve, 24 Elope, 25 Tidies, 26 Angers.

Down: 1 Radiant, 2 Cycle, 3 Carcase, 5 Apple, 6 Adagios, Score, 8 Moose,

14 Centred, 16 Raccoon,17 Saddles, 18 Cases,19 Asset, 20 Scene, 22 Reeve.

QUICK Across: 1 Cockerel, 4/6 Long jump, 7 Spoof, 9 Round, 11 Stain, 12 Plain, 13 Elapse, 15 Assess,19 Jeans, 21 Llama, 23 Tense, 24 Large,25 Damp, 26 Fearless.

Down: 1 Costume, 2 Cross, 3 Errand, 5 Groan, 8 Flats, 10 Drake, 14 Apart, 16 Shawl, 17 Success,18 Fleece, 19 Jaded, 20 Sane, 22 Agree.

ENGLISH-SPANISHAcross: 1 Dieciseis, 8 Acera, 9 Grain, 11 Lana, 12 Kiss, 14 Tall,16 Arma, 19 Ayuda, 21 Chico, 22 Camareros.

Down: 2 Items, 3 Cual,4 Sign, 5 Ida, 6 Hacksaw,7 Anillos, 10 Rat, 13 Sad,15 Aviso, 17 Rama, 18 Ache, 20 Uva.

FUNAGRAM SOLUTION: SAVIOUR’S DAY, CHRISTMAS ALPHABET

The clues are mixed, some clues are inSpanish and some are in English.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

English - Spanish

QuickCryptic

Funagram

Hexagram

ANGELS (10)

ASTERS

BEARDS

CANNOT

CURSED

DEALER

ELDERS

GINGER

HEARTS

HEDGES

INLAND

LARDER

MUTTER

NOISES

NOVELS

ORDERS

RENDER

SCENES

TINSEL

The purpose of the Hexagram puzzle is to place the 19 six-letter words into the 19 cells. The letters at theedges of interlocking cells MUST BE THE SAME. The letters in the words must be written CLOCKWISE. Theword in cell 10 (ANGELS) and one letter in four other cells are given as clues.

1 Shreds, 2 Seduce, 3 Desire, 4 Hauled, 5 Raised, 6 Wheels, 7 Fields, 8 Trails, 9 Leered, 10 Firing, 11 Massed, 12 Rigour,13 Traits, 14 Pierce, 15 Corona, 16 Retain,17 Scurry, 18 Scream, 19 Uprose

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

Unscramble the title of a UK Christmas number one hit singlefrom the 1990s (two words): YOUR SAD VISA

Unscramble the title of a UK Christmas number one hit singlefrom the 1950s (two words): CHARMS A BATTLESHIP

Across3 Muñeca (4)4 Diversión(entretenimiento) (3)6 Ponche de huevo (6)7 Platos (para comer)(6)11 To roast (4)12 Duende (3)13 Juguete (3)15 Cometa (5)16 Camels (8)18 Abierto (6)19 Campanas (deiglesias, puertas) (5)21 Beard (5)

Down1 Plum pudding (5,2,5)2 Acebo (5)4 Chimenea (9)5 Comida (4)8 Trineo (4)9 Regalo (4)10 Cocina (aparato)(5)14 Gold (3)17 Cornamenta (deciervo) (7)19 Bebé (4)20 Estrella (4)

WEDNESDAY TVwww.euroweeklynews.com48 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor thEWN

8:00am The Italian Job10:05am Black Hawk Down12:40pm Captain Phillips3:05pm The Italian Job5:10pm American Hustle7:40pm Captain Phillips10:00pm The Green Mile1:10am American Hustle3:40am Black Hawk Down

Crime

BBC ONE7:00am Breakfast 10:00am The Cat in theHat 11:15am Eight Below 1:05pm BargainHunt 1:50pm BBC News at One 2:00pm BBCLondon News 2:10pm Ratatouille Children'sanimation. Remy is a young rat in the Frenchcountryside who has a nose for fine food.

BBC TWO ITV CH4 CH5 SKY 1

3pm

7:10am Secrets of the Castle with Ruth,Peter and Tom 8:10am Natural World9:10am Saboteur 10:55am Talking Pictures11:35am Shadow of a Doubt 1:20pm TheHairy Bikers' Asian Adventure 2:20pmBecoming Jane

7:00am Dinner Date 8:00am Good MorningBritain 9:30am Lorraine 10:25am The JeremyKyle Show 11:30am Judge Rinder 12:30pmWho's Doing the Dishes? 1:25pm All StarFamily Fortunes 2:10pm ITV News andWeather 2:20pm Secret Dealers

7:20am How I Met Your Mother 7:40am How IMet Your Mother 8:05am Everybody LovesRaymond 8:30am The Valley of Gwangi10:20am The Brady Bunch Movie 12:00pmThe Big Bang Theory 12:25pm The Simpsons12:55pm The Simpsons 1:25pm Five Childrenand It

9:45am Bananas in Pajamas 10:00am TicketyToc 10:10am Milkshake! Bop Box 10:15amPeppa Pig 10:25am Peppa Pig 10:30am Wandaand the Alien 10:45am Bert and Ernie's GreatAdventures 10:55am The Mr. Men Show11:10am World's Strongest Man 2014 12:10pmCarry on Regardless 2:00pm The Vikings

6pm

9pm

12am

3:00pm Greggs: More Than Meats the Pie4:00pm Football's Funniest Moments5:00pm Modern Family5:30pm Modern Family

6:00pm The Simpsons6:30pm Modern Family7:00pm Modern Family7:30pm The Simpsons8:00pm The Simpsons8:30pm The Simpsons

9:00pm Football's Funniest Moments10:00pm An Idiot Abroad11:00pm Karl Pilkington: The Moaning ofLife11:55pm A League of Their Own

7:30am The Real A&E 8:00am Moone Boy8:30am Yonderland 9:00am The Flash10:00am Exodus: Gods and Kings Special10:30am Night at the Museum Special11:00am Got to Dance 12:00pm ModernFamily 12:30pm Modern Family 1:00pmModern Family 1:30pm Modern Family2:00pm Greggs: More Than Meats the Pie

BBC THREE8:00pm Puss in Boots9:20pm Puss in Boots: The Three Diablos9:30pm Wallace and Gromit: The WrongTrousers10:00pm The FA Cup's 50 GreatestMoments12:00am Family Guy12:25am Family Guy12:45am Family Guy1:10am Family Guy1:30am Family Guy1:50am Family Guy2:15am Family Guy2:35am Family Guy3:00am Sexy Beasts3:30am Sexy Beasts

8:00pm Danny Boy - The Ballad thatBewitched the World9:00pm RI Lectures: Sparks Will Fly - Howto Hack Your Home10:00pm The Joy of ABBA11:00pm ABBA at the BBC

Compilation of ABBA's greatest performancesat the BBC.

12:00am Kind Hearts and Coronets1:45am Rich Hall's California Stars3:15am The Joy of ABBA4:15am The Carpenters at the BBC

The Carpenters' debut BBC concert, recordedon their first British tour in September 1971.

4:50am This is BBC Four

BBC FOUR

SKY MOVIES

Action7:00am Sahara9:10am Man of Steel11:35am 47 Ronin1:35pm Fantastic Four3:25pm Thor: The Dark World5:20pm Pacific Rim7:35pm Man of Steel10:00pm 47 Ronin

An outcast joins a band of masterless samuraito wreak revenge against an evil feudal ruler.

12:00am Thor: The Dark World

9:35am Alien Autopsy11:20am Last Vegas1:15pm When Harry Met Sally3:00pm Anchorman 2: The LegendContinues5:05pm Talladega Nights: The Ballad ofRicky Bobby7:10pm The Hangover Part III9:00pm Last Vegas11:00pm When Harry Met Sally12:40am Anchorman 2

10:15am Jingle All the Way11:50am Grumpy Old Men1:40pm Jack Frost3:25pm New Year's Eve5:30pm Grumpy Old Men7:20pm National Lampoon's ChristmasVacation9:00pm Jack Frost10:45pm New Year's Eve1:00am National Lampoon's ChristmasVacation

6:00am Trouble Along the Way8:05am Legend of the Lost10:05am Cahill U.S. Marshal12:00pm The Green Berets2:40pm The Train Robbers4:30pm The Alamo7:30pm Rio Lobo10:00pm On Deadly Ground11:55pm Money Train2:15am On Deadly Ground4:00am Trouble Along the Way

Comedy Christmas TCM

ITV27:45am Emmerdale8:10am I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out ofHere!9:00am The Xtra Factor: The Winner'sStory10:00am The X Factor Class of 201411:05am Back to the Future1:20pm Emmerdale1:55pm The Jeremy Kyle Show3:00pm The Jeremy Kyle Show4:05pm The Jeremy Kyle Show5:10pm You've Been Framed!5:45pm Nanny McPhee7:40pm Back to the Future Part III10:00pm GoldenEye12:40am Celebrity Juice

7:00am Movies Now7:10am Sparkling Cyanide9:00am Inspector Morse11:10am A Touch of Frost1:25pm On the Buses3:15pm Mutiny on the Buses5:05pm Holiday on the Buses6:55pm Rosemary and Thyme7:55pm Agatha Christie's Marple10:00pm Gosford Park12:50am The Portrait of a Lady3:30am Inspector Morse5:15am A Touch of Frost

A man who has Down's syndrome isaccused of the murder of a young girl.

ITV3 ITV49:20am Kojak10:25am Pawn Stars10:50am Pawn Stars11:20am TT 201412:20pm TT 20141:25pm Magnum, P.I.2:25pm Minder3:30pm Pawn Stars4:00pm Pawn Stars4:25pm Smokey and the Bandit II6:30pm Police Academy 3: Back inTraining8:15pm Police Academy 4: Citizens onPatrol10:00pm Payback12:05am L.A. Confidential

5:30pm The Big Bang Theory6:00pm How I Met Your Mother6:30pm How I Met Your Mother7:00pm The Big Bang Theory7:30pm The Big Bang Theory8:00pm The Big Bang Theory8:30pm Hollyoaks9:00pm The Big Bang Theory9:30pm The Big Bang Theory10:00pm The Big Bang Theory10:30pm The Inbetweeners11:00pm The Inbetweeners11:35pm The Inbetweeners12:05am The Inbetweeners12:40am The Inbetweeners Top TenMoments

E4

11:20am The Heat: Sky Movies Special11:35am Captain America: The WinterSoldier1:55pm The Lego Movie3:40pm Middle Earth: There and BackAgain4:40pm Frozen6:40pm Noah9:00pm Captain America: The WinterSoldier11:20pm Ride Along

Premiere

3:20pm The Queen's Garden4:25pm Goldfinger

Classic spy thriller.

6:35pm The Chase7:30pm ITV News London7:45pm ITV News and Weather8:00pm Emmerdale8:30pm Coronation Street

9:00pm Rita and Me10:00pm A Funny Old Year 201411:00pm Tommy Cooper: Not Like That, LikeThis

4:10pm The Dirty DozenBlockbusting adventure featuring a motley crewof death-row criminals who get the chance toredeem themselves in action in World War II.

7:05pm Tommy Cooper's ChristmasFestive comedy and magic from Tommy Cooper.

8:00pm Can't Pay? We'll Take it Away!Documentary series revealing the work ofbailiffs and repossession agents.

9:00pm World's Strongest Man 201410:00pm Britain's Favourite Sitcoms

In the final heat of the competition, EnglishmanGraham Hicks has his work cut out as hecompetes in a field that includes the reigningchampion Brian Shaw, who is looking to impresson home soil.

3:50pm Monsters vs Aliens5:15pm Top of the Pops

6:20pm Pointless7:05pm BBC News at Six7:20pm BBC London News7:35pm Celebrity Mastermind8:05pm Indiana Jones and the Kingdomof the Crystal Skull

10:00pm Mapp and Lucia11:00pm BBC News at Ten11:15pm The Graham Norton Show

4:10pm Coast AustraliaSeries exploring Australia's coastline.

5:00pm Big Dreams Small Spaces

6:00pm Wild Brazil7:00pm Flog It!8:00pm Tigers About the House: WhatHappened Next

9:00pm University Challenge9:30pm The Help11:50pm Mock the Week

3:15pm Home Alone 35:20pm Fantastic Mr. Fox

7:00pm The Simpsons7:30pm Hollyoaks8:30pm Channel 4 News

Includes sport and weather.

9:00pm Frozen at Christmas10:00pm Alan Carr's New Year Specstacular

After the success of last year's show, Alanagain celebrates New Year's Eve andwelcomes in 2015.

12:15am Queen and Adam LambertRock Big Ben Live 12:55am New Year'sEve Fireworks 1:10am Queen and AdamLambert Rock Big Ben Live 1:30am Mrs.Brown's Boys 2:10am John Bishop Live:Elvis Has Left the Building

12:55am New Year Fireworks Live 1:15amA League of Their Own 2:15am A Leagueof Their Own 3:05am A League of TheirOwn 4:00am Hawaii Five-0 5:00am AirlineUSA 5:30am Airline USA

1:00am The ABBA Years 2:00am SuperCasino 4:10am World's Strongest Man 20145:00am Great Scientists 5:25am ChineseFood in Minutes 5:30am Chinese Food inMinutes 5:45am House Doctor

12:05am 50 Funniest Moments 20142:05am C4's 30 Greatest Comedy Shows3:55am The IT Crowd 4:20am The IT Crowd4:50am Phil Spencer: Secret Agent 5:45amKirstie's Handmade Treasures 5:55amSecret Eaters

12:55am ITV News and Weather 1:10amCarry on Camping Farcical comedy set in thegreat outdoors. 2:40am The Jeremy KyleShow USA 3:25am ITV Nightscreen Text-based information service.

12:20am Jools's Annual Hootenanny 20142:35am Glastonbury 2014 Highlights4:40am This is BBC Two Highlights ofprogrammes on BBC Two.

HEALTH & BEAUTY www.euroweeklynews.com 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor th 49EWN

When chemo gets serious, aseasonal choir lightens the load

TODAY was an early start. Ihad to shake the sparrows outof the trees! With everychemotherapy session youneed to have a series of bloodtests to check you are in a goodstate for the treatment.

If your immune system iscompromised you might not beable to have the chemo on theday. I arrived in Malaga at 7amand was third in the queueoutside the hospital for myblood test, or extraction as it isknown as here!

Finally the doors opened andin I went to get my number andwait to be called. It was oververy quickly; these people arepros, as they must do astaggering number of‘extractions’ on a daily basis!

Armed with my ticket, up Iwent to the oncology section onthe eighth floor and handed itin, and collected myappointment slip to see theoncologist later. It seemedunusually quiet, which was agood sign. I would hopefullycollect my bone scan results

and be given the all clear toproceed with chemo. In themeantime I went for breakfast.

I walked out into the coldmorning air and with the sunrising and my stomachgrumbling, I made a bee linefor a café. Always a good signwhen you see lots of GuardiaCivil and firemen having theirbreakfasts so I stopped there totake on fuel.

I ordered my usual breakfastand people-watched, one oflife’s most fascinating pastimesI have to say, and headed backto the hospital. Sitting in thewaiting room I saw somefamiliar faces, and read mybook. At 10am I was called in.

My oncologist is a charmingwoman. She asked how I feltafter my first session. I told herthat, aside from a little cold, Ihad tolerated the treatmentvery well. I also told her that Ihad had my coil or IUDremoved.

She told me my blood testresults were perfect and thatmy immune system was ingood shape so there would beno problem in receiving mysecond dose of chemo. I askedher for the results of the bonescan. She looked at my fileonline and said, “Good news,totally clear.” I have to say Iwasn’t expecting anythingnegative but it is always goodto have positive news. Itseemed that the cancer waslocalised and hadn’t spread.

Whilst having my breakfast I

had bought an ice pop whichthe nurses kept in the fridge forme. It is important for the lastdose of chemo in the sessionthat my mouth is cold to reduceblood flow and possibleulceration of the mouth. I justenjoyed eating my ice pop!

So I went and sat in my giantreclining seat and waited forthe nurse to take my bloodpressure and then put the linein. There was a young nurse,just graduated, who tried to putthe line in my hand and didn’tmanage it. So trusty Jesúscame and got the line in a veinfurther up my arm. I haven’tgot the best veins so it tookabout 20 minutes but theymanaged it by stimulating theveins with a bag of boiling hotwater.

Once the drip was in, Irelaxed. The first bag providesa stomach protector. Then your

vein is cleaned out and the nextbag is hooked up, then thesame flushing out process untilthe last bag, which is toxicorange, and then one finalflushing of the veins. All in all ittook about three hours.

Suddenly a group of ladiesarrived to accompany the ladyin the chair next to me whowas very nervous. They hadmusical instruments, Santahats and flashing glasses,chocolates and even a bottle ofaniseed! I declined the alcoholpreferring to enjoy their spirit!Jorge took photos of us all.What a great way to take yourmind off things.

I was disconnected from themachine as it made its finalbeep and it was time to go.Two down and six to go! Iwent with Jorge to visit hisuncle who also has cancer -there seems to be quite an

epidemic these days - and tohave lunch with his familywhom I regard as my familytoo. I can’t express the loveand gratitude I feel towardsthem all. They have lookedafter me and cared for me inthe most wonderful way.

After lunch it was back tomy house as the children hadarrived back from school andthey had activities in theafternoon. My children,although they love me andcare a great deal about how Iam, that doesn’t get me off thehook when it comes to jobsaround the house.

Oliver chirps: “Mum, whereare my football socks? Youhave to collect my report fromschool on Friday.” Isabellainforms me: “You have to buyme a red tutu today for the endof term dance, I have a sorethroat and you need to signthis form for school.” And so itgoes on, but I like the routine.

It had been a long day. Itook off my wig and put on ascarf. The wig gets itchy after awhile. Jorge joked saying I waslike a kinder egg but full ofsurprises.

I was starting to get used tothe strange reflection thatgreeted me in the mirroralthough I still had quite a lot ofhair. I tried hard not to rub myeyebrows too much as I hopedthey would hang on for a bitlonger! I wasn’t quite ready tosee a frameless face with twoblue orbs staring back at me!

EricaRussellWatson:My journey – and I’m driving

17th December

SANTA SALUD: The surprise choir cheered everyone up.

T O R E A D M O R E V I S I T O U R W E B S I T E W W W . E W N L I F E S T Y L E . C O MHealth & beauty TRUSTWE DO!

our advertisers

HEALTH & BEAUTYEWN 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor th www.euroweeklynews.com50

STRUGGLING to lose yourbaby weight? You’re notalone, with many womennot only struggling to losethe extra pounds gainedduring pregnancy, butactually putting onweight.

Researchers from theUniversity of Chicago andHouston MethodistHospital found that 75 percent of new mothers wereheavier a year after givingbirth than they werebefore they becamepregnant.

Analysing data fromnearly 774 low-incomewomen, the researchersfound that one-third ofthose who were normalweight before pregnancybecame overweight ormedically obese one yearafter childbirth. It isbelieved that as well asdiet and exercise, thepressures of being a newmum could be the culprit.

The researchers said thelow-income status of the774 women surveyed mayalso have affected theresults, with a lack of timeor money for gymmemberships and thepossibility that they mightnot even have a safe areato take a walk and exercise.

75% ofmothers

gain weightafter birth

OLDER people are becominghealthier each year.

A study by the University ofOxford, England, said that olderpeople should not be seen as anextreme burden on the NHS.Their study found people born ineach year from 1912 were

increasingly less likely to needemergency treatment and a 70-year-old now was spending lesstime in hospital than a 70-year-old five or 10 years ago.

Healthier diets, reductions insmoking, more vaccinations andpreventative drugs have all

helped to keep people healthierin later life.

The news comes after acharity warned the NHS washaving to fork out millions ofpounds every year because ofdelays in getting elderlypatients back into their own

homes following a hospital stay.Charity Age UK said the

average patient needingadaptations to their home, suchas hand rails, was forced to waitin hospital for an extra 27 dayswhile improvements were madeallowing them to go home.

Older people are becoming healthier

RUNNING groups havebeen instrumental in thegrowth of the sport inSpain.

In the last decade thenumber of running fanshas been increasing due tothe sport’s simplicity andthe low cost involved intaking it up, with just sometrainers, comfortableshoes and willpowerneeded to begin.

With its origins goingback to the 1970s in theUSA, where it was largelyseen as a sport exclusivelyfor men, now it is openand enjoyed by everyoneand is ever more popularin Spain.

It is estimated thataround 10 per cent of thepopulation are regularrunners and the Madridand Barcelona marathons

are amongst the largest inthe world.

The latest ‘alternative’runners’ groups are knownas ‘Beer Runners,’ endingtheir running sessions with

a beer at a bar. Its origin isfound across the pond inPhiladelphia, where thefirst group was created in2007 following a study ledby Dr Manuel J. Castillo at

the University of Granada,concluding that beer canhelp the recovery of waterafter exercise.

The practice has spreadover the last two years to

more than 40 cities withupwards of 15,000participants, meaning thatwhat was once a lonelysport, is now a very socialactivity.

Runners’ groups spur growth ofa sport that’s no longer lonely

SOCIAL SIDE: People running together, sometimes with a beer afterwards, has seen the sport spread.

OPINION & COMMENT 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca North 51EWNwww.euroweeklynews.com

Bridge articles by JAVEA BRIDGE CLUB

CARDINAL Morton was Chancellor toHenry II. Morton claimed that a man wholived ostentatiously could obviously affordto pay the King’s taxes, while a man wholived frugally must be saving his wealthand could still afford to pay the taxes.

The Morton’s Fork principle in bridgeoccurs when a player is faced with twounpleasant losing alternatives:

West, fearing that declarer held ♥AQ,decides to lead the ‘safe’ ♠Q instead. Thisknocks out dummy’s ♠K entry, but givesdeclarer a problem on how to establishand run the ♦ suit. He realises that heneeds to catch a defender, almostcertainly West on the bidding, with ♦Asingleton or doubleton. If he leads a low♦ to the Q, West simply withholds hisAce. Leading the ♦K is no better. The ♦Awins and East’s ♦T will still stop the suit.

Is the contract now hopeless? No –cross to the ♣A, then lead the ♦Q andWest is caught in the Fork. If he takes theAce, the ♦ are established. If he ducks,the ♦K overtakes and a low ♦ is returnedto the now singleton Ace, setting up thesuit.

We play duplicatefour days a week,starting at 3pm

(arrive by 2.45pmplease). Monday –no fear, Tuesday &

Friday – open,Wednesday – hostsystem, so you will

be assured of apartner. On

Thursday – lessons.

We’d like ourarticles to be

interactive so if youhave bridge-related

comments,problems, etc, send

them to:questions@javea

bridgeclub.com andwe’ll do our best to

answer.

♠♥ ♦♣

S W N E1♥ 3♥ No

3NT No No No

HE PSOE can’tafford to fall into itsold trap of imposingparty preferences

on the public.Susana Diaz, the PSOE’s

Number Two and president ofthe Andalucia region, wasAlfredo Rubalcaba’s choice tofollow him as party secretarygeneral. Many - and possiblyDiaz herself - were disappointedwhen this internal decision waschallenged. The leadership racewas thrown open and PedroSanchez took over.

Now Andalucia has saidsupport for Sanchez will beconditioned by the results ofMay’s municipal and regionalelections. If he does well, thenSanchez will have 100 per centbacking, and that backing isimportant because Andalucia iswhere so many PSOE votes

come from.But a Sanchez success will

have little to do with ideologyand more to do with image. Ifhis showing is poor because theappeal of Pablo Iglesias andPodemos is stronger, thenSanchez won’t be the PSOE’spresidential candidate for theNovember general elections.Diaz could be jockeying forposition but despite her

popularity within the party shehas less national appeal thanSanchez. If the party does notstick with him, the PSOE couldbe in for another beating on theroad to nowhere.

Jammy dodgersGERMANY’S Bundesbankbelieves fledgling partyPodemos will threaten the EU

economy.As so depressingly often, the

Bundesbank is right, butPodemos’s dislike of banks andhints of defaulting on Spain’sdebt are likely to win morevoters than they repel.Podemos wants to substituteAlice in Wonderland’s “jamyesterday and jam tomorrowbut never today” with lots ofjam today although thisinvariably augurs hungertomorrow.

Ancient historySPAIN’S Prime Minister

Mariano Rajoy behaves likeEeyore but makespronouncements like Tigger.

He sounded very Tigger whenhe declared in a speech toSpanish businessmen that theeconomic crisis was “ancienthistory” and this is “theChristmas of the recovery.”

On paper the country is out ofrecession and the economy isslowly recuperating but as yetfew are feeling the benefits.

They did not hesitate to say

so and Rajoy later qualified hisexultant claims. “Recovery hasnot reached everyone orreached everyone to the samedegree,” he admitted a fewdays later.

Rajoy was wise to tone downthe triumphalism. The speechwas reminiscent of George WBush’s elated “Missionaccomplished!” exclaimed inMay 2003. He said that twomonths after the invasion andoccupation of Iraq and 11 yearsbefore its invasion and part-occupation by ISIS.

There are times when it ispreferable to emulate Eeyore.

Only answerTHE government’s reform ofthe Penal Code contains a ‘lifemeans life’ clause. This is newto Spain and causes concern insome legal circles althoughthere are fewer misgivingsoutside them. But it is the onlyanswer to some crimes andsaves the state fromcontaminating its hands withcapital punishment.

Cassandra NashA weekly look

- and not entirely impartial reaction - to the Spanish political scene

T

SUSANA DIAZ: Overtaken in the leadership race.

Trying not to fall into an age old trap

Morton’s Fork

NW E

S

West♠QJT8♥KJT94♦A9♣Q4

East♠9765♥Q2♦T87♣JT82

South♠A432♥A875♦Q♣A765

North♠K♥63♦KJ65432♣K93

THE CURRY POT within theHotel Moli in Alfaz del Pi isowned by expat Sonny whohas run his own restaurantsin the UK.

Wanting to sample thecuisine, we sent alongEuro Weekly’s Carol Sizerto try it out on Sunday,instead of having hertraditional roast dinner...

“We were given thechoice of whether wewanted to sit inside the traditional Indianrestaurant or to have ourmeal served out on theterrace.

“As it was a beautifulafternoon, we opted forthe terrace. It is veryspacious, able to cater foraround 100 covers and is awonderful sun trap for lateafternoon sun.

“The menu itself is veryprofessionally bound andeasy to understand. Thereis a full variety of starters,mains and desserts and ofcourse also a wide range ofdrinks to choose from.

“We were told that theycould basically create ourown dish from differentoptions with a preferredsauce, or if there wasanything we didn’t see onthe menu, we werewelcome to ask. Childrenare also catered for.”

Carol and her partnerstarted their meal with thepickle tray which comeshighly recommended:“Usually I cannot eat thehot pickle in Indianrestaurants because I findit too hot and that it leavesa bad aftertaste, often

spoiling what follows. Thisis not the case at the CurryPot as it was tangy andwarming. In fact all threepickle dishes were mostpleasant.”

Next they opted for theshared platter at €11.95.Carol said: “This was verywell presented and therewas plenty. It was a lovely

blend of flavours consistingof seekh kebab, lamb andchicken tikka and chickentandoori. The platter wasstill sizzling when we atethe last morsel, showingattention to detail. Theplates were also pipinghot.”

For mains, Carol hadmakhanwala at €8.50. Thisis an authentic makhani-chicken tikka in a richbutter and cream basedsauce with crushed clovesand cardamom seeds.

“It was delicious. I wasalso glad that I chose thejheera rice at €2.95 toaccompany the dish, as Ilove the taste of corianderand cumin.

“My partner had the lambbhuna at €8.95. He said thetastes of the lamb,tomatoes, herbs and aspice were just perfect. Hechose the keema rice(€3.95) that is made withminced lamb andthoroughly enjoyed it.”

They accompanied themeal with peshwari naan at€3.25 and cheese naan at€2.50, which Carol said wasthe best naan she had evertasted: “Both naans stayedlovely and soft, even whenthey were cooling off.”

She concluded: “Portionsizes were excellent. Iactually struggled to finishbut the food was just toogood to leave. In any case,we were offered a takehome facility. Interestingdesserts were on the menubut we could not havemanaged one. Perhapsnext time.”

You can check out thefull menu, background anddirections on: www.thecurrypotalfaz.com

The restaurant is openTuesday to Sunday from 1-4pm and from 6-10.30pm.Booking is recommended,though not essential.

The Curry Pot - C/Calvari12

Alfaz del Pi. Tel: 965 888 244

Visitwww.thecurrypotalfaz.com

Costa Blanca’s best guide to local restaurantsoodTR

UST our advertisers

FWE DO!

& D

RIN

K

TO READ MORE VISIT: WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM/FEATURES/RESTAURANTS

FOOD & DRINKEWN 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca North www.euroweeklynews.com52

Try The Curry Pot for one of the bestIndian meals around

SIZZLINGSTARTER:Tantalisinglygood.

FOOD & DRINKEWN 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca North www.euroweeklynews.com54

Advertising Feature

SITUATED in a lovingly restored finca inBenitachell, Tres Arcos is offering aChristmas feast to behold.

A festive menu is being served dailythroughout December with the lunch andevening menu offering changes eachday, ensuring that no matter when youvisit you are guaranteed a temptingchoice for the taste buds.

A selection of starters includes the likesof smoked salmon with orange, rocketand parmesan salad; melon with serranoham; chicken liver parfait with port, redcurrant and onion marmalade, and grilledgoat’s cheese and caramelised pears withcrushed walnut and maple dressing.

For mains you will be just as spoilt forchoice with hake baked with smokedsalmon served on crushed dill, newpotatoes with cava and langoustinesauce; Galician roasted beef withYorkshire pudding; French style steak piewith merlot red wine, and roast, rolledturkey break breast, all appearing on themenu.

Those with a sweet treat will not bedisappointed with choices to includewarm chocolate fudge cake; Christmaspudding; apple and blackberry crumble;grilled pineapple with vanilla ice cream;choux pastry profiteroles, and stickytoffee pudding.

During lunch service, two courses,including half a bottle of wine, costs€15.90 per person, with three courses for€18.90.

If you wish to dine in the cosy,welcoming restaurant in the evening, thetwo course option with wine is €16.90and €19.90 for three courses.

New Year’s Eve promises to be acelebration to remember. End 2014 in stylewith a three-course meal before seeing in2015 downstairs in the adjoining Bull andBear British Country Pub with free cava andgrapes at midnight with entertainment,disco and karaoke with Steve Solo. A final

few places are still available costing €35,including half a bottle of wine.

And why not make the most of thecelebrations and take advantage of theirfive en suite rooms, available within thesmall boutique hotel, and stay over toreally enjoy your evening out at any timeof the year.

Tres Arcos is owned and run by theJohnson family who took it over andrenovated the restaurant around sevenyears ago.

They strive to offer the best in qualitycuisine and friendly service and are readyand waiting to give you an experience toremember.

Tres Arcos - BenitachellTel: 966 494 143 or

688 883 004Search ‘The Bull and Bear’ on Facebook

Tres Arcos is a fabulousfinca setting for all your

celebrations

TRES ARCOS: In Benitachell.

FESTIVE DINING: Enjoy a special menuthroughout December at Tres Arcos.

HOW fast the gardeningand social years go roundand earlier writing dead-lines creep up on one.

Am writing this earlymorning with a fusty headas only came out ofhospital last evening after arough week and healthscare. Somehow half the

words get typed lookinglike Latin Plant Botanicalnames, but let’s persevere.

First Christmas BestWishes to our friendly EWNteam, who have beenkeeping the compiling ofthe EWN running smoothlythis week, plus all EWN

gardening readers whetherseasoned or newcomergardeners. Fortunatelytemperatures are keepingwarm and there is little rainforecast at the time ofwriting, so Christmas Daycan start with a traditionalleisurely beach or countrywalk followed by tostadascoated with tomato, garlicand olive oil with a festivecoffee and brandy.

Over lunch let’s raise aglass to those readersunfortunate to be inhospital over Christmas.Having just survived five

days of a modern prison-like medical environmentwith no thought given tothe mental andmotivational sides ofsurvival and recovery, Iwould like to raise aChristmas Challenge.

I experienced kilometresof bare white walls andceilings with black speckledfloors. Many windows weredifficult to look through, butwhere you could you couldsee large areas of lowerstone chipping covered flatroofs and bare patio areasjust waiting to be

brightened up to cheerstaff, patients and visitors.

How wonderful it wouldbe if the many expatgardening, sculpture,painting, photography,tapestry clubs, oftencoordinated within theumbrellas of local U3AGroups organised to offerinstall and maintain suchthings as the following, as aunited Mediterraneancoastal Christmas present.

Low maintenance patioand roof top gardens.

I am reminded of thecacti and succulent gardenson various levels of the flatroofs of the Hotel ReinaIsabel in La Palma GranCanaria.

Temporary or permanentexhibitions of colourfulcheerful sculptures in thepatios, on roof tops orwaiting rooms.

Temporary or permanentexhibitions of paintings andphotographs in public areasand corridors

I thought that most ofour readers will not beready to think aboutgarden related New YearResolutions so held themback until next week.

So until then enjoy yourwell-earned seasonal restfrom gardening.

© Dick Handscombewww.gardeninginspain.com

December 2014

Dick Handscombe

By Spain’s best knownexpatriate gardening authorliving in Spain for 25 years.

GardeningCorner

A very HappyChristmas to

gardenersFESTIVE FLOWERS:Brighten up window sillswith poinsettias.

EWN56 www.euroweeklynews.com HOMES & GARDENS25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca North

omes SPONSORED BY

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N A B O U T T H E S P O N S O R G O T O W W W. L I N E A D I R E C TA . C O M

gardens&H

TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

ets SPONSORED BY

By Lamia Walker ofHousesitMatch

AN AUSTRALIAN motherand her son have beentravelling around theworld for three years.

In that time Ruth andLouis have been houseand petsitting in over 30countries. Ruth is a travelwriter, and reviews hotelsfor a living. They aredigital nomads. Becauseof the vast distancesbetween cities in some

parts of Oz, Australiansare used to homeschooling, connecting withteachers by phone orradio. Now the internetenables home-schoolingfrom anywhere!

As a travel writer Ruthhas been fortunate in thatshe can take her work andher son with her. Theywrite a blog about theirexperiences. On theirtravels they’ve cared for awide variety of pets andfarm animals. There were

cats and dogs in Australia,geese and hens in France,dogs and horses in Spain,turkeys in Turkey, parrotsand goats in Fiji!

In Australia Ruth was aprofessional gardener.She can care for fruitorchards and vegetablegardens in domestic plots.

Louis has been broughtup to respect whicheverhost home they are caringfor, and is equally happyhelping his mum with thedomestic duties, and he

especially loves caring forthe animals.

They are currentlytouring Europe, and are agreat example of theprofessional housesittersand petsitters available onHouseSitMatch.com.

Download your FreeEasy Guide to

Housesitting from herewww.bit.ly/eurown001 To find a petsitter go to

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PLATERO, a five-month-old donkey taking part ina nativity scene inLucena, Cordoba, diedafter a 150-kilo manclimbed onto its back.

No policemen orguards were about tostop the man climbingover the fence to thescene outside the townhall, pushing thedelicate animal aboutthen clambering on topof it.

Two days later locals

notified the council thatlittle Platero wasobviously ill and couldhardly stand up and avet was called.

After examining thedonkey the vet decidedto take Platero to ananimal hospital to tryand treat extensiveinternal injuries but theyoung animal died thefollowing morning.

Photos of a manapparently on the backof Platero are doing therounds of the town byWhatsApp while thecouncil awaits an officialvet’s report beforesearching for thesuspect.

If the report provesthat Platero was killedby the man’s imprompturide, police will identifyhim and start legalaction.

IF you have a cat that hasurinated or made a messwhere it shouldn’t it isimportant to clean upproperly.

If not it is likely to returnto relieve itself in the samespot. Here are a few tips:

• One should clean upwhen the cat is not in theroom, otherwise the catthinks its mark getsattention.

• Consider redecoratingafter cleaning up if thespraying has been goingon for a long time.

• Never use bleaches ordisinfectants. They smelllike urine to a cat, as doesanything pine, rose orlemon scented.

• Disinfectants that gocloudy are poisonous tocats.

• Use warm water with10 per cent solution ofbiological washing liquid orpowder.

• Alternatively use onetablespoon of Napisan and

one tablespoon ofbiological washing powderto one pint of water. Thenrinse the area thoroughly incold water and let it dry ordry it with a hair dryer iftime presses.

• Next spray surgicalspirit. Use a nail brush toget this into fabric andcrevices. This gets rid ofthe fatty residues thatprompt a cat to top up hisown marks. Dry this offcompletely.

• Any curtains that havebeen sprayed with urineshould be sent to the drycleaners and linen machinewashed.

• With moveable mats

and small carpets get thesecleaned somehow if youcan or throw away.

• Do not try to savemoney on cleaningbecause in the long run themore thorough one is the

cheaper it all will be. Aspraying/middening catcan cause a lot of griefand nothing is too muchto stop it early on.

• The edge where theskirting board meetslaminated flooring willhave a pool of sprayurine if the site has beenused repeatedly. Use asilicon sealant betweenthe two. Then cover withheavy varnish of the sortused to varnish boats tomake a barrier betweenthe sprayed urine poolarea and the outsideworld.

• The intersectionbetween tiles collects apool. Clean the tiles - scrubin the intersection - thenput the heavy boat varnishin the intersection or evenover all the tile surface aswell.

Donkey diesafter 150-kiloman takes ride

REPEAT OFFENDER:Cats return to the spot.

For professional petsitters, ask thismum and son couple of explorers

EWN 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca Nor th58 www.euroweeklynews.com PETS

How to cleanup cat urine

PListen to David on TRE every Saturday 10 thru 11.Costa del Sol (Gibraltar/Sotogrande) 98.7fm(San Roque to Calahonda) 91.9fm (Calahonda to Motril) 88.9, Costa Calida 92.7fmCosta Blanca (Torrevieja to Elche) 105.1fm (Elche to Calpe) 88.2fm, (Calpe to Gandia & Ibiza)104.6fm,(Denia to Valencia) 95.3fm Mallorca 103.9fm

David THE Dogman

PROPERTY 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca Northwww.euroweeklynews.com 59EWN

PropertyTO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

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Advertising feature

ELECTRICITY bills have increased byan average of 20 per cent each yearover the past five years and are likelyto increase over the next few years.

Fidelma Matthews from Solar inSpain answers some questions aboutsolar electricity systems:

How does a solar, grid-connected system work?

Solar electricity systems capture thesun’s energy using photovoltaic (PV)cells, made from layers of semi-conducting material. When lightshines on the cell it creates an electricfield. This system allows solarelectricity to be used as it is beinggenerated.

Do I need permission fromIberdrola to install a system inmy property?

Yes. Permission has to be obtainedprior to installation. Every grid-connected electricity system needsauthorisation from both Iberdrola andthe Spanish Government. Iberdrola iscurrently issuing fines of up to€30,000 for unauthorised installations.

Does solar energy only work onsunny days?

No. These cells don’t need direct

sunlight to work – they can stillgenerate electricity on cloudy days.

What happens to the electricity

that is produced but not used?Iberdrola will now buy back any

solar electricity that is sent back to thegrid.

Are solar electricity systemsexpensive?

A solar electricity system will pay foritself within five to six years. Plus,every time Iberdrola increase theirprices your solar investment

improves!

Where can I find outmore information?

The Solar in Spain office andshowroom is in the Pedreguer

Industrial Estate, just off the N332,open from 9.30am to 4.30pm, Mondayto Friday.

They can be contacted on 962 854 488or by email: info@solarinspain.com.

Their website is at:www.solarinspain.com

Common questions about installing a solarenergy, grid-connected electricity system

SUN POWER: Iberdrola will buy back any surplus electricity.

www.euroweeklynews.com

HOLIDAY apartment owners in Spain look tobe getting a Christmas present with rentalenquiries for the festive season up 19 percent.

According to holiday rental websiteHomeAway, 41 per cent of enquiries fromSpain were for destinations within thecountry, giving a winter boost to propertyowners.

The report was looking at data for enquiriesto rent on dates between December 20 andJanuary 7.

Much of that growth has come fromSpaniards looking for an extra break, perhapsan indication of an improving economy. Thenumbers of enquiries from people in Spaingrew by 35 per cent, with Catalonia, Valencia,the Canaries and Andalucia being the mostpopular destinations. The Canaries saw a 75per cent rise in enquiries compared to thesame period in 2013, and Catalonia had an 88per cent rise.

When heading abroad, the Spanishpreferred destination is France, followed by

the USA and Costa Rica.For British people, Christmas is the time to

head for the Canaries with 75 per cent of thesite’s UK enquiries for the Christmas periodbeing for the islands.

Germans head to the Balearics, which haveshown a 40 per cent rise in Christmas periodenquiries. Most foreign tourists were lookingto spend an average of six days on theirfestive holidays.

BARCELONA: A popular rental destination.

Rentals up this Christmas

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SITUATIONS VACANT

MORE advanced safetytechnology, more power-train choices and a new,more refined interior are instore for the 2015 Mazda 6and 2015 Mazda CX-5,which make their Europeanmotor show debuts inMarch in Geneva.

They are the firstMazdas with thecompany’s new AdaptiveLED Headlights (ALH), anautonomous high-beamsystem with fourindependently controll-able blocks of LEDs perheadlamp. To avoidimpairing other motorists’vision, it shuts off only thehigh-beam block, shiningin the specific direction ofan oncoming or precedingvehicle, leaving theremaining LEDs on forbetter night-time visibility.

ALH, which also featureswidened low-beamcoverage and automatic

levelling, includes thefunctionality of High BeamControl (HBC) and theAdaptive Front-lightingSystem (AFS), twosystems currently availablefrom Mazda.

The 2015 Mazda 6 and2015 Mazda CX-5 are alsoequipped with severalother new safety systems.Blind Spot Monitoring(BSM) extends the existingRear Vehicle Monitoring(RVM) system’s rangewhile also adding Rear

Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA),which warns the driver ofapproaching vehicles whenreversing.

Lane-keep Assist System(LAS) provides steeringtorque assistance (amongother things) to helpprevent unintentional lanechanges, thus complem-enting the Lane DepartureWarning System (LDWS).

A first for Mazda, DriverAttention Alerts (DAA)monitors the driver’scondition and recommendsa break if it detects achange in behaviour.

Smart City Brake SupportForward/Reverse (SCBSF/R), meanwhile, addsreverse gear functionalityto the current SCBSsystem, which auto-matically applies the brakesif there is an increasedcollision risk. The CX-5 alsogets Smart Brake Support(SBS) and Mazda Radar

Cruise Control (MRCC),both of which debuted inEurope on the Mazda 6.

As for powertrains, the2015 Mazda 6 wagon withSKYACTIV-D 2.2 cleandiesel is available withMazda’s new-generationall-wheel drive (AWD)system.

Already used on the CX-5, it features the world’sfirst front wheel slipwarning detection systemand now employs aspecially developed low-viscosity oil to furtherimprove fuel economy.

The 2015 CX-5, in turn, is now offered in Europewith the SKYACTIV-G 2.5petrol engine in conjunctionwith i-ELOOP, Mazda’sbrake energy regenerationsystem, and DriveSelection, which enables achoice of drive modes foradded responsiveness ondemand.

MOTORINGEWN 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca North www.euroweeklynews.com70

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SPONSORED BYM For best rates in motorinsurance call: 952 89 33 80

otoringMazda puts safetyfirst in new models

NEW: The 2015 Mazda 6.

HE visited most of theSEAT facilities inMartorell, he got close upto the assembly lines andwas given an insight intosome of the carcompany’s best-keptsecrets – its futuremodels.

But the biggest smileon the face of Felipe VIduring his entire visitcame from a surprise.

The King once morecame face-to-face withhis first-ever car – a 1.5litre, metallic gold Ibizawhich his father, KingJuan Carlos, gave him forhis 18th birthday in 1986.

The King let out anemotional laugh onseeing the car.

“I imagine he recalledhis first car, his studentdays, his 18 years,” saidIsidre Lopez, head ofClassic Cars at SEAT, andwhose team carried outthe painstaking work of

restoring it, with 152,000kilometres on the clockand not having beenstarted up for more than16 years.

When it was built, thecar was very much aheadof its time, beingequipped with aninjection engine and airconditioning, two fullyears before these itemswere introduced on seriesproduction cars.

For the technical teamin charge of the processof restoration, the mostdifficult part was gettingthe fuel feed and injectionsystem up and running,since the car had notbeen on the road formany years.

Other work was alsodone on the integratedpaintwork, upholstery,tyres and wheels. In fact,“it is a unique, special,custom-built Ibiza,”added Lopez.

King meets upwith an old friend

REUNITED: The King is presented with his first car.

From Back PageCounty v MK Dons andWalsall v Swindon Town,while Burton Albion meetTranmere Rovers,Newport County playPlymouth Argyle, OxfordUnited welcome Shrews-bury Town and WycombeWanderers entertainLuton Town in FL2.

Then, a few days afterChristmas everythingkicks off again in the PLwith Manchester Cityagainst Burnley,Newcastle United vEverton, QPR versusCrystal Palace,Southampton v Chelsea,Spurs against ManchesterUnited and West HamUnited v Arsenal.

Elsewhere the topgames in the other threedomestic Divisions areBlackburn Rovers vMiddlesbrough, DerbyCounty v Leeds United,Ipswich Town v CharltonAthletic, Millwall v AFCBournemouth andWolves v Brentford,Gillingham v Bristol City,and Swindon Town v PortVale, Luton Town v Ports-mouth and ShrewsburyTown v WycombeWanderers, plus Celtic vRoss County andInverness Caley Thistle vAberdeen in the SPL.

On to the FA Cup, andhere are my pick of theties:

AFC Wimbledon vLiverpool (a repeat of the1988 final), Arsenal vHull City (who met in lastyear’s final), Aston Villa vBlackpool, Blyth Spartansv Birmingham City,Burnley v TottenhamHotspur (remember their1962 showdown atWembley?), Chelsea vWatford, Dover Athletic vCrystal Palace, Everton vWest Ham United,Fulham v Wolves,Leicester City v New-castle United, Man-chester City v Sheffield

Wednesday, Sunderlandv Leeds United (you mustrecall Ian Porterfield’swinner for the Wear-siders in the 1973 final),West Bromwich Albion vGateshead and YeovilTown v ManchesterUnited.

At least six of thesematches will be live onTV (various channels).

Away from football,and right now, runningthrough until earlyJanuary, we have theWilliam Hill World DartsChampionship fromLondon which will befollowed by the BDOWorld Championshipfrom Lakeside.

For horse racing fans,there is the King GeorgeVI Chase meeting fromKempton Park (startingon Boxing Day) and onDecember 27 it’s theCoral-sponsored WelshGrand National fromChepstow. And we havethe Women’s EuropeanHandball championshipsfrom Croatia andHungary.

Looking into my 2015‘Golden Globe,’ wouldn’tit be great to see thefollowing: England’scricketers win every TestMatch they play in 2015;Rory McIlroy triumph in

every golf competition hetakes part in; LewisHamilton repeat hisFormula 1 Grand Prixexploits by winning thedriver’s championship fora third time; Amir Khancontinue beating hisopponents in the ring;GB’s athletes collectmedals galore in trackand field events;England, Ireland, Scot-land and Wales allregister record breakingvictories in Six Nationsmatches; and AndyMurray win three majortennis tournaments (atleast).

While in football let’ssee an outsider win theFA Cup, perhaps theChampions League, eventhe Europa League andthat both Lionel Messi(Barcelona) and CristianoRonaldo (Real Madrid)continue to score goals,

especially in La Ligabut not against Britishclubs in Europeancompetitions.

And finally that myforthcoming books (alldue for publication nextsummer) on (a) Steven

Gerrard, (b) Ryan Giggsand (c) West BromwichAlbion (Baggies Abroad)sell like wild fire!

SPORT EWN 7125 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca NorthTRUST our advertisers WE DO!

CELEBRATING: Lewis Hamilton hopes for a third championship.

Here’s hoping for a gloriousNew Year for GB sport...

THE top three teamsgoing into the New Year inthe Northern League areseparated by only twopoints after a highlysuccessful 2014. BencidUnited lead the way, onepoint ahead of Mavericks –who have a game in hand– and two points ahead ofSiete Arribba + 2, who areon 12 points in the BBC’sSaturday Winter Fours.

For 2014’s final game inthe Northern League,Tigers were at home to avery strong Finca GuilaSwifts team. Tigers wonon two rinks and took theoverall shot difference towin the match 6-4 withthe Challenger team losing16-19.

Jaguars were at hometo El Cid but due to heavyovernight and earlymorning rain, the 10amstart was impossible. Playeventually got under wayat 1pm and Jaguars lostby 58-54, 2-8 on points.

The Challengers alsosuffered their first defeat,going down by a singleshot 22-23.

SPORTEWN 25 - 31 December 2014 / Costa Blanca North www.euroweeklynews.com72

Costa Blanca’s best guide to local sportportS TO READ MORE VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM

Northern Leagueyear-end bowls

Rory McIlroy with theUS PGA trophy

Will 2015 bring even more rewards for the No. 1 golfer?

Cord

on p

ress

PreviewAS always there is a full programmeof football matches on Boxing Day,as well as on December 28/29,while there are also 10 Premiershipgames scheduled for New Year’sDay before 64 teams compete inthe third round of the FA Cupbetween January 3-6. This is why

clubs have such big squads!On Boxing Day, there are two

London derbies in the Premiership -Arsenal against QPR at TheEmirates and Chelsea v West HamUnited at Stamford Bridge.Manchester United play NewcastleUnited and West Bromwich Albionentertain the reigning championsManchester City.

In the Championship, it’s much-improved Birmingham City v DerbyCounty, high-flying AFCBournemouth v Fulham, in-formBrentford v Ipswich Town,Middlesbrough v Nottingham Forestand Watford v Wolves.

The big games in FL1 are BristolCity against Yeovil Town, Notts

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CHRISTMAS FOOTY FACTS• The first-ever League game played onChristmas Day ended Preston North End3 Aston Villa 2 in 1889.

• Derek Dooley was the first managerto be sacked on Christmas Day -dismissed by Sheffield Wednesday in1977.

• West Bromwich Albion, bottom ofthe Premiership at Christmas 2004,avoided relegation - the first team toachieve this.

• In 1936, Wrexham’s Ambrose Brownwas the first player to get sent off in aLeague game on Christmas Day, takingan early bath against Hull City.

And a very Happy Christmasto you all!

A packed holidayseason of top sport

InternationalSports

Costa de Almeria

A former football player and theworld’s most prolific author offootball books (more than 100published), Tony is also thesports reporter forSpectrum Radio and livesin the Cabrera mountains.

Tony Matthews